Rescue Operation

Seven Tower command hall.

Azu idly used Insight on the people here.

He looked at them one by one.

Name: Annie (Starlight)

Life Level: Level 4 (Supers)

Status: Normal

Name: Maeve (Queen Maeve)

Life Level: Level 4 (Supers)

Status: Normal

Name: Black Noir

Life Level: Level 4 (Supers)

Status: Nervous

Name: Ashley

Life Level: Level 2 (Mortal)

Status: Irritable

Insight: Proficiency 8/10

Hmm, this Talent was about to level up.

At that moment, Ashley asked with a smile plastered on her face, "Homelander, have you picked someone?"

Azu gave an "Oh" and looked at the tablet.

"Her."

He handed the tablet to Ashley. "Element Man will replace The Deep. Arrange a time for her to come see me with Princess Frost and the others."

Ashley relaxed slightly. "All right, I'll contact her right away."

Just then, Azu's eyes lit up as information appeared on his retina.

A Disaster Event has appeared.

Are you willing to handle this event?

After Azu chose to accept it, new information unfolded.

You have accepted this event.

Event Name: Night Kingdom Rising: Starfire

Description: The extremist organization "Vought" has launched another operation. They have currently seized control of the third through fifth floors of Vought Department Store and taken a total of 756 hostages. Their strength is beneath your notice, but a single spark can start a prairie fire. Do not let your guard down.

Event Requirements: 1. Rescue more than half of the hostages; 2. Kill the masterminds behind the operation, Gandy and Alda.

Event begins!

As the information vanished, alarms began blaring through the hall. Then, Raven Nora, the head of the Public Relations Department, appeared on one of the television screens.

"Homelander, police headquarters has requested our assistance."

Azu smiled as he looked at the woman he had slept with several times. "What is it?"

"This morning, Vought Department Store was invaded by extremists. They claim to have planted a Poison Gas Bomb inside the store, one that can kill everyone in the building within five minutes after detonation."

"This extremist organization, calling itself 'Vought,' demands that the government release two dangerous criminals being held in Luxe Island Prison. They currently control the third through fifth floors of Vought."

"They have 756 hostages, including store executives, employees, security personnel, and others."

"Police headquarters has deployed one hundred officers to surround the store and is actively negotiating with the extremists, but the results have been minimal."

"Ben Benjamin, chief of the Queens Police Department and the man in charge of this incident, has already arrived at the scene."

Azu nodded, rose to his feet, and looked at Maeve and the others. "Let's go."

Starlight was eager to give it a try. "Homelander, can I come too?"

Azu thought for a moment, then smiled. "You can, but you have to stay with the police."

"You need to reassure those gentlemen for me and make them trust us."

Starlight clenched her fist. "Leave it to me!"

Queens, Vought Department Store.

Azu floated in midair with Maeve in his arms. The wind lifted Maeve's long hair, and Azu took a deep breath. "Smells great. What brand of shampoo do you use?"

Maeve looked helpless. "Do we really have to discuss everyday products at a time like this?"

Azu laughed, then his eyes lit up as he scanned the interior of the department store. "There are two men at the rooftop stairwell entrance. They're carrying AK-47s and grenades."

"There are hostages in the furniture section on the fifth floor, quite a lot of them. Twelve armed men are guarding them, fully equipped."

"Hmm, there are snipers nearby. If we rush in through the windows, we'll get shot full of holes."

"Are you really busy tonight?"

Maeve rolled her eyes lightly. "How about we settle this first, then talk about our date?"

"Sure." Azu smiled and pressed his earpiece. "Black Noir, I need you to show yourself at the front entrance and put pressure on the people upstairs. Give the officers a chance to negotiate."

"Starlight, have the officers stall for as much time as possible. Queen Maeve and I will find a way to rescue the hostages."

After saying that, Azu looked at the woman beside him. "Any ideas?"

Maeve narrowed her eyes slightly. "Subduing the thugs won't be difficult. The key is that Poison Gas Bomb."

"If we can find the bomb first and disarm it, the rest will be much easier."

Azu said, "I can scan the entire store, but it'll take some time."

Maeve reminded him, "There might be more than one bomb."

Azu nodded, then carried Maeve around to the fifth floor and slipped in through a window in the children's play area.

This place was still under renovation and had not yet opened. There was no one here.

Vought simply did not have enough manpower to control every corner of the entire department store.

So they gathered the hostages on each floor and guarded them separately on the fifth and fourth floors.

They used the store's surveillance system to monitor the other areas.

During his earlier scan, Azu had already confirmed that no cameras had been installed here. Only then did he feel safe infiltrating with Maeve through this area.

"We'll split up," Maeve said.

Azu gave her firm, shapely ass a pat. "Go on."

Maeve glared at him but said nothing. Keeping low, she quickly headed toward the main entrance.

Azu pressed his earpiece. "Black Noir, you can move now."

At the same time.

Outside the department store entrance, the police parted to either side as Black Noir, dressed entirely in black, stepped out.

He raised both hands to show that he meant no harm.

Beside him, a negotiator held a microphone. "People inside, listen up. Black Noir is here. You have caught the attention of The Seven."

"If I were you, I'd accept the conditions proposed by the police."

The negotiator's answer came in the form of a bullet striking the ground. Then the store's Broadcast came on. "Enough nonsense. Do as we say."

"Release our comrades, Rune and Kate, immediately. Otherwise, we'll kill one hostage every ten minutes."

"This is the first!"

Then came a scream as someone was pushed from the fifth floor, plunging toward the ground.

"Oh my God."

Ben Benjamin, the Queens police chief in his forties, repeatedly wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief before turning to the young woman beside him. "Will Homelander really rescue the hostages?"

Starlight nodded firmly. "Please trust The Seven, Chief. Homelander and Queen Maeve have already begun their operation!"

"By now, I believe they've infiltrated the department store and are waiting for an opportunity to rescue the hostages."