69novels Page 63
Page 63
But... the shadow of that attack, and Yuuki Takada's injured arm, always intrude into her mind unexpectedly.
This prevented Shirley from fully engaging in her research.
Yuki Takada still appears every day, inquiring about Sherry's current research progress, sometimes bringing her favorite matcha chocolate, or seemingly casually reminding her to take a break.
His attitude still carried the coldness characteristic of high-ranking members of the organization, but occasionally, when Yuuki thought she wasn't paying attention, Sherry would catch a fleeting glimpse of complex scrutiny and worry in his eyes when he looked at her.
This contradictory feeling made Shirley even more confused.
Is he actually the third-in-command of the organization codenamed "Hennessy"?
ding ding ding...
Yuuki Takada looked at the encrypted text message that had just arrived on his phone and a cold smile crept onto his lips.
By evening, Yuki Takada, citing the "complex external security situation and the need for emergency security drills," evacuated some non-core personnel from the research institute, leaving only the minimum necessary positions.
Shirley was instructed to remain in the reinforced laboratory and not to go outside, regardless of any noise she heard.
A sense of impending doom enveloped the entire Baijiu Pharmaceutical Company.
Night fell again, and the wind was unusually strong tonight, making the corridor ceiling howl, adding to the chill of the night of the attack.
Yuki Takada sat in the monitoring center, the cold light from the screen reflecting on his expressionless face.
Keita Ichihara stood to the side with his hands at his sides, not daring to utter a sound.
All the pre-set "traps" are in place, just waiting for the "guests" to arrive.
Yuuki Takada judged that a failed attack would not let the mastermind give up, especially after he deliberately spread the message that "Sherry was frightened but not seriously injured, and the research continues."
The opponent's second move will likely be faster and more intense.
Sure enough, just after 9 p.m., the external sensors transmitted abnormal signals.
It wasn't a single intruder, but three heat sources that, from different directions, broke through the outermost defenses with extremely high speed and highly professional evasive maneuvers, heading straight for the main building of the research institute and... the adjacent dormitory area!
"A feint attack?" Yuuki Takada sneered and immediately ordered, "Teams A and B, intercept targets 1 and 2 according to the pre-arranged plan."
"Group C, guard all entrances and exits of the laboratory. No one is allowed to enter or leave without my order."
"What about... the dormitories?" Keita Ichihara asked nervously. It was almost empty now, but Sherry's dormitory...
Yuuki Takada didn't answer. He stood up and strode outside, one hand on his headset: "Cohen, are you in position?"
A deep, slow voice came through the headset: "...Southeast high ground...clear view."
Where is Chianti?
"Ha! I've been waiting impatiently for ages!" a woman's excited, almost manic voice rang out. "Which unlucky soul will be the first to try out my precious bullet?"
"Target No. 3 is rapidly moving towards the dormitory area."
"Contact expected in one minute. Prioritize capturing him alive and finding out who's behind it." Takada Yuuki's voice was as cold as ice as he swiftly disappeared into the night, heading towards the dormitory area.
He judged that the other side might think that after the attack failed, Shirley would be transferred back to the dormitory for "protection," or that it was just a feint to try to draw away the defensive forces.
Regardless of the method, Yuki Takada had to personally ensure that everything went perfectly.
Shirley stayed in the quiet laboratory, where she could faintly hear running and commands coming from outside, and even short, eerie gunshots in the distance that seemed to be silenced.
Her heart was in her throat, and her palms were ice cold.
She didn't know where Takada Yuuki was, so she could only hold tightly to the safety alarm he had given her.
Near the dormitory area, Yuuki Takada approached the signal-indicated area silently, like a cheetah in the dark.
Soon, he saw the figure—also dressed in dark combat gear, moving nimbly, trying to pry open the lock on Sherry's dormitory door.
Without hesitation, Yuki Takada raised his gun and fired!
boom!boom!
The bullets struck the attacker's feet and the wall next to him precisely, serving as both a warning and a deterrent.
The attacker reacted extremely quickly, rolling to the ground and taking cover behind nearby bushes while simultaneously returning fire. Bullets whistled past the wall next to Takada Yuuki.
A fierce firefight erupted instantly!
The bullets streaked across the night, shattering glass and piercing walls.
Yuuki Takada, with his familiarity with the terrain, constantly moved around and suppressed the enemy with firepower.
The opponent was equally skilled with his gun, nearly hitting him several times.
Yuuki Takada realized that this person was more troublesome than the last one, and his purpose seemed clearer—he wasn't fixated on entering the dormitory, but rather seemed to be trying to draw attention, or rather, confirming something.
Cohen's steady voice came through the headset: "...Target locked...Wind speed correction..."
"Wait a minute, Cohen," Yuuki Takada growled as he changed magazines. "He's still useful!"
"Tsk, what a hassle!" Chianti's voice chimed in, "Group A has taken care of one, but unfortunately the poison in the other one's mouth took effect too quickly!"
"How's it going on your end, Hennessy? Need any help? I'm itching for bullets!"
"Hold your positions!" Yuuki Takada commanded.
He feared there might be other lurking enemies.
Just then, the attackers in the dormitory area seemed to receive some instructions and suddenly changed their tactics, ceasing their pursuit.
Instead, he suddenly retreated and threw a small stun grenade in Takada Yuki's direction!
A burst of intense light and a deafening roar erupted instantly!
Yuki Takada was prepared and quickly turned to the side, closing his eyes and covering his ears, but he was still shaken by the shockwave, which made his ears ring and his vision blur, and his movements were slowed for a moment.
In that instant, the attacker seized the opportunity and did not flee. Instead, he charged forward again like a ghost, now wielding a military knife, and thrust it straight at the opening exposed by the stun grenade that had been created in Takada Yuuki!
The speed and the angle were far greater than before!
Takada Yuuki's pupils contracted, and he dodged to the side at the last second!
scoff!
The military knife failed to pierce his vital organs, but it tore his suit again, this time under his ribs, leaving a bloody mark.
At the same time, Yuki Takada's gun went off!
boom!
The bullet struck the attacker in the thigh, causing him to stagger.
But the attacker was extremely brave, ignoring his leg injury, and swung the knife again with his other hand!
Yuki Takada parried and grappled, and the two instantly engaged in an extremely dangerous close-quarters combat!
Fists and feet clashed, muffled thuds echoing, sparks flying as the blades of military knives and pistols collided.
Despite his injury, Yuki Takada's superior skills and strength allowed him to gradually gain the upper hand.
However, the opponent fought with a life-or-death style, making them extremely difficult to deal with.
Yuki Takada's wound under his ribs continued to bleed during the strenuous activity, inevitably affecting his movements.
"Hennessy! What are you up to? It's been so long!" Chianti's impatient voice rang out again.
Yuuki Takada barely dodged the knife aimed at his neck, his breathing slightly erratic: "Target troublesome! Cohen!"
Almost at the same time he shouted it!
A very faint gunshot, almost blending into the wind!
puff!
Just as the attacker was about to pounce again, his other intact leg suddenly burst into a spray of blood. He screamed and fell heavily to his knees—Cohen's bullet had precisely disabled his mobility but had not taken his life.
Yuuki Takada seized the opportunity, stepped forward, kicked the military knife out of the other man's hand, and pressed the muzzle of his gun directly against the man's forehead: "Don't move!"
The attacker knelt on the ground, panting heavily, his eyes filled with resentment and madness, staring intently at Takada Yuuki.
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps approached; it was Chianti arriving.
She looked at the mess at the scene and the bloodstains on Takada Yuuki, and whistled, "Wow, looks like you had a pretty intense time, Hennessy. You even got hurt?" There was a hint of schadenfreude in her tone.
Yuki Takada ignored her and said into his earpiece, "Cohen, stay alert. Chianti, search all his belongings, especially his communication devices and poison sacs, to make sure he can't commit suicide."
“Got it~” Chianti crouched down and roughly searched the attacker’s body, quickly finding some odds and ends and a venom sac hidden in a molar. “Done! Now our ‘guest’ will have to play with us properly.”
Security personnel quickly arrived and tied up the attacker, who was completely unable to resist.
Yuki Takada finally breathed a sigh of relief, as the pain in his ribs became more pronounced.
He pressed his wound; blood was already seeping out from inside his suit.
"Hey, are you alright?" Chianti's tone was unusually serious as she looked him over. "Twice now, for that little Shirley. You're really... dedicated." There was a hint of probing and teasing in her voice.
Yuuki Takada gave her a cold glance: "Do your job. Take him away and interrogate him immediately! I need to know who sent him and what his purpose is!"
“Yes, yes, Lord Hennessy.” Chianti shrugged, signaling the security personnel to drag the prisoner away.
Yuuki Takada stood still, taking several deep breaths of the cold night air, trying to calm his heart, which was racing due to the fighting and blood loss.
He glanced at the closed doors and windows of Shirley's dormitory, confirming that the safety of the place was under control.
"I'm leaving this to you." He instructed the security supervisor who remained, then turned to leave, needing to treat his new wound.
Just then, a sharp alarm blared from the direction of the laboratory, shattering the night sky!
It was the sound of the personal security alarm that Yuuki Takada gave to Sherry!
Yuuki Takada's expression changed drastically. He turned around abruptly to look in the direction of the laboratory, no longer caring about the wound on his ribs, and ran away as fast as he could!
Chianti was also taken aback for a moment, then her face lit up with even more excitement: "Wow! Tonight is full of surprises! Cohen, did you see that?"
Cohen responded slowly, "...No...anomaly...the target...is still inside the laboratory..."
Inside the laboratory?!
Yuki Takada's heart sank to the bottom.
He deployed most of his forces to deal with external attacks, so could it be... the real killer move comes from within?! Shirley is left there all alone!
He ran frantically, the wind whistling past his ears, the wound under his ribs tearing open with pain from the strenuous activity, but he paid it no heed. Only one thought remained in his mind—she absolutely could not be hurt!
Finally, the alloy door of the laboratory came into view. The security personnel guarding the door seemed a little at a loss, because the alarm was coming from inside, but they had not received orders to enter.
"Open the door!" Yuki Takada roared, practically pointing a gun at the control panel.