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墨書 Inktalez
“Viper is watching you…”
The cold, electronic voice slithered into my ears like the tongue of a venomous snake.
Fear instantly froze my blood!
How did he/she know my location? Could it really be a ghost?
No! Be realistic! Tracking! Mobile signal? Or… are there hidden cameras around this damn warehouse?
I suddenly looked up, my terrified gaze sweeping over the mottled walls of the alley, the high ventilation shafts, and the water tower on the distant rooftop…
Any shadow could be hiding a pair of cold eyes!
“Hurry up! Ten seconds! If you don’t jump, just wait to collect the body!” The emotionless electronic voice began its countdown, “Ten… nine…”
There was no time to think!
Captain Chen’s fate was uncertain, and the USB drive I had fought for with my life was in my hand, while “Viper”’s threat loomed closer!
I gripped the small black USB drive in my pocket tightly, my fingertips icy.
My gaze fell on the third massive green industrial trash bin to my left.
The lid was half ajar, emanating a nauseating stench.
Jump in? What is this? Walking into a trap?
But that voice accurately announced the location of the trash can... he/she was watching!
"Eight... seven..." The countdown rang like a death knell!
I gritted my teeth and charged toward the green trash can!
With all my strength, I lifted the heavy plastic lid!
A strong stench hit me in the face; inside was half a bucket of sticky kitchen waste and discarded packaging.
There was no choice!
As I counted down to "three," I held my breath, fighting against the overwhelming urge to vomit, and jumped in!
My body sank into the cold, gooey garbage, the foul odor nearly knocking me out.
The lid above me slammed shut with a loud clang!
In an instant, everything went pitch black!
Only a few rays of dim light seeped through the cracks of the trash can, along with the suffocating stench.
I curled up in the nauseating heap of garbage, my heart racing, ears perked up high, capturing any sound from outside.
A few seconds later.
A faint, almost imperceptible sound of footsteps approached.
They stopped by the trash can.
The lid was gently pried open just a crack.
A small, folded piece of paper was shoved inside, landing on the garbage bag beside my leg.
A low, unfamiliar voice emerged, speaking rapidly:
“Listen! Hand over the USB drive! Slide it back under this piece of paper! Don’t try anything funny! I know what you look like! If you make a move, we have people at both ends of the alley; you’ll be full of holes in an instant!”
“Your girlfriend’s name is Li Xiaoyu, and she works at Time Coffee in the city center, right? She’s wearing a blue floral dress today, with her hair in a ponytail—she looks beautiful.” The voice dripped with naked threat. “If you don’t want her to get hurt, do as I say! You have thirty seconds!”
My mind exploded with shock!
Xiaoyu! They had actually found Xiaoyu! And they were using her to threaten me!
Anger and fear instantly drowned out the discomfort from the stench!
They were not ghosts! They were human! A ruthless criminal organization with exceptional intelligence capabilities!
Tracking phones, pinpointing locations, uncovering my relationships… none of it was difficult for them!
Thirty seconds!
I trembled as I reached into my pocket for the stained USB drive.
Looking at the folded note by my feet.
Should I hand it over? This is something earned with the lives of Captain Chen and Zhang Zhenbang! It’s the key to taking down Viper and the mole!
But if I don’t hand it over, what will happen to Xiaoyu? She is completely innocent!
Time ticked away, each second slicing into my heart like a knife.
In the final seconds of the countdown, an overwhelming sense of helplessness and worry for Xiaoyu crushed everything else.
I gritted my teeth and shoved the heavy USB drive beneath the sticky trash under the note.
Almost simultaneously, a hand shot in through the gap of the lid, swiftly snatching away both the note and the USB drive!
The lid slammed shut with a loud thud!
Once again, darkness and silence enveloped the trash can.
All that remained was my heavy breathing and frantic heartbeat.
The USB drive… has been handed over…
Xiaoyu… should be safe now, right?
A wave of immense disappointment and self-loathing surged within me.
I have betrayed Captain Chen's sacrifice...
At that moment!
A sudden, sharp honk of a car horn pierced the air outside!
"Beep—!"
Immediately after, I heard a low voice from that unfamiliar man, laced with urgency and curses: "Damn it! A cop?!"
A flurry of hurried footsteps quickly faded away!
A police car? The police are here?
Is it Captain Chen's backup? Or just a coincidence?
Just as the flicker of hope ignited, the cold electronic voice echoed again from my phone in my pocket!
"Transaction complete. Good job, courier." The voice remained devoid of emotion.
"There’s a compartment at the bottom of the trash can. Inside, you’ll find your 'reward' and the next set of instructions. The police are coming fast; if you don’t want to be caught as an accomplice, do exactly as I say. You have three minutes."
As soon as the electronic voice finished, it hung up.
Reward? Instructions?
Desperately clinging to this lifeline, I began to rummage through the stinking refuse at the bottom of the trash.
Sure enough! At the bottom of the cold metal trash can, I felt a very concealed thin plastic sealed bag stuck with strong adhesive tape!
I tore it off, and with the light seeping through the gap, I saw a small roll of cash, a brand new, unmarked disposable phone, and a printed note.
The note contained only one line:
"Use the new phone. Go immediately to 'Lao Wu Auto Repair Shop' in the west of the city. Look for Wu Jianguo. Say you were sent by 'Captain Chen' to fix the fuel tank. He will help you. Don't look back, don't contact anyone; the police are looking for you, and there are moles after you. The countdown has begun."
Lao Wu Auto Repair Shop? Wu Jianguo? Introduced by Captain Chen?
Is this… a getaway route reserved by Captain Chen? Or another trap?
Who is that electronic voice? Are they friend or foe?
The sound of police sirens was growing closer and clearer!
There was no time to hesitate!
I struggled to crawl out of the foul-smelling trash can, my body covered in filth, looking utterly disheveled.
At the mouth of the alley, the red and blue lights were already beginning to flash!
I took one last look in the direction of the warehouse, which lay in eerie silence, a pang of anguish gripping my heart.
Captain Chen… Zhang Zhenbang…
There was no time for sorrow!
I clutched the sealed bag tightly, as if it were the last piece of driftwood.
I slammed my old phone, which could possibly be tracked, onto the ground and stomped on it with all my might until it shattered!
Then, with every ounce of strength I had left, I dashed into the maze-like back alleys, away from the sound of sirens!
I ran desperately through the narrow lanes flooded with sewage, turning a few corners to ensure I had temporarily shaken off any pursuers.
I finally stopped, gasping for breath, my lungs burning painfully.
I pulled out the cheap disposable phone from the sealed bag and turned it on.
The screen lit up, showing only one missed call from an unknown number.
There was also an unread text message sent just a minute ago:
“Lao Wu Auto Repair Shop is safe. But ‘Viper’ knows the USB drive is fake. You don’t have much time.”
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