It was nearing early autumn when I arrived in City B, but this city's early autumn seemed a bit ostentatious, not as subtle as other places slowly revealing itself to you. Once you're here, you immediately know it's autumn and the weather has turned cooler.

Autumn is my favorite season - not too cold, not too hot, often with a refreshing breeze that clears your mind. Plus, it's often overcast, which suits my taste.

After settling into the hotel arranged by the manager, I quickly started planning this operation. The key to every mission lies in the planning. You have to use your brain to think of countless unexpected situations, then start combining them based on their likelihood, coming up with strategies for each combination. It's frustrating, but it's crucial not to let impatience get the best of you. You have to constantly remind yourself, "Do you want to stay alive? If so, calm down and focus."

The information specifically warned me that there's a retired special forces soldier by A's side. However, there's no information about this special forces soldier. I don't know if this person retired from the Public Security Special Police or from the Special Forces; this distinction has a significant impact on me.

If it's a retired armed special police officer, I need to first consider an attacking strategy because the special police's blockade and reconnaissance are their specialties. If it's a retired special forces soldier, I need to first think about defensive measures because those people are far more swift and powerful in attacks than me.

Firstly, I won't act inside the house, which eliminates the issue of how to get through the tight security measures of his residential area. Secondly, I won't act indoors; with his entourage and that special forces soldier, it's hard for me to escape, which eliminates the question of what kind of identity I should forge to enter and exit his premises. Lastly, I won't use a knife; his bodyguards are always with him except when sleeping, so I won't have a chance to get close.

So, the conclusion is outdoors, at a distance, and using a gun.

Next, I need to find a favorable time, a route he must pass through, an extremely concealed location, and a quick escape route.

I planned until past 11 o'clock, feeling a bit hungry. I looked through the hotel's menu, but the dishes listed didn't appeal to me at all. I decided to go out for some late-night snacks and see if there were any local street foods.

In a northern city at this time of year, it feels quite desolate. The streets are empty, with very few pedestrians walking hurriedly. The surrounding restaurants and eateries have already closed.

I hailed a cab, and the driver was chatty. He entertained me with stories and took me to the entrance of a small restaurant, saying the food here is delicious and popular.

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I entered the restaurant; the decor was stylish, like something out of ancient Egypt. I sat at a table diagonally across from the entrance, giving me a view of the entire hall.

I ordered some specialty dishes, smoked a cigarette while waiting for the food. At that moment, six people came in. Coincidence – enemies gather where they must. The target person appeared.

It wasn't surprising, as the city isn't that big, and there aren't many restaurants open at this time. Encountering such exceptional individuals was even rarer. The six people went into a private room in the back and didn't come out.

"Look, old A has been quite successful in recent years."

"Indeed, his connections and ambitions are strong. He's been given green lights all the way, even red lights turn green for him. He could sell toilet paper and make a fortune!"

People at the next table were talking, and I was listening.

"His men are like crazy, rabid dogs. If they're not happy, they bite hard. Even if they bite to death, in the end, everything gets smoothed over, and nothing happens!"

"Alright, keep it down, or if he hears you, you might end up bitten to death too."

I wondered if this was an opportunity. With few people, the time not being early, and the proximity, I had a gun on me. Is now the best time to act? But I wasn't sure.

My indecision was frustrating. Suddenly, I felt challenged, especially because of that special forces soldier by his side.

A's presence made the meal taste like wax, my mind not focused on the food but constantly pondering whether to act. It seemed like a heaven-sent opportunity, but there were also many traps, maybe even God disguised the trap to lure you in.

The driver mentioned our profession values one thing above all: caution. When you're in a tough spot, when you're tempted to act rashly, keep repeating those two words.

I couldn't act, had to stay calm. The suddenness was there, but my actions couldn't be sudden.

About half an hour later, the six people came out of the room. The person walking just behind A on the right was definitely the retired special forces soldier.

One who's trained can tell at a glance, their steps, rhythm, posture, and frequency are all very coordinated.

Among the six people, only two weren't with A, the one walking at the front; apart from A, the other three were his bodyguards, moving professionally.

A was in the middle, with one on his left front and one on his right mid-side. The special forces soldier was on A's right rear. This was the best position for the bodyguards, each responsible for a 120-degree range without obstructing each other's line of sight. The most experienced one was on the right rear, able to observe the entire area.

I thought this positioning must have been arranged by the special forces soldier because the other two bodyguards didn't seem professional. The hand that often holds a gun naturally forms a relaxed "eight" shape when idle, and those trained in martial arts walk with a stable forefoot landing. Among the three bodyguards, only the one on A's right rear exhibited these characteristics.

It was a bit sad to see former elites having to become bodyguards for a living when they can no longer protect their country. It seemed like this opponent was even more cunning than I had imagined. I needed to go back and refine my plan before taking any action. As I stepped out of the restaurant, a chill wind hit me, clearing my mind. I silently thanked myself for not making a move earlier.