The intense argument miraculously came to an abrupt stop. Eugene, who had stubbornly opposed the arrangement, seemed to finally be persuaded and tacitly accepted Luo Hai’s participation in the plan.
The three of them continued discussing many details, and it wasn’t until late at night that the conversation ended.
Shelley Manta gave Luo Hai a strong contrast in impression. This famous “father of the internet” was always very low-key, refusing to reveal any personal information about himself, nor did he accept any form of interviews or meetings. Therefore, although Shelley Manta’s name had been at the top of the Nantes rich list for years, no one knew where he lived or who his family members were.
Luo Hai’s impression of him had always been mysterious, aloof, and wealthy, even feeling that such a person was from a completely different world from theirs. However, he never expected the real Mr. Manta to not only be approachable but also quite humorous and surprisingly knowledgeable about the struggles of the lower class.
“Light is freedom, wings are freedom. When I first chose this name, it was just a wish that the Omegas suffering all over the world could have a small refuge. But I’m getting old and no longer have the energy to continue fighting this world. Eugene, however, is different. He and you are like the sun rising on the horizon of the new world. Nothing can block your brilliance.”
With that, the old man pulled out a piece of cotton candy from a drawer and handed it to Luo Hai, smiling and saying, “This is good. It reminds me of when I was young. The road ahead is tough, and it’s hard to walk it alone.”
Luo Hai took the cotton candy from the old man’s hand, and his gaze unconsciously moved to the old man’s neck. The glands there were no longer prominent, but the scars from the mark were still clearly visible.
“You… had a partner like Eugene and me?” Luo Hai whispered, suddenly unsure of how to describe the relationship between him and Eugene.
“A partner?” The old man smiled and pointed it out. “Yes. He’s always been with me on a long journey. Without him, I probably would have ended my life when I was very young, and never have witnessed the miracles of this era.”
As he spoke, the old man’s gaze softened. “Sometimes, I really wish he could be here with me now, to give me some courage and strength to face the upcoming turmoil and changes.”
The atmosphere suddenly became a bit heavy. Luo Hai didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t good at comforting others and didn’t know how to express his own feelings. As he wracked his brain thinking of a way to comfort the old man, the old man suddenly laughed out loud.
“Did I fool you? He’s actually managing a vineyard business in Marwen. He doesn’t have time to come here with me. Don’t worry, with his health, he’ll live at least another decade or more.”
Luo Hai suddenly felt awkward. Eugene had already packed his things, and with the completed notes, he walked over.
“Don’t tease him, he can’t take a joke. He’ll blush and be embarrassed for the whole day.”
That was really spreading rumors in front of him. Luo Hai glared at Eugene, but the latter just pretended not to see.
Soon, he and Eugene escorted the old man to the hotel entrance. A black stretch limousine was parked outside, and four bodyguards and assistants simultaneously got out of the car and quickly helped the old man into it.
Luo Hai and Eugene watched the old man’s car disappear from sight. Neither of them spoke first. The night was already very deep, and the whole city was asleep. Only the moon and stars emitted a faint glow in the sky, and everything merged into the endless dark sky.
“I never would have guessed that Lightwing is actually backed by Manta Technologies,” Luo Hai said quietly. “The authorities underestimated you guys. The information the prosecutor’s office received doesn’t even account for one-tenth of your actual power. Now it seems, your goals aren’t just empty talk, but could really change the world.”
“Is this to push you to the front lines?” Eugene’s voice sounded muffled.
Luo Hai sighed lightly and raised his hand to stroke Eugene’s cheek. “When will you stop being so immature?”
Eugene immediately gripped Luo Hai’s hand tightly, pressing it against his own, not letting his palm move away. He muttered softly, “It took me fifteen years to get close to you. What’s wrong with being a little immature?”
Luo Hai’s heart skipped a beat, and he couldn’t help but tighten his fingers, leaning in to kiss Eugene on the lips.
In the night breeze, his cheek was slightly cool, but his lips were burning hot. Taking advantage of the deep night’s silence and the deserted street, they kissed openly in the middle of the road, with only the stars winking down, silently watching everything.
Eugene, enjoying the moment, leaned forward when their lips parted, trying to kiss again, but Luo Hai blocked him by pressing his forehead against Eugene’s.
“Are you done?” Luo Hai panted, feeling his lips tingling from the kiss.
Eugene immediately looked at him with an aggrieved expression. “You slapped me so hard earlier, can’t you give me some comfort now?”
“…Does it hurt?” Luo Hai’s tone softened.
“It hurts a lot.” Eugene pouted, leaning in to show Luo Hai his cheek. “It’s a little swollen, and there’s still bleeding inside.”
Luo Hai frowned, concern rising in his dark eyes. He reached out with his thumb to gently caress Eugene’s cheek, but as soon as he got close, Eugene grabbed his wrist and pressed it against a utility pole, kissing him again.
“Eugene, you—”
“Weren’t you taught at the prosecutor’s office?” Eugene laughed softly. “Never trust the enemy’s words.”
That night in bed, Eugene became reckless, childish, and uninhibited, greedily leaving marks on every part of Luo Hai’s body. And for the first time, Luo Hai didn’t resist. No matter how outrageous Eugene’s actions were, he allowed him to indulge.
Unspoken feelings quietly filled the air, like those words left unsaid, like that childish and persistent promise.
No one knew if, after that night, they would ever have another moment like this.
Eugene’s heart ached as it beat, but just like those countless days and nights over the past fifteen years, there was nothing he could do. The only thing he could do was hold his lover tighter, stretching this second into eternity in the depths of his mind.
…..
The actions from Nantes came faster than anyone had imagined.
Originally, it was expected that the prosecutor’s office would need at least three more days to uncover the situation, but unexpectedly, just one day later, Nantes’ drones had already flown over the skies of Lansai City. Two hours later, the police and military had swiftly surrounded the city’s borders.
Their movements were quick and precise, not like a routine search, but as though they had received some kind of intelligence and were fully prepared.
The large, imposing group ignored the rest of the city and made a beeline directly towards the Lightwing Grand Hotel.
The residents of Lansai City had no idea what was going on, and they curiously peeked out to watch. No one knew what these high-ranking people from Nantes were planning to do with the old hotel that had been standing for ten years. The leading Alpha knocked twice on the tightly shut hotel door, waited less than a minute, then began kicking the door violently.
“Berkeley! What are you doing?” Fanny rushed out from the group, trying to stop the Alpha from kicking the door.
“What am I doing? I’m carrying out the mission,” Berkeley raised an eyebrow. “Capturing the terrorists from the Lightwing Society.”
“This place might not necessarily be hiding terrorists, right?” Fanny pressed, “What if it’s just an ordinary hotel?”
“What kind of ordinary hotel would be named ‘Lightwing’?” Berkeley raised his voice, “We have reliable intelligence this time!” He shouted, “Damn Omega rebels, making us work these long shifts! Come out and face your death!”
When Berkeley kicked the door again, Fanny’s heart nearly leaped into her throat.
One, two, and when the third kick landed on the fragile door, the lock finally made a sharp sound. Another Alpha nearby kicked the door again, and it swung open. Everyone immediately rushed inside.
The lobby was dark, with all the lights off, and the huge space was empty. Berkeley drew his gun and cautiously moved forward, but there was only eerie silence in the darkness, no living soul in sight, as if the hotel had been abandoned long ago.
Fanny clicked on the lights, and the entire hotel lit up. Apart from the neatly arranged tables and chairs, there was nothing else.
“What’s going on?” The officers lowered their guns, looking confused.
“Goddamn it!” Berkeley swore. “Where are they? Where the hell did everyone go?”
“Maybe the intel was wrong, and this is really just an ordinary hotel?” Fanny said, hoping deep down that it was the case.
But as the search continued, they quickly found many signs of Omega activity in the hotel. All the evidence pointed to this place having once been a base for the Lightwing Society. However, by the time they arrived, the members had long since fled, taking important information and supplies with them.
Even though they had received reliable intelligence, they had still come up empty. Berkeley angrily roared and kicked over a nearby table and chairs.
“This is never going to end! These damn bitches are like rats, always running around. Damn it!”
“So, what now?” an officer asked.
“What now?” Berkeley snorted, “Take people and search all of Lansai. If we still don’t find anything, we’ll just have to slink back like we did last time!”
“Wait a minute.” Fanny’s voice suddenly interrupted the others. She frowned, tightly gripping her gun, and cautiously aimed it at a dark corner. “I think I heard something.”
Her words instantly made everyone alert. The others also raised their guns, warily following Fanny’s gaze.
After a moment of silence, the others too could hear the sound Fanny mentioned. The sound was coming from the hotel’s stairwell, where a door was half-open, and behind it, faint breathing could be heard.
Fanny slowly approached the stairwell. Once she was close enough, she suddenly pushed the door open. “Who’s there?”
Behind the door, Luo Hai, covered in wounds, was weakly lying on the cold floor, his chest rising and falling faintly.
