The soldiers fell silent for a moment, then turned to look. Upon seeing Dr. Redrick's identification, they instinctively stood at attention and saluted. Their captain appeared awkward, his face flushed. "Sir! We... were interrogating the prisoner!"
Dr. Redrick gazed at the battered John Darius. The man could barely lift his head.
"According to the laws of this country, this man has the right to be tried in court," Dr. Redrick said firmly. "Do you want this man to appear before a judge with a body full of bruises and wounds like this?"
"No, Sir!"
"Do you want your unit to be disbanded because of this reckless behavior?"
"No, Sir!"
"Neither do I!"
Then, without warning, Dr. Redrick drew the captain's pistol from its holster. In three swift movements, Dr. Redrick shot John Darius in the head three times—without hesitation, without expression.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
John Darius's head slumped. Silent.
Redrick returned the pistol to its holster as if he had just signed a document.
"Now... the matter is settled."
The soldiers stared at Dr. Redrick, who was now silent. None dared to speak.
Calmly, Dr. Redrick turned and pointed at Nancy. "Miss Grace, I didn't expect you to save my life... Arrest this woman."
Some soldiers were still confused, but they only needed one command. "Yes, Sir!"
Nancy looked at them—cold, sharp, and unflinching even as the barrels of their guns were aimed at her face.
"Do you think they can capture me?" Nancy's voice was calm, almost like a piercing whisper.
Dr. Redrick smiled faintly, like someone who had just won a bet. "Maxie... I trained you all. Of course, I know these fools will never be able to capture you."
Dr. Redrick turned slowly, his eyes narrowing. "I wasn't talking about them."
...
...
...
Click!
Earlier, as the event was underway, a sharp sound sliced through the silence of the night.
The window shattered with a loud bang—the shards flew like bullets. The night wind rushed in along with a group of pitch-black uniformed soldiers. They emerged from the darkness like shadows, armed with foreign weapons that seemed too advanced for a regular military. They surged from all directions, like a pack of wolves that had long caught the scent of blood.
Dr. Redrick barely had time to glance before his body instinctively moved to seek cover. His face was pale, and his hands quickly fumbled through the pockets of his wrinkled lab coat to activate his communication device. He managed to send an emergency signal—however, a stray bullet struck the wall right next to his head, causing him to duck in panic.
And it was precisely because of one unexpected action from Nancy—or Maxie—that caused Dr. Redrick to deviate from his original path, allowing him to survive that deadly bullet. He gritted his teeth, taking cover behind a table, and waited. Dr. Redrick knew: his troops would arrive. When they did, they would sweep away the resistance, driving the quarry into the old, abandoned hotel.
Now.
The chandelier on the ceiling swayed slowly, its yellowish light dancing over the ruins and dust. Nancy's shadow stretched across the cracked floor. She stood in the center of the surrounded room, silent yet upright, while a dozen automatic rifles were aimed at her from various angles.
Dr. Redrick walked calmly, his steps steady as he navigated the shards of glass and the dried pools of blood. He stood just a few meters from Nancy, staring intently. Dr. Redrick looked at Nancy for a long time, as if there were a tumult of emotions difficult to express.
"Nancy... you have grown into a beautiful young woman," Dr. Redrick said, his voice soft yet filled with admiration. "Truly remarkable."
Yet Nancy showed no emotion. Her face remained flat, cold as a metal wall. Nancy's eyes pierced into Dr. Redrick with a gaze as sharp as a scalpel.
"I want to spit on you," Nancy said, disgusted. "But my saliva is too precious for you. I just want to know one thing—besides me, who else has fallen into your hands?"
Dr. Redrick took a slow breath and replied calmly, "Twelve from unit X5 managed to escape. Five have been captured."
Then, in a flat yet probing tone, Dr. Redrick added, "Maxie... your seizures still occur frequently, don't they?"
Nancy raised an eyebrow, responding casually, "Sometimes."
Redrick smiled faintly. "We've found the cure—"
"Are you also going to come to my house with the medicine? Or do I have to go back to the AIM headquarters and get it myself?" Nancy interrupted sarcastically, her voice like a rusty knife dragging across bone.
Redrick chuckled softly. "Is it that bad there?"
"You still dare to ask!" Nancy's voice was now filled with anger. Her hands clenched, her veins bulging. "You torture us in every way—as if we are not human!"
Dr. Redrick shrugged, his face calm as if nothing was happening. "You are soldiers in training."
Nancy's teeth ground together. Her eyes reddened. Her voice trembled with emotions that had been suppressed for too long. "We never chose to be soldiers like that. You chose that fate for us since we were born. We... have no choice."
"Hm, your childhood memories seem a bit distorted," Dr. Redrick said indifferently. "No matter. You'll get used to it... after returning home for a while."
"I'd rather die than go back!" Nancy shouted, standing up in an explosion of emotion. Her left fist struck the wall, cracking it.
Nancy shot forward, her speed surpassing the reaction time of an ordinary human. But still, Nancy was not a bullet. With dozens of gun barrels aimed coldly at her, Nancy knew—any slightest movement could mean the end.
Yet Nancy didn't care.
She had to get Jude out. The difficulty of this mission skyrocketed tenfold with that one person's presence.
There was no other choice. Nancy gritted her teeth and tried to tap into the power of the White Lantern Ring within her.
But as Nancy began to align her thoughts with the ring, she felt something cold grip her wrist—strong yet gentle, like a ghost's hand.
------------------------------
[Announcement: A New Novel Has Been Added!
The Puppet Maker in the World of Naruto
A man who is a scientist, researcher, and expert mechanic in robotics dies in a massive explosion that occurs in his laboratory while developing an advanced robot project. However, instead of experiencing death as he thought, the man awakens in another world—a strange place with vast stretches of desert.
There, the man is surrounded by people who can jump high, calling themselves ninjas. The confusion he initially felt grows as he realizes that this world is not unfamiliar to him. This is the world of Naruto! However, there is one thing that surprises him.
"Isn't this Sunagakure? Why am I not in Konoha? This poorest village... Oh my God, this is serious!"
Now, in the midst of a new life filled with danger and uncertainty, the scientist must find a way to survive in Sunagakure, a harsh place full of limitations. With his robotic knowledge, can the man change his fate in this ninja world, or will he fall along with the village?]
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