Afastin nodded in agreement. "These people must want to escape or betray us. They absolutely can't be trusted."
Neither side would back down, their argument growing heated. Daechir tried quietly convincing the potato robot—if he agreed, it would practically seal the deal. "Why are you so insistent on opening the tunnel? What's really going on?" the potato robot pressed.
Daechir had prepared her story. "When I went to Tunnel Sixteen the other day, I discovered a problem. We need parts to fix it."
"What kind of problem?"
"It leads to Lake Turkana. There's a risk of the lake water flooding back into the tunnels."
"What's so secret about that? Why didn't you mention it earlier?" the potato robot challenged.
Daechir doubled down on the lie. "Because there’s a terrifying monster trapped there—a secret kept by our creator."
Now partially convinced, the potato robot asked, "When can you take me to see it?"
"No one’s allowed near it. Those are the master’s rules."
"You’re not lying to me, are you?"
"Could I fool someone as clever as you?"
The potato robot, flattered by the praise, puffed up. "True. I am the most advanced robot here." By noon that day, Daechir had six excavation robots restarting work on Tunnel One. Afastin protested, "I never agreed to this! Why are they digging already?"
The potato robot scared him into compliance with tales of the lake monster. Ten days later, Tunnel One was reopened. While Shalu and the others had grown accustomed to life in the Eagle's Nest, they still longed for the outside world. Daechir, distrusting them, tested their loyalty. "If you want to return to Illuminati, I won’t stop you."
The other two men lit up. "Really?" they exclaimed. Daechir nodded, then turned to Shalu. "And you? Do you feel the same?"
"No. I don’t want to leave. I want to stay with you."
"Good." In a flash, she stabbed the other two men simultaneously. Their screams echoed in unison. Shalu stared in horror. "Why did you kill them?"
"The Eagle’s Nest’s secrets must never leak," Daechir replied coldly.
"But Illuminati already knows about this place!"
"They don’t know the tunnels are open again." Her gaze hardened. "What’s wrong? Are you afraid of me now?"
Shalu forced a shaky smile. "Of course not."
"I trust you won't betray me."
The potato robot gestured at the bodies, then at Shalu. "Why leave this one alive?"
"I trust him," Daechir said.
Little Ronnie, seeing corpses for the first time, asked innocently, "How did they die?" Eve rushed over to cover his eyes. "Don’t look, sweetheart. You’ll have nightmares."
"Mommy, I’m not scared."
After burying the bodies, Daechir spent days searching for De Silva. A week later, she tracked down the Flame Farm, only to find it reduced to crumbling ruins. Shalu, noticing her frustration, suggested, "Let me infiltrate Illuminati for intel."
Daechir eyed him skeptically. "Trying to leave me?"
"They’re experts at tracking people. Let me help."
After a pause, she relented. "Fine. I trust you."
Ten days passed with no word. The potato robot sneered, "He’s sold us out. Seal Tunnel One!" Daechir, growing anxious, stationed venomous spiders at the entrance.
Shalu finally returned at dusk, bearing news of De Silva and Illuminati’s internal turmoil. Afastin perked up. "They’re too distracted to attack us now?"
"Exactly. Major Ethan has declared independence from Illuminati. He’s purging opposition in Africa."
The potato robot backtracked. "Shalu, I misjudged you. You’ve given the Eagle’s Nest hope."
Daechir scoffed. "Weren’t you calling him a traitor this morning?"
"Look who’s talking—you deployed killer spiders!" the potato snapped.
The next day, Daechir tracked De Silva to a repurposed warehouse dubbed "Flame Storage." Courage Alliance members gawked as she entered. Martin rushed forward, embracing her. "My goddess! Don’t leave us again!"
"Where’s De Silva? Take me to him."
De Silva appeared uninvited. "What do you want?"
She dragged him aside. "Your father’s blue notebook—you have it, don’t you?"
"Did Afastin tell you that?"
"Mr. Ronnie did. Amandine was supposed to safeguard it, but you stole it." Though bluffing, Daechir aimed to corner him morally.
"I admit I took it, but it belongs to the Watson family. I won’t hand it over."
"What if a Watson demands it?"
"You mean Afastin?"
After a beat, she nodded. "Yes."
"Then why isn’t he here?"
"I’m his robot. It’s the same thing."
"No deal. I’ll only give it to him in person."
De Silva had long destroyed the notebook, memorizing its formulas. When Daechir’s threats failed, she knocked him out and hauled him to a hotel.
He woke raging. "You’ve betrayed the Watsons!"
"Everything I do is for the family," she countered.
"Then why kidnap me?"
"I need the Telomere Rejuvenation Liquid formula. It was never yours to keep."
"I burned it."
"Then recite it."
"You’re a robot. Why do you care?"
"Trust me, De Silva. This is for the Watsons."
Relenting, he said, "I won’t give you the formula, but I have one dose left. Take it if you want."
He produced two vials—one for his own use, another meant for Alena.