"Alright, we don't have much time left."
After Emrys handed over his business card, he straightened his collar and said seriously, "Doctor Luo Ji, based on your dedication to humanity, I have the utmost respect for you personally."
"Me? Dedication to humanity? Respect?"
Luo Ji had never felt a day as absurd as this. How could he, a man who spent his days chasing women, was cynical, and had no sense of responsibility towards humanity, society, or his family, be associated with such lofty words?
"Did you perhaps mistake me for someone else?"
He asked as if he had seen a ghost.
"Hehe, you'll understand what I mean by that soon enough."
Emrys smiled and shook his head, not explaining much. Instead, he gave a meaningful smile, mixed with an indescribable, unclear emotion.
"Remember my smile now. From this moment on, such a smile will accompany you for the rest of your life."
"???"
Luo Ji's brain was about to crash.
What was all this? And—why did his smile look so punchable?!
"Oh, and congratulations in advance, Doctor Luo Ji." Emrys patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "Don't forget, you still owe me a meal. When we meet next time, I'm sure you'll have a lot to tell me."
With that, Emrys waved to Maximus to leave, regardless of Luo Ji's bewildered expression.
The two figures were quickly swallowed by the chaotic crowd and disappeared from Luo Ji's sight.
But for some reason, Luo Ji felt a heavy heart, not because someone had died, but because—he concluded that he was about to deviate from his peaceful path and step into a bottomless abyss.
Soon after, more than a dozen black cars drove into this accident-prone area.
The car doors opened, and several people surrounded Luo Ji.
"Hello, Doctor Luo Ji." A burly, rough-faced middle-aged man with a buzz cut walked up to the dazed Luo Ji, slapped him on the shoulder, and shouted loudly, "Hey, snap out of it! What are you looking at?"
Luo Ji was hit hard by the slap, crying out in pain, and stared at him resentfully.
"Another one? Who are you?!"
"Another?"
The buzz-cut middle-aged man in a leather jacket keenly caught the word, frowning slightly.
"I'm Shi Qiang, you can also call me Da Shi. I'm a police officer, and I have something to talk to you about."
"Police?"
Hearing this, Luo Ji panicked a little.
"Police, I didn't break the law. That girl walked into the road herself and was hit and killed by a car that came out of nowhere!"
"Why are you nervous?" Shi Qiang narrowed his eyes and patted his shoulder kindly.
"We didn't say you killed her, did we? Don't be nervous, it's just something. Come with me, Doctor Luo Ji."
"Can I refuse?"
Luo Ji tried to ask.
Shi Qiang smiled without speaking.
"Understood."
Luo Ji hung his head dejectedly and followed Shi Qiang into the black car.
In the car, Shi Qiang lit a cigarette.
"Mind if I smoke, Doctor Luo Ji?"
"I don't mind, please do."
Luo Ji was a bit distracted, still wondering if what the man who called himself a 'businessman' had said earlier was true or false.
"Doctor Luo Ji, let me ask you something, don't blame me, Da Shi, for being too curious." Shi Qiang fiddled with the cigarette butt and asked suggestively.
"When I called you just now, you mentioned 'another,' meaning someone else found you before me. Can you tell me about it?"
Luo Ji was stunned, clutching the business card in his clothes. After a moment of silence, he shook his head.
"Nothing, just a—friend."
He himself didn't know why he was hiding the situation of those two people. Perhaps it was intuition?
Seeing that he was unwilling to speak, Shi Qiang frowned slightly but didn't press further. Instead, he nodded, feigning indifference.
"Oh, alright then."
If he didn't ask, would he not know?
Shi Qiang took out his phone from his clothes, typed a few words, and sent them.
"Check the surveillance footage of Luo Ji's recent location. See who he talked to. I suspect they are from the 'ETO' organization."
After sending the message, he continued to chat casually with Luo Ji.
ETO, Earth-Trisolaris Organization.
On a vast, desolate plain, an ancient, magnificent palace stood. Several people, cloaked in black robes, their true faces hidden, were gathered inside this palace.
The person at the head was dressed in ancient attire: a black nine-dragon imperial robe, a twelve-tassel crown, and holding an ancient Qin-Han sword, truly appearing as a monarch.
The others below him were all clad in black robes.
"Everyone, I have adjusted the time."
The voice of the person in the dragon robe was not loud, but it sounded as if it had an amplifier, clearly reaching everyone's ears.
"It is now a 'Stable Era.' The reason for doing this is to gather everyone."
"Qin Shi Huang, if I'm not mistaken, there are still a few days until our monthly meeting, aren't there?"
One of the black-robed figures below spoke first:
"Did you suddenly summon us because 'The Lord' has a new plan?"
"Qin Shi Huang, just say what you need to say quickly. It's not safe for me here." Another person immediately added, his tone very impatient.
"Besides, there's something more important. 'That matter' is about to begin."
"In that case, I'll be brief."
Qin Shi Huang stood leaning on his sword, his eyes under the twelve-tassel crown flickering with uncertainty, his voice tinged with a hint of coldness.
"Just now, 'The Lord' conveyed the latest objective to me—to eliminate two individuals at all costs."
"...Luo Ji?"
The black-robed person codenamed 'Von Neumann' hesitated for a few seconds before asking.
"No."
Qin Shi Huang shook his head, simultaneously bringing up a surveillance screen.
"It's these two people in the 'picture'."
However, in this surveillance footage, only two very blurry figures were captured, as if they had been pixelated. The only useful information that could be found was that one of the targets had a height exceeding that of ordinary people.
"These two people pose a threat to 'The Lord'?"
The black-robed person codenamed 'Mozi' asked.
"I don't know."
Qin Shi Huang shook his head and sighed.
"Ever since Evans informed 'The Lord' of Its weakness, 'The Lord' has never revealed Its true intentions to me again. Why 'The Lord' wants to kill these two people, what danger they pose to 'The Lord,' I am completely ignorant.
But—"
He paused for a few seconds, seemingly organizing his thoughts, then slowly spoke.
"Analyzing 'The Lord's' attitude and tone towards these two, their level of danger has surpassed Luo Ji's standing in 'The Lord's' mind. We must share 'The Lord's' burden and use every means at your disposal, at all costs, to eliminate them!"
Clang!
The Qin sword plunged into the ground, and the rock cracked.
Qin Shi Huang's majestic voice spread, carrying an undeniable authority.
"In the four hundred years until 'The Lord' arrives on Earth, we must clear all obstacles for 'The Lord,' eliminate human tyranny. The world belongs to Trisolaris!"
"Eliminate human tyranny, the world belongs to Trisolaris!"
"Eliminate human tyranny, the world belongs to Trisolaris!"
"Eliminate human tyranny, the world belongs to Trisolaris!"
The crowd below responded loudly.
Meanwhile, on the other side, at the United Nations Headquarters.
Witnessed by the entire world, the Secretary-General announced a plan to counter the Trisolarans—the Wallfacer Project.
"The fourth Wallfacer is—Doctor Luo Ji!"
Luo Ji was struck by lightning, frozen on the spot.
In his mind, like a playback, the words of the mysterious businessman echoed:
"Congratulations in advance, Doctor Luo Ji."
Congratulations for what?
Congratulations on becoming the fourth Wallfacer?!