American variety show: Sniper Elite

Chapter 121 One Shot (Two Updates)

Through the scope, the target—a man with a signature cornrow hairstyle and a bright red nose—stepped onto the stage. He waved his arms dramatically, and the audience erupted in a tsunami of cheers.

Central Park was packed with tens of thousands of people, including audiences of the Independence Day concert and supporters who had come specifically for his speech. Above the crowd, countless American flags fluttered in the summer heat, creating a vibrant sea of ​​red, white, and blue.

Security personnel deployed in a fan shape, their eyes constantly scanning the restless crowd behind their sunglasses. Two bodyguards maintained a three-step distance from the target, ready to block attacks from any direction with their bodies.

The target stood in the center of the podium, his hands lightly resting on the edge, a smile on his face as he watched the roaring crowd below. He slightly raised his head, enjoying the thunderous cheers.

All sniper teams have been deployed from the high points surrounding Central Park. Some teams are responsible for monitoring suspicious targets within the park, while others are responsible for monitoring surrounding buildings.

On the 87th floor of the Liberty Tower, five kilometers away, the scope was steadily locked onto the conspicuous target with the cornrow hairstyle.

This high vantage point, which is outside the normal alert range, has now become a loophole in the entire security system.
-
A security guard stepped forward and whispered a few words in the target's ear. The target nodded slightly, then took a step forward, firmly placing his hands on the podium and adjusting the microphone height.

The restless crowd below the stage gradually quieted down. Countless Stars and Stripes flags still fluttered in the breeze, but the waving was noticeably less forceful. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the iconic opening remarks.

"My dear New York!" The target's magnetic voice boomed through the loudspeakers throughout Central Park: "Good afternoon, good noon, good evening!"

This signature greeting ignited the atmosphere.

The crowd erupted in cheers, the previously still flags began to flutter again, and the colorful banners shimmered in the sunlight.

The target slowly raised his arms and waved in all directions. This gesture immediately caused the cheers from the crowd to rise again.

A few seconds later, he gently pressed his hands down, and the restless crowd gradually quieted down. The target surveyed the entire scene with satisfaction, his gaze sweeping over every face looking up at him.

"We have defeated all our opponents," his voice echoed through the loudspeaker system. "We have successfully secured a majority of seats in the New York City Council."

He paused deliberately: "This is not only my victory, but a victory for everyone!"

Cheers erupted again from the crowd.
-
Beta's breathing gradually slowed down, and the diamond-shaped aiming frame in the scope contracted accordingly, eventually condensing into a light spot the size of a ballpoint pen tip, which steadily locked onto the target's cheek.

A sudden gust of strong wind swept through the unfinished window frame on the 87th floor, causing the safety net to shake violently and make a rustling sound. The howling wind echoed through the empty building.

Beta held his breath and patiently waited for the gust of wind to subside.

As the last wisp of air swept past the window frame.

"beep!"

A muffled gunshot echoed through the empty building. The silenced sniper rifle recoiled slightly, causing Beta's shoulder to tremble slightly. The wisps of white smoke rising from the muzzle were instantly dispersed by the strong winds at high altitude.
-
"We will set off again!" The target raised his right fist, his voice trembling slightly with excitement: "With the hopes of the people of New York! I will once again challenge for the party nomination! I will make America..."

"call out!"

Everyone near the stage heard a short, sharp cry amidst the noise.
-
Katalia was curled up on the sofa, her fingers absentmindedly pressing the remote control. When the channel switched to the live broadcast of the public speech in Central Park, her fingers paused slightly.

On the screen, the old politician with his signature cornrows and red, bulbous nose was waving his arms and shouting at the top of his lungs, "I will make America great again!"

Before the words were even finished, the old politician on screen stumbled, his right hand suddenly covering his right ear. Katalia sprang up from the sofa, her eyes wide as she stared at the television screen.

The live stream immediately descended into chaos.

Security personnel pinned the elderly politician down behind the podium, and more bodyguards quickly formed a human wall, with portable bulletproof shields deploying one after another, creating a barrier on the podium.

The live camera zoomed forward frantically, capturing a crucial moment before the police could chase them away: glaring blood seeped from between the old politician's fingers, staining his signature bulbous nose red, and he stared wide-eyed at the camera lens in horror.

As the cordon was set up, the live broadcast eventually showed only the impenetrable array of bulletproof shields on the podium and the ever-increasing number of security personnel.
-
Beta calmly pulled back the bolt, the metal parts making a crisp "click." He took out the second bullet and chambered it.

Beta's first bullet hit the target's right ear, and after penetrating the ear canal, it continued to fly backward with undiminished force.

With a muffled "thud," the security supervisor standing directly behind the target staggered backward.

He looked down in disbelief at his right chest, where a bullet hole, emitting a bluish smoke, was visible in his light body armor. The supervisor opened his mouth as if to give an order, but only vomited a mouthful of dark red blood before collapsing heavily to his knees.
-
Beta observed the chaotic scene through the scope.

The sniper teams on the rooftops of various buildings were on high alert, their scopes flashing as they frantically scanned every building that might be a firing point, trying to pinpoint the source of the bullets.

Beta slightly adjusted his posture, focusing the crosshairs of his scope southeast of the Freedom Tower, the direction of the nearest sniper team. Two members of the sniper team were adjusting their observation equipment; one of them had already rotated his scope to scan for possible firing positions.

Beta's finger tightened slightly on the trigger, then slowly released. The first shot was concealed, but the second would reveal their position. These well-trained counter-sniper teams were perfectly capable of tracking the bullet trajectory and locking onto this firing point on the 87th floor of the Liberty Tower within seconds.

Every second is precious now; every extra second we stay increases the risk of evacuation.
-
Beta stepped back from the window, knelt on one knee, and began to rapidly disassemble the weapon.

He unscrewed the still-warm silencer, the metal threads hissing softly as they turned. The scope popped out of its slot, the lens flashing in the sunlight. The two parts spun and meshed between his fingers, the threads locking together perfectly, instantly reforming into an ordinary elbow rest.

He then pulled the bolt to eject the bullet, which rolled half a circle on the floor before he scooped it up. He gently pulled out the trigger, the anti-slip pad covering the mechanical interface. Finally, he inserted the rubber plug into the barrel, the "click" of the bolt securing it signaling the weapon's disassembly was complete.

In less than thirty seconds, the sniper rifle had transformed back into those unremarkable elbows.

(End of this chapter)