A Strange Phone Call


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    I watched nervously as they went down. We could barely see anything below us. The sky was so dark it was nearly ck.


    As Iy there looking down, As silently embraced me tightly.


    "Are you sure my dad is here, As?" I asked, feeling inexplicably tense. "Why can''t we find him?"


    After all, we had been searching for so long but hadn''t been able to find a precise location. Wasn''t that strange?


    "He must be here. But Navi is cunning. The more elusive he is, the more it shows that things aren''t simple. Your father must be hiding some secrets." As''s expression was solemn. "He rushed back here overnight, so this ce must be important. And think about it: what''s the crucial point?"


    "...It''s my dad!" I answered.


    "So he came back here because of him."


    As continued his analysis. "And what does it mean that Non-Organization peoplee here regrly? Someone here must bemunicating with them. Navi rushed back overnight, which didn''t make sense, and people from the Non-Organization reached Trestlewood as well. All this proves that this ce is extremely important!"


    "Then why did you say there''s not enough time? Are you worried that Navi will hand my dad over to the Non-Organization?" I asked.


    "It''s not just that..."


    Before As could say anything else, his phone suddenly lit up in the darkness. We looked at the screen and saw a code. He abruptly sat up and answered. I heard the Cirencesternguage being spoken on the other end.


    The dazzling screen light shone on his face, making his angr features appear even colder, as if they were covered in frost.


    Before he finished listening to the person on the phone, he muttered something, and I could sense his displeasure from his tone. His furrowed brow was as cold as ice. He was fluent in the Cirencesternguage, and his tone was unquestionable. It seemed he was angry.


    Sweat inexplicably formed in the palm of my hand. His expression made me feel uneasy.


    Atst, I heard him utter one more terrifying statement before ending the call abruptly.


    After he hung up, he was silent for a while. I tentatively asked, "Who was that?"


    "That was General Xavier."


    I looked at him doubtfully. Judging from As''s expression when he answered the phone, it seemed that General Xavier''s call had displeased him. Had they argued with one another?


    "Looks like we still need to go in to take action," As muttered to himself.


    "Is there... a disagreement?" I asked with some concern.


    "No. Since Navi is colluding with the Non-Organization, it''s putting pressure on the Triple Alliance. The Triple Alliance instructed General Xavier to suppress the external


    el.ne


    financial consortiums to pro


    common interests of the three


    the


    parties," As said. "Their purpose in doing so is to restrain General


    Xavier."


    "Restrain Xavier? Are they trying to get him to disengage from the financial consortiums to protect their private interests?" I asked.


    "Not entirely." As shook his head.From N?velDrama.Org.


    "They want to make Xavier betray his trust. That''s what they fear most, because if General Xavier interacts with the financial consortiums, it will be unstoppable. After all, Navi has already made many people in the business district very unhappy.


    "Is Navi trying to use the Triple Alliance to sanction General Xavier? Then we''ll be left without any help, won''t we?" I felt anxious. If we didn''t have Xavier''s assistance, As''s power would undoubtedly be weakened.


    We could deal with just Navi, but once he colluded with the Non-Organization, and if the Triple Alliancepromised and suppressed Xavier, this rescue mission would fail.


    Then, my dad would be entirely controlled by the Non-Organization.


    This was not good news.


    "What did Xavier''s attitude tell you?" I asked, a little unsettled.


    As''s tone was very confident as he said, "General Xavier is determined to eliminate Navi this time, so he ignored it. He''s already cut off the Triple Alliance''smunication channels."


    "General Xavier has taken a strong stance. He''s joined forces with several influential forces within the alliance and wants to eliminate Navi directly in one fell swoop. Navi is a sly one. There''s no way he''s not feeling the pressure."


    As nced at me and said very confidently That''s also why Navi didn''t dare make the exchange so easily with us. Judging from General Xavier''s call, it seems that Navihas put himself in a difficult situation. He''s made a fatal mistake!"


    "Why do you say that?" I asked, in some confusion.