Chapter 63
Time floats and sinks in the sea of questions in the third year of high school, carrying a suffocating weight.
The pressure of the college entrance examination is like a sword of Damocles hanging over my head. Even though the Long family has already paved the way for my future, every member of the Long family must personally experience the iron law of this "traditional baptism", which makes me, like countless ordinary students, struggle in the sea of books.
The family business was temporarily put aside, and all the attention was devoted to those complicated formulas and endless simulation papers.
It was also unusually quiet on Atobe's end.
The final exams in the UK must have reached their most tense moment, and contact has become noticeably less frequent.
Late at night, I raised my head from a pile of analytic geometry problems, rubbed my swollen temples, and picked up my phone as usual.
The screen is blank.
The last message I sent, [I finished three more papers today, I feel like I’m going to heaven…], is still lying alone in the dialog box, showing that it was sent yesterday afternoon.
It should be dawn on his side, right?
Are you too tired? Or is it just exam week that's stressful?
With a hint of doubt, I sent another message:
Did you do well on the exam? Don't try too hard.
Then I fell into a deep sleep with a little uneasiness.
The next day, the phone was still silent.
On the third day, I sat in the classroom all day, and the teacher's voice seemed to come through the water, making me feel uneasy.
On the fourth day, was I sick? Or was my phone stolen? It shouldn't be a big deal, right? These thoughts lingered like vines, making the rest of the class even more agonizing.
Day 5. Still, the message board only had my green bubble. Nothing.
A cold chill crept up my spine and into my heart.
Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.
Given Atobe's personality, no matter how busy he was, he wouldn't have gone three days without a single message, especially after I'd contacted him. This wasn't in line with his style.
Alarm bells rang in my heart. I immediately picked up my phone, ready to mobilize my family's network of contacts in the UK and contact the Atobe Manor directly to inquire about the situation. Before I could dial the number, the phone screen suddenly lit up. The caller ID showed a name that made my heart stop -
Oshitari Yuushi.
His fingertips were cold, and there was even a slight tremor when he touched the answer button.
"Hello? Oshitari?"
There was a suffocating silence on the other end of the line. After several seconds, Yuushi Ozaki tried his best to suppress his voice, but it still revealed a hint of tension. The voice sounded like it had been polished by sandpaper: "...Kiyama."
He paused, as if gathering the courage to speak the news. Finally, the heavy words came crashing down, "Atobe... was kidnapped."
"What?!" I stood up suddenly, my mind going blank, like being struck by a sledgehammer, buzzing. The knuckles of my fingers clenching the phone were white, nearly shattering the casing.
"Kenichiro Yamamoto." Oshitari's voice was icy. "Keigo cleaned up the Yamamoto family's business in England too harshly. Yamamoto also suffered a series of setbacks in Japan, resulting in heavy losses. I don't know how that old man found out that it was Keigo who was in charge."
"He hired someone to kidnap Atobe on his way back to the manor from school."
"It's been... five days." Oshitari's voice was hoarse. "At first, the kidnappers only sent a message and a photo to Uncle Atobe to confirm that they had the victim. After that, they never contacted him again to make any demands."
"Just... send some... photos of Atobe's current situation from time to time."
My breathing almost stopped.
I don't need Inuzaka to explain, I also understand Yamamoto Kenichiro's malicious intentions - he is using time to torment the hearts of Atobe's parents, and using those photos to torture their nerves. He wants more than just money or benefits, he wants the Atobe family to bow down, and he wants to completely crush Atobe Keigo's pride psychologically.
He was enjoying the process of control and torture.
"Uncle Atobe and Auntie rushed to England immediately and mobilized all their connections. The police intervened, and so far they can only locate the remains in an abandoned old castle in the suburbs of London."
Inuzuka spoke faster, his voice filled with anxiety. "But that place is surrounded by water, the outer walls are extremely high, the internal structure is complex, and the situation is unknown. Moreover, the kidnappers have guns... The police dare not rush in, fearing... fearing that they will become desperate and kill the hostages."
"Now... it's a stalemate."
"I heard about it the day after the incident and flew here immediately." Oshitari's voice was filled with fatigue and weakness. "Uncle Atobe and the others suppressed the news and kept it secret very tightly, fearing that it would cause greater panic and harm him... So, on your side... we didn't inform you in time."
"But I know that Atobe contacts you every day... He has been out of touch for so many days, you must be..."
Oshitsuki didn't finish his words, but I already understood what he meant. At this moment, my phone vibrated. It was a picture message from Oshitsuki.
He opened it with his cold fingertips.
The light from the screen hurt my eyes. The photo was of Keigo Atobe.
He was wearing a torn shirt, his hands tied behind the back of a heavy wooden chair, and his feet were tied tightly with ropes. His face, which always showed his confidence, was now covered with dust and glaring bruises.
The corners of his mouth were cracked, dark red blood clotted in them. He lowered his head, his messy hair partially covering his eyebrows and eyes, but the unprecedented embarrassment and weakness he felt was like a poisoned ice spike, piercing my heart fiercely.
boom--!
All the worries, speculations, and anxieties were completely burned by the raging anger at this moment. The cold blood boiled in an instant, and a sharp and violent aura that almost broke through the chest swept through the whole body!
Kenichiro Yamamoto!
"Oshitari," I said in an unusually calm voice, so calm that there was not a single ripple, yet it was chilling. "Send me the location. Now. Immediately."
"Kiriyama? You..."
"Send it to me!" My voice suddenly rose, with unquestionable determination, "I'll be right there!"
No unnecessary explanations, no moment's hesitation.
The moment I hung up the phone, I rushed out of the room.
I rushed to the practice room, opened the cabinet, took out a bag, and stuffed my passport and necessary documents into my pockets. As I hurried to the garage, I dialed the family's internal line in the calmest yet most irresistible tone:
"Immediately arrange a special flight to London, using the fastest route, with full authority! I'll send you the coordinates of the target location later!"
"Choose two men to follow me, the first and the fifteenth, and have them prepare immediately."
The engine roared, and the sports car shot out of the villa like an arrow. The night scene outside the car window quickly receded into a blur of light.
The only thing left in my mind was that photo—the blood at the corner of his mouth, the bruises on his face, his head forced to lower... Every detail was burning my mind like crazy.
The plane pierced through the clouds and sped towards the dangerous island where he was imprisoned.
The air pressure in the cabin was terribly low.
I sat by the porthole, looking at the dark ocean below, my fingertips unconsciously pinched deep into my palms, leaving crescent-shaped red marks.
The real-time location map sent by Oshitari flashed dazzling spots of light on the tablet screen - the abandoned castle surrounded by dead waters, like a huge cage.
Jingwu, wait for me.
The rescue base was located in a hidden farm warehouse several kilometers away from the abandoned castle. The huge space was filled with a suffocating low pressure.
Eiko Atobe's face was pale. She held her husband's hand tightly and stared at the thermal image of the castle transmitted back in real time on the large central screen. Although the image was blurry and still, it could only outline a few tiny spots of light representing the kidnappers and suspected hostages.
The old butler also stood aside, his back straight, but his tightly pursed lips revealed his inner anxiety.
Yuushi Oshitari, Hiyoshi Wakaba, and his father Tsuyoshi Hiyoshi, who had rushed over after hearing the news, gathered around another tactical table with serious expressions.
Senior British police officers and fully armed SWAT captains occupied the central area. Satellite images, structural diagrams and hydrological data of the castle were constantly switching on the computer screens, and fierce whispered debates never stopped.
"...The moat is over thirty meters wide, the water is swift and cold. Even for the most elite frogmen, forcing themselves to swim across with their equipment would make too much noise, and the risk of being discovered is 100%!"
"Ever tried a small underwater propulsion system?"
"We tried! But the riverbed is complex, covered with abandoned construction debris and tangled aquatic plants. The propeller noise is still noticeable even in the silence. Last night, the first wave of tentative infiltration was discovered by the guards on the tower just after crossing the center of the river. Several bursts of bullets swept across the water, and our people had to retreat immediately..."
"What about the outer wall? The climbing rope?"
"The exterior wall is severely weathered, with a large amount of slippery creepers and vines attached, and the structure itself is unstable. A close-up drone observation revealed multiple cracks and loose stones."
"Forcing our way up wouldn't only make it difficult to gain leverage, but it also risks triggering a collapse! Furthermore, the height... even if we managed to reach the top, how would we get inside quietly? Most of the windows are sealed shut with bricks and stones!"
The discussion reached a deadlock.
Every plan was ruthlessly rejected by reality.
Time passed by minute by minute, and each second meant that Atobe Keigo was enduring unknown torture. The whole base was shrouded in a gloomy fog, which was so oppressive that it made people breathless.
At this moment, the roar of engines and the sound of brakes could be heard outside the warehouse, which was particularly harsh in the quiet night. The British police on guard immediately raised their weapons and pointed them at the door.
The heavy warehouse door was pushed open, and cold wind rushed in.
The first person to step in was an oriental girl in neat black clothes.
She looked dusty and her face showed the fatigue of the ten-hour flight, but her eyes were surprisingly bright, like stars tempered by ice, scanning the entire audience sharply.
Behind her followed two thin, dark-skinned young men with eyes as sharp as hawks, and a middle-aged man in a dark suit with a calm temperament and the appearance of a butler.
"Kiyama!" Yuushi Oshitari was the first to recognize the person. He stood up suddenly, with shock and a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
The Atobe couple and the Hiyoshi father and son also looked over immediately, their faces full of surprise.
The British police and the special police captain frowned and looked warily at the uninvited guest and her obviously malicious entourage behind her.
The SWAT captain stepped forward and sternly demanded in English, "Who are you? This is a restricted area!"
Kiriyamagakure ignored him and quickly found Oshitari, the Atobe couple, and the Hiyoshi father and son in the crowd. He nodded slightly as a greeting.
She walked straight to the central tactical table covered with maps and documents. Her goal was clear: "Detailed blueprints of the castle and its surroundings, the latest hydrological and structural assessment reports, and all known defense points of the kidnappers."
Her English was fluent and cold, with an unquestionable commanding tone.
The SWAT captain was enraged by her disregard and dominance, and was about to explode when the butler behind Kiriyama quietly took a step forward.
He said nothing, only to pull out a token from his inner pocket. It was half the size of a palm, made of neither gold nor jade, but rather a smooth, mellow material. The token shone dimly under the warehouse's overhead light, bearing a single, ancient, large seal script character: "Dragon."
The moment he saw the token, the originally angry SWAT captain's face suddenly changed, his eyes filled with incredible astonishment, which then turned into deep fear and a hint of imperceptible respect.
He opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed all his questions and scolding, silently taking a step back, even slightly sideways to make room. Several senior police officers nearby, recognizing the significance of the token, also fell silent.
The Long family... In certain circles in Europe, this name represents absolute strength and untouchable taboos.
Kiriyama Hakure seemed not to notice this little episode, her attention was completely focused on the tablet computer and the spread-out drawings handed to her by Oshitari.
Inuzuka quickly and quietly introduced the current predicament and the details of the police's several failed attempts. The British special police captain also supplemented the latest observation intelligence including guard positions, shift change times, fire points, etc. through the translator.
She listened silently, her fingers sliding rapidly across the tablet screen, zooming in on the details of the moat and the castle's outer walls, her eyes fixed with terrifying concentration. The air seemed to freeze, and everyone watched her with bated breath.
After a moment, she raised her head and turned her gaze to the housekeeper behind her, her voice clear and decisive:
"Send over six water shakers immediately. They must be the most aquatic and slippery. All equipped with fish skins."
Her Chinese instructions were exceptionally clear in the quiet warehouse and reached everyone's ears through the simultaneous interpreter.
Water shaker? Fish skin?
The British police and special police officers looked at each other, and saw confusion and suspicion in each other's eyes.
What kind of jargon is this? Special equipment? Or some mysterious oriental power?
"Yes, Miss." Without any hesitation, the butler took out the encrypted satellite phone and walked aside, giving instructions at an extremely fast speed.
The call was short. He quickly returned to Wushan's side, lowered his head and whispered, "People and equipment will arrive here within half an hour."
Kiriyama Hide nodded, looking sharply at the butler, and added in a voice only the two of them could hear, with a warning that could not be disobeyed: "My seventh brother is not allowed to know about my coming to England and the mobilization of manpower."
"Don't even mention it."
My seventh brother is the highest-ranking official in the family’s affairs in the UK and Europe. He has a hot temper and is very protective of his people. If he knew that I was involved in such a dangerous situation, the consequences would be disastrous.
Under my icy gaze, the butler's back tensed imperceptibly, and he immediately responded solemnly, "Understood, Miss. I understand the seriousness of this matter."
Half an hour seemed like a century.
When the warehouse door was pushed open again, six figures quietly slipped in. They were all lean, with shiny dark skin and eyes as calm as the water in a deep pool.
They wore seemingly ordinary black tight-fitting diving suits, each carrying a sealed waterproof box. Most strikingly, their exposed necks and wrists appeared to be coated in an extremely fine, almost transparent ointment that exuded a faint fishy smell—"fish skin"?
The six men stood there, their auras so faint they almost blended into the shadows, as if they were born to belong to darkness and water. Even the experienced Hiyoshi Tsuyoshi couldn't help but stare a few more times, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes.
Kiriyama Yin's eyes swept over the six new "water shakers", then looked at Chuyi and Shiwu he brought with him, and finally fell on the well-equipped but helpless British special police members.
She walked to the huge tactical sand table and picked up the cursors representing different forces. Her voice was not loud, but it was filled with a chilling calmness that showed she was in control of the overall situation. It clearly penetrated the simultaneous interpreter:
"Now, everyone listen to my instructions."
"Moat, two teams." I tapped my fingertips on the water. "The first team, three people, must be the most slippery."
The three men stepped out silently.
"Put on your body armor. Enter the water head-on, making as much noise as possible to draw all fire!"
"After the gunfire, dive deep immediately, find cover, and come back alive! Your lives are more important than attracting fire!"
I stared at the grinning leader, "Are you good at holding your breath?"
"Don't worry, Miss Jiu! I learned this from the Water Ghost. In the water, we are just loaches!" He patted the bulletproof vest on his chest, and his white teeth flashed in the dim light.
"Team two, three people." I pointed to an inconspicuous mark on the sand table. "Take advantage of the chaos and sneak here silently. Clear the entrance to the abandoned secret passage! Bring your tools!"
The captain of the second team silently picked up the inconspicuous black bag at his feet, and the opening of the bag revealed a cold and hard metallic luster.
The butler spoke at the right moment, explaining to the bewildered Englishman: "'Fish skin' is a special coating that is slippery and maintains a constant temperature. 'Liangzi' is eye drops that allow you to see underwater as clearly as in the daytime."
The explanation was met with gasps.
I turned to the British SWAT captain and said, "When the first team draws fire, if the kidnappers open fire, you will immediately return fire! Suppress them! Cover the second team and clear the entrance!"
"Also, pick a few of the best swimmers. Have them take off their uniforms, put on 'fish skins,' and go into the water with the second team. After clearing the entrance, hide at the base of the wall and wait!"
Uncle Atobe's deep voice rang out: "Feint to the east and attack in the west..."
After deploying the waterway, I cast my gaze upon the vine-wrapped wall, like a dormant giant. My heart pounded heavily in my chest.
I turned to Chuyi and Shiwu: "Are you two good at water?"
"Don't worry, Miss Jiu. The rivers, lakes and seas are as safe as walking on flat ground." The two of them clasped their fists, their eyes calm.
"Okay. Follow me into the water, castle wing." I said in a calm voice.
"Miss!" The butler practically leaped forward, his voice filled with unprecedented urgency, "Absolutely not! You are so precious, how can you personally venture into danger? Take command..."
"No!" I interrupted harshly, my eyes penetrating the thick walls of the warehouse, as if I had already seen the depths of the cage.
"Only I can go. Only me."
Hiyoshi Gang, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly spoke with a touch of sudden admiration, "That's right! That vine-covered wall is impossible to climb with ordinary rock climbing! Only Yun Shisanniang's 'Gecko Wall Climbing' and 'Wind Listening' are needed! Only with these unique skills can one scale the cliffs silently!"
Chuyi immediately interjected, decisively stating, "Miss Nine's wall-climbing skills have reached perfection! The wall is so high that the two of us can use each other's strength to climb up."
"But the fastest way to find the breakthrough point and sneak in silently is none other than Miss Nine! We'll be responsible for covering and clearing them out!"
Fifteen nodded vigorously.
Ignoring the pleading and anxious look in the steward's eyes, I continued my deployment: "On the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month, we'll take the left wall. I'll take the right. Once we're up there, we'll look for the entrance! There's always a vent or a crack, there's always a loophole!"
His fingertips slid across the high wall model on the sand table. "According to the thermal imaging, take down the guards! Three or four at most. After that, find a way to open the city gate or build a drawbridge to connect with the outside world!"
Oshitari couldn't help but ask, "What about you? After you go up..."
I raised my eyes, and my gaze was like a quenched ice cone, piercing the core of the castle on the sand table:
"Me? Go straight to Huanglong and find Atobe first!"
Looking around the room, my voice suddenly rose, carrying an air of iron and blood: "The core of the kidnappers is only seven or eight people! The difficulty lies in breaking through the perimeter and the hostages are armed! All close combat personnel—"
He glanced at Shui Douzi, Chu Yi Shi Wu, and the special police officers who were about to go into the water. "You must! Put on your bulletproof vests! Come back alive!"
Finally, my gaze fixed on the six water dizzy guys and Chu Yi Shi Wu. I jabbed my finger at Yamamoto Kenichiro's sinister face on the tactical board. My voice was like the clash of cold iron, and murderous intent surged into the sky:
"Remember this face! Find him and beat him to death! Just leave him with a breath!"
"Whoever beats the hardest will be rewarded by our Long family!"
The four words "reward according to merit", carrying the profound power of the ancient aristocratic family, instantly ignited the air!
The six weaklings had wolf-like gleams in their eyes, and their fists were clenched so tightly that they made a clattering sound. Even the British special police officers subconsciously straightened their backs, intimidated by this terrifying aura.
"Action!" I gave the order, and it was like a thunderclap!
The warehouse instantly turned into a boiling beehive.
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