92: Chapter 92 Stop! Don't send the national team away!

In the darkness, there was a soft "click" from the villa's front door, and it was opened from the outside.

Two figures, one after the other, slipped inside with extreme caution.

Leading them was a young man with a crew cut, his physique agile and his gaze sharp. He held a pitch-black Type 54 pistol, the muzzle lowered in a standard tactical search stance.

Behind him, his teammate carried a Type 95 automatic rifle, the muzzle also pointed into the room, responsible for providing cover.

Their movements were professional and efficient, each step falling into the blind spots of the surveillance cameras; they were clearly top-tier experts who had undergone rigorous training.

Number 18's night vision system saw everything clearly.

The alarm in her internal system had reached its maximum level.

[Warning! Two high-threat targets detected!]

[Weapon analysis: Standard-issue pistol, standard-issue assault rifle...]

[Threat level assessment: A-grade!]

[Handling protocol: Initiating 'Erase' command. Recommend using area-of-effect lethal weapons to ensure all threats are eliminated within 1.5 seconds!]

In her azure eyes, cold data streams flashed frantically, and the missile in her arm was already primed and ready.

The young man with the crew cut and his teammate did not know that they had been locked onto by a killing machine from the future.

Relying on the faint moonlight filtering in from outside the window, the two moved inch by inch into the living room, searching for any possible anomalies.

"Captain, something is wrong. It's too quiet," the teammate behind whispered in a low voice.

"Be careful," the young man with the crew cut replied. His gaze swept across the empty living room and finally settled on that unlucky fellow — Shadow — who was tied up like a dumpling, a cloth gag stuffed in his mouth, lying limp on the floor.

Both of them were stunned.

What was going on?

They had been given strict orders from above to come and secretly protect this important person, Lu Li.

But when they arrived at the scene, how… it seemed like it was already over?

And looking at the way the person was tied up, it was professional!

Just as they were hesitant and suspicious, preparing to step forward to investigate...

At the corner of the stairs, Lu Li also saw the equipment of the newcomers through the visual feed shared by Number 18.

His heart skipped a beat.

Type 54? Type 95?

These weren't some fire-pokers that desperate outlaws could get their hands on!

This was standard-issue equipment from the state!

This was the national team!

Thinking back to the previous times, when driving to work with his wife, that faint, lingering feeling of being watched instantly connected in his mind into a clear thread.

Damn it!

Lu Li understood everything in an instant.

These people were sent by the state to protect him!

Ever since that video of Doraemon in the park went viral, he had already entered the state's field of vision!

It made sense, too; that level of artificial intelligence was enough to change too many things.

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, he caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye that the muscle lines on Number 18's arm were beginning to bulge and change unnaturally!

That was the final precursor to a missile launch!

Lu Li's scalp instantly tingled, and a chill shot straight from his tailbone to the top of his head!

If a missile went off, let alone these two ace soldiers, the entire entrance area of his villa would be blown to smithereens!

"Number 18, disengage the alarm! They're on our side!"

Lu Li didn't hesitate; he used his mobile terminal to urgently issue an order to Number 18!

Number 18's figure paused abruptly, and the data stream in her eyes instantly froze.

[Highest command received.]

[Command conflict analysis... Re-assessing threat target identity...]

[Alarm disengaged.]

The launch slot that was about to unfold on her arm slowly closed, and the terrifying murderous aura dissipated along with it.

Almost at the same time, the young man with the crew cut keenly sensed something. Relying on his beast-like intuition, he suddenly looked up and shouted sternly:

"Who's there? Come out!"

His muzzle was already aimed in the direction of the staircase corner.

"Number 18, go out and communicate with them."

Lu Li's voice came from behind the wall. He did not show himself; under these circumstances, taking risks was something only an idiot would do.

He had to be 100% sure of their identity first.

Receiving the order, Number 18 strode out of the darkness with her long legs, unhurriedly.

She was wearing only a simple white T-shirt and denim shorts, stepping in a pair of white sneakers, her blonde hair draped over her shoulders, and there was no expression on her incredibly beautiful face.

Facing two pitch-black gun muzzles, she treated them as if they were nothing, as if she were just taking a stroll in her own backyard.

The young man with the crew cut and his teammate were completely dumbfounded.

What was going on?

A foreign woman? A nanny? Or... an accomplice?

"State your identities," Number 18's voice rang out, cold and flat, without a trace of human emotional fluctuation.

The young man with the crew cut, codenamed "Grey Wolf," frowned tightly; he smelled an extremely dangerous aura coming from this woman.

He did not lower his gun but said in a deep voice: "We are the Special Operations Team of the Ninth Bureau of State Security, ordered to secretly protect the safety of Mr. Lu Li."

As he spoke, he took out an ID from his pocket and unfolded it with one hand.

A faint light flashed in Number 18's azure eyes, and an invisible data stream instantly scanned the ID.

[ID scanned... Information comparison... Database verification...]

[Confirmed, state encrypted authorization.]

Having confirmed their identities, Number 18 turned to the side, clearing the path.

Only then did Lu Li, with his arm around the still-shaken Su Qingxue, walk down the stairs.

"Sorry, it's a misunderstanding." Lu Li wore an apologetic smile, but inside he was complaining frantically: Can't you just say hello when protecting me?

That was almost an accidental discharge!

Seeing Lu Li in person, then looking at the half-dead mercenary on the floor, and then at the impossibly beautiful blonde woman, Grey Wolf's brain couldn't quite process it.

He put away his gun, stood at attention, and saluted:

"Mr. Lu Li, I am the captain of this operation, Zhang Qiang. We have been ordered to deploy and protect the area around your residence for a month."

A month!

Lu Li and Su Qingxue exchanged a glance, both seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.

So, he had been under "close watch" since that early on.

"Tonight was our operational error, and it frightened you and your wife." Zhang Qiang's tone was filled with apology and lingering fear.

If they hadn't arrived in time... No, looking at the situation, even if they hadn't come, this intruder wouldn't have gained any advantage.

His gaze involuntarily fell back on Number 18.

Who exactly was this woman?

Why did he always feel that she could easily take him down, even though he was among the top tier, having even protected national leaders?

Just then, an order came through Zhang Qiang's Bluetooth headset.

His expression turned solemn, and he said to Lu Li: "Mr. Lu Li, my superior, Elder Wu, would like to speak with you on the phone."

As he spoke, he handed over a black, unmarked military encrypted phone.

What was meant to come had finally arrived.

Lu Li understood in his heart and took the phone.

"Mr. Lu Li, hello, I am Director Wu Zhenguo." A voice came from the other end of the phone, old but full of vigor, carrying an unquestionable majesty.

"Elder Wu, hello."

"Young man, you've made quite a stir," Elder Wu's voice carried a hint of a smile. "There are some things we are very interested in. The state would like to discuss cooperation with you."

No testing, no beating around the bush, straight to the point.

Lu Li was silent for a moment.

He knew that from the moment he brought out Doraemon, this day was destined to come.

He took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

In this life, he didn't want to be like in his past life, dedicating everything to a cold laboratory and eventually dying alone.

But the blood in his bones was still the color of Yanhuang.

"Cooperation, of course, is possible."

Lu Li's tone became calm and firm.

"All the technology I have, as long as the state needs it, I can provide unconditionally."

"However, I have one condition."

"I will not go to work at any research institute."

The other end of the phone went silent.

After a long while, Elder Wu's voice sounded again, with a hint of appreciation.

"Good, the state agrees."

The call ended, and Zhang Qiang and the others took the mercenary "Shadow," who had completely lost the will to resist, and left silently.

They also promised him that they would bundle up the mastermind behind it all as well.

The living room returned to silence.

Lu Li stood where he was, not speaking for a long time.

He knew that from tonight on, his leisurely, slacker life might have to come to a complete end.

A soft hand gently wrapped around his waist from behind.

Su Qingxue pressed her cheek against his back, feeling his heartbeat.

"No matter what happens, I will be with you," her voice was very soft, yet carried the power to soothe all turmoil.

Lu Li held her hand with his, his heart filled with warmth:

"Wife, don't worry. I won't suddenly disappear for a dozen years or so, but if the state asks, I must, of course, contribute my share of strength."