Chapter 5

A tall, thin figure pushed through the door with a sinister smile.

When I fully made out his features, my heart sank.

Damn, it was that bastard Carmen.

I tried to curl myself into as small a ball as possible, praying in my heart he wouldn't see me.

"Stop hiding, Jones. I can see you."

I looked up to find the bastard was already right in front of me.

I forced out what breath I had. "What are you here for?"

Carmen smiled darkly. "To rescue you, of course, my good teammate."

"Get away from me. I'd thank God if you just didn't harm me."

"Don't be so proud. I found a bottle of iodine to disinfect your wound."

With that, he reached out to tear off my bandage.

I tried desperately to push him away, but having lost too much blood, my hands were powerless and couldn't stop him at all.

After he ripped off the gauze, he actually stuck his finger directly into my wound and tore it viciously, ripping my wound into a gaping hole as blood gushed out.

"Ahhh..."

The piercing pain made me scream involuntarily, and then I kicked Carmen flying, sending him crashing into the wall.

That kick used all my remaining strength.

Carmen wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, brushed the dust off his backside, and smiled coldly.

"I just performed a little surgery on you. Don't worry, you'll be fine soon."

"I have no grudge against you. Why do you have to harm me..."

"No grudge? You..."

Just then, Lillian burst through the door with others.

Seeing people arrive, Carmen immediately fell backward, clutching his chest and wailing. "Jones, I was just trying to bandage your wound. Why did you kick me?"

Hearing that I'd kicked Carmen, Lillian immediately rushed over to kick me, but Carmen grabbed her.

He probably feared Lillian would see my torn-open wound.

"Forget it, Lillian. I can't blame Jones for being angry at me. If I hadn't worn his bulletproof vest, he wouldn't have been injured. It's normal for him to hate me."

"Carmen, you're just too kind. But you have to choose who deserves kindness. Someone like Jones—no matter how well you treat him, he won't appreciate it."

"Today I'm definitely going to teach this ungrateful bastard a lesson for you!"

With that, she shook off Carmen and charged at me furiously.

Just as she lifted her foot to kick me, her expression suddenly changed and she froze completely.

"You... how are you hurt this badly? You only got shot in the ribs—how are your intestines hanging out?"

I used my last bit of strength to point at Carmen. "He... it was him..."

"He means I was the one who bandaged him."

Before I could finish, Carmen interrupted me.

Carmen looked utterly righteous. "When I found Jones, he was already like this. He probably caught his wound on something while escaping and tore it open."

At this point, he looked around slowly and said, "Looking at it now, Jones's injury is beyond saving. It's time we made a decision."

Lillian asked worriedly, "You mean..."

"Exactly. He's in this condition now—we definitely can't take him with us. If he falls into the terrorists' hands, he'll inevitably reveal our whereabouts."

"Better we end his suffering now. It'll let him go peacefully and prevent the risk of our location being exposed."

Carmen spoke with such righteousness, as if he was doing this entirely for my benefit.

Hearing they wanted to make a move on me, everyone looked hesitant.

Seeing their hesitation, Carmen continued, "If you're not afraid of Jones leaking information and getting everyone killed here, just pretend I didn't say anything."

Hearing this, Lillian finally took a stance. "Let's do as Carmen says. This way we're helping Jones reduce his suffering."

Hearing the captain had spoken, the others could only agree.

Carmen had someone bring over a basin of water and took out some paper towels.

"We each take a paper towel, soak it in water, then press it over his face. In just a few minutes, he'll stop breathing."

"This way we all have a part in it, so no one will dare report us."

Hearing this, everyone lowered their guard and started soaking paper to cover my nose and mouth.

After several sheets were placed over my face, my breathing became increasingly difficult.

Just as I thought I was about to die, suddenly a team burst through the door, the leader shouting sternly, "Stop!"

Everyone froze when they saw who had arrived.