Chapter 1778 - 914: I Serve the Syndicate!

Then may I ask who notified the media?

It's really hard to guess.

At that moment, when the director was so furious, jumping and cursing in anger, the entire command room was dead silent, and everyone's expressions were completely numb.

It's already foreseeable, the storm that is about to come...

No matter who it is, now no one can control the situation anymore.

East City Bank suffered a robbery—a rare occurrence seen perhaps once in a hundred years has instantly driven countless media outlets insane.

All the reporters were charging onwards to Guangfang District, and now the crowded square is over half filled with various reporters, with the rest being different self-media and streamers...

It's not even something the East City officials could control, even if East City's TV stations and media didn't participate, would the other Central City just block their ears and pretend not to know?

After 'Twenty-Four Hour News' first pierced this layer of thin paper with a report, followed by Federation Broadcasting, South City Media, Golden Stone Media, Public Broadcasting Group, Northern Voice, Explosion Media Group... Countless live broadcasts, rebroadcasts, and analysis programs have spread like a plague in an instant.

The cold and bleak morning time instantly boiled over, and the eyes of every news program team in various TV stations were fiery red, running back and forth, ravenous and chasing every piece of true or false news.

Meanwhile, viewership and audience numbers are soaring almost every minute!

Everything that is happening now has spread like a flood...

To such an extent, the phone lines of the East City Bureau had been completely jammed, not only citizens curious about the situation wanting to listen in, but also media journalists wanting to conduct interviews, more importantly the countless calls reaching the director via personal contacts...

In less than five minutes, more than a dozen enterprises were pouring fuel on the fire, urging the police station to take immediate action!

Besides local important enterprises, more than half are major donors to the East City Bureau every year!

And now it's the director's turn to begin sweating.

Amid the dead silence, apart from the incessant ringing of phones, everyone was looking at each other, the atmosphere was strange and silent, so awkward.

But suddenly, eager footsteps echoed from the corridor outside the command room.

A police officer drenched in sweat pushed the door open and entered, disregarding others' attempts to stop him, waving the records in his hand.

"Important discovery, Director, I have here..."

For a moment, everyone was stunned and bewildered, not knowing who this was.

The officer in charge of the business division was also dumbfounded.

Because this was the archive clerk from the Bureau...

"Four months ago! I found the internal maintenance records of the East City Bank from four months ago!"

The panting clerk reported, "Back when the equipment in the data center was being updated, in order to preserve the surveillance data, they once pulled a dedicated line to the police station for additional storage and backup... I just asked the logistics department; after the equipment updates, although the interface was closed, the dedicated line is still there!"

For a moment, everyone couldn't help but shudder, instinctively standing up, eyes lighting up with excitement.

Soon, the experts within the police station were brought over directly and questioned on-site. Upon learning that the dedicated line could indeed be breached through tools to directly connect with the bank's internal surveillance, everyone cheered aloud.

With direct on-site operations, shortly afterwards, the internal surveillance footage appeared on the large screen.

The majority of it was pitch black, seemingly tampered with, although there were still remnants mostly showing empty chaotic offices, occasionally capturing several sobbing, curled-up, tied-up hostages.

Soon, the footage was fixed on the bank's lobby, focused on a hidden surveillance camera.

In the currently locked up lobby, appearing were men with shaggy beards covered with headscarves, holding various weapons, masked.

Central Earth people?!

The director held his breath, listening to the sounds inside, yet found himself unable to understand.

"This is Stone Country language." The person wearing headphones, eyes gleaming, looked towards a colleague once stationed in Stone Country. The colleague's expression became grave, leaned to the sound system, and listened carefully.

Halting translation.

"Explosive... They're talking about explosives... Also, Flying Airship hijacking... crashing into the governor's mansion..." The translator's complexion gradually turned pale: "Switch the surveillance, follow that person, the one wearing the Palm Crown..."

As the surveillance changed, the figure holding a satellite phone gradually came into clear view, the sound reaching everyone's ears.

"The King of Kings witnesses me, friend, I'm ready for the sacred revenge for Mr. Shekri!"

The hoarse voice rang out: "This time, I must make the evil Federation pay a price... If I fail, then see you in Paradise!"

Damn it!

What the hell are you saying!

Immediately, one-by-one those faces that hadn't had the chance to rejoice froze rigidly, the entire meeting room frozen solid.

The director gritted his teeth, wiping the cold sweat, turning to the deputy director in charge of liaison: "Security Bureau... Those guys still haven't responded?"

The expression of the deputy director holding the phone was stiff.

He put down the phone he just hung up, his expression twitching: "They just said they would send a team over for support, but now said the situation has changed..."

"They, they said, they demand us to prioritize caution, not to excite the situation."

Instantly, the director was at the verge of cracking.

With all his strength, restraining the urge to curse eighteen generations of the garrison office's ancestors, he roared uncontrollably: "What the hell is caution supposed to mean?!

Who is going to explain to me, what the hell, does caution mean!

"The situation has become this critical, what on earth am I supposed to do!"

Still no response from anyone.

Everyone knew what was going on.

It's simply about delaying as long as possible, then waiting to take the blame.

If they could delay until support from the Security Bureau arrived and solved the problem, then the Security Bureau would get MVP, and the garrison office would be rewarded.

If any accidents or changes lead to worse consequences during this process or result, then which unlucky person would take the fall?

Even more than that.

If it's just about taking the fall, then it wouldn't be so bad; one could resign with the responsibility, while the East City Bureau would still support them, and everyone knows who's making sacrifices for them and who is one of their own.

If one works for the organization, the organization won't mistreat them.

But the biggest issue is... If the delay continues and the bank faces trouble, after offending so many enterprises, will donations and sponsorships still come in next year?!

Who will resolve the food and clothing of countless policemen at the East City Bureau?

Furthermore, once one is nailed to the pillar of shame and expelled, who would wait for a company to take out shares and huge salary to hire them?

The Security Bureau isn't crazy, but the East City Bureau is about to go crazy.

He's about to go crazy too!

At this critical juncture, doing nothing is death, doing something might also be death, maintaining the status quo is waiting for death, exacerbating the situation is courting death; all are dead ends!

"Report to command center, all teams are in position."

The intercom transmitted the report from the field action team: "Current situation is unclear, should we proceed, please instruct."

Thus, all eyes fell on the director.

Unlike the previous reverence and admiration, at this moment, there was inevitably a trace of... pity and sympathy, like looking at a dead man on futures.

"Can't wait any longer, director." The second-in-command suppressed the impulse to grin, trying hard to maintain a serious expression: "A swift decision must be made."

The director's bloodshot eyes stared directly at him, speechless.

After a long time, finally he spoke, "What if hostages are injured?"

He didn't ask whether to proceed, nor did he seek everyone's opinions, apparently having made up his mind to shoulder the blame.

Acting now might sacrifice himself, but at least it could save the East City Bureau; after retirement, there would be some arrangements, still counting as a retreat.

Just, the blame is immense, can't let me bear it alone?

You bunch of dogs, speak up!

Within a brief silence, the director's assistant returned from a phone call, approached quickly, speaking in a low voice: "The incident happened just as the doors opened, most of those handling business are employees of those companies... The companies expressed that if accidental issues arise, they won't pursue accountability.

After all, your sacrifice is for the East City's greater good, and everyone won't let you sacrifice in vain."

In those brief seconds, the change in the director's expression was like a huge stone settling in his heart.

A silent sigh.

"Then don't wait any longer, prepare to act." He tightly clenched the pen in his hand, squeezing out words through his teeth: "Release interference, drive away media, then prepare to assault!"

"Yes!"

A resounding response came from the other end of the phone.

.

.

"The action has started... Currently our helicopter is facing interference, had to pull back... We can see, in the footage, the SWAT teams have started moving..."

Amidst the roar of rotors, the reporter was shouting at the camera, but no matter how they explained, the camera continued pulling away.

Under police interference and expulsion equipment, all helicopters had to ascend in height and distance, making it difficult to discern specific details, even the smartphones held up by those on the plaza instantly went black screen, signals disconnected.

All live feeds were cut off amid interference, silhouettes behind windows ventured curious glances, witnessing shielded team members constructing a defensive line under the entrance steps.

Subsequently, came the resounding explosion from the rear!

Creating a distraction at the front door, while the true assault team had already blown open the back door, entering the bank!

Gunshots rang out nonstop, echoing in all directions.

"Gunfire has started!!!"

The bloodthirsty reporter on the helicopter widened his eyes, shouting, directing the pilot: "A bit forward, further, change direction... Hurry!"

"No way, getting closer risks a stall, insurance won't cover it!"

The pilot shouted, hesitantly adjusted the angle, finally peering towards the distant bank amidst numerous tall buildings, enlarging the blurred image where a large hole appeared on the wall.

In the darkness, faint gunfire flickered inside!

The operation started!

Then... ended.