A Scientific Urban Detective.

Chapter 949 Kidnapping, another kidnapping

"..." Hamazura Shiage paused for a moment, silently mourning for these five enemies who were also ordinary people for two seconds. "I'm not calling an ambulance for them. What I mean is, your injury..."

He carefully examined the girl before him—there were no obvious external injuries; in fact, there wasn't a single scratch on her exposed skin. As a frontline combatant in the Dark Organization, and a human shield serving as the vanguard, Kinuhata's skin was enviable. However, her upper body clothing was tattered from the explosion, especially the neckline, where her original T-shirt had practically become an open cardigan, revealing far more skin than usual.

Even so, she was no exception. Despite being hit by the bomb at close range, there was not a single scratch on her body.

However, Kinuhata Ai was pale, her pupils were bloodshot, and she was coughing incessantly, even coughing up blood, clearly indicating that her internal organs had been injured by the impact.

While the "nitrogen armor" offers formidable defense, it is ultimately just a layer of "armor." As is well known, armor cannot protect against blunt force or impacts.

Gases are good conductors of vibration, and this property becomes even more pronounced when they are forcibly compressed into a solid.

Furthermore, Kinuhata's favorite technique is manipulating "nitrogen" to form armor, which means she cannot create the same armor inside her body. Therefore, shock and impact are her greatest weakness.

Kinuhata Saiai had three bombs planted on her body—on her hands and neck.

These specially designed bombs employ "explosive cutting" technology—directing the release of explosive force to transform it into a unique "blade." Although they appear to be "explosions," the final effect is closer to "cutting."

However, since Kinuhata Saiai dared to wear these explosive restraint devices, she was naturally fearless—she had already set up a layer of "nitrogen armor" between her skin and the bombs.

Although the armor was thin, it was more than enough to deal with these low-yield bombs—because of Frenda, Kinuhata was also quite knowledgeable about explosives.

However, Kinuhata Saiai ultimately suffered from a lack of practical experience. Mastering theoretical knowledge was one thing, but she had never actually been blown up at such close range, and therefore had some misunderstandings about the power of an "explosion."

Or rather, Kinuhata most often misjudged the craftsmanship of the enemy's bombs. If it were Franda's skill, she could have concentrated all the explosive force in one direction, without wasting it.
However, a significant portion of the energy from the explosive restraint device actually implanted on her body was still released in the most basic way a bomb could be used...

This resulted in Kinuhata Momo being caught off guard and hit by three small bombs at close range!

It's fortunate that only internal organs were impacted and no more serious injuries were caused.

Kinuhata rubbed her chest and couldn't help coughing a few more times.

“Don’t worry,” Kinuhata Saiai said nonchalantly, taking the tissue Takitsubo Ri handed her. “I’m not in too bad shape. More importantly—how is the situation at the orphanage?”

Hamazura Shiage quickly turned to look at Takitsubo Rihiro, his meaning clear—this question is yours to answer.

Although he was the one who shouted to Kinuhata Saiai, the content of his words was entirely decided by Takitsubo Rigo.

Hamazura Shiage didn't actually know the "safety situation of the orphanage," and this was the first time he had ever been assured of the "orphanage's" existence.

On the other hand, Hamazura Shiage already knew that Kinuhata often went out alone during her rest time, and also knew that she was going back to visit and take care of her former comrades.

As for who those "companions" were, Hamazura Shige had no idea.

Within the "tools" of the underworld, everyone has their own secrets and taboos. As the one with the lowest ecological niche, Hamazura Shigekazu is naturally even less likely to actively inquire about the secrets of others. Not to mention, every time this matter is mentioned, Mugino Shizuri's expression turns ugly, making Hamazura Shigekazu even more hesitant to pry into this taboo.

Takitsubo Riko did not answer immediately, but simply looked quietly at Kinuhata Saiai.

"So, what you just said was a lie?"

“I’m not lying to you, Mugino went to the orphanage. If nothing unexpected happens, she should have already dealt with the enemy by now, right?” Takitsubo Rigo said.

"Mugino?" Hamazura Shiage exclaimed first, "Didn't they say she went to find Frenda?"

Hamazura Shiage, who was hastily dragged over to help, did not know much, but he was not completely ignorant.

In fact, the reason he was unwilling to answer Kinuhata's favorite question directly was because he was convinced that he was deceiving her—where would anyone go to rescue the hostages from the orphanage!

Just as Kinuhata Saiai was being threatened by thugs who took her orphanage companions hostage in exchange for assassinating Lin Wuming, Frenda's sister Fremia was also kidnapped.

Frenda immediately set out to rescue her sister.

Because this was her own private matter, Frenda didn't bother the other members of the "tools" and planned to solve the problem on her own.

However, her actions did not escape Mugino Shizuri's notice. Perhaps out of concern for her safety, or perhaps out of fear that Frenda would betray him, Mugino Shizuri secretly followed her.

That's why, when Hamazura Shiage fled in a panic all the way to the "tool" headquarters, he found that only Takitsubo Rigo was left at home.

Just then, Takitsubo Rigo also learned about Kinuhata Saiai's current situation through the secret intelligence network.

Kinuhata is very realistic; after all, she carries the lives of hundreds of comrades on her shoulders, and personal honor and dignity are things she can give up.

Even if I might be punished by Mugino Shizuri afterward, that's a matter for the future.

The priority now is to save everyone's lives.

Therefore, Kinuhachi loves to use pre-arranged "props" to send out distress signals.

Takitsubo Riko, who stayed at headquarters, received a distress signal and then dragged Hamazura Shige, who had come to his doorstep, along with him, and rushed here.

“I’ve been in contact with Mugino, so she knew about Kinuhata’s request for help,” Takitsubo Riko said. “So Mugino decided to help you first.”

"Oh...I see..." Kinuhata Saiai wore a complicated expression. "Thank you so much."

—If Mugino Shizuri were to personally lead the operation, eliminating the enemy would certainly not be a problem; but what if the orphanage residents were accidentally injured?
However, on the other hand, when facing such a treacherous enemy, someone like Mugino, who has no connection with the hostages and is not threatened by them, is actually more efficient at dealing with the enemy.

(End of this chapter)