Many bodyguards surrounded Alan. They took away his gun and made him sit on a couch.


    — You will be able to talk with the mayor in a few seconds.


    — Sure, we''ll wait here. — Etia answered.


    The group of armed men left the room. When the couple was alone again, they heaved a sigh of relief.


    — I think it''s going pretty well. They know about our situation but still, let us through. — Alan would be kicked out of the city if they minded his crime. He connected the dots and realized that there was room for negotiation.


    — I hope they won''t throw us into a mine or something. — Etia cracked a joke, but Alan knew she was very stressed.


    They waited a few minutes, but the man still didn''t come.


    — Did they forget about us? — Etia asked Alan. She did not know much about politics.


    — Look at him pretending not to care. — Alan saw through the mayor''s game. This method was frequently used on Earth to assert dominance. — He will come in some time.


    — Ok.


    Alan and Etia waited and waited. Even after half an hour, no one came.


    — Well, let''s look for someone. — Alan stood up and opened the door. Just to find out it was locked. — Hmm, that won''t be a problem.


    He reached out toward the door and pulled forcefully. It fell and revealed a person.


    — I guess you got impatient. — The man wore a white suit. He had a fairly average face and an inconspicuous look.


    — Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak. — Alan quoted Sun Tzu. He had a whole encyclopedia downloaded in place of his prefrontal lobe. — Looking at the badge in your pocket, you should have a high position.


    — You are right. My name is Jaon Ux, and I''m the ruler of this town.


    — Was this some kind of test? — Etia connected the dots and realized they were being checked for something.


    — I was trying to understand your characters. It is the basis of cooperation.


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    — So, how can we work together? — Alan knew that this was his chance to move to this city.


    — Let''s discuss this in my office.


    <hr>


    Alan and Etia sat on a couch. Jaon handed them a bottle of water and a few cookies.


    — Let''s get straight to the point, then. We want to live in your city, and you want something from us. What is it? — Alan didn''t want to listen to a politician''s bull excrement.


    — I won''t beat around the bush. We want to conquer Zhar, and your tech will help us.


    — How do you know that I didn''t already give it away?


    — I assessed that you wouldn''t allow yourself to get cheated. The world would have burned if they had taken your help and betrayed you.


    — You''re not wrong. Then how are you so sure I know anything? — Alan didn''t stop interrogating Jaon.


    — You made a fewteen shots in three seconds, and they all hit. This hints at your brain are much more potent than a zharian one.


    — Ok. I guess the deal is set. — Alan extended his hand toward Jaon.


    He looked for a few seconds and shook Alan''s hand.


    — For the future, you shouldn''t do that with a man. — Etia said in English.


    — Sorry. — Alan answered.


    — Oh, and if possible, I would like you to teach us your language. It would be helpful on the future battlefield.


    — I rather keep it private. I can teach you old Polan, though. — It was Alan''s mother language and the only other tongue he knew. Dictionaries were large, and his hard drive had limited space.


    — That''s good enough.


    — So, when do I start, and will I get paid? — Alan wanted to get Etia a home as fast as possible.


    — How about now and yes?


    — Let''s get going.


    <hr>


    On his way to a lab, Alan saw many unnatural people. One had two eyes in a socket. Another didn''t have an arm. There was even a person with seven fingers on each arm.


    Alan slowly understood why zharians evolved in the wrong direction. Because of their strong racial identity, they excluded everything that looked even a bit different, which diminished the chance to evolve.


    “That still doesn''t explain why these mutations are so severe” He was unsure of the reason, but knew that it wasn''t random.


    — What do you want to start with? — Alan asked Jaon.


    — First, I''d like you to review our basic science. If we don''t work on the same foundation, it will be hard to make progress. — Mayor Ux answered. He had already prearranged the schedule for their cooperation.


    — Lead the way, then. — Alan followed behind Jaon. He wasn''t scared of going into the deeper parts of the lab, because Etia was temporarily staying in the “White House” of this city-state. Alan was getting excited about seeing a clean Etia in new clothes.


    They walked through many areas. Some researched medicine, others technology, and a little weaponry.


    Before long, Alan saw a giant door.


    — This is my second office. I want you to write down as much as you know, so I chose a more comfortable place.


    Jaon started walking again. They walked for a few minutes and arrived before an elevator.


    — Do you know where it goes to? — Jaon made a bit of a quiz. Alan knew because he could map every area he walked through.


    — Of course. We''re currently under your house.