Golden Heist

Inside New York's most luxurious and upscale Golden Restaurant, New York Branch Director George Stacy was treating Columbia University professor Curt Connors to a meal with his daughter, Gwen Stacy, who was about to graduate from high school. The reason was that Doctor Connors was preparing to recommend Gwen for admission to Columbia University.

As one of New York's prestigious schools, Columbia University ranked among the world's best in both resources and achievements. On top of that, it was located in New York, and George, a local power in the city, very much hoped his daughter Gwen could get into the university.

Gwen herself also very much wanted to study biology at Columbia University, and Doctor Connors, a leading figure in the field of biology, was one of the people she admired most.

Both sides were thoroughly satisfied with the meal. Just as the three of them were preparing to leave, George suddenly spotted the New York City Mayor sitting at a table not far away!

He was George's direct superior. Although the director-general decided the annual funding for New York's various branches, the director-general was appointed by the New York City Mayor. Thus, all public servants in New York could be considered the mayor's subordinates.

His direct superior was eating at the same restaurant. As a subordinate, George naturally wanted to go over and greet him, and if possible, pay for his meal as well.

However, before George could walk over, a gunshot rang out from the restaurant entrance. Immediately afterward, a female officer collapsed on the ground with blood spreading across her chest, clearly beyond saving.

Ten people wearing hooded tops and masks, all carrying submachine guns, charged inside.

The two restaurant security guards did not even have time to react before a burst of submachine-gun fire turned them into sieves.

"Anyone who doesn't want to die, get down on the floor and hand over all your phones. Anyone who wants to end up like these two can try hiding theirs. I don't mind searching you myself."

Ten vicious criminals stormed in, plunging the Golden Restaurant into chaos. Then a barrage of gunfire forcibly suppressed the uproar, and everyone lay flat on the floor, including George and Gwen, as well as Doctor Connors.

"Boss, there's a cop here!"

George's badge was found on him. He was then struck with a rifle butt, which broke his nose outright.

"Stacy, the director of the New York Branch. I didn't expect to catch another little fish. Still, it's something. Tie him up."

The Masked Leader did not pay George much attention. Instead, he walked over to the New York City Mayor and hoisted him up by the collar.

"Mr. Mayor, the ten of us have come here today to ask you for a favor. We hope you'll do us the honor."

"Who the hell are you people? Do you know the consequences of doing this?"

"Haha, Mr. Mayor needn't worry about what becomes of us. Give the phone to Mr. Mayor."

One of his men shoved an encrypted phone into the New York City Mayor's hand, and the Masked Leader gave a cold laugh.

"Mr. Mayor, this phone contains only one number. It's the official contact number for New York Prison. Please call it and order the warden of New York Prison to release our boss, Jimmy Hoffa. Our patience is limited. We're giving you only three hours. After those three hours, we'll kill one person for every hour that passes."

"Are you insane? That's impossible!"

The New York City Mayor shouted angrily and raised his hand to smash the phone, but a dark gun muzzle immediately pointed at his head.

"Mr. Mayor, our patience is limited. Don't challenge us... Oh, right, let me count first. One... two... three. Ha, Mr. Mayor, you're pretty lucky. There are twenty-one other customers in this restaurant besides you, which means your safe period is only twenty-four hours. If I still haven't seen our boss after twenty-four hours, I'll have no choice but to blow your head off. Start the clock!"

The Masked Leader actually pulled out an alarm clock. As he watched the time tick away and the terror spread across the restaurant patrons' faces, the New York City Mayor finally called New York Prison...

Soon, the entire incident appeared on the headlines of all the major New York media outlets. They even knew the exact details and precise countdown, putting a countdown on the live broadcast as well, making the whole thing look like a horror movie.

Unfortunately, this was not a movie but reality. New York's public servants were already notorious for their usual inefficiency, and during an event of this magnitude, they only kept passing the blame.

Three hours soon passed, but Jimmy Hoffa was not released. He had not even stepped outside his cell.

After a shout of abuse, a terrified, balding middle-aged man was dragged up and brought before the New York City Mayor. Before the mayor could even plead for him, a gunshot rang out, and the bald man's head exploded. Brain matter splattered across the mayor's face, after which two criminals threw the body out through the floor-to-ceiling window.

The Golden Restaurant was located on the eighteenth floor. When the body flew out of the eighteenth-floor window, every media camera captured the scene.

"Boom!"

A police car with its lights flashing was struck by the body, severely deforming its frame. The scene erupted in commotion, while at the same time driving every media outlet in New York into a frenzy.

More than a hundred broadcast vans and hundreds of reporters and cameramen surrounded the Commercial Building where the Golden Restaurant was located. Some wealthy media outlets even sent helicopters.

"You murderers!"

The New York City Mayor roared, his eyes red. But don't misunderstand him: he was not trying to avenge the bald man. He had simply realized that his political career might be over.

He had watched an innocent person get murdered right in front of him, and the reason had something to do with him as well. No matter how one looked at it, he bore responsibility for the incident.

Moreover, dining at the Golden Restaurant was not cheap. A single meal cost at least a thousand USD, which meant that anyone who could afford to eat there was at least middle class, and might even be a millionaire. The murder of someone like that was a serious problem in itself.

"Mr. Mayor, I told you just now that once three hours were up, I would kill one person every hour. You should know by now that I wasn't bluffing, right? Hurry up. In another fifty-seven minutes, I'll kill someone else. Quickly, put the power of the New York City Mayor to use."

With the bloody facts before him, the New York City Mayor knew there was no chance of resolving this through negotiations. He could only call the prison again, order them to release Jimmy Hoffa, and promise to take full responsibility for everything.

Now that someone was taking responsibility, the warden felt reassured. He immediately brought Jimmy Hoffa out and handed him over to the NYPD, which had taken over the entire case and had even prepared a rescue plan.

At the same time, Wang Khan, who had just come out of a small processing plant, saw the live broadcast of the incident that had sent shock waves across New York on an advertising screen by the roadside.

He quickly took out his laptop and went online. After learning the details of what had happened, a delighted, excited smile spread across his face.

"What a godsend! I just got the Smart Spider's components, and now my chance to show my face has come. Perfect!"

Wang Khan carried a large box to his Audi, then sped toward the district where the Golden Restaurant was located...