Crossgate Seal Chapter 335

Osaka Naval Base.
In the evidence room, only a few sealed plastic bags lay on the table, containing a dozen bullets.
“That’s all we’ve got?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Where’s the perpetrator?”
“Gone!”
“What about Eric and the other five? Their bodies? Their weapons?”
“Gone!”
“What about other evidence at the scene?”
“Gone!”
“Can you say anything other than ‘gone’?”
“It’s the coastal road, no streetlights, no surveillance. We got to the scene within three minutes of the gunshots, but there wasn’t a single person, and the road looked like it had been washed clean by the sea, not a trace left.”
“Are you joking with me?”
“No, sir!”
“Today, only Eric’s group of six who were on leave are unaccounted for. Some said they saw Eric and his men drinking, heading back along the coastal road. From the gunshots, it’s clear they ran into an enemy!”
A middle-aged officer, looking like a commander, said angrily, “In just three minutes, six Beacon Country soldiers were taken out, their bodies vanished, and the enemy had time to clean the scene?”
An officer replied, “I’m sorry, sir, but it seems that way.”
The commander shook his head, “Don’t give me apologies. This can’t end like this. I need answers! Who was the enemy? Why did they attack our soldiers? What happened at the scene? I want answers, and you will find them!”
“Yes, sir!”
…
Several officers left the base commander’s office, grumbling as they walked.
“Not a single trace, the scene’s as clean as a freshly bathed woman. Where are we supposed to find evidence?”
“But six guys died, on a Japanese base no less. The Pentagon will definitely ask questions, and the commander needs an explanation.”
“So?”
“So, the enemy clearly came from the sea!”
“Huh?”
“Their submarine slipped into Osaka Port, they came ashore on the coastal road, ran into Eric’s group, killed them when their weapons were outmatched, and dragged the bodies back to the sub.”
“Who were they?”
The officer shrugged, “Chinese, Japanese yakuza, or Southeast Asian drug traffickers, take your pick. They were making a deal in Osaka Bay, our boys stumbled upon it, and they died heroically trying to stop a crime.”
“Good! That’s good!”
“Send the case to the Kyoto police, have them assist in catching the culprits!”
“Yes, sir!”
…
The group walked in silence for a bit.
“Jack?”
“Yeah?”
“What’s really going on here?”
“How should I know?”
“I think your guess makes sense, but someone who can take out Eric’s group in three minutes and clean the scene? That’s no yakuza or drug trafficker.”
“Enough, drop it. This isn’t something we can discuss.”
“Fine.”
“Instead of talking about this, how about a drink at my dorm?”
“Absolutely!”
…
Watching them leave, Lu Zheng and Lin Wan, who had followed them, exchanged glances.
“That’s it?”
“Seems like it.”
After confirming that cameras, infrared, and night vision couldn’t pierce Lu Zheng’s invisibility technique, Lin Wan had dragged him along to tail the officers.
She was still worried they’d be found out.
Turns out, she’d overthought it.
“Let’s go back then,” Lin Wan whispered.
By now, Lu Zheng and Lin Wan had left the office building and reached the base’s plaza.
As Lin Wan pulled Lu Zheng to leave, he suddenly stopped.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, let’s head back to the hotel.”
“You’re not thinking of stealing some high-tech gear to hand over to the higher-ups, are you?”
Lu Zheng blinked, noticing Lin Wan’s eyes suddenly light up.
“I’m not! I didn’t! Don’t talk nonsense!”
“Well… it’s not a bad idea!”
“Aren’t you afraid of getting exposed?”
“We’re invisible, aren’t we?”
Seeing Lin Wan’s eager look, Lu Zheng rubbed his forehead, “But how do we get the stuff to the higher-ups?”
“Deliver it invisibly,” Lin Wan said matter-of-factly, “unless you want to get exposed.”
“No, I don’t!” Lu Zheng firmly refused.
“Then let’s look around!”
Seeing Lin Wan’s eyes darting about, Lu Zheng couldn’t help but ask, “How did you even come up with this idea?”
“What idea?”
“Stealing good stuff to hand over to the authorities?”
“Don’t novels always write it like that? Art comes from reality, so plenty of people must think this way,” Lin Wan said.
Lu Zheng blinked, feeling her logic was oddly convincing.
Lin Wan started walking, and Lu Zheng followed, “Stay within a metre of me, or my invisibility spell won’t cover you!”
“Got it, got it!”
Lin Wan nodded eagerly, her eyes gleaming, exclaiming as they walked, “You’ve got storage gear and an invisibility spell. You’re practically a born…”
Lu Zheng blinked, expressionless, “Born what?”
“Nothing! Nothing!” Lin Wan chuckled, smoothing things over.
Looking at Lu Zheng now, she felt like he was a treasure trove. She loved how he was gradually revealing his secrets to her.
It was a feeling of trust, importance, intimacy, and connection.
She could tell Lu Zheng felt the same, slowly revealing bits of himself, like little surprises in life, each bringing them emotional joy.
And on the foundation of this emotional fulfillment and excitement, they could engage in another kind of exchange.
What’s mind and body in harmony? This was it!
Lin Wan had a feeling that once she mastered the *Taiyuan Mysterious Book*, Lu Zheng might have an even bigger surprise waiting for her!
She was very much looking forward to it.
…
“What new gear does this base have? I’m not a military buff, I don’t know,” Lu Zheng said as they wandered aimlessly around the base.
“Uh… I don’t know either…” Lin Wan said hesitantly, looking around with a hint of confusion.
Lu Zheng, “…”
If we don’t know anything, what were we even doing just now?
Just sightseeing?
“How about we take a plane back?” Lin Wan eyed an F35 nearby.
“You really think my gourd has infinite space?” Lu Zheng said helplessly.
“Huh? It doesn’t?” Lin Wan said innocently, “Don’t novels say they can hold entire mountains?”
Lu Zheng gave a wry smile, “Of course not. It’s only ten by ten by ten.”
“Alright, guess that won’t fit,” Lin Wan said regretfully, “Your gourd’s kind of lame!”
Lu Zheng took a deep breath. Now wasn’t the time, but tonight, he’d show Lin Wan just how capable he was.
“Also…”
Lu Zheng glanced at the plane, “If we disassembled it into parts, it could probably fit.”