"Captain, there's a car behind us accelerating. Looks like it's trying to overtake."
Wang Hai had just reached for his comms to check in with Black Hawk when the voice of a rear bodyguard came through his headset. Almost simultaneously, he noticed the lead vehicle slowing down up ahead.
"Captain, a truck just pulled into our lane up ahead. It's blocking us from overtaking," Anan, the driver of the lead vehicle, reported with urgency.
Wang Hai's brow furrowed. "Something's not right. Everyone stay alert."
"Black Hawk, what's your status?" he asked quickly.
"We're being tailed. The driver claims he's rushing to Phoenix North Hospital. Says we braked suddenly and caused a collision. Now he wants to sort it out here."
"That's odd timing," Wang Hai muttered. "We've got two suspicious vehicles too. Detain the driver. Stay on us."
His voice hardened as instinct kicked in. This wasn't coincidence.
First, a fire. Now, unusual vehicle behavior blocking and distracting their convoy on a narrow two-lane road—Phoenix North Road. The conditions were perfect for an ambush.
"This could be a setup targeting the boss," he told Chen Mo.
"For me?" Chen Mo looked surprised.
"Still a guess," Wang Hai said cautiously. "But the pattern fits. A fire to lure you out. Now we're on a bottleneck road, blocked front and rear. If there's an ambush… it could get ugly."
Xiao Yu, sitting beside Chen Mo, instinctively leaned closer, her body tense as she gripped Chen Mo's sleeve. His steady presence helped her suppress the rising anxiety in her chest.
Chen Mo's expression darkened. He'd been cautious ever since acquiring advanced technologies—but this was the first time a coordinated assault seemed aimed directly at him.
Meanwhile, at the rear, Black Hawk's car had stopped. He glanced at the young driver who had caused the collision.
"Step out. Hands where I can see them," Black Hawk ordered calmly.
"Big bro, can't we just settle this?" the man stammered. "I'm in a hurry. My brother's in the hospital—burned in the dorm fire. I didn't mean to hit your car!"
Black Hawk didn't flinch. His gaze sharpened. "A fire, huh?"
"Yeah, yeah! I'll pay for the damage. I swear!" The young driver's voice trembled.
Black Hawk studied him a moment longer, then made the call. "Detain him."
The driver's expression instantly changed. The fake panic vanished, replaced by cold alertness.
"Why are you detaining me?! This is illegal!" he barked, stepping back.
As the bodyguard reached out to restrain him, the man struck like a snake. With a swift twist, he yanked the guard's arm behind his back and snapped his neck in one motion.
Crack!
The sound echoed.
"Enemy contact!" Black Hawk shouted, eyes wide.
The killer, now revealed as Blue Wolf, didn't hesitate. He lunged toward Black Hawk, fists flying.
Black Hawk reacted instantly—blocking the blow aimed at his throat, then stepping back while throwing a knee toward Blue Wolf's ribs.
"Damn," Blue Wolf growled as his attacks were deflected.
Black Hawk's skills were no joke. A former special forces operative, now enhanced by the potential development project, his speed and power had been boosted beyond his peak years. Close combat was second nature.
Blue Wolf knew his mission—delay. His only option now was to keep Black Hawk occupied long enough for the trap ahead to spring shut.
He feinted low, then punched toward Black Hawk's waist. His hand brushed against a concealed holster—a gun.
No time to let Black Hawk draw it.
But Black Hawk wasn't giving him space. The two clashed fiercely, a blur of fists and knees, each exchanging brutal blows in the tight confines between vehicles.
"Captain, this is an attack!" Black Hawk shouted through gritted teeth.
Boom!
Wang Hai flinched as a loud crash echoed behind them.
He checked the rearview mirror—more vehicles colliding. Their convoy was being boxed in.
"Pearl, protect the boss and Miss Xiao Yu. Anan, break through up front!" he barked.
Anan didn't hesitate. He pulled his pistol, rolled down the window, and aimed at the tires of the truck blocking them.
Bang! Bang!
With precise shots, the truck's rear tire exploded. The vehicle wobbled, lost control, and swerved into the roadside greenery.
"Go!" Wang Hai ordered.
Lutong, now driving the main vehicle, floored the accelerator. The car surged forward, bumping over the shoulder to squeeze past the disabled truck.
"Chen Mo, are you alright?" Wang Hai asked quickly.
"I'm fine," Chen Mo replied. He turned to Xiao Yu and gently pulled her closer. "Stay calm."
"I'm trying," she whispered, clinging tightly to his arm.
Chen Mo reached into the back compartment and pulled out a bulletproof vest, then strapped it onto Xiao Yu's body.
"You wear it," she said, worried.
"There's another one," he replied firmly, already grabbing the second vest for himself.
Their convoy vehicles weren't ordinary. Built with reinforced armor, each was stocked with vests, medical kits, gas masks, oxygen tanks, and even firearms—ready for emergencies like this.
"Ink Girl, call Zhao Min," Chen Mo instructed.
"Understood, my brother," Mo Nu's holographic projection appeared, initiating a video call.
At Phoenix North Hospital, Zhao Min was visiting injured employees when her phone buzzed.
Seeing Chen Mo's name, she stepped aside and answered.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"We're under attack," Chen Mo's voice was cold. "We were ambushed on Phoenix North Road. This was planned."
Zhao Min's face went pale. Without hesitation, she turned to Li Dong, the police chief nearby.
"Chen Mo is under attack. He's on Phoenix North Road. Send reinforcements—now!"
Li Dong's eyes widened. He grabbed a police radio.
"All available units! This is a priority emergency. Mobilize immediately to Phoenix North Road. I repeat, all available units, go!"
Without another word, he and Zhao Min rushed out of the hospital.
As police sirens began to wail across the district, reporters outside the hospital froze, confused.
"What's happening?"
"Why are the police leaving?"
Sensing something big, journalists scrambled into vans and followed the direction of the sirens.
Meanwhile, at the edge of a wooded roadside clearing, Ruth stood calmly with a tablet in hand, observing.
Chen Mo's convoy was now alone, isolated, speeding toward the trap point—just as planned.
"A little fish swimming down a narrowing stream," she murmured. "And now... time to close the net."
She raised her wrist mic.
"All units—engage."