?<strong>Chapter 739:</strong>


    Suddenly, another man in ck lunged at him, attacking with swift and brutal force.


    Howard’s hand shot up just in time, and the man in ck copsed mere inches from where he stood.


    The crowd of attackers thickened, and a cold sweat drenched Howard’s back.


    “Get out of here now! The base is going to blow in less than ten minutes!” he yelled, his voice sharp with urgency.


    The men in ck hesitated, casting wary nces at each other, unsure whether to believe him.


    Could the base really be about to explode?


    “The base’s defenses are tight. No way it’s blowing up. Get him! The boss will make it worth your while,” one of them sneered, pulling out a handgun and taking aim at Howard.


    Howard dodged the shot, but the bullet grazed his arm. Another man lunged at him, throwing a punch, but Howard countered, grabbing his arm and kicking his legs, sending him crashing to the floor.


    The remaining men swarmed him. Within moments, Howard was battered, his body aching from the relentless blows.


    He wasn’t a martial arts expert, and these men were some of the organization’s elite fighters. His strength was fading fast, and panic flickered in his eyes as he nced at Milly, still unconscious. He couldn’t hold out much longer.


    Howard wasn’t afraid of dying here, but he couldn’t let Milly die—not like this.


    As a dagger gleamed in the dim light, aimed directly at her, he instinctively moved, taking the blow with his left shoulder. The de sank deep, and blood poured from the wound, but he gritted his teeth against the searing pain. With shaking hands, he yanked out his stun gun and jammed it into one of the men in ck. The man convulsed violently before copsing.


    “Just give it up! You’re outnumbered—you can’t win!” one of the men sneered.


    Howard was panting, his body battered, covered in cuts and bruises. His vision blurred, and he felt the pull of unconsciousness creeping in. But no, he couldn’t give up—not yet.


    Desperation surged through him as he lifted the stun gun, only for a gunshot to ring out, knocking it from his hand.


    Hisst weapon was gone.


    “The base is going to explode! I’ve nted explosives. Stay here, and you’ll be blown to bits!” Howard shouted.


    But the men didn’t budge. They sneered, clearly thinking he was bluffing, just trying to buy time to escape.


    Howard clutched Milly tightly, bracing himself as the blows kepting.


    Then, without warning, the base lit up with blinding red and blue lights, shing urgently. The ground beneath them trembled. A mechanical female voice boomed through the chaos. “One minute until explosion. Fifty-nine seconds until explosion—”


    The violent shaking threw everyone into a panic.


    Howard seized the moment, his voice cutting through the confusion. “I know some of you want out of the organization’s grip! This is your chance! Run! Get as far away as you can. If you leave now, they won’te after you!”


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