Chapter 5951

“Ninja?!” Michaela was taken aback, wanting to press Charlie for more information. But the realization that there were ninjas present among CIA agents and members of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs struck her hard—something was amiss here. The situation was urgent, and without time for further questions, she quickly inquired, “What are your plans, Mr. Wade?” Charlie responded, “I came all this way to accompany my wife to the concert. I cannot let the singer vanish or meet a grim fate.” As he spoke, he directed, “Take good care of Claire; I will handle this issue shortly.” Michaela paused at his words and called after him, “Don’t worry, Mr. Wade.” With that, she turned and headed back to the party. She was well aware of Charlie's abilities; a handful of ninjas wouldn’t stand a chance against him. Her concern didn’t lie with his safety but rather with fulfilling Charlie's instructions. Meanwhile, outside, Mitsui Yoshitaka had just escorted Tawanna, Trevor, and a group of agents to their vehicles. They were using four cars in total, three of which displayed American flags, a symbol of diplomacy. The fleet included two black Cadillac Escalades and a Toyota bus also painted jet black. The fourth vehicle, a Toyota commercial van, was the official transport of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. With such a large entourage and all necessary documentation in order, Mitsui Yoshitaka had yet to uncover any discrepancies. Charlie’s intuition about the danger lay in his deep acquaintance with ninjas. During his mission in Japan to rescue Nanako Ito, he had interactions with many of the country's leading ninja clans and had dispatched several of them. He had gained extensive knowledge about their characteristics and physical training methods. Thus, upon their arrival, it became clear to him that all the supposed officials from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs were actually ninjas. At that moment, Charlie noticed Tawanna and her boyfriend Trevor boarding the black Toyota bus and shouted, “Wait a moment!” Mitsui Yoshitaka turned around upon hearing Charlie’s voice and quickly inquired, “Mr. Wade, is there something you need?” Charlie walked purposefully toward the Escalade where Tawanna and Trevor were situated, replying to Mitsui Yoshitaka, “Mr. Mitsui, your party is quite dull. This scene here seems much more engaging; I intend to join the excitement!” “Join the excitement?” Mitsui Yoshitaka was taken aback. The CIA was on a mission. Why would he want to join in? It was naive to think that this was Japan and to underestimate the influence of American CIA agents. For years, U.S. government officials had been oddly arrogant in Japan. Charlie's disregard was akin to mocking their authority. He quickly grabbed Charlie, whispering, “Mr. Wade, I strongly advise against getting involved with the CIA right now. You are Miss Joules’s friend; if anything goes wrong, I cannot account for it to her.” Charlie chuckled and said, “Mr. Mitsui, my greatest asset is that I do not heed advice.” With that, he maneuvered past Mitsui Yoshitaka and approached the Toyota bus. The fake agent, Pete Roger, was on the verge of boarding the bus when he spotted Charlie and coldly warned him, “The CIA is conducting official business. Please keep your distance.” Charlie grinned and replied, “I am Tawanna’s bodyguard. If you intend to take her away, I have to accompany her.” Within the vehicle, Tawanna and Trevor exchanged puzzled glances. They couldn't comprehend why Charlie, who had always seemed distant, suddenly claimed to be Tawanna’s bodyguard and insisted on joining them. Peter Roger, not wanting any complications, explained, “I apologize, sir, but this is a CIA operation. Only those directly involved in the investigation can participate. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate anyone else.” Charlie shot back with a defiant tone, “Don't spew nonsense. If you don’t let me in this vehicle today, you can’t leave. That’s what I’m saying.”

Peter Roger glared at Charlie, suppressing his irritation, and cautioned in a steely tone, “Sir, I’m not joking! You should step aside immediately and avoid unnecessary trouble!” Charlie dismissed him, saying, “You talk too much. I’ll repeat myself—if you don’t let me in, you won’t be going anywhere. Unless you intend to shoot me, I doubt you’d dare do that in front of Mr. Mitsui!” Pete Roger felt outmatched. His original mission was to take Tawanna away discreetly, but now he was faced with an unexpected complication; Tawanna's boyfriend, Trevor, insisted on coming along. He had relented and allowed Trevor to join, but now Charlie's declaration of being Tawanna's bodyguard added another unplanned passenger to the mix. Realizing Charlie would not back down easily, he calculated the risks. If he denied Charlie entry, he would likely cause a scene. Yet revealing his true nature before Mitsui Yoshitaka was out of the question; such exposure would jeopardize his mission's success. After weighing his options, he gritted his teeth and reluctantly said to Charlie, “Fine, you can come aboard, but I must warn you to strictly follow our guidelines!” “Alright.” With a smirk at having forced his hand, Charlie stepped up onto the Toyota bus. Peter Roger stood at the door, eyeing Charlie coldly and thinking, “If you’re looking for trouble, don’t blame me for where this leads you.” As Peter remained blocking the entrance, Charlie urged him, “Haven't you heard? A good dog doesn’t block the road. How am I supposed to get in if you don’t move?” Peter Roger was so furious he felt a surge of frustration. Finally, with hardened resolve, he stepped aside for Charlie. Charlie entered the bus and observed that there were six other passengers inside, aside from the driver. This Toyota bus could originally seat twenty people, but it had clearly been modified. Now, only four rows of upscale seats were left, with two seats in each row. In the first row sat a white man, leaving an empty seat most likely intended for Pete Roger. Tawanna and Trevor occupied the second row, while two other individuals were settled in the third row. Upon entering, Charlie scanned the bus. When his gaze met Tawanna's, he noticed her surprise and confusion; she couldn't fathom why he’d decide to join them for what he used to regard as an awkward experience. As their eyes locked, Charlie contemplated how Tawanna and her boyfriend were wedged between them, with only the front windshield unobscured; every other window was heavily tinted, preventing anyone outside from seeing in. If the four inside attempted any hostile actions, they wouldn’t have any chance to act unnoticed. Peter Roger called out to the man in the front row, “Lucas, go sit in the last row and let him take your seat.” As Lucas began to rise, Charlie placed a hand on his shoulder, gently pushing him back down. He then cheerfully said, “No need to trouble yourself! I’ll just head to the last row, I can manage!” Peter Roger’s anxiety spiked instantly. His original plan was to have the two individuals in the third row ambush Tawanna and Trevor as soon as the bus left the venue. He had prepared deadly injection drugs for the occasion; a simple stab to their necks would ensure they would both fall lifeless within half a minute. What was expected to be straightforward had suddenly become complex with Charlie’s interference. If Charlie occupied the last row, he’d clearly observe any actions taken by those in front. In that case, it would be nearly impossible to inject them stealthily without being detected. Thus, Pete Roger instinctively pulled Charlie aside, insisting, “You should sit in the front row instead!” Charlie shrugged off Roger's grip, responding impatiently, “I’ll sit wherever I choose. No need for you to dictate where I go.”