Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Advancing Cautiously!
Li Buyi understood Chen Xiaoâs plan and ordered, "Evacuate all civilians from this area immediately."
Soon, Li Buyi ordered his special forces team to begin evacuating the ordinary guests from the Alice.
"Chen Xiao, what about you?" Luo Qingli asked, looking at him.
"I still have a few things to settle with Young Master Jiang," Chen Xiao said with a slight smile. "You go on ahead."
Luo Qingli nodded. "Alright, be careful." She had a nagging feeling that things werenât that simple, so she quickly pulled Li Sufang away.
Jiang Tianquanâs face was ashen.
When did Li Buyi get so close to the cruise ship? These guys must have planned this all along. Have I been exposed?
Watanabe Ichiba also cast a dark look at Jiang Tianquan.
With Divine Landâs officials involved, things have become complicated. If this gets out, Iâll be lucky to leave Divine Land alive!
The thought made him break out in a cold sweat.
Li Buyi methodically directed his men, evacuating guests one by one onto the lifeboats.
Jiang Tianquan took a deep breath and forced a smile as he stepped forward to greet him. "City Governor Li, thank goodness you arrived in time. This situation could have been much worse. These bandits are too audacious, daring to barge in and commit violence here in broad daylight!"
Li Buyi responded with a chuckle, "Young Master Jiang is right. For these bandits to have easily breached your security and boarded this cruise ship, they must be truly formidable. Young Master Jiang, Iâm afraid there may still be remnants of their group on board. How about I conduct a search, just in case?"
Hearing that Li Buyi wanted to search, Jiang Tianquanâs eyelids twitched violently.
Watanabe Ichiba quickly interjected, "City Governor Li, please rest assured. Itâs unlikely these bandits had a chance to hide. Our security measures are quite solid.
"Besides, the Alice is my private property. Itâs probably not appropriate for you to search it at will, is it?"
Li Buyiâs expression instantly hardened. "Young Master Watanabe, let me remind you of one thing. Here, on the Land of Shenzhou, it doesnât matter whose private property it is. As long as thereâs a potential threat to our people, we have the right to investigate it thoroughly!"
Seeing Li Buyiâs unyielding attitude, both Watanabe Ichiba and Jiang Tianquan looked grim.
Chen Xiao stepped forward. "City Governor Li, I believe you have a point. What if thereâs a mole on this cruise ship who has hidden the remaining bandits?"
"Search!" Li Buyi waved his hand, no longer hesitating.
Chen Xiao and Xu Yanran had already briefed me before boarding, telling me to be ready to act at a momentâs notice. Xu Yanran sent me the signal right after she slipped away, which is why I was able to get here so quickly. I just didnât expect to run into these bandits. Still, our real objective has always been the mission from Leng Baiyu. With that mission still incomplete, how could we possibly leave now?
"Wait!" Watanabe Ichibaâs face was livid. "City Governor Li! I am a foreign guest! Is this how a nation that prides itself on etiquette treats its visitors?
"There is absolutely nothing wrong with my ship, the Alice!
"The crisis is over. Please leave immediately! Otherwise, I wonât hesitate to report you to your superiors for abusing your authority!"
Li Buyi fought the urge to slap the little devil across his effeminate face.
Trying to act tough on my turf?
Jiang Tianquan chimed in, "If you want to search our cruise ship, you need a warrant. Otherwise, it would be against regulations."
Li Buyi narrowed his eyes.
I know Jiang Tianquan and Watanabe Ichiba have powerful backers. If they decide to make an issue of this, it could become very troublesome.
Just then, a thick plume of smoke drifted in.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP!
Several special forces members rushed up from below, urgently reporting to Li Buyi, "Sir! A fire has broken out on the lower decks! We suspect thereâs a fire down there!"
At these words, the expressions on Jiang Tianquanâs and Watanabe Ichibaâs faces changed dramatically.
How could a fire just suddenly start?
They whirled around to stare at Chen Xiao.
Chen Xiao returned their gaze with a smirk.
This, of course, is Xu Yanranâs handiwork. I arranged everything in advance. Earlier, Zhu Baixi revealed that the item was hidden in an alloy warehouse below, guarded by powerful experts. Xu Yanran would never have been able to handle them alone. So, I had her set a fire to create a diversion, allowing Li Buyi to use firefighting as a pretext to storm the lower decks with his men. This way, everything seems perfectly reasonable, and even Jiang Tianquan canât refuse a search.
Li Buyi gave Chen Xiao a deep, meaningful glance before waving his hand. "Everyone, with me! Letâs put out that fire!"
"Wait!" Jiang Tianquan panicked. "City Governor Li, our own people can handle thisâ"
Li Buyi shot him a cold stare. "Young Master Jiang, you keep obstructing our actions. Could it be you have something to hide?"
Speechless, Jiang Tianquan could only glare bitterly at Chen Xiao.
Li Buyi commanded loudly, "Search everywhere! Donât miss a single corner!"
"YES, SIR!!!"
The fully armed special forces team immediately followed his orders. They threw open the hatches leading to the lower decks, and a thick cloud of smoke billowed out, making them cough and frown. Then, with deadly serious expressions, they leaped inside.
Chen Xiao also jumped down into the passage. Xu Yanran was still in there, and he was worried something might happen to her.
Meanwhile, after setting the fire, Xu Yanran had found a place to hide. After entering the passage, she discovered a whole different world inside. The space was vast and secretly guarded by martial artists, each one radiating an immensely powerful aura. She knew she couldnât overpower them head-on, so her only choice had been to hide after starting the fire.
A moment later, hiding in the shadows, she heard the sound of urgent footsteps.
Once the footsteps faded into the distance, she slipped out of her hiding spot and tiptoed deeper into the complex.
I have the key Chen Xiao gave me. If I can pull off this heist, itâll be a massive accomplishment!
ăBack on the second deckă
Jiang Tianquan and Watanabe Ichibaâs faces were dark and unsettled, their expressions shifting erratically.
"What do we do?" Jiang Tianquan whispered.
Watanabe Ichiba sneered. "Whatâs there to be afraid of? They canât get into that warehouse. As long as we refuse them entry, what are they going to do? Force their way in?"
"Are you sure?" Jiang Tianquan whispered back. "If weâre exposed, both our heads will roll! I suspect... theyâre here for that thing!"
Watanabe Ichiba said confidently, "Donât worry, the key is still..." His words caught in his throat, his smile freezing on his face. The key was gone.
"Damn it!" His eyelid twitched uncontrollably. "That kid must have swiped my key just now. He really is after whatâs in the warehouse! Li Buyiâs sudden arrival, the fire breaking out below... it was all premeditated!
"What a devious plan!"
Cold sweat dripped down his back.
If Iâm caught red-handed, Iâll be torn to pieces!
The hairs on Jiang Tianquanâs arms stood on end as a chill shot through him from head to toe.
This is it... Weâre finished...