The air still held a lingering pungent sll, similar to ozone.
It was the mark left by the intense release and burning of energy, ionizing the air.
He took a deep breath of the cold night wind, suppressed the tremor in his heart, and asked in a deep voice:
"Alright, stop wailing. Report everything that happened earlier to , starting from your contact with the target, word for word, without leaving anything out!"
Zhou Liang and Ali swiftly stopped their "performance," adjusted to a slightly more comfortable position, and explained the reasons why the mission nearly failed, enduring the pain.
How they followed orders and carefully investigated Xu Hao’s living condition, and how they chose to take action in the bar’s private room, quietly abducting the target.
Then they described in detail the encounter with the taxi tailing them, the brief yet thrilling chase, and the eventual capture.
After listening to the report, Gao Jin frowned even more deeply, pondered for a mont, and asked:
"So you’re saying, after the White Owl subdued you, he didn’t kill you, nor did he inflict further harm on you?"
Zhou Liang hesitated for a mont, then answered honestly:
"At the mont... it seems so. He pulled us out of the car, originally intending to interrogate us, but after you arrived, his attention shifted entirely to you, and then you two’s fight almost implicated us and the hostage like gods clashing."
Gao Jin: "..."
What kind of talk is this? Why does it sound so awkward?
Beside him, Ali hurriedly added:
"Boss, I feel like he showed noticeably less hostility after knowing we’re from the Special Search Team."
"Could it be... that my earlier judgnt was wrong?"
Gao Jin muttered to himself, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
The reported situation by the subordinates clearly contradicted the enemy’s information he had.
According to the Special Search Team’s top-secret files, the codena "White Owl" has always been closely linked to "mountains of corpses and seas of blood" and "forbidden power," known as the Top Predator standing at the apex of the food chain.
Historically, every appearance of "White Owl" was accompanied by massive chaos and destruction, acting with impunity, killing recklessly.
Since the individual wearing that iconic white mask reappeared in the East Capital, the headquarters imdiately listed him as dangerous, the top S-Class wanted criminal.
It was precisely because of this that upon recognizing his face, based on past records and potential threats, Gao Jin chose to strike first without hesitation.
But the "White Owl" encountered today seed sowhat different.
Gao Jin silently organized the information.
"This generation of ’Owl’ seems to focus more on honing pure physical strength, but hasn’t used that legendary polluting forbidden power..."
"Could it be that he hasn’t fully ’matured’ and still retains normal human nature? Or has this generation of ’Owl’ chosen a different evolutionary path?"
Gao Jin’s thoughts raced.
But thinking like this, isn’t his potential even more terrifying?
"With only physical strength, he can almost confront head-on in my colonial state. If he fully matures and releases that kind of power..."
Realizing this, Gao Jin couldn’t help but feel a chill, refraining from thinking further, his thoughts shifted.
"Furthermore, with his bald appearance... claiming to be a poor monk... could his true identity be a monk with extraordinary martial power?"
The contrast with the "murderous maniac" image seed too much.
Ali looked at Gao Jin who was deep in thought and cautiously probed:
"Chief Gao, should we continue tracking that person?"
Upon hearing this, Gao Jin raised his head and glanced at Ali with an "are you serious?" expression, sowhat speechless.
Look at the state you two are in now, and look at , nearly exhausted.
If we had tried to forcefully keep him earlier, all three of us might have had to settle here today.
Just then, faint sirens sounded from the distant road.
A few police cars flashing red and blue lights and an ambulance stopped in the direction leading to the city, seemingly handling another traffic accident.
Soon, several agile figures flipped down from the road and quickly approached them.
The footsteps were clearly audible in the quiet night.
They were other Special Search Team mbers patrolling nearby.
After receiving Gao Jin’s ergency signal, they rushed to the scene within minutes for support.
Seeing reinforcents arrive, Gao Jin’s spirit lifted, he imdiately regained his commanding authority, and ordered in a deep voice:
"Take Xu Hao, we’re returning to base imdiately. Leave this area to the subsequent crew to clean up."
"Ugh..."
Just then, Xu Hao, who was thrown aside, let out a groan, his eyelids fluttered a few tis, seemingly awakened by the surrounding commotion, and drowsily opened his eyes.
He glanced in confusion at the surrounding environnt, then looked at the nearby disheveled "vagrants."
Feeling the intense pain throughout his body, especially his head which seed about to split apart, he couldn’t help but curse:
"Damn it... Which bastard son of a bitch dared to ss with your Uncle Xu?"
Gao Jin cast a cold glance at him.
Ali, standing nearby, understood the signal. He suppressed the pain from his fractured arm and pulled out a high-voltage stun baton from his waist.
Then, he suddenly pressed the switch against Xu Hao, who had just woken up and was still clueless about the situation.
Crackle—
A blinding electric arc flashed.
"Ah—"
The profanity that Xu Hao was halfway through turned into a scream, his whole body convulsed violently, and his eyes rolled back.
Once again, he passed out cold.
Gao Jin nodded in satisfaction and waved to the few team mbers who had approached, ordering:
"Restrain him and take him away."
"Yes, Sir!"
The team mbers responded in unison and quickly began to clean up the scene.
....................
The night wind carried the earthy scent and a faint whiff of gunpowder.
Fang Cheng’s figure was like a phantom, hidden in the shadow of a large tree with lush branches and leaves, almost rging with the darkness.
His gaze was calm, piercing through the layers of night mist to focus on the road nearly a kiloter away.
There, the alternating red and blue police lights flashed silently, illuminating the surroundings intermittently.
A few ergency personnel in white coats were carefully lifting a stretcher into the ambulance.
On the stretcher lay the unfortunate taxi driver.
He seed still unconscious, with a bandage wrapped around his head and a thin blanket covering his body.
Fang Cheng watched silently until the ambulance closed its rear doors, sounded its piercing siren, and slowly drove off into the distant city’s twinkling nightscape.
Only then did he withdraw his gaze.
Although it was an unintended consequence, confirming that the driver was not in life-threatening condition relieved a bit of worry from his mind.
Subsequently, Fang Cheng took out a flip phone from the shoulder bag slung over his shoulder and deftly dialed a number.
The phone rang twice before being picked up.
"Hey, Mom."
Fang Cheng lowered his voice, but tried to keep his tone calm and natural.
On the other end, his mother Li Biyun’s voice ca through, slightly groggy:
"Chengcheng? Calling back so late, did sothing happen?"
There was a hint of worry in her tone.
"No, Mom, everything’s fine."
Fang Cheng quickly composed his words and explained:
"It’s just that sothing ca up at the last minute. The company arranged for to follow a project on a business trip out of town for two or three days, so I won’t be coming ho to stay. Just letting you know so you won’t worry."
"Business trip? Why so sudden?"
Li Biyun’s voice instantly beca more alert, with a touch of habitual nagging:
"You kid, don’t work too hard... Just last week, your uncle said he was going on a business trip too. You both are going at the sa ti."
"Alright then, take care of yourself, eat well, and dress warmly. Don’t just get by, you hear ? Do you have enough money?"
"Enough, don’t worry, Mom."
Fang Cheng patiently listened to his mother’s advice, a warmth flowing through his heart.
Yet his eyes remained vigilant, constantly scanning the surroundings as he spoke:
"You should also get so rest, don’t wait up for ."
"Got it, you too, working so late at night, finish up and get so rest. Rember to drink a glass of milk before bed, it can help relax your nerves..."
Li Biyun gave a few more words of advice before hanging up the phone.
After ending the call, Fang Cheng shoved the phone back into his bag, the warmth on his face quickly replaced by calmness and indifference.
He cast his gaze once more toward the chaotic area where the Special Search Team was wrapping up their work.
He didn’t retreat as expected, but instead, like a patient beast, silently lay in wait in the darkness.
User Comments
0 comments from readers