The commotion was still continuing.
A child with asthma suffered an attack from the extreme fright and lost the medicine he carried with him during the earlier escape.
The child gasped for breath and collapsed right on the ground. Fortunately an elderly person who also had asthma took the initiative to lend his inhaler to the child's mother.
Another elderly person's blood pressure shot up. He slumped to the ground with unstable breathing.
The fat guy named "Exce" carried a medical kit and constantly wove through the crowd, feeding medicine to the old people and bandaging the wounds of the injured. He was so busy that he staggered around.
He even braced Jian Jing's shoulders with his chubby hands twice as he passed by her.
Jian Jing lowered the brim of her cap and pondered deeply.
The first time the fat guy drew a lightning symbol on her shoulder which she could not comprehend, but the second time, he drew a J.
Deducting from this, the lightning was Z.
J was the initial of her surname, he recognized her. Among the people she knew, the only familiar one who could be wearing such an unfamiliar face was Zong Xunmei, or Zong Ye.
She did not know why he disguised himself this way or what his purpose was, but it was unimportant. At this moment, with nearly a thousand lives at stake including their own, they were the best allies.
But the two of them were not enough.
Jian Jing carefully observed the crowds, secretly picking out helpers.
There were quite a lot of people.
Like a man in his fifties with all white hair, clearly a retired cop, sharp-eyed, burly, and muscular. And a man who was possibly a soldier on active duty, looking honest and quiet but straight backed from training.
They were the main targets of the kidnappers' attention.
In comparison, a female doctor and nurse who were helping Zong Ye treat the patients were gentle, invoking the harmless aura of Florence Nightingale. But they were as alert as the men.
Everyone exchanged covert glances but did not act yet.
Because they could not trust each other. There may be accomplices among the hostages. If they recruited an accomplice, it would be game over.
She became even more cautious and careful.
However, this wariness meant something else in others' eyes.
Kang Mu Cheng was half skeptical of her initial panic---of course she acted very realistically, but he had witnessed her solve cases before, and could hardly imagine her being so afraid.
But now as he looked again, he believed it.
However horrifying, corpses were dead and would not jump up to kill people. Medical students saw blood and flesh every day yet could still barbecue happily.
Slaughter was different.
Life was lighter than ashes, casually snuffed out.
Who would not be afraid?
She had died once before too.
He rubbed her back and softly comforted, "Don't be scared." After some hesitation, he whispered, "Someone should have contacted the embassy already. Ying Jie will definitely find a way to help us."
Jian Jing looked up after a while and gave a faint smile. "I'm not scared, don't you be scared either."
With the kidnappers monitoring them, exchanging a few words was the limit.
She did not say more, and activated the perspective device on her glasses to figure out the number of enemies first.
Then her eyes were blinded by the chaotic lines, and she nearly shed tears.
The area was too big with too many things that she could not see clearly.
She had to spend money.
"Draw special card," she recited silently.
The system never failed expectations at critical moments.
[Drawing card...]
[Special card drawn]
[Name: Special Card - Infrared Thermal Imager]
[Description: Black tech product, can be combined with main component for use, or used independently. Detects target's temperature distribution by converting infrared radiation into visible signals, no radiation. 10 minutes free use daily, can consume courage to continue operation, 1 point = 10 minutes]
[Note: A small device with big uses]
No mistake there.
With the thermal imager, the situation in the entire mall came into view.
There were ten kidnappers in the central atrium, two by the west gate, one at each of the two small south gates, one at each of the two back gates, all gates were blocked off, two were stationed at the east gate where negotiations happened.
That made eighteen people, and three more patrolling the second floor.
Twenty one people in total.
How could she relay this information to Zong Ye?
Her mind raced and she quickly had an idea.
The sun was harsh today so she went out wearing a fashionable cap with her hair tucked inside, only her face showing.
Now she conjured four thin braids with simple cross knots as separators, using the length as signals.
h
r——
2——
1
21 people here.
When Zong Ye passed by her again under the guise of retrieving something, she relaxed her hand and casually swept the strands behind her ear, feigning casualness.
He gave a slight nod.
After a while, he hurriedly shifted a child with breathing difficulties over, saying in English, "She needs some fresh air."
By chance, Jian Jing had chosen a corner with a pillar nearby, fewer people.
He naturally placed the child next to her. "Miss, please take care of her."
Jian Jing looked anxious, quickly glanced at the kidnappers, and seeing no objections from them, timidly nodded and played her gutless role to the extreme.
Meanwhile, negotiations progressed.
The representative the kidnappers requested had arrived, attitude sincere, patiently listening to their demands. Then gave a very official response.
Jian Jing only understood the gist of his formal vocabulary and complex grammar: I'm aware of all your demands, but they clearly violate law and justice so we really cannot agree.
In other words, the demands were excessive, let's discuss some more.
Clearly this was probing, to find out the kidnappers' bottom line.
The kidnappers quickly gave them a demonstration.
They randomly picked a row of unlucky hostages, forced them to the east gate, drew the curtains blocking the view, and through the glass, carried out a slaughter.
One man, one gun, bullets spraying, the tearful and terrified hostages let out muffled groans and fell to the ground in succession.
Truly hitting rock bottom.
Dead silence at the scene.
The brazen kidnappers said they only gave three hours. If arrangements could not be made, they would kill another batch since they had plenty of hostages.
The representative immediately conceded that they could negotiate more but three hours was too short, they needed the Prime Minister's approval etc, asking for an extension to six hours.
The kidnappers refused.
Haggling.
Finally settling on five hours.
Meanwhile, the blood of the dead kept flowing, staining the floors of this high-end mall.
A faint tang of rust lingered in the air, bone-chilling.
Jian Jing looked up but her view was blocked by Kang Mu Cheng. He pressed her head down and murmured, "Don't look."
She did not argue and averted her gaze obediently.
A few steps away, Zong Ye did not even glance at her, but his hand resting on his leg trembled slightly, tapping his middle finger then little finger. Easy to miss for a hand tremor.
But she decoded his Morse message.
Split up.
Wait.
Jian Jing gave a barely perceptible nod and continued observing the kidnappers.
After the slaughter, dead silence filled the scene except for sporadic sobs. Almost no one dared speak. The kidnappers looked satisfied at the docile hostages and conversed softly among themselves.
She turned on her hearing and caught snippets of French.
"(French) ...Installed?"
"(French) No problem, if they dare to... won't let them off easy..."
"(French) Why not use the hostages..."
"(French) Not time yet."
Forcibly do what? Break out?
Her heart jumped as she noticed several bags the kidnappers had left in the corner.
What were those? Weren't there earlier, when were they delivered?
She activated the perspective device. Tubes and wires came into view.
She inhaled sharply and her fingers clenched.
"What's wrong?" Kang Mu Cheng had given the child some water and turned to see her pale face.
Jian Jing hesitated. "It's nothing," she said softly.
She looked for Zong Ye but this guy was quite active, staring intently at the harmless fat face yet whispering with a kidnapper.
F*cking absurd.
What social skills, too damn competent!
However, even the vicious criminals could not resist his social skills. Although he was tricked once before, it did not mean she was without skills.
Her anger suddenly subsided.
She nimbly took out a pen from her bag, fumbling to tear off a piece of paper. However, the words she wrote had to be chosen carefully. If it was discovered, the criminals could not guess her intentions.
After thinking silently for a while, Jian Jing wrote a few words and then folded the paper, pondering how to deliver it.
The opportunity came quickly.
After conversing with the criminals, Zong Ye walked past her as if unintentionally. Jian Jing pretended to dodge but nimbly slipped the note into the pleats of his pants.
He sat down calmly and took it out to unfold.
“What is this?” The nurse helping treat the wounded glanced at it and lowered her voice, “Are you communicating with the police?”
Zong Ye was shocked: “How is that possible!” He glanced at the note and casually said, “I visited my little nephew this morning and helped him cheat on a test. This is the cheat sheet.”
The nurse said: “Really?”
Zong Ye shrugged and handed it to her.
The nurse looked at it. There were indeed answers that looked like math problems: 8 eggs (egg written in simple strokes).
She didn’t recognize the middle character but 8 and eggs were clear.
She laughed: “Ath?”
“This is how Chinese families are,” he took back the note and folded it sorrowfully. “I wonder if I’ll get to see my dear George again.”
The nurse said: “As long as the government agrees to their demands, we’ll be alright.”
Zong Ye piously prayed: “I will pray to God.”
The conversation ended.
Zong Ye’s eyes were half-closed as if tired and unwilling to move, but his peripheral vision glanced at the suitcase in the corner.
Eight eggs? No, eight bombs, the Japanese pronunciation for “bomb”.
Clever of her to come up with it.
But he didn't expect there to be bombs.
This was very bad.
With bombs present, even if the criminals retreated, the police would not dare to come in to chase or rescue people. It was more likely they wanted to use the hostages as weapons for indiscriminate attacks on everyone.
Twenty-one people, and their accomplices were elsewhere too.
How could he get away from the monitored area and have a chance to act alone?
Wait, he could only wait.
After another three hours, representatives from outside proactively contacted the criminals saying they had obtained special permission and were on their way to the prison to retrieve people. They hoped the criminals could release some of the hostages first.
A single spark could start a prairie fire.
The hostages were filled with infinite hope, longing to escape the devil’s claws.
The criminals initially refused outright, but the representatives persuaded them that things were going very smoothly now. If they were unwilling to release even one hostage, subsequent procedures would be very difficult to process.
In other words: If you don't show some sincerity, we can't believe you will let people go and don't dare make a deal.
The criminals discussed among themselves.
“We can't gain public support without releasing hostages.”
“We don't need support. What we're doing is great.”
“This time we’re not here for revenge. Saving people comes first.”
“We can't compromise with them! Never!”