A Sharp Edge Emerges From The Mist Chapter 16
byinjured
The operation to track down the mastermind behind the “Gemini” attack progressed intensively for three days.The data path clues captured by Shen Qingwu were like pebbles thrown into a deep pool, causing secret and efficient ripples within the Shuangcheng Bureau and specific cooperative agencies.
The Cyber Security Detachment and Technology Section conducted reverse penetration along those suspicious overseas nodes. Although they failed to directly reach the core, they successfully located several commercial service providers that may be used as springboards for a long time, and screened out dozens of suspicious accounts that highly overlapped with the attack period.The economic investigation team simultaneously intervened and began to secretly investigate the financial transactions between the overseas funds identified by Shen Qingwu and local enterprises in the Twin Cities, especially those related to “Iron Shield Security” Zhou Tieshan.
The pressure is being transmitted to some ends of the “underground river” network in an imperceptible manner.
On the evening of the fourth day, Lin Jianfeng received a tip-off that a core member of the mysterious “Special Services Department” under “Iron Shield Security”, nicknamed “Viper”, had been acting abnormally recently and frequently entered and exited an old industrial area in the west of the city that was waiting for demolition.The area’s difficult terrain and sparse surveillance make it an ideal location for some “informal” meetings or transactions.
The source of the tip is vague and its credibility needs to be verified.But the connection between the name “Viper” and the invasion of Shen Qingwu’s apartment makes this clue particularly important.
Lin Jianfeng decided to take people to find out the situation personally.The action must be secretive and cannot alert the enemy.She only brought Xiao Chen and another experienced detective, changed into civilian clothes, drove an inconspicuous civilian vehicle, and quietly approached the target area at sunset.
At the same time, Shen Qingwu was in the office on the top floor of Qingyuan Capital Building.She had just finished a video conference and rubbed her temples slightly tiredly.Outside the window, the setting sun dyed the sky into a magnificent picture of golden red and purple gray, and the city began to light up with dots of lights.
Her private, encrypted phone vibrated.Not a regular channel from Lin Jianfeng, but a higher priority, specific event-triggered alert.
The information came from one of the dynamic sensors she placed in several hidden spots in the old industrial area in the west of the city – not cameras, but more sophisticated micro-devices that detect radio signals at specific frequencies and abnormal vibrations.The content of the alarm is very simple: [The preset “Viper” related signal characteristics (auxiliary signal for posture recognition of people with missing left ears) have been detected, with coordinates of the abandoned No. 3 warehouse in G7 area, accompanied by abnormal heat energy accumulation and suspected weapon metal reflection signals.Hazard level: high.】
Shen Qingwu’s heart sank suddenly.
Before Lin Jianfeng left this afternoon, he briefly mentioned that he would go to the west of the city to “see”.Although the location was not specified, Shen Qingwu connected the two things almost instantly.
She immediately called up the real-time satellite thermal map of that area (obtained through non-public channels), and sure enough, she captured several fast-moving human body heat source signals near the abandoned warehouse No. 3, and… a relatively stationary, but unusually concentrated heat source (maybe carrying electronic equipment or in a state of tension), located in a window with a good view on the second floor of the warehouse.
Sniper spot?Or an observation post?
No matter what it is, Lin Jianfeng is in danger.
Shen Qingwu didn’t hesitate at all.She grabbed the windbreaker hanging on the back of the chair and walked out quickly while contacting Lin Jianfeng directly through the encrypted channel.But there was only a slight electrical noise in the channel, and the connection was unstable—the signal in that area was severely interfered with or blocked.
“Qin Mo,” she pressed the internal communication button, her voice was terrifyingly calm, “Immediately activate ‘Emergency Protocol B’, locate the last effective signal position of Officer Lin Jianfeng’s personal mobile phone, and synchronize it to my car. Inform our people to stand by outside the G7 area in the west of the city, but don’t get close, and wait for my instructions.”
“Mr. Shen, this is too dangerous! You can’t go in person!” Qin Mo’s anxious voice came.
“Execute the order.” Shen Qingwu’s tone was unmistakable as he entered the exclusive elevator and descended directly to the underground garage.
Like a ghost, her black Bentley quietly drove out of the garage and merged into the evening rush hour traffic.On the car screen, the last coordinates of Lin Jianfeng’s mobile phone were dancing rapidly, as well as real-time dynamic information about the abandoned No. 3 warehouse in the G7 area compiled from satellites and her private sensor network.
The other side comes prepared.Signal shielding, planned ambush, and possibly even weapons.This is a trap.
Lin Jianfeng…you must not let anything happen to you.
The knuckles of Shen Qingwu’s fingers holding the steering wheel turned white, and he stepped deeply on the accelerator. The Bentley shuttled flexibly and swiftly through the traffic, speeding towards the west of the city.
—
In the west of the city, abandoned warehouse No. 3.
The last rays of the setting sun were swallowed up by the shadow of the tall warehouse, and the interior was dimly lit. Only the broken skylight cast a few pale beams of light, illuminating the dust flying in the air.The air was filled with the pungent smell of rust, mold, and rotten engine oil.
Lin Jianfeng squatted half-crouched behind a row of rusty metal shelves, leaning against the cold iron sheet, breathing very lightly.There was a dull pain in her left shoulder, and warm liquid was soaking through the shirt under her jacket.
Five minutes ago, she and her team members had just sneaked into the warehouse, trying to find any traces that the “Viper” might have left.Just as Xiao Chen was checking a pile of abandoned wooden boxes in the corner of the first floor, an extremely slight gunshot with a silencer installed came from a certain direction on the second floor!
Lin Jianfeng’s alertness and reaction speed saved her life in an instant.The bullet almost grazed over her left shoulder, tearing her jacket and shirt apart, and plowing a small but burning and painful wound on her shoulder blade.She threw herself down and rolled into the shadows behind the shelves, shouting a warning: “There’s an ambush! Take cover!”
Xiao Chen and another team member reacted quickly and immediately used obstacles to hide.Immediately afterwards, the second and third bullets were fired, hitting the shelves and the concrete floor, causing harsh echoes and flying sparks.
There is more than one person on the other side, and they occupy the commanding heights.
“Captain Lin! You’re injured!” Xiao Chen shouted in a low voice behind an oil drum a few meters away, with an anxious tone.
“The scratch is fine.” Lin Jianfeng gritted his teeth and quickly checked the wound.The bleeding was not large, but the pain affected the movement of my left arm.”The opponent is behind the east window on the second floor and the ventilation duct in the northwest corner, with at least two fire points. We are suppressed and cannot rush forward. Xiao Chen, try to contact peripheral support. The signal may be blocked, use the emergency frequency band!”
“Understood!”
Lin Jianfeng tore off the hem of his shirt and bandaged the wound hastily to stop the bleeding.The brain is racing.The opponent fired accurately, using a pistol equipped with a silencer. The purpose seemed not to kill immediately, but to suppress and drive away.It was an elaborate trap and the target might be her.Is it in revenge for her pursuit of the “Gemini” incident?Or is it to prevent her from getting close to the “Viper”?
No matter what it is, we must first get out of this passive situation.
She quietly poked her head out and observed the situation on the second floor.The figure flashed past the window, very alert.The position behind the ventilation duct has a wide view, covering most of the first floor.
There is no chance of winning in a head-on fight.Need to cause chaos, or…
At this moment, there was suddenly an extremely harsh roar of a car engine from far to near outside the warehouse!It’s not a siren, but the roar of some kind of high-powered sports car accelerating at full speed!
Immediately afterwards, two bright high-beam lamp posts penetrated the damaged door and side windows of the warehouse like sharp swords, instantly illuminating part of the dim first floor in white!
The gunman at the window on the second floor was obviously disturbed by the sudden bright light and noise, and his movements were momentarily delayed.
That’s it now!
Lin Jianfeng jumped up from behind the shelf like a cheetah. Instead of rushing towards the door, he used the cover of the bright light to pounce towards a corner deep in the warehouse filled with discarded tires!There was an inconspicuous entrance leading to an underground maintenance pipe. It was a potential escape route that she had noticed before coming in!
“Xiao Chen! Old Zhao! Come with me! Withdraw!” She growled, and at the same time pulled out the pistol from her waist and fired two shots in the general direction of the second floor window, not to hit, but to further interfere and suppress!
Xiao Chen and another team member reacted very quickly and immediately jumped out from behind their respective bunkers, following Lin Jianfeng.
The gunmen on the second floor reacted, and bullets chased their figures and crackled on the tires and concrete floor. However, the visual residue and temporary blindness caused by the strong light seriously affected the shooting accuracy.
Lin Jianfeng rushed to the inspection door, kicked open the rusty iron fence, and got in without hesitation.Xiao Chen and Lao Zhao also followed closely.
Almost the second after their figures disappeared, the sound of the Bentley’s engine stopped suddenly outside the warehouse, and the high beam lights were suddenly turned off.
The warehouse fell into darkness and silence again, with only the smoke and dust stirred up by the bullets falling slowly.
At the window on the second floor, a man (“Viper”) wearing a black mask with an obvious missing outline of his left ear spat hard, put away his pistol, and whispered into the headset: “The target has escaped, and there is support. Evacuate as planned.”
Several black shadows quickly disappeared from the second floor, as if they had never appeared before.
—
The underground maintenance pipes are dark, damp, and filled with the stench of sewage and rust.Lin Jianfeng turned on the bright flashlight he carried with him and illuminated the narrow passage ahead.The wound on her left shoulder felt like tearing pain due to the strenuous exercise. She gritted her teeth and kept walking.
“Captain Lin, your injury…” Xiao Chen followed her, looking worriedly at the blood seeping out of her shoulder, which looked dark red under the flashlight light.
“Let’s talk after we get out.” Lin Jianfeng’s voice was a little weak, but his tone was firm.She was not sure whether the people above would chase her down, so she had to leave the pipe as soon as possible and find a safe place.
The pipe was not long, and after a few minutes, they emerged from a hidden exit. Outside was a back alley filled with construction debris.There was a faint sound of sirens in the distance, approaching the warehouse – apparently the colleagues on standby received Xiao Chen’s emergency call, or… someone else called the police.
Lin Jianfeng leaned against the cold brick wall, breathing heavily, with cold sweat covering his forehead.The blood loss and pain began to bring about dizziness.
“Captain Lin! This way!” A familiar and cold voice suddenly came from the alley.
Lin Jianfeng raised his head suddenly.
Shen Qingwu stood next to the black Bentley at the entrance of the alley, the car lights illuminating her pale face and frowning brows.She was wearing that off-white windbreaker, and the night wind blew her long hair and clothes.When she saw the blood on Lin Jianfeng’s shoulder and his pale face, her pupils suddenly shrank and she almost ran over.
“You’re injured!” Her voice was tighter than ever before, and she reached out to support Lin Jianfeng, but she was afraid of touching the wound, so her hand hung in the air.
“Why are you here?” Lin Jianfeng was a little stunned, but more of a feeling of relief and fear…an indescribable throbbing.
“My sensor caught the danger signal.” Shen Qingwu spoke concisely and concisely, his eyes quickly swept over Lin Jianfeng’s wounds, and then looked around cautiously, “It’s not safe here, get in the car first.”
Xiao Chen and Lao Zhao supported Lin Jianfeng and quickly got into the spacious back seat of the Bentley.Shen Qingwu drove the car himself, stepped on the accelerator, and the car slid silently into the night, avoiding the direction of the roaring police car.
The car was filled with a faint scent of leather and a hint of blood.Shen Qingwu looked at the pale Lin Jianfeng in the back seat through the rearview mirror, and his fingers holding the steering wheel turned white.
“Go to my place. The medical equipment is complete and it is safer than the hospital.” Shen Qingwu’s voice returned to its usual calmness, but if you listened closely, there was still a subtle tremor.
Lin Jianfeng had no objection.She leaned back in her seat, closed her eyes, and gathered strength.The wound hurt, but somewhere in my heart, I felt strangely calm because of Shen Qingwu’s appearance and the safety at this moment.
The car sped smoothly through the night.Xiao Chen and Lao Zhao reported in a low voice the situation at the scene and the possible identity of the other party.
Shen Qingwu listened in silence, looking straight at the road ahead, but there was cold anger and fear in his eyes.
They dared to shoot her.
They almost…
She turned the steering wheel suddenly, and the car turned into a secluded road and drove towards her unknown safe house in the suburbs.
There was silence in the carriage for a moment.There is only the low roar of the engine and the soft sound of the air conditioner blowing air.
Lin Jianfeng opened his eyes slightly and looked at Shen Qingwu’s tense profile through the rearview mirror.The light and shadow of the street lamp flashed across her face quickly, flickering on and off.
“Thank you.” Lin Jianfeng said softly.
Shen Qingwu glanced at her in the rearview mirror, his eyes complicated and difficult to distinguish.Anger, worry, blame, and something deeper.
“Next time…” Shen Qingwu said, her voice a little hoarse, “Next time I dare to take such a risk, before they take action, I will…”
She didn’t finish her sentence, but her pursed lips and the cold glint in her eyes said everything.
Lin Jianfeng looked at her and suddenly felt that the wound on his shoulder didn’t seem to hurt so much anymore.Even the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but curve upward slightly.
“Okay.” She responded softly, with a hint of tiredness but complete trust.
Shen Qingwu stopped talking and just drove the car more steadily and faster.
The night is dark and the crisis has not been eliminated.
But at least at this moment, the injured hunter was safely taken away from the battlefield by her companions.And a certain connection between them has become closer and more inseparable after the baptism of bullets and blood.