Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 836 - 829: Matchmaking

Chapter 836: Chapter 829: Matchmaking

Wang Xu looked up and noticed Luo’er squinting at him with an expression full of dissatisfaction. He chuckled awkwardly and then tentatively asked, "What’s got you in a bad mood?"

"Isn’t that obvious?" Luo’er responded coldly.

"I know you care about Luoya, but I care about her too, and the Chief is also very concerned about her. You don’t have to always worry that we’re going to hurt her, okay?" Wang Xu argued.

"You people, there are hardly any among you whom I can trust. Always speaking so righteously about serving your country, without ever mentioning the personal cost," Luo’er bluntly replied.

"Are you saying you can’t even trust me?" Wang Xu pointed at himself, asking with a hint of sadness, "After all, I’ve watched you grow up. Since Luoya is your younger sister, naturally, I would treat her with the same attitude I have towards you, wouldn’t I?"

"It’s precisely because you say things like that that I’ve become wary of you," Luo’er said, staring at him.

"What are you talking about," Wang Xu was confused for a moment and then said with a bitter smile, "I’m already of a certain age. Would I actually take an inappropriate interest in a young girl who’s barely of age? You’re being overly protective as a brother, don’t you think?"

Luo’er looked at him moodily, took a deep breath, and said seriously, "At first, I thought I only had my mother as a relative in the Otherworld, but later I found out I had a sister too. For her, I always feel both pleasantly surprised and guilty; pleased because my mother wasn’t alone and at least she had her company. Guilty because, during those years they suffered in the Otherworld, I failed to fulfill the responsibilities expected of an elder brother."

"For Luoya, I’m always willing to accommodate her, to forgive any of her faults, even though she once almost took my life. You might not understand—that despite her wanting to kill me, I always feel that it’s I who owe her," Luo’er said with a low voice, his head bowed.

Wang Xu lost his smile and walked over to Luo’er’s side, gently patting his shoulder: "You and your sister are really strange. Despite having so many chances to meet, you never openly express your feelings for each other. I still hope you can have a good talk with Luoya, communicate your feelings instead of trying to protect each other in this presumptuous manner. After all, you don’t know what she really wants, which is why you always do things that make her angry."

"Is that so?" Luo’er turned and looked at Wang Xu, asking in surprise.

"Of course it is," Wang Xu nodded and said, "Think about it, before you ran into that girl Tangmo, how long had it been since you had any interaction with girls? Do you think you could guess what goes on in a girl’s mind just by speculation?"

"I don’t go around flirting with girls. Shouldn’t that give you peace of mind?" Luo’er said, looking at Wang Xu.

"But you also take honesty too far, to the point where everyone thinks you’re a recluse. I’m really worried about you," Wang Xu said, shrugging his shoulders.

"What are you worried about?" Luo’er asked.

"About your lifelong happiness, what else?" Wang Xu answered matter-of-factly.

"You should worry about yourself more, you old bachelor," Luo’er rolled his eyes and said.

In front of ordinary people, even in front of the Advance Team, Luo’er would never speak like this. These words, these emotions, he only expressed them to Wang Xu.

"Ah, the fallen flowers are willing, but the flowing water is indifferent," Wang Xu lamented.

"Do you still remember what I told you the last time?" Luo’er asked.

"You..." Wang Xu paused, then couldn’t help but give a bitter smile, "You took that seriously?"

"I was serious. Don’t focus on just one person; you need to broaden your horizons," Luo’er said earnestly.

"Let’s talk about it later," Wang Xu shrugged, obviously not wanting to continue this topic.

Just then, a rhythmic knocking sound came from the door, three knocks in all. Following that, the door opened and a figure dressed in a black and white maid’s long dress walked in. Upon seeing Luo’er, the newcomer immediately exclaimed with joy, "Lord Luo’er, you’re back?"

"Daier, haven’t I told you not to call me ’my lord’ anymore?" Luo’er said with a wry smile.

"Sigh, I’ll get used to it. I’m already accustomed to the title of Chief," Wang Xu shrugged as he spoke.

"Chief Wang, I have brought you some black tea." Daier said respectfully, holding a tray for Wang Xu.

"You see..." Wang Xu sighed, shaking his head helplessly.

"I’m so sorry, Lord Luo’er, I didn’t notice you had returned, so I didn’t prepare a cup for you," Daier said as she placed the tray on the table and bowed apologetically.

"There’s no need for that, I will be leaving soon. I won’t be having tea," Luo’er said with a wave of his hand. "Also, stop calling me ’my lord.’ I can’t bear it."

"But how can I not? You are my savior," Daier replied earnestly.

"Then shouldn’t you listen to what I say?" Luo’er said.

"But didn’t you say we are friends?" Daier looked at Luo’er and asked.

"Er..." Luo’er stood there, momentarily at a loss for words. He hadn’t expected Daier to be so articulate, leaving him speechless within a few sentences.

"Sigh, whatever you want, call me whatever you like," Luo’er sighed, then glanced at Wang Xu, looked over at Daier and continued, "I’m going to head back now. You two can chat."

"What would we even talk about?" Wang Xu asked Luo’er.

"Don’t blame me for not giving you a chance." Luo’er rolled his eyes at Wang Xu, then tactfully left the office.

In the days that followed, Luo’er and others quietly waited at their base for Tangmo and the others to return and also had Eve prepare. Once the Advance Team was assembled, they would ask Eve to lead them to the Snow Domain to find the legendary Ancient Scripture.

Currently, because of the matters concerning the gate opening, headquarters had almost halted all exploration missions, focusing on consolidating existing power relationships on one hand, and actively seeking ways to open the Otherworld Gate on the other.

It is estimated that once the Murong Squad returns, they, too, would be assigned tasks related to opening the Otherworld Gate.

Once Lipei’s Otherworld Gate is successfully opened and connected to Shenghua Academy, headquarters will gain a portal to the Otherworld within the nation, making any efforts much more convenient, no longer dependent on the whims of the United States and Australia.

The higher-ups have already decided that, after the opening of Lipei’s Otherworld Gate, they will submit to the United Nations a proposal to cancel the military presence rights of all countries in Australia and return the lands surrounding Ulysses City to the Australian government, in a classical bait-and-switch.

Whether or not this proposal will be passed, it will still vex some opposing forces, which is always good, and will deal a blow to Australia’s morale. They have grown addicted to collecting tolls, benefiting the whole nation with tariff revenues, seemingly completely forgetting that the safety of Ulysses City is protected by the military forces of the UN Security Council member countries.

The opening of Lipei’s Otherworld Gate will have a significant influence on Earth’s geopolitical landscape. Around the two Otherworld Gates may form two major centers of power on the north and south poles. The formation of a united Earth government is still a far-off reality, and the power struggles among major forces will likely continue for a significant period.

Earth’s power struggles will also impact the power dynamics in the Otherworld. The victor of such conflicts stands to gain rich rewards—the loser will forfeit dominance in both worlds while the winner will have a monopoly, becoming the dominator of both worlds.

Since the Advance Team entered the Otherworld, all plans formulated by headquarters are proceeding methodically. Although there have been a few unexpected occurrences along the way, overall, the situation remains under headquarters’ control, with anticipated events far outnumbering the unexpected.

Luo’er does not know in what direction the world will ultimately develop, but he is clear on one thing—as a descendant of military personnel, the concept of defending his homeland is etched deep in his bones. It does not matter what happens to the world, but his own country must not lose its order.