The Far Horizon began to descend after flying to a snow-covered mountain peak.
It was a vast mountain range, once called the Alps, but now part of Earth's fourth-largest natural scenic reserve.
After descending to a height of two thousand meters above the ground, the Far Horizon entered a hovering state.
A flying car flew out from the belly of the Far Horizon and circled in the air before flying towards a distant city.
Sitting in the car, Clarice looked at Reno.
He was driving, his expression focused on the road ahead.
Clarice couldn't help but say, "I'm curious."
"What?" Reno asked.
"How did you know I was there? I mean, you couldn't have been waiting at the hotel for me all this time, but when the secret police came, you were already there waiting for them, and you were prepared for everything... It seems like you know a lot about the movements of those secret police," Clarice said.
After thinking for a moment, Reno replied, "I placed a tracker on you, so I could know your every move... I don't know their movements, but I know yours."
Clarice's face immediately changed.
She exclaimed, "You tracked me? You mean you guessed from the beginning that all this would happen and then used me as bait? You jerk!"
She swung her fist at Reno.
Reno scrambled to defend himself, "Hey, hey, I'm driving, don't mess around!"
The flying car made several large arcs in the air, nearly colliding with a nearby vehicle, which elicited a string of curses from the other driver.
Reno struggled to stabilize the car and said loudly, "Hey, Austen, it's not what you think!"
He grabbed Clarice's arm and said, "I did guess that the secret police might come for you, but it was just a possibility, you understand? I'm not one of the secret police, I don't know them, and I can't be sure what they'll do. I put a tracker on you because I was worried about you, afraid that something might happen to you, so I was prepared. I swear to God, I never intended to use you as bait!"
Clarice finally stopped her attack.
She looked at Reno skeptically, "Is everything you're saying true?"
"Absolutely, Austen, you know I couldn't predict how things would unfold, it's impossible to predict such things," Reno replied. By now, they had entered the city, and the flying car merged into the traffic flow, blending in.
Reno aimlessly drove the car while answering Clarice's questions, "I did consider whether to let you go to the police station, but I knew that if I let you follow me in our escape, first, I couldn't take care of you, and second, you would only hate me for pulling you into this, making you a fugitive. I couldn't let a good girl like you be wronged like that, I have an obligation to help you clear this up. So I let you go to the police station... I hoped even more than you did that nothing would happen."
He turned to look at Clarice, his gaze sincere, "I know you suffered inside, scared and worried, but I swear to God, that wasn't my intention. When I found out you were caught by them, I was hoping you'd quickly tell me the name of that hotel... Luckily, you finally did."
"And it didn't take long for you to give in," Clarice grumbled, "I used to think I was a strong and brave woman, but reality showed me how weak and incompetent I am."
"Don't say that, Austen, you're a good girl, blood and death don't belong to you."
"What about now? Will they still come for me?" Clarice asked.
Reno smiled, "Don't worry, I promise they won't bother you again."
"Why?" Clarice was puzzled.
Reno's face darkened, "Because they have to deal with their own troubles first."
Seeing Reno's stern expression, Clarice finally realized what he meant.
She exclaimed in shock, "You're going after them? No, Reno, you can't do that, you're just one person, even with your superpowers, you're no match for them!"
Clarice already understood Reno's superpowers quite well; dealing with just one infiltrator had almost exhausted him. Compared to the powerful and terrifying machinery of the state, this power was still too weak.
At least for now.
But Reno shook his head, "No, Austen, I have to go after them."
"Why?"
"Because my comrades are still in their hands, I have to rescue them," Reno replied.
"But that's too dangerous for you!" Clarice blurted out.
Then she saw the look in Reno's eyes.
It was a gaze full of strength.
Determined, resolute, fearless of everything!
In that moment of seeing this gaze, Clarice suddenly understood.
She knew that whatever she said wouldn't matter, Reno had made up his mind.
She couldn't make a captain abandon his crew to escape alone!
She didn't try to persuade Reno to give up.
After circling in the air for a while, the flying car finally landed on the top floor of a mall.
Reno opened the car door for Clarice.
He said, "I'll leave you here."
Clarice got out of the car, she looked back at Reno.
The two of them locked eyes.
Wanting to say something, but having nothing to say.
Feeling somewhat helpless, Clarice shook her head and took a few steps back.
She turned to leave.
Just then, Clarice's personal terminal suddenly lit up.
Clarice glanced at it; it was an unfamiliar number.
Opening the terminal, a deep voice sounded, "Boss, is that you?"
Upon hearing this voice, Reno, who was about to drive away, trembled all over and blurted out, "Stark!"
Even though they were far apart, Stark heard it from the other end of the terminal.
He let out a hearty laugh, "It's good to hear your voice again."
Reno had jumped down from the car and arrived beside Clarice, taking the terminal from her, "Stark, are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine, boss."
"Damn it, I tried to contact you yesterday but couldn't get through."
"I drank too much and fell asleep, just realized someone was trying to contact me."
"Damn, I thought something happened to you. But how did you know this number was me trying to reach you?"
"Jia told me."
"Nora?" Hearing this name, Reno shuddered all over.
After a moment of stunned silence, he said, "Is she with you? Is she alright?"
"She was chased by some men in black, Claire was captured. She ran into me while escaping and got a little injured. After talking with her, I learned that everyone on the Abrodyne may be in danger."
"Let me talk to Nora."
"Hehe, boss, you're still so cautious, you know Nora won't talk to you in a one-on-one situation."
Reno breathed a long sigh of relief.
From this expression, Clarice could tell that this time it was genuine.
Although she couldn't quite understand why.
Then Reno asked, "You also encountered men in black?"
"Of course." Stark replied non
chalantly, "But I drove them away."
"Why didn't you contact me earlier?" Reno was puzzled.
Stark replied nonchalantly, "I thought they were just robbers."
"..."
In any case, based on this response, Reno could be sure that Stark definitely wasn't an infiltrator disguised as Stark.
Unless reminded in advance, robots would never give such an answer, and the higher the intelligence of the robot, the less likely it would be.
They could simulate intelligence, but they could never simulate personality.
Having a personality meant having a self, which meant there was a possibility of rebellion.
Reno asked, "Are you still in New Darwin City?"
"Yes, but Nora said the terminal might be monitored, so she didn't want me to say that. She wants you to go to the Insomnia Paradise, we'll be waiting there."
"Insomnia Paradise..." Reno paused slightly, his eyes misting over, as if he had sunk into some distant memory.
After a while, a smile appeared on his face.
He said, "I understand."
"Stay in touch." Stark hung up the phone.
Putting down the terminal, Reno looked at Clarice.
Clarice said, "It seems I can't leave for the time being?"
A happy smile spread across her face.