Spy Wars: Strong Agents Who Are Ruthless and Talk Little

Chapter 401: The stench of decay permeated the air for 4 weeks

Su Ming stared at his phone screen, his thoughts racing. The message had arrived so suddenly that it had caught him off guard. Nine o'clock tonight meant he had less than twelve hours to prepare. For a covert mission, this was undoubtedly an extremely tight deadline.

He closed his eyes, forcing himself to calm down. His mind rapidly replayed the lessons learned from past missions, every detail necessary to review. The warehouse area was rife with traps and ambushes, especially during a sensitive moment like a transaction. The enemy would certainly not take it lightly. Su Ming knew that he not only had to get close to the warehouse to gather intelligence, but also had to escape unscathed without revealing his identity.

"This time, I must give it my all," he vowed silently, picking up the backpack beside him and pulling out some necessary tools. Night vision goggles, a miniature camera, a listening device... all of this equipment seemed particularly important at this moment.

He quickly packed his backpack, then walked to the window and peered out through the shattered glass. The morning light had already fully illuminated the entire factory area, but the streets remained silent. Su Ming knew he had to hurry. He needed to find a safe place now to regroup and prepare fully for the night's operation.

He turned and left the dilapidated factory, returning to the shadows of the city. The streets were more dangerous during the day than at night; the enemy might have sealed off the entire area to prevent his escape. However, he didn't hesitate. With his familiarity with the surrounding terrain and keen instincts, he quickly weaved through the crowds, taking cover at street corners and constantly changing direction to avoid being followed.

After an hour of wandering, Su Ming finally found a nondescript hotel in a quiet alley. He pushed open the creaking wooden door and walked into the dim lobby. Behind the counter was a middle-aged man wearing glasses. He glanced up at him with a cold, hesitant look.

"I want a room to stay for one night." Su Ming said in a low voice and handed over a stack of banknotes.

The man took the money, glanced at it briefly, then nodded and handed him a key. "Third floor, last room on the left."

Su Ming took the key and quickly headed upstairs. He had chosen this location not only for its inconspicuousness but also for its proximity to the warehouse area, making it convenient for nighttime operations. He entered the room, locked the door, and then removed his coat, quickly examining the wound on his shoulder. The simple bandage had seeped through blood, and the wound ached slightly, but he knew there was no time to go to the hospital, so he could only endure it.

He retrieved alcohol and painkillers from his backpack and, despite the excruciating pain, cleaned the wound again. Each wipe felt like a flame burning through his flesh, but his expression remained stern and he said nothing. After finishing, he rested briefly on his bed, trying to conserve his strength. This short rest before a mission was a habit he had developed over the years; he knew the battle ahead would be a tough one.

Time slowly slipped by, the afterglow of the setting sun streaming into the room through the tattered curtains. Su Ming jolted awake from a light slumber, his biological clock having precisely roused him. He quickly rose, gathered his gear, and, after ensuring everything was in place, quietly left the hotel.

Night gradually fell, the city's hustle and bustle gradually swallowed by darkness. Su Ming moved through the shadows, his sights set on the warehouse district. As the streets thinned, his heartbeat involuntarily quickened, yet his expression remained calm. Every mission was a life-or-death gamble, and tonight's stakes were clearly higher than ever.

As he approached the warehouse area, he slowed down and took in his surroundings. As he'd expected, the area was heavily guarded. Several sentries were patrolling in the distance, and several burly guards were stationed at the warehouse entrance.

"The situation is even more complex than I expected." Su Ming frowned secretly, and a little cold sweat broke out on his palms. He knew that rushing in rashly would be like walking into a trap. He had to find a hidden route to sneak in.

He quietly circled the side of the warehouse, weaving between several abandoned containers. The light here was dim, perfect for him to navigate with his night vision goggles. He observed the darkness for a while before finally spotting a seemingly overlooked ventilation hole. Although it was a bit narrow, with his agility, he was able to pass through it.

Su Ming quickly removed the iron grille from the vent, secured his gear to his body, and nimbly slipped inside, bracing himself against the edge of the duct with both hands. The interior was dark and damp, with a pungent musty odor. He advanced slowly through the narrow space, making as little noise as possible. After about ten minutes, he successfully emerged from the other end, landing silently inside the warehouse.

The warehouse was dimly lit. Several men in black were gathered around a table, on which lay a collection of documents and briefcases, discussing something. Su Ming, hiding in the shadows, held his breath, quickly set up his miniature camera, and began recording their conversation.

"All the goods must be transferred tonight without any delay." A voice ordered coldly, obviously Tang Wenbo.

Su Ming's brow furrowed slightly. This meant that tonight's transaction wasn't just a simple exchange of goods; it might involve deeper interests. He had to quickly ascertain the specific contents of the goods and the recipient's information.

Just as he was listening intently, he suddenly heard the sound of footsteps, as if someone was quietly approaching his hiding place. Su Ming's nerves instantly tensed. He quickly hid the camera, his fingers quietly grasped the dagger at his waist, and held his breath and waited.

A dark figure approached, seemingly unaware of him. Su Ming swiftly struck, elbowing the man in the throat. He collapsed before he could even utter a sound. He dragged the man into the shadows, quickly checked him, and after confirming he hadn't attracted attention, he returned to the meeting ahead.

"Remember, this operation must not go wrong," Tang Wenbo said coldly, his gaze so sharp that it seemed to penetrate everything. He waved his hand, and several of his men immediately began to organize documents and supplies, clearly ready.

Su Ming knew he was running out of time. He had to gather enough evidence quickly and find a way to retreat safely. However, just as he was about to turn and leave, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in his peripheral vision—it was his old friend, Zhang Feng, who had long since vanished from his world.

Su Ming's breath hitched, and he almost suspected he'd seen it wrong. Zhang Feng, that name had once been an integral part of his life, but now it had become a distant, unreachable past. He remembered the days they'd fought side by side, the countless times they'd covered each other in the hail of bullets, but he had never expected to see him again under these circumstances.

"Why him?" Su Ming's heart was in turmoil. All those years since Zhang Feng disappeared, he had always assumed he had distanced himself from this dangerous world, choosing a peaceful life. But the reality before him was like a heavy blow, catching him off guard. Could it be that Zhang Feng had joined this group of criminals?

He quickly calmed down, forcing himself to stop thinking about the past and focus on the task at hand. Now was not the time to question the reasons; he had to concentrate and not let himself get bogged down in the quagmire of emotion. He knew that losing his composure in a mission like this would be tantamount to seeking death.

At this moment, Zhang Feng seemed to notice something and tilted his head slightly to glance in Su Ming's direction. In that moment, their eyes met in the dim warehouse. Time seemed to freeze, and Su Ming could almost feel his heartbeat stop. A flicker of surprise and confusion flashed across Zhang Feng's eyes, but he quickly concealed his emotions and continued to pretend to focus on the documents in his hands.

Su Ming realized the situation was more complicated than he'd anticipated. He couldn't delay any longer; he had to act quickly. He took a deep breath and quietly slipped out of his hiding place, attempting to retreat before the enemy noticed. The warehouse was filled with a tense atmosphere, as if a bloody storm could erupt at any moment.

"We must move the goods immediately, quickly!" Tang Wenbo gave the order coldly, obviously extremely sensitive to time.

At that moment, a burst of intense gunfire erupted from the other side of the warehouse, shattering the night's silence. Several men in black immediately drew their pistols and rushed toward the sound. Su Ming cursed inwardly, the sudden turn of events completely disrupting his retreat plan.

"Who is it?!" Tang Wenbo asked sternly, his eyes scanning the surroundings like an eagle.

Su Ming took advantage of the chaos and quickly crossed to the other side of the warehouse, using the containers as cover to move towards the exit. However, he soon discovered that the area was tightly sealed. The enemy had clearly been prepared, and the entire warehouse area was surrounded, making it impossible for him to break out easily.

"Damn it! How could this happen?" He cursed inwardly, quickly adjusting his strategy. He knew that a head-on fight wasn't the solution; his only option was to outsmart them. Various plans raced through his mind, ultimately deciding to risk a detour to the other side of the warehouse, where there was a drainage pipe unnoticed by the enemy.

Su Ming quietly approached the drain, only to discover that the iron bars had long since rusted and fallen off. Secretly delighted, he quickly crawled inside. The pipe was dark and damp, and a foul odor permeated the air, but he ignored it and could only hold his breath and crawl quickly.

He could hear the faint sound of footsteps; the enemy had clearly discovered his tracks. Su Ming gritted his teeth and quickened his pace. He knew he had to leave this damn place before the enemy caught up, or else he might actually die here tonight.

Just as he climbed out of the drain, he heard a familiar low voice: "Don't move!" The voice was not loud, but it carried undeniable authority. Su Ming was startled and looked back. It was Zhang Feng.

"What are you doing..." Su Ming frowned, his eyes filled with confusion and anger.