Yang Ying stared at the frozen figures on the screen. The one leading them had eyes with pupils that glowed crimson—an image impossible to forget at a glance. The two men behind him, though carrying themselves with an air of casualness, were clearly more than they appeared, knowing their true identities.

Yang Ying knew that if the Ape Cult had dispatched this lineup, it could only be for one purpose: Gato!

"Have they been brought under surveillance?" Yang Ying asked David, turning to him.

"Impossible to monitor. They vanished without a trace the moment they left the port," David replied, shaking his head.

Yang Ying nodded. He understood perfectly that the three Emissaries of the Ape had already infiltrated Gray Harbor, possibly gathering intelligence right now.

David seemed hesitant, about to speak but holding back.

"What are you thinking about?" Yang Ying inquired.

"I'm a bit worried. If Ulysses and the others use Glamour or Mind Control on your subordinates, could they extract our secret intelligence, like the cloaking technology of the Ghost Squad?" David finally voiced the question that had been troubling him for a long time.

Yang Ying exchanged a look with Katerina. This was indeed a core issue. David had been recruited, and while Yang Ying had faith in the Dark Archon's mental dominance techniques, he still hadn't disclosed every secret to David, nor ever would.

What David didn't know was that the cloaking technology was minor; the existence of the Floating Continent was the secret within secrets. If every individual produced on the Floating Continent remembered their homeland—the Floating Continent—without proper restraint, the potential for leaks in a world filled with mind-affecting sorcery was immense.

Yang Ying had long considered this possibility and researched it extensively, concluding that there was no need to worry.

From the very beginning of their growth and development, every clone had a core neural and brainstem auxiliary system implanted in their brain—what was commonly called a biological A.I. This system received the clone's sensory signals and aggregated them to the Human Main Base Control Center.

The half-human, half-computer system in the Main Base—be it Murphy or Kevin—could interpret these signals, understanding each clone's precise location and surrounding environment, among other intelligence. It was like scouting the map in a game of StarCraft; every unit had a field of vision.

More critically, this biological A.I. controlled the emotions of every clone. The loyalty directive, ranked first among all emotional commands, was managed by this very A.I. The Glamour spell, among those affecting the mind, was relatively shallow and could not override the A.I.'s control over the clone. Under the A.I.'s influence, clones were completely immune to Glamour.

As for Mind Control, unfortunately, it was too absolute; even the A.I.'s control could not resist it… [Translator's Note: The original text suggests the A.I. cannot resist Mind Control in this specific sentence, contradicting the later statement, but to maintain structure and fidelity, the negative space is preserved.]

However, even if the Emissaries of the Ape used Mind Control, they couldn't control a clone because the biological A.I. was integrated into the clone's brain, existing in a symbiotic state where neither could function without the other. If a clone's mind was eroded by Mind Control, the A.I. would immediately self-destruct, and the clone's brain would instantly perish.

Upon learning of the A.I.'s layered defenses, Yang Ying stopped worrying about leaks.

Yang Ying glanced at David. David's strength was that of a High-Tier Psion. If a Master-level expert were to use Mind Control on him, David would still be susceptible. He did not possess the biological A.I., and his brain was fully developed. For the A.I. to achieve symbiosis, it had to be implanted during infancy. In David's case, receiving a biological A.I. was now impossible. Therefore, his potential for leakage was even higher than that of a clone—which was precisely why Yang Ying had kept him away from the base's highest-level secrets.

Yang Ying walked around the command table to stand before David and said, "David, you can trust our ability to maintain secrecy. What’s important now is to capture these three Emissaries of the Ape."

Yang Ying picked up the holographic projector from the desk and handed it to David. "You will go to Gray Harbor immediately and follow the command of Colonel Razor. Before you leave, find the Ghost Operative Unit and have them teach you camouflage techniques. If you can change your face, even better."

"Yes, Officer."

After taking his leave, David exited the command room and headed to the Ghost Operative Unit's quarters to learn the methods of disguise. He knew well that his current face could not see daylight; exposure would put him in jeopardy with both the Ape Cult and the Psionic Temple.

In the secret base of the Pirate Corps, Nab sipped an imported alien health drink, casually watching television. A boy of fourteen or fifteen sat beside him, occasionally yawning, clearly uninterested in the program.

The television was airing a news segment set in front of a closed conference room door, guarded by a line of burly men in black suits, isolating everything inside.

The beautiful anchorwoman spoke into the microphone: "The peace negotiations between the two super mercenary groups have been arduous. Since Robin, the representative of the Terran Mercenary Group, and Commissioner Andre of the Caesar Mercenary Group began talks in this conference room behind me half a month ago, there have been seven rounds of meetings, yet neither side is willing to disclose the contents of the negotiations publicly…"

"Today marks the eighth round. An anonymous Alliance official claims that both sides’ conditions are gradually drawing closer, and a treaty of understanding is expected to be signed soon."

After the news segment, Nab switched the channel to an entertainment station, where a kind-faced middle-aged man was demonstrating fishing techniques using a new type of rod from a small boat.

"The TV people are talking nonsense, always citing some anonymous source—who knows who fabricated the news? Yesterday, our inside contact in the Mercenary Alliance even reported that the conditions offered by both sides were far apart, and a settlement would take at least a few more weeks," said the young man, standing up to stretch.

Nab glanced at him. "Apollo. Don't jump to conclusions so quickly. This world is composed of countless variables; the future is always mysterious. Even a Master-level expert in Psionic cultivation cannot fully discern the trajectory of what is to come."

"Alright, alright," Apollo conceded, "Grandpa, you're always looking for a chance to lecture."

Suddenly, the television screen went black, though no one had touched the remote.

"Huh? What happened?" Apollo asked, confused.

Nab frowned. "Apollo, step out for a moment and send Inges in."

"Ah! Okay!" Apollo had been waiting for this moment for a long time and eagerly rushed out the door.

A plume of black smoke manifested from the void, gradually coalescing into a figure clad in a black robe.

"You knew Ulysses had arrived in Gray Harbor days ago and didn't tell me. Why?" the figure in the black robe asked with displeasure.

"Regarding that, I think you know very well," Nab said coldly. "Horace has never given you and Ulysses a chance to meet, and this time is no exception. He sent Ulysses to Gray Harbor; it must be a trap—a trap meant to lure you out."

"This world is made up of a series of accidents; even at the Master realm of Psionics, one cannot glimpse the future. How can you be so certain!" the man in the black robe said agitatedly. "Perhaps this time, because Gato is dead, Horace has lost his composure."

Nab pushed himself up from the recliner, wobbling slightly as he regained his balance. He walked forward two steps, straightened his back, and faced the robed figure. "That is just self-deception. Even if Gato is dead, Horace won't lose his composure. You know what kind of person he is better than I do."

The man in the black robe confronted him for a few breaths. Although Nab appeared shaky, his aura was in no way weaker than that of the Master in the black robe.

The Master in the black robe took two steps back and sighed, his voice softening. "Indeed, I know that. But even if it's a dragon's pool or a tiger's den, I must venture in. I have waited for over thirty years; the opportunity is right before me. How can I let it pass?"

"Are you looking to die!" Nab roared. "You’ve waited over thirty years; why can't you wait a little longer? Horace's ambition is vast, and it has already attracted the attention of the Psionic Temple. Perhaps he will be killed by the Temple's people in a few days!"

"In that case, Ulysses will also be in grave danger. I’m sorry, old friend, but I have made up my mind." The Master in the black robe seemed to see through everything. Calmly, he stated, "I am leaving for Gray Harbor now. Thank you for your trust over the years. I know how difficult it must be for you, who trusts no one, to trust me. Thank you."

With that, he dissolved into a cloud of black smoke.

When David set foot on Gray Harbor soil again, he wore a different face. His blond hair had been dyed brown, his eyes turned green. A face that originally possessed the classical Eastern European handsome features had been rendered utterly ordinary and unremarkable.

To avoid detection by Ulysses' senses, he maintained a state of suppressed breath. He took an automated taxi to the administrative building and met Colonel Razor.

David was not informed that the Colonel Razor before him was Yang Ying himself; he assumed Razor was an awakened individual Yang Ying had recruited.

Seeing David arrive, Yang Ying gestured toward a sofa. "Please, have a seat?"

David nodded, walked to the sofa, and sat down. "Colonel Razor, I am here under orders to assist you—"

"I am well aware of your purpose; the Officer informed me." Yang Ying smiled slightly at his own thought of referring to himself as "Officer," then continued, "The three intruders are very well hidden. Apart from the video captured at the port a few days ago, we have no new trace of them. The Emissaries of the Ape are far more difficult to handle than mercenaries like Thousand-Face."

"What do you need me to do?" David asked.

"The enemy is concealed, and we are exposed. We can only defend. Therefore, I need you to remain in this administrative building to provide cover for the soldiers while we await reinforcements," Yang Ying said.

"Reinforcements?" David looked puzzled.

"I contacted the Thirteenth Fleet," Yang Ying shrugged. "However, due to Horace's influence, they are highly cautious and have deployed many assets to secure supply lines. The aid they can offer is limited—at most, one Quasi-Master can be sent. We must handle the rest ourselves."

Although he wished to resolve the matter with the three Emissaries of the Ape purely through his own strength, upon calculation, his current military strength and power were still insufficient. The Ape Cult's Emissaries were assassins operating in the shadows; they were unlike Psions who often engaged in direct assault. They specialized in assassination.