Chapter 160: The Mantis Hunts the Cicada, With Wang Yun Lurking Behind! The Onset of Fear!

In the heart of Xiyun City, at the intersecting lanes of Heping Road and Jiahe Street.

As Wang Yun was poised to strike, an unexpected development occurred elsewhere. Captain Everick’s dispatched program inspectors stumbled upon Wang Yun’s subordinates, previously liberated from prison, hiding out in a dilapidated hotel.

“Captain, we’ve just spotted an individual. His build, demeanor, and the way he walks match one of Wang Yun’s crew,” reported one of the elite program inspectors urgently over the walkie-talkie. “He had just left the hotel and stopped by a nearby convenience store to pick up water and cigarettes. Judging by the quantity purchased, he’s likely not alone.”

These inspectors were the products of rigorous training. They had mentally cataloged the distinctive features of Wang Yun’s men.

Upon receiving this intel, Everick’s voice crackled through the walkie-talkie, “Keep them in your sights, I’m on my way.”

Meanwhile, Wang Yun, utilizing his god-level hearing, overheard Everick’s orders. Silently, he retracted his sniper rifle.

“Hmm? So, they’ve been found,” he mused.

Faced with this unexpected twist, Wang Yun abruptly aborted his initial plan of attack.

“Come, the six of you, with me,” Everick commanded as he abruptly discarded his cigarette to the ground, spun on his heel, boarded the vehicle, and sped away.

Wang Yun wasted no time in tailing him.

Now that his subordinates had been spotted, the mantis hunted the cicada, unaware of the oriole lurking behind.

About fifteen minutes into the pursuit, Everick’s vehicle halted at the entrance of a small hotel in a secluded alley. The area was encircled by independently constructed residential buildings.

With the clock striking past midnight, a profound silence enveloped the surroundings, broken only by the occasional bark of a dog.

“Captain, they’re on the upper floor. I’ve just had it confirmed by the proprietor,” announced one of the seven program inspectors emerging from an adjacent alley next to the inn.

Among them, two elite inspectors were responsible for unearthing the whereabouts of the group.

“How many?” asked Everick.

“Three. They’ve been lodging here since last night. They only have cash and no identification. The sparse occupancy of this hotel meant our checks weren’t as thorough,” said an elite inspector.

Everick’s gaze hardened as he surveyed the dimly lit facade of the two-story hotel, his expression turning ominously dark.

“You two, head to the windows at the back. The five of you, hold this position. Everyone else, follow me upstairs,” Everick commanded.

On this operation, Everick had not summoned a large force. Counting the six program inspectors by his side and the seven who had been surveilling the area, the total came to merely fourteen. Yet, for the task of capturing these three simple fugitives, fourteen operatives were more than sufficient.

The neighborhood’s residential buildings were arrayed in tight rows, with each row separated by a gap wide enough for a car to pass. The proximity between each building was notably close.

Wang Yun had effortlessly positioned himself in a building directly across from the hotel, gaining a vantage point that offered a crystal-clear view of the entire second floor.

“Getting the full picture without breaking a sweat,” Wang Yun murmured to himself, adjusting the sniper rifle against his chest in preparation.

Everick had effectively locked down the hotel and, with the proprietor’s assistance, determined the specific room occupied by the trio. They were sequestered in the farthest room on the second floor, sharing a single space.

Approaching Everick, the hotel’s owner seemed a little excited, his prior drowsiness vanished in the wake of the unfolding drama.

“Brother, please don’t kick down the door. I’ve got the keys right here. Let me open it for you,” the proprietor said to Everick, his voice brimming with eagerness. “I’m a huge fan of your show! And that camera on your chest, will the viewers be able to see me? Give a shoutout for me, will you? My hotel’s located at 35 Jiahe Street on Heping Road.”

Everick was momentarily taken aback by the proprietor’s enthusiasm.

Their show’s widespread popularity had reached even the most unexpected of fans.

With practiced ease, the proprietor unlocked the door. The moment it swung open, noises burst forth from within. Someone leaped off the bed, and the window flew open.

“Freeze! Hands on your heads and squat against the wall!” Everick commanded, leading the charge into the room, gun at the ready.

The three suspects, previously engrossed in a card game on the bed, had been oblivious to the sounds in the hallway. Caught off guard, they found themselves staring down the barrels of eight guns.

Exchanging glances of resignation, they couldn’t hide their frustration. Barely two days since their escape, and they’d been caught.

“I’ve been saying we shouldn’t have stayed at this hotel, but you wouldn’t listen!”

“And I just told you not to go down for water and cigarettes. Is tap water not good enough?”

Grumbling in frustration, the three men begrudgingly squatted in the corner. They were unarmed, having only sticks planned for self-defense, which proved useless against the guns they now faced.

Everick surveyed the trio with a disdainful snort.

“Merely three underlings, such a waste of effort,” he scoffed. “Mark my words, one day I’ll personally capture your boss in the same manner.”

With that, Everick holstered his weapon. The program inspectors behind him swiftly moved in, securing the three prisoners.

Simultaneously, the livestream audience watching Everick’s feed erupted into cheers.

“We have faith in you, Captain Everick. You’ll definitely nab Wang Yun!”

“Can’t wait to see him kneeling and begging for mercy!”

“We must be the first team to have caught Wang Yun’s subordinates, United States’ heroes!”

“Our nation’s finest, truly elite. This is but the opening act, the real spectacle is still to unfold!”

Capturing three of Wang Yun’s subordinates significantly boosted the morale of Everick’s live stream viewers. Any prior indignities suffered at Wang Yun’s hands were avenged, fueling a collective catharsis.

“Take them away.”

With a dismissive gesture from Everick, the program inspectors, keeping a firm grip on the three captives, began their descent down the stairs.

“No matter how powerful Wang Yun is, he just fights alone and doesn’t care for your lives? Aligning yourselves with him was a big mistake,” Everick declared, his voice swelling with arrogance as he mocked the disheveled trio on their way out of the hotel.

“Hmm? A mistake, you say? Perhaps the real mistake is your men’s decision to follow you.”

Wang Yun, sitting on the second-floor rooftop, let a slight smile curl his lips upon catching Everick’s words with his extraordinary hearing. Then, with a swift motion, he took action.

Bang!

A loud, piercing noise shattered the night’s silence.

Beep! Beep!

In the next instant, the alarm on one of the program inspectors, who was securing one of the captives, blared out.

“You’ve been eliminated,” echoed a mechanical voice through the earpiece.

What?!

At the sound of the explosive noise, Everick and his team’s faces froze in shock. A chill crept up from the soles of their feet as they processed what had happened. One of the program inspectors lay on the ground, his expression a mix of shock, confusion, and defiance.

Bang!

With the second shot, another man fell.

“An ambush! At eleven o’clock!” Everick finally snapped out of his stupor and shouted as two of his men collapsed beside him.

“Duck, get to cover!”

“Captain, it’s an ambush!”

“We’ve got a sniper!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay