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"Locke!"

Despite wearing a bulletproof vest, Locke was still shot and fell to the ground.

"Damn it! I knew that hunting dog had gone mad long ago!"

Behind them, Ada, who was in charge of the operation, angrily slammed her hand on the car window.

"Open fire! Kill that woman!"

"Wait...wait a minute!"

Locke, lying on the ground, clutched his broken ribs and grabbed the walkie-talkie, trying to stop the attack. But soon, a barrage of bullets flew over his head and clattered into the car. He could only lie still on the ground.

"Blood, death...and more!"

Ai watched in terror as Robbert's aura grew increasingly terrifying, as if he had descended into madness. Robbert then raised his umbrella and dashed away in a blur.

Chapter 266 A Direct Showdown with Makima – The Final Meeting

Ida, who had witnessed how difficult Miss Hound was to deal with, knew all too well how much trouble she caused in Roanapur by her own efforts.

Therefore, she opposed Locke negotiating with the other party from the beginning, and now that the negotiations have broken down, she did not hesitate to order the firing.

With over twenty assault rifles in front and behind, the open field, and a pincer attack from both sides, and the enemy even rushing out of their only cover in a moment of irrationality, even though the umbrella seemed to be made of some kind of bulletproof material, Ada still believed victory was assured.

This isn't Roanapur, with its intricate streets where you can easily engage in close-quarters combat!

His forces were not some low-level gang, but rather an elite force from the United States.

So, the past is the past, and the present is the present!

I'm sorry, but please—Nani!?

Ada watched helplessly as more than one bullet struck Miss Hound, even tearing her maid outfit apart, yet Miss Hound continued charging forward as if nothing had happened—after all, even with a bulletproof vest, the impact of a rifle at this distance shouldn't be so ineffective!

In just a few seconds, Miss Hound, braving most of the direct fire, rushed to the front of a CIA agent, plunged the bayonet at the end of her umbrella into his stomach, lifting him up, and then swung him around, knocking down an agent to the side.

"Shoot her in the head! Aim for her head and shoot you bunch of idiots!"

But Miss Hound was just too fast. Once she charged into the defensive line, almost no one could aim at that ridiculously fast black shadow. More importantly, at that distance, if the rifles were fired, they could easily hit friendly forces.

In just a few seconds, three more CIA agents were killed, one of whom was almost torn in two.

The remaining CIA agents, who had never witnessed such a scene before, disregarded everything else and desperately pulled the trigger, even if it meant hitting the middleman.

This was somewhat effective—as Miss Hound's maid outfit became more and more tattered, a black bodysuit was revealed underneath, which looked thin and flexible, yet bullets could not even leave a scratch on it.

Ada could hardly believe that such a material could exist in the world, but after a moment of stunned silence, she still ran to the trunk of a car—there was a grenade launcher there. She had initially thought that carrying such a thing in the city was a bit too absurd, but now it was probably the only hope to destroy that bulletproof vest!

The other agents also realized Ada's intentions and desperately tried to stop Miss Hound.

Amidst the continuous gunfire, screams, and the sounds of flesh being torn apart, Ada pulled out an M4 carbine equipped with an M203 underbarrel grenade launcher and loaded grenades from the ammunition box.

"—Click—"

Having finished preparing to fire, she suddenly turned around, about to raise her gun to aim, when a pair of iron-like hands grabbed the gun barrel.

—The Hound, whose eyes were bloodshot and whose maid outfit consisted of nothing but strips of cloth except for the tight-fitting inner garment, was looking down at her with a smile.

Behind her lay corpses, even though just seconds before they had all been living, breathing people.

"..."

An unprecedented fear swept over Ada. At this moment, facing Miss Hound looking down at her, she could hardly control her trembling.

Just as she was trying to break free from the fear, a fist slammed into her abdomen, breaking several ribs, and then she was grabbed by the neck and lifted up.

“I remember…I remember you, nun of the Violent Church, bastard of the CIA, bitch of the United States…”

Robert gripped his opponent tightly, his fingers tightening, completely ignoring the opponent's kicks and resistance.

"Haven't you learned enough lessons in Roanapur? How dare you do it again..."

"Stop! Lolbet!"

Locke's voice came from behind.

Miss Hound slowly turned her head to look, and saw that he and the FBI agent had completely subdued Vermouth and Shiho, while the rest of the CIA agents were raising their guns in horror and aiming at them.

"Put down Ida!" Locke pointed his pistol at Vermouth's head, the threat obvious.

"..."

But Miss Hound just sneered. Instead of letting go, she continued to tighten her grip on Ada, who suddenly convulsed.

"Rolbette! Don't push me! What if it's her!"

Locke roared and turned his gun to aim at Ai, who looked completely bewildered.

"Hey! What are you doing..."

Conan tried to stop them, but Jodie grabbed him, saying, "Don't get in the way! At least not now!"

Shuichi Akai hesitated for a moment, but ultimately made no move. He just stared intently at Locke, seemingly acquiescing to Locke's actions.

"……snort……"

Miss Hound released Ida, casually tossing aside the seemingly unconscious Ida, and turned to look at Locke.

“This was a terrible decision, Locke. You’ll regret pointing a gun at that girl.”

"That's a story for later. All I know is that your mission target is her, right?"

Locke took a deep breath.

"I know that all of us combined can't stop you, but... your new owner definitely wants you to bring her back unharmed. If you don't give all of us a way out, then I can only apologize!"

"Let her go, and Vermouth too. I can allow the rest of you to leave alive."

"That's not how negotiations work, Robert!"

Without needing any hints from the people around him, Locke knew perfectly well that with Robert's skills, once she ensured the girl's safety, she could rush over and kill them all at any time.

"Let the others leave first. I'll stay with this girl. This isn't a bargain, Robert! I know your master's power in Japan! Therefore, this is my bottom line! Let my people evacuate safely! After that... I'm at your disposal!"

"Don't take yourself too seriously, Locke..."

Robert walked slowly toward them, wiping the bayonet at the end of his umbrella as he did so.

"Dare to lay a hand on Lady Machima's possessions? Your only fate is already sealed..."

"Enough! Rollbe is getting any closer! You—"

Locke's pupils suddenly contracted, and Robert seemed to realize something as she followed her gaze. They abruptly raised their umbrellas, and the next second, a burst of fire erupted.

The shockwave, mixed with shrapnel, finally tore apart Miss Hound's umbrella and blasted her away.

"Cough cough! Damn... bitch!"

Ada, panting heavily, trembled as she struggled to her feet, rifle in hand.

"Compared to... the pain that woman caused me that day, what you've done is nothing!"

"Ida!"

Locke immediately rushed over to check on Ada's condition, and the other CIA agents also stepped forward, partially surrounding the collapsed Robert with guns at them.

Having taken a grenade at close range, Robbert's condition didn't seem too good. Although his strange bodysuit wasn't torn, liquid was leaking from the buttons.

Locke immediately realized that the enemy's combat suit seemed to be malfunctioning or overloaded; in short, it must be broken.

"Hands up! Robert! This is your last chance!"

"You guys? I..."

Robbert slowly got up, his face once again contorted with madness.

But the next second, as she looked at the circle of gun barrels pointed at her, she suddenly felt something and abruptly knelt down.

Ada gritted her teeth in anger: "So now you know how to surrender?"

"Wait, she..."

Locke looked at the hound girl who didn't dare to lift her head and suddenly felt a strange fear.

She...this is...

Miss Hound ignored the guns pointed at her from all around, lowered her head deeply, and said in fear:

"I'm so sorry, Lady Machima..."

You're saying—

Just as Ada was about to step forward, her neck suddenly felt like it had hit a fishing line, which tightened around her neck.

This—this is!?

The steel wire suddenly tightened, gripping her throat once more, but this time it was even more despairing.

When was it?!

"Don't...don't move!" Ida cried out desperately.

At the same time, almost instantly everyone around them found themselves in the same predicament—a steel wire that had appeared out of nowhere had bound them like a spider web before they even realized what was happening.

Like creatures encountering their natural enemy, a suffocating killing intent enveloped everyone, so much so that these elites of the United States dared not move an inch—sharp steel wires were pressed against their throats like blades, and the slightest movement revealed the skin that had already been cut, testifying to their sharpness.

In this comical silence, only the sound of footsteps slowly approached from behind the crowd.

This... is impossible! How... how did they do that?!

Shuichi Akai tried to turn around, but the tearing sensation in his neck made him abandon this dangerous move that could have severed his head.

Ai, the only one left on the field who wasn't restrained, began to tremble.

Because... the footsteps had already arrived behind him.

Chapter 267 Direct Confrontation with Machima - The Curtain Falls

Ai had imagined many times what it would be like to reunite with Machima.

But when that moment actually arrived, she was filled with immense fear.

Regardless of other reasons, it was mainly because she knew she might have to confront a truth she had never wanted to believe.

But that moment still arrived...

First, a warm body gently embraced her from behind. Then, Ai watched as another pair of hands tightly grasped hers, slowly lifting it behind her back, and then…

Her fingers were enveloped by something warmer and moister, accompanied by a slight pain.

It felt like... being slowly devoured by a dangerous beast, or like a kitten carefully licking you with its tongue...

A distant memory flooded back—back then, Machima had also gently bitten her finger like this, and wanted her to remember that feeling forever…

At that time, Ai thought the other person was simply an idiot; how could anyone possibly remember something like that...

But now, the two memories seem to overlap, as if nothing has changed, yet everything has changed.

In Ai's memory, Machima's somewhat blurry figure, along with those fragmented memories, seemed to become clearer and less frightening...

Encouraged by this, Ai mustered her courage, slowly turned around, and looked at Machima, who was kneeling in front of her and gently biting her finger.

Just like the last time I saw her, because she had taken APTX4869, Machima looked much smaller than the person she was most familiar with, and her face looked a little haggard.

This face, not quite the same as in my memory, felt slightly unfamiliar, but...

The only thing that stood out was the way she looked at him—the same familiar look a child gives their beloved pet.

Perhaps it was this one look that caused Ai's initial joy at the reunion to be suppressed once again.

"..."

"Aren't you going to say something?"

Looking at the silent Shiho, Makima released Ai's fingers and asked.

"..."

Ai opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something loudly, or perhaps slap Machima, but in the end, she just lowered her head with a gloomy look in her eyes and shook her head:

"It has no...meaning..."

"...Why is it meaningless?"

Machima asked curiously, having originally thought that Shiho would at least ask if she remembered her.

"...All of this, is it, another game or a script you've written, isn't it?"