"Is there anything else you want to ask?"
Yang Dong asked as she watched David tuck the slip of paper with the website address into his jacket pocket. David shook his head.
"Then I'll take you around a bit more and introduce you to this particle collider while we're at it."
Yang Dong led David away from the expansion area, leaving the construction sheds for the older sections of the particle accelerator. Before David stood a massive silver-white cylinder. He listened to Yang Dong's brief introduction of the various components: the particle source, the acceleration field, the transport assembly... and the history of acceleration field technology. However, just as Yang Dong reached the point where Ernest Lawrence perfected the cyclotron in 1931, the appearance of an unexpected figure caught David's eye.
"David."
"Shi Qiang?"
David raised an eyebrow at the familiar face wandering in plain clothes near the "China No. 2" unit currently under maintenance. "What are you doing here? On a mission?"
Shi Qiang shook his head. He glanced at Yang Dong beside David, then back at David. "No, just wandering around."
Although Shi Qiang appeared perfectly normal on the surface, David, with his psionic intuition, could clearly sense the detective's wariness toward Yang Dong. Had Shi Qiang discovered something? Or was it simply the honed instinct of a veteran criminal investigator?
Shi Qiang touched the casing of China No. 2 like a country bumpkin in the Grand View Garden, reluctantly withdrawing his hand. Even though he knew next to nothing about physics, it didn't stop him from knowing that this particle accelerator was a treasure even by global standards.
"By the way, since I ran into you here, there's something I should tell you ahead of time." Shi Qiang beckoned, his expression mysterious.
"What is it?" David apologized to Yang Dong and followed Shi Qiang to a secluded corner.
"Good news." Shi Qiang pulled out a cigarette, but a nearby staff member quickly reminded him that smoking was prohibited inside the base. He glanced at the equipment, which reportedly cost nearly ten billion, and sullenly put the cigarette back in his pocket.
"Your suggestion last time was correct," Shi Qiang said. "According to the border patrol's investigation, they indeed found traces of illegal border-crossers leaving through the Central Asian border along the railway lines."
"And the people? Were they caught?" David knew that with Sophon's assistance, large-scale search operations would yield minimal results against core ETO members like Shen Yufei. Large-scale personnel movements could never escape Sophon surveillance. Still, he maintained an expectant expression.
"No. Unfortunately, we were a step too late. By the time the border police arrived, the suspects had already jumped off the train under the cover of night." Shi Qiang shook his head slightly. "However, now that we've confirmed their flight path, things will be much easier. We've notified the governments along the way to set up checkpoints on Pan Han's likely escape route. I believe we'll hear news of these two outlaws being arrested soon."
"That is indeed good news," David replied, though in his heart he didn't share the optimism regarding Pan Han's capture. "What does the Planetary Defense Council plan to do next?"
"Don't worry about that for now, Brother David." Shi Qiang patted David on the shoulder. "In view of the accuracy of your previous judgment, which contributed greatly to discovering their escape route, I specifically requested the PDC to credit you with a merit."
As if by magic, Shi Qiang produced a small, gilded red booklet. He pressed the booklet, which bore David's name, into the young man's hand.
"If you agree, you are now an official member of the Planetary Defense Council."
David didn't answer immediately. A casual suggestion was unlikely to be enough for the PDC to break protocol and promote him to official status. Shi Qiang had clearly put in a lot of effort behind the scenes.
"I really didn't expect—" Before David could finish, Shi Qiang stuffed the credentials into his hand.
"There are many things in this world one doesn't expect, Brother David." Shi Qiang's face carried a teasing look. "I only just found out that this Planetary Defense Council is theoretically a UN-affiliated organization with branches in all major countries."
Shi Qiang stared into David's eyes. "Don't be in a hurry to refuse. Aren't you a student at Yan University? So I reported your information to... well, some UN agency. They said they won't interfere with your normal studies. As long as you take some time occasionally to complete training missions, you'll even get a sizable student loan subsidy."
"Then what is my next mission?" Despite Shi Qiang's glowing description, as if joining the PDC was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, David knew it wasn't that simple.
"It's simple. We've already filed for sick leave on your behalf at Yan University." Shi Qiang's eyes lit up at David's response, looking as if he wanted to swear a brotherhood oath on the spot. "Prepare yourself for the next half-month. Come with us to the Middle East to bring Pan Han and Shen Yufei back."
Shi Qiang patted David's shoulder. "I'll call you when the time comes." As if afraid David would back out, Shi Qiang turned and walked toward the factory gates immediately after finishing his instructions.
"Did something happen?" Yang Dong asked, her eyes flashing after seeing the UN emblem on the gilded red credentials as she finally finished showing David the last area.
"Does finding an internship for graduation count?" David replied. He looked up at the sky. It was nearing evening; the red sun was sinking, staining the clear autumn sky with a layer of red-gold sunset.
"By the way, when are you going back to school?" Yang Dong had come to David's side at some point. She looked up with him at the brilliant fires atop the steel forest on the horizon. Human civilization and the majesty of nature reached a perfect, harmonious unity at this moment.
At Yang Dong's question, David shook his head. "I don't know. My internship unit wants me to go abroad on a business trip. It might be a month at the earliest."
"When are you leaving?" Yang Dong asked. The red clouds on the horizon cast a scarlet veil over her pale, cold face, giving the "Ice Beauty" a rare touch of human warmth.
"In about half a month," David answered, while mentally estimating the earnings from the Abominable Intelligence and planning how to transport and assemble the small reactor.
"My mother is coming to Beijing to see me next week." Yang Dong's voice was cool. Mentioning Ye Wenjie, a flash of complexity crossed her gaze. "She wants you to come with me to see her."