After Roan returned home, he thought for a long while. He couldn't understand how Elena knew Leo, but he didn't dare to ask more at the time, fearing Elena would change her mind again.

  Better ask Leo tomorrow.

  This matter was urgent; there were only ten days left for registration. Roan didn't dare to delay, as it would affect the fate of many people.

  He decided to head up the mountain in the dark to pick two baskets of vegetables so he could sell them in the county town tomorrow.

  The two brothers climbed the mountain holding torches. Fearing wild animals, they chose a flat vegetable plot halfway up the mountain with a clear view.

  "Brother, look!"

  Marco pointed to the river in the distance. There were at least a dozen boats, and on each boat, people were holding torches.In the pitch-black night, these torches were very eye-catching.

  "Mind your own business!"

  Roan pulled his younger brother back into the woods. They chose a hidden vegetable plot among the trees and finally picked two baskets of vegetables.

  On the way down, Roan repeatedly warned his brother never to mention this to anyone, as it could be life-threatening.

  Marco didn't understand why the firelight on the river would put them in danger, but since his big brother said so, he would just follow orders and keep the secret.

  ……

  Leo took the announcement paper Roan handed over and fell silent for a long time. Was he finally forced to interfere in the matters of Solana after all?

  Leo made a phone call in the principal's office of the psychiatric hospital.

  "It's me!"

  "You? You are... Leo... Oh my god, you finally called me. I've missed you so much, do you know..."

  "No more nonsense. My nephew is going to your office. About this matter, handle it if you think it should be handled; if not, then don't. If you don't want to deal with it, just treat him to a meal in the canteen. Remember, give him enough meat; the kid is still growing. Also, reimburse all his travel expenses and lost work fees. He is handling public business in a private capacity."

  "No problem, tell him to come to..."

  "And!" Leo didn't give the other person a chance to speak: "When can you help him restore his files! Three children need to eat, and one child needs a legal national identity to have surgery—it would save half the costs, do you understand?"

  "Leo, listen to me, I've been fighting for this..."

  "Fighting my ass!"

  Leo hung up before the person could finish.

  He said in a heavy tone, "Go. Go see him. He probably misses you too."

  "Oh."

  Roan agreed and left. He forgot to ask Leo if he knew Elena, that girl who lived in the suburbs of the provincial capital.

  Roan was now heading to the military sub-district in the western suburbs of the county town to meet Leo and his father's "old comrade-in-arms," Bruno.

  Bruno was one of the key figures who advocated for the sealing of the "Splinter Event." The consequence of this was that Roan lost his military position, and Leo pretended to be insane for three years to protect Antonio's reputation.

  What was so great about Antonio's reputation? Roan found it hard to understand Leo.

  Even if his father Antonio wasn't the mastermind of the "Splinter Event," it was a fact that he had defected to the other side.

  It was also a fact that his father's ideology had always been different from this side.

  Roan didn't want to think about it anymore. This matter had a huge impact on him, but it could also be said to have very little impact.

  He was perhaps the freest person in this country right now.

  So free that he had no job, couldn't become a public official, and couldn't work in state-owned enterprises. Even the driver's license Elena mentioned was out of his reach.

  He had tried to restore his personal file, but there was only a small line identifying his father as Antonio, followed by a complete blank.

  Bruno's office was in the West Bank Provincial Military Sub-district of the Republic of Sangreza. Without Leo’s connection, Roan wouldn't be able to get in.

  The sub-district headquarters was located in the western suburbs, on a strategic high ground halfway up a mountain, with a tall monument for fallen soldiers standing at the entrance.

  When Roan reached the gate, the sentry recognized him at once, but his expression was cold, even carrying a hint of contempt.

  Yes, the son of a traitor general, what is he doing here?

  But the guard, who was half a head shorter than Roan and not much older, said in a mechanical yet slightly polite tone:

  "The Chief of Staff is waiting for you in the office. Follow me."

  The Chief of Staff of the brigade—the rank wasn't too high, but not small either. The guard who led Roan into the camp brought him to the door of Bruno's office and then left.

  Roan knocked on the door himself.

  Click...

  A middle-aged officer in his forties with an average build poked his head out. Bruno already had some white hair. He opened his arms to give Roan a hug.

  Roan only slightly opened his hands and gave a minor response.

  "Child, I missed you so much. Why haven't you visited me once in three years?" Bruno hugged him deeply and forcefully.

  But Roan regretted it. He shouldn't have come.

  Bruno loved acting deeply emotional; it was completely meaningless.

  After letting go of Roan, Bruno led him into the office by the arm:

  "Child, come in and sit. I know you still hate me. I know Leo hates me too, but I had no choice, did I?"

  "I never hated you." Roan smiled. The grudges of the older generation had nothing to do with him; he just wanted to restore the identities of his siblings.

  "Really? Truly?" Bruno’s eyes widened. The rims of his eyes were red, clearly welling with tears, and his gaze was kind.

  "Child, you have not only grown up but also become broad-minded."

  "Heh."

  Roan could only keep smiling. "Hello, Uncle. I couldn't come because I had to take care of my siblings. Thank you for your concern."

  "Oh, tell Uncle, how are your brother and sister doing now?"

  "They are all fine, it's just that my sister's eyes... she hasn't had the surgery yet..." Roan answered casually, but he was telling the truth.

  He also hoped Bruno could help fight for the identity issue as soon as possible.

  "Oh, your sister's eyes... Child, when you give your sister the eye surgery, remember to tell Uncle. Uncle will definitely give you a big gift."

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  A gift?

  Roan regretted mentioning his siblings to Bruno again. This man was too cunning; he would always gloss over the things others cared about most.

  Roan guessed he didn't even remember Sofia's name.

  Seeing Roan's eyes flickering as if he wasn't listening seriously, Bruno finally got to the point.

  "Tell me, what do you need from Uncle?"

  "Actually, it's not my business. I guess Leo just wanted me to see you." Roan continued to smile bitterly.

  Leo always wanted to pick at Bruno's old wounds. Sending Roan, dressed in old clothes, to flicker in front of Bruno to make him feel guilty—that was Leo's true purpose.

  So Roan had come without hesitation.

  To Roan, Leo was like both a brother and a father. If he could make Leo happy, Roan was willing to swallow his pride.

  "Not your business?" Bruno was curious. Suddenly he remembered Leo’s instructions. "Ah, right, right. Leo said you were handling public business in a private capacity. Tell me quickly, what is this public business?"

  Roan didn't hesitate. He explained how his brother found the announcement that flew out of Barda's house, and Elena's analysis that Barda was likely using his power for personal gain.

  Bruno flipped the announcement Roan handed over; the back indeed had no traces of glue or rice paste.

  "This Barda!"

  He was already dialing the phone while gritting his teeth. "Discipline Inspection Office? I am the Brigade Chief of Staff, yes, Bruno... Send people to the Solana camp immediately. Find out if the grassroots received the job hiring notices. This matter, the Discipline Inspection leader will handle it personally. Do not listen to any one-sided words from the Beldora camp or Solana grassroots leaders."

  Bruno hung up the phone, looking as if he was claiming credit from Roan. "Child, Uncle has handled it. I'm not sure what the result will be."

  "Thank you..."

  Before Roan could finish his thanks, Bruno pulled him up from the sofa. "Come, child, come with Uncle to see a place."

  The two walked downstairs one after the other, then through an air-raid shelter into an underground tunnel.

  Entering the tunnel, Roan’s whole body shrank back. "Uncle, this is a classified place, isn't it? I shouldn't go in."

  "Hey! Come in!"

  Bruno led Roan in by the arm.

  Electric lights were on in the tunnel. In each cave-like room, people were working.

  In front of a tunnel covered in spiderwebs, Bruno stopped. While waiting for the guard to take out the keys, he slowly said: "Entering here requires special permission, but your status is special to begin with, so I’ll make an exception just once."

  Roan could only continue to smile bitterly.

  He had already seen a room in the tunnel with the striking red name "Antonio" hanging on the door.

  The iron door opened. Entering the tunnel.

  The guard very considerately swept away the cobwebs with a broom, helped unlock the "Antonio" room, and then left.

  There weren't many things in the room, but it was clear they were kept exactly as they were.

  Everything was covered in a thick layer of dust, including an old-style military uniform, an old military cap, a desk, a teacup, paper, and a pen...

  The most striking thing was the photo frame of his parents on the desk.

  They were leaning against each other on a bench in the camp, smiling brightly, looking very much in love.

  "Father and Mother..." Roan’s face was calm, but his heart was already in a turmoil. "Uncle, I've seen it. Let's go."

  "Wait a moment, child." Bruno leaned in and whispered in his ear. "I heard your father has become a very high-ranking official over there. The higher-ups are starting to consider a retrial of your father's case. You and your siblings just need to be patient and wait a little longer."

  Roan was stunned.

  A high-ranking official? His father was only a battalion commander when he left. How high could he be?

  And what impact would him being a high official have on this side?

  Roan thought of one benefit: would Sofia have a chance to go there for surgery in the future?

  The premise was that the hostility between the two sides would end.

  Coming back to his senses, Roan saw Bruno staring at him with a constant smile.

  After coming out of the air-raid shelter.

  Bruno first reimbursed all his travel expenses and then took him to the officers' canteen for a hearty meal before finally letting him go.

  ……

  Roan returned to the county town and slipped back into the psychiatric hospital.

  "I heard your father has become a very high-ranking official over there. The higher-ups are starting to consider a retrial of your father's case."

  "I'm talking about the second sentence, say it again." Leo paced back and forth in the room with closed doors and windows. Roan sat on the edge of his bed.

  "The second sentence? 'You and your siblings just need to be patient and wait a little longer,' is it that one?"

  "Exactly, that's the one. That old fox Bruno!"

  Roan didn't understand why that sentence was the key, but Leo knew Bruno too well; Roan could only trust Leo.

  "Look, regarding your father being a high-ranking official—even I haven't received news of that yet. If it's true, I guess it’s only happened in the last few days."

  "Bruno revealed this news to you and intentionally mentioned your siblings because he wants you to tell them. Do you understand now?"

  Roan nodded first, then shook his head.

  "Sigh, how do you still not get it? If even I don't know about your father being a big official, but you three siblings find out, and later Bruno denies it and says he never told you—it would prove you have private communication with your father. Then the three of you will be completely finished."

  Roan broke into a cold sweat.

  If that were true, Bruno was too despicable. To be honest, this was only the second time he had seen Bruno; the last time was three years ago.

  If Leo hadn't reached such an unbelievable conclusion, Roan would never have believed that such a kind-looking old man would harm him like this.

  "Leo, I’ll listen to you. Tell me what to say, and I'll do it."

  "Barda's matter has no verdict yet. After you go back, never have contact with the military people who come to investigate. If anyone looks for Marco to verify the origin of the announcement paper, tell Marco in advance to play dumb on all questions."

  "As for your father’s matter, you can't tell your siblings. Do I still need to remind you of that?"

  "Understood!"