ATDIWR Chapter 107

Chapter 107: Exchanging Technology for Hostages, Internal Strife in Jing Shi Base…

Kobayashi Ichiro probably didn’t expect things to go so smoothly. Smiling, his face full of wrinkles, he said, “Hello, Commander Li Mo, I am very happy to receive your video call.”

Li Mo’s face appeared in the video. In stark contrast to Kobayashi Ichiro’s joyous expression, his face was incredibly heavy.

“I have the core technology for the Mental Scanner, and I can give it to you. In exchange, please let my family return.”

Kobayashi Ichiro said, “Of course, as soon as I receive the core technology of the Mental Scanner, I will release them immediately. If it’s inconvenient for you, Commander Li Mo, I can even send someone to deliver your family back. As long as you make arrangements and open up the air route for our pilots.”

Since the last time R Country’s stealth fighter secretly infiltrated, the airspace over Xia Country had entered a state of complete martial law, ensuring not even a mosquito could fly in.

Li Mo said, “No need. I will personally send a plane to pick them up.”

Kobayashi Ichiro said with a smile, “Alright, our R Base will fully cooperate with you.”

Li Mo said cautiously, “I will transfer the core technology of the Mental Scanner to you now. I hope you can abide by the agreement and release them as promised.”

“Please rest assured, R Base is a base that values credibility the most, and R Country people are the most trustworthy nation.”

“Please be sure to keep your word.” Li Mo’s finger moved to the send button. The Deputy Commander of Z Base said, “Boss, you must think this through. Once you press this, there will be no chance to go back.”

Li Mo closed his eyes, and with a gentle tap of his finger, the file was sent out.

In just a few dozen seconds, Kobayashi Ichiro’s mailbox received a document. Kobayashi Ichiro’s eyes lit up terrifyingly as he looked at the data.

Li Mo asked, “When will you release my family?”

Kobayashi Ichiro’s eyes were fixed on the computer data, unable to move away. “Commander Li Mo, please rest assured, we will definitely fulfill what we promised you.”

“Once we successfully develop a finished product, we will immediately let your family leave.”

Li Mo asked in a lost voice, “Still have to wait? You can’t release them immediately?”

Kobayashi Ichiro smiled, extended his index finger, and shook it, saying, “I believe in your character, Commander Li Mo, but I don’t believe in Gu Jinsheng’s character. He is too cunning. Who knows if he tampered with this data? However, you can believe in R Country’s integrity. As long as we successfully develop the Mental Scanner, we will definitely release them.”

Li Mo gritted his teeth, feeling uneasy. He had no confidence in his heart and could only hope that Kobayashi Ichiro would truly keep his promise. “Commander Kobayashi Ichiro, please, please keep your promise.”

“Don’t worry, our nation is the most promise-abiding nation in the world.” Kobayashi Ichiro said, “I can take you to see your family.”

The assistant led Kobayashi Ichiro into the dungeon of R Base. The dungeon of R Base was dark and terrifying. Even though it was daytime, the lights were on, but it was still dim.

Dozens of people were crowded together in a small prison of over ten square meters. These people were like steamed buns, one after another, barely able to sit down, with no room to lie down. The environment was especially dirty and chaotic. Wherever the camera swept, several spots of human excrement could be seen, and mutated flies as big as a baby’s fist were flying around everywhere.

These mutated flies were not the harmless small flies from before The Apocalypse. These flies were blood-sucking. They would latch onto people and suck blood, capable of draining a healthy adult’s entire body of blood in just a few days.

Kobayashi Ichiro covered his nose. Several assistants beside him used their abilities to drive away the mosquitoes and flies.

“Li Mo’s family, who is Li Mo’s family, come out!” The assistant shouted loudly. The people in the prison remained motionless, some even quietly shrinking into the corners, fearing they would be dragged out and beaten to death by Kobayashi Ichiro and his group.

“What do you want?” Gao Wanli stood up and blocked the crowd. Since The Apocalypse, he had been active among the Xia people and was a leader of the Xia People’s Guild.

“Get lost!” The assistant pushed Gao Wanli away forcefully. “This has nothing to do with you, go away.”

A flicker of impatience flashed in Kobayashi Ichiro’s eyes, then he suppressed it. “Li Mo’s family, Li Mo is now the Commander of Z Base. He is willing to exchange you for the Mental Scanner. You can come out now.”

“I am, I am!” A short man immediately jumped out.

Kobayashi Ichiro pointed his phone camera at the short man’s face. Li Mo immediately said, “He is not my family. I don’t know him.”

The assistant waved the short man away. The short man let out a miserable cry and pleaded softly, “Your Excellency, Commander Kobayashi Ichiro, I am your most loyal follower. I haven’t been a Xia Country person for a long time. If you don’t believe me, you can check my nationality. I am an R Country person. My father’s generation immigrated here. My father was the most sincere R Country person. He genuinely loved R Country. Even my name is Matsushita Hon. I don’t even have a Chinese name.”

“Shut up, Matsushita Hon! Even if we Xia Country people die, our spines will remain straight!” Gao Wanli shouted angrily.

Matsushita Hon roared in collapse, “That’s because your lives are worthless! You poor ghosts can’t even afford food, how can you compare yourselves to me!”

Kobayashi Ichiro said to his assistant, “Tell them all to shut up!”

“Yes.” The assistant unleashed an ability, sending both Gao Wanli and Matsushita Hon flying out. Both of them spat out a mouthful of blood.

Li Mo’s family saw Li Mo through the phone and knew that their son had indeed become the Base Commander and was willing to exchange technology for them. They immediately stood up from the crowd with joy.

“Son, we are here, Mom and Dad are here!” Father Li and Mother Li waved their arms. When Li Mo saw their gaunt, aged, and miserable appearance, tears immediately fell. “Mom, Dad…”

Kobayashi Ichiro, however, couldn’t stand staying in this dirty place any longer. He ordered, “Take them and let’s leave here.”

Gao Wanli clutched his chest, and grabbed the ankle of Father Li, who was excitedly walking out. “You once said that you would rather die than have Jing Shi Base exchange you for that technology.”

Father Li was silent for dozens of seconds before saying, “It’s not Jing Shi Base, it’s our son who has come to save us. The technology he used to exchange for us belongs to his own base.”

“That’s also Jing Shi Base’s technology.” Even without the internet, Gao Wanli could guess what technology Li Mo used to exchange for them. It could only be the Mental Scanner, the technology that Jing Shi Base had opened up to the entire Xia Country but kept strictly confidential from outsiders. “You know, that’s also Jing Shi Base’s technology.”

Father Li shook his head. “We don’t know anything staying inside. Everything is just your conjecture. Maybe my son used technology developed by his own base to exchange for us! That’s his son’s base’s technology. It’s his right how he wants to deal with it. It wouldn’t be unacceptable for him to exchange it for our freedom, would it?”

Gao Wanli said, “Ask your son. If it’s really technology developed by your son’s base, I won’t say another word.”

Father Li didn’t ask. He just used a little strength, broke free from Gao Wanli’s restraint, and followed Kobayashi Ichiro out of this stinky prison.

It wasn’t until they left the prison that Kobayashi Ichiro spoke. “Now Commander Li Mo can rest assured, right? We have brought your esteemed parents out and will filial duty to you during this brief time.”

Li Mo repeatedly said, “Thank you, Commander Kobayashi Ichiro.”

Kobayashi Ichiro said to Gu Jinsheng, who was behind the video, “How is Commander Gu Jinsheng’s consideration going? One day has already passed. You wouldn’t not care about so many lives and be unwilling to exchange technology for people just because your family isn’t in here, would you? If your family were among them at this moment, would we have already received the technology package you sent over?”

However, as soon as the video call ended, Kobayashi Ichiro said impatiently, “Hurry up and get these people out of here. This smell is awful.”

The assistants immediately pushed and shoved the Li couple forward. The Li couple asked, “Where are you taking us? Are we going to the airport?”

“Shut up! Where do you get so many questions? Wherever we take you, you go there. Don’t ask so many questions!”

Then the Li couple found out that they had only been let out for a breath of air before being taken back to the dungeon. However, this time they were given a separate cell for the two of them; there were no other privileges.

Father Li couldn’t help but ask, “Didn’t my son already exchange technology for us to leave? Commander Kobayashi Ichiro promised. Why are you bringing us back here?”

No one answered Father Li’s question. The prison door was mercilessly closed.

Kobayashi Ichiro immediately contacted Dwyte. He said obsequiously, “Commander Dwyte, I have obtained the core technology of the Mental Scanner. I am confident that the core data I received this time is 100% authentic. Can you introduce me to Commander Charles? I want to report this good news to him personally.”

Dwyte appeased him, “Send me the core data, and I will give it to Commander Charles. Don’t worry, I will definitely recommend you for merit to the Commander and won’t take credit for this achievement. Once you get all the other technologies, it won’t be too late for me to introduce you to Commander Charles. There will be plenty of opportunities; there’s no rush at this moment.”

Kobayashi Ichiro still wanted to get another opportunity. Dwyte’s face sank. “What? Is it possible that Your Excellency Kobayashi Ichiro is still afraid that I will take credit for this achievement?”

Kobayashi Ichiro waved his hands repeatedly in fright. “I absolutely did not mean that. I will send the core technology to you right now.”

After receiving the technology, Dwyte hung up the video call and spat, “You? You think you’re worthy of knowing Commander Charles? Go take a look at yourself in a puddle of piss.”

After Charles received the data, he smiled. “Dwyte, you did very well. As long as you get all the remaining data, I will immediately transfer you back to HSD Headquarters Base and promote you to Deputy Commander.”

Dwyte’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “Thank you, thank you Commander for your promotion.”

Jing Shi Base watched Kobayashi Ichiro’s live broadcast. Kobayashi Ichiro deliberately broadcasted it for Gu Jinsheng and Jing Shi Base to see. He wanted to use this video to stir up the emotions of Jing Shi Base residents, thereby obtaining all the core technology.

“Boss, Kobayashi Ichiro is doing this on purpose!” Kong Zhongcheng said assertively. “That Commander Li Mo of Z Base is also an idiot. Everyone in the world knows what kind of people R Base are and what kind of character Kobayashi Ichiro has. Why couldn’t he use his brain and think about it!”

Wan Xueying said worriedly, “With Li Mo and Kobayashi Ichiro doing this, the emotions of the families of the detained personnel will only become more unstable. They will definitely demand that we exchange people for the core technology as soon as possible.”

Zhou Qin said, “Boss, Li Mo is being treacherous. He tore up the agreement between our base and theirs and violated the contract. Are we just going to let them off like this? If we let it go so easily, other bases will see that they weren’t punished and suffered no losses. They will just follow suit and won’t regard our base seriously.”

Gu Jinsheng’s eyes were cold and deep. He said, “Of course, we cannot let it go like this. This is treason.”

Wan Xueying said, “Z Base itself isn’t particularly scary. With the current strength of our Jing Shi Base, we could take it down if we wanted to. However, attacking Z Base at this critical juncture will only provoke the emotions of those online supporters, making the situation even more uncontrollable.”

Gu Jinsheng said, “No rush, seven days.”

R Base only gave them seven days to consider. After seven days, R Base would demand a result from Jing Shi Base, and at that time, Ji An would also give Jing Shi Base a result.

Zhou Qin said, “I believe that after seven days, God Ji will definitely not let us down.”

A hint of worry flickered in Wan Xueying’s eyes, but she didn’t say anything disheartening. Instead, she prayed, “May all the gods and Buddhas bless us. Ji Big Boss must succeed this time!”

“Boss, this is bad! Residents are causing a commotion outside! The protest team is heading towards the command center!”