Chapter 154: Head-On Confrontation!

When Jiang Yan saw clearly what was inside the skull-marked box, her heart skipped a beat.

It was a top-tier encrypted vest made with mini-explosives—each ""bomb"" only about 4-5 centimeters long and 1-2 centimeters wide.

Just one of them packed a serious punch.

Once someone put it on, they could never take it off for the rest of their life.

Back when Jiang Yan went to America to buy arms, the seller had recommended this thing to her.

But she hadn’t bought it—it was just too cruel.

It was like the ancient practice of raising death warriors. Usually, only certain private armies or mercenary groups would use this on operatives who needed to be kept absolutely secret.

“One for each of you—everyone gets one! Young Master Xue said, as long as you all complete the tasks assigned earlier and don’t leak a single word, your reward will be a lifetime’s free residency at the Blazing Flame Base!

This right of residence includes your families. But if, by any chance, someone slips up and leaks information, well, I don’t need to spell out what happens next!

Your families will be well taken care of by the base. And your compensation—rest assured, the base will give every cent to your loved ones!” Zhao Nianzu swept his gaze over the group, his tone passionate and stirring.

The crowd’s faces were a mix of excitement and worry.

The young man had already taken the vests out of the box and placed one in front of each person.

Zhao Nianzu’s words sounded calm on the surface, but the threat behind them was crystal clear.

Ma Longbiao and a few others were ruthless killers outside.

But most of the people here, while cruel to others, cared deeply for their own families.

Not to mention, their families were already in Xue Miaomiao’s hands.

The methods of their enemies were more terrifying than any living devil—they wouldn’t dare defy them.

“Don’t worry, these vests are waterproof, sweatproof, heat-resistant, and extremely impact-resistant. No matter how much you move around in daily life, it won’t affect you. But if you’re ever captured or caught by the authorities, well, you know what to do!” Zhao Nianzu grinned meaningfully as he mentioned “vigorous activity.”

“Yes, boss.” Hearing the innuendo in Zhao Nianzu’s words, no one could bring themselves to smile.

After a collective deep breath, several men quickly stripped off their jackets and slipped the vests over their bare torsos.

Not a single person begged for mercy, nor did anyone dare to.

Their relationship with Zhao Nianzu wasn’t so much superior and subordinate, but more like partners in crime.

After all, in this post-apocalyptic world, they knew that sticking closely to the Blazing Flame Base and clinging to Young Master Xue was their only way to survive.

As for the rest, these were men who lived on the edge, with hundreds of lives on their hands, controlling thousands more. They were already used to doing as they pleased.

Who could possibly catch them?

Sorry, that person hasn’t been born yet.

Seeing his subordinates’ obedience, Zhao Nianzu couldn’t help but feel a surge of satisfaction.

Watching the farce unfold in the room, Jiang Yan felt a growing sense of unease.

Sun Jingtao and the others had no idea that there were now so many walking bombs in the building.

No, she had to act quickly.

“All right, it’s getting late. Everyone, you’re dismissed.” Zhao Nianzu said, swinging his legs down from the conference table and standing up.

Just as Jiang Yan thought he was about to leave the conference room, she saw his right hand dart out with lightning speed, snatching the submachine gun from the young man beside him.

The whole process was smooth as flowing water. Jiang Yan was stunned, and the others were completely baffled.

“Boss…” The young man whose gun had been taken trembled, his face a mix of shame and fear, completely lost.

Before Jiang Yan or Hua Bao could react, Zhao Nianzu raised the submachine gun and unleashed a wild burst of fire at the area where Jiang Yan was hiding.

Dust flew everywhere, and chunks of plaster ceiling crashed to the floor.

Clang!

A broken stainless steel ventilation duct crashed down, shattering two marble tiles.

Bang!

As the duct fell, Jiang Yan leapt out with catlike agility.

She reached out, hooked her hands onto a crossbeam above, and with a light push off the falling duct, landed gracefully on the conference table.

With another nimble step and a quick spin, she landed solidly on the ground—fully armed, but covered in dust.

After crawling through the ducts for so long, her clothes and hair were streaked with gray, as if she’d just crawled out of a dust nest.

But none of it could hide her sharp, commanding presence.

Hua Bao had already leapt in front of Jiang Yan, jaws wide open, instantly shielding her.

Being transparent, Hua Bao didn’t block Jiang Yan’s view at all.

Hua Bao, her weapon, and her bulletproof vest—these were Jiang Yan’s confidence to face everyone head-on.

For a moment, she’d considered slipping into her space, but ultimately decided against it.

If all their firepower was focused on her, she’d be doomed.

Sure, she could hide in her space forever, but she preferred to fight head-on.

She wouldn’t be satisfied until these murderous scum were wiped out.

Besides, when they fired, they’d aimed around her, clearly intending to capture her alive.

Still, she was puzzled—how had they pinpointed her so accurately?

She’d made sure to wipe off every trace of moisture from her body.

As she pondered this, Jiang Yan switched on her electromagnetic interference filter.

At the same time, she pulled a CZ805 Bren assault rifle with a 100-round magazine from her space.

All of this happened in a flash.

“What the—?!”

Ma Longbiao and the others were first shocked by Zhao Nianzu’s sudden gun-grab and wild shooting, then completely stunned by Jiang Yan’s sudden, dramatic appearance.

Her agility, full combat gear, and the powerful weapon in her hands were far beyond anything they’d expected.

Two of them even wondered if they were dreaming.

No matter what they were thinking, their instincts kicked in—their weapons all swung toward Jiang Yan in a split second.

The tension in the room was palpable—a hair-trigger standoff.

“Boss! What’s going on?” Several guards outside rushed to the door, submachine guns at the ready, panic in their voices.

Seeing Jiang Yan suddenly appear and the gaping hole in the ceiling, their pupils shrank and a chill ran down their spines.

Especially the two young men who’d been chatting outside—they exchanged glances, realization dawning.

So there really was someone hiding in the ceiling, not just a rat!"