Chapter 84: 81 The Visible Military Boot Kicks the Invisible Hand

“I’m saying, how much does he pay you guys a month, to work this hard?”

After knocking down all the security guards who tried to subdue him, Qi Ming clapped his hands.

Standing beside him, President Hanabana’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor, his face pale as death.

He had planned to have these guards pin Qi Ming to the ground so he could kick him a few times to vent his frustration and teach him a lesson.

But the result… over a dozen strong, fit security guards were all knocked down in less than a single exchange!

The anger faded, and fear rose from his feet, gripping his heart.

“Don’t, don’t kill me,” President Hanabana whimpered, huddled in the corner.

Qi Ming kicked him hard in the abdomen: “Still want your thugs to control me? You’re terrified of one human, yet dare to ignore the monsters.”

“The last thing that controlled Dr. Koizumi said was, ‘Looks like not all are fools.’ Can you guess who he meant by ‘fools’?”

“You think you’re a pioneer of humanity, but they’re treating you like a monkey.”

After the kick to his abdomen, President Hanabana nearly fainted from pain; he clutched his stomach, curling up like a shrimp, utterly stripped of his earlier arrogance.

Emi tilted her head: “Feels a bit excessive, doesn’t it?”

Qi Ming: “Not excessive at all. He’s just an old fool who got used, but objectively, he nearly dragged humanity and Earth into an irreversible abyss.”

He continued questioning President Hanabana: “Where are Dr. Koizumi’s research materials and notes usually kept?”

President Hanabana stammered: “A-at his house.”

The female secretary quickly added: “After the Underground Science Center was destroyed, he’s been working from home.”

“Give me the address.” After getting the address, Qi Ming left with Emi.

After confirming the two had gone far away, President Hanabana nervously pulled out his phone: “How dare they lay hands on me! I’ll make this arrogant bastard pay!”

…………………………

“What? Team member Qi Ming killed Dr. Koizumi?”

When the news reached TPC, everyone was stunned.

Counselor Kento: “Hmm… and he did it at President Hanabana’s company, even kicked President Hanabana himself.”

Kishida: “The part about him hitting someone is believable, but I absolutely don’t believe Team member Qi Ming would kill a world-class underground scientist.”

Yamana added: “I don’t believe it either. Actually, Qi Ming is extremely rigid.”

“If someone insults him, he retorts; if someone attacks him, he fights back. Unless Dr. Koizumi tried to kill him, I can’t imagine any reason he’d commit murder.”

Nami Nishijo frowned: “This kind of false accusation has happened before. Perhaps it’s another alien plot to eliminate Qi Ming as a powerful combat asset.”

Moroboshi, who had been about to defend Qi Ming, felt deeply reassured upon seeing this.

Last time Qi Ming was falsely accused, Victory Team was fractured, members turned against each other, and several sneered from the sidelines.

Now, the team finally had some cohesion.

Throughout this, Qi Ming never lowered himself to fit in, never showed weakness or compromise.

He held firm to himself, remained dominant to the end, and ultimately forced everyone to submit and accept him, to recognize him.

Moroboshi: “Let’s just ask Team member Qi Ming what actually happened.”

Counselor Kento: “Exactly. Let’s hear what the eyewitness says.”

The communication link was quickly established; Moroboshi asked: “Team member Qi Ming, what are you doing right now?”

Qi Ming: “On the way to Dr. Koizumi’s residence. Hope to find something there.”

At that moment, Emi in the passenger seat interjected:

“Team member Qi Ming is definitely innocent. Dr. Koizumi had serious issues.”

“I recorded our entire interaction with Dr. Koizumi. Sending it now.”

Victory Team’s helmets had built-in mini-cameras; Emi had been cautious and turned them on before entering.

After transmission, everyone in Victory Team was stunned by Dr. Koizumi’s bizarre behavior in the footage.

Moroboshi: “Team member Qi Ming didn’t even kill him—he even tried to save Dr. Koizumi after he jumped.”

Kishida: “The autopsy confirmed Dr. Koizumi died of poisoning. Team member Qi Ming showed no suspicious behavior—he’s innocent.”

Yamana instinctively started arguing: “Actually, given Qi Ming’s skill level, it’s possible he slipped poison into the doctor’s mouth using a blind spot… Oh!”

Nami Nishijo elbowed him, cutting off his words.

Counselor Kento, now confident, took the recording to the meeting.

Because the incident happened suddenly, not all counselors were present.

Director Tsuchibashi was visiting TLT in the U.S., supposedly to acquire new technology.

Counselor He Zhi was visiting Dr. Segawa, who had originally created the [Super Weapon R1], trying to persuade him to return.

The hawkish side was represented by No. 2, Counselor Inagaki, who had also received news from President Hanabana.

“This Qi Ming dares to act so recklessly—he must be detained immediately and punished severely!” he opened fire first.

Counselor Kento played the recording: “Dr. Koizumi committed suicide by poison. It has nothing to do with Team member Qi Ming.”

Counselor Inagaki: “He shows up, and Dr. Koizumi dies—how can you say there’s no connection?”

“And Dr. Koizumi was a world-class expert. His death—how do we explain it to the public? To his family?”

Counselor Inagaki immediately contacted Dr. Koizumi’s daughter—Koizumi Chidori—to ask what she wanted done about Qi Ming.

When the call connected, Koizumi Chidori’s attitude shocked every counselor present.

“Father died…? Actually, I haven’t felt like he was alive for a long time.”

“For the past few years, he never reached out to me. When I visited, he rarely wanted to see me. Sometimes he was dazed, sometimes strange.”

“Sometimes I get the feeling… that’s not my father at all. It’s someone else…”

The call was abruptly cut off, communication severed, leaving Counselor Kiriyama at the end of the table feeling something was off.

Counselor Inagaki felt embarrassed—he had hoped to pressure through family sentiment, but she showed no surprise and made no accusation against Qi Ming.

Counselor Inagaki: “What about President Hanabana? Qi Ming physically assaulted him right in his company—this is outrageous!”

Counselor Kento had a headache; President Hanabana was a major TPC donor and had to be taken seriously.

Counselor Kiriyama argued: “But wasn’t it President Hanabana who struck first?”

Counselor Inagaki: “Does striking first justify retaliation? No discipline at all!”

In the end, he chose to “ignore the facts,” insisting that whoever was right or wrong, Qi Ming must be severely punished to give President Hanabana satisfaction.

Counselor Kento and Counselor Kiriyama naturally defended Qi Ming, doing everything possible to exonerate him. In the end, neither side convinced the other, and the meeting ended in acrimony.

(End of Chapter)