Chapter 2 Where the Value Lies_1

His mind in disarray, as he followed the sight line of Black Shadow, Gao Guang saw several people on both sides of the kidnappers' house's doorway, entering in a standard indoor combat formation, storming through the door he had just exited.

The first person who rushed through the doorway fell backwards to the ground, but the second one stepped over his teammate and charged into the room, followed by rapid and dense gunfire.

The sound of gunfire became a barrage, along with tense shouting, but no screams of agony were heard; the fight was fierce and over quickly.

Gao Guang had thought about standing up, but he heard the whistling of bullets—a sound only heard when bullets fly past nearby—so instead of standing, he lay motionless on the ground.

The gunfire soon ceased, the battle lasting barely more than ten seconds before declaring an end—both the onset and conclusion of the fight were extremely swift.

At that moment, someone holding a gun returned to the doorway, bending down to remove the helmet of the fallen comrade.

The shot person must have died because the bullet had entered through the forehead and exited through the back of the head, the helmet was filled with blood and brain matter, but the bullet hadn't penetrated the back layer of the helmet.

Gao Guang saw it all clearly, heard everything clearly, and he could even see the small bullet hole on the helmet because he was lying less than five meters from the door.

The person who removed his comrade's helmet cursed under his breath and then said weakly, "Guys, Wild Bull is dead. We're in trouble."

Meanwhile, inside the house, someone loudly said again, "This bastard doesn't speak English, but the hostage must be here. Joey, Rubber, you two search quickly. Bottle Cap, what are you standing there for? Check for any survivors, and then go on guard!"

Hearing what the person inside said, the one standing at the doorway immediately responded, "Captain, here's a kung Fu kid who is the hostage."

The person at the door must have been Bottle Cap, he walked over to Gao Guang, gently kicked him with his foot, and asked, "Do you speak English?"

Gao Guang immediately nodded desperately and looked up at the other person with an assertive gaze.

These people were not police; if they were Mexican police, they certainly would not speak English.

Gao Guang had also considered pretending not to speak English, but without much hesitation, almost subconsciously, he chose to nod because from their conversation, it seemed if he didn't demonstrate his value, he might be silenced immediately.

"Captain, this guy speaks English."

Bottle Cap called out first, then squatted down, reached out a finger to the tape over Gao Guang's mouth, and yanked it off eagerly, asking, "Do you know where all the hostages are being held?"

"I can speak English, and I can speak Spanish too. I don't know where the hostages are, but I can ask for you."

Gao Guang immediately started to demonstrate his worth, indicating he could provide the urgently needed help they were looking for.

Bottle Cap's face was behind a mask, his expression unseen, but Gao Guang could still detect a hint of pleasant surprise in his tone, "Good, get up, come here."

Gao Guang was pulled up, but Bottle Cap did not remove the zip-ties on his hands.

Upon returning to the house, the kidnapper boss's bodyguard was lying on the ground, but more bodies were in the next room.

It seemed to be a lounge, with a television, two long sofas, several chairs, and a refrigerator, but the floor was strewn with four corpses, blood everywhere.

The kidnapper boss was leaning on the couch, looking miserably beaten up, with a bullet hole in one arm and a crooked bleeding nose.

Standing opposite the kidnapper boss was a man with a masked face, who at that moment turned to Gao Guang and demanded, "Who are you?"

"I'm Huaxia, and I'm a hostage who was kidnapped. I can act as an interpreter."

Without much hesitation upon hearing a concise explanation of his identity and abilities, the skull-faced man said, "You can call me Captain. Bottle Cap, let him free."

A knife cut close to the wrist, and at last Gao Guang's hands were free.

Pointing at the kidnapper boss, the Captain explained, "Let's clarify things. This guy is Sanchez; he has kidnapped someone."

After speaking, the Captain then held up a cellphone, showing the screen to Gao Guang, "It's this guy, ever seen him?"

On the phone was a photo of a young man in his twenties with typical Mexican features. Gao Guang took a glance and immediately shook his head, "No, I haven't seen this man."

"Do you know where the other hostages are being held?"

"Sorry, I was just brought here, I don't know where the other hostages are."

Without hesitation, the Captain said, "Alright then, help me translate this. Ask him where the guy in the picture is."

It wasn't Gao Guang's first time acting as an interpreter, but it was completely different from any previous experience, so he was still somewhat nervous.

Pointing to the photo on the phone, Gao Guang asked with a trembling voice, "Where is the man in this photo?"

Sanchez glanced bitterly at the phone, then glared at Gao Guang and bellowed, "I've never seen this man, never. Tell them I haven't!"

"He says he hasn't seen him."

"Ask him where the hostages are."

"Where are the hostages?"

Sanchez leaned forward aggressively, but rather than looking at the Captain, he turned to Gao Guang, angrily saying, "Dammit, tell them the person they're looking for isn't here with me, and if you speak wrong, you're dead."