Chapter 127

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Chapter 127: Aircrew! Anti-Hijacking!

Six thugs took two bank employees and a security guard hostage while fleeing in a van. They became trapped in a small village called Hanjiacun after running out of fuel. In addition to the hostages, they also kidnapped a local family of four, including the head of the household, Liu Denong, his wife, Qi Lifang, their daughter, Liu Rong, and Liu Denong’s elderly father, Liu Genxiang.

The six thugs held a total of seven hostages. They were armed not only with homemade rifles and primitive guns but also with grenades. The most dangerous aspect was that two of the thugs were former soldiers, one of whom had even served in a special reconnaissance unit, making their shooting and combat skills formidable. The other four were notorious thugs willing to take risks for a big score. However, they didn’t anticipate that local police would respond swiftly and pursue them closely. Despite their strong firepower, the police, armed only with several outdated Type 54 pistols, could not withstand the thugs’ assault, resulting in several injuries.

The local armed police immediately mobilized. Considering that there were retired special forces among the thugs, they specially ordered the "Night" Special Forces unit to take action, ensuring the rescue of the hostages and the capture of the thugs.

Close to thirty members from the third squadron of the "Night" Special Forces, known for their skills in assaults and hostage rescues, deployed. Among them were six snipers, each equipped with an 88-type 5.8 mm sniper rifle targeting one thug. The snipers and their observers simultaneously locked onto the small courtyard of Liu Denong’s house at the west end of Hanjiacun. At that moment, the entire village was empty except for the soldiers, the thugs, and the hostages.

Every road was guarded by police dogs and armed officers, creating an airtight perimeter. Outside the police cordon, a satellite news truck was parked, apparently confirming that reporters had arrived.

However, no one noticed the faint rumble of thunder in the clouds. A J-10 fighter jet was constantly monitoring the ground actions.

The J-10 circled below the clouds around Hanjiacun as Lin Mo tapped into the public channel of the electronic communication system at the scene. As an observer, he could hear the dialogues clearly, while a large and a small Light Mirror Technique floated in the cockpit, reflecting every movement on the ground.

The helicopter had too low a speed and altitude, making it vulnerable to threats from the thugs. Only his J-10, executing a high-altitude reconnaissance mission, was most suitable. The ground operation didn’t involve Lin Mo; his only task was to fly above.

Outside the courtyard, the negotiation specialist, protected by a bulletproof shield, dared not even stick his head out and continuously shouted through a loudspeaker toward the house.

“Sun Lun, everything can be negotiated. You’re a soldier too; you should know this is a one-way road. Put down your weapons and don’t get deeper into this mess.”

After several attempts, a deep and gruff voice responded from inside, “Talking nonsense won’t help. I know that confession leads to leniency, while resistance leads to harsh punishment. But people die for wealth, and birds die for food. Since we are already in this situation, we might as well go down together.”

“Why bother listening to him? Get a car over here, or even a helicopter. If they don’t let us go, we’ll go down together!” A sinister voice abruptly interrupted, growing louder: “Listen, I’ve got ten kilos of explosives here. Don’t push me too hard; otherwise, I’ll blow this place to pieces. There are folks down with me, so it won’t be a loss.”

A stir of panic swept through the exterior crowd. No one expected that, in addition to guns and grenades, there was also ten kilos of explosives that could obliterate the entire courtyard. Even standing twenty meters from the courtyard wall wouldn’t guarantee safety.

Almost everyone frowned.

Moments after the hostages shouted a few words, they were silenced by a flurry of punches and kicks. The thugs showed no mercy, even towards ordinary people without weapons.

Soft cries of women echoed from inside the house, making the condition of the hostages obvious.

“You all need to be rational. Don’t act impulsively. The situation isn’t hopeless yet; you’re still young and have a chance to turn back. Don’t make an error that cannot be undone.”

Peng Yisheng, a seasoned negotiation expert, felt the situation was extremely difficult. These weren’t just desperate ordinary citizens but a mix of soldiers and thugs, cold-blooded and cunning, showing a level of calmness that indicated they had experience. Their combat ability was stronger than typical police forces, as seen from the casualties they caused during the pursuit.

“Though it’s their first offense, they can’t be treated like inexperienced criminals; it’s tough to bluff them!”

“Old Peng! These guys are probably difficult to deal with. I think I should just go in and switch hostages,” said Captain Kong Xin, suppressing his anxiousness.

Peng Yisheng was quite stout and wore a suit and tie with golden-rimmed glasses, resembling a cultured scholar. Many criminals had been intimidated by his congenial appearance. In reality, he was proficient in hand-to-hand combat and firearms. At times, while negotiating, he would seize moments of distraction to apprehend criminals effectively.

“Your face tells me you aren’t easy to handle. Why risk taking down sheep when you invite wolves into your house? You should refrain! I doubt it would go well if I went,” Peng Yisheng responded, shaking his head as he noted Captain Kong Xin’s fierce appearance. This man could frighten a child in daylight, and there was no way those thugs would be more cowardly than a three-year-old.

“Director Peng, Captain Kong, don’t worry. Our two-dimensional imaging radar and respiration detectors will arrive soon. We can shoot through the walls at them with steel-core bullets,” said Chen Renkai, captain of the third squadron of "Night." He remained calm, encouraging Peng Yisheng and Captain Kong Xin, who both bore tremendous pressure.

The state had invested heavily in "Night," equipping them with the latest technology and various advanced responses to hostage situations like this one. The third squadron was trained to seek feasible solutions based on past methodologies. If all else failed, they would forcibly invade and implement a sudden assault, as their warriors were far better trained than average special forces.

As Chen Renkai looked up at the small black dots darting below the clouds, he picked up the walkie-talkie and asked, “Gold Coin, have you spotted anything?”

Not only did Lin Mo have superior physical abilities, but he also possessed exceptional high-altitude vision, rivaling that of an eagle. He had been tested at the base and could see four to five times better than an average person—he was born for flying. Previously, during a rescue mission in the Gobi Desert, he had even discerned the physiological conditions of targets.

“Captain Chen, steel-core bullets might be ineffective! They’ve used blankets and wooden boards for composite defense, and they might have soaked them in water. Your 5.8-caliber ammunition lacks sufficient energy unless you use 7.62 caliber or larger projectiles or laser weapons.”

From the air, Lin Mo could see the situation inside the house with clarity; the Light Mirror Technique laid everything bare before him as if he stood there in person.

Unintentionally uttering the term “laser weapon,” Lin Mo felt a jolt in his heart. He thought he vaguely glimpsed something but couldn’t quite catch the glimmer.

“Damn it, where did they learn this trick?!” Chen Renkai exclaimed, recalling how during the War of Resistance against Japan, the Eight Route Army had used soaked thick cotton blankets combined with earth and doors as makeshift bulletproof shields. He never expected these thugs would replicate that tactic. Cotton could be made into lightweight armor, and once soaked, it became highly resilient. Combined with its soft and hard properties, small-caliber bullets truly posed a challenge.

“Is it possible to shoot through the walls and simultaneously eliminate the thugs inside? We can use the two-dimensional imaging radar for targeting!” Chen Renkai inquired about Lin Mo’s observations, feeling that Lin Mo’s combat experience extended beyond that of a typical fighter pilot. After all, he had managed to impress many soldiers with his shooting skills when he first arrived at the base.

Lin Mo hesitated before replying, “They’re cunning and all hiding in the dead angles. They’re using the hostages as a second layer of shields, so your plan may be hard to implement.”

The actual circumstances inside were completely exposed to Lin Mo’s Light Mirror Technique, making it as clear as if he were present on-site.

Surprise flashed across Chen Renkai’s face; it was no wonder this pilot had been selected for "Night." His keen eyesight alone was enough to grant him a place among them.

The walkie-talkie crackled, and both negotiation expert Peng Yisheng and Captain Kong Xin heard Lin Mo’s words clearly. They exchanged glances, their faces showing concern. This group of thugs seemed well-prepared and displayed a high level of skill in execution.

“This situation isn’t good. Gold Coin, do you have any suggestions?” Captain Chen Renkai asked, eager for Lin Mo’s input.

“Attack the dead angles!” Lin Mo suggested after a moment of thought, forcing himself to use a term to describe his idea.

Lin Mo had encountered similar situations in another world, although magic made resolving them easier.

“Dead angle attack?” Captain Chen Renkai, negotiation expert Peng Yisheng, and Captain Kong Xin chorused in surprise.

“Since we can’t aim effectively from the best angles, let’s take a reverse approach. It’s actually your original plan offered from a different attacking angle. We can strike from behind, using the gaps between them. However, precise aim is crucial; otherwise, we might accidentally hit the hostages.” Lin Mo explained, unsure if he was expressing it well. In his other world, there was a way called "back kill," attacking from unexpected angles where enemies couldn’t defend. Unless they managed to create a 360-degree defense, which was obviously impossible.