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墨書 Inktalez
The sudden attack caught everyone off guard. Strangely, after a bullet hit the ground, there was no expected series of follow-up attacks. Azure Hawk was certain that the gunman was positioned in the jungle on the southeast slope. However, Azure Hawk did not send anyone to pursue; the focus remained on protecting Prince Banan.
Several Civil Officials who had disembarked from the plane rushed down, while a Military Official formed a human shield around Prince Banan, his vigilant gaze fixed on the approaching police cars. Not far away, yellow smoke billowed as a dark green Military Truck drove toward them, its mounted machine gun prominently displayed. Soldiers responsible for guarding the Military Airport and security rushed over to them.
Azure Hawk raised the rifle thrown by his subordinate and fired a series of shots at the soldiers running toward them, forcing them to halt in confusion. Their orders were to ensure Your Highness's safety; at this moment of attack, they could not discern whether it was due to a change of mind from the king or some other reason.
The soldiers stopped in their tracks, but the police cars continued forward. Azure Hawk fired again, shattering the police car's rooftop lights. The police car screeched to a halt in the middle of the road, and officers in loose uniforms scrambled out to take cover behind the vehicle.
"Go!" Azure Hawk shouted as members of the White Wolf Special Assault Team surrounded Prince Banan and ran forward. As he ran, Azure Hawk called back, "Hurry up!"
Zhang Qiu grabbed Lucia's hand and quickly exited the plane, catching up with Azure Hawk and the others in just a few steps.
Azure Hawk aimed his rifle at the police officers, several of whom were armed with firearms. Their bulging bellies stretched their uniforms tightly as both parties shouted at each other to lower their weapons. With the Truck drawing closer, Azure Hawk pulled the trigger, sending bullets ricocheting near several officers' feet, prompting other team members to raise their weapons in preparation to fire. Azure Hawk shouted loudly, "Put down your guns and step back!"
The officers exchanged nervous glances filled with panic. Ultimately, under one officer's lead, they reluctantly dropped their firearms onto the ground.
"Step back!" Azure Hawk commanded while waving his rifle.
The officers retreated cautiously as Azure Hawk opened the car door and climbed into the driver's seat. One team member took the passenger seat while two others squeezed in with Prince Banan in the back. Another two team members hopped into a second police car while one entered a black sedan that had come to escort the prince. Zhang Qiu pulled Lucia into one of the police cars, and quick-thinking Lucia managed to pick up a firearm from the ground amidst the chaos.
Both police cars kept their engines running as Azure Hawk pressed down on the accelerator; tires spun before they surged forward, followed closely by a second and third vehicle. Several Civil Officials did not heed Azure Hawk's instructions and remained cowering under the plane, believing it was still the safest place. Only when Azure Hawk drove off did they scramble toward the police cars.
Azure Hawk maneuvered past the officials as Prince Banan shouted anxiously, "They're still outside!"
Azure Hawk maintained speed and replied, "We leave first; they'll catch up in their vehicles!"
The two cars stopped by the roadside as flustered officials clamored to get inside. After picking up Military Official personnel, they finally set off in pursuit of Azure Hawk. The scene left behind included bewildered soldiers, disheveled officials, officers who had discarded their firearms and police cars, excited reporters eager for breaking news, and a ceremonial band squatting on the ground with instruments strewn about.
The military truck drove into the makeshift airport, and the soldiers rushed towards it as if they had found their backbone. The truck stopped in the center of the airport, and fully armed soldiers jumped down from the cargo area. An officer stepped out from the passenger seat, and the lieutenant responsible for airport security saluted him, saying, "Sir, has the king changed the military orders?"
"Changed what orders?" The officer scanned the surroundings, his expression darkening as the chaotic scene and the recent gunfire made it clear that something had gone wrong. He quickly asked the lieutenant, "Tell me, what happened here?"
"Report, sir. The moment Your Highness stepped off the plane, someone opened fire to assassinate him. The guards Your Highness brought confronted us and seized a police car. We didn't know if there were any changes to the orders from above, so we dared not fire recklessly."
"Where is Your Highness?"
"Your Highness is in a police car heading west under the protection of his guards," the lieutenant pointed in a direction.
"Indeed, something has gone wrong." The officer's tense expression eased slightly as he turned and shouted, "Everyone get in the vehicle, we leave immediately!"
The soldiers who had just jumped off the truck hurriedly boarded it. The officer returned to the driver's seat, and the truck slowly started up, accelerating westward in pursuit. The lieutenant stood frozen in place watching the truck disappear into the distance, muttering softly to himself, "What exactly are the orders?"
In the forest to the west of the military airport, three vehicles formed a triangle, their roofs covered with camouflage woven from branches and scattered with dry leaves. In the center of this triangle, those who had escaped danger sat on the ground catching their breath. A member of the White Wolf Special Assault Team was using a portable radio to contact the palace while others stood guard with their weapons.
Azure Hawk spread a map across the hood of one vehicle to locate the airport's position and confirmed their approximate location based on a recent meeting.
Zhang Qiu and Lucia leaned against a car door. Lucia tugged at dry leaves and threw them onto the ground, saying, "It was supposed to be a peaceful beginning; I didn't expect it to be a continuation of war."
"Zhang Qiu, why aren't you speaking?" Lucia looked at Zhang Qiu, who remained silent.
Zhang Qiu extended one leg straight out while propping himself up with the other leg, resting his arms on his knees with one hand tightly gripping his pistol. His gaze was fixed on the dry leaves beneath his gun's muzzle. He was pondering a question when he heard Lucia call him and looked up to say, "I don't understand today's events."
"Why not?"
"Prince Banan was attacked; it doesn't make sense. Anyone can see that in this war, the king is destined to fail. For both the king and those conservative ministers, peace talks offer far greater benefits than war. Therefore, I can't think of anyone who would want to assassinate Prince Banan."
"Are you saying that the person who attempted to assassinate Prince Banan was not sent by the king?"
"Definitely not," Zhang Qiu was very certain about this.
"What are you talking about? I seem to have heard my name," Prince Banan called out from among the ministers, directing his attention toward where Zhang Qiu and Lucia were sitting.
"Nothing much, I was just thinking maybe I shouldn't have come with you."
Prince Banan stood up and sat down next to Zhang Qiu, saying, "Don't joke around at a time like this. Come on, what have you thought of?"
Zhang Qiu shared his speculation with Prince Banan, who agreed wholeheartedly, saying, "I also believe this incident has nothing to do with my father. Think about it, there were so many soldiers at the airport; if they had fired their weapons, we definitely wouldn't have escaped. So why didn't they shoot? And what about the police rushing out? What was that Military Truck coming from afar all about? There are too many uncertainties regarding what just happened."
"I wonder if they wanted to take us hostage instead of killing us directly?" Lucia suggested a possibility.
Prince Banan replied, "That can't be it. If they wanted hostages, they wouldn't have let us get controlled. It's clear that the soldiers didn't want to harm us."
"Then I just don't understand," Lucia said helplessly, resting her head on her hand. Stuck in the forest, she was feeling quite miserable.
"Prince Banan, think carefully. Besides the king, who else wouldn't want you to ascend to the throne?" Although Zhang Qiu didn't know who the assassin was, one thing was certain: the assassin must have had something to gain by eliminating Prince Banan.
Prince Banan shook his head. "I can't think of anyone else."
"Then we can only wait for them to make a move."
"Report!" A Special Forces Operator who was using a handheld radio to contact the palace stood up.
"Speak!"
"The palace has responded, instructing us to protect Your Highness. They will immediately contact the king. Meanwhile, the existing attacking forces will continue to advance, while nearby troops will abandon their original missions to encircle us."
"Good," Azure Hawk said, putting away the map. "Everyone get on the vehicle!"
The officials sat on the ground, unwilling to rise. They had fled from the airport to the forest, facing bumpy and uneven terrain along the way. Accustomed to a life of luxury, they found it hard to endure this hardship, each wearing a worried expression.
"Get on the vehicle now!" Azure Hawk glared at the officials sitting on the ground and repeated the order. "One minute, only one minute! Anyone who doesn't get on will be left here. After communication, our location has been exposed; staying here means only one fate: capture!" With that, Azure Hawk got on the vehicle first, while Special Forces Operators continued to assist Prince Banan onto the vehicle. Just before getting in, Prince Banan said, "Everyone bear with it a little longer; safety comes first."
Zhang Qiu and Lucia had already boarded when Azure Hawk issued the first command. Zhang Qiu sat by the door, watching the officials on the ground and couldn't help but shake his head.
Exhausted and reluctant, the officials finally stood up. They were more afraid of falling into enemy hands than enduring the bumps. A minute later, the convoy set off smoothly, led by Azure Hawk. The vehicles drove over piles of fallen leaves in the jungle, making a creaking sound as sunlight occasionally filtered through the gaps in the branches. Azure Hawk watched as the compass swung left and right before turning onto a dilapidated country road.
Not long after following the road, they turned onto a dirt path. An official riding with Zhang Qiu complained, "Why are we taking this terrible road instead of a perfectly good highway? My back is killing me."
Zhang Qiu frowned slightly; he initially intended to ignore it but couldn't hold back. "Do you really want to fall into enemy hands? Choosing this route is for safety's sake. It's better to have a vehicle than to walk; if we didn't have a vehicle, would you not escape? We're fleeing for our lives, not going on a trip."
The official was left speechless by Zhang Qiu's words and closed his mouth without saying more. Lucia nudged Zhang Qiu and gave him a thumbs-up from beside him.
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