Reunion After a Long Separation

Its design is very simple, angular, with twelve green electronic eyes shining on its recessed inverted triangular head. The turbine engine on its chest rotates at high speed, distributing the reactor's energy to its entire body. Many of its curves are sharp triangles, full of futuristic sci-fi aesthetics.

The paint job on this machine is very simple: white with some yellow and black on the edges. However, this simple color scheme is full of an indescribable sense of oppression.

It's like a warning.

Carrying a rifle and a life-sized shield, it stood alone amidst the city's ruins, like a knight upholding righteousness even in the apocalypse.

The three pairs of huge sail-shaped thrusters on its back are covered with various cannons and missiles, the rocket pods on its shoulders, and the two electromagnetic railguns on its waist all prove that it is a pure war machine.

Li Aoz hovered in mid-air, facing the nameless machine, and asked again:

"Du Zexin, is that you?"

"... Why should we declare the Frostplate Colonies independent?"

The only response he received was a cold voice from the loudspeaker. "You are Frostplate Citizen, aren't you?"

Li Aoz scratched his chin:

"Well, I just got my Green Card from Red Arrow— "

"Vroom!" The beam rifle rose and aimed at Li Aoz's figure.

"You lied to me! Li Aoz!"

Du Zexin shouted angrily:

"You say you're acting in the interests of the Frostplate Citizen, then why are you taking away our Colonies?!"

"Did the Law Enforcement Division Three faction send you to assassinate me?"

"Answer me, Li Aoz! Did you never even consider helping the Frostplate Citizen? You said you were also a Dai Weilin Faction, and you even introduced Miss Ya Wen to me—were all of these things... just lies?"

Li Aoz supported his lower back, and the armor on his face slowly opened, revealing his calm expression.

"I didn't lie to you."

His attitude was very sincere, and he threw down the weapon in his hand. "Du Zexin, I have told many lies, but in fact, the only person I have never lied to is you."

[Charm assessment successful; ' Du Zexin ' believes your lie.]

"Li Aoz... Li Aoz, why can you always make me believe your sweet talk?"

Du Zexin lowered his gun but remained hostile. He opened the mech's cockpit and stood on the monitor. Compared to a few months ago, Du Zexin looked even more refined, his black and white hair fluttering in the wind, and he was wearing the elite agent uniform of Law Enforcement Division Three.

Only his haggard face was etched with despair:

"Who... who exactly are you?"

"In Frostplate, we are Frostplate Citizen; in Red Arrow, we are Red Arrow People."

"Don't joke around at a time like this. Tell me, I don't want to shoot you, Li Aoz. You've helped me a lot, but you also took the Colonies from the Frostplate Citizen... I... I don't know what you're trying to do. How am I supposed to face you?"

"Why are you so strong?"

Why do you keep coming and going?

"How did you know about Dai Weilin's arrest?"

"Why did you come to Sky Ring and cause such a scene at the event?"

"If you're not a Red Arrow spy, I really don't know what else can explain it."

Du Zexin looked at him with a complicated expression. "I thought we could become friends."

For a moment, his tone reminded Li Aoz of a kitten abandoned on a rainy day, curled up in a cardboard box, hoping a kind person would take it home.

That makes sense, after all, the events of the past few months involving the Nethermark Humanity, Frostplate, and Grand have made Du Zexin very disappointed with the country, and Li Aoz's actions have also shaken him.

Now, he probably doesn't even know what he's fighting for anymore.

"Since you've put it that way, if I don't answer, I'll look like a jerk."

Li Aoz shrugged and replied seriously, "My true identity is the envoy of the Thirteenth Narrative [Heroes Empire] - the Galaxy Civilization - the Fiennes Federation, nicknamed 'Echoer'. I have been living on Azure Planet for over twenty years and have only just awakened."

Du Zexin's eye twitched. "Do you think I'm stupid?"

"Otherwise, how do you think I, a bank security guard, could have made such rapid progress in just a few months and become a powerful expert who has killed four Gamma-rank opponents?"

Li Aoz's remarks left Du Zexin speechless.

Because what he said was indeed logically correct.

If Li Aoz really is from outer space, then the source of his power and many other mysterious aspects can be explained.

only...

"Li Aoz, if you really are an alien, what is the purpose of what you are doing now?"

"For you."

"Us?"

"Yes, I like you guys." Li Aoz rubbed his fingers together, a flame igniting at his fingertips before quickly healing. He said wistfully, "There are still people on this planet who understand me. I don't think I would feel comfortable just watching you all perish."

You mean to say—

"Yes, that's exactly what you think." Li Aoz raised his head and looked at Du Zexin: "This planet is about to be destroyed. I'm going to go into space to find a way to save it."

"From the very beginning, I have been working towards this goal. Whether it was infiltrating the Nethermark Humanity, coming to the Sky Ring, or going to the Grand Isles, I was always looking for a way to travel to the universe."

"Now, I've found it."

The barrier had shattered. Li Aoz pointed to the Beitiao Building not far away. "In the Abandoned Mist below the Beitiao Building, there is a Hydrogen Bomb with a yield of 140 megatons."

"I'm going to use that thing to blow myself into space."

"This is my plan, Du Zexin. If you still want to stop me, then you can make your move."

As Li Aoz spoke, he waved his hand, and the two weapons fell back into his palm. He cautiously confronted Du Zexin, to prevent himself from accidentally killing Du Zexin if Du Zexin decided to make a move.

He knew that his actions had hurt Du Zexin's national feelings, but he had no other choice. Gulant was going to be liberated sooner or later, so he might as well liberate him in advance and give him the opportunity to attend this gathering.

What will Du Zexin think?

He must have felt that his actions were utterly terrible. As a person from the Azure Planet who had never seen the sun, he certainly couldn't understand his own behavior.

But that's alright. After all, the first time Li Aoz met him, it was by fighting. If men can't reason with each other, they can just use their fists to communicate.

For some reason, Li Aoz decided to trust Du Zexin.

Perhaps it was because he had the power to persuade the other party, or perhaps it was because he didn't want to make Du Zexin, this Unlucky Guy, even more unlucky, or perhaps Li Aoz had a good feeling about Du Zexin and didn't want to hurt him further.

In short, even though the Military Department of Sky Ring and the remaining three Gamma-rank were rapidly approaching, he gave Du Zexin ample time to think.

However, after a long silence, Du Zexin suddenly touched his forehead, sighed, and jumped back into the cockpit.

As expected, he still can't understand.

A faint sense of loss welled up in Li Aoz's heart.

Since that's the case, there's nothing more to say.

He reluctantly raised his blade, about to point it at Du Zexin, when he heard Du Zexin's voice on the radio. "One Hydrogen Bomb is not enough."