Chapter 555: Chapter 550: Preparing to Leave
The same situation happened in several major families, where family assets not only shrunk by half but power was also severely damaged, with promising younger generations encountering successive mishaps, almost eliminating their future prospects.
Those in power guessed it was Beizhou’s doing, but had no evidence and did not even know what method was used.
This unknown fear is the true terrifying aspect.
They developed a fear of the mysterious person behind Beizhou, even losing any intention to retaliate.
When one stronghold after another was precisely destroyed by warriors sent by the International Alliance, those evils hidden in the dark finally came to light.
The International Hunter Alliance was the first to be hit, a civilian organization advocating for the freedom of movement for superpower users, closely linked to the Eternal Life Sect.
Anyone witnessing the brutal actions of the Eternal Life Sect would not tolerate such an organization legally existing.
Worldwide opposition movements against the Hunter Alliance arose, supporting the global unified management and transparent information of superpower users.
Under the joint initiative of representatives from the Hua Continent, South Continent, and West Continent, the International Alliance launched the Global Smart Brain Collaborative Project.
It established a unified international superpower user database, strengthening cooperative relationships on medical, superpower safety, and religious belief fronts.
The International Hunter Alliance was also uniformly managed, requiring all superpower users to register in the database, subjected to oversight by the International Superpower User Management Center.
This wind of freedom seemed dispersed, yet transformed into resting birds, returning to stable nests.
No one can live entirely reckless and carefree.
Not even the world’s strongest—Ji Ning.
***
Time flies like an arrow; the years flash by.
In a blink, five years later.
In the First Military Academy’s simulation training room, a thrilling simulated battle had just ended.
Bai Xiaotang removed her helmet, wiped sweat from her forehead, and exhaled a long breath.
Finally won, didn’t let Sister Ning down.
By this time, Bai Xiaotang had bid farewell to the immaturity of her teenage years; her figure elongated like willow branches in spring, nearly reaching 175cm in height, with her baby fat replaced by an egg-shaped face, significantly steadier.
Wearing a dark green base training suit, her waist-length hair had long been cut short.
Holding the helmet with one hand as she exited the training pod, she attracted many admiring glances.
"Bai Xiaotang, you were amazing. How did you come up with that backstepping tactic?"
A male classmate from her neighboring training pod inquired with wide-eyed excitement.
"Instructor Ning taught well." Bai Xiaotang’s sharp gaze landed on a more than a meter-high podium ahead.
Among a row of instructors, her gaze accurately fell on the shortest, seemingly weakest young woman standing among a group of tall figures.
Ji Ning also looked at Bai Xiaotang, who had grown into a young lady, with a hint of satisfaction in her eyes.
At this moment, a tall figure leaped onto the podium from below, saluting the row of people, then approached Ji Ning and whispered, "Your car is at the school’s entrance. Shall we go now?"
Ji Ning nodded slightly, handing a slightly yellowed notebook to Fu Yuanxuan beside her.
"Please deliver this to Bai Xiaotang for me."
Fu Yuanxuan hesitated, "She’s right in front, wouldn’t you give it to her yourself?"
Ji Ning remained silent for a while, "No."
...
Ye Tong, who was applying makeup, also received a carved redwood box from Li Xiang.
The box’s antique design instantly gave a sense of age.
"What’s this?"
"Leader Ji sent it to you."
"Did Sister Ning come for a visit?" Ye Tong’s face lit with joy; she abandoned her makeup, standing up directly from the dressing table.
Since Sister Ning and Tangtang left for the First Military Academy, she hadn’t seen them for nearly a year.
Even her new movie premiere invitation was missed by both of them.
Seeing her disregarding makeup, Li Xiang quickly stopped her, "No, it’s been sent by someone from Leader Ji."
Ye Tong paused, turned to look at the wooden box Li Xiang was holding.
The box was not big, about the size of two palms.
She immediately took it, carefully placing it on the dressing table, opening the lid.
Inside was an antique carved key and a note.
The note had a line of words: [Huazhou Bank No. 001 safety deposit box key]
Safety deposit box key?
Ye Tong picked up the carved key, examining it carefully.
The long end of the key was hexagonal, each edge intricately engraved with fine lines, the carvings finely detailed.
The other end was hollowed, carved with plum blossoms, through which an ancient word—Ji—could be seen.
This is...
Ye Tong hurriedly returned the key to the wooden box and closed the lid.
Her hands moved a bit hastily; she raised her head and said to Li Xiang, "Ah Xiang, give me the phone."
Li Xiang quickly took out Ye Tong’s phone and handed it to her.
Ye Tong anxiously opened the phone and dialed someone’s number, but there was no answer; she became impatient, dialing repeatedly, but again no answer.
"Xiao Tong, what’s wrong? Who are you trying to reach?"
Ye Tong ignored her, continuing to dial the phone; finally, this time, someone answered.
She asked, "Xiao Yang, can you reach Sister Ning?"
Five minutes ago, Lin Yuanyang received a dry ice box escorted by several A-level detectives from the Security Bureau, which contained a 2ml small test tube.
With just a glance, Lin Yuanyang knew it contained human blood.
One of the detectives said, "The leader asked us to deliver this to you."
Lin Yuanyang’s nerves immediately tensed, anxiously asking, "Did she say anything else?"
"She said, this is a backup plan."
Lin Yuanyang’s hands clenched suddenly, eyes watering, "Did Sister Ning leave?"
"I’m sorry."
Lin Yuanyang’s gaze dimmed significantly.
In recent years, alongside studying at Huazhou’s highest academic institution, he entered the Ministry of Security Information Technology Center exceptionally, primarily responsible for Huazhou’s Smart Brain network security maintenance, thus learning many S-level secrets, among which is the highest confidentiality level [318217] Pollution Zone monitoring task.
Initially, he didn’t understand why this area was given such attention.
But with the redeployment of the Nanling Pollution Zone defense line, Beizhou Research Center’s establishment of a substation near the pollution zone, and Sister Ning leading people into the pollution zone for confidential tasks every time, he learned of some truths.
The mutant beasts in that area have very high levels, some even possessing intelligence comparable to that of a five or six-year-old child.
The area has a special magnetic field causing all electronic equipment to fail, rendering human entry extremely dangerous. His monitoring task was to oversee the magnetic field changes there, reporting once it reached peak value and stabilized.
He had just reported yesterday, and today Sister Ning sent her blood through the hands of others.
Hence, she is about to enter that perilous area.
"Ding——"
"Incoming call from Miss Ye Tong, would you like to answer?"
The smart brain on Lin Yuanyang’s wrist rang suddenly; Lin Yuanyang suppressed his emotions, "Answer."
Soon a voice came from the other end, "Xiao Yang, can you reach Sister Ning?"
"What’s wrong?"
"She suddenly sent someone to deliver a wooden box to me, inside was her safety deposit box key. I feel like she’s leaving and won’t return. Can you reach her? I’m very uneasy..."
Ye Tong’s voice was very anxious; a woman’s sixth sense helped her escape numerous traps, she trusted it greatly.
Now, Ji Ning’s act of giving her belongings reminded her inexplicably of Su Qiangwei five years ago.
Lin Yuanyang’s eyes reddened again; he worked hard to suppress the unusual tones in his voice, "Don’t worry, she’s fine; she’s going on a mission."
"But, why give me the safety deposit box key?"
"Probably to renew it, asking you to spare some time to handle the insurance payment matter for her."
"Really?"
"We’ll know by going to the bank over the weekend."
After temporarily calming Ye Tong, Lin Yuanyang looked up at the man opposite them, "I have something to give Sister Ning."
