You were told to search and attack, but you're supporting Asara?

Chen Xiao paused for a moment, then wiped his face with his sleeve: "Then I'll get straight to the point."

"What does Asara need, and what can Asara offer?"

Saeed liked this straightforward exchange: "First, I need GTI to provide aid to the people of Asara affected by the disaster."

Chen Xiao nodded: "GTI is already carrying out relief operations in the Asara region, that's beyond doubt, but whether it will support post-disaster reconstruction is still up for discussion."

"We will carry out the reconstruction ourselves, one step at a time. We can't rely on outsiders for everything." Said nodded and said, "In exchange, I can investigate the 'mole' you mentioned while I'm taking revenge on that bastard Reis."

"I have a suggestion in this regard," Chen Xiao added. "If possible, I'd like to try another form of cooperation."

He pointed to the corpse in the pit: "I hope you can provide a way to Longbow Valley so that they can pass safely."

"You mean, GTI wants to investigate Reiss on its own?" Said snorted in dissatisfaction. "We've only just begun our initial cooperation; we can't expect you to wander around Dam Zero like you're at home!"

"Of course they don't need to wander around. You just need to station troops along a road that allows them to pass, and you can even set up checkpoints to collect tolls and make some money to improve the guards' living conditions." Chen smiled like a fox.

"Take a look at the difference between the equipment of Hafk's staff and that of your Asara Guard members. I think this is something a leader should consider."

"As for the fee, it can be set at 112500 HAF coins per person."

"You GTI employees have to pay to work?" Said was clearly shocked by Chen Xiao's capitalist behavior.

"Trust me, they won't refuse this number," Chen Xiao said confidently.

"Here's another piece of free information: Reiss did manage to take down quite a few Skynet satellites, but they were mostly old equipment that Hafk had already phased out."

"The real Skynet has already been fully upgraded by Hafk after these satellites fell." Chen Xiao looked at Said with a hint of pity: "So those people of Asara were simply killed by Reis, their deaths were utterly meaningless."

Saeed clenched his fist tightly.

"Reis is completely different from you; all he cares about is money," Chen Xiao said mercilessly. "There's a saying in our country: 'Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together.'"

······

After daybreak, Chen Xiao was driven back to the Special Operations Unit by Karim. Before leaving, Karim left his communication coordinates and, under the guise of supporting allies, asked Said for a military satellite communication device.

He instructed the staff at the Secret Service to carry his belongings inside. Just as he stepped into the Secret Service headquarters, he heard a shout, the voice filled with barely suppressed anxiety:

"This is 'Die' Lina van der Meier, the thirty-first call to 'The Prophet,' please respond."

Chen Xiao scratched his head, wondering to himself what major event had occurred, and replied, "'Prophet' received, please speak."

There was a sudden silence on the other end, followed by Mai Xiaowen's signature voice:

"I told you he's alright, I told you so. Why are you so anxious?"

"Hey, Chen Xiao, what's wrong with you? It's been almost two days and we haven't heard a word from you. Our Miss 'Butterfly' is so worried that she's called everyone over. She insists on going out to look for you." Mai Xiaowen's tone was full of teasing.

"No...don't talk nonsense..." Lina grabbed the communicator in a panic. "Are you alright on your end?"

"It's alright." Chen Xiao smiled and said, "I've gotten some new stuff. You're all at the rescue station, right? That saves me from having to notify everyone individually."

After arranging a time with them, Chen Xiao disconnected the communication and handed over the military control terminal he had taken from his pocket to the Special Operations Department. A new notification appeared on the computer:

[Military control terminal activated, Special Operations Unit's computing power increased.]

Please obtain the brain-computer interface device as soon as possible to unlock the remote control capabilities of the Secret Service.

"Do we need to use them in combination?" Chen Xiao scratched his head, puzzled, and decided to put that aside for the time being.

Upon entering the Special Operations Unit, Chen Xiao observed the staff members coming and going, seemingly working on their own as if they were pre-programmed machines.

He happened to see the freckled girl who had called him for a check-up on the first day passing by the door. Chen Xiao casually stopped her and asked, "What level of consumables can the Special Operations Department currently produce?"

The girl who was pulled back immediately regained her composure and her tone became normal: "Currently, the medical department can produce all consumables of purple quality and below."

"The combat department has the capability to produce level 4 and lower ammunition."

"The logistics department has the capability to produce Level 4 armor and purple-quality backpacks."

"However, producing items requires Special Operations Department supplies, and currently there is a shortage of supplies. We can only provide blue and level three consumables and ammunition."

After listening to her, Chen Xiao frowned: "Can't the NPCs in the Special Operations Department work and talk like you?"

"Of course. Due to previous shortages of supplies, the Special Operations Department automatically entered the lowest power consumption mode. Staff only activate the anthropomorphic mode when Agent Chen approaches. Do you need to adjust this?"

"How should I adjust?" Chen asked with a smile.

"You can designate a staff member as the control center, granting them all the permissions you have below, and issue instructions to them for adjustments."

"You can also do it yourself through the control panel in your room."

"Then it's you," Chen Xiao said casually. "I authorize you to disable the Special Operations Department's low-power mode."

"OK."

As she nodded in agreement, the expressions and movements of the staff in the Secret Service gradually softened, and soon the place was bustling with noise.

The freckled girl beside Chen Xiao said, "Agent Chen, I need to remind you that under this power consumption mode, the energy supply time provided by the neutron microreactor has been shortened from 90 days to 45 days. Please find a new energy source as soon as possible."

"I understand." Chen Xiao nodded slightly, then told a few people to move the military satellite communication device into the car and drive towards the GTI rescue station.

······

Most of the Assara people in the aid station have left, with only a few seriously injured people still receiving treatment.

As soon as Chen Xiao got out of the car, he saw a butterfly-shaped drone hovering in the air, continuously transmitting signals.

He laboriously carried the satellite communicator inside, and Mai Xiaowen and Lina gathered around him.

"Great! Where did you find this amazing stuff? With it, we can get in touch with headquarters."

Mai Xiaowen spoke with some excitement.

Lina held a towel in her hand, intending to wipe the sweat from Chen Xiao's head, but under the watchful eyes of the group, she ultimately shoved the towel into his hand.

Chen Xiao wiped it casually and said with a smile, "I don't know how to use this thing, but I thought Xiaomai would be able to handle it, so I brought it over. That way, Lina's drone won't have to fly in the sky every day."

"Alright, alright, so you're just worried about Lina and making me do all the hard work." Mai Xiaowen forcefully lifted the satellite communicator onto the table and started fiddling with it, then gritted her teeth and poked Wang Yuhao's forehead as he walked in: "Other people's boyfriends know how to be considerate of women, only you are so silly."

Wang Yuhao, who had been scolded without knowing anything, innocently shrugged and muttered under his breath, "That silly woman is going crazy again."

Chen Xiao and Lina watched as the two of them chuckled simultaneously, then quickly suppressed their laughter and pretended to look around nonchalantly.

"Chen Xiao, I haven't been able to reach you these past two days. Is there a problem with the equipment over there?" Wang Yuhao asked, and Lina and Mai Xiaowen turned to look at him at the same time.

"Ah, I went out of town recently and didn't have time to tell you," Chen Xiao explained casually.

"How could you act on your own under such special circumstances?"

Wang Yuhao, who was always strict with discipline, frowned.

"The situation is rather unique..."

"No matter how special the situation, you can't act without authorization; you must at least report it..."

"I went to see Saeed," Chen Xiao said directly, not intending to hide anything.

"Even seeing Said is not an option..."

Wang Yuhao's eyes suddenly widened: "What??"

Lina and Mai Xiaowen were also stunned. The latter's hand, which was adjusting the communicator, suddenly trembled and she almost broke off a button.

Heavy footsteps sounded outside the room, and Shen Lan lifted the curtain and walked in.