The woman had been kidnapped for over a year and had long since grown numb and despondent under the relentless torment of her captors.
When she heard Brock's familiar American-accented English, she initially froze in disbelief. She stood there, unmoving, as if the kind and familiar face of the white man before her was something conjured from one of her dreams.
She couldn't believe any of this was real.
It wasn't until Brock uttered those life-changing words—*"We're here to rescue you."*—that she finally reacted. Her dead, lifeless eyes suddenly lit up with a spark of hope.
"Stacey. I'm Stacey Marshall. Please, you have to help me. You have to save me. If I stay here any longer, I'll die…"
Her voice trembled, a mix of terror, joy, and overwhelming emotion. She struggled desperately against her bonds, trying to get closer to Brock.
As a seasoned special forces operative, Brock recognized the signs immediately. The woman was on the verge of losing control due to the sudden surge of hope and relief.
Before untying her restraints and initiating the rescue, Brock knew he had to follow the second protocol—
**Assess the hostage's mental state.**
Hostages held captive for extended periods often experienced severe psychological trauma. Recklessly freeing them could result in serious consequences.
At best, an overstimulated hostage might panic, lashing out and damaging the gear of the rescuers.
At worst, they might lose all sense of situational awareness and make rash decisions, like bolting the moment they were freed. Such actions could lead them to wander into danger, ignoring rescue team instructions entirely.
In the end, such scenarios often resulted in mission failure or even casualties among the rescuers.
These weren't mere hypotheticals but hard-earned lessons, paid for with blood.
Assessing mental stability, much like confirming the hostage's identity, was a straightforward process.
It involved asking a series of interactive questions and instructing the hostage to perform calming exercises like deep breathing. Observing their ability to cooperate during this process provided vital insight.
If the hostage could remain relatively composed and cooperative, their mental state was likely stable.
After all, someone in a state of madness would be entirely self-absorbed, incapable of meaningful interaction, let alone cooperation.
Fortunately, Marshall fell into the stable category, though her extended captivity had left her weak.
She answered Brock's questions clearly, followed instructions with surprising composure, and gradually calmed down.
Eventually, the surge of excitement drained her energy, leaving her slumped like a lifeless rag doll.
As Brock began untying her ropes, he reported to Jason, who was searching the room for valuable intel:
"B1, hostage identity confirmed. Mental state is stable."
"Okay, untie her. Once the helicopter arrives, we'll take her straight to the rooftop," Jason replied, moving toward Brock to assist while also preparing to check in on the second team's progress.
Before Jason could press the communicator, Sonny's voice crackled through the earpiece.
"B1, this is B3. We've located a basement entrance, but there's an issue. Hellfire found it."
Hellfire was a trained bomb-sniffing dog. If it had located the basement entrance, it meant only one thing—there were explosives inside.
This was one of the greatest challenges in counterterrorism operations.
Bombs didn't discriminate. No matter how skilled or experienced a soldier was, one explosion could turn them all into nothing but shredded flesh.
Yet despite the danger, Team B had no choice but to proceed into the basement.
The discovery of explosives confirmed their suspicions: Samir, the mastermind responsible for hundreds of deaths, was likely hiding there.
Sonny, understanding the risks, had refrained from entering with his team, opting instead to inform Jason.
"B1 acknowledged. Team Two, hold your position. I'm on my way."
Jason made his decision without hesitation. He was determined to rescue the hostage and capture Samir, refusing to settle for just one objective.
After instructing Team Two to stand by, Jason received another communication through his earpiece:
"Calling B1, this is H1. Helicopter arriving at designated position in five minutes."
"B1 received. Progress is on track. Five minutes is sufficient," Jason responded before turning to Brock.
"B5, take Ms. Marshall to the rooftop. Once the helicopter arrives, ensure her immediate evacuation."
With that, Jason headed for the door, calling out to Long Zhan as he passed:
"You're on overwatch for B5. Ensure Ms. Marshall's safety."
"Understood!"
Long Zhan nodded, slinging his weapon and moving swiftly into the room.
Despite his outward compliance and efficient execution of orders, Long Zhan's mind was a whirlwind of frustration.
"Damn it! I'm on hostage detail, which means I can't get near Samir. Without access to Samir, how am I supposed to find out where he's hidden his treasure? That's at least tens of millions of dollars in wealth! Letting the CIA snatch it up would be unbearable."
Frustrated and unwilling to give up, Long Zhan helped Brock support Marshall while racking his brain for a solution.
Terrorist organizations were notorious for their rapid money-making schemes—kidnapping, drug trafficking, international funding, arms deals, war profiteering…
These were just a few of their revenue streams.
Samir, a brash leader with over 20 years of infamy and a penchant for hoarding gold, was undoubtedly sitting on an enormous fortune.
Even without much thought, it was obvious just how vast his wealth must be.
Though retrieving that treasure from the stronghold of a terrorist kingpin was a near-impossible task, the promise of untold riches—a single heist that could ensure a lifetime of luxury—was too tempting to resist.
It wasn't about enjoying a challenge. It was about one undeniable fact—
The allure of that fortune was just too damn strong.