The hum of the coffee machine came from downstairs.
Zhang Jie tucked the new Pistol into his holster, and suddenly his rib wound didn't hurt as much.
He picked up last night's notebook, drew a smiley face next to the 68-point rating, and then wrote down a new goal:
"Next time: 75 points."
Then he added: "Alive."
—
The revolving door of Brooklyn Trust Bank slowly closed behind Zhang Jie with a soft click.
In the marble-floored lobby, the cold air from the air conditioning hit him, carrying a hint of metal and disinfectant.
His right index finger unconsciously tapped the new glock 34 in the underarm holster, while his left hand tightly gripped the brass key, the serrated edges of which left fine indentations in his palm.
Something wasn't right.
Zhang Jie's gaze swept across the lobby: two smartly dressed bank employees sat behind the information desk on the left, a security guard on the right was idly flipping through a magazine, and vague figures moved behind the frosted glass of the VIP area.
Everything looked normal, but the hairs on the back of his neck stood up uncontrollably.
"Hello, what can I help you with?"
The receptionist offered a standard eight-tooth smile, but her right index finger twitched slightly, and Zhang Jie noticed her left hand under the desk was already pressing a button.
"V-area safe deposit box."
Zhang Jie placed the key on the marble counter, the metal striking the stone with a crisp sound.
The receptionist's smile froze for a moment: "Please wait, I need to verify the information."
She turned to the computer screen, her fingers typing on the keyboard at least 30% faster than for a normal transaction.
Zhang Jie pretended to adjust his cuff, but in reality, he was observing his surroundings out of the corner of his eye.
The seemingly casual security guard had subtly adjusted his position and was now blocking the exit through the revolving door.
Behind the glass of the VIP area, at least three blurry figures were moving.
"Mr. Willis, is that right?" The receptionist's voice suddenly became overly sweet, "Please follow me."
As she stood up, Zhang Jie noticed that the heels of her high-heeled shoes were unusually thick, perfectly concealing a weapon.
The two walked through the lobby towards the elevator.
The moment the elevator doors closed, Zhang Jie saw the security guard pick up his walkie-talkie.
"The V-area is on the third basement level." The receptionist pressed the button, and the elevator began to descend, "Is this your first time here?"
"Yes." Zhang Jie pressed himself against the elevator wall, ensuring he could see the entire car.
The camera in the elevator rotated slightly, and the blinking frequency of the red dot seemed faster than normal surveillance.
The elevator stopped at B3, and the moment the doors opened, Zhang Jie's pupils contracted sharply.
In front of the V-area vault door, five strangers of varying styles stood or sat, each holding a safe deposit box key.
When the elevator doors opened, five pairs of eyes turned in unison to Zhang Jie, and the air instantly solidified.
"Another one has arrived."
A Black youth with dreadlocks whistled; the two butterfly knives tucked into his waistband gleamed coldly under the vault's lights.
Zhang Jie's right hand was already on the Pistol grip.
He counted the number of people present: the dreadlocked youth, a bald strongman in a tactical vest, a red-haired woman, an Asian man in a suit, and a tall, thin man wearing a baseball cap.
Each person exuded a dangerous aura.
"You are all here to retrieve safe deposit box number 72, please wait here for a moment."
After speaking, the receptionist who had led the way walked back to the elevator, and as the elevator doors slowly closed, Zhang Jie quietly observed the nearest cover, a marble pillar three meters to his right.
"Looks like they're trying new tricks this year." The red-haired woman licked her lips, her long fingers toying with a coin, "Five keys, one box."
"New tricks?"
Zhang Jie was a little confused.
No sooner had he spoken than the baseball cap man suddenly exploded into action!
His movements were incredibly fast, a silver PPK sliding out from his cuff.
An old antique with a 7-round capacity, but deadly enough at close range.
Bang!
The first shot grazed Zhang Jie's ear.
Zhang Jie had observed his muscle pre-action before he even moved, avoiding the shot in time.
He rolled sideways behind the pillar, the glock 34 already in his hand.
The sound of the safety disengaging was exceptionally clear in the confined space.
He quickly checked his remaining ammunition: 18 rounds, with one in the chamber.
He also had 1 spare magazine; that should be enough!
"Damn you, John!" Zhang Jie gritted his teeth, "That bastard screwed me again!"
The melee instantly erupted!
The bald strongman directly pulled out a Remington 870 from the backpack on his back, letting out a roar the next instant. Fortunately, the Asian youth dodged in time, and the first shot blew the information desk behind him to pieces.
Zhang Jie counted silently.
1 round used, 6 rounds remaining.
The red-haired woman leaped onto the safe deposit box racks like a cat, her miniature Pistol firing continuously.
Zhang Jie saw the casings eject.
3 rounds used, 3 rounds remaining.
The suited Asian suddenly lunged from the side, his ring scratching towards Zhang Jie's carotid artery.
Zhang Jie leaned back, firing two shots from his glock simultaneously.
16 rounds remaining.
The first shot missed, the second hit the opponent's shoulder.
"Damn, is this suit bulletproof?!"
Zhang Jie cursed and fired another shot at the opponent's leg.
15 rounds.
"Ah!!!"
The dreadlocked youth's butterfly knives whistled through the air.
Zhang Jie barely dodged the first knife, but the second cut through his shirt.
He hurriedly fired two shots in return.
13 rounds remaining.
The bullets grazed the dreadlocked youth's scalp, scaring him into finding cover.
The red-haired woman hung upside down from the rack, her miniature Pistol aimed at the Asian's forehead; she only had one shot left.
Bang!
The bullet missed, the Asian man rolled to avoid it.
As expected, none of them were easy to deal with!
He took the opportunity to fire three shots.
10 rounds remaining.
The first shot knocked her weapon away, the second pierced her arm, and the third shattered the ceiling spotlight.
"Damn it, my accuracy in real combat is still not enough!"
Zhang Jie was a little exasperated; the injury he sustained yesterday severely affected his Shooting precision.
Glass shards rained down, and the bald strongman took the opportunity to reload.
Zhang Jie saw him load four rounds into the magazine. This was a typical tactical reload, keeping the magazine half-full for quick reloading.
The baseball cap man had somehow gotten behind Zhang Jie. Just as he was about to draw his Pistol, the hairs on Zhang Jie's back stood up, and he sharply threw his head back, his occiput hitting the opponent's nose bridge hard.
At the same time, his right hand reversed, and the glock fired from under his armpit, 9 rounds remaining.
The bullet passed through the baseball cap man's chin, bringing out a spray of blood mist.
"Fuck you!"
Zhang Jie swept the opponent's legs, knocking him down, and then fired another shot at his leg to ensure he was incapacitated, 8 rounds remaining.
He kicked away the PPK that had fallen to the ground.
The bald strongman's shotgun roared again, 2 rounds used, 5 rounds remaining.
Zhang Jie dove to the side, marble fragments hitting his shoulder.
"Damn! Running out of ammo... Ugh, it hurts so much!"
Zhang Jie panted, leaning against the safe deposit box rack.
He had pulled his wound just now!
8 rounds + 17 rounds in the magazine, to deal with at least three professional killers, this was practically suicide.
He suddenly noticed the key that had fallen from the baseball cap man; unlike the others, this one was silver.
He had an idea!
"Hey! Wait!" Zhang Jie shouted, "We've been played! This isn't the V-area at all!"
Taking advantage of everyone's momentary dazed, Zhang Jie rushed towards the corridor.
Behind him, he heard the dreadlocked youth's curses and the red-haired woman's screams.
When he reached the real V-area, John and the Professor were sitting face to face, drinking coffee.
You motherfucker!
You played me again!