Kallen said, "By the way, Rulu, is there anything important we need to do when we go back to Blue Sea City this time?"
Rulu thought for a moment and said, "Mainly we're going to check on the current situation in Blue Sea City. Other than that, there's nothing particularly important."
Kallen said, "If there's nothing important, then it should be fine for me to go and find Captain Guan and the others, right?"
Rulu said, "If things go smoothly, sure. I also want to get in touch with Captain Guan and the others as soon as possible."
An excited smile spread across Kallen's face. "That's great! I haven't seen Captain Guan and the others in so long. I wonder how they've been lately. I have so much to tell them."
Rulu suddenly remembered something. He looked at Kallen seriously and said, "Kallen, it's best if you don't tell Captain Guan or anyone else about what we went through in the Sanctuary."
Kallen was taken aback. She looked at Rulu in surprise and said, "Huh?! I can't tell them any of it? I was planning to tell them all about what happened in the Sanctuary and show off a little."
Rulu said firmly, "Kallen, I told you from the very beginning that this trip to the Sanctuary was a secret mission. Did you forget?"
Kallen hesitated. "That's true, but what am I supposed to say if they ask me? What if I slip up and let something out by accident?"
Rulu said, "Then let's do this. Kallen, you can tell Captain Guan and the others about the less important things. But the more important things, like my true identity and the power I got from the Sanctuary, you have to keep secret for me no matter what."
Kallen nodded. "If that's all, I can do it. Besides, some of this they wouldn't believe even if I told them. Rulu, you can actually bring the dead back to life. If Captain Guan and the others heard that, they'd definitely think I'd gone crazy."
Rulu said, "Anyway, Kallen, just do your best to keep my secrets. I'm warning you: if you leak any of this, then that's the end of my relationship with you and the rest of the Rebels. Do you understand?"
Seeing how seriously Rulu was taking this, Kallen immediately became serious too. "Don't worry, Rulu, I won't say anything I shouldn't. If the people in the Rebels found out that you're a prince of the Sanctuary, it would definitely cause big trouble. I'm not that stupid."
"Good, as long as you understand."
Suddenly, Shari asked with a puzzled look, "Rulu, what are these Rebels you two were just talking about? Are they those terrorist groups outside Blue Sea City?"
Kallen's face changed as if she had been insulted. She glared at Shari angrily and said loudly, "What terrorist groups?! We only resist the Sanctuary. We don't attack ordinary people. We're not some terrorist group!"
Seeing Kallen react like that, Shari seemed to realize something. She stammered, "So you really are... one of those Rebels, Kallen? Then that attack on Blue Sea City a while ago was you?"
Kallen realized she had let it slip, and she became flustered. "Uh... well, yes, we did that. But we had no other choice. We attacked Blue Sea City only to rescue people. We had no other purpose, I swear."
"But I heard a lot of innocent people in Blue Sea City were hurt back then, and some people even died in the fighting! If you hadn't attacked Blue Sea City, none of that would have happened to them!" Shari said, a little angry. She began to feel afraid of Kallen and to pull away from her, and the way she looked at Kallen changed.
Then Rulu spoke up: "Shari, actually, I took part in that attack on Blue Sea City too."
"What? Rulu, did you join the Rebels too?!" Shari turned to Rulu, looking surprised and wary.
"Yes. Kallen and I both belong to what you call a terrorist group. So if you're going to resent Kallen, you should resent me too."
Shari looked lost. She waved her hands in a panic and said, "No, that's not what I meant. But... weren't Nana's parents killed by those Rebels? Rulu, how could you get involved with them?"
Rulu said, "That never happened. Nana's parents were killed by the Sanctuary. Besides, if Nana's parents had really been killed by the Rebels, do you think Nana and I would still be with them?"
"So you're saying the people from the Sanctuary lied," Shari said hesitantly.
Rulu said, "Yes. And there's something I want to ask you, Shari. If Kallen and I keep fighting the Sanctuary from now on, whose side will you be on then, the Sanctuary's or ours?"
Shari froze. She asked cautiously, "Do I have to choose?"
Rulu said coldly, "Yes, you have to choose. If you want to stay with us, Shari, you have to stand on the same side as us. If you can't do that, then it would be better if we kept our distance."
Shari stared at Rulu. When she realized he was serious, she murmured, "Rulu, are you saying you won't be my friend anymore?"
Rulu kept a straight face and said in a heavy voice, "That's right. If you can't fight the Sanctuary like we do, Shari, I'll cut ties with you."
Nana didn't want things to get any worse. She quickly reached out, tugged at Rulu, and pleaded, "Rulu, don't be like this. Don't force Shari to do something she doesn't want to do."
Rulu shook off Nana's hand and said in a tone that allowed no argument, "No. Shari has to choose between us and the Sanctuary. But I'll let her think it over before she answers me. She doesn't have to decide right away. That's all I have to say."
With that, Rulu left by himself and went back to his room to rest. Nana comforted Shari, telling her that Rulu was just like that and she shouldn't take it to heart. Shari just stared blankly, lost in thought, not knowing what she should do from now on.