C16
The research outcomes were the result of everyone’s relentless efforts at the base. They had endured countless grueling hours. Stacy refused to give up. She struggled fiercely, breaking free from the man’s grip, and dashed
upstairs
Nate’s eves
eyes narrowed as he glanced at her slight figure retreating. He gave a quick order, “Tara, cover m
me”
With limited ammunition, he discarded his pistol and, under the cover fire from his team, maneuvered through the enemy’s barrage. Luckily, the attackers were poorly equipped and resorted to chaotic shooting. Nate engaged their leader in close combat, taking him down with his bare hands, while the rest of the group scattered in retreat.
The situation in the area was precarious, and Nate had no intention of prolonging the fight. He commanded his men to secure the vehicle and prepare for a swift exit.
Stacy clutched the password–protected hoy no cha stood on the staireses her cune fusted on the arassing
10.11 AM
figures strewn across the ground. She tried to maintain her composure, but the tears brimming in her eyes betrayed
her fear.
“Stacy, grab the box, and let’s move!” Tara urged, pulling her away from the unsettling scene.
Spotting their vehicle at the intersection and finding the team inside unharmed, Stacy felt a wave of relief
Thankfully, no one was injured.
The ride was unnervingly silent. Only Stacy and Nate occupied the back seat. She held tightly onto the box, her knuckles whitening from the grip. Nate extended a hand toward her “Hand it over. We’ll keep it safe for you ”
Stacy hesitated briefly.
“What’s wrong? Don’t trust me?” Nate’s voice carried a faint edge of challenge.
She shook her head quickly, signaling it wasn’t the case, and handed over the box. As she turned to glance at the rearview mirror, she noticed a large man leaning out from the front of the car, scanning the surroundings. The Maybach’s shiny exterior felt overly conspicuous, and a creeping unease settled in her chest.
With a wavering voice, she murmured, “Comrade, my teacher is still being held by them. Is there any way to save
him?”
“Someone’s on their way to handle that,” Nate replied, his gaze fixed on the rear window. “My mission is to protect you and the documents.”
“Major General, we’ve got a tail,” the driver alerted, pressing the accelerator and swiftly changing lanes. “Keep going. Don’t stop,” Nate commanded, his voice firm.
The car’s sudden maneuver seemed to provoke their pursuers. The vehicles behind recklessly weaved through traffic, refusing to relent. A gunshot echoed, shattering the rear lights, followed by the grating sound of splintering. glass. Stacy instinctively covered her ears, her mind clouded with panic
Her wide, tearful eyes darted anxiously. Sensing her distress, Nate pulled a bulletproof vest from beneath the
seat and secured it around her.
“Don’t worry. You’ll be fine,” he reassured her firmly
Stacy stared at him, momentarily stunned. It wasn’t death she feared–it was the thought of the documents being lost if something happened to her.
“There’s a dead end ahead, Major General. We might have to face them directly,” the driver announced,
Tara turned, his expression tense. “The reinforcements are en route. We just need to hold them off until they
arrive
Nate loaded his weapon, his face grim. Before he could act, Stacy’s hand darted out, causing him to hesitate. He assumed she wanted a weapon and handed her a knife from his belt.
She scanned
Stacy accepted the knife, opened the box, and extracted the documents without missing a beat. S them quickly, then removed her headscarf to wrap the sensitive papers securely.
Nate couldn’t help but momentarily freeze, startled by her actions and face.
Within seconds, he realized her intent. He gestured towards a concealed compartment under the seat. “Place
them there. It’s reinforced and will keep the documents safe, even if the car is hit.”
Stacy complied, though her nerves remained frayed. The car eventually slowed, blocked by a makeshift
barricade ahead.
A cacophony of pounding fists on the windows erupted. “Get out!” voices bellowed from outside. Stacy peered cautiously through the glass. These weren’t local armed forces but seemed more like desperate bandits. She remembered similar troublemakers causing havoc at their base before. As she listened closely, she detected a difference in accents, confirming her suspicions–the two groups weren’t the same.
