Joe was dumbfounded.Debra continued, "Too bad, your master never planned to save you."Joe's head throbbed. He stepped back, ready to run. But as his head turned, he saw Pedro and that police officer, who were supposed to be both dead.They quickly came up to restrain him."You tricked me!" Joe growled, realizing it was all a trap to get information from him."Blame it on your foolishness." Debra shrugged. "Spill what you know, and I'll let you go. Otherwise..."Seeing his reluctance, she stepped closer. "Trust me. Your master won't save you. And the afterlife is far ahead. Why not treasure this one?""Are you really letting me go?""I'm a woman of my word. Tell me, and you're free.""Alright. I'll tell you."Joe leaned in and whispered something to Debra, who then arched an eyebrow."Where do you think he keeps Drake?""Orkgate.""Alright, you're free to go."Pedro was surprised. "Are you sure about this?""Let him go," Debra insisted. "He's of no use to us now."The
Joe pushed the door open, and the cold wind blew in.Everyone turned their heads, except for one person standing in the middle of the hallway."Master..." Joe staggered inside.The person slowly turned around, unfazed by the sight of Joe's bad injuries.Not far away from the church, a guard from the Houston family held his breath, watching the situation in the chapel.He quickly sent the location to Marion, but a sharp knife was suddenly thrust into his neck.The phone slipped from his hand and fell to the ground. His body then collapsed into a pool of blood.The killer, wearing a white mask, entered the church and reported, "Master, there was a tail outside."His words caused an uproar in the crowd. The believers shot up from their seats."What?" "How is that possible?"...The bishop turned to look at them, and the noises died out immediately.His gaze fell on Joe, who panicked. "It wasn't me, Master. I swear."That killer stepped forward and sliced his throat.Joe pr
"Let's go." Marion led Debra out of the church.The street outside was empty, with only their people searching for clues."This church has been here for over a hundred years. It's right in the city center, and during the day, it's a busy spot and a cultural landmark," Debra mused. "I remember a few missing cases here. It caused quite a stir. Some people said this church was haunted by ghosts of those dead during the wars. Many paranormal investigators came for clues but left with nothing. Because it caused panic, they started locking down this street at night, and no vehicles were allowed in.""My people won't make a mistake," Marion muttered. "This church has to be one of their hideouts. I don't know how many more are there across the country."Debra started to think of those people at the Jovial Hotel. Their eyes were as cold as ice. The thought of them alone made her shiver."I have an idea. Do you remember the hunter game I went through with Liza at the Jovial Hotel?""I do."
"Mr. and Mrs. Houston," Lara greeted, inviting them to take seats. "I know you two rushed here by plane. The food is ready. Let's eat and talk.""Sounds good," they replied.A maid came downstairs and handed a file to Lara. "Miss, here are the files you asked for."Lara nodded and handed the file to Debra."This is the batch of files you mentioned on the phone. I picked out what I thought you'd need.""Thanks.""No worries. If it weren't for you, I'd still be a maid in the Lowe family. You taught me how to take control of my destiny. I'll always remember that.""You made your own choices.""True, but without you, I wouldn't be the head of the Sharp family now."Lara had learned a lot from Drake, which helped her manage the Sharp family so well. Now that Drake was in trouble, she couldn't just sit by.Debra opened the file. It contained records of the Sharp family's financial dealings over the years, including some shady businesses and the favors they had done for the Lowe fam
"You don't know?" Lara was surprised. "Mr. Lowe came back a while ago but only stayed for two days. He left with a lot of documents. If it weren't for him to step in and clean up the mess, the city would still be chaotic."Debra chewed over her words, figuring Drake must have already realized something was off. His vigilance was impressive, and his intelligence had improved."Would you like to rest here for a couple of days?" Lara asked. "A lot of things have happened recently, but my place is safe enough. And there are other files you might want to check.""Thanks for your kindness, but we can't stay long," Debra declined.With Drake still missing, they couldn't afford any delay. His life might be hanging by a thread now.Lara didn't insist. "I understand. I'll have the files copied and sent to your phone.""Alright.""But there's a lot of material. It might take a while to review them.""It's fine."Before leaving, Debra suddenly turned back. "By the way, have you ever heard
"No matter what happens, I'll always be by your side. If you ever get tired, just lean on me. With me around, no one can hurt you," Marion reassured her."We promised to walk this path together. So, if you ever get tired, you can lean on me too." Debra looked him in the eye. "I am a woman, but I'm strong enough to protect you."Marion chuckled and tapped her nose. "Silly girl. But if that day ever comes, do you think I'd just watch you charge ahead?""Why not? Ever heard of that saying?""Women are any less than men?" "Exactly."The morning breeze turned Debra's cheeks pink, and she tightened her grip on Marion's hand."Are you afraid?" she asked him and herself as well.Back when she faced Jeffrey, she'd been scared. But knowing her friends were there gave her some comfort.Lately, though, her dreams had been different. She kept seeing those masked figures from the Jovial Hotel. The black curtains, the dim lights, the screams...She could only run from those hunters. It al
"One terabyte?" Randy gasped. "What's up with Lara sending all these files to Debra? Did she just give us all the records of her family? How am I supposed to go through all this?""What can we do?" Erica shrugged, polishing her nails. "You're the only one here with top-notch computer skills."She paused, looking at him. "Don't worry. I'll stay here with you. Debra and Marion need to investigate Drake's disappearance. He's been missing for 24 hours.""Yeah, but seriously, this is too much," Randy grumbled. "How am I supposed to find a needle in this haystack? Did Lara do this on purpose to slow us down?""Come on. She's just trying to help.""Can't say for sure. Debra's sharp as a tack, but Lara tricked her twice. What kind of person does that?"Erica stopped polishing her nails. "You might have a point there.""Right? I bet she's hiding something.""Maybe, but Lara is Conrad's love daughter. Before this, she was under Drake's thumb. Without Debra's help and Drake's support, she
At an underground casino, Drake hung limply in the air.His white shirt was soaked in blood, and his body was battered with no part left unscathed.A masked man walked in. He raised his hand, and someone put Drake down."Where did you hide it?" demanded the masked man, his voice cold and hoarse.Drake looked up. His bloodstained face twisted into a mocking smile. "Take a guess. If you get it right, maybe I'll tell you."The air was immediately charged with tension.The masked man held up two identical knives. His deep voice resonated. "I know you're a fan of gambling. See these two knives? One of them is real, and the other is fake. If the real knife goes in, it's the end of your life, and if the fake knife goes in, you'll have a chance to choose again. Want to take a pick now?"Drake's face hardened, and he continued, "You must be familiar with games like this."Before Drake could respond, the masked man shoved one of the knives into his left atrium. The knife was fake, so it
"No biggie. I'm just that sharp," Randy grinned."Don't flatter yourself." Erica smacked his arm, turning to Debra. "If that's the play, we'll set up around the valley early.""We scoped it out last time. Here's the terrain map Marion roughed out. Memorize the basics, just in case," Debra said.Jordan spoke up. "I'll plant people inside to learn the lay. If things go down, we'll back each other up."He paused, frowning. "But we've only got one path. Without the full picture, it's still risky.""Got it here," a voice called from the door.Everyone turned to see Theda walking in with Robert. A map was in her hand."It's you guys." Debra was surprised.Theda had been busy with her business. She barely had time to breathe, not to mention show up there."This mess is huge. If the Illuminati takes Seamar City, my business is done," Theda said.She'd seen Jeffery's crazy side. The Illuminati couldn't be anything good.She unrolled the map and stuck it on the board. "This is the val
Liza eased up, knowing Debra was always faithful.She would help if she said so."Is the Illuminati really that bad?" Liza asked, having never seen Fermin cornered like that."Yeah," Debra said flat-out.Liza fought back her tears. "I'm not as smart as you guys, but if I can help...""You've done plenty," Debra said, patting her head.The once-bratty lady had grown into someone brave and kind. They'd all seen her change.But this was too risky. They couldn't bet on her life."Everything's set," Marion said, striding in with Jordan.Liza blinked at their suits. They looked solemn, as if ready for a last stand.Debra nodded. "Alright, let's go over everyone's setup and run through the plan."Randy wheeled in a blackboard that showed the outskirts map.The Four Great Families had owned Seamar City for ages. Their eyes and ears were on every corner.They'd linked up north, south, east, and west, with Juan's lines tied in.According to intel, the Illuminati hadn't sunk deep ro
"Just listen to me and go," Fermin said, pulling his hand free.The next thing she knew, he yanked her toward the emergency exit."Fermin!" she yelped.The restaurant staff, loyal to Fermin, hustled her into the stairwell. By the time the guards outside caught on, she was gone."Get her," the guards barked.If Liza slipped away, Michael would have their heads. But before they could chase, Fermin's crew boxed them in."You know what this means?" one guard spat, dropping all politeness.They knew he was just a puppet. If he broke free, Bert's life would be done."Kill them," Fermin ordered, turning back to the restaurant.A waiter dropped a tray, the crash drowning out muffled screams from the stairwell.Liza was already in a cab. She tried to turn back, but a staffer blocked her. "Miss, you can't go anywhere but Seamar City. The Potter Mansion is your safest bet. Think of what Mr. Eaton's doing for you."Her stay overseas made her a hostage. While she was here, Fermin was lea
The driver hesitated but complied. "Sure, Mr. Eaton. How long do you plan to stay? There's a meeting this afternoon.""An hour," Fermin replied.From their conversation, Liza caught on that their family was under the Illuminati's thumb. The driver would not grill Fermin about his schedule otherwise."Who're you to butt in? He'll hang out with me for as long as he wants," she snapped.The driver bit back his gripes. "My bad. Sorry."Liza clung to Fermin's arm, heart pounding. She had been pampered her whole life, and her family had always been untouchable. She never imagined they'd be under someone else's boot.The car stopped by the mall. Liza and Fermin got out.When the guards tried to follow, she whirled. "My brother and I are going shopping. What're you tagging along for?""Protecting you and Mr. Eaton," one said.She opened her mouth to argue, but Fermin cut in. "They can carry bags for you."She hesitated. With these guards tagging along, they couldn't talk about the si
"Dad." Liza rushed to the bed, grabbing Bert's hand.In her mind, Bert was a stern old grump. He was always tough and sharp.But now, the illness had taken a toll on him. He had shrunk, and his hair had gone gray overnight.Fermin stood behind her, watching with pain.In fact, Bert had been ill for a while now. He had been grooming Fermin for years.But once he'd caught wind of Fermin's plans, Bert would rather kill him and trash their legacy than let him join the Illuminati.Fermin knew this day was coming. Liza didn't. Bert never wanted her to.She froze, feeling like his hand had twitched. She stopped crying and spun to Fermin."Did you see it? Dad moved..." she exclaimed.Fermin clapped a hand over her mouth, a move that confused her.He shook his head, warning her off. She nodded fast, signaling she'd keep quiet.Fermin checked the door and eased his hand off. "Dad's fine. Let's head home, alright?"Liza glanced at Bert with reluctance but wiped her tears. "Okay.""Co
Drake's mouth hung open, but no words came out."I swapped the drug for saline," Juan said. "You're on your own tonight. You've only had one dose, so there might still be a chance. If you don't wanna die here, suck it up. Don't let Kale die for nothing."Juan dropped that and left the room.Drake slumped on the bed. Old memories came flooding back, from their first meeting to their camaraderie. They had been through thick and thin together.If it hadn't been for him, Kale wouldn't have been dead....In the hospital, Liza kept watch outside the ICU where Bert lay.Two black-suited guards blocked the door. Even after surgery, they wouldn't let her in."When can I see him?" she asked, clenching her fists.The guards stood like statues, ignoring her."That's my dad," she shouted, pounding their chests. "I need to be with him. Move. Get out of my way.""Stop it." Fermin strode up, grabbing her swinging fist. "You're an Eaton. Act like it."He turned and slapped a guard hard. "Y
Juan arrived at a villa on Seamar City's outskirts. It was where Drake was locked up.It was pitch black in the room, with only a bed. The windows were nailed shut.The moment Drake handed over the stone, he'd guessed his fate. The Illuminati had rules for traitors: the blessing ritual.But that "blessing" was just injecting their latest drug into turncoats. They would be used as free guinea pigs. Death was the best outcome. Surviving meant real torture.It didn't hurt. Rather, it felt like heaven. That was why they called it a blessing."When did they shoot you up with that stuff?" Juan asked.Drake leaned back on the bed, nonchalant. "I gave them the stone. It doesn't matter to you. Just give me the drug."By night, he was a mess.The stuff could ease the pain for an hour. Then hell would kick in. Once the cravings hit, it felt like ants gnawing his bones.The pain wired into his nerves. At its worst, he'd bash the wall, tempted to bite his tongue off.He couldn't leave wit
To the bishop, Debra and her crew were small fry.A hundred years ago, the Four Great Families might've been untouchable. But now? Their roots were shaky.The Illuminati, on the other hand, had grown unstoppable.For the stone, he'd see them and let them feel the Illuminati's might. It was something callows like them couldn't touch."Tell them I pick the time and place," he said. "Get the stone ready. If it's fake, they'll get the harshest punishment from God.""Yes, Master," Michael replied, turning to leave.Lara stood up to protest, "I'm against this. We should take the chance to wipe them out and take their assets."In her mind, the four families were nothing. When they could snatch what they wanted, there was no need for deals or games."God spares all," the bishop muttered. "I'll give them a shot to live. If they bow, why kill them?"Lara fell silent, but Frederic stepped out of the shadows. He asked, "What about the stone Drake gave us?""Only one of the two stones is
Night settled in deep.Debra and the crew were still waiting for Michael's reply."Still nothing? They don't buy it, do they?" Erica paced, antsy."Give it time. They'll bite," Debra said, clutching her phone.She had promised Kale she would bring Drake back. No breaking that.A text finally pinged her phone. It was Michael.Everyone heaved a sigh of relief. Like Debra said, the Illuminati couldn't rule out her having the real stone.If theirs was fake, Michael and his crew couldn't afford the fallout."Marion, it's on you now," Debra said.The Houston family had military muscle on tap. The Potter family owned elite guards and intel. Erica and Randy were solid backups.But this meeting? Debra had to go herself."Does it have to be now? Maybe wait till you're healed?" Erica said.Debra shook her head. "Drake is at risk every day he's with them. I can't take that chance. Just like they can't risk us holding the stone.""She's right," Randy jumped in. "Drag this out, and who