Munitions Empire

Chapter 2025 - 1887: Two Prey

A foot clad in black combat boots viciously kicked away Sofia’s blood-stained handgun, which skidded across the cement floor, leaving a glaring trail of blood before crashing into the roadside steps with a dull metallic clang.

Sofia couldn’t see whether someone picked up the gun, as her view was completely obscured by many legs.

Immediately afterward, another hand roughly seized Sofia’s injured wrist and twisted it forcefully, snatching away the detonator she was clutching tightly. A sharp pain shot from her shoulder, as if her bones were being crushed to powder.

The bullet hit her shoulder because, before she was struck, she had been waving the detonator, so the sniper chose not to target her arm but aimed at her shoulder instead.

She had never imagined that so many men would touch her, roughly and with no pity. The feeling made her nauseous, filled her with a humiliation she had never felt before. Her proud plan, her meticulously crafted operation, had ended in such disgrace. The cold reality of failure overwhelmed her like a tide, leaving her gasping for breath.

Waves of pain surged from her shoulder, her wrist felt as if the bones were broken, and her knees burned with a searing pain. Three bullets had precisely hit her crucial points, instantly disabling her. These well-trained snipers executed their task flawlessly, without a single deviation.

She lowered her head to look at her mangled wrist, bone fragments clearly visible, her palm hanging powerless, as if it could drop off at any moment. The bullets had precisely disarmed her, rendering her handgun-wielding right hand completely useless.

In this moment, all her former composure and elegance were gone, leaving only disgrace. Her red dress was now filthy and disordered, and her once-proud red hair was pressed to the ground like a weed.

The anticipated explosion’s roar did not arrive, nor did the expected flames appear. She couldn’t understand why the electromagnetic interference was so effective, completely covering her position. In her past understanding, such powerful electromagnetic interference equipment was large, requiring the vast space of something like an aircraft to accommodate.

How the opponent managed to bring the interference equipment so quickly, she couldn’t fathom. Perhaps only after witnessing the latest interference equipment, hardly larger than a mobile phone, would she understand just how terrifyingly advanced the Great Tang Empire’s science and technology were.

"Hold her down! Check thoroughly! See if she has any other weapons!" A rough voice commanded in her ear, its imperative tone undeniable.

A guard pressed down on her shoulder, immobilizing her. Other guards began searching her body, their rough movements adding to her humiliation. At this moment, she was bloodied and disgraceful, devoid of her previous charm and allure.

These agents of the Imperial Security Bureau showed no tenderness or pity, only intent on completing the task quickly, ensuring no dangerous elements were missed. The scene was chaotic, bloodstains everywhere, and someone had already started calling for an ambulance.

If not for orders from above demanding Sofia be captured alive, these snipers would have chosen a far less troublesome solution. They’re accustomed to a clean shot to the head, efficiently resolving targets. However, the higher-ups needed more information from Sofia’s mouth, so they had no choice but to opt for this relatively gentler method.

...

A kilometer from the Observation Platform, a secluded alley shrouded in night was faintly lit by a yellow street lamp, desperately trying to dispel the darkness. A man in a gray trench coat walked swiftly, his coat tails snapping in the wind. His pace was hurried, breath rapid, as if pursued by a beast. The alley was deep and narrow, with towering brick walls on both sides obstructing the moonlight, adding a touch of eeriness.

As soon as he stepped into the alley, he noticed a large figure standing at the alley’s end. The man in black stood motionless like a statue in the darkness, emanating an overwhelming sense of oppression. The man felt a tense squeeze in his chest, hesitated momentarily, but quickly adjusted his breath, feigned calmness, and continued walking forward.

He tried to control his expression, hiding his inner fear. He pretended to casually glance around, seeking potential escape routes. However, the alley’s simple structure provided a clear view to the end, leaving no place to hide.

Halfway down the alley, he keenly felt another figure appear at the alley’s entrance behind him. The figure was equally tall and imposing like a bull, blocking his retreat. Sandwiched between two men in black, he was trapped like prey in a snare.

"This is Chang’an! Friend! Robbery? Not a good idea." The man forced himself to speak, attempting to stall for time, seeking an opportunity. His voice trembled slightly, betraying the tension within.

He tried to strike a relaxed pose, hands in his coat pockets, but his palms were already sweaty. Inside the coat was a sniper rifle, and in his pocket, a handgun; these were his last resorts and sources of tension. Assassinating the Emperor was no easy feat, and though he considered his plan thorough and his actions covert, he never expected to be discovered.

At this moment, he could only labor to present himself as harmless, hoping the adversaries would believe he was just an ordinary tourist, presenting a chance to escape. Unfortunately, the opponent had no intention of giving him such a chance.

"If I were you, I wouldn’t go for the handgun inside your coat!" The burly man blocking his path spoke coldly, exposing his intentions. He advanced step by step, his strong figure casting a huge shadow as if about to devour him.

Simultaneously, the other man standing at the alley’s entrance also began to move forward, his voice chilling as he said, "That sniper rifle will delay your response time, and it’s quite dangerous. I suggest you drop it."

The man knew he was exposed, no disguise would avail him now. He grew enraged, tossing aside the sniper rifle hidden in his coat and reaching for the handgun in his pocket, ready for a desperate struggle.

However, the moment the gunfire rang out, a sharp pain shot through his shoulder. The rooftop sniper had long taken aim, hitting him squarely in the shoulder. He cried out, and the handgun fell from his grasp to the ground.

Clutching his bleeding shoulder, he painfully collapsed to his knees. He looked up at the two approaching men in black, his eyes filled with despair.

The agent closest to him kicked away the fallen handgun, then a swift kick to his knee, shouted harshly, "Resist?"

The agent behind also charged up, a kick to his chest, knocking him to the ground, sneering, "Looking to die!"

The man groaned, his body curling up, entirely losing the ability to resist.

"Target subdued!" Said the Imperial Security Bureau agent coldly, holding the earpiece communicator beside the curled-up prey.

"Take him where he needs to go!" A command came from the communicator.

Inside mission control, putting down the communicator, Li’ao turned to his assistant beside him, "Seems like they’re out of tricks. Notify all operation groups... close the net!"