Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 272 - 259 Scorpion

Chapter 272: Chapter 259 Scorpion

If there were really any trouble, no need for too many people, eight or ten would suffice.

The best spies wouldn’t be at headquarters, but the ones most capable in combat or those who truly needed to execute combat missions, would indeed be at headquarters.

The UK likes to use older soldiers, the compulsory retirement age for both elite forces, SBS and SAS, is 52 years old, so it’s common to see military professionals in their forties and fifties still fighting on the front lines, and the Military Intelligence Sixth Department’s Special Action Team is no exception, with their captain turning fifty-two this year.

Special Boat Service (SBS) and Special Air Service (SAS), both highly prestigious special forces units, yet the UK also has a mysterious "Scorpion" that is not widely known to the world.

Being lesser known does not mean being less formidable.

Military Intelligence Sixth Department’s Special Action Team, nicknamed "Scorpion."

Twenty years ago, Scorpion was the UK’s strongest special forces unit, a fact acknowledged by SAS and SBS members with a nod when mentioned.

Why? Because Scorpion’s members were selected solely from these two special forces units.

SBS and SAS pick the best of the best from all the soldiers in the UK, while Scorpion picks from among those SBS and SAS members.

Thus, it’s justifiable; Soviet Union’s Black Devil, the United States’ Butter Knife, Three-headed Dog, and the UK’s Scorpion, are all top-tier renowned special forces.

The nickname "Scorpion" was given by Soviet Union, bearing as to why Soviet Union named it Scorpion, it was because KGB at the time had been severely punished by the seemingly inconspicuous Military Intelligence Sixth Department’s Special Action Team, just as a formidable person can still be painfully stung by a tiny scorpion.

As for now, the Soviet Union is gone, hence Black Devil is gone too, the United States remains in its prime, but their Army’s Butter Knife has been crippled, Trident disbanded, leaving only Scorpion to maintain an undefeated myth.

Of course, Scorpion isn’t what it used to be, simply because, with the Cold War ended and their adversaries gone, Scorpion was no longer necessary, rendering the practice of picking the best of the best pointless.

Without funding, any elite force would meet its end.

Yet, the ever-ready Scorpion stationed at headquarters had never executed a mission within their own headquarters.

Action team leader Collins, over fifty years of age with rich combat experience, perhaps the most experienced in the UK, was executing a mission inside his own headquarters for the first time.

Even the chances for Action Team Leader to visit this office area were exceedingly rare.

Leading over ten subordinates, following behind the action office director, the group, not in disguise but fully armed, madly dashed towards the director’s location.

What need was there for hoods in their own headquarters? However, Collins found it more embarrassing to execute a protection mission in their own headquarters than to wear hoods.

Into the elevator.

The action office director took out his ID card, swiped it at the elevator’s card reader, then verified with his iris scan, only then accessing the tightly secured core office area.

Lower-level staff need to verify their identity to enter high-level or high-security areas, but that restriction only applies to lower-level staff; senior officials wouldn’t verify every time, finding it cumbersome, thus they have a special passage leading to an isolated area.

Annoying as it may be, that’s just how the world works.

Collins, no longer young but still vigorous and always standing at the forefront until his death.

When the elevator doors opened, Collins immediately sprinted out.

It had already been seen through surveillance that two French individuals had definitely entered Military Intelligence Sixth Department, and after inspection in the parking lot, there was no one in the Minister of Intelligence’s car.

Where they had gone was unknown, but only a fool wouldn’t realize these two weren’t here for sightseeing.

Immediate action was needed to protect the director, if still possible.

Reaching the conference room, as the action office director was about to knock, Collins pushed the door open.

Without raising his gun, as that would have been too much.

The door opened, and then Collins saw a woman holding a gun while an unfamiliar man sat next to the Minister of Intelligence and the director.

Everyone looked up.

The man continued, "So, no talks on Gibraltar?"

Late arrival.

Superiors in grave danger, atmosphere peculiar.

But what were they discussing inside? Gibraltar?

Collins positioned his subordinates and superiors behind him, blocking the conference room entrance, while his right hand rested at the most convenient position to draw his gun.

If possible, Collins would immediately draw his gun and fire to end everything.

But after locking eyes with Gao Yi, Collins quickly dismissed the idea of drawing his gun.

Collins then showed his hands, making sure Gao Yi could see them, and with both hands outstretched, he said, "Stay calm, keep talking."

Forced rescue could lead to unpredictable consequences; no unnecessary words or actions, just negotiate to resolve the crisis.

Emily, somewhat nervous, said sharply, "Get out! Close the door!"

Collins immediately stepped back, but just as he was about to close the door, Gao Yi suddenly said, "Wait, don’t move."

Collins immediately paused, looking towards Gao Yi.

Taking a deep breath, Gao Yi looked at Collins several times, and finally said, "Come in, close the door."

Collins’ lips pressed tightly together, his thin lips appearing somewhat harsh when closed.

Collins closed the door with a backhand and stood behind it.

He was wearing a pair of camouflage pants and a slightly tight black T-shirt, with a gun holster around his waist which held a Browning L9N1 pistol.

The L9N1 was actually the UK designation for the Browning M1935.

Gao Yi scratched his face, then smiled at Collins and said, "Please take your gun out with your left hand, slowly walk over here, and place it in front of me."

Collins’ holster was an old-fashioned leather one. Modern special forces mostly used quick-draw holsters now, making the old leather holster seem quite retro.

Collins unfastened the button on the leather holster with his right hand, then reached over with his left, gripped the pistol by the slide, and slowly drew it. He did as Gao Yi had asked, walking slowly to the conference table and placing the gun on it, pushing it slowly towards Gao Yi.

Gao Yi nodded, but he didn’t take the gun.

Collins started to back away, but Gao Yi suddenly said, "Now that you’re here, don’t go. Please, take a seat."

Gao Yi pointed to a chair. Collins frowned deeply but still pulled out a chair and slowly sat down opposite Gao Yi.

"We were discussing, oh yes, you refuse to return Gibraltar to Spain, and you won’t even report my demands to the Prime Minister, correct?"

The Secretary of Foreign Affairs murmured, "We needn’t discuss this issue; please do not waste time."

Gao Yi coughed softly and said, "Then let’s discuss the Malvinas Islands, oh, you call them the Falkland Islands, right? You should return them to Argentina."

The Secretary of Foreign Affairs couldn’t help but say, "Do you know what you are talking about?"

"I know; you return the Malvinas, and I will release you."

"Enough! I doubt you know what to say; you are just babbling and wasting time!"

The Secretary of Foreign Affairs spoke sternly, but at this moment, he was truly confused.

At this moment in the room, he was not the only one confused.

In fact, everyone was unsure what Gao Yi was talking about or what he intended to say.

Yes, including Gao Yi himself.

At this time, the Director, who hadn’t spoken a word from beginning to end, looked towards Collins.

Collins kept his eyes straight, still staring intensely at Gao Yi with a blank expression, as if he hadn’t seen the Director’s questioning gaze.

Nobody knew why Gao Yi wanted to keep the competent-looking, and indeed very capable, Collins.

But Collins knew why.

Because placing a threat out of sight, allowing an experienced master to prepare a rescue mission, was not as effective as keeping him right in front, within reach, easily neutralizable.

Thus, not only did Gao Yi let Collins come in, but he also made him sit face-to-face.

Collins knew that Gao Yi was absolutely confident, though he didn’t know the source of Gao Yi’s confidence, he could see it in Gao Yi’s eyes.

Not mad, not scared, but also not calm, not wise, showing neither confusion nor resolve, and one couldn’t even make out any nervous or excited emotions.

Merely from the look in his eyes, he seemed like just an ordinary young man.

Then the question arose, a young man who had stormed into the Military Intelligence Sixth Department, wiped out the entire top tier, and sat with them demanding the return of Gibraltar and Malvinas, could he be just an ordinary person?

Collins knew that real madmen often couldn’t be identified by mere appearances.

He wasn’t even excited, indicating that the person before him truly had utmost confidence and an extraordinarily strong inner world.

That woman was inconsequential, but this man, whose gaze revealed nothing, was someone Collins did not dare to act rashly towards.

Finally, Collins slightly turned his head.

Gao Yi noticed Collins’ movement, but he didn’t care much, just smiled faintly at Collins and said, "We are discussing serious matters, don’t ruin this peaceful and friendly atmosphere."

Facing a novice, Gao Yi might have been a bit nervous, but seeing a master actually made him more reassured.

Because the world of a master is not something everyone can understand; only at a certain level can you feel a master’s aura, so Gao Yi was very sure that just sitting there was enough to keep Collins from making any moves.

At this time, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs was becoming impatient. He couldn’t see the exchange of glances between Gao Yi and Collins, nor understand Gao Yi’s warning. He angrily said, "You had better state your demands quickly, stop wasting time with topics that hold no value for discussion!"

It was still the same saying Gao Yi had learned from Musa.

Aim for the best, settle for the second best.

The UK would not return Gibraltar, nor the Malvinas, but calling Iron Fist George over was certainly possible.

Just as Gao Yi was about to speak, Collins suddenly said, "I know what you want, you have mentioned it many times, just that no one has paid attention."

Gao Yi, with genuine interest, said, "Oh, you know?"

Collins plainly stated, "Iron Fist George, you want to eliminate Iron Fist George. For this, you would provoke a conflict between two countries, even a war!"

Gao Yi grinned slightly and said, "Well, you are partly correct."

Collins continued, "If Iron Fist George were to come before you, would you then release them?"

Gao Yi looked at Collins with surprise, thought for a moment, and said, "I could."

Collins nodded, then looked towards the director of the Military Intelligence Sixth Department, whispering, "I can’t rescue you from his hands, so that’s why I sat down, sir, there’s no other choice; call Iron Fist George. I’m sorry, but this is the only solution."