Chapter 895

"I'm truly sorry!"

Seeing the bandit siblings with their hands bound to the chairs by straps, their faces pale and grim, the chief security officer rushed in from the aft cabin and immediately wiped sweat from his brow, then bowed deeply without hesitation.

"It's our inspection that failed—you've been frightened!"

"It's fine, this isn't your fault."

Hearing this, Li Ang smiled, then played with the fake pistol in his hand as he spoke:

"The guns they held weren't real—even the material wasn't iron, just wood painted to look like metal. They probably disassembled the parts and smuggled them in among their luggage."

"Since there were no metal components, your magnetic luggage scales couldn't detect any added weight, letting them bring the two fake guns onboard."

"For this kind of smuggling method, unless you inspect every passenger's luggage individually, it's impossible to prevent. You've done your best."

"This… I'm deeply sorry, thank you for your understanding…"

Seeing that Li Ang showed no intention of pursuing the matter, the airship's chief security officer exhaled sharply, shot a fierce glare at the bandit siblings, signaled his subordinates to arrest them, then bowed again to Li Ang and the female journalist:

"Your Highness, we are profoundly sorry for today's incident. I'll take these two away immediately and guarantee you a full explanation!"

"Not so fast."

Li Ang raised his hand slightly, halting the security officers who moved to seize the captives, then smiled:

"I have some questions for them. Is there a quiet, private room aboard the airship? If so, please arrange one for me."

"There is one…."

Hearing Li Ang's request, the chief security officer hesitated, then warned:

"But these two are airship hijackers. If you're alone with them and get hurt…"

"I won't."

Li Ang shook his head, his tone firm and unyielding:

"I caught them once—I can catch them again. Just arrange the room."

"This… since you insist, very well."

Seeing the Prince of the Blood insist repeatedly, the security officer—who drew salary from the Kingdom's Transportation Force—dared not oppose further.

Yet fearing Li Ang might slip up and be harmed by the hijackers, the officer had men fetch several coils of thick ropes from the storage bay, binding the bandit siblings into tight bundles like moths, before leading Li Ang and the female journalist to a small room, his expression eager:

"Your Highness, this room was originally used to balance weight and prevent the airship from rolling. It's a bit off-center, but perfectly quiet. I'll station my men farther away—no one will disturb you."

"Thank you."

After nodding thanks to the chief security officer, Li Ang closed the door from inside, then smiled at the two bandit siblings, now sprawled on the cabin floor and bound like wriggling larvae:

"Wanna talk?"

"Pah!"

As if angered by Li Ang's smile, the bandit brother wriggled twice on the floor, shielding his sister behind him, then glared at Li Ang:

"You liar! We've got nothing to say to you!"

"Calling me a liar is a bit much, isn't it?"

Li Ang blinked, then smiled in return:

"Since you appeared, have I said a single lie? How did I become a liar?"

"…"

"Besides, I didn't even know you existed—I was just going about my normal business, and you pointed guns at my head, forcing me to do this and that. Even if I had lied to you under those circumstances, wouldn't that be perfectly justified?"

That… does seem true…

Hearing Li Ang's rebuttal, the bandit brother's confidence wavered; he stammered a few times, then fell silent.

Meanwhile, the bandit sister, hidden behind him, observed Li Ang's expression for a moment, then locked eyes with him and spoke up:

"Sir… if you let him go, I'll take you to the Wang Gong of the Kingdom of Kolok."

Huh?

Hearing the bandit sister's words, Li Ang's eyebrows lifted slightly—he glanced at her in surprise.

This kid… is surprisingly sharp?

After failing to hijack the airship and being bound like larvae, most people's minds would be overloaded—but she not only calmed down, she was even thinking ahead, trying to negotiate.

Though children in this world mature early, for a girl barely twelve or thirteen, with little life experience, such composure and rationality was extraordinary…

At least better than Nicole.

"She asked you a question—why are you staring at me?"

Uncomfortable under Li Ang's gaze, instinctively thinking he was contemplating something improper, the female journalist glared back, then turned to ask curiously:

"How do you know we're looking for the Wang Gong?"

"…"

See? I told you so.

Watching the bandit sister's tense body relax slightly, her eyes brighten with quiet delight upon hearing the female journalist's question, Li Ang shook his head, glancing at the journalist with faint exasperation.

Your brain… she just outmaneuvered you by eight miles.

Before you asked that, she didn't know what you wanted—she was just guessing blindly to test the waters. I could've easily tricked her into revealing the answer with a few soothing words.

But now, after your question, she knows exactly what we want—and she'll cling to this one card tightly. Unless we give her a solid promise—like letting her brother go—she won't speak another word.

…

"I guessed."

After glancing at the female journalist's foolishly innocent expression, the bandit sister—relieved there was still someone less clever—flattered:

"Your two auras clearly mark you as non-ordinary people, and you don't seem cruel. You wouldn't waste time on two failed bandits."

"So I guessed—you must be seeking something. Of all I know, the only thing that might help you 'nobles' is the location of the Wang Gong."

"No wonder…"

After hearing the bandit sister's explanation, the female journalist nodded in sudden understanding, then glanced back at Li Ang, her bright eyes shimmering with surprise—her gaze silently saying:

Li Ang, look at this child—she's so smart!

Could it be… not that she's smart, but that you're a bit… naive?

Watching the female journalist being completely charmed by a half-grown child, Li Ang pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling this field assignment was going to be far from easy.

Never mind anything else—just with Nicole's brain, surviving safely in the Clearance Bureau this long must've relied heavily on her father's backing.

He could already picture her past missions: Nicole charging ahead, her father, the Water Bottle Director, helplessly trailing behind, rushing to clean up her messes. Now, that cleanup duty clearly fell to him.

Hmm… wait—if I'm now doing the job her father should be doing, doesn't that make me her step…