FI CH 3

Chapter 3: The Out-of-Control Guide (III)

After the tactical meeting ended, the team moved into group discussions — formulating strategies and finalizing plans. Once confirmed, they would set off immediately.

Before anyone else could speak, Kurosawa said, “I’ll partner with Bai Hua.”

Bai Hua glanced at him but didn’t object.

In Sentinel–Guide missions, there was no such thing as a true battlefield commander. Since no one could oversee every situation firsthand, misjudgments were always possible. Although the role of “field commander” was still formally retained, it mostly functioned as an analyst — recording battle data, clearing the scene if needed, keeping watch, protecting civilians, and ensuring unrelated people didn’t stumble into the area.

Guides, with their superior mental perception and analysis, naturally held battlefield control. And Kurosawa was the best among them. So no one raised any objections to this arrangement.

He He, however, gave Bai Hua a curious glance but ultimately didn’t say a word.

After killing six Sentinel-Guide operatives, Jing He had continued fleeing southward.

She was likely trying to return to the seaside, or perhaps to a place she once lived. Over the past few hours, various informants stationed along the way had been sending in updates one after another.

After discussion, the team decided to deploy a mental energy net^[1] from their current position at the Southeastern Division, sweeping southward from five directions. Once one team located Jing He, they would immediately signal the other four to converge and capture her.

Kurosawa and Bai Hua were assigned to move out from the central axis — the most crucial strategic position and also the one with the fastest access to provide backup.

Time was of the essence. Ideally, they needed to resolve the situation before dawn, before it escalated into something much worse.

All ten members wore specialized communication and positioning devices on their ears. Once all systems were confirmed, they immediately set off.

Kurosawa was driving, while Bai Hua sat in the passenger seat. Staring out the window, Bai Hua suddenly asked, “Why did you choose to partner with me?”

“You already know the reason.”

“I thought you’d say—”

“You don’t want the Sentinel–Guide Association to find out that we might have over an 80% compatibility rate, do you?”

The ability to detect each other’s pheromones was already a clear sign. But to determine the exact degree of compatibility still required a more accurate system and procedure.

“I don’t want them to know. But you also know that withholding this kind of information is… against protocol.”

Kurosawa smirked indifferently. “It’s too late to worry about that now. Let’s finish this mission first—then figure out what to do next.”

Bai Hua asked, “Did you do it on purpose?”

“Do what on purpose?”

“You knew Jing He harbors hatred toward… bonded couples. So you purposely kept silent. You’re trying to draw her out by making her target us.”

Kurosawa chuckled. “Smart. Since you’ve figured it out, it’d be great if you could cooperate with me.”

Bai Hua couldn’t understand his approach. “Do you like inviting trouble?”

“I just think compared to the others, we stand a better chance.”

“You’re awfully confident in yourself.”

Kurosawa didn’t deny it. “I am. But not in myself—in us.”

“What makes you think we’ll work well together? We literally just met today.”

“Our possible compatibility rate of over 80%.”

Bai Hua sounded a little frustrated. “Can we not bring that up again?”

“You’ve been running from this for so long—aren’t you tired?”

Kurosawa clearly had heard about Bai Hua avoiding the Sentinel–Guide Association’s matchmaking efforts. But his tone carried no malice—he was simply stating the facts: “Maybe this is the perfect opportunity for us to test each other.”

“You’re not even a little resistant to it?”

“Resistant to what? The matchmaking, or the compatibility rating?”

“Bonding.”

At that, Kurosawa only smiled lightly. “I think… it’s best to let things take their natural course.”

Bai Hua fell completely silent. It was clear this topic couldn’t go any further.

“Actually, the way they assigned people for this mission,” Kurosawa continued, “was just the Association’s way of putting all the unbonded individuals together. That whole justification the field commander gave? Just a fancy excuse. What they really want is to pair us all off as quickly as possible.”

Kurosawa didn’t hesitate at all to sell out the Sentinel–Guide Association. During the strategy meeting, he had secretly read the field commander’s real thoughts. “That said… I still think you should consider my proposal.”

Hearing that, Bai Hua suddenly realized — over the years, he wasn’t the only one being hounded by the Association. Kurosawa probably had it just as bad. That must be why he brought it up so directly. Still, if the Association ever found out about this conversation, they’d probably lose their minds from sheer joy.

“I know.”

But Bai Hua didn’t answer the question directly. He simply said, with an unreadable tone, “Thank you.”

Kurosawa didn’t press him any further and instead changed the subject, steering back toward their mission planning. “To ensure we work well together during the operation, I need to know — how deep of a mental link^[2] are you willing to accept with me?”

Bai Hua countered with a question of his own: “You mean, you might try to use your psychic abilities to command or control my movements?”

“No. Not without your consent. I swear I would never do that.” Kurosawa replied firmly. “Honestly, I just want to know — do you really resent Guides that much?”

Bai Hua froze for a brief moment at that question.

Kurosawa continued, “Or… are you afraid of me?”

A second of silence passed.

Then Bai Hua calmly replied, “It’s nothing like that. I’m just not used to exposing my own thoughts to someone else. It makes me feel… vulnerable. Like I’ve lost my footing.”

That was the truth — though he had still left something out.

After all, a truly skilled Guide only needed the slightest cues to see straight through a person, from the inside out.

Bai Hua was the most outstanding Chief Sentinel of his generation. After undergoing specialized training, his mental barriers were incredibly strong. He didn’t fear other Guides—but he couldn’t help being wary of Kurosawa.

A Guide with a high compatibility rate like Kurosawa… his abilities were without question. In front of someone like that, Bai Hua essentially had no secrets. And how could anyone not be guarded about that?

Kurosawa could probably tell just from that one sentence whether Bai Hua was lying—but he didn’t show it. He simply said, “I understand. From now on, I’ll get your permission before I do anything involving you.”

Bai Hua paused before replying, “Thanks. But I have excellent emotional regulation. I don’t need any assistance.”

Kurosawa didn’t respond right away—he just glanced at the Sentinel beside him from the corner of his eye. A moment later, he said quietly, “I’m not your enemy. You could try trusting me a little more.”

After driving 200 kilometers south, the team closest to their location finally sent a report: “Target located.”

Kurosawa glanced at the coordinates and immediately turned the wheel, veering off their original course and heading east. After a quick estimate, he replied, “We’ll be there in twenty minutes. Stall her.”

“Copy.”

At that moment, Bai Hua suddenly said, “Switch seats. I’ll drive.”

“No need,” Kurosawa replied.

“You’ll need to conserve your mental strength for tracking her.”

“It won’t affect me. I can find the target more efficiently this way.”

Bai Hua was blunt: “Fine. Honestly—you’re driving too slow.”

Kurosawa paused for a beat… then chuckled and gave in. “Alright, you win.”

He pulled the car over, and the two swiftly switched seats. Bai Hua said only, “Buckle up,” and then slammed the gas pedal—sending the vehicle shooting forward like a missile.

Kurosawa was a bit taken aback but quickly recovered his usual grin. “Are all Sentinels like this?”

Bai Hua replied vaguely, “More or less.”

Then Kurosawa suddenly offered, “If you’re more comfortable operating alone, I’ll adjust to accommodate you.”

For a Guide to say something like that—that was essentially a concession.

As someone who stood at the top himself, Bai Hua understood very well that Kurosawa also had a strong sense of pride. And yet, for the sake of the mission, Kurosawa had chosen to extend a gesture of goodwill first.

But Bai Hua wasn’t so inconsiderate as to take advantage of that. He didn’t need concessions—they were meaningless. And besides, that wasn’t the best solution.

In the end, this was his own issue. He shouldn’t let it affect Kurosawa.

After a brief moment of self-reflection, Bai Hua immediately replied, “No. Let’s just work together properly.”

(To be continued…)