Chapter 31 The Gears of Fate

At 7 PM, a group of five team leaders, including Alexander, were sitting in their office area, chatting and laughing.

 

About ten minutes later, William strode in from outside, and everyone stood up.

 

"Sit down, everyone." William poured himself a glass of water and said helplessly, "The publicity team is having a meeting in the main conference room, so we're out of space. Let's discuss the details of the capture here. Kevin, could you brief us on the situation?"

 

Kevin, the leader of the Fourth Team, was from Sunalia. He had dark skin, was slightly short, but looked very competent and muscular. "Edward negotiated with the middleman three times before the other party admitted that the person to be sent away is Paul. They have agreed on a price, and Edward is charging $2,300 for the travel expenses, guaranteeing to send Paul to the designated area."

 

William took a sip of water. "Benjamin still hasn't shown up and negotiated with Edward in person?"

 

"Benjamin is very shrewd and knows that the entire Pine City judicial system wants to capture Paul. He won't show up unless he's absolutely sure." Kevin laughed and said, "I think he knows Edward isn't very reliable, but he has no choice. If Paul doesn't leave, he'll eventually be caught. To protect his supply chain, Benjamin has to take this risk."

 

"Tomorrow night, right?" William pondered for a moment and then asked, "Do you have a detailed capture plan?"

 

"My suggestion is to act after Paul leaves the special zone. They'll be less vigilant without civilians there, so we can capture him with fewer concerns," Kevin replied.

 

Everyone fell silent, contemplating whether the plan was feasible.

 

"William, can I say something?" Alexander suddenly looked up.

 

William smiled. "There are no outsiders here. If you have a good idea, just go ahead."

 

"Kevin, I'm just offering a suggestion for the sake of a successful capture, nothing personal." Alexander turned around and explained to Kevin with a smile.

 

"No problem. This case is primarily your responsibility. We're just here to help. You're the core." Kevin knew William wanted to promote Alexander, so he was very polite.

 

Alexander nodded, speaking clearly and logically, said to everyone, "I don't recommend waiting until Paul leaves the special zone to act. There are two important reasons. First, I came from the anarchic district and knew the situation there. Outside the special district, there are large areas of nuclear radiation, endless sand, and other complex terrains. We've already experienced the brutality of Paul's group on Sunset Boulevard. These people also entered the country illegally and are more familiar with the outside environment than our internal officers. So capturing them there involves too many uncontrollable factors, like whether they have arranged for someone to pick them up outside or what kind of weapons they have. Secondly, if there's a mistake during the capture and someone escapes, they'll be completely free.We can't operate in the designated area. Kevin mentioned that Edward's connection is with the military, and their relationship with our judicial system is average. We can't notify them in advance about the capture because if the military leaks the information, our efforts will be in vain. But if not, it could easily lead to military-police conflicts!"

 

After listening to Alexander's explanation, William paused for a moment and responded, "You're absolutely right. Very thorough. What's your plan?"

 

Alexander replied, "My plan is like this..."

 

The meeting lasted for about twenty minutes before William stood up and made a decision. "We'll follow Alexander's capture plan."

 

"Yes, sir!" Everyone stood up and saluted. William gave a few instructions to the group and then patted Alexander on the shoulder, saying, "You bring the person back, and I'll ensure you get promoted in the police department."

 

"Deal!" Alexander nodded with a smile.

 

The next day, at 9:30 PM.

 

Alexander, holding a list of equipment needed for the operation, went to the logistics department at the back of the courtyard. To his surprise, he saw Eric as soon as he entered.

 

"Are you on the night shift?" Alexander asked with a smile.

 

Eric jumped up from his chair and said casually, "I don't know what's going on. Ever since I got married, my luck has changed. For the past week, I've been put on the extra shift schedule, staying here at night."

 

"Why aren't you at home with your wife, hanging out here?" Alexander teased.

 

"I can always spend time with my wife, but opportunities to make money are limited." Eric grinned and said, "I'm thinking of working more overtime to pay back what I owe you and Andrew quickly."

 

"No rush. I don't need it urgently!"

 

"A debt is a debt. I don't feel comfortable owing it, especially now that I have another person in the family with increasing expenses." Eric sighed tiredly and changed the subject. "What brings you to logistics?"

 

"I have a task and need to get some equipment," Alexander replied.

 

"What task?" Eric asked casually.

 

"Alexander, hurry up. They're calling roll." John ran in and shouted.

 

"Okay, give me the list. I'll check it!" Eric called out.

 

"You get it, I'll read." Alexander took out the list and began reading, "One set of steel plate bomb-proof suits, three sets of window-breaking batons, tactical..."

 

Eric walked to the warehouse shelves, picking out the equipment as Alexander read, while John called in two more people to quickly move the items out.

 

Five minutes later, Alexander smiled and said, "I'll come back for a late-night snack after I'm done."

 

"Sure." Eric nodded.

 

After Alexander left the logistics warehouse, Eric turned pale, and his heart started pounding.

 

'What kind of capture requirs bomb-proof suits? Alexander hasn't been involved in any other cases recently, so this operation is likely targeting drug dealers,' Eric thought.

 

Feeling uneasy, Eric pondered for a long time before picking up his phone, stepping out of the recording area, and dialing a familiar number.

 

"Hello? Jason Lee, what are you up to? If you're free, come to logistics for a chat," Eric asked with a smile.

 

"On a task," Jason replied.

 

"A task at this hour? What is it? Even you, who are off duty, are called up?" Eric asked casually.

 

"Supporting the military to catch gun dealers," Jason added.

 

Hearing this, Eric breathed a sigh of relief. "When will you be done? Come over and watch some live streams."

 

"Not sure. I'll come over after I'm done," Jason answered.

 

"Alright!" After the call ended, Eric stood behind his desk and muttered, "It's been half a month. He should be gone by now."

 

At the courtyard assembly point.

 

After collecting everyone's phones, William said, "We are not supporting the military operation this time but catching drug dealers. To maintain strict confidentiality, everyone must hand over their communication devices. Even the walkie-talkies will be distributed uniformly, and everyone must use the pre-set frequencies. If I find anyone changing frequencies midway, it will be treated as a dereliction of duty!"

 

After a two-minute briefing, the forty or so people collected their equipment and quickly left the police courtyard under the leadership of their team leaders.

 

Half an hour later, at an intersection on Cedar Street, Pinecrest.

 

Paul, leading four of his men wrapped in fur-lined coats, glanced around before getting into the front passenger seat of a hybrid pickup truck while the others squeezed into the back seat.

 

"Didn't you say the military would be involved? Why are you alone?" Paul asked.

 

"Do you think you're the mayor?" The driver rolled his eyes. "Why would the military come here to pick you up?"

 

Paul scratched his nose. "Why are you angry? It's not like I didn't pay you."

 

"My wife is about to give birth, and I have to work overtime to send you guys. Why couldn't you pick another day?" The driver cursed and drove away from the roadside.

 

Paul glanced at him, took out a piece of black bread wrapped in a bag from his pocket, and started eating without saying anything.

 

In the back seat, Steven kept his right hand in his pocket, gripping a military grenade tightly, ready to pull the pin at any moment.

 

The car drove for about fifteen minutes, crossing nearly a mile of frozen river, and reached the outskirts of Pinecrest. The area was desolate, with no pedestrians on the road, only a few small shops with lights still on.

 

"How much longer to the city wall?" Paul asked.

 

"Almost there." The driver floored the gas pedal, causing the car to bump violently as it crossed a dirt slope by the river.

 

"What's going on?" Paul frowned.

 

The driver pulled the handbrake. "The front left tire seems to be flat."

 

"Are you kidding me?" Paul asked coldly, "Didn't you check before coming?"

 

The driver, also temperamental, turned and yelled at Paul, "What do you know? It's freezing cold out here. The car parts are almost frozen. How am I supposed to check? With a blowtorch?"

 

Paul knew how harsh the weather was, so he suppressed his displeasure and said, "Go check if the tire is punctured or what."

 

The driver got out, looked at the left front tire, and quickly got back in the car. "The tire's been frozen for too long, and I drove too fast. The expansion and contraction caused it to crack."

 

"So, what should we do?" Steven asked, frowning.

 

"No matter. There's a repair shop up ahead. I'll have them heat it and patch it up." The driver glanced at his watch. "We still have time. It won't delay us."

 

Paul looked around, feeling a vague sense of unease, but he couldn't afford to delay, so he let the driver continue. He turned to Steven and said, "Keep that thing in your pocket safe. Don't lose it."

 

"Got it." Steven nodded.

 

The car drove onto the road by the river. Despite the low tire pressure, it continued for another two miles before stopping in front of a dimly lit repair shop.

 

On both sides of the road.

 

John, holding a walkie-talkie, whispered, "The target is in the trap!"

 

In a snow pile opposite the repair shop, Alexander, wearing a 22-pound steel plate bomb-proof suit, whispered, "We'll act when they get out of the car. I'll handle target one."

 

As soon as Alexander finished speaking, Paul opened the car door and jumped out, looking around.

 

Alexander suddenly sprang up and shouted, "Lights off!"

 

The repair shop's lights went out instantly.

 

Paul turned sharply. "The driver has a problem..."

 

Before Paul could finish, he saw Alexander, looking like a bear, charging at him recklessly.

 

The grenade pin dropped, and Steven, eyes wide, shouted, "Grab our weapons. Let's fight them!"