"Don't move!" Jhon yelled in English, "I'm not the enemy. I'm here to find Jennifer Aniston!"
The injured and medical staff inside the hospital immediately stirred when they saw Jhon, fully armed. But just then, a clear, slightly hoarse voice rang out.
"Don't move! Everyone, stay calm! I'm Jennifer Aniston. Who are you, and why are you looking for me?"
Jhon, upon hearing her voice, relaxed slightly and let go of the two soldiers he had subdued.
"I was sent by your father, Fred Aniston, to protect you and get you out of here. We're going to the U.S. Embassy in Carnisa."
Jennifer immediately felt a sense of relief upon hearing this. She quickly explained the situation to the two soldiers in the local language and signaled for Jhon to release them.
However, both soldiers remained wary, their eyes betraying a hint of fear, which Jhon noticed.
With a slight smile, Jhon approached Jennifer.
"You must be Miss Aniston. Please, let's leave now. If we wait any longer, we might not be able to escape."
"But it's still safe here. Are you sure we should leave in the middle of this intense firefight? What if we encounter armed groups on the way?" Jennifer asked, scanning him with a sharp gaze.
Jhon observed her, surprised that she could maintain such a clear mind under pressure. She was not only a medical professional but also appeared to be a skilled strategist.
"Safe here? I don't think so." Jhon replied, sensing her doubts. "I've already surveyed the area. The government forces outside are down to fewer than 100 men. The armed groups have at least 500, plus heavy artillery. I'd say they'll reach your doors within half an hour."
"Then can we wait for reinforcements?" Jennifer asked, her face hardening with concern.
"Reinforcements?" Jhon scoffed. "You're asking about reinforcements? Which ones, exactly? U.S. special forces? The local government army? It's been a day and a night since the fighting started. If reinforcements were coming, they'd have arrived by now."
Jennifer felt the weight of his words. Her fears were confirmed. The U.S. military would never send reinforcements here without proper authorization, and the local government forces, who had already requested help, had not received any.
With a sinking feeling, Jennifer lifted her gaze to Jhon, towering a half-head taller than her. "Alright, we'll go with you. But how many people are you bringing? Can you guarantee the safety of all twenty-five medical staff members here?"
Jhon looked incredulously at her. "Are you joking?" he asked, incredulous. "My mission is to rescue you, and only you. Your father didn't pay for anyone else. As for numbers, sorry, this is a low-level rescue mission, so it's just me."
"What? So, you're not concerned about our safety?" A young white doctor nearby yelled, his voice filled with disbelief.
Jhon locked eyes with the young doctor, his expression cold.
"Why should I care about your safety?"
"Shit! You—" The doctor began, but seeing the chilling look in Jhon's eyes, he swallowed the rest of his insult. However, his words still sparked anger in Jhon.
Without warning, Jhon pressed the barrel of his gun against the doctor's chin, and with an icy tone, he said, "Is that so? Then I look forward to seeing how the U.S. government punishes me."
"Stop! Stop!" another voice cried out. "Please, gentlemen, don't misunderstand. Ross didn't mean any offense. Can you put the gun down?"
Jhon gave Ross a scornful look, then withdrew his gun. Ross, trembling, collapsed onto the ground, and two other medical staff helped him to the side.
"Thank you, sir. Please, don't let your anger get the best of you. I apologize for Ross," one of the nurses said to Jhon.
Jhon smiled slightly. "No need. Miss Aniston, you're my client, and my mission is to ensure your safety. So, what's your decision?"
Jennifer paused, then spoke firmly, "I won't leave without everyone else. If we're evacuating, all of us must go. That's my condition. If you can't agree to that, then I'll tell my father you failed the mission."
Jhon frowned. He couldn't afford to fail this mission. Just as he was about to respond, his assistant's voice came through his earpiece.
"The mission target has voluntarily proposed to cancel the mission. Host, you can choose to continue or abandon it. If you abandon the mission, there will be no rewards, but also no penalties."
The words caused Jhon to pause. After a brief moment of consideration, he decided to continue. If he wanted to survive and grow stronger, he had to complete these tasks, no matter how difficult.
After weighing his options, Jhon spoke decisively. "I can agree to you leaving with us, but you'll need to bring any combat-ready government forces to escort us. With so many people and such a large target, it's suicide to go without protection."
"Agreed," Jennifer replied with a look of relief. "I'll go talk to their commander now. Please wait."
"Alright, but hurry. We don't have much time. By the way, my name is Jhon. You can call me Jhon."
"Okay, Jhon. I'm Jennifer. Call me Jennifer." She smiled at him before turning and quickly heading out with the two soldiers to find their commander.
Jhon glanced around the room. The medical team had begun gathering their things, and the injured looked around in confusion, unsure of what would happen next.