Eli saw through his thoughts but chose not to expose him. Instead, he acted as if nothing had happened and said calmly:
“If you don’t have a clear goal for now, then stay with the team for the time being. Once you have a clear objective, it won’t be too late to make a decision.”
Langdon nodded without hesitation. “Alright.”
He knew very well that regardless of his eventual goal, he would need to rely on Eli for a considerable amount of time. This man could lead him further and bring him closer to his purpose.
Eli glanced at him, his tone turning serious:
“Since you’ve chosen to stay with the team, it means you need to follow orders. Langdon, can you do that?”
Langdon remained silent for a moment, then asked, “What’s our goal?”
Eli didn’t answer directly but turned to look at Allen.
Allen nodded decisively, his gaze full of trust, clearly conveying: You’re the leader now, we’ll follow your lead.
Eli gave a small nod, expressing his gratitude to Allen.
Then, he looked back at Langdon and said:
“To uncover the truth behind this disaster and put an end to it. That’s our goal.”
Langdon nodded seriously, accepting this goal. He asked directly, “What do you need me to do?”
Eli’s gaze sharpened slightly, and his tone carried a warning:
“For now, we need to conceal our abilities and avoid letting anyone with ill intentions discover our secrets.
And this is cruel, meaning that even if someone is dying right in front of us, we cannot use this power at will to save them.”
Langdon felt a strong internal conflict at these words.
Of course, he could nod and agree without hesitation, but deep down, he wasn’t sure if he could stick to this decision if such a situation actually occurred.
Eli saw his hesitation and didn’t press him, instead softening his tone:
“It’s alright if you can’t do it. There are other tasks in the team that suit you better.”
He paused briefly before continuing:
“If the U.S. government hasn’t completely collapsed, they’ll undoubtedly establish a specialized department to investigate this disaster.
When that happens, Ethan will join them to provide the team with necessary support. As for you, as a Transcendent Being, the government will likely welcome you with open arms. You can partner with Ethan.”
Eli’s tone grew slightly heavier:
“However, this comes with significant risks. We can’t be certain whether the U.S. government will treat you as an experiment subject or monitor you and restrict your freedom. There are too many unknowns.”
Ethan interjected:
“Listen, Langdon, I honestly think sticking with Eli is a safer bet. At least if you lose control, Eli can manage the situation. If it’s me? Ha, I’d probably end up in a body bag.”
He spoke lightly, even spreading his hands dramatically as if joking, but his tone carried genuine sincerity.
Allen nodded and added:
“Patience is a fundamental quality of a warrior. More often than not, acting on impulse will only make things worse.”
Langdon listened to the two of them, then turned to Eli and said firmly, "I want to follow you. I will follow your instructions."
Eli shook his head, his gaze steady:
“Not my instructions—the team’s goal.
Langdon, you need to learn to think independently and develop your own judgment. This is crucial for you.”The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
He paused, his tone carrying a heavy sense of responsibility:
“If the day comes when I’m no longer here, Langdon, I want you to take my place and carry on our mission. Don’t let my sacrifice be in vain.”
Eli’s words instantly made the atmosphere heavy, and everyone present felt a profound sense of respect.
Langdon’s hands instinctively clenched into fists. Eli’s words weighed on him like a mountain pressing down on his chest.
He wanted to promise that he could take on this heavy burden, but he wasn’t sure if he had the ability to bear such responsibility.
Just as he was about to speak, a series of rapid gunshots echoed from the distance, cutting through his thoughts.
The gunfire was dense and heavy, interspersed with the booming roar of explosions, reverberating throughout the sewer.
Langdon immediately lifted his head, his eyes filled with astonishment and confusion.
Allen and Ethan were equally startled, quickly looking toward the direction of the gunfire.
Among all their reactions, Eli stood out.
A sharp gleam flashed through his eyes, like a falcon locking onto its prey.
The source of the gunfire, the intervals between explosions, even the rhythm of the firepower—each detail rapidly pieced itself together in Eli’s mind, forming a comprehensive picture.
His thoughts raced, his powerful intuition and keen insight allowing him to deduce countless possibilities in mere moments.
His gaze narrowed slightly, and a bold plan began to take shape in his mind.
But to execute it, he would need a critical capability—a mental network.
Similar to the mental network the ratmen used, one that transcended language and signals, enabling rapid coordination in complex environments.
Now, Eli needed a similar ability.
However, he was acutely aware that he did not possess such a skill.
He shook his head lightly, the once-clear plan gradually becoming hazy, like shattered glass that could no longer be pieced together.
Just as he was about to abandon the idea, a wave of information suddenly surged into his mind.
Eli’s body trembled slightly, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.
The information was vague, fragmented, illogical, and incomprehensible, yet it carried a faint sense of familiarity.
He knew with absolute certainty that this information came from the dream.
That dream, which had saved him multiple times, granting him extraordinary abilities.
And now, the dream seemed to have gifted him something new.
A power he had never experienced before—a mental network!
Eli took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes, as if immersing himself in an invisible calm.
His fingertips trembled slightly, as though touching an unseen web.
His consciousness began to expand outward, like a drop of ink diffusing into clear water.
Eli’s mental world resembled a vast starry sky, with each star representing his memories, intuition, and emotions.
At the center of this celestial expanse, a radiant light slowly rose, emanating boundless power.
This was the source of his spiritual energy, akin to an ever-burning furnace of infinite energy.
Eli extended his thoughts outward, connecting with Langdon’s mental world.
It was like a stormy ocean, filled with surging waves of power yet difficult to control.
Next, his consciousness reached Allen and Ethan.
Allen’s mental world resembled an expansive grassland—steadfast and resilient.
Ethan’s mental world was like a lake with hidden undercurrents—calm on the surface, yet beneath lay complexity and unpredictability.
Carefully, Eli began weaving their mental nodes into a network, meticulously threading every strand.
Gradually, the mental network took shape.
At first, it was like a sparse spiderweb—fragile and unstable.
But as Eli continuously infused it with his spiritual energy, the web grew stronger and more resilient.
Eventually, it became an invisible bridge that tightly linked the mental worlds of all four individuals.
Eli opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as lightning.
He said nothing, but an unseen stream of information flowed from his consciousness to the other three in mere milliseconds.
Langdon, Allen, and Ethan simultaneously received the influx of information, their faces showing expressions of astonishment.
They understood Eli’s plan—and all of it transpired in an instant.
First, based on the rhythm of the gunfire and the intensity of the firepower, it could be determined that this was not a civilian militia.
It was almost certain that the gunfire originated from a special forces unit, which meant one thing: the U.S. government had not collapsed.
Although Eli could not confirm whether other regions were similarly affected by the disaster, the continued existence of the U.S. government suggested that they still possessed the ability to mobilize societal resources and execute operations at a national level.
This implied that the government had likely established specialized agencies to thoroughly investigate the cause of the disaster and attempt to find solutions.
In Eli’s plan, Ethan played a pivotal role.
He needs to join this potential investigative agency and secure an important position with real authority within it.
Ethan’s role within the agency was crucial.
He can not only provide intelligence on the progress of the disaster investigation and information related to Transcendent Beings but also influence relevant decisions to coordinate with Eli and the others'' actions.
Ethan’s successful infiltration would significantly enhance Eli’s strategic initiative.
However, the difficulty of having Ethan take on a position of real authority within this investigative agency is self-evident.
Agencies like the CIA, FBI, and Homeland Security were filled with elite individuals, many of whom not only had extensive experience but also already held critical positions of power.
In comparison, Ethan is merely an undercover cop. Although he has solid infiltration experience, he pales in comparison to those elite professionals who hold vast resources and deeply understand the rules of politics.
Therefore, to stand out in such a highly competitive environment, Ethan would have to demonstrate his unique value.
Only by proving that his presence was critical to investigating the disaster could Ethan earn status and power within the government, granting him access to classified information beyond the reach of ordinary people.
The core challenges were threefold:
1，Ethan had to prove his value.
2，He needed to demonstrate irreplaceable abilities.
3，It is necessary to ensure that the senior officials of the government regard Ethan as important.