Chapter 101: Anomaly

In Western society, respect exists only within class hierarchy; seniority and age must yield to class.

Take Audrey He Ben and her group of six: only she deserves to be addressed as "Lady," because the others are all her employees.

Although Henry is younger than Brian and the rest, after days of working together, they treat each other as equals, calling one another by first names—not bothering with formal titles like "Mr."

So when Brian heard himself called "Mr. Mills," he understood and replied, "Should be in the car. Wait, I'll put this box down first."

He quickened his pace, swiftly placing the box of supplies in the central area before turning back.

Henry, who had returned to the car earlier, was rummaging through its interior. Brian climbed in from the other side and watched the assistant skillfully bypass the bag holding the camera gear, searching for something else.

Brian lowered his voice and asked, "What's the situation?"

"The guide's speaking with the local men in a dialect similar to Somali. I caught only fragments—they plan to kidnap Lady He Ben, and reinforcements are on the way. I think that's enough detail."

Brian swiftly assessed the situation and decided not to provoke them while things were still quiet. He whispered back, "Can you get Lady He Ben back to the car as soon as possible?"

Henry glanced at the car's contents, pulled out a fresh roll of film, and loaded it into the camera. In a casual, indifferent tone, he whispered, "I'll fake vomiting. The boss's stomach medicine is in her handbag. Can you get her to come back for it?"

"Can you vomit where she can see it?" Brian asked.

"Yes." Henry nodded, finished loading the film, and stepped out of the car.

He casually swung the camera lens toward the muscular local guide and the other men from the agency, snapped a few blind shots, then returned to the small playground where the children were performing.

One must admit, they'd clearly put effort into this place—but it was too remote to be included in the original itinerary.

The fact that they could produce such a display—and maintain such cleanliness—after only a last-minute notice to Lady He Ben means this isn't a hasty work. It reflects consistent upkeep and education.

Too bad the future looks bleak~

With the CIA as a meddling stick in the mud, how many people can live peaceful, decent lives?

Compared to Henry's sighs, Brian was far busier.

He called over Old Bernie and Mark, who had been guarding the car, to help unload the supplies—not only to reduce the vehicle's load but also to use the proximity to covertly alert them via military code. A two-for-one.

If they kept the extra supplies on board, they'd likely have to dump them during escape anyway. Better to leave them now—and use the unloading as cover to rebalance the weight between the two vehicles.

Such actions seem insignificant. But success is built from these tiny details, accumulating until the outcome flows naturally, sweet and ripe.

Brian believed details decided everything. So whenever he had a chance to prepare a little more, he never let it slip.

The two SUVs couldn't hold much anyway, and much of it was their own gear. Though they couldn't openly display weapons, they positioned the wooden crates where they could be grabbed quickly and unlatched the locks.

Now their goal was to flee before the enemy noticed. With no idea how many reinforcements were coming, staying to fight was the stupidest choice—and risked dragging these locals into danger.

If they moved fast and escaped, Brian didn't believe the kidnappers targeting Lady He Ben would harm a group of children who were their own countrymen.

Henry had no intention of just stumbling to a patch of ground and vomiting. He needed to build up the act. Otherwise, the watcher monitoring him might spot the ruse—and the kidnappers might strike early.

Henry didn't want to engage in gunfire among a crowd of children. Most of all, he feared Audrey He Ben, that saintly woman, would voluntarily become a hostage to avoid harming the kids or innocents—and forbid him and the others from fighting back.

The chance of that happening might be slim, but even the possibility made Henry's scalp tingle.

So, with the aid of his superbrain, the Kryptonian's acting skills kicked in again! Henry changed his normally energetic stride into a slow, dragging shuffle.

He clutched his stomach, clenched his lips, and his face twisted as if constipated.

Only after Brian and the others had unloaded the car's excess supplies, after Old Bernie and the two others had taken up guard positions, and after Brian had moved near Lady He Ben, did Henry approach the ditch beside the playground and vomit.

Henry didn't plan to fake vomiting or stick his fingers down his throat. He directly controlled the muscles of his stomach, triggering reverse peristalsis, forcing up the small amount of food he'd eaten that morning.

This unnatural act gave his Kryptonian body real trouble. He had no idea what the ingredients of Kryptonian gastric fluid were, but it burned his esophagus—already hardened and enhanced by training.

Under his super-senses, he even detected actual damage to his esophagus. But the scorching yellow sunlight of Africa rapidly repaired the injury—and even upgraded his Kryptonian physiology.

Internally, of course, no one could see what was happening. To others, Henry simply appeared to be vomiting profusely beside the ditch, leaning weakly against the wall.

Brian didn't need to warn her—Audrey had already noticed Henry's condition. She murmured an apology to those beside her and walked over to her young assistant. Brian followed.

"Henry, are you all right?" Audrey asked, concerned.

Henry groaned, "I must've eaten something dirty. My stomach hurts badly."

Audrey gently rubbed Henry's lower back and turned to Brian. "Brian, could you please go back to the car? My handbag should have stomach medicine."

Brian stepped back awkwardly, holding his hands up. "Lady, I'm afraid I can't reasonably go through your personal belongings."

It was a solid excuse—even Audrey couldn't fault it. Fortunately, alternatives existed. She said, "Then could you help me support him to the car? I'll get the medicine and let him rest."

"No problem, Lady." Brian moved swiftly forward, slinging Henry's arm over his shoulder as Henry vomited again.

The two of them, one on each side, supported Henry as they walked toward the car.

(End of Chapter)