The Amazing Son-in-Law: Chapters 1716-1720
Chapter 1716
Four figures, clad head-to-toe in black—hats, robes, shoes, and gloves—emerged from the shadows. Their attire wasn't ordinary black cloth; it was an absolute, void-like black. This effect stemmed from a coating of Vantablack, a super-black material made from carbon nanotubes. With a light reflectivity of only 0.035% (3.5/10,000), it's the darkest material ever created. In low light, the wearer is virtually invisible—a godsend for ninjas skilled in concealment. Their camouflage ability was exponentially enhanced.
One man whispered, "Brother, he paused before entering the car. I saw through binoculars; he seemed to be looking at us. Could he have spotted us?"
His senior coldly replied, "Nonsense! We're over 800 meters away, beyond the effective range of most sniper rifles. Our position is about thirty meters higher; he couldn't possibly see us."
A man on the far left scoffed, "That kid's just a brawler, maybe a Chinese martial artist. Their internal energy isn't supernatural; at most, it's enhanced strength. He can't possibly find us from this distance."
The first man asked, "Brother, the Patriarch forbids harming him. What's our next move?"
The brother replied, "My second and I will follow the convoy with powered paragliders. You two drive, and maintain radio contact."
The others agreed. The brother and another man retrieved two super-black powered paragliders from the rooftop. They started the engines, and the paragliders soared into the night.
Meanwhile, Charlie Wade, in his car, frowned. Before entering, he'd sensed lurking figures. His enhanced perception, honed by the Apocalyptic Book, spiritual stones, reiki, and Rejuvenation Pills, far surpassed that of ordinary individuals. He'd detected the four on a distant building. Their concealment and breath control were exceptional, yet he still sensed them. He concluded:
- Their presence was malicious.
- They were highly skilled fighters.
- They were masters of concealment.
He deduced they were Japanese ninjas, likely from the Takahashi family, whom he'd recently offended.
Chapter 1717
Two dark, silent paragliders sped across the night sky at 200 meters. The lithium-battery powered electric engines were silent, and the carefully designed fan blades minimized air noise. This blend of technology and ninjutsu is a hallmark of modern Japanese ninjas.
Historically, ninjas trained rigorously in ninjutsu, but also in chemistry to create various tools. The iconic smoke bomb and flash bomb combination, used to create cover for their escape, wasn't fiction. Ninjas were masters of camouflage, blending seamlessly with their environment. They might hide in rafters, behind their targets, or underwater, using specialized bamboo tubes for breathing.
Modern ninjas integrated advanced technology, such as super-black materials and paragliders, enhancing their stealth capabilities.
On their paragliders, two ninjas communicated through wireless intercoms. One said, "Brother, should we adjust our distance to avoid detection?"
The senior confidently replied, "Impossible. At 200 meters and nearly a kilometer away, they can't hear or see us. Even someone directly below couldn't spot us."
Despite their expertise, Charlie Wade still detected them. He smiled wryly; they were determined to pursue him. He welcomed the challenge; he'd always been fascinated by ninjas, and he looked forward to testing his skills against these legendary warriors. He'd proceed with his plans, keeping an eye on the ninjas.
Chapter 1718
Twenty minutes later, the convoy stopped outside Ichiro Kobayashi's building. Charlie Wade entered and proceeded to the top floor. Two ninjas hovered above on their powered paragliders; the other two had followed the convoy to the ground.
The lead ninja observed the Aman Hotel nearby and issued orders: "Second, land on the Aman Hotel rooftop to maintain surveillance. Third and Fourth, find concealment downstairs and monitor the target!"
"Understood, Brother!" the three responded.
The black paragliders landed on the Aman Hotel roof. The lead ninja, Tenglin Zhengzhe, immediately contacted Maki Takahashi. Takahashi, at the hospital with his injured son, Eiji, asked about the situation. Tenglin Zhengzhe, head of the Tenglin family, one of Japan's four most renowned ninja clans, reported their success in tracking Charlie Wade. The Tenglin family's legacy extended back to Tenglin Baowu, a Tokugawa clan celebrity who wrote "Wanchuan Jihai," a ninja encyclopedia in 1676.
The ninja clans historically served major families, offering their skills in return for support. Modern ninjas, limited in their income opportunities, still remain affiliated with wealthy families, essentially under their patronage. Tenglin Zhengzhe was employed by the Takahashi family. He reported their position to Maki Takahashi who, relieved at the prospect of revenge, instructed them to shadow Charlie Wade and eliminate him if he left Japan. He offered a $5 million reward. Takahashi then requested that Tenglin monitor Fitzwilliam Banks, the elder son of the Banks family, staying at the Aman Hotel, for any communications with others. Tenglin readily agreed.
Chapter 1719
Zara and Fitz were staying at the luxurious Aman Hotel in Tokyo, in adjacent rooms with stunning views. Zara, fresh from a shower, was enjoying a glass of wine and the night view when she received a message from Fitz. It was a link to a video of Charlie Wade's incident, which had already garnered over 10 million views in Japan. The video's rapid spread shocked her. Fitz informed her of an upcoming video conference with their father.
Chapter 1720
During the video conference, Zayne asked about their meeting with the Takahashi family. Zara explained the circumstances of Eiji Takahashi's injury, stating it shouldn't affect their business dealings. Zayne emphasized the need to form a strong alliance with either the Takahashi or Ito families to eliminate the other. This was due to the Wade family's suspected attempt to enter the ocean transport market. Zayne stressed the necessity to crush the Wade family’s potential incursion into the industry, drawing parallels with business competition between major companies like Tencent and Alibaba. Zara and Fitz, however, considered the Wade family's current capabilities less threatening. Zayne countered by emphasizing the risks and potential rewards associated with taking this bold step. He used the example of Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union as a gamble on the nation's fortune, emphasizing the importance of securing their position and not allowing the Wade family to get a foothold.