RPAGF Chapter 309 Disrupted His Movement
Chapter 309 Disrupted His Movement
Jiang Ling chuckled softly. "Position? In this world, positions are never fixed. We may be allies today and enemies tomorrow. Right now, our goals are temporarily aligned, and I don't want to waste time arguing with you. The core secret is far more complicated than you can imagine."
Su Ming's suspicions mounted after hearing these words. Jiang Ling's words were ambiguous, neither clearly expressing hostility nor complete cooperation. This ambiguous attitude made Su Ming feel he couldn't fully trust him, but the current situation didn't allow him to act rashly.
"So what are you going to do?" Su Ming asked tentatively.
Jiang Ling smiled slightly. "I won't hinder you for now. My purpose is different from yours. However, I suggest you don't trust anyone easily, including me."
After saying this, Jiang Ling turned and prepared to leave. His movements were decisive, without the slightest hesitation, as if this conversation was merely a chance encounter, not a fateful meeting.
"You..." Su Ming wanted to ask more, but Jiang Ling's figure had already disappeared into the night.
Silence returned to the house, only the faint sound of wind seeping in through the cracks in the dilapidated wooden structure, carrying a hint of coldness. Su Ming stood there, feeling a mixture of emotions. He had just spoken with a complete stranger, yet someone who knew the inside story. In just a few minutes, the other person had thrown many questions and clues at him, but hadn't provided any real answers.
Su Ming looked down at the messy negatives and books on the table, knowing that this was far from over, but rather just beginning. He had to be more cautious and dig deeper into these clues, otherwise he might be faced with a greater conspiracy and trap.
As the night deepened, the sound of distant waves clattered against the island's rocks, creating a deep rumble. Su Ming gazed out the window, as if he could peer through the endless darkness and glimpse the truth hidden deep within.
He must keep moving forward, no matter how treacherous the road ahead or how complex the answers. This island, this mission, and the mysterious "core" have become part of his destiny. And he must unravel all the mysteries behind this game.
Su Ming stared at the stack of negatives, feeling a heavy stone weighing down his heart. Jiang Ling's departure had seemed easy, but those profound words, like a blunt knife, slowly peeled back more questions in his mind.
**"Who is he?"** This question lingered in Su Ming's mind like an unbreakable chain.
While Jiang Ling didn't display overt hostility, his presence undoubtedly disturbed the balance of power in this hidden struggle. Su Ming was well aware that anyone could become an enemy on this dangerous road, and Jiang Ling's elusive nature made his judgment even more difficult. What was his motive? Was it collaboration, or a conspiracy? The word "core" was like the tip of an iceberg, revealing only the cold surface while concealing an endless abyss beneath.
Su Ming took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. He knew now was not the time to dwell on doubt. He had to act quickly and seize this window of opportunity. If Jiang Ling knew he was here, others might have also received some intelligence. Time was running out for him.
His hand, flipping through the negatives, suddenly paused as a thought flashed through his mind. It seemed those negatives contained more than just superficial research material; some hidden information might be directly related to the core. The power behind this research far exceeded the scope of a simple spy mission. Could he have been drawn into a deeper vortex? A feeling of unease crept into his heart once again.
He walked over to the table and spread out the negatives one by one, carefully examining every detail. Su Ming's gaze grew increasingly gloomy, his intuition telling him that there was a key hidden within these things that he had overlooked. On the surface, they looked like ordinary scientific research records, but certain symbols and markings seemed to be connected to a code—something he had never seen in training, but he had a vague feeling that this was no accident.
Time was running out, so Su Ming didn't hesitate. He repacked all the negatives and quickly checked his surroundings, making sure he hadn't missed any clues that might reveal his identity. Jiang Ling's appearance disrupted his original rhythm, and he had to move to the next action point immediately. The remaining time might only be enough for him to escape.
He quickly packed up everything and put on gloves, making sure he wouldn't leave any fingerprints or marks. Although he had carefully handled most of the items in the house, a single mistake in this situation could be fatal. Jiang Ling's mysterious background meant he wasn't the only one eyeing these research.
Su Ming's heart didn't relax the moment he left the cabin. Darkness still hung heavy over the island, and the cold, salty sea breeze lashed his face. He faded into the night, his figure swiftly disappearing into the depths of the woods. At that moment, his mind was like a taut string, ready to respond to any emergency.
He knew the island's terrain intimately, every hidden path and every rock to hide under. His training had made him as alert and swift as a hunter stalking the night sky. Su Ming's heartbeat was steady, and his fingers glided over the handle of his pistol, feeling the reassurance of the cold metal.
He traversed the woods, quickly approaching a hidden base, one of his pre-planned escape routes. Far from the island's main activity area, it was rarely visited. He pushed aside a camouflaged stone slab and swiftly entered a cellar-like space. The cellar contained the backup supplies he had prepared—a false identity, an encrypted communications device, and some necessary food and water.
He breathed a sigh of relief. Although he hadn't been tracked, he didn't feel the slightest bit relieved. He quickly opened his communication device and entered a complex password. After a hoarse electric sound, a familiar deep voice rang out from the communicator: "Su Ming, what's the situation?"
This was the only line he could trust, the voice coming from his only contact before all these actions. This connection was extremely secretive, but it was also the only thing he could rely on to maintain his sanity in this complicated situation.
"Something unexpected happened," Su Ming reported briefly, his tone low but calm. He didn't have time to elaborate on all the details, so he could only briefly explain, "I met a man named Jiang Ling. He seems to know the core of the matter, but his motives are unclear."
The other party was silent for a moment, seemingly digesting this information. "Jiang Ling? That's not a name we know. He might be some kind of independent force. Be careful. If he knows too much, it could lead to more trouble."
Su Ming heard a hint of worry in the other person's voice. This wasn't the person they'd planned for, which meant he had entered some unknown territory. And for a spy, the unknown usually meant danger.
"I'll be careful." After Su Ming finished speaking, he thought for a moment and continued, "Do you have more detailed information about the 'core'? Jiang Ling mentioned Shadow and knows I'm here. He's not simple."
"The core intelligence remains murky," the other party's voice was filled with resignation. "We currently have limited information, but we can confirm that it's the result of some strategic-level research. The negatives you have may be the key to solving this mystery."
Su Ming frowned slightly. The core of this matter was clearly more than just some technical research. The scope and depth involved far exceeded his previous expectations. The contents on the film were perhaps just superficial. Deeper secrets would require more clues to unravel.
"Continue as planned. You can terminate the operation if necessary, but make sure the negatives are safely transferred." The other party instructed in a deep voice, obviously aware of the complexity of the situation.
"Understood," Su Ming replied briefly, then cut off the call. He leaned against the cellar wall, his mind racing as he re-examined everything that had happened over the past few days.
Jiang Ling's appearance disrupted his rhythm and made him realize that he might be part of a larger web, with the forces behind it beginning to emerge. The situation on the island was far more complex than it appeared. Every person and every corner seemed to harbor some unknown danger. Whether it was the core, the shadow, or the power behind Jiang Ling, Su Ming knew that he had to be even more cautious with every step he took, otherwise any small mistake could lead to his downfall.
The sky gradually brightened. Su Ming looked at the faint light filtering through the narrow window and knew he couldn't stay here much longer. He had to quickly move the film in his hands to the next safe location and then leave the island.
He rehid his communication equipment, confirmed that all supplies were there, and quickly left the cellar. The outside world was still quiet, as if nothing had happened, but Su Ming knew that undercurrents were surging behind this silence, and danger could strike at any time.
Su Ming slowed his pace as he passed through the woods, his nerves still tense, his mind constantly on the alert. He remembered the island's hidden, unknown ferry crossing, which was his final evacuation point and a backup route he had set. Although the island's personnel had already begun their search, his training and experience were more than enough to allow him to navigate this complex environment with ease.
The ferry crossing was located near a rocky coastline, a place rarely visited. Su Ming quickly approached the shoreline via a path mostly covered in thorns. He scanned the surroundings sharply, confirming that no one else was around before he breathed a sigh of relief.
He pulled a small inflatable boat out of a crevice in the rocks and carefully checked the airbags and engine to make sure everything was working properly. He looked up at the sky. Dark clouds gathered, foreshadowing an impending storm. He knew this was the best cover—the worse the weather, the less likely they would be discovered.