Chapter 148: The Hunt for Jiang Han

The air inside the Aegis Sentinel Corps' command centre was thick with tension. Every second that passed felt like an eternity. Jiang Han had been taken, and the enemy had left no trace. The best security measures and the most advanced tracking systems—none of them had been enough.

Colonel Yusof stood at the centre of the war room, his hands clenched behind his back. His gaze swept across the team—Mikhail Darmawan, Adrian Yong, Sophia Liew, Elisa Tan, and Marcus Tan. The best of the Corps. The ones who wouldn't rest until Jiang Han was home.

"Status update," Colonel Yusof ordered.

Sophia's fingers flew over her keyboard, her brows furrowed in frustration. "I'm running every trace I can. Traffic cameras, satellite feeds, cell tower pings. They're using advanced countermeasures. It's like they disappeared off the grid."

Mikhail paced the length of the room, barely containing his frustration. "Then we find another way. They had to move him somewhere. What about informants?"

Adrian nodded. "I've already activated our network. Every underworld contact, every low-level fixer who might have heard something. So far, nothing."

Colonel Yusof took a deep breath. "We know who took him. Mercenaries. Which means someone paid for this. Find the money, and we find Jiang."

Sophia nodded sharply. "I'll dig into any unusual financial movements in the past 48 hours."

Mikhail's jaw tightened. "We don't have time for a slow approach. We need action now."

Colonel Yusof's gaze hardened. "Then let's move. Every resource, every contact. We don't stop until we have Jiang Han back."

---

Jiang Han sat in the dimly lit warehouse, his wrists bound behind him, his legs shackled to the cold metal chair. His head still throbbed from the blows he'd taken during the ambush, but his mind was sharp.

His captors hadn't spoken much. They didn't need to. The message was clear: he was valuable. They wanted him alive—for now.

Footsteps echoed in the distance. A door creaked open, and Jiang lifted his head as the man from the transport entered.

The mercenary studied him with an unreadable expression. "You should be grateful."

Jiang's lips curled slightly despite the pain. "For what? The hospitality?"

The man smirked. "For being alive." He pulled up a chair and sat across from Jiang. "Do you know how much you're worth, Han?"

Jiang remained silent.

"More than most world leaders," the mercenary continued. "There are people out there willing to pay a fortune for you. Some want you dead. Some want to use you."

Jiang's eyes narrowed. "And you? What do you want?"

The man leaned forward. "Me? I just follow orders. But my employers... they have plans for you."

Jiang kept his expression neutral. He needed more information, and that meant keeping this man talking. "Who hired you?"

The mercenary chuckled. "You'll find out soon enough." He stood, rolling his shoulders. "Until then, you should get comfortable."

Jiang's mind worked furiously as the man exited the room. He knew one thing for certain—his people would come.

And he had to be ready when they did.

---

Back at Aegis Sentinel Corps headquarters, Sophia's computer let out a sharp beep. She straightened immediately. "Got something."

Everyone snapped to attention.

"What is it?" Adrian asked.

Sophia pulled up a financial transaction on the main screen. "A shell company wired an unusually large payment to a known mercenary group within the last 24 hours. The funds were routed through multiple accounts, but I traced the origin."

A name appeared on the screen.

Viktor Dalca.

Mikhail's eyes flashed with recognition. "That bastard. Former Apex Circle operative. He disappeared after the Circle fell, but we knew he wasn't finished."

Colonel Yusof's jaw tightened. "If he's involved, then Jiang is in more danger than we thought."

Elisa Tan spoke up. "We need to move fast. If Dalca funded this, he won't keep Jiang in one place for long."

Adrian tapped his earpiece. "I'll put pressure on our informants. Someone knows where Dalca is hiding."

Mikhail grabbed his gear. "We go now."

---

The intel led them to a remote industrial district outside Seladang City. A derelict warehouse—the kind that no one paid attention to. The perfect place for a high-value hostage.

Colonel Yusof led the strike team, with Mikhail, Adrian, and Elisa at the front. The rest of the Corps' Bodyguard and Security Guard Divisions were positioned strategically around the perimeter.

Sophia's voice came through their earpieces. "Minimal outside movement. But heat signatures inside indicate at least ten hostiles."

Colonel Yusof's voice was steady. "We go in silent. Take out the perimeter guards first."

Mikhail smirked. "I prefer loud."

Yusof gave him a warning glance, then gave the signal. "Move."

The team advanced, their movements precise. Two guards patrolling the entrance were taken down instantly—one with a silenced shot, the other with a blade to the throat.

Adrian signalled to the others. "We breach in five."

They moved into position. On the count of three—

BOOM.

An explosion ripped through the night. The warehouse doors were blasted open, and gunfire erupted from inside.

"They knew we were coming!" Sophia shouted over the comms.

Colonel Yusof didn't hesitate. "Engage!"

Mikhail was the first through the smoke, gun raised, taking down an enemy before rolling behind cover. Adrian and Elisa flanked left, clearing the way for the rest of the team.

Inside, chaos erupted. The mercenaries were well-trained, but the Aegis Sentinel Corps was relentless.

Elisa took down two hostiles with precise shots. "We need to find Jiang, now!"

Mikhail grabbed a wounded mercenary by the collar. "Where is he?"

The man spat blood, smirking. "Too late."

Mikhail slammed his fist into the mercenary's face, knocking him unconscious. "I hate cryptic answers."

"Jiang's signal just came online!" Sophia called out. "West corridor!"

Mikhail didn't wait. He sprinted through the maze of metal crates and industrial debris, the sounds of battle fading behind him.

He reached the door and kicked it open—

Jiang Han sat in the chair, bloodied but alive.

Mikhail exhaled in relief. "About time."

Jiang smirked despite the pain. "I was starting to think you forgot about me."

Mikhail moved to unshackle him, but a gunshot rang out.

Jiang's eyes widened. "Mikhail—!"

Mikhail turned just as a figure emerged from the shadows—Viktor Dalca, gun in hand, aimed at Jiang.

"You should've stayed out of this," Dalca sneered.

Mikhail didn't hesitate. He lunged—

A shot rang out.

Dalca staggered, blood blooming across his chest.

Mikhail turned.

Jiang held a gun, his breathing heavy. "Had to return the favour."

Dalca slumped against the wall, lifeless.

The gunfire outside died down. Adrian's voice came through. "Perimeter secure."

Mikhail exhaled. "We're done here."

Jiang, exhausted but smirking, muttered, "Let's go home."

---

The gunshot still echoed in Mikhail Darmawan's ears as he helped Jiang Han to his feet. The warehouse smelled of blood and gunpowder, the acrid scent thick in the air. The battle was over, but Jiang's condition was deteriorating fast.

Jiang swayed slightly, his face pale from blood loss. His wounds, hidden beneath his torn and bloodied shirt, were worse than he had let on.

"You're in bad shape," Mikhail muttered, looping Jiang's arm over his shoulder. "You should've waited for us."

Jiang let out a breathless chuckle. "Didn't exactly have a choice."

Elisa Tan entered the room, scanning for threats before her gaze landed on Jiang. "We need to move. Now."

Colonel Yusof's voice came through the comms. "Choppers inbound for extraction. We need to get Jiang out before reinforcements arrive."

Adrian Yong jogged into the room, his sharp gaze taking in the situation. "Ambulance is prepped at the rendezvous point." His expression darkened as he saw the blood on Jiang's clothes. "How bad is it?"

Jiang exhaled heavily. "Bad enough."

Mikhail tightened his grip around Jiang's waist. "Then let's get you the hell out of here."

---

The team moved quickly, weaving through the remnants of the battlefield. The mercenaries were either dead, incapacitated, or in the process of being secured by Aegis Sentinel Corps operatives.

As they reached the outer perimeter, Marcus Tan's voice crackled through the comms. "We've got movement—two black SUVs approaching fast."

"More mercs?" Mikhail gritted his teeth.

"Negative," Marcus replied. "We can't confirm who they are."

Colonel Yusof's tone was firm. "We don't take chances. Secure Jiang first."

They reached the waiting armoured vehicle, and Mikhail helped Jiang into the backseat. Adrian slid in beside him, immediately applying pressure to a deep gash on Jiang's side.

"Just stay awake," Adrian muttered. "We're almost there."

Jiang let out a slow breath, his body sagging against the seat. "Not planning on dying today."

Mikhail glanced at him, his jaw clenched. "You damn well better not."

The vehicle sped off, and the helicopters above provided aerial surveillance as the Corps retreated.

Behind them, the burning remains of the warehouse flickered in the distance.

---

The ambulance ride to the hospital was tense.

Jiang was slipping in and out of consciousness. His body was shutting down from the blood loss, and every bump in the road sent fresh pain searing through him.

Colonel Yusof rode beside him, barking orders into his comms. "Tell the hospital we need a surgical team on standby."

Adrian was monitoring Jiang's vitals, his face grim. "His heart rate's erratic. We need to get him stabilised now."

Mikhail sat opposite Jiang, his fists clenched on his knees. "Damn it, Han. You better pull through."

Jiang's lips quirked up in the faintest of smirks. "Worried about me?"

Mikhail's jaw tightened. "Shut up and focus on breathing."

The ambulance sirens wailed through the streets of Seladang City, cutting through the night like a warning.

The Godly Beggar had survived the war.

Now, he had to survive himself.

To be continued…