Chapter 58: The Police Arrive

Even though all the lights were out and Ao Xi couldn’t see anyone, he could still make out the Sin Marks. The Sin Marks above Little Black and the others’ heads were even more visible at night, glowing like tiny lanterns. They stood on the stage, caught in a dilemma, but Ao Xi had no intention of stopping. He aimed just below the little red lanterns and fired, not caring about the outcome. After three or four shots, he switched targets. Once the magazine was empty, he immediately replaced it with a spare and continued firing rapidly until it was empty again.

[Host has killed three people. Current progress: 8/10.]

Only three—still too few. But it was time to leave. Ao Xi loaded another spare magazine, grabbed Zhuo Ning, and headed out. As they neared the warehouse door, he raised his gun and fired outside.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Wails and cries erupted beyond the warehouse.

When this group had run out, curiosity once again got the better of them. Even the few Little Blacks who’d been guarding the place stopped outside, eager to see how things would end.

Ao Xi was just about to slip away unnoticed. But how could he let them stand there gawking? He gave them a burst from his gun, encouraging them to scatter.

He was careful to aim mainly at the car headlights and the red marks, not wanting to accidentally shoot any white or gray marks and lose his reward. If someone unlucky got in the way, it was their own fault.

After this magazine was emptied, much of the outdoor lighting was gone and many people had fled. Ao Xi holstered his pistol, pulled Zhuo Ning along, and quickly slipped out of the warehouse without being seen.

[Host has killed two more. Current progress: 10/10. Reward obtained: 1. Gunpowder Residue Removal Spray, 5 uses per person; 2. Host may make one personal request.

Gunpowder Residue Removal Spray: Gunpowder residue occurs when a bullet is fired and the propellant in the cartridge is expelled along with the bullet. If not removed, these residues linger on the body. During police inspections, residue tests easily detect this using chemical papers that react with the residues and change color. In reality, there are various ways to remove or avoid gunpowder residue, but the system’s spray is quick and simple—a single spritz perfectly removes all traces, making it an essential tool for those who commit murder and robbery with firearms.]

Someone really was unlucky enough to get killed—such is fate.

Ao Xi chose to extract the spray first, reaching into his pocket and pulling it out. He sprayed it once between himself and Zhuo Ning, trusting the system’s claim that one spray would remove all traces of gunpowder residue. It seemed a bit too convenient, but he decided to trust in the system's quality.

The system promptly reminded him: to completely remove the residue, one full spray per person was necessary—no shortcuts.

Not getting a free ride, Ao Xi wasn’t disappointed and simply tossed the spray into his storage space.

“Ao Xi…” Zhuo Ning started.

He gently covered her mouth. “We’ll talk in the car.”

Hand in hand, they weaved through the crowd and quickly found their car. They had just gotten in when a long string of police cars screamed onto the scene, sirens blaring, quickly blocking off all the surrounding roads. Police officers jumped out, taking cover behind their vehicles and shouting loudly.

“Don’t move! Stay where you are! Hands on your head, squat down!”

“If you’re in a car, stay inside! Wait for the officers to come to you!”

The scene became even more chaotic. Those with clean records obediently squatted down—they hadn’t fired any shots, so at most they’d be taken in for questioning and released soon after.

Those with criminal records began to panic. If they got taken in, a background check would land them straight in jail.

One Little Black looked around nervously, gritted his teeth, and bolted into the shadows—within moments, he’d vanished completely, his racial advantage unbeatable.

Nearby, two Mexicans tried to follow suit, but halfway across the lot, police officers, realizing what was happening, switched on the high-powered spotlights on their A-pillars, catching them in the act.

“Warning! Do not run. Hands on your head, squat in place, and wait for identity checks!”

They should have checked their skin color—did they think the police were blind?

In the meantime, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau’s Special Weapons Team (SWT) arrived. Despite being called a “team,” their numbers were substantial. They filed out of armored vehicles, dressed like U.S. military special forces: night vision goggles, bulletproof vests, tactical gear, and all manner of long guns.

They disembarked and formed a combat formation, ballistic shields at the front, others following in a forward assault.

When the crowd saw the SEB had arrived, they quickly squatted down and waited for inspection. The SEB’s authority was different from regular police. Their presence meant something serious had occurred.

In theory, any suspicious movement during an operation could get a suspect shot by ordinary police, but that would be subject to strict review. If the media or advocacy groups spotted a flaw, it could spark another wave of protests.

But if you got shot by the SEB’s tactical team—well, tough luck. You should have been more careful.

Regular officers entered next, pairing up to handcuff everyone they encountered and moving them to the side. When they ran out of handcuffs, they used thick plastic zip ties.

Under the SEB’s intimidating presence, no one dared disobey. One by one, everyone was cuffed and led away.

At first the process was slow, since there weren’t enough police, but as more reinforcements arrived, things sped up. Occasionally, a Little Black would try to escape, only to be knocked to the ground with a rifle butt, staying down for a long while.

There were simply too many people. If the Little Black had been armed, shooting him might have passed, but unarmed, it wouldn’t get through internal review.

By the time about half the crowd was restrained, a loud roar sounded overhead—two helicopters arrived. Their searchlights blazed down, turning the already-bright lot into broad daylight.

The helicopters circled the warehouse, acting as aerial surveillance. The LA County Sheriff’s Department used two types of helicopters: the AS350B2 “AStar” and the Super Puma, both heavily modified for police work.

The police AStar featured upgraded communication systems, forward-looking infrared cameras, multi-band digital radios, Garmin GPS, mapping systems, Spectrolab searchlights, LoJack tracking for stolen vehicles, and night vision capabilities for nighttime flight.

Command models were also equipped with satellite data transmission systems, allowing real-time video, audio, and data feeds to airports and ground tactical commanders to support decision-making.

The Super Puma came with advanced avionics, Honeywell’s Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), cable strike protection, advanced mapping, and was integrated with onboard cameras and infrared sensors.

Onboard were Axsys V9 thermal imaging and camera systems—fully digital, lightweight, four-axis, gyroscopically stabilized, using both optical and infrared sensors for aerial surveillance.

The ISAT-200 satellite tracking system provided dispatchers with continuous flight and mission updates; Aero Dynamix’s night vision system and cockpit modifications enabled low-light and night vision goggle operations.

Once the helicopters arrived, they circled above, all cameras recording the scene and scanning remote areas for hidden individuals. If any were spotted, a patrol car would immediately rush over to investigate.