Chapter 211
With Clifford’s words, Nina and Gabriel finally felt reassured.
The little girl’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she exclaimed, “Clifford, so according to you, as long as we don’t cause any trouble when we’re together, all nine of us can live together byever?”
Clifford couldn’t help admiring her ability to infer and stretch meanings. This little girl is a master of reading between the lines, indeed:
He sighed, rubbed his temples, and chuckled wryly. Loving together permanently isn’t very realistic. The higher–ups hope that you all return to your respective families and integrate into society. If you stay together all the time, you’ll probably ignore everyone else, and that’s not the goal”
The higher–ups‘ entire plan to reintegrate them into families was meant to dilute their extremist tendencies. These war machines had been fiercely loyal to one another, forming an insular group. Familial love and societal ties were supposed to soften those ridges..
Letting them all stick together would defeat the purpose entirely–it’d be no different from when they were in the Special Operations Division.
“Ugh… fine”
Hearing this, the little gul immediately deflated. She had known it was too good to be true.
Noticing her disappointment, Clifford hesitated for a moment, then added, “That said, it’s fine for you to visit each other occasionally, like when Mandy’s family brought her to see you all. That’s allowed“.
“Oh, really? Nima perked up instantly. “So, if I want to visit other war machines, I just need to bring one of the Woods along with mein
“Correct”
With his confirmation, the little girl’s enthusiasm reignited. She grinned mischievously. “I’ve already seen Charle, Mandy, Jackie, and Gabriel, so next. I want to find Eric! He still doesn’t know about Simon. I’ll set up a match between them to see who’s stronger!”
“That’s fine”
Clifford’s smile held a trace of indulgence. “When I have some free time, I can take you, Charlie, and Gabriel to visit him. According to his handler. Eric has adjusted quite well to society and is even working alongside regular people”
“What?”
Nina was shocked “Ency
Working with regular people? When did he become so easy to get along with?”
Charlie and Gabriel were equally surprised.
“That’s impossible,” Gabriel said incredulously. “Eric cooperating with regular people! I don’t buy it. It’s got to be fake.”
Charlie nodded in agreement. “If Mandy is the aloof queen, then Eric is the arrogant king. He’s always looked down on humans. Did he take the wrong meds or something?”
im?” Nina chimed in, analyzing the situation:
“Or maybe someone brainwashed him?”
“Could he have hit his head like Simon” Gabriel suggested.
“Come on, Eric is not as dumb as Simon, Charlie retorted.
“Then why would he work with regular people?”
“Don’t ask me.”
The revelation left the group of war machines stunned. While Charlie and Gabriel had grown to tolerate the Woods due to Nina’s influence, their attitude toward other humans remained indifferent at best
Moreover, none of them were remotely interested in working. Despite their various impressive skills, they were collectively an unemployed bunch. Nina, for instance, left all her assets and operations under Clifford’s management. As for the rest, carning money wasnt even on their radar.
For Eric to not only work but also cooperate with humans was completely out of his character.
Clifford, amused by their chatter, shrugged. “Look, even Eric is trying to integrate into society and make a living With such a role model, maybe you should take a page out of his book.”
Charlie frowned. “There’s no way he’s doing this willingly. What’s the catch?
“Exactly. There must be a reason, Gabriel and Nina echoed.
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Chapter 211
Clifford smiled. Its not that complicated. Eric’s family situation isn’t great. His parents passed away a while ago, leaving behind a six–year–old sister. She’d been living with relatives, but they didn’t treat her well. When Eric returned, he took her away to live with him and got a job to support
them both.
Charlie still found it a hit strange. Frowning, he said, “I thought we war machines had pretty substantial savings. Does he really need to work to make ends meet!”
came with equally high
After all, while the higher–ups treated them as mere tools, the missions they carried out perre extremely dangerous, which can
Adminnally, in the Special Operations Division, there were hardly any expenses, in all earnings were managed and saved in personal accounts supervised by the Division. Upon returning to civilian life, Charlie reviewed his acement and found that, while not as substantial as Nina’s billion dollar fortune, the accounts of most war machines still boosted balances of at least right (ligins.
In other words, even if Eric chose not to work, has years of savings should have been more than enough to support himself and his sister comfortably.
Clifford chuckled. “Trur. Charlie hausawings, but raising a child in this society comes with its own set of rules. His sister is at the age to start school. and enrolling her requires a guardian with a stable jols and social insurance. This was also a great opportunity for him to integrate into society, to the Division helped him secure a suitable job.”
“Well well Looks like Eric really cares about that sister of his
For someone who once disdained humanity to willingly engage with people for his sister’s sake was a significant shift.
“His sisters a sweetheart, Clifford saad warmly. “She’s quiet, well–behaved, and sensible for her age. I think you’d all like her if you met her
“Really?”
Nina’s eyes in up with curiosity. “Then I want to meet her soont Clifford, when can you take us–Charlie, Gabriel, and maybe even Mandy—to visit? Oh, and let’s get Eric to spar with Simon!”
Imbusy at the moment. Let’s do it in three days. I should have some free time then, Clifford replied.
“Deal!”
“Deal”
Wright, that’s all from me. Bye.”
Just as Nina was about to hang up, she paused and added, “Oh, Clifford, I do have one more question”
“What is it?” he asked patiently.
She hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Why won’t you be my boyfriend”
The question made Clifford freeze, his dark, fathomless eyes flickering.
“Why wouldn’1 ] be Nina’s boyfriend? |
“Why indeed
Unbidden, a memory surfaced–he was seven, rebelling against his strict f family, wandering the streets.
That’s when he met a bright, cheerful woman who became his unlikely friend.
One day, she had joked, “Why are you always by yourself, kid? Planning to stay a loner forever! Tell you what, I’ll give you a baby to keep you company in the future.
“Hey, Earth to Clifford
Nina’s impatient shout pulled him back to reality.
The girl’s yell, amplified by the phone pressed against his ear, nearly burst his cardrum.
“Huh? What?” he mumbled, will dazed.
“Why aren’t you answering? she complained.
Caught off guard, Clifford forced down his turbulent thoughts and chuckled apologetically. “Sorry, I got lost in thought”
Hiph
1122 AM
Chapter 211
Unimpressed. Nina muttered cryptically. “Well, it seems like Gabriels is right all along.”
“What do you mean? Clifford was confused
“I didn’t believe it when Gabriel said it, but now I’m sure,” she said with mock solemnity. “You’re not capable, are you?”
Clifford was immensely confused.
“Don’t
I won’t bring up the boyfriend thing again, she sighed dramatically. “I don’t want to hurt your pride as a man.
“Alright, that’s all Bye–bye, Clifford.”
