Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 183 The Disappearance of Lin Keke

The atmosphere was somber in the port's secure waiting area.

Prime Minister Long Yun is receiving a briefing from security officials.

The tunnel threat was over, and the bridge was closed, but he still felt the danger hadn't completely disappeared.

The guards stood watch at various points on the building, their guns pointed in all directions.

About 500 meters from the waiting area, in a hideout disguised as a repair shop, Li Ruoxue issued instructions.

"One team, led by Dr. James, will disguise themselves as a CIA group and infiltrate Warehouse Three through the breach, creating a large disturbance to tie down the main guard force. Remember, use only American-made equipment!"

James nodded and examined the M4 carbine with a silencer in his hand.

"Second team, follow me and infiltrate through the ventilation ducts and old drainage system, directly into the center of the waiting area."

The targets were Long Yun and the senior officials present.

Suha and Smith's gang should be waiting for their chance to make a move from the viewing platform.

Once we succeed, we'll stage the scene and make them take the blame.

Remember! Swift and decisive, leave no survivors!

Once completed, proceed to Pier 3 as planned; a speedboat will pick you up!

She glanced at her watch: "Ten minutes from now, once Smith fires, we'll move in immediately."

……

Lin Keke was the one who learned of Li Ruoxue's true conspiracy.

Not long ago, she obtained crucial information through special channels: bombing the bridge was a cover-up; the real target in the waiting area was the Prime Minister, and they were disguised as CIA agents...

She immediately realized that her previous assessment and troop movements might have fallen into Li Ruoxue's trap of luring the tiger away from the mountain.

The tunnel and bridge drew the main attention, while the waiting area where Prime Minister Lung Yun was located may have relaxed its vigilance as the threat was over.

Without time to hesitate, she risked exposure and activated the emergency contact method she had agreed upon with Liu Mingxuan.

"The tide is a ruse; the Snow Leopard's real target is in the waiting area within the harbor. The attack is a staged attack intended to incite chaos, frame the CIA, and, after both sides are weakened, install the pro-Cheongss Deputy Prime Minister. We request immediate support for the waiting area!"

At Sihai Company, Liu Mingxuan received an urgent message from Lin Keke, and his expression changed drastically.

Li Ruoxue is too cunning!

The bombing of the cross-sea bridge was a smokescreen she planted!

She deliberately leaked the information that the CIA had planted explosives in the tunnel, with the aim of indirectly forcing Prime Minister Long Yun to stay at the port.

Liu Mingxuan slammed his fist on the table: "Well done, Li Ruoxue! Killing three birds with one stone!"

"Is it quiet on the line?" he asked Wang Gang, who was standing next to him.

"Team Leader An just reported that only a small amount of detonating explosives was found on the bridge. She's already realized something's wrong and is leading her men back to the port at full speed!"

"Notify Zhou Rui to abandon the bridge and shift the target to the port waiting area!"

"Order all personnel on the perimeter to assemble in the waiting area immediately!"

Liu Mingxuan picked up the encrypted phone and directly connected with the highest-ranking official in Country A's security department to report the situation.

He then notified Wu Zhiyuan.

……

Inside the port, Wu Zhiyuan reached out towards an abandoned pipe leading to the warehouse area.

On the other side of the port, near the viewing platform.

Smith and Suha's confidants, along with a group of men, launched an attack on the reviewing stand.

Gunfire suddenly broke the tranquility of the port, attracting the firepower of a large number of security personnel.

While directing the resistance, the Prime Minister's guard commander reported, "Unidentified armed men are attacking the reviewing stand area. Their firepower is intense; they seem to be mercenaries!"

The Prime Minister's guard became tense, and some reserves were moved towards the direction of the gunfire.

Just as the fierce battle raged on the viewing platform, in the maintenance workshop, Li Ruoxue gave the order: "Move!"

James' team fired the first shot.

They were dressed in combat uniforms with American features, and charged from the flank towards the outer perimeter of the waiting area.

Gunshots rang out, mixed with shouts in American English.

James and his teammates played aggressively, putting pressure on the guards and causing casualties.

While the direct firefight drew most of the attention, Li Ruoxue led her elite squad, silently approaching the waiting area building along an abandoned ventilation duct.

Wu Zhiyuan had just emerged from a passageway filled with clutter when he heard a burst of gunfire and explosions in the distance.

His heart tightened; he knew Li Ruoxue's people had made their move.

He quickly determined the direction and made his way towards the location where the gunfire was most intense.

In the waiting area, Prime Minister Long Yun was escorted into his room by guards.

Li Ruoxue's team successfully infiltrated the building and engaged in a fierce firefight with the Prime Minister's guards.

These goose agents were highly skilled and worked in perfect coordination. With their surprise attack, they quickly created an opening.

"The target is in the inner room! Quick!" Li Ruoxue shouted, her submachine gun killing a guard who was trying to block the corridor.

Just as she led her men toward the last line of defense, a burst of precise shots suddenly came from the side!

boom! boom! boom!

Two agents who rushed ahead fell to the ground.

Li Ruoxue and the others immediately sought cover.

Wu Zhiyuan appeared at the corner of the corridor, holding an assault rifle he had picked up from the fallen guard, and coldly looked in Li Ruoxue's direction.

"Li Ruoxue! This ends here!"

"Wu Zhiyuan?" Li Ruoxue was both surprised and angry. It's true that enemies always meet!

We meet again!

"You're asking for it!" She raised her hand and fired a burst of bullets.

Wu Zhiyuan skillfully dodged and used cover to fight back, blocking Li Ruoxue's team's advance.

A close-quarters firefight unfolded in the corridor, with bullets flying everywhere.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Prime Minister's Guard reorganized its defenses and put pressure on Li Ruoxue's team from the other side.

The gunfire outside had also changed.

Zhou Rui and An Jing's action team arrived in time and launched an attack on James's team from the outside.

Wang Gang led another group of people in an attempt to open a passage to meet up with Wu Zhiyuan.

James' team is facing attacks from all sides and is in trouble.

Although James fought bravely, he was no match for opponents who outnumbered him and were strong in combat.

The roar of military helicopters from Country A could be heard over the port; reinforcements were on their way.

Knowing the plan was unlikely to succeed, Li Ruoxue decisively ordered, "Withdraw! Follow the backup plan and head to Pier Three!"

As she directed her men to fight and retreat, she glared fiercely at Wu Zhiyuan: "We'll meet again!"

Wu Zhiyuan tried to give chase, but was suppressed by firepower.

He saw Li Ruoxue and the others disappear at the exit leading to the dock area and immediately reported via communicator: "President Liu, Li Ruoxue ran towards Pier 3! James's men are being wiped out by Zhou Rui and An Jing!"

"Chase Li Ruoxue! We absolutely cannot let her escape! The intelligence and network she possesses are too dangerous!" Liu Mingxuan ordered.

Wu Zhiyuan glanced at the battlefield, which was gradually being brought under control, and then turned to chase after Li Ruoxue in the direction she had fled.

After dealing with most of James's men, Zhou Rui led a few teammates to flank from the other side.

Pier 3 is filled with containers and has a complex layout.

Li Ruoxue and her men went inside.

The speedboat that was there to meet us has started moving.

Wu Zhiyuan and Zhou Rui arrived at the dock from different directions almost simultaneously, engaging in a firefight with Li Ruoxue's men who were responsible for covering the rear, and killing several of them.

But Li Ruoxue and James had already jumped onto a high-speed speedboat.

"Set sail quickly!" Li Ruoxue urged sharply.

The driver slammed on the gas, the speedboat engine roared, and it sped away from the dock.

"Chase!" Wu Zhiyuan roared.

Several motorboats used for port operations were moored at the dock. He and Zhou Rui each boarded one, started the engine, and gave chase.

A chase ensued on the sea.

Bullets weaved between the boats, sending up jets of water.

Li Ruoxue's speedboat was better, and it gradually increased the distance, heading towards the distant islands.

The area has numerous islands and complex shipping lanes, making it easy to evade pursuit.

Wu Zhiyuan and Zhou Rui pursued relentlessly, relying on their driving skills and courage to keep up.

The chase lasted for about half an hour, and then the outline of a large island appeared ahead, with abandoned buildings on it.

Li Ruoxue's speedboat headed straight for a simple dock on the edge of the island.

"They've landed on the island!" Zhou Rui shouted.

Two motorboats also docked.

Wu Zhiyuan, Zhou Rui, and three other team members quickly landed and advanced in a combat formation to search for survivors.

The island resembles an abandoned small observation station, with only a few dilapidated concrete buildings and dense vegetation remaining.

The sound of the waves masked many other noises.

"Disperse the search, maintain communication!" Wu Zhiyuan ordered.

They moved carefully through the ruins and woods.

Suddenly, a sound came from a half-collapsed two-story building in front.

Wu Zhiyuan gestured, and he and Zhou Rui moved closer to each other, one on the left and one on the right.

As he approached the building, he vaguely heard people talking in hushed tones inside; it was Li Ruoxue and James.

"...The intelligence has definitely been leaked! There's a mole within our ranks!"

Li Ruoxue's voice was filled with anger: "The sudden appearance of the National Security Bureau at the port, and the precise interception of our route, are no coincidence!"

James lowered his voice: "There's no point in saying all this now. We have a pre-arranged emergency point on the island, with supplies and another ship. Once we get the supplies, we'll leave Country A's waters."

"Only you and I know the location of the emergency point..." Li Ruoxue paused, "James, tell me, who leaked the information? Not many people know the complete plan!"

James suddenly raised his gun and pointed it at Li Ruoxue!

Li Ruoxue seemed to have been prepared, and her two trusted confidants simultaneously turned their guns on James!

"As expected, you're the one with the problem, Dr. James!" Li Ruoxue sneered.

James remained expressionless: "Snow Leopard, stop acting! The port project has failed, and someone has to take responsibility."

If you go back alive, I'll be in big trouble...

"You want to double-cross me?" Li Ruoxue sneered.

"This is to eliminate unnecessary risks!" James slowly pulled his finger toward the trigger.

Just as tensions were running high and internal conflict was imminent, a gunshot rang out, breaking the stalemate.

The bullet entered through a broken window on the second floor and hit the ground near James's feet.

"Who?" Both sides inside the building were startled.

A figure jumped in through the window, holding a pistol in her hand—it was Lin Keke!

"James, Li Ruoxue, the game is over." Lin Keke's voice was cold as she moved the gun between the two men.

"Jiang Shan?" Li Ruoxue was taken aback, then understood.

James sneered: "It's you! It's always been you! That 'Nightingale' who hid in the business department and provided us with so much intelligence!"

So you're with China Guoan! Good, very good!

Li Ruoxue was also surprised: "Miss Jiang, this is truly unexpected. It seems we all underestimated you. How did you find this place?"

Lin Keke risked following them here to prevent them from taking away important intelligence, and at the same time to obtain more clues about the Goose Intelligence Network.

Wu Zhiyuan was outside the building. He saw Lin Keke through the crack and was worried for her.

He and Zhou Rui exchanged glances, ready to rush in and provide support at any moment.

The atmosphere inside the building was extremely tense, with the three sides locked in a standoff, and a single spark could ignite a brutal firefight.

James suddenly smiled, a smile that sent chills down your spine: "Miss Jiang, you're very brave. But do you know? People who know too many secrets often don't live long!"

He turned to Li Ruoxue: "Snow Leopard, it seems we've all been played by this woman!"

Why don't we resolve this shared problem first? We can put our personal grudges aside for later.

Li Ruoxue weighed the pros and cons in her mind.

At present, Lin Keke, the undercover agent of the National Security Bureau, is a real threat, and James can use her for the time being.

Lin Keke's heart sank, knowing that the worst might be about to happen.

She gripped her gun tightly, leaned against a sturdy wall, and prepared to fight to the death.

"Attack!" James shouted, suddenly turning his gun and firing repeatedly at Lin Keke!

Li Ruoxue and her men opened fire almost simultaneously!

Lin Keke reacted quickly, dodging the attack while simultaneously firing back.

Bullets flew through the narrow space, scattering debris everywhere.

James was shot in the leg.

With a muffled thud, Lin Keke's body jolted as James' bullet struck her left shoulder!

She groaned and staggered backward, nearly dropping the gun from her hand.

"Coco!" Wu Zhiyuan, who was outside the building, saw this scene and his eyes turned red. He roared and kicked open the rotten wooden door and rushed in. His rifle spewed flames and instantly knocked down one of Li Ruoxue's men, suppressing the enemy's firepower.

Zhou Rui and another teammate also broke in through the window and attacked from the flank.

A chaotic battle broke out.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Li Ruoxue fought back while retreating to the back of the building.

James was cunning. Taking advantage of the moment when Wu Zhiyuan's attention was drawn to Li Ruoxue, he endured the pain in his leg and suddenly rushed to Lin Keke's side, grabbing Lin Keke's injured shoulder.

Lin Keke was in so much pain that she reacted slowly and James grabbed her arm.

James was very strong. He pulled her towards him and pressed the muzzle of his gun against her temple!

"Don't move! Put down your guns! Or I'll kill her!" James roared, dragging Lin Keke toward a dilapidated balcony on the second floor.

Seeing this, Wu Zhiyuan dared not fire any further, fixing his gun firmly on James: "Let her go!"

Seizing the opportunity, Li Ruoxue slipped out through the back door and disappeared into the dense forest, fleeing towards the spare boat on the other side of the island.

James leaned against the precarious railing at the edge of the balcony.

"Step back! Put down your gun!" James tightened his grip on Lin Keke's neck and pressed the muzzle of the gun against her neck.

Lin Keke looked at Wu Zhiyuan without fear in her eyes, and shook her head slightly, indicating that he should leave her alone.

"James, you can't escape!" Wu Zhiyuan slowly lowered his rifle, but his hand reached for the pistol at his waist. "Let her go, and I'll guarantee your safety!"

James sneered, "I know she's important to you. If you want her to live, get out of the way and prepare the boat!"

At this moment, Lin Keke slammed the back of her head into James's chin, while simultaneously stomping hard on his instep with her right foot!

James loosened his grip.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Lin Keke broke free and turned to grab his gun.

"You're asking for it!" James roared, and the two began to wrestle on the narrow balcony edge.

Just then, the balcony railing suddenly broke.

James and Lin Keke both lost their balance and fell off the cliff outside the balcony!

"Coco!" Wu Zhiyuan rushed to the broken railing and reached out to grab it.

However, they caught nothing.

He saw the last look Lin Keke gave him as she fell; there was no fear in her eyes, only deep longing.

Time seemed to stand still.

The woman he cared about, like a butterfly with broken wings, was quickly swallowed up by the roaring waves below before his eyes.

"Coco!" Wu Zhiyuan's roar echoed across the island.

He leaned half his body over the cliff edge, tears blurring his vision.

Zhou Rui, who rushed up right behind him, held tightly to Wu Zhiyuan, who was about to jump down with him.

"Zhiyuan! Calm down!"

Wu Zhiyuan stared intently at the surging waves below, overwhelmed by immense grief.

He watched helplessly as his beloved woman fell off the cliff; the pain was more deadly than any gunshot wound.

Just then, a gunshot rang out from the sea below, near the cliff!

Below, in the waves, there seemed to be signs of struggle, but it quickly subsided.

A head popped out from a protruding rock at the bottom of the cliff; it was Li Ruoxue!

She was holding a gun; she was the one who fired that shot.

She witnessed the fall and, while James was struggling in the water, delivered the fatal blow—both to silence him and to obtain crucial information from him.

She glanced at the heartbroken Wu Zhiyuan above, then at the direction Lin Keke had fallen, her expression complex. She then loosened her grip on the rock and swam with all her might toward a small rubber boat not far away.

"It's Li Ruoxue! She killed James!" Zhou Rui exclaimed.

Zhou Rui immediately used his communicator to call for support from the sea, and he and his team members found a way down the cliff.

The sea breeze howled, as if mourning the tragedy that had just occurred.