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墨書 Inktalez
Zhao Mingkun pushed the door open, and I followed closely behind. As soon as we stepped outside, I saw four or five men in black suits standing there. They all appeared tall and muscular, their suits stretched tightly over their bodies. I particularly noticed their hands; the bases of their fingers and the areas between their thumbs were calloused, clearly indicating they were trained fighters. It was evident that these individuals belonged to that organization, and their skills were impressive.
It was clear that these men held Zhao Mingkun in high regard; their relationship seemed deeper than that of mere bodyguards, resembling more of a superior-subordinate dynamic. Zhao Mingkun paid them no mind and walked straight towards an Audi.
A well-dressed Muscular Man opened the door of the Audi for Zhao Mingkun, who entered first. She then beckoned me with a finger, signaling for me to sit beside her. Nodding, I got into the car.
As the engine started, I turned to Zhao Mingkun and asked, "Are we leaving Jing City?"
She nodded and replied, "That's right. But before we leave, I have a surprise for you, which will also serve as a test. Haha."
As she spoke, the convoy slowly began to move towards the city center. It dawned on me that we were still in Jing City. Looking at the time, it seemed to be around seven or eight in the morning. I wondered who had built this laboratory and why they had brought me here. The convoy drove to a hotel in the city, but instead of heading to a parking lot, it stopped right at the entrance.
Before long, we saw a group of people walking out of the hotel. Leading them was none other than Zhao Mingkun's father. He was engaged in friendly conversation with some city officials as they exited, exuding warmth and enthusiasm. To my surprise, I spotted Old Wang and members of the Special Investigation Team among them, stirring an indescribable feeling within me. I even caught sight of A-Bao in the crowd.
I realized that this matter had already been reported to higher authorities; A-Bao had personally come to Jing City, highlighting its urgency and importance. The car was parked right by the curb of the hotel, putting me just a stone's throw away from the Special Investigation Team members. However, they couldn't see our movements inside the car; only those inside could observe what was happening outside.
I noticed that the members of the Special Investigation Team looked dejected and worn out. My disappearance seemed to have taken a toll on them. After this departure, I had no idea how long it would be before I could see them again; I hadn't even had a chance to say goodbye. I fought back the urge to rush out and could only watch them through the one-way window.
They say every farewell should be accompanied by an extra glance or word because you never know what might happen next.
Old Wang was speaking with A-Bao about something; A-Bao was unusually serious as he listened intently—something I found hard to imagine given his usual demeanor. Then I saw them shake hands. A-Bao exchanged a few words with several members of the Special Investigation Team before a few people stepped out beside him and walked away into the distance.
Watching their retreating figures filled me with an indescribable sorrow, and tears began to fall uncontrollably. It wasn't until they were far away that I slowly closed my eyes, wiped my tears away, and fell silent. Zhao Mingkun shrugged and said to me, "I've heard you're someone who values loyalty deeply; seeing it today confirms it. I hope you can show that same loyalty to the organization in the future."
I didn't interject, but at that moment, Zhao Mingkun's father opened the passenger door and sat down directly. I frowned; this seating arrangement was quite improper. Especially since the two of us were sitting in the back, he had chosen not to take the next car. It was clear that there was an unspoken relationship here. With this thought, I speculated, "If I'm not mistaken, this person isn't your father, is he?"
The car started, and Zhao Mingkun looked at the person who had been left behind before speaking up, "That's right, he isn't my father. To be honest, he is also part of our organization, and his rank is lower than mine."
As soon as Zhao Mingkun finished speaking, the middle-aged man in front turned around and said to Zhao Mingkun, "Queen, our convoy can bypass inspections, allowing us to take Captain Shao directly out of Jing City on the highway. Once we reach another province, we have arranged for a ship that will take us straight to Europe."
"Europe?" Upon hearing this from the middle-aged man, I was at a loss for words. They actually intended to take me to Europe? I had no idea what use I could possibly have for such a large organization. Moreover, it seemed that this organization had infiltrated abroad as well. I couldn't tell if it had originated from abroad or if it had spread here.
The mysterious aura surrounding this organization grew thicker by the moment, and I felt more and more questions flooding my mind. Furrowing my brow slightly, I looked seriously at Zhao Mingkun and asked, "What exactly do you want from me? What am I supposed to do?"
Zhao Mingkun did not answer my question but continued speaking to the middle-aged man. "You've done well; you've worked hard these past weeks. Your acting skills are impressive. When we return, I'll report this to the higher-ups."
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man appeared very pleased, breaking into a wide grin like a child. He was a stark contrast to the mature man who mingled with high-ranking officials at parties. His acting was flawless; he had deceived everyone around him, showcasing his remarkable skills. At the same time, Zhao Mingkun became even more enigmatic; despite being in her twenties, she seemed to hold a significant position within their organization and appeared capable of directly interacting with higher-ups.
"Thank you very much, Queen," said the middle-aged man.
From the moment I arrived in Jing City to investigate Xu Rong, I had heard about Zhao Mingkun. It was said that Xu Rong and Zhao Mingkun had even fought once; now it seemed that was nothing but baseless gossip—merely a rumor deliberately spread by Zhao Mingkun herself. However, I already knew her nickname from others' conversations. I wasn't sure if Zhao Mingkun was sadistic or something else entirely; nonetheless, her cunning indicated she was someone who liked to keep everything under her control.
Having such cunning and control at just over twenty years old suggested that her childhood and youth must have been vastly different from ours. It was only then that Zhao Mingkun turned to me and said, "Everyone in the organization has their own code name; mine is Queen. As for why..." She flashed me a charming smile and added playfully, "I think you're smart enough to guess."
I wasn't buying it. Seeing my indifference, Zhao Mingkun adopted a serious tone and said, "You will need to come up with a code name for yourself as well. Of course, there's no rush; you can take your time thinking about it. In just a few days, we'll be leaving here; when we return depends on the situation. Isn't it poignant that we never got to say goodbye properly? Haha! That's right; leaving should be done quietly—like death..."
The car drove from morning until night; aside from stopping for meals and restroom breaks, I spent most of the time lost in thought without any boundaries. By nightfall, we had reached a coastal city. After going through a series of procedures around midnight or so, we boarded a ship. This was my first time on a ship heading abroad under such circumstances; my emotions were quite complex about it all. Gazing up at the twinkling stars in the sky left me wide awake with no desire to sleep.
I paced onto the deck, contemplating my choices.
Since I had already decided to take this step, the only option was to proceed one step at a time. Once I arrived in Europe, my immediate task would be to find a way to contact the Special Investigation Team and inform them of my situation. At that moment, I had no phone, no Police Badge, and had essentially severed ties with the outside world. It seemed that, in the short term, I would not be qualified to communicate with anyone outside. The power and meticulousness of this organization required me to be cautious and strive to gain entry into its inner workings.
I tapped my fingers against the railing of the deck as a dry, slightly salty sea breeze swept over me, refreshing my senses. Looking around, I noticed several ships in the distance, their lights twinkling like stars projected onto the rippling ocean, drifting away gradually. Indeed, the vastness of the sea was breathtaking, resembling a miniature universe.
I pushed these thoughts aside and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it up. At that moment, someone slowly approached me—it was none other than Zhao Mingkun. Seeing me smoking on the deck, Zhao Mingkun said nothing but simply beckoned with a finger. I didn’t question why she was still awake at this hour; instead, I tossed her a cigarette.
Zhao Mingkun retrieved a lighter from her pocket and played with it for a moment before lighting her own cigarette. We both smoked in silence, not exchanging words. Sometimes people are just too tired—whether with family or foes. In such moments, I considered myself just an individual, shedding all labels that defined me and temporarily laying down the burdens on my shoulders to enjoy the simple pleasure of smoking.
The night was tranquil, and Zhao Mingkun seemed to have set aside the weight of the day as she stared blankly into the distance, lost in thought. I sighed lightly and flicked my cigarette butt into the sea before turning back toward my room. Regardless of whether one is good or bad, some emotions are fundamentally the same.
Tomorrow morning, I would automatically don my armor again and shoulder all burdens anew. Lying in bed, I held onto the sachet that Xiaocao had given me months ago. Though its fragrance had long faded after half a year of carrying it with me, whenever I held it close, I could still sense a faint scent that brought Xiaocao's image to mind.
My talisman.
The first time I went out to sea on a ship, I encountered a renowned Bengal Aid Worker. Young and impulsive, but too poor to make any real moves until the First Mate told me that a bag of instant noodles could lead to an overnight stay with a group of women... It was quite an intense experience—multiple women and deep connections.
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