The figure quickly drew near.
Just as Ang Pailisi opened the transparent canopy above his head, he saw the figure—whom he had only seen in various data and files—waving at him from a distance.
“What’s going on? ” the pilot asked uneasily. “I feel like something’s off, Mr. Brown Lion. Shouldn’t we have landed more discreetly? “
“It’s too late for that now. Don’t overthink it. “
With that, Ang Pailisi turned and stepped onto the mobile iron ladder with wheels that had been brought up to the cabin.
“Hello, sir. ” Yang Zicang approached and extended a hand to the man descending, whose face bore a hint of solemnity.
“Hello, Mr. President Buchen. I am a member of the Gunnar Merchant Guild, code name: Brown Lion. “
While shaking hands, Ang Pailisi glanced at the people around him.
“I heard there was a hostage incident here… “
“There’s no need to go into that, ” Yang Zicang said. “We’re in a hurry, Colonel Brown Lion. I’m sorry, but I have something I need your help with. “
Feeling a growing unease in his heart, Ang Pailisi was led toward the rear of the plane by this man who carried a bag in one hand and dragged him by the arm with the other.
“The enemy behind the hostage incident aims to forge a ring of wealth. You should be able to understand that, right? “
As he spoke, Yang Zicang stared at the man’s left pinky finger.
Swaying in the wind, the Colonel Brown Lion furrowed his brow with a slightly heavy gaze, fixing his eyes on his own finger.
In his struggle to grasp information seemingly sealed off by some kind of mystical power, this finger of his had begun to wither.
The target was completely aware of his very existence.
“President, in that case, I’ll be direct with you. “
At the other end of the plane, Ang Pailisi stood up straight and, holding a leather case in both hands, spoke to Yang Zicang, who faced him:
“Through the sudden attacks on the World Ark and the Jinbei Heritage operation last night, we have uncovered some very serious issues. My purpose in coming here is, on one hand, to seek verification of the true nature behind the plan to counter the apocalypse. On the other hand, I wish to cooperate with you and your team, President, to confront that unknown enemy—to root out those who want to instigate a ‘salvation’ plot and plunge the world into chaos. “
Nothing like in the memories, where the Angel of Life’s purpose was revealed right away. Yang Zicang thought to himself.
After the man finished this sentence, Yang Zicang slowly spoke, “May I ask you, do you know what his goal is? “
“I have some guesses, but I can’t be certain yet. However, if the intelligence I have learned is correct… “
His tone became heavier and more solemn: “He likely wants to use you, Mr. President, to initiate his plan to forge the Ring of Fortune. “
Yang Zicang smiled. “To tell you would probably put me in far more danger. “
“It’s fine. His people have probably already publicly announced it themselves. Moreover, given your fame and influence, especially in your situation without a bloodline, your position is actually quite perilous. “
Yang Zicang turned his head to look at the dull-colored plane. At this moment, the soldiers of the army and air force, standing dozens of meters away, were also examining this piece of equipment—something that would not typically be revealed to ordinary people.
H’eaving a deep sigh, a thought flashed through Yang Zicang’s mind: to immediately return to the hotel with this man. That way, he could directly learn about the enemy’s actions today. But accordingly, this staff officer from General O’Delay would likely learn too much about their group.
Faced with this man, who had only come to help in the moment and would return to his home country once the mission ended, Yang Zicang hesitated for a moment about his choice.
“Mr. President, we should immediately launch a plan, ” a voice sounded.
“What plan? “
Yang Zicang looked up, still expecting to hear what new insightful opinions the colonel would have upon meeting him about six or seven hours earlier than expected due to the enemy’s advanced actions.
“Regarding the airplane operation plan this time, although the cause of it fills us with terror, it is indeed highly brilliant—especially now that Mr. Zhao Anlong may also be using it to conceal himself among the ever-shifting aircraft. “
“This… ” Yang Zicang wiped a hand over his mouth, “Zhao Anlong, he said… “
“Mr. Anlong certainly possesses such a plan. “
Ang Pailisi decisively cut off Yang Zicang. Although he could not understand why “Chairman Yang Buchen ” trusted him so deeply, this was a good thing.
“So, to ensure the smooth execution of Mr. Anlong’s plan, we need to apply some pressure on the enemy—perhaps even use this as an opportunity to locate them. “
“This… should be quite difficult, right? ” Yang Zicang said amidst the rustling tree shadows.
“As hard as finding a needle in a haystack. ” Ang Pailisi first cast a cautious, concentrated gaze at the goats scattered across the distant field. Then, he opened his leather briefcase and took out some collected files of certain public broadcast announcers from early this morning—those among various regions’ public announcement systems who had vocally condemned the artillery strikes and strongly defended the “Golden Shell Legacy Project.“
Most of this intelligence had come in limited amounts from national sector departments that, before the apocalypse, had engaged in basic information-sharing agreements with the Dual-Lion Republic of Oudriff.
“The roots of this organization are extremely complex. For now, the people exposed last night are not considered big shots. Several prominent figures who made the biggest fuss don’t even know they are being used. “
“Then what do we do? ” Yang Zicang asked in a low voice, his heart thumping.
“Let’s try the path of intimidation first, ” the Colonel said, glancing at the half-collapsed Marlenlint Fort, “I happened to hear that the operational planner here is a captured Full Moon Angel. “
“That woman… “
“We can spread some information, saying that Miss Full Moon Angel has revealed some intelligence about her organization’s upper echelons. This will inevitably plunge the other side into a period of damage control. Whether it’s consuming their time or exposing more flaws during the shift, we have every reason to try this move first. “
Yang Zicang bit his lip.
“Wait, sir. You mean we should scare them, instead of, seeking possible cooperation? “
“Possible cooperation? ” The man tilted his head.
“It’s like… ” Yang Zicang gestured with his hands, “You see, I, I came up with an idea based on someone’s suggestion. That is, to convey some of my goodwill by deliberately exposing some particularly important intelligence. “
He scratched his head, “Haha, because the enemy of that Golden Path is too terrifying, so I thought this could buy some time. But now, if we resort to intimidation, won’t it render some of my previous efforts useless? We’re currently at the best moment to find that person, and my strength is insufficient to face him alone. “
“I see. ” The Colonel propped up his elbows in slight surprise, pondering for a moment.
……
Next to a somewhat shabby wooden bar that was still open late into the night.
Inside a sparsely furnished wooden cabin that emitted an aura of long abandonment, a table and chair made of raw, unfinished wood, which had just been swept clean of a layer of ash, were placed by the window.
“This is a small base of mine in this city. “
Golmes opened the top shelf of the cabinet, took out a few bottles of beverages, pulled the cork from the bottle in her hand with a “pop, ” then grabbed a clean glass and poured some liquor with a refreshing fragrance.
Amidst the “gurgling ” sounds of the drink pouring from the bottle’s mouth, the exquisitely shaped Little Bird suddenly landed on the table with wings spread, before slowly folding them and looking left and right.
“This house… no one’s lived in it for at least two or three months, has there? Were you here before? “
“No. “
Golmes turned around, carrying a glass of clear liquor and a glass of water, walked over, and sat down with a smile.
“But I’ve hired some people who come occasionally to clean up. However, given the changes in the global situation, even though I originally had people for that job, they’ve probably long forgotten about this place by now. “
With that, she slid the glass of wine in her hand in front of the Little Bird. “I heard you like this, so even though I don’t really drink much myself, I’ve prepared a few wine cabinets scattered around various places. “
Upon hearing this, Little Bird immediately stared at the woman’s smiling face with its small eyes, then took a deep sniff of the wine glass, which, compared to its own head, was as large as a washbasin.
“Brandy? Hmm, it’s hard to say I dislike it.“
It pecked at the calm surface of the wine, its beak moving slightly, and gulped down the small sip with a smack.
“Not bad. But,” Little Bird hopped a bit, tilting its head, and stared at the wall.
Holmes’ eyes slid sideways to the wall. In the air came the buzzing and hubbub emanating from the Black Bar not far away.
“But can you not be like this?” Little Bird turned its head back and said: “As I told you, this is our first meeting. So don’t act as if I’m so familiar with someone and have told you everything.“
Holmes chuckled, dipped its finger in the glass of water, stirred to muddy its already calming surface, then withdrew its finger again gently before placing both arms on the table. It exuded an air of quiet elegance, tilting its head slightly to carefully assess Little Bird’s appearance for a moment.
“Very well, hmm. Now, I don’t know what will become of this world in the days ahead—whether it’ll be destroyed in this apocalypse, or whether they’ll turn fate around and keep it going. But. Let’s say we’ll meet again in the future.“
Its body leaned slightly forward across the table.
Cuckoo, who had just taken another sip of brandy from the glass around its neck, immediately watched the woman warily as she casually gathered her hair back and tied it up. Its bright eyes darted around, carefully memorizing every detail of her appearance and demeanor, even the small dark calluses on her thumb from labor.
“Hmm… ” Little Bird suddenly turned its head and glanced at the sun, which had risen slightly higher.
“It’s already time for an early meal. How about this, ” amidst the faint noise from the bar next door, Little Bird spun around and casually placed its small hat back on its head with its wing.
“I still have something to do, but around here, it’s pretty much safe now. Anyway, I’ve got you memorized. If we ever meet again in the future, I just hope you’ll manage to find a good boyfriend. “
With that, under the gaze of the woman behind the table, Little Bird vanished with a swoosh from the tabletop.
As the pure water in the glass slowly stopped swirling and settled, Golmes twitched its ears slightly, turning its head to look toward the direction of the bar.
In the bar, thick with the smell of tobacco, some people clad in various coats were loudly clinking beers watered down who knows how many times, while a few who had come in early in the morning to sleep here were still sprawled on the tables, snoring loudly.
In the corner of the bar.
A man, his eyes reddish and weary from drinking and staying up all night, with a hat hanging around his neck by a thin cord half–shading his forehead, was slumped over his table.
He had a dagger, almost as long as a small cleaver, sheathed and placed beside his hands folded on the tabletop.
The boss’s footsteps approached from behind, “Your food, friend. “
The man lifted his bloodshot eyes, drowsy from weariness, and glanced at the small plate the boss had set down. On it were a small slice of bread, a slat of pickled ration fish, and half a nut.
Without a word to the boss, the man had little appetite and continued sleeping with his head down.
Just as his cap fell over his elbow, a delicate mechanical bird’s shadow peeked out from his arm’s side on the table. It craned its neck, looking up and twisting its head to stare at him.
It lightly fluttered its wings, gracefully carving a small arc in the air before landing on the rim of the plate, fixedly eyeing the bread inside.
Then it gently opened its beak, bit the edge of the bread slice, spread its wings, and vanished in a fleeting blur of motion.
At a table a short distance behind him, two men, lifting glasses bearing but a hint of beer, clinked their drinks mid-conversation and gulped down mouthful after mouthful with their heads tipped back.
The man, with a thick stubble several days unshaven, let out a refreshing long sigh, picked up the small fork beside his plate, and let out an “Eh? ” as he stared at his own dish. Then he glanced sideways at the empty floor under the table.
“Where’s my bread slice? Boss, did you forget to give it to me? “
“Impossible, I wouldn’t have miscounted. “
“Mine’s…hic… gone too. ” A voice called out from a distance.
The noise woke a man in a hat curled in a corner who had just closed his eyes, not yet even allowed a minute of sleep. He lifted his head with a grimace and turned it, letting out an impatient sigh. His gaze fell to his plate, where he froze upon seeing nothing left but a dried fish and half a berry.
His right hand darted out, grabbing at the dagger holster. After scanning left and right warily, he suddenly crouched low, scrutinizing the space under the table. At the same time, he shifted his grip on the holster’s strap, meaning to pass it to his other hand to draw.
But no one was under there.
“Strange… Who took it? “
Frowning, the man tried to think which bastard would filch something from him right here while listening to the noise and chaos creeping up behind him. Growing irritated, he tightened his grip on the holster as he sat upright. “What a despicable person. “
With a sigh, he straightened his hat pulling two hands to lift the small plate in front of him. Almost immediately, he was startled noticing his right hand clutching the edge of that plate: in the grip was now the holster, blatantly clenched thin and sodden as a pressed cloth lining laid beside the rim.
……
Above the endless sapphire sea__.
Feeling his mouth parched and his tongue dry, Huang Xu floated, a bit dazedly, hugging his arms around a horizontal wooden staff submerged over purple swelling ocean. To his side awkwardly sat a scattered bossam’s cap─ a weight, denser than tradition deep hemispherical dish─ the warrior’s chamber turning boats, newly born_ago nothing written worth shelter. Indeed_befit style to speak_v_t read text flattens.
Suddenly, with a clatter, a steel helmet belonging to an Army machine gunner, stained with a hint of hair oil and dust, dropped right in the middle of an oversized warrior helmet. Huang Xu, who had been absentmindedly staring at the sea, was startled and turned his head slightly.
That bizarre, demonic bird that brought despair was perched on the rim of the steel helmet inside. He noticed a dagger, its handle bearing fine patterns, stuck at an angle in the suddenly-appearing helmet.
“You’re here. ” Huang Xu asked nervously, unsure how to address him.
“Mm. ” Cuckoo pulled a slice of bread from the steel helmet and dropped it onto the wooden staff beside Huang Xu’s head with a soft, wetplop.
“Eat it. On land these days, this is an absolutely delicious human food. “
“This… “
Huang Xu pinched the slightly soft bread slice with his left hand, “Thank you… I wasn’t expecting food. “
After taking a bite, Huang Xu looked very frankly towards the dagger beside Little Bird.
“What’s that thing? “
“I calculated that on your direct route heading Westward from now, you’ll pass by some ancient sea ruins worth exploring. “
Little Bird’s beak “thumped ” as it pecked the dagger’s handle, “But as for the maps of those ruins, well, I originally planned to sell them to someone with very great power who has already fallen into the plight of saving the future of the world. “
“Master… Bird Lord, what do you mean by that? “
“Haven’t I told you? I’m Iron Stripe Cuckoo! ” The cuckoo bird bounced. “Before noon today, you must use this knife to take down a creature at least half your size in the sea, or else you won’t get a sip of water. That’s it. Farewell, Straight Swimmer! “
Shwoosh!Little Bird’s figure vanished over the horizon in an instant. Huang Xu blinked in surprise, then looked at the extra helmet and the dagger inside it. He used his one remaining arm to pull the dagger out of the helmet.
“It’s actually… an eighty-year Chrono Weapon! “
Huang Xu felt the weapon with great surprise, then frowned amid the waves and muttered to himself, “Pity, can’t amplify it. “
Holding the dagger and giving it a shake, he looked at the sun, which had climbed a bit higher and now lay lazily tilted over the sea.
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