Terra Tinkers Construct is fine.

Here's a joke: Wearing sunglasses has at least one advantage: when your eyes are darting around, it's hard for others to see your eyes clearly. Milan was still in school when she heard this joke, and now she's a gangster boss leading gangs. It makes you realize that time really is like a bag of pig feed.

—And that old bastard Ace's eyes are definitely not behaving properly right now.

He'd bet 500 Lungmen dollars.

But it doesn't matter—Milan, who also guessed the reason for Amiya's appearance, didn't care either; he tilted his head and smiled, "I really can't be polite with Rhodes Island, so everyone can just make yourselves at home; come with me, let's sit down and talk."

As he spoke, he made a gesture, and to the surprise of Ace and the Rhodes Island operators, the white-armored canned members left the scene one by one, dispersing in different directions according to their respective teams, leaving their leader alone in front of them.

"Mr. Jung?"

Ace was stunned for a moment, not understanding what was going on; Amiya, who had come to her senses, was also surprised and subconsciously asked, "Aren't you worried about this?"

Do I look like someone you need to worry about?

Milan chuckled to himself.

Chapter 88 Amiya

Do I look like someone you need to worry about?

Despite having dismissed his subordinates and being without any weapons, equipment, or spellcasting units, the young man before them spoke with such ease. Ace and Amiya exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes: how could someone of a different race lead a group including infected individuals to establish a foothold in an area in a border city like Chernobog, on the other hand?

Even they could guess the complexity involved, and it was definitely not something a naive and innocent person could do—but why did he still do such a thing in front of them when his side had more manpower?

Is it simply to express goodwill and trust?

That would be too naive, wouldn't it?

"Forget about Amiya, Ace, you seem to have a subtle misunderstanding."

Milan led the way again. The area he had worked on for a long time wasn't very large. In one area, he had set up a wooden staircase as a table and laid out a wooden step as a rest area, which was covered with a wool carpet. The Rhodes Island group could see that in the distance, there were carcasses of livestock hanging and being processed, while closer by, there was a stone stove with a large pot on it bubbling and steaming.

It's a scene full of warmth and life. Although it's simple, just looking at it gives you a sense of relaxation, which contrasts sharply with the metallic style of the outer power layer.

"The confidence to play with ease at the poker table comes from having a winning hand."

But Milan's words left Ace and Amiya speechless for a moment.

They saw that Milan, who didn't seem to have any "strong aura," acted like a homebody, taking paper cups out of a square wooden bucket and placing them on the table, then taking out a kettle about the same size as the bucket, pouring water for himself, and sitting down.

He said it casually:

"Including those of you who are here, Logos who probably didn't come, Scout who probably came but isn't here, and Ascalon who I don't know if he's here or not."

“If I really wanted to do something, all of you combined couldn’t stop me or take me down… Is there any possibility that I could have surrounded you all, Ace?”

He spoke so calmly, and even after sitting down, he smiled at them with a smug look in his eyes.

—This guy is such a show-off.

This is the sentiment of many agents who, even those who know the rules and understand that this is not a place for speaking carelessly, can't help but silently complain in their hearts.

But Ace and Amiya didn't feel that way.

"...What are you saying? I don't understand."

Ace gave an awkward smile.

For the members of Amiya Squad and Ace Squad, Logos and Scout are not unfamiliar names—both are elite operators who are considered high-ranking members of Rhodes Island. The former is a male Banshee and the head of Rhodes Island's casters. He looks aloof, but once you get to know him, everyone knows he's a funny and handsome guy. The latter is Rhodes Island's sniper and a master of reconnaissance in the intelligence department.

What kind of serious people could possibly win the "office swivel chair speed race" and take first and second place? So much so that the second name, though unheard of, must be an elite operator who doesn't often stay at headquarters to be ranked alongside the other two?

That's what they all thought.

Only Amiya and Ace, who had the necessary permissions, knew what this name, casually uttered by Milan, meant: both were members who had served Rhodes Island's predecessor organization before its establishment; Logos was the heir to the Banshee's Court; his normal speech possessed the power of curses; he was outside the circle of Sarkaz personnel of a certain high level, and there was absolutely no reason for him to be known by outsiders... even his name was protected by the Banshee's curse.

The latter wasn't due to his high-level background—it was just that, as a legendary Sarkaz mercenary, the reconnaissance master was no different from other mercenaries when he was out in the field. His name was just a code name that he could use and discard at will. It was only after he became an elite operator of Rhodes Island that he adopted the name Scout for his current identity.

Once outside of Rhodes Island, no one should know—so the man's claim of "having dealings with Rhodes Island" is definitely not as nonchalant as he makes it sound.

Not to mention the name that even members of the elite operator squad were unfamiliar with... To put it bluntly, the mere fact that that name was recognized was enough to cause a strong shock to Rhodes Island's intelligence and security system.

"It seems Ascalon isn't here... Kal'tsit didn't come along for something like this, so it seems Rhodes Island is in pretty bad shape too."

Milan looked at Ace's embarrassed expression with interest, shook her head, and said, "Speaking of which, Kal'tsit is really something. I can understand that she may have some difficulties making decisions in certain aspects, but Rhodes Island can't really have squandered its previous wealth in just two or three years, can it?"

"What has she accomplished all these years?"

"If we don't pull the Doctor out of this mess, Rhodes Island won't even be able to pay salaries in two years, will it?"

Ace: "..."

Amiya: “…”

Milan's complaints were heartfelt.

If any player were to transmigrate into the game, they would likely have to say something like this about the mess they inherited after "waking up": Some things you can't scrutinize too closely. After all, sometimes a detail that the writers didn't pay attention to becomes a surprising and frustrating problem when it comes to reality.

For example, just how useless is Kal'tsit, who has lived for ten thousand years, in areas other than medicine? It's only been a short time since Babel became Rhodes Island, and it already seems like it's almost impossible to continue operating.

But no matter how tactfully he put it, the two people in front of him could still hear the word "useless" that Milan kept repeating. There was no doubt about Milan's familiarity with Rhodes Island at this point. His familiarity with the island was so great that they subconsciously wondered, "Is this guy a colleague from the Tower of Babel era?"—which made Ace cough a few times and turn his face away.

"Why are you coughing? Kal'tsit doesn't pay me, so I can't even say a few words to her?"

Milan gave a slight smirk.

“…Um, Mr. Jung?”

At this moment, it was no longer Ace who took over the conversation, but Amiya—the little girl chuckled, and then, under the gaze of Ace and the other operators, she no longer maintained her formal demeanor, but stepped out of Ace's protection and sat down opposite Milan.

The wooden steps were covered with a thick white wool carpet, which felt soft to the touch when you sat on it, eliciting a cute exclamation of surprise from the little girl.

But then she blinked, and instead of using formal, businesslike language, she said crisply, "I have a question."

“You seem to know a lot about us, about the Doctor, about Dr. Kal'tsit, and about Rhodes Island, but we have never met you.”

"Hmm! At least in my memory, I've never seen you before... Could you please answer this question for me?"

Amiya...

The others thought it might be a negotiation tactic, but only Ace knew the seriousness of the matter, and her worried eyes were visible behind her sunglasses; Amiya's long rabbit ears stood up and swayed, and her eyes were undisguised, filled with confusion and curiosity.

—Amiya…

Milan met the girl's eyes, paused for a moment, and said in his still calm tone, "Although I don't know what you saw in me... How come you've recovered so quickly?"

"Um……"

Amiya shook her head: "That's not how it works, Mr. Jung. Although it may not be very convincing to say this, I did not use that power on you."

"I was just a little surprised just now, because the response I felt from you was different from that of most people I've met."

"Yeah."

Milan raised an eyebrow: "Kal'tsit told you?"

"Dr. Kal'tsit did indeed warn me that, but that power may not be as strong as you think, and my upbringing also taught me that I should not touch other people's hearts without reason."

"It's polite."

"...So, you didn't glean any hidden information from me, and you're willing to just sit here like this?"

Milan's voice was devoid of emotion, just as his expression was calm and composed: "I'll return your previous words exactly as they were—aren't you worried at all that what I said is true?"

The two stared at each other, Ace standing behind Amiya, and the Rhodes Island operators behind them, who were completely lost due to the lack of known information, fell silent for a moment—even they could feel the heavy atmosphere, so much so that they subconsciously became quiet.

After a brief pause, Amiya burst into laughter.

"Sometimes, compared to that incredible power, I still think that understanding between people is more appropriate in ordinary ways."

"And Mr. Jung, although it may be a bit rude to say this, your expression right now makes me feel even more at ease."

Looking at Milan's inherently complex expression, and behind that seemingly distant and aloof gaze—a look that seemed to be looking at her yet also at more than just herself, a mixture of unfamiliarity, familiarity, nostalgia, and pity—the young girl seemed to breathe a huge sigh of relief. In front of Milan, whom she was meeting for the first time, she revealed a smiling expression befitting a young girl, rather than that of a CEO of Rhodes Island.

“When I was very young, and only when I was with the doctor, he sometimes looked at me like this.”

—Amiya…

Milan opened her mouth, but in the end, she laughed softly as if she had figured out something ridiculous. The laughter grew louder and louder, and it took her a long time to calm down.

"Mr. Jung?"

If Ace hadn't been in control of the team, and if Amiya's interactions with the other party hadn't been so clearly predictable—their conversations looked like those of a madman—the Rhodes Island operators, who were mostly young, might have already lost their temper.

Amiya didn't speak until Milan's laughter stopped—and then she saw Milan wave her hand, interrupting her.

Milan.

"Jung is just a temporary pseudonym; just call me Milan."

"Let's skip the rest of the pleasantries for now. After this incident, I will lead a team to Rhodes Island to formally negotiate with Kal'tsit. We can discuss other issues then."

"So...Ace, sit down."

Milan, who seemed like a completely different person, curled the corners of his mouth and showed his decisive side: he called out to Ace, but his hands did not stop. Instead, he reached directly into the square wooden barrel and pulled out a rolled-up blueprint that was taller than the barrel.

Ace didn't sit down, and even Amiya stood up, but Milan didn't care—the drawing in his hand was spread out on the table; it was an enlarged ground plan of the Chernobog thirteen plots, marked with different colors.

Milan simply stated, "Let's get to the conclusion first."

“I know why you have come—Chernobyl Energy Institute, Sarcophagus, Doctor.”

Despite being mentally prepared, Amiya and Ace were still a little nervous to hear this secret being revealed so calmly by a stranger.

But Milan patted the map and continued, "Don't worry, like I said, if I really wanted to do something, I would have done it already. It's precisely because I don't intend to do anything detrimental that we are meeting now."

"We share the same goal: to ensure the Doctor's safe arrival at Rhodes Island."

Ace: "..."

Is it really okay to just not ask any questions?

Amiya: “…”

—Let's leave it at that for now. I'm willing to believe this person... Besides, isn't it our job to try every means to obtain intelligence locally and ensure that the doctor's rescue plan is as comprehensive as possible?

The two exchanged opinions discreetly and realized that Amiya had made a decision. The mature and prudent Ace no longer objected and instead focused his energy on his duties as a guard and tactical commander.

He looked at the map, while Milan continued to point out the plans: "There's still time. Block 13 is basically under my control. The military and police are being harassed by the Reunification Movement, but I've already given them things to do. They won't have time to wander around."

“Azazel and I have limited medical resources. If it weren’t for that, I could have sent the Doctor out earlier and waited here safely to meet with Rhodes Island. So you need to be prepared in advance, not only for the personnel carrying out the operation, but also for medical emergency personnel.”

"Don't worry about the routes in and out. If the main channels are blocked, just go through me. Don't worry about the routes or how high the visibility is. There's a road from me to Azazel, and from Azazel to the research institute is just one block away... It depends on the situation. If all else fails, I can just dig out a road."

Either don't do it at all, or if you do, do it quickly and decisively—Milan, making his decision with clarity and logic, quickly presented all the necessary information for the rescue operation; finally, seeing the thoughtful expressions on their faces, he added:

“I know you had a plan, but reality is different from your expectations. The situation is out of control now. We must act quickly, at least before the Reunion Movement breaks through here and before the natural disaster strikes on the 23rd. Otherwise, things will change.”

Chapter 89 - Unexpected Situation (3/80)

"A natural disaster?"

Ace frowned, a thoughtful expression on his face: "But Chernobog did not issue a natural disaster warning."

"Does Rhodes Island believe Chernobog, or do you believe your ship's Cataclysmic Messenger? This kind of high-altitude ash cloud phenomenon has been going on for a long time. I don't believe that Rhodes Island's Cataclysmic Messenger is incompetent."

Milan chuckled, not delving into the topic further; Amiya, however, picked up on another key phrase and asked, "Then, Mr. Milan, what's the situation with the Reunion Movement?"

"They are the enemy."

Milan's voice was calm. He glanced at Amiya's serious expression and softened his tone as he explained, "The Reunion Movement is a special case, but they are just a branch in this operation. If they don't make any moves, then we'll ignore them. But if they appear during the operation, then they are definitely the enemy."

“Amiya, I don’t object to your desire to know more and take on more responsibility; but there’s a premise you should also be aware of: we have common bottom-line goals that we need to ensure.”

“…I understand, Mr. Milan.”

Amiya bit her lip and hesitated for a moment, but still showed a determined expression; seeing this, Milan smiled and said, "But actually, there's no need to worry too much about them."

"My actions should be relatively low-key, and there shouldn't be anything particularly noteworthy in Block 13 itself; barring any unforeseen circumstances, those who will be wandering around here until the very last minute should just be some lackeys."

Milan's words were not unfounded: firstly, according to the game's plot he remembered, even though the Reunion Movement had already begun a full-scale offensive, the time when they actually reached the research institute was exactly the day that the Rhodes Island group arrived at the institute, which was the day the catastrophe struck.

It was as if fate had turned the gears to that point, forcing them to meet and forcing the doctor to begin to understand this land anew by facing a tragedy.

Even considering the impact of his arrival, the butterfly effect he brought—the more butterfly-like aspects are hard to say, but if we only consider the rationality, Milan doesn't think they did anything that would cause this area to become a target of the Integration Movement.

Black Serpent's target is the core city of Chernobog. Theoretically, if she controls the core city and waits for the natural disaster to strike, she should have already achieved her goal. As for Milan, the so-called large force of the Reunion Movement has little impact, and few of its cadres can pose a threat to him.

He has a very high tolerance for error, which is why this statement is made.

However, as if mocking his judgment, before he could even finish speaking...

--boom!

The deafening roar of the explosion suddenly came from outside the stone wall, the intense tremor even shaking the dust off the ceiling; then roars and shouts and the clanging of weapons followed, clearly indicating that a sudden battle had broken out.

The relaxed atmosphere vanished instantly. Ace instinctively stepped aside to protect Amiya, and the Rhodes Island team members quickly went on alert—their actions were professional, but also subtly wary of Milan.