It shouldn’t have been possible for someone to obtain the contact details of a military-issuedm. By default, they blocked all iing contacts from unknown sources. This prevented them from being influenced by malicious code and annoying ads.


    Not even most of the Vandals possessed the privileges to send a message to hism. The only ones who possessed the necessary qualifications would either have to be a chief technician, a mech designer or a senior officer. As for the rank-and-file, Ves wasn’t interested in hearing them out.


    For Cbast to obtain his contact details, she either retained the services of an extremely skilled hacker, or she essed them of one of those people mentioned above.


    Ves grimaced even further. Cbast not only had the ability to contact him willy-nilly, she also knew about their escape n. "The thing is, even if there’s an issue with The Big Breakout, why are you approaching me of all people?"


    "Don’t overvalue yourself. You’re not the only one who we’ve approached." Cbast replied with a calm smirk. "Even without your assistance, my goals can still be met. Contacting you is just an afterthought."


    Though it was hard to determine Cbast’s intentions, his intuition told him she was mixing truth with lies. His business sense told him that Cbast attempted to gain the upper hand in an uing negotiation.


    A negotiation meant a bargaining process. Each side wanted something from the other side, but neither side was aware of each other’s limits. The best negotiations resulted in a win-win situation for both sides. However, if one side bargained too well while the other side let themselves get ripped off, a win-lose situation could easily ur.


    An important weapon in any bargaining process was information. If one side possessed more information about the limits and intentions of the other side, they gained an inestimable advantage. They could use their superior information to extract the maximum amount of value out of the other side while minimizing the price they needed to pay in return.


    Right now, Ves knew that he possessed a very distinct disadvantage in this area. Even as the temporary head designer of the Vandal task force, Major Verle had never initiated Ves into his inner circle.


    The Vandals of the outer circle usually yed fast and loose with the rules. However, it was a very different matter when it came to the inner circle. Each member of the inner circle kept their lips sealed on the secrets they learned. If not for being more perceptive than others, Ves would have never been aware of this undercurrent hiding underneath the mech regiment’s facade.


    "Miss Cbast, let’s not be too obtuse here. You contacting me definitely means you’re out to get something from me. I’m not too keen on interacting with a suspected terrorist such as you. The blood on your hands must be enough to fill Harkensen I’s oceans."


    The woman carefully maintained her expression. She did not exhibit a single micro-expression on her face, a sign of extremely diligent training. "There are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests. Whatever you think about me, it won’t benefit you at all if you keep up your hostility to me. Let me remind you that The Big Breakout that your allies are brewing in the dark can only seed in a single shot. Once you fail, the Reinaldans won’t let those spacecraft linger at Tecev City’s spaceport."


    She had a good point. The most important requirement to the n was to use misdirection to draw the attention of the Reinaldans away from the spaceport. Though they would never let up their patrols around the strategic location, for now they believed that the mechs they had already stationed there possessed enough strength to deter anyone with greedy intentions.


    Ves already knew that at this moment, the masterminds incited other groups to stir up trouble at various points in Tecev City. For a short time, the garrison mechs stationed in the city would be drawn away from the spaceport.


    "If you’re so concerned about the viability of The Big Breakout, you should be talking to Captain Orfan, not me. I don’t possess a lot of decision-making power among the Vandals."


    Cbast snorted contemptuously at the mention of the mech captain. "I like to engage with someone rational. A neanderthal like Captain Orfan won’t be able to get around my identity."


    "That’s because she’s able to recognize you’re a snake."


    "Why, I take that as apliment." Cbast grinned at Ves. "Blunt objects such as Captain Orfan are good if you want to employ a hammer at your problems. Yet they aren’t so handy when ites toplex issues. The Reinaldan blockade is absolutely not so simple. From my perspective, The Big Breakout at its current form is doomed from the start. Without our help, you will not be able to depart from this with your freedom intact."


    Ves still maintained some skepticism. "The Reinald Republic isn’t hostile to the Bright Republic. Even if they throw us in jail, we’ll only be stuck for a couple of months at most. Maybe if I’m lucky, I can ride out the rest of the war in afortable cell."


    "How shortsighted!" Cbast humphed. "You really don’t know anything, do you? Perhaps you don’t see the harm in being held back in Reinaldan custody, but let me tell you, everything the grant Vandals have been working towards will be in vain! All those battles and all those sacrifices, and for what? To give the Vesians a bloody nose? Ask yourself if those casualties are worth the price for the gains the Vandals have aplished so far."


    Up to now, the Vandals won several battles and skirmishes over the Vesians. However, their impact in the greater war was much less significant. The biggest gain had been to pierce the Vesia Kingdom’s belief in their own infallibility. The Vandals had shown them in a brutal fashion that their interior wasn’t as safe as they thought.


    The victories also affected the morale of both sides. The confidence of the Bright Republic had received a much-needed boost at the right time.


    In many ways, determining whether the sacrifices had been worth it was very difficult to judge. To Ves, it seemed the Vandals had suffered a lot on behalf of the Bright Republic, but only obtained some scraps in return.


    To the selfish grant Vandals, they would never work to the death for the benefit of others.


    "I’m still reserving my judgement, but I’m willing to hear you out." Ves cautiously said. "What is it that you want?"


    Cbast paused for a moment. Instead them suddenly broke connection.


    Ves scratched his head. Why did she cut off them call all of a sudden?


    A familiar voice suddenly spoke from behind. "That is because I can only discuss this matter in person."


    Ves immediately jumped and turned around. "Cbast! How did you manage to sneak all the way here?! We’ve set up an entire scanning perimeter!"


    The smirking intelligence operative jerked her head at the handheld scanners ced on top of poles. "Those toys? We’ve long cracked their code. To them, we’repletely invisible and inaudible. The same goes for yourm right now."


    Looking carefully at Cbast, this time she wore a suit that looked very simr to the ones worn by the infiltrators that had infiltrated the hotel previously. While this did not connect her to those infiltrators directly, it was a strong sign that Ves was facing an enemy instead of an ally.


    A strange device pulsed on her toolbelt. To Ves, his eyes and ears seemed to buzz as he concentrated on the little gadget. That must have been the device responsible for blocking every means of recording. The powering out of the object very overbearing for such a small package.


    Ves couldn’t help but flex his fingers. If anything went wrong, he would instantly call up the Amastendira and st this woman into ash.


    "Don’t be so nervous." She spoke. This time, her proximity to Ves made her voice sound much more lifelike than over them. "I am not here to hurt you. Ie in good faith."


    As if Ves believed those words.


    "Get to the point. I don’t feelfortable meeting you like this. What is it that you really want?"


    "Alright, I can see you don’t require any more finessing." Cbast nodded as if she was satisfied with his performance. "We want some spots on your ship when make your escape."


    "Absolutely not!"


    The grant Vandals would never tolerate any outsiders in their group. It was impossible for Ves to convince Captain Orfan and the rest to bring in a couple of random strangers. If the Vandals found out that the strangers Ves wished to bring along belonged to the terrorists that had engulfed Harkensen I in turmoil, then there would certainly be hell to pay.


    "I don’t suggest you take it up with the Vandals." Cbast shook her head after seeing his response. "You’re a mech designer, are you not? There are many ways you can smuggle people along your group. You Vandals are intending to bring along some loot, are you not? My men can easily hide inside your containers. As long as your ships can break the blockade, my men can quietly leave the containers and step into space without rming any Vandals."


    This... Ves furrowed his brows. epting Cbast’s trade wouldn’t harm the Vandals any further at this point. However, he could not forget the Vandals killed by the infiltrators and the casualties they suffered when their hotel got shelled by the True Sons of Vesia.


    Though it sounded contradictory, the Vandals valued brotherhood and loyalty. They hated their enemies and would never stoop to betray their principles in order to obtain more benefits.


    This was one of their redeeming factors that distinguished them from pirates. No matter what awful stunt they performed, all the time they fought on behalf of the Bright Republic.


    If Ves entertained Cbast’s request, then he would be breaking one of the core ts of the Vandals. It would tarnish his honor if his actions became known.


    Still.. what was honor worth? Everything had a price, and while Ves had his bottom lines, he was not beyond taking some advantages as long as nobody got harmed.


    He came to a decision. "If you wish me to facilitate this smuggling attempt, you need to show me some sincerity. Solving the disaster of that is facing The Big Breakout is not enough for me. That’s basically helping yourself now that we are on the same ship."


    Cbast crossed her arms. "We are already doing you a great favor. Let me remind you that you are not the only ones we’ve approached. If your demands are too outrageous, then I don’t mind approaching someone else instead of you."


    "I’m not asking for much. I mainly want information this time. That shouldn’t cost you anything."


    "Information is valuable, you know. I might not answer if you ask the wrong questions. If you want to know our background, then don’t bother."


    Ves fell silent as he formted his question. Of all the things he wanted to know, one question constantly nagged him ever since the Vandals left the Detemen System.


    "I’m tired of running in the dark. There’s so much going on in the background that it’s driving me crazy. All I want to know is what is actually going on. All this time, I’ve been reacting to danger without knowing why I’m involved. My patience has run out. I want to know what is driving all of you to this conflict. This shouldn’t be a difficult question to answer."


    There, he said it. He spoke his question, and therefore revealed what he wanted to Cbast. He could have traded this opportunity for other favors, but they would never be as valuable as finding out the truth. Considering that so many yers were already aware of what was going on, this shouldn’t have been a big request.