Chapter 431: Attacking The Factory (1/2)

”A signal flare?” I aimed at the open space and pulled the trigger, only to see a huge net appear in the room.

Sun Tiger laughed while Xiaotao teased, ”Director Sun, don't you have anything better to do?”

Sun Tiger straightened his clothes nervously, ”This is the first time I’m commanding such a huge battle!” He turned to the other officers, ”Take a break but don't leave. We will start at seven o'clock sharp!”

The officers stood to attention and then went on their break.

”Xiaotao, fetch your team so they can get familiar with the equipment. Tonight, the SWAT team will attack the enemy while the criminal police are responsible for wiping out anyone who tries to slip out of the net. The armed police will be responsible for external support,” explained Sun Tiger.

Xiaotao gave her team half an hour to prepare themselves. Soon, several police cars carrying the officers in the team including Wang Yuanchao arrived. Many officers were participating in such a task for the first time and were extremely excited.

Compared to the militarized special police, the criminal police seemed rather carefree and sloppy. Xiaotao called for their attention but these officers dilly-dallied, testing her patience. Finally, bursting into anger, she turned to Wang Yuanchao, ”Deal with them.”

Wang Yuanchao walked up to the front and shouted, ”Stand up!”

When the officers were all standing, Wang Yuanchao swept his eyes across them, scanning for mistakes. His gaze landed on two officers who were out of place and pointed to the ground, ”I want a hundred push-ups from the both of you.”

The officers smiled bitterly and argued, ”Yuanchao-ge, are you serious? It’s not like we’re actually going to do anything tonight.”

”Obey orders!” Wang Yuanchao coldly barked.

The two officers dropped down to the ground and began doing their push-ups, making a good example for the rest. Wang Yuanchao was obviously an experienced instructor. The others immediately stood as straight as arrows.

Much later, Xiaotao mentioned that Wang Yuanchao was the candidate of choice for the head coach of the Armed Police during the change of the leadership in 2015. However, Wang Yuanchao preferred to work in the criminal department so he refused the offer. At most, he taught some of the new cadets to give them a hand.

Past 7:00 pm, Sun Tiger didn't show any intention of setting out so Xiaotao and I went to look for him. He was repeatedly dialing on his cell phone.

“Director Sun, is something wrong?” asked Xiaotao.

”I’ve lost contact with the four officers I sent to monitor the factory...”

Xiaotao and Sun Tiger instructed their teams respectively and five minutes later, we left the premises. When I saw the factory once more, I couldn't fight the panic that welled up inside of me. What happened that day had become a source of phobia and being back here made my thoughts spin out of control.

There wasn’t a soul in sight in the entire factory which was very strange. Sun Tiger decided to send a small team to explore the factory. Wang Yuanchao volunteered to lead the team and at the same time release drones to observe the situation.

Wang Yuanchao put on his gear and went in with a team, quickly disappearing from our sight. After a while, Wang Yuanchao's voice sounded from the radio–

”Zone A, clear!”

”Zone B, clear!”

”Zone C, clear!”

It was as if the people in the entire factory had disappeared in an instant. Suddenly, someone shouted, ”Turn around! There’s a bomb in there!”

The UAV detected explosives fixed to several buildings of the factory and the countdown was at the last minute so it was too late to dismantle them. Sun Tiger ordered Wang Yuanchao to evacuate immediately while the rest of us waited anxiously. A loud explosion almost shattered our eardrums and flames rose from the ground. Several buildings slowly crumbled as a cloud of smoke covered the night sky.

”Yuanchao!” Sun Tiger yelled into the radio but all he got was static.

Consumed by worry, we tore down to the front of the factory and waited with bated breath. As the seconds ticked away, our hearts pounded anxiously.

Sun Tiger cried, ”Send in another team for rescue!”