Chapter 21: Like It or Not, You Have to Go!

Lin Tiansheng, accompanied by Zhang Jinrong, Ma Delong, He Li, and Liu Yida, followed the unit as they climbed the stairwell. Upon reaching the fifth floor of the building, Chen Sheng, the team’s inspector, raised a hand and signaled, "Officer Lin, take your men and secure the stairwell. Stay alert."

In police operations, only those at the rank of inspector or above are authorized to lead independent units and exercise field command. Consequently, the four inspectors of the Major Crime Unit were divided into four separate operational teams.

Lin Tiansheng and his men had been transferred under unique circumstances. While they typically reported directly to Inspector Pi, they were administratively attached to Chen Sheng’s team. Since a station sergeant is the most senior rank of non-commissioned officer, Inspector Chen would not issue direct orders to Lin Tiansheng except in emergencies. Keeping them on the fifth floor, far from the heat of the fireline, was, in a sense, an act of kindness. Lin Tiansheng, naturally, would not defy the order. "Understood, Inspector!" he replied immediately.

"I have to keep climbing," Chen said through gritted teeth. He led his remaining members further up the stairs, bringing the floors under control one by one. Shi Zhanpeng, Li Weihao, and Jiang Zhikai—the other three inspectors—led their men door-to-door, calling out to residents and assisting the Police Tactical Unit (PTU) in evacuating civilians.

Hearing the intense gunfire from the rooftop, Ma Delong’s face turned pale. He swallowed hard and asked, "Can those guys in the hats hold them off?"

PTU officers are uniformly equipped with blue berets. Like the uniformed branch, they are technically "guys in hats," though they prefer to be called "Berets." They are responsible for routine patrols, security for large-scale events, and providing support for serious crimes. Each of the five police regions in Hong Kong maintains a battalion, each consisting of 168 officers, subdivided into companies, platoons, and squads, mirroring a military chain of command. They operate on a rotation system where every three years, the battalions are disbanded and the personnel are reassigned and re-selected to ensure every officer receives military-style training.

Except for the officers at the PTU headquarters, instructors, and the permanent air, anti-riot, and training squads, no officer serves in the PTU long-term. Newly promoted officers are often rotated into the PTU to serve as squad, platoon, or company commanders to train their operational command capabilities. However, this system had been in place for less than a decade, meaning the current PTU officers were essentially new recruits selected just at the beginning of the year.

It was reasonable for Ma Delong to distrust them; when facing violent crimes, the officers generally placed more faith in the Special Duties Unit (SDU) or the Emergency Unit (EU). Zhang Jinrong, meanwhile, was brazen enough to take a swig from his flask before speaking up. "In an emergency, the PTU is always the first to respond. You need a signature from the 'Second Brother' to mobilize the SDU." He chuckled, "Scared, you lily-livered shrimp? Want a drink to steady your nerves?"

Ma Delong, already tense, glared at Zhang with rising indignation. "Officer Zhang, I respect your seniority, but watch your tongue. Even a clay figurine has a temper."

Lin Tiansheng ignored their bickering. He pricked up his ears, listening to the gunfire above. He could identify the tactical positioning of both police and criminals, the weapon models, and their movements—an impressive feat. Perhaps this was the foundation of his confidence to make a comeback: he was a veteran who had served twenty-five years in the military, a man who had earned his keep and was qualified for a full retirement.

Judging by the way the criminals were calmly trading fire, the PTU’s assault was not going well, and officers were being wounded one after another.

"These robbers are no ordinary thugs. Before the SDU arrives, the PTU will have a hard time taking them down," He Li lamented, slamming his hand against the wall. For the first time, he loathed the lightweight nature of his .38 service revolver. "The SDU hasn't arrived yet? Are they stuck in traffic even in a helicopter?"

Zhang Jinrong passed him the flask again. "Here, shrimp, have a drink to steady your nerves." He Li’s face flushed bright red, the color spreading to his ears.

Zhang gloated, "Look, he's turned into a steamed crab. Just a bunch of shrimp and crabs, right, Brother Sheng?"

"Zhang Jinrong, that's enough!" Ma Delong, the leader of the Waterworks police, roared at him.

Lin Tiansheng waved a hand. "Quiet, all of you. I'm not interested in your dramatics. The Mobile Unit commander definitely hasn't called the SDU yet. The SDU and the PTU have a rivalry; if they call for the SDU after just one failed assault, how will the PTU ever hold their heads up again?"

Ma Delong was rendered speechless, his face drained of color. "So we have to keep fighting?"

"At least one more push," Zhang interjected, taking a swig from his flask. "I'm the shrimp, so I'll drink, alright?"

To outsiders, the Mobile Unit, the SDU, and the EU are all paramilitary police units; if one can't handle the job, you just call the tougher one. But anyone with a brain knows that any administrative department has internal competition. It is both a necessity for optimization and an art of politics. Only by splitting authority and keeping units in check can the leadership maintain balance and ensure obedience. Paying the cost of such friction is inevitable.

For his part, Lin Tiansheng wouldn't easily call the SDU when an assault failed either. He would wait until the West Kowloon PTU battalion arrived to provide support, passing the burden of calling for reinforcements to his superiors.

Suddenly, the gunfire above ceased. Before Liu Yida and He Li could celebrate, PTU officers began being carried down the stairwell one by one. Simultaneously, under the protection of the Major Crime Unit, medics began to move in. Police operations often require significant manpower to set up positions and guard corridors; beyond containing criminals, their greatest utility is maintaining a lifeline so wounded officers can be evacuated and fresh reinforcements can be immediately inserted into the front lines. Once criminals are surrounded, no matter how hard they fight or how heavy their firepower, their defeat is only a matter of time.

By now, many West Kowloon officers had arrived at the scene, including officials from the Mong Kok Operational Branch and the Fire Services Department. Ultimate command fell to Superintendent Henry of the West Kowloon Operational Branch.

"BOOM!"

An explosion rocked one of the rooms. The officials in suits standing near the command vehicle ducked, covering their heads. Flying glass shards rained down, and civilians watching from a distance screamed in terror.

"There's a bomb!"
"Run! A bomb..."

When the explosion subsided, Henry stood up, covered in dust, and barked, "How do the criminals have explosives? Where is the Intelligence Unit?"

The PTU Chief Inspector frowned, staring at the debris-strewn site of the blast. With a hint of fear in his voice, he analyzed, "Sir, there are no traces of gunpowder residue. It was a flash explosion—lots of smoke, not a bomb. It must have been a gas canister."

"The criminals used what was at hand and rigged a simple detonator. They must have received professional military training."

Henry wore an expression of disbelief. "Where did these demolition experts come from? Special forces?"

Pi Zhibang licked his cracked lips and muttered, "Sir, these 'Big Circle Boys' are getting tougher by the minute."

In truth, the police force was not afraid of the so-called "Ten Most Wanted" or famous thugs. Those people had already shown their hands; their capabilities and firepower were well-assessed and easy to target. But in an incident like this, where the criminals' background and capabilities were unknown, there were always nasty surprises.

Henry, not wanting to see another gas canister explode, immediately ordered, "Call the SDU."

The PTU Chief Inspector spoke up without hesitation, "Sir, reinforcements will be here in three minutes. Let's wait."

"Wait?" Henry stared sharply at the PTU's blue beret.

Pi Zhibang suddenly spoke up. "How many men does the PTU have left?"

"Three operational squads arrived. Twelve men remain."

A standard PTU squad consists of ten men, led by a station sergeant or inspector.

"Draft the Major Crime Unit, reorganize them into two squads, and charge again!" Pi Zhibang suggested, gritting his teeth.

The PTU commander’s face remained cold, but he did not refuse. The Major Crime Unit was full of former PTU officers; as long as they changed their gear, they could step in immediately. The only risk was that the Major Crime detectives were out of practice with military-style combat, and the casualty rate could be very, very high.

Henry raised his eyebrows, staring at Pi Zhibang for a moment. He understood the subtext and smiled. "Good. Inspector Pi, draft the elite detectives from the Major Crime Unit, integrate them with the PTU, swap gear on-site, and prepare to storm the position."

Pi Zhibang stood at attention and saluted. "Yes, sir."

The PTU commander had not expected that in a simple armed robbery case, he would encounter a "madman" who was even more eager to snatch the credit.

"Don't blame me, Young Master Sheng. Life and death are fated; wealth and honor are in the hands of heaven—you said it yourself. I'm giving you a leg up with such a good opportunity. Remember to treat me to dinner next time," Pi Zhibang muttered to himself. He picked up his radio, pressed the button, and his expression shifted to one of stern professionalism. "Station Sergeant Lin Tiansheng, Senior Sergeant Zhang Jinrong, Officers Ma Delong, He Li, and Liu Yida: swap your gear on-site and integrate with the PTU. Prepare to move!"

True gold fears no fire. If he were truly a piece of trash, why would a group of old brothers call him "Young Master Sheng" at every turn? Respect is earned through ability; a future is carved out with one's life. As brothers, he had to give him a push—whether he liked it or not, he had to go.