Rulu said: "It's a personal matter, and you're the best person for the job. During the time you're working for me, you are not permitted to leave without my consent, nor may you have any communication with Captain Guan or the others. You must devote yourself entirely to working for me alone. Can you do that, Kallen?"

  Upon hearing this, Kallen became flustered. She stammered: "Per… personal matters? Even though you're our leader now, Rulu, there are certain things I simply cannot do for you. So… so you'd better find someone else."

  Rulu propped his chin in his hand and muttered to himself: "This is troublesome. Kallen, you're the best candidate for this. There's no one else I can find to handle it. In that case, I won't have the time or energy to deal with anything else — I won't be able to serve as your leader or help you fight the Sanctuary. What a headache…"

  Suddenly, Captain Guan stood up and walked over to Kallen. He took her by the hand and led her out of the stone chamber. A-Bing and Fox followed along behind them.

  Captain Guan fixed Kallen with a serious gaze and said: "Kallen, why did you refuse Rulu's request?"

  "Because…" Kallen said, squirming uncomfortably. "He wants me to follow him for that long, and only take orders from him. That… that would make me practically like…"

  "Like what?"

  "Like his girlfriend, wouldn't it?" Kallen turned her face away, looking somewhat embarrassed.

  Captain Guan was momentarily taken aback. At that moment, A-Bing, who had been eavesdropping nearby, burst out ughing: "What's wrong with that? Kallen, if it were me, I'd be jumping at the chance!"

  Kallen shot A-Bing a gre and said: "This has nothing to do with you. Go stand somewhere else."

  But A-Bing didn't budge. Instead, he grinned and said: "I'm telling you, Kallen — Rulu is so capable, and he's not bad-looking either. There's nothing wrong with the two of you being a couple. What are you even worried about? Don't tell me you dislike him."

  Kallen said: "It's not that. But Rulu already has Nana, doesn't he? And that woman called C.C. seems very close to him as well."

  "Ah, so that's what's bothering you." A-Bing caught on. "That's no big deal. These days, what capable man doesn't have several women around him? If no women are interested in a man, it just shows he has no ability."

  "Don't impose your views on others. Nobody's going to mistake you for a mute if you keep quiet." Kallen said stubbornly.

  "Kallen, I know this is asking a lot of you, but we really do need Rulu's help." Captain Guan pced both hands on Kallen's shoulders and spoke earnestly: "This isn't just about you — it concerns all of us. For the sake of everyone here, you must agree to Rulu's request. Do you understand?"

  "Let me think about it a little longer." Kallen was still hesitating.

  At this point, the woman called Fox spoke up: "Besides, this is also a great opportunity for you to get closer to Rulu, Kallen. If you turn him down now, you might never get another chance like this. And if you truly don't like him ter, you can always leave. It's only a month — it's not like he's asking you to stay by his side forever."

  Kallen fell silent, sinking into thought. After a while, Captain Guan, Kallen, and the others returned to the stone chamber. Captain Guan smiled as he turned to Rulu and said: "Good news, Rulu — Kallen has agreed to your request. She's willing to leave with you and take care of that matter."

  "Is that so? Wonderful." Rulu rose from his seat and said with a note of joy in his voice: "Without Kallen, that matter of mine would have been very difficult to handle. She's done me a tremendous favor."

  Captain Guan then put on a serious expression and said sternly: "But Rulu, you must also promise me that you'll treat Kallen as you would your own family. Just because you're our leader doesn't mean you can mistreat her."

  "Of course." Rulu looked toward Kallen and said: "Kallen, you'll be leaving with me shortly and moving to Blue Sea City. That shouldn't be a problem, right?"

  "I… I need to pack. There are some things I'd like to bring." Kallen said, head lowered, fidgeting with unease.

  "Alright then, go get ready — and try to be quick about it."

  Kallen agreed and left the stone chamber. Afterward, Rulu briefly discussed future arrangements with Captain Guan and the others. When night had fallen, Rulu departed the secret hideout, drove off with Kallen, and headed in the direction of Blue Sea City.