244: Return journey

Xin Xin didn't answer repeated calls, so Tian Ming didn't know if she was truly asleep or just pretending.

“Let's observe for a while longer. Perhaps after some time, that sound will disappear,” Tian Ming said, letting go of Shen Yuan’s hand. Although he was a little worried, he didn't show it.

Shen Yuan nodded slightly. In fact, she also couldn't figure out the origin of that sound, as it was indistinct and more like a hallucination.

“Get some rest early. We’ll depart tomorrow and go home.”

The next day, before dawn, Tian Ming and Shen Yuan left the Lawrence Family’s base.

Although Tian Ming's current speed would allow him to reach East Sea City Shelter from the Lawrence base in just a few minutes, Tian Ming still chose to take an aircraft with Shen Yuan.

There was no other reason; while he was fast, he easily got lost when running. Tian Ming planned to get a geomagnetic locator when he returned, which would be like having a navigation system on the ground.

The door to the compartment inside the aircraft opened, and a woman walked over and sat opposite Tian Ming.

It was Lisa. She had been on the aircraft all along, preparing to return to East Sea City Shelter with Tian Ming.

Shen Yuan turned her head, glanced at Tian Ming, and blurted out, “Honey, why is she here?”

Tian Ming was feeling awkward, and Lisa’s expression wasn't good. The Lawrence Family had now surrendered to Tian Ming, and she had nowhere to go. As Duke Lawrence’s daughter, Charlie and the new generation of power holders would certainly not employ her.

“The mental control has been lifted. Why are you still following me?” Tian Ming’s tone was no longer cold, but it wasn't overly polite either.

Lisa was still immersed in the pain of losing her loved ones. When asked this, her eyes reddened slightly, but she forced herself to hold back.

“You…”

Lisa bit her lower lip, remained silent for a moment, then continued, “I have nowhere to go. With Charlie in power, there’s no longer a place for me in the current Lawrence Family. Thanks to you, I’m already among the untrusted people in the Lawrence Family.”

Upon hearing this, a strange look flashed in Shen Yuan’s eyes. She looked at Tian Ming, then at Lisa, seemingly contemplating something.

“You plan to come with us, don't you?” Shen Yuan asked.

Lisa nodded, “Yes, anything will do. I don’t want to stay at the family base; it’s meaningless. My dearest person has already left me.”

Shen Yuan said nothing, only looking at Tian Ming, waiting for his decision.

“Alright, come along then!”

Tian Ming did not refuse. The Lawrence Family had surrendered, and Lisa was a genuine Superpower User. Now, Lisa was on the same boat as him, and Tian Ming had no reason to refuse a Superpower User’s joining.

The aircraft flew for seven hours before reaching the skies above Donghai City. Fifty days had passed since Tian Ming left Donghai City, rescued Shen Yuan, and subsequently helped Charlie stabilize the Lawrence Family’s position.

The Shelter had also undergone tremendous changes. Many new buildings had appeared on the surface, and outer air defense weapons and radars had been deployed. Some large raw material processing plants had already begun construction.

Thanks to Li Island’s surrender and strong support from the alliance, the Shelter now possessed a formidable armed force. Especially the Underground City section, a small part of it had already begun to be put into use. At least 30 engineering teams were working simultaneously.

In just fifty days, the entire Shelter’s development was progressing vigorously.

After learning that the boss had returned to the Shelter, Ji Ruping and Meng Xian immediately came to report on their work.

Inside the office, Tian Ming hadn't even had time to rest. He looked at the two people in front of him and smiled bitterly, shaking his head.

“I say, you two, I just sat down, and you’re already here? What is this about?”

Ji Ruping smiled at Tian Ming and said, “Boss, there are many important matters that require your approval. During your absence, the Shelter has generally been good. Important Laboratories have all been moved to the Underground City. The progress of various departments has been very smooth. It’s just that the command of the Shelter’s defense forces needs you to confirm.”

Tian Ming nodded slightly, glanced at Meng Xian, and asked, “What about you?”

Meng Xian coughed, cleared his throat, and then said, “Boss, the more than ten thousand people from Li Island who defected are all from existing organizations, and they have their own Commander, Rogers. All the violent agencies of the entire Shelter are in Rogers’ hands.”

Tian Ming frowned. Although Li Island’s personnel had surrendered, if they continued to use their previous management, the Shelter’s administrative body would not be able to restrain a Commander like Rogers. This was undoubtedly a hidden danger.

Tian Ming looked up at the two and said, “Are you two uniting now to make me deal with Rogers?”

Ji Ruping shook her head repeatedly and said, “Boss, please don’t misunderstand my meaning.”

“Then what do you mean?”

Ji Ruping shook her head helplessly, glanced at Meng Xian, and said, “Let General Manager Meng speak.”

Tian Ming leaned back in his chair, looked at Meng Xian, and said, “Alright, General Manager Meng, tell me?”

Meng Xian nodded and began, “Boss, after the Li Island base personnel completed their defection, we integrated and divided them according to their previous personnel structure. But Rogers expressed opposition, because they were previously a regular armed force. They needed a buffer period to adapt.”

Tian Ming smiled calmly and said, “I can see Rogers’ little scheme. He just hoped I wouldn’t come back so he could rebel.”

Meng Xian nodded and said, “Yes, we discussed it together and temporarily went along with his wishes, letting him continue as Commander. But later, when the Underground City construction needed equipment, they went with the Materials Group to collect the necessary equipment and materials in the city, and they had a huge falling out with the Materials Group personnel.”

Tian Ming frowned and said, “Why are they always causing trouble? It's annoying.”

“Because they have guns. When the Materials Group went out, they acted like they were escorting a group of prisoners to work, and their military discipline was very lax. We reported the problem to Rogers, but he said their army had always been like that.”

Tian Ming listened, said nothing, and just pondered.

Seeing this, Ji Ruping added, “Later, at the Shelter’s regular meetings, Rogers repeatedly opposed proposals that everyone else had passed. Not only was it superficial opposition, but in actual operation, it was the same. He resisted tasks assigned by the Comprehensive Management Department several times, and he was also very unenthusiastic about deploying.”

Tian Ming pondered for a moment and said, “Rogers is a Commander after all; he wouldn’t be that brainless, would he? Tell me, did you two exaggerate?”