Tranxending Vision - Chapter 230

Chapter 230: 230

Boom!

An ear-splitting gunshot rang out and a target two kilometres away was knocked to the ground .  

The shot had hit the bullseye . Long Bing smiled . “This is the sniper rifle I want . I think it can probably shoot even further . Hm, the effective range seems to be at least 3,000 metres, close to 3,500 . Lei, go help me move the target back three hundred metres . I’ll try again . ” 

Xia Lei looked a little sullenly at the faraway target but he still went . He ran, and the trip there and back took him about eight to nine minutes . However, before he got back to Long Bing’s side, she fired for the second time . She did not hit the bullseye this time but she still hit the target .  

Effective range of 3,300 metres - this should currently be the most advanced sniper rifle in the world .  

Long Bing’s smiles multiplied . “Lei…” 

“Hold up . ” Xia Lei was annoyed . “Go yourself . ” 

Long Bing spoke laughingly, “I’m not finished; how do you know what I want to say? I’m not asking you to move the target, I just want to praise your handiwork . ” 

Xia Lei let out a breath . “No need to praise me . I’m happy enough that you find it good to use . ”

“Yep, it’s good . Your Thunder Horse Manufacturing can try making this modified sniper rifle . If you can guarantee the same standards then I daresay that purchase orders from the military will keep flying in,” said Long Bing .  

Xia Lei shook his head . “Regular machinists cannot do it . This gun was something I’d done personally for you . Thunder Horse Manufacturing also doesn’t have the capacity to manufacture sniper rifles so I’m not going to go into this business . But if Bureau 101 needs it, I can modify a few for you guys, no problem . ” 

“Not being able to manufacture them now doesn’t mean you won’t be able to in the future . Let’s talk about this another time . ” Long Bing changed the subject and said, “I want to tell you something too . Annina is doing well but I am unable to persuade her to join Bureau 101 . She isn’t even willing to join the logistics department . She’s an elite engineer from Krupp Mak Maschinenbau and has valuable skills we need . Boss Shi wants you to go talk to her . When do you have time?” 

“Okay, I’ll try but I can’t guarantee anything . I’ll try my best to persuade her,” said Xia Lei, “She’s a German after all and has a different ideology . ” 

“It’ll work for sure if you go,” said Long Bing . “Right, her new identity now is Julia . Her Chinese name is Xia Mei . ” 

Xia Lei couldn’t help laughing . “Who gave her such a cheesy Chinese name?” 

“She did . ”

Xia Lei was speechless .  

“Another thing . ” Long Bing looked straight at Xia Lei . “Liang Si-Yao has left the country . What happened between you two?”  

Xia Lei almost said ‘She was a spy’ or ‘She’s a high-ranking CIA intelligence officer’ but swallowed his words in the end . “Nothing . We broke up . ”

It wasn’t actually difficult to speak of Liang Si-Yao’s identity but it was related to his father, Xia Chang-He, and he couldn’t face Long Bing when it came to that .  

“Broke up? Not because of something else?” Long Bing’s gaze was probing .  

Xia Lei shrugged . “What other reason did you think it was?” 

Long Bing spoke evenly, “I was just asking . I’m not interested in who you date or who you broke up with . But I do have to remind you to never do anything that will disappoint your country . ” 

Xia Lei spoke with a laugh, “I’ve been serving the country well till now, okay? You guys don’t even pay me a cent . ” 

“All right, if that’s the case then run your mouth more in front of Boss Shi . No use talking to me about it . Let’s go; the gun’s been tested . Let’s go see Annina . Persuade her and I can take her back to Jing-Du tonight,” said Long Bing .  

Xia Lei knew that Long Bing must have guessed something since she had suspected Liang Si-Yao in the beginning . He did not know how much she had guessed but he could do nothing even if she’d guessed Liang Si-Yao’s identity as the spy . He was a consultant for Bureau 101, that was right, but he had no obligation to catch a spy, not to mention a spy who was a women he had loved deeply .  

He wasn’t worried either if Boss Shi or Long Bing found out the truth one day . He had not done anything that would harm the nation in the entire process - he was actually a victim .  

The two of them drove to a hidden location deep in the mountains . Before Xia Lei saw Annina, however, he was surprised to see Tang Yu-Yan and Tang Bo-Chuan .  

The siblings were not simple people - one a moving beauty and the other handsome and well-proportioned . They were both excellent specimens .

“You all know each other . No need for me to make introductions,” said Long Bing .  

Xia Lei smiled and greeted, “Hello, Miss Tang, Mr Tang . ” 

Seeing Tang Yu-Yan and Tang Bo-Chuan here cleared up some things Xia Lei had been thinking about, and that was that these two were indeed people who worked for Bureau 101 . Tang Yu-Yan was most likely Boss Shi’s god-daughter too .  

Tang Bo-Chuan walked over but did not shake hands . He patted Xia Lei on the shoulder instead . “What’s with the formalities? Xia Bro, you were shockingly skilled that day on Emei’s Jinding . I am in admiration . I’d like us to be friends - yes?” 

“Of course,” Xia Lei said with a laugh, “It is my honour to have a friend like you . ”

“Look at you, being all formal again with me . ” Tang Bo-Chuan smiled .  

Tang Yu-Yan interrupted them, “Big Brother, if you’re friends now, does this mean I have to call him Big Brother too? Should I use ‘Big Brother Xia’ or ‘Big Brother Lei’?” 

They were both people from Bureau 101 but Tang Yu-Yan was very different from Long Bing . One was cold as snow while the other was lively and cheerful .  

Xia Lei spoke a little shyly, “I’m not worthy of being your ‘Big Brother’ . Just call me Lei . ” 

Tang Yu-Yan smiled . “Then you’re ‘Big Brother Lei’ . ” 

Xia Lei gave a laugh of acknowledgement .  

Tang Yu-Yan looked at Long Bing . “Big Sister Bing, I have a mission right now . Can I get Big Brother Lei to help?” 

Long Bing spoke disinterestedly, “What’s the use in telling me? He is a consultant for Bureau 101, not part of our organisation . You have to first get Boss Shi to agree and Xia Lei himself to agree before you can get him to help . ” 

This seemed to be a hint to Xia Lei that he could choose not to help if he weren’t willing .  

Xia Lei understood her words but made no outward reaction and made no sound . He didn’t know what mission Tang Yu-Yan had and it was not a good idea to agree to help her . But then he recalled Tang Yu-Yan’s mysterious appearance close to his neighbourhood a few nights ago and he couldn’t help guessing . ‘Was her appearance close to my home that night for this aim?’

Tang Yu-Yan gave a laugh . “Okay, I’ll talk to Godfather when I get back . ” 

“Lei, go persuade Annina,” said Long Bing .  

Xia Lei nodded and walked towards the room Annina was in .  

After Xia Lei entered, Long Bing said, “Yu-Yan, your mission is too dangerous . He is not prepared yet . Plus, he’s a businessman . He has no way of handling a dangerous situation where the enemy is targeting him . ” 

Tang Yu-Yan laughed . “It’s just going to Pakistan to release some hostages . Just my brother and myself are enough; no need for him to help . Is this okay for you now?” 

“I can lend you my gun . Xia Lei helped me modify it . It can accurately hit the target 3,300 metres away,” said Long Bing .  

“Wow! That good? I’d like to take a shot or two and try it out . ” Tang Yu-Yan got distracted by that .  

In the room, Annina looked at Xia Lei quietly and smiled brightly .  

“Are you better now?” asked Xia Lei in concern .

Annina drew close and hugged him, then kissed his cheek . This was an European custom and she did it naturally; Xia Lei was bashful and nervous .  

Annina let go of Xia Lei . “I’m fine . I don’t like this place, and I don’t like those people outside . ” 

“Never mind, you’ll slowly get used to it . You’ll adapt,” said Xia Lei comfortingly .

“Miss Long brought an interpreter yesterday to persuade me to work for China . I didn’t agree . You know that I want to go to your company and work with you,” said Annina .  

“I came to persuade you,” said Xia Lei .  

Annina’s expression changed . “You came to persuade me too?” 

Xia Lei spoke in a gentle voice, “You know very well what situation you’re in . You need a new identity, a new life . China can protect you but you have to do something too . It’s no problem at all for you to come work at my company but the time is not yet ripe for that . You need to wait till the dust has settled before you can show your face again . ” 

“Do you really want me to go?” 

Xia Lei nodded . “Yeah . I actually really want you to come to work with me at my company . My company still lacks a Chief Engineer and you are undoubtedly the best candidate . But we must wait for the right time . How about this - I’ll keep the position of Chief Engineer open for you at Thunder Horse Manufacturing . You go along with whatever Miss Long arranges for you for now . What do you say?” 

Annina thought for a bit and said, “I want another position besides being Chief Engineer at your company . ”

“What position?” Xia Lei spoke breezily, “No problem, any position you want is yours . ” 

“Your secretary,” said Annina .  

Xia Lei paused, then smiled . “No problem . ”

“What if Miss Liang doesn’t agree?” 

“She’s gone back to America . Uh, we… broke up,” said Xia Lei .  

“Huh?” A smile appeared on Annina’s face but she quickly hid it and changed her expression to an apologetic look . “I’m sorry, I didn’t know . ” 

People from different cultures were different indeed . Jiang Ru-Yi had guffawed but Annina kept her joy inside and even apologised .

“It’s okay . Let’s go out for a walk . It’s not good for your health to stay cooped up in the room,” said Xia Lei .  

“Okay . Can I hold your hand?” Annina looked at Xia Lei, all smiles .  

“That’s… no problem . ” Xia Lei smiled . If that made her happy then he would not bother about trifles . He didn’t care what the three people outside would think of him .  

The experience with Liang Si-Yao had cut at his heart like a knife, subtly affecting him, changing him .  

Xia Lei walked out of the room holding Annina’s hand and the gazes of the three people in the yard went to them . They looked at them oddly . Kissing and hugging were the norm in Germany but this was China and the action of holding hands was something only couples would do . This was why the three of them had such an odd reaction .  

Xia Lei gave them a regular smile . “She’s agreed . Carry on with your chat - I’m accompanying her on a walk . ” 

Annina spoke in stilted Chinese, “Hello you, walk walk . ” 

Long Bing watched Xia Lei and Annina walk into the distance on the small mountain path . After a while, she spoke . “He’s changed . ”