Chapter Three: The Deleted Thirteen Minutes

Tao Wu stepped from the shadows holding a silver injection gun. “Chairman Gu admired you, Engineer Lu. But you always had to ask where the data came from.” Qiao Mi hit the livestream button. Connection failed. “No signal three floors underground,” Tao said. “We erase you, and tomorrow Mrs. Lin remembers you as thieves who tried to steal her apartments.” He fired. Chenzhou twisted aside, and the dart struck a medal. The core caught the recent path of Tao's hand on the weapon, letting Chenzhou see each motion half a beat early. Before the second shot, he toppled a metal rack. Qiao Mi lunged and looped a cable around Tao's wrist. Every light died.