exchange

Dust storms rose from the gravel roads in the suburbs, and the salty sea breeze filled our nostrils. Two cars, one black and one white, chased each other, closing the distance between them.

Jesse glanced in the rearview mirror; the white SUV behind him was relentlessly tailgating him.

As the white car sped onto the cross-sea bridge, it suddenly shifted into neutral, the tachometer revving wildly in the red zone, drifting around the guardrail as it cornered, then braked sharply, sparks flying. Just as it seemed it was about to force the other car to stop, the black car slid quickly through the gap and accelerated off the bridge.

"Don't bite yet." Milo pulled back the sun visor on the driver's side and calmly analyzed, "After we get off the bridge, we'll use the gap in the truck in front of us to trap him."

A moment of surprise flashed across Blaze's eyes; he hadn't expected Milo to have the same idea as him.

The black car managed to drive off the bridge, but a truck coming from the opposite direction occupied half the lane. Blaze stepped on the gas and forced his way into the other half of the road. Instantly, a white SUV forced its way into the other lane.

Jesse was squeezed so tightly that he had to shift his position to avoid being shot at while his car was side by side. He turned the steering wheel to the right, but instead of taking precautions, he crashed into the tin shed of a breakfast stall on the side of the road, and the flying fried rice noodles splashed directly onto his windshield.

Jesse was forced to brake suddenly, and he couldn't help but get a little angry from being relentlessly pursued: "Damn! You're really persistent!" He said, but his hands didn't stop. He started driving again, not forgetting to reassure Yuzhen, "But don't be afraid, I'm going to take you back today no matter what."

With a whoosh, two speeding cars entered the coastal road section one after the other.

Blaze yanked on the handbrake, causing the car to turn 180 degrees and drive in the opposite direction, forcefully blocking the road ahead.

Jesse was forced to swerve and slam on the brakes, but the car still lurched violently as it crashed into an abandoned delivery station with a loud thud.

With nowhere to retreat and his escape route completely blocked, it was clear that his opponent's driving skills were superior. Seeing this, Jesse, who was still dizzy from the impact, decisively kicked open the car door and dragged Yuzuru from the passenger seat out of the car.

With a loud bang, the black car left countless tire tracks and black marks on the cement ground, and the hood was smashed open, emitting white smoke.

Blaise opened the car door, put on a mask, revealing only his heavy, brooding eyes. He counted the bullets in his gun; three left, enough for him.

Looking at the familiar place before him, Blaise suddenly felt a pang of emotion at the coincidence of fate.

After going around in circles, I ended up at this same courier station again.

Last time he treated Milo like a mouse to be caught, but this time he and Milo are on the same side, chasing after others.

Blaise gestured: I'll be there soon, wait for me here.

Watching Blaze's swift and efficient movements, Milo couldn't help but wonder if he was getting impatient. A simple matter of killing with a single shot had turned into a complicated chase, which must be quite unpleasant for him. The image of Blaze kicking open the temple gate and indiscriminately shooting in the rainforest flashed through Milo's mind, and he couldn't help but step forward: "I'll go with you."

Blaze looked down at Milo's hand clinging to his clothes, his eyes lighting up slightly. Although he knew it would take up too much time, he still couldn't refuse.

The windows of the abandoned courier station rattled and clanged in the wind.

Jesse pulled Yuzhen behind a pillar, holding his breath and listening for the sound of her footsteps going upstairs. Soon, he frowned.

Two people actually showed up.

Jesse stared at the two pairs of shoes, one in front of the other, and slowly raised the muzzle of his gun. Just as he was about to aim at someone's waist, he heard a "bang," and a bullet exploded in a yellow flash above his head. The light bulb on the top of the shelf shattered, and glass shards rained down.

That was incredible accuracy. Jesse wasn't scared, but he was definitely shaken. He knew it was a warning, meaning the shooter knew his location, but just wasn't aiming for his head.

Jesse dared not underestimate the opponent's abilities, and for now, he could only try to stall until reinforcements arrived.

Blaze narrowed his eyes, glanced around, and immediately understood Jesse's next move. Two figures darted out; Jesse, with Yuuma in his arms, sped away, while Blaze immediately fired, accurately severing the sling rope and cutting off Jesse's path downstairs.

The shot had happened in the blink of an eye, but Milo's heart clenched.

Jesse actually handcuffed himself and Yuuma together.

It was obvious that Jesse was determined to never hand over the person, even if it meant death. Milo knew Jesse was stubborn, but when he actually saw Jesse risk his life to vouch for someone who was neither a suspect nor a witness, he couldn't help but feel a tremor in his heart.

Things have gotten complicated.

Yuu-chan absolutely cannot go to the police station, but reinforcements from the Wudong Port Police Station will likely arrive soon. Once the situation becomes dire, it's hard to say where Blaze's last bullet will land.

what to do?

Sure enough, Blaze had already raised his gun.

Milo suddenly grabbed Blaise's sleeve, stood on tiptoe, and tried to speak into Blaise's ear on the side where he wore the hearing aid.

Blaze had no choice but to bend down, and heard Milo whisper, "Don't shoot! I have a plan."

Hearing Milo's words, Blaze frowned in resistance but didn't budge, but Milo still wouldn't let go: "Please."

Seemingly worried that Blaise might not hear him, Milo gripped Blaise's wrist tightly again and urgently asked, "Don't shoot, okay?"

Those two words were spoken very softly, but it was the first time Blaze had ever heard Milo admit defeat. However, it was for someone else, always for someone else… Looking at that stubborn face and hearing the distant sirens, Blaze finally let go.

Jesse remained vigilant, keeping a close watch on any potential enemies that might appear in the darkness.

There was a rustling sound, and it seemed that footsteps were getting closer.

"Don't move! Take another step forward and I'll shoot immediately!" Jesse shouted sternly.

A very tall figure emerged from the darkness, its face covered by a veil, its body strong and tall, and it seemed to be holding someone in its arms.

After Jesse saw it clearly, his eyes widened in disbelief, his wrists trembled, and even his lips quivered: "Milo?"

Blaze's forearm was wrapped around Milo's chest, his large hand pressed against his neck, and the muzzle of the gun moved up to press against Milo's temple.

Jesse flew into a rage: "Let him go!"

Yuzhen trembled, his gaze fixed on Milo, unable to look away for a long time.

Blaze's eyes flickered, the muzzle of his gun twitched slightly, and his gaze fell on Yuzuru, clearly indicating that he wanted him to drop his gun and exchange it for Yuzuru.

Jesse's face flushed red instantly. He put down his gun, but hesitated to take out the key to unlock the handcuffs.

The sound of police cars outside the abandoned delivery station grew closer and closer. Blaze remained motionless, but Milo's face grew increasingly red, as if he were suffocating.

Blaise restrained Milo's left hand, sticking out the middle three fingers and pressing down one.

"You dare!" Jesse panicked, large beads of sweat trickling down his forehead and soaking into his eyes.

The moment the second finger touched the muzzle of Milo's gun, it made a sharp sound.

"No!" Jesse cried out in panic, his eyes bloodshot. When he opened his eyes, he saw that the bullet had missed Milo's face and gone into the opposite wall.

Just as the third finger was about to drop, Jesse finally shouted, "Don't shoot!" He pulled a key from his pocket and struggled to unlock the handcuffs.

The moment the sirens blared, the hostages were exchanged. Blaze quickly grabbed Yuuma and slid down the spiral staircase with incredible speed. Jesse's attempt to finish them off was futile.

Police officers quickly arrived to provide support at the courier station.

Jesse turned and ran back, hurriedly checking Milo's entire body, examining his neck and wrists from head to toe, patting Milo's face: "Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere? Do you know who tied you up? Do you remember how you got here?"

Milo hung his head and remained silent.

A wave of indescribable guilt washed over Jesse. He knew perfectly well that being an undercover agent was dangerous; he should have been ruthless and stopped Milo from going. How could he have been so careless, forgetting that Milo was just an ordinary person who had even asked him about the cruise ship? It was probably because of this that even Milo had been kidnapped.

Only after leaving the abandoned delivery station did Milo finally say, "I'm sorry, Jesse."

Jesse's expression changed slightly. He knew what Milo meant by "I'm sorry."

As a police officer, his actions were clearly influenced by personal feelings, and he made an unjust choice in the hostage exchange. No matter how he tries to whitewash it, he cannot change the fact that this choice will leave an indelible stain on his life.

But this has nothing to do with Milo.

All choices are made by people.

He should bear the responsibility for the choices he makes, which is none of anyone else's business, and he shouldn't blame anyone else.

Jesse shook her head: "It has nothing to do with you. You can't live alone for a while. Just these few days, pack your things and move to my place. I'm really worried about you living alone."

As he spoke, Jesse shook Milo's hand.

The touch startled him.

Milo's hands were frighteningly cold.

Jesse glanced at Milo and saw that his legs were tightly closed and his whole body was leaning towards one side of the car door. His past experience in solving cases told him that this was the posture of someone trying to escape. When all the blood in the body is supplied to the lower limbs, the hands will become abnormally cold for a short period of time.

Why would Milo want to escape the police car? Jesse's mind was in turmoil. Was he too scared?

I want to be alone for a while.

Hearing this, her doubts were dispelled, and Jesse ultimately couldn't bring herself to insist: "Then I'll take it to your shop first."

For an ordinary person like Milo, it's normal to be afraid after experiencing such an undeserved disaster; he definitely needs time to calm down.

Traffic control was implemented along the Wudong Port coastal road, leading all the way to the cross-sea bridge, causing a traffic jam for all vehicles. Jesse, who was stopped on the road and waiting in line for inspection, frowned and stared blankly into the distance.

"Are you still thinking about what just happened?"

Jesse snapped out of his reverie, shook his head, and said, "What I'm worried about now is whether that person will survive if he sees the real killer."

Jesse turned his head and saw Milo's pale face. He hesitated for a moment and said, "Even though he covered his face, can't you sense that the person who tied you up looks a bit like Rye?"

"Perhaps Steven Thornton's death is indeed related to the Dale Group. If it really is Rye, killing Matsubara Yuuma is the simplest and most efficient way to protect himself or the people behind him. Steven died in Gangu, and once the witnesses speak out, it might involve Tengbang's side. Although he is of mixed race, he is not a citizen of our country, and his heart is not with us."

Milo felt a sudden pause, his heart filled with a jumble of emotions, as blocked as a busy road.

Perhaps that's why Blaise was willing to cooperate with him.

He also wanted to... take the opportunity to kill Yuuma?

*

Night falls.

The wind chimes rang.

A figure opened the closed shop door, and after sensing the darkness, he groped along the wall, pressed a switch, and dim yellow light filled the room.

Milo sat on his cot, wearing only a loose shirt, still damp from a recent shower. The cigarette pack beside him was flattened, and the empty bottle at his feet was nearly empty.

Milo looked up wearily and saw that Blaze had changed into clean clothes, and it seemed that every inch of his skin and hair had been specially washed.

More importantly, he smelled that incense scent again.

As the distance closes, the fragrance grows stronger.

Why take a bath and burn incense? Is it to wash away the bloodstains and dilute the bloody smell?

Blaze was carrying a bag, which he carefully placed on the table, making a rustling sound.

Milo's mind was hazy, yet his consciousness was exceptionally clear.

Perhaps Blaze should also take out one of Yuuma's organs to warn him that everything before was just a game, and that taking a few steps back won't make him think he has everything.

He must listen to him, obey him, and submit to him.

Did you kill him?

Blaze paused slightly, looking at Milo, not understanding what he meant.

Milo stubbed out his cigarette and asked again, "Did you kill Matsubara Yuuma?"

Blaise understood this time.

But what expression did Milo have on his face?

Blaze stepped closer, squatted down in front of Milo, and gestured: What's wrong?

Milo dodged his hand that was trying to touch her and said in a hoarse voice, "Tell me."

Blaise shook his head.

Milo stared into Blaise's eyes: "I want to hear the truth."

Blaise gestured: I took him to the Church of St. Ruan's Bar. Old Ruan said he'd keep an eye on him for now. I won't touch him, I promised you.

Milo's mind was in turmoil, and a wave of palpitations washed over him. For a moment, he felt as if his body was no longer his own, as if his torso no longer belonged to him. He couldn't discern whether the person in front of him was telling the truth or lying, just as he had been acting in front of Jesse time and time again.

Deception is like a drug; it's addictive.

Drug addicts cannot trust anyone.

"But did you take a shower?"

Blaise lowered his eyes, indicating: Because I came to see you.

Milo lowered his eyes, unable to believe it, and could only change the subject: "What did you bring?"

Blaze got up, rummaged in the bag, and then squatted back down in front of Milo.

He was holding a tiny cactus in his hands, a cheap, five-yuan street vendor item, with bubble stickers stuck to the cheap plastic bucket.

He had passed by countless times, never once stopping to admire the flowers, plants, and pets displayed on the night market streets.

For him now, he avoids anything that has life.

He didn't want to raise anything that would tie him down, and besides, he had no energy to do anything that couldn't bring him any profit or reward.

Blaise placed the small cactus next to the lucky cat: "I feel like something's missing here. They say it's very easy to care for."

Why should we bring this for him?

Even Blaise, who has no emotional intelligence, figured it out?

Can you tell that beneath his past glory as "Theo Green" lies a man who lives in darkness and is riddled with sores?

Milo felt a surge of anger, urging him to desperately vent the pain that had been building up inside him.

Seeing Milo's expression, Blaze thought he had done something wrong and was about to get up and throw the cactus away.

Milo grabbed his hand.

Blaze squatted back down, trying to figure out what Milo meant, and waved his hand to indicate: I'm not leaving.

"Do you want me to be happy?" Milo asked softly.

Blaise nodded.

Milo yanked Blaze's collar open, pushed his shoulders, and straddled his lap: "Then make me happy, right now."