Chapter 148: Condition

His drunk uncle was incredibly heavy. Luckily, Zhang Wenda was stronger now. Otherwise, he would have had a hard time navigating the paths of the Internet World.

Back at his own place, Zhang Wenda stared at his uncle. It felt like he was dreaming. His uncle was actually a member of the Big Circle, and it looked like he'd been with them for a long time.

But Zhang Wenda knew the Big Circle's good days were numbered. As mentioned before, Bureau 507 would likely be closing the net soon. And his uncle, without a doubt, would be caught in it.

"Keep an eye on him for me. If he gets thirsty, remember to give him a glass of water." After leaving these instructions regarding Song Jianguo, Zhang Wenda immediately went out to find Hu Maomao.

The entire cavalry unit was full of his own people, so after asking a few of them, Zhang Wenda found Hu Maomao's home.

Hu Maomao's home was also in a tube-style apartment building, but it looked older and more dilapidated. Black vines crept from below the building, wrapping around a power line.

The decor inside was simple. Though it looked like a single room, stepping in revealed a three-bedroom, two-living-room layout.

"I need an explanation," Zhang Wenda said to Hu Maomao, who was inside the room, hugging a one-eyed doll.

"An explanation for what?"

"You told me they were prepared, but Bureau 507 wasn't prepared at all! Not only were they not ready, but they dragged my Teacher Rabbit into it! I need an explanation!"

Hu Maomao set the doll down. "Do you really think your uncle showing up there was a coincidence? Do you really think he could have gotten there so fast if no one had told him?"

"Then what about my Teacher Rabbit? Why was she on Third Line territory?! She isn't one of you Third Line people! I risked my life to turn her back into a person! She was supposed to be able to live a normal life! Why drag her into this?!"

This time, Hu Maomao didn't argue. "That was our mistake. Tang Xingxiong's actions were completely random. We didn't anticipate it."

"I don't need an apology! I don't want to see Teacher Rabbit on your territory ever again! Understand?!" Zhang Wenda's voice couldn't help but grow louder.

"Understood. I will pass on your message."

After saying his piece, Zhang Wenda didn't leave. His voice softened slightly as he asked, "How is Teacher Rabbit now? Is she hurt?"

"She's fine. She wasn't among the people you tortured earlier," Hu Maomao replied.

Hearing this, Zhang Wenda finally let out a small sigh of relief. "Good. Use your mind-control ability to get a message to Teacher Rabbit for me. Tell her to go back to her work at the Youth Palace and not worry. And to stay away from the Third Line from now on. It's too dangerous here."

'Whether she was trying to help me or had some other reason, I really don't need her help here. Right now, she'd only be making things worse.'

"I can do that. Is there anything else? If not, you should go. Staying here too long will make them suspicious."

"One more thing." Zhang Wenda nodded emphatically. "What exactly is my uncle's relationship with you people? How does he know not only Tang Xingxiong and Liu Jianming, but you as well?"

"Your uncle is an outgoing person." After this short sentence, Hu Maomao said no more, and the two just stared at each other.

"That's it? That's all? Are you messing with me? You think I can't tell? You were clearly happy during dinner too! Aren't you undercover on a mission, just like me? How could you be personal friends with my uncle?"

"Because we've always been friends." Hu Maomao's words made Zhang Wenda's expression freeze.

"Stop joking. How could you possibly be friends?"

"Do you know much about your uncle's past? What right do you have to say that?" Hu Maomao floated into the air, looking down on Zhang Wenda.

"You think the people in the Big Circle and the Third Line are absolute enemies. You think it's a life-and-death struggle between us, that we'd love nothing more than to throttle each other."

"But what you don't know is that our fathers were comrades who went through life and death together, companions who shared every trial! Our mothers used to gossip and play mahjong together, relying on each other and helping out whenever there was trouble!"

"We were kids who used to roughhouse and play together in the family courtyards! We were partners who walked home from school together! We were friends who watched movies and spent countless days and nights together!! What do you know?! You're just a little brat!"

Hu Maomao's voice was filled with irrepressible anger. It was the first time Zhang Wenda had ever seen the quiet, taciturn Hu Maomao say so much.

Her words were full of rage, but within that rage was a hint of catharsis and helplessness.

After a long three seconds, Zhang Wenda spoke. "Then why did it turn out like this? You were all friends since childhood, so why did you have to split into two factions, bent on destroying each other?"

Hu Maomao floated back down, sat on the stool, and gently cradled the doll in her arms again. "Because we grew up."

"We're not children anymore. Once you grow up, you have to learn to take responsibility for your choices."

Hearing this, Zhang Wenda asked, "So even if my uncle is your friend, he's also your enemy? When Bureau 507 makes its move, you'll go for the kill against my uncle too? Right?"

Hu Maomao didn't speak, but her silence was its own answer.

'Even if they were friends, even if they had feelings for each other, different stances were different stances.'

Zhang Wenda had already guessed the answer before he came, but having it confirmed still made him tense up.

After a moment of thought, Zhang Wenda's gaze became firm. "Help me tell 2826 that I need to change the terms of my deal with Bureau 507. I don't need the benefits, the change in status, any of it. I have only one condition: when you close the net, let my uncle go."

As for what happened to the previous generation to make things end up this way, Zhang Wenda didn't care anymore. What was done was done.

He was just worried about his uncle's situation. He didn't want his uncle to continue down this dark path, only to end up in a life-or-death struggle against his own friends.

Even if his uncle managed to get out alive, he didn't want him to live like a rat, always hiding in the shadows.

Hearing this, Hu Maomao looked as if she'd heard something unbelievable. "You? You want to save your uncle? Haven't you noticed he's better than you in every way, from strength to emotional intelligence?"

"Yes, he's skilled. He's stronger than me. But that's precisely why you'll be even less likely to let him go, right?"

Hu Maomao fell silent again, seemingly admitting this fact.

"I'll get you the intel, and you let my uncle off the hook. I'll pay the debt he owes."

"Are you sure? 'The player is lost, the spectator sees clear.' Perhaps I should remind you that, whether you've noticed it or not, your actions are starting to be influenced by your true feelings."

"I don't care. I can give up everything else. I only have this one condition. As long as you agree, I'm willing to risk my life for it!"

'I can figure out a way to restore my identity later. At least that won't kill me. But I have to solve my uncle's problem first.'

Seeing her still hesitating, Zhang Wenda immediately tried another angle. "Just tell me, yes or no! Aren't you my uncle's friend? You grew up with him! Do you really want to see him damned beyond redemption? Do you really want him to go down with the Big Circle?"

Whether it was because Zhang Wenda's words moved her or because of her friendship with his uncle, Hu Maomao took off the tinfoil hat on her head, closed her eyes, and began to communicate remotely by controlling someone's mind.