"He might be a madman, but he's an idealistic madman."
After saying these words, Jiu felt there was no point in saying more. He slowly stood up and turned to find Miles still watching him.
Jiu smiled slightly, "You know? The power and money you speak of are meaningless in Master's eyes. They are merely tools to preserve your life."
The greasy man was clearly on the same level as Jiu; he didn't blindly follow Jiu, but instead crossed his arms and watched, with a look of amusement.
Faced with his indifference, Jiu's heart was a complex mix of emotions. Suddenly, a loud voice broke the brief silence.
"Do you know who I am? Dare to be so rude?" Miles questioned, his words reverberating in the air, seeming less like an attempt to domineer and more like revealing a deeply buried secret.
Jiu was silent for a long time, then slowly lifted his head, eyes glistening with profound sorrow, "I don't know you."
Miles sneered, "Even Joseph, when alive, didn't dare to easily challenge me. You, being his subordinate, what qualifications do you have to be arrogant before me?" His words were like a barrage that struck at the heart of Jiu. The entire place was in an uproar; the greasy man was especially shocked, never having heard that Jiu was Joseph's brother.
A trace of surprise crossed Miles' eyes; he hadn't expected Joseph to tell Jiu this secret.
Suddenly, he burst into laughter, the refined mask completely torn off, replaced by ruthlessness and cunning, "Since you know this secret, do you still dare speak to me like this?"
Jiu calmly replied, "Your specialness is merely due to Joseph's nightmare. That's because of parental unfairness; he favored you more, indulging you in bullying Joseph and even using him for experiments." The middle-aged man's face showed contempt, "People like you, when will you understand that vying for attention is also a form of intelligence?" Everyone was silent, with no one rebutting.
Jiu stared intently at Miles, eyes deep, "Miles, do you really think you can leave easily this time?" Miles' face was full of pride, "Of course, otherwise why would I waste words with you here?" Jiu stood quietly for a moment, knowing full well that Miles held a heavy hand, able to control everyone's life or death present.
"Your confidence, does it come from your ability to control the life and death of these people?" Jiu's face showed a mocking smile. Miles' face slightly changed, but quickly regained his arrogance, "Precisely, else? Do you think you alone can stop us?" The device in his hand could detonate the bombs on those people's bodies at any time.
Jiu gently shook his head, "I alone certainly can't keep you, even following teacher's plan, we didn't have the determination to completely keep you."
Miles' face showed a smug smile, yet Jiu suddenly asked, "Miles, does imitating Joseph truly have meaning?" Miles' face showed confusion and mockery, "Do you still believe your master is invincible and want to elevate his image through me?"
Jiu's eyes no longer held the desolation, only coldness, "You know, Joseph left everyone who died due to betrayal a chance, but human nature as it is, the given chance is never seized." He stared directly at Miles, that semblance of control in Miles' smile gradually disappearing.
"Who exactly are you? How do you know me so well?" Miles' voice was low and trembling.
Jiu laughed, "You lost because of confidence." He murmured softly, "Teacher, thank you for giving me the second choice."
Death felt close at hand for Miles, Jiu's smile instilling a sense of fear in him.
"Farewell, my dear father." Jiu's words left Miles utterly shocked.
A father who couldn't recognize his own son, who wanted to kill his son, how immense is such sorrow.
With Jiu's words falling, the entire base was met with a massive explosion.
Jiu didn't dismantle the bomb, just took control of the detonation in his own hands.
Amidst the flickering gold light came familiar Xia Country words, "I*!"
Lin Beichen watched the sudden explosion and wondered if he was being retaliated against by the Heavenly Dao.
He quickly cast out streaks of golden light to save people; fortunately, he hadn't brought Flying Eagle and others along.
Meanwhile, outside the base, Five, witnessing the base's explosion, showed a bitter smile; as Joseph's disciple, he naturally knew the plan and anticipated Jiu's choice of betrayal.
At that moment, two people ran up behind Five, Asia's brothers and Black Robe. They looked at the exploding base in shock, yet Five calmly remarked, "Jiu and his father went down together, hatred truly is a terrifying thing."
Asia's brother was silent for a moment, mentioning Asia but then stopping.
Five, thinking of that clever fellow, also fell silent; he was present at the time but didn't assist because he had to follow Joseph's arrangement.
On the other hand, upon hearing the broadcast, Lin Beichen and others hurriedly lined up to board the plane, leaving this place of trouble.
Officials warmly bid them farewell because this old man, who had plagued the country for years, was finally dead.
Amidst the chaos and sorrow, the story reached its endpoint, leaving only the distant echoes and endless contemplation.
Upon arriving at the destination, only Lin Beichen's party was there waiting, naturally, they were treated as honored guests.
Lin Beichen secretly anticipated the high praise upon his return, having successfully fostered friendly relations between the two countries, despite that country's somewhat strained economy.
Dr. Zhou closely followed Lin Beichen, showing a face of relief after narrowly escaping disaster.
Recalling that moment, he and a few soldiers inside the base, the sudden explosion made him think he was about to meet his fate at Yellow Springs.