"I, it’s time to leave."
The morning after the conclusion of the battle at the public disk base, Li Yi gathered everyone and began with these words.
"What, Yi, you’re leaving? Why is that?" Hong Zhen reacted strongly; she had followed Yi since the uprising in Philadelphia, thinking they would work on great endeavors together, yet now she was hearing such terrible news.
It wasn’t just Hong Zhen.
Ke Ni also looked at Li Yi eagerly, unwilling to see him leave.
Hughes and a few of his comrades were also taken aback, not understanding why Li Yi would choose to leave while the situation appeared favorable.
However, Li Yi said, "I need to leave because I have more important things to do, and additionally, the timing is not mature. The seeds of rebellion are still very weak, they need time to grow; maybe a year, maybe five, but I believe that the moment will not come too late."
"Yi, are you leaving me behind?" Ke Ni’s pink eyes filled with tears.
Li Yi touched her head and said, "Ke Ni, I don’t want you to depend on anyone, including me. I wish for you to be a ship, the freest ship that, even if the waves of the era crash upon you, can break through the winds and waves and roam freely in any corner of this world."
"Not just Ke Ni, all of you are the same; what imprisons a person is never the shackles of genes, but thoughts."
"Yi, without your leadership, they won’t be able to accomplish great things," Hughes looked at Li Yi earnestly and said, "They need a leader, the rebellion needs a leader."
Li Yi smiled and said, "You are wrong, you don’t need a leader, what you need is to follow your own hearts. You crave genetic freedom, equality for all, the abolition of privileges... These are your reasons to oppose the Genetic Federation, not merely to follow a leader."
"Because leaders are also human; they can make mistakes, but ideals do not. I’ve said that the world belongs to you all, not to any individual. The world you are fighting to reclaim is your own, to fight for yourselves, not for someone else."
"Hughes, after I leave, take good care of these young sprouts, don’t rush to confront the Genetic Federation. What you need now is to wait and endure, continuing to strengthen the civil genetic warriors."
"I understand." Hughes nodded.
Hong Zhen hurriedly asked, "Yi, when will you come back?"
"When you no longer need me, I will naturally return," Li Yi said, "Hong Zhen, take good care of Ke Ni. She is still a child and needs to learn and grow. You should try to be a qualified mother, taking on a mother’s responsibilities. The future belongs to young people."
"Be a qualified mother?" Hong Zhen slightly bowed her head in thought; as the leader of the Mom Gang, she had only a bunch of young hooligans under her command and had never taught them anything.
But Li Yi’s words had initiated some changes in her heart.
"Lan Ji, lower the Thunder fighter," Li Yi spoke again.
"Yes, master," the nearby AI robot Lan Ji immediately responded.
A blue and white sci-fi fighter jet then slowly descended from above the public disk base, opening the cockpit door, Li Yi leaped up into the cockpit, then turned back for a glance at everyone, showing a touch of sentiment.
After all, he was not from World No.6, and it was inevitable that he would part ways with them.
Moreover, with his identity at stake, if he became their leader and his identity was exposed one day, it would be a devastating blow to them, so the sooner he left, the better.
"Yi." Suddenly, Hughes spoke again.
Yi asked, "Is there something else?"
Hughes grinned slightly, "Yi, the world will be as you wish, looking forward to seeing you again."
"I am also looking forward to seeing your growth," Li Yi nodded, then turned back to the cockpit.
As the cockpit closed, the Thunder fighter took off and started, then a powerful burst of energy erupted, instantly speeding up the fighter with a booming sound echoing as it flew towards a distant direction.
Everyone watched as Li Yi left, and although Li Yi had only been with them for a brief moment, he had changed their destinies, impacted their lives, and passed on to them the ideals of freedom and equality. These thoughts would remain deeply rooted in their spirits forever.
Perhaps, as Li Yi said, they no longer needed a leader because they understood what they needed to do next.
"These people have all become genetic warriors, occupied the public disk base, and have enough weapons as well as a level-six genetic warrior for protection... Their future is promising."
At this moment, on the fighter, Li Yi sat in the cockpit, looking outside the window and thought quietly.
Suddenly, Li Yi called out.
"I am here, master," Lan Ji’s voice rose within the cockpit.
"Can you help me find someone in other cities?" Li Yi said.
"No problem," Lan Ji responded, "I am a fourth-generation intelligence and have access to the Hope Building’s privileges. I can enter city systems and track any recorded citizen’s location."
"How about those who are not recorded?" Li Yi inquired.
"It’s possible through facial recognition, it might take some time," Lan Ji replied.
Li Yi said, "Good, then start searching. Name: Huo Hong, appearance..."