Chapter 576: Sniper III
"I knew our motherland would never abandon us," the woman coughed and spoke with difficulty. Her eyes flamed like a torch as hope and joy gathered around her. She looked at the fully equipped operators, one of them kneeling before her.
"Stay still. Don't move," a female voice soothed her emotions. "Let me check you quickly. I heard from our snipers you're wounded very badly."
At the same time, she silently complained about the woman's trust in the government, though not too much, because she had once been just like the woman—fully trusting the government and assuming officials' statements were universal truths.
It turned out her vision and mindset broadened after working under Ling Qingyu. She had seen how her boss navigated waywardly to get to where they were today. A strong posture in Province N.
The past belief that gangs were like pests, which were hard to eradicate, was completely overruled. In mere months, she and her fellow sisters, working alongside righteous officials like Yang Qingyue, had eliminated these cancerous infections by thunderous means.
Well, not totally annihilated, but the situation had turned for the best, for the first time in decades. Where there's a will, nothing is impossible.
Had the government been keen to neutralize these threats and save civilians, her boss Ling Qingyu wouldn't have even needed to make a move.
This poor woman still thought the government didn't mind the price to rescue them. It wasn't totally wrong since a minister had requested Spirit Fox to make a move.
However, she knew through gossiping with her sisters that rescue was never considered an option. Mere rhetoric, rewards, and honors, plus small words to boost the government's public image, were the original plan.
These undercover agents were on a deadly mission of their own. Should circumstances turn south, like now, their fate was doomed.
In fact, as warriors, she didn't want to suffer the fate of cannon fodder for a few parties' interests. She had joined the army in the past because of this belief.
Of course, material needs also led her to the path of a soldier. Now, she found her true soul under Ling Qingyu's cause, matching the justice and the ideals, though the boss never confessed them. Everybody felt Ling Qingyu's genuine ideals and vision.
Ling Qingyu wasn't just a simple businesswoman. She was much more. It was an honor and privilege to serve under her leadership. Plus, the treatments given to them fulfilled everything to the point where their ideals had come to reality.
Switching on the strong flashlight attached to her helmet, the operator scanned the poor woman's entire body.
The latter was in totally disarrayed, disheveled clothing. No, it was better to say she was nearly naked, apart from the underwear protecting her final dignity.
Torn-off uniform, pieces of clothing spread around. Blood drenched all over. This girl had gone through a lot in a short time.
From the rough scenario they understood, the first shot came from her. The operator searched for the bleeding and immediately addressed the issue, taking out first-aid kits from her bag while summoning the medic in her team.
Months of repeated training also involved the course of applying combat first-aid treatment, led by Tang Ziyi. Every operator had learned the essential skills and techniques to survive, although, based on the armor setting and protection level Ling Qingyu provided, that day was far away.
She applied tourniquets to the limbs with wounds to stop the bleeding. The injury in the abdomen could only be pressed hard. The medic came quickly and knelt beside her. The two cooperated seamlessly.
Bandaging, administering painkillers and antiseptics, IV drips. A few Kilo 5 operators guarded the women while the rest continued clearing.
In order to treat the woman better, they had to transport her to the temporary HQ, where Ling Qingyu had unloaded medical supplies.
For now, they stabilized the woman's condition. The Kilo 5 leader reported the medic's words to Tang Ziyi, who ordered Kilo 1 to drive the technicals parked in the garage.
Her order stunned the Kilo 1 operators. But, remembering Ling Qingyu likely brought the spatial device, nobody thought too much.
Indeed, when they walked to the location Tang Ziyi described, they saw armed Toyota technicals and armored Landcruisers, ready for an exciting adventure.
Three technicals and a Landcruiser drove off toward Kilo 5's and 6's positions. The woman wanted to talk and was scolded by the medic's harsh words.
Perhaps her eyes were too obvious. The two assisting operators answered her questions. "They're safe. We've already found and sent them to a secure place. Once the floor is cleared, you'll go with them to our temporary HQ, the safest place for the next few days."
"Your injuries are fine, but I don't want to aggravate your mood and fragile body. It's better to stay still than worsen yourself. At least, help me cut off future complications," the medic comforted after being glared at by her partner.
Someone was already in trauma; there was no need to further agitate her. However, the medic's scolding worked since the woman cooperated more, giving trust to the authority.
In fact, the woman was thinking hard about which unit had saved her, particularly since everyone appeared to be female soldiers, a rare sight.
Although she couldn't see the others properly in the dark, their voices and whispers indicated they were women.
...
Ling Qingyu and Tang Ziyi continued their observations as Kilo 5 proceeded with clearing upward while Kilo 6 conducted a thorough sweep to ensure no threats re-emerged, like wiping Kilo 5's ass.
"Target, three windows from the left on the fourth floor. Looks like he's forcefully dragging a woman."
"Contact. Hostiles?"
"Unknown for now," Tang Ziyi answered with a smile. "Lock on him. It's best not to risk it like a few minutes ago."
"Understood." Ling Qingyu knew luck had played a great role when she and Tang Ziyi accomplished an outstanding feat.
"Good, let's keep track of them and report their status to Kilo 5. They'll handle it," Tang Ziyi said. "Meanwhile, we can shoot targets that are far away from the civilians."
Kilo 5 moved on and shot down multiple hostiles. By now, the enemies were alerted. A few fearful ones dashed for safety, unaware that they were exposed to Ling Qingyu and Tang Ziyi.
Surrenderers began to appear when they realized they had lost all contact with their leaders. Spirit Fox operators and Ling Qingyu's duo were too lazy to take prisoners, yet when these men threw down their weapons and acted like civilians, the operators had no choice.
They cuffed them for later interrogation and investigation to match with the civilians Spirit Fox had saved, and their testimonies.
Braver ones took up arms, but their fate was no different from the dead ones, even if courage ran through their veins. Without proper organization, fearless resistance was futile.
Like eggs thrown against a solid rock, they stood no chance. The more strong-willed members caught Ling Qingyu's and Tang Ziyi's eyes.
"Three targets engaged with Kilo 5 near the hallway, third floor, seven windows from the right."
"Contact."
"Send it."
Pap! Pap! Pap!
Three seconds later, the targets fell one after another.
"Target…" Tang Ziyi shouted another objective. Ling Qingyu shot them down. Two-prong attacks on a contained building, the situation already dictated the gangs here were finished.
Sure enough, Kilo 5 declared the last room cleared, and Kilo 6 commenced secondary clearance until the building was deemed safe.
Suspected hostiles who were apprehended were forced into one room. 'Civilians' were placed in another. Both were guarded by two operators.
The injured woman was put on a stretcher carried by the medic downstairs where she would accompany her undercover comrades.
Tang Ziyi had already informed the medics that transport would arrive for the agents to be whisked away to a safe zone.
Good news came again as Kilo 7 and 8 declared successful occupation of the 'residence' as well as linking up with undercover agents.
In contrast to the teams Ling Qingyu and Tang Ziyi were overwatching, their progress was smooth. The cover of stormy weather helped a lot.
They managed to meet with agents while clearing. If not for their excellent memory, the agents might have been treated poorly by mistake, because they were engaging in a secret meeting away from people, with weapons placed near them, depicting them as gang members.
Kilo 7 and 8 cleaned the garbage without letting the enemies fire a single bullet or raise an alarm.@@novelbin@@
For now, they couldn't count how many they had eliminated and rescued. Too many, actually.
Kilo 9 and 10, belonging to the military faction, were still in progress. So far, they had kept their stealth and hadn't compromised their presence. Slower, obviously, but Tang Ziyi didn't say much.
Through radio communication, every team was aware of each other's state. So, Tang Ziyi consoled the Wolf members to avoid pressuring them to speed up and risk mistakes.
No matter how highly ranked among the special forces of Country C, they still couldn't compare to Spirit Fox.
Perhaps, in the past, when Tang Ziyi hadn't openly cheated, they might have stuck around. Nonetheless, once golden fingers came into the equation, Wolf members could no longer catch Spirit Fox's tail.
Super strength, resilience, endurance, concentration—everything super, including marksmanship, since recoil management became too easy. Obviously, the improvements weren't spectacular, but every Spirit Fox member could be considered at the peak of Soldier Kings with upgraded physiques.
Engine roars slightly rumbled under the thunderstorm. Several vehicles approached, drifting on dirt and mud.
No headlights; purely relying on the NVG capabilities and the thermal front and back cameras equipped on the vehicles. The driver could see them on the dash screen if necessary.
Afterward, the woman and her two comrades were put in the Land Cruiser, which would drive back to HQ.
Kilo 1 operators exited from the driving position and mounted this technical for the return journey. The Kilo 1 medic would take over the job of casualty extraction.
The Land Cruiser and a technical sped away and vanished from sight.
The remaining vehicles were intended for Kilo 5 and 6. Naturally, more vehicles would be delivered again because two weren't enough. In Tang Ziyi's plan, each team would have two fighting vehicles.
Phase one of the entire operation was nearly done once Kilo 9 and 10 finished their clearance.
Phase two would begin with a direct assault on the thriving city. Still, some preparations had to be made.
Ling Qingyu snapped her neck to relax the stiff muscles. The high stress and stakes created pressure. She had no trouble popping bastards' heads, like she was worried.
The strain came from being unable to afford any mistakes during the rescue of the woman, even though she was accompanied by Tang Ziyi. That moment was the most stressful.
She felt a pat on the back and responded, "What?"
"Are you really not considering fully inheriting my skills? I'm looking for someone to transfer my studies completely," Tang Ziyi said with a gentle, doting smile.
"Nope, not at all," Ling Qingyu refused.
"Why not?"
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"What, why not?" Ling Qingyu snapped. "Why don't you inherit my company? I believe you have the talents for management. There are many positions. I wish you were there to help me."
"Shut up! No way in hell would I want to suffer headaches," Tang Ziyi cussed, prompting giggles on her side.
"Does that mean I no longer need to participate?" Ling Qingyu asked, desiring a salted-fish state before the shooting began.
"Heck no," Tang Ziyi denied without hesitation. "You and I will do exciting stuff. Come on, it's rare that we have an opportunity."
"Who in their right mind wants this so-called opportunity? Please!"
Tang Ziyi clenched Ling Qingyu's shoulder and smiled in a way, she thought was the most beautiful. But she had no idea, under the darkness and reflective lightning, the face was no different from a conspiring ghost.
Ling Qingyu shuddered from her expression. She understood, once Tang Ziyi smiled like this, somebody was going to get unlucky. Before she used to sneer at the victims, she couldn't sneer anymore.
Help!
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