282: Flame Peak's Influence

Jiang Chen glared at him, his ears secretly flushing, but he insisted, "It was a pure accident. The wind interfered with the trajectory just now."

Saying this, he raised the HK416 again, his gaze ten times more serious than before, his finger tightly gripping the trigger guard. "Watch closely. This time I'll show you what precision striking looks like."

But when he pulled the trigger again, the target scoring device remained silent, and the target paper far away was still undisturbed.

Jiang Yan laughed even harder: "Bro! Did the wind blow the bullet away again? Why don't you practice with the Glock with me? Stop making things difficult for yourself with the rifle!"

Jiang Chen thought to himself: Do I not have a talent for shooting?

Alfred saw that Jiang Chen was starting to lose face, and Jiang Yan was still laughing so hard he couldn't straighten up. He immediately stepped forward two paces, maintaining his composed and proper smile.

Turning to the White Instructor, his tone carried an air of unquestionable professionalism: "Instructor, please check the sight and trajectory calibration of this HK416. Was there a deviation during recent maintenance?"

He reached out and gently took the rifle from Jiang Chen's hand, running his fingertips over the sight and notch. He continued, "We are all aware of the Boss's shooting standard. Consecutive misses absolutely cannot be an operational issue. It must be a malfunction in the weapon's aiming system, or perhaps the ammunition's trajectory stability is flawed. Please arrange for a comprehensive inspection immediately."

The White Instructor was stunned for a moment, then immediately reacted, quickly bowing and responding, "Yes, I will take the weapon for inspection right away, and immediately replace it with a properly calibrated spare rifle for the Boss."

Saying this, he took the rifle and quickly walked toward the weapon maintenance area, effectively giving Jiang Chen a way out of the awkward situation.

The embarrassment in Jiang Chen's eyes slightly eased. He took back his hand and calmly adjusted his cuff, saying, "You reacted quickly. Otherwise, the maintenance team at this shooting range would have a lot to answer for today."

Alfred bowed and replied, "That is my duty, Boss." He then turned to Jiang Yan, who was still clutching his stomach from laughter, and said, "Mr. Jiang Yan, how about I take advantage of this interval to show you the sniper rifle exhibition area? There is a custom AWM model inside, with a military-grade scope, which would be perfect for your next challenge."

Jiang Yan finally managed to stop laughing. He glanced at Jiang Chen's still feigned-composed face, suppressed his smile, and nodded: "Sure! It's a good chance to see that legendary AWM. Maybe I can shoot straighter with a sniper rifle than my brother can with a rifle!"

Jiang Chen glared at him but didn't retort—after all, the scene of missing the target earlier was indeed a bit embarrassing, and with Alfred helping to smooth things over, he was happy to take the easy way out.

Alfred led Jiang Yan toward the sniper rifle exhibition area. The custom AWM model in the metal display case shone with a cold, silver-gray luster, and the military-grade scope refracted sharp light spots under the lamps.

Jiang Yan reached out and touched the cool texture of the gun body, his eyes filled with excitement: "The grip design on this gun is more ergonomic than the standard model. The recoil should be easier to control, right?"

"You have discerning eyes." Alfred turned slightly to introduce it, pointing his finger lightly at the scope. "This scope is equipped with night vision and ballistic compensation features. It can accurately lock onto targets even in complex environments, and its weight is 15% less than the standard version, making it better suited for fast-moving shooting."

Just as he finished speaking, a slight sound of a weapon being cocked suddenly came from behind them.

Jiang Chen had followed them over at some point, holding a newly calibrated HK416, the gun body still carrying a faint scent of oil. He raised an eyebrow and looked at Jiang Yan, his tone slightly defiant: "Don't just talk the talk. Dare to compete? The loser treats everyone to dinner tonight."

Jiang Yan immediately accepted the challenge, turning to Alfred with a smile: "Please help me retrieve the matching ammunition. I want to show my brother who the real shooting expert is."

Alfred nodded in response. As he hurried off to retrieve the ammunition, his peripheral vision caught Jiang Chen subtly adjusting the rifle's shoulder stock, and an almost imperceptible faint smile touched Alfred's lips—this Boss seemed competitive, but the earlier embarrassment was gone, replaced instead by a hint of childlike anticipation.

The sniper position and the rifle position were adjacent. Jiang Yan's movements were smooth and sharp as he set up the AWM, and Jiang Chen also raised the HK416, aiming at the bullseye a hundred meters away.

As the signal sounded inside the shooting range, two bullets exited the barrels almost simultaneously, hitting the red dot area of their respective bullseyes.

Jiang Yan turned to look at Jiang Chen, his eyes full of provocation: "The first round is a draw, but you won't be so lucky next time."

Jiang Chen grunted, re-aimed at the next moving target, and the instant his finger pulled the trigger, his gaze was sharp as an eagle's.

The guide rail of the moving target range emitted a slight hum. Twenty colored targets slid horizontally at different speeds, some also moving up and down randomly.

Jiang Chen held his breath and focused. The muzzle of the HK416 smoothly tracked the moving targets. His fingertip lightly pulled the trigger, and the gunshots were continuous and crisp, every single shot accurately hitting the red dot of the bullseye.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jiang Yan locking onto the distant targets through the scope. The sound of the AWM was deep and heavy; although its rate of fire was slower than the rifle's, every shot was steady, accurate, and fierce, without the slightest deviation.

"The third shot missed!" Jiang Chen suddenly spoke, his tone carrying a hint of imperceptible smugness. Jiang Yan snapped his head up and indeed saw that his third target was still sliding along unharmed. He immediately frowned: "Impossible, I clearly aimed!" He readjusted the scope's focus, only to find a subtle shift at the edge of the crosshairs—when he had touched the gun body earlier, his fingertip must have accidentally grazed the scope's fine-tuning knob.

Alfred happened to return with the ammunition. Seeing the situation, he immediately stepped forward: "Please don't rush, I will help you calibrate it." He knelt on one knee, deftly turning the knob while observing the markings inside the scope: "Military scopes are extremely sensitive; a slight touch can cause deviation. It has now been adjusted back to standard parameters."

Jiang Yan set up the gun again. This time, he didn't rush the shot but slowly adjusted his angle to follow the target's trajectory. When the gunshot rang out again, the bullet accurately pierced the bullseye, even punching a tiny hole through the wooden target board.

He turned to look at Jiang Chen and saw that the other party had hit all his targets and was looking at him with a half-smile: "There are only five targets left, and you're two shots behind."

"It's not over until it's over!" Fighting spirit ignited in Jiang Yan's eyes. The crosshairs in the scope firmly locked onto the fast-moving targets, and his finger was steady as a rock.

Jiang Chen didn't dare to be careless either. He noticed that the speed of the last five targets suddenly accelerated, even showing intersecting trajectories. He immediately adjusted his shooting rhythm, the gunshots sometimes rapid, sometimes slowing down, precisely avoiding the gaps where the targets might collide.

When the final gunshot faded, the electronic scoreboard on the range instantly lit up. Jiang Chen's score stopped at 18 hits, while Jiang Yan narrowly won with 19 hits.

Jiang Yan suddenly stood up, excitedly patting the gun body: "I told you I was better than you! You're treating us to dinner tonight! Bro, you can't escape it!"

Jiang Chen stared at the scoreboard, his mouth twitching, but he conceded readily: "A bet is a bet."

Jiang Chen put down the HK416, turned to Alfred, and said in a crisp, decisive tone, "Let's go, leave the base. Find the best restaurant in Las Vegas. My treat."

Alfred bowed and replied, "Yes, Boss."

He then took out a communicator and quietly gave a few instructions. In less than five minutes, the roar of engines could be heard outside the base gate.

Alfred bowed and replied, "Yes, Boss." He immediately took out a communicator and quietly gave a few instructions. In less than five minutes, the heavy alloy gate of the base slowly opened to both sides.

On the open ground outside the gate, eight black bulletproof SUVs were neatly lined up. The side of the vehicles was marked with the silver-red interwoven "Flame Blade" logo—a burning blaze wrapped around a sharp blade, gleaming with a cold, powerful luster under the sun. This was the exclusive emblem of Flame Peak.

The car doors opened simultaneously. Sixteen tall, muscular bodyguards in black suits stood in formation. Their eyes behind their sunglasses were sharp as eagles, and the bulging outlines of holsters at their waists were clearly visible. The cold, rigid aura they emitted caused passing base staff to silence themselves and step aside, unconsciously softening their breath.

At the same time, engine sounds came from the passage on the other side of the base. Three black SUVs of the same make slowly drove out. It was Li Zha and Cold Front, who had arrived with the Panshi Squad.

The team members wore black combat uniforms. Although they had changed out of their combat gear, they still couldn't conceal the lethal aura surrounding them. Once the vehicles stopped, Li Zha and Cold Front quickly got out and walked up to Jiang Chen, greeting him respectfully: "Chairman Jiang!"

Jiang Chen nodded slightly, then was the first to get into the main vehicle in the middle. Jiang Yan happily followed closely behind, while Alfred sat in the passenger seat, his fingertips lightly resting on the communicator, maintaining high vigilance throughout.

The motorcade slowly drove out of the base and sped toward Las Vegas.

The base was located in the Nevada desert, just over a hundred kilometers from the gambling city. There were almost no other vehicles on the flat highway; only the engine sounds of the eleven SUVs intertwined and echoed across the vast open land, creating a powerful and imposing presence.

An hour later, the motorcade drove into downtown Las Vegas. The bustling streetscape instantly replaced the desolation of the desert.

The flashing neon signs, the uniquely shaped hotel buildings, and the bustling crowds made the atmosphere inside the vehicles livelier.

When the eleven bulletproof SUVs bearing the "Flame Blade" logo stopped in a matrix formation outside a Michelin Three-Star French Restaurant, the previously noisy street instantly quieted down somewhat.

Passersby turned their heads, their gaze sweeping back and forth over the imposing motorcade and the stern-faced bodyguards and team members. They subconsciously slowed their steps and kept their distance. Some secretly took out their phones to take pictures, but lacked the courage to even approach, only daring to watch this astonishing entourage from afar.

The restaurant manager had already been informed and personally came out to greet them, his attitude extremely respectful: "Mr. Brando, please come in. Your reserved private room is ready."

The French feast was thoroughly enjoyed. The tenderness of the truffle steak, the richness of the foie gras pâté, and the mellowness of the Burgundy red wine left Jiang Yan full of praise.

After several rounds of drinks, Jiang Yan put down his knife and fork, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Jiang Chen: "Bro, since we're already in Las Vegas, should we go check out the casinos?"

Jiang Chen wiped his mouth, a flicker of interest crossing his eyes.

Las Vegas was famous, and he had originally intended to wander around after dinner.

Alfred spoke up at the opportune moment: "Boss, you can go play a few rounds after your meal and relax."

Pausing, he continued, "Flame Peak holds shares in every casino here, so you can enjoy yourself freely."

Hearing this, Jiang Chen nodded, put down his napkin, and stood up: "Let's go then, and see the sights of the gambling city."

The motorcade set off again. Eleven bulletproof SUVs bearing the "Flame Blade" logo sped down the neon avenues of Las Vegas. Wherever they went, traffic yielded, and pedestrians stopped and stared.

Half an hour later, the motorcade stopped steadily in front of a skyscraper entirely constructed of glass curtain walls.

This was "Starshine," the top casino in Las Vegas. The huge neon sign atop the building flashed in the night, like a diamond set in the sky above the city.

The casino General Manager, who had been waiting at the entrance, quickly stepped forward, his face covered in a professional, respectful smile. His gaze fell upon the composed Alfred, and he bowed in greeting: "Mr. Brando, your presence truly honors Starshine! The exclusive VIP area is fully prepared and ready to serve you at any time."

In the upper echelons of Las Vegas society, the name "Brando Alfred" was known to all.

In the upper echelons of Las Vegas society, the name "Brando Alfred" was already widely known, and everyone was aware of the formidable reputation of "Flame Peak" behind him.

As the designated successor within Flame Peak, Alfred was sharp and subtle in his actions. Even the heads of the major casinos would defer to him.

The General Manager had originally thought this important figure was coming for personal leisure tonight and had prepared to receive him with the utmost attention.

But just as he turned sideways to lead the way, Alfred deliberately stepped back half a pace, bowed slightly, and made a "please enter" gesture with his hand.

His gaze turned to Jiang Chen beside him, his tone one of complete respect and composure, starkly different from the aloofness he showed others: "General Manager, there's no need to be so polite. My Boss is here to enjoy himself today. Please arrange everything according to the highest specifications."

"Boss?" The smile on the General Manager's face instantly froze. His pupils involuntarily contracted, and the color drained slightly from his face.

He turned his head in disbelief, looking at the Asian youth protected at Alfred's side.

Jiang Chen wore a simple black shirt, his figure tall and straight, his demeanor cool and aloof, with a hint of unintentional detachment in his eyes. He looked to be only in his twenties, yet he could command a figure like Brando Alfred to bow and call him "Boss"?

You must understand that, in his perception, a figure like Alfred already stood at the pinnacle of Nevada.

Yet, he was showing such respect to an Asian man and calling him Boss?

He didn't dare to think further, instinctively adjusted his sharp suit, and bowed even lower this time, his tone filled with unconcealed awe: "Sir! Please, please come in!"

Jiang Chen's expression was calm. He nodded slightly and, taking Jiang Yan, stepped toward the interior of the casino.

Alfred followed closely. As he passed the General Manager, his eyes briefly swept over him. The latter immediately understood, hurried forward to lead the way, not daring to even breathe loudly.