"Sapphire City hasn't been peaceful lately, Brother."
Natasha avoided the heavy and dwelled on the light, choosing a broader but also true reason. "There are some... inexplicable violent incidents and abnormal phenomena.
"Officials have strengthened control, but some threats require more professional means... Heliopolis Life Sciences Pharmaceutical has the responsibility to protect important assets and personnel safety."
This time, she attributed the equipment mobilization to the response to "abnormal public security," which was equally reasonable and faintly matched recent official movements.
"Inexplicable anomalies..."
'Vakh's' brows furrowed slightly again. This time, his face showed more obvious confusion and contemplation, as if Natasha's words touched some of his fragmented "memories."
"Violent incidents... repeated nightmares... and you, Natasha. Your action pattern carries a kind of... prophetic targeting.
"Just like you know when and where certain things will happen, so you arrange in advance."
His gaze became sharper and sharper, and his voice lowered a few notches.
"Tell me, Natasha... did you... also dream of something? About disaster, about loops, about... some 'future' fragments that shouldn't exist but feel unusually real?"
It's here!
This question directly touched the core of the "loop"! Natasha felt the chill on her back even more.
The Herrscher of Evolution not only perceived anomalies but even began to actively connect fragmented loop memories with the current situation, and suspected that Natasha also had similar "experiences"...
No!
This wasn't an interrogation... The other party gave Natasha an excuse and a step to "go down the slope"!
"Dream?" Natasha showed bewilderment and worry just right on her face. "Brother, what exactly are you talking about? Is the research pressure too much recently? Or are you feeling unwell somewhere?
"Those dreams... sound scary." She chose to play dumb, throwing the question back to the other party, while expressing concern for "Vakh's" health—this was the most natural reaction for a sister, and could also soften the aggression the other party might generate due to suspicion to a certain extent.
And more importantly—she was trying to focus the discussion of both sides on "dreams."
Whether it was physical discomfort or the content of dreams, the communication itself concentrated here, not... her anomaly.
The game was fiercely conducted in the silent air.
Every answer from Natasha was carefully considered, logical, and as much as possible not providing clues that could piece together the truth.
And the Herrscher of Evolution was like the most patient puzzle solver, extracting information bit by bit from her wording, demeanor, and avoided points.
It inferred from Natasha's frank explanation of commercial competition that "interest focus" was real and intense.
From her mention of public security issues, combined with its own perception, it confirmed the existence of "non-daily anomalies."
From her description of mobilizing City of the Future-level resources, it speculated that the threat level might be high, and she might have special support behind her.
Most importantly, from her guidance on its "dream" question...
The Herrscher of Evolution could almost conclude—Natasha knew something, and she was deliberately concealing information about "repetition" or "prophecy."
This concealment almost touched his reverse scale... Those bad memories surged up, those dangers that could appear at any time, those gun lines that might exist in every corner...
Unknown... He hated the unknown.
Silence descended again.
'Vakh's' gaze was like substance, moving slowly on Natasha's face, as if to read the trembling of every nerve under her skin.
Natasha forced herself to look at him, trying not to let her eyes flicker, while diverting part of her attention to the sounds of the surrounding environment—
The front hall... seemed to have erupted in turmoil. Faint exclamations and running sounds could be heard.
Time... she needed more time.
Just when the atmosphere was tense to near solidification, and Natasha could almost hear the pulsing of blood vessels in her temples, the inquisitiveness and sharpness on 'Vakh's' face suddenly receded slowly like a tide.
Replacing it was a deeper, more complex emotion.
Mixed with Vakh-style worry, fatigue, and a trace of... cold understanding unique to the Herrscher of Evolution.
He retreated half a step slightly, widening that suffocating distance.
The expression on his face slowly softened from that near "torture" focus just now, returning to the helplessness and concern Natasha was more familiar with when a brother looked at a sister who seemed to be in trouble.
"Natasha..." After a long gaze, he sighed softly, his voice becoming low and hoarse again, carrying a fatigue that seemed never to be waved away.
"I know you've grown up, have your own judgment, and have to bear many things...
"I... might indeed be a bit tired, thinking too much."
His gaze fell on Natasha's still tense shoulders and clenched fists, a trace of almost imperceptible... flashing in his eyes.
Compromise—
Or intolerance.
"If... if you really feel that some things must be done, some risks must be taken..."
He paused, as if choosing words, and finally said slowly in a volume close to a whisper, "Then... do it the way you think is right.
"Protect that child well, and... protect yourself well too."
After speaking, he didn't look into Natasha's eyes again, just turned around, and along the corridor he came from, with slightly heavy steps, slowly left.
That back was still familiar, but seemed shrouded behind an invisible membrane.
Not until 'Vakh's' figure completely disappeared at the end of the corridor did Natasha suddenly relax, her back heavily leaning against the cold wall, gasping for breath, cold sweat soaking her inner lining.
The danger and consumption of that short few minutes of conversation just now were no less than a fierce battle.
The Herrscher of Evolution... how much did It know exactly?
And those last words... what were they?
Was it a temporary "release" based on some calculation... or...
A miracle?
Whatever it was, at least it was good news so far.
It didn't tear off the face, nor did It forcibly investigate.
Natasha didn't have time to think carefully.
The commotion in the front hall was rapidly expanding, mixed with the loud noise of shattering glass and some heavy impact sound—
Arahato, had appeared!
She gritted her teeth, forcibly suppressed the stormy waves and countless questions in her heart, and sprinted towards the control center.
The plan must continue, no matter how big a variable this suddenly appearing "brother" brought.
What she could do now was to trust the progress on Fu Hua's side, trust Kallen and Joachim's execution, and then, do her best to complete her mission in this "hurricane."
As for the Herrscher of Evolution...
Could only temporarily list It as the highest level unknown threat, leaving it for later...
If there was a "later"...