Journey Through the Air

If Li Qing were to realize now that he has entered a racing game, he would be very confident.

Because Diavolo was only driving a car, while Li Qing had prepared a helicopter for himself.

Yes, it's a helicopter.

This was the first time Li Qing had used the organization's resources to give himself a perk since becoming the temporary boss of the Passion Organization.

He didn't even use his position as the boss; he simply had Thomas make the call as the head of the technology team.

The organization's logistics personnel in Rome quickly arranged for a helicopter to be delivered to Li Qing's door as requested, landing on the roof of a building near his accommodation.

After receiving the meeting notification from Polnareff, Li Qing and the others quickly entered the building and took the elevator directly to the rooftop helipad.

"Isn't this a bit of an exaggeration?"

"Using organizational resources to do this kind of thing could attract the attention of the enemy."

Abbacchio cautiously observed every shadow on the rooftop of the high-rise building, using the observational skills he had honed as a policeman to carefully search for any traces of the enemy.

"Don't worry, Thomas assured us."

"We now have complete control over the organization's intelligence system, Diavolo couldn't possibly know that."

Li Qing, on the other hand, didn't seem that nervous.

He led the way to the helicopter and eagerly opened the cabin door:

"Come on, let's go."

"With this helicopter, we estimate we can reach the Colosseum of Rome in just a few minutes."

"This"

Abbacchio was still somewhat puzzled.

He prefers more cautious and low-key approaches to a grand entrance by helicopter.

Is it really necessary?

"Although it's a bit far, it's definitely enough to drive 30 minutes from here to the Colosseum of Rome."

"Yes."

Mista quickly echoed.

Unlike Abbacchio, he preferred to refute Li Qing from a metaphysical perspective:

"I think taking a helicopter might not be very safe."

"After all, you know that since yesterday, almost all the vehicles we've used have ended up in bad shape."

From the moment that motorcycle was stolen, in less than two days, Mista had lost count of how many vehicles had perished in the fighting.

Previously, people were all on the ground; even if the vehicles were destroyed, it was still relatively easy for them to escape.

But now, Li Qing wants to take everyone to the sky.

If this place were to explode again, they would be like goldfish that have lost their fishbowl, unable to survive.

You're wrong.

Li Qing, however, seriously refuted Mista's point of view:

"I chose helicopters because I thought they were the safest mode of transportation."

Think about it.

Before Mista could show any surprise, he began to explain:

Why were so many of our vehicles destroyed before?

"It's all because I was attacked by a Stand!"

"It's because we're on the ground that we've given those Stand User the opportunity to get close, which is why we've fallen into crisis time and time again."

Apart from a few long-range automatic and area-of-effect Stands, most Stands, including the long-range attack type Aerosmith, have a range of less than 50 meters.

Helicopters typically fly at altitudes of several hundred meters.

This means that the sheer distance generated by this flight altitude alone is enough to make most Stand User sigh in despair.

"With us flying in the sky, it's difficult for the enemy to launch a sneak attack."

"Especially Diavolo, his King Crimson shot range is estimated to be only two meters."

"And as everyone knows, this trip to Rome could very well be a trap."

"That mysterious man never showed himself. He might be a remnant of Diavolo's faction, or even Diavolo himself."

"So, this helicopter is actually an insurance policy I arranged for everyone."

Then, Li Qing explained his true purpose for using the helicopter:

The helicopter was actually a "safe house" he set up for his companions.

Once the helicopter arrives at the Colosseum of Rome, he will set it to hover automatically at an altitude of over 200 meters.

Meanwhile, he would brand the small animals created by Giorno with the location marker of the Sonically Enhanced Wave, and then jump off the plane alone to meet the mysterious person waiting in the Colosseum.

If the other party is indeed a companion, then the result will naturally be that everyone has a pleasant conversation and everyone is happy.

If that was a trap set by Diavolo...

Li Qing would then immediately activate the second stage of Echoes Act, flying unharmed from the trap amidst Diavolo's impotent and furious gaze.

Throughout this entire process, Giorno, Bucciarati, and their mortal companions remained hidden more than 200 meters in the air— the King Crimson couldn't reach them at all, and their situation was absolutely safe.

"That's indeed a good idea."

Upon hearing Li Qing's explanation of the safety measures implemented using a helicopter, Mista couldn't help but change his stance:

"With this helicopter, we can be completely invincible in the face of enemy traps."

"Once we have completely escaped the trap and figured out the enemy's trump cards, our chances of winning the battle will be much greater."

Thinking about this, everyone understood Li Qing's good intentions.

They were no longer afraid of the plane crash and simply followed Li Qing onto the helicopter.

"Set off!"

Li Qing sat in the driver's seat with a triumphant air.

Then, he stared blankly at the cockpit for a while, muttering to himself:

"This is the control stick, this is the collective pitch lever, and these are the two pedals."

"Throttle adjustment ring with balancing adjustment piece."

While mechanically reciting technical terms like a bookworm, he fumbled to start the helicopter's engine.

The propellers began to spin rapidly, stirring up waves of sound like a storm.

Li Qing, on the other hand, skillfully gripped the two poles and pulled the helicopter up from the rooftop into the air.

"Aaaaaah!!"

Mista's face turned green when he sensed the abnormal tilt of the helicopter during takeoff.

He had never been in a helicopter before, but he was certain that a normal helicopter takeoff would never be like this.

Like a drunken bar girl, she staggered and seemed about to fall at any moment, putting herself in danger.

"Etc."

"Do you even know how to fly a helicopter, Li Qing?!"

Mista gripped the seatbelt tightly and yelled.

"Of course."

Li Qing confidently piloted the helicopter, which was gradually lifting off amidst its wobbling and twisting:

"I've been waiting in Rome for so long today, and I've been reading helicopter piloting manuals the whole time."

"."

"You only started learning today?!"

Upon hearing this, Mista even began to suspect that Li Qing was an undercover agent sent by Diavolo.

"Believe me."

Li Qing gradually became familiar with the operation, and the helicopter's flight attitude gradually became more stable:

"I practiced with the Chocola plane yesterday, and it flew several kilometers without any problems."

"If it hadn't been hit by an American missile, it would never have fallen from the sky."

"I'm fine, but the Jokulrat was a bit broken when it was dropped, so it's a bit of a hassle to throw it in the trash."

"."

An eerie silence followed.

Mista's inexplicable unease reached its peak.

"Don't be afraid, I have learned from yesterday's lesson."

"This helicopter is equipped with enough escape parachutes, so even if it explodes, everyone can escape safely."

Li Qing, however, continued to fly the plane calmly.

As he piloted the plane with increasingly steady movements towards higher altitudes, he also mimicked the posture of professional pilots in movies, announcing the altitude:

"100 meters."

"See, nothing's wrong, is it?"

"200 meters."

"Trust my skills, the helicopter isn't going to crash that easily,"

"300 meters."

"And there are no military bases nearby, so Diavolo couldn't possibly have known in advance that we were going to go to space."

"400 meters."

"I'm just flying in the sky, what, is it possible for another missile to fly down from the sky?"

Li Qing confidently piloted the helicopter towards higher and farther places.

Just then, Mista suddenly pointed out the window and exclaimed in alarm:

"Hey, what's that little bright spot flying towards us?"

"Ha?"

Li Qing was slightly taken aback.

He opened his senses and listened carefully, and heard a sharp whistling sound as a small metal object tore through the air in the night sky.

"That."

Li Qing swallowed hard, his expression somewhat embarrassed.

"The umbrellas are under the seats, so everyone can use them."