Chapter 134 - 118: Arrest! Swallow the Bullet

At some point.

A few more people had appeared at the crematorium entrance, sealing off the outside completely.

Xu Huo’s figure emerged from the darkness.

Beside him stood a very capable-looking man in camouflage, holding a walkie-talkie, his arms corded with muscle.

"Instructor Zhang, your men are really something else..."

The leader of the withdrawn armed police unit had bloodshot eyes. He blinked constantly, but found no relief.

Hearing this, Zhang Wei’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. He stared intently at the crematorium before him.

Xu Huo glanced at the man’s unadorned shoulders and collar.

’This must be the man sent down from above,’ he thought. ’Identity unknown, name is Zhang Wei, has some connection to Liu Bo, and is about the same age. I’m guessing he’s probably a squad leader or something similar.’

"Team Two, move in and penetrate!"

Zhang Wei assessed the condition of the men around him and directed them to enter.

A county-level city didn’t have many armed police, and they couldn’t use heavy firepower—not even grenades. Otherwise, they could have just steamrolled the place.

A squad of fully equipped officers began to enter through various entrances in an orderly fashion.

But the next second...

"BANG!"

A crisp, loud sound rang out.

That sound wasn’t from the armed police’s equipment. It could only be...

The expressions of the people around him changed. Xu Huo narrowed his eyes and glanced at Zhang Wei beside him.

"Team Two reporting, target is suspected to be armed with a firearm!"

"Any casualties?" Zhang Wei brought the walkie-talkie to his lips.

"No casualties."

"Check the projectile."

"Team Two reporting, the projectile is a steel ball, about the size of a pinky fingernail!"

"Preliminary guess: based on the sound, power, and projectile, the subject is holding a modified firearm. It’s likely a nail gun from a construction site!"

’Homemade smoke bombs, a modified nail gun...’

Li Jianye’s mouth twitched, and he subconsciously glanced at Zhang Wei.

"Report position," Zhang Wei said in a low voice.

"Second-floor office."

"Drag marks found in the morgue. Liu Wen’s body is missing. The trail stops in front of the office door. The shot was fired from here as well."

"Initial assessment: the subject took the body and is hiding in the office."

The radio report had just ended.

"BANG!"

Another sharp sound erupted, but this wasn’t a gunshot; it was a powerful explosion.

"BOOM!"

With a deafening roar from the second floor, a fierce blaze erupted, and the violent shockwave felt powerful enough to knock Xu Huo and the others off their feet.

"BANG! BANG! BANG!!!"

The armed police dodged the blast and quickly opened fire, decisively pulling their triggers on the area inside.

A fierce gunfight broke out.

The second floor was instantly filled with muzzle flashes and the light from the fire.

"Can we take him alive?"

Qian Hua asked with a frown.

Sun Yang was in a coma and might not wake up within fourteen days. He could even die.

If Liu Bo died too... they might never learn the full truth of the case.

"Where’s the sniper?"

Zhang Wei frowned. He was familiar with the case, and after a moment’s thought, he quickly asked.

"Sniper, copy."

"Report status," Zhang Wei said.

A voice came through the walkie-talkie.

"Can’t get a shot. No angle for a tranquilizer dart."

"Subject has an extremely strong awareness of countersurveillance. He’s in a blind spot. No opportunity."

"Then make him waste his ammo!"

Zhang Wei added.

"Do not expose your positions!"

"Don’t give him a target!"

"Wear him down. If you can’t exhaust his ammo, maintain the stalemate. Box him in. Wear down his food and water supply!"

"Your own safety is the top priority."

"Remember, do not expose yourselves, and do not doubt his marksmanship!!!"

The next moment, the members of Team Two adjusted their tactics and became more defensive.

Watching this scene, the onlookers fell silent.

’Just how skilled can a single combatant be?’

"It’ll be over soon. He can’t have much ammo left."

Li Jianye had been listening to the gunfire for a while and had been keeping a rough count. A look of delight appeared on his face.

But not long after...

"WAAAAH... WAAAAH..."

A piercing cry suddenly came from the window, reaching everyone’s ears.

The leader of Team Two instantly raised his hand, and the gunfire behind him came to an abrupt halt.

Was that...

"A baby?"

A look of astonishment crossed Xu Huo’s face.

"A hostage?"

"Where did a hostage come from!?"

"Why is it only crying now? No, if there was a baby, it should have been crying long before this. How did it get to this point..."

The personnel outside immediately broke into a clamor, their voices rising in a heated discussion.

The baby’s cries continued.

"It’s fake, it has to be fake!"

"If a baby went missing, the family would have reported it. The police have no such report on file. And there’s something off about that sound. It must be fake!"

"Are you willing to bet on that!?"

"I..."

The person trailed off, their expression turning ugly.

"Sniper, report status."

Zhang Wei’s brow furrowed as well.

"The subject held up a bundle of swaddling clothes in the window, just for an instant. Impossible to confirm if there’s a child inside," the sniper’s voice reported.

At this, everyone’s brows knitted together, and all eyes turned to Zhang Wei.

"I never taught him this..."

Zhang Wei said suddenly, feeling their gazes on him.

The scene came to a standstill.

Some suspected the baby was fake, while others said the sound was a recording.

But... no one dared to take the gamble!

Whether it was real or fake, until they could be absolutely certain, no one dared to advance.

Until...

After a long silence.

Zhang Wei took two steps forward. He found a bullhorn and looked at the building before him, a complicated emotion in his eyes.

His voice carried through the speaker, reaching everyone’s ears.

"Apple, have you thrown away even your bottom line?"

"You’ve gotten your revenge, blood has been shed. Aren’t enough people dead? What more do you want to do!?"

"Have you forgotten the oath you swore? Who is your gun pointed at now!?"

"I don’t want to preach to you from some moral high ground. I know you’re filled with resentment, with hatred..."

Zhang Wei’s voice echoed across the area.

There was no reprimand or anger in his tone, only a sense of helplessness.

"I know you don’t want to kill anyone."