Chapter 201
“Reduce your sentence? Clifford sneered at the suggestion and retorted mockingly. “Dr. Shelton, you’re daydreaming. Have you forgotten how
many lives are on your hands? Not just a few, but hundredst
“Someone as despicable as you should’ve been executed long ago. You’re lucky you’re still alive and breathing. And now you want to be released Don’t you think that’s utterly ridiculous“”
Jake remained unfazed. He smiled softly, adjusted his glasses, and replied calmly, “Oh, please. Don’t act like you and the rest of the higher–ups are so nichteous and great.
“The only reason I’m still alive is that you wouldn’t be able to create new war machines without me. Even in times of peace, who’s to say the international situation won’t shift Without me, how will Mounhumsland maintain its eelge in the military industry!”
Clifford didn’t respond to his words.
Jake thus continued. “Since you’ve come all the way here and dog up a photo from twenty years ago, it seems like that man has achieved his goal. Things have gotten tricky for you, right? Otherwise, why’d you esteemed higher–ups suddenly pay me a visit?”
Jake’s remarks unsettled Clifford. He thought, “That man has achieved his goal? Is Jake referring to the person in the photo who looks exactly like
Simon! Does he have some grand purpose, enough to cause trouble for Moonhuntland?
Clifford concealed his unease and played along. “Yes, things have indeed become troublesome. That’s why we traced it back to you and investigated your past associations. It turns out you’re connected to him. So tell me, what’s his goal! What’s he trying to do!”
Instead of answering. Jake raised an eyebrow and countered, “How does the new generation of war machines compare to the ones I created? Who’s
stronger?”
The new generation of violent machines! Simon is involved in creating war machines? Clifford thought.
Bur apart from War Machine No.1 to No.9, there hadn’t been reports of anyone else possessing the same level of power, except Simon. And Simon’s abilities seemed to surpass the specifications of the war machines altogether.
Suppressing the flood of questions in his mind, Clifford continued to probe. They’re evenly matched.”
“Evenly matched?“Jake suddenly frowned in displeasure. That’s impossible! My war machines are perfect! There’s no way he could create machines stronger than mine!”
Clifford’s brows furrowed pensively. He felt that Jake and “Simon” seemed to have a disagreement in research philosophy in the past that had caused them to fall out with each other.
Things had come to that point, and Clifford could only continue lying. “Believe it or not,
that’s the reality.”
Jake was overtaken by emotions. He abruptly stood up from his chair and shouted furiously at Clifford, “Let me out! Or at least give me the combai data for both sets of war machinest
ty has made breakthroughs? Damn it! If I hadn’t been locked up in this “That’s impossible! Mine are the strongest! Are you saying their technology godforsaken place, the machines 1 created would’ve been far superior to his!”
“You fools! You have no idea what he is planning! If his scheme succeeds, we’ll all be doomed! Let me out! Let me continue my research?
The composed and scholarly man suddenly descended into madness after hearing the word “evenly matched. His reaction made Clifford ill an
rase.
He soon realized that perhaps the production of war machines was still ongoing and Simon had access to the same “critical substance” used to
create them.
However, he didn’t know who exactly Simon was. He wondered if he was the same person who collaborated with Jake twenty years ago or someone else entirely. He was also curious as to why had he lost his memory.
The mysteries deepened, and Clifford grew increasingly worried. If war machines were still being produced, it was likely that other countries were secretly developing their own as well.
If that were true, the world would have no peace. Nina and the others would once again find themselves inevitably thrust into the
rames of war
