Courtyard House: Report enemy agents at the start, and you'll take off immediately.

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At that moment, the laughter and chatter inside the warehouse seemed to freeze instantly, and everyone's gaze turned to the doorway. Two men in black combat uniforms appeared before them, their eyes scanning the surroundings like hawks. The older and younger workers instinctively shrank back, gripping their weapons tightly. Zhao De stood ramrod straight, his eyes cold as ice, watching the two uninvited guests warily.

"Excuse me... who are you two?" Zhao De asked calmly, but there was a hint of probing in her voice. She noticed that although the two men were also wearing armbands similar to rescue team badges, they seemed to exude a unique aura different from other agents—more gloomy and more aggressive.

The leader glanced at Zhao De but didn't respond immediately. Instead, he turned to his companions and gestured with his eyes, "You guys go check the surrounding area for any missed targets."

Upon hearing the order, the slightly thinner man nodded and quickly disappeared from sight, leaving only the man in black who had spoken first. Only then did he turn his gaze to Zhao De. "Don't be nervous, we're here to help resolve this as well."

Despite this answer bringing some relief to some, many remained confused and even uneasy. This was especially true when the clearly high-ranking stranger spoke with an authoritative yet subtly threatening tone…

Xiao Liu swallowed hard and muttered to his friend beside him, "What's going on? Why did it suddenly turn out this way?"

His concerns were quickly heard: "Shh, keep your voice down, brother. It's best to be cautious when the situation is still unclear..."

Chapter 927 What exactly is going on?

Chapter 927 What exactly is going on?

As he said this, the old colleague's eyes remained fixed on the person who called himself a 'friend,' but who didn't seem like a good person to befriend at all.

“Miss Qing, there’s no need to be so reserved. In fact, our presence is only beneficial to you.” Facing the silent Zhao De, the mysterious man’s lips curled into a cold smile as he continued, “As long as we can cooperate well… many things you can’t even imagine will become possible.”

"Oh? I wonder what you mean by 'many good things'?" The undercurrent in the other party's words made even the usually perceptive Zhao De frown and interject with a question.

Just as the tension was building, a series of clearly audible footsteps approached from behind, breaking the temporary stalemate. "Excuse me for disturbing you, but what's going on here? We need to ensure everyone's safety." It turned out to be the officer who had led the team earlier, who had noticed the unusual change in atmosphere and come to investigate.

Upon seeing the newcomers, the two men in black's previously smug smiles gradually faded, replaced by indifference. "It's nothing, sir, just some normal work handover procedures..."

Seeing this, the officer didn't seem to have completely let his guard down, but he didn't say anything more, just nodded slightly and turned back to Zhao De and the others to ask if they were injured or needed help. Taking advantage of this brief opportunity, the woman secretly sent a message to her companion: Be careful of these people!

Meanwhile, Xiao Liu, standing in a corner of the warehouse, exclaimed as he watched the scene unfold, "Wow, this is so exciting! It's even more thrilling than any blockbuster movie..." But before he could finish speaking, his friend covered his mouth, saying, "Don't say anything, you silly girl. If they find out what we're talking about, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Just as everyone was waiting with their own thoughts, anticipating what would happen next, a sound came from outside the door again, followed by a familiar yet weary voice:

"Hey Qing, is that you?"

Everyone turned to look at the source of the voice, where a man, also fully armed and covered in dust, slowly approached. "Captain! Why are you back at this hour!" Zhao De exclaimed with surprise and joy, rushing forward to greet him.

The man called the captain breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing everyone safe and sound. "That's great. It seems I didn't miss anything major. However... the problem you just encountered is probably not completely over yet..." After saying that, he winked in Zhao De's direction to exchange opinions.

The latter nodded slightly in agreement, understanding the implication. "So what do you think is the best course of action now?"

In this relatively safe yet unpredictable space, the struggle between a group of people who bravely face adversity has only just begun...

"I think the first thing we need to do is find out the true identities of these unfamiliar faces," the captain suggested earnestly.

“I agree, but this is not something that can be accomplished overnight,” Zhao De replied calmly, glancing at the two men in black who seemed to have returned to normal but still subtly revealed their distrust.

Just as the atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense, a sudden voice interrupted their discussion:

"Wait! What's going on with us?" The speaker was the young worker named Xiao Liu from before, clearly unable to contain his curiosity and nervousness any longer. "And, are those people outside bad guys?"

Chapter 928 Get rid of those guys

Chapter 928 Get rid of those guys

Zhao De glanced helplessly at Xiao Liu and gently scolded, "Now is not the time for you to ask so many questions. But what you said does make some sense." He turned to the two mysterious men, "Can you explain who you are? We won't easily trust people of unknown origin."

The leader of the men in black had a darting gaze, seemingly considering how to answer without provoking the crowd's anger. After a few seconds, he spoke: "My name is Han Lin, and this is my partner, Lin Yi. We belong to the National Security Bureau, and our purpose here is to cooperate in handling this incident and ensure everyone's safety. If you still have doubts, I can show you my identification..."

A hint of contemplation flickered in Zhao De's eyes: "National Security Bureau?" This information eased her initial wariness slightly. However, out of professional habit and caution, she still insisted on seeing the other party's identification.

After carefully examining the supporting documents provided by Han Lin and confirming that they were correct, she nodded to reassure everyone. Even so, many people present remained wary—after all, for ordinary citizens, an institution as powerful yet extremely secretive as "national security" still seemed quite mysterious and distant.

At that moment, more hurried footsteps sounded outside, clearly indicating that other members of the rescue operation were arriving to provide support. "Alright, friends, it seems we won't be in too much trouble here for now; but now is not the time to let our guard down!" the officer reminded them. "Please pack your belongings and prepare for evacuation! We'll be moving to a safer location for the next steps..."

"Move?" A gasp suddenly rang out from the crowd. It was a usually timid and cautious girl from the warehouse. "But we've only just started to feel safe... Is it really okay to move so frequently? What if we encounter some unknown danger again?"

As such doubts gradually spread, Zhao De took the initiative to step forward and pat her on the shoulder to comfort her, "Don't be afraid, darling, as long as we're here, you can just follow along with peace of mind!"

Hearing these words from the usually gentle and reliable older woman immediately eased the tension in most people's hearts. Of course, some who remained vigilant continued to follow the group, silently observing how things would unfold…

Just as the evacuation was proceeding smoothly, Old Li, who was monitoring the surrounding environment, suddenly changed his expression. He quickly picked up the walkie-talkie and shouted, "Sir, something's wrong! It seems someone has infiltrated our evacuation route! They don't look friendly..."

These words, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly created huge ripples. The atmosphere, which had just begun to ease, immediately became tense again.

Zhao De rushed forward immediately to block everyone and shouted sternly, "Stop! Everyone stay here and don't move! No one is allowed to make any rash moves until the situation is clear!"

"Hey, what's going on here? How come even this place isn't safe!" Xiao Liu complained again. "I thought at least I could catch my breath for a while... Sigh..."

"Stop talking nonsense! The most important thing now is to get rid of those guys..." the old colleague reminded him in a low voice.

The captain frowned and asked Zhao De beside him, "Do you have any suggestions? We need to make a decision as soon as possible."

Chapter 929 A Target in Others' Eyes

Chapter 929 A Target in Others' Eyes

After a moment's thought, Zhao De gave his answer: "Perhaps we can use the existing resources to set a trap, lure the enemy out, and see if we can turn the tables and restrain them... But the key is how to ensure the plan is implemented smoothly..."

Han Lin's eyes lit up upon hearing this. "I think this is a good suggestion, but we need a suitable person to lure the enemy deep into our territory..."

Zhao De keenly grasped the implied meaning in those words and immediately stepped forward to respond, "I am willing to accept this mission. If it can help everyone evacuate safely, then all the costs will be worthwhile."

Before anyone else could voice their opinion, a voice from nearby interrupted their conversation: "Wait, wait... gentlemen, while I know this is important, have you considered the potential consequences of this arrangement? What if something goes wrong..."

No sooner had Zhao De finished speaking than the usually timid and cautious girl couldn't help but interject. She looked anxiously at everyone present, especially when her gaze met Han Lin's slightly cold yet unwavering eyes. "I...I mean..." she stammered, "This is just too dangerous! If anything really happens to us, who will take responsibility?"

At this moment, Xiao Liu, who was standing next to her, curled his lip and said in a slightly sarcastic tone, "Come on, Sister Qing did it voluntarily. Besides, if she doesn't take the risk and try it, she'll become a target in other people's eyes sooner or later."

"Oh my goodness, Xiao Liu, can't you be a little less direct?" Old Li glared at him disapprovingly, then quickly turned to Zhao De with a smile, "But speaking of which, we're all quite worried about your safety—Ms. Qing, let's all work together to figure this out."

As everyone was arguing, Zhao De slowly stood up and walked to the front of the group. After looking around, he said seriously, "The situation is indeed not optimistic, but we don't have any more time to waste. Since Miss Zhao De has volunteered to take on this important task, let's trust her abilities and fully cooperate with her to complete this arduous mission."

Han Lin nodded slightly in agreement, "Mr. Zhao is right. Moreover, based on my observation of the terrain and surrounding environment, if we can make good use of the existing conditions, we have a high chance of turning defeat into victory." After saying that, he cast an inquiring glance at Zhao De, since the final decision still rested with her.

Feeling the strength of the support and trust from his companions, Zhao De strengthened his resolve: "Now that everyone agrees with my idea, I will do my best to ensure everything goes smoothly. However, we need all of you to cooperate closely to guarantee the smooth progress of the operation."

Seeing this, those who had initially harbored some doubts nodded in agreement.

"Alright! Sister Qing, you just need to charge forward, and leave the rear to the brothers and sisters to protect." Xiao Liu cheered with a smile, trying to ease the tense atmosphere.

The old colleague gently patted Zhao De on the shoulder and comforted him, "Go ahead and do it with confidence, kid. Everyone is looking forward to leaving this awful place as soon as possible! If you have any needs or difficulties, just let us know. We will definitely help you if we can."

However, just as everyone was busy preparing for the next step, faint but clearly audible footsteps suddenly came from the woods not far away...

Chapter 930 A Wary Gaze

Chapter 930 A Wary Gaze

Old Li immediately tensed up, raised his hand in a silencing gesture, and quickly relayed the message to the team leader. "Wait! Stop everything! I think I just heard something..."

"Footsteps?" the captain asked, his brow furrowed. "Could it be that those guys are already closing in?"

Before they could reach a conclusion, a series of urgent knocks sounded at the warehouse door. Accompanying the knocking was a deep, urgent voice calling from outside: "Open the door! It's me, Old Wang! Can the people inside please open the door quickly, or who knows what terrible things might happen..."

Zhao De and the other leaders exchanged wary glances. After all, in such a highly sensitive and fraught situation, no one was willing to risk easily trusting any suddenly appearing figure...

"What exactly is going on? Why is Old Wang in such a hurry?" Xiao Liu, whose emotions were gradually becoming more and more agitated, questioned loudly, looking at the others as if he wanted an immediate answer. "Could something big have happened outside?"

Zhao De frowned slightly, her sharp gaze sweeping over the crowd before finally settling on the tightly closed warehouse door. The shouts from outside continued intermittently, as if reminding them of the urgency of the situation. "No matter what, we have to hear what he has to say," she said calmly, giving Old Li a knowing look. Old Li nodded and tiptoed towards the door.

"Alright! But everyone, prepare for battle!" Han Lin's deep voice rang out, his eyes becoming even more resolute. His companions around him also picked up their weapons, and the entire space was filled with the tense atmosphere unique to the pre-battle period.

When Old Li gently opened the warehouse door a crack, Old Wang practically leaped in, still carrying a lingering smell of dust. "You finally opened the door..." he panted, his eyes filled with anxiety and exhaustion, "There's... a new situation over there."

The crowd of onlookers began to murmur amongst themselves, their unease and curiosity making the atmosphere even more tense. "What happened?" Xiao Liu asked anxiously, clearly having lost all interest in trying to ease the tension. "Can't you just get straight to the point!"

Old Wang glanced up at Xiao Liu's face, which was filled with dissatisfaction, then took a deep breath to calm his somewhat agitated emotions. "A new batch of 'prey' has arrived outside," he paused, "but they are not acting alone—they seem to be more organized. Moreover, judging from what I observed at the edge of the woods, this group of enemies probably knows our location quite well."

Hearing this, Zhao De frowned. If that were the case, then all the previously formulated evacuation plans would face great uncertainty. "Do you know the exact number of people? And what's the status of the equipment?" Zhao De pressed for details.

"There were about a dozen of them, each carrying a knife or a club. While not as well-equipped as ours, they were enough to handle most small groups we encountered." Old Wang's expression grew more serious as he said this. "Most importantly... as they advanced towards us, they left some markers, clearly to guide more of their kind to this location."

Chapter 931 The consequences are unimaginable

Chapter 931 The consequences are unimaginable

The air suddenly became eerily quiet, broken only by the occasional sound of breathing. After a moment of silence, Zhao De spoke, "In that case, let's proceed according to the original plan. However, we need to slightly adjust the retreat route to ensure we can effectively avoid these newly appeared targets."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a terrified scream rang out from not far away: "Ah! Look over there, there are so many armed people coming..." Immediately, chaos erupted around them as people scrambled to find cover.

Amidst the chaos, Zhao De remained calm, but she knew that everyone had little time to react. "Everyone, listen to my command! Immediately proceed according to the emergency plan!" she announced loudly. With this command, the team immediately began to operate in an orderly fashion: some were responsible for evacuating the crowd; others quietly moved to the optimal firing angles to await further instructions...

"Sister Qing... this is no small matter... if we fail, the consequences will be unimaginable..." Xiao Liu said through gritted teeth, but his tone clearly revealed the complex emotions he felt about the upcoming challenge.

“As long as everyone gives it their all, I believe there is no difficulty we cannot overcome,” Zhao De looked back at his young companion and offered words of comfort with a smile. “Besides, we are not entirely without a chance of winning.”

Just as the two were talking, a series of hurried footsteps interrupted their conversation—it turned out that Old Wang, who had entered first, had returned to their side. "I have already notified all the outer personnel to return to the assembly point as soon as possible. I estimate we can get about ten more minutes to make final preparations."

Hearing this, Han Lin nodded thoughtfully. "Then let's make the most of every precious minute and second. In any case, we must teach those guys a lesson today and let them know that not every passerby can be easily threatened!" He raised his fist to convey his confident attitude, which immediately drew a wave of response from the crowd.

Just as everyone's morale was high, a clear yet gentle voice pierced through the chaotic conversation: "Gentlemen, everything is ready, we are just waiting for the east wind to blow." Zhao De stood on high ground, his voice filled with an undeniable power.

However, at this moment, an unusual atmosphere filled the air...

More noises came from outside the door; the footsteps grew closer, seemingly reaching the entrance. "Wait... why does that voice sound so familiar?" Zhao De suddenly turned around, looking at Zhao De. "That's..."

The knocking sounded again, this time accompanied by another slightly hoarse but all-too-familiar female voice: "It's me, Ayao... Please open the door... We've discovered an important clue..."