特勤局没让这案子再拖下去。接到欧文的线报，特种部队联合海外特种大队，在土耳斯坦安全局武装部队的配合下，直扑南美枪贩子的老巢，代号"雷霆"——一座隐蔽在亚细半岛高原山谷里的"交易仓库"。情报称这地方伪装成废弃工厂，实则是个武装堡垒，外围有铁丝网和高墙，内部堆满军火，守卫荷枪实弹，训练有素。
The Special Task Force didn't let this case drag on any longer. Acting on Owen's intelligence, the special forces joined with the overseas special squadron, with the cooperation of the Turkistan Security Bureau's armed forces, to raid the lair of South American gun dealers, code-named "Thunder"—a hidden "trading warehouse" in a highland valley on the Asian peninsula. Intelligence reported that this place was disguised as an abandoned factory but was actually an armed fortress, surrounded by barbed wire and high walls, filled with weapons inside, guarded by well-trained personnel with loaded guns.
行动在深夜打响，三架黑鹰直升机低空掠过山谷，螺旋桨的轰鸣震得地面都在抖。机舱门敞开，特种士兵穿着黑色战术服，头盔上的夜视仪绿光闪烁，手持MP5冲锋枪，绳索一放，数十人如黑影般滑向地面。同一时间，一架无人机从高空锁定目标，一枚高爆导弹呼啸而下，正中院落中间武装分子的装甲车。爆炸的火光冲天而起，碎片四溅，震波掀翻了周围的土坡，沙尘滚滚。
The operation began in the dead of night, with three Black Hawk helicopters flying low over the valley, the roar of their propellers shaking the ground. The cabin doors were open, with special forces soldiers dressed in black tactical gear, green night vision goggles flickering on their helmets, wielding MP5 submachine guns. As they released their ropes, dozens of men slid to the ground like shadows. At the same time, a drone locked onto its target from high above, and a high-explosive missile whistled down, striking the militants' armored vehicle in the middle of the courtyard. The explosion's flames shot skyward, fragments scattered everywhere, and the shock wave overturned surrounding embankments, sending dust rolling.
地面部队趁势突入，五辆军用装甲车咆哮着撞开铁门，车顶的遥控机枪喷吐火舌，子弹像金属风暴扫过，门口的保安还没来得及还击就被打成筛子。一百二十名"游骑兵"特战士兵全副武装，全身武装，战术背心挂满弹夹，分成三组推进：一组从正面强攻，二组绕侧翼包抄，三组切断后路。仓库内枪声密集，守卫端着AK-47拼命抵抗，可特勤警员训练精良，配合默契，闪光弹一扔，瞬间冲进掩体，近距离爆头击毙。
The ground forces seized the opportunity to break in, with five military armored vehicles roaring as they crashed through the iron gates. The remote-controlled machine guns on top of the vehicles spat fire, with bullets sweeping through like a metal storm, turning the guards at the entrance into sieves before they could return fire. One hundred and twenty "Ranger" special forces soldiers were fully armed, with tactical vests laden with magazines, advancing in three groups: one group launching a frontal assault, the second circling to flank, and the third cutting off the retreat. Gunfire was dense inside the warehouse, with guards desperately resisting with their AK-47s, but the special task force officers were well-trained and coordinated perfectly, throwing flash grenades, instantly rushing into cover, and executing close-range headshots.
一队警员突入主库房，迎面撞上十几个武装分子，手持RPG和重机枪死守弹药堆。特勤队长低吼："烟雾掩护！"两颗烟雾弹滚出去，白雾弥漫，警员借机散开，狙击手从高点一枪一个点名，RPG刚架起来就被爆头。装甲车随后撞塌侧墙，机枪扫射，血肉横飞。不到二十分钟，仓库彻底沦陷，地上全是尸体和弹壳，空气里混着火药和血腥味儿。然而战术小队却回复称："没有交易货物！完毕！我重复，没有交易货物，完毕！任务失败！我重复，任务失败！"
A team of officers burst into the main warehouse, directly confronting more than a dozen armed militants who were staunchly defending the ammunition pile with RPGs and heavy machine guns. The special task force leader growled: "Smoke cover!" Two smoke grenades rolled out, white mist filling the area, allowing officers to disperse. Snipers from high positions took out targets one by one, with RPG operators being headshot just as they were setting up. Armored vehicles then crashed through the side wall, machine guns spraying, flesh and blood flying. In less than twenty minutes, the warehouse was completely fallen, the ground covered with bodies and shell casings, the air mixed with gunpowder and blood. However, the tactical squad reported: "No transaction goods! Over! I repeat, no transaction goods, over! Mission failed! I repeat, mission failed!"
欧文和特勤局的上级领导坐在梅罗德的指挥室里，通过卫星直播盯着这一切。屏幕上火光闪烁，枪声此起彼伏，欧文靠在椅背上，右肩的绷带还没拆，严肃且愤怒。众人一片哗然，议论纷纷。行动结束，仓库被炸成废墟，他低声说："这帮王八蛋。"
Owen and the superiors of the Special Task Force sat in the command room in Melrod, watching everything through satellite live streaming. On the screen, flames flickered and gunshots rang out one after another. Owen leaned back in his chair, the bandage on his right shoulder not yet removed, both serious and angry. There was a clamor of voices, with people discussing among themselves. As the operation ended, with the warehouse blown to ruins, he said in a low voice: "These bastards."
当晚，特勤局和联邦安全局联合召开特别新闻发布会，灯光刺眼，记者挤满大厅。联邦司法委员先发言，语气铿锵："这次跨国行动彻底摧毁了一个危害梅罗德安全的军火网络，彰显了法律的威严和国际合作的决心。"接着轮到欧文，他走上台，有些漫不经心，声音低沉："我们在土耳斯坦突袭了武器贩子的仓库，缴获大量非法军火，击毙数十名武装分子。这些武器正是大桥袭击和港口枪战的源头，背后牵涉更深的阴谋，我们会继续追查。"他顿了顿，瞥了眼镜头，"感谢所有参与行动的警员。"
That evening, the Special Task Force and the Federal Security Bureau jointly held a special press conference, with blinding lights and reporters packed into the hall. The Federal Justice Commissioner spoke first, his tone resolute: "This transnational operation has completely destroyed an arms network that threatened the safety of Melrod, demonstrating the authority of the law and the determination of international cooperation." Then it was Owen's turn. He walked onto the stage, somewhat nonchalant, his voice deep: "We raided a weapons dealer's warehouse in Turkistan, seized a large amount of illegal arms, and killed dozens of armed personnel. These weapons were the source of the bridge attack and the port gunfight, involving deeper conspiracies, which we will continue to investigate." He paused, glancing at the camera, "Thanks to all officers who participated in the operation."
最后，市长上台总结，脸色不太好看，但还是硬挤出个笑："梅罗德不会向犯罪低头，这次行动证明了我们的决心。市民可以放心，安全有保障。"台下掌声雷动，可谁都知道，这不过是场面话，案子陷入了艰难。
Finally, the mayor came on stage to summarize, his face not looking very good, but he still forced out a smile: "Melrod will not bow to crime, and this operation proves our determination. Citizens can rest assured that safety is guaranteed." Applause thundered below, but everyone knew these were just platitudes, and the case had hit a difficult point.
我窝在家里，和艾琳挤在沙发上看直播。她靠在我肩上，手指攥着我的衣角，低声说："他们总算干了点正事。"我点点头，心里却乱糟糟的。艾琳抬头看我，笑了笑："别想太多，有我在。"我吻了下她的额头，心里却沉甸甸的。
I huddled at home, squeezed on the sofa with Erin watching the live broadcast. She leaned on my shoulder, her fingers clutching the corner of my clothes, saying softly: "They've finally done something right." I nodded, but my heart was in chaos. Erin looked up at me, smiled: "Don't think too much, I'm here." I kissed her forehead, but my heart felt heavy.