Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 196 - 184 Hungry

Chapter 196: Chapter 184 Hungry

Why did Gao Yi’s combat effectiveness multiply in the restaurant?

Gao Yi had analyzed this himself and believed it was mainly due to two points.

One was that there must be tables and chairs in the restaurant, but more importantly, when people eat, the table is in front of them and the chair beneath them. If they perceive danger and attempt to flee, moving forward is certainly not an option, and they are blocked by the chair if they try to go backward. They can only run to the sides, but when startled, their subconscious reaction is to stand up and dodge to the side that favors their dominant hand—right-handed individuals will instinctively dodge to the right and left-handed to the left.

This means that as long as one is seated and eating, their direction of movement becomes fixed, as does their behavior pattern.

This characteristic doesn’t confer much advantage when dealing with a single target, but when fighting outnumbered, this essentially fixed behavior pattern is extremely useful.

The second point is psychological.

When people are dining, they are inevitably relaxed, and their response to danger is more than a notch slower. Even the bodyguards’ mentality will relax. After eating for a while, especially when full, people’s mindset is not just relaxed but can even be described as lethargic.

As for other factors, they are trivial, such as the restaurant being better suited to Gao Yi’s choice of weapons, the multiple tables and chairs restricting the guards’ movements—these are all advantages, but not worth mentioning.

Now, the CIA is pressuring these people to come forward and publicly oppose Shaman.

But to the CIA, it didn’t matter who raised the flag of opposition against Shaman. If Harold was unwilling, then they would switch to someone else, forcing them to carry the flag.

This means that while the CIA agent seemed to be pressuring Mu Tianwen, in reality, he was pressuring everyone present.

If Mu Tianwen said it was not possible, this CIA agent would immediately switch candidates—as someone from among those present here today must come forward.

The several princes did not dare to lead, and were afraid of pushing Mu Tianwen too far in case he spoke on his father’s behalf and refused, which could lead to an unpredictable situation. Therefore, the host immediately stood up, suggesting they eat to diffuse the tense atmosphere.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire—none of them could have anticipated someone itching for action upon entering the restaurant.

The villa’s dining room was different from a real restaurant; there was one long table with eight chairs in total. The host sat at one end, the CIA agent at the other, and Mu Tianwen took a seat at one side of the long table.

On the table were salads, bread, crepes typically eaten only at breakfast, with tomatoes, boiled greens, pickles, a few dishes of dates, and several cans of milk alongside.

The main course was kebabs, a quick meal prepared by cutting meat into small pieces and grilling them on skewers at this late hour.

A table laid with a meal that was not particularly lavish.

Including Mu Tianwen, there were six people seated around the dining table.

The CIA agent didn’t have anyone accompanying him; it was just himself, while the four robed individuals had at least one person behind them—though they didn’t seem to be there to serve the meal, appearing more like translators.

Conversation was inevitable during the meal, and since the CIA agent refused to speak Arabic, they had to bring translators.

Gao Yi was also present, but as an attendant, there was no way he could sit at the same table as Mu Tianwen.

There were nine people in total that Gao Yi needed to deal with, and not a single armed bodyguard in the restaurant, meaning it was not a challenge at all.

The challenge lay with the armed individuals outside—at least a dozen of them. Should any commotion arise in the restaurant, those outside would definitely react, and Gao Yi had confirmed after observation that the three CIA agents were certainly skilled.

Nine defenseless sheep inside the restaurant, waiting outside the three skilled CIA agents in the meeting room, and in the lounge beyond, at least ten fully armed guards.

He had to deal with the nine people inside first, as those outside would then be prepared, which would complicate matters. But if he could take care of the people outside first, the nine inside would become lambs to the slaughter.

Unlike Gao Yi’s previous operations, this was not an assassin’s mission; there were no targets that had to be eliminated, so it was best to take out the external threats before the internal ones.

Of course, this was only if he really had to take action.

The objective was to take Abdulla away, not to kill, so if Mu Tianwen could negotiate successfully, there would be no need to act.

Sure enough, after they started eating, the tension eased considerably. Mu Tianwen, who was indeed hungry, gracefully ate two dates and two meat skewers before resuming the previously interrupted negotiations.

"I can call my father to ask if he is willing to hold a press conference and make it clear that he opposes Shaman, but I need to know what Abdulla has said. You’ve interrogated Abdulla, did he confess anything of value?"

Asking this question again, the four robed dignitaries seemed a bit embarrassed.

Gao Yi, an observer with a clear perspective, immediately understood that they had gotten nothing out of Abdulla.

If Abdulla really resisted and said nothing, then he would have no value as a weapon against Shaman. Harold taking over Abdulla would still be pointless.

The CIA agent spoke coldly, "So far, he hasn’t provided any valuable intelligence, but it’s just a matter of time. We need forty-eight hours, but that’s all we need. I guarantee that he will tell us everything we need to know, and I can even ensure that he will say whatever you want him to say."

Too little time had passed for Abdulla’s psychological defenses to collapse, but in the hands of the CIA, his breakdown was indeed just a matter of time.

Stalling for time.

After contemplating for a moment, Mu Tianwen said, "If that’s the case... it would be inconvenient for my father to take over. Once Abdulla speaks up and it’s confirmed to be truly useful, my father will definitely be able to take over."

What he meant was if Abdulla remained silent, Harold didn’t want the hot potato that was Abdulla. No, with Shaman’s determination shown tonight, Abdulla had become a death warrant.

The CIA agent spoke coldly again, "By then, will it still be necessary for your father to take over? Since you cannot decide on behalf of your father, you may leave. Whatever happens afterward will be irrelevant to your father, and of course, he won’t have any share in the benefits either."

After speaking, the CIA agent surveyed the people at the table and continued in a cold voice, "Your father has already lost everything. Your family’s businesses, bank accounts, they have all fallen into Shaman’s hands. Ask your father if he still wants to take them back. And tell your father, if he plans to sit back and wait to pick up what he lost after others have dealt with the situation, that won’t be possible either."

Mu Tianwen hesitated for a moment and said, "I can take Abdulla away, and then..."

"No," came the immediate reply, "First, a news conference! After the conference, Abdulla can go to your father!"

Mu Tianwen shook his head. "Holding a news conference first is too dangerous."

The CIA agent promptly said, "You can leave now!"

The CIA agent was not afraid of negotiations breaking down. He had multiple targets to threaten and control. Anyone could stand up; it didn’t have to be Harold, so he issued an eviction order directly.

Mu Tianwen was in a difficult position.

But the four princes present didn’t want to be the first to stick their necks out, so Mu Tianwen could not be sent away.

The host quickly said, "The child hasn’t eaten his fill yet, no rush, no rush."

Not having eaten his fill was a good excuse, and Mu Tianwen immediately nodded, picked up another skewer of meat, and then suddenly looked at Gao Yi, asking, "Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?"

Gao Yi thought for a moment and decided it was better to eat something.

Given the current situation, it seemed unlikely to take Abdulla away in Harold’s name directly. The consequences of holding a news conference first were too much for Harold to bear.

So action had to be taken, to forcibly take Abdulla away.

To take action meant to start from the outside and move inwards, but starting with those fully armed guards on the outside was not feasible as there were too many to take down instantly.

Once shooting started, it would be difficult to control the people in the restaurant.

Gao Yi was most concerned about those three CIA agents in the outside chamber, as they were the crucial link connecting the inside and outside.

"I am indeed hungry."

When Gao Yi admitted his hunger, Mu Tianwen’s eyes showed neither worry nor fear but excitement and anticipation.

The young are fearless, and the young indeed have the courage.

"Then you..."

Mu Tianwen was about to speak when Gao Yi quickly said, "I’ll eat outside."

The host immediately said, "The servant will bring it to the guest room outside; please enjoy at your leisure."

There were too many people outside; once action was taken, everyone must be taken down, which meant Lucy had to help.

So Gao Yi somewhat embarrassingly said, "I came with a lady, and she..."

"She will have a maid to bring her food if she needs it."

Gao Yi whispered, "May I ask her first?"

"Of course."

Gao Yi nodded his head, bowed slightly in a polite manner, took two steps backward, then walked away.

The dining room connected to the living room, with no door in between. The chamber that had a door was a secret room; Gao Yi could head straight for the living room.

Gao Yi entered the living room and said to the person greeting them, "I need to speak a few words with my female companion. How do I call her out?"

The butler stood up, walked over, and rang a bell, and a maid who looked to be of South Asian descent came out. After the butler gave her a few instructions, the woman headed toward a room with a closed door.

A moment later, Lucy followed the maid out.

Gao Yi smiled at Lucy and said, "I’m hungry and need to eat. If you’re hungry, wait here for a bit, and they’ll bring you something."

Lucy was momentarily taken aback, then said, "I’m hungry. Where shall I eat?"

"Just wait here, I’ll eat inside."

Gao Yi pointed towards the secret room connected to, but closed off from, the living room. As Mu Tianwen’s attendant, it was understandable that he refused to eat under the watchful eyes of numerous bodyguards.

Lucy understood what Gao Yi meant and nodded, "Alright, can we eat together?"

Gao Yi looked toward the butler, who thought for a moment and then said, "Of course, I’ll bring it right away."

"Thank you."

Gao Yi thanked him, then gave a slight nod to Lucy before walking to the door of the secret room and pushing it open.

Lucy followed him in.

Only three people were inside; they surely had guns. Silently taking them down would equip Lucy with a gun as well.

Then the killing could begin in earnest.