The sumr solstice of 2030 has long passed, and the sun’s direct point is moving south from the Tropic of Cancer, now nearing the equator.
Above the equator, a helicopter is taking off from the deck of a warship belonging to the Federation’s Third Fleet.
Yawgmoth was quite troubled: "It’s unnecessary, really unnecessary to do this... We could have discussed this in a restaurant in Boston..."
"Don’t resist, Comrade Yawgmoth," Xiang Shan, who was sitting opposite him, said earnestly, "At this stage, if you dare to discuss such matters in a fast-food restaurant, an FBI sniper will dare to aim at your head— oh, sorry, that assus you can even enter a fast-food restaurant. Right now, you are still technically enjoying freedom."
Yawgmoth patted his forehead: "Then let’s find a place in Boston where you bureaucrats can feel at ease..."
"However, your ex-wife doesn’t agree with this plan at the mont," Xiang Shan responded earnestly, "She’s currently busy with her field project, so this is the fastest ans."
"Really... We could have directly flown to Ecuador and then taken a boat to the Colon Archipelago, possibly faster..."
Xiang Shan pulled down his sunglasses a little and stared straight at him: "Brother, in our current state, we’re not representing civilian status. Simply put, pulling a Peacekeeping Forces team from Ecuador’s mainland and traveling all the way here matches the process of ’departing from international waters and entering Ecuador’s territorial waters by plane,’ making this process smoother."
"Really?" Yawgmoth was skeptical.
"If this process encounters any issues, it’s a communication problem between the Federation and Ecuador, which has nothing to do with ," Xiang Shan said frankly.
"Pfft."
Another person nearby couldn’t help but laugh.
Yawgmoth glanced at Zhu Xinyu, who was beside Xiang Shan. The young woman wasn’t afraid of the equatorial heat, and surprisingly, wore a business suit. The clothes seed freshly acquired and were a bit large on her. She, like Xiang Shan, wore sunglasses, looking very much like an underling.
Noticing Yawgmoth’s attention, Zhu Xinyu cleared her throat and put on a serious face.
"So why is she here too?"
Zhu Xinyu raised her wrist with the bracelet: "I can’t stray too far from him now."
"Nonsense!" Yawgmoth pointed at Xiang Shan and asked, "The bracelet on her wrist can’t be taken off, and the transmitter on your hand can’t be taken off either?"
"Ahem." Xiang Shan evaded the question.
In reality, Zhu Xinyu insisted on him bringing her.
As for why...
Of course, gossip.
Gossip is one of human nature’s traits. Especially for soone like Zhu Xinyu, who is imrsed in the internet, almost showing symptoms of information addiction.
In a previous leak incident, she learned of the entanglent between Yawgmoth and Niyaguti and realized recently that it was indeed impossible for Yawgmoth to plagiarize. However, Yawgmoth himself remained resistant to scrutiny, never properly explaining what happened.
The intertwined love and hate added mysterious elents, making it really enticing.
And at this mont, Zhu Xinyu felt a little guilty towards Yawgmoth.
Although the attention was minimal, with only small discussions online, Yawgmoth carried infamy at this mont.
And ultimately, this was caused by Zhu Xinyu.
She wanted to co and see, naturally.
Indeed, she even wanted...
To stand up for Yawgmoth.
Thus, Zhu Xinyu deliberately prepared a set of formal attire.
Yawgmoth did not understand Zhu Xinyu at all. But he could probably guess Xiang Shan’s thoughts. For Xiang Shan, "using a chicken feather as a token of authority" was standard practice. The "smoothness of the process" was likely just a casual remark. He wanted to use an exaggerated entrance to intimidate the target and gain an advantage in negotiations.
Of course, it was also mixed with a sense of "I’m backing you up, bro."
But Yawgmoth felt the matter probably wasn’t what they thought at all.
He had no intention to report anything to those in the park. He felt there was no need to explain.
As for re infamy, he wasn’t concerned in the slightest.
Xiang Shan brought him to resolve an incident. However, in Yawgmoth’s heart, he ca to Niyaguti to communicate a critical question.
Yawgmoth looked out the window. On the horizon, a few precious islands were approaching.
The Colon Archipelago, or the Galapagos Islands. A sanctuary for biology.
In 1835, the young Darwin, aboard the Beagle, passed through here. The uniquely varied creatures on different islands inspired this remarkable young man. Darwin noticed that the island hosted a large group of finches — 17 kinds spread across 13 islands in the Colon Archipelago, each island hosting 3-10 types. They were similar in form yet similar to the mainland South Arican species.
The inspirations surging in this young man’s mind were the sparks of greatness — for the first ti, humanity clearly recognized the existence of "evolution."
These finches, later known as the Darwin finch species, seed like revelations given to biologists by fate.
Galapagos is a living textbook of biological evolution. Countless scientists have had similar revelations here. The Darwin finches, giant tortoises, marine iguanas... These nas have all made marks on the history of human biological research. It even serves as a spawning ground for certain cartilaginous fishes.
Nearby are undersea hydrothermal vents harboring hydrothermal vent biota!
From remote antiquity to the present era, all traces of evolution seem condensed here.
Yawgmoth even had a sense of destiny. He was about to achieve the next enlightennt. Very soon.
The helicopter was still a considerable distance from the Galapagos islands, so it soon descended in altitude.
A research vessel was on the sea. It was a catamaran with two separate underwater hulls connected by reinforced structures to form a single "vessel". The catamaran was only about twenty ters long, with a displacent of several hundred tons. The pilot imdiately established contact with the vessel through open communication channels.
According to the information, the research ship belonged to a public research institution.
Soon, the helicopter approached the deck of the research ship, less than a rod’s distance from it. The rotor’s wind kicked up mist from the sea surface. The side door next to Xiang Shan swung open, and the rope ladder automatically slid down. The pilot indicated to the passengers that they could disembark.
The three promptly stood on the deck. Shortly after, the helicopter departed.
The ship’s captain, after examining the docunts of Xiang Shan and the others, imdiately left. The Federation had inford prior to arrival, and the captain had vaguely heard from dostic news that the situation was complex. Seeing a military helicopter drop three people off, he naturally didn’t want to get involved.
Only a few scholar-like people were discussing on-site. Xiang Shan noticed that among those standing closest, there was a South European-looking woman whose expression was a bit awkward upon seeing Yawgmoth.
Yawgmoth, however, imdiately noticed a woman standing near the subrsible a short distance away.
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