Chapter 665: Dead Island
Dongfang Wang watched Ye Mo disappear, a sheen of sweat slicking his palms. He was sharp, his instincts keen. He’d sensed Ye Mo’s killing intent the instant An Zhiqi mentioned his name. So Dongfang Wang had scrambled to convince Ye Mo of his innocence, distancing himself from Dongfang Xi and Dongfang Tang.
When Ye Mo questioned Xu Yuehua about Dongfang Tang, her response was swift and precise. She’d already investigated.
Xu Yuehua revealed that the Blue Ray Corporation had been embroiled in internal conflict months prior. Ku You and Edward had perished in the ensuing chaos, shattering the corporation. Dongfang Tang and his men vanished in the aftermath.
This news sent a chill down Ye Mo's spine. He suspected a connection between the missing Special Forces elites on Ice Helm Island, the incidents involving Luo Yue, and even the recent war—all bearing the hallmarks of Dongfang Xi's past machinations. If orchestrated, the methods were strikingly similar.
Dongfang Xi's death eliminated him as a suspect, leaving Dongfang Tang as the prime candidate. If the recent events were his doing, it implied an alliance with Northern Sand.
“How are things with the US and the UK?” Ye Mo asked.
Xu Yuehua replied calmly, “Mr. Rodd’s wife and daughter made a televised statement, significantly shortening the US-UK meeting. No official news yet, but the UK Prime Minister departed the US hastily, and there’s silence from India as well.”
She hesitated. “But Mrs. Rodd refuses to leave Luo Yue. She wants to wait for your return to discuss matters.”
A headache throbbed behind Ye Mo’s eyes. He sensed something amiss with Mrs. Rodd, but couldn’t pinpoint it. Whatever her secret, he wanted no involvement. As long as Luo Yue remained unharmed, he wanted her gone.
But he couldn't simply force her departure. Annoyed, Ye Mo said, “I’m going to Ice Helm Island. Keep them under surveillance.”
“Aren’t you going to speak to Luo Ying and Ning Qingxue?” Xu Yuehua asked instinctively, wondering how Ye Mo planned to travel such a distance without assistance.
Ye Mo replied, “My phone’s almost dead. I’ll talk to them later.”
Xu Yuehua chuckled, prompting Ye Mo to add, “Don’t misunderstand! Also, keep Ye Xing and his team safe. We can relax immigration restrictions, but anyone approaching Luo Yue’s research and scientist residential area is to be apprehended, jailed, and held for my judgment.”
After the war, Ye Mo felt Luo Yue’s population was too small. He envisioned a population between five and ten million, shielding Luo Yue from any single power, or even a combined assault—though the latter seemed unlikely. Despite Luo Yue’s less-than-stellar diplomacy, they weren't entirely friendless.
“By the way, find Xi Tang for me. It’s somewhere in China, but I’ve never heard of it,” Ye Mo said.
A sudden realization dawned. The three brothers: Dongfang Xi, Dongfang Tang, and Dongfang Wang. The last syllables of their names formed Xi Tang Wang—Xi Tang King.
“Coincidence, right?” Ye Mo murmured, frowning.
Dongfang Wang’s confession was a desperate bid for survival, a fear of Ye Mo’s retribution. But Dongfang Wang had underestimated Ye Mo; killing someone required far less effort.
Ye Mo recognized Dongfang Wang's intelligence, though lacking the experience of his elder siblings. If not for his family and grim circumstances, Ye Mo would have welcomed him to Luo Yue.
Luo Yue once again opened its borders to immigration, albeit with stringent conditions and thorough vetting. Despite the hurdles, the desire to migrate remained strong.
The war had brought substantial compensation to Luo Yue, fostering the development of numerous world-class facilities, all designed by Ye Xing.
While Luo Yue flourished, the US President was beside himself. An opportunity to attack Luo Yue had been presented, only to be thwarted by Mrs. Rodd’s televised condemnation of the US, rendering a UK-backed war impossible.
Though bereft of a casus belli, the US wouldn’t allow Luo Yue to control their Indian Ocean maritime route. Negotiations to relinquish Jason Giambi Island were inevitable.
Ye Mo, admitting his political ineptitude and lack of time, delegated all political matters to Xu Yuehua and her team, confident in their abilities.
His focus was clear: Ice Helm Island, Zhang Jue and Li Hu, then marriage to Luo Ying and Ning Qingxue. Finally, the search for spirit stones and entry into the pocket world within a year or two.
Even with Ye Mo’s power, traversing the distance from the South Pole to the North Pole required an essence chi pill. Using Han Zaixin’s map, he arrived at the island as twilight descended, the time unclear.
He hovered above the island, surveying the barren, snow-dusted rocks. It was icy, but not a glacier. Han Zaixin's “helmet” description remained elusive.
Fleets of various nations surrounded the island, maintaining a respectful distance.
“Something did happen,” Ye Mo murmured, landing on the yellow rock. The moment his foot touched the ground, a palpable sense of death and silence filled the air.