「Temporary Command Center.」
Zuo Zhenyu and Director Zhang exchanged a look, a sense of relief washing over them. The kidnapping case was essentially resolved now. Even if the last robber escaped, it wouldn't change the overall outcome. The progress of the case had been unexpectedly smooth, yet something still felt off. From beginning to end, the kidnappers from the Black Shark Society had never stated any demands. They had simply kidnapped people, blown up the villa, resisted desperately, and ultimately, were either killed or captured alive.
Their motives for the kidnapping, and why they chose to commit such a major crime in a small city like Tongyuan, remained unknown.
With the situation largely decided, Director Zhang took command. "All teams, listen up," he ordered into the comms. "Prioritize safety, but capture the last enemy alive if possible. Repeat: capture the last enemy alive if possible."
"Acknowledged!" came the responses from the elite armed police and military personnel.
Lu Lin, Fire Dragon Captain, and Eagle Claw pursued the fleeing kidnapper.
Below the villa, the spot where the kidnapper was about to land was right beside Zuo Yiming.
At this moment, Zuo Yiming's Star Power was depleted and hadn't fully recovered. If he faced the robber head-on, he might be at a disadvantage within two moves.
Lu Lin saw this from the air but couldn't shout a warning in time.
Thinking of the effect of the War Cry he'd used earlier, an idea suddenly struck Lu Lin.
"Come and hit me!" he yelled.
The kidnapper, who had just landed, hadn't yet had time to adjust his stance when a huge force propelled him toward Lu Lin.
"Great timing!" Fire Dragon Captain exclaimed, overjoyed to see Lu Lin's Star Skill take effect.
"Flame Snake!"
Four small, thread-thin snakes of fire shot towards the kidnapper.
Although the kidnapper tried his best to resist, the attack was too sudden, and he only managed to block three of them.
The last Flame Snake, its body wreathed in intense flames, shot straight for the kidnapper's chest.
"Hahaha, you can't kill me!" the kidnapper roared. "The God of Black Shark is eternal! I will return!"
The kidnapper, though struck by the Flame Snake, seemed oblivious to the attack. Flames raged, devouring the flesh on his chest. Yet, he still burst into arrogant laughter.
"All teams, listen up. Prioritize safety, but capture the last enemy alive if possible. Repeat..."
Just then, Director Zhang's order came through Fire Dragon Captain's and Lu Lin's helmets.
At this critical moment, however, Fire Dragon Captain couldn't withdraw his Star Skill in time.
"Disperse!" he commanded.
Fire Dragon Captain forcibly dispersed the Flame Snake, sustaining some backlash damage himself.
The kidnapper, seeing the Flame Snake dissipate, froze for a second. Then his eyes turned cold. He guessed Fire Dragon Captain's intention.
The kidnapper ignored the searing pain from the Flame Snake on his body and sneered, his face a mask of mockery.
"Want to capture me alive?"
"Dream on."
The kidnapper activated the Star Core and Star Veins within his body.
His entire frame suddenly swelled by a size. He grew taller, his muscles bulging. Ripples of erupting Star Power undulated across the surface of his skin.
"Join me on the road to hell," he cackled. "Hahahaha..."
"Not good, he's going to self-destruct!" Fire Dragon Captain instantly recognized the kidnapper's intent. He quickly pulled back the still-confused Lu Lin and Zuo Yiming.
"Fall back, fall back!"
Outside the villa, the armed police and soldiers who had been guarding against the kidnapper's escape also retreated hastily.
The robber watched everyone's panicked expressions with satisfaction, his arrogance swelling.
BANG!
BANG!
Two consecutive explosions rocked the area, gouging out a pit roughly half a meter deep and three meters in diameter where the robber had stood.
Lu Lin activated Stone Skin, positioning himself in front of Fire Dragon Captain and Zuo Yiming.
Suddenly, he felt something clinging to his arm.
Curious, Lu Lin brought it closer for a look...
"Ugh..."
"Disgusting... ugh..."
What he had taken off his arm was a gory, red-and-white chunk of internal organ. He didn't know which organ it was... But now was not the time to care about that.
Lu Lin flung the unidentifiable piece of viscera to the ground and retched violently. Everything he had eaten at the Dragon Battle Hotel earlier that night came gushing out.
Zuo Yiming was in even worse shape. Two severed fingers and a shard of bone were matted in his hair; he vomited so violently he nearly blacked out, almost bringing up bile.
"You two youngsters can't handle this?"
Amused by the scene, Fire Dragon Captain picked up one of the severed fingers Zuo Yiming had dislodged and began to examine it.
"'This is an index finger,' he observed, turning it over. 'The calluses are thick—looks like he trained regularly.' He peered closer. 'There's a trace of blackish-yellow under the nail; probably tobacco residue. Didn't expect this guy to be a heavy smoker.'"
Fire Dragon Captain then brought the finger to his nose and sniffed. "Damn! This bastard was smoking Yellow Crane Tower? Even I don't splurge on those!"
Lu Lin and Zuo Yiming, having just emptied their stomachs, witnessed Fire Dragon Captain's actions and were immediately overcome by another wave of nausea.
"Ugh..."
「Two hours later.」
Lu Lin and Zuo Yiming lay in beds in the City Defense Army's affiliated hospital, watching the evening news on a Quantum TV.
"Good evening, everyone. This is Tongyuan News, and I am your host, Li Tian."
"This afternoon, a heinous kidnapping occurred in our city's Star River Road Lakeside Mansion Community. The City Police Department, in cooperation with the Tongyuan City Guard, successfully eliminated all the kidnappers."
"Director Zhang of the City Police Department stated, 'Please trust the police. Believe that our Federation officers can protect every Federal Citizen. All evil will inevitably turn to ash under the light of justice and righteousness.'"
"Please watch our on-site coverage..."
This vicious kidnapping incident unfolded rapidly and was resolved even faster. Thanks to the joint efforts of the police and the City Defense Army, it took less than three hours to neutralize all kidnappers and rescue the hostages.
Apart from the six individuals tragically killed by the kidnappers before the rescue, only Luo Yu and another middle-aged woman sustained injuries. They were currently receiving treatment at the Tongyuan First Civilian Hospital, and their vital signs were stable.
Luo Ling, after regaining consciousness, was escorted by the police to the hospital to be with her sister. Having learned what transpired, she expressed her profound gratitude to Lu Lin and Zuo Yiming via her Biological Chip.
Lu Lin was unfazed, but Zuo Yiming was acting strangely giddy. He had been utterly drained of Star Power upon arrival at the hospital. Now, however, he lay on his side, his back to Lu Lin, grinning foolishly at nothing in particular, not even watching the Quantum TV. He had the dopey, lovesick look of someone completely smitten.
"You have a new communication request. Do you accept?"
The voice of the Biological Chip sounded in Lu Lin's ear.
"Accept."
"Little Lu, how are you? Are you injured?" Master Jiang Yueming's image appeared before him.
Upon seeing Lu Lin lying in the hospital bed, Master Jiang Yueming impulsively stood up, intending to go over and check on him. He reached out, only to grasp at empty air, and then it struck him that he'd acted too hastily.
"Thank you for your concern, Master Jiang. I'm fine," Lu Lin replied.
He was indeed fine. Aside from having depleted more than half of his Star Power, he was perfectly fine. Whether it was the silk line robber's assault or the other kidnapper's self-detonation, the only real effect on Lu Lin had been a prolonged bout of nausea; he was otherwise unscathed.
"It's good that you're fine, good that you're fine." Seeing that Lu Lin genuinely seemed in good spirits, Master Jiang didn't press further.
"Little Lu, have you considered what I spoke to you about this afternoon?"
"I've thought it over, Master Jiang," Lu Lin said, sitting up and then standing to give a deep bow. "I am honored by your offer and gratefully accept. I am eager to learn from you about becoming a Star Skill Instructor."
"There's no need for such formality, no need at all." Jiang Yueming smiled and helped Lu Lin straighten up. "We don't really go in for that sort of thing in modern society. From now on, just call me Teacher."
"Then, come to the Dragon Battle Hotel tomorrow morning, and we'll officially begin your studies."