CHAPTER 327: CHAPTER 13: IDENTITY EXPOSED (PART 2)

His tone was filled with pride in his own research results, and the demonstration just now proved his claims were not false, which greatly intrigued the Chief of Staff.

But just then, a guard from the "Medical Center" ran over with a look of panic, whispering quickly into Wayne Herbert’s ear.

Herbert, who had been calm and unperturbed, suddenly had a dramatic change of expression, more exaggerated even than the Chief of Staff’s earlier. He raised his voice abruptly, angrily questioning, "Who did it?!"

The guard once again lowered his voice, saying something quickly...

Wayne Herbert, puzzled and shocked, exclaimed furiously, "Harden? Who is this person?! How could he possibly counterattack under the assault of two enhanced agents?!"

The guard who came to deliver the message looked helpless, unable to answer the question.

It was the Chief of Staff who reacted extremely violently to the name "Harden", urgently asking, "Harden?! Is it the same Harden I just reported?! Did your people die at his hands?!"

The two factions quickly exchanged the scattered information they possessed, piecing together the rough truth—they were indeed talking about the same person—Minister Harden of the "Ministry of Efficiency" personally came to the town of "Macon"!

In a situation with a traitor by his side, this minister should have been caught in a trap and captured. But instead, he forcibly broke free from his bonds, countered his hunters, and managed to escape successfully.

What shocked the Chief of Staff the most was: "Two enhanced super agents couldn’t capture Harden?! That guy is just a high-level bureaucrat, your people aren’t that strong either."

Wayne Herbert grew more and more enraged, firmly denying, "No, that’s impossible!"

"What’s impossible?" The Chief of Staff asked again with a hostile tone.

"I’m very clear about my subordinates’ capabilities. A normal person absolutely cannot escape their pursuit! The Harden you mentioned can’t just be an ordinary bureaucrat!"

At this point, the Chief of Staff felt a chill run from his spine throughout his body, murmuring in a low voice, "Fuck! If he’s not a normal bureaucrat, then what is he?!"

An inexplicable sense of fear quickly spread at the scene; everyone felt extremely puzzled and extremely shocked, yet unable to understand the situation.

The leaders of both sides exchanged a glance, realizing the situation seemed beyond their comprehension, only knowing that something extremely terrible was happening, like falling into a fog.

A ridiculous but unavoidable question simultaneously arose in their minds—"Who...exactly is Harden?!"

"Forget everything else, immediately go capture him!" Wayne Herbert was anxious, "If that Harden can take down my two enhanced subordinates, he must have a huge secret on him."

The Chief of Staff also felt the gravity of the situation, realizing if Harden’s identity really went wrong, it would spark a storm far beyond their imagination.

"We need to catch him, but the situation must be kept confidential; anyone leaking information must be held accountable!"

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The Medical Center in the town of "Macon" was like a disturbed beehive, buzzing out a swarm of armed personnel, conducting a lockdown and search throughout the town.

Zhou Qingfeng moved like a stealthy leopard, carrying the captured woman on his back as he moved cautiously and swiftly through the town.

"Victor, a lot of people have come out in the town, probably over thirty." ’Gray Shark’s’ voice came over the radio, "They will definitely conduct a complete sweep of the town, Kongges and I must retreat."

’Gray Shark’ was driving and also controlling a drone, making it too big a target to stay put.

"Understood, you guys go first, I’ll keep up."

Zhou Qingfeng remained calm; thirty or so people at most could block the main roads but were far from enough to conduct a comprehensive check in a small town of a few thousand people. He didn’t flee in panic, maintaining his established goal.

To avoid the ubiquitous surveillance cameras in town, Zhou Qingfeng abandoned the broad streets, opting instead to navigate the back alleys by the low residential walls and closed shops.

After advancing about a hundred meters, he opened a rusty iron gate, entering a somewhat desolate courtyard, with a cross on the roof, seemingly an inconspicuous small church.

He approached the tightly closed wooden door of the church, pressing his ear against the door for a moment to confirm there was no sound inside before gently pushing it open and slipping inside.

The interior of the church was not large, with only a few rows of simple wooden benches front and back. The altar was empty, the saint images indistinct in the darkness, and apparently, the priest wasn’t present.

The captured woman’s face was pale, appearing to still be unconscious.

Zhou Qingfeng laid her down on a bench, saying sternly, "Stop pretending; I know your body is exceptionally strong and your recovery ability is strong. Continuing to pretend is just asking for trouble."

The captured woman, breathing weakly, lay still, seemingly at death’s door, or perhaps waiting for the right moment.

"If you don’t cooperate, I’ll shoot your thigh." Zhou Qingfeng took out a gun, the hammer clicking as he cocked it.

The captured woman immediately opened her eyes, struggling with her bound hands, tearing the fabric strip wrapped around them, looking at Zhou Qingfeng calmly, and said:

"The town is full of our people, and the waiters at the restaurant knew my partner and I were trailing you; once the mission failed, they would definitely gather more people for a search operation.

Anyone with some brains would realize the Minister Harden of the ’Ministry of Efficiency’ can’t possibly have such formidable skills.

No matter who you are, your disguise absolutely can’t continue to be executed; the identity of ’Harden’ can’t be used anymore.

If you wish to interrogate me, I can just very cooperatively tell you a bunch of false information, wasting your precious escape time. Do you still want to continue the interrogation?"

The captured woman stared intently at Zhou Qingfeng, words seemingly refusing to cooperate, even flipping to threaten him. Any ordinary person hearing this might either angrily put her out of her misery or seek cooperation.

Zhou Qingfeng appreciated the woman’s quick response in desperation but his eyes harbored no pity or anger, only a cold scrutiny.

"Answer my question; how did you know Harden would come?"

"You have a mole around you." The captured woman’s tone softened, slow and deliberate as if stalling for time, "The information came from my superior; I only executed the capture.

We belong to the US Army’s Infectious Disease Medical Research Institute. The so-called ’Medical Center’ in town is a subordinate institution of the institute, specialized in the highly confidential ’X Virus’ development work.

You are very confident in your infiltration abilities. But unfortunately, this town of Macon is riddled with surveillance cameras. Any unfamiliar faces entering the small town would immediately catch our attention.

Recently many have tried to investigate our institution, and that small restaurant in front of the ’Medical Center’ was deliberately set up.

The location is perfect for attracting those curious about foreign things to enter.

Rather than letting them wander around the town like headless flies, it’s better to concentrate them in an area we can control.

For ordinary intruders, as long as they don’t approach the ’Medical Center,’ our guards won’t take action. But for a key target like you, we will never let you wander freely.

However, we didn’t expect you not to be Harden."

The captured woman voluntarily revealed most of the information Zhou Qingfeng wanted to know, then changed her tone, "If there’s anything else you want to ask, go ahead.

Anyway, your time is running out, and my companions will soon find us. At that time, it won’t be two against you but ten or twenty surrounding you completely.

By then, you can choose to kill me, then be killed, your body taken for experiments; or...let me escort you out, and you spare my life."

The captured woman’s gaze was intense, body taut, eyes fixed on the barrel of the gun in Zhou Qingfeng’s hand, awaiting his decision.

If Zhou Qingfeng insisted on killing her, she would fight to the death. But if Zhou Qingfeng was swayed by her words, she would have room to maneuver.

Zhou Qingfeng’s answer was..."I can spare your life, but you take me into your Medical Center."

The captured woman was taken aback for a moment, then smiled with a hint of ruthlessness, "Good, I like a man with guts. If you’re willing to stake your life, I’ll accompany you."