Chapter 83: The Spy

"Is the spy here?"

Zhang Mingyang was confused. "Senior Brother, are you saying the spy isn't at the base, but here?"

Peng Dongli nodded. "Since you've already learned about the transmission tower, I'll be honest with you. This tower is Earth's only relay communication station with the 'Ocean Voyager.' If it's destroyed, Earth will lose contact with the 'Ocean Voyager.'"

"Before the 'Ocean Voyager' lost contact, a mysterious person reported to the National Security Bureau that there was a spy inside the base. After receiving the report, the bureau immediately sent people to investigate the base, which led everyone to focus on the base and neglect this place. In the end, the transmission tower was destroyed, and the base temporarily lost contact with the 'Ocean Voyager.'"

"So that's how it is!"

Zhang Mingyang hadn't expected the spy incident half a month ago to be a diversion, with the transmission tower as the real target.

"Senior Brother, so our inspection this time is to investigate the transmission tower?"

Peng Dongli nodded. "To enter the transmission tower, you must first get into the Moon Palace Base, and the screening for entering the Moon Palace Base is extremely strict. Without an inside spy, it would be impossible to destroy the tower."

"Have you found anything, Senior Brother?"

Peng Dongli shook his head. "Not yet. Last night I checked the tower and talked to the five technicians, but didn't find any useful clues."

"Could the spy be one of the five technicians?"

"No!" Peng Dongli was very certain. "Those five have been specially vetted. There won't be any issues. I believe it's an insider from the Moon Palace Base."

"An insider?"

Zhang Mingyang thought about the people he'd seen recently but hadn't noticed anyone particularly suspicious.

Peng Dongli explained, "Someone who can freely move between different areas of the base, enter our room to install surveillance and recording systems—such a person can't be just a technician. Most likely, it's a base administrator."

The administrators wore red uniforms. Zhang Mingyang hadn't seen many in the past few days and couldn't judge.

"Senior Brother, should I ask Sister Xu for information?"

"Yes, go ask her, and try to find out about recent personnel movements at the base."

"Alright, I'll go right away."

Wait!

Suddenly, Zhang Mingyang remembered something and turned to his senior brother. "Didn't you say I shouldn't go looking for Sister Xu?"

Peng Dongli replied with a smile, "Just go. It's fine. I was acting earlier."

"Acting?"

"Wait, are you saying the conflict between you two since yesterday was all an act?"

"I had to do it for the mission. People always love a spectacle, and making a fuss draws more attention, which gives me a chance to observe."

Senior Brother really was impressive. Zhang Mingyang was convinced.

"I'll go now. You finish your meal."

"Alright, hurry up."

Zhang Mingyang put on his spacesuit and was about to leave when another question struck him. "Senior Brother, I have one more thing..."

Before he could finish, Peng Dongli stood up. "Are you going or not? Why so many questions?"

"Just one more. Just one." Zhang Mingyang asked, "Why wasn't I told about this mission beforehand?"

Peng Dongli paused, stumbling over his words. "Actually... this... I... Never mind, I'll tell you. Director Wang didn't allow me to tell you."

"Director Wang? Wang Bowen?"

Zhang Mingyang couldn't understand why Grandpa Wang had brought him along but withheld the truth.

"Senior Brother, why didn't Director Wang want you to tell me?"

"I don't know either. Before we left, Director Wang specifically told me not to let you know about this mission. But since you've figured it out, I don't see any harm now."

Lately, things had felt increasingly strange to Zhang Mingyang. From entering the base without screening, to being assigned a mission without being informed, everything seemed connected to Grandpa Wang. Why did he want him in the base?

"Hey?"

Peng Dongli saw Zhang Mingyang lost in thought and nudged him.

"What are you thinking? Hurry up!"

"Okay!"

Zhang Mingyang snapped out of it and left the room.

Outside, he dialed Sister Xu’s number. "Sister Xu, where are you? I want to come find you."

"Come to the greenhouse. I'll wait for you here."

"Alright, I'm on my way."

Having learned her location, Zhang Mingyang hopped along the path toward the greenhouse.

Outside the greenhouse, Zhang Mingyang spotted Sister Xu through the transparent membrane and waved for her to open the protective door.

Xu Yuqing wiped her hands and quickly opened the door to let him in.

"Little brother, what brings you to me?"

Zhang Mingyang replied with a smile, "Does it have to be something? I just wanted to chat with someone since I’m new here."

"Chat with me?"

Xu Yuqing observed the vegetables as she brought over a chair for him. "What do you want to talk about?"

Zhang Mingyang thought for a moment. "Sister Xu, are there any other bases near the Moon Palace Base?"

Xu Yuqing pointed east. "East of here is the Americans’ 'Apollo Base,' about three hundred kilometers away. It's probably the closest."

"Apollo?"

Zhang Mingyang looked toward the east. "Sister Xu, do they communicate with our base?"

"Are you crazy?" Xu Yuqing stared at him. "Given the relationship between our two countries, do you really think that's possible?"

True enough. Zhang Mingyang wasn't much interested in politics, but news of the conflict between the two countries was always on the broadcast.

"Sister Xu, can I go look at the rooms in the middle of the camp?"

"You can't get in," Xu Yuqing explained. "The three rooms in the center of the camp are the command departments of the whole base. Only those wearing red uniforms—the commanders—can enter. Even if you stole a uniform, you couldn't pass the gene scan outside the rooms."

"That strict?"

Zhang Mingyang asked, "So only commanders can freely move around the camp?"

Xu Yuqing nodded. "Of course. They have to be aware of everything, so they need access."

Listening to her, Zhang Mingyang analyzed the situation. It seemed clear—if there was an inside spy, it was either one or more of the commanders.

"Sister Xu, can commanders enter the transmission tower to the east?"

"They can't. No one from the base can access that area."

Xu Yuqing stood up and looked at him, her face full of doubt. "Little brother, your questions are strange today. First you ask about the command center, then about the transmission tower. Are you up to something?"

Stunned, Zhang Mingyang forced a silly smile. "Of course not, Sister Xu! I'm just curious. It's my first time on the moon, and I want to get familiar with everything."