When Mathilda returned, she immediately headed to the reserved room and saw Han and several other staff members squatting at the door, occasionally peeking inside.
Han's face was sullen, and he seemed lost in thought, not even noticing Liu Yu's approach.
Mathilda greeted him, but when Han didn't respond, she waved her hand vigorously in front of Han's face, snapping him out of his thoughts. Han quickly stood up.
As Han rose, Mathilda pointed inside and asked softly, "Is Lam and Wei inside?"
Han nodded and fell silent again. "And Wang..." Mathilda started but stopped when Han shook his head. Mathilda didn't know how to comfort him and sighed inwardly.
Life is fragile; no one knows what will happen next. Someone lively a moment ago could become a cold corpse in an instant, especially when that person is a long-time comrade-in-arms.
Mathilda patted Han's arm to comfort him, then stayed outside with the others, waiting.
After a long wait with no sign of Lam and Wei coming out, Mathilda went up and knocked on the door. "It's Mathilda. Are you guys ready in there?" she called.
Lam's voice came from inside, "Come in, and bring Han. The others can leave; thank you." Lam stepped out, thanked the cybersecurity staff, and Mathilda whispered a few instructions to them before following Lam inside with Han. The others then dispersed.
Once inside, Han stared at Wei without speaking, occasionally clenching and unclenching his fists.
Noticing this, Lam subtly positioned himself between Han and Wei to prevent any conflict. Wei, aware of Han's resentment over Wang Lu's death, avoided eye contact. When Lam stepped between them, Wei felt relieved.
Sensing the tension, Mathilda quickly changed the subject. "The police issue is manageable; the embassy has explained it. They'll release a news report saying it was a routine drill. But what exactly happened? Who attacked you?" Lam and Wei exchanged glances, then briefly explained the situation, omitting the part about the giant eye and describing the attackers as members of a mysterious organization with unknown motives.
To make their story more convincing and prevent unnecessary speculation, Lam mentioned that he had also been targeted by this mysterious organization in Longland, feigning confusion while silently apologizing to Mathilda and Han for not disclosing everything. The less they knew, the safer they would be.
Hearing about the military's involvement, Mathilda looked troubled. When the mysterious organization was mentioned, her frown deepened.
After listening to Lam, Mathilda rubbed her temples and sighed, "If the military is involved, this will have to be handled at the national level. We'll need to be extra cautious about the mysterious organization."
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In the following days, Mathilda reported the situation and Wei's case to the authorities back home, receiving authorization to negotiate with the British government. Initially, the British denied military involvement but eventually admitted it under pressure, though the Foreign Office claimed they couldn't control military actions. After prolonged negotiations, an agreement was reached.
Mathilda updated Lam and the others, who finally felt relieved, especially Wei, eager to return home. Discussing the negotiations, Mathilda explained the logic behind national actions, comparing countries to individuals, each driven by their own interests and resources.
Intrigued but feeling Mathilda's explanation was too brief, Lam asked for more details.
Mathilda explained that nations, like people, compete for resources, leading to inevitable conflicts.
With the military issue resolved but the mysterious organization still a threat, they planned their return. Mathilda suggested heightened security and requested British military escort for Lam and the others, implying the irony of their former pursuers now being their protectors. Everyone agreed.
As expected, on the day of their departure, the mysterious organization tried to stop them. Despite a frantic gunman charging at them, he was quickly neutralized.
Thanks to thorough security preparations and military assistance, there were no serious casualties, and injured soldiers received prompt medical attention. However, when capturing injured members of the organization, they all committed suicide, chanting cryptic phrases before dying.
Under military escort, Lam and Wei safely departed for Peking. Watching the plane fade into the distance, Mathilda smiled, thinking about Lam and anticipating their next meeting. As the plane disappeared, she reluctantly left, gazing one last time at the dusk sky before driving away.
At the military base, after receiving the report, the Major General opened his eyes, gave a nonchalant acknowledgment, and then got up to track the plane's position on the radar.
"Should we...?" the Colonel asked, gesturing a throat-slitting motion. The Major General refused without hesitation, "It's not time for war yet. We'll proceed step by step. Don't worry; one day, this, this, and this will all be ours," he said, circling parts of the world map.
"What if he reveals our plans?" the Colonel asked, referring to Wei.
"Don't worry. We've made deals with his country. Even if they know, what can they do? We'll have help managing things here, just some inconveniences. You know I hate inconveniences," the Major General replied just as a soldier reported a visitor.
A well-dressed man entered, shook hands with the Major General, then unexpectedly slapped him.
The Major General, maintaining his composure, was told the slap was from the Cabinet as a reprimand but received assurances of future assistance. The Major General thanked him, appreciating the reminder to be discreet.
The visitor praised the Major General's patience and hinted at a future collaboration, leaving the Major General intrigued and calmed by his words. The Colonel, curious about the visitor, was advised not to ask unnecessary questions.
In the Vatican's cathedral, Pope Gregory XVII, upon learning of the plane's departure, prayed for forgiveness from the angel. The giant eye, after punishing him, forgave him but ordered him to spread the faith and produce as many robots as possible, puzzling Gregory.
Previously tasked with eliminating a threat and finding Lam, the angel had sensed Lam's presence in Longland but, unable to act, decided to let it go for now. After sternly warning Gregory again, the giant eye vanished.
Returning to the cathedral, Gregory endured the soul-tearing pain, considering it a divine blessing. He didn't notice his eyes glowing red during the ordeal, which only faded after he regained composure.