Chapter Ten: A Deadly Bargain

"I promise."

As Lin Feng's solemn pledge echoed through the communication channel, Xiao Ran realized that the fragile partnership between her and this madman—built only on a "transaction"—had finally been reinforced with the very first steel bar named "trust."

Now, it was time for the rat lurking in the shadows to witness the stage that these two, supposed enemies who had just had a falling out, had so meticulously prepared for him.

...

The following morning, in the core technology conference room of Huaxin Technologies.

Xiao Ran personally presided over a small, confidential briefing. Only a handful of the core technical staff attended—including Team Leader Old K and Li Mo.

Li Mo sat in the corner, head lowered, playing the role of the loyal, honest, and even somewhat timid nice guy, just as he always did.

He had no idea that he was already the only "prey" in this room.

During the meeting, Xiao Ran reported some inconsequential updates on the case. Then, as if by chance, she added,

"...Additionally, to ensure absolute security in our next actions, Director Wang has approved my request. We will conduct the highest-level internal polygraph and background checks on all personnel who have had access to core secrets."

As she spoke, her gaze swept casually across the room.

When her eyes met Li Mo's behind his thick glasses, she clearly saw his pupils contract—almost imperceptibly.

Meanwhile, in the mobile command vehicle, Lin Feng watched everything through the pinhole camera and whispered into his earpiece with a smile, "The fish is starting to panic."

Li Mo's heart indeed raced with anxiety.

The words "polygraph" and "investigation" burned into him like red-hot irons. Cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

Had he been exposed? Or was this just standard protocol?

No—he had to act fast. He had to complete this final transaction, get the money, and leave with his daughter as soon as possible!

The immense psychological pressure felt like an invisible hand shoving him relentlessly toward the abyss of no return.

He didn't realize that this was exactly the result Xiao Ran wanted.

At the end of the meeting, Xiao Ran gently placed a black USB drive on the table.

"This is a small fragment of the 'data core' that Lin Feng recovered last night—suspected to be the final design schematic of Project Dawn One," she announced gravely. "Old K, you'll keep this yourself. Not for a second should it leave your side. We need to verify its authenticity as soon as possible."

Li Mo's eyes flickered with a mix of greed and desperation as he stared at the USB drive.

To him, this was his last chance to complete the "final task" and save his daughter.

...

At 2:30 in the afternoon, the curtain rose on the main event.

On the surveillance feed, Li Mo entered Old K's office carrying a cup of coffee.

"Old K, I’ve been thinking about yesterday’s data redundancy issue. I believe there might be a more optimized algorithm..." He spoke with his usual blend of enthusiasm and humility, discussing technical matters with Old K.

Following the script, Old K showed great interest, and the two engaged in an animated discussion at the computer.

But the moment Old K turned to sketch a logic diagram on the whiteboard—Li Mo made his move.

With lightning speed, he pulled an identical black USB drive from his pocket and, in a split second, swapped it for the one containing the "final intelligence" on the desk.

The entire switch was smooth as flowing water—less than a second.

When he looked up again, his face wore the same honest, naive smile.

His technique was so professional it bore no resemblance to that of an ordinary technician.

From the command vehicle, Lin Feng whistled, "Impressive. He could win an Oscar."

"All units, attention," Xiao Ran's voice was ice-cold, "The prey... has left the den."

At 5:30 p.m., the end of the workday—

Li Mo clocked out and left the company as usual.

Driving his somewhat battered domestic sedan, he merged into the evening rush hour traffic.

The seamless, tri-pronged operation—land, sea, and air—was now underway.

Inside the mobile command vehicle, Xiao Ran and Lin Feng (connected remotely) sat side by side at the main console.

"'Hummingbird' drone is airborne. High-altitude visuals locked on!"

"Skynet system connected. Target vehicle’s route is being tracked and updated in real time!"

"Ground Team A in position, maintaining an 800-meter safety distance!"

"Teams B, C, and D have entered standby at the pre-planned grid sectors!"

One command after another issued from Xiao Ran’s lips, cool and precise.

Lin Feng, meanwhile, slipped like a ghost into the city’s traffic data backend.

"He’s heading for the overpass," Lin Feng noted, watching the flow of vehicles on the screen. "Traffic at the next two intersections will spike suddenly. Team A won’t get through. Alert Ground Team B to take over at Ramp Three."

"Copy that."

Thanks to their seamless coordination, all of Li Mo’s counter-surveillance maneuvers were rendered utterly futile. He was like a moth caught in a spider’s web, struggling in vain to escape the invisible net closing in around him.

At last, his car left the bustling city center, heading in a direction nobody had anticipated—

Riverside, at Dock Six—a long-abandoned wharf shrouded in rust and weeds.

"Target confirmed! Dock Six! He’s out of options!" Lin Feng immediately marked the final destination in red on the command vehicle’s digital map.

A glint of icy determination flashed in Xiao Ran’s eyes.

Her mind worked at full throttle. Staring at the sprawling electronic map, her formidable command instincts exploded into action.

"All units! Execute Operation Sky Net Plan A-3!"

"Teams A and B, cease pursuit! Circle around and establish the first physical blockade! I don’t want even a fly slipping through!"

"Team C! Hold at the port district. Approach by water! I don’t care how you do it—seal off all his escape routes by sea within five minutes!"

"Team D! You’re the strike team! Approach covertly from the east using the abandoned freight rail! Await my order to move!"

In just thirty seconds, her orders—sharp as surgical blades—shrank a net that had been spread across the city into a tight, inescapable cage of death.

...

Night fell.

At the dock, in an empty warehouse—

Li Mo stood clutching a briefcase, nerves taut as wire.

Ten minutes later, a black van glided in noiselessly.

Three mysterious figures in black trench coats, masks, and hats stepped out.

They were not Anderson.

The exchange was made.

Li Mo handed over the briefcase containing the "false intelligence" USB drive. In return, he received a case filled with cash.

Just as both sides completed the handoff and were about to leave—

"Freeze! Police!"

Xiao Ran’s icy voice thundered through the loudspeakers, shattering the silence across the dock.

Dozens of blinding spotlights flared on from all directions, illuminating the warehouse as bright as day.

According to Xiao Ran’s plan, Team D’s special operations unit was already poised. Like divine warriors, they rappelled from the tops of shipping containers, encircling Li Mo and the three mysterious men.

The three attempted to resist, but confronted with overwhelming force, they were all subdued in less than ten seconds.

Both culprits and evidence were in custody.

However, just as everyone believed the operation was a resounding success, chaos erupted.

One of the mysterious men, pinned to the ground, bit down on a hidden poison capsule between his teeth.

"No! He’s trying to kill himself!"

But it was too late. The man's body convulsed, black blood seeping from his mouth. He was dead within moments.

Another, taking advantage of the confusion, drew a silenced pistol—not at the special ops officers, but at the now-terrified Li Mo.

A clean-up.

Bang!

At the last possible moment, the deputy team leader lunged, knocking Li Mo aside. The bullet grazed Li Mo’s scalp, missing him by a hair’s breadth.

The assassin tried for a second shot, but the sniper, already trained on him, squeezed the trigger without hesitation.

Bang!

A spray of blood burst from the killer’s wrist, sending the gun flying.

The crisis was over.

In the command vehicle, Xiao Ran watched the harrowing scene unfold, her back already drenched in cold sweat.

She approached Li Mo, who had been escorted over, still shivering with terror.

Looking at this man, who had once been half a mentor to her, her eyes showed neither anger nor derision.

Only a chill—an endless, profound sorrow.

"Why?"

"Whatever Anderson could offer you—"

"Our country can give you far more."

"And what he cannot give you—"

She paused, her gaze hardening with resolve.

"—the country can give you as well."

"—A chance to go home."

She rose, no longer looking at the man who had utterly broken down.

Turning, she faced the command center and spoke softly into the communicator:

"Go ahead."

"What is Anderson’s next plan?"