Not long after, Li Hao and Qi Tongwei arrived at the Yantai shopping mall and met with the chief of the Yantai Public Security Bureau.
"Director Qi!"
Catching sight of Qi Tongwei, Director Ye strode forward and delivered a crisp salute.
"Old Ye, how is the situation looking right now?"
Nodding slightly, Qi Tongwei returned the salute and inquired about the current state of affairs.
"Our men are guarding every exit of the mall. Those three criminals aren't going anywhere!"
Hearing the superior's inquiry, Director Ye puffed out his chest, brimming with confidence.
"Who on earth are these people, to bring Director Qi here in person?"
Unable to hold back any longer, Director Ye finally voiced the question burning in his mind. He was beyond curious! What kind of criminals could possibly require both the head of the Handong Province Public Security Department and the chief of the Jingzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau to take the field together? What crimes had they committed? What was their background?
"Drug lords."
Qi Tongwei uttered the two words flatly, offering no further elaboration. Li Hao had only given him a rough sketch of the mission. Besides, this was Li Hao's operation and it was classified; if he, a provincial department director, wasn't read in, a municipal bureau chief certainly wouldn't be.
"I see."
Noticing that Qi Tongwei had no intention of saying more, Director Ye was tactful enough to drop the subject.
"Tongwei, you and the others wait out here. I'll go in alone!"
Standing nearby and having listened to the briefing, Li Hao had just formed a plan. Since they had ensured the three criminals couldn't escape and the mall had been cleared of civilians, he could handle this entirely on his own!
The others were startled by Li Hao's words.
"How about I go in with you?"
Qi Tongwei was uneasy about Li Hao facing the drug traffickers all by himself. These were no ordinary criminals! Having him along could at least provide some backup; after all, he used to be a frontline police officer himself.
"You are... This is far too dangerous!"
Director Ye was utterly shocked. He was astonished that this young man dared to address the provincial director by his first name, and even more stunned by Qi Tongwei's attitude toward him! That tone was unmistakably one of consultation. This certainly wasn't one of Qi Tongwei's protégés being groomed for advancement—who on earth was this young man?
"I'll go in by myself! Tongwei, if you come in, you'll only slow me down."
Hearing Qi Tongwei's offer, Li Hao flatly refused. He knew Qi Tongwei was just worried about him, but that was precisely why he had to say no. Qi Tongwei was a good friend, and he wasn't going to let his friends walk into danger! Besides, while these three drug traffickers might be troublesome for ordinary police officers, to Li Hao, they were nothing more than three small fries.
"Sigh, alright! But A-Hao, if you need support, be sure to let me know right away!"
Hearing the unyielding tone in Li Hao's voice, Qi Tongwei could only sigh, nod, and gesture for Director Ye to let Li Hao pass.
"Got it."
Seeing the armed police at the mall entrance lower their blockade, Li Hao nodded and strode quickly toward the building, moving with extraordinary lightness.
"Deploy the surveillance drone! I want a live feed of the interior!"
Watching Li Hao step inside, Qi Tongwei instructed Director Ye.
"Understood!"
***
Inside the mall.
Fourth floor.
"Yan! Go guard that stairwell!"
"Sem! Watch the elevator!"
A blonde man was issuing orders to a bald Hua Nation native and another man with dark hair and blue eyes.
"Shit! Motherfucker! How did these cops figure out we were here?!"
Hearing the blonde man's orders, the man named Sem burst into coarse curses. They hadn't even done anything yet! They had been in Hua Nation for less than a month, had just gotten familiar with the local drug market, and were only now preparing to set up their distribution channels. How on earth had the police noticed them?!
"Damn it all to hell! Son of a bitch! I just greased the wheels to open up a pipeline yesterday! It cost me a fortune!"
Spurred by Sem's complaints, the Hua Nation man called Yan couldn't help chiming in with his own grievances. Just yesterday, he had spent heavily to break through a roadblock! And now, what the hell? The police were already on their doorstep today! What is this nonsense?!
"Enough! Stop whining! Get those positions locked down right now! Whether we make it out of here alive today is still up in the air!"
Irritated by their whining, the blonde man barked an angry reprimand, telling them to follow orders immediately. This was no time for complaints! They still had a chance.
A chance, right?
A chance my foot!
What the hell—how did these police even know they were coming to this mall?! They'd evacuated all the hostages in advance! How were they supposed to play this hand?
"Stop yapping and go secure your posts!"
As these thoughts raced through his mind, the blonde man grew increasingly agitated. They were going to meet their maker any second now! Damn it!
"Humph! Whatever! If these cops have the guts to show up, we've got the guts to take them down! What is there to be afraid of?"
Snorting in defiance at the blonde man's scolding, Sem picked up an AK from the floor and marched toward the elevators.
"Exactly! Even if we die, we'll make them pay! Trying to cut off my livelihood—damn them!"
Yan echoed the sentiment, grabbing a Thompson submachine gun and heading toward the stairwell.
Seeing the two men take up their respective positions, the blonde man picked up a shotgun and peered down to monitor the lower levels. The moment he spotted anyone, he would open fire without hesitation! He was just waiting for those suicidal cops to deliver themselves to his doorstep. If he was going down, he was taking someone with him!
Amidst this tightly guarded defense by the three men, Li Hao walked in with effortless calm.
The moment he entered the mall, Li Hao deliberately headed straight for a blind spot hidden from the upper floors. Only then did he begin his reconnaissance.
"Hmph! Little tricks."
Thanks to his enhanced combat capabilities, his entire physique had undergone a comprehensive upgrade, including his vision. Thus, after studying the area for just a moment, Li Hao spotted the blonde man on the fourth floor periodically glancing down.
A cold smile crossed his face.
Li Hao stepped into the absolute corner of the blind spot. With a powerful thrust of his legs, he leaped to an astonishing height, reached out, and grabbed the second-floor safety railing. Putting a little more strength into his arms and using his momentum, he swung his body up to a level parallel with the second-floor balcony. Then, with an aerial tumble, Li Hao landed firmly in the second-floor blind spot.
From this vantage point on the second floor, his line of sight had a clear view of the blonde man's head.
Seeing this, Li Hao drew the Desert Eagle from his pocket and aimed the muzzle squarely at the blonde man's head.
"Bang!"
A single gunshot rang through the silent mall.
Fourth floor.
The moment the shot echoed, a gorgeous red flower blossomed from the blonde man's head—the flower of death.
The sight sent a jolt of absolute terror through the remaining two drug traffickers guarding their respective posts! Their boss, who had been talking to them just a second ago, had instantly turned into a cold corpse! And their boss had even been wearing a ballistic helmet!