"Did he enter the city?"
The man holding silver-rimmed glasses and polishing them turned to the young officer beside him and asked quietly.
"Yes."
The young officer nodded lightly, raised his hand, and projected footage of the blood-soaked figure standing before the city gate. "He exploited the time difference. We originally thought he wanted to flee north, but he unexpectedly entered the city directly. We failed to stop him."
His expression darkened slightly as he continued indignantly, "Mint City's City Defense Army actually let him in. Don't they know why we told them to close the gates?"
"Ovi of Mint City's City Defense Army is a fence-sitter who plays both sides."
The man watched the footage. When he saw the figure at the city gate mention "wristband network access," he smiled. "He didn't dare let the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation die in front of his gates. He can't bear Aines's wrath—whether it is genuine anger or merely about saving face."
Then he raised his hand and shut off the video. "Don't worry."
Lowering his head, he continued polishing the glasses in his hands and said calmly, "Everyone who wants to kill him is in the city. Out in the wilderness, he might still have had a chance of surviving. Entering the city means certain death."
He put on his glasses and looked toward the frigid Snowy Plains ahead. "Send a message to the Board of Directors. Tell them we have arrived outside the city of Mint City and will establish camp here according to the original plan."
"Yes!"
The young officer immediately responded.
--
Mint City City Defense Army Command Center
"Ah, Mr. Sot, I have long admired you, long admired you."
Inside the lavish hall, the man in a military uniform adorned with