Chapter 62: The Roadside Trap

“A video tape? What does that mean? Could it contain evidence detrimental to our corporation?” Matsushita Shinichi’s expression instantly changed upon hearing this, a flicker of vigilance in his eyes.

In this cutthroat business world, even the slightest clue could become a lethal weapon.

Yet, he couldn’t understand why, if it was indeed evidence, it would be handed to her. Were they not afraid she would destroy it?

As for Bai Mengqi, she was closely trailing Zi Yanran’s motorcade, her heart filled with a silent vigilance.

She had already eliminated one of the superpowered individuals sent by the opposing side last night. This had undoubtedly alerted the enemy, and they would not simply let the matter rest.

Since the enemy had dared to make a move once, there was a high probability of a second, or even more attempts.

The road, without question, presented an ideal location for an attack.

If their plan was meticulous, they could create seemingly accidental situations to achieve their objectives without anyone suspecting.

And once no concrete evidence could be found, they would be unable to take effective action against the masterminds.

“What methods will they use for retaliation?” Bai Mengqi’s brow furrowed as she sank into deep thought.

This confrontation had quietly escalated, and she had to remain constantly vigilant to ensure Zi Yanran’s safety.

However, even as she pondered, the unexpected still occurred.

Ahead, along the only route Zi Yanran’s motorcade could take, a restaurant suddenly erupted in a violent explosion.

Flames, like wild horses unleashed, instantly engulfed all the diners inside.

Men and women, shrouded in fire, struggled to escape the blast zone, their screams piercing the air.

This sudden catastrophe caught everyone off guard.

As it was the sole thoroughfare, the fleeing pedestrians quickly clogged the traffic.

Vehicles ground to a halt, people panicked, and the entire scene descended into utter chaos.

“This? No way! Is this an accident, or a conspiracy?”

Bai Mengqi stared at the burning building ahead and the continuous cries of agony, utterly stunned.

A powerful sense of unease rose within her. The explosion’s timing was far too coincidental, forcing her to question the motives behind it.

Zi Yanran’s motorcade was also forced to stop.

This halt trapped them, completely blocked from moving forward or backward.

The flames spread with terrifying speed, quickly consuming even the cars closest to the restaurant.

Fleeing pedestrians were everywhere, rendering the entire scene uncontrollably chaotic.

“Miss Zi, please get out of the car quickly! There’s a raging fire ahead, and it’s extremely fierce.” Seeing the situation, the Superpower Bureau bodyguards immediately exited their vehicles and formed a protective circle around Zi Yanran.

Their expressions were grave, their eyes glinting with vigilance, constantly ready to confront any potential danger.

The restaurant was merely dozens of meters from Zi Yanran’s motorcade.

Although Liang Qiuyu and the others suspected another conspiracy, they couldn’t fathom what the enemy was trying to achieve.

To set such a trap by sacrificing the lives of their own citizens? Such an act was utterly insane!

“How could this happen? Mr. Matsushita, this…?” Zi Yanran’s face was pale, and her voice trembled as she looked at Matsushita Shinichi.

Her heart was filled with shock.

Matsushita Shinichi’s face also turned deathly pale as he gazed at the terrifying blaze ahead.

He trembled uncontrollably, his heart consumed by fear and rage.

‘Father? Have you gone mad?’

This was Matsushita Shinichi’s inner cry. His first thought was that his own father had orchestrated this.

But he couldn’t comprehend why his father would be so deranged as to create such a horrific incident.

In truth, Matsushita Suguru, who was monitoring remotely, was also startled. He had never anticipated such a situation, staring at the screen with an expression of profound shock.

He secretly congratulated himself for not personally participating in this operation; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

“Matsuda, are you insane…?” Matsushita Suguru’s lips quivered, his voice laced with fear.

This disaster was definitely not his doing; he lacked the courage for such an act.

It had to be Matsuda’s own doing, but he never expected him to be so utterly mad, willing to sacrifice so many innocent lives to achieve his goal.

At that moment, Matsuda was hiding in a secluded spot within the fire zone, observing Zi Yanran, who was tightly protected by bodyguards.

His eyes burned with hatred, as if he wished to devour Zi Yanran alive.

‘Junior Sister, I will definitely complete this mission for you. I will never allow this Zi Yanran to leave Japan alive, no matter the cost,’ Matsuda vowed silently in his heart.

It turned out that Kyoko, the shrine maiden, was not only his junior sister but also the woman he deeply loved.

However, Zi Yanran’s arrival had shattered their peaceful lives.

Matsuda blamed Zi Yanran for everything, and thus, he was determined to kill her at any cost.

Amidst the chaos, Liang Qiuyu and the others slowly retreated, shielding Zi Yanran.

However, the flames relentlessly encroached upon them.

Such a chaotic situation presented the perfect opportunity for a covert attack.

A seemingly ordinary young man, a passerby, stealthily approached Zi Yanran and her protectors.

His eyes flickered as he formed a hand seal, preparing to unleash a ninjutsu.

“Ninjutsu: Shadow Technique!”

As the ninjutsu activated, his shadow extended, swiftly moving along the shadows of the chaotic crowd, closing in on Zi Yanran and her group.

However, this seemingly ingenious sneak attack could not escape the perceptions of Bai Mengqi and the Superpower Bureau bodyguards.

“Hm? Miss Zi, be careful!” Liang Qiuyu, quick-witted, immediately detected the anomaly.

Several iron needles, imbued with supernatural energy, appeared in his hand. He shot them towards the shadow spreading across the ground.

The needles moved with lightning speed, instantly pinning the shadow in place.

The young man employing the ninjutsu saw this, his expression changing. He then forcefully severed the shadow, altering the technique.

But doing so would undoubtedly come at a price.

He coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, his face instantly turning deathly pale.

This was the consequence of forcibly canceling a technique; his body had suffered severe damage.

He had intended to seize the chance to escape, but it was already too late.

Though Liang Qiuyu had discovered the assailant, he had no means of pursuit.

They were in a foreign country, Japan, and using their abilities in public would violate Japanese law, leading to immense trouble.

However, just as the ninja attempted to flee through an alley, a tiny white light flashed through his heart.

The pain was so subtle that he didn’t even feel any discomfort.

It was only after he had walked some distance that he began to feel an uneasiness in his chest.

His heart gradually lost vitality, beating slower and slower.

“How could this be? Who…?” His consciousness began to blur. Finally, he leaned against a wall and sank down, his breathing ceasing.

The area was in utter disarray at the time, and no one paid him any mind.

This attack had undoubtedly come from Bai Mengqi. She had been observing everything in secret, searching for an opportunity to strike.

She would show no mercy to those who sought to assassinate Zi Yanran.

At that moment, she stood atop a nearby building, coldly watching the scene below.

“Truly seeking death.”

She murmured softly, her tone filled with disdain and anger.

After speaking, she vanished once more, as if she had never been there.

****

Various superpowered individuals began to appear, mostly ninjas.

They engaged in battles, some overtly, others covertly.

It wasn’t just Bai Mengqi who was taking action; superpowered individuals affiliated with the Japanese government also began clashing with these illegal attackers.

“Who are you people? How dare you assassinate foreign guests?” These official Japanese superpowered individuals roared in anger.

Their expressions were stern, their eyes gleaming with resolute determination.

Their duty and mission were to protect the nation’s security and stability.

Those who disrupted national security and stability were naturally their enemies.

In Japan, from a national perspective, those in power certainly did not wish to provoke animosity between two countries.

After all, peace and development were the themes of the current era; any conflict or war could bring immeasurable consequences.

However, there were always some extreme right-wing officials and organizations who disregarded these concerns, focusing solely on their own interests and ambitions.

And this time, the forces causing trouble and destruction were controlled by the Japanese right-wing.

They sought to achieve their political objectives by creating chaos and panic. Once they ignited public antagonism, they could then manipulate those right-wing high-ranking officials.

At that point, it would be difficult for them to avoid confrontation.

The current official stance of Japan was to seek peace, representing the side of peace. They were also enemies of the right-wing elements, essentially political rivals.

However, the right-wing elements had been secretly active, attempting to subvert the nation’s peace and stability.

In this melee, Zi Yanran and Matsushita Shinichi were tightly protected in the center.

Zi Yanran’s heart was filled with unease, but the thought of Bai Mengqi being nearby brought her a measure of comfort.

They couldn’t run aimlessly; only by maintaining their formation could they safely await the Japanese government’s rescue.

Bai Mengqi continued to observe everything from the shadows. If she spotted anyone attempting to harm Zi Yanran, she would eliminate them instantly.

This struggle was far from over, and she had to remain vigilant at all times to ensure Zi Yanran’s safety.

Simultaneously, she pondered how to thoroughly expose and strike down these masterminds, making them pay the price they deserved.

Time slowly passed. During this period, assassins continually approached Zi Yanran. Some with crude methods were driven away by Liang Qiuyu and his team.

Those with more sophisticated techniques were eliminated by Bai Mengqi just as they prepared to act.

The hidden Matsuda watched his subordinates fail one after another, and couldn’t help but clench his fists.

“Damn it!” he cursed under his breath, then slowly retreated.

The fire had stopped spreading, rescue teams from relevant departments had arrived, and numerous superpowered individuals tasked with maintaining order were converging.

He had lost his opportunity and could only withdraw for now, to seek other chances.

“You are Miss Zi Yanran, correct? We are from the Metropolitan Police Department. Please allow us to evacuate you from the disaster area.” A group of Japanese police officers approached Zi Yanran and her companions, clearing a path and escorting them away from the scene.

The Japanese authorities could not possibly blame this incident on Zi Yanran or her group, as there was no evidence to link them. Even if there were, they would be victims, making it even more illogical to stir up trouble.

After leaving the dangerous zone, the police personally cleared the way, escorting Zi Yanran and her group to the base of the Matsushita Group headquarters building.

“Miss Zi, I apologize for the fright you endured. That was truly perilous,” Matsushita Shinichi rushed over immediately.

They were dozens of meters from the incident, so outwardly, it had no connection to them. Only the ordinary people suffered, becoming sacrifices in the internal power struggles between superpowered individuals and high-ranking Japanese officials.

Zi Yanran and her group simply wanted to sign the contract quickly and then leave.

“Mr. Matsushita, what a spectacle this has been. Is the public safety and fire security in Japan truly so poor?” Zi Yanran’s face was grim as she questioned him with a subtly sarcastic tone.

This question left Matsushita Shinichi speechless, able only to offer a dry laugh.

They then entered the Matsushita Group’s headquarters building.