Chapter Fifteen: The U.S. Military's Scheme!~

Following the conclusion of the events of the second battle, the days that followed were quite peaceful for both the Decepticons and the Autobots.

Sam continued his university career, graduated successfully, and parted ways with Mikaela amicably...

Of course, Hao Yun's scheming had nothing to do with it; it was simply that Mikaela's physical prowess was too formidable. Due to the disparity in their constitutions, Sam was unable to keep up... Coupled with long-distance romance and various other factors, their former affection gradually faded, and the two eventually reached the end of their path.

Still, it could be considered a peaceful breakup.

However, those ordinary days did not last long. After the Decepticons truly went underground among humans and stopped showing their faces to cause trouble, humans gradually began to develop differing opinions regarding the existence of the Autobots.

In the third year after the end of the second battle, Mikaela took the initiative to visit Hao Yun's home.

"Master."

"M-hm?"

Hao Yun curled up on the sofa and nodded at Mikaela, who had barged through the door.

After the battle in Egypt, Mikaela was awarded the First-Class Combat Hero Medal by the United States and successfully enlisted in the US military... Currently, she had attained the rank of colonel in the US military, becoming a glorious female soldier.

He just wondered what business she had coming to see him today.

"Some people in the US military are questioning once again whether the Autobots still have any reason to remain on Earth."

Mikaela's face was full of distress. She truly regretted enjoining the US military... It had resulted in handsome men loitering outside her dorm room at every turn, and even generals asking her in person for the cultivation methods.

To be honest, living like this was far less carefree than before.

Just like that, a few days ago during a military meeting, someone brought up the issue of the Autobots refusing to hand over the usage rights of their advanced weaponry, attempting to fracture the goodwill toward the Autobots within the US military ranks.

"Why do you care so much about what they do? You're just a mascot, a stabilizing presence for the scene. Let them throw their tantrums if they want; you just live your own life."

Hao Yun casually and comfortably offered some counsel. Having spent nearly twenty years in the Marvel universe, how could he not know the nature of Americans?

Discarding the bridge after crossing it, slaughtering the hounds once the hares are caught, putting away the bow when the birds are gone—Americans were far more practiced at these things than the Chinese.

Just think about the Avengers in the MCU; they even had to guard against schemes from behind their own backs during battles, let alone now when facing aliens!

"But..."

Mikaela hesitated and said, "We have a great relationship with the Autobots. If they cause a fuss and truly push the Autobots away, what will we do if the Decepticons make a comeback?"

"Don't you still have yourself?"

Hao Yun teased, guessing that the Americans probably harbored the idea of relying on Mikaela and Hao Yun to hold down the fort.

"But after all, there are only two of us. If the Decepticons hijack an entire city, there's nothing we can do either!"

"Sigh, our overall technology being inferior to Cybertron's—that is the crux of the matter." Hao Yun sighed and explained, "Having experienced two wars, the US military has basically proven to be of little use. What they are doing now is actually driven by a fear originating from the depths of their hearts. This is human nature, Mikaela. You must understand."

"Then how should this be handled?"

"I suppose that perhaps when the next war begins, the Autobots will have to make a decision."

Hao Yun gave Mikaela his answer: "The next war will be a battle between the Autobots and humanity. Once the war ends, I will take the Autobots and leave Earth completely. By that time, this place will have to be protected by you alone."

"Ah?! Master, you're leaving?"

Mikaela widened her eyes. She had never imagined that her master would leave... Now Hao Yun had casually dropped a surprise—no, a fright—upon her, leaving her completely devoid of confidence.

"There is no feast in this world that does not come to an end, Mikaela. It is time for you to stand on your own two feet and handle things independently. Alright, you should head back first. I think the Decepticons will make a move very soon."

"Understood, Master!"

...................

On the other side, Sam, who had finally found a job after graduating from university, encountered a eccentric Chinese man outside of his working hours.

The man muttered strange words, snatched his coat, yanked him into the restroom, and pulled down his pants...

"Hey, what are you doing?! I have a girlfriend..."

"Shut up, kid! They're watching me. I can't go to the government, but you can!"

With that, the Chinese man with the surname Wang pulled a newspaper out from the inside of his thigh: "This is my manifesto! They are killing informants one by one, and your alien friends are in danger! Great, the aliens—they need you to save them again!"

Following that, the man surnamed Wang produced a series of violent shakes inside the restroom, as if he were engaged in some unspeakable activity... Afterward, he left the restroom acting as if nothing had happened.

Having lived through two wars to save the Earth, a trace of unease flashed deep within Sam's heart. Could it be that the Decepticons, who had been quiet for so long, were going to stir up trouble again?

Upon stepping out of the restroom, Sam found a secluded desk and opened the documents the man surnamed Wang had handed him.

"The Moon Landing Program..."

"The Dark Side of the Moon..."

"The Soviet Space Program..."

"Lunar Satellite Imagery..."

Why were these all reports about the manned rocket landing on the moon in 1972? The dark side—did that refer to the back of the moon?

As an Ivy League graduate with some knowledge of astronomy and history, Sam frowned... What on earth was that Chinese man trying to tell him?

Just as he finished tidying up these documents and prepared to go find that person to ask some questions... A sudden cry of surprise and the sound of shattering glass echoed from nearby. Accompanied by a dull thud, Sam sprinted to the window and looked down... The Chinese man surnamed Wang had already fallen to his death, his red and white remains scattered across the ground in a horrifying sight!

Well, at this point, even if Sam wanted to fool himself, he knew the Decepticons were up to no good again!

Promptly picking up his phone, Sam forgot all about work and bolted out the door. At the same time, his call went through to his ex-girlfriend's number!

"Beep... beep..."

"Sam? Did you discuss it with Cady before calling me? Aren't you afraid your backyard will catch fire?"

Mikaela's teasing voice came through the phone. Unfortunately, Sam was in no mood to banter with Mikaela right now and directly told her what had happened today.

"Mikaela, I have no time to joke with you! Something's happened here, the Decepticons have appeared again!"

"What?!"

The tone of Mikaela's voice on the phone suddenly pitched up an octave: "Stay right where you are and don't move, I'm coming to find you right now!"

"How do you know where I am?"

Sam stopped in his tracks, a trace of unease instantly flashing through his mind... Earth's current technology couldn't track a cell phone's location in real-time yet, could it?

Wait, the dead Chinese man surnamed Wang... This kind of method seemed familiar from the past... Wait, it bore a striking resemblance to how the Decepticons concealed their identities when invading Earth... Damn it!

Sam fiercely smashed his phone down, bolted out of the office building, hopped into his car, and sped away wildly! As a hero who had saved the world twice, his phone call would never be monitored by the US government!

The only possibility was that the person he had just been talking to on the phone wasn't Mikaela at all, but a Decepticon!