FT DR Chapter 104: Acting Skills in the Plan

Chapter 104: Acting Skills in the Plan

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

On the appointed day, the hovercar from the X-X district arrived early at the Tartaros Civilian Hotel. Chang Gong and Qian Hua, posing as Yin Bo’s “brother” and “sister-in-law,” respectively, got in the car with a worried look on their faces, while Jin Xuan and Wu Chenghe accompanied them.

The logistics officer escorted them all the way to the checkpoint, patting Jin Xuan on the shoulder. “Brother, I can only help you this much. Keep an eye on the brother and sister-in-law, make sure they don’t cause trouble inside, otherwise, I’ll have a hard time explaining to the higher-ups.”

Jin Xuan shook hands with him solemnly. “Don’t worry, big brother, I’ll watch over them. Once they meet some people and feel at ease, they’ll be able to return home with peace of mind.”

“Good, I leave it all to you.” The logistics officer patted his back and waved to the driver to take them to the research institute.

As the car continued towards the institute, Wu Chenghe kept his radar fully activated, trying to extend his consciousness to probe the surroundings. He silently sketched a map of the X-X district in his mind, contrasting it with the information provided by Kazumi Koyama. At the same time, he conveyed any doubts to Jin Xuan through telepathic communication.

Soon, the car stopped in front of an inconspicuous two-story building. Jin Xuan’s eyes narrowed: they had arrived!

Qian Hua linked arms with Chang Gong as they got out of the car, portraying the image of an affectionate couple. Jin Xuan gestured for Wu Chenghe to go ahead while he followed closely behind, keeping the guards who were monitoring them at a distance, displaying a sentinel’s protective stance towards his guide. This was something they had discussed beforehand: when acting, they must make sure the audience and the performers appear to be on different wavelengths, so as to subtly arouse suspicion.

A middle-aged man with a petite stature, wearing a white coat, stood waiting at the door. Jin Xuan recognized him at a glance — Haynes! He exchanged a glance with Wu Chenghe, then reached out and put his arm around his shoulder, emitting a chilling aura all around him.

Haynes smiled as he approached, introducing himself to Chang Gong and Qian Hua, “Hello, I’m Dr. Haynes, the head of this facility. Your brother will be working here in the future. It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” After exchanging pleasantries, he shook hands with Jin Xuan. “You must be the good friend of the logistics officer, right? I heard you’re an arena fighter, indeed, you have a strong presence.”

Jin Xuan let go of Wu Chenghe and naturally positioned him behind him, extending his hand to shake Haynes’. “Nice to meet you.”

Wu Chenghe obediently stepped back, lowering his presence. Haynes’ sharp eyes swept over him, a hint of doubt flickering across his face.

Interrupting, Chang Gong took over the conversation, showing a mixture of anxiety and patience. “How is my brother? Can we see him now if it’s convenient?”

“Of course,” replied Haynes. After a brief inspection of Chang Gong and Qian Hua’s quantum beasts, he gestured, “He’s waiting for you in the reception room. Please follow me.” He then led the way towards the elevator.

At that moment, Jin Xuan squeezed Wu Chenghe’s hand, signaling the start of their operation.

A sentinel guard stood by Wu Chenghe’s side. Wu Chenghe glanced at him, then subtly signaled with his eyes before taking a couple of steps forward with Chang Gong. The guard’s pupils constricted as he inexplicably focused on Wu Chenghe, reaching out to stop him. “Hold on!” 

In his attempt to restrain Wu Chenghe, his arm ended up almost wrapping around Wu Chenghe’s chest.

Jin Xuan’s anger erupted as he grabbed the guard’s arm and flung him away, the guard crashing into the wall with a thud. “Get lost!” he barked.

Haynes, startled by the commotion, quickly instructed someone to assist the guard. “I’m sorry, but according to regulations, only relatives are allowed to meet. Since you’re just his friends, please wait here.”

Jin Xuan, still fuming, was about to charge at the guard again. Wu Chenghe, looking panicked, rushed to grab his arm, whispering nervously, “He didn’t hurt me. Please, let’s just wait here.”

Haynes, now even more puzzled, vaguely saw what had happened. The guard had only made physical contact with Wu Chenghe, who wasn’t even a girl. Was there a need for such an outburst? Or… was there more to it? A suspicion crept into Haynes’ mind as he involuntarily halted his steps, not immediately entering the elevator despite it arriving.

In the lobby, Jin Xuan was stopped by Wu Chenghe, who gave a fierce glare at the guard, behaving completely like an angry brute. Wu Chenghe, holding onto his arm tightly, looked genuinely scared, his eyes lowered as he communicated telepathically, “Yin Bo is on the second floor west side. There are five floors underground here, with fewer guards, less than twenty.”

Located in the core of the X-X district, the research institute had tight perimeter security but relatively lax internal defense. Jin Xuan nodded, suppressing his anger, and took a step back, not bothering the guard any further. However, he emitted a faintly intimidating aura.

There were many subtle details in sentinel-guide pairs that could be observed. For example, they often communicated through telepathy to exchange private information in public. But because they usually communicated with others using language and body language, they inadvertently displayed some gestures during telepathic communication, such as nodding, blinking, or waving. Ordinary people might not notice, but experts like Haynes, who were deeply immersed in sentinel medicine, would definitely not miss them.

As expected, when Wu Chenghe lowered his eyes and Jin Xuan nodded, Haynes’ expression immediately changed. He glanced at an assistant and said, “Take them upstairs. I have something to attend to.”

The assistant escorted Chang Gong and Qian Hua into the elevator, while Haynes turned back to the lobby, giving Jin Xuan a faint smile. “I apologize for the offense earlier. Please, have a seat and have some tea. They probably have a lot to talk about when they meet, so it might take a while. Standing here must be tiring.”

Jin Xuan snorted and sat down on the sofa with Wu Chenghe. While Haynes instructed someone to bring tea, he discreetly released his own quantum beast—a dark brown jackal—that stealthily approached Wu Chenghe from behind.

Wu Chenghe was extremely sensitive and felt the presence of the jackal. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up instantly. He didn’t try to hide his unease, his face changing abruptly as he looked at Jin Xuan for help and communicated telepathically, “There’s a jackal behind me.”

Jin Xuan immediately saw the jackal and, without a word, positioned himself in front of Wu Chenghe, emitting a low growl as a warning to the jackal.

“Oh, you’re a lion sentinel,” Haynes said, trying to suppress his own quantum beast as he retreated. The jackal reluctantly returned to his side and crouched beneath the sofa armrest, but its cunning eyes remained fixed on Wu Chenghe, searching for his quantum beast. Jin Xuan’s lion, seeing the jackal retreat, walked slowly to Wu Chenghe’s side and stared menacingly at the jackal, maintaining a “whoever I glare at gets pregnant” expression.

“A lion sentinel is quite rare,” Haynes commented, his attention shifting to Wu Chenghe. “Is he your… boyfriend? He’s adorable and looks very young.”

Wu Chenghe’s mouth twitched. As a twenty-year-old man, being described as “adorable” was beyond embarrassing. Jin Xuan sensed his discomfort, trying not to laugh but instead squeezed his hand and communicated telepathically, “Watch your acting!”

Wu Chenghe immediately adopted a quail-like appearance, shrinking into Jin Xuan’s embrace and stammering, “I-I’m already an adult.”

Although his performance was somewhat exaggerated and his lines were clichéd, it worked well with his weak appearance, fitting Jin Xuan’s set role—a timid guide, a pet kept by a wealthy young master, a timid little weakling.

Seeing his frightened appearance, Haynes became even more convinced of his speculation. As a seasoned researcher and expert in the art of outsmarting Kazumi Koyama, he had his own unique way of identifying hidden guides. At that moment, a guard brought tea over, prompting Haynes to stand up and graciously take the teacup, saying, “Ah, the tea is here. Please.” 

He handed the cup to Jin Xuan with his right hand and attempted to hand it to Wu Chenghe with his left.

“Thank you,” they both said, reaching out to take the cups. Haynes’ right hand was steady, but his left hand trembled, causing the tea to spill directly onto Wu Chenghe’s hand.

“Ah!” Wu Chenghe exclaimed, quickly withdrawing his hand to the side. The teacup fell to the ground, splashing hot water onto his pants, causing him to tremble in pain.

Damn, this is too ruthless! Wu Chenghe didn’t expect the scientists of the Voyager Army to be so direct and brutal, actually scalding him with hot water. Damn, isn’t this a scene straight out of a palace intrigue drama where the nanny goes rogue? He was sweating profusely from the pain.

Jin Xuan was also startled and immediately placed the teacup on the coffee table, rushing to check Wu Chenghe’s calf. “Where did it burn? Does it hurt?”

Wu Chenghe didn’t know how to react to being scalded by hot water since it wasn’t in the script. He was torn between acting tough, acting weak, or just bursting into tears… Well, the latter was quite difficult for him, especially without eye drops, and with his acting skills, it would be hard to cry on cue. So, he quickly communicated telepathically to his superior, “Should I pretend to cry?”

Jin Xuan’s lower eyelid twitched, wishing he could shake some sense into him. “I’m genuinely concerned about you right now, not acting. Did you really get burned?”

Wu Chenghe, caught in the whirlwind of drama acting, found it challenging, especially when acting opposite Jin Xuan, a seasoned actor. Well, King’s prowess isn’t just for show!

Fortunately, Haynes didn’t give him a chance to showcase his acting skills. While Wu Chenghe was distracted inspecting his calf, Haynes took advantage of his lowered guard and slipped a small, lightweight interference device from his lab coat pocket. 

With a buzz, Wu Chenghe’s pupils dilated and contracted, feeling a slight shock in his chest—the sensation he was all too familiar with. Hannibal used this trick on him back at Gabriel, and Mrs. Balon used it during the final conference to capture him.

This time, without needing the script, he knew what to do. Before Haynes could strike again, he immediately let out a painful cry, clutching his head and collapsing to the ground, his body trembling slightly.

Jin Xuan, seeing Wu Chenghe fall, despite knowing it was just acting, felt genuine distress. He quickly lifted him up and anxiously asked, “What’s wrong?”

Wu Chenghe, although acting, was genuinely frightened by this form of interference. With a pale face, he said, “M-My head… it hurts…” 

At the same time, he conjured a faint light bulb, briefly manifesting it above his head.

Jin Xuan, realizing something was amiss, turned to Haynes. “What’s going on? Are you up to something? What did you do to cause his headache?!”

The light bulb disappeared in an instant, but Haynes had already caught sight of it. His cunning eyes gleamed with satisfaction. Ignoring Jin Xuan’s question, he stepped back and gestured to the guards, “Seize them! They are a sentinel and a guide!”

“Roar!” The Barbary lion suddenly attacked, ferociously pouncing on the jackal under the sofa armrest. Though Haynes managed to retreat in time, he forgot to take his quantum beast with him. The lion seized the opportunity to knock it over and bite its throat!

“Howl!” The jackal was completely stunned, emitting a despairing cry in the lion’s mouth. Haynes, alarmed, drew a ray gun from his waist and aimed it at Wu Chenghe, shouting at Jin Xuan, “Release my quantum beast, or I’ll shoot your guide!”

Jin Xuan snorted, keeping the lion from letting go but also from biting harder. He said coldly, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. There are no guides here! I have a pass signed by General Yuri. If you dare to play any tricks on us, I won’t let you off!”

Haynes, at a disadvantage, sweated profusely, pointing the gun at Wu Chenghe but not daring to pull the trigger or order the guards to attack. His gaze flickered uncertainly. “Stop acting tough. I’ve seen it all. He’s an Icarus butterfly guide. I saw his butterfly!”

“Bullshit!” Jin Xuan roared, kicking the coffee table away! It flew past Haynes’ ear and smashed against the wall. 

Startled, Haynes, being only a civilian researcher, took a few steps back, trembling as he shouted, “Young man, harboring a guide is illegal. I advise you to surrender and cooperate with me. Otherwise, I’ll immediately report to the Federation and send him to the Tungusic base. You’ll never see him again in your life!”

“Roar!” Jin Xuan let out a lion-like roar, his temple veins bulging, his eyes faintly veiled with red mist. Wu Chenghe was startled by his outburst. Although they had rehearsed, Jin Xuan’s performance was so real, making him seem like a sentinel whose guide had been taken away! The anger, fear, and genuine hatred emanating from him were truly chilling!

“D-Don’t… don’t lose your temper,” Wu Chenghe, who was actually fine by now, had to continue acting injured according to the script. He resisted the urge to laugh at Jin Xuan’s performance, struggling in his embrace and wrapping his arms around Jin Xuan’s neck to comfort his manic state telepathically.

However, as mental tendrils connected to Jin Xuan’s consciousness cloud, Wu Chenghe realized that Jin Xuan wasn’t entirely acting. He was genuinely experiencing a manic episode, with sparks flickering in his consciousness cloud, and his pain was real.

In an instant, Wu Chenghe understood Jin Xuan’s pain: the fear of losing his guide had never completely disappeared from his subconscious. The five-month separation they endured last time left Jin Xuan with deep-seated pain, even surpassing the trauma of facing a dozen mercenaries and bandits alone in his childhood, or the anguish of signing his name on Jin Zhe’s death notification when he was twelve.

The stronger a person is, the deeper their hidden vulnerabilities lie. Jin Xuan had been suppressing this vulnerability and fighting his fears, striving for an independent personality and freedom.

Wu Chenghe was deeply moved. As he comforted Jin Xuan’s mania telepathically, tears welled up in his eyes.

Jin Xuan felt his sadness and glanced at him, giving him a mental thumbs up, pretending to be relaxed as he said, “Good acting! You managed to convey that feeling of wanting to cry but holding back. Well done!”

Wu Chenghe was instantly thrown off guard, unsure whether to laugh or cry. He replied, “Quick, find a way to let him catch us. I can’t keep up with this act much longer. The sooner we cut, the sooner we get boxed lunches, director!”

Jin Xuan “Hmm-ed” and scanned the surroundings. He saw that over twenty sentinel guards had surrounded them, their rifles and pistols aimed at them. The rage on his face gradually faded, revealing a trapped-animal-like anxiety, with a hint of fear. After hesitating for a moment, he reluctantly addressed Haynes, “Order your men to step back! Otherwise, my lion will bite your jackal to death!”

Wu Chenghe witnessed his changing expressions throughout and couldn’t help but admire Jin Xuan’s professionalism. Watching him transition from anger to panic to despair was like experiencing a thrilling drama, with tension building up, making even bystanders feel exhilarated!

If he can really get into showbiz, he’ll be a big hit! Wu Chenghe thought to himself, silently lamenting.

“Don’t resist stubbornly, young man!” Haynes noticed Wu Chenghe’s emotional changes and waved his hand, slowly closing in with the guards, tightening the encirclement. He sneered, “Do you think you can escape? This is the Tartaros Garrison! Even if you’re a friend of the quartermaster, General Yuri’s protege, no one can save you if you harbor a guide! The only one who can protect you is me, Dr. Haynes!”

Jin Xuan emitted a fierce growl from his throat, warning them not to come any closer. Then, he gently placed Wu Chenghe on the sofa behind him, rolled up his sleeves, revealing his muscular arms, adopting a defiant posture.

Haynes hesitated for a moment. Although he slowed down his pace, he didn’t stop completely. He said, “I advise you to release my quantum beast and cooperate with me. I promise you can still be together. In just a few years, you’ll have enough money to retire to a secluded place and live a happy life…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Jin Xuan suddenly lunged forward, wrapping his left arm around Haynes’ neck and seizing the ray gun in his right hand with lightning speed. The swiftness of his action was shocking.

Haynes hadn’t expected Jin Xuan to be so agile. He recalled the quartermaster mentioning that Jin Xuan was a boxer and couldn’t help but regret getting too close just now. However, it was too late for regrets. Jin Xuan’s strike hit home. He dragged Haynes back to the sofa, holding the gun to his head and shouting, “Nobody move! Or I’ll shoot him!”

This was X-X District, the most heavily guarded area of the Second Army Group. The guards surrounding them were no pushovers. Just as Jin Xuan lunged to grab a hostage, a guard silently maneuvered behind the sofa where Wu Chenghe lay. Quietly, he took aim with a tranquilizer gun at Wu Chenghe’s lower back.

In reality, Wu Chenghe had long regained his mobility. He was just lying there, feigning weakness to distract Jin Xuan. When the man approached, he sensed it and, through sheer intuition, saw the attempted ambush. So, he put on a worried and fearful expression, keeping his entire back exposed to the assailant.

With a soft thud, the tranquilizer dart pierced through the sofa backrest, hitting his back accurately. Wu Chenghe adjusted his position in time, allowing the dart to graze past his internal organs and blood vessels, minimizing the damage.

The tranquilizer took effect almost instantaneously. Within the blink of an eye, his vision started to blur. He managed only a simple, faint exhalation before slipping into unconsciousness. His consciousness fluttered away like a butterfly, wilting beside his cheek.

Jin Xuan caught his sound in time, twisting his head towards Haynes and letting out a cry of pain. He pinched Haynes, almost knocking him unconscious, then tossed him aside like a rag doll and lunged towards Wu Chenghe. Amidst the crisis, he didn’t forget to remind the Barbary lion to release the jackal and pretend to rescue Light bulb.

With the hostages out of control, the guards surrounding them seized the opportunity. The man attempting to ambush Wu Chenghe swiftly overturned the sofa, pinning Wu Chenghe underneath. Meanwhile, he signaled two comrades to stand guard in front of the sofa, intercepting Jin Xuan. Two others rushed to protect Haynes, dragging the unconscious doctor out of the danger zone for first aid.

Over a dozen others simultaneously launched an attack on Jin Xuan. Tranquilizer darts flew towards him as if they were free, the momentum akin to turning him into a sieve.

Wu Chenghe finished his act, and Jin Xuan no longer cared. He shrugged off his sleeves and began to retaliate. He dodged the bullets aimed at him with lightning speed, then swiftly knocked down the nearest guard, cleanly rendering him unconscious with a chokehold. Jin Xuan snatched the tranquilizer gun and efficiently dealt with two more guards nearby.

The name ‘Gun Spear’ wasn’t just for show, and Jin Xuan, the arena heir, wasn’t idle either. He fully utilized his close combat advantage, swiftly taking down a large number of guards attempting to surround him. Watching their quantum beasts writhing on the ground, howling in agony, he felt some of the anger inside him dissipate. Damn it, daring to attack his guide, had they grown tired of living, idiots!

Although the plan was for them to fight and get captured, they were supposed to sustain some injuries, making it appear authentic. But when it came down to execution, he couldn’t tolerate his guide being hit. Not even with the lowest-grade tranquilizer dart!

And his calf got burned red!

And he was stuck under the sofa, eating dust!

He couldn’t hold back the urge for revenge again… Jin Xuan struggled to quell his anger, reminding himself he couldn’t continue fighting. If he kept going, all the guards would be incapacitated, and he wouldn’t be able to be captured. The big boss would personally tear him apart!

So, when a guard, with fearful eyes, roared and lunged towards him, Jin Xuan pretended to slip on the tea, his feet sliding, and he fell to the ground.

With a soft thud, the sound of the tranquilizer dart hitting his upper arm, Jin Xuan sighed slightly, closing his eyes slowly. [CUT!]

The first phase of the plan concluded perfectly.

 

 

 

 

 

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