Chapter 6 5188 Is Terrified

In Helena's dismissive gaze, Liam recalled the intense events earlier—the girl had indeed lobbed a grenade at Jasper's head and then scampered away. "It's the smell of gunpowder!" Liam suddenly realized, voicing his thoughts aloud. At this revelation, 5188 breathed a sigh of relief and nodded before snuggling back into the safety of Helena's embrace. Colin and Liam shared a quick glance, and Colin pressed on, "Girl, are you saying he smells like gunpowder?" Seeing her nod affirmatively, Colin's brow furrowed in confusion. "You can actually smell that?" 5188's innocent black eyes widened with surprise as if finding it odd that they could not smell it themselves. Colin's demeanor grew more serious, putting the pieces together, "In that case, everything makes sense!" Liam agreed, summarizing, "The enemies were so desperate to keep the girl because they were using her unique sense of smell. When they couldn't manipulate her anymore, she resisted and escaped, taking their experimental potion with her. That explains their urgency to retrieve her!" While Colin seemed satisfied with this explanation, 5188 felt a disconnect with their interpretation. Although she had been deceived about finding Grandma, their conclusions stretched far beyond the truths she understood. Confused, she scratched her head and decided to let the beautiful misunderstanding persist to avoid further complications. "But, what about the bottle?" Liam asked, still puzzled. Just as 5188 quietly let out a sigh of relief, Liam's skeptical gaze remained fixed on the girl. 5188 nervously fiddled with her sleeve, uncertain of how to explain. "The bottle might have been picked up or discarded long ago!" Jasper said nonchalantly, pulling at the corner of his mouth. "If the hospital staff the girl referred to actually had issues, maybe they were after the potion! And with the recent commotion in the ward, someone might have swiped the bottle off the floor to sell it!" Colin frowned, glancing at the unconcerned Jasper, a hint of suspicion in his eyes. He then turned to Liam and instructed firmly, "Go interrogate that man immediately! And have someone check the ward to see if anyone else approached it at night, including whether the doctors and nurses might have taken anything unusual!" "Yes!" Liam saluted and quickly left to carry out the orders. After the room cleared, Colin's gaze lingered on the girl, who looked guilty and avoided eye contact. He smiled reassuringly. "Mrs. Jimenez, this child is too young to understand the significance of the information she possesses." Pausing, noting the furrowed brows of Helena and Jasper, he proposed, "It's also possible she doesn't fully grasp the importance of the information she once had. Given the chaotic situation here and the presence of many strangers, it's not very safe for her to stay." "Captain Bailey, what are you saying?" Helena interjected. "Jasper hasn't taken a break in years. Let's say he's returning to recuperate and taking to your place for a while. How about that? Once we clear things up here, we can further investigate the girl's family situation." Jasper opened his mouth to speak, but a glare from Helena silenced him. She nodded in agreement. "Okay! It's about time for him to settle down, anyway!" Helena leaned toward Colin. "How long will you need? Is it enough time for this kid to actually get married?" Colin smiled. "It should be sufficient! At least two to three months!" Helena nodded in satisfaction, while Jasper, standing to the side, appeared distinctly uneasy. Colin then turned stern, admonishing, "Comrade Jasper, addressing personal matters is also your duty as dictated by the military! I expect you to complete it satisfactorily!" Jasper responded meekly, and only then did Colin proceed to make arrangements for their departure. All the while, 5188 had been standing by, holding her breath, worried that Colin might pose a question she could not answer. It was not until he departed that she allowed herself a relieved breath. Her visible relief prompted Helena and her youngest son to exchange concerned glances. Both were aware that the girl had not been entirely truthful just now. Jasper seemed to grasp that Colin's earlier remarks implied protection for the girl if she was innocent, but surveillance if she posed any risk. Jasper then crouched in front of 5188, his demeanor no longer playful. "Is the potion you gave me earlier truly all gone?" Having been on numerous covert missions and visited major cities, Jasper was no stranger to secrecy. The local medical capabilities were modest at best, and while the doctors had noted his wounds had healed, Jasper was acutely aware of his own body's condition. For instance, he could now discern the breathing of several people outside. 5188, facing the now serious Jasper, nodded obediently. Jasper felt a pang of disappointment, his expression towards the girl growing complex. He had not anticipated that his pursuit of a girl resembling his mother would unfold this way. "All right, no need to discuss this further!" Helena interjected, grasping the essence of Colin's intentions. Despite this, her maternal instincts and gratitude for the girl's role in saving her son skewed her perspective. "I don't believe this girl means any harm! She'll come back with us, and I'm sure nothing serious will ensue!" Jasper nodded in agreement with Helena's reassurances to the girl. "I'll go talk to the captain!" he declared before turning to leave. 5188 watched Jasper go, then looked up at Helena with cautious eyes, timidly calling out, "Grandma." Helena responded with a gentle pat on her back and a soothing whisper, "It's okay, don't be afraid! Grandma is here!" After a moment of comforting, Helena's expression became more earnest as she looked down at the girl and affirmed, "As long as you do nothing to harm Drakoria, Grandma will always protect you!" 5188 nodded vigorously, her usual childish tone taking on a gravity beyond her years, "I promise!" After a thoughtful pause, she added with conviction, "I won't!" Outside, Jasper, having paused at the door to overhear the exchange, smiled slightly at 5188's earnest response. He then turned and walked to the backyard to find his superior, Colin, who was taking a break with a cigarette. "Did you get any information?" Colin inquired softly, noticing Jasper's approach. If he could not see through the girl's poor attempts at lying and her evident guilt, he would not have reached his current position. Jasper shook his head. "She said there really isn't anything left," he relayed. Colin's initial reaction was one of disappointment, but he quickly regained his composure, musing aloud, "I suspect this child may have some secret we're not aware of! Or perhaps ... " He paused, considering the broader implications, Perhaps, she herself might be a spy the enemy is trying to infiltrate into our ranks. Jasper, understanding the weight of Colin's suspicions, pursed his lips slightly. "Captain, I trust her," he stated firmly. If she really were a spy, then the cost they would have to pay to convince me would be too great.