187: Full of despair

A hint of emotion welled up in Xu Ning's heart: If this were another time and space, such a team would likely have become the focus of online live broadcasts, and what would greet them would be lines of heavily fortified defenses.

However, at this moment, the delay in information transmission instead facilitated their actions, making everything seem so smooth sailing.

When this uninvited guest finally appeared in front of the Nikolaev Shipyard, the soldier guarding the gate was still lost in his own thoughts, thinking it was just a transport truck kicking up dust due to the dry weather.

He looked up at the increasingly dense dark clouds gathering above, secretly glad that the impending heavy rain might cool down the muggy weather.

However, as the scene before him gradually became clear, the soldier's eyes grew hazy, wondering if he was hallucinating.

How could these moving objects look so much like a tank unit?

Although there had been a change in regime not long ago, no war had broken out, so for this doorkeeper, imagining a group of tanks appearing here silently in peacetime was even more absurd than hearing that a deceased relative had come back to life.

But reality quickly shattered his doubts.

When he finally confirmed that everything in front of him was not an illusion, he immediately grabbed the rifle in his hand.

But then, he slowly lowered his weapon, dropped it on the ground, and raised his hands in surrender.

Because the leading tank had already aimed its barrel at him, any rash movement would result in fatal consequences.

Having just gotten married, he absolutely did not want his wife to lose her husband.

Through the tank's observation port, Xu Ning watched this scene and decisively ordered: "The last two tanks stay at the gate to ensure the doorkeeper cannot raise the alarm."

"Understood."

Xiao Adam, who received the order, quickly relayed it to his teammates via radio, and a new chapter quietly unfolded.

Deep inside the factory, accompanied by the roar of engines and the clanking of steel tracks, Xu Ning commanded a line of tanks to roll forward like an iron current.

Xu Ning's actions were so decisive that along the way, no one dared to stop them, until they reached the office building where Skorlov used to be stationed.

However, the person occupying this place now was Alexei, a new face.

"Fire," Xu Ning ordered.

"Where to?" Little John quickly responded, his finger already on the control lever for the cannon.

"The gate."

Before the words were even finished, Little John had locked onto the target, and with an order, the shell roared out.

After a deafening explosion, the gate that once symbolized authority was reduced to nothing, leaving only a huge gap large enough for tanks to pass through unhindered.

"Advance," Xu Ning said without hesitation.

The driver responded immediately, the tank roared again, crushed the ruins, and drove straight into the building.

Immediately after, Xu Ning summoned the Hunter Vulture Squad via radio.

Then, he spun around abruptly and kicked Gromyko, who was cowering to the side in a sorry state, "Follow me."

"Where? Please don't kill me."

Gromyko's voice was filled with fear.

Xu Ning's gaze was cold and merciless, as if it could freeze hearts, "Get up quickly while I'm still willing to listen to you."

Realizing what the cold glint in the other party's eyes meant, Gromyko dared not delay, struggled to climb up from the ground, opened the hatch, and moved out.

When Xu Ning stepped out of the tank, the Hunter Vulture Squad was already standing by.

Giving Gromyko another kick to make him lead the way, the group steadily advanced along the corridor towards the person in charge's office.

The coaxial machine gun on the tank remained vigilant, aimed at the guard ahead, a soldier trembling with fear.

Without the need for the Hunter Vulture Squad to take further action, the previous shelling had completely destroyed the last shred of resistance in this guard.

He leaned against the office door, trying to stand up but lacking the strength, his legs weak and powerless.

The tragic scene that had just occurred was still vivid: his comrade was walking towards the door, he had even waved goodbye, but the next moment he was swallowed by the sudden flames.

That terrifying sight and the subsequent loud noise still echoed in his ears, making it difficult for him to control himself.

Under the smoke-stained sky, he watched as the coaxial machine gun on the tank slowly rotated, like the cold gaze of the Grim Reaper locking onto him.

At that moment, it was as if time had frozen, waiting only for an order, and a rain of bullets would mercilessly descend, taking away his breath, just as it had taken the life of his comrade not long ago.

Finally, Xu Ning arrived in front of the office, appearing from behind Gromyko, and stood steadily in front of the guard.

The guard's fingers trembled incessantly, trying to raise the rifle in his hand, but fear and the weakness from not having experienced war for a long time made his movements slow and powerless.

The once proud soldier now faced with the threat of death, was left only with despair.

He recognized Xu Ning, the person he had contemptuously called a "yellow-skinned monkey" a few days ago, who had now transformed into the Ghost deciding life and death, hanging high above.

Xu Ning gently extended a finger and effortlessly pushed the muzzle aside: "Choose, put down your weapon, and you still have a chance to live; otherwise, only the end awaits you."

As soon as the words fell, with a "clatter," the guard completely collapsed, slumping to the ground, the weapon he tightly held slipping from his hand.

Ignoring the person who had lost the will to fight, Xu Ning pushed open the heavy door and stepped inside.

Inside the room, Alexei was looking at the newcomer with a face full of terror, his right hand nervously hidden behind his back, "How is this possible? How could it be you?"

Xu Ning smiled faintly: "It seems my appearance has indeed given you quite a shock, even the opening remarks are so similar."

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Alexei's forehead: "What... I don't understand what you're saying."

At this moment, Xu Ning pulled Gromyko from behind him and placed him in front of Alexei: "Then, you should know this person, right?"

Seeing the appearance of his former superior, Alexei's brain instantly stopped functioning, "Minister... You are..."

"Are you going to hand over what you're hiding now?" Xu Ning said firmly: "I have snipers outside keeping an eye on this place, anything unexpected could happen.

After all, I still have many things I need to discuss thoroughly with you, the person in charge."

Hearing this, Alexei's face turned exceptionally pale.

Only then did he realize that there were also several armed comrades standing guard at the door, their gaze also fixed on him.

With no other choice, he slowly put down the firearm in his hand and slumped back into the chair powerlessly.

"You can discuss any terms you want, but I only have one request, please release the Minister."

Alexei's voice was full of pleading.

Xu Ning smiled slightly: "Oh, how loyal.

But what if what I want to discuss is your life?"

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