Leaving the medical bay, everyone was ready to head to the canteen when General Kaiser spotted them.
"Oh, the chief is here! How's your check-up?" General Kaiser asked, concern evident in his voice.
Ethan was one of the best military professionals he had worked with, and he greatly appreciated this young man.
"It's all good now, General. Tomorrow we'll go to the city for a comprehensive check-up," Ethan replied.
"That's good to hear! Since you're planning to leave tomorrow, let's have dinner along with your colleagues and your wife. By the way, what's your name, young lady?" the General said, relieved by Ethan's condition and eager to invite them for a farewell dinner.
"General, you can call me Elena," she responded.
"Oh, nice name! General is too formal; you can call me Uncle Kaiser."
"Okay," Elena replied, a smile on her face.
Seeing how Elena didn't flinch at his aura—one that usually intimidated seasoned warriors on the battlefield—General Kaiser was impressed.
"Brat, you really chose a good wife," he remarked.
"Of course," Ethan said, looking at Elena with affection.
Everyone noticed this exchange and couldn't help but smirk, thinking that whenever someone asked about his wife, he always answered with enthusiasm.
"General, if you insist, then let's go," Ethan agreed.
They walked and chatted together, soon arriving at the Abbot's tent. Brother Elias immediately invited them in. Sensing that the food was ready, they took their seats and began to eat.
Ethan introduced Brother Elias to Elena, wondering why the Abbot had kept glancing at his wife earlier.
"Wife, this is Brother Elias from the monastery," he said.
"Hello, sir. I'm Elena. Thank you for inviting us," she said respectfully and politely.
Ethan was puzzled by Elena's demeanor. He believed this was the first time they had met. As he watched them chatting happily, he felt more confused. Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind—perhaps his wife had seen the Abbot in her dreams.
"So you're here for business?" Brother Elias asked, intrigued.
"Yes, my school is doing charity work, and I wanted to buy livestock here to donate to the poor villages," Elena replied.
"You're such a good young lady. Doing good deeds—Heaven's will definitely reward you," he said with a warm smile.
"Just a small matter," Elena modestly replied.
After their conversation, Brother Elias shifted his focus to Ethan's recent situation.
"So, you're leaving tomorrow?" he inquired.
Ethan nodded, his expression turning serious. "I believe whatever lies here, Brother Elias, is far more dangerous than you all can handle. I suggest you immediately contact formidable backup. Based on my experience, those unknown beasts have few weaknesses. They are agile and strong, capable of obliterating anyone and rendering guns useless."
"Your information is greatly appreciated. I have a feeling things might not be as simple as we think. We must prepare," Brother Elias replied, his tone grave.
He then looked at Elena, a smile on his face as he probed further. "What do you think, young lady?"
Elena answered calmly, "I agree. One must always prepare for any circumstances. We might not know if chaos erupts from nowhere. Based on the unknown beasts that roam freely, I think it's safe to say that the world might be changing, and we need to start preparing immediately."
The Abbot felt the weight of her words. "Hmm, indeed, the constant change in this world is alarming. Maybe it is really time for preparation."
Elena wanted to urge them to prepare as soon as possible because she knew the apocalypse was coming. However, she didn't want to draw too much attention to herself. She had already given them a hint; it was up to them to take action.
The Abbot grew curious and asked, "You mentioned we should be wary of the Heathers. What does that mean?"
Elena smiled and replied, "Literally. Both of us know what they are capable of. Don't trust them. They will try to infiltrate the military sooner or later. It's up to you whether to stop them or not."
General Kaiser regarded Elena with a profound look.
How did she know that the military and the Heather family were discussing a confidential project?
He was intrigued.
Had Ethan told her? It seemed impossible; Ethan would never divulge secrets and involved his beloved wife.
Brother Elias turned to Elena and said, "Yes, they are indeed suspicious. Thank you, Miss, for your warning."
The project that the Heather family was discussing with the military involved building a secret facility. Brother Elias knew the Heather family didn't have a construction company, so how had this deal been awarded to them?
Everyone sat in thoughtful silence, processing their emotions as they savored their dinner.
"Thank you for the meal," Ethan said, finishing his plate.
"Take good care of yourself, brat. Text me the results of your examination tomorrow," General Kaiser replied, his tone both caring and authoritative.
After they left, Ethan turned to Elena and asked, "You seem so enthusiastic about seeing the General and the Abbot?"
"They are among the few people who will resist the alien invasion in my dreams. They are good people," Elena explained.
"Oh, then let's stay in touch with them more," Ethan suggested.
Elena nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, the Abbot was speaking to General Kaiser with a serious demeanor. "I believe that the young lady knows something. We should get in touch with them more."
"Do you think she was the woman in your vision?" General Kaiser asked, intrigued.
"Probably. There's a strong chance she is the one we are looking for, and my gut tells me we should get closer to them," Brother Elias replied.
"Well, I kind of like this brat and his wife. Let's get to know them better once we finish this case," the General said, a hint of admiration in his voice.
"Hmm, tomorrow we should go to the area where the chief encountered that mutated beast. Afterward, we can return to the military camp to warn the higher-ups about our findings. I also want to see what this confidential building the Heather family and the military are working on," Brother Elias concluded, his mind already racing with possibilities.
****
The next morning, a helicopter landed at City A Hospital. Elena then assisted Ethan as he made his way to the ward for a thorough examination. While waiting, she wandered to another section of the hospital and spotted Vivian with a man.
Curiosity piqued, and Elena approached them. "Vivi, what are you guys doing here?"
Upon seeing Elena, Vivian shot her a glare, still seething from the humiliation she had suffered at the banquet. Just a few days ago, their family had been the subject of ridicule at a party. Now, with Elena in front of her, Vivian dropped any pretense of politeness.
"What do you care?" Vivian snapped, her tone dripping with anger.
Elena could see that Vivian was no longer hiding her true colors.
"Of course I care for you, Vivi. You're my precious little sister. Aren't you?" Elena replied, feigning sweetness.
"Who's your sister? I don't want to be. You destroyed my reputation, and now you're here pretending to care for me as if what you've done is just a joke," Vivian retorted, her voice rising.
As people began to gather, Vivian quickly devised a scheme to portray Elena as a bad sister.
Let's see if you can defend yourself.
Elena, noticing the crowd, remained calm. "Vivi, I know you're a good girl! Loving someone is great, but knowing he already has a fiancée? That's a dangerous game. You might think it's exciting, but you're really just causing pain for everyone, including yourself."
She aimed to present herself as the caring sister while subtly accusing Vivian of cheating.
Someone from the crowd, whose boyfriend cheated on her, relate to Elena's words, shouted, "So in short, she's cheating!"
Gasps rippled through the onlookers.
Marcus, sensing Vivian's disadvantage, quickly jumped to her defense. "Miss, I don't know what you're talking about. My ex-fiancée and I have already annulled our engagement."
Elena looked at Marcus with disgust. This man had no dignity. "Oh, you mean you just annulled your engagement a few days ago while cheating with my sister for a couple of months already? What a gentleman you are! Don't portray yourself as a good man. You're trash in this society. Shame on you."
Then she turned her gaze to her cousin. "And you, don't act like a white lotus. We all know how dark your conscience is. You two are a perfect match—one shameless and the other a scumbag."
Before Vivian and Marcus could respond, a head nurse approached, her voice firm. "This is not a public market. Everyone go back to your wards."
With that, only Elena, Vivian, and Marcus remained in the corner of the ward. The head nurse warned them to keep quiet or she would call security.