Chapter 1301: Returning to the Post

Aolana asked.

"How do you want to verify it?"

Zuola pulled a document from the file.

"This is your resume at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. One hundred and twenty years, no blemishes, no mistakes. Every negotiation of yours, every decision, has a detailed record."

She pulled out another one.

"This is your family background. Parents, siblings, kinship relations, all perfectly clear."

She pulled out another.

"These are your physiological data. Iris, fingerprints, genetic sequence, all match the Star Alliance database."

She put down the documents and looked at Aolana.

"These are all fine. But what I want to verify is not these."

Aolana asked.

"Then what is it?"

Zuola said.

"It is you as a person. Your way of thinking, your judgment, your Loyalty."

She leaned back in her chair.

"Ms. Aolana, let me ask you a question. How do you think the relationship between the Daikong Star Alliance and the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance will be in the future?"

Aolana thought for a moment.

"It will improve. The Non-Aggression Treaty has already been signed, trade routes are opening up, and technological cooperation is also advancing. In the short term, peace is the main theme."

Zuola asked.

"And in the long term?"

"In the long term, it depends on us. If we are strong enough, they will respect us. If we are weak, they will look down on us. Peace is not given by others; it is earned by oneself."

Zuola's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Is this your honest opinion?"

Aolana nodded.

"Yes."

Zuola looked at her, and there was Silence for a long time.

Then she said.

"One last question."

Aolana looked at her.

"Please go ahead."

Zuola asked.

"During the time you were detained, was there any moment you thought about giving up?"

Aolana was in Silence for a long time.

Then she smiled. It was a bitter smile.

"I did. Many times."

Zuola's expression did not change at all.

"And then?"

Aolana said.

"Then I told myself that giving up is the easiest choice. But the easiest choice is often the worst choice."

She looked at Zuola.

"So I waited. Waited for the Star Alliance to come save us. Waited to come back."

Zuola looked at her, then stood up.

"Ms. Aolana, you may go back. Get some good rest these few days. In a few days, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will notify you of your new work arrangements."

Aolana also stood up.

"Minister Zuola, what about Academician Tuowake..."

Zuola said.

"He is also undergoing the same review. If there are no issues, he will be reinstated just like you."

Aolana nodded and turned to leave.

When she reached the door, Zuola called out to her.

"Aolana."

Aolana looked back.

"Is there anything else?"

"Welcome home."

Aolana was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

"Thank you."

At the same time, in the room next door.

Tuowake sat in a chair, with a glass of water and a Holographic Recorder placed in front of him as well.

The interrogator opposite him was a young Daikong man, wearing the gray uniform of the Intelligence Department.

"Academician Tuowake, how long have you worked at the Academy of Sciences?"

Tuowake thought for a moment.

"A little over two hundred years."

"Your field of expertise?"

"Psionic Physics. Primarily the theoretical side."

The interrogator flipped through the file.

"Have you collaborated with scientists from the Feng Qi Xing Alliance?"

Tuowake nodded.

"I have had a few academic exchanges. They were all civilian projects, unrelated to the military."

The interrogator asked.

"Are you aware of the data sent by the Feng Qi Xing Alliance?"

Tuowake's brows furrowed slightly.

"Are you referring to the data on the mirror rift?"

The interrogator nodded.

Tuowake shook his head.

"No. My field of research is theoretical physics, not applied physics. That data has nothing to do with me."

The interrogator looked at him.

"Are you certain?"

Tuowake nodded.

"Certain. The Academy of Sciences has records. You can check."

The interrogator fell into Silence for a few seconds, then changed the subject.

"During your detention, did anyone from the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance make contact with you? Did anyone come to speak with you?"

Tuowake shook his head.

"No. I was just locked up. No one came to see me."

The interrogator asked.

"Did they ever propose cooperation? Did they ever hint that if you were willing to cooperate, you could be released early?"

Tuowake's expression became somewhat unpleasant.

"No. Nothing at all. They didn't even know who I was. In their eyes, we were just a group of Alien Diplomats. Not worth a second glance."

"Academician Tuowake, one last question."

Tuowake looked at him.

"Why do you think the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance released you?"

Tuowake remained in Silence for a long time.

Then he said.

"Because they didn't need us. They had already obtained what they wanted at the negotiating table. We were just an add-on, dispensable."

"You may go. Get some good rest these next few days. The Academy of Sciences will notify you of your new work arrangements."

Tuowake stood up and walked out of the room.

In the hallway, he saw Aolana waiting.

"How did it go?"

Aolana asked.

Tuowake nodded.

"It's fine. Just standard questioning."

The two walked toward the elevator together.

When the elevator doors opened, Tuowake said in a low voice.

"They don't trust us."

Aolana looked at him.

"How do you know?"

Tuowake stepped into the elevator.

"Because the questions they asked were all ones we had already answered. They weren't looking for answers; they were verifying them."

"Indeed."

The elevator doors closed.

That same afternoon, in the office of the Diplomatic Commissioner.

Kewake sat at the desk, with two reports in front of him: the screening results for Aolana and Tuowake.

Zuola sat opposite him, expression calm.

"How is it?"

Kewake asked.

Zuola said.

"No issues. Their answers are consistent, logically self-consistent, and their emotional responses are normal. Physiological monitoring also shows no abnormalities. They are still the same as they were."

Kewake leaned back in his chair.

"Are you sure?"

Zuola nodded.

"Sure. The Intelligence Department has the most advanced lie-detection technology. If they were hiding anything, we would certainly have discovered it."

Kewake fell into Silence for a few seconds.

"Then let them be reinstated to their original posts. Aolana will continue working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Tuowake will return to the Academy of Sciences."

Zuola asked.

"What about the others?"

Kewake said.

"The same. Those who should return to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will return to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, those who should return to the research institutes will return to the research institutes, and those who should return to the schools will return to the schools. They have been locked up for so long; it is time to let them return to their normal lives."

Zuola nodded.

"Understood."

Three days later, Aolana received a notification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Reinstated to original position, effective immediately.

She put on her uniform and walked out the door.

Her mother stood at the doorway, her eyes full of relief.

"Work hard."

Aolana nodded.

"I will."

She walked toward the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building.

At the entrance of the building, Latin was waiting for her.

"Ms. Aolana, welcome back."

Aolana nodded.

"Latin, you have worked hard during this time."

Latin shook his head.

"It was no trouble. It is good that you are back."

The two walked into the building together.

Aolana's office was on the third floor, with the window facing the direction of the Academy of Sciences.

The documents on the desk were stacked neatly, clearly having been organized by someone for her.

She sat down and looked at the familiar furnishings: the pen holder, the holographic photo frame.

On the same day, at the Academy of Sciences.

Tuowake walked into his laboratory.

Kelin was waiting for him inside.

"Teacher! You are finally back!"

Tuowake nodded.

"I am back. During this time, has there been any progress in the research?"

Kelin shook his head.

"None. With you gone, no one knew what to do."

Tuowake smiled.

"Then we shall start from the beginning."

He put on his lab coat and walked to the workbench.

"Bring me the recent data. I want to see how much we have fallen behind."

Kelin ran excitedly to get the Data Pad.

Tuowake stood before the workbench, looking at the familiar instruments and equipment.

The corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

"Let's begin."