Deposed Crown Prince: After three years of service on the frontier, the entire court knelt and begge

“We will teach you these technologies in their entirety,” Evelyn added. “I will send five core researchers to your valley base to guide your people in manufacturing equipment, and I can also provide your Tianji Academy with some materials to help them solve some of the difficulties you are currently facing, and elevate their technology to a new level!”

"The premise is that you must integrate the Western Alliance as soon as possible and eliminate the remnants of the Illuminati. They are the henchmen of the Adventists, and failure to eliminate them will affect subsequent plans."

Xiao Ce looked at the weapons and equipment projected on the screen, quickly calculating in his mind. The android equipment could protect his core subordinates, the exoskeletons and energy rifles could enhance the army's combat effectiveness, the air defense system could deal with aerial threats, and most importantly, their research achievements...

These are precisely the bargaining chips he lacks most right now. With them, he could not only stabilize East Asia, but even unify the West, preparing for any eventuality...

To be honest, the three leaders of this parliament gave a reason that no one could refuse.

However, their honesty still made Xiao Ce feel a bit of pressure and doubt.

It was precisely because everything seemed fine that he felt confused.

But he didn't agree immediately. Instead, he frowned and asked, "Could the technology you provide have backdoors? For example, remotely controlling weapons, or tampering with the humanoid devices?"

Raymond's red aura sneered, "If we wanted to harm you, we wouldn't have gone to such lengths. You shut down the Star Network Hub, saved Earth, and helped us hide the location of our starship! Our fates are intertwined with yours. All our technology will be handed over to you with complete control; there are no backdoors."

The golden light and shadow said, "Our goal is to help humanity establish a defense system within ten years. Only if humanity survives can we use human resources to repair our starships and find a way to leave Earth. You are our only hope. Moreover, you will also need our experience traveling through the universe in the future..."

As the golden light appeared, it looked at Xiao Ce and slowly uttered a question that was very tempting to him: "You came from Earth, right? Do you want to go back?"

Upon hearing the golden light's words, Xiao Ce was filled with excitement: "Go back? Of course I want to..."

"So we share the same goal, but the first step is to ensure that we don't lose everything we have now... to preserve it..."

Xiao Ce looked at the three figures of light and shadow, then at Xiao Dingshan beside him, and finally made a decision.

He straightened his back, his gaze firm: "Okay, I agree to cooperate. But I have two conditions."

“Speak,” the golden light said.

Xiao Ce looked at them and said, "First, before I leave, I need you to provide one thousand 'Iron Guard-3' exoskeletons, one thousand 'Stardust-1' energy rifles, and one prototype consciousness extraction device. I need to use these to clean up the remnants of the Illuminati in the West and stabilize the Alliance."

Xiao Ce paused, then added, "Secondly, send researchers and security personnel to accompany me! Researchers will guide weapons manufacturing, and security personnel will protect the equipment; all of this needs to be done with me!"

The three figures of light and shadow swapped positions, clearly discussing something internally.

After a moment, the golden figure said, "We agree to your conditions. The weapons and equipment will be ready within three days, escorted by Nova."

Xiao Ce was somewhat surprised by their straightforwardness.

"You agreed? Then you're not afraid of me..."

The golden light said, "Actually, when we asked you to shut down Lost Island, we saw that you had this ability... so we wanted to follow your lead and invite you over... but we never expected that after it was shut down, all signals were cut off, which was beyond our expectations."

"We've chosen you, it's you..."

After hearing the words of the golden light, Xiao Ce nodded: "Okay, I understand..."

The golden light said to Xiao Ce, "By the way, Mr. Xiao Ce, those weapons can be charged here when we give them to you. However, once you've used up the energy, if they can't be recharged, they're useless..."

Xiao Ce nodded: "Okay, I understand. Let's prepare first... After things are settled in the West, I still need to go to the East. I want to look into the matter of the Heavenly Yin Star Map..."

The golden light nodded: "Okay, when you receive the other equipment, a specialist will be assigned to explain it to you..."

After listening to his words, Xiao Ce nodded and then asked the golden light, "Okay, sir, I know that the red light is Mr. Raymond and the blue light is Ms. Evelyn. I don't know your name yet."

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, Jin Guang's eyes flickered for a moment: "My name is Caesar."

Xiao Ce was visibly surprised after hearing Jin Guang's words; the name truly did possess an ethereal quality...

"Very well, Mr. Caesar, Mr. Raymond, Ms. Evelyn, it will be a pleasure doing business with you..."

The three figures flickered briefly: "Pleasant to cooperate..."

The golden figure, "Caesar," spoke with a calm and settled tone: "The details of the cooperation will be handled by Heinz of the Foreign Affairs Coordination Bureau. Nova will be responsible for the equipment handover and the formation of the escort team. Now, do you have any further questions?"

Xiao Ce stood outside the energy barrier, his gaze sweeping over the three clusters of light and shadow suspended on the circular platform. The council's candor and predicament answered his core questions about why the base had secluded itself and why it had chosen him. However, one figure remained lingering in his mind, like a hidden thorn.

“There is one.” After a pause, Xiao Ce said to them with a serious expression, “I want to see him.”

Without needing to state his name, the council's light and shadow seemed to instantly understand what he meant. The energy fluctuations of the three orbs of light and shadow briefly froze, and silence spread through the cold air.

"Him?" Xiao Dingshan repeated softly from the side, a complex expression on his face. He naturally knew who Xiao Ce was referring to!

The original owner, Xiao Ce, whose soul had been swapped with his and who had once possessed this body, is now imprisoned by the base.

Finally, it was Caesar's golden light and shadow that responded, his voice a few decibels lower than before: "Advisor Xiao Dingshan should have mentioned his situation to you. His very existence is a huge destabilizing factor, deeply colluding with the Adventists (Illuminati) and intending to overthrow everything you've established. The base imprisoned him, partly to prevent him from continuing his misdeeds, and partly to find out from him what the Adventists really are."

"It's obvious that your questioning will be fruitless," Xiao Ce said, his brows furrowing slightly.

Caesar nodded, his eyes gleaming with gold. "Indeed! That's exactly right. None of us were able to get him to speak, so your going will likely be in vain..."

Raymond, his eyes flashing red, continued, “His danger is undeniable. He is under the highest level of confinement to ensure he poses no threat to the outside world and cannot commit suicide. You can see him. But you must understand that he hates you to the core, and any communication could be fraught with malice and traps. Furthermore, you need to do so in the secure environment we designate.”

"I understand." There was not a trace of hesitation in Xiao Ce's eyes!

"I need to know who he really is, whether there are other forces behind him besides the Adventists, and most importantly, whether he truly knows the location of the 'Heavenly Yin' underground temple, and how those energy cannons like the lynx got here... This is crucial for us; as the saying goes, 'know yourself and know your enemy'..."

Caesar's golden light seemed to ripple slightly: "As you wish. Advisor Xiao Dingshan, please accompany Xiao Ce to the 'Stasis Cell'. Captain Nova will meet you at the entrance and be responsible for security."

Remember, once the energy barrier in the cell is activated, internal sound and images will be blocked, and external monitoring will be impossible. We respect your privacy, but that also means you will need to face his malice alone. Your safety is in your own hands.

"Understood." Xiao Ce nodded. He would face it alone!

This is exactly what he wants.

Of course, whether or not they would actually be able to monitor him was still a question in Xiao Ce's mind.

They didn't think anything of it if they hadn't said anything, but after they did, it felt like they were trying to cover something up.

The heavy alloy doors of the council chamber slid open silently.

Xiao Dingshan took a deep breath, patted Xiao Ce on the shoulder, his eyes filled with worry and encouragement: "Let's go, I'll take you there. Be careful, that kid... his mind has been completely twisted."

After listening to Xiao Dingshan's words, Xiao Ce asked with some doubt, "Have you seen him?"

After listening to Xiao Ce's words, Xiao Dingshan nodded: "Of course... he's no longer the person I used to know..."

Xiao Ce raised an eyebrow; to be honest, he was somewhat looking forward to it.

Under the silent escort of Captain Nova and two bodyguards, Xiao Ce and Xiao Dingshan boarded a dedicated internal rail shuttle and left the deep area where the council hall was located, heading deeper into the base to an independent module marked "Static Zone".

The atmosphere here is even more oppressive than in the council chamber.

The passage was narrow, the alloy walls were incredibly thick, and a cold white light replaced the simulated natural light. A very low-frequency hum filled the air, as if some kind of powerful force field was at work.

At regular intervals, heavily armed guards, their faces completely shrouded in black masks, stood watch. They were like cold sculptures; only the red light flashing in the iris of their helmets when a scanner passed over them proved they were alive...

Finally, the orbital shuttle came to a stop in a square hall constructed entirely of high-strength alloy. In the center of the hall was a solitary, cylindrical, transparent cell about three meters in diameter, which was enveloped by a force field barrier that constantly flowed with blue energy.

The cell was furnished very simply, with only an alloy bed fixed to the floor.

At that moment, a figure was sitting on the edge of the bed with his back to the entrance.

Even just seeing his back, Xiao Ce's heart skipped a beat.

That figure, that hairstyle, that posture of an ancient nobleman… it was exactly the same as the "self" he saw in the bronze mirror when he first came to this world. Only this back view exuded an overwhelming sense of gloom and deathly stillness.

Captain Nova stopped in front of the cell entrance, a stream of data flashing across her mask, and a cold voice rang out: "Mr. Xiao Ce, cell security protocol confirmed. Prisoner 'Target A' is conscious."

The force field barrier will completely close upon your entry, and internal communication will be silenced. You have 30 minutes. If the time limit is exceeded or a violent fluctuation in internal energy is detected, the barrier will be forcibly opened.

Please be careful. In case of emergency evacuation, press the red button on your Ice Ring terminal. She pointed to the device on Xiao Ce's wrist.

Xiao Ce nodded, his gaze never leaving the figure in the cell.

He glanced at Xiao Dingshan beside him, who nodded slightly, his expression grave: "You'd better be careful..."

Xiao Ce still smiled, took a deep breath, and walked towards the entrance of the cell.

The force field at the entrance rippled like water, creating a passage just wide enough for one person to pass through.

The moment he stepped inside, the entrance behind him closed silently, cutting off all external sounds and sights.

That force field barrier, flowing with blue light, became his only, cold boundary with the outside world.

The air in the cell smelled of disinfectant and metal, cold and dry. The figure sitting on the edge of the bed slowly turned around.

A face came into Xiao Ce's view.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

That was a face that Xiao Ce knew all too well, yet also felt utterly unfamiliar with.

Although Xiao Dingshan had previously disguised his appearance, the difference was immediately apparent.

However, at this moment, a lingering gloom shrouded this face that should have been handsome.

Beneath his pale skin was an unhealthy bluish-gray tinge. His eyes were sunken, and what were once bright, or at least proud, were now filled with unfathomable resentment, madness, and a chilling numbness honed by long imprisonment.

To be honest, Xiao Ce felt quite sorry for him deep down...

However, wasn't he also a pitiful person...?

Therefore, deep down, Xiao Ce still wanted to help this person out; they were both people swept up by fate...

At this moment, his hair was somewhat disheveled, and he was wearing a gray, unmarked jumpsuit provided by the base, which made him appear even more emaciated. He looked Xiao Ce up and down as he walked in, his eyes like poisoned knives, scraping inch by inch over the gold-trimmed uniform that symbolized Xiao Ce's nobility, finally settling on Xiao Ce's face.

That face that should have belonged to "him" is now dominated by another soul.

After seeing that look, Xiao Ce knew that his idea was probably just wishful thinking...

It's more likely wishful thinking on his part. In truth, Xiao Ce could understand his feelings... perhaps even empathize with them... After all, he had advantages in his time travel, while in his original timeline, he was likely at a disadvantage...