Chapter 205: Decoy Trap

Chapter 205: Decoy Trap

Under the cover of darkness, the night was silent and still.

Occasional moonlight pierced through the clouds, casting a mottled glow, adding an air of mystery to the quiet night.

Behind this tranquility, a meticulously planned ambush was quietly unfolding.

After Captain You Zhanyu confessed, he sent a pickup message to the White Eagle's communication channel as instructed.

The message indicated that he had left the Academy of Sciences but his identity had been exposed, so he urgently needed to hand over the hard drive and requested Alex Austin to help him leave Great Xia.

This information had been analyzed by multiple staff members to ensure it would lure the enemy spy into the trap without arousing the enemy's suspicion.

The pickup location mentioned in the message was at Ningta Bridge downstream of Jingshui River.

This location was also carefully chosen.

Ningta Bridge was not a main road, so there were fewer vehicles and pedestrians at dawn.

Additionally, meeting here provided options for escape by water or land, offering diverse means of escape.

This way, Alex Austin would not suspect it was a trap.

At this moment, Lu Heng was on the riverbank road by Jingshui River.

Su Muyu activated the Invisible Curtain, covering a radius of several dozen meters, enveloping the entire command team within it.

In addition, Captain Jian Qing and Lieutenant Zhuo Hongjun led a team of Ability Warriors, lying in wait at various locations, ready to intercept at any moment.

Captain You Zhanyu stood before the superior officer, his heart filled with complex emotions.

He had once been a loyal and brave warrior, but now he stood against his country.

His heart was filled with anguish, but he had no choice.

What happened on the Abyss Battlefield left him no chance to turn back, and he could only continue down this dark path.

"Go. Lead out the enemy spy and your past merits will make up for your current betrayal," the commander gestured towards the riverbank and then ordered the guard beside him to unlock the handcuffs on You Zhanyu.

You Zhanyu flexed his wrists, turned to look at Lu Heng, and gave a complicated smile, saying, "Thank you."

Lu Heng furrowed his brows and asked, "Why thank me? I captured you."

You Zhanyu looked up at the sky, exhaled, and slowly said, "When one still has a chance to live, they will do everything to survive. Even burdened with guilt and regret, they will keep going down the dark path.

"But my heart is tormented because I know what I'm doing. I don't want to, but I can't turn back because I'm a traitor.

"Now my heart is calm, though I know the judgment I'll face. But at least I don't have to continue suffering, and this is also a kind of liberation.

"Let me give you one last piece of advice. Never become a traitor to the Abyss, and don't have any delusions of getting away with it. There's no turning back."

After saying this, he took the gun holster handed to him by the guard, strapped it on, and then headed towards the riverbank.

...

In truth, Lu Heng didn't need his reminder and was well aware that the traitor mission was absolutely forbidden, as it was the Abyss's temptation for Ability Warriors.

Facing the mysterious power that could devour countless worlds, it was impossible for a human to desire the reward of the traitor mission without falling into the abyss as a lackey.

Lu Heng had seen too many people in his past life who couldn't resist the temptation and became traitors, and none of them had a good ending.

This was destined to be a path of no return.

...

You Zhanyu quickly ran to the riverbank and looked around for the pickup person.

However, after running hundreds of meters along the riverbank and searching everywhere, he couldn't find the person who was supposed to meet him.

He took out the hard drive and shouted, "Do you still want the data? I've been exposed, and if you don't help me leave the country, I'll let this data be buried with me!"

After he finished speaking, there was still no movement around him.

He threw the hard drive on the ground, drew his pistol, and aimed at the hard drive, as if about to shoot.

At this moment, a cloaked figure appeared on the riverbank, moving swiftly towards him. The figure extended its hand and said in English, "Give it to me."

You Zhanyu picked up the hard drive and threatened with the gun pressed against it, "Take me away, or you won't get the hard drive."

"Follow me," the cloaked figure waved and turned to lead the way.

You Zhanyu had no choice but to follow.

On the riverbank, the command team witnessed the situation unfolding, and everyone's faces turned solemn.

The decoy plan hadn't proceeded as originally envisioned, but it couldn't be said that the operation had failed.

The strategy had indeed lured out the enemy spy, but only one spy appeared, and he was an Assassin Parahuman skilled in concealment.

There were quite a few Seers here, so capturing this Assassin Parahuman wasn't a big problem, but Alex Austin hadn't shown up.

Capturing just one lackey wasn't very significant.

The commanding officer ordered the Ability Warrior with infiltration abilities to follow, while the others were to stay put to avoid alerting the enemy.

Su Muyu frowned and asked, "Should we follow?"

Lu Heng was also pondering this question, wondering why Alex Austin hadn't appeared. Did Alex Austin know this was a trap?

It was unlikely, for if they knew it was a trap, they wouldn't have sent someone.

Since they sent someone over, it indicates that they haven't realized this is a trap and they're after the hard drive.

So, the baiting plan hasn't failed.

The question now is, how do we find Alex Austin?

Logically, this Assassin-type Metahuman should be leading You Zhanyu to meet Alex Austin.

But would it be that simple?

Lu Heng began to think from Alex Austin's perspective, considering what he would do and where he would be.

Lu Heng looked around, and if it were him, before appearing, he would definitely confirm if this pickup was a trap.

How to confirm?

Of course, it would be from a location overlooking the riverbank, observing the situation while having his team's Assassin move You Zhanyu.

By changing positions, creating distance, and observing, he could check if there were any ambushers behind You Zhanyu.

In other words, if Alex Austin had the same idea, he should currently be at a spot overlooking the riverbank.

Moreover, Alex Austin would definitely have arranged Seers along You Zhanyu's path to scout for any ambushers.

Considering this, Lu Heng spoke up, "Wait, I believe Alex Austin is nearby. We can't send an Invisible Warrior to accompany You Zhanyu; they'll be detected by the enemy's Seers."

The commanding officer nodded in agreement, "That makes sense. Everyone hold your positions. Deploy the Seers, expand the search radius to three kilometers, and check all locations with a view of the riverbank. See if there are any enemy spies."

The Seers and Invisible Warriors worked together to search the area within a three-kilometer radius.

The three-kilometer radius was quite large, and checking every spot would take a significant amount of time.

However, Alex Austin's team would definitely be at a spot overlooking the riverbank, so the search area was much smaller.

Lu Heng took out a map, spread it out, and studied it with Su Muyu. He then selected several most likely locations and asked her to investigate.

"Here, here, and here... Go and take a look."

"Okay." Su Muyu nodded and released her Celestial Bird, entering an invisible state and flying into the sky for reconnaissance.

Due to her Celestial Bird reaching A-rank and undergoing two Rank Enhancements, her actual strength was already Pre-S-rank.

Therefore, in terms of sensory battles, Su Muyu had no rivals at this stage.

As long as Alex Austin's team was at these locations, they wouldn't escape detection.

...

Time passed by, second by second.

Su Muyu had checked all five of the most likely locations on the map and even dove down to get closer and confirm, to prevent any special concealment methods.

After her search, she shook her head and reported, "I didn't find anything. These five locations are not suspicious."

Lu Heng frowned, staring at the map. The five locations he had marked were the highest points within a three-kilometer radius, offering the best view of the riverbank.

"Nothing?"

Lu Heng continued to study the map, examining each landmark, and from time to time, he looked up to observe the corresponding locations on the map.

After looking up four or five times, each time his gaze swept across the surface of Jingshui River, he noticed a yacht drifting along with the current.

Previously, his attention had been focused on the surrounding high points, but being on the Jingshui River also provided a good view of the riverbank.

Lu Heng pointed at the yacht on Jingshui River, about to speak.

At that moment, Zhuo Hongjun's voice came through the communication channel, "Reporting to the commander, we've spotted an enemy spy on the river yacht. The Second Action Squad requests permission to engage!"

"Wait, wait for the other squads to surround them," the commanding officer said, wanting to ensure a secure capture of the spies.

But Zhuo Hongjun spoke quickly, "There's no time! Our squad is very close to the yacht, sir. I'm confident I can take down Alex Austin. Please let me go!"

At this point in the conversation—

On the west riverbank, over a dozen assault rifles fired simultaneously, rat-a-tat-tat, targeting the yacht on the river.

Battle was about to erupt.

Alex Austin leaped into the air, enveloped in thunder and lightning, illuminating the night sky for a moment before riding the Thunderbolt and charging towards the west bank. He raised the Thunder Hammer and smashed it down.

Boom!

A surge of lightning struck, causing rocks to fly on the riverbank.

The Second Action Squad's firepower instantly ceased.

Zhuo Hongjun drew two bayonets and charged towards Alex Austin.

In Alex Austin's team, besides the Cloaked Assassin who had appeared earlier, there were three other Metahumans: a Flame Wielder controlling flames, a Mechanic manipulating mechanical puppets, and a Psychic Attacker.

The Cloaked Assassin, upon seeing the battle commence, immediately turned and struck You Zhanyu, knocking him down, grabbed the hard drive, and quickly glided towards the river to rejoin his team.

Alex Austin, along with his four Metahuman subordinates, charged onto the west riverbank and overwhelmed the Second Action Squad.

Zhuo Hongjun had intended to take down Alex Austin with one strike, but after three exchanges, he realized that Alex Austin's combat power far exceeded his expectations.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end