Chapter Thirty-One: For Whom Does the Warning Bell Toll?
On the edge of London’s East End, near the murky mouth of the River Lee, lies a cluster of abandoned docks and warehouses.
This place, once a testament to the flourishing shipping industry of the Victorian era, is now nothing but rusted crane frames, crumbling brick walls, and the ever-present stench of dampness and decay in the air. The "River Fox" warehouse, controlled by the Xuyue Organization, lies hidden deep within this forgotten corner.
On the surface, it was a transit point for handling cheap textiles and second-hand machine parts, but in reality, it was a hub for organizing an important smuggling route and the location of a small safe house.
The location here is relatively remote, and the security is not the strongest, but it is well-hidden and has several backup emergency communication channels with headquarters.
Three in the morning is the time of day when human alertness is at its lowest. Thick night fog rises from the river, swallowing up the already sparse starlight and the faint glow of distant gaslights, shrouding the entire dock area in a gray haze of extremely low visibility.
The "River Fox" warehouse is like a silent behemoth lurking in the darkness, with only a single oil lamp at the entrance casting a dim, flickering yellow light in the mist.
Inside the warehouse, the two guards on night duty—old Tom and his nephew, young Danny—were sitting around a small tin stove with a pot of hissing strong tea on it.
Old Tom is a seasoned veteran with gray hair and a scar on his face. He has served the organization for over ten years and is experienced, but his energy is not what it used to be.
Danny, on the other hand, is an energetic young man who has great respect for the organization and especially admires the red-haired "Whale Shark" man.
"This damn weather, it's like we're soaked in water." Old Tom spat, pulling his tattered wool coat tighter around himself. "Danny, go check the back door latch again. This fog is weirdly thick; don't let anything unclean sneak in."
Danny responded, picked up the old rifle leaning against the wall, yawned, and walked deeper into the warehouse. His footsteps echoed in the empty warehouse, gradually fading into the distance.
Everything seemed so peaceful, just like countless other nights.
However, just as Danny's figure disappeared into the shadow of the cargo pile, something unexpected happened!
Without any warning, the half-foot-thick oak-reinforced wall on the riverside of the warehouse suddenly burst open inwards! It wasn't the impact of a bullet, but rather some extremely sharp and heavy object that pierced the wooden planks with unimaginable speed and force, leaving a clean-edged hole! Amidst the flying sawdust, a dark figure darted in like a ghost!
Old Tom's reaction was remarkably quick; he threw down his teacup almost at the same moment the wall cracked and reached for the dagger placed at his feet.
But the moment his fingers touched the cold barrel, a faint, almost inaudible whooshing sound rang out. Old Tom's body stiffened abruptly, a cold, sharp pain shooting through his throat, followed by a suffocating, burning sensation.
He opened his mouth wide, but no sound came out; only blood gushed from his slit throat. He stared incredulously at the dark figure that seemed to have materialized from the mist, then slowly slumped down. The last thing he saw was a pair of eyes that gleamed with an inhuman calm in the darkness.
Almost simultaneously, a short, terrified scream came from deep within the warehouse, but the sound abruptly stopped, as if abruptly cut off by something. Then came the dull thud of a heavy object falling to the ground.
The entire attack lasted less than fifteen seconds.
Swift, precise, and ruthless; without unnecessary noise or intense firefights, it was like a surgical operation—a precise elimination. The attackers had a clear objective—to instantly paralyze all guards, rather than causing widespread destruction.
In the thick fog, several dark figures retreated silently, just as they had appeared, merging into the endless darkness and fog without leaving any obvious trace, except for the shocking hole in the warehouse wall and the warm, dark red liquid that was rapidly spreading on the ground.
Hours later, before dawn, a member of the transport team who came to make the handover as usual discovered the horrific scene. The news, through emergency channels, traveled with incredible speed back to the headquarters of the Xuyue Organization.
The atmosphere in the core area of the headquarters instantly plummeted to freezing point.
Xu Yue stood in the tactics room, a map of London spread out in front of her, her finger pointing directly at the location of the "River Fox" warehouse. Her face was so gloomy it could drip water, and a suppressed storm raged in her gray eyes.
Gongyang Yandaosi stood beside her, his silver hair slightly disheveled behind him, but his tightly pursed lips and slightly twitching eyes betrayed his extreme inner turmoil.
Mu immediately retrieved records from all possible surveillance points around the warehouse, though the data was scarce, and dispatched the most capable "Dark Raven" squad to the scene for investigation.
Xiya was the last to rush into the tactics room.
He had clearly come directly from the training ground, still smelling of sweat and dust, his red hair disheveled, like a burning flame.
When he heard the news that "Riverfox warehouse was raided and Old Tom and Danny were killed," his lava-like red eyes instantly flashed with a terrifying ferocity, and he slammed his fist hard on the heavy oak table, making a dull thud.
"Who did this?!" His voice was hoarse, filled with barely suppressed murderous intent. Although Old Tom was just an outer guard, he had worked diligently and conscientiously for the organization for many years.
Danny, that kid, had shyly asked him for fighting tips just a few days ago. This targeted, blatant provocation completely ignited the anger in his heart.
"The technique was very professional." Mu Ye's voice was still cold, but his speech was slightly faster than usual. "A single blow killed him instantly, and there were almost no signs of a struggle at the scene."
The weapon is speculated to be a specially made crossbow or throwing knife, with extremely high accuracy. The attacker had a thorough understanding of the warehouse layout and the guards' shift changes. Furthermore, they chose to strike when the fog was thickest, perfectly utilizing the weather to conceal their movements.
“It’s BXX.” Xu Yue spoke slowly, her voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable chill that instantly froze the air in the room. She raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping over everyone present. “This is not just a provocation. This is a test, a… precise ‘roll call’.”
Her words highlighted the key point. The attackers didn't steal goods or damage facilities; their objective was very clear—to demonstrate their fighting power and send a clear message: We know where your base is, we know your weaknesses, and we can take whatever we want, including lives, at any time and at will.
Ram took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down and analyze: "While the location of the 'River Fox' warehouse isn't absolutely central, the number of people who know its specific purpose and guarding situation is limited. The enemy's intelligence sources..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear. The possibility of an internal leak, like a cold, venomous snake, burrowed into everyone's heart.
"Investigate!" Sia roared, a fierce glint in his red eyes. "Start investigating everyone who has recently had access to warehouse intelligence! Better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free!"
His anger is direct and fierce, and he tends to eliminate any potential threat using the most ruthless means.
“Calm down, West Asia,” Gongyang said in a deep voice. “Blindly investigating will only alert the enemy and shake morale. We need a more cautious investigation.” He preferred to solidify the defenses first and investigate covertly.
"Be cautious? Wait until a knife is at your throat before being cautious?" Xiya suddenly turned to the ram, his tone aggressive, but when he saw the cold gaze from Xuyue, he swallowed back his more intense words, his chest heaving violently.
Mu also interjected at the opportune moment, steer the conversation back to the technical aspects: "No physical evidence was left at the scene that could point to a specific identity. The attacker's use of the environment and the way they cleaned up their own traces demonstrate an extremely high level of counter-surveillance capability."
This aligns with our assumptions about BXX's modus operandi. The immediate priority is to reassess the security levels of all peripheral outposts, immediately change contact codes and contingency plans, and strengthen security in core areas.
Xu Yue remained silent for a moment, her finger still pressed on the point on the map that represented the "River Fox" warehouse, as if she could feel the warmth of the still-warm blood there through the drawing.
This was not merely the loss of a stronghold and the loss of two lives; it was a clear signal—the war had escalated from covert probing and testing to a bloody stage. The BXX, the behemoth hidden behind the scenes, had finally revealed its sharp fangs.
"Execute according to Mu Ye's plan." She finally gave the order, her voice regaining its usual calmness, but beneath that calmness lay a bottomless abyss of cold water. "Gong Yang, reinforce the defenses across the board, especially the communication channels with the WV organization."
"Xiah, all your men are on high alert. No one is to act retaliatory without my orders. Mu Ye, continue to dig deep into every clue related to BXX. I need to know what their next move is."
Her gaze finally settled on Sia, carrying a barely perceptible warning: "Anger won't solve anything, it will only cloud your judgment. Remember, we're not dealing with street thugs."
Xiya gritted his teeth and nodded heavily. The anger in his eyes hadn't subsided, but there was a hint of forced restraint. He knew Xuyue was right, but the feeling of being passively attacked and unable to even see the enemy's face clearly was making him almost explode.
The meeting ended in a heavy and tense atmosphere.
After everyone left, Xu Yue remained alone in the tactics room, gazing at the map for a long time.
Outside the window, the London sky remained shrouded in gloom, and the light of dawn struggled to penetrate the clouds, but could not bring any warmth.
The alarm bell has rung, its mournful sound piercing the night sky. This bell tolls for the departed, but even more so for the living.
It proclaims that beneath the seemingly secure "throne" of the Xuyue Organization, shadows are already boiling, and the cold blade has been drawn.
Every step from here on will be a perilous journey, and the slightest carelessness could lead to utter ruin.
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