FI CH 45

Chapter 45: Pre-War Preparations (II)

The four people who were suspected of being infected with the virus during the rainforest mission had stabilized both physically and mentally under proper medical care. Combined with the eyewitness accounts from the twelve Ability Users who entered the underground city and the recent findings from the investigation, the guild had now gathered a considerable amount of intelligence on the enemy.

So when Kurosawa and Bai Hua were summoned to a high-level strategic meeting, they weren’t surprised in the slightest. Ever since Jing He appeared, they had always been stuck in a passive position. It was about time to strike back.

Inside the meeting room, besides the sixteen Ability Users who had participated in joint operations, the top leadership of the Sentinel-Guide Association and the guild were also present. Even senior officials from the United Armed Forces had joined the meeting. Since this involved Lin Yuan—and the reputation of the military itself—the higher-ups had no choice but to treat the matter with utmost seriousness.

The meeting was chaired by a young colonel. Once everyone was seated, he began speaking: “Before we formulate our strategy, we first need to give everyone here a basic understanding of our enemies.”

As he spoke, a holographic projection of a blond man appeared on each desk. The footage displayed the moment when the group had fallen into his mental landscape during the tropical rainforest mission.

“Yan Si.
Guide Guild, Class of the 194th cohort.
Codename: The Captor.
Specialty: Capture and confinement.
Confirmed spirit animal: Spider.
Disappeared two years after graduation during a mission—
Reason: He fell in love with an enemy Guide.
He never returned after that Guide’s death and was declared a defector.”

The colonel’s words caused quite a stir around the room, but he continued calmly as if he hadn’t noticed the reaction:

“Chen Feng.
Codename: The Watcher.
A Guide, though not recorded in the Guide Guild’s registry—he is presumed to be a rogue Guide. According to the investigation, his spirit animal may be a hummingbird. However, we also suspect he might be the one spreading the virus.”

Next, the hologram displayed a faceless silhouette. The footage depicted the confrontation between An Shi and the enemy in the underground city.

“Name unknown.
Codename: Voice Mimic.
A Sentinel. Spirit animal is unknown.
But based on this last operation, we can confirm that he is highly skilled at hiding in the dark.”

“Next are the individuals who tampered with Jing He’s memories, as well as the virus manufacturer. Including Jing He and Lin Yuan, we estimate there are at least seven Ability Users on the enemy side. That’s based on the information we currently have—there may still be others unaccounted for. Based on the intelligence we’ve gathered, the enemy’s coordinated tactics appear to be as follows…”

The young colonel continued with a detailed explanation at the podium. For the sentinels and guides present—who had experienced all of this firsthand—none of it was new. But with high-ranking officials in the room, protocol demanded an official summary.

As Bai Hua listened, only one thing truly stood out to him: excluding the ones with unknown identities, the core group led by Lin Yuan…

“They all seem to be indirectly victimized by the Sentinel-Guide pairing system?”

“That’s to be expected,” Kurosawa replied. “No one wants their fate dictated by others. But how one chooses to move forward—whether right or wrong—is a matter of individual will. No one should justify rebellion using the pairing system as an excuse. At most, it’s just a pretext.”

Bai Hua gave him a surprised glance. “Didn’t think I’d hear something like that from you.”

Kurosawa calmly replied, “Put yourself in their position, and you’ll understand.”

He looked Bai Hua directly in the eye and asked, “Then let me ask you—if I were the enemy, what would you do?”

Bai Hua stared at him, and for some reason, his mind flashed back to the moment they first met.

“Kill you,” he said, without hesitation.

After a moment’s consideration, he added, “Before anything could happen, I’d kill you first.”

Kurosawa chuckled. “That sounds exactly like you.”

“And you?” Bai Hua asked.

“You want to know?”

“Yeah.”

Kurosawa responded with equal seriousness:

“I couldn’t bear to kill you.” Though he didn’t dare say aloud that he’d rather lock him away for life.

Bai Hua was stunned for a moment and didn’t press the question further.

He He, who was seated closest to the two of them, gave a fake cough. He’d heard everything—what he was supposed to, and definitely what he wasn’t supposed to.

Kurosawa composed himself and returned to the topic. “Do you remember what I said back in the rainforest? I still think there’s someone behind Lin Yuan.”

Bai Hua recalled some of the finer details and nodded in agreement. Back in the rainforest, it was clear the trio with Lin Yuan had been carrying out a planned operation to spread the virus. Even if they changed their minds midway and tried to capture the two of them, it wasn’t a decision made on the spot. And during the enemy assault on the Sentinel-Guide Association branch, the one commanding the operation—his behavior in the underground city, the way he suddenly left—it all made sense in hindsight. He had clearly been in contact with someone behind the scenes.

Kurosawa continued, “He isn’t unfit for leadership. But his actions are too impulsive. He doesn’t seem like the mastermind.”

Bai Hua couldn’t help but ask, “Is there really someone who can control him?”

Kurosawa shook his head. “It might not be about control. It could just as easily be cooperation—or some kind of trade.”

“But what could be worth such a huge risk for Lin Yuan…?”

Honor and reputation, influence and power—even an Ability User’s very abilities—could all become obstacles.

Kurosawa faintly recalled something Lin Yuan had once said, and the words slipped out before he could stop them: “To witness firsthand the destruction of Ability Users.”

***

Lin Yuan stepped into a dark mountain cave.

At the entrance, Jing He was sitting on a damp boulder. The moment she saw him appear in the shadows, she stood up immediately.

“You’re back.”

“Mm.” Lin Yuan gave a brief reply, and gently patted her head like an older brother. “Thanks for your help.”

Jing He smiled shyly. “You never need to thank me.”

“How have you been lately?”

Her smile slowly faded. “I… rarely dream about him anymore.”

Lin Yuan nodded. “Your mental state is improving. That’s good. I believe you’ll be able to return to a normal life soon.”

“If you hadn’t saved me, I…”

“I didn’t save you—you saved yourself.”

“But I’m not leaving.” Jing He said firmly, “No matter what you think, I want to stay by your side… Even if to you, I might just be a burden—”

Lin Yuan cut her off. “I see you as a younger sister.”

Jing He fell silent at his words, her voice fading completely.

“This isn’t a place for you,” Lin Yuan continued. “You getting involved was an accident from the start. And I think you understand—we’ve been using you. You’re still young. You have other futures ahead of you.”

“Do I really still have a future?” Jing He gave a bitter smile. “I’ve killed so many people. They’ll never let me go. And you—you want to destroy all Ability Users, yet you think you can spare me?”

Lin Yuan suddenly looked down at her.

His silence was suffocating. Despite her fear, Jing He forced herself to go on in a broken voice, “Don’t think I don’t know anything… I… I overheard your conversation with Mr. Qin… I…”

“If you heard it—then there’s only one thing left to do,” came a male voice, interrupting them.

A man’s silhouette emerged, breaking into their exchange.

Lin Yuan frowned and turned to look at him.

“Qin Yu.”

“She knows too much,” Qin Yu said flatly. “She can’t be allowed to leave.”

(To be continued…)