Chapter Sixty: Nurturing Ambition

David was feeling a bit frustrated. Although he could speak Chinese, it was still different from being a native speaker. The enormous cultural gap had prevented them from taking the first step, and naturally, the rest of the plan was impossible to execute. He could only look at Chen Ming and say, "You go first." He relinquished control for the moment, intending to regain it once the plan had been improved. Then he retreated to a corner and began furiously typing on his keyboard, determined to curse the idiot who had drafted the plan, demanding a swift revision.

Chen Ming did not kick David while he was down or ridicule him, for even he hadn’t expected Li Daoran to refuse so decisively, so resolutely. As for whether there was any issue with taking over on short notice, there was certainly none. At the very least, a problem without three backup solutions was a flaw in the team behind the scenes and grounds for accountability. To Chen Ming, having only one prepared solution seemed almost like a joke.

David handed over the newly acquired control as cleanly and swiftly as if he were secretly joining the Party, making Chen Ming wonder about his motives.

He then turned to Charles; it seemed David had forgotten his teammate altogether. Charles, maintaining his elegance, rotated his cane gracefully and smiled. “No matter, we can talk again next time. You go ahead, Gourmet.”

Usually cast as the most disappointing teammate, Charles now experienced firsthand what it meant to be let down by one’s own allies.

Li Daoran sat down again. “Weren’t we supposed to be open and honest? Wasn’t it you who said we should bare our hearts? Yet here you are scheming against me again. You filthy politicians.”

Chen Ming shook his head. “Because now we’ve truly entered the next phase, Daoran. Both your rate of growth and the pace of events have far exceeded our expectations. Do you know why we want you to become a god?”

Li Daoran admitted he did not, urging him to continue.

“Because we need everyone united, standing on the same front. Faith is a powerful tool—it may not work here, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work abroad. Sooner or later, the god-making plan will have to be reinstated. Take your time and think it over. The pros and cons cannot be explained in just a few words, so let’s put it aside for now and discuss the current situation and what to do next. Let David and his team refine the plan.”

Hearing Chen Ming’s words, David looked up and gave a slight laugh, typing even faster. As one of the founders of Phantom Hand, he was manipulating illusions on a small laptop keyboard, glimpses of greatness through a narrow lens, clearly demonstrating a mastery beyond what Li Daoran could achieve on Water Blue Star. After all, Li Daoran had spent little time on Water Blue Star, with insufficient training for the Phantom Hand technique—and his talent was not particularly remarkable.

Li Daoran, hearing Chen Ming’s words, sat up straight. “Alright, what should I do next to save Liu Meng?”

Natasha patted her forehead. “Those in love are so adorably foolish. Daoran, do you really think I’m so inferior to Liu Meng? If she can’t be saved, I could satisfy you myself. Isn’t there a saying, ‘Why limit yourself to a single flower when wildflowers are sweeter than those grown at home?’” With that, she stood up, showing off her perfect figure.

Li Daoran did not respond. The Black Widow’s reputation was well-earned—those who truly believed her ended up with weeds three feet tall growing over their graves.

“Enough, Natasha. Angering him won’t do you any good. He’s not like your usual prey, and certainly not someone you can toy with,” Charles said, seeing Natasha poised for further action. He raised his cane to block her.

Natasha glanced at Charles, stuck out her tongue at Li Daoran, made a face, and sat back down.

“It’s simple. Do nothing. Just wait,” Chen Ming said.

“Wait? Wait for what?”

“What else can you do? Whether you win or lose, it doesn't concern you much, Daoran.” Chen Ming’s words were cruel.

Li Daoran remained silent.

“You’ve done all you can. Anything more would be excessive and unnecessary. Just wait. Do you feel powerless? Frustrated? That’s how it should be—this is reality. You’re only a pawn. If you were captain of the Mermaid, you could decide where to go at will. In turbulent times, what matters most is force, Daoran. Otherwise, you’re just a floating reed in chaos, drifting wherever the currents take you.”

“Exactly, Daoran. You need ambition. Remember this feeling of helplessness—you need power,” Charles interjected, his eyes shining.

Li Daoran seemed drained, slumping back against the sofa, holding his head.

“How much impact we can have depends on how much power you can wield, Daoran. If you controlled all the military forces of the White Deer Republic, our capabilities would be beyond your wildest imagination. But now, we can only exert the strength of a mere soldier. You told Wayne the predicted outcome, but can you force him to return? You can’t. Neither can we,” David added.

“I understand,” came Li Daoran’s voice, though his face was hidden.

“If you truly want to save her, there is still a chance,” Chen Ming said suddenly.

“How?” Li Daoran asked quickly, sensing hope.

“Defeat the Philip Empire. Sometimes, never underestimate the power of a single soldier. In war, even a single trooper can change the outcome,” Chen Ming replied, his words resonant.

“If you’re strong enough, it’s not just about the power of a soldier in Daoran’s world. In the age of cold weapons, a single soldier’s impact was limited. But in the age of hot weapons, like now, Tam often influences wars on Water Blue Star. He’s toppled entire small regimes by himself. With mechs and fighter jets in Daoran’s world, the power of a soldier is magnified even more. If you’re strong enough, you just might change the course of battle,” Chen Ming explained.

“So, I still have to take part in the war? Don’t you think it’s too dangerous?” Li Daoran asked, uncertain.

Tam grinned broadly. “War isn’t dangerous. I like it.”

Chen Ming gazed deeply at Li Daoran; Natasha laughed softly, Charles lowered his head in silence, David was still battling online.

When war arrives, nowhere is truly safe; safety belongs to those with guns in their hands. This group understood that truth long ago, but Li Daoran was ignorant of war, fearful of its reality.

Yet it would be unfair to say Chen Ming and the others had not tried—for example, Li Daoran persuading Wayne to return. Whether it was deliberate or not, no one could say for sure; the fact remained, they had failed. Had they succeeded, things might be different now, with a different set of arguments.

For Water Blue Star, little more than ten minutes had passed. How much of that was orchestrated, Li Daoran no longer cared to investigate. It was meaningless—no one had held a knife to his throat and forced him. Cleaning up after Li Daoran was not mere talk; Chen Ming and his team had certainly prepared well.