When Avin burst out of the smoking factory, what he saw was a yard full of workersâ
Some could still move, most were groaning, and a very few... looked in terrible shape, perhaps with fatal internal injuries.
The security forces only had non-lethal weapons, but the damage from these "non-lethal weapons" was no small matter. The most powerful water bullet machine gun could fire 400 polymer water bullets per minute at full capacity!
This type of weapon even appeared in the arsenals of major city Terrorist Mobile Teams. The full-power polymer water bullets might not penetrate the armor of fully-armed cyber psychotics, but the kinetic impact of the high-pressure water bullets was strong enough to keep most people pinned down.
The polymer water bullets used by the European Tunnel Company, though required by the European Union to reduce power, were still super weapons against ordinary people. Continuous fire for a minute could potentially cave in a skull.
And these polymer water bullets were mixed with a skin-permeating anesthetic. No one could withstand such an assault.
However, water bullets were still water bullets. Half-power water bullets couldnât penetrate the human body, meaning that as long as someone blocked them, those behind wouldnât be attacked.
This was exactly the scene Avin saw: the water bullets looked like water blades in the air, but while blades could cut, these weakened water bullets couldnât penetrate the line of flesh and blood even if they left workers bruised and battered!
Too slow! That guy is already out the door!
Whoosh!
Smoke suddenly erupted from the other side of the door; someone was sealing off the entrance with smoke! They had reinforcements!
At this moment, Avin couldnât care less about the European Unionâs warnings. He roared angrily into the communication channel:
[Avin: Activate anti-riot program, operation code: C314-X9E, deploy Nauseator! Right now! Immediately!]
Had this command been some vague order, something like "Do it for me" or "Start this," the helicopter driver on the helipad would have questioned it, as the devices used in the anti-riot program werenât safe and might attract scrutiny from the European Union.
But adding that code changed everything: the instruction was clear and firm, and Avin who issued it would bear the consequences!
The helicopter took off swiftly, and the missile bay immediately opened, revealing a massive ultrasonic emitter standing over 1.7 meters tall and 60 cm wideâ
The wind scattered the smoke, and through the black haze, Elliot looked up and saw something in the sky:
[Name: "Nauseator" Riot Control Device]
[Manufacturer: Arasaka Company]
[Description: A special crowd control device that fills a conical area 15 meters deep and 25 meters wide with ultrasound, causing immediate dizziness to people within the region. Staying longer than 6 seconds will result in severe headaches and nausea, possibly leading to complete incapacitation!]
[European Union police-level equipment, strictly controlled, company use requires filing.]
[Lille: Put on the headphones, get down and grab them!]
Elliot glanced at Carlâs big white teeth, made up his mind, grabbed the headset from the co-pilot seat, and rushed straight out the doorâ
"What are you doing!"
Alina, in the driverâs seat, was startled, but Elliot simply shouted back without turning his head, "Put on the headphones!"
Buzzâ
The frequency exceeded 20kHZ, filling the entire area with ultrasound, the sound pressure level was enough to even make the smoke ripple. Carl, who was laughing a moment ago, took only a few steps before his mind went blank like his companions behind him:
They were clearly running forward, yet why were they getting closer to the ground?
The more he thought about standing up and running, the more he felt glued to the ground, as if heâs deliberately slamming into the ground!
He suddenly realized: He had fallen!
Thud!
Before Carlâs face and the floor made intimate contact, Elliotâs big belly cushioned him, and two strong arms caught another two workers about to crash to the ground:
"Good brothers! Iâve got you! Get in the car!"
"Sure..."
Bang!
Carl felt as if he had been kicked hard, followed by a dizzying spin, and magically ended up inside the car.
He climbed up, holding onto the seats, and suddenly heard a vomiting sound in his ears...
"Ugh!"
Carl listened to the sounds around him, but his mind didnât become any clearer; instead, the world before him suddenly turned blood-red:
He was bleeding!
Alina glanced back and shouted at Elliot who was rushing out again, "Earplugs arenât a panacea. If you delay any longer, youâll have to stay behind! Weâve got enough people!"
"Iâve got more meat on my bones!" Elliot shook his flesh but didnât turn back as he charged out again, "Let me save one more!"
"More meat is worse!"
The helicopter overhead slowly approached the gate, and the damage from the Super Divine Wave was beyond the realm of willpower endurance. Workers were dropping like wheat wherever it reached.
Amid the smoke, Elliot charged in and out like a wild boar, shouldering one person, not caring if dragging two others might cause further injury!
The three vans were quickly filled. Alina and her two teammates were stunned: Still not running? Thatâs a damn helicopter!
Back and forth, the helicopter was getting closer. Just as the three peopleâs shock was about to turn into scolding the fat guy for his foolishness, he plopped himself into the vehicleâ
"Drive!"
With engines roaring, the three ever-ready vans floored their gas pedals, and the illegally modified turbochargers revved up to full speed again. Tires screeched across the pavement, and by the time security rushed out of the smoke, all they saw was exhaust!
Avin shouted furiously, "Damn it! Chase them down! I refuse to believe..."
[Driver: Drone swarm approaching, identification code confirmed: Foxstone Police Station, sir, European Union orders us to immediately land.]
Thud.
Avin knelt on the floor, heartbroken.
These workers had doomed him.
...
"Wuhu!" Elliot enthusiastically hugged Alina, "Let those corporate dogs eat shit!"
"Weâre not out yet!"
"Weâre already done!" Elliot grew more excited, "The European Union wonât allow them to fly helicopters and riot control devices into the city! Weâve completed our mission!"
Alina looked puzzled, "How is that possible? Even if they canât enter the city, whoâs going to stop them from flying a bit over this transport road?"
"This is gray territory! My dear Alina, gray territory means: when I donât care, you can pay to get things done.
But when I do care, you have to back off!"
Excited, Elliot repeated the principles Lille had taught him. The feeling of having the company eat dust after such a thrilling adventure was overwhelming. He was even starting to enjoy the sense of narration!
Whooshâ
A vast swarm of drones, shining red lights, swept across the sky. The helicopter, barely airborne, hadnât even left the premises, was forced down by the drones!
"We did it!!!"
As the three vans raced down the road, witnessing the scene and listening to Elliotâs ecstatic voice, they too couldnât help but become exhilarated, some even unconsciously smiling:
[Ice Hammer:...I didnât expect this mission to be so fun, and...whatâs more, you canât judge a book by its cover, boss.]
[Silver Fox: Certainly surprising, didnât expect it to be so...easy?]
Even the dazed Carl raised his arm, giving Elliot a thumbs up.
Is this what success feels like?
Elliot thought, suddenly feeling a kiss on his cheek... it was Alina.
His face turned beet red, and his mind transitioned from one euphoric state to another, as he retreated to his seat on the passenger side.
Alina chuckled at his reaction, "Yo, why not keep hugging?"
Johnnyâs voice also came through:
[Johnny: If it were me, Iâd just kiss back.]
[Johnny: And why are you laughing? I know youâre laughing.]