Mahong: "They might try to run, can't carry too much. Do we have their location confirmed?"

Neil: "No, the place for inspection needs to be notified by the middleman."

Mahong thought for a while and looked at Jimmy: "Jimmy, do me a favor, pretend to be a buyer and get in touch with them. A wealthy Chinese person wanting to buy some artworks to expand their collection sounds like a good reason."

Jimmy: "No problem, what happens next?"

Neil: "I'll confirm with the middleman, wait for my update."

Neil knows many people, especially those involved in art deals. He himself is a master forger and has made money forging artworks before without being caught. He is certainly the right person to contact the middleman.

Neil made a call, spoke a few words, and hung up, "No problem, they'll notify us of the location tomorrow, but they're asking for 500,000, a total of thirteen artworks, sold as a package."

Jimmy: "Mahong, is this all the missing artworks?"

Mahong: "No, a total of twenty-one pieces went missing. Let me think... Neil, go with Jimmy tomorrow to confirm it; he hasn't encountered this batch of artworks and can't identify them."

Neil: "What!?"

Neil was about to refuse when Mahong waved his hand, "Don't worry, Jimmy will protect you. With him there, no problem."

Neil looked at Jimmy, who shrugged; he'd already agreed to pose as a buyer and was taking considerable risks, so adding another wouldn't matter.

Mahong: "I'll apply for funding, everyone handles things separately, meet at the office tomorrow."

No choice for Neil; it had to be this way.

Early the next day, Jimmy donned a tailored suit, sunglasses, and drove off in his CLS. After meeting Mahong and the others at the office, he equipped himself with a wiretap. Weapons could be carried, but not FBI ID and badge; Julia would hold onto them, bringing them if needed later.

Jimmy drove with Neil, who had an anonymous phone number that had been provided to the seller, waiting for a notification about the meeting point.

Soon, a call came in, and the middleman verified Neil and Jimmy's buyer identities, finally providing the location.

Jimmy carried a hard briefcase filled with the funds prepared by Mahong and the others to purchase artworks. Cash payment was a must in black market deals via the middleman; no official account transactions were possible.

Jimmy got out of the car, looked left and right, and the location was already notified to Mahong. They were positioned nearby, and Jimmy's hidden earpiece received Mahong's sound test.

Neil shook hands with the middleman, introduced Jimmy, and they entered the warehouse. Two people stood at the door, while another stood in front of several boxes inside. Seeing Jimmy enter, he signaled for a body search.

Jimmy slapped away the extended hand: "What are you trying to do?" He pulled open his suit to reveal a revolver beneath his arm. The scenario didn't allow for carrying three guns, which looked too aggressive. "I only brought one gun for self-defense. I don't want you touching it. Move aside or I'll leave now."

The man inside stared at Jimmy for a moment then nodded: "It's just for safety. Did you bring the money?"

Jimmy lifted the briefcase and slapped it, "I need to inspect the goods first."

The other shook his head: "Open it."

Jimmy shook his head: "That's against the rules. I need to inspect the goods first."

The other looked at Jimmy, pausing for a few seconds before nodding, then turned and opened a box behind him. None of these boxes were locked—it seemed they were keen on this transaction, without unnecessary procedures.

Neil stepped forward, gloved up, and started checking items one by one, while Jimmy kept watch around. The warehouse sellers numbered only three; they obviously carried handguns, and Jimmy could spot the outline of rifles in hidden spots—a strong armament prepared.

Neil didn't completely inspect the items and was blocked from opening the second box: "Now, I need to see the money."

Jimmy glanced at Neil; Neil nodded slightly, confirming this batch was indeed the stolen artworks.

Jimmy placed the briefcase flat on his hand, opened it, and displayed it to them.

The other glared at Jimmy's briefcase, eyes widened: "Wait, the count is wrong."

Jimmy closed the briefcase: "Here's 200,000 as a sign of good faith. I need assurance of safety; once confirmed, the remaining money will be delivered."

"Click", the sound of a gun cocking from behind. Jimmy continued: "We're only two people, needing some security too; let us quickly inspect all items, then someone will deliver the rest of the money."

The confrontational man gritted his teeth as though poised to explode. Jimmy's right hand was ready, prepared to draw the revolver from under his arm. Finally, the man calmed down, pressed the radio on his waist: "You heard?"

A male voice responded through the radio: "YES, wait."

The group stood and waited for several minutes, suddenly hearing a barrage of gunfire outside. Jimmy's earpiece broadcast Mahong's voice, "We're under attack."

Hearing the shots, Jimmy turned to look outside while noting the positions of the two behind him. They held guns but hadn't aimed at him and Neil. Outside, near Mahong's surveillance vehicle, Jimmy saw two men taking cover behind the car, while three more approached, shooting at them.

Jimmy turned: "What did you do? Here's the money, let me leave."

Without waiting for a response, Jimmy tossed the money box over, immediately crouching and diving sideways, reaching under his arm to grab the 1875, twisting his body to aim at the two behind him on the ground, "Bang, bang."

The two were momentarily stunned when Jimmy threw the money box. While Jimmy dove, they intended to point their guns, though not firing yet—they waited on their boss's orders.

But they didn't expect the sudden attack from Jimmy, taking down the two instantly with two .44 Magnum bullets slanting upward through their faces into their heads, losing control of guns and bodies, falling.

Jimmy rolled on the ground with a shot ring, catching the money box after it was thrown to the man opposite. Now seeing two of his teammates hit, he released the box to draw his sidearm, but alas, the split-second delay lost him the chance.

As Jimmy rolled facing the man, a shot was fired, striking his left chest. Powerful .44 Magnum energy at close range was displayed vividly. He dropped his drawn gun, grasped his chest, and collapsed backward, his mind still functioning, twitching a few times on the ground before finally falling silent.

While Jimmy fired, Neil already lay flat on the ground. The middleman crouched, hands on head, shouting "Ah," as someone handling connections without experience in such situations.

Neil was better prepared, aware of Jimmy's prowess, understanding that once the shots fired, maintaining his safety was priority without fretting over Jimmy, lying face down pressing ears against the loud roar of the close-range, large-caliber revolver.