There must be a traitor among them.

  The tall and imposing bandit's two sinister eyes stared intently at Lao San's face, making him break out in goosebumps. Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead as the gun was held to his head for a full thirty seconds before being removed.

  "Alright, let's hear it, how are you going to help us get out of this?"

  When the hijacker was about to kill again, the hostages were all trembling with fear, closing their eyes and not daring to watch. Their minds were buzzing, a complete blank. However, after waiting for half a day, there was still no gunshot. A few brave hostages quietly opened their eyes and glanced over, just in time to see Old Three whispering to the hijacker.

  The negotiations continued, and Director Xie of the sub-bureau took off his police uniform, also removing the pistol from his waist. He only wore a bulletproof vest over his shirt, rolled up his sleeves, and prepared to have a face-to-face conversation with the hijackers.

  Secretary Hu and Deputy Director Song walked over, patted Xie's shoulder twice with force, they were old colleagues for many years, no need to say much, a glance contained countless concerns and expectations.

  Director Xie nodded and said two words: "Don't worry!" Then he walked towards the bank.

  He stood in a safe position outside the bank and shouted loudly: "People inside, listen! I'm sending a mobile phone over to you now. Let's communicate through phone calls. What conditions do you need? Everything can be negotiated. Please don't harm the hostages."

  Half a minute later, a shout came from inside: "Alright, you come over here."

  Director Xie held up his mobile phone and slowly walked over. Just as he was still 10 meters away from the gate, a gunshot suddenly rang out, shooting at his feet, with flames bursting everywhere. Director Xie fell to the ground immediately, and the leaders' hearts sank. The police officers clicked their gun hammers, pretending to shoot.

  Secretary Hu hastily grabbed the walkie-talkie and said in a low voice: "Don't make any rash moves!"

  "This is just a warning," the hijacker shouted. "Stand right there and don't move any closer, just throw your phone over here."

  Director Xie originally wanted to get close and hand the phone over to the robbers in person, so as to use the camera installed on the bulletproof vest to observe the situation inside the bank, such as the number of robbers, their weapons and equipment, and the specific number of hostages. However, this group of robbers was too clever and had anticipated the police's plan.

  Director Xie had no choice but to slowly crouch down, sliding the phone across the ground and tossing it onto the steps at the bank entrance. This way, the robber would still have to come out to pick it up, and with several cameras pointing at the door, they could identify the robber's identity based on their appearance, knowing who was behind the crime and greatly benefiting the handling of the case.

  But the robbers didn't fall for it, instead they used a gun to point at a bank employee to come out and pick up the phone. The bespectacled man trembled as he crawled out from under the rolling shutter door, picked up the phone, and walked back quietly with the muzzle of the gun aimed at his back, not daring to make a run for it.

  After the mobile phone was taken into the bank, Director Xie's role was completed. If he took another half step forward, the robbers would open fire. Helplessly, he could only return to the original road and return to the safe area, only to find that his back was already soaked through.

  Secretary Hu and Deputy Director Song walked over, patted Director Xie's shoulder, and Old Xie shook his head: "Can't be helped, did my best."

  "The kidnapper is cunning, but even the most cunning fox will eventually fall into the hunter's hands. Let's wait and see." Secretary Hu said confidently.

  The phone call with the hijackers got through, the recorder was rolling, analyzing the hijacker's tone of voice, Director Xie personally communicated with them.

  "I am Director Xie Anran of the Public Security Bureau, what conditions do you have, feel free to tell me."

  A loud and arrogant voice came over the phone: "You're not qualified to talk to us, call your leader."

  Xie Anran paused for a moment and continued: "I'm in charge of directing on site, I'm responsible here."

  The bandit suddenly flew into a rage: "Let your mom's fart go! What responsibility can you bear? Let Mr. Hu speak!"

  Everyone was shocked. The hijacker is too vicious and has actually figured out the details of Jiangbei City's politics and law system. It seems that it's really not easy to deal with him.

  Xie Anran held the microphone and looked at the leaders helplessly. Hu Secretary nodded, took over the microphone and said: "I am Hu Yuejin, what do you want to say?"

  The other party whispered a few words, seemingly judging the authenticity of this voice. After a moment, he replied: "Surnamed Hu, listen up, first get those snipers to withdraw, being aimed at by gun barrels makes me uncomfortable!"

  Secretary Hu's face turned cold and stern, he said to Deputy Director Song: "Withdraw the sniper."

  Song Deputy Director picked up the walkie-talkie and called back the sniper.

  But the hijacker's voice in the loudspeaker was still arrogant and furious: "Hey, Hu, are you kidding me? You're not the only sniper! I've seen them all, besides SWAT, there are also armed police. If you dare to play hide-and-seek again, I'll kill a hostage for you to see!"

  Secretary Hu's jaws were clenched tightly, and he resolutely ordered: "Withdraw all snipers!"

  The rest of the snipers withdrew their rifles, and the tall hijacker opened a slit in the venetian blind, saw the gun barrel on the high ground disappear, and couldn't help but praise: "After all, it's been done by public security, really has a set."

  Lao San was frightened and continued to offer his plan: "There is also the assault team on the rooftop..."

  The bandit continued to speak: "Hu, you dare to play tricks on me! What are those few strips of cloth on the roof for? Get them down within 30 seconds, or I'll see blood immediately!"

  Secretary Hu's hand holding the microphone had turned pale, but he still withdrew the assault team according to the hijacker's request. He covered the microphone and whispered to several leaders: "It's not good, the hijacker may have an inside line."

  Several leaders subconsciously cast their eyes on Liang Pangzi, who was squatting on one side. At this time, Liang Pangzi wished he could find a seam in the ground to drill into. What does this have to do with me? It's all because of that rascal Li Youquan, who can't help but stir up trouble!

  Seeing a black-clad assault team withdraw, both robbers nodded in satisfaction and asked Lao San: "What's the next step?"

  Lao San said, "Taking hostages is not about the number of people, but the quality. Our public security organs have no tradition of compromise, unless the chosen hostage is particularly special, like this one." He pointed at Niu Niu as he spoke.

  The hijacker nodded in agreement: "What else?"

  "I suggest, just a suggestion, to propose an exchange of hostages, find a suitable hostage to swap us out, and then take the hostage in an armored vehicle to escape. It should be one of those sturdy ones, like the kind used by Jin Dun Security's cash transport vehicles, which can withstand bullets and still run even if the tires are punctured."

  "So you'd better tell me, what kind of hostage would have enough weight to make those bastards not dare to act rashly?" The hijacker now trusted Lao San's words.

  Lao San wiped the sweat from his forehead, pointed outside with his finger and said in a low voice: "Behind the police car numbered 1156, there is a small policewoman who is Hu Yajun's daughter. Taking her as a hostage will be more effective than anything else."

  The short bandit pushed open the blinds and looked out through a gap, just in time to see Hu Rong's handsome young face under his police hat. He cracked a smile: "It's that little girl, eh? She shoots pretty well, almost got me. Alright, let's use her as a human shield."

  The tall bandit also sneered coldly: "Not bad, her one life can top ten others, kid, you didn't lie to me, did you?"

  Lao San smiled and said: "How dare I? A friend of mine is pursuing this little girl, her background I am very clear about, absolutely no mistake."

  Watching them chat happily, Liu Ziguang gradually had an idea in his mind. His two hands quietly moved to the back and started making a move...

  The tall hijacker picked up the phone, pressed the redial button, and after connecting, said: "Mr. Hu, listen carefully, I'll only say it once, prepare an armored vehicle at the door, or else you want a hostage, I'll let the people in the bank go."

  "Armored vehicles require coordination with the garrison, we can't make decisions on our own," said Secretary Hu firmly grasping the microphone.

  "Never mind, just use the armored car from Golden Shield Company."

  Secretary Hu and the leaders exchanged a glance, everyone looked at Liang Pangzi again, then turned back to the microphone. Secretary Hu said: "Alright, I promise you, the armored vehicle will arrive immediately! And I'll send another heavyweight hostage, how about our Public Security Bureau's Director Xie?"

  This case occurred in Old Xie's jurisdiction, if it was not handled properly, his political life would be over, so this time he also staked his life, wearing a bulletproof vest, with a Type 77 pistol tied to his ankle, he jumped twice on the ground and nodded at Secretary Hu, indicating that he was ready.

  But then a maniacal laugh came from the loudspeaker: "No! He's not enough, we want the little policewoman behind the 1156 police car. As long as she comes in, we'll release the hostages immediately!"

  Secretary Hu almost crushed the microphone in his hand, he slammed the police car door fiercely and roared: "There must be a traitor!"

  All the leaders were shocked and angry, the hijackers were too arrogant and shameless, they actually set their sights on Secretary Hu's daughter, taking her as a hostage, the police would definitely not dare to act rashly.

  Secretary Hu suppressed his anger and said into the receiver: "Wait a minute, we need to discuss this."

  The other side continued to laugh maniacally: "Alright, but whatever you do, don't exceed five minutes. I can wait, but my gun can't."

  Secretary Hu hung up the phone with a scowl and had someone call over Hu Rong.

  Little policewoman Hu Rong heard the command center's summons, holstered her revolver, and with one hand on her cap and the other on the gun handle, she ran to the command center with a lithe salute: "Chief, good!"

  The uncles and grandfathers did not return her greeting, but instead looked at Hu Rong with a sorrowful gaze.

  "Hu Rong, the hijackers have made a demand. They want you to swap with the hostages in the bank." Secretary Hu said, his eyebrows and eyes surprisingly showing no fluctuation in expression, but Hu Rong saw that her father's heart was bleeding, and he was suffering.

  "I will unconditionally obey orders!" Hu Rong straightened her back and said with conviction.

  Hu Yuezhen put his hand on his daughter's shoulder and helped her adjust her police hat, nodding vigorously: "She is my daughter!"

  "Absolutely not!" Deputy Director Song shouted sternly, "Rongrong is still in her probationary period and lacks rich experience. Letting her go exchange hostages would be a matter of life and death, absolutely not allowed!"

  Xie Anran also strongly opposed it, the blue veins on his forehead bursting out: "Secretary Hu, I resolutely oppose! This kind of thing should be done by our male comrades!"

  Hu Rong was not only a small police officer under his command, but also the daughter of Hu Secretary. No matter what consideration he had, he couldn't let this twenty-year-old new recruit in the public security team take risks.

  But Secretary Hu's iron words sent them all back: "You can reserve your opinions! I am fully responsible for this matter! And bear all the consequences!"

  After finishing speaking, his tone softened again, stroking his daughter's cheek and whispering: "Rong Rong, you must remain calm, and act according to the situation after entering."

  Hu Rong tightly pursed her lips and didn't speak, tears welled up in her eyes. Others didn't know about the relationship between them, but actually, the father and daughter had been estranged for many years, and hadn't spoken a word to each other in the past three months. Today was the first time, maybe... also the last time.