There was no way the event that transpired could be kept under wraps. However, Thompson had managed to buy Xia Lei and the Chinese Zodiac Battle Team members at least an hour more. Right after that, a huge swarm of American intelligence officers, Delta Force members, Navy SEALs and members of the National Guard along with some FA members had rushed into the woods.
The sight that welcomed them was harrowing. Vehicle frames that were still burning and bodies of Japanese samurais scattered haphazardly around the area.
A helicopter flew into the valley and landed smoothly atop the tar road. Williams emerged from the aircraft and dashed for the site under the protection of a group of agents.
One of the intelligence officers had prepared a simple report for Williams. “Sir, we’ve found a signal jamming device in the middle of the woods. When the incident took place, there was no signal coverage across the area. We even found multiple landmine shards. The assaulter had used two different kinds of landmines, an MS3 anti-infantry landmine and the TM83 anti-tank mine. Both were produced by Russia.”
Williams interrupted his report. “Russian mines? What does this have to do with the Russians?”
The officer answered, “We’re still looking into it at the moment. Also, we found a lot of bullet shells that are specific to the Gust assault rifle and XL2500 sniper rifle in the woods. These rifles are produced by the Thunder Horse Organization.”
Williams’s expressions shifted ever so slightly. “Anything else?”
The agent replied, “We’ve only found out this much for now. Our experts are still investigating the scene. There’s no way they would be able to get away clean from a battle of this scale. There must be something left behind by them.”
Williams hummed. “You may go back to work. Write me a full-length report on this after you get back.”
“Yes, sir.” The intelligence officer took leave and began ascending the right side of the hill.
Inexplicably, Williams was suddenly reminded of a certain woman. Just as he was about to call the intelligence officer earlier back, Yan Fo appeared as if on cue.
“Mister Williams, our people are searching the further end of the woods. They’re following some marks to find the person on your mind. You’re thinking about Hattori Mei, right?” Weirdly, it felt as Yan Fo was capable of reading Williams’s mind.
Williams uttered, “I don’t understand. Hattori Mei’s mother was brought to the east to be executed. Why did she not rush over to save her mother and came here only to be ambushed instead? Do you have any idea what’s going on?”
“I know nothing about it so far but I’m certain that a particular someone is behind this...” Yan Fo lowered his voice. “Xia Lei.”
“I too think it’s him. He’s the only person with balls big enough to pull such a stunt on American soil!” Williams’s glare burnt with wrath and murder.
Yan Fo said, “Xia Lei is probably here for Project Shepherd. Hattori Mei is presumably one of his motivations to come as well. After all, she was the one who sent assassins on Xia Lei’s wives. The assassination attempt was almost successful and Xia Lei almost lost his women and children. That serves as a solid foundation for him to travel to America. There’s no way he’d let her go like that. With the current situation, I think it’s completely reasonable to think that Hattori Mei is already…”
Right at this moment, a voice rushed out of the communicator device in Yan Fo’s grip. “Report! We have found Hattori Mei. She’s dead! There are two black bear corpses at the scene too.”
Yan Fo spoke into the device. “Got it. Ignore the bodies for now and continue your search. Inform me immediately as soon as you find any new traces, over.”
“Roger!” The exchange ended.
Yan Fo returned his attention to Williams. “Mister Williams, I think it’s best to lock down the perimeters of the woods. If we’re lucky, we might be able to catch up with Xia Lei before they get away.”
Willaims coldly replied, “That’s not the only thing I’m going to do. Not only am I going to flip this valley over but I’m also going to have the Pentagon lock our national borders up!”
A few minutes later, a dozen military choppers hovered over the woods. At a higher altitude, a Global Hawk drone whistled above and headed deeper into the forest. On the ground level, a large number of Special Force soldiers, CIA agents and National Guard members began entering the forest in a strategized formation. They began to conduct their carpet search.
Williams turned around and walked over to the helicopter parked atop the tar road.
Yan Fo watched him leave with an inexplicable smirk plastered across his lips.
Abruptly, Williams turned around. “Yan Fo, who exactly is the FA’s current leader? The FA Organization is now serving the country but we know nothing about your leader. Isn’t that too weird?”
There was a beat of silence before Yan Fo regarded it with, “I don’t know either.”
“You don’t know?” Williams didn’t look too pleased. “Is this a joke? With your current position, how is it possible for you to not know who you’re working under?”
Yan Fo merely shrugged. “Mister Williams, I know it’s hard to believe but this is the truth.”
“Then how is he able to control the entire organization?”
Yan Fo offered no answer.
Williams rephrased, “Perhaps this would be easier to understand. How does he distribute orders?”
“He has his own ways around that,” came Yan Fo’s vague answer.
Williams furrowed his brows. “What ways?”
Weirdly, Yan Fo pointed to his skull. “Mister Williams, if you still wish to continue our relationship, it would be best not to question any further. If we go on, my skull might come rolling off my shoulder anytime.”
While Williams was extremely unsatiated with the answer, he let it slide. The man knew that there was no point probing Yan Fo further. It was clear that any probing would return nothing.
Suddenly, an administrative-level Black Hawk helicopter appeared above them and began to land on the road.
A pair of blonde and blue-eyed ladies hopped out of the helicopter and took their places on each side of the hatch. They both extended their arms and helped a blond youth off the aircraft.
The ladies were young, presumably in their twenties and had a tall stature. Their chests were decent-sized and had a slim waist and round buttocks. Not only did they have amazing bodies but their facial features were dainty and fairy-like.
The blond youth too was tall. The length of his torso and limbs were of perfect proportion, the man even had a sizable amount of muscles that made him look strong. His strength was not hard to tell from his obvious triangular body shape. His features were astonishingly sophisticated. It was chiselled and absolutely charming. Added with his piercing blue eyes, the man was ethereal. He looked like an elf prince.
The blond youth approached them with the blonde ladies right behind him. It was evident that the ladies were his personal bodyguards. An administrative-level Black Hawk helicopter paired with a pair of incredibly attractive female bodyguards. Everything about this unfamiliar man reeked of elegance and luxury.
Williams furrowed his brows slightly at the sight. “Kestin… Hmph, I can’t believe Lockheed Martin decided to have a child take over Folsom’s position. Really, what were the directors thinking?”
Yan Fo too had only heard things about the new Lockheed Martin CEO until this point. This was the first time he had seen Kestin in the flesh.
This was the same man Hattori Mei had mentioned to Xia Lei hours earlier. However, the woman had not mentioned that Kestin was such a young man. If Xia Lei was around to bestow the sight of Kestin, his new business rival, the man would certainly be slack-jawed.
Kestin paced over to Williams and Yan Fo. He offered them no greeting but instead turn to his bodyguards. “Charlotte, Eva, head off to work.”
Those were the names of his gorgeous female bodyguards.
Charlotte and Eva nodded in acknowledgement and began ascending the right side of the hill.
Williams could no longer keep silent. “Mister Kestin, what are you doing here? What are those two ladies about to do?”
It was only then that Kestin looked at Williams in the eye. “Mister Williams, I just sent out my people to search for traces of Xia Lei. Considering the fact that I’m bound to face him sooner or later, I’d like to learn more about him starting from his fingerprint and scent.”
Williams’s expression shifted into something dark. “Since when does Lockheed Martin hold such authority? Call your girls back or you’re going to get in trouble!”
Kestin’s reply was lukewarm. “I have explicit permission from the President to do so. If you wish to rectify its legitimacy, you may give the President a call.”
That made Williams scoff coldly. “No need for that. I’ll go talk to the President someday in the near future.”
Kestin uttered, “I can somewhat guess the contents of your chat with the President. But let me get this straight. The CIA agents under your leadership are nothing but boy scouts when faced with Xia Lei. The CIA has been beaten up by him one too many times to be considered acceptable. You’re the CIA, for crying out loud. But your current progress is so horrid that even I feel embarrassed learning about it. I find it weird that you still get to keep your job.”
“You…” Williams had never expected Kestin to mock him like that. The older man wanted nothing more than to slap this boy into place but Williams was a civilized adult. It was clear that Kestin was looking down on him but Williams was suddenly reminded of something. Till this day, he had yet to find any information on this arrogant brat!”
Kestin was an existence that emerged out of the blue, like a pretty mushroom after a rain.
“It’s better to focus on your own job, Mister Willaims. But know this.” Kestin stepped forward and whispered into Willaims’s ear harshly, “You better stay out of my hair.”
Kestin stepped away and brushed past Willaims’s shoulder languidly for the right side of the woods. Throughout the entire process, not once did he spare a glance at Yan Fo, who was directly behind Williams. To him, someone from the FA’s military division was not worthy of his attention.
“Fucking bastard!” Williams narrowed his eyes at Kestin’s retreating back. He hissed, “I’ll teach him some manners!”
“Mister Williams, where did he come from?” Yan Fo attempted to probe.
Williams shook his head.
“Even the CIA can’t get a hold of his background?”
Williams answered, “The CIA holds the right to conduct background checks on virtually anyone. But this brat has no information to his name. It’s as if he decided to pop out of the dirt one day and come into existence. Oh, right. How about you look into this for me?”
Yan Fo cussed him out internally but nodded on the outside.