The convoy of cars screeched to a halt in front of the main office, dust swirling in the air. All eyes were fixed on the vehicles, waiting for Boris to emerge. Tension crackled in the atmosphere like a live wire.

A bodyguard swiftly opened the door of the lead car, and a middle-aged man stepped out. His presence exuded an air of authority and confidence.

"That's him!" El Padre growled. Before anyone could blink, he was beside Boris, yanking him up with a speed that left everyone stunned.

Boris's bodyguards were caught completely off guard. Within seconds, they found themselves surrounded by Ling Li's forces, unable to make a move with Boris in El Padre's iron grip.

"One wrong move, and he dies!" El Padre warned, his voice a menacing growl that brooked no argument.

"Dane, disarm them," Shi Min instructed, his voice calm but commanding.

Dane moved swiftly, relieving the bodyguards of their weapons with practiced efficiency. With Boris firmly in his grasp, El Padre led him towards Ling Li, the man's eyes darting around with a mix of shock and fear.

"It's good to meet you finally, Boris," Ling Li said as soon as Boris was pushed into the room, her tone deceptively polite.

Boris was stunned. His eyes widened in disbelief as he took in the scene—Ling Li standing confidently before him, Dr. Gao beside her, and the young Doctor who seemed completely unrecognizable in his current state.

"Don't worry about them; come here and talk," Ling Li invited, her voice dripping with a blend of charm and menace.

El Padre shoved Boris into a chair facing Ling Li. The sound of the chair scraping against the floor echoed ominously in the room. Boris knew of Ling Li's formidable reputation, but seeing her in action was a different story. He had underestimated her reach and power.

"Who are you working with?" Ling Li asked, her gaze piercing through Boris.

Boris clamped his mouth shut, refusing to answer. The silence stretched, heavy and oppressive.

"You could willingly talk to me, or I can turn you into a puppet just like them," Ling Li said, pointing to Dr. Gao and the young Doctor, who stood beside her, their faces blank and lifeless.

Boris's eyes flickered to the two men, realizing with a jolt that they were under some form of hypnosis. 'They were hypnotized! Fuck!' he thought, panic beginning to seep into his veins. He met Ling Li's gaze once more.

"I work on my own," Boris lied, his voice barely steady.

"Are you taking me for a fool? Those thousand soldiers who came when the alarm sounded were service people; you cannot give a direct order. You are not Chinese, and it will be difficult for you without support," Ling Li pointed out, her tone laced with irritation.

"What do you mean thousands of soldiers?" Boris asked. Though he knew about it, he wanted to understand the extent of the disaster. 'How could all the soldiers be defeated?' he wondered.

"I know what you are thinking. You want to know what happened to the soldiers; too bad. They were all killed by Otako in two strikes," Ling Li replied, chuckling softly. The casual mention of such a devastating event sent chills down Boris's spine.

"So, tell me. Who are you working with?" Ling Li pressed on.

Boris remained defiant, refusing to speak. His silence was met with Ling Li's growing impatience.

"I don't want anyone wasting my time," Ling Li said, her voice hardening. She was about to signal her men when Boris finally spoke.

"Wait," Boris said hesitantly. He realized there was no escape. His only hope now lay in stalling and hoping for a rescue. "It's Fen Zhang."

Ling Li looked at Mushu, their understanding immediate. "How did you know him?"

"Fen Zhang was introduced to me by a fellow armament merchant," Boris explained, his voice strained.

"And then?" Ling Li's eyebrows arched expectantly.

"Fen Zhang asked if I would be interested in investing in an experiment. That is when they were still in the middle of creating the android chimp," Boris admitted, each word feeling like a confession of defeat.

"Where is the chimp now?" Ling Li's voice was sharp, probing.

"They are testing it in a military camp," Boris replied, his gaze flickering with fear.

Ling Li leaned back in her chair, her eyes narrowing as she observed Boris. The tension in the room was palpable, like a coiled spring ready to snap. The dim light cast long shadows, adding to the gravity of the situation.

Boris' heart pounded in his chest, and he knew he was trapped. Ling Li's gaze never wavered, her eyes cold and unforgiving, as she watched him squirm under her scrutiny. The game had just begun, and Boris was already losing.

"How did you end up choosing my camp?" Ling Li asked, her voice cold and precise.

Boris shifted uncomfortably in his seat, avoiding her piercing gaze. "It was Feng's idea," he admitted, his voice a mix of desperation and resignation.

"He proposed using this camp because it has the most advanced tech we could use to make human androids. He said he has people already working here who could manipulate everything."

Ling Li's expression hardened. "Is that the reason for my ambush?" she demanded, her voice icy and unforgiving.

"Yes," Boris confessed, his voice barely a whisper.

Ling Li leaned forward, her eyes burning with intensity. "Who is Feng working with?" she asked, her questions relentless and sharp as a blade.

Boris's shoulders slumped in defeat. "He won't tell me. He always says, 'The less I know, the safer I will be,'" he muttered, his voice filled with frustration and fear.

Ling Li's eyes narrowed further. "What about you? Who are you working for?" she inquired, her voice dripping with suspicion.

"I am an independent weapon merchant. I don't work for anyone," Boris insisted, though his voice lacked conviction, and a faint tremor betrayed his nerves.

"Really?" Ling Li's tone was skeptical and challenging. "Who are your contacts in Pakistan and India?"

Boris swallowed hard, his fear evident. "I… I am the middleman for their firearm supplies from Feng. They somehow found out I was financing Feng's experiment. They offered me a big sum of money to leak information to them," he confessed, his voice trembling with fear.

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