But the moment we entered Zhenshui City, we found no bodies. The citizens were nowhere to be found. Just as I was about to ask Alicia, she said, "Don't rush. As ordered, we should head to the central power plant."
"Oh." I followed Alicia. As we reached the power plant, we found it under control. Police were everywhere. At that moment, I finally reunited with Liu Yuning and the others. However, I had already recovered my appearance before getting out of the car.
Alicia had a way for this. In fact, my face had always been there. The principle was the same as her disguise as Liang Xiaoxia.
That's right, we were also acting as impostors this time, to trick Cang Xuesong and his men. Cang Xuesong and his group indeed fell for the trap.
Originally, they intended to blow up Zhenshui City and escape, but they were surrounded by our people at the true point of departure, the Zhenshui City Hydroelectric Power Plant.
The location he gave me earlier was wrong. That place was ambushed by many mercenaries from the North Star Criminal Organization. If I had gone there, I would have definitely been assassinated.
Now, the ambushers have been apprehended, and Cang Xuesong is trapped in the power plant. The arrest operation is nearing its end, but the situation still seems not to be going smoothly.
Seeing me return, the Punishment Squad members were all incredibly excited. However, we were on alert, using the armored vehicles as cover.
We could only exchange glances, encouraging each other with our eyes.
"I, He Sheng, have returned to the team today!" I murmured to myself. Liu Yuning approached and asked, "Have you been up to anything with that foreign girl recently?"
"You're something else. Don't get distracted. How's the situation inside the factory?"
"Not good. Some factory employees and hostages are still being held. Cang Xuesong, that bastard, probably won't surrender."
"A madman! At this point, he's still resisting? Have the helicopters been deployed?" Alicia said.
"They're on their way, but the factory is heavily sealed. Even helicopters might find it difficult to breach."
"How many hostages are inside?"
"Around 200, but the exact number is unknown."
Listening to Liu Yuning's report, I felt a pang of conflict. What should I do? A frontal assault was out of the question.
As I was thinking, Cang Xuesong's voice suddenly boomed from deep within the factory: "He Sheng, He Sheng, He Sheng, come out here!"
"Cang Xuesong!" I roared back in defiance. "Read the book!"
"Hahahaha!!! You did come, He Sheng. Don't you want them all to die? I can tell you honestly, the entire Zhenshui City has lost power. Endless darkness will completely engulf this city like worldly desires. You all wait to be consumed by endless death, ha ah ah! Kaka kaka!! I have 231 hostages, including the mayor of Zhenshui City, the director of the Zhenshui City Public Security Bureau, and the criminal investigation captain... In addition, there are over a hundred power plant employees and over a hundred civilians from Zhenshui City. My leverage is immense, but I can tell you, there is a way to save some of them. He Sheng, do you want to hear it?"
"What do you want?"
"Nothing much. Forensic Investigator of Strange Cases, I know you want to save people the most right now. This is the duty and obligation of you people's police!"
"I know you won't let them all live!" I said.
"Hehehe, not necessarily. That depends on whether you have the ability. I'll give you a chance now. Stand up first!"
I was about to move, but Liu Yuning held my shoulder: "Are you crazy? They have heavy firepower inside. If you stand up, you'll be shot to pieces!"
"But, aren't we saving people?"
"Yes, but..."
"There's no time. I can sense that countless bombs have been planted in the power plant, and it should be powered up now. The ground is wet. This is a hydroelectric power plant, surrounded by the sea. It's now two in the morning, and the surrounding environment is unfavorable to us. Moreover, they might burn down the power plant, and then they will execute the hostages inside. At that time, none of the hostages inside will survive. Since he specifically called for me, he won't kill me directly. Because I understand Cang Xuesong, he won't end his game so quickly. If that were the case, he would have killed all the hostages and destroyed the power plant long ago."
"I know you and North Star. You've also been involved these years..."
"En, let me do it. I'll definitely come back alive, and then I'll tell you something..."
"Please! Don't die!"
"Dad, put this on. It will let you understand the entire structure of the power plant!"
I nodded at them and stood up. I noticed that thousands of machine guns were aimed at me not far away, but I was fearless. I bypassed an armored vehicle and resolutely walked towards the bridge in front of the power plant...
"He Sheng, I see you. Don't worry, I won't shoot you directly. We worked together for a while, after all. But you are very clever. The real Liang Xiaoxia was probably switched when you left Mr. Cao's company."
"Stop the nonsense, Cang Xuesong. How about using me to exchange for all the hostages' lives?"
"Ahahaha! Listen to this, what is he saying?" Cang Xuesong said, turning to the mercenaries holding machine guns and whispering. They burst into laughter.
"Laugh all you want. You won't have another chance later," I muttered to myself. After a while, Cang Xuesong said, "Don't rush. Do you think you alone can exchange for everyone's lives? He Sheng, you're too naive. I can give you some of the hostages, but definitely not all. I say, maybe 20? How about it?"
"No, 30!"
"15!"
"You bastard!"
"10!"
"Fine!"
"Ahahaha! Look, the great people's police have compromised in front of us!"
"Yes, Lord!"
Many mercenaries sneered, and Cang Xuesong became even more triumphant. "Alright, then we'll release ten hostages, but we'll choose who they are!"
"Why?"
"That's not for you to decide, or I won't release a single one!"
"You..." Read the book!
As soon as he finished speaking, I saw ropes hanging down from the top of the power plant. Some hostages were all lowered. I immediately took out my dagger and cut their throats. They were terrified, thanked me, and rushed towards the police lines with all their might!
Once they returned to the police, they were immediately protected. However, they remembered their families still inside the power plant and began to cry sadly...