Searching for suspicious personnel across the entire research institute was not an easy task.
Especially considering that the researchers came from all over the world, each with different customs and habits, and since they had their heads buried in research for years, they all more or less had some quirks, which made it even harder.
So after the talent recruitment plan was implemented, facing the rapid expansion of research staff, plus the soaring research progress that pushed the Kaitian project into the launch phase in just over two months,
Samuyi simply didn't have enough time to sift out the problematic people.
But now it was different.
The number of people capable of secretly sabotaging the Kaitian and causing it to explode in space totaled only a dozen or so.
Most importantly, researchers were not ninja.
Before being interrogated, the spy always thought that as long as he kept his mouth shut and stayed strong-willed, he could keep everything hidden.
But he greatly underestimated the interrogation skills of ninja.
With just a bit of psychological manipulation, they found a breakthrough and discovered the real culprit behind the explosion.
"It's him."
Samuyi handed over a résumé.
"Nakajima Daisi, a scientist and professor from the Land of Fire, an expert in power engineering. He planted hidden dangers during the early stages of the research, all for the purpose of stopping the moon-landing project."
Ryosuke took the résumé.
In the upper-left corner was a photo of Nakajima Daisi, a man in his forties, slightly chubby, with a gentle smile.
Below the résumé, it also said that he had a very happy family, a virtuous wife, two children, one boy and one girl, and together with his outstanding abilities, it could be said he lived a fulfilled life.
Why would Nakajima Daisi do something like this?
For a researcher, to personally destroy his own research results was nothing short of sacrilege, disrespect toward himself.
Ryosuke voiced the question in his heart to Samuyi.
But Samuyi shook her head slightly.
"He won't talk?" Ryosuke asked.
Samuyi said, "He won't talk to me. Nakajima Daisi only wants to talk to you. He said..."
"'Bring Ryosuke over, and I'll tell him everything. To anyone else, I won't say a single word!'"
Samuyi imitated him convincingly, even recreating that upright, righteous tone. After finishing, she instantly went back to her cool expression and said, "That's how he said it. Are you going?"
Ryosuke slightly frowned. "A traitor putting on airs… Let's go see him."
The two walked toward the interrogation room.
When they entered, Nakajima Daisi was eating a boxed meal. Seeing Ryosuke approach, he raised his left index finger, gesturing for him to wait a moment.
Then he shoveled large mouthfuls of food into his mouth. When his cheeks were stuffed full, he lifted the miso soup and downed it in one go.
With just that soup, he swallowed down all the food.
"Sorry, Lord Ryosuke. I've been eating like this for many years. It's more efficient. The downside is I can't stop halfway."
Ryosuke shook his head, not minding. He pulled over a chair, sat down, poured two cups of tea, and pushed one toward Nakajima Daisi.
"You wanted to speak to me directly?"
"Thank you."
Nakajima Daisi accepted the cup, said a sincere "thank you," took a sip, and let out a satisfied sigh.
"Yes, Lord Ryosuke. Originally, I planned to keep these words buried in my stomach forever, telling no one."
"But since you've caught me, and there are also Yamanaka Clan experts outside ready to pry open my mind…"
"Rather than causing trouble for everyone, I might as well tell you."
"But only you. Anyone else, absolutely not."
Ryosuke nodded.
"Go ahead."
Nakajima Daisi set down the teacup, his expression turning serious.
"I belong to an organization called 'Shell.'"
"Calling it an organization isn't entirely accurate. It's more like a loose gathering of people who share the same ideals. The core goal is to use technology to change the world and allow humanity to continually progress."
"At the beginning, I didn't apply to join the research institute."
Ryosuke nodded slightly.
He remembered this clearly, on the list Samuyi first showed him, Nakajima Daisi was a highly exceptional talent they intended to recruit at all costs.
Ryosuke asked, "Was it because of the Shell organization's orders that you joined the institute?"
"It wasn't an order."
Nakajima Daisi said, "My relationship with the leader isn't one of command. I simply agree with Shell's ideology, nothing more."
"While I was still considering whether to refuse the institute's invitation, the leader of Shell emailed me, asking me to participate in the space project, and…"
"To sabotage and hinder the progress of this plan."
"Why?" Ryosuke asked.
"Because the leader told me about the Ōtsutsuki clan on the moon. He also told me that beyond this world, more Ōtsutsuki exist."
"Once humanity really lands on the moon, even putting aside what the moon's Ōtsutsuki think, humans will never be able to suppress their desire to explore outer space."
"A thousand years ago, Kaguya came to the ninja world. To the Ōtsutsuki, this planet is a world that has already been explored, they have a high probability of having forgotten it entirely."
"But if we truly explore space and are discovered by the Ōtsutsuki..."
Nakajima Daisi stared straight into Ryosuke's eyes.
"Lord Ryosuke, I admit it, you are strong, stronger than anyone in history."
"But are you really stronger than extraterrestrials?"
"And even if you personally are stronger than them, if an alien army shows up, what are we civilians supposed to do?"
Nakajima Daisi's eyes were bright and intense.
Clearly he was the prisoner, yet sitting before Ryosuke, his back was straight as a spear.
Because in his heart, he carried a conviction strong enough to support all his actions.
"I understand."
Ryosuke let out a light sigh. "So this is why, despite having a happy family and a bright future, you still took such a risk."
"Yes."
It was precisely because he had a beautiful family that Nakajima Daisi had to prevent the moon-landing plan.
He loved his family.
He didn't want his wife, children, and relatives to someday be killed by suddenly arriving aliens.
Nakajima was not a puppet manipulated by Shell.
He was a scientist who genuinely cared about the world.
Samuyi, who had been quietly listening at the side, asked, "If the people in the rocket were your colleagues, the ones you work with every day, would you still do this?"
"Even if I myself were inside, I would make the same choice."
Nakajima Daisi stepped onto the chair, climbed onto the table, knelt on both knees, and performed a full dogeza before Ryosuke, "Lord Ryosuke, compared to you, I am just a short-sighted civilian."
"I cannot see the distant future, but I only want to, as a civilian, beg you, do not continue exploring the universe."
"With your power, and with the research institute's level of technology, we can seal off the planet, isolate it from the universe. Only then can we achieve peace for generations."
Ryosuke sat in his chair, quietly watching the sincerity of the man before him.
He closed his eyes, and after a long silence, said softly, "Closing ourselves off from the world, shutting the doors, stagnating, that is the true dead end."
"Besides, I can feel your sincerity. You are acting for the sake of the world, willing even to sacrifice yourself."
"But the one hiding behind the scenes pushing you, this so-called 'leader'…"
"Is he really acting for the world?"