91: Do you understand the value of "Listen to Me"?

Mandala, three floors beneath Titan Industrial City.

Kafka stood in the monitoring center, her fingertip gently caressing the sapphire-studded ring. On the holographic screen, six red dots flickered in various corners of the Industrial City. The Nova United States Delta Squad, North Steel Zaslon Special Forces, European Union Joint Operations Group, East Ocean's "Sakura Group," and two unknown black operations teams.

"Oh, boss is quite the playwright," she murmured to herself, the sapphire on her ring glinting with her whisper, "Tonight's performance will be spectacular."

Aventurine's voice came through her earpiece: "Kafka, the North Steel People have breached Firewall B."

"Let them go a little deeper," Kafka adjusted the angle of her ring. "'Listen to me,' notify me when they see the 'vault' door."

"Alright." Aventurine had barely spoken two words before he instantly shook his head frantically. "No way, big sis. We're on the same side, why are you hypnotizing me? No, look at you, you've even given me an accent!"

"Hehe~, just testing you, little brother, don't be angry." Kafka put on her suit jacket, moving with an air of elegance.

Corridor B, North Steel Special Forces.

Colonel Sergei made a gesture, and the squad immediately halted. Twenty meters ahead, a cold-gleaming alloy door bore the faint inscription "Technical Core Zone" under the emergency lights.

"Too smooth..." Colonel Sergei frowned. "From the ventilation shafts to the security system, it's almost as if someone paved the way for us."

The adjutant whispered, "Could it be a trap?"

Colonel Sergei sneered, "Even if it's a dragon's den, we'll brave it today." He gestured, "Vasily, hack the door access."

As technical expert Vasily placed the decoder on the identification panel, the door slid open with a 'beep'.

"This..." Vasily was dumbfounded. "I haven't even started hacking..."

Colonel Sergei's pupils contracted sharply, but his professional training allowed him to make an immediate decision: "Group A, secure the perimeter! Group B, follow me in!"

In the monitoring center, Kafka watched the North Steel squad file in, her red lips parting slightly: "'Listen to me,' you will encounter many difficulties, but I believe you can overcome them."

She pressed her communicator: "Emerald, you can prepare the 'gifts' now."

"Already in position," Emerald's voice carried a hint of playfulness. "The Nova United States people are also almost here; they're three minutes and twelve seconds slower than expected."

Kafka stood up, straightening her black trench coat: "Then I shall go welcome them."

Corridor C, Nova United States Delta Squad.

Major Mike suddenly raised his hand, signaling the squad to stop. At the end of the corridor ahead, a slender figure leaned against the wall, her black trench coat faintly gleaming under the emergency lights.

Kafka's voice was as smooth as silk: "So late, are you lost?"

Mike's gun instantly rose: "Don't move!"

"How rude," Kafka sighed, the sapphire ring flashing with an eerie light in the dim illumination. "'Listen to me,' weren't you here for a 'gift'?"

Mike suddenly felt his vision blur, the woman before him seemingly splitting into three. He shook his head hard, but then heard his teammates' exclamations: "Major! The door opened!"

Behind Kafka, a hidden metal door silently slid open, revealing server racks glowing with blue light inside.

"'Listen to me,'" Kafka's voice seemed to come from far away, "It's right in there~ what you've been dreaming of, the fusion core data..."

Mike's thoughts became unusually sluggish, a strong impulse dominating his actions: "Group A... follow me in... Group B... watch her..."

As special forces teams from various countries successively arrived at the so-called 'core vault,' Kafka's voice echoed in their ears through hidden loudspeakers:

"'Listen to me,' you see the central control panel, three data chips glowing with blue light; those are your objectives for this mission."

North Steel's Vasily inserted the analyzer with trembling hands: "My God... this is real! The magnetic confinement parameters are even more advanced than we estimated..."

"'Listen to me,'" Kafka continued to whisper, "You've breached the world's most stringent security system; you are true elites..."

The Nova United States communications expert cried out in ecstasy: "Sir! I've confirmed it, this is indeed the dynamic control code for the fusion reactor!"

"'Listen to me,'" Kafka's voice became increasingly pervasive, "You are so excellent... so fortunate... you found the correct path in the nick of time..."

The East Ocean "Sakura Group" technical officer fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face: "The future of our empire... is saved..."

In the central control room, Kafka stood in the middle of the holographic projection, six screens displaying real-time footage of the various agents. The ring in her hand emitted a pulsating glow, synchronously flashing with the blue-lit device on the wall.

"'Listen to me,'" her voice was like a lullaby, "You've overcome countless dangers... evaded patrolling mechanical guards... decrypted seven encrypted access doors..."

Among the North Steel squad, Colonel Sergei's gaze gradually became unfocused, but his movements grew even more agile: "Quick! Copy all the data! We only have three minutes!"

"'Listen to me,'" Kafka continued to weave the illusion, "Headquarters is awaiting your good news... the nation will be proud of you..."

In Nova United States Major Mike's earpiece, an instruction from 'Headquarters' came through: "Confirm target authenticity and withdraw immediately!"

Of course, this voice only existed in his mind.

As the agents from various countries withdrew with the data chips, Kafka's final hypnotic command was deeply embedded in their minds:

"'Listen to me,' you will remember all the details of this operation... every thrilling moment... every perfect decision... this is the pinnacle of your professional careers..."

North Steel's Colonel Sergei repeatedly muttered during his withdrawal: "We did it... we really did it..."

Nova United States Major Mike reported to 'Headquarters': "Mission accomplished, no alarms triggered."

In reality, his communication equipment had long been jammed. Their reports were all handled by Bronya.

Titan Headquarters, Strategic Investment Department conference room. Chen Hao and others, either as projections or in person, gathered before a dozen monitoring projections.

Aventurine watched the screen showing the agents from various countries successively withdrawing, and whistled: "This went even smoother than I imagined."

Emerald was checking the data logs: "Each team received the 'gifts' we meticulously prepared, each with a different version."

"North Steel received a magnetic confinement design with severe overload tendencies," Topaz pushed up her glasses. "The Nova United States people received a version with a flawed cooling system."

Kafka gently removed her ring, her face slightly pale: "The path is still not wide enough. Without this ring, deep hypnotizing so many people is a bit strenuous." She looked at the main screen, "But the effect is good; they all firmly believe they completed a perfect secret operation."

"Have a cup, specially prepared for you." Emerald handed her a cup of hot cocoa, her face showing the most sincere concern. "Honestly, this is the first time I've wanted to poach someone from the boss."

"Is that so?" Kafka took the hot cocoa and took a small sip. The rich yet not cloying cocoa aroma invigorated her, even giving her the energy to joke, "Then I'll have to think of a nice codename."

Chen Hao watched the warm scene of the few of them, not wanting to spoil the mood: "How about 'Violet'? It's a rare gem, and it suits your temperament and style quite well."

"Hahaha~" Everyone present laughed. Having a boss who doesn't spoil the fun is really quite nice.

Silver Wolf, puzzled, asked from the side: "Boss, why not just let them fail? Wouldn't that be more..."

"Because desperate people will go all out," Chen Hao, in Pierpoint, cast his gaze towards the Blue Star below. "And people filled with hope... will pour everything into chasing that phantom."

He turned to Kafka: "Rest well for a while. The brainwave induction enhancement ring puts a considerable strain on the mind. Even though you're exceptionally gifted, it's still better to be careful."

Kafka held the hot cocoa with both hands, smiling and nodding.

Then, Chen Hao turned to Emerald, "Once they've invested all their resources and begun construction, then start the second phase. Let those 'gifts' slowly take effect."

Emerald revealed a mysterious smile, "It's already arranged. The design flaws of each version will... collect 'interest' during test runs."

As the first rays of sunlight fell upon the Industrial City, the nocturnal undercurrents seemed to have never occurred. Tour guides began another day of tours and explanations, and tourists marveled at the spectacular "Golden Crow" demonstration reactor.

No one noticed a few black cars quietly driving away from the Industrial City. The agents inside were still immersed in the joy of 'mission success,' their ears seemingly still echoing with that mesmerizing voice:

"'Listen to me,' you are heroes of the nation..."