Chapter 127

In her current state, let alone fighting a proxy, she might not even be able to win against Uzuki Saori, who hasn't entered Synchronization.

Every agent is a well-trained warrior, possessing combat capabilities comparable to a veteran even before entering Synchronization; this is no exaggeration.

In other words, if Uzuki Saori wanted to, Karina would have no chance of escaping from her grasp. If Uzuki Saori really didn't want to let her go, Karina would be powerless to fight back. Therefore, Uzuki Saori had no reason to lie to her.

Moreover, no matter what, Uzuki Saori was someone who betrayed the Orderkeepers Organization.

Although Karina deeply disliked this temporary ally, there was no doubt that Karina had no other choice but to trust Uzuki Saori.

"Then... what do you want to know?"

She put down the gun and asked in a low voice.

"Get to the point. I don't have time to ramble on. They might catch up with you anytime."

"It's alright, even if someone comes after me, I can handle them."

Uzuki Saori raised her gaze and looked at the Erosion Entity in the distance.

There, silver light shimmered as Shiina Rin battled the Erosion Entity, while the other special forces members rapidly searched for Karina in the darkness.

"My first question is, do you really have any drugs or technologies to treat Corruption rates?"

Of course.

How can I get it?

"There are some in the base."

Tell me the location.

"There's no point in asking this question; everything about inhibitors can be found here!"

Karina took out a small memory card, her gaze fixed intently on Uzuki Saori's eyes.

She was very anxious.

"Get me out of here!"

Uzuki Saori glanced at the memory card in Karina's hand and walked up to Karina.

Karina nervously took a step back.

"But... but let me make this clear... our bases frequently change locations, and even I don't know if they're still there. Besides, if you want to get something like inhibitors, without an introduction from us insiders, you can forget about getting through our doors, even if you're an agent!"

Uzuki Saori reached out her hand from beneath her black robe.

"Give me."

With an unyielding tone, Uzuki Saori suppressed her unease, took a deep breath, and barely managed to resist the urge to shoot at Uzuki Saori before handing her the memory card.

Uzuki Saori simply took the memory card and did not use the sudden close proximity between them to attack Karina, which made Karina feel slightly relieved.

Frankly, even if she were to ambush Uzuki Saori, the firepower of this old-fashioned pistol would be insufficient to inflict a fatal wound on Uzuki Saori, and it might not even be able to break through her defenses. Furthermore, if she were to fire, Uzuki Saori would be unable to withstand her counterattack, and she would also attract the attention of the troops who had been searching for her.

Karina desperately wanted to escape her current predicament as soon as possible.

"Is this all? The information about the inhibitor you wanted is in here. Now, take me away quickly..."

"Well, then the second question, oh, not a question, but a request—I've lost the 'Sacred Relic' you gave me, and now all I have is this."

Uzuki Saori raised her hand, and beneath her sleeve, a silver bracelet shimmered faintly with a dim light— the Agent Beacon, ready to be activated at any moment.

This seems like a warning.

Karina stared fearfully at the faint silver light, swallowing hard.

"So, what are you trying to say?"

"The Apostle's power is very strong, I like it very much, and I want another 'Sacred Relic'."

"Ha!?"

Karina took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in her heart.

"I'm sorry, but you can't do that. Do you think this is like cabbage at the market? Our team only has two. One for me, and one for you. Where am I supposed to find a third one for you?"

"Is that so... What a pity."

Uzuki Saori wore a regretful expression, while Karina kept glancing around, already impatient.

"Please take me away from here quickly! They're coming... I can still answer you when we're in a safe place..."

"Um..."

Uzuki Saori glanced sideways, lowered her gaze, and pondered for a moment.

Then he said, "Alright, I'll take you away from here."

Karina breathed a slight sigh of relief, and was about to say something when she saw a flash of silver light before her eyes. Uzuki Saori raised her arm and swiftly thrust out.

It all happened in an instant. Karina's reaction speed was no match for Uzuki Saori's sudden attack, and she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her neck.

It was a syringe, completely inserted into Karina's neck. The liquid inside had been squeezed out and injected into Karina's body.

Karina's eyes widened in shock as she stared at Uzuki Saori's indifferent face. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

Her consciousness sank rapidly, all the strength drained from Karina's body. She collapsed to her knees, looking up to see Uzuki Saori clutching the memory card in her hand, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

"I'm sorry, I lied to you. Thank you for the information."

"You... you..."

Karina raised her hand with all her might, watching as the girl's figure appeared as multiple images of her.

Immediately afterwards, she lost consciousness and fell into a coma.

"Target: One person."

"Target Codename H broke through the encirclement and escaped. We were unable to apprehend him. His current location is unknown. Our personnel are searching and tracking the surrounding area."

"Thirty-seven special forces soldiers were wounded."

"The death toll is two."

"Two agents were injured and have been taken to United Hospital for treatment."

When she woke up again, Karina was bound and tightly locked to a fixed chair.

On the low table beside her was a tray containing torture instruments such as scissors, pliers, and spikes.

This is a torture chamber.

Before her stood Masaki Hina in a military overcoat, and Fushihara Ayaka, fully armed.

Behind them stood Uzuki Saori, dressed in a black hooded robe.

Karina opened her eyes wide, staring in utter astonishment at the group of people before her.

"You, you all..."

"You're awake?"

Masaki Hina was holding a memory card in her hand.

"We've investigated this card, but some of the accessed content is encrypted, and it will take a little time to crack it. So, how about we exchange ideas during this time?"

Masaki Hina smiled and changed the subject.

"To be honest, I'm quite interested in the person you met tonight. If I were you, I wouldn't choose to hide it."

183. The Secrets of the Beacon System [Ninth Update]

The next day arrived.

What happened last night is still a highly confidential matter, because Efnir's injuries have not yet healed, so Masaki Hina has not yet told Efnir about it.

At this moment, the agent used Training Ground One --

"Call..."

Once she relaxed, her body felt like a lump of mud that had suddenly dried out, becoming shriveled and loose, and Yukina felt an overwhelming sense of fatigue.

This was the second time Yukina had experienced this feeling after inexplicably gaining the blessing of the Order Force.

The first time was a few days ago when Naoko made me lose consciousness.

But that time it was because of excessive mental energy depletion; this time, however, I truly felt the groans emanating from every muscle in my body.

Yukina gently tugged at her tight-fitting uniform and sat down on a bench next to the field.

The material of this uniform is very special. When worn, it makes you noticeably less sensitive to temperature changes from the air conditioner's cold air, and you don't feel much stuffiness or discomfort even after sweating. In a sense, it is indeed similar to the combat uniform of an agent.

Yukina leaned back in her chair, her gaze slowly lowering as she looked at the figure walking towards her in the distance with a water bottle.

Efnir approached Yukina with a water bottle.

"Here, have some to drink, to replenish fluids and electrolytes."

"Thanks..."

Yukina held the water bottle and subconsciously lowered her gaze to look at it.

It's new.

There are no Trace that it has been used.

There was no need to prepare a new water bottle for herself; the Naoko had always used was fine— Yukina thought to herself quietly, slowly tilting her chin up to the bottle opening.

Yukina doesn't know when it started, but she finds that her infatuation with Naoko has begun to spread to the things Naoko uses. It's no longer limited to Naoko's personal clothing, but is even developing into everything related to Naoko.

Being in love means overthinking because of the person you like, and feeling your heart flutter because of the things and scenery around her.

"Phew... I feel much better."

It has a lemon flavor, and a slightly salty or sweet component that's hard to tell.

Yukina handed the water bottle to Efnir, but Efnir didn't take it. Instead, she gently took Yukina's hands and stroked them with unusual care.

"Are you alright? Does it hurt?"

Efnir held Yukina's already reddened hand. It was impossible not to feel sorry for her, but that's how training is. There are no shortcuts to achieving results easily.

Therefore, Efnir had to be a little harsher on Yukina.

"I'm alright... I'm fine."

Yukina gave a vague reply, but inwardly she felt somewhat uneasy.

"To catch up with Naoko's footsteps" -- this is certainly not just empty talk, but when faced with reality, it's not something that can be achieved simply by having the determination.

As a result, after less than two days of training, Yukina felt the limits of what she could do.

Naoko's training intensity was just as Naoko herself said, "Something no novice could do." Although this description is too general and difficult to grasp, in short, it is something "even a well-trained agent simply cannot achieve," not even Yukina's body, which has been amplified by the Order Force.

However, such training was routine for Naoko, and it's hard to imagine how Naoko managed to keep it up all the time.

But Yukina didn't say anything about giving up.

All of this Naoko's effort to protect the city and to protect herself as her younger sister. Naoko could do it, Yukina knew she absolutely shouldn't say such discouraging things.

Standing by Naoko's side is an incredibly difficult and arduous task, fraught with unimaginable danger and pain. That is the direction Naoko fights for, and the goal Yukina strives to achieve. If one cannot even endure this level of training, how can one possibly keep up with Naoko's pace? What right does one have to speak of liking or loving her?

This is the only thing that Yukina has already prepared herself for.

No matter what, she must persevere, so that one day she can stand by Naoko's side as a capable representative and become Naoko's proud little sister.

This is Yukina's determination.

While it was supposed to be a rest, Efnir was actually teaching Yukina some strategic techniques that were frequently used in battle.

Yukina held her water bottle, listening attentively, occasionally asking questions.

The ten-minute break passed quickly. Yukina arrived at the center of the training field, enveloped in a dazzling silver light. Soon, a gorgeous aquamarine dress appeared on her body.

This is the agent's combat uniform.