77: Chapter 77: US troops stationed on the island and the island nation's public security forces clash.

Deep in the mountains of Chiba Prefecture, the morning mist had yet to disperse.

The humid air carried the fresh scent of grass and trees, but it could not mask the faint, lingering scent of blood deep within the forest.

An abandoned wooden hut was hidden in the dense woods; the roof tiles were long gone, and the walls were covered in vines.

Inside, Akai Shuichi leaned against the corner of the wall, his face as pale as paper.

The wound on his left arm had been crudely bandaged, and seeping blood stained the gauze.

Yesterday, when he found Akai Mary unconscious in the ruins of the pier, he had exhausted almost all his strength.

His mother's breathing was weak, and there was a gruesome wound on her forehead; he had to leave this place of trouble immediately.

Not daring to delay, he dragged his injured body to take Akai Mary to the safe house where Sera Masumi was hiding.

Only after watching them board the earliest private flight to the United States did his hanging heart finally settle.

As for himself, he chose the opposite direction—the deep mountains of Chiba Prefecture.

This place was inaccessible and an excellent spot to lie low for a while.

Akai Shuichi slowly opened his eyes; his throat was dry and painful.

He struggled to stand up, intending to go outside to find some clean water, but the moment he rose, he heard footsteps coming from afar.

It wasn't one person, but a group, their footsteps chaotic and carrying a sense of deliberate caution.

Akai Shuichi’s gaze turned sharp instantly.

He quickly hid behind the door, gripping the military dagger he had picked up nearby.

Outside the wooden hut, a group of college students with hiking backpacks were looking around excitedly.

"I heard there's a bunker left over from World War II here, let's look for it!" said a bespectacled boy, holding a tattered map.

"Be careful, the news said recently that the whole country is hunting for a terrorist named Akai Shuichi. I saw the portrait; he looks really fierce."

Another girl pulled her companion's sleeve, looking somewhat afraid.

"What are you afraid of? In this deep forest, how could he possibly come here?"

A boy waved his hand dismissively, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the abandoned wooden hut.

"Hey, there's a house there, shall we go in and take a look?"

Curious, the group walked towards the wooden hut.

Just as they reached the entrance, they saw a figure flash out from inside, moving as fast as the wind.

"Who?!" The bespectacled boy stepped back in fear.

Akai Shuichi saw it was a group of students, and the killing intent in his eyes diminished slightly, but he remained vigilant.

His face had not yet fully de-swelled, and with his hat brim deliberately lowered, he wasn't immediately recognized.

"Just passing through." Akai Shuichi's voice was hoarse, and he turned to leave as soon as he spoke.

"Wait!"

The girl suddenly pointed at his face, her face turning pale.

"You, you look like that wanted criminal! Akai Shuichi!"

Akai Shuichi felt a jolt in his heart, and killing intent surged in his eyes, but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to act.

He turned and wanted to leave.

But he saw the bespectacled boy had already taken out his phone, his fingers pressing the screen rapidly.

"Call the police quickly!" one of the boys in the group shouted.

Akai Shuichi's eyes turned cold.

Just as he was about to step forward to stop them, the sound of sirens suddenly came from afar.

Not one, but a dozen vehicles, approaching from afar, clearly heading for this location.

He knew he had been exposed.

Meanwhile, in the Public Security secret communication channel, Kazami Yuya looked at the location information on the screen, a flash of excitement in his eyes:

"Found him! Chiba Prefecture deep mountains, coordinates 35.6° N, 140.1° E! Move out immediately!"

A dozen Public Security police cars, disguised as civilian vehicles, immediately started up and sped towards the deep mountains.

This time, they deployed their most elite special forces, determined to capture Akai Shuichi alive.

In the FBI's temporary stronghold, James also received news from an informant—Public Security was gathering in the Chiba Prefecture mountains, targeting Akai Shuichi.

"Damn it!" James slammed the table.

"How could they find Shuichi so quickly?"

"Boss, what do we do?" An Agent asked, "The Public Security people must have brought heavy weapons. If we go over now, it'll be a head-on collision."

"We must go!" James’s gaze was firm.

"Akai Shuichi cannot fall into their hands! Once he is publicly tried, all our layouts in the island nation will be for nothing!"

He immediately picked up the encrypted phone and dialed a number:

"Connect me to the Okinawa US military base. Tell them that FBI Agents encountered an armed attack while on a mission in Chiba Prefecture and are requesting emergency support!"

Hanging up the phone, James looked at the remaining dozen Agents beside him and said in a deep voice:

"Take all the weapons and come with me! Remember, unless it's a last resort, do not reveal your identities, but you must not let Public Security take Akai Shuichi!"

"Yes!"

Chiba Prefecture deep mountains, outside the abandoned wooden hut.

Just as Akai Shuichi rushed out of the forest, he saw dust flying in the distance and a dozen police cars driving towards him.

He immediately changed direction and ran deeper into the forest.

"He's there! Chase!" Kazami Yuya sat in the lead car, shouting as he pointed at Akai Shuichi's back.

The police cars sped along the rugged mountain road, tires crushing gravel and emitting a harsh friction sound.

Members of the special forces jumped out of the cars, carrying automatic rifles, and pursued in the direction of Akai Shuichi.

Just then, another group of vehicles rushed out from a side mountain road, blocking the path of the Public Security.

James led the FBI Agents out of their vehicles, aiming their guns at the Public Security.

"Move aside!" Kazami Yuya shouted sternly, "We are Public Security! We are performing official duties!"

James didn't speak, just looked at him coldly, his gun never lowering.

He couldn't reveal his identity and could only stop the other side this way.

"Fire!" Kazami Yuya, thinking he had encountered remnants of the Black Organization, gave the order without hesitation.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

Both sides immediately exchanged fire.

Bullets flew through the forest, hitting tree trunks and scattering wood chips.

The FBI Agents had high tactical proficiency, relying on trees to build a defensive line and precisely suppressing the Public Security's firepower.

But the Public Security had more people and soon gained the upper hand.

"Call for reinforcements! Request armed forces support!" Kazami Yuya shouted into his walkie-talkie.

Seeing this, James immediately ordered: "Tell the US military to hurry! We can't hold on for long!"

Half an hour later, the roar of helicopters came from the sky over the deep mountains.

Kazami Yuya looked up, a flash of joy in his eyes—it was the armed helicopters of the Self-Defense Forces!

But the next second, his face turned pale.

Three Apache armed helicopters with US military markings followed closely behind, whistling past the treetops, their machine guns already aimed at the Self-Defense Forces on the ground.

"What is going on?!" Kazami Yuya shouted uncontrollably.

"This is the US military Okinawa base!" The loudspeaker on the helicopter broadcast in English, "We received an FBI request and have come to support! All unrelated personnel, evacuate immediately!"

The pilot of the Self-Defense Forces helicopter changed expression drastically and immediately reported to headquarters: "Discovered US military helicopters! They are carrying weapons and are closing in on us!"

In the Tokyo Ministry of Defense, the officials who received the report were in an uproar.

"Are the US military crazy?! How dare they use force on our territory?!"

"Immediately order the Self-Defense Forces helicopters to withdraw! Do not conflict with the US military!" The Minister of Defense ordered sternly.

He knew that if both sides opened fire, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The Self-Defense Forces helicopters circled twice unwillingly, but eventually retreated slowly.

Seeing the other side retreat, the US military helicopters lowered their altitude and strafed the Public Security's position.

"Da da da!"

Bullets fell like raindrops, and the Public Security's defensive line was instantly torn open.

James took the opportunity to lead the FBI Agents to counterattack, forcing the Public Security back by dozens of meters.

"Retreat! Retreat for now!" Kazami Yuya looked at the US military helicopters in the sky and gritted his teeth as he gave the order.

He knew that fighting hard now was tantamount to suicide.

The Public Security personnel retreated quickly, and the forest temporarily returned to calm.

James looked at the direction the Public Security had disappeared in, breathed a sigh of relief, and immediately shouted to the helicopter: "Find Akai Shuichi, bring him out!"

In a cave near the abandoned wooden hut, Akai Shuichi leaned against the rock wall, listening to the gunfire outside gradually subsiding, his heart filled with complexity.

He could guess that James had brought people.

But he didn't expect James to actually mobilize the US military... This was no longer a simple rescue, but dragging both the FBI and the US military into this vortex.

"Shuichi!" Jodie's voice came from the cave entrance, carrying a hint of choking.

Akai Shuichi looked up and saw Jodie and James standing at the cave entrance, followed by several US soldiers.

"Come with us." James walked up, his tone unquestionable, "The US military will escort us out of the island nation."

Akai Shuichi shook his head, his voice hoarse: "I can't go."

"Are you crazy?!" Jodie said anxiously, "Public Security and the Self-Defense Forces will definitely send more people. If you stay here, you're just waiting to die!"

"Are Akai Mary and Sera Masumi safe?" Akai Shuichi didn't answer, but asked instead.

"They have arrived in the United States and are very safe." James said.

Akai Shuichi nodded, a flash of relief in his eyes: "That's good."

He stood up and looked at James and Jodie: "You guys go. This storm started because of me; I can't drag you and the US military into it anymore."

"Do you think saying this now is useful?" James smiled bitterly, "US military helicopters appeared in Chiba Prefecture; this matter has already blown up. We must take you away, otherwise, we can't answer to headquarters and the US military."

Just then, more intense footsteps and the roar of armored vehicles came from afar.

"They're here!" a US soldier shouted, "It's the main force of the Self-Defense Forces!"

James's expression changed drastically: "Quick! Board the aircraft!"

The US military helicopter had already landed in an open space, and the gale stirred up by the rotors made the trees shake violently.

Akai Shuichi looked at the firelight getting closer and knew it would be too late if he hesitated any longer.

He took one last look at this forest, turned around, followed James and Jodie, and ran towards the helicopter.

When the helicopter took off, the Self-Defense Forces' armored vehicles had just arrived at the open space, shooting wildly at the sky, but the bullets could not hit the high-speed flying helicopter at all.

Watching the forest gradually shrink, Akai Shuichi leaned against the cabin wall and closed his eyes.

He had left the island nation, but this storm he had triggered was just beginning.

The US military intervention, the mobilization of the Self-Defense Forces, the complete rupture between the FBI and the island nation's government... the situation in the entire East Asia had become turbulent because of this hunt in the deep mountains.

In the monitoring room of the Lin Family Manor, Lin Long watched the US military helicopter disappear into the horizon, a meaningful smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"US military, Self-Defense Forces, FBI, Public Security..." he said softly, "Now, it would be hard for it not to be lively."

Lin Long touched his chin and said to the ghost.

"What do you think if I let the US Department of Defense order the soldiers at the US military base here to occupy Tokyo under the guise of maintaining public order?"

"After all, it's not the first time the US military has done something like this."

"Uh..."

The ghost was speechless; he didn't know what to say now. His boss's courage was not generally big.