Chapter 226
In the hospital corridor, Fang Li leaned against the wall, holding his cell phone to his ear, but all he heard was a busy tone echoing in his ear.
After a while, Fang Li hung up the phone and closed his cell phone, his expression slightly grim.
“Shirayuki…”
The image of the gentle Yamato Nadeshiko-like girl floated through his mind. Fang Li had to reluctantly admit that Shirayuki had been kidnapped.
Otherwise, given that it was Fang Li’s call, there was no way Shirayuki wouldn’t have answered.
“No wonder I haven’t been getting many SMS from Shirayuki lately…”
Usually, Shirayuki would send him SMS messages almost every day. They were rapid-fire, relentless messages that filled up Fang Li’s cell phone until it couldn’t take anymore. If it wasn’t full, she wouldn’t stop.
Previously, during the bus hijacking incident, Shirayuki had sent him SMS, making Fang Li aware that the bomb might explode. That was when he used the Invisible Bullet to flick the bomb out of Aria’s hand.
However, over the past few days, Shirayuki had hardly been sending SMS messages, and she hadn’t sent a single SMS yesterday.
Initially, Fang Li had thought Shirayuki was simply busy with training, so even though he was surprised that she hadn’t been bothering him, he didn’t think much of it.
Now, it seemed likely that something had happened to Shirayuki.
“I-U…”
Fang Li’s grip on the cell phone tightened unconsciously as he thought of this name.
“Crack…”
With a crisp sound, the fragile cell phone shattered in Fang Li’s hand.
At the same time, Riko, wearing a hospital gown, emerged from a patient room. She looked at Fang Li leaning against the wall and then at the shattered cell phone in his hand. She commented, “It seems that the Demon Sword has succeeded.”
“Demon Sword?” Fang Li shifted his gaze to Riko’s figure and asked, “So, Demon Sword is a member of I-U?”
The name was familiar to Fang Li.
Because it was the name of a well-known urban legend.
It was said that someone had been secretly abducting individuals with superpowers and that this person was the Demon Sword.
Since no one had ever seen Demon Sword in person, everyone considered this person to be a sort of urban legend.
Now, it seemed that the Demon Sword truly existed.
Furthermore, Demon Sword was a member of I-U. They had taken advantage of Fang Li’s absence from Shirayuki’s side to kidnap her.
“Because Demon Sword is a strategist, not a warrior, if they thought it was unlikely for a Gun Magician to succeed near the target, then naturally they would strike when you were absent,” Riko met Fang Li’s gaze and said, “From the timing, Demon Sword should have taken their target back to I-U, and Hotogi Shirayuki probably won’t be coming back.”
Hearing this, Fang Li closed his eyes.
After a while, Fang Li reopened his eyes and looked at Riko. He said with determination,
“Tell me how to get to I-U.”
“What… What?” Riko was initially taken aback, then surprised, and exclaimed, “Could it be that you want to go to I-U to save Hotogi Shirayuki?”
Fang Li didn’t reply; he fixed his gaze on Riko, silently expressing his intent.
“It’s impossible,” Riko said without hesitation, “Even if you’ve defeated Vlad, rescuing someone from I-U is absolutely impossible. There are far too many individuals stronger than me, and there is also the Professor there too. You won’t succeed.”
“Professor?” Fang Li ignored Riko’s response and focused on a keyword in her words.
“The Professor is the current leader of I-U,” Riko admitted without hiding anything. At this point, there was no point in concealing any information so she continued, “The reason Vlad is only No. 2 is that he can’t defeat the Professor. That person is truly terrifying.”
As Riko spoke, her eyes not only revealed a look of dread but also a complex expression.
However, Riko’s words were likely something anyone would agree with.
What was I-U?
It was a terrifying organization that had been training Superhumans since the Second World War, continuing its philosophy to this day.
Now, within this organization, no one knew how many Superhumans there were. There were even beings who could defeat Vlad. One could imagine just how fearsome the power of this organization was.
Although Fang Li had easily defeated Vlad, it was because he had firmly restrained Vlad.
In I-U, the current leader had defeated Vlad, who possessed an undying body, without any restraint. Their strength was quite evident.
Plus, with the multitude of Superhumans there, could Fang Li really rescue Shirayuki on his own?
Perhaps, in the end, Fang Li wouldn’t make it back either.
However, for Fang Li, such things didn’t matter.
What did danger mean to him?
Hadn’t he already experienced enough danger?
After all, he had experienced a year and a half of relatively peaceful life in this world. It was time to take some risks.
At least, for the girl who had always taken care of him, who had always been devoted to him, even involving herself in his daily life, Fang Li couldn’t stand by idly when she was in danger.
At this moment, Fang Li didn’t say much more. He simply looked at Riko with a calm look in his eyes.
Seeing Fang Li like this, Riko opened her mouth, but ultimately, nothing came out. She lowered her head and softly said, “It seems that Shirayuki means a lot to you.”
Fang Li smiled slightly and replied, “Because that girl is one of the few friends I have in this world.”
“One of the few?” Riko was slightly taken aback.
“Yeah, one of the few.” Fang Li glanced at Riko and casually added, “You’re the same.”
Hearing those words, Riko truly froze in her place.
The next second, a smile once again graced Riko’s face. That smile was just like before, cheerful and lively.
“Being able to hear you say that, Li Li makes Riko really content.”
Saying this, Riko leaned her petite figure toward Fang Li and brought her lips close to his ear. With breath that carried a hint of warmth, she slowly spoke,
“Riko will send you all the information you need to your computer.”
“So, don’t forget to pay Riko the information fee when you come back.”
“If you don’t pay, Riko won’t let it slide.”
Leaving behind these words, Riko turned around and returned to her patient room.
Fang Li knew that Riko didn’t want to create unnecessary trouble for anyone, including herself. Because doing so would be akin to betraying I-U.
However, Fang Li didn’t have the extra mental capacity to say anything else.
Because the system’s notification sound had also sounded in his mind.
“Serial Number 11273 triggers A-Rank Side Quest: Assault on the Superhuman Training Institution.”
“Quest Details: Infiltrate I-U’s Headquarters and defeat the current leader of I-U.”
“Quest Reward: 20,000 Exchange Points.”