Chapter 292: Winds of Change (Part 7)

Just as Li Boyong was talking to the director, the three of them, including Sting, who had just finished their "maintenance," walked out of the maintenance room.

"Neo!"

The little ditz, still feeling groggy, happily pounced on Li Boyong the moment she saw him. Li Boyong habitually hugged her and gave her a head pat, a practiced cat-petting motion.

"Yo, Neo, I'm in top form right now. Hurry up and let me carry out the next mission."

Sting stood proudly with his hands in his pockets. Always considering himself second only to Neo in the Phantom Pain, his recent performance in the Gundam fleet operations hadn't been the best, which put a lot of pressure on him.

"Don't worry, the next operation will definitely satisfy you. Before that, hold back a little."

Li Boyong petted the "cat" while throwing the topic to Auel. "Looking around as soon as you come out, are you looking for 'Mom' again?"

The "Mom" here was actually a female nurse who had taken good care of Auel in the Enhanced Human facility; over time, she had become "Mom" in Auel's words.

During the previous rescue operation, although that nurse had suffered some minor skin injuries, she had luckily survived.

"Shut up, none of your business!"

Auel became shy for once and raised his voice to cover it up. "I'm hungry, I'm going to find something to eat."

Saying this, Auel turned his head and trotted away, nine times out of ten to find "Mom."

"Tch, that guy is really a kid who never grows up."

Sting muttered at Auel's back, his tone filled with a bit of envy.

"Do you want me to pick a 'Mom' for you from the remaining nurses?" Li Boyong teased him casually.

"Cut the crap..." Sting clicked his tongue and looked at the little ditz snuggled in Li Boyong's arms, saying softly, "Unlike her and Auel, I just need to be strong enough. As long as I'm strong enough, I can survive."

Hey, hey, is it really okay to suddenly set such a FLAG?

Li Boyong complained internally, but smiled on the surface. "Thinking that way isn't wrong in essence, but in the future, you might encounter situations that can't be judged simply by strength. I hope you can calm down and change your way of thinking when the time comes."

He was referring to the things Sting and the others might encounter after returning to normal society in the future.

He hadn't expected them to understand immediately, only hoping they would consider more when things happened in the future. After all, Sting was already the most mature thinker in the trio.

But Sting saw through Li Boyong's thoughts and said bluntly, "You don't really think we can return to so-called normal society, do you?"

Sting raised his hands, his face showing ferocity. "Tools of murder like us have long had nowhere to return to!"

After a pause, he pointed at the little ditz. "Look at her; do you think she can leave you?"

Perhaps it was precisely because he had more mature thoughts that he understood what they would have to face after returning to so-called normal society, which was why he was so resistant and lacked confidence.

People like Stella and Auel probably wouldn't think about anything and would just do as Li Boyong instructed.

"Forget it, it's too early to talk about this." Seeing the surprised expression on Li Boyong's face, Sting waved his hand. "Wait until I've killed all the masterminds who wantonly toyed with our bodies and minds, then we can talk about these things."

"We have to pay them back properly for all the suffering we've endured over the years!" After a pause, Sting turned and left, saying softly, "I'm still more used to seeing you wearing a mask."

"Sting?" Watching Sting leave, the little ditz in Li Boyong's arms tilted her head in confusion. "Is Sting angry?"

"No, he's just a bit lost. He'll be fine after a while," Li Boyong explained, petting Stella's golden hair.

As a typical representative of the "persecuted children" in Li Boyong's speech to the whole world, it was perfectly normal for someone as sensitive as Sting to have a change in mindset after hearing Li Boyong's speech.

"Lost?" Stella still looked puzzled.

Seeing her confused look, Li Boyong affectionately flicked her nose, thinking of Sting's words.

Yeah, can they really integrate into the society of normal people?

Perhaps it was just my wishful thinking...

But if not this, then what?

After all, I can't stay in this world forever...

————

At the same time, on a plain in Eastern Europe.

An Earth Federation Bonaparte-class land battleship slowly sailed out of an underground base, heading toward Berlin.

On the bridge of the Bonaparte, Lieutenant Colonel Joaquin, who held the second-highest rank in the Phantom Pain after Li Boyong, was talking to the leader of Logos, Lord Djibril.

"You should know that this operation is not allowed to fail. The flames of rebellion cannot be allowed to burn any brighter. Use whatever means necessary to control the situation. The regular army will also fully cooperate with your suppression operation."

Facing the dog he kept, the greasy-haired Lord Djibril scolded him unceremoniously. Li Boyong's speech and the chaos of the situation had already caused this Logos leader to lose his composure.

"Yes, I understand."

The pot-bellied Lieutenant Colonel Joaquin nodded and bowed in agreement, then showed a hint of hesitation. "According to intelligence, that traitor is very likely to come and stir up trouble..."

"Then use the thing I gave you to kill him!"

At the mention of Li Boyong, Djibril completely broke down. He didn't even want to pet his cat anymore, jumping up from his "throne" and raising his voice eight octaves. "And those little traitors following him, clean them all up without leaving a single one!"

"Yes, mission will be accomplished." Lieutenant Colonel Joaquin nodded and bowed at a steady frequency, looking very accustomed to it.

It seemed that Joaquin's respectful manner made Djibril feel a bit more comfortable. He snorted coldly and sat back in his seat, his tone returning to its usual composure. "Then, do your job well. I've already prepared the appointment letter for Major General for you; it just depends on whether you have the chance to grab it."

Hearing the promised reward from above, Lieutenant Colonel Joaquin felt a fire in his heart, and even his breathing became a bit heavy.

This was a Major General of the Phantom Pain, which was on a completely different level from a Major General of the regular army.

Thinking of the power he was about to obtain, Lieutenant Colonel Joaquin gave the screen the most standard military salute of his life. "Guarantee mission accomplishment."

It's just that Djibril seemed to have cut off the communication after saying what he wanted to say and didn't see the somewhat comical military posture of this pot-bellied middle-aged soldier.

Ignoring the awkward situation of being ignored, Lieutenant Colonel Joaquin sat in his command seat with high spirits and waved his hand. "Pass the order, the whole army advances, target Berlin!"

The adjutant beside him secretly rolled his eyes and repeated the order helplessly.

In fact, the assembly and advance of the troops had long been carried out in an orderly manner under the arrangement of the staff department. Their commander was just showing off.

But what could be done?

Under someone else's roof, one has to cooperate... ===== CHAPTER 293 =====