Crimson Instinct

Time: 7:10 PM. Five hours and twenty minutes left.

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*Bai Li*

"We need a plan to get into the school," Luo Zhiqiang said.

After Zhang Chao died, I asked Qi Qiang to withhold and suppress his death's news as best as he could. Until we finished Zhang Ning, I didn't want any chaos in the city that she could take advantage of.

I heard Xin Zhen speak, "What does the place look like from the satellite?"

"Bro, There is one building in the northeast, but with what I can see, it is also abandoned. Previously, it used to be a party hall or something for the rich kids and families to gather."

I asked, "And the terrain?"

"It is a little far from the main road."

I nodded. "I thought so. Usually, schools are on the main road area, but Imperial High was an elite school, so they built it away from the middle-class crowd."

I heard Xin Nianzu's voice. "True. There are two roads to reach the school. One is the main street, and the other comes from the area of villas and mansions where all the rich people reside."

I asked, "Is the road from the main street still in use?"

Qi Qiang said, "Yes, bro. The school and that other building itself is abandoned but not the road. Actually, the main street divides itself into two paths. One is the path, which Uncle Xin said. It leads to the rich family area. The other road is important because that is the route the delivery men take for cargo shipping. There is a manufacturing factory on the other end of that road, and its workers have to go through the school for the supplies and all."

"And they never felt that anything was wrong with the school?"

"I have got the reports here," Shi Ruiling spoke, "They found nothing wrong because there was hardly anyone outside."

"But there would be guards patrolling the area."

"Exactly. There are but not in any uniform. They have sighted some people wearing plain clothes and checking out the school building, but it seems that they pretend to be some sort of government officials who come to inspect the place. The building is run down, so it is not impossible for the government to check if something else could be built on that land. It happens all the time. So their presence is not suspicious."

I narrowed my eyes. "I was worried about how to enter the school, but I think we got the way."

Luo Zhiqiang spoke, "From the factory."

"Yup," I nodded, "Here is what we will do. First, we need to arrange a truck. Not any truck. Precisely, one of the trucks from that factory."

"Why not some other?" Liao Huifang asked.

"Because the guards are looking out to know which trucks come their way and why. They might have even jotted down their plate numbers, and the trucks' make so that they can secretly verify every time they enter and leave the path in front of the school. If they suddenly see a new truck passing by after all this time, then they would get suspicious."

Xin Zhen said, "He is right. We got only one chance at this."

"But bro. Isn't it possible that Zhang Ning could change the location?"

I shook my head. "She doesn't know that I know as well. Only Xin Lei knows the truth, and to her, we are still looking after her whereabouts."

I heard Zhang Xiulan say, "Yusheng and I can do it. Steal the truck, I mean."

"And without raising the alarm in the factory or the word could go out," Zhu Yusheng said.

I said, "Yes. Once we get the truck, we drive until we reach the school, and the truck breaks down. Then we would get out of the back and hide in the other building using the truck's cover."

"Wait. Wait," Liao Huifang interrupted, "What if there are guards in that other building too? Won't they see you getting in?"

"That's where we need IB's help. We need you to scout the building, take out any guards, if any, and block their communication. We take over the other building, and then we head to the school."

I sensed snort. "I have already taken care of that. I have asked my officers to give me a detailed report on the building. Once we get the coordinates, we can launch a sneak attack."

I said, "Thanks. Our main priority is to get everyone out first. Xin Lei, Chu Jie, and that woman who is kidnapped."

"I hardly think my daughter would leave you alone in the fight."

I chuckled. "Well, that is true. She and Cocoa will join me in kicking some butts. So, Chu Jie and the woman."

Zhang Xiulan said, "But we would need somebody to coordinate to escape and protect them from outside the school. The IB will be busy looking out from the other building."

"That's where we come in," a voice came.

I smiled. "Hey, Goofball."

"Shut up, Bai Li," Lin Zihao snarled.

"Dad!"

"Hey, my Ruiling." I heard Major General's voice.

Su Weiyuan said, "We would be ready in our positions when you hand Chu Jie and the woman over to us. Once they are out and safe, we will join you in kicking some butts."

I chuckled. "Straight to the point as always, Weiyuan."

"Yo Bai Li. How are you, buddy?" Lin Zihao patted my shoulder, which seemed too hard to take revenge that I called him Goofball.

"I am fine, thanks to your 'pats' now."

"You seem fine, Bai Li," Major General said, "I am glad. I thought you would get anxious since Xin Lei is with them."

I smiled. I shut my eyes for a moment and thought about Xin Lei. I recalled all the time we shared until now.

I slowly opened my eyelids. "No. I want to save them. This time, I don't want anything to come in my way, not even my weakness. I cannot afford to falter. I will fight, and I will win."