Chatting with Ras, He Kui followed her from the port onto a rather luxurious yacht. Being the head of Winslet Corporation, her father had generously rented out the entire vessel. The outside scenery was breathtaking, comparable to Panama's beauty in South America. However, the atmosphere was the main difference—lighthearted here, while in South America, joy came with a heavier undertone of resilience. People here savored the peace, though He Kui knew well how fragile and deceptive it was. Yet, the allure of peace attracted many, including the Winslets.
"Well, if there's nothing else, I'll head back now," He Kui said.
"Why do you always lock yourself in your room?" Ras, still watching the sea, grabbed his sleeve with a hint of dissatisfaction.
"...I'm working, Miss Ras," He Kui replied. "Combining the Baku with tank mechanisms requires extensive adjustments to its structure."
If He Kui put all his focus into it, he could complete the project quickly. But he was already multitasking. Not only was he refining the Haro device in his hand, but his presence was also required in South America for an upcoming operation. Efficiency was paramount—who knew when the Atlantic Federation might strike?
"Alright, Ras, don't hold your sister back from her work," Mr. Winslet intervened.
Unlike most, Winslet appreciated his daughter's dedication. As a CEO, he wished for more people like He Kui—efficient and reliable. The past few days had only increased his admiration for "Aegis."
"Thank you, Mr. Winslet."
"No, it's our pleasure. Having someone like you on the team is a privilege," Winslet replied with a hearty smile. "By the way, Miss Aegis, would you like to join our banquet tomorrow night?"
"Banquet?"
"Yes, we're celebrating the launch of our research division in Orb, and it'll be a grand event with several prominent clans attending."
The mention of "clans"—the true power holders in Orb—caught He Kui's attention. He hesitated; high-security events always came with the risk of detection, especially if his radar signal was identified. However, he figured the security would likely just block external signals without suspecting radar control or covert threats. It could be an invaluable opportunity to gather intelligence.
"If I sense any trouble from outside, I'll leave immediately," he thought before giving Winslet a slight nod.
"Thank you for the invitation, Mr. Winslet."
"Not at all," Winslet replied, visibly pleased. "Oh, we'll need to arrange formal attire—a dress, perhaps?"
"Actually, I'd prefer a suit, if that's alright."
Beyond the exposure risk, dresses simply weren't his style. He was no cross-dresser—he'd leave that to more theatrical personalities.
"Of course. It's your choice, Miss Aegis," Winslet agreed with a friendly nod, dropping the topic. Taking this as his cue, He Kui bowed and left.
With the yacht journey taking a full day to reach Orb's main island, he could fully focus on his activities in South America. Placing Aegis 2.0 on standby, he shifted to his Aegis unit in Panama, ready to depart.
"Elena, are you set?" he asked over the comms.
"Ready!"
The two Raider Assault units stood poised side by side in the hangar.
"I'll head out first. Our transport is already airborne."
Guided by the message on his wrist communicator, He Kui moved to the launch pad, his Raider ready for launch in jet mode. The initial boost from the catapult would send the Raider into flight mode, conserving battery power.
Launching into the night sky, he and his team used the clouds as cover. The shimmering wings of their machines occasionally glinted under the moonlight before vanishing once more into the mist, giving an almost phantom-like quality to their flight.
Moving from Colombia to Brazil would take some time, but as they neared the Amazon plains, their radars detected a strong energy signal near a rebel base in Katu.
"Prepare for combat," He Kui commanded.
"Yes, sir!" came the coordinated reply as the units began advancing toward the energy source.
"B1, deploy the Ginns within a safe range; A1 and A2 will provide cover."
The transport aircraft, B1, carried the Ginns, designated B2 through B5, while He Kui and Elena operated as A1 and A2.
"Roger that."
In the face of an imminent encounter, no one was in the mood for jokes.
"Curse those Atlantic Federation bastards! They're firing in our rainforest!" Elena muttered, her usual lightheartedness replaced by anger.
He Kui understood; for many locals, the rainforest was a cherished homeland. Actions like the Federation's, indiscriminately firing in the area, were akin to stabbing them where it hurt most. The only reason he hadn't been confronted about his own past transgressions was because they were on the same side now.
Based on heat signatures, one side was clearly using beam weapons, while the other relied on melee and standard firearms. There was no doubt which side held the upper hand: the Atlantic Federation's intervention in the rebel forces had been swift, likely direct involvement cloaked under the guise of "Blue Cosmos support."
"Elena, don't be reckless. Focus on covering the Ginns."
"I know," she replied, frustration evident but compliant.
As soon as her voice faded, He Kui's radar emitted an urgent alert. It was a specialized system he had installed to detect mirage particles—a small thermal presence without a corresponding machine signal would trigger it.
It could be a false alarm, but He Kui wasn't willing to take the risk.
"Disperse, now!"
Reacting instantly, his team split in a fan formation. A second later, a plasma c
annon's red beam sliced through the clouds near them, narrowly missing the group.