Chapter 021: Kidnapping Case

On the afternoon of August 2, 2030, around 3 or 4 o'clock, with approximately 48 hours left before the Great Catastrophe, time was becoming increasingly urgent.

Cyrus Greene was inexplicably bouncing along in a bullet-riddled Chevrolet sedan. He was crossing the East River, with Manhattan, the commercial center of New York and even the United States, just ahead.

Through the shattered window, Cyrus Greene could see Manhattan's towering skyscrapers. There was Wall Street, the United Nations Headquarters, the Empire State Building, Times Square, and Broadway—this was the pride of Americans, once the center of the world. But he didn't want to enter this world-famous district under the current circumstances.

"Can you tell me what's going on here?" Cyrus Greene lay on the back seat cushion, pressing the magazine release button, removing the empty magazine, and taking out a new one to load. The slide made a clicking sound as it returned to position.

Cyrus Greene thought that killing a robber in Brooklyn and stripping two New York police officers was already crazy enough. However, the scene before him further changed his perception of New York's public security.

In one of the world's most prosperous central districts, a car chase shootout was unfolding. The large Ford pickup behind them was still pursuing relentlessly, firing intensely at the Chevrolet carrying Cyrus Greene. He shouted angrily, "Are all the New York police dead? Such a violent incident is happening, and no one is stepping up to stop it!"

Seeing Cyrus Greene's frantic demeanor, the young woman lying beside him even had the mood to smile, "Aren't you a New York police officer? I'm very grateful for your excellent performance in this critical moment. When this is over, I will personally express my gratitude to the New York Police Chief."

Amid gunfire, the young woman still maintained a superior pride and confidence. Cyrus Greene could only silently complain to himself: The New York Police Chief is currently hunting me down everywhere; if you express gratitude, he'll be furious.

"First, tell me, what's the situation now?" Cyrus Greene felt the current situation was getting worse and worse.

The young woman was very close to Cyrus Greene, close enough to feel each other's breath. She glanced at the corpse in the passenger seat and said, "Someone is trying to kidnap me. My assistant was shot dead on the spot. The driver is my bodyguard Raji, and I am Lina Fox. I think you should know me."

Cyrus Greene shook his head without hesitation, "Sorry, I don't know you."

The young woman's expression showed some surprise, and she repeated, "I am Lina Fox. Perhaps you're a bit panicked, but please look at my face clearly; I appear in the media frequently. Don't be shy, knowing me is your luck."

"Still don't know you," Cyrus Greene said expressionlessly. He had been in this world for barely a day; how could he know who Lina Fox was?

But the young woman didn't believe Cyrus Greene's words, assuming the Asian police officer was deliberately joking. She shrugged, tilted her head, and said, "Okay, you don't know me. But I'd like to know you. Can you tell me your name?"

"Victor Hugo."

"Wow... are you serious?"

"Of course."

"OK! Nice to meet you, Mr. Great Writer. Let's get acquainted again. I'm Lina Fox, the current CEO of the Fox Consortium in New York, the sole heir to a $50 billion fortune. For uncertain reasons, someone wants to kidnap me. Thank you very much for your help; I'll reward you generously."

"When you put it that way, even I want to kidnap you," Cyrus Greene quipped.

"I like your humor." Lina Fox's pride radiated from her very bones. She once again elegantly extended her hand to Cyrus Greene, showing great friendliness.

This girl looked like the standard template of an American high-society lady—a typical rich, beautiful white woman: young, pretty, intellectual, elegant, and very wealthy. Men wanting to pursue her could probably circle the earth.

But these meant nothing to Cyrus Greene. In 48 hours, all American financial groups would disappear, and this beautiful, rich girl would be no exception. However, now that they were in the same car, facing the same terrible situation, he had to extend his hand and shake hers.

"Have you called the police?" Cyrus Greene asked.

"Of course, so don't worry about those idiots chasing us. We just need to wait a little longer, and the New York SWAT team should come roaring to rescue us. I'm a very important person; the police must be anxiously trying to rescue me right now." Lina Fox was very confident about this.

Coincidentally, a police helicopter carrying New York special police flew over the Chevrolet sedan, the thunderous sound of the rotors carrying immense authority, providing the best annotation to Lina Fox's words.

Cyrus Greene glanced at the sky and thought to himself: This might be coming to catch me, not to save some American princess. I still need to find a way to escape; I absolutely cannot be caught by the police at this time.

The Chevrolet crossed the East River and entered central Manhattan. The pursuing Ford pickup suddenly disappeared, escaping down some side street.

From the Chevrolet being attacked to the crash, to encountering Cyrus Greene and escaping to Manhattan, the entire kidnapping process took less than five minutes. In a metropolis like New York with police everywhere, kidnappers wouldn't have the courage to chase their target endlessly; once they failed, they would immediately flee.

Seeing the Ford pickup drive away, both Cyrus Greene and Lina Fox let out a big sigh of relief. The driver-bodyguard Raji said, "Miss Fox, we should be safe now. I suggest returning to the consortium headquarters immediately; we have security personnel there."

"No, go to the hospital first; Mr. Hugo is injured. Notify my father; he will send people to protect us," Lina Fox said.

Bodyguard Raji looked at Cyrus Greene through the rearview mirror and nodded slightly, saying, "Alright. This police officer's injuries aren't too severe, but he needs quick hemostasis."

Cyrus Greene was eventually taken to a public hospital in Lower Manhattan. The emergency doctor only took a brief look before having a nurse clean and bandage his wounds. Throughout this time, Lina Fox stayed with him, continually praising his bravery.

"Meeting you today must be God's favor to me. If you hadn't created those ten seconds or so of time for Raji, I would have been captured by those kidnappers."

"May I record your badge number? I'll arrange for a lawyer to contact you. I'll provide you with a good promotion opportunity to express my gratitude."

"Hehe... the name on your badge isn't Victor Hugo. You're interesting, telling me a fake name."

"You seem a bit upset. Post-traumatic stress? Because you killed the kidnapper who attacked me? Don't worry, everything you did was just, and I'll find you the best psychologist."

Lina Fox kept talking to Cyrus Greene, showing him enough care. However, Cyrus Greene was anxious to leave the hospital, knowing that the police could appear at any moment. To be honest, after ten minutes of bandaging, the police still hadn't arrived, which he found strange.

"Thank you for everything you've considered for me; I deeply appreciate it. Umm... I need to use the restroom." After the bandaging was complete, Cyrus Greene excused himself to use the bathroom and left the emergency room. He saw his reflection in the glass window of the hospital department. Although a bit disheveled, he still had all his limbs intact and was alive.

"Leave immediately, leave immediately, leave this place of trouble right now." Cyrus Greene urged himself. After putting his police cap back on, he strode toward the exit. He still needed to find Angie, still needed to get that robotic dog; time was truly running short.

But before Cyrus Greene could walk even seven or eight meters, Lina Fox ran out of the emergency room, calling, "Hey, my brave guardian, you seem to be going in the wrong direction. The bathroom is... oh... my God!"

Lina Fox's words were suddenly interrupted, and she looked with terror in the direction Cyrus Greene was leaving. Right in front of Cyrus Greene, several burly men with murderous intent barged into the hospital from outside.

The kidnappers had returned!