Chapter 33
Feng Ran is gone!
Lear's urgent contact didn't take long. Personally, Shen Shiqian didn't care what punishment Li Zhun would receive for his dereliction of duty. It was only because the other party was the White Sand Star Pirate Gang, an entity that was likely to have a causal relationship with Feng Ran from his previous life, that Shen Shiqian paid special attention to them. After weighing the pros and cons, he did Lear a favor and still let the military participate in the pursuit. After all, if the star pirates were allowed to roam freely in Qilia, who knew what they would do?
When he arrived at the souvenir shop, he didn't see Feng Ran. He thought it was because he had finished too quickly and Feng Ran hadn't made his choice yet. So he waited at the door for another five minutes and roughly looked around the shop through the glass window. When he didn't see anyone who looked like Feng Ran, he started to panic.
Shen Shiqian rushed into the store and searched around but couldn't find Feng Ran. He even wondered if she was feeling unwell and had gone to the bathroom. He sent her a message, but there was no response, and no one answered the phone. He immediately sent Feng Ran's terminal communication number to his adjutant, asking Salo to help him track the signal and locate her. However, Salo quickly told him that the communication terminal was blocking the signal and could not be located.
Feng Ran has disappeared! This realization made Shen Shiqian feel inexplicably panicked. Why now of all times? He left the souvenir shop and found the park manager. While retrieving today's access records and surveillance footage, he instructed Salo to investigate Basil Sleica's movements.
He still knew too little about Feng Ran. Apart from the paranoid control freak, Basil Sleica, he couldn't think of any other enemies Feng Ran might have at this stage who would kidnap him, even though the young master Sleica, whom he suspected, didn't seem like the kind of person who would do such a thing.
The surveillance footage showed that Feng Ran disappeared into thin air after entering the indoor area. The staff members who were called by the person in charge also tried their best to explain that it was impossible for them not to remember someone like Feng Ran, and that they had indeed not seen her in the indoor area.
According to the investigation by Salo, Basil Sleica was working on a research project in her own lab this morning when Fernando Sleica called her to cut the ribbon for his new store. She is currently at the Nabudoli shopping mall, accompanied by Chris Rozelit and Joshua Ceylanca. She seems completely innocent.
Shen Shiqian's usual advocacy of planning before acting was no longer applicable at this time, especially since Lear was waiting for him to discuss the space pirate matter. However, he clearly had no time for that. He copied the visitor information and surveillance footage from Charan Paradise that day and boarded the landship that Saroo had come to pick him up.
The land-based warship quietly stopped at the entrance of the amusement park. The Ministry of Security did not have enough police force to help him search the amusement park and find people. Whether the military could find people was another matter, but it would undoubtedly expose his relationship with Feng Ran. The hostility and pressure he received in his position as Marshal of the Army would all be transferred to Feng Ran. His Majesty Geno might not say anything, but the Council would probably keep making small moves and try to find something to hold against him.
Just as Salo hesitated for the third time, asking him whether he should go to the military or the security department, Feng Ran sent a video call request, which Shen Shiqian quickly answered.
The background of the scene is a corner of a warehouse where the exact location is not visible. Feng Ran's hands are tied behind her back, and her mouth is sealed with tape. Her hair and clothes are wet, and she is clearly awakened by being splashed. Her eyes are still dazed and somewhat empty. She seems to have seen the communication screen and is making some muffled noises.
Shen Shiqian felt his heart being squeezed, and for a moment he forgot to breathe. Just as he was about to speak, the image suddenly disappeared.
A man's voice suddenly appeared: "Marshal Shen, did you have a good time at Charan Amusement Park today? It's really not easy to catch you and your little wife alone."
The man chuckled softly, "I see you're happy, and I'm happy too. How about we make a deal?"
After the image returned to normal, a man from an interstellar wanted poster appeared in the picture. Jiang Lan, one of the surviving deputy members of the White Sand Star Pirate Gang, was holding Feng Ran's shoulder with one hand and a seven-inch dagger in the other, pressed against Feng Ran's neck. The dagger was sharp enough to draw blood, and soon a thin, long bloodstain appeared on Feng Ran's neck.
Shen Shiqian's face was terribly grim. He stared intently at Jiang Lan, forcing himself to remain calm as he instructed Salo to head to the Security Department, and then asked sternly, "What do you want to trade?"
Jiang Lan slightly removed the dagger and gestured in the air, saying, "In your name, release two starships out of port, and I will return your fiancée to you intact."
"What if I refuse?"
"Then there's nothing to talk about. You'll never see her again."
With his cold and calm tone, and the overwhelming sense of oppression from the 3S-level Alpha in the scene, Feng Ran stared blankly up, feeling as if many years had passed. The blood in her body slowly began to boil, this was the reaction she knew Shen Shiqian would have.
Outside of the communication screen, Shen Shiqian took Saroo's terminal and skillfully issued commands: the First Legion and the Third Legion were to be mobilized, prioritizing joint operations with the Security Department to control all ports, large and small, in Qilia.
“Currently, all ports of entry and exit are controlled by the Ministry of State Security and the Public Security Bureau. I do not have that authority.”
Jiang Lan: "Then let's do something you can do." He approached Feng Ran with the dagger again. Feng Ran seemed very cold, coughed a few times, his eyes were wet and red-rimmed, and because of the large movements, another bloody mark was cut on his neck. "For example, get the military to withdraw from this search, how about that?"
The military, the Public Security Bureau, and the Security Department's global martial law search operation was too large to be easily detected by space pirates. However, they noticed it far too quickly, which made Shen Shiqian's expression even more solemn. Whether it was a leak of private communications or spies within the Empire, neither was something he wanted to face.
Shen Shiqian: "The delay of the blockade of the First Aircraft Port by one hour is the biggest concession I can make."
The First Ship Port is the closest port to the military headquarters. Apart from a few interstellar flights that run twice a day, it is used as a military port most of the time. Its daily inspections are stricter than those of other ports, and it is easy to completely control it.
Jiang Lan looked impatient: "Are you looking down on me? If you're going to negotiate, at least show some sincerity." He then lightly cut Feng Ran's arm, the blood quickly spreading across the cut. "Or are you saying you don't care about your fiancée's life or death at all? Well, if she really cared, she wouldn't have let me slip through without a single bodyguard, would she?"
Salo kept his eyes down, focused on driving and pretending he hadn't heard anything. He secretly glanced at the rearview mirror and felt that his boss's face was about to collapse. The car was filled with cold air. Although it was pitiful for Miss Fengran, given Shen Shiqian's personality, he wouldn't be satisfied until all the space pirates were captured.
Sure enough, Shen Shiqian's expression relaxed: "You were the one who proposed to negotiate. I just stated my price. Whether you accept it or not is up to you."
He wouldn't let this group go, but he also wouldn't give up on saving Feng Ran. The Control Yuan and the Public Security Bureau traced the drug case back to its source and uncovered a lot of things, such as the area where they started operating after arriving in Qiliya, and the whereabouts of the funds in the Sea Anemone Herb Garden. Although they haven't been able to find out their other strongholds in Qiliya yet, the general area is pretty clear.
According to intelligence data from the Public Security Bureau, Jiang Lan is a cautious person who once helped Carlo escape the Public Security Bureau's encirclement and suppression of Bai Sha by using a diversionary tactic. He is also a deputy who rarely appears in public. At least one-third of Bai Sha's power still remains outside. He does not think it is necessary for Jiang Lan to personally show his face and do the work of kidnapping hostages.
Undoubtedly, they have also joined forces with other powerful forces unknown to Shen Shiqian. Whether they are external enemies or internal traitors is currently unknown. For now, breaking their signal shield is the top priority. Fortunately, Jiang Lan is cautious enough that he does not dare to actually make a move against Feng Ran before Bai Sha leaves Qiliya.
He still has time to weave an even bigger net.
Jiang Lan fell silent, tensely and desperately confronting Shen Shiqian. Bargaining would only make them appear more disadvantaged, but they could not accept such an obvious trap as the First Aircraft Port.
Shen Shiqian's ease and composure seemed to Feng Ran like a sharp blade tearing through all the illusions of the past few days. Her previously excited and bubbly emotions were doused with a bucket of ice water, leaving her stunned for a moment.
The terminal's projection screen emitted a faint blue light, making Feng Ran's eyes sting. Shen Shiqian sat upright in the back of the land-based warship, his resolve unwavering, exuding both confidence and greed. He didn't want to let Bai Sha go, probably because he felt the people behind Bai Sha posed a greater threat to the empire, and the opportunity to wipe them all out couldn't be missed. As for his thoughts on the hostages, were they more important than his greater cause?
Pick up what's useful and discard what's not, just like what Feng Xiqiao and the others did; essentially, there's no difference.
Feng Ran suddenly felt breathless, and a faint smell of blood reached her nose. Upon closer inspection, she could also detect the smell of gunpowder. Her heart felt as if it had been pierced by a single blow, leaving her feeling suffocated and in excruciating pain, unable to speak. In that instant, all her hopes were shattered by the gunshot. Soldiers formed a tight encirclement, and the electric current transmitted through her Xing Tong nearly overloaded her ears. Only the sharp, burning pain allowed her to regain a sliver of reason amidst her despair.
She didn't want to end up here, nor did she want to lose to Shen Shiqian in such a pathetic way.
In an instant, the shackles of pain in her mind seemed to be released, and the burden on her mental energy was no longer heavy. She felt as if she had broken through a non-existent limit and used brute force to open a passage in the void, breaking through the encirclement and returning to her own starship. Her mental energy, which had not yet completely dissipated, captured Shen Shiqian's last expression.
He reluctantly put away his gun, frowning slightly and clicking his tongue: "What a monster."
Their faces seemed to overlap perfectly at this moment. Feng Ran coughed more violently, as if she really had caught a cold and was feeling sick. She wondered if Shen Shiqian had already become suspicious of her, which was why he was acting so indifferent. She began to feel irritable and a little sad, but these subtle emotions were not originally part of her plan.
Shen Shiqian will not change, so there is no way she and he can have a good ending.
When the originally scheduled conversation ended, Xing Tong automatically cut off the communication. Jiang Lan breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Feng Ran, who looked particularly miserable and disheveled. Not quite sure if this was what she wanted, she tore off the tape sealing her mouth.
Her previously listless eyes gradually cleared again: "Just as expected, proceed with Plan B. You can go to Yushan Ship Port now to meet up with Fran and the others. Leave the rest of the cleanup to me."
Jiang Lan choked for a moment, "Are you going to wait here until Shen Shiqian arrives?"
Feng Ran: "This is also part of the game."
Jiang Lan: "What if he doesn't find you?"
Feng Ran closed his eyes and leaned against the wall: "Then he'll have to pay the price for his arrogant confidence."
Jiang Lan: "But your injury..."
Leaving aside the scratches on his neck, he really didn't let the cut on his arm get wet, otherwise it might get infected.
Feng Ran: "It's nothing."
Jiang Lan: "Is it okay if I get a scar?"
Feng Ran clicked his tongue and looked at him unhappily: "You have twelve minutes to reach Yushan Shipyard."
Jiang Lan paused for a moment, then obediently put on the cognitive barrier ring and left through the back door.
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