After finishing their drinks at the arena, Caesar, Jack, Yuan, Gaoda, Zehong, and Poseidon readied themselves to embark on a mission to rescue Zeus and Satan. The six donned their preferred weaponry and gear before boarding a bulky transport plane.
This cumbersome aircraft dared not enter New City's airspace directly, for the city's air defenses had grown even more formidable than before. Thus, they opted to land at a nearby military base loyal to the Alliance and proceed by land. A reckless intrusion into New City's air defense network would have resulted in their immediate destruction.
The plane lumbered slowly upward from the arena, its speed far slower than that of fighter jets—let alone the Black Dagger or Trident crafts. It would take approximately three hours to reach the Alliance military base closest to New City, after which they planned to drive onward under the cloak of night, hoping to infiltrate the city undetected.
Their tactics had long been agreed upon; execution was now underway.
As the plane ascended above the ancient city, it pierced through the clouds, flying steadily northward.
Meanwhile, Xiao Feng had spent the day ruminating over the mystery of Victoria's secret. The only recourse he saw was to consult the young engineer Allen, whose unique position likely granted him insight into the matter.
However, Allen was unreachable during daylight hours. Only after nine in the evening could Xiao Feng clandestinely enter the gated villa district where Allen resided to pose his questions. Anxious, Xiao Feng waited until nightfall, parking at a shopping center before hastening toward Allen's home.
He slipped inside with practiced ease to find Allen preparing dinner—an elaborate spread accompanied by a bottle of red wine.
Allen paused at Xiao Feng's arrival but quickly resumed his composure, no longer surprised by the sudden visit.
With a teasing smile, Allen said, "Xiao Feng, next time you visit, could you please give me a heads-up? Your abrupt appearances leave me no time to prepare. Imagine if we were, say, in the middle of something... awkward."
Xiao Feng chuckled, "I can't alert you in advance—if your company monitors your comms, everything would be exposed."
Allen nodded thoughtfully. "True enough. Have you eaten yet? If not, join me for some food."
"I've already eaten. I'm here to ask you something—won't take long. Afterward, you can return to your candlelit dinner."
Allen poured wine as he sat at the table. "Speak your mind."
Xiao Feng opened the comm device and showed Allen the mysterious symbols inside.
Allen examined them, puzzled. "Do these symbols mean something?"
Xiao Feng inquired, "You don't know their significance either?"
Allen shook his head. "No, I only work on new weapon development. This kind of knowledge isn't in my domain."
Realizing even Allen was kept in the dark about this core secret, Xiao Feng explained, "Last night, we accessed your company's database—the Victoria archives. These symbols were discovered in the Evil Dragon Cult's lair, yet they're also annotated in your files. When we pieced together their meanings, we found they reveal the cult's method for taming beasts. With these secrets, we could tame the monsters ourselves. My suspicion is that this taming technique originated from within Victoria and was leaked to the cult."
Allen nodded in agreement. "Makes sense. Jason is capable of anything."
"But that's not the real crux," Xiao Feng added, frowning. "What puzzles me most is: where did these symbols originally come from?"
Allen poured the wine into a large decanter to let it breathe and confessed, "That's beyond me. Some things are off-limits. Victoria's power to survive through the cleansing is formidable, but where that strength comes from is a mystery. I'll try to help you trace the origins of these symbols, if you like."
Xiao Feng nodded, resigned. "I appreciate it. If you can't find anything, so be it. I'll keep searching."
As he turned to leave, Xiao Feng added, "Next time we meet, I'm sure I'll have more trouble for you."
Allen laughed heartily. "No worries. As long as I'm home, you're welcome anytime—just not after eleven. By then, we're all asleep."
"I understand. I won't be a constant bother. I'll leave you to your romance. Hope to hear from you soon."
After Xiao Feng departed, Allen's expression darkened as he set down his utensils. What exactly was Xiao Feng after? These black symbols truly were formidable.
Allen's wife smiled wryly. "You're really going to help Xiao Feng uncover who created these symbols? Maybe they're relics of an alien civilization."
"Oh, come off it. After all these years without a trace of aliens, now you think they're here? If so, Earth's forces might actually have a worthy opponent."
"Just be cautious. Something feels amiss."
"You worry too much. With Xiao Feng and his X Legion around, what's there to fear? Now, drink up."
Puzzled, Xiao Feng exited the villa district and sat in his car, contemplating. This was troublesome indeed. Who could possibly shed light on the true origin of these symbols? He remained parked, lost in thought.
At that moment, two open-top jeeps sped past on the highway, paying no heed to Xiao Feng.
Cursing under his breath, Xiao Feng shouted, "Damn it... stop right there!"