"Alright, I understand. I'll arrange this." Bai Cha agreed after a moment of thought.
In reality, Cang Liu didn't need to do this. If they had told her directly when they met, she would have considered it. After all, there was something Cang Liu didn't know: the higher-ups had already had this preliminary plan, possibly to ease the relationship between humans and the environment...
This was not within Bai Cha's scope of duties, so she hadn't paid attention to it. She had only heard the proposal mentioned when attending a meeting.
Thinking about it now, it would be possible to facilitate them as sponsors, as scientific research was indeed in need of funds. She could also take this opportunity to complete her task.
Bai Cha was lost in thought, her focus drifting unintentionally, until her phone rang, pulling her back to reality.
It was Athena, and not through text, but a direct call.
Why was it so urgent?
Bai Cha answered the phone, only to hear Athena's voice hushed, as if avoiding someone.
"Bai, I saw people from the 'Bright Faction' in Country Z. I don't know them, but I saw them by chance before. They just shook hands with our country's 'Eagle Faction'."
Shook hands? People from the Bright Faction?
Bai Cha frowned, "Describe their features. Where did you see them?"
"There was an older one with a dark mark on his left neck. He's about 183-185 cm tall and weighs about 60 kilograms. Behind him were..."
Athena spoke rapidly, and as she described, Bai Cha's frown deepened. Not only did she find matches for people from the Bright Faction in Athena's description and vague photos, but she even found several matches for the Neutral Faction.
Was it deliberate? Or unintentional?
Those people shouldn't be foolish enough to openly reveal themselves, unless they truly had a trump card to bring her down.
Bai Cha's expression turned grim. She replied to Athena, "Don't act rashly until the situation is clear. Avoid conflict with them. They likely have complete equipment and are waiting for us to make a mistake."
"But our next actions, it will be difficult to avoid conflict." Zeus and Apollo stood beside Athena, their expressions also grim.
"They might try to obstruct us. If we aren't firm..."
"I will," Bai Cha's unequivocal tone made Athena falter.
"I will bear the risk. This is Country Z's affair, and I was already part of their planned progress. So, let all the subsequent targeting be directed at me." Bai Cha's tone was serious. "This way, if I am taken out, you will still be intact. If everyone is dragged into this, it will be very troublesome."
"But..." Athena paused. They were making the call from a temporarily set up secret base. Bai Cha's righteous words were not just a shock to Athena, but even Zeus was taken aback.
"More than just two countries' people will be obstructing this time. Notify everyone that if they come into conflict with the enemy, try to avoid their direct force. Wait until I arrive." Bai Cha was truly starting to get agitated. Without waiting for Athena's reply, she hung up.
"Xiang Nan, come with me." Bai Cha left Lucifer and Cang Liu and rushed out. Xiang Nan quickly followed. The two arrived outside the labyrinth, and Bai Cha immediately took out the full-channel communication device from her belt.
"All personnel of the Shadow departments, pay attention!"
"All personnel of the Shadow departments, pay attention!"
"Within ten minutes, put down all your current tasks, complete handover with official channels, and return to headquarters to await orders! All personnel to gather at headquarters within ten minutes. Reject all external interference!"
Bai Cha's voice echoed five or six times on the Shadow faction's main channel. Everyone in the Shadow faction looked at each other, but they immediately obeyed, abandoning all their work and returning to their stronghold like a tide.
The sudden turn of events caught everyone off guard, not just the Shadow faction, but even the Neutral faction was caught unprepared. With the assistance of their capable subordinate, the Shadow faction, the upper echelons even experienced minor chaos.
Following this, Bai Cha handed all the equipment to Xiang Nan.
"Xiang Nan, now notify Li Rong and Yan Ziqing to replace all of Shadow's systems." Bai Cha's heart grew cold. Even if she didn't want to think in that direction, all necessary backup plans were meticulously put in place.
"Replace them all?" Xiang Nan, upon hearing this, immediately realized what had happened, and his heart sank.
The systems and firewalls of Shadow and the Neutral faction were established under the personal leadership of Bai Cha and Xiang Nan, and they were interconnected with the Neutral faction. Now, with Bai Cha's order, it was clear she was beginning to guard against the Neutral faction.
Bai Cha was truly getting a bit annoyed. She couldn't be in multiple places at once.
For the upcoming World Competition, Shadow had to deploy all its main forces to ensure stability in their rankings. However, this incident would leave the Shadow faction's rear vulnerable. Bai Cha, Xiang Nan, Meng Qinghuan, Li Rong, and Yan Ziqing were all dispatched, and yet their reliable allies in the rear were also in precarious situations.
Bai Cha didn't want to doubt the Neutral faction, but the facts left her no choice. She had to ensure the safety of her own people.
This was not just internal strife, but also external threats, and a situation of being attacked from all sides. The rankings and resources of the World Competition could not be lost. All Bai Cha could do was order everyone in Shadow to retreat to their stronghold for defense to prevent losses, as she couldn't return in time.
The two were frantically busy outside the labyrinth. Inside the labyrinth, the three who were left behind—Lucifer and the other two—could only temporarily stay and await Bai Cha's notification to provide her with a quiet environment to work.
Cang Liu lowered his head, picked up a bronze fragment, and sighed deeply.
"Cang, Cang Liu ge, so, what just happened with Miss Bai is also something you already knew?" Gu Mingze scratched his head. He understood the gist of the conversation between Bai Cha and Cang Liu. He felt it was similar to those novels about transmigration and rebirth, where the future world is reborn...
"So, has Miss Bai resolved this matter?" Gu Mingze was very curious.
"It's not about whether it's resolved or not." Cang Liu didn't know how to explain, only feeling a deep sense of powerlessness. "As long as she wants to, she can turn the situation around at any time, but someone is holding her back."
It's just that she can't let go. If she were alone, not just Bai Cha, but even Ye Feng back then would have been unassailable. If Ye Feng hadn't married into the Bai family and been burdened with responsibilities and that so-called glory, there would be no need to guess who the world's number one was.
Freya could read the stars, and he was a reborn person, but despite their best efforts, they couldn't help Bai Cha avoid her fate. When a person truly begins to fight against the world, they realize how small they are. They couldn't even deceive this starry sky, let alone change it.
The word "destiny" is ethereal. If destiny could be so easily altered, the constellations would have been in chaos long ago. Fortune tellers who reveal heavenly secrets even suffer shortened lifespans, so how easy is it to defy fate?
"However, don't look at me like that. You're not happy that I'm saving her?" Cang Liu looked at Lucifer with some displeasure.
From the beginning, Lucifer had been looking at him with a hostile and very displeased gaze, which made him uncomfortable.
"Even if you paid a great price, I still won't give her to you," Lucifer snorted, his expression not looking good. "That was your own choice. When it comes to matters of the heart, I will still compete with you fairly."
"You say it so nicely, why don't you say it to her face?" Cang Liu seemed somewhat helpless. "In the previous life, Mo Ziye won Bai Cha with his passion. Why don't you try?"
Lucifer fell silent. He lowered his eyes, unable to refute.
Seeing Lucifer fall silent, Cang Liu sneered, "Hmph, they say personality determines destiny. Bai is bound by her personality. She takes responsibility too seriously, and with your insincere nature, she won't feel anything in the next life."
"I... don't want to make her difficult."
After a long while, Lucifer said in a low voice.
He was different from Mo Ziye. Mo Ziye only met Bai Cha every once in a while, but he was always by Bai Cha's side. If Bai Cha rejected Mo Ziye, he could temporarily distance himself to ease the awkward atmosphere, but if he stayed by Bai Cha's side constantly.
If Bai Cha had feelings for him, it would be fine. But if Bai Cha didn't like him and knew that someone who didn't like her but liked her was always by her side, taking care of her, anyone would feel uncomfortable.
To put it bluntly, Lucifer's identity was convenient, but also awkward.
"Just kidding, don't mind me," Cang Liu said indifferently.
Gu Mingze, who was watching from the side: "..."
Brother, that joke is too cold, isn't it? Who would realize that's a joke?
"Also, there's no need for fair competition. I'm giving her to you." Cang Liu glanced at Lucifer and turned to walk out of the labyrinth.
Giving her to him? What did that mean?
Lucifer didn't understand. Cang Liu's efforts to defy fate and his meticulous planning for Bai Cha were all for the sake of love in human emotions. But why did he so easily say he was handing over the woman he loved?
If it were Lucifer, Lucifer would certainly not agree. His ability to suppress his emotions and not forcefully possess Bai Cha was already the greatest restraint. Even if Bai Cha didn't end up with him, he would still want to stay by Bai Cha's side forever. This was already the greatest concession.
He didn't like doing charity. Giving everything and then being separated by vast distances would drive him mad.
Not only Lucifer, but Gu Mingze also didn't understand.
"Brother, what do you mean by 'giving her away'? You should at least try!" Gu Mingze followed behind Cang Liu, feeling it was unfair to Cang Liu. "Don't you like Miss Bai? You should be proactive! Anything is possible, maybe you'll succeed."
Gu Mingze was speaking enthusiastically, completely unaware that Cang Liu, who was walking in front, suddenly stopped. He bumped into Cang Liu's solid back, tears welling up in his eyes, and he clutched his nose, groaning.
"Brother, don't just stop suddenly." Gu Mingze protested resentfully, "Your muscles are different from human muscles, they're too hard."
The lean muscle with almost no fat was painful to hit, and coupled with Cang Liu's cold skin temperature, it made Gu Mingze feel like he had hit a block of iron.
"I just want her to live, just like she wants us to live." Cang Liu looked at the exit not far away, his azure eyes filled with complexity. "She's too lonely. I hope someone can accompany her, but I am also a lonely person."
He was a lonely and indifferent person, not one for much talking, preferring to be alone, cold and detached. Bai Cha was similar to him; in fact, they were very alike. But Cang Liu didn't want this.
He hoped Bai Cha would integrate into this world, hoped the sun would shine on her.
She had already endured too much rain. Cang Liu didn't want her to sink into the deep sea of loneliness with him. Whether it was Freya's sunshine or Lucifer's gentleness, Cang Liu felt they were much better than himself. He was a Merman, it was his nature. He couldn't bring warmth to anyone.
"In the previous life, after Bai Cha died, Lucifer... forget it. There's no point in saying more. At least I trust him." Cang Liu crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, looking at the two people concentrating intently and busy not far from the cave entrance, and sighed softly.
"Alas, Cang Liu ge, don't be so self-deprecating. You're very outstanding. Even if you don't say anything when you like someone, that's still companionship." Gu Mingze was a little unconvinced. "You should be braver, Cang Liu ge. If you love someone, say it boldly."