Accompanied by the melodious dance music, 13 exited the restroom. Placing a "Under Maintenance" sign at the doorway...
His mood seemed somewhat alleviated, perhaps due to catharsis, perhaps because the accursed dance had concluded! Observing the hall lights illuminate once more, Hideaki's hand also departed from Zhenxian's body. 13 regained composure.
Glancing sideways at the passageway discovered upon entry, 13 harbored his own intentions...
"Miss Song dances exceptionally well!" Hideaki offered praise with a smile.
Zhenxian offered no reply, her face bearing only an expression of revulsion. Scanning the entire hall, 13's figure was no longer present. A sense of loss spontaneously arose.
"Detest me? Yet, we still have numerous matters to discuss. Shall we..." Hideaki gestured with a "please" posture, indicating towards the balcony direction.
Proceeding slowly, a hundred objections resided within Zhenxian's heart, yet only the path of compliance remained.
Today boasted fine, clear weather. The luminous moon rivaled the indoor lighting in brightness, yet possessed a gentler quality. Illuminating the deserted balcony, it exuded tranquility. Adjacent flora seemed to bloom joyously. It presented a rare, beautiful tableau. Yet, Zhenxian lacked the disposition for appreciation. Walking straight to the edge of the ornate railing...
Turning back, she inquired, "How do you propose to resolve this?"
Hideaki, behind her, strangely found himself speechless, solely because the princess beneath the moon seemed to merge into the night. The surrounding flora appeared to smile towards her; moonlight greedily bathed her face. This constituted the most beautiful painting in the entire world, titled "Moon Goddess"!
Zhenxian paid no heed to Hideaki's unusual reaction; she merely contemplated how to preserve innocent lives. Yet, regardless of contemplation, she possessed no leverage for negotiation...
After a pause, Hideaki regained normalcy. As commander of three armies, such composure was fundamental.
"The moonlight tonight is truly beautiful." Approaching Zhenxian's side, supporting himself with both hands on the concrete railing, exhibiting a leisurely demeanor.
"Speak. What terms must be met for you to release them?" Zhenxian stated directly.
"Miss Song, are you jesting?" Hideaki looked up at the beautiful moon. "They are guerrillas, individuals bearing arms against us. For us to release them seems somewhat unreasonable, does it not?!"
"Yet they have never initiated any attacks! Providing them weapons was merely basic self-preservation. Moreover, the majority among them are children!" Zhenxian's emotions grew somewhat agitated.
"In warfare, even a child bearing a weapon constitutes a lethal instrument," Hideaki stated frigidly. "What matters is not whether they possess weapons, but whether they accept Japan. If perpetual hatred persists, they remain solely a threat to us."
"Do you intend to execute them?" Zhenxian's voice trembled.
"Barring unforeseen circumstances, yes!" Hideaki affirmed resolutely.
"Beast!" Zhenxian bit her lip tightly.
"However, unforeseen circumstances typically befall those possessing strength." Hideaki straightened, directly facing the infuriated Zhenxian. "You are precisely a person possessing 'strength'..."
"You jest!" Zhenxian retorted sarcastically. "My humble network development company—what asset could possibly catch Your Excellency's eye? As for wealth, merely several tens of billions in assets; any major Japan international enterprise surpasses us. I believe the affluent Japan hardly lacks my meager contribution..."
"Miss Song misunderstands. The strength I refer to is not economic." Hideaki smiled faintly, then abruptly turned grave. "I refer to the 'Snake' system!"
"You!" Zhenxian felt alarmed, panicked by the term Hideaki mentioned.
"Surprised how I know?" Hideaki stepped forward, closing the distance between them further.
"What is Your Excellency speaking of? I do not comprehend." Zhenxian turned away, back towards Hideaki.
"No need for further pretense." Sighing, he leaned back against the railing. "Examine your performance records; a casual check reveals discrepancies. A company essentially dominating Korea's network industry, yet after fifteen years possesses only ninety-seven billion in fixed assets, and over fifty billion in liquid capital. Is that not somewhat suspicious? Although your investment efforts across various sectors are substantial, intelligence provided by our spies indicates fraudulent accounting! I assume it's not embezzlement?!"
"Thank you for Your Excellency's reminder. Upon returning, I shall investigate thoroughly," Zhenxian offered perfunctorily.
"I dislike circumlocution with intelligent individuals." Hideaki's tone brooked no opposition. "Further investigation reveals your funds flowed into a development team never publicly disclosed by Fantasy. Over these fifteen years, total investment capital exceeds one hundred billion dollars, excluding government contributions."
Zhenxian remained silent.
"I believe Miss Song is not unfamiliar with 'Atlantis'? During Korea's research initiative back then, your father served as chief scientist. And the current secret development team comprises the original research group members. The sole explanation is that you are developing your own secret weapon," Hideaki stated affirmatively.
Zhenxian still offered no response.
"For the term 'Snake,' we invested merely fifteen billion dollars in investigative funds alone; spies assassinated by your government numbered no fewer than fifty. Very well, allow me to state my position clearly." Hideaki stood up again, looking gravely at Zhenxian. "Surrender it to me, and I shall spare you all. Furthermore, I can fulfill all your requests, even including the withdrawal of R-Army forces from Korea."
The greatest bargaining chip—Hideaki had laid it all out!
"Have you finished speaking?" Zhenxian inquired placidly.
Hideaki nodded naturally.
"Kill me then," Zhenxian stated resolutely, her eyes betraying no hesitation.
"Why speak thusly?" Hideaki failed to comprehend.
"Since you can offer such monumental terms, you should also comprehend the function of 'Snake'." Zhenxian remained exceptionally calm. "If surrendered to you, I dare not imagine the world's future. To have me accept your conditions, you might as well put a bullet through my head."
Raising a slender arm, her index finger tapped her forehead. At this moment, Zhenxian lacked any girlish fragility. As if seeing through everything...
"Humans invariably experience moments of rashness. You need not answer so swiftly. I grant you three days for consideration," Hideaki gently patted Zhenxian's shoulder.
"The outcome of consideration will remain unchanged," Zhenxian pushed away the hand on her shoulder.
"Very well. Enjoy today's banquet to the fullest." Feeling no awkwardness, Hideaki turned and walked towards the main hall, leaving Zhenxian alone on the balcony.
It had to be acknowledged; strange feelings towards this fearless girl had arisen within his heart. For the first time, Hideaki truly understood the meaning of "like."
Lacking further inclination to socialize with hypocritical merchants, Zhenxian looked up at the bright moon in the sky, savoring perhaps the final moments of tranquility... "Father, do you see? I have been obedient; I have followed your wishes completely. Even at the cost of my life, I will not surrender 'Snake'. Rest assured and await me..." Suddenly, another person came to mind. He shouldn't have appeared in her thoughts, yet she still found herself thinking involuntarily, "If I were to perish, would he feel sorrow for me? Does a place belonging to me exist within his memories?"
At this moment, 13 had nearly reached the end of the passageway. Only a single soldier stood guard.
"Halt! Who goes there?" the soldier obstructed him.
"Me?" 13 pointed at himself.
"Yes, you." The soldier meticulously scrutinized 13's attire—no different from an ordinary clown.
"Me? I'm the clown performing at the ball upstairs. The restroom in the main hall is out of order, so I came looking here," 13's explanation was quite plausible.
"Restroom? Exit the main hall, go upstairs, there's another one. This is not a place you should be. Leave quickly," he stated, relaxing his guard.
13 obediently turned, preparing to depart, then abruptly turned back.
"Right, as thanks, allow me to perform a trick. Care to watch?" 13 inquired quizzically.
Perhaps due to excessive boredom from duty, the soldier's interest piqued.
"Watch closely. This is the most authentic magic trick, called 'Slumber'." 13 raised his left fist, his other hand pointing towards the small fist.
"Is it like hypnosis?" the soldier asked curiously.
"Mm, somewhat similar. Here it comes!" As he spoke, his left fist seemed to vanish into thin air. The soldier, about to applaud, suddenly found himself losing consciousness, drifting into a drowsy "slumber."
The vanished left fist appeared upon the soldier's lower abdomen.
"Just rest quietly for a while." 13 pressed the soldier against the wall, ejected the assault rounds from the soldier's rifle chamber. Applying force with his left thumb, he pinned the soldier's clothing firmly to the wall.
Viewed from afar, it appeared as if he stood normally, unharmed.
"Alright, sleep peacefully..." 13 pushed open the closed door.
On the battlefield, unknown weaponry constitutes tools capable of easily altering outcomes. The Taiwan conflict demonstrated the supreme status of new weapons.
Originally acting solely for himself, there was no necessity to probe the opponent's secrets. Even if unable to prevail, 13 possessed absolute confidence in his escape capabilities. Likely, donning 'Night,' no place on Earth could detain him. But not now; such thoughts were impermissible. Because he had already resolved to protect Zhenxian. Future confrontations might necessitate acceptance, even knowing death awaited, the battle must continue. This was the path 13 chose; alteration was impossible. Yet, regarding life, 13 still cherished it. Hence, seizing this rare opportunity, 13 decided to investigate the R-Army's final trump card—the legendary KT20 poison gas and the "monster" that annihilated Korea's submarine fleet!