Chapter 76 The Armed Police Mobilize...

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“Sis, how long would it take the Armed Police Force to get here?” Seeing Zhuo Nan’s serious expression, Lan Qian pondered for a moment and replied, “At the fastest, ten minutes…”

Zhuo Nan nodded, handed his phone to Lan Qian… Taking the phone, Lan Qian looked at Zhuo Nan’s smiling face and instantly understood. She lowered her head and dialed Lan Zhenghao’s number. “Dad, it’s Qianqian…”

“Qianqian… Where are you? I just got a call from Chen Longming saying there’s a shootout at the People’s Hospital…” Receiving her call, Lan Zhenghao sounded extremely anxious.

“Dad, I’m fine. I’m inside the People’s Hospital right now. I’ve already engaged in a gunfight with the assailants. Now, listen to me: immediately mobilize the nearest Armed Police units to surround the exits of the underground parking lot at the People’s Hospital…” Lan Qian’s voice was grave over the phone.

“Understood. Qianqian, are you in danger?” In that moment, Lan Zhenghao was the epitome of a caring father. His concern made Lan Qian’s nose sting with emotion. “Dad, I’m safe. I’m with Zhuo Nan. Oh, and the exits of the People’s Hospital underground parking garage are already surrounded by a large number of local toughs. Do not engage them—they’re here to help. You must get the Armed Police here within ten minutes.”

“Alright, I understand. Qianqian, stay safe. I’ll hang up now.” With that, Lan Zhenghao decisively ended the call. He immediately picked up another phone and said, “Get me the Operations Duty Room of the Deqing Armed Police Detachment…”

A voice answered, “Yes, Secretary Lan, please hold…”

About two seconds later, a steady voice came through. “Hello, this is the Operations Duty Room of the Deqing Armed Police Detachment. May I ask who’s calling?”

“This is Secretary Lan Zhenghao of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission. I need your detachment commander on the line, immediately—it’s urgent…” Lan Zhenghao’s authoritative tone carried through the line, making the person on the other end pause. “Yes, Secretary Lan, please wait. I’ll notify the commander right away.”

The duty officer put down the phone without hanging up, quickly locating Commander Zheng Guoxiong. “Commander, urgent call from Secretary Lan of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission…”

The Armed Police differs from the military; the military’s main task is external combat and obeys only military command, while the Armed Police’s main task is maintaining internal order, and can be mobilized by both military and local authorities…

Thus, strictly speaking, Lan Zhenghao was also Zheng Guoxiong’s superior. Taking the call, Zheng Guoxiong drew a deep breath and said, “Secretary Lan, this is Zheng Guoxiong. What are your instructions?”

“Commander Zheng, I’ll be brief. There’s an ongoing gunfight at the city’s People’s Hospital, and hostages are in the hands of the criminals. Mobilize your unit immediately to the scene—the specific location is the exit of the underground parking garage at the People’s Hospital. There will be many local toughs gathered there; do not engage them. I’ll rush to the scene at once. Understood?”

Zheng Guoxiong’s first reaction was: Damn, this is big. Though he couldn’t see Lan Zhenghao, he snapped to attention and said, “Rest assured, Secretary Lan, my unit will head out immediately.”

Facing the phone, Lan Zhenghao nodded and said only, “Be quick…” before hanging up. He then called Chen Longming, ordering the police to immediately seal off the scene and evacuate the nearby crowd.

After hanging up with Lan Zhenghao, Zheng Guoxiong turned to the duty officer. “Get me 6th Company…”

“Yes, sir.” Noting the commander’s grave expression, the duty officer wasted no time and quickly dialed 6th Company’s duty line.

The 6th Company of the Deqing Armed Police Detachment was a mobile company, with no other duties except for the gate sentry. Their daily task: train, train, and train again. They were the elite company of the detachment, always coming first in every major military competition held by the headquarters. At that moment, Company Commander Wei Yang was leading his soldiers in close-combat training. The training field resounded with shouts; the soldiers, like tigers unleashed, roared with vigor.

Suddenly, the duty room’s loudspeaker blared an emergency assembly call. Wei Yang thought to himself, “I’m in the middle of training—who the hell sounded assembly…” Just as he wondered, Political Instructor Wang Feng, fully armed, ran over. Wei Yang was startled—something serious must have happened, or Old Wang wouldn’t be geared up like this…

“Commander, there’s an emergency—assemble at once, the detachment has a mission…” Wang Feng’s words instantly rallied the soldiers’ spirits. It wasn’t that they wished for trouble, but every soldier longs for the battlefield—the eternal truth. Who in uniform doesn’t want to win merit, get promoted, and bring honor to their family?

“Fall in!” Wei Yang roared. The soldiers moved instantly, forming ranks in seconds.

Since Wang Feng had received the order, he delivered the command. “Comrades, per emergency orders from headquarters, deploy immediately. Target: exit of the People’s Hospital underground parking garage. Armorer!”

“Here!” The armorer stepped out and answered loudly.

“Open the armory and issue live ammunition—immediately,” Wang Feng ordered.

“Yes, sir!”

“Each squad, draw your weapons. Move, move, move!” At such critical times, formalities were omitted. The soldiers rushed to the armory at top speed.

From assembly to drawing arms and reforming ranks, the entire process took only one minute—an astonishing pace. “Headcount!” Wei Yang commanded.

Starting from the front, the count began: “One, two, three…”

“Report, Commander: full company strength is 132, present 120, 10 on guard, 2 on duty—awaiting orders!”

“Board the vehicles!” With Wei Yang’s command, 120 Armed Police soldiers swiftly boarded two large troop trucks, while Wei Yang and Wang Feng led in a “Leopard” jeep, sirens blaring and lights flashing, racing toward their destination like a whirlwind.

Meanwhile, the five assassins, faces masked, waited in the underground garage, prepared for Zhuo Nan’s group to come down. They were unaware that their four companions below had already been eliminated by Zhuo Nan.

At that moment, Zhuo Nan thought of something and quickly asked his brain, “The enemy seems to have radios, right? They should be in close communication. Why such a big loophole?”

“Heh heh… Only now do you remember to ask? If not for me, you wouldn’t have taken out those four so easily… including that sniper earlier. They all use radios, but… ha, I jammed their frequencies with a super magnetic field, so none of them can get through to each other…”

“You damn bastard, finally did something useful… Thanks…” Zhuo Nan chuckled inwardly.

“You’re welcome…”

“Bro, what are you laughing about?” Lan Qian noticed Zhuo Nan could still smile and asked curiously.

“Nothing, sis, you must be mistaken…” Zhuo Nan denied slyly.

“Don’t give me that—I clearly saw you smile…” Lan Qian refused to let it go, pouting as she stared at Zhuo Nan. Even in such a tense situation, the two bantered flirtatiously.

“Alright, enough. Let’s hurry downstairs…” Zhuo Nan quickened his pace as he spoke.

Inside the garage, the five assassins’ radios were completely dead. The sniper lying in ambush in the building opposite noticed something wrong—the parking garage exit was swarming with local toughs. He tried to warn his comrades by radio, but got nothing. He pulled out his phone, but still couldn’t get through. Realizing the situation was dire, the sniper decided to withdraw; the fate of those inside was no longer his concern—he was just a hired gun after all.

“Boss, why isn’t that kid down yet?” one assassin asked.

The one called “Boss” kept his gun trained on Dongfang Zhiyi. Though his face was masked, there was no doubt he was puzzled—had their plan been seen through?

His employer had ordered that Dongfang Zhiyi must be taken back today, and preferably the boy as well. The boss believed the boy had talent, and only if there were no other options could they be killed. Those instructions echoed in his mind.

At this moment, Wang Liru and the others crouched on the ground, their eyes full not of fear but of anxiety. They did not want Zhuo Nan to come down. Already trapped in danger themselves, they desperately hoped Zhuo Nan and Lan Qian could escape.

“Miss…” Dongfang Yuyan whispered, voice trembling.

Dongfang Zhiyi shook her head, signaling her to stay silent, her eyes fixed on the stairwell exit. Her heart was conflicted; she longed for Zhuo Nan to come, for his presence made her feel safe, yet she also wished he’d stay away. She didn’t want him hurt for her sake—especially not to risk his life. But a young girl’s heart is always full of strange fantasies: in her mind, Zhuo Nan was the valiant prince coming to her rescue.

The footsteps grew louder. Everyone held their breath. The assassins aimed their guns at the stairwell.

Family ties are powerful. As Zhuo Nan neared, Wang Liru couldn’t help but shout, “Nannan, run! Don’t come down!”

“Mom!” Zhuo Nan called back with all his might. That was why he could not run—he could never abandon his family, friends, and loved ones to save himself.

With a swish, all gun barrels swung toward Zhuo Nan.

The man called “Boss” said, “Kid, drop your weapon… Our boss wants to see you.”

“I’ll go with you, but you must let my family and friends go first…” Five guns trained on him, Zhuo Nan showed no fear. Though he was just a teenager, his composure was remarkable.

The other replied, “Fine. Our targets are only you and Miss Dongfang. The others don’t concern us. Now, throw your gun over, and we’ll let them go…”

Lan Qian didn’t believe they’d keep their word, shaking her head at Zhuo Nan. But he still tossed his pistol to the ground and raised his hands. “Get in the car…” came the order.

Step by step, Zhuo Nan moved slowly toward the vehicle, stalling for time. Two assassins kept their guns trained on him, ready to fire at the slightest provocation. Another held Dongfang Zhiyi at gunpoint, snarling, “You too, in the car…”

“Miss…” Dongfang Yuyan whimpered, on the verge of tears. Dongfang Zhiyi smiled at her, stood up, and walked to the car.

She felt no fear—instead, a sense of anticipation. She and Zhuo Nan had met twice, and both times he’d saved her. Would he do so again now, with both of them in the same car? She believed in him, believed he was capable of it. Her calm composure surprised everyone present.

Once they were both inside, two guns pressed against the backs of their heads. Any sudden move, and Zhuo Nan would be shot instantly. The remaining assassins ignored the hostages on the ground, jumping into the car and starting the engine. In their minds, the mission was already as good as done.

With a stomp on the accelerator, the car shot toward the exit like an arrow loosed from a bow. At that moment, Dongfang Zhiyi noticed a confident smile curling at the corner of Zhuo Nan’s lips…