Chapter 157

Chapter 157

Half an hour later.

Jack and Joseph stood in front of the state police headquarters.

Jack wore a black military-style trench coat, his posture ramrod straight.

He stood at the bottom of the steps as a breeze tugged at the hem of his coat, yet it couldn't disturb the bottomless chill in his eyes.

Joseph stood beside him, spine rigid, his gaze flickering with bloodthirsty excitement.

"General," Joseph lowered his voice, barely containing his killing intent, "the special ops team has sealed all exits. Snipers are in position on the rooftop across the street. One word from you, and in ten minutes, not even a fly will make it out of this building alive."

Jack didn't respond immediately.

He tilted his head slightly, studying the police station before him.

What should have been a sanctuary of justice now resembled a wolf in sheep's clothing, reeking of nauseating corruption.

"Let's go. Follow me inside first."

Jack's tone was flat.

"Yes, sir."

Joseph nodded respectfully.

Just as the two prepared to enter.

The sharp screech of tires against pavement shattered the brief silence.

A black heavy-duty SUV shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, accompanied by the piercing squeal of brakes as it came to a steady stop at the bottom of the steps.

The door swung open, and the first thing to emerge was a pair of long, slender legs encased in black combat boots. Then a tall woman stepped out from the driver's seat.

She wore a state police precinct uniform, but what should have been a dignified, serious outfit clung to her body, accentuating curves that would make anyone's pulse race. The uniform hugged her full chest and slender waist, flowing down to reveal long, perfectly straight legs.

The night breeze swept past, lifting a strand of blonde hair by her ear and revealing a face both exquisitely beautiful and coldly striking.

It was Diana.

Diana held a file in her hand as she started up the steps.

Her gaze locked directly with Jack's.

"You!"

Diana froze.

She hadn't expected to run into Jack here.

"What are you doing here?"

"Don't tell me you've got a guilty conscience and came to turn yourself in?"

As she spoke.

Her gaze bored into Jack.

Trying to catch any crack in his expression.

She'd always suspected Jack was behind the takedown of the Viper Gang last time—she just didn't have any proof.

Facing Diana's scrutinizing, challenging gaze, Jack didn't get angry. Instead, he raised an eyebrow slightly.

His deep gaze met Diana's without flinching, the corner of his mouth curving into an ambiguous smile.

"Just here to find Jeremy. Have a little chat about some things."

Jeremy?

Diana froze.

The chief of the Viridis State Police Department.

What business could Jack possibly have with him?

"Perfect timing. I'm here to report to him too. Let's go in together."

"Sure."

Jack agreed readily.

The three of them entered the station.

And as they moved.

In an attic not far from the station.

And on the street.

Numerous figures appeared, and even at elevated positions in the distance, several scopes glinted with faint red light.

At this moment.

The Viridis State police headquarters.

Was caught in an inescapable net.

No one could enter.

And no one could leave.

Inside the station.

Diana remained oblivious to all of this.

She led Jack through a maze of corridors to the chief's office.

"You first."

Diana had just turned around when Jack smiled at her and spoke.

She frowned slightly.

Then, clutching her file, walked inside.

"Reporting."

Inside the office.

A man in his fifties.

Hearing the sound, slowly raised his head.

He was Jeremy McPherson, chief of the Viridis State Police Department.

The man wore gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, leaning back in an oversized leather executive chair with his eyes closed. Hearing Diana's voice, he frowned with displeasure and slowly opened his eyes.

"Mr. McPherson, my name is Diana. I'm from the precinct and—"

Before Diana could finish.

Jeremy waved his hand impatiently.

"Just get to the point."

Diana frowned at this but still pulled out the file in her hand.

And began her report.

"Enough, enough."

Halfway through, Jeremy cut Diana off impatiently.

"I'm sick of hearing this meaningless drivel. My ears are about to grow calluses."

Jeremy's fleshy face quivered slightly, his eyes radiating undisguised contempt and dismissiveness.

While casually toying with an expensive pen on his desk, he tapped the surface irritably.

"Diana, if you came here today just to waste my time with these trivial matters, you can leave now."

Diana's expression darkened instantly. Her fingers tightened around the file until her knuckles turned white.

She took a deep breath, forcing down her anger, and was about to respond.

"Jeremy, it seems your temper is even bigger than your courage."

A low, cold voice carrying overwhelming pressure rang out without warning in the spacious office.

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an irresistible authority that made the air in the office feel instantly heavy.

Jeremy jumped at the unexpected voice, his pen clattering onto the desk.

He jerked his head up and only then noticed a man standing behind Diana.

A man with an exceptionally commanding presence.

"Who are you?"

"Our leader wants to see you." Joseph looked at Jeremy as he spoke.

"Your leader?"

Jeremy froze.

Joseph respectfully stepped aside.

And behind him.

Stood Jack.

He wore a black military-style trench coat, his features sharp as if carved by blade and chisel, his deep-set eyes like bottomless, icy pools.

Jeremy narrowed his eyes, sizing Jack up from head to toe, his brow furrowing tightly.

He'd been in this position for years—what kind of big shot hadn't he seen?

But the killing aura emanating from this man, forged in mountains of corpses and seas of blood, triggered an instinctive tremor of fear.

"Who are you?" Jeremy forced himself to sound steady, though his tone involuntarily softened. "Who gave you permission to just walk into my office?!"

Jack ignored his questions.

He simply strode forward with measured steps, unhurried.

With each step closer, that suffocating sense of oppression intensified.

Jack towered over Jeremy from above, his penetrating gaze locking onto him like a hawk eyeing prey, as if looking at a dead man.

"Don't be nervous. I'm only here today because there's something I need to confirm with you."