"Understood, Commander Zhu Yuan!"
Zhu Yuan nodded to Seth, then gripped her pistol in both hands and began issuing commands.
"Team One, block all entrances and exits to the main street, just in case. Team Two, secure the passages near the joint residential building. Team Three, cover all entry points to the building."
"The rest of you, with me!"
Her orders were crisp and to the point. Everyone received their assignments, forming three layers of tight, overlapping defenses.
The teams moved swiftly into action.
"This way."
Zhu Yuan led from the front. She suddenly stopped, glanced at a corner, and quickly identified the correct passage.
In the middle of the team, Zane caught the subtle cue. He followed Zhu Yuan's gaze and spotted a shallow arrow-shaped scratch in the wall.
It looked like it had been carved with the tip of a sharp blade—barely noticeable unless you were looking for it.
Before long, thanks to Zhu Yuan's careful path corrections, the group reached a corridor. She signaled them to slow their pace and move quietly.
Just as they approached the bend, a raider with a gun suddenly emerged. At first, he didn't notice the group pressed against the wall. But the moment he turned his head, Zhu Yuan was already on him.
With a burst of speed, she closed the distance, grabbed the raider's weapon with one hand, knocked it away with a backhand punch, and drove her knee hard into him!
Before she even lowered her leg, Seth dashed forward, delivering a swift follow-up combo.
The team quickly moved in to restrain the man—though it wasn't really necessary. The poor guy who'd "turned the corner and found love" was already unconscious.
Neither Zhu Yuan nor Seth held back against these ruthless criminals—sons of turtles, as far as they were concerned.
They pressed on. After clearing out a few more guards, both hidden and visible, they reached the main lobby of the residential complex.
This was clearly the gang's stronghold. Even before seeing anyone, their voices echoed through the space.
Zhu Yuan halted and silently issued hand signals to the others.
Zane couldn't interpret them, but when he saw Seth suddenly pull out a rocket launcher—and others readying heavy firepower—he raised an eyebrow.
"Zhu Yuan, are you going for a full assault?"
"Isn't that a bit too risky?"
Zane kept his voice low, barely audible to anyone but Zhu Yuan. But in response, Zhu Yuan simply blinked at him.
Her meaning was obvious.
Why else would I call you here if not for a direct assault?
Zane had no comeback. He looked at the small pistol in his hand, a bit perplexed.
If he couldn't use his own abilities openly, how exactly was he supposed to launch a full-on attack?
Tch… guess he'd have to improvise.
...
After several deafening explosions and a chaotic bout of combat, the residential building finally quieted down.
The other squads arrived shortly after receiving the signal. Most went with the captured raiders to sweep up remaining stragglers. The rest stayed behind to guard the arrested targets.
But only a few remained. Zhu Yuan and Seth had moved on to wrap things up, leaving an understaffed guard team.
Even so, the criminals—usually brash and fearless—were now huddled in corners, bound hand and foot, trembling.
Their eyes kept drifting toward one person, specifically the small pistol in his hand.
Could someone please explain why the bullets from that thing hit harder than a rocket launcher?!
The absurdity of it all made them question reality itself.
But that illusion wouldn't last long. The coming trial would make the truth hit all too hard.
...
The operation ended smoothly and quickly. After handing over the criminals, the Special Response Team's job was done.
They had handled the most difficult part—the arrests. The rest, like prosecution and sentencing, would be handed off to other departments.
With the job finished, they finally had some rare downtime.
Inside the Special Response Team office—
"Didn't expect the higher-ups to give us half a day off. I'm still full of energy, but this is the perfect chance to try out that new full rabbit set…"
Seth leaned back in his chair with a satisfied stretch. Zhu Yuan, seated nearby, pursed her lips at his words.
Truth was, he was even more devoted to the job than she was—always sticking to his own code of principles.
She still didn't understand why their senior always criticized her...
Thinking of Qingyi reminded Zhu Yuan of what came next. Nerves crept in, making her flustered and unsure.
Even though everything was planned, even knowing it wasn't real—she still couldn't calm down.
...
Meanwhile, Zane, unaware of Zhu Yuan's inner panic, figured it was time to leave. He had only been with the Special Response Team to study martial arts under Qingyi, and with her gone—and now that Seth and Zhu Yuan were on break—it was time to go.
But before he could say anything, Zhu Yuan seemed to sense it and quickly waved him over.
Despite feeling like backing out, Zhu Yuan forced herself to go through with it—for the sake of the "critical mission" their senior had mentioned!
"Zane, um… I..."
She opened her mouth but froze. Nerves wiped her mind blank—she couldn't even remember what she had planned to say.
"What's up, Zhu Yuan?"
Zane looked at her, surprised.
Just then, Seth's chatter about the rabbit meal set floated over, and Zhu Yuan quickly blurted out,
"W-Wanna grab something to eat?"
"My treat! You really helped us out back there—I don't know how to repay you, but at the very least, let me treat you to a meal!"
As the words left her mouth, Zhu Yuan quietly praised her own quick thinking. Using food as an excuse? Brilliant!
"No need, Zhu Yuan. Don't worry about it. Honestly, I don't think I made much of a difference. With or without me, I think the outcome would've been the same..."
Zane waved a hand, politely declining.
He still didn't understand why they'd even called him in. From the looks of it, the team had things well in hand without him.
"Hey, Zane, the meal's just my way of saying thanks, I—"
Zhu Yuan hadn't expected the rejection. Her eyes widened slightly, and she stood up from her seat.
Zane smiled softly at her and raised a hand to stop her.
"It's alright, Zhu Yuan. I appreciate the thought."