Chapter 554: Chapter 554

The small, shabby hut was terribly cold.

Even though blankets hung on the only window and poorly fitting door to block the light from escaping, the frigid air still seeped in through the gaps.

Song Moting blew on his fingers to warm them up.

He only allowed his team members to light a battery-powered lamp inside the hut, and his breath turned into a thin mist in the dim light.

Song Moting focused all his attention on checking the equipment.

He could push everything unrelated to work out of his mind, a concentration that was awe-inspiring and remarkable.

The team members had seen that level of intense focus in one person—their leader, Song Moting.

Because their job was that of special operatives, mainly working for specialized units.

Song Moting was calm, steady, and capable.

Need to hit an elusive target?

He was an ace sharpshooter.

Need to blow up a building somewhere?

Song Moting is the one to find.

His demeanor wasn’t aggressive; in fact, he was quite low-key.

But his team could see from his eyes and restrained nature that he had a deadly edge.

Nestled deep in the cold mountain area, this small factory was manufacturing bioweapons, scheduled to be shipped to a secret organization’s headquarters in a certain country, unbeknownst to anyone.

An airstrike was the quickest and most effective way to destroy the factory, but it would also trigger an international crisis and disrupt the delicate balance of power among the countries here.

No one wanted a full-scale war.

And they absolutely couldn’t let these people succeed; they needed to stop their conspiracy. Without the backing of a certain country, no one would dare this boldly.

As the airstrike wasn’t feasible, the factory had to be destroyed from the ground, meaning not only did the explosives need to be manually installed, but they also had to be powerful.

Song Moting planned not only to blow up the factory with plastic explosives but also to use the factory’s fuel and catalysts to ensure it was leveled to the ground.

They had been here for several months using travel permits as cover.

Song Moting secured a radio transmitter on himself and hoisted a backpack full of plastic explosives.

Jin Dachuan’s equipment was identical to his.

Their radio transmitters were personally assembled by Black Cat, as the few transmitters they acquired locally had some damage, so they salvaged usable parts to assemble two new ones and repeatedly tested to ensure they wouldn’t fail.

They also tapped into the factory’s phone lines, a task made easy because the factory was using dated equipment from decades earlier.

They didn’t intercept much intelligence but confirmed that the small factory was indeed manufacturing some kind of biological bacteriological weapons for radical activists from a certain country.

The biological bacteria weren’t special, but some could serve as highly effective biological weapons.

Last night, Song Moting infiltrated the factory for reconnaissance and returned with floor plans, marking the locations of the virus cultivation room and warehouse.

He and Jin Dachuan planned to place most of their explosives in those two places.

Once the factory was blown up, they would destroy the equipment in the hut and prepare to leave when the other three returned.

They would split into four groups, meet at the border, and report on the mission’s execution.

Crossing the border, they could return to their country.

Once discovered, they wouldn’t receive any official recognition.

Song Moting extinguished the light, and the three men quietly slipped into the night.

Song Moting’s voice came through the radio.

"Trouble’s coming. There’s movement in the warehouse, seems like they’re preparing to ship out a batch."

Jin Dachuan cursed, his attention immediately focused on the sudden circumstances.

The warehouse storing bacteria must be completely destroyed before the shipment.

At night, the warehouse was usually empty, only guards standing outside.

But now there were people going in and out, meaning Song Moting they couldn’t get in to install the explosives.

"About eight or nine. I’m hiding behind some barrels but can’t move any."

Their mission was to ensure that batch wouldn’t leave the warehouse.

"Cheetah! How’s it going over there?"

Song Moting quietly called out.

"I’m heading over now, boss, my explosives are set."

Jin Dachuan wanted to help Song Moting, but they were still outnumbered, and movement would expose Jin Dachuan’s position.

"Do you need help? Fox, remain where you are."

Jin Dachuan’s chest burned with anger. Damn it, Song Moting was right.

No matter what he did, it would only distract Song Moting and them, and distraction at this critical moment would only increase the chance of death.

Jin Dachuan sat on a ration pack, trying desperately to suppress overwhelming anxiety.

Time ticked by slowly.

Jin Dachuan knew Song Moting was using whatever cover he could find, cautiously getting close to the warehouse area without taking unnecessary risks.

He also knew these radicals were preparing to leave with the bacteria.

Time was also relentlessly pressing on.

Jin Dachuan balanced caution and personal stakes.

Song Moting spoke into the microphone.

"Black Cat, report your status."

"I can’t move a step, the truck is almost full."

Song Moting said, this was their last chance, absolutely not letting those chemicals reach inside their country.

Jin Dachuan closed his eyes.

Cold sweat ran down his back.

He found himself muttering.

Two minutes felt as long as a lifetime, the second hand on the watch seemed still.

Hearing those words almost made Jin Dachuan lose control.

He bit his lower lip until blood ran out.

"How’s the situation?"

"No good, the captain’s pinned down. Elephant, how much of the explosive is set?"

One batch was absolutely not enough.

Listening to their conversation, Jin Dachuan knew Song Moting was estimating how much explosive was needed to blow up the factory.

"In position but can’t help."

Song Moting’s voice was steady.

"Fox, set the fuses on all the explosives."

After a brief silence, Fox’s voice came through, "Done."

"Ready. Toss the whole bag under the truck, then leg it. I’ll shoot to cover us. Before pressing the button, I’ll give us five seconds to get out."

Song Moting’s voice remained extremely calm.

Staccato gunfire buzzed through the radio speakers.

Jin Dachuan appeared frozen, as if hit by bullets.

His comrades were fighting in blood, yet he had to stay put, the mission demanded no failure.

If they failed, he and Beaver were the last hope.

They couldn’t be exposed.

Through the speakers came a sound that made Jin Dachuan’s neck hair stand—an unsteady muffled groan amidst the gunfire.

"Proceed, prepare to evacuate."

Song Moting’s voice carried an abnormal weakness.

Thirty seconds later, the explosion rocked the hut, dust continually falling from the ceiling gaps, doors creaking in their frames.

Before the blast wave subsided, Jin Dachuan had already torn the headphones from his head and threw them aside.

He picked up a hammer and began smashing the old yet functional radio equipment because their plan was to leave nothing usable.

Thirty seconds later, the radio was reduced to a pile of scrap metal.

They had to reach the final evacuation point per the plan. Now, regardless of his concern, he had to lead everyone away.