After many years apart, both Saine and Bond had changed considerably.
Only, the two men who had once been able to contend with each other as equals—
now stood worlds apart in status.
On Saine's side, he was the nominal person in charge of the Wizard Civilization delegation. Nearly a hundred Magicians attending the conference, along with some Knights, had to obey Saine's orders to a certain extent.
Bond's duty on this trip... was merely that of a guard.
More precisely, he was now the head of the guards.
Specially assigned to "protect" the safety of Saine and the others!
It was truly ironic. This pair, who had once clashed fiercely in the Ai Youlan Butterfly Civilization Ruins and wished nothing more than to put each other to death—
had now reunited in such a manner. Fate truly loved to toy with people.
And Bond's current role, protecting Magicians of the Wizard Civilization such as Saine as a secret agent of the Federation's security intelligence department, proved something else from another angle—he had accepted reality, or at least become a member of the current "pro-Wizard Civilization" faction.
Otherwise, he would never have been assigned such a uniquely important mission.
Faced with Saine's somewhat teasing and surprised greeting, Bond's expression remained exceedingly calm.
Over the past period of time, Bond had indeed suffered immense torment. But in the end, he had made his own choice.
He would "save" the Galente Federation in his own way.
Even if some of his actions were things his former self would have found utterly contemptible.
People always had to bow to reality, didn't they?
Just like that major on Morak Satellite.
When Bond faced Saine's initiative in greeting him, he gave a slight nod to show his respect, then turned and went elsewhere to inspect