Chapter 28: An Extremely Rich Fir Scent Surged Towards Her
After the chaotic virus crisis of the old calendar ended, the United Government Alliance announced its dissolution.
As humanity officially entered the new century, the Independent State of Yi Meng, Taiya, and Silla took the lead, explicitly prohibiting citizens from illegally possessing firearms.
The security at St. Gesali was very high, and many of the politicians present were unarmed. While everyone still mistakenly thought it was an accidental discharge, Zhu Yiqiao, the first to react, pulled Ming Fei into her arms at the critical moment and threw themselves onto the grayish-green cashmere carpet.
The silver-gray bullet hit a wooden pillar with unstoppable force.
In the next instant, the wooden pillar supporting the right side of the banquet hall quickly cracked, almost breaking completely.
Lan Lubai immediately reacted, pulling out the black pistol from her waist. After quickly determining the direction from which the bullet had been fired, another gunshot came from the left.
At the same time, the chandelier in the main hall was shot down, and the sensor system malfunctioned, plunging the entire banquet hall into darkness.
Only then did the surrounding politicians finally realize the danger, but perhaps because they were all in high positions, they didn’t panic.
Ming Fei, held in Zhu Yiqiao’s arms, was pale, her lips tightly pressed together, her right hand tightly gripping Zhu Yiqiao’s cloak.
Even though Zhu Yiqiao had pointed a gun at her head just over a month ago, this kind of heart-pounding fear was far removed from her life. She had mostly only seen it in movies and news.
Zhu Yiqiao, in danger, was also extremely calm. She didn’t let go of Ming Fei and said to Lan Lubai, who was crouching under the edge of the table,
“There’s a sniper.”
“Southeast direction,” Lan Lubai said sharply. “On the top floor of that golden building.”
“Report the location to Chief Superintendent Qian and have her activate the Duxing device immediately to deal with the two snipers.”
Lan Lubai raised an eyebrow: “Two?”
At this moment, they were like they were back in the war-torn years, a strange excitement even appearing in Zhu Yiqiao’s eyes, like a bloodthirsty beast finally catching sight of its prey after being starved.
Zhu Yiqiao, who still held the sniping record, said, “There was only a one-second difference between the third and fourth gunshots. She’s between 65° and 75° northwest.”
Lan Lubai understood: “Okay. I’ll go. You and Teacher Xiao Fei be careful, they have people inside here.”
“Mm.”
After saying that, Lan Lubai disappeared into the darkness.
In an instant, another bullet shattered the glass below the right side of the banquet hall. Countless shards fell to the ground with a piercing sound, like needles, assaulting everyone’s eardrums.
But no one dared to move, because the slightest carelessness could result in being shot by the sniper.
In the boundless darkness, Zhu Yiqiao looked down at the person in her arms and asked in a low voice,
“Are you alright?”
Ming Fei’s voice was soft: “I’m okay.”
Zhu Yiqiao released her hand from Ming Fei’s waist, then gripped her pistol, standing beside Ming Fei in a protective posture.
“Don’t make a sound.”
She promised, “I won’t let you be in any danger.”
Ming Fei nodded, her heart hanging in the air due to the dangerous situation. She didn’t dare to move, but that didn’t mean that the people lurking in the crowd would let them off so easily.
The silence amplified the slightest sounds countless times.
A strange sound came from the left side of the round table. Ming Fei, with her sharp hearing, realized that someone was approaching them, and from the footsteps, she deduced that this person was definitely not Lan Lubai. She immediately wanted to warn Zhu Yiqiao, but Zhu Yiqiao was already aware of the person’s movements.
When the sturdy figure tried to take them down from behind, Zhu Yiqiao, with lightning speed, turned the person around and pressed them against the wooden pillar, then without hesitation pressed her gun against the back of the person’s head, her voice chilling,
“—Don’t move.”
Seeing their failure, the person didn’t struggle, but instead, as if trying to send some kind of signal, reached towards their waist.
But Zhu Yiqiao didn’t give them the chance. Because firing a gun would expose their location, she instead pulled out the dagger hidden in her boot and pressed it against the dangerous person’s arm.
“Tell me, where is the research institute—”
Before she could finish the rest of her words, the person in front of her, like all the criminals caught before, quietly closed their eyes.
“Bang—Bang—”
Two sudden gunshots seemed to tear a hole in the darkness that enveloped the banquet hall.
Instantly, Zhu Yiqiao’s attention was drawn to the gunshots. She placed the sleeping research institute agent on the ground and handed the dagger to Ming Fei.
“Hold this.”
Ming Fei took it: “Thank you.”
“The gunshots came from Lubai’s direction. If she doesn’t come back in five minutes, I’m going to find her.”
Ming Fei nodded: “Okay.”
She quietly stayed by Zhu Yiqiao’s side. Although her face was pale, her hand holding the dagger didn’t tremble, so much so that Zhu Yiqiao glanced at her, as if wondering why the timid rabbit hadn’t curled up in fear.
After confirming that there was no danger around them, Ming Fei hesitantly asked, “That person just now…”
Zhu Yiqiao remained vigilant, her finger never leaving the trigger of her gun. She began counting down five minutes in her mind, her gaze sweeping over Ming Fei’s long hair, which had come loose when they fell to the ground.
“She was from the research institute.”
She briefly explained, “The real culprit behind the gene theft is the research institute. Many of the agents they send are terminally ill. Every time they are caught, they swallow a pill hidden under their tongue and die in their sleep five minutes later.”
Ming Fei was surprised because Zhu Yiqiao hadn’t told her about the research institute before. Like the citizens of the Independent State of Yi Meng, she had thought the real culprits behind the gene theft were the SE Group and the wealthy and powerful businessmen.
She had even thought… that the SE Group was conducting human experiments.
She hadn’t expected that there was a behemoth lurking in the depths behind all this.
But at this moment, neither of them could afford to be distracted, and could only touch upon the subject briefly.
Ming Fei gave a soft acknowledgment and didn’t ask any further questions. When the countdown ended, she followed Zhu Yiqiao to Lan Lubai’s location.
All electronic devices in the building had failed. Although Ming Fei didn’t know how Zhu Yiqiao knew where Lan Lubai was, she didn’t ask, trusting her unconditionally.
As they got closer, Ming Fei noticed faint white lights flashing outside.
She guessed that rescue had arrived. After all, all the people here were high-ranking officials from various countries. Some time had passed since the incident, and Taiya couldn’t just ignore it. Moreover, the Chief Superintendent of Taiya and many councilors were also here.
Along the way, they encountered three councilors hiding in the back. Although she couldn’t see their faces clearly, she could clearly see their shaking heads and warning gestures.
Undoubtedly, there was danger ahead.
When they arrived at Lan Lubai’s location, it was already empty.
Ming Fei was a little at a loss, while Zhu Yiqiao looked intently at the small compartment behind the screen.
“Stay here.”
Zhu Yiqiao handed her gun to Ming Fei: “Give me the dagger, and you take the gun for self-defense.”
Then, by the faint moonlight, she showed her, “Load the bullet, aim at the target, and then pull the trigger.*”
She turned and asked, “Understood?”
Ming Fei felt that this sentence was somewhat familiar.
She refused: “You take the gun. I’m safe here, nothing will happen.”
She had a habit of working out, so her physical condition was quite good. Although she still lacked the advantage against trained agents, after a risk assessment, she believed Zhu Yiqiao needed the gun more than she did.
But Zhu Yiqiao’s attitude was firm. Without giving Ming Fei time to react, she directly exchanged the gun for the dagger and pushed Ming Fei into a hidden corner.
“This is the sniper’s blind spot. Even if the agents come here, you’ll be able to spot them immediately.” Zhu Yiqiao looked at her intently. “You can’t leave here until I come out or until rescue arrives.”
Ming Fei hesitated to speak: “The gun…”
Zhu Yiqiao didn’t linger. After saying that, she left with the dagger.
When facing the great unknown, all emotions are probably overshadowed by fear.
Ming Fei was no exception.
She was actually quite scared, because when the first bullet came at her, if Zhu Yiqiao’s reaction had been even slightly slower, she would have been shot through the shoulder.
And…
Amidst her chaotic thoughts, Ming Fei never forgot to grip the gun Zhu Yiqiao had given her tightly.
When the sound of police sirens and other alarms came from downstairs, Ming Fei, through calculations and estimations, realized that five minutes had passed since Zhu Yiqiao entered the compartment. Given Zhu Yiqiao’s track record, Ming Fei began to wonder why she hadn’t come out yet.
Because the compartment behind the screen was very small, one could see the entire room at a glance.
So… why hadn’t Zhu Yiqiao come out yet?
A terrifying thought emerged from the depths of her mind. Ming Fei’s face paled. After a brief moment of hesitation, she slowly moved from the corner in the darkness.
As she approached, she heard noises coming from the compartment, like the sounds of a struggle and a heavy object falling to the ground.
Ming Fei didn’t dare to waste any time, approaching again with Zhu Yiqiao’s pistol in hand.
Finally, as she reached the door of the compartment, the noises inside grew louder and louder. She didn’t have time to think too much. After loading the bullet, she pulled the trigger, firing through the crack in the closed door.
The room was dark, but thanks to a few rays of moonlight coming in through a small window, Ming Fei immediately saw the chaotic scene clearly.
Lan Lubai, who had disappeared, was tied up in the right corner, with some blood on her left shoulder.
And standing next to her… was Minister Bai, who had once publicly pursued Zhu Yiqiao. Minister Bai had a smile on her face, but the muzzle of her gun was pointed directly at Lan Lubai’s right shoulder.
Zhu Yiqiao, the source of the noises, was fighting with a woman whose muscular physique was clearly abnormal. Although she had the upper hand, she seemed to be restricted by something and hadn’t dealt a fatal blow to the woman.
Ming Fei didn’t hesitate. Taking advantage of her position, before the calm and composed Minister Bai could react, after quickly calculating the shooting angle, she fired a shot, hitting Minister Bai’s right hand.
Bang—
Minister Bai’s gun fell to the ground after being hit. Lan Lubai quickly got up and pinned her down. Zhu Yiqiao, with astonishing strength, knocked the other woman unconscious in an instant, then took the gun from Ming Fei and fired two more shots at Minister Bai, who was still struggling.
One in the left shoulder, and one in the right shoulder.
Then, she stepped forward and grabbed Minister Bai’s chin, checking to make sure there were no pills hidden under her tongue. Disgust flickered in her eyes, and she took off her white gloves.
After all this, the lights in the entire banquet hall came back on, and the rescue team burst through the door.
Zhu Yiqiao untied Lan Lubai, and Ming Fei noticed a graze on her cheek and jaw, and the pheromone bracelet on her wrist was a little loose.
Ming Fei walked over and helped Lan Lubai up. After Lan Lubai was taken away by the military personnel to have her injuries examined, Zhu Yiqiao turned to Ming Fei.
The military personnel went to check other areas. Minister Bai and the other woman, who had clearly been injected with some kind of drug, were also taken away. Only Zhu Yiqiao and Ming Fei were left in the compartment.
Under the light, this was the first time Ming Fei saw a smile in Zhu Yiqiao’s eyes because of her.
Zhu Yiqiao said, “You did very well.”
Ming Fei, praised, was a little embarrassed. Although her heart finally settled down, she felt that she hadn’t actually helped much and had even been a burden. If it weren’t for protecting her and giving her the gun, Zhu Yiqiao would definitely have had the advantage.
She smiled, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere, when a sudden sound echoed in the room.
Ming Fei looked over and saw Zhu Yiqiao’s pheromone bracelet suddenly fall to the ground.
Instantly—
An extremely rich, woody scent, clearly at the edge of being overwhelming, surged towards her.
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