HBWnovel Chapter 448: Stratagem
Chapter 448: Stratagem
Chapter 448: Stratagem
Zhang Jingxu’s exchange with Alice was evidently intended for the two men in black to hear. Upon learning that Alice and her companions would arrive at the Intensive Care Unit, the two men in black promptly chose to retreat.
Despite their firepower advantage, they understood the principle that ants could overwhelm an elephant. Continuing the fight now would not be in their favor.
Thus, while maintaining suppressive fire on Liu Xing’s group, the two men withdrew to the elevator.
Although Liu Xing’s group wanted to intercept the two men, their inferiority in firearms rendered them powerless, only able to watch helplessly as the two men descended in the elevator.
Zhang Jingxu took out his walkie-talkie and said, "Alice, we just encountered two men armed with submachine guns. They are likely the assassins targeting William. They’ve already taken the middle elevator downstairs. Send someone to watch the elevator now. We must seize the opportunity to apprehend them."
"OK," Alice replied briskly before ending the transmission.
Meanwhile, Jack successfully contacted other police officers in the Royal Hospital and informed them of the recent events in the Intensive Care Unit.
As the right elevator door opened, Ling Ishikawa emerged, stating, "The two killers have left the elevator on the third floor. According to information from medical staff on the third floor, they’re likely planning to escape to the parking lot through the fire escape route."
Zhang Jingxu nodded and entered the elevator, saying, "Then let’s hurry downstairs and try to intercept these killers. We cannot let them escape."
However, Jack shook his head, saying, "I’ll stay here in the Intensive Care Unit for now. While we’re not entirely sure if William is here, leaving now might make us susceptible to accusations of dereliction of duty. Besides, staying here can prevent those killers from making a surprise return."
Liu Xing raised an eyebrow, realizing that although the killers had fled through the fire escape route and one was injured in the leg, limiting their mobility, it didn’t necessarily mean they intended to escape Royal Hospital. They might indeed, as Jack suggested, attempt a counterattack and return to the Intensive Care Unit to continue their assassination plan.
So, should they pursue the killers or stay in the Intensive Care Unit and observe the situation, waiting to confirm the killers’ whereabouts before deciding?
Before Liu Xing and his group could dwell on it, Alice’s voice came over the walkie-talkie, "The killers are heading towards the parking lot now. However, other police officers outside have begun attacking and besieging them... Damn, they’ve been forced into the conference room!"
Hearing this, Liu Xing immediately entered the elevator, pressing the button for the first floor, as Tian Qing was still in the conference room!
Ling Ishikawa and Zhang Jingxu understood this and said nothing more.
Thus, Liu Xing’s group descended in the elevator.
However, just as the elevator doors closed, Liu Xing heard the sound of dice rolling.
Frowning, Liu Xing couldn’t help but wonder if this ongoing judgment was related to Jack and William. Was Jack also an assassin?
Nevertheless, at this point, Liu Xing and his group had no reason to return to the Intensive Care Unit. They could only proceed to the conference room with doubts and unease.
Outside the conference room, dozens of police officers had blocked all exits, ready to shoot down the killers the moment they stepped out.
Liu Xing approached Alice anxiously, asking, "Alice, what’s the situation now?"
Alice shook her head, sighing, "After entering the conference room, the killers seized control of the foreign tourists inside and refused any communication with us. We can’t enter the conference room to arrest them. So, we’re at a standstill."
A stalemate.
This was the last thing Liu Xing and his team wanted. Time was precious, and further delay could jeopardize their evacuation from Scotland back to England.
"By the way, don’t you find it strange? Why haven’t the Cult of the Cadaver and the Deep Diving Society shown up yet?" Yis People surveyed the surroundings, questioning.
Due to the urgency of the situation, Liu Xing and his team immediately began their operation, making their way to the rear door of the conference room without any pressure.
Unfortunately, the curtains in the conference room were drawn, so to avoid alerting the suspects, Liu Xing and his team didn’t dare to open them to observe the situation inside. Thus, Liu Xing could only eavesdrop on the conference room’s activities from the rear door.
However, to Liu Xing’s surprise, the conference room was eerily silent, with not even a whisper heard.
This was highly unusual.
After all, there were over two hundred foreign tourists in the conference room. It was unlikely for there to be complete silence.
Could it be...?
Liu Xing frowned, switched his mobile phone to recording mode, and slipped it through the door crack into the conference room.
Thirty seconds later, Liu Xing retrieved his mobile phone, plugged in his earphones, and played back the recording at maximum volume.
To his shock, there was indeed no sound coming from the conference room!
Realizing something was amiss, Liu Xing directly opened the rear door and entered the conference room.
The conference room was empty!
Seeing Liu Xing’s sudden action, Zhang Jingxu and the others, along with the Scottish police officers, quickly entered the conference room and stared blankly at the empty space.
In the middle of the corridor to the right of the conference room, there was suddenly a large pit.
"Damn, we’ve been tricked," Liu Xing cursed.
Approaching the edge of the pit, Ling Ishikawa felt the mud and spoke, "From the traces inside the tunnel, it seems that the Ghoul dug this tunnel only a few minutes ago. Therefore, the Cult of the Cadaver probably intended to target the foreign tourists in the conference room from the beginning. It seems we’ve fallen into the Cult of the Cadaver’s trap."
Zhang Jingxu nodded helplessly. "If things go as expected, the Cult of the Cadaver initially planned to use a diversionary tactic to send the two killers to assassinate William, attracting the attention of the police officers in the hospital. When we unexpectedly ran into them, the Cult of the Cadaver decided to stick to their plan, making the two killers pretend to flee to the conference room. Then, using delaying tactics, they set forth some difficult conditions to prevent the police from acting rashly. In conjunction with the underground Cult of the Cadaver followers, they kidnapped all the foreign tourists in the conference room."
Liu Xing sighed. "So what do we do now? Should we follow this tunnel to pursue the Cult of the Cadaver’s people? After all, it’s only been about five or six minutes since they left, and with so many foreign tourists, they can’t move quickly."
"Yes, to be precise, the Cult of the Cadaver’s people should have opened this tunnel about ten minutes ago. Because ten minutes ago, I suddenly felt the atmosphere in the conference room become chaotic, making it impossible for me to discern the situation inside. So, we can still pursue them. However, it’s better for me to go alone. Once I confirm the whereabouts of the Cult of the Cadaver, I’ll contact you by phone," Hu Li said seriously.
Liu Xing nodded decisively, and Zhang Jingxu and Ling Ishikawa naturally agreed as well.
Thus, Liu Xing and the others surrounded the pit, blocking the view of the Scottish police officers, allowing Hu Li to transform back and enter the tunnel.
Then, Liu Xing and his team decided to leave the hospital and return to the cathedral. After all, high-ranking officials from the Glasgow police would arrive here shortly. If their identities were exposed, they might really be in trouble.
However, just as Liu Xing and his team were about to leave the conference room, they heard a barrage of gunfire erupting from the top floor of the hospital!
"Oh, not again," Yis People couldn’t help but exclaim.
Clearly, another assassin had arrived at the Intensive Care Unit to assassinate William, and a battle had ensued with Jack, who was guarding there.
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