The violent blast shook the windows. The people in the theatre weren’t excluded from the shockwave. As the flames clawed its way towards the skies, the sky was painted a glowing red.
Xia Lei dashed over to the window and peered below.
The explosion was not caused by the cart but the ambulance below. Scattered around the burning vehicle were a few Special Force members. Some were groaning in pain, evidently injured by the unintentional proximity.
It seemed that there was another person on standby after the ambulance had snuck in the assassins. Surrounded by the Special Force soldiers, the hidden person detonated the explosives strapped to the vehicle.
If everything had fallen through, suicide was their last-ditch attempt. How so truthful to the ways of the Japanese.
Xia Lei left the window and returned to intimidate the killer.
The assassin laying flat on the bed glared daggers at Xia Lei.
Xia Lei hummed. “Let me guess. You made an emergency call and when the hospital’s ambulance reached your destination, you and your friends popped out and killed them all. After that, you disguised yourselves as the staff and drove your way back here. There’s a record of exits and entries at the hospital’s entrance, which became equally useful for your infiltration. The security guards and Special Force members would not do extensive searches on ambulances rushing in on an emergency. Am I right?”
“You’re pretty smart,” said the killer. He did not acknowledge it but confirmed it.
“So Hattori Mei really is still alive.” Xia Lei raised a brow.
The assassin once again zipped his lips, not willing to say another word.
Xia Lei chuckled exasperatedly. “Your eyes and pulse are already congratulating my guess. Tell me where she is and I’ll call the doctor back for your treatment. You’re bleeding now and there’s not much left in you to be bled.”
The killer scoffed. “Everyone involved in tonight’s operation is prepared to die. We’re not expecting ourselves to return home alive after killing you and your family here. There’s no point threatening me with death.”
Xia Lei shrugged nonchalantly. “Very well then. Since you’ve made your decision to welcome death, I’ll at least make it a little interesting for you.”
Calm words that bore great malice. The assassin was beginning to panic.
Xia Lei lifted the syringe used for the adrenaline injection earlier and stabbed it into the man’s chest. “There’s nothing but air in this syringe. If I inject this into you, it’ll form an air pocket that’d press onto your lungs and labour your breathing. You’d itch to claw at your throat and chest to make it better. All you’d feel is pain and pain and more pain, death will come slowly after. This process is going to be torturous, are you ready for it?”
The assassin began to pant nervously. He was ready to die. But to die in this manner? No way!
Xia Lei pressed his thumb firmly against the end of the instrument. “Last chance. Either you die a painful death or you receive the treatment you need and survive.”
“Heave… Heave…” The anxiety caused the killer to breathe irregularly.
Xia Lei continued to exert more pressure onto the syringe. “What did Hattori Mei offer you? Why are you so willing to protect her? You better speak while you can. When this whole thing is inside, I won’t be able to get the air out even if you changed your mind.”
“Pant… Pant… She…”
Xia Lei stopped pressing. “Where is she?”
“America… Las Vegas!” The killer finally broke under pressure.
Xia Lei stopped. Abruptly, he injected the remaining air into the assassin’s chest.
“You…!” The assassin couldn’t believe his eyes, heart immediately filled with regret and anger. Regardless of his feelings, nothing was going to save him now.
Xia Lei looked at him in the eyes. “I don’t have a problem with you trying to kill me. But you actually tried to involve my wife and kids in this dirty business. For that, I’ll show no mercy. No matter who is out for their heads, I’ll kill them just like how I killed you.”
“Heave… Heave… Wheeze… Cough cough…” The assassin fruitlessly flailed his arms around. He wished to claw at his chest but his fingers were already cut off prior. The blood loss was starting to affect him.
Xia Lei watched him in silence, eyes cold as ice.
Five minutes later, the assassin was dead. His struggles ceased. What was more tortuous was the fact that the person he urged to kill was merely standing within arm’s reach and watched him go like some movie in the cinema.
Xia Lei left the room, immediately approached by a few hospital staff members in the corridor.
“Mister Xia, how is he?” The doctor who was in charge of the assassin’s treatment was questioned.
Xia Lei curtly replied, “He’s dead.”
“Dead? Dead…? Uh… Great, no need to waste more resources to save him then.” The doctor lamely attempted to appease Xia Lei.
Xia Lei merely regarded him with a dry smile and left. When he made it to the hospital’s main lobby, he could already spot the four female knights in a distance alongside a large group of Relief Society members. Tsukino Kyoko, E’er Demutu, Yelena and even Anjum Khan were here too. His women and children were protected by them. Not even the Special Force members were allowed to come near.
If given a choice, Xia Lei would’ve used his own armed force to protect his own family. If that was the case, the incident tonight would’ve been diffused before the explosions had ever taken place. However, it was not appropriate for him to insert himself into the country’s affairs, which was why he did not order them to come along. This event had given him a stern reminder to utilize his own armed force no matter how big of a troop the country was dispatching to protect his family.
Giovanna walked over. “Boss, is everything alright?”
Xia Lei nodded. “I’m good. Is everything set?”
Giovanna answered, “All arrangements are in place. All we need is one word and we’ll head home.”
At this moment, Tsukino Kyoko stepped forward.
Xia Lei could sense that she had something to say. So he said to Giovanna, “Give me a few minutes.”
Giovanna silently nodded and returned to the formation.
Tsukino Kyoko came over to Xia Lei’s side and lowered her voice. “I ran a check on the bodies earlier… Their identities are complex.”
Surprised, Xia Lei asked, “What do you mean?”
Tsukino Kyoko went on, “One of them was a Hatano-ryu ninja, another was a Koga-ryu ninja and two of them were the Hattori clan’s family fighters.”
Xia Lei was reminded instantly of what the assassin had said earlier. You’re bound to die soon or later! You’ve angered our people and the samurais!
Tsukino Kyoko too was a ninja from the Iga-ryu. Naturally, she would be able to identify them. It was her confirmation that filled Xia Lei’s heart with stones. This time, the Hattori clan weren’t the only ones who wanted him dead. The whole of Japan’s samurai community wanted him dead!
Tsukino Kyoko sighed deeply. “I wonder what did the Hattori clan do to charm so many of us to serve them.”
In a low voice, Xia Lei revealed, “Hattori Mei might still be alive. Qian Jun messed up.”
“Huh? How… How is that possible?” The ninja was shocked.
Xia Lei continued, “It’s highly possible that his own eyes had fooled him. We’ll talk about the full thing when we see Qian Jun again.”
“There’s another terrible situation too.” Tsukino Kyoko’s expression darkened.
“What is it?”
The woman presented a charred metal shard to Xia Lei.
It didn’t take much for him to figure out that it was a broken shuriken. But other than that, he couldn’t tell what was so bad about it.
Tsukino Kyoko huffed a bitter laugh. “This is the Iga-ryu’s shuriken. I found this beside the ambulance. The person must’ve been blasted to unidentifiable pieces but I can recognize his shuriken. His name was Watanabe Hakusho, one of my master’s disciples.”
Xia Lei frowned. “So you’re trying to say that your master now serves the Hattori clan?”
Tsukino Kyoko corrected him. “Not exactly. My theory is that the Hattori clan is using Japan’s current development status and the future of the people to charm the samurai community. You’re now seen as the national enemy of Japan by the samurais. They will not hesitate to sacrifice everything to take you out. They do not fear death and regard their honour above their life. You’ve threatened the interests of the people they’re loyal to. This reason is enough to unite them and have them assassinate you.”
Xia Lei’s heart sank. This was bad. This was really bad. Assassination and stealth were the ninja’s forte. If they had regarded him as an enemy, this very likely indicated that tonight’s episode wasn’t the last!
“Kyoko.” He hesitated but decided to say it anyway. “You mentioned the Iga-ryu and your master. If your master attacks me, what will you do?”
Tsukino Kyoko was caught aback by the question. This wasn’t something simple that she could answer right away.
“Answer me.” Xia Lei’s stare was unwavering.
Tsukino Kyoko lightly murmured, “I’m still trying to figure this out. How about this? After you return, come to the other side of the mountain behind and I’ll give you an answer.”
Xia Lei nodded. “Alright, I’ll look for you. But can’t you tell me if you chose to side with your master, are you going to go against me?”
Tsukino Kyoko insisted, “Please do not rush me, I need some time. I’m heading back first. I need a tranquil environment to think this over.”
Xia Lei nodded again and watched her leave. His heart and mind were sent into turmoil.
Tsukino Kyoko was also a Japanese samurai. In fact, she was a very traditional one. She loved her country and she loved her people. Now, her master, Yagyu Yuichi, had turned into Xia Lei’s enemy. She needed to take a stand. If she chose Xia Lei, she’d need to face her master as an enemy on the battlefield. If she chose Yagyu Yuichi, she would become Xia Lei’s enemy. Xia Changhe’s kindness, her feelings for him, the unforgettable experiences they both went through together. How could she just cut that off?
“Let’s go home,” said Xia Lei. He was tired, he needed to rest.
A crowd exited the hospital lobby. Outside the building was filled to the brim with vehicles. They were by no means cars but the all-in-one Sweeper infantry fight vehicle produced by the Thunder Horse Organization. Each of it had carried a machine gunner that maintained a quasi-combat state at all times.
Liang Siyao and Long Bing brought their baby into one of it while Fan Fan and Jiang Ruyi entered another one. While Xia Lei was stuck with the choice of joining a part of his family in either vehicle, a convoy could be seen zooming over in a distance.
The Bureau 101 agents have arrived.
Tang Yuyan was here.
Xia Lei could only chuckle bitterly at the scene. “Giovanna, please see my wife and kids home on my behalf. I’ll be back soon after everything is settled.”
Giovanna nodded and waved her arm.
The majestic convoy of Sweepers began to move forward steadily.