Fang Tian dashed forward, just seven or eight steps, when suddenly, the ground began to shake violently. Mr. Nelson, myself, and Fang Tian, who was running ahead, all fell to the ground.
Then, we saw cracks appearing on the road surface, followed by the cliff where the Moon Society headquarters was located, shaking, and the building itself, resembling a castle, disintegrating like paper!
All of this happened in less than two seconds.
During these less-than-two seconds, everything felt like a silent movie. We lay on the ground, swaying like babies in a cradle, but there was no sound. It was an incredibly strange sensation!
However, it was only two seconds. Then, the sound came. It was sudden, and all I heard was a thunderous roar.
That roar evoked thoughts of doomsday, and then, there was silence again. Naturally, our eardrums had been shocked by the sudden loud noise, leaving us temporarily deaf.
Nevertheless, though we couldn't hear, we could feel the impact of the sound waves.
Our bodies were almost rolling on the ground, and the cracks in the road were getting larger. In such a situation, the three of us couldn't afford to look ahead. Amidst the chaos, not even the Moon Society headquarters or the cliff were visible. We each jumped up, with Fang Tian still trying to move forward. Mr. Nelson and I caught up to him, but Fang Tian stopped after a few steps!
He looked up to the sky, shouting in some Saturnian language that we couldn't understand.
He hadn't been shouting for long before he collapsed on the road. Mr. Nelson and I approached him. He looked up, tears streaking his face, and said, "It wasn't the three young men deceiving us; it was the 'residence between the shells and poison' finding one of them to be its host."
I didn't understand. I asked, "So what now?"
Fang Tian replied, "Originally, they planned to explode in three days, but one of them had already been replaced by the 'residence between the shells and poison.' The creature must have found it amusing to explode now, so it brought the explosion forward. Poor Ji Zi..."
I sighed and said, "Fang Tian, you don't have to be sad."
Fang Tian choked up, saying, "I wanted to take Ji Zi back to Saturn." I said, "You don't need to do that. Life on Earth is so short in your eyes, what's the point of taking her?"
Fang Tian sighed deeply and stood up. Mr. Nelson asked, "Even with such a powerful explosion just now, can't it destroy the 'residence between the shells and poison'?" Fang Tian bitterly smiled, "The explosion just now could destroy all tangible matter, but how can you destroy something that was intangible to begin with? 'Residence between the shells and poison' means invisible flying demon in Saturnian. It's gone now, I can feel it."
I couldn't help but smile bitterly and said, "With such an invisible flying demon on Earth, even if the brainwaves of humans are weak, preventing it from splitting, it's still troublesome."
Mr. Nelson was even more surprised, "If the invisible flying demon invades the brain of a high-ranking official in a major country, and if it becomes pleased, just by pressing those buttons..."
I continued, "A world war would break out, and Earth would be finished!"
Fang Tian bitterly smiled, "I'm not exaggerating. Such a thing is absolutely possible. My friends, I suspect that Hitler, who sparked the Second World War, may have also become a host to the invisible flying demon. Otherwise, how could a painter cause such a catastrophe?"
Fang Tian's words became more mystical, and our hearts grew colder.
At this point, Mr. Nelson obviously didn't think Fang Tian was talking nonsense. He said solemnly, "Mr. Fang, you must eliminate this scourge for Earth before you return to Saturn!"
Fang Tian immediately said, "You've been so kind to me, and it's my duty. But the invisible flying demon is not a ghost, and I am not Zhang Tianshi who catches ghosts. This is not something that can be done out of thin air."
At this moment, a large number of vehicles and people rushed from the road and fields. Mr. Nelson quickly said, "We must avoid this, especially since I'm involved. Things will only get more complicated."
I also thought Mr. Nelson's words made sense. Although the Moon Society headquarters had turned to ashes, its underground power couldn't be eliminated overnight.
If we were implicated in the explosion, it would be very troublesome. The three of us left the road before the crowd arrived and headed towards a small village.
In no time, we arrived at another road. We took three sets of dry clothes from the roadside in a 'borrow without permission' manner and changed into them. Then we took three bicycles from the village and left.
The houses in the small village had all their windows shattered, and there were almost no people in the village. They must have all rushed to the site of the explosion, so we smoothly left the village and headed to Tokyo.
We rode our bicycles for about seven or eight miles until we reached a larger town. Mr. Nelson used a long-distance phone to call for a car. While waiting for the car to arrive, we rested in the local sheriff's office.
By this time, Mr. Nelson asked again, "Mr. Fang, under what circumstances can we eliminate the invisible flying demon?" Fang Tian bitterly smiled, "It's simple to say, and Earthlings can do it, but it's difficult to implement."
Mr. Nelson and I remained silent.
Fang Tian said, "We need to prepare a room that can emit intense solar electrons at any time. Once we lure the invisible flying demon into this room, it will work."
He paused, sighed, "However, the invisible flying demon is a group of elusive thoughts. Although I can sense its movements, I have no way to control its whereabouts. Moreover, I can only sense it when the brainwaves of that group of thoughts are close to me. Once it goes far away, like now, I have no idea where it is."
Mr. Nelson said, "Then we might as well prepare such a place immediately." Fang Tian thought for a moment and said, "I think the invisible flying demon will definitely not like to stay on Earth because here, it can only be one, not divided."
I immediately understood Fang Tian's meaning and asked, "Are you saying it will go back to Saturn with you?"
Fang Tian nodded silently, "That's what I think."
Mr. Nelson pondered for a moment, and I couldn't understand what he was thinking. He suddenly changed the subject, "Mr. Fang, when we return to Tokyo, we'll retrieve the solar system navigation device, and you can take it back to your country."
Fang Tian nodded, "Yes, my vacation is almost over, and there's one more thing... I need your help."
We looked at Fang Tian, who continued, "The Saturn exploration program of a certain country is destined to fail because after the rocket takes off, I use a special device to make the Earth's radar tracker think the rocket has lost its way and vanished. In reality, I safely head towards Saturn, back to my homeland."
Mr. Nelson chuckled, "You've been a great help to that country these years, it seems fair enough, we won't say a word."
Fang Tian gratefully glanced at us, "I can report what I see along the way and when I arrive on Saturn to you." I asked, "How will you do that?"
Fang Tian whispered, "Earthlings only know that radio waves can transmit messages, but they don't know that slight oscillations in cosmic rays can transmit messages even farther. However, there is one drawback. The oscillations of cosmic rays are directional. That is to say, as long as I keep flying towards Saturn, you can still hear my voice until I reach Saturn, but you won't be able to respond to me."
I quickly asked, "Do you have such a device?"
Fang Tian nodded, "Yes, in a certain country's rocket launch base, there is such a device in my private office. I invite you to come with me. After I take off, you can continuously track my whereabouts using the device. However, due to the lack of strong power supply, the lifespan of the device will not exceed eight days."
I smiled, "Eight days? That's enough. In eight days, you can return to Saturn, right?"
Fang Tian said, "I calculated it. It takes 221 hours and 50 minutes from departure to arrival, Earth time, which is eight days minus ten minutes. In other words, after I arrive on Saturn, I still have ten minutes to report the situation on Saturn to you."
I asked, "Fang Tian, have you not used this device in all these years?"
Fang Tian sighed, "Of course I have, otherwise, its lifespan wouldn't be just eight days. However, after I installed it, although there were cosmic ray oscillations passing through Saturn and reaching the communication device, they were chaotic and unorganized."
I naturally couldn't understand such profound matters. Mr. Nelson said, "Could it be that there's a war on Saturn?"
Fang Tian said, "No, the Saturnians' concept is different from Earthlings'. We manufacture weapons, but not for war; rather, to show off our country's power and scientific progress!"
I said, "Why manufacture weapons to show scientific progress?"
Fang Tian shrugged, "Don't forget, Saturn has seven countries. The possibility of war is not entirely nonexistent!"
Mr. Nelson and I didn't say anything more. We had been very tired in recent days, and before the car arrived, although we were worried, we leaned back on the sofa and dozed off for a moment.
Then, we all got into the car sent by Tokyo and returned to Tokyo.
In Tokyo, we went straight to where Mr. Nelson had placed the hard metal box.
As we walked towards the cellar, all three of us prayed in our hearts: Let there be no more complications. Indeed, there were none in the cellar. Twenty policemen surrounded the hard metal box!
Fang Tian smiled, and I understood that they couldn't immediately move the box to the factory and cut it open. But Mr. Nelson and I were hungry.
We ordered our food to be brought, and we used the hard metal box as a table. After wolfing down our meal, Mr. Nelson gave orders to prepare the car, and he and I personally loaded the box onto the car.
Mr. Nelson prepared a car equipped with armor plating. Unless cannons were aimed at us, we wouldn't lose the box. In the Tokyo urban area, who could mobilize cannons?
The three of us sat on top of the hard metal box. Mr. Nelson held a new type of rapid-fire gun just in case. We were on high alert all the way to the factory.
The factory's security personnel had already been notified, and senior police officers from the Tokyo Police Department had also been sent. Both inside and outside the factory were filled with spies. Mr. Nelson was very satisfied with his arrangement. He patted Fang Tian on the shoulder and said, "Mr. Fang, once we retrieve the solar system navigation device, I'll escort you to the airport with people, and you can immediately return to your homeland for work!"
Fang Tian nodded, "Indeed, only after returning, this navigation device can truly be considered mine."
I could tell that both of them seemed to deliberately avoid discussing the matter of the invisible flying demon.
Naturally, I didn't want to dampen their spirits by bringing up the topic at this moment.
The armored car stopped in the center of the factory. The hard metal box was again lifted by Mr. Nelson and me and taken into the high-temperature cutting workshop.
On that day, the task of casting the "extraterrestrial object" into a hard metal box using a special synthetic method was supervised by Kimura at the request of Inoue Tsuyoshi.
Now, Kimura Noboru is dead, and the task of cutting open this box has been entrusted to Yamane Kinji, the deputy chief engineer of this factory. Engineer Yamane is still young, but he has already been informed and has prepared everything in the workshop.
Mr. Nelson and I carried the hard metal box onto the high-temperature cutting lathe, and then we stepped back and put on asbestos hoods with deep blue glass eyes.
High-temperature cutting is the latest achievement in modern industry. Using high-temperature flames, it can cut through any metal object like cutting butter with a hot knife. However, without wearing goggles with deep blue glass, the eye tissue would be damaged instantly upon contact with the bright light of the flame.
After Engineer Yamane gave a series of commands, a flat long tube gradually moved towards the hard metal box.
Yamane Kinji waved his hand, and with a "hiss" sound, flames spewed out from the tube.
Although I wore deep blue glasses, the glare of the flames still made it difficult for me to keep my eyes open. The flames burned on the hard metal box, sparking dazzling fireworks. I dare say that any fireworks pale in comparison to the dazzling light of that intense heat. At first glance, it looked like the sun had suddenly cracked open, turning into thousands of shooting stars!
The tube moved slowly, and the hot flame licked slowly over the hard metal box. I saw a crack appear on the box where the flame passed.
After about half an hour, Yamane Kinji shouted, and the high-temperature flame tongue sprayed out from the flat tube immediately extinguished. In the first half minute, we couldn't see anything, just pitch darkness.
Of course, that was because we had stared at the bright flame for too long.
I immediately took off the asbestos hood. I believe I was the first to regain my sight among everyone.
Because although the others also took off their hoods, when I could see them, they were still standing there blankly.
I walked towards the lathe. Although the hard metal box had been split open, it still emitted unbearable heat.
At this moment, the others' vision also returned. Yamane Kinji then ordered the activation of the cold air machine to gradually dissipate the high heat of the hard metal box. After he touched the box and turned back, he said to Mr. Nelson, "Sir, my task is done. There is a thick layer of asbestos inside the box, which is easy to remove."
Mr. Nelson said, "Please weld the box back together later."
Yamane Kinji nodded and led the people out of the workshop. In the workshop, there were only five of us left: me, Mr. Nelson, Fang Tian, and two senior officers from the international police force. Mr. Nelson and I approached the lathe.
The hard metal box had already been split into two halves. Mr. Nelson and I easily separated them.
Inside the box was a thick layer of asbestos. Fang Tian also came over and helped us remove the asbestos layer.
Fang Tian's hands trembled slightly, naturally due to his excitement because with this solar system navigation device, he could return to his home planet, Saturn!
The asbestos layer was quickly removed, and finally, there appeared something wrapped in nylon fiber.
Fang Tian took a deep breath, Mr. Nelson relaxed, saying, "We did it!"
Only I noticed Fang Tian's face suddenly turning almost blue. I realized that something had changed again, so I quickly patted Mr. Nelson's shoulder, indicating him to look at Fang Tian.
When Mr. Nelson looked up and saw the unusual expression on Fang Tian's face, his expression changed too. His smile disappeared instantly, and he said in a trembling voice, "Oh, God, no!"
I immediately asked, "Fang Tian, what's wrong?"
Fang Tian's voice trembled as he said, "It's... bigger."
Fang Tian pointed at the object wrapped in nylon fiber and said, "In my memory, the navigation device seems to be bigger."
I hurriedly said, "You must be mistaken."
Mr. Nelson said, "There's no need to argue. We can open it right away!" He took out a small knife and quickly cut the nylon fiber. What was wrapped in the nylon fiber was revealed.
At that moment, the workshop fell silent.
The senior officers of the two international police forces were very surprised because they had no idea about the situation, and their faces showed a funny expression.
They must have been thinking: Was all this fuss just to retrieve this big stone?
A big stone. That was right. After the nylon fiber was removed, what appeared was not some "extraterrestrial object", a solar system navigation device that Earthlings couldn't yet manufacture, but just a damn big stone, a common granite!
I don't know what expression I had on my face, but I saw Fang Tian's face turn blue again, as if he had been sentenced to death. Mr. Nelson's expression was even more complicated, like a child who had been excitedly polishing an apple until it shone brightly, licking his lips, then taking a bite only to find out that the apple was actually waxed.
The three of us stayed for a full ten minutes. I went over the entire situation in my mind, but couldn't figure out where things had gone wrong.
Such a hard metal box couldn't possibly have a duplicate, and this one, the one that had just been cut open, was the only one!
But inside the hard metal box was a large stone!
I was the first to speak. I burst out laughing!
But as I burst out laughing, Fang Tian began to cry!
Mr. Nelson shouted loudly, "Quiet!"
My laughter had erupted out of helplessness, and as soon as Mr. Nelson shouted, I immediately quieted down. But Fang Tian's tears were genuine, how could he stop them all of a sudden?
Mr. Nelson shouted, "Mr. Fang, this stone is a fatal blow to you, but you should believe that it's an even bigger blow to me!"
I naturally understood Mr. Nelson's meaning because after such a tortuous and dangerous process, Mr. Nelson had only obtained a stone. It was an intolerable defeat!
Not only Mr. Nelson felt this way, but I also felt the same, so I immediately said, "Fang Tian, for me, it's just as big a blow!" Fang Tian stopped crying and asked, "What should we do?"
Mr. Nelson clenched his teeth and said, "That's a good question. After a failure, as long as we keep asking ourselves what to do next, there will always be a solution!"
He covered the big stone with asbestos and raised his head to a police officer, saying, "Go quickly and get the engineer!"
The officer immediately left the workshop, and soon, Yamane Kinji walked in.
Mr. Nelson said, "Mr. Yamane, we need to ask you a few questions, and we hope you can answer them truthfully."
Yamane Kinji's young face showed a very surprised expression, "What happened?"
Mr. Nelson asked again, "Were you present when this hard metal box was welded shut?" Yamane Kinji nodded, "Yes, only I and Engineer Kimura were present."
Mr. Nelson asked further, "Did you see what was inside the box?"
Yamane Kinji said, "See, no, I can't say see because what I saw was just a circular object wrapped in nylon fiber." Yamane Kinji's attitude was very sincere, giving reason to believe what he said.
Mr. Nelson then asked, "So, who wrapped the object in nylon fiber?"
Yamane Kinji said, "Naturally, it was Engineer Kimura."
Mr. Nelson and I exchanged glances. At this moment, Fang Tian suddenly exclaimed, "I understand!" Mr. Nelson asked, "What do you understand?" Fang Tian's body trembled, "I'm finished, I'm finished, I can only stay on Earth for the rest of my life!"
Yamane Kinji and the two senior officers looked at Fang Tian with strange eyes. They obviously thought Fang Tian was mentally disturbed.
But Mr. Nelson and I could sense that the situation was very serious.
Because Fang Tian had always been secretive about his identity, and now, in front of Yamane Kinji and the others, he had blurted out such words, showing how serious the situation was!
Mr. Nelson quickly said, "Mr. Yamane, please weld this metal box shut again!"
Yamane Kinji agreed, and Mr. Nelson turned and whispered to the two officers, "After the box is welded shut, you're responsible for delivering it to the embassy of a certain country, saying it's from Mr. Abelson."
The two officers stood at attention, accepting Mr. Nelson's command. As soon as this box was delivered to the embassy of a certain country, the entanglement between me and that embassy would naturally cease.
After Mr. Nelson finished giving orders, he shook Fang Tian's hand and walked out. I stood behind them. As soon as we left the workshop, the factory manager approached, smiling and asked, "Is everything going smoothly?"
He obviously had no idea that things were not going smoothly at all. Mr. Nelson vaguely agreed and said, "Please provide us with a quieter room, and please get the operator to connect us to Tsuyoshi Inoue's phone. It's an emergency, and we need to find him no matter where he is."
The factory manager said, "Engineer Kimura's office is available, you can use it. Once the phone is connected, we'll inform you."
Mr. Nelson said, "Good, we'll go by ourselves. You don't need to trouble yourself for us."
Engineer Kimura's office was a place both Fang Tian and I had been to before. We didn't need anyone to lead us. We had already pushed open the door to that office. As soon as Mr. Nelson entered, he said, "Fang Tian, what do you want to do? But it's Kimura Shin—"
Before Mr. Nelson could finish, Fang Tian interrupted sharply, "No, it's not Kimura Shin, it's—"
I had already figured something out and quickly interjected, "Is it the 'Venom between the Shells,' the invisible flying demon?"
Fang Tian collapsed into a chair, saying, "I should have realized this earlier. I should have realized this earlier!"
I said, "So what you mean is that when Tsuyoshi Inoue handed the navigation device to Kimura Shin, the invisible flying demon had already invaded Kimura Shin's mind, and Kimura Shin was just a shell; he actually no longer existed?"
Fang Tian said, "That's right."
I recalled the situation when I met Kimura Shin. He recounted Dr. Nagao's story to me, trying hard to prove that the "extraterrestrial object" passed down by the Inoue family was from another planet.
Moreover, I remembered that Kimura Shin's expression was very unnatural when he mentioned the "extraterrestrial object" several times! I still remember Kimura Shin's unnatural demeanor very clearly, and at the time, I also had doubts in my mind.
Now, everything is clear. Kimura Shin had already known that inside the hard metal box was not some "extraterrestrial object," but just a stone—a stone he himself had placed inside!
Not only did I understand this, but Mr. Nelson and Fang Tian did as well.
I'm not sure about Mr. Nelson's thoughts, but Fang Tian and I had quite different perspectives.
Fang Tian believed that the invisible flying demon had already taken over Kimura Shin's mind. Therefore, the act of hiding the navigation device was actually done by the invisible flying demon because Kimura Shin had already "died."
However, I believed that when I first met Kimura Shin, he was still himself. At that time, the invisible flying demon had not yet invaded Kimura Shin's body.
The device was hidden before my first meeting with Kimura Shin. So, I believed that it was Kimura Shin himself who hid the navigation device and replaced it with the stone.
This was the impression I got when I first met Kimura Shin. Not only was he an outstanding engineer, but also a scientist. He had also accepted Tsuyoshi Inoue's commission to place the navigation device in the box. But when he learned that the device would be buried underground, he replaced it with a stone and kept the device for himself!
Kimura Shin expected that once the hard metal box was delivered to the Inoue family's cemetery, it would be buried immediately, and his actions would remain unknown!
He never dreamed that the journey of the hard metal box would be so convoluted—stolen by spies from a certain country's embassy at the airport, then falling into my hands, only to be snatched by the Seven Gentlemen's Party, then handed over to the Lunar Society, and finally reclaimed by us. After being opened, it was revealed to contain only a stone!
I explained my interpretation to Fang Tian and Mr. Nelson in detail.
Mr. Nelson also spoke with Tsuyoshi Inoue, who confirmed that Kimura Shin was perfectly normal when he accepted the commission.
Mr. Nelson then ordered a search of all possible places where Kimura Shin might have hidden the navigation device. At the same time, all his personal documents were carefully examined in the hope of retrieving the solar system navigation device so that Fang Tian could return to Saturn.
The examination of his personal documents lasted for three days, during which Fang Tian, Mr. Nelson, and I directly participated in the investigation.
During these three days, we examined all the papers related to Kimura's activities, including his laundry lists, electricity bills, TV receipts, and so on.
However, after three days, we could only confirm that Kimura Shin did hide the navigation device, but nothing more.
In his diary on the day the hard metal box was welded shut, Kimura Shin wrote only one sentence: "Today, I did something I shouldn't have done; but for humanity, it was something that should be done."
Kimura Shin's "something I shouldn't have done" undoubtedly referred to the act of replacing the navigation device with the large stone. However, he left no clues as to where he had placed the device or any research he had conducted on it.
Next, we investigated everyone close to Kimura Shin, but to no avail.
By the seventh day, Kimura Shin's home, office, and every place he might have visited had undergone meticulous radar wave searches, but the navigation device seemed to have disappeared into thin air.
Mr. Nelson and I were extremely frustrated on the final rainy day of the investigation, knowing there was no hope. However, Fang Tian remained silent throughout.
Considering Fang Tian's character, he should have been more frustrated than us. But now, he was even calmer than us, which was strange. After exhausting all methods and still not making any progress, I asked Fang Tian, "Do you have any method in mind for finding it?"
Fang Tian nodded and said, "Yes, it's the simplest method."
Mr. Nelson and I were almost ready to curse!
In these seven days, we had exerted so much effort and resources into the search, and Fang Tian had kept a simple method to himself!
I hurriedly asked, "What method?"
Fang Tian said, "Ask Kimura Shin."
Mr. Nelson gave me a glance. I understood his meaning: Fang Tian was too deeply affected and had become mentally disturbed. I composed myself and said, "Kimura Shin is dead!"
Though I tried to control myself, there was still anger in my voice.
Fang Tian sighed and said, "Yes, Kimura Shin is dead, but because he was invaded by the invisible flying demon, all his memories and thoughts must be included in those elusive brainwaves!"
Mr. Nelson and I exchanged glances, and our anger faded. Nelson said, "Are you saying that if we can interrogate the invisible flying demon, it can reveal the location of the navigation device because it has Kimura Shin's memories?"
Fang Tian nodded, "Yes."
I quickly asked, "How can we interrogate the invisible flying demon?" Fang Tian smiled bitterly and said, "There are two methods. One is to directly bring it into a chamber filled with positive electrons, so that my brainwaves can sense its 'speech' and express it through the parasite's mouth."
Mr. Nelson and I looked at each other.
This is really difficult. While Fang Tian can sense the fluctuating brainwaves, he can only detect them when they are close.
However, on the surface of the Earth, in the vast expanse of the sky spanning billions of square kilometers, how can one possibly know where the invisible flying demon is? Let alone bringing it into a room filled with positive electrons, even tracing its whereabouts is an incredibly daunting task!
As for its host bodies, with nearly four billion people on Earth, can Fang Tian possibly inspect each one? Even if its host bodies never change, it's still an impossible task!
Fang Tian's approach is simple: he plans to act as bait and lure the invisible flying demon to attack him. Fang Tian is certain that, like him, the invisible flying demon also wants to return to Saturn. Therefore, he deduces that the invisible flying demon will approach the rocket exploring Saturn: the only tool on Earth that can reach Saturn. Nelson immediately understands his meaning and says, "Let's go back to the space base!"
Fang Tian nods. It seems like the only option.
After days of adventure, I found the best rest on the plane. Fang Tian is a prominent figure at the base, and as soon as we land, someone is there to greet him. As the car approaches the base, I can already see the towering rocket on the base, and Fang Tian suddenly trembles and says, "It's nearby! It's nearby!"
Of course, we understand what he means by "it's nearby"! We all become nervous involuntarily. Upon entering the base, someone reports to Fang Tian that two Japanese officials are coming to visit. Fang Tian mysteriously suggests that the invisible flying demon must have invaded one of them.
Nelson and I prepare to disguise ourselves as guides to approach the two Japanese officials, but when we learn that their "visit" is just a drive around the base, we abandon the plan.
Driving around the base allows us to see many rockets waiting to launch on their stands, but this scenario is common in any newsreel.
It is evident that everything in this base, even to officials from another country, is extremely confidential. The fact that I have the freedom to move around the base is indeed an honor.
We were provided with the route for the car to drive around, which will take us close to the Saturn exploration project base, where the rocket prepared to explore Saturn is located. It is the largest among all the rockets.
Only the three of us know that Fang Tian will sit on the top part of that rocket to fly back to Saturn.
We wait by the rocket, and the room filled with positive electrons, which Fang Tian ordered to be prepared upon his arrival, is nearby.
The rocket is ready to fly into space at any time. Fang Tian is waiting for the navigation device, and the invisible flying demon, wanting to return to Saturn, will undoubtedly use the rocket. If its host is one of the two Japanese officials, it might try to get close to the rocket under some pretext, and we won't easily let it go.
Time passes quickly. At ten sixteen, a dark gray car quickly approaches from the left. It's the vehicle responsible for receiving the two Japanese officials.
We all become nervous, but Fang Tian's face shows extreme disappointment.
I peek through the window and see two Japanese individuals in the car, accompanied by an officer visiting the space base. I quickly ask, "Which one is it?"
Fang Tian shakes his head, "Neither of them!"
When Fang Tian says this, I am stunned. We pinned all our hopes on the two Japanese officials, hoping that one of them would be the host of the invisible flying demon, giving us a chance to retrieve the navigation device.
But now, Fang Tian says that neither of them is the host of the invisible flying demon!
This throws all our expectations out the window!
As I sit there in shock, the car has already turned and driven away. I exclaimed, "Fang Tian, can't you feel the presence of the invisible flying demon's host?"
"Of course I can, unless..."
He stops abruptly, his face turning pale blue for just a moment. I hurriedly ask, "Unless what?"
Fang Tian casually replies, "Nothing, I can definitely sense it. There is no host of the invisible flying demon among those two Japanese officials."
Nelson sighs and says, "We have to start over."
Fang Tian agrees, "Yes, start over. Hey, why don't we go have a cup of coffee?"
I find Fang Tian's attitude very strange, but I can't understand why. Logically, if the invisible flying demon doesn't know where it is, it should be extremely frustrating for him. However, he's so relaxed about going for coffee.
And if he has made a discovery and is so relaxed, why wouldn't he share it?
Before I could respond, Mr. Nelson said, "You two go ahead. I'm feeling a bit unwell and need some rest."
I look at Mr. Nelson and indeed see that he looks very disappointed. I quickly comfort him, saying, "We still have a chance to retrieve the navigation device and defeat the invisible flying demon."
"Of course," Mr. Nelson says, "If you have that kind of confidence, why wouldn't I?" I pat him on the shoulder, and he smiles. The bond between Nelson and me is unparalleled, and our understanding of each other is profound. No amount of cooperation between two people could compare to ours.
I've never liked associating myself with the police, but at that moment, as we exchanged smiles and pats on the shoulder, I entertained the idea of joining the international police force. It was undoubtedly because being with Nelson made everything feel pleasant.
We walked towards Fang Tian's car parked nearby. Fang Tian first dropped Mr. Nelson off at the hotel to rest, and then the two of us walked out. As soon as we left the hotel, his breathing became rapid, and he hurried towards the car. I followed behind him and asked, "Fang Tian, what's the rush?"
Fang Tian didn't speak but grabbed my hand.
His hand felt icy, unusually cold. I sensed that something was amiss, but I couldn't grasp what had suddenly happened. Fang Tian pulled me along until we reached the car.
Mr. Nelson waved to me from the window, "You don't have to rush back; I'm going to get some good sleep!"
I waved back at him, and he withdrew.
Fang Tian's hands trembled as he gripped the steering wheel. With his nervous movements, the car jerked forward suddenly, startling me. "Fang Tian, have you been drinking?" I exclaimed.
Fang Tian remained silent, driving ahead urgently. Before long, we arrived at his office next to the Saturn rocket. He got out of the car, pulling me into his office.
Inside, he pressed a few buttons before heaving a sigh of relief. I asked loudly, "Fang Tian, what's going on?" Fang Tian said, "It's my design. Strong high-frequency electric waves disrupt any sound emitted in this room, preventing anyone outside from hearing anything."
I sat down and asked, "Weren't we supposed to have coffee? Why all the secrecy?"
Fang Tian chuckled bitterly, "Coffee? Wes, do you think I'm in the mood for that?"
I didn't know if Saturnians could become neurotic under extreme stress, but judging by Fang Tian's condition, it seemed possible. I shook my head and said, "Fang Tian, we're not completely hopeless, and you should know that!"
Fang Tian leaned over the desk, his hands supporting him. "Wes, earlier you asked me if it's possible for me not to sense the host of the invisible flying demon. I didn't answer you, but the truth is, that possibility exists."
As he spoke, he changed positions several times and rubbed his hands frequently, constantly glancing out the window.
I didn't understand his anxiety and had to ask, "Under what circumstances would you not be able to sense it?"
Fang Tian said, "When the host of the invisible flying demon is very close to me, and it's someone I absolutely wouldn't suspect, then I might not sense it. But your question just now made me realize."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Fang Tian, you don't think I've been invaded by the invisible flying demon, do you?"
Fang Tian's voice trembled, "It's not you; it's Nelson."
As soon as I heard Fang Tian say this, I jumped up without hesitation and delivered a punch, hitting Fang Tian's chin squarely, sending him sprawling backward!
I could tell Fang Tian's nerves were somewhat abnormal due to extreme stimulation. He claimed that Mr. Nelson had become the host of the invisible flying demon!
Wasn't this joke a bit too despicable? Did Fang Tian really believe that Nelson, who had just been resting, was already dead and that his actions were controlled by a foreign entity? And when that entity left him, would he die?
This was simply absurd!
I didn't regret my blow to Fang Tian just now, and I was ready to punch him again when he got up.
Fang Tian either saw that I still had my fist clenched or he fell too hard, as he couldn't get up. He trembled on the ground, saying, "Wes, you have to believe me, you must believe me!"
I shook my head vigorously. "Fang Tian, goodbye. The efforts Nelson and I made for you end here. Whether you can return to Saturn or not, we won't help a despicable blue-blood Saturnian like you anymore."
As I spoke, I walked towards the door, grabbed the handle, and turned back.