141: Chapter 141 The Final Hunt: The Dock Showdown
Craig's hysterical "Doomsday Bell" command was like a stone cast into still water; the ripples it stirred went far beyond his imagination and reached the other shore much faster than he had expected.
Relayed through that secret satellite station, the command was encrypted and forwarded to several pre-set "dead drop" receiving nodes in the Asia-Pacific region. One such node was located in an old server of a seemingly ordinary seafarers' club near a bustling international port on the southeastern coast of the Dragon Kingdom. Here, the command was automatically captured, double-encrypted, and transmitted via a rarely used physical network cable buried deep within the club's walls to an open-air temporary warehouse filled with shipping containers at the port's third berth, belonging to a multinational logistics company.
Deep within the warehouse, a black metal box that had been in a low-power hibernation state for a long time emitted a few extremely faint mechanical clicks after receiving a specific signal sequence. A slot slid open on the side of the box, revealing an LCD screen and a dual-verification interface for fingerprints and irises.
A hand with thick knuckles, covered in calluses and tiny scars, pressed onto the fingerprint recognition area. Immediately afterward, a pair of cold, emotionless gray eyes aligned with the iris scanner.
"Verification passed. Operative Code: 'Scavenger'. Welcome to activation. Final protocol loaded."
On the screen, the full text of Craig's near-manic command, along with key information summaries from the "Ghost" report (Lin Mo's photo, last known general area, threat assessment), were clearly displayed.
The man known as the "Scavenger" appeared to be in his forties, wearing the blue overalls common among port stevedores. His appearance was ordinary, the type that would immediately vanish in a crowd. Only those gray eyes, when they occasionally shifted, revealed a mechanical precision and indifference that no dockworker should possess.
He was a "legacy" of an extremely secretive project Craig had headed in his early years—a "human weapon" created through drugs, hypnosis, and extreme training to partially erase personal emotions and memories, strengthen specific combat and killing instincts, and implant deep-seated directives. They were placed at key nodes to hibernate like tools, only activating upon receiving a specific ultimate command to execute a single elimination mission regardless of cost or consequence, before self-destructing or dying in battle. Due to its inhumane nature and uncontrollable risks, the project had long been secretly mothballed, known only to a very few core participants like Craig who retained some of the "inventory."
The "Scavenger" quickly read the command, his gray eyes showing no fluctuation, as if he were merely checking a cargo manifest. He turned and took out a neatly folded set of black special operations gear, several specially treated cold weapons and non-metallic explosive components that were difficult to detect with conventional security checks, and a disposable encrypted communicator from the metal box.
He did not act immediately. Instead, like the most precise machine, he began using the communicator's limited local network search function (via a springboard) to conduct a rapid analysis, combining the "Ghost's" last signal source area from the command with the port's own traffic and logistics data.
His logic was simple and direct: the target was under heavy state-level protection, making conventional approaches difficult. However, the target was valuable and might need to move for some reason (such as a transfer or preparation for a public appearance). The port, as an area with complex personnel, busy logistics, and relative monitoring blind spots, was a possible choice for a covert transfer or setting up a temporary safe point. More importantly, this was his "home turf"; he was familiar with every corner, every ferry schedule, and every surveillance blind spot here.
He needed to confirm whether the target would come, or if they were already here.
He did not know that almost at the same moment he activated, a peripheral alarm on the "Weaving Net" system in front of Long Zhantian at the temporary underground headquarters of the National Convention Center flickered slightly.
The alarm wasn't for the "Scavenger" himself—his activation communication was nearly untraceable—but rather for the abnormal data capture behavior of that seafarers' club server. With the assistance of the "system," the "Weaving Net" system had long included abnormal data flows from all critical city infrastructure in its monitoring scope, especially around the port, which had recently been listed as a priority area.
"Port area, third berth associated node, abnormal data capture, pattern match 73%, similar to sample No. 7 in the known hostile communication signature database," Su Xiaowan's voice came through the encrypted channel. "The data volume is extremely small and the target is clear; it appears someone is retrieving specific information or receiving instructions."
Long Zhantian's eyes sharpened. The port? At this sensitive time? "Engineer Lin is currently still inside the fortress-1. According to the plan, he will head to the National Convention Center in three hours for final rehearsals and security checks. The port is not on the planned route."
"But the other side might not know that, or they are trying every possible location," Su Xiaowan analyzed. "It could also be a probe or preparation for another action."
Long Zhantian pondered for a moment, a cold light flashing in his eyes. "Whatever it is, now that the rat has poked its head out, we can't let it go. With 'Ghost' caught and 'Viper' captured, if the opponent has any cards left, this is likely their last and most desperate strike. Notify port security and the undercover 'Dark Blade' peripheral teams to raise their alert level and secretly sweep the third berth area, focusing on that logistics company warehouse. Additionally..."
He pulled up a detailed map of the port, his sharp gaze scanning it. "Prepare a 'message' for me, and ensure it can be heard by any potential 'ears.' The content should say... due to temporary traffic control around the National Convention Center, the 'important research equipment and accompanying security team' originally scheduled to arrive at 10:00 AM will instead board the 'sea star' high-speed ferry at 8:30 AM from Pier 3 of the third berth, taking a water route to a dock near the Center."
He was casting a stone to find the path, or even inviting the tiger into the trap! If the opponent's target really was Lin Mo and they were lurking at the port, this "leaked" news about the temporary route change for the "important research equipment and accompanying security team" (a veiled reference to Lin Mo and his guards) via the port's water route would be an irresistible lure!
"Let the news be 'accidentally' leaked through the port's internal dispatch communication system to ensure the propagation path looks natural," Long Zhantian added. "The main 'Dark Blade' team will move with me to set up control at the 'sea star' and Pier 3 area in advance. I want to see exactly who still wants to come and try their luck!"
The order was executed swiftly.
8:15 AM, Port Berth 3.
The morning mist had not yet fully dissipated, and the air was thick with the salty tang of seawater and the smell of diesel. The "sea star" ferry sat quietly by Pier 3. Passengers had not yet begun boarding; only a few crew members were making pre-departure preparations. Near the pier, everything looked the same as usual, but if a top-tier observer looked closely, they would find that some stevedores' movements were too "standard," several "crew members" were positioned to provide overlapping fields of fire, and in some inconspicuous corners, extremely subtle reflections flashed—camouflaged sniper scopes or observation equipment.
Long Zhantian himself had changed into a port management uniform and was hidden on the second floor of the pier control room. Through the one-way glass, he coldly watched the pier and the surrounding area. He was like the most patient hunter, waiting for the prey to step into the trap.
8:20 AM.
A man wearing blue overalls, pushing a flatbed cart for empty containers, walked unhurriedly from the warehouse area toward Pier 3 with his head down. His pace was steady and his movements natural, perfectly fitting the image of a dockworker starting his morning shift.
But inside the control room, Long Zhantian's pupils suddenly contracted.
He was too "natural." So natural that every stride length, the rhythm of every breath, and even the angle of his arms swinging as he pushed the cart seemed measured with a ruler. Furthermore, although the worker's route seemed casual, he skillfully avoided several angles that he likely identified as optimal for hidden surveillance, always keeping himself partially shielded by large cargo or machinery.
"Suspected target spotted. Male, approximately forty years old, blue overalls, pushing a flatbed, approaching the pier," Long Zhantian whispered into his miniature microphone. "All teams take note: the target is highly professional and may carry unconventional weapons. Do not fire without my command; priority is live capture. Sniper team, lock onto the target's non-lethal limb areas."
The "Scavenger" pushed the cart, getting closer and closer to the pier. His gray eyes scanned the "sea star" ferry, the few people on the pier, the control room, and every corner where someone might be hiding. His brain processed visual information like a computer, assessing threat levels.
There were no obvious signs of a large-scale ambush. The target vessel matched the description. The time was close.
His fingers, beneath the handle of the flatbed cart, lightly touched a cold protrusion—the trigger for a high-strength ceramic blade embedded within the cart's frame.
Thirty meters to go.
Twenty meters.
Just as he was about to step into the relatively open and unshielded area at the entrance of the pier, his footsteps faltered for an extremely subtle moment.
Something was wrong.
It was too "clean." At this time, at this berth, even if passengers hadn't boarded, there shouldn't be only these few "crew members." The positions where those crew members stood... though seemingly random, they subtly blocked several of the fastest paths to the ferry's cabin. Moreover, in the air, there was an extremely faint scent of metal and electronic equipment on standby, distinct from the usual smells of the dock.
A trap.
Almost at the same instant the "Scavenger" made this intuitive judgment, Long Zhantian also captured the opponent's alertness from that momentary hesitation!
"Do it!" Long Zhantian ordered without hesitation!
Thump!
With a muffled sound that wasn't very loud, a device disguised as a fire hydrant on the side of the pier suddenly burst open, spraying a large amount of thick, pungent white smoke that instantly obscured the pier entrance area!
Simultaneously, several figures lunged out from behind cargo piles on both sides of the pier and from behind cover on the deck of the "sea star"! Red laser sights on gun barrels cut sharp trails through the smoke, pointing directly at the "Scavenger's" position!
The "Scavenger's" reaction was faster than anyone could imagine! The moment the smoke erupted, he didn't retreat or look for cover; instead, he kicked the side of the flatbed cart with immense force!
Crash—!
The empty container on the flatbed was sent flying by his terrifying strength, smashing toward the two nearest "Dark Blade" members and temporarily halting their momentum! Meanwhile, using the counterforce, he retreated rapidly like a phantom. At the same time, his right hand swept past his waist, and several glints of cold light shot toward suspected firing positions in the smoke—specially made metal shuttles with edges as sharp as knives that could be remotely detonated!
"Watch out for projectiles!" "Find cover!"
The "Dark Blade" members were experienced and immediately dodged or sought protection.
Taking advantage of this, the "Scavenger" had already retreated into an area piled with cluttered timber and cables. With a few flickers of his silhouette, he vanished behind the complex obstacles.
"He's heading for Warehouse B! Block all exits!" Long Zhantian leaped down from the control room and pursued like a cheetah, battle intent burning in his eyes. He was indeed a tough nut to crack! But the more it was like this, the more they couldn't let him escape!
The dockside confrontation instantly transformed from a pre-set ambush into a chase and hunt in complex terrain. The fog-shrouded pier entrance was left with only rolling white smoke, the overturned flatbed, and those few cold shuttles embedded deep into iron supports, witnessing the start of this silent yet perilous clash.