How can Ethan prove his value and abilities?
To demonstrate irreplaceable value, Ethan must complete one high-difficulty task after another.
Each successful mission will gradually shape Ethan’s image as an indispensable figure.
Over time, the impression that "problems cannot be solved without Ethan" will take root deeply in people’s minds.
Perhaps Ethan lacks the capability to accomplish these tasks independently, but Eli does.
He is confident in himself and is willing to become the force behind Ethan, fully supporting him in completing these missions.
Connections, political resources, and support from high-ranking government officials—Ethan might not have any of these at the start.
But Eli believes these can be built later.
He will assist Ethan in overcoming the initial resource disadvantage, elevate him to that critical position, and lay a solid foundation for future actions.
The current New York, though fraught with dangers, is also brimming with countless opportunities, making it the optimal starting point for executing their plan.
And the special operations team ahead is the perfect entry point for this strategic plan.
The next course of action is clear:
Rendezvous with this operations team and falsely claim that they encountered a group of ratmen during their escape, one of which is a special ratman with supernatural abilities.
This special ratman might possess critical information related to the disaster, and failing to capture it in time could mean losing a vital clue to unraveling the mystery of the disaster.
With this narrative, Ethan will establish an initial foundation of cooperation with the special operations team.
The real challenge lies in finding and capturing this special ratman.
Of course, Ethan has no leads and no idea where to locate a suitable target, but Eli does.
He can lead the group to pinpoint this target with precision and assist Ethan in the capture if necessary.
Eli is well aware that the significance of this mission to capture the high-value ratman lies in breaking through the current stalemate.
Through this mission, Ethan can continue participating in other tasks, allowing him to further prove his worth to the government’s top decision-makers.
Ethan''s heartbeat suddenly quickened, the pressure weighing on his shoulders like a boulder.
However, he took a deep breath, his fists quietly clenched, and a hint of determination appeared in his eyes.
He accepted the mission without reservation, and that unwavering confidence reverberated through the mental network, reaching everyone.
He wanted to say something, but Eli interrupted him through the mental wave.
“From this moment on,” Eli’s mental wave was steady and calm, resonating in everyone’s consciousness, “we must quickly adapt to communicating through the mental network. The simplest way is this: whatever you want to say, say it in your mind—I can hear it. When necessary, we can communicate externally with language while using the mental network to coordinate internally. Any extra words, tone, actions, or microexpressions will increase the risk of exposing our true intentions.”
Eli’s guidance was calm and clear, making everyone realize the immense potential of the mental network while also understanding the significant risks of casually relying on traditional forms of communication.
Ethan’s expression remained unchanged, but his voice resonated powerfully through the mental network:
“I accept this mission.”
His tone was firm, without a trace of hesitation, and that genuine resolve inspired everyone.
Eli’s gaze turned to Alan, clearly sensing his concerns.
“Ethan previously went undercover in a drug cartel,” Alan’s mental wave carried a hint of hesitation. “Such a background is somewhat less than honorable. In contrast, my professional record is spotless. Throughout my police career, I have fulfilled my duties diligently and earned multiple honors. If we are to send the most suitable person, wouldn’t I be a better choice than him?”
Ethan’s expression still didn’t change. He understood that Alan’s concern was not without merit.
His response came directly through the mental network, calm and forceful.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
“Alan, nearly 9 million people in New York have perished. The politicians in Washington are surely in a frenzy. Whether or not they genuinely want to uncover the truth, they will certainly act like they’re sparing no effort to investigate this disaster to win public support.”
Ethan''s mental wave grew even firmer:
“In this situation, as long as one demonstrates enough value and ability, even a marginalized individual could be promoted—let alone me. Besides, I’m an undercover cop, not an actual drug dealer. Following orders and venturing into danger inherently reflects obedience and loyalty. In this regard, I have a clear advantage over ordinary officers.”
His logic was flawless, and his tone carried absolute confidence.
After hearing Ethan’s reasoning, Alan’s doubts gradually dissipated.
In truth, Alan knew that whether or not Ethan was the ideal candidate, he had to be the one.
Alan himself needed to stay within the team to observe Eli’s true intentions and ensure his ultimate goal was to uncover the truth behind the disaster.
Eli’s gaze shifted to Langdon.
Although Langdon appeared calm on the surface, a faint ripple in the mental network indicated that he still had questions in his mind.
Noticing Eli’s look, Langdon did not hesitate and quickly conveyed his thoughts through the mental network.
Langdon’s mental wave was clear and firm:
“If we need the government’s support, why don’t we join them directly? Of course, I understand that for Transcendent Beings, joining the government comes with many uncertainties and could even lead to losing our freedom.”
His thoughts paused briefly in the mental network before continuing:
“But that doesn’t mean we can’t change this situation or earn the government’s trust. We don’t care about power or status. Our goal is simple—to uncover the truth behind the disaster and resolve it.”
“That being the case, our objectives align closely with the government’s. As long as we can establish trust, we should be able to build a solid foundation for cooperation.”
Alan’s mental wave was the first to transmit a gentle warmth, a kind of relief mixed with encouragement.
Then his mental wave grew steadier, transmitting the strength of reason to the team:
“Langdon, your reasoning is mature, and your direction is clear. However, the government is not a monolithic entity. It is composed of multiple departments and factions, rife with internal conflicts of interest.
Even if our goals align with theirs, joining them could entangle us in these complex struggles, or worse, reduce us to pawns for certain factions. To them, Transcendent Beings are likely seen as uncontrollable entities, which makes trust inherently fragile.”
Ethan’s mental wave carried a rare trace of warmth, as if silently patting Langdon on the shoulder.
Next, the warmth was replaced by sharpness:
“Alan is right. In the eyes of those government departments, Transcendent Beings are like ticking time bombs. What they want is not cooperation but control. Their trust comes with chains and is built solely on the premise that ‘They can take us down at any time.’”
Then, his mental wave grew more restrained, becoming calm and precise:
“Earning the government’s trust would consume enormous energy. Getting caught up in political whirlpools and dealing with power struggles would also slow us down. Our priority is to uncover the truth quickly and resolve the disaster.”
"The current optimal solution is this: you, Eli, and Alan do not join the government and focus all your efforts on investigating the truth. As for me, being an ordinary person, I won''t be subjected to the same strict scrutiny as Transcendent Beings."
His mental wave was resolute and pragmatic:
“This makes it easier for me to gain their trust and access critical classified information. With this intel, you can act swiftly without being bogged down by political affairs. This approach ensures the team’s operational efficiency and minimizes adverse factors, helping us achieve our goal.”
At this point, Ethan added:
"Of course, this is only the optimal solution for the current stage. We need to adjust our strategy based on how the situation develops. If we deem it necessary, we can pursue some form of cooperation with the government, or even join its relevant departments."
Eli’s mental wave flowed like a warm current, quickly spreading to everyone’s consciousness, letting them feel his recognition and support.
This wave also carried a subtle encouragement, gently urging Langdon to continue expressing his thoughts.
Langdon’s mental wave flickered with a trace of hesitation, mixed with a slight sense of embarrassment.
"Although I don’t usually get involved in the family business, I still know a bit about our situation."
His thoughts gradually became clearer, and his mental wave revealed more specific information:
“My father has had dealings with some officials in Washington, and he often supports various charity projects, which has allowed him to connect with quite a few people in high society. Of course, many of those big names might already be dead. Even if they’re alive, I can’t be sure whether they’d be willing to help us.”
He paused briefly, his tone carrying some uncertainty:
“But I think it wouldn’t hurt to try. At the very least, our achievements need to reach the higher levels of government as soon as possible and get us into their sights.”
Alan’s mental wave revealed a trace of evident astonishment; he found Langdon’s background unexpected.
Ethan remembered something, and his mental wave conveyed a half-smiling tease.
“No wonder your suitcase was stuffed with so much jewelry. What’s the deal? Running away from home?”
Eli’s mental wave, in contrast, felt like a faint smile—gentle yet restrained.
Langdon’s expression turned slightly awkward as he tried to compose himself, attempting to hide his discomfort and avoid further silent jabs.
Langdon’s mental wave conveyed a mixture of explanation and helplessness:
"The family’s financial chain has broken, plunging us into a financial crisis. My father needs support from his ‘friends’ in Washington, so he sent me to run errands. That’s why... those pieces of jewelry ended up in my suitcase."
Eli wasn’t surprised. When he first met Langdon at Grand Central, his sharp intuition had already made him aware that Langdon’s family was facing difficulties.
Although Eli doubted whether Langdon’s social skills were sufficient to secure meaningful support, he chose not to share his doubts with the others.
Instead, his mental wave carried a concise message, infused with encouragement and support:
Proceed cautiously; abandon the attempt immediately if necessary; the team’s purpose must not be exposed—this can be discussed further later.
Eli’s mental wave then coalesced into another firm signal:
The current priority is to reach a consensus on the strategic plan for the future: agree or disagree, no abstentions.
He was the first to express his stance through the mental network, his intent clear and resolute:
“I agree.”
Alan followed shortly after, his mental wave exuding a calm strength:
“I agree as well.”
Ethan’s mental wave came through with crisp decisiveness:
“So do I.”
Finally, Langdon, without a moment of hesitation, responded:
“I agree.”
Once the team had reached a consensus, Eli issued precise instructions, calm and direct:
“Operation begins!”
The command struck like the beating of war drums, instantly tightening everyone’s focus.