Chapter 124: Resolution Achieved

The very moment the gang leader met his end, the police who had been stationed outside the mall sprang into action.

The survivors, still reeling from their traumatic experience, wept uncontrollably in the mall’s lobby. Meanwhile, special forces, weapons ready, stormed the building.

Li Zhengdao was among the first to step inside. The sight of the unharmed hostages lifted an immense weight from his chest. By his side, fellow officers, who had previously harbored doubts about Lin Xiao’s capabilities, were left speechless, their faces etched with shock.

Lin Xiao had made good on every promise, without faltering.

While most hostages had been saved, two unfortunate souls had been killed by the robbers right at the beginning. Yet no more casualties were reported. The outcome was far better than the police’s initial predictions, and this miraculous turn of events painted smiles of relief on everyone present.

Even Li Zhengdao, usually so reserved, couldn’t help but flash a rare smile. Such a significant resolution to a high-profile hostage crisis would not only absolve him from any potential blame but also elevate his standing. This success could become the most luminous badge in his political career.

With such a remarkable feat to his name, Li Zhengdao felt more confident about scaling even greater heights.

And behind this monumental success was Lin Xiao. Li Zhengdao was very clear about the true hero of the hour.

“To think we could rescue the hostages from those criminals, all credit goes to Mr. Lin. I initially believed he was merely boasting. Little did I know, he’d actually pull it off.”

“Indeed. The proof is right before our eyes. Even if I had doubts, they’re completely dispelled now,” remarked Captain Li, his face relaxed with a smile of relief. There was genuine admiration in his voice for Lin Xiao as he turned to his superior, “Do you happen to know, Chief, about Mr. Lin’s background?”

Everyone’s eyes immediately shifted to Li Zhengdao. Clearing his throat lightly, he neither nodded nor shook his head.

“Don’t bother asking. Let’s just say Mr. Lin is no ordinary individual. I’d advise you all to refrain from prying.”

The crowd exchanged glances, their curiosity about Lin Xiao intensifying.

“With such extraordinary skills and abilities, Lin Xiao is clearly not your average person,” someone chimed in.

‘Indeed, he’s not,’ Li Zhengdao thought to himself while maintaining a poker face. As a superior, he knew better than to disclose everything to his subordinates. Some things were better left unsaid.

Li Zhengdao’s thoughts once again returned to Lin Xiao’s classified dossier. The lingering suspicions in his mind solidified. ‘That young man, Lin Xiao, has to be a military product. And not just any, but from one of those elite, near-mythical units. Only someone of that caliber could possess such exceptional combat skills.’

***

Lin Xiao remained unconcerned with the outside world. After eliminating the gang leader, he stripped off his camouflage attire and left the third-floor shopping area, retreating to the fifth-floor storage room.

He had no plans to reveal himself to the public. Given his classified identity, he couldn’t afford to expose himself.

Back in the storage room, both Huang Xinyu and her daughter Huang Caixing were anxious and worried.

Upon Lin Xiao’s entry, Huang Caixing rushed into his arms, holding him tightly. “Big brother Lin, you’re finally back. You have no idea how worried I was!”

“It’s over now. Let’s get out of here,” Lin Xiao reassured her, lightly patting her shoulder.

Huang Caixing responded not with words but by gripping him even tighter.

“Auntie Xinyu, can you walk?” Lin Xiao extended his hand toward Huang Xinyu.

“I can,” said Huang Xinyu, gripping Lin Xiao’s hand as she rose. Mature beyond her daughter’s years, she didn’t forget to ask Lin Xiao for specifics. “What’s become of those robbers? Are all the hostages safe?”

“All the robbers have been neutralized, and the hostages are safe. The police have secured the mall, so I don’t think they’ll need me any further,” Lin Xiao responded nonchalantly.

“Big Brother Lin, you’re incredible! I always knew you were the best,” exclaimed Huang Caixing, her eyes sparkling with admiration as she looked up from Lin Xiao’s embrace.

Upon hearing that Lin Xiao had neutralized the robbers, Huang Xinyu felt her heart skip a beat. Unlike her naïve and innocent daughter, she fully grasped the implications of single-handedly neutralizing a group of heavily armed, ruthless criminals.

‘Those robbers managed to escape a police siege, infiltrated the mall, and took dozens of hostages. They were fully armed, and yet you neutralized them without any weapons,’ she thought. This realization made Lin Xiao appear even more formidable in her eyes.

With Huang Xinyu’s hand in his, Lin Xiao, accompanied by Huang Caixing, made his way down the stairs. By this point, the police had taken full control of the mall, and the bodies of the six robbers and two deceased hostages had been removed.

Lin Xiao intended for a quiet exit, avoiding any unnecessary attention. However, just as they stepped out of the mall, they were instantly encircled by a group of police officers.

The officers bore no malice, but their faces displayed a complex blend of emotions, respect, awe, surprise, admiration, and skepticism as they looked at Lin Xiao.

Standing in front of the assembled officers was a middle-aged man with dark skin and an air of authority. At this moment, however, his face was wreathed in smiles.

“Mr. Lin?” he greeted warmly. Although his gaze was primarily on Lin Xiao, he took a moment to glance appreciatively at Huang Xinyu and Huang Caixing, who, despite their resemblance, exuded distinctly different auras.

Two extraordinary beauties accompanied him, one small and one tall. At the same time, he found that the attractive woman Lin Xiao was helping seemed vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t quite place where he had seen her before.

Realizing he couldn’t dodge the situation, Lin Xiao reluctantly stopped, nodded, and said, “Yes, it’s me.”

Li Zhengdao seized Lin Xiao’s hand, gripping it firmly and shaking it vigorously.

“Mr. Lin, I am Li Zhengdao. We owe you a debt of gratitude this time. On behalf of all the police in Jinghai City and the hostages you saved, I want to thank you for your invaluable contributions.”

If an ordinary person received such treatment from the Chief of the Jinghai City Police Department, they would likely be overwhelmed with flattery. Lin Xiao, however, remained unfazed, having encountered many officials far higher in rank than Li Zhengdao.

“Chief Li, you’re too kind. If there’s nothing else, may I take my leave?” Lin Xiao calmly asked, shaking hands with Li Zhengdao.

Taken aback briefly, Li Zhengdao quickly considered Lin Xiao’s special status. He nodded with a smile, “Certainly. You’re our hero, Mr. Lin. Feel free to leave whenever you wish.”

Acknowledging the surrounding police officers with a nod, Lin Xiao exited the mall with Huang Caixing and Huang Xinyu, under the watchful, complex gazes of everyone present.

From Li Zhengdao’s earnest demeanor, Lin Xiao sensed that the Chief might have picked up on something. However, he trusted that someone in Li Zhengdao’s position would know what should and shouldn’t be said.

After Lin Xiao and his company left, a puzzled police officer asked, “Chief Li, we’re just letting him go?”

“And what would be the alternative?”

“Shouldn’t we ask Mr. Lin to stay for an official commendation ceremony?”

The officer’s question was well-intended; he felt letting Lin Xiao leave without formal recognition undermined his heroic efforts. “Mr. Lin just resolved a significant crisis for us.”

Li Zhengdao looked sternly at the officers around him. “Mr. Lin’s profile is classified as top secret. You’ve all worked long enough in law enforcement to know what top secret entails, correct? So, contain your curiosity, the less we know about Mr. Lin, the better.”