Marcus used advanced equipment to survey the entire building from a distance. "Sidro wasn't found," he reported.

"Silver Eagle, go and support Puppet," Marcus said, adjusting his strategy. "He's not in the bar or the building. Sidro is likely at home."

"Keep surveillance; don't spook the target. The situation over there is too complicated. It's best to wait until he comes to the building before we make a move." This text is hosted at novᴇlfire.net

"Okay," Silver Eagle agreed.

Chen Gu and Boluo had been in the bar for two hours but hadn't seen Sidro. Boluo came over and patted Chen Gu's shoulder. "Let's go get something to eat."

Chen Gu was taken aback. "There's food here…"

Boluo pointed. "Little Billy over there told me a secret: even the stray dogs on the street despise Redbeard's cooking."

Boluo and Little Billy looked at each other and burst out laughing, exchanging some gestures that signified "friendship."

The bartender, Redbeard, heard them and angrily flipped them off, but the two genuinely didn't care.

As Boluo and Chen Gu left the bar, Boluo said, "While we were chatting in there, I subtly inquired. Sidro won't come to the bar at this time. We can find something to eat and keep watch from outside."

Chen Gu nodded. "Indeed, it's about using every resource to its fullest and putting everyone in their rightful place. Even someone as intellectually challenged as you can produce good results if placed in the right position."

Boluo asked, "Do you know I just made over a dozen good brothers in there? With one word, I could call them all out to beat you up."

"Hahaha!"

The two found a pizza place diagonally across from the bar. They had just ordered and sat down when Puppet's voice came over the communication channel: "A convoy has left Sidro's house!"

Chen Gu and Boluo exchanged a look and quietly turned their gaze outside. About half a minute later, Banshee's voice came through, "Confirmed. Sidro is in the middle vehicle. Destination unknown."

Cheers erupted over the communication channel, and Chen Gu and Boluo high-fived.

Marcus reminded everyone, "Stay concealed. Don't alert the target."

He then asked, "Is that case with Sidro?"

After a moment, Melincha replied, "The case was not found."

Chen Gu and Boluo's pizzas arrived. As Professionals, they had huge appetites, but in a public restaurant, they couldn't attract undue attention, so they cautiously ordered four pizzas.

Boluo lifted a wooden pizza platter and said to Chen Gu, "Fifty bucks says I can swallow this whole in one go."

Chen Gu retorted, "You're on!"

Boluo rolled up the entire large pizza and began stuffing it into his mouth bit by bit. Suddenly, Banshee's urgent voice came over the communication channel: "We've been spotted!"

"Sidro's convoy is making a fast getaway!"

"Be careful! He's on the phone, probably notifying all his men…"

Boluo nearly choked to death. Why did trouble have to strike at this exact moment!

Chen Gu looked towards the entrance of the Dirty Rat Bar diagonally across the street. Sure enough, moments later, the door was violently pushed open. A swarm of Mother of War members, armed with various restricted weapons, poured out. Some jumped on motorcycles, others into old convertibles, all roaring as they rushed to rescue their boss.

Boluo was still a bite away from swallowing the entire pizza when Chen Gu forcefully stuffed the last bit into his mouth. "Move!"

Boluo, gasping, nearly passed out. Rolling his eyes, he grabbed his jacket and rushed out with Chen Gu.

As Chen Gu left the pizza shop, the furious owner chased after them, gun in hand. "Hey! You have to pay for your food!"

CLICK!

The ancient but still extremely lethal large-caliber firearm clicked as it was loaded.

Chen Gu casually swiped, transferring payment to the shopkeeper.

He spread his arms, blocking the path of the group from the bar in the middle of the road, and called out heartily, "Hey, hey, hey, my friends! What are you all planning to do?"

The leading thugs glared and were about to curse, but Chen Gu had already charged forward. Griffin Wester's memories possessed him, and the High-Energy Combat Art activated!

THUD, THUD, THUD...

With each dull thud, thugs were sent flying. Chen Gu snatched two energy hand cannons, his High-Energy Combat Art flowing even more smoothly.

Each strike was accompanied by a crisp gunshot as energy ammunition exploded with tremendous destructive power. A few minutes later, when Boluo finally caught his breath, Chen Gu had already dealt with the dozen or so thugs who had rushed out of the bar.

Boluo walked over, looked at the thugs moaning on the ground, and said, "You owe me fifty bucks."

Chen Gu tossed the two energy hand cannons aside as Melincha's voice came through the communication channel: "Sidro is headed towards the building."

Chen Gu turned and sprinted towards the building, tossing a command to Boluo over his shoulder: "Blow up the bar."

Boluo asked, "Why?"

"Because Redbeard's cooking is terrible!"

BOOM—

An alchemical bomb exploded behind the two fleeing figures, a huge fireball mushrooming into the sky. Redbeard, clutching his gun, limped out of the wreckage, howling wildly. He looked fierce but didn't dare to actually pursue them.

「...」

The building had been abandoned for many years. It was in complete disrepair, but its main structure remained very solid. Upon receiving the message, the Mother of War thugs inside immediately sprang into action. They dragged various weapons out of hiding and set them up at strategic vantage points.

On the streets, peripheral members of Mother of War, brazenly carrying weapons, rushed to the scene in various vehicles.

This was the "Poison of the Gods."

RUMBLE, RUMBLE, RUMBLE...

Amidst a massive mechanical roar, the building's basement wall was breached, and two heavy armored fighting vehicles burst out!

These were decommissioned fighting vehicles from the Confederation military. All their advanced equipment should have been removed, but the main cannons were still intact.

The holes torn into the vehicles were crudely welded shut. In a peaceful city, these things were truly weapons of mass destruction.

The thugs cheered, clumsily directing the fighting vehicles to two key positions on the street, intending to use them as mobile artillery.

One by one, thugs poured into the basement, carrying out dozens of high-energy infused shells.

Marcus and Joseph watched from nearby. Marcus, the squad leader, saw the high-energy infused shells piled openly and shook his head slightly. "Thugs will be thugs," he muttered. "Absolutely devoid of any tactical acumen."

He patted Joseph's shoulder. "Use the electromagnetic buckshot. Aim for those shells. When I say 'fire,' we'll give them a big fireworks show."

"Okay." Joseph was still a bit nervous. Will my aim be good enough? Can I accurately hit those shells?

The thugs surrounded the building, wandering like lost souls, brandishing their weapons and howling loudly.

...As if they were the kings of the world.