"Of course, if Mr. Jiang gave up on finding Zeng Dajiang and was willing to stay at the base, that would be fine too. We would certainly receive you according to the highest standards." Tom Cat smiled again.
I narrowed my eyes. This guy really had human heart figured out.
I suddenly understood something. It had sent General Ape to bring us back, but its true target had not been me—it had been Zhang Jing.
General Ape had said before that Zhang Jing was useful to the base, and Tom Cat needed her to help open the sixth underground level.
I had merely been brought along, which was why Tom Cat was now thinking of sending me away.
There was another possibility: Tom Cat telling me to find Number Four and rescue Zeng Dajiang could also be a trap.
But even if I knew it was a trap, I still had to step into it.
After all, I had to find Zeng Dajiang.
"Fine. Before I leave, can I see Zhang Jing?" I asked.
Tom Cat smiled as it rubbed its paws together. "Of course. You can go see her, and you can help me persuade her properly. We're all working for the Doctor, and everyone wants what is best for the base, right? So she shouldn't sulk, much less think I'm trying to seize power. I've said it already—when the Doctor returns, the base will still be his. I'm merely managing it on his behalf for now. I've told everyone below that I'm only the acting Supreme Commander."
I sneered. "Has the base always called the Doctor the Supreme Commander?"
"Not really. The Doctor is the Doctor. But isn't this an emergency? You know it too—the Void Realm is not much different from wartime now. You could even say