Chapter 33

Five minutes earlier, inside the car behind the VIP, Syn made Peterson step on the break.

"W-what?" Peterson stuttered in nervousness as he asked Syn in confusion.

Up until now, he can still feel the chills he felt earlier. The aura of the gun is still lingering on his temple.

"I said stop the car." Syn answered with his lazy voice.

Chess tilted his head to look behind him. He noticed the familiar black bag that Syn was picking up. And with his casual tone, he asked Syn.

"Is that the sniper from last time?"

Peterson's eyes widened in shock.

He unconsciously stepped on the break when he heard the word 'sniper'. It was like a reflex. Then he wanted to get out of the car as soon as he peeked at the rearview mirror.

Syn was holding a long-barreled rifle. Just with a single glance, anyone will know what it was.

A sniper rifle.

Chess, who went with Syn the last time, was already familiar with this rifle. He acted so nonchalant that Peterson started to think twice about him. He started to ask himself if Chess was really just a pure and innocent student.

But when Chess turned to smile at him, Peterson's doubt was completely erased.

"Now, stay still and shut up." Syn's voice floated once again.

They were in the middle of the highway. The road was wide enough, but it couldn't be helped that they still caused trouble. The surroundings started to get noisy as the passing cars angrily honked at them.

Even though Peterson wanted to move out of the middle lane, he can't because he can see Syn so focused on the scope of his rifle. It feels like if he make any movement, however small it is, Syn would shoot him without a second thought.

Similar to him, Chess didn't move an inch.

He was silently observing Syn while simply glancing outside the windows from time to time.

Syn was in a position were a normal sniper wouldn't be.

He was pointing the barrel in an upward angle. Snipers usually shoot from above or from a straight line, but this time, it looks like Syn is aiming to shoot someone 'on' the above. His breathing was steady and his eyes were focused.

He looked like a statue as he sat still, resting the barrel of his rifle on the slightly opened window.

Few minutes later, Chess noticed the sudden halt of the VIP car which is now a few meters away from them. It looks like an abrupt stop, making him wonder whether the stop of their car is connected to the stop of the other car.

And then, he saw a sharp line form from somewhere far up to the VIP car's window.

He saw it clearly.

He was sure it was a bullet.

And his guess was confirmed when he heard Syn's mumblings behind.

"14-degree angle… more than 100 meters away. Wind is stable…"

He's spotting the enemy with just the trajectory of the bullet. It's already impressive that he could do that, but the fact that he is in a cramped space, calculating so effectively, makes him more amazing.

With his stabilized breathing, Syn pulled the trigger.

There was a slight strain on his supporting arm because of his awkward position, but it wasn't that great of a deal.

The important thing right now, Prof managed to make Mr. Seventeen talk.

"Why don't we stop by on a nearby restaurant? We can talk this over with a nice meal. I also haven't had breakfast yet. You too, right?" Prof acted all friendly as soon as he started the engine once again.

Mr. Seventeen was still left in shock after almost being shot to death by who-knows-who. He also had yet to recover from Prof's sudden attitude change.

For starters, he knew Prof before he became the Section 0's professor.

He remembered him as a kind and gentle professor in their university. He also had that good-looking appearance, almost that of a female. He looked clean, fitting that of the top university's employee.

However, one day, around five years ago, an issue arose.

It was said that Prof was the one who leaked the information about their experimental medicine to the outside. At that time, it was still illegal. Authorities came rushing to the university grounds. They turned every thing upside down, looking for evidences of the said drug.

However, they found none.

In just a week, the university was proven innocent.

But, in result of the issue, other universities started to spy and aim for that secret. That's when the Chairman thought of something like a 'security' measure.

A year after, they built the Section 0. They were a bunch of forsaken students with dark pasts that they could use anytime against them.

And then, there's Prof.

Guilty of leaking the university's secret experiment, Prof was thrown into that very same Section. He was made to manage them.

They did a good job for the past years.

But now… it looks like everything would start crumbling down.

"Hmn… I wonder what to eat." Seventeen heard Prof's mumblings. He came back to reality.

For a while, he went in a trance. However, he had no time to spare.

"I'll tell you what I know, but you have to keep driving. I need to arrive on my destination on time." He said sternly.

Prof peeked at him on the rearview mirror. He had that blank expression on his face. And after a short while, the benign smile was once again seen on his face.

"Okay. As you wish, Mr. Seventeen."

Seventeen released a sigh of relief. His eyes then darted to the hole on his window.

It's slightly uncomfortable to see the hole, but he had no other choice. He can change cars any time, but he might also die anytime. It's best to leave his life on the hands of his current driver. He's the professor after all. He should be the most capable.

"So? What do you want to know?" Mr. Seventeen wanted to end this fast.

He didn't like the idea of being threatened. He also didn't like to oppose these crazy bastards, because he have a feeling that if he did, it would be the end of him.

Prof remained his eyes on the road. He didn't answer right away.

He started driving again, closing the distance between his car and the car where Reis and Aoi is at. He then peeked at the rearview, just to see that the car where Syn and Chess was in is also following closely behind.

Everything was perfect.

Although the snipe shot from the enemy wasn't expected, they managed to use it to their advantage.

'Ah, Cale is so precious.' Prof thought inside his head.

Cale had the greatest contribution in this mission. He felt like Cale was an angel, watching them from above. It's all thanks to his deduction abilities.

Cale, on the other side, just shrugged his shoulders. He didn't think that there really would be a sniper. It's just that, he had a hunch.

The way the motorcycles ran away was not normal. He knew there's something more to it, so he watched the cameras further. He then noticed that when Kane left his position, the left side of the VIP car was left wide open. It was the best way and time to attack. To shoot.

That's why, he checked the other nearby cameras. But there was no any suspicious people.

He found it weird.

They would normally attack if they had the chance, so now that the car's side is wide open, shouldn't they take this opportunity? But there was no ambush. No men in blacks, shooting their guns while riding a motorcycle.

That's when he thought about Syn. They had Syn so they never really had the need for other gun men.

Then, what if the enemies have someone like Syn too? Someone who specializes in sniping?

That was plausible, so he told Prof about it. Then, he also checked the surrounding buildings and establishments around the road that they are currently taking.

One building caught his attention.

It was the only tall building around the area. It was perfect if you wanted to shoot someone. So, he also told Prof about it.

In short, he just gave his hunch, but Prof was still the one who used it to their advantage.

"Hmn, well… Let's start by…" Prof acted like thinking for a while. And then, he glanced at Mr. Seventeen before widening his smile. "Who spread the rumors about us?"

For that situation be their advantage, one needs to possess the ability to assess the situation.

Prof managed to do it.

He knew that when a sniper shoots a moving target, they calculate the direction, the trajectory and the distance of them and the target, as well as the mass of bullet. If a target is moving, you have to think slightly ahead.

You shoot on a spot where the target should be if he moved continuously on a constant speed, direction and distance. If the target did move in a constant manner, then you are sure to hit him.

However, Prof knew of this. That was why, when he felt like the bullet is coming, he stepped on the break immediately.

How he knew the bullet was coming?

It was all gut's feel. In the end, all of them relies on their gut feel.

"What rumors?" Mr. Seventeen asked back in confusion.

Prof's smile remained while Seventeen started to think about the said rumor.

In all honesty, he never heard of the rumor.

Prof understood because Chess did say that the students are spreading the rumors secretly. It's possible that someone of Mr. Seventeen's position had no idea of that. Although it's also possible that Mr. Seventeen is just feigning ignorance.

Oh well, Prof still had many questions for him. And he'll make sure that he gets at least one answer from Seventeen.

One way, or another.