Qin Ningyi’s pupils contracted, but the expected explosion did not occur.
Si Nian murmured in a deep voice, "The remote doesn't affect it?"
The second man's face was still excited, "Die sooner or later, you'll be buried with me anyway, Hahahaha!"
Qin Ningyi looked at him and knew things were not that simple.
He turned his head to look at Giles.
Amidst the gunfire, he thought he heard other sounds, "Si Nian, is there a sound on him?"
Si Nian lowered his head, almost pressing himself against Giles, and listened intently. After a while, his face grave, he nodded at Qin Ningyi and quickly began to search Giles.
This "tick-tock" sound was like a countdown.
The remote was damaged, triggering the timer. Such a setup was not impossible. It seemed the second man's previous actions were to initiate the countdown.
Qin Ningyi abandoned the remote and hurried back.
The people next door seemed to sense they were no longer attacking and poked their heads out to deliver precise strikes.
The second man's objective was achieved. He lunged at Qin Ningyi desperately, just to pin him down and keep him here as a live target.
"We're all going to die anyway, might as well do it sooner with me!" The second man grabbed Qin Ningyi's arm, laughing wildly.
Qin Ningyi was forced to wrestle with him. The gun that had fallen by his feet when he was trying to grab the remote was pinned down by the gunfire, making it impossible to retrieve.
During the fight, despite his best efforts to shift his stance and dodge the aim of the people in the observation holes, he was inevitably wounded.
As another bullet grazed his arm, he finally touched the gun. He quickly raised it and aimed—BANG!
The person who had wounded him fell to the ground.
Only four heads remained in the observation holes.
The second man lunged forward. As Qin Ningyi’s gun barrel pointed at him, Si Nian suddenly shouted, "Five minutes!"
"I couldn't find it," Si Nian added, "Qin Ningyi, let's retreat first. There's still time."
With that, Si Nian released Giles, got up, and moved towards Qin Ningyi. He loaded his gun and aimed at the observation holes above, "I'll handle this. You know the terrain, go find Huo Rou and get her out."
The bomb in the center might also have a timer. If so, with such a timed explosion, they wouldn't have enough time to fully evacuate the danger zone in five minutes.
They could only try to retreat as early as possible, as far as they could.
Si Nian fired a few shots, buying Qin Ningyi a moment of respite. He opened his portable communication device, "Zhao Wen, lead your people to evacuate. Countdown five minutes, as far as possible."
Without waiting for Zhao Wen's reply, he grabbed Qin Ningyi, "Let's go."
No one was paying attention to the wounded second man by now.
He slowly shuffled over to the shattered remote control, picked it up, and examined it closely.
"Hahahaha!" He burst into laughter, "None of you will escape. Heaven aids me! You are destined to be buried with me! Hahahahaha."
With that, he violently pressed the remaining button on the remote.
Qin Ningyi's gun barrel had just moved when, before he could pull the trigger, a gunshot rang out.
The second man’s eyes widened, and his body stiffened as he fell backward.
The broken remote remained in his hand, untouched.
Qin Ningyi and Si Nian looked up. The original occupants of the observation holes were gone, replaced by Huo Rou’s worried face.
"Are you alright?" Her voice echoed in the empty smelting room.
Qin Ningyi and Si Nian said in unison, "How did you get here?"
After asking, Qin Ningyi rushed to Giles's side.
Giles begged for mercy.
Si Nian’s abandonment had made him certain he was doomed. Now that Qin Ningyi dared to approach, did that mean he could still be saved?
"Please save me!" Giles sobbed, his nose running and tears streaming down his face, a stark contrast to his demeanor before.
He wanted to live.
He wanted to live, even if it meant betraying the US.
Qin Ningyi lowered his head and carefully analyzed the wiring of the explosives on him.
"You take Huo Rou and leave. I'll disarm it," Qin Ningyi said after a moment's observation, having a plan. "It should be fine. Hurry, you all go, I'll catch up."
Huo Rou was already here, and with over four minutes left, he had to leave her enough time.
Si Nian did not hesitate. On the battlefield, time was life. He didn't ask Qin Ningyi if he was confident, nor if he would keep his promise to follow.
He should give his comrade his full trust.
Moreover, his comrade today was Qin Ningyi, who had been outstanding since childhood.
"Okay, disarm it with peace of mind, don't feel pressured." Si Nian moved without delay. He opened a door and walked out, "I will protect her as she leaves."