24: A safer way than trading

He cleared his thoughts.

Joa left the facility with Polaris.

He returned to Los Santos.

On the way, Joa found a suitable location near a farm and materialized a bunker.

The bunker was much cruder than the facility.

It only contained a weapon research and development area, a firing range, a complete weapon production line, and a small living area.

The overall decor was very primitive; the ground was barely even, but the surrounding walls were entirely gifts from nature.

There was no trace of artificial carving.

This made Joa, who had just left the facility not long ago, not want to stay in this oppressive place for even a second.

After a quick look around, the two left.

The most important part of the bunker was probably the weapon research and development area.

But Joa didn't have time for that now.

His goal was the Progenitor Virus.

He parked the car near the East University embassy.

Joa looked at Polaris in the passenger seat.

"Do you want to come along?"

Hearing this, Polaris pouted.

"Forget it, I don't understand what you're saying, so I'd just be standing there foolishly."

"I'll go look around instead."

"Since I came to this World, I haven't had a good look around yet."

Hearing Polaris say this, a slightly apologetic smile appeared on Joa's face.

"Sorry, I've been busy ever since I brought you here and neglected you."

"In a while, I'll definitely take you to try everything you're interested in."

Seeing Joa's serious assurance, Polaris curled her lips in satisfaction and waved her hand.

She motioned for Joa to go about his business.

He casually took out a dozen stacks of U.S. dollars from his System space and threw them into the back seat.

Joa said, "You can drive the car for now. I'll call you when I'm done."

With that, he gave her a light kiss goodbye, then Joa opened the door and got out of the car.

He infiltrated the East University embassy again.

Joa had already copied the blueprints for the khanjali, the leviathan, and the electromagnetic rifle.

All the technologies used in the manufacturing process were included.

For example, what technology and principles were used for the leviathan fighter's vertical take-off and landing.

These blueprint materials, for East University, no, not just East University.

Placed in any developed country, they would be enough to advance that country's military technology by more than ten, or even several decades.

For those who understood, of course, the value of those blueprints could be seen at a glance.

But for those who didn't understand, or had only a superficial understanding of military technology.

The blueprints Joa brought were not very important.

Li Hua was someone who didn't have a deep understanding of military technology.

Listening to Joa's narration, he looked at the blueprint materials on the computer monitor with confusion.

Li Hua nodded, pretending to understand.

He had no idea what value was hidden behind each technical term.

Seeing this, Joa shook his head and chuckled.

"Why don't you just send these blueprint materials back to East University?"

Hearing this, Li Hua came back to his senses, relieved, and nodded repeatedly in a hurry.

Making him look at these things was even more tormenting than dealing with those America reporters and politicians.

Watching Li Hua send the materials back to East University and call to explain the situation.

Joa didn't rush to leave, but glanced at the time.

Then he whispered.

"Twenty minutes."

Li Hua, who had just hung up the phone, thought Joa was calling him and looked at him in confusion.

"Huh? What twenty minutes? Sorry, I didn't hear you clearly just now."

Shaking his head with a smile, Joa said.

"Nothing."

Hearing this, Li Hua did not press further, skipped the topic, and chatted with Joa.

First, he praised Joa for being young and promising.

Then he subtly probed Joa about his thoughts on returning to his home country.

Joa still politely declined.

Joa kept an eye on the time.

Twenty minutes hadn't passed yet, only a little over ten minutes had gone by.

The phone rang, interrupting Li Hua, who was describing to Joa how good and suitable the country was for development.

Li Hua glanced at the caller ID, his expression somewhat displeased, and was about to hang up when his expression froze.

"Excuse me, I need to take a call."

"Go ahead."

Nodding, Li Hua got up and walked out of the bedroom.

The call connected, and before he could speak.

Li Hua heard a slightly anxious voice from the other end of the phone.

"Li Hua, is that young comrade still with you?"

Hearing this, Li Hua was shocked.

He now understood what Joa's twenty minutes meant earlier.

'That blueprint data... is it that important?'

'It even alarmed the Elder again?'

'Does it contain alien black technology?'

Guessing continuously in his mind, Li Hua dared not be slow with his words and quickly replied.

"Yes, he's in my bedroom right now."

"Hmm, hand the phone to him."

Hearing this, Li Hua's eyes widened involuntarily.

'What! The Elder is going to communicate with him personally?'

"Yes!"

Returning to the bedroom, Li Hua handed the phone to a smiling Joa with a complex expression.

He wanted to remind Joa of the identity of the person on the other end of the phone.

But in the end, he just opened his mouth and said nothing.

However, he was truly worried that Joa might speak carelessly and say the wrong thing.

Li Hua silently raised a finger and pointed at the ceiling.

That was all he could do to remind him.

Seeing this, Joa put away his smile.

'Someone from above?'

'How high up could they be?'

'Could it be the Elder?'

'I'm just a robber who stole a mere fifty tons of gold. Even if the data is highly valuable, it wouldn't alarm the Elder.'

Feeling that Li Hua was making a mountain out of a molehill, Joa shook his head with a smile and took the phone.

"Hello? Comrade, I'm Joa."

"Hello, Comrade Joa, I am the Elder."

'.......'

'????'

'It's really the Elder?!'

With a slightly surprised, slightly agape mouth, Joa's eyes widened as he looked at Li Hua, then pointed at the phone.

Seeing the other person nod seriously and heavily, Joa took a deep breath.

'Calm down, calm down. I'm not from this World, so why would I be excited?'

Though he said that, the World before his transmigration still had some influence on Joa.

He calmed his inner emotions.

'What should I say? What should I talk about? How should I negotiate the deal?'

Joa found himself unable to say the words he had prepared.

Given the identity of the person on the other end, he truly couldn't bring himself to speak, nor did he know how to broach the subject of a deal.

The person on the other end of the phone seemed to sense Joa's thoughts.

Seeing his prolonged silence, he spoke in a gentle tone.

"It's not like home outside, you need to pay attention to your safety."

'No! Damn it! Don't! Holy crap!'

'Why is he suddenly playing the emotional card?!'

'Even if it's similar, it's not truly my home!'

"Mm!"

With a soft hum, Joa didn't even realize that his voice had changed somewhat.

"Just tell Li Hua if you need anything."

"If you encounter something you can't solve, you can also call Li Hua, or call me directly."

"If you're tired, come home and rest. A wanderer must eventually return home, and fallen leaves always return to their roots."

Home, homeland, returning to one's roots.

An obsession that the people of Huaxia can never abandon or cut off.

Standing by the roadside, Joa stared blankly at the sky, his eyes unfocused.

He no longer remembered when the call ended.

His goal was achieved.

In a way he hadn't expected.

Throughout the entire conversation, the words 'deal' or 'cooperation' were never even mentioned.

But Joa knew that a word from that person was more effective than any contract or agreement.

'Home? My home isn't here.'

'My homeland isn't here either.'

'Playing the emotional card with me... has limited effect, huh.'