Soho

Chapter 213: < Protect – Side Story – Logan’s Adventure [8] >

They had the power to do so.

However, they could only use it without the public finding out. If it got out that politicians and government workers abused their power, their dark power games were going to come to an end.

Today’s New York was filled with the atrocity of desperate men. Since they were at risk of dying, they didn’t care about America’s freedom or democracy. Unless they were patriots with great loyalty and beliefs, even, Korean patriotism depended on the situation.

Since America was like a sandcastle that was built with immigrants, they strongly stressed patriotism. The one business that would continue to exist with America was the American flag business. During America’s current crisis, the two things that sold the most were guns and American flags.

Patrick Holland knew this was his last chance to strike it big. It wasn’t just one skilled man who caught on to the Dakoma troop’s New York terrorist plan, and Huxley Group’s secretive behavior was their golden opportunity.

‘They’ll probably understand even if we slightly aggravate the fear vibe.’

Manipulating the media and popular opinion was Holland Corporation’s specialty. There were many politicians who went along with Patrick’s plan. They dreamt of a Casino Roulette, but what they actually faced after being tricked was a Russian Roulette.

Patrick Holland took a shit.

And it was a big and smelly one that splashed irresponsibly. At first, it was just Emily Karen who sniffed it out and pounced, but the longer the toilet stayed uncleaned, the more flies that swarmed around it. They had to kill the businessman who sold the defective toilet and rid of the toilet reinvestigation documents.

“The shield has been secured.”

“It’s not moving.”

If Logan’s party had left the police station, they would have been beat up as soon as they got outside.

“Where’s the police?”

“They’re in a bit of a commotion.”

“How much time do we have until the governor gets involved?”

“Both the mayor and governor will hesitate.”

Dispatching the national guards in New York was a big risk. The New York terrorist attack involving Scott Davis was hard to control, but if the mayor and governor failed to control this crisis, they would have no choice but to resign. The reason why America tried so hard not to lose jurisdiction was because everything was political.

This country began with politics and would end with politics.

“It’s unfortunate to see New York go down again, but we have to survive.”

******

Bang, bang, bang-

Gunshots surrounded the police station. New York was blacked out with smoke coming out of it. There wasn’t a big riot like last time, but there were always opportunists looking to fill their greed whenever they could.

When there was less being monitored in the dark, people became more truthful to their greed. The New York citizens and tourists hide in their houses or accommodations to avoid thieves and thugs. As a result of the media’s fast action, there were predators all over downtown. And in the slums where the police weren’t dispatched to, a riot started to break out.

What was it that they learned in the last tragedy? It was possible that the prayers given for the New York citizens were useless in front of instinct and greed. What was for certain was that they weren’t going to be victims again this time. That was because there were more than 1 million guns registered in New York now. As a result, there were more gunshots than before along with the black smoke. The police weren’t shooting toward suspects. The shop owners were shooting at predators, and homeowners were shooting at thieves in order to protect their lives and wealth.

In the midst of the gun battles in the city, the strongest gunfight started with the assailants surrounding Logan and his party.

Bang, bang, bang- Bang-

One was trying to steal while another was trying to protect.

The strong firepower and the blockage of communication and capital expressed Caroline’s desperation. There was nothing favorable about the location of the police station surrounded by high-rise buildings. The assailants who already secured good locations started coming in one step at a time.

“How annoying.”

Fisher’s hands were busy loading his gun, and Richard lowered his body and approached.

“What about the additional staff?”

“No good. Someone’s jamming the communication.”

“Isn’t that a military weapon?”

“They came here to die. Good thing they don’t have a tank.”

Just as he said that, Richard and Fisher flinched at the sound of an engine. It wasn’t a train. It sounded more like an armored vehicle. Both of them looked outside and swore at the same time.

“Damn it!”

“Shit!”

How was it possible for an armored car to go around the streets of New York? They knew that the police station didn’t have any rocket launchers or anti-tanks.

“Incoming!”

As soon as the outside situation looked bad, Caroline made a decision. If there was no way of running or shielding, she had no choice but to resort to another method.

“Ready?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Set it off.”

“The building could collapse.”

“Just do it.”

Caroline’s subordinate expressed his worry. Whenever Americans planned the development of a city, they always considered beauty. For that reason, many water pipes and wires that didn’t look pleasant were all buried underground.

But that didn’t mean they dug holes everywhere like Korea. Instead, they made them into tunnels that people could pass through. New York’s underground was a maze. Since a lot of the high-rise buildings built parking lots underneath, they couldn’t connect those, but under the police station that was over 100 years old, a path could be found.

Bang-

The building shook. In response, the head who was leading the attack against the police station picked up his walkie-talkie in shock.

“Who was that?”

They did have a plan to blow up the police station as a last-minute resort. But they didn’t think they would have to end their lives along with the police station. This was truly a last resort.

Negative!

I heard it from inside!

An armed car coming in! The head is coming in!

The armed car finally entered the entrance of the police station. They successfully brought in the armed car to use as a shield.

Where did they all go?

Check all floors!

The rain of bullets suddenly stopped. The inside of the police station was an absolute tragedy. Most of the bodies belonged to police officers, but there were some dead assailants as well.

st floor clear!

nd floor clear!

rd floor clear!

They searched through floors 1 to 5, but they didn’t see even a shadow of Caroline or Richard.

“What about the basement?”

The head urgently grabbed the walkie-talkie.

Shit! They went this way!

There was a hole.

An underground passageway that reeked.

“Shit!”

******

“Did you have a plan, Carol?”

Richard walked next to Caroline who was leading the way.

“You... still have a lot to learn from Soo Ho.”

“I agree.”

“They say the smart rabbit digs up three caves. People like me and Soo Ho don’t move on just one plan.”

They made sure to have a plan C, D, and E, just in case plan B didn’t work out. The end of the dizzy underground passage was a New York subway station. As a result of the blackout, all of the subways halted their operations. Even if there wasn’t a blackout, it was past their hours of operation. There were probably many people trapped within cars as a result of the sudden blackout.

The police and firefighters of New York were both busy, and all of the public employees were busy as well. The thieves that moved in response to the darkness didn’t make for much of an issue. The citizens tried to keep their mentality, but if the time came, they followed their instincts.

Fisher, who was crossing the subway platform, raised his hand and stopped his party. In response, they all turned off their flashlights. They heard footsteps. It was getting closer. There were those in military uniforms, in suits, as well as casual outfits. There were men, women, as well as children.

Fisher knitted his brows.

He just wanted them to pass by.

But in order to get out, they had to go through the subway platform. The passengers, who were stuck, finally made their way out. They were all walking to find a way out. It was true that bad things all happened at once.

As soon as the people saw a light, they screamed thinking they were being rescued.

“Here! Over here!”

“Phew! We’re finally being saved!”

“We waited for hours!”

“Shut up! We have to vote for a new mayor!”

“Those damned government workers!”

A man in a suit was grumbling complaints when he stopped. He expected a firefighter or a paramedic, but the person holding the light was wearing a black uniform. On top of that, they were equipped with bombs and military knives.

Were they from the special forces?

They looked too fierce to be from the police.

“Are you the police... Ugh!”

The man in the suit was about to ask a question when his head twisted and fell to the ground.

“Agh!”

“Huh?”

The people behind him either fell back or stepped back. They were scared by the sudden violence. The head didn’t care and ordered his subordinate to bring a floor plan.

“Any other paths?”

“I’m still checking... This way might be our best bet.”

“That Caroline Burn... I knew we shouldn’t have underestimated that sly bitch.”

“Since we covered the whole ground in the subway platform, they won’t be able to get away.”

“Don’t be so sure.”

The head stared at the scared people. They weren’t just ordinary villains. They usually just fought on the battlefield, but they had killed civilians as well. But they were just accidents. They weren’t psychopaths that went around killing everyone for no reason.

‘If the ledger gets out, it’s not just the politicians that are in trouble but us, too.’

The only reason why such villains of the mercenary world that only chased after money was still alive today was because of contracts. Ahn Soo Ho didn’t touch a single part of the contract. However, it was likely that in business involving big money, the methods were illegal.

Contracts notarized through dual contacts included other clauses, and that led to big profits. But if the ledger and double contracts were revealed, they would have had to face off against Ahn Soo Ho before the investigative authorities. After all, the contracts of special mercenaries were directly tied to trust. Even if it wasn’t Ahn Soo Ho, other mercenaries were bound to go after them.

“Are you sure this is the right place?”

“Yes, Sir. Shall we search?”

“No.”

They didn’t have time or manpower for that. The head grabbed the man in a suit with his hand.

“You.”

“Ye... yes?”

Seeing from his fancy getup, he must be working on Wall Street. But then again, there was no way he would have used the subway in that case. But he shook his head again.

‘But then again, it’s faster to take the subway during rush hour.’

As soon as he put a gun to his head, he heard a shriek.

“What’s your name?”

“Ro... Ron.”

“Ron, what’s about to happen to you is because of someone who’s hiding here. So beg me to keep you alive.”

“Ok... okay! Pl... please let me live!”

“Louder.”

“Let me live! Please!”

Richard almost shot his gun in response to the screaming. If Fisher hadn’t stopped him, he would have done it. Fisher covered his lips with his finger and shook his head.

“Carol! If you give me the child, I’ll let you, your underlings, and these people go! We want to rip Patrick Holland to shreds just like you! Let’s negotiate!”

Since they didn’t know Hannah was Carol’s granddaughter, they didn’t understand Star Fox’s strong retaliation.

An aide approached and whispered in the head’s ears.

“Do you think she’ll come out willingly?”

“Maybe not Carol... But Soo Ho’s underlings are different.”

“Pardon?”

“They’re psychos that are obsessed with playing justice.”

Ahn Soo Ho’s direct troops were very skilled. But from the outside, they didn’t look so favorable. People thought that they were just running on Ahn Soo Ho’s authority and weapons without much else to offer.

The head also agreed with that.

Mercenaries were dirty by nature.

Without Ahn Soo Ho’s protection, the direct troops were nothing but war mercenaries that knew how to shoot. On top of that, they were amateurs who never had a taste of true cruelty.

‘Mercenaries don’t have a conscience. Those amateurs.’

The head pulled the trigger.

Bang-

A big hole went through the suited man’s head.

“Agh!”

Screaming and crying filled the underground. As soon as he shook his gun around, he chose a new target. It was a teenage girl.

“Pl... please don’t kill me!”

“Louder.”

“Please don’t kill me!”

The girl screamed with all her might after feeling the gun on her forehead. Fisher noticed Richard wriggling and held him back with his arm. If they succumbed to the villains’ games, they were going to fail their original duties.

“Tsk!”

The head clicked his tongue.

‘Is one person not enough?’

Ahn Soo Ho’s underlings would have run out and tried to act like heroes. He didn’t want to kill a girl in her teens, but he had no choice.

‘Don’t resent me for this.’

Just resent the person that was at the wrong place at the wrong time. The head was about to pull the trigger when he started trembling.

“Ugh!”

He panted and looked down at his chest. There was a knife going through his chest.

“Ugh!”

“Boss?”

As soon as the knife was pulled, blood poured out like a fountain.

“Agh!”

The girl was covered in blood. She screamed while the men around her had bullets go through their heads. Richard then stepped up and Fisher didn’t stop him this time.

Bang, bang- Bang, bang- Bang, bang-

Once the gunfight ended, the assailants were all on the ground. Richard took care of the trembling girl on the ground and yelled,

“Logan!?”

A full camouflage suit appeared from the darkness like a ghost.

If he hadn’t shown himself, they wouldn’t have seen him even with a flashlight. As soon as he uncovered his face, it was clear it was Logan. Logan urged the others without any time to lose.

“Let’s get moving!”

“What about them?”

As soon as Richard pointed at the group of passengers, Logan shook his head.

“Disappearing is the best for their safety.”

Logan led the others and exchanged glances with his brothers and sisters, Caroline, and Fisher.

“We have to get out of here, Carol. They’re all over the place upstairs, too.”

“How did you find us?”

“Just in case.”

Logan accepted Hannah’s hug and then pointed at the tracker inside her stuffed bear.

“You’re better than the rest of them, Logan.”

Caroline smiled. Richard’s face turned red, but no one looked at him or comforted him. They exited through the underground parking lot of a high-rise building.

As soon as Caroline saw the temporarily employed mercenaries and Christina, she was about to hit her over the head and then lowered her hand. She didn’t want to hit Hannah’s mother right in front of her.

“I’ll... see you later.”

Caroline coldly got into the car. Logan gave Hannah to Christina and then got in the driver’s seat.

Head car departing!

Number 2! Number 3 is also departing!

Number 5! Number 6 is on standby!

The blackout made the New York streets into parking lots, but they somehow managed to get through it. Their destination was the UN headquarters. They believed that not even the craziest would attack the UN headquarters.

On top of that, the police were surrounding the UN headquarters, so they couldn’t shoot at them easily. As soon as they were just 2 kilometers away from the UN headquarters, they were unexpectedly attacked. The opposition was psychos that exceeded Logan’s imagination.

Bang-

Something flew over and knocked out the head car.

‘RPG?’

The number 6 car also got hit and flew off.

“Watch out!”

Richard yelled into his walkie-talkie, and the other cars all managed to avoid the explosion. Logan stepped hard on the breaks. The SUV’s engines made a large sound as it stopped.

Crash-

The car crashed into the car in front of it but still sped toward its destination. Richard from the passenger’s seat yelled into his walkie-talkie.

“Disperse and head toward the destination!”

The men in cars 1 and 6 were injured, but they weren’t going to die. That was because as long as missiles weren’t used, the SUV was capable of protecting them from RPGs.

Logan got a weird feeling and immediately turned the wheel. The car almost flipped over, but thankfully, it was okay. Christina had Hannah in her arms as she got swept to the side, but another explosion got in the way of their chance to scream.

Bang-

It was a real missile this time.

“Those crazy bastards!”

They fired it, intending to kill.

“Step on it, Logan!”

Logan sped up in response. However, it couldn’t exceed the speed of the missiles.

Bang-

The impact caused the SUV to roll over. The car then ran into the show window of a shop. The strong glass as well as the crime prevention shutter both went out.

“Ugh!”

Logan was the first to come to his senses inside the car. He first took out a knife and cut himself out of his seatbelt. He heard Christina groaning. Thankfully, Hannah wasn’t hurt. But Richard definitely was.

The missile was unable to break through the car’s body, but a glass that flew at him cut through his shoulder into the seat.

“Ugh! Go without me, Logan.”

“Shit!”

They couldn’t do anything with their bare hands. Logan got Christina and Hannah out of the car and then looked back at Richard, who handed him a gun.

“Don’t die! I’ll be back!”

“Do I look like the type to die easily? Go on!”

Logan helped Christina up when she stumbled with Hannah in her arms and then started walking.

‘What happened to my relaxing vacation?’

A vacation was supposed to be fun, but once he got back to America, nothing was that fun at all. Logan got the feeling that the opposition was no ordinary person. He held up Christina with one hand and held Hannah’s hand with the other as he got ready to avoid any kind of fight.

‘Where do we run to?’

The problem was that there was nowhere to hide.

‘Damn it!’

He couldn’t fight like this.

They were close to running into them.

Logan had to make a choice, and he boldly tried to let go of Christina’s hand. But there was no need. An SUV ran into the assailants. It kept going without stopping.

“Ha.”

Logan laughed once he saw Rosaline get out of the driver’s seat. What was funnier was that Caroline stepped on the eyes of one of them on the ground with her heels.

Kill heel.

She killed him.

An eyeball and some nerves came out along with her heel. Caroline brushed off her shoes with an annoyed look on her face. How strong was she that she killed a man with her heel? She wasn’t annoyed that she killed, but she was annoyed that she got her heels dirty. Logan stared at her.

Did she notice?

“Why?”

Caroline shrugged her shoulders and Logan laughed once more.

Christian Louboutin limited edition.

Luxury goods were expensive for a reason.

< Protect – Logan’s Adventure [8] > The end.