Chapter 494

Chapter 494: Twenty Dishes, Assessment Complete!

As Abik and the bodyguards escorted Lin Mo and Sally toward the restaurant entrance, a sudden hail of bullets shattered the glass doors and windows nearby.

Standing close to the entrance, the doorman was the first to be struck, falling inside with blood pouring from his body. He collapsed to the ground, still frozen in a posture as if he were about to open the door for Lin Mo and the others, no longer making a sound.

“Watch out!”

Lin Mo reacted quickly, pulling Sally to the side. The watch on his left wrist instantly expanded into a shield, blocking several deadly bullets aimed at him.

The gold giant dragon Gold Coin fulfilled its promise, automatically forming a shield about a foot in radius without needing any instruction from Lin Mo.

Abik, experienced in combat, immediately crouched low, while only two or three bodyguards were unfortunately hit, knocked to the ground by the impact of the bullets. However, they quickly got back up. As dedicated bodyguards, it was their duty in Tianjin to shield their boss from bullets, but that didn’t mean they had to sacrifice their lives to prove their loyalty.

The Dragoon Corporation never skimped on those who sold their lives for them, ensuring every bodyguard wore the best quality bulletproof vests. Unless they were shot in the head or limbs, they could almost disregard rifle bullets of calibers below 7.62mm at close range.

“Get under the tables, don’t stick your heads out, draw your guns, and fight back!”

“Scout out how many enemies there are! Damn it, an AK—those bastards’ favorite! Quick, shoot! I see one at three o’clock; damn, they have a light machine gun!”

The fallen bodyguards were unharmed, only grazed on the arms and legs by bullets as they scrambled to gather the nearby dining tables, quickly building a defensive line around Lin Mo and Sally again.

The incessant gunfire continued to pour in, making it hard for them to lift their heads; they could only crawl desperately to slightly safer positions.

“Move some tables over here to protect the two bosses!”

“Abik, call the police and get the army in! Damn it, I got hit in the leg!”

“Watch out for the RPG! Incoming…”

Boom!

A fireball struck the pillar at the entrance, causing countless pieces of concrete to rain down on the restaurant, battering the tables the bodyguards had just stacked together as if they were shot by many pellets. The pillar was nearly blown apart, exposing twisted rebar inside.

Fortunately, the pine dining tables used in the restaurant were exceptionally sturdy, about ten centimeters thick, able to withstand the shrapnel and debris from the RPG.

However, the thick smoke choked the bodyguards hiding by the entrance, triggering coughs as they tore strips from their clothing to cover their mouths and noses, just like they used to do on the battlefield in Afghanistan to evade tear gas.

The barricades made of tables that the bodyguards had piled up for Lin Mo and Sally proved to be effective, and the two of them didn’t get their clothes dirty at all.

“Is anyone hurt?”

“No!”

“We’re fine!”

The sudden explosion left everyone’s ears ringing, and the bodyguards could only shout hoarsely as they crawled and rolled on the ground, dodging fallen tables and debris while occasionally shooting back outside.

The restaurant staff had long been terrified by the sudden gunfire, hiding behind the service desk and desperately trying to make phone calls. But when they picked up their phones, all they heard was static noise.

Fortunately, not many diners were present in the restaurant. Most fell to the ground, scared of the gunfire, while a few unfortunate patrons were struck down in the first wave of bullets, groaning as they lay on the floor.

“The phone signals are jammed! Damn it!” Abik exclaimed as he noticed the signal indicator on his phone dropped. He cursed under his breath; the attackers had quickly activated their electromagnetic interference, clearly well-prepared.

Hmm? What is that? Abik caught sight of the shield on Lin Mo’s left wrist, momentarily stunned. What kind of equipment is that? The other party had nothing in their hands just moments before.

Perhaps sensing someone was watching, Lin Mo smiled slightly at Abik. “Memory Alloy!”

“Oh!”

Abik nodded in confusion. He had heard of Memory Alloy before, a truly marvelous metal material that could automatically change shape.

Lin Mo did not want others to focus too much on his watch equipment. Although Memory Alloy served as a good shield, it was not foolproof. An expert skilled in analysis might uncover its flaws; after all, having the most special equipment in the country under the "Night" label may not completely hide his vulnerabilities.

“Catch!” Abik pulled out another handgun from his jacket and tossed it to Lin Mo. He always preferred to be prepared, and now that habit proved to be very wise.

Lin Mo caught the handgun and said to Sally, who huddled close to him, “You stay here; I’m going to take them out.”

Although Lin Mo held her partially, Sally looked neither scared nor worried. Instead, she appeared excited, but soon her expression changed as she frowned and grabbed Lin Mo, who was about to leave.

“Be careful; they are aiming at me.”

The two spoke in unison, as if they shared a special connection.

Lin Mo paused, shook his head, and smiled. It seemed he wasn’t the only one in trouble; if these guys outside were after Sally, then the trouble for the Pashtun girl would indeed be significant.

Sally’s expression turned tense. Despite having established a formidable little corporation, the greedy individuals attracted were as numerous as fish crossing the river. Afghanistan was a place ravaged by poverty, and news of a big cash prize spread quickly, leading to a rush of opportunists. They cared only for money and were greedy beyond measure, creating more destruction than construction, thus applying significant pressure on the Dragoon Corporation.

Recently, agents operating in Afghanistan had set their sights on Dragoon’s wealth and influence, trying to control the golden goose. Sally’s tough stance had drawn attacks and intimidation from her opponents. Her greatest wish was to hand over this gift, which she had poured countless efforts into, to the man she cared about most.

“It’s fine; I can handle this!”

Lin Mo, acting on impulse, pinched Sally’s rosy cheek before rising to avoid the rain of bullets and move closer to the door. The enemy’s fire began to thin out slightly, indicating that trouble was only beginning.

The circular shield on Lin Mo’s left wrist seemed to grow larger, absorbing much of the threatening firepower.

“Light Mirror Technique!” Lin Mo whispered, taking advantage of the moment when no one was watching.

This battlefield technique applied not only to aerial combat but also to ground battles. The inner side of the shield released a light screen about seven inches in diameter, activated by photons charged with battle energy, instantly spreading in a peculiar rhythm and projecting the scene outside onto the screen.

About twenty shooters, all armed with AK-47s, along with RPGs and light machine guns, had eight of them laying down fire at the restaurant entrance. The other two alternated covering the advancing front, while the rest were attempting to flank, planning to burst in from other entry points and surround them like dumplings.

The attackers’ tactics suggested they were seasoned veterans. If they were professional assassins, they would likely have attempted stealthy attacks rather than begin with an overwhelming assault. Such aggressive tactics were characteristic of professional soldiers.

It seemed the outside shooters had underestimated their first burst of fire, expecting to take down at least half of the people inside immediately. However, those inside responded quickly, returning fire and effectively halting their advance. Their shooting was precise, indicating they were also battle-hardened individuals.

Lin Mo quickly locked onto the attackers’ positions and, through the smoke and chaotic fire, lifted his gun, pulling the trigger repeatedly.

In the sky, Lin Mo’s cannon skills matched those of a professional sniper; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to write two shocking words on an American reconnaissance plane.

On the ground, Lin Mo’s shooting skills easily rivaled those of the kings of soldiers in the main battle squadron, honed during practice at the “Night” base’s shooting range.

Six gunshots rang out in succession.

The covering shooters underestimated the presence of such precise gunners among their intended targets. Amidst cries of agony, four fell instantly, shot in the chest or head, mostly hitting vital spots.

The first two shooters, who had nearly drawn grenades to throw inside, collapsed to the ground, their bodies twisting unnaturally.

What a scene—twenty dishes evaluated and complete!

Lin Mo blew on the barrel of his gun, realizing he was out of bullets. The handgun Abik had given him felt like a brick now—or even less useful than a brick.

They were probably targeting Sally; otherwise, their combat effectiveness wouldn’t have been so low, lacking even compared to the warriors of the Night Special Forces.

“There are sixteen more outside! Watch your sides; they are surrounding us,” Lin Mo shouted to the bodyguards. The thunderous explosion from the earlier RPG blast had impaired everyone’s hearing, making it necessary to speak loudly for them to hear.

If they were after Lin Mo, it would be very troublesome. It seemed the forces targeting Sally were not small, daring to attack in the city of Paris. He would report this to his superiors to provide Sally with some support and send a warning to those brazen enough to make a move.

Compared to a colossal entity like China, those agents’ powers and armed groups seemed almost insignificant, easily obliterated with a mere trample.

Lin Mo’s initial success immediately weakened the enemy’s firepower, allowing Sally’s bodyguards to gain the upper hand. Although they were only armed with handguns and outnumbered, they held a tactical advantage.

This was not a disorganized fight among local refugees, but rather a proper battlefield strategy.