Chapter 155 The Mysterious Man with Bombs Strapped to His Body
Alexander recalled briefly, "NU180."
Within five seconds, Max had infiltrated the city's surveillance network and quickly pulled up the fake-plated van's travel route.
Alexander's eyes showed surprise. He hadn't expected that in such a short time, Max could extract this vehicle's complete trajectory.
Max pointed at the damaged van on the screen. "Is this the vehicle?"
Alexander recognized it immediately. "That's the one."
Max continued investigating, but discovered the vehicle was still driving around various parts of the city without stopping at any fixed location.
The vehicle was still in motion.
Alexander placed his hand on Max's shoulder. "I planted a tracking device on your mother."
Since Max could simulate the vehicle's route in such a short time, he could certainly locate the tracker as well.
Looking at the system Max was operating—it appeared to be his own creation, with a completely different interface that Alexander couldn't operate. This seemed to be a system Max had developed for himself, with exclusive access rights that only he could control.
Max looked up with some confusion. "What model tracking device?"
Alexander replied, "Starlink M80-45."
Max thought carefully for a moment.
This was an advanced satellite tracking device that could pinpoint location within a one-foot range—an extremely sophisticated positioning system.
Max said, "Every Starlink tracker has an encryption key ID. I need to input the key ID to track it."
Alexander replied, "I set the key to Morse code. ALEXANDER."
He wasn't sure if Max understood Morse code input format—his name would need to be converted into Morse code to serve as the actual password.
However—
He had underestimated the boy.
Max had memorized Morse code by age three.
Closing his eyes, the letters "ALEXANDER" automatically converted to Morse code format within a second. He opened his eyes and his fingers flew across the keyboard, quickly inputting the key ID. The command unlocked and connected directly to the satellite positioning system, revealing that the tracker was now in a different vehicle.
Two vehicles?
Had they transferred her to another car?
"Something's wrong."
Max's voice grew tense. "This car... its route doesn't make sense."
Alexander bent down to look at the screen, his expression shifting slightly.
He finally understood why Max said the vehicle's route was off.
The car was heading directly toward the Hayes family estate.
Max pulled up high-definition photos captured by traffic cameras. They had indeed switched vehicles—no longer the van, but an Audi A8.
Was Grace in this car?
But the vehicle was driving straight toward the Hayes estate without any deviation.
Max said, "This car... it's heading for the Hayes estate."
Alexander immediately stepped outside. "Jeremy!"
Jeremy had been standing guard outside the door. Hearing his voice, he rushed to the study entrance. "Mr. Hayes, what do you need?"
"How many security personnel did you deploy?"
Jeremy replied, "I previously called in twenty-plus security from the company."
Alexander said, "Not enough. Deploy fifty more around the perimeter. I want complete lockdown—let one person in, but not even a fly gets out." He paused. "High-level clearance. Full armament."
Jeremy's scalp prickled.
Alexander owned a private security company. After a kidnapping incident involving the Hayes family over a decade ago, they had acquired this firm outright. The bodyguards were all battlefield veterans—special forces and mercenaries with real combat experience. The highest-level personnel even had firearms permits and could carry weapons.
Inside the room, Max kept his eyes fixed on the vehicle's trajectory on screen, his voice growing colder, "The vehicle is getting closer."
Max noticed the car had suddenly stopped. He zoomed in on the map—the marker showed it had stopped just six hundred feet from their current location.
The occupants were right outside!
Max walked to the doorway, looking toward Alexander. "The car stopped nearby, about two hundred meters from us. They're outside our gates."
His concern was, was Mom really in this vehicle?
Or had they discovered the tracking device on her and removed it? Even so, instead of destroying it immediately, they had driven straight to the Hayes estate.
What were they planning?
The butler suddenly hurried upstairs. "Sir, someone outside is asking for you."
Alexander grew alert. "Who?"
"A strange man claiming to be your friend, surname Cooper. He says he's here to return something to you."
Alexander said, "Everyone, stand down."
The butler froze. "Sir?" They could see numerous armed bodyguards downstairs in full tactical gear, which made them understandably nervous.
Alexander said, "All of you return to your rooms."
Mary also came upstairs worriedly, her face pale with panic. "Alexander, what's happening?"
Alexander didn't have time for detailed explanations.
He said to Mary, "Grandmother, please return to your room. I'll explain everything later, but there's no time now."
Mary said, "Alexander, what's going on? Grandmother is worried about you..."
"Grandmother, don't worry. Just do as I say—go to your room. No matter what sounds you hear, don't step outside. I'll assign someone to protect you."
He paused, then turned to Max and Liam. "Same goes for you two. Stay in your room, don't move around. Max, take care of Liam."
"Got it!"
Liam wanted to follow Alexander downstairs, but Max pulled him back into the room. "You stay with me and don't go anywhere."
He closed the door.
Alexander turned and headed downstairs.
Several bodyguards approached. "All civilians evacuated."
The vast estate now held only Alexander and Jeremy, plus twenty-some bodyguards, with thirty more on their way.
As soon as he reached the ground floor, he heard someone outside demanding loudly, "Who are you?"
Alexander called out, "Let him in!"
A few seconds of silence.
The front door was pushed open from outside.
Two bodyguards maintained vigilant watch as a man walked inside.
The man appeared to be in his thirties, with long hair casually pulled back, a few loose strands falling across his forehead. His features were reasonably handsome, except for a scar running across half his face, giving him a sinister, menacing appearance.
He wore very loose clothing and strolled casually into the living room, settling himself on the couch without invitation before lighting a cigarette.
Several bodyguards continuously observed his every movement. Their professional instincts told them this man was concealing something under his clothes.
Something that looked like... C-4 explosives...