Task Complete

This sudden barrage of gunfire scared Vulture and Jackal half to death.

They had thought Li He would panic or try to negotiate. They had never imagined he would be so decisive and ruthless, going straight for his gun!

The moment the shots rang out, the Special Task Force would be alerted.

A lose-lose situation!

"Damn it, he's insane!" Vulture cried in shock and fury, rolling backward in a desperate attempt to dodge.

Jackal was just as shocked and furious. Pinned down by the bullets, he couldn't even raise his head as he scrambled for cover.

Neither of them could spare a thought for the canvas bag flying through the air.

They could barely save themselves!

The instant the two men were pinned down by the gunfire, Li He had already emptied half a magazine. When he saw he hadn't hit either of them, he cursed inwardly.

He stopped firing at once and unleashed Wild Goose Eight Steps at full force, racing toward the approximate location of Deputy Captain Chen Qiang.

"Stop right there!" Vulture poked half his head out from behind cover. Watching Li He's rapidly vanishing figure, he was so furious he nearly spat blood.

"Move! We're out of time!" Vulture made a snap decision and shouted at Jackal, who was still looking for cover.

The two men forgot all about the expensive backpack and fled in the opposite direction from Li He and the Special Task Force, vanishing in an instant.

A few seconds later, hurried footsteps drew near.

"The gunfire came from here. Hurry!"

"Careful! Stay alert!"

Deputy Captain Chen Qiang rushed onto the scene with several Special Task Force members.

"Report: no combatants found. We found only this backpack and a pile of shell casings." A team member quickly searched the area and reported back.

Chen Qiang crouched down and pried open the backpack on the ground.

The amount and variety of wealth inside made his eyelid twitch. This was far beyond what an ordinary gang member could carry. It looked more like a gang hideout's emergency stash or smuggled goods.

At least two groups had clashed here, then fled, leaving the backpack behind.

Had the enemy turned on itself, or had there been infighting within their own ranks?

Chen Qiang remembered clearly that several warriors had escaped in the chaos when the grenades exploded and smoke filled the air. Those damn warriors would have to be punished when they got back!

"Captain Chen..."

Just then, a bewildered voice sounded from the smoke not far behind them.

Chen Qiang spun around.

It was Li He!

He had crawled out from behind a collapsed cargo crate.

He was covered in dust and grease, his face smeared with soot. He was breathing hard, one hand pressed to his forehead, blood seeping between his fingers.

"Cap... Captain Chen?" Li He seemed to have just come to. "What was that sound just now? There was a huge boom... then I got blown away and hit my head. What happened?"

Chen Qiang stared hard at Li He's face, trying to find some sign of deception.

"You were caught in a grenade blast? And you've been lying here the whole time? There was a fierce firefight here just now, and you didn't feel a thing? Why did you only wake up after we got here?"

"Reporting, Captain. After the explosion... everything was a mess. The blast wave threw me a long way... I did hear the gunshots, but I couldn't get my bearings. I'd only just started to come around, and when I managed to get up, I saw you all."

Chen Qiang watched Li He, his mind full of suspicions, but he had no evidence.

In the distance, the gunfire from the front of the warehouse grew louder. Zhao Gang reported over the communicator, "The enemy has retreated to Warehouse No. 3. Second squad, move in to support immediately!"

"Copy! Second squad is heading back to support!"

"All units, move out! Follow me to the front line, now!"

With that, Chen Qiang raced toward the main battlefield with the Special Task Force members beside him.

Li He had no choice but to follow. He stayed at the very back of the group, pretending to be someone who was only just recovering from the explosion.

Good timing. He thought to himself.

The turn of events on the main battlefield had come at just the right moment, completely diverting Chen Qiang's attention.

Though the authorities had seized the backpack, Li He hadn't come away empty-handed.

Tucked inside the concealed inner pocket he had prepared in advance, several energy crystals and a strange medicinal liquid were giving off a gentle warmth. Those were the most valuable spoils.

When he reached the main battlefield at Warehouse No. 3, the scene before him was even more brutal than on the flank. A breach had been blown in the warehouse's iron doors, and thick black smoke billowed out.

Figures moved indistinctly in the depths of the warehouse. The resistance was fierce, and heavy weapons were pounding away, keeping the Special Task Force from advancing inside.

"Black Mamba! That bastard set up suicide squads in the central area!" Chen Qiang crouched behind a wrecked SUV and shouted into his communicator. "Captain Zhao, we're here. What's the situation inside?"

"...They've blocked the passage with obstacles and set up interlocking fields of fire. Several of our men are wounded. We have to take out those firing positions!" Zhao Gang's voice was partly drowned out by the explosions.

"Second squad, follow me around the flank!"

Zhao Gang provided covering fire from the flank and ordered several warriors to infiltrate the warehouse. Under cover of darkness, they successfully assassinated the defenders and took out the firing positions.

The front line steadily advanced.

Li He crouched behind cover not far from Chen Qiang.

Boom!

A far more violent explosion erupted deep inside the warehouse, shaking the ground.

A swift figure burst out through the breach, moving at incredible speed. Using the wreckage and smoke as cover, it charged toward the sea nearby!

The figure moved with agility and radiated a fierce aura. Though covered in blood, it was clearly no ordinary gang member.

"Black Mamba?" someone exclaimed.

"That's him! He's trying to jump into the sea! Stop him!" Chen Qiang roared, taking aim.

But the figure moved erratically, darting left and right at high speed and dodging numerous bullets. Still, the Special Task Force had the numbers, and the bullets came thick and fast. One was bound to hit.

"Argh!" After a scream, the figure jerked in midair and helplessly plunged toward the dark sea, splashing up a wall of water.

"We hit him!"

"He fell into the sea!" several Special Task Force members who had opened fire shouted excitedly.

The battle ended soon after.

The remaining resistance was quickly crushed. The Special Task Force secured the entire warehouse area and began clearing the battlefield and treating the wounded.

In the waters nearby, a body wearing a black tank top and matching the build in the intelligence report surfaced. The team soon hauled it ashore.

"Report: The body has been recovered. Initial identification confirms the target, Black Mamba!" a team member reported to Zhao Gang.

Zhao Gang looked at the body, its face destroyed. His deeply furrowed brow did not relax.

"Something's not right," Zhao Gang murmured, his brow knitted tight.

A moment later, he stood and announced over the communicator, "The target, Black Mamba, has been killed. Mission over! All squads, clear the battlefield, treat the wounded, and collect all evidence."

"All guild warriors, the mission is complete. Report to me for another electronic check-in. Those who complete check-in will receive their payment in their personal accounts tomorrow!"

The warriors lined up and scanned their ID cards one by one.

Li He's turn came soon.

Beep!

Scan successful.

[Affiliated Organization: Yellow Mountain Martial Arts Hall]

[Mission Status: Complete (Pending Settlement)]

Zhao Gang's sharp gaze swept over Li He's face, then glanced at the dried blood on his forehead.

Li He met Zhao Gang's gaze calmly, nodded in acknowledgment, then turned to leave the check-in point.

Just then, a faint commotion rose from the back of the crowd.

Li He instinctively looked over his shoulder,

and saw two familiar figures walking through the drifting smoke toward the check-in point!

They were Vulture and Jackal.