Act 19: Demon Fire

[Part 1: A Scene of Devastation]

"What kind of nonsense is this, Clark?"

The Little Four Eyes man sat back down on the curb, dejected, and began to say discouraging things to his partner.

"The gunsmith's wife asked us for help, and we've done that, we've even gotten the person back, but something feels off to me!"

Clark Sean remained silent, leaning against the railing along the riverside promenade, gazing at the dark night sky and the lanterns on the distant cruise ships.

His heart was riddled with holes, just like the rotten legal system in Lieyang Fort. When he sent the people involved in the Yangjiang Ferry case back to the office, his superior did not give him a kind look.

Twenty minutes earlier, Clark excitedly pushed past his colleagues, closed the door to the team leader's office, and quietly crouched down beside the team leader, asking in a low voice.

"Team leader, I've brought the person back to you. Here."

Before he could finish speaking, the team leader ripped off his tie and slammed it hard on the desk.

Clark immediately fell silent. After the farmers who had transported the cherry husks returned to the battle group, the team leader told Clark to wait for news. However, after waiting for three days, he received news of the team leader's resignation and transfer.

At this point, Clark hadn't realized how serious the problem was; he still thought he had done something right, and the team leader had been promoted as well.

"You're very capable," the team leader said coldly. "You'll lead this team."

Clark: "No! Team leader, don't mess with my mentality! What's going on?!"

Team Leader: "I told you to go back to the battle group and hand over your weapon, but you didn't listen. Koruyaf Connor called you, didn't he?"

"Yes, yes, yes." Clark panicked immediately.

Team leader. "Didn't you listen to him?"

Clark: "Of course I won't listen to him, I'm going to get an explanation!"

Team leader. "Quite clever."

Clark: "Hehe."

The team leader rolled his eyes, unsure of what to say. This robust soldier, barely thirty-five years old, felt a deep sense of powerlessness. He immediately grasped the key point and spoke to Clark, this naive and inexperienced young man.

"How dare you get so close to that nobody? Are you out of your mind?"

Lisa Krauser was killed by 9527, civilians from Wulong Fortress, and Clark Sean. In order to retrieve the people involved in the Yangjiang Ferry case, Clark provided the anonymous man with a lot of clues.

Upon hearing the team leader's question, Clark answered without hesitation.

"Shouldn't she have died, team leader? Shouldn't that woman have died?"

The team leader did not reply.

Clark pressed on, "Does that mean George Joshua's mistress shouldn't have died? Our chapter's senior citizens' activity center has become a brothel! A casino! Lisa's private garden! Shouldn't she have died? She's protecting criminals! She's acting as a shield for criminal organizations!"

The team leader still didn't reply.

Clark asked angrily, "You told me not to listen to Koruyaf, not to get involved with the White Shark Association, you told me to go back to the battle group and hand over my weapon, what else do you want me to do? Become a traffic cop? If members of the White Shark Association run a red light, am I supposed to stop them or not?!"

"Clark." The team leader shook his head. "Don't say it, Clark, don't say it."

Clark continued to yell, undeterred, "I'm Mr. Fantastic! I'm a member of the Warband! Since when has the Warband had to defer to Madness Butterfly?"

"Six years ago, we already had to be subservient to them." The team leader pursed his lips, poured Clark a cup of coffee, his expression as gloomy as a deflated balloon. "The gunsmith is dead, another cycle begins."

"Kid, it's like the stock market."

"The bad news is that millions of dollars in wealth have evaporated."

"You always think that Lieyang Fort is all black and white, but in reality, it's all either evil or thief."

"If the gunsmith were still alive, there would still be a fig leaf; the White Shark Association still be a company, with the entertainment industry as its legitimate business, and politicians and military officers as business partners."

"This is not something that one or two people can decide; it is the will of the people and the expectation of the masses."

Clark downed the piping hot coffee in one gulp, the steam rising to his cheeks.

"--Why can't I understand that?! Team leader?!"

The team leader remained calm and said indifferently, "I've been transferred to the border. It's that simple."

Clark: "Why?!"

Team Leader: "Because you brought me credit, most of the main suspects are dead, and the children and their families are still alive. They will be prosecuted by the local Prosecutor's Office of District 54 and will be convicted soon. I'm not with the Prosecutor's Office, I'm with the battle group, but Koruyaf went to the White Shark Association, and I've caused them trouble again."

The more they talked about it, the more complicated it became, and the more people were involved.

"The cabinet ministers' children and members of parliament all know about this and think I'm a traitor. Do you understand how Guangling Zhixi maintains order? In Lieyang Fort? With guns? With skills?"

Clark retorted angrily, "What else?!"

"It all comes down to interpersonal relationships," the team leader patted Clark's face. "No matter how much you guard against thieves, nothing beats the simplest and most direct approach of working with them from the inside."

"Lieyang Fort has a population of over 700,000, a large criminal base, limited surveillance, and complex waterways, making pursuit extremely difficult."

"The lives of frontline police officers, soldiers, and officers are not guaranteed. Not everyone has the ruthless methods of the Nameless One, Clark!"

"Allowing some criminals to commit crimes, while keeping the majority of potential criminals under the control of the gang, is the normal ecosystem for a warband. We and the White Shark Association are business partners! They provide us with some of the involved individuals as performance metrics in exchange for military funds, and we give them to them."

"Team leader! Do you know what you're saying?!" Clark Sean finally couldn't take it anymore.

The team leader retorted sharply, yelling even louder, "It's because of you! I'm fired! Clark! I have two daughters to support! What do you have?"

For a moment, Sean seemed to be intimidated by the team leader's powerful psionic energy.

The team leader continued, "I know you're like the rising sun! I know you have nothing! So you're willing to risk everything! You have no ties! Even if you die on the street, it'll only be your adoptive parents who grieve! You have no relatives and no children to take care of! You don't have to face tuition bills, you don't have to think about loans! You don't have to worry about your children being kidnapped by gangsters! You don't have to worry about anything, you just have to do it!"

"But have you ever thought about me?!"

"Clark, all I want is for you to live! I know you're a good man, a good guy, a young man with ideals!"

"Possible."

The squad leader left his sidearm and squad insignia on his desk.

"Perhaps you are not suited for this place. Lieyang Fort is not worthy of you. You should go to a brighter place."

The squad leader is being transferred to the border, which is practically tantamount to ending the squad's military career prematurely.

In the desolate wilderness near the Northern Territory of District 54, there are only all sorts of demons, monsters, and ferocious beasts. His wife and children cannot go with the group leader to the border town. Before long, he will have to face the predicament of divorce and separation, and be separated from his family forever.

The crucial factor that determined his fate was simply his disobedience.

--Because Clark Sean didn't listen to him and didn't manage his subordinate properly.

The veterans of the Warband, represented by Koruyaf, have never cared what the Warband Club has become. The high land taxes are the best hush money. Their children are now key figures in Lieyang Fort and even the capital of District 54.

While the gunsmith was alive, these people might have done some pretense, rewarded Clark Sean, rotated the personnel of the anti-drug task force, dismantled the composition of the group, and then regained control of the canal transport business at Yangjiang Ferry.

After all, the money that can be made from this waterway is simply too much.

The protection money that White Shark Association pays to the warband is far too much.

When Clark came out of the chapter office, he looked completely dejected.

"The world worships power and profit, and morality has vanished."

The young man's faith was gradually crumbling and collapsing.

He could have accepted this rule of survival; after all, drug dealers also have families to support, right? After all, criminals also have some human rights, right? Not to mention Lieyang Fort, the United States of America is the beacon of civilization on Earth, and probably the most merciful country in its treatment of criminals.

He thought to himself that perhaps it was only in the last few years that he had been captivated by the fairy tales told by the gunsmith and bewitched by the legends of heroes, which led him to believe the lie that good and evil would always be punished in this life.

His teammate, Four-Eyes, called him, but he didn't respond; instead, he made a phone call to Koruyaf.

Lighting a cigarette, the young man, who had gradually matured, wanted to seek help from another benefactor in his life to see if there was an opportunity to take a shortcut to success.

"Old man, it's me."

When Koruyaf received the call, he was very enthusiastic. "Oh! Young man, I saw the news, you've really opened my eyes!"

Clark's story of assisting the gunsmith's wife had spread throughout Lieyang Fort. The nameless man's record in eradicating the underground criminal gang was still impressive, but it had nothing to do with the White Shark Association. Manager Todd had already informed the media and made all the arrangements for the aftermath.

Clark stammered, "I..."

"I know what you're thinking," Koruyaf said lazily. "That kid Guland has been laid off, hasn't he?"

Guland is the group leader's name.

Clark felt a mix of emotions, yet remained naive and innocent.

"Old man, what did the team leader do wrong?"

Koruyaf: "You messed up the White Shark Association's business, and normally we could just turn a blind eye. But now that George Joshua's woman is dead, we have to give our business partners some face. Otherwise, how can we cooperate in the future?"

Clark: "Hmm"

Koruyaf: "You young people are too impulsive. I know you want to show off, you want to solve a big case, but do you remember what I told you before?"

Clark: "What is it?"

Koruyaf: "Oh dear! I don't remember at all! I said—"

"If you want to make a name for yourself, you have to wait in line."

"With so many people in the group waiting for raises and promotions, it's not that easy to land a safe and lucrative job."

"Office clerk positions are all filled by pretty girls who use their bodies. Marriage is a great shortcut to changing one's fate. Even the next best option has to make way for the children of officers and soldiers who shed blood and sacrificed their lives for the army—this is the legacy left to them by their fathers and mothers."

"And you? You bastard with no parents? And no money! How are you going to earn merit?"

"Do you think the world is fair? It has never been fair!"

"I knew it! You don't want to wait in line, you can't wait."

"Young man, maintaining order in Lieyang Fort is not as simple as you think."

Koruyaf's tone suddenly became deep and sorrowful.

"I used to think that as long as you can fight, you can uphold justice. There are no criminals in the world that can't be killed. If you kill all the bad guys, then only good guys will be left."

"But my strength alone is too weak. As soon as I make a little progress, people get jealous. A competitor from the same department tries to win over people from the War Gang to kidnap my wife. They gang raped my lover, cut her into nine pieces, and sent her to the War Gang office."

"My second wife bore me two children. She was bewitched by Harris Conte and filed for divorce, taking the children with her. I was almost driven insane—the former Madness Butterfly Sect defeated me with these powerful psychic energies."

"They know what a man's weakness is. My comrades are also my rivals. They comfort me on the surface, but they always ridicule me behind my back. That's how this society is. No matter how outstanding a police officer or how skilled a soldier you are, if you can't protect your family or your woman, you'll become a dog."

"I've been swallowing my anger all this time, wondering if I'll ever find a chance to get revenge?"

"The gunsmith avenged me once, but it's not enough—"

"--I thought that gunsmith was so despicable! I didn't even have a chance to fire a shot, let alone avenge myself! That kid killed them all, slaughtered them all."

"Now he's dead, this is retribution! After all, he offended so many people! He committed so much killing! He has his own way of dying!"

"I've stopped thinking about revenge. If eating people makes a good living, why not eat people? If this system can bring success and fame, then it's righteous. The gunsmith is the real evil; he's harmed so many people!"

"It's just a pity that so many young people, some of whom are still stubbornly clinging to their delusions, wanting to learn knightly combat skills and study the Six Arts of a gunsmith—they will always run into a brick wall, a cruel society."

Clark clutched his phone, his voice trembling, "Old man, I want to find a job. The team leader's gone, and I don't know what kind of person headquarters will send over. I'm not confident."

At that moment, Clark Sean was overcome by fear.

Koruyaf: "You're a talent! Kid! You dare to work with the Nameless One, and you dare to face Lisa Krauser's terrifying spiritual pressure. Here's what we'll do: come to Cruise Ship Two, and we'll meet and talk. If you can get Mrs. Gunsmith out—you two are quite close, aren't you? If you do this well, Manager Todd will reward the brave warrior handsomely."

"Why?" Clark asked again, "What does Manager Todd intend to do? I..."

"What else can we do?" Koruyaf cursed. "That damn bitch hid in Wulong Fortress and caused the White Shark Association lose two of its top generals! Only now does Chairman Joshua understand who really came! If you can achieve such a feat, you'll surely be promoted and have a bright future! This is a tremendous achievement! You want to make a name for yourself, right? It doesn't matter where you do it!"

Clark replied very slowly, "I'm a member of the chapter."

"Fight your damn gang!" Koruyaf cursed. "Do you know that Lieyang Fort has over 43,000 registered criminals? Add their relatives, and all those scumbags' accomplices, and there are at least 100,000 of them."

"You'll arrest him? You'll go and arrest him? Arrest him in the capital! Ask the governor! See if the prisons in the entire District 54 can hold him all!"

"If the gunsmith were still alive, this godforsaken place would be filled with fear. Do you know why pharmaceutical stocks were so sought after a few years ago? It was because parolees suddenly developed the Vita Imprint. They lived under the terrifying shadow of the nameless, and eventually their families sent them to mental hospitals. There weren't even enough doctors!"

"They're going crazy. To expect these scumbags to stop committing crimes and eating people is like trying to strangle a bird's wings or pull a fish out of the water—it goes against their nature."

"There is no sun in Lieyang Fort, Clark Sean."

"Join us or go crazy."

Clark pursed his lips, the cigarette residue clinging to his mouth. His throat was dry, and his vision was blurry. "I need some time, old man, I need some time, I need, I need some time."

Koruyaf thought the boy was going to cooperate obediently, so he immediately beamed with joy.

"I know it feels terrible to have your faith crumble, young man. I'm waiting for your good news."

After hanging up the phone, Clark Sean turned around.

The Four Eyes deputy, speaking with a playful tone, was a shrewd man. "Boss, how's it going? Found a new job?"

Clark replied impatiently, "Fuck you. I'm going on duty."

He switched on the emergency radio from the command center, got into the driver's seat, and Four-Eyes immediately jumped into the passenger seat and deftly fastened his seatbelt.

"Boss, if we become Koruyaf's informants, how much salary would the old man pay us a month?"

Clark did not speak.

Four-Eyes then asked, "Is there such a number?"

As he said this, the deputy spread his arms wide and gestured, "All the cousins in the War Gang have this many."

Clark immediately yelled, "How the hell did you know?"

Four-Eyes grinned and replied, "I gave the prisoner an extra cigarette when I interrogated him. He's just bragging, isn't he? Heh."

The second-in-command was a clever fellow; he was much smarter than Clark Sean and knew the rules of survival in Lieyang Fort.

"Hey, Sean, let's get serious." Four-Eyes suddenly became serious. "Team Leader Grand is leaving, and we're planning to throw him a farewell party. Will you go?"

Clark retorted angrily, "What would I do there? In his eyes, I'm a jinx!"

Four-Eyes tilted his head back, clasped his hands behind his head, and said in a lazy but sincere tone, "No! The team leader has always valued you highly, practically grooming you as his successor. It's just that you're not very bright."

"Who are you calling names!" Clark glared, nearly crashing into the car in front of him.

Four-Eyes immediately tensed up and sat up straight.

"What are you doing?! Interpol officer?! Can't you even drive a car?"

Clark was furious when he heard his bespectacled deputy's sarcastic remarks, but he had nowhere to vent his anger.

Four-Eyes explained logically, "I need you to attend the farewell party, Clark Sean! The team leader angered George Joshua; do you think he'll get away with it? Before he leaves Lieyang Fort, the brothers at least need to take care of your sister-in-law and the babies! Don't you have any sense of propriety?"

"I do not understand!"

"Why does Team Leader Guland like you so much! We weren't even core members of the rapid reaction force, yet he cares so much about you! He's afraid you'll die on the mission! And all you do is cause him trouble!"

"Just because you chant the gunsmith's mantra? Just because you believe in justice?"

"Sorry"

At this point, Four-Eyes fell silent, realizing his lapse in composure.

Clark Sean didn't say anything, turned on the police radio and the real-time wanted poster on his laptop, and began his routine patrol.

Upon arriving at Romero Street, we found ourselves inhabiting a mixed colony of monstrous creatures from Lieyang Fort.

Clark quickly located the suspect's vehicle, and his notebook displayed the suspect's basic information.

The target is a 31-year-old adult male of mixed race, with basic physical features resembling a leopard. His name is Wukewen, an insignificant henchman among the many war gangs. Sixteen years ago, he was imprisoned for a rape case. After his release, he returned to the war gang. This time, the person who called the police is a 21-year-old single woman from the same neighborhood.

The specific police report was filed by Ms. Manny Haversen twenty minutes earlier with the police emergency center of the Guangling Zhixi Group, stating that a hybrid of a monster and a monstrous creature had been driving around downstairs for the past few days and was carrying a gun.

Miss Manny Haversen is a journalist majoring in journalism, sent by the capital to Lieyang Fort for practical training. She has not yet graduated, and her trip to Romero Street is also to collect real news material and report on the local hybrid ecology of monsters and monstrous creatures.

But on her very first day here, she was targeted by the Zhan Gang.

"Let's go, this guy has a criminal record, be careful." Clark pressed his hand on his sidearm and moved to the side of the alley.

Four-Eyes followed, remaining vigilant and ready to provide support to Clark at any time.

Upon reaching the suspect's vehicle, Clark brandished his warband insignia and knocked on the window.

The car window rolled down quickly. It was very dark inside, and you couldn't see anything clearly except for a pair of bright green leopard eyes.

Clark asked in a friendly manner, "Why did you stop here?"

The leopard hybrid inside the vehicle replied, "Sir, there's nowhere to park."

Clark: "Excuse me, routine checkup."

The leopard hybrid was very familiar with the process, showing his driver's license and resident ID card; it was indeed Wukewen himself.

"Did you bring any weapons?" Clark then asked.

Leopard hybrid. "Yes, this place is chaotic, we need to have some weapons to feel at ease."

Clark leaned closer to the car window and immediately smelled a strong odor of tobacco.

"Are there any prohibited items in the car?"

The leopard hybrid immediately frowned, his expression turning fierce. "Sir, isn't this a bit unnecessary?"

If Clark guessed correctly, this hybrid monster had just inhaled methamphetamine; its pupils were dilated, and there were even some tears in them.

"You want to teach me how to enforce the law?" Clark retorted, already drawing his gun.

"No, no, no! No! I didn't mean anything by it! I didn't mean anything by it!" The leopard hybrid immediately raised both hands, lifting its deformed, monstrous claws off the steering wheel. "I was just joking! Just kidding!"

Clark said, "Open the car door and let me see your hands. Why is the tint on your car windows so dark? It doesn't comply with local regulations."

The leopard hybrid did as instructed, still laughing it off, "It's standard practice, an unspoken rule of the Zhan Gang. We cover the windows to avoid embarrassment when you check the car."

Clark looked towards the passenger seat and, seeing no one else in the back, breathed a sigh of relief.

"We received a report that a girl said you've been following her for the past few days, loitering outside her building, and that you were carrying a gun. Is that true?"

Leopard hybrid Wukewen immediately replied, "That's not true! I have witnesses."

"Witnesses?" Clark raised an eyebrow. "There are people to testify for you?"

As he said this, the mixed-race man picked up his cell phone from inside his floral shirt and dialed his mother's number.

"Mom, I'm on Romero Street. A police officer asked me what I've been doing these past few days. Can you explain it to him?"

A middle-aged woman's voice immediately came through the phone.

"--Officer, my son made a mistake when he was young. I know he looks fierce and ugly, but after he was released from prison, he has turned over a new leaf. People in the community all say that he is kind-hearted, a good kid who cares about his family and likes to help his friends."

"He's been helping with the farm work these past few days. He has to manage the millet and prepare the beets. What's going on? Are you trying to take my son away again? Is he going to jail? How long will he be locked up this time?"

Before Mom could finish speaking--

--The hybrid of the calamity beast hung up the phone.

"Sir, I think someone must have made a false police report."

Clark nervously licked his lips, persisting in his words.

"Step forward, I need to search you."

At this moment, Wukewen did not speak. The leopard first glanced at the burly Clark, then glared fiercely at the Four Eyes was poised to attack from outside the passenger window.

The leopard eventually obeyed, standing outside the vehicle with its hands still raised.

At this point, Four-Eyes finally finished checking the passenger side and was about to search the trunk.

Before opening the trunk, Si Yan could faintly hear a slight vibration.

The moment the trunk was opened, the victim, Ms. Manny, was found bound hand and foot, her outer clothing torn and thrown into the trunk.

Her face was injured, her eyes were covered, her mouth was stuffed with a stinky sock, and her body was covered in leopard claw marks. She also seemed to be under the influence of drugs and was incontinent. The stench was so strong that Si Yan couldn't open his eyes.

Clark's hand was about to touch the leopard's clothes.

Four-Eyes immediately said, "Boss! Don't move!!"

The leopard rolled its eyes, finally realizing there was no way to avoid it. It turned around to face the two soldiers from the battle group.

"Okay, let's put it this way, Commander Clark Sean."

He politely read out the names on the battle group's insignia.

"If you two have a moment, why don't you turn off the body cameras?"

Clark hadn't even seen what was in the trunk yet, and he was on guard. "What are you trying to say?"

Four-Eyes warned Clark not to act impulsively—these hybrid monsters kill without blinking an eye, and if a conflict breaks out, Clark might not be able to save his life at this distance.

"Clark! Let him finish speaking!"

Clark raised his gun as a warning, pointing it at the leopard.

He yelled at the bespectacled man behind him, "What the hell is going on?! Can't you speak like a human being?"

Leopard, still holding his hands high, calmly and naturally said, "Sir, I did indeed kidnap a girl."

Clark: "You're kidnapping?"

Leopard: "How about this, there's 41,500 yuan in the trunk. Let that four-eyed guy take it. With that money, you can smooth things over with the clerk in the office who handles law enforcement records. Let's just leave it at that, okay?"

Clark's eyes widened in fury. "You committed rape before, and prison couldn't reform you?! And you dare to kidnap someone?!"

Leopard and Four-Eyes said helplessly, "Brother, why don't you try to persuade this officer?"

"Clark, he's right, we don't need to fight him to the death!" Four-Eyes quickly said, "Take the money and go! Just pretend we didn't see this car! Just pretend this person never existed! Let's grab the benefits first! Don't offend the hybrid monster, we don't have the ability!"

Leopard nodded hurriedly. "This brother is a decent guy! You need to think this through, buddy. If you kill me, my family will definitely try to sue you. Your group is bullying hybrid beasts! You're discriminating against us vulnerable people. Are you going to shoot me? On Romero Street? In front of my brothers and sisters?"

"You," Clark gritted his teeth, but couldn't bring himself to put his finger into the trigger guard.

The suspect remained cooperative with the investigation; the leopard neither drew its weapon nor resisted.

Four-Eyes immediately said, "I'm going to get the stolen money! Watch closely, Clark! I'm going to get the money! It has nothing to do with you! I'll take responsibility for my own actions!"

Leopard: "Yes! Yes, yes, yes! It has nothing to do with you, Clark Sean. You just need to keep an eye on me."

After the Four Eyes took the money from Miss Manny, his fingers excitedly left the gun, and he moved closer to Clark while counting the money.

At this moment--

--The leopard suddenly attacked, its movements as swift as lightning; the reflexes of felines are several times faster than those of humans.

Four-Eyes was still squeezing closer to Clark when he suddenly shouted, "Gun! Gun! Clark! Gun!"

This hybrid of calamity beasts had absolutely no intention of cooperating, not even of bribing the soldiers of the warband. He only hoped that one of the partners would lose his fighting ability, or at least have to put down his gun—he was confident and had the guts to kill Guang Zhixi's soldiers.

At that moment, Clark fired his gun.

Wukewen also fired, but Si Yan didn't have time to search for a gun and fight back.

After more than forty gunshots, three seriously wounded men looked at each other beside the blood-stained banknotes scattered on the ground.

They tried to attack each other with fierce glares.

Clark was shot in the thigh and abdomen, but his bulletproof vest saved his life.

The leopard hybrid had two fingers broken and was shot twice in the head, but it was still alive, emitting heavy breathing.

The moment the gunfight began, Four-Eyes rushed forward to block the gun port of the Leopard hybrid. He was the most seriously injured, coughing up blood, with a shattered sternum and a perforated lung. His ceramic chest protector was shattered by a high-powered pistol bullet, and he was about to suffocate and go into shock.

"You should listen to him. You son of a bitch!" Leopard cursed, his gun already shattered by the fierce knight's weapon-removing spell.

Since it was a reactive counterattack, the defensive techniques Clark learned from the gunsmith were not very effective; his reflexes were far inferior to those of the leopard hybrid—but without knightly combat skills, he and Four-Eyes would have been shot dead on the spot.

The Four Eyes, hanging by a thread, was using knightly combat techniques to try and straighten his body, looking up at the sky and groaning continuously. He shouted hoarsely into the radio, "Shooting! Shooting! Requesting backup! Shooting! Gunfight has broken out 300 feet southwest of Romero Street, northeast of the Christmas Reindeer Apartments. Two officers have been shot. Clark Sean fired 21 shots, and the suspect fired 33 shots from southwest to northeast. Cough... No residents injured, no... no..."

His consciousness was blurred, but his fighting spirit remained.

He wanted the money, but he was going to lose his life.

Clark used a tourniquet to bandage the wound, which was the fastest way to restore combat ability besides the Universal Elixir. The temporary blood loss of the limb would not affect the ability to move much. If he used White Lady's products, the bullet remaining in his body would come into contact with the newly formed tissue, causing him to lose his mind from the pain.

He wanted to grab the gun and deliver the final blow to the leopard, but the flimsy weapon, just like Lisa Krauser had given it a gentle push, fell to the ground and broke into pieces.

"Hehehehe." The leopard's vitality was incredibly tenacious. "Sir, you've forgotten the gunsmith's six arts manual. If you go to your grave, my responsibility will be written on your tombstone."

Indeed, Clark wavered for a fleeting moment under the influence of the four-eyed man.

His experiences over the past few days had left him wavering, even making him forget how dangerous Romero Street was. He couldn't imagine what fate awaited the girl in the trunk of the car, simply because of this weakness in his heart.

"You'll die, and that Four Eyes next to you will die too," the leopard roared. "You could have at least politely discussed a business deal with me—a human flesh deal. You could have let that woman have her fun first!"

"I'm easy to talk to, and my friends in the community all say I'm a kind-hearted person."

"My mother always says I'm an obedient child."

"If you're willing to put down your gun, we can have a lot to talk about and plenty of drinks."

Four-Eyes immediately formed a human wall to protect Clark. Blood was still gushing from the holes in his body. Due to high blood pressure and anger, he roared, "Fuck your mother! You beast!"

"Heh heh." Leopard sneered at Four-Eyes' incompetence, "If you hadn't gone to get the money, I wouldn't have dared to fight back against those two officers! You little brat, you're going to die! If this officer can't produce Universal Elixir, you're definitely going to die. The nearest medical station is four kilometers away. With this amount of bleeding, you'll be meeting the King of Hell in less than two minutes."

Four Eyes' chest wound was too severe; several bullets grazed his heart. Had they been just a fraction of a second off, he would have died instantly.

The excruciating pain in his lungs caused his body to spasm, and the clenched muscles convulsed, spurting out even more blood. With each heartbeat, the blood plasma was pumped out like an arrow.

The leopard crawled towards the car, pulled out another gun from the door, and retrieved a spare weapon from under the seat.

See you in the next life!

With the gun pointed at Clark's head, at that moment, this simple and honest young man seemed to have given up hope.

This is the standard way for the Guangling Zhixi rapid reaction force to die. In Lieyang Fort, this is considered a peaceful death, a happy one.

But the next moment, someone suddenly appeared next to the leopard hybrid, squatting by the artificial river in the alley, stepping on the pool of blood.

Before the leopard could pull the trigger, it was enveloped by a figure—

The man was dressed as a homeless person and wore a clown mask.

He gently fiddled with the slide, moving the ejection port back just a little. The hammer followed Leopard's finger as he pulled the trigger, but it misfired halfway through; the firing pin hadn't fully engaged the primer, and the bullet had already been pulled out by the ejector hook.

The bullet was held between the homeless man's fingers, and the primer began to burn rapidly, bursting forth with scorching flames. It propelled the bullet, but without the kinetic energy of the concentrated combustion gases in the barrel, the bullet flew weakly into the leopard's face, leaving a burning scar.

The leopard cursed, "Where did this stupid, ignorant idiot come from!"

The homeless man didn't reply, as if he was frightened, and then released the slide, letting the next bullet enter the chamber.

The leopard immediately fired its gun, but this triggered a horrific barrel explosion!

The second bullet exploded in the chamber, the barrel expanded and turned into a trumpet flower in the style of Tom and Jerry cartoons, the metal sheet slicing apart the beast's still intact right hand, which was capable of firing back.

The leopard hybrid grimaced in pain, staring incredulously at its tattered pistol, only to find fragments of a screw bent by a bullet inside the shattered barrel! By the time it came to its senses, the homeless man was already far away.

Looking again at Clark Sean and Four-Eyes, there were now two more beverage bottles containing White Lady's products, and two gun brand pistols—M1900s.

Bottles and jars rolled to Clark's side. He had intended to reach into his first-aid kit for supplies, but now he could easily heal his companion.

The leopard hybrid finally realized the impending doom. "No, no, no! Four-eyed guy! You'll help me, right!? You..."

At this very moment--

--The television was broadcasting the latest police report from Romero Street.

"Clark Sean thwarted a kidnapping and, with his deputy, killed a notorious hybrid monster. These two valiant members of the chapter have repeatedly performed meritorious deeds, and according to Mr. Clark, they received help from kind citizens. Now, a citywide appeal has been issued in hopes of finding this unsung hero."

"He wore a black and white clown mask, red cotton pants, and a Converse down jacket. He was dressed in rags like a homeless man. This unsung hero saved the lives of two soldiers."

"If any members of the public have any information, please contact Guangling Zhixi immediately. We will award this helpful citizen a medal and a cash prize."

A Hao exclaimed in surprise, "Daniel! You're really something! Romero Street is sixteen kilometers from Wulong Fortress! Your marching speed has increased again!"

Daniel came out of the bathroom, looking completely bewildered.

"This is a live broadcast, A Hao. No matter how fast I am, I'm not the Flash."

"Oh!" A Hao's mind didn't quite catch on. "Then..."

Daniel: "Besides, my taste isn't that bad. Red cotton pants? So tacky! Even a dog wouldn't wear them!"

The two brothers stared at each other, wide-eyed.

--You look at me, I look at you.

Finally, the two brothers shouted in unison.

"It's the teacher!"