The pair returned to Base One to find Polina fiddling with her equipment, seemingly unbothered by everything else - death included. Her complacency and infectious grin was not a facade. As for Polina... she could hardly be considered normal.
"Brother Li, please, can we spare her..." Romero asked, looking at Polina. Every time he gazed at her, his eyes softened unconsciously.
"What are you going on about? The war is over. Your plan to endure humiliation has been a grand success," Li Hao laughed, "The great Martian warrior, Romero, sacrificed himself for the greater good, infiltrated Kepler, and used me as bait to defeat Nangong Yuhang to save mankind. Isn't this a good ending?"
Completely flabbergasted, Romero couldn't believe what he just heard.
Li Hao patted Romero—ideally on the shoulder, but his height could only allow for a pat on the waist—and said, "Brother, you're the true hero!"
