Chapter 1

The armored bank truck I was assigned to was forced to stop when five people wearing black masks suddenly rushed out and started smashing the windows.

I was about to hit the alarm when I realized one of them was my fiancée.

Laughing, she raised a water gun and started spraying the bulletproof glass. "Hello, everyone! Our Valentine's Day bank robbery scene is about to begin! Once my boyfriend gets scared and hands over the keys, we'll tell him it was all a Valentine's Day surprise!"

Her mother stood outside the window, knocking on the glass with a smile. "Callum, Yvonne wants to test whether you care more about her or money this Valentine's Day. Just play along. Get out and calm her down."

At first, I planned to treat it as a private dispute.

If I opened the door and dragged her away, the company would probably only dock part of my bonus.

But just as my hand touched the door switch, a line of text suddenly appeared before my eyes.

[Don't open the door. In your previous life, this was how she got you killed.]

I froze. A flood of memories suddenly rushed into my mind.

In my previous life, I broke the rules and opened the armored door just to calm her down.

In the end, I lost my job and faced a huge lawsuit. She broke up with me because she thought I was too poor.

I was torn apart online, branded the clown who couldn't stop simping for his girlfriend. In the end, I was driven to despair and committed suicide.

Now, my fiancée was still laughing outside and banging on the glass.

I pulled back the bolt on my tactical rifle. "We're under an armed attack by unknown suspects. Possible armored truck robbery. Everyone, load your weapons and prepare to use deadly force!"

Chapter 1

"Callum, you're not seriously going to make me stand out here forever, are you?"

"Open the door!" The five people behind her started shouting too.

Some sprayed the windows with water guns. Others used their phones to record the license plate.

I slowly pulled my hand back, grabbed the tactical rifle, and racked the bolt.

The driver, George Critchlow, glanced at me.

He understood at once and pressed the lock button on the center console. "Deadbolts. Lock everything down!"

The entire armored truck instantly sealed shut.

I picked up the radio and calmly said, "Control, this is Armored Unit Three. We're being blocked by unknown people at the Valentine's Day celebration. They may be armed and are refusing to leave the area."

The warning lights on the roof came on at the same time, followed by a sharp siren.

Red and blue lights flashed across the bulletproof windows.

The crowd taking pictures on the side of the road quickly backed away.

The five people in masks who had been laughing just moments ago also froze.

They were only holding water guns, but once the alarm went off, they no longer dared to take the risk.

Yvonne Levy froze. "Callum, have you lost your mind?"

I pressed the truck's loudspeaker. "Everyone in front of the vehicle, step away immediately. This is an armed bank transport vehicle. No one is allowed to approach or touch the vehicle or its doors. I repeat, step away immediately."

Her face grew darker. "I was preparing a Valentine's Day surprise for you! Do you have any idea how embarrassing you've made me look in front of everyone?"

I looked at her. "Back up."

But she suddenly aimed the water gun at the window. "Didn't you say I'm the person you care about most? Then prove it! You have two choices. Open the door or admit that you only care about money!"

The comments appeared in front of my eyes again.

[She's trying to force you to open the door.]

[Someone is approaching from the rear side of the truck. Don't get out.]

[In your previous life, this was the moment she sent you into a deadly trap.]

I was already completely disheartened.

I picked up the radio and directly requested backup. "The people at the scene continue to approach. Requesting SWAT assistance."

Yvonne finally panicked. "Callum, you actually called the cops?"

I pushed the tactical rifle into firing position. "Why not?"

Chapter 2

When Frida Levy, Yvonne's mother, heard the sirens in the distance, she hurried over to Yvonne and lowered her voice. "Tell them to put everything away. If the cops really show up, we're done for!"

Yvonne was still stubborn.

She refused to admit defeat in front of the livestream camera, so she shouted at the truck. "Callum, turn off the alarm right now!"

"I'm carrying out an armored transport assignment."

"I'm your fiancée!"

"That has nothing to do with how I handle this situation."

My answer made her face turn bright red with anger.

Frida quickly walked to the front of the truck and smiled at me. "Callum, I know you take your job seriously, but these young people were just playing around. They got a little carried away, that's all. Turn off the alarm, and Yvonne won't cause any more trouble. Let's all take a step back."

I pressed the loudspeaker. "Approaching an armored vehicle with a weapon, blocking its path, or filming inside the vehicle can all create a serious security risk. Do you know what that could lead to?"

She thought for a moment before saying, "They don't know any better..."

"Then they have even less reason to come near the vehicle. Everyone, step back and keep your hands where we can see them. Anyone who refuses to comply will be treated as a high-risk individual."

Tony finally took off his mask, revealing his perfectly made-up face.

He was Yvonne's closest guy friend and the one who had started this livestream.

Holding up a selfie stick, he pointed the camera at himself and asked with a frustrated look, "Yvonne, is your boyfriend always this serious? We only had water guns, but he actually set off the highest-level alarm."

The comments in the livestream exploded.

[This security guard is way too uptight.]

[His girlfriend came all this way to surprise him, and he still won't get out of the truck.]

[Yvonne should just cry. He'll give in for sure.]

Tony glanced at the comments and immediately put on a hurt expression. "See that, everyone? Some men put on a uniform and suddenly think they can point guns at people whenever they want. It's Valentine's Day, but instead of treating his fiancée like someone he loves, he's treating her like a criminal."

After hearing this, Yvonne looked a little pleased.

She deliberately walked up to the window and started banging on the glass again. "Everyone, take a good look. I just wanted to surprise him, but he's pointing a gun at me just to protect that little bit of money. Callum, if you don't get out of this truck today, I'll take it as proof that you never saw me as your fiancée!"

I didn't respond.

Through the rearview mirror, I noticed Tony quietly adjusting the angle of his phone.

He turned the camera toward the driver's cabin and the rear compartment, clearly filming the inside layout of the armored truck.

I immediately pressed the loudspeaker. "Tony, shut that device off."

His hand stopped for a moment before he sneered. "I'm just filming on my own phone. What does that have to do with you?"

"You're filming the inside of an armored transport vehicle. Stop immediately."

"Don't make things up."

"Final warning."

Tony was about to say something when the sound of screeching brakes suddenly came from the intersection.

Two SWAT vehicles pulled across the road and blocked it completely.

Their doors opened, and several heavily armed officers quickly jumped out.

The crowd was pushed back behind the police line.

The number of viewers on Tony's livestream dropped instantly.

With no other choice, he ended the livestream.

But then a comment suddenly appeared.

[Watch the tall guy in the back!]

I immediately looked up.

At the very back of the group, a tall man was keeping his head down as he moved along the edge of the crowd toward the rear of the armored truck.

Everyone else was focused on the police. Only he had stayed completely silent.

It was a hot and humid day, yet he was wearing a heavy jacket.

His right hand was pressed against his waist. Something seemed to be hidden under his clothes.

I immediately turned my rifle toward him. "Man in the black jacket at the back! Stop right there!"

The man froze.

Yvonne suddenly turned around. "Why are you stopping him? He's an actor I hired!"

I ignored her. "Man in the black jacket, put both hands above your head and take three steps back!"

The man's movements became stiff as he slowly raised both hands.

But his eyes remained fixed on the rear wheel of the armored truck.

The SWAT commander immediately gave a hand signal. "High-risk target. Take him down!"

An officer carrying a shield moved in from the side.

Yvonne hurried in front of them. "He's just an actor! You can't arrest people for no reason!"

"Step aside."

"He hasn't done anything!"

I added through the radio, "Focus on his right waist and abdomen. He may be hiding a dangerous object."

The fingers of the man in the black jacket slowly tightened inside his sleeve.

Chapter 3

Once the SWAT team sealed off the intersection, the entire street went quiet.

The crowd was evacuated, and the stores quickly pulled down their metal shutters.

The SWAT commander walked to the front of the truck and motioned for me to report.

I held down the radio. "No one inside the armored vehicle is injured. The deadbolts are fully locked. There are eight people outside. Five of them were holding what appeared to be firearms, but we have confirmed they are plastic water guns. There is also a tall man acting suspiciously. He keeps moving toward the rear of the truck, and he appears to have something hidden near his right waist and abdomen."

The commander nodded. "Can we rule out a prank?"

"No. Until we've searched everyone and checked their belongings, we have to treat this as a high-risk situation."

As soon as Frida heard that, she rushed to the edge of the police line. "Officer, this is really just a joke between a couple! That man is my daughter's fiancé, and the people inside the truck are bank employees. None of them are dangerous!"

The commander said coldly, "Please step back behind the police line."

"They're getting married soon!"

"Being engaged doesn't change the need for a security check."

She had no answer to that, so she turned to me. "Callum, explain this to them. They'll listen to you."

I looked at her through the bulletproof glass. "Let's talk after the security check is finished."

The SWAT team began taking control of the people in the front.

When the first person's mask was removed, he dropped a blue plastic water gun onto the ground.

When the second man was taken down, he kept shouting. "We were only hired to act in a prank! We didn't know he'd treat us like criminals! Even a kid would know this is just a water gun!"

A few people in the crowd laughed quietly.

Yvonne was no longer scared.

She shouted at me through the window. "Callum, look carefully! They're all water guns! Are you seriously this paranoid?"

Tony also took the chance to mock me. "How could you get scared by a few toy guns? Aren't you always the one who follows every rule? How come you don't even recognize your own girlfriend today?"

I ignored him.

The safer things looked up front, the more careful I needed to be about what was happening behind them.

The comments were still flashing at the edge of my vision.

[Don't let your guard down.]

[They deliberately gave the people in front water guns.]

[The real danger is with the man in black.]

I stared at the tall man standing at the edge of the crowd.

Even with both hands raised, he kept looking toward the back of the truck.

As the commander and two SWAT officers moved toward him, Yvonne suddenly stepped in front of them. "He's an actor my best friend hired! You can search everyone else!"

"Step aside."

"He hasn't attacked anyone!"

I picked up the radio and ordered, "Control the man in black first. Check his right waist and abdomen."

The commander immediately signaled the officers to surround him.

The man in black looked nervous.

Then he suddenly clutched his stomach and bent over. "Officer, my stomach really hurts. Can I go to the hospital first?"

"You can be checked right here."

"I really can't hold it!"

As he spoke, he slowly moved to the side.

A SWAT officer stepped in front of him with his shield and blocked his path.

The man in black stopped. Cold sweat finally appeared on his forehead.

Tony quickly cut in. "He's just an ordinary worker. Howard's company sent him here. Don't scare him!"

Yvonne quickly turned around. "Shut up!"

But it was already too late.

The commander looked at Tony. "Who is Howard?"

Tony froze. "Howard? I don't know anyone named Howard."

I pressed the loudspeaker and looked at him through the window. "You just said he was sent here by Howard's company."

"Did I say that?"

"You said it yourself."

Tony's face turned pale. He didn't know how to answer.

Yvonne stared at him too. "What kind of people did you actually hire?"

Chapter 4

"Didn't you tell me to find a few actors?"

"I only told you to find actors!"

"These actors were also arranged by Howard's company. How is that my fault?"

"You knew he runs an overseas security business. How could his people possibly be ordinary actors?"

The two of them were getting more and more nervous.

Taking advantage of their argument, the man in black slowly took a step backward.

A SWAT officer immediately grabbed his shoulder. "Don't move!"

The man's body instantly went stiff.

Another officer moved in from the side and reached toward his right waist. "Please cooperate with the search."

The man in black said nothing.

He kept his head down, as if trying hard to control his emotions.

But in the next second, he suddenly slammed his body into the riot shield in front of him.

Bang!

The officer holding the shield stumbled back half a step.

At the same time, the man in black reached his right hand inside his jacket.

"He's reaching for something! Control his right hand!" I shouted.

I tightened my grip on the rifle as the siren suddenly grew louder in my ears.

Two SWAT officers rushed at him at the same time.

The man in black reacted incredibly fast.

Instead of running away after knocking the shield aside, he reached his right hand inside his jacket.

An officer immediately grabbed his wrist.

The man suddenly slammed his elbow into the officer's helmet, then used his other hand to reach for his waist.

"Hold him down!"

The officer with the shield moved in again and drove the shield hard into the man's chest.

The man was pushed back several steps before his back slammed into the armored truck.

Bang!

The entire vehicle shook.

George tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "He's definitely not some ordinary actor!"

I already had my rifle trained on the man's upper body.

His movements were far too skilled.

The way he struck the shield, turned his body, and protected his waist—none of those were reactions someone would make by accident in a panic.

"Control his right hand! There's something inside his jacket!" I warned through the radio.

The SWAT officers quickly moved in from both sides.

The man in black suddenly dropped into a half-crouch and kicked hard at the bottom of the shield.

The officer holding it lost his balance for a moment.

The man seized the chance to turn around and tried to run toward the crowd.

But he had barely taken one step when another officer swept his supporting leg out from under him.

The man in black crashed hard onto the ground.

Even after falling, he kept his right hand pressed tightly against the inside of his jacket.

He lifted his head and snarled. "Let me go! Why are you arresting me?"

The commander shouted. "Get your right hand out!"

The man didn't obey.

Instead, he curled his body up and tried to use his shoulder to cover his waist.

One officer pinned down his back while another grabbed his wrist and forced his arm outward.

The man in black let out a low growl.

Then the black handle of an object appeared from beneath his jacket.

Yvonne's face turned pale. "That's just a prop!"

She rushed to the police line and shouted anxiously. "They're here to shoot a video! It's normal for actors to carry prop weapons! You already found nothing but water guns on the others!"

Frida quickly backed her up. "Exactly! It must be fake! Officer, don't hurt him. If you do, we'll have to pay for it!"

Tony immediately nodded in agreement. "Howard runs an entertainment company. It's normal for actors to carry prop guns. You're making this way too serious."

The commander turned around and shouted. "Everyone, get down! Hands behind your heads!"

Tony tried to argue. "I'm not even with him! You can't make me..."

A SWAT officer immediately stepped forward and forced him down beside the police line. "Get down!"

Tony's legs went weak with fear, and he could only put his hands behind his head. "Easy! My livestream equipment is really expensive!"

At that moment, the man in black suddenly pushed with all his strength.

He drove his arm upward, trying to throw off the officer pinning him down.

But his jacket was pulled open during the struggle.

A heavy piece of metal slipped out from inside his jacket and crashed onto the ground.