Did You Destroy the World Today?
Chapter 18: Returning It To You!

"Give me a gun. We'll go together."

Lin Xu put on the bulletproof vest and helmet, then skillfully pulled down the night vision goggles.

Skull Head on the opposite side stared at him in astonishment and asked:

"You? A gun?"

"Can you shoot?"

"I'm very good at shooting."

Lin Xu took the rifle from Skull Head's hands, ejected the magazine and pulled the bolt to check the chamber before reinserting it. Then he flipped the optical sight aside and switched to iron sights unaffected by night vision goggles.

This series of actions left Skull Head dumbfounded.

"Trained?"

"Coming?"

Lin Xu raised his gun and looked out the car window.

"Let's go!"

Skull Head yanked open the car door as six mercenaries and Lin Xu himself jumped out.

"Stay behind us!"

"All personnel, advance in single file formation."

"Demolitions expert, prepare for breach."

"Sniper eliminate high-threat targets and cover our entry."

"Understood!"

At the command, everyone immediately sprang into action.

Lin Xu held his gun with one hand while placing the other on Skull Head's back. Together with five other team members, they maintained vigilance in different directions while advancing rapidly.

His tactical movements weren't particularly skilled, but could basically be considered competent.

----Of course!

In reality, he had participated in at least twenty or thirty similar battles during his previous dozens of experiences.

His technical skills might still be lacking, but he had learned to imitate the routines convincingly enough.

The seven-member team approached the gate of Huadong Chemical Fiber Factory. The security guards at the entrance had clearly noticed them, but out of caution, the armed guards didn't attack immediately, instead shouting:

"Who are you? What do you want?"

He probably never imagined that on this land, there would be fully armed mercenaries daring to attack a factory in broad daylight.

This completely defied common sense, didn't it?

And it was precisely this counterintuitive action that bought the mercenary team precious time.

Without giving the guard any more chance to speak, Skull Head pulled the trigger.

"Tac!"

The subsonic bullet parted the air, accurately hitting the security guard's head.

Blood blossomed as the innocent guard collapsed instantly.

At this moment, a trace of guilt surfaced in Lin Xu's heart.

He wasn't sure if such extreme actions were right.

Killing innocent people - even groups of them - for technology and his own goals?

This didn't align with his values.

----But then again, even if he didn't kill them, how long could they survive anyway?

In the Bracelet World, they would die in the apocalypse in just 25 minutes!

So while his actions couldn't be called noble, they were undoubtedly the best choice.

Fast, must be fast!

Lin Xu banished all distracting thoughts from his mind, focusing entirely on his weapon.

Meanwhile, the distant sniper had also fired, and two guards atop the watchtower fell simultaneously.

"Bang!"

A corpse landed right beside Lin Xu's feet, but he didn't even glance at it.

"Continue advancing!"

"Demolitions expert ready!"

Skull Head was surprised by Lin Xu's composure, but didn't pause for even a second.

The team's demolitions expert rushed forward, taking only seconds to set up the explosives.

Then.

"Boom!"

A tremendous explosion sounded.

Amid the billowing dust, Lin Xu coughed and said:

"This explosive... exceeds standards, doesn't it?!"

"It's CL-20!"

Skull Head answered casually while leading the team's rapid entry.

The gate had been blown open, revealing a vast factory area beyond.

"Where to?"

Skull Head shot a guard trying to run for cover while advancing toward the barrier, then turned to ask Lin Xu.

Earlier in the car, they had quickly analyzed the Donghua Chemical Fiber Factory's layout within limited time, marking several main buildings.

Lin Xu rapidly surveyed the surroundings before answering:

"First to the main office building, establish defense there."

"We have 24 minutes left, must hurry!"

"Understood!"

Skull Head signaled the team to follow, then shouted another question:

"How did you calculate those 22 minutes??"

"Don't worry about that!"

Lin Xu aimed at a guard raising his gun along their path and pulled the trigger.

"Bang bang bang bang---"

"Whoosh----"

Enemy bullets whizzed past his ear, first bringing a chilling sensation, followed by searing pain.

His ear was torn, blood gushing instantly.

"Watch the front! Protect the principal!"

"Fan formation advance!"

Seeing Lin Xu injured, Skull Head immediately adjusted their formation.

It must be said, his professionalism was truly impeccable.

The team continued advancing, their overwhelming firepower quickly clearing the entire passage.

But now, the quadcopter reconnaissance drone overhead had suffered interference from security and crashed immediately, depriving them of overall visibility.

"Continue! Continue!"

"No time left!"

Lin Xu's earpiece transmitted shouts from the rear support team.

"Factory has alerted police, first responders estimated in 40 seconds, special forces in 2 minutes!"

"We must finish within two minutes! Otherwise extraction will be difficult!"

"Understood!"

Skull Head panted heavily as Lin Xu stepped into the main office building.

The building was empty.

Of course, it was already 11:39, who would still be here?

Damn.

If there's no one here, where do I find the data I need?

Beads of sweat formed on Lin Xu's forehead as he rushed to the department signage present in every office building, quickly locating the "Technology Department."

Second floor.

Very close!

"Upstairs!"

Lin Xu charged toward the stairs first, but just as he reached the turn:

"Bang!"

A shotgun blast hit him head-on, the tremendous impact sending him flying backward!

"Flashbang!"

Skull Head shouted while throwing a flashbang.

"Bzzzt!"

The over 185-decibel sound wave left Lin Xu temporarily deaf, his world reduced to silence and blinding white light.

Only the excruciating pain in his arms, chest and shoulders reminded him this wasn't the apocalypse yet.

There was still time.

Must hurry.

Lin Xu struggled to his feet, following faint silhouettes ahead.

Muzzle flashes occasionally lit before his eyes, but he dared not fire, fearing friendly fire.

Moments later, gunfire ceased, silence reclaiming the office building.

"Where to?! Where to?!"

Skull Head screamed into Lin Xu's ear, who pushed him away with his injured arm:

"I can hear now!"

"Find the hostages!"

"Understood!"

Skull Head yanked Lin Xu up, the intense pain drawing a cry:

"Fuck!"

"Gently!"

"No time!"

Skull Head's voice carried unconcealable anxiety.

"All hostages disarmed, do whatever quickly! We're out of time!"

"It's you who's out of time."

Lin Xu's vision gradually returned, finally discerning blurred figures before him.

Ignoring his bleeding arm, he grabbed a hostage by the collar and demanded harshly:

"Where are the PEEK-RTM and M46X production process documents??"

"Hand them over!"

"The factory belongs to capitalists, but your life is your own!"

Before the hostage could answer, Skull Head urgently said:

"Really no time left!"

"We must leave now, take the hostage!"

"You go, I'm staying."

Lin Xu replied calmly.

"What do you mean?!"

Skull Head was dumbfounded.

"Just go when told! Payment will auto-process!"

"...Fine."

Skull Head tossed two magazines and ordered decisively:

"Principal requests abandoning protective evacuation."

"Everyone, withdraw with me!"

"Understood!"

Replies came through the earpieces as Lin Xu removed his headset and helmet, feeling instantly lighter.

He took a deep breath, looking at the two terrified men before him, then inhaled deeply before asking as calmly as possible:

"Where is what I want?"

"Just tell me, rest assured no one else will die here."

He raised his muzzle, making the two instinctively recoil.

Then one shouted:

"We'll return it!"

"We'll return everything!"

"We didn't steal these technologies, we just used them...."

"Don't kill us, don't kill us......"

"Give me the tech, and I won't kill!"

Lin Xu stood up.

"Show me!"

The speaking man trembled as he rose. After a moment's hesitation, Lin Xu shot the other man in the knee.

"Bang!"

Blood gushed instantly, screams echoing through the empty office.

Lin Xu painfully dragged his injured body while pushing the hostage forward, the latter stammering in extreme terror:

"We......we weren't opposing you, we're just implementers......"

"We didn't take advantage......everyone's the same......all the same......"

"Take advantage of whom??"

Lin Xu instinctively asked.

The man paused, then answered:

"Planetary Reincarnation.......Planetary Reincarnation!"