Chapter 525: Genius Scientist Translator: Tim Editor: GlobeGlotter

Ye Mo was intimately familiar with this figure; he had seen him in many pictures. This was the man Northern Sand wanted to capture, the designer of the Space Flower. But suddenly, the man disappeared.

Ye Mo immediately went to the spot where the figure had vanished and breathed a sigh of relief. The desert held so many unexplainable things that he dared not be careless, but this location was familiar.

The area was a barren plain, but he found a large patch of Purple Heart Vine and a dried-up spirit well. The figure had disappeared here, likely going underground. The guy knew how to hide; no wonder Northern Sand hadn't found him.

Ye Mo kicked away the fine sand, revealing a stone board. He opened it, revealing a stone staircase. As soon as he descended, a gunshot rang out.

Ye Mo caught the bullet and looked at the shooter. He looked young, younger than thirty, but very thin. His face was pale, his hair messy, but his eyes were calm. He showed no shock at Ye Mo catching a bullet barehanded.

What truly surprised Ye Mo was the monkey-like animal beside the man. Closer inspection revealed it was unlike any monkey Ye Mo had ever seen. He recognized it immediately. This creature was likely why the man had found this place.

The man had probably chased the animal underground. He'd trained it. Both the animal and the man watched Ye Mo vigilantly.

“If I’m not mistaken, you’re the man wanted by Northern Sand?” Ye Mo said plainly.

“Who are you? Did Northern Sand send you to capture me?” The man showed no concern.

Ye Mo shook his head. “I’m Ye Mo. I’m not with Northern Sand. In fact, I have a feud with them; I stole something, though they lack evidence. They'll realize it soon enough. So no, Northern Sand and I don’t mix.”

“Oh, in that case, there’s no conflict. Why are you on my land?” Surprise flickered across the man’s pale face. He figured Ye Mo must be quite capable to steal from Northern Sand.

Ye Mo smiled. “You’re mistaken. First, we do have conflict. Second, this isn’t your land. I’ve been here before; when I last came, there was more Purple Heart Vine, and I used that spirit well behind you.”

“You’ve been here before?!” The man looked shocked. He hadn’t expected anyone to know this hidden place. If not for his Small Ball, he never would have found it.

Ye Mo waved his hand. “Don’t be anxious; I’m not here to kill you. I could attack you instantly, but fate has brought us together, and we have a common enemy. We could work together. What do you say?”

The inventor shook his head. “No need. You’re no match for Northern Sand. I won’t work with you. Fighting Northern Sand would only get me killed faster.”

“Why?” Ye Mo asked. This man was from Northern Sand; he probably knew a lot.

The man, seemingly realizing his gun was useless against Ye Mo, put it away. “Northern Sand is a ruthless organization. They have the world’s most advanced weapons and engineers. They control their own land. They could easily annihilate a country. Do you think you can beat them?”

Ye Mo thought for a moment, then asked, confused, “Northern Sand has the world’s most advanced weapons? That’s not necessarily true. How can a private organization have the most advanced weapons in the world? Are their arms better than the US’s?”

The man sneered. “The US is nothing! I designed many weapons and battle equipment for Northern Sand. How could I not know? You know the Space Flower the world is fighting over? That’s not even my strongest design. The US truly is nothing.”

Ye Mo frowned, looking at the man. “Who are you? How do you know technology so far beyond the world’s standards?”

The man’s face paled further as he shook his head. “I don’t remember who I am. I have some memory of coming from a country, but I can’t remember which one. I’ve forgotten most of the technology, too. I only remember 10–20%.”

“How did you join Northern Sand?” Ye Mo asked.

“Apparently, I was unconscious in a valley when a Northern Sand member saved me. I quickly became their top designer, but I felt I was working too hard, and our ideals differed. They wanted world domination and to enslave humanity. So I made a deal: I'd leave after finishing the Space Flower. But before I finished, I noticed they regretted their decision, so I secretly made a flying device and escaped.” The man sat down, unwilling to discuss it further.

Ye Mo thought, Did this person also come from another world like me? But this guy was really lacking in social skills. If Northern Sand let a genius like him go, they wouldn’t be Northern Sand.

“But you can’t stay here forever, right?” Ye Mo asked, with ulterior motives.

The man looked around. “Although it’s harsh here, with Small Ball, I can survive. I’m sure that as soon as I leave this desert, they’ll catch me.” He patted the monkey.

“I can take you to my territory. I need your help, but you’ll be completely free. How about it?” Ye Mo offered his idea. He couldn’t let a genius like this go.

“Your territory? You can promise me freedom, but can you promise me my life? I trust you won’t kill me, but can you stop Northern Sand? Don’t you understand that as soon as I leave this desert, they’ll know?” The man looked at Ye Mo, confused.

Ye Mo smiled. “I can do it. I have a company, Luo Yue, and I moved it to a place where I’m building a city. Some people are scheming for my land, so I need a technological expert.”

Hearing ‘Luo Yue’, the man stood up. “I’ve heard of that company; they’re very powerful. Even I can’t imagine the recipe for the beauty pill. Its designer is brilliant. Did you make it?”

Ye Mo didn’t answer directly, continuing to entice the engineer. “My place is different from Northern Sand. They want world domination; I simply want peace, no oppression. I want a place where everyone can live happily, without corruption or crime. You can rest assured I don’t have those ambitions.”

“Where did you move your company?” The man seemed interested not only in Ye Mo’s ideals but also in Luo Yue—that beauty pill was too powerful. Of course, he also wanted to live the life Ye Mo described.

“A place with the ocean on three sides and one side connected to a forest. It’s about 20,000 square kilometers, and we just moved there. We’re still building the city. So, I’m on the weaker side right now. If you join us and help design more advanced battle machines, I can help you leave this desert and ensure your safety,” Ye Mo said.

The man smiled proudly. “If your land is as you say, then let me design it. I’m sure that even if the US sent all its warships, they couldn’t do anything.”