118: Hunter and Prey

Hoffman froze, red wine dripping from his tilted glass. His Adam's apple bobbed: "Luigi Mangioni! What are you doing here?"

"Looks like your political friends didn't inform you," Luigi's gun barrel pressed forward, the cold metal touch making Hoffman shiver, "Did they?"

Outside the office's floor-to-ceiling windows, searchlight beams swept across the night sky, and sporadic explosions could be heard in the distance.

Hoffman suddenly forced a stiff smile: "Listen, Mr. Mangioni... we can make a deal." He cautiously turned his body, trying to face Luigi, "How about one million credit points? You must know what a fortune that is."

Luigi sneered, the gun barrel unmoving: "Do you think I came for money?"

"Two million!" Hoffman's voice began to tremble, "Plus a villa in Songkhla Port! Right near Interstellar Peace Corporation's financial hall, do you know what that means?"

"I saw the photos of the bodies in your office," Luigi interrupted him, the blue-purple light in his eyes growing more intense, "I saw the 'Zero Human Cost' plan you personally signed."

His voice was terrifyingly low, "A sixteen-year-old girl died in the mine, just because she had 'good eyesight'?"

Hoffman's face instantly turned pale. He frantically pressed the alarm button under the desk, simultaneously lunging for the handgun in the drawer.

"Bang!"

The gunshot was deafening in the enclosed office, and Hoffman screamed, clutching his profusely bleeding right hand.

"That shot was for Emma." Luigi grabbed Hoffman by the collar, dragging him to the window, "Look outside, Hoffman. Look at the kingdom you rule."

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the entire mining town was visible. The shantytown slums spread like a festering wound, while within New Union Resources' walls were neatly manicured lawns and swimming pools.

"Who do you think you are?" Luigi's voice carried a chilling anger, "God? With the right to decide who lives and who dies?"

"Am I not? I gave them better lives!" Hoffman defended himself without shame: "I kept them away from the threat of drug dealers, and I even gave those drug traffickers a chance to atone! Interstellar Peace Corporation has done the same, what did I do wrong!"

"Is that so? I haven't heard of any region in the Emerald Principality or the Golden Buddha Federation being a hell like this place." Luigi completely ignored his feeble sophistry, "If I were with the Corporation, I would have just taken you out."

"You've lowered their standards."

A trace of madness flashed in Hoffman's eyes: "Do you think killing me will change anything?" He sneered, "New Union has thousands of people like me! And do you think Interstellar Peace Corporation is so clean? They need lithium ore, they condoned all of this!"

Just then, Hoffman's communicator suddenly rang. A panicked voice came through: "Mr. Hoffman! We've caught over a dozen rioters in the East District! They admit they were instigated!"

Luigi's pupils contracted sharply; Juan and his companions had been captured!

Hoffman immediately caught his change in expression, a sly glint in his eyes: "Aha... you have accomplices." He endured the pain and sneered, "I've changed my mind, Mangioni. Now it's your turn to beg me."

Luigi was silent for a second, then suddenly grabbed the communicator: "Listen up." His voice was terrifyingly calm, "Tell your people that Hoffman is in my hands. If you want him alive, release those kids."

There was dead silence on the other end of the communicator, followed by a commotion.

Hoffman's face changed: "Are you crazy?! You--"

"Shut up." Luigi smashed the butt of his gun into Hoffman's face, blood immediately gushing from Hoffman's nose, "Now, take me to the monitoring room."

Disordered footsteps echoed in the corridor; security forces were gathering. Luigi dragged Hoffman out of the office, the gun barrel constantly pressed against his temple.

"Everyone, stop!" he roared, "Unless you want to collect your boss's corpse!"

The soldiers hesitated, their gun barrels wavering between Luigi and Hoffman.

"Do as he says!" Hoffman screamed, "You idiots want to get me killed?!"

In the monitoring room, Luigi pulled up real-time footage of the East District. Juan and Carlos were pinned to the ground, and over a dozen young people were kneeling in a row with guns pointed at them. An officer-like figure was on a call, clearly asking for instructions from superiors.

"Zoom in on camera 5," Luigi commanded.

The screen switched to the interior of a warehouse. Juan's face was covered in blood, but he was alive. Carlos's glasses were broken, but he was still struggling to say something.

"Tell them to release the people immediately." Luigi pushed Hoffman in front of the control panel, "Otherwise, I'll throw you off the roof."

Hoffman trembled as he picked up the communicator: "This... this is Hoffman... release those..." He suddenly paused, a sly glint in his eyes, "Wait, Mangioni, you wouldn't dare kill me. If you kill me, those hostages won't live either."

Luigi snatched the communicator: "Everyone listen! I am Luigi Mangioni, who assassinated the CEO of the pharmaceutical group four years ago!" His voice echoed through the building via the broadcast system, "Hoffman has confessed to all his crimes, the evidence is in his safe!"

Hoffman's face instantly turned ashen: "You're lying! I didn't--"

"Now he's going to the West District warehouse to atone for the innocent victims' bodies, all soldiers gather there!"

To ensure Juan and his companions could escape safely, Luigi intentionally dragged Hoffman to a completely opposite warehouse, attracting all security forces there.

The iron gate of the West District warehouse was kicked open by Luigi, its rusty hinges groaning shrilly. He dragged Hoffman into the cold, damp space, followed by dozens of fully armed security personnel, their guns constantly aimed at his back.

The warehouse reeked of disinfectant and death. Over a dozen bodies covered with white sheets were neatly arranged in the center, each representing Hoffman's accumulated crimes.

"Kneel." Luigi forced Hoffman in front of the foremost body, the gun barrel pressed against the back of his head.

Hoffman's knees slammed heavily onto the concrete floor, and he trembled as he looked at the white sheet in front of him: "These... these were all accidents... mining accidents..."

Luigi ripped off the white sheet, revealing the pale face of a young girl beneath. Her eyes were half-open, as if still questioning the injustice of this world.

"Look into her eyes, Hoffman." Luigi's voice was like ice, "Tell her it was an 'accident'."

Hoffman's lips trembled violently, but he couldn't utter a single word. Luigi continued to uncover other white sheets: an old man who had lost his legs, a teenager with a crushed chest, a woman covered in bruises... every body silently accused.

"Now, repent." Luigi pressed the gun barrel against Hoffman's temple.

The security personnel in the warehouse began to stir. A man who looked like a captain raised his hand: "Mr. Mangioni... we didn't know things were like this..."

"Shut up!" Hoffman suddenly shrieked, "You traitors! Shoot! Kill him!"

But no one moved. All the security personnel's gazes flickered between the bodies and Hoffman, some even lowering their guns.

Luigi sneered: "I don't know if they truly didn't know, but at least now they have more conscience than you."

He leaned into Hoffman's ear: "Last chance, Karl. Repent to these people you killed."

A trace of madness suddenly flashed in Hoffman's eyes. He abruptly pulled a dagger from his boot and turned to stab Luigi!

"Bang!"

A gunshot echoed in the warehouse. A bloody hole appeared in Hoffman's forehead; he stared with disbelief, slowly falling, finally collapsing beside the bodies.

The warehouse fell into dead silence. All security personnel froze, unsure how to react.

Luigi put away his pistol and looked around at everyone: "Now, you have two choices." His voice was calm and firm, "Continue to be an accomplice to evil, or... fight for justice."

Silence lasted for a long few seconds. Then, one by one, the security personnel laid down their weapons.

Just then, the roar of an engine suddenly came from outside the warehouse. A squad of fully armed soldiers rushed in, and the leading officer roared: "Put down your weapons! The New Harmony Army is taking over here!"

Luigi narrowed his eyes; these were not company security, but regular army. Their weapons were clearly more advanced, and their tactical movements more professional.

"Mr. Mangioni," the officer sneered, "you are accused of murdering a New Harmony Resources Company executive, and now--"

"Shut up." Luigi interrupted him, "Look at the bodies at your feet, and then look at who you are truly protecting."

The officer was unmoved: "My mission is to take you back. Surrender, you are surrounded."

Luigi scanned his surroundings; at least fifty soldiers blocked all exits. His revolver only had five bullets left, and Juan and his companions should not have safely evacuated yet.

"If I surrender," Luigi slowly raised his hands, "will you let those children go?"

The officer smiled, confident of victory: "Of course. We are only interested in you."

Luigi knew he was lying, but he had no choice now; he slowly lowered his pistol.

"Good." The officer gestured for the soldiers to advance, "Seize him!"

Just as two soldiers were about to touch Luigi, he instinctively raised his revolver and pulled the trigger.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Three gunshots, and three soldiers rushing forward fell to the ground.

"Fire!" the officer roared.

Dozens of automatic weapons simultaneously spewed fire. Luigi rolled to dodge in the nick of time, hiding behind a metal cargo container, while raising his revolver and continuously pulling the trigger.

After the third gunshot, Luigi felt the gun body vibrate. Even though the magazine was empty, he could still keep shooting!

The revolver fired continuously as if it had infinite ammunition, each bullet precisely hitting a soldier's wrist, knocking their weapons away.

"This is impossible..." The officer watched the scene in horror, "His gun clearly only has six shots..."

Luigi himself was shocked. He hadn't aimed specifically, just shot by feel, but every bullet seemed to have a life of its own, finding its target.

The blue-purple light in his eyes grew more and more intense; at this moment, he clearly perceived for the first time that some ineffable power was awakening within him.

When the last bullet knocked away the officer's sidearm, the entire warehouse fell silent. Over thirty soldiers clutched their wrists and wailed, the rest already paralyzed with fear.

Luigi looked at his trembling hands and finally understood the reason for the new engraving on his gun.

Something extraordinary had found him.