(AN: Am back, did you guys miss me, sorry for not updating, I've been focusing on my novel, but I will still try and keep up.)
When Chen Mo arrived at the abandoned factory, the area had already been cordoned off. Five police cars and two SWAT vehicles were stationed nearby.
It was located in the suburbs, with no residential areas nearby, so there weren't any crowds of onlookers.
The road was blocked off—no vehicles were allowed through.
"Mr. Chen Mo, I'm Zhuang Yan, captain of the SWAT unit and commander of this operation." The black-clad man in special police uniform greeted Chen Mo solemnly.
He had already received word that the hostage was Chen Mo's sister and had been instructed to ensure her safety at all costs. Given the complexity of the situation, he didn't dare act rashly.
Chen Mo nodded, his expression cold. "How's my sister? What about Wu Qiang?"
"Your bodyguard was shot in the arm—he's being rushed to the hospital. Your sister and the suspect are still inside," Zhuang Yan replied as he led Chen Mo to the command van. He pointed to a section on the factory blueprint. "They're in this room on the first floor. Only the two of them are in the building."
"But…" Zhuang Yan's tone turned grave, and Chen Mo's heart sank with a sense of foreboding.
"This was the former staff dormitory. The front area is the bedroom, and there's a small bathroom in the back. All doors and windows are sealed off. Around the room, the suspect has rigged improvised explosives—clearly pre-planned. Based on the setup, this person has professional training. We don't have a clean angle to take them out."
Chen Mo looked at the infrared thermal image. His face darkened.
"Have they made any demands?"
"No. We sent in a negotiator, but the suspect refused to open the door. He said he'd only speak to you. We're trying to make contact, but so far there's no response. The cover around him is solid, with bombs and a firearm. With the hostage inside, we can't risk storming the room," Zhuang Yan said.
They had already suffered a loss. Two officers were injured by bombs when trying to approach earlier. Now, no one dared to move lightly.
Chen Mo examined the map, his brain racing.
This was clearly planned long in advance. Everything had been accounted for. The suspect left no room for error—no opportunities for rescue.
"Mo-ge, unknown caller," said Mo Nu's voice through the earpiece, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
The technicians nearby switched on their monitoring equipment. Chen Mo took the offered headset from Zhuang Yan and connected the call.
"Mr. Chen, you're here?" The cold voice of Dong Quan came through.
"What do you want?"
Chen Mo took a deep breath, trying to stay calm.
"It's simple. You personally bring the item. If you want to see your sister alive, don't play any tricks. If anyone else enters, I'll start with her legs. Don't think I'm joking."
Beep—
The call ended abruptly, leaving everyone on edge. The suspect didn't even give them a chance to negotiate.
Zhuang Yan's face tightened. He glanced at Chen Mo.
Judging from the timing—so soon after the nuclear fusion breakthrough—he suspected the suspect's target was sensitive tech.
Considering Chen Mo's identity and influence, if anything happened to him, it would be catastrophic.
"Mr. Chen, what is it they're asking for?"
"Artificial intelligence technology," Chen Mo said coldly.
"Mr. Chen, this—"
"I need to go in," Chen Mo cut him off.
"No."Wang Hai, Zhu He, and Zhuang Yan all spoke at once.
They were visibly anxious. Chen Mo's safety was paramount.
"Boss, let me go," Wang Hai offered.
"They asked for me. If I don't go, Xinxin gets hurt. Do you have a way to keep her safe otherwise?" Chen Mo stared them down.
"But—"
"No buts." Chen Mo's voice was firm. "Get me a bulletproof vest."
"Mr. Chen, you can't go in," Zhuang Yan insisted.
Chen Mo glanced at him. "Do you have a way to guarantee Xinxin's safety?"
"I'll talk to the suspect. I'll send in the item," Zhuang Yan said, signaling a technician to try contacting Dong Quan.
After a minute, he hung up, his face dark.
Chen Mo had already guessed the answer just by his expression. Without another word, he started walking toward the old building.
"You can't go in."
Zhuang Yan signaled two officers to stop him. One hostage was already inside—if Chen Mo entered, the situation could escalate further.
Chen Mo ignored the blockade and kept walking toward the building.
"Mr. Chen, I ask for your cooperation. Rushing in could make things worse," Zhuang Yan said.
"Do you have a better idea?" Chen Mo asked coolly.
Zhuang Yan was silent. In this situation, there was no way to ensure the hostage's safety.
"Step aside."
"Sorry, Mr. Chen," Zhuang Yan said solemnly, still blocking the way.
Chen Mo stared at him for a few seconds, then pulled out his phone and dialed.
"Secretary Yao, I need you to get involved. Tell them to let me through."
"You want to see the suspect?" Yao Yi's voice came through, heavy with concern. He had been alerted as soon as the situation arose, but could only monitor remotely.
"Do you have a better way?"
"Don't be reckless. Your safety—"
"If it were your family, would you wait?" Chen Mo cut him off.
The phone went silent.
Chen Mo said nothing. The tension around them grew heavier.
After a minute, Yao Yi spoke again: "You're determined to go in?"
"Yes."
"What about your safety—?"
"I'll take care of myself. If you don't let me in, I'll force my way in. No one will be happy then."
Silence again. Then Yao Yi sighed. "I'll figure something out. Just wait. But no matter what, your safety is the top priority."
After hanging up, Chen Mo's expression remained calm. He turned to monitor the factory.
Four SWAT officers surrounded him, but no one dared move. The hostage situation was too sensitive. Any mistake could make it worse.
Zhuang Yan was also working through countermeasures, but every plan had problems.
A forced entry was risky. The suspect had a defensible position. If they couldn't take him down instantly, any bomb detonation would put the hostage in grave danger.
Sniping was no better. The suspect was well-placed and clearly trained. The hostage was in too much danger. They had no good options.
"Captain, the city bureau is on the line."
The silence broke.
Zhuang Yan answered the call. After a short conversation, he hung up and looked at Chen Mo.
He passed over a bulletproof vest and helmet. "Once you're inside, do everything you can to protect yourself. If anything seems off, we'll act immediately."
Chen Mo accepted the gear and the earpiece from a technician.
"Don't worry," he said calmly. "I'm not that weak."