Novel Bin Chapter 156 - Kidnapping
Chapter 156 - Kidnapping
translator: xiin
editors: apricot & juurensha
The sound across the channel was noisy and disorderly as the star ship docked with a powerful impact.
“My Lord!”
“Customs has been completely shut down, and all Azure Cosmos and Blue Star channels are under surveillance.”
“Wei Yan has been caught, and the results from the lie detector test are out. He really didn’t know anything. He only made plans to seek vengeance against Shao Yu...”
“Only 46 ships left the port within the past half an hour. At present, we’re unable to locate Mr. Wu...”
Floating Base.
The military grade suspension car appeared. Mao Dongqing’s expression was as cold as frost as he ran to the residential area with Wei Shi. The area had been cordoned off early on, and all of the surveillance on the base was being extracted and analyzed.
Zhou Nan and two military doctors were standing in the room where Wu Jin had disappeared from, talking in low voices. The atmosphere was heavy.
Footsteps could be heard approaching in a hurry.
Zhou Nan turned back, his heart thumping fiercely, “Brother Wei––”
He’d never seen Wei Shi like this.
The man’s spine was straight, his face cold and tense. The whites of his eyes were bloodshot, seemingly streaked with angry, bright red lightning.
“Calm down first.” Zhou Nan barely managed to spit the words out.
Wei Shi: “Speak.”
Zhou Nan: “The blood test results are out. It’s Little Witch’s blood. Judging from the tissue sample, the wound was near the left arm artery, a knife wound.”
The room was suddenly silent.
The left artery was cut. Mao Dongqing’s eyelids jumped, his fist clenched, and his fingertips cut into the palm of his hand due to the great force he exerted. Zhou Nan didn’t dare to look at Wei Shi’s expression again and continued speaking anxiously, “The weapon was the fruit knife on the fruit platter, but only Little Witch’s fingerprints were found on the handle.”
“One can of quick-healing spray is missing from the medical first aid box. There are strange, gloved fingerprints at the opening of the box. Little Witch’s terminal was dismantled and thrown out the window––”
After capturing Wu Jin, Shao Yu had obviously cut off all contact with the outside world.
First, falsify the surveillance recordings to lure the tiger away from the mountain, and then launch a decisive escape.
Zhou Nan took a deep breath, “There are traces of a struggle at the scene. Presumably, Shao Yu first scrambled the signal in the room, then smashed the glass and jumped in. He kidnapped Wu Jin and then escaped by car.”
When faced with Wei Shi’s cold, inhuman gaze, Zhou Nan seemed to have difficulty breathing, “During the fight, Wu Jin picked up the fruit knife to defend himself, and Shao Yu twisted the blade and cut his left artery––”
The pressure in the air was so heavy that it was eerie.
Nobody dared to make any noise at this time.
Mao Dongqing looked straight at Wei Shi. As the base guard commander, he had to take full responsibility for Wu Jin’s disappearance. However, before taking the punishment for his guilt, he had to find Wu Jin first.
He knew that nobody was more enraged than Wei Shi.
To everyone’s surprise, Wei Shi spoke in a low voice, his sound hoarse, “Where is his terminal.”
A bodyguard immediately handed over the terminal that had been picked up from the grass and sealed up in a transparent evidence bag.
Zhou Nan’s expression was pained, and he tried to persuade him, “Shao Yu won’t do anything to Little Witch. What he wants is a complete scabbard. When Shao Yu left, he dropped everything heavy, including the terminal, and only took the injury recovery drugs––”
The psychiatrist suddenly fell into a daze.
Shao Yu had to take injury recovery drugs which meant Wu Jin’s wound was deeper than expected.
And then, everyone looked at Wei Shi in consternation. The man removed the terminal from the evidence bag. On the virtual screen that lit up with the movement, they were shocked to find that there were over 60 missed calls and messages.
Wei Shi didn’t seem to notice them, his hands moving so quickly they left virtual shadows as he opened up the side of the terminal.
There was a 3mm chip slot there.
The chip that should’ve been attached was nowhere to be seen.
Mao Dongqing stared at it for a few seconds before blurting out, “This––the tracking chip slot?”
A month ago, after Wei Shi had run into that accident, and while Wu Jin was still in Floating City, the technical team had specifically cut out a slot in Wu Jin’s terminal and attached a special chip that could sound out early warnings, track, and monitor signs from within a short range. It had a 3mm diameter, and the energy stored within was too small, so it could only be used for positioning tracking within 100km.
Zhou Nan was stunned, “Where’s the chip? Wait a minute, could it be that Little Witch himself––”
Shao Yu didn’t know about Floating City’s research and development of these chips.
Wu Jin had read all the detailed instructions regarding the chip.
The most important link in this reasoning was the knife wound on Wu Jin’s wrist. Shao Yu knew the structure of the human body like the palm of his hand. It was almost impossible for him to have injured the youth’s wrist artery while disarming Wu Jin.
All arguments were overturned in a flash.
Wei Shi looked at the fruit knife marked with the fluorescent fingerprints, then reached out to simulate his grip.
The fingers that were wider than Wu Jin’s curved together loosely. Wei Shi accurately simulated Wu Jin’s movements from two hours ago.
He pressed down on the handle of the knife with his thumb, locked his index finger below it, and then made a clean horizontal stroke on his left wrist.
His eyes didn’t blink at all.
Zhou Nan’s shoulders shook.
He stood at the spot where the blood had been found and suddenly looked up. All the clues linked together––
Two hours ago.
First of all, the signal in the room was blocked, and Wu Jin realized that danger was approaching faster than expected. Because Wei Shi was on the Blue Star thousands of miles away, nobody in the Floating Base was Shao Yu’s opponent.
Shao Yu would undoubtedly seize his terminal.
Before Shao Yu could kidnap him, Wu Jin had already predicted what would happen to himself. His analytical thinking and reasoning was as accurate as it was in any survival show game.
Wu Jin saved himself in that quick spark of an instant.
There was no shouting, no attempt to escape from the S-level danger. Without hesitation, he cut his left wrist and stuffed the tracking chip inside. The pulse of his wrist, the most intense rhythm on the surface of his body, would instantly obscure the barely noticeable signal waves from the tiny chip.
Betting everything on one desperate move.
Nobody knew how he’d managed to conceal it from Shao Yu.
Wei Shi raised his gaze, the darkness beneath the inorganic coldness of his gaze seemed to shift, “Track the chip.”
Researcher Song, who’d just arrived at the door, jolted to attention, “There has been no fluctuation from the chip. Shao Yu should have blocked all signals around Little Witch.”
“However, he can’t keep the shielding up forever.”
Wei Shi nodded slowly, “Keep looking.”
The people in the room all poured out. Mao Dongqing knocked a fist against his chest and bowed to Wei Shi. As the base commander, he was guilty of dereliction of duty, but he had to continue to the central control room to resume enactment of martial law.
From behind him.
In the room that was filled with the smell of blood, there was a dull noise, and a slight tremor from the wall.
Zhou Nan turned back.
Wei Shi had punched the wall with his fist, his head bowed. His expression couldn’t be seen clearly.
“Let’s go.” Zhou Nan urged Mao Dongqing to leave, “Give Brother Wei some time.”
“Compared with Shao Yu, it’s harder for him to forgive himself.”
Wu Jin opened up his eyes and saw a boundless sea of stars.
The French windows were clean and bright and seemed to blend into the dark ether wind. The distant stars were bright and dazzling, scattered like dust in the boundless sky.
Someone was playing the piano behind him.
At 66 beats per minute, the strains of music flowed out of the piano body and reverberated back and forth.
The piano keys moved the hammer that struck the strings as the asteroid belt outside the window hit and cracked the star ship’s protective cover before dispersing into the universe.
Wu Jin woke up abruptly.
The wound on his left wrist was nearly healed, the pain replaced by numbness. Just by looking at the protective shield outside the window, the size of the star ship had to be at least 90,000 tons, making it closer in size to the historical roaming aircraft carriers.
This was a long-distance star ship.
Wu Jin didn’t understand much about space routes. He’d only been to Floating City and the dinosaur breeding planet. In terms of long distance––
In the star map in his memories, the longest route from the Floating City could even reach the Imperial capital.
The sounds of the piano slowly came to a stop.
Wu Jin forcefully controlled himself not to check on the chip in his left wrist, his brain moving sluggishly due to the drugs.
“Asteroid belt.” The sighing tone rang out beside his ear, “Each piece of gravel is like a star, born in the dust, then scattered into dust after death. However, the death of rubble is just death, while stars will end in a brilliant explosion.”
“Stars were born noble.”
“Gravel is nothing but humble dust, debris, and scrap.”
A pure black rose was handed over to Wu Jin.
Shao Yu spoke softly, “I’ve found my star.”
Wu Jin lifted his head.
Shao Yu wore a dark Imperial robe, and his aura was toned down. He knelt on one knee in front of Wu Jin’s reclining chair. His piano playing had been perfect, his etiquette was precise and elegant, and he appeared like the world’s most perfect aristocrat.
Before Wu Jin could react, his left hand was lifted up, and the ferocious scab left by the healing wound was licked by the tip of a tongue––
Wu Jin struggled violently, his stomach churning.
Shao Yu bowed his head. The youth’s face was extremely pale, and after being injected with a tranquilizer, his features were calm and soft, like a delicate and fragile work of art. Wu Jin’s hair was soft and curly, the outline of his cheek a lovely, lively lovely arc. His eyes were round and bright.
Every inch of him made Shao Yu’s blood boil.
It was a pity. Shao Yu rubbed at the wound with his fingertips, “Little Jin, you really don’t remember me.”
“You even threatened me with cutting your wrist in order to refuse me.” Shao Yu’s breath burned suddenly, and his deep and handsome facial features showed an unnatural flush, “Or in other words, you knew that I would be distressed.”
Shao Yu’s heartbeat sped up, and he placed his cheek against the wood, “Little Jin, don’t worry. I’ll correct your mistakes for you.”
Wu Jin’s hair stood on end, and he couldn’t help but resist, “Mister... Mister Shao!”
His voice was hoarse and weak.
Shao Yu’s eardrums twitched slightly. It was as though he had heard the most delightful moan. His eyes locked obsessively on Wu Jin’s fragile throat.
“!” Wu Jin was shocked, “If you have something to say, please say it!” What kind of damned stalker fan was this ahhhhh!
Stalker fans abducting artists, wasn’t it all so that he could sing and dance for him?! But who the hell knew what Shao Yu had injected him with? At this time, his hands and feet were numb, and his thoughts weren’t clear––
Shao Yu chuckled.
For a moment, Wu Jin saw a strange, almost insane expression on his face. Shao Yu’s facial features were unique, and Wu Jin clearly remembered Shao Yu’s fierce and dignified expression on the poster that was up on the corridor of the White Moonlight building. However, at this time, it was creepy and weird.
There was only one explanation.
Shao Yu’s hormones were seriously imbalanced!!
Wu Jin had a crazy conclusion that trying to escape was useless, and Shao Yu had already started to speak again.
“Since you don’t remember, then I’ll tell you again.” Shao Yu pulled over a chair and sat beside Wu Jin, his straight legs coming close to Wu Jin’s knee, “When I was nine years old, I ‘created’ you. You needed to have amber pupils, a beautiful face, and soft, brown curly hair. I wanted you to be born similar to me, so you even have some genes from my father.”
“I wanted you to be single-minded and devoted, and I wanted you to satisfy all my fantasies––”
Wu Jin was horrified and carefully pointed to his head, “My-my hair was dyed temporarily for the talent show...”
Shao Yu: “Didn’t you notice that it hadn’t faded even after so long?”
Wu Jin tried to calm his kidnapper’s mood and communicate with him, “It’s because the hair dye quality is too good?”
Shao Yu smiled lightly, “No. Wu Jín’s hair was dyed, but yours isn’t.”
Wu Jin: “???”
Shao Yu sighed, “But, you still betrayed me after all.”
Wu Jin was shocked silly, “I-I-I-I... I’m a good citizen, and I didn’t do anything––”
Shao Yu fixed his eyes on Wu Jin, waves surging in his gaze. He seemed to be looking at his own past from many years ago, and also seemed to be looking at a work of art that was connected to him by blood. When he’d kidnapped the youth, the youth had held a sharp knife and fought like a fierce little beast. At this time, half of his body was under anesthesia, and he looked beautiful and gentle.
If, back then in the R-Code Base, if he hadn’t mistakenly thought that Wu Jin was a ‘failed product’, then the one who would’ve taken him towards glory would’ve been himself. And it wouldn’t have been that bastard Wei Shi. It was a fateful mistake, but just like a fragile pencil mark, it could still be easily erased and changed.
Shao Yu skillfully opened up the medical box.
He took out a needle and reagent.
“I’m sorry.” Shao Yu spoke in a comforting tone, “But. Your memory, it has to be corrected and adjusted.”
Wu Jin looked at the needle in a daze. Intuition kicked in before his body could react, filling him with a sharp fear. There were countless pieces of information floating in his mind, and the pungent scent of the drug broke through the shackles on his memories––
He remembered this syringe.
And it wasn’t limited to just remembering.
A second before the metal needle stabbed into his vein, Wu Jin’s eyes changed abruptly. A cold light burst out from his pupils, and the youth suddenly broke out of the control of the anesthetic. The faint and smooth muscle on his right arm contracted tightly, his strength almost reaching the peak of human physical strength. Wu Jin hit the needle away, and it flew towards Shao Yu––
Shao Yu reached out and caught the syringe easily.
“You’re really disobedient.”
Shao Yu dropped the syringe that was worth nearly one million credits and opened up a new tube.
A trainee who’d only undergone six months of combat training was still vulnerable when faced with a human-shaped weapon that had been training for years.
The needle slid beneath the skin of Wu Jin’s right hand.
Wu Jin’s face suddenly turned pale.
Shao Yu’s expression was faintly excited as the needle was pushed in.
Wu Jin panted for breath, sweat gathering on his forehead. For a moment, his pupils almost went blank. Inside his mind, it seemed like there was a star disintegrating into dust, scattering its debris everywhere. After losing its protective cover, the deepest ruins in his memory were exposed to the light.
3000.2.14. In the new millennium, the ‘scabbard’ experiment was restarted. The name of the experimental subject, Wu Jin.
Genes and ‘growth experience’ jointly determined the subject’s personality and performance. The new batch of ‘scabbard’ experiments would re-experience their original genetic owner’s life through ‘immersion scenario reproduction’.
––“It’s just an immersion scenario reproduction. Isn’t learning to dance putting in too much effort? That’s someone else’s life story. What does it have to do with a copied product?”
Wu Jin’s pale, white lips moved.
It mattered.
Holding on for a month, being injected with countless reagents, just for the sake of waiting to enter the experimental module. Inside the cabin, there was the ‘immersion scenario’, which held the gentle dean of the orphanage, fighting and playing with a group of fellow students, and the bright dance room.
It was just a page in someone else’s story.
But it was all he had.
In the star ship cabin, the injection was pushed in all the way.
Shao Yu stared obsessively at the Wu Jin who had been ‘reset to zero’.
The youth’s eyes were closed in the reclining chair, and there was no way to tell if he was asleep or unconscious.
Shao Yu stood up excitedly.
Outside the window were countless dazzling stars, burning with new life.
Shao Yu eagerly tidied up his own appearance. He was nervous like a teenager on his first date. He played a gentle symphony in the cabin. The long velvet covered table was adorned with expensive black roses, leaving clusters of flowers everywhere. Retro wooden photo frames were placed in front of the table.
In the frames, Wu Jin and Shao Yu embraced each other gently.
The music was slow and beautiful.
Shao Yu checked over his ‘wish list’ for the last time.
Wu Jin woke up just as the last note of the music sounded.
Shao Yu coaxed in a low voice, “You’ve finally woken up. I’ve been waiting for you for a very long time.”
Wu Jin’s eyes were misty and blank.
Shao Yu chuckled, “It can’t be that you’ve turned silly, right? Do you still remember who you are?”
Wu Jin paused for a few seconds, then shook his head.
Shao Yu tried to hold his hand and tilted his head, “Little fool. I asked you to marry me, and you were so happy that you fainted.”
Wu Jin looked up slowly.
His left hand slid down powerlessly.
The sleeve moved to block the tracking chip hidden beneath the skin’s surface.
Juurensha: NOOOO SHAO YU HOW DARE YOU ERASE LITTLE WITCH’S MEMORY, I HOPE HE MURDERS YOU
apricot: OMG EW
xiin: creeeeeeeep!! (also, it will be okay, it will be okay, but you might need some brain bleach)