Chapter 30: CH-30. Harley Queen
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When the reporter saw this scene, he was so terrified that he immediately placed his hands on his head and lay on the ground.
Kingpin stood tall with his hands behind his back, a dissatisfied expression on his face.
Who was he?
He was Kingpin, the king of New York's underworld.
It was always others who knelt before him. To demand he kneel before anyone else? Laughable.
"The fat guy down there, hold your head and lie on the ground immediately! This is your last warning!"
Whirrrrrr!
The sound of a mechanical rotor filled the air. The helicopter's 23mm multi-barrel machine gun swiveled toward Kingpin, its barrels spinning ominously.
Even a bulletproof suit could only handle so much. Against a machine gun...
Kingpin scowled, muttering to himself, "Fine, you win this time."
He reluctantly complied, holding his head and lying flat on the ground.
Once everyone on the scene was subdued, the helicopter landed. Stan emerged with four heavily armed associates, surveying the chaos—burning cars, scattered corpses, and the detritus of disrupted smuggling operations.
Kingpin, the trembling reporter, and an unconscious Jason were among the few survivors.
Stan's cold gaze swept the area, piecing together what had occurred. It was clear to him—Kingpin had set a trap.
Walking over to Jason, Stan checked his pulse.
"Still alive." He muttered, signaling to two men to carry Jason onto the helicopter.
Another pair confiscated memory cards from cameras and recording devices scattered around the scene.
Stanfield approached Kingpin, crouching down to meet his gaze. His voice was low and threatening.
"You dared to set me up? Pray Jason survives. If he doesn't, you won't see another sunrise."
Kingpin chuckled darkly, unfazed.
"I thought Jason had struck a deal with your DEA." He said mockingly, "He gave up the location of the New York weed factory, and you provided him a safe house. But now... it seems your connection with him runs deeper. Almost like... a boss and subordinate."
Stan spat in Kingpin's face before storming back to the helicopter.
The chopper took off, speeding toward the hospital.
Kingpin rose slowly, brushing off his clothes as his phone rang. It was an unknown number.
"Kingpin, there's trouble. The cops are planning a major crackdown on New York's underground scene tonight. Hide your contraband or face the consequences!"
"And you waited until now to tell me?" Kingpin growled.
"Their boss is serious this time. Phones have been confiscated. I had to fake an emergency at home to call you. Just hide the goods!"
"Relax. Everything's secure. Oh, by the way, Jason's been taken by the DEA."
"Jason?! Damn it! The DEA again! This complicates things."
"Exactly. Inform your boss—he'll know what to do."
"Got it."
Meanwhile, on the helicopter, Stan was on the phone with Franklin.
"How's Jason?"
"Alive, but barely."
Stan cursed under his breath.
"Don't blame yourself." Franklin reassured him, "If you hadn't moved fast, Kingpin would've taken him."
"I just hope he pulls through." Stan said grimly as the chopper touched down at the hospital.
Inside the hospital, Jason was rushed into surgery. Doctors scrambled, using every resource available. The DEA had emphasized Jason's importance, and the hospital treated him as a top priority.
Stan paced outside the operating room, consumed by guilt. He blamed himself for underestimating Kingpin and rushing the operation.
After an agonizing wait, a doctor emerged.
"How is he?" Stan demanded.
The doctor shook his head grimly.
"Multiple injuries—fractured arms, severe internal bleeding, damaged organs. His condition is critical. We'll do our best, but..."
Stan grabbed the doctor by the collar, "Save him! I don't care what it takes!"
The startled doctor stammered, "We'll do everything possible. I'll assemble a consultation team immediately!"
Stan released the doctor, muttering, "Please..."
Hours later, Jason regained consciousness, his body wrapped in bandages like a mummy.
"Jason." Stan said, leaning over him, "How are you feeling?"
Jason's voice was weak but defiant, "I'm not dead yet."
Seizing the opportunity, Stan explained the current situation, including the government's plans.
Jason listened calmly, "Don't worry. As long as they want information from me, they won't kill me."
"But you can't stay in prison forever." Stan countered.
"Of course not." Jason replied, "Listen carefully. You and Franklin need to keep using my name. Do whatever it takes to keep my reputation alive."
Stan frowned, "Why would we—"
"Trust me. The more infamous I am, the quicker I'll get out of this mess." Jason interrupted.
Before Stan could probe further, commotion erupted outside.
Jason sneered, "Government dogs think they can break me? Dream on!"
Stan immediately played along, slapping Jason across the face.
"You bastard!" He growled loudly, "When you're in jail, I'll find a hundred ways to make you talk!"
Two officials entered the room, frowning at Stan's outburst.
"Stan, we agreed to conduct a joint investigation. You can't beat information out of him!"
Stan scoffed, "Four months of recovery? By then, his information will be useless!"
The officials exchanged uneasy glances but had no retort.
Stan left, slamming the door behind him.
Jason's arrest made headlines, dominating every media platform. Outside the hospital, crowds gathered while police fortified the area.
Inside, Jason lay smirking as a system notification rang in his mind:
[Ding! Your reputation has reached 500 points. You've unlocked a recruitment opportunity!]
Jason accessed the system and selected the option.
[Ding! Villain accomplice "Harley Quinn" has been unlocked. Please recruit her yourself.]
Jason's eyes narrowed. The name was familiar.
"Harley Quinn." He murmured, "The Joker's... accomplice?"
A devilish grin spread across his face.
"Things are about to get interesting."
Two days after Jason was arrested, his physical condition had significantly improved, allowing him to communicate with others normally. The joint investigation team decided it was time to transfer him to Long Island Prison in New York.
The team meticulously planned the escort route, and the mayor of New York soon held a press conference to announce that the entire city would be placed under a state of emergency from midnight to 2:00 a.m. During this time, all vehicles and pedestrians were strictly prohibited from being on the designated route.
The two-hour curfew was an unusual and restrictive measure, particularly for freedom-loving Americans. However, the public's disdain for Jason, a notorious villain, seemed to outweigh their discomfort. As a result, there were no significant protests against the restrictions.
12:00 Midnight
Thousands of police officers were mobilized, accompanied by hundreds of police cars and dozens of armored, explosion-resistant vehicles. Roadblocks and tire-shredding spikes were strategically positioned along the entire route, ensuring that the path was completely sealed off.
12:30 am.
The operation officially began.
Three senior officials entered Jason's hospital ward, flanked by heavily armed SWAT officers. They ordered him to lie on a stretcher, securing his hands and feet with steel handcuffs attached to reinforced sidebars.
Jason was then wheeled out of the hospital and loaded into an armored escort vehicle designed to withstand even RPG attacks.