De Silva glanced around to ensure they were alone, then lowered his voice. "I have a drug that preserves youth indefinitely, but it requires an injection once every ten years."
"Was it invented by your grandfather Ronnie?" Alena asked.
"Yes, but you absolutely mustn't tell anyone. If people found out, our lives would be in danger."
"I understand, brother." A moment later, she asked, "Why didn't you give it to Mother?"
"It was left to me by Father. I worried Mother would be upset if she knew."
"We can discuss it with her when the time is right."
Time flowed swiftly, and another six months passed. In Eagle's Nest, Afastin welcomed the birth of a new life, weeping with joy. "I finally have a child of my own!" It was a boy with dark skin, naturally curly short hair, and tiny fists tightly clenched.
The potato robot and Daechir were delighted. They discussed names for the baby. What would be suitable?
"How about Black Banana?" the potato robot suggested first.
"Can't you think about anything besides food?" Daechir replied disapprovingly.
"Then you choose one. All you do is criticize me."
"Both of you, stop arguing," Afastin interjected. "I've already decided—we'll use my grandfather's name, 'Ronnie.'"
"Absolutely not!" both robots objected simultaneously.
"Why not?" Afastin asked.
"A name as great as Ronnie can't be bestowed on such an ordinary child," the potato explained.
"I'm naming him little Ronnie, and that's final."
Almost simultaneously, Basali also gave birth to a baby—a girl with fair skin who clearly wasn't De Silva's daughter. After the failed assassination attempt, the obese man had strengthened his security, constantly surrounded by a large entourage. He now trusted Basali even more, consulting her on everything.
Since having her daughter, Basali's attitude had changed. She no longer passed intelligence to the "Courage Alliance," though she hadn't betrayed them either. She simply wanted to live a quiet life.
The new girl from Greenway Orphanage had caught her attention. She warned her husband, "You should be careful of that girl. Something's not right about her."
The obese man laughed. "Are you afraid she'll seduce me?"
"I'm not joking. She's definitely suspicious. Isn't she newly arrived?"
"She was recommended by my superior. Surely there's no problem?"
"You mean Major General Ethan?"
The man nodded. "Yes."
"You'd better be careful. Don't forget, Sean was also his recommendation."
The obese man considered this for a moment. "You're right. I'd forgotten that Sean was his recommendation too. Could they have been sent by Major General Ethan to kill me? But that doesn't make sense—if he really wanted to eliminate me, he could find any excuse. Why go to such trouble?"
"You haven't made any mistakes. If he killed you directly, headquarters would investigate. But if you were assassinated, he could blame it on resistance fighters."
"What should I do?"
"We should find a way to eliminate Ethan."
"Isn't that too risky? This is just speculation."
"Then at least stay away from that woman."
"Alright, I'll listen to you."
The Major General Ethan they discussed was "Xin," one of Uwa's Group of Seven. In just a few short years, with Uwa's help, he had rapidly climbed to his current position. Xin, only in his twenties, was ruthless, cold-blooded, and currently in Corey's good graces. To earn Corey's trust, he had killed many of his own comrades.
The undercover girl was transferred elsewhere the very next day. Uwa decided to target the obese man directly. This time, she hid in his home, concealed under the bed with her invisibility cloak, changing her breathing every twenty minutes.
Basali, her ample breasts exposed as she nursed her baby, waited for her husband who was late returning home. Unexpectedly, Uwa fell asleep under the bed and began snoring. At first, Basali thought the sounds came from her baby, but as the snoring grew louder, she peered under the bed and was shocked.
"Who are you? Why are you hiding in my home?" she demanded.
Uwa awoke with a start, terrified. Basali clutched her baby and ran out. When she returned with others, no one was under the bed anymore.
"Madam, where is the person?" asked one of the three soldiers.
"She was just here! did she run away?—She’s definitely still in this room. Search carefully."
Within moments, the room was surrounded, with eight men searching inside. Uwa held her breath, still hidden beneath the bed. Several groups checked there but failed to detect her presence.
The small room was thoroughly searched, but nothing was found. The soldiers were losing patience. They suspected Basali had imagined it but didn't dare say so, reluctantly continuing their search.
"I definitely saw someone—a woman," Basali muttered to herself.
Just then, the obese man hurried home and embraced Basali. "Darling, are you alright?"
Basali nestled in his arms. "Noll, I'm so glad you're back. I was terrified."
"This place isn't safe anymore. We should move elsewhere," he said.
"I really did see someone. Could she possibly be invisible?" Basali had unknowingly guessed the truth.
After they left, the soldiers ended their search and sealed the room. When everyone had gone and darkness fell completely, Uwa finally crawled out from under the bed. She tried to open the door but found it locked. The windows were similarly sealed shut. Her stomach growled with hunger. What could she do? She was trapped.
Searching the room for food, she found some candies and cookies. She sat on the bed, eating while contemplating her next move. By the moonlight streaming through the window, she noticed a photo album on the bed. She picked it up and began flipping through it—mostly solo pictures of Basali.
As she turned the pages, a smile gradually appeared on her face. She forgot her predicament entirely. Time seemed to rewind twenty years. She remembered her first meeting with Amandine, their happy days working at the kind elderly couple's restaurant, practicing holding their breath together for invisibility training, and their final parting.
Tears blurred her vision, and she burst into heart-wrenching sobs. Her cries were so loud they alarmed the guards outside.
"We searched and found no one. Could the room be haunted?" one soldier said.
"Yes, and by a female ghost at that," another replied.
Shortly after, the door was reopened. Uwa, having heard the commotion, had already hidden herself. She stood invisible behind the door as all the lights were switched on.
"We can't let her escape this time," declared a tall soldier. As soon as he finished speaking, Uwa slipped out through the door.
She wanted to find the obese man but couldn't locate him after checking several places. Finally, she left the premises, disappointed.