Oh dear, this is definitely one of the best pieces from your series so far, where you’ve managed to pack in plenty of suspense in almost every paragraph. I think the three soldiers are brilliantly described, and it’s good to hear a word from old Chen before we forget he exists. It seems the lady doesn’t really know what this book is capable of.
In any case, you’ve done an excellent job of ratcheting up the tension, and I could practically feel that punch right here!
All that action did make the setting seem a bit less important, though.
You’ve done a brilliant job of describing the three mercenaries, trapped against their will and without any agency of their own. I felt a bit of pity for the leader of the trio. Hanging there, useless, stripped of everything, in a filthy, damp, stuffy building for years on end, only to meet your end like that.
I’m curious to know what Zhao thinks of that, but he’ll probably be standing at a distance, beaming at the successful project.

I’ve really enjoyed reading your story.

cc @almaguer if you ever have electricity + wifi again read this.