Suddenly, shouts came from behind Gongyang.
"Hey Gongyang, where are you going? Did the boss send you back for something?"
It was the tall, thin man. Seeing Gongyang heading this way, he couldn't help but step out.
"The boss sent me back to grab a hostage. I thought I saw a figure over here just now, so I came to check."
"A figure! Are you sure? Has someone infiltrated?"
This guy was incredibly cautious. Upon hearing Gongyang's words, he immediately sat up, staring at the dark corner ahead with a thoughtful expression.
"Should we investigate?"
The tall, thin man became vigilant now.
Listening to their conversation, Li Qingfeng, who was hiding in the corner, felt his tension rise.
He could clearly feel his heart pounding faster, as if it were about to leap out of his chest.
"Forget it, we're probably just being too nervous, getting jumpy."
Suddenly, the man beside him patted Gongyang and turned to walk back into the warehouse.
Gongyang watched him return to the warehouse and nervously asked, "What if someone really got in?"
"Gongyang, when did you get so cowardly? Haven't you forgotten there's someone watching from above?"
The tall, thin man pointed upwards, indicating the sniper from the criminal team who was perched there.
"That's right, with Viper around, no one can escape!"
Hearing this, Gongyang finally stopped overthinking.
Viper was no ordinary sniper; they, as criminals, had often been outsmarted by him.
While the crime boss was number one, Viper was easily in the top three.
True to his name, he was cunning and treacherous, a real viper.
With his words, Gongyang no longer hesitated and walked back into the warehouse.
As soon as he entered, his gaze was fixed on Qin Bingran, the earlier sighting instantly forgotten.
"Gongyang, did the boss have new instructions?"
Seeing Gongyang enter, the scarred man asked directly.
"Scarface, the boss wants us to take a hostage and kill them to put pressure on the police!"
Gongyang pointed to a hostage in police uniform beside Scarface.
Upon hearing this, Scarface's expression shifted slightly.
"Can we keep that woman until the end?"
Gongyang chuckled, "The boss said he has no intention of letting her go. Once we're clear of here, she's ours to deal with."
Hearing the crime boss's intent, the eager glint in their eyes intensified.
Seeing their expressions, Gongyang knew exactly what they were thinking.
He quickly said, "However..."
"However what?"
"When I came over just now, the boss specifically instructed me not to touch her before we leave!"
Upon hearing Gongyang's words, the expressions of several criminals turned to disappointment.
But despite their disappointment, they still obediently followed the crime boss's orders.
"Since the boss said to spare her for now, let her live well today!"
Seeing their state, the criminals could only say this resignedly.
Thus, Gongyang casually grabbed a male police officer from the ground and dragged him to the south gate of the factory.
At the south gate, the criminals aimed their guns at the officer's neck.
"Don't, don't kill me..."
This was just a regular small-time cop, lacking the psychological fortitude for such a situation.
With several guns pointed at his neck, he immediately began to beg for his life. Hearing his pleas, the crime boss couldn't help but smile.
This was exactly what he had been waiting for!
"How many minutes have passed?" the crime boss asked, turning his head.
"Boss, seven minutes have passed."
Crime Boss: "Call the other side again and scare them a little."
"Understood, boss."
Hearing his command, another member with a phone immediately agreed and dialed the number.
The one answering the call was still Li Xuelin, who could now clearly see the hostage being held by the crime boss.
Li Xuelin: "What do you want?"
Hostage Taker Leader: "Nothing much! I'm just calling to remind you, Director Li, that you have three minutes left. After three minutes, if you don't do as I say, this person's head will be in front of you."
With that, the hostage taker leader hung up the phone.
Li Xuelin listened to the beeping of the dead line, unsure of what to do.
If he abandoned the hostage, he would definitely be blamed.
But if he let this criminal group escape, that would be an even more heinous crime.
"What should I do?"
Li Xuelin stared at the situation, falling into confusion.
"If you ask me, we should organize the SWAT team to storm in!"
Beside him, Li Wanchao was still fanning the flames. After all, none of the people inside were related to him, and he didn't care about their lives.
"Silence! As a glorious police officer, there are things you can say and things you cannot. You should understand that."
Li Xuelin's tone was cold, but it didn't reveal any blame.
After all, he didn't disagree with his son, Li Wanchao. The young man was right.
However, he had to maintain appearances, as he was the sole deputy director here.
When the director was away, all major and minor cases in the police station were handled by Deputy Director Li Xuelin.
Seeing this, Zhuang Ruizhen became considerably worried.
He had arrived when Qin Bingran was captured but had been prevented from rushing in by his colleagues.
Coupled with the deliberate stalling by the cunning Ji Fenglin, everyone was waiting. Zhuang Ruizhen's wait became even longer.
However, seeing the current situation, the chances of rescuing Qin Bingran and the others seemed slim. They didn't seem eager to act.
"What should I do?"
Thinking this, Zhuang Ruizhen's heart became anxious.
In fact, this was the truth. If he could, Zhuang Ruizhen would never listen to his colleagues at the police station.
His actions since arriving here had been suppressed by Deputy Director Li Xuelin, and he couldn't even implement his plan to rescue them.
"Li Xuelin!"
Looking at the deputy director in front of him, he clenched his fists tightly, filled with anger.
However, he had no power to resist the men ahead and could only silently pray for Qin Bingran in his heart.
"Captain, please don't get hurt!"
Time passed slowly. Soon, three minutes were up, and Li Xuelin's phone rang again.
When he answered, it was a video call.
The video call screen was simple, showing only the crime boss and the captured police officer.
"Director Li, I've given you time to consider. Now you should give me an answer..."
Looking at Li Xuelin, the hostage taker leader asked directly.
"I'm afraid I cannot agree to your terms. They are a bit too high. Shall we discuss them further?"
Hearing the hostage taker leader, Li Xuelin tried to delay further and said.
However, this guy was an extraordinary desperado, how could he be controlled by him?
Upon hearing his words, he pulled the hostage forward and cocked his gun.
Hostage Taker Leader: "Director Li, I'll give you ten seconds to consider."
Hostage Taker Leader: "Begin countdown!"
"Ten!"
"Nine!"
"Eight!"
...
"One!"
"Wait, I agree to your terms."
Just as the hostage taker leader reached the final count, Li Xuelin suddenly stopped him, agreeing to all his conditions.