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

"So what are you planning to do?" Lina asked, looking at him.

"Let them do what they want." Chen Xiao nonchalantly tapped the control panel, bringing up their radar route: "I haven't done anything wrong, what's there to be afraid of? If they want to investigate, let them investigate."

An hour later, an SUV with a GTI logo pulled up in front of the Secret Service.

Wuming changed out of his matte black tactical uniform into civilian clothes, but still buried his face behind his collar, making his features impossible to see.

Bit looked around like a curious child, with a sophisticated mechanical spider following at his feet.

"Wow, there's even a pair of treasures." Chen Xiao saw the spider at his feet and thought of a streamer who used space-age knives, and almost couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"I am Chen Xiao, welcome to both of you." Chen Xiao extended both hands to the two of them: "You two must be tired from your journey."

The cafeteria wasn't large, but it was very clean. Several simple dishes were laid out on a long table. Xiao Que stood to one side, holding a data tablet, ready to record Chen Xiao's instructions at any time.

Bit picked up a piece of beef, chewed it a couple of times, and his eyes lit up: "This beef is good! Where did it come from?"

"Said gave it to us." Chen Xiao took a bite of rice. "They're raised on aquatic plants near Dam Zero, so the meat is much better than from other places."

Bit picked up another piece and ate it with relish. Nameless ate very little, taking only a bite of each dish before putting down his chopsticks. He sat opposite Chen Xiao, his deep blue eyes fixed on Chen Xiao, as if waiting for the right moment to speak.

Chen Xiao felt the gaze but didn't look up. He ate his meal heartily, chatting casually with Bit.

"Phew, it's been so long since I've seen the sunset in Marcacheye," Bit sighed, looking out the window at the sunset, his voice tinged with nostalgia.

Lina was also in the cafeteria. She sat quietly to one side, holding a teacup, listening intently.

"Malkachi?" Chen asked with a smile.

"The place where I grew up," Bitt pushed up his glasses and smiled, "was a small village downstream from Dam Zero. Later, there was war, and the villagers scattered and fled. I don't know what it's like now."

Lina said softly, "When I passed in that direction, I saw some ruins of houses. But there were also some newly built shacks, and people lived there."

Bit paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "It's good that people still live there. It means that land is still alive."

Chen Xiao looked at him with some surprise: "You're quite optimistic."

Bit adjusted his glasses and smiled. "I'm not optimistic. I'm an engineer. Engineering is about rebuilding from ruins. As long as there are Asara people, Asara won't be finished."

"This kid's pretty good with words." Chen Xiao was taken aback by Bit's words.

The nameless man put down his teacup and finally spoke: "I heard from Zoya that you were pessimistic about my actions in the Tower of Babel from the beginning."

Chen Xiao leaned back in his chair and didn't reply.

"I want to know why." The nameless man's tone was flat. "We don't seem to have much in common. What made you that judgment?"

Chen Xiao glanced at him: "Have you studied Jacob?"

The nameless man's deep blue eyes twitched slightly.

"In the heart of this man who aspires to create a new world, Project Skynet is a part of his high hopes." Chen Xiao picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "He is a chess player. Every move is on his chessboard. The Skynet terminal at the Tower of Babel was bait from the very beginning. No, calling it bait is not quite right; it's more like a rehearsal tailor-made for you."

Wuming remained silent. Talking to Chen Xiao always gave him the feeling of being seen through, a feeling that made him very uncomfortable, as if he had experienced it before.

"You are his most prized creation. The higher his hopes for Relink are reflected in your gaze. Perhaps every door you encountered on the path you took in the Tower of Babel, every guard, was arranged by him." Chen Xiao put down his cup and smiled faintly. "I even think that if it weren't you who went, it would have been more successful?"

Wuming's expression remained unchanged, but the fingers holding the teacup tightened imperceptibly.

How do you know all this?

"Everyone has their own secrets, don't they?" Chen Xiao didn't intend to satisfy Wuming's thirst for knowledge: "Just like you."

Wuming didn't press the matter. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then changed the subject: "I heard you recently met with Reis."

Chen Xiao did not deny it: "I saw him. Yesterday."

"I've seen Reis's resume." The nameless man put down his teacup. "He's different from Said. Said may have been a warlord, but at least he had some principles. Reis didn't. He only cares about money."

Chen Xiao nodded: "You're right."

"Are you sure you want to cooperate with him?" Wuming looked at him directly. "Although headquarters said they need to reassess their cooperation with Said, they didn't say anything about getting involved with Reiss. If you contact him without authorization and something goes wrong—"

"Let me state this beforehand: I have never intended to cooperate with Reis," Chen Xiao interrupted Wuming. "There's no reason for me to cooperate with a dog of a warlord like Reis."

Wuming was momentarily speechless at his unequivocal attitude: "You dog of a warlord?"

"Isn't Reiss a dog warlord?" Chen Xiao said matter-of-factly. "His superior, Youssef, is an even more thorough dog warlord."

"In this land, almost everyone is driven by their own selfish desires."

"Idealists are few and far between." Chen Xiao looked out the window at the land with a hint of pity in his eyes. "But building new things requires idealists."

"In my opinion, these idealists should not be treated this way."

Chen Xiao said confidently, "My only business partner at present is Said."

"You mean you're just using him?" Bit asked from the side.

"For now, it's a matter of each side having what they need," Chen Xiao said vaguely.

"Said controls Dam Zero, and Reis controls Longbow Valley, with Superstar Station in between. If Reis can take down the station, the route from Dam Zero to Baksh will be open. At that point, Reis will be a thorn in Hafk's side; supplies can get through, and so can GTI's influence."

"And Reis will also serve as a buffer zone between Hafk and Said and us."

Chen Xiao stood up, patted his pants, and said, "To prevent him from doing something desperate, I've left him some room to make money."

"And I think headquarters would be very happy to see this situation," Chen Xiao said with a faint smile.

Wuming frowned slightly, sensing that he was implying something.

"Alright, you two must be tired from your journey today. Go and take a rest." Chen Xiao clapped his hands, and Xiao Que walked over at the right time, bowing to Bit and Wuming.

"I have arranged accommodations for you both. Let my assistant take you there."

"Tomorrow, we'll go to Dam Zero and meet Sayyid," Chen said, looking at Bit. "I'm sure he'd be happy to see his compatriots."