After emerging from the metal 'cage', Wade, upon returning to the Planetary Defense Council, seemed to have changed somehow.
Wade's report was:
The Fourth Wallfacer's plan is proceeding normally.
The United Nations Planetary Defense Council intelligence agency that he was with is responsible for monitoring the plans of the four Wallfacers to ensure there are no 'selfish desires' or abuse of resources.
The Planetary Defense Council accepted this report.
Everything seemed to have returned to normal.
But was it really so?
Cheng Xin held a cup of coffee, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door to Wade's office.
The office lights were off.
This was a strange habit Wade had developed since his return; he always kept himself in the dark and disliked light.
Wasim had asked him once before, and the answer he received was.
"A man like him doesn't deserve to stand in the light."
A very strange answer.
"Mr. Thomas—"
Cheng Xin stood at the doorway, looking at Wade.
"Your coffee."
Wade remained silent.
Though he was in the dark, his vision was not at all obstructed. Even across several meters of darkness, Cheng Xin could feel the faint chill emanating from his eyes, like a sinister venomous snake flicking its tongue, a sticky, icy sensation that made her feel very uncomfortable, even... afraid.
Wade had changed!
Cheng Xin swallowed, her heart beating uncontrollably, and her sweat glands involuntarily secreted.
The old Wade, though extremely cold, rational, and ruthless, was less like a person and more like a precise instrument.
While he was still frightening, it was—definitely not like this, not terrifying.
She was very perceptive, which was also why she was chosen. It was precisely because of this that she could keenly sense that Wade's previous 'external' demeanor and his 'inner self' were actually completely different.
The old Wade was conflicted, hesitant, and even desperate.
This was also Wade's special quality: he, like many others, felt deep despair over the invasion of the Trisolaran civilization and its powerful scientific level. But what set him apart from ordinary people was that no matter how great the disparity, he would never give up.
But now, it was different.
In Cheng Xin's perception, Wade seemed... no longer confused, no longer afraid, and no longer... compassionate, like a lifeless rock, without any emotional fluctuations.
There was no vitality in his eyes.
Yet, they contained a hint of determination and resolve.
"Mr. Tho-Thomas—" For some reason, as Cheng Xin looked at the suddenly changed 'Wade', she felt a deep fear in her heart. Even her voice involuntarily lowered significantly, afraid of disturbing that silent 'rock'.
"Cheng Xin."
In the darkness, Wade watched her.
The atmosphere around them seemed to grow heavier, an invisible pressure making Cheng Xin's legs tremble. This was the first time she had seen such a terrifying 'Wade'.
"Mr. Tho-Thomas?"
The girl wanted to muster her courage, but upon meeting those cold, emotionless eyes, her pitiful courage was extinguished like a small flame.
"Cheng, do you think—under the ultimate pressure of civilization, which is more important: pure 'rationality' or moral 'humanity'?
Wade in the dark watched the girl, reciting Emrys' question verbatim, his eyes tinged with a hint of gloom and somberness, as if interrogating the girl's inner thoughts.
"I-I don't know—"
Under the gaze of those eyes, Cheng Xin felt like she couldn't breathe, stuttering her words.
"Answer my question, Cheng Xin."
Wade remained seated, but his voice suddenly dropped several degrees, and a chilling aura spread, as if the temperature of the entire office had plummeted.
"I—" Cheng Xin bit her lip lightly, and under that gaze, which felt like a judgment, she decided to follow her heart.
"I believe that even if civilization faces immense pressure, even extinction, morality cannot be abandoned."
Wade seemed unsurprised by this answer.
He slowly leaned back in his chair, his index finger lightly tapping the armrest, then uttered a cold voice.
"Reason."
Feeling the pressure on her body seemed to lessen considerably, Cheng Xin couldn't help but relax. Taking a deep breath, she began to speak eloquently.
"If humanity can even discard the most basic morality, then what distinguishes it from a beast? The reason humanity is still humanity is because humans uphold morality. It is these beautiful qualities that allow us to break free from the 'beast', to have society, family, and even civilization.
If we didn't have these beautiful virtues, how could we possess everything we have now?"
She thought her answer was perfect.
But, just as Cheng Xin looked up, with her pure and flawless eyes, towards Wade shrouded in darkness, she was startled by his gaze.
What kind of eyes were those?
Ferocious, violent, savage, murderous, disdainful, disgusted, hateful, venomous—they were eyes that completely condensed all negative emotions, a terrifying gaze diametrically opposed to the justice, morality, fairness, and other such beautiful virtues she upheld.
"Ah!"
Cheng Xin was frightened by such a gaze.
She uncontrollably stepped back, but hit the door. The coffee she was holding also fell, spilling on the floor. The crisp sound of breaking glass seemed to awaken Wade.
The complex emotions in his eyes disappeared.
They changed back to that calm, indifferent gaze, staring directly at the terrified Cheng Xin, his voice steady, showing no emotional fluctuations.
"I understand."
Saying that, he pushed a prepared document on the table towards Cheng Xin.
"Starting today, you no longer need to work here. I have recommended you to the Fourth Wallfacer."
"I—I'm... fired?"
Cheng Xin was bewildered, staring blankly at Wade.
"But, aren't I still supposed to be in charge of the succession plan, Mr. Thomas?"
"The Staircase Program has already entered official operation."
Wade said expressionlessly.
"I believe your abilities and profession are more suited to the Fourth Wallfacer's plan, so I recommended you to him."
"The Staircase Program has entered the operational phase?"
Cheng Xin was stunned. She was one of the people in charge of this plan. How could she not know?
"Yes, just yesterday."
Wade's voice was cold.
"I have found a 'method'. Since we cannot send everyone into space, we only need to send up one brain. The weight of one brain, other engineers will solve. You are no longer needed here."
"One—a brain?"
Cheng Xin's face turned pale, and she said tremblingly.
"No, that won't do—you all are—"
"Are you trying to say we violated morality?"
Wade's expression finally seemed to show a hint of change, like sarcasm, or perhaps mockery.
"Yes, Cheng, but unfortunately—I don't care about morality. I only care about the 'result'. I don't have time to chat with you. Take this information, and you can leave."
With that, Wade no longer paid attention to the still bewildered and shocked Cheng Xin, and strode out of the office.
As he passed Cheng Xin, he lowered his head, a hint of coldness in his eyes.
"It's a pity, Cheng—humanity now doesn't need people like you. What humanity needs is—a daemon!"
"Only a 'daemon' can lead humanity towards the future." It was unclear whether Wade was saying this to Cheng Xin or to himself.