The next morning, while Lu Zheng and Lin Wan were having breakfast at the hotel, they noticed some activity at the naval base.
“It looks like they’ve noticed,” Lu Zheng said, rubbing his chin.
“A plane’s gone missing. How could they not notice?” Lin Wan scooped a spoonful of millet porridge into her mouth, her face radiant, her skin glowing. Then, with some concern, she added, “Was our move this time a bit too bold?”
Having cultivated martial arts vitality and consumed various rare treasures provided by Lu Zheng, Lin Wan was increasingly confident in her strength.
She could withstand bullets, move at lightning speed.
Despite occasionally wearing Black Widow’s outfit, Black Widow was no longer her match, and even Captain America probably wouldn’t stand a chance.
With their abilities, the two could turn the naval base upside down if they wanted.
But that’s not how things work.
The modern world is a technology-driven one dominated by ordinary people. There’s no Captain America, no Iron Man, no vampires, no peerless sword immortals. Those are just characters in stories.
Have you considered the impact on the world if such beings appeared?
Have you thought about the reactions from global leaders?
All sorts of people, well-meaning, malicious, or curious, would come knocking.
Reality isn’t a movie.
Being skilled in martial arts, developing a sense of qi to knock someone flying, that’s the limit. But being able to turn invisible, store items in a spatial device, dodge bullets, or single-handedly disrupt a military base…
What are you trying to pull?
Once you let the arrow fly, there’s no turning back. If exposed, you’d have to go all in.
Lu Zheng wasn’t ready to cause such a worldview-shattering impact on the modern world, and Lin Wan was uneasy about the potential consequences of their exposure, so she did her best to help him cover their tracks.
Being flashy is easy. Restraint is hard.
So, using extraordinary powers to spirit away an F-35 fighter jet and nearly half a warehouse of thermobaric bombs from the Beacon Country’s naval base felt exhilarating at the time. Lin Wan was so thrilled she took on Lu Zheng for half the night. But afterward, she couldn’t help feeling a bit worried.
“Were we too reckless?”
Lu Zheng reassured her, “It’s fine. We didn’t expose ourselves. Who would even think of supernatural powers? Think about how that officer was speculating yesterday.”
Lin Wan nodded.
Though the conversation had stopped, it was clear the officer was leaning toward theories of foreign agents or internal Beacon Country military figures.
The latter seemed more likely, given the internal factional disputes in Beacon Country were far from trivial.
“So…”
“It’s obviously an inside job!” Lu Zheng nodded gravely. “It could even be linked to the disappearance of those six soldiers last night.”
An insider collaborating with outsiders, planning to steal an F-35 from the base, was accidentally discovered by Eric and his team, who were then tragically silenced.
Yet, the culprits didn’t stop. They proceeded as planned, sneaking into the base at night and quietly taking a fighter jet.
As for why the surveillance caught nothing and the patrols found no trace…
Clearly, the culprits were highly skilled, aided by meticulous insider cooperation!
So, the naval base’s next move would likely be a thorough investigation for insiders, stirring up paranoia. They might even uncover some actual insiders.
But those would have nothing to do with this incident, because the real culprits would never be found…
This had nothing to do with Lu Zheng and Lin Wan, of course…
Listening to Lu Zheng’s serious analysis of the situation, Lin Wan could only feel exasperated.
But, it kind of made sense?
Put yourself in their shoes. Who would suspect a case like this was pulled off by a superhuman with invisibility and spatial storage?
If you wrote a report like that, wouldn’t it be an insult to the intelligence of those in charge?
So, Lin Wan smiled brightly, ate a croissant to replenish the energy she’d burned last night, and felt a bit better.
Lu Zheng smiled and said, “Our flight’s in the afternoon. We’ve got plenty of time. Let’s stroll around Osaka city this morning.”
Lin Wan nodded. “Sure, I’ll pick up some souvenirs for Xiu Min and my colleagues.”
…
Losing a plane must have driven the naval base into a frenzy, but Osaka city seemed unaffected.
It was peacetime, after all. Even though Beacon Country was Japan’s overlord, they couldn’t just lock down a major city, especially one with tens of thousands of tourists.
So, after breakfast, Lu Zheng and Lin Wan checked out of the hotel, leisurely wandered around Osaka city, bought some souvenirs and local specialties, had a traditional Japanese lunch at a local restaurant, and caught their flight to Haicheng in the afternoon.
…
“When do we deliver that plane?”
“No rush. Let’s wait a few months.”
“Mm,” Lu Zheng nodded, understanding Lin Wan’s reasoning.
Don’t assume others are fools. If they delivered the plane right away, a quick check of travel records between the two locations would make their profiles stand out in bold red.
But if they waited a few months, the pool of suspects would grow. If Lu Zheng made a discreet trip elsewhere without using public transport, even Sherlock Holmes or Di Renjie reborn wouldn’t pin it on them.
“What do you want to eat?”
“Hotpot!” Lin Wan said. “Japanese food is a bit bland. I’m craving something spicy.”
“Spicy, huh?” Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, what’s wrong?” Lin Wan asked.
“Nothing,” Lu Zheng shook his head. “I was just wondering which kind of hotpot. Chongqing or Minnan?”
“Chongqing, of course!”
“Let’s go!”
…
After a Chongqing hotpot dinner, they returned home hand in hand, finding that the packages sent from Japan had already arrived.
Toys, figurines, manga, DVDs, and… clothes?
So…
Lu Zheng and Lin Wan carefully examined the clothes bought from Japan. Lin Wan tried on a few pieces.
2B’s outfit was a bit tight, but Mai Shiranui’s fit perfectly.
They were combat outfits, not restricting movement or poses. Lin Wan even humoured Lu Zheng by trying some high-difficulty poses from certain anime.
Frequent costume changes were exhausting, though. After trying just a few, Lin Wan was worn out.
“I need a break!” she said, panting.
“Alright,” Lu Zheng nodded, sighing. “Who’d have thought Tifa’s outfits, with just a tank top and skirt, would have so many differences in the details.”
Lin Wan gritted her teeth. “Just talk properly, don’t mess around!”
“Okay!”
“Mm…”
Lin Wan blinked, gave Lu Zheng a hard smack, and gave in…
