Chapter 176 Matthew's Wish

Chapter 176 Matthew's Wish

Matthew adjusted the camera, focusing on the timer. The huge numbers took up four-fifths of the screen.

Oliver asked the police captain who arrived first at the scene. "How many people are still in the building?"

"Staff have mostly been evacuated. There are currently three teams conducting searches inside, thirty-three people total."

Oliver pointed upward. "Where's the advertising screen control room?"

"Building B, 18th floor."

Oliver nodded. "What about the technicians in the control room? Did they evacuate, or are they still up there? Besides that woman, are there any other hostages?"

"No other hostages. All regular technicians evacuated. The control room supervisor is on standby in a patrol car."

"Good. Keep searching until the bomb squad arrives."

Taylor walked up to Oliver. "Mr. West, there's a landline in the control room. Here's the number."

Oliver thought for a moment. "If we communicate with him, how confident are you that you can persuade him?"

Taylor was good at communication. In similar cases before, he usually played the role of negotiation expert.

"I'm not very confident." Taylor hesitated. Matthew was extremely calm, and based on past experience, people like this knew exactly what they were doing, had clear goals, and wouldn't give up easily.

"Alison, you're Matthew's teacher. Want to try?" Seeing Oliver didn't object, Taylor handed the note with the phone number to Alison.

Alison didn't hesitate and dialed the number.

A moment later, Matthew answered.

Alison said, "It's me."

"You came after all, a bit faster than I expected." Matthew's tone showed little emotion.

Alison suppressed her anxiety and asked tentatively. "Are you alone?"

"She's here too." Matthew knew who Alison cared about.

"Where is she?" Alison immediately pressed.

"I've already answered one question. You should also agree to one of my requests. That's only fair." Matthew said.

Alison frowned. "What do you want?"

Matthew thought for a moment. "Send me a cake, along with number candles and a lighter. If you deliver it within ten minutes, I can reset the countdown."

Alison looked at Oliver. Oliver nodded, and she said. "Okay."

There were many dessert shops and bakeries near the twin towers. Oliver sent someone to get a cake, then turned to see Alison staring at the call ended screen on her phone, her expression heavy.

"What are you thinking?"

Alison looked up at him. "Lucy is here too. If she's not in the building, she must be outside, controlling the 18 bombs scattered in the water areas. I need to find Lucy."

Oliver said decisively. "I'll go with you."

"You..." Though Alison hoped Oliver could accompany her, the situation at the twin towers was critical. If Oliver left with her, he might face accusations of dereliction of duty afterward.

Oliver looked at her and shook his head gently, signaling her not to voice her dissuasion. "Taylor and Joey can handle things here. Uncle Bradley will arrive soon too."

Alison understood his intention, smiled, and took Oliver's hand. "Come with me to bring Lucy back, okay?"

Oliver squeezed her hand and answered firmly. "Okay."

Oscar sent a map of the nearby water systems to the work group. Alison and Oliver started searching from the nearest artificial fountain.

The winter water was cold. Alison and Oliver felt along the fountain's inner walls. After a few minutes, they found a bomb, marked it on the map, then headed to the next location—an artificial lake.

Taylor placed the cake in the elevator according to Matthew's instructions.

After receiving the cake, Matthew reset the countdown as promised.

Alison stood by the artificial lake and turned to look at the big screen.

After resetting the countdown, Matthew set the timer aside and placed the cake in front of the camera.

He inserted number "1" and "7" candles, lit them, and stared at the flames for a while before murmuring. "Happy birthday to me."

Then he closed his eyes to make a wish, blew out the candles, but didn't eat the cake.

Alison asked Taylor through the walkie-talkie. "Did you add anything to the cake?"

Taylor replied. "We wanted to add sleeping pills, but there wasn't enough time. It's just a regular cake. Didn't expect Matthew to be so cautious."

Alison pressed her lips together. "He didn't want to eat the cake. He probably just wanted to make a wish."

Among all the students in the Thomas Special Program, Matthew was the most special.

He hadn't gone through the selection process, and his relationship with the other students was complicated.

His parents, his uncle Arthur were monsters who had trafficked many children. Matthew pretended to be tough, but actually lived in great pain.

His classmates accepted him, yet disliked him.

Matthew's devout expression when making his wish lingered in Alison's mind.

She suddenly felt intensely curious—what wish did Matthew make?

Matthew made three wishes.

One: He hoped Lucy would live safely and happily to a hundred years old.

Two: He hoped all human traffickers in the world would die.

Three: He hoped to be an ordinary person in his next life.

After blowing out the candles, he felt a bit anxious. Were his wishes too many?

If only one wish could come true, he hoped it would be the first one.

Taylor urged Alison through the walkie-talkie. "Try calling Matthew again."

Alison did, but Matthew refused to answer.

The artificial lake covered about 1,000 square feet. While Alison and Oliver were searching along the shore, the second bomb exploded.

A muffled boom, and the ground trembled slightly.

Taylor's voice immediately came through the walkie-talkie. "Building B, 3rd floor exploded. No casualties."

The explosion triggered a fire. Flames climbed up the outside of the building. Fire trucks struggled to put it out, the powerful water streams looking incredibly thin from a distance, less than one-tenth the size of the flames.

The countdown reset again.

Taylor kept trying to call Matthew, but Matthew didn't answer and even unplugged the phone line.

Oliver ordered. "Bomb squad priority is to dismantle bombs outside the building. Taylor, have the team members still searching inside evacuate as soon as possible. No need to risk going in to defuse bombs. It's Santos's building anyway—let it blow."

Taylor nodded, "Yes!"

Before the third bomb exploded, the officers inside evacuated safely. In the twin towers ablaze with flames, only Matthew and the female hostage remained.

Bradley found Oliver. "What's your plan for rescuing that hostage? Countless eyes across the country are watching this. We absolutely cannot abandon the hostage!"

He said hesitantly. "I'm thinking of sending a negotiation expert into the building for face-to-face negotiations with Matthew."

Bradley's ideal candidate was Alison, but he knew very well that Oliver wouldn't agree to let his beloved Alison take such a risk.

Sure enough, Oliver shook his head in opposition.

Alison said calmly. "I'd advise you not to do that. If police approach the control room, Matthew will very likely immediately detonate multiple bombs in retaliation."

Bradley opened his mouth, couldn't help but smile bitterly. Alison was right.

"I think Matthew won't hurt the hostage." Alison said. "Three bombs have been detonated so far. The damaged areas and burning zones haven't completely covered the escape routes. There should be at least three elevators still working normally."

Bradley confirmed with the fire department and got an answer similar to what Alison said.

He was somewhat surprised. Alison seemed very familiar with the twin towers' layout!

"I'm guessing Matthew will send the hostage down the same way he received the cake." The distant firelight reflected on Alison's profile. "After detonating at most two more bombs, he'll agree to release the hostage. What you need to consider now is how to meet his next demand."