At that moment, Zhong Lichun's forehead was covered in cold sweat. After all, she was being aimed at by a pitch-black gun muzzle, and the other party could easily take her life.
The guard pointing the gun at Zhong Lichun asked coldly, "Miss, what is going on? Why are you killing your own people? Are you trying to rescue these hostages?"
Since things had come to this, Zhong Lichun could only risk everything. She released the corpse she had been dragging and stood up just like that. Seeing her movement, the guard immediately grew tense. They all knew how strong Zhong Lichun was. If she got the chance, he might lose his life the very next second. Thus, the guard instinctively took a step back and warned her, "I'm warning you, don't make any rash moves!"
Zhong Lichun did nothing. After standing up, she raised both hands. Although she had great confidence in her own skills, she also knew very well that no matter how fast she was, she could never be faster than a bullet.
"I do want to let these hostages go," Zhong Lichun replied calmly.
"...Do you want to be sentenced by the General?" The guard frowned at Zhong Lichun's answer, then pressed her coldly once more.
"Betray him? When did you really become Grede's dog? Have you forgotten the inhuman abuse and training we went through after we were captured? Our parents died miserably at their hands too. Have you forgotten all that?" Zhong Lichun stared into his eyes as she asked.
"But if we betray the General, we'll be killed! I don't want to die. I want to live!" The guard aiming his gun at Zhong Lichun grew agitated, and his voice rose as well.
It was the middle of the night. If this man kept speaking so loudly, he might wake everyone else. Zhong Lichun began regretting provoking him. If she really alerted the entire camp, it would become impossible for her to leave alive with these hostages.
Just as Zhong Lichun was racking her brains for a way to calm him down, the other guard, who had been standing behind them in silence, suddenly smashed the butt of his gun into the back of the first guard's head. Having taken a heavy blow to the head, the man passed out immediately.
Zhong Lichun had not expected this to happen, so she looked at the other guard in astonishment. By then, the guard had already removed the scarf covering his face and smiled at her.
"Kabu? Why are you here?" Zhong Lichun cried out when she saw the guard's face. She knew him very well. When she was young, the boy who had taught her how to use firearms was this very Kabu. Now, Kabu was nearly twenty and had grown into a strapping young man. However, years of fighting had left his face weathered, with several hideous scars. Most conspicuous of all was his missing left ear, half of which had been lost.
Although Zhong Lichun had occasionally seen Kabu after Grede adopted her, they had rarely spoken. Even so, deep in her heart, she had always remembered this honest older brother who had taken such good care of her.
"You really are one gutsy girl. Don't you know that could have gotten you killed?" Kabu asked Zhong Lichun with a bitter smile.
"If you help me, doesn't that make you my accomplice too?" Zhong Lichun also smiled bitterly before asking in return.
"...Just like you said, we were captured by Grede, and our parents died at their hands. So many years have passed, but I haven't forgotten my hatred. Since you've decided to rescue these hostages, let me help you. I'm already your accomplice anyway, so there's no turning back now." Kabu shrugged helplessly.
Zhong Lichun's personality was actually more like a boy's. She never dragged things out. Since Kabu had put it that way, having another person to help was naturally a good thing. Zhong Lichun nodded and said to Kabu, "All right! Go prepare a truck. Don't start it. Wait until I bring everyone out."
Kabu nodded and headed toward the parked trucks, while Zhong Lichun walked toward the small building where the hostages were being held. Both Zhong Lichun and Kabu forgot one thing: the man Kabu had knocked unconscious earlier was not dead.
When Zhong Lichun pushed open the door, the hostages inside were all frightened. Several who had seen Zhong Lichun before curled up in the corner, afraid to make a sound or even look at her, terrified that this girl known as the Miss might do something to them.
Time was of the essence. There was not much time left before the shift change. Zhong Lichun immediately explained why she had come, but when the hostages heard that she was there to rescue them, they all froze. Several looked at her suspiciously, clearly doubting her.
Zhong Lichun had no time to explain herself here. When normal communication failed, she lost her temper completely and raised her gun, ordering the hostages to follow her.
Although the hostages were filled with confusion, seeing the semi-automatic rifle in Zhong Lichun's hands, they did not dare resist at all. They could only obediently follow Zhong Lichun out of the shabby building where they had been imprisoned for several days.
After leaving the building, Zhong Lichun looked around and, once she had confirmed that no one was nearby, led the hostages toward the parked truck. Only then did they truly believe that Zhong Lichun intended to rescue them.
When they reached the truck, Kabu was already waiting inside. Zhong Lichun told everyone to get in quickly while he stood guard below with his gun. Just as nearly two-thirds of the people had climbed onto the truck, a sharp gunshot suddenly rang out. The shot had come from the direction of the building where the hostages had previously been held.
The one who had fired was the guard who had awakened from unconsciousness. The gunshot threw the entire camp into chaos.
Hearing the gunshot and the commotion in the camp, Zhong Lichun grew truly anxious. She urged those who had not yet gotten aboard to move faster, but even with her urging, getting everyone onto the truck still took time. At last, their activity was discovered.
Since they had been spotted, Zhong Lichun stopped hiding. She ran behind a jeep and used it as cover, opening fire on the organization members charging toward them. Her shot served as the fuse, and an intense gun battle finally erupted.
Under the enemy's concentrated barrage, Zhong Lichun was almost completely suppressed and had very few chances to fight back. The enemy was already drawing closer and closer. Fortunately, all the hostages had gotten onto the truck by then, and Kabu shouted for Zhong Lichun not to linger and to leave quickly.
Hearing Kabu's shout, Zhong Lichun quickly broke away from the battlefield and leaped onto the truck. Almost at the same moment she climbed aboard, Kabu stepped on the accelerator, and the truck shot forward. As it charged out of the camp, Zhong Lichun took out the detonator and pressed its button.
Before you continue