The capriciousness of fate—after decades of fluctuating fortunes, Shi Jinfan was once again confronted with this cruel reality.

He sat utterly alone in the cavernous, empty Presidential Office, leaning against the massive, floor-to-ceiling panoramic window, his expression desolate. He ran a hand over the desk, the symbol of Davor’s supreme authority, and a self-mocking smile touched his lips.

Suddenly, the office door opened, and a figure walked in. After closing the door, the person simply stood by the frame, silent, watching Shi Jinfan seated within, their face utterly devoid of expression. The sunlight streaming through the panoramic window caught their face, casting a deep shadow along the profile.

The President remained motionless, his eyes not even flickering, as if he hadn't noticed the addition to the room.

After a long, stretching silence, just as the exterior light crept from Shi Jinfan's cheekbone up to his brow, he finally spoke. "Yuhao."

The man standing like a statue responded with a low assent. "Mm."

"Do you still remember our ideals from university?" Shi Jinfan asked abruptly.

Yuhao paused for a beat before replying, "How could I forget? The entire class erupted in laughter when you declared your ambition in front of everyone." A faint hint of amusement surfaced in his voice as he finished.

As if recalling that wild, unrestrained age, a spark illuminated Shi Jinfan’s face. "At the time, besides you, absolutely everyone must have thought I was delirious."

"To be honest, I thought you were drunk," Yuhao chuckled softly, a vivid image flashing through his mind: the youthful face, always brimming with energy, perpetually leaking vitality. Even after decades, that face remained as sharp and deep as a newly carved bas-relief.

"Who would have thought that forty years later, you would actually fulfill the promise you made then, becoming the President of this nation."

"Sigh." Shi Jinfan let out a deep, profound breath. His face, in his sixties, looked aged beyond eighty, starkly contrasting the sharp, youthful image in Yuhao’s memory.

"It's a pity. I haven't led the nation to true prosperity." Deep sorrow and self-reproach swam in Shi Jinfan’s eyes.

"In the future, I will become the President of the Davor Republic and lead the nation to prosperity and strength." The resounding voice of his youth still echoed. Now that he occupied the position, he felt incapable of making any significant contribution to the country, filling him with deep guilt.

"You have done more than enough," Yuhao murmured, the words heartfelt. "No one could have done better." No one knew better than he how much this university classmate had accomplished, how much maneuvering he had endured during his five-year term.

Five years: endless official duties and the treacherous backstabbing of political maneuvering had exhausted his body, aging a formerly vigorous middle-aged man nearly twenty years in half a decade.

"There is," Shi Jinfan whispered. "Someone could do better than me."

Yuhao opened his mouth slightly, and an even younger face flashed through his mind—a face that looked almost too young, radiating an immense composure overlaying a hidden confidence.

"Thirty years from now, if he leads Davor, he will undoubtedly lead Davor to prosperity and strength," Shi Jinfan’s face shone, seemingly lost in the vision of that future time.

Yuhao turned his face away, unable to bear witnessing the sorrow etched on his friend’s features.

The atmosphere in the office became suffocatingly heavy. A subtle, sorrowful current flowed and brewed in the air.

Shi Jinfan suddenly stood up. "He..." For some unknown reason, he seemed reluctant to speak 'his' name. "Although he rendered a monumental service in saving Davor, for the sake of the survival of the billions of Davor citizens, I had no other choice."

A flicker of guilt mixed with grim determination crossed his eyes as he said coldly, "Immediately order the National Security Department’s Special Operations Team to secure the Zhong Corporation. Strictly forbid anyone from entering or exiting."

Throughout this entire exchange, Finance Minister Yuhao watched him with unwavering composure, uttering not a word, as if he had anticipated this very order. Yet, deep in his eyes, a sliver of pity lay concealed.

"This is nonsense," Zhong Yun snapped, glaring angrily at Tianhai. "What are you getting involved in this ruckus for?"

Tianhai met his gaze without yielding an inch, his lips tightly pressed, exhibiting a stubbornness akin to Liu Yunqi’s.

Zhong Yun’s heart softened, and his expression grew gentle. "Little Hai, I appreciate your intentions. You need to think about your parents, your lover. What you should be doing right now is staying by their side, not following me."

Tianhai finally spoke, his expression unwavering. "I know I can't win an argument with you, and I won't debate. All I know is, if you try to ditch me and slip away alone again, don't even think about it."

Zhong Yun desperately wished he could land a punch and knock Tianhai out; he would rather Tianhai hate him for a lifetime than have his two elderly parents hate him for one.

"I am absolutely not taking you with me. Go back where you belong." Zhong Yun’s face instantly turned cold. He waved his hand, sending a burst of purple-tinged, forceful wind rushing toward the unprepared Tianhai, lifting his slightly stout frame and slamming him right outside the door.

With a swish, the door to the main control room slammed shut.

Chen Wen and Zhang Xiao exchanged glances, seeing shared difficulty and helplessness mirrored on each other’s faces.

Even without looking at their expressions, Zhong Yun knew what they were thinking. "I know what kind of mess I've stirred up. I have the ability to protect myself. What scares me most right now is dragging you two down with me in this situation."

"Saying that is looking down on me," Chen Wen said with displeasure.

Zhong Yun smiled faintly. "I won't be a fugitive forever. Trust me. Ten years at most, and I will return to Davor openly. I am now formally entrusting the Zhong Corporation to you and Tianhai. Manage it well for me, so that when I return, the Zhong Group hasn't collapsed."

"Rest assured, I will return it to you ten times larger," Chen Wen’s eyes held a seriousness never seen before.

Zhang Xiao nodded.

Zhong Yun eased his mind, returned to the command console, closed his eyes, and connected to Yang Bingchang in the virtual space.

Yang Bingchang showed no surprise upon receiving Zhong Yun's call, acting as if he had been waiting for it. His first words were, "Take your vessel and your soldiers and leave immediately. Get as far away as you possibly can."

Zhong Yun looked intently at this refined man who held one of the highest authorities in Davor—his future father-in-law.

There was not a ripple in Yang Bingchang’s eyes; he was as open and clear as a still, mirrored lake.

"I have one favor to ask of you," Zhong Yun smiled, a completely unrestrained expression. "Don't let anyone else ruin the Zhong Corporation. That is my father's life's work."

"Your father has already been apprehended; it was the National Security Department's people," Yang Bingchang frowned slightly.

Zhong Yun sighed softly. "I didn't think he would be so absolute."

Yang Bingchang's frown deepened. A few hours earlier, the Foreign Ministry had suddenly received an order from the Angor Empire—an order that no one had anticipated—it was an arrest warrant. The target was the savior who had just rescued the entire nation, the Commander-in-Chief of the 45th Fleet, Zhong Yun, and all his subordinates.

This news hit all Davor high-ranking officials like a massive earthquake. They clearly understood the consequences of arresting the heroes who had just saved Davor; every member of the current administration would be swept out of office by an enraged populace.

Yet, if they didn't comply, Davor faced annihilation. A hundred Davors combined couldn't stand against the Angor Empire.

It was a dilemma—a choice between two impossible paths. Act, and the nation might be saved, but their own futures would be forfeit. Don't act, and their futures might be secure, but the nation could be lost.

How to choose was like a massive mountain pressing down on the hearts of all government elites, so heavy it stole their breath.

After recovering from the initial shock, Yang Bingchang knew the fate awaiting Zhong Yun.

What truly dictated the nation's direction were not the politicians in the spotlight, but the powerful aristocratic factions standing behind them. They would never allow all of Davor to be buried along with one man, even if that man had just pulled Davor back from the brink of death.

He was so calm because his daughter had already contacted him and knew of Zhong Yun's plan to flee.

If Zhong Yun had been just an ordinary fleet commander in Davor, Yang Bingchang would have had countless ways to handle him. Nearly every warship in Davor was produced by the Juxie Group, and no one knew the backdoors in their systems better than he did.

But Zhong Yun was different; his warships were his own. After learning of the Mars's performance record, Yang Bingchang abandoned the plan to secretly order five warships to ambush the Mars.

In other words, he was powerless against Zhong Yun. Since he was powerless, there was no need to feign a superior stance.

Yang Bingchang believed Zhong Yun's only weakness was his parents. But he was surprised that Zhong Yun seemed unfazed upon hearing the news of their detention. Was he inherently heartless, not caring about his parents, or was it something else...?

Suddenly, inexplicably, Yang Bingchang felt that Shi Jinfan’s calculations were about to fall apart.

"I have one request," these thoughts flashed through his mind, and Yang Bingchang made his decision instantly. "If you manage to escape, take good care of Yunqi."

"I promise," Zhong Yun agreed without hesitation.

Yang Bingchang looked at him for a long time, trying to gauge his sincerity. Finally, he withdrew his gaze. "I know what I need to do."

"Damn you, Zhong Yun, open this door!" Outside the control room, Tianhai, dizzy from being thrown, finally staggered up and began kicking the door furiously.

"Bastard, is this how you treat your brother?" He pounded on the cold metal door, his face turning red with the force of his shouting.

Chen Wen witnessed this scene. He glanced back at the still-eyed Zhong Yun, then shook his head helplessly. Zhong Yun was clearly resolved not to let Tianhai follow.

"This stupid door!" After shouting himself hoarse, Tianhai stopped pounding and pulled a small, conical tool from his pocket. "I'm taking you apart."

The tool in his hand flew up on its own, probing into the gap of the metal door.

Chen Wen watched Tianhai work on the door, pulling out a baffling array of tools from his pockets, seemingly endless. He truly wondered how Tianhai managed to hide them all.

Chen Wen could only manage a wry smile. Having spent two years with Tianhai, he knew his temper well enough. Despite his usually carefree demeanor, Tianhai was fiercely stubborn; once he set his mind on something, he charged forward without looking back.

After a moment, an alarm blared in the main control room. "Unauthorized intrusion detected."

Zhang Xiao jumped in alarm and immediately brought up the source of the alert. Seeing it, he couldn't help but laugh amidst his distress: Tianhai was squatting in front of the main door, muttering curses while already prying open a significant gap along the seam.

Zhong Yun opened his eyes. "What's going on?"

Chen Wen switched the view to the main screen. Zhong Yun looked at it, his brows tightly furrowed.

"Unauthorized intruder..." the system voice droned persistently. "Initiate automatic countermeasure?"

Outside, Tianhai saw several dark gun barrels protruding near the door and nearly exploded. He jumped up. "Shoot! Just shoot me! If you don't, you're not a man!"

Zhong Yun angrily slapped the armrest of his chair, truly infuriated by this clown. "Cancel alarm." The system voice immediately ceased.

"Damn it," Tianhai spat after the gun barrels retracted, then placed his hands on his hips. "Hurry up and open the door."

"I told you I wasn't taking you," Zhong Yun said calmly, staring at the main screen.

"You bastard, don't even think about abandoning me!" Tianhai was so agitated he almost cursed his mother. "Do you have any sense of honor? You called me your brother, yet you hide every secret, every piece of information. When trouble hits you, I’m never the first to know, and you never bring me into danger. Tell me, what kind of brother are you?"

Zhong Yun fell silent. In many matters, he admittedly hadn't acted honorably, but he truly considered Tianhai the person he could trust most. However, he carried too many secrets that were destined to be told to no one.

"I’ve wasted ten years knowing you," Tianhai finished, plopping down onto the floor, resting his head on his knees and sulking stubbornly.

Zhong Yun's eyes flickered, but he remained silent.

After about ten minutes, Zhong Yun lifted his head and said placidly, "It's time to part ways."

The veins on Chen Wen’s hand suddenly tightened. Viewed from behind, the muscles beneath his close-fitting uniform bulged visibly.

Zhang Xiao stood up with a somber expression, looking at Zhong Yun with a heavy face. "You must keep your promise. Ten years from now, I will be waiting for you back at the Zhong Corporation." He then walked toward the door.

Chen Wen followed in his wake. As he stepped out, his pace halted momentarily. A thousand unspoken words culminated in a single utterance: "Take care."

Zhong Yun watched these two friends, with whom he could share his true self, and a faint sadness welled up in his chest. Who knew when they would meet again after this separation?

Chen Wen pulled the still-seated Tianhai up from the floor and dragged him halfway out.

Soon, Zhong Yun was alone in the main control room. He sat in his chair, paused for a moment, and then began issuing commands. "All personnel, evacuate this vessel. All personnel, evacuate this vessel..."

In the urgent notification, many bewildered soldiers, following equally bewildered officers, prepared to abandon ship.

On Davor’s capital, Volst, a Lieutenant Colonel rushed breathlessly into the Presidential Office. Since the Hongxian Federation signed the armistice, the sign reading "Presidential Office" had been rehung.

"Reporting to the President, the couple Zhong Pingjiang and Yun Rong are missing."