The tram came to a smooth stop in the underground warehouse beneath the mansion.
After leading the group off the tram, Wang Ye quickly headed toward the mansion. At the same time, the Hive's gate descended, locking firmly in place.
Upon entering the mansion, the group noticed that the interior appeared unchanged, with no suspicious figures in sight.
However, the broken glass that had been scattered on the floor earlier was now completely gone, and the previously damaged windows had somehow been restored.
Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, catching the same confusion and caution in one another's eyes.
It seemed Wang Ye's earlier intel was correct—something was definitely off about the mansion.
To think someone would clean up and repair windows here so quickly!
Wang Ye gestured for silence, gripping his gun as he cautiously moved toward the side. The rest of the group followed his lead, weapons in hand, creeping carefully toward the mansion's garden, all the while staying alert to their surroundings.
Despite their wariness, they encountered no anomalies along the way.
The silence around them was unnerving.
Though the mansion was located far from the bustling city and rarely visited, it was surrounded by a large wooded area where birds and insects thrived.
It was late at night, a time when the chirping of insects and calls of nocturnal birds should have been audible.
Now, however, the entire area felt as though all life had vanished. It was unnervingly quiet—a silence that carried a suffocating pressure.
The group couldn't shake the unnaturalness of the situation. Their grips tightened on their weapons as they scanned their surroundings more carefully.
When they reached the perimeter wall, Wang Ye motioned for the group to halt. Carefully, he peeked outside.
With his exceptional eyesight, he spotted several glints of light reflecting in the forest outside—likely the glint of scopes from binoculars or sniper rifles.
Someone was watching the mansion from the woods.
And judging by the setup, there were quite a few of them.
Wang Ye withdrew, his expression grim. Quietly, he informed the group, "There are about ten people hidden in the forest outside. They're likely Umbrella Corporation's special forces."
"But we're Umbrella's special forces!" Kaplan said, his tone hopeful. "Maybe they're here because they lost contact with us and came to rescue us!"
"No," Wang Ye replied firmly, shaking his head. "They've likely already written us off. These people are here to ensure none of us make it out alive.
"Otherwise, why station so many people in the woods watching this place? They're not exactly here for a barbecue."
Rain added bluntly, "Wang Ye's right. If they were here to rescue us, they'd have gone into the Hive by now. They're here to eliminate loose ends."
The group turned to Wang Ye, their unease palpable. Unspoken, they acknowledged his leadership, waiting for direction.
"The Red Queen's mainframe has already been removed, so what happened in the Hive can't be reported back. They don't know we've exited the Hive yet.
"But Rain is correct—if they were here to save us, they wouldn't be stationed in the woods. This is about silencing witnesses.
"That means we need to act preemptively. A surprise attack will disrupt their formation, giving us a chance to escape."
"I'll go ahead and create an opening. You all follow when the moment is right!"
The group exchanged uncertain glances. Wang Ye noticed their hesitation and chuckled lightly.
"Come on, I'm the guy who fought a Licker and walked away without a scratch! Trust me. Time isn't on our side!"
"But there are so many of them," Alice said, her voice tinged with worry. "And they're highly coordinated special forces!"
"Exactly! It's too dangerous," Kaplan added.
"I agree," Rain chimed in. "You're strong, but this seems reckless."
Despite their objections, Wang Ye remained resolute, flashing a confident grin.
"I'm the captain of Hydra's Special Assault Unit. I'm not your run-of-the-mill mercenary. Watch and learn, folks!"
Before anyone could argue further, Wang Ye retrieved two high-grade tear gas grenades from his belt and prepared to act.
"These are some of Howard's experimental weapons—effective over a wide range, long-lasting, and almost impossible to dissipate quickly."
He turned to the group. "Stay close behind me and focus on keeping yourselves safe. Leave the rest to me!"
With that, Wang Ye pulled the pins on the grenades and hurled them toward the forest where he had spotted movement.
Unlike smoke grenades, tear gas was far more effective against enemies using night vision equipment.
As soon as the grenades landed, Wang Ye raised his gun and fired several precise shots, taking out hidden snipers in the forest.
A dense cloud of tear gas spread, blanketing a large portion of the woods. Without hesitation, Wang Ye vaulted over the wall.
"Stay close! I've cleared the enemies in the forest!"
He deliberately slowed his pace to ensure the group could keep up, leading them cautiously into the woods while staying alert.
As they approached the tree line, they noticed a temporary white barricade erected near the mansion's main gate. Around it were four armored vehicles and dozens of black-clad Umbrella special forces. Some of them were moving toward the woods.
"You all find cover and stay hidden in the forest," Wang Ye ordered. "I'll take care of the rest."
Once the group was safely concealed, Wang Ye adjusted his cap, lit a cigar, and switched his assault rifle to grenade launcher mode.
From behind the trees, he observed the advancing soldiers. Retrieving two of Howard's experimental "Solar Flash" grenades—designed to mimic the intensity of sunlight—he waited for the perfect moment.
Sensing something amiss, the soldiers halted and crouched defensively.
That's when Wang Ye hurled the grenades.
A blinding light erupted, turning night into day. The intensity was enough to temporarily blind anyone, especially those using night vision.
Seizing the opportunity, Wang Ye moved like a phantom, swiftly and silently eliminating the disoriented soldiers one by one.
Why not use a gun? Because style matters!
As Wang Ye continued his assault, even his team, watching from the forest, was left in awe.
(Chapter ends)
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