Chapter 173: The Dog Plan is right, right... No, no! ...
If it were in the past, Chaomu would probably have complained bitterly about the sullen-faced boss's remarks—but now time was too tight, and she had no time to think about it. She didn't bother to waste time talking and went straight to the point, quickly unloading all the information she had gotten from Matsuda Jinpei:
"We don't have much time, so I'll be brief. There are four bombs, located at the Beihu Shopping Center, Beihua Hospital, Central Station, and a shopping mall in the commercial district. The most dangerous and complex one is in the men's restroom on the third floor of the Beihu Shopping Center, in the ceiling mezzanine of the last stall. Officer Hagiwara will be dispatched to deal with that one soon. It's a trap set by the mastermind for him...or rather, for the police and the public."
She spoke so rapidly that her calm tone betrayed a hint of urgency and anxiety. The two undercover agents, still slightly skeptical, lost their last shred of hesitation when they heard Hagiwara Kenji's name.
...If it was about other "stranger" police officers, if Morifushi Kagemitsu hadn't said anything, Furuya Rei wouldn't have thought she would be so nervous and go through so much trouble to ask them for help; but since it was about Hagiwara Kenji, Asami's anxiety seemed reasonable.
——Although Rei Furuya always says "I don't know what that kid is up to", she obviously cares about her two police friends very much...especially Kenji Hagiwara.
But even so, he couldn't help but ask, "Where did you get this information..."
This intelligence was indeed a bit too detailed, making it seem like both the Hundred Demons Society and the Public Security Bureau were like a sieve - was the Vongola intelligence network so terrifying? No, no, he had to get things in order when he got back!
"Don't underestimate the Vongola intelligence network," the girl in front of him replied, as expected. "You're dealing with the world's largest mafia, the oldest... never mind."
In the past, Chaomu would have definitely played out this stalk... but time was tight, so she got back to the point. "Xiao Hei... Bourbon, your mission is to contact the command center immediately. Use your public security authority to completely control the news media, especially the helicopters broadcasting live. Don't let them get close to any of the scenes. Also, lead the negotiations with the prisoners at the station. Use your eloquence to calm them down and buy us some time."
"And Scotland," she turned to the young man with cat-eyed eyes. "You're a sniper, right? The main culprit is probably on a tall building overlooking the Beihu Shopping Center, monitoring the entire situation through binoculars or other equipment, admiring his 'masterpiece'. I need you to find him immediately and locate him. As long as we take out the main culprit, the remaining pieces won't be a problem."
It's not just Scotland... we need to bring Akai Mi too. More people means more security. After all, players can't clone themselves, so pets are still a must-have at times like these.
As for Kenji Hagiwara—after all, it was most reassuring to have her go in person. In the game, the only ones who could stand up to the dog planners were the players, not the NPCs.
Chaomu quickly sent a message to Akai Shuichi, and seeing him quickly reply "Understood" made her feel a little relieved. She didn't care about the remaining two undercover agents, but turned the corner and went into the trash can at the door.
She'd been to the shopping mall before, and the rewards were only daily necessities fragments. Special holidays were easier to find, after all, so she'd marked the ones she'd chosen. She'd checked the restroom trash can elsewhere before, making sure it wouldn't hold any goodies, and she hadn't touched it since. After all, even for a player, searching a restroom trash can was a bit of a burden.
She teleported directly to the door of the restroom on the third floor. When she arrived, there were no tourists in the shopping mall. There was only a cordon outside. Police officers in explosion-proof suits were inside and outside the cordon, searching for other bombs.
They were busy with their own things, and no one noticed that a gray little raccoon quietly poked its head out of the trash can, floated across the corridor and ceiling like a puff of gray smoke, and seeped into the bathroom door.
The culprit that had taken away her favorite NPC, forced her to rewind and wasted half her time, was now embedded in the ceiling, flickering. The countdown temporarily stopped at [00:01:30], a minute and a half, safely yet dangerously subsided.
Kenji Hagiwara was conversing with his colleagues beneath the bomb that had claimed his life. He hadn't noticed the S-rank Stealth Raccoon lurking in the shadows, his brow furrowed. "Even though it seems the deal has been settled and we still have plenty of time... I still want to defuse this bomb first."
"But the higher-ups mean they've reached an agreement, so we'll just have to wait and see what happens." His colleagues clearly disagreed. "This bomb is too difficult to dismantle. If we're not careful during the process, it could explode..."
"I know that... but leaving this thing here unopened always makes me feel incredibly insecure." The half-long-haired young man scratched his head. "Don't you feel the same way, Xiaochuan? It feels like there's a sword of Damocles hanging over my head, ready to come crashing down and pierce me at any moment."
"Don't say such unlucky words during a mission!" Officer Ogawa wanted to cover his mouth. "Don't act rashly, Captain Hagiwara! Hasn't the news from the front line come in? The prisoner has agreed to the conditions. Don't take that risk!"
“…Eh…”
Although the ending of last week's episode has verified the correctness of Hagiwara Kenji's thinking - if the bomb is not defused, the lives of the police officers on the scene will be swallowed by uncontrollable malice if the other party reneges...
...But Chaomu, like Ogawa, also wanted to go down and cover his mouth: Shut up, Hagiwara-kun! Don't say such things to a good-looking NPC who's obviously not just a passerby! Don't set a flag! Generally speaking, if you set up like this, Hagiwara-kun will probably die later!
But whether or not the flag was set wasn't the point right now. She couldn't possibly pounce on him and gag him with her tail. The raccoon hung upside down from the ceiling, looking cautiously at the bomb. He donned his Explosion Team non-member title and used a Matsuda Jinpei Experience Card.
With the double blessing, her bomb disposal ability was elevated to the top level. Therefore, she could easily analyze this dangerous bomb... Easy, easy?
The Matsuda Jinpei experience card had endowed her with top-tier bomb disposal expertise, while her non-member designation as a member of the Explosives Unit had imbued her with extraordinary calmness and focus. Within her field of vision, the bomb's internal structure was instantly deciphered, its complex wiring like an unrolled spider web, each strand clearly visible.
But I can’t demolish it - not because of insufficient level, but because of insufficient time.
Chaomu made his judgment almost immediately.
The bomb's designers had the utmost malice in mind. Its internal structure was designed as a chain reaction mechanism; removing any one fuse required completing several subsequent steps within a fraction of a second, otherwise the mercury lever would be triggered, causing an instant explosion.
With the player's agility, she could probably challenge it, but the challenge required time and trial and error... The current situation would not give her such an opportunity.
After confirming that the bomb cannot be defused, you have to start backing off and changing your approach.
The little raccoon frowned and scanned the interior structure, looking towards the window: The third floor is a good height, but there is no need to worry with the raccoon motorcycle. If you fly away in time, escaping the explosion range will not be a problem.
The problem of escaping with Hagiwara Kenji was the easiest, though running away from a bomb was somewhat embarrassing. There was always a better solution... like simply killing the main culprit.
Compared to the two public security undercovers who might be thinking of subduing them first, players naturally have no mercy on the "enemy minions".
"If we find that suspicious person, we'll take care of him." She sent another message to Akai Mimi, "Time is running out, hurry up."
"...What an unreasonable statement... I think this is a more reasonable approach, but both the intelligence and the timeframe present a difficult problem."
The man, hastily freed from his task, casually threw his long hair over his shoulders, held an ice cube in his mouth, and found the best spot.
He said it was a difficult problem, but at that moment, the black-haired sniper was already in position, his beloved AWM sniper rifle already set up. As a qualified "pet," he immediately entered combat mode upon receiving the message from his master, found a nearby high point, and climbed to the rooftop like a nimble black cat.
The best viewing platform from which to observe the "grand spectacle" of explosions at several locations simultaneously... should be nearby.
Through the scope, he scanned the windows of the tall building opposite where criminals might be hiding.
"Repeat, Beihu Shopping Center, Mihua Hospital, Central Station... all scenes immediately implement media control, drive away all news helicopters, and block any live footage that could be used by the criminals!"
"Zero, this side..." Zhu Fujingguang had already set up a portable high-powered telescope, the cat's eye behind the lens gleaming coldly. "The Twin Towers across from the Beihu Shopping Center and the Mika Hotel next to it are both excellent observation points. I'll start with the Twin Towers."
"Be careful while observing, Hiro," Furuya Rei warned in a deep voice, while continuing to issue instructions to the headquarters. "Leave the negotiations to me... Yes, that's right. At the same time, closely monitor the relevant wavelengths."
He is currently highly regarded within the Public Security Bureau, and he quickly convinced his superiors and took over the negotiation lead with the prisoners at the station - but at the same time, he is very clear that they are now using his and Hiro's credibility, and even the entire Public Security Bureau's credibility, to endorse the crazy plan of the unidentified "Vongola lady".
...But damn, even though he kept saying she was suspicious...but at a time like this he realized that he actually...still trusted her.
After temporarily explaining the business, he reopened the You Xunran channel and asked with concern: "Do you have any clues?"
"I think... I found my target."
The sniper replied.
Almost at the same time, Shuichi Akai's sniper scope locked onto a specific floor of the Twin Towers.
The two top snipers, like dormant cheetahs, silently locked onto the same prey from different angles.
The man hiding behind the window, twisting crazily, was too conspicuous—he was fully armed with a hat, mask, sunglasses, and was dressed in mourning clothes. Akai Shuichi recognized his appearance; he seemed to be a surviving member of the Hundred Demons Society.
[Target location locked, sending you the coordinates as well.] This big cat, a cheetah with long black hair, dormant on the rooftop, sent a message to its owner, [The other party is...]
That is, in these brief moments of distraction, a few tenths of a second.
The man who had just been listening to the police's plea for mercy with great interest suddenly showed a somewhat bored expression and raised his arms high.
Akai Shuichi's pupils suddenly contracted.
The sniper's peak reflexes made him pull the trigger almost immediately, aiming at the opponent's head.
But in the brief moment when the bullet passed through the air, the hand that was waving wildly was the first to put it back triumphantly.
Blood splattered on the glass window, and Zhu Fushimi watched the scene through the sniper scope in shock. He almost immediately called Furuya Ling to tell Xiao Xunran about the incident, but Xiao Xunran's distressed voice sounded seconds before he did: "What did you say?! The bomb countdown has restarted?"
drop--!
A sharp, ear-piercing tone replaced the steady flashing of light. The bomb countdown on the ceiling suddenly returned to zero, then suddenly jumped to a bright red number: [00:00:05].
The stopwatch of death began to tick rapidly, and the raccoon, who was still happy about Mimi's efficiency in the last second, opened his golden eyes wide, reflecting the dangerous countdown in his eyes.
Just...a few seconds...?
Kenji Hagiwara, who was also looking at the bomb, reacted earlier than others.
With his adrenaline rushing through his body, his brain and body were almost reaching their limits. He almost yelled to push his colleagues out and let them escape quickly, but his mind told him that with only five seconds left and a bomb this powerful, no one could escape.
...It seemed like it was really over. The sword of Damocles was about to fall.
The moment this thought flashed through his mind, a gray shadow swooped down from the ceiling, so fast that it seemed like an illusion.
But that's not an illusion.
Kenji Hagiwara felt a massive, inhuman force collide with his back. The force was so precise and brutal that it sent him flying backwards uncontrollably, shattering the glass window behind him.
"Team Hagiwara—!"
The final shouts of his colleagues were completely drowned out by a deafening roar.
Boom——!!!
A scorching wave of air followed, like an invisible giant hand, pushing his falling body forward, sending countless shards of glass and wall crashing down on his back. The world instantly lost its sound, leaving only a violent ringing in his ears and a swirling vision. The flames illuminated the sky in a blaze of orange, and he could even smell the scorching heat on his hair.
Am I going to die? Falling from the third floor doesn't seem like a sure thing... but...
The anticipated sharp pain of contact with the ground did not come. Instead, a pair of cold, hard motorcycle handlebars were forced into his hands, and an equally cold seat caught his falling body.
A familiar-looking hoverbike appeared in mid-air, holding him steady. But the person sitting in the driver's seat wasn't the girl he was familiar with, but a gray raccoon.
The little raccoon was looking back at him, his eyes full of worry in the light of the fire.
But Kenji Hagiwara no longer had time to pay attention to it.
The semi-long-haired police officer sat in the back seat, stunned, letting the motorcycle carry him smoothly to the ground. He had no time to think about this supernatural scene, nor did he care about the wounds on his body. He just raised his head in despair and looked at the shopping mall building with a huge gaping hole in it and still burning.
Ogawa... and the other team members who were inside just now...
He wanted to stand up and rush back to the sea of fire, but his legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead and he had no control over them.
He didn't feel lucky or relieved that he had survived. He just stared blankly over her shoulder at the sea of fire that was engulfed by flames.
He was saved.
Only he was saved.
But his soul seemed to be left in the explosion, and only an empty body remained on the locomotive.
Chaomu slapped his forehead with his claws.
This wasn't the outcome she'd hoped for. This wasn't a "pass," it wasn't even a "passing" outcome. She wanted to save the man who would ruffle her hair with a smile, take her out for a late-night snack, and confidently say, "Leave it to me."
Instead of this... an empty shell without a soul.
All the hard work was in vain again, but at least this time she successfully rescued Hagiwara... and she achieved part of her goal.
The rewards for the special event had already been distributed, and they weren't huge, as expected. The little raccoon stood on tiptoe and patted the distraught young man's cheek, rubbing his soft paws left and right for a long time. "So, I really can't do anything to Hagiwara-kun..."
The young man was attracted by her. He lowered his head blankly, looking at her, his lips slightly opening and closing.
That broken look was both beautiful and heartbreaking. Chaomu kissed him on the lips and comforted him, "Don't worry, there will be a perfect ending."
...Hmm... "Just think of it as saving his sparkling smile"... This embarrassing line, when used here, is inexplicably very handsome.
In short, being a player means being cool! You want a happy ending! Chaomu just doesn't believe it. This is only the second round. At worst, I can try again. There should be many more solutions.
Next time...next time I will definitely be able to do it!!!
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The author has something to say: I am so stuck. Why do humans have to write serious dramas and challenge multi-threaded parallel writing? I am about to break apart while writing. I don’t know how many versions I have deleted in the past few days!
Anyway, after writing these chapters, the road ahead is smooth sailing. I can finally happily write some sweet stories.
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