《Top Edge》 CH 1 Opening his eyes, the blurry vision gradually focused and finally settled on the dazzling white light. His brain began to function normally, but the speed of receiving information was unusually slow, like an outdated operating system struggling to process vast amounts of data. Moving his fingers, he found no discomfort in his body. Shen Siwei slowly sat up from the cryogenic chamber, his actions sluggish. As his brain started processing information normally, he finally asked himself the most pressing question¡ª Where am I? ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± A familiar voice was heard by his ear, and the world around him instantly became clear. The man speaking wore a black military uniform, the uniform Shen Siwei was most familiar with. He glanced at the military rank on the man¡¯s shoulder and hesitantly moved his lips, unsure, ¡°Captain Moran?¡± His hoarse voice was muffled by the oxygen mask, obscuring the reality in front of his eyes. Shen Siwei instinctively reached out to remove the mask, but Moran held his wrist. ¡°I¡¯m a Colonel now.¡± After correcting his rank, Moran withdrew his hand and added, ¡°You¡¯d better not take off the oxygen mask.¡± A stranger standing not far away behind the control panel continued, ¡°Your respiratory tract was damaged in the explosion, and combined with the long-term cryogenic preservation, your cardiopulmonary function is extremely fragile now.¡± The chubby figure of the unfamiliar man, wearing a white coat, indicated that he was in charge of this laboratory. ¡ªRight, the explosion. Shen Siwei¡¯s memory froze at the moment of the bomb explosion. The powerful shockwave and scorching heat engulfed him, and he thought he was doomed. Thinking of this, Shen Siwei lowered his head and discovered that he was completely naked, yet there were no ugly burn marks on his delicate skin as he had imagined. ¡°What about my team?¡± He looked up at Moran. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember?¡± Moran covered Shen Siwei with the white cape resting on his elbow. ¡°During the last mission, your entire team was wiped out, and you¡¯re the only survivor.¡± His temple throbbed inexplicably, and Shen Siwei furrowed his brow, trying hard to remember. ¡°What was the last mission?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you can¡¯t recall,¡± Moran comforted softly. ¡°It¡¯s been twenty years, and what happened before doesn¡¯t matter anymore.¡± Twenty years? Shen Siwei was momentarily stunned by this information. With the advanced level of medical technology, human lifespan had significantly increased. Twenty years could be considered short or long, depending on how one looked at it. Moran¡¯s appearance hadn¡¯t changed much, except for a cluster of white hair cascading down his forehead. He didn¡¯t appear old; instead, he had a touch of maturity. Glancing around the laboratory, Shen Siwei noticed several instruments he had never seen before, as if they didn¡¯t belong to his previous era. ¡°According to the original plan, I was supposed to wake you up after Dr. Chen repaired your cardiopulmonary function,¡± Moran¡¯s voice brought Shen Siwei¡¯s attention back. ¡°But now the situation has changed, and we need you to carry out an urgent mission.¡± Being assigned a mission right after waking up truly lived up to the term ¡°urgent.¡± However, as the captain of the special operations team, executing missions was a routine for him. Shen Siwei asked, ¡°What mission is it?¡± ¡°Dr. Chen.¡± Moran nodded towards the chubby man at the control panel, and several video clips immediately projected in mid-air. In the intense street battles, the police were in constant retreat, and the city was occupied by a group of rioters. Shen Siwei involuntarily furrowed his brow, ¡°Where is this?¡± Moran answered, ¡°Z City, Lower West District.¡± The lower district. An area within the Tree of life belonging to civilians. Over a hundred years ago, as the Earth¡¯s environment deteriorated and humanity faced an energy crisis, they constructed a massive Life Tree. The Life Tree wasn¡¯t shaped like an actual tree, but more like a champagne tower, with a total of four levels. The bottom level was the living area for common people, the second level was the military center, the third level was the administrative center, and the top level was the core energy station that supported the operation of the entire Tree of Life. The bottom level was then further divided into four regions: southeast, northwest, southwest, and northeast. The cities in each region were sorted alphabetically according to their geographical locations. The captured cities had names starting with ¡°Z¡± because they were located on the edge of the Tree of Life, adjacent to the harsh desert outside the tree. energy was extremely precious, which is why there were no prisons within the Tree of Life. All criminals, regardless of the severity of their crimes, were banished outside the tree to fend for themselves until their sentence was over, at which point they could return to the tree. Those criminals were called ¡°flowing people,¡± and from the videos, it was not difficult to see that the group of thugs who captured the cities on the edge were the flowing people who should have been living outside the tree. ¡°How did they manage to break through the outer defense system?¡± Shen Siwei withdrew his gaze from the video. The defense system around the bottom level was even more rigorous than the top level, and Shen Siwei found it hard to imagine how a group of simple-minded criminals could have breached it. ¡°Take a look at this.¡± Moran brought up another video footage in mid-air, showing an extremely agile man whose movements even surpassed the speed of bullets. After the defense system ran out of ammunition, the man aimed at the camera and pulled the trigger, and the short video ended there. The guy was truly incredible. Shen Siwei stared at the frozen frame at the end of the video and asked, ¡°Who is he?¡± ¡°Kreit,¡± Moran said, ¡°the leader of the flowing people, his real identity is currently unknown.¡± Shen Siwei furrowed his brow slightly, ¡°No criminal record for him?¡± Moran shook his head, ¡°it¡¯s like he appeared out of thin air, there¡¯s no trace of him anywhere in the records.¡± The man in the footage stared straight into the camera, emitting a fierce aura that seemed to transcend through the screen. Shen Siwei had come into contact with many ruthless criminals, but he rarely encountered someone with such a strong presence. ¡°Emergency mission,¡± Shen Siwei paused, ¡°is it to assassinate him?¡± As soon as he said that, Shen Siwei felt something was wrong. His cardiac and pulmonary functions were impaired, and his combat capabilities were certainly not what they used to be. Unless there was no one left in the military center, he wouldn¡¯t be assigned any missions. ¡°Not an assassination,¡± Moran interrupted Shen Siwei¡¯s train of thought, ¡°it¡¯s an investigation.¡± A projection of the Tree of Life¡¯s structure appeared in mid-air, with the fallen areas marked in red. Moran zoomed in on the red-marked portion and said, ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal if the flowing people invade; as long as we shut down the local energy station, we can quickly drive them out. But the problem is¡­¡± At this point, Moran zoomed in on a building in the air, and his expression turned grave, ¡°The energy station in the western district of Z City in the bottom level can¡¯t be shut down.¡± The distribution of energy within the Tree of Life follows the principle of ¡°top-level advantage.¡± It¡¯s like a massive champagne tower where energy only overflows downwards when the demands of the upper levels are met. The upper levels control the energy supply to the lower levels, and this is the basic operating principle of the Tree of Life. If the energy station in the lower level can be detached from control, the ruling power of the aristocrats in the top level will be threatened. If the energy station in the lower level was to be detached from control, the ruling power of the aristocrats in the top level would be threatened. Compared to driving out the flowing people, it was indeed more important to investigate Kreit¡¯s background thoroughly. ¡°Colonel,¡± Shen Siwei understood the mission, and for the first time, he felt a certain pressure, ¡°Are you sure I can accomplish the mission?¡± ¡°Not certain,¡± Moran turned off the projection in mid-air, ¡°but you are the best candidate.¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t understand how he could execute the mission with such a broken body. Dr. Chen on the other side seemed to sense his doubt and continued, ¡°Captain Shen, you are not an ordinary soldier. Your skin is fused with ultra-high molecular materials, and no bullet can penetrate it. Your muscles have also been enhanced, stronger than mechanical prosthetics.¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°But what about the oxygen mask¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t possibly carry an oxygen cylinder on his back to perform the mission, could he? He instinctively looked for an oxygen tube but found that the mask was independently attached to his mouth and nose, with no tube below and no straps behind his head. ¡°I added micro magnetic particles to your face. The magnetism can hold the metal mask in place,¡± Dr. Chen explained, ¡°When the oxygen is depleted, you just need to replace the compressed oxygen capsule inside the mask. Of course, when you¡¯re not active, you can remove the mask. But once you feel difficulty in breathing, make sure to oxygenate in time¡­¡± Shen Siwei patiently listened to Dr. Chen¡¯s ¡°precautions,¡± but Moran beside him clearly didn¡¯t have the same patience. He completely ignored Dr. Chen and said to Shen Siwei, ¡°Before you, I sent two teams to investigate the situation, but none of them returned. Those flowing people are extremely ferocious. Even though you¡¯re currently the most advanced weapon in the military, I still can¡¯t help but worry.¡± Shen Siwei subtly raised an eyebrow. He hadn¡¯t thought that Moran would define him as a weapon. ¡°So, this time you need to disguise your identity.¡± Shen Siwei asked, ¡°Disguise as a flowing person?¡± Moran replied, ¡°No, disguise as a negotiator from Marg.¡± Shen Siwei immediately understood Moran¡¯s intention. If there was any identity that could make the flowing people wary, it could be that of a Marg noble. If any flowing person dared to harm a Marg individual, the entire area might be razed to the ground. But on the other hand, they couldn¡¯t really send Marg people to such dangerous places, so they had to let someone impersonate a Marg identity. With Shen Siwei¡¯s modified body, ordinary soldiers couldn¡¯t protect themselves like he could. Coupled with the protection of the noble identity, even if any unexpected situation arises, he could be kept safe. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about the disguise,¡± Moran added, ¡°I have made the necessary preparations.¡± He snapped his fingers, and an AI robot brought a dressing mirror. It was only at this moment that Shen Siwei saw his own appearance clearly. His once black hair and black pupils had turned into golden hair and blue eyes. His fair skin was delicate, and his handsome features had gained a touch of softness. The face was still his, but the temperament was completely different from before. ¡°Your hair and eyeballs have also been fused with ultra-high molecular materials, allowing you to change your hair color and iris color at will,¡± Dr. Chen explained as he twisted a knob on the console. The beauty in the mirror immediately transformed into green-eyed. ¡°Do you prefer blue or green?¡± Morgan rubbed his chin, his eyes filled with interest. ¡°The choice of hair and skin color was my idea. Among the Mages, there are many with golden hair, and white skin makes them appear more delicate, which can make the refugees lower their guard against you.¡± Shen Siwei had undergone various undercover missions and was already accustomed to changing his appearance. But looking at the delicate beauty in the mirror, he still felt somewhat uncomfortable. He had a strange feeling that his body no longer belonged to him and had become military property. ¡°I¡¯m fine with both,¡± Shen Siwei replied. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s go with blue. I like blue,¡± Morgan said, letting Dr. Chen adjust the iris color back. He then extended his hand towards Shen Siwei. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the room to rest first, and you can leave in the afternoon.¡± As Shen Siwei looked at Morgan¡¯s outstretched hand, a sense of strangeness flashed through his mind. Just because he looked fragile on the outside didn¡¯t mean he needed someone to support him after leaving the cryogenic chamber. Just as Shen Siwei hesitated whether to ignore his superior¡¯s kindness, something unexpected happened. Morgan unexpectedly took a step forward and held him horizontally. ¡°Colonel?¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s eyes widened in shock and quickly jumped out of Morgan¡¯s arms. The white cape fell to the ground, exposing Shen Siwei¡¯s entire body. Since waking up until now, Shen Siwei had been able to adapt to all situations, except for Morgan¡¯s actions, which left him confused. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Morgan¡¯s lips slightly stiffened. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember anything about us?¡± Shen Siwei tried hard to recall what had happened between him and Morgan that would make him naturally carry him like this. But no matter how much he tried to remember, in his understanding, he and Morgan were just ordinary superior and subordinate. ¡°We¡¯re lovers, don¡¯t you remember?¡± Morgan¡¯s gaze burned into Shen Siwei¡¯s eyes, making him doubt his own memory. ¡ªHow could he be in a romantic relationship with his superior? ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Shen Siwei said puzzledly, ¡°I seem to have no memory of that.¡± Morgan sighed helplessly. ¡°It¡¯s alright. It¡¯s normal for you not to remember after the explosion.¡± His eyes filled with disappointment, Shen Siwei pursed his lips, not knowing how to respond. ¡°You follow the AR guide to the room first,¡± Morgan adjusted his mood and pointed with his chin in the direction of the elevator door. ¡°There are clothes prepared for you in the room. I¡¯ll chat with Dr. Chen for a while.¡± Shen Siwei nodded and tightly gripped the edges of the cape, walking out of the laboratory barefoot. After Shen Siwei¡¯s figure disappeared behind the door, Morgan withdrew his expressionless gaze, as if the disappointment in his eyes had never existed. He looked coldly at Dr. Chen. ¡°Why didn¡¯t the implanted false memories work?¡± Sweat dripped from Dr. Chen¡¯s forehead, and he wore a troubled expression. ¡°Colonel, this is still a new technology. Give me a little more time.¡± ¡°Get this matter resolved as soon as possible.¡± Morgan¡¯s brow furrowed in impatience. ¡°Shen Siwei is a person who acts independently. Make sure he listens to me and remains loyal to me.¡± CH 2 Suspended in the air, the dynamic logo led Shen Siwei into a pure white room. The room was devoid of excessive decorations, extremely minimalistic. As soon as Shen Siwei stepped in, the solid white walls transformed into floor-to-ceiling windows, revealing an endless sea of clouds in the distance. There was a vertical distance of three kilometers between each level of the Tree of Life. The bottom level was at an altitude of 0 meters, the second level at 3,000 meters, and so on. Judging from the expansive scenery outside the window, Shen Siwei should be on the third level of the Tree of Life, closest to the central power hub. He awakened the microcomputer implanted in his palm and projected the coordinates in the air. Indeed, Shen Siwei was at an altitude of 6,000 meters. Most ordinary people couldn¡¯t survive in such high-altitude environments, so the buildings on the third level were equipped with a central regulation system to maintain the oxygen concentration at a normal level. Shen Siwei tried to remove the oxygen mask covering his mouth and nose, but he didn¡¯t feel any difficulty in breathing. However, after taking a few steps, he felt as if he had just run ten kilometers with a heavy load, struggling to catch his breath. ¡°Why am I so weak?¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel annoyed. It seemed that Dr. Chen¡¯s description wasn¡¯t exaggerated. While he was fine when not active, once he started moving, he had to wear the mask, otherwise his combat power would drop to zero instantly. He put the mask back on, and his breathing became steady On a nearby table, there was a water kettle and a glass. Shen Siwei absentmindedly lifted the bottom of the glass, applying slight pressure with his fingertips, and cracks immediately appeared on the surface. In the next moment, the glass shattered into irregular pieces. Some fragments fell to the ground, while others remained in Shen Siwei¡¯s palm. He clenched his fist tightly, grinding the sharp glass shards into glass dust, but his skin remained unharmed. ¡°Are you testing the strength of your skin?¡± The elevator door opened, and Moran walked straight towards him. The oppressive sound of his black military boots made Shen Siwei subconsciously take half a step back, recalling the uncomfortable embrace from earlier. His evasive action couldn¡¯t have been more obvious, and a faint displeasure flickered in Moran¡¯s eyes. He said in an official tone, ¡°Your body is precious, don¡¯t engage in meaningless activities.¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t argue, he wiped off the glass dust from his palm. ¡°Understood.¡± Perhaps sensing Shen Siwei¡¯s compliance, Moran¡¯s voice softened. ¡°I¡¯ve arranged two soldiers to accompany you to the lower level. Remember, you must return unharmed.¡± ¡°Unharmed?¡± The word gave him shivers. ¡°Safely,¡± Moran immediately corrected himself. ¡°You go and carry out the mission. I¡¯ll be keeping a close eye on you.¡± That awkward feeling resurfaced, and Shen Siwei lightly furrowed his eyebrows. He responded, ¡°Okay.¡± The center of the Tree of Life had a vertical train passage, similar to elevators in tall buildings, transporting people between each level. There were more people traveling between the second and third levels, but Shen Siwei had a separate train car. The descent speed of the vertical train was controlled within a comfortable range, and the pressure changes didn¡¯t cause any ear ringing, not much different from riding a regular train. Outside the sightseeing windows, thick layers of clouds were visible. As the train approached the second level, the sunlight shining through gradually decreased, and the view was noticeably less vast than on the third level. Finally, when the train reached the second level, the supervisor of the military center was already waiting on the platform. ¡°Hello, it¡¯s an honor¡­¡± The supervisor introduced himself with great deference, even though his head was lowered, his gaze kept flickering towards Shen Siwei¡¯s face. Shen Siwei was not accustomed to being scrutinized and didn¡¯t want to waste time on pleasantries. He walked towards the transfer point alone, his gaze fixed straight ahead. ¡°Which two people are following me?¡± The two soldiers behind the supervisor immediately stepped forward in big strides, keeping pace with Shen Siwei. ¡°Hello, sir.¡± Actually, whether there was anyone accompanying Shen Siwei it didn¡¯t matter to him. Morin had actually arranged for two soldiers to follow Shen Siwei to make the disguise appear real. However, judging by the attitude of the two soldiers, they seemed unaware that Shen Siwei was not the real negotiator and still referred to him as ¡°sir.¡± Shen Siwei casually glanced at the people beside him and suddenly stopped in his tracks. He noticed that the collar of the soldier on the right was not neatly turned up, which looked somewhat displeasing. In the past, there were also careless individuals among Shen Siwei¡¯s team members who, no matter how much he criticized them, remained the same. Shen Siwei started tidying him up directly. He walked up to the soldier, lifted his hands wearing white gloves, raised the soldier¡¯s collar, and then neatly folded it along the creases. When he was done, Shen Siwei unconsciously gave instructions like a team leader, saying lightly, ¡°Tidy up your appearance before going out will you?.¡± The Adam¡¯s apple above the collar moved up and down slightly. Shen Siwei raised his gaze and found that the soldier¡¯s face had turned red, and he didn¡¯t dare meet his eyes directly. ¡°Th-thank you, sir!¡± ¡ªThe soldier was shy. But was it necessary to react so dramatically? He just helped him tidy up the collar. The train at the transfer point was already waiting. It was the same as the one he got off¡ªthere were no other passengers in the carriage. Shen Siwei took the lead and walked towards the train door. However, at that moment, an alarm suddenly rang in the air. The two soldiers immediately protected Shen Siwei and entered the carriage, vigilantly observing the situation outside. There was no one on the platform, and there was no hint of danger in the air. The alarm was canceled after a few seconds, and the two soldiers breathed a sigh of relief. The soldier whose collar Shen Siwei had fixed earlier glanced at the palm of his hand, which held a miniature computer, and said, ¡°A lower-class civilian has entered the airspace control zone.¡± He navigated the air with his finger a few times, and a fresh surveillance video appeared in mid-air. The civilian aircraft had exceeded the normal flight altitude and triggered a warning from the second-layer outer defense system. The aircraft had likely entered the control zone by mistake. As soon as the warning sounded, it hastily lowered its altitude and moved away from the danger zone. Shen Siwei remembered that such incidents had occurred before, mostly due to poor driving skills of the pilots. The driver would now face license revocation and would have to go back to driving school. ¡°Sir,¡± the soldier turned off the projection and started a conversation with Shen Siwei, ¡°have you ever seen lower-class civilians?¡± Shen Siwei had not only seen them but had also frequently been in the lower-class areas. Except for some criminals, most lower-class civilians led ordinary lives, grateful for the living environment provided by the Tree of Life. ¡°Yes, I have,¡± Shen Siwei replied. The train slowly started and moved forward along the vertical track. ¡°What about vagrants?¡± the soldier asked again. This time, Shen Siwei didn¡¯t answer. Firstly, he wasn¡¯t in the mood for chatting, and secondly, he hadn¡¯t fabricated a background for his false identity. Seeing the soldier¡¯s eager demeanor to continue the conversation, regardless of whether Shen Siwei answered with ¡°yes¡± or ¡°no,¡± it seemed that he would continue talking. Shen Siwei chose silence, but it seemed that the soldier interpreted his silence as fear of vagrants. The soldier looked at Shen Siwei with a serious expression and said firmly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sir, we will definitely protect you.¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t say much and closed his eyes to rest, saying, ¡°Protect yourselves.¡± The distance of three kilometers wouldn¡¯t take much time to travel. When the train arrived at the lower-class area, the sun hadn¡¯t set yet, but the sky was densely covered with dark clouds, as if night would arrive the next second. Shen Siwei stepped out of the carriage, and a strong sense of familiarity washed over him. The areas near the center of the lower-class region always had this scene because the sunlight was scarce due to the obstruction of the upper-level buildings. However, compared to the train station on the second level, there was a much bigger presence in the lower-class area, and the people were more enthusiastic. Just as Shen Siwei emerged from the station¡¯s gate, he saw a crowd of reporters and civilians below the steps. ¡°It¡¯s a Mag person! A real, living Mag person!¡± ¡°Oh my goodness, he has such charisma!¡± ¡°Is he really going to represent us in negotiating with the vagrants?¡± Chaos erupted below the steps, and the guards barely managed to clear a passage. Shen Siwei calmly walked through the crowd, allowing countless reporters to capture his image with their cameras clicking away. For Shen Siwei to come to the lower level in such a high-profile manner was Moran¡¯s idea. Shen Siwei could have directly taken a flying vehicle to Z City, but he took a detour to the Central Train Station to let the media relay a message to the vagrants¡ªthat a genuine noble was going to negotiate with them. With such a spectacle, the vagrants couldn¡¯t dismiss this negotiator. Inside a dimly lit room, an old-fashioned television played an old animation. A tall man sat on a single sofa, his long legs casually resting on the coffee table. ¡°Boss, look at the news.¡± Maierken approached the sofa excitedly, with a hint of curiosity in his tone. klet nodded as he focused on the animation, lazily responding, ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°A Mag person has come to negotiate with us.¡± Maierken said as he displayed the news into the air, and the noisy background sound of the video instantly exceeded the sound of the animation. klet glanced casually at the news and then returned his gaze to the TV screen. But the next second, he inexplicably shifted his attention back to the news footage. He noticed that the negotiator in the video was wearing a white cloak that extended to his ankles. Through the gaps in the cloak, a white uniform with golden buttons could be seen. The hood of the cloak covered his head, forming a diamond shape. His slightly curled golden hair covered part of his forehead, and an unknown metallic mask covered the lower half of his face, making it difficult to see the negotiator¡¯s features clearly. However, just by looking at his eyes and long eyelashes, one couldn¡¯t help but gaze at him for a few more seconds. ¡°What¡¯s that on his face? An air purifier?¡± Maierken adjusted the angle of the footage, teasing, ¡°Does he find the air in the lower levels dirty?¡± klet didn¡¯t pay much attention and shifted his gaze back to the TV. He waved away the intrusive display in the air and continued watching the animation. ¡°Daring to come here, he¡¯s quite bold.¡± CH 3 After shifting to a flying police car in the parking lot, the noisy world quieted down. The flying police car headed west, towards the edge of the Tree of Life. Shen Siwei didn¡¯t close his eyes during this journey; he kept his gaze fixed on the scenery outside the window. According to his memories, the western district city hadn¡¯t changed much. The iconic buildings remained the same, but there were many three-dimensional advertisements between the high-rise buildings that Shen Siwei didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°Commander, how does it feel to live on the top floor?¡± The soldier started a conversation with Shen Siwei again. To be honest, Shen Siwei had only been to the top floor a few times, so he could only rely on his intuitive feelings to answer, ¡°The sunlight is abundant.¡± ¡°There¡¯s sunlight on the lower levels too.¡± As soon as the soldier finished speaking, the flying car crossed the boundary between light and shadow and entered an area where the sunlight was shining directly. Due to the layered structure of the Tree of Life, most of the cities in the western district could only receive sunlight in the evening. The closer they got to the edge, the brighter the light became. When the sunlight entered the flying car, it indicated that they were approaching the edge of the western district. Looking into the distance, beyond the walls of the western district, there was an endless desert. The high temperatures made it difficult for people to survive in the desert, but compared to the even harsher environments in the other three directions outside the Tree of Life, the desert could be considered habitable. It was for this reason that most of the criminals exiled from the tree mainly operated in the desert, and over time, an underground city appeared in the desert, a true ¡°City of Criminals.¡± ¡°Commander, two more kilometers to the destination.¡± The soldier¡¯s voice brought Shen Siwei back to his thoughts. The flying vehicle started to lower its altitude, approaching the industrial zone between the cities below. The assembly lines in the factories had long been replaced by AI, and the industrial area was rarely visited by people. However, as the flying vehicle began to fly close to the rooftops of the factories, the instrument panel in front suddenly flashed red, warning that the flying car was being targeted by weapons. Everything happened quickly, and Shen Siwei and the two soldiers had just looked at the screen when the flying car was hit by shells fired from below. The rapid descent caused centrifugal force to press Shen Siwei¡¯s back tightly against the seat and the car quickly crashed into the ground, and the entire seat was dislodged from its hinges due to the impact. Thick smoke and spreading flames blocked Shen Siwei¡¯s view. He instinctively lifted his arm to shield himself from the waves of heat, only to find that his exposed skin didn¡¯t feel the burning sensation. Even though he was clearly grazed by the flames, his skin remained unblemished. It seemed that Moran was right. Even in this situation, he remained unharmed. Crushing against a glass didn¡¯t bruise him at all. Looking at his clothes, although they were blackened by the smoke, they were made of flame-resistant material and hadn¡¯t caught fire. Shen Siwei released his seatbelt and immediately checked on the condition of the two soldiers in the front seat. But both of them had blood on their faces and were no longer breathing. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel regretful. No one expected such an event to occur, which resulted in all three of them being unprepared. But then again, who would intercept a negotiator halfway? There was no time to ponder on it. Shen Siwei used his elbow to break the glass window and crawled out of the burning flying vehicle. It was at that moment he heard voices nearby. ¡°Damn, he¡¯s not dead!¡± ¡°Quick, shoot!¡± ¡°Kill him!¡± Intense bullets were fired towards him, and Shen Siwei used his elbow to shield his forehead. The flashes of fire made it almost impossible for him to keep his eyes open. Although the bullets hitting him didn¡¯t cause any harm, the sensation was similar to being splashed with water. Even though they were harmless water droplets, they were enough to disrupt his vision and make him feel irritated. The reddish whirlwind blew in his light blue eyes, and Shen Siwei¡¯s anger continued to rise. Four individuals with assault rifles gradually approached the crashed aircraft. The fierce tongues of fire from their muzzles never ceased, but they couldn¡¯t stop the white figure crawling forward amidst the raging flames. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why can¡¯t we kill him?¡± ¡°What the hell is this monster?¡± Shen Siwei kept his head lowered, one hand pressed against his metallic mask to prevent it from falling off. The white cape was riddled with numerous holes, and the metal skin of the aircraft was shattered. Although Shen Siwei remained unharmed, crawling amidst the hail of bullets proved difficult with every step. Finally, he lifted his head. Shen Siwei could clearly see a bullet heading straight for his eye, but instead of closing his eyes, he reached out and grabbed the bullet. The slowed-down time returned to normal at this moment. Shen Siwei flung the bullet back with precision, piercing the throat of one person. The other three immediately lost their composure and started shouting, retreating backwards. However, they were too close to Shen Siwei to find cover in time. A white figure flashed by, and someone¡¯s neck was twisted. The remaining two hadn¡¯t reacted yet when their throats were slashed by a blade. At that moment, the crashed aircraft suddenly exploded, billowing thick smoke that soared into the sky. The shockwave of the explosion and the raging fire had no effect on Shen Siwei. He stood expressionless in place, using the tattered cape to wipe the blood off the dagger, then throwing the cape next to the corpses. ¡°Colonel Moran.¡± Shen Siwei opened the communicator and informed Moran of the situation in front of him. While speaking, his eyes began returning to the cool light bluecolour. ¡°In short, someone wants to kill me,¡± Shen Siwei summarized. ¡°Is it the refugees?¡± Moran¡¯s tone was serious. ¡°How could anyone dare to kill a noble?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Shen Siwei squatted down and checked the wrists of the dead bodies one by one. He noticed scars where identity chips should have been implanted, indicating that those people had removed the soldiers¡¯ identity chips. Moran said, ¡°Take a photo of their appearance and send it to me this instance for investigation.¡± A faint afterglow could be spotted in the sky indicating darkness was approaching.even without the aircraft, Shen Siwei still needed to go to City Z. He found a modified off-road vehicle that the four assassins had left near a factory not far away and embarked on the road to City Z alone. The attack occurred when he was close to his destination. After about ten minutes, Shen Siwei saw a roadblock set up ahead. Several individuals who appeared to be refugees sat by the roadblock, playing cards. As they saw the off-road vehicle approaching, they immediately picked up the weapons beside them. ¡°Who goes there?¡± someone shouted at Shen Siwei. Shen Siwei slowly pressed the brakes and calmly got out of the vehicle. However, his uniform was not much better than the discarded cape, marked with traces of smoke and numerous bullet holes. The refugees didn¡¯t immediately recognize Shen Siwei. They looked at each other for a moment before someone tentatively asked, ¡°Negotiator?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Shen Siwei looked calmly at them, raising his chin without being humble, ¡°I¡¯m looking for Klete.¡± ¡°You¡­,¡± someone assessed the disheveled appearance of Shen Siwei, then looked at the thick smoke rising in the distance and asked, ¡°Did something happen to you?¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t want to waste words and said expressionlessly, ¡°Tell Klete to come see me. Seeing that the negotiator wouldn¡¯t answer their questions, they could only go and report. Neon lights illuminated the dim street, and sounds of commotion could be heard from a strip club. Klete sat alone in a booth, holding a glass of wine in one hand and a tablet computer in the other. His gaze fell on the electronic map, showing no interest in the swaying buttocks on the stage. The map marked the energy stations in various areas, all of which were heavily guarded. Suddenly, a figure emerged beside him. Maiken hugged a beautiful woman¡¯s waist casually and said to Klete, ¡°Boss, the negotiator is here. Aren¡¯t you going to talk to him?¡± ¡°No.¡± Klete didn¡¯t lift his head, still looking at the display screen of the tablet. ¡°The Marg people won¡¯t give us any benefits they are useless.¡± ¡°I think so too.¡± Maiken nodded seriously in agreement. ¡°They must be setting a trap for us.¡± Klete didn¡¯t respond further, and Maiken returned to the stage with the woman he was holding, as if the brief conversation hadn¡¯t happened. After sunset, the city center in the distance became lively, but the outskirts of the city where Shen Siwei was waiting had completely turned dark. ¡°Hasn¡¯t your boss arrived yet?¡± Shen Siwei was getting impatient. He didn¡¯t know if Klete was intentionally showing him disrespect or if it took this long to pass a message. But just then, the sound of engines could suddenly be heard, and several modified vehicles approached from the front. The glaring headlights made Shen Siwei furrow his brow. After a while, a few vehicles stopped around Shen Siwei, and more than a dozen tall and burly men got out of the cars. The man walking at the forefront had a Mohican hairstyle, and his entire right arm had been replaced with a cybernetic prosthetic. Shen Siwei knew at a glance that it was an illegal modification. Cybernetic prosthetics were only used for military and medical purposes. Normally, after installation, they would be covered with human skin and not appear mechanical. But that Mohican¡¯s prosthetic was clearly mechanical, with circuits and components exposed in the air, emitting a terrifying silver glow. ¡°How can we make the negotiator wait here?¡± Mohican grinned and approached Shen Siwei. Shen Siwei had previously read the information and knew that this man was called Barn, the second-in-command of the refugees, known for his atrocities such as burning, killing, and looting. People like him willingly became Klete¡¯s assasins, which made the military even more curious about Klete¡¯s background. ¡°Where is Klete?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°He¡¯s busy with something.¡± Barn looked Shen Siwei up and down and then gestured to his subordinates to open the car door. He continued, ¡°Get in the car, I¡¯ll take you to see Klete.¡± As Shen Siwei remained motionless, he couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling that something was off. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Can¡¯t I invite you?¡± Barn chuckled hoarsely, using his chin to signal his subordinates to open the car door. Then he added, ¡°Or do you want to wait here until dawn?¡± Waiting was definitely not an option. Shen Siwei was uncertain about their intentions, or perhaps Klete. He could only take it step by step and see how things unfolded. He walked toward the modified vehicle, but at that moment, Barn suddenly reached out to stop him. ¡°Negotiator,do you think our territory is so easily accessible?¡± he asked. Shen Siwei furrowed his brow slightly. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Of course, a search is in order,¡± Barn replied confidently. After saying that, Barn casually took a step forward, and his hands moved from Shen Siwei¡¯s back to his waist. ¡°I¡¯m not carrying any weapons,¡± Shen Siwei said impatiently, his brow creasing as he suppressed the urge to kill. ¡°It¡¯s not up to you to decide,¡± Barn leaned closer to Shen Siwei, exhaling onto his face mask. ¡°I¡¯ll know once I search you.¡± His hands continued moving downward, patting Shen Siwei¡¯s straight legs, and then¡­ he found a dagger inside the tall military boot. It was the same dagger Shen Siwei had used to kill earlier. ¡°Tsk tsk.¡± Barn shook his head and tapped the blade of the dagger against Shen Siwei¡¯s face. ¡°Lying is not a good look, negotiator.¡± With that, he turned to his subordinates and gave them a signal. ¡°Take him away.¡± CH 4 The modified car drove towards the city center, passing through neon-lit tunnels and elevated bridges. On both sides of the road, most shops and apartments had their lights turned off, indicating how desolate the place was, despite the city¡¯s infrastructure not being destroyed by refugees. A rail train passed overhead, with barely any people inside it. Shen Siwei shifted his gaze away from the window and asked, ¡°Do you experience power outages here?¡± ¡°In order to reduce energy consumption, the upper levels discourage people from being active at night. After 8 pm, public transportation in the lower part of the city shuts down,¡± Barn replied, adding in a sarcastic tone to his voice. ¡°Isn¡¯t it amazing? We¡¯re not controlled by the upper levels.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Shen Siwei followed up on the conversation. The purpose of his visit was to figure this out; otherwise, he would have killed a long time ago. Barn shrugged indifferently and said, ¡°You¡¯ll have to ask klet.¡± This answer aligned with the information the military already possessed. Apart from klet, no one knew the details of the city¡¯s energy supply. Shen Siwei ceased his questions and redirected his gaze out the window. The deserted streets had not a single person, only AI janitors patrolling . Tiny robots picked up fruit peels from the roadside, took half a second to assess their composition, and then opened their mouths to throw the peels into built-in incinerators, instantly disposing of the waste. Suddenly, gunshots were heard through the air, hitting the small robot and transforming its work into a pile of scrap metal. Following the sound of gunfire, Shen Siwei saw a store activating its defense system, killing two robbers with bullets. The innocent robot had happened to be nearby and became collateral damage. The shop owner stood at the store¡¯s entrance, holding a shotgun and shouting at the corpses of the robbers, ¡°I told you, if you can¡¯t afford it, get lost!¡± ¡°Foolish,¡± Barn¡¯s contemptuous voice rang in Shen Siwei¡¯s ears. ¡°Despite the warnings, they still provoked the shops with defense systems.¡± Not all residents of District Z in the western area of City X had evacuated. Some stayed indoors, while others relied on defense systems installed in their shops to continue normal operations. Now, this place had turned into a war zone, causing prices to skyrocket. The situation just now was probably due to the store owner demanding a high price, which led the refugees to resort to robbery. However, none of this mattered to Shen Siwei; he only felt sorry for the small robot. After a short while, the modified car slowly entered the city center¡¯s music square.Not long after, the modified car slowly drove into the city center¡¯s music square. On the square, there was a dirty small container, and many homeless people were standing or sitting around the square, looking like they were waiting to see something exciting. Shen Siwei suddenly had a bad feeling in his heart. He frowned and looked at Barn, asking, ¡°Where is klet?¡± Barn raised his chin and pointed to the container, saying, ¡°In the command center.¡± The container was pitch black, and nothing could be seen clearly. Shen Siwei didn¡¯t believe for a moment that it could be the so-called command center, but Barn continued, ¡°The command center is underground, and the container is the entrance.¡± It sounded reasonable, but still strange. How could they make the entrance so conspicuous? Shen Siwei got out of the car and cautiously looked around, standing still in place. Barn seemed to lose patience. He walked towards the container while urging Shen Siwei, ¡°Negotiator, don¡¯t you want to see klet?¡± Shen Siwei did want to see klet and didn¡¯t want to waste any more time. Seeing Barn entering the container himself, Shen Siwei slightly got rid of his doubts. He followed behind Barn into the darkness. However, as soon as the two of them were completely inside, his bad feeling turned out to be true. Barn who was in front suddenly made a strange noise. With the dim light, Shen Siwei noticed that Barn had moved forward, creating distance between them. In the next second, shadows flashed before and behind him, followed by the sound of the iron door closing. Shen Siwei hadn¡¯t had time to figure out what was happening when he saw the iron panels of the container suddenly fall, revealing a square iron cage hidden inside the box. The cage had two doors in the front and back, covering from top to bottom. Barn deliberately distanced himself from Shen Siwei and released the two iron doors fixed on the top of the container. Once the doors came down, they locked Shen Siwei inside the iron cage. At the same time, the fountains at the music square suddenly turned on, and water jets shot into the sky like fireworks, responding to the crowd¡¯s wild cheers. Drops of water the size of beans fell from above, wetting Shen Siwei¡¯s hair and clothes. His already dirty uniform clung tightly to his body, making him look worse, which further excited the onlookers. ¡°The negotiator got wet!¡± ¡°Make the water even bigger!¡± Shen Siwei stood expressionless, half-closed eyes, allowing the water droplets to slide down his cheeks. He coldly glanced at the iron cage that confined him and noticed a lot of hair and bloodstains on the railing. He guessed that this was a cage the homeless used to capture mutant monsters. The environment outside the Life Tree was harsh, not only due to the severe climate but also the rampant mutant monsters caused by radiation. This was also why the homeless always wanted to return to live inside the Life Tree. If Shen Siwei remembered correctly, the homeless didn¡¯t have such large tools for hunting mutant monsters before. It seemed that a lot had changed outside during the twenty years he was frozen. ¡°Negotiator, don¡¯t just stand there like an idiot!¡± someone shouted at Shen Siwei, ¡°Take off your gloves and let¡¯s have a look!¡± Others immediately joined in, ¡°Yeah! Take it off bit by bit! Listening to the unbearable nasty remarks, Shen Siwei closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and suppressed the anger rising inside him. A dirty, small container was placed on the square, and many refugees stood or sat around the square, eagerly waiting for something to happen.His muscle strength was stronger than Barn¡¯s mechanical right arm, and he could effortlessly break the iron bars of the cage. But he couldn¡¯t do so. Once his identity got exposed, it meant the mission had failed. Shen Siwei, in any case, did not want to return empty-handed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Didn¡¯t the money come through?¡± Barn, who was closest to Shen Siwei, had a lewd gaze that he made no effort to hide. He turned on the little computer in his palm, accessed the currency payment system, and then tossed the virtual coins projected in the air towards Shen Siwei with his thumb. Ordinary people wouldn¡¯t deliberately close their payment channels, so Shen Siwei¡¯s little computer automatically captured the transmitted currency code and made a sound: ¡°Received 50 coins.¡± Barn burst into laughter. ¡°Is that enough for you to strip naked now?¡± The suppressed anger was on the verge of coming out, and Shen Siwei moved his fingers, wanting to break open the iron cage, but in the end, he held back. So, this was the greeting Klett gave him? The calls for Shen Siwei to undress grew louder and tested his patience at every moment. However, at that moment, the sound of roaring engines suddenly came from outside the square. Several off-road vehicles slowly drove into the center of the square and stopped by the iron cage. The square immediately fell silent, and even the music fountain stopped. A few people got off the vehicles, and Shen Siwei immediately recognized the man walking in front as Klett. His 1.95-meter tall figure appeared more exaggerated than it did in the videos, and his rugged features seemed more meticulous than sculptures, with every line perfectly highlighting his heroic aura. He was wearing a tight black T-shirt with a tactical vest on top, fingerless gloves on his hands, and a pair of high-top Martin boots on his feet. His deep eyes scanned the refugees in the square, and everyone avoided his gaze, not daring to make a sound. Seeing this scene, an idea suddenly popped into Shen Siwei¡¯s mind¡ªKlett seemed to be unaware of what was happening here. Taking his gaze back from his subordinates, Klett casually glanced at Shen Siwei and then looked at Barn. ¡°Quite lively.¡± His tone didn¡¯t reveal any emotions, as if he was stating a fact. But judging from the reactions of the other refugees, this didn¡¯t seem to be a good sign. ¡°Just playing around,¡± Barn pointed to Shen Siwei with his chin. ¡°I brought the negotiator.¡± ¡°Did I ask you to?¡± Klett asked. ¡°He came all the way here to negotiate with us. How can we just let him go like that? We should at least¡­¡± Barn paused for a moment and continued, ¡°communicate, right?¡± ¡°Have you finished communicating?¡± Klett asked again. Barn was just babbling, unsure how to respond. He reluctantly shifted his gaze elsewhere. ¡°I said I won¡¯t negotiate, so I won¡¯t. I¡¯ll take this person with me.¡± Klett left a warning and then took a step closer to Barn, lowering his voice, ¡°Behave yourself and don¡¯t cause trouble for me.¡± The refugees around the square perhaps couldn¡¯t hear the conversation between the two bosses clearly, but Shen Siwei, who was right next to them, heard it loud and clear. Obviously, Klett didn¡¯t want to negotiate with him at all. It was Barn¡¯s decision to bring him into the city without Klett¡¯s consent. He walked to the side of the iron cage, unlocked the locked iron door with his bare hands, and said to the soaked Shen Siwei, ¡°Come out.¡± Shen Siwei raised an imperceptible eyebrow. This iron cage was no toy. Judging from the twisted iron bars at the lock, it was impossible to open the iron door with bare hands without too much strength. ¡ªCould it be that Klett¡¯s arm was also a mechanical prosthesis? There was no time to think too much, so Shen Siwei walked out of the iron cage. Barn, who was beside him, was clearly unwilling to let Shen Siwei be taken away so easily. Suddenly raising his voice, he said, ¡°I¡¯m the one who brought him here. You say you¡¯re taking him away just like that?¡± With Barn taking the lead, the other refugees seemed to suddenly gain confidence and joined in the commotion. ¡°That¡¯s right, why don¡¯t you reason with us?¡± The protest grew louder, and the people with Klett loaded their bullets, while the protesting refugees also took out their weapons. This scene surprised Shen Siwei a bit. It turned out that the refugees were not united amongst themselves as he thought.The smell of gunpowder grew stronger. Klett calmly opened the payment system and flicked a virtual coin to Barn. ¡°Is that enough?¡± Barn¡¯s little computer immediately emitted a sound. ¡°Received 1 coin.¡± Klett¡¯s subordinates couldn¡¯t help but sneer, but Barn¡¯s expression was extremely unpleasant. One coin, no different from dismissing a beggar. Shen Siwei suddenly developed a slight fondness for Klett because just now, Barn had humiliated him, and at least Klett helped him get back some dignity. But upon second thought, Shen Siwei felt that something was wrong. His body took twenty years to heal, with the military¡¯s most advanced black technology. Although he wasn¡¯t sure how valuable his body really was, Klett actually bought him for just one coin. Did he even ask for his opinion? Klett ignored Barn and turned around, walking towards the off-road vehicle. He exposed his back without any guard, but even so, Barn didn¡¯t dare to make any moves from behind him. Before getting into the car, Klett paused and finally turned his gaze to Shen Siwei. He looked at Shen Siwei from top to bottom, then reached across the car window and threw a jacket over Shen Siwei¡¯s head. ¡°Get in the car.¡± CH 5 his skin seemed to be immune to pain. The damp clothes stuck to his body made Shen Siwei uncomfortable. The coat didn¡¯t serve any purpose; it just made him look a bit better. There were only Klete and Shen Siwei in the car. After leaving the music square, several off-road vehicles separated at the nearest intersection. The others went to other areas in the city center, while Klet drove Shen Siwei to familiar roads. It was the same road Shen Siwei took before. ¡°Where are we going?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°I¡¯m sending you away,¡± Kret¡¯s response was not surprising. Outside the car window, a large AI cleaning vehicle was dealing with the bodies of two robbers and scattered small robot parts by the roadside. The shop owner must have thought it was a sign of bad luck and closed the door, no longer in business. Shen Siwei knew that Kret¡¯s answer meant refusing to negotiate, but it didn¡¯t mean he had to turn back. ¡°It¡¯s pointless for you to send me away,¡± Shen Siwei looked ahead calmly, ¡°I¡¯ll come back anyway.¡± As long as Shen Siwei wanted, he could find various ways to come back unless Klet personally guarded the roadblock, watching it for twenty-four hours. The massive off-road car suddenly stopped, and caused Shen Siwei¡¯s body to lean forward because of the impact. He thought Klet stepped on the brakes to make a bold statement, but it turned out that the man casually lit a cigarette, and then¡­ looked at the red light ahead. There were almost no vehicles passing by on the road. When they came, Barn ran the red light all the way. Honestly, Shen Siwei didn¡¯t think there was any need to wait for the red light here, but it seemed that Klet was more law-abiding than he had imagined. ¡°Did you enjoy what happened just now?¡± Exhaling a puff of smoke, Klet held the cigarette in his left hand, casually resting his arm on the car window, turning his head to look at Shen Siwei. The four windows of the off-road vehicle were not closed, creating an open environment inside the cabin. The oxygen mask isolated the faint smell of tobacco, and only the deep voice of the smoker reached Shen Siwei¡¯s ears. ¡°I didn¡¯t enjoy it,¡± Shen Siwei said in a flat tone, ¡°but I have a negotiation task.¡± ¡°No negotiation,¡± Klet bluntly dropped two words, stepped on the accelerator, and continued driving towards the city outskirts. ¡°Why?¡± Shen Siwei asked. Klet replied, ¡°Boring.¡± Clearly, Klet didn¡¯t want to gain any benefits from the upper class, or perhaps, they couldn¡¯t give him what he wanted. They encountered another red light ahead, and this time, Klet directly stepped on the accelerator and drove through it. Shen Siwei suddenly found his previous thought of him being ¡°law-abiding¡± somewhat amusing. It seemed that this person only stopped at the red light to find an opportunity to light his cigarette ¡°If you don¡¯t talk to me,¡± Shen Siwei turned his head and looked at Klet, with a hint of threat in his tone, ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Barn.¡± Shen Siwei had to stay in the city in order to carry out his investigative mission. Of course, he didn¡¯t want to deal with Barn , but if klet insisted on sending him away, he could only resort to that.. From the atmosphere just now, it seemed that Barn didn¡¯t think highly of klet as the boss. And klet probably didn¡¯t want Barn to have contact with the negotiator, so as not to cause him trouble. Sure enough, just after Shen Siwei finished speaking, klet stepped on the brakes again. But what Shen Siwei didn¡¯t expect was that with just that simple threat, klett actually pulled out a gun from his waist and pointed it straight at him. Why is he so irritable? Shen Siwei furrowed his brows slightly and calmly stared at klet¡¯s hand movements, but something unexpected happened. The gun muzzle didn¡¯t aim at his head as Shen Siwei had expected, but was raised in front of him and a shot was fired out of the car window. The shell coming from the barrel, and a faint breeze brushed Shen Siwei¡¯s cheek. Having long been accustomed to gunshots, Shen Siwei didn¡¯t even blink his eyes. He instinctively followed the direction of the bullet and saw a woman holding a baby standing several meters away on the sidewalk, with a dead refugee in front of her. The bullet hit the refugee¡¯s head, and blood mixed with brain matter sprayed onto the woman¡¯s face, making her stare wide-eyed and tremble uncontrollably. The woman held a bag of medicine in her hand, and the child in her arms didn¡¯t look well. Judging from the situation, she must have taken the risk of bringing the child out for medical treatment. As for the deceased refugee, there was no need to guess, he must have caused trouble for the woman. ¡°Pick up his gun,¡± klet tilted his head and spoke to the woman across Shen Siwei outside the car window. ¡°Shoot anyone who bothers you.¡± The woman obediently picked up the refugee¡¯s gun and continued to stare at klet, as if waiting for further instructions. But klet obviously had nothing else to say and impatiently asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you leaving?¡± Only then did the woman organize her thoughts, quickly holding the child and left. Shen Siwei knew that Klet was helping the woman.But after saving a person, he started swearing. It was just like running through the red light earlier. Every time Shen Siwei felt that Klet might not be so bad, he would soon find out that he was wrong and that he acted entirely based on his own temperament. ¡°What did you say just now?¡± Klet put away the gun and looked at Shen Siwei, asking. Apparently, Klet didn¡¯t hear Shen Siwei¡¯s threat at all. But at this moment, none of those things mattered to Shen Siwei. He shifted his gaze from the woman¡¯s figure and frowned as he asked Klet, ¡°Is she carrying a newborn baby?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Klet flicked away the cigarette butt in his hand, ¡°Is there a problem. Originally, there were two core power stations in the Tree of Life, one built on the top floor where the Marg people lived, and the other in the sea outside the East District¡¯s walls. Fifty years ago, the sea-based core power station was destroyed by a deep-sea monster. Since the monster would attack humans, the power station could not be repaired and had to be abandoned. The energy supply in the Tree of Life dropped, and it was during that time that a series of energy-saving policies were implemented by the upper levels, including the termination of public transportation in the lower levels after 8 p.m. On the other hand, due to the extended human lifespan, the population inevitably grew substantially. With a decrease in energy supply and an increasing population, a new energy crisis was almost foreseeable. At this time, the Marg people came forward advocating for everyone to sign the ¡°Declaration of Refusal to Reproduce¡± to ensure the long-term use of existing human energy. The current interests obviously outweighed the future interests of the race, and everyone in the Tree of Life unanimously agreed to sign the ¡°Declaration.¡± Everyone injected sterilization drugs, and from that moment on, there were no newborn babies in the Tree of Life, nor were they allowed. ¡°How could she be pregnant?¡± Shen Siwei asked the question in his mind. He thought this was a consensus among all people, but Klet showed a surprised expression. He raised an eyebrow and taunted, ¡°Are you still living in the previous century, negotiator?¡± Shen Siwei calmly asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°In recent years, there have been newborn babies, and measures are currently being put in place ,¡± Klet adjusted his sitting posture to observe Shen Siwei¡¯s expression clearly, ¡°How come you don¡¯t know about this?¡± Klet¡¯s words contained a lot of information, and Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t ask directly, so he had to analyze it himself. It seems that the human body is constantly adapting and evolving, eventually breaking through the limitations of medication. With an increasing number of newborn babies, the upper levels cannot directly order their extermination and can only discuss new strategies. Wait a minute. Exterminate¡­ newborn babies? Suddenly, Shen Siwei¡¯s nerves seemed to be pricked by needles, and vague flashes appeared in his mind. Before being cryogenically frozen, his life had no connection with the term ¡°newborn baby.¡± He should be quite unfamiliar with this concept. However, for some reason, he had a feeling as if newborn babies were on the timeline of his memory, and they were very close to the time he was cryogenically frozen. ¡°Negotiator?¡± Klet¡¯s voice brought Shen Siwei¡¯s thoughts back. Shen Siwei dismissed the fuzzy fragments in his mind and said casually, ¡°I don¡¯t pay much attention to these matters.¡± Klet nodded thoughtfully, seemingly accepting Shen Siwei¡¯s statement. But then he suddenly asked, ¡°Did you receive any military training?¡± The topic came too suddenly, and Shen Siwei¡¯s mind hadn¡¯t completely detached from the newborn baby yet. Without much thought, he denied, ¡°No, I am a civilian.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Klet looked at Shen Siwei with a meaningful gaze, ¡°But you seem quite accustomed to the sound of gunfire.¡± Caught. Only then did Shen Siwei realize that he had exposed a flaw. Klet had just fired a gun in front of him, and he remained calm without even blinking, clearly indicating that he was not someone unfamiliar with guns. Before Shen Siwei could figure out how to defend himself, Klet suddenly stepped on the accelerator, turned the steering wheel, and made a U-turn with the off-road vehicle. ¡°Where are we going?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°I¡¯m taking you to a hotel,¡± Klet glanced at Shen Siwei, and his deep eyes held a hint of curiosity, ¡°Don you want to leave?¡± Fine. Now Shen Siwei was very certain that Klet had become suspicious of him. But that was fine. He accidentally exposed a flaw, making Klet doubt his identity. At least now he didn¡¯t have to think about how to stay any longer. Before long, the off-road vehicle stopped in front of a deserted hotel. Shen Siwei got out of the car wearing Klet¡¯s coat and looked up at the hotel sign. It turned out to be a self-service hotel. The hotel had outdated facilities and was empty. The lobby flickered with dim neon lights, giving off a very cheap vibe. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Klet thought he couldn¡¯t afford a better hotel or if he simply didn¡¯t think he deserved one. The thought flashed through his mind, but Shen Siwei didn¡¯t dwell on it. After all, Klet was someone who didn¡¯t play by the rules, and his thoughts were impossible to figure out. ¡°Come here and register,¡± Klet walked over to a LCD screen. Whether it was because he thought that Shen Siwei was an ¡°old-fashioned person¡± or not, he asked, ¡°Do you need me to teach you?¡± Of course, his ¡°kindness¡± sounded more like sarcasm. ¡°No need,¡± Shen Siwei wasn¡¯t really an old-fashioned guy. He clicked the ¡°accommodation registration¡± button on the screen but didn¡¯t proceed further. Instead, he lifted his head and stared straight at Klet. There was a line indicating where to queue one meter behind Shen Siwei. Polite people wouldn¡¯t lean next to someone while they registered their identity information, blatantly trying to peek. But Klet was completely oblivious, he lifted his chin and urged, ¡°Continue.¡± Now Shen Siwei finally understood that the reason Klet brought him to the self-service hotel was to check his identity. His wrist approached the scanning port, and with a ¡°beep,¡± his identity information immediately popped up on the screen. ¡ªOf course, it was a fake identity. ¡°Ivan?¡± Klet crossed his arms in front of his chest, still lazily leaning against the screen. He probably didn¡¯t find anything suspicious and didn¡¯t want to make the identity check appear too serious. He looked back at Shen Siwei and said something utterly meaningless, ¡°Hello, Ivan, I¡¯m Klet.¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t be bothered to play along with Klet¡¯s childish social game. He continued to select a room on the screen but found that there were no other guests in this hotel. This wasn¡¯t normal. Perhaps some of the refugees had their own places in Zone Z of the western city, but the vast majority of them shouldn¡¯t have a fixed residence and would stay in hotels. Moreover, this was a cheap hotel without a defense system, and most could even stay here without paying. ¡°Why are there no guests here?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°It¡¯s normal,¡± Klet said, ¡°self-service hotels don¡¯t have special services.¡± Shen Siwei was puzzled, ¡°Special services?¡± Klet raised an eyebrow and once again gave Shen Siwei a look as if he were an old-fashioned person. ¡°Or,¡± he asked, ¡°would you like to try a macho-themed hotel?¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± So that¡¯s what it meant. Special services equaled adult services. He withdrew his gaze expressionlessly and continued operating the display screen, ¡°No need.¡± CH 6 In the narrow elevator space, beautiful classical music played while an advertisement for medical prosthetics played on the electronic display screen. The naked-eye 3D effect was fully utilized, with slender arms breaking through the screen, and agile fingers appearing as if they were right in front of the eyes. Shen Siwei suddenly remembered something and looked at Klet beside him, asking, ¡°Is your arm a mechanical prosthesis?¡± In ordinary daily life, Shen Siwei was not someone who liked to pry into other people¡¯s privacy. But Klet was his mission target, and he had to gather as much information as possible. Klet maintained the posture of looking up at the floor indicator, but he glanced at Shen Siwei with the corner of his eye and said, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s the deal with your muscle strength?¡± Shen Siwei continued to ask, ¡°Did you use banned substances?¡± Even if Klet did use injections, that was a matter for the police to handle, and it had nothing to do with Shen Siwei. So he straightforwardly asked. But his consecutive questions seemed to have annoyed Klet. Klet lifted his chin and lowered his gaze to Shen Siwei, responding with a counter-question, ¡°What about your height?¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°?¡± Klet: ¡°Are there any short people among the Mag people?¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And your skin,¡± Klet continued, ¡°did you get skin whitening injections?¡± Mag people had tall and handsome appearances. Shen Siwei¡¯s height of 1.8 meters was not considered short among ordinary people, but he indeed didn¡¯t reach the average level of Mag people. Furthermore, due to their long-term living at an altitude of 9,000 meters, the bodies of Mag people continuously evolved to adapt to low temperatures, low pressure, and low oxygen environments. Their skin also had a healthy wheatish color due to abundant sunlight. Apart from his beautiful appearance, Shen Siwei didn¡¯t possess any traits related to Mag people. ¡°Not all Mag people are that tall,¡± he casually replied, no longer prying into Klet¡¯s privacy, and continued watching the elevator advertisement. The question-and-answer battle obviously ended with Klet¡¯s victory. He seemed to be in a good mood and lightly scoffed, ¡°Shorty.¡± Veins suddenly popped on Shen Siwei¡¯s forehead. He suddenly realized that this leader of the refugees not only was difficult to deal with, but he also had a talent for making people furious. The elevator finally stopped on the seventh floor of the hotel¡¯s rooftop. Shen Siwei stepped , intending to tell Klet that he didn¡¯t need to accompany him, but he saw that Klet had already arrived at the door of the room he had booked, one step ahead of him. Speaking of which, Klet didn¡¯t need to escort Shen Siwei to the floor. Besides surveillance, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t think of any other reasons. ¡°Do you plan to keep watch over me all night?¡± Shen Siwei stopped in front of the room door. ¡°I don¡¯t have that kind of free time,¡± Klet said, ¡°I¡¯ll leave once you¡¯re inside.¡± Shen Siwei still couldn¡¯t figure out Klet¡¯s intentions. It seemed like a gentlemanly gesture to escort him to the door of the room, but Shen Siwei always felt that the word ¡°gentleman¡± had nothing to do with Klet, who exuded a beastly aura. He used the identity chip on his wrist to swipe open the door, and at that moment, Klet by his side said, ¡°Don¡¯t go out at night. There¡¯s a lot of activity outside with the refugees, and I don¡¯t want to have to save you again.¡± Shen Siwei had to go out at night, as it was necessary to complete his mission. However, he still responded with a ¡°Okay¡± on the surface, took off the coat draped over his shoulders, and handed it to Klet, saying, ¡°Thank you.¡± Klete¡¯s gaze paused on Shen Siwei¡¯s wrist for half a second, then he looked at Shen Siwei and said, ¡°You can keep it.¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°No need.¡± The online stores in Zone Z of City X were not closed. After Klet left, Shen Siwei quickly placed an order for new uniforms, a cloak, and a night suit. It didn¡¯t take much time to check for surveillance cameras and bugs. Everything in the hotel room was normal, and there was no risk of being monitored. Opening the communicator, he dialed the only stored number, and soon he heard Moran¡¯s voice on the other end. ¡°How¡¯s the situation?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Just in case, Shen Siwei turned on the shower in the bathroom to cover the sound of his conversation. ¡°The information we obtained earlier was quite accurate. Klet is the only one who knows about the energy supply, but it¡¯s difficult to extract useful information from him.¡± ¡°The location you¡¯re in is not far from the Z City power station,¡± Moran said, ¡°Investigate as quickly as possible and don¡¯t expose yourself.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± That was Shen Siwei¡¯s plan from the beginning. ¡°In addition, I found out the identities of the four people who attacked you.¡± Shen Siwei opened the four files he received. Two men and two women, they were indeed the same four who attacked him in that evening. ¡°Are they all refugees?¡± Shen Siwei asked. All four had criminal records, some with fewer charges, and some with more, but they all had the common charge of ¡°assaulting a police officer.¡± ¡°They¡¯re not considered refugees,¡± Moran said, ¡°They¡¯re wanted criminals.¡± Only those who lived outside the tree were considered refugees. Some criminals hadn¡¯t been caught by the police and were still hiding inside the tree, so they couldn¡¯t be considered refugees. ¡°Why would they attack a negotiator?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°Perhaps they don¡¯t want the Mag people to reach an agreement with the refugees?¡± Moran speculated, ¡°Or maybe they just want to cause trouble. After all, these criminals dislike social stability.¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t think of any other reasons. ¡°In any case, you must be careful. The lower levels may be more dangerous than we imagined. Do you need me to send two soldiers to accompany you?¡± ¡°No need.¡± In fact, considering Shen Siwei¡¯s physical condition, it was unlikely that he would encounter any problems, and having soldiers by his side would only increase the danger. Of course, provided that no one takes off his oxygen mask. ¡°I miss you,¡± Moran suddenly changed to a gentle tone, ¡°Complete the mission as soon as possible and come back to me.¡± Shen Siwei pursed his lips, suppressing the strange feeling in his heart. ¡°Hmm.¡± The delivery drone tapped on the hotel room window, reminding Shen Siwei that his online purchase had been delivered. While opening the window, Shen Siwei quickly observed the surrounding environment to ensure that no one was remotely monitoring him. Choosing a top-floor room was also for this reason. This neighborhood was not in the city center, and the buildings were generally not tall. The seventh-floor view was spacious enough. The window faced the residential buildings of the hotel¡¯s back alley, with the highest being only five floors, insufficient to monitor the seventh floor. ¡°Identity verification passed. Wish you a pleasant shopping experience!¡± The delivery drone did not carry any other packages, indicating how economically depressed this city was, and the people staying here did not have much desire for shopping. Shen Siwei took a final look at the situation outside the window, closed it, and drew the curtains. The uniforms and cloak he purchased online were only similar in style to the white military uniform he usually wore, but the fabric and workmanship were of lower quality. However, Shen Siwei didn¡¯t mind. He took out the black combat suit he was about to wear and tried it on. It fit well and allowed for easy movement. In the dressing mirror, there appeared a black-clad man wearing a baseball cap. His blond hair, blue eyes, and metallic mask were all hidden in the shadow of the cap. At first glance, no one would associate him with the noble negotiator. Shen Siwei checked the time, gripped the doorknob with his right hand, and decided to leave . On the other side, in an inconspicuous apartment in the city center. Malken¡¯s hands hovered in the air, his fingers rapidly tapping on a virtual keyboard. The keyboard displayed RGB light without making any sound, but the screen projected in the air rapidly displayed lines of code. After a while, Malken excitedly pushed the keyboard away and spun around in his ergonomic chair. He said to Klet, who was sitting on the couch behind him, ¡°Done!¡± Numerous surveillance screens appeared on the display screen, showing the lobby, elevators, and corridors, exactly the self-service hotel Klete had just visited. Malken interlocked his fingers and stretched lazily, complaining to Klete, ¡°I¡¯m a mechanic, not a hacker. Can you give me something useful to do?¡± Klet didn¡¯t answer, his gaze fixed on the screens. He said, ¡°Pull up the surveillance footage at his room door.¡± ¡°Come on, confess,¡± despite Malken¡¯s complaints, his hands didn¡¯t stop moving, ¡°Why did you suddenly change your mind and bring someone to book a room halfway? Were you seduced by his beauty?¡± ¡°Nonsense.¡± Klet glanced indifferently at Malken. ¡°His identity seemed different.¡± Suddenly, the image of that fair and slender wrist appeared in his mind, and Klet furrowed his brow slightly, no longer focusing on the surveillance footage. ¡°If he leaves the room, notify me immediately.¡± ¡°What, are you going to play stalker and tail him?¡± Malken laughed. Klete slapped the back of Malken¡¯s head with a ¡°smack.¡± CH 7 In the moment his hand touched the doorknob, Shen Siwei suddenly stopped. There were surveillance cameras all over the hotel corridor. Although only the police could access the surveillance footage, who knows if Klet had other means of checking it. To be on the safe side, it was better not to use the main entrance. With that in mind, Shen Siwei let go of the doorknob and returned to the window. Calmly squatting on the window sill, Shen Siwei had more than half of his body outside the window. The strong wind blew across his hat brim, fluttering his blond hair in front of his forehead, but it couldn¡¯t mess up his beautiful gaze. Jumping from the seventh floor to the rooftop of the adjacent residential building was not difficult, but since he had such a small body, it seemed unnecessary to jump across. Releasing his grip on the window frame, the black figure leaped down, dropping from the seventh floor. The impact force due to gravity was neither painful nor ticklish for Shen Siwei. He stood upright, pushed down his baseball cap, and followed the map¡¯s guidance towards the power station. Shen Siwei avoided the heavily monitored main roads and navigated through dark alleys, occasionally encountering groups of three to five refugees wandering around with bottles of alcohol. It was easy for him to use the alleys to avoid them. However, the closer he got to the city center power station, the more refugees there were on the road. They seemed to enjoy the city¡¯s atmosphere, playing cards under streetlights and chatting on the road as their pastime. Before long, Shen Siwei encountered a massive crowd of refugees. The once empty streets were filled with emotionally charged refugees, and four modified cars were parked side by side on the main road. A provocatively dressed woman stood in the middle of the road, waving a black and white flag. It seemed that the desolate city had turned into a perfect racetrack, and a car race was about to take place. What slightly troubled Shen Siwei was that he had to cross this main road to reach the power station on the other side. Now that the main road had become a closed racetrack, he couldn¡¯t simply pass through without being seen. As the black and white flag was waved down, four beasts roared out from the starting line. The refugee drivers indeed disregarded any rules. Although the road ahead was a straight path with no obstructions, some drivers began ramming their opponents with their cars. After covering a distance of only fifty meters, one of the cars flipped over after being hit. Perhaps a partner of the overturned car, the driver of another vehicle opened the sunroof and raised a machine gun, firing at the car that was involved in the collision. A perfectly fine race turned into a death race. Witnessing this scene, the refugees standing on both sides of the street suddenly started hurling insults at each other. It was then that Shen Siwei realized that the roadside had divided into two factions, and from their insults, it seemed that they had been harboring grudges for a long time. ¡°Like owner, like dog! Barn is just a petty person!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with crashing into each other if racing is supposed to be wild? Who the hell fired first?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all because of you bastards¡­¡± The verbal battle escalated, and someone finally pulled out a gun. Just a moment ago, Shen Siwei thought he couldn¡¯t casually cross the road, but now the race had turned into a gunfight, and the road was in chaos. No one paid any attention to him. Lowering his hat brim, he climbed over the railing, quickly crossed the road unnoticed, and slipped into a nearby alley. During this time, plenty of insults reached his ears, further confirming his previous thought that Klet and Barn had long been at odds with each other. The gunfight was quickly stopped as some rational individuals stepped forward to prevent the refugees from fighting amongst themselves. At present, the refugees and the military were in a standoff, and such infighting was a disadvantage to everyone involved. One refugee put away his gun and said to the person next to them, ¡°There was a person in black who passed by just now. The bullets hit him as if nothing happened. Did you see that?¡± The other person casually replied, ¡°Maybe you saw it wrong.¡± After a while, Shen Siwei finally approached the Z City power station. There were three to five refugees guarding each outer corridor of the station. Just by approaching the power station he would be noticed by the refugees in high positions. Since the defense was so tight, it was certain that klet was also well aware of it. The reason the military hadn¡¯t launched a full-scale counterattack was probably because they were concerned about the unknown situation at the power station. Forcing their way in was out of the question. If it was certain that there would be anything to gain after breaking in, then it wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea. However, Shen Siwei clearly couldn¡¯t take that risk. At the moment, it seemed that there were no loopholes . Shen Siwei found a dark corner and began observing the shift change pattern of the refugees. On the other side, The apartment door slammed shut, making a loud noise. Half-asleep and half-awake, Maerken jumped up from his chair and instinctively reached for the gun at his waist. But when he saw that it was Klet who came in, he sighed in relief, withdrew his hand, and asked, ¡°Is it resolved?¡± ¡°It¡¯s resolved,¡± Klet impatiently sat down on the sofa. ¡°A fight broke out midway through the race.¡± Half an hour ago, Klet received a notification that there was a gunfight on the main road. He hurriedly rushed to the scene only to find out that the reason for the fight between the two sides was a trivial matter. ¡°Tsk,¡± Maerken shook his head. ¡°Why do these people love to cause trouble?¡± Klet impatiently furrowed his brows and glanced at the holographic screen in mid-air. ¡°Is there no movement there?¡± ¡°None,¡± Maerken shrugged. ¡°Looks like our negotiator is behaving.¡± Maerken set up a reminder program that would sound an alarm if someone appeared in the corridor. So even if he wasn¡¯t constantly staring at the screen, he wouldn¡¯t miss any activity from Shen Siwei. But suddenly, Klet looked at the wave pattern on the screen and asked, ¡°How long has this state been going on?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Maerken also noticed that something was off and tried to recall. ¡°Ten minutes? Twenty minutes?¡± The wave pattern was connected to the microphone Klet discreetly placed outside the hotel room door. Although the microphone¡¯s clarity was not as good as that of a bug, it could accurately collect all the sounds within its range. Even the slight sound of slippers rubbing against the carpet would be reflected on the wave pattern. But now, there was only a straight line on the wave pattern, indicating that Shen Siwei hadn¡¯t made any sound, or perhaps¨C He wasn¡¯t in the room. Before he could even sit comfortably, Klet impatiently stood up from the sofa. ¡°I¡¯ll go take a look.¡± After observing the power station for a while, Shen Siwei suddenly realized that it was not the right time for him to be there. Klet had warned him that there would be a lot of refugee activities at night. He didn¡¯t pay much attention to it, thinking it was just because there were more night owls. But thinking about it, those refugees lived in the desert all year round, where the temperature was extremely high during the day. They should have already adapted to being active at night. In other words, nighttime was when these refugees were most alert. The guarding refugees showed no signs of changing shifts, and the defense of the power station remained impenetrable. After observing for a while longer, Shen Siwei decided to return first and come back another time tomorrow. On the way back, the main road was filled with large AI cleaning vehicles dealing with the bodies of the refugees. Perhaps due to the conflict, there were hardly any drinking refugees by the roadside, and the road was even more clear than when he came. Returning to the alley behind the hotel once again, Shen Siwei looked up at the height of his room¡¯s window and then leaped back and forth between the residential building and the hotel¡¯s outer wall, easily returning to his room. It was still early at this time, so he headed straight for the bathroom and took off his black clothes. Hot water continued to flow from the bathtub faucet. Just as Shen Siwei was about to test the water temperature, a rapid knocking sound suddenly came from outside. ¡°Negotiator?¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s nerves immediately tightened because he recognized Klet¡¯s voice. He quickly went to the bathroom door, put on the white cloak he had just bought, and at that moment, the voice outside the door sounded again, ¡°Are you there?¡± Shen Siwei opened his mouth, ready to reply, but before he could make a sound, the door suddenly burst open. Klet walked into the room and immediately looked around, then turned to Shen Siwei and said, ¡°You¡¯re here. Why didn¡¯t you say anything?¡± Shen Siwei looked at the door that had been kicked open, staring at Klet in disbelief¡ªdid this person even give him a chance to speak? From knocking on the door to kicking the door, it took only three seconds. Shen Siwei even suspected that Klet¡¯s ultimate goal was to barge in. No, it wasn¡¯t a suspicion, it was a certainty. After entering the room, Klet¡¯s first reaction was to inspect the surroundings, clearly intending to investigate. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you knock a few more times?¡± Shen Siwei asked with a furrowed brow. ¡°I was afraid you were in danger,¡± Klet replied without sincerity, then looked Shen Siwei up and down. ¡°Why are you still wearing the cloak?¡± Shen Siwei felt a sudden sense of alertness, as if Klet somehow knew that he had gone out. ¡°I was about to take a bath, I¡¯m not wearing any clothes,¡± he maintained an annoyed tone, ¡°Can you please leave?¡± Ignoring his request, Klet pointed to the wide-open door and asked, ¡°Are you still planning to bathe like this?¡± Shen Siwei coldly replied, ¡°I¡¯ll change rooms if you don¡¯t leave.¡± Klet showed no intention of leaving; instead, he walked straight toward Shen Siwei and asked, ¡°What were you doing before getting ready to bathe?¡± Shen Siwei answered, ¡°Watching the news.¡± Klet asked, ¡°What news?¡± Shen Siwei replied, ¡°None of your business.¡± Their conversation was filled with tension. Klet¡¯s questions didn¡¯t give Shen Siwei any time to think, and Shen Siwei¡¯s answers didn¡¯t give him an opportunity to ask any further questions ¡°So, are you really planning to bathe now?¡± Klet¡¯s gaze fell once again on Shen Siwei¡¯s cloak. ¡°Why would I lie?¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s attitude was straightforward, mixed with impatience and a hint of annoyance. But he forgot that Klet was someone who didn¡¯t follow the rules. Just as he thought he could quickly send him away, he saw the man suddenly take a step forward, his left hand tightly gripping Shen Siwei¡¯s back, and his right hand unexpectedly slipping under his cloak. Klet clearly had the habit of carrying a gun; his fingertips were rough and calloused. His large hand roamed around Shen Siwei¡¯s waist, continuing downward along the curve of his hip. However, his fingertips only touched briefly before stopping. Klet looked somewhat surprised as he stared at Shen Siwei . ¡°So, you really aren¡¯t wearing any clothes?¡± By this time, Shen Siwei¡¯s right hand was already propped against Klet¡¯s chest, and he was about to push klet ten meters away. But the thought of ¡°the mission is important¡± flashed through his mind, and he barely restrained the force in his hand. The suppressed strength almost choked him, leaving him with no outlet for his energy. With anger in his eyes, Shen Siwei glared at Klet and gritted his teeth. ¡°What¡­about¡­it?¡± A hint of crimson flashed in his pale blue eyes, a touch of bloodlust that even he didn¡¯t notice. Now Shen Siwei could basically confirm that Klet somehow knew he had gone out and firmly believed that beneath the cloak was the night attire he wanted to conceal; otherwise, Klet wouldn¡¯t have made such a direct move. ¡°Oh, then go ahead,¡± Klet casually released Shen Siwei, without a trace of apology in his tone. ¡°Enjoy your bath.¡± CH 8 Coming out of the self-service hotel, the SUV parked by the roadside had already received a fine from the police. The fine was in the most severe black color, warning the owner that they would be arrested if they didn¡¯t pay. Klet casually tore the fine off and crumpled it into a ball, throwing it into a nearby trash can, then walked around to the alley behind the hotel. ¡°Did you catch him?¡± Maerken¡¯s voice came through the communicator. ¡°No,¡± Klet looked up and glanced at Shen Siwei¡¯s room window, his gaze naturally falling on the residential building across the street. Ten minutes ago, when Klet arrived at the self-service hotel, something seemed strange He quickly headed to the seventh-floor room, kicked open the door , and when he saw Shen Siwei wearing a cloak, he subconsciously thought he hadn¡¯t had time to change clothes. Although later it turned out that he was wrong, but¡ª His waist felt quite good to touch. ¡°He must have entered and exited through the window.¡± Putting aside inappropriate thoughts, Klet teached the rooftop of the residential building. ¡°Do you think he can jump from the seventh floor to the fifth floor?¡± ¡°Impossible, right?¡± Maerken¡¯s tone was full of doubt. ¡°Or is he pretending to be weak?¡± ¡°Hard to say.¡± At least from the outside, that beautiful negotiator didn¡¯t seem like someone who could scale walls and fly. ¡°Are there any footprints he left on the fifth floor?¡± Maerken asked. The rooftop of the residential building only had air conditioners and water purification equipment. Klet used a flashlight to look around, but he didn¡¯t find any suspicious footprints. ¡°No,¡± he walked to the edge of the rooftop, looked up at Shen Siwei¡¯s room window, and began to contemplate the amount of jumping force needed to jump back from the fifth floor to the seventh floor. The conclusion he reached was that a normal person couldn¡¯t do it unless they had installed mechanical limbs. ¡°Is he really watching the news?¡± Maerken asked again. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Next time, he would have to touch those legs again and see if they had undergone mechanical modifications. ¡°In any case, keep an eye on him.¡± ¡°Um, boss,¡± Maerken suddenly said, ¡°it seems like you¡¯ve been exposed.¡± After Klet left, Shen Siwei threw his night attire into the laundry chute in the bathroom and changed into a newly bought white uniform. There was no chance to relax and enjoy a bath. As long as Shen Siwei didn¡¯t figure out how Klet knew he had gone out, he couldn¡¯t let his guard down. Speaking of which, Klet came to check after Shen Siwei had already returned to the hotel, which meant he didn¡¯t know immediately when Shen Siwei left the hotel. If Klet had spotted Shen Siwei on the way, he should have directly stopped him instead of coming to the hotel to check on him. Furthermore, Shen Siwei had been avoiding surveillance cameras along the way, so the possibility of being caught on camera was small. ¡°So¡­¡± Shen Siwei surveyed the hotel room and murmured to himself, ¡°what caused Klet¡¯s suspicion?¡± He went outside the room to take a look and immediately noticed something weird. Near the door frame close to the ground, there was a clearly sticky circular mark. Shen Siwei touched it¡ªit was still strong, indicating that whatever was stuck to the wall had been removed not long ago. A bug transmitter. The size and shape of the circular mark were quite indicative, not difficult for Shen Siwei to guess. ¡°Interesting.¡± It seemed that Klet escorting him back to the room , regardless of being a gentleman or not,was purely to install a bug transmitter. Klet seemed to be more difficult to handle than he had imagined. But a mission had to have some difficulty to be exciting, right? Shen Siwei stood up, unabashedly looked at the surveillance camera in the corridor, and then entered the elevator. Coming out of the self-service hotel, Shen Siwei surprisingly saw the SUV parked at the entrance. Klet was leaning against the car door, smoking a cigarette. His right leg was casually bent and resting on his left leg, and the large vehicle matched his height. When he saw Shen Siwei coming out, he flicked away the cigarette in his hand, as if he had been waiting for him. Some things didn¡¯t need to be explicitly stated, and Klet¡¯s actions indicated that he knew Shen Siwei was coming down from upstairs. In other words, he was indirectly admitting that he was indeed monitoring Shen Siwei. At the same time, Shen Siwei¡¯s calm expression also conveyed to Klet that he knew he was being watched. Just these actions alone were not enough to expose Shen Siwei¡¯s identity, so he didn¡¯t mind playing this with Klet. Sitting in the passenger seat, Shen Siwei stared straight ahead and said, ¡°Go to the Creston Grand Hotel, please.¡± His tone was devoid of any emotion, completely treating Klet as a driver. ¡°Is the accommodation here uncomfortable?¡± Klet asked knowingly. ¡°The Creston Grand Hotel has a 300-square-meter presidential suite,¡± Shen Siwei hinted. The range of sound that a bug transmitter could pick up was limited. As long as the room was spacious enough, there was no need to worry about being monitored by a bug transmitter when moving around inside the room. ¡°Hmm.¡± Klet clearly understood Shen Siwei¡¯s intentions and a smile appeared on his lips. ¡°Indeed, it suited the identity of a negotiator better.¡± The SUV turned the first street corner, and in the line of sight ahead, the pinnacle of the power station and the Creston Grand Hotel, a little further away, came into view. Shen Siwei¡¯s thoughts inevitably drifted to the power station. However, at that moment, a small armed drone suddenly appeared in front of the windshield, blocking his view. ¡°License plate number ¡®West Z?XXXXXX,¡¯ please stop immediately!¡± The drone had the emblem of the traffic police, and Shen Siwei looked at klet beside him and asked, ¡°How many violations did you commit?¡± ¡°Not many.¡± Klet abruptly stepped on the accelerator, throwing the drone behind the vehicle. However, at that moment, four more armed drones appeared ahead, and each one extended two long barrels from its body. ¡°Final warning, please stop immediately!¡± Klet still didn¡¯t step on the brakes but instead threw his gun to Shen Siwei. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you shoot,¡± he said. Shen Siwei: ¡°?¡± ¡°Did you forget that I am a negotiator?¡± Shen Siwei looked at Klet in disbelief. ¡°Are you asking me to attack the police?¡± committing a traffic violation while driving wasn¡¯t a big deal, but Shen Siwei, a negotiator, would never engage in assaulting the police! ¡°If you don¡¯t shoot, they¡¯ll shoot at you.¡± As soon as Klet finished speaking, the five armed drones simultaneously opened fire, bullets hitting the bulletproof glass, creating countless marks. Learning from the previous incident, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t appear too calm. He had no choice but to feign a panicked expression and furrowed his brow. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to shoot.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Klet raised an eyebrow. ¡°Then you¡¯ll be a fugitive with me.¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± How could someone be so unpredictable? His current identity was that of a nobleman, so who would instigate a noble to commit a crime? The bulletproof glass around them gradually showed signs of cracking. If the car window were eventually shattered, Shen Siwei truly didn¡¯t know how he would react. He decided to pick up the gun and aim it at Klet¡¯s temple. ¡°Stop the car!¡± To avoid exposing that he knew how to use a gun, Shen Siwei didn¡¯t even release the safety pin. Klet showed a slightly amused expression, clearly not expecting Shen Siwei to come up with this. Amidst the sound of the bulletproof glass gradually shattering, he calmly looked ahead at the road. ¡°You said you wouldn¡¯t shoot.¡± Shen Siwei exerted pressure on Klet¡¯s head, speaking in a low voice. ¡°See if I dare.¡± Klet¡¯s head was forced to lean to the left, and he calmly glanced at Shen Siwei before finally stepping on the brakes. ¡°Fine.¡± The SUV slowly came to a stop on the side of the road, and the police ceased their gunfire. Klet obediently paid the fine, then turned to Shen Siwei beside him and asked, ¡°Satisfied now, negotiator?¡± Shen Siwei returned the gun to Klet, his frowning brow still not relaxed. ¡°Drive.¡± After the wild ride on the road just now, they only needed to make a turn at the intersection to reach the Creston Grand Hotel. The luxurious lobby of a five-star hotel was incomparable to the cheap self-service hotel. Shen Siwei¡¯s restless mood improved slightly as he completed the check-in procedure at the front desk and headed straight for the elevator. However, at that moment, he suddenly heard Klet speaking to the front desk behind him, ¡°The presidential suite, give him the adjacent room.¡± Shen Siwei abruptly stopped in his tracks and looked at Klet. ¡°Don¡¯t you have a place to stay?¡± ¡°No,¡± Klet shrugged. ¡°The surveillance in this hotel is impenetrable.¡± In other words, he had to personally keep an eye on Shen Siwei. Truly straightforward. Feeling both annoyed and helpless, Shen Siwei said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just follow me around 24/7?¡± ¡°I have no objections,¡± Klet immediately followed up on Shen Siwei¡¯s words. ¡°Shall we share a room then?¡± Shen Siwei turned his head and walked towards the elevator. Behind him, Klet¡¯s low laughter rang out, as if he had encountered something amusing, putting him in a good mood. A five-star hotel with a defense system had almost no other guests. The elevator went straight to the top floor of the hotel, revealing the neon lights of the city at night. From a distance, the defense of the power station remained impeccable. The patrolling refugees were all energetic, showing no signs of fatigue. Shen Siwei glanced at it briefly before hurriedly retracting his gaze. After all, Klet was still by his side. The two presidential suites were located on opposite sides of the elevator. After getting off the elevator, Shen Siwei walked towards his own room without looking back. Suddenly, Klet called out to him from behind. ¡°Negotiator.¡± Shen Siwei stopped and turned his body slightly. ¡°Just a reminder,¡± Klet slowly spoke with a lazy tone, but his words were menacing. ¡°Those who point a gun at my head end up dead.¡± Shen Siwei narrowed his eyes. What did he mean by this? Was this person threatening him? He turned the rest of his body, meeting Klet¡¯s gaze head-on. ¡°Then let me remind you as well,¡± he said. ¡°Those who touch my ass end up dead.¡± Leaving those words behind, Shen Siwei swiped open his room door, shutting out Klet¡¯s laughter behind the door. . CH 9 A 300-square-meter presidential suite, the living room alone was larger than a room in a self-service hotel. The intelligent lighting system automatically adjusted the indoor lighting, making the spacious room look clean and cozy. The 270-degree floor-to-ceiling windows offered a beautiful view of the city at night. From a distance, there are still many refugees patrolling around the perimeter of the power station, and Shen Siwei completely dismissed the idea of exploring at night. He took off the oxygen mask he had been wearing all day, took off the newly purchased white uniform, and immersed his entire body in the bathtub. Whether it was due to being frozen for too long or not, the feeling of being surrounded by hot water made Shen Siwei extremely comfortable. his skin soaked in hot water, and the warm steam awakened and healed his respiratory tract. If it weren¡¯t for the communicator suddenly ringing at that moment, Shen Siwei would have almost fallen asleep in the bathtub. ¡¾klet: Negotiations tomorrow morning.¡¿ When registering his identity information at the self-service hotel, Shen Siwei¡¯s communication ID would be displayed on the screen. Clearly, Klet seemed to have casually glanced at the screen but had memorized all of Shen Siwei¡¯s information. he was really cunning, and it was nothing new to Shen Siwei. He replied with a single ¡°okay¡± and then shifted his gaze to the floor-to-ceiling window. There was also a large floor-to-ceiling window in the bathroom. The round bathtub was at the center of the bathroom, and Shen Siwei sat at a position facing the window, enjoying the night sky while bathing, which was truly pleasant. Although there were no stars in the night sky, the view was perfect for emptying one¡¯s mind. Just as Shen Siwei¡¯s thoughts began to blur again, countless tiny stars suddenly appeared in his eyes. No, they weren¡¯t stars, but miniature drones. Swarming like a bee colony, the drones flew in from somewhere and stuck themselves to the large floor-to-ceiling window with a pounding sound. Shen Siwei quickly got out of the bathtub, and at the same time, all the drones exploded simultaneously, turning the thick window glass into pieces. The hotel¡¯s defense system was automatically activated, and four dark gun barrels appeared at the corners of the window frame. However, by this time, the drones had all self-destructed, and the loaded gun barrels couldn¡¯t find any shooting targets. Suddenly, with a ¡°click,¡± a small grenade was thrown in from below the window. Everything happened too quickly. If it were at another time, Shen Siwei wouldn¡¯t be afraid of the explosion, but at this moment, his face had no mask, and once the explosion occurred, his respiratory tract would be damaged. The oxygen mask was placed on the washbasin, several meters away from Shen Siwei. The countdown of the grenade had only one tick left, and it was highly likely that the explosion would happen before Shen Siwei could reach the mask. In an instant, Shen Siwei made a decision and immediately returned to the bathtub, submerging his entire body in the water. At the moment his hair touched the water¡¯s surface, a loud explosion was heard. The powerful shockwave shattered the bathtub, and the scattered water carried Shen Siwei several meters away. The room was filled with waves of heat, like a flaming inferno. Shen Siwei grabbed a wet towel from the side and covered his mouth and nose, but within five seconds, he felt a strong suffocating sensation. No, it¡¯s unbearable¡­ The scene before his eyes gradually became blurry, but Shen Siwei dared not release the wet towel. Because if he let go, the high temperature would only make him suffocate more. Although the sprinkler system above his head had started working, the steam made Shen Siwei even more uncomfortable. So, who wanted to kill him? The person who threw the grenade must be downstairs, or else any attack from a distance would have been prevented by the hotel¡¯s defense system. The drones also passed through the defense system, indicating that the other party was accurate. Can¡¯t take it anymore¡­ he needed oxygen¡­ The mask was on the ground just a few meters away. As long as Shen Siwei tried a little harder, he could reach it. But¡­ He had overestimated his own cardiorespiratory function. He didn¡¯t expect that he couldn¡¯t hold his breath for even a few seconds. His consciousness grew increasingly blurred, and Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t hold on any longer. However, just at that moment, a pair of familiar Martin boots appeared in his field of vision, and in the next second, his naked body was completely covered by a white cloak. ¡°What happened?¡± Klet¡¯s voice sounded in his ear, and Shen Siwei inexplicably felt relieved. He knew that in order to avoid an all-out war, Klet would never allow anything to happen to the negotiator in his territory. Shen Siwei tightly grasped the clothes on Klet¡¯s chest and allowed him to carry him out of the room. Leaving the flaming hell, Shen Siwei finally released the towel that covered his mouth and nose. He increased the strength in his hands, preventing Kret from going any futher and said, ¡°Mask¡­ I need a mask¡­¡± ¡°What exactly was that?¡± Klet frowned and asked. ¡°Shen Siwei didn¡¯t have the energy to come up with explanations. He could only lean on Klet¡¯s shoulder and tightly grip the clothes in his hand, saying, ¡®Face mask¡­¡¯ The damp strands of hair stuck to Shen Siwei¡¯s forehead, making his face look extremely exhausted. Despite that, he still held onto Klet¡¯s clothes with a firm grip, and a pale color formed on his fair skin. Klet really couldn¡¯t be bothered with the damn face mask, but seeing Shen Siwei¡¯s change in appearance, he placed him down and returned to the chaotic room. At this moment, thanks to the room¡¯s sprinkler system, the spreading fire was gradually brought under control. Klet endured the discomfort of water drenching him and quickly found that small gadget in the bathroom. A simple breathing mask with nothing special about it. Could it be true, as Malcolm said, that the noble negotiator couldn¡¯t adapt to the air on the lower levels? Shen Siwei remained outside alone, and Klet didn¡¯t have time to ponder too much, so he arrived at the door and handed the mask to Shen Siwei. Once the negotiator, who had just been half-dead, put on the mask, he quickly calmed down. ¡°What kind of stuff are you inhaling?¡± Klet asked. ¡°A sedative?¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business,¡± Shen Siwei adjusted his breathing with effort, finally having the energy to pull his exposed calf back into his cloak. If he remembered correctly, when klet was carrying him earlier, it seemed like he was touching his knee pit. ¡°Is this how you treat your lifesaver?¡± Klet raised an eyebrow and asked. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you should save me?¡± Shen Siwei retorted, no longer weak as before. ¡°My death wouldn¡¯t benefit you in any way.¡± Klet almost burst into laughter. How did this person change so quickly? Who was the one looking pitifully at him in his arms earlier, asking him to fetch the mask? Just as soon as he got the mask, he turned back into a fierce-looking person. Klete dismissed his thoughts and pointed with his chin toward the room. ¡°So what¡¯s the situation exactly?¡± ¡°Somebody wants to kill me,¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s gaze turned cold. ¡°They¡¯re downstairs, but I¡¯m not sure which floor.¡± He didn¡¯t conceal much and informed Klet of what had just happened. Although it was slightly strange that he experienced an explosion without getting injured, the explanation of hiding in the bathtub was convincing enough, and Klet didn¡¯t seem to doubt it. ¡°I¡¯ll have someone investigate,¡± Klete said, and at that moment, the few employees of the hotel finally arrived, trembling with guns and frying pans in their hands. They probably couldn¡¯t figure out the situation and feared that the refugees were attacking the hotel. ¡°We can¡¯t stay here,¡± Klet said. ¡°You go to my house first.¡± ¡°My house?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°Or I can send you away immediately.¡± If Klet hadn¡¯t been next door, Shen Siwei would have been in serious trouble. From anyone¡¯s perspective, it was the safest choice for Shen Siwei to leave immediately. But how could Shen Siwei possibly leave? He pursed his lips and asked, ¡°Is your house clean?¡± Klet turned and started walking. ¡± Okay I¡¯ll send you back.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Shen Siwei immediately stopped Klet, taking three or four steps forward. ¡°I¡¯ll go to your house.¡± CH 10 The hotel corridor was covered with thick sound-absorbing carpets, and walking barefoot on them felt comfortable. The lobby floor was smooth marble, cool to the touch, perfectly soothing for the body after the explosion. The ground outside the main entrance was clean and tidy, even the rough asphalt felt good to walk on. But when their vehicle arrived at a dirty and chaotic street after several twists and turns, Shen Siwei opened the passenger door, looked at the half-eaten hamburger on the ground, and fell into silence. Kret slammed the car door shut and walked towards the apartment without paying attention to Shen Siwei. Probably hearing no movement behind him, he stopped and turned to look at Shen Siwei, saying, ¡°Do you want me to carry you?¡± Of course, Shen Siwei didn¡¯t need that. He stepped on the ground barefoot and casually asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t there any AI janitors here?¡± ¡°They broke a long time ago,¡± Klet said, and suddenly a little boy carrying a backpack appeared in the hallway. Seeing Klet, the little boy immediately ran over and greeted him, ¡°Klet!¡± ¡°Knock,¡± Klet rubbed the boy¡¯s head and pointed to the half-eaten hamburger on the side of the road with his chin, ¡°Pick up that trash.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Knock nodded and took out a garbage bag from his backpack. Then he looked at Shen Siwei on the side and blinked, asking, ¡°Who¡¯s this handsome brother?¡± Klet glanced at Shen Siwei and nonchalantly said, ¡°Haven¡¯t you watched the news?¡± His tone didn¡¯t sound like he was talking to a child. The rough and deep voice lacked a bit of patience, obviously treating Knock as a little buddy. ¡°He¡¯s a negotiator!¡± Knock¡¯s green eyes suddenly lit up. ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen a Marg person!¡± Klet carelessly reminded, ¡°Normal Marg people are taller than him.¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Negotiator,¡± Knock¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Can I shake hands with you?¡± Previously, when Shen Siwei walked out of the central train station, there were also commoners who wanted to shake his hand on both sides of the road. At that time, he ignored them all. But now, facing the adorable little boy, he used his left hand to grip the edge of his cloak and cautiously extended his right arm, ¡°Sure.¡± Knock excitedly shook hands with Shen Siwei, and a look of confusion suddenly flashed across his face. He looked at Shen Siwei¡¯s exposed arm and bare feet, and asked Klet in a strange tone, ¡°Why isn¡¯t he wearing clothes, big brother?¡± ¡°Go pick up the trash quickly.¡± Klet pressed Knock¡¯s head with his large hand, redirecting his gaze to the half-eaten hamburger. ¡°Adult matters are none of your business.¡± ¡°Tch.¡± Knock pouted dissatisfiedly but obediently went to the street. Shen Siwei¡¯s gaze remained on Knock. He saw the little boy picking up the trash on the road one by one, then throwing the garbage into a nearby trash can, rummaging through it, finding some electronic parts and putting them into his large backpack. ¡°He¡¯s an orphan,¡± Klet¡¯s voice brought Shen Siwei¡¯s attention back. ¡°He makes a living by collecting junk and helps clean up garbage on the side.¡± Shen Siwei could roughly guess why Knock was collecting junk. There was no place for children to go to school in the Tree of Life, nor was there any corresponding social welfare. These unwanted newborns could only survive in the dark side of society. ¡°How old is he?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°Twelve or thirteen?¡± Klet estimated, ¡°He¡¯s considered one of the older ones among the newborns.¡± Shen Siwei thought that the birth of newborns had happened in the past two years, but he didn¡¯t expect that they had appeared more than a decade ago. Suddenly, as if triggering some switch, Shen Siwei¡¯s nerves started to jump.¡±Knock didn¡¯t seem to be the first little boy he had seen. ¡°¡®Negotiator?¡¯ klet walked into the elevator ahead, his tone impatient as usual. ¡®How long are you going to stand there?¡¯ The apartment was not a smart apartment, and it had an old-fashioned feel throughout. ¡°The security at the entrance was practically nonexistent, and garbage sorting relied on individual awareness. Even the elevator moved so slow. As they exited the elevator, klet walked ahead and opened the door. ¡®There¡¯s only one bed in my place. You can sleep on the sofa tonight.¡¯ ¡°¡®No way.¡¯ Shen Siwei bypassed klet and walked into the room like a male cat claiming territory, taking the lead. ¡®The sofa is yours, the bed is mine.¡¯ Shen Siwei¡¯s identity was a nobleman from Marg, or rather, a negotiator who came for negotiations. Any person with a little common sense wouldn¡¯t let him sleep on the sofa. But klet clearly disregarded common sense. He leisurely closed the door and said, ¡®Are you sure you want to get on my bed? Although you¡¯re not my type, I can reluctantly change my preferences.¡¯ ¡°Shen Siwei: ¡®¡­¡¯ he is really annoying. ¡°Not wanting to waste any more words with klet, Shen Siwei walked straight to the window. Across the window, there happened to be an advertisement for adult products, with low-quality neon lights that almost blinded people. While Shen Siwei closed the curtains, klet also turned on the lights in the room. The square room was approximately forty to fifty square meters, cluttered with all sorts of odds and ends. Although it couldn¡¯t be considered tidy, it exuded a strong sense of life. It was obvious that this was not a temporary dwelling klet had found after leading the refugees¡¯ attack. This was his true ¡®home.¡¯ Shen Siwei unabashedly surveyed the entire room, and his gaze finally fell on a pale yellow stone on the coffee table. If he remembered correctly, the stone was quite valuable. ¡°¡®Wasteland Wolf¡¯s Stone,¡¯ klet explained, assuming that Shen Siwei didn¡¯t know. ¡°Shen Siwei responded with a casual ¡®oh,¡¯ but he had figured it out in his mind. A night in the presidential suite at the Kriston Grand Hotel costs tens of thousands. Shen Siwei was curious why klet would be willing to spend such a large sum of money. He thought klet was putting on airs, but he didn¡¯t expect this leader of the refugees to be much wealthier than he imagined. Just the Wasteland Wolf¡¯s Stone alone was worth more than a natural diamond, something that even some wealthy people couldn¡¯t buy. Not to mention the other valuable items in this small room, each of them appearing difficult to obtain. Shen Siwei was genuinely curious, but he feigned being uninterested. He took off his half-wet black tight-fitting short-sleeved shirt and walked into the bathroom, saying, ¡®I¡¯m going to take a shower, make yourself at home.¡¯ Earlier, klet was drenched by the sprinkler system while retrieving the face mask for Shen Siwei. When the tight-fitting short-sleeved shirt was worn on him, you could see the distinct muscular lines. But when he took off his clothes, his robust muscles were fully exposed to the light. Shen Siwei had seen the naked bodies of many members of the action team, but no one was quite like klet. He resembled a slumbering beast, with every muscle seemingly containing boundless power. A large tattoo covered his broad back, and Shen Siwei faintly saw some iconic scenery outside the Tree of Life, but before he could examine it closely,klet had already entered the shower. The square room had no partitions whatsoever, and the bathroom was located in one corner of the room, with a transparent glass enclosure, only the middle part being frosted. So when klet entered the stall and turned around, he saw Shen Siwei¡¯s gaze fixed on him. ¡°¡®There will be a charge for any more staring, negotiator,¡¯ klet said nonchalantly as he loosened his belt. Shen Siwei wasn¡¯t intentionally trying to peek, but when klet turned around, he inadvertently noticed a blurry face tattooed on klet¡¯s clean chest. The face was divided in half, with one side on the frosted glass and the other side behind it. Shen Siwei subconsciously wanted to see it clearly, but klet caught him in the act. Feeling uncomfortable, Shen Siwei withdrew his gaze and looked at the single bed in the other corner of the room. After some hesitation, he still sat on the sofa. ¡ª One person was showering, one person was undressed, and the presence of the bed seemed somewhat inappropriate. There were also some small items piled up on the sofa. Shen Siwei suddenly thought of knock, the little boy who scavenged for trash. Why did he feel like he had seen other little boys like him before?¡±Ever since the signing of the ¡°Declaration,¡± Shen Siwei hadn¡¯t seen a newborn baby in a long time, let alone a young boy of that age. He closed his eyes and tried hard to recall, when the communicator beeped with a notification. ¡¾Moran: Why did you change your address? Are you still in danger? Is the surrounding area safe?¡¿ His train of thought was abruptly interrupted, and Shen Siwei glanced at klet, who was still showering, and only answered the last question. ¡¾Shen Siwei: Safe¡¿ Anticipating that Moran would call next, Shen Siwei inexplicably felt resistance, and considering the current circumstances, he added another sentence. ¡¾Shen Siwei: Unable to talk¡¿ Moran quickly replied to the message. ¡¾Moran: Okay, don¡¯t force yourself. Take care and rest.¡¿ Force himself? Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel puzzled. He wasn¡¯t in danger, so why would Moran give such a reminder? If he had to say, his mind was just a bit chaotic at the moment, and there were things he wanted to understand. Suddenly, a wave of drowsiness engulfed Shen Siwei. He narrowed his eyes and vigorously shook his head, trying to resist, but his consciousness was becoming increasingly blurred. After a moment, Shen Siwei collapsed onto the sofa, completely falling asleep. klet didn¡¯t bring any clean clothes into the bathroom. He walked out of the compartment naked, thinking that the grumpy negotiator would complain again. However, he was surprised to see him sleeping soundly on the sofa. ¡°Weren¡¯t you going to occupy my bed?¡± klet couldn¡¯t help but find it amusing. ¡°A little cat pretending to be a tiger.¡± After changing his clothes, klet used a towel to dry his damp hair. He walked to the side of the sofa, intending to remove Shen Siwei¡¯s mask and take a look. But as soon as his fingers touched that metallic thing, Shen Siwei frowned, turned over, and the mask couldn¡¯t be easily taken off anymore. A pair of gracefully long legs were exposed outside the cloak due to his turning. klet¡¯s gaze slightly narrowed, and then he waved his large hand, covering the legs with the cloak again. Walking out onto the balcony, klet lit a cigarette, casually watching the dazzling advertisement for adult products, and then dialed Melken¡¯s number. ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve investigated it. There are only a dozen guests in the hotel, and none of them are suspicious.¡± ¡°What about the hotel staff?¡± klet asked. ¡°There are fewer than ten staff members, and none of them are suspicious either.¡± Melken paused and added, ¡°However, there was a period of missing surveillance footage in the hotel. It¡¯s highly likely that someone from outside broke into the hotel.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t Christon¡¯s defense system the highest level for civilian use? How did they lose the surveillance footage?¡± klet questioned. ¡°I couldn¡¯t hack into it, but that doesn¡¯t mean professional hackers couldn¡¯t.¡± Melken replied. klet exhaled a puff of smoke in silence, then spoke slowly, ¡°Understood, continue the investigation.¡± ¡°What about the negotiator?¡± Melken asked. ¡°We were mistaken before. He was probably really just watching the news,¡± klet explained. ¡°He has no combat capability, so it¡¯s best for him not to stay here. Tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll send someone to escort him away.¡± 1klet said that Shen Siwei isn¡¯t his type because his fetish is black hair and black eyes. XD CH 11 Shen Siwei opened his eyes, looking blankly at the unfamiliar ceiling. It took him a good three seconds to recall that he was on a mission. His relaxed nerves suddenly tightened, and Shen Siwei cautiously sat up from the sofa, only to see his target for the mission leisurely sitting at the dining table, enjoying breakfast. ¡°You really have a big heart,¡± klet said. ¡°You can sleep so soundly even at my place.¡± Shen Siwei also found it strange. How did he suddenly become so sleepy? After thinking it over, it seemed that the only explanation was the aftereffects of cryostasis. klet tapped the plate in front of him with a fork and asked, ¡°Food or nutrient supplement?¡± The taste of food was better than nutrient supplements, but the nutritional content might not necessarily be higher. Moreover, with the expensive price of meat and the slogan of protecting the ecology being chanted for many years, it was best to choose the latter unless necessary. ¡ªShen Siwei thought this was a choice among all citizens. However, in front of klet was a large plate of stewed beef, enough for two or three people. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brows. If an energy crisis happened again in the future, this rogue leader would definitely have some contribution to it. ¡°Nutrient supplement, thank you.¡± ¡°There¡¯s some in the fridge, help yourself.¡± In klet¡¯s dictionary, it seemed that the phrase ¡°hospitality¡± didn¡¯t exist. Shen Siwei could only act like a half host and heat the bagged nutrient supplement in the microwave. Then he found a clean bowl and spoon from the cabinet. Actually, the refrigerated nutrient supplement could be consumed directly, but after being frozen for so many years, Shen Siwei preferred the warm sensation. Carrying the bowl, Shen Siwei sat down opposite klet and took off the oxygen mask on his face. The ¡°authentic¡± air suddenly drifted into his nostrils, and his gaze unavoidably fell onto the plate in front of klet. ¡ªWhy does it smell so good? Having not eaten a proper meal for many years, Shen Siwei didn¡¯t have a particular craving. But now the situation was like he was eating plain bread while klet was enjoying a feast, putting his self-control to the test. ¡°Do you want some?¡± klet noticed Shen Siwei¡¯s gaze. ¡°No.¡± Shen Siwei withdrew his gaze indifferently and scooped a spoonful of the mushy nutrient supplement into his mouth. It was chicken flavored and not too bad. ¡°Do you also eat nutrient supplements in the sky?¡± klet asked. By ¡°sky,¡± he naturally meant the top level of the Life Tree. Honestly, Shen Siwei had never had a meal at the top level, but the Marg people, who advocated protecting the ecology, would definitely lead by example. ¡°Of course,¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t want klet to continue inquiring about the top level, so he changed the topic. ¡°When should we negotiate?¡± Chewing his food, klet didn¡¯t immediately answer Shen Siwei¡¯s question. After a moment, he leisurely swallowed the food and then said, ¡°We can do it now.¡± One was a noble negotiator, and the other was a leader of the displaced people. The two of them were about to discuss major matters concerning the future of the Life Tree, yet the negotiation was taking place in a rundown apartment. To be more precise, it was on klet¡¯s dining table. The adult advertisements outside the window no longer blinked, but the crows landing on the balcony occasionally made ¡°caw caw¡± sounds, which would inevitably affect the atmosphere of the negotiation. ¡°Eating while negotiating?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°I don¡¯t mind,¡± klet shrugged. ¡°Then you go ahead,¡± Shen Siwei adopted a chatty tone, ¡°What are your demands?¡± klet seemed prepared and blurted out, ¡°Open energy supply.¡± Shen Siwei raised an eyebrow and immediately responded, ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± If energy were to be used without control, it would only harm everyone¡¯s interests. He believed that normal people understood this logic, which is why most civilians were willing to accept the leadership of the Marg people. ¡°In that case, there¡¯s no need to talk,¡± Cret said, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone send you away later.¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± Is this called negotiation? Judging from klet¡¯s expression, he didn¡¯t seem surprised at all that Shen Siwei would reject his demands. In other words, he had no intention of negotiating, just casually made a request to quickly get rid of Shen Siwei. Putting down the spoon in his hand, Shen Siwei looked displeased and said, ¡°I won¡¯t leave until we come to an understanding.¡± klet ignored him and said to himself, ¡°It¡¯s safer during the day, I don¡¯t need to personally escort you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe that you led the displaced people to attack without wanting anything,¡± Shen Siwei retorted. ¡°I can only take you to the barricade, you¡¯ll have to call someone to pick you up.¡± ¡°Money? Or power? As long as you bring it up, we can negotiate.¡± Both of them continued speaking to themselves, and in the end, klet became impatient. He finally looked directly into Shen Siwei¡¯s eyes, furrowing his brows slightly, and said, ¡°So, what do you want from me? Negotiator.¡± The topic had finally opened a breakthrough, and Shen Siwei immediately responded, ¡°Peace.¡± Upon hearing this, klet chuckled as if Shen Siwei had said something funny. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, leaned back in his chair, and looked at Shen Siwei from a distance, saying, ¡°You really should go outside the Life Tree and take a look.¡± Shen Siwei had been outside the Life Tree before, but not too many times. Twenty years had passed, and he didn¡¯t know if the environment outside the tree had become even harsher. ¡°Many things can be resolved through dialogue,¡± Shen Siwei slowed down his speech, ¡°War will waste a significant amount of energy which could be avoided.¡± ¡°Should I remind you,¡±klet tilted his head, looking lazy, ¡°Those energy resources don¡¯t belong to us in the first place. Waste doesn¡¯t exist for us.¡± In other words, the Marg people controlled those energy resources, and even if they were wasted, they wouldn¡¯t feel the effect. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t think that way,¡± Shen Siwei suddenly realized that communication was more difficult than he had imagined. If he had known, he wouldn¡¯t have casually said ¡°peace¡± as his answer. ¡°From an environmental perspective, everyone should avoid wasting.¡± ¡°Environment?¡± Klet raised an eyebrow, leaning on the table with his elbow and getting closer to Shen Siwei. ¡°Your thinking is strange, Negotiator. Are you sure you¡¯re really a Margian?¡± Shen Siwei pursed his lips and calmly replied, ¡°What¡¯s so strange about it?¡± ¡°If Margians really cared about the environment,¡± Klet said, ¡°your ancestors wouldn¡¯t have built the Life Tree and allowed other areas to become wastelands.¡± Margian ancestors were super-rich, and they provided immense startup capital. Most of the common people inside the Life Tree depended on the Margians because, without the Margian ancestors, they would have lived in extremely harsh environments. The western desert was considered ¡°friendly,¡± while the northern frigid ice fields, southern city ruins, and the eastern deep sea were considered dangerous. As a member of the group, Shen Siwei should have used ¡°we¡± instead of isolating himself and referring to the Margians from a third-party perspective. Although such little details did not prove that Shen Siwei was not a Margian, his subconscious act of separating himself indicated that he had already drawn a line between himself and the Margians. It was strange. At least, before being frozen, Shen Siwei had never shown such tendencies. During this conversation with Klet, he seemed logically confused, as if he couldn¡¯t determine his own stance. The sound of snapping fingers interrupted Shen Siwei¡¯s thoughts. Klet said, ¡°Seems like you¡¯re easily distracted.¡± ¡°I¡¯m feeling a bit stressed,¡± Shen Siwei adjusted his thoughts and tried to play the role of a qualified Margian. ¡°Since the negotiation isn¡¯t progressing, I won¡¯t go anywhere.¡± His stubbornness seemed to irritate Klet, who now spoke in an impatient tone, ¡°I don¡¯t have time to protect you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need your protection,¡± Shen Siwei replied. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Klet suddenly straightened his back. Shen Siwei had a high sensitivity to danger and had an intuition that Klet was about to make a move. But unexpectedly, the first thing this rogue leader did was snatch away his face mask. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll die if you don¡¯t wear this thing,¡± Klet said. ¡ªThat¡¯s because eating doesn¡¯t count as an activity. Shen Siwei furrowed his brow deeply. ¡°Give it back to me.¡± ¡°If you can take it from me,¡± Klet leisurely leaned back on the chair, ¡°then I¡¯ll agree to let you stay.¡± As Klet tossed his mask from his left hand to his right and then back to his left, Shen Siwei felt a surge of anger in his chest. With a cold expression, he stood up and walked towards Klet, he couldn¡¯t make overly large movements, so he was never as fast as Krete. ¡°You¡­ give it back to me¡­¡± After just a few attempts, Shen Siwei already felt his breath becoming restricted. He couldn¡¯t help but feel annoyed with his own body. Why did he get so out of breath with just a few movements? ¡°Is your body really that weak?¡± Klet asked him. ¡°Huff¡­ huff¡­¡± Shen Siwei had to lean on the edge of the table to regain his breath, but at this moment, he noticed that Klet had stopped moving, so he decided to pounce directly. He thought he could easily overpower Klet and retrieve his face mask. But Shen Siwei, with all his effort, couldn¡¯t match Klet¡¯s single arm. Klet effortlessly caught Shen Siwei as he lunged, firmly holding him in his arms. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t need someone to protect you?¡± Shen Siwei knew he couldn¡¯t resist and could only feel his eyes welling up with tears¡ªout of anger. Klet raised an eyebrow. ¡°And this is enough to make you cry?¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± Even more infuriated. Leaning in Klet¡¯s embrace without moving, Shen Siwei¡¯s breathing gradually calmed down. He took a few deep breaths, trying to keep himself composed. ¡°I¡¯m asking you to let go of me.¡± Klet remained unmoved, his deep eyes slightly lowered as he looked at Shen Siwei in his arms. He spoke with a deep and resonant voice, ¡°Behave and I¡¯ll release you.¡± CH 12 ¡°I¡¯ll leave.¡± In the end, Shen Siwei chose to compromise. With the mask back in his hands, Shen Siwei sat motionless on the sofa, staring at Klet who was washing dishes by the sink, contemplating how he could get information out of him the hard way. First, he would knock Klet unconscious and tie him to a chair. When Klet couldn¡¯t bear the torture any longer, : ¡°Answer my questions truthfully, and I¡¯ll let you go.¡± he planned it all in his mind The chances of the first step being successful were very high. However, if this rogue leader refused to yield, it would become a problem. The sound of water in the kitchen abruptly stopped, and Shen Siwei immediately avoided klet¡¯s gaze, brushing away the cruel images in his mind, and pretended to casually look at his mini-computer. ¡°I bought some clothes. Once they¡¯re delivered, I¡¯ll leave on my own.¡± ¡°On your own?¡± Klet wiped the water off his hands. ¡°Are you sure you can safely leave Z City?¡± ¡°You said it¡¯s relatively safe during the day,¡± Shen Siwei replied. ¡°It should be fine.¡± There were no sounds outside the window except for the cawing of crows, as if this were not a city but a desolate wilderness rarely visited by people. Maybe because Shen Siwei finally agreed to leave, Klet seemed to be in a good mood. He didn¡¯t argue about the issue of safety and simply said, ¡°How long until your clothes are delivered?¡± ¡°Half an hour,¡± Shen Siwei answered. Klet checked the time. ¡°I¡¯ll send someone to pick you up in half an hour.¡± His words left no room for negotiation, but Shen Siwei wasn¡¯t annoyed because Klet added, ¡°I have other matters to attend to.¡± He decided to sit quietly on the sofa and watch the news. After a while, Klet left. Ten minutes later, an urgent delivery drone landed on the balcony. Shen Siwei put on the khaki work uniform he had bought, wore a dark-colored knitted cap, and concealed his aristocratic aura completely. At first glance, he appeared to be an ordinary guy. If the drone had arrived a few minutes earlier, Shen Siwei might have had a chance to track Klet. But now, he had to stick to the original plan and investigate the power station. Checking the time, there were still more than ten minutes before Klet¡¯s people arrived. The apartment had no surveillance cameras. Shen Siwei calmly walked out of the room and unexpectedly encountered knock, who was doing garbage sorting in the hallway. ¡°Brother Negotiator,¡± knock put down the trash bag, puzzled as he looked at Shen Siwei¡¯s attire, ¡°Where are you going?¡± Shen Siwei naturally wouldn¡¯t tell the truth. ¡°I¡¯m going back to the sky.¡± knock blinked his eyes. ¡°I heard that you can see the snow-capped mountains outside the Tree of Life in the sky. Is it true?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Shen Siwei rubbed knock¡¯s head and squatted beside him. ¡°Is this someone else¡¯s trash?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± knock nodded. ¡°I help them sort it, and they give me pocket money.¡± Shen Siwei felt a bit distressed. Ignoring the dirty juice, he helped knock categorize the last few bottles and then stood up and handed him ten yuan. ¡°Use it to buy a drink.¡± ¡°Thank you, big brother!¡± There were no people on the street, and the shops were closed. knock probably had to wait until evening to go and buy drinks. Shen Siwei walked through the complex alleys towards the power station. On the way, he only encountered a few drunk homeless people lying on the roadside. The number of homeless people guarding the power station hadn¡¯t decreased, but most of them were dozing off with guns in their arms. A few who were awake were either watching videos or playing games, seemingly considering it daytime and not finding it necessary to remain alert. After waiting nearby for a few minutes while one of the homeless people went to the restroom, Shen Siwei stealthily slipped into the interior of the power station without anyone noticing. The lower floors consisted of energy distribution devices for various blocks and didn¡¯t have much investigative value. Shen Siwei was already prepared with an identity authorization card to go to the upper floors. However, he noticed that the access control system had been forcefully breached, indicating that Klet had somehow obviously broken in. Furthermore, the main surveillance in the power station had been destroyed. It was clear that Klet didn¡¯t want anyone to see what he had done after entering. In that case, he needed to search for signs of tampering which might reveal some clues. The central part of the sixth to tenth floors was cut out, housing a massive square-shaped energy receiver device. The device was within an independent magnetic field, so Shen Siwei had to tighten his mask and cautiously approach the control panel, afraid that any mistake could ruin the mask or suck it away. The control panel appeared normal. Shen Siwei accessed the control system connected to the top-level core power station and found that the software hadn¡¯t been hacked. So why was the energy supply in the Z City¡¯s western district uncontrollable? Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t find anything suspicious, so he could only attempt to restart the system. However, during the restart, according to the system rules, the entire power station would lose power. In other words, if he restarted, Shen Siwei would likely expose himself. On the other hand, if this system rule was still in effect, it meant that restarting was a viable option. Once the restart was complete, they would regain control of the power station on the top floor. Shen Siwei quickly made a decision. The risk was worth taking. With a few clicks, he accessed the restart interface, patiently waited for the warning page to close, and pressed the ¡°Restart¡± button. The expected magnetic field disruption didn¡¯t occur. Shen Siwei, who was prepared to escape, returned to the control panel and found that the control system was indeed restarting, but the power station hadn¡¯t lost power. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Assuming the control system had failed for unknown reasons, if they wanted to cut off the energy supply here, the only remaining option was to target the hardware. Shen Siwei didn¡¯t waste time at the control panel. He went directly to the basement through a hidden emergency staircase. ¡°Different from the bright rooms on the upper floors, the basement was filled with intertwining pipelines. Shen Siwei accessed the map on his little computer and quickly located the large central energy receiving pipeline. The energy overflowing from the top floor was transported to various energy stations through these pipelines. Regardless of what trick klet had pulled, as long as Shen Siwei destroyed the pipeline , the western district¡¯s City Z would come to a complete halt. When that happens, klet would undoubtedly bring people to repair the pipeline, giving Shen Siwei a good chance to investigate what klet had done. With this in mind, Shen Siwei jumped onto the pipeline. Destroying the pipeline was different from rebooting the system; the pipeline would definitely trigger an alarm. But Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t afford to care about that anymore. He struck downward with all his strength, heavily smashing the outer wall of the pipeline. If klet hadn¡¯t taken away his mask just now, Shen Siwei could have let him experience the force of his punch. The pipeline produced a dull sound, accompanied by the flashing of red warning lights. Shen Siwei punched with all his might, and the cracks on the outer wall of the pipeline grew larger and larger. With one final blow, Shen Siwei leaped high into the air and then jumped down forcefully. With a loud ¡°clang,¡± the pipeline interface directly disconnected from the receiving device. The cries of the displaced people resounded in the surroundings. Shen Siwei quickly opened the map and arrived at the hidden elevator door that led to the city¡¯s sewage system. He also smacked down the elevator door and took refuge in the even more complex sewage tunnels. After walking for about ten minutes with his head down, Shen Siwei found a secluded corner, lifted the manhole cover, and climbed out of the sewer. There were no signs of the displaced people chasing after him, so he sighed in relief. But at that moment, he saw an AI janitor working diligently not far away. How was it possible?! Shen Siwei was startled. After the energy station ceased operation, the entire city¡¯s network should have been paralyzed. How could the AI janitors still be working? He quickly found a self-service car charging station and confirmed his suspicion ¨C the energy station was indeed operating normally. ¡°Colonel, it¡¯s me.¡± Shen Siwei roamed through the city, being cautious to avoid surveillance. ¡°I can now confirm that the western district¡¯s City Z energy station has completely escaped the control of the higher-ups.¡± After explaining the situation briefly, Moran on the other end of the communicator sounded quite surprised. ¡°You mean that an energy station can still generate power on a large scale autonomously?¡± ¡°It appears so.¡± Moran fell silent for a moment and then spoke with a solemn tone, ¡°I will report this to the higher-ups first. You continue investigating klet¡¯s background.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t have anything else to say and was about to disconnect the communicator. But at that moment, Moran suddenly asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you contact me to change your hair color and eye color when you went out during the day?¡± Shen Siwei was instantly caught off guard. The last time he went out for investigation was at night, and changing his hair and eye color wouldn¡¯t make much difference. However, this time he went out in broad daylight, considering safety, he should have contacted Moran to change his appearance. But Shen Siwei just didn¡¯t want to contact Moran. He was not used to Moran¡¯s ambiguous tone of conversation, nor did he like the feeling of his body and appearance being controlled by others. He pursed his lips and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need. There¡¯s no one on the streets during the day.¡± There was silence again on the communicator. ¡°Okay.¡± Moran switched to a gentler tone. ¡°Take care.¡± Walking aimlessly on the road, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but reflect on himself. If he and Moran were truly lovers, did his words just now hurt him? Love was something that had never been part of Shen Siwei¡¯s life, and he didn¡¯t know how to face the existence of a ¡°lover.¡± But then again, why did he inexplicably get involved in a romantic relationship? ¡­And with his superior, no less. He shivered, hugging himself. It was only now that Shen Siwei realized that his skin could still get goosebumps. There were too many question marks in his mind, but at this moment, investigating klet was still more important. So who exactly was this person who could change the local energy stations? A scientist? A mechanical fanatic? A master of modifications? Initially, Shen Siwei had planned to quietly lurk in the city for the next few days. But now it seemed he had to return to klet¡¯s side. Not knowing the door password, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t go through the front entrance to return to klet¡¯s house. He had no choice but to go to the adjacent building, jump onto the adult goods signboard he disliked, observe for a while, and then return to where he had left through the balcony. There were no changes to the items in the room, not even a wrinkle on the sofa, exactly as Shen Siwei had left them. He sank into the sofa, relaxing his whole body, leaning his head against the back of the couch, and absentmindedly gazing at the ceiling. Perhaps he needed to understand klet comprehensively. This person was a tough nut to crack; negotiations or investigations would never yield results without real effort. With that in mind, Shen Siwei lifted his head again and observed the cluttered items in the room. The stones of the Desert Waves, the venomous needles of the Distorted Scorpions¡­ he seemed to be quite skilled at hunting monsters. His gaze swept over every corner of the room, finally landing on a row of CD shelves. There were many discs on the shelf. In this era, very few people still used discs to watch movies. Shen Siwei¡¯s intuition told him that those were definitely not ordinary discs. Perhaps they contained some important information. However, when he walked to the CD shelf and picked up one disc, looking at the cute cartoon cover, a profound confusion flashed across his face. ¡°SpongeBob SquarePants?¡±¡± CH 13 ¡°I can¡¯t take it anymore. My eyes are almost blind¡±. The duration of a disc was over a hundred hours, and Shen Siwei fast-forwarded through the entire thing, only to find out that it was just an animated film. He couldn¡¯t understand how someone like Klet who looked so rough and manly, could enjoy this kind of content Shen Siwei placed the disc back on the CD shelf, and had to reconsider from a different angle. If a person has children¡¯s items in their home, it can only mean one thing ¨C they have children. So knock is actually Klet¡¯s son?! ¡­That¡¯s a bit far-fetched. As the sky grew dark, the uncomfortable adult products advertisements flickered outside the window again. Klet still hadn¡¯t returned to the apartment, and there were no new instructions from Moran. Shen Siwei hadn¡¯t found any useful information and decided to take matters into his own hands. He bought pajamas and slippers from an online store and took a comfortable bath. He felt a bit hungry, and besides the nutritional supplements, there was vacuum-sealed stewed beef in the refrigerator. His fingers were about to touch the packaging of the nutritional supplement, but Shen Siwei had a thought and ended up taking out the stewed beef. Shen Siwei poured the heated beef into a plate and savored the taste of food that he hadn¡¯t experienced in a long time. The sauce was rich, and the meat was tender, a taste that nutritional supplements couldn¡¯t compare to. He had to admit that this gang leader knew how to enjoy life. After cleaning up the kitchen, Shen Siwei watched the news for a while. The news related to Zone Z in the western district was still about the negotiator representing the military negotiating with the refugees, which indicated that the commotion he caused today had no impact on the city. Bored, he turned off the screen and thought that Klet probably wouldn¡¯t come back that night. Shen Siwei once again took the liberty and occupied Klet¡¯s single bed. Unlike yesterday¡¯s instant sleep, today Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t easily fall asleep. He wandered on the edge of a strange dream while half-asleep and half-awake. After an unknown period of time, he heard the sound of the electronic lock being opened. ¡°What¡¯s so important that you have to come to my place to talk?¡± The deep and distinctive voice belonged to Klet. Shen Siwei opened his eyes and saw two figures entering the door. One was tall, unmistakably Klet, and the other was shorter, making it difficult to see his appearance clearly. The lights in the room quickly turned on, and Klet went straight to the kitchen, followed by the other person. Shen Siwei could only see a tall and thin figure from behind. ¡°It seems like you haven¡¯t been taking me with you much lately.¡± The tall and thin figure spoke, with a pleasant young male voice. Klet took out a beer from the refrigerator and lazily leaned on the kitchen counter. ¡°I¡¯ve been busy.¡± The kitchen and the single bed were located at opposite corners of the square room. It seemed that neither of them thought there would be anyone else in the room, so they didn¡¯t notice Shen Siwei. But if they just glanced towards the bed, they would have seen a golden head peeking out from the corner of the wall, shamelessly eavesdropping on their conversation. ¡°Is it because you¡¯re busy, or because you don¡¯t want to?¡± The tall and thin figure took a few steps forward, raising his chin and looking directly at Klet. His questioning tone seemed quite self-evident, and Shen Siwei immediately realized that their relationship was likely not just friendly but more. After spending a long time in the room without finding any useful information, Shen Siwei hadn¡¯t expected to uncover Klet¡¯s love life so quickly. That was quite unexpected. Klet still didn¡¯t react much and took a sip of beer. ¡°Believe what you want.¡± ¡°So, why exactly?¡± The young man whose name was Avis asked in confusion, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you touched me even though I¡¯ve been by your side for so long?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Klet finally put down the beer and frowned, showing obvious impatience. ¡°Do you have some misunderstanding about our relationship?¡± So that¡¯s how it is. Shen Siwei roughly grasped the relationship between the two. The young man liked Klet, but it was unrequited love. In that case, the conversation had no value because the young man wasn¡¯t Klet¡¯s weak point, and Shen Siwei didn¡¯t find their relationship important and couldn¡¯t help his investigation. Shen Siwei continued to listen with little interest. ¡°What misunderstanding could there be?¡± Avis approached Klet, ¡°There has only ever been me by your side. Doesn¡¯t that prove something?¡± ¡°Avis.¡± Klet furrowed his brows and pushed Avis¡¯ shoulder, ¡°Get it straight. I only saved you in the underground dungeon and brought you with me because you had nowhere else to go. That¡¯s all.¡± ¡°But so many people die in the underground dungeon every year, but you chose to save me?¡± Avis wouldn¡¯t relent. ¡°Isn¡¯t it because I have black hair and black eyes? I am what you go for, aren¡¯t i?¡± Huh? Shen Siwei perked up his ears. The people in the Tree of Life had a diverse mix of races with different hair colors, skin colors, and eye colors. Pure black hair and black eyes weren¡¯t very common, but compared to blond hair and blue eyes, it wasn¡¯t particularly special. Only at this moment did Shen Siwei notice that Avis had a head of black hair, and if he guessed correctly, his eyes should also be black. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it.¡± Klet said. ¡°I know I¡¯m not overthinking it.¡± Avis slumped his shoulders and smiled bitterly. ¡°I guess I can¡¯t compare to the person in your heart, can I?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Klet frowned, becoming even more impatient. ¡°The person tattooed on your chest.¡± Avis took on a cynical attitude, ¡°You saved me because I have black hair and black eyes like him. You led everyone to attack the Tree of Life to find him. Am I wrong?!¡± Shen Siwei raised an eyebrow in surprise. He thought this conversation had no value, but unexpectedly, there seemed to be more. However, before he could ponder further, he saw Klet suddenly draw a gun from his waist, pressing Avis¡¯ head against the kitchen counter, the gun pointed at his temple. Klet lowered his voice and warned, ¡°Don¡¯t interfere in my personal affairs.¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue inwardly. He had to admit that Klet did look good, with thick eyebrows, big eyes, a high nose bridge, and a strong physique. But his easily impatient temperament really needed to change. Avis took a deep breath and wisely softened his tone. ¡°I was wrong, Klet. I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, then leave.¡± Klet put away the gun and picked up his beer again. Avis slowly stood up, hesitating in place for a moment, seemingly unwilling. But in the end, he turned around and walked straight toward the door. Shen Siwei finally caught a glimpse of half of Avis¡¯ profile, but it was far from enough. He had to see Avis¡¯ full face in order to easily find him, inquire about him, or force information out of him about Klet. Seeing Avis about to open the door and leave, Shen Siwei quickly pushed aside the covers, sat up slowly with sleepy eyes, and rubbed his eyes. ¡°You guys are so noisy.¡± ¡°Pfft¡ª¡± The beer in Klet¡¯s mouth sprayed out directly, and Avis froze in place. Shen Siwei had no idea that the messy silk pajamas had exposed half of his shoulder, completely focused on putting on a brave act. ¡°Klet.¡± The young man suddenly erupted like a volcano. Avis, with an angry face, pointed at Shen Siwei and interrogated Klet, ¡°We¡¯ve been searching for him all day, and he¡¯s actually in your bed?¡± ¡°Cough.¡± Klet wiped the beer from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, and was completely dumbfounded. CH 14 ¡°Tell them they don¡¯t need to look anymore.¡± With those few words, Avis was sent away. Klet crossed his arms in front of his chest, leaning against the kitchen counter as he observed Shen Siwei from a distance. The wine-red silk pajamas made his skin look even fairer, and his rarely exposed nose appeared round and smooth, while his plump lips had a hint of pale pink. ¡ªLike a beautiful flower cultivated in a greenhouse. So where did he get the confidence to stay in such a dangerous place? ¡°I¡¯ve changed my mind.¡± His full lips moved, speaking words that irritated Klet. ¡°I¡¯ve decided to stay here.¡± The beer bottle was placed on the counter with a crisp and piercing sound. Klet finally left the kitchen and slowly approached Shen Siwei, dragging a chair. The manner in which he approached carried an inexplicable sense of interrogation. The chair finally stopped next to the single bed, and Klet sat on it comfortably, crossing his arms and legs, facing Shen Siwei. ¡°When my men came to pick you up, you were already gone.¡± He stated a simple fact,. ¡°And then I came back.¡± Shen Siwei intentionally downplayed it. ¡°You don¡¯t know the door code.¡± Kryat pointed out the contradiction. ¡°I climbed out through the hallway window, then jumped in from the balcony.¡± Shen Siwei knew that Klet would ask this question, so he had prepared in advance. He even assessed the possibilities, although it was a bit challenging, it wasn¡¯t entirely impossible. Klet was indeed skeptical, ¡°Just you?¡± Shen Siwei simply threw the question back at Klet, ¡°Then how did I get in?¡± There were no traces of the electronic door lock being tampered with, and one could only enter through the balcony. At least on this point, Shen Siwei was not lying. Sure enough, Klet didn¡¯t dwell on the question any longer. He remained silent for a moment before asking, ¡°Weren¡¯t you planning to leave? Why did you change your mind?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t go back.¡± Having passed the most difficult first question, the following ones would be much easier. Shen Siwei lazily curled up one leg, rested his elbow on his knee, and propped up his chin. ¡°I haven¡¯t completed my mission, and they won¡¯t let me go back.¡± There was a tinge of helplessness in his tone. Shen Siwei had never played the role of vulnerability before and was uncertain about his acting skills. But judging from Klet¡¯s reaction, it seemed like he believed his made up story. ¡°The negotiation mission?¡± Klet asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Siwei replied, ¡°Let¡¯s continue our discussion.¡± Klet neither confirmed nor denied, his gaze deep as he looked at Shen Siwei. ¡°Did you know that the power station was attacked?¡± ¡°What?¡±When did that happen?¡± Klet observed Shen Siwei, seemingly trying to find any flaws in his expression. However, whether it was due to his harmless appearance or something else, he quickly withdrew his gaze and walked to the refrigerator. He asked, ¡°Do you want a beer?¡± Shen Siwei secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He was afraid that drinking would hinder his progress, and he initially planned to say, ¡°No, thank you.¡± But suddenly, he had a thought and opened his mouth, ¡°Yes, please.¡± As the refrigerator door opened, Klet took out two cans of beer. At that moment, he paused and raised an eyebrow as he looked at Shen Siwei, asking, ¡°Did you eat my beef?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not called eating.¡± Shen Siwei slightly lifted his chin, appearing righteous and confident. Klet didn¡¯t bother to argue and returned to his seat on the chair, handing the open can to Shen Siwei. ¡°So, what kind of negotiation result do you want?¡± Shen Siwei took the beer but didn¡¯t drink it. He stated his lofty negotiation conditions, ¡°The refugees will leave the Tree of Life. We are willing to build a power station in the desert underground city to improve the living conditions there.¡± ¡°Heh.¡± Klet chuckled lightly, but he just looked at Shen Siwei without responding. Shen Siwei squinted his eyes and said, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about knocking me out and dumping me in the outskirts.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve seen through me.¡±klet admitted openly, ¡°So, what¡¯s there to negotiate about with these conditions?¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°You can also state your conditions.¡± klet turned his face away and took a sip of his beer. At that moment, Shen Siwei quickly brought the beer can to his mouth, deliberately letting the liquid flow from the corner of his mouth to his collarbone. Then he lifted the blanket off the bed and said, ¡°I¡¯ll get some tissue.¡± Accidentally, his toe tripped on a slipper, and Shen Siwei uncontrollably lunged forward, spilling the beer from the can onto klet¡¯s chest. klet had to pull his gaze back and instinctively supported Shen Siwei¡¯s waist. Looking at his collarbone, he seemed a bit dazed. But it was only for an instant. He lowered his head and looked at his wet chest, saying, ¡°Why are you so clumsy?¡± Shen Siwei straightened up, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ll get you a towel.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of a towel?¡± klet put the beer aside on the bedside table and took off his tight short-sleeved shirt. During klet¡¯s last shower, the tattoo on his chest was obscured by frosted glass, and Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t see it clearly. This time, being so close, his gaze fell directly on klet¡¯s chest, but he noticed that the human face had no distinctive features. ¡ª Two eyes, one nose, one mouth. Whether it was due to the tattoo artist¡¯s skill or klet¡¯s unclear description, the facial features had no identifiable characteristics. If one had to describe it, itsomewhat resembled a gorilla. Before he could turn away, Shen Siwei¡¯s wrist was suddenly grabbed. Shen Siwei wasn¡¯t wearing an oxygen mask, and he couldn¡¯t expose his skills, so he could only let klet press him down on the bed, using his knee to restrain his lower back, making him unable to move. ¡°Tired of looking at my chest already?¡± klet twisted Shen Siwei¡¯s wrist and squeezed the back of his neck. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Shen Siwei struggled a bit but klet strength was too much for him. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see my tattoo?¡± klet leaned in, his lips tracing the back of Shen Siwei¡¯s neck and asked, ¡°Do you think these little tricks can deceive me?¡± Shen Siwei swore that his staring didn¡¯t imply anything; ¡± let go of me first.¡± Shen Siwei had difficulty breathing and had to soften his tone. ¡°How much of my conversation with Avis did you overhear?¡± klet asked. Shen Siwei was almost unable to breathe, so naturally, he didn¡¯t answer. He only heard klet ask again, ¡°Why did you suddenly come back? Do you have anything to do with what happened at the power station?¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Klet was really smart and quickly caught on to him. ¡°let go of me¡­¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t catch his breath and had to soften his tone, continuously gasping for air. ¡°klet, I¡­ I can¡¯t breathe¡­¡± His vision gradually blurred, and it became increasingly difficult to inhale. Just as Shen Siwei was about to pass out, klet suddenly loosened his grip on him and said, ¡°Can you stop crying every time?¡± ¡°Cough¡­ cough¡­¡± Shen Siwei was speechless. How could he be crying? He was just about to suffocate, so his eye sockets turned red. Without time to explain, Shen Siwei stood up from the bed and put on the oxygen mask, finally recovering. ¡ª It was indeed uncomfortable to sleep with the mask on, but judging from the situation, he couldn¡¯t easily take it off. ¡°What are you inhaling?¡± klet asked one question after another, clearly harboring a lot of suspicion towards Shen Siwei. ¡°I have stress disorder,¡± Shen Siwei said, using the excuse he had prepared in advance. ¡°I easily suffocate when stressed, and there¡¯s a sedative inside the mask.¡± The excuse sounded reasonable, and judging from klets reaction, it seemed that he wasn¡¯t suspicious. He no longer paid attention to Shen Siwei¡¯s mask and returned to the previous topic, ¡°So, about what you did?Do you also have an accomplice?¡± ¡± No I don¡¯t have an accomplice,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°and I spent the whole day at your house watching cartoons.¡± Klet raise an eyebrow in surprise. He turned his head and looked at the CD shelf in the living room, then turned back to Shen Siwei and asked, ¡°Did you watch SpongeBob?¡± Shen Siwei was still adjusting his breathing. ¡°Even at your age, you still watch cartoons. Isn¡¯t that childish?¡± The mention of the cartoon got rid of the tense atmosphere, and klet no longer had that strict appearance. He casually said, ¡°I didn¡¯t have a healthy childhood, why can¡¯t I watch them now?¡± Shen Siwei found it strange, ¡°How old are you?¡± This time, klet didn¡¯t respond. ¡°I heard your conversation with Avis,¡± Shen Siwei continued, ¡°I know you¡¯re looking for someone, and I can help you.¡± klet remained silent, seemingly pondering Shen Siwei¡¯s proposal. But when he spoke again, he changed the topic, ¡°Why was the negotiation task assigned to you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a negotiator,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°I mean,¡± klet said, ¡°you have a weak body, easily falling ill. Why do they think you can complete the task?¡± Well, the logic here was indeed a bit flawed. ¡°Because,¡± Shen Siwei paused, ¡°the lower levels are too dangerous, and no one is willing to go.¡± And indeed, that was the truth. If it weren¡¯t for Shen Siwei¡¯s body having undergone modifications, he would have died several times already. ¡°Others are afraid of danger, so they push you, this sick seedling, forward,¡± klet said, ¡°which means you have a low status among the Marg people. Why should I believe that you can help me?¡± ¡°¡­,¡± Shen Siwei was momentarily speechless, unable to refute. ¡°Enough, you¡¯re going to give me a headache,¡± a tinge of annoyance flashed in klet¡¯s eyes. He looked at the time and said, ¡°I¡¯ll personally escort you out tomorrow morning.¡± Shen Siwei pursed his lips, seeing klet¡¯s attitude, he guessed that he would be guarded that night. Could it be that he really had to leave the next morning? Crate looked at Shen Siwei, who was still on his bed, ¡°Go sleep on the couch.¡± Shen Siwei was already annoyed and naturally didn¡¯t want to move. ¡°I¡¯m sleeping here ¡° ¡°This is my bed,¡± klet said, directly grabbing Shen Siwei¡¯s collar, as if to lift him up. But then the white buttons on his shirt came off, revealing his skin hidden beneath the silk pajamas. Klet paused for a moment, then met a pair of angry eyes. Through gritted teeth, Shen Siwei said, ¡°I just bought this pajama.¡± For some reason, the flower in the greenhouse seemed to have grown thorns, even though it had no real harm, it pretended to be fierce. Klet knew he was in the wrong, he rubbed the back of his neck, not knowing where to look, and finally left the room holding his dirty short-sleeved shirt. ¡°Go to sleep then, and don¡¯t leave the room.¡± CH 15 At the end of a winding alley, there was a low-key barber shop. At the entrance of the shop, there were three colored lamp posts representing the barber industry, flickering with white, red, and blue lights. The lit lamp posts indicated that the shop was open for business, but when you looked through the window, the barber shop appeared pitch black, as if no one was running it. People passing by the alley found it strange that the barber shop had its lights on but the door closed. Only regular customers knew that the real operating place of the barber shop was in the basement. ¡°Flick your fingers and see if there¡¯s any delay.¡± Melken removed the surgical light from his forehead and placed the voltage detector on the nearby shelf. The cluttered shelf also contained commonly used tools such as welding guns and alloy drill bits. The customer lying on the surgical chair moved his fingers, and the mechanical fingers moved skillfully, even better than real human hands. ¡°No wonder you¡¯re the top mechanic.¡± He casually said, ¡°Thanks,¡± as he was about to leave, but Melken immediately stopped him and said, ¡°Repair fee, please.¡± The mechanical hand turned around, raised an eyebrow slightly, and said ¡°I thought Barn said there would be no charges.¡± ¡°What?¡± Melken tilted his head, The mechanical hand lifted its right arm, aimed its five fingertips forward, and opened them downward, revealing the silver bullets inside. Those five bullets, after being fired, could be retrieved using electromagnetic force, which was a new function Melken had just added to it. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Melken¡¯s eyes turned cold, ¡°You don¡¯t want to pay?¡± ¡°We¡¯re brothers,¡± the mechanical hand said with a pleasing tone, but its fingertips still aimed at Melken, ¡°Talking about money hurts the relationship.¡± Melken fell silent for a moment and then said, ¡°Fine.¡± In the next moment, the lights in the operating room suddenly went out, a cold light flashed, and the mechanical hand let out a scream. The five silver bullets flew chaotically in the confined space, but they never hit their target. Then, one after another, cold lights formed around the mechanical hand, accompanied by his screams. When the lights in the operating room came back on, the mechanical hand was lying on the ground, its entire mechanical right arm detached. Melken put away the surgical knife in his hand and looked at the broken instruments caused by the bullets, clicking his tongue in annoyance. At this moment, the mechanical hand suddenly pulled out a gun with its left hand and aimed it at Melken, saying, ¡°Go to hell!¡± With a bang, the mechanical hand¡¯s brain exploded, and it collapsed on the ground, turning into a complete mess. A tall figure emerged from the hallway and put away the smoking gun. ¡°Boss!¡± Melken looked at the brain matter scattered on the floor, with a face of despair, and said to Klet, ¡°Cleaning up the body is not easy, you know?¡± Klet walked into the inner room without looking back. ¡°I saved you, so many complaints?¡± Melken grumbled discontentedly at Klet¡¯s back, ¡°I could have handled it myself.¡± As he said that, Melken suddenly realized something was wrong. He immediately put the issue of the body aside and followed Klet into his bedroom. ¡°I heard you slept with the negotiator.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true.¡± Klet took off the short-sleeved shirt that had been stained with beer and quickly wiped his chest in the bathroom. ¡°Avis saw it with his own eyes.¡± Melken followed closely behind Klet, never leaving his side. ¡°After we searched thathard for him, you actually hid him in your bed!¡± This sentence sounded like a complaint, but there was an excitement in his tone as if he had discovered some exciting news ¡°What part of i didn¡¯t hide him don¡¯t you get?.¡± Klet wiped off the water stains on his chest with a towel, casually tossing it aside, and walked back into the bedroom. ¡°He came to my house on his own.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it.¡± Melken sneered. ¡°I never thought you would lie about hiding someone in your house, impressive, boss.¡± Klet was too tired to explain any further and simply lay down on the single bed in the room. ¡°But why did you come here at this hour?¡± Melken stroked his chin, thinking deeply. ¡°Did you get kicked out because you satisfy him well? Do you want me to teach you a few tricks?¡± Klet grabbed a pillow and hit Melken in the face. ¡°Shut up, I¡¯ve had enough of your nonsense.¡± ¡°By the way,¡± Melken continued, hugging the pillow, ¡°could it be that this negotiator¡¯s purpose in coming down here was to seduce you? Did that ever cross your mind, boss? The room remained quiet for only a few seconds before Melken spoke again. ¡°So what does this negotiator really want?¡± ¡°Not sure.¡± Klet rested his hands behind his head and casually speculated, ¡°Investigating the power station, or maybe investigating me.¡± ¡°But didn¡¯t you say he¡¯s a sickly guy?¡± Melken looked puzzled. ¡°How dare he come to investigate you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know.¡± Klet couldn¡¯t be bothered to think about it anymore. He glanced indifferently at Melken. ¡°In any case, I¡¯m not going to sleep with him.¡± Melken uttered the words ¡°boring.¡± He suddenly looked at Klet, who was lying lazily, and realized, ¡°Why are you lying on my bed?¡± ¡°He occupied my bed.¡± Klet said, ¡± so I¡¯m sleeping here tonight.¡± ¡°No,¡± Melken stated, ¡°then where do I sleep?¡± Klet raised his chin. ¡°On the couch.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Melken complained, ¡°He slept on your bed, so you sleep on mine?¡± before Melken finished speaking, Klet phone suddenly rang. ¡°It¡¯s Barn.¡± Kreet sat up on the bed, his expression turning serious as he looked at Melken. ¡°Go and deal with the body outside.¡± Back at klet¡¯s house Shen Siwei was looking through the wide-angle peephole, there were at least three to five people guarding the corridor. If Shen Siwei¡¯s guess was correct, there must be someone guarding the window on the other side of the hallway to prevent him from escaping via the balcony. Actually, Shen Siwei had no plans to go out tonight, but Avis visit changed his mind. He could ask about Klet from other people, which was obviously easier than trying to get information out of Klet himself. Although this approach had great risks and there was a high chance of Klet discovering his intentions, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t afford to waste any more time. He opened the curtains and looked down; and saw klet¡¯s men guarding downstairs. However, they didn¡¯t look up, which gave Shen Siwei an opportunity. Shen Siwei hesitated for a moment and finally dialed Moran¡¯s communication ID. ¡°Colonel, I need your help.¡± Directly approaching Avis might not be the best idea, so Shen Siwei planned to visit entertainment venues and casually ask a few refugees about the situation. Even if he couldn¡¯t find out Klet¡¯s information all at once, he could at least get a general idea of who he was. However, there was a little problem. All the refugees had seen Shen Siwei¡¯s appearance on television. If he went into the crowd with his striking golden hair and blue eyes, he would definitely be recognized in minutes. Shen Siwei had considered buying hair dye and contact lenses, as he really didn¡¯t want to talk to Moran and didn¡¯t want to be manipulated like a Barbie doll, changing his appearance at will. But Klet¡¯s men were guarding downstairs, and it was inconvenient for him to buy items online in the middle of the night. After much thought, Shen Siwei could only ask Moran to directly change his hair color and eye color. Moran¡¯s footsteps could be heard from the other end of the communication device; he was probably on his way to the laboratory. ¡°We don¡¯t need to be so formal in our relationship.¡± Shen Siwei pursed his lips. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Why do you suddenly want to inquire among the crowd?¡± The laboratory was some distance away, so Moran began chatting with Shen Siwei. ¡°The information you can gather might not be more than what the military currently knows.¡± ¡°But the information the military currently has is useless.¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°By asking around, I might actually find out something that could help us.¡±. ¡°Fine.¡± Moran said, ¡°It¡¯s better to take the initiative than to wait for things to happen. But be sure to stay safe.¡± The sound of an elevator door opening could be heard in the background, indicating that Moran had entered the laboratory. ¡°What do you want to change into?¡± Morin asked. ¡°Anything.¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°Just something low-key.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Morin pondered, ¡°change back to your original appearance.¡± Shen Siwei instinctively looked at the mirror and saw his dazzling golden hair gradually dimming, while his light blue eyes became darker. ¡°It takes some time for the light color to turn black, about a minute.¡± Moran started chatting with Shen Siwei again, ¡°what have you gathered so far?¡± The gang leader likes to watch cartoons, but Shen Siwei didn¡¯t know if that was useful information. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but think back. In his interactions with Klet, this man didn¡¯t seem as bad as the military portrayed him . He rescued women harassed by refugees and risks being hurt to retrieve his mask. He was always impatient, yes, but he would gives up his bed for Shen Siwei to sleep. Upon careful reflection, Shen Siwei even realized the reason why Klet attacked the Tree of Life. That was definitely valuable information he could give to Moran. But when he opened his mouth, he said, ¡°No.¡± For some reason, he didn¡¯t feel like telling Moran anything yet. It had nothing to do with Klet; it was purely something in his own heart, an inexplicable inclination. ¡°Then report when you have some news.¡± Moran didn¡¯t doubt him, ¡°Have the colors changed yet?¡± Shen Siwei looked at the mirror again and saw that the golden and light blue colors had turned into pure black without any impurities. Apart from his skin color being significantly different from before, the mirror showed Shen Siwei¡¯s familiar self. CH 16 Changing into the folded khaki overalls, Shen Siwei took advantage of the people downstairs being distracted and jumped to the adjacent building. Continuing forward on the rooftop for a while, Shen Siwei found a quiet neighborhood and dropped from the upper floor. He then bought a large-sized mask from a nearby self-service convenience store. The surface of the mask featured a shark teeth pattern with a zipper in between the rows of teeth for eating. With the city now occupied by refugees, people covering their faces could be seen everywhere on the streets, so Shen Siwei wearing a mask wouldn¡¯t be out of place. The largest bar in the city center was located near the music square, and Shen Siwei remembered it as Barn¡¯s territory. He originally planned to avoid the square and take a detour to the bar. However, when he approached the area, there was a commotion coming from the square, with many refugees gathering there. Fearing that something might happen, Shen Siwei decided to mix in with the crowd and approach the commotion. ¡°My brother went to fix his arm. How did he disappear into thin air?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have to ask your brother about that.¡± At the center of the square, the refugees were clearly divided into two groups. Klet and Barn stood on opposite sides, and there was a strong sense of tension between them. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but think of the time when Barn took him away; they were just as tense as they were now. Listening to the gossip from the people around him, it seemed that Barn had introduced his mechanic brother to Klet, but after the brother went there, he never returned. ¡°Fine.¡± Perhaps unable to get any answers, Barn unwillingly changed the topic. ¡°How are the negotiations going?¡± ¡°We¡¯re still ¡®negotiating and i don¡¯t remember it being any of your business¡¯,¡± Klet responded indifferently, crossing his arms in front of his chest. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s just ¡®negotiating¡¯?¡± Barn sneered. ¡°You¡¯ve taken it to the bedroom so i hear. That doesn¡¯t seem appropriate, does it?¡± Laughter filled the surroundings, and the person next to Shen Siwei continued to gossip with those around him. ¡°I heard Klet slept with the negotiator, and the whole building could hear it.¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°?¡± ¡°I heard that too, but the version I heard is that the negotiator squeezed Klet dry, and he agreed to all the conditions,¡± another person said. Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­ The person next to Shen Siwei immediately fell silent, focusing on the situation in the center of the square. ¡°The Tree of Life was attacked by everyone here, and you represent everyone¡¯s interests,¡± Barn put on a reasonable appearance, turning half of his body and inciting the people behind him. ¡°How do we know if you¡¯ve been fighting for everyone¡¯s interests or just thinking about your own benefits?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°Negotiations should be open, so what¡¯s the meaning of closing the door for negotiations?¡± ¡°Let Barn participate in the negotiations too!¡± The commotion on Barn¡¯s side grew intense, and someone standing next to Klet seemed to have had enough, speaking with determination, ¡°Do you know what conditions the negotiator proposed? They want us all to leave the Tree of Life! There¡¯s nothing to negotiate about!¡± Someone standing next to Barn couldn¡¯t help but chime in, ¡°Then let the negotiator come out and speak for himself. What¡¯s the point of hiding him from us?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because someone wants to kill him. Do I need to say more about the consequences if he dies here?¡± ¡°Then explain first why our people disappeared when they were with you!¡± Watching both sides on the verge of arguing, Klet slightly turned his chin, gesturing to the person beside him. ¡°Malcolm.¡± Shen Siwei hid among the crowd, observing Melken.He had seen him in the files before. He was an illegal body modification practitioner with years of experience. Compared to the aged and arrogant photo in the files, the present Melken looked delicate and refined, unlike what Shen Siwei had imagined. Klet lowered his arms from across his chest, placing his hands on his waist, with his gun nearby. ¡°If I remember correctly,¡± he continued, ¡°I paid to secure the negotiator, and now he belongs to me. How we negotiate and where we negotiate is our business, not yours to meddle in.¡± Frankly speaking, Shen Siwei found Klet¡¯s words unreasonable. Bringing up the incident where he bought Shen Siwei for a dollar, simultaneously humiliating Barn again, and arrogantly asserting his authority. If Shen Siwei were to objectively evaluate, he would consider such an approach highly undesirable as it would only deepen the conflict between the two sides. At this moment, the most gossipy person beside Shen Siwei suddenly whistled, as if afraid that things weren¡¯t dramatic enough, and cheered, ¡°Well said!¡± After saying that, this person quickly retracted his head like a groundhog. Klet glanced over upon hearing him. It seemed like a casual glance, but his gaze immediately turned back to the same direction, and his brow furrowed deeply. The person who shouted crouched on the ground, looking beside him and asked curiously. ¡°Why did you crouch down with me?¡± Shen Siwei, had a poker face as he replied, ¡°Thought I dropped something.¡± Although Shen Siwei no longer had the appearance of blonde hair and blue eyes, it was still better to avoid Klet as much as possible. The conversation had reached its limit, and it was unlikely that these two would confront each other for much longer. Shen Siwei decided to leave he didn¡¯t see that klet¡¯s gaze had been searching the crowd all along. Most of the refugees were gathered in the square, while the bar had relatively fewer people. Shen Siwei found a seat at the bar, where there were more people, and ordered a moderately strong cocktail. He then discreetly removed the oxygen mask hidden behind his regular mask. ¡ªHe needed to strike up a conversation, but speaking with the mask on would appear unnatural due to the movements it caused. The AI bartender swiftly prepared Shen Siwei¡¯s order. Each base liquor and fruit were measured precisely, ensuring that the cocktail would be flawless even though it lacked the personal touch of a human bartender. Shen Siwei watched the movements of the AI bartender and he still hadn¡¯t yet found someone to talk to. The person sitting beside him took the initiative and asked, ¡°Has it calmed down outside?¡± Shen Siwei was the last one to enter the bar, so only he knew the latest developments outside. As the cocktail, perfectly prepared, was pushed in front of Shen Siwei, he naturally unzipped the mask, lifted the glass, and replied to the person, ¡°Almost.¡± The person muttered to himself, ¡°Barn keeps stirring up trouble every other day. I wonder when it will come to an end.¡± Shen Siwei took a shallow sip of his drink and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you joining in?¡± ¡°Not interested.¡± The person had a graying beard and seemed older. He didn¡¯t seem the person to get involved in conflicts. ¡°The refugees are like scattered sand, and sooner or later, they¡¯ll be expelled from the Tree of Life.¡± ¡°You seem quite pessimistic,¡± Shen Siwei remarked. ¡°It¡¯s a fact,¡± the person with the beard replied. ¡°Everyone is just using each other, and no one is responsible for anyone Klet is the same. He can abandon the refugees anytime, as long as the negotiator provides suitable conditions.¡± Shen Siwei was intrigued and asked, ¡°What conditions do you think the negotiator would offer?¡± ¡°Who knows,¡± the bearded person shrugged. ¡°Money? Power?¡± However, those things didn¡¯t matter. Shen Siwei continued probing, ¡°Klet doesn¡¯t seem to be lacking money.¡± ¡°He dares to venture into the deep sea, so how could he lack money?¡± the bearded person replied. So that¡¯s the case. Klet truly had tremendous courage. The deep sea was a forbidden zone that even the military didn¡¯t dare to enter, yet he dared to go treasure hunting there. ¡°True,¡± Shen Siwei followed the bearded person¡¯s line of thought. ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s aiming for a position.¡± ¡°Hard to say,¡± the bearded person shook his head. ¡°He¡¯s always traveling in dangerous places. He doesn¡¯t seem like someone who can fit into the system. Even if the negotiator promises him an official position, he might not accept it.¡± Shen Siwei suddenly thought of the tattoo on Klet¡¯s back. Perhaps it represented the places he had visited. ¡°In that case,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°he might not be easily bought by the negotiator.¡± ¡°Hopefully,¡± the bearded person replied, raising his glass towards Shen Siwei. Shen Siwei reciprocated the gesture and clinked glasses with him. Both took a sip of their drinks. Shen Siwei was about to continue the conversation when the spotlight suddenly illuminated the stage, and a woman dressed in gypsy attire appeared from behind the curtain. She had a large red flower behind her ear, fanned herself with a feather fan, swaying her long skirt as she walked towards the audience. The audience erupted in applause and whistles as the woman twirled on the stage, accompanied by cheerful music, and started singing. Familiar melody, familiar attire. Shen Siwei stared at the singer on stage, his mind filled with numerous fragmented pieces of information, but he couldn¡¯t piece together a complete image. His brain went into overdrive, almost on the verge of exploding. The lyrics were on the tip of his tongue, but his mind seemed stuck, unable to sing them out no matter what. Beside him, the bearded person and others were singing along to the song. Shen Siwei reluctantly shifted his gaze and asked the bearded person, ¡°Who is she?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know?¡± the bearded person looked surprised. ¡°She¡¯s imitating Sara, a famous singer.¡± ¡°Sara¡­¡± Shen Siwei trailed off. ¡°Unfortunately, she¡¯s dead,¡± the bearded person shook his head with regret and continued singing along with the imitating singer. The sounds around him grew distant, and Shen Siwei felt like he was spinning in his own world. ¨CHe seemed to remember. His last mission before being cryogenically frozen was to find a singer named Sara. CH 17 The images in his memory gradually became clear. In his memory Shen Siwei turned his head and the corner of his eye unintentionally caught a glimpse of the man¡¯s waist beside him, making him casually turn his head and use his glass to cover his lips as he whispered, ¡°Hide the gun.¡± The man beside him reached back and pulled down his jacket hem, also using his glass to cover his lips as he said, ¡°Oops.¡± Shen Siwei was already used to it. ¡°Careless every time.¡± Whether it was a collar not properly worn or clothes worn inside out, Shen Siwei had criticized him countless times, but the guy still didn¡¯t listen. The man smiled, showing no signs of reflection. ¡°Thank you, Captain.¡± The playback suddenly stopped, and Shen Siwei leaned on the bar counter, using his thumb and index finger to massage his throbbing temple. He felt as if he was watching a familiar yet unfamiliar movie, and he was the protagonist, which made him feel really conflicted. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Lao Shuihu must have noticed that something was wrong with Shen Siwei and spoke up. His voice went up, pulling Shen Siwei out of the chaotic reflection. The same long table appeared in his memories . Memories and reality overlapped, so it was no wonder Shen Siwei would recall the same scene. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Shen Siwei put down his arm and continued to watch the singing girl on stage. The last person in his memory was Leizhe, a troublesome little guy. Just as Shen Siwei recalled this, his phone suddenly prompted a message from Moran. [Moran: any more useful information?] Shen Siwei looked at the name ¡°Moran¡± on the display and his memories came back again, playing in his mind. The background sound was filled with the owner of the izakaya and other customers¡¯ voices chatting. Leizhe played with a small glass and chatted casually with Shen Siwei, ¡°Captain Moran hasn¡¯t been on a mission for so long, is he really okay?¡± Shen Siwei looked at the chef grilling skewers and calmly said, ¡± just Obey the orders, don¡¯t read so much into it ¡° He shook his head to bring himself back to reality, took some time to recall, and hidden fragments gradually surfaced, piecing together a complete logical chain. ¡ªAt the time as he remembered, Shen Siwei had proposed an alternative plan, but Moran believed it wasn¡¯t thought through enough, so he arranged many team members to keep watch near Sara¡¯s residence. Leizhe, on the other hand, felt that Shen Siwei¡¯s plan was more efficient, thus expressing dissatisfaction with Moran¡¯s instructions It was just finding a singing girl, so why did Moran attach so much importance to the mission? The important details were still missing, and Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t remember the details of the mission no matter how hard he tried. His brain was once again overloaded, and at that moment, his phone prompted another message. [Moran: Shen?] Shen Siwei temporarily set aside his thoughts and replied to Moran¡¯s message. [Shen Siwei: In progress.] [Moran: Report back to the residence as soon as possible.] Report back to the residence? Shen Siwei felt a hint of worry and confusion in his mind As long as it was confirmed to be safe, reporting could be done anywhere. Like before, when he came out of the sewer and reported on the situation at the power station on the street, Moran didn¡¯t ask him to be discreet. Moreover, Moran usually wouldn¡¯t contact him proactively because he wasn¡¯t sure if Shen Siwei was available. Now that Moran knew he had changed his appearance and was carrying out a mission, why did it suddenly sound so urgent? Some vague thoughts appeared in his mind, and his memories started replaying again. A woman in a red dress lay in a pool of blood, and the dripping rain splashed red water droplets. Moran withdrew his gun and used the tip of his foot to turn the woman¡¯s face, expressionless as he said, ¡°It¡¯s her.¡± The woman stared blankly with open eyes, her pale face drained of color by the rain. Shen Siwei looked at Sara¡¯s lifeless body in disbelief and asked Moran, ¡°Why did you kill her?¡± ¡°She was trying to escape, didn¡¯t you see?¡± Moran¡¯s tone remained unchanged. ¡°We could have caught her if she ran away. Why did you shoot?¡± Shen Siwei looked at Moran in confusion. ¡°Can¡¯t you even catch a woman in high heels?¡± ¡°Watch your tone, Captain Shen.¡± Moran¡¯s voice grew stern. ¡°I just didn¡¯t want to waste time. Besides, she had already committed a crime.¡± ¡°But that doesn¡¯t warrant death,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°And the mission didn¡¯t say anything about killing her.¡± ¡°But she resisted.¡± ¡°If running away counts as resistance.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t waste my time with more talk,¡± Moran grew impatient, furrowing his brow. ¡°The mission is not yet complete. Go find her quickly.¡± The memories abruptly stopped at this point, and Shen Siwei stared at the glass in his hand with a gloomy expression. He finally understood where his subconscious thoughts were coming from. Moran was never his lover. Not only that,It seemed that Morin had gone to great lengths to make him obedient. He even fabricated stories about being lovers. His mind was in chaos. He still couldn¡¯t figure out what the mission was about or how it ended. For now, he put these thoughts aside and continued to ponder the vague ideas from earlier. He guessed correctly that Moran didn¡¯t want him to remember what happened before because it would make him resistant to his orders. Whenever his memory began to recover, Moran would immediately contact him, probably because he was monitoring his brain activity. The last time he inexplicably fell asleep, it was probably Moran¡¯s doing. If it weren¡¯t for Shen Siwei currently being in a bar, he would have already fallen asleep again. To be honest, Shen Siwei wasn¡¯t surprised. The phone beeped with a notification again. [Message from Moran: Received your reply.] Shen Siwei stared expressionlessly at the dialogue box and typed the word ¡°Received Moran slammed his fist on the control panel, jolting Dr. Chen, who was dozing off, awake. Dr. Chen pushed his glasses and looked at Moran, who had an angry expression on his face, and asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been saying to install a mechanical eye on him so that we can monitor what he¡¯s doing in real-time.¡± ¡°Captain Shen? But just installing the sleep chip has already put a heavy burden on his brain.¡± Dr. Chen glanced at the control panel. ¡°His brain waves show no abnormalities.¡± ¡°There was a significant fluctuation just now,¡± Moran said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Colonel,¡± Dr. Chen reassured. ¡°I guarantee he won¡¯t slip out of our control.¡± Afraid of arousing Moran¡¯s suspicion, even though there were still some things he couldn¡¯t remember and wanted to find out, Shen Siwei no longer strained his brain. The bar gradually filled with more people, indicating that the commotion outside had ended. Shen Siwei originally wanted to strike up conversations with more people, but at that moment, he suddenly caught sight of Klet¡¯s figure. Their eyes unexpectedly met, and Klet¡¯s gaze froze suddenly. Shen Siwei quickly turned his head, put on a mask under his face covering, and then left the bar counter. From Klet¡¯s expression, it was evident that he had noticed something unusual. Having just experienced a brain tremor, Shen Siwei didn¡¯t have the energy to play a game of cat and mouse with Klet. He circled around to the back door of the bar, wanting to leave as soon as possible. However, as soon as he stepped out, he was stopped by two refugees. ¡°Do you have a light?¡± one of them blocked Shen Siwei¡¯s path with his body. ¡°No,¡± Shen Siwei lowered his head and walked in the opposite direction, but the other blocked his way ahead. ¡°If you don¡¯t have it, you don¡¯t have it. Can¡¯t you speak nicely?¡± the first person said. Shen Siwei frowned, raised his gaze, and looked at the person, saying, ¡°How should I speak nicely?¡± ¡± It¡¯s polite to look at someone when talking,¡± the other person chimed in. Shen Siwei didn¡¯t want to waste time, so he buried his head and continued walking forward. However, the two individuals followed him and blocked his path again. ¡°Who said you could leave?¡± one of them asked. Shen Siwei took a deep breath and moved his lips, ¡°Get lost.¡± ¡°Tsk, getting more and more impolite are we?.¡± The two men exchanged a glance, revealing their true intentions as they pulled out their guns and pointed them at Shen Siwei¡¯s head. ¡°Open your payment system.¡± After all that, it turned out to be a robbery. Shen Siwei remained motionless and spoke in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯ll say it one last time, get lost.¡± A flash of crimson flickered in Shen Siwei¡¯s eyes, followed by a scream that pierced the night sky. The person who had just pressed the gun against Shen Siwei¡¯s head had his wrist grabbed by Shen Siwei, who twisted it forcefully. His forearm broke , exposing the bone covered in flesh and blood, piercing through the skin. The other person quickly fired a shot at Shen Siwei, but he remained unharmed. Shen Siwei swiftly approached and snapped the person¡¯s neck with two steps. ¡°Who¡­ who are you?¡± The person with the broken hand trembled on the ground, continuously retreating. ¡°Stay the fuck away from me!¡± Too noisy. Shen Siwei kicked the person¡¯s chin, finally bringing silence to the world. With no one blocking his way, Shen Siwei quickly left the alley. As his figure disappeared around the corner, the back door of the bar opened again, and two figures emerged. ¡°What the hell is going on?¡± Malken looked at the gruesome bodies and cursed in shock. One of the bodies had only a piece of skin remaining on its head, still connected to the neck, while the other body¡¯s facial bones were completely shattered, and its eyeballs had burst. ¡°It was done by hand.¡± He crouched next to the decapitated body, looking at the faint fingerprints. ¡°This person looks strong. Can you twist someone¡¯s head off like that?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t tried.¡± Klet lowered his eyes, looking at the two bodies on the ground. ¡°But it should be possible.¡± ¡°Forget it, I won¡¯t ask.¡± Malken stood up from the ground. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s the person you were looking for?¡± ¡°Not .¡± Klet frowned. ¡°But it looks somewhat like him.¡± ¡°I remember you said he was a military personnel.¡± Malken said, ¡°If it¡¯s really him¡­¡± Klet replied, ¡°Then he must be the Negotiator¡¯s companion.¡± CH 18 In Shen¡¯s memories¡­¡­¡­ ¡°Captain,¡± Lai Zhe wiped his gun and spoke to Shen Siwei, ¡°Have you heard Sara¡¯s songs?¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s gaze remained on the spacecraft window. ¡°Yes, I have.¡± Strictly speaking, he hadn¡¯t just heard them. After receiving the mission, Shen Siwei had casually listened to a few songs to understand his target. Sara¡¯s voice was passionate, just like the scorching sunlight outside the window, illuminating the dark lower levels with all its might. ¡°If possible, I really want her to sign this for me.¡± Lai Zhe took out an album with a red cover from his tactical vest. ¡°But she probably wouldn¡¯t want to sign for me.¡± Back at the Krete residence,,¡­¡­ Shen Siwei changed into a burgundy silk pajama with a button torn off. Since there was no one else in the house, wearing tattered pajamas didn¡¯t matter. Shen Siwei lay awake on the bed, dialed Moran¡¯s communication ID. ¡°How¡¯s the situation?¡± Moran¡¯s voice came through. ¡°I found out that Klet and Barn are at odds,¡± Shen Siwei said in a flat tone, providing seemingly valueless information. ¡°The refugees are not united internally, so maybe we can launch a direct counterattack.¡± ¡°No, we can¡¯t,¡± Moran¡¯s response was as expected. ¡°We must investigate the situation at the power station thoroughly before taking any further action.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll continue the investigation,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°Good,¡± Moran¡¯s tone softened. ¡°I hope you return soon. I miss you.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Shen Siwei endured the goosebumps that formed on his body and behaved as usual. After giving the report, he regained his hair and eye color, returning to blonde hair and blue eyes. Shen Siwei lay in the darkness, staring at the ceiling, wondering whether to carry out the mission or not. Having been deceived by Morann, he naturally felt a surge of anger, but personally, he didn¡¯t want to see chaos within the Tree of Life. Investigating the power station was crucial to restoring stability to the Tree of Life. In addition, there was another reason. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t escape Moran¡¯s control at the moment. After much thought, it seemed that staying put was the only option. Suddenly, Lai Zhe¡¯s handsome face appeared in his mind, and Shen Siwei¡¯s heart sank, feeling a sense of regret. Previously, he always thought that the events twenty years ago were far back and couldn¡¯t affect him anymore. But as his memories gradually resurfaced, the little details regained color, awakening the human emotions in him. That rascal Lai Zhe couldn¡¯t even get Sara¡¯s autograph. Thinking about this, he felt a bit uneasy. Wait a minute, the red-covered album? An idea crossed Shen Siwei¡¯s mind, and he swiftly turned over and got out of bed. He turned on the small night light in the living room and went to the CD shelf to search. He remembered that among a pile of cartoons, there were a few movies and albums. Those CDs were plain and unmarked, and Shen Siwei hadn¡¯t paid much attention to them at the time. But now, in retrospect¡­ There it was. Indeed, it was Sara¡¯s album. Not just the red-covered one, but Sara had released a total of five albums, all displayed on the CD shelf. At least twenty years ago, physical albums were already rare. Lai Zhe was a fan of Sara, but did that mean Kret is too? But even if he is, it doesn¡¯t seem to indicate anything. Shen Siwei opened the album with the red cover, intending to listen to the songs, hoping to recall more memories. However, at that moment, a sudden ¡°bang¡± sound came from downstairs. Someone was shooting. Shen Siwei immediately set aside the album and went to the window to look downstairs. He noticed that the refugees who were playing cards downstairs when he returned had disappeared. After the gunshot, silence followed. Disputes among ordinary people don¡¯t erupt suddenly with gunshots. Shen Siwei almost immediately thought that someone was assassinating the refugees downstairs and fired a shot. So, did another assassin come to kill him? His intuition was quickly confirmed as a dense sound of footsteps echoed outside the door. Shen Siwei quickly retreated to the balcony, preparing to jump off, but the next second, the person who kicked the door open¡­ turned out to be Barn. It seemed that the standoff in the square hadn¡¯t resolved the issue. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, negotiator,¡± Barn instructed his subordinates to turn on the lights in the room and looked at Shen Siwei, who was huddled on the balcony. ¡°I¡¯m here to pick you up.¡± Shen Siwei furrowed his brows slightly. ¡°Pick me up?¡± Barn looked at Shen Siwei¡¯s exposed chest and spat on the ground. ¡°Klet indeed doesn¡¯t know how to negotiate properly.¡± Then he switched to a gentler yet sarcastic tone. ¡°Are you startled? did he do this to you.¡± Shen Siwei calmly adjusted his collar. ¡°He didn¡¯t do anything to me.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to fear him.¡± Barn approached the balcony and grabbed Shen Siwei¡¯s wrist. ¡°You can negotiate with me. I represent all the refugees.¡± Barn¡¯s mechanical right arm exerted a slight force, pulling Shen Siwei out of the balcony. His cotton slippers couldn¡¯t withstand the pushing and shoving, slipped off Shen Siwei¡¯s feet. Shen Siwei stepped back barefoot, struggling, and said, ¡°Let go of me.¡± He didn¡¯t use much force. Otherwise, Barn would have been thrown like a wrecking ball into the neighboring building, smashing the adult toy sign. ¡°Don¡¯t struggle , negotiator.¡± Barn seemed to enjoy restraining his strength, playing a pushing and pulling game with the fragile Shen Siwei. ¡°As long as you come with me, I guarantee that we can quickly reach an agreement.¡± ¡°No.¡± Shen Siwei clung to the door frame, making a final struggle. ¡°I¡¯m here to negotiate with Klet.¡± ¡°How is it? Has Klet been treating you well?¡± Barn completely discarded his disguise and grinned. ¡°Whatever he can do, I can do even better¡± Shen Siwei felt annoyed. Negotiating with Barn was a complete waste of time. ¡°So, should I tie you up and take you away, or will you walk on your own?¡± Barn asked. Taking a deep breath, Shen Siwei suppressed his annoyance and put on an expressionless face as he returned to the room, putting on his cotton slippers. ¡°I¡¯ll walk on my own.¡± Barn gestured a ¡°please,¡± and the ten or so people outside the door instinctively stood on both sides of the corridor, creating a path for Shen Siwei. Only the last button of his pajamas maintained some dignity, and the people on both sides of the corridor all looked enviously at Shen Siwei¡¯s faintly visible chest. With a straight gaze, Shen Siwei walked toward the elevator, but secretly accessed the communicator in his hand. He had Klet¡¯s communication ID. Previously. The fastest way to resolve the situation was to call Klet. However, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t make his actions too obvious. The elevator doors opened slowly, and Shen Siwei was prepared to enter the elevator while pretending to look down but actually glancing at his palm, accessing Klet¡¯s conversation icon. However, at that moment, the corner of his eye caught sight of a small head hiding in the shadows. It was knock. In terms of iris characteristics, lighter-colored irises contain less pigment than darker-colored irises, allowing more light to enter the eye. Therefore, people with light-colored eyes generally had better night vision than those with dark-colored eyes. No one¡¯s eyes were lighter than Shen Siwei¡¯s eyes, so apart from him, no one saw knock hiding in the shadows. Assuming that knock would inform Klet, Shen Siwei temporarily relaxed and put away the communicator in his palm. Barn took Shen Siwei to a strip club near the music square. In the cramped private room, a steel pole stood at the center of the coffee table, projecting three-dimensional images of naked women performing erotic moves on the pole and only Barn and two individuals who seemed to be his right-hand men sat on either side of Shen Siwei. ¡°Negotiating here?¡± Shen Siwei surveyed the dimly lit private room. There were surveillance cameras in both the hallway and the private room, so he had to continue maintaining his delicate negotiator image. ¡°Why not?¡± Barn¡¯s gaze swept across Shen Siwei¡¯s chest, as if saying, ¡°Since you¡¯re dressed like this, what does the location matter?¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Shen Siwei said with patience, ¡°What are your conditions?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple.¡± Barn smirked, ¡°Give me control of City Z, and I will let all the civilians go.¡± Shen Siwei raised an eyebrow, ¡°is that it?¡± ¡°Of course, there are additional conditions.¡± Barn had an expression that said, ¡°I¡¯m not that foolish,¡± ¡°You have to stay here as a hostage.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Shen Siwei chuckled softly, ¡°That¡¯s your condition.¡± It seemed that Barn was completely clueless from the beginning. He thought the military hadn¡¯t taken any action because they were worried about the refugees holding civilians hostage. In reality, the military simply couldn¡¯t assess the situation at the power station, so they didn¡¯t take any rash actions. Once the military started a full-scale counterattack, how could these makeshift refugee forces possibly resist the well-trained regular army? In the end, the cards held by the refugees were never civilians, but the power station. But Barn clearly didn¡¯t realize this. ¡°So, you¡¯re unwilling?¡± Barn said, ¡°If you follow me, I guarantee we will treat you good.¡± The other two immediately chimed in. ¡°Our boss keeps his word, don¡¯t think too much.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll still be seen as a hero by those civilians, where else can you find that kind of honor?¡± Shen Siwei furrowed his brow and said, ¡°This kind of condition can also be negotiated with Klet.¡± In other words, what power do you have?¡± Of course Shen Siwei had also considered that Klet might have other plans of his own; no wonder he was unwilling to negotiate. But speaking of which¡­ Why hadn¡¯t he arrived yet? ¡°Or,¡± Barn suddenly leaned over and embraced Shen Siwei¡¯s shoulder, ¡°do you want to try the goods first?¡± The expected moment had arrived. Shen Siwei wasn¡¯t surprised at all. ¡°Take your hands off me,¡± he said coldly, ¡°if we¡¯re going to talk, let¡¯s talk properly.¡± ¡± being fierce huh?.¡± Barn seemed to be getting excited and directly pushed Shen Siwei onto the sofa, his knee squeezing between Shen Siwei¡¯s legs. The silk pajamas slid along the smooth skin, revealing the thin and symmetrical lines of his chest and abdomen. Barn¡¯s gaze fell on the two pink cherries, and his breathing visibly became heavier. ¡°You can¡¯t do this?¡± Shen Siwei, mindful of the surveillance cameras, could only struggle with controlled force, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, I¡¯m a negotiator!¡± Shen Siwei became increasingly annoyed. If this continued, he had to figure out a way to avoid the surveillance and make Barn ¡°meet an unfortunate accident.¡± But that proved to be difficult. Just as Shen Siwei was considering what to do, he heard Barn say, ¡°I¡¯ve turned off the surveillance in the hallway and the private room. A negotiator can¡¯t rely on empty words, right?¡± Shen Siwei suddenly stopped struggling and faced Barn displaying an innocent and beautiful face, ¡°You turned off the surveillance?¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯m stupid?¡± Barn said triumphantly, ¡± why Would I leave evidence for you?¡± CH 19 Shen Siwei¡¯s knee forcefully struck his crotch, but it was blocked by a swiftly reacting mechanical arm. With two loud thuds, Shen threw a punch causing Barnes to roll twice on the sofa, and the second punch sent him flying into the wall of the private room. If it weren¡¯t for the sudden attack from the person behind Shen Siwei, he would have continued serving Barnes with a series of blows. A whip kick suddenly struck from the waist side, and Shen Siwei instinctively used his arm to defend against the attack. His body violently leaned against the back of the sofa chair, and the heavy leather sofa broke apart in the middle. Shen Siwei leaned against the broken sofa, quickly assessing the situation of the other two individuals. Obviously, their bodies had also undergone mechanical modifications. ¡°Is your right arm also a mechanical prosthesis?¡± Barnes rose from the dented wall, shook his damaged forearm, and saw the three dents caused by Shen Siwei¡¯s attacks return to their original state, with only slight traces of the damage left. ¡°You¡¯re quite good at pretending. So you are not just a frail thing?.¡± Illegally modified prosthetics typically had better performance than military-grade prosthetics because military-grade ones considered the body¡¯s load, appearance among other factors, and had few modifications. However, illegal modifications were different. Those refugees only wanted more power, even if it meant sacrificing their bodies. ¡°A hydraulic repair system?¡± Shen Siwei smirked. ¡°Interesting.¡± With a strong push off the ground, Shen Siwei swiftly charged towards Barnes. However, at that moment, one of Barn¡¯s subordinates suddenly rushed from the side. Shen Siwei grabbed the steel pipe in the middle of the room, his body moving in a graceful arc, and kicked his chest. The person crossed their hands in an ¡°X¡± shape, blocking the attack in front of their chest, but their body still flew out and crashed into the wall of the private room. ¡°Boss,¡± the other person, frightened, retreated to the door of the private room. ¡°His leg is also a mechanical prosthesis!¡± Ordinary people could only endure modifications on one limb since mechanical prosthetics put considerable pressure on the brain and spine. Excessive modifications led to death. Obviously, those three individuals ignored the fact that Shen Siwei initially attacked with his knee and subconsciously believed that only his arms were prosthetic. But they guessed wrong. ¡°Not exactly,¡± Shen Siwei, wearing pajamas and cotton slippers, stood on the coffee table and casually took the steel pipe fixed beside him. ¡°None of my limbs are prosthetic.¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± Barnes looked at Shen Siwei with a serious expression. ¡°Marg people are just a subspecies capable of living in low-oxygen environments. How could they evolve to be like you?¡± Barnes was right. Marg people indeed had stronger physical abilities than ordinary humans, but not to such an exaggerated extent. Shen Siwei was just relying on his false identity as a Marg person and making things up. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say.¡± Shen Siwei tilted his head and looked at Barnes. ¡°Do you still want to give it a try?¡± There was already a dead body outside the private room, so Shen Siwei had to finish the fight quickly. This time, Barnes directly pulled out his gun. As he fired while moving towards the door, it was clear that he intended to escape. The bullets shattered the flickering disco ball, casting the private room into darkness. Barnes only focused on blindly shooting, and when he finally stopped pulling the trigger, there was no sound in the dark room. He thought he had hit Shen Siwei and immediately rushed towards the door. However, at that moment, a dark figure suddenly appeared right in front of him, startling him to the point that he instinctively raised his arm and fired a shot. The gun muzzle once again went off, revealing a pair of crimson eyes. The bullet flew straight towards Shen Siwei¡¯s forehead but rebounded and hit Barnes¡¯s left eye. ¡°Ah!!!¡± A miserable scream echoed in the private room. Shen Si grabbed Barn¡¯s right wrist and threw him out of the compartment like throwing a shot put. Then, he stomped on Barn¡¯s head, forcefully tearing off his mechanical right arm. Now, no repair system could fix it. The noise from the dance floor was deafening, and no one noticed what was happening in the compartment. Barn was barely alive, pleading for mercy. However, Shen Si pressed his foot a little harder, crushing the easily breakable skull. When the bullet pierced Barn¡¯s left eye, the blood sprayed and stained Shen Si¡¯s pajamas. The wine-red pajamas seemed to be a wise choice; even with bloodstains, nothing was visible Wearing such pajamas, he couldn¡¯t just go back to the klet¡¯s place as if nothing had happened. Moreover, with Barn¡¯s incident here, Shen Si had to come up with an excuse in advance. After some thought, he pulled up a map and found a secluded self-service bathhouse. As Shen Si left the strip club through the back door, he heard a violent uproar erupting behind him. There was panic, uncontrollable anger, and demands for the killer to reveal themselves. He casually walked away pretending not to hear the commotion behind him. ¡ªThe choice of cotton slippers seemed wise too. The soles were soft and smooth, leaving no footprints wherever he went. Shen Si intentionally chose a small alley away from the main road. However, after walking for a while, he felt someone was following him from behind. He found a corner, discreetly turned around to check, and the clumsy tail quickly hid behind a trash can. But Shen Si had already seen the figure clearly. Indeed, it was him. Shen Si thought to himself. No wonder klet didn¡¯t send anyone. Sighing helplessly, Shen Si quickened his pace and shook off the follower behind him. He continued walking in the alley for about twenty minutes until he finally arrived at the secluded bathhouse. The bathhouse had a Japanese-style decor, with a curtain hanging in front of the entrance. Inside, there was a lounge for resting. The self-service bathhouse also didn¡¯t offer any ¡°special services,¡± and at this late hour, there were no serious customers in the bathhouse, only a lonely beckoning cat at the entrance. Shen Si selected the most expensive private bath on the LCD screen, took the key to the changing room, and changed into the bathhouse-provided robe. He threw his bloodstained pajamas into the washing machine. The private bath was located outdoors at the end of a corridor. He reached the end, opened the sliding door, and saw a small courtyard. Though not large, it had mountains, water, and flowers, making for a pleasant view. If the pitch-black night sky had stars, the environment would be considered perfect. The medium-sized bath in the courtyard could accommodate six to eight people,.likely designed for families. However, given the current situation in this city, no family had the leisure to enjoy such facilities. Shen Si quickly washed away the bloodstains on his body and stepped into the steaming hot bath. He felt quite relaxed -. Perhaps due to being frozen for a long time, Shen Si enjoyed the warm sensation. The gentle hot water enveloped his entire body, providing thorough relaxation for his tense muscles. Closing his eyes, he savored this ultimate comfort. However, not long after, a notification popped up on the communicator in his palm. The holographic display in the water was not clear, so Shen Si raised his right hand and discovered it was a message from klet ¡¾klet: Where are you?¡¿ ¡°Oh so now he¡¯s curious about me¡±. Shen Si lazily sent the coordinates and also informed klet the room number. About twenty minutes later, the sound of roaring engines echoed outside the bathhouse. Shen Si still rested his head on the edge of the pool, his eyes closed, quietly listening to the familiar footsteps drawing nearer from a distance. With a ¡°swish,¡± someone forcefully pulled open the locked sliding door from the outside. Shen Si finally opened his eyes, but before he could react, klet swiftly closed the sliding door with a ¡°snap.¡± ¡°Barn is dead.¡± klet looked down at the naked Shen Si in the bath, his tone flat as he stated the fact. There was no expression on his face, and it was impossible to discern what he was thinking. He seemed to have no expectation for Shen Si to respond, as he undressed himself without a care, revealing his sturdy upper body and two explosively powerful legs. he stood by the pool, his gaze scanning over Shen Si¡¯s curled-up legs, and then¡­ he removed his black boxer briefs. Shen Si subtly raised an eyebrow, politely averted his gaze, maintaining a calm demeanor on the surface, but internally he was shocked by what he saw. Ripples spread across the calm pool as klet stepped into the bath. The bath, which could accommodate several people, immediately felt cramped, and Shen Si furrowed his brow due to the oppressive feeling next to him. ¡°This is the bath I booked,¡± he stated klet ignored him and sat down next to Shen Si. The rippling water seemed like a hand, caressing Shen Si¡¯s arm and then flowing over his entire body. klet extended his arms and rested them on the edge of the pool. He turned his head to look at Shen Si within his arm¡¯s reach and asked in a low voice, ¡°Where were you just now?¡± CH 20 I was at a strip club,¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t lie. Klet averted his gaze from Shen Siwei¡¯s calm profile and looked ahead as he said, ¡°I came back home and found out someone had taken you. Shortly after, I was informed that Barn was dead. His men claimed I killed Barn to take you. At this point, he turned his head again, and his deep gaze met Shen Siwei¡¯s as he asked, ¡°What are your thoughts on this?¡± Shen Siwei blinked, and his long lashes revealed a hint of innocence. ¡°Did you kill Barn?¡± The water in the pool suddenly surged, and a massive figure turned over, approaching Shen Siwei. He calmly tilted his chin up, allowing Klet to grip his neck. ¡°Why did you kill Barn?¡± His slender neck was firmly held by the large hand, as if it could break with a gentle squeeze. Shen Siwei¡¯s delicate milky-white complexion shrank at the pool¡¯s edge, completely overshadowed by Klet¡¯s dominant wheatish skin. ¡°Are you going to make me keep talk like this?¡± Shen Siwei struggled to raise his chin, his eyes slightly red as he looked at Klet. The two of them held their positions for a moment, but in the end, Klet let go. He retreated to his previous position and glanced at Shen Siwei indifferently. ¡°Who saved you?¡± ¡°No one saved me,¡± Shen Siwei rubbed his neck and said, ¡°When I left, Barn was still alive.¡± Klet chuckled softly, carrying a hint of sarcasm, as if implying that Shen Siwei was making up stories again. ¡°Why would Barn let you go?¡± Klet¡¯s gaze hinted towards Shen Siwei¡¯s chest. ¡°It¡¯s not like him.¡± He certainly knew Barn well. Going through all the trouble of abducting Shen Siwei, he wouldn¡¯t let go that easy. ¡°I am a negotiator,¡± Shen Siwei said calmly, without changing his expression. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t dare do anything to me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible,¡± Klet stated firmly. ¡°His men said he willingly disabled the surveillance in the club. Can you guess why?¡± ¡°Why?¡± Shen Siwei casually scooped up a handful of water and splashed it on his shoulder, nonchalantly asking. Kreit furrowed his brow slightly, clearly disliking Shen Siwei¡¯s feigned ignorance. He decided to ask directly, ¡°Did he touch you?¡± ¡°No, it was just negotiation,¡± Shen Siwei replied. Judging by Klet¡¯s expression, he still didn¡¯t believe it, so Shen Siwei added, ¡°There¡¯s no surveillance here either, and you haven¡¯t touched me either.¡± After saying that, he suddenly remembered Klet¡¯s previous words and casually remarked, ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not your type.¡± The wrist playing with the pool water was abruptly grabbed, and a strong arm wrapped around his waist, pulling Shen Siwei into a tight embrace. Warm body temperature pressed against his skin, a heat that Shen Siwei had never experienced before. ¡°I¡¯ve also said,¡± Klet lowered his gaze and looked Shen in his arms, his gaze sweeping over the exposed areas without body hair, ¡°I don¡¯t mind trying a different taste.¡± Shen Siwei had been completely naked in front of Klet three times in total, but this time, he felt tingles in his body and shy from klet¡¯s gaze.He held Klet¡¯s chest with one hand, pressing his palm against the gorilla tattoo: ¡°Release me first, and let¡¯s talk.¡± The action had no strength behind it, not to mention that Shen Siwei didn¡¯t exert any force at all. His right shoulder rested against Klet¡¯s chest, while his right wrist was held by Klet¡¯s left hand, and there was an arm draped across his waist, preventing him from struggling. ¡°Why should I release you?¡± Klet exerted a slight force, pushing Shen Siwei downwards, as if demonstrating how easy it was to make contact.his ass brushed against the hidden bulge, and a flash of anger crossed Shen Siwei¡¯s eyes. He had to use his left hand to hook Klet¡¯s neck, at least allowing his body to rise a bit, away from his crotch. The two faces suddenly drew close, and if it weren¡¯t for Shen Siwei still wearing a mask and quickly stopping himself, their noses would have touched. Klet instinctively leaned his head back, as he seemed surprised by Shen Siwei¡¯s sudden proximity, his expression frozen for a moment. He quickly regained his composure and asked, ¡°So why did Barn let you go?¡± ¡°Release me first, then I¡¯ll tell you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe Barn would¨C¡° ¡°Release me.¡± A tinge of red appeared in his beautiful eyes, and Klet raised an eyebrow in slight surprise, tilting his head and asking, ¡°Your eyes change color too?¡± Shen Siwei was taken aback, thinking there might be a glitch in the program. ¡°What?¡± The moment of annoyance faded, and the crimson color disappeared with it. Klet tightened his hold on Shen Siwei¡¯s waist, leaning closer to examine him, but he didn¡¯t see the red color in the pale blue irises. His beautiful light blue eyes were like a bottomless lake, swirling with vortexes that could captivate anyone. Seeing how close klet was,, Shen Siwei was also a little surprised. What was going on with the gang leader? When he unintentionally got closer earlier, Klet knew to lean back, which indicated that he didn¡¯t really intend to do anything to Shen Siwei. But why was his crotch still poking his ass? Klet then shifted his gaze away, pushing Shen Siwei to the side. Shen Siwei sat back in his original position, looking at the back of Klet¡¯s head, feeling bewildered. ¡°In any case, when I left, Barn was still alive.¡± Klet didn¡¯t move for a while, his gaze fixed on the other side. After a while, he turned his gaze back to Shen Siwei and called out, ¡°Yiwen.¡± That was Shen Siwei¡¯s alias. Except for the first time when they jokingly greeted each other, it was the first time Klet had called Shen Siwei by that name. Shen Siwei asked, ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in anything else,¡± Klet said, ¡°Just tell me honestly, who is helping you? ¡°No one is helping me,¡± Shen Siwei told the truth. But he couldn¡¯t help but wonder why Klet was suddenly sure there were people helping him? ¡°I don¡¯t believe you?¡± Klet seemed somewhat annoyed. ¡°The power station, the back alley of the bar, the strip club, obviously it¡¯s not your doing, so who?¡± Shen Siwei:¡­ It really is me. But Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t admit it because if his identity were exposed, he wouldn¡¯t be able to continue his mission. ¡°I don¡¯t believe the military would be so at ease, letting you stay here alone,¡± Klet continued, ¡°There must be someone protecting you secretly.¡± Shen Siwei admitted that Klet made sense.klet could only naturally assume that there were military personnel lurking around, protecting Shen Siwei discreetly. The damaged pipeline at the power station, the bodies in the back alley of the bar, the sudden death of Barn, all indicated the existence of such individuals. ¡°I know you don¡¯t believe me,¡± Shen Siwei slowly spoke, ¡°but no one is helping me¡± The small courtyard fell into silence, with only the rising steam diffusing the quiet atmosphere. After a moment, Klet let out a sigh and slightly parted his lips, saying, ¡°Fine.¡± After uttering this single word, he extended his arm and pressed down on Shen Siwei¡¯s shoulder. Their bodies were once again in close contact, but Shen Siwei had no reaction. Although he often called Klet a rogue, he knew deep down that Klete and Barn weren¡¯t on the same side and klet wouldn¡¯t really harm him. However, in the next second, his face suddenly went blank, and Shen Siwei realized in a sudden burst of realization klet wanted to take off his mask! ¡°Klet!¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t care about anything else and pounced, trying to snatch it back. ¡°Don¡¯t !¡± Leveraging his longer arms, Klet held the mask far behind him. Shen Siwei knew his breath couldn¡¯t hold for more than three seconds, so he had no choice but to continue lunging forward. Unconsciously, his legs ended up straddling Klet¡¯s waist. Standing upright, he appeared to be able to reach the mask, with his lower abdomen brushing against Klet¡¯s nose and lips, but Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t care. However, Klet didn¡¯t make it easy for Shen Siwei to snatch the mask back. He encircled Shen Siwei¡¯s lower back and pressed down, slightly raising his chin and calling out, ¡°Malken.¡± The sliding door ¡°whooshed¡± open, and Malken leaned halfway into the room, asking, ¡°Boss?¡± Shen Siwei turned his head in confusion, only then realizing that his and Klet¡¯s posture was a bit strange. Malken placed his hands in front of his eyes, with his middle and ring fingers slightly apart, and looked at the two, saying, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Klet made a shooting motion and tossed the oxygen mask to Malken, saying, ¡°Take it apart.¡± Malken made an ¡°OK¡± gesture and closed the sliding door behind them. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t muster enough breath to curse. All he could do was breathe deeply with a maddening itch in his teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t cry to me,¡± Klet raised an eyebrow. ¡°Since you said no one is helping you I want to see if anyone will come to rescue you.¡± He meant to lock Shen Siwei up. ¡°Suit yourself.¡± Shen Siwei turned over and sat back in the water basin, turning his head to the other side. ¡°but I won¡¯t go anywhere.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not up to you.¡± After Klet said this, Shen Siwei suddenly felt his body lift off the ground. By the time he reacted, Klet had already hoisted him onto his shoulders, and his abdomen was sore from the hard shoulder. ¡°Klet, put me down!¡± Shen Siwei immediately became furious, his anger rising to his head. ¡°Believe it or not, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± ¡°You can try.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think I won¡¯t dare. I¡­%&*#¡­Ha¡­Ha¡­¡± The more he wanted to curse, the more he couldn¡¯t catch his breath. In the end, Shen Siwei could only resort to an extremely humiliating move¡ªhe pulled Klet¡¯s hair. ¡°Hiss¡ª¡± Klete winced in pain and impatiently slapped Shen Siwei¡¯s ass. ¡°Behave yourself.¡± Crimson flickered in Shen Siwei¡¯s eyes once again. Sooner or later, he would deal with this wretched rogue leader. CH 21 Shen Siwei was placed by the sliding door, and Klet threw the bathrobe at him. The white bathrobe covered Shen Siwei¡¯s head, messing up his golden hair. He expressionlessly took it off and wrapped his naked body, saying, ¡°I won¡¯t say it again, give me back the mask.¡± Klet remained unaffected and casually wiped off the water stains on his body with his short sleeved shirt and put on his long pants and Martin boots. He then opened the sliding door shirtless and took a few steps outside, only to find that Shen Siwei hadn¡¯t followed him. ¡°The mask,¡± Shen Siwei crossed his arms in front of his chest and stood still, not moving. ¡°I won¡¯t go without my mask.¡± Klet turned around, still holding the wet short sleeves in his hand. He placed his hands casually on his waist and asked , ¡°Are you throwing a tantrum at me?¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°?¡± Was he throwing a tantrum? ¡°I¡¯m just asking you to give me the mask,¡± he frowned. ¡°Malken already took it are we going or not?¡± Even if he wanted to go, without an oxygen mask, he wouldn¡¯t be able to take more than a few steps without running out of breath. ¡°I¡¯m not going,¡± Shen Siwei turned his head. Klet sighed in frustration and suddenly threw the wet short sleeves into Shen Siwei¡¯s arms. ¡°Take it.¡± The black short sleeves had a slight smell of sweat mixed with perfume, and when it got wet, the smell turned into a strong masculine scent. Shen Siwei, wondering why Klet gave him his shirt, saw Klete walking straight to his side and bending down to lift him up. The cotton slipper on his right foot flew into the air due to inertia, drawing a small parabolic arc before landing with a ¡°clap¡± on the ground. Just an hour ago, Shen Siwei had crushed Barn¡¯s skull with his right foot. But now, this right foot hung weakly in the air, and the bony ankle looked fragile and unbearable to touch. ¡°My slipper,¡± Shen Siwei protested. Klet had already turned around and was walking forward, seemingly too lazy to care about the fallen slipper. Shen Siwei had to raise his voice, emphasizing with dissatisfaction, ¡°The slipper!¡± His rare outburst of anger finally had some effect, and the two long legs finally stopped. Klet glanced at Shen Siwei¡¯s right foot, then at the slipper lying on the ground. In the end, he reluctantly turned back, still in the position of carrying Shen Siwei, and bent down to pick up the lonely slipper. Shen Siwei obediently stayed in Klet¡¯s arms the whole time, but his left foot wasn¡¯t as obedient. Just as Klet picked up the slipper and hadn¡¯t fully straightened up, Shen Siwei lightly hooked his left foot and kicked the other slipper to the ground. ¡°And that one,¡± he tilted his chin, ¡°pick it up for me.¡± Klet¡¯s movement halted in mid-air, raising an eyebrow in surprise at Shen Siwei. ¡°Stop messing around will you?¡± ¡°No,¡± Shen Siwei said lightly, ¡°it fell by itself.¡± As long as one¡¯s not blind, it was clear that Shen Siwei was deliberately retaliating. But Klet seemed too lazy to expose it, so he bent down again, picked up the other slipper, and then carried Shen Siwei out of the self-service bathhouse. There were several off-road vehicles parked outside, and about ten people were gathered together smoking and chatting. Shen Siwei vaguely heard words like ¡°Barn¡± and ¡°he died harshly.¡± But that wasn¡¯t the point. He didn¡¯t expect there to be so many people outside. Originally, he resigned himself to stay in Klet¡¯s arms, but now he felt uncomfortable. But if he got down from Klet¡¯s arms, he wouldn¡¯t be able to walk without the mask. So after hesitating for a while, Shen Siwei simply turned his head, burying his face in Klet¡¯s chest, and had a staring contest with the big gorilla tattoo. ¡°Boss, is he that weak to even walk himself?¡± someone joked, ¡°he¡¯s just a few steps away, and you¡¯re carrying him like that.¡± Klet lowered his gaze, looking at the golden head of hair that hid in his embrace. ¡°He¡¯s too delicate.¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± Who caused all this? Give me back the mask ! After wandering around in circles for most of the night, they ended up back at Klet¡¯s house. The broken front door was being repaired by an AI maintenance worker, and two small robots about half a person tall were busy on both sides of the door, knocking and fiddling without worrying about the noise they were creating. Klet carried Shen Siwei into the house and casually threw him from a distance, tossing him onto the sofa. However, his aim was slightly off, and Shen Siwei landed on the back of the sofa, causing it to tilt and sway before barely stabilizing. Klet showed no signs of remorse. He walked straight to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of cold water. Shen Siwei was already angry, and being thrown onto the sofa made him even more furious. He grabbed the wet black short sleeves and threw it at the back of Klet¡¯s head. ¡°When will you give me back the mask?¡± Klete, who was drinking water, was covered by the shirt and almost choked on the water. He coughed a few times and wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. ¡°Let the one who¡¯s helping you come and get it.¡± ¡°How many times do I have to say,¡± Shen Siwei was getting a headache, ¡°oh forget it¡± Klet ignored Shen Siwei and stood in the center of the room, opening the palm-sized computer in his hand and displaying several surveillance screens. The screens showed a hallway, a living room, and a balcony. With just one glance, Shen Siwei discovered that the surveillance target was this very room. ¡°You still have surveillance?¡± he quickly scanned the corners of the room and indeed found newly installed surveillance cameras. Klet remained silent and adjusted the angles of the cameras. From their conversation in the bath house earlier, Shen Siwei probed, ¡°It seems like you¡¯re eager to catch whoever is helping me.¡± Klet paused and looked directly at Shen Siwei, saying, ¡°So someone is helping you.¡± ¡°no,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°I¡¯m just curious why you¡¯re so fixated on this.¡± At that moment, the small robots by the door finished repairing it. After checking, Klet paid them the repair fee. ¡°I remember you were looking for someone,¡± Shen Siwei continued, ¡± so why waste your energy into someone who doesn¡¯t exist, no one is helping me¡± Speaking of this, Shen Siwei suddenly thought of a ridiculous possibility. Could it be that Klet was looking for someone from the military? But before he could delve deeper into his thoughts, a little head suddenly popped up by the door, and knock looked at Shen Siwei with concern and asked, ¡°Brother, are you okay?¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t immediately answer, and knock turned to Klet and said, ¡°I heard you killed Barn.¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business, kid,¡± Klet pressed knock¡¯¡¯s head and turned him around. ¡°Go back to sleep.¡± After sending knock away, Klet closed the door and sat down next to Shen Siwei, turning on the television. The screen showed a yellow sponge wearing a shirt and a tie¡ªit was SpongeBob SquarePants, Klet¡¯s favorite. ¡°This is ridiculous¡±, Shen Siwei thought. He was actually sitting with the leader of the refugees, watching cartoons together. Cartoons seemed to have a calming effect, making people inexplicably want to escape the conflicts of the adult world. Shen Siwei temporarily set aside his emotions and asked Klet in a casual tone, ¡°Have you known knock for a long time?¡± ¡°Not long,¡± Klete said, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°He¡­¡± Shen Siwei paused, ¡°Does he just pick up garbage every day?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Klete said, ¡°The neighbors take good care of him.¡± ¡°Do you often stay in City Z?¡± Shen Siwei asked again. With one question after another, it felt more like prying rather than casual conversation. Klet slowly withdrew his gaze from the TV screen and looked at Shen Siwei beside him, asking in return, ¡°Are you that curious about me?¡± Shen Siwei pursed his lips. ¡°Yes.¡± Klet clearly heard the weariness in that ¡°yes.¡± He continued to look at the TV screen, opening his mouth and saying, ¡°Not often. I spend most of my time outside the city.¡± ¡°So what crime did you actually commit?¡± Shen Siwei asked again. This time, Klet didn¡¯t respond anymore, and Shen Siwei immediately realized that he had gone too far with his questions. He looked at the tattoo on Klet¡¯s shoulder and changed the topic, asking, ¡°Is that the Northern Icefield?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Klet slightly turned his body to allow Shen Siwei a clearer view, ¡°That little cabin is a rest point on the icefield.¡± Shen Siwei had never been to the icefield. Most people wouldn¡¯t go there, and Shen Siwei hadn¡¯t been on any missions to that place. But he also knew that some adventure enthusiasts would cross the glaciers to see the auroras that couldn¡¯t be seen from the Tree of Life. ¡°Is this the TV tower in the Southern Ruins?¡± Shen Siwei looked at another spot, using his index finger to trace the intricate pattern, ¡°The tattoo looks quite realistic.¡± ¡°¡­Hmm.¡± Klet¡¯s voice was muffled in his throat, sounding even deeper. ¡°Is this the complete view of the Desert Underground City?¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s finger reached Klet¡¯s lower back, following the delicate lines from the spine to the side of his waist. But at that moment, a large hand suddenly grabbed his hand back. ¡°stop,¡± Klet leaned back in his chair again, no longer showing his tattoos to Shen Siwei. Shen Siwei followed Klet¡¯s gaze and looked at SpongeBob SquarePants on the TV, suddenly finding it somewhat amusing, ¡°You seem like a child.¡± Klet turned his head to look at Shen Siwei and said lightly, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to watch, then go to sleep.¡± Shen Siwei indeed had no interest in cartoons, but he didn¡¯t want to sleep either. ¡°Klet,¡± Shen Siwei curled up his legs, crossed his arms around his knees, and rested his chin on his knees, ¡± Can you please give me back the mask?¡± Shen Siwei rarely showed vulnerability, and Klet¡¯s gaze flickered for a moment, but in the end, he looked away and said, ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it tomorrow.¡± Shen Siwei was feeling completely out of sorts. Since he couldn¡¯t sleep anyway, he decided to keep Klet company in watching the yellow sponge. However, he wasn¡¯t sure if it was the old-fashioned animation style that was truly hypnotic, but Shen Siwei gradually felt a bit drowsy. Unconsciously, he fell asleep, hugging his knees. Such a sleeping position was naturally unstable, and after a while, he slowly leaned to the side, eventually resting on Klet¡¯s shoulder. The weight on his shoulder was nothing to Klet. He looked at Shen Siwei¡¯s peaceful sleeping face and inexplicably thought that his golden hair wasn¡¯t too bad. At that moment, the communicator rang, and it was a call from Malken. ¡°Boss, Barn¡¯s subordinates are causing trouble. You need to come and take a look.¡± Feeling annoyed, Klet frowned and said, ¡°Understood. Keep an eye on my home surveillance, and let me know if anyone comes.¡± He then hung up the communicator. The person beside him was sleeping deeply, and there was no sign of being awakened by the conversation. Klet left the sofa and placed a pillow against the side of Shen Siwei¡¯s face. However, before leaving, he turned back and carried the sleeping Shen Siwei to bed. CH 22 When Shen Siwei woke up, it was already bright outside. He sat up, rubbing the back of his head as he recalled the scene from last night, realizing that he had fallen asleep next to Klet without any defenses. Unlike the previous forced sleep, last night¡¯s drowsiness came extremely naturally. Shen Siwei genuinely felt tired. But this shouldn¡¯t be the case. After all, he was a negotiator, and Klet was the leader of the refugees. The two were in opposing positions. If Moran found out that he had slept so comfortably in the ¡°enemy camp,¡± he would likely be labeled a ¡°traitor.¡± Was it really because of the cartoon? It was easy to relax one¡¯s guard while watching it. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t think of any other reason, so he could only blame SpongeBob SquarePants. At the barbershop basement. Malken rubbed his sore neck as he climbed up from the sofa, looking at Klet, who was lying on the bed and watching the surveillance footage. He complained unhappily, ¡°Boss, everything is resolved. Why haven¡¯t you gone back?¡± Barn¡¯s subordinates had gathered at the music square, causing quite a commotion at first. However, when Klet appeared the people who had been causing the most trouble dared not make another sound. The world of the refugees didn¡¯t need rules; everything was determined by who held the most power. Perhaps those people only realized now that Klet hadn¡¯t dealt with Barn earlier not because he feared the many people who followed Barn, but because he needed manpower to attack the Tree of Life. He tolerated Barn¡¯s antics in his presence. The protests ended , but after everything was settled, Klet didn¡¯t return to his own apartment. Instead, he stayed Malken¡¯s place ¡°If i¡¯m next to him, the person helping him probably won¡¯t show up,¡± Klet said calmly as he watched the person in the footage stretching. ¡°So, you¡¯re sneaking a peek at someone sleeping ?¡± Malken raised an eyebrow. ¡°It¡¯s called surveillance.¡± ¡°Fine, whatever you say,¡± Malken yawned lazily. ¡°But do you really think that person will show up?¡± ¡°Not sure,¡± Klet said, ¡°He looked a bit like the person I saw at the bar. If it¡¯s really him, he wouldn¡¯t appear here without reason. He must be here to carry out a military mission.¡± ¡°But the negotiator is not in danger at your place,¡± Malken said, ¡°That person might not show up.¡± Klet fell silent, exhaled, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see.¡± Feeling a little hungry, when Shen Siwei got out of bed, he unexpectedly saw two pairs of slippers on the floor. If he remembered correctly, these slippers had disappeared when Klet threw him onto the sofa last night. It seemed that Klet not only carried him to bed but also found the slippers for him. The slippers were not neatly placed by the bed. One was facing inward, and the other was upside down, indicating that Klet had simply thrown them over after finding them. ¡ªPatient, but not too much. It really suited his style. Shen Siwei put on the slippers, took a deep breath, and then took three steps and paused, five steps and rested, making his way to the kitchen. Not having the oxygen mask didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t move at all, but he would get tired quickly, just like now, after walking only a few steps. Buying canned oxygen bottles online could solve the immediate problem, but if Klet discovered it, it would mean admitting that the ¡°calming agent¡± was a lie. But then again, now that the oxygen mask was in Malken¡¯s hands, he could also find out that it didn¡¯t contain a calming agent¡­ How annoying. After sitting down at the dining table, his disheveled breathing gradually calmed down. Shen Siwei opened an online shopping page, intending to see if there were suitable oxygen inhalation devices. However, at that moment, there was suddenly the sound of entering the password outside the front door. The next second, there was a ¡°click¡± sound, and someone pushed the door and walked in. The tall figure he had expected didn¡¯t appear. Shen Siwei looked at the handsome face of the young man in surprise, raising his eyebrows. It was Avis. Previously, he had a dispute with Klet in this room over ¡°relationship issues.¡± It was also him who made the incident of Shen Siwei sleeping on Klet¡¯s bed widely known. ¡°Where¡¯s Klet?¡± Shen Siwei asked. His question was normal because in the West District of City Z, he only knew Klet. Now that a stranger suddenly appeared in Klet¡¯s house, it was only natural for him to ask where Klet had gone. But whether it was due to jealousy or not, Avis responded sarcastically, ¡°what can¡¯t you live without him?¡± Shen Siwei knew that Avis held hostility towards him, but he didn¡¯t need to take it to heart. After all, they weren¡¯t really rivals in love. Why would they fight over Klet? ¡°What do you want?¡± Shen Siwei asked in a calm tone. ¡°Klet couldn¡¯t come because he has something to do,¡± Avis sat down across from Shen Siwei. ¡°He asked me to come and protect you.¡± Upon hearing this, Shen Siwei felt a trace of strangeness in his heart. According to klet,, Shen Siwei¡¯s accomplice should be well trained and dangerous, considering they were able to kill Barn, a person who had undergone mechanical modifications. That meant ¡°protecting¡± Shen Siwei was a very dangerous task. And yet, Klet had sent Avis to do it, wasn¡¯t he essentially sending Avis to his death? Either Avis was also strong enough to contend with that mysterious accomplice, or Klet intentionally arranged for Avis to come and die. Although Shen Siwei hadn¡¯t known Klet for long, he didn¡¯t think Kletwould do such a thing. ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you going to welcome me?¡± Avis crossed his arms and looked at Shen Siwei provocatively. Shen Siwei collected his thoughts He realized he had been thinking too much. ¡°Have you had breakfast?¡± Shen Siwei asked, ¡°There¡¯s food in the fridge.¡± His tone showed no hostility, but rather consideration for Avis. Avis¡¯s expression seemed to deflate like a punch to cotton. He hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about whether I¡¯ve eaten or not.¡± Naturally, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t be bothered to care anymore and continued browsing the online shopping website. The room fell silent, and after a while, Avis suddenly asked, ¡°How¡¯s your negotiation going?¡± ¡°Not well.¡± Shen Siwei bought several sets of daily wear. He was still wearing the bathrobe from the bathhouse, and he couldn¡¯t keep wearing it all the time. ¡°What conditions are you offering?¡± Avis asked again. Shen Siwei finally looked up and said nonchalantly, ¡°You can ask Klet¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking you,¡± Avis rested his elbows on the dining table, leaning forward towards Shen Siwei, ¡°Are you planning to hand over this city to the refugees?¡± The hand that was browsing the website suddenly stopped. Apart from Klet, Shen Siwei hadn¡¯t heard anyone else refer to their people as ¡°refugees¡± before. Avis using it in this way was similar to Shen Siwei mentioning the Marg people, which drew a clear boundary between himself and a certain group. Shen Siwei reminded him, ¡°I represent justice.¡± Avis said as he stood up from the chair, pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back, ¡°Do you know about ¡®apical dominance¡¯ in botany?¡± Shen Siwei still playing along said, ¡°Does the apical bud grow faster?¡± Avis corrected him, ¡°The apical bud inhibits the growth of lateral buds.¡± ¡°So,¡± Shen Siwei paused, ¡°you have issues with the Marg people.¡± ¡°Just look at what you¡¯ve done,¡± Avis said, ¡°Isn¡¯t the ¡®Declaration of Non-Procreation¡¯ for your benefit? The more civilians there are, the greater the energy consumption. You use this ridiculous method to ensure your own rule.¡± ¡°The Marg people also don¡¯t procreate,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°It¡¯s a fair ¡®declaration.''¡± Shen Siwei had no thoughts on this matter, and Avis probably thought it was futile to argue, so he approached from a different angle and said, ¡°Then look at how well you¡¯ve ruled. The refugees have already attacked the Life Tree, so why haven¡¯t you taken action?¡± ¡°The military is working on it,¡± Shen Siwei said. At this point, Shen Siwei had already realized that Avis¡¯s position was outside that of civilians and refugees. He neither obeyed the Marg people¡¯s rule nor wanted the refugees to enter the Life Tree. He intended to incite an all-out war between the military and the refugees. His thoughts were quickly confirmed when Avis suddenly pulled out a gun and without hesitation, aimed it at him and pulled the trigger. At the same time, Shen Siwei had already lifted his feet and forcefully kicked the dining table away. Shen Siwei was mentally prepared for this. Although his body was immune to bullets, he didn¡¯t have an oxygen mask now. If he couldn¡¯t subdue Avis with one move, things would become very troublesome. After the heavy dining table flew out, Shen Siwei fell off the chair and rolled backward, crashing heavily into the cupboard. Avis, on the other hand, was knocked back by the dining table and finally collapsed beside the coffee table, his legs pinned down by the table, unable to move. ¡°Huff¡­ huff¡­¡± Shen Siwei lay gasping for air near the cupboard, taking in large breaths. But even so, he continued to observe Avis¡¯s situation. He saw that the gun had fallen from Avis¡¯s hand, and Avis was struggling but unable to crawl out from under the table. A grown man shouldn¡¯t have trouble lifting a dining table. The only explanation for why Avis was in this situation was that he had broken bones somewhere in his body. And this was with Shen Siwei only using ten percent of his strength. If Shen Siwei had worn a face mask at this moment, that one kick would have been enough kill Avis. The room was filled with gasps and struggling sounds as both men lay on the ground unable to move. Just then, the door suddenly opened, and a thin figure ran in and rushed to Avis¡¯s side, saying, ¡°Brother!¡± Unlike his previously immature voice, the boy seemed to have started to go through puberty, and his sharp voice had a hint of hoarseness. It was knock. Shen Siwei wasn¡¯t surprised at all; it was as he had expected. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me,¡± Avis pushed knock aside, ¡°Quickly, go get the gun.¡± ¡°Klet is already downstairs,¡± knock hurriedly said, ¡°Maybe we should forget about it.¡± ¡°Then hurry up!¡± Avis shouted. knock hesitantly picked up the gun, aiming it at Shen Siwei. He looked at Avis and said, ¡°Brother, the negotiator even helped me pick up trash. It doesn¡¯t seem like he¡¯s that bad. I¡­¡± ¡°What do you know?¡± Avis exclaimed in frustration. ¡°Only by killing him will the military drive out the refugees!¡± knock swallowed hard and approached Shen Siwei with the gun. ¡°Negotiator, I¡¯m not targeting you¡­ It¡¯s just that you happened to come to the lower levels¡­¡± ¡°Stop the fucking nonsense!¡± Avis roared. At that moment, urgent footsteps could be heard outside the door, and in the next second, the figures of Klet and Malken appeared at the door. Seeing the situation in the room, Malken immediately pulled out his gun and aimed it at knock. He was about to pull the trigger, while a look of despair flashed across Avis¡¯ face. ¡°No chance,¡± he muttered. Perhaps knowing that their end was near, Avis pulled out a small bomb, his index finger hooked around the pin. ¡°Then let¡¯s all die.¡± CH 23 Previously, when being taken away by Barn and Klet did not come to rescue him, Shen Siwei soon realized that something was wrong with knock. Knock and klet had been neighbors for many years, so it was impossible for him not to have klet¡¯s contact information. If he had contacted klet in time, Barn wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to take Shen Siwei to the strip club and would have probably been stopped by klet along the way. However, klet only learned that Shen Siwei had been taken after returning home, which indicated that knock hadn¡¯t informed him about it at all. If it was just a matter of not wanting to get involved in other¡¯s business, it would have been fine but this clearly involved someone¡¯s safety. How could a normal person ignore it? After much thought, Shen Siwei could only come to one conclusion¡ªknock was not on klet¡¯s side. Knock and klet had known each other for so long, and no matter how you looked at it, knock didn¡¯t seem like someone to be on Barn¡¯s side. So his reasons were questionable. Ever since Shen Siwei came to the lower levels, there were two forces that had tried to harm him. One was Barn, who was openly hostile, and the other was a hidden force that had been trying to kill Shen Siwei. Previously, Moran and Shen Siwei speculated that some criminals might just be stirring up trouble. But after learning about Avis¡¯s position, everything made sense. When they left the strip club, Shen Siwei had considered exposing knock who was following him. However, he questioned why a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy get involved in such conflicts? And ignored it Shen Siwei usually didn¡¯t hesitate to act against enemies, but looking at knock¡¯s poor tracking skills, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to harm the boy. Knock was too clumsy; he didn¡¯t have the ability to track Shen Siwei at all. During the incident at the strip club, Shen Siwei hadn¡¯t seen anyone on the road, so knock was probably just lurking outside the club when everything was going down. Back at the incident, klet held Malken¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Don¡¯t shoot!¡± At the same time, almost instinctively, Shen Siwei used his last bit of strength to rush forward and hold knock in his arms, avoiding Malken¡¯s gun. Malken stopped himself from pulling the trigger just in time, and Avis, on the other side, stopped his action of pulling out the pin since knock¡¯s life was no longer threatened. With the crisis narrowly averted, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, except for Shen Siwei, who knelt on the ground, panting heavily. ¡°Negotiator brother,¡± knock, that little brat, had a bit of conscience. He immediately dropped his gun and supported Shen Siwei¡¯s arm. But before he could help Shen Siwei up, klet took big steps forward and pressed the metal mask on Shen Siwei¡¯s face. Fresh oxygen rushed into his nose, relieving the suffocation. Seeing that Shen Siwei was fine, knock ran to the coffee table, wanting to move the dining table that was pressing on Avis. But as soon as he exerted force, Avis let out a painful ¡°hiss.¡± ¡°klet,¡± knock called out, ¡°help my brother quickly, I¡¯ll tell you anything you want to know.¡± ¡°knock!¡± Avis scolded. ¡°Brother,¡± knock said anxiously, ¡°I¡¯ve said before that klet is a good person. He even saved you. Why don¡¯t you believe it?¡± Shen Siwei observed this sibling drama and realized that Avis had a crush on klet. ¡°Feeling better?¡± klet asked Shen Siwei. Shen Siwei temporarily didn¡¯t have the strength to speak and could only nod. Malken, standing by the door, noticed that klet had no intention of moving, so he reluctantly walked to the coffee table and helped knock move the dining table. knock supported Avis and sat him down on the sofa, while Avis kept clutching his side, indicating that he had a broken rib. ¡± Now Speak up.¡± Malken crossed his arms in front of his chest and questioned,¡± How are you two related?¡± Shen Siwei understood why klet didn¡¯t want to help knock. Both of these people were like family to him, and anyone would feel betrayed in such a situation. ¡°We¡­¡± knock pursed his lips and secretly glanced at Avis, whispering, ¡°We are members of the ¡®Night Warbler.''¡± ¡°Night Hawk?¡± Malken was somewhat surprised. ¡°That terrorist organization?¡± Upon hearing the familiar term, Shen Siwei¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and some fragmented memories appeared in his mind. But fearing a significant fluctuation in his brainwaves, he calmed his mind and continued listening to the conversation between Malken and knock. ¡°Not the hawk of the night, but the warbler of the bird,¡± knock explained. ¡± we are the second generation of Night Warblers. We don¡¯t harm civilians.¡± Shen Siwei slowly recalled that he was actually very familiar with the Night Warblers. It was an outright terrorist organization that carried out numerous acts of terror due to their dissatisfaction with Mage rule. Shen Siwei himself had participated in many operations to suppress the Night Warblers. However, in his memory, there seemed to be no concept of a second generation of Night Warblers. Malken asked the question in his mind, ¡°What do you mean? Have you changed your ways?¡±¡±No,¡± Aviis finally spoke up, ¡°It¡¯s a different group of people. The old Night Hawk is already dead, and we are the new Night Oriole.¡± ¡°So, it was you at the Crystalton Hotel last time,¡± klet continued, ¡°On the way here, I had Malken investigate your background, and the reason you were exiled wasn¡¯t for theft as you claimed.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Avis didn¡¯t defend himself, ¡°Originally, at the first self-service hotel, I wanted to take action, but I discovered that Malken had tampered with the hotel surveillance. You were under constant surveillance, so I had to give up. Then at the Crystalton Hotel, I finally found an opportunity, but you were staying next door, and it didn¡¯t work out. After that, he moved into your house, either guarded or disappeared¡ªof course, I later found out that he was on your bed¡ªso I never had a chance to take action.¡± Upon hearing this, Shen Siwei became even more certain that Avis and knock weren¡¯t aware of his true strength. The first attack should have taken place in the industrial area outside the city. At that time, all four of those people were taken care of by Shen Siwei and never had a chance to report back. Later, at the Crystalton Hotel, Avis was also unaware of why Shen Siwei didn¡¯t die and believed that klet had come to save him in time Avis then finally seized the opportunity this time but thought that shooting would be enough to take care of Shen Siwei. ¡°So, what makes you different from the old Night Hawk?¡± Malken asked curiously, ¡°The negotiator didn¡¯t provoke you, and yet you wanted to kill him .¡± ¡°Because only when he dies will the military drive the refugees out!¡± ¡°Well, think about what happened earlier. The negotiator knew to protect this knock. Are you still going to kill him even after that?¡± Avis pursed his lips and turned away, not speaking anymore. ¡°I think you guys are just terrorists,¡± Malken insisted, not relenting, ¡°Everyone has a head and shoulders to bear their own debts. You can¡¯t just randomly take revenge on someone.¡± ¡°Malken, Night Oriole is truly not a terrorist organization,¡± knock said, standing in front of him, unable to help but argue, ¡°We are different from the old Night Hawk. The old Night Hawk disbanded twenty years ago, and we are the new Night Oriole.¡± Shen Siwei stared blankly, his gaze empty, as all his attention focused on the four words, ¡°twenty years ago.¡± He seemed to have remembered why he encountered the explosion. Moran had arranged some people to monitor near Sara¡¯s residence, which resulted in the operation being exposed and targeted by the Night Hawk. On that rainy night, the operation team encountered an ambush by the Night Hawk. Due to insufficient firepower, the team suffered heavy casualties. Shen Siwei vaguely remembered that he and Laizhe were forced to a rooftop, and he jumped off to protect Laizhe but couldn¡¯t escape the bomb¡­ What mission were they actually on? Shen Siwei knew he couldn¡¯t think about it anymore, or it would raise Moran¡¯s suspicions. Just then, someone snapped their fingers in front of him. Malken, who had switched positions with klet at some point, came to Shen Siwei¡¯s side and asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Shen Siwei shook his head, but he noticed that klet, who had been ignoring Avis earlier, was now engaged in a conversation with him. ¡°What is your purpose, to free the Tree of Life?¡± klet asked. ¡°or, is it to attack the top level?,¡± Avis was still holding his waist where he hurt himself, ¡°I can help you,¡± klet offered. ¡°How can you help?¡± Avis asked. ¡°Have your leader contact me, and I¡¯ll talk to him.¡± Upon hearing this, Shen Siwei was surprised. There were three factions in the room: the Marg people, the refugees, and the Night Oriole. How did it suddenly come to the point where two factions were forming an alliance? ¡°Hey,¡± Shen Siwei voiced his displeasure, ¡°I¡¯m still here, you know?¡± klet turned to Shen. ¡°You can leave.¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± ¡° I should leave,¡± Evis stood up in pain, ¡°I¡¯ll ask our leader first.¡± Knock helped Avis walk out the house slowly. After they had gone a distance, Avis finally activated the communicator and endured the pain as he said, ¡°Laizhe, I have a situation here¡± CH 24 Alvis and Knock just left, and the delivery drone buzzed from the balcony, indicating that the online clothing purchase had been delivered. klet glanced at the drone, didn¡¯t ask and asked Malken to leave as well, and then closed the door heavily. The lively room instantly quieted down and the atmosphere suddenly became somewhat eerie. Shen walked over to retrieve the package and sat on the sofa to unpack it, until klet dragged a chair over and sat in front of him. He stared at Shen siwei motionlessly, his deep eyes mixed with a hint of distance. Shen Siwei put down the clothes and met klet¡¯s gaze, saying, ¡°Do you have something to ask?¡± klet moved his lips slightly, and his deep voice sounded, ¡°You¡¯re not a Mag person.¡± Shen Siwei had anticipated various situations, but he never expected klet to suddenly question his identity. He asked calmly, ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°Your mask.¡± klet lifted his chin slightly. ¡°There¡¯s oxygen inside.¡± The lie was indeed exposed, and Shen wasn¡¯t surprised. ¡°Is there a big difference between oxygen and a sedative? I just can¡¯t stand the air on the lower levels,¡± Shen said. The impromptu excuse didn¡¯t seem to convince klet. ¡°Mag people are not like this,¡± klet retorted calmly. ¡°The most important aspect of Mag people as an evolved species was their strong cardiopulmonary function, which allowed them to adapt to the low-oxygen environment above the clouds. Without your mask, you would have difficulty breathing, clearly not what you called ¡®not used to the smell¡¯.¡± Shen woke up on the third level of the Tree of Life, where all the buildings were equipped with central control systems to maintain oxygen levels in the air. But it wasn¡¯t the same for the top level. The top level mainly followed the living habits of Mag people. Apart from a few public places, commoners working on the top level had to carry heavy oxygen tanks with them. This was indeed strong evidence, but it was not enough to make Shen completely give in. ¡°Not every Mag person is tall, and not every Mag person has strong cardiopulmonary function. You don¡¯t understand what happens on the top level, so don¡¯t jump to conclusions.¡± One was a wanderer who had lived outside the tree for years, the other was an officially certified Mag negotiator. When it came to matters concerning Mag people, Sheni naturally had more knowledge about them. ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is,¡± klet tilted his head and said, ¡°Mag people continue to evolve, but they evolved into someone like you, a sickly child?¡± ¡°Individuals don¡¯t represent the whole,¡± Shen said calmly. ¡°You were right before, I have a low status among Mag people, which is why I was sent here to negotiate. But that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m not a Mag person.¡± As long as klet couldn¡¯t produce decisive evidence, Shen wouldn¡¯t admit to anything. Because once his ulterior motives were exposed, he might not be able to approach the power station anymore, or even approach klet. ¡°You¡¯re quite stubborn,¡± klet¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t of surprise. It seemed that it would be strange if Shen admitted it readily. He asked again, ¡°If I saw it correctly just now, you wanted to save Knock, right?¡± He responded, ¡°So what if I did?¡± ¡°So you can¡¯t possibly be a Mag person,¡± klet said, ¡°Mag people wouldn¡¯t go and save a refugee let alone a child at the expense of their safety.¡± Shenshiwei had been frozen for twenty years and had never seen a child before he woke up, so it was impossible for him to know how Mag people treated children. He couldn¡¯t show weakness, he told himself. ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Shen responded calmly. ¡°Those are your subjective thoughts.¡± ¡°Not necessarily, but absolutely. Because¡ª¡± At this point, klet¡¯s eyes darkened, and he slowly opened his lips, ¡°Mag people have sent people to hunt down children before.¡± Upon hearing these words, Shen¡¯s temples suddenly started throbbing intensely. Just then shen felt a slight headache as his memories came back again. ¡°Target identified, commence operation.¡± Moran¡¯s voice came through the hidden earpiece. Shen and Laizhe exchanged glances, put down their cups, left the izakaya, and entered a dark alley. ¡°Sara will definitely hate us,¡± Laizhe, holding a gun, followed closely behind Shen ¡°I hope the plan goes smoothly and we don¡¯t end up killing her son in front of her.¡± ¡°No, we won¡¯t,¡± Shen made a ¡°stop¡± gesture, and the two stopped at a corner. The position allowed them to see the inside of Sara¡¯s apartment, which was currently lit. ¡°We could have just taken her son directly, why the need for a siege?¡± Laizhe wiped off the rainwater from his forehead, sounding somewhat discontented, ¡°Let Sara think her son has simply gone missing, isn¡¯t that better? With so many people involved, she¡¯ll definitely suspect something is up.¡± ¡°Sara has always been cautious,¡± Shen looked at the thick curtains, ¡°Captain Moran must have been unsure.¡± ¡°But the child is already five or six years old, do we really have to do this?¡± Shen remained silent for a moment, slightly holstering his gun, ¡°I know you¡¯re a fan of Sara, but for the stability of the Tree of Life¡­¡± ¡°I understand, Captain,¡± Laizhe sighed heavily, ¡°some sacrifices are necessary.¡± Shen didn¡¯t respond further, continuing to gaze at the illuminated window. According to the original plan, the strike team would rush into Sara¡¯s residence, take her son, and dispose of him. However, before Moran could give the order, gunshots suddenly erupted from the street, with someone shouting through the earpiece, ¡°It¡¯s Night Falcon, Night Falcon ambush!¡± sarah inside her apartment heard the commotion and anxiously poked her head out, quickly moving away from the window and turning off the lights in the room. ¡°Sara is trying to escape,¡± Moran¡¯s voice sounded again through the earpiece, ¡°Hurry, go after her!¡± It started pouring heavily, and Moran impatiently looked at Shen, ¡°The mission is not yet complete, go find her quickly!¡± Shen stood still, letting the raindrops hit his face, ¡°With Night Falcon interference, we should abort the mission.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t abort, especially with Night Falcon involved!¡± Moran frowned, ¡°Do you want this matter to become public?¡± We can¡¯t let civilians know that the ¡°Declaration¡± isn¡¯t effective. ¡°Night Falcon is clearly shooting without purpose, not knowing what mission we¡¯re executing,¡± Shen said with a serious expression, ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s not your unlogical orders that exposed the strike team¡¯s mission for tonight?¡± Moran swiftly pointed his gun at Shen, ¡°watch your tongue?¡± The rain intensified, gunshots echoed around them. Shenlooked at Moran expressionlessly, and after a moment of standoff, Moran finally holstered his gun, impatiently saying, ¡°Let¡¯s find the target first! The mission is a priority.¡± Everyone scattered to search for Sara¡¯s son. Shen had no intention to search, instead he kept an eye on the Night Falcon members. Eventually he ran out of ammunition and circled back into the alley beside Sara¡¯s apartment. This mission had a very low level of danger, and all team members were lightly armed. Shen took out the only remaining knife on him, But just then, he caught sight of a suspicious figure hiding behind a vending machine outside the apartment. The vending machine had been damaged in the chaos earlier, and the small figure was hiding among a pile of snacks, attentively observing the surroundings. As Shen noticed the figure, the child swiftly darted out of the vending machine and ran ten meters away in the blink of an eye. How can this child run so fast? Shen didn¡¯t have time to think about it, quickly sheathing his knife and chasing after the child. The young boy dashed through the narrow alley like a little leopard, with Shen closely following, but unable to narrow the distance. But after the next corner, a dark dead end appeared ahead. The little boy quickly retreated, unfortunately running into Shen Siwei. At this moment, the target of the mission was right in front of him. Shen Siwei could easily complete the mission by taking out his dagger. However, the image of Sara lying in a pool of blood suddenly flashed through his mind. Looking at the face in front of him, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I won¡¯t hurt you.¡± He raised his hands, trying to calm the little boy¡¯s emotions. ¡°I¡¯m not a bad person, you can trust me.¡± The little boy cautiously took a step back, maintaining a distance from Shen Siwei. ¡°You¡¯re working with the people who are trying to catch me.¡± In his young voice, there was an unusual calmness for his age. While speaking, the little boy¡¯s gaze drifted towards Shen Siwei¡¯s side, apparently thinking about how to escape. ¡°But I won¡¯t hurt you,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°You can¡¯t escape on your own.¡± The little boy remained silent and quietly moved one step to the side, a sign of preparing to escape. ¡°No matter how fast you run, you can¡¯t outrun a bullet,¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t know how to deal with a child, but he urged, ¡°You must leave here now. If you trust me, I can help you escape.¡± The little boy pursed his lips and asked, ¡°How can we get out?¡± He still looked wary, clearly not fully trusting Shen Siwei. ¡°Come up,¡± Shen Siwei turned around and squatted down. ¡°I¡¯ll carry you out.¡± Exposing his back was already the greatest act of friendliness, but the little boy remained motionless. Explosions rang out in the nearby streets, and the heavy rain soaked them, making them anxious. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but frown and urge, ¡°If you want to stay alive, do it quickly.¡± After a brief silence, the little boy jumped onto Shen Siwei¡¯s back. The Night Hawk and the members of the operation team were in the midst of a chaotic battle, with gunfire and explosions everywhere. The little boy clung tightly to Shen Siwei¡¯s shoulder and asked in a muffled voice, ¡°Where¡¯s my mom?¡± Children are so innocent that once they let their guard down, they immediately reveal their vulnerability. Shen Siwei didn¡¯t know how to explain, nor did he have time to explain. Carrying the little boy on his back, he maneuvered through the heavy rain. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± The intersection ahead was engulfed in a street fight, and Shen Siwei had to stop and turn into a nearby residential building. However, intense gunfire could also be heard from above the corridor, forcing him to return with the little boy the same way they came. A grenade hit the building above, causing rocks to fall. Shen Siwei quickly rolled sideways with the little boy in his arms, narrowly avoiding the falling rocks. His forehead was grazed by gravel, but he didn¡¯t have time to wipe away the blood. Shen Siwei carried the little boy and continued to search for an exit. At that moment, a small hand suddenly reached from behind and used the cuff to cover the wound on Shen Siwei¡¯s forehead. ¡°It¡¯s my fault that my mom died.¡± A low voice sounded behind his ear, and self-blame almost made Shen Siwei feel ashamed. He wanted to curse, why did he have such a messed-up mission? ¡°No, it¡¯s not,¡± Shen Siwei said with a dark expression. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡± Not far from that block, there was a bridge spanning the artificial river in the city. Shen Siwei decided to take the little boy across the river, but as soon as he turned the corner, he saw a group of thugs with half their faces covered by face masks.. The people on the other side obviously noticed Shen Siwei hastily changing direction and immediately started shooting at him without hesitation. The sparks splattered by the bullets flashed by his ears. Shen Siwei quickly protected the little boy in his arms, turned into an alley, and hid in the back compartment of an AI cleaning vehicle. He couldn¡¯t let his teammates see him, and he couldn¡¯t let the Night Eagles find him. Gun battles were erupting everywhere on the streets now, and Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t find a suitable way out, so he could only temporarily hide with the little boy. Inside the garbage truck, the stench was overwhelming, and the sound of footsteps drew closer. The little boy in his arms was visibly nervous, grabbing Shen Siwei¡¯s clothes on his chest, his voice trembling as he said, ¡°They¡¯re coming.¡± ¡°Hush.¡± Shen Siwei pressed the little boy¡¯s head against his chest. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m here.¡± The footsteps soon arrived near the garbage truck, as Shen Siwei had expected. The Night Eagles and the members of the action team immediately clashed, and they started chasing each other, moving away from the vicinity of the garbage truck. About ten minutes passed, and there was no movement outside the garbage truck. Shen Siwei climbed out of the garbage truck with the little boy and then carried him on his back, continuing in the direction of the river. On the shortest path, there were no Night Eagles or his teammates, but that was because the alley battle there had already ended, and the street was burning with a fierce fire that the heavy rain couldn¡¯t extinguish. ¡°We can only pass through here.¡± Shen Siwei said to the little boy on his back, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, our clothes are wet, nothing will happen.¡± The little boy held onto Shen Siwei¡¯s shoulders tightly. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid.¡± An aircraft crashed by the roadside, and fuel was flowing everywhere. The fire was about to spread to the entire street. Shen Siwei rushed forward, trying to avoid the strongest flames, but the scorching steam made it almost impossible for him to breathe. Finally, he made it out of the street, but Shen Siwei was now covered in soot, with blood mixed with the black ashes seeping from his forehead, obscuring his original appearance and making him look quite disheveled. He placed the little boy on the ground, and the little boy looked okay, at least his face was not dirty. ¡°Do you know how to swim?¡± Shen Siwei asked, half kneeling. The little boy nodded. ¡°You swim across the artificial river to the other side, so no one will find you.¡± Shen Siwei explained briefly, then stood up. ¡°This is where we separate.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± The little boy immediately grabbed Shen Siwei¡¯s clothes, hastily asking, ¡°Can¡¯t you come with me?¡± ¡°I have to go back and find my teammates.¡± Shen Siwei was not one to waste words, but looking at the helpless little boy, he inexplicably felt pity. He squatted down again, looking directly into the little boy¡¯s eyes. ¡°From now on, you¡¯ll be on your own, and you must adapt quickly. You¡¯re a brave young man, you must be strong so that nobody can bully you, because this world¡­ is cruel to children.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to be alone.¡± The little boy had already been strong all the way, but at this moment, he couldn¡¯t help but bite his lower lip, tears the size of beans rolling down his cheeks. ¡°Can¡¯t you really come with me?¡± Shen Siwei felt a tightness in his heart. He hurriedly wiped away the tears from the little boy¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡± ¡°But,¡± the little boy choked, ¡°if it wasn¡¯t for me, my mom wouldn¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡± Shen Siwei interrupted the little boy. ¡°If your mom had to choose again, she would definitely still have you.¡± The little boy wiped away the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand, seemingly forcing himself to be strong. ¡°My mom often reminded me not to let others find out because the people living above didn¡¯t want me to survive.¡± He said, ¡°You didn¡¯t kill me, can you go back now? they will kill you¡± Children understand everything, and Shen Siwei could almost imagine the kind of life he had been living, constantly hiding and seeking these past few years. ¡°I will tell my superiors that you fell into the river and drowned.¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°This artificial river passes through the Eastern District and eventually flows into the deep sea. Even if they don¡¯t find the body, they won¡¯t suspect anything.¡± The little boy seemed to feel relieved and said, ¡°Thank you,¡± to Shen Siwei. Shen Siwei¡¯s heart felt like it had been struck. He genuinely felt unworthy of this gratitude. If only he had been able to stop Moran from firing, or if he had seriously examined the mission from the beginning¡­ ¡°Go quickly,¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t afford to think anymore. If he continued to dwell on it, his determination to maintain the stability of the Tree of Life would waver. He pulled out the only weapon he had left and handed it to the little boy. ¡°Take this dagger and go. Don¡¯t come back until you¡¯re grown up.¡± CH 25 It was an untimely moment to space out. Shen Siwei¡¯s knew that klet was observing him and could surely sense that something was off. But in an instant, Shen Siwei understood many things, and this refreshing feeling filled his mind. He didn¡¯t want to stop halfway. As it turned out, the appearance of newborns had started even earlier, twenty years ago, within the Tree of Life. There was a strong and brave little boy who, although initially cried and said he didn¡¯t want to leave alone, still plunged into the river without hesitation after parting ways with Shen Siwei. So many years had passed, and if he had survived, he should have grown into a young man in his twenties. ¡­ if he had survived. After that mission, Shen Siwei fell twenty years behind in his understanding of the Tree of Life. He didn¡¯t know if his fabricated explanation had deceived Moran, nor did he know if any other action teams had followed up on the trace of the little boy. Hopefully, the little boy survived. If there was a chance, Shen Siwei wanted to see him again and see if he was doing well¡­ ¡°Negotiator?¡± klet raised his hand and waved it in front of Shen Siwei. The offline puppet doll still didn¡¯t react. klet frowned and decided to grasp Shen Siwei¡¯s chin, forcing him to lift his gaze. ¡°Stop playing tricks on me.¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s empty eyes flickered and regained their proper color. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel somewhat helpless. Even when he genuinely spaced out, klet saw it as playing tricks. It seemed that in klet¡¯s eyes, he had become some sort of lying trickster. ¡°No,¡± Shen Siwei gently lifted his head and took back his chin from klet¡¯s grip. ¡°I was just thinking about the past, ¡° That was Shen Siwei¡¯s genuine sentiment. When the first newborn appeared within the Tree of Life, the Mag people chose to exterminate them. If the Mag people had allowed the existence of the first newborn, then other commoners would also have been able to lift the restrictions on childbirth. At that time, the ¡°Declaration¡± would become a meaningless document, and a new energy crisis might have erupted. What truly made him worry was that after the little boy, there were second, third, and many more newborns born. By the time the Mag people discovered them, they couldn¡¯t simply exterminate them so crudely anymore. After all, killing children was something that couldn¡¯t be openly discussed. Shen Siwei remembered that klet had mentioned the Mag people were formulating new laws regarding the newborns. No matter what policies they eventually implemented, the treatment of these newborns would certainly be a hundred or even a thousand times better than that of the little boy. In other words, if Shen Siwei hadn¡¯t acted out of empathy and saved that little boy, he would have become a sacrifice in the developmental history of the Tree of Life. Now, twenty years later, many people had broken free from the limitations of medicine and regained their reproductive abilities. Since the Mag people could devise new strategies to address this situation, why resort to such extreme measures in the first place? Sacrificing Sara, sacrificing the action team, all to conceal something that was bound to happen in the future. Was it truly worth it? He was just grateful that he had let go of that little boy back then. ¡°Sigh?¡± Klet obviously couldn¡¯t understand what Shen Siwei was thinking, and his gaze became even more suspicious. ¡°So, is that why you saved knock?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Siwei said in a calm tone, ¡°Some things were helpless in the past, but now there¡¯s an opportunity to do better¡± Klet furrowed his brow, seemingly finding it harder and harder to figure out Shen Siwei. In fact, Shen Siwei was also unsure of the Marg people¡¯s actions over the years, and whether his attitude was in line with his Marg identity. But since Klet¡¯s so-called evidence was only circumstantial, he naturally wouldn¡¯t easily admit it. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, don¡¯t impose your stereotypes of Marg people on me,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°I was born and raised in the top layer, I am a true Marg person.¡± One thing at a time, although Shen Siwei had subconsciously drawn a line between himself and the Marg people in the past, twenty years ago was twenty years ago, and now Shen Siwei still had a mission. He couldn¡¯t suddenly change his values and stand against the Marg people just because of his inner turmoil. And his calmness and persistence¡ªor perhaps stubbornness¡ªseemed to make Klet doubt his judgment. Klete raised an eyebrow skeptically, and the evidence he voiced began to lose credibility. ¡°Are there really Marg people as short as you?¡± Shen Siwei remained expressionless. ¡°Do you have a problem with that?¡± He was being called short again. Isn¡¯t 1.8 meters considered normal? But since Klet had asked, it meant that he probably believed Shen Siwei¡¯s nonsense. ¡°Also,¡± Klet tilted his head, deliberately scanning between Shen Siwei¡¯s legs, ¡°I heard rumors that Marg people have extraordinary talents. How come yours is so small?¡± ¡°?¡± Shen Siwei was momentarily stunned, realizing what Klet was referring to. Last time, in the private bath, the two of them were naked, and Shen Siwei inwardly admitted that Klet¡¯s size was impressive. ¡°Where am I small?¡± Shen Siwei suppressed the rising anger, ¡°I am perfectly normal-sized.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Klet casually said, ¡°I guess our understanding of ¡®normal¡¯ is different.¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± It seemed that this rogue leader couldn¡¯t prove that he wasn¡¯t a Marg person, so he deliberately provoked him. How childish. ¡­But he had to admit, he succeeded. Shen Siwei calmly grasped a corner of the cushion, for a moment tempted to hit Klet in the face. But he immediately realized that he was wearing an oxygen mask, and if he were to strike, he would likely give Klet a concussion and ruin the fragile image he had carefully built. Moreover, after calming down, he wondered why he was having a confrontation with an immature man who liked SpongeBob SquarePants. ¡°Do you want to fight me?¡± Klet noticed Shen Siwei¡¯s restless right hand and found it amusing. He chuckled softly, ¡°Do Marg people fight with pillows?¡± Shen Siwei had already regained his composure, releasing his grip on the cushion. He replied in a calm tone, ¡°Marg people don¡¯t fight.¡± Klet rubbed his chin and a curious expression flashed in his eyes, ¡°I¡¯m just sitting here, waiting for you to hit me.¡± Clearly, he was curious about how the seemingly gentle Shen Siwei would react if he were to engage in a physical altercation. Klet himself couldn¡¯t imagine it, so he wanted to see it for himself. But Shen Siwei naturally wouldn¡¯t fall for it. He leaned back on the backrest of the sofa chair, crossed his arms in front of his chest, and placed his left leg over his right leg, looking like he didn¡¯t want to bother with a rural brute like klet. ¡°I won¡¯t fight.¡± His slender legs, exposed through the gap in his bathrobe due to the crossed posture, revealed the faintly visible lines of healthy and firm muscles on the side of his left leg. klet hadn¡¯t paid attention before, but now as he looked carefully, it seemed like only someone who engaged in regular exercise would have such legs. He raised an imperceptible eyebrow, feeling a hint of curiosity. At that moment, the communicator rang, diverting klet¡¯s attention. He glanced at the caller ID and went to the balcony. ¡°It¡¯s me¡­ Yes¡­ I can help you lift the restrictions on the power station¡­ Let¡¯s discuss it in person¡­ Yes, see you in three hours.¡± In the small room of a few dozen square meters, Shen Siwei could clearly hear klet¡¯s conversation without even needing to strain his ears. The obvious person he was talking to was the leader of the Nightingales. Shen Siwei could almost deduce what the two of them had discussed. The Nightingales asked klet how to lift the restrictions, and klet said they should discuss it in person. If nothing unexpected happened, in three hours, the refugees and the Nightingales would reach a collaboration. From the perspective of maintaining the stability of the Tree of Life, this was definitely not a good thing. Didn¡¯t klet know that this room was small? Why did he go to the balcony to take the call? What difference did it make from speaking in front of Shen Siwei? When discussing such important matters, why didn¡¯t they pay attention to avoiding the mention of the Mag people? Klet returned to the room from the balcony, and Shen Siwei frowned slightly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that I will report to the higher-ups?¡± ¡°Do as you please¡± klet said, ¡°It would be best to send your most elite troops.¡± Shen Siwei suddenly remembered that Avis had said klet led the refugees into the city to find someone. This was different from simply looking for someone. klet had a fixed residence in this city, but based on their previous conversation, he could freely enter and exit the Tree of Life. In other words, he didn¡¯t need to ¡°invade the Tree of Life¡± to find someone because he could already enter. So, if he wanted to find someone, why did he have to create such a commotion? Shen Siwei could only think of one possibility. If he didn¡¯t create such a commotion, perhaps he wouldn¡¯t be able to attract the attention of the person he was looking for. ¡°The person you¡¯re looking for,¡± the thought in his mind became clearer and clearer, and Shen Siwei guessed, ¡°Is it someone from the military?¡± klet paused his steps as he left the room and slightly parted his lips. ¡°No.¡± ¡°No wonder you¡¯re so fixated on finding my comrades because you think it¡¯s possible that the person you¡¯re looking for is among them,¡± Shen Siwei directly ignored klet¡¯s response and said to himself, ¡°And you don¡¯t want to cooperate with me and let me help you find that person because I¡¯m a Mag person, and you¡¯re afraid it would cause trouble for that person.¡± This time, klet completely stopped and turned around to look at Shen Siwei. ¡°So,¡± Shen Siwei knew he had finally found a breakthrough and asked tentatively, ¡°What is the connection between you and that person?¡± klet¡¯s lips moved, showing signs of speaking. However, at that moment, without any warning, a deafening alarm sounded from outside the window. It was as if someone had covered the entire city with a huge speaker and was desperately issuing a warning. Shen Siwei had heard a similar alarm when he transferred on the second level. It was the alarm that sounded when a civilian entered the aviation control zone, triggered by the defense system on the outskirts of the second level. But this time, the alarm was several times more severe than the previous one. With the distant memory of his military training, Shen Siwei quickly realized that it was a breach of the outer wall of the Tree of Life by an external force. ¡°Are there other refugees attacking as well?¡± Shen Siwei asked subconsciously. After all, the refugees were not a unified group. ¡°No,¡± Klet looked at the miniature monitor projection in his palm and strode toward the balcony, ¡°Stay in the house, don¡¯t go out.¡± After saying this, his communicator rang again. ¡°Malken,¡± Klet answered the call, ¡°Notify the civilians not to go out and have all the refugees gather their weapons.¡± Seeing Klet jump onto the balcony railing, about to jump down to the lower floor, Shen Siwei quickly called out to him, ¡°Klet!¡± Klete stopped in his tracks and turned back. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Shen Siwei furrowed his brow and asked. ¡°A distorted monster has entered,¡± Klet replied and then leaped off the balcony. CH 26 If the refugees attacked and entered the Life Tree, it could still be somewhat controlled. However, if distorted monsters intruded into the tree, the consequences would be unimaginable. Shen Siwei barely resisted the impulse to jump off the balcony and immediately took out his communicator to contact Moran. However, at that moment, an emergency announcement popped up on the palm-sized computer screen, and the person on the screen was Malken, wearing pilot goggles. ¡°Ahem, testing, testing. Dear residents of the Western District Z City, a pack of desert wolves has entered the Life Tree. Please make sure to close your doors and windows and refrain from going outside.¡± Desert wolves¡­ Shen Siwei¡¯s heart sank upon hearing this, as it indicated there was more than one. A cartoon representation of a desert wolf appeared on the screen. ¡°Desert wolves are mutated monsters that have undergone radiation, measuring about three meters in height and eight meters in length. For those who have not seen them¡­ Ahem, for the citizens who haven¡¯t seen mutated monsters, just imagine them as tanks.¡± The cartoon representation changed into an animation showing a group of desert wolves cooperating in a hunt. ¡°The characteristic of a desert wolf pack is their organization and discipline, much like a well-trained army. Scientific research, cough, well, it¡¯s actually me, has shown that desert wolves have very high intelligence and can even set up trapping mechanisms. Therefore, I reiterate, from now on, civilians must not go outside.¡± The animation disappeared, and Malken¡¯s face reappeared in the center of the screen. ¡°For the refugees with experience in hunting desert wolves, gather at the Music Square with your weapons immediately. Remember, this city was hard-won, and if you don¡¯t want to live in constant fear like in the desert underground city, join the battle now.¡± The emergency announcement ended, but the alarms outside continued to sound. Shen Siwei leaned against the balcony railing and looked down. He noticed that the windows of the residential buildings were being closed one by one, and many refugees were running in the opposite direction of the Music Square. ¡°Wait a minute, aren¡¯t they supposed to gather at the Music Square?¡± ¡°Who the hell is going to fight? Run for your life!¡± ¡°Quick, find underground shelters! If we don¡¯t fight, someone else will!¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s heart sank little by little. When these refugees were still living in the desert underground city, they had to fight against the distorted monsters and even created tools like trapping cages. However, once they returned to the city, their only thought was to escape and save their lives. After all, the environment in the Life Tree was different from the desert underground city. If this city fell, they could move on to the next one. Therefore, they had no reason to sacrifice themselves to defend a particular city. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but worry. Could Klet handle this? Looking at the positive side, Klet had stones from the desert wolves, which indicated that he had at least hunted them before. Judging from the probability of the stones appearing, he might have hunted dozens or even hundreds of them. Earlier, Klet jumped from the sixth-floor balcony unscathed, which meant that his legs were either mechanically enhanced or he had injected illegal drugs. Based on those observations, it seemed that Klet would have no problem dealing with the desert wolves. However, Malken mentioned that it was a pack of desert wolves that had entered the Life Tree. Even if Klet was strong, could he handle an entire pack? After hesitating for a moment, Shen Siwei returned to the sofa and took out the black coveralls and boots he had bought online. He didn¡¯t care about the numerous surveillance cameras in the room and quickly changed out of his bathrobe. However, when he was about to leave, he still considered the surveillance around him. Instead of jumping from the balcony or taking the elevator, he went to the rooftop through the corridor. Next to the corridor was a resident¡¯s room with an open door, and the female homeowner was packing her luggage, seemingly preparing to leave. ¡°I can¡¯t take it anymore, with the refugees and the monsters. How can we live here?!¡± The male homeowner anxiously held her hand. ¡°But we don¡¯t have a home in other cities. Where can we go if we leave?¡± Before the door closed, Shen Siwei saw the female homeowner desperately covering her face and crying. ¡°Colonel Moran, it¡¯s me.¡± After reaching the rooftop, Shen Siwei reported the situation to Moran while heading towards the Music Square. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry,¡± Moran already knew about it, ¡°the cities adjacent to Z City have raised their alert levels, and the distorted monsters cannot get in.¡± ¡°Do we not need to send troops?¡± Shen Siwei stopped on the rooftop of a building. ¡°Z City has been occupied by the refugees; it has already fallen,¡± Moran interrupted Shen Siwei, ¡°the most important thing now is to prevent other cities from being affected.¡± ¡°But there are still many civilians in Z City.¡± Shen Siwei furrowed his brows slightly, thinking of the desperate couple he had just seen. ¡°That¡¯s why we should observe for now,¡± Moran said, ¡°the refugees¡¯ attention should be focused on the distorted monsters. You should take this opportunity to investigate the power station.¡± Shen Siwei raised his gaze and looked ahead. On the right was the power station, where the tip of the tower could be seen, while on the left, gunfire had already erupted at the Music Square. At the moment, the refugees were either fighting or fleeing, making it an opportune time to investigate the power station. Shen Siwei looked towards the tip of the power station tower and quietly mouthed, ¡°Alright.¡± After ending the communication, without looking back, he hurried towards the Music Square. Perhaps Moran thought that Z City, occupied by refugees, was not important to other cities. However, in Shen Siwei¡¯s eyes, every city in the Life Tree was crucial. Investigating the power station was obviously not as urgent as dealing with the distorted monsters, but if this city was occupied by them, it would truly be a complete collapse.¡± When he arrived at the outskirts of the music square, as expected , there were only about ten people who often followed Klet fighting against the desert wolves. To be honest, Klet could have just let it go. With so many refugees, no one was willing to defend the city, so what gave Klet and his men the right to the be at the frontlines? But they did it anyway, and this group of refugees became the defenders of the city. Shen Siwei crouched in a corner of a building¡¯s rooftop and carefully counted¨C Thirteen people, fourteen desert wolves, roughly one person per wolf on average. However, no matter how Shen Siwei looked at it, the combat power of humans and desert wolves could not be equal. A machine gun was mounted on the roof of an off-road vehicle, relentlessly shooting at a desert wolf in pursuit. But in the next second, another desert wolf rushed out of an alley and rammed into the off-road vehicle, overturning it. The two people in the vehicle crawled out of the leaking fuel and were immediately caught by two desert wolves, who bit their heads and swallowed them whole. On the other side, a motorcycle darted around a desert wolf, and the person on the motorcycle aimed at the wolf¡¯s abdomen and fired. But when the desert wolf swung its tail, he failed to dodge in time and was sent flying across the street with the motorcycle, struggling to get up. Malken¡¯s situation was slightly better. He carried a power jet device on his back that Shen Siwei had never seen before, allowing him to accelerate or jump at any time to evade the attacks of the desert wolves. He held two surgical knives in his hands, inflicting numerous wounds on a desert wolf¡¯s joints and abdomen. But this kind of attack output was too slow, and in the end, it was Klet who came from the side and slid below the wolf¡¯s abdomen, firing dozens of shots to rupture its belly. After dealing with this desert wolf, Klet quickly rushed towards a group of off-road vehicles on another street. Several off-road vehicles were equipped with grenade launchers on the back, becoming the main firepower, with blue-glaring shells that could severely damage the desert wolves upon impact. But the desert wolves were not passive. They immediately realized that they needed to eliminate this threat first, so three or five wolves surrounded the vehicles. Klet also rushed over as quickly as possible, but before he could reach the off-road vehicles, a giant desert wolf stopped him in his path. It was the alpha leader of this pack of desert wolves. Grenade launchers couldn¡¯t hit close-range targets, so the six people had to take cover behind the off-road vehicles and frantically shoot outward with their high-speed rifles and other weapons. Several desert wolves were temporarily unable to approach due to the relentless gunfire, but bullets would eventually run out. The six people failed to coordinate properly, and their attacks almost simultaneously stopped. One desert wolf seized the opportunity and leaped onto the back of an off-road vehicle, biting the barrel of the grenade launcher. Someone quickly loaded a handheld cannon and killed the desert wolf right behind them. But several other desert wolves had already rushed to the front of the off-road vehicles, knocking away the last cover for these six individuals. It seemed impossible. Shen Siwei frowned, thinking that these people couldn¡¯t possibly repel the pack of desert wolves. The combat power of more than ten people had been reduced by more than half in an instant. In a matter of seconds, someone on the other side of the square released a bomb, perishing along with it. Malken¡¯s power device seemed to have reached its limit. He floated in the air, struggling, and shouted to Klet, ¡°Boss, retreat!¡± Klet couldn¡¯t retreat. He was entangled by the alpha leader of the wolves, and the remaining nine desert wolves also surrounded them. However, at this moment, Shen Siwei suddenly noticed that Klet¡¯s combat power seemed somewhat extraordinary. Both his speed and strength far exceeded that of an ordinary person. Even when he was slapped by the alpha leader of the wolves and sent flying across the street, his body seemed unharmed. If his legs had undergone mechanical modifications, allowing him to jump directly from the sixth floor, how could his arms withstand the attacks of the alpha leader? It was highly unlikely that all his limbs had been modified. Injecting banned drugs was also unlikely to make him this strong. Could it be that this guy grew up on hormones from a young age? These thoughts lingered only briefly in Shen Siwei¡¯s mind because he didn¡¯t have time to dwell on these questions. Only Klet and Malken were left from the team of about ten people, and Malken seemed to excel only in close combat, which was clearly not reliable. Therefore, the current situation turned into Klet fighting alone against ten desert wolves. Even Shen Siwei wasn¡¯t sure if they could deal with the pack of desert wolves, even if he intervened. But one thing was certain, as soon as he intervened, the mission on the other side would be virtually abandoned. What was more important, the mission or Klet¡¯s life? No, not Klet¡¯s life, but the safety of this city. From the moment he joined the military until now, Shen Siwei had never thought that one day the safety of the Life Tree would depend on refugees to defend it. They couldn¡¯t be called refugees anymore. These people who sacrificed themselves for the Life Tree deserved the respect of all civilians. As for Shen Siwei? What did the mission matter? For the sake of protecting the Life Tree, he was even willing to sacrifice his own life. Looking at the central square, Klet was surrounded by ten desert wolves. At this point, Klet no longer had any other weapons. From a distance, you could see him holding a silver-black steel dagger in his hand. Those clever desert wolves seemed to have taken advantage of the fact that the city was less populated during the day and specifically chose noon to break in. The scorching sun beat down directly on them, with the breath of the ten desert wolves surrounding Klet. Beads of sweat started to form on Klet¡¯s forehead, but he didn¡¯t dare to distract himself by wiping it with his hand. At this moment, one of the desert wolves suddenly leaped up, and Klet knew that the final attack was about to begin. He prepared himself to face the attack, but just then, he saw a golden figure descending from the sky with their back to the sun. With a powerful stomp, their feet shattered the skull of the leaping desert wolf. CH 27 Blood splattered, dust filled the air. After crushing the head of the desert wolf, the figure with golden hair leaped high in the air, stretching their body and drawing a graceful arc. They somersaulted in mid-air and landed behind Klet, their backs facing each other. One person was tall and the other slender, both facing the circle of ten desert wolves surrounding them. Unlike the focused golden-haired figure, Klet maintained a forward posture but had a shocked expression as he looked behind. He didn¡¯t say a word, but Malken, who was floating in mid-air, exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Negotiator?!¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t hide his identity. Changing hair color and eye color required contacting Moran, and Moran¡¯s instructions were to investigate the power station. He ran to fight the desert wolf pack on his own knowing Moran wouldn¡¯t assist him in changing his appearance. Furthermore, he was so close to Klet that even the oxygen mask would expose his identity. What was the point of changing hair and eye color? It would only needlessly reveal the fact that he was a modified human. ¡°What are you standing there for?¡± Shen Siwei tilted his chin slightly, showing half of his profile to Klet. ¡°Let¡¯s fight.¡± With those words, Shen Siwei charged directly at the desert wolf in front of him, and the other wolves followed suit as if they received a signal, rushing toward the two of them. Still in a state of shock, Klet leaped into the air, drawing the attention of several desert wolves and then looked towards the commotion where Shen Siwei was. Just as the man and the wolf were about to collide head-on, Shen Siwei suddenly lowered his body and dashed forward. When he reached under the desert wolf, he jumped up, swiftly grabbed the sideburns of the wolf¡¯s face, and used the momentum to flip onto its back. He didn¡¯t stop there and ran a few more steps forward. Just as he was about to leave the desert wolf¡¯s back, he smoothly executed a beautiful front handspring ¨C both hands gripping the tail of the desert wolf. In mid-air, he rolled in a circle, and the desert wolf was thrown over his shoulder as if performing a shoulder throw, flipping its massive body 180 degrees and slamming it forcefully onto the ground. The square¡¯s pavement was smashed, and countless fragments flew up. On the other side, Malken who was still in awe of Shen Siwei¡¯s actions, quickly pressed a button to continue jetting with his power device, barely returning to mid-air. The desert wolf¡¯s resistance was indeed like that of a tank. Even though it endured such a heavy blow from Shen Siwei, it only spat out blood but did not fall. Shen Siwei immediately turned and called out, ¡°Klet!¡± Klet, agilely dodging the open jaws of two wolves, heard Shen Siwei¡¯s shout and quickly reversed his grip on the dagger and charged towards Shen Siwei. Without giving the desert wolf a chance to stand up, Shen Siwei firmly held its tail and rushed toward Klet. In the blink of an eye, their figures intertwined, and the sharp dagger sliced open the abdomen of the desert wolf, causing its dark red viscera to spill out onto the ground. At this moment, Klet couldn¡¯t be bothered with much and tentatively accepted the fact that Shen Siwei was not a sickly person. Although he didn¡¯t want to hand over his precious dagger to someone else, considering that his companion had empty hands, he raised the dagger and asked from a distance, ¡°Do you need a weapon?¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t even bother to look at him. ¡°No need.¡± He himself was a weapon, so what else did he need? A few more desert wolves rushed over, and Shen Siwei gathered power in his feet and quickly climbed up the exterior wall of a building. He initially wanted to use the same move as before, utilizing gravity and acceleration to harm the desert wolves. However, this time, the desert wolves were consciously evading. Shen Siwei leaped from the air but ended up landing directly on the ground. These desert wolves seemed to be even more agile than Shen Siwei had imagined. Despite dragging their massive bodies, their movements showed no signs of slowness. But precisely because of their large bodies, Shen Siwei agilely maneuvered among the wolf pack, receiving almost no damage. A punch here, a kick there, several desert wolves were quickly battered and bruised by Shen Siwei. However, just as Shen Siwei leaped into mid-air and kicked towards the chin of one of the desert wolves, another wolf suddenly swung its neck and bit Shen Siwei¡¯s abdomen. ¡°Negotiator!¡± Malken, who was watching, shouted in alarm. After biting Shen Siwei, the desert wolf shook its head forcefully twice, then prepared to swallow Shen Siwei whole by opening its large mouth. Although the sharp teeth didn¡¯t cause any harm to Shen Siwei, the head-shaking motion generated a tremendous twisting force that put a heavy burden on his spine. He couldn¡¯t adjust his posture in mid-air and fell straight down. But at that moment, a figure rushed over like lightning and knocked away the desert wolf, catching Shen Siwei in mid-air. Klet squatted on the ground, holding Shen Siwei in his arms, and his left hand immediately touched Shen Siwei¡¯s waist. The clothing there had been torn by the desert wolf¡¯s teeth, revealing a large patch of exposed side waist. However, the expected gory wound was not there, and Klet¡¯s left hand touched smooth skin. The calluses on his fingertips rubbed against the waist, causing Shen Siwei to feel itchy. He swatted away Klet¡¯s large hand and said, ¡°Don¡¯t touch, I¡¯m fine.¡± Kleet looked puzzled, ¡°But just now¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence, a wolf howl sounded in the square. The remaining desert wolves dispersed immediately as if receiving a command, and they swiftly disappeared into the maze of roads. ¡°Oh no.¡± Shen Siwei quickly jumped out of Klet¡¯s embrace. It was evident that these desert wolves wanted to divide and conquer. Some were tasked with diverting Shen Siwei and Klet¡¯s attention while the others continued to wreak havoc in the city. Shen Siwei chose the closest desert wolf and instinctively wanted to chase after it, but Klet suddenly grabbed his wrist. ¡°Chase the alpha leader,¡± Klet said. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t separate.¡± So that¡¯s it. When it came to hunting desert wolves, Shen Siwei lacked experience. The desert wolves not only wanted to divert their attention but also aimed to separate them and take them down one by one. Therefore, the most direct and effective way was for the two of them to hunt down the alpha leader together. At this moment, the massive alpha leader happened to be isolated and ran onto a main road, presenting an excellent hunting opportunity. The other desert wolves realized that their plan had failed and quickly changed direction, chasing after them. However, they were still far behind the alpha leader, with Shen Siwei and Klet chasing after it. Normally, humans couldn¡¯t catch up with the speed of desert wolves, but Shen Siwei watched Klet running effortlessly alongside him and realized that this person was exceptionally fast. A familiar feeling suddenly emerged in Shen Siwei¡¯s mind. He vaguely remembered a small figure that dashed out of a vending machine, also running incredibly fast. Before he could think much further, Klet suddenly accelerated and rushed ahead of the alpha leader. Shen Siwei focused his gaze and noticed a pedestrian bridge spanning the main road up ahead. With a push of his foot, Klet jumped onto the bridge and effortlessly broke off a more than ten-meter-long metal railing. At the same time, the alpha leader, sensing danger, forcefully leaped up with its hind legs, about to jump over the bridge. Klet swiftly inserted the metal railing into the ground below the bridge and shouted at Shen Siwei, ¡°Evan!¡± Understanding his intent, Shen Siwei hastened his pace and reached behind the alpha leader, grabbing its tail. The alpha leader ultimately failed to jump over the bridge, and Shen Siwei pulled its massive body down from the air. The metal railing pierced straight through its heart. The other desert wolves finally caught up from behind but stopped their steps several tens of meters away. Shen Siwei and Klet stood under the bridge, with the railing between them like a flag. With the alpha leader gone, the wolf pack was like a headless dragon. After exchanging glances, the remaining desert wolves changed direction and left the Life Tree. The crisis was averted, and Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief. It was the first time he had used his body with such intensity, and he had to admit that it felt great. But what was the deal with him? Thinking of this, Shen Siwei instinctively looked towards Klet. However, at that moment, Klet suddenly made a move. A large hand reached directly for Shen Siwei¡¯s face mask, with a swift and decisive motion, as if their previous cooperation was just an illusion. At this point, Shen Siwei no longer needed to hold back. He quickly tilted his head back to dodge, but due to his relaxed state, he couldn¡¯t avoid it entirely. As a result, the large hand didn¡¯t grab his face mask but unintentionally unbuttoned two buttons on his collar. Shen Siwei looked down, ¡°¡­¡± ¡ªTore, his, clothes. His slender collarbones were exposed in the sunlight, making it difficult for Klet to keep his eyes open. He realized his fault, and his movements slowed down. Therefore, when Shen Siwei lifted his right leg, Klet couldn¡¯t dodge in time. Earlier, Shen Siwei had been worried about giving Klet a concussion with the pillow, so he held back his anger. But now that he knew this rogue leader could take a beating, he couldn¡¯t be bothered with such considerations. With both new grievances and old grudges, he didn¡¯t hold back his strength at all. His whipping leg struck Klet, sending him flying into the wall of a nearby building. Klet jumped down from the wall, his deep gaze fixed on Shen Siwei¡¯s face mask, as if he still intended to take action. However, at that moment, a figure floated in mid-air, swaying gently. ¡°Stop, stop!¡± Malken, who had arrived slowly, hurriedly intervened between the two about to fight. ¡°You¡¯re both on the same side!¡± Shen Siwei, with one hand still on his face mask, looked at Klet warily, not loosening his guard. ¡°You said he¡¯s sickly,¡± Malken landed beside Klet and muttered softly. ¡°Who the hell knows,¡± Klet furrowed his brows tightly, as if settling an old score, his eyes full of three words when looking at Shen Siwei: big liar. It was only at this moment that Shen Siwei noticed the many wounds on Klet¡¯s body. The joints of his fingerless gloves were torn, revealing oozing skin. There were also numerous scratches on his sturdy arms, including the marks left by being thrown into the wall by Shen Siwei just now. Shen Siwei¡¯s body was modified and wouldn¡¯t be injured, but clearly, Klet wasn¡¯t the same. Recalling when the Tree of Life was threatened, the other refugees had fled with their heads down, but Klet took the initiative to confront the desert wolf pack. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel super proud of him and his courage. If he had to say it, he still didn¡¯t want Klet to get hurt. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Shen Siwei asked. Klet didn¡¯t answer, but looked at him with a furrowed brow and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you?¡± Shen Siwei had already prepared a plausible excuse and calmly said, ¡°I¡¯m an evolved Marge.¡± Just because they fought together didn¡¯t mean he and Klet had become friends. They were still in an opposing position, and Shen Siwei naturally wouldn¡¯t confess honestly. ¡°Huh?¡± Malken was the first to express disbelief. ¡°My lung and heart functions are indeed weak, but I¡¯m strong in other aspects.¡± ¡°really,¡± Malken still didn¡¯t believe it. ¡°You say you evolved, and that¡¯s it? People evolve from 1 to 2. How can you evolve from 1 to 10?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± Klet interjected. Hearing this, Shen Siwei subtly raised an eyebrow. He had made up so many lies before, and Klet had always seemed skeptical. Why was he so easily convinced when it came to the evolution of the Marge? ¡°How do you know?¡± Malken also found Klet¡¯s reaction a bit strange. ¡°You weren¡¯t swayed by someone¡¯s beauty, were you?¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Klet grabbed him by the back of his neck. Klet pushed Maiken in the direction the wolves had left. ¡°Go find someone to repair the defense system.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t finished talking yet,¡± Malken staggered a few steps, barely stabilizing himself. ¡°Get clear about your position, boss. Do you think you can win over someone like this?¡± Klet took off his fingerless gloves, intending to smack Malken in the face, but Shen Siwei had already picked up a stone and flicked it with his middle finger, hitting the ground near Malken. The stone flew like a bullet, frightening Malken as he hopped in place. ¡°Fine, you two can talk privately,¡± he turned around and muttered as he walked away. ¡°Is this a negotiation or a love affair?¡± After Malken left, Shen Siwei glanced at the wounds on Klet¡¯s hand. They were caused by the force of his punches when he hit the desert wolves, the resulting impact rebounding onto himself. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to treat them?¡± Shen Siwei raised his chin lightly. ¡°No need.¡± Klet took off another damaged fingerless glove and casually threw both gloves to the side of the road. ¡°So, you hid your strength and came to the lower levels just to negotiate?¡± ¡°Is that not allowed?¡± Shen Siwei calmly replied. However, he also knew that his mission to investigate Klet was probably difficult to continue. He had deceived Klet time and time again, pretending to be weak, and it was evident that Klet no longer believed him. He wouldn¡¯t be able to extract any useful information from him. Sure enough, Klet¡¯s eyes darkened, and the understanding they had when fighting side by side was gone. ¡°In that case, there¡¯s no need to talk anymore,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m going to meet with Nightingale now. I hope that when I come back, you¡¯ve already left this place.¡± CH 28 Shen Siwei had long been used to klet chasing him away. But this time was different, he couldn¡¯t get close to Klet anymore. The two of them used to watch cartoons together and fight desert wolves together, setting aside their positions to enjoy each other¡¯s company. If it weren¡¯t for the mission at hand, Shen Siwei wouldn¡¯t mind being friends with Klet. But now there was definitely no chance, Klet obviously didn¡¯t want to bother with him. Fortunately, Klet hadn¡¯t restricted Shen Siwei¡¯s freedom of movement, he just asked him to leave voluntarily. Of course, Shen Siwei was well aware that Klet did this only because he knew that he couldn¡¯t restrict Shen Siwei¡¯s abilities. When Klet returned from meeting Nightingale, if he found that Shen Siwei hadn¡¯t left yet, he might forcefully make him leave or personally guard the power station. Thinking it over, this was probably Shen Siwei¡¯s last chance to investigate the power station while Klet was away. After parting ways with Klet, Shen Siwei walked alone on the street. The surrounding area gradually filled with refugees, but he didn¡¯t care about their gazes. His clothes had a few tears on the side, but they weren¡¯t too exposed. Although he lost two buttons at the collar, it only revealed his collarbone, so it wasn¡¯t a big deal. Actually, when Shen Siwei bought clothes before, he didn¡¯t just buy this set, but the rest of his clothes were left at Klet¡¯s house, and he didn¡¯t really feel like going there now. Klet fought the desert wolves so intensely, covered in sweat and wounds, he would definitely go home to take a shower and change clothes. They had just had such an unpleasant argument, and now Shen Siwei going to Klet¡¯s house felt awkward to him. How strange, why did he feel guilty? Wasn¡¯t it only natural for him to deceive Klet in order to carry out the mission? But why¡­ did he feel a suffocating feeling that he couldn¡¯t describe? Suddenly, Shen Siwei thought of the stubble-faced man he met at the bar. He said Klet didn¡¯t need to be responsible to anyone and could abandon refugees at any time. But when the Tree of Life was in real danger, he was the first to step forward, leaving Shen Siwei unsure how to define him. Perhaps it was because most of the missions he had carried out before were black and white, where right was right and wrong was wrong. Shen Siwei had never encountered a target like Klet, who made things ambiguous. Wait, there was one before, the little boy. Thinking of this, Shen Siwei put his hands in his pockets and kicked a stone irritably with his feet. ¡°What a useless mission.¡± The small stone hit the charging pile on the side of the street, causing an explosion. The refugees who had just come to the street were scared and quickly retreated. The patrol around the power station had been restored, but it was clearly understaffed. Previously, there were two or three people guarding each level, but now there were less than ten people in total. Daytime was when the refugees were relaxed, and coupled with the recent expulsion of the desert wolves, most of the refugees guarding the power station didn¡¯t have the intention to patrol seriously. Shen Siwei crouched nearby for a while and found an opportunity. He quietly sneaked into the power station. He had already explored the upper floors once, and the problem wasn¡¯t there, so there was no need to explore them again. He followed the electronic map and went straight to the basement level. Unexpectedly, there were still people guarding the stairs. It seemed that the problem was indeed in the basement level. He knocked out the two guards at the stairs, then followed the electronic map and found the central power receiving pipeline that he had damaged. The pipeline hadn¡¯t been repaired, indicating that it wasn¡¯t important. The pipelines in the basement level were complex, and Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t check each one to see if they had power or not. Thinking that there must be a magnetic field where the electric current flows, he simply took out the high-precision magnetic field detector from his mini computer and followed the pointer. Eventually, he arrived at¡­ the entrance to the abandoned basement level. ¡°No way?¡± There was still a central receiving pipeline in the basement level, leading to the core power station in the deep sea. But that power station had been destroyed by sea monsters fifty years ago, so how could it still be supplying power? He opened the tightly closed iron door by hand, and the even more complex pipelines appeared before his eyes. Only, the central pipeline that should have been abandoned emitted a gentle pale blue light, like an ocean that embraced everything, providing nourishment to each pipe. ¡ªThe Deep Sea Core Power Station was still operational? No, Shen Siwei immediately dismissed that thought. It was simply impossible. But what was happening before his eyes? After coming out of the power station, Shen Siwei found a secluded alley and dialed Morans communication ID. He thought that his understanding of the Tree of Life had fallen behind by twenty years, and perhaps many significant changes had occurred during this period that Moran forgot to tell him. But Moran¡¯s reaction was exactly the same as his. ¡°The deep sea? Impossible,¡± Moran said firmly, ¡°It¡¯s impossible for someone to repair the deep-sea power station.¡± Shen Siwei also had the same idea, but some situations couldn¡¯t be explained. ¡°I rebooted the control system, and the power station didn¡¯t respond,¡± he said, ¡°Only the power supplied by the deep sea could be unaffected by the system¡¯s control.¡± At the beginning of the establishment of the Tree of Life, the regional power stations weren¡¯t installed with control systems. It was only after the deep-sea power station was destroyed that the Marg people installed this system to save on energy supply. The system could control the entire regional power station, except for the long-abandoned deep-sea section. Therefore, all the clues pointed to one fact¡ªthe Deep Sea Core Power Station was still operational. ¡°But how could the deep-sea power station be repaired?¡± Moran asked, ¡°Any electronic device that goes underwater will be attacked by sea monsters. Even if someone can go to the deep-sea area without relying on electronic devices, the deep-sea power station still has a large number of electronic devices. How could they operate without attracting the attention of the sea monsters?¡± ¡°Could it be¡­¡± Shen Siwei speculated, ¡°Someone killed all the deep-sea monsters?¡± ¡°Are you joking?¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± The ¡°someone¡± Shen Siwei referred to could only be Klet because only he knew the truth about the power station. However, Klet¡¯s combat power was at most on par with Shen Siwei¡¯s. How could he possibly kill all the sea monsters, let alone in their territory underwater? ¡°How is your investigation of Klet going?¡± Moran asked. ¡°He¡­¡± Shen Siwei hesitated slightly, ¡°he is very mysterious.¡± In reality, Shen Siwei had gathered quite a bit of information about Klet. If he told Moran, the military would have at least a direction to investigate. But when the words reached his lips, he swallowed them back. In the end, he didn¡¯t want to do anything detrimental to Klet. This isn¡¯t right, he warned himself. Although he did feel sorry for deceiving Klet, the stability of the Life Tree was far more important than personal interests. ¡°Continue the investigation,¡± Moran said. ¡°Find any possible way to get close to him.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not possible,¡± Shen Siwei breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°He already knows that I¡¯ve been hiding my true strength.¡± ¡°How could he know?¡± ¡°I helped drive away the desert wolf pack.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Moran clearly suppressed his anger. ¡°Darling, you really have a mind of your own.¡± Shen Siwei pursed his lips, momentarily tempted to confront Moran about their memories. But considering that Moran could put him to sleep at any time, he held back. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°Do you know about the Nightingale organization?¡± This matter also concerned the stability of the Life Tree, so Shen Siwei needed to report it. ¡°A new organization, right?¡± Moran seemed to know. ¡°There has indeed been a lively organization recently, and I¡¯ve been keeping an eye on them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s best to keep a close eye on them. They were the ones who tried to assassinate me.¡± ¡°An assassination to provoke a war between the military and the refugees?¡± Moran wasn¡¯t foolish. ¡°Hmm, they have quite a cunning plan.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll stay on standby in the lower levels,¡± Moran continued. ¡°After I consult with the higher-ups, we¡¯ll decide how to arrange you.¡± He can¡¯t even act properly.Shen thought to himself. He said he missed him, but this was how he treated his ¡°lover¡±? Shen Siwei didn¡¯t bother to expose it. He figured Moran was taking advantage of his fuzzy memory, so everything was just a charade. In any case, the mission was considered complete, half successful and half failed. In the end, Shen Siwei still couldn¡¯t figure out Klete¡¯s background, only knowing that he had some connection to the deep sea. Recalling it, the last time Shen Siwei mentioned the concept of the deep sea was regarding that little boy¡­ Wait a minute. Shen Siwei¡¯s feet suddenly stopped. Could Klet be that little boy?! It¡¯s impossible, impossible, impossible. He clearly remembered how cute the little boy was, crying and not wanting to be separated from him. How could he possibly grow up to become this ruffian leader named Klet? Apart from anything else, Klet¡¯s rough voice didn¡¯t match at all with the crying little boy. The thought flashed through Shen Siwei¡¯s mind, but he didn¡¯t dwell on it. After all, Klet appeared older than him, a young man in his twenties at most. The military would continue to investigate the underwater power station, and Shen Siwei staying in City Z wouldn¡¯t be of much use. Next, Moran would probably send someone to pick him up, and he had to find a way to remove Moran¡¯s restrictions on him. On the outskirts of the city, in the industrial zone. Klet leaned against a heavy motorcycle, watching several modified racing cars approaching from a distance. The lead car stopped about ten meters away from Klet, and a man with a half-face covered by a triangular scarf stepped out of the driver¡¯s seat. The man wore a military green baseball cap on his head, with retro frog-eye glasses resting on his nose. It was a stylish attire, but the cute image of a little yellow bird was printed on the triangular scarf, creating a somewhat weird contrast. He walked straight to a spot a few meters away from Klet and casually put his hands on his waist, observing the surroundings. ¡°Are you alone?¡± His black coat slightly opened as he moved, revealing the leather holster at his waist. ¡°Alone.¡± Klet got off the motorcycle and stood up straight. The man wasn¡¯t short either, at least over 1.85 meters. ¡°What about knock and Avis?¡± the man asked, taking off his sunglasses. It was only at this moment that Klet noticed a several-centimeter scar at the corner of the man¡¯s right eye. ¡°They¡¯re staying at home. Avis is not seriously injured.¡± Klet said. When Avis contacted their leader, he must have mentioned the situation so Klet could sense that the man in front of him didn¡¯t have any hostility towards him. ¡°I¡¯ll send someone to pick them up later.¡± The man said, finally taking off the bandana from his face. His features looked sunny, like a boy next door, but the ugly scar added a touch of fierceness to him. He walked up to Klet and extended his right hand. ¡°Leizhe, leader of the Nightingales.¡± Klet also extended his right hand to shake hands. ¡°Klet.¡± ¡° CH 29 At three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, the sunshine was just right in the western area. Inside the large factory, the sound of the assembly line echoed as unmanned transport machines shuttled between the buildings, carrying goods. On a large empty space where no transport machines passed by, several modified racing cars gathered on the outskirts, and two men were in the middle of the empty space, discussing something. One of the men was wearing a black tight short-sleeved shirt, with a handsome and resolute face, and he was the number one most wanted criminal on the military¡¯s wanted list. The other man was wearing a military green baseball cap, his face not clearly visible, but he was also on the military¡¯s wanted list, a newly minted number two. ¡ª To be precise, the so-called newly minted, just made it to the list ten minutes ago. The crosshairs on the screen targeted the two men, and the operator wearing an earpiece pressed his thumb on the launch button: ¡°Target acquired, requesting permission to fire.¡± A reply of ¡°Permission granted¡± came through the earpiece. The next second, a small missile was fired from underneath the unmanned combat aircraft, swiftly flying towards the two men in the middle of the empty space. ¡°How can you ensure the energy station¡¯s is no longer in the hands of the upper control?¡± ¡°You just need to capture the energy station, the rest¡­¡± Midway through their conversation, a sound suddenly pierced the sky above. With rare human presence in the industrial zone and the factory¡¯s operations not being particularly noisy, this kind of sound was especially piercing. The two men immediately looked up, only to see a missile flying straight towards the ground. It was about to explode in less than two seconds. Without hesitation, Klet quickly moved away from the center of the empty space. Leizhe cursed under his breath and also put on a face mask, running towards the outskirts. However, before he could run far, the missile exploded behind him, and the shockwave instantly threw him against the outer wall of the factory. Fortunately, he wasn¡¯t directly hit by the missile, and he could withstand the impact. He came down from the wall, shook his head to ease the discomfort in his ears, and asked loudly to Klet, who had run to the other side of the empty space, ¡°are you the target?¡± Klet had dodged quickly and wasn¡¯t hit by the missile. He was about to reply ¡°No,¡± but he saw the unmanned drone extending two gun barrels on its sides, and began shooting at him. So it was coming after him? Klet couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit puzzled. How did the military know where he was? At this moment, on the other side, Leizhe mounted a machine gun from the modified car and shouted loudly to Klet, ¡°Lure it over here!¡± The drone was flying low enough that it could be shot down with a machine gun. However, just as Leizhe finished speaking, the drone suddenly changed direction and started shooting at the convoy. About ten people had to leave the modified car and take cover by the outer wall of the factory, away from the drone¡¯s camera¡¯s line of sight. Klet, who was no longer being chased and shot at, turned around and started pursuing the drone, shooting at it with his pistol. However, while chasing, Klet also noticed something. The drone¡¯s target was very clear¡ªLeizhe. In other words, the mission of the drone was to eliminate both of them, and the operator must have realized that it was difficult to chase after Klet, so they focused on Laizhe. But how did the military know that the two of them would meet here? After ruling out all possibilities, Klet¡¯s expression darkened, and he could only think of that golden-haired figure. The drone launched another missile, hitting the steel frame beneath the cooling tower. The cooling tower collapsed and smashed onto the roof of the factory. Laizhe, who was hiding at the base of the factory wall, had to find a new cover. Klet dodged the gunfire from the aircraft, zigzagging through the open space, and arrived behind the collapsed steel frame to meet with Laizhe. He had already run out of bullets, so he took out the last steel dagger. ¡°Lure the drone over here, and I¡¯ll jump from the cooling tower,¡± Klet said. Laizhe immediately understood Klet¡¯s intention. ¡°You¡¯ve installed a mechanical prothesis?¡± Klet didn¡¯t say much. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Laizhe said, ¡°Do you need a weapon?¡± ¡°No need,¡± Klet shook the dagger in his hand and gestured to climb up the collapsed steel frame. However, at that moment, Laizhe suddenly grabbed his wrist and looked directly at the weapon in his hand. ¡°How do you have this dagger?¡± Klet barely stopped his climbing motion and followed Laizhe¡¯s gaze to the weapon in his hand. He said, ¡°A friend gave it to me.¡± ¡°A friend?¡± Laizhe looked at Klet with a puzzled expression. ¡°This is my captain¡¯s dagger.¡± Upon hearing this, Klet¡¯s nerves tightened instantly. His heart started pounding like a steam train racing at full speed, even faster than when he was surrounded by ten desert wolves. He moved his lips and said, ¡°Captain?¡± ¡°I used to be a member of the military action team. Due to some reasons, I joined the Nightingales,¡± Laizhe said. ¡°The number on this dagger, 888714, is my captain¡¯s number.¡± On the hilt of the silver-black dagger, there was a small string of numbers engraved. It wouldn¡¯t be noticed unless someone observed it closely. Bullets fired by the drone hit the steel frame, making a crackling sound. Laizhe instinctively lowered his head, but Klet had no reaction. He grabbed Laizhe¡¯s shoulder tightly and stared at him, asking, ¡°Where is he?¡± Laizhe showed a puzzled expression but sighed and replied, ¡°He¡¯s already dead.¡± Upon hearing those words, Klet¡¯s eyes widened, and his heart felt like it was being hit by a heavy hammer. It made him forget to breathe. Laizhe continued, ¡°Twenty years ago, we went on a mission to hunt down newborns. The situation was complicated at that time, and he sacrificed himself to protect me when we were under attack.¡± Klet stared blankly and squeezed out a few words, ¡°Twenty years ago?¡± Laizhe confirmed, ¡°Yes. The person who crossed the inferno with him in the darkness, instructing him not to come back before he grew up, died shortly after they parted. He had endured for twenty years, working hard to make himself stronger, just to grow up and come back to find that person, and yet¡­ twenty years ago, that person died. His body suddenly felt drained of strength. Klet had to use his hand to support himself on the steel frame to reduce the dizziness. ¡°Hey, are you okay?¡± Laizhe noticed Klet¡¯s abnormality and asked, ¡°How do you have my captain¡¯s dagger?¡± Klet moved his lips and found his throat dry, unable to produce any sound. Kleet made another effort and finally asked the question he cared about the most, ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± Laizhe replied, ¡°Shen Siwei.¡± Intense bullets shot over again, with the closest one hitting Laizhe¡¯s face. He cursed and knew that he couldn¡¯t rely on Klet, so he used the communicator to communicate with his subordinates, ¡°Raise the cannon and take it down!¡± Behind them were the sounds of intense fire and scattered dirt. However, Klet felt like he was in a different world, sitting alone under the steel frame, staring blankly at the dagger. Shen Siwei. klet moved his lips silently. The dagger in his hand had been with klet for twenty years. Whenever he was about to give up, he would remember the words that person said to him. He had adapted to a life of solitude and learned to stay strong, but the hero in his heart, the person who protected him, was no longer around¡­ After some time, the gunfire on the open ground finally ceased. Leizhe came to the steel frame carrying a high-speed rifle and found klet sitting on the ground, leaning against the steel frame and smoking. If Leizhe didn¡¯t know what had happened here just now, he would have thought that klet came specifically to the industrial area to watch the sunset. The two hadn¡¯t become close enough to talk about personal matters, and now was clearly not the right time. ¡°The military might send someone later.¡± Leizhe reminded, ¡°We¡¯ll talk later.¡± Having waited a long time without any instructions from Moran, Shen Siwei aimlessly wandered the city and eventually returned to klet¡¯s house. klet should be meeting with the Nightingale, and indeed, there was no one at home. Shen Siwei comfortably took a bath, changed into clean clothes, and then casually turned on the TV, continuing to watch the unfinished SpongeBob SquarePants. It had to be said that watching cartoons during leisure time was quite interesting. Just as Shen Siwei was getting into the show, Moran¡¯s call suddenly came through his communicator. [it looks like it¡¯s time to go back]. Shen Siwei waved to pause the cartoon and answered the communicator, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Evacuate the west district, City Z, immediately.¡± Moran¡¯s calm voice came through, ¡°The military will launch an attack in an hour.¡± Shen Siwei had already anticipated that Moran would ask him to return, but he never expected the military would launch an attack. Moran explained, ¡°We just raided the industrial area, but we couldn¡¯t eliminate klet and the Nightingale leader.¡± Before Moran could continue, Shen Siwei interrupted him, ¡°A raid?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been monitoring the Nightingale organization and happened to discover that group meeting with klet.¡± Moran said, ¡°Since you said Nightingale wants to assassinate the Mag people, it¡¯s only natural to put them on the wanted list. With a group of criminals like that gathering, would we miss such a good opportunity?¡± Moran¡¯s logic was flawless, and Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t argue. He took a deep breath, suppressed his anxiety, and asked, ¡°But why bomb the entire city?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve already investigated the situation at the power station, and anyone who knows about it can¡¯t be left alive.¡± Moran paused for a moment, ¡°Especially klet.¡± ¡°But we don¡¯t know how he repaired the deep-sea power station.¡± Shen Siwei unintentionally speaking on klet¡¯s behalf. ¡°Now that we know the problem is in the deep sea, what use is there in keeping klet?¡± Moran retorted, ¡°The military will investigate the deep sea.¡± ¡°But there are still many civilians in this city.¡± Shen Siwei said coldly. ¡°You can¡¯t guarantee how many people know about the deep-sea power station.¡± Moran said, ¡°So you¡¯re willing to sacrifice innocent civilians?!¡± Here we go again, just like twenty years ago. The mission of the task force was only to hunt down newborns, but Moran didn¡¯t care and killed Sara. ¡°So civilian lives mean nothing to you?¡± ¡°Shen Siwei,¡± Moran¡¯s voice lowered as he called Shen Siwei by his name, ¡°Understand your position. Do you know the impact it would have on the Life Tree if the deep-sea power station¡¯s existence is exposed?¡± If the top level and the core power station in the deep sea operated normally, and the Mag people continued to rule the lower levels under the pretext of energy conservation, the civilians would rebel. Shen Siwei, at any cost, did not want to see turmoil in the Life Tree because it was his mother who, in the very beginning, accepted the task from the Mag ancestors and led the design of the Life Tree. From a young age, he volunteered to join the military, not for anything else but to protect his mother¡¯s efforts. But now his values were being put to the test. The construction of the Life Tree was meant to provide a better living environment for humanity. If it required sacrificing civilian lives, then what was the point of guarding the Life Tree? Recalling the civilian couple he met in the hallway, Shen Siwei quickly made a decision. Last time, he failed to prevent the hunting down of newborns. But this time, he still had a chance. ¡°Understood,¡± Shen Siwei said expressionlessly, ¡°I will leave.¡± After hanging up the communicator, Shen Siwei didn¡¯t leave klet¡¯s house. Instead, he dialed klet¡¯s communication ID. The long ringing tone irritated Shen Siwei even more, but the tone continued for a while, and in the end, nobody answered. He dialed again, and this time, klet actually hung up the call. ¡°What the¡­¡± He suddenly realized that klet must have thought he had leaked information about the ambush because of Moran. Coupled with the series of events before, it was understandable that klet didn¡¯t answer his calls. But now wasn¡¯t the time to be stubborn, Shen Siwei patiently dialed again, and this time, klet finally picked up the phone, his hoarse voice tinged with impatience. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The military is about to launch an attack¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°Hurry back!¡± CH 30 Not long after Shen Siwei hung up the communicator, a familiar figure appeared in the corner of the balcony. klet climbed down the balcony and entered the room, calmly asking, ¡°What do you mean an attack?¡± His eyes seemed hollow, as if something inside had been emptied, leaving only an empty shell without a soul. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t put it into words, but he felt that the current klet seemed different from before they parted. ¡°The industry raid failed,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°Therefore the military has decided to bomb this city.¡± klet walked to the couch without much reaction and resumed playing the paused SpongeBob SquarePants episode. Shen Siwei: ¡°?¡± Is it time to watch SpongeBob now? He walked in front of the couch, blocking the TV screen, and frowned at klet. ¡°This place will be bombed in an hour. Are you sure you still want to watch cartoons?¡± klet glanced indifferently at Shen Siwei. ¡°You¡¯re blocking the screen.¡± It was only at this moment that Shen Siwei finally realized that something was off with him. ¡°klet,¡± Shen Siwei felt it necessary to explain, ¡°The ambush on you and Nightingale was my superior¡¯s idea. I didn¡¯t tell anyone that the two of you would meet.¡± klet blinked his eyes slightly and finally looked at Shen Siwei. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you disclose it?¡± ¡°Because¡­¡± The words were on the tip of Shen Siwei¡¯s tongue, but he swallowed them back. He understood klet¡¯s suspicion. They were in opposing positions, and it didn¡¯t make sense for him to withhold such important information. It was illogical. But Shen Siwei found it difficult to say it out loud. Perhaps since the moment he slept beside klet, his had become more conflicted. ¡°Because?¡± Clet smirked. ¡°You¡¯re trying to deceive me again.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really not deceiving you this time.¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t stand seeing klet in such a dejected state. He leaned on the back of the couch with one hand and grabbed klet¡¯s collar with the other. ¡°We need to evacuate the civilians immediately.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± klet pried Shen Siwei¡¯s hand off his collar without much expression, and continued to look at the TV screen. ¡°Then maybe you can ask your superior not to launch the attack.¡± klet still didn¡¯t believe Shen Siwei and couldn¡¯t be bothered to figure out what Shen Siwei was up to. Under different circumstances, not being believed wouldn¡¯t bother Shen Siwei since he was the one who lied first. But the current situation was an emergency. He slapped klet¡¯s face, forcing him to turn and look at him, and said in a low voice, ¡°If I wanted to deceive you, I wouldn¡¯t have helped you drive away the desert wolves.¡± That was clearly strong evidence. The moment he took action, he exposed himself. If Shen Siwei still had intentions of deceiving klet, why would he willingly help? klet¡¯s eyes flickered, showing signs of being convinced. ¡°My superior is already displeased with me,¡± Shen Siwei straightened his posture, waved his hand to turn off the TV. ¡°Are you willing to join forces with me now?¡± klet¡¯s eyes gradually regained their usual depth, as if his brain had been offline for a while but finally started working again. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t lie to you again.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve lied to me countless times before.¡± Although he said so, Klet still opened the communicator and contacted Malken. And within five minutes, an emergency evacuation notice popped up on Shen Siwei¡¯s mini computer. Malken¡¯s face in the video was covered in oil, presumably still repairing the defense system of the outer wall. ¡°Dear residents of Zone Z in the Western District, first of all, I have good news for everyone. The Desert Wolf Pack has been driven away, so you don¡¯t have to worry about becoming lunch for the monsters. But here¡¯s another piece of bad news for everyone: the military will launch a bombing in fifty minutes. Please pack your belongings and evacuate in an orderly manner.¡± As soon as the evacuation notice was broadcasted, the outside of the windows became noisy. Shen Siwei came to the balcony and took a look. He found that many civilians were already rushing in the direction of the neighboring city, dragging their suitcases. Many civilians had already left the city when the refugees stormed the Tree of Life, so there were not many civilians in need of evacuation now, and there was little chaos on the streets. Forty to fifty minutes was enough time to evacuate, so Shen Siwei temporarily breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to look at Klet, who had just hung up the communicator, and asked, ¡°Will the refugees return to the Tree of Life?¡± The defense systems of other cities had not been breached, so the refugees could only enter if they forge their identities. ¡°Knock and Avis will be taken away by the Nightingale,¡± Klet said. ¡°The others should return to the Desert Underground City.¡± ¡°Come and take a look.¡± With that, Klete jumped onto the roof of the adjacent building and then turned back to make a gesture to Shen Siwei, indicating for him to follow. Shen Siwei also jumped up, and the two of them jumped on the rooftop one after another. They quickly reached the edge of the city. By that time, many civilians had already passed through the roadblocks and arrived at the industrial area. Klete stopped at the closest building to the roadblock and squatted at a corner of the rooftop, watching the direction of the crowd from a distance. Shen Siwei crouched down next to Klete and followed his gaze, catching a glimpse of the sunset. The orange sunlight shone on both of them, casting long shadows on the rooftop. A gentle breeze blew through the air, making the world seem peaceful and beautiful. But this was just a momentary calm before the bombing. Shen Siwei changed his posture, sitting on the edge of the rooftop with his hands supporting him behind his back and his legs dangling, swinging back and forth. Occasionally, his heels would bump against the wall. He turned his head and looked at Klet¡¯s profile. ¡°You didn¡¯t seem right this afternoon.¡± Klet withdrew his gaze from afar and glanced at Shen Siwei. ¡°You mean after i realized that i had been deceived for so long?¡± ¡°You know, I was on a mission,¡± Shen Siwei shrugged. ¡°I also didn¡¯t want to pretend to be weak.¡± For some reason, Klet smiled faintly, took a deep breath, and said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± The two of them continued to silently watch the sunset. By this time, most of the civilians had evacuated to the industrial area. ¡°So what will happen to your mission?¡± Klet suddenly turned his head to look at Shen Siwei. , Shen Siwei also let out a breath and said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Having said that, he turned his head to meet Klet¡¯s gaze. Time seemed to slow down, and the scene turned into slow motion as both of them held each other¡¯s gaze without looking away. Putting aside the deceptions, perhaps it would be nice for the two of them to get to know each other again, Shen Siwei thought. However, the mood of the moment was disrupted by a notification on the communicator. Shen Siwei pressed the call button. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Why are the civilians evacuating?¡± Moran¡¯s impatient voice came through. ¡°Why are you still in City Z?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m evacuating the civilians,¡± Shen Siwei replied calmly. ¡°You¡ª¡± Moran took a deep breath. ¡°What do you mean ? Are you defying the orders from your superiors?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°I should have defied them last time too.¡± The words were clear, and Moran¡¯s voice carried a hint of gritted teeth. ¡°So you remember now.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Siwei said, a mocking smile on his face. ¡°Shameless.¡± Of course, he was referring to the fact that Moran had pretended to be his lover. But Klet didn¡¯t know about it, and he looked at Shen Siwei with some surprise, not understanding how someone could speak to their superior like that. ¡°You may not know yet,¡± Moran suppressed his anger and said, ¡°there¡¯s a control chip installed in your brain. I can put you to sleep anytime I want.¡± ¡°Whatever,¡± Shen Siwei said indifferently. ¡°I¡¯m with Klet now. If you want to never see me again, you can try.¡± Having said that, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t be bothered to waste any more words and added Moran to his communication blacklist. ¡°Superior?¡± Klet asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Siwei nodded. ¡°Heh,¡± Klet smiled, a glimmer of light flashing in his eyes. ¡°You remind me of someone I once knew. He was also on a mission but eventually switched sides.¡± ¡°On a mission?¡± Shen Siwei seized the key point. He continued to ask, ¡°Is it the person from the military you¡¯ve been looking for?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Klet finally let go of his guard and took out a dagger from a leather sheath on his calf. ¡°This is something he left for me.¡± The silver-black steel dagger reflected an orange light under the sunset. A string of numbers flashed by. 888714 Shen Siwei was instantly stunned because he couldn¡¯t be more familiar with this string of numbers. All sorts of thoughts suddenly rushed in Shen Siwei¡¯s mind. No wonder Klet had Sara¡¯s records at home, no wonder he said he had no childhood, no wonder he was looking for someone with black hair and black eyes¡­ So the person he was looking for was Shen Siwei?! ¡°Klet,¡± Shen Siwei looked at the person next to him in disbelief, faintly glimpsing the shadow of that little boy in his handsome brows. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Klet asked. ¡°You¡­¡± Too many complex emotions surged in his heart, and Shen Siwei didn¡¯t know where to start. He no longer had any family or friends by his side, and the only person he cared about was that little boy whose fate was uncertain back then. And now, the little boy was right in front of him, transformed into an adult fully capable of protecting himself. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Klet asked, puzzled. Unable to resist, Shen Siwei reached out his hand and gently touched the side of Klet¡¯s face.¡ªhow could that adorable little boy grow up to be such a hot-tempered man? And the tattoo on his chest, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry. How did he end up with the impression of a gorilla? Klet looked at Shen Siwei in confusion. Recalling the little Klet who cried and didn¡¯t want to be separated from him, Shen Siwei burst into laughter, his eyes filled with a gentle glow. ¡°Klet,¡± he laughed, ¡°so you were just a little brat.¡± Klete furrowed his brows, looking displeased. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You were looking for¡ª¡± Before Shen Siwei could finish his sentence, a sudden ¡°swoosh¡± sound came from a distance. He saw a black wristband swiftly flying towards him and attaching itself to his wrist¡ªthe hand that was touching Klet. The wristband shimmered with a black light representing strong magnetism. It was usually used to recover extremely difficult-to-recover items. Shen Siwei quickly looked in the direction from which the wristband came. He saw three military aircrafts arriving ahead of schedule. At the same time, another black wristband flew directly towards his other hand. Shen Siwei quickly jumped off the rooftop, dodging the black wristband. ¡°Go protect the civilians!¡± After landing on the ground, Shen Siwei originally intended to run towards a nearby building to minimize the impact of the directional magnetic pole on the wristband. However, at this moment, the wristband had already started to take effect, and a tremendous magnetic force pulled him into the air. He had to use his other hand to grab onto a street lamp pole to resist the force. And at this moment, something that shocked Shen Siwei happened. The bomber didn¡¯t fly into City Z at all; it dropped bombs in the industrial area. The area was densely packed with recently evacuated civilians, and the bombs landed accurately among the crowd. The sound of screams rose and fell, while thick smoke created a scene of hell on earth. Some people began to fight back, but their efforts were in vain. Shen Siwei could only see a group of people wearing Nightingale masks from a distance. Seeing a few people about to be crushed to death, Klet¡¯s figure quickly appeared and forcefully held up the falling stone. ¡°Run!¡± Klet shouted. The few people rolled and crawled out from under the stone, but countless rocks fell again. Klet didn¡¯t have time to escape and was buried under. ¡°Klet!!!¡± Shen Siwei stared blankly at the scenes nearby and in the distance, immense anger surged in his heart, causing him to tremble uncontrollably. He resisted the powerful magnetic force on his wrist with all his might, and his golden hair and blue eyes unconsciously turned a deeper shade of crimson. When he accumulated enough strength, he released the pillar of light in his hand, letting the magnetic force carry him at high speed towards the aircraft. Shen Siwei was already starting to feel dizzy ,he bit his tongue to fight it, and the color of his hair and eyes turned even darker red. ¡°Wait, he¡¯s not asleep!¡± ¡°Suspend the retrieval, suspend the retrieval!¡± It was already too late. Shen Siwei entered the aircraft with the magnetic pole and threw the two pilots from the sky . He sat in the pilot¡¯s seat, following the coordinates on the screen, and maneuvered the aircraft to collide with another aircraft. One of the pilots on the other aircraft reacted quickly and used the ejection seat to escape before the two planes crashed. But just as he was relieved to have saved his life, he saw a figure flying out from the flames, landing on the armrest of his seat. ¡°H-Help¡­ me¡­¡± The person in front of him had red hair and terrifying bloodshot eyes. ¡°Go to hell,¡± he muttered, parting his lips. The next second, he was ripped apart. Only one pilot remained, but Shen Siwei was already on the verge of collapsing. His mouth was filled with the taste of blood, and his tongue was numb from biting it. However, the dizziness was overwhelmingly strong. He needed a stimulant¡­ Klet¡­ You must still be alive, right¡­ Come and help me¡­ The wristband flickered with black light once again, and the falling body was suddenly pulled towards the remaining fighter jet. It seemed that Moran had indeed prepared thoroughly, Can¡¯t sleep¡­ I mustn¡¯t sleep¡­ There¡¯s something I still need to tell Klet¡­ ¡°negotiator!¡± Klet¡¯s voice sounded in his ears, and his eyelids, which had closed, opened once again. Shen Siwei looked down with bloodshot eyes, seeing Klet standing above the ruins, calling out his name. ¡°Klet¡­¡± Shen Siwei had no strength left to speak. He also knew that Klet couldn¡¯t help him because there was a great distance between them. Within a second, Shen Siwei was sucked into the aircraft, Shen Siwei held on until the limit, but in the end, he closed his eyes and fell asleep. CH 31 Shen Siwei dreamed of the rainy night twenty years ago. After parting ways with the little boy, he returned to the battle zone and found Leizhe. ¡°Captain, the target is dead, I repeat, the target is dead,¡± the radio crackled. Shen Siwei took Leizhe to hide in a residential building and seized the opportunity to report to Moran. ¡°What about the body?¡± Gunfire sounded intensively through the earpiece, indicating that Moran¡¯s situation was not good either. ¡°It fell into the river and was washed away,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°Are you sure the target is dead?¡± Moran asked. ¡°I shot and killed him myself.¡± Moran didn¡¯t reply immediately, seemingly considering whether or not to verify the information. But the voices of the team members urging retreat came through the earpiece, and he finally ordered the team to regroup. Shen Siwei and Leizhe prepared to leave the residential building, but as soon as they stepped out, they ran into a small squad of Night Eagles. The two were forced to the rooftop, and Shen Siwei asked Leizhe to jump to the opposite building. It was at this moment that a bomb fell at his feet. ¡°Bang!¡± Shen Siwei woke up abruptly, looking up at the familiar white ceiling. He gradually regained consciousness, and his relaxed nerves tensed up again. He subconsciously tried to sit up but found his hands restrained on the operating table. His face was not wearing an oxygen mask either.. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± Moran, dressed in black military uniform, stood beside the operating table, hands behind his back, calmly observing Shen Siwei. ¡°How did you sleep?¡± he asked, his tone carrying a hint of sarcasm. Shen Siwei coldly surveyed his surroundings and realized that he was back at the laboratory. Dr. Chen stood behind the control console, which should be the operational terminal for the control chip in Shen Siwei¡¯s brain. ¡°Don¡¯t get any funny ideas,¡± Moran apparently noticed Shen Siwei¡¯s gaze. ¡°You won¡¯t get far¡± Moran was right. Without the oxygen mask, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t even remove the metal ring clasping his wrist. He decided to relax his muscles and looked at Moran, asking, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of the bombing being exposed?¡± Moran stroked his chin and chuckled softly, ¡°Do you think this is my decision?¡± Shen Siwei understood what Moran meant and silently furrowed his brow. ¡°This order comes from above,¡± Moran pointed upward. The laboratory was located on the third level of the Life Tree, and by ¡°above,¡± naturally, he was referring to the Mag people. To prove his point, Moran opened a news webpage on a miniature computer. The screen displayed a city full of holes, with the iconic Creston Grand Hotel turned into ruins. News headline: Western District invaded by distorted monsters, military retaliates relentlessly. Below, there were images of desert wolf packs roaming the streets of Z City, but the article made no mention of the refugees fighting the desert wolves. The comments were filled with gratitude for the military driving away the monsters.. Shen Siwei was not surprised that the military would take credit for driving away the wolf pack, but what worried him was if the military had bombed the entire city He clearly remembered that when he was taken away, only the area at the junction of the city and the industrial zone was bombed. But now, according to the news, the entire city had turned into scorched earth. ¡°Blame it on Klet,¡± Morin said regretfully. ¡°If he had been killed in the bombing, I wouldn¡¯t have had to send so many fighter jets.¡± Shen Siwei furrowed his brows upon hearing this, and his heart sank. ¡°You seem very worried about him,¡± Moran noticed Shen Siwei¡¯s tension and smiled. ¡°I can tell you some good news: we didn¡¯t find his body.¡± That¡¯s good¡­ Klete must be fine¡­ Shen Siwei lowered his gaze, unable to help but recall various things from the past. This was the second time Moran hunted down Klet, and he was also the killer of Klet¡¯s mother. If there was a chance¡­ Shen Siwei secretly harbored murderous intentions, but he looked at his restrained wrists and helplessly pushed back the thought. ¡°But I¡¯m still curious, what made you choose klet¡¯s side?¡± Moran continued, ¡°Does Klet have a charming personality?¡± As a member of the military, Shen Siwei was willing to help Klet, which could be because of his ¡°charming personality.¡± But no matter how charming Klet was, that wasn¡¯t the case. In the end, it was because of Moran. If Moran killing Sara twenty years ago could be considered the trigger for his change in stance, then the military¡¯s bombing of civilians twenty years later had completely ignited that trigger. Of course, Shen Siwei wouldn¡¯t explain all this in detail to Moran. He simply said, ¡°Because you¡¯re disgusting.¡± Moran had a shocked expression. ¡°You¡¯re talking about love affairs.¡± ¡°To be honest, you¡¯re not my type,¡± Moran leaned closer, his hands resting on the edge of the operating table, observing Shen Siwei up close. ¡°All I see in your eyes is rebellion, and i hate rebellious and hard headed individuals¡± Shen Siwei turned his face in the opposite direction to avoid Moran¡¯s breath from reaching his face and making him nauseous. ¡°But,¡± Moran quickly straightened up and walked to the control panel, ¡°I enjoy playing dress-up games. It¡¯s my little hobby.¡± After saying that, he turned the knob on the control panel and asked Dr. Chen standing nearby, ¡°How about this hair color?¡± Dr. Chen pushed his glasses and agreed, ¡°Captain Shen¡¯s features are quite striking, so any color would suit him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Moran smiled, ¡°I like this toy.¡± Shen Siwei despised this feeling of being manipulated. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, suppressed the surging desire to kill, and coldly asked, ¡°So, what are you implying now? Are you going to keep me locked up as your toy forever?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to, but you¡¯re the military¡¯s property,¡± Moran said, ¡°and I also don¡¯t like the look in your eyes.¡± ¡ªThis meant that he had a way to make Shen Siwei¡¯s gaze disappear. So, was he going to erase his memories again? ¡°Actually, over the years, we have worked on many soldiers, and you are the only one who survived,¡± Moran continued, ¡°, you are still an incomplete product. Your memories haven¡¯t been completely erased, and your cardiopulmonary function hasn¡¯t been restored. If it weren¡¯t for the sudden situation in the Western District, I wouldn¡¯t have awakened you so early.¡± When his memories were restored, Shen Siwei had wondered whether Moran intentionally left him with such fragile cardiopulmonary function just to keep him under his control. But now it seemed that wasn¡¯t the case; it was simply that the military¡¯s transformation hadn¡¯t been successful. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll seek revenge in the future?¡± Shen Siwei asked coldly. The reason he used the term ¡°future¡± was because he had already realized that he had no way to resist Moran at the moment. ¡°You cannot fight against me,¡± Moran walked back to the operating table and pulled out a dagger from his body, ¡°Do you know how powerful your skin is?¡± Saying this, he cut Shen Siwei¡¯s arm with the dagger. The sharp tip of the blade carved deep grooves into Shen Siwei¡¯s skin, but the smooth skin remained undamaged. ¡°Do you know what this means?¡± Moran put away the dagger, his tone implying a teasing intent. For the time being, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t figure out the connection between his skin and seeking revenge against Moran, so he frowned and asked, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Let me give you another hint,¡± Moran leisurely said, ¡°There is a control chip installed in your brain that can manipulate the high molecular material inside your skin, thereby changing your skin color, hair color, and iris color. Of course, the most important function of this chip is to put you into a sleep state. If you make any dangerous moves, I can instantly make you lose consciousness.¡± Sure enough, Moran continued, ¡°Emphasizing the key point, the chip was installed before your skin modification was completed.¡± ¡°You mean,¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s expression turned solemn as he spoke, ¡°my skin cannot be cut open, so the chip can never be removed.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Moran said smiling, ¡°You¡¯re not too dumb i see.¡± Shen Siwei felt a sense of frustration. His eyes darkened. He would forever be under Morin¡¯s control, like a bird trapped in a cage unable to fly away. He still wanted to see Klet again, to have a conversation with him, but now it seemed impossible¡­ ¡°Dr. Chen,¡± Moran turned around and snapped his fingers at Dr. Chen behind the central control console, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that there has been progress in the technology in recent days? Can we erase his memories now?¡± ¡°Well, Captain,¡± Dr. Chen looked hesitant and signaled for a private conversation with Moran. But Moran didn¡¯t move, slightly impatiently saying, ¡°Just say it.¡± He didn¡¯t bother to avoid the fact that Shen Siwei could hear their conversation because eventually, Shen Siwei would fall into a deep sleep, and it wouldn¡¯t matter what he heard. ¡°With the current technology,¡± Dr. Chen said with difficulty, ¡°we still cannot completely erase memories.¡± Moran frowned, ¡°Then what progress did you say we made?¡± ¡°We have indeed made some progress, but it only makes it more difficult for him to recover forgotten memories,¡± Dr. Chen said, ¡°earlier, Captain Shen had already put a lot of effort and strain into resisting the control chip. If we rashly erase all his memories, it may cause permanent damage to his brain.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do,¡± Moran said, ¡°The higher-ups won¡¯t allow us to invest so much funding and time into creating an idiot.¡± ¡°I believe it¡¯s best to proceed gradually,¡± Dr. Chen pushed his glasses, ¡°Captain Shen is currently the only semi-finished product, and a slight oversight could undo all our previous efforts. Especially when it comes to memories and cardiopulmonary function, which are internal in the body and not like skin and muscle modifications that won¡¯t endanger his life.¡± Moran stroked his chin, ¡°What do you propose then?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s continue with cryopreservation for now,¡± Dr. Chen said, ¡°We have plenty of time.¡± Moran pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go with that.¡± Shen Siwei watched helplessly as Morin pressed the sleep button, unable to break free. That familiar drowsiness swept over him again, and the images became blurry. Before losing consciousness, there was only one name left in Shen Siwei¡¯s mind. Klet¡­ : CH 32 Five years later. At the border of the Western District Z City and the neighboring city. Neon lights flickered above the abandoned buildings, projecting three-dimensional advertisements. However, the content of the advertisements now featured firearms, banned drugs, and other things that would never have appeared before. Motorcycles rode through streets filled with rubble on both sides. The exterior wall of the destroyed five-star hotel only had the words ¡°Chris Tun¡± remaining. A small mouse ran across in front of the abandoned hotel but was unfortunate enough to be stepped on its tail by a sand fox with enormous ears, becoming a meal for the deformed sand fox. Malken slowed down the motorcycle, looked at the once iconic building, and sighed twice before continuing towards the destination, the bar. The bar was located near the former music square. There was no longer music or fountains there. It was surrounded by a high wire fence, and inside was an arena for underground boxing matches. Five years ago, when the government announced the abandonment of the reconstruction of the Western District Z City and designated Z City as an area outside the Tree of Life, the city became ¡°Underground City No. 2¡± and turned into a paradise for refugees. Despite occasional glitches in the defense system and frequent invasions of large deformed monsters, the entertainment venues like bars and strip clubs there were incomparable to the desolate underground city. two shirtless men were fighting, while outside, the excited refugees shouted loudly. Malken maneuvered through the crowded crowd and entered the dimly lit bar. ¡°Give me a Crazy Underground City,¡± he said as he sat at the bar. ¡°Hey, Malken,¡± the bearded man next to him raised his glass in greeting, ¡°Long time no see.¡± ¡°Long time no see,¡± Malken spun the high stool around and leaned against the bar, his elbow resting on the table as he looked at the swaying crowd, ¡°It¡¯s quite lively here.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± the bearded man took a sip of beer, ¡°The environment here is better than the underground city.¡± As the bearded man spoke, the music happened to end, and a drunk person suddenly jumped onto the stage, snatched the microphone, and asked, ¡°Is the alcohol good?¡± The people below raised their glasses in response, ¡°It¡¯s good!¡± ¡°Are you all happy?¡± ¡°We¡¯re happy!¡± ¡°We have what we have today because of who?¡± ¡°Klet! It¡¯s Klet who led us into the Tree of Life!¡± ¡°To Klet!¡± ¡°To Klet!¡± The bartender pushed over a glass of dark red drink. Malken shifted his gaze back and asked the bearded man next to him, ¡°Have you seen Klet recently?¡± The bearded man shook his head, ¡°He should be in the Deserted Underground City.¡± Malken checked his communicator and saw that there were no responses to the messages he sent. Ever since Klet left the Tree of Life five years ago and discovered that there was no person named Iwen in the military, let alone an Iwen from the Mag race, he had left the Tree of Life alone. Malken couldn¡¯t say for sure, but he felt that their leader had inexplicably become disheartened, as if he had lost passion for everything. At that moment, the communicator suddenly displayed an incoming call. Malken pressed the answer button, ¡°Leizhe.¡± ¡°Have you found the target?¡± Leizhe asked. After Klet left the Tree of Life, Malken had nowhere to go, so he joined the Nightingales and started working for Leizhe. Over the past five years, he had become the second-in-command of the Nightingales and had made a name for himself on the military¡¯s wanted list. ¡°Not yet,¡± Malken took a sip of the strong liquor, ¡°Tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll go to the underground city to look around.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Leizhe said, ¡°Stay safe.¡± Actually, there was no need for Leizhe¡¯s reminder. Malken also knew to stay safe. The desert not only had deformed monsters but also extremely dangerous sand traps. Traveling at night was too risky, so he chose to go during the day. However, since tonight was the last night in the city, it wouldn¡¯t be right not to enjoy it to the fullest. With this in mind, Malrken set down his empty glass and jumped into the bustling dance floor Back at the tree of Life, level three physical training room. ¡°Thump, thump, thump¡ª¡± Countless fist marks appeared on the sandbag-shaped iron block, completely destroying its original cylindrical shape. The man wearing a white short-sleeved shirt and black boxing shorts put all his strength into the final punch, causing the deflated iron block to detach from the ceiling and fly into a corner of the training room. The trainer was startled, but still managed to ask, , ¡°Captain Shen, do you still want to continue training?¡± Shen Siwei glanced at the back of his hand, which only had some redness around the joints but no broken skin. It seems that what Moran and Dr. Chen said was true¡ªhis skin was indeed immune to blades and bullets. ¡°No need to continue.¡± He picked up a towel and wiped the sweat from his forehead. The trainer handed him a water bottle and asked, ¡°Do you feel any discomfort?¡± Discomfort? Not really. Shen Siwei took off his small charcoal-colored oxygen mask, tilted his chin, drank water, and looked up at the ceiling with an empty gaze. If he had to point out something he was not accustomed to¡­ Ever since he woke up from cryogenic sleep, it seemed difficult for Shen Siwei to experience emotions. Even after learning about his extraordinary physical strength and his lover, Moran, he didn¡¯t have any thoughts or feelings about them. Just as he was thinking about his lover, the lift door of the training room opened, and Moran, wearing black military boots, walked in. ¡°How are you feeling? It¡¯s been two days since you woke up. Are you adjusting well?¡± Moran walked towards Shen Siwei while gesturing to the trainer with his eyes. The trainer took the water bottle from Shen Siwei¡¯s hand and left the training room on his own. ¡°Doing fine,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°Did you have a good dinner?¡± ¡°I just had some nutritional supplements, which are more convenient.¡± That day, Moran had prepared a delicious dinner for Shen Siwei, but he didn¡¯t touch it at all. After drinking the nutritional supplement, he went straight to the training room. Delicious food, beautiful scenery¡ªnone of it managed to pique Shen Siwei¡¯s interest. Since waking up yesterday, he had a feeling that his body was stronger but something deeper inside him remained frozen. ¡°You can try eating food,¡± Moran said, ¡°You¡¯ve been frozen for twenty-five years, so you¡¯ve probably forgotten the taste of food, right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to.¡± ¡°Then, would you like to come stargazing with me later?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s responses were extremely rigid, not because he had anything against Moran, but simply because he didn¡¯t know how to interact with him as his lover. In his memories, he had willingly participated in the body modification program, which had greatly saddened Moran. Perhaps¡­ as the so-called lover, should he accompany Moran to go stargazing? But Shen Siwei didn¡¯t want to go; he felt it was a waste of time. ¡°Shen,¡± Moran sighed helplessly, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so indifferent.¡± Shen Siwei simply said. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°Would you like to come to my place tonight?¡± Moran suddenly asked. Shen Siwei was puzzled, ¡°Go to your place?¡± ¡°You should know,¡± Moran placed his hand on Shen Siwei¡¯s shoulder and lightly massaged the back of his neck with his fingertips, ¡°there are many things lovers do that we need to catch up on.¡± His frozen expression was like a bug in the system, causing Moran to quickly say, ¡°Forget it, you should stay at the lab tonight.¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s gaze refocused, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come to the lab to pick you up tomorrow morning,¡± Moran continued, ¡°You¡¯ll come with me to meet General Miller on the top floor.¡± Everyone in the Tree of Life knew Miller; he was the highest leader and also the oldest person in the Tree of Life. The previous day, when Shen Siwei had just woken up, he faintly overheard a conversation between Moran and Dr. Chen¡ªhe was awakened because General Miller had a mission for him. At that time, Moran and Dr. Chen weren¡¯t talking to him directly, so he couldn¡¯t ask about it. But now that Moran brought it up, he could ask directly, ¡°Can you tell me what General Miller wants from me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a small task,¡± Moran said, ¡°Go to the lower level and find his son.¡± ¡°Find his son?¡± ¡°His youngest son went missing in Z city in the western district. You probably don¡¯t know, but that area was once invaded by distorted monsters and is now classified as an area outside the Tree of Life.¡± ¡°Outside the Tree of Life¡­¡± Shen Siwei frowned. ¡°That¡¯s right, so no one else can go.¡± Pausing for a moment, Moran added, ¡°Except for you.¡± If an ordinary civilian went missing outside the Tree of Life, there wouldn¡¯t be any police officers searching for them. Because the survival rate for humans outside the Tree of Life was less than fifty percent, even if Miller sent a task force, there would certainly be members sacrificing their lives in vain. But Shen Siwei was apparently more appropriate because he had the ability to protect himself and had a high probability of returning safely. ¡°However,¡± Moran suddenly changed the topic, ¡°even though this is a task assigned to you by General Miller, if you really can¡¯t find him, you don¡¯t have to force yourself.¡± Shen Siwei had a vague feeling that there was an underlying meaning in Moran¡¯s words and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t have to force myself?¡± ¡°His youngest son is a scholar. How much chance do you think he has of surviving outside the Tree of Life?¡± Moran said, ¡°So you can casually search outside the Tree of Life, and if there are no clues, just return directly.¡± Shen Siwei neither agreed nor disagreed. Although he also believed that a scholar couldn¡¯t survive outside the Tree of Life, he wasn¡¯t the type to treat a mission half-heartedly. ¡°Also,¡± Moran continued, ¡°instead of looking for his youngest son, since you¡¯re going outside the Tree of Life, you can also look out for this wanted criminal.¡± Shen Siwei asked, ¡°Which one?¡± Moran opened the palm-sized computer in her hand, projecting a page of a personnel file in the air. ¡°He is the main culprit in the abandoned area of Z City in the western district. Previous intelligence personnel have discovered that he can approach the deep-sea energy station., the military tried to go to the deep-sea multiple times and were repelled by deep-sea monsters. So he must have a special way of reaching the deep-sea and needs to be captured immediately and interrogated.¡± The photo in the file was a screenshot from a surveillance camera, showing a man looking up at the camera from below, emitting a fierce aura that seemed to show through the photo. It was strange; Shen Siwei was sure he didn¡¯t recognize this man, but he felt as if he had seen the photo before. ¡°According to current intelligence, this person has been hiding outside the Tree of Life,¡± Moran continued, ¡°General Miller certainly hopes you can find his youngest son, but to be honest, I think the hope is slim. I don¡¯t think you want to make a wasted trip either, so if there are any clues about this wanted criminal, you might as well take a look too.¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s gaze left the photo and moved to the ¡°Name¡± column. Seeing a name that seemed oddly familiar, he couldn¡¯t help but be slightly dazed and murmured softly, ¡°klet?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Moran quickly asked, his expression appearing somewhat nervous. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Shen Siwei shook his head with a calm expression. He couldn¡¯t describe it, but he felt¡­ His icy heart seemed to have skipped a beat suddenly. CH 33 The sun at seven or eight in the morning was still fine, but as Malken approached the underground city, the surroundings became increasingly hot like an oven. In the distance, there was a rumbling sound, probably a sand collapse. Sand collapses were like whirlpools formed in the sand sea, and once humans or monsters were caught in them, there was little chance of survival. Malken chose a route in a relatively safe area. Many refugees traveled back and forth between the underground city and Z City on this road without any accidents happening. Continuing under the scorching sun for half an hour, the underground city finally appeared ahead. The entrance to the underground city was hidden behind two huge rocks. Malken parked his motorcycle in a shady spot, and just as he turned around to enter the underground city, he suddenly noticed something off on the ground. there was a slowly moving object, larger in size than a motorcycle, with a shiny, thick tail behind it. Damn, could things get any worse? As Malken realized that the shadow was a distorted giant scorpion, the scorpion jumped down from the rock. He didn¡¯t have time to remove his weapon, so he could only roll to the side twice. However, the scorpion had twelve legs and moved incredibly fast. Just as he stabilized himself, he saw a large pincer coming straight down towards him. He had to roll to the side again, and at that moment, with a loud ¡°bang,¡± the large pincer above his head suddenly exploded. A tall figure holding a shotgun jumped down from another rock in front of him. ¡°Boss!¡± Seeing the familiar figure, Malken was so excited that he almost rushed over to hug Klet¡¯s thigh. Klet approached the scorpion while continuously firing his gun. After a while, the scorpion slinked over the rock and escaped. ¡°Have you been in the city for too long?¡± Klet put away his shotgun and glanced at Malken. ¡°Can¡¯t even handle a scorpion.¡± ¡°It caught me off guard!¡± Malken stood up and brushed the dirt off his pants. Although he was scorned by his boss as soon as they met, he still extended his fist to Klet with a smile and said, ¡°Long time no see, boss.¡± Kret bumped his fist against Malken¡¯s fist and then jumped into the underground city through the narrow entrance. ¡°Did you see the message I sent you?¡± Malken followed behind Klet, passing through the complex underground passages. The passages had sufficient lighting because solar power devices were installed on the surface. Apart from the scarcity of water resources, life in the underground city wasn¡¯t particularly bad. ¡°I saw it.¡± Klet opened a wooden door and entered a room about twenty square meters in size, or rather, a cave. The room had no floor tiles or proper walls; it was surrounded by sand. ¡°Will you help us?¡± Malken asked. ¡°No.¡± Lazily spitting out a word, Klet lay down on the sofa and turned on the TV. ¡°Boss¡­¡± Malken immediately put on a sad face. ¡°We really need you.¡± In recent years, the Nightingales had been targeted by the authorities, and they had also tried to reveal the truth about the bombing incident five years ago to the civilians, but people still preferred to believe the mainstream media and labeled them as conspiracy theorists. But just as Malken said that, he caught a glimpse of something on the TV screen from the corner of his eye. He thought it would be another SpongeBob SquarePants episode, but it turned out to be surveillance footage from Klet¡¯s old house. He saw a golden figure hurriedly taking off a bathrobe and putting on a black jumpsuit, rushing out of the room. If Malken remembered correctly, it was the afternoon of the bombing five years ago when the western district was invaded by distorted monsters. The negotiator was supposed to stay at Klet¡¯s house but ended up joining the fight in this outfit. The footage suddenly jumped back to the yellow sponge. Obviously, Klet forgot what he was watching before he turned on the television. The quick transition of the footage indicated that he didn¡¯t want Malken to see it. ¡°Hey.¡± Malken sighed, abandoning his casual tone. ¡°You still remember him.¡± Klet replied indifferently, ¡°Just nothing else to do.¡± ¡°Even if you have nothing else to do¡­¡± Malken said in a low tone, then suddenly raised his voice, pointing at the TV screen. ¡°How can you sneakily watch the negotiator changing clothes?¡± Klet grabbed a pillow and threw it at Malken¡¯s face. ¡°It just happened to play up to that point.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Malken took the opportunity to hold the pillow against his chest. ¡°When you were fighting the desert wolves together, I¡¯ve never seen anyone cooperate with you so seamlessly. You still care about him to some extent, right? Haven¡¯t you ever thought about going back to the Tree of Life to find him?¡± ¡°Not looking anymore.¡± Klet stared at the TV intently. ¡°If I can¡¯t find him, I can pretend he¡¯s not dead.¡± As Klet spoke, there was a subtle hint of weariness in his tone. Malken knew that the person Klet had been searching for for twenty years was already dead. Perhaps, as Klet said, if he hadn¡¯t learned about that person¡¯s death, he could still hold onto some hope. ¡°But you can¡¯t stay in the underground city forever.¡± Malken sighed again. ¡°Our grand mission is not yet complete.¡± ¡°Not interested.¡± Klet said. ¡°Even if it¡¯s completed, there¡¯s no one to share the joy.¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± Malken protested unhappily. ¡°You still have me, your dear Malken.¡± Klet replied, ¡°Get lost.¡± ¡°Tsk, I see now, you¡¯re someone who values romantic relationships over friendships.¡± Malken sat on the sofa, saying, ¡°Well, I won¡¯t leave.¡± Outside the huge glass room was an endless sea of clouds. The glaring sunlight was blocked by special glass, allowing only soft light to illuminate the room. At the head of the long table, which could accommodate about twenty people, sat an old man wearing a white robe. The old man had gray hair, but his skin was in good condition, without any sagging or signs of aging, only a few wrinkles. ¡°Captain Shen, thank you and your mother for the contributions to the Tree of Life.¡± The old man raised his champagne glass to Shen Siwei. Shen Siwei also raised his glass and replied, ¡°It¡¯s an honor.¡± The old man was Miller, the leader of the Marg tribe. Over a hundred years ago, Earth was facing an energy crisis, and Miller and the leaders from the political and business sectors decided to build the Tree of Life and create a suitable environment for human habitation. As the first residents of the Tree of Life, the people of that time did not fully enjoy the advanced medical technology, so to this day, only Miller is still alive. Shen Siwei¡¯s mother didn¡¯t live long either; she passed away in her seventies. She dedicated herself to designing the Tree of Life, remained unmarried throughout her life, and only conceived Shen Siwei through advanced embryo cultivation technology. After a brief toast, Miller signaled the servants to continue serving the dishes. Shen Siwei held his knife and fork, looking at the steak on the plate, and a thought suddenly came to his mind. So the Marg people don¡¯t eat nutrient supplements, huh? Wait a minute. Why did he think of ¡°that¡± just now? Was he curious about this before? Beef¡­ nutrient supplements¡­ A familiar d¨¦j¨¤ vu inexplicably arose, but at that moment, Miller¡¯s voice interrupted Shen Siwei¡¯s train of thought. ¡°Captain Shen, Amor is my favorite son, and I¡¯ll trouble you again this time.¡± ¡°General, please rest assured.¡± Moran took the initiative to continue the conversation. ¡°Captain Shen will do his best.¡± Miller gave some more instructions to Shen Siwei, showing his great concern for this matter. However, Moran¡¯s attitude was completely different from when he spoke to Shen Siwei yesterday. He didn¡¯t express any sense of ¡°dim hope,¡± but instead kept reassuring Miller that his youngest son would be fine. Shen Siwei quietly ate his steak, and another thought emerged in his mind. His lover seems to be a bit inconsistent. After the meal, Miller asked, ¡°Captain Shen, are you done eating?¡± Shen Siwei nodded and replied in an official manner, ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± In fact, the taste of the steak wasn¡¯t as good as the last time he had it. When was the last time he had steak? It should have been twenty-five years ago. But for some reason, Shen Siwei felt like it was just yesterday. Miller and Moran had other matters to discuss, so they let Shen Siwei wander around by himself. After the study door closed, Miller put away his amiable attitude and looked at Moran expressionlessly, asking, ¡°Are you sure he won¡¯t cause any trouble this time?¡± Without Miller explicitly stating it, Moran knew he was referring to the previous mission. The Power Station ¨C they only found out that the energy supply came from the deep sea, but after five years, the military still couldn¡¯t access the deep sea. Klet ¨C they were willing to destroy an entire city to kill him, but later the military realized that the deep-sea environment hadn¡¯t changed and they needed Klet to reveal the method of getting there. Not killing him turned out to be a good thing. Setting aside the Power Station and Klet, even Shen Siwei, the military¡¯s most advanced weapon, had problems. So, to summarize, the mission from five years ago was a complete failure. ¡°He definitely won¡¯t this time.¡± Moran lowered his head slightly and respectfully said, ¡°In recent years, Dr. Chen has made new progress in memory sealing for Shen Siwei. He won¡¯t remember anything from before. Yesterday, I deliberately mentioned Klet in front of him and even showed him Klet¡¯s photo, but he had no reaction. So you can rest assured, he¡¯s like a formatted weapon.¡± ¡°Additionally, we can now restore his cardiopulmonary functions with our technology, but just in case, we still keep that weakness, so there¡¯s no need to worry.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Miller¡¯s expression softened a bit. ¡°This time he will leave the Tree of Life to capture Klet, but the primary objective is still to find Amor.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± After parting ways with Moran, Shen Siwei walked through the long corridor and arrived at a standalone villa behind the main house. Calling it a villa was inappropriate; it was more like a library encompassing human civilization. Shen Siwei found a deluxe edition of ¡°Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind,¡± sat down on the leather sofa in the hall, and started reading. After a while, the sound of footsteps echoed in the spacious space. Following the sound, Shen Siwei saw a handsome man in a black suit walking in through the front door. The man was tall, with a head of blonde hair, and bore some resemblance to Miller. Shen Siwei had seen him in the news before; he was Miller¡¯s eldest son, Adolf, managing the largest business empire within the Tree of Life. ¡°Hello, Captain Shen.¡± Adolf sat down next to Shen Siwei, elegantly crossing his right leg over his left. ¡°I¡¯m Adolf.¡± ¡°Pleasure to meet you.¡± Shen Siwei closed the book in his hand. ¡°I heard you¡¯re going outside the Tree of Life to find my younger brother.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Adolf rested his elbow on the armrest of the sofa, supporting his chin, and said, ¡°I¡¯ve reminded Father that Amor probably doesn¡¯t want to come back, but he just won¡¯t listen.¡± Shen Siwei felt slightly puzzled. ¡°Amor doesn¡¯t want to come back?¡± ¡°Do you know what his profession is?¡± ¡°A university professor, sociologist.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Adolf said, ¡°He¡¯s always dealing with common people, and over time, he doesn¡¯t want to return to the top levels anymore.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Shen Siwei pondered. If Amor deliberately hid his whereabouts, that would at least indicate that he hadn¡¯t encountered any danger. ¡°Not only that, but he also believes that the society within the Tree of Life is a distorted society,¡± Adolf continued and suddenly asked, ¡°What do you think, Captain Shen?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± In Shen Siwei¡¯s memory, he had never encountered such an unfamiliar concept before and couldn¡¯t help but hesitate. He replied, ¡°I think the stability of the Tree of Life is most important.¡± ¡°Exactly. Only when the common people obey the rule of the Mag people can the stability of the Tree of Life be maintained,¡± Adolf said with a touch of emotion, ¡°My foolish younger brother.¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t know how to interpret that, so he chose not to respond. To prevent the conversation from becoming awkward, Adolf asked, ¡°Captain Shen, do you have any family members who give you headaches?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s gaze seemed to drift slightly. ¡°I don¡¯t have any family or friends.¡± In reality, he still remembered his mother and his teammates. But even if he thought about these sentimental matters, there would be no emotional fluctuations after being awakened from cryogenic sleep. ¡°I heard that your mother is one of the main designers of the Tree of Life,¡± Adolf said. ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Siwei replied, ¡°She was an engineer, primarily responsible for the design of the Power Station.¡± ¡°That¡¯s truly remarkable,¡± Adolf said, ¡°We should erect a bronze statue in her honor.¡± ¡°Um¡­ thank you.¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t know how to respond. He knew that Adolf¡¯s words were likely just pleasantries, but he shouldn¡¯t be struggling with social interactions at this level. ¡°What about your friends?¡± Adolf asked. ¡°You must have had teammates in the military.¡± ¡°I did.¡± The image of Lai Zhe appeared in his mind but quickly vanished. ¡°They¡¯re all dead.¡± ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate.¡± Shen Siwei still felt nothing. He finally realized something was wrong. His emotions seemed to have been frozen. ¡°Then you don¡¯t have anyone important to you anymore?¡± Adolf asked again. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t.¡± Shen Siwei said with uncertainty because deep down in his subconscious, he had a feeling that he had forgotten someone important. CH 34 After attaching four empty iron barrels to both sides of the off-road motorcycle, and then checking the remaining mileage of the battery,Klet, with his long legs, swung onto the off-road motorcycle, and immediately Malken occupied the seat behind him, which should have been empty. ¡°I want to go too.¡± Malken held onto the back of the motorcycle tightly, afraid that Klet would pull him down. ¡°You¡¯re wasting my battery.¡± Klet tilted his chin slightly and looked at Malken behind him. The heavier the weight, the higher the power, and naturally, the battery of the motorcycle will be consumed faster. ¡°Perhaps,¡± Malken shamelessly said, ¡°you can bring back fewer ice blocks.¡± The underground city lacked water resources and needed to transport ice from the northern ice fields. Four iron barrels are exactly one month¡¯s supply of water for Klet, and he didn¡¯t want Malken to disrupt his plans. Malken was aggressive, and had a determined look that he wouldn¡¯t give up unless Klet agreed. In the end, Klet couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue and started the off-road motorcycle. Although it was hot during the day, there were fewer distorted monsters. Klet swiftly rode along the safe route. After about three hours, ice chips gradually appeared in the soil, and the weather around them became noticeably colder ¨C the two had entered the ice fields. The cold wind whistled, making Malken shiver. He wrapped his leather jacket tightly around him and asked with chattering teeth, ¡°Boss, aren¡¯t you cold?¡± Like Malken, Klet was wearing only a UV-resistant jacket, which had no effect in keeping warm. ¡°Not .¡± He casually uttered these words and accelerated the motorcycle. A stronger gust of cold wind blew, causing Malken to curse. After another half an hour, the two arrived at a resting point. The resting point was a narrow wooden cabin built by a group of adventurers. Although the weather in the ice fields was extremely harsh, fortunately, there were no distorted monsters. Therefore, for those adventure enthusiasts, crossing the ice fields was the best way to explore. The resting point where Klet and Malken were located was on the edge of the ice fields, close to the western desert. After parking the off-road motorcycle, Klet took a shovel and spent more than ten minutes filling the empty iron barrels. On the other hand, Malken had already swiftly taken off his clothes and jumped into the hot spring next to the resting point. It¡¯s not surprising that there were hot springs beneath the ice fields. ¡°Boss, stop shoveling and come soak for a while!¡± No one comes to the ice fields without bathing in the hot springs. Klet put the four iron barrels back on the sides of the off-road motorcycle and then took off his clothes and stepped into the hot spring. ¡°Are you really not going to help?¡± Malken asked. ¡°Mm.¡± Klet rested his head against the edge of the pool and lazily closed his eyes. ¡°But Nightingale really needs you.¡± Malken persisted, ¡°Only you can accomplish this task.¡± Klet: ¡°Quiet.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t help, how can I explain to Laizhe?¡± Klet still couldn¡¯t be bothered to talk. ¡°He¡¯s a great guy, takes care of his brothers, and does everything himself without any airs.¡± Malken said to himself, ¡°You¡¯ll know once you get to know him, he¡¯s definitely worth helping.¡± Malken was usually talkative, but he rarely praised someone so generously. Klet finally lifted his head and raised an eyebrow as he looked at Malken. ¡°You like him?¡± Malken didn¡¯t deny it, ¡°Everyone in Nightingale admires him.¡± ¡°No,¡± Klet said straightforwardly, ¡°you know that¡¯s not what i mean.¡± Malken naturally understood the implied meaning in his words and immediately denied it, ¡°I don¡¯t have any ulterior motives. Don¡¯t tarnish our pure friendship!¡± Klet chuckled softly and stopped responding. For some reason, feeling guilty, Malken added, ¡°I also admire the Negotiator. If he hadn¡¯t informed us about the bombing in advance, who knows what would have happened.¡± The smile on Klet¡¯s lips visibly faded. Knowing that it shouldn¡¯t be mentioned, Malken awkwardly touched his nose and said, ¡°I hope he is doing okay¡­¡± When Shen Siwei arrived at the central station at the bottom of the Tree of Life on the vertical train, he noticed that many civilians had gathered in the hall of the station. Most of these civilians stretched their necks and looked outside the station. Shen Siwei followed their gaze and saw that there were many police officers maintaining order outside the spacious glass doors. ¡°Nightingale is causing trouble again. When will it ever end?¡± ¡°Without the Mag people, there would be no Tree of Life. How can they not be grateful?¡± In the few days since waking up, Shen Siwei caught up on the current situation of the Tree of Life. First, due to the sacrifice of many civilians five years ago in order to drive away the distorted monsters, the ¡°Declaration of Refusal to Reproduce¡± was temporarily suspended, and the government allowed newborns. Second, the new organization Nightingale, under the guise of peace, was no different from the terrorist organization Night Hawk. Listening to the idle chatter of the people beside him, they had gathered in the station hall this time because Nightingale was protesting outside the station and had clashed with the police. Ordinary civilians were afraid of being affected, so they hid inside the station, intending to wait until it was safe before going out. ¡°Always engaging in conspiracy theories, causing chaos for us.¡± ¡°I wonder how long this will go on.¡± As the two spoke, Shen Siwei stood very close to them. One of them, while speaking, suddenly noticed Shen Siwei eavesdropping and instinctively took a small step back in the opposite direction. The other person followed the first person¡¯s gaze and turned around. After seeing Shen Siwei, they also moved away and kept their distance from him. Shen Siwei acknowledged that he didn¡¯t have a fierce and menacing appearance, but he was well aware that he didn¡¯t quite fit in with the civilians gathered there. Chestnut-colored hair was not uncommon and gave a friendly impression, but the dark green eyes sent chills down people¡¯s spines ¡ª these evaluations came from his training partner. In addition to the pilot¡¯s jacket and professional equipment backpack, Shen Siwei clearly didn¡¯t look like an ordinary person. He walked through the crowd and exited the hall, only to find that the police had already restored order and he didn¡¯t see anyone resembling a Nightingale member. He had thought that if the police couldn¡¯t handle it, he wouldn¡¯t mind helping out, but now it seemed that he had no role to play there. Bringing up the map, Shen Siwei headed straight to the parking lot, where a specially prepared dual-purpose heavy-duty motorcycle was parked. In a small alley two hundred meters away. Laizhe pulled off his Nightingale mask with one hand and patted knock¡¯s head with the other. ¡°How many times have I told you, don¡¯t be impulsive, don¡¯t get into conflicts with the police! Today¡¯s goal was a peaceful protest!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not in a good mood today,¡± knock frowned and dodged to the side. ¡°Those police officers provoked me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still in a bad mood?¡±Who asked your brother to take on that mission?¡± ¡°Did I arrange it?¡± Laizhe was almost exasperated. ¡°It was Avis himself who wanted to go, what could I have done? You brothers are really a handful!¡± Five years had passed, and the once young boy knock had grown up and become a key member of Nightingale. But he was still too young, always doing things that gave Laizhe a headache. And unfortunately, the only person who could control him, Avis, wasn¡¯t around. Laizhe was stuck dealing with knock, and it was truly a headache. You should have stopped him,¡± knock muttered. Laizhe couldn¡¯t be bothered to talk anymore. He turned and walked away, unaware of a figure with chestnut hair riding a motorcycle passing by on the street. After leaving the bustling city area, Shen Siwei switched the motorcycle to flight mode and flew low towards the west. Amuor¡¯s locator signal finally disappeared at a self-service hotel in the Z District of the western city. If what Adolf said was true, he deliberately concealed his whereabouts and went to the western district, most likely to find identity smugglers to remove the locator from his body. But regardless, making a deal with criminals definitely carried risks. Shen Siwei increased his flying speed. Around noon, Shen Siwei crossed the defense barrier between Z City and the neighboring city, entering this abandoned city. Although he had seen the scenes of this place in the news, when his combat boots stepped on the gravel-covered street, Shen Siwei felt a surge of complex emotions. Regret? Sighs? He couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly, but he felt strangely familiar with the self-service hotel in front of him. During the daytime, there were no activities of refugees on the streets, and the abandoned self-service hotel was empty. The door of the hotel was almost blocked by gravel, and Shen Siwei squeezed through the narrow gap before entering the hotel lobby. The screen of the self-check-in machine had been smashed by a fallen ceiling, leaving only the frame standing intact. Shen Siwei casually glanced at the frame, not paying much attention at first. But for some reason, he inexplicably stopped in his tracks. He stared at the broken check-in machine, feeling as if someone had leaned against it before and casually talked to him. Who could it be? Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t recall. He shook off the thought and continued walking inside. The floor of the lobby was covered in thick dust, with countless messy footprints visible. Shen Siwei squatted down and observed the patterns of the footprints. Surprisingly, those footprints belonged to military boots. ¡ªHad an action team already been here? Moran hadn¡¯t mentioned it to Shen Siwei, but the appearance of military boots was not surprising. Perhaps someone had already come to find Amor but failed to locate him. The footprints continued along the corridor and led to the third floor, where they became more chaotic, and it was almost impossible to find a complete footprint. Bullet holes covered the walls of the corridor, confirming Shen Siwei¡¯s speculation that a task force had indeed been there, and something had happened that caused the members of the task force to panic. Following the chaotic footprints, Shen Siwei entered an open room and found packaging bags of nutrition supplements, used wet wipes, and other items. These items had little dust on them, indicating that someone had recently been there. Ordinary people rarely used such expensive wet wipes. It was evident that the person who had been there could only be Amor. But at that moment, Shen Siwei suddenly noticed something. All the footprints were heading in the same direction, indicating that after these people arrived at the hotel, they did not leave through the main entrance. He walked to the window and looked outside, seeing countless footprints on the windowsill. The window was covered in piled-up gravel, so jumping from the third floor wouldn¡¯t cause any harm. Shen Siwei pieced together the events that had occurred at that time. Amor had likely arranged to meet an identity trafficker and used illegal means to remove the location tracking from his identity chip. Meanwhile, members of the task force followed him, and he could only hastily escape through the window. The task force members tracked him to the third floor but unexpectedly encountered some kind of ambush, which forced them to evacuate through the window. Shen Siwei temporarily set aside the matter because he noticed a leather-covered journal that had been left behind near the bed. The journal was already half-written, and as Shen Siwei casually flipped through it, a map of the ice field fell out. The latest page read, ¡°Heading to the ice field tomorrow.¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t understand why a sociologist would go to the ice field. There was no society there. However, since the clue pointed in that direction, he had no choice but to go and investigate. At that moment, Shen Siwei suddenly heard a hissing sound. When he turned around, he finally understood the kind of ambush the task force had encountered. A deformed giant python appeared at the door, its head alone as wide as the door frame. Its sinister eyes stared straight at Shen Siwei, and the crimson forked tongue continuously released a dangerous breath. Shen Siwei didn¡¯t want to waste time there, but as soon as he moved his heel by a centimeter, the giant python pounced, spewing a large amount of sticky venom at him. The venom splattered onto the journal, instantly corroding the cover. Shen Siwei quickly slapped off the venom with his hand to prevent it from further damaging the contents inside. But as he was momentarily distracted, his whole body was entangled by the giant python, its massive snake head looming above, seemingly about to swallow him. However, Shen Siwei remained calm. He grabbed the snake¡¯s forked tongue and forcefully pulled it out. The giant python writhed in pain, rolling on the ground before finally leaving the room in a sorry state. Indeed, his enhanced body was quite useful. However¡­ his clothes and pants had quite a few holes burned by the venom. There was no water in the hotel room, so Shen Siwei could only briefly wipe his body with a dirty bedsheet and change into spare clothes. The outer wall defenses of Z City had already been in a state of disrepair, so it was no wonder that mutant monsters roamed the city. Other cities had speed limits for flying, but Shen Siwei didn¡¯t want to pass through the city. He chose to travel directly from Z City to the outskirts of the Tree of Life, activating the motorcycle¡¯s maximum power and speeding towards the northern ice field. After an unknown period of time, white mountains finally appeared ahead, reflecting the dazzling and scorching sunlight. Although they seemed just a few kilometers away, Shen Siwei had flown for a long, long time before finally approaching the edge of the ice field. Compared to the heat, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t tolerate the cold. Actually, his skin wouldn¡¯t freeze or burn, but he just really disliked the cold. The map showed a rest stop not far away, and Shen Siwei decided to go there and take a break. He had only cleaned off the slime with a dirty bedsheet earlier, and he still felt very uncomfortable. As he got closer, Shen Siwei discovered that there was actually a hot spring next to the rest stop, which was like a gift prepared just for him. Parking his motorcycle next to a small cabin, Shen Siwei took a quick look around. There was no one else in the cabin. He took off his shirt and used ice fragments to clean off the remaining slime on his body. Then, he undressed and stepped into the moderately warm hot spring. Since waking up, Shen Siwei had found it difficult to have any emotional fluctuations. However, he now clearly felt a sense of pleasure. The gentle hot water enveloped his body, soft like a mother¡¯s embrace. Shen Siwei closed his eyes and enjoyed the moment, but at that moment, a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu inexplicably appeared in his mind. ¡ª The last time he soaked in a hot spring, there seemed to be someone beside him. And he had this strange feeling that he had always enjoyed taking baths. Something wasn¡¯t right. Shen Siwei suddenly opened his eyes, his cold green gaze staring blankly at the vast ice field. The familiar sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu appeared time and time again, and it couldn¡¯t be explained by mere illusion anymore. Personnel files, beef and nutrition supplements, self-check-in hotels, hot springs¡­ These things seemed to exist in Shen Siwei¡¯s memory, yet they also felt like they existed in his dreams. He tried hard to grasp onto them, but it felt like his memories were like a kite with a broken string, drifting away to a place beyond his reach. Could there have been a problem during the transformation process? Or maybe he should ask Moran. Shen Siwei raised his right hand from the water, intending to activate the communicator, but at that moment, he suddenly heard faint footsteps behind him. Even if it was a cat walking, it would not be able to move silently on the ice shards. Moreover, Shen Siwei clearly sensed that there were two men approaching him from behind, and they weren¡¯t light in weight. The footsteps were getting closer and closer, and Shen Siwei quickly picked up the gun placed by the poolside. He swiftly turned around and aimed at the two men who were quietly approaching. The hot spring made a splashing sound as intense ripples spread, but once the ripples subsided, only the sound of someone sniffing snot remained. Shen Siwei frowned alertly, and indeed, the two men who approached him from behind were there. One of them had his hands tucked in his armpits, continuously sniffing snot, seemingly freezing cold. The other person was only wearing a thin coat and seemed to be completely unaffected by the cold, staring straight at Shen Siwei¡¯s face. In that instant, the character profile appeared in Shen Siwei¡¯s mind. klete, age unknown, height 1.95 meters, number one wanted criminal¡­ Seeing the real person now, Shen Siwei realized that the 1.95 meters of height seemed even more tall than in the picture. Wait a minute. Shen Siwei¡¯s gaze slightly flickered. Why did he always feel like he had this thought before? klete, standing by the pool, furrowed his brow and asked, ¡°negotiator?¡± Hearing that name, Shen Siwei¡¯s brain momentarily disconnected. He quickly snapped out of it and pointed the gun at klete, questioning with suspicion, ¡°Who is negotiator?¡± CH 35 Shen Siwei didn¡¯t expect that the two men in front of him would turn around and start talking as if he wasn¡¯t there. ¡°Did you mistake him for someone else?¡± Malken asked, rubbing his chin. ¡°It¡¯s impossible,¡± klete turned back and looked at the familiar figure, crossing his arms and pondering, ¡°Have you ever seen anyone else wearing a mask all the time?¡± ¡°Indeed, I haven¡¯t,¡± Malken nodded thoughtfully, ¡°But why doesn¡¯t he recognize us?¡± ¡°His hair and eye color are different from before.¡± Shen Siwei was naked in the hot spring, still holding the gun dryly in his hand. The conversation between the two men entered his ears clearly, and it was evident that they didn¡¯t take his threat seriously at all. He couldn¡¯t help but frown and remind them, ¡° I am still here¡± klete finally turned around, scrutinizing Shen Siwei and asked, ¡°If you¡¯re not negotiator, then who are you?¡± Shen Siwei naturally wouldn¡¯t reveal his real name to the number one wanted criminal, so he replied, ¡°First, tell me who this negotiator is.¡± ¡°he is our friend,¡± Malken interjected, ¡°and you look exactly like him.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯ve mistaken me,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°I am not him.¡± With that, the two men by the pool turned their backs again. ¡°I¡¯m sure he is the negotiator ,¡± Malken said seriously, ¡°even his voice is the same.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± klete pondered, ¡°Could he be a clone?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not impossible.¡± Being discussed right in front of him, it was the first time Shen Siwei had experienced such a thing. The string called emotions was being plucked back and forth, and the veins on his forehead began to throb uncontrollably. Shen Siwei suddenly realized that it wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t have emotional fluctuations, but rather he hadn¡¯t encountered the ¡°right¡± person or situation. Clearly, those two individuals were quite skilled at testing his patience. ¡°I can hear you,¡± he said coldly. The two men turned back again, and Malken asked, ¡°Are you a clone?¡± Shen Siwei patiently replied, ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± klet lowered his voice and said to Malken, ¡°Clones wouldn¡¯t know that they are clones.¡± ¡°Makes sense,¡± Malken nodded, ¡°So what¡¯s the deal with him then?¡± Unable to bear it any longer, Shen Siwei said, ¡°I¡¯ve already told you I¡¯m not a clone.¡± Clones wouldn¡¯t have memories of growth, but Shen Siwei¡¯s memories from childhood to adulthood were very clear. He remembered being born on the third floor, attending military school on the second floor, and most of his time after joining the military was spent on the ground floor carrying out missions. Only memories from twenty-five years ago were somewhat vague, he only remembered the military issuing recruitment information, he volunteered to participate in the transformation project, and the next thing he knew, he woke up in the present. The two individuals by the hot spring turned their backs again. ¡°Then he must be a bio-human, definitely a bio-human,¡± Malken asserted, ¡°Maybe if we peel off his skin, there¡¯s a machine inside.¡± ¡°If he¡¯s a machine, would he be able to soak in a hot spring?¡± klet furrowed his brow slightly. ¡°Oh, right,¡± Malken touched the back of his neck, ¡°Then what exactly is he?¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s patience had been pushed to its limit. He fired a shot into the air, grabbing their attention. ¡°Are you two done?¡± The two turned around for the third time. Malken symbolically covered his mouth with his hand, lowered his voice, and said to Klet, ¡°He seems to be getting angry.¡± Klet casually glanced at Malken. ¡°He used to be irritable before too.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Malken expressed doubt, ¡°If you mean the time when he kicked your leg after killing the desert wolf, it was your fault for pulling his clothes. I think he kicked you well.¡± ¡°And there are other times too,¡± Klet wasn¡¯t bothered, calmly saying, ¡°When he pretended to be gentle, he might have killed me countless times in his mind.¡± ¡°Tsk tsk, you still have the nerve.¡± Shen Siwei realized that these two would never stop discussing unless they figured something out. He didn¡¯t want to waste time there, so he pointed the gun at Klet and said, ¡°You, toss me the clothes.¡± When he entered the hot spring earlier, Shen Siwei had placed his clothes behind him. However, when Klet and Malken approached from behind, he moved to the other side, so his clothes were now under Klet¡¯s feet. Klet squatted down and picked out a piece of black cloth and work pants, then looked at Shen Siwei. ¡°You didn¡¯t wear black underwear before.¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°?¡± ¡°The negotiator didn¡¯t wear underwear before?¡± Malken exclaimed in surprise. ¡°He only wore white underwear.¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± Klet didn¡¯t throw the clothes to Shen Siwei but stood up and said, ¡°Come here and put them on.¡± After speaking, he gestured to Malken with his eyes, and the two of them walked three meters away, turning their backs again. Malken glanced back and asked, ¡°Boss, what do you think?¡± However, this time Klet didn¡¯t answer directly. He slapped Malken on the back of his head and said, ¡°No peeking.¡± After speaking, he turned his head to take a look himself. ¡°Tsk.¡± Malken protested as he held the back of his head, ¡°We¡¯re all men. Why can¡¯t we look ?¡± Klet¡¯s gaze turned serious, and Malken immediately fell silent. Shen Siwei quickly put on his clothes, holstered his gun, and looked at the backs of the two men. ¡°What were you talking about, the negotiator?¡± ¡°That¡¯s you,¡± Malken was the first to turn around and continue, ¡°You represented the military to negotiate with us.¡± Shen Siwei was initially certain that these two had mistaken him for someone else. But after listening to their murmurs for a while, he began to feel something was up. Could there really be someone who looks exactly like him? Even if such a coincidence were true, mentioning the ¡°military¡± made this coincidence even more bizarre. ¡°I don¡¯t know you,¡± Shen Siwei said expressionlessly. In any case, the person in front of him is the number one wanted criminal. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to remain vigilant. ¡°Not a clone, not a bio-engineered human,¡± Malken scratched the back of his head and asked Klet next to him, ¡°Could he really just look like him?¡± ¡°No,¡± Klet stared straight at Shen Siwei, ¡°It¡¯s him, I can¡¯t be mistaken.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Malken frowned, ¡°I can only think of one possibility.¡± Klet withdrew his gaze and looked at Malken, saying, ¡°He has amnesia.¡± The image of the severed kite string flashed in Shen Siwei¡¯s mind. He looked blankly at the icy ground, feeling that something was not quite right. He then took big strides and approached Klet, grabbing his wrist with his left hand and handcuffing his other wrist with his right hand. ¡°Klet, you¡¯re under arrest.¡± The relaxed atmosphere suddenly became tense. Malken quickly jumped aside upon seeing the situation. ¡°Boss! I think the person above erased the negotiator¡¯s memories and let him get close to you just to make you lower your guard! Otherwise, why would he do this?¡± Klet lowered his head and looked at his handcuffed wrists, showing no reaction. ¡°Boss,¡± Malken anxiously said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to resist?¡± The black handcuffs easily restrained Klet¡¯s wrists. He looked down at the ¡°little dwarf¡± in front of him and said calmly, ¡°Let it be.¡± Malken: ¡°?¡± ¡°Oh, right,¡± Klet raised his gaze and looked at Malken on the other side, ¡°You take the motorcycle back.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Malken had a big question mark above his head, ¡°Then how will you go back?¡± Klet raised his chin slightly, ¡°I¡¯ll go with him.¡± ¡°What?¡± Malken grabbed his hair in frustration, ¡± then what about me?¡± Klet said indifferently, ¡°I need to deal with this important matter¡± ¡°Im¡­port¡­ant¡­ matter.¡± Malken took a deep breath, only to be immediately chilled by the freezing air. He weakly extended his right hand towards Shen Siwei and said, ¡°Let me borrow your oxygen mask.¡± Shen Siwei raised an eyebrow in suspicion, ¡°How do you know it¡¯s an oxygen mask?¡± ¡°I told you,¡± Klet said in a low voice, ¡°We know each other.¡± ¡°Forget it, do as you please.¡± Malken sighed in a mix of sadness and anger, shook his hand, and went behind a small snow mound to retrieve an off-road motorcycle. He yelled at Klet from a distance, ¡°Don¡¯t say you¡¯re my boss when we go out in the future!¡± With that, Malken left on the motorcycle, leaving behind a desolate figure. In fact, when Klet and Malken were whispering to each other, Shen Siwei had already taken the opportunity to use his mini-computer to investigate Malken¡¯s identity. The best mechanic, nicknamed ¡°Magic Hands,¡± the number two figure of the Nightingale. Yet he called Klet his boss. Before setting off, Shen Siwei did his homework and knew that the military had never figured out the identity of the Nightingale leader. So could it be that Klet was the mysterious Nightingale leader? However, based on the information the military currently possesses, the Nightingale leader¡¯s height seems to be below 1.9 meters. Malken was also a wanted criminal, but Shen Siwei let him go because he couldn¡¯t bring two people along to search for Amor, and because a wanted criminal is only a wanted criminal inside the Life Tree. Outside the Life Tree, they are just refugees. However, Klet was an exception. He was the person Moran specifically wanted to bring back. Shen Siwei took out his communicator and was about to press the dial button when Klet interrupted his action. ¡°I advise you not to report to your superiors.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°When you were taken away last time, you cursed your superiors.¡± ¡°How many times do I have to say it,¡± Shen Siwei furrowed his brow, ¡°I¡¯m not the person you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°You are,¡± Klet said, ¡°I can¡¯t be mistaken.¡± Shen Siwei felt puzzled, ¡°Where does your confidence come from?¡± ¡°There,¡± Klet glanced at Shen Siwei¡¯s curled-up legs, ¡°the shape of your legs, the muscle lines.¡± He paused and continued, ¡°And no leg hair.¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± CH 36 Truthfully speaking, Shen Siwei¡¯s skin was not synthetic skin, but his own skin. He had asked Dr. Chen about the modification process, and it was said that in the early stages of the experiment, in order to shape perfect muscles, his skin had been completely removed. Dr. Chen used his skin cells and combined them with a new type of polymer material to cultivate a highly resilient modified version of cells. The modified cells were reintegrated into his body without any rejection reaction. Therefore, after a period of growth, Shen Siwei acquired his invulnerable new skin. The new skin was indistinguishable from that of an ordinary person in terms of appearance and touch, except for the scalp and eyebrows, there were no other large hair follicles on his body. As a result, Shen Siwei¡¯s chin, armpits, and certain areas no longer grew hair. Shen Siwei asked, ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been to the hot springs together,¡± Klet said, ¡°and you often undressed in front of me.¡± Klet¡¯s attitude was calm, unlike someone telling lies. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel a little confused. Could it be true that the sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu he felt in the hot springs was really related to Klet? Seeing Shen Siwei¡¯s lack of reaction, Klet continued, ¡°Don¡¯t you believe me? See for yourself.¡± After saying that, he opened his right palm, activating a miniature computer and projecting surveillance footage in mid-air. In the footage, there was a blond figure wearing a bathrobe. He was pacing back and forth in the room, as if making some important decision. Soon after, he suddenly took off his bathrobe, revealing his naked body. Klet pressed the pause button and asked, ¡± see?¡± Shen Siwei stared blankly at the person in the footage, with familiar features and a familiar body, truly identical to himself. It felt really strange. Although Shen Siwei was certain that the person in the footage was not him, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of embarrassment when looking at his naked doppelg?nger. ¡°How dare you peep at someone changing clothes?¡± he furrowed his brow and asked. ¡°That¡¯s not someone else, it¡¯s you.¡± ¡°So, if it¡¯s me, you can openly peep?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Klet said, ¡°it¡¯s surveillance from my home.¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t keep up with the conversation, ¡°So how could I be in your home?¡± ¡°You came on a mission five years ago. Don¡¯t you remember?¡± Klet¡¯s rough voice had a patience that didn¡¯t match, ¡°If you have time, I can tell you slowly.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have time,¡± Shen Siwei said. Klet was the military¡¯s most wanted criminal, and Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t fully trust him in less than half an hour of meeting him. Moreover, Shen Siwei still had the task of finding Amor, and he didn¡¯t have time to waste with Klet. He opened the electronic map and looked at the location indicated in Amor¡¯s diary. It was deep in the ice fields and couldn¡¯t be reached before dark tonight. ¡°Are you going to the Ice Dome?¡± Klet tilted his head and looked at the electronic map in Shen Siwei¡¯s hand. Shen Siwei naturally wouldn¡¯t answer and put away the map, entering the small cabin. The space in the small cabin was cramped. After placing a stove, a square table, a bench, and a small bed, there was hardly any room to move around. But this small cabin was the only resting point within several hundred kilometers, and Shen Siwei had make do for one night. He sat down on the bench and took out Amor¡¯s diary from his backpack. Seeing that Shen Siwei didn¡¯t show any interest in chatting, Klet also stopped talking and sat on the single bed, watching cartoons. He¡¯s really a strange person, Shen Siwei thought. But what¡¯s even stranger is how he feels like he has also recently watched cartoons? Shaking his head, Shen Siwei focused his attention and began reading Amor¡¯s diary. January 1st, 23XX Last night was New Year¡¯s Eve. I spent a long time with my father, but the atmosphere wasn¡¯t of joy. Adolf believes that there is a great demand for reproduction within the Life Tree, but many civilians have not yet broken through the limitations of medicine. Therefore, they want to engage in the business of artificial embryos. But my father strongly disagrees with expanding the lower-class population, as it would threaten our rule. Rita is siding with Adolf. She also wants to have her own child. Although she doesn¡¯t explicitly say it, I think she¡¯s afraid that after my father¡¯s death, as a childless widow, she won¡¯t be able to compete with Adolf for the family¡¯s inheritance. My father still hasn¡¯t agreed because once the Mag people set this precedent, the civilians will also demand reproductive rights, and the civilian population is much larger than the Mag people. My father also asked me for my opinion on this matter, but I have nothing much to say. The mainstream values of the Life Tree are about enjoying immediate benefits. No one considers the future of humanity, nor the future of the Earth. When the Life Tree¡¯s lifespan is reduced, humanity will also face its doomsday. Humanity¡­ will ultimately perish. It was rare to see people writing in a diary by hand. Amor¡¯s handwriting was elegant and gentle, but the words he wrote were very pessimistic. Shen Siwei continued reading the content, and almost all of it was Amor expressing his despair towards the social system. It was clear that he wanted to bring about change but felt powerless. When students asked him how he viewed the temporary suspension of the Declaration, as the son of a Mag leader, he could only answer according to the mainstream values. But in his diary, he would write down his true thoughts. Unconsciously, the sky outside the cabin grew darker, and the wind howled, with ice pellets relentlessly hitting the glass window. Shen Siwei took out a nutrient supplement from his backpack, intending to continue reading, and at that moment, Klet suddenly asked, ¡°Is there one for me?¡± Shen Siwei glanced at Klet then at the nutrient supplement, and finally his gaze fell on the diary. ¡°There isn¡¯t one for you.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Klet said indifferently, ¡°You sneaked into my house and ate my beef, and now you won¡¯t even give me a nutrient supplement.¡± Shen Siwei frowned, ¡°I never sneaked in and ate anything¡­¡± As Shen Siwei was halfway through his sentence, he stopped. He stared absentmindedly at the nutrient supplement in his hand, his thoughts inexplicably stuck. Klet came and sat next to Shen Siwei, snapping his fingers in front of him. Shen Siwei was finally snapped out of his thoughts, but Klet said, ¡°You really seem to have become stupid.¡± Veins popped up on Shen Siwei¡¯s forehead, and he asked with patience, ¡°Do you want to get beaten?¡± Klet seemed unfazed. ¡°You wanted to kill me before.¡± That was after the two of them soaked in the hot springs, and Klet took away Shen Siwei¡¯s oxygen mask and even spanked him. Shen Siwei was so angry at the time that he said he would kill Klet. Thinking of that, Klet looked at Shen Siwei¡¯s more sophisticated oxygen mask on his face and asked, ¡°With such poor cardiorespiratory function, have you ever thought about treating it properly?¡± ¡°How do you know?¡± Shen Siwei asked with a slight frown. Even though Shen Siwei was reluctant to believe him, Klet mentioning such private matters made it somewhat difficult to argue. ¡°I told you,¡± Klet repeated that sentence, seemingly suppressing his impatience, ¡°We know each other.¡± Shen Siwei temporarily set aside his suspicions and asked, ¡°You said I wanted to kill you before, so why did I change my mind?¡± ¡°Because your superiors ordered the bombing of City Z civilians.¡± ¡°That was because there were distorted monsters invading, and the military had no choice but to sacrifice those civilians.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that,¡± Klet said, ¡°The distorted monsters were already driven away by you and me. The military wanted to bomb the civilians.¡± ¡°You¡¯re indeed one of the Nightingales,¡± Shen Siwei raised his guard again, ¡°What you¡¯re saying is exactly the same as those conspiracy theories online. Do you think spreading these will make others believe?¡± ¡°Tsk,¡± Klet raised his hands to his temples, looking rather complicatedly at Shen Siwei. Shen Siwei leaned slightly to the side, watching Klet warily. ¡°What¡¯s that expression on your face?¡± Klet sighed. ¡°You really have gone stupid.¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± Before Shen Siwei could erupt, Krete pointed with his chin to the notebook on the table and asked, ¡°Do you have another different mission this time?¡± Shen Siwei coldly put the notebook back into his backpack. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°But you have to bring me with you at all times,¡± Klet said. No matter what Shen Siwei did next, he had to keep an eye on Klet to prevent him from escaping. It was like carrying a burden everywhere he went. To avoid further pointless conversation, Shen Siwei simply said, ¡°I¡¯m looking for someone.¡± He drank the nutrient supplement in his hand, checked the time, and then unlocked the handcuffs on Klet¡¯s left hand and put them on his own left hand. ¡°Rest for tonight, we¡¯ll leave early tomorrow.¡± Although Klet didn¡¯t look like someone who would run away, Shen Siwei still couldn¡¯t fully trust him. If he rode away on Shen Siwei¡¯s motorcycle in the middle of the night, it would be troublesome. So the best solution was to handcuff him to himself directly. Shen Siwei led Klet to the side of the bed, raised his chin, and said, ¡°You sleep that side.¡± ¡°I sleep on this side,¡± Klet stood still, ¡°Are you sure you can still fit?¡± The small bed was only 1.2 meters wide, enough for Klet to lie down alone. If he lay sideways against the wall, he could barely squeeze in two people, but if he turned over, Shen Siwei would be pushed off. Shen Siwei asked, ¡°Where else do you want to sleep?¡± Klet certainly wouldn¡¯t sleep on the floor. He hooked his cuffed hand around Shen Siwei¡¯s waist and said, ¡°let¡¯s sleep then.¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t expect Klet to suddenly make a move. He had tensed up his entire body, ready to deal with any sudden situation, but Klet just pressed him onto the bed and didn¡¯t move. With his strong arms across his waist, his broad chest pressed against his back, Shen Siwei was confined in the space between the wall and Krete¡¯s body. The warmth of his body temperature came through the clothes. The position felt odd no matter how he looked at it. Shen Siwei struggled a bit, turned his chin to the side, and looked at the Klet behind him, asking, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Klet held Shen Siwei¡¯s waist tightly, closed his eyes, and lazily said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll run away.¡± Shen Siwei was completely baffled. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the fugitive?¡± . CH 37 After some time passed, the strong wind outside the house subsided. A thin layer of ice formed on the glass windows, filtering the moonlight that shone into the room. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t fall asleep. He closed his eyes to rest, listening to the rhythmic breathing behind him. He knew that Klet was also awake, so he couldn¡¯t let his guard down. The small cabin was incredibly quiet, like the sea after a storm. However, at that moment, Shen Siwei felt Klet¡¯s left hand suddenly move. Shen Siwei maintained a steady breath without making any movement, wanting to see what Klet was up to. In the next second, his hair at the back of his head was grabbed. Once, twice, thrice. Although Shen Siwei didn¡¯t feel any pain, what kind of childish behavior was this? Staying up in the middle of the night to pull his hair? Impatiently, he turned his chin to the side and asked, ¡°Are you done?¡± Caught in the act, Klet showed no remorse and instead asked, ¡°Is this your original hair color?¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t answer. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°I know your eyes can change color,¡± Klet said. ¡°Your eyes turn red when you kill.¡± Shen Siwei was unaware of this point, but Klet was right. His hair color, eye color, and skin color could all change. There were too many suspicious points. If Klet wasn¡¯t a researcher from Dr. Chen¡¯s laboratory, then¡­ They might have actually known each other before. ¡°After you were taken away, I analyzed what happened during those days,¡± Klet calmly began speaking, his voice sounding lazy and seductive. ¡°I once saw a suspicious figure with black hair and black eyes that resembled you. Since your eyes can change color, your hair should be able to as well.¡± Shen Siwei listened silently, trying hard to search his memory for fragments but couldn¡¯t match anything. ¡°I told you that you resemble a friend of mine. Both of you were here to carry out a mission, but in the end, you betrayed us.¡± All those things Klet spoke of were completely surprising to Shen Siwei. He believed Klet knew that he wouldn¡¯t have any reaction upon hearing this, but Klet continued speaking, stubbornly, talking to himself. Shen Siwei didn¡¯t feel that Klet had a lot to say; it was more like he had been holding back for a very long time and finally found the opportunity to speak. But that wasn¡¯t Shen Siwei¡¯s focus. He asked, ¡°Who is your friend?¡± He was more concerned about which traitor emerged from their team. ¡°He¡¯s already dead,¡± Klet said slowly, his voice sounding somewhat heavy. The feeling of sadness seemed to emanate from behind, and Shen Siwei inexplicably felt a bit choked up. He stared at the wooden wall and said stiffly, ¡°Go to sleep.¡± Soon, there was no more movement from behind, and the rhythm of breathing gradually became steady. Just when Shen Siwei thought Klet had already fallen asleep, the low voice sounded behind him again, ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± His temples throbbed, and Shen Siwei replied irritably, ¡°The rations are in the backpack. Get them yourself!¡± According to the markings on the map by Amor, their destination was in the deepest part of the ice field. It would take them almost half a day to get there from the rest stop where Shen Siwei was. The dual-purpose motorcycle could have been put into flight mode, significantly shortening the travel time. However, if he brought Klet along, the battery was likely not enough to take both of them back. ¡°Are we heading to the Ice Dome?¡± Klet sat obediently at the backseat of the motorcycle and asked. Shen Siwei didn¡¯t answer, focusing on studying the electronic map in his hands. He was currently facing a dilemma: using flight mode might result in running out of power halfway; using land mode might encounter even greater dangers. At first glance, the snow-covered road seemed perfectly flat, but in reality, it could be an illusion. Once the vehicle drove over it, it could fall into massive cracks or swift rivers. Even experienced adventurers who were familiar with the ice field could make mistakes because the undercurrents beneath the ice and snow could change their positions. Shen Siwei was clearly not an experienced explorer. He could only eliminate some shallow dangers based on satellite scan images. Using flight mode would undoubtedly be the easiest option, but it would consume power very quickly, and it would be even more dangerous if they were trapped on the ice field. Lifting his gaze from the map, Shen Siwei looked ahead and saw two distinct tracks on the thick snow. They were the traces left by previous explorers. It was an unspoken rule among ice field explorers that everyone must follow the tracks left by those before them. It not only helped avoid dangers but also deepened the imprints, guiding the way for future explorers. Looking into the distance, the tracks extended as far as the eye could see, indicating a clear path to Shen Siwei. Feeling relieved for the time being, he put away the electronic map and said to Klet on the backseat, ¡°Hold on tight.¡± Klet¡¯s hands were handcuffed behind his back, so he could only grab onto the motorcycle¡¯s tail. The engine roared, and the two of them began moving toward the depths of the ice field. The strong wind whistled past their ears, cutting across their faces like ice blades. Shen Siwei initially thought Klet would freeze, but when he looked in the rearview mirror, he found that the man was leisurely enjoying the wind, as if on a leisure trip. He truly was an odd person. Shen Siwei withdrew his gaze and stopped paying attention to Klet, focusing on driving along the tracks. After traveling for over an hour, a dim wall of snow and ice suddenly appeared in front of them. The sunlight was blocked behind the wall, and a cold and gloomy aura rushed toward them. The temperature had noticeably dropped by several degrees. ¡°It¡¯s a snowstorm.¡± Klet¡¯s voice came from behind. ¡± stop.¡± Shen Siwei stopped and glanced at the electronic map. Without any warning, a low-pressure warning symbol appeared in the previously clear area on the map, and the blue symbol was growing larger. He immediately stopped the motorcycle and turned it sideways, facing the direction from which the snowstorm was approaching. He then pulled Klet and the two of them took cover behind the vehicle. The symbol on the electronic map was moving rapidly. In less than ten seconds, the storm engulfed them, and the dim surroundings felt like the end of the world. Ice shards and pebbles struck the motorcycle, making a crackling sound. Shen Siwei held onto his oxygen mask and quickly took off his jacket, placing it over Klet¡¯s head. However, Klet didn¡¯t seem as miserable as Shen Siwei had imagined. He moved his neck slightly, sticking his head out from under the jacket, and looked at Shen Siwei with a somewhat surprised expression. He probably didn¡¯t expect Shen Siwei to take off his jacket for him. ¡°I didn¡¯t want you to die,¡± Shen Siwei frowned, raising his voice amidst the howling wind. ¡°I can¡¯t explain myself if something happens to you.¡± Klet smiled lightly, as if saying, ¡°I thought so.¡± The wind grew stronger, making it almost impossible to keep their eyes open. The dual-purpose motorcycle had flight engines, making it quite heavy, but the wind kept pushing it backward. Inattentive for a moment, Shen Siwei¡¯s feet slipped, and he slid forward a little with the motorcycle. At that moment, Klet suddenly leaned over and used his shoulder to support the weight of the motorcycle. Shen Siwei lifted his chin and looked at Klet, who was within arm¡¯s reach. He heard Klet whisper, ¡°No need to thank me.¡± The voice was quickly drowned out by the howling wind, as if nothing had happened. The two of them clung to each other, jointly resisting the sudden snowstorm. The swirling snow and wind formed a cocoon around them, enveloping them within. Their bodies didn¡¯t seem to feel the cold, as the person beside them was as hot as a fireball, melting away the snow and ice that had touched them. Perhaps only a few minutes had passed, or maybe it had been hours, but the snowstorm finally stopped. The two of them, along with the motorcycle, were almost buried in ice and snow, with only the upper part of their chests exposed to the air. Shen Siwei stood up, patting the ice shards off his hair and putting on his pilot jacket again. It was then that he noticed a several-centimeter-long scratch on Krete¡¯s neck, most likely caused by flying debris in the storm. ¡°Are you alright?¡± he asked. -He wasn¡¯t concerned about whether Klet was in pain or not. He just didn¡¯t want Klet to be injured and slow down their progress. Klet twisted his neck and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± After saying that, he looked at Shen Siwei¡¯s unscathed skin and asked, ¡°Are you immune to getting hurt?¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t answer and straddled the motorcycle. ¡°Get on.¡± ¡°No wonder your clothes were torn when we fought the Desert Wolves, but you weren¡¯t injured.¡± Klet was saying things that Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t understand again. The motorcycle started once again, moving slowly on the soft ice and snow. However, this time, Shen Siwei¡¯s driving speed became extremely slow for one simple reason: The area was a highly dangerous road for all explorers. Normally, an experienced guide would be part of an exploration team. The guide would use satellite information and their own knowledge of the ice field to find a new path. But Shen Siwei didn¡¯t have that ability. He could only concentrate and grope his way forward. ¡°Have you been to the ice field before?¡± Klet suddenly asked from behind. ¡°No,¡± Shen Siwei replied, looking ahead at the road. ¡°Then you¡¯re driving so confidently,¡± Klet commented. Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± What other choice did they have? Should they just stay in one place and grow roots? He continued to drive with his nerves taut, always keeping the speed below 20 mph. Fortunately, their bad luck hadn¡¯t struck today, and they had been moving forward for over half an hour without encountering any dangerous situations. However, after crossing a small snow dune, a vast expanse of ice appeared ahead. The electronic map displayed a cautious driving prompt, causing Shen Siwei¡¯s nerves to become even more tense. And at that moment, two hands suddenly reached out from behind and gripped the motorcycle¡¯s handles. ¡°The area ahead is full of crevices,¡± Klet, who was much taller than Shen Siwei, said with his voice above Shen Siwei¡¯s ears, ¡°Let me drive.¡± ¡°No,¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t immediately react, turning his head to look at Klet in astonishment, ¡°What about your handcuffs?¡± Klet looked ahead, seemingly unconcerned, and casually replied, ¡°I threw them away.¡± CH 38 A burst of anger surged up in Shen Siwei¡¯s throat, and he asked angrily, ¡°So what were you doing before?¡± Ever since the tire tracks disappeared from the road, Shen Siwei had been on edge, afraid of coming across any sudden dangers. But Klet, on the other hand, remained silent despite knowing the route. ¡°I was watching you drive,¡± Klet replied casually. ¡°Is it amusing?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°Hmm.¡± Shen Siwei was utterly frustrated. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder about the ¡°negotiator¡± mentioned by Klet and his ¡°friend¡± . Why would a capable soldier like him choose to help this jerk? The motorcycle maneuvered through the twists and turns on the ice sheet, with the electronic map constantly displaying danger warnings. Initially, Shen Siwei was worried, but after some time, he realized that Klet was indeed familiar with the ice sheet. ¡°Have you been to the ice sheet before?¡± he asked Klet, repeating the same question. ¡°Often,¡± Klet replied. ¡°I have a tattoo of the ice sheet on my back. Have you seen it?¡± ¡°No, I haven¡¯t.¡± ¡°Then I can show it to you again.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested.¡± The two of them engaged in idle conversation as they traversed the vast expanse of the ice sheet. Klet didn¡¯t drive fast, but his driving was steady. He knew where to turn and the direction of their destination. As time passed, and the sun was about to disappear below the horizon, the shadow of the Ice Dome finally appeared ahead. The Ice Dome was the highest point of the northern ice sheet, reaching an altitude of over four thousand meters. Amor¡¯s diary pointed to a small cabin on the Ice Dome, which was also the turning point for many adventurers. ¡°Hold onto the bike,¡± Klet suddenly said. ¡°There¡¯s an underground current ahead, and we¡¯re going to fly over it.¡± With only a little sunlight left, they didn¡¯t have time to take a detour. The front and rear motorcycle tires spread outwards, transforming into four flying engines facing the ground. In the next second, the bikes took off, and Shen Siwei had already held onto the front of the bike. But then, he suddenly felt an extra arm around his waist. ¡°You don¡¯t need to hold on to me,¡± he frowned. ¡°It¡¯s a seatbelt,¡± Klet tightened his grip and embraced Shen Siwei. Though it was his own arm, Shen Siwei hadn¡¯t seen someone so¡­ childlike in a long time. It was difficult to struggle in mid-air, so Shen Siwei had no choice but to let Klet hold his waist and complain, ¡°Are you always this childish or what?¡± When they reached the resting point on the Ice Dome, darkness had already descended. Shen Siwei went straight into the small cabin to check, and unsurprisingly, there was no trace of Amor. ¡ªAccording to the rules of exploring the ice sheet, after using a resting point, it must be cleaned up for the convenience of future travelers. In other words, even if Amor had been here, he had cleaned up his own traces. At the abandoned self-service hotel, Shen Siwei could at least find some clues, but now, looking at the spotless cabin, he felt perplexed. He couldn¡¯t even determine whether Amor had arrived there or had already perished along the way. ¡°Did the person you¡¯re looking for come to the Ice Dome?¡± Klet asked. Shen Siwei didn¡¯t answer. The clues ended there, and he was in no mood to chat with Klet now. However, at that moment, Klet walked up to a cabinet and took out a thick notebook, throwing it onto the table. ¡°People who come to the Ice Dome leave messages here. You can take a look.¡± After saying that, he left the small cabin. Shen Siwei looked out the window and saw Klet undress and soak in the hot spring next to the cabin. Resting points were usually built near hot springs, and the Ice Dome was no exception. From Shen Siwei¡¯s perspective, he could see Klet¡¯s back clearly. He hastily averted his gaze, opened the notebook in his hand, and started reading. The last entry was from ten days ago, and it had Amor¡¯s familiar handwriting: ¡°Only by leaving the Tree of Life can one truly appreciate the grandeur of nature. It¡¯s truly hard to understand why my ancestors would abandon such a beautiful place. Thank you for bringing me here and letting me see a different scenery. Thank you for appearing in my boring life and rescuing me from my shackles. I hope our journey ahead is safe. August 5th, 23XX. Amor/XXX¡± The elegant writing style was consistent with Amor¡¯s style, but Shen Siwei sensed that something was off. He had always thought that Amor was traveling alone, but from the message, it was clear that Amor was with someone. The signature below was different, clearly belonging to two different people. After careful examination, Shen Siwei could only make out the surname ¡°Li¡± for the other person. Suddenly, a diary entry came to mind. He immediately went outside the small cabin, took his backpack from the motorcycle, and retrieved Amor¡¯s diary. February 5th, 23XX ¡°Today, I came to the lower west district for research and learned about a new profession, Monster Hunter. These people hunt and capture monsters and then sell them. It is said to be a decent source of income. The emergence of such a profession is probably due to the abandonment of City Z in the western district. The monsters come to the city, willingly becoming trapped and the people hunt them. I knew that there were monsters sold off in the black market before, but it hadn¡¯t become as organized as it is now. Perhaps soon, the government will enact policies to regulate this industry. By the way, the person I interviewed is named Li, a humorous and witty Monster Hunter.¡± When Shen Siwei read that part the previous day, he didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. But now it seemed that Amor¡¯s departure from the Tree of Life was clearly related to this person named Li. He continued reading. March 18th, 23XX ¡°Today, Li came to my work room, which surprised and delighted me. I had told him that if he had the time, he could come find me because his views on the Tree of Life resonated with me, and we could continue our conversation. I thought he wouldn¡¯t take it seriously, but he actually showed up. During the lunch break, we talked for a long time. He said he was an ordinary person and hadn¡¯t read many books, but I don¡¯t believe that the number of books one has read determines the depth of a person¡¯s knowledge. I have read many books, but I haven¡¯t been to many places. Listening to him talk about certain things, I felt like a frog at the bottom of a well. I¡¯m glad I had the opportunity to talk to him so much today.¡± After this, Li¡¯s appearances became more frequent. Before Amor left, they confirmed their romantic relationship. Shen Siwei had figured out the whole story. It was a story of a boy running away with a wealthy young man. Of course, calling it an abduction was perhaps inappropriate because after meeting Li, the style of Amor¡¯s writing in the diary changed drastically, away from the initial despair and gloom. Reading through the diary, Shen Siwei could clearly sense that Amor had transformed from a pessimistic person into someone full of longing for life. So can love really change a person that much? Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but think of Moran, but his heart remained unaffected. At that moment, Klet suddenly shouted behind him, ¡°negotior.¡± Shen Siwei turned his head at the sound and saw Klet raise his chin, saying, ¡°Look at the sky.¡± He didn¡¯t think much of it and turned his head back, casually lifting his gaze. In the next moment, Shen Siwei was almost breathless from the sight before his eyes. Countless stars adorned the pitch-black sky, and green ribbons stretched across the night sky, creating a breathtaking scene. At that moment, Shen Siwei understood why Amor and Li had come to the Ice Dome. They had come to see the aurora. ¡°negotiator,¡± Klet called out again, ¡°come here.¡± If it were yesterday, Shen Siwei would never have joined a wanted criminal in a hot spring. But today, perhaps due to the circumstances, after hesitating for a moment, he finally took off his clothes and went and sat next to Klet. The night on the ice field was even colder, but his body felt warm in the hot spring. Shen Siwei absentmindedly gazed at the sky, admiring the beautiful scenery before him, and felt his cold heart warming up. ¡± I come here often,¡± Klet splashed the water, pouring it onto his shoulder, and turned to look at Shen Siwei, asking, ¡°How¡¯s the view?¡± ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± Shen Siwei unconsciously relaxed his guard towards Klet, ¡°You can¡¯t see this kind of scenery in the Tree of Life.¡± Perhaps when Moran mentioned watching the night sky, he wanted to take him to admire the view. But it was strange that Shen Siwei still felt that appreciating the scenery with Moran was a waste of time, even though he now believed that seeing the aurora was worth crossing the dangerous ice field. He seemed to have no objections to watching the night view with Klet. ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it before,¡± Klet gazed into the distance, slowly speaking, ¡°If I had the chance to see you again, I would bring you here.¡± Shen Siwei pursed his lips, wanting to say that he wasn¡¯t that person, but when the words reached his mouth, he changed his mind and said, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because before the military started bombing, we sat on the rooftop and watched the sunset,¡± Klet smiled self-deprecatingly, ¡°I know you don¡¯t remember.¡± Shen Siwei admitted that sometimes he could be slow to react after being frozen, but he could still tell that Klet wasn¡¯t lying¡ªunless he was a master storyteller. ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Siwei replied, ¡°i don¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°The view back then was beautiful too,¡± Klet continued, ¡°I remember the sunset dyed your hair orange, like an orange fruit.¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but furrow his eyebrows, ¡°You¡¯re the one who looks like an orange.¡± ¡°Oranges are cute,¡± Klet looked at Shen Siwei, ¡°I like eating oranges.¡± What the hell¡­ Shen Siwei didn¡¯t know how to react, and he heard Klet say again, ¡°Don¡¯t you really want to know what happened five years ago?¡± Honestly speaking, Shen Siwei was curious, but he felt that he couldn¡¯t listen anymore. Because if he continued to listen, he might really believe the story Klet was telling. But at that moment, the communicator suddenly vibrated, and Shen Siwei looked down at his palm. It was a message from Moran. [Moran: Why haven¡¯t you reported in for two nights in a row?] Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel strange. Is this how lovers act? They rarely communicate, and when they do, it¡¯s only about reporting. Why does he always feel that his relationship with Moran is different from the situation between Amor and Li? [Shen Siwei: Still tracking.] He closed the communicator, exhaled a breath, and turned to look at Klet. ¡°Tell me,¡± he said, ¡°about what happened five years ago.¡± CH 39 Klet didn¡¯t immediately speak, revealing a pensive expression. After waiting for a while without any continuation, Shen Siwei raised an eyebrow slightly. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Haven¡¯t come up with a story yet?¡± ¡°No,¡± Klet refocused his gaze and looked at Shen Siwei. ¡°I¡¯m thinking whether to tell you the truth or not.¡± This person is honest, Shen Siwei thought. ¡°Whatever,¡± Shen Siwei casually scooped up some water from the pool and poured it on his neck. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t believe it anyway.¡± Klet chuckled softly with a somewhat helpless expression. ¡°Fair enough.¡± He straightened his head, looked at the aurora in the distance, and a deep voice slowly overflowed from his lips. ¡°At first, I found you annoying. I didn¡¯t want to negotiate with you, but you insisted on sticking around me.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t believe it, right?¡± Klet looked at Shen Siwei with an amused expression. ¡°Continue.¡± Shen Siwei replied blantly ¡°In the beginning, I insisted on sending you away but I found you suspicious. You claimed to be a civilian, but you were too accustomed to gunfire.¡± Klet paused and continued, ¡°Through this flaw, I immediately realized that you were an undercover agent sent by the military.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying,¡± Shen Siwei interjected with skepticism, ¡°I was exposed as soon as I started the mission?¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but frown. ¡°Be honest with me.¡± Perhaps seeing this, Klet continued in a good mood, ¡°To confirm your identity, I took you to a self-service hotel. When you registered your identity¡­¡± ¡°A self-service hotel?¡± Shen Siwei suddenly recalled the strange sense of familiarity he had before. ¡°Is the check-in machine on the right side after entering the door?¡± ¡°You remember?¡± Klet looked surprised. ¡°No,¡± Shen Siwei moved his lips. ¡°I just passed by.¡± With half-lowered eyes, he looked at the pool water reflecting the aurora. His expression remained calm like the surface of the water, but his heart was already in turmoil. Perhaps Klet wasn¡¯t making up a story. Shen Siwei felt that he had indeed been to that self-service hotel. If Klet was fabricating a story, he wouldn¡¯t have accurately hit his sense of familiarity. So, he really woke up five years ago? Could Moran have tampered with his memories? Suddenly, Shen Siwei¡¯s brain became somewhat confused. Which of his memories were true and which were false? The sound of snapping fingers in his ears broke his chaotic thoughts. ¡°Are you still listening?¡± Klet asked. ¡°Mm,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°Continue.¡± ¡°Just now, I mentioned that you killed Barn, and I found you in the self-service bathhouse.¡± Klet said, ¡°Actually, at that time, I already strongly suspected you. But you were actually pretending to be weak.¡± ¡°I can pretend to be weak?¡± ¡°I slapped your butt, and you pulled my hair.¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s eyes widened instantly, overturning all his previous thoughts. ¡°That definitely wasn¡¯t me,¡± he asserted. ¡°If you dared to slap my butt, you definitely wouldn¡¯t have survived.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Klet smiled. ¡°I remembere that you said anyone who touched your butt died. So, by that count, I¡¯ve touched it twice.¡± ¡°I told you,¡± Shen Siwei frowned, ¡°that wasn¡¯t me.¡± ¡°But you were really angry at that time and said you would kill me.¡± Klet restrained his smile and continued to recall, ¡°I always thought you were just saying it casually until later when I saw you stomp on the Desert Wolf¡¯s head.¡± ¡°So, in your story, we drove away the distorted monsters,¡± Shen Siwei calmly asked. ¡°When the distorted monsters broke into City Z, most of the refugees chose to flee. I fought against the desert wolves with about ten people and gradually found ourselves at a disadvantage. That¡¯s when you descended from the sky and helped me.¡± At this point, Klet paused, looking at Shen Siwei and said, ¡°You looked really cool.¡± No one dislikes praise. Shen Siwei asked calmly, ¡°And then?¡± ¡°Then we hunted down the alpha wolf together, and the wolf pack willingly left the Tree of Life.¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but have preconceived notions. But upon careful consideration, if he were in City Z at the time, he wouldn¡¯t have stood idly by. ¡°Why did the military bomb civilians?¡± he asked again. ¡°Because you discovered that City Z¡¯s energy supply comes from the deep sea,¡± Klet said in a deep voice, ¡°the military didn¡¯t want this information to leak out and decided to silence the entire city.¡± Everything started to connect. The reason Moran ordered Shen Siwei to capture Klet was because Klet knew how to reach the deep sea. This at least proved that the military¡¯s reason for bombing civilians, as stated by Klet, was factual After all, energy was the foundation of the stability of the Tree of Life, and sacrificing an entire city for energy was indeed more convincing than distorted monsters. ¡ªSo, should I coax him and ask how exactly he reached the deep sea? This thought suddenly came to Shen Siwei¡¯s mind. Judging by the current atmosphere, Klet seemed to trust him quite a bit. ¡°When I discovered that you had deceived me, I was very angry,¡± Klet continued , ¡°But later, when you informed me about the military¡¯s bombing plan and helped me evacuate the civilians, that¡¯s when I began to realize that you were actually on my side¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± Well, Shen Siwei inexplicably felt a little guilty, and the idea of coaxing him gradually disappeared. According to Klet, it seemed that Shen Siwei had deceived him badly before, which made Shen Siwei somewhat hesitant. ¡°Later, you were captured,¡± Klet said casually, ¡°Before being captured, you destroyed two aircrafts. I had never seen you like that before and it was so attractive.¡± both of them fell silent. Shen Siwei wanted to accept Klet¡¯s praise, but he honestly couldn¡¯t remember anything. ¡°You still have no recollection,¡± Klet sighed helplessly. ¡°Mhm,¡± Shen Siwei replied softly. ¡°Do you believe anything I said?¡± Shen Siwei remained silent for a moment and then said, ¡°Half and half.¡± And by saying he believed half and half, Shen Siwei was already indicating that he leaned toward believing he had woken up five years ago, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t believe it at all. Klet clearly sensed this underlying meaning and his mouth curled up slightly, his tone shifting from helplessness to lightness. ¡°Why do you still wear an oxygen mask like a sickly child after all these years?¡± ¡°My cardiopulmonary function is still not good, ¡°What¡¯s the difference between this new and the old one?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember the old one, how would I know?¡± ¡°I remember, let me see this one.¡± After saying that, Klet¡¯s hand reached directly for Shen Siwei¡¯s oxygen mask. But Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t possibly hand over his lifeline, so he immediately slapped Klet¡¯s hand away. ¡°Are we that comfortable with each other to act like this?¡± ¡°We will be in the future.¡± The large hand reached out again. Shen Siwei held onto the mask with one hand while dodging backward. ¡°If you dare snatch my mask, I¡¯ll pull out all your hair.¡± Upon hearing those words, Klet seemed to suddenly gain strength and became determined to snatch Shen Siwei¡¯s mask. The calm water in the hot spring pool stirred up intense waves as Shen Siwei kicked Klet. He had intended to hold back his strength, fearing that he might accidentally kick Klet to death. As a result, the kick landed on Klet with no pain. Klet wasn¡¯t pushed far enough and pounced again, his left hand pressing down on Shen Siwei¡¯s left shoulder. Shen Siwei twisted his shoulder and easily broke free. Klet realized that he couldn¡¯t hold him down due to Shen Siwei¡¯s slippery skin, so he switched to circling his waist with his left hand, pressing his entire body down, while his right hand tried to snatch the mask. Their bodies were tightly pressed together, Shen Siwei¡¯s lower abdomen against the icy road, freezing him, while the person behind him felt like a burning iron, making him experience the feeling of being caught between ice and fire. ¡°Klet!¡± Shen Siwei turned his upper body angrily, pushing Klet¡¯s chest, ¡°Stop rubbing against my ass!¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Klet seemed to just then realize that their positions were somewhat inappropriate, and he slightly moved aside. He rubbed the back of his head and avoided eye contact with Shen Siwei¡¯s body. ¡°The aurora is about to disappear. Let¡¯s go inside.¡± The small wooden house on the ice dome was as tiny as ever, but it became even more cramped with two big men squeezed inside. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t be bothered to talk to Klet and lay on the bed, browsing web pages. Now that he found out that Amor left the Tree of Life to travel with his lover, he could only search if there were other suitable places for couples. But after searching for a long time, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t find any clues on the webpage because places outside the Tree of Life were not suitable for traveling. Klet, who was beside him, must have felt bored and spoke to Shen Siwei, ¡°What are you looking for?¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t answer. Klet continued, ¡°I know more about the areas outside the Tree of Life than you do.¡± This reason convinced Shen Siwei. He finally closed the webpage and replied, ¡°Amor, Miller¡¯s youngest son.¡± Klet raised his index finger, pointing to the sky. ¡°You mean that Miller?¡± ¡°yes¡± Shen Siwei said, Klete added ¡°What does his son look like?¡± Amor rarely appeared in public, so it wasn¡¯t surprising that Klet didn¡¯t know. Shen Siwei sat up from the bed and retrieved a photo from a file, saying, ¡°All we know is that he probably eloped with his lover.¡± Klet tilted his head and examined the young man in the photo, furrowing his brows slightly. ¡°I¡¯ve seen this person.¡± Shen Siwei immediately asked, ¡°When?¡± ¡°About a week ago,¡± Klet said, ¡°He and his companion, or perhaps his lover as you¡¯ve said, appeared in the underground city in the desert.¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ll depart for the underground city in the desert tomorrow,¡± he said, lying back on the bed, ¡°Rest early today.¡± Klet sat on the chair without moving. ¡°So, can I sleep on the bed today?¡± Shen Siwei shifted from lying flat to lying on his side, leaving only his back for Klet to see. The room fell completely silent, and Shen Siwei could hear the steady sound of breathing behind him. Klet fell asleep, his forehead against the nape of Shen Siwei¡¯s neck, like a child. Shen Siwei thought about what Klet had said, his thoughts still a mess, unable to sleep carefree like Klet. After some time had passed, even the sound of wind outside the window stopped. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t fall asleep and sat up from the bed. He turned over Klet¡¯s body and came to the edge of the table, absentmindedly picking up the message book. Not many people came to the ice dome, maybe only two or three teams in several months. Shen Siwei flipped through the messages out of boredom,but as he flipped, he suddenly stopped his hand on a particular page. The messages on the page were from over a month ago, the font resembling that of a primary school student, written freely without aligning to the lines¨C Arrived before the meteor shower. This year, I still hope he is alive. Actually, when he was taken away at the beginning, I just felt helpless. I clearly had the ability to save him if it weren¡¯t for a few civilians at that time. At this point, the word ¡°civilians¡± was smeared into a black blob, indicating laziness to write further and starting a new line. I never expected that the feeling of unwillingness could linger in one¡¯s heart for so long, slowly turning into an obsession. And then at some point, the obsession damnably turned into longing. Longing for someone is really painful. It feels like I¡¯ve been longing for him all these twenty-something years. I don¡¯t want to long for anyone anymore. Damn it. The signature below: Klet. CH 40 The dawn came early on the ice field, and when Klet woke up, Shen Siwei had already packed his bag and was ready to go. That day was another full day of travel, and they wouldn¡¯t reach their previous resting point until afternoon at least. Klet rinsed his mouth quickly and splashed his face before stepping outside with a deep voice, asking, ¡°Am I driving today?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Shen Siwei slung the backpack over his shoulder and casually replied, ¡°You sit in the front.¡± Klet hesitated for a moment. To be honest, he preferred sitting at the back because that way he could hold Shen Siwei¡¯s waist anytime. But he had to admit that sitting at the front made it easier to see the route and take control of the motorcycle whenever necessary. Shen Siwei decided to sit at the back, not wanting to be constrained by Klet, but in reality, he was handing over complete control of the motorcycle to Klet. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll take you somewhere else?¡± Klet straddled the motorcycle with his long legs and turned back to ask. He was considerably taller than Shen Siwei, and with him in the front, Shen Siwei could hardly see the road ahead. ¡°Take me to the underground city in the desert?¡± Shen Siwei followed suit and climbed onto the motorcycle, holding onto Klet¡¯s waist with both hands. ¡°That¡¯s where we are going.¡± Klet slightly lowered his chin, looking at the hands on his waist, then gently curved his lips and twisted the motorcycle¡¯s throttle. The vast ice field still showed no trace of anyone else. It was a sea of white, with only the slowly moving sun reminding them of the passing time. Fortunately, the weather was good that day, and the tracks from the previous day were still intact. Once they left the densely packed ice crevice area, the motorcycle accelerated again. But at that moment, the two of them received a notification on their mini-computers. It was a signal sent by the government, and everyone with a mini-computer received it. Klet wasn¡¯t particularly interested and continued to focus on driving, while Shen Siwei projected the notification, increasing the volume. At the center of the screen was a Mag news officer dressed in white uniform, sitting upright behind a long table, reading from a script. ¡°Five years ago, in order to drive away the aberrant monsters, we had to sacrifice a group of civilians. Here, I express my deep condolences once again. The government has temporarily abolished the ¡®Declaration of Refusal to Reproduce¡¯ and opened the birth of newborns. And now, according to statistics, the number of newborns has already made up for the number of civilians sacrificed at that time. ¡°Therefore, on behalf of the government, I announce that the ¡®Declaration of Refusal to Reproduce¡¯ is reinstated. Starting today, residents will receive injections of a new drug to ensure no more newborns are born. If the refugees outside the Tree of Life cooperate with the new policy, we will also be lenient towards them.¡± This was undoubtedly a major news announcement. After the announcement ended, Shen Siwei immediately opened a web page filled with news about the new policy, and the comment sections were buzzing. Some people supported the new policy, some hoped for a further delay, and others mentioned conspiracy theories about the Nightingale. ¡°What do you think?¡± Klet suddenly asked from the front. Shen Siwei didn¡¯t have much thought about it. He didn¡¯t need to have children, so the new policy didn¡¯t affect him much. But he was curious about Klet¡¯s opinion and asked, ¡°Will you take the new drug injection?¡± ¡°No.¡± Klet said, ¡°I haven¡¯t received any injections before.¡± Upon hearing the word ¡°before,¡± Shen Siwei suddenly remembered that Klet¡¯s records were all blank and asked, ¡°Why did you become a refugee in the first place?¡± This time, Klet didn¡¯t answer. Seeing that, Shen Siwei didn¡¯t pursue it further. Although it seemed like they had formed a relationship of mutual trust, he could also sense that this trust was very fragile, and perhaps Klet didn¡¯t trust him as much as he seemed to¡­ Just as he was thinking about it, Klet suddenly spoke up, ¡°Because I am a newborn.¡± Shen Siwei was slightly taken aback, ¡°What?¡± ¡°I am the first newborn born after the Declaration. I came outside the Tree of Life when I was very young.¡± Klet looked ahead at the road, paused, and added, ¡°I turn thirty years old this year.¡± This news was even more shocking than the government announcement. Shen Siwei stared blankly at the back of Klet¡¯s head for a while before finally uttering, ¡°So you¡¯re that young.¡± Klete turned his head slightly and asked, ¡°How old are you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t quite remember.¡± Shen Siwei replied honestly. In this era, with significantly extended human lifespans, few people paid attention to their age anymore. But seeing Klet¡¯s honesty, Shen Siwei still thought about it carefully and said, ¡°Around seventy or eighty.¡± Even if you subtracted the twenty-five years he spent in cryosleep, he was still much older than Klet. ¡°Oh.¡± Klet responded casually, ¡°You¡¯re pretty old.¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Have you ever received the drug injection?¡± Klet asked again. ¡°Yes.¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°I was part of the first batch of injections when the Declaration took effect.¡± ¡°In that case, you can¡¯t have babies anymore.¡± Klet¡¯s tone carried a hint of regret. ¡°I never wanted children anyway,¡± Shen Siwei frowned slightly. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Klet said, ¡°I still can.¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of my business,¡± Shen Siwei responded, his brows furrowing deeper. Klet smiled, took a deep breath, and asked, ¡°Do you fully trust me now?¡± Shen Siwei looked at the constantly retreating icy road and knew that his answer didn¡¯t matter. His actions had already made it clear that he trusted Klet and believed he wasn¡¯t lying. However, he still said, ¡°I still need to communicate with my superior about it.¡± ¡°You¡¯d better not,¡± Klet immediately turned his head, ¡°who knows what they will do to you this time.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s find Amor first,¡± Shen said. They were traveling faster than the previous day, so it wasn¡¯t evening yet when they arrived at the resting point. Klet stopped the motorcycle, checked the time, and asked Shen Siwei behind him, ¡°Do we still continue forward?¡± Shen Siwei was looking at the electronic map, which showed the estimated time, but he still subconsciously asked Klet, ¡°How much longer until the Desert Underground City?¡± ¡°About three to four hours,¡± Klet¡¯s answer matched the estimated time on the electronic map, ¡° We can arrive before it gets dark.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s continue,¡± Shen Siwei checked the motorcycle¡¯s usage information again, knowing that the remaining battery could only support about five more hours. The two didn¡¯t stay at the resting point and went straight ahead towards the Desert Underground City. After a while, dirty soil began to appear among the ice fragments, and the temperature around them noticeably increased. But at that moment, Shen Siwei suddenly heard a rumbling sound, and a few seconds later, the ice beneath his feet started to tremble. ¡°There¡¯s quicksand ahead,¡± Klet stopped the motorcycle. The trembling of the earth was like an earthquake, something Shen Siwei had never experienced before, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy. He looked ahead and furrowed his brow, asking, ¡°Why do sand collapses always occur in the desert?¡± ¡°Because of excessive exploitation in the past, the geological layer is hollow,¡± Klet explained, ¡°So when the geological layer collapses, it appears as quicksand on the ground.¡± The damage caused by humans to nature was destructive, and in turn, nature¡¯s feedback to humans was equally destructive. ¡°How long do we need to wait here?¡± Shen Siwei asked. Klet frowned and said with a serious expression, ¡°Hard to say.¡± The tremors under their feet grew stronger, and a sense of panic spread through Shen Siwei¡¯s body. ¡°There¡¯s another worst-case scenario,¡± Klet suddenly spoke up, ¡°This is the border between the ice field and the desert. The quicksand from the desert might cause new ice formation here¡ª¡± Before he could finish the word ¡°crack,¡± the ice beneath their feet suddenly split open. Shen Siwei felt his bottom empty, and as he looked down, he saw a huge crack below, like the gaping jaws of a hellish beast, waiting to swallow them. Due to the suddenness of the situation, the motorcycle couldn¡¯t start its flight engine in time and could only plunge straight into the abyss. Klete who was in front and fell first, while Shen Siwei was on the edge of the ice crack. He quickly grabbed onto the exposed rocks with his hands. ¡°Klet!¡± He reached out, trying to reach Klet, he watched helplessly as Klet moved farther away. This couldn¡¯t continue. Shen Siwei felt an urgent sense of despair. He exerted all his strength and managed to grab hold of Klet¡¯s belt. But at that moment, Shen Siwei¡¯s face mask lost its magnetic properties. Klet noticed this and reached out to grab it but failed. A cold breeze rushed into Shen Siwei¡¯s airway, piercing his chest like a knife, making it impossible for him to breathe. With the remaining strength he had, he turned around and brought Klet back up to the surface. Then, he experienced a suffocating feeling he had never felt before. ¡ªWhen Shen Siwei first woke up, he tried to take off the face mask. As long as he didn¡¯t move or wear the mask, it didn¡¯t affect him much. But the environment on the ice field was completely different from indoors. Even if Shen Siwei didn¡¯t move, he couldn¡¯t withstand the freezing cold. Moreover, adding insult to injury, he made vigorous movements while unable to breathe, which used up the little air left in his lungs. I¡¯m going to die¡­ This thought flashed through Shen Siwei¡¯s mind. The will to survive can make people try everything to stay alive. At this moment, Klet was right in front of Shen Siwei. Without thinking, he grabbed Klet¡¯s collar, and moved closer. Their lips touched, teeth collided, and Klet froze in place, allowing Shen Siwei to firmly hold the back of his neck and freely draw from his mouth. The warm breath eased the stinging cold, and Shen Siwei bit Klet¡¯s lips emotionlessly, inhaling from his mouth and exhaling through his nose. After about ten breaths, the suffocating feeling disappeared completely, and Shen Siwei finally regained his composure. He let go of Klet, who had been stunned the whole time, and said, ¡°We¡¯re even.¡± He had saved Klet once, and this time Klet saved him. After saying that, Shen Siwei took off the backpack on his back and was about to take out a spare oxygen mask from it. But at that moment, Klet suddenly hooked his neck and leaned towards his lips. Everything happened unexpectedly. Unlike the rough collision just now, this time it was a slow passionate kiss. Shen Siwei was still in a daze. His tongue ravaged freely in the mouth, an electric current ran through Shen Siwei¡¯s body, making his back tingle. He pushed back, but Klet, seemingly unsatisfied, leaned over again and pressed him to the ground. How could this happen? ¡°Klet,¡± Shen Siwei furrowed his brow and turned his face away, ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ breathe¡­¡± Before he could finish his words, his lips were blocked by Klet again. Did this person want to kiss him to death? ¡°Klet!¡± Shen Siwei tried to push him off him, but failed. Fine. Although it was a bit suffocating due to Klet¡¯s weight on him, once Shen Siwei figured out Klet¡¯s pattern, he kissed him back. Shen Siwei then had a surge of emotions that he¡¯d never felt before and panicked, he instinctively then kicked klet¡¯s waist with his leg Sending Klet flying fifty meters away. CH 41 Shen Siwei followed the tracks in the snow, coming to a place fifty meters away where a person lay on the ground. He asked, ¡°Hey, are you dead?¡± klet slowly sat up from the ground and tapped the ice shards on his head. ¡°You¡¯re quite violent, you know,¡± he said. ¡°Well you asked for it,¡± Shen Siwei replied, turning his head to look in the direction of the setting sun. ¡°How do we get over there now?¡± The newly formed crack in the ice was about ten meters wide, so jumping over it wouldn¡¯t be a problem. However, there were still several hundred kilometers ahead, and the two of them couldn¡¯t possibly walk there. ¡°I¡¯ll have someone come pick us up,¡± klet said. As they waited, the sun gradually sank below the horizon. Due to the reflection, the light on the ice sheet remained much brighter than in the city. But the two of them sat side by side, idle, waiting for the sunset to turn them into two oranges. The mountains at the end of their sight were no longer covered in ice and snow. The setting sun flickered like a dim light bulb and eventually disappeared below the horizon. ¡°How much longer do we have to wait?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°It won¡¯t be long,¡± klet replied, tilting his chin and pointing to two distant red dots approaching in the sky, the lights of the aircraft. Shen Siwei waited blankly for the aircraft to approach when suddenly Klet asked, ¡°did you like it just now?¡± He didn¡¯t react much. ¡°What?¡± klet said, ¡°The kiss.¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t like how klet defined that act so clearly, because he didn¡¯t know how to describe it as ¡°he and klet kissed¡± or ¡°he was forcibly kissed by klet.¡± ¡°You call that a kiss?¡± he said lightly. ¡°It clearly felt like a bear gnawing on a tree.¡± klet squinted his eyes and made a gesture as if he was about to pounce again. Shen Siwei immediately warned, ¡°Next time, it will be a hundred meters.¡± He then asked , ¡°Did I hurt you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s bruised,¡± klet rolled up his short sleeve, revealing a large bruise on his side. It didn¡¯t seem to be a big deal. Shen Siwei replied indifferently, ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°You have to rub it for me,¡± klet suddenly grabbed Shen Siwei¡¯s wrist. ¡°You don¡¯t know how much it hurt when you kicked me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s your own fault,¡± Shen Siwei picked up a handful of cold snow from the ground and pressed it mercilessly against the bruised area. ¡°Cold compress is more effective.¡± ¡°Hiss,¡± Klet frowned unhappily, ¡°Why are you so heartless?¡± ¡°I specialize in dealing with brats,¡± Shen Siwei casually withdrew his hand, tapping off the remaining ice shards in his palm. ¡°Who¡¯s the brat?¡± klet¡¯s voice became deeper, ¡°you are more of a brat that i am, at least you were before¡± Shen Siwei narrowed his eyes. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°I¡¯m stating a fact.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re just asking for a beating.¡± The sound of the approaching aircraft interrupted their conversation. A little girl stuck her head out of the window and waved to klet. ¡°klet, I¡¯m here!¡± Klet raised his head at the sound and also waved. ¡°Sasha.¡± Shen Siwei looked at klet in disbelief. ¡°How did you let a minor fly the aircraft?¡± klet said, walking towards the aircraft. ¡°She¡¯s the only one willing to come.¡± Sasha was a little girl in her early teens, with thick braided hair and a seemingly clever look in her eyes. She looked at Shen Siwei and asked, ¡°klet, is he your friend?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Klet sat in the pilot¡¯s seat of the aircraft. ¡°Don¡¯t steal his things.¡± ¡°Hehe,¡± not feeling embarrassed at being seen through, the little girl turned to Shen Siwei and said, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Sasha.¡± Shen Siwei nodded in response ¡°Oh, by the way,¡± Sasha said, ¡°The Duke is trying to steal our money again. Aren¡¯t you going to do anything about it?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do anything,¡± klet said. ¡°He¡¯s your foster father, shouldn¡¯t you take care of him?¡± klet fell silent for a moment and asked, ¡°How much did he steal?¡± Sasha replied, ¡°Others don¡¯t know, but he took twenty yuan from me.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll give it to you later.¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but find this conversation quite strange. He knew the Duke, a person who had committed all sorts of crimes in the Tree of Life decades ago and was banished indefinitely outside the Tree. It was surprising to think that such a notorious figure had become Klet¡¯s foster father, and even more strangely, he had stolen twenty yuan from a little girl. Approaching midnight, the three of them finally arrived at the underground city, and the aircraft¡¯s power was running out. klet transferred a large sum of money to Sasha. It was only then that Shen Siwei realized that Sasha wasn¡¯t just kindly picking them up; she was also collecting fees. After bidding farewell to Sasha, Shen Siwei followed klet into the complex underground alleys. Although it was late at night, the underground city was lively. Whenever there was a slightly larger space, there were always refugees gathering to play cards or drink. But Shen Siwei quickly noticed that most of the refugees remaining in the desert underground city were elderly, likely because the young refugees had gone to the western city of Z for better opportunities. Compared to the desert underground city, the environment in the western city of Z was more difficult and not suitable for retirement. ¡°Don¡¯t look around,¡± klet grabbed Shen Siwei¡¯s wrist, ¡°The rule here is to mind your own business.¡± ¡°Your file says you¡¯re the leader of the refugees,¡± Shen Siwei allowed klet to pull him down the stairs, heading to deeper floors, ¡°Are you afraid of them?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not afraid, but there¡¯s no need to look for trouble,¡± klet said, ¡°The desert underground city is a refuge for the refugees because everyone follows the rules and minds their own business.¡± ¡°But there are still people who rob others,¡± Shen Siwei thought of the Duke mentioned by Sasha. ¡°Well they are still criminals though aren¡¯t they?,¡± klet said. As soon as klet finished speaking, a hunched figure appeared at the corner of the corridor below, and without hesitation, fired a shot at klet. His aim was off, and the bullet missed klet, hitting the sandy wall instead. Shen Siwei quickly reached for his gun, but klet held his wrist. ¡°Do you enjoy this kind of thing all the time? Aren¡¯t you tired of it?¡± klet stopped on the stairs, impatiently looking at the person below the corridor. ¡°You heartless scum, give me the money!¡± The person who fired the gun was indeed the Duke. But what surprised Shen Siwei was that the person in front of him, unlike the sturdy middle-aged man he had in mind, the one in front of him had white hair all over, a thin body, and one blind eye. Some people were born early and didn¡¯t enjoy the advancements in medical technology, aging at the same pace as people from before. Most of the people left in the desert underground city were like that. ¡°Ignore him,¡± klet pulled Shen Siwei further ahead, and the Duke fired another shot, once again missing. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but be curious. He took a closer look and noticed that the Duke¡¯s hands were covered in scars, indicating that he had suffered serious injuries. That¡¯s why his hands trembled when holding the gun, making it difficult for him to pull the trigger. Add to that his blind eye, no wonder he couldn¡¯t aim properly. ¡°You ungrateful dog, I will kill you one day!¡± klet effortlessly took the gun from the Duke¡¯s hand and threw it on the stairs behind him. Then he continued to lead Shen Siwei into the alley. ¡°Is he really your foster father?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°Not exactly,¡± klet said, ¡°I can only say that he did teach me a lot of things.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°How to survive, how to kill.¡± Shen Siwei remembered that Klet mentioned he had been outside the Tree of Life since he was very young. He could almost imagine that a young boy couldn¡¯t survive alone and had to desperately learn those survival skills. No wonder his handwriting was so ugly because the Duke didn¡¯t teach him how to write. ¡°So, what does he mean by ¡®repaying kindness with enmity and calling you ungrateful¡¯?¡± Shen Siwei asked again. ¡°Did you see his eyes and hands?¡± klet asked. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I did that.¡± Shen Siwei was momentarily speechless. ¡°Why don¡¯t I consider him my foster father? It¡¯s because he never acted like a father. He only trained me to become his accomplice in his wicked deeds,¡±Klet said, stopping in front of a wooden door. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± The small room was cozy, with a table filled with strange trinkets, and an ugly SpongeBob SquarePants pillow on the couch. Shen Siwei glanced around and then looked at klet. ¡°I see, you haven¡¯t been influenced by him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s unbelievable, right?¡± klet shrugged. As the saying goes, ¡°Evil company corrupts good character.¡± but It was truly incredible that Klet grew up in such an environment and didn¡¯t become a villain. ¡°Because I have a friend,¡± klet continued without waiting for Shen Siwei to respond. ¡°He once saved me, and I don¡¯t want to disappoint him, so I always remind myself not to become a bad person, or else he wouldn¡¯t want to see me again.¡± ¡°You mean the person you mentioned, ¡­¡± He paused , ¡°the friend who looks a lot like me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What happened to him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s dead.¡± Shen Siwei pursed his lips. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s in the past,¡± klet said. ¡°Are you hungry? I¡¯ll go find something to eat.¡± The nutrition supplements in Shen Siwei¡¯s backpack had long been used up. He nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± After klet left, Shen Siwei sat bored on the couch and played with the small objects on the coffee table. In addition to handicrafts made from the bones of deformed monsters, there were many strangely shaped metal ores on the coffee table. Shen Siwei had a thought and used his fingertip to hover over a black crystal, and the black crystal actually moved. At the same time, his face mask fell off. ¡ªJust as he suspected. When klet was about to fall into the crevice earlier, Shen Siwei saw that klet was at least ten centimeters away from his fingertips. That was a distance he couldn¡¯t reach no matter what, even if he stretched his arm. Now thinking back, he clearly felt an extra magnetic force in his fingertips attracting the metal on Klet¡¯s belt, which allowed him to grab onto klet. With that in mind, Shen Siwei opened his five fingers and used his fingertip to attract five small pieces of metal. Then he turned his palm, and the metals floated in mid-air. However, when he tried to attach the face mask to his face with his other hand, it couldn¡¯t be attached no matter what he did. Shen Siwei had another thought, and the floating metals suddenly fell , while the face mask once again got attached to his face. Dr. Chen had explained to Shen Siwei the principle of how the new oxygen mask stuck to his face. It was because his facial skin and nasal skin was implanted with a small amount of magnetic particles, which could generate magnetism and attract the oxygen mask. Shen Siwei had always thought that the mask fell off because it had lost its magnetism. But now it seemed that it wasn¡¯t the mask losing magnetism, but rather his face¡ªmore accurately, the magnetic particles in his facial skin had moved to his palm and fingertips. Shen Siwei tried again. The mask fell off once more, and the metals floated in his palm. This time, he also discovered that he could control the height at which the metals floated. In other words, he could control the strength of the magnetic force with his mind. Shen Siwei lay back on the couch, looking at the ceiling, his brain racing. In that case, there were many things that Moran hid from him. If Shen Siwei had been somewhat skeptical about klet before, the matter of the magnetic particles made him fully believe that many things had indeed happened during his supposed sleep, and Moran didn¡¯t want him to know. As for the romantic relationship, Shen Siwei¡¯s intuition was correct. Although he had memories of himself and Moran confessing to each other and being together, he always felt that it was unreal. But the problem was, if even his own memories were unreliable, how could he judge what was true and what was false? Would he always have to rely on his intuition? This feeling was really frustrating, especially since Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t recall any of the things klet had mentioned. But as klet had said, if he recklessly confronted Moran, he might be forcefully taken away again. Thinking about this, a message from Moran suddenly popped up on Shen Siwei¡¯s communicator. [Moran: I see you¡¯ve arrived at the underground dungeon. Any news about klet?] Shen Siwei looked at the communicator expressionlessly and replied with the word ¡°No.¡± CH 42 There weren¡¯t many food options in the underground dungeon. klet somehow managed to get a few pieces of dried rabbit meat. The meat was tough and got stuck in Shen Siwei¡¯s teeth. He frowned and chewed as if facing a great enemy, thinking that his teeth definitely hadn¡¯t undergone any modifications. Before long, the kettle on the electromagnetic stove whistled, and steam rose vigorously. klet took out an enamel cup, poured hot water for Shen Siwei, and sat back on the couch, asking, ¡°Can you drink it directly?¡± Struggling to swallow the food in his mouth, Shen Siwei said, ¡°No.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re only tough on the outside,¡± klet concluded. Shen Siwei took another bite of the rabbit meat without responding. ¡°When you¡¯re not doing any intense activity, you obviously don¡¯t need to wear an oxygen mask,¡± klet continued thoughtfully. ¡°Does that mean that you have to wear a mask for all intense activities?¡± Shen Siwei furrowed his brow. ¡°Why do you have so many questions?¡± ¡°To understand your body.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to understand.¡± ¡ªAfter discovering the ability to transfer magnetic particles, even Shen Siwei himself didn¡¯t understand much. After calmly finishing the dried rabbit meat in his hand, Klet clapped his hands and asked, ¡°Do you want to rest tonight?¡± The nights in the underground dungeon were lively, while during the day, one might not see a single person for half a day. Shen Siwei took a sip of the cooled-down plain water, set down the enamel cup, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s find Amor first.¡± The underground dungeon wasn¡¯t a scenic spot. Amor and Li had gone there only to find a place to stay. ¡°Old Ghost, it¡¯s me,¡± klet knocked on the tightly closed rolling shutter door and spoke toward the camera above at an angle. After a while, a sharp voice came from the camera, ¡°Who¡¯s the person next to you?¡± ¡°My friend, ,¡± klet said and added, ¡°Also a friend of Malken.¡± The rolling shutter door opened halfway, and Shen Siwei followed klet by stooping through the door. The narrow passage was filled with discarded electronic components. klet explained as he walked, ¡°Old Ghost is Malken¡¯s mentor.¡± Shen Siwei searched his memory and said, ¡°I haven¡¯t heard that name before.¡± ¡°That¡¯s normal,¡± klet said. ¡°She used to be called Mechanical Hand.¡± Shen Siwei had heard the name Mechanical Hand. She was the first person to develop mechanical prosthetics, originally a promising officer. However, she became increasingly crazy, conducting experiments on living soldiers, and was eventually permanently exiled beyond the Tree of Life. Whether it was the Duke or the Old Ghost, Shen Siwei had known about these characters even before he was frozen. Originally, these people had been quite distant to him, but now, in the underground desert city, it was like reopening a history book. ¡°She¡¯s very vigilant and has a strange temper. Let me do all the talking,¡±Klet advised. ¡°Okay.¡± At the end of the passage, there was a dimly lit room with a wall entirely covered in surveillance screens, monitoring all entrances and passages of the underground dungeon. An old woman with graying hair, wearing a checkered headscarf, sat in a wheelchair, holding a pipe. Her eyes were lifeless as she looked at Klet and said, ¡°Pass me the lighter.¡± klet glanced at the cluttered table, casually picked up the nearest red lighter, but the Old Ghost said again, ¡°Not that one, it¡¯s out of fuel. Give me the blue one.¡± The Old Ghost¡¯s eyes remained lifeless as she looked straight ahead, but she could accurately see Klet¡¯s actions. After lighting the pipe, she exhaled a thick smoke and asked with her lifeless eyes, ¡°What do you want from me?¡± ¡°Check the surveillance,¡± Klet said. ¡°Find two people.¡± ¡°Check it yourself,¡± the Old Ghost said, raising her chin. klet walked up to the wall of surveillance screens. Just as he was about to press a button on the console, the Old Ghost said, ¡°That¡¯s screen capture. Go backward to the top left.¡± At that point, Shen Siwei finally realized that the Old Ghost wasn¡¯t using her own eyes to see. Since klet had his back turned to them, Shen Siwei stared straight in that direction, unable to see klet¡¯s actions clearly. However, the Old Ghost¡¯s gaze remained fixed, knowing exactly which button klet was pressing. The surveillance footage started rapidly rewinding. With her pipe in hand, the Old Ghost casually said, ¡°Malken says you prioritize romance over friendship and refuse to help him. Is this the person you¡¯re interested in?¡± klet, leaning on the console with both hands, looked up at the surveillance footage and nonchalantly said, ¡°Yes.¡± What the heck¡­ Shen Siwei stared at Klet¡¯s back, thinking, Do you have to admit it so openly ? The Old Ghost chuckled twice and said, ¡°Come closer so I can have a good look at you.¡± Due to her gaze being non-directional, it could only be realized from her words that she was speaking to Shen Siwei. Shen Siwei took a small step forward. ¡°closer,¡± the Old Ghost raised her chin, and suddenly the camera on the table moved left and right. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit strange. It was the moment when Klet turned around and said, ¡°Her eyes are the cameras.¡± After saying that, he turned his head again and added, ¡°All the cameras in the underground city are her eyes.¡± Shen Siwei had thought about that possibility. After all, that kind of connection could be achieved with mechanical artificial eyes. But the Old Ghost¡¯s eyes were not mechanical; they were her own flesh and blood. How advanced must the biological technology be? Suppressing his surprise, he bent forward slightly and heard the Old Ghost say, ¡°Why are you wearing a mask?¡± Shen Siwei naturally wouldn¡¯t answer, and Klet, as if they had a telepathic connection, took the initiative to continue, ¡°Can I introduce you to each other later? Come help me find someone.¡± The wheelchair moved slowly, coming from behind the table to Klet¡¯s side. Shen Siwei was wondering how the wheelchair could move on its own when he saw several data lines connecting between the back of the Old Ghost¡¯s head and the wheelchair. The answer was self-evident; the Old Ghost could control the wheelchair and all the cameras connected to her with her thoughts. ¡ª Truly deserving of being the former chief scientist of the military. This idea suddenly popped into Shen Siwei¡¯s mind. Dr. Chen probably isn¡¯t as powerful as her, right? The footage on the wall switched to surveillance recordings of Amor and Li. In the footage, the handsome young man had put on a fake beard and partially covered his face with a cloak. His companion, Li, on the other hand, was much more open, with no facial coverings, revealing his distinct features. ¡°Who are these two?¡± the Old Ghost asked. ¡°Friends of a friend,¡± Klet didn¡¯t elaborate. The footage of that day¡¯s surveillance recording was enlarged, and the two figures filled the entire monitor wall. Li and Amor had purchased an ample amount of batteries in the underground city, then they came to a certain exit and loaded the batteries into the aircraft. ¡°How long does it take to get to the ruins from here?¡± Amor asked. His voice was gentle and sophisticated, with a hidden anticipation. Shen Siwei noticed that Amor was indeed different from the one described in the earlier diary entries. There was a soft smile on his lips, and his eyes towards Li were full of admiration. ¡°At most two days,¡± Li said with a smile. ¡°Looking forward to it?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Amor nodded, ¡°The aurora is beautiful. I also want to watch the sea with you.¡± Li pinched Amor¡¯s cheek. ¡°I won¡¯t let you down.¡± The happiness of the two seemed to emanate through the screen. Shen Siwei stared at it, somewhat dazed, but heard the Old Ghost tsk twice and said, ¡°Young people.¡± Klet pressed the pause button and said to Shen Siwei, ¡°They are going to the southern ruins.¡± Shen Siwei shifted his gaze away from the dazzling smiles in the footage and asked, ¡°Why do they want to go to the ruins to see the sea?¡± Both the Arctic and the ruins are adjacent to the deep sea, so if they want to see the sea, they could also go to the Arctic. ¡°It¡¯s about the view,¡± Klet said. ¡°There¡¯s a skyscraper with over a hundred floors along the coast, and from there, you can see far away.¡± ¡°Young people love to take risks,¡± the Old Ghost sneered. ¡°Just don¡¯t die halfway.¡± The appearance of the distortion monsters was precisely due to the nuclear leakage in the southern ruins. It could be said that the southern ruins were the nest of the distortion monsters. They risk their lives to go to the ruins and see the sea for a better view. Shen Siwei wondered if it was worth it. Leaving the place of the Old Ghost, the two of them returned the same way. ¡°Are we going to the southern ruins next?¡± Klet asked. Shen Siwei didn¡¯t immediately respond, his thoughts still lingering on the surveillance footage. His mother was a single mother, and he never watched romantic dramas. There was no one around him in a romantic relationship until he saw the way Amor and Li interacted. He realized that the feeling of having someone by your side seemed nice. Nice enough to make him yearn for it. ¡°negotiator?¡± Klet called out again. Shen Siwei snapped back to reality and asked, ¡°Are you going to accompany me?¡± Finding Amor was ultimately Shen Siwei¡¯s business, and Klet had no obligation to accompany him on his mission. ¡°Of course?¡± Klet answered naturally. ¡°If I don¡¯t accompany you, who will?¡± His heart warmed involuntarily, and Shen Siwei pursed his lips and said, ¡°Hmm, okay.¡± The two continued walking upward. After a while, they arrived back in front of Klet¡¯s house. But when they saw the scene in the corridor, both of them frowned and slowed their pace unconsciously. They saw Sasha¡¯s mouth being gagged with a white cloth, and the Duke had his arm around her shoulder while holding a dagger against her neck. It seemed like he had been waiting for a long time, as he couldn¡¯t wait to shout when he saw Klet, ¡°Give me the money, or I¡¯ll kill her!¡± Sasha struggled hard, but she was just a child and couldn¡¯t break free from the Duke¡¯s grip. ¡°Behave!¡± The Duke exerted force, leaving a blood mark on Sasha¡¯s neck. Sasha anxiously called out Klet¡¯s name, but with her mouth gagged, all that came out was muffled sounds. ¡°Give me the money!¡± The Duke repeated that phrase over and over again. ¡°I want to replace my artificial eye, I want to replace my artificial hand, you owe me that!¡± ¡°After so many years,¡± Klet¡¯s face turned cold, suppressing his anger in his tone, ¡°can¡¯t you just stop causing trouble?¡± ¡°Pay me back what you owe me!¡± The Duke increased the force in his hand, and Sasha, in her desperation, started shedding tears. Although the Duke¡¯s marksmanship was not good, it would be easy for him to kill the child in his hand. Shen Siwei calmly looked at Klet and noticed that he had clenched his fists, ready to strike at any moment, but he was exerting great restraint. Continuing like this wouldn¡¯t solve anything, Shen Siwei sighed helplessly, placed one hand on his face mask, raised the other hand forward, and then had a thought¡ª In the next instant, the dagger flew from the Duke¡¯s hand into Shen Siwei¡¯s hand. Except for Shen Siwei, everyone present was stunned. Sasha was the first to react, pushing the Duke away and quickly disappearing without a trace. With no weapon in his hand and no hostage, the Duke was infuriated, his eyes bloodshot. He threw out the words ¡°you will soon pay for this!¡± and left as well. The small incident didn¡¯t affect the two of them. Klet opened the door and curiously asked, ¡°How did you do that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the details,¡± Shen Siwei shrugged his shoulders and began to pack his backpack. ¡°But I can.¡± ¡°Did you develop some special ability? You¡¯re more powerful than me,¡± Klet touched his chin, pondering, ¡°How strong will our baby be?¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s movements suddenly froze. ¡°Who said I¡¯m having a baby with you? Creating artificial embryos is illegal, you know!¡± Klet nodded, contemplating, ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Back at Z City, Western District, barber shop basement. ¡°Could you be more careful next time?¡± Malken carefully sewed up Leizher¡¯s wrist, ¡°I don¡¯t have any more fake identities to change for you, you know?¡± Leizher laughed carelessly, ¡°As long as you¡¯re here, I feel safe.¡± Malken was about to complain, but his communicator suddenly vibrated. He casually glanced at it, not taking it seriously. However, when he saw the contents clearly, he immediately put down the sewing needle. ¡°Klet is willing to help,¡± Malken looked at Laizher blinking as if he couldn¡¯t believe it, ¡°He agreed to go to the ruins .¡± ¡°Really?¡± Leizher was also surprised, ¡°Didn¡¯t you go to him personally a few days ago, and he refused to help?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Malken said, utterly confused. ¡°But he said on one condition.¡± ¡°What?¡± Leizher asked. ¡°He said that once we succeed,¡± Malken furrowed his brow and leaned closer to the communication device projection, ¡°we need to advocate for the legalization of artificial embryos.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Leizher was baffled. ¡°This guy is a bit hard to understand.¡± CH 43 ¡°The aircraft flew eastward throughout the night. In automatic flight mode, there was no need for someone to monitor the route, and the two could rest well. Shen Siwei lay on the co-pilot¡¯s seat, watching the news projected onto the ceiling, and said to Klet, ¡°The refugees in City Z of the West District are receiving injections of a new type of drug.¡± In the news, a long line formed in the zone between City Z and its neighboring city, as the refugees approached medical personnel one by one to receive injections of a drug that reduced fertility. Klet turned his head and looked at Shen Siwei¡¯s direction, ¡°They just want a reduced sentence, don¡¯t they?¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°The Nightingales are giving a speech beside them.¡± He enlarged the image of the news corner, where several people wearing Nightingale-patterned short-sleeved shirts were holding loudspeakers in their hands, shouting something -. their banners flashed by: Equality for all, refuse Marg people¡¯s rule. ¡°They are working hard,¡± Klet said, ¡°but there are very few people willing to listen to them.¡± ¡°Because without Marg people, the living conditions would be very harsh,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°The Nightingale finds it difficult to change people¡¯s thinking.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± Klet suddenly asked, ¡°Equality and safety, which one do you choose?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Shen Siwei suddenly remembered when he went to see Miller on the top floor, Adolf had asked him about his views on the social system. At that time, his thinking was frozen twenty-five years ago, and he didn¡¯t have much sentiment about those matters. But after reading Amor¡¯s diary, he admitted that he had been influenced and felt that the current society might not be as beautiful as it seemed. ¡°I choose to remain neutral,¡± he said, ¡°but I believe most commoners would choose safety.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Klet sighed helplessly, ¡°that¡¯s why no one is paying attention to the nightingales .¡± ¡°Do you think they will launch a coup by force?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°They won¡¯t,¡± Klet said, ¡°the Nightingale has been under attack in recent years, and its scale has never been able to expand. They don¡¯t have the ability to launch a coup. And as long as people¡¯s thinking doesn¡¯t change, even if they forcibly overthrow the rule, they won¡¯t win the hearts of the people.¡± Shen Siwei nodded. ¡°Stop thinking about it,¡± Klet changed his heavy tone, ¡°look ahead.¡± Shen Siwei lifted his head slightly and realized that the sky had turned a pale white at some point. The golden light drove away the darkness from below, and soon the sun rose from the horizon, illuminating the devastated city. ¨CThe two had entered the edge of the ruins. Unlike the ruins of City Z in the West District, the ruins in the south were completely silent, with vines entwined around old buildings, like a ghost town. Spider-like creatures the size of cars crawled on the streets, feeding on scrap metal; fierce flocks of pigeons circled the square, attacking stray cats and dogs that passed by. Such a sunrise scenery was truly unique. ¡°Some birds attack aircraft,¡± Klet said as he reset the cruising altitude, ¡°you continue to rest, I¡¯ll keep watch.¡± The two alternated driving the aircraft and, after the sunset, arrived at the once bustling city center. Since they still had a whole day¡¯s journey to the distant coastline and the aircraft¡¯s batteries needed to be replaced, and the engines needed maintenance, the two decided to camp there. The Science Museum, Museum, and Grand Theater were all built there. Although those buildings had long been abandoned, one could still sense the cultural heritage. Among them, the rooftop of the museum was the most flat and open, and the two landed the aircraft there. Shen Siwei got off the aircraft and subconsciously looked around this unfamiliar place. His attention was immediately drawn to a familiar iconic facility. ¡°Have you ever ridden that thing?¡± Klet raised his chin and asked. ¡°I have,¡± Shen Siwei said. The Ferris wheel, something that had long disappeared from the Tree of Life. Since the signing of the Declaration, the elementary schools and amusement parks in the Tree of Life had been gradually abolished, and things like the Ferris wheel naturally became part of the past. ¡°I haven¡¯t ridden it,¡± Klet said, resting his hands on the railing of the rooftop, looking at the quiet Ferris wheel from a distance, ¡°Unfortunately, there¡¯s no electricity here.¡± Shen Siwei could tell that Klet wanted to ride the Ferris wheel.¡± Shen Siwei had ridden it before with his mother when he was young, but the opportunities were rare because his mother was always busy. As he grew older, he lost interest in such things because he felt they belonged to the little children. Thinking about this, he chuckled softly and looked at Klet, saying, ¡°You seem like a child.¡± He thought Klet would be unhappy to hear such words, but to his surprise, Klet turned his head abruptly and met Shen Siwei¡¯s gaze. ¡°You¡¯ve said this before,¡± he said. ¡°Huh?¡± Shen Siwei was taken aback. A few fragments flashed through his mind, like reflections in water, so close. But when Shen Siwei reached out to grab them, he couldn¡¯t grasp anything except shattering the reflections. He pursed his lips. ¡°I¡­ still can¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Klet withdrew his hands from the railing and gestured with his chin towards the door on the rooftop. ¡°Want to go down and take a look? There are many interesting things.¡± The museum had six floors, each representing a different period. Starting from the ground floor, the two of them walked through the Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Steam Age, Information Age, and Smart Age. Shen Siwei felt like he was witnessing a three-dimensional ¡°Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind.¡± ¡°Look, this is a phone from the past.¡± Klet took out a rectangular piece of glass from a broken display case. ¡°Isn¡¯t it ancient?¡± Shen Siwei took it and examined it. The so-called ¡°phone¡± was more like a piece of transparent screen than glass. When people separated from this screen, they could project images on their palms anytime, anywhere. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Shen Siwei put down the phone and pointed at another display case. ¡°AR glasses,¡± Klet said, ¡°In the past, you had to wear glasses to experience AR. Isn¡¯t that incredible?¡± ¡°It¡¯s interesting.¡± Shen Siwei finally understood why Klet¡¯s house was filled with all those strange and curious little things. Collecting those items seemed really cool. However, at that moment, the quiet museum was suddenly filled with the sound of glass shards being stepped on. Both of them shone their flashlights towards the source of the sound, and they saw several distorted fierce dogs with red eyes and snarling mouths appearing in the hallway. Their bodies were similar to ordinary domestic dogs, but their flesh was decayed, presenting a horrifying sight. ¡°Quick, let¡¯s go.¡± Klet pulled out his gun and fired several shots towards the hallway. ¡°Don¡¯t touch their skin.¡± ¡°Then you go ahead first.¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s skin was immune to toxins, so it was more suitable for him to guard the rear. The distorted dogs didn¡¯t pose a significant threat to the two of them, but they managed to tear a large piece of fabric from Shen Siwei¡¯s pants. They locked the rooftop door and returned to the aircraft. Klet began replacing the batteries while Shen Siwei changed his clothes. As he was tidying up his backpack, Shen Siwei¡¯s communicator suddenly vibrated. It was a call from Moran. ¡°Hello, it¡¯s me,¡± Shen Siwei glanced at Klet, signaling him not to speak. ¡°I see your coordinates have reached the ruins. Do you have any clues about Amor?¡± Moran asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°I discovered that Amor didn¡¯t go missing but voluntarily left the Tree of Life.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Moran¡¯s voice sounded somewhat surprised. ¡°Why did he leave the Tree of Life?¡± Shen Siwei thought for a moment and replied succinctly, ¡°To elope with his lover.¡± ¡°Elope? That¡¯s unlikely,¡± Moran immediately refuted, ¡°Amor is very disciplined, that¡¯s not something he would do.¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t want to explain too much to Moran and simply said, ¡°This is the clue I found for now.¡± ¡°Alright, continue your investigation,¡± Moran said. Then he paused for a moment and added, ¡°The Southern Ruins are vast, so if you can¡¯t find anything, don¡¯t force it. Return as soon as possible to report.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Shen Siwei agreed. ¡°By the way,¡± Moran asked, ¡°Any news from Klet?¡± Shen Siwei looked at the person beside him and replied, ¡°None.¡± ¡°Okay, that¡¯s it then,¡± Moran said, ¡°Good night.¡± Shen Siwei had a sense of caution and immediately thought that Moran was testing him but he responded, ¡°Good night.¡± After ending the communication, Shen Siwei noticed that Klet, who was beside him, was staring at him motionlessly. ¡°Goodnight?¡± Klet raised an eyebrow. ¡°Who are you saying goodnight to?¡± ¡°My superior,¡± Shen Siwei replied. ¡°You report to your superior and still say goodnight?¡± Klet frowned deeply. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but it seems like he implanted false memories in me,¡± Shen Siwei explained. ¡°In my memory, we are lovers. I can¡¯t make it suspicious that I doubt him.¡± ¡°Boom!¡± As soon as Shen Siwei finished speaking, the battery that Klet had just taken off his hand was instantly crushed, turning into a pile of scrap metal. ¡°Lover?¡± Klet took a deep breath. ¡°In your memory, you¡¯re lovers with him?¡± At this point, Klet cursed, and Shen Siwei could almost see smoke coming out of someone¡¯s head. ¡°I don¡¯t have any real feelings. I¡¯ve never seen him as a lover,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°But you say goodnight to him.¡± ¡°I have no choice.¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t know why he felt the need to explain. But looking at Klet¡¯s displeased expression, it seemed like he was completely overreacting. ¡°You haven¡¯t said goodnight to me yet.¡± Klet said this statement unhappily and went to the front of the aircraft where the engine was. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but find it both amusing and exasperating. A thirty-year-old man who was indeed quite childish, even arguing over something like this. ¡°Will you guard the first half of the night?¡± Shen Siwei asked. The distorted fierce dog was still relentlessly banging on the door, and who knew how much longer that iron door could hold. Klete was busy maintaining the engine and didn¡¯t answer Shen Siwei¡¯s question. ¡°klet?¡± Shen Siwei had to call out again, his tone carrying a hint of coaxing, as if speaking to a child. That seemed to be effective. The noise from the front suddenly stopped, and after a while, Klet¡¯s deep voice came, ¡°Hmm, you go rest.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°Goodnight.¡± CH 44 When he woke up , the sky had turned pale. The pigeons were still circling in the sky, and the howling dogs that had been banging on the door had disappeared. Shen Siwei sat up from his seat and noticed that Klet was not beside him. He looked around the window of the spacecraft, but there was no one on the rooftop either. They were supposed to take turns keeping watch, but Klet hadn¡¯t woken Shen Siwei up. A bad feeling suddenly surged in Shen Siwei¡¯s heart, and he hurriedly got off the spacecraft only to find Klet holding a flashlight, standing at the entrance of the corridor. ¡°Where did you go?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°Just wandering around.¡± Klet walked to the front and checked the engine status of the spacecraft. ¡°Are we ready to go now?¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on it, but Klet¡¯s casual ¡°wandering around¡± seemed somewhat weird. But perhaps Klet just liked museums and wanted to take another look around. There was nothing wrong with that. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Shen Siwei said. As the sun moved overhead and gradually approached behind them, the coastline finally appeared in front of them. From a distance, the deep blue sea separated the city and the sky, like a blue line drawn by hand. There were no boats on the sea, but occasionally giant fish leaped out of the water, attacking the birds hovering in the low sky. They continued to fly forward, and the coastline became clearer and clearer. The beach was littered with trash that had washed up from the sea. Colorful plastic surrounded the huge fish skeletons, creating a grotesque and ironic scene. Shen Siwei shifted his gaze from the distance and said to Klet, who was resting with his eyes closed, ¡°can you see Amor and Li¡¯s spacecraft over there?¡± On top of a building more than a hundred stories high in front of them, there was a spacecraft that didn¡¯t belong to that era. Both the color and the design were very similar to the one in the surveillance footage. Klet waved his hand and zoomed in on the image on the windshield, confirming, ¡°Yes.¡± Shen Siwei immediately maneuvered the spacecraft towards the rooftop of the building. Amor and Li¡¯s spacecraft had accumulated a thin layer of dust, indicating that they had been parked there for some time. Both of them were nowhere to be found, so Klet decided to break the window and pressed the start button. The screen lit up, and the data showed that the last flight was a week ago, which matched the timeline of their actions. But¡­ ¡°Something doesn¡¯t seem right.¡± Shen Siwei glanced at the unused batteries in the back row. ¡°Do you think they would stay here for a week?¡± Klet looked at the vast sea and frowned, ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Even if they were there to enjoy the sea, half a day would have been enough. Even someone who loved the sea wouldn¡¯t stay for a whole week. ¡°Let¡¯s go down and take a look.¡± Shen Siwei said, and as he was about to walk towards the corridor, Klet suddenly grabbed him. ¡°This technology building has 110 floors. We don¡¯t know how long it will take to find them together.¡± Klet suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s split up. I¡¯ll search the odd-numbered floors, and you search the even-numbered floors.¡± It sounded like a reasonable suggestion, but it made Shen Siwei subtly frown. Thinking back to Klet¡¯s unusual behavior in the morning, Shen Siwei pursed his lips and said lightly, ¡°Alright.¡± After parting ways with Klet on the top floor, Shen Siwei entered the highest even-numbered floor with a flashlight. A huge restaurant appeared before him. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, he could see the ¡°beautiful¡± coastline in the distance. The technology building was the most futuristic architecture of its time, with some floors open to the public as tourist attractions. Shen Siwei didn¡¯t find any traces of the two in the restaurant, so he continued downwards. Klet¡¯s progress was much faster than his, and the beam of his flashlight was already several floors ahead. Shen Siwei unconsciously quickened his pace, but even after searching more than ten floors, he still hadn¡¯t found Amor and Li. The last open area before reaching the lower floors was an open-air garden. The garden had long been abandoned, and the dusty ground showed no footprints. It was evident that Amor and Li had not been here. But as Shen Siwei looked at the landscape, the faded image suddenly regained its color. He vaguely remembered when he was a child; his mother, who was an engineer, often described the scenery outside the Tree of Life, and this place appeared most frequently in her stories. ¡°Mom¡¯s office had a view of the sea, but if you really wanted to see the sea, the rooftop garden had the best view. You could feel the sea breeze there, something you couldn¡¯t smell inside the Tree of Life.¡± If Shen Siwei¡¯s memory served him right, he had seen this garden in his mother¡¯s photos. Going deeper into his memories, that place seemed to be called the ¡°Technology Building.¡± That should be the place where his mother used to work. Whether guided by fate or not, Shen Siwei hadn¡¯t expected to go there. He immediately turned around and headed downstairs, finally finding a design center in an area of the building that was not open to the public. At that point, whether it was an odd-numbered floor or an even-numbered floor no longer mattered. Following the signs, Shen Siwei arrived at the engineering office floor, and it was at that moment that he noticed the flickering light of a flashlight in a certain office. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± Shen Siwei turned off his flashlight and approached the office, looking at Klet without much expression. Klet didn¡¯t expect Shen Siwei to suddenly appear and awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. Before he could answer, Shen Siwei continued, ¡°In the museum this morning, were you also looking for something?¡± Klet didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°Yes.¡± Shen Siwei furrowed his brow slightly and asked, ¡°So you followed me with a hidden purpose?¡± Caught off guard by Shen Siwei¡¯s wariness, Klet hesitated for a moment before smiling wryly. ¡°I was indeed looking for something, but I didn¡¯t intend to hide it from you.¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Really, I was looking for an agreement,¡± Klet said helplessly. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it truly exists. I didn¡¯t tell you because I didn¡¯t want you to misunderstand and think I was talking about a conspiracy.¡± ¡°What agreement?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°The ¡®Tree of Life Development Agreement,''¡± Klet said. ¡°According to rumors, the ancestors of the Marg tribe signed this agreement with the engineers and workers responsible for building the Tree of Life at that time. The agreement stipulates that everyone has equal access to energy, regardless of their social status.¡± Klet didn¡¯t seem like he was making up a story, so Shen Siwei slightly lowered his guard and asked, ¡°Why haven¡¯t I heard of it?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s a legendary agreement, and no one knows if it actually exists,¡± Klet said. ¡°The Nightingale asked me to help find this agreement. I didn¡¯t want to help at first, but since I had to accompany you to the ruins, I thought I might as well take a look.¡± ¡°So you chose the city center as the first stop,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°because of this agreement?¡± There were many important buildings there, and it seemed that while Shen Siwei was sleeping, Klet had already gone out to search. ¡°Yes,¡± Klet shrugged. ¡°But I didn¡¯t find anything.¡± ¡°Then why did you think it would be here?¡± Shen Siwei asked again. The Southern Ruins were vast, and they couldn¡¯t even find two living people like Amor and Li, let alone a legendary agreement. ¡°Because the owner of this office is special,¡± Klet said, shining his flashlight around the room. ¡°I mentioned before that I enjoy exploring. About six or seven years ago, I came to this office and accidentally found a design blueprint.¡± ¡°A design blueprint?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°A deep-sea energy station design blueprint,¡± Klet said. Upon hearing this, a hint of astonishment flashed in Shen Siwei¡¯s eyes. He suddenly thought of how Moran wanted to extract information from Klet about how to reach the deep sea. The whole chain of events seemed to be connected to the deep sea. ¡°You should know that there are giant creatures in the deep sea,¡± Klet continued. ¡°But they don¡¯t actively attack humans.¡± ¡°Hold on,¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but interrupt Klet, ¡°It¡¯s common knowledge that giant creatures attack humans. Otherwise, the military wouldn¡¯t have been unable to enter the deep sea for so long.¡± ¡°No,¡± Klet shook his head, ¡°They don¡¯t attack humans. They attack light. As long as you don¡¯t have any light on you, they won¡¯t pay attention to you.¡± So¡­ That was the reason why Klet could go to the deep sea? Moran had been trying to figure this out, but he didn¡¯t expect the answer to be that simple. Various fragmented pieces of logic gradually pieced together, and Shen Siwei said incredulously, ¡°You found the deep-sea energy station design blueprint here, and then you went to the deep sea alone, fixed the damaged pipeline in that core energy station? destroyed all the lights in the energy station, and since then, the giant creatures haven¡¯t attacked anymore.¡± Klet replied, ¡°That¡¯s right, because the deep-sea energy station had only one pipeline damaged. I followed the blueprint and fixed the pipeline. After that, I destroyed all the lights in the energy station, and since then, there haven¡¯t been any more attacks from the giant creatures.¡± The Tree of Life was constructed over a hundred years ago, and the deep-sea energy station started operating around that time. ¡°You¡¯re so bold,¡± he asked, ¡°How did you know that the giant creatures only attack light?¡± ¡°Do you remember the friend I mentioned?¡± Klet said. ¡°When he saved me, I was only five years old. At that time, in order to escape, I travelled from the artificial canal to the deep sea. Back then, I had no idea about the ¡®giant creatures attacking humans¡¯ theory.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Shen Siwei was stunned for a moment, ¡°You went to such a dangerous place at the age of five?¡± ¡°Because I didn¡¯t know,¡± Klet replied. As he said this, Klet¡¯s tone was very casual, but when one thought about it, they could understand how cruel it was for a little boy. The deep sea, a place even adults dared not go, and yet he went to the dangerous place unknowingly in order to avoid danger. But speaking of this, everything made sense. Klet had been to the deep sea when he was a child, and perhaps he had been there several times afterward, familiarizing himself with the habits of the giant creatures. Later, when he came to explore the Southern Ruins, he found the deep-sea energy station¡¯s design blueprint in this office, and he went to the deep sea again to repair the energy station. And then, five years ago happened. Moran definitely knew that the deep-sea energy station had been repaired, but he didn¡¯t expect the environment in the deep sea to remain the same. He sent many task forces to explore the deep sea, but they were all attacked by the giant creatures because no one would think to turn off their lights in the dark deep sea. ¡°Can you see the surrounding environment clearly in the deep sea?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°I can,¡± Klet replied, ¡°It¡¯s better to go during the day; my visual ability is good.¡± Shen Siwei wasn¡¯t surprised by Klet¡¯s physical fitness. He fell silent for a moment and said, ¡°You said five years ago was when I found out that you had repaired the deep-sea energy station.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Klet nodded, ¡°Before the military ordered the bombing.¡± ¡°Also,¡± Shen Siwei paused, ¡°you said the owner of this office is special.¡± ¡°Yes. Whoever had the design blueprint for the deep-sea energy station must have been involved in the construction of the Tree of Life, so I thought of coming here to look for the agreement.¡± Shen Siwei pursed his lips and looked at the four words ¡°Chief Engineer¡± on the door. He slowly said, ¡°This is my mother¡¯s office.¡± 1It was mentioned earlier that in Shen¡¯s memories, he had only signed up for the transformation program because Moran made it so ,so he didn¡¯t remember saving klet as a kid. CH 45 ¡°Mother?¡± Upon hearing that word, Klet, who was casually leaning on the desk, immediately straightened up, a hint of confusion flickering in his eyes. Although the nameplate had been removed, and there were no photos on the desk, Shen Siwei knew that that was his mother¡¯s office. ¡°She is the chief engineer here,¡± he said. ¡°Responsible for the design of the Life Tree Energy Station.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Klet pondered and said, ¡°No wonder you were born up there.¡± Unconsciously, Shen Siwei¡¯s thoughts began to wander, and he suddenly realized that perhaps many things had been predetermined long ago. Even if he hadn¡¯t chosen to join the military, given his background, he would most likely have chosen a political career. Perhaps in a parallel world, his identity would be a negotiator, and he would still meet Klet. ¡°negotiator?¡± Klet tilted his head and interrupted Shen Siwei¡¯s daydreaming. ¡°Will you help me find it?¡± Shen Siwei collected his thoughts, turned on the flashlight, and walked into the office. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s here?¡± ¡°Not sure,¡± Klet went to the bookshelf and started searching. ¡°But it¡¯s highly likely.¡± Shen Siwei opened the desk drawer. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You probably don¡¯t remember, but there was a person named Avis in Nightingale. He¡¯s a hacker who hacked the surveillance of the Clinton Grand Hotel to assassinate you.¡± Shen Siwei indeed didn¡¯t remember. ¡°And then?¡± ¡°He searched for this agreement online, and every time he was about to find it, the information would disappear.¡± At that point, Klet paused and added, ¡°The places where the information disappeared all had traces of the military.¡± Shen Siwei closed the empty drawer. ¡°Are you saying the Marg people deleted this agreement from the entire network?¡± In order to save paper, people in that era tended to store things online. If the network privileges were high enough, it was indeed possible to tamper with things behind the scenes. ¡°Avis thought so,¡± Klet crouched down and continued searching through scattered documents. ¡°But what about people¡¯s memories?¡± Shen Siwei felt puzzled. ¡°If this agreement was really signed back then, wouldn¡¯t anyone remember?¡± ¡°Because the original residents of the Life Tree are mostly deceased,¡± Klet stopped searching, rested his elbows on his knees, and turned his head back to look at Shen Siwei. ¡°Your mother¡­¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Shen Siwei replied softly, confirming what Klet said. Due to the rapid development of medical technology, there was a gap in the lifespan between the original residents of the Life Tree and the later-born residents. Shen Siwei¡¯s mother, for example, passed away in her seventies due to illness, while Shen Siwei, who also in his seventies, still maintained a youthful appearance. ¡°Moreover, the Marg people¡¯s rule did not start with the construction of the Life Tree,¡± Klet picked up a document and continued searching, ¡°it began after the Deep Sea Energy Station was destroyed.¡± ¡°You mean,¡± Shen Siwei interjected, ¡°before that, people used to coexist with the Marg people on an equal footing?¡± In such an environment, no one would mention the agreement. It¡¯s like all peace treaties in history; as long as there is no conflict between the parties, no one will deliberately emphasize peace. Over time, the original residents of the Life Tree gradually grew old and passed away, while the newly born residents were unaware of that history. ¡°I haven¡¯t experienced things from the past,¡± the documents on the ground have no value,¡± Klet stood up again. ¡°But Malken said that there was a time when there was a trend of worshiping the Mags within the Life Tree.¡± ¡°I remember,¡± Shen Siwei pondered. ¡°Young people imitated the clothing and appearance of the Mags, considering them as their idols.¡± Not only did Shen Siwei remember, but it was also mentioned in Amor¡¯s diary. Initially, the Mags were just like ordinary civilians. But it had to be admitted that the Mags were more handsome, taller, and physically stronger. The lower-class people began to yearn for the upper class, and a trend of idolizing and copying the Mags emerged in society. Amor said that people¡¯s ideologies began to change unconsciously from that time. Later, the deep-sea energy station was destroyed, and the Life Tree faced a new energy crisis. Most of the people who signed the agreement had already passed away. In addition, people had already formed the idea that ¡°the Mags were nobler.¡± If the Mags couldn¡¯t lead them, then who could? ¡°So the Nightingales find speaking of change so difficult,¡± Klet said. ¡°Without changing people¡¯s minds, it is impossible to change the status quo as well.¡± ¡°If there really was such an agreement,¡± Shen Siwei frowned, ¡°it would indeed give them the power to speak and more people would listen.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s not here.¡± Klet shook the room with a flashlight again. ¡°We¡¯ve searched everywhere.¡± The design plans for the energy station were left in that office because Shen Siwei¡¯s mother was the designer. But she wasn¡¯t the drafter of the agreement, just a participant, so the paper version wouldn¡¯t be there. Wait, a participant? Shen Siwei¡¯s gaze suddenly moved to the wall, where an electronic picture frame hung, but because the frame had long been out of power, the photos inside were not displayed. ¡°Have you used something like this?¡± Shen Siwei took off the thick glass screen and looked for a socket on the frame. ¡°A large cell phone?¡± Klet held the screen for Shen Siwei. ¡°It¡¯s somewhat similar, but not quite.¡± Shen Siwei touched the frame and took out a small memory card. ¡°This is an electronic picture frame that can read memory cards and display the photos inside.¡± Klet looked at what Shen Siwei had in his hand , Shen Siwei took out a reader from his backpack. Although the memory card was an antique from over a hundred years ago, the data inside was well-preserved. There were not many photos, just a few dozen, mostly related to work except for the seaside scenery. ¡°Is this your mom?¡± Klet asked, looking at a woman who appeared in the photos all the time. ¡°Yeah,¡± Shen Siwei nodded lightly. His mother always wore professional attire and glasses with silver frames, which hadn¡¯t changed for decades. ¡°She¡¯s beautiful,¡± Klet said, looking at Shen Siwei. ¡°My mom is beautiful too. Do you want to see her photos?¡± Shen Siwei was about to say ¡°yes,¡± but at that moment, a group photo appeared on the screen, capturing their attention. ¡°¡®Signing Ceremony of the Life Tree Development Agreement?''¡± Klet read the words on the red banner, and the two of them frowned at each other instinctively. The group photo had about twenty or thirty people, standing in a row, smiling and applauding. The two people in the middle were holding something that looked like a certificate. The person on the left was Shen Siwei¡¯s mother, and the person on the right, whom he had also met, was Miller. He enlarged the image of the two holding the certificate, and the content about equality on it was clearly visible. ¡°¡­The Life Tree belongs to all individuals, regardless of which level they live in, and they enjoy equal rights¡­¡± Klet read the text from the photo. ¡°So the agreement really exists.¡± Shen Siwei put down the reader and murmured absentmindedly. Although they had speculated earlier, the feeling was still shocking when the actual agreement appeared. More than a hundred years ago, the designers had already anticipated the possibility of inequality arising from dividing residential and administrative areas based on hierarchy. They signed the agreement, thinking that it would provide protection, but little did they know that time would bury it all. That was a lost past and a disappeared history. Shen Siwei could almost imagine the waves that would be stirred within the Life Tree when these things were exposed. ¡°What do you think?¡± Klet suddenly asked. The day before, Klet had asked Shen Siwei about his choice between equality and safety. At that time, Shen Siwei had chosen neutrality as he didn¡¯t quite know where he stood because subconsciously, he still prioritized the stability of the Life Tree. But now, looking at what he held in his hands, he had a new answer in his heart. ¡°Send it to Nightingale,¡± he said. After leaving the design center, Shen Siwei sat in the corridor, absentmindedly looking at his mother¡¯s old photos. He still remembered that when he first woke up, even thinking about his family and friends didn¡¯t bring up any emotional response. But now, it was different. He could feel sadness and longing, as if his frozen heart had regained warmth. Was it because of Klet? Shen Siwei wasn¡¯t sure. But he realized that his emotions seemed to fluctuate only when he was around Klet. Klet quickly finished the call and walked back to Shen Siwei, asking, ¡°What¡¯s your plan now?¡± ¡°First, let¡¯s find Amor,¡± Shen Siwei put away the reader and adjusted his mood. ¡°He and Li¡¯s aircraft are here, so they must be nearby.¡± Since they had traced it there, they were only one step away from the breakthrough, so there was no reason to give up. ¡°Okay,¡± Klet said. Shen Siwei stood up and continued walking down the corridor. However, at that moment, he abruptly stopped in his tracks because the flashlight¡¯s beam had illuminated a strange dark figure. ¡°There¡¯s someone,¡± Klet also noticed the figure. He walked a few steps ahead of Shen Siwei and then turned back to him, saying, ¡°It¡¯s a corpse.¡± The two of them reached the platform in the middle of the corridor and saw a person lying in a pool of blood, with several gunshot wounds. Judging from the condition of the body, the time of death was approximately a week ago. Shen Siwei crouched down beside the body and looked at it, his expression grave as he said to Klet, ¡°It¡¯s Li.¡± Although his handsome face had turned blue and purple, making it impossible to see his original appearance, based on his clothing, the deceased person was indeed Li. Klet frowned. ¡°Why did he suddenly die here?¡± Shen Siwei scanned the surroundings and picked up a bullet casing from the ground. ¡°It¡¯s a military bullet. Special forces use it.¡± Shen Siwei had considered the possibility that Amor and Li might have been attacked by aberrant creatures and died halfway through their journey. But he never expected to encounter the presence of the military there. ¡°Could it be that the military has already taken Amor away?¡± Klet asked. Shen Siwei could only think of that possibility. From the time they departed for the mission until now, about a week had passed, and Shen Siwei had always been a week behind Amor. In other words, when Shen Siwei arrived there, Li had already been killed by the special forces the previous week. The members of the special forces couldn¡¯t have killed Amor; they would take him back to the top level of the Life Tree. If that¡¯s the case¡­ Shen Siwei furrowed his brows deeply. ¡°Then why did Moran send me down here?¡± CH 46 An unknown silence surrounded the two of them, and Klet interrupted Shen Siwei¡¯s thoughts, saying, ¡°Could his target be me?¡± ¡°But don¡¯t you find it strange?¡± Shen Siwei crossed his arms and frowned, contemplating, ¡°He asked me twice if I had any news about you, and I said no. If his target is you, why hasn¡¯t he taken any action?¡± Klet replied, ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s waiting for the right moment.¡± Shen Siwei shook his head and said, ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± There was a big problem here: Moran couldn¡¯t monitor Shen Siwei¡¯s actions. The only place where cameras could be installed in Shen Siwei¡¯s body was his eyes, but he was certain that his eyes were not mechanical prosthetics. The tactile sensation and feedback confirmed that his eyes were his. Moreover, logically speaking, if Moran¡¯s target was Klet, he could have arranged a more suitable task for Shen Siwei to directly find Klet. So why use Amor as a cover? Shen Siwei and Klet met by chance in the ice field, and Moran couldn¡¯t have planned for such an occurrence. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it some more,¡± Shen Siwei said, rubbing his chin with one hand and lowering his gaze to organize his thoughts. ¡°First, we can be sure that Miller really wants to find Amor.¡± Amor had indeed left the Life Tree, and Adolf had mentioned that his younger brother was reckless. If the entire mission was aimed at Klet, would Miller, Adolf, and Amor all be acting in coordination with Moran? That clearly didn¡¯t make sense. Therefore, from beginning to end, the target of the mission was Amor. ¡°But as you saw,¡± Klet lowered his chin and pointed to the bullet casing on the ground, ¡°the person who fired the shots couldn¡¯t be Amor. He must have already been taken back.¡± ¡°I just thought of something,¡± Shen Siwei frowned. ¡°Moran once said that he didn¡¯t want to wake me up for something like this, he thought it was a waste of resources.¡± ¡°What does that mean? Didn¡¯t he plan to wake you up eventually?¡± Klet asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Siwei said, as he spoke, his mind suddenly became clear. ¡°It was Miller¡¯s idea for me to carry out this mission.¡± Moran had shown pessimism more than once, believing that Amor had no chance of survival. And he had also mentioned that if it weren¡¯t for Amor being Miller¡¯s son, he wouldn¡¯t have sent Shen Siwei on this mission. In other words, Moran originally didn¡¯t want to send Shen Siwei down, but he couldn¡¯t disobey Miller¡¯s orders. ¡°So Miller doesn¡¯t know that Amor has been taken back?¡± klet asked. This statement completed the missing logic, and Shen Siwei completely clarified his thoughts. ¡°Moran is concealing this fact, he hasn¡¯t informed Miller,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°Perhaps he told Miller that even deploying elite forces couldn¡¯t find Amor. But Miller didn¡¯t believe him and insisted on waking me up to execute this mission.¡± ¡°But why would he conceal it?¡± Klet furrowed his brow. ¡°Isn¡¯t he afraid his subordinates will expose it?¡± Shen Siwei fell silent, his gaze lowered to the body on the ground, his expression serious as he said, ¡°It can only mean that something unexpected happened to Amor.¡± ¡°He can¡¯t explain it, so he decided to keep it a secret,¡± Klet said. ¡°And his subordinates are also involved, so no one dares to speak up.¡± ¡°Do you have any other possibilities?¡± Shen Siwei asked. Klet shook his head. In this way, it also explained why Shen Siwei discovered the traces of the task force in the self-service hotel but Moran didn¡¯t tell him. From the beginning, Moran knew this mission was meaningless, so he always secretly urged Shen Siwei to return if he couldn¡¯t find anything. But he didn¡¯t want Shen Siwei to make a wasted trip and thought it would be good if they could capture Klet along the way. ¡°Speaking of your superior,¡± Klet suddenly said, ¡°Isn¡¯t he afraid you¡¯ll become suspicious after seeing me?¡± ¡°He is confident of the fact that I can¡¯t remember anything from the past.¡± In fact, Shen Siwei hadn¡¯t remembered anything, and his trust in Klet was purely based on intuition. ¡°And,¡± Shen Siwei continued, ¡°he¡¯s also not that diligent, so he probably doesn¡¯t think that far ahead.¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t provide specific examples, but in his subconscious, he always felt like there was a mission that went wrong due to Moran¡¯s not carefully planned orders. ¡°What¡¯s your plan now?¡± Klet asked. The mission to find Amor had come to an end, and Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t pretend he hadn¡¯t discovered anything and stay by Klet¡¯s side. ¡°I have to contact Moran,¡± he said. ¡°No, you can¡¯t,¡± Klet immediately objected. ¡°He¡¯ll capture you again.¡± ¡°But when I don¡¯t report back and he gets suspicious, he will indeed capture me,¡± Shen Siwei replied. Klet frowned unhappily, but he seemed to realize that the problem had to be resolved and reluctantly sighed, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have confronted him last time.¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t know the specifics of what happened last time, but hearing Klet say that, he naturally wouldn¡¯t repeat the same mistake. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he said. Activating the communication function, he pressed the call button, and soon Moran¡¯s voice came from the other side, saying, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Colonel, it¡¯s me,¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s tone was no different from usual. ¡°I found the body of Amor¡¯s lover.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Moran¡¯s voice sounded normal as well. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°In the stairwell of the technology building,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°But I didn¡¯t find any traces of Amor nearby.¡± There was a brief moment of silence on the other side, and when Moran¡¯s voice resumed, it carried a hint of unnaturalness, ¡°Then where would Amor go?¡± Normally, upon hearing the word ¡°body,¡± one would be curious about what had happened. But Moran seemed completely uninterested, and instead, he was more concerned about whether Shen Siwei knew Amor¡¯s whereabouts. ¡°I suspect,¡± Shen Siwei paused and spoke the prepared words, ¡°that they had an argument and Amor killed him.¡± ¡°Amor¡­¡± Moran blurted out but immediately slowed down his pace. ¡°He¡¯s capable of killing, too.¡± He probably intended to phrase it as a question, but it turned into an exclamation. ¡°When someone is pushed to the limit, it¡¯s possible,¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t know Amor well, so it was normal for him to make such a speculation. And if Moran felt guilty, he naturally wouldn¡¯t correct Shen Siwei. Shen Siwei glanced at Klet and both of them waited quietly for Moran¡¯s reaction. ¡°True,¡± Moran¡¯s following words relieved them. ¡°Since his lover is already dead, he should return to the Tree of Life soon. There¡¯s no need for you to continue searching, just come back.¡± Until now, Moran hadn¡¯t mentioned the issue of the shell casing. He must have assumed that Shen Siwei hadn¡¯t noticed anything unusual, so he didn¡¯t bring it up proactively. ¡°Why should I come back directly?¡± Shen Siwei continued the act. ¡°Amor couldn¡¯t have gone far. I can still find him quickly.¡± This statement had no flaws. Since Shen Siwei had already found this place, why would he give up halfway? Moran hesitated for a moment and then compromised, saying, ¡°Alright.¡± The tense nerves finally relaxed, However, when he hung up the communicator, Klet had a dark face and looked at him, asking, ¡°Were you just acting cute with him?¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± After hanging up the communicator, Moran stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the night view outside, and dialed Dr. Chen¡¯s phone. The call alert sounded only once before it was answered. Dr. Chen cautiously said, ¡°Colonel?¡± ¡°Your research still has room for improvement,¡± Moran said indifferently. ¡°What¡­ research?¡± Dr. Chen asked. ¡°Shen Siwei,¡± Moran said, ¡°why can you only alter his memory? His personality is still disobedient.¡± ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Dr. Chen asked hesitantly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing major,¡± Moran¡¯s tone was flat. ¡°What I want is complete obedience. He was perfectly obedient when he just woke up. But now, he¡¯s starting to question me again, which means his nature hasn¡¯t changed.¡± ¡°It¡¯s difficult to control personality¡­¡± Dr. Chen said with difficulty, ¡°I can only study it further when he returns.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Moran paused and added, ¡°But he has become good at acting cute. Keep that in mind for the next improvement.¡± Klet walked upstairs without looking back, ignoring Shen Siwei¡¯s words. ¡°That¡¯s not acting cute,¡± Shen Siwei followed behind Klet, acutely aware of the huge difference in their leg lengths. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m capable of acting cute?¡± Klet still didn¡¯t turn around. As the distance between them grew larger, Shen Siwei decided to stop and frowned, looking upward. ¡°If you keep going, I¡¯ll turn back now.¡± Finally, the long-legged Klet stopped as well. ¡°I don¡¯t like the way you talk to other people,¡± Klet turned around, still with an unfavorable expression on his face, and his voice sounded even lower. But Shen Siwei wouldn¡¯t let Klet throw a tantrum. He coldly responded, ¡°I don¡¯t like immature men.¡± Krete: ¡°¡­¡± The two of them stood in a stalemate on the stairs for a moment, but ultimately, Klet was the first to relent. He returned obediently to face Shen Siwei and asked, ¡°What will happen if you don¡¯t go back?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Shen Siwei lifted his legs and started walking upstairs. ¡°But since Moran trusts me so much, he will make sure I return.¡± Suddenly, Klet grabbed Shen Siwei¡¯s wrist from behind and asked, ¡°Do you trust me?¡± Seeing Klet being so serious, Shen Siwei was a bit puzzled, but he still answered, ¡°I trust you.¡± ¡°Malken is a talented mechanic. Maybe he can take a look at your body and figure out what¡¯s going on.¡± Shen Siwei wasn¡¯t familiar with Malken. In his memory, he had only met him once in the ice fields. Although he trusted Klet, he couldn¡¯t be as confident about others. ¡°And his mentor is the Old Ghost. Even if he can¡¯t figure anything out, the Old Ghost should have a way.¡± This statement slightly moved Shen Siwei. He had indeed seen the Old Ghost, and she was truly capable. ¡°Also,¡± Klet continued, ¡°I¡¯ll introduce you to people from the Nightingale, like Avis and Knock. You¡¯ve met them before, and they might help you recover your memories.¡± ¡°The Nightingale?¡± Shen Siwei pondered. ¡°Yes,¡± Klet said. ¡°After the agreement is made public, we can¡¯t stay out of it. You¡¯ll definitely have to meet with them too.¡± When Shen Siwei agreed to let Klet send the photo to the Nightingale, he had already made up his mind to stand with them. Klet was right. Shen Siwei would eventually be involved with the Nightingale. ¡°But,¡± Shen Siwei suddenly thought of something, ¡°Moran can monitor my location. If I meet with people from the Nightingale, won¡¯t it cause trouble for them?¡± Klet fell silent, realizing that it was indeed a problem. ¡°Wait,¡± Shen Siwei furrowed his brows and suddenly remembered something else. ¡°You said my eyes would change color, right?¡± Klet, inexplicably, replied, ¡°They turn red when you kill.¡± In Shen Siwei¡¯s understanding, his eye color could only be controlled through the central console and wouldn¡¯t change on its own. And as for the magnetic particles on his face, no one had ever told him that he could manipulate them at will. With that thought, Shen Siwei took out a dagger, tried to control the skin on his wrist, and cut it with the blade. What happened next shocked Shen Siwei. Blood actually flowed from his skin. ¡°I thought you couldn¡¯t get hurt,¡± Klet asked in surprise. It seemed that Shen Siwei¡¯s guess was correct. He could indeed control the molecular materials within his skin, including magnetic particles and highly resilient molecules. As long as he moved the magnetic particles away, his face would demagnetize. And as long as he moved the high polymers elsewhere, the skin in that area would regain its normal strength. ¡°I definitely need to get checked,¡± Shen Siwei used the dagger to remove the identity information card implanted in his wrist, which was the location tracker. He let out a sigh and then looked at Klet. ¡°Now we can go meet the Nightingale.¡± CH 47 After placing the location tracker in his mother¡¯s office, Shen Siwei and Klet set off to the West Zone¡¯s City Z. Distorted monsters roamed the night, and there were many strange birds flying in the sky. The hovering flock of pigeons disappeared, and the hunting owls took center stage. Dodging a bat that suddenly appeared, Klet raised the flight altitude and looked at Shen Siwei, who had not closed his eyes, and asked, ¡°If you could break free from Moran¡¯s control, is there anything you¡¯d like to do?¡± Shen Siwei thought carefully for a moment and moved his lips gently, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure if he could break free from Moran¡¯s control, Compared to that, he was more concerned about Amor¡¯s whereabouts. Although they were strangers to each other and had never met, Shen Siwei had read Amor¡¯s diary and knew about the story with his lover. He couldn¡¯t help but feel somewhat uneasy. ¡°Is your wound still hurting?¡± Klet asked again. Shen Siwei lowered his head and looked at his wrist. The molecular material had already repaired the scars, and there were no traces of the cut. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore,¡± he said, adjusting the backrest of the chair. ¡°I¡¯ll rest for a while, and you can take over during the day.¡± The next afternoon, close to evening, the two finally arrived in City Z of the West Zone. The refugees had not yet come out , and there were only a few people on the streets. A distorted hyena wandered in an alley and accidentally triggered the defense system of a shop, getting riddled with bullets. The aircraft landed near a partially destroyed building, with a small barber shop on the ground floor. Although the shop was empty, the three-colored lightbox at the shop entrance continued to flicker. ¡°This is Malken¡¯s shop,¡± Klet said, using facial recognition to bring Shen Siwei inside. ¡°His side job is a barber?¡± Shen Siwei looked around. The barber shop was fully equipped, and there was no indication that it had any connection to a mechanic. ¡°No,¡± Klet replied. ¡°Do you know why barber shops hang red, white, and blue lightboxes?¡± Shen Siwei shook his head, only knowing that it seemed to be an industry tradition. ¡°During ancient Roman times, someone invented bloodletting, but people at that time considered it dirty work, so they entrusted it to barbers ¨C using their razors. Therefore, barbers were equal to surgeons of that era. The red represents arteries, the blue represents veins, and the white represents bandages.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°So, Malken is promoting himself as a surgeon.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Klet used facial recognition once again and led Shen Siwei to the basement. ¡°After sending him the agreement yesterday, he went to the Tree of Life. He should be on his way here now and should arrive soon.¡± The basement was divided into two parts: a living room on the left and a workshop on the right, which was much larger than the upper floor. Shen Siwei was about to explore the workshop when suddenly footsteps echoed in the corridor. Malken, wearing pilot goggles, hurriedly came down from the upstairs. ¡°Hey, Negotiator,¡± he took off his goggles and greeted Shen Siwei. ¡°Thanks for the agreement.¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t respond, simply nodding in acknowledgment. While walking into the workshop, Malken said to Klet, ¡°Why did you kidnap him again?¡± Klet raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°What do you mean by ¡®kidnap¡¯?¡± ¡°Every time he comes down to carry out a mission, he always ends up with you,¡± Malken muttered quietly. Then he raised his voice and said to Shen Siwei, ¡°Negotiator, let¡¯s scan your body first.¡± Compared to Dr. Chen¡¯s laboratory, Malken¡¯s studio, was much simpler, with electronic components scattered around. It seemed to have the same vibe as the basement of the old ghost. Shen Siwei lay on the surgical chair, similar to a dental chair. But at that moment, the chair suddenly adjusted its angle, and he immediately became alert, trying to sit up. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Klet stood beside the chair, holding Shen Siwei¡¯s shoulder. ¡°He¡¯s adjusting it to scanning mode.¡± The deep, smoky voice inexplicably brought a sense of reassurance. Shen Siwei nodded and lay back down. After a short while, the sound of the scanner rang and a real-time perspective image appeared on Malken¡¯s computer screen. ¡°Do you see it?¡± Malken frowned and pointed at the screen with the tip of his pen. He said to Klet, ¡°There¡¯s a chip here.¡± Shen Siwei turned his head to look at the screen. He saw a chip the size of a fingernail located at the connection between the back of his head and his spine. ¡°Can it be removed?¡± Klet asked. ¡°Let me see.¡± Malken pointed the tip of his stylus pen at the chip, dragging it to the side to enlarge it. Numerous circuits were displayed on the chip, appearing quite complicated. Malken leaned closer to the screen, looked at it for a while, then sighed and said to Klet, ¡°It can¡¯t be removed.¡± He circled a few areas with the tip of his stylus and said, ¡°Do you see these connections? They¡¯re connected to his nerves. If we want to remove it, we would have to perform surgery to repair his nerves at the same time. The risks are too high.¡± Klet crossed his arms and looked at the screen in silence. Shen Siwei was prepared for that possibility and not particularly disappointed. He asked, ¡°What is the main function of this chip?¡± ¡°Judging by the locations it¡¯s connected to, it should be able to force you into sleep,¡± Malken rubbed his chin and carefully observed the circuit¡¯s path. ¡°It is also connected to the parts controlling your body movements, but that part hasn¡¯t been activated.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± Klet frowned and asked, ¡°Can they still control his behavior?¡± ¡°It seems so, but it¡¯s likely that they haven¡¯t successfully developed it yet,¡± Malken said. Klet looked at Shen Siwei, with a hint of concern in his tone. ¡°So, your superiors didn¡¯t want to wake you up because the experiment isn¡¯t complete yet.¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit scared. If it weren¡¯t for Amor, perhaps when he woke up, he would have lost his own consciousness. He asked again, ¡°Can this chip also control the color of my hair and eyes?¡± Malken leaned in front of the screen for a while and then shook his head. ¡°It is only connected to your brain and cannot directly control your hair and eyes.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Shen Siwei breathed a sigh of relief.. His hair color and eye color were not controlled by the chip but by his own brain, similar to the magnetic particles. When he kills someone, his eyes turn red because his adrenaline surges, and his brain unconsciously changes his eye color. In other words, he can always control his physical appearance, but he thought that only the chip could do it. Thinking of this, Shen Siwei closed his eyes, had a thought, and then opened his eyes and looked at the two of them. ¡®What color are my eyes?¡¯ Malken showed a surprised expression and leaned back slightly, while Klet responded calmly, ¡®Red.¡¯ Shen Siwei had another thought and asked, ¡®And my hair?¡¯ Klet raised an eyebrow and replied, ¡®Matte blue.¡¯ He didn¡¯t like that color. Realizing this, Shen Siwei reverted back to his initial chestnut hair and green eyes. Malken discreetly nudged Klet with his elbow and whispered, ¡®Damn, your lover is a chameleon.¡¯ Klet narrowed his eyes at Malken, who immediately fell silent. Shen Siwei pretended not to hear and asked Malken, ¡®So there¡¯s no way to remove this chip?¡¯ Before Malken could answer, Klet interjected, ¡®Ask your mentor first.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s my plan too. But,¡¯ Malken appeared hesitant, ¡®she will give me more work to do and exploit me.¡¯ ¡®Ask her to talk to me,¡¯ Klet said. Upon hearing the satisfying response, Malken¡¯s worried expression vanished, and he snapped his fingers. ¡®Okay.¡¯ Malken stayed in the studio to discuss the chip¡¯s structure with the Old Ghost, while Shen Siwei followed Klet to the adjacent living room. The living room was similar in size to Klet¡¯s room in the underground city. Although not large, it had all the necessary furniture. ¡®Are you worried?¡¯ Klet asked. Shen Siwei shook his head. ¡®No expectations, no disappointment.¡¯ Klet nodded. ¡®True.¡¯ The two sat down on the sofa, and Klet turned on the television. However, when selecting a program, he paused and asked Shen Siwei, ¡®Do you think I¡¯m immature?¡¯ The topic came unexpectedly, and Shen Siwei immediately realized that Klet was concerned about his previous comment, ¡°I don¡¯t like immature men.¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, he said, ¡® more like childish. How can someone your age still want to ride a Ferris wheel?¡¯ Klet furrowed his brow upon hearing this and remained silent, but judging by the constantly changing TV channels, he seemed quite pissed. Shen Siwei chuckled. Klet turned to look at Shen Siwei and asked, ¡®What¡¯s so funny?¡¯ ¡®Nothing,¡¯ Shen Siwei suppressed his laughter, ¡®it¡¯s amusing to see you get angry and pout like a kid.¡¯ Klet narrowed his eyes. ¡®Are you teasing me?¡¯ Shen Siwei casually replied, ¡®Isn¡¯t teasing kids what they¡¯re for?¡¯ He knew that saying this would make Klet angry, but who could resist finding someone cute when they were angry? However, Shen Siwei forgot that Klet wasn¡¯t a real child but a hot-tempered beast. Before he could react, Klet suddenly pounced on him, pinning him down on the armrest of the sofa. ¡®How do you know if I¡¯m young or not?¡¯ Klet frowned. ¡®I know,¡¯ Shen Siwei pretended not to understand the meaning behind Klet¡¯s words and said leisurely, ¡®You¡¯re thirty this year.¡¯ In other words, you¡¯re younger than me. Looking down at Shen Siwei from a higher position, Klet remained silent for a moment and then said, ¡®Alright.¡¯ He suddenly regained his usual calm and composure, but In the next second, Klet¡¯s face suddenly turned blank, and he held Shen Siwei¡¯s face mask in his hand. Now it was Shen Siwei¡¯s turn to panic. He quickly reached out to grab it. ¡®Klet! Give me the face mask back!¡¯ The sudden difficulty in breathing made Shen Siwei¡¯s face turn red, and losing his face mask made him powerless. He could only gasp for air and stare at Klet. ¡®see this is what i mean by childish?¡¯ Shen Siwei decided to stop reaching out and calmly regained his breath. Originally, his intention was to save his energy, but it seemed that his actions were seen by Klet as surrender. Klet raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡®Are you going to cry again?¡¯ ¡®Me, cry?¡¯ Shen Siwei, gasping for breath, almost couldn¡¯t speak properly. ¡®Give me back the face mask, and then we¡¯ll see who¡¯ll be crying.¡¯ Klet chuckled softly, put the mask down, and softened his tone. ¡®Alright, here you go.¡¯ However, instead of handing the face mask back to Shen Siwei, Klet gradually slowed down his movements and stared fixedly at Shen Siwei¡¯s lips. Shen Siwei , looking at Klet¡¯s expression¡­ It seemed like he wanted to kiss him. But at that moment, Malken suddenly pushed the door open and said, ¡®Boss¡­¡¯ The tense atmosphere disappeared instantly as Klet snapped out of it, returned the face mask to Shen Siwei, and stepped back. Shen Siwei, for some reason, felt weird and looked away awkwardly. Malken looked at the two of them inexplicably, wondering why they seemed so panicked He wasn¡¯t surprised by his boss¡¯s behavior, but he didn¡¯t expect the negotiator to be like that. Putting aside his strange thoughts, Malken cleared his throat and said, ¡®Removing the chip might kill the negotiator. Are you willing to take that risk?''¡± CH 48 ¡°No,¡± he said. Before Shen Siwei could think it through, Klet made the decision for him. Malken instinctively looked at Shen Siwei. ¡°The decision is up to me,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°There¡¯s no discussion,¡± Klet replied. ¡°We¡¯ll find another way.¡± At that moment, Klet wasn¡¯t childish at all. He was downright domineering. Shen Siwei sighed helplessly and asked Malken, ¡°What¡¯s the chance of death?¡± Malken replied, ¡°Fifty-fifty.¡± That was indeed quite dangerous. But compared to being controlled, Shen Siwei would rather take the risk. ¡°I still want to remove the chip,¡± he said to Klet. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be under Moran¡¯s control anymore.¡± ¡°We can think of another solution,¡± Krete furrowed his brows and said in a deep voice. ¡°Do you know how dangerous a fifty percent chance of death is?¡± ¡°Even if it were a ninety percent chance of death, I wouldn¡¯t want something like that in my head,¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s tone also became serious. He knew Klet was worried about him, but this was his own matter to deal with. Why did klet have to make the decision for him? ¡°It¡¯s better like this,¡± Klet said. ¡°You don¡¯t have a location tracker on you, so he has no idea where you are.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because he hasn¡¯t grown suspicious,¡± Shen Siwei frowned. ¡°Once he realizes something¡¯s wrong, he can force me into sleep anytime.¡± ¡°I told you,¡± Klet¡¯s tone grew more impatient. ¡°We can think of another solution.¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t like this feeling. Not being able to make decisions for himself, how was that any different from being controlled? ¡°Or¡­¡± Malken weakly interjected, ¡°Should I discuss it with my mentor again?¡± ¡°As long as there¡¯s a risk, we can¡¯t proceed with the surgery.¡± After saying this, Klet left the living room without looking back. Shen Siwei sat on the sofa with a dark face, wanting to take back his thoughts from earlier. Childish men were really not cute at all. ¡°Ah,¡± Malken sighed and said to Shen Siwei, ¡°Negotiator.¡± Shen Siwei looked at Malken expressionlessly. ¡°The boss really can¡¯t afford to lose you again,¡± Malken said. ¡°He spent twenty years searching for a person, only to find out that person was already dead. Later, when he finally had you by his side, you were taken away.¡± Shen Siwei pursed his lips, still without a reaction, but his expression softened slightly. ¡°He has a bad temper and is impatient with many things, but I¡¯ve only seen him being gentle with you,¡± Malken said, clicking his tongue as if he didn¡¯t know how to describe it, and continued, ¡°Anyway, don¡¯t look at him as a grumpy guy. He actually loves deeply. You¡¯re everything to him.¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s expression was completely relaxed because he suddenly remembered the message book he saw on the ice field. When Klet wrote about feeling helpless. Perhaps, in his heart, he still blamed himself deeply. ¡°The person he spent twenty years searching for,¡± for some reason, Shen Siwei felt a bit uncomfortable, ¡°Was that the person he liked? He was young back then, right?¡± ¡°Oh, no, no,¡± Malken quickly waved his hand. ¡°That person was his idol, someone who saved him before. Although his ideal type has always been based on his idol, you have broken that pattern, which means you¡¯re more important to him.¡± It might not necessarily be that he¡¯s more important. Shen Siwei thought to himself, maybe it¡¯s just because his idol was no longer in this world. Realizing he was comparing himself to someone else, Shen Siwei quickly stopped and stood up, saying to Malken, ¡°Understood.¡± Coming up from the basement and finding Klet, he was smoking outside the barbershop. When he saw Shen Siwei approaching, he didn¡¯t react much, just glanced at him lightly, then continued to stare absentmindedly across the street. Shen Siwei took the cigarette from Klet¡¯s hand, threw it on the ground and extinguished it, and with lowered eyes, he said, ¡°Take me for a walk.¡± Klet¡¯s hand that was holding the cigarette remained suspended in mid-air. ¡°Where to?¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°To the place where you last saw me five years ago.¡± Klet exhaled and brushed away his restlessness, saying, ¡°Okay.¡± It was late afternoon, and the setting sun hung lazily in the sky. klet brought Shen Siwei to a rooftop where amongst rubble, only a small area on the edge of the rooftop remained untouched. ¡°Do you come here often?¡± Shen Siwei sat down at the edge of the rooftop. The place was so clean; it could only mean that klet had been there before. ¡°Occasionally,¡± klet squatted beside Shen Siwei and looked at the distant sunset. ¡°Do you have any memories of this place?¡± Shen Siwei shook his head. Both of them quietly looked ahead, unsure of what to say. Shen Siwei could tell that klet was also thinking about the surgery and couldn¡¯t fully admire the sunset before them. They had to discuss the matter; he decided to speak up, ¡°You asked me if there was something I wanted to do if I could break free from Moran¡¯s control.¡± klet shifted his gaze, turning to look at Shen Siwei. ¡°Well¡­¡± Shen Siwei paused and met Klet¡¯s gaze. ¡°I want to accompany you on a Ferris wheel ride.¡± klet¡¯s deep eyes widened for a moment, and then he furrowed his brow slightly. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to lose you.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°I know.¡± Upon careful consideration, it was different after all. With klet, he couldn¡¯t make decisions on his own, not because of being controlled by him, but because he cared about klet¡¯s feelings. If it weren¡¯t for Malken¡¯s words, Shen Siwei might not have realized for a long time that klet would be saddened if anything happened to him. If the surgery didn¡¯t go well and Shen Siwei didn¡¯t wake up in the end, klet would undoubtedly be consumed by endless self-blame, and Shen Siwei didn¡¯t want that. Adolf had asked him if there was anyone important to him. At that time, Shen Siwei always felt like he had forgotten someone, but now he was certain that person was klet at least that was what his intuition told him. So, yes, he compromised. He couldn¡¯t be so selfish and act solely on his own desires. He knew klet had feelings for him, and he cared about klet as well, so he couldn¡¯t only consider himself. klet moved his lips and asked, ¡°About the surgery¡­¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°There¡¯s still some time, let¡¯s think about it more.¡± At that point, klet suddenly stood up, came behind Shen Siwei, and sat with his legs apart, embracing him. ¡°Do you still think I¡¯m immature?¡± klet¡¯s low voice came from behind his ear, making Shen Siwei¡¯s ears tickle. He pulled his neck back, leaning against klet¡¯s embrace, and replied with a counter-question, ¡°Will it change anything if i do?¡± klet slightly lowered his chin, looking at the person in his arms. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Whether you are mature or not,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°it won¡¯t change me wanting to accompany you on a Ferris wheel ride.¡± klet raised the corners of his mouth, chuckled softly, and held Shen Siwei even tighter. The warm and sturdy chest behind him was comfortable. Shen Siwei adjusted his sitting position, resting his head on the nape of klet¡¯s neck, lazily watching the sunset. ¡°The sun is setting.¡± Streetlights on both sides of the street had already lit up, and the refugees gradually came out to move around. The sounds of their lively conversations drifted from below, while the two of them sat on the dim rooftop, as if they were in a different world from the people below. ¡°Should we go back?¡± klet asked. Shen Siwei didn¡¯t answer and slowly removed his oxygen mask. Without needing to clarify, klet had already understood his intention. Their lips met in unspoken agreement, filled with tenderness and affection. Shen Siwei pulled up his legs that were hanging outside the rooftop and nestled in klet¡¯s embrace, his hands holding onto his neck. However, at some point, the tenderness was gradually devoured by passion, and the affectionate kisses became more aggressive. Shen Siwei suddenly found it hard to breathe and wanted to push klet away, but his movements only made klet hold onto him tighter. ¡°Mmm¡­ klet¡­¡± Shen Siwei suddenly realized that he couldn¡¯t kiss klet anymore in the future because kissing required removing the mask, and once the mask was removed, he would be at the mercy of others. Fortunately, at that moment, klet¡¯s communicator rang. Finally willing to let go of Shen Siwei, Klet impatiently pressed the speaker button. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°My mentor has proposed another plan,¡± Malken¡¯s voice sounded, ¡°Instead of removing the chip, we can try blocking the chip¡¯s signal. Do you want to give it a try?¡± The two glanced at each other, and Klet asked, ¡°Is it dangerous?¡± ¡°Anytime you open the skull, there will be some risk,¡± Malken said, ¡°But this plan has a smaller risk. There¡¯s about a ten percent chance that the negotiator may not wake up.¡± Klet fell silent, and judging by his expression, he probably didn¡¯t want to take that risk too. ¡°I think we can do it,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°What do you think?¡± Compared to before, the risk had already been significantly reduced, making it a compromise. Klet still didn¡¯t respond. Just when Shen Siwei had lost hope, he suddenly spoke up, ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve made a compromise, and now it¡¯s my turn.¡± Although he said that, Klet tightly held onto Shen Siwei, clearly reluctant to let go. Shen Siwei chuckled and reached out to pinch Klet¡¯s cheek. ¡°You¡¯re still cute.¡± Klet hung up the communicator and looked at Shen Siwei¡¯s lips. ¡°Shall we continue?¡± Shen Siwei raised an eyebrow. He pretended to lift his chin, but when Klet came closer, he put on his mask and leaped down from the rooftop. ¡°Let¡¯s go back and prepare for the surgery.¡± Old Ghost was too old to perform the surgery herself, so Malken took the lead in the operating room. However, dozens of cameras were added to the studio so that Old Ghost could provide real-time guidance. ¡°Klet,¡± Old Ghost¡¯s holographic projection appeared, and she said, ¡°You better keep track of my water usage for the next three years.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it after the surgery is successful,¡± Klet said. Shen Siwei lay on the surgical chair, listening to their conversation. ¡°How do you feel?¡± Malken slowly injected anesthesia into Shen Siwei¡¯s scalp. ¡°Fine,¡± Shen Siwei said. They first anesthetized the scalp area so that when Shen Siwei would be under general anesthesia, his skin wouldn¡¯t regain its elasticity uncontrollably, making it impossible to perform the operation. After a while, Malken pressed the anesthetized area and asked, ¡°Can you feel anything?¡± ¡°No,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°Okay,¡± Malken took a deep breath, ¡°Now comes the crucial part.¡± He picked up the anesthesia mask and covered Shen Siwei¡¯s mouth and nose, then turned to the projected image of Old Ghost. ¡°Mentor, please watch over me. This is my first time performing such a major surgery. If it succeeds, I¡¯ll have to change my title from ¡®Magic Hand¡¯ to ¡®Magic Master.¡¯ As for my fees¡­¡± Klet stood on the sidelines, impatiently interrupting Malken. ¡°Stop the nonsense.¡± ¡°Cough, cough,¡± Malken raised the surgical knife and took another deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m nervous. If I make any mistakes, Big Brother, please don¡¯t blame me. The risk of this surgery itself is quite high.¡± Klet furrowed his brow, clearly expressing his desire to punch someone. ¡°Alright, i¡¯ll stop talking,¡± Malken said, The oxygen was replaced with anesthetic gas, and Shen Siwei quickly felt his consciousness becoming blurred. A great unease surged in his heart, and in that instant, Shen Siwei suddenly became afraid. What if the surgery failed? If he couldn¡¯t wake up, wouldn¡¯t this be the last time he saw Klet? With this in mind, Shen Siwei resisted the drowsiness and called out in a low voice, ¡°Klet.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Klet immediately asked, his expression tense. ¡°There¡¯s something I forgot to tell you. Actually, my name ¡­ My real name is Shen Siwei¡­¡± Finally uttering those words, Shen Siwei closed his eyes with a sense of relief. He didn¡¯t see that after he finished speaking, Klet went crazy and rushed forward, grabbing Malken by the collar, demanding him to stop the surgery. 1I just want to point out something regarding Shen Siwei¡¯s name ..back in chapter 5 when klet took him to the macho man hotel to test his identity the name that came up was ivan not Shen siwei but ever since klet and malken referred to him as negotiator because that was his mission CH 49 Adjusting the camera angle, the short and chubby man with glasses pressed the record button. ¡°I am Dr. Chen, and this video file documents the modification process of Subject 888714. The subject was brought in on the first day with severe damage to the respiratory system and extensive burns on the body. Currently preparing to clean the wounds and monitoring the vital signs.¡± ¡°On the 36th day, the subject¡¯s vital signs have stabilized, and we can proceed to the next experiment. Although all previous subjects have shown severe rejection reactions after upgrading the control chip designed by the predecessors, I have confidence in Subject 888714 because he is one of the first batch of artificial embryos.¡± ¡°At that time, creating artificial embryos was not only legal but also allowed for genetic modifications. According to the records, Subject 888714 does not carry any disease-causing genes and has strong self-healing abilities. I hope he can successfully accept the control chip.¡± ¡°We did it! We finally did it! On the 90th day, after a few weeks of critical conditions, the subject gradually stabilized and accepted the control chip! This is good news! Next, we will prepare to strengthen the subject¡¯s muscles, which will be a long process requiring modifications to each muscle fiber.¡± ¡°On the 788th day, the leg muscles of the subject couldn¡¯t withstand the intensified modifications and experienced tissue deaths on the leg muscles, triggering a chain reaction. It appears that there are limits to the enhancements, and we can¡¯t follow Colonel Moran¡¯s suggestion of unlimited modifications.¡± ¡°Colonel Moran is dissatisfied with the experiment¡¯s mistakes, and I must persuade him. If he wants a humanoid weapon with thinking abilities rather than a machine, he must accept the fact that the human body has limits.¡± ¡°On the 2589th day, all the subject¡¯s muscles have been reconstructed and modified, with a strength surpassing mechanical prosthetics. Unfortunately, except for Subject 888714, all other subjects failed during the first step of modification. So after such a long time, only Subject 888714 has been successfully modified.¡± ¡°Perhaps to create the perfect soldier, we can only start from artificial embryos. But this involves the founders of the Tree of Life, and General Miller will definitely not agree. Therefore, we must be extremely cautious in the subsequent modifications of Subject 888714 and not ruin this unique semi-finished product.¡± ¡°On the 4236th day, Captain Shen has his new skin. This is the result of my detailed research. I have finally surpassed my predecessors! Next, I will upgrade the chip designed by her and surpass her in all aspects!¡± ¡°On the 4250th day, since Captain Shen regained his normal appearance, Colonel Moran has made many new demands. He wants to change Captain Shen¡¯s hair color, skin color, and eye color. Does he think my experiment is a dress-up game? I can¡¯t defy him and can only add these boring new features. The Colonel is very satisfied.¡± ¡°On the 6832nd day, Colonel Moran requested to transform Captain Shen¡¯s eyes into mechanical ones for real-time monitoring. I refused because it would put a significant burden on Captain Shen¡¯s brain. I can¡¯t take that risk.¡± ¡°On the 7288th day, refugees broke into Zone Z of the city, and Colonel Moran decided to awaken Captain Shen for the mission. Currently, I am repairing his cardiovascular function, and there is a high chance of success, but I have to temporarily pause.¡± ¡°On the 7297th day, the mission in Zone Z of the city failed, indicating that there are still shortcomings in my research. Next, I must block Captain Shen¡¯s memories. I agree with Colonel Moran on this. Controlling his thinking is more important than physical enhancements.¡± ¡°On the 9001st day, Captain Shen will be awakened again for a mission. This mission will be his ultimate test. If the mission is successful, it means his thinking is fully under control, and then I will proceed to restore his cardiovascular function. If the mission fails, it means we need to upgrade the chip and rely on it for control.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it will fail because I have blocked his memories.¡± ¡­ ¡°Stay calm, Boss!¡± Malken quickly put down the surgical knife and stopped klet, who was rushing over. ¡°The negotiator is already anesthetized. If you want to stop the surgery, do you think he will agree?¡± ¡°No,¡± klet, like a crazed beast, grabbed Malken¡¯s collar, ¡°He is the one! I can¡¯t bear a 1% risk!¡± ¡°No,¡± Malken, bewildered by the shouting, said, ¡°Although I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s going on, the surgery was a joint decision. You can¡¯t let the negotiator undergo anesthesia for nothing, right?¡± On the other side, the holographic projection of the Old Ghost spoke, ¡°klet, what are you doing?¡± ¡°He can¡¯t die.¡± klet reluctantly calmed down, placing his hands on the surgical chair, staring at Shen Siwei¡¯s sleeping face, murmuring, ¡°He can¡¯t die.¡± ¡°Why did he suddenly go crazy?¡± the Old Ghost asked Malken. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Malken said, puzzled, Malken walked back to the surgical chair, patted klet¡¯s shoulder, and said, ¡°Boss, let¡¯s proceed with the surgery for now.¡± klet didn¡¯t move, his gaze fixed on Shen Siwei¡¯s face. ¡°I have many things to say to him. Wake him up first.¡± ¡°Tsk,¡± Malken hesitated, ¡°The negotiator has a bad temper. Won¡¯t he get angry if we do this?¡± Upon hearing this, klet pursed his lips, and his expression slightly relaxed. ¡°Boss, 10% is already a small chance. My mentor is still watching.¡± Malken continued to persuade, ¡°Let¡¯s proceed, and if anything goes wrong, I¡¯ll immediately stop. Is that okay?¡± ¡°He can¡¯t die.¡± klet seemed to have lost the ability to speak and could only repeat this sentence. ¡°I know,¡± Malken said, trying to lead klet to the other room, ¡°You stay here and watch. I¡¯ll report to you in real-time.¡± klet finally calmed down, but judging by his tightly clenched fists, it was evident how much effort he had exerted to maintain composure. The surgery continued, and Malken picked up the surgical knife again, sitting back at the surgical chair. ¡°First, I will remove this artificial skull.¡± To reassure klet, Malken had to perform the surgery while explaining. He used the surgical knife to make an cut on the holographic projection suspended in the air, and the precise instruments on the surgical chair immediately followed his movements, cutting open Shen Siwei¡¯s skull. ¡°I won¡¯t touch the negotiator¡¯s nerves, only modify the wireless part on the chip.¡± The three-dimensional projection of the chip enlarged, and Malken used the surgical knife to cut open a circuit board, while the little instruments on the surgical chair accurately performed the command. ¡°Alright.¡± Malken breathed a sigh of relief, waving away the remaining projection of the chip, leaving only the wireless part. He then asked the Old Ghost, ¡°Mentor, take a look. Where should we start?¡± Klet didn¡¯t look at the projection in mid-air; he kept staring at the monitoring device, grateful that Shen Siwei¡¯s vital signs remained stable. ¡°Don¡¯t cover the part that receives signals, so they won¡¯t notice anything out of place,¡± the Old Ghost said. ¡°But the part that sends commands needs to be connected elsewhere so that he can know what commands are coming from the control console.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll separate the receiving part first.¡± Malken explained to Klet as he operated. ¡°The control console can still issue commands as usual, and the negotiator can still receive them, but his body won¡¯t be controlled by the chip anymore.¡± As the surgery went on, Klet became calmer. He continued to stare at the monitoring device and asked, ¡°Won¡¯t the person giving the commands notice anything?¡± ¡°No,¡± Malken said, ¡°The negotiator can know what the commands are and provide feedback, so it appears that he is still being controlled by the control console.¡± ¡°In other words,¡± the Old Ghost chimed in, ¡°for example, if the control console asks him to change his hair color, he will know the command and then control the hair color change himself.¡± Klet nodded, no longer having any other questions. ¡°Alright, now we need to deal with the part that sends commands. Hopefully, the negotiator¡¯s brain won¡¯t have a stress response.¡± Malken carefully changed the circuit, but just when he thought he had succeeded, Shen Siwei, who was still unconscious, suddenly frowned, and his chestnut hair began to darken rapidly. The monitoring device emitted a beeping warning sound, and Klet immediately rushed forward, asking, ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t panic!¡± the Old Ghost said. ¡°Malken, use a small amount of anesthesia spray.¡± ¡°Okay, got it.¡± The surgical chair immediately sprayed a small amount of mist at the location where the chip connected to the brain, and the vital signs on the monitoring device gradually stabilized. Malken breathed a sigh of relief and said, ¡°The negotiator¡¯s hair has turned black.¡± Looking up at Klet, he noticed Klet¡¯s pale face, still shocked , unable to recover for a while. ¡°For heaven¡¯s sake, we¡¯re still in the middle of surgery. Can you please respect the doctor?¡± Malken interrupted Klet, dissatisfied with his interruption. ¡°Okay.¡± Klet obediently stepped aside, crossing his arms in front of his chest, anxiously waiting for Malken to continue the surgery. ¡°I checked; the negotiator¡¯s memory part cannot be altered; it can only be accessed through the nerves.¡± ¡°won¡¯t he recover his memories?¡± Klet frowned and asked. ¡°This memory section is just a medium; his lost memories should be stored in the control console, and they cannot be retrieved through this part,¡± Malken explained. ¡°For now, I can only cover it, so at least the negotiator¡¯s memories won¡¯t be altered anymore.¡± ¡°Also,¡± Malken added, ¡°the negotiator¡¯s cardiovascular function is an old injury, and I can¡¯t do anything about it.¡± ¡°As long as he wakes up, it¡¯s fine,¡± Klet said in a deep voice. ¡°Okay, everything is fine now.¡± Malken finished the surgery and closed the wound with adhesive. ¡°The negotiator has a unique immune system, so there¡¯s no need to worry about infection. Recovery should be quick.¡± It was only then that Klet¡¯s anxious heart finally calmed down. In a daze, Shen Siwei felt a slight difference in the skin at the back of his head. It was as if there was a hole that didn¡¯t match the surrounding skin. He instinctively altered the molecules in his skin to move to the hole, and the strange sensation instantly disappeared as if it had never existed. ¡°His eyeballs are moving.¡± ¡°Is he waking up?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been almost half a day; he should be.¡± Someone was talking nearby, making Shen Siwei¡¯s brain buzz. He opened his eyes and sat up, but before his vision became clear, he was embraced tightly. ¡°Captain!¡± Shen Siwei blinked in confusion, and when he saw the handsome young man in front of him clearly, he widened his dark eyes in astonishment. ¡°Leizhe?¡± Did the surgery fail? Shen Siwei wondered in a daze, otherwise how could he see someone who had already died? ¡°It¡¯s me, Captain!¡± Leizhe grabbed Shen Siwei¡¯s shoulders, filled with excitement. ¡°I didn¡¯t die. When Malken told me it was you, I rushed over immediately!¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Shen Siwei furrowed his brow in confusion, ¡°Moran said that you¡­¡± ¡°Do you not remember what happened twenty-five years ago?¡± Leizhe said. ¡°I thought you were killed in the explosion. I fell from the building and someone saved me. It¡¯s a long story; I¡¯ll tell you slowly once you recover.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Shen Siwei nodded lightly and touched the back of his head where the surgery had taken place; there were no traces left. ¡°You¡¯re no longer under their control.¡± Leizhe seemed to have countless words he wanted to say to Shen Siwei, but he didn¡¯t know where to start. He said without any order, ¡°After I recovered, I didn¡¯t go back to the team because I found out that the military was conducting experiments on soldiers. Captain, it¡¯s so great that you¡¯re alive.¡± After more than twenty years of not seeing each other, Leizhe remained the same, not hiding his emotions in front of Shen Siwei. ¡°Just look at yourself,¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but raise his hands and adjust Leizhe collar. ¡°Why are you still so careless?¡± Leizhe gritted his teeth and looked deeply moved, saying, ¡°You¡¯re always the best to me, Captain.¡± Seeing his teammate after many years, Shen Siwei also felt emotional. He touched the scar at the corner of Leizhe¡¯s eye with his fingertips and asked, ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t hurt,¡± Leizhe shook his head. Unable to contain himself any longer, he hugged Shen Siwei tightly and said, ¡°Captain, I missed you so much!¡± ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Shen Siwei patted Leizhe¡¯s back, urging him to let go. ¡°How do you know Malken?¡± ¡°I am the Nightingale leader, and he is my deputy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the Nightingale leader?¡± Shen Siwei was once again surprised. ¡°Yes, but we are different from the old Nightingale,¡± Leizhe said. ¡°Thanks to you, this agreement was possible. I never imagined that the person helping us would turn out to be my old captain. Isn¡¯t it destiny?¡± While the two of them were still in conversation, a heavy atmosphere gathered on the other side of the room. Klet and Malken leaned on the workbench, both crossing their arms in front of their chests, wearing extremely displeased expressions. ¡°How come they are so familiar with each other?¡± Malken glared at Leizhe and asked unhappily. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Klet said with a gloomy look in his eyes. ¡°Damn it! They¡¯re hugging again!¡± Malken cursed under his breath. ¡°Destiny, my ass.¡± Suddenly, Klet stood up straight, squinting his eyes, and asked, ¡°Can we kill him?¡± Malken was taken aback and quickly held down Klet¡¯s aggressive fist. ¡°Calm down, boss.¡± CH 50 Shen Siwei seemed to be happier than he had been in a long time. There were no other emotions mixed in, just pure happiness. However, before he could have a fulfilling conversation with Leizhe, someone suddenly approached and grabbed his wrist, impatiently saying, ¡°Come with me.¡± Apart from impatience, there was also a hint of irritability in the tone. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel a little puzzled. He had just finished the surgery, so why would Klet react that way? He had originally wanted to continue chatting with Leizhe, but now it seemed more important to soothe the sulking person in front of him. ¡°Leizhe,¡± Shen Siwei followed Klet¡¯s pace and turned back to say, ¡°We¡¯ll talk later.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± Leizhe clearly hadn¡¯t had enough of the conversation and wanted to follow, but Malken spoke in a low voice, ¡°It¡¯s their private conversation, let them be?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Leizhe stopped in his tracks, and just watched his captain being dragged away. After the barber shop building was bombed, only half of the structure remained, exposing the interior. But ,the stairs were unharmed, allowing access from the ground floor to the rooftop. As they came from the basement, the sky outside was still dark, with the moon hanging lonely in the air. Shen Siwei glanced at the time and realized that he had slept for a day and a night. He didn¡¯t feel any discomfort though and wasn¡¯t sure how the surgery went. After stepping onto the last step of the rooftop, Shen Siwei intended to ask Klet something, but the person walking in front suddenly turned around and hugged him tightly without warning. ¡°Klet?¡± The arms around his back hugged tightly, as if trying to crush and merge him into his body. Shen Siwei had to tilt his chin up and use both hands to support Klet¡¯s waist, gently pushing outward with a little force, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Just when he managed to push away a bit, Klet¡¯s strong arms pulled him back into another hug. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you look at me when you woke up?¡± Klet slightly bowed his back and buried his head in the curve of Shen Siwei¡¯s neck, appearing extremely offended. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but find it amusing, ¡°Are you sulking again because of this?¡± Klet didn¡¯t respond and increased the strength in his grip. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but start to wonder. If someone else were held like this by Klet, their spine might have been broken. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t be angry.¡± Shen Siwei patted Klet¡¯s back in a soothing manner, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Leizhe for a long time. Just think about it, if you had a friend whom you hadn¡¯t seen for more than twenty years, wouldn¡¯t you be excited to see them?¡± He thought those words were logical enough to calm Klet¡¯s little tantrum. But as soon as he finished speaking, Klet suddenly increased his strength again, making it difficult for Shen Siwei to breathe. Shen Siwei was not a patient person, and he had already given him the greatest patience he could. But if the little brat couldn¡¯t be soothed, then he had no choice but to deal with it. ¡°Klet.¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s voice turned serious, and he applied force with his hands. His body leaned back, hands pushing open Klet¡¯s chest, and he frowned, ¡± you are being unreasonable?¡± ¡°You said your name is Shen Siwei,¡± Klet finally spoke, his deep voice carrying a hoarse tone. So, he¡¯s still upset about Shen Siwei hiding his real name? Shen Siwei opened his mouth, intending to explain that he didn¡¯t deliberately hide it, but before he could say anything, Klet continued, ¡°Leizhe told me you were dead,.¡± Klete looked straight at Shen Siwei, as if he couldn¡¯t get enough of looking at him, his gaze focused and profound. ¡°You¡¯re called Shen Siwei,¡± Shen Siwei replied, puzzled, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Twenty-five years ago,¡± Klet said slowly, ¡°the person who saved me was called Shen Siwei.¡± The crease between Shen Siwei¡¯s eyebrows instantly relaxed, and he stared at Klet in astonishment, ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been looking for the person for twenty years, and it¡¯s you,¡± Klet said, holding Shen Siwei tightly again, his swelling emotions seemed to only be conveyed through strength, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡± Shen Siwei still didn¡¯t quite understand. In his memory, he volunteered for physical modification, and he didn¡¯t remember anything about a mission related to Klet twenty-five years ago. However, during his conversation with Leizhe earlier, he did realize that something had happened before. For example, Leizhe thought he had been killed in the explosion, and Moran hadn¡¯t told him about those things. In that case, Moran seemed to have not only implanted false memories in him but also blocked some memories that could be detrimental to Moran. ¡°I don¡¯t remember,¡± Shen Siwei pursed his lips, ¡°So, what you¡¯re saying is that I came down to carry out a mission twenty-five years ago,and saved you?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Klet slightly released his grip on Shen Siwei and looked at him, saying, ¡°Including this time, it has happened three times.¡± ¡°No way,¡± Shen Siwei muttered, ¡°I don¡¯t defy orders.¡± Not only was he not disobedient, but he was also quite loyal to the Tree of Life. If what Klet said was true, then Shen Siwei was somewhat confused as to why he always leaned towards Klet. ¡°Actually, I should have realized it when we were bombed last time,¡± Klet¡¯s tone carried a hint of regret, ¡°I said you were a lot like my friend, both of you came down to carry out a mission, but in the end, you helped me. Why didn¡¯t I think that you were him?¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you think about it?¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel curious. ¡°I haven¡¯t changed my appearance, have I?¡± ¡°When you saved me, I was still young, and I don¡¯t remember what you looked like very well. I just remember you had black hair and black eyes.¡± Suddenly, Shen Siwei realized that in the surveillance footage shown by Klet, he had golden hair, and he also used Ivan¡¯s pseudonym. No wonder Klet didn¡¯t recognize him. ¡°You said I saved you when you were young,¡± Shen Siwei calculated in his mind, ¡°25 years ago, you were only five years old, right?¡± As soon as he thought of this, Shen Siwei found it funny, curling his lips and teasing, ¡°So you were just a little brat?¡± Klet narrowed his eyes and frowned unhappily. ¡°You call me your friend, what kind of friend?¡± Shen Siwei continued to laugh and said, ¡°Clearly, I¡¯m like your big brother.¡± Before the smile on the corners of his mouth could fade, the face mask was suddenly removed, and their lips met. A large hand firmly gripped the back of his neck, and the tongue forcefully pried open his teeth. Shen Siwei didn¡¯t know how, but he ended up kissing him back. Already unable to breathe properly without the face mask, Shen Siwei¡¯s legs inexplicably weakened. He pushed Klet away, took back his mask, and the blush on his cheeks was quite noticeable under the moonlight. ¡°Don¡¯t touch my face mask carelessly.¡± ¡°Do you like it when a little brat kisses you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like it.¡± Klet laughed softly, not caring about the denial, as if he had determined that Shen Siwei¡¯s words were not in line with his true feelings. ¡°Malken said you treat your life-saver like an idol,¡± Shen Siwei slightly raised his chin and regained his momentum. ¡°Is this how you treat an idol?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Klet shamelessly proclaimed, ¡°I want to do more.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t know what to do. Klet seemed to be giving it his all, laying bare all his thoughts, leaving Shen Siwei completely defenseless. But thinking about that message book, he could somewhat understand. Twenty years of longing accumulated and erupted today. Perhaps not kissing Shen Siwei to the point of suffocation was already a form of restraint. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it,¡± Shen Siwei averted his gaze uneasily and walked toward the edge of the rooftop. ¡°I haven¡¯t given you permission to do anything else.¡± But before he could take two steps, Klet hugged his waist from behind and whispered in his ear, ¡°What are you thinking?¡± The warm breath sprayed against his earlobe, as if a tingly current passed through. Shen Siwei belatedly realized that Klet was flirting with him, and doing it full force, holding nothing back. He didn¡¯t like this feeling of being controlled and was about to ask Klet to let go of him when Klet suddenly leaned against his neck and muffledly said, ¡°I just wanted to make you remember me.¡± His soft heart was touched, and Shen Siwei reached out and touched Klet¡¯s head, apologizing slightly, ¡°I really can¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°But you remember Leizhe,¡± Klet said discontentedly. ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯ve known him for many years,¡± Shen Siwei explained. ¡°Moran must have erased my unfavorable memories of him, and those memories happen to be related to you. But Leizhe has been in my life for a long time, even if I don¡¯t remember what happened twenty-five years ago, he has always been there.¡± Klet fell silent, and Shen Siwei thought he understood. But then Klet suddenly bit his neck, as if venting his frustration. With skin that was immune to knives and guns, Shen Siwei didn¡¯t feel any pain and let Klet bite him. But after just two seconds, Klet lifted his head and complained, ¡°Your skin is so tough.¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± He sighed helplessly and said, ¡°Bite again.¡± This time, Shen Siwei moved away the highly resilient molecules in that area, so when Klet bit down again, he frowned in pain. Klet realized that Shen Siwei had exposed the fragile skin and immediately withdrew his grip. After a while, he licked the bite mark he had made and finally raised his head. Shen Siwei straightened his messed-up collar and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you satisfied now?¡± Kleet smirked and said, ¡°Hmm.¡± Actually, it¡¯s not that difficult to appease a brat. Shen Siwei thought to himself. But Klet took advantage of the situation and said, ¡°Three times, all three times, you sided with me. You really do love me.¡± ¡°?¡± Shen Siwei turned around and looked at the large pendant on his body. ¡°Don¡¯t be so cocky.¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s fondness for Klet probably stemmed from those forgotten memories. The reason why he believed Klet¡¯s ¡°story¡± so quickly during this mission was probably because subconsciously, he always found himself gravitating towards Klet. It had to be admitted that Klet was an important person to him, and it wasn¡¯t as exaggerated as he claimed. ¡°Don¡¯t you love me?¡± Klet furrowed his brows and asked. ¡°Kids shouldn¡¯t talk about love,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°In your eyes, am I just a kid?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Klet let go of Shen Siwei and grabbed his wrist. ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere else.¡± ¡°Go where?¡± Shen Siwei was puzzled. At that moment, Malken¡¯s head suddenly appeared below the corridor, and he whispered, ¡°Boss, are you done ?¡± Klet stopped pulling and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Malken replied, ¡°Leizhe wants to talk about the agreement.¡± Klet said disinterestedly, ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡± But as soon as he finished speaking, Shen Siwei walked towards the corridor and said, ¡°Coming.¡± . CH 51 When the three of them returned to the living room from the rooftop, Leizhe was sitting by the desk making a phone call. Malken walked up to him and leaned against the desk, while Shen Siwei and Klet sat down on the two-person sofa. The four of them were scattered around the room, occupying different positions, but the living room was small, so they were not far apart. Seeing the three of them return, Leizhe quickly ended the call and turned his chair to face Shen Siwei, asking, ¡°Captain, what are your thoughts on the agreement?¡± Although Shen Siwei was just an observer, perhaps due to his past as Leizhe¡¯s former captain, this Nightingale leader still sought his opinion before making a decision. Shen Siwei¡¯s memory was fragmented, and he learned many things passively, so it was difficult for him to have any thoughts. However, he could still offer a suggestion, ¡°Let everyone know about this agreement.¡± After all, this agreement was personally signed by his mother, and he didn¡¯t want this piece of history to be forgotten so easily. ¡°Making the agreement public is a given,¡± Leizhe interlocked his fingers and placed them on his thigh, displaying a leader¡¯s demeanor. ¡°But we need to have a complete plan first. For example, what should we do next after the agreement is made public?¡± ¡°If we make it public blindly, it might not cause much of a stir and end up wasting the agreement,¡± Malken added. Shen Siwei lowered his gaze and pondered for a moment, then turned to Klet beside him and asked, ¡°What are your thoughts?¡± ¡°None,¡± Klet lazily leaned back on the sofa chair. ¡°I¡¯ll go along with whatever you decide.¡± Seeing Klet¡¯s disinterested appearance, it was evident that he wouldn¡¯t contribute any constructive suggestions either. Shen Siwei looked back at Leizhe and asked, ¡°Have you considered launching a coup by force?¡± Leizhe crossed his arms and said, ¡°It has been considered.¡± ¡°If, after the agreement is made public, many civilians are willing to join us,¡± Malken said, ¡°that could also be a solution.¡± Shen Siwei frowned slightly but remained silent. ¡°Captain, do you think this is not a good idea?¡± Leizhe, having spent so many years by Shen Siwei¡¯s side, could discern his thoughts from a mere expression. Shen Siwei pursed his lips and replied, ¡°If we start a war, it won¡¯t benefit anyone. In the end, all regions could end up like West District Z City.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Leizhe agreed. Malken scratched his cheek with his index finger and sighed, ¡°But it¡¯s difficult to overthrow the Marg people¡¯s rule without the use of force.¡± The room fell into silence. Obviously, even as the Nightingale leader, Leizhe hadn¡¯t figured out how to use this agreement effectively. ¡°Or,¡± Shen Siwei moved his lips, ¡°let the people decide.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Leizhe asked. ¡°Some people are willing to fight for their rights, while others just want to live in peace. After the agreement is made public, some civilians may not care and consider it as history, as they have already grown accustomed to their current lives. We can¡¯t respect every individual¡¯s choice, but we can respect the majority¡¯s choice.¡± ¡°Are you suggesting a nationwide referendum?¡± Leizhe asked. ¡°What if the majority doesn¡¯t want to change the status quo?¡± Malken added. ¡°If that¡¯s the case,¡± Shen Siwei paused, ¡°then you should already have an answer.¡± The Nightingales were not a terrorist organization; they wouldn¡¯t disrupt the Tree of Life for their selfish desires. They were fighting against the Marg people to advocate for the rights of the civilians. If, after they revealed all the truths, the civilians still chose to be ruled by the Marg, then they would naturally lose their position. Leizhe furrowed his brow, concerned that such a result might occur. Shen Siwei continued, ¡°But you have to believe that the majority longs for freedom.¡± Just like Shen Siwei himself, after learning certain things, even though he was so loyal to the Tree of Life, he didn¡¯t want to be controlled anymore. ¡°Alright, I understand,¡± Leizhe let out a sigh of relief, as if he had set down a burden in his heart. ¡°Thank you, Captain.¡± ¡°What should we do next?¡± Malken asked. ¡°We can¡¯t directly make the agreement public; it might be dismissed as a conspiracy by the military,¡± Leizhe pondered and said, ¡°It would be best to let it spread through unofficial channels first.¡± ¡°But will the civilians be willing to spread it before they believe in the authenticity of the agreement?¡± Malken asked. ¡°If the civilians can¡¯t do it¡­¡± Leizhe paused at this point, and Malken already understood what he meant. They both said in unison, ¡°The refugees.¡± Leizhe wasn¡¯t familiar with the refugees, and although Malken knew some of them, there weren¡¯t many people who were willing to do him a favor. Therefore, both of them looked at Klet, who was boredly sitting next to Shen Siwei. ¡°Boss,¡± Malken showed an earnest look, ¡°we need your help.¡± ¡°Contact the refugees?¡± Klet asked. ¡°They will definitely listen to you,¡± Malken said. ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Klet said, ¡°I¡¯ve been away for a long time.¡± ¡°They still remember you,¡± Malken said, ¡°whenever they can¡¯t find a reason to propose a toast, they always toast to you at the bar next to the Music Square.¡± Klet obviously didn¡¯t know about this, and he raised an eyebrow slightly, ¡°Is that so?¡± Shen Siwei, who was on the side, found it somewhat amusing. He looked at Klet and said, ¡°Are you that influential?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Malken chimed in, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the boss leading them in the attack, they would still be stuck in the underground city.¡± Klet finally decided to act and walked toward the desk, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± Contacting the refugees wasn¡¯t a big deal for Leizhe, so he voluntarily gave up his seat for Klet and then sat down next to Shen Siwei. The room seemed to form two separate zones, with the desk being the work area and the sofa being the leisure area. ¡°Captain, are you really together with Klet?¡± Leizhe couldn¡¯t wait and asked in a low voice as soon as he approached Shen Siwei. Shen Siwei glanced at klet, who was busy flipping through his contact list, not noticing their conversation. ¡°I guess so,¡± he said. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®I guess so¡¯?¡± Leizhe asked suspiciously. Because Shen Siwei also lacked experience in dating, he didn¡¯t know what exactly his relationship with Klet was. It seemed to be more than that. If they weren¡¯t together, Shen Siwei wouldn¡¯t have allowed Klet to kiss him. Or, to put it in a way that suited his style, if someone dared to force a kiss on him, they would have already been dead. Seeing Shen Siwei hesitate to answer, Leizhe continued, ¡°Let me ask you this: Do you like him?¡± Shen Siwei thought carefully and replied, ¡°I suppose.¡± ¡°Why do you keep saying ¡®I suppose¡¯?¡± Leizhe asked, puzzled. ¡°Aren¡¯t you sure yourself?¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t know what it meant to like someone, but he knew that Klet was different from anyone else to him. He decided to ask Leizhe, ¡°What does it feel like to like someone?¡± ¡°Uh,¡± this question caught Leizhe off guard, and he rubbed his chin, In the end, neither of them could describe what it meant to like someone. ¡°Or perhaps, do you feel that he is special to you?¡± Leizhe, being more flexible in his thinking, asked. The question was much easier to answer. ¡°Yeah,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°Special.¡± Before Leizhe could continue questioning, Shen Siwei added, ¡°When I woke up, I realized I had no family or friends. I felt disconnected from the world, and very few things could evoke emotions in me.¡± ¡°But now?¡± Leizhe asked. ¡°Now it¡¯s different,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°I have him.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s really strange,¡± Leizhe said with a puzzled expression, ¡°The first time you met him, he was only five years old. Are you saying, Captain, that¡­¡± Shen Siwei raised an eyebrow and interrupted, ¡°Don¡¯t think about nonsense.¡± ¡°Then it must have been the encounter five years ago?¡± Leizhe immediately changed his wording, ¡°Perhaps during that time, you developed special feelings for him.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Shen Siwei pondered and said, ¡°If the first time I saved him was out of pity, then the second time I chose to help him, it must have been something he did that moved me.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Leizhe said, ¡°Mamai mentioned that night, no refugees were willing to come forward, and in the end, it was him who drove away the desert wolves with you.¡± ¡°Maimai?¡± ¡°Ahem, Malken,¡± Leizhe said, ¡°Maimai sounds better.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°Are you close to him?¡± ¡°After Klet left the Tree of Life, he has been following me,¡± Leizhe said, ¡°He has helped me a lot, and I feel at ease with him around.¡± Shen Siwei nodded and asked, ¡°By the way, how did you become the leader of the Nightingales?¡± ¡°In fact, the original intention of the Old Night Eagle was not a terrorist organization, but it gradually split and formed two factions. That night, the first generation leader of the Old Night Eagle saved me and told me that the military was conducting experiments on living soldiers. At first, I didn¡¯t believe it because a chief scientist had been sentenced before, so how could they be conducting experiments? But later I found out that it was true, so I joined the Night Eagle.¡± ¡°Later on, due to infighting within the Night Eagle and increased pressure from the military, it was disbanded not long after. I spent a few years reorganizing the organization and founded the new Nightingales.¡± ¡°If,¡± Shen Siwei asked, ¡°the choice of the civilians is different from what we expect, what would you do?¡± Leizhe fell silent for a moment and said, ¡°Honestly, I won¡¯t let that kind of result happen.¡± Shen Siwei asked, ¡°Do you have the confidence to change people¡¯s minds?¡± ¡°In fact, we still have an ace up our sleeve. The Deep Sea Energy Station has been repaired, and people don¡¯t need to accept the rule of the Marg people at all,¡± Leizhe said, ¡°I mentioned it to Klet before, that controlling the energy is equivalent to having the power to rule. He could completely step forward and become another leader, but he doesn¡¯t have the desire.¡± ¡°He¡¯s indeed not very concerned about these things.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Leizhe sighed helplessly, then adopted a more casual tone and said, ¡°Enough about these serious matters. Captain, are you really committed to Klet? You¡¯re not someone who needs a partner, and it doesn¡¯t seem like you.¡± ¡°People can change,¡± Shen Siwei admitted that he had been influenced by Amor¡¯s diary, ¡°Now I like having someone by my side.¡± ¡°If you only like the feeling of companionship,¡± Leizhe wore a serious expression as if discussing an important matter, ¡°what if we replace him with someone else?¡± ¡°No,¡± Shen Siwei frowned and shook his head, ¡°I can only tolerate his little quirks and outbursts. I don¡¯t have that much patience with others.¡± As the conversation reached that point, Shen Siwei seemed to have gradually understood something. He realized that his liking for Klet was most clearly visible from his tolerance. In comparison, his tolerance was much more restrained than Klet¡¯s affection, which also made it impossible for him to express his feelings as openly as Klet did. But he was certain that only Klet could make him feel a sense of endearment. ¡°Alright.¡± As they talked, Leizhe also seemed to have understood Shen Siwei¡¯s feelings, finally letting go of his worries and saying with a hint of reluctance, ¡°You used to spoil me the most.¡± ¡°That was because I treated you like a little brother.¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t he also like a little brother?¡± As the two of them were chatting, gradually their voices became louder. At that moment, Klet turned his head suddenly, calling out displeased, ¡°Shen.¡± He seemed to have noticed that Shen Siwei and Leizhe were secretly talking about him. Shen Siwei walked towards the desk, and Klet raised his arm, naturally wrapping it around Shen Siwei¡¯s waist. ¡°Are you done contacting them?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re all willing to help,¡± Klet said, ¡°Do you want to go out for a walk with me? It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve been to Z City.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Shen Siwei agreed. After speaking, he suddenly remembered something and added, ¡°By the way, Maimai, thank you for the surgery.¡± The other three people: ¡°?¡± Ahem,¡± Leizhe frowned slightly, ¡°Captain, only I can call him Maimai.¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°?¡± CH 52 When they emerged from the basement once again, the sky had turned pale gray. The flashing neon advertisements had disappeared, and the bustling city had returned to a silent ruin. The motorcycle traveled on streets filled with rubble, and the surroundings felt both familiar and strange. ¡°Do you remember this place?¡± Klet slowed down and nodded towards the square ahead with his chin. ¡°This is where I first saw you five years ago.¡± There were tall wire fences erected in the square, resembling a black-market boxing ring. Shen Siwei had no memories of it and could only say, ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡± Without stopping the motorcycle, Klet changed direction and arrived at another ruin. Broken signs were scattered on both sides, barely spelling out the words ¡°Self-Service Bathhouse¡± when put together. ¡°Do you have any memory of this place?¡± Klet stopped the motorcycle and asked. Perhaps due to the destruction, Shen Siwei not only lacked memories but also any faint sense of recognition. He pursed his lips and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Klet let out a slight sigh and twisted the throttle, continuing forward. ¡°Will you blame me for not remembering the past?¡± Shen Siwei asked. The gentle morning breeze on his face should have been a pleasant sensation, but the annoyance from Klet seemed to be mixed in the wind, preventing Shen Siwei from fully enjoying it. ¡°No, I won¡¯t,¡± Klet said, looking ahead. ¡°You¡¯re not being honest,¡± Shen Siwei said in a flat tone. Merely finding his idol was clearly not enough for Klet. The meaning of their recognition was reduced by the fact that his idol couldn¡¯t remember anything. In the end, Klet could only repeat, ¡°That person is you,¡± as the rest held no significance. ¡°I¡¯m not lying to you,¡± Klet slightly turned his chin and said to Shen Siwei behind him, ¡°Having you by my side is enough.¡± A wide main road appeared ahead, and the railings of a pedestrian bridge, for some reason, were detached and eerily standing on the asphalt. Klet stopped the motorcycle under the bridge and looked at the railing. ¡°Do you remember that?¡± Shen Siwei shook his head. ¡°We fought the desert wolf pack and used this railing to pierce the heart of the alpha wolf.¡± After saying that, Klet seemed to realize that Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t recall, so he didn¡¯t continue. Shen Siwei looked at the railing and said in a plain tone, ¡°You still want me to remember.¡± Regret couldn¡¯t be eliminated, even if one claimed not to care with their words, their actions would betray them. ¡°I asked Malken, and he said it¡¯s impossible,¡± Klet said as he twisted the throttle again, driving the motorcycle into an alley. ¡°Your memories are not stored in the chip; they can¡¯t be retrieved.¡± The motorcycle maneuvered through the complex maze of alleys and finally stopped at the entrance of a bathhouse. ¡°I won¡¯t ask you if you remember from now on,¡± Klet signaled Shen Siwei to get off the motorcycle and led him into the bathhouse. ¡°It¡¯s enough that we can create new memories.¡± The drowsy landlady sat up straight and yawned lazily when she saw customers approaching. However, as soon as she recognized Klet, she immediately became alert and greeted him energetically, ¡°Klet? Long time no see!¡± ¡°Long time no see,¡± Klet replied. ¡°Give me a private room.¡± ¡°I heard you came back yesterday,¡± the landlady took a key card from the wall and handed it to Klet, her gaze shifting to Shen Siwei. ¡°And who is this?¡± ¡°My friend,¡± Klet didn¡¯t say much. The landlady gave two more keys to the changing rooms and said, ¡°I heard rumors about the ¡®Life Tree Development Agreement¡¯ circulating in the group. Is it true?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Klet took the keys. ¡°Help spread the word too.¡± ¡°Sure thing,¡± the landlady made an ¡°OK¡± gesture. ¡°No problem.¡± After changing into bathrobes in the changing room, Shen Siwei and Klet entered a small room. In the middle of the room was a circular pool with a diameter not exceeding two meters. The walls projected a realistic view of snowy mountains, giving a sense of returning to an ice field if one ignored the ruins outside the bathhouse. Klet took off his bathrobe and stepped into the pool first, his long legs making it seem like a bathtub that could only fit one person. No matter how Shen Siwei entered, he couldn¡¯t avoid their skin touching. ¡°Aren¡¯t you coming in?¡± Klet turned his head and looked at Shen Siwei, who was standing by the pool. Shen Siwei had bathed with Klet in hot springs before, but his attention had been focused on the aurora at that time, and he hadn¡¯t cared much about Klet himself. But now, his gaze uncontrollably swept over Klet¡¯¡¯s sturdy shoulders, making him quite uncomfortable. ¡°Still shy?¡± Klet¡¯s low, smoky voice carried a hint of teasing, and Shen Siwei belatedly realized that Klet was doing it on purpose. He calmly stepped into the pool and sat next to Klet, saying lightly, ¡°So, this is where you wanted to go when you said ¡®somewhere else¡¯ on the rooftop?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Klet stretched his arms, placing them on the edge of the pool behind Shen Siwei. ¡°How is it?¡± He didn¡¯t explicitly mention what ¡°it¡± referred to, but Shen Siwei knew he was referring to the lurking beast in a certain place. Shen Siwei took a quick glance, feeling a stormy sensation inside him, but he casually replied, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± A sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu suddenly emerged, and Shen Siwei faintly realized that he had been startled by this ¡®thing¡¯ before. Strange, just a moment ago, Klet took him to so many places, and he felt nothing. Why did he have a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu with such inappropriate things? ¡°Is that so?¡± Klet didn¡¯t pay much attention to Shen Siwei¡¯s dismissive evaluation. He extended his legs comfortably and said, ¡°You used to envy my size.¡± The solid legs created ripples in the water, and the toned lines tightened at the knees, as if the explosive force was being neutralized by the gentle water waves. Shen Siwei was stunned, and his reaction was slightly delayed. ¡°What?¡± He immediately regained his composure and frowned, saying, ¡°How could I have said such a thing?¡± Klet chuckled, his voice husky. Shen Siwei narrowed his eyes. ¡°Are you lying to me?¡± ¡°No.¡± Klet restrained his laughter, speaking sincerely, ¡°You¡¯ve even called me your husband.¡± This time, Shen Siwei was completely sure. This person was taking advantage of the fact that he couldn¡¯t remember and was talking nonsense. He raised an eyebrow, openly expressing doubt. ¡°Husband?¡± Little did he know that Klet would continue smoothly, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You really know how to push it.¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s anger flared up. He turned half his body, pinching Klet¡¯s cheek. ¡°Why didn¡¯t I know you had such thick skin before?¡± He didn¡¯t exert any force with his grip, so Klet easily held his wrist, pulling his hand away and then pulling him into his embrace. The ripples in the pool gradually calmed, but Shen Siwei¡¯s heartbeat quickened. Although he often used words like ¡°little kid¡± or ¡°brat¡± to describe Klet, he couldn¡¯t deny that whenever Klet hugged him, he felt an unparalleled sense of security, as if he didn¡¯t have to worry even if the sky were to fall. ¡°Shen,¡± Klet called out in a low voice. ¡°Yeah,¡± Shen Siwei softly responded. ¡°Let¡¯s go wandering. I¡¯ll take you to every place on my tattoos. Let¡¯s forget about the past and create new memories together.¡± The low, resonant voice lingered in his ears, depicting a future that Shen Siwei also yearned for. But instead of responding, he fell into silence. ¡°Shen?¡± Klet called again. ¡°Do you have any childhood photos?¡± Shen Siwei suddenly asked. ¡°No,¡± Klet showed a puzzled expression. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°In that case, I can¡¯t go wandering with you,¡± Shen Siwei sighed, meeting Klet¡¯s gaze. ¡°I need to go back and retrieve my memories.¡± Klet immediately changed his expression. ¡°I won¡¯t allow it.¡± ¡°When we first met, you were only five years old,¡± Shen Siwei said slowly. ¡°That memory is important not only to you but also to me.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Klet furrowed his brow. It doesn¡¯t matter if you can¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°It does matter,¡± Shen Siwei emphasized, his tone firm. ¡°Including the memories from five years ago, I want to retrieve them all.¡± Klet visibly grew agitated. ¡°I finally found you, and do you understand that I can¡¯t lose you again?¡± ¡°Now that I¡¯m no longer under Moran¡¯s control, don¡¯t you have confidence in me?¡± Both of their faces looked gloomy, and neither was willing to back down. Unlike a surgery, Shen Siwei didn¡¯t want to compromise. And Klet seemed to sense his determination, taking a deep breath and softening his tone. ¡°Can¡¯t we just be together like this?¡± ¡°Do you want the complete me or the incomplete me?¡± Shen Siwei asked. Even though he had freed himself from Moran¡¯s control, he still felt 1% incomplete, which made him sluggish and unsure how to reciprocate Klet¡¯s intense emotions. Klet fell silent again, his face clearly showing displeasure. Sighing, Shen Siwei said, ¡°I¡¯ve been staying at the Technology Building, and Moran will call to inquire tonight at the latest. As long as I report back, I¡¯ll be able to get close to the central control panel. You have to trust that I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Klet still furrowed his brow. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Shen Siwei lost his temper. ¡°You¡¯re a wanted criminal. You can¡¯t even access the second floor, so how can you go to the third floor?¡± Klet¡¯s face turned dark, and he didn¡¯t respond. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing that has been bothering me,¡± Shen Siwei continued. ¡°I need to find Amor. I can¡¯t let go of what happened after reading Amor¡¯s diary and seeing Li¡¯s tragic state.¡± ¡°What if you can¡¯t find him?¡± Klet asked. ¡°If I can¡¯t find him, I¡¯ll come back.¡± After gaining control over the chip, Shen Siwei wouldn¡¯t be forced into sleep anymore. His skin was also impervious to blades and bullets, making it difficult for Moran to harm him again. Klet remained silent for a while before speaking slowly, ¡°Fine.¡± Although he eventually agreed to it, his expression clearly showed his unwillingness. He was only yielding to Shen Siwei. Shen Siwei soothingly rubbed Klet¡¯s head and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely come back.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t come back,¡± Klet said with a serious gaze, ¡°I¡¯ll turn the world upside down.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Although he felt it was unlikely, Shen Siwei still agreed. ¡°I¡¯m not joking,¡± Klet looked straight into Shen Siwei¡¯s eyes. ¡°If you don¡¯t return to me, I don¡¯t care if the world is destroyed.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Shen Siwei responded to his words, ¡°If we can¡¯t be together, then we¡¯ll bury the whole world together.¡± After saying that, he added, ¡°So, for the sake of world peace, rest assured, I will definitely return to your side.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Klet¡¯s expression finally improved somewhat. Finally, after appeasing him, Shen Siwei had the opportunity to look at the tattoo on Klet¡¯s chest and asked, ¡°I wanted to ask earlier, is the tattoo here a person?¡± Klet lowered his gaze and glanced at it, casually saying, ¡°No, it¡¯s just a despicable gorilla. CH 53 When Shen Siwei and klet returned to the barbershop, there was only Malken left in the living room. Leizhe had other matters to attend to and asked Malken to relay a message to Shen Siwei and klet before returning to the Life Tree. klet returned the motorcycle key to Malken and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going back with him?¡± ¡°I still have some research to do,¡± Malken said, spinning his chair and addressing Shen Siwei, ¡°negotiator , come and take a look at this.¡± At that moment, Shen Siwei who was packing his backpack, paused and approached the desk, where he saw a design drawing on the desktop and display screen. It looked like some sort of spider-like thing. ¡°My mentor and I have been considering this. Since your cardiopulmonary function cannot be restored, we can start from the oxygen mask,¡± Malken said, turning his stylus pen. ¡°Oxygen doesn¡¯t necessarily have to come from the outside. For example, we can implant this spider-like capsule in your oral cavity, so you won¡¯t need to wear the oxygen mask anymore.¡± Shen Siwei and klet exclaimed in unison, ¡°Spider-like capsule?¡± ¡°I just came up with the name casually,¡± Malken said. ¡°Its main component is still a compressed oxygen capsule, the same as the one in your mask. But I can compress its volume even smaller and install four fixed brackets on each side to anchor it deep in your oral cavity.¡± ¡°That sounds good,¡± Shen Siwei pondered. ¡°However, it¡¯s currently just a concept,¡± Malken said, stroking his chin. ¡°Whether it can be made is still a question.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s no time left,¡± klet frowned. ¡°He needs to go back up now.¡± ¡°Go back?¡± Malken looked surprised. ¡°Yes, there are some matters to attend to,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°But aren¡¯t you afraid¡­¡± Malken didn¡¯t finish the sentence, but Shen Siwei knew he was referring to the possibility of losing his memories again. ¡°I will be careful,¡± Shen Siwei said. Klet remained silent and didn¡¯t express his opinion, but it was evident that he was in a bad mood. ¡°How about this?¡± Malken suggested. ¡°Although we can¡¯t make the fixed brackets in a short time, I can still try to compress the oxygen capsule and implant it in your teeth. Do you want to give it a try?¡± Shen Siwei glanced at the time and asked, ¡°How long will it take?¡± ¡°About half an hour,¡± Malken said. ¡°Alright.¡± Since Shen Siwei¡¯s body had undergone so many modifications, he didn¡¯t mind trying out this new thing. Malken went to his workshop to start working, while Shen Siwei and klet went outside the barbershop and placed the batteries in the aircraft¡¯s trunk. It would take a whole day to return from here to the Technology Building, which meant that Shen Siwei and klet would be parting ways after one day. Klet still didn¡¯t say much, but when Shen Siwei installed the eighth battery, he couldn¡¯t hold back and asked, ¡°Do you really need to bring so many batteries?¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t say much, ¡°The more, the better.¡± klet seemed persistent and asked, ¡°Are you really leaving?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree on it?¡± Shen Siwei replied. ¡°I want to change my mind.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be stubborn.¡± Shen Siwei glanced at the time, finished packing his backpack, and checked the aircraft. It had been exactly half an hour. Just then, klet¡¯s communicator rang, and he glanced at it, saying, ¡°Malken is calling us down.¡± In just half an hour, Malken¡¯s face was covered in black ash, and a few strands of his hair were burnt. He spread his palm, indicating the small object about the size of a grain of rice in his hand. ¡°It might be uncomfortable to implant it in your teeth. Are you sure you want to try?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already made it,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try.¡± Whether it worked or not, trying it out wouldn¡¯t hurt. klet asked, ¡°How do you use this thing?¡± ¡°I will implant it at the back molar of his teeth, leaving a release port. He just needs to bite down, and the compressed capsule will start releasing high-concentration oxygen,¡± Malken paused and added, ¡°However, this is just an experimental prototype. The release port cannot control the amount of gas expelled, so we don¡¯t know how long it will last.¡± ¡°Can it last for ten seconds?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°It should be fine,¡± Malken said. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Ten seconds would be enough time for Shen Siwei to escape. klet seemed to have realized this point as well, and his darkened expression finally eased. Implanting the compressed capsule into his teeth didn¡¯t take much time, and Shen Siwei was grateful that his teeth hadn¡¯t undergone any modifications. The sensation of a foreign object in the back molar was noticable but not unbearable. After bidding farewell to Malken, Shen Siwei and klet boarded the aircraft and headed south. With enough supply of batteries, the aircraft maintained maximum power throughout the journey. Perhaps due to the impending separation, neither of them rested and silently stuck beside each other. After half a day, just before the sunset, they finally reached the city center of the southern ruins. The aircraft¡¯s engine needed cleaning and maintenance, so klet parked it in its usual spot¡ªthe rooftop of the museum. The sky had already been dyed orange-red by the setting sun, and more and more strange birds circled in the air, signaling the approaching night. While Klet set the engine¡¯s self-cleaning program, Shen Siwei went to the trunk and took out the extra batteries, asking klet, ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± klet pressed the start button and turned to Shen Siwei with a puzzled expression. ¡°What are you doing with the batteries?¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°We¡¯re going to the amusement park.¡± Klet paused for a moment, trying to understand, and quickly understood what Shen Siwei meant. The amusement park was just on the next street. There were some small monsters swaying on the road, but both of them managed to avoid them. Once they entered the amusement park, klet couldn¡¯t help but ask with some disbelief, ¡°Are you going to ride the Ferris wheel with me?¡± Shen Siwei found the power cord of the Ferris wheel and connected it to the batteries, then pressed the switch. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯ll work.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the huge wheel began to flicker with neon lights, reflecting in klet¡¯s deep eyes like stars twinkling in the night. He stood still, looking at the Ferris wheel before him, his expression moved as if he had received the best gift. Fortunately, they didn¡¯t carry all those batteries for nothing. Shen Siwei clapped his hands to dust off the dirt and asked, ¡°Are you getting on?¡± klet didn¡¯t respond with words. Instead, he directly grabbed Shen Siwei¡¯s wrist and entered the cabin of the Ferris wheel. The cabin they chose had an underwater theme, painted in azure blue, with decorations such as sardines and starfish on the walls. However, due to how long it had been abandoned, those things were covered in a thick layer of dust. ¡°Isn¡¯t that your favorite Patrick Star?¡± Shen Siwei raised his chin and pointed to a decoration on the wall, teasing klet. klet glanced at it, knowing that Shen Siwei was joking, and furrowed his brows slightly. ¡°His name is actually Patrick Star, and as a punishment, you have to watch SpongeBob with me for a whole day.¡± Shen Siwei smiled and added that to his list of things to do. The cabin slowly rose into the air, and the view became increasingly vast. klet kept looking outside with curiosity. However, after the sunset, the city turned into darkness, and there were no lively city nightscapes to enjoy. Not only were there no night views to appreciate, but the only lit-up Ferris wheel in the city became the target of the monsters. From a distance, countless dark figures surged from all directions like seawater. Even though Shen Siwei had an indestructible body, seeing this apocalyptic scene made him worry a bit because klet was not immune to harm like he was. ¡°should we leave?¡± Shen Siwei held klet¡¯s wrist and asked. ¡°Just a little longer,¡± klet was obviously reluctant to give up this rare opportunity to ride the Ferris wheel. ¡°I want to see the top.¡± The huge distorted spider was approaching, dragging its ten heavy legs slowly towards the Ferris wheel. Under it, many distorted monsters came from sewers and buildings, covering the city¡¯s streets. The lower half of the Ferris wheel was completely covered by the dark shadows, and the shadows were gradually approaching them. Shen Siwei glanced at the situation outside the window and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t we leaving yet?¡± ¡°Just a little longer,¡± Klet said. The top was closer, but the rats that climbed quickly had already occupied the cabins in front of their cabin. The sound of gnawing metal echoed around, and even in the cabin where the two were, rats appeared. Finally, the cabin reached the top of the Ferris wheel. Klet looked out the window and spoke with a hint of regret, ¡°If this place wasn¡¯t abandoned, the cityscape would be so beautiful at night.¡± Shen Siwei had ridden the Ferris wheel many times and didn¡¯t feel as regretful as Klet. He shot and killed the rats that kept swarming up without pause, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Klet finally withdrew his gaze. ¡°Okay.¡± At that point, the cabin was hanging on the iron frame, swaying and would fall at any moment. Shen Siwei kicked open the cabin door that had been damaged by the rats and extended his arm to Klet. ¡°I¡¯ll take you down.¡± The top of the Ferris wheel was about ten stories high from the ground. Shen Siwei could have jumped directly, but he couldn¡¯t leave Klet. However, what he didn¡¯t expect was that Klet said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me,¡± and then climbed out of the cabin, leaping onto a nearby parachute jump tower. The height of the parachute jump tower was lower than the Ferris wheel, and after a short pause there, Klet ran down along the tower and then jumped down with a powerful push from his legs, landing smoothly on the ground. Before, when Shen Siwei kicked Klet fifty meters away, he thought it was because the ice was too slippery and he didn¡¯t use much force. But now, it seemed that Klet¡¯s physical abilities were much stronger than he had imagined. The number of rats around increased. Shen Siwei didn¡¯t think much and jumped from the top of the Ferris wheel. Klet killed several mutated monsters and cleared an open space. The two successfully met and started moving towards the museum. But unfortunately, a spider blocked their way. Its large pointed legs dropped from the air like cones, heading straight for the two. Shen Siwei jumped to the side and then leaped up without pausing, using a dagger to cut off one of the spider¡¯s legs. However, in the next moment, the spider spewed out a huge web, seemingly about to trap Shen Siwei. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t dodge in time and was about to be caught in the web. But at that moment, Klet suddenly jumped over from the side of a building, embracing him and avoiding the spider¡¯s attack. The two rolled several times on a rooftop until they finally stopped. Klet furrowed his brow and said, ¡®Don¡¯t attack without understanding the monster¡¯s characteristics.¡¯ Shen Siwei had never been scolded by anyone before, he curiously asked, ¡®How did you become so skilled?¡¯ Klet stood up, brushed off the dust from his body, and casually said, ¡®I¡¯m an evolved species. Don¡¯t you believe it?¡¯ Shen Siwei slightly frowned, ¡®Is that so?¡¯ Klet was the first newborn after the declaration was signed. Unlike ordinary people, at least in the fertilized egg stage, he had to beat the limitations of medicine to have a chance of becoming an embryo. In that sense, Klet could indeed be considered an evolved species. However, Shen Siwei still found it strange. Did all newborns have the physical qualities like Klet? ¡°Well, I¡¯m not a monster though,¡± Klet said, and at that moment, the spider¡¯s long legs rushed towards them again. Shen Siwei and Klet didn¡¯t stay to fight but instead maneuvered through the buildings, quickly returning to the rooftop of the museum. The lights of the Ferris wheel in the deserted city seemed to attract the mutated monsters but even though the lights had disappeared, the bloodthirsty monsters showed no signs of retreating. Fortunately, the engine had been cleaned and maintained. The two returned to the aircraft and continued towards the technology building by the coastline. ¡°They indeed are attracted by lights,¡± Shen Siwei relaxed and thought about the habits of the deep-sea monster. ¡°Are all mutated monsters like this?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Klet increased the cruising altitude of the aircraft. ¡°Besides this common trait, they also have different characteristics. I¡¯ll explain them to you when we have a chance.¡± Suddenly, Shen Siwei thought of Amor¡¯s diary. He said that the depth of a person couldn¡¯t be measured solely by how much they read. Sometimes life experiences could shape a person¡¯s knowledge reserves. Clearly, Klet was like that. Perhaps when it came to creatures outside the Tree of Life, no one understood them better than him. After all, he was the only one who had figured out the habits of the deep-sea monsters. ¡°You seem like a biologist,¡± Shen Siwei turned his head to look at Klet and suddenly yearned to travel with him. But it was just a passing thought. After all, the matter at hand was not yet resolved, and he could only postpone this plan. ¡°A biologist, huh?¡± Klet seemed interested in this new identity and said, ¡°Or maybe call it a monsterologist, even cooler.¡± Shen Siwei smiled, ¡°You¡¯re the coolest.¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s communicator suddenly vibrated. He suppressed the smile on his lips and said to Klet, ¡°It¡¯s Moran.¡± CH 54 ¡°Press the button and then turn on loudspeaker¡±. Moran¡¯s voice echoed in the aircraft cabin. ¡°Are you still at the Technology Tower?¡± Moran asked. ¡°Your location has been the same for two to three days.¡± ¡°The Technology Tower has over a hundred floors, and I¡¯m still searching for clues floor by floor,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°Have you found any clues?¡± Moran asked again. ¡°No,¡± Shen Siwei pretended to be reluctant. ¡°It seems like the trail has gone cold.¡± ¡°Then come back,¡± Moran¡¯s tone conveyed a sense of ease. ¡°I told you earlier that the hope of finding Amor is slim.¡± Shen Siwei sighed slightly and said, ¡°Alright.¡± Moran then informed Shen he would send an aircraft from the Tree of Life to pick him up, the speed of the aircraft was several times faster than that of their aircraft. So when Shen Siwei and Klet arrived at the Technology Tower, the aircraft would arrive around the same time. ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem suspicious,¡± Klet raised the engine to maximum power. Shen Siwei adjusted his posture and said, ¡°He¡¯s not a very detailed person.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t he your superior?¡± After setting the autopilot, Klet freed his hands temporarily. ¡°To have that top position in the military, one should have some skills, right?.¡± ¡°He comes from a wealthy background,¡± Shen Siwei hinted. ¡°His elder brother is a three-layer political figure.¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s mother was a designer at the power station, which sounded impressive, but she had no connection to the world of fame and wealth. She was just an ordinary person with a slightly higher social status. ¡°I see,¡± Klet wore a pensive expression. Although he didn¡¯t explicitly say it, Shen Siwei could tell that Klet seemed relieved to hear that Moran wasn¡¯t that detailed and smart. Before sunrise the next day, Shen Siwei and Klet arrived at the Technology Tower ahead of time. The aircraft hadn¡¯t arrived yet, and Amor and Li¡¯s aircraft was still parked there. To avoid raising suspicion from the military aircraft pilots, Klet parked the aircraft in the adjacent building. Shen Siwei went back to his mother¡¯s office, returned the identity information card into his wrist, then met up with Klet and waited on the rooftop for the aircraft to arrive. Time passed slowly, and the vast sea presented itself in a deep black, seemingly distant like an abyss. But not long after, the sea near the horizon began to shimmer with specks of golden light, and the sun gradually peeked out from below the horizon. In an instant, the dark sea suddenly became bright, birds circled in the air, and fish leaped out of the water. Shen Siwei sat on the edge of the rooftop, the sunlight sprinkled on his black hair, adding a warm filter. He leaned back, resting his forehead against Klet¡¯s neck, and murmured, ¡°It¡¯s beautiful.¡± Klet held Shen Siwei tightly and whispered, ¡°There are even more beautiful places. I¡¯ll take you there in the future.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Shen Siwei lazily responded, lifting his chin to look at Klet. ¡°I have to go now.¡± Klet lowered his gaze slightly. ¡°I know.¡± Shen Siwei took off his oxygen mask. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to¨C¡° Before he could finish his sentence, Klet¡¯s lips had already covered his. The parting kiss lacked a bit of aggression, carrying a strong sense of reluctance and sadness. Klet was usually easily impatient, but it felt like all his tenderness was poured into the kiss. Shen Siwei didn¡¯t want to interrupt the kiss, so he endured being kissed until his head spun, until he saw stars in his eyes, but he still persisted. Fortunately, Klet noticed Shen Siwei becoming drowsy. He let go of him and asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Shen Siwei put his mask back on, weakly nodding. Klet frowned slightly, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes. ¡°How can we do other things in the future if you¡¯re like this?¡± Shen Siwei replied ¡°Other things?¡± Before Klet could reply, the sound of engines suddenly roared from the sky. Shen Siwei¡¯s expression changed. ¡°They¡¯re here.¡± The two immediately left the rooftop and came to a secluded hallway. Klet hid in the hallway, holding onto Shen Siwei¡¯s wrist and not letting go. ¡°You must come back.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Shen Siwei assured, looking up at the sky. The silhouette of the aircraft was faintly visible. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you to come back,¡± Klet¡¯s face turned serious. ¡°I know,¡± Shen Siwei nodded, then transformed back into his chestnut-haired, green-eyed form. The aircraft¡¯s speed was extremely fast, landing directly above the Technology Tower in less than two seconds. It slowly landed at the center of the rooftop, and two pilots alighted. ¡°Captain Shen, we were ordered to pick you up,¡± one of them said. Shen Siwei nodded slightly, calmly walking into the aircraft. The two pilots then returned to their seats, and the still-running aircraft headed straight back to the Tree of Life. As the aircraft flew away from the Technology Tower, Shen Siwei casually looked out the window, and there he saw Klet hiding in the hallway, his gaze always following the direction of the aircraft. A large piece of his heart seemed to be forcefully ripped out, and a feeling of reluctance swept over Shen Siwei in an instant. He forced himself to avoid his gaze, calmly looking straight ahead. The two pilots communicated with each other but later remained silent, showing no intention of conversing with Shen Siwei, perhaps because of Moran¡¯s instructions. Shen Siwei intended to close his eyes and rest, but at that moment, his communicator suddenly rang. Seeing that it was Leizhe calling, Shen Siwei was startled and quickly ended the call, sending a message instead. [Shen Siwei: Not a good time.] [Leizhe: Captain, I just found out that you¡¯re going back.] [Leizhe: Are you going back to Moran¡¯s side?] After disabling message notifications, Shen Siwei calmly replied. [Shen Siwei: Yes.] [Leizhe: I have a favor to ask. I have a partner named Avis. He voluntarily went undercover by Moran¡¯s side to find that agreement, but I haven¡¯t heard from him in a while. Since you¡¯re going back, could you help me find him?] Avis? Shen Siwei recalled what Klet had mentioned before about Avis who was a hacker and couldn¡¯t find that agreement anywhere on the internet. [Shen Siwei: Alright.] [Leizhe: Please be careful.] After Shen Siwei deleted the call and message records, he raised his gaze lightly. At this moment, he suddenly noticed that the two people sitting in front of him were slightly tilting their heads, clearly paying attention to his actions. It seemed that Moran had instructed the two to observe Shen Siwei for any strange behavior. Shen Siwei had wanted to find an opportunity to talk to those two people, and now was the perfect time. He decided to speak up, ¡°Which unit do you belong to?¡± Both of them simultaneously straightened their heads, looking straight ahead without any intention of responding. Shen Siwei waited for a moment and then said sternly, ¡°Are you sure you are here to pick me up?¡± His tone revealed a strong sense of alertness, as if if no one replied, he would take action to verify their identities. The person in the copilot seat quickly said, ¡°Captain Shen, we are both members of the operational team.¡± Shen Siwei remained cold-faced, ¡°Is it that difficult to answer my question?¡± ¡°No,¡± the person looked embarrassed, ¡°You¡¯re too legendary, I¡¯m a bit hesitant to talk to you.¡± His words seemed sincere, but Shen Siwei knew clearly that their lack of response earlier was a sign of not wanting to defy Moran¡¯s orders, not admiration. He casually continued the conversation, ¡°What makes me legendary?¡± ¡°Just¡­ incredibly strong combat and fighting abilities,¡± the co pilot said, ¡°we wouldn¡¯t do anything to offend or anger you¡± It still sounded like flattery and pleasing words, but Shen Siwei immediately sensed something was wrong. ¡°We are all members of the same unit,¡± he said, ¡°What could you say that would anger me?¡± Shen Siwei wasn¡¯t an unreasonable person. If it was just a normal conversation, how could he then get angry for no reason? In that case, Moran¡¯s instructions to those two must have been to not speak unnecessary words to Shen Siwei, and they chose to remain silent to avoid slipping up. The copilot seemed to realize that he hadn¡¯t answered well, and exchanged a glance with the driver. The driver then took over the conversation, ¡°After all, we are not very familiar with you and don¡¯t know your nature.¡± Shen Siwei decided to stop there and didn¡¯t continue to press the matter. He changed the topic, ¡°Have you been to the Southern Ruins before?¡± The driver responded in a straightforward manner, ¡°Yes, we have.¡± ¡°Did you go there on a mission?¡± Finally, Shen Siwei asked the question he wanted to ask the most. He was actually trying to extract information about Amor from them through their conversation, but now the two in front didn¡¯t respond again. The driver slightly lowered his chin, his gaze seemingly focused on his hands, not knowing what he was doing. Shen Siwei discreetly observed the situation, but just then, his brain received a command to ¡°sleep.¡± ¡ªIt was Moran forcing him into sleep. This situation occurred earlier than Shen Siwei had expected. Was he really too impulsive? In any case, he had no choice but to follow the command, closing his eyes and pretending to fall asleep against the backrest. ¡°That was close,¡± the copilot let out a sigh of relief, ¡°I was afraid he would destroy the aircraft with his bare hands like last time.¡± ¡°Last time, was tragic. It should be fine this time,¡± the driver said. ¡°But he asked if we had been on a mission,¡± the copilot approached Shen Siwei, ¡°Don¡¯t you think he might have already figured out that we took Amor away?¡± ¡°If he was asking he didn¡¯t have any valuable information, probably just based on suspicion,¡± the driver said, ¡°As long as we get through this journey, we won¡¯t have any problems.¡± ¡°This is the riskiest mission I¡¯ve ever done,¡± the copilot removed Shen Siwei¡¯s oxygen mask, ¡°I fucking felt like I was sitting next to a time bomb.¡± ¡°Now there¡¯s nothing to worry about,¡± the driver said, ¡°I told Colonel Moran that he was talking to us all the time, just in case, it¡¯s better to let him sleep.¡± ¡°There¡¯s this thing too,¡± the copilot tossed the oxygen mask up and down, then returned to his seat, ¡°Now there should be no problems.¡± Shen Siwei had considered that maybe when he returned to the third-floor laboratory, he could directly kill Moran and retrieve his memories from the central control console. But that desperate approach carried risks. First, he wasn¡¯t sure if his memories were actually stored in the central control console. Second, he had to consider Amor¡¯s situation. If he killed Moran, he might never find Amor again. Of course, he could inform Miller about Amor¡¯s situation and let Miller find him on his own. But what Miller¡¯s reaction would be to him killing a Colonel in the military was still unknown. This added to the uncertainty. After all, Shen Siwei still had the weakness of needing to breathe. If Miller had some unknown means to demagnetize his mask, it would be troublesome. So, after much thought, the safest approach was to stick to the original plan. Even if Shen Siwei¡¯s mask was removed, since he was no longer under chip control, he had a lot of room to escape in any situation. However¡ª Shen Siwei still didn¡¯t expect that his mask would be removed so soon. Retrieving his memories, finding Amor, and now having to find Avis, this return seemed much more complicated than Shen Siwei had imagined¡­ CH 55 At the top of the Tree of Life, in Miller¡¯s private study. The white clouds outside the window were dull, not as vibrant as the holographic projections of vegetation and lake water. Miller put down his stylus pen, and looked at Moran standing in front of the desk. ¡°Captain Shen didn¡¯t find Amor?¡± Miller asked. ¡°No,¡± Moran bowed slightly. ¡°Professor Amor is likely in great danger.¡± Miller let out a heavy sigh and leaned back in his chair. ¡°Have Captain Shen report to me personally.¡± ¡°Alright, he should be here soon,¡± Moran replied, looking at his wrist to check the time. Then he changed the subject abruptly, ¡°General, we need to test him first to ensure that he hasn¡¯t undergone any changes after going to the lower levels for the mission.¡± ¡°Are you afraid he might betray us again?¡± Miller furrowed his brows impatiently. ¡°If there¡¯s another problem, there¡¯s no need to continue this experiment.¡± Moran lowered his body even further. ¡°Yes, General.¡± The aircraft landed in the open space in front of the laboratory, and the researchers who had been waiting there carried Captain Shen Siwei on a stretcher into the lab. Although Shen Siwei was conscious throughout the entire journey, he pretended to be asleep, keeping his brain in an inactive state. After a thorough examination, the researchers left, leaving only Dr. Chen in the laboratory. He sat in front of his workstation, recording his work log in front of the camera. After a while, the lifting door opened, and Moran walked in. ¡°Colonel,¡± Dr. Chen quickly stood up to welcome him. ¡°How is he?¡± Moran approached the life capsule. ¡°Everything is normal. There were no errors this time,¡± Dr. Chen pushed his glasses and asked, ¡°Shall we start repairing his cardiopulmonary system?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± Moran walked around the head of the life capsule, took off his gloves, and ran his index finger across Shen Siwei¡¯s cheek. ¡°Wake him up. I have questions for him.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Dr. Chen walked to the control panel and pressed the buttons on the tabletop. The control chip in Shen Siwei¡¯s brain immediately received the command to ¡°wake up.¡± He moved his eyes and slowly opened his eyelids. In his field of vision, he saw Moran¡¯s concerned face, where false and real memories overlapped, momentarily confusing Shen Siwei. He sat up and looked around, saying, ¡°Is this¡­ the laboratory?¡± ¡°Yes, you must have been tired and fallen asleep on the way,¡± Moran said, leaning down as if to carry Shen Siwei. Despite a strong resistance in his heart, Shen Siwei obediently raised his arm and embraced Moran¡¯s neck. ¡°About the trip to the lower levels, do you have any more updates?¡± Moran placed Shen Siwei on a chair nearby. ¡°No,¡± Shen Siwei shook his head, looking at Moran and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s my mask?¡± His tone was natural, and the question was reasonable. The mask was important to him, and he would naturally look for it after waking up. ¡°Oh, it has been upgraded,¡± Moran said casually, then immediately changed the topic, ¡°You stayed in the Tech Building for so many days, but didn¡¯t find any trace of Amor?¡± As he said that, he added with a hidden meaning, ¡°The progress was impressive at the beginning.¡± Shen Siwei understood the implied message from Moran. It meant that his initial progress was smooth, and he almost found the Tech Building without any delay.. However, he stayed at the Technology Building for a few days, which was indeed somewhat unusual. ¡°To be honest, the clues were lost as soon as I arrived at the Technology Building,¡± Shen Siwei lowered his head and said regretfully. ¡°But I was unwilling to give up and wanted to continue searching.¡± His acting skills apparently made Moran drop his guard, and he only heard Moran say, ¡°I understand. After sleeping for so long, it¡¯s natural to want to achieve some results on your first mission.¡± Shen Siwei nodded, ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t force yourself if you can¡¯t find him,¡± Moran brushed aside the stray hair on Shen Siwei¡¯s forehead with his hand. ¡°General Miller wants to hear your report in person. Rest well tonight, and we¡¯ll go to the top floor together tomorrow.¡± Shen Siwei hadn¡¯t expected this. When he found out that Moran took Amor away but didn¡¯t report it to Miller, Shen Siwei¡¯s first reaction was that he had to tell Miller about it. With Miller¡¯s status and position, pressuring Moran would surely reveal Amor¡¯s whereabouts easily. However, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t contact Miller earlier, which made him feel that the situation was difficult. But now that Moran wanted to take him to meet Miller, things became much easier. As long as he informed Miller of the true situation, Shen Siwei could basically stop worrying about Amor. However, the situation at that time would definitely be very chaotic, and who knows what would happen. Therefore, that night, Shen Siwei decided to retrieve his memories from the control center and try to find out any information about Avis. It only took a second for Shen Siwei to think about all this, and he obediently nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have someone fetch your mask,¡± Moran rubbed Shen Siwei¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Just wait a moment.¡± Things went much smoother than Shen Siwei expected. It seemed that Moran didn¡¯t have any suspicions about him and even wanted to give him the mask, unleashing his combat abilities. But it seemed that fate liked to play tricks on people. Just as the elevator door opened and the researcher held the familiar mask, about to enter the lab, Moran suddenly said, ¡°Oh, by the way, I heard from the team members that someone called you while bringing you back.¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s relaxed nerves tensed up instantly. To buy time, he intentionally slowed down his speech as the researcher approached, ¡°It was an unknown number, and I didn¡¯t answer.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Moran¡¯s expression didn¡¯t show any suspicion. ¡°Let me see what number it was.¡± Shen Siwei had already deleted the call and message, but he couldn¡¯t avoid answering completely. He maintained a calm demeanor and said, ¡°It seemed like a telemarketing call, so I deleted it.¡± ¡°You deleted it?¡± Moran raised an eyebrow, and a hint of doubt appeared in his eyes. He raised his hand to signal the researcher to stop, then glanced at him and asked, ¡°Why did you delete it?¡± Tension immediately filled the room as Shen Siwei estimated the distance between him and the researcher, and calmly said, ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone else in my communicator besides you.¡± At least on the surface, Shen Siwei and Moran were still in a romantic relationship. He wanted to emphasize this point to highlight that he was still on Moran¡¯s side, but Moran seemed to have suddenly become smarter and asked, ¡°Are you still going to say things like that?¡± Without changing his expression, Shen Siwei replied, ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Before the mission,¡± Moran slowly took a step and stood between Shen Siwei and the researcher, ¡°you didn¡¯t even want to stargaze with me.¡± Perhaps Moran was careless in some aspects, but it had to be admitted that he was very accurate in these details. Shen Siwei didn¡¯t seem like the kind of person who would say such things, and he didn¡¯t know if being with klet made him gradually more open in terms of emotions, but he himself was not aware of it. ¡°After I went down, I realized I didn¡¯t like being alone,¡± Shen Siwei could only choose to pretend. There were only a few meters between him and the researcher, but Moran stood in the middle. Without a doubt, Shen Siwei had no chance of getting his mask back. Sure enough, Moran waved his hand, signaling the researcher to leave, and the mask that was within reach flew away just like an uncooked duck. Suppressing his unease, Shen Siwei asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°You never make things easy,¡± Moran sighed regretfully, ¡°Last time when you went down, there were records of messages with someone else in your communicator. How about this time? Have you become smarter?¡± Shen Siwei was unsure if Moran had truly seen through his flaws or if he was just testing him. Either way, he could only continue pretending to be confused and asked, ¡°What do you mean by ¡®last time¡¯?¡± Moran observed Shen Siwei¡¯s expression as if trying to find some clues from his face. But in the end, he seemed undecided and simply raised his chin towards Dr. Chen. The ¡°sleep¡± command appeared once again, and Shen Siwei had to relax his entire body, lowering his head while sitting on the chair. ¡°Do you think he¡¯s acting suspicious?¡± Moran put Shen Siwei back into the life capsule. ¡°Yes,¡± Dr. Chen operated the control panel and projected a monitoring video in mid-air, ¡°I accessed the aircraft¡¯s recorder, and after he hung up the phone, he operated the communicator for a while, probably sending messages.¡± ¡°Tsk,¡± Moran frowned unhappily, ¡°Have the communication department retrieve the records.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already done that,¡± Dr. Chen said, ¡°It was from an anonymous number, we couldn¡¯t find anything.¡± ¡°So, he has regained his memories?¡± Moran¡¯s tone turned unpleasant, ¡°What¡¯s the wrong with your research, why does it keep failing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Dr. Chen hurriedly accessed the memory module, ¡°You can see that his missing memories are stored here, and no data has been lost.¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s wrong with him?¡± Moran asked. ¡°For now, it¡¯s still unclear,¡± Dr. Chen pushed his glasses, ¡°I need some time to investigate.¡± ¡°What if we don¡¯t have that much time?¡± Moran furrowed his brows, ¡°He contacted someone behind my back, indicating signs of rebellion. No need to investigate further, just reboot him.¡± ¡°Um, start over again?¡± Dr. Chen hesitated. ¡°Or do you have another idea?¡± Moran asked. Shen Siwei was messaging someone in the aircraft, keeping it a secret. This already indicated that he wasn¡¯t obedient. Regardless of the final results of the investigation, it was certain that his memories had to be erased. ¡°Fine,¡± Dr. Chen said. ¡°What about General Miller?¡± ¡°I will inform him of the true situation. Captain Shen may have betrayed us again,¡± Moran said. ¡°As for whether we should continue this project in the future, we¡¯ll see what he thinks.¡± ¡°What if he decides not to continue?¡± Dr. Chen expressed his concern. ¡°That won¡¯t affect you from rebooting Shen Siwei now,¡± Moran said firmly. Finally, Shen Siwei could confirm that his memories were stored in the central console. However, he couldn¡¯t help but worry. Perhaps the control chip couldn¡¯t stop the heavyweight ¡°reboot¡± command, but his concerns proved to be unnecessary. After the reboot program started running, Shen Siwei¡¯s brain remained unaffected, and he could clearly understand that the reboot program would take a total of six hours. After patiently waiting for two hours, Dr. Chen finally finished his other work, turned off the lights, and left the laboratory. In the spacious laboratory, only Shen Siwei remained, but he knew that the surveillance cameras were definitely still working. Infrared cameras could capture images in the dark, as long as someone was monitoring the laboratory, they could see Shen Siwei¡¯s every move. But then again, the guards shouldn¡¯t be specifically watching this laboratory. Moreover, according to Moran¡¯s intentions, it seemed like he wanted Shen Siwei to continue to sleep, so even if he chose a different time, Shen Siwei could only approach the central console at the risk of being caught on camera. He could only rely on luck. After using all his strength, Shen Siwei crawled out of the life pod and took a moment to catch his breath in the blind spot of the surveillance. Then he continued crawling towards the central console. Although the central console was only a few meters away from the life pod, climbing made Shen Siwei gasp for breath. He hid in the blind spot behind the central console, disconnected the connection between the mainframe and the display screen, and then connected the mainframe to his own microcomputer. Once he finished those actions, he used all his strength to crawl back to the blind spot behind the life pod, and then used his own computer to operate the central mainframe. Finding the memory module wasn¡¯t difficult, he just had to go through a few files, and Shen Siwei found it. Everything went smoothly from then on. The data began to transmit to Shen Siwei¡¯s brain, and his eyes started flashing countless short and long fragments of memory. However, just as the puzzle was about to be completed, familiar military boots suddenly sounded outside the laboratory. It was Moran. Why did he suddenly come back? Without much time to think, Shen Siwei quickly flipped back into the life pod, and just as he lay down, the hatch also opened simultaneously. Moran didn¡¯t turn on the lights and walked straight towards Shen Siwei. Unlike his usual loud footsteps, this time he seemed more cautious. Although the sound of his military boots was still audible, it didn¡¯t have the usual sense of gusty wind. Could it be that the guard noticed something wrong with the surveillance footage and notified Moran to come back? But Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t understand why Moran didn¡¯t turn on the lights and looked so sneaky. Moreover, from the moment Shen Siwei crawled out of the life pod until he crawled back, it only took a few minutes. Could it be that Moran had never left? The images of data reading flashed in his mind, and the progress bar kept changing¨C 75%, 78%, 85%, 90%¡­ As he watched the numbers about to reach 100%, Moran¡¯s footsteps also grew closer. If Moran opened the central console, he would notice that the screen was currently black, indicating a problem with the connection between the mainframe and the monitor. As long as Moran bent down and reconnected the disconnected data cable, the screen on the central console would display that the data from the memory module being transferred, and the progress bar was about to reach 100%. In that instant, Shen Siwei¡¯s heart almost jumped to his throat. He silently prayed for the data to transfer faster. However, just as the progress bar displayed 99%, Moran¡¯s footsteps stopped in front of the central console. CH 56 In the dark environment, the light from the screen was dazzling. After the footsteps stopped at the console, they headed straight towards Shen Siwei. In an instant, the numbers in his mind jumped from 99% to 100%. The lost memories, long and short, pieced together to complete the missing part for Shen Siwei. But he didn¡¯t dare to immerse himself in the regained memories, so he only concentrated on listening to Moran¡¯s movements. Finally, the footsteps stopped beside the life pod. The next second, two arms lifted Shen Siwei horizontally. He heard Moran suppressing excitement and whispering, ¡°Do you know how long I¡¯ve been waiting for this day?¡± In Moran¡¯s trembling voice, there was a hint of madness that Shen Siwei had never heard before. He pretended to still be asleep, but in his mind, he began to search for the past. It was then that he realized that Moran had pretended to be his lover for a second time. ¡ªIs it necessary to use the same trick twice? Various images then flashed uncontrollably in Shen Siwei¡¯s mind, such as the woman in red who fell in a pool of blood twenty-five years ago, and himself going crazy and killing the aircraft¡¯s pilots five years ago. A wave of anger surged, interupting Shen Siwei¡¯s steady breathing. Fortunately, Moran had been talking to himself and didn¡¯t notice Shen Siwei¡¯s abnormality. ¡°You are a failure. Every time you go on a mission, you¡¯re disobedient. Is there any need for modification? That guy, Dr. Chen, is not reliable at all. He always says he can control your memories, but he always messes up and is unwilling to harm your brain. His modifications can¡¯t meet my requirements at all.¡± The doors along the corridor opened one after another, and Moran carried Shen Siwei to the escape passage. ¡°The most brilliant thing I did in modifying you was having Dr. Chen add pigment particles to your body. This way, I can change your appearance at any time according to my will. Although your personality is still disobedient and not to my taste, it can be ignored as long as I can control you.¡± Shen Siwei gradually calmed down and suddenly remembered that when he was brought back last time, Moran had said that he wanted to keep him as a toy, but Shen Siwei was military property, so he couldn¡¯t do that. After passing through another door, the temperature dropped suddenly, and the oxygen concentration in the air decreased rapidly. Shen Siwei immediately felt a shortness of breath. If he guessed correctly, Moran had brought him to the rooftop of the research facility, and with Shen Siwei¡¯s cardiopulmonary function, he couldn¡¯t survive in the environment at six thousand meters above sea level. He furrowed his brow, unable to hide his natural suffocation reaction. Moran hastened his pace and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, darling. I¡¯ll take you to the aircraft.¡± Moran placed Shen Siwei in the co-pilot seat. At that point, Shen Siwei was certain that Moran had secretly come to the laboratory to steal him. ¡°We won¡¯t be discovered during the surveillance maintenance tonight,¡± Moran said as he started the aircraft. ¡°I¡¯ll take you home first, and later I¡¯ll come back to arrange the scene for your escape.¡± The temperature and oxygen concentration in the aircraft quickly increased, and Shen Siwei gradually regained his breath. He leaned against the back of the co-pilot seat like a doll, devoid of life, while mentally assessing the current situation. It seemed that it wasn¡¯t because guards had noticed something was wrong and informed Moran, but rather Moran knew that the surveillance in the laboratory would be undergoing maintenance at a certain time that night, so he specifically chose that time to act. Based on his words, he wanted to disguise himself as Shen Siwei and escape. However, temporarily hiding Shen Siwei in the aircraft was risky, so he decided to take him away first and then come back alone to set up the scene. Plans never keep up with changes, and Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t have imagined that Moran would play such a trick, making it impossible for him to see the direction things were heading. The aircraft gradually moved away from the laboratory, and Moran visibly relaxed, no longer suppressing the excitement in his tone. ¡°Do you know, my dear? I¡¯m truly a genius!¡± Shen Siwei listened helplessly to Moran¡¯s self-praise. ¡°Sending you on a mission, I was not worried at all that you¡¯ll betray me. If you betrayed me, it meant you¡¯re a complete failure, and I have the right to dispose of you as I please. If you didn¡¯t betray me, it meant you completely obeyed me, which is also a good result. So no matter how I look at it, you are mine.¡± Upon hearing this, Shen Siwei suddenly realized that Moran¡¯s trust in him wasn¡¯t because he believed in Dr. Chen¡¯s research results, but rather because it didn¡¯t matter to Moran whether he was betrayed or not. After all, Moran could retrieve him through the control chip and location information, so his choice was simply to let Moran decide how to possess him. ¡°Of course, if I had to choose, I would still lean towards the latter. I like it when others obey me, especially you, who never listen to me. As long as I see you submissive and obedient to me, I feel a sense of triumph.¡± If Shen Siwei hadn¡¯t remembered Sara and the bombing from five years ago, he might not have been so furious. But the blood pool in the rainy night and the hellish scene filled with thick smoke stimulated Shen Siwei¡¯s nerves. He had a momentary impulse to bite down on the microcapsule between his molars and send Moran to meet his maker. But with the thought of Amor and Avis still missing, he had to suppress the urge and continue listening to Moran¡¯s monologue. ¡°This time when you came back, I thought Dr. Chen¡¯s research had finally become reliable, but it turns out you still don¡¯t listen. It seems that making you obedient is really difficult. I¡¯ve given up and don¡¯t want to wait any longer. It¡¯s better to let you enrich my collection. What does it matter if your personality is unpleasant? As long as your appearance matches my aesthetic.¡± Enrich the collection? A strange thought flashed through Shen Siwei¡¯s mind, but at that moment, he only heard Moran say, ¡°Alright, darling, we¡¯re home.¡± The aircraft landed in the garage on the ground floor of the villa. Moran carried Shen Siwei horizontally, twisting and turning until they arrived at a dimly lit place. Then, the sound of identification verification and the opening of an elevator door could be heard. Shen Siwei suddenly realized that Moran was continuing to climb down some stairs while holding him. Shen Siwei was well aware that his mother¡¯s residence was also on the third floor, so he knew very well that it was not possible to build a basement in the upper levels of the Life Tree, as it could damage the main structure of the Life Tree. The fact that Moran¡¯s house had a basement made it easy to imagine that there were some weird things hidden inside. Finally, Moran brought Shen Siwei to a brightly lit room and placed him on a soft bed, gently stroking his cheek, saying, ¡°I¡¯m going back to destroy the central console now. That way, your communication signal and identity location will all disappear. When I come back, you¡¯ll belong to me completely.¡± After saying this, Moran left the room. The door opened and closed, leaving the room completely quiet. After waiting for about ten minutes, Shen Siwei finally opened his eyes and found himself in a white bedroom. Besides the bed, there was also a table, chairs, and a clothes rack in the bedroom. The rack was filled with all kinds of clothes, including uniforms, cosplay outfits, and even women¡¯s clothing. So, these were the clothes Moran had prepared for him? Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill, realizing that he had underestimated how disgusting Moran could be. He checked his communicator in the palm of his hand and found that the signal in the basement was very weak. When Moran entered the laboratory earlier, he paused in front of the central console, probably intending to destroy it immediately. However, he must have changed his mind and decided to bring Shen Siwei back home, fearing that something might happen and it would be difficult for him to leave. So he temporarily abandoned the central console and brought Shen Siwei home. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of fear. If Moran had really taken action earlier, he might never have recovered his memories. But now he couldn¡¯t let his guard down because once Moran returned to the laboratory to destroy his communication signal and identity location, he would be completely cut off from the outside world. Taking advantage of the time he still had, Shen Siwei took deep breaths and approached the door. The door was not a tightly secured elevator door, but a regular metal door with an electronic password lock, not much different from the ones used by the residents on the lower levels. It made sense, as elevator doors had structural requirements for the upper levels, and it was not possible to install an elevator door in the basement. Shen Siwei leaned against the door and rested for a while. When his breathing finally calmed down, he gathered all his strength and punched the password lock. The numeric keypad instantly sank in, making a buzzing sound of electricity, and the metal door swung open. Shen Siwei already knew the consequences of using extreme force. Previously, when Avis tried to kill him at Klet¡¯s place, he had kicked the dining table with great force. ¡ªThe feeling of regaining memories was really good. Some inexplicable subconscious thoughts and indescribable d¨¦j¨¤ vu moments were answered in the instant his memories returned. Half of Shen Siwei¡¯s body fell outside the door. He gasped for air, checked his communicator, and saw that the signal had somewhat improved since leaving the room. He dialed Klet¡¯s number, and as soon as the call tone rang once, he heard Klet¡¯s voice in his ear. ¡°Shen?¡± ¡°Ha¡­ha¡­¡± Shen Siwei was still panting and didn¡¯t have the strength to speak. ¡°Are you okay? Why are you panting like that? Where¡¯s your mask?¡± Klet bombarded him with questions, leaving Shen Siwei unsure of how to answer. After enduring the initial suffocation, even though Shen Siwei was still breathing heavily, he managed to regain the strength to speak. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Klet visibly breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°What¡¯s the situation now?¡± ¡°I might lose communication at any moment,¡± Shen Siwei gasped, intermittently saying, ¡°My memories¡­have returned. No need to worry.¡± ¡°Do you remember me?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Shen Siwei finally had the strength to climb up and leaned against the corner of the wall. He asked, ¡°Who do you think is the gorilla?¡± ¡°Um, well¡­¡± Klet stumbled for a moment, awkwardly changing the subject, ¡°When you¡¯re out of breath, don¡¯t let anyone see you. It could be dangerous.¡± Shen Siwei already knew this without Klet¡¯s reminder. If Moran came back and saw him like this, there was no doubt that he would lock him up and might even use an anesthetic gas to knock him out. ¡°I have an idea. It might help me find Amor,¡± Shen Siwei decided to settle the score with Klet later about calling him a gorilla. ¡°If I can contact Miller through Amor, then Moran won¡¯t be a threat anymore.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Klet said. ¡°Stay safe.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Shen Siwei hesitated. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Klet asked. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°Wait for me to come back.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the signal on the communicator suddenly disappeared. Even the microcomputer showed no network connection at all, indicating that Moran had returned to the laboratory and cut off Shen Siwei¡¯s external communication. Shen Siwei struggled to stand up against the wall, knowing that he didn¡¯t have much time left. CH 57 South District, City X, Nightingale Headquarters. In the dimly lit office, several people sat behind a long table, looking at Leizhe standing next to the projection. ¡°This is the current situation. The news about the agreement spread quickly and has already caught the attention of the authorities,¡± Leizhe leaned on the edge of the table, crossing his arms in front of his chest. ¡°Do any of you have anything to add?¡± A young man who still had a hint of youthfulness spoke up, ¡°Is there still no news about my brother?¡± ¡°Knock, I¡¯ve already asked my captain to find Avis for me.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Knock said with a worried frown, ¡°But being a negotiator is also dangerous, isn¡¯t it?¡± Leizhe let out a heavy sigh and turned to someone who had remained silent all along, ¡°Klet, are you alright?¡± Klet, who hadn¡¯t paid attention the whole time, seemed to have just heard Leizhe speaking and absentmindedly raised his gaze, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s continue to push forward,¡± Malken interjected, ¡°The negotiator is no longer under the control of the chip, so he should be fine.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Leizhe stood up straight, casually crossing his hands on his waist. ¡°Next, we will officially release the details of the agreement and hopefully the media cooperates fully.¡± It would take some time to set up the scene, but it should take no more than ten minutes at most. Adding the return journey, which would probably take about twenty minutes, the time left for Shen Siwei would be around half an hour. Back at Moran¡¯s place,,,, He weakly leaned against the wall, taking three steps and pausing, then five steps and resting, although he was getting more accustomed to the feeling of being unable to catch his breath, his speed still couldn¡¯t improve. After turning a corner, he saw a staircase leading to the upper level not far away. Shen Siwei had roughly figured out the layout of the basement, but finding Amor proved to be difficult. However, he noticed a room below the staircase that looked like a storage room. The door was unlocked, and a serene blue light shone through the crack. It looked like a workspace, and there might be some clues to be found. Gasping for breath, Shen Siwei reached the door. He glanced at the time; it had taken him about six or seven minutes to walk from the bedroom to the staircase. He pushed open the partially open door, and a small space appeared before his eyes. The wall facing the door was covered with surveillance screens, and Shen Siwei saw the bedroom he had just left. Moran¡¯s ¡°collection¡± was indeed extensive. One room was filled with proportionally scaled silicone dolls dressed in various beautiful clothes. Apart from that, the other rooms were filled with real people who looked exactly like Shen Siwei. He counted them; there were about six or seven young men with beautiful faces, and among them were Amor and Avis, whom he had been searching for. ¡°Pervert,¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but curse. He turned around and left the monitoring room, following the trail of the surveillance footage, he found the room where Amor and Avis were. ¡ªIt¡¯s not that he didn¡¯t want to save the others, but he was currently overwhelmed and could only focus his strength on the task at hand. After using all his strength to break a password lock, Shen Siwei collapsed by the open door, finally seeing Amor. Amor was sitting on the sofa, hugging his legs, wearing a crown made of straw, and dressed in Roman-style clothing. He looked like a piece of art displayed in a temple. ¡°Amor,¡± Shen Siwei gasped, calling out to him. He had many things he wanted to say to Amor, but Amor seemed as if he hadn¡¯t heard his voice. He continued to stare lifelessly, as if blocking out all signals from the outside world. ¡°Amor,¡± Shen Siwei called again, ¡°It¡¯s dangerous here. We must leave quickly.¡± Amor still didn¡¯t react, and if it weren¡¯t for the rising and falling of his chest, Shen Siwei would almost have mistaken him for a statue. ¡°I saw Li,¡± Shen Siwei had to bring out his trump card. Amor¡¯s eyes flickered at this, finally looking at Shen Siwei and moving his lips, ¡°He¡¯s already dead.¡± His voice was dry and parched, as if he hadn¡¯t spoken for a long time. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but empathize with him, imagining Klet being shot right in front of his eyes. He immediately felt suffocated and dizzy, quickly dispelling the thought. ¡°I know you¡¯re grieving, but we can only avenge Li by leaving this place,¡± Shen Siwei said, checking the time. Fifteen minutes had already passed, and Moran must be on his way back. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Amor withdrew his gaze, his eyes becoming empty and numb, ¡°This world is beyond salvation.¡± Things became a bit tricky, which Shen Siwei hadn¡¯t expected. Amor refused to leave with him. Without Amor¡¯s cooperation, given Shen Siwei¡¯s current condition, he couldn¡¯t take Amor away at all. Time seemed to be running faster with every passing second, and with each tick of the second hand, Shen Siwei grew more anxious. He didn¡¯t expect to convince Amor in a matter of minute, So he crawled up from the door, turned around, and went to look for Avis. collapsing in the same position for the third time, Shen Siwei¡¯s face had turned pale. He gasped for breath as if starved and thirsty, but whether it was due to physical exhaustion or not, the sense of suffocation this time was particularly strong. It made his vision darken, and he almost passed out. But just then, Avis rushed over and helped him up. ¡°Negotiator?!¡± After sitting up from the collapsed position, his breathing became much more stable. Shen Siwei tightly grasped Avis¡¯ arm with his five fingers and took a while to recover. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± It was only at this moment that Shen Siwei noticed Avis wearing a cheongsam, with arms and thighs covered in scars. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Avis wrapped Shen Siwei¡¯s arm around his shoulder, then circled his waist, supporting him. Although Avis was not strong and had also been injured, he was at least a grown man and had no problem supporting Shen Siwei as they walked. The snail-like pace finally picked up, and Shen Siwei temporarily breathed a sigh of relief, saying, ¡°I came to find you and Amor.¡± ¡°Amor?¡± ¡°No time for small talk. Moran will be back soon.¡± Shen Siwei pointed to the open room ahead. ¡°He refuses to leave. Help me drag him out.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Avis supported Shen Siwei and walked towards Amor¡¯s room, asking, ¡°Is he also one of Moran¡¯s collectibles?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Siwei replied. Amor had the typical appearance of a Marg. Thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a high nose bridge. Although Shen Siwei didn¡¯t know when Moran decided to kidnap him and use him for his collection, one thing was certain: Moran liked beautiful people, and Amor naturally fit his aesthetic. And from another perspective, perhaps the ancient Roman costumes prepared by Moran could only be worn with a classical sculptural beauty by Amor. ¡°That perverted son of a bitch, he only knows how to torment others when he can¡¯t get it up,¡± Avis cursed. ¡°He can¡¯t get it up?¡± Shen Siwei was somewhat surprised. ¡°Yeah, he can¡¯t get an erection.¡± Avis said, ¡°I couldn¡¯t find the legendary agreement online, so I thought of coming to the upper level to look for it. Leizhe knows where Moran likes to go for vacation, so I disguised myself as a service staff to get close to Moran. As a result, that pervert locked me up.¡± Suddenly, Shen Siwei remembered that before, Nightingale wanted to get rid of the Marg negotiator and Avis went undercover next to Klet. One had to admit that Shen Siwei admired Avis for having such courage. ¡°You¡¯re looking for the ¡®Life Tree Development Agreement,¡¯ right?¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°Nightingale has already got it.¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s great.¡± Avis grumbled, ¡°I really want to kill that bastard Moran.¡± As they talked, the two arrived at the door of Amor¡¯s room. However, Amor just glanced at them indifferently and began to gaze blankly again. ¡°Your father sent me to find you. I won¡¯t leave you here alone,¡± Shen Siwei raised his chin towards Amor, signaling Avis to pull him away. ¡°Father?¡± Amor moved his lips and a touch of sadness flashed in his eyes, as if mocking himself. ¡°In the end, I can¡¯t escape that family.¡± ¡°let¡¯s go quickly.¡± Avis took three or four steps and stood in front of Amor, pulling his arm, but Amor pushed him away. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me,¡± Amor frowned. ¡°Moran will be back soon. Do you want to be trapped here for the rest of your life?¡± Avis asked impatiently. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Avis looked helplessly at Shen Siwei, using his eyes to ask: Should we leave him here? Shen Siwei frowned and walked slowly towards Amor. ¡°Moran is the one who killed Li. How would Li feel if he knew you were trapped by Moran here?¡± ¡°No,¡± Amor said sadly, shaking his head. ¡°I killed Li. If he hadn¡¯t known me, he wouldn¡¯t have¡­¡± ¡°Slap!¡± Amor¡¯s second half of the sentence was drowned out by the sound of a slap. Shen Siwei didn¡¯t have much strength, and the slap wasn¡¯t particularly heavy, but it was enough to shock Amor. ¡°You¡¯re the victim. Stop always blaming yourself. How can you pretend that nothing has happened by staying in this place? Avenge Li. Since you don¡¯t care about anything anymore, why don¡¯t you let your hatred out and get justice for Li?¡± Shen Siwei said calmly. ¡°I¡­¡± Amor stammered, unable to speak. Shen Siwei glanced at the time. It had been more than twenty minutes already. They couldn¡¯t stay any longer. I¡­,¡± Amor stammered, ¡°I don¡¯t hold any hatred¡­¡± ¡°Nonsense,¡± Shen Siwei said calmly, glancing at Amor. ¡°I¡¯ve read your diary. you have a lot of complaints in there ?¡± Amor was at a loss for words, and Shen Siwei checked the time. Over twenty minutes had already passed, and they couldn¡¯t delay any longer. He turned to Avis and said, ¡°Take him away.¡± Although Amor resisted slightly, he didn¡¯t struggle. He let Avis pull him up from the couch. For Avis, who was covered in bruises, it was a bit challenging to handle two people alone. Amor was fine, able to walk on his own, but Shen Siwei could only lean on Avis with half of his body. And the faster they walked, the more difficult it became for him to breathe. As they exited the room, Shen Siwei stumbled and fell accidentally, unable to keep up. With his arm wrapped over Avis¡¯ shoulder, Avis also fell to the ground. ¡°Are you both okay?¡± Amor finally snapped out of his daze and helped Avis and Shen Siwei back up. The ticking of the seconds felt like a countdown to a bomb, making everyone tense. Shen Siwei glanced at the time and had to make a decision. ¡°You two go ahead.¡± Avis hesitated, ¡°And you?¡± ¡°Moran should be here soon. You won¡¯t get far with me. ,¡± Shen Siwei said, lifting Amor¡¯s wrist to activate the communicator and sending the coordinates to Miller. Unlike Shen Siwei, Amor¡¯s external communication couldn¡¯t be cut off by the control panel. He was merely confined to the room and couldn¡¯t receive signals. After leaving the room, although data refresh was slow and the network connection icon kept spinning, they were fortunate enough to receive a weak signal. However, the question remained as to when the coordinates would be successfully sent. ¡°And I can¡¯t leave this building,¡± Shen Siwei continued, ¡°I can¡¯t breathe once I¡¯m outside.¡± Although there should have been multiple aircraft in Moran¡¯s garage, and there was still a chance of escape, it had already been over thirty minutes, and Moran was most likely nearby. ¡°There should be vehicles in the garage,¡± Amor suddenly said, ¡°I can carry you there.¡± Whether it was Shen Siwei¡¯s slap that woke him up or not, Amor finally showed some cooperation. He was the tallest among the three, being a Marg, and he didn¡¯t have as many injuries as Avis. If he agreed to carry Shen Siwei, it would indeed be the best option for all three to escape. Shen Siwei nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± Amor bent down willingly and lifted Shen Siwei on his back. The pace of the three instantly increased, and within a few seconds, Amor and Avis reached the staircase while jogging. But just as Amor¡¯s right foot stepped on the first step, a voice suddenly sounded from above the corridor, saying, ¡°Recognition successful.¡± In the next second, the sound of the elevator door opening followed, and light poured into the corridor, casting a tall figure wearing military boots on the wall. The elevator door quickly closed, and the corridor returned to darkness. In that instant, Shen Siwei thought about having Amor and Avis go back into the room and hide, but the electronic lock had already been tampered with, and hiding would be useless. He jumped off Amor¡¯s back, blocking the path in front of the two. Click, click, click¡­ The sound of the military boots grew closer, as if treading on Shen Siwei¡¯s heart. Every step increased his heartbeat. Tiny beads of sweat appeared on Shen Siwei¡¯s forehead without him realizing it. He could almost hear the sound of sweat dripping from the corners of his eyes. Although he wasn¡¯t moving at the moment, the feeling of suffocation covered his entire body. Click, click, click¡­ Time seemed incredibly slow, yet incredibly fast. Shen Siwei could sense that Amor and Avis behind him were holding their breath, and the air surrounding the three of them seemed to become thick. Click, click, click¡­ Finally, the footsteps reached the platform between the floors, and Moran abruptly stopped, lowering his gaze to the three figures below in the corridor. His expression remained hidden in the shadows and was difficult to discern. ¡°Huh.¡± After understanding the situation, he moved his lips slightly, and a faint laugh escaped, ¡°Shen Siwei, you¡¯re even more disobedient than I imagined.¡± CH 58 Shen Siwei raised his arm and protected Amor and Avis behind him. He intended to push them back, but as he took a small step, Avis circled around his arm and stood in front of him. ¡°I did all this. Let them go ,I¡¯ll stay?¡± Avis said to Moran. Shen Siwei quickly grabbed Avis¡¯ arm and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid¡± He was grateful that Avis stepped forward in such a situation, but he had to admit that he was the most suitable one among the three to act as a shield and protect them. Moran sneered and said to Avis, ¡°You really think so highly of yourself.¡± Avis remained in front without moving. ¡°By the way, Shen Siwei,¡± Moran looked beyond Avis¡¯s head and locked eyes with Shen Siwei, ¡°I can understand you taking Amor away, but him? Do you know each other?¡± It seemed that Moran still didn¡¯t know about Avis being a Nightingale. However, he should find it strange. If Avis was just an unrelated bystander, why would he stand in the front? Shen Siwei calmly replied, ¡°it¡¯s just a matter of convenience.¡± ¡°Is that so? Then he is worthless.¡± After saying that, Moran suddenly drew his gun from his waist and aimed it at Avis, about to pull the trigger. Things happened quickly, and Shen Siwei¡¯s heart raced. Fortunately, he reacted swiftly. Almost at the same moment Moran pulled the trigger, he pulled Avis back, turned around, and blocked the bullet himself. The bullet hit him without causing pain or injury, but due to his unstable footing, Shen Siwei and Avis both fell to the ground. ¡°Negotiator?!¡± Avis exclaimed in shock, quickly searching for a wound on Shen Siwei¡¯s back. At the same time, Amor hurriedly crouched down and supported both of them, saying to Moran, ¡°Moran, are you okay?!¡± Shen Siwei wanted to say that Amor was naive and only realized the truth now. He said to him, ¡°I¡¯m fine, the bullet can¡¯t kill me.¡± ¡°Negotiator?¡± Moran raised an eyebrow, showing displeasure at being deceived, ¡°So, you do know each other.¡± Shen Siwei feared that Moran might shoot again, so he grabbed Amor¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Take him and find a room to hide.¡± Perhaps Avis had no value to Moran, but it was different for Amor. It wasn¡¯t easy to bring a Mag person as a collectible, let alone the fact that Amor was the son of the Life Tree head. Seeing Avis covered in bruises while Amor remained unharmed, Moran must have been quite fond of this ¡°collectible.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± Amor asked. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Shen Siwei said. The fact that the bullet didn¡¯t harm him was proof enough. Amor didn¡¯t say anything more, helped Avis up, and walked towards the deeper part of the corridor. With Amor by Avis¡¯s side, Moran indeed didn¡¯t dare to shoot again. ¡°Hide then.¡± Moran casually put away his gun, coming to Shen Siwei¡¯s side from above the stairs. ¡°Playing hide-and-seek in this basement it¡¯s more interesting, isn¡¯t it?¡± He was enjoying the thrill of the hunt. Shen Siwei immediately realized this. ¡°And you,¡± Moran crouched down, gripping Shen Siwei¡¯s cheek, ¡°who woke you up?¡± Shen Siwei coldly stared at Moran without answering. ¡°Or were you pretending to be asleep all this time?¡± Moran speculated aloud. He must have realized that no one could wake Shen Siwei in this basement, which meant Shen Siwei could only be ¡°pretending¡± to sleep. Then he squinted and said, ¡°You always manage to surprise me, Shen Siwei.¡± ¡°How about it,¡± Shen Siwei said with a dark expression, ¡°don¡¯t you like the surprises I prepared for you?¡± Moran released his grip on Shen Siwei¡¯s cheek and slapped him hard. ¡°He called you ¡®negotiator¡¯ earlier,¡± Moran continued, ¡°so you¡¯ve regained your memories, haven¡¯t you?¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s head hit the wall from the slap, and it took a lot of effort just to steady himself. He didn¡¯t have the energy to exchange harsh words with Moran. He lowered his gaze, ran his tongue over his teeth, and barely resisted the urge to crush the rice-sized capsule. ¡ªIt¡¯s not the time yet. Shen Siwei had already anticipated that there were only two ways to leave the third floor: forcibly or normally. Now that Moran had fabricated the scene of Shen Siwei escaping from the laboratory, it wouldn¡¯t be long before he became a wanted man by the military. Even if Moran hadn¡¯t fabricated the scene, Shen Siwei was still military property and couldn¡¯t leave openly. Under strict surveillance, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t escape with Avis using an aircraft unless he managed to seize a fighter jet. In other words, the important rice-sized capsule could only be used at that time. Compared to that, it would be best to leave normally. This inevitably involves a key figure, Miller. The only person in the top level who had the authority to let Shen Siwei go was Miller. That¡¯s why Shen Siwei must persuade Amor, because other than Amor, Shen Siwei had no other way to contact Miller. If he abandoned Amor, he could only forcibly escape with Avis¡ªafter all, as long as he couldn¡¯t contact Miller, Moran could manipulate everything. Amor¡¯s coordinates had already been sent out, although there was some network delay, Miller would definitely receive the message soon. By then, Shen Siwei won¡¯t need to take action, and Moran won¡¯t be able to act recklessly. But the second plan also carried risks. If, after negotiations, Miller refused to let Shen Siwei leave, he still had the rice grain capsule, at least leaving him with hope of escape. ¡°Not speaking, huh?¡± Moran grabbed Shen Siwei¡¯s hair on top of his head and dragged him toward the hallway. ¡°You only have this little time left to revisit your memories.¡± What does this mean? Does Moran have a way to erase his memories? Shen Siwei didn¡¯t have the strength to struggle and could only let Moran drag him upstairs. Although his skin wouldn¡¯t get bruised, the steps pressing against his back made him quite uncomfortable. After coming out of the elevator, Moran dragged Shen Siwei to the center of the living room and then took out a syringe from the briefcase on the sofa. ¡°Do you feel invincible, like no one can harm you?¡± Moran said while shaking the syringe in his hand. The liquid at the two ends of the syringe, yellow and blue, merged into an ominous green potion. Shen Siwei tensed his body and began to consider if there was any possibility of using a sudden burst of strength to deal with Moran when he wasn¡¯t paying attention. However, since waking up, Shen Siwei had already consumed too much energy, and whether he could still successfully break a password lock remained a question. ¡°You don¡¯t understand your own body like I do,¡± Moran said, approaching Shen Siwei with the syringe. He looked down on him from above, ¡°You still don¡¯t know, do you? If you had behaved obediently this time, Dr. Chen was going to restore your cardiopulmonary functions. How did you decide to mess up at such an inappropriate time?¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel surprised. So his cardiopulmonary functions could be restored? ¡°But all that doesn¡¯t matter now.¡± Moran squatted down, using his knee to hold Shen Siwei¡¯s neck, and with his left hand, he lifted Shen Siwei¡¯s eyelids. ¡°Your eyes are not invincible.¡± ¡°Moran¡­!¡± Shen Siwei was choked, making it even more difficult to breathe. ¡°As for this syringe, it¡¯s specially prepared for you. I brought it back from the laboratory.¡± The needle was getting closer and closer to the outer fiber membrane of Shen Siwei¡¯s eyeball as Moran spoke. He seemed to enjoy the process very much, and his expression became more and more evil. ¡°Once injected into your brain, you will never be able to think again!¡± At that point, Moran put his thumb on the back of the needle and, at the same time, the needle tip touched the outer layer of the fiber membrane of Shen Siwei¡¯s eyeball. But in the next instant, the green eyes suddenly turned crimson. Moran was startled for a moment, and before he could react, Shen Siwei took the syringe from him and crushed it into pieces. ¡°How¡­ how did you¡­¡± Moran quickly pulled out the gun from his waist. However, Shen Siwei was fearless. He grabbed Moran¡¯s neck, pulling him up from the ground. Gunshots rang out one after another, with some bullets hitting Shen Siwei and some hitting the wall behind him. To be honest, Shen Siwei didn¡¯t want Moran to die too easily, but the capsules in his mouth wouldn¡¯t last much longer, so he could only give Moran a quick death. ¡°Rest in peace.¡± All the cruel words, all the mockery, turned into simple three words. Shen Siwei looked at Moran expressionlessly, like a grim reaper, who was about to break his neck. But just then, a series of lights suddenly flashed outside the window, and several soldiers burst into Moran¡¯s house through the front door. Miller closely followed them and quickly assessed the situation in the room, asking in surprise, ¡°Captain Shen? What is going on here?¡± ¡°Amor is downstairs,¡± Shen Siwei replied immediately. ¡°General!¡± Moran cried out desperately, as if he had found a lifeline, ¡°General, save me! He escaped from the laboratory! arrest him!¡± Miller knew Shen Siwei¡¯s capabilities. The dozen soldiers he brought with him would be no match for Shen Siwei. But he was obviously confused as well. Shen Siwei wasn¡¯t wearing a mask, so how did he manage to defeat Moran? He raised his right hand in an almost pleading gesture and said to Shen Siwei, ¡°Captain Shen, please release Colonel Moran.¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t move. If it were up to him, Shen Siwei could have easily just injured Moran and spared his life. That way, things wouldn¡¯t escalate too much and it would leave Shen Siwei some room to escape. But he couldn¡¯t show mercy to Moran after what he saw in his memories. In the recent phone call, the reason Shen Siwei hesitated to mention klet¡¯s name was that he remembered Moran was the one who killed klet¡¯s mother. Only Shen Siwei and Moran knew about that, and he had initially intended to tell klet, but he decided to keep it to himself. klet didn¡¯t need to relive those painful memories. Seeking revenge was something Shen Siwei could do for him. The back and forth conversation only took a few seconds, but the oxygen provided by the rice grain capsule had already started to decrease. Shen Siwei withdrew his gaze from Miller, then forcefully snapped Moran¡¯s neck with his hands and threw him to the ground, stomping on his head, crushing it. Moran didn¡¯t even have time to plead for mercy before he turned into a broken corpse. Blood splattered onto the faces of everyone present, and Miller was shocked speechless, looking at Shen Siwei for a long time without saying a word. At least Shen Siwei had vented some of his anger, but after that final kick, the oxygen in the rice grain capsule was completely over. He couldn¡¯t recover his breath in time and sat down on the nearby sofa. He tried to maintain an upright posture, but his heavy breathing gave him away. Miller finally regained his composure, set aside his dissatisfaction with Shen Siwei, calmed himself down, and spoke to him, ¡°Captain Shen, do you know about the ¡®Tree of Life Development Agreement¡¯? It¡¯s been spreading on the internet recently.¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t expect Miller to bring up this matter and furrowed his brow almost flawlessly. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°We should talk about it.¡± Miller said, ¡°I formally invite you to the top floor as my guest.¡± Shen Siwei had planned to rescue Amor and discuss with Miller the possibility of letting him go after that. But now it seemed that Miller didn¡¯t want to let him leave. And he had used up the rice grain capsules, making the situation even more unfavorable for him. ¡°I have some other matters to attend to.¡± Shen Siwei calmly responded, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t stay.¡± ¡°No rush.¡± Miller said, ¡°I can assign someone to help you with your matters.¡± Having been frozen for twenty-five years, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t think of any tasks he had to attend to. He couldn¡¯t come up with a convincing excuse and said, ¡°Does the Tree of Life Development Agreement have anything to do with me? I don¡¯t seem to have anything to discuss with you.¡± ¡°It does.¡± Miller said, ¡°Your mother was the representative for the civilian side when she signed that agreement.¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t show that he already knew about this, so he showed a surprised expression. ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Miller said, ¡°That¡¯s why we need to find a representative from the civilian side to negotiate this matter, and you are the best candidate.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°Your role is important in this negotiation, Captain Shen,¡± Miller¡¯s tone was stern. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want to see the downfall of the Life Tree, would you?¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t find a reason to refuse, but he couldn¡¯t inform Klet about this sudden situation either. After thinking for a moment, he said, ¡°Alright.¡± After he finished speaking, he looked at Avis and the other rescued individuals and said, ¡°They are all victims. General Miller, please ensure their safe return.¡± Seeing that Shen Siwei finally agreed, Miller breathed a sigh of relief and said, ¡°Of course.¡± CH 59 The aircraft passed through the entrance and exit passage leading to the top floor and arrived near Miller¡¯s private residence. Apart from the ground floor, there were many such passages on each floor, but most of them were built at transportation hubs, and only privileged individuals could have private passages near their homes. After flying over a large lawn, the garage door of the villa in front opened, and the aircraft flew directly into the villa. Shen Siwei remembered that the last time he visited Miller¡¯s private residence, there were many servants carrying oxygen cylinders. This was because Miller¡¯s house was at a higher degree, and the oxygen concentration in the air was not suitable for the normal civilian household staff. However, this time Shen Siwei noticed that the oxygen concentration in Miller¡¯s house was at a normal level. As a result, the servants did not carry oxygen cylinders. It was apparent that they were considerate of Shen Siwei. Not long after, Shen Siwei was taken to Miller¡¯s office. A large round table occupied the center of the office. Miller sat at the end facing the door and said to Shen Siwei, ¡°Please have a seat, Captain Shen.¡± Shen Siwei consciously took a seat next to Miller. However, what he didn¡¯t expect was that as soon as he sat down, the room darkened, and three-dimensional projections of seven or eight people appeared in other positions. ¡°The meeting continues,¡± Miller said to those projections. It seemed that when Miller received the coordinates sent by Amor, he was in a meeting with those high-ranking officials discussing the agreement. The high-ranking officials were all Mag people, including organizational officials, press officials, secretariat officials, and others. They were the ones deciding the future of the Tree of Life. ¡°The results have just come out,¡± someone said, looking at the tablet in their hand. ¡°73% of the civilians believe that the agreement is real.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be long before it reaches 100%,¡± Miller said coldly. ¡°How did this situation escalate so quickly?¡± ¡°Because when the refugees spread this news, the authorities previously denied the existence of the agreement. However, Nightingale immediately produced a photo of the signed agreement, and public opinion quickly changed.¡± ¡°So, as a press official, should I have denied it?¡± ¡°Perhaps you could have discussed it with everyone before speaking on it.¡± ¡°There have been so many rumors circulating in the Tree of Life, even if we discussed it, wouldn¡¯t the result still be the same?¡± ¡°Fine!¡± Miller impatiently interrupted them. ¡°Now is not the time to argue.¡± Shen Siwei remained seated on the side observing. He couldn¡¯t help but admire Leizhe for coming up with this method, using a face-slapping approach to ignite public opinion. By now, most civilians should already know that the Mag had signed an equal agreement with the civilians. ¡°I remember from the previous public opinion survey that over 90% of the civilians were satisfied with the Mag¡¯s leadership,¡± Miller said. ¡°So, the reason this issue has become such a big deal is not about equality but about our deception.¡± ¡°Which means,¡± someone interrupted him, ¡°if we had been open from the beginning, the civilians might not have reacted this negatively.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Miller said. ¡°So what we urgently need to address is not the issue of inequality but to eliminate the distrust among the civilians. Do any of you have any ideas?¡± ¡°How about issuing a public apology statement? We can say that some staff in the news department were not aware of this matter.¡± ¡°What staff? Are you trying to push me out to take the blame?¡± ¡°Someone has to come forward and take responsibility. Otherwise, do you think public complaints can be easily resolved?¡± Miller impatiently slammed the table, silencing the argumentative individuals. ¡°There is one person suitable for issuing the statement,¡± Miller said at this point, looking at Shen Siwei beside him. ¡°Captain Shen, what are your thoughts?¡± Shen Siwei furrowed his brow and said, ¡°Me?¡± Someone spoke up and asked, ¡°Who is he?¡± ¡°He¡¯s Chief Engineer Shen¡¯s son and a representative of the civilians.¡± ¡°I see.¡± The news official who was under fire visibly sighed in relief. ¡°He is indeed more suitable.¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t understand politics, but at that moment, he realized that this was a game of strategy. First, Shen Siwei¡¯s mother was the designer of the power station and represented the civilians in signing the agreement. If they had to select a representative from among the civilians, politicians were naturally unsuitable. People like Shen Siwei¡¯s mother were the best choice. However, Shen Siwei¡¯s mother had already passed away, so this responsibility fell on Shen Siwei. If Shen Siwei could come forward to appease the civilians and express their stance, then perhaps this crisis could be safely overcome. ¡°General Miller,¡± Shen Siwei pursed his lips, knowing that Miller wouldn¡¯t like what he was about to say, ¡°since you¡¯re pushing me forward as a representative of the civilians, shouldn¡¯t I listen to the opinions of the civilians?¡± Miller raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly surprised that Shen Siwei had other thoughts. ¡°Do you want to complicate things even more?¡± he asked. ¡°If this continues, the Tree of Life may experience unrest.¡± ¡°As long as you comply with public opinion,¡± Shen Siwei paused, ¡°it won¡¯t happen.¡± Miller silently scrutinized Shen Siwei and then let out a scoff. ¡°Captain Shen, do you really think you¡¯re a negotiator? Representing the civilians to negotiate with us?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want to negotiate, that¡¯s fine,¡± Shen Siwei said indifferently. ¡°But don¡¯t expect me to issue a statement.¡± ¡°Well, tell me, how should we comply with public opinion?¡± Miller said with a mocking tone. ¡°If we open up the energy supply, it won¡¯t be long before we encounter another energy crisis. Do you want to see that happen?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t pretend, General Miller,¡± Shen Siwei glanced at everyone in the room. ¡°We all know that the deep-sea power station can still operate. It¡¯s just that you can¡¯t access the deep sea and control the energy it provides.¡± Upon hearing this, Miller¡¯s face changed slightly. ¡°How do you know about this?¡± ¡°Soon, all the civilians will know. Do you think they would still be willing to live with power restrictions after 8 p.m.?¡± Shen Siwei calmly said. ¡°So, perhaps you should really listen to the opinions of the civilians.¡± ¡°Do you think the civilians will believe it if we release this information?¡± Miller frowned. ¡°At other times, the civilians might think it¡¯s a conspiracy theory,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°but don¡¯t forget, the credibility of the Mag has hit rock bottom.¡± Miller didn¡¯t respond further and called the guards through the communicator, having Shen Siwei escorted out of the office. Since leaving Miller¡¯s villa, Shen Siwei had already revealed that he would have difficulty breathing during action. Therefore, the guards were careful and half-dragged him to a guest room on a floor far from the office building. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of the guest room, there were vast lawns, and warm ambient lights emitted a tranquil glow, adding value to the night view of the lawn. Standing by the window, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of irony. At this point in time, the lower-class civilians didn¡¯t even have public transportation, while the upper-class Mag used their energy to decorate their homes. Looking at the time, Avis should have already arrived on the lower level. Shen Siwei wondered if he had met up with Klet and the others. If the negotiations went smoothly, Shen Siwei should be able to leave soon, but¡­ Based on past experience, things couldn¡¯t be thought of too simply. While Shen Siwei was lost in thought, someone suddenly knocked on his door. He said, ¡°Come in,¡± and the voice-activated sliding door automatically opened, revealing an unexpected figure. ¡°Captain Shen, good evening,¡± Adolf said, dressed in black silk pajamas, holding a bottle of red wine and two tall glasses, and sat down on the double sofa by the decorative fireplace. ¡°Care for a drink?¡± he uncorked the bottle and poured an equal amount of wine into the two glasses. Shen Siwei stood by the window without moving. ¡°Is there something you need at this late hour?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Adolf rested his elbow on the back of the sofa, spinning his glass, and looked at Shen Siwei. ¡°Something very important.¡± Shen Siwei temporarily sat down next to Adolf but didn¡¯t pick up the glass from the coffee table. ¡°First of all, thank you for finding Amor,¡± Adolf took a sip of red wine, seemingly lost in thought. ¡°I heard he was imprisoned by Moran. That was unexpected.¡± Shen Siwei furrowed his brow slightly. ¡°Is that what you consider important?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so hostile towards me,¡± Adolf chuckled softly, set down his glass, and casually crossed his long legs. ¡°I heard that Father intends for you to take Moran¡¯s position.¡± Upon hearing this, Shen Siwei had a rough idea of Adolf¡¯s intention and lowered his guard slightly. ¡°So, you¡¯re here as your father¡¯s messenger?¡± If that were the case, Shen Siwei didn¡¯t mind chatting with him. ¡°No, no, no. I don¡¯t involve myself in politics,¡± Adolf shook his head. ¡°I can make decisions regarding our family business, but when it comes to politics, I simply follow the orders.¡± Now Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel puzzled. He furrowed his brow and asked, ¡°So, why did you come to find me¡­?¡± ¡°I heard that we are facing a significant public opinion crisis this time.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°So if you don¡¯t want it to affect your business, you better persuade your father.¡± ¡°He won¡¯t listen to me,¡± Adolf shrugged, wearing a helpless expression. ¡°I also heard that the Public Relations Officer has come up with a solution.¡± Shen Siwei immediately realized that this was the ¡°important matter¡± Adolf wanted to discuss. He asked calmly, ¡°What¡¯s the solution?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple, shift the focus of public opinion,¡± Adolf interlocked his fingers and leisurely placed them on his leg. ¡°Currently, the civilians are unhappy about the lies told by the Mags. Their focus is not on equal rights. So this matter can be easily resolved by creating another major event that demonstrates the sincerity of the Mags.¡± ¡°A major event?¡± Shen Siwei furrowed his brow. ¡°Marrying a Mag and a civilian,¡± Adolf continued, ¡°This has never happened before. It¡¯s enough to create big news and ease the dissatisfaction of the civilians.¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s brows furrowed tighter. These Mags really knew how to stir up trouble. If such big news were to break out, it might even overshadow the deep-sea power station issue. ¡°In fact, this move is quite effective,¡± Adolf said, picking up the glass of red wine once again. ¡°The news of the marriage has already been released, and public opinion is exploding right now.¡± Shen Siwei was cut off from outside communication and had no idea about the situation outside. He hadn¡¯t expected such a big commotion to occur while he quietly stayed in the room. However, he suddenly thought of something, and a sense of unease crept into his heart. There were many civilians working in the upper levels of the Tree of Life, and many of them were willing to become the Mag¡¯s lovers, even without any formal status. If the Mags were to marry civilians, there would certainly be countless civilians willing to step forward. But most of these individuals were ordinary employees on the upper levels. Could they really cause such a huge sensation with their status? Shen Siwei pressed his lips together, suppressing his inner anxiety, and asked, ¡°Who is marrying whom?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Adolf brought the wine glass close to his lips, slightly curling his mouth. ¡°You and me.¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­As expected.¡± It seemed that someone in the lower levels was about to go crazy. CH 60 ¡°Lower South District, Nightingale Headquarters. The news officer on the projection screen held the prepared speech in his hands, sitting behind a long table, responding to the matter of the agreement. ¡°As expected, he tries to deceive us with his ignorance.¡± Leizhe sat in a swivel chair, casually placing his long legs on the edge of the table. ¡°Photos cannot be fabricated, so he can only respond this way.¡± Malken, also in a relaxed posture, sat in his chair and looked at Klet, asking, ¡°Boss, should we make the deep-sea energy station public next?¡± ¡°We can.¡± Klet replied. ¡°Things are going more smoothly than expected.¡± Leizhe stretched lazily, his face expressing the words ¡°victory is within reach.¡± However, at that moment, the news officer on the screen suddenly changed the topic. ¡°For over a hundred years, the Margans have always considered the Lifetree and the well-being of the general population. While ensuring the stability of the Life tree, they have also provided a comfortable and safe living environment for everyone¡­ ¡°What happened today is something that no one wants to see, but the current social structure is indeed prone to conflicts. Therefore, the government has decided to encourage the marriage between Margans and civilians, allowing the Life tree to become a better family for all¡­ ¡°General Miller¡¯s eldest son, Adolf, will marry a civilian on a chosen day. The identity of the groom is¡­¡± Leizhe abruptly retracted his legs and stared at the photo that appeared on the screen. ¡°Wasn¡¯t the captain supposed to be discussing the agreement on the top floor? Why is he suddenly getting married?¡± About half an hour ago, Avis, who had been missing for a long time, sent a message to Leizhe, saying he was on his way back and mentioned being taken to the top floor by Miller after Sergeant Shen Siwei rescued him. He said Miller¡¯s attitude was better, and there might be some agreements being made. The group patiently waited, but instead of that, they received news that Shen Siwei was about to marry Adolf. ¡°Oh no, could the negotiator have been detained?¡± Malken speculated, somewhat confused. As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of table legs scratching the floor came from beside him. Klet, with a dark expression, stood up, and due to his force in standing up, the chair was pushed several meters away. ¡°Boss!¡± Malken realized the situation was not good and quickly grabbed Klet¡¯s arm. ¡°Stay calm for now; let¡¯s consider our options.¡± Leizhe also hurriedly intervened, saying, ¡°Klet, don¡¯t act impulsively. Let¡¯s think of a solution first.¡± ¡°Let go.¡± Klet ignored their words, lowered his gaze, and looked at Malken¡¯s hand. His deep eyes were filled with the calm before the storm. He believed that Shen Siwei would come back, which is why he agreed to let him leave. And what did he get after waiting for a day or two? Marriage? ¡°Boss, please don¡¯t act rashly. What if we solve it through public opinion?¡± Malken suggested with concern. But as soon as he finished speaking, Klet made a move as if he was going to leave, and Leizhe quickly blocked his path. ¡°Are you going to rush to the top floor?¡± Leizhe used his hands to support Klet¡¯s chest, preventing him from moving forward. ¡°I know your fighting abilities are great, but even if you can reach the second or third floor, are you sure you can break into the top floor?¡± ¡°Boss, please don¡¯t act impulsively. The defense system on the top floor is not a joke.¡± The defense system on the second and third floors was only for identity verification, and skilled hackers could forge identities to freely access them, like Avis. However, the defense system on the top floor was highly intelligent and required both biological and identity verification. Even if Klet were to forge his identity as a staff member on the top floor, the defense system would recognize that he was an intruder and turn him into dust. ¡°Let me say this one last time,¡± Klet said, ¡°Step aside.¡± If they didn¡¯t move, he would really take action. Malken obviously realized this and immediately pulled Leizhe back to his side. Watching Klet¡¯s departing figure, Leizhe worriedly said, ¡°Is he going to throw his whole life away?¡± ¡°Maybe not,¡± Malken shook his head with a serious expression, ¡°Do you remember when I told you that my boss is not like an ordinary person?¡± ¡°But he¡¯s not invincible either,¡± Leizhe said, ¡°If he gets hit by a bullet, he will get injured too, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the point,¡± Malken said, ¡°I suspect that he¨C¡° Back at Miller¡¯s villa,.. ¡°Do you have any objection to this arranged marriage?¡± After initially feeling uneasy, Shen Siwei quickly calmed down. ¡°I told you, when it comes to political matters, I will follow my father¡¯s orders,¡± Adolf took a sip of red wine, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to drink?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a Mag,¡± Shen Siwei was indifferent to Adolf¡¯s invitation, ¡°Are you really willing to marry a civilian?¡± ¡°If it were someone else, I might hesitate,¡± Adolf leisurely put down his wine glass, ¡°But Captain Shen you are an outstanding person, and our marriage holds significant meaning for the Tree of Life. Why would I refuse?¡± Shen Siwei could sense that Adolf found their marriage amusing. Adolf didn¡¯t have any romantic feelings towards him, he simply found it interesting, and since it didn¡¯t harm him, he obliged. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to marry you,¡± Shen Siwei bluntly stated, ¡°If you¡¯re willing to be a political tool, that¡¯s your business, but please don¡¯t involve me.¡± ¡°What should we do then?¡± Adolf raised an eyebrow, seemingly unconcerned, ¡°The news has already been announced. If it weren¡¯t for Mars colliding with Earth, you would probably have no choice but to marry me.¡± How can Mars collide with Earth? Shen Siwei began to think seriously. Suddenly, a loud explosion came from outside the quiet window, shaking the floor. Shen Siwei¡¯s thoughts were interrupted as he and Adolf turned their gaze towards the window. They saw flames blazing at the end of the lawn, and several military aircraft were heading towards the site of the explosion. That seemed to be the entrance and exit to the lower levels. Shen Siwei immediately realized. The guard standing outside the bedroom urgently knocked on the door, ¡°Young Master Adolf, someone has intruded into the top floor!¡± Adolf furrowed his brow and stood up from the sofa, He walked towards the door, but Shen Siwei quickly stopped him, ¡°Take me there with you to have a look.¡± Among the entire Tree of Life, who would dare to intrude on the top floor? Shen Siwei could only think of Klet. He had already anticipated that Klet would go crazy upon hearing the news of his marriage to Adolf, but he never expected Klet to go to such extremes. Unlike Shen Siwei, Klet¡¯s body was not entirely invincible. Even if he had great combat abilities, he couldn¡¯t dodge bullets from all directions. Shen Siwei¡¯s heart almost stopped beating, but Adolf only raised an eyebrow, surprised, and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you enjoy watching the chaos.¡± ¡°Take me there,¡± Shen Siwei was no longer able to remain calm, ¡°Take me there, and I¡¯ll marry you.¡± Adolf¡¯s expression became even more astonished, ¡°Oh?¡± He seemed indifferent to Shen Siwei¡¯s proposed condition, but he was very curious about Shen Siwei¡¯s reaction. At that moment, the flames outside the window became increasingly strong, accompanied by the shouts of the guards. Adolf seemed unwilling to delay any longer and ordered the guard to take Shen Siwei. They arrived at the garage on the ground floor. The three of them got into a garden vehicle and headed straight to the scene of the incident. The oxygen concentration in the vehicle remained at a normal level, allowing Shen Siwei and the guard to breathe normally. However, the guard still carried an oxygen cylinder because after they arrived near the incident site, he would be exposed to low-oxygen surroundings. Shen Siwei had considered taking the oxygen cylinder by force, but guards were different from servants. They received military training, and given Shen Siwei¡¯s physical condition, it would be extremely difficult to snatch the oxygen cylinder from them. He could only lean on the car window and focus his attention on the situation outside. As expected, the person who intruded was indeed Klet. He was standing near the entrance and exit passage, with a burning fighter aircraft beside him. If Shen Siwei¡¯s guess was correct, Klet must have first broken through the defense system on the second floor by using the aircraft, then seized a fighter aircraft in the military center, and finally flew to the top floor. The loud noise just now was probably the sound of missiles bombing the gate of the passage. But Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but wonder, why was the defense system on the top floor so quiet just then? The defense system covered the entire top floor, and even the main gate of Miller¡¯s residence was equipped with defensive weapons. Klet was within range at the moment, so why hadn¡¯t the weapons been activated? Regardless, Klet only suffered minor injuries, which temporarily relieved Shen Siwei. He saw Adolf walking to the front, and the muffled conversation came through the car window. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Where is Captain Shen Siwei?¡± Klet took a step forward, and all the guards and the gun barrels of the military aircraft instantly aimed at him. Shen Siwei immediately clenched his heart, fearing that Klet might make a rash move. Fortunately, Klet stopped in his tracks and patiently said to Adolf, ¡°I¡¯m here to pick someone up.¡± ¡°Oh? Interesting.¡± Adolf was still wearing his pajamas, looking quite calm. ¡°What¡¯s your relationship with Captain Shen?¡± ¡°None of your business.¡± ¡°Tsk tsk, such a bad temper.¡± Adolf said this, exchanged a few words in a low voice with the guard beside him, and then said to Klet, ¡°I heard you¡¯re a wanted criminal.¡± Klet didn¡¯t respond, his gaze fixed straight ahead at the villa behind the lawn, presumably trying to spot Shen Siwei¡¯s figure. Shen Siwei tapped on the window, trying to get Klet¡¯s attention, but Adolf¡¯s voice drowned out his movements. ¡°The system shows,¡± Adolf looked at the handheld computer in his hand, with an unmistakable surprise in his tone, ¡°you¡¯re a Mag person.¡± ¡°Otherwise, why do you think these defense weapons didn¡¯t attack me?¡± Hearing this conversation, Shen Siwei was shocked. The top floor¡¯s defense system has a biological authentication layer that analyzes the biological characteristics of a person to determine their identity, even age, and other information. If Klet was a Marg person, then it made sense why the defense weapons were so quiet because all defense systems in the Tree of Life wouldn¡¯t attack Marg people. However, the lower-level defense systems only had identity authentication, and Klet¡¯s identity was not registered as a Marg person, so the second and third-floor defense systems would still attack him. The burning fighter jet nearby must have been damaged by the third-floor defense system. It was only after Klet piloted it through the top floor that it was completely destroyed. Shen Siwei looked at Klet not far away and suddenly remembered what happened five years ago. No wonder Klet always mocked him, calling him a shorty and making fun of his size, saying there¡¯s no one like him among the Marg people. So, it turns out Klet himself is a Marg person?! ¡°Since you¡¯re a Marg person,¡± Adolf put away the handheld computer and asked curiously, ¡°why did you run to the lower level as a wanted criminal?¡± ¡°You should ask your dad,¡± Klet said impatiently, ¡°why he hooked up with my mom.¡± Upon hearing this, Shen Siwei was so surprised that he momentarily stopped breathing. Klet¡­ is Miller¡¯s son? The development of the situation was beyond expectations. However, before Shen Siwei could recover from the shock, a scream came from the villa, followed by Miller¡¯s personal assistant rushing out of the villa, pale-faced, shouting to Adolf, ¡°Something¡¯s wrong! General Miller has committed suicide!¡± Miller is dead? Shen Siwei was already too shocked to think. It seems like Mars had really collided with the Earth. CH 61 The guards looked at each other, unsure of how to behave. Adolf was the first to react and pushed past the guards, walking back while furrowing his brow. He said, ¡°How is this possible?¡± However, after taking only a few steps, he turned around and said, ¡°Lock him up first.¡± The ¡°him¡± Adolf referred to was naturally Klet. Compared to the news of Miller¡¯s suicide, the situation there became less urgent. Shen Siwei, sitting in the transport vehicle, watched Klet not far away. Dozens of guns were pointed at Klet¡¯s head from close range, and it was obvious that he couldn¡¯t escape unharmed. Fortunately, Klet didn¡¯t act recklessly. He allowed the guards to search him and put handcuffs on him. ¡°Is he your lover?¡± Adolf sat back next to Shen Siwei and instructed the guards to drive the vehicle back to the mansion. Shen Siwei replied with a rhetorical question, ¡°What do you plan to do to him?¡± Adolf tapped his finger on his thigh and looked thoughtfully at Shen Siwei¡¯s expression, saying, ¡°So, you two really are lovers.¡± At this point, denying it had become pointless. Shen Siwei straightforwardly said, ¡°After all, he is your younger brother. It¡¯s best if you don¡¯t harm him.¡± ¡°Tsk, another younger brother,¡± Adolf shifted his gaze outside the window, ¡°Headache.¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but remind him, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be more concerned about your father¡¯s suicide?¡± Adolf glanced lightly at Shen Siwei and remained silent, looking ahead at the mansion. Shen Siwei kept an eye on the situation behind him through the rearview mirror. He saw Klet being taken into another vehicle, likely to be locked up in the building next to the main mansion. As long as he wasn¡¯t taken somewhere else, it was fine. Shen Siwei temporarily put his mind at ease. Upon returning to the garage in the main mansion, he followed behind Adolf and entered Miller¡¯s study. At that moment, Miller¡¯s body was already laid flat on the floor, and medical personnel were conducting a preliminary examination of the body. Sitting on a chair nearby was a woman wearing a black cloak. Her face had no makeup, and she wore no jewelry. It was the first time Shen Siwei had seen the first lady looking so plain. ¡°Rita, what happened?¡± Adolf approached the woman and asked. ¡°I was getting ready to sleep, and I came to ask when he would rest, and then¡­¡± Rita had appeared in Amor¡¯s diary before. She wasn¡¯t Adolf¡¯s mother or Amor¡¯s mother; she was Miller¡¯s third wife. The diary from New Year¡¯s Eve mentioned that she sided with Adolf and supported the business of artificial embryos because she wanted to have her own child. However, Shen Siwei remembered that Amor speculated that she wanted a child because she feared that she wouldn¡¯t be able to claim the family fortune after Miller¡¯s death. ¡ªIt turned out that this situation actually happened. Shen Siwei calmly surveyed the room. It was a square room with bookshelves on both sides. In front of the entrance was a full-length window, and the desk was positioned near the window. There was a large pendant lamp hanging above, with the rope Miller used to hang himself still attached. ¡°Look at the suicide note he left,¡± Rita picked up a piece of paper from the nearby desk and handed it to Adolf. ¡°He said he felt guilty towards the lower class.¡± Hearing this, Shen Siwei¡¯s doubts grew. He had just had a meeting with Miller not long ago, and Miller appeared unwilling to compromise. How could he change from one extreme to another in just one or two hours? ¡°So, did Father change his mind?¡± Adolf, who had read the suicide note, asked with a puzzled expression. ¡°No,¡± Rita shook her head. ¡°This proves that he didn¡¯t commit suicide.¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t know Miller that well , but judging from Rita¡¯s attitude, she didn¡¯t believe that Miller was the type of person to commit suicide. At that moment, the medical personnel squatting beside the body stood up and looked at the testing device in their hand, saying, ¡°General Miller¡¯s blood contains a significant amount of sedatives. According to the medical records, the general did not have a habit of taking sleeping pills before bed. Therefore, as per the initialjudgment¡­ the general may not have committed suicide.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone¡¯s expression in the room changed. Rita looked at Adolf first, and Adolf looked at the testing device in the medical personnel¡¯s hand. Miller¡¯s personal assistant took a step back, and the two guards by the door glanced at each other before looking at the three individuals. Shen Siwei¡¯s gaze swept between them and suddenly realized that this matter seemed more complicated than he thought. No one spoke; it seemed that nobody wanted to express their thoughts. Finally, Shen Siwei broke the silence, asking, ¡°What about Amor?¡± Rita calmed herself and said, ¡°He went to the lower levels.¡± Shen Siwei asked, ¡°that quickly?¡± ¡°He never wanted to stay here,¡± Adolf interjected. ¡°Under normal circumstances, he wouldn¡¯t come back unless there was a special occasion.¡± Shen Siwei asked about Amor not because he was suspicious of him, but because he found it strange that Amor hadn¡¯t shown up after Miller¡¯s death. To be honest, Shen Siwei had no idea who to suspect at that point because he had no understanding of what was happening . But the others present were obviously different from him; each person had thoughts but was reluctant to easily mention words like ¡°murder¡± or ¡°culprit,¡± fearing that it would shatter the terrifying truth. The room fell into silence again, and at that moment, Rita suddenly asked, ¡°I heard someone broke into the top floor. What happened to that person?¡± Shen Siwei wanted to say that Klet was absolutely not a suspect because he was captured as soon as he entered and didn¡¯t have time to commit the crime. He thought this was something everyone could see, but Adolf said, ¡°From that perspective, he actually had a motive.¡± Shen Siwei looked at Adolf in disbelief. ¡°What?¡± ¡°He is the General¡¯s illegitimate child,¡± Adolf said. Now it was Rita¡¯s turn to be surprised. ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°Everyone who had contact with him could feel his resentment towards the General,¡± Adolf paced back and forth, contemplating. ¡°Plus, Captain Shen is his lover, and yet the General arranged for Captain Shen to marry me. I don¡¯t think anyone has a stronger motive than him.¡± ¡°Adolf,¡± Shen Siwei frowned, ¡°he was captured as soon as he arrived. How could he have killed General Miller?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t rule out the possibility that he possibly had an accomplice,¡± Adolf abruptly stopped walking. ¡°In fact, because he broke in, all the guards left the villa.¡± ¡°What kind of accomplice could he have?¡± Shen Siwei looked straight at Adolf and asked, ¡°Are you suggesting it¡¯s me?¡± If everyone in the villa was a suspect, Shen Siwei and Klet were undoubtedly the two least to be suspects. But Adolf didn¡¯t think so. He touched his chin and said, ¡°Anything is possible.¡± Damn. Seeing Adolf¡¯s attitude, Shen Siwei suddenly realized something. Originally, the marriage alliance was meant to show the sincerity of the Margans and resolve the current crisis of public opinion. However, if the Margarian leader was murdered by a representative of the civilians, then the situation was obvious ¨C public opinion would immediately change, and no one knew how many people would accuse the representative of the civilians as the killer. At that time, no one would want to see the Margans and the civilians united in marriage anymore. Instead, they would start mourning Miller and recalling his contributions to the Life Tree. In other words, at the moment of Miller¡¯s death, the crisis for the Margans had already been resolved. Adolf realized this immediately and thought of using this to shift the blame to Shen Siwei. If the civilians felt guilty toward the Margans, they would never hope to turn the tables. What a cunning scheme. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but start thinking, who could have killed Miller? Murder is nothing but a crime of money, passion or revenge, but at that sensitive moment, all motives seemed to be related to power struggles. ¡°Adolf,¡± Shen Siwei temporarily collected his thoughts and said, ¡°You clearly know that neither Klet nor I are the culprits.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. Let¡¯s wait for the magistrate to arrive,¡± Adolf said, then nodded at the guards. ¡°Lock him up.¡± Since coming to the upper level, Shen Siwei had experienced countless times that plans couldn¡¯t keep up with changes. The top floor was the territory of the Marg people, and no matter what official came, they would definitely stand on the side of the Marg people. The situation seemed very unfavorable for Shen Siwei and Klet. There was no prison in the private residence, and the entire top floor had no detention facility. Therefore, when the two guards led Shen Siwei through the long corridor, he quickly realized that he would be locked up with Klet. Sure enough, not long after, the two guards brought Shen Siwei to the building next to the main building and then pushed him into a spacious multipurpose hall. This hall looked like a banquet venue, but at this time, tables, chairs, and benches were piled up in the corner, leaving a large open space in the middle. The door behind closed again, making a click sound. Shen Siwei was pushed and fell to the ground, while Klet, who was originally sitting cross-legged, immediately stood up and anxiously walked towards him. But at that moment, the photoelectric barrier made a ¡°crackling¡± sound, burning Klet¡¯s skin on his arm and forcing him to retreat. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Shen Siwei lifted his head and only then noticed that there were high-voltage photoelectric fences around Klet. They formed a square cage. It seemed that Adolf was still weary of Klet. It was not enough to just lock him up; precautions like these were also set up. However, Shen Siwei was not treated the same way. Presumably, Adolf knew that without an oxygen mask, he couldn¡¯t go anywhere, so he just had someone lock him up there. ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± Shen Siwei calmed his breath while propping up his upper body. ¡°I¡¯ll come over.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Klet took off a necklace from his neck and threw it towards Shen Siwei. ¡°Take this.¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t remember Klet wearing necklaces before. He saw that there was a desert wolf¡¯s fang hanging below the necklace. When passing through the photoelectric barrier, the fang scraped against the high-voltage light, resulting in a crack. With the cracked fang bouncing on the ground a few times, when it bounced in front of Shen Siwei, the fang completely shattered, revealing something small inside. The small object finally stopped by Shen Siwei¡¯s hand. He took a closer look and found a small and delicate spider capsule.¡± CH 62 Using his thumb and index finger, Shen Siwei pinched the two ends of the spider capsule and examined it under the light. The capsule emitted a calm metallic glow, about the size of a small fingernail, larger than the previous grain-sized capsules. ¡°How do I use it?¡± Shen Siwei asked, placing the spider capsule down. ¡°Just swallow it,¡± Klet said. Shen Siwei threw the spider capsule into his mouth and made a swallowing motion. The small capsule stopped near his tonsils, causing a noticeable foreign sensation. It felt like having something stuck in his throat that couldn¡¯t be swallowed or spat out, making him quite uncomfortable. However, at the same time, the compressed high-concentration oxygen released from the spider capsule, relieving the suffocating feeling in his chest and making his body feel lighter. ¡°How does it feel?¡± Klet asked. ¡°It¡¯s good.¡± Once used to it, the foreign object sensation became less intense, and there was no need to worry about it being snatched away like the oxygen mask. Shen Siwei stood up from the ground, moving his shoulders and walking towards Klet. ¡°How long can it last?¡± ¡°Malken said a few days won¡¯t be a problem.¡± That¡¯s good. He walked to the perimeter of the photoelectric barrier and said to Klet, ¡°stay still i¡¯ll get you out.¡± The square photoelectric fence was composed of four radiators fixed to the ground. If one of the radiators was destroyed, the remaining three would automatically form an isosceles triangle, making the space of the cage even smaller. And if another one was destroyed, the remaining two would activate a 360-degree surround mode, burning the person inside the fence to death. However, Shen Siwei would not let such a thing happen to klet. After destroying the second radiator, he blocked Klet with his body and quickly destroyed the last two radiators. His clothes caught fire, leaving scorch marks. At that moment, he felt a warm sensation on his back as Klet wrapped his jacket over him. ¡°If I didn¡¯t come to find you, when would you have returned?¡± Klet frowned, his deep voice filled with frustration. Honestly, there were many things Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t predict. How could he have known that Moran was so twisted? How could he have known that Miller would use him? ¡°I could endure being locked up, but why did you come up here to find me?¡± Shen Siwei had many things he wanted to say to Klet and decided to sit on the ground, ¡°Isn¡¯t it enough that they locked me up? Did you come up here to offer yourself as well?¡± ¡°They can¡¯t lock me up.¡± Klet also sat cross-legged and continued, ¡°I just couldn¡¯t sit still and do nothing.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of this high-voltage photoelectric barrier?¡± Shen Siwei raised his chin, pointing to the burns on Klet¡¯s arm. ¡°I would get injured,¡± Klet glanced indifferently at the wound, ¡°but I won¡¯t die.¡± It seemed that Klet wasn¡¯t as reckless as Shen Siwei had imagined. He knew that the top-level defense system wouldn¡¯t attack him, which is why he decided to come up. Moreover, he had a complete plan¡ªto bring the spider capsule to Shen Siwei. So far, his plan seemed very successful because Shen Siwei was completely free, and no one on the top floor could control him anymore. ¡°Thank you,¡± Shen Siwei raised his hand. He initially wanted to rub Klet¡¯s head, but it felt strange, so he pinched his earlobe instead. Klet grabbed Shen Siwei¡¯s wandering hand and placed it on his own leg, continuing, ¡°After we parted ways, I kept urging Malken to make the spider capsule. When I received your call, I wanted to come and find you, but Avis said you had resolved the crisis and were negotiating with Miller, so I decided to wait for news.¡± As a result, he received news of Shen Siwei¡¯s impending marriage to Adolf. Shen Siwei knew Klet would be unhappy again and took the initiative to speak, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that you are a Marg? You deceived me for so long.¡± ¡°I never felt like I was Marg.Twenty-five years ago, the day you and your teammates found me, my mother told me about my origins. That¡¯s when I found out that my biological father was the ¡®great¡¯ leader of the Tree of Life.¡± As he spoke, Klet¡¯s tone was quite sarcastic, and Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel emotional. Miller, as the leader of the Tree of Life, was actually the first to violate the ¡°Refusal to Reproduce Declaration,¡± and to cover up this fact, he even sent someone to murder his own son. You were special from a young age,¡± Shen Siwei sighed, looking at Klet. The image of the little boy in his memory gradually overlapped with the person in front of him. ¡°I remember when I first saw you, I was curious about how you could run so fast. I could hardly catch up.¡± ¡°Because I have Marg genes.¡± ¡°And I have surpassed the limits of medication.¡± So Klet was not only an evolved species but also an evolved Mag. No wonder he acted as if nothing happened in the icy wilderness and could sneak in the deep sea without relying on light devices. His body was capable of withstanding low temperatures, low oxygen levels, and extreme pressure environments. However¡­ Shen Siwei suddenly thought of something and couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Klet was a bit puzzled and asked, ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± ¡°I¡¯m laughing at your crying.¡± Shen Siwei recalled the scene when the two of them separated twenty-five years ago and couldn¡¯t help but find it amusing. ¡°You were so cute when you were a child, crying and not wanting to be separated from me. How did you turn out like this when you grew up?¡± ¡°You remembered it wrong.¡± Klet frowned, ¡°I couldn¡¯t have cried like that.¡± ¡°I remembered it wrong?¡± Shen Siwei raised an eyebrow. ¡°You little brat, you tattooed me with a gorilla. Do you really think I won¡¯t hold you accountable?¡± ¡°But it wasn¡¯t you to begin with,¡± Klet said. ¡°It was a gorilla.¡± ¡°Playing tough, huh?¡± Shen Siwei wasn¡¯t angry either. He didn¡¯t know why, but whenever he thought of Klet¡¯s appearance as a child, he couldn¡¯t stay mad at him. The more he looked at him, the cuter he seemed. But it wasn¡¯t the time to reminisce now. He suppressed the smile on his lips and sighed, ¡°Miller was murdered.¡± ¡°Murdered?¡± Klet was surprised. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it suicide?¡± Shen Siwei briefly explained what had happened and concluded, ¡°In short, Adolf wants to pin the murder on us.¡± Klet fell silent for a moment and asked, ¡°What do you think?¡± Shen Siwei pondered the question, not answering immediately. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we just¡­¡± Klet made a throat-slitting gesture. ¡°No,¡± Shen Siwei collected his thoughts. ¡°That would only confirm that we murdered the Mags, and we would be caught in more trouble. Nightingale would lose the reputation it¡¯s worked hard to build.¡± Shen Siwei and Klet could easily eliminate the top-level authorities, but in doing so, they would certainly face resistance from the lower-class civilians. Political struggle was never a simple matter of brute force. Each step had to be carefully planned to find the right direction. ¡°But one thing is certain,¡± Klet said, ¡°We cannot let Adolf frame us for the crime.¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy,¡± although force alone couldn¡¯t solve the problem completely, it could at least cause a deterrent effect. Now that both of them had their restrictions lifted, Adolf couldn¡¯t do as he pleased anymore. ¡°But,¡± Shen Siwei frowned, thinking, ¡°Whether Miller¡¯s death was a suicide or murder, it will definitely shift public opinion in favor of the Mags. Nightingale¡¯s preparations would be in vain. Is there any way to sway public opinion back?¡± ¡°It seems difficult,¡± Klet said, ¡°It¡¯s more difficult than the Mag-Civilian Alliance.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Miller¡¯s death not only suppressed the matter of the agreement but also gave Adolf an opportunity to eliminate future threats. Once it was confirmed that the representative of the civilians is responsible for the murder of the Marg leader, the civilians will forever be indebted to the Marg and will no longer be able to make a name for themselves. Looking at it that way, it seemed that using ethical means alone was no longer enough to turn the situation around. ¡°Perhaps we can learn from Adolf,¡± Shen Siwei said calmly, his eyes focused. ¡°He played dirty tricks with us, and we can do the same with him.¡± ¡°How do we do that?¡± Klet raised an eyebrow, showing a strong interest in his eyes. ¡°In the forged will that Miller left behind,¡± Shen Siwei said as his thoughts became clearer, ¡°he expressed his guilt towards the civilians.¡± Following Shen Siwei¡¯s words, Klet added, ¡°The deceased¡¯s wishes should be fulfilled.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Shen Siwei snapped his fingers. ¡°First, we need to announce his suicide and make his will public.¡± Klet rubbed his chin and said, ¡°In this way, everyone will feel that granting power to the civilians was Miller¡¯s dying wish.¡± In that way, although the direction of public opinion had not changed, and still stood with Miller, Shen Siwei and Klet¡¯s actions would mean that Miller betrayed the Marg and became a sword against the Marg government. If the Marg leaders themselves had this intention, what objections could others have? ¡°From this perspective, the murderer who killed Miller actually did us a favor,¡± Klet said. ¡± we have to seize this opportunity,¡± Shen Siwei said. Crisis is like a fork in the road. If you take the wrong path, there will be no chance of recovery, but if you choose the right path, you can turn the tide. Since Adolf can use Miller¡¯s death to gain maximum benefits, why can¡¯t Shen Siwei and Klet? ¡°But Adolf will definitely not agree to call Miller¡¯s death as suicide,¡± Klet added. ¡°We won¡¯t let him have the final say on that,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°If he wants to shift the blame onto us, he needs to first see if he has the strength to do so.¡± Shen Siwei was in an exposed state. Although force was not the decisive factor in political power, at least he won¡¯t be easily controlled by the other party. ¡°Now, should we go find Adolf?¡± Klet asked. ¡°Good,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°We can start fighting back.¡± However, as soon as Shen Siwei finished speaking, the tightly closed elevator doors suddenly opened, and a person in a black cloak appeared at the entrance. Rita looked at the two people sitting on the floor, relaxed and content, with a hint of surprise on her face. Clearly, she didn¡¯t expect to see such a scene. Shen Siwei raised his chin and said casually, ¡°If you have something to say, say it.¡± With his demeanor, he appeared as if he were the owner of this villa. CH 63 Shen Siwei and Klet¡¯s current state aside, the remains of the photonic radiator scattered around didn¡¯t seem right no matter how you looked at it. The two guards by the door immediately stepped forward, shielding Rita behind them. But Rita only said, ¡°Wait outside,¡± then she passed by the two men and walked inside the hall. Rita approached the two men, dragging her trailing cloak, and stopped about a meter away, saying, ¡°I know who the killer is.¡± As she spoke, there was no emotion on her face, and her intentions were not clear. Shen Siwei and Klet glanced at each other, then both stood up from the ground. Shen Siwei brushed off the dust from his hands and asked Rita, following her words, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Adolf,¡± Rita moved her lips slightly and gave out the name bluntly. Unexpected, yet not entirely surprising. ¡°When Miller died,¡± Shen Siwei reminded, ¡°Adolf was with me the whole time.¡± ¡°He could have assigned someone else,¡± Rita said. ¡°Do you have proof?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡± he had a motive,¡± Rita¡¯s speech remained steady, as if she had a hundred percent certainty. ¡°Adolf always wanted to expand the business scope, but Miller had always disagreed. From what I know, Adolf had already bribed the top three officials and wanted to force his father to step down.¡± Shen Siwei recalled the family disputes mentioned in Amor¡¯s diary. Adolf considered the business perspective and believed that artificial embryos could generate huge profits. However, Miller rejected Adolf¡¯s ideas from a political standpoint. Rita supported Adolf on the matter of artificial embryos because she wanted to have her own child. But now she was pointing fingers at Adolf, and her underlying motives were interesting. ¡°Can motive be considered as evidence?¡± Klet turned his head to Shen Siwei and asked, conveying his dissatisfaction. Shen Siwei understood that Klet was venting his frustrations, so he didn¡¯t respond and continued questioning Rita, ¡°Since he has already bribed the top three officials, why would he kill Miller?¡± ¡°Miller would never willingly step down,¡± Rita said. ¡°He used various medical methods to prolong his life, just to sit in the leader¡¯s position for a long time.¡± ¡°So Adolf realized he couldn¡¯t force Miller to step down and decided to take drastic measures?¡± Shen Siwei asked. Seemed quite believable. ¡°When someone broke into the top level today,¡± Rita spoke expressionlessly, glancing at Klet, showing her dislike for this sudden illegitimate child, ¡°I heard that Adolf was overseeing everything outside.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°Don¡¯t you find it strange?¡± Rita furrowed her brows slightly. ¡°His father was inside the house. Why would he take charge of these matters?¡± Shen Siwei recalled that Adolf indeed naturally went to the forefront, without even wondering why Miller wasn¡¯t present at the scene. Logically speaking, his father should have been the head of the household. It didn¡¯t make sense for Miller not to come out and investigate when someone broke into the top level. Adolf¡¯s behavior seemed as if he knew Miller wouldn¡¯t come out. In that regard, Adolf seemed suspicious. Shen Siwei temporarily put aside his doubts and asked, ¡°Did you inform the security officer about all this?¡± ¡°No,¡± Rita said. ¡°That person is Adolf¡¯s friend.¡± At that point, Shen Siwei had already understood why Rita came to find him. Rita had no children and was a newcomer in this family, and her only backing was Miller. The reason she wanted a child was also to guard against a situation like today¡ªshe might be kicked out by Adolf. ¡°You want me to help you,¡± Shen Siwei exposed Rita¡¯s thoughts. ¡°I believe you also need my help,¡± Rita said. As she spoke, Rita hesitated slightly. After coming here, she discovered that Shen Siwei and Klet didn¡¯t seem to need her help. But more hands were always welcome. Shen Siwei looked at Klet beside him and saw that he had no objections. He then said to Rita, ¡°You want me to use our connections to let the civilians know that Adolf is the murderer of Miller, right?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Rita said, ¡°I know about your situation, and I can provide you with an oxygen mask.¡± ¡°Not needed,¡± Shen Siwei said casually, then continued, ¡°I must remind you that your suspicions alone are not enough to prove that Adolf is the killer. If this matter is made public without thorough preparation, public opinion could easily be altered.¡± Shen Siwei had witnessed Adolf¡¯s cunning tactics. If they showed even a slight flaw, Adolf would seize the opportunity. ¡°So, what do you suggest?¡± Rita asked. ¡°We hope to establish that Miller¡¯s death was a suicide,¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t conceal this point because with Rita¡¯s help, confirming suicide would be much easier. However, he didn¡¯t disclose the whole plan and only said, ¡°Think it through first.¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be ruled as suicide,¡± Rita frowned, reacting as Shen Siwei had expected. ¡°Miller never considered dying, so he didn¡¯t make any arrangements for his inheritance. Now, most of the wealth is in Adolf¡¯s hands, and I can¡¯t compete with him.¡± Pausing for a moment, she looked at Klet and said, ¡°The same goes for you. You probably won¡¯t even get any leftovers.¡± ¡°Who the fuck wants your leftovers,¡± Klet replied impatiently. ¡°Think again,¡± Shen Siwei said to Rita, ¡°you don¡¯t hold the cards¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Rita asked with a tense expression. ¡°If you don¡¯t cooperate with me, just as you said, you won¡¯t be able to outsmart Adolf,¡± Shen Siwei said calmly, ¡°I¡¯m the only one who can help you bring Adolf down. You have to work with me to get rid of him.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to make him the murderer?¡± Rita countered. By using the word ¡°make,¡± she indicated that she couldn¡¯t be 100 percent sure that Adolf was the killer in Miller¡¯s death. However, from her perspective, she had to pin the blame on Adolf. It was true that they were evenly matched when it came to shifting blame. But Rita¡¯s perspective was narrow; her intentions were only focused on her immediate interests, and she failed to see the deeper consequences . ¡°I just said that making Adolf the murderer is a risky move unless you can provide solid evidence,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°The safest approach for now is to establish Miller¡¯s suicide as a fact, which gives us a chance to turn the tables.¡± Rita lowered her gaze and pondered for a moment, then furrowed her brows slightly and asked, ¡°What do you mean by ¡®turn the tables¡¯?¡± She finally understood Shen Siwei¡¯s strategy. To be honest, if she couldn¡¯t even realize this, Shen Siwei wasn¡¯t sure whether he should cooperate with her. Though having more allies was not a problem, they had to be competent. Shen Siwei didn¡¯t want someone who couldn¡¯t see the bigger picture and would only hold them back. ¡°Your first lady position is definitely in trouble,¡± Shen Siwei casually remarked. Rita took a deep breath, suppressing her emotions, and asked, ¡°So when you said I have no choice, you meant my position is not secure?¡± ¡°If Adolf takes power, you won¡¯t be able to keep your position or wealth,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°If you choose to stand by my side, I can at least guarantee that your rightful properties will not be snatched.¡± After Nightingale overthrew the Marg government, Rita would only become an ordinary Marg citizen. But even if Nightingale failed and Adolf took power, Rita¡¯s fate would be the same. In other words, Rita¡¯s destiny was sealed at the moment her husband died. But if she was a smart person, she would know that the enemy of her enemy is her friend, and she had to choose to cooperate with Shen Siwei to gain the maximum benefit. Rita let out a sigh and asked, ¡°What do you need me to do?¡± It seemed she chose to compromise. ¡°Miller¡¯s death is not considered a suicide due to the sleeping pills found in his blood,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°You just need to testify that he did take sleeping pill willingly, and we can make Adolf speechless.¡± ¡°But perhaps it¡¯s better to accuse Adolf as the murderer,¡± Rita said unwillingly, ¡°If we prove it was suicide, it will only prevent him from achieving his goal, but if we make him the murderer, we can directly get rid of him¡± ¡°If it¡¯s that easy to get rid of him,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°Why would you seek my help?¡± ¡°¡­Fine,¡± Rita finally gave up, The three of them left the multipurpose hall and walked through the long corridor towards the main building. With Rita by their side, the guards along the way didn¡¯t dare to stop Shen Siwei and Klet, but they wore puzzled expressions. Miller¡¯s private residence was very large, taking several minutes to walk from the annex to the main building. Through the window, Shen Siwei saw security vehicles parked on the lawn, indicating that Adolf was discussing with the security officials how to frame him and Klet as the culprits. ¡°By the way,¡± Rita suddenly turned her head while walking ahead and looked at Shen Siwei, asking, ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious about who the murderer is?¡± To claim he wasn¡¯t curious would be a lie, but for now, Shen Siwei could be certain that Rita was definitely not the killer. Miller¡¯s death had no benefits for Rita. If she was the killer, she could have easily forged a will instead of leaving behind a useless suicide note. Speaking of which, although Adolf was highly suspicious, the suicide note was also strange. If the goal was to make Miller¡¯s death a suicide, there were many other more suitable reasons, such as being unable to withstand public pressure, among others. The suicide note, on the other hand, felt very contradictory because Miller shouldn¡¯t have felt sorry. ¡°After you achieve your goal,¡± without waiting for Shen Siwei¡¯s answer, Rita continued, ¡°Can you help me find out who killed Miller?¡± Shen Siwei himself was somewhat curious and replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Next to him, Klet, who was also intrigued but rarely engaged in conversation with Rita, asked, ¡°Who do you think might be the killer, aside from Adolf?¡± Rita shifted her gaze forward and continued walking towards the main building, saying, ¡°Every person inside this mansion.¡± CH 64 ¡°klet himself was a fugitive, and people would believe he was the killer.¡± ¡°As for Shen Siwei, it would be said he pretended to marry Adolf but his real purpose was to bring down the upper class.¡± In the study, Adolf was chatting with the sheriff, but their conversation was abruptly interrupted when Shen Siwei and the other two appeared at the door. The room fell into a momentary silence. ¡°Rita, what are you doing?¡± Adolf quickly identified the obvious leader among them. ¡°I have something to say.¡± Rita walked at the front and entered the study, standing aside to make room for Shen Siwei and klet. ¡°What is it?¡± Perhaps sensing something amiss, Adolf furrowed his brows. Rita calmly scanned everyone in the room and spoke, ¡°Miller committed suicide.¡± As the First Lady, her words carried weight, attracting the attention of the guards outside the study. ¡°Father had sleeping pills in his system. How could he have committed suicide?¡± Adolf¡¯s tone turned bitter, clearly caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events. ¡°He has been feeling sick these past few days and asked for my sleeping pills,¡± Rita explained. ¡°The pills are in our bedroom. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can send someone to check.¡± ¡°It was you who said that Father couldn¡¯t have committed suicide,¡± Adolf persisted. ¡°I just remembered the sleeping pills,¡± Rita replied calmly. The sheriff in his white uniform glanced at Rita and then at Adolf, lowering his voice as he asked, ¡°so what really happened?¡± Adolf raised his hand to interrupt the sheriff, gesturing for him to stop talking. He then walked up to Rita, his expression emotionless, and asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say that earlier?¡± ¡°I needed a witness,¡± Rita slightly raised her chin, meeting Adolf¡¯s gaze despite his taller stature, displaying an unwavering demeanor. ¡°Are you suggesting that only an outsider can serve as your witness?¡± Adolf glanced at Shen Siwei and klet with displeasure. ¡°Why not?¡± Rita raised an eyebrow. ¡°Adolf, you and I both know that there are many of your people inside this mansion.¡± ¡°As long as you know,¡± Adolf suddenly dropped his menacing expression, raised his voice, and said, ¡°Take the lady away.¡± As soon as the words left his mouth, a guard entered the room and grabbed Rita¡¯s arm. ¡°Madam, please come with me.¡± Although the guard¡¯s tone was respectful, his actions left no room for negotiation. Rita frowned and said, ¡°Let go.¡± However, the guard ignored her and it was Shen Siwei who reached out and held the guard¡¯s wrist, reminding him with a slight use of force, ¡°She told you to let go.¡± ,the guard¡¯s expression immediately twisted out of pain. At that moment, Adolf squinted his eyes at Shen Siwei and asked, ¡°How did you get so strong?¡± Shen Siwei gave a gentle push, and the guard tumbled and rolled out of the study. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± Shen Siwei retracted his hand and said, ¡°The witness is right here. Let¡¯s conclude the case first.¡± Any normal person could immediately see that blaming others wouldn¡¯t work anymore. Adolf¡¯s face slightly changed, and he shouted outside the room, ¡°Guards!¡± However, in the instant he opened his mouth, Shen Siwei had already transferred the magnetic particles in his skin to the palm of his hand, using magnetic force to draw away the sheriff¡¯s gun from his waist. The sound of the word ¡°Guards¡± was drowned out by the gunshot, as a bullet flew past Adolf¡¯s ear, freezing him in place with his mouth still open. Dozens of guards rushed into the study, their dark guns aimed at Shen Siwei. But Shen Siwei remained calm and pointed his gun at Adolf, asking, ¡°Can we have a proper conversation now?¡± ¡°What¡­ What kind of monster are you?¡± Adolf seemed momentarily breathless, his voice now carrying a sense of surviving a disaster. He swallowed his saliva and said to the guards, ¡°Leave us.¡± ¡°Master Adolf!¡± Adolf¡¯s personal guard furrowed his brow and called out, clearly concerned about leaving Adolf here. ¡°I said leave, all of you.¡± Adolf looked at the gun pointed at him by Shen Siwei and said, ¡°If he wanted to kill me, I would have already been dead.¡± After the guards had left, Shen Siwei tossed the gun to klet and asked Adolf, ¡°Do you still have doubts about the suicide?¡± ¡°The letter can¡¯t explain it.¡± Adolf finally spoke calmly, reasoning with Shen Siwei, ¡°Father was not the type to repent. Obviously, someone forged his farewell letter.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to say.¡± Shen Siwei returned the same words to Adolf without any changes. ¡°You¡¯re not him, so how do you know he wouldn¡¯t repent?¡± ¡°He had no reason to commit suicide!¡± Adolf, gradually calming down, countered, ¡°By trying to classify this as suicide, are you trying to make the Mag people feel guilty towards the civilians?¡± Being born into a political family, Adolf quickly saw through Shen Siwei¡¯s intentions. But Shen Siwei returned the same argument to Adolf, ¡°By trying to classify this as a murder, are you using this opportunity to reverse public opinion and get rid of your brother, who is competing for the family inheritance?¡± Although Klet had no intention of competing for the inheritance, both Rita and Adolf seemed to have prejudged him as having such intentions. Adolf realized that arguing from that perspective would not work, so he changed his approach and said, ¡°If you want to convince everyone that Father committed suicide, you need to eliminate all doubts.¡± At that point, Adolf began to focus on the facts. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but find it amusing. He walked leisurely to the desk and looked at the frozen image on the tabletop screen, asking, ¡°Is this the surveillance video from the corridor?¡± There was no surveillance inside the study, but there were many cameras installed in the corridor. Adolf took a step back, maintaining a distance from Shen Siwei, and said, ¡°Yes.¡± Shen Siwei asked again, ¡°What time did Miller die?¡± The security officer on the other side looked at the medical detector in his hand and said, ¡°11:08 PM at night.¡± Shen Siwei started playing the surveillance video. From Miller entering the study to Shen Siwei and others arriving, a total of three people entered the room. The first person was Amor, at 9:35 PM. He stayed in the study for about ten minutes, presumably to greet Miller before going back to the lower level. The second person was Adolf, at 10:43 PM. He came to Miller¡¯s study wearing silk pajamas, stayed for less than five minutes, then left the study , went to the wine cellar to get a bottle of red wine, and then went to Shen Siwei¡¯s room. The third person was Miller¡¯s personal assistant, at 11:14 PM. He clearly looked startled at the entrance of the study, hesitated to go in, looked around, presumably seeking help, but the guards were on the other side of the passage, so he chose to run outside and call for help. Shen Siwei knew everything that happened afterward. He paused the video and said to Adolf, ¡°You are the prime suspect, aren¡¯t you?¡± After all, Adolf was the last person seen by Miller before his death. ¡°When I left, Father was fine,¡± Adolf frowned. ¡°This surveillance video can only prove that the murderer entered the study through the window.¡± ¡°Just because you say he was fine doesn¡¯t mean he was,¡± Shen Siwei found it funny. ¡°How can you prove that you didn¡¯t kill him?¡± ¡°He called me to the study just to inform me about our engagement. I was wearing pajamas, where could I hide the rope to strangle him?¡± Adolf¡¯s reason seemed convincing. The rope used to strangle Miller was made of coarse hemp, and Adolf certainly didn¡¯t have such an item with him in the study. Although it was possible that he had hidden the murder weapon in advance, now was not the time to delve into that. Shen Siwei shrugged and said, ¡°Then it must have been suicide.¡± ¡°You!¡± Adolf looked furious but didn¡¯t dare to explode. He suppressed his anger and said, ¡°The suicide note clearly doesn¡¯t sound like him, how do you explain that?¡± ¡°If it wasn¡¯t suicide,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°then the murderer is either you or Amor, or both of you. Who else could it be?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t accuse people without evidence!¡± Adolf seemed unaware of how his words sounded ironic to Shen Siwei. ¡°Amor already said his goodbyes to me and left the top floor before I went to see Father. As for me, in less than five minutes, I had to discuss the engagement with Father, commit murder, and stage the scene. How is that possible?¡± ¡°The two young masters are indeed unlikely suspects,¡± the security officer couldn¡¯t help but interject. ¡°Amor left the top floor at 10 o¡¯clock, and there are records of his movement in the passageway. Adolf didn¡¯t have enough time to commit the crime and is also unlikely to be the culprit.¡± ¡°But he could have ordered someone else,¡± Rita, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up. ¡°You shut up,¡± Adolf looked at Rita with a dark expression. ¡°Father is dead, and you still want to drain our family¡¯s blood. Let me tell you, it won¡¯t happen!¡± ¡°Enough,¡± Shen Siwei interrupted the two. He turned to Adolf and said, ¡°First, we can confirm that neither I nor Klet are the culprits. Do you have any objections to that?¡± Adolf pursed his lips and reluctantly squeezed out two words, ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Then, are you and Amor the culprits?¡± Shen Siwei asked again. ¡°Of course not!¡± Adolf furrowed his brow. ¡°Then that¡¯s settled,¡± Shen Siwei clapped his hands and said to the security officer, ¡°It¡¯s suicide, case closed.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± The security officer looked hesitant and glanced at Adolf. ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Adolf took a deep breath and said to Shen Siwei, ¡°This matter is not that simple. Don¡¯t rush to announce it to the public. Give me some time to uncover the truth, will you?¡± Contrary to his previous arrogance and aggressiveness, Adolf now made a reasonable proposal in a polite tone, which made Shen Siwei sigh in amazement. It seemed that using force and intimidation really worked. Realizing that there was no point in continuing the argument, Shen Siwei nodded and said, ¡°Fine.¡± Adolf visibly relaxed and said, ¡°Agreed.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± Shen Siwei confirmed. As it was already late at night, Shen Siwei and Klet decided not to stay longer. They left Miller¡¯s study and returned to the bedroom where Shen Siwei had been staying. The bottle of red wine and the wine glasses were still on the coffee table. As Klet sat down on the sofa, he asked, ¡°Who were you drinking with?¡± ¡°Adolf, but I didn¡¯t drink,¡± mentally exhausted, Shen Siwei sat next to Klet and fell into his embrace, ¡°I¡¯m so tired.¡± ¡°Do you want me to give you a massage?¡± Klet¡¯s hand instinctively reached for Shen Siwei¡¯s side waist. ¡± tempting, but let¡¯s finish the important matters first,¡± Shen Siwei got up and sat in a kneeling position, asking Klet, ¡°Did you capture everything I asked you to film?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Klet activated his mini-computer and projected the secretly recorded video in mid-air. ¡°The suicide rope, the suicide note, and the conversation where Adolf admits that we are not the culprits.¡± ¡°Send out the first two items,¡± Shen Siwei nestled back into Klet¡¯s embrace once again, ¡°And also let Leizhe know that the deep-sea energy station is still operational. It can be announced now.¡± While Klet held onto Shen Siwei with one arm, he operated the communicator with the other and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just agree with Adolf earlier by saying ¡®agreed¡¯?¡± Shen Siwei did promise Adolf not to rush into announcing Miller¡¯s death to the public, but that was simply because he didn¡¯t want to waste any more words. Comfortably nestled in Klet¡¯s embrace, Shen Siwei closed his eyes and said, ¡°What¡¯s the point of talking about trust with someone like him?¡± Anyone can play dirty tricks; it¡¯s just a matter of seeing who¡¯s better at it. CH 65 ¡°Sigh, it¡¯s already trending news.¡± Malken stood on the sofa, stepping on Leizhe¡¯s back, holding a tablet in his hand, constantly scrolling through the comments under the news. ¡°What are people saying?¡± Leizhe mumbled, lying on the sofa, enjoying Malken¡¯s violent massage. ¡°They demand the Margs to comply with the General¡¯s will and recognize the validity of the agreement.¡± Malken¡¯s gaze fell on the tablet, not paying attention to his position, and accidentally stepped on Leizhe¡¯s neck, provoking his protest. ¡°Are you trying to murder me?¡± ¡°This is the level of service you get for free.¡± Malken changed direction, continuing to step on Leizhe¡¯s back along the sides of his spine. ¡°Now public opinion is basically formed. If nothing unexpected happens, we can call for a nationwide referendum.¡± Malken said, ¡°But many people still hope for a peaceful union between the Marg people and the civilians.¡± ¡°Captain and Adolph?¡± Leizhe turned his head, ¡°They don¡¯t know how cunning Adolph is.¡± ¡°After all, the leader is dead, and people need to see new hope.¡± Malken lifted his gaze from the tablet, thoughtfully saying, ¡°The image of the Marg people hasn¡¯t collapsed yet. If the negotiator terminates the engagement, it may provoke people¡¯s dissatisfaction .¡± ¡°So what?¡± Leizhe asked, ¡°Do you think klet will stand by idly and watch?¡± ¡°True.¡± Malken nodded, ¡°But since the boss is a Marg, it might as well be a union between the two of them.¡± While saying this, Malken was fully focused on thinking, not noticing that he had come near Leizhe¡¯s tailbone. his foot slipped through the gap between Leizhe¡¯s butt and hit something. A scream of agony echoed in the lounge, and Malken hurriedly dropped the tablet, flustered, and said, ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Back at Miller¡¯s villa,¡­.. ¡°How is the force?¡± ¡°Mmm¡­ comfortable¡­¡± Shen lay on the sofa, resting his head on Klet¡¯s thigh, enjoying a relaxing head massage. The rough fingertips pressed on his temples, gentle yet firm, perfectly relieving Shen siwei¡¯s fatigue. ¡°Do you need it in other places?¡± klet asked. ¡°Yes please.¡± Shen siwei closed his eyes comfortably. He felt klet stand up, place a cushion behind his head, and then turned him over, changing his position to lie face down on the sofa. Both hands gripped his lower back, and the tense muscles were kneaded by thumbs, as if a glacier melted into flowing water. Shen¡¯s body didn¡¯t resist the force, so he said, ¡°Apply a bit more pressure.¡± Suddenly, a knee squeezed in between his thighs, and before Shen could react, the hands on his lower back applied force, making him involuntarily utter a ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Are you trying to break my waist?¡± Shen turned his head displeased, and met klet¡¯s deep eyes. He was taken aback for a moment, then climbed up and said, ¡°Let¡¯s stop here.¡± Little did he know that as soon as he finished speaking, klet pressed him back down. ¡°Do you know how much I had missed you?¡± klet¡¯s voice was somewhat offended, as if still complaining about the engagement. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but find it funny, ¡°We¡¯ve only been apart for a day.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to be away from you even for a day.¡± klet said and leaned in for a kiss, ¡°Now you won¡¯t suffocate, right?¡± ¡°Wait, now is not the time¡­¡± Shen tried to push klet away, but their lips had already met. With the support of spider capsules, Shen and klet¡¯s tongues ¡°battled¡± each other. Wherever klet pursued, Shen would evade, but finally seizing an opportunity, he bit klet¡¯s lips hard and pushed him away, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t waste my oxygen on such things.¡± ¡°Waste?¡± klet frowned, his eyes filled with displeasure. ¡°And also¡­¡± Shen didn¡¯t finish his sentence before klet kissed him again. The passionate kiss should have been tender, but it carried a hint of aggression, as if he was punishing Shen Siwei¡¯slack of cooperation. But Shen would never indulge a brat. He lifted his knee and side-kicked, kicking klet onto the decorative fireplace. At the same time, the sliding door suddenly opened from the outside, and Adolph¡¯s figure appeared at the door. ¡ªShen wanted to say that after the news was released, Adolph would definitely come looking for them. Now was not the time for intimacy, right? But klet was too impatient Adolph¡¯s footsteps paused by the loud noise, and he looked at klet, who was plastered against the wall, with suspicion, and asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡± klet calmly got off the wall, sat silently next to Shen siwei, as if nothing had happened. Naturally, Shen wouldn¡¯t answer either. He frowned slightly and said, ¡°Don¡¯t you knock?¡± ¡°This is the top floor, my territory.¡± Adolph walked into the room, looking down on the two people on the sofa, ¡°I can go wherever I want.¡± Perhaps feeling frustrated about the Miller incident, Adolph could only find a sense of superiority through such matters. He glared at Shen and continued, ¡°What happened to a promise being a promise?¡± ¡°I changed my mind after coming back.¡± Shen said lightly, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be used to this by now? You were born into a political family; you shouldn¡¯t trust anyone¡¯s words easily.¡± Of course, Shen siwei didn¡¯t think Adolph was a naive person. In the end, it was just a matter of underestimating the enemy. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just force me to step down?¡± Adolf asked aggressively. ¡°Aren¡¯t you good at fighting?¡± Shen Siwei was cautious, suspecting that Adolf now wanted him to make a move and then reverse the public opinion by portraying himself as the victim. But honestly, at this point, Adolf could hardly control the direction of things anymore. ¡°That wouldn¡¯t be interesting,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°Everything should be done properly and justified.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think that by revealing the suicide incident first, I won¡¯t be able to do anything to you,¡± Adolf said. ¡°There are still many doubts about this matter, and I have ways to change the conclusion to murder!¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Shen Siwei remained indifferent. ¡°There are so many people waiting outside the mansion to mourn General Miller. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to attend the funeral first?¡± The death of a leader was a major event for the Tree of Life, and under no circumstances should the funeral be handled indelicately. Adolf seemed to want to make more threats but realized that Shen Siwei wouldn¡¯t be provoked. In the end, he left in frustration. The elevator door closed again, and Shen Siwei didn¡¯t want to be disturbed anymore. He punched the elevator system, breaking it. Now, if he wanted to enter or leave the bedroom, he would have to manually lift the heavy metal door. ¡°Klet?¡± Shen Siwei walked back to the sofa and looked at someone who was sulking, tilting his head. Kket turned to look outside the French window without saying a word. ¡°My head seems to be hurting again.¡± Shen Siwei leaned against klet¡¯s thigh. ¡°Can you massage it for me?¡± ¡°This is the second time,¡± Klet finally looked at Shen Siwei, his face clearly showing ¡°annoyance.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve pushed me away twice now.¡± ¡°Yeah, it won¡¯t happen again next time i¡¯m sorry,¡± Shen Siwei said, lightening his tone, dragging his words. ¡°Klet, my head hurts. Do you think there¡¯s a problem with the chip?¡± ¡°Is it really hurting?¡± The annoyance on his face disappeared instantly, and Klet nervously massaged Shen Siwei¡¯s temples. ¡°Is it better now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s better,¡± Shen Siwei closed his eyes comfortably. The sound of shattering glass filled the luxurious room, with glass shards flying everywhere. ¡°Why is it so difficult for you to make it look like suicide?¡± Adolf smashed the vase on the coffee table and angrily yelled at the person sitting on the sofa. ¡°What¡¯s with the sleeping pills? What¡¯s with the farewell letter?¡± ¡°Sleeping pills are in case he resists. As for the farewell letter, if I¡¯m going to make it look like suicide, I need a reasonable excuse, don¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Do you think it¡¯s reasonable? That my father felt guilty towards mere civilians?¡± Adolf suppressed his anger. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your unnecessary actions, I wouldn¡¯t have suddenly thought of shifting the blame to Shen Siwei and that fugitive.¡± ¡± blaming them was a smooth move. But who knew what was up with that Shen Siwei?¡± Adolf paced irritably. ¡°Now, because of that farewell letter, they are stubbornly clinging to the idea of suicide. I have to find a way to prove it was murder. Am I digging my own grave?¡± At this point, Adolf suddenly looked at the person on the sofa and said, ¡°No, it¡¯s you who dug the hole for me, right? If you had handled things properly, i wouldn¡¯t be having so many problems right now¡± ¡°You made me fake the suicide, and I did as you asked. I couldn¡¯t predict these subsequent events.¡± ¡°Damn it.¡± Adolf picked up a decorative object from the side cabinet and smashed it onto the floor. ¡°What do you suggest we do now?¡± Tiny fragments flew towards the sofa, and the person tilted their head, avoiding them. They adjusted their glasses on the bridge of their nose and said, ¡°I don¡¯t understand political matters. You are the decision-maker, think of a solution.¡± ¡°What else can I think of?¡± Adolf angrily retorted. ¡°Now, civilians are demanding a nationwide referendum. Unless something unexpected happens, the Mag people have to give up power. How can I bear this responsibility?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± ¡°What do you know? You only know your research. What good is that?¡± ¡°My job is to do research.¡± Adolf felt like he was talking to a brick wall. He rubbed his hair at the back of his head with his hand, and in a moment of self-defeat, he said, ¡°Am I really going to be on equal footing with the civilians? What a joke!¡± ¡°Perhaps there¡¯s no other choice. Did you see the statement released by the Nightingale? The Deep Sea Energy Station is still operational. Just this fact is enough to shake the Mag people¡¯s rule.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, first we need to debunk this matter.¡± Adolf seemed to have suddenly found a new direction, continuing to think about counterattack methods. ¡°I need to let the civilians know that no one can approach the deep sea. Nightingale must be lying.¡± ¡°But if another energy station appears like Z City in the Western District, beyond top-level control, the civilians will know who is lying.¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± The person sighed and stood up, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s focus on organizing the funeral for now.¡± CH 66 When Shen Siwei woke up from his dream in klet¡¯s arms, the venue for the farewell ceremony had already been set up on the lawn outside the villa. A giant holographic projection displayed scenes from Miller¡¯s life, creating a lifelike effect that made it seem as if Miller was still there with the people, never having left. Surrounding the projection were white flowers in a circle, and people continuously approached holding flowers, expressing their condolences towards Miller¡¯s image. ¡°Do you want to go out and take a look?¡± Shen Siwei asked. At that moment, klet was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, absentmindedly gazing outside. When he heard Shen Siwei speak, he pulled his gaze back and absentmindedly responded with a monotonous tone, ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°To attend the funeral,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°No, I don¡¯t have formal attire,¡± klet returned to the bedside, knelt on one knee, and leaned over to give Shen Siwei a morning kiss. He wasn¡¯t wearing a shirt, and his well-defined chest and abdominal muscles revealed powerful lines as he moved, looking quite appealing. ¡°As long as you want to go, formal attire can be easily arranged,¡± Shen Siwei said, lying on his side, supporting his chin. ¡°Do you think I should go?¡± klet asked. ¡°Go ahead,¡± Shen Siwei got up from the bed, ¡°I¡¯ll accompany you.¡± Shen Siwei had Rita send two sets of black formal attire. Although the attire was not tailored, Shen Siwei and klet had standard proportions, so it fit them perfectly. The only difference between the two was that Shen Siwei¡¯s muscles were not as prominent. He could be described as having muscles when undressed but appearing slim when dressed. On the other hand, when klet put on the formal attire, he didn¡¯t become refined and gentlemanly; instead, he gave off the vibe of a thug in a suit. ¡°You don¡¯t fit wearing a suit,¡± Shen Siwei finished tying klet¡¯s tie, then turned around and started tying his own. Seeing klet staring motionlessly at himself in the mirror, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel somewhat puzzled. Meeting his gaze, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°You know,¡± klet came up behind Shen Siwei, bowed his body, and embraced his waist, resting his chin on him, ¡°when we get married, will we dress like this too?¡± Married? Shen Siwei raised an eyebrow without changing his expression. This brat really had far-reaching thoughts. ¡°Why wear black for a wedding?¡± He freed himself from klet¡¯s embrace and walked towards the bedroom door. ¡°And I haven¡¯t agreed to marry you.¡± Many people came to pay their respects, and each person could only spend a few seconds in front of the holographic projection. klet naturally didn¡¯t come forward to offer flowers; he just stood at the edge of the lawn, looking at the projection in the air with no expression, as if lost in thought. Shen Siwei knew that klet needed his own space to sort out his emotions, so he didn¡¯t say anything and quietly stayed by klet¡¯s side. However, after a short while, Rita, wearing a black veil hat and a black cape dress, walked over. She first nodded to Shen Siwei, then turned her gaze to Klet and asked, ¡°Who is your mother?¡± Klet glanced lightly at Rita, apparently not intending to speak, and Rita said again, ¡°Just tell me, maybe I know her.¡± Perhaps chatting in this atmosphere was indeed suitable. Klet finally decided to speak, moving his lips and said, ¡°Sarah.¡± Rita¡¯s face showed a sudden realization and she said, ¡°It¡¯s her.¡± ¡°Do you really know her?¡± Klet asked. ¡°She¡¯s a famous singer, isn¡¯t she?¡± Rita said. ¡°Miller invited her to hold a personal concert on the top floor.¡± Klet looked at Rita, although he didn¡¯t respond, it was clear that he wanted Rita to continue. Rita sighed and said, ¡°Today is his funeral, it¡¯s not appropriate to speak ill of him. I remember your mother was not like other women, she didn¡¯t scramble to become his lover. According to the original plan, Sarah was supposed to hold three concerts on the top floor, but for some reason, she only held two and then left.¡± Rita¡¯s words were concealed, without imposing her own speculation, but Shen Siwei could hear that Sarah¡¯s pregnancy with Klet was most likely forced. Miller¡¯s hologram projection appeared with a gentle smile, giving a warm feeling. Many people who came to offer condolences let out quiet sobs, showing their respect for Miller. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel confused. Why would someone who had everything do such things? He looked at Klet by his side, and saw that Klet had no desire to continue listening, looking expressionlessly at Miller in the air, without expressing any thoughts. ¡°By the way,¡± Rita changed the topic, ¡°you should be a newborn, right?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Klet replied. ¡°I also want to have my own child,¡± Rita said. ¡°After this, have you considered opening up artificial embryos?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it later,¡± Klet said. Rita nodded and asked again, ¡°Is your mother doing well? It seems like she hasn¡¯t been seen in public activities.¡± Shen Siwei opened his mouth, wanting to change the topic, but Klet had already said, ¡°She¡¯s dead. Miller had her killed.¡± Rita stared wide-eyed in shock for a moment, then let out a long sigh. ¡°That¡¯s indeed his style.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t seem to know much about what your husband has done,¡± Klet withdrew his gaze and looked at Rita. Shen Siwei could feel that Klet always harbored hostility towards the Miller family. Therefore, when Rita showed a caring appearance, he had no reaction and instead suspected that Rita was not as innocent as she seemed. But Rita¡¯s response was as graceful as ever. ¡°I indeed don¡¯t know much. If I had the ability to be involved in his affairs, I wouldn¡¯t have to worry about Adolf.¡± At the other end of the lawn, Adolf was gathered with a group of politicians, chatting about who knows what. In comparison, Rita¡¯s side was indeed much quieter. At that moment, Shen Siwei¡¯s gaze suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure. Seeing that Klet was perfectly capable of handling Rita, he said, ¡°You two go ahead and chat,¡± then walked towards the familiar figure. ¡°Amor.¡± Shen Siwei called out. Amor, dressed in a black suit, stood at the edge of the lawn, looking at Miller¡¯s hologram projection. When he heard Shen Siwei calling him, he turned his head and nodded in greeting, ¡°Captain Shen.¡± ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Shen Siwei asked. In fact, he wanted to ask about Amor¡¯s mental condition. After all, when they last met, Amor looked completely hopeless, and it was Shen Siwei who slapped him to wake him up. But now, looking at Amor, he seemed fine. So Shen Siwei changed his question on the spot and asked about his physical well-being. ¡°I¡¯m alright,¡± Amor said. ¡°About your¡­¡± As he spoke, he pressed his chest, indicating a problem with his breathing. ¡°It¡¯s fine now,¡± Shen Siwei turned half of his body and looked at the projection in the center of the lawn, then said, ¡°about your father¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Amor¡¯s tone remained unchanged, ¡°it was his choice, and I respect him.¡± It seems that Amor still didn¡¯t know about Miller¡¯s murder. ¡°What do you think about the proposal regarding the Nightingale?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°Holding a national referendum?¡± Amor said, ¡°I support it.¡± Shen Siwei wasn¡¯t surprised by this answer. He asked again, ¡°What are your plans for the future?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have any plans,¡± Amor said flatly, ¡°just take my loved one around.¡± Shen Siwei knew that when Amor said ¡°loved one,¡± he actually meant ¡°carrying Li¡¯s remains.¡± He pursed his lips and said, ¡°Take care.¡± Amor withdrew his gaze from Miller¡¯s projection and looked at Shen Siwei, asking, ¡°I remember when you first approached me, you mentioned seeing Li.¡± He seemed unwilling to let go of the matter concerning his loved one. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t say that he had seen Li¡¯s body, so he could only say, ¡°I found your diary at the self-service hotel in the lower level. I got an idea about your situation, so I just casually mentioned him, but I haven¡¯t actually seen him.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Amor sighed slightly with regret, ¡°I would have liked to introduce him to you if there was a chance. He was a witty person.¡± Shen Siwei understood Amor¡¯s feelings. When one¡¯s partner is exceptional, they want others to know. But¡­ there¡¯s no longer a chance. ¡°Well, there¡¯s no point in talking about these things now,¡± Amor collected all his emotions and said, ¡°I just came up to say goodbye. I need to go back and accompany him.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t know how to respond, so he simply said, ¡°I¡¯ll see you off.¡± The two bypassed the crowded area and walked through the spacious lawn, arriving at the parking lot outside the private residence. The entrance and exit leading to the lower level were nearby, and numerous guards maintained order around. ¡°Captain Shen,¡± Amor stopped near his aircraft and suddenly looked at Shen Siwei, asking, ¡°Do you have a loved one?¡± Immediately, Klet¡¯s image appeared in Shen Siwei¡¯s mind. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Cherish them, we never know how much time we got with someone,¡± Amor extended his right hand towards Shen Siwei, ¡°Take care.¡± Shen Siwei shook Amor¡¯s hand, using the handshake as a farewell gesture. ¡°You take care too.¡± After watching Amor leave, Shen Siwei returned to the farewell ceremony venue. He initially wanted to go directly to find Klet, but someone stopped him midway. The man in front of him was dressed in a well-tailored suit and bore some resemblance to someone Shen Siwei knew. He extended his right hand towards Shen Siwei in a straightforward manner and said, ¡°Hello, Captain Shen, I am Moran¡¯s brother, Morrison.¡± Shen Siwei glanced at the hand held up in the air and didn¡¯t respond. He knew this person. When Klet asked him about Moran¡¯s background before, he mentioned to Klet that Moran¡¯s brother was a political figure on the third level. Morrison was sensible enough to retract his hand when he saw that Shen Siwei had no intention of shaking hands. He said, ¡°I¡¯m deeply sorry for what my brother did. I never expected him to be like that behind the scenes.¡± Shen Siwei remained indifferent and asked without much expression, ¡°Is there something you want?¡± ¡°Well, Captain Shen,¡± Morrison¡¯s tone was very polite, ¡°we, as civilian officials, are preparing for a nationwide referendum. If possible, we hope that Captain Shen can also participate.¡± Upon hearing this, Shen Siwei immediately realized that in the current situation, politicians like Morrison had already begun to take sides. By emphasizing that they were ¡°civilian officials,¡± they were trying to indicate their stance. However, such politicians¡¯ behavior only made Shen Siwei uncomfortable. He intended to ask Morrison to step aside, but at that moment, Klet suddenly appeared from behind Morrison and directly pushed him aside, saying to Shen Siwei, ¡°What took you so long?¡± ¡°I escorted Amor to the passage,¡± Shen Siwei ignored Morrison and linked his arm with Klet¡¯s, walking towards a less crowded area. ¡°Just now, Rita reminded me,¡± Klet glanced at Shen Siwei¡¯s arm, ¡°your engagement with Adolf hasn¡¯t been dissolved.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get married.¡± These two statements coincided, and Shen Siwei thought he was hallucinating. He stopped and looked at Klet, asking, ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°I said let¡¯s get married.¡± Klet¡¯s tone was casual, as if discussing tomorrow¡¯s plans, ¡°I¡¯m also a Mag person, and you can form an alliance with me.¡± ¡°Have we been in a relationship for that long?¡± Shen Siwei asked seriously. ¡°Isn¡¯t twenty-five years long enough?¡± Klet countered. ¡°The previous twenty-five years don¡¯t count.¡± Shen Siwei let go of Klet¡¯s arm, slightly raised his chin, and walked forward, ¡°You were still a minor back then.¡± ¡°I can subtract twenty years for you.¡± Klet followed Shen Siwei, ¡°If you hadn¡¯t been taken away five years ago, you would have been married to me long ago.¡± ¡°Five years ago, I didn¡¯t want to be with you either.¡± Shen Siwei glanced at Klet indifferently, ¡°Five years ago, you were just a kid in my eyes.¡± ¡°Shen Siwei,¡± Klet stopped walking and looked at Shen Siwei displeased, ¡°do you want to marry me or not?¡± Klet was still the same, patient but not too patient. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but smile at the sudden scolding, no longer teasing Klet, and reached out to hold his arm again, saying, ¡°okay let¡¯s get married then.¡± CH 67 Later in the evening, the number of people coming to pay their respects gradually decreased. The servant carrying an oxygen tank began tidying up various materials, and the guards patrolling the surroundings gradually dispersed and returned to their original positions. Shen Siwei and Klet had returned to their room early, keeping a close eye on the public opinion trends. The news of Miller¡¯s suicide note and the Deep Sea Energy Station spread quickly. Although the Mag people had not yet made a statement, it was already certain that a nationwide referendum would be held¡ªit was only a matter of when. If nothing unexpected happened, the preparations for the referendum would officially begin within a week. ¡°What do you think of this place?¡± Klet handed the projection screen of the microcomputer to Shen Siwei. Shen Siwei¡¯s external communication still couldn¡¯t connect, so he was currently using Klet¡¯s hotspot. The news in his palm suddenly turned into a landscape picture, and Shen Siwei asked inexplicably, ¡°Where¡¯s this?¡± ¡°We can have our wedding here,¡± Klet said. Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± He thought Klet, like him, was paying attention to the current situation, but it turned out that all he could think about was getting married. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it later.¡± He closed the image. ¡°When is later?¡± Klet leaned over Shen Siwei, a hint of fire flickering in his eyes. ¡°We can hold the ceremony later, but now¡­¡± His big hand restlessly climbed up Shen Siwei¡¯s waist and skillfully moved to his ass. ¡°Now, I¡¯m a bit hungry,¡± Klet huskily voiced, the implications couldn¡¯t be any clearer. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel a little strange, wondering if he had suddenly changed his mind? He used to be so innocent. ¡°I¡¯m a bit hungry too.¡± Shen Siwei nodded in agreement, dodging Klet¡¯s leaning body and standing up from the sofa. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the restaurant for dinner.¡± ¡°Dinner?¡± Klet tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Weren¡¯t you saying you¡¯re hungry?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Shen Siwei walked to the bedroom door, lifting the heavy metal door. He looked back at Klet, gesturing with his eyes for him to follow, and then walked straight into the corridor. Klete frowned, opened the communicator, and sent a message. [Klet: Hints don¡¯t work.] [Malken: How come? The negotiator can¡¯t understand?] [Klet: He understood. He just doesn¡¯t want to.] [Malken: It might not be that he doesn¡¯t want to, maybe he¡¯s just shy. Be assertive, boss.] [Klet: It won¡¯t work.] [Klet: I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll kick me.] Unlike ordinary wealthy households, there were no chefs in the Miller family¡¯s kitchen. Instead, there were AI robots that could produce any dish according to standardized recipes. However, Shen Siwei still couldn¡¯t trust it completely, so he personally went to the kitchen to oversee the cooking, and then carried two plates of stewed beef to the dining room. ¡°Who are you chatting with?¡± He placed the plates in front of Klet. ¡°Malken.¡± Klete smoothly handed the cleaned cutlery to Shen Siwei and said quite seriously, ¡°We were talking about the referendum.¡± ¡°What are their thoughts?¡± Shen Siwei pulled out a chair and sat down next to Klet. ¡°They¡­¡± Klet seemed to hesitate for a moment. ¡°They decided to play it by ear.¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°?¡± Playing it by ear was the obvious course of action, so Klet¡¯s words seemed like an unnecessary statement. But Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t be bothered to delve into it further. After all, the overall situation had already been determined, and there shouldn¡¯t be any trouble on the Nightingale¡¯s side. Compared to that, he was more concerned about that restaurant that remained the same while everything else had changed. When Shen Siwei woke up for the second time, Miller had invited him to dine there. Miller sat at the head of the long table, with Moran and Shen Siwei sitting on either side, discussing the search for Amor. So many things had happened in less than a month, and Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit emotional. Suddenly, footsteps could be heard in the spacious dining room. Both of them instinctively turned their heads towards the sound, and they saw Adolf approaching. He loosened his tie, showing a hint of fatigue on his face, but he still walked with a straight posture, as if reminding himself not to lower his guard no matter what. ¡°How¡¯s the taste?¡± He sat down across from the two, casually ordering from the table¡¯s display screen while asking nonchalantly. Klet, as always, couldn¡¯t be bothered to pay attention to him, so Shen Siwei took the initiative and asked, ¡°Is there something you need?¡± ¡°This is my house. Do I need something from you to come to the restaurant?¡± Adolf pressed the confirm button with a displeased expression, looking at Shen Siwei unfriendly. As long as there¡¯s nothing wrong. Shen Siwei chose not to respond and focused on eating the stewed beef on his plate. To be fair, the stewed beef made by the AI robots was already very delicious, but it seemed to fall short compared to the taste Shen Siwei had experienced at Klet¡¯s house. ¡°Are you celebrating your victory already?¡± Adolf suddenly spoke. He seemed to not care about the two, but when Shen Siwei didn¡¯t respond to him, he began to initiate the conversation again. ¡°Not really.¡± Shen Siwei said casually. He suddenly felt that one serving of beef was a bit too much for him, so he put down his cutlery and pushed the plate closer to Klet. Klet paused and looked at Shen Siwei. ¡°I can¡¯t finish it,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°I¡¯ll take it,¡± Klet voluntarily moved Shen Siwei¡¯s plate closer to himself. The atmosphere between the two clearly did not welcome a third person. Adolf tapped the table impatiently with his index finger and interrupted them displeased, ¡°I must remind you that in order to hold a national referendum, you need the consent of the Marg people. As long as I don¡¯t approve, no matter how you vote, the Marg people will never agree to it.¡± ¡°So you want to delay it?¡± Shen Siwei wiped his mouth with a napkin. ¡°I have no reason to cooperate with you,¡± Adolf regained his confidence and raised his chin slightly. ¡°Furthermore, the longer we delay, the unknown the final outcome will be.¡± ¡°Speak up, what are your conditions?¡± Shen Siwei put down the napkin. ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet,¡± Adolf responded with ease. Shen Siwei had expected that Adolf wouldn¡¯t easily give up, so he didn¡¯t have many thoughts on the matter. He reminded, ¡°The longer you delay, the more dissatisfied the civilians will become.¡± ¡°Hah, I don¡¯t care,¡± Adolf sneered. ¡°I won¡¯t let you win so easily, anyway.¡± Shen Siwei subtly furrowed his brows, finding it annoying. At that moment, Klet, who was sitting beside them, finished the beef on his plate, nonchalantly dropped his cutlery, and asked Shen Siwei, ¡°Shall we go?¡± The metallic cutlery made a crisp and abrupt collision sound. Adolf visibly tensed, fearing that Klet might suddenly turn violent towards him. However, his worry was unnecessary as Shen Siwei and Klet were currently in a superior position, and there was no need to dirty their hands. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Shen Siwei stood up. ¡°There¡¯s nothing more to say.¡± Back in the bedroom, Shen Siwei contacted Leizhe and informed him of Adolf¡¯s intentions. Leizhe¡¯s three-dimensional projection appeared at the end of the bed, with delicate light and shadow resembling an actual person sitting there. He stroked his chin and thoughtfully said, ¡°For the Marg people, the best strategy at the moment is to drag it out. Who knows what will happen when the enthusiasm of the civilians is completely exhausted.¡± ¡°Do you have any good ideas?¡± Shen Siwei asked. While the two were seriously discussing the referendum, another three-dimensional projection in the room leaned on the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the outside scenery, and said, ¡°Wow, this is the night view from the top floor.¡± Leizhe immediately walked over and pulled Malken to sit on the edge of the bed. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about serious matters first.¡± ¡°I do have an idea,¡± Malken sat upright next to Leizhe and said to Shen Siwei and Klet on the sofa, ¡°Tomorrow, Leizhe and I are going to the third floor to discuss the referendum with those politicians. They said they invited Marg representatives, but judging from Adolf¡¯s attitude, he probably won¡¯t attend.¡± ¡°And then?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°If Adolf doesn¡¯t attend, there are still others, right?¡± Malken said, ¡± he¡¯s not the only son right?.¡± ¡°You mean Amor?¡± Shen Siwei began to seriously consider the proposal. ¡°He may stand with the civilians, but he may not necessarily involve himself in political matters.¡± Amor was just a university professor, and while he had a deep understanding of social systems, his theories might not be useful in political negotiations. Moreover, judging from Amor¡¯s state during their parting, he probably didn¡¯t want to get involved in those conflicts. ¡°No,¡± Malken raised his index finger and waved it. ¡°I¡¯m talking about Miller¡¯s younger son.¡± The three of them simultaneously looked at Klet. Klet, who was choosing a wedding venue, raised his gaze and completely missed the conversation of the three. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Reveal your identity. As a representative of the Marg, negotiate with us,¡± Leizhe summarized concisely. ¡°Reveal my identity?¡± Klet looked at Shen Siwei in confusion. ¡°Adolf won¡¯t agree to the referendum, and Amor probably doesn¡¯t want to get involved either. As for you, you¡¯re not only Miller¡¯s son, but also the first newborn of the Tree of Life, and the one who repaired the deep-sea energy station. You even have more say than Adolf,¡± Shen Siwei explained. ¡°The negotiator is right,¡± Malken added. ¡°To replace Adolf and Amor, it can only be you, Aikleet!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give me a fucking nickname,¡± Klet frowned and threw the cushion on the sofa towards Malken, but the three-dimensional projection only flickered twice and caused no actual harm. ¡°What do you think?¡± Shen Siwei asked Klet. It had to be admitted that this strategy was indeed utilizing Klet¡¯s identity. When Shen Siwei was brought to the top floor by Miller, it was also to exploit his identity as the son of an energy station designer, so he knew how unpleasant it felt. If Klet didn¡¯t agree, he wouldn¡¯t force it, but he didn¡¯t expect Klet to be completely indifferent and generously say, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°Hmm,¡± Klet nodded. Malken snapped his fingers. ¡°That¡¯s good, I¡¯ll prepare immediately.¡± The small meeting among the four could have ended there, but as soon as Malken finished speaking, the bedroom lights suddenly flickered, and even the network signal was briefly interrupted. The three-dimensional projection at the end of the bed instantly became glitchy, and Leizhe¡¯s voice carried a buzzing electric sound. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Shen Siwei looked up and glanced at the restored lights. ¡°Perhaps an unstable power supply.¡± ¡°You¡¯re next to the core energy station, and you still have an unstable power supply?¡± Malken sarcastically commented. Shen Siwei shrugged, unsure of what was happening. After ending the call, only Shen Siwei and klet remained in the room. The servants on the lawn had already finished their work, and the outside regained its usual calm. klet continued to select beautiful landscape pictures while Shen Siwei leaned against the armrest of the sofa and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Are you really willing to step forward?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± klet closed the mini-computer projection, lifted his gaze, and looked at Shen Siwei. ¡°Malken reminded me that people now hope to see a union between civilians and the Marg people, so your engagement cannot be easily dissolved unless you can find a convincing reason.¡± Shen Siwei began to instinctively think about that reason. Malken was right. The emotions of the civilians had already been stirred up, and they hoped for a satisfactory outcome. If their enthusiasm was reduced by the marriage matter, it would also have some impact on the referendum. ¡°But now Adolph has no faults, so it¡¯s not easy to find a reason. Therefore,¡± klet paused for a moment, then continued, ¡°we don¡¯t need to end the engagement. As long as I step forward, you can openly marry me.¡± Upon hearing those words, Shen Siwei, who had been frowning and contemplating, was instantly moved. He looked at klet with disbelief. So, is klet, who disliked trouble so much, willing to step forward and reveal his identity just to marry him? Shen Siwei was truly touched. Could there be anyone more willful than klet? He took a deep breath, lifted his arm, and said to klet, ¡°Come here, I¡¯ll help you in choosing a place for our wedding.¡± klet lifted the corners of his mouth lightly, reopened the computer projection, and leaned closer. However, at this moment, a gunshot suddenly rang out in the quiet night, shattering that rare moment of warmth. Shen Siwei and klet exchanged a glance and immediately rushed out to the corridor outside the room. A guard ran past them in a panic, and Shen Siwei quickly grabbed his arm and asked, ¡°What happened?¡± The guard gasped for breath and said, ¡°Young Master Adolph has been shot!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Adolph¡­ Is dead?¡± CH 68 When the two arrived, Rita was being helped out of Adolf¡¯s room by a maid, looking confused and disoriented. Shen Siwei approached the door and glanced inside. He saw Adolf, dressed in casual clothes, slumped on the sofa, and the carpet under him stained red with his blood. Medical personnel surrounded the sofa, examining his body, while guards searched for any clues around. ¡°Captain Shen,¡± Rita said, stopping beside Shen Siwei, ¡°Adolf is dead.¡± It was an obvious fact, but judging by Rita¡¯s appearance, she seemed unable to believe that such a thing could happen. Shen Siwei withdrew his gaze from the room and looked at the surveillance cameras in the corridor, asking without much hope, ¡°Did they capture the killer?¡± ¡°No,¡± the personal guard of Adolf stepped forward and said, ¡°The killer must have entered and exited through the window.¡± ¡°What about the surveillance cameras in the courtyard?¡± Shen Siwei asked again. ¡°They didn¡¯t capture anything either,¡± the guard said, ¡°The killer seems to be familiar with blind spots in the surveillance.¡± Adolf had mentioned before that the Miller¡¯s must have entered and exited through the window too. It seemed that although the deaths of those two individuals were different, it was likely the work of the same person. ¡°I know who the killer is,¡± Rita moved her lips and said. This statement sounded familiar because she had previously accused Adolf of being the killer. Shen Siwei followed her words and asked, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Amor,¡± Rita said, with a clear look of fear in her eyes, unable to hide her fear even with her delicate makeup. ¡°Amor?¡± Shen Siwei raised an eyebrow unexpectedly. ¡°But didn¡¯t he leave?¡± ¡°It can only be him,¡± Rita said solemnly, ¡°He has always been at odds with his family, and this time, with what happened to Moran, he must have been greatly disturbed.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± Wasn¡¯t this conclusion too random? ¡°Just think about it, Captain Shen,¡± Rita interrupted Shen Siwei, ¡°Someone bears a grudge against Miller, someone bears a grudge against Adolf. That¡¯s normal. But who bears a grudge against both Miller and Adolf?¡± From the motive standpoint, the killer must have had resentment toward both individuals, which narrowed down the possibilities significantly. ¡°But Amor wouldn¡¯t kill,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°How do you know?¡± Rita asked, ¡°Do you know him well?¡± Shen Siwei had only met Amor twice, once at Moran¡¯s house and once at Miller¡¯s funeral. However, Shen Siwei always felt like he had known him for a long time, perhaps because he had read Amor¡¯s diary. At least from Amor¡¯s diary, he seemed mature and had a broad understanding of things. Because of his own identity concerns, even though he had some criticisms of the existing social system, he wouldn¡¯t show it in class but silently wrote it in his diary. ¡°He is a university professor,¡± Shen Siwei thought for a moment and said, ¡°Does he know how to kill?¡± ¡°When a person is cornered, they can do anything,¡± Rita said. Then she corrected herself, ¡°No, it¡¯s not being cornered, it¡¯s being driven crazy.¡± Crazy? Shen Siwei recalled Amor¡¯s state and it didn¡¯t seem like what Rita described. ¡°He changed when he came back this time,¡± Rita continued, ¡°He took the initiative to talk to me and even told me to take care of myself.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s called madness?¡± Shen Siwei looked at Rita strangely, beginning to doubt who among those two was truly insane. ¡°He never used to initiate conversations with me, and he would even avoid making eye contact. You know those people with social anxiety? He¡¯s probably like that, trying to avoid social interactions as much as possible. I thought he wouldn¡¯t attend Miller¡¯s funeral.¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t think Amor had any problems with his social abilities. Everyone has different sides to them. Perhaps Amor simply didn¡¯t want to talk to Rita or stay in that house. ¡°Captain Shen,¡± Rita¡¯s tone became somewhat anxious when she saw Shen Siwei¡¯s lack of response, ¡°if he is truly the killer, then I might be his next target. He deliberately told me to ¡®take care,¡¯ isn¡¯t that a death threat?¡± Upon hearing this, Shen Siwei finally realized why Rita looked so terrified. It wasn¡¯t because she was frightened by Adolf¡¯s body, but because she was worried that she might be the next victim. ¡°Amor also told me to take care before he left. Could that also be a death threat?¡± Shen Siwei comforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t think too much, it might just be a normal farewell.¡± ¡°No, you don¡¯t understand. He¡¯s really different now,¡± Rita shook her head, ¡°I remember him smiling at me during Miller¡¯s funeral, but it was clearly a sinister smile.¡± ¡°Madam,¡± the maid beside Rita couldn¡¯t help but advise, ¡°perhaps you¡¯re thinking too much.¡± Shen Siwei thought the same. At that moment, a guard received a message. He projected the contents of the message into the air and said, ¡°This is Amor¡¯s access record.¡± Every entrance and exit leading to the lower levels had records, accurately showing the time someone entered or left the top floor. In the recent access records, it showed that Amor first left the top floor before Miller was killed, and he returned after the funeral this morning. Approximately two hours later, he left the top floor again. ¡°He didn¡¯t have the time to commit the crime,¡± Shen Siwei said. Rita still seemed skeptical and repeatedly checked the access records. ¡°This is Amor¡¯s current location,¡± the guard opened another projection window and said, ¡°Currently, his coordinates are in the western district of the lower level. If he had just killed Adolf, unless he can teleport, it¡¯s impossible for him to reach the western district in such a short time.¡± Rita breathed a sigh of relief for the time being, but her expression still carried a hint of doubt. ¡°Could it be that I was just overthinking?¡± ¡°Now that Amor¡¯s suspicion is ruled out,¡± Shen Siwei continued, ¡°can you think of anyone else who might have killed Adolf?¡± Rita shook her head in confusion, ¡°I don¡¯t know. Could it be a servant or a guard?¡± ¡°One thing we can be sure of,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°the killer is definitely not an outsider.¡± Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have such a thorough understanding of the blind spots in the surveillance. ¡°And there¡¯s the weapon,¡± Klet, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke up, ¡°When I first came up, all the weapons were confiscated. Since Adolf was shot, it means the killer had access to a gun.¡± ¡°So, it could be a guard?¡± Rita asked. ¡°I can investigate if any of the guards have lost their firearms,¡± the guard said, ¡°If necessary, we can also compare the projections.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Rita nodded. The guard received the order and quickly left the room. The medical personnel on the other side also had a result; Adolf¡¯s body showed no other abnormal conditions, only a gunshot wound. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but start thinking about who else might have had a motive. Just then, Rita suddenly received a message. She glanced at it and her eyes widened in anger, completely losing the absent-minded look from earlier. ¡°Did you reveal Klet¡¯s identity?¡± Rita closed the communicator and looked at Shen Siwei and Klet. ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Siwei calmly replied. ¡°The announcement was made after Adolf¡¯s death,¡± Rita scrutinized them warily, ¡°Did you plan it in advance?¡± ¡°What plan?¡± Klet retorted with a low, husky voice full of confusion. ¡°You planned to kill Adolf and let Klet inherit the inheritance in a legitimate manner,¡± Rita said, her gaze gradually turning cold, ¡°Captain Shen, I underestimated you. I didn¡¯t expect you to be so scheming.¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± He twitched the corner of his mouth, ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°How long have you been planning this? Was saving Amor also part of your plan?¡± Rita coldly asked, ¡°I know you have a connection with Nightingale. Is all of this your doing?¡± It was getting more and more absurd. If Shen Siwei had the ability to manipulate power like that, would he just settle for being a soldier? This Rita was truly a remarkable person. She had been quite frightened by the Amor incident just a moment ago, but as soon as it came to the issue of inheritance, she immediately regained her fighting spirit. ¡°We didn¡¯t kill Adolf,¡± Shen Siwei calmly stated, ¡°If we wanted to seize power using such means¡ªif anyone stood in our way, we would kill them¡ªthen you, as well as everyone at the top, would have died long ago.¡± After a pause, he added, ¡°If you don¡¯t understand my capabilities, you can ask around.¡± Rita¡¯s body slightly leaned back, and she withdrew the imposing aura she had just displayed. It seemed that only now did she realize that if Shen Siwei and Klet wanted to kill her, it would be even more terrifying than Amor. ¡°But,¡± she took a deep breath and looked at Klet, pretending to remain calm, ¡°After Adolf¡¯s death, you are the one who benefits the most.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve said it many times,¡± Klet furrowed his brow, looking impatient, ¡°I don¡¯t care about the fucking inheritance.¡± Shen Siwei, afraid that Klet might reveal that what he cared about was just getting married, quickly continued, ¡°Revealing the identity was only to push for the public vote. No one wants your inheritance.¡± Rita¡¯s tense shoulders finally relaxed, but she appeared confused, ¡°Then who else could it be?¡± With all this going back and forth, she seemed to be on the verge of going crazy. Shen Siwei said, ¡°Let¡¯s wait for the results of the investigation.¡± After parting ways with Rita, Shen Siwei and Klet strolled around the lawn outside. The surveillance cameras already had extensive coverage, but there were many landscaping features on the lawn. With some effort, it was still possible to find a route that avoided all the cameras. The two of them found a bench and sat down, looking at the brightly lit villa in the distance. Klet asked, ¡°Who do you think the killer is?¡± Shen Siwei exhaled heavily and honestly said, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°It could be Rita,¡± Klet stretched his arms, resting them on the back of the bench, ¡°Maybe she was just acting earlier.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not entirely impossible,¡± Shen Siwei raised his head, his temples throbbing. He leaned his head on Klet¡¯s arm. ¡°It could also be Amor,¡± Klet continued, ¡°This place is suitable for hide-and-seek; he must have known how to avoid surveillance since he was a child.¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°But how do you explain his travel records?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Klet shrugged, ¡°Just speculating.¡± ¡°Honey , don¡¯t make things more chaotic.¡± When Shen Siwei said ¡°honey ,¡± he only intended to make Klet calm down and not further confuse his thoughts. But who knew Klet wouldn¡¯t stay calm. Instead, he sat up straight and looked at Shen Siwei, asking, ¡°What did you call me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± The arm behind his neck moved, and Shen Siwei had to raise his head. ¡°I heard it,¡± Klet frowned. ¡°If you heard it, why are you asking?¡± ¡°I want to hear it again.¡± ¡°It¡¯s gone once it¡¯s over.¡± Clearly, Klet wouldn¡¯t give up easily. He leaned closer to Shen Siwei, as if swearing not to give up. But at that moment, his communicator vibrated, interrupting his action. He lowered his eyes and glanced at it, then leaned back against the chair, activating the speaker function. The next second, Malken¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Is tomorrow¡¯s arrangement confirmed?¡± Malken asked, ¡°Leizher and I will arrive on the third floor around 9:30, and the meeting will start at 10:00. Will you and klet attend, or should I attend?¡± Klet looked at Shen Siwei next to him and said, ¡°We¡¯ll attend.¡± ¡°OK!¡± Malken said, ¡°I just checked the comments. Akleet¡¯s voice is very high right now. I hope everything goes well tomorrow!¡± ¡°You¡¯re calling me Ak¡ª¡± ¡°Alright, see you tomorrow. Bye-bye!¡± Before Klet could finish speaking, Malken had already hung up. Klet had a dark expression on his face, as if he wanted to punch someone. Shen Siwei chuckled and pinched his cheek, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, honey.¡± Klet¡¯s anger visibly reduced. ¡°There¡¯s a lot going on tomorrow,¡± Shen Siwei said again, ¡°Since we¡¯re going to the third floor, I want to find Dr. Chen. Moran mentioned before that he might be able to restore my cardiopulmonary function.¡± ¡°Fully restore it?¡± Klet asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Siwei replied. Klet slightly furrowed his brow, ¡°Then you won¡¯t need me to give you artificial respiration anymore.¡± Shen Siwei visibly flustered: ¡°¡­you are so silly?¡± CH 69 Adolf¡¯s murder spread like wildfire, and the villa remained restless throughout the night. Outside in the parking lot, aircraft came and went, with people closely related to Adolf and those attending the funeral getting on and off the aircraft. Their expressions were anxious, as if indicating that a real change was about to happen. The servants and guards were also worried, unsure of how things would unfold. ¡°Malken asked me about Adolf,¡± klet lazily leaned against the bedside, looking at the communicator in his hand. ¡°He suspects it was us.¡± Shen Siwei knew Malken was joking and didn¡¯t take it seriously. He waved his hand in the air, closed the automatic intelligent curtains, and returned to the bed, lying down next to klet. ¡°Let¡¯s get some sleep.¡± klet didn¡¯t put on his shirt, resting comfortably against Shen Siwei¡¯s warm chest. ¡°If things go smoothly tomorrow,¡± klet casually embraced Shen Siwei¡¯s back, ¡°do we need to come back to the top floor?¡± Tomorrow¡¯s meeting would determine the details of the referendum. Once everything was settled, Shen Siwei and klet would have nothing to do with it. But¡­ ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious about who the killer is?¡± Shen Siwei lifted his head, looking at klet¡¯s jawline. ¡°Curious.¡± klet adjusted his chin, meeting Shen Siwei¡¯s gaze. ¡°But it¡¯s not my concern.¡± The next morning, Shen Siwei and klet changed into newly delivered suits. The suits were still predominantly black, but with a more casual style, not as somber as the funeral attire. Rita seemed to have stayed up all night. Her exquisite makeup concealed her dark circles, but couldn¡¯t hide the exhaustion in her eyes. She personally escorted Shen Siwei and klet to the parking lot. Before parting ways, she asked, ¡°Captain Shen, will you still come back to help me find the killer?¡± Shen Siwei had promised Rita before to find Miller¡¯s killer. But given the circumstances back then, regardless of what Shen Siwei promised, it was just a stopgap measure and couldn¡¯t be considered a commitment. He didn¡¯t respond immediately, looking at klet beside him. Rita sighed and said, ¡°Now that the Marg people are in chaos, everyone is preoccupied and no one wants to meddle in other people¡¯s affairs.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s discuss it after the meeting,¡± klet said casually. The aircraft left the top floor¡¯s entrance and headed straight to the three-story government building. Unexpectedly, four fighter jets suddenly appeared on either side of the aircraft, forming an escort formation. Looking down from above, the order on the third floor was significantly better than the top floor. Vehicles on the roads moved steadily, and there were gardeners trimming flowers and plants in private residences. The whole world seemed to be in chaos except for the Marg people. The Miller family¡¯s entrance and the government building were several tens of kilometers apart. Approximately an hour later, Shen Siwei and klet arrived on time at the central government building on the third floor. Politicians represented by Morrison awaited on both sides of the main entrance, standing upright. In contrast, the Nightingale group led by Leizhe and Malken seemed like they had wandered onto the wrong set, out of place with the serious government building. ¡°Boss! Negotiator!¡± Malken waved at the two from a distance. As Shen Siwei and klet approached, he looked up and down at klet, clicking his tongue. ¡°Tsk tsk, Boss, you look quite hot in a suit.¡± klet¡¯s expression remained unchanged, seemingly indifferent to Malken¡¯s banter. But Malken was already prepared to make a quick getaway, yet to his surprise, klet¡¯s action was faster. He kicked him in the butt, causing Malken to stumble and fall into Leizhe¡¯s arms. ¡°Do you have to be so mean?¡± Malken regained his balance, rubbing his behind, and protested against klet with dissatisfaction. But Leizhe, supporting him, said, ¡°I think you deserved it.¡± ¡°Huh? Are you siding with him?¡± The others in the Nightingale group burst into laughter, making the politicians standing aside even more out of place. Morrison adjusted his suit, took the initiative to approach, and said, ¡°Captain Shen, it¡¯s about time. Shall we go inside and talk?¡± In fact, Shen Siwei played a secondary role in the negotiations. Morrison should have invited Leizhe and klet inside, but for some reason, he seemed to feel that Shen Siwei was the one with decision-making power. But if one had to say¡­ One was his subordinate, the other his future husband. It seemed that Shen Siwei did indeed have a significant say. ¡°Shall we go in?¡± Shen Siwei looked at Leizhe and the others. The playful group immediately quieted down and followed Shen Siwei into the government building. Shen Siwei had seen this circular, tiered conference hall countless times on television, but it was his first time stepping inside. All major decisions related to the Tree of Life were made in that hall, and it also witnessed the history of the Tree of Life. There were around sixty to seventy politicians in the political camp, all considered ¡°higher-class citizens¡± among civilians. Although they weren¡¯t Marg people themselves, they didn¡¯t consider themselves ordinary citizens either. ¡°Today, we gather here to discuss the referendum¡­¡± ¡°He talks too much.¡± klet tilted his head slightly and whispered a complaint to Shen Siwei. ¡°Yeah,¡± Shen Siwei replied. After the referendum, the Nightingale group and those politicians would engage in a tug-of-war. It would be another political struggle then. Indeed, traveling with klet seemed to be the easiest, enjoying the scenery, fighting monsters, without having to consider anything else. Shen Siwei¡¯s thoughts drifted away gradually, and just at that moment, the doors of the conference hall were suddenly pushed open, and dozens of well-dressed Marg people walked in from outside. ¡°For such a meeting, it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for only one Marg person to participate, right?¡± The person leading the way was the news officer that Shen Siwei had seen before, followed by organization officials, security officials, and others, all high-ranking Marg individuals. ¡°Just klet alone definitely can¡¯t represent the will of all Marg people. We have some conditions to propose.¡± Perhaps Adolf¡¯s death had changed the minds of those high-ranking Marg individuals. They originally didn¡¯t want to participate in the meeting and wouldn¡¯t recognize the outcome of the meeting. But perhaps knowing that the situation had already turned against them, they could only strive for their own interests before things got worse. ¡°What conditions do you have?¡± Leizhe asked. ¡°Holding a referendum, that¡¯s acceptable. You want independence, no problem. But Marg people must enjoy special privileges, not be under the authority of the civilian government, and the top-level core power station belongs to Marg people, not shared with the civilians.¡± As soon as the words of the Marg high-ranking individuals fell, the entire hall erupted. ¡°Why should you monopolize the top-level power station? Energy should be shared equally!¡± ¡°Miller himself signed the Tree of Life Development Agreement, so things should be done according to the agreement!¡± ¡°How can you live in the sky without the support of the lower levels?¡± ¡°If we just cut off the top level, it won¡¯t have any impact on us. Why should we still cater to you?¡± The politicians and the Nightingale group angrily fired at the Marg individuals, and the Marg individuals didn¡¯t back down either. ¡°Who funded the construction of the Tree of Life? You ungrateful lot!¡± ¡°The Marg people are the masters of the Tree of Life. Without Marg people, you can only live with the distorted monsters outside!¡± The conference hall was even noisier than the marketplace on the lower levels. Someone in the Nightingale group started chanting slogans, and the politicians raised their fists in agreement, shouting, ¡°Remove the top-level advantage! Remove the top-level advantage!¡± ¡°Headache.¡± Shen Siwei looked at the spectacle in front of him, feeling somewhat helpless. ¡°Do you want to leave?¡± klet asked. ¡°Alright.¡± This meeting probably wouldn¡¯t end without a big fuss. Leizhe and Malken seemed energetic, but Shen Siwei had been under a constant mental overload the past few days. Just listening to those high-decibel voices made him uncomfortable. The two of them walked out of the government building, and they could still hear the arguing from upstairs in the parking lot. Perhaps many people thought that politicians were dignified representatives, but little did they know that when it came to their own interests, these politicians would all fight fiercely. After boarding the aircraft and setting the destination coordinates, Shen Siwei and klet relaxed and enjoyed the scenery outside the window. Although the view on the third level was not as expansive as the top level, they could see the distant snow-capped mountains from the third level, and the scenery was even better than the top level. Dr. Chen¡¯s laboratory was not far from the government building, about a twenty-minute drive. They parked the aircraft in the parking lot outside the laboratory and walked into the laboratory openly. For some reason, the receptionist was playing a game, with the game screen projected in the air. When the receptionist saw Shen Siwei enter, they lazily glanced at him, then immediately jumped up from the office chair, picked up the intercom, and retreated while trembling, shouting, ¡°Quick, someone come to the reception! The subject, the subject, he¡¯s back!¡± ¡°Is it the escaped subject?¡± a voice came from the intercom. ¡°Yes, yes, yes! Hurry!¡± In the next second, more than ten guards rushed out from all directions, all armed with real guns, aiming their muzzles at Shen Siwei and klet. Shen Siwei could tell that those guards were nervous, probably because they didn¡¯t know how Shen Siwei had returned on his own. He calmly said, ¡°Put down your guns.¡± The guards looked at each other. ¡°Put down your guns,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°I won¡¯t harm you.¡± He wasn¡¯t afraid of those weapons, but just in case, he didn¡¯t want anyone accidentally firing a shot and hurting klet. No one knew his abilities better than the employees there. The guards exchanged glances and, in the end, obediently put down their guns. Shen Siwei walked to the reception desk and said to the trembling employee pressed against the wall, ¡°I¡¯m looking for Dr. Chen.¡± ¡°Dr. Chen, he¡­¡± The person swallowed and said, ¡°He hasn¡¯t been to work for two days.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°A colleague went to his house to find him but couldn¡¯t. It seems he¡¯s gone missing.¡± Dr. Chen¡­ missing? Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brows. Two days ago, wasn¡¯t that when Miller was killed? CH 70 Something was obviously not right. Miller and Adolf had been involved in consecutive incidents, and Dr. Chen coincidentally goes missing at that time. Shen Siwei didn¡¯t believe it was just a coincidence. ¡°Did you report it to the police?¡± he asked. ¡°We did, but they said it doesn¡¯t meet the criteria for filing a case. We¡¯re still waiting,¡± the person replied. I see. Shen Siwei wondered why the front desk was so leisurely, apparently having nothing else to do. ¡°How did you discover his disappearance?¡± Shen Siwei asked again. ¡°It was after the day you escaped?¡± the person said. ¡°Dr. Chen came to the lab, took a look around, and then shortly after, we couldn¡¯t contact him anymore. The upstairs still looks the same as when you escaped, and we don¡¯t know what to do.¡± In fact, Shen Siwei didn¡¯t escape; he was taken away by Moran. He looked at klet beside him and asked, ¡°Should we go up and take a look?¡± ¡°Okay,¡± klet replied. The guards looked at each other, unsure whether to make way or not. But before Shen Siwei could say anything, the person at the front desk waved his hand and said, ¡°Go ahead and do whatever you need to do.¡± With Dr. Chen, the backbone of the team, absent, the employees in the laboratory seemed to have lost their motivation to work. Perhaps they were more concerned about their own future compared to going after Shen Siwei, ¡®the dangerous experimental subject¡¯. Following the remembered route, Shen Siwei arrived at the core laboratory and found that the various instruments inside were mostly unchanged, except for the destroyed lift doors and control console. From the scene alone, it was clear that Moran had indeed fabricated the illusion of Shen Siwei¡¯s escape. ¡°Is this where you were frozen?¡± klet looked around, his gaze suggesting that he should have gone there sooner. The past couldn¡¯t be changed. Shen Siwei said, ¡°Let¡¯s look for anything suspicious.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± klet walked to Dr. Chen¡¯s workstation and casually pressed a button, immediately triggering a video log on the screen. ¡°On the 9010th day, Captain Shen returned from a mission. His behavior showed rebellion, indicating a possible restoration of his memory. However, I am certain that I stored his memories in the control console. How was he able to retrieve them? Could it be that no matter how many times his memories are lost, he can¡¯t erase the people and things that are important to him? This speculation requires further observation.¡± klet frowned, clenched his fists, as if he wanted to grab Dr. Chen from the video and beat him up. But Shen Siwei had long been angry about that matter. He held Cret¡¯s fist softly rubbed it with his thumb and said, ¡°Keep scrolling.¡± The previous contents were all observations of Shen Siwei and had nothing special. Shen Siwei searched for other files and found that Dr. Chen¡¯s research scope was very broad, including biotechnology, astrophysics, and more. But it was just research. There were no hidden secrets on his computer. The most classified research was about Shen Siwei, which was also a well-known transformation project. ¡°Based on what we¡¯ve seen, he doesn¡¯t seem to be a problem,¡± klet said. Shen Siwei also thought the same. Someone who didn¡¯t even set a password for his computer didn¡¯t seem likely to have any conspiracy or trickery. He contemplated and said, ¡°Where could he have gone?¡± ¡°The timing of his disappearance is not normal,¡± klet said. ¡°If he is indeed involved in the top-level matters, then he most likely¡ª¡± ¡°Went to the top level,¡± they both said in unison. At least it could be confirmed that Dr. Chen didn¡¯t disappear for no reason. If he was involved in the events, it was almost certain that he had gone to the top level. ¡°Go get Malken and the others,¡± Shen Siwei said, copying the experiment logs related to himself into a handheld computer. ¡°We¡¯re going back to the top level now.¡± Rita clearly didn¡¯t expect Shen Siwei and klet to return so soon. In the spacious and quiet living room, Adolf¡¯s personal guard displayed the recently received documents, projecting them into the air, and said, ¡°These are all the entry and exit records of the passageway for the past two days.¡± The guard referred to the entrance and exit passageway outside Miller¡¯s house. Over the past two days, there were hundreds of records, but most of the entries were concentrated around Miller¡¯s funeral. ¡°Who are you looking for?¡± Rita asked. She must have rested for a while, as her complexion had improved compared to when they separated in the morning, and her light makeup was enough to hide her fatigue. ¡°Dr. Chen,¡± Shen Siwei waved his right hand in the air, carefully examining the entry and exit records line by line. ¡°The military¡¯s chief scientist?¡± Rita asked. ¡°How is he related to this matter?¡± ¡°Not sure yet,¡± Shen Siwei continued scrolling through the list. If he encountered people who might be related to Dr. Chen, he would open the detailed records and check if there were any images of Dr. Chen captured by the surveillance cameras. Page after page, just when Shen Siwei began to doubt his judgment, whether he had made a mistake, Dr. Chen¡¯s name finally appeared on the list. ¡ªSo he did come to the top level. ¡°At 11:40 PM, during the night,¡± Shen Siwei looked at the numbers on the screen, ¡°half an hour after Miller was killed.¡± ¡°The timing doesn¡¯t match,¡± klet frowned. ¡°But we can be sure he¡¯s involved in this matter,¡± Shen Siwei said. The entrance and exit passageway outside Miller¡¯s house mostly had the people from the mansion coming and going. Since Dr. Chen entered the top level from there, it was highly likely that he was there to find someone related to Miller¡¯s family. ¡°Why did he come up here?¡± Rita couldn¡¯t help asking. ¡°Did you find anything?¡± Shen Siwei was also puzzled, but at that moment, klet suddenly asked Rita, ¡°Who is this person?¡± Following klet¡¯s gaze, Shen Siwei saw that he had stopped the screen cursor on a name that was both unfamiliar and ordinary. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± Rita looked puzzled, ¡°Could he be a guard?¡± She was confused because there was no additional information after the name. If he was a guard, his identity should have been mentioned in the remarks column. ¡°Click and take a look,¡± Shen Siwei said. A new page popped up with scarce information about the stranger. It only listed his date of birth, height, weight, and so on, while the work history column was completely blank. ¡°Have you seen him before?¡± Shen Siwei asked Rita. There was a photo of the person in the information section, an ordinary face that would easily get lost in a crowd. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen him,¡± Rita said, looking towards the other guard. ¡°Have you?¡± The guard also shook his head. klet waved his hand to close the page and opened the archived photos of the entry and exit records. It showed the person driving a flying vehicle with a honeycomb pattern on its exterior. The golden body of the vehicle reflected light intensely, making it impossible to see the situation inside, only countless hexagonal patterns. ¡°Look at all of his entry and exit records,¡± Shen Siwei said. The guard operated on his mini-computer for a moment, and when he projected it again into the air, only a few sparse entry and exit records appeared on the screen. It turned out that this person first arrived on the top level more than ten minutes before Miller was killed, and he left the top level before Miller¡¯s funeral began the next day. However, about two hours later, he returned to the top level and hadn¡¯t left since. ¡°Do you have detailed information about this person?¡± Shen Siwei asked. After operating on his mini-computer for a while, the guard strangely said, ¡°No. This person gained access to the top level for the first time just ten minutes before he arrived.¡± ¡°What?¡± Rita looked surprised. ¡°Are you saying this person has no information, suddenly gained access to the top level, and shortly after he arrived, Miller died?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the guard nodded. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± klet whispered to Shen Siwei. Shen Siwei was lost in thought, how could this person suddenly appear out of nowhere? Neglected details gradually connected, and an absurd thought formed in Shen Siwei¡¯s mind. He held back his sinking heart and said to the guard, ¡°Bring up all the entry and exit records again.¡± Five minutes later, Shen Siwei exhaled complicatedly, ¡°I know what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡­,,,,¡­.. After nightfall, Miller¡¯s residence was still brightly lit. Rita lay on the four-poster bed, facing the ceiling, with her hands resting outside the thick covers. She asked Shen Siwei, who was standing by the bed, ¡°Will this really lure him out?¡± ¡°It will,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°After all, he attended the funeral.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Rita worriedly said, ¡°What if he comes after me too¡­¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t have the opportunity,¡± Shen Siwei said, glancing at the guard standing in the room. ¡°And he doesn¡¯t have the ability.¡± ¡°But he got to Adolf¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Your ¡®sudden illness¡¯ was an unexpected event; he definitely wasn¡¯t prepared for it.¡± In fact, even without Shen Siwei arranging for Rita to pretend to be sick, her current mental state was indeed not much different from being sick. ¡°Is it almost time to keep watch?¡± klet asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± The small team of guards responsible for guarding the entrance and exit passage stood at their posts as usual. The calm night seemed no different from previous nights. However, Shen Siwei and klet stood in the shadows at a street corner several tens of meters away, attentively watching the movements at the entrance and exit passage. ¡°Will he really show up?¡±klet leaned against the wall, arms crossed in front of him, looking quite bored. ¡°He will,¡± Shen Siwei kept his gaze on the entrance and exit passage. ¡°Rita specifically asked him to come back. If he doesn¡¯t show up, it will only raise unnecessary suspicions.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the front lights of a flickering aircraft appeared in the night sky not far away. Although still at a distance, they could see that the exterior of the aircraft was adorned with a honeycomb pattern. The aircraft quickly arrived above the passage. Following the normal procedure, after a brief scan, the passage door slowly opened, and the aircraft safely left the top level. However, unlike before, after the blue light of the scan flashed, the passage door didn¡¯t open. Instead, several aircraft suddenly rose from the shadows and surrounded the reflective aircraft. Shen Siwei took slow steps forward, and the person inside the cabin must have noticed him. After hovering in mid-air for a while, the person landed the aircraft in an open space next to the entrance and exit passage. The cabin door opened upward, and a neatly dressed, well-mannered young man stepped out from the driver¡¯s seat. He took off his silver-framed glasses and said to Shen Siwei, ¡°Captain Shen, good evening.¡± Shen Siwei let out a heavy breath. ¡°It¡¯s really you,¡± he said, ¡°Amor.¡± CH 71 9:35 p.m., Miller¡¯s study. Amor walked up to the desk and stopped, ¡°Father.¡± Miller, sitting behind the desk, was reading the news and didn¡¯t look up, ¡°Rest early.¡± ¡°I came to bid you farewell.¡± As the words were spoken, Miller finally lifted his head. ¡°I¡¯ve taken leave for you from the university. You don¡¯t need to rush back. Stay at home for a while longer this time.¡± ¡°No, I have other things to do.¡± Amor¡¯s tone was flat as he refused. ¡°Other things?¡± Miller turned off the news projection and furrowed his brow slightly, ¡°What other things?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about it.¡± ¡°Are you going to collect the corpse of your lover?¡± Miller leaned back in his chair, looking up at Amor with contempt and disdain evident in his demeanor, ¡°Amor, how did you become the way you are now? You used to be obedient.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine the way I am now.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still too young. When you truly grow up, you¡¯ll realize how foolish it is to let love cloud your judgment.¡± Miller tapped the table with his index finger, ¡°To give up your social status for a lowly commoner, I feel embarrassed for you.¡± ¡°Whose embarrassment?¡± Amor¡¯s calm tone finally showed a ripple as he looked at Miller, piercing through without mercy, ¡°Yours?¡± ¡°The entire family will be embarrassed because of you!¡± Miller¡¯s voice rose in anger, ¡°You were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, something many people envy. And yet, instead of being grateful, you think there¡¯s something wrong with the existing social system. Do you know that you¡¯re being ungrateful?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t published my theories in a book. I¡¯ve already exercised restraint.¡± ¡°You still want to publish a book? What a joke.¡± Miller¡¯s lips curled with sarcasm, ¡°Let me warn you, Amor. Do what is appropriate for your position, and don¡¯t make me teach you such simple lessons.¡± ¡°I came here today to bid you farewell because I no longer want that position. I don¡¯t need you to teach me anything, I¡¯m well aware.¡± ¡°You want to end ties with the family?¡± The muscles on Miller¡¯s cheek twitched slightly with anger, and his gaze darkened, ¡°For so-called freedom and love? It¡¯s ridiculous! If you dare to have any relationship with a civilian¡ª¡± But as he said that, Miller suddenly calmed down, pondering before saying, ¡°Wait, you¡¯ve actually reminded me. The Marg people are currently facing a public relations crisis, and an alliance with civilians might be a good solution.¡± Amor furrowed his brow slightly. ¡°Alright, since you want to marry a commoner, I¡¯ll grant your wish.¡± Miller regained his composure, ¡°Captain Shen is a suitable candidate, much more respectable than that monster hunter.¡± ¡°¡­Respectable?¡± Amor¡¯s hands, hanging down, gradually clenched into fists. ¡°That¡¯s settled then. As a member of this family, you also have to shoulder responsibilities.¡± ¡°I said earlier,¡± his voice, squeezed out from the corner of his mouth, trembled slightly, ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± ¡°Leaving to do what? Do you think you¡¯re capable of collecting your wild man¡¯s corpse in the ruins?¡± Miller¡¯s tone became impatient, ¡°If you dare go, I¡¯ll immediately send someone to chop up his body and feed it to the dogs.¡± His fingertips sank into his flesh as if trying to draw blood. His fist tightened and then loosened, and Amor said calmly, ¡°Take care, Father.¡± ¡°You still want to leave? Stop right there, do you hear me?!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Amor. Amor folded his silver-framed glasses and put them in the inner pocket of his suit jacket. He then inserted his hands into the pockets of his trousers and calmly said to Shen Siwei, ¡°Was it your idea to have Rita call me back?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Siwei replied. ¡°How did you know it was me?¡± At first, Shen Siwei didn¡¯t want to believe it either. Even when setting up this trap, he silently hoped that Amor wouldn¡¯t appear. But at that moment, he had to accept that fact. ¡°While checking the records of entry and exit from the passageways, Klet discovered a suspicious person,¡± Shen Siwei referred to the stranger with a blank background, ¡°His entry and exit times were very strange, entering the top floor twice, once before Miller¡¯s death and once at Miller¡¯s funeral.¡± ¡°What does that have to do with me?¡± Amor asked. ¡°It indeed doesn¡¯t seem to have much to do with you when looked at like that, so let me put it differently,¡± Shen Siwei said, ¡°He entered the top floor both times after you left. The first time was after you bid farewell to Miller, and the second time was after you attended the funeral.¡± Amor raised an eyebrow slightly. ¡°In other words, every time you left the top floor, this person appeared. Isn¡¯t that a remarkable coincidence?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible that it¡¯s just a coincidence.¡± ¡°The time you both entered and exited is very close. I think anyone would find it strange.¡± ¡°Do you suspect me just because of that?¡± Amor smiled, ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit hasty?¡± ¡°No, there is a reason to suspect you,¡± Shen Siwei exhaled heavily and continued, ¡°When you went to the lower level, you concealed your identity. If I¡¯m not mistaken, you bought a fake identity in Zone Z of City X.¡± Amor couldn¡¯t possibly wander around with his real identity following Li. Regardless of how the task force eventually traced their whereabouts, one thing was certain¡ªAmor would never be foolish enough to let the military track his location. Therefore, it was highly likely that Amor had a dual identity¡ªone was himself, and the other was the fake identity he purchased. Amor didn¡¯t respond, silently acknowledging Shen Siwei¡¯s statement. ¡°Looking at the timeline between you and that suspicious person, when you left, he appeared, and when he left, you appeared. If this suspicious person is indeed you, then you were present on the top floor the whole time.¡± Amor initially left the top floor after bidding farewell to Miller. Based on the entry and exit records, he was already absent from the top floor when Miller was murdered, so he naturally couldn¡¯t be the culprit. But if he returned to the top floor using a fake identity, then all his alibis of not being present would be invalidated. Since he had to return with his real identity the next day to attend the funeral, Amor had to leave using the fake identity first and then switch back to his real identity. After attending the funeral, he left again, switched back to the fake identity, and returned to the top floor. It was after that that Adolf was murdered. The reason Shen Siwei had Rita feign illness and call Amor back was that Amor was staying on the top floor at that time. He had to exchange identities again through ¡°entry and exit,¡± and Shen Siwei caught him at that moment. ¡°I initially suspected Adolf because of his reaction when dealing with emergencies. It seemed like he already knew Miller would die,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you informed Adolf in advance that you were going to kill Miller.¡± Amor listened quietly to Shen Siwei¡¯s speculation without any intention of refuting. ¡°Then let me guess again. You informed Adolf because you needed his help.¡± Adolf had previously entered Shen Siwei¡¯s room without any hindrance, claiming that the top floor was his territory, and there was no place he couldn¡¯t go. Shen Siwei estimated that Amor, who usually didn¡¯t stay on the top floor, wouldn¡¯t be able to obtain access to the top floor using his fake identity alone, so he had to ask for Adolf¡¯s help. Including obtaining firearms, it was likely done through Adolf as well. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Amor chuckled lightly and spoke voluntarily, ¡°He supported me a lot and even suggested that I fake it as a suicide.¡± Seeing Amor readily admit it, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel a sinking feeling. ¡°The suicide note, was it your idea?What about Adolf?¡± Shen Siwei asked, ¡°Did you kill him for Li¡¯s sake too?¡± In fact, there was one thing that Shen Siwei still couldn¡¯t figure out. Amor killed Miller, but it was only to avenge Li. Although Moran was the one directly responsible for Li¡¯s death, in the end, Miller was the mastermind. But Adolf was at most a peripheral character. If even Adolf had to be eliminated, then Rita should have been killed as well. ¡°Or,¡± Shen Siwei speculated, ¡°Did Adolf plan to expose you?¡± Amor laughed lightly, ¡°Do you think that¡¯s possible?¡± Indeed, it was highly unlikely. They were both on the same boat. If Adolf exposed Amor, it would mean exposing himself as well. ¡°So, is it still for Li¡¯s sake?¡± Shen Siwei asked. ¡°You¡¯re wrong, Captain Shen,¡± Amor said, ¡°Your other guesses are mostly correct, but everything I did from beginning to the end wasn¡¯t for Li.¡± Could it be to help Nightingale? An absurd thought flashed through Shen Siwei¡¯s mind. ¡°Nor is it for anyone else,¡± Amor¡¯s next words instantly dispelled Shen Siwei¡¯s thoughts, ¡°I¡¯m only doing it for myself.¡± Shen Siwei furrowed his brows slightly, waiting for Amor to continue. ¡°Do you still remember what you said to me in Moran¡¯s basement? ¡®Why don¡¯t you unleash your hatred?¡¯ I want to thank you, Captain Shen. It was you who woke me up.¡± An ominous feeling suddenly arose in Shen Siwei¡¯s heart. ¡°You probably don¡¯t know that my father initially wanted me to marry you. His actions have made me lose any remaining affection for him. I have nothing left to care about. I want to vent my anger. I want everyone to feel my pain.¡± As Amor spoke, his tone was calm, but Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill. ¡°I came up with a perfect plan for revenge, but to achieve this plan, I had to stay on the top floor as an invisible person. So, I could only seek help from my dear brother. ¡°I told him I wanted to kill our father and asked him to help me obtain access to the top floor with my fake identity. He readily agreed. You see, that old man had been finding ways to extend his life, and Adolf had long hoped for his death due to business matters.¡± But what Adolf didn¡¯t know was that my real intention was not to kill my father but to gain access to the top level with my identity. Only then could I stay there unnoticed and carry out my plan. So killing my father was just a diversionary tactic. Later, Adolf realized that the game was up and asked me to come back and discuss countermeasures with him. It was also at that time that he unexpectedly discovered that I had returned to the top level using a fake identity after leaving the funeral. This was different from our initial agreement. I wasn¡¯t supposed to come back after killing Miller. So he questioned me, asking why I wanted to stay at the top level with a fake identity when my goal had already been achieved. Of course, I wouldn¡¯t let him interfere with my plans, so I eliminated him directly.¡± Amor paused here. ¡°That¡¯s the whole story, Captain Shen.¡± Shen Siwei felt increasingly uneasy as he listened. He suppressed his inner uneasiness and asked, ¡°What is your plan, after all?¡± He had always thought that Amor killed Miller to avenge Li. But in the end, obtaining identity access was Amor¡¯s true purpose. He didn¡¯t hesitate to kill his own father to achieve this. ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough,¡± Amor said, taking out a small bottle of bronchial spray from his trouser pocket. ¡°And there¡¯s one thing you haven¡¯t guessed, Captain Shen.¡± He casually shook the spray bottle, blocking the lettering on the bottle with his slender fingers, making it difficult to read. ¡°I¡¯m revealing myself now not to assume my true identity and go back to see Rita,¡± he stopped shaking the spray and quickly operated a miniature computer, pressing a certain command button. ¡°It¡¯s because the plan has already been completed, and I should go down to be with my Li.¡± As soon as Amor finished speaking, darkness suddenly enveloped the surroundings. Apart from the searchlights of the aircraft, all the streetlights, landscape lights, and lights in the villas went out simultaneously. From a distance, the entire top level was shrouded in a deathly silence. The guards looked at each other in confusion. Some said there was a power outage, while others said the network was down. Everyone was facing this situation for the first time¡ªthe core power station was not functioning normally. Shen Siwei thought of the previous unstable voltage during the meeting with Leizhe, but he didn¡¯t have time to dwell on it now because after Amor said, ¡°Take care, everyone,¡± he suddenly inhaled the spray and collapsed. Shen Siwei hurriedly caught Amor¡¯s body and noticed that the aerosol spray that had slipped aside was actually euthanasia drug that causes respiratory and cardiac arrest. ¡°Call a doctor quickly!¡± he shouted at the guards. Communication was cut off, so the guards had to take the aircraft back to the villa to call for help. Klet approached Shen Siwei and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Amor. ¡°He had planned to commit suicide.¡± It was an obvious fact. Shen Siwei looked at the unresponsive Amor and frowned, ¡°But what was his plan in the end?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Klet said casually. ¡°Bury everyone with him?¡± as the aircraft carrying the family doctor returned to this side, another aircraft suddenly flew in from a distance. The driver seemed to have poor skills, as the descent was delayed and the landing gear was lowered late, causing the aircraft to rush straight towards the entrance and nearly collide with other parked aircraft. The cockpit door opened, and a short and stout figure emerged. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong! Something¡¯s wrong!¡± The person was wearing a white coat and glasses. It was Dr. Chen, who had been missing for two days. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong, Captain Shen!¡± Dr. Chen rushed to Shen Siwei and Klet, gasping for breath, and said to everyone present, ¡°The Life Tree is about to collapse. Hurry, get on the aircraft!¡± Shen Siwei asked in disbelief, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Amor has gone crazy. He wants to destroy the Life Tree. Hurry and save yourselves!¡± Shen Siwei looked incredulously at Amor lying on the ground. He never expected that Klet¡¯s earlier words would turn out to be a prophecy. CH 72 After Dr. Chen finished speaking, he turned around and was about to return to the aircraft, but Shen Siwei quickly grabbed his arm and said, ¡°How could the Life Tree collapse?¡± ¡°No time to explain!¡± Dr. Chen said anxiously. However, without a clear explanation, no one would believe that the Life Tree was about to collapse. The guards dutifully stayed by, while the medical staff placed Amor in the life pod, appearing calm and composed. ¡°Ah!¡± Dr. Chen pushed his glasses and helplessly explained, ¡°Here¡¯s the situation: two nights ago, Amor suddenly contacted me, saying he wanted to discuss some scientific research issues with me. After I came to the top floor, he took me to the core power station and locked me up there.¡± Shen Siwei asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you resist?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a Margan, how could I defeat him? Besides, he had a gun.¡± Dr. Chen sighed and continued, ¡°He forced me to create an ultra-large electromagnetic pulse weapon. I tried to refuse by saying there were no materials, but the core power station had everything. I also thought about calling for help when he left, but no one heard my cries.¡± Unlike a normal power station, the core power station was huge, covering several acres. It was indeed difficult to find someone hidden inside. At that point, Shen Siwei also realized why they had encountered unstable currents earlier. Presumably, Dr. Chen was conducting experiments. ¡°An electromagnetic pulse weapon?¡± Klet furrowed his brow. ¡°Does he want to destroy all electronic devices?¡± ¡°At first, I couldn¡¯t figure out what he wanted to do until he mentioned the pulse range of the weapon, which had to include the vertical train at the center of the Life Tree.¡± Shen Siwei asked, ¡°Does he want to disrupt the transportation of the Life Tree?¡± ¡°It¡¯s more than just transportation!¡± Dr. Chen tapped his left palm with the back of his right hand, showing an anxious expression. ¡°Just now, the electromagnetic weapon absorbed all the stored energy in the core power station. Now the entire Life Tree is without power, and naturally, transportation has come to a halt. But the problem is¡ª¡± ¡°The vertical train is still suspended in the central passage.¡± Klet spoke with a grave tone. Shen Siwei gradually realized the severity of the situation and asked with a serious expression, ¡°What will happen if the vertical train is hit by the pulse attack?¡± ¡°The braking system will fail.¡± Dr. Chen gave a direct answer. ¡°Even in the event of a power outage, the braking system would normally function to prevent the vertical train from falling. But if the braking system fails, all the vertical trains will fall to the lower levels. It¡¯s a disaster!¡± The vertical passage at the center of the Life Tree was like the trunk of a tree, not only supporting the entire Life Tree but also containing numerous small pipes for various cargo and passenger trains to travel through. If all those trains fell simultaneously, the resulting explosion would be enough to destroy the connecting passages between the lower levels and the second floor, followed by the collapse of buildings on the second floor and above. The scene was unimaginable, and it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to describe it as the end of the world. ¡°How can we stop it?¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but speak faster. ¡°The activation command has already been executed, so there¡¯s no way to stop it!¡± Dr. Chen said, ¡°There¡¯s only about fifteen minutes left¡ªno, it¡¯s less than fifteen minutes now. The weapon will release an extremely powerful electromagnetic pulse. Hurry and save yourselves!¡± ¡°If there¡¯s still time, can¡¯t we destroy the weapon?¡± Klet asked. ¡°No, the weapon is fully charged and can be activated at any time. Destroying the weapon would only bring about the same result sooner,¡± replied Dr. Chen. Shen asked, ¡°Then why did Amor reserve fifteen minutes?¡± ¡°Who knows,¡± Dr. Chen said. ¡°But he mentioned wanting to be with his loved one. Perhaps he wanted to say goodbye in fifteen minutes? I don¡¯t know what that madman was thinking. If it weren¡¯t for the power outage, I would still be trapped in the core power station.¡± ¡°It seems there¡¯s no other choice,¡± klet said to Shen. ¡°Should we leave?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t,¡± Shen replied, frowning. He felt responsible for the current situation and for allowing Amor to vent his anger. Moreover, his connection to the Tree of Life was different from others. It was his mother¡¯s legacy, and how could he just watch it collapse? ¡°We still have a chance to save Malken and the others if we leave now,¡± klet suggested. ¡°What about the others?¡± Shen asked. Even if they could save ten or twenty people, what about the thousands of others? ¡°You can¡¯t worry about everyone, Captain Shen. Focus on saving your own life,¡± Dr. Chen said, noticing that Shen wasn¡¯t wearing an oxygen mask. Surprisingly, he asked, ¡°Can you breathe?¡± Shen didn¡¯t have time to explain. Most of the guards and doctors around them were trying to use communication devices to contact their families, but all communication had been cut off, leaving them helpless. ¡°Is there no other way?¡± Shen asked. He believed that the guards and doctors wouldn¡¯t leave the Tree of Life unless it was the last moment. They all had loved ones and unfinished business. No one could accept the fact that the ¡°end of the world¡± had arrived so suddenly. However, Shen understood why Amor had reserved fifteen minutes. Before doomsday arrived, everyone needed to prepare themselves mentally. ¡°If we delay any longer, Malken and the others will be in great danger,¡± klet reminded. ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± Shen said calmly. He was keeping an eye on the time. If there truly was no other way, he wouldn¡¯t delay saving the Nightingale team. However, at that moment, Dr. Chen suddenly spoke up, saying, ¡°There might be another way.¡± ¡°What way?¡± Shen asked. ¡°The weapon is movable. If someone can take the weapon far away and exit the range of the pulse through the vertical passage, at least the Tree of Life can be saved.¡± ¡°How far is needed?¡± Shen inquired. ¡°A few hundred kilometers away,¡± Dr. Chen replied. ¡°How is that possible?¡± klet frowned. ¡°With just over ten minutes, these aircraft can only reach the third level.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± one of the guards who had been standing nearby couldn¡¯t help but interject, ¡°General Miller¡¯s official vehicle is a supersonic fighter jet, currently parked in the underground hangar. Shall I bring it over?¡± Shen knew about the existence of that fighter jet. Its maximum speed could reach five thousand kilometers per hour, so in just over ten minutes, it could go quite far. ¡°Bring it over first,¡± Shen said. ¡°But there¡¯s a problem,¡± Dr. Chen said with a troubled expression. ¡°The fighter jet that takes away the weapon won¡¯t be able to escape the range of the pulse. When the weapon finally activates, all the electronic instruments of the fighter jet will fail, and you will fall from a height of nine kilometers¡­¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t my body invincible?¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°That also has its limits,¡± Dr. Chen said. ¡°Your skin can withstand the impact of a nuclear blast, but at nine kilometers high¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous,¡± klet frowned. Even without klet¡¯s reminder, Shen Siwei knew how terrifying the acceleration at nine kilometers high could be. ¡°What about setting it on autopilot?¡± klet also suggested. ¡°There¡¯s a speed limit for safety, and it won¡¯t fly very far,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°And there¡¯s another problem,¡± Dr. Chen said with a push of his glasses. ¡°A few hundred kilometers would be enough to fly out of the top level and the third level, but not out of the second level and the bottom level. Even if we deactivate the safety speed of the fighter jet and all electronic instruments fail, it will crash through the second level when it falls from the sky, with a high probability of causing the collapse of the second level and above.¡± The top level and the third level were relatively small in size, so even if the fighter jet crashed, there would be no concern about damaging the structures of those two levels. However, the bottom level and the second level were both large in size, so if a ¡°bomb¡± fell from the sky, it would only cause immeasurable damage. ¡°So we need someone to manually operate the fighter jet after all the electronic instruments have failed, keeping the jet sliding forward until it¡¯s out of the range of the Tree of Life,¡± Shen Siwei pondered. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Dr. Chen nodded and pushed his glasses. ¡°In the end, it¡¯s a crash landing.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Shen Siwei took a deep breath and said calmly, ¡°I will go.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what he said?¡± klet became visibly angry. ¡°This is a suicide mission, i won¡¯t allow it¡± ¡°I understand, but it can only be me,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°No one is more suitable than me.¡± ¡°I disagree,¡± klet grabbed Shen Siwei¡¯s wrist without hesitation. ¡°We¡¯re going to the third level now to join Malken and the others.¡± ¡°And then?¡± Shen Siwei stood still and didn¡¯t move. ¡°Are we going to watch the collapse of the Tree of Life together in the aircraft?¡± ¡°That¡¯s still better than you going to die alone.¡± ¡°Klet please, I have to go,¡± Shen Siwei held klet¡¯s wrist in return. ¡°Amor has ended up like this, and it¡¯s my fault. I can¡¯t just stand by.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to say anymore,¡± klet¡¯s face turned serious. ¡°I won¡¯t let you go to die, absolutely not and that¡¯s that.¡± ¡°I have a chance of survival, it¡¯s not a death sentence for me.¡± ¡°Well, excuse me for interrupting,¡± Dr. Chen interjected weakly. ¡°Our current location is to the east, so if Captain Shen wants to take away the weapon, the best route is towards the deep sea. Although the impact of the fighter jet hitting the sea surface would still be significant, compared to other places, the chances of survival have greatly increased.¡± ¡°Did you hear that?¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°I can make it through.¡± ¡°Bullshit!¡± klet cursed, ¡°Can you breathe when you fall into the sea?¡± Shen Siwei took a deep breath and fell silent. It was time for the guards to bring Miller¡¯s official vehicle to the side of the exit channel. It had been exactly five minutes, and everyone was looking at Shen Siwei, waiting for his final decision. ¡°klet, let me try,¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s tone softened. ¡°Things might not be as bad as you think. Believe that I can survive.¡± ¡°No,¡± klet said firmly, clenching his jawline. ¡°Do you remember when we evacuated civilians together?¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°Now there¡¯s a way to save these innocent people. If I turn a blind eye to their deaths, then I wouldn¡¯t be myself.¡± From birth until now, Shen Siwei¡¯s mission had always been to guard the Tree of Life. He couldn¡¯t bear to witness the destruction of the place where he was born and raised. He couldn¡¯t imagine a future world with only a few people like them, wondering how human civilization would continue. It wasn¡¯t about abandoning klet; it was about him stepping up in this situation. Among all the people present, only his body was special enough to have a chance of survival. The surroundings fell silent, as if one could hear the heartbeat of the guards and doctors. Dr. Chen cleared his throat and seemed hesitant, as if he wanted to say something. Shen Siwei¡¯s attitude was clearly determined and wouldn¡¯t easily change his mind. klet seemed to realize that and pursed his lips, asking with a still troubled expression, ¡°Are you sure you want to go?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go with you,¡± klet said, dropping that statement and walking towards the fighter jet on his own. Shen Siwei was taken aback and quickly grabbed klet. ¡°Wait, now is not the time for you to be stubborn!¡± ¡°You said that if you didn¡¯t save those civilians, you wouldn¡¯t be yourself right?,¡±Klet stopped his steps and turned to look at Shen Siwei. ¡°If I let you die alone, then I wouldn¡¯t be myself either.¡± ¡°I told you it¡¯s not a death sentence,¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but feel frustrated. ¡°My body won¡¯t be injured. Can you say the same?¡± ¡°I can breathe underwater, can you?¡± klet asked. ¡°The condition for you to breathe is to survive,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°What if you lose consciousness at the moment of the crash?¡± ¡°You keep making me believe that you¡¯ll be fine, so why don¡¯t you believe that I¡¯ll be fine?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯ve undergone modifications, isn¡¯t that obvious?¡± ¡°Then tell me, how are you going to breathe when you fall into the sea?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I find the right time to eject from the plane?¡± ¡°That also has some risks.¡± ¡°Cough, Captain Shen¡­¡± Dr. Chen couldn¡¯t help but interrupt. ¡°We¡¯re running out of time.¡± ¡°Did you hear that?¡± klet walked straight towards the fighter jet. ¡°We¡¯re running out of time.¡± ¡°klet!¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but shout in anger. ¡°If we¡¯re going to die, we¡¯ll die together. If we¡¯re going to survive, we¡¯ll survive together,¡± klet half of his body stepped into the fighter jet and decisively said to Shen Siwei, ¡°If you keep blabbering, I¡¯ll destroy this fighter jet right now.¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± CH 73 Flying in the fighter jet, they arrived at the energy station, carrying several tons of electromagnetic pulse weapons. They quickly left the station at full speed, taking less than two minutes. In the quiet night, the solar panels reflected moonlight, creating a magnificent scene. Each large solar panel seemed to be desperately absorbing energy, but the faint moonlight was not enough to restore the operation of the energy station. In a matter of seconds, the energy station was left far behind, and a white residential community appeared beneath them. Every house looked exactly the same. Countless Mag residents gathered on the streets, talking anxiously, unaware of why the power had gone out at the top level. During that period, there had been unrest in the Tree of Life, and the large-scale power outage seemed to signal an unknown major event that was about to occur. People were obviously not concerned about the power outage itself but rather the uncertain future. ¡°Have you flown this type of fighter jet before?¡± klet asked while sitting in the co-pilot seat, flipping through the operational instructions of the fighter jet. Shen Siwei pushed the control lever to the maximum, activating semi-automatic cruise mode. ¡°We learned during military school.¡± The instruction manual, consisting of over two hundred pages, was filled with detailed diagrams and text. klet glanced through a few pages before throwing it aside and asked Shen Siwei, ¡°What did you learn in military school?¡± ¡°Mainly physical training,¡± Shen Siwei leaned back in the seat, looking at the stars within arm¡¯s reach above his head. ¡°There was also some theoretical knowledge, but I wasn¡¯t interested.¡± ¡°Even if you weren¡¯t interested, did you pay attention in class?¡± klet asked. ¡°No,¡± Shen Siwei chuckled softly, shifting his gaze to klet beside him. ¡°That¡¯s why my theoretical grades were always poor.¡± Those were things from many years ago. Now looking back, the images seemed to be covered with a yellowish filter. klet silently looked at Shen Siwei, not saying anything for a while. After a moment, he stood up from the co-pilot seat and squeezed himself next to Shen Siwei, wrapping his arm around his waist. ¡°I want to hold you.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Shen Siwei adjusted the seat to a flat position and practically gave most of the seat to klet, while he himself lay in klet¡¯s embrace. Indeed, he liked leaning against klet. The warmth was like a small sun, and the solid chest provided an overwhelming sense of security. ¡°If we make it through this,¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s face moved slightly against klet¡¯s chest, and he heard the deep voice that he liked. ¡°Is there something you¡¯d like to do?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Siwei lazily replied, ¡°I want to give you a tattoo.¡± klet chuckled helplessly, ¡°You certainly hold grudges.¡± ¡°If you could remember my appearance, maybe when I overheard your conversation with Avis, I would have remembered who you were,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°Well, that¡¯s not my fault,¡± klet used his index finger to play with the hair at the back of Shen Siwei¡¯s head. ¡°It was raining at the time, and you were scorched by the fire. I only remembered you looked like a lump of coal.¡± Shen Siwei raised an eyebrow, ¡°And you still consider a lump of coal as your ideal type?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± klet used his other hand to hold Shen Siwei¡¯s chin, making him tilt his head up. ¡°I like black hair and black eyes.¡± ¡°In that case,¡± Shen Siwei remained motionless, looking up at klet, but his hair color, eye color, and skin color quietly changed. His hair turned into a bright golden color, his eyes became clear blue, and his skin went from wheat-colored to milky white. A familiar figure appeared before klet¡¯s eyes. ¡°Negotiator,¡± klet suddenly tightened his grip around Shen Siwei¡¯s waist, burying his lips in his. The anticipated feeling of suffocation did not arise as Shen Siwei remembered that he had taken the spider capsule and wouldn¡¯t suffocate even if klet kissed him. Realizing this, the accumulated frustration surged up within him, and Shen Siwei immediately took the initiative instead of being passive. Straddling Klet¡¯s waist, he boldly plundered the air from klet¡¯s mouth. He could definitely do it. He would kiss klet until he was breathless. However, a long time passed, and klet showed no signs of suffocating. Instead, he skillfully slipped his hand into the hem of Shen Siwei¡¯s clothes, heading towards his crotch area. ¡°Enough,¡± Shen Siwei was the one who finally couldn¡¯t catch his breath. He held Klet¡¯s misbehaving hand, gasping for air as he leaned on klet¡¯s chest. ¡°Let¡¯s do that after we survive this.¡± klet raised his wrist to look at his watch. ¡°We still have five minutes.¡± By now, the fighter jet had left the top level and entered thick clouds. Carrying such heavy pulse weapons, the fighter jet took longer to leave the top level than expected. Now, encountering resistance from the clouds, the maximum speed of the aircraft was reduced. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but worry. Just then, Klet suddenly said, ¡°I just realized that this fighter jet doesn¡¯t have an ejection system.¡± ¡°What?¡± Shen Siwei was stunned and looked at Klet, asking, ¡°Did you think there was an ejection system, so you followed me?¡± With the current technology, an ejection seat could guarantee the successful ejection of a pilot at speeds below Mach 3. However, Miller¡¯s official vehicle was traveling at nearly Mach 5, and once a person left the cockpit, they would instantly be torn apart by the powerful airflow. Furthermore, that fighter jet was equipped with the most advanced intelligent system, and the probability of an accident was nearly zero. Therefore, it wasn¡¯t equipped with an ejection seat for escape. It was similar to many high-speed trains not having seat belts. Either there would be no accidents, or if there were accidents, seat belts wouldn¡¯t help. ¡°Well,¡± Klet said nonchalantly, ¡°Even if I knew there wasn¡¯t one, I would still have followed you.¡± ¡°Are you really¡­¡± Shen Siwei sat up, supporting himself on Klet¡¯s chest, furrowing his brows as he looked at him, ¡°Are you really intending to go down with me?¡± ¡°No.¡± Klet said carelessly, ¡°I know how capable my lover is. If you can survive, you definitely won¡¯t let me die.¡± ¡°Are you joking with your own life?¡± ¡°No.¡± Klet¡¯s tone suddenly turned serious, ¡°If you die, I don¡¯t want to live either.¡± ¡°¡­.Such a stubborn brat.¡± Shen Siwei sighed and couldn¡¯t do anything about Klet. Amor saw his own light in the darkness, and when he lost that light, he went crazy. Without even thinking, if Klet were to lose Shen Siwei again, he would only become even more insane than Amor. Being with Shen Siwei in death was already his most restrained course of action. The fighter jet passed through the thick layer of clouds and gradually left the range of the third layer. At that moment, the view of the Life Tree became more clear. Only a few spots were lit up with scattered lights, probably powered by reserve batteries. But apart from that, the entire Life Tree was shrouded in an ominous darkness. Looking at the time, there was less than a minute remaining. The brief calm before the storm was gone. Klet put away his nonchalant attitude, showing his nervousness for the impending storm. Since Amor hadn¡¯t started the weapon at an exact time, Dr. Chen could only give an approximate time. The appearance of the pulse could happen in the next second or in ten seconds, and this uncertainty made both of them tense. Suddenly, a blue light wave appeared below the fighter jet, resembling an exploding shockwave. A visible blue halo continuously radiated outward. The fighter jet was the first to be hit by the pulse. All four engines shut down simultaneously, and the cockpit instantly fell into darkness. The buttons on the instrument panel completely malfunctioned, and the control stick that was originally fixed in the forward position slowly slid back as the fighter jet began to drop. Although everything had already been anticipated, Shen Siwei didn¡¯t dare to relax. ¡°You go to the other side and don¡¯t let the cabin lose balance.¡± Shen Siwei began manually controlling the fighter jet¡¯s wings and tail, trying to keep the aircraft as balanced as possible and prevent it from losing control and spiraling. Klet fastened the seatbelt in the co-pilot seat and asked, ¡°What¡¯s our current altitude?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Shen Siwei replied. The instrument panel had already malfunctioned, so he could only estimate based on the height of the Life Tree. ¡°Around four thousand meters, approximately.¡± ¡°It¡¯s still too high,¡± Klet frowned. At that altitude, even if they were to crash into the sea, not just the pilot but the entire aircraft would be torn to pieces. ¡°The fighter jet is decelerating. If we continue gliding like this¡ª¡± Before Shen Siwei could finish his sentence, they suddenly encountered dense clouds ahead. The fighter jet started shaking uncontrollably, and the sensation of weightlessness occurred intermittently. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t steady his hands and accidentally let go of the control stick, causing the aircraft to roll. The entire cabin spun around, leaving Shen Siwei disoriented and dizzy. He couldn¡¯t even see the position of the control stick clearly. However, Klet, who had unfastened his seatbelt, managed to grab the control stick after bumping into the surroundings several times, stabilizing the aircraft. By that time, the fighter jet had passed through the second layer and was only one or two thousand meters above the bottom layer. However, to the naked eye, the outskirts of the bottom layer were still a considerable distance away. If they descended like that, the fighter jet wouldn¡¯t be able to reach the coastline. ¡°This won¡¯t work,¡± Klet returned to the co-pilot seat and frowned, saying, ¡°We¡¯ll crash on land.¡± Since their high-altitude drop, the fighter jet¡¯s vertical speed had become terrifying. Without hesitation, Shen Siwei quickly made his way to the middle of the aircraft and, as they flew over the industrial zone, he removed the non-functioning pulse weapon. The several-ton weapon dropped straight to the ground, creating a deafening sound and leaving behind an enormous and deep crater. But at the same time, the descent speed of the fighter jet instantly slowed down. After a short while, they managed to fly over the towering walls of the bottom layer. However, even so, it wasn¡¯t a time for them to relax. ¡°The impact is coming.¡± The sea level was right ahead, and Shen Siwei could almost see the shadows of strange fish underwater. He walked back to the cabin from the middle of the aircraft instead of returning to the pilot seat. He bent down and covered Klet with his body. ¡°Stay still,¡± he said. Klet was slightly taken aback. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Shen Siwei replied, ¡°This way, you¡¯ll experience the least impact.¡± Klete furrowed his brow. ¡°Shen Siwei¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± Shen Siwei pressed Klet¡¯s head against his neck. ¡°Since you know how capable your lover is, don¡¯t be stubborn at a time like this.¡± There was no time for further words. In the next instant, a massive shockwave struck as the fighter jet plunged into the sea level. Shen Siwei held Klet tightly, and an unprecedented sense of pain spread throughout his body. He felt as if his body was being torn apart, and even the cold seawater couldn¡¯t alleviate the agony. All sound disappeared, and silence covered the surroundings, more terrifying than suffocation. In the end, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t hold on and lost consciousness amidst intense pain¡­ 1Dr. Chen is not the antagonist. They still need him to repair Shen¡¯s body. CH 74 He was sound asleep. The sound of a cartoon playing somewhere could be heard, it was SpongeBob SquarePants, which Klet liked. Someone next to him was breathing steadily, and he could feel the warmth coming through the air. Shen Siwei rubbed his eyes and woke up drowsily, only to find himself wearing a white bathrobe and leaning on Klet¡¯s shoulder. The familiar scenes from his memories suddenly unfolded before his eyes, with every detail appearing unbelievably real. ¡°Did I fall asleep?¡± Shen Siwei asked in confusion. He remembered that just a second ago he had plunged into the deep sea, so how did he suddenly end up in Klet¡¯s apartment? If he remembered correctly, this apartment should have been long destroyed. ¡°Yeah,¡± Klet glanced casually at Shen Siwei and then shifted his gaze back to the TV. ¡°If you¡¯re tired, go to bed.¡± Just like in his memory, Klet was shirtless because he had just shown Shen Siwei his tattoo. It felt as if time had gone back to that night five years ago when Shen Siwei and Klet had met at the self-service bathhouse and Klet had carried him home. Wandering through time with future memories in the past was quite an interesting thing. Shen Siwei hugged his knees, tilted his head, and looked at Klet¡¯s chest. ¡°Why did you tattoo your savior as a gorilla?¡± Klet looked at Shen Siwei in confusion, clearly not understanding where the term ¡°savior¡± came from. Because at that point in time, he hadn¡¯t told Shen Siwei the story of his savior yet. ¡°Do you think I look like a gorilla?¡± Shen Siwei asked again. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Klet frowned and asked. ¡°I¡¯m saying,¡± Shen Siwei deliberately paused to pique Klet¡¯s curiosity, ¡°I am your savior, you little brat.¡± Klet¡¯s eyes were full of alertness, as if saying, ¡°What trick are you playing now?¡± Seeing that reaction, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but want to burst out laughing. He leisurely stretched his limbs, pounced on Klet on the couch, and then leaned back to retrieve a stainless steel dagger from the leather sheath on Klet¡¯s leg. He said, ¡°Here, I¡¯m giving you this dagger.¡± ¡°How do you know¡­?¡± Klet asked suspiciously. ¡°I told you,¡± Shen Siwei playfully blinked his eyes while resting his chin on Klet¡¯s sturdy chest, ¡°husband.¡± Resting his chin against the solid chest, he could clearly feel the accelerated heartbeat. Klet stared blankly at Shen Siwei and it took him two seconds to react. He furrowed his brows and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you happy to be called husband?¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s lips curved with a faint smile. If it were the future Klet, he would have probably pounced on him by now, right? But on the other hand, ¡®past¡¯ Klet¡¯s performance was incredible. Even in the face of beauty, he remained calm. ¡°So you came down in the name of negotiation just to seduce me?¡± Klet¡¯s tone was impatient. ¡°What do you mean ¡®just to¡¯?¡± Shen Siwei raised an eyebrow. So it turned out that Klet had always thought that his mission was to use seduction tactics? ¡°Aren¡¯t you too self-centered, little brat?¡± Shen Siwei poked Klet¡¯s cheek with his index finger. Shen Siwei developed a vague affection for Klet at that very moment, when he watched cartoons with him and Klet showed him his tattoo. As for later, when they fought the Desert Wolves together, it did amplify the 1% affection to 50%. However, when Shen Siwei learned that Klet was the kid from back then, the 50% dropped back to 0% because he wasn¡¯t interested in pursuing anything with the kid he saved back then. But then, Shen Siwei inexplicably developed feelings for Klet and ended up with him. It was as if fate had arranged it, erasing the process of going from 50% back to 0% from their love story, and the progress bar jumped directly from 50% to 100%. ¡°What Desert Wolves?¡± Klet looked at Shen Siwei in complete confusion. ¡°And why do you always call me ¡®little brat¡¯? How do you know about the dagger?¡± ¡°I told you, I was the one who saved you back then.¡± Shen Siwei stopped teasing Klet and changed his blond hair and blue eyes back to his original black. Then, in Klet¡¯s astonished gaze, he kissed his lips. ¡ªIt seemed like he was indeed dreaming. All the details were exactly the same as in his memory, except for the absence of his oxygen mask. Klet kissed Shen Siwei back, and a suffocating feeling overwhelmed them. Shen Siwei¡¯s consciousness gradually became blurry, the warm room turned back into cold seawater, and intense pain caused him to open his eyes abruptly. ¡°Shen Siwei!¡± In the pitch-black seawater, faint moonlight pierced through the wreckage of the plane, illuminating Klet¡¯s blurred figure. Shen Siwei felt his body sinking while Klet swam towards him with all his strength. The first instinct that awakened in his conscious mind was to breathe, like a child longing for mother¡¯s milk¡ªit was a natural response. However, as soon as Shen Siwei tried to expand his chest, he inhaled a mouthful of salty seawater. Numerous bubbles emerged from his mouth, taking away the last remnants of air from his lungs. He stretched out his arm in pain towards Klet, and just as the suffocating feeling reached its limit, Klet finally grabbed his wrist and pulled him into his embrace. Their lips tightly pressed against each other¡¯s, and the air flowing from Klet¡¯s mouth eased Shen Siwei¡¯s suffocation. In the end, he still needed Klet to perform artificial respiration on him. The two bodies floated in the deep water, neither sinking nor rising. Fearing that Klet might run out of oxygen, Shen Siwei pushed him away for the time being and attempted to hold his breath. However, as soon as he dipped under the water, he immediately reached his limit, revealing a pained expression. Klet quickly approached and kissed his lips again. At that moment, Shen Siwei finally realized something was amiss. How was it possible for Klet to breathe underwater? He observed and indeed, that was the case¡ªKlet was constantly exchanging air. Shen Siwei had always thought that his body was extraordinary, but he didn¡¯t expect Klet, an evolved Mag, to be that impressive. The deep sea was undoubtedly Klet¡¯s territory, which explained why he didn¡¯t rely on any equipment to approach the core power station located even deeper. After a while, Klet brought Shen Siwei up to the surface. Precious fresh air filled their surroundings, but due to the water pressure, Shen Siwei still had some difficulty breathing. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Klet asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± Shen Siwei¡¯s face turned pale, his lips slightly purple. He looked at the scattered wreckage of the plane and suppressed his discomfort. ¡°We survived.¡± Just as he finished speaking, Klet suddenly looked behind him, scooped up some seawater, and furrowed his brow. ¡°You¡¯re bleeding.¡± Shen Siwei had felt it earlier; his back really hurt, with a tearing pain and the stinging sensation caused by seawater. Klet shifted to the side, leaning to see Shen Siwei¡¯s back, his expression darkened. ¡°You¡¯re injured.¡± ¡°Is it serious?¡± Shen Siwei asked. Klet pursed his lips and kept a grim face, not saying a word. Seeing his expression, Shen Siwei guessed that his back must be a bloody mess. However, there was no time to worry about that. Shen Siwei suddenly noticed a dark shadow approaching them from below the water and quickly tapped Klet¡¯s arm, his nerves tense. ¡°There¡¯s a sea monster.¡± Unlike Shen Siwei¡¯s nervousness, Klet just glanced down and said, ¡°It¡¯s Leo.¡± ¡°Leo?¡± Soon, a dolphin the size of a cruise ship emerged from the water, carrying the two of them to a higher position away from the sea. Shen Siwei felt the slippery touch in his palm, looking at Klet in disbelief. ¡°You know it?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Klete didn¡¯t say much. ¡°Let me see your back.¡± Shen Siwei tried to gather the scattered resilient molecules back to his back, but he felt resistance, and the molecules returned at an unusually slow pace. However, he could feel that those molecules were stopping the bleeding, preventing him from losing more blood. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Klet asked. Shen Siwei shook his head. ¡°Where is he taking us?¡± The direction the dolphin was heading wasn¡¯t towards the Tree of Life. ¡°Let¡¯s leave this area first,¡± Klet said. ¡°You¡¯re bleeding, and it will attract bloodthirsty monsters.¡± Shen Siwei watched as the wreckage of the fighter jet grew distant, and soon after, small island-sized monstrous fish appeared all around them. It was only at this moment that Shen Siwei finally felt a sense of relief from the crisis. He looked at the dark Tree of Life from afar and asked, ¡°How can you breathe underwater?¡± ¡°You know I¡¯m not an ordinary person,¡± Klet said, holding Shen Siwei in his arms, allowing him to lean against his chest. Without the stimulation of seawater, the pain in Shen Siwei¡¯s back lessened. He relaxed and said, ¡°So you¡¯re the biggest extraordinary monster.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m a monster,¡± Klet¡¯s eyes lowered, and his deep voice sounded above Shen Siwei¡¯s head, ¡°then so are you.¡± In this world, there can never be another Klet, nor another Shen Siwei. ¡°A perfect match, huh?¡± Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but smile, but it pulled at the wound on his back, causing him to wince in pain. ¡°Stay still,¡± Klet frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t laugh, and don¡¯t speak.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Shen Siwei leaned against Klet¡¯s chest. ¡°I want to talk to you.¡± But Klet didn¡¯t respond, clearly wanting Shen Siwei to rest properly. The moon in the sky slowly rose to its zenith and descended toward the sea, casting a bright reflection in the water. Flickering stars adorned the calm night scene on the sea. ¡°When I lost consciousness just now, it felt like I went back five years,¡± Shen Siwei rested for a while and then spoke again. ¡°I called you ¡®husband.¡¯ Can you guess your reaction?¡± ¡°What?¡± Klet raised an eyebrow in surprise, seemingly concerned not about Shen Siwei¡¯s question but his location. ¡°You said I was crazy,¡± Shen Siwei chuckled. ¡°He was the crazy one,¡± Klet referred to himself from five years ago, ¡°say it again.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ I don¡¯t have the energy,¡± Shen Siwei lazily said. ¡°Shen Siwei,¡± Klet narrowed his eyes, seeing through Shen Siwei¡¯s intention, ¡°are you deliberately teasing me again?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fun to tease kids, right?¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°How many times do I have to say I¡¯m not a kid?¡± Klet¡¯s face clearly showed his displeasure. ¡°Don¡¯t think I can¡¯t do anything to you just because you¡¯re injured.¡± Shen Siwei was indeed relying on his injury. He nonchalantly said, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, I can start bleeding anytime.¡± Klete: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°A thirty-year-old child,¡± Shen Siwei pushed his luck. ¡°Shen Siwei,¡± Klet gritted his teeth. Shen Siwei raised the corner of his lips, his eyes full of amusement. ¡± okay,I won¡¯t tease you anymore. It¡¯s getting bright.¡± Klet followed Shen Siwei¡¯s gaze and saw that the vertical passage in the center of the Tree of Life had lit up. It seemed that the solar panels on the top floor had finally absorbed the minimum amount of energy, causing the core passage to start operating. It was dawn, and the Tree of Life was also illuminated. Klet withdrew his gaze and looked at Shen Siwei in his arms. ¡°Is there anything else now that can prevent us from getting married?¡± Shen Siwei pondered for a moment and said, ¡°No, there isn¡¯t.¡± CH 75 Leo led the two of them to a deserted island, where the fertile greenery was a sight that Shen Siwei had never seen before. The ocean currents hadn¡¯t brought any garbage to the shore, and sitting on the light-colored beach, Shen Siwei enjoyed the vast sea view, an experience he had never had before. ¡°Your skin is recovering,¡± Klet always paid attention to the wound on Shen Siwei¡¯s back. ¡°Yeah,¡± Shen Siwei lazily leaned against Klet¡¯s chest, not wanting to move. ¡°Do you think your skin can be inherited?¡± ¡°Inherited?¡± Someone seemed to be pondering strange things again. ¡°We have a responsibility to carry on powerful genes,¡± Klet looked at Shen Siwei with great seriousness, as if he was burdened with a task heavier than saving the Earth. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but find it funny, ¡°When did you become so concerned about the future of humanity?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the future of humanity,¡± Klet lowered his head to cover Shen Siwei¡¯s lips, ¡°it¡¯s our future.¡± The skin on his back was indeed recovering. He believed that it wouldn¡¯t be long before his back would be completely healed. In that secluded island where there seemed to be nothing else to do, treating it as a date and indulging in whatever they wanted to do might also be a good choice. However, just as Shen Siwei was finally moved and took the initiative to embrace Klet¡¯s neck, the sound of a helicopter suddenly came from the sky. Looking into the distance, someone was standing at the door of the helicopter, waving excitedly at the two of them, ¡°Boss! negotiator!¡± After the Tree of Life was restored, the positioning system would naturally be restored as well. Shen Siwei had anticipated that Malken and Leizhe would come to find them, but he didn¡¯t expect them to arrive so soon. Klet visibly tightened his jawline, looking like his good mood had been spoiled. Shen Siwei pinched his earlobe and said, ¡°They¡¯re here to rescue us, don¡¯t make that face.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Klet quickly put away his sour expression, supporting Shen Siwei as they stood up, waiting for the helicopter to approach. The rescue helicopter was huge, and the cabin space was spacious. After closing the door, the sound of the propellers was blocked out, and they could have a normal conversation without wearing headphones. The emergency doctor examined Shen Siwei¡¯s wound and said he would apply some anti-inflammatory medicine, but when the doctor took out the medication from the emergency kit, the remaining wound on Shen Siwei¡¯s back had already disappeared. ¡°Boss, do you know? I almost thought you guys were dead!¡± Malken was still immersed in the joy of finding the two of them. ¡°You didn¡¯t see it, there were so many strange fish around the wreckage of the plane. I thought, ¡°How can you escape from them?¡± Klet said, ¡°We¡¯re not that easy to get rid of.¡± ¡°But those were giant monsters. I had only seen them online before,¡± Malken continued to talk non-stop. ¡°Those tentacles, those teeth, they were so terrifying. But I consoled myself, you two are the strongest humans of the Tree of Life, so you should have a chance to survive¡­¡± Leizhe, sitting next to them, tried to speak several times but couldn¡¯t find the right timing. Finally, he simply hooked his arm around Malken¡¯s neck and covered his mouth, saying to Shen Siwei and Klet, ¡°As long as you¡¯re both okay.¡± Shen Siwei brushed off Malken¡¯s words as they entered one ear and out the other, but when Leizhe spoke, he snapped out of his absent-minded state and asked, ¡°How is it on the side of the Tree of Life?¡± ¡°Some lower-level areas still haven¡¯t had power restored, but most areas have returned to normal,¡± Leizhe looked at Klet and said, ¡°If possible, I want to gradually connect the Tree of Life with the deep-sea energy station.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Klet agreed. ¡°Mmm!¡± Malken finally pulled Leizhe¡¯s hand away, looking dissatisfied as he said, ¡°How can you cover my mouth? You haven¡¯t even taken office yet, and you¡¯re already using those political tactics?¡± Veins popped up on Leizhe¡¯s forehead, ¡°Can¡¯t you be quiet for a while?¡± ¡°I¡¯m happy to see the boss and negotiator. Why should I be quiet?¡± Sitting across from them, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but find it amusing. It used to be Leizhe who gave him headaches all the time, but unexpectedly, one person could surpass another, and now Leizhe had encountered someone who gave him a headache. ¡°That¡¯s how he is,¡± Klet put his arm around Shen Siwei¡¯s shoulder, speaking as if it had nothing to do with him, ¡°He¡¯ll only be quiet if you beat him up.¡± ¡°Boss?¡± Malken had an expression of disbelief, as if he had suffered a great betrayal, ¡°How can you take an outsider¡¯s side?¡± ¡°Who are you calling an outsider?¡± Leizhe grabbed Malken¡¯s cheek, ¡°Say it again?¡± ¡°Ouch¡ªpain!¡± Malken begged for mercy, continuously patting Leizhe¡¯s hand, ¡°He made you do it, why did you actually do it? Am I still your beloved?¡± Hearing this, Shen Siwei raised an eyebrow and looked at Klet, but Klet just shrugged, used to it, and said, ¡°That¡¯s just his way, always talking nonsense.¡± If it were Klet, he would probably kick Malken¡¯s ass. But Leizhe was quite susceptible to that approach, releasing his grip on Malken¡¯s face and saying, ¡°Be quiet.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Malken nodded seriously, making a motion of zipping his lips. But the next second, he turned to Klet and Shen Siwei and said, ¡°Do you know? The Nightingales have now become an official union, and Leizhe is the leader.¡± As he spoke, he sat down on the side, with a motion of keeping his distance from Leizhe, ¡°What great authority he now has.¡± Leizhe: ¡°¡­¡± Shen Siwei chuckled and asked Leizhe, ¡°How did your discussion go during the meeting on the third level?¡± Leizhe opened his lips and said, ¡°Ma¡ª¡± ¡°The Margans backed down.¡± Before Leizhe could finish, Malken continued quickly, ¡°The power outage incident had a significant impact on the top-level Margans. Apart from those in power, most Margans just wanted the matter to end as soon as possible.¡± Leizhe added, ¡°Because they don¡¯t actually hold real power, regardless of the referendum result, it won¡¯t have much effect on their current lives.¡± Shen Siwei nodded, ¡°Indeed.¡± Since the Deep Sea Energy Station could still operate, for Margans, even if they shared the energy with civilians, it wouldn¡¯t lower their quality of life. On the contrary, if the Margan high-ranking officials insisted on using the energy issue to cause chaos in the Tree of Life, it would be a loss for the Margan population. No one wanted to see the Tree of Life in trouble again; people just hoped for their lives to return to their previous calm . As for whether the social status of the Margans would decrease after the end of Margan rule, most Margans should know the result¡ªit wouldn¡¯t. The long-established social consciousness couldn¡¯t be easily changed, and the lower-class civilians would still admire the Margans and aspire for the upper-class lifestyle. ¡°So, have you discussed what will happen next?¡± Shen Siwei asked again, including what social system to adopt and how to revise various laws and regulations¡­ Change is not an overnight process, and there are many things awaiting Leizhe and the others. ¡°Headache,¡± Leizhe said, ¡°I need a strategist, but this idiot is obviously not reliable.¡± Before Shen Siwei could react to whom Leizhe referred to as an ¡°idiot,¡± Malken stared at Leizhe and asked unhappily, ¡°Who are you calling an idiot?¡± Leizhe replied, ¡°Whoever answers.¡± ¡°Without me, would you be where you are today? Who stayed by your side through thick and thin?¡± Malken accused earnestly, ¡°And now, when you¡¯ve succeeded, you want to abandon your loyal partner. I¡¯ve never seen such a fickle scumbag like you!¡± ¡°What loyal partner? What fickleness?¡± Leizhe looked like he had a splitting headache, ¡°Shut up if you don¡¯t know how to use idioms!¡± Klet looked bored, watching the two of them, and suddenly spoke, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just get married?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Both of them exclaimed simultaneously, ¡°Have I gone crazy?¡± Klet ignored their reactions and said, ¡°We can have a four-person wedding. I found a place that seems nice.¡± Compared to the relationship between those two, Klet obviously cared more about what form his own wedding would take. Even if the relationship between those two wasn¡¯t good, he didn¡¯t mind having two more pawns to make his wedding more interesting. Afraid that the conversation would take a stranger turn, Shen Siwei said to Leizhe, ¡®Do you have a basic idea on the way forward now?¡¯ ¡®I only have a vague outline,¡¯ Leizhe said. ¡®I have a proposal,¡¯ Shen Siwei said. ¡®If it¡¯s about advancing the legality of artificial embryos, Klet has already mentioned it,¡¯ Leizhe said. ¡®With the open energy supply, there¡¯s a vacancy for this matter, so it shouldn¡¯t be difficult.¡¯ ¡®Klet mentioned it?¡¯ Shen Siwei looked at the person next to him. ¡®When was this?¡¯ ¡®A while ago,¡¯ Malken recalled. ¡®I had just left the Ice Plains, and the boss already wanted children.¡¯ ¡®¡­¡¯ Shen Siwei twitched the corner of his mouth. He seemed to remember that he wasn¡¯t with Klet at that time. ¡®Being prepared is always good,¡¯ Klet replied calmly. Shen Siwei was utterly helpless with Klet. He sighed and said to Leizhe, ¡®It¡¯s not about that matter.¡¯ ¡®Captain, do you have any other ideas?¡¯ Leizhe asked. ¡®The Rejection of Reproduction Declaration,¡¯ Shen Siwei said. ¡®I want to formally abolish it.¡¯ ¡®That makes sense,¡¯ Leizhe nodded thoughtfully. ¡®Since the energy supply has been restored to its previous level, people no longer need to be restricted by the declaration.¡¯ ¡®Then,¡¯ Shen Siwei paused, ¡®regarding the well-being of newborns, I hope we can build schools, amusement parks, and so on inside the Life Tree, and avoid a situation like knock¡¯s.¡¯ ¡®Okay,¡¯ Leizhe said. ¡®Anything else?¡¯ ¡®No,¡¯ Shen Siwei said. Perhaps there were many other aspects that needed change inside and outside the Life Tree, but Shen Siwei¡¯s focus was only on Klet. He mentioned knock just to make himself seem less biased because the reason he proposed those measures was that Klet once said he didn¡¯t have a childhood. Leizhe and Malken discussed the schedule for the future, and Malken didn¡¯t make any more jokes on serious matters. The helicopter gradually approached the Life Tree, and the coastline was not far ahead. Klet suddenly leaned over and whispered to Shen Siwei, ¡®I¡¯ll be jealous if you¡¯re so good to those kids.¡¯ ¡®Jealous of what?¡¯ Shen Siwei didn¡¯t understand. ¡®You¡¯re so nice to those little kids,¡¯ Klet said. ¡®The things they can enjoy, I can¡¯t anymore.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯ve grown up,¡¯ Shen Siwei chuckled helplessly. ¡®Why are you still competing and getting jealous with little kids?¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re being hypocritical,¡¯ Klet complained. ¡®Why do you sometimes say I¡¯m a kid, and sometimes say I¡¯ve grown up?¡¯ ¡®Hmm¡­¡¯ Shen Siwei pondered, implying something in his words. ¡®I guess I want you to be both big and small?¡¯ Klet raised an eyebrow, clearly understanding the meaning behind Shen Siwei¡¯s words. ¡®Then you have to give me a chance,¡¯ he whispered in Shen Siwei¡¯s ear. ¡®Let me show you how big I can get.¡¯ Such a topic was clearly inappropriate at the moment. Shen Siwei cleared his throat and was about to whisper something to klet when Malken suddenly said, ¡®By the way, Boss, Amor woke up. Do you want to go see him?¡¯ Naturally, Klet didn¡¯t have any thoughts and obediently looked at Shen Siwei. Shen Siwei pressed his lips together and said, ¡°Go.¡± CH 76 Rescue helicopters entered the Life Tree, and Shen Siwei heard the resounding cheers. The area that was struck by the pulse weapon and left a large pit was surrounded by people, including major news media. Helicopters carrying reporters circled around the rescue helicopters, and Malken¡¯s projection appeared in the news footage, filled with news about Shen Siwei and Klet. ¡°Boss, are you really not considering taking over Miller¡¯s position?¡± Malken browsed through the news. ¡°What a pity.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to regret?¡± Klet said. ¡°If you like it, you can have it.¡± ¡°How can I have it?¡± Malken murmured softly, then asked, ¡°So, what do you guys plan to do next?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t thought about it,¡± Klet said, looking at Shen Siwei beside him. ¡°Ask him.¡± After transferring to the military aircraft on the second floor, Shen Siwei and Klet returned to the top floor of Miller¡¯s residence. Amor was locked in his own bedroom, guarded both inside and outside. At this moment, Rita happened to come out of the bedroom and stopped in her tracks upon seeing Shen Siwei and Klet. She said, ¡°Captain Shen, I¡¯ve heard about your situation.¡± Now the news is reporting the causes and consequences of last night¡¯s power outage. It was hard for Rita to be unaware of it. Shen Siwei nodded slightly as a greeting and asked, ¡°Is Amor doing okay?¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t want to talk to me,¡± Rita said. ¡°You can try, Captain Shen.¡± After saying that, Rita left the room with her maid, as if she didn¡¯t want to spend too much energy on Amor. It made sense, as there were still many things waiting for her to handle in the house. The fact that she came to visit Amor already fulfilled her duty. The lift door opened, and Shen Siwei dismissed the guards in the room. Amor, half lying on the bed, withdrew his gaze from the window and moved his lips slightly. ¡°You¡¯re here, Captain Shen.¡± It seemed like he had already expected Shen Siwei to appear. ¡°How¡¯s your health?¡± Shen Siwei walked straight to the bedside, while Klet boredly went to the bookshelf covering the entire wall. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have saved me,¡± Amor said calmly, without any emotion in his eyes. ¡°Or maybe your intention was to let me continue living in pain.¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much,¡± Shen Siwei said lightly. ¡°Saving people is my instinct.¡± Amor lowered his eyes slightly. The morning sunlight illuminated his profile, revealing the faint trembling of his eyelashes. When he spoke again, there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice. ¡°Did I do something wrong, Captain Shen?¡± ¡°It¡¯s your own choice, and no one has the right to judge that.¡± ¡°But when I look at you, I feel like I did something wrong.¡± Having never experienced the pain of losing a loved one, Shen Siwei knew he had no right to speak. All he could do was take responsibility because it was he who had advised Amor to vent his hatred. ¡°What will happen next?¡± Amor lifted his chin and looked at Shen Siwei. ¡°According to the law, you will be exiled indefinitely from the Life Tree.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Amor seemed surprised. Most criminals wouldn¡¯t want to become refugees, but judging by Amor¡¯s expression, leaving the Life Tree seemed like a form of liberation in his eyes. Amor chuckled self-deprecatingly. ¡°So, by killing my father and brother, I finally embrace true freedom.¡± Shen Siwei didn¡¯t know how to evaluate that matter. He had to admit that he sympathized with Amor, but Amor¡¯s actions had indeed gone too far. ¡°When I leave the Life Tree,¡± Amor continued, ¡°if I were to commit suicide again, Captain Shen, you won¡¯t be able to save me, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s your business,¡± Shen Siwei replied. ¡°I will try to live on. After all, I shouldn¡¯t waste your kindness,¡± Amor paused and let out a sigh. ¡°But the final outcome might still be the same.¡± In other words, he could hold on for a while longer, but in the end, he would likely end his own life. Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brows slightly. ¡°Time will heal everything. You don¡¯t have to be so pessimistic.¡± Although he claimed not to care, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t ignore it. ¡°You don¡¯t understand, Captain Shen.¡± Amor shifted his gaze to Klet. ¡°You have someone you love by your side. How could you know my pain?¡± ¡°Just like you do,¡± Klet, who was on the other side, threw away the book in his hand and came to Shen Siwei¡¯s side. He said to Amor, ¡°Have you lost a loved one?¡± Amor pursed his lips, displeasure evident on his face. ¡°Your loved one is right beside you. It seems like you don¡¯t have the right to say anything to me.¡± The word ¡°dramatic¡± was written all over Klet¡¯s face. Shen Siwei was afraid he would say it out loud, so he quickly said, ¡°You can find something to divert your attention.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± Amor asked. ¡°Now the Life Tree is facing the establishment of a new order. Leizhe, the leader of the Nightingales, happens to need assistance. If you¡¯re willing, you can propose your ideas for the new society to him.¡± ¡°¡­Ideas for the new society?¡± Amor¡¯s expression suddenly became animated. ¡°Yes, isn¡¯t that your expertise?¡± Shen Siwei remembered Amor mentioning in his diary how much he wanted to change this distorted society. Perhaps his vacant emotions could be filled through a career. ¡°But,¡± Amor hesitated, ¡°I will be exiled from the Life Tree.¡± ¡°Do you remember Z City in the Western District? You can have your office there.¡± Amor fell into contemplation, as if he was envisioning scenes of the future. Seeing his expression, Shen Siwei secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He knew he had persuaded Amor. After a moment, Amor looked back at Shen Siwei and said with a reconciliatory tone, ¡°Thank you, Captain Shen.¡± ¡°He¡¯s so dramatic.¡± Coming out of Amor¡¯s room, Klet had an expression of wanting to vent but didn¡¯t. ¡°It¡¯s one thing to feel pain, but he has to keep talking about it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s better to express it than to keep it inside and feel uncomfortable,¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°But it¡¯s not cool to constantly talk about it.¡± Shen Siwei chuckled, slightly quickening his pace. Speaking to himself, he said, ¡°Longing for someone is truly painful. It feels like I¡¯ve been¡­¡± ¡°Shen Siwei.¡± Klet quickly caught up with Shen Siwei¡¯s pace, interrupting his words. ¡°Did you read my message?¡± Shen Siwei continued, ¡°Longing for someone is truly painful. It feels like I¡¯ve been¡­ Oh, never mind.¡± ¡°You stop right there.¡± Klet grabbed Shen Siwei¡¯s wrist. However, at that moment, a servant happened to pass by in the corridor. He barely held back his words and only asked in an annoyed tone after the servant left, ¡°How could you sneak a peek at my message?¡± ¡°What do you mean by sneak a peek?¡± Shen Siwei said with a smile. ¡°You clearly asked me to read it.¡± ¡°I only asked you to read Amor¡¯s message.¡± ¡°You wrote it in the public message book, so isn¡¯t it meant to be read by people?¡± Shen Siwei said. ¡°Who said it¡¯s not cool to talk about pain?¡± Klet moved his lips, returning Shen Siwei¡¯s words, ¡°It¡¯s better to express it than to keep it inside and feel uncomfortable.¡± Shen Siwei pinched Klet¡¯s cheek. ¡°You learn fast.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I be in pain?¡± Klet held Shen Siwei¡¯s hand, dissatisfied. ¡°Do you know what I went through all those years?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Tell me about it.¡± Shen Siwei held Klet¡¯s hand in return, intertwining their fingers. ¡°We have plenty of time now, anyway.¡± The matters of the Miller family were handled by Rita, and Klet had no intention of getting involved or worrying about it. Things were progressing smoothly with the Nightingales. The national referendum would take place in two days. Although everyone in the Life Tree knew what the outcome of the referendum would be, the procedures had to be followed. The higher-ups of MAGE seemed to have disappeared from the media, no longer making public statements. It seemed like they had adopted a laissez-faire attitude towards the impending changes. Everything was slowly getting better, except for the lingering old condition on Shen Siwei¡¯s body. ¡°The Spider Capsule can also solve the problem of moving around . Are you sure you want to undergo surgery?¡± Back in the pristine laboratory, it felt like returning to the starting point. Klet crossed his arms in front of his chest, his back turned to Dr. Chen who was busy at the operating table. He said to Shen Siwei, ¡°You know I can¡¯t bear the consequences if the surgery fails.¡± ¡°The Spider Capsule is helpful, but it¡¯s very uncomfortable.¡± Shen Siwei, wearing a loose surgical gown, held onto Klet¡¯s clothes and sat on a swivel chair, rocking back and forth. ¡°It feels like something is stuck in my throat, and I don¡¯t want to feel like this forever.¡± ¡°Then how about wearing an oxygen mask?¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Shen Siwei raised an eyebrow. ¡°Do you want it to be like last night?¡± The previous night, they were in the middle of having sex when suddenly the Spider Capsule ran out of power, and Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t breathe. Klet was halfway inside him and initially planned to give Shen Siwei artificial respiration while continuing, but Shen Siwei, suffocating, almost crushed him. He had no choice but to stop. Klet frowned, clearly not wanting to experience that ¡°tight agony¡± from last night again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, boss. Isn¡¯t my mentor here watching?¡± Malken turned his head, lifting his chin and pointing at Dr. Chen. ¡°If he dares to mess up, I¡¯ll snap him in a minute.¡± ¡°But it won¡¯t be your turn to do anything.¡± Leizhe leaned against the table. Both of them were speaking without paying attention to their volume. Dr. Chen rubbed his cold neck weakly and said, ¡°Everyone, why would I mess up? Captain Shen is my most proud creation. I cherish him more than anyone.¡± Shen Siwei twitched his mouth. ¡°¡­¡± Klet¡¯s face turned cold. ¡°Shut up.¡± Dr. Chen shrunk his neck and respectfully said to the old ghost sitting in the wheelchair, ¡°Senior, shall we go through the procedure again?¡± To prevent any possible network interruptions, Malken brought the old ghost to the third level of the Life Tree. With her personally overseeing it, the surgery was unlikely to go wrong. ¡°You can rest assured.¡± Shen Siwei pulled on Klet¡¯s clothes again. ¡°With all of you by my side, what could possibly go wrong?¡± Klet let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Indeed.¡± After a pause, he added, ¡°Once you¡¯re better, I won¡¯t spare you anymore.¡± Shen Siwei smiled. ¡°Once I¡¯m better, it should be you begging me for mercy.¡± Over the years, Shen Siwei had fallen into a deep sleep several times, but this time was different from before because he knew that when he woke up again, he would be greeted by a better world. CH 77 The sound of the communicator suddenly rang, annoying Shen Siwei and causing him to frown. He grabbed the pillow on the side of his neck and threw it towards the source of the noise behind him. The pillow instantly burst open, filling the air with floating feathers and accompanied by Klet¡¯s hoarse voice, ¡°Honey, you¡¯re so fierce.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so noisy,¡± Shen Siwei closed his eyes, his eyebrows furrowing impatiently, and the tips of his hair turned a dark red, indicating his displeasure. This was already the fifth call Klet had received that morning. Having been tossing and turning all night without sleep, Shen Siwei was already irritated. Being continuously awakened early in the morning was testing his restraint not to throw Klet out of the window of the Creston Grand Hotel. ¡°It¡¯s Leizhe,¡± Klet wrapped his arms around Shen Siwei¡¯s waist, pulling him into his embrace and letting him rest against his chest. ¡°It should be something important.¡± ¡°It better be,¡± Shen Siwei replied lazily, his voice lacking the usual enthusiasm Captain, are you sick?¡± Leizhe asked. ¡°What about your wedding today¡ª¡± ¡°No,¡± Shen Siwei interrupted Leizhe. ¡°I got bitten by a dog.¡± ¡°Who are you calling a dog?¡± Klet pinched Shen Siwei¡¯s waist. ¡°You,¡± Shen Siwei recalled the events of last night, and the color of his hair darkened even more. ¡°You¡¯re not just a dog, you¡¯re a bear.¡± ¡°Cough, cough,¡± Leizhe cleared his throat, trying to regain attention. ¡°Captain, are you feeling well?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine.¡± When repairing Shen Siwei¡¯s cardiovascular function, Dr. Chen also removed the chip from his brain. It was then that he learned how Shen Siwei managed to evade the control of the chip and hoped that Malken would join his laboratory. Naturally, Malken wouldn¡¯t agree, and his mentor, old Ghost, would never approve either. Dr. Chen sadly recorded his last video log entry, ending the modification project. ¡°By the way,¡± Shen Siwei raised his chin, propping himself up on Klet¡¯s chest, and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Malken? I haven¡¯t seen much of him lately.¡± Usually, it was Malken who handled their communication. But for some reason, it was always Leizhe calling recently. ¡°He has some issues with Amor,¡± Leizhe said with a headache in his tone. ¡°He thinks I shouldn¡¯t get too close to Amor. But Amor¡¯s suggestions have been very useful, isn¡¯t that just discrimination?¡± Amor lived in the Creston Grand Hotel. Although it had been bombed five years ago, the bathhouse proprietor took over recently and reopened it for business. Klet specifically made arrangements, and no refugees dared to trouble Amor. His condition was also noticeably different from before, as he seemed to have focused all his thoughts on his career. ¡°What about Malken?¡± Klet asked. ¡°He¡¯s on the third floor,¡± Leizhe sighed. ¡°He went to Dr. Chen¡¯s laboratory.¡± Shen Siwei: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Will he come tonight?¡± Klet asked again. ¡°He must,¡± Leizhe¡¯s tone changed. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t dare to miss your wedding tonight.¡± Klet had chosen many places for their wedding, such as the resting spot on the ice field, the square in the underground city, or the secluded island in the sea. But in the end, they decided on Z City in the western district. Shen Siwei didn¡¯t mind wherever they held the wedding, but Klet wanted all his subordinates to attend, so he had to choose a crowded location. As for the specific venue, it was the music plaza where the two had first met five years ago. The arena of the black market boxing match had been dismantled, restoring its original appearance. The red carpet spread from the main road to the center of the plaza, and the flower baskets on both sides were simple but elegant, decorating the scene of this understated wedding. Klet exaggeratedly wanted to fill the entire Z City with flower baskets, but Shen Siwei stopped his idea. The wedding of the two already attracted attention from the Tree of Life, and Shen Siwei didn¡¯t want to make it too high-profile. Evening arrived quickly, and Shen Siwei and Klet changed into white wedding attires. The clothes were custom-made, tailored to fit their measurements. Shen Siwei looked elegant in his suit, while the suit next to him made Klet look suave. When the two arrived at the music plaza in the wedding car, apart from the area covered by the red carpet, the plaza was filled with a sea of people. There were also unmanned drones sent by the media in the sky. ¡°One of the groom of this wedding is Klet, the late General Miller¡¯s youngest son. It is reported that he is currently the strongest evolved human. As for the other groom, it is Shen Siwei, the son of the former chief engineer. It is reported that his body has undergone modifications and can survive unharmed even when falling from high altitudes into the deep sea¡­¡± Shen Siwei closed the news page and looked helplessly at Klet. ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree not to let the media in?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t let them in,¡± Klet innocently shrugged. ¡°Drones don¡¯t count.¡± Shen Siwei knew that Klet wanted the whole world to know about their wedding. Every day, there were numerous phone calls arranging wedding matters, and he naturally had nothing more to say. ¡°Just don¡¯t do anything fancy during the ceremony,¡± he said. ¡°Can we do a horizontal embrace kiss?¡± ¡°No!¡± As the two stepped down from the wedding car, AR confetti cannons in the sky simultaneously exploded, showering colorful paper and holographic projections of a rose garden spreading beneath their feet, which surprised Shen Siwei. He had repeatedly emphasized the need for low-key, but he didn¡¯t expect Klet to still arrange those flashy things. The refugees standing on both sides of the road erupted into thunderous cheers. This grand scene was even more exaggerated than when Shen Siwei, as a negotiator, had come to the lower levels. At that point, Shen Siwei gradually accepted that reality. He was about to experience the most high-profile wedding in the history of the Tree of Life. The officiant of the wedding was Avis, who had good eloquence and took the initiative to take on the role. Leizhe, Malken, knock, and others stood in the front row, each dressed in formal attire, a sight Shen Siwei had never seen before. ¡°Klet,¡± during the ceremony¡¯s vow segment, Avis looked at the two with a serious expression. ¡°Do you vow to become partners with the man in front of you, remaining faithful to him until the end of your life, no matter what happens?¡± Klet looked at Shen Siwei, as if his eyes could contain no one else despite the noisy environment. ¡°I do.¡± Avis then asked the same question to Shen Siwei. However, just as Shen Siwei was about to answer, a piercing alarm suddenly sounded in the air. A refugee watching the wedding from the rooftop shouted, ¡°It¡¯s the Desert Wolf Pack!¡± The crowd on the plaza instantly turned chaotic, with people taking out weapons and others scattering in all directions. The festive atmosphere of the wedding was disrupted by the arrival of the Desert Wolf Pack. Shen Siwei followed the direction where the crowd dispersed and saw a dozen fierce Desert Wolves walking along the main road. The refugees who had been standing on the sides of the road had all hidden inside buildings; no one dared to approach. He sighed helplessly, ¡°They came at just the right time.¡± Just as he said that, Klet had already undone his tie, taken off his suit jacket, and charged into the midst of the Desert Wolf Pack. Shen Siwei had never seen Klet so furious before. It seemed like every punch was thrown with full force. Several Desert Wolves were beaten to the point where they dared not approach, but with the large number of wolves, Klet seemed overwhelmed. ¡°Hold this for me,¡± Shen Siwei calmly took off his jacket and tossed it to Avis, then joined the fight. The two white figures in the midst of the wolf pack cooperated seamlessly. The surrounding refugees were stunned, and no one realized that they could go forward and help. No, they didn¡¯t need help. One, two, three¡­ the Desert Wolves were beaten bloody by the two, and at one point, they even tore one of the wolves apart, splitting it in half. The alpha wolf seemed to realize that the situation was not in its favor and let out a howl, signaling the other Desert Wolves to retreat. But Klet hadn¡¯t had enough yet. He jumped onto the pedestrian bridge, pulled out the railing that he and Shen Siwei had embedded in the ground before, and mercilessly beat the alpha wolf¡¯s head with it. ¡°You weren¡¯t invited to our wedding!¡± With its wounded body, the alpha wolf led the wolf pack and slinked away from the city. Klet irritably tossed the railing aside and said to Shen Siwei, ¡°You still haven¡¯t answered.¡± Looking at the blood stains on both of them, Shen Siwei couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°I do.¡± Indeed, a formal wedding didn¡¯t suit the two of them. Their wedding seemed to only require the presence of the two of them. Klet embraced Shen Siwei¡¯s waist, as if wanting to vent the annoyance of having their mood disrupted by the Desert Wolves. He passionately kissed Shen Siwei. The surrounding refugees cheered again, mixed with the voices of media commentators explaining the incident. But for Shen Siwei, those things no longer mattered. He slightly leaned back, seductively bit on Klet¡¯s lower lip, and asked in a low voice, ¡°Should we change the venue?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Klet¡¯s deep voice sounded, ¡°I haven¡¯t told you yet, but the final event of the wedding is three days without leaving the bed.¡± On the other side, Leizhe and Malken heard the commotion outside and hurriedly ran out of the restroom in the bar. They caught a passerby and asked, ¡°What¡¯s happening? Where are the people?¡± ¡°The Desert Wolf Pack broke in, and the wedding is already over!¡± The person waved his hand, glanced at the two, and kindly reminded, ¡°Your fly is open.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Leizhe cleared his throat, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°On the first day of marriage, spent it in bed, nothing special.¡± ¡°On the 16th day of marriage, I went with him to the artificial embryo center to extract genetic information. After that, we plan to return to the little cabin in the ice field and retrace the path we once walked.¡± ¡°On the 37th day of marriage, Avis and knock established a welfare elementary school. The two of them are going to be teachers, which is unimaginable.¡± ¡°On the 88th day of marriage, he cooked stewed beef for me. It¡¯s a bit hard to swallow. How should I tell him?¡± ¡°On the 156th day of marriage, Old Ghost passed away. She was indeed old. Malken was very sad, and he stayed by Old Ghost¡¯s side for many years.¡± ¡°On the 262nd day of marriage, the city center of the Southern Ruins was cleared, and the first attraction outside the Tree of Life was established. We went on the Ferris wheel together, and at the highest point, I kissed him. They say that way we¡¯ll be together forever.¡± ¡°On the 317th day of marriage, we attended Leizhe and Malken¡¯s wedding. They arranged a carriage, which was cool and annoying.¡± ¡°On the 444th day of marriage, Dr. Chen discovered a material that accelerates the decay cycle of radioactive elements. Perhaps within ten years, we will be able to leave the Tree of Life and return to our previous living environment.¡± ¡°On the 561st day of marriage, we came to the top level. They say tonight there will be the largest meteor shower. I hope it won¡¯t disappoint us.¡± ¡°On the 730th day of marriage, today¡­¡± Suddenly, the video footage showed Shen Siwei¡¯s figure. He glanced at the camera and then hugged Klet¡¯s neck from behind. ¡°Are you still recording?¡± Whether inspired by Dr. Chen or not, Klet had been recording their lives every day since they got married. Although most of it was trivial matters, he didn¡¯t miss a single day. ¡°Of course,¡± Klet turned his head slightly to look at Shen Siwei, then continued speaking to the camera, ¡°On the 730th day of marriage, today is our two-year wedding anniversary, and our plan is to go diving.¡± Usually, the two of them rarely stayed in the Tree of Life. Most of their time was spent wandering outside, going to places where no one had been before. After turning off the camera, Klet turned around and flipped Shen Siwei underneath him. ¡°Did you sleep well last night?¡± The two of them were currently inside a tent, and the early morning sunlight shone through the curtain, illuminating the sound of waves crashing outside the tent. ¡°Mm,¡± Shen Siwei lazily refrained from complaining about Klet¡¯s wild behaviors from the night before, ¡°Happy anniversary.¡± Klet gently pecked the corner of Shen Siwei¡¯s lips, ¡°Happy anniversary.¡± Time flew by quickly, and their wedding seemed like it was just yesterday. The present Shen Siwei was living a completely different life from before and experienced a sense of contentment and comfort he had never felt before. ¡°Are we having seafood today?¡± he asked. ¡°It depends on what we catch later,¡± Klet put away the camera and added, ¡°We¡¯ll continue recording when we get back tonight. Today¡¯s content must be more enriching.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you find it exhausting?¡± Shen Siwei lay on his side, propping his head up with his hand. He had always thought Klet was an impatient person, and initially, he thought he wouldn¡¯t record for long before giving up. However, he didn¡¯t expect Klet to persist for two whole years. ¡°Why would it be exhausting?¡± Klet said, ¡°I still have to record our ten-thousandth day and our hundred-thousandth day of marriage.¡± Unexplainably, Shen Siwei suddenly believed that Klet would definitely accomplish that. When it came to their relationship, it always felt so sincere. ¡°Come here,¡± Shen Siwei lifted his arm and hooked it around Klet¡¯s neck, ¡°No matter how long you record, I¡¯ll be with you.¡± Klet took the opportunity to kiss Shen Siwei, ¡°That means forever, with no expiration date.¡± THE END