64: Chapter 64 Scapegoat

Chen Feng set down his coffee cup. The bottom of the cup made a soft clink as it met the tabletop.

He stood up and stretched, his joints letting out a series of crisp pops.

"Done."

He spoke those two words to the empty control room, then picked up the internal phone.

"Marcus, handle those four 'packages' and send them to Samantha."

Marcus's dull response came from the other end: "Understood."

"Also," Chen Feng added, "go to the first-floor lobby and fake a scene of intense crossfire. Scatter plenty of shell casings, put a few more holes in the walls, and smash a few computers... basically, make it look as tragic as possible. I'll call the police in five minutes."

"Do you need me to stay?"

"No, you and Tony take everyone and leave through the back door. Everyone gets the night off."

Hanging up, Chen Feng walked unhurriedly into the lounge. He swapped his lab coat, which was chilled from the basement air, for a common casual hoodie and jeans. He even stood before the mirror and deliberately tousled his hair into a mess.

Having done all this, he pulled out his phone and took a deep breath. When he exhaled, the calmness and calculation in his eyes had vanished completely, replaced by a perfectly calibrated look of panic and lingering fear.

He dialed 911.

"Help! My company is under armed attack! Oh my god, they have guns!" As soon as the call connected, Chen Feng's voice was heavy with gasping and trembling.

The operator's formulaic voice came through: "Sir, please stay calm and tell us your location."

"South District of Los City, 117 Maple Road! Umbrella Biotech! They... they rushed in, shooting everywhere! Our security seems to have... seems to have driven them off, but there are bullet holes and blood everywhere! I... I'm hiding in my office and I don't dare go out!"

"Alright sir, please stay in a safe place. We are sending officers over immediately. Can you describe the attackers?"

"I couldn't see clearly! Their faces were covered, there were maybe seven or eight of them, and they had heavy firepower!" Chen Feng's voice was full of the relief of a survivor. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he added in an uncertain, cautious tone, "I... I think I heard someone shout a name in the chaos... 'Boss Cole'... I'm not sure, really, it was too chaotic!"

After hanging up, the panic on Chen Feng's face instantly faded.

He walked to the window and watched the red and blue police lights flashing in the distance. A cold smile curled the corners of his mouth.

Raymond Cole, boss of the Iron Fist Gang. My 'old friend,' it's time for you to serve your final purpose.

...

Ten minutes later, the doors of Umbrella were burst open.

Sarah Mitchell, in full police uniform and with a grim expression, led her team inside. The officers behind her immediately set up a perimeter.

When she saw the state of the first-floor lobby, even someone as accustomed to such scenes as she was couldn't help but frown.

The lobby was a mess. The glass at the front desk was shattered, several computer monitors had holes shot through them and were emitting black smoke. Dozens of golden shell casings were scattered on the floor, and the walls and support pillars were riddled with bullet holes of various depths. The air was thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder.

Looking at this scene, anyone who didn't know better would think it was a gang war zone.

"Sarah, you're finally here!" Chen Feng came "stumbling" out of an office, his face pale, looking like he was still in shock.

"Chen? Are you okay?" Seeing him, Sarah quickly stepped forward to meet him.

"I'm okay... just badly shaken." Chen Feng patted his chest, breathing heavily. "I was in my upstairs office at the time and hid as soon as I heard the gunshots. Our company's automated security system kicked in; it seems tear gas and high-voltage grids drove them back."

He pointed at the wreckage all over the floor and said with grief and indignation, "Those godforsaken bastards! It must have been Raymond Cole from the Iron Fist Gang! Last time he failed to collect protection money, he's been holding a grudge. I didn't expect him to bring men for a direct raid this time!"

Sarah's gaze swept over the scene, her eyes carrying a hint of scrutiny.

The scene looked tragic, but... it was too clean. Aside from property damage and structural destruction, there was no blood and no casualties. This didn't look like an out-of-control armed assault; it looked more like... deliberate destruction.

She looked at Chen Feng and asked, "Are you sure it's the Iron Fist Gang?"

"I'm almost certain!" Chen Feng said decisively. "Who else in the South District has the guts and the firepower? I said it when I called the police; I vaguely heard someone mention 'Cole'."

Sarah was still somewhat skeptical. Although the Iron Fist Gang were local thugs in the South District, they usually stuck to extortion and protection money. Since when did they have the audacity to so brazenly attack a company with official backing?

Seeing the doubt on Sarah's face, Chen Feng understood perfectly.

He knew that his word alone wasn't enough to make Sarah throw all her weight against the Iron Fist Gang.

It was time to add some spice.

Chen Feng's mind swept over the system interface, and the newly acquired skill [Police Database Junior Access] quietly activated.

[Anonymously searching U Federation unencrypted police information...]

[Search keywords: Iron Fist Gang, Raymond Cole, weapon transactions...]

[Search successful (70% probability triggered): Target 'Iron Fist Gang' purchased a batch of military-grade equipment from 'Jackal' Carlos through underground channels 72 hours ago, including 8 M4A1 automatic rifles, 4 Glock 18s, and matching ammunition. This information has been recorded by an informant but no case has been opened yet.]

Success.

Chen Feng's expression became even more "worried." He lowered his voice and said to Sarah, "Officer Sarah, I know you might think I'm settling a personal score. But I'm afraid this matter isn't that simple."

He paused and, using a tone as if sharing top-secret intelligence, casually revealed: "I have a friend in security consulting who is very well-informed. He warned me a couple of days ago that Cole had somehow come into a windfall and got his hands on some military-grade hardware, planning to pull off something big... Look at the model of these shell casings on the floor. Aren't they a bit different from the usual street junk the police handle?"

Hearing this, Sarah's heart jolted.

Military-grade equipment!

The precision of this information instantly caused the scales of doubt in her heart to tip violently. This wasn't a detail an ordinary businessman could just make up!

Sarah immediately whispered a few instructions to a technical officer beside her. The officer picked up a few shell casings and quickly gave a preliminary conclusion: "Chief, they are 5.56mm NATO standard rounds. Judging by the primer marks, they should have been fired from an M4 series rifle. This stuff isn't easily obtained on the black market."

Sarah's expression changed completely.

Seeing that the timing was right, Chen Feng immediately shifted the conversation, pushing the nature of the entire event to a brand new level.

"Sarah," for the first time he didn't use the title "Officer" but called her by name, his expression more serious than ever before, "You might not know, but Umbrella is currently collaborating with the military on a very important project. The contract was just signed a few days ago. This project involves some... well, national security level matters."

He didn't explicitly say what the project was, but the terms "military collaboration" and "national security" were enough.

"On the surface, this attack looks like retaliation from the Iron Fist Gang, but I strongly suspect there is a deeper background behind them! This is likely a premeditated act of industrial espionage, or even... sabotage targeting our collaboration with the military!"

Chen Feng's voice wasn't loud, but every word weighed heavily on Sarah's heart.

Personal grudge? Gang retaliation?

No, if what Chen Feng said was true, the nature of this case would change completely!

This was no longer an ordinary shooting case for the South District Precinct to handle, but a major case that could threaten the national security of the U Federation!

Umbrella was now a rising star enterprise in Los Angeles and a supplier to The Pentagon. Its safety was no longer just the private matter of a company.

Sarah's breathing became rapid. She immediately realized that this matter had exceeded her authority to decide.

She stepped aside, pulled out her phone, and directly dialed the private line to the South District Police Chief's office.

"Chief, it's me, Sarah Mitchell. Umbrella has been under armed attack... Yes, the one collaborating with the military... Military weapon casings were found at the scene... Mr. Chen Feng suspects this attack may be related to their military project, with shadows of industrial espionage or even foreign powers behind it..."

There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. Then, the Chief's unquestionable voice came through, carrying a hint of suppressed fury.

"Sarah, I don't care what method or means you use! Tear that damn Iron Fist Gang out of the South District by the roots! Dig three feet deep if you have to, but find Raymond Cole for me!"

"Umbrella's assets are now, in a sense, national assets! I will not allow anyone to touch a single hair on its head on our turf!"

Hanging up, Sarah took a deep breath. When she looked at Chen Feng again, the look in her eyes had completely changed.

There was no longer a trace of doubt, only the determination and sharpness of a law enforcer.

"Chen, rest assured. The Los Angeles Police Department will give you an explanation for this."

Chen Feng nodded, his face still wearing that "lingering fear" expression, but deep in his eyes, there was only coldness.

The perfect scapegoat had already been sent to the chopping block.