Woo woo... Woo woo...
An ambulance with its siren blaring sped away from the Abnormal Human Research Center as dawn just began to break, racing down the mountain path by Qingshan with lightning speed.
Having passed through three sets of five consecutive hairpin turns, the average speed reached 80 kilometers per hour by the time it arrived at the base of the mountain—that was for an ambulance!
"Impressive!"
Inside, Ji Tianqi exclaimed in admiration.
The driver, who was also Ji Tianqi's driving skills instructor, responded enthusiastically, "Just average, ranked third in the whole province. You're a Superpower User, so you'll definitely be better once you get the hang of it."
"Uh, I wasn't talking about you." Ji Tianqi corrected seriously, "I was referring to her, my Guardian, Ms. Bai Xiuchu."
"..."
The driver glanced at the control panel's monitor screen—this was an ambulance with a partition between the driver's cabin and the passenger compartment, so the rearview mirror could not capture the full interior, only the monitor could.
After one look, he understood why Ji Tianqi had said that.
Tightly fastened with a seatbelt, with hands gripping the handrails, Bai Xiuchu showed no signs of carsickness at all. Her condition was quite normal, as if she were sitting in a baby stroller.
"I've undergone very professional training." Bai Xiuchu emphasized calmly, "I am ready for combat if needed."
"Good."
After a satisfied nod, Ji Tianqi then said to the driver, "Are you interested in becoming my dedicated driver after your training is over?"
The driver wasn't surprised by the invitation. He had conducted similar driving skills training for many people, covering but not limited to cars, yachts, helicopters, commercial airliners, and fighter jets.
Those being trained did not need to reach his level of comprehensive and excellent skills, but they might need his expertise.
Naturally, some of them made offers to him, with generous salary packages included.
The driver, who initially wanted to decline directly, thought of Ji Tianqi being a psychiatric patient and chose to refuse diplomatically.
"Actually, I'm better at piloting planes and tanks. For just driving, you don't need to spend much money to find me."
Ji Tianqi, who understood the implication, asked with a smile, "What if I say we'll have a lot more than just ambulances in the future?"
"Hm?"
While the driver and Bai Xiuchu were both a bit puzzled, Ji Tianqi confidently began to entice them with prospects.
"In the near future, we will have rescue planes, rescue yachts, and even rescue tanks and rescue fighters. This way, your talents can be fully utilized, and you won't have to worry about me spending much money."
[Is this what I'm worried about?]
The driver, even though somewhat distracted, decided not to slow down since the road at the base of the mountain was much better than the mountain road, and thus he could drive even faster, showcasing his professional skills.
Puzzled, he asked, "Why is everything prefixed with 'rescue'?"
"Because our base is a Psychiatric Hospital, because I am a psychiatric patient, and because... I think this way we can take the initiative."
"..."
The driver took a deep breath and glanced again at Bai Xiuchu's expression through the monitor; he really wanted to ask—didn't you say that Ji Tianqi's condition was under control?
Bai Xiuchu, unaware of the driver's gaze but sensing his inner alarm, felt equally shocked—has this gone beyond the symptoms of delusional disorder? Could it be due to staying in the psychiatric hospital for too long? Has he been contaminated, no, infected?
She didn't know that at this moment, she had the same thoughts as Ji Tianqi had earlier.
Thinking it over, she nervously laughed.
"Hahaha, that joke is so funny."
"Joke?" Ji Tianqi said seriously, "I'm serious."
"..."
The cab suddenly fell silent, and so did the temporary command center at the No. 9 Training Ground of the Abnormal Human Research Center.
The personnel involved in the temporary command, mostly those originally responsible for studying Ji Tianqi and a few newcomers, looked at one another, unsure of what to say.
Fortunately, once the ambulance entered the urban area of Shen City, Shen City Security Administration joined their communication system and took over.
"This is Luo Xingyi, I will now brief the situation."
Luo Xingyi wasted no words, as he did not know what Ji Tianqi had just mentioned, and began introducing the situation with a serious tone.
"We have confirmed the number of criminals to be four, one of whom is Zhan Yuchao, the one you previously apprehended. He is fitted with a Genetic Lock, but we cannot be certain if the enemy can forcibly overcome the limitations imposed by the Genetic Lock."
"During the abduction of Zhan Yuchao, the real criminal acted alone. He is a Psychic Type Superpower User who conducted widespread hypnosis, causing our people to release Zhan Yuchao."
"Whether the other two criminals are Superpower Users remains unknown. As a result, their potential Superpowers are also unknown."
"During the pursuit, one of our Enforcers was hypnotized; he has forgotten he is a Superpower User and can no longer use his Superpowers. He is now a hostage of the criminals."
"Therefore, Ji Tianqi, if you do not feel confident in countering this kind of hypnosis, you can withdraw from the operation immediately."
Upon hearing this, Bai Xiuchu and Cong Wen, along with others, all looked at Ji Tianqi with great concern—through their eyes and the monitor screen.
Would Ji Tianqi, who had just been acting bizarrely, act bizarrely at this time?
Would Ji Tianqi, who firmly believed he possessed only one 'Crossing' Superpower, be hypnotized by the criminals to the extent that he forgets his... martial arts?
"I'm sure I can handle it." Ji Tianqi replied with a serious expression and a normal tone, "I am confident, I'm sure I can handle it."
Within the Shen City Security Administration command center.
Luo Xingyi, looking at Ji Tianqi's public data from the Hero Association, which still stated he was at the Single Soldier Level and only had 'Physical Enhancement' and 'Energy Release' as his Superpowers, remained somewhat skeptical.
However, this call for help had been approved by the Abnormal Human Research Center, and since he was currently without a better plan, he could only pin his hopes on Ji Tianqi.
"Right."
Luo Xingyi's voice rang out loud, continuing with the update.
"Currently, the four criminals have fled into a street-level shop, which we have already cleared out."
"We believe they are trying to break Zhan Yuchao's Genetic Lock, and once successful, they could use the Instantaneous Movement ability to escape directly."
"Based on Zhan Yuchao's Ability effect, we have reason to believe that one of the criminals has a Superpower that can enhance the Superpower Effects of others..."
Ji Tianqi listened quietly with earnest seriousness, which gave Bai Xiuchu, who was observing him closely, a strong sense of contrast—was this the same person who had just mentioned a 'rescue fighter'?
After Luo Xingyi finished recounting the situation, he asked solemnly, "Ji Tianqi, your mission is to provide support that is within your capabilities, and that has been authorized by our side while our enforcers are taking action. Do you have any problems with that?"
"Yes!"
The unequivocal response from Ji Tianqi sent Luo Xingyi's heart racing, and also Bai Xiuchu's, as well as the people from the research center.
"What problems?"
"Why don't you let me go and capture them all directly?"
"..."
The communication channel fell silent, while the ambulance continued to race swiftly.
Wuu wuu... wuu wuu...
The continuous sound of the siren and the blue flashing lights on the roof of the ambulance made the traffic along the way clear a path spontaneously.
But there were always some people who acted on the principle of 'none of my business'; not only did they show no intention of giving way, they even deliberately slowed down to obstruct.
Fortunately, the driver's driving skills were exceptional, allowing the ambulance to quickly approach the street where the target shop was located.
However, this did not ease the tension of the people inside; instead, it grew even greater.
In the eyes of the Shen City Security Administration, Ji Tianqi was no different from those deliberately obstructing the ambulance.
"I've told you, the other side has a hostage," Luo Xingyi's voice rose, indifferent in tone: "And it's one of our own!"
Ji Tianqi asked calmly in return, "So?"
"So, we daren't take drastic actions. We can only hope that the criminals' goal is to unlock Zhan Yuchao's Genetic Lock to make use of his Instantaneous Movement superpower to escape."
"What if I can save the hostages, or even catch those four criminals?"
"On what grounds?" Luo Xingyi's questioning became tinged with anger.
But Ji Tianqi did not answer; he glanced at the navigation map on the tablet in Bai Xiuchu's hand—there was still a ten-minute journey to the 'Take Me Home' flower shop, their destination.
There was still time.
So he directed the research center to, "Send them that video."
Even though he did not elaborate, the research center naturally understood which video he was referring to.
But this involved confidential information after all, and Cong Wen, who was in the position to make the decision, hesitated for a moment.
However, he didn't hesitate for long, as he recalled the four words in the approval from his superiors—'Too narrow a view.'
"Alright, we will send it immediately."
Cong Wen's side moved quickly, and Luo Xingyi's side received the video of Ji Tianqi, under the triple-layered protection of the crowd, successfully controlling Wu Ya in a drill.
Because they were in a rush, the video wasn't muted, nor edited much.
Therefore, in the command center of the Security Administration Bureau, a series of strange shouts could be heard.
"Hoo ha." "Hoo ha!" "Hey ha!"
"???"
The emotions of the Security Administration Bureau personnel began to turn complex and inscrutable from this point.
Even when they saw Ji Tianqi creating thirty-two afterimages, moving with incredible speed that only a high-speed camera could capture, skillfully passing through the triple-layered protection using some unknown method or ability to immobilize a person.
Yet they still did not trust Ji Tianqi—because the ones to confront this time were three or four superpower criminals!
So, such a display of abilities only made Luo Xingyi's tone slightly less harsh.
"I know you are strong, but you are not strong enough. And this is not just a matter of strength; it's also about responsibilities that neither you nor I can bear."
"Responsibility? The responsibility for the safety of the hostages?" Ji Tianqi rebutted insubordinately, then stated, "I don't think I need to take this responsibility."
"???"
Question marks arose in nearly everyone's mind, which was enough to indicate—in their eyes—Ji Tianqi had a problem!
Ji Tianqi continued on his own, "I'm quite close to Li Yuanhong."
"???"
The research center was very clear about Ji Tianqi's personal history and knew that Ji Tianqi, who almost had no family or close friends, could not possibly know Li Yuanhong.
But they began to doubt themselves at this moment.
Because Ji Tianqi was speaking with such certainty, it did not seem like he was lying.
Similarly, Luo Xingyi, who was very familiar with Li Yuanhong's personal history, also suddenly lost confidence.
He foolishly asked, "How did you get close to him, haven't you only met once? Could it be..."
With the tone of stating the obvious, Ji Tianqi revealed the truth to everyone in the communication channel.
"I saved his life, that's how."
"..."
Insane! Insane! Insane!
Luo Xingyi was furious to the extreme, though he repressed it due to professional etiquette, gritting his teeth and reminded, "Just because you've saved him doesn't mean you can sacrifice him!"
Ji Tianqi fell silent.
Just when everyone thought Ji Tianqi had finally come to his senses and was being reasonable, he spoke again.
"Then may I ask, can you guarantee that your actions won't sacrifice him?"
Luo Xingyi roared, "Can you?"
"I can't." Ji Tianqi emphasized, "But I have saved his life."
"..."
Bai Xiuchu, looking at Ji Tianqi beside her whose expression was one of firm determination, suddenly remembered what Sister Chen had told her when she had first arrived at the Abnormal Human Research Center—that in many cases, they seemed more normal than normal people.