Chapter 1680: Departure and Farewell

In the orbit outside the majestic spaceport, a long shuttle-shaped spacecraft went back and forth between the spaceport and the Milky Way ship, loading materials that might be used by the colonists into the cargo area.

It was like a threaded needle, weaving an invisible net in space.

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Not only was the orbit outside the spaceport busy, but the inside of the spaceport was the same.

The hustling and bustling crowd passed through the steel corridor towards the Milky Way starship, and under the guidance of the flight attendants, they boarded the flight to Tau Ceti…

“Can’t these people build an elevator?” Shi Zhenghua raised his head and glanced at the corridor. He clutched the handrail with his right hand and whispered in a quiet voice, “How long is this going to take to walk?”

This corridor that connected the spaceport to the Milky Way was really quite long and somewhat unfriendly.

There was no small carrier spacecraft, nor escalators and the like. Whether it was a passenger in first class, a colonist in economy class, or an employee hired by Star Sky Technology, they all had to walk through this long corridor to board the Milky Way.

Although there was no gravity here, walking this long was rather unpleasant.

“It is dangerous for two large spacecraft to get too close, especially when mass transfers take place on a large scale like this.” The stranger walking next to him seemed to have heard his complaint. He said with a smile,” Of course, I have heard another reason.”

Shi Zhenghua: “… What reason?”

“That on the five-kilometer walk to the Milky Way, every step gives you an opportunity to go back.” The stranger shrugged and continued, “To leave your home and go to a world ten light-years away, this is a one-way ticket… Therefore, there is a saying that the walk to the Milky Way is also a buffer period for the passengers.”

“Other than wasting time, this has no point at all.” Shi Zhenghua said in a nonchalant tone, “Would I be standing here without going through thorough consideration? I don’t see the point of this.”

“Killing enthusiasm is the point.” The stranger smiled and said in a relaxed tone, “You can’t sustain a journey as long as ten light-years just with enthusiasm. The longing for one’s home kills their enthusiasm. It would be best to think carefully before boarding the ship.”

On the other hand, in a spaceport not far away.

Li Guangya looked away from the endless stream of people walking in the hallway. He looked at Lu Zhou and said reluctantly, “Do you really plan to leave?”

The Human Alliance had just gotten back on track, there were still many problems waiting for him to solve.

These governance issues were not Lu Zhou’s expertise, since he usually focused on scientific research and was unwilling to express any political opinions. However, having him in the solar system, at least psychologically, made Li Guangya feel relieved.

“I have planned this trip for a long time, and now I’m finally at the day of departure.” Lu Zhou looked at Li Guangya and said in a half-joking tone, “Why? You’ll miss me?”

“Not miss you.” Li Guangya looked at Lu Zhou intently and was silent for a while. He then suddenly sighed and said, “But I know, even if I wanted to persuade you, it wouldn’t achieve anything.”

“Then don’t persuade me, let me go.” Lu Zhou grinned and continued, “Think about the positive. I’m going to Tau Ceti today. In a few months, the territory of the Human Alliance will be ten light-years away from the solar system, this is a worthy sacrifice.”

Li Guangya smiled bitterly and said, “It’s not a question of worthy or not… Forget it.”

Li Guangya adjusted his emotions, looked at Lu Zhou solemnly, and spoke.

“Bon voyage.”

“Thanks.”

Lu Zhou gave Li Guangya a confident smile. He then looked at Wang Peng, Li Gaoliang, and Director Li, who were standing next to him.

He opened his mouth. He had a lot to say, but he couldn’t find the words.

“Don’t make it seem like it’s life or death. With the breakthrough in faster than light technology, a ten light-year trip only takes a few months. Come back and visit!” Li Gaoliang looked at Lu Zhou and smiled heartily, breaking the silent atmosphere. “If you don’t have time to come back, I’ll go there and visit you instead.”

“I thought me participating in the reinforcement for the future plan was already ambitious. I didn’t expect you to be even more ambitious than me.” Director Li sighed. He stared at Lu Zhou and continued earnestly, “Take care, come back and visit if you become homesick. Don’t forget that there are still many people on Earth that miss you.”

Wang Peng didn’t say anything.

Like always, he was not the talkative type, especially since he did not know what to say on such occasions.

He reached out his fist and gently touched Lu Zhou’s shoulder. He then said in a solemn tone, “Take care.”

“Yeah, you too.”

Lu Zhou’s face was full of emotions. He gulped quietly. In the end, he restrained the emotions that overflowed in his heart.

He silently reached out his fist and gently touched the shoulders of the three people.

Then, he spoke solemnly.

“Take care!”

…

Lu Zhou couldn’t bear to stay in this atmosphere any longer. After bidding farewell to his old friends, he finally looked at Lu Xiaoqiao. After telling her what he wanted her to do, he turned around and boarded the Milky Way.

His room was located at the very top, near the boarding gangway. The floor-to-ceiling windows here had the widest view and overlooked the entire gangway…

Although there was nothing spectacular to see here, he still wanted to look for a while.

He looked at those people bidding farewell and those colonists who were leaving their hometowns and embarking on a new journey…

He felt his heart throbbing. He looked at the crowd outside the porthole and took a deep breath.

Soon he would set off to a world ten light-years away…

That was a place farther away than Mars.

And his journey would not end there. For the sake of the whole universe, he would go to a place farther than Tau Ceti, to a place where there was no chance of return…

Xiao Ai, who was standing next to Lu Zhou, felt the reluctance in Lu Zhou’s heart, and she gently held his hand.

“Master, Xiao Ai will always be here with you. (๑•̀ᄇ•́)و✧”

“Yeah.” Lu Zhou smiled and nodded. He reached out his hand and rubbed her artificial hair. “Thank you.”

They suddenly heard footsteps outside the captain’s room, followed by two soft knocks. Vera, holding a tablet in front of her chest, walked in and spoke in a soft voice.

“Professor, we will depart in 30 minutes. Captain Reinhardt invites you to go to the bridge to witness this moment.”

“I understand.”

Lu Zhou moved his right hand away from Xiao Ai’s head and gently nodded towards Vera. He then cast his gaze towards the floor-to-ceiling windows next to him.

The bustling crowd on the endless gangway seemed to have gradually lessened.

“This moment has finally arrived.”

Lu Zhou gently rubbed the diamond ring box in his pocket with his index finger. He glanced at the sparse crowd for the last time.

However, just when he was about to turn around, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. His entire body froze.

He was certain it was not a mistake.

That familiar face…

Was her…