Chapter 17: The Chief

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A man was crouched down, adjusting the camera on a tripod. The large flash attached to the camera was clearly the source of the intense light from a moment ago.

He was tall and slender, dressed in a loose white shirt and light-colored casual pants. His dark hair was combed back, with a few strands falling over his forehead near his eyes, giving his pale, thin profile a slightly frail appearance.

Following his camera’s focus, Tang Mi looked toward the pond. The dark green surface had subtle ripples, forming small, overlapping circles, as if a nimble creature had just skimmed over it, disappearing quickly and leaving only a faint, melancholic trail. “Was it a bat?” she wondered, looking up at the large Euphorbia tree beside the pond, where she could spot their swift shadows darting among the dense branches and leaves.

“Yes, but they move too fast for the flash to catch them,” the man replied, his head remaining down, seemingly glued to the camera’s viewfinder.

“Bats can fly up to 20 miles per hour, and the human eye can’t even track the flapping of their wings. It’s natural you can’t keep up with them, and your flash isn’t powerful enough either. You’d need at least 3,500 volts,” Tang Mi observed, glancing at his flash and stating her conclusion slowly.

The man finally looked up. He appeared to be around 35, with thick eyebrows and a low brow ridge that hinted at Mediterranean features, but his overly pale skin suggested he was of mixed heritage.

His lashes were long, and his eyes a deep blue. The slight droop at the corners of his eyes and his thin cheeks gave him the melancholic air of a poet, making one imagine he must possess a delicate, sensitive soul.

“An amateur photography enthusiast,” Tang Mi assessed inwardly as she studied his face.

“You said the human eye can’t track them. Then how could I capture a clear image?” the dark-haired man asked, his gaze fixed on Tang Mi. “I want to photograph the bats drinking from the water,” he said, a flicker of surprise passing over his pale face before he quickly regained his calm.

Tang Mi walked slowly along the pond, carefully observing her surroundings as she spoke, “First, you need to equip the camera with a listening device. This device can detect the ultrasonic sounds that bats emit. Once it picks up the bat calls, it will trigger an infrared beam that activates the camera’s flash just as the bat swoops down to drink from the water.”

She continued, “And relying on a single flash isn’t enough, especially at night. You’ll need at least four light sources to cast light from different angles in front of the lens.”

The man watched her intently, his gaze a mix of curiosity, admiration, and a barely noticeable sharpness. “But if you use multiple lights, the surroundings will be bright, and the center of the pond will remain dark. Bats usually prefer drinking from the middle,” he said in a smooth, calming voice, carrying a quiet charm that made each word captivating.

“That’s why you should add a fifth flash, suspended over the pond on a rod like a fishing pole. This way, it’ll be foolproof.” Tang Mi stepped onto a small stone ledge and leaned forward to examine the pond’s center, just as she would at work. She was unaware that her long, flowing gown was trailing in the water, staining the white silk with a large patch of dark green.

Seeing her so focused on arranging the equipment and oblivious to her dress’s “misfortune,” the man’s frown softened, and a smile of amusement crossed his face. He quickly stepped over to her and lifted the damp hem of her gown. “Let’s continue on solid ground. The water’s cold, and I wouldn’t want to see such a lovely lady catch a chill on my account.” He looked up at her with a smile, extending a hand. His blue eyes held a beautiful silver glint, like the shimmering Mediterranean on a full moon night—unpredictable and unfathomably deep.

Only then did Tang Mi notice her gown’s predicament. She shrugged, unconcerned, and took his hand as he helped her down from the stone.

“My name is Emir; it’s a pleasure to meet you.” He held her hand, his gaze falling briefly on the emerald ring on her finger before returning to her face, his smile growing with a hint of intrigue.

Tang Mi noticed the rough, calloused skin on his thumb and index finger, telltale signs of someone accustomed to holding a gun—just like Arthur’s.

Her gaze dimmed for a moment, but she quickly smiled, gripping his hand tightly. “My name is Ann. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Chief Emir.”

This poetic, melancholic amateur photographer before her was none other than Chief Emir, the rebel leader of country Z—their mission’s target. Tang Mi had known this from the first moment she saw him. However, she hadn’t expected him to be so low-key and understated. His ordinary clothing, gentle voice, and quiet, modest gaze evoked thoughts of art and moonlight, not war and bloodshed. He hadn’t even brought a single guard with him.

She almost wondered if Arthur’s intelligence had somehow been mistaken, but that was impossible. The renowned MI6 wouldn’t make such a rookie error.

“Darling, here you are,” Arthur’s voice came from behind her at just the right moment—not a second too early or too late, as if pre-programmed to appear at the precise time and place.

Tang Mi smiled. No, MI6 wouldn’t make mistakes, and certainly not Arthur, the head of the Special Operations Division. No doubt, he had been watching the scene by the pond unfold, merely waiting for the final moment to make his grand entrance. The heavy night was like a vast stage, and with the curtain slowly rising, what splendid performance would he deliver as the perfect lead? Tang Mi found herself genuinely curious.

“Arthur,” she turned gracefully, her hand naturally intertwining with his outstretched arm, as if she had made this gesture countless times before.

“What were you up to? I’ve been looking for you for ages.” Arthur furrowed his brows, his tone affectionate with a touch of sweet reproach.

“I was discussing with Chief Emil how to photograph bats. You know, it’s quite fascinating,” Tang Mi said with a playful smile, glancing toward Emir.

“Oh?” Arthur looked up and gracefully extended his hand to Emil. “Hello, Chief Emir.”

“Hello, Arthur. Mr. Solomon,” Emir responded, nodding as he shook Arthur’s hand. “Anderson has told me quite a bit about you, though we’ve never had the pleasure of meeting. I didn’t expect to meet your fiancée first; it’s truly an honor.”

“We’re only engaged, not yet married,” Tang Mi corrected softly, her expression showing just the right mix of happiness and slight shyness.

“It’s only a matter of time,” Arthur said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and placing a light kiss on her forehead, just like any man deeply in love.

“Those in love always inspire both envy and admiration,” Emir remarked. “In Sicily, family is very important, and a man who isn’t married is usually regarded as…”

“Those in love always inspire both envy and admiration. We Sicilians place a great emphasis on family, and an unmarried man is often considered unreliable—people generally avoid doing business with someone untrustworthy. So, congratulations, Mr. Solomon. I hope you’ll soon have a family of your own.”

Emil smiled warmly at the couple in front of him, but to Tang Mi, that smile felt somewhat chilling. Emir’s gaze remained polite and respectful, yet it was noticeably different from before. An invisible pressure and authority seemed to emanate from his calm demeanor, as if something sharp lay hidden beneath it, ready to strike at any moment.

It’s the hidden strength that’s the most terrifying.

If Arthur was like a bold, powerful Barrett rifle, Emir was a landmine buried beneath the earth, with unpredictable and explosive potential.

A faint “chirping” sound caught her attention, and Tang Mi turned her head to see several bats skimming over the calm surface of the pond, disturbing the moon’s reflection as they ghosted through, creating ripples in the still water.