Chapter 1169
Ritsuko: No! I've stolen your house!
He looked down at his trench coat—the specially made fabric blocked out all heat signals and didn't have many stains, except for a few drops of blood on the hem. He gently raised his hand and patted the stain on the hem, his eyes showing no emotion, but the sense of satisfaction in his heart had not yet dissipated.
It had been a long time since he had enjoyed himself so much. That hunt had completely released his pent-up energy, and it had put his skills, honed in the trenches and in the dark, to good use. Compared to confronting those huge enemies head-on, this kind of covert and efficient hunting was much more to his liking.
He looked up and scanned his surroundings—the ground was littered with the corpses of SEELE soldiers, some with shattered skulls, some with slit throats, and some with pierced chests. It was a gruesome sight. The entire research institute floor was almost stained red with blood, and even the walls were splattered with blood and brain matter.
Without lingering, Cui Ming turned and walked towards the corner where he had previously protected Akagi Naoko. His steps were steady and without the slightest hesitation. As the smoke gradually dissipated, his figure became clearer in the dim light. He still carried a cold aura, but it softened slightly as he approached the corner.
Naoko Akagi remained standing in the corner, her gas mask still on. Through the lenses, her gaze was fixed on Choi Myung, her cheeks still burning, her eyes filled with admiration and reassurance—the swiftness and indifference of that final blow had not frightened her, but instead made her heart beat faster and her conviction grew stronger.
Cui Ming walked to the corner, raised his hand and took off his gas mask, revealing a calm face. His gaze fell on Akagi Naoko, and his tone was flat, but with a hint of barely perceptible concern: "Akagi, are you alright?"
Naoko Akagi quickly removed her gas mask, her cheeks still flushed, though now pale. She shook her head, her voice weak, "I'm fine."
As soon as she finished speaking, her legs went weak, and her body fell down uncontrollably. Her nerves, which had been taut with effort, had relaxed after the hunt ended, and having witnessed the entire bloody hunt, her legs had no strength left.
Cui Ming was quick-witted and nimble. Before she could fall, he reached out and grabbed her wrist with a steady hand, supporting her firmly.
Using the force of the impact, Naoko Akagi leaned into Choi Myung's arms, her cheek pressed against his warm chest. She could clearly hear his steady and powerful heartbeat, and the panic in her heart instantly dissipated, leaving only warmth and shyness.
"I," Naoko Akagi nestled in his arms, her voice soft and gentle, tinged with a sob and an undisguised adoration.
"What's wrong?" Cui Ming gently supported her waist, his tone still calm, but the force in his hands was much lighter. He didn't push her away or make any unnecessary movements.
"You're amazing." Naoko Akagi looked up, her eyes sparkling, staring straight at Choi Myung. Her tone was full of sincere admiration. The way he had hunted down enemies in the smoke was already deeply etched in her mind.
"Thank you for the compliment." Cui Ming nodded gently, neither humble nor arrogant, as if the crushing hunt just now was merely a trivial matter.
“However, it seems my research is quite good, as it has attracted attention.” Naoko Akagi said, a hint of pride flashing in her eyes. Her tone carried a touch of self-deprecation, yet also a sense of recognition for her research results—being targeted by a force like SEELE precisely demonstrates the value of the MAGI system.
“Indeed.” Choi Myung nodded in agreement, his tone still calm. “MAGI’s value is enough to make many people do anything. That was just the first batch. If we don’t leave soon, more people will come looking for us.”
"Alright, let's go." Cui Ming helped Akagi Naoko straighten up, picked up the storage device beside him, stuffed it into his pocket, and straightened her coat. He spoke simply. "Okay," Akagi Naoko nodded obediently, gripping Cui Ming's arm tightly. Her body trembled slightly, but she didn't hesitate. She felt it was better to listen to Cui Ming now. After all, this man could easily smash through fully armed enemies; if he were truly angry, he could easily smash through her own as well.
Even with such thoughts in her mind, she felt no fear whatsoever. On the contrary, she felt incredibly safe—with Cui Ming by her side, no matter how dangerous the road ahead, or how many more intruders might come, she felt fearless.
Cui Ming supported Akagi Naoko as they walked step by step toward the back door of the research institute. His steps were steady, and his eyes scanned the surroundings warily to ensure that no enemy was missed and to be alert to any possible accidents. He still carried a cold aura around him, but he always kept Akagi Naoko by his side.
Cui Ming helped Akagi Naoko out of the back door of the research institute. The morning breeze carried a slight chill, dispelling the lingering smell of blood and making Akagi Naoko's mind clearer. She gripped Cui Ming's arm, her steps gradually becoming steady. After a few seconds of silence, she couldn't help but ask, "So, should my research continue?"
Her tone carried a hint of hesitation, as well as a barely perceptible expectation. She acknowledged Cui Ming's warning and worried that her personality would be exploited, but her deep-seated obsession with the MAGI system made her reluctant to give up easily.
Cui Ming stopped and turned to look at her, his gaze calm and serious, without the slightest hint of perfunctoriness: "It's up to you."
He paused, then added, "Your plan is very good, with sound logic. If it succeeds, it will be a remarkable achievement. However, you need to think carefully about one thing: if you implant your personality into the system, and someone with ulterior motives targets you, will you be exploited? Will you turn around and harm yourself, or even implicate those around you?"
“You’re right, but…” Naoko Akagi lowered her head, her fingertips gently twisting the hem of her coat as she pondered Cui Ming’s words. Past concerns, the recent crisis, and her passion for research intertwined in her mind. A few seconds later, she looked up, her eyes no longer hesitant, but filled with determination: “I still want to give it a try.”
Even with the risks, even if she might be taken advantage of, she wanted to complete her research. It was not only her hard work, but also her way of proving herself.
Looking into her determined eyes, Cui Ming didn't say anything more, but nodded slightly, his tone still calm: "Then let's do it your way. If you encounter any danger later, remember to tell me, don't try to tough it out on your own."
Upon hearing this, Naoko Akagi's cheeks flushed slightly, a warm feeling welling up inside her. She said softly, "Thank you. Um, there's one more thing. Could you please pick up my daughter?"
Her tone carried a hint of cautious probing, after all, the two weren't particularly close, yet she was asking him to pick up her daughter, which made her feel a little embarrassed.
“Sure.” Cui Ming agreed without hesitation, his tone concise and to the point, without any unnecessary formalities. “Send me the address, and we’ll go now.”
Naoko Akagi was surprised by his quick agreement; a hint of delight flashed in her eyes, and she nodded hurriedly, "Okay, I'll send it to you now. Thank you, Choi Myung." (End of Chapter)