Guns and Coffee in the World of Science

Chapter 152 The Garden That Breaks the Rules

After leaving the banquet, Ed McCann hurried into the hotel lobby adjacent to the venue, clearly trying to avoid anyone's gaze. His hurried and alert demeanor suggested he had something important to attend to.

Sonoko didn't immediately follow, but paused briefly to ensure she wasn't drawing any unnecessary attention. She gently adjusted the collar of her uniform and carefully fixed her hair, ensuring everything looked perfectly natural. Then, she glanced down at the tray in her hands and slowly walked back into the hotel, her gaze scanning the surroundings with the composure of a seasoned waiter, perfectly blending into her surroundings.

Ed McCann, oblivious to her presence, walked straight to the hotel's second floor. Sonoko followed him silently, keeping a distance. Turning a corner in the hallway, Ed McCann stopped in front of a window door. He paused, hesitated for a moment, then opened the door and disappeared into the hallway.

Sonoko emerged from the shadows. She didn't rush into anything, but took the opportunity to enter the adjacent room. She had already researched the hotel and found it completely deserted, making it the perfect location for her move.

After entering the room, Yuanzi stood at the doorway, took a deep breath, and tried to calm her slightly agitated emotions. This was her first independent mission, and she was inevitably nervous and apprehensive. She pulled the Beretta 92F from her waistband, slowly installed the silencer, and checked the magazine. After confirming that there were no problems, she pulled the bolt, her eyes gradually becoming determined. She would not let Brother Shuo down.

Although... this mission is a bit strange...

---

"Knock, knock!" Two gentle knocks on the door broke the silence of the room. Sonoko paused, her face expressionless. She gently opened the door, and the person standing outside was a familiar face to her - Ray Curtis.

He looked at the gun in Yuanzi's hand, a trace of nervousness flashed in his eyes, and his throat tightened slightly, obviously frightened by the black barrel. Although he did not show too much panic on the surface, the deep swallowing movement betrayed his inner tension.

"Ms. Ash...Ms. Ash?" Ray Curtis called in a low voice, his tone full of caution.

Sonoko didn't respond to his words much, but just nodded coldly, motioning him to come in. Her eyes were still firm and calm, as if all this had been planned for a long time.

"Come in," she said softly, her voice hoarse and obviously disguised.

Ray Curtis hesitated for a moment, but finally stepped in. The door closed gently, and silence fell outside the corridor, as if nothing had happened.

---

Go back to one day ago.

Sonoko was packing her gear for her first mission. She meticulously checked her pistol, magazines, and other necessary tools, her movements quick and skillful. Just as she was giving her equipment a final check, her phone suddenly rang. She glanced at the screen. It was Towako.

"Hello, Ms. Towako, what's going on?" Sonoko answered the phone, her voice calm and composed.

Towako's voice came from the other end of the phone, with a hint of charm: "Ms. Huijin, the employer of this mission hopes to meet with you. He has something to say to you in person."

Yuanzi's brows furrowed slightly, a hint of displeasure on her face. She paused what she was doing and sighed softly, "Meeting? That's against the rules, isn't it? We're on a mission, and there's no personal contact involved."

Towako didn't answer immediately, seemingly considering how to begin. After a moment, she said, "I know this isn't proper, but my employer is very keen, and he does have some important details he'd like to discuss with you."

Sonoko was silent for a moment, clearly considering whether to abandon the mission. This was a complex situation, and she knew as a rookie she couldn't handle some unexpected situations. But this was her first mission, and she didn't want to give up.

She scratched her head in annoyance, unsure of what to do. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she thought of a compromise: "Okay, I agree to meet. But I'll decide the location. You tell him that if he really has something to say, he has to do it the way I specify."

Towako on the other end of the phone was visibly relieved and quickly agreed: "No problem, I'll tell him. Just as you say."

After hanging up the phone, Sonoko breathed a sigh of relief, and then suddenly laughed: "Hey! 'Ashes'! What a cool code name I gave myself!"

---

Inside a secluded bar in Beika Town, dim light streamed through the curtains onto the wooden bar. The air was thick with the aroma of alcohol and a somewhat groggy silence. Behind the bar, Vodka stared at Sonoko, his brow furrowed slightly, a look of helplessness evident.

Sonoko was leisurely sipping from a glass of juice, apparently completely unaware that her surroundings weren't suited to a "young lady" like her. Vodka rubbed his temples and spoke with a hint of reproach, "Ms. Suzuki, you really took on this mission all by yourself? Do you, a young lady like you, need money?"

Yuanzi took a big sip of juice, wiped the corner of his mouth, and proudly shook his finger at Vodka, his expression full of challenge: "Hehe! You don't understand, I'm realizing my self-worth! Instead of relying on my family, I want to do something on my own! Another drink!"

Cohen poured a fresh glass of juice at the bar, expressionlessly handing it to Sonoko. His lips moved slightly, but he didn't say anything. Chianti, who was sitting next to Sonoko, laughed, his tone tinged with madness and admiration. "Haha! Miss, I really like you more and more. Well said!"

Sonoko raised an eyebrow and gave Chianti a look that said, "You know what I mean." As she sipped her juice, she casually joked, "Hey, this is the true meaning of life. Who says a young lady can only stay at home and be a vase? I want to prove myself in my own way!"

Gin, who was sitting on the sofa, snorted coldly, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. "Huh! You're really brave to meet with your employer on your first mission. Do you understand the risks?"

Sonoko didn't pay any attention to Gin's sarcasm. Instead, she smiled faintly: "So that's why I came here to find you. Please cover the cost. Don't worry, I will split the money with you."

After hearing this, Vodka laughed naively, patted his chest, and said with confidence, "Don't worry, with us here, nothing will go wrong! And don't even mention money. We'll have a lot of interactions in the future, and maybe even some cooperation."

Just as Sonoko was about to speak, Vodka adjusted his headphones, his expression slightly serious, and whispered, "Bring him in." Then he turned to Sonoko and said, "Ms. Suzuki, your employer is here."

Sonoko nodded, took out a mask from her bag, and quickly put it on. The mask was made of metal, with a smooth surface and a sharp V-shaped cut that made it look cold and ruthless.

Once the mask was on, Sonoko's demeanor changed instantly. Her original lightheartedness and playfulness vanished, replaced by a cold, stern aura. Her eyes became deep and sharp, as if she had entered another persona, all her tenderness and weakness sealed away by the mask.

Several people in the bar looked at her changes and nodded slightly, obviously approving of Yuanzi's transformation.

Soon, a tall, blond foreigner, led by a man in black, walked into the bar cautiously. He looked around and saw several people in the bar. He seemed a little overwhelmed and hesitated.

Yuanzi stood in the middle of the bar, expressionless, with a cold tone and a hoarse voice, obviously using false voice: "Tell me! Why do you want to see me?"

"Are you Ashes?" the foreigner hesitated, his voice trembling. "I'm Ray Curtis, and this is it..."

He reached into his pocket, as if trying to take something out.

"Swish!" Several people in the bar pointed their guns at him almost at the same time. Yuanzi's voice was low: "Take it out slowly."

Ray Curtis was so frightened that his whole body trembled, his eyes were terrified, cold sweat began to appear on his forehead, and he almost wanted to kneel down immediately. "Uh...oh...okay..." He frantically took out a file bag.

He placed the documents on the table, his voice filled with deep anger and hatred: "This is it... I want to kill Ed McCann myself."

A cold glint flashed in Yuanzi's eyes, and the atmosphere around them suddenly became solemn. Her gaze became sharp, and her aura instantly tensed, exuding murderous intent. "Kill him yourself? Then why are you looking for me?"

Her tone was as cold as ice: "Are you kidding me?"

Ray Curtis' heart nearly leaped out of his chest. He felt a surge of oppression enveloping him, and cold sweat streamed down his forehead. He subconsciously tried to retreat, but the guns pointed at him completely suppressed him, making it difficult for him to even breathe.

"No, no, no!" Ray Curtis shook his head frantically, with fear and anxiety clearly visible on his face: "What I mean is, with your cooperation, I hope to shoot this bastard with my own hands. Of course, I will not pay a penny less for the reward, I hope you can understand!" After speaking, he bowed deeply, his movements were respectful and cautious, his eyes full of eagerness and fear.

Sonoko stood there quietly, not answering immediately. She simply picked up the document on the desk and flipped through it. Ray Curtis's plan was laid out in detail, the scheme and steps seemingly ingenious, but Sonoko quickly spotted the flaws. Even a "newbie" like her could spot several fatal flaws, a complete lack of attention to detail. She flipped to the last page, raised an eyebrow slightly, and scanned every line of the document with a cold gaze.

She raised the document in her hand, her voice cold and tinged with sarcasm: "So, you want me to cooperate with you and help you complete your plan?"

Ray Katis nodded, his eyes filled with anticipation and trepidation: "Yes!"

Yuanzi didn't reply immediately, but just sneered: "Interesting..."

She gently put down the documents and slowly turned her gaze to Ray Curtis, her eyes seemed to see through everything. He could feel the coldness in her eyes like a sharp blade, almost stabbing him and making him breathless.

"I agreed!"

---

Time goes back to the present, inside the room.

Ray Curtis took a deep breath to calm his trembling body. His face was pale, and he had obviously not recovered from the tension. Sonoko said in a hoarse voice, "Are you really determined to do it yourself?"

"That's right." Ray Curtis gritted his teeth, a flicker of determination in his eyes. "My life and my family have all been destroyed by him. If I don't kill him with my own hands, I won't be able to rest in peace! So, Ms. Ashes, I'll leave the rest to you."

Sonoko nodded slightly, her tone still calm: "Don't worry, after you kill him, I will leave here with the evidence. We will never meet again, forget about this, you didn't do anything." There was a convincing coldness in her words, as if she had foreseen the outcome.

Ray Curtis nodded almost forcefully, as if relieved, then pulled out a Smith & Wesson revolver from his pocket and walked silently to the door. The door creaked shut with a slight echo.

Yuanzi stood in the middle of the room, looking at the closed door. She gave a wry smile and shook her head slightly, "Really... It's my first mission, and I broke all the rules..." Her tone was filled with self-mockery and helplessness, and then she sighed softly, "Brother Shuo will definitely scold me to death..."