After all that effort, wasn't this moment what they'd been working towards? It was all about the thrill of the reveal. How could he leave now? Facing Guan Zhongsheng's well-intentioned reminder, Lu Ding responded tactfully: "Leader, no need to worry about me. I know my limits. Besides, as you said, there might be a confrontation later." "With me here, I can help speak for our side." "Moreover, I'm the one who destroyed this island and killed the Heavenly Perception operatives. I'm directly involved, yet I'm not Heavenly Perception level myself - just Earth Observation realm. Aren't we following the rules perfectly?" The Great Han cleanup team froze. Wait... this... this actually made sense. Lu Ding had indeed killed the Heavenly Perception operatives. While the Great Han team's attacks had eliminated some, that didn't change the main point. Most were still killed by Lu Ding. And he genuinely hadn't reached Heavenly Perception realm. When you thought about it this way... Saw-Buddha Incense, Lu Youhan flew over with a strange expression: "So we basically just came to watch the show?" But that wasn't entirely accurate. Without their standoff against Tai Island's Heavenly Perception operatives, Lu Ding couldn't have killed them. Correcting his superior, Lu Ding said: "Leader, that's not quite right." "This was reciprocal teaching - an eye for an eye. If Tai Island's 'Cui Zaimin' and Wei Gao's two Heavenly Perception operatives hadn't attacked our Tai Island first," "we wouldn't have come here." "Since they struck first, isn't it only fair we return the favor?" "They targeted Tai Island, while you all came to strike Whaleguard Island - not targeting anyone else." Pointing at his own chest, Lu Ding continued: "And me, as a victim of the Tai Island incident," "when I heard 'Cui Zaimin' wanted me dead," "After his demise, I felt furious - why target me? I refused to accept it!" "So as a lone Great Han Qi Refiner from the lower battlefield at Earth Observation realm, I came for revenge." This reframed argument made the ten Heavenly Perception operatives of the Great Han team light up with realization. The beginning was right, the outcome was right. Just the process... strange, but undeniable. If they'd stuck to their original arguments for confrontation, they might have gotten bogged down in contractual technicalities - messy, ultimately leading to fighting anyway since both sides had strong counterarguments. Confrontation would've just wasted time. This was why they hated confrontations - they were bad at verbal sparring. But after Lu Ding's reasoning, the cleanup team suddenly felt eager, excited to engage in a proper debate with the enemy. So this was how it felt to be a clear-thinking top student! They'd seen the light!! Finally understanding why Great Han's 749 Bureau branch directors loved reasoning so much. Tongue-tying your opponents could be incredibly satisfying. Xiao Duan from Half-Yin Mountain said excitedly: "So we came because their Heavenly Perception operatives attacked our lower battlefield, hence we attacked their base." "And you came because you were attacked and sought revenge." "No direct connection between us - just coincidence?" Lu Ding nodded approvingly: "Exactly! What a fortunate coincidence - no coincidence, no story." "Our bodycams recorded everything - you all attacked the barrier, bombarded the island, and fought Heavenly Perception operatives." "I'm the only one who actually entered the island to start the battle." "Our line is simple: If you didn't break the barrier, how can you claim to target the lower battlefield?!" With bodycam evidence, dispute it if you dare. The ten Great Han operatives immediately started chattering excitedly: "Perfect, perfect, let me say that line later!" "Normally you can't squeeze a word out - you think you can deliver this? I should do it - clear enunciation!" "Bullshit! Get lost! None of you can do it justice - needs my voice, I've got presence!" "I'm the senior here - my privilege!" "Exactly because you're senior, you should yield to juniors!" Watching the cleanup team argue over who'd deliver the rhetorical coup de grâce, Lu Ding interjected: "Leaders, discuss at leisure - I'll go pack up." None even glanced his way, just waving him off with 'go ahead' 'we'll call you' 'stay safe' before resuming their debate. "I think we should be fair - look at debate videos, they have first, second, third, fourth speakers - we should assign roles. As senior, I'll be first speaker." They even pulled out phones now. hearing his own voice from Guan Zhongsheng's phone: "Children can't choose parents, but parents can choose children. To wear or not - that's the first responsibility contract. Choosing not is signing the first agreement." "To keep or not - the second responsibility contract. Choosing to keep is signing the second agreement." "Having agreed twice, raising the child becomes responsibility - not love. Don't confuse concepts, opposition first speaker!" They'd dug up his debate competition footage? Originally walking away, Yet he still faintly heard the ten Heavenly Perception operatives commenting: "Isn't that Lu Ding?" "Damn, over a million likes - no wonder he's so articulate." "See? I told you - follow Lu Ding's logic, can't go wrong. Educated minds are sharp - with his words, I don't see how we lose!" "Dammit, why aren't Tai Island and Wei Gao forces here yet?" Lu Ding reached the building Kagami Gozo mentioned housing the safe. they spotted several suspicious Tai Island Qi Refiners crouched before the safe, cracking its code. "Ichiro, can you do this? If Lu Ding finds us, we're finished." "I can, I can, stop rushing me." "Maybe try smashing it?" "Shut up! Even Heavenly Perception can't break this - what makes you think we can?" "Should we really take what's inside? If Lu Ding discovers us..." "Stop worrying! Great Han has a saying - fortune favors the bold! If we survive with this treasure, when our reinforcements arrive..." The woman's voice trailed off as she nervously glanced back - spotting Lu Ding and Kagami Gozo silently standing in the doorway.