Chapter 1704 - 1345: Frantic Gamble (Part 2)

He crouched down, his legs weakened by fear, almost crawling with both hands and feet toward the lightly damaged Mercedes G500 bullet-proof SUV, thirty meters ahead.

His military boots slipped on the gravel ground, almost causing him to fall twice, each time being harshly yanked back into balance by the guard.

Another guard named Diya clung closely to Barzani's other side.

This twenty-two-year-old came from Barzani's hometown, a distant relative's son with unquestionable loyalty.

At this moment, Diya's rifle was slung over his back, his hands spread wide open, his body slightly angled, forming a human shield between Barzani and the direction bullets might come from.

When they were still about twenty meters from the G500—

Thump—

A muffled thumping sound rang out.

It wasn't the crisp sound of a bullet hitting rock or metal, but the sickening, moist thud of it hitting flesh.

Diya's body jolted suddenly.

His right leg seemed to be smashed by an invisible sledgehammer, the combat pants instantly bursting with a hole as big as a bowl, muscle, blood vessels, and bone fragments mixed with blood sprayed out like a violently shattered ketchup bottle.

A strong metallic smell of blood exploded in the air.

"Ah—!"

The young man let out a short cry of pain, losing his balance and toppling forward.

Yet in the final moment before consciousness was consumed by excruciating pain, he instinctively reached out, using his last bit of strength to push Barzani's back.

"Diya!"

Barzani turned to glance at his loyal subordinate.

Diya writhed and twitched in agony on the gravel, blood rapidly gushing from the wound on his leg, spreading a large dark red stain on the blackened ground.

"Don't stop! If we stop, we're dead!"

The Guard Captain's shout came from ahead on the side, accompanied by continuous gunfire.

A guard returned, his strong arm gripping Barzani's arm like the hydraulic claw of construction machinery,

nearly dragging him forward in a sprint.

Bullets began chasing their footsteps.

Whiz—Thump!

A bullet hit less than ten centimeters from Barzani's left foot, the flying gravel striking his calf painfully.

Whiz, whiz—!

Two stray bullets almost brushed past his right ear, clearly feeling the scorching air current they brought as they ripped through the air.

Death had never been so tangible, no longer an abstract concept but turned into these whistling metal particles, every sound piercing the air possibly being a one-way ticket to hell.

Barzani's lungs burned hotly, his heart pounding as if it would shatter his ribs.

The world became blurred and fragmented in his eyes: a shaking horizon, jetting flames, thick smoke, blood, and the black SUV growing closer...

Ten meters.

Five meters.

The rear door of the Mercedes G500 was pushed open from inside, the engine's deep and steady roar now like the bells of heaven.

The final sprint.

The Guard Captain almost embraced Barzani, using all his strength to 'throw' him into the backseat of the cabin.

The General's body slammed heavily onto the expensive leather seat, dazing him.

"Get in the car! Quick!"

Barzani shouted hoarsely.

As the Guard Captain entered the cabin, he threw a smoke bomb with a reverse hand.

Grayish-white thick smoke exploded behind their car, forming a temporary visual barrier.

The car door hadn't fully closed when the driver floored the accelerator!

The V8 twin-turbo engine roared violently, the SUV tires spinning wildly on the gravel, scattering dust and stones, then shot out like an enraged wild bull.

The vehicle swayed and twisted along the eastern edge of the dry riverbed, fleeing towards the whirlpool's weak spot in the canyon.

Clang, clang—!

A string of metallic clattering came from the car body instantly.

At least a dozen stray bullets chased from behind, hitting the G500's thick armor and bullet-proof glass.

The side windows showed web-like white cracks, but thanks to the German's rigorously obsessive protection standards, not a single bullet truly pierced through.

The cabin filled with a strange mixture of sweat, blood, smoke, and leather smells.

Barzani slumped in the backseat, his chest still heaving, every breath vibrating.

His hands shook violently, trying three times before successfully pulling out the encrypted satellite phone from the inner pocket.

His fingertips cold and numb from excess adrenaline, feeling almost no touch when pressing the buttons.

The call was answered almost instantly.

"Rashid!"

Barzani tried to make his voice calmer.

"Listen. Plans have changed. We've been attacked by Abu You's special forces. The special squad previously arranged for the ambush here is dead, but our ultimate goal remains unchanged. Because Masood is dead. You hear me, Masood is dead in the ambush. This is an accomplished fact. Understand?"

On the other end, his co-conspirator, Rashid, head of the Special Operations Department of the Kold Autonomous Region's Security Forces, was evidently shaken by the undeniable coldness in Barzani's tone.

After two seconds of silence, came a voice tinged with uncertainty and shock: "Dead? General, but our previous intelligence indicated..."

"No time to explain details!"

Barzani brusquely interrupted him, speaking almost as fast as machine-gun fire.