Chapter 216 The smell of gunpowder is getting stronger.

Four or five figures suddenly rushed out of the seemingly ordinary courtyards on both sides of the alley!

It was so fast that it left afterimages!

The two men pounced on the old scavenger, their moves fierce, directly locking his throat and kicking his knee—merciless grappling and killing techniques!

The other three instantly formed a triangular formation, protecting Gu Baobao in the middle, with their backs to the outside. They were already holding silenced pistols in their hands, their sharp eyes scanning every corner around them!

The old scavenger clearly hadn't expected such a quick reaction or such a close ambush!

His skills were indeed extraordinary. He parried the first attack and swung the steel rod back, trying to force the attackers back. However, the two people who pounced on him cooperated perfectly, one attacking his upper body and the other sweeping his lower body, and their strength was astonishing!

With a sharp, teeth-grinding crack, the old man's wrist holding the chisel bent at an odd angle, and the chisel clattered to the ground.

He groaned, still trying to fight like a cornered beast, but another person's hand chopped down hard on his neck!

The old man rolled his eyes, slumped down, and was quickly subdued. His jaw was dislocated, and his entire body was searched—the movements were swift and efficient.

The entire process, from the start of the attack to being subdued, took no more than five seconds.

It was so fast that the children chasing and playing hadn't even had time to react before the person pushing the bicycle stopped in astonishment.

"Clean up the scene! Evacuate the crowd! Inspect for the toxic powder!"

A deep voice gave the order; it was the leader of the ambush team.

Immediately, someone stepped forward and carefully collected and sampled the spilled powder.

Others quickly and politely asked a few neighbors who hadn't gone far to go home temporarily, close their doors and windows, on the grounds that they were catching spies and cooperating with the work.

Upon hearing the word "spy," the neighbors, though still shaken, immediately cooperated and left.

Gu Baobao, protected in the middle, finally let out a soft breath and looked at Lu Zhanming.

Lu Zhanming had already checked his ribs; his cotton-padded coat was torn, and there was a faint red mark on his skin, but nothing serious.

He shook his head at Gu Baobao to indicate that he was alright, but his eyes were cold as he looked at the attacker on the ground, who was tightly bound and had fallen into a coma.

"Not a lamp or a shadow."

Lu Zhanming walked to the leader's side and whispered,

"A probing pawn. Or rather... a sacrificed piece."

The leader nodded, his expression grave.

"The tactics were professional, indicating a trained agent, but it seemed more like a test or a way to distract us."

It seems the real wick and shadow are more patient and cunning than we thought.

He glanced at the attackers being quickly carried away and his colleagues cleaning up the evidence, then said to Lu Zhanming and Gu Baobao:

"Director Lu, Expert Gu, this place is not safe. Go home immediately. We will screen the surrounding area again."

Under tight security, Gu Baobao and Lu Zhanming quickly returned to the courtyard house.

The courtyard gate was tightly closed behind me.

Back in the main room, Gu Baobao belatedly realized that her heart was pounding fiercely.

It wasn't fear, but a chilling anger.

The enemy has already reached her doorstep and into this lively alleyway.

Lu Zhanming poured her a glass of warm water, while he stood by the window, lifting a corner of the curtain and cautiously observing the outside.

"They're getting anxious."

Lu Zhanming's voice was cold and hard.

"Using this tactic is either to test our defense strength and reaction patterns, or to create chaos to cover up a real operation. Or... both."

Gu Baobao took a sip of water to suppress the turmoil in her heart.

"That powder just now..."

"The preliminary assessment is that the lime was mixed with a small amount of blinding irritant, not highly toxic."

Lu Zhanming replied, "It seems their main orders were to acquire, not destroy. They want to subdue me, take you hostage, or create an opportunity to infiltrate."

“They saw the gaps we created and tried to exploit them.”

Gu Baobao put down the cup, her eyes cold and aloof.

"But this is just the beginning."

"Yes, this is just the beginning."

Lu Zhanming walked back and took her hand.

"The real showdown is probably in the next few days. Lavoisier can't afford to delay any longer; it's time for his wick and shadow to show themselves."

Just then, the secure phone on the desk rang.

Lu Zhanming answered the call, listened for a few words, and his expression became even more serious.

"Okay, I understand. Increase vigilance and prepare according to the second plan."

He hung up the phone and looked at Gu Baobao.

"Zhao Feng's phone call. The wick and the shadow... we've found a clue. It's hidden deeper than we expected, and... closer."

Outside the window, dusk was falling, and the alleyway regained its surface tranquility.

But the invisible smell of gunpowder in the air grew stronger and stronger.