Beigong Ling carried Jonas to the car, while Esnie took the driver's seat, started the engine, and tore toward District 25. In the back seat, Jonas rubbed his lower back, still sore from being blasted away.
"Thank you, Beigong," Jonas said with a wry smile. His clothes looked a mess, but his body had barely suffered any damage.
Beigong Ling glared at him. "You'd better actually mean that. Otherwise, all the trouble I went through to save you was pointless."
She had known all along that there was no such thing as a free lunch. The moment they specifically requested her and offered a huge sum of credit points just to accompany Jonas while he signed some papers, she had known it wouldn't be that simple.
Still, this seemed considerably better than the worst-case scenario: going drinking after signing the papers.
Jonas nodded, seemingly sensing Beigong Ling's concern, but right now, confusion weighed more heavily on his mind. He frowned deeply. "Dorothy wouldn't do something like this. She knows it would only complicate the situation."
Esnie gripped the steering wheel tensely and said quietly, "I don't know. Maybe she wanted to seize this opportunity to capture you, then negotiate with our side?"
Driving skill was unnecessary. This car incorporated District 25's most advanced technology; one press of the accelerator could send it hurtling at top speed. Its shell used the same materials as the Fourth-Generation Tactical Mecha, and weapons with the same firepower as those mecha could extend from around the car. They were already acquiring targets automatically.
Safety had to be pushed to the absolute limit.
Deafening explosions kept erupting behind them, followed by the distinctive roar of mecha engines. The Military Base's Fourth-Generation Tactical Mecha were being activated en masse.
"This isn't a simple assassination attempt, but there