Cane received a message that Stella walked straight to Navi's residence upon returning to Trestlewood. A van left Navi's estate just now and proceeded directly to the airport.
This news caught us off guard.
A van?
I looked at Atlas a bit uneasily. "...Is it possible that..."
Atlas didn't answer me but fell into deep thought.
"Sir, should we send someone to intercept?" Cane asked Atlas.
"No! Just keep an eye on her! Don't intervene!" Atlas paced back and forth momentarily, then suddenly said to Cane, "Fight fire with fire! Arrange for a car to create the illusion that we're returning to Trestlewood. Switch cars at the Hingmiles Creek intersection. Warn them to be cautious—there's bound to be an attack!"
Cane immediately arranged everything. We hastily left the inn, got into the car, and headed straight for Trestlewood.
I looked at Atlas in the car and asked, "Are you still sure that the person is in the base, not in Trestlewood?"
Atlas reached out and hugged me tightly. "Trust me!"
Just as our car was close to leaving Goldengrove, Atlas received a call from Navi inviting us to have lunch together.
"Sorry, Mr. Navi! I have something to do in Trestlewood. I won't be able to join you for lunch. But we can have dinner together in Trestlewood!" Atlas's tone was almost theatrical.
After a few words, he hung up the phone.
Atlas's expression brightened as if he had just breathed a sigh of relief. I understood that Navi's call just now was equivalent to revealing himself. He wasn't dumb. He was just muddying the waters.
But this murky water wasn't clear to begin with and didn't affect Atlas's judgment at all. I admired Atlas even more.
Coincidentally, Hingmiles Creek was just ahead. There was an intersection, and just as our vehicle was about to pull into the intersection, two cars that looked exactly like ours shot out of a nearby side road, and our car veered into the side road.
Cane started the car, and the vehicle quickly moved forward. My mood was quite complicated.
I wanted to fight alongside Atlas back to the base, but I knew my presence would restrict him.
Returning to the base was extremely risky, I knew in my heart. I wanted to accompany Atlas to face it together. However, I was sure that this time, Atlas wouldn't give me the chance.
When we arrived at the small village ahead, I realized this was probably where we got off last night. There were about a dozen households in the village. The village was quite dilapidated, with some ruins as if it had been abandoned.
Atlas led me to the most exquisite bamboo home, where an elderly guy lived in simplicity.
He smiled instantly upon realizing that Atlas had arrived and continued conversing with Atlas.
Atlas nodded, then handed me over to the old man and left the bodyguard who had been protecting us with me, telling him to watch me.
Just then, his phone rang. Without even looking at the screen, he immediately answered, "Speak!"
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