Chapter Seventy-One Chapter Seventy-Two

### 71. The Snake Emerges from its Hole

From the very first day Michael entered the Academy for the Gifted, the education he received was that no matter how powerful a martial art might be, it could never compare to a wise mind. However, as a prodigy in cultivation, he was determined to push this advantage to its absolute limit.

The best way to kill someone was never a face-to-face confrontation; there were far more subtle and clever methods. Michael was determined to orchestrate exactly such a scenario.

"Lieutenant, I hear you are quite familiar with the prisoners in that high-security prison?" It sounded like casual conversation, but the tone carried a distinct scent of interrogation.

"Is this an investigation?" Zhao Li countered.

"Yes," Michael did not deny it. "Aside from protecting you, I have another mission: to summarize your performance during your time in prison and provide a comprehensive evaluation."

Michael’s directness surprised Zhao Li, but he responded immediately: "Major, before I say anything, I still need..."

"You need authorization from your direct superior and an officer to witness the proceedings," Michael interrupted, taking the words right out of his mouth. "I know all of this, and I have already arranged it."

The witnessing officer appeared before Zhao Li shortly after. He merely shrugged at Zhao Li, then sat silently to the side with a familiar air, as if signaling that he was powerless against such high-level arrangements.

"Fine," Zhao Li replied nonchalantly. "You are correct."

"In formal settings, when answering a superior officer, please use the proper honorifics—'Yes, sir,' or 'No, sir.' Do you understand?" Major Michael suddenly raised his voice, turning serious.

"Yes, sir!" With a lower rank, Zhao Li had no choice but to comply. Michael had seemingly sent Li Mengdie outside; Zhao Li could only hope she hadn't overheard this exchange.

"According to our investigation, you were very familiar with many of the inmates. Is that correct?" Michael asked again, his voice loud and stern.

"Yes, sir. As the warden, I was required to master the dossiers of the prisoners. Therefore, becoming familiar with them was my duty, sir!" Zhao Li sat straight, answering with military posture.

"Before you became the warden, you lived in the prisoner sector for an extended period. Is that true?" The questioning remained equally harsh and unforgiving.

"Yes, sir!" Zhao Li did not deny it; there was no point. The old warden had arranged those details, and any investigation into the prison guards who had been transferred would confirm it. Besides, there was nothing to hide.

"Now, please provide a detailed account of that period of your life," Michael demanded.

"Yes, sir. The situation at the time was as follows..." Zhao Li began his account.

"And now, your main life experiences during your time as warden." Michael asked alone, his tone aggressive. This drew a frown of disapproval from the witnessing officer, but he remained silent.

There was nothing to hide. Everything Zhao Li had done was above board; he had no reason to fear an investigation.

Michael began his cross-examination after Zhao Li finished describing his daily routine: "First, Lieutenant, can you explain why a new recruit like you was assigned to a high-security facility like the Mountbatten Prison?"

Zhao Li paused. He had to explain this too? How? Should he repeat the old warden's analysis? There was no evidence, and it was unnecessary. "Sir, my transfer after recruit training was an order from above. I do not know the reason."

Nodding, Michael seemed to have expected this. He moved to the next question: "Then, after the prison was replaced, all your original comrades—the prison guards—were transferred away. What explanation do you have for that?"

"Sir, that was also an order from above. I was only a sergeant at the time; I had no knowledge or authority to understand the reasons, let alone influence their transfers." Zhao Li’s tone was guarded. He could not and would not be frank with this man. He shifted all responsibility to the brass; if they were capable, they could go investigate those who issued the orders. He just wondered why this man had suddenly gone mad, interrogating him on these matters.

He glanced at the witnessing officer, who was watching him. Seeing the inquiry in Zhao Li’s eyes, the officer shook his head slightly, signaling that this was not an order from higher up and that he should be careful.

"Then, after you entered the new prison, you never lived with the other guards but instead lived in the prisoner sector. How do you explain that?" Michael fired off a series of questions, each demanding an explanation.

"Apologies, sir, I cannot explain it. Those were orders from above. I suggest you investigate the person who issued them!" Zhao Li refused to explain, pushing everything onto his superiors. If they were capable, they could go find the retired warden. He would never offer them an explanation.

"Then, as a prison guard, why did you follow the demands of those prisoners to undergo various types of training? You can at least explain that!" Michael’s intelligence was thorough; it seemed he had interviewed every guard who had served and been transferred. Otherwise, he wouldn't know so much.

"I can explain that, sir! Many of those prisoners were former special forces instructors, so learning special training techniques was not a violation of regulations." Zhao Li tried to downplay it to appease Major Michael, who had been protecting him for nearly twenty days. He wondered what had caused the sudden shift; hadn't things been going well before?

"Very well, Lieutenant. Do you have anything to add?" Major Michael pressed. Zhao Li shook his head. He had said all there was to say.

"Thank you for your cooperation!" This time, Michael stood up and saluted Zhao Li. Zhao Li returned the salute, bewildered, unable to fathom what was truly going on.

Three investigations in a row—two regarding the prison break, and one regarding his daily life. The suspicion directed at Zhao Li was now nakedly apparent.

After Michael finished, the witnessing officer nodded at Zhao Li, signaling that it was fine. This wasn't an order from above, but a requirement for a comprehensive evaluation.

In reality, Michael had already obtained what he wanted. The report could have been written already. But Michael was waiting—waiting for the right moment.

His previous request had been rudely rejected and he had been reprimanded. He didn't know if Christine was aware of it, but he knew that if she found out, he would be in for a rough time.

At the time, Michael didn't know what had come over him. Seeing the intimacy between Christine and Zhao Li had stirred some indescribable emotion. His unauthorized request had not only earned him a reprimand but also a stern warning. The rules of the Academy for the Gifted were clear: once you lost your chances, you could only follow orders for a certain period, losing the freedom to choose your own missions or training.

Li Mengdie never seemed to notice Michael’s feelings, instead caring deeply for Zhao Li. Michael had made up his mind: he would ensure Zhao Li was ruined without leaving a trace.

Killing Zhao Li while he was supposed to be protecting him was a foolish idea; Michael was an elite and would never make such a mistake. Everything had to be tied to the current investigation into the prison break.

Zhao Li was also waiting—waiting for his wounds to heal and for the Military Intelligence and Special Investigation Team to provide a concrete explanation for the prison break. Too many guards had died for no reason, and he refused to be a scapegoat.

Sometimes, Zhao Li even suspected that the tsunami on Mountbatten Planet had been intentionally caused. But without evidence, he couldn't speak freely. If it weren't for that tsunami, the prison wouldn't have been destroyed. If the prison hadn't been destroyed, it would have been impossible to break into such a heavily guarded environment.

***

### 72. A False Alarm

"There is killing intent!" Zhao Li warned Li Mengdie, who was not far away.

Li Mengdie had been keeping watch from the most open position in the ward. Hearing Zhao Li, she frowned slightly but instinctively shielded him behind her.

The source of the killing intent was outside. Li Mengdie immediately activated the micro-communicator on her ear. Major Michael, standing outside the door, became instantly alert.

Zhao Li carefully moved to a concealed position near the door, trying to discern the direction of the killing intent. As he felt it, he grew suspicious of the lack of sensitivity shown by Michael and Li Mengdie.

"Is this your first time on a mission?" Zhao Li asked cautiously to Li Mengdie, who was blocking him.

To his surprise, Li Mengdie nodded. Zhao Li felt a headache coming on. "No way," he thought. He held onto a shred of hope: "Major Michael must be very experienced, right?"

Li Mengdie, standing guard like she was facing an army, shook her head. Zhao Li’s scalp tightened: "Don't tell me it's his first time too?" Li Mengdie nodded again.

Zhao Li didn't know what to say. No wonder Christine seemed dissatisfied with certain arrangements but said nothing—it was all becoming clear. But why would they entrust his protection to two inexperienced rookies? Was there a hidden agenda? Or did they simply not care about his safety?

However, they were from the Combat Department of the Academy for the Gifted; their combat prowess should be beyond reproach. If even a medic could win the military-wide competition, then the combatants were surely formidable. Thinking of this, Zhao Li relaxed slightly.

But he immediately thought of another question: "Have you received training in protecting high-value targets?" This was crucial. If he had to be the one to point out killing intent, the outcome for the person being protected was predictable.

"We received three days of intensive training before the mission," Li Mengdie said, maintaining her defensive stance. Her words made Zhao Li feel like he had been dropped into an ice cellar. "Don't worry, you know we are geniuses; learning these things is easy!"

"You've got to be kidding!" Zhao Li thought, though he didn't dare say it aloud. What was the meaning of this? Was he not important enough? Or were they using him as a practice target for these two rookies?

"What are you doing?" Christine’s voice came from the doorway, and then her beautiful figure walked in naturally.

"There is killing intent outside!" Li Mengdie reported truthfully.

"Hahaha!" Christine laughed, her graceful body trembling. Even Li Mengdie was captivated by her beauty, let alone Zhao Li. Zhao Li was certain that Christine’s laughter had been practiced; otherwise, it wouldn't be so mesmerizing.

"Killing intent!" Christine repeated, covering her mouth as she laughed again. "Hahaha!" She leaned against the wall, laughing until she seemed to lose her strength.

"Little juniors, you really are inexperienced!" Christine stood up once she had finished laughing. "Can't you even tell if the killing intent is directed at you?"

Zhao Li felt ashamed. He hadn't been able to tell either; he had only sensed it by chance when he circulated his Nameless Qi. If he had been relying on his basic physical training techniques, he wouldn't have felt a thing. It seemed basic physical training wasn't omnipotent.

"This is a military hospital. What’s strange about a few people with heavy killing intent being here? Didn't you notice that before?" Christine looked at Li Mengdie with a smirk, her eyes mocking their incompetence.

Not only Li Mengdie but even Michael outside blushed. Neither of them had sensed the killing intent, and it was Zhao Li who had reminded them. They had lost face.

Li Mengdie, who had been competing with Christine, felt especially humiliated by Christine’s patronizing tone. She couldn't refute it, so she simply lowered her guard and went silent.

"However, you haven't experienced such scenes before, so it’s understandable," Christine said, being more diplomatic than Li Mengdie. "At least your martial arts are admirable; I am no match for you."

This made Li Mengdie feel slightly better. To Christine, it cost nothing; it was normal for someone specializing in medicine and charms to be less skilled in combat than someone from the Combat Department.

Yet, Li Mengdie still felt embarrassed. She didn't know how Michael felt outside, but the fact that Zhao Li had discovered the killing intent first made them look redundant as bodyguards.

It was a false alarm, and they had become the butt of Christine’s joke. However, for Michael and Li Mengdie, being laughed at by Christine was better than being laughed at by the oversight committee or outsiders.

This realization made Zhao Li understand that the higher-ups didn't care much for his safety. At best, he was a test subject for two rookies. Or perhaps, at a deeper level, he wasn't important enough to be targeted for elimination. That realization actually brought him some peace of mind.

Still, the conclusion was depressing. He couldn't find a reason why he would be targeted. The investigation was over, and he had told them everything. If they wanted to kill him, they would have done so while he was severely injured.

He was just an insignificant person. The two bodyguards from the Academy were a joke; he was merely their training target.

Naturally, Zhao Li wouldn't share this conclusion with Li Mengdie or Major Michael. He didn't mind hurting Michael’s pride, but he wouldn't do that to Li Mengdie. If she knew they were protecting someone who didn't need protection, it would be a huge blow to her confidence.

It seemed the top brass of the Academy for the Gifted cared about their students deeply. While training them, they used these opportunities to help them accumulate experience. They might even orchestrate a fake assassination or two for realism.

Thinking of this, Zhao Li couldn't help but worry. If the higher-ups were truly using him as a target, what should he do?

But then he reasoned that they would only arrange one or two rehearsals. If their first mission ended in a disastrous failure, it wouldn't be training—it would be a crushing blow.

With this thought, Zhao Li lost the tension he had felt earlier. When Christine saw him next, she was surprised.

"Little brother, why are you so happy today?" Christine leaned in close, her body undulating like a snake.

Li Mengdie, nearby, snorted coldly and turned her head away. It was time for Zhao Li’s medication, and even she couldn't stop Christine. What annoyed her was that this "senior sister" was always making suggestive gestures toward Zhao Li.

In Li Mengdie’s heart, there was no possibility for a student like Christine and a guy like Zhao Li. She felt a responsibility to warn her childhood friend. But she also knew the power of Christine’s charm techniques; she couldn't just tell Zhao Li to be careful.

Zhao Li’s performance surprised Li Mengdie. Even Michael couldn't look Christine in the eye, yet Zhao Li chatted and laughed with her, seemingly indifferent to her alluring charm. He went about his business, showing no signs of being captivated.

After Zhao Li shed his worries, his recovery accelerated. His wounds were healing at a visible rate. According to Christine’s estimate, he would be discharged in a few days.

There was no word on when the protection would end or what would happen to Zhao Li next. But he assumed he would return to the military district to await reassignment.

As the month of living together neared its end, Christine seemed reluctant to part, and Zhao Li reciprocated the sentiment.

Michael and Li Mengdie had not received further instructions, so they continued to shadow Zhao Li. Seeing the way Zhao Li and Christine parted, Li Mengdie felt a surge of unhappiness and snorted.

As she snorted, Zhao Li suddenly felt an extraordinary force sweeping toward him, like a giant python ready to swallow him whole, never to be seen again.