Now, "they" have finished handling it. Left behind is a destroyed terrorist outpost, several unconscious captives (including Ramirez), and the safe transfer of deadly materials. The credit will go to the newly established "Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Command" under the Scottish Self-Defense Army.

MacLaine felt a chill, mixed with a hint of relief. The chill was from realizing that Scotland’s homeland security doesn’t seem completely in their own hands at critical moments. The relief was because this mysterious and powerful force is currently on their side, helping them resolve a crisis large enough to destroy Glasgow’s new landmark and severely impact the newly born political regime.

He picked up the encrypted phone to report to McTavish: "Target eliminated, materials secured. Operation successful." He did not mention the mysterious squad.

On the other end, McTavish was silent for a few seconds before replying with just two words: "Very good." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Some questions don’t need answers. Some forces, knowing they exist is enough. At this fragile and dangerous moment in the early stages of independence, pragmatism overrides everything.

Same day, England, Liverpool, Old Dock District B District Seventh Warehouse

The smoke from the explosion had dispersed, but the air was still thick with the acrid smell of burning and chemicals. The warehouse had a big hole blown open, with fire trucks and police car lights flashing chaotically in the pre-dawn darkness. Police had stretched a long cordon, reporters were blocked outside, aiming their cameras at the ruins.

This wasn’t the symbolic inspection triggered by Sarah Kent’s "anonymous report." This was a real, thunderous raid. Last night, a team of armed personnel from London, with the cooperation of numerous local police officers, suddenly sealed off the entire Zone B, then forcefully stormed into the Seventh Warehouse.

The fierce firefight lasted less than ten minutes.

Several resistors were killed, several were captured. Police seized a staggering amount of "Black Pearl" products and raw materials from the warehouse, along with a batch of illegal weapons. More importantly, they discovered a complete drug packaging line and financial records, directly pointing to several prominent local "businessmen" and at least two aides to city councilors.

The operation was clean and swift, yielding enormous results. Liverpool local police seemed not fully informed beforehand, merely instructed to cooperate with the peripheral blockade. This heavy punch landed directly on the vital part of the local drug network and its Protection Umbrella.

Sarah Kent and Allen stood among the citizens watching outside the cordon. There was not much joy on Sarah’s face, only complex contemplation. When the explosion and raid occurred, the "conference’s" night patrol happened to be in the neighboring block, ordered to stay away. They became mere spectators.

"London made the move." Allen said quietly, "They bypassed the possibly infiltrated local segments, directly using central forces. This means that Liverpool’s issues have become severe enough to unsettle Downing Street, or... they want to use this opportunity to strike local defiant forces, simultaneously demonstrating central authority still exists."

"What about us?" Sarah asked, "The clues we provided..."

"Will be noted, but the credit mainly belongs to London." Allen analyzed, "However, this is not necessarily bad. The drug network suffered a heavy blow, street violence may decrease in the short term, which is something the public can feel as ’safety.’ Meanwhile, London’s strong intervention will make local Protection Umbrellas anxious, not daring to act recklessly in the near future. This buys us time and space."

He paused, looking at Sarah: "But it also means, the dominance of public security has been taken back by London. Our community patrol team may be required to ’cooperate’ with the police, possibly even gradually marginalized. We need new focus, new issues, to maintain mobilization power and influence."

Sarah nodded. Street struggles are like that; you push a stone, but where it rolls and whom it crushes are not entirely within your control. The crucial point is, the stone has moved, the old balance has broken.

Just then, her phone buzzed with an anonymous message, containing only a word and a link: "Look at this."

She opened the link to find a newly created, crudely designed yet straightforward blog. The title reads: "Blood and Drugs in Liverpool: The Protection Umbrella List and Evidence Behind the Seventh Warehouse." It listed several names not mentioned in the earlier police announcement, including a current city councilor, the Boss of a large local logistics company, and... two mid-level officers from the Liverpool police. Although the attached images were blurry, transaction scenes and fragments of accounts were identifiable.

The blog’s view count started to soar within minutes.

Sarah quickly looked up at Allen. Allen slightly shook his head, indicating he wasn’t responsible.

Another anonymous person. Providing more lethal information, naming names, aiming to ignite deeper fires. This was meant to expose Liverpool’s abscesses thoroughly, causing political upheaval.

"Send it out, using all our community networks to forward." Sarah only hesitated for a second before deciding. Regardless of who this anonymous person is or what the intent is, this information aligns with the "conference’s" goal of transparency and justice. Moreover, it can bring public attention back from "London’s credit" to the issue of "Liverpool’s local corruption," giving the "conference" a new moral high ground and battle issue.

The new battle starts simultaneously in the ruins and the public opinion arena.