Chapter 567: Last building
"Pfft." Everyone connected to the channel choked and coughed, including Ling Qingyu and Tang Ziyi afar. Every operator collectively wanted to laugh and almost exposed themselves during the stealth operation. Even Kilo 9 and 10, part of the military, smiled and had to use strong willpower not to laugh.
Of course, they were more restrained in the mission, unlike Spirit Fox, who could afford to compromise stealth due to their "cheats."
"I'm serious, Kilo 6," the leader barked, feeling both speechless and amused.
"I'm telling the truth. You asked for it," Kilo 6 responded. "Okay, go ahead and ask your question."
Knowing enough was enough, Kilo 5's leader didn't bother to joke around anymore. After all, that old lady might blow up in anger at her later.
"Well…" Kilo 5 described her predicament and asked if Kilo 6 had observed anything unusual.
"Negative. It seems luck is on your team's side. No hostiles or anything suspicious. Believe me, we didn't hear anything over here."
"Of course, I know you wouldn't have heard it. Anyway, warn us ahead if you discover something." Kilo 5's leader closed the channel and glanced at her partner, who shrugged.
"All Kilo 5, pause and give a sitrep," the leader asked over her team's channel.
"All according to plan."
"Situation under control." Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire
"Good, the enemies aren't alerted, right?"
"Roger."
"Good, go ahead. Out." Kilo 5's leader ended the communication and sighed in relief. How grateful she was that the weather was on her side.
"Hmm, team leader, we neutralized two targets who grabbed weapons and ran in your direction…"
"Copy," she exhaled and didn't think much of it. If they were alerted, so be it. It wasn't like they couldn't conquer this residence. Now, all she hoped was to drag things out long enough to keep the enemies from noticing anything strange.
Five minutes later, the building was clear and secured. Building 6 was safe. Building 5 was next. They didn't encounter any trouble and managed to subdue any dissidents.
Afterward, Kilo 5 served as overwatch while Kilo 6 assaulted. Only then did the two teams discover that what they had cleared earlier were dormitories for the syndicate's employees. Now, the buildings had been turned into prisons, with metal rails to lock up the "untamed" ones inside, both men and women.
Compared to the victims who had limited freedom, the men and women here had either given up resisting or been forced to submit.
After all, not everyone was born with a steel will. And even if they were, nothing lasted forever—it was only a matter of time.
However, this situation worked in Spirit Fox's favor because it made it easier to discern enemies, with less worry about no-shoot targets, though they remained mindful that some captives might have been freed by the gang's hands.
Systematic slave training, organized management, clear rewards and punishments—though the latter were beyond human morality. When these factors were applied to criminal dens, the future became more terrifying. What if good people avoided the edge and no longer bothered to take action?
One must remember: it only takes good people doing nothing for tyrants to reign and evil to prevail.
Silenced, suppressed shots rang in rhythm with the thunder clapping above. As time passed, the progress of Kilo 5 and 6 became evident. So did the progress of the other teams.
The final two buildings closest to the highway were decorated grandiosely. To outsiders, they appeared to be legitimate businesses, giving a positive impression to first-timers arriving from the main highway. But for those behind the façade, every day was a nightmare.
Unbeknownst to the men indulging and enjoying themselves, acting as if they had control over others' fates, Spirit Fox operators approached. The Damocles of Death had landed just behind their necks, and they were completely unaware. The heavy rain had made them cozy, distracting them with their hobbies—playing cards, watching television, gaming, or torturing captives.
Across the distance from the last building, the two Kilo teams had their eyes on the target. Hiding in the shadows, no one noticed anything strange, nor were they concerned that they might be attacked. After all, they had the backing of a powerful warlord. Who would dare attack them? Even the countries they operated in and those they bordered had to show respect to the warlord.
As for blatantly kidnapping people from Country C, they had no fear. As long as they didn't overstep their control, their wealth was safe. In fact, they didn't realize they had stretched too far and challenged the patience of a big country, no matter how corrupt or disunited it was internally.
Kilo 5 and Kilo 6 stood in the darkness. Only the green glow of their night vision observed the target. Kilo 5's leader gestured to Kilo 6, asking them to provide support.
Of course, even though humans didn't notice their presence, animals did, like dogs. Dogs howled and barked non-stop, their mouths directed toward the Spirit Fox operators.
Woef! Woef! Woef!
Three dogs, chained, didn't lunge aggressively to the limits of their shackles. Their sixth sense told them that Spirit Fox operators were dangerous. The only response they had was to bark fiercely, warning the intruders that they weren't to be trifled with and alerting their owners. As dogs, their owners should support them when they needed it, right?
"Boys, what are you doing?" Amidst the heavy rain, a drowned-out man's voice shouted. Because the dogs weren't behaving recklessly, lunging to the chains' limits, the man and his fellows didn't raise any alarms.
"Stop barking! It's raining. We'll feed you a delicious meal later." The man followed the dogs' gaze but saw nothing.
These were hunting dogs that had tasted human blood. Who knew whether this group of evildoers conducted human hunting games for fun? Anyway, every operator sensed the gloominess exuded by the dogs.
The point men of both Kilo 5 and 6 sneered at the agitated beasts. To the innocent victims, these dogs were nightmares. But for them, a kick would be enough to kill them. It could be that their muzzles, aimed at the dogs, deterred them from acting too tough. Bullies to the weak and fearful of the strong, as expected of the accomplices of syndicate criminal dens.
The two leaders commanded their subordinates to move. Several shadows began to approach the dogs, which barked more and more fiercely. Instead of advancing, their limbs began to retreat, and their teeth growled. The men beside the dogs were stunned.
Obviously, the dogs' reaction had surpassed normal behavior. They understood something was wrong, but being attacked never crossed their minds.
Lightning flashed suddenly, and the man couldn't believe what he saw within that brief moment—so many figures. He felt dazed and rubbed his eyes. Soon, another flash shed light on his confusion, and he saw them for real, closer than before.
Shit, his dogs had been warning him and his friends. Before he could exclaim, his body halted all functions and began to collapse to the ground. Through his vision, he realized what he had witnessed: special forces were attacking them. But which country?
Unfortunately, his brain stopped working, and his final vision darkened as he lay in the muddy soil. The last thing he knew was that his dogs weren't spared either.
Pap! Pap! Pap!
Kilo 5 and 6 operators moved forward and didn't shoot until the enemies spotted them. All bullets demolished the enemies' heads.
Seeing their dead masters, the dogs' eyes reddened, thirsting for vengeance. Spirit Fox was happy to reciprocate.
Pap! Pap! Pap! Pap!
Ooh! Ooh!
The growls turned to whimpers for those dogs who didn't die immediately. The operators had no pity, even if they loved cats and dogs.
Pap! Pap!
Rapidly, the area was cleared. Any remaining patrols were wiped out. Kilo 5 and Kilo 6 hadn't yet alerted the enemy. Luck, and the enemies' lax vigilance and lack of discipline, favored this outcome