Chapter 10: Taxes Only Within Machine Gun Range! Chapter 9: Racing Against Time

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Protagonist:

Milton

Mins

Milton sat in the driver's seat of the new car, both hands gripping the steering wheel, driving toward the checkpoint, his expression dark and inscrutable.

"Woo—"

A police car with its siren blaring sped past him from the side, moving at an astonishing speed.

"The sixth police car..." Milton watched the police disappear from sight, silently murmuring in his heart, "This is just what I've seen; probably half the town's police force, no, more than half, has been deployed over there."

In broad daylight, on the highway, a gang of bandits openly shot dead a police officer and blew up the car he was riding in with a bomb!

Any police station would go crazy over this.

Watching the thick black smoke drawing nearer, Milton still felt a sense of surreal relief at having survived the disaster.

Milton was almost certain that these "bandits" were actually targeting him.

These robbers attacked as soon as they saw the target vehicle, not knowing that the person in the car was not actually the real target.

If it weren't for Milton's sudden whim to test the two police officers; if it weren't for his choice to get the car repaired first, then the one blown to pieces now would be him!

He had truly brushed shoulders with death!

"I didn't underestimate their determination, but I underestimated their speed of action." Milton's gaze fixed on the thickening smoke as he seriously summed up his mistake, "I thought they would at least wait until my next field mission to find a chance to ambush me, but I never expected..."

I never expected that the Fan Kang Gang's answer would not be "three days later," not "one day later," not even "three hours later," but "now"!

Indeed, one can never treat the enemy as a fool, nor think one can make all preparations leisurely and face the enemy in perfect condition.

This was a profound lesson, but fortunately, through a twist of fate, no serious consequences ensued; instead, it brought a considerable turning point to the situation.

The Fan Kang Gang exposed its intentions, the assassin team fled in disarray, and thoroughly angered the local police forces.

This operation also filled the road back to the town's checkpoint with police, indirectly ensuring his own safety and cutting off the possibility of the assassin gang turning back to fight.

But this did not mean Milton was truly safe—those assassins carrying deadly weapons were still plotting Milton's life in the town.

A second attack was impossible to dodge no matter what.

Luck would not favor him a second time.

Milton drove the pickup truck forward for a distance and finally saw the "scene of the accident," seeing the car blown into wreckage.

Beside the charred wreckage, several police officers with grim expressions stood in a circle, occasionally picking up their walkie-talkies to say something to their colleagues.

Beside the police officers were several border inspection officials who were clearly being ignored.

Among them was the checkpoint patrolman and also the owner of this car, Horn. Looking at the wreckage of his beloved car, his hands trembled with heartache.

The car he lent out actually returned as fragments all over the ground!

Milton silently apologized to this colleague in his heart, then parked his car nearby.

A police officer on the side originally wanted to come over and stop him, but upon seeing Milton's outfit, he stopped his steps again.

But the dissatisfied expression on his face did not diminish in the slightest.

Wasn't it because the checkpoint's supervision was lax that this gang of bandits was able to run over here?

Making such a big scene, the responsibility of the border inspection station cannot be shirked!

Milton ignored these police officers, turned off the engine and got out of the car, walking straight toward the wreckage.

Horn saw Milton approaching; a hint of relaxation first flashed across his face, then it was quickly filled with blame.

But in the end, he just sighed, stepped forward and patted Milton's shoulder: "Forget it... as long as you're alive, I won't blame you this time."

He knew that this colleague before him was also a victim; the car being blown up couldn't be blamed on Milton, nor was it Milton's responsibility.

Milton glanced at those police officers, said no nonsense and exchanged no pleasantries, lowering his voice: "Horn, do you want justice?"

Horn was stunned, never expecting his colleague to ask such a question; he immediately gave a wry smile and shook his head: "I can only think about it."

Who doesn't know this attack was planned by the Fan Kang Gang? Who doesn't know the Fan Kang Gang is deeply entangled with the checkpoint?

Seek justice?

Seek justice from whom?

Milton scanned the surroundings, made sure no one was eavesdropping, then continued at an extremely fast pace: "Whether it's Menard or Varta, they are both colluding with the Fan Kang Gang and cannot help you get justice."

"In the entire checkpoint, few people would stand against them."

"Except me, only me. Do you understand what I mean?"

Milton stared at Horn—based on their experience getting along during this period, based on the changes in his expression just now, based on the fact that he clearly knew who the enemy was and didn't excessively blame himself—he was a somewhat timid person who navigated the station smoothly but still kept the lowest bottom line.

Such an old hand might not be won over under normal circumstances.

But after suffering a major loss, with the vast majority of his savings reduced to nothing, under the influence of anger and hatred, perhaps he could be temporarily won over to our side.

Don't look at Horn appearing calm now—who wouldn't be angry, who wouldn't be desperate, after seeing their new car, bought with a huge loan and a large sum of money, destroyed?

The car is gone, but the loan still has to be repaid!

Horn's eyes indeed flashed with a hint of wavering, but upon glancing at the car wreckage beside him, this emotion was quickly drowned out by fear; he shook his head: "Forget it, forget it... I don't dare offend them. I still have family..."

Milton didn't expect Horn to make up his mind—to change a person, it's not like in dog-blood movies or dog-blood anime where a few lines of trash talk will do.

"I don't need you to declare war on the Fan Kang Gang; you just need to help me gather various rough smuggling intelligence about the checkpoint as much as possible when I'm on field missions. Isn't that your specialty? And it won't be dangerous."

Time was urgent; what Milton wanted was only the minimum cooperation, just temporarily incorporating Horn into his "informant" system.

As long as it was intelligence gathered by "teammates," Milton could directly share this information in the panel, even if he wasn't at the checkpoint.

If they saw someone smuggling weapons, especially submachine guns, it would very likely mean the next round of attacks was imminent.

With the station chief giving the green light, Milton believed the assassins wouldn't seek far when near was available; they would definitely take the checkpoint road, from Mexico to Guatemala!

Hearing Milton's words, Horn fell into deep hesitation.

Just need to gather some rough intelligence...

Seems like there really isn't any danger.

Thinking of his beloved car, thinking of the mortgage payment due in two days, then thinking he might have to smile at the culprit, Horn's expression twisted as he gathered his courage: "Fine, I agree! But let me say this once more—I won't directly involve myself in your conflict."

When the fire really breaks out, will it be up to you?

You won't be a fence-sitter for long...

Milton looked at the panel, confirmed Horn had become an "Informant," and nodded: "Very good."

Horn exhaled: "Give me a ride; we shouldn't need to handle this here. Let's return to the Checkpoint."

Milton subconsciously went to nod and agree—he had originally planned to return to the Checkpoint first, rest up in this relatively safe place, and think of countermeasures.

But as his gaze swept over the car wreckage once more, Milton suddenly remembered the lesson just now—

Never think you can proceed in an orderly fashion, slowly making all preparations, and face the enemy in perfect condition!

Escaping back to the Checkpoint seemed the safest choice—Station Chief Varta wanted to maintain his image and the morale of the Checkpoint, and had no intention of acting personally.

Not going on Field Work for Three Days inside the station would most likely mean no attack.

But think carefully—what meaning would that have?

Every move inside the station was under Varta's Surveillance; no matter how much preparation I had, it would all be exposed!

Besides, delaying three days inside the station would only make the enemy more certain of the precise time and precise location of the attack.

Seemingly safe, seemingly buying time, actually it was bringing myself into a cage of chronic death.

To seek life from death, I cannot go back!

"I still have some business in Town." Milton's brain was unusually calm at this time, his voice showing not a tremor, "Not returning to the station for now."

He had an extremely bold, and crazy, plan in his head.

Your Fan Kang Gang isn't fast?

You don't like Sneak Attacks?

Then I'll be faster than you!

You think I'll hide in the Checkpoint for Three Days, then get kicked to death by a prepared assassin?

No! Milton will act tonight, and Eliminate all these Fan Kang Gang assassins!

He will go attack the Fan Kang Gang assassins!

This plan and target look crazy, but Milton was not acting on a sudden impulse.

The town's entire Police Force deployment will surely grow lax with the passage of time, and the Fan Kang Gang backing the assassins will surely regroup during This Period and make more complete Assassination preparations.

Now is the rare opportunity when the whole town's police are on guard, the assassins are running around to reorganize, Milton can walk freely on the streets, and the enemy is in the open while I am in the dark!

This opportunity may last half a day to one day, may be Milton's few advantage periods, the only turnaround point to count on.

I am not prepared, and the enemy is equally unprepared!

No low-intensity ridiculous Probe, no children's games, and no slow advance like a dog-blood movie.

Come, decisive battle!