1, 24, and 36 entered the same vehicle. Chen Bian was quite extravagant; to cultivate international favor, he employed a standard convoy of bulletproof Mercedes 500s. Several professors who had participated in international aid missions remarked, "Has there been a mistake? Were we summoned here for aid or tourism?"
Seated in the lead car, Yang Wei meticulously reviewed the list of visiting physicians. Perhaps due to the ingrained vigilance of a scout, he felt something peculiar about this group.
"Escorted by the medical team, under the 'meticulous' care of that 'Yang Wei' fellow, how are we supposed to operate?" 36 inquired in French, sipping the cola provided in the car.
"It matters little. Chen Bian is no fool; having served as Taiwan's president for numerous years, he undoubtedly possesses a robust intelligence network. Our disguises won't hold for long. Elder Nie's intention was merely to ensure our safe infiltration into Taipei City. Now, our initial phase is complete," 1 replied, also in French.
"Truly an 'impeccable strategy'. Shortly, our identities will be exposed, and then we'll be battling enemies armed with assault rifles, equipped only with a bag of scalpels..." 24 lamented, continuing in French.
"Operating without the 'Sacred Beast' combat suits is indeed more perilous. Yet, recall our time at the 'academy'; we possessed nothing then. Having worn those seemingly indestructible suits for so long, have we perhaps become complacent?" 1 genuinely reflected.
"Speaking of which, 13 remains the most formidable, confronting Special Operations Team 6 single-handedly with just an AWP. Remembering that bald fellow, my ribs still ache..." 36 shuddered involuntarily, recalling the 'essay writing' incident.
"Him? I always suspected he'd dare the same even if only given a scalpel," 24 commented.
"Indeed. The 13 of that era was the epitome of an exemplary soldier. He wouldn't contemplate whether a mission was achievable, but rather how to achieve it," 1 smiled faintly.
"Cease reminiscing like old men," 36 continued drinking his cola. "Have either of you noticed? The convoy has decelerated..."
"Sooner than anticipated, and while mobile. It appears we require a revised plan," 1 withdrew a scalpel from behind his back, concealing it in his hand.
"The driver is behaving oddly," 24 gazed out the window, seemingly admiring the Taipei scenery. "Previously, he only observed me through the rearview mirror; now, he's scrutinizing both of you as well. Unless he harbors homosexual and pedophilic tendencies, Yang Wei must have already alerted him."
"Who makes the move?" 36 glanced between the two.
"Allow me. If you handle it, you'll invariably drench the car in blood, and this is our intended escape vehicle," 1 nodded towards the driver reflected in the rearview mirror. "36, just focus on driving."
Out of courtesy, the driver reciprocated the nod. Yet, as he raised his head again, a sharp blade sliced across his throat. The sensation of asphyxiation compelled him to release the steering wheel and clutch his neck. With 1's considerable strength, the driver, weighing one hundred thirty jin, was forcibly lifted and deposited onto the front passenger seat. 36, from the rear seat, swiftly assumed his duties.
1's bladework was remarkably precise, severing only the trachea without causing significant hemorrhage, yet the suffocating man wouldn't perish instantly.
24 sighed in resignation, "Men are simply not decisive enough..." With that, her slender hands reached towards the still agonizingly struggling driver. A jarring crack of cervical vertebrae echoed, and tranquility returned to the vehicle.
"They're making their move," the car ahead flashed its taillights, signaling to pull over.
"36, evade quickly!" 1 commanded.
The convoy decelerated and halted.
"No time for games, move aside!" 36 practically bellowed as he depressed the accelerator. The bulletproof Mercedes proved formidable; a forceful collision resulted merely in a damaged headlight.
"1! Why did you let him drive?" 24 desperately clutched her seatbelt. "Don't you know his stature is insufficient? Pressing the accelerator prevents him from reaching the brake?"
The 500's superior acceleration surpassed Yang Wei's vehicle in mere seconds.
"Pursue them!" he yelled furiously, clutching the just-received physician profiles.
The soldiers ejected all the physicians from the vehicles. At this juncture, international image paled in comparison to the importance of a few spies.
A total of thirteen vehicles careened through the wide, deserted streets of Taipei.
"All units, listen! We are pursuing a group of cunning spies! We require no prisoners; open fire! Eliminate one, and you earn a promotion and fifty thousand US dollars!" Yang Wei activated the communicator. His words gradually took effect; sunroofs on a dozen vehicles opened, revealing soldiers brandishing weapons.
Assault rifle bullets rained down on the rear of the 500 like hailstones. Fortunately, the Mercedes' superior quality ensured they merely sparked harmlessly.
"Idiots, wasting ammunition!" 36 cursed contemptuously.
"Kid! Something's amiss!" 24 tapped 36's head. In the rearview mirror, a figure on one car roof was shouldering a mortar.
"Evade!" 1 shouted.
36 executed a sharp left turn; without braking, the car slid sideways, fishtailing through a 90-degree intersection. The fluid maneuver was worthy of a Ferrari racing team.
Simultaneously, the ground behind the car erupted as concrete fragments scattered.
"Damn it, obnoxious brat! Next time you drive, I swear I'll kill you!" 24 rubbed her forehead, which had just impacted the window.
"Here they come again!" This time, occupants of several vehicles, realizing the nature of the vehicle they faced, deployed heavy weaponry – heavy machine guns, sniper rifles, rocket launchers were all brought out.
For a period, 36 continuously showcased his driving prowess, while 24 incessantly cursed.
"Is he here to pick someone up? Where did all this heavy weaponry originate?" 1's gaze involuntarily drifted towards the compartment behind the seats.
"He can even dodge rocket launchers?" cursed a soldier who had just fired. "Two more rounds! I refuse to believe you're truly some damned driving deity! I will eliminate you!"
The confident soldier's opportunity vanished; a standard three-round burst ended his life. The shooter was 1, wielding an AUG.
1 showed no signs of stopping. Exhaling lightly, he continued firing. 1's shooting style differed from 13's sniper shots; it was more instinctive. Although 13 also appeared casual, each of his shots was the product of careful aiming and precise calculation. 1, conversely, relied more on innate feel for the weapon. Often, he could fire and kill upon merely glimpsing an enemy's shadow. Thus, amidst 36's highly erratic driving, he could still eliminate enemy after enemy without missing a shot.
"Secretary-General, their firepower is too intense; we cannot effectively retaliate..." Yang Wei slammed the communicator onto the ground. As if recalling something, he retrieved the nearly shattered device.
"Connect me to the City Defense Joint Army! (A new contingent formed from soldiers withdrawn from the periphery, totaling over one million seven hundred thousand personnel!)" Yang Wei waited. Finally connected, without allowing the other party to speak, he roared, "Tell that reprobate Wang Jian to get out of bed! Have him immediately blockade Taipei's streets; spies have infiltrated!"
"Yes... yes... yes..." the operator on the other end stammered in reply.
Twenty minutes later...
"1, they're not even showing their heads anymore. Are they frightened of you?" 36 remarked with a grin.
"If only. They've reduced speed. It feels more like they're herding us..." 1 did not lower his weapon.
"Elementary. Similar to 13's incident. There's likely an ambush ahead," 24 stated calmly.
"Shall we charge into the enemy encirclement, just like 13?" 36's face lit up with excitement.
Executing another sharp left turn, the Mercedes 500 fishtailed around the corner, only to be met by three M1 tanks and several hundred soldiers lying in wait. The 'welcoming ceremony' was simple: three armor-piercing shells obliterated the vehicle into fragments. Meanwhile, in a nearby alley, 1 struck 36 sharply on the head, reprimanding, "Are you insane? Think you're immortal? We're no different from ordinary people now; getting hit means death."
"Then at least let me carry some kind of weapon..." 36 felt somewhat aggrieved.
"Here," 24 tossed a pistol each to him and 1. "Little time; only managed to grab three pistols just now."
"We split up now. Maintain contact using the intra-oral communicators. For the next four days, improvise!" 1 racked the slide, chambering a round...