Chapter 178
Strictly speaking, almost everything here uses Originium as gunpowder, from small fireworks to large explosives used in buildings.
However, what the other party was carrying was not a simple explosive device; it contained a large amount of Originium, and after the explosion, it would cover a small area with a large amount of Originium dust.
Even disregarding the damage caused by the explosion, just considering those who inhaled the Originium, even with timely injections of inhibitors, there is a high chance they will become infected.
So anyone carrying this kind of Originium Bomb... definitely doesn't have good intentions.
It should be said that carrying explosives in a place where there are mostly ordinary people is definitely not a good intention.
After watching the other person walk a distance away, Shirou immediately turned around and followed, while simultaneously using his communicator to report the situation.
"This is Shirou. We've spotted someone carrying Originium Bomb. It's an Ursus person, currently at the back of the concert hall, heading to the left. I'm following them. If they make any suspicious moves, I'll shoot them on the spot. Please grant me permission."
Shirou's excellent eyesight allowed him to follow his opponent from a very safe distance, mainly because the area was relatively spacious with no obstructions.
If it were a narrow, winding alleyway like in Slums, Shirou would have to follow closer.
While reporting the situation to the others, Shirou also considered the worst-case scenario: that the enemy would detonate the explosives before reinforcements arrived.
So he directly stated his request. If the other party intended to detonate those Originium Bomb, he wouldn't hesitate to kill them without hesitation.
"... Permission granted. Please be careful. Hoshiguma and I will be there soon."
On the other end of the communicator, Chen was silent for a moment after receiving Shirou's message, and his expression was not particularly good.
Originium Bomb... If this thing were to explode here, the consequences would be unimaginable.
The worst-case scenario is that the other side has accomplices, or even has already planted a large amount of Originium Bomb nearby.
Thinking of this, Chen switched channels on the communicator and said:
"Attention C2 to C5! Someone has been confirmed to be carrying dangerous items! All squads, please intensify your search of the surrounding area! C1, follow me!"
After saying that, Chen quickly left the scene, leaving the other Knights of the Round Table members still busy.
The others weren't surprised; as the commander on site, Chen must be very busy.
"What happened?"
Hoshiguma, carrying the Hannya, jogged up to catch up with Chen and asked.
Shirou's channel only connects to Ch'en and Swire, and Swire is currently maintaining order inside the concert venue, so the only person outside who heard Shirou's report was Ch'en.
"Shirou has discovered someone carrying Originium Bomb. We're going to surround and capture them. We need to find out if they have any other accomplices."
While explaining the situation, Chen did some simple warm-up exercises.
"Where is this person?!"
Upon hearing Chen's words, Hoshiguma's expression also turned quite ugly.
At the same time, he gripped the Hannya in his hand tightly.
"They went to the left. Shirou is following them. If necessary, we can just kill them. Originium Bomb... this is already a serious incident! I really don't know how those people up there managed to get them! Aren't they controlled substances!?"
In the end, Chen also gritted his teeth.
He was angry at those who carried Originium Bomb, angry at those who didn't check carefully, and also angry at himself.
The other party had already brazenly brought Originium Bomb to the vicinity, yet she hadn't noticed anything amiss.
If Shirou hadn't discovered it in time, the Knights of the Round Table might not have been able to react until the other side detonated the explosives.
But by then it would be too late; the people and things destroyed would be gone forever.
Some people may even become infected as a result.
"Old Chen, I know you're angry, but calm down. Anger will only make you make mistakes in your next actions."
Seeing his superior and partner so angry that their voices were trembling, Hoshiguma quickly calmed them down to prevent Chen from Chi Xiao: Unsheathe and chopping down prisoners the next time they encountered one.
They still need to figure out a way to get information out of the other side!
"Calm down? Don't worry, I'm very calm! I've thought it all out. I'll just go up there and unleash a Jueying, and let those people know that the Knights of the Round Table is not to be trifled with."
Faced with Hoshiguma's reassurance, Chen gave a forced smile and said...
At the same time, her hand was already on Chixiao, waiting to see the person in question.
"No, no, no, you're not calm at all! We still need to get information!"
Hearing Chen's words, Hoshiguma felt that these people were really doomed.
Even if they weren't killed by Old Chen at first sight, they would still be caught and beaten up by them later.
As the two of them moved and tried to stop someone's barely contained anger, on the other side, Shirou was preparing to Projection at any moment while following the other person's movements.
The other person was seen walking through the crowd with their coat covering their face, and it was this behavior that made Shirou find the other person very suspicious.
"What exactly does the other party want to do...?"
After following the other party for quite some time, Shirou basically didn't see any other actions from them.
He was just wandering around aimlessly, at most covering the things inside his coat with his hands.
He couldn't figure it out.
However, he didn't need to guess the other party's actions or thoughts; all he had to do was prevent the Originium Bomb in the other party's possession from exploding here.
Even if he used his Imaginary Break to completely obliterate the other person, it would be much better than detonating that thing.
Just as Shirou was waiting for reinforcements to arrive, he suddenly sensed something and rolled to the left.
Boom—
A loud noise rang out, and a large amount of dust and clods of earth were sent flying from where Shirou had just been standing.
The surrounding crowd was also frightened by the commotion and fled the scene.
"Oh? Your intuition is pretty good."
The figure, obscured by a thick layer of dust, waved his right hand and spoke with a tone full of disdain.
"..."
Although his dodge was rather unsightly, Shirou managed to evade the attack.
He was covered in dust.
"You are... the person who just bumped into me?"
Upon seeing that the person being attacked was the same guy who had just bumped into him, the thin Ursus man naturally realized that the other person had deliberately bumped into him.
Although he didn't know how the other party had come to suspect him, he now knew that this guy was doomed.
"Tsk tsk, playing the hero isn't a good thing! The last guy who tried to be a hero was probably smashed to death by my punch!"
A burly Ursus man emerged from the thick dust, speaking with a defiant look on his face.
"Isn't playing the hero better than you infected people being the villains?"
Shirou pretended to touch his chest while turning on the communicator on his chest and said something.
Although he didn't know if the robust Ursus man was infected, since they were accomplices, he would assume he was infected for the time being.
He has no prejudice against those infected, but he won't hold back when it comes to such evil people.
"Hmph! What a foul mouth! I hope you'll still be this arrogant after I beat your mouth to a pulp."
Upon hearing Shirou's words, the burly Ursus man, who had been wearing a mocking expression, immediately turned pale and threatened.
"Provided that you can catch me, right?"
Faced with this level of intimidation, Shirou was not intimidated at all.
It can't compare to the golden Archer in terms of stench, nor to the Breserker in terms of ferocity, nor to the Caster in terms of cunning.
It's more accurate to say that Chen's scolding at work was even harsher than this.
So naturally he had nothing to be afraid of.
He's not in a hurry to Projection anything.
Using the Projection technique to outmaneuver the opponent is the best option. Shirou is worried that if he reveals his Projection Magic, the opponent will resort to desperate measures and detonate the Originium Bomb.
It's important to understand that although the people here have run away, most of them are still observing the situation from a distance.
Shirou wasn't sure how wide the range of the explosive was, since the analysis time was still too short.
"Pretty confident, huh? Let's see if I tear your mouth apart or turn you into mincemeat!"
After saying that, the strong Ursus man rushed towards Shirou's direction.
As the person charging towards him approached, Shirou calmly observed their movements.
The communicator on my chest has vibrated three times already; Chen is leading his men on their way.
Before that, his first task was to prevent the Originium Bomb from detonating, and secondly, to suppress the enemy.
"Trace on─"
As he chanted, the distinctive circuit pattern of Magic Circuits appeared on Shirou's hands.
Throw out a right fist, intending to collide head-on with the opponent's fist.
"Ha! You're asking for it!"
Seeing that his opponent wasn't going to dodge but instead wanted to fight him head-on, the burly Ursus man just found it laughable!
He just punched a huge hole in the ground, and the other guy actually wants to fight him?
Who gave him the courage? Those sunglasses?
"Snort!"
Bump—
Shirou's fist collided with his opponent's fist, producing a loud bang.
With the Reinforcement Magic, Shirou's punch was quite powerful.
At least for a moment, it caused the opponent to misjudge the power of Shirou. They originally thought he was someone they could defeat with one punch, but instead, he managed to catch his fist.
Shirou didn't stop what he was doing. He opened his clenched fist, grabbed the other person's hand, and pulled him towards him.
Then, he used his left hand to push back towards the point where the other person's arms met.
With a cracking sound, the muscular Ursus man's hand suddenly took on a strange posture, bending in the opposite direction.
"Hmph! Ahhhhhh!"
Before he could react, the burly man suddenly felt pain in his right hand, and he immediately knelt down and cried out.
After seeing the injury on his hand, he could feel the pain getting stronger and stronger.
"Shut up, you mouth-crazy bastard."
Upon hearing the other person's scream, Shirou raised his leg and kicked the other person in the jaw.
As for what he said, it was all learned from Croissant, who was often told the same thing while playing games.
The jaw is a very vulnerable area; even the slightest impact can cause dizziness. Moreover, Shirou used a foot enhanced by Reinforcement Magic to kick it, sending the robust Ursus man flying. He lay there with his eyes rolled back and foaming at the mouth.
At the same time, Shirou also saw the small Originium Bomb that fell from the other party's body.
He had seen this model before, and it was one of the easiest to handle. The explosion radius was not wide, and the amount of Originium it contained was not high. Unless there were a large quantity, there was basically no danger if proper protection was in place.
Moreover, he has a way to deal with this; he can prevent the explosion by simply cutting it in half before it detonates.
Simple and straightforward.
"Hey you over there, are you going to surrender, or do you want to put up a fight? I suggest you choose to surrender."
Having determined the type of Originium Bomb and knowing how to deal with it, Shirou looked up at the thin Ursus man and asked.
At the same time, they walked closer to each other.
"You bastard...!"
As Shirou walked towards him, the thin Ursus man felt a little flustered for a moment.
Then he remembered the Originium Bomb in his pocket, took one out, pressed the button on it to activate it, and threw it at Shirou.
Although the distance was a bit close, it only aggravated his symptoms of Oripathy.
But for the person in front of him, he could become an infected!
"You chose the worst path."