On the Homeworld, on a small island in the Pacific Ocean.
Here, a mysterious base stood. Deep within its most secure room, two white men were watching a video.
If Landon Lu were here, he would immediately recognize that the protagonist of the video was himself, with the hundred soldiers of the 96th Division Guard Company as supporting cast.
The video finished playing.
One of the white men, middle-aged, asked, "Baker, can you tell what method he used to hypnotize those hundred soldiers?"
Baker, the other middle-aged white man, frowned and fell into thought. After a long moment, he shook his head. "I can't tell how he hypnotized those hundred soldiers, but I am certain the hypnosis was completed in an instant."
"Then what level do you think his psychic power has reached?" the first white man continued.
"At least three-star, maybe even four-star. He's a genius Psychic Adept," Baker said with certainty.
The first white man suddenly spoke in a mysterious tone, "What if I told you that this young man named Landon Lu is, at most, a two-star Psychic Adept—would you believe it?"
"Luther, you're not joking, are you?" Baker looked at him and asked.
"You know my personality. I don't joke around," Luther shrugged and said in a deep voice.
"That's impossible!" Baker's tone suddenly grew agitated. "A two-star Psychic Adept could never hypnotize a hundred War-General-level soldiers in such a short time!"
"Here's Landon Lu's file. Take a look!"
Luther handed a document to Baker.
Baker opened the file and began reading it carefully.
After a long while, Baker put down the document and looked at Luther. "Are you saying he's mastered the practical use of the human magnetic-field frequency theory?"
"It's very possible," Luther nodded seriously.
"So what do you plan to do?" Baker asked again.
"We have to obtain—no, we have to master the human magnetic-field frequency. For Blue Blood, this is a tremendous opportunity. If we master the practical application of this theory, Blue Blood's power will expand tremendously!" Luther's eyes grew feverish as he spoke.
"But don't forget, he's still a Special Police Minister protected by the Federation government," Baker said.
Luther sneered, "A Special Police Minister means nothing. Our organization has people working in the Federation government too. In fact, there's a high-ranking member stationed right on the Tenth Natural Planet—maybe he can help us solve this problem."
............
Mesa City, Spring Moon Tavern.
On the second floor by the window, Landon Lu sat there, leisurely sipping wine and nibbling on appetizers.
After the military-police clash, Spring Moon Tavern became famous throughout Mesa City. Business was booming, and Madam Spring was busy every day, barely finding time to rest. Just yesterday, she hired two more waiters.
"You seem to be enjoying yourself, sir. Mind if I join you at your table?"
A neutral voice sounded, impossible to tell if it was male or female. Landon looked up and saw a clean-cut young man standing there with a gentle smile.
A woman disguised as a man?
Though he was suspicious, Landon chose not to use his Clairvoyant Vision to check. He simply said, "Please, be my guest."
Soon, the waiter brought over the dishes the newcomer ordered.
"Brother Lu, a toast to you." Victor Tang raised his glass gracefully.
"Cheers."
Landon raised his glass...
"How should I address you, brother?" Victor Tang asked after putting down his glass.
Landon looked at him with a half-smile. "My name is Landon Lu."
"That's a good name, Brother Lu. I am Victor Tang."
"So it's Brother Tang. Let me toast you as well." Landon smiled and raised his glass.
Back and forth, the two grew more familiar. Victor Tang asked again, "Brother Lu, how do you view the relationship between outsiders and the residents of this planet?"
Victor Tang's gaze sharpened, locking onto Landon.
"Just invaders and the invaded, that's all," Landon said slowly.
Victor Tang's eyes lit up. "You call them invaders, Brother Lu—does that mean you disagree with what they're doing?"
Landon gave Victor Tang a deep look. He was almost certain now—this person was one of the planet's resistance fighters, though a bit reckless to come asking such questions.
"No!" Landon met Victor Tang's gaze and shook his head. "I only believe one thing: if you fall behind, you get beaten; if you're weak, you get bullied."
Victor Tang frowned. "What do you mean by that, Brother Lu?"
Landon downed his wine in one gulp. "It's simple—just the literal meaning. If the planet's natives were strong enough, advanced enough in technology, would the Federation dare invade? They fell behind, they became weak, so the Federation's army came, took over, and became the rulers here."
Victor Tang frowned deeply. "So by your logic, weakness itself is a kind of original sin?"
Landon smiled. "Of course weakness isn't an original sin. No one starts out strong—you grow from weakness. Take the Federation Empire: centuries ago, they were just like the people of this planet, stuck on their homeworld. But a few centuries later, they're rulers of eleven planets. That shows the Federation Empire is always getting stronger."
Victor Tang looked thoughtful. After a long pause, he seemed to understand something, picked up his wine. "A single conversation with you is worth ten years of study. Brother Lu, let me toast you again!"
"Cheers."
After finishing the drink, Victor Tang took his leave. Watching him go, Landon wondered what role this man played among the resistance.
Mesa City, in an unremarkable private residence.
Four people sat together, one of them was Victor Tang, who had just parted ways with Landon Lu.
"Sixth Young Master, what instructions do you have for us this time?" Darren Fu asked impatiently.
"Young Master Fu, the Sixth Young Master called you here for a meeting. Are you dissatisfied?" The sharp-faced young man said coldly. He disliked Darren Fu, having sent him fifty thousand credits this week, but Darren always complained it wasn't enough and kept demanding more.
After secretly following Darren Fu, he discovered the man was spending the money on wine and women.
He confronted Darren Fu on the spot, but Darren retorted confidently that he was using the money to win over government officials and pave the way for his own promotion.
Darren Fu was startled and quickly said, "Don't be ridiculous. How could I be dissatisfied with the Sixth Young Master?"
"Enough. The main reason I gathered everyone today is to announce the cancellation of our upcoming assassination plans," Victor Tang said solemnly.
Old Gan and the sharp-faced youth were both shocked. "Sixth Young Master, why?"
"Old Gan, Brother Shi, let me ask you: if we assassinate all the high officials in Mesa City, will the city fall into our hands?" Victor Tang asked, looking at the two.
"Probably not," Old Gan said hesitantly.
Victor Tang replied firmly, "Definitely not. If a high official dies, the outsiders will just send another. Worse, it will only anger them and make them crack down on us even harder!"