Let the Flames Purify All!

"It's our turn to go." Taylor raised a round table with both hands. "Those with stab vests, go first. Those without, shoot from behind with crossbows. Be careful, everyone. Our goal is to tie them down, don't get shot easily!"

"I know. The real show starts later." The American, imitating Taylor, also picked up a table and followed behind him. Back in the corridor, the enemy was still gathering personnel outside, and no one dared to step through the doorway. The two of them took the lead, pushing the table against the wall to use as a shield. Naruko and Zhou Zhi, using the table for cover, poked their heads out and pulled the triggers of their crossbows at the enemy.

Instantly, the hall erupted again!

The return gunfire crackled incessantly, sending wood chips flying from the tabletop. Due to reinforcements, the blue-clothed men's shooting was denser this time than before, pinning the four down so they couldn't lift their heads. The wooden table couldn't completely stop the bullets; many fragmented and tumbled after piercing the tabletop, becoming unpredictable stray shots. The whistling sounds as they flew past their ears were terrifying.

However, these four were no ordinary people.

Their significant pain reduction and the trump card of not truly dying gave them the courage to counterattack under the barrage of gunfire. Joe Jam even let out strange cries from time to time, psychologically stimulating the enemy's nerves.

The police weren't having such an easy time.

They had fired several rounds at the table, and by all logic, the people behind should have been riddled with holes. Yet, the tabletop remained standing, blocking the doorway, leaving them uncertain of what lay behind. The crossbow bolts shot by the other side were impossible to guard against and their power was far beyond normal. In less than half a minute, two more comrades were hit by arrows, and it looked like they wouldn't make it.

"Charge in! There are only five of them!" Ghost roared. "Do you still want that bounty?"

"But sir, closing the distance is disadvantageous for us!"

"Disadvantageous?" Ghost cursed. "There are twenty of you, who is at a disadvantage? A soft vest only protects the torso, not the head and neck! Fine, pass my order: fifty Glickley for each head, the more you take, the more you get!"

As the saying goes, a generous reward breeds a brave warrior. The subordinates finally began to consider a frontal assault. A few brave ones moved along the wall, reaching the doorway, and switched their weapons to straight knives. This was a blind spot, and no one in the corridor could see them.

Just as Ghost was about to urge his subordinates to attack, another subordinate brought new information: "Sir, Squad Three discovered a rat heading towards the second floor!"

Squad Three was the flanking team, not many in number, only four. Their main purpose was to keep the enemy occupied. Ghost never expected that the other side would dare to split their forces at this moment!

No, it was also possible that there was internal conflict, and someone couldn't bear the pressure and fled alone.

"Did they stop him?"

"Uh... no, but they reportedly hit him twice."

"No need for a pincer movement, let them engage." Ghost ordered after some thought. He suddenly felt that things weren't going smoothly tonight. The rats he dealt with before were never this troublesome; they couldn't be crushed and couldn't be blocked. "Tell Squad Three about the extra bounty too."

"Yes!"

At this moment, the subordinates who had reached the wall signaled, and the gunfire ceased. Then, the two leading men suddenly charged forward, lunging towards the tabletop! Taking advantage of the tilting table, the people behind poured in, intending to kill the rats hiding behind the table. However, they didn't expect the table to suddenly fall, revealing no one behind it!

Ghost realized with a shock that chairs were propping up the table!

As if prepared, the rats emerged from both sides after the enemy rushed in and began hacking at them. The two sides engaged in close-quarters combat, screams echoing endlessly. In less than thirty seconds, the vanguard retreated, covered in blood. "Fire, fire quickly!"

Dense gunfire erupted again, suppressing the enemy back into the corridor.

Ghost's face turned ashen. He clearly saw that eight people had gone in, but only five had retreated.

Keep in mind that those willing to charge were his trusted confidantes, and losing one meant losing one. Gang members and repeat offenders could be found in any quantity, but subordinates who were slowly recruited and cultivated were different.

This was the first time he had suffered such a significant loss at the hands of rats.

He just couldn't understand why the other side could react so quickly, having prepared defenses against a rush in advance, as if they had deliberately let his men in.

They shouldn't have been able to see the situation outside!

"Boss, look over there!" someone suddenly reminded him.

Ghost looked up in the direction his subordinate pointed. In just this short while, a tall young man was climbing along the roof trusses, reaching the area above the hall. Without a doubt, the escapee mentioned by Squad Three was this person.

That was the area for operating and changing the chandeliers. Normally, only theater maintenance staff and lighting technicians would go up there. Moreover, the "paths" were formed by several thick horizontal and vertical beams. Not only was it slow to move, but there were also almost no obstacles around.

This meant that any rat stepping foot there had become a living target.

"What is he trying to do? Is he planning to extinguish the chandeliers?" Ghost frowned. "Fool, it's not that easy for one person to operate the mechanism."

Besides, even if all the chandeliers were extinguished, they still had wall lamps and torches. If the other party intended to create chaos with darkness, it was basically wishful thinking.

"Uh... could he be trying to knock over the chandeliers?"

"Then he's even more foolish." Ghost couldn't be bothered to watch anymore. He knew this guy was as good as dead. The chains of the chandeliers were strong enough to be used as anchor chains for a ship. Who did he think he was, able to knock them over? Even if he stood on it and danced, the chandelier wouldn't even tremble!

Zhang Zhiyuan felt as if one of his hands no longer belonged to him. It was bleeding profusely, but he felt no pain at all.

The pursuers behind him were cautiously approaching, occasionally peeking out to fire a shot. He knew they were afraid of the crossbow in his hand, but unfortunately, all the bolts had been fired. They would discover this sooner or later.

Or rather, they had already discovered it. The bolder ones had begun climbing the roof trusses. Once they were on the same level, he would have nowhere to hide.

"Host, you can hear me, right?" Zhang Zhiyuan said, leaning against the chandelier chain.

"That's right." Chaoyang's figure appeared directly in front of him.

"Help me deactivate the pain suppression."

"Are you sure?" The host's voice remained largely unchanged. "Intense pain could lead to shock, or leave traces in your memory, causing a series of uncontrollable--"

"You know who I am!" Zhang Zhiyuan interrupted loudly. "Isn't that why Paradise invited me? Don't worry, I've received professional training and know exactly what I'm doing!"

"Alright." Chaoyang slid his finger.

Instantly, an intense wave of pain shot from his arm straight to Zhang Zhiyuan's brain, making him tremble all over! But almost simultaneously, he felt his body become much more agile, and the arm that had been shot regained sensation. Gritting his teeth, he tore off a corner of his clothes and bent down to tie it to the chain.

The layers of cloth formed a "nest."

Then, Zhang Zhiyuan took out a packet of thermite, tore it open, and poured the reddish-brown powder inside into the nest.

"Surrender, and we can spare your life!" a voice called out from the other side. He turned his head and saw that one person had already climbed onto the roof truss, aiming his gun at him.

Zhang Zhiyuan certainly didn't buy into that. He knew the other party was just buying time for their accomplices climbing behind them.

After all, multiple people firing would have a higher hit rate than just one.

He couldn't be bothered to deal with them anymore. He directly reached into his pocket for a match and lit the thin magnesium strip attached to the packaging.

The enemies had no idea what the thing flashing white sparks in his hand actually was. In their eyes, everything Zhang Zhiyuan was doing posed no threat.

Until he deeply inserted the magnesium strip into the cloth roll—

A brilliant burst of sparks, too dazzling to look at directly, erupted in the hall!