NOVPUBThe panda… the hostages… These two things that originally had nothing to do with each other had now become intertwined: the kidnapper You held a panda as a ’hostage,’ demanding the police to clear a way for him.
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The officers present all understood the importance of the two pandas and were momentarily stunned, daring not take any reckless action.
The teams of police that were closing in from the sides, who had almost reached the pool and were only about ten meters from You, suddenly stopped dead in their tracks, crouching on the spot in the grass, not daring to move closer for fear of endangering the panda.
The captured panda didn’t realize it was in mortal danger, probably thinking that this old chap was just playing with it. It wasn’t frightened in the least. On the contrary, it wrapped one arm tightly around You’s neck, giving him a big hug and using its whole body to shield him, acting as a panda flesh shield.
The other panda that wasn’t taken hostage was having none of it, seeing that You didn’t include it in the ’fun.’ It let out a childish whine, ’ah ah ah,’ clung to You’s thigh, and shook vigorously, as if saying, ’I want a hug too, I want a hug too’…
Now, You was in a tight spot, embraced by these two national treasures. Their value was immeasurable, even far more important than the over forty million Hong Kong dollars, and the police were careful not to act rashly, looking at one another unsure of what to do.
Seeing the police stopping in their tracks, not daring to advance any further, You was so moved he almost cried. Just moments ago, he couldn’t wait to kill these two pandas, but now, they had become his amulets.
"Madam, what do we do!" The voice of an officer from the Serious Crime Unit came through the earpiece; He Baowen was the highest commander on the scene, and only she could decide on the next course of action.
An aggressive attack was too risky; a single squeeze of the trigger from the kidnapper could end the panda’s life. Then, the major media outlets of Xiangjiang would undoubtedly make a big deal out of it. The New Territories Serious Crime Unit forcing the death of a national treasure, just thinking about such headlines was enough to make one’s scalp explode... even some groups with ulterior motives would jump at the chance to make a statement, causing detriment to the ********.
Even if they were to storm in, it might not be effective. The nearest officer was about ten meters from the kidnapper, and at that distance, the hit rate of a handgun was too low. Even a sharpshooter couldn’t guarantee hitting the kidnapper without harming the panda.
Calling in a sniper, who might be able to kill the kidnapper from a few hundred meters away, wasn’t feasible time-wise;
Besides, to rescue the hostages—the real hostages, Luo Jiaju’s daughter—they had to ensure the kidnapper was alive to possibly learn the whereabouts of the hostages from him. If the kidnapper was killed, the hostages wouldn’t survive either!
For such a dilemma, the Xiangjiang Police actually had experience; they had a standard procedure.
He Baowen hesitated for a moment before ordering through the communicator, "Negotiation specialist, Mr. Zhang, please request headquarters to send a negotiation specialist immediately!"
"Yes, Sir," a policeman who was called upon responded.
He Baowen then lay on the rock, continuing to call out to the kidnapper, trying her best to persuade him, "The person opposite, don’t be impulsive. As long as you cooperate with us and safely release the hostages, your crime isn’t grave. You could become a material witness, and you’d only have to serve a few years in prison before being released…"
"Cut the crap! I’ll give you three minutes to bring a police car filled with gas to the entrance!"
You didn’t listen to He Baowen’s words at all, jabbing the panda’s head harshly with the gun barrel, "See? I’ve got two pandas here. If the police car doesn’t arrive in three minutes, I’ll kill one! Let’s see how you explain that to the entire nation!"
The panda being held hostage had its head tilted by the gun barrel, and while one would expect it to get angry, the creature instead hummed a couple of times and nuzzled closer, its chubby body twisting coyly, wrapping around You even tighter.
The other panda even came over and nudged You’s gun with its face as if asking for the gun to be jabbed on its head as well to make it fair.
He Baowen was thoroughly exasperated with these two pandas. Are these even bears? Are these even cats? They were simply two lovesick fools!
"Madam, headquarters responds, the negotiation specialist and the Flying Tigers are on the way, they will arrive within half an hour," reported an officer who had been in contact with headquarters to He Baowen.
"Half an hour…" He Baowen felt the urge to smash her communicator. The kidnapper said he’d kill one every three minutes, in half an hour, even a dozen pandas would be dead!
"No choice, we have to risk it!" She gritted her teeth. Compared to the pandas, human lives were more important after all, especially since the hostage was the daughter of a tycoon, a celebrity in society.
In Xiangjiang, those in real power, apart from the central government, were actually the upper-class tycoons. Their intentions had to be considered even by the Special Administrative Region government.
In a moment of thought, He Baowen had already made her decision to storm in!
When it rains, it pours; just as He Baowen was giving orders, another deep voice of a middle-aged man came through the communicator, "I am the Chief Inspector Li Zhengwen. I would like Senior Inspector He Baowen to speak with me!"
This Chief Inspector Li Zhengwen was He Baowen’s direct superior, the leading figure of the Serious Crime Unit. He Baowen immediately responded, "Sir, this is He Baowen!"
"A minute ago, the Commissioner of Police called me and told me that the Board of Directors of Xiangjiang Ocean Park had applied to the Chief Executive of the Special Administrative Region, requesting the police to do their utmost to ensure the safety of the two pandas in the panda enclosure! The Commissioner instructed me to pass this message to you," said Li Zhengwen indifferently.
He Baowen’s face stiffened, the order to storm in hanging at the tip of his tongue, but he was unable to issue it.
If Luo Jiaju was a wealthy man, then the backstage boss of Xiangjiang Ocean Park was a magnate among magnates, with Luo Jiaju being merely a comparatively wealthy landlord in front of them. Even if the two pandas weren’t gifts from the central government, lacking that layer of political influence, the opinion of the Ocean Park board alone would require the SAR government to take it seriously!
"Sir, what should I do?" He Baowen asked resentfully. Damn these rich bastards, always causing trouble for the police!
"I am only responsible for delivering this message. As for what to do, you are the on-site commander, aren’t you? It’s entirely up to you," said Chief Inspector Li Zhengwen with a chuckle, then turned off the communicator. Clearly, he had no intention of shouldering this heavy responsibility.
From the police rushing into the panda enclosure to the end of Li Zhengwen’s conversation with He Baowen, it might seem like a long story, but it all happened within just a few short minutes. Suming was still dizzy.
He was unlucky, first being slammed to the ground by He Baowen with a shoulder throw, leaving him staggered and dazed; before he could recover, he was pinned down by He Baowen like a duck and eventually hit his head on a rockery stone, staying dizzy throughout. Just now, as he was coming to, he heard He Baowen curse furiously, "A bunch of losers! Eat shit!"
"What’s wrong, Madam? Who’s going to live broadcast ****?!"
"None of your business! First team, second team! Prepare to storm in, try to protect the pandas..." Ultimately, He Baowen made up her mind, prioritizing the rescue of the hostages.
After all, she was a police officer, not a politician. From the police academy onwards, she was educated to uphold justice, combat crime, and protect the safety of Xiangjiang citizens—ideals that had taken firm root in her. At the critical moment, she chose to do what a police officer ought to do.
"But what about the pandas if we storm in?" asked Suming.
"Can’t think about that too much now!"
"Hold on, Madam, let me talk to him!" Suming quickly said.
"You? He will listen to you?"
"He might not listen to me, but the pandas just might," Suming winked at her and chuckled, "You forgot, I am a Beast Tamer, you know!"
At that moment, You’s bellowing came across once again, "Where’s the car? It’s been two minutes already! It seems you won’t see reason until you’re face to face with a coffin. I’m killing one panda right now!"
"Wait a second!"
Without waiting for He Baowen’s consent, Suming used a surge of strength from his waist to flip He Baowen off him, rolled out from behind the rockery and stood up with his hands raised, shouting towards You, "Countryman, countryman, don’t shoot, I’m one of us, just listen to me for a moment!"
Suming suddenly popping up infuriated He Baowen. This guy was way too lax, acting without seeking her approval. What if the kidnapper shot him?
But at the same time, she also harbored a glimmer of hope. They had all seen Suming’s bird; it truly was unique. Perhaps Suming really could defuse the standoff at this moment?
So, she quickly gestured to all the officers to stand down and watch how the situation unfolded.
Countrymen meet, their eyes brimmed with tears.
To be honest, after hearing the familiar Mainland accent, You’s heart fluttered a bit.
Of course, it was merely a flutter, far from enough to make him drop his weapon and come out to surrender. Instead, he clung tightly to the panda in his embrace, squeezing most of his body behind the panda, and said guardedly, "What do you want to do? Get lost, get lost..." The latter part of his sentence was addressed to the panda.
The other panda, not taken hostage, seemed startled by the sudden appearance of another person, cried out ’ah ah’ twice, and backed away, pushing its butt into You’s arms while covering its face with its front paws as if by doing so, it would become invisible.
"Brother, it’s truly for your own good!" Seeing that the kidnapper did not shoot, Suming grew bolder; his entire body stepped out from the cover of the rocks, hands held high, presenting an utterly honest and harmless demeanor as he slowly walked forward.
"Bullshit, for my own good?! You think I’m an idiot! Stop, take one more step and I’ll blow your head off!" You shouted, swiftly waving the gun at Suming.
Good, good, as long as he doesn’t shoot, that’s all that matters. I’ll make sure to talk some sense into him!
