Lines Blurred, Traces Found (Published Under Ukiyoto Publishing)

Chapter 31: Love Amidst Chaos

Love Amidst Chaos

Champ's defiant gaze faltered, surrounded by the overwhelming force of the SWAT and FBI teams, with police officers closing in from all sides. His eyes darted wildly as the guns drew closer. Gabriel loomed over him, his weapon trained squarely on Champ's head. Champ knelt, weakened by the bullets lodged in his waist and thigh.
 
Harry stepped forward, his eyes never leaving Champ's face, and snapped the handcuffs tightly around his wrists. Champ's laughter sent a chill through the air. Blood dripped from his mouth, staining his teeth crimson. His eyes gleamed with menacing amusement. "I know it was Eclipse," he spat, his voice weak but sinister. "He's here... watching... waiting."
 
Harry's frown deepened as he exchanged worried glances with his companions. Vince's eyes scanned the rooftops, searching for the elusive sniper. Instead, he spotted Maya and Vladimir in the distance, navigating through the chaos.

"I've got a visual on Maya and Vladimir," Vince called out. "I'll follow them." With that, he sprinted off, weaving through the crowd, his gun at the ready.

Vince struggled to reach Maya and Vladimir, but Champ's men ambushed him instead. Despite their leader's capture, they furiously launched a counterattack. He just shot them, but he didn't immediately dodge when someone fired at him from the opposite direction, which he didn't detect right away. Because he was unable to correctly point the gun at the target, the bullet struck his arm, causing him pain.
 
Suddenly, a precise shot echoed through the air, dropping the target Vince had struggled to focus on. He turned, incredulous, to see Hyunjie standing calmly, gun smoke curling from her barrel. "Vince!" Hyunjie rushed to his side, concern etched on her face. "Hang in there, I've got you!" She wrapped a supportive arm around him, carefully taking his weight. "Let's get that arm treated, now!"
 
"What are you doing here, Hyunjie? This isn't your fight. I'm sure Harry will scold you if he finds out you're here, risking your life." He winced, pain shooting through his arm.

"This isn't just Harry's battle, Vince. I'm invested too," she said. "My brother's safety hangs in the balance. I won't stand by and do nothing."
 
Vince's voice was low and gravelly from pain. "Champ has been arrested, but the mission's far from over. Maya and Vladimir are hot on the trail of the sniper who took Champ down." He winced as he shifted his injured arm. "And Champ said it was Eclipse."

"Eclipse?" she breathed, her voice trembling.
 
"Vince!" Hyunjie looked, and she realized it was the agents, and they were surprised to see her. "Hyunjie?!" they exclaimed.

Hyunjie sprang to her feet. "I'll track down Maya and Vladimir," she announced, preparing to dash off. Just then, Harry's authoritative voice cut through the chaos.

"Hyunjie!" Their eyes met each other. "You are also stubborn. Why did you leave the hermitage? I told you to stay there," he said.

"I'm sorry, Harry. I couldn't sit idle. At least I contributed something." She glanced at Vince, concern flickering. "Now, I need to find Maya."

"Hyunjie, you—" But Hyunjie ran away to look for Maya. "Hyunjie!" he called.

"I'll follow her," Gabriel said and ran away to follow Hyunjie.

Maya's sharp gaze swept the environment, scrutinizing every detail. She methodically scanned rooftops, alleys and windows, seeking the slightest hint of movement or anomaly that could pinpoint the sniper's location. "We don't need to identify the sniper. Whoever pulled the trigger would've been smarter to hand Champ over to the authorities. Now, they've made it personal," Vladimir said.
 
"That wasn't the plan, Mr. Guzev," Maya said. "We had clear instructions: precision and minimal movement to avoid compromising the entire operation. One misstep, one miscalculation, could ruin everything." Her gaze locked onto Vladimir's, their eyes burning with intensity. "I know Champ's capabilities; he grasped the setup perfectly. I intervened because I understood the nuances and could adapt without disrupting the delicate coordination. My intention wasn't to interfere, but to ensure success."
 
Maya's eyes narrowed, her brow furrowing as she sensed a presence behind her. With lightning-quick reflexes, she spun around, gun drawn, finger poised on the trigger. Vladimir reacted just as swiftly, his hand clamping firmly around her wrist. Maya's gaze widened in surprise, her gun still poised. "Inspector Hadrian?" she asked, confusion etching her features. "What brings you to this location?" Her voice trailed off as she lowered her weapon, curiosity replacing caution.
 
Eros's eyes gleamed with determination. "To see Champ arrested, finally." His voice dripped with satisfaction.