Chapter 121: Robbery

Six fifteen in the afternoon.

An abandoned warehouse ten miles outside Los Angeles. Two men stood guard at the massive iron doors, assault rifles in their hands, watching their surroundings warily.

An old Ford drove toward the entrance and stopped before the gate. A man climbed out. He was Asian. After cautiously looking around, he walked toward the entrance.

“Hey, buddy, stop right there. Don’t move.” One guard waved at Qiu Fengyu while the other raised his rifle and took aim. Any sudden movement, and he would be shot dead.

“Recognize this?” The Asian man handed over an identification plaque, then began cursing irritably. “I knew you wouldn’t believe me, so Mr. Kirilenko told me to bring this along. I’m here to see whoever’s in charge... What was his name again? That Giga Poski fellow.”

“He’s here to see Furball,” the guard who had spoken said to the man holding the rifle. “The plaque is genuine. Let him in.”

He nodded toward Qiu Fengyu. The armed guard slung his rifle over his shoulder and opened the gate.

“Take me to him. I don’t know any Furball. What a ridiculous nickname.” The Asian man continued grumbling impatiently. “Which one of you is taking me?”

“I am.”

The guard who had opened the gate nodded for him to follow. As they walked, he asked, “What’s your name?”

“Qiu Fengyu.” The Asian man grinned. “Damn it, I just joined the gang. Why did they give me a job like this? I didn’t want to come to this godforsaken place.”

“This is the Gate of Wealth. Once it opens, the sight of all that money will leave you dazzled. But none of it belongs to you. Your job is to watch the cash and make sure those damned illegal immigrants don’t steal it right under your nose. When they count the money, some of them get dishonest.”

“Then... how do you deal with the dishonest ones?”

“It’s simple, buddy. We usually butcher them in front of everyone, just like slaughtering chickens. After that, they work obediently. That’s all there is to it. We need at least fifteen women like them working here every day.”

As the guard spoke, the two of them arrived at the underground warehouse.

It was enormous. Towering stacks of banknotes had been arranged throughout the warehouse in neat, blocklike piles. Several thin, dark-skinned Asian women worked ceaselessly at counting machines, counting the money, bundling it, and tossing the bundles into carts. Others pushed the carts to one side of the warehouse, where the money was stacked.

“All of them came across illegally. People like this are easy to find...” The guard pointed toward the far end. “See that man over there? That’s Furball.”

He waved and shouted, “Hey, Furball! Someone’s here to see you. He was sent by Mr. Kirilenko, and we’ve verified him.”

A heavily built Russian man came toward them, accompanied by three others.

Qiu Fengyu glanced around, then shouted at the Russian, “Hey, Poski.”

“Who are you?” Giga Poski looked at the Asian man, then at the guard. Frowning, he said, “Why did you let him in? Have you forgotten what the boss said?”

“I know the boss and Mr. Kirilenko have a grudge against each other, but... you can’t expect us to choose sides because of them, can you? I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. I’ve brought the man here. What you do with him is your business. You support the boss, but I can’t afford to offend Mr. Kirilenko. Otherwise, he’ll kill me too.”

“Get back to your post. You’re no longer needed here.” Giga Poski cursed irritably at the guard. Then he turned to Qiu Fengyu. “You’re Asian? Why would he send an Asian?”

Qiu Fengyu shrugged and asked, “Are all your guards here?”

“What did you say?” Giga Poski frowned at him in annoyance. “What exactly are you trying to do? What did that bastard Kirilenko send you here for? If you don’t explain yourself, I’ll leave a mark on you.”

“I asked whether all the guards are here. Including the two at the entrance, there seem to be only... five, six... eleven in all.” Qiu Fengyu looked at Poski. “All right. Have you memorized their positions?”

“Who the hell are you talking to?” Giga Poski roared. He took a step toward Qiu Fengyu, reaching out to grab him.

“My people. This place has been requisitioned. Sorry, buddy.”

Qiu Fengyu suddenly moved.

“Go! Move, everyone. We don’t have much time.”

Giga Poski reacted quickly. The instant Qiu Fengyu moved, he moved as well, but he was half a beat too slow. Qiu Fengyu’s gun was already aimed at his head.

Everyone froze.

In that stunned instant, Qiu Fengyu pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The bullet pierced Giga Poski’s head. His three bodyguards and the gunmen positioned throughout the warehouse immediately opened fire on Qiu Fengyu.

Qiu Fengyu twisted aside, dodging a volley of bullets, then found cover. With a wave of his hand, he fired twice and hit two of the bodyguards.

“Move! Move, damn it! Hurry!”

A storm of bullets pinned him down, leaving him unable to move.

“It’s started, boss!”

The lazy voice belonged to Tim.

Qiu Fengyu had brought hidden cameras with him, and Davis was watching the entire operation live from nearby. Every position had been laid bare.

Another car came racing toward the warehouse entrance.

The two guards had heard the gunfire and were hesitating over whether to return to the underground warehouse when the vehicle came roaring toward them.

“Stop! Stop, or we’ll shoot!”

The guards watched the oncoming car nervously.

But the vehicle showed no sign of slowing. Just as they were about to open fire, one guard suddenly jerked backward and collapsed. The other froze. Before he could react, something slammed into his chest, sending him sprawling backward.

At that moment, the car smashed through the gate with a resounding crash. A woman carrying an assault rifle leapt out and fired upward, hitting a guard who had rushed down from the roof.

“Get inside and rescue the boss!” Davis shouted. “I’m sure he’s trapped. Hurry, Miss Ryoko Mikura. He’s on the left. Remember, directly above your six o’clock position. There’s a bastard with an AK-47 trying to shoot our boss in the head. At nine o’clock, straight ahead, there’s a man with a shotgun...”

Davis continued directing Ryoko over the radio.

“I estimate the boss can handle the two bastards at twelve o’clock. They’re carrying AK-47s. Are you ready?”

“I’m going to kick your ass, Davis!” Ryoko Mikura cursed.

Then she charged inside with her assault rifle.

She fired once at the guard directly above Qiu Fengyu’s six o’clock position. Bang! The man posing the greatest threat to Qiu Fengyu was hit and fell. A second shot struck the gunman at nine o’clock.

While she rushed in, the others were distracted for an instant. Qiu Fengyu suddenly rose, aimed at the two men directly ahead at twelve o’clock, and fired several rounds, hitting both of them before quickly ducking back behind cover.

Ryoko reached his position. The two of them crouched back-to-back as chaos erupted throughout the warehouse. The female workers screamed and fled in every direction, rushing toward the exits.

At that moment, another group of men stormed in from outside the warehouse.

“Boss, six more are coming in from outside. Watch yourselves. I’ll handle the ones out here.”

It was Tim’s voice. A moment later, the sound of muffled gunfire came through the earpiece.

“One... two...” Tim counted softly.

The reinforcements outside were stunned by the successive sniper shots. They scrambled for cover and did not dare rush inside to help. The women fleeing the warehouse were terrified as well, crouching on the ground and afraid to move.

“Boss, turn around and switch positions with Miss Mikura. Forty-five degrees above six o’clock. Miss Mikura, three o’clock...”

Davis continued reporting their positions.

Qiu Fengyu and Ryoko fired simultaneously, and three more men were knocked down.

“There are two left. I can’t see them clearly. All right... you’re taking cover in the wrong place. I can’t help you unless you shift a little.”

“No need, Davis. I know where they are.”

Qiu Fengyu smiled and glanced toward the wooden board ahead of them. He nodded at Ryoko.

The two of them raised their weapons and fired. The board was instantly riddled with holes, and two men collapsed limply from behind it.

No one was left inside.

Qiu Fengyu and Ryoko charged out of the warehouse, catching the remaining guards between themselves and Tim. One after another, the last three men were hit and fell beneath the crossfire.

“Drive the car inside! Hurry! We don’t have much time!”

Qiu Fengyu shouted through the earpiece.

Davis and Tim drove the vehicle rapidly toward them, entering the underground warehouse without difficulty. Ryoko remained outside, watching the female workers.

“Listen carefully. Don’t think you’re simply going to walk away from here.”

The women trembled, staring at the young woman before them, fully armed and carrying terrifying weapons. Some did not even dare look at her, lowering their heads as they shook.

About ten minutes later, the car burst out of the underground warehouse. Qiu Fengyu, Tim, and Davis climbed out, carrying stacks of banknotes and forcibly pressing them into the women’s hands.

Qiu Fengyu then drew his pistol and fired several shots into the air.

“Leave now! Hurry! Don’t look back. If you turn around, you’ll die!”

As he spoke, he grabbed one of the women by the collar and pushed her toward the exit.

The woman might not have understood his words, but she understood his gestures. She screamed and fled in panic. Seeing her example, the others scattered as well, running in every direction. Within minutes, they had vanished into the darkness.

“Get in the car. We’re rich!” Davis said with a broad grin at Ryoko.

The car sped away, leaving a cloud of dust behind.

About half an hour later, police cars arrived with their sirens wailing. A large number of officers surrounded the abandoned warehouse, while their flashing lights pierced the darkening sky with a harsh brilliance.

To be continued.