Lu Lin adjusted his equipment: a thermal imaging Star Power-enlarging helmet, a suit of bulletproof tactical armor, a silenced electromagnetic paralysis pistol, and a Wolf Tooth Sawtooth Black Blade Dagger.
After securing the dagger and pistol in the most accessible positions, Lu Lin began calibrating the helmet's various parameters.
Actually, he didn't strictly need the helmet. Once his Perceive Star Skill activated, Lu Lin's senses would be sharp enough to detect anomalies even before the helmet's thermal imaging system could. However, the helmet's Star Power amplification feature was crucial for Lu Lin, a newly awakened Star Core Warrior.
"Synchronize watches."
"Everyone, remember our primary objective: protect the hostages. Dealing with the robbers is the responsibility of the two firepower teams, front and rear."
"We must ensure the hostages' safety above all else."
"Rock, you'll cover the entrance and watch for any remaining robbers attempting to secure an escape route."
"Priest, your task is to remain outside the door. If anyone is injured, you must provide treatment at the first time."
"Does everyone understand their assignments?"
"Understood!" seven of them replied.
Rock was a temporary codename Lu Lin had adopted after joining the team, chosen because he possessed an Earth Talent and Stone Skin for self-protection.
Priest, naturally, was Zuo Yiming.
Seeing that everyone understood, Team Leader "Fire Dragon" nodded in satisfaction.
Fortunately, two more Star Warriors had been dispatched from headquarters; otherwise, the team members entering the villa would have had to divide their attention to cover their rear.
With the addition of Rock and Priest, the team's endurance and self-defense capabilities were significantly enhanced, allowing them to handle more complex combat scenarios.
"Alright, move to your combat positions. Act at the first time once the command is given."
Fire Dragon issued the order, signaling his team members to take cover.
「Temporary Command Center.」
Zuo Zhenyu observed Zuo Yiming and Lu Lin's movements, nodding with satisfaction.
Although he often claimed Zuo Yiming was unscholarly and weak in combat, Zuo Zhenyu had, over the years, taken his son to train at the City Guard Army Base whenever he had time. Zuo Yiming's military skills were by no means inferior to those of a soldier with two or three years of service. What surprised him even more pleasantly was Lu Lin. Despite being an ordinary citizen, Lu Lin moved with an efficiency and decisiveness that bespoke a soldier's discipline. If he didn't know Lu Lin, having awakened Double Star Skills, was certainly headed to university for advanced studies, Zuo Zhenyu truly wished he could recruit him as a Military Advisor. This young man was prime material for an excellent soldier.
"All teams, be advised: commence full-scale assault in ten seconds."
"10."
"9."
...
"3."
"2."
"1."
"Begin operation!"
Zuo Zhenyu issued the command over the communication channel.
TAT TAT TAT!
The team feigning an attack at the front door launched their assault at the first time.
Muzzles flashed, spitting precise bursts of fire.
The members of the Black Shark Society inside the villa hid and cowered, completely unable to resist.
BANG!
At the back door, a soldier over two meters tall, built like an iron tower, kicked open the security door.
Agile as a leopard, the soldier rolled inside, scanning the room's interior with his thermal imaging helmet.
"Go!"
Captain Fire Dragon swung his arm forcefully and, with a leap, propelled himself directly to the third floor of the villa.
Crashing easily through a window, he entered the room.
The two robbers stationed in the third-floor room had no time to react.
Fire Dragon sneered, raising his hand and unleashing two fire snakes as thin as silk threads.
The fire snakes, seeming to possess a will of their own, advanced towards the two robbers and entwined them.
The two robbers, caught completely off guard, had no time to react. They froze, their eyes wide with shock, as they fell limply backward.
Pressing the communication button inside his helmet, Fire Dragon reported, "301, targets eliminated, no hostages."
"Understood."
In the Command Center, Zuo Zhenyu made a mark on the 3D schematic of the villa's layout.
By this point, the first floor of the villa was completely secured, with two bandits eliminated.
Two firepower teams rescued fourteen hostages from the first floor.
"302, no bandits, four hostages rescued."
Jin Dao, the deputy leader of the Star Martial Team, was slightly slower but also reported his successes.
"303, no bandits, two hostages rescued."
"304, no robbers, four hostages rescued, one seriously injured."
Excluding Team Leader Fire Dragon and Deputy Leader Jin Dao, the four remaining core team members, working in pairs, rescued six more hostages.
Downstairs, a flicker of excitement crossed Zuo Yiming's face when he heard someone was seriously injured.
"Rock, I need to go up and treat the hostages."
"You guard our position here!"
Zuo Yiming eagerly leaped up, not waiting for Lu Lin to reply, and headed straight to the third floor.
"Hmm. Be careful," Lu Lin said, listening to the constant battle reports relayed through his helmet. He knew three robbers remained.
Through his Perceive Star Skill, Lu Lin could 'see' two strong presences on the third floor.
Something's wrong! Lu Lin realized instantly. In his perception, there were no robbers on the villa's second floor at all.
The two firepower teams hadn't discovered this yet, and neither had the Star Martial Team.
Lu Lin didn't know if the robbers had anticipated from the start that their brutal actions would provoke such a fierce response from the military and police. But it was clear they weren't just mindless brutes. They had placed two robbers on the first floor as a diversion; their true plan was concealed on the third floor. They intended to ambush the Star Martial Team attempting to rescue the hostages. Moreover... there must be someone extremely powerful among the robbers; otherwise, they wouldn't just be waiting for their doom.
"Everyone, be careful! There are two Star Warriors among the robbers on the third floor!" Lu Lin shouted urgently.
"Roger!"
No one in the team questioned Lu Lin's judgment.
The momentary relief from the successful hostage rescues vanished, replaced by renewed tension.
AAAH—!
Hardly had Lu Lin spoken when a scream tore through the air from the third floor above.
"Tie Tou!" Team Leader Fire Dragon roared.
He rushed over immediately to check the situation.
Lu Lin looked up just in time to see a third-floor window shatter and a slender team member flung out of it.
He was Tie Tou, a member of the Star Martial Team.
AAAH!
Just as Lu Lin looked up, another scream echoed from within the villa.
"Black Bull!" Deputy Leader Jin Dao shouted, kicked open the door, and rushed toward the room from which the scream had emanated.
But as soon as he burst through the doorway, an invisible silk line ensnared him.
After trapping Jin Dao, the silk thread, like a serpent, swiftly changed form and bound him completely.
"Who's there!"
Jin Dao struggled to look back, but only saw a flash of a blade. Blood sprayed from his neck.
His body fell heavily to the ground.
Even in death, Jin Dao never saw who attacked him.
Lu Lin had just taken two steps, preparing to catch the falling Tie Tou, when he sensed Deputy Leader Jin Dao's life force rapidly extinguishing.
"Everyone, be careful! The deputy leader has fallen."
"Roger!" Fire Dragon replied through gritted teeth. He was currently battling a man whose face was concealed by a black cloth.
When Jin Dao rushed out of the room, only to be instantly ensnared and beheaded, Fire Dragon could only watch, powerless to intervene.
The enemy before him was too powerful; he didn't dare risk distraction.
Intelligence error. Intelligence error.
Fire Dragon cursed inwardly. Luo Ling's sister had said there were seven robbers.
The Command Center had confirmed this by checking the records of everyone entering and exiting Lakeside Mansion in the past 72 hours.
But they had never anticipated more than seven robbers.
Some of those presumed to be hostages were actually expert Star Martial Artists from the Black Shark Society, hidden among them.
Caught by surprise, the Star Martial Team lost more than half its members almost instantly.
In the blink of an eye, Tie Tou, Black Bull, and Jin Dao were either incapacitated or killed.
This battle was turning grim.