Chapter 517 - 245: Shedding the Golden Cicada Shell?
Chapter 517: Chapter 245: Shedding the Golden Cicada Shell?
...
Night fell, a heavy, ink-black curtain slowly blanketing the mountain forest.
Within the villa, scattered lights flickered on. The person in the watchtower was replaced by another, who periodically scanned the surroundings with a flashlight.
The chirping of insects rose from all corners of the forest, masking other subtle sounds.
In the shadows of the woods surrounding the villa, dozens of figures were silently converging on the area from different directions.
They wore all-black combat uniforms that blended with the night, their faces were painted with camouflage, and they were equipped with the most advanced night-vision goggles, silenced weapons, and breaching tools.
Two sniper teams, under the cover of darkness, silently took up positions on the high ground on either side of the villa.
Through the crosshairs of their high-powered scopes, one sniper locked firmly onto the occasionally moving figure in the watchtower, while the other fixed their sights on the guard pacing back and forth before the warehouse entrance.
...
"All teams, report in!"
From a hidden ravine hundreds of meters from the villa, Yao Zhenwei’s low voice spoke.
"Sniper One in position. Target: watchtower. Locked."
"Sniper Two in position. Target: warehouse guard. Locked."
"Assault One in position. Target: villa main gate and main building."
"Assault Two in position. Target: side building and perimeter sweep."
"Assault Three in position. Target: warehouse area. Ready to breach and rescue hostages."
"..."
A series of concise, resolute reports came through the comms channel.
Yao Zhenwei took a deep breath and gave the order into his communicator in a grim voice.
"Engage!"
"PFFT! PFFT!"
Two silenced, almost inaudible gunshots rang out nearly simultaneously.
Through the green view of the night-vision goggles, the figure on the watchtower, who was scanning the surroundings with binoculars, suddenly snapped his head back, his body collapsing limply onto the platform.
At almost the exact same moment, a blossom of blood erupted on the chest of the guard pacing back and forth in front of the warehouse with a cigarette dangling from his lips. He fell to the ground without a sound.
"BOOM—"
The instant after the sniper rifles fired, the directional charge planted outside the villa’s main gate detonated with a roar.
The sturdy, iron-bound wooden gate, along with its frame, was blasted to smithereens. Splinters and dust flew everywhere.
"Assault!"
Dozens of fully armed special police officers wearing night-vision goggles poured through the breach in the gate like a black tide.
The blinding white beams of their weapon-mounted lights sliced through the darkness of the courtyard.
"It’s the police!"
"Grab your weapons!"
The bandits patrolling the courtyard, stunned by the sudden explosion and blinding lights, were cut down by precise, targeted shots the moment they tried to raise their guns.
Some leaned out of the windows of the main and side buildings, firing back wildly. The muzzle flashes were especially jarring in the night.
"BANG! BANG! BANG!"
"RAT-TAT-TAT..."
The sound of automatic weapon fire, the roar of shotguns, and the explosions of grenades instantly shattered the dead silence of the forest.
Gunfire erupted throughout the villa, mingled with a cacophony of curses, agonized screams, shattering glass, and collapsing objects.
"Watch the warehouse! Protect the hostages!"
Yao Zhenwei’s voice rang out.
"Sniper Two, copy!"
At the warehouse entrance, a bandit who tried to rush in had just poked his head out when a bullet from an unknown direction blew the top of his skull off.
Another who tried to approach from the side was hit precisely in the thigh. He screamed and fell, only to be immediately subdued by the assault team members who had stormed the courtyard.
Inside the warehouse, the sounds of gunfire and explosions terrified the children. Cries and screams filled the air, but the thick walls and iron door temporarily shielded them from direct harm.
From the side building on the right, the sharp, piercing cries and frantic fluttering of startled birds could also be heard.
Parrots, mynas, ravens, crows... The calls of all sorts of birds mingled together, adding to the chaos.
Yang Qi held Xiaojiu and gazed at the scene from a distance.
He activated his Spiritual Eye Technique. His eyes glowed with a faint, almost imperceptible golden light in the darkness, taking in the entire fierce battle at the villa.
’This scene... it’s like a movie. No, it’s more real, more brutal than any movie.’
Bullets flew, muzzle flashes flickered, and lives were reaped in an instant.
But the situation, just as he had expected, was completely one-sided.
The police assault team was well-trained, well-equipped, fully prepared, and had the element of surprise. They were up against a group of bandits who, despite being fierce and armed, were ultimately a disorganized mob caught completely off guard. The outcome was never in doubt.
The battle started suddenly and ended just as quickly.
Under the police’s absolute superiority in firepower and tactics, the resistance quickly crumbled.
The gunfire went from intense to sporadic, then fell completely silent. The entire process took less than five minutes.
"All teams, report!"
"Assault One reports: main building secured. Three bandits killed, five captured."
"Assault Two reports: side building secured. Two killed, four captured."
"Assault Three reports: warehouse perimeter clear. No additional hostiles found. Requesting permission to enter the warehouse and rescue the hostages!"
"Sniper teams report: all clear."
"..."
"Assault Three, enter the warehouse immediately and rescue the hostages. Be mindful of comforting the children!" Yao Zhenwei ordered.
Soon, the heavy warehouse door was forced open from the outside with breaching tools.
When the special police officers—fully armed, but with their weapons deliberately lowered and some of their more intimidating gear removed—appeared at the warehouse entrance with flashlights, calling out in the gentlest voices they could manage, "Kids, don’t be afraid! We’re the police! We’re here to save you!" the crying inside the warehouse at first grew even sharper.
But soon, as the children recognized the familiar uniforms and sensed the concern and safety in the officers’ eyes and voices, their cries gradually changed to howling sobs of relief, and they rushed to cling to the officers.