Chapter 126: Xiao He's Request (4/10)

“What do you want now?” Zhu Lan asked helplessly, looking at Xiao He some distance away with a grimace.

How strange. Why had Xiao He been following him all day?

When Xiao He realized that Zhu Lan had noticed her, she showed no surprise and walked straight over.

At Zhu Lan’s question, Xiao He fell silent.

“If you have something to say, then say it! I’m not going anywhere. Speak!”

“Zhu Lan, I need to ask you for a favor.”

“What is it?”

Xiao He did not answer. Instead, she glanced around them.

Zhu Lan frowned. “We’ll talk in my building.”

Xiao He nodded and silently followed Zhu Lan to the small building.

“Go ahead. What is it?”

Zhu Lan found her behavior rather strange. Xiao He had never acted like this before.

Xiao He looked somewhat embarrassed. She opened her mouth several times, but no words came out.

“If you’re not going to say anything, I’m leaving. I have plenty of things to do.”

“Wait!”

Xiao He immediately raised a hand to stop him.

“Are you going to speak or not?” Xiao He’s behavior was bizarre, but Zhu Lan had no patience for riddles.

Xiao He remained silent, yet upon seeing Zhu Lan’s growing impatience, she seemed to finally summon her courage.

“Zhu Lan, I want to borrow ten sets of combat equipment from you—the purely combat-oriented kind, not the modified versions you showed me.”

“Borrow?”

Xiao He nodded. “I’m borrowing them in my personal capacity. This has nothing to do with any official authority.”

Zhu Lan narrowed his eyes. Pure combat equipment? As far as he remembered, he had never shown Xiao He the complete version.

The equipment Xiao He had seen before was merely the stripped-down version Zhu Lan had modified. It lacked many components, including the intelligent support system, the second-generation genetic potion, and the weapons system.

Without those three things, the combat equipment was nothing more than an auxiliary enhancement device. It could not truly be called combat equipment.

The intelligent support system helped the wearer quickly understand the surrounding terrain. Wherever the wearer went, it downloaded a map covering a hundred kilometers in every direction. If necessary, it could clearly identify which routes were dead ends and which remained passable. Even small paths were marked in detail, because the system used military satellite maps, which were updated once every three months. All the data came from military spy satellites, so there was very little room for error.

The second-generation genetic potion was entirely different from the formulas developed by the government. Zhu Lan’s version had been synthesized by neutralizing the biological agents used in the exoskeleton system from Far Cry. In terms of potency, it was even more effective than the version in the game. Its usable duration was more than three times that of the exoskeleton’s biological agent. When necessary, electric stimulation could accelerate the potion’s effects and bring the user to peak condition.

However, that method carried severe side effects. Without another three or four weeks of recovery, the user would not return to normal—unless they also used a second-generation genetic repair solution.

As for the weapons system, there was nothing particularly unusual about it. Anyone who examined the combat equipment issued to Qin Shi and the others carefully would notice several weapon mounts.

“I refuse.”

Zhu Lan rejected her without even listening to her reasons.

“The combat equipment is a highly classified secret of the company. Even if the military wanted it, I couldn’t hand it over without authorization from the authorities. Xiao He, if you can produce official authorization, I can give you ten sets. Without it, there is nothing to discuss.”

Xiao He seemed to have expected this answer and was not discouraged.

“You’ll agree.”

“Oh? And why is that?”

Seeing the confidence on her face, Zhu Lan grew curious.

“I’m requesting these ten sets for my elder brother. He belongs to the overseas division of the Military Intelligence Bureau. He is currently tracking an organization—an extremely mysterious one. According to the intelligence, it is the same group that hunted you in the Middle East six months ago.”

Zhu Lan frowned. “If that is the case, applying for this kind of equipment should not be difficult. Besides, using such advanced equipment overseas could cause unnecessary trouble. What if the CIA has eyes everywhere? Your team might even be surrounded by American special forces.”

Xiao He nodded. “That is exactly the problem. While my brother’s overseas division was secretly investigating a location, they encountered equipment similar to yours. Ordinary bullets could not penetrate it, and without heavy weapons, they had no way to resist. That equipment was only a prototype, but without sufficiently powerful weapons, it was impossible to break through its defenses. Because of that, the overseas division suffered extremely heavy losses during the operation.

“They made a special request for similar equipment, but the authorities rejected it out of concern for secrecy. Instead, they allocated several pieces of equipment with exceptional penetrating power.”

“So you decided to come to me?”

Xiao He nodded without trying to hide it. “That’s right. Your combat equipment is, in some respects, even more advanced than what the government has developed. And since you are not part of a government institution, you are technically a commercial entity. In theory, you could transport the equipment overseas.”

Zhu Lan laughed. “Then I still refuse.”

Zhu Lan had also been investigating the people who had once hunted him, but the investigation had barely begun, and the matter was extremely difficult to pursue. One of the reasons he had taken a position overseas was to track down that organization. Yet after half a year of searching in the United States, he had found nothing.

Now, after hearing Xiao He’s explanation, he realized that he had been looking in the wrong direction.

Although Xiao He had not said where her brother was stationed overseas, it was certainly not in the Americas. South America was unlikely as well. That left only two possibilities: the Middle East or Africa.

Europe appeared to suffer frequent terrorist attacks, but it was impossible to operate freely there, especially for someone of East Asian descent. Only chaotic regions such as the Middle East and Africa offered enough room for such activities.

The Middle East possessed the oil China needed most, while Africa held abundant resources essential to China. Both regions had always been strategic priorities for the country.

There was no need to guess. Xiao He’s brother had to be in one of those two places.

“Zhu Lan, I know what you’re worried about. Nothing will happen to these ten sets of equipment. You can send people with us. And I believe you want to know about that organization too.”

Zhu Lan shook his head. “I may want answers, but I understand even better that equipment like this cannot appear overseas.”

Many of Illusion Technology’s products could not be taken abroad. Doing so would attract the attention of other countries, which would be disastrous for Zhu Lan’s development. Within China, the military helped conceal his activities, so he had little to fear. But once he left Chinese waters, the world outside belonged to NATO and the CIA. The moment he departed Chinese territorial waters, satellites would probably determine roughly what he was transporting. Unless he employed effective counter-detection measures, there would be nowhere to hide.

As for the genetic enhancement solution, Zhu Lan always had agents transport it. He did not handle delivery personally; doing so would be far too troublesome.

“Is there really no way?”

Zhu Lan shook his head. “Whatever your reason, I will not approve this in your personal capacity. No matter how you look at it, these are highly classified items. Unless the authorities issue an order, I will not agree.”

Xiao He grew anxious. “Zhu Lan, is there really no way? We don’t need ten sets. Five would be enough!”

“Even the kind you gave your security guards would do!”

Zhu Lan shook his head. “Not even one set. Without an official order, forget it.”

“Zhu Lan!”

Zhu Lan raised a hand to stop her. “Enough. If you want them, bring me an official order. Otherwise, there is nothing to discuss.”

With that, Zhu Lan turned and walked away, while Xiao He continued calling after him.

Zhu Lan lifted a hand, and Kong Yan immediately stepped forward.

“Major Xiao, please show some restraint.”

Xiao He glared angrily. “Get out of my way!”

Kong Yan said nothing. She simply stood there, unmoving.

“Damn it!”

Xiao He lashed out with her right fist. The blow tore through the air with a faint whistle. Her skills were clearly formidable.

But Kong Yan was faster.

She raised one hand and calmly blocked Xiao He’s attack.

Bang!

Xiao He’s fist struck Kong Yan’s palm with enough force to produce a sharp sonic boom. Xiao He staggered back several steps, her face turning ugly. Her hand had twisted at an unnatural angle. The powerful counterforce had broken the bones in it.

Xiao He was exceptionally strong, but striking Kong Yan was like striking a steel plate. The result was self-evident.

Xiao He’s expression changed dramatically. Everyone knew that Kong Yan was Zhu Lan’s bodyguard, but she was a woman, and no one had ever seen her fight. Her background was also shrouded in mystery. Since Zhu Lan had never spoken of it, no one knew the truth.

Only now did Xiao He realize how powerless she was before Kong Yan.

That attack had not been her full strength, but it was still not something just anyone could withstand. Born into a military family, Xiao He had trained with her grandfather since childhood. Even well-trained professional soldiers could not endure one of her ordinary blows.

Yet Kong Yan had blocked it effortlessly—and Xiao He’s hand had been injured in the process. That meant the strength of Kong Yan’s hand had completely surpassed the force of her attack.

Kong Yan’s hand was astonishingly pale and delicate, like that of a wealthy young lady. Yet beneath that delicate appearance lay terrifying power.

Xiao He had never truly taken Kong Yan seriously before. Now she regretted it.

“You should see a doctor,” Kong Yan said calmly before turning away.

Xiao He opened her mouth, but the intense pain in her hand forced her to grit her teeth. All she could do was watch Kong Yan quickly catch up with Zhu Lan.

“Nothing serious, I hope?” Zhu Lan asked.

“Boss, I controlled my strength. Major Xiao will recover within two days at most.”

“Mm.”

Zhu Lan nodded and said nothing more.

Regardless of the reason, there was no way he could agree. He was worried that someone might be testing him through Xiao He.

Still, the attempt had been so obvious that it hardly seemed like a test. No matter what the truth was, Zhu Lan could not accept such an outcome.

If the authorities truly needed the equipment, he would hand it over without complaint. What they did with it afterward was none of his concern. But if they had no official mandate and the equipment were used for something that brought trouble down upon Illusion Technology, he would never agree.

After leaving the small building, Zhu Lan turned and entered a narrow path nearby. At the end of the path stood a concealed gate. Beyond it lay Azure Base.

This was also the only entrance through which personnel from the Biological Division and military researchers could enter Azure Base. There were too many people stationed there now, so Zhu Lan no longer used the secret passage connecting his office to the small building. He had even ordered Red Queen to seal the passage, preventing anyone from discovering anything.

To be continued.