BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

As soon as Noah left the room, Erik found himself in deep thought.

The key to understanding Volkov, his father's real captor, lay with General Becker.

He knew the man better than anyone else. They had been bitter rivals for a long time, despite having been friends in the past.

That was something everyone in Frant knew. If there was someone who could understand what went through the Blackguards' lackey, it was him.

Without hesitation, Erik stood and ventured into the corridor. He had to convince Becker to help Noah.

Erik spotted a butler passing by and inquired about Becker's whereabouts. The man told him he was in the conference room with Richard Stone.

Erik hurried to the conference room. When he got there, Richard and Becker were in deep conversation. They stopped talking when he walked in, and both looked at him.

"Did I interrupt something?"

Richard and Becker gave each other a look. Then Richard said something.

However, Erik couldn't shake the feeling what they were talking about wasn't something trivial.

The subtle shift in their expressions and the way they stiffened upon his entry were telltale signs.

It was clear to Erik, because of their body language and the fleeting looks they exchanged, that he had walked in on a discussion of significant weight.

Trying to downplay their talk only made Erik more suspicious.

"Mind if I sit?"

"Be my guest," Becker said.

Erik dove right into the core, wasting no time. "I'm here to talk about my dad, Lucius. Noah finally figured out where he's at."

Becker nodded, with a serious expression on his face. Erik got that Becker already knew, based on his reaction.

"Yes, I've heard. Noah has been quite thorough in his search."

"I want to ask for your help, Mr. Stone, General Becker. Noah's planning a rescue mission. I think your expertise would really help us out."

"Besides," he said, turning to Becker, "You know Volkov, the man that is currently keeping him prisoner, well."

The two men exchanged a glance. After a moment, Richard spoke up, his tone resolute.

"Actually, Erik, that's exactly what we were talking about earlier. Your dad, Lucius, was not only your father but also a friend and comrade to us. We were planning on taking sweapons and heading out to save him ourselves."

Erik looked thankful at first, but then he seemed worried. "Thanks a lot, I really appreciate it. Noah warned us not to do anything reckless. According to him, our best chance is to go in with many people."

"Do you really think we won't be able to save him?" Becker asked.

"I'm not saying you're weak or anything. Everyone knows how powerful you are, but the area is heavily guarded by blackguards. You can't do much against all of them, even if you try. That would be like committing suicide."

Becker frowned. "Those mother fuckers… What do you suggest then?"

"Noah is gathering a big group to head to Fasard. With a well-organized force, we stand a better chance of rescuing my father without unnecessary loss. The only issue is that it'd take four months to move them all there with no one getting suspicious."

"What if we do not have time?" Richard asked.

"Noah needs to figure that out. He's also gathering more intelligence to ensure we approach this as safely as possible. When they arrive, we'll have gathered enough manpower to carry out the rescue without problems."

However, Erik recalled something.

"Besides, I knew the Crystal Cross Gang was involved. Actually, from what I know, it should've been them keeping my dad captive. But I guess when Volkov took over, the Blackguards moved him to his custody."

Richard and Becker shared another look, this one longer, as if weighing their options against the young man's plea.

The idea of a strong, well-prepared attack gave them shope in a really tough situation.

Becker nodded, the lines of his face softening in agreement. "Alright, Erik. We'll stand down and support Noah's plan if you all think this would be the best thing to do. Your father is a great man; he deserves to be brought back safely."

"Thank you. I know this means taking a step back, but it's for the best. We can't afford to underestimate the Blackguards."

"I'm well aware of that," Becker said.

"Yeah."

"About Noah's plan. What is he planning to do?" Richard asked.

"He didn't tellmuch, fearing I would do something rash. But I bet the first thing would be to find out the patrols' patterns, understand how many people are there, and who the key players are."

"Typical. This means also finding the layout of the building, and ensure your father is really there."

"Yes. There is a good chance he really is here. The Blackguards knew I'd track him down sooner or later. Maybe they moved dad to Volkov's care because of this. Them not sending more men makeswonder if they don't takeseriously or if this is a trap. That's why Noah was so worried."

Becker nodded. "Reasonably. I dealt with those motherfuckers for years. They are as slippery as an eel, and as vicious as a monitor lizard feeding over live prey.

The atmosphere in the room thickened as silence enveloped the trio. Each was ensnared by the weight of the upcoming mission, pondering the complexities of the rescue operation.

Erik, amidst his concerns, harbored a flicker of hope that the help promised by Becker and Richard would significantly bolster Noah's efforts.

Just as a sigh of resolve passed his lips, the door swung open. An unexpected figure stepped into the room, breaking the contemplative quiet.

No one knew she was there, and based on her reaction, she heard everything the three of them talked about.

Amber's sudden entrance into the room caught everyone off guard. The air was already tense before she came, but now it shifted into something worse.

The determined glint in her eyes spoke volumes, leaving no room for doubt regarding her intentions. She heard everything.

"I want to join the rescue operation."