Chapter 75: Against the Current
Chapter 75: Against the Current
Wei Chang'an's eyes narrowed with vigilance as he observed Scarface. He was well aware of Scarface's implanted military-grade enhancements, as it was clearly stated in the man's records. However, Wei Chang'an had assumed that these were civilian-grade implants, only providing a slight advantage in combat by surpassing the capabilities of some normal limbs. For those like Wei Chang'an, who had been rigorously trained in martial arts through official channels, this advantage was not particularly significant.
But military-grade implants were an entirely different story.
Military implants were designed to counter hot weapons on the battlefield, and some advanced implants rendered conventional weapons almost useless against them.
However, such implants typically required the support of medical teams and a substantial amount of medication. It wasn't as simple as just implanting them and being done; how had Scarface managed this alone? Even with access to Chou Huzi's drugs, it wouldn't be sustainable in the long term.
But contemplating this now seemed futile; he could only think of how to deal with the situation at hand.
By this time, most of the personnel involved in the encirclement and capture operation had arrived, and many had witnessed the scene. They were momentarily stunned, but they were unaware of the military implants, assuming Scarface was wearing some sort of protective gear.
Among the crowd were several members of the Martial Arts Society, and a few boxers, seeing Scarface being shot earlier, seemed to have some difficulty moving. They thought this was their chance and charged forward without a second thought.
Wei Chang'an immediately shouted a loud warning, "Be careful, it's dangerous!"
Unfortunately, the sound of firecrackers drowned out his voice, and it was unclear if these boxers hadn't heard him or simply didn't care, as they showed no signs of stopping.
This time, three boxers led the charge. One approached head-on, another aimed for the lower body, and the third circled around to attack from behind.
The first two boxers had a clear strategy in their eyes and posture, and experienced fighters could tell at a glance that they intended to take their opponent down.
This approach wasn't wrong; regardless of Scarface's strength, once he was on the ground, he would be at their mercy.
As the boxers closed in, Scarface swung his hammer, and the first boxer seized the opportunity to dodge and leap forward, swiftly and powerfully grabbing Scarface's leg. Meanwhile, the second boxer nimbly avoided the hammer and grabbed Scarface's arm from behind.
During Wei Chang'an's earlier encounter with Scarface, he had noticed that Scarface's movements were slightly sluggish, possibly due to the implants affecting his coordination and nerve conduction.
Although these boxers were unaware of this, their experience allowed them to adapt and counter accordingly. As the two boxers grappled with Scarface, the third boxer saw his chance and kicked Scarface's leg, causing him to half-kneel.
Scarface took a deep breath, and his upper body seemed to swell. He pulled the hammer-wielding arm back, and the sharp, broken blade pierced the mouth of the boxer holding his leg.
The other two boxers were startled but knew they couldn't retreat. One of them grabbed Scarface's throat from behind, while the other used all his strength to lock down Scarface's arm, holding the weapon.
No matter how strong a person is, they still need to breathe. With his neck constricted, Scarface would lose his resistance within seconds.
After having his neck constricted, Scarface paused for a moment. He released the hammer, which fell to the ground. Just as everyone thought the operation was successful, Scarface grabbed the arm of the person holding his neck, crushing his arm bones with a painful scream.
Scarface then grabbed the man's arm and threw him forcefully to the ground with a loud thud. The man twitched and became still.
The boxer whose arm was grabbed was shocked and quickly released his grip, trying to retreat. But Scarface grabbed his clothes, and with a twist, the fabric tore, and the boxer stumbled backward, rolling and crawling away.
Before the boxer could escape, Scarface picked up the construction hammer from the ground and swung it, hitting the boxer's shoulder blade with a loud thud. The boxer fell to the ground, seemingly lifeless.
Wei Chang'an sighed softly, feeling regret even though these men weren't his allies. He turned to look for Cai Sai but couldn't find him in the crowd. Wei Chang'an called out to an older-looking man in the crowd, "Old Wu, go get some ropes."
The moment Wu realized what was going on, he immediately ran out to search for ropes.
Scarface, ignoring the commotion, continued his swift stride towards the Trade Market.
Wei Chang'an had no intention of letting him escape. If Scarface reached the crowded area and a chase ensued, it would undoubtedly result in significant casualties, causing an unimaginable scene. Wei Chang'an had to intercept him before he could break through the streets.
"Stop him!" Wei Chang'an shouted.
He positioned himself at the rear, not because he didn't want to charge forward, but because there were not only his men but also company personnel present. He had to coordinate the efforts, as these individuals might not take action without his guidance. Moreover, if he, as the commander, lost his fighting ability, the entire capture operation would essentially fail.
Upon hearing his command, many rushed towards Scarface, attempting to obstruct his path.
The previous scene had not intimidated them. They could see that Scarface's movements were not exceptionally fast, and he was solely focused on escaping without engaging in any confrontation. As long as they were cautious and managed to delay his progress, they could wait for the appropriate tools, like ropes, to arrive.
Meanwhile, Cai Sai, having cleared the flour from his eyes, witnessed the situation unfolding. He shouted to the nearby shop owner, "Bring out all the oil you have, whether it's peanut oil, soybean oil, or any other mixed oil. Pour it onto the street, but be careful not to spill it!"
The shop owner froze for a moment, then his eyes lit up with understanding. Others nearby also realized what was happening and rushed to gather oil from other shops.
The ground soon became slick with oil. Even if Scarface managed to break through, it wouldn't be easy for him to pass. With just a few ropes, they could restrain him. Everyone understood this, and the initially chaotic atmosphere calmed down.
As Scarface moved forward, he waved his weapon to drive away those who approached, and he seemed to be breathing heavily. Within seconds, some keen observers noticed that his body seemed to swell, his face turning red. Notably, the breath he exhaled felt scorching.
His movements were no longer slow and relaxed but became more agile. His quick steps gradually turned into a light jog, and his speed further.
Just then, a group of company-dispatched personnel were about to step forward, but a man with an air of authority held them back, shaking his head. One of them asked, "Senior Commissioner Qu, what's happening?"
Senior Commissioner Qu's expression turned solemn. "That Scarface likely has enhanced implants—a modified heart and lungs, and possibly strengthened veins, skin, and bones. These are battlefield implants designed to break through enemy lines. We can't stop him with our current manpower. Don't go and get yourselves killed. This time, Wei Chang'an won't be able to complete the commission."
As he spoke, Scarface suddenly surged forward, brandishing a construction hammer. Due to his incredibly increased speed, those in front either side, there's a small alley. Some people were knocked over, and one person was even flung onto a nearby rooftop.
Wei Chang'an was startled and quickly followed, shouting, "People in front, what are you gawking at? Stop him!"
Unlike before, this time, only two people responded to his call, while the others hesitated or were a step too slow. These two, though trying their best to stop Scarface, were barely managing, and their own safety was at risk.
Someone produced a crossbow, temporarily issued by the Patrol Bureau, and fired at Scarface. Most arrows bounced off his thick arms, and the few that managed to penetrate seemed to encounter resistance, only grazing his skin without hindering his steps.
Wei Chang'an took a deep breath. At this point, he had no choice but to personally intervene; the consequences of failure were too great.
Chen Chuan, who had been observing from the rear, focused his attention on Scarface. As he saw the unfolding scene, he fixed his gaze on Scarface and began moving towards the tall figure, navigating through the retreating crowd.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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