A single burst from the M4 shotgun blasted open the fire door leading to the emergency exit. A second single-shot round ripped open the chest of the individual closest to the door,
shattering his bulletproof vest. Lin Zheling's military-issued M4 shotgun, provided by the US military, held two more rounds than standard civilian or police models, but it took only seconds to empty all eight.
He discarded the emptied shotgun and grabbed the MDX508 short-barreled assault rifle slung over his right shoulder.
Jack claimed to have borrowed the equipment from US forces stationed in South Korea, but in reality, it was still under the JSOC (Joint Special Operations Command) umbrella. If it weren't for concerns about unnecessary misunderstandings, the FBI's original plan would have been to call in Team B for assistance.
After all, South Korea is, after all, a US protectorate. While their top brass might not care, allowing terrorists to release nerve agents in Seoul was a bit unreasonable.
With Team B, or "DEVGRU," deployed, JSOC would undoubtedly have to make some moves, deploying essential support. However, such deployments couldn't be hidden from anyone's attention. It's
possible that the North could then accuse the Americans of using special forces to assassinate the diplomatic mission. Fortunately,
Rossi had complete confidence in Jack's combat capabilities and knew he didn't like being watched while he was waging war overseas, so he didn't insist too much.
After all, this "closed disciple" had never disappointed him, and wasn't the type to be overly concerned with appearances. Whenever Jack deemed it necessary, he never hesitated to call for reinforcements.
Zhang Mingjun and his dozen or so men were military veterans after all. Though caught off guard by the cluster stun grenades, their instincts, honed through training, led them to immediately seek cover in the room.
A few of those less severely affected, after regaining their sight, suppressed the nausea brought on by the dizziness and quickly launched a counterattack, using the hall's steps and supporting columns for cover.
Despite his formidable skills, Lin Zheling was only one man, and was quickly forced into the corner of the bar. Fortunately, the bar was made of fine materials and had a large marble base for cover.
The deafening sound of gunfire mingled with the equally piercing jingle of the fire alarm and the cascading water from the ceiling, creating a chaotic scene.
Amidst this chaos, Jack hummed a tune to himself as he escaped the elevator. It wasn't that he was being pretentious, but the scene before him was so fitting that it would be inappropriate to not have some background music.
"The rain has been falling outside the window for three days and three nights, just like you, my beloved, who haven't answered the phone for three days and three nights."
With two shots, he dispatched a man hiding behind a supporting pillar, then slid to the body, leaning against it as the bullets flew.
Although the enemy were just ordinary soldiers, they were also well-trained and wouldn't make the mistake of emptying their magazines simultaneously. So, after being set upon, Jack's choice was to throw a grenade.
Standard US military grenades are divided into offensive and defensive types, distinguished by their charge and the number of fragments they produce.
Offensive grenades lack pre-loaded fragments, and while they carry a larger charge, their effective killing range is reduced, preventing friendly fire during a breakthrough.
"Take cover!"
Amidst heartbreaking shouts from the opposite side, an MK3A2 grenade, roughly the size of a can, landed in the center of the hall, spun around, and exploded seconds later.
Because the delegation had occupied an entire floor, technically, their current battle area was actually the lounge leading to the presidential suites on either side.
This area was quite large—minus the ornate partitions and wooden display shelves, it would have been at least two to three hundred square meters.
The sturdy exterior glass of the high-rise building, due to its greater distance, withstood the test. Although some cracked, at least it didn't shatter into shards like the one struck by the submachine gun, which then plummeted to the ground from over a hundred stories high.
But the gunmen hiding behind sofas, half-kneeling at the foot of the stairs, and forced to take shelter behind wooden partitions were in dire straits.
Although there was no flying shrapnel, the shockwave from the explosion was multiplied in the relatively enclosed room.
The fragile wooden partitions shattered, sending splinters of wood piercing the gunmen's heads and faces, who then collapsed silently to the ground.
The sprinkler system continued to operate, dripping water droplets that mixed with blood and spread across the floor, creating a grotesque and sinister postmodern abstract painting.
"Chi chi chi!"
The silenced MDX508 short-barreled assault rifle emitted a strange sound. Lin Zheling seized the opportunity to emerge from the other side of the bar and, with a single burst, eliminated two men who had attempted to close in on him.
There was a reason why "DEVGRU" chose to use the subsonic .300 BLK round at close range. In such close-quarters combat, stopping power and noise were paramount considerations.
Just as Lin Zheling was about to relocate, he caught sight of another grenade from behind the pillar where Jack was hiding, and he quickly ducked back.
This time, it was thrown farther, almost right next to the swimming pool. Next to it, Zhang Mingjun, a man with a horrified expression, held only a Glock in his hand, landed.
"Captain!" The man
who had been protecting him pushed Zhang Mingjun aside and leaped forward, pressing his body firmly against the grenade.
A flash of fire, another explosion echoed, and the man's body was lifted off the ground, a mouthful of blood mixed with his internal organs gushing out as he landed.
"Are you afraid of the heavy rain still falling? You still haven't found a home after all these years."
Jack flashed from behind the pillar, transforming into a life-reaper. Every time the muzzle of his MDX508 flashed, a gunman attempting to shoot was hit in the vitals.
Throat, head, lower abdomen, lower body, the speed of his gun's movement always seemed to be a split second faster than his opponent's, and it was precisely this crucial split second that determined the outcome of a life-or-death struggle.
With a soft "click," the MDX508, with its chamber empty, was thrown out, hitting the calf of Zhang Mingjun, who was trying to escape backwards.
The latter stumbled and fell to the edge of the swimming pool, sliding two meters away.
In less than a song, more than ten of Zhang Mingjun's men were wiped out. Jack took down most of them alone, and Lin Zheling didn't even finish a magazine.
"Don't come over!" Zhang Mingjun grabbed the remote control hanging around his neck.
"As long as I press this button, the VX agent installed on the roof will spread, and no life will survive within a three-kilometer radius."
Seeing the two men in front of him stop, the panic on Zhang Mingjun's face gradually faded, replaced by a crazy and ferocious smile.
(End of this chapter)