A swift and decisive victory in the early stages, a post-apocalyptic survival story in America!

"Won't I trouble you?" Lola wanted to refuse, "I'll just find a place myself..."

"What's the trouble? I'm alone anyway. Let's go! Get in my car." Julie noticed her hesitation and immediately made a firm decision, helping Lola walk towards the old Toyota SUV in the distance.

Julie waved to her partner Hugo, got into the driver's seat, started the car, and waited for Lola to get in. Then she made a U-turn, drove the car away from the parking space, and crossed the street.

Hugo was already waiting there, right at the rear door, and immediately opened the door and got in, showing the amazing tacit understanding between the two.

Lola glanced back. Hugo, who was about fifty years old, was not tall, but had a good figure. His face was not handsome, but it was firm and stylish, and he was the type that was pleasing to the eye.

This person has been working with Julie for less than two years, and has made many contributions under Julie's guidance. He is now a Level 3 detective, a late bloomer.

When Lola and Hugo first met, Hugo smiled kindly when he saw Lola looking over, and then fastened his seatbelt.

The old Toyota SUV sped away from the crime scene. Halfway there, Julie asked, seemingly casually, "What powerful adversary did you offend? How could you have attracted such a formidable enemy?"

Hugo, sitting in the back seat, chimed in, "I've killed the Blood Gang boss, but no one has ever come to my house and attacked me like this."

Lola looked somewhat embarrassed, glancing hesitantly at Julie's resolute profile: "Are they really here for me? Didn't they kill my neighbor first?"

Julie glanced back at her partner, exchanged a look, then looked at Lola, smiled and shook her head, saying, "We need to investigate further, find out what your neighbor's social background is. If the target is her, it might be a simple matter of killing her to silence her."

Lola isn't stupid; she probably doesn't even believe what Julie said herself.

Is this some kind of idiot treating me like a fool to my face?

Knowing that her story wasn't enough to convince the top detective, Lola felt helpless, realizing she might not be able to keep the secret.

"Don't feel pressured. After all, you're the victim. This was just self-defense, and we won't pursue it too much." Julie raised her hand and patted Lola's thigh, her tone somewhat ambiguous.

"What you need to consider is what to do next." Hugo readily agreed, leaning over from the back seat to provide Julie with the following information: "If the other side can mobilize such forces against you, they definitely won't give up easily. You need to be mentally prepared."

Julie was an excellent driver, constantly overtaking other cars on the road, which drew numerous honking horns. A police car noticed her and gave chase.

The police lights flashed, and the officer in the passenger seat of the patrol car had just turned on the radio, preparing to report a speeding incident: "A vehicle has been spotted speeding in the Central District, license plate number 'E0'—Oh, shit! It's Julie! Cancel the report!"

The rookie officer in the driver's seat asked curiously, "TO, who is this?"

The veteran officer didn't want to explain, so he made a circle in the air with his index finger, indicating that they should change direction.

The police car behind them disappeared at the next intersection, and Lola watched it all, secretly admiring its performance.

If a police officer can reach the level of Julie, then her life has not been in vain.

Julie didn't take it seriously at all. She stepped on the gas and drove home. She parked the car in front of the garage, got out first, checked that it was safe, and then patted the car door.

She lives alone in such a large villa; it has to be said, she's very bold and has a strong personality.

Lola then got out of the car and went inside with Julie.

"You sleep upstairs, Hugo and I will stay downstairs. We'll go to the station to give our statements tomorrow." Once inside, Julie's tense nerves visibly relaxed. She pointed to the stairwell: "You can sleep in my room upstairs. Call me if you need anything."

Lola wanted to say that she could protect herself and that she didn't need to be treated like a little girl.

But the two had known each other for many years, and Julie's care for her had become a habit, tolerating no questioning or opposition.

It's pointless to say anything.

After Lola went upstairs, Julie took out half a bottle of brandy, poured half a glass for Hugo, poured most of a glass for herself, and sat down on the sofa.

Hugo took the glass, took a small sip, and asked, "Boss, what do you think?"

"What are you looking at?" Julie sat on the single sofa, brazenly stretching out her long legs and placing her feet, clad in heavy leather shoes, on the three-seater sofa next to her, enjoying a rare moment of relaxation.

"As for Lola, I feel..."

Julie chuckled. "Her skill level is inferior to mine. Killing five people at once is impossible. Is there even a need to guess? What I'm curious about now is who this person is, and why they are so powerful yet refuse to show themselves?"

"Could he be Lola's boyfriend?" Hugo took a sip of his drink and frowned in thought.

"Why does it have to be a man? Are you discriminating against us women?" Julie teased her partner.

Hugo was speechless, then coughed lightly: "I was just saying it casually. With you here, I wouldn't dare discriminate against women."

Julie shook her head: "Regardless of gender, to be able to handle this situation so calmly and successfully is too counterintuitive. I believe I can do it, but that's all I believe."

Hugo was taken aback: "You're...very interested in this person?"

Julie licked her incredibly sexy lips: "Of course! How can we not try something as powerful as this, regardless of gender?"

"Uh..." Hugo said with a hint of helplessness.

This overly career-driven female police officer's biggest problem is that she admires those who are stronger than her, yet she finds it extremely difficult to find anyone stronger than herself.

"Your last relationship was...?"

"Nine years ago." Julie sighed, her eyes flickering as if she had remembered something.

Hugo had heard a little about this story, sighed, and said nothing more.

"Keep an eye on things for a while, then call me in two hours. Be alert." Julie downed the remaining half glass of brandy in one gulp, then got up and headed to the guest room on the first floor.

"Yes, ma'am." Hugo gave a military salute, took out a pistol from his pocket, and placed it on the coffee table in front of him.

Julie wasn't unaware of the potential dangers; she simply didn't care.

Before getting into the car, Julie and Lola had already reported the incident to the police station during their conversation.

Hopefully, they won't be that crazy. Two attacks on the same night. If they call again, we'll be in for a lot of trouble.

……

……

"Buzz! Buzz!" The phone vibrated.

"Huh? Honey, is this my phone?" A black man groggily got up.

Maeve McCallister, who was next to her, woke up and picked up her phone from the bedside table: "It's mine."

She picked up her phone, got out of bed, answered the call, sat down in the study, and asked softly, "Sir..."

A gentle yet stern voice came from the other end of the phone: "What happened? Why would someone try to assassinate Lola?"

Maeve was stunned, and asked incredulously, "When did this happen?"

She glanced at the clock on the study wall; it was only 3:30 a.m.

"Just now! Didn't you receive the message?" The voice on the other end of the phone was filled with disappointment.

"I..." Maeve's phone vibrated, and she looked down at it before saying, "A message has arrived."

There was a moment of silence on the phone. "Remember your mission. Don't let me down."

After hanging up, Maeve silently cursed before answering another call, frowning as she asked, "Did you notify me immediately? Then why did I hear about this from someone else?"

Annoyed, Maeve hung up the phone, held it in her hand, gently tapped her chin, pondered for a moment, and then dialed Lola's number.

"I just got the news. Are you alright? Where are you now? Are you safe? That's good, that's good!" Maeve breathed a sigh of relief and instructed, "Tell me immediately if anything happens. Don't let anything like this happen again, understand?"

After hanging up the phone, a hint of relief mixed with disgust flashed in Maeve's eyes.

Who exactly is it that wants to take action against Lola at this critical juncture?