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.”

through!” a voice came suddenly from behind. Instinctively, I stepped back

me, but I lost my

machine came to life and raced backward, smashing into everything in its path. It had happened so suddenly that everybody

over. Thankfully its progress was halted by the wall and the damage was not as bad

“Are you

looked behind me

“It…”

aren’t you? Things will always go wrong whenever you show up.” Rachel strode

them, you know. Don’t you

and apologized. “It was not done on purpose. I would be happy to bear the cost

to begin with,” she said scathingly. “How nice it must be to spend your man’s money like that.” Rachel was clearly savoring

you should concern

Rachel’s temper flared but decided not to pursue it as she caught sight of the look

and started describing the extent of

aware that she directed the sarcastic

mark on the wall left by the machine caught my interest. It had scraped off

caught me examining the wall. “It’s crowded and

it that built this base? Murphy Corporation or Fuller Corporation?”

puzzled. “Murphy Corporation built this entire enterprise. Why