Chapter 25: We Can't Kill People, But They're Not Human!

At this moment, the veteran officer also sensed that something was amiss.

He walked toward the van. As he passed the rookie officer, he gave him a casual pat on the shoulder. However, the rookie stood frozen in place, his eyes vacant, clutching the identification document in his hand. The veteran took the document from him and peered at it closely. He froze for a second, then looked at the special forces soldier in the driver's seat and immediately offered a crisp military salute.

"Please, proceed!"

The soldier nodded, returned both hands to the steering wheel, and drove away. The van continued to swerve erratically down the road. Once the van had disappeared from sight, the veteran officer nudged his partner.

"Thud!"

The rookie officer collapsed to the ground. The veteran stared down at the rookie, who was lying on the ground with his eyes rolled back, momentarily stunned. After a long moment, he regained his composure, lifted the rookie up, and pressed his thumb firmly into the young man's philtrum. After five full minutes of pressure, the rookie's eyes finally regained focus.

"Blegh!"

As soon as he woke up, the rookie started dry-heaving on the ground. The veteran patted his back. "What’s wrong with you, kid? Why did you pass out all of a sudden?"

After the dry-heaving stopped, the rookie looked up at the veteran with teary eyes. He shook his head, his expression filled with confusion. "I have no idea what happened. I just blacked out!"

Hearing this, the veteran’s expression grew grave. "You don't think you’re possessed, do you?"

At these words, a flicker of terror crossed the rookie’s face.

...

Outside the estate, in a concealed location, an ambulance marked "Magic City First Psychiatric Hospital" was parked. Inside, Xiaoyu held a tablet computer and said in a low voice, "Captain! Are the ones attacking our own?"

Dart shook his head. "No. Other Warden teams have intervened."

Xiaoyu’s fingers swiped rapidly across the screen. "According to satellite feedback, three teams are currently launching an assault on the villa!"

Dart’s voice was grim. "Can you trace their identity codes?"

Every member of a Warden team had a unique identification code. The Wardens' satellite network could detect these codes to determine which containment facility they originated from. Xiaoyu’s fingers flew across the tablet, her delicate brows knitted tightly together. "Captain! I can't find them! Their identity codes are being masked by some special method!"

Listening to the gunfire outside, Dart’s face darkened. "Bastards! They’re using live ammunition!"

There was a subtle difference in the sound of live rounds versus tranquilizer darts. Dart could distinguish that difference clearly. Hearing this, Sly sounded indignant. "Captain! Why are we restricted to tranquilizer darts while they get to use live ammo? Which facility are they from? I’m going to file a complaint as soon as we get back!"

Dart’s brow was furrowed. "I don’t think they’re Wardens from China."

Within the Chinese Warden organization, there was an unwritten rule: never use live ammunition against civilians. Combined with the intelligence provided by the Doctor, Dart was certain that these three teams were definitely not any unit belonging to the Chinese Wardens.

Flowing Light’s eyes were shadowed with gloom. "Captain! Do you mean that Wardens from other countries have infiltrated to snatch the target?"

Dart nodded, his voice heavy. "That is the only possibility!"

Sly could no longer sit still. "Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go out there and take them down!"

Dart shook his head. "The Doctor’s highest priority mission is to disrupt their operation; recovering the target comes second."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go disrupt them!" Sly stood up, clutching his rifle.

Dart shook his head again. "They are still attacking the perimeter of the villa. It is not the optimal moment to strike."

Hearing this, Sly sat back down in frustration. Flowing Light patted Sly’s shoulder, saying in a low voice, "Follow orders!" Though his expression appeared calm, the trembling of his hand on Sly’s shoulder betrayed his true emotions completely. Sly said nothing, instead picking up a cloth to wipe down his rifle. The other team members stared at their own weapons in silence.

Nearby, Lu Xiao watched Xiaoyu’s tablet with curiosity. "Hey, missy! What do you call this thing?" he asked, pointing at the tablet.

Xiaoyu was startled, but answered, "This is called a 'Smart Brain'."

Lu Xiao grinned. "Can I play with it?"

Xiaoyu shook her head. Lu Xiao wasn't annoyed; he didn't necessarily need to play with it. He just thought it looked like the tablets from his memories and wanted to take a look. But since Xiaoyu refused, he let it go. After all, as a five-star model citizen, he knew that brute force was clearly the wrong way to go.

Meanwhile, the battle inside the estate was nearing a fever pitch. Dozens of bodyguard corpses already littered the garden. The three Warden teams were clearly working in coordination, moving with seamless precision. So far, they had suffered zero casualties. Some bodyguards had retreated into the interior of the villa, while many others had fled the estate amidst the chaos. After all, they were just there for a paycheck; it wasn't worth dying for.

"Captain! They’ve started attacking the villa itself! It’s estimated to fall within five minutes!" Xiaoyu reported.

Dart pondered for a moment before issuing an order. "Check your gear. Once they emerge from the villa, we intercept them!"

Flowing Light asked with cold, narrowed eyes, "Tranquilizers or live rounds?" As he spoke, he had already ejected his magazine of tranquilizer darts, clearly stating his stance.

For a moment, all eyes—save for Lu Xiao’s—shifted toward Dart. Dart swept his gaze over his team and gritted his teeth. "Live rounds!"

At Dart’s command, it was as if everyone had found a release for their pent-up frustration. The cabin was filled with the metallic clacking of magazines being swapped. Sly even threw his discarded magazine of tranquilizer darts onto the floor, stomped on it twice, and spat on the ground.

At this moment, Lu Xiao grabbed Dart. "Hey, buddy, do you need me to step in?" He pointed at his own nose.

Dart thought for a moment. "Mr. Lu Xiao, I expect you to follow my commands!"

Lu Xiao nodded, flashing a friendly smile. "I have one more question!"

Dart met Lu Xiao’s dead-fish eyes and said, "Go ahead!"

Lu Xiao extended his tongue and licked the corner of his mouth. Moonlight filtered through the car window onto his face, making his dead-fish eyes look terrifying. "Can I kill them?"

Upon hearing Lu Xiao’s question, everyone’s gaze snapped back to Dart. Dart’s expression was grim as he enunciated every word clearly. "You may not kill."

"But they aren't human."