Chapter 294: Priest – K, Everything’s Normal. I’ve Reached the Designated Location.

Now that the Priest’s final destination had been confirmed, the police moved swiftly. Several unmarked cars streamed out of the Yang Liu Criminal Investigation Brigade’s parking lot in a long convoy.

At the same time, numerous SWAT officers and local police were already en route to Sanhe Square.

The Priest was an extremely dangerous individual. The fact that he had survived the war-torn regions of the Middle East was proof enough of his exceptional sniping skills and field experience.

Moreover, he was a core member of the entire Kill Organization. No amount of caution or attention could be considered excessive.

…

Inside the lead convoy of seven unmarked cars, Chen Sheng glanced at Lin Tian beside him, then looked toward Su Ming in the second row, and spoke in a low voice.

“Chief Lin, Team Leader Su.”

“We just received word from the Criminal Investigation Technology Section.”

“They’ve traced the call Ghost made earlier. The signal originated from inside Dongbai Shopping Plaza.”

“The nearest local officers have already been dispatched to investigate.”

As his voice fell, Lin Tian, seated in the front passenger seat, put down the phone at his ear. A faint smile appeared on his face as he picked up the thread of the conversation.

“Bureau Chief Gao just said the same thing.”

“Getting Qiang Wei to talk wasn’t as difficult as we expected. Whether it was disappointment in K or the realization that she was trapped with no way out, she cooperated surprisingly well.”

“She’s already handed over her private cloud drive account. It contains facial data for every human-skin mask she’s made for Kill Organization members over the years.”

“After a quick comparison, we can now confirm with one hundred percent certainty…”

“The driver of that Green Channel Truck was the Priest, wearing a human-skin mask crafted by Qiang Wei. His identity is no longer in question.”

“In less than a year, Qiang Wei made three human-skin masks for Ghost, helping him evade our pursuit.”

“The facial data has already been sent to the Criminal Investigation Technology Section.”

“We can now activate Sky Eye Surveillance and use facial recognition to try and locate the fugitive Ghost.”

Hearing this, Liu Yang, also seated in the second row, clicked his tongue in admiration.

“The tide is turning in our favor.”

“Just like rats fleeing a falling tree—now that this drug trafficking organization is on the verge of collapse, all the cracks are starting to show.”

Su Ming nodded in agreement, then rubbed his chin thoughtfully and added,

“From what we’ve gathered so far…”

“K likely instructed Ghost to hide out at Dongbai Shopping Plaza. It was late at night by then, and most malls were already closed.”

“Ghost probably found a quiet corner and waited there until around eight the next morning.”

“When the mall was about to open, he contacted K to ask for a new hiding place. But in truth, K had no intention of letting him continue running. What he wanted was for Ghost to become a silent corpse.”

“Only the dead can keep secrets.”

“But Ghost isn’t someone as easy to control as Poison or the Demon Witch. The moment K told him to head to Sanhe Square, he realized…K had already sent the Priest after him. And to ensure the execution, K even pointed him to a location perfect for a long-range sniper kill.”

“Self-centered as he is, Ghost immediately reported the Priest’s infiltration into Jiahe City to us, hoping to muddy the waters and buy himself a chance to escape.”

“Unfortunately for him, once Qiang Wei woke up, Ghost’s chances of escape vanished. Wearing those human-skin masks would only get him exposed faster.”

Su Ming’s deduction earned nods of agreement from everyone in the vehicle.

Regardless of the twists and turns, the outcome was clearly moving in a favorable direction.

At the very least, the Priest was as good as caught. And it wouldn’t be long before Ghost was located as well.

Just then, a voice came through the vehicle’s internal radio channel, low but brimming with excitement.

“Chief Chen, Chief Chen.”

“The Priest has been spotted. He’s currently entering Sanhe Square. Do we proceed with the arrest?”

Chen Sheng didn’t hesitate for a second and quickly asked,

“Is there an opportunity for a clean takedown?”

“Would any civilians be at risk? Could it lead to unnecessary casualties?”

The reply came back, heavy with concern.

“No clean takedown opportunity.”

“The Priest is carrying a suitcase and entering Sanhe Square, but he’s clearly scanning his surroundings, checking for any signs of police presence.”

“Also, he’s staying close to civilians. If we move in now, we can’t guarantee their safety. There’s a real risk he could take someone hostage.”

Hearing this, Chen Sheng’s expression darkened. Spotting the Priest but being unable to act was a deeply frustrating situation.

Su Ming tapped his knee with his finger, then made a decisive call.

“Do not move in.”

“If we can’t ensure civilian safety, we must hold back for now.”

“Given the Priest’s mission, he’s likely heading to a high vantage point to prepare for Ghost’s execution.”

“Once he’s in position, there won’t be any civilians nearby to shield him. That will be the ideal moment to strike.”

“Have our people stay put. No sudden movements. Don’t approach the Priest or do anything that might alert him. We can’t risk him taking a hostage.”

“When dealing with a seasoned mercenary like this, every bit of caution is justified to avoid unnecessary loss of life.”

“The moment he’s settled into his ambush is when we make our move. By then, no one will be able to help him.”

“This long wait is for the sake of a clean, decisive operation.”

…

Meanwhile, at the entrance of Sanhe Square, the Priest—still disguised as the Taciturn Man—was wheeling a black suitcase behind him. After scanning the area, he slowly stepped into the open lobby of the square.

This place was always crowded with day laborers and newly arrived migrant workers looking for jobs, many of them carrying suitcases just like his.

Blending in perfectly with his unassuming, honest-worker appearance, the Priest didn’t stand out at all. He had merged seamlessly into the background.

Once inside Sanhe Square, the Priest looked up at the surrounding buildings, then unhesitatingly made his way toward the best sniping position.

He took the elevator up, ignored the “No Entry” signs, opened the locked security door, and locked it again behind him.

Opening his suitcase, a meticulously maintained Heavy Sniper Rifle gleamed in the light.

He lifted the rifle and leaned it against the rooftop railing.

Then, he pulled out a cigar, lit it, took a deep drag, and dialed a number on his phone.

Three seconds later, the call connected.

Exhaling a thick plume of smoke, the Priest narrowed his eyes and spoke in a gravelly voice.

“K.”

“I’ve reached the designated position. Everything’s normal for now…”