The flow of the municipal market obscured their exit for a few minutes, but Berlin was far from safe territory. Marissa Wiegler's special operations division utilized integrated urban surveillance networks, meaning that any deviation from their route or traffic camera capturing their profile would trigger an immediate red alert.
Erik Heller guided the group through a network of narrow alleys and dark brick walls on the outskirts of the old eastern industrial zone. The morning air was sharp, mingling with the smell of wet asphalt and soot.
"Less than four blocks from here is the rendezvous point with my contact," Erik whispered, keeping his rifle pressed against his chest as he looked around the next corner. "But the intelligence patrol traffic has tripled. They're setting up a roadblock."
Arthur stopped relaunching, feeling a slight instinctive vibration in the back of his neck. His [Tactical Empathy/Behavior Reading] ability subtly activated, sending a warning signal directly to his mind.
“Wait,” Arthur murmured, extending his arm to block Erik’s path. “Move forward. Three armed agents descended what happened before in seconds. They’re sweeping with their pincers.”
Before Erik could question the accuracy of the warning, the door of a utility van parked twenty meters away opened with a metallic creak. Three men in CIA tactical vests jumped into the alley, blocking the main exit. At the same instant, two other agents emerged from behind a fire escape in the rear, cutting off the rescue route.
They were in a cross trap.
“Cover in the dumpster!” Erik tried, raising his weapon to fire.
But Arthur and Hanna were already in motion. For them, the ambush wasn’t a surprise; it was a calculated opportunity.
Hanna moved like a blade cutting through the wind, running along the alley's side walls and leaping over the upper metal railing to land directly on the two rear agents before they could raise their rifles. With a precise double strike, she neutralized the pair with brutal and silent efficiency.
In the front, Arthur advanced against the vanguard. Utilizing his [Firearms Mastery Rank C+], his shots were calculated with surgical precision, hitting the opponents' disarming points without giving them a chance to react. The first agent fell with a direct shot to the shoulder that instantly disarmed him; the second tried to retreat, but Arthur closed the gap in the blink of an eye, applying a sweep and a body weight immobilization.
[Urban confrontation in a closed alley under double siege successfully completed.] Proficiency gained: +3. [100x Multiplier Talent Activated!] Proficiency gained: +300!
— Clear rear! — Hanna's voice echoed through the alley as she landed nimbly beside Arthur, checking for any further threats in the dark corners.
Erik stared at the scene, speechless. What should have been a prolonged and dangerous firefight had been dismantled in less than fifteen seconds by a pair moving with almost supernatural synchronicity.
— You... you look like a veteran special operations unit — Erik murmured, shaking his head with a mixture of astonishment and respect.
Hanna didn't respond verbally. She simply looked at Arthur, her blue eyes gleaming with a spark of complicity. She reached out, gently brushing a speck of dust from Arthur's shoulder — an intimate and protective gesture that showed how much trust had blossomed between them. Arthur returned the gesture with a calm smile, gently shaking her wrist before they returned to alert formation.
"The path is clear for now, but it won't last," said Arthur, looking at the main avenue. "Let's move before the echo of the gunfire brings the rest of the troops."