Those words made Nancy's chest pulse uncomfortably. Redrick's voice was too calm. Too convincing. But there was something unsettling behind that calmness.
"That must be difficult," Nancy murmured, her tone slightly cynical.
Redrick nodded slowly. "Very. The smarter they are, the harder they are to guide."
"Maybe because they start thinking for themselves."
"They're still children," Dr. Redrick said, his expression turning thin. "If they are too pampered, they become spoiled. Talent without discipline only leads to destruction."
Dr. Redrick stared at Nancy longer. "And they have inherent weaknesses. Tanaka's genetic recombination technology is a breakthrough. That's why I came here—to find solutions for their genetic defects."
Nancy's heart raced faster. "Are... there many children like that in your organization?"
Redrick gave a small smile. "There used to be many. But some have left. Now... only a few remain."
Dr. Redrick's words pierced through. Children. Nancy's old friends. Most of them had perished—during training, or while trying to escape. Only twelve had managed to survive. But if Dr. Redrick still had new test subjects...
Were any of them caught again?
Suddenly, Nancy's ears caught an unfamiliar sound.
Click.
Soft, almost inaudible. But Nancy recognized that sound—the sound of a weapon's bolt being pulled back.
Nancy turned quickly. A man, sitting two rows behind her, pulled a light machine gun from beneath his coat. A moment later, the man pulled the trigger.
Ta-da! Ta-da!
Gunfire erupted in the air. The security personnel at the door fell before they could raise their weapons.
The security door swung wide open, breached from the outside. A group of armed men—numbering in the dozens—entered with trained movements. The muzzles of their rifles were aimed at the entire room.
"We are the Action Team of May 22!" shouted one of them, the leader of the group. A handsome middle-aged man with a cold gaze. He raised his weapon above his head and fired a warning shot.
TAT-TAT-TAT!
"Calm down! We won't hurt anyone! We just want to save the child! Don't move!"
Panic spread as quickly as fire igniting oil. Meeting participants screamed, some dropped to the floor under tables, while the rest froze in fear.
The May 22 Action Team. Nancy recognized that name. They were not just terrorists—they were a fanatic group. They believed that technology was a poison that would destroy humanity. They had attacked various high-tech laboratories, mercilessly killing scientists and technicians.
And now... they had come to this place.
Because of Tanaka's experiment.
"No, you must not hurt this child!" Tanaka's voice trembled, his eyes blazing with anger.
Jude was Tanaka's greatest pride, the creation for which Tanaka was willing to risk everything. But in front of Tanaka, a barrage of gunfire pierced the air, as if trying to snatch away what was most precious to him.
John Darius considered himself a hero, a wise savior. Where John Darius would not hurt Jude, he instead embraced Jude tightly, trying to comfort the little boy with cold yet promising words: "You will be okay. No one will think you're strange or make you a living advertisement for that corrupt technology. We will give you a home, a normal life."
Dr. Redrick interjected with a cynical tone, belittling: "Later, when that boy grows up, he will become a killer of people like you."
Jude, only six years old, did not understand what good or evil meant. His big, innocent eyes stared blankly, like a stray puppy that could only feel fear and confusion.
"Who are you? A mad scientist!" John Darius suddenly stood up, kicking Dr. Redrick roughly, sending him tumbling.
Quickly, John Darius picked up Jude, grabbed the intercom, and shouted, "Get down here now! Drive the car here, immediately!"
Panic echoed through the intercom, "No, we don't know who triggered the alarm. Hotel security has closed all exits and is evacuating the guests."
John Darius's face hardened, a grim expression etched on his features. "Shut down the elevator and block all stairways. No one is to enter or leave this floor... Keep a close watch on them. Our safety depends on this hostage."
The thugs retreated, herding all the participants to the center, including Dr. Redrick, who was still causing a commotion, and Nancy, who stood frozen, hesitant.
Nancy was paralyzed, her mind racing. If Nancy killed Dr. Redrick now, her chances of saving her friends would diminish even further.
...
...
...
The Snake Talisman grants an extraordinary stealth effect. On the rooftop of the fifteen-story hotel, Lance stood still like a forgotten shadow of the night. The night wind fluttered the ends of Lance's black clothing, but even the most advanced infrared equipment could not detect Lance's presence. He was like a dark spirit undetectable by the laws of this world.
Lance did not interfere with Nancy's choices.
It was the demon in Nancy's own heart—a long-standing inner wound waiting to be confronted. If Nancy could not fight that demon alone, then she did not deserve to bear the power she sought. Lance understood this... and chose to let it be.
Lance's attention now shifted to something more important.
Mr. X... was dead.
Of course, the Black Lantern Ring granted Mr. X immortality. Death was merely a temporary pause. In a few minutes, Mr. X would rise again, his skin slowly knitting together, his organs recovering from destruction. Yet still... someone had managed to kill Mr. X.
And there was only one person who could have done it.
Cross.
Number 1 of The Fraternity. The Legend. A killer who could even evade the grasp of death itself.
If it was indeed Cross who killed Mr. X—who was the number 2 killer of that organization—then this was a signal, a declaration... a civil war within The Fraternity had begun.
The legendary members who were supposed to unite in the shadows were now beginning to hunt each other like wild beasts in a single cage.
As that thought crossed his mind, Lance's phone vibrated in his pocket.
The ringtone was not loud, just a soft vibration—like a death whisper. Lance answered.
A heavy, calm voice was heard. "Sir, I have just been shot by Cross."
Lance was not surprised. "I already knew."
------------------------------
[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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