Ali and Gunther descended the emergency stairs, carefully making their way back down to the rear of the bank where a group of mafia members stood casually leaning against the white van. They were all on high alert, constantly scanning the surroundings for any signs of trouble. Ali approached the van and carefully lifted a crate of explosives, carrying it into the janitor's room where Gunther had previously cleaned up the bloodstains and disposed of the body. The room now appeared immaculate, save for the dangerous cargo being stashed inside.
Gunther followed closely behind, struggling slightly with a massive, long black case—large enough to hold a sniper rifle. One of Hero's men handed Ali a sleek, black metallic case and two small radios. Ali took the radios, pocketing one and handing the other to Gunther, who quickly stowed it in his jacket.
After unloading everything, Hero's men quickly shut the van doors and drove off, not wanting to linger in the increasingly tense atmosphere. Ali and Gunther opened the wooden crate, revealing a collection of small, sophisticated bombs neatly packed inside. Ali took one, inspecting it carefully, testing its weight and the wiring, making sure it was exactly what they needed. Satisfied, he took two bombs and a length of wire before heading inside with Gunther.
They made their way up to the third floor, where Ali identified a corner that would maximise structural damage. He demonstrated to Gunther how to set up a bomb, positioning it carefully and securing it out of sight. Ali moved to another corner and set up the second bomb, showing Gunther how to connect the explosives with the wire, ensuring they could be triggered simultaneously. Gunther watched attentively, absorbing every step.
On the fourth floor, Ali continued, methodically placing the devices while Gunther watched and learned. When it came time for the fifth floor, Gunther attempted to set up the bombs on his own under Ali's watchful eye. Though he made several mistakes, Ali corrected him patiently, guiding his hands to ensure everything was perfectly aligned. The two continued this pattern, each taking a floor and working floor by floor, meticulously rigging the building up to the roof. Ali took extra care to place the bombs in locations that would ensure the building collapsed toward the street, rather than straight down, aiming to cause maximum chaos.
As the morning passed, the once-quiet building began to fill with workers. Office employees and bank staff went about their routines, oblivious to the deadly traps being hidden around them. Despite the bustling activity, none noticed the small, cleverly concealed explosives, placed in corners and behind structural supports where no casual observer would ever think to look.
Hours dragged on, the tension on the surrounding streets growing with each passing minute. By midday, the CCG officials finally arrived, their presence now unmistakable as they moved through the area, securing the perimeter and beginning to issue evacuation orders. Agents methodically cleared the building, escorting every worker and resident out, checking each floor to ensure no one remained.
The door to the roof swung open, and Gunther burst through, breathing heavily. "Ali, the CCG is here. They're evacuating everyone and inspecting each floor. They'll be up here any second."
Ali, who was crouched in a corner of the roof, was busy connecting the wiring of the bombs to a remote detonation device. His hands moved swiftly, setting up the mechanism that would allow them to trigger the explosives from a safe distance. He worked with calm precision, even as the sound of footsteps echoed up the emergency stairwell.
Ali swiftly finished arming the device, concealing it on the outer side of the roof before bolting toward Gunther. They quickly climbed onto the narrow ledge above the rooftop entrance, pressing themselves flat against the wall. Ali placed a firm hand over Gunther's mouth to keep him silent as the CCG officer pushed open the door, taking a brief glance around. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, the officer reported back that the roof was clear before closing the door and moving on to the next building.
Ali released Gunther, and they silently slipped down from their perch. They crept to the edge of the roof, watching as the last of the civilians were evacuated, herded away from the office building and into the neighbouring streets. "Come on, let's move," Ali ordered, leading Gunther back down to the janitor's room. There, Ali grabbed the metallic case while Gunther hefted the long sniper rifle case, and together, they exited the building.
Navigating through the foot traffic on the main street, Ali kept a tight grip on Gunther, guiding him with purpose toward the eight-story building behind the auction house. CCG officers were busy directing the crowd away, their attention split between managing the evacuation and keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity. Ali manoeuvred Gunther around the commotion, sneaking through the side streets until they reached the back entrance of the building.
Ali peeked around the corner and spotted a CCG soldier standing guard at the back door. With a quick, calculated motion, he snatched Gunther's phone and hurled it into the darkness away from the guard. The soldier turned instinctively toward the noise, giving Ali and Gunther just enough time to slip inside unnoticed.
They ascended to the roof of the eight-story building, and Ali carefully laid out the plan for Gunther, showing him the best position for setting up his sniper rifle. He opened the case, revealing the disassembled weapon inside, and guided Gunther through the process of putting it together, demonstrating how to load the ammo and adjust the scope for accuracy. Ali explained how to use the rifle to scout the area below, pointing out targets and potential threats.
Satisfied that Gunther understood his task, Ali turned to leave. Gunther's voice trembled as he spoke up, desperate. "My sister—I need to hear from her, please."
Ali sighed, then pulled out his phone and dialled a number, his expression hardening. "Put the girl on the line," he said calmly to Fumiko on the other end. He put the call on speaker, and Gunther's sister's voice came through, trembling with fear. "Gunther, is that you? They have me tied up in a dark room—it's so scary. Please, help me!"
"Sister, it's me! I'm going to—" Gunther started, but his words were cut off as Ali ended the call abruptly and pocketed the phone. Ali looked down at Gunther, his eyes cold and unyielding. "I never said you could talk to her. Do your job tonight, and you'll see her again. But if you step out of line, even once, I'll make a call and tell the GHOULS guarding her that they can eat their fill."
Gunther's face went pale at the mention of ghouls, the bloodthirsty man-eating creatures are the ones holding his sister captive. His sister's fate was hanging in the balance, and the weight of it all pressed down on him, leaving him no choice but to comply.
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Five extra chapters on patreon.com/Rondo312