The speedboat raced ahead, sea wind whipping their faces.
Chiba Aoi looked tense as well. She had seen with her own eyes what lay in the passenger ship's lower hold. If anything went wrong with Lian Youming's ramming attempt today, the imprisoned martial artists would be blown to pieces as well.
The enormous passenger ship resembled a primeval beast, slowly being towed into the distance amid the strange clatter of straining chains.
Of course, fighting was taking place aboard the passenger ship too.
The ninjas under Chiba Aoi's command were fighting to seize the bridge, gunfire ringing out without pause.
Behind them came screams, cries of alarm, roaring engines, and gunshots from every direction. Clouds of smoke and flame rose one after another amid tremendous explosions, while figures plunged into the sea like dumplings dropping into a pot. Cries of distress filled the air.
Eventually, the passenger ship drew away, and the anchorage behind them shrank to a black speck.
"That's far enough!"
Lian Youming narrowed his eyes slightly and called to Chiba Aoi.
Delay could bring complications. They had to act as soon as possible.
Chiba Aoi wasted no words. She drove the speedboat a little farther, and a fishing boat came into view nearby ahead, where it had long been waiting.
Success or failure would depend on this collision.
"Go!"
Chiba Aoi pointed toward the distant passenger ship.
The Japanese ninja at the fishing boat's helm did not hesitate. He drove straight toward the passenger ship's midsection to ram it.
Closer!
Closer still!
When the fishing boat was only thirty or forty meters from the passenger ship, the ninja at its helm leaped overboard.
Lian Youming had not originally intended to risk himself either, and had been following behind with Chiba Aoi. But at the last moment, the