Chapter 316 - 32: Superpower Team Leader, Lu Chao

’The Red Maple Bank card still has a million in it, untouched, but energy mineral essence isn’t that easy to buy on the open market.’

’I’ll have to complete more missions, accumulate contribution points, and exchange for it on the internal network...’

As he pondered, Lu Chao’s plan became increasingly clear.

And that was exactly why he was here.

BUZZ BUZZ!

Instantly, the micro-earpiece he was wearing vibrated lightly.

His expression didn’t change as he quickly heard voices coming through it.

"Reporting, Team Leader. Squad One has completed the encirclement!"

"This is Squad Five. I’m Gao Hu. Chief Lu, we have locked onto all the Rebel members. We can make our move."

"Field Teams One, Three, and Five are on standby in the district, ready to provide support at any moment!"

A series of voices came in one after another, some from familiar people like Gao Hu, others the calm reports from the new squad leaders’ subordinates.

A month had passed, and the Fifth Superpower Team had finally been assembled and officially established.

And today was the Fifth Team’s very first mission.

"Team Leader?"

"Move out."

Lu Chao said calmly, sitting on a public bench and glancing toward the opposite side of the square.

Several cars were parked downstairs, with members of the Fifth Superpower Team hidden inside on stakeout.

Inside that apartment building was a recently discovered Rebel hideout.

One Elite Level operative was hiding inside, along with seven or eight armed members carrying small firearms.

Just to be safe, and also because it was the Fifth Team’s first mission, he had come personally to oversee the operation.

"Keep it clean. Try not to involve any nearby residents."

Lu Chao issued the command.

"Yes, sir!"

The voices of Gao Hu and the others came through the earpiece, tinged with an eager excitement and energy.

A moment later, the sound of suppressed gunfire and a flurry of combat came over the comms.

The situation seemed to come under control quickly. Lu Chao remained seated, in no hurry to intervene.

Gao Hu’s group had three Elite Level operatives, and they also held the advantage in numbers.

Besides, he couldn’t be there to bail them out every time. This was clearly a good opportunity for the team to learn to work together and adapt.

He then focused on the comms traffic in his earpiece, staying vigilant in case any nearby Rebel members appeared to provide support.

He waited patiently.

"Hey."

Suddenly, one of the young thugs who had been standing by the public phone booth walked up to him and handed him a flyer. "Kid, you don’t look that old."

"So, how about it? Want to get ahead in life?"

"Oh?" Surprised, Lu Chao looked up at him.

The man had a copper-colored, ring-shaped tattoo on his neck. He looked to be around twenty, about the same age as Lu Chao himself, but he spoke with a condescending arrogance.

The other thugs from before stood beside him, along with the cybernetically enhanced young man they were gathered around.

"Let me make an introduction. This is our Brother Liang, the future Vice Hall Master of the Copper Pattern Gang."

"The Copper Pattern Gang is a big deal around here. We’ve got an Elite Level master in charge. The loan interest is never more than twenty percent, and all you need for collateral is a kidney. You can ask around about our reputation. As long as you’re willing to take a loan, Brother Liang here will have your back if any trouble comes your way. So, what do you say?"

The tattooed thug said with a grin, his tone a mix of intimidation and persuasion. He was clearly used to this spiel.

The young man known as Brother Liang stood with his hands in his pockets. The cybernetic patterns on his face flickered faintly, and combined with the thug’s words, it created a rather intimidating presence.

"No, thanks."

However, facing their stares, Lu Chao simply gave a dismissive wave.

The commotion in his earpiece was dying down. With three Elite Level operatives, including Gao Hu, making the bust, things were going very smoothly.

He was about to get up and leave.

"You sure you won’t reconsider?"

The young thug sounded displeased, and the man known as Brother Liang frowned.

The group caught up, moving to surround him again. "Kid, you’d better think this through."

"This is a chance to get in good with the Copper Pattern Gang. You can ask around about Brother Liang’s reputation. He’ll have your back, no doubt abou—"

VROOOM!!

Suddenly, an engine roared.

A black sedan on the side of the street suddenly accelerated, tearing past the edge of the square.

"Crap, it looks like they had a contact!"

"Stop that car! The contact is trying to cut across the square!"

The anxious voices of his subordinates came through the comms module, followed by the sound of gunfire as they tried to intercept the vehicle, causing a brief commotion in the area.

The black sedan accelerated, becoming a blur like an out-of-control beast.

It even used the chaos of the firefight to swerve sharply, heading straight for the square, apparently intending to use it as a shortcut to an alleyway.

Seeing this, Lu Chao stopped and sighed in resignation.

The young thugs trying to sell him a loan stared wide-eyed, frozen in terror. Even the cybernetically modified Brother Liang turned pale, feeling as if his newly implanted cybernetic legs were nailed to the ground, utterly refusing to move.

In the next instant, just as they thought they were about to be sent flying to their deaths...

BOOM!!

A deafening crash echoed as shards of metal flew everywhere.

The black sedan, hurtling toward them like a wild beast, screeched to a halt just three feet away!

The front of the car was caved in, the hood a twisted wreck. Its rear wheels and tail lifted off the ground, rising high into the air.

The young man in the gray hoodie stood like an immovable rock, having single-handedly stopped all the momentum.

Everyone nearby stared with wide eyes, while Brother Liang and his crew were simply dumbstruck with horror.

The next instant.

With a rending CRUNCH,

the young man threw a punch, sending the black car flying backward to shatter into pieces!