16: Anyone who dares to raise their head will be shot dead!

Inside the car, fifteen fully armed Death Sworn remained motionless, each person's breathing adjusted to the same frequency.

Quiet, oppressive.

Time ticked by, second by second.

The moment the digital clock displayed 17:00:00, Alberto's eyes suddenly sharpened.

"Move out!"

The driver stomped on the gas, the engine roared like a beast, and the van shot forward like an arrow from a bow, directly charging towards the main entrance of Mellon Bank!

Tires screeched against the ground, emitting an ear-piercing sound.

"Bang!"

The van precisely crashed into the steps below the bank's entrance, the enormous impact causing the front of the vehicle to deeply indent.

The car door was kicked open from the inside.

Alberto was the first to leap out, his face covered by a black scarf, revealing only a pair of cold eyes.

The menacing-looking Heckler & Koch MK556 assault rifle in his hand glinted with metallic coldness in the twilight's afterglow.

"GO!"

Fifteen Death Sworn poured out in an orderly fashion, their movements synchronized, forming three tactical teams in a 'pin' formation, advancing towards the bank's main doors.

The two security guards at the entrance were clearly bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

One of them, an older white security guard, instinctively reached for the pistol at his waist.

"Don't move!" Alberto's muzzle instantly locked onto him.

But the security guard was perhaps too nervous, his finger already on the gun grip.

Alberto gave him no further chance.

"Bang!"

A crisp gunshot pierced the street's clamor.

The bullet accurately entered the security guard's forehead; the terror on his face instantly froze, and he fell backward stiffly.

Blood splattered across the floor.

Inside the bank lobby, the customers and employees who had been conducting business instantly erupted into chaos upon hearing the gunshot.

Screams, cries.

People ran around like headless chickens, trying to find a safe corner.

"Da da da da!"

Alberto's team rushed into the lobby and fired a volley of shots at the ceiling.

The plaster ceiling panels were shattered, and debris and dust rained down.

"Everyone get down!"

"Those who don't want to die, get your asses on the ground!"

"Hands behind your head! Hurry!"

Cold, murderous voices, accompanied by the metallic clatter unique to firearms, caused the temperature of the entire lobby to drop.

The instinct for survival overpowered panic; everyone screamed and lay on the ground, hands behind their heads, trembling.

Another Black security guard knelt on the ground with his hands raised, muttering incessantly.

"Don't shoot, don't shoot, I don't know anything..."

One of Alberto's companions walked over emotionlessly and, without hesitation, pulled the trigger, aiming at his head.

"Bang!"

Another corpse.

Absolute violence brought absolute obedience.

The entire bank lobby, apart from the robbers' footsteps and commands, was utterly silent.

"Team One, secure the counters! Get all the cash into bags! Quick!"

"Team Two, control the hostages! Anyone who dares to look up will be shot dead!"

Alberto issued clear instructions, his gaze rapidly scanning the lobby.

It finally settled on a pale-faced, terrified fat man in a suit in the corner.

The bank manager.

Alberto strode over, grabbed his tie, and pressed the gun muzzle to his forehead.

"The vault, take me to it."

"I..." The manager's teeth chattered, and his pants were already wet.

"I don't like to repeat myself." Alberto's tone was devoid of emotion.

"Yes."

Just then, a Death Sworn member at the counter shouted, "Boss, someone pressed the alarm!"

Almost simultaneously, Alberto's radio earpiece conveyed a warning from the observation team.

"Observation Team calling, 'package' dispatched, five vehicles in total, from the Loop District Police Department three kilometers away, estimated arrival in three minutes."

"Received."

Alberto glanced at the trembling bank manager, then at his companions frantically stuffing money into bags at the counter.

There wasn't enough time.

He spoke calmly into the radio.

"Calling Support Team, Eduardo."

"Eduardo received."

"Give me five minutes." Alberto's tone was unequivocal. "Five minutes, I want you to completely block the cops' path!"

"Understood."

Three kilometers away.

Police Officer Antonio was driving his patrol car, complaining to his partner Mario about tonight's basketball game.

"Listen, Mario, I bet the Bulls are going to get blown out tonight, their interior defense is like paper..."

"Oh, come on, Antonio, you said that last time, and what happened?"

A piercing alarm suddenly blared in the command center, interrupting their chatter.

"Emergency alert! Mellon Bank in the Loop District is under armed robbery!"

"Repeat, Mellon Bank is under armed robbery! Suspects are heavily armed, requesting immediate support from nearby units!"

Antonio and Mario exchanged glances, the relaxed expressions on their faces instantly vanishing.

"I'm on it!"

Antonio slammed on the gas, activated the siren, and the police car roared away.

"Command Center, Patrol Car 703 received, en route to the scene!"

"Hurry, hurry, hurry! These damned robbers, they really pick their timing!" Mario cursed as he checked his service weapon.

Five police cars, with flashing red and blue lights, forced a path through the beginning of rush hour traffic.

They sped towards Mellon Bank.

Antonio's car was in the lead.

Just as they were about to turn a street corner.

Antonio's pupils suddenly constricted.

He saw a figure on the roof of an apartment building next to the corner, holding a tubular object and aiming it at them.

What was that thing? An RPG?

This was downtown Chicago!

The thought had just flashed through his mind.

"Boom!"

An irresistible, immense force violently struck the side of the police car.

The world spun.

Antonio felt himself flying through the air; the police car tumbled twice before crashing heavily to the ground.

The ear-piercing screech of twisting metal, the shattering of glass, and Mario's screams mingled together.

The two police cars following behind braked hard, the officers inside still hadn't processed what had happened.

"Da da da da da da!"

From the alleys on both sides of the street, two deadly tongues of flame suddenly spat out.

A dense rain of bullets poured onto the police cars.

Car doors, windows, and hoods were instantly riddled with holes.

The officers inside couldn't even mount a proper counterattack and were torn to shreds by bullets amidst their screams.

Blood stained the car windows.

The road instantly erupted into a sea of fire and chaos.

Through the earpiece, Eduardo's calm reply came.

"Team One, your five minutes, the countdown starts now."