Chapter 322: Deception, Betrayal, and Explosions

She was clearly Japanese, yet she disguised herself as a Tang citizen and deliberately approached Hao Ren. This all stemmed from her late brother, Watanabe Tomohito, the former head of Japan’s Prime Ministerial Intelligence Office.

Mu Weini listened intently as Ning Shuangshuang explained the details. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he said, “Minister Ning, hand the phone to the commanding officer of Guard Division One. I’ll make sure they all follow your orders.”

Ning Shuangshuang immediately walked over and shouted at a group of black soldiers, “Which one of you is the team leader?”

A stocky, medium-built officer stepped forward and said, “That’s me.”

“Listen up, he’s the President’s contact.”

The officer hesitated for a moment, then reached out to take the phone and began listening.

Within seconds, he stood at attention and started affirmatively responding into the handset.

“Minister Ning, the President has instructed me to follow your commands,” the officer said, carefully handing the phone back to Ning Shuangshuang.

Ning Shuangshuang answered again, “Minister Ning here. I’ve briefed the team leader; he’ll obey your orders. Now, deal with this situation as you see fit.”

“Understood. I’ll handle this carefully and ensure Hao Ren’s safety.”

After ending the call, Ning Shuangshuang told the officer, “Stay here. No one can leave this area.”

While speaking, she pointed toward the villa on Low Hill.

The officer immediately replied, “Yes, ma’am. We’ll make sure nobody leaves—not even Saleh.”

Ning Shuangshuang then turned to Xiao Mingcheng and said, “Keep two of your men here; the rest, follow me up.”

“Yes, Minister.”

A group of several dozen people then started ascending Low Hill on foot instead of by vehicle.

Ning Shuangshuang organized her forces into several teams, flanking the hill from other directions.

The closer they got to the villa on the hill, the more uneasy Ning Shuangshuang felt.

Just as they reached the villa’s gate, a voice echoed out.

“Ning Shuangshuang, I didn’t expect you to come.”

Ning Shuangshuang halted and stared at the camera by the gate, saying, “Watanabe Minghui, what have you done to Hao Ren?”

“Him? He’s fine. If you want him to stay that way, you’d better not act rashly. Just remain outside.”

Clearly, Hao Ren hadn’t anticipated Watanabe Minghui, who had abducted him.

Sighing, Ning Shuangshuang said, “Whatever your demands, just state them. If you free Hao Ren, we can negotiate anything.”

A burst of laughter followed before Watanabe Minghui spoke, “You talk so casually—as if Hao Ren means the world to you.”

“Fine. Since you value him so much, I’d like to invite Dr. Du Qiu. Would that be possible?”

Ning Shuangshuang replied, “I’m sorry, but Dr. Du Qiu isn’t on Earth right now. He’s currently on Mars, so I can’t call him in.”

“Is that so? You arrived at Heaven Realm Space City less than a day ago. I’m very patient—I can wait for days, a week, even a month.”

“I fail to see why you want to see Dr. Du Qiu. I could represent him if needed.”

“You? As Dr. Du Qiu’s fiancée, you certainly can speak for him. But I’d really like to see him in person—I’m curious to see you two together.”

“If you need to speak with Dr. Du Qiu, let me know. I can pass on your message, or you could use a holographic video call to speak with him directly.”

Ning Shuangshuang suspected that Watanabe Minghui’s intentions were far from pure, so she proposed a face-to-face meeting instead.

Watanabe Minghui snorted coldly, “Are you flaunting your advanced technology? Too bad—I prefer meeting face-to-face. If Dr. Du Qiu doesn’t show up, I’ll slice Hao Ren once every day until I see if his esteemed mentor fails to save him.”

“Don’t you dare! I promise to notify Dr. Du Qiu as soon as possible, but you must swear not to harm Hao Ren,” Ning Shuangshuang pleaded urgently.

Watanabe Minghui replied, “Fine. With your spacecraft’s speed, a day’s return from Mars is feasible, so I’ll agree to not touch Hao Ren for the next 24 hours.

By the way, a word of caution: your subordinates have been too heroic. I’ve left me no choice but to make them martyrs.”

At that, a sinking feeling gripped Ning Shuangshuang and she exclaimed, “Wait a minute…”

Before she could finish, a loud explosion erupted from behind the villa, shaking the ground for several seconds.

“Ha ha, Ning Shuangshuang, hurry and collect your men’s bodies. Next time, anyone coming within 30 meters of the villa will meet the same fate.”

Ning Shuangshuang’s face turned cold. Without another word, she turned and strode down the road toward the foot of Low Hill.

Several figures followed close behind, and someone began scanning the area with a mysterious device.

By the time they reached the hill’s base, Xiao Mingcheng and his group had also returned. Several men, covered in blood, lay on the ground.

Some tried to give first aid, but soon they sat down, overcome with grief and weeping uncontrollably.

“Director Xiao, relay my orders: immediately call for reinforcement from the Iron Guard!”

“Yes, Minister.”

“Retrieve these martyrs properly—they will receive a memorial service in due course.”

“Understood. I’m on it.”

Ning Shuangshuang’s assistant approached and asked, “Minister, should we inform the boss?”

Ning Shuangshuang shot the assistant a cold glance and replied, “If we comply with every enemy demand, what would our security department be for?”

The assistant’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly murmured, “I’m sorry.”

Stepping aside, Ning Shuangshuang adjusted the silver ring on her wrist and connected with Leng Yanran.

“Yanran, I need your help with something.”

……

……

That night, the villa on Low Hill remained dark. The massive building resembled a beast lurking in the night.

“Hao Ren, do you hate me?”

Hao Ren forced a grim smile, his stark white teeth glinting in the darkness.

“I don’t hate you—I hate myself.”

Watanabe Minghui softly remarked, “You’re such a good person! But as the saying goes in Tang, good people never live long. My own brother was no exception.

As for you, you’re doomed to sit here and wait for your end.”

Hao Ren retorted, “How can you claim your brother died at the hands of Dream Technology? That’s just your wild guess!”

Ignoring her sarcastic jabs, Hao Ren pressed for answers.

Watanabe Minghui reached out and gently slapped Hao Ren’s face, saying, “I’m not as naive as you. My brother never suffered from heart disease.”

Hao Ren shot back, “Even if he didn’t die of a disease, it doesn’t mean Dream Technology was behind his death.”

Watanabe Minghui snorted derisively, “I’ve studied all of Dr. Du Qiu’s records. He’s the vindictive type who never forgets a grudge and is always keen on standing up for the underdog.

The Ebola outbreak in South Sudan was orchestrated by us Japanese. Once my brother exposed it, none of us would have it easy.

My brother went to Africa to find out who abducted someone from the Heiying Pharmaceutical Research Institute, but in the middle of his investigation, he died. Who wouldn’t want to uncover the truth?

Naturally, it had to be Dream Technology’s own Dr. Du Qiu. My brother’s investigation was closing in on them, and that’s what led to his fatal misfortune.”

By the light of the stars, Hao Ren looked up at Watanabe Minghui and said, “You’d better run. You, on your own, are no match for Dream Technology.”

Watanabe Minghui chuckled softly, “Seems you do care about me. So, would you be happy if we died together?”

No sooner had the words left her lips than Watanabe Minghui suddenly appeared behind Hao Ren. With a loud bang, the wall behind her exploded into a shower of mud and debris from a bullet impact.

Enraged, Watanabe Minghui shouted, “Ning Shuangshuang, do you want Hao Ren to die right now? As punishment for your breach of contract, I…”

A flash of light crossed her vision. Watanabe Minghui tried to dodge but was too late.

A large head tumbled down instantly, rolling twice at Hao Ren’s feet. When it finally stopped, its unblinking eyes locked onto Hao Ren, who was bound to a chair.

Hao Ren lowered his head to see that the room’s lights had blazed on.

A crushing blow hit Hao Ren’s heart. He longed to lean forward and cradle the severed head, but his bindings left him utterly immobile.

“Don’t move—the bomb on you is about to explode!”