bookbashuk Chapter 43 "Young man, do you want to save the world?"
Chapter 43 "Young man, do you want to save the world?"
"Hey, don't be so sudden! You should at least tell me what it is first..."
Shinichi Izumi had his hands in his pockets, his palms were covered in cold sweat.
He lowered his voice, trying to get even the slightest bit of comfort from his suddenly neurotic right hand.
However, Mickey's voice did not bring him any sense of security; instead, it was filled with an unprecedented solemnity.
"About 30 meters ahead, in the shadows around the corner from the convenience store, there are two life forms reacting."
Mickey's voice echoed directly in Shinichi's mind, speaking at an extremely fast pace.
"Not of the same kind, confirmed no parasite brainwave signals. But... the aura of one of the humans is very strange."
"eccentric?"
"Yes. That life form's muscle density, bone strength, and metabolic level are completely beyond the range of normal Homo sapiens. Moreover... he carries the scent of death."
Mickey paused for a fraction of a second before making his final judgment.
"They've been there for at least three minutes, their heart rates are steady, it's clearly an ambush."
"Listen, Shinichi, I must now sever all neural connections and enter deep hibernation to prevent being detected by some unknown means of perception."
"Be careful to act normally and don't give anything away. If you're discovered... well, good luck to you."
"Hey! Wait a minute!"
Shinichi wanted to ask more, but the unique wriggling sensation in his right hand vanished instantly.
True to his word, Mickey instantly transformed himself into a lifeless lump of flesh, which Shinichi could not rouse no matter how he tried to rouse him with his consciousness.
The wind on the street seemed colder.
Shinichi stood under the streetlight, staring at the corner ahead swallowed by darkness, his throat dry.
"Damn it... they just abandoned me like that?" This feeling of "knowing there's a pit ahead but still having to jump in" was absolutely awful for Shinichi Izumi.
Shinichi looked up and glanced at the utility pole.
There is a security surveillance camera there, flashing a red dot.
"Calm down, Shinichi Izumi. This is Japan, a society governed by the rule of law," he kept reassuring himself.
"With surveillance cameras around, even a robber or a deranged serial killer wouldn't dare to commit a crime openly on the street, would they?"
With this self-comforting feeling, like whistling while walking at night, Shinichi took a deep breath, forcibly controlled his somewhat stiff legs, pretended to be nonchalant, and walked over at his usual pace.
One step, two steps, three steps.
As we got closer to that corner, the pounding of my heart was deafening in my ears.
Meanwhile, deep in the shadows around the corner.
"director."
Arima Kishou tilted his head slightly, and in his eyes, hidden behind his non-prescription glasses, he saw Izumi Shinichi's figure gradually approaching.
His voice was as flat as if he were reporting today's weather:
"The target is Shinichi Izumi. He paused for 2.3 seconds under the streetlight. His pupils contracted slightly, and his breathing became erratic."
It's highly likely that the parasite on his right hand has detected our presence and sent him a warning.
Arima's fingers rested lightly on the handle of the silver briefcase beside him, his body leaning slightly forward—a preparatory posture for a cheetah before hunting.
"Do we need to take the initiative? Based on the terrain analysis, as long as you give the order, I am confident that I can get close within 0.5 seconds and precisely sever his right wrist in an instant, while ensuring that the host's life is not harmed."
For this "white death," severing a hand is hardly considered "endangering life," but rather "a necessary surgical procedure."
Pei Qi, standing to the side, pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and helplessly held down Arima's restless hand.
"Arima, relax. Don't overreact."
Pei Qi looked at the label above Quan Xinyi's head that read "[Status: Extreme Panic]" and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.
"We are legitimate international civil servants, not a violent gang."
"For such entities that, although parasitized, still retain human consciousness and can even be considered 'human-like' and completely controllable... cooperation would be ideal."
Pei Qi straightened his collar and said:
"You must remember that although we GOC believe in 'physical exorcism,' we are by no means some kind of extremist madmen who shout for killing whenever we see something abnormal."
Those rumors from the outside world about us committing 'genocide'... Heh, that's just prejudice, nothing more."
"We are civilized people, and we should be reasonable."
Arima Kishou remained silent for a moment, seemingly digesting his supervisor's definition of "civilization"—after all, he had just witnessed his supervisor order the burning of a nest with white phosphorus bombs ten minutes earlier.
"Understood, supervisor." Arima released his grip on the briefcase and resumed his indifferent stance.
Shinichi Izumi had just turned the corner and hadn't even had a chance to catch his breath when two tall figures emerged from the shadows like ghosts, blocking his path.
"!!!"
Shinichi's pupils dilated suddenly, his body tensed instinctively, and his right hand was tucked tightly into his pocket, ready to run away at any moment.
By the light of the street lamp, he could see the person blocking his way.
The man on the left is a white-haired man wearing a gray-white trench coat, carrying a strange silver box. He is expressionless and exudes a sense of oppression that evokes a sense of fear in even the most instinctive creatures.
The one on the right is dressed in a gray casual outfit and looks relaxed.
Good evening, Shinichi Izumi.
Pei Qi spoke first, his voice gentle, even carrying a hint of familiar enthusiasm.
Before Shinichi could even ask, "Who are you?", Pei Qi and Arima Kishou pulled out their identification cards from their pockets in perfect unison, their movements as practiced as if they had rehearsed it countless times.
"Smack."
Two black leather identification documents were laid out in front of Shinichi.
It is printed with an intricate globe emblem, along with the words "United Nations Special Operations Office" and "Special Advisor to the Metropolitan Police Department" in gold lettering.
The stamp gleamed under the light, exuding an unquestionable sense of official authority.
"Let me introduce myself. I'm Pei Qi, and this is my colleague, Arima."
Pei Qi smiled as he put away the documents, his gaze sweeping over the trembling high school student before him, his eyes gleaming with the satisfaction of a farmer selecting a turkey.
"Don't be nervous. We are here in a formal capacity to have a friendly meeting with you."
"The...United Nations?" Shinichi Izumi was completely dumbfounded. He had considered being robbed, being targeted by gangsters seeking revenge, or even being hunted by parasites, but he never imagined that such a prestigious-sounding organization would come knocking on his door.
"What...what do you need me for? I'm just an ordinary student..." Shinichi's voice was a little hoarse.
"Ordinary? No, no, no, Izumi-kun, you're too modest."
Pei Qi took a step forward, closing the distance to Shinichi's safe zone.
Shinichi's face turned deathly pale instantly. Had he been discovered?!
Pei Qi didn't give Shinichi time to think of a solution. He reached out and patted the boy's shoulder heavily, speaking earnestly.
"Young man, I see you have extraordinary bone structure, superhuman physique, and reflexes far exceeding those of ordinary people. You're clearly good material for being... cough cough, I mean, a top-notch agent!"
"Huh?" Shinichi was stunned. He seemed to have just heard some incredible word?
"I mean, our department is looking for exceptionally talented young people like you."
Pei Qi immediately changed his tune without changing his expression.
"Interested in joining our organization and becoming a proud unofficial agent?"
"Don't worry, the benefits are absolutely excellent. We provide meals and accommodation, full social insurance and housing fund contributions, and double pay at the end of the year. And if you unfortunately die in the line of duty..."
"Oh no, I mean if you perform exceptionally well, we'll also take care of your family and even help you with your studies; getting into the University of Tokyo is not a dream."
"How about it? I guarantee you'll be satisfied, young man."