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M: TSIA Chapter 149: Tania Loves Me To Death
🕑 Added 2025-04-23 14:50:42 +0000 UTCTony scoffed, dismissing Lance’s doubt. "This is the easiest thing, Lance. I could do it when I was eight years old. What do you think...?"
Lance decided not to listen any further. Ignoring Tony’s ramblings, Lance hung up the phone and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself before acting.
Click!
With a swift motion, Lance cut the green wire, and instantly the vest worn by Soo Yung began to loosen, as if the heavy burden holding her down had vanished.
"Okay! Okay!" Lee exclaimed in surprise, an uncontrollable smile spreading across his face. Carefully, Lee helped Soo Yung remove the vest that had previously seemed to weigh heavily on her body. "You're safe now."
Soo Yung, who had initially appeared extremely frightened, now let out a soft sob. However, a sense of calm began to envelop her face. In that soothing silence, Soo Yung tightly embraced Lee's neck, her tears flowing freely. It was the first time in a long while that Soo Yung felt safe.
Lance smiled lightly as he put his phone back in his pocket.
One question still hung in the air. Who was behind all of this?
Yet, even though Aunt Wu had only asked Lance to save Soo Yung, he knew he had to go further. No matter what, Lance would remain a hero, just as he always had, until the end.
...
...
...
The massive operation launched by the FBI ended tragically. Several agents were killed, and the rest returned with injuries, both to their bodies and their pride.
The contact point that had been deliberately left open turned out to be a deadly trap. A hidden time bomb was inside it—designed with precision, planted with the intent to kill.
As the assault team broke in, an explosion shook the air. The floor was not only destroyed—it was hurled into the sky in a blaze of fire and metal debris. The roar of the bomb could be heard two blocks away, leaving a terrifying silence in its wake.
Ross, covered in dust and minor injuries, returned to the consulate with several other agents. Their uniforms were torn, their faces marked by anger and shame. In the front yard, Consul Han stood in disheveled clothing, holding his daughter tightly— the little girl buried her face in her father's neck, crying silently.
"Thank you..." Consul Han's voice trembled as he looked towards the three men standing not far behind Ross—Lance, Inspector Lee, and Carter. Consul Han's eyes were red, and there was an unmistakable glimmer of emotion that he could not hide. "Thank you to the outsiders who came and... saved my daughter."
Ross's face darkened like embers extinguished by water. Losing was already embarrassing enough, but this? Three outsiders who were not part of the plan had saved the hostage. The FBI's pride was torn in front of the public and a diplomat.
In a cold voice, Ross asked, "Consul Han, what happened?"
Consul Han bowed slightly, maintaining his politeness, "Agent Ross, I am grateful that you and your team managed to distract the kidnappers. Mr. Lance, Inspector Lee, and Agent Carter took advantage of that gap to save my daughter."
The statement was diplomatic—an effort to save the FBI's face without denying the facts. Han knew well that allowing the FBI to lose face could mean disaster for his position in Los Angeles.
Ross took a slow breath. His jaw tightened, but he finally managed a thin smile. "Ah... Consul Han, you're welcome. It's our duty."
And with one sentence from Han, the FBI's face was saved. Ross no longer had to face his superiors with his head down.
Han looked at Ross again, this time with concern. "I ask for your help in ensuring the safety of my daughter and me in the coming days. Also for the cultural exhibition the day after tomorrow. The main perpetrator has not been caught. I fear this is not over yet."
"Of course." Ross nodded quickly. "That is our responsibility."
Before being transferred to Los Angeles, Consul Han had worked with Lee to seize a collection of cultural relics that were to be smuggled abroad. The artifacts had now arrived in the city and would be displayed as a representation of Chinese cultural heritage. Initially, security was handled by the gallery, but the situation now required the FBI to intervene directly.
Han reached into his jacket and pulled out two invitation cards, handing them to Lance and Carter. "Mr. Lance, Agent Carter, I hope you can come to the exhibition. It would mean a lot to us."
"I heard there will be a lot of cool stuff there. I'll definitely come!" Carter exclaimed with sparkling eyes. "Hey, Consul Han... can I get a few extra invitations? My friends are interested too."
Lee shot him a cynical glance. "You mean your girlfriend, right?"
Carter grinned confidently. "Exactly. Tania loves me to death."
Lance raised an eyebrow and smiled wryly. "The way you talk sounds like... that woman wants to block you forever."
"Hey!" Carter jumped as if jolted by electricity. "We slept together on Christmas, the whole office knows. It's not gossip, it's a fact!"
Lee squinted. "Are you sure you didn't spread that yourself?"
Carter lifted his chin. "I shine like a diamond, Lee. Tania is just... conservative. But Tania's heart is mine. I'm just fulfilling destiny."
"Hah!" Lee and Soo Yung exclaimed in unison, exchanging glances before bursting into clear laughter.
The little girl—Soo Yung—turned out to be stronger than they had expected. Despite just experiencing a kidnapping and an explosion, Soo Yung only cried twice before calming down again like a little knight.
Carter kept bouncing around, explaining in his characteristic theatrical style. Lance remained silent, his eyes focused on the exhibition invitation he was holding.
But behind that smile, Lance's thoughts began to churn.
There was something that bothered him.
Lance vaguely remembered—the mastermind behind the kidnapping was someone... known to Consul Han. His name sounded Chinese, but he was not a local. A foreign national.
And the cultural relics that were now going to be exhibited? They used to be that man's personal collection.
