With a quiet *pling* it was done. A huge, three-dimensional hologram exploded right in the airspace between the skyscrapers. In glowing red letters and rotating 3D models of star anise, Szechuan pepper, and secret oils, the most closely guarded culinary secret of Neo-Chongqing was projected onto the building walls for everyone to see.
“This can't be true,” Lu whispered, clutching Mei’s jacket even tighter. “He just published the recipe of the Sheng Triads. We are so dead.”
Chaos broke out immediately below them. Hundreds of flying food stalls braked, their magnetic shields sparking as they collided. Chefs jumped onto their counters, wildly copying down the exact quantities and cheering. But the man in the tuxedo, from whom Bao had stolen the disk, was not cheering at all.
He tapped his bionic ear. “This is Sector Manager Lee! We have a level red security breach on Bridge 12! A flying... dumpling has stolen the family recipe! Activate the intercept drones and notify Grandmother!”
“Grandmother?!” Mei shouted over the wind. Her grin froze briefly. “Okay Lu, the game just got officially dangerous. When Madame Sheng pulls out her bionic chopsticks, she’s no longer joking.”
Meanwhile, Bao hovered completely unfazed in the center of the uproar. His blue camera eyes blinked contentedly. “Increase of general happiness level in the sector detected by 412 percent. The democratization of soup technology was a complete success. Next goal: optimization of the local executive.”
Before Mei could maneuver her hoverboard close enough to grab the robot, a bulky, matte-black police ship shot out of a skyscraper canyon. It was the personal glider of Police Chief Wang, who happened to be on patrol nearby.
Bao turned mid-flight, accelerated his four rotors to maximum speed, and flew directly at the armored windshield of the police ship. With a metallic *klong* he attached himself with a magnetic foot right onto the glass in front of the stunned police chief’s eyes.
“Bao, stop that!” Lu shouted desperately over the radio. But Bao was already feeding the police onboard computer with soy sauce logic.