Note: Please read the prologue before reading this, otherwise you may not understand the context.
"In the face of absolute self-interest, would you choose to save others?"
"Maybe..."
"Then may I ask, would others choose to save you?"
"..."
Era 2137, New York, USA – Solar System Federation Council Building[1][2][3][4]
The Federal Security Special Intelligence Bureau Special Service Armed Police, abbreviated as the "Secret Police," is an affiliated organization of the "Special Service Communication Group" (established by the United Nations after World War III to assist the Security Council in communicating with the military forces of various countries) within the Federal Committee.[1][2] Authorized by select nations, they are responsible for collecting signals of impending crises and issuing early warnings.[1][2][3]
However, things seemed to be going against their wishes.
As a Secret Police officer, Joseph actually just wanted to attend to his own duties and investigate ordinary cases on a daily basis, rather than these massive, absurd missions that would likely take a long time. After all, as a former British Captain, managing to retreat in one piece from the smoke-filled battlefields of the Third World War was already no easy feat. He now just wanted to enjoy a leisurely life.
Joseph listened to the mission arranged for them by the Director of the Secret Police Investigation Bureau during the meeting, feeling completely powerless. He slumped onto the leather sofa like a pile of playdough, not listening seriously to the Director at all. On the contrary, his young adjutant, Burgrade, appeared extremely excited. As a soldier in his twenties who had just retired from the battlefields of the Third World War, he still seemed too young for a profession like the Secret Police.[1][2][3] However, the Director seemed to trust him very much, assigning him to the core investigation team where Joseph was stationed.[1][2][3]
After the meeting ended, Joseph walked out of the gate of the Solar System Federation Council Building and took an anti-gravity car back to the Secret Police Investigation Bureau office. This anti-gravity car was manufactured by the Mercedes-Benz company in Germany, which shocked Joseph.[1][3] He couldn't imagine that such an old brand could still build this kind of brand-new, pure electric anti-gravity vehicle. However, he didn't dwell on it too much; after all, he had seen far too many weapons manufactured by the Messerschmitt-Benz company on the battlefield. The post-war reconstruction speed of every country was very fast, and many large cities had already been established on Earth.[1][2][3]
Joseph actually didn't want to stay on this terrifying planet, which had once nearly had its entire crust dug through and was covered in muddy trenches.[1][2][3] If he quit this job, he could absolutely find a new one in the orbital space stations of the inner planets, even if it was just tightening screws on spaceships in a workshop.[1][2][3] He was already 47 years old, and combined with the psychological shadows caused by the Third World War and his vague childhood experiences, he couldn't withstand this kind of torment.[1][2][3] Unfortunately, he knew very well that he couldn't quit this job. Of course, his childhood experiences were unknown to others. He knew this secret couldn't be told to anyone; if he spoke of it, not only himself but everyone else might be implicated.[1][2][3]
In contrast, Burgrade was very happy. Arriving at the office of the Core Investigation Team of the Secret Police Investigation Bureau for the first time and looking at the room full of computers, he casually found an empty seat, sat down, and began collecting data.
Joseph went to make a cup of coffee only to realize he had absolutely no idea what the Director had just said. He didn't know why this mission had to be executed, nor did he know what the specific content of the mission was. He didn't even know what he should be doing right now. He had to feign composure, sit down, and browse some random webpages on the computer. However, Burgrade seemed to see through his embarrassment. He slid over on his anti-gravity chair.
"Is something wrong, sir?"
"No... nothing..." Joseph instinctively turned his head, avoiding Burgrade's sharp gaze. But Burgrade didn't seem to intend to let him off. He relentlessly pressed Joseph with questions until Joseph roared at him. Only then did he quiet down, muttering curses under his breath as he slid back on the anti-gravity chair.
Joseph walked out of the office and into the pitch-black corridor. He turned on a computer that was flashing green light. He held down two keys on the keyboard, and with a click, the computer automatically opened a file. Joseph absent-mindedly browsed the file content. Suddenly, a line of text caught his attention:
First Guide Project: Target 1: Seventh Base.
Joseph was startled by this information. With his burly physique, he almost fell off the chair. He understood very well what that Seventh Base was used for. But he didn't explain the situation to his teammate, because presumably, the Director had already told them, and everyone understood what the Seventh Base was.
Joseph turned around, walked into the armory, and took out a particle laser gun—made in Norway. He tucked the pistol into his waist, walked out of the armory door, and locked it firmly with his access card to prevent any outsiders from opening it. Then, he walked into the pitch-black night.
But what Joseph didn't notice was that in the darkness, a pair of eyes was staring at him with a hawk-like gaze until his back blurred and disappeared into the shadows.