Chapter 892: 489 Target Locked

Alright, I did speak a bit too fast...

After listening to the female reporter's explanation, Hearing Li Ang couldn't help but awkwardly scratch the back of his head, then, following the flight attendant's guidance, took a seat by the airship's porthole, and continued asking:

"So that means, as long as we find Research Zone 001 and the Administrative Zone, we can locate the Royal Family and Atifi 01?"

"Theoretically, yes."

Hearing this, the female reporter nodded, then helplessly reminded:

"But to know the exact locations of those two places, we first need to ask for directions on the navigation machine. Putting aside whether we can even get in, just pressing the number for Zone 001 on the navigation machine is enough to attract Atifi 01's attention."

Indeed, this is truly a troublesome matter...

After hearing the female reporter's reminder, Hearing Li Ang pondered for a moment, then spoke:

"As for the royal palace, that's fine. I hold the title of a prince, and according to the unwritten rules of international correspondence, the Croc Kingdom must also dispatch a royal family member to receive us.

At that time, I can record the other party's soul fluctuation, then follow his soul to find the location of Administrative Zone 001 where the palace is situated. But the research zone is a bit troublesome... Do you know anyone who can enter and exit Research Zone 001?"

"I don't."

The female reporter shook her head and said apologetically:

"The important districts of the Croc Kingdom are mostly closed off from each other. Unless there's an emergency, I usually only move around in my residential district, the Administrative Zone of the Twin Branches, and a few living districts. I basically haven't come into contact with anyone from the research zone... Hmm... Wait!"

As she said this, she seemed to recall something. After frowning and recalling for a moment, she said with slightly excited expression:

"I remember! Living District 039 is a green plant park. I once went there to handle a suspected anomalous object incident and came into contact with a very capable scholar. He might have the qualification to enter Research Zone 001!"

A scholar qualified to enter Research Zone 001?

After hearing the female reporter's words, Hearing Li Ang immediately became interested and asked curiously:

"Where does that person live? How do we find him?"

"Well, I don't know where he lives, nor am I very clear on how to find him..."

"Then what about his name? What is that person called?"

"Uh... It's been several years already. I've forgotten his name, or maybe I didn't even ask back then..."

"..."

Wait... So besides knowing that person is a scientist and might have the qualification to enter Zone 001, you know absolutely nothing else? Then what's the point of saying all that?

"I'm not close to him; I just happened to meet him once. I really don't remember the specifics clearly."

Seeing Hearing Li Ang in front of her with a speechless expression, clearly holding back a stomach full of complaints he wanted to vent, the female reporter's cheeks turned slightly red. She quickly spoke to make up for it:

"But I still remember his research achievements. We might be able to find him through that!"

"Research achievements?"

"Mm!"

After trying hard to recall the situation at that time, the female reporter said uncertainly:

"I remember it was summer or autumn. The bureau received a report at night saying that in the park of Living District 039, strange sounds could often be heard in various places.

According to the person who reported it, although there was no one around, a man's voice could always be heard in the bushes, public toilets, trees, and other places, constantly asking if anyone could hear him speaking.

And that week, the person on duty at the bureau happened to be me. So I took my gear and went along the way, crouched on a tree next to the public toilet all night, and waited until a somewhat scruffy man appeared."

"Was he that scholar?"

"No, he was a homeless man hired by that scholar."

The female reporter shook her head and said:

"That homeless man said someone gave him some money and a map, telling him to wait in several places like the water, trees, bushes, and public toilets to see if he could hear any sounds.

Then I took that homeless man and followed the map all the way back. On a tree next to the park's main gate, I found a man carrying a strange iron rod. Moreover, when I found him, he absolutely refused to climb down from the tree, saying that if he came down, he would lose signal."

Lose signal?

Hearing this, Hearing Li Ang suddenly realized, and with a mix of amusement and disbelief, asked:

"His research achievement is a device that allows long-distance communication, right?"

"Hmm? How did you know?"

The female reporter was greatly surprised and asked incredulously:

"Do you know him? Or have you ever seen something similar before?"

"You could say I've seen something similar before."

After giving a vague answer, Hearing Li Ang pondered for a moment and said:

"I can probably guess what he was researching. If he really managed to develop something, Research Zone 001 would definitely have a place for him.

But since he is most likely a scholar from Research Zone 001, if we rashly go looking for this person and start tailing him, wouldn't that attract Atifi 01's attention?"

"Of course not."

Hearing this, the female reporter blinked, and asked somewhat confusedly:

"Aren't you a prince? Just have someone change the delegation's objective. Anyway, you're the one in charge of the delegation. Just tell the person responsible for reception on the Croc Kingdom side that the kingdom is preparing to purchase a similar device.

After getting a sample and testing it, express great satisfaction with the device, then make a request to meet the scholar who developed this technology. Isn't that all there is to it?"

"..."

Right! I can also use my identity as a prince plus an ambassador!

Prompted by the female reporter, Hearing Li Ang immediately realized that it wasn't necessarily required to rely on "anomalies" to solve problems. His official status as a prince was often enough to solve problems, and was even more convenient.

Sigh... Even without anyone reminding me, I should have thought of this method. I can only say that recently, whenever I face indecision, I always rush in blindly. I've gotten used to solving problems with "muscle," and through disuse, my brain has become a bit overgrown.

"You're right."

After silently admonishing himself to remember to use his brain more and never become a pure muscle brute, Hearing Li Ang made a note of the matter of purchasing the "telephone," then looked at her with newfound respect and praised:

"Truly, even a thousand thoughts from a fool will yield one good idea. I didn't expect your brain to be so sharp. I underestimated you before."

"..."

Although she was sincerely complimented, for some reason, it felt as if she had been severely insulted.

After savoring the meaning behind Li Ang's words, the female journalist couldn't help but glare back at him.

"What do you mean 'didn't expect' my brain is actually useful? Do you think I'm an idiot in your eyes?"

"Uh…"

It's not that you're stupid—being tricked by that old fox, the Water Bottle Director, isn't your fault—but based on your past performance, you're hardly what you'd call smart.

You bastard!

After reading the answer directly from Li Ang's half-spoken expression, the female journalist felt a tightness in her chest.

Just as she was about to argue further with Li Ang to demand a fair assessment of her intelligence, a sudden explosion ripped through the cabin.

A masked man, holding a crude homemade nail gun, fired a loud bang that shattered the panel above them, then roared with fierce malice:

"Don't move! This airship is now under our control!"

"…"

What?

Hearing this remarkably standard declaration, Li Ang's mind went blank for a moment, then he stared dumbfoundedly at the female journalist.

No way… even though my luck is truly terrible, how the hell did we get hijacked this soon after takeoff? And not only that—these idiots hijacked a royal diplomatic delegation too? Is this even real?