Meanwhile, at the Northlake Province Public Security Department's command center.
Qi Tongwei, the vice governor and director of the Public Security Department, stood before a massive electronic screen with his hands clasped behind his back. On the screen was a live satellite map of the area surrounding America International Hospital in Wucheng.
Red dots representing police units had sealed off the entire hospital and every major traffic route within a five-kilometer radius.
"Director Qi! All roads out of the city have been sealed off, and units are in position at the airport, train station, and bus terminals! Not a single employee of America International Hospital has left the country!"
"Director Qi! We've taken control of all surveillance cameras inside the hospital and pinpointed the locations of every senior administrator!"
"Director Qi! The Theater Command's Commission for Discipline Inspection inspection team has launched Operation Thunderbolt! Fifteen attack helicopters are expected to reach Wucheng in twenty minutes!"
Reports rang out one after another throughout the command center.
As Qi Tongwei listened, the faintly cynical smile that usually graced his face was gone, leaving only an icy, lethal resolve.
He glanced at the clock on the wall. The hour hand was slowly approaching two in the morning.
He picked up his radio, his voice cold and utterly devoid of emotion.
"It's time."
"Begin Operation Sharp Sword!"
The order struck like a thunderclap!
At precisely two in the morning.
Inside a heavily guarded villa in a military district family compound on the outskirts of Wucheng.
Zhao Hua, the military district's deputy commander, slept soundly with his newly acquired young mistress in his arms. He dreamed of rising another rung to become deputy commander of the Theater Command, wielding immense power and basking in boundless glory.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A burst of rough, urgent knocking