Chapter 18

Chapter 18 The Iron Rice Bowl Comes at a Price

At the middle section of the Third Ring Road, four police patrol cars spread out and pulled over at a street corner, while the multi-function tactical vehicle quickly drove off after dropping off a dozen officers at the intersection.

Qin Yu sat in the lead vehicle, picked up the radio, and said quietly, “The target is still inside. We proceed with the groups we divided earlier. There are people in the alley, but try not to fire, try not to make noise, because we don’t know the layout inside…”

“Copy!”

“Understood!”

“…!”

Several groups acknowledged after receiving the full instructions.

Qin Yu pushed open the door and got out, lowered his head to check the firearm tucked at his waist, and was just about to move when Qi Lin came running up from behind: “Hey, made it just in time.”

Qin Yu turned at the sound: “You’re done?”

“Yeah yeah, just finished.” Qi Lin said, slightly out of breath.

Qin Yu had no time for small talk, and gave orders in a rapid tone: “Stick to the original plan. You take vehicle 2 and wait at the intersection of Third Ring Road and Fenglin Road. Once the arrest is made, I’ll get in your car right away. If any of Lei Zi’s people head your way for backup, report the position immediately.”

“Understood!” Qi Lin said gratefully: “Thanks, team leader, always looking out for me.”

“Skip it.” Qin Yu had no time for pleasantries. Walking as he spoke, he called into the radio: “Lao Mao, get ready to move in on the alley. We’re hitting the front.”

“Copy!”

……

Three minutes later.

Lao Mao, wearing a Kevlar helmet, a light green tactical uniform, and a steel plate vest over his chest, led a ten-person team crouching toward the alley, splitting into two groups on either side, waiting for the order.

By the roadside, Qin Yu asked into the radio as he walked briskly: “Any high ground?”

“No, just an external staircase. Should be able to get a clear view of the second floor from there.”

“Good, have your group go up to the second floor and set up. Your main job is cover.” Qin Yu instructed.

“Understood.”

After finishing with his colleague, Qin Yu reached the alley entrance, glanced quickly at the empty street, patted Lao Mao on the shoulder and said: “Lao Hei and I go in first. The rest of you hold.”

“Got it.” Lao Mao nodded.

“Let’s go, Lao Hei.” Qin Yu called out.

Lao Hei, dressed in plain clothes, followed Qin Yu into the alley.

The two walked side by side, strolling slowly toward the inner end of the alley, when Qin Yu casually asked: “Nervous?”

“Heh, used to it.” Lao Hei smiled.

“It’s fine, relax.” Qin Yu draped an arm around Lao Hei’s neck and immediately started stumbling, hollering: “Take me somewhere fun.”

“You’re drunk.” Lao Hei played along, catching on immediately.

In the middle of the alley, a middle-aged man stirred from a worn wooden chair at the sound, squinting in their direction.

Qin Yu staggered along, arm around Lao Hei, and after about thirty-some meters, turned his head and spat: “Damn, life’s rough.”

The spit landed right on a burly man’s shoulder.

“What the hell!” The burly man’s companion stood up, frowning and ready to curse.

“Oh shit, people here?” Qin Yu feigned drunkenness, slowly turning around: “Sorry about that, brother. Let me ask you something… how do I get to Club Duoduo…?”

At first the burly man took Qin Yu for a drunk, but as the other man drew closer, his eyes narrowed and he instinctively moved his hand behind his back: “Don’t know.”

“Urgh!”

Qin Yu let out a dry heave, his body lurching involuntarily toward the burly man’s side.

“Damn, you don’t smell like alcohol…” The burly man rose and reached for his gun, while his companion immediately went for the earpiece button.

“Bang!”

Qin Yu lifted his leg and shot his right foot out like lightning.

“Thud!”

The burly man stumbled back two steps and slammed into the wall.

“Crack!”

Qin Yu grabbed the man’s arm and yanked hard to the left. The burly man staggered and fell. Then Qin Yu’s knee slammed down onto the man’s head, his left hand pinning the gun at the man’s waist, growling in a low voice: “Don’t shout, or I’ll put you down.”

“There’s…!” The burly man showed no fear of Qin Yu at all, and strained his neck to yell.

Left with no choice, Qin Yu released the man’s arm with his right hand and instantly covered his mouth: “Stay still.”

“Crunch!”

The burly man was ferociously strong. Unable to break free physically, he bit down hard on Qin Yu’s hand, drawing blood on the spot.

On the other side, the moment Qin Yu made his move, Lao Hei charged forward and used a police restraint technique to bring down the other drug dealer. But that one was equally vicious, and the moment his mouth was covered, he thrashed his head violently.

Seeing that neither of them could be easily controlled, Qin Yu immediately turned and waved his hand.

“Thud thud thud!”

Lao Mao got the signal and led the team charging into the alley. Once they reached Qin Yu, they raised their gun stocks and each delivered one blow, cracking both suspects’ heads open and leaving them temporarily unconscious.

“One got away.”

Qin Yu stood up and shouted: “Breach the door.”

“Clack, clack!”

The sound of Remington series riot shotguns being racked by the officers was sharp and crisp.

“Bang bang bang…!”

Three shots rang out, the iron door shattered, and Lao Mao waved his hand: “Tactical formation, advance.”

Qin Yu heard the call and led ten officers in the frontal push, charging into the building first, but was caught off guard the moment he entered. The first-floor corridor was narrow and dimly lit, and at the far end, an iron staircase was barely visible.

“Damn, push fast, they’re definitely not on the first floor.” Qin Yu took one quick look at the layout and made his call at top speed.

The officers on both sides pushed forward without hesitation.

Three seconds later, at the top of the iron staircase leading to the second floor, two people raised automatic rifles and opened fire downward without a word of warning.

“Don’t go up, suppress them.” Qin Yu pressed against the corner of the staircase, dodging bullets and clenching his right fist: “Team 2, do you have a shot?”

“We can shoot.”

“Staircase corner, two automatic rifles.”

“Bang bang!”

The department had few snipers, so there was no dedicated sniper support for this operation. But experienced field officers using automatic rifles at close range were still accurate enough. The team lying in wait on the external staircase, upon receiving the order, fired two shots through the glass and took down both suspects blocking the second-floor entrance.

The bodies tumbled down the stairs, and only then did Qin Yu wave his hand and shout: “Go!”

“Rush!”

Qin Yu led the assault team, quickly up the stairs and onto the second floor.

The living room was extremely dark, with only the moonlight outside faintly outlining the shapes inside. Qin Yu, sweat on his brow, took three or four steps forward and asked quietly: “Why is no one here? Team 2, did you see anyone jump?”

“No, our angle doesn’t give us a clear view of the living room.” The reply came immediately.

Qin Yu frowned, momentarily puzzled.

“Clatter!”

Just then, a faint sound came from the left. Lao Mao, who had just rushed up, called out in a tense voice: “Qin Yu… Qin Yu… I hit the jackpot. I stepped on a booby trap.”

When Qin Yu turned at the sound, one of Lao Mao’s team members had already crouched down and was reaching out to feel for the trip wire.

“Don’t move, don’t move…” Lao Mao’s right leg trembled as he shouted: “It’s not about the wire. I’m standing on the mine.”

Everyone froze for a brief moment, then immediately fell back and held the entrance to the living room, afraid there might still be someone hiding inside.

Qin Yu quickly pulled out the flashlight from his waist, crouched down, took a quick look at the booby trap by the bathroom door, and said plainly: “Mao, if you step back, your right leg is definitely gone. If you don’t step back, lift your foot and I’ll knock the mine out with my gun.”

“Can you hit it?”

“Hard to say. Not sure if the mine’s been modified.”

“Are you serious? Hard to say, what kind of answer is that? If you miss, I’m dead…” Lao Mao stared wide-eyed and shouted.

“I can knock it clear. The leg doesn’t have to go.” Qin Yu asked steadily, flashlight in his right hand: “What do you want to do? Give me an answer!”

Lao Mao was silent for a moment, the usual grin gone from his face: “Save the leg.”

“On three, you lift your foot.” Qin Yu raised the automatic rifle and shouted: “Everyone else, fall back!”

“3!”

“2!”

“1, lift your foot!” Qin Yu bellowed.

Lao Mao didn’t dare hesitate, and lifted his foot to step back.

“Bang!”

Qin Yu swung the rifle stock like a golf club and knocked the mine out from under his foot.

“Crash!”

The mine shattered the glass and flew outside.

But several seconds passed, and there was not a single sound from outside.

Lao Mao sank to the ground, drained: “What the hell… why didn’t it go off?”

“It’s fake.” Qin Yu replied through gritted teeth: “It’s a dummy mine. Team 2, check the surroundings for anything unusual…”

“Scrape, clatter!”

Before he finished speaking, one of the assault team members on the left was about to step forward and accidentally brushed against a cabinet by the wall, producing a strange sound.

Everyone froze.

“Damn, this one’s real.” Lao Mao shouted, his face pale: “Get down, shields up!”

Two officers holding riot shields dropped to their knees and had just raised the shields when a ball of fire erupted before their eyes.

“Boom!!”

A violent explosion rang out. Three officers who hadn’t managed to take cover were swept down by countless fragments, losing their lives in an instant, without even a chance to call for help.

Qin Yu lay flat on the floor, ears ringing, and shouted: “There’s definitely no one left inside. They’ve gone outside. Team 2, Team 2, keep watch…”

……

Outside.

Da Lei Zi A Long was sprinting through the courtyard with only one companion, shouting: “Damn it, the dogs picked up Lao Ma’s scent. That guy is way too sloppy.”

“Is there any chance he sold us out?”

“No way, he still needs me to keep him fed.” A Long waved his hand: “Call Xia Pazi, tell him to come pick us up. Hurry, or we won’t make it out.”