Chapter 4: Mobilization from All Sides, Tokyo Goes Mad

"Unable to establish contact with Tokyo Air Traffic Control; the communication device is broken."

"Confirmed: aircraft information sent successfully."

"Instrument checks complete. Except for the artificial horizon and communication device being broken, everything else is normal."

"Aircraft condition check: the left wing is iced over and damaged, the right wing is undamaged. The wings cannot be balanced. The engines are running normally for now, but the possibility of ice damage cannot be ruled out."

As the final words were spoken, Co-pilot Nakano's expression turned grim.

Worry and panic surfaced on his face once more.

A broken artificial horizon might not be fatal.

An experienced pilot can compensate using instinct.

But combined with wing damage and the loss of balance, the problem will become severe.

This is not a simple 1 plus 1 equals 2 accumulation; it is geometric.

You must know that strong air currents at high altitude are already difficult to control for balance; without an artificial horizon, you can only rely entirely on instinct.

Now with the wings damaged, balance is even worse. One slight mistake encountering strong air currents could cause the fuselage to shake violently, or even flip over again.

And this result will very likely exacerbate the wing damage, ultimately leading to the wings breaking and snapping off.

Once one wing is missing, how can the plane be flown?

Wait to die.

Just then, Wang Zun's voice rang out.

"Open the movable windows on both sides."

"Ah?" Co-pilot Nakano didn't understand, but did as told.

The cockpit windows consist of six panes: three on the left, three on the right.

Of the three on the left, the rightmost pane, directly opposite the captain's seat, is fixed; besides that one, the leftmost pane of the three on the left is also fixed.

As for the middle pane of the three on the left, it is movable and can be opened.

The same applies to the three on the right.

With a series of clicking sounds like bullets being fired, the movable windows on both sides opened.

More intense air currents rushed in.

The cockpit grew even colder; the biting wind pierced straight to the bone, causing shivers.

Wang Zun paid no heed, feeling the air currents while piloting the plane.

A few minutes passed. Co-pilot Nakano watched Wang Zun descend steadily and balanced despite the wing damage and the inoperative artificial horizon. Then, feeling the blast of the strong air currents, he suddenly realized, and his expression changed wildly.

"S-sugoi!!"

Co-pilot Nakano cried out in shock.

He understood.

Wang Zun was using his piloting experience to balance the plane, while simultaneously sensing the high-altitude air currents to navigate with the flow, and also feeling the movement of the air to determine where the currents were strong and where they were weak, avoiding the strong current zones.

It is well known that aircraft shapes are designed based on birds; birds sense air currents during flight and use them to fly faster and with less effort.

And now, Wang Zun was doing the same.

He was controlling this steel giant bird, sensing the air currents to soar.

At this moment, he was completely fused with the aircraft, enabling him to execute maneuvers where the plane flew like a bird riding the air currents.

Co-pilot Nakano stood stunned, staring blankly at Wang Zun.

Is this the legendary unity of man and machine!

For some reason, Co-pilot Nakano began to doubt himself.

Why can a Gao Zhongsheng fly a plane like this? Why can't I perform such sugoi maneuvers?

Not long after.

Seeing that the situation seemed to have stabilized and that he himself was adapting to the changes in the air currents, Wang Zun spoke.

"Mr. Co-pilot, send the 7700 code to Air Traffic Control. We are heading to the nearest airport to land."

"Hai!"

Receiving Wang Zun's command again, Co-pilot Nakano, deeply impressed by Wang Zun's superb piloting skills, nodded vigorously with great excitement.

However, the arc of his nod was too large, tugging at the wound on his eye.

Hiss!

Co-pilot Nakano grimaced in pain.

Nevertheless, Co-pilot Nakano did not stop his hand movements; he reached out to press the numbers on the transponder, preparing to send the 7700 code. Just at that moment, the plane shook slightly due to the influence of the air currents during descent.

Precisely because of this.

His hand, which should have pressed 7, deviated slightly and pressed 5.

And because the earlier tugging of the eye wound had blurred his vision, Co-pilot Nakano did not notice his mistake, entering the code 7500 instead of 7700.

Looking at Wang Zun and Mori Takeshi.

One was focused on piloting the plane, the other focused on watching Wang Zun fly.

Like Co-pilot Nakano, neither noticed the code had been entered incorrectly.

Do not think the two codes differ by only one digit.

The meanings they represent are worlds apart!

The 7700 code.

Represents an aircraft encountering an emergency situation, such as mechanical failure or sudden illness of personnel on board.

As for the 7500 code...

It represents an emergency situation where the aircraft has been hijacked or is facing the danger of hijacking!

……

Tokyo Civil Aviation Bureau.

Minister Sada waited anxiously for a reply from NH137.

Although NH137 was descending smoothly, he could not rest easy without receiving a response.

He desperately wished, at this moment, that Yamauchi Kazu could reply with, "Minister Sada, NH137 has responded."

Unfortunately, he did not wait for those words.

Instead, he waited for a scream.

"Ah!"

He saw Yamauchi Kazu staring at the code sent by NH137 on the screen, so terrified he nearly fell from his chair.

Minister Sada's face darkened.

"What are you doing?! Why are you screaming like that?"

Facing the scolding, Yamauchi Kazu seemed utterly unaware, looking at Minister Sada in terror, his voice trembling as he spoke.

"Min, Minister Sada, it's bad! I just received the code from NH137, it's, it's 7500!!"

The words were spoken.

The entire room fell instantly silent.

Minister Sada's eyes bulged wide, and he roared in disbelief.

"What did you say?!"

The code 7500 was spoken.

Minister Sada's legs shook, and he nearly lost his balance.

As the Minister of the Tokyo Civil Aviation Bureau, how could he not know what the code 7500 referred to.

It was the code used only for hijackings.

Watching the movement of NH137's coordinates on the screen, especially the 7500 displayed as the NH137 code, Minister Sada's breathing became rapid.

Everything clicked into place.

Why NH137 had suddenly ascended to its limit.

Why the pilot of NH137 was an old captain, yet flew it like a bumper car.

Why NH137 suddenly regained stability and descended in altitude.

It turned out it was a hijacking.

Captain Hase must have been coerced by the hijackers, and then Captain Hase resisted, causing the plane to ascend.

Later, when the plane regained stability, the hijackers must have controlled everyone on board and successfully hijacked the aircraft.

Thinking this, Minister Sada was filled with horror.

He never expected that after leading the Tokyo Civil Aviation Bureau for over ten years, he would encounter a hijacking, something common only in America.

If this incident was not handled well, his previous thought of apologizing at the press conference would truly come to pass.

Moreover, the consequences would be even more severe.

"Notify the Air Self-Defense Force and request support; share all information including NH137's coordinates with the Air Self-Defense Force, quickly!

Send the situation report to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and notify the Tokyo Cabinet Office, hurry!!"

Speaking the last words, Minister Sada roared directly.

"Yes!"

Unprecedentedly, the entire Tokyo Civil Aviation Bureau was mobilized.

One after another, communications were sent to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, the Cabinet Office, the Air Self-Defense Force, military bases, and other high-ranking Japanese departments.

……

Ichigaya Honmura-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan, where the Air Self-Defense Force Headquarters is located.

When the message arrived from the Civil Aviation Bureau, Air Marshal Suzuki at the headquarters immediately responded.

"Order the military base closest to NH137 to dispatch two fighter jets to investigate NH137.

Also, give me all data on the passengers and the flight crew; thoroughly investigate the identity of every passenger and crew member, and submit the data to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department so they can quickly identify who on board has the strongest motive for hijacking.

Contact NH137 immediately; once communication is established, hand it over to negotiation experts to respond, and report all information to me within the first moment.

Also, to ensure safety and prevent NH137 from entering air control zones, order all fighter jets training in nearby air control zones to change course and avoid NH137."

In the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, the highest rank is Chief of Staff; below that is Air Marshal.

With an order issued by someone of Air Marshal rank, one can imagine how seriously the Japan Air Self-Defense Force regarded this NH137 hijacking.

……

Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

"Get everyone together, whether on leave or not, get everyone together; as long as they are not executing special missions, get everyone together, quickly!"

Minister Saito of the Police Department gave the order.

"Apply for contact with Interpol; if it is an international criminal, be sure to request their cooperation and provide information on the criminal."

In less than a short while.

The entire 'First Investigation Division' of the Police Department was mobilized for emergency action.

Police car after police car drove away from the Police Department, sirens blaring, echoing through the streets of Tokyo.

They were heading to the homes of the NH137 crew and passengers, striving to obtain first-hand data in the shortest time.

At the same time.

The 'Second Division for Organized Crime Response', which specializes in international crimes at the Police Department, was also mobilizing.

Clearly, regarding the NH137 hijacking, the Police Department did not rule out the possibility of an international criminal hijacking.

……

Military Base — Hamamatsu Base.

As airport personnel raised their arms, waving signal wands to indicate clearance for takeoff.

Two fighter jets ignited their engines; hot air gushed forth, ripples in the air seeming to scorch space, the entire scene appearing to melt and sway, accompanied by a piercing whine.

In an instant.

The fighter jets lifted off from the airfield.

Piercing through the clouds, heading toward NH137.

……

The anomalies at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department were spotted by some sharp-eyed citizens, who grew curious about the police department's actions.

"What's going on? So many police cars deployed, did something happen?"

"Why aren't the police cars heading in the same direction? They're going in all directions; are they trying to catch some gang?"

In this information age of the twenty-first century.

Especially compared to other major powers, the island nation is merely a speck of dust; information spreads at an extremely rapid pace.

Very quickly, news began circulating online.

NH137 is suspected of being hijacked!

This information spread across aviation professional forums and aviation enthusiast forums; in an extremely short time, it swept through all major Japanese forums.

"Did you hear? NH137 was hijacked, Sugoi ne!"

"Oh my god, do we have terrorist attacks in our island nation now too?"

"Quick, notify Papa America and request reinforcements."

"The Aviation Administration is so useless; they let criminals hijack a plane so easily, trash!"

"You keyboard warrior upstairs should die first!"

"Hope NH137 is safe and sound, Saber praying. jpg"

……

Onboard NH137.

Wang Zun, Co-pilot Nakano, and the uncle remained unaware that the transponder code had been sent incorrectly.

"Kamikawa-kun, oxygen will likely be exhausted in about 10 minutes." Co-pilot Nakano, who had asked for Wang Zun's name, furrowed his brows.

Although the plane had already descended, the altitude had not yet dropped to 3,000; the cabin remained depressurized, and the oxygen in the air was insufficient for human breathing.

They must descend to an altitude of 3,000 as soon as possible.

For now, the passengers in the cabin can only rely on oxygen masks to breathe.

Wang Zun glanced at the altimeter, nodded, his eyes serious.

"Alright, I understand."

He did not know the situation inside the cabin.

But one thing was certain: chaos was inevitable.

And amidst the chaos, people would become tense, breathing heavily, meaning the oxygen supply might not last even 10 minutes.

To prevent the oxygen from running out, Wang Zun must descend to an altitude of 3,000.

Otherwise, everyone would suffer from hypoxia.

By then, it would be another 'Helios Airways Flight 522 incident'.

As he pondered, Wang Zun looked at the fuel gauge.

The plane had used too much fuel climbing; if not piloted correctly from now on, the fuel would likely be exhausted before landing...

The outcome at that point could be guessed even with one's toenails.

"Everyone sit down; those moving around, return to your seats immediately. In ten seconds, I will accelerate the descent."

Wang Zun's voice was transmitted to the cabin via the broadcast system.

The previously chaotic cabin fell silent for a brief moment.

Since the plane was no longer tumbling, the passengers' panic, though still present, had somewhat subsided.

Now that the broadcast sounded, everyone's attention was instantly drawn.

The next moment.

Passengers throughout the cabin began to stir, their panic mixed with anger.

"I'm going to file a complaint against you!"

"How are you flying this plane? Look what you've done to us; my husband is bleeding; you must compensate us!"

"Who is the captain? I'm going to sue you for attempted murder!"

Although they could not enter the cockpit—after all, they were still on the plane—not being able to enter did not mean they couldn't vent their anger.

They directed all their fury at the flight attendants.

Abusive curses poured down, filling the entire cabin.

Flight Attendant Zhujiang and the other flight attendants dared not retort, silently enduring the insults.

The passengers did not notice that, amidst the scolding, Flight Attendant Zhujiang's gaze kept darting toward the cockpit.

Upon closer inspection, surprise and excitement flickered in Flight Attendant Zhujiang's eyes.

She knew very well that the person flying the plane now was definitely not the co-pilot or the captain; it must be the two people who had entered earlier.

A high school student and a middle-aged man.

As for who was actually piloting?

That didn't even need thinking; it must be the middle-aged man. How could a high school student possibly fly a plane? You're overthinking it.

At this moment, Flight Attendant Zhujiang thanked Mori Takeshi a thousand times in her heart, deeply moved by his piloting skills.

As the chief flight attendant, how could Zhujiang not understand how dangerous a plane flip is; it tests the pilot's ability to the extreme.

Now that the plane is flying steadily, there is no need to think; it is inseparable from the peak of the pilot's driving skill.

Unavoidably, Flight Attendant Zhujiang murmured in her heart:

"If the plane can land steadily, I must properly thank this Mr.

I must tell everyone the truth; I cannot let the Mr.'s life-saving grace be buried."

At the same time.

Inside the cockpit.

Wang Zun controlled the plane, descending rapidly; the speed was fast, yet very steady.

"As long as nothing goes wrong, it should land smoothly," Wang Zun thought.

Suddenly, a glance from the corner of his eye.

Wang Zun twisted his neck, looking toward the movable window on the left side of the cockpit.

"Hmm?"

"That is..."

His action drew the attention of Co-pilot Nakano and Mori Takeshi; they followed his gaze and looked together, equally stunned.

Fighter jets??

Not far to the left of NH137, two fighter jets were flying toward them.

The speed was very fast; no matter how you looked at it, they were heading straight for them.

Mori Takeshi was surprised.

Strange, why would fighter jets come? And even if they were coming, why wait until the crisis was resolved? That is far too late; it is completely useless!

He shifted his gaze to Co-pilot Nakano and Wang Zun.

Regarding the arrangement for the plane accident, only Wang Zun and the Co-pilot, who knew the aviation matters well, knew; he hoped to get an answer.

"Don't look at me, I don't know either," Co-pilot Nakano shrugged, looking just as confused as the old man.

The two looked at Wang Zun.

Wang Zun was now their backbone, after all, he had saved everyone.

In their eyes, Wang Zun could not be measured by a Gao Zhongsheng; at least, not when he was flying the plane.

Feeling the focal point of their gazes, Wang Zun raised a bitter smile.

"I don't know what is going on either."

He was equally confused, unable to figure out what the fighter jets were here for.

Could it be they wanted to stage the scene from Marvel where Iron Man pulls the plane?

However, there is no Iron Man in Japan, only fighter jets.

Just as he was thinking, the fighter jets arrived.

(Dear readers who like this book, please send some recommendation tickets; save the child!! I'm starving to death!)