From the relentless attack, Luo Qi discerned the gaze hidden beneath her external optical prosthetic eye.
It was a belief of certain death for anyone who dared to slack off even slightly.
"Rip-!"
Luo Qi's clothes were torn by the tip of the mantis knife, and then further torn apart by the high-speed movement.
Just one centimeter off to the side would have meant a severe injury like a hot knife through butter.
But her right wrist was now firmly grasped in Luo Qi's hand.
"Bang!!!!"
The left mantis knife, halfway through its horizontal swing, came to a halt. A muffled sound, like a car hitting a wall, exploded on her abdominal armor.
Luo Qi launched a kick, his left foot pushing off the ground, twisting his waist, and slamming his right leg into her body.
It all happened in an instant.
"Bang, crack! - The sound of shattering..."
Luo Qi was sent flying, crashing through a pile of plastic tables and chairs, his weapon falling to the ground.
On the other side.
A parked dark green Beetle car was lifted off the ground on one side, its tires plowing through the ground, screeching as it was pushed back two meters.
In close-quarters combat, Luo Qi emerged victorious.
"Calling all units, a serious murder has occurred on Elon South Street, with a suspected dangerous target at the scene. Coordinates as follows..."
"Please note, the suspect is equipped with combat implants. All units, maintain alert immediately."
"Counter-terrorism team has entered the scene. All officers evacuate immediately. I repeat, the counter-terrorism team has entered the scene. All officers evacuate immediately."
"The suspect has fled, and a warrant has been issued throughout Night City. Logistics personnel are being arranged for scene cleanup."
In the NCPD's police frequency, messages and orders were like a torrential downpour, filling every second with non-stop updates, even causing congestion.
One moment, a company's data was breached, and information leaked, with cyber surveillance demanding immediate action. The next moment, a gang started a firefight, affecting surrounding residents.
The distorted static sound of the radio echoed in the ears of every police officer running through the streets and alleys.
Short on personnel, equipment, and funds, the difficulties and crimes they faced were like ceaselessly multiplying malignant tumors. No wonder most NCPD officers had lost faith in this thankless job.
Or in other words, the terror squad was no longer seen as one of their own in the eyes of these increasingly corrupt officers.
The rain grew heavier.
Falling on the roadside, on the rooftops, and on the shoulders of those returning, it burst into tiny droplets and then disappeared.
A just-landed armored vehicle under automatic guidance system quietly stopped at position 2, rainwater slowly flowing down its pockmarked but still sturdy alloy surface.
It was a heavy-duty floating armored vehicle, the Scorpion Tail Lion 4H, designed for military operations by Zeta Tech and in service for less than half a year.
The police superintendent walked in front, saying nothing, followed by a soggy and listless sidekick.
The guard at the door shivered, stood at attention and saluted, not daring to make any extra moves.
Two rows of damp footprints were left on the way from the main entrance to the combat readiness room.
The ordinary officers, who dared not speak, exchanged glances.
Separated by three meters, a conspicuously bright white light emanated from a lamp, driving the night far away.
A determined-looking man stood silently in the middle of the corridor with his arms folded.
"Click, click, click..."
The combat boots stepped on the floor tiles, each interval almost identical, cold and hard.
Fully armed, she wore a prosthetic eye, her expression unreadable, like a cold breeze on a rainy night, brushing past him without a glance.
Only the gradually receding footsteps, getting farther and farther away in the corridor.
"Boss... I'm sorry."
Joseph Dredd looked at his helpless master, holding his helmet, his face full of regret and self-blame.
"Are you injured?"
The man with his arms folded turned and walked towards the end of the corridor.
"The cybernetic part may have some stress damage, but no other major problems."
Joseph bowed his head, like a quail, and followed closely behind.
The door to the readiness room was ajar, leaving a small gap.
Inside, there was no "pattering" of blows as usual, nor the "clicking" of training materials being constantly chopped, it was unusually quiet.
She stood in front of her locker, helmet already removed, her cold brown curls swaying with her movements as she packed.
Joseph glanced at her and then at his captain, somewhat at a loss.
The captain gestured with his head for him to pack his own things, so Joseph gratefully scurried to the corner.
He just watched her, and she silently packed. She removed her broken heavy armor, tossed it casually into the locker with a dull thud that startled Joseph.
Holding a pack of spare clothes in her hand, she turned around and looked at him fearlessly.
A pair of eyes, as bright and transparent as amber, but brimming with cold light.