Chapter 42: Retribution
Ye Qingyi, unfamiliar with driving a tracked vehicle, was extra cautious. Tang Ze said casually, “Just drive.”
With that, Ye Qingyi stepped on the gas, feeling the vehicle lurch forward. Tracked vehicles were still slower than regular cars.
As they drove out of the parking garage, the rain beat against the roof, and the wipers activated automatically. Despite Tang Ze’s calm demeanor, the women couldn’t help but feel nervous.
Tang Ze, his arm around Sun Ting, said, “First, to Dehai Complex on Yinghua Road.”
“Okay.”
The appearance of the vehicle drew attention. People watched from their windows with surprise and envy.
They were envious, indeed. After all, the vehicle was filled with beautiful women, their fragrance wafting through the air.
Tang Ze observed the streets.
Burned-out vehicles and scattered corpses littered the roads, especially in front of supermarkets and shopping malls.
But the streets were deserted, almost no one in sight. The initial downpour had happened in the middle of the night, and most people were still at home.
Ye Qingyi didn’t bother avoiding the corpses, driving right over them. Tang Ze said disapprovingly, “Have you never driven before? So bumpy. How did you even get your license?”
“Sorry, I don’t want to bother avoiding them.”
“Look, so many people died at the police station.”
An Bai pointed in the distance. There were indeed several bodies at the entrance.
Sun Ting guessed, “Probably different groups trying to get guns, killing each other.”
“Let’s take a look.”
Tang Ze said casually.
Ye Qingyi drove towards the police station and parked.
“You go. I’ll stay with the car.”
Tang Ze’s words made the three women’s hearts tremble. This was a police station! If there were armed people inside, they would be in trouble.
But they didn’t dare disobey. They put on their hazmat suits, grabbed their MP9 submachine guns, and got out of the car.
This wasn’t a drill; this was real combat. Tang Ze noticed that Sun Ting and Ye Qingyi were nervous, while An Bai seemed excited.
The three women didn’t speak, communicating with hand signals as they entered the building.
The lights in the lobby were still on. A few bodies lay on the floor, one of them in a police uniform, perhaps the officer on duty.
An Bai and Ye Qingyi secured the perimeter while Sun Ting examined the wounds on the corpses, checking if they were gunshot or knife wounds.
They were all knife wounds. The three women continued deeper into the building.
Walking through a corridor, Ye Qingyi saw more bodies and immediately raised her fist, signaling danger.
She cautiously approached the bodies and noticed gunshot wounds. Her expression changed.
Following the trail of bodies, they reached the armory. The door was open, and the safes inside were empty. The guns were gone.
The three women exchanged glances, nodded, and continued searching the rooms.
They found at least fifty or sixty bodies, all killed by gunshots. Bullet holes riddled the walls, and the windows were shattered. There had been a gunfight here.
Tang Ze sat in the car, waiting patiently with his eyes closed. He couldn’t protect them forever; they had to grow stronger quickly.
Half an hour later, he saw the three women emerge, their confidence seemingly boosted.
They returned to the car, pressed the disinfection button on their wrists, and the rainwater on their suits evaporated. Then they got back in the car.
“How was it?”
Sun Ting reported, “No one inside, but there was a gunfight. Many people died. No guns left, they must have been taken.”
“Even if they were taken, there probably aren’t many bullets left.”
Ye Qingyi added. Judging by the state of decomposition, the bodies had been there for at least ten days to two weeks.
“Doesn’t matter. Let’s go.”
Tang Ze wasn’t concerned. A regular police station wouldn’t have much in the way of weaponry. Standard-issue pistols, maybe some shotguns. Only the city police headquarters would have rifles.
“Sun Ting licked her dry lips. ‘Those who could raid a police station for guns must be desperate, a group of desperados. Elites from high-end complexes wouldn’t take that risk. It’s likely organized criminals.'”
“You mean they’re probably hiding in places like clubs, KTVs, saunas, bars, those kinds of entertainment venues.”
Ye Qingyi exclaimed.
An Bai added, “Those are the only places open during the early hours of the morning.”
Tang Ze suddenly chuckled. The three women looked at him, wondering why he was laughing while they were discussing a serious matter.
They didn’t dare ask.
“Three wise women indeed. You’ve even deduced the likely culprits.”
Tang Ze gave them a thumbs-up.
Receiving his praise, the three women felt a sense of pride. Who are you looking down on? We’re all university graduates, and Yiyi is even from a top university.
Sun Ting had made her deduction based on the tattoos she had seen on most of the corpses, typical of young gangsters.
“I have some personal business to attend to first.”
Tang Ze didn’t want to waste time here.
Ye Qingyi started the car and drove towards their destination.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the target complex and parked under the eaves of an alley.
“Wait here. I’ll be back soon.”
Putting on his hazmat suit, Tang Ze walked out of the alley.
The three women sat quietly in the car. An Bai played with her submachine gun, seemingly fascinated by firearms.
Ye Qingyi gripped the steering wheel tightly, lost in thought.
Sun Ting reminded her, “If you dare to drive away, we’ll all die.”
Ye Qingyi frowned, then relaxed after a moment. “I won’t drive away.”
“Tell him about your niece sometime. He might go.”
Ye Qingyi responded with an “okay” and a “thank you.”
Meanwhile, Tang Ze had entered the complex. Unlike his own, there weren’t many bodies downstairs. It seemed the residents of this upscale complex were more civilized and harmonious.
He found the address and knocked on the door.
Footsteps sounded inside, and the door opened. Tang Ze saw a man with dry, cracked lips, looking haggard and thin.
If he remembered correctly, this was the manager of the hotpot restaurant. He used to be fat and had bullied Tang Ze when he worked there, finding excuses to deduct his wages, making him work overtime without pay. Tang Ze had overheard him bragging about pocketing the deducted money.
Furious, Tang Ze had quit without even collecting his last two weeks’ wages. The manager had probably kept that money too.
“Tang Ze? You actually came? Great! Did you bring any food?”
The man looked at Tang Ze’s empty hands.
“Why didn’t you bring any food? I told you to bring food!”
The manager’s demeanor immediately changed, reverting to his former condescending self.
Looking at his former manager’s face, Tang Ze smiled sincerely and pulled out his pistol.
Bang!
The manager fell to the ground. Tang Ze put his hands in his pockets, walked into the elevator, and left.
Next…
