"That is…"
Looking at the figure in the corner of the laboratory, Fang Li couldn't help but be slightly startled. He narrowed his eyes and focused his gaze on it.
The next moment, the full appearance of the figure was revealed within Fang Li's field of view.
Seeing the person's face clearly, Fang Li was surprised.
"Hibari?"
The figure turned out to be none other than Hibari.
However, at this moment, Hibari was restrained by handcuffs, lying on the ground with a piece of cloth stuffed in her mouth. When she saw Fang Li, she couldn't help but make sobbing sounds.
Fang Li finally reacted and quickly approached Hibari, removing the cloth from her mouth.
"Fang Li-San." Hibari seemed to be on the verge of tears as she spoke.
"Hibari." Fang Li quickly asked, "How did you end up here?"
"After you left the Russian Branch, Captain Rollins Wright had me brought before him and imprisoned me," Hibari bit her lip and said, "I didn't expect the captain to be such a person."
Hearing this, Fang Li looked at the tightly restrained Hibari and couldn't help but feel a sense of lament.
It made sense when you think about it.
Although Hibari was just an Operator, she was still a member of the Far East Branch. If even Fang Li, an ordinary soldier, was framed, it was only natural that Hibari would not escape the same fate.
However, Rollins Wright didn't directly eliminate Hibari; instead, he kept her captive.
"Perhaps Rollins Wright intends to keep Hibari as a hostage and use her against the members of the First Unit at a critical moment?"
After all, the news of the First Unit's God Eater death had not been confirmed yet, and there was a possibility that Amamiya Rindou and the entire group had survived and returned to Rollins Wright.
Considering this, Rollins Wright imprisoned Hibari to have her as a contingency, rather than killing her outright.
"This Rollins Wright indeed has some means, and his plan from beginning to end is nearly flawless. Unfortunately, he underestimated my abilities at this crucial moment."
If it were the God Eaters of the First Unit who found this laboratory instead of Fang Li, Rollins Wright would have used Hibari as a hostage to confront Amamiya Rindou and the entire group, right?
In that case, the whole situation would have been completely different.
"It can only be said that all of this is fate."
Thinking this, Fang Li swung his Moonlight Dagger in a swift motion.
"Clang!"
With a metallic collision sound, the sharp Moonlight Dagger severed the handcuffs restraining Hibari.
Then, Fang Li helped Hibari up.
"Hibari, since you've been here all this time, you should be aware of the current situation." Fang Li spoke directly to Hibari. "Next, I will escape the Russian Branch with Eros. What are your plans?"
Hearing Fang Li's words, Hibari tensed her face and seemed to have already made up her mind. Without the slightest hesitation, she replied, "Fang Li-San, let me assist you."
"You'll help me?" Fang Li inquired. "How do you plan to help?"
"I've been imprisoned here for several days and have been observing this place. I've figured out the functions of many devices and instruments," Hibari pointed at the massive culture tank containing Eros and said, "It seems that this culture tank can be ejected from the laboratory, and if there are no issues, it should be possible to set the ejection point outside the Russian Branch."
"There's such a device as well?" Fang Li was instantly surprised but then realized. To secretly research Eros, Rollins Wright had colluded with the Branch Director. They claimed to be studying Eros for the sake of the director and went to great lengths to discover the methods to control Eros.
However, naturally, Rollins Wright didn't genuinely intend to hand Eros over to the Branch Director. After the research was completed, he would find a way to eliminate the director and keep the research results for himself.
In that case, it wasn't surprising that Rollins Wright installed an ejection device here.
Once the research was complete, Rollins Wright would use this ejection device to launch Eros out of the Russian Branch while he found a pretext to leave and retrieve Eros.
Now, this device unexpectedly came in handy for Fang Li.
"But can you handle this alone?" Fang Li asked Hibari. "The situation outside is completely chaotic now, and the Aragami horde is approaching the Russian Branch. My friend's status is unknown, and I may not be able to stay here to protect you."
"It's alright." Hibari quickly reassured him. "There is a device here that can host Bias Factor, which I can use to avoid the Aragami's attacks. The Russian Branch personnel are currently dealing with the Aragami, so I should be safer alone here."
Hibari's words made Fang Li hesitate a bit.
To that, Hibari smiled and said, "Please don't worry about me. After all, I'm also a soldier, even if only an Operator. I have no problem escaping for my life."
Seeing Hibari's smile, Fang Li couldn't help but feel somewhat relieved. Therefore, Fang Li nodded and said, "Then I'll leave it to you, Hibari."
"Yes." Hibari agreed, and shortly afterward, she seemed to remember something. She took out a headphone-style communicator from her pocket and said to Fang Li, "Fang Li-San, please take this. Thanks to Captain Rollins Wright's personal agenda, a communication and surveillance system has been installed here in the Russian Branch. Although I don't know if it was damaged by the recent Aragami attack, it's better to be prepared. If there is any important information, I will immediately notify you."
"Understood." Fang Li naturally had no reason to refuse. He took the communicator and put it on his ear, then said to Hibari, "Take care of yourself."
After that, Fang Li wasted no time and swiftly dashed out of the laboratory.
Seeing this, Hibari took a deep breath, turned around, and looked in the direction of Eros.
After a while, Hibari's voice softly echoed in the laboratory.
"I am also a member of the Far East Branch."
So, at this time when everyone is fighting, I must also do my best.
In my role as an Operator.
With that in mind, Hibari surveyed her surroundings and then ran in a certain direction.
"BOOM—!"
A thunderous sound reverberated through the sky outside, and finally, the rain began to pour down.
...
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