When There Is Nothing Left But Love

The employees were busy setting everything up. Rachel was at the base directing and making arrangements. At the sight of me, she merely glared distastefully but did not say anything disparaging.

I was not very familiar with the technology, so the best I could do was to handle the miscellaneous items on the side. The damage done to the base was repaired with such skill that I could not tell the difference.

With Armond and Rachel delegating, I watched in amazement as the employees ferried over and set up all sorts of sophisticated machinery.

Two of them brought a sort of excavation machine in. It wasn’t large, but it was fully automated. They left the machine and departed.

I was curious and couldn’t help myself from getting a closer look. It wasn’t turned on, so it just looked like a pile of scrap metal.

I couldn’t understand why children were so fascinated with these things.

“These are used to assist in the development phase,” came Joseph’s voice from behind.

I was nonplussed. “Assist the development?”

Joseph nodded. “There aren’t many laborers here in Lavelian Village. The robots basically handle all of the follow-up work.”

“Were the stolen goods similar to this?”

“Yes, they were,” said Joseph. “That was why the projects had to be postponed. However, it was a good thing that we have backups on hand. The commencement of the project wasn’t a problem. Our worry is that if the technology is leaked, it would be a hassle to haggle and fight for copyright.”

from behind. Instinctively, I stepped back to

avoid touching the machine behind me, but I lost my footing

everything in its path. It had happened so suddenly that everybody was

over. Thankfully its progress was halted by the wall and the damage was

“Are you alright?”

and looked behind

“It…”

whenever you show up.” Rachel strode

expensive these things are?” she chastised. “It’s difficult to fix them, you know. Don’t you

not do it on purpose. “I am sorry,” I hung my head and apologized. “It was not done on purpose. I would be happy to bear the cost of

it’s not even your money, to begin with,” she said scathingly. “How nice it must be to spend your man’s money

felt the need to interject. “Ms. Zimmer, I think you should

not to pursue it as she caught sight of the

and started describing the extent of the damage in

the sarcastic

left by the machine caught my interest. It had scraped off some of the white paint and revealed bare

wall. “It’s crowded and chaotic here.

built this base? Murphy Corporation or

puzzled. “Murphy Corporation built this entire enterprise. Why do