Chapter 243

The adjutant shook his head. "I can't feel anything..."

"Just as the investigation report said, this thing won't affect ordinary people..." Efnir murmured, "But is there any flaw in this conclusion... Aren't you afraid? You're so close, the 'radiation' might have a hidden effect on your body. A year, two years, who knows when an accident might happen."

"Ha... nothing like that."

The adjutant grinned broadly, "If I live for another year or two, it's not too late to be afraid then."

Efnir smiled too.

"Oh, by the way, besides these things, we also obtained some records—more detailed and comprehensive than the information we got from outside before, more than half of which are studies on Shard. Of course, they are just some scattered information, but I believe they will be helpful to our investigation."

"That's good news."

"We will send these records back to the Central Province. With the support of the Central Province's vast intelligence network, our investigation may yield some results," the adjutant said.

"Central Province...?"

Speaking of the Central Province, Efnir suddenly thought of Masaki Hina.

It's been a month since Masaki Hina left Xijing City. I wonder how she's doing in Central Province, and what she's up to?

Perhaps the Central Province is safer than Xijing City?

"Hopefully the investigation will make progress; we really need a victory right now..."

Efnir glanced at her friends, sighed softly, closed the box, and picked it up. "Alright, all in all, thank you for your hard work. Now that I have the 'Shard,' I will leave here tonight with it."

The adjutant paused. "Sir... how do you intend to use it?"

"I don't know," Efnir shook her head, "But we should at least give it a try."

"I see..."

Fourteen hours later, it was evening again.

Armed helicopters circled high in the sky. Fushihara Ayaka and Shinomiyami Nami, representing Xijing City, communicated with Codename J once again, designating an abandoned old area on the outermost edge of the South District of Xijing City as the hostage handover point.

Inside the helicopter, Efnir and Shinomiyami Nami waited quietly for the arrival of Codename J.

Looking down from the helicopter, Efnir saw that this old district was where Xijing City was originally established. Most of the buildings that remained were from the old century. However, in the past ten years or so, due to the needs of urban development, these Old Era urban structures were abandoned because they lacked the necessary emergency conditions.

If Xijing City had enough manpower and resources, this place might be rebuilt, but definitely not now.

"Are you leaving Yukina alone at headquarters?"

"Yes, her injuries haven't healed, and the 'Shard' is here, so the other agents must keep their distance."

Efnir and Shinomiyami Nami sat facing each other, their wingsuits ready and their weapons laid out to the side.

There were only the pilot and the two women on board the helicopter.

"Has the evacuation been truly completed?"

"Of course, there's no one here anymore. If there is, it must be the enemy," Shinomiyami Nami, holding the magazine in her hand. "This place was originally an abandoned, uninhabited outskirts of an old district. What do you think I've been busy with since last night?"

Indeed, the dark circles under Shinomiyami Nami's eyes were clearly visible. Maesakagawa, Shinomiyami Nami had been staying at headquarters to handle some daily affairs and scheduling. No one was more suitable for this job than her, who had been Masaki Hina's secretary and also served as an operator for Efnir. Therefore, her work was extremely busy.

"Speaking of which... Codename J, will she really come? I feel like there couldn't be a more trap than this."

It offers a wide view, is far from the city center and densely populated areas, is next to the border post, and has helicopters on standby nearby.

"That's not up to her. If she doesn't come, the deal is off," Efnir paused, a hint of disgust in her expression. "Although Saori is injured, killing an agent won't do her any good."

"Are you worried about Saori?" Efnir glanced at her. "Among her contemporaries, no one has more potential than her. She's an excellent agent and won't die so easily. Moreover, we will do everything in our power to win her back."

"It's understandable to be a little worried..." Shinomiyami Nami sighed softly and looked at Efnir, Efnir was wrapping a light blue hair ribbon around her wrist.

After all, so many people died.

"'Furan' is not in a good situation right now. You, and the others, are all very important to me. I don't want anything to happen to any of you."

"If the intelligence provided by Lapith is accurate, then Codename J should be no match for me."

Efnir is not boasting, but the ability to accurately and objectively assess one's own and one's enemy's strength is an essential lesson for any excellent warrior.

Just then, the voices of Fushihara Ayaka came through the earpieces of Shinomiyami Nami and Efnir.

"Good visibility... Codename J has appeared. All units, prepare for action."

175. Bomb

On the ground, Codename J appeared with Saori, Fushihara Ayaka and a fully armed special forces team were responsible for receiving the hostages.

The moment Fushihara Ayaka saw Saori, her face immediately darkened to the bottom of an iceberg. Saori was covered in almost solidified dark red bloodstains and was being carried on Codename J's shoulder like a doll. She had obviously lost consciousness.

Give her to me.

"Hey, wait a minute, the transaction hasn't even started yet." Codename J looked quite annoyed.

Fushihara Ayaka stood her ground, "Even when buying something, you have to check if the item is intact, right? I'm her boss, I need to make sure she's still alive."

"Since you've brought it up, then I'll take it."

Fushihara Ayaka kept a close eye on Codename J, personally took Saori from Codename J's hands, and then returned to the armored vehicle. Immediately, nurses and doctors rushed over with a stretcher. The doctor quickly examined Saori's injuries, and the nurses skillfully bandaged her Saori.

However, the anxious doctors quickly noticed the wound on Saori's stomach and rushed over, sweating profusely, to report to Fushihara Ayaka.

What did you stuff in there?

"Fushihara Ayaka questions fiercely."

Codename J casually remarked, "A bomb—didn't I tell you about it yesterday? So, I advise you not to rush to save her, especially her stomach—if you remove what's inside, she really will die."

As she spoke, Codename J raised her hand and waved it, revealing a remote control device in her palm. "Of course, after the transaction is complete, it's up to you."

Fushihara Ayaka narrowed her eyes.

"... This is not what we agreed on."

"So what? You went out of your way to call me here, I have to collect some interest, right?" Codename J chuckled. "Don't worry, she's far from dead, she's just been knocked unconscious by me."

"Snort."

Fushihara Ayaka said nothing more.

Remote-controlled bombs – there are actually some ways to crack them.

The questions are: what is the success rate, and how long will it take?

Some bombs detonate the instant the signal is blocked, while others have a cleverly designed "tempting vulnerability" in their programming that triggers a trap if technicians try to crack it... As the head of the Special Disaster Division, Fushihara Ayaka has seen all sorts of bombs, all of which are extremely dangerous, let alone one stuffed inside Saori's body.

Fushihara Ayaka was unwilling to compromise with Codename J, but she was even less willing to gamble with Saori's life.

"Enough with the nonsense, what are we going to do next?" Fushihara Ayaka asked in a deep voice.

"Wouldn't it have been better if you had just finished this quickly? The sooner you were done, the sooner she would have been free, wouldn't she?"

Codename J chuckled a few times. Seeing that Fushihara Ayaka just kept a cold face and had no intention of responding, he shook his head with a bored expression and took out a simple communication device—the thing was wrapped with copper wire and a battery, and looked like something that had been directly taken from some communication device and modified.

Fushihara Ayaka held the device in her hand.

"Take this, and we'll keep in touch," Codename J said slowly. "Go to the Boundary Stele. I'll tell you what you need to do; just do as I say. Once you've done all that, the little girl will be yours again."

"I'll be watching you, don't try anything funny."

Saori was transported to a temporary medical tent three kilometers away from the handover site and put on the operating table. Doctors and nurses anxiously surrounded her, waiting. Although they knew that Saori had a bomb inserted in her stomach, they did not back down.

The IV drip was hung high, dripping steadily.

As long as Fushihara Ayaka gives the order, they will immediately begin the surgery to remove the bomb from Saori's body.

And beside them was another person— Ayse.

Ayse stood there quietly, her gaze fixed on Saori lying under the operating light. She clenched her fists, and the next moment, silver light enveloped her body, and her white robes fluttered down— Ayse had entered her Apostle Form state.

She gently placed her hand on Saori's abdominal wound and closed her eyes.

Meanwhile, after Fushihara Ayaka ordered her subordinates to take the device to the depths of the Boundary Stele —the central control room of the Boundary Stele, very close to its core.

"Third line from the bottom, bring that up," Codename J stared at the screen in his hand, slowly directing the soldier on the other end of the communication to operate the console.

In fact, on the other side of the screen, an engineer was always by the soldier in charge of the operation, keeping a close watch. If Codename J attempted any dangerous operations, the engineer would immediately stop him. At the same time, they were also responsible for recording all of Codename J's operations as a record to be kept for investigation and research after the "transaction" was over.

Since even someone Codename J wants to obtain this information, it must have some purpose. If we can identify the clues represented by that information, we might be able to find out what Codename J's objective is.

Simultaneously Fushihara Ayaka observed the communications of Codename J, who seemed unconcerned.

"You know our system very well?" Bushiyuan' face betrayed no emotion other than anger. She raised her gaze to look at Codename J.

Codename J tilted his head noncommittally, staring at the screen, seemingly pondering his next move. "Your system is nothing more than a modified version of 'Ruins Technology.' You don't really think it's that sophisticated, do you?"

After a pause, Codename J suddenly frowned.

She looked up at the sky, but all she saw were helicopters flying by and the usual clouds.

It's getting dark.

Following the gaze of the person Codename J, Fushihara Ayaka looked up; she knew that was in the direction of Efnir.

"What are you looking around for?" she urged, drawing Codename J's attention back to her.

Codename J glanced at her, then continued staring at the communications screen.

Time passed by, second by second.

Finally, before it got completely dark, Codename J seemed to have found what it was looking for—lines of code covering the screen, the meaning of which was unclear.

Codename J squinted at the code, scrutinizing it for a while before putting down the communication device. "Copy these to me."

"Looks like it's finally over."

Fushihara Ayaka spoke calmly, "Shouldn't it be time for my people to defuse the bomb?"

"Oh!" Codename J slapped his forehead. "Of course! Of course... Here, the controller is here, it's yours now."

Codename J held the controller in front of his eyes, then suddenly grinned and squeezed it back into his hand. "But, sir—you'll let me leave, won't you?"

Fushihara Ayaka frowned slightly. "Can I keep you here?"

"Cannot be kept."

"So what are you worried about?"

"But something's a bit strange," Codename J tilted his head and looked around. "To prevent me from ambushing you, hmm, it might make sense to have a few subordinates here... It would make even more sense if there were a few agents here, don't you think?"

The Codename J glanced at Fushihara Ayaka, but couldn't see her eyes clearly.

Bushiyuan narrowed his eyes slightly, drew his gun with a click, and aimed it at Codename J. "What do you want to say? We've done everything you asked. You should defuse the bomb."

"You haven't given me your copy of the file yet."

"You've already seen it with your own eyes, so I need to see my people rescued too—who knows if you'll go back on your word after you take the goods?"

Above the black muzzle of the gun was the cold, piercing gaze of Bushiyuan. Codename J stared at her intently for a long while before chuckling softly, "Yes, that's true. You don't trust me, so I can understand you. Fine, let's leave it at that. I'm not one to go back on my word."

Codename J threw out the controller, which was caught steadily by Fushihara Ayaka.

"It's just the button below. Press it yourself, and the bomb won't explode. Then you can safely disarm it," Codename J smiled. "After that, you should probably give me the stuff, right?"

"Snort."

Fushihara Ayaka lowered her eyes slightly, staring at the controller in her hand.

Heavy.

Bushiyuan a deep breath, silently recited the command in her mind, and then pressed the button—the static of electricity suddenly filled Fushihara Ayaka's ears.

"Hahahaha!!!!"

Codename J burst into laughter, the sound echoing in the cool night breeze. "You really, really pressed it? Hahaha... Ahahaha~..."

Just then, a deep rumble of thunder echoed across the sky from behind, the sound carrying a flash of light that disappeared in the dark night.

"You... lied to me."

Fushihara Ayaka crushed the controller in her hand, gritting her teeth, "You wanted to kill her from the very beginning?"

"How are you feeling now?"