Chapter 770: Chapter 410: Clash at the Critical Moment! (Part 2)

As soon as the car stopped, all personnel quickly and orderly got off and assembled, their movements clean and swift without a sound.

Mr Li scanned the surroundings with eyes as sharp as a hawk, and in a low voice, issued orders: "Sniper team, four people, occupy high points in the east, west, south, and north. Stay hidden and await orders. The rest, follow me to move forward."

He gestured to the person beside him and added: "Negotiation team, prepare the amplification equipment, ready at any time."

Fifteen minutes later, the entire team silently and ghost-like approached the target area.

At this moment, Wan quickly emerged from behind a tree and reported in a lowered voice: "Mr. Li, Mr. Jiang."

The two nodded solemnly and followed his guidance to look towards the slope — about a hundred meters away, indeed, two figures could be seen.

One had his arms bound behind him, slumped under a tree with his head down, presumably Wu Guang.

The other held a dagger, pacing back and forth before him, occasionally brandishing the knife and shouting, his emotions extremely agitated.

Jiang An’s gaze was as sharp as a knife, firmly locking onto the target, his voice low and urgent: "How long has he been like this?"

Wan recalled for a moment, then replied: "Since our arrival, it’s been about forty minutes. The other party has basically maintained this demeanor."

"There was a moment when he went to the side to answer a call, but soon returned, seemingly even more irritable."

"Can you confirm that he is the man seen following the deceased into the hotel on surveillance?"

Wan nodded seriously, his tone affirmative: "Though we haven’t conducted a precise image match, based on his physique, style of dress, and the black motorcycle parked on the side, he closely matches the suspect seen on the surveillance."

Hearing Wan’s unwavering and indisputable answer, Mr Li and Jiang An nodded in unison, their expressions growing increasingly grave.

Mr Li’s tone was heavy, his voice low and penetrating: "This suggests that it is almost certain that the suspect, as Dean Zhang speculated, may not have a single target."

"Instead, there are multiple potential victims—all somehow connected to his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend."

Wan immediately turned to Mr Li and asked, "Mr. Li, what should be our next course of action?"

Mr Li pondered briefly, then responded in his usual calm tone: "For now, once all snipers are in position, we will reveal our identity and demand that he drop the weapon and surrender."

"If his emotions spiral out of control and he attempts extreme actions..."

He paused slightly, his gaze sharp as a blade, "Our snipers will execute the kill command immediately, leaving no chance for him to harm the hostage."

Jiang An nodded solemnly, his tone resolute: "Mr. Li, I fully agree with your plan."

"The key now is to wait for the sniper team to confirm their positions."

As soon as he finished speaking, clear and calm reports began coming through the radio:

"Sniper Point 1 in position, clear view, target within range."

"Sniper Point 2 ready, target locked."

"Sniper Point 3 in place, ready to execute orders at any time."

"Sniper Point 4, fully prepared."

Hearing this, Mr Li’s expression stiffened, and he immediately gave the order: "Alright, all units ready, commence action!"

With the command, over twenty officers emerged swiftly from the bushes on both sides, advancing quickly in tactical formation.

About ten minutes later, the team closed in to within less than ten meters of the suspect, forming a tightly knit and oppressive encirclement.

Mr Li raised a megaphone, his steady and highly intimidating voice suddenly tearing through the silence of the scene: "Drop the weapon! You are surrounded by the police, release the hostage immediately and surrender hands up!"

Only then did the knife-wielding man awaken from his stupor, startled by the arrival of the police.

He turned around in panic, his face filled with terror and disbelief.

Yet, after quickly surveying his surroundings, he suddenly let out a cold laugh, violently pulling Wu Guang in front of him, pressing the blade firmly against his neck, and shouted menacingly: "Don’t come any closer! If you do, I’ll kill him! We’ll perish together if necessary!"

As he spoke, he jerked his wrist, driving the blade deeper into Wu Guang’s neck.

Though Wu Guang’s mouth was taped shut, he struggled desperately, driven by a desperate mingled with hope, emitting indistinct and heart-rending whimpers.

The sound carried an intense desire to survive from a desperate situation, like a drowning person finally seeing a glimmer of hope.

The appearance of the police was undoubtedly the only turning point in his life-or-death crisis.

However, with every struggle Wu Guang made, the sharp blade pressed deeper against the side of his neck.

With his intense emotional upheaval and constant bodily movement, the blade occasionally shifted, its friction with his neck becoming more frequent.

Several faint yet clear bloodstains had already appeared, with fresh blood seeping from the wound and slowly sliding into his collar.

At this moment, the atmosphere on the scene was so tense it was almost solidified, each passing second filled with increasingly urgent danger.

Mr Li again raised the megaphone, his voice piercing through the clamor of the scene.

"Put down the knife! You have nowhere to go."

"Any dangerous action will prompt us to take immediate and decisive measures. This is the last warning!"

Seeing no response from the other side, Mr. Li paused briefly, then his tone turned grave and sincere, sounding like an elder counseling a misguided youth earnestly: "Young man, the sea of bitterness is boundless, but shore is at hand if you turn back."

"Perhaps it’s some unforgivable past that led you impulsively astray, even causing irreparable actions."

"But we all know, there’s no hate without a reason, nor can a single clap produce a sound."

"Perhaps you gave all your heart, devoted all your time, even surrendered yourself completely, only to find the response you anticipated never came."

"I can understand the pain of betrayal."

"The ups and downs in life, more often than not, are commonplace."

"But the path you’ve chosen now is the most extreme one — burying yourself with anger and harming innocent people."

The knife-wielding man, upon hearing this, suddenly became agitated.

His voice hoarse, each word seemed torn from his chest: "Why? Why?!"

"I loved her so much... I gave her everything!"

"But what about her? She not only never loved me but also trampled my heart cruelly!"

"Have you felt that coldness? She wouldn’t even say a word to me anymore..."

"That indifference, it makes me feel living is a disgrace!"

The knife in his hand trembled slightly from agitation, its blade reflecting a chilling light under the sun.

Mr Li’s face remained stoic, continuing to counsel steadily: "Those days are over now."

"Look at now—Wu Guang, he’s completely innocent."

"Let him go now, and it’s not too late for everything."

"I solemnly promise you on behalf of the public security bureau: As long as you put down your weapon and release the hostage now, we will fully convey your cooperative attitude and the fact no lives were harmed to the judicial authorities, and actively seek leniency according to the law, giving you a chance to reintegrate into society and start anew."

"Hahaha!"

The man erupted into a piercing and mocking laughter, "Do you really think I’m a three-year-old child?"

"I’ve killed people! More than one!"

"Today, I’m holding a knife and taking a hostage..."

"Do you think the judge will listen to you?"

"Lenient punishment? Fresh start? Stop deceiving yourselves!"

His eyes flickered with near-maddening despair, seemingly having long disregarded life and death.

At this moment, Mr Li discreetly turned off the microphone and whispered to Jiang An beside him: "This suspect is resolved to die, his psychological defenses extremely strong."

"If this stalemate continues, to prevent further casualties..."

"We may have to resort to the final measure, instructing the snipers to act on site."

The surrounding officers exchanged grave glances and nodded in agreement.

However, Jiang An frowned deeply and, after pondering for a moment, responded: "Mr. Li, please hold on."

"I still feel there’s more behind this case than just him."

"Though it’s more of an intuition right now, lacking substantial evidence..."

"But if we take extreme measures now, all clues might be completely severed."

"Can I... could I have a chance to attempt to talk to him?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"This?" Mr Li’s eyebrows furrowed heavily.

At this moment, Wu Guang, whose complexion was as white as paper—truly presented a perilous picture of "man as knife, I as meat" at mercy.

Wu Guang’s breathing was rapid and chaotic, his body trembling slightly from extreme fear, his life truly hanging by a thread.

At this critical juncture, Jiang An resolutely turned, his gaze fierce as he looked at Mr Li: "Please let me try."

Mr Li stared at him for a moment, finally nodding heavily.