SniperKing

Chapter 5: The "Angel" Descends

"I demand you dispatch forces immediately to assault the Mainland Army's base and tear Liu Tao limb from limb!" Taiwan's President Chen Bian bellowed at a blonde girl.

"Mr. President, have you forgotten to whom you are speaking?" The girl remained unperturbed, still seated in the executive chair, paring an apple in her hand.

A flicker of trepidation crossed Chen Bian's eyes. He abruptly changed his tone, stating, "Commander Anne, Your Excellency, please forgive my momentary impertinence. It's just that Liu Tao's forces brutally massacred my soldiers, making it difficult for me to restrain myself."

The girl named Anne sighed faintly in her heart, "Truly worthy of being President; the alacrity with which he changes expressions is quite extraordinary."

"I am aware that Liu Tao's troops assaulted one of your military camps tonight, but surely the loss of scarcely more than eight hundred personnel is insufficient to significantly affect the supposedly talent-rich Taiwanese military?" Anne retorted sarcastically.

"Your Excellency is unaware! Subsequently, I dispatched my beloved son with a two-hundred-individual investigation team. Who would have thought those devious Mainland troops not only slaughtered over eight hundred of my officers and men but also planted high-yield explosives? My unfortunate son… thus…" As he spoke, tears welled in Chen Bian's eyes.

"I see. As you would say, I hope Mr. President accepts my condolences; the dead cannot be resurrected…" Anne was not deceived by this cunning old fox's tears. "Your Excellency! Liu Tao's attack on our forces wasn't merely to strike at us; it was also a provocation against the United States for their recent attacks on his transport units. Even if I could tolerate this affront, what becomes of American prestige?" Chen Bian passionately championed the cause, almost as if he himself were an American citizen.

"Mr. President, you are overly concerned. We will safeguard America's prestige ourselves; there's no need for your concern. If there is nothing else, Mr. President, perhaps you should return soon. This underground base is quite frigid; lingering too long might adversely affect your health." Anne finally finished paring the apple and began to admire it meticulously, her gaze akin to one appreciating an objet d'art. Yet, how could she know that in everyone else's eyes, she herself was an enthralling treasure at that moment?

Even Chen Bian, a veteran of romance for decades, found himself utterly captivated by a single expression from this young woman barely twenty years of age.

But a president is a president. Chen Bian instantly suppressed his lecherous thoughts. Seeing that gentle persuasion proved futile, he cast aside pretenses. His hands slammed down onto the expansive desk with a resounding thump, "Little girl, perhaps you are unaware whose soil you stand upon? America is formidable, yes, but even a cornered rabbit will bite! Worst comes to worst, I eliminate you now, claim the Mainland Army did it, and America will be powerless against me!"

Anne ceased her admiration of the apple, her gaze shifting to Chen Bian.

Chen Bian's hands began to tremble, cold sweat tracing paths down his cheeks and dripping onto the tabletop. Genuine fear gripped him; he felt as pathetic as a lamb eyed by a lion. He wanted to say something to alleviate the tension, but the opportunity never arose. Anne suddenly vaulted from her seat, instantaneously pinning Chen Bian to the ground, silencing his deceitful mouth with the apple in her left hand.

"Who do you think you are? Don't forget your station; you are merely a 'dog' of our nation. I don't need a dog instructing me on how to proceed. I will deal with Liu Tao; you need not concern yourself so much, understand?" A gentle smile graced Anne's lips, but to Chen Bian on the floor, she was a terrifying sorceress.

"Now, go back, take a bath, watch some television, perhaps? If you dare make any unauthorized moves…" Anne continued smiling at Chen Bian, but the knife in her right hand plunged through the apple in his mouth with a soft thud. Chen Bian shuddered violently, realizing he wasn't injured – the blade's tip had merely stopped precisely at his throat. Had it gone an inch deeper…

"Alright, you may leave. Remember my words." Anne rose and returned to her seat, producing a new knife and apple, and began paring once more.

It took a full ten minutes before Chen Bian slowly, painstakingly, rose from the floor. Without a word, he walked crestfallen out of the office.

"My Lady, the assault report from the third military camp has arrived." After Chen Bian's departure, an icy voice emanated from a dark corner of the office.

"Read it." Anne halted her actions, reclining in her chair with eyes closed.

"Results from the 'Angel's' investigation at the third camp indicate: a single assailant, utilizing 7.62mm caliber sniper equipment, a small-caliber handgun, and a vibratory combat dagger. Numerous extremely distorted projectiles were found on the ground, suggesting the enemy possesses 'Titan' metal protective gear based on preliminary assessment. However, some projectiles exhibit peculiar distortions, as if intercepted directly by muscle tissue. Consequently, it's deduced that while the enemy has 'Titan' metal gear, it isn't the full-body coverage type like 'God's Punishment'. The sniper rounds used were high-velocity armor-piercing, matching those from the same weapon used to eliminate the 'Eyes' during Liu Tao's outing on the eleventh. The likely perpetrator is one of the four individuals Liu Tao met that day. My Lady, Intelligence Division's conclusion is…"

"Special Operations Team 7!" The reclining Anne snapped her eyes open, her sharp gaze fixing on the source of the voice.

"Affirmative, My Lady. Confirmed to be China's covertly developed 'ultimate trump card'—Special Operations Team 7."

"It appears China has also recognized the gravity of this war," Anne smirked knowingly.

"My Lady, your orders, please!" the icy voice requested, tinged with barely suppressed excitement.

"'Satan', inform your teammates. The 'God's Punishment' team is on standby. In three days, that is, the eighteenth, prepare to demonstrate to China who reigns as the king of individual combat! Hahaha…"

"Yes, My Lady!"

February 17, 2011, Kaohsiung Forward Operations Command conference room…

"Commander Liu, give the order!" Secretary Chen paced anxiously before Liu Tao, urging, "The seven-day leave has concluded! If you don't order the troops to advance on Taiwan soon, I fear morale will crumble!"

"Indeed, Commander! My subordinates constantly ask when we'll reach Taiwan City. I'm blushing, unsure how to respond!" chimed in Li Dezhong, Commander of the 4th Air Force Division.

"Silence!" Liu Tao slammed the table forcefully and rose. Even Secretary Chen, perpetually by his side, had never witnessed such fury. Utter silence descended upon the conference room.

Liu Tao took a deep breath, reseated himself, and addressed his secretary, "Secretary Chen, find me the personnel from Special Operations Team 7!"

"Commander, since you met with them three days ago, they seem to have vanished from the base. I presumed you had dispatched them on some clandestine mission." Secretary Chen still harbored some apprehension from Liu Tao's earlier outburst.

"Impossible! Have they truly remained in ambush for three days?" Liu Tao murmured in astonishment.

"Commander Liu, could you please provide instructions on the current course of action?" Li Dezhong inquired cautiously.

"Sigh…" Liu Tao heaved a long sigh, stating, "Proceed with the original plan: initiate saturation attacks on the surrounding areas, minimizing structural damage, and drive the Taiwanese forces northward. That is all. Execute your orders."

"Affirmative!" Everyone stood, rendered Liu Tao a standard military salute, and then exited swiftly.

"Now… I cannot assist you." Mumbling to himself, cold sweat abruptly beaded on Liu Tao's forehead. "He wouldn't possibly use SEED here, would he?!"

It was already the third day. The members of "God's Punishment" had yet to arrive. But 13 hadn't moved an inch from his ambush position. No water, no food. Although his longest record for fasting was seven days, his stomach still felt somewhat empty. Fortunately, each morning, dew condensed heavily on the cold frame of his COOL-FIRE rifle, temporarily resolving the water issue. The situations for 1 and the others were identical.

Today marked the end of the collective leave; personnel and equipment stirred throughout the base. Liu Tao should be initiating action. 13 hoped he hadn't been forgotten—though, even if he had, it didn't matter; he was accustomed to it. He closed his eyes lightly to doze. The night, the period most vulnerable to attack, had passed. The base now thronged with personnel, presumably offering relative safety. 13 seized the opportunity to rest; after all, he hadn't closed his eyes for three consecutive days. Once the main force departed, the base would become exceptionally vulnerable—the optimal time for an enemy strike. 13 knew they would come; his body trembled slightly—his animalistic instinct was acutely accurate, having saved him countless times on the battlefield.

At twelve noon, the base quieted again after the troop departure. 13 awoke. The faint vibrations emanating from the ground could numb the physical senses, compelling him to rely on visual confirmation of his surroundings. The frequency suggested impacts from mortar fire, not too distant. It seemed Liu Tao had decided on saturation attacks, intending to herd the enemy together for annihilation. Had the naive old Uncle matured? He genuinely wished he could return to that time, when Uncle was like a radiant sun, inspiring unconditional reliance in those around him. Even he had felt that pull, foolishly taking a bullet for him, though 13 knew intrinsically that his own value far exceeded the other's.

Suddenly, the pattern of ground vibrations shifted! Tanks? Unlikely. More akin to the frequency of human footfalls, but—no! Too heavy, and too fast! Have they arrived? Finally, the confrontation with "God's Punishment". Special Operations Team 7 and "God's Punishment" – like opposing poles of the world. Since childhood, their instructor had drilled into them: "You must forge your bodies into steel! You must temper your consciousness into steel! Your hearts, too, must become steel! Because your enemies are naught but constructs of steel!"

13 wiped the lingering dew from his COOL-FIRE's frame. Through the holographic helmet directly linked to his scope, his gaze locked onto the distance as he muttered under his breath, "Three more minutes."

(Simultaneously, other team members' perceptions)

"They're here! Coming from 13's direction. Only one unit? Cannot leave position; other 'protagonists' have yet to appear. 13, you're on your own," 1 thought silently.

"Finally! The wait was interminable. Ambush duty truly seems best left to 13 and 1. It's 13's direction? Lucky brat. Though with him there, the fun's likely over," 36 pursed his lips.

"13's direction? If it's him, he should be alright," 24 mused.

Base East Gate…

"What is that? Such a massive dust cloud, visibility is zero!" yelled the gate guard nervously.

"Halt! Advance further and we fire!" The other soldier, even more terrified, raised his trembling rifle.

However, the target showed no sign of stopping. Only the distinctive pre-spin whine of a Gatling gun filled the air. Half a second later, the heavy metal gate and the two unfortunate soldiers disintegrated under the dense barrage, like smashed "persimmons".

"Cannot fire yet…" 13's mind was utterly calm. He waited, anticipating a fleeting opportunity. 13 understood he was a sniper, not a savior. The mission parameters included no rescue directive; his sole purpose was to hunt the target with precision!

Amidst the swirling dust, a colossal silhouette halted before the gate's wreckage. Gradually, a single combat unit, encased head-to-toe in heavy protective armor, was revealed.

The deep crimson Titan metal reflected a cold sheen.

"Confirm enemy armament: Handheld six-barreled Gatling gun, modified barrel exceeding two meters; unidentified weapon mounted on the back, presumed large-caliber shotgun based on appearance; close-quarters combat blades at the waist. Basic combat capability… indeterminate." 13 sighed with a hint of dark amusement. "It seems, this time, I might genuinely perish here."

"The 'Angel' has 'descended' upon the base. Commence 'God's Punishment' mission execution?" the mech inquired in its synthesized electronic voice, awaiting orders motionless before the gate.

"Begin. You have only half an hour; that's the fastest reinforcement arrival time for Liu Tao's outer forces. I expect no damage to the mech. Eliminate all hostile targets you identify. I want that place turned into hell!" Anne issued the command via communicator, her tone utterly placid.

"'Angel' acknowledges!" The mech's heavy footfalls resumed, striding deeper into the base.