The electronic collar's countdown finally stopped at [00:00:03], followed by a soft 'beep'.
The collars on James and Razor Woman's necks unlocked simultaneously, dropping to the ground with a clatter.
James let out a long breath, reaching up to rub his neck where red marks had formed, his gaze still sharp.
Razor Woman silently picked up the collar from the ground, her fingers gently caressing the metal surface, seemingly lost in thought.
Zhang Jie leaned against the control panel, the muzzle of his MP5 slightly lowered, but his finger remained close to the trigger guard, ready to raise his gun and shoot at any moment.
His gaze swept back and forth between the two, finally settling on James.
"So, Mr. MI6 agent, can you tell us what exactly is going on now?"
James tugged at the tattered lapel of his suit, revealing a hint of helplessness: "Simply put, we've stumbled into a rich man's hunting game."
"KH?"
As the word left his mouth, the air in the control room seemed to freeze for a moment.
Razor Woman's pupils contracted slightly, her fingers instinctively reaching for the Razor at her waist, but she quickly released it.
Her expression remained stern, but a complex emotion, like anger mixed with a deep-seated fear, flashed in her eyes.
Zhang Jie, however, frowned, his mind quickly reviewing all possible connections: Mrs. Schneider's bill, John's warning, even Veronica's strange phone call... the cocktail party, the cigar box the professor brought over, the KH logo on those six cigars... But in the end, he just shook his head.
"Never heard of it."
James stared at him, seemingly judging the truthfulness of his statement.
"Really?"
"Really." Zhang Jie spread his hands, "I took this mission purely because I needed money, and I accidentally clicked on it. I had no idea this place was so dangerous."
In an instant, the image of a top assassin in James and Razor Woman's minds completely crumbled.
"..."
James's expression froze for a moment, then his mouth twitched, as if he had heard some absurd joke.
"Bro, you... need money?"
"Yes. A lot... You wouldn't believe it..."
"Wait... Someone who can survive in Blackthorn Castle until now, with accurate Shooting and top-notch combat skills, you actually need money?"
"..."
Zhang Jie said nothing, just shrugged.
It was an 'you understand' expression.
Razor Woman also turned her head, giving him a strange look, as if he were a madman.
No?
Why don't you believe me?
Believe me!
"Do you know that the 'ticket' just to enter this castle is worth 50,000 usd?"
"..."
Zhang Jie was silent for two seconds, then sighed: "I know... I clicked it by mistake..."
James rubbed his temples, seemingly getting a headache from this answer.
What kind of divine teammates are these?
"Never mind, let's deal with the immediate problem first."
This problem shouldn't be dwelled upon... He walked to the control panel and brought up the castle's surveillance footage. "KH is an ancient organization, with only twelve members. Each person has a codename, such as 'Oriska'."
Hmm?
Are you sure it's not the Round Table Council?
"But they never meet offline," James continued. "This castle gathering is just a hunting game to relieve their boredom."
In the surveillance footage, Oriska was sitting at a long table, slowly cutting a steak.
To his right, a laptop screen lit up, displaying nine blurry figures—the other members of KH—who were 'participating' in this feast of slaughter via video link.
"So, we're just their entertainment?" Zhang Jie asked coldly.
"That's right." James nodded. "Every three years, they choose a place to hold such a gathering or game. Blackthorn Castle is just the venue for this round. But we are still investigating the specific details."
"And the previous round," Zhang Jie added.
Razor Woman spoke: "My target is Oriska."
"Why?"
"Our mission was to protect him, and now my sisters have all died because of him." Razor Woman's voice was cold, but her gaze was on Zhang Jie. "Black Rose never takes KH's orders; we were still dragged into it by him."
James frowned: "You were forced to participate?"
"Yes." Razor Woman nodded. "Our mission wasn't to kill him; the target was another arms dealer."
Zhang Jie walked to the weapon rack, picked up an HK416, and skillfully checked the firearm: "So, the problem now is that the people outside want to kill us, and we have to survive first, right?"
James nodded: "Right."
Razor Woman: "Exactly."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Zhang Jie chambered a round with a click. "First, replenish ammo."
Footsteps.
Very light, but very dense.
At least six people, the muffled thud of tactical boots on the carpet, the metallic clatter of firearms, and the crackling static from walkie-talkies.
"Team A in position."
"Team B, block the corridor."
"Target confirmed in the control room."
Zhang Jie's movements paused, his ears twitching slightly.
[Hearing: Lv1 (12/100)]
This allowed him to roughly pinpoint the enemies' positions amidst the noise.
"Six people," he whispered. "Two at the corner of the left corridor, three pushing through the main door, and one more..."
He pointed to the ceiling, "The ventilation duct."
James looked at him in surprise, then quickly put on his sound-amplifying headphones to confirm: "That's right."
Razor Woman gripped the MP5 in her hand, but her posture was clearly a bit clumsy; she was more accustomed to using a knife.
"You take the left flank," James said to Zhang Jie. "I'll take the right, Razor Woman provides cover."
"Understood."
The three quickly dispersed.
Zhang Jie stood with his back to the wall, the muzzle of his HK416 slightly lowered, adopting the ready stance for the Mozambique Shooting drill.
Two shots to the chest, one to the head.
His Shooting level had unconsciously reached Lv3. His finger rested naturally on the trigger, neither tense nor loose, just as John had taught him.
"Relax," he suddenly said to Razor Woman. "Don't grip it too tightly; the recoil will injure your wrist."
Razor Woman glanced at him, said nothing, but adjusted her grip slightly.
The next second—
The door was kicked open!
As the first enemy rushed in, Zhang Jie's HK416 already opened fire!
Da! Da! — Bang!
Perfect Mozambique Shooting.
The first two bullets precisely hit the chest, the immense impact instantly breaking the enemy's ribs beneath the bulletproof vest.
The third bullet immediately pierced through the brow, a cloud of blood mist erupting from the back of his head.
Before the body even hit the ground, Zhang Jie's muzzle had already turned to the second target.
Da! Da! — Bang!
The same rhythm, the same efficiency.
The moment the second enemy knelt clutching his chest, a bullet hole already appeared in his brow.
James was no less effective.
Beretta's 9mm bullets accurately struck the throat of the enemy on the right, he specifically aimed for areas not protected by the bulletproof vest.
Razor Woman also pulled the trigger, but her Shooting rhythm was clearly unstable, bullets spraying against the doorframe, wood splinters flying.
"Control the recoil!" Zhang Jie roared.
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