Extraterrestrial demons invaded; I laid the groundwork eight years in advance.

Federal District of Columbia

It's raining outside the window.

The rain was light, fine and persistent, pattering against the French windows of the study, flowing down the glass and blurring the street scene outside into a hazy gray-green.

Aiden Black sat at his desk, his computer displaying a half-finished environmental proposal.

The cursor had been flashing on the screen for a long time, but he didn't type another word.

Aiden glanced at the news notification in the lower right corner of his computer screen—with the presidential election approaching, the two candidates' approval ratings were neck and neck. One was touting in a television interview that "relaxing environmental regulations is the only way to stimulate the economy," while the other gave only a five-word response to a public welfare topic: "We will look into it."

"Research."

"Another research project."

Aiden slammed his fist on the table, making a short, dull thud.

He glanced at the document beside him; it was the previous environmental proposal, which had seemingly vanished without a trace after being submitted.

This time it will probably be the same. After it's written, it will be sent to Congress, then swallowed by some committee's drawer, and then it will be dug up during the next election and someone will say, "Look, we've considered environmental issues"—and then it will be shelved again.

He remembered when he was twelve years old.

The Flint River in his hometown was once crystal clear, holding memories of his childhood with his father.

Later, a chemical plant was built in the town, and the river water slowly turned into a strange orange-red color. The fish disappeared, and the reeds on the banks began to wither and die in large swaths.

Later, the drinking water was contaminated, and many residents became unwell, including his father. His father was sent to the hospital, but died just three days later due to rapid organ failure.

What is most infuriating are those unscrupulous businessmen who collude with government officials to deny polluting the water source. In the end, they are only ordered by the government to rectify the situation, and then resume production as usual.

It was then that Aiden learned one thing—some things, if no one protects them for you, will disappear.

Those who are capable of protecting them have never appeared where they should be.

The study door was pushed open a crack, and a small head peeked in.

  

"Dad, Mom is asking what you want for dinner."

Aiden turned his head and saw his daughter Mia leaning against the door frame, clutching a colored pencil in her hand.

His expression relaxed a bit: "Pasta, please."

"Mom said she's not making pasta tonight; we just had it yesterday."

"Then...can you help me choose one?"

Lily tilted her head and thought for a moment: "Pizza?"

"Okay, pizza it is then."

Mia turned away with satisfaction and closed the door.

Footsteps pattered down the hallway, followed by the sound of her talking to her wife, Claire.

Aiden looked out the window again.

The sky was a little darker than before, and the streetlights came on, casting warm yellow halos in the mist.

In the distance, the dome of the Capitol Building blurred into a dark silhouette in the rain—a hearing was being held there regarding the allocation of budgets for the next fiscal year.

He knew the outcome of that hearing even without thinking: an increase in defense spending and a cut in environmental funding.

It's the same every year.

Just as he was about to look away, a black SUV turned the corner and stopped in front of his house.

Then came the second and third vehicles—a total of four SUVs, all painted black, without any markings, with dark tinted windows, making it impossible to see who was inside. However, judging from the license plates, they were likely high-ranking government officials.

He frowned slightly.

In the rain and fog, the doors of the four cars opened almost simultaneously.

The first to get out were several men in dark suits. They were muscular and moved nimbly. After getting out of the car, they quickly scanned the surroundings and only opened the back door of the middle car after confirming that it was safe.

A black high heel stepped out, landing on the wet pavement.

Lilith stepped out of the car—her long, wine-red hair stood out starkly in the rain and mist. She was still wearing a sharp, dark gray suit, the lapels slightly open, revealing a white lining underneath.

She stood in the rain without an umbrella, the raindrops falling on her shoulders, but she didn't care at all.

Lilith looked up at Aiden's house, her gaze lingering for a moment on the study window.

Through the rain and glass, Aiden couldn't see her face, but he could sense that the woman was looking at him.

He stood up and walked to the window.

The woman had already turned her gaze away and was walking towards his front door, followed by two bodyguards, one on each side, their steps perfectly synchronized.

The doorbell rang.

Aiden opened the study door, and Claire just came out of the kitchen and looked at Aiden.

Aiden didn't explain, but just winked at the door. Claire didn't ask any more questions and turned to open the door.

Aiden returned to his desk and heard the door open, followed by a brief conversation between Claire and someone—their voices were low and the content was unclear.

Then Claire's voice became clearer: "He's in the study, please come in."

Immediately afterwards, the sound of high heels hitting the floor grew louder as it approached, then stopped outside the door.

The study door was pushed open, Claire stepped aside, and Lilith walked in.

"Honey, this lady is from the government and says she needs to speak with you about work."

Aiden stood up and nodded: "Claire, you go out first. I want to talk to this lady alone."

Before leaving, Claire glanced back at Aiden with a question in her eyes, but said nothing and gently closed the door.

The study was quiet for a moment.

Aiden looked at the woman in front of him. Her long, wine-red hair gleamed dimly under the light. She was tall, with delicate features and a natural sharpness in her eyes.

He noticed that the woman had just walked in from the rain, but there wasn't a single drop of water on her. His gaze sharpened slightly.

"Mr. Black," Lilith began, her voice not loud, but carrying a natural sense of control, "I've heard so much about you."

Aiden stood still, not moving. "Who are you?"

"You can call me Lilith."

She took two steps forward, but didn't reach out; she simply stood opposite him.

"I am the chief advisor of the Federal Department of Defense, responsible for intelligence and strategic planning, but I am not here to see you in that capacity, but in another."

"What is your identity?"

"Someone who wants to help you accomplish something."

Lilith didn't wait for his response, but instead sat down in the chair opposite the desk, her posture calm and composed, as if she were in her own office.

She glanced at the proposal Aiden had submitted last time on the table, her gaze lingering on the title for a moment.

"The Federal Renewable Resources Conservation and Sustainable Use Act—I've read it, it's well written, but if it goes to Congress, it will die in the first round of voting."

Aiden did not refute.

Lilith continued, "It would be postponed because of 'insufficient budget,' then brought up again at the next session, and finally revised into a compromise version that neither party is satisfied with during the bipartisan wrangling, before being shelved again."

"By this time next year, it will become a 'historical archive,' and no one but you will ever open it again."

Aiden's fingers tightened slightly: "So that's what you came to tell me?"

"I'm here to tell you that it can be approved, and at a speed you can't imagine."

Lilith looked at Aiden, her voice filled with certainty.