Did the world end today?

Chapter 19: What happened to the promised negotiation?
After going around in circles, we're back again.

Lin Xu stared in astonishment at the man in front of him. He never expected that his several targets and clues would be connected in this way.

"Give it back to you."

"We didn't gain anything."

"We are merely executors."

The meaning of "hostage" is already quite clear.

Both M46X and PEEK-RTM materials are the result of planetary cycle organization.

The Institute of Materials Science and Engineering that can be found online now has only obtained, or rather "usurped" the results of planetary cycles in some way.

So, what truly enabled the "Star Travel One" project to succeed was not an official institution, but rather this mysterious "Planetary Reincarnation" organization?
What exactly do they do?

How do they have such technological research and development capabilities?
Or is it that they have been deeply involved in this field and already have a lot of experience?

After all, this is an organization that aims to reach Mars and is dedicated to flying into space.

They are fundamentally different from those cults that swindle money and sexually exploit people.
Lin Xu vaguely felt that he had grasped a clue.

But he couldn't figure out how the story's logic worked out for the time being.
-
However, he didn't have time to think about it anymore.

The hostage had led him into the office of the head of the technology department and turned on the computer on the desk.

He entered the password with trembling hands and successfully logged into the system.

"It's all here."

The hostage pointed to the information displayed on the table. Lin Xu gestured for him to step aside, then raised his hand and fired a shot.

"boom!"

"Ah ah ah ah ah--"

The man collapsed to the ground, convulsing; having been shot in the knee, he had lost most of his mobility.

Lin Xu then looked at the computer screen with relief. The two process flow documents that opened on the screen clearly showed the industrial production methods of two key materials.

Good guy.

It turns out it was already written on the name.

The so-called PEEK-RTM is polyetheretherketone manufactured using liquid molding technology. The general direction is very simple, but in terms of technical details, it involves many blind spots that are still completely unknown at present.

While frantically cramming information about the two materials into his brain, Lin Xu questioned the hostage:

"Are both of these documents the result of the Planetary Reincarnation Organization?"

"They're all yours."

The man's face was contorted in pain. Lin Xu glanced at the time; there were only 17 minutes left.

in time.

He offered words of comfort:

"Don't worry, I shot you just to prevent you from attacking me."

“I am not a planetary reincarnation person, and I am not here for revenge.”

"From now on, as long as you answer my questions properly, no one will die at my hands, understand?"

"I understand. That's good. That's good."

The man seemed to relax a little, and after he stammered out his answer, Lin Xu continued to ask:

"What else do you know about the source of these two documents?"

"I really don't know anything anymore."

The man shook his head frantically.

"This is a topic that shouldn't be discussed in the first place, and it's been too long ago."

"It's been more than ten years!"

"All I know is that the industrial manufacturing methods for these two materials were originally patented, but they were later revoked."

“Back then, I was an apprentice, and I was very familiar with these two patents.”

"I remember the names of all the joint applicants for those two patents, and later I discovered that one of their names appeared on an official wanted poster, stating that he was the leader of a terrorist organization."

"Soon after, the two patents were removed, and the Institute of Materials Science and Engineering began to provide us with technical guidance directly."

"At that time, I didn't know about planetary reincarnation. It was a long time later, about 40 years later, when the organization was fully exposed. I saw that name in the news for the second time and realized that it was a terrorist organization that the authorities had mentioned before."

"That's all I know."

"If I tell even one lie, you can shoot me dead!"

Seeing the man's reaction, Lin Xu nodded in satisfaction.

"Very good, you're cooperating." "But I still have a question. You are..."

"Listen up, you inside! Lay down your weapons! Surrender on the spot!"

Lin Xu's words were interrupted by the sound of a loudspeaker suddenly coming from outside the door, followed by a flash of light in front of the French windows.

Lin Xu grabbed the laptop, flipped over, and hid behind the hostage, using the hostage's body to shield himself. Then he shouted:
"do not come!"

"If he dares to come any closer, I'll kill him!"

The hostage in front of him trembled violently. Lin Xu pressed a rifle against his head while keeping his eyes glued to the screen, cramming information about the two documents into his brain like a duck being forced to eat.

He couldn't care less about the police outside. Anyway, according to the usual procedure, in order to ensure the safety of the hostages, they would at least go through a process, send a negotiation expert, and only launch a strong attack when there was really no way to negotiate anymore.

Such a long process must take at least half an hour, right?
Now, there are only 15 minutes left until the end of the world.

Scared!
As long as you hide well and stall for these ten minutes or so, you'll be the one who gains!

"Don't panic, don't panic."

Lin Xu patted the hostage on the shoulder to comfort him.

"I won't hurt you, but only if you cooperate with me."

"Don't worry, just cover for me. I'll leave after I've seen all this."

"Your injury is not serious. With today's advanced medical technology, you can just get an artificial knee."

Upon hearing Lin Xu's words, the hostage gave a bitter smile.

He hissed as he inhaled the cold air, enduring the pain as he spoke:

".Thanks."

"I know you're a good person, you won't kill me, right?"

Rather than an affirmation of Lin Xu, these words sounded more like he was comforting himself.

However, he was indeed right.

Lin Xu had no intention of killing him.

After the apocalypse, everyone will die.

"Of course I won't kill you. I have no grudge against any of you."

"Keep your head in place! You're blocking my way!"

"As long as I live, you won't die, I promise."

"understand!"

The hostage spread out his body, completely blocking Lin Xu's view.

At the same time, he shouted loudly out the window:
"Don't come in! He doesn't mean to hurt me!"

"I'm safe! I'm fine!"

"He's leaving right away! He meant no harm! Let him go!"

After a series of shouts, Lin Xu suddenly understood what "Stockholm Syndrome" meant.

Sure enough, when someone is in dire straits, even the slightest bit of kindness shown to them will be seen as a lifeline.

Lin Xu looked up at the hostage with a hint of gratitude, and noticing the wound on his leg, he instinctively spoke:
"The blood is flowing too fast. Press on the wound and hold for another 12 minutes."

"12 minutes? Got it! Got it!"

The hostage immediately bent down and pressed his hand against the wound.
-
And just as he looked down, light flashed through the window again.

Lin Xu's pupils shrank instantly.

A six-rotor drone sped past in his line of sight.

As it passed by, besides the blinding white light, there were also faint yellow fireworks hidden within the light.

"boom!"

Lin Xu heard gunshots.

But by the time he heard the sound, the skin on his forehead had already been pierced by a bullet.

next second.

"puff!"

The bullet pierced through, and his head exploded like a watermelon falling from a height.

Blood and brain matter gushed out, and consciousness plunged back into darkness.

Lin Xu opened his eyes and couldn't help but curse.

Hey!
What happened to the agreed-upon negotiations?!
(End of this chapter)