Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 42 - 42 40 Footwork

42: Chapter 40 Footwork 42: Chapter 40 Footwork The hotel was known, and although it was uncertain whether the target would go, there was always a high probability, so it was worth blocking them.

Not gambling, just blocking.

If they were blocked, it meant the target was meant to die; if not, it meant the target’s life was not yet meant to end.

Sean continued to drive around aimlessly; he desperately needed to find a hardware store or even a general store would do, but it was precisely in such urgent times that he couldn’t find a hardware store that should have been everywhere.

After driving around for a while, Sean became impatient.

“Where can I buy a hammer…”

“Wait a minute, over there.”

Gao Yi pointed to a large construction machinery repair shop not far away.

As long as it was a repair shop, there would definitely be a hammerhead; it didn’t take much thought, and besides, a hammer didn’t have to be bought in a hardware store, buying one they used at the repair shop would work just as well.

“Wait here, I’ll go buy.”

Sean stopped the car, and whispered to Gao Yi, “Stay in the car and don’t move, I’ll go buy two hammers and come back.”

Sean got out of the car and hurried over to the repair shop.

It took about ten minutes inside, and Gao Yi was getting impatient; it was just a hammer, it shouldn’t take this long.

Finally, Sean came out, with a hammerhead in each hand.

One was an ordinary Hammer, and the other was a large Iron Hammer they had custom-made, with a big head but the handle was a section of threaded steel welded on.

“Take a look, will this do?”

Gao Yi took the Hammer; there was nothing wrong with it, as horns were basically the same all over the world.

However, the head of this hammer was a bit long; even holding it in his hand, a section of it was exposed, making it easy to spot.

As for the self-made Iron Hammer, it was worse; the head was too big, probably weighing four or five pounds.

Four or five pounds didn’t sound too heavy, and it wasn’t too heavy to use, but for a Warhammer, a four or five pound head would need a long handle to be practical.

The hand hammer used as a cold weapon in ancient warfare was never too heavy; two pounds was enough, three pounds was quite significant.

Too heavy a hammer required a great demand on the way it was swung.

If a heavy hammer was swung and missed, it meant loss of control, and the time needed to regain control of the hammer would be long, while a lighter hammer was different; the lethal force it generated when swung was absolutely sufficient.

Even if one were wearing a helmet, a fierce strike could silence them, and it allowed for maximum flexibility.

The weight of the Hammer was acceptable, just not very convenient to conceal.

Gao Yi took the Hammer and waved it gently in the car a couple of times, then said, “This will do.”

With a push of Sean’s left hand, a shiny object slid out of his sleeve, then he whispered, “There’s a third one, which I had them make on the spot, take a look at this.”

Gao Yi glanced at it and exclaimed with extreme surprise, “Smart!

You are smart!”

“An inch and a quarter bearing ball, welded to a cut tubing wrench, it’s all been ground smooth, no sharp edges.”

A shiny, glittering big Iron Hammer, which was a bearing ball, with a section of cut tubing wrench behind it; the tubing head was thicker and served perfectly as a handle.

Weighing it, this improvised hammer also weighed four or five pounds, but the weight was evenly distributed throughout, not overly head-heavy.

It was easy to handle and didn’t give the sensation of the wrist snapping from a missed strike.

He slid the hammer into his sleeve, grasping the not-too-large head with his hand; when his hand covered it, it really couldn’t be seen from the outside, and the heavy feeling was reassuring to hold.

“This is the one, very good.”

Gao Yi couldn’t help but say to Sean, “Are you always this thoughtful in your work?”

“Your requirements were clear, the head couldn’t be too big, the handle couldn’t be too long, they had a welding machine, a cutter, a socket wrench, so I had them cut a socket wrench and weld a bearing ball on.

I tried smashing it a couple of times inside; it’s very sturdy.”

“Okay, this is the one.”

Gao Yi tucked the hammer into his sleeve, gauging the length, he pointed ahead and said, “Let’s head to that restaurant.”

It wasn’t time for dinner yet, and Gao Yi felt he should first scout the area, get to know the layout of the restaurant, facilitate his action when the time came, and make it convenient to escape.

Looking for hammers had delayed them a bit, and it was just past five o’clock, but according to Mexican habits, it was too early for dinner.

The restaurant was easy to find, but once Sean got there, he didn’t stop.

He just drove past without even slowing down.

“Why not stop and take a look?”

“We can’t stop; it’s too easy to expose ourselves.

We don’t know if the target has sent people to clear the restaurant in advance.

You need to understand that, as a narcotics boss, even if Suleyman occasionally goes out, he will make sure of his safety.

For Suleyman to have lived this long, he definitely has a very professional security team around him.”

As Sean said this, he searched for a suitable place to park nearby, then he said with delight, “Lucky us!”

There was no designated parking area on the roadside, but ahead a car had just left a parking spot on the side of the road, and Sean didn’t hesitate, he turned the car and parallel parked right into the spot.

The only downside was that the rear of the car faced the direction of the restaurant, which meant they would have to twist around and look back to observe.

“Perfect, the front of the car would have drawn more attention aimed towards the restaurant.

It would be troublesome if we stayed in the car all the time.

Now we need to get out and walk around.

If we stayed in the car, we would likely be noticed, so let’s head to a different block.”

Once the stakeout reached a professional level, it was troublesome.

Gao Yi whispered, “Let’s go for a walk somewhere else first, come back when it’s about time.

You wait in the car, and I’ll go eat at the restaurant.

If the target also goes in, I’ll make my move.”

Sean was stunned for a moment and said, “Isn’t that a bit…

rash?

If you see the target in there and make your move, what about the guards outside?

Are you planning a suicide assassination?”

“Um, we’ll see how it goes when the time comes.”

Sean didn’t have much to add, the rule was the Assassin decided when and how to act; he just gave a simple reminder, there was not much else he could do.

Gao Yi opened the car door and got out, and Sean followed suit.

They had only walked a few steps down the road when Sean suddenly said, “It’s a pity, you’re just one step away from a perfect disguise, but that will take time to practice.”

With that, Gao Yi was intrigued.

“What’s missing?”

“Your gait.

Everyone has a different walking pattern, step length, body posture, foot placement—these are all distinctive features.

Even if you’ve changed your appearance, if someone captures your gait, it’s still easy to recognize you.

But it takes a long time to practice and change your gait; it could take years…

oh, wow!”

Sean stammered because he noticed Gao Yi’s body posture and step had changed.

“Are you talking about this?”

Gao Yi switched from a normal walking posture to the Eight Trigram Palm steps, with each step lifting his leg differently, leaning his body slightly forward, and greatly shrinking his stride from the normal sixty centimeters to about fifty centimeters.

The Eight Trigram Steps are crucial to Eight Trigram Palm practice, and having trained for so many years, they had become second nature to Gao Yi.

Suddenly, Gao Yi changed his footwork again; this time his step became wider.

Though he was walking at a normal pace, the way he lifted and planted his feet was quite different.

Eight Trigram Palm had its own steps, and so did Hsing Yi Boxing, which he could switch to with ease.

Sean, still baffled, said, “Have you trained this?”

“If you’re talking about something else, forget it.

But if you’re talking about this, it’s too simple.”

Gao Yi spoke nonchalantly, “Changing my step is as easy as eating or drinking for me.

If you want me to walk a certain way, I can stick to it.

If you want me to walk in a completely new way, no problem.”

Sean was still incredulous, “That’s impossible, that’s unscientific, it defies human physiology.

How is that possible?”

“Practice.

Start training from birth, oh, that’s an exaggeration, from the age of three, then practice for twenty years, you could do it too.”

Sean paused, hesitating for a moment before finally voicing his opinion for the first time.

“You’re a genius, a natural-born assassin!”

Gao Yi did not respond; he’d heard plenty of such comments, not missing one from Sean.

The two continued on their way, and then they saw the target’s convoy coming towards them.

After the convoy passed completely, Gao Yi wanted to head back, but Sean grabbed him, “Something’s not right.

Nothing about today is right.”

“What’s wrong?”

“The target couldn’t have ended his meeting so quickly, and it’s a bit early for dinner.

Our luck today doesn’t seem to be that good.”

Scouting on the first day and encountering the target leaving was definitely good luck.

Even inside the city, they had tracked the target’s movements and predicted where he might appear—that was also a sign of good luck.

So Gao Yi didn’t understand why Sean was saying their luck wasn’t good.

“What’s the matter?

Isn’t the situation good now?

The target is going to dinner, I also go in, smash him with a hammer and run, you drive to pick me up afterward and we leave, the plan should be okay, right?”

Gao Yi was even considering turning back and heading towards the restaurant, but Sean spoke with resignation, “I’m dressed for scouting, with my behavior and appearance prepared for reconnaissance.

Now with this look, appearing near the target again will inevitably arouse suspicion.

Then, if the target has not finished the negotiation, it means he’s not in a good mood, and in a bad mood, he might do something out of the ordinary.”

After speaking, Sean let out a breath, “If the target is in a good mood, he might choose to enjoy a meal with the public, but if he’s in a bad mood, he might close off the entire place.

He’s accustomed to thinking over issues while dining, so, I think he’s probably had the restaurant entrance blocked already, not allowing anyone in.”

“Shall we take a look?”

“Alright, let’s take a look.”

The two turned around, took a look, and noticed a truck parked on the side of the road with people standing in the bed, and there were also people standing on both sides of the restaurant entrance, even bearing firearms.

Indeed, the restaurant was closed off, and this time Gao Yi hadn’t managed to get inside ahead of time.

Sean whispered, “There’s no chance now, let’s go.”

Yet, Gao Yi was not willing to give up just like that; he hesitated for a moment, then said, “No, let’s wait a little longer, there might be a chance.”