Aria's voice was indifferent. "There's a path in your 4 o'clock direction. Lead Rainie and Frank that way. Someone will be there waiting for you."There was indeed a special forces team waiting there.Aria didn't write the note for nothing when she left Southbury.It was just that the Special Missions Unit simply preferred to operate in secrecy. Their actions were always veiled, and not even the HOU could interfere with their decisions.This was because all the cases they dealt with were so unique that the public could never be made aware of them, and Aria was the team's core."Why hasn't Boss signaled us yet? Does she not want us to show up?" A black-haired teenage boy adorned in a long robe stood on the hillside, two big bikes parked behind him.A sweet-looking teenage girl, who was wiping a black knife, glanced back. "You men are disgusting! What do you think you are? How could you ogle the boss like that!"The boy then raised his hand. "Don't lump us together. I'm quite a ha
Landon's black hair danced in the moonlight, accentuating his handsome features. Despite his chronic illness, his graceful landing betrayed no weakness save for his pale complexion. The way he landed on one knee, all while wearing leather gloves, was particularly impressive. The gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose made him resemble a young medieval cardinal.As soon as Landon touched down, the other plainclothes officers emerged from the mist. They didn't arrive in ordinary cars but in modified Jeeps with red markings.The seven or eight vehicles' engines filled the air with a loud racket."Mr. Barter, what happened?" The townspeople were beginning to get anxious. They had never seen anything like this before.Not only them, but Gregory had never experienced anything like this. He had only seen a large-scale operation like this on TV for cross-border arrests.Dick also had an ominous feeling. Feeling uneasy, he wanted to use the townspeople again.The plainclothes officers
Dick felt himself going numb.Landon knew so much about him that there was nothing he could refute!Meanwhile, the townspeople didn't know who Landon was, nor did they dare to speculate. Witnessing the imposing military aircraft and Jeeps nearby, their hands trembled uncontrollably. Only someone wielding immense power could command such resources. And that someone, it turned out, was Aria's boyfriend.The Barter family even thought of having their way with her!All the townspeople were afraid.The entire Barter family also felt extremely regretful. This was especially true for Sue, who witnessed the whole scene.When she saw her brother being escorted away, her brain was buzzing. Initially, Sue thought Aria was a clueless, gullible student. A carefully orchestrated mix of money and threats, she believed, would eventually bend Aria to their will.Olivia had told her the same thing. Aria was unlike her daughter, Lily, who was now living as a wealthy family's daughter in Janovin.
When Aria heard that, she stopped fiddling with her amethyst pendant.Frank's jaw dropped as he grasped the connection between Aria and the kidnapping. Aria, rarely one to frown, furrowed her brow at his implication."I was switched at birth, not kidnapped."It was indeed what the couple had said. However, their words were obviously unreliable. Yet, Aria didn't elaborate. She felt completely indifferent toward Mindy.Frank mentioned the Carvers doted on Mindy because she resembled their daughter when she was younger. This struck Aria as a cliché plot device from a novel.The heartbreaking reality of a lost child was far more common in the past. Without the widespread internet, facial recognition, or DNA testing, finding them could be a nearly impossible task.Moreover, the human traffickers often held the upper hand, leaving many parents forever searching, even when they had grown old and wrinkly. Still, Aria couldn't reconcile with the Carvers' decision. If every missing chi
Aria had an astonishing memory. It was as if she had Coral Village's layout in her mind. "That family was severely poisoned by me, so they wouldn't be in the village. They should be heading toward a place where they can get treatment. I suggest splitting into two groups and checking Beacon Hospital."Landon listened to her silently and didn't interrupt. Aria looked at him. "Bring the couple over. I have something to ask them."Landon fiddled with his beads and readily agreed. "Okay."His straightforwardness was one of the things Aria appreciated about him. He didn't waste time with unnecessary questions.Frank wanted to butt in, but he didn't know what to say. He wondered if Aria was really switched at birth. Frank remembered that he mistook Aria as the Carver family's missing daughter when he first saw her. If it weren't for Aria's denial, along with the information the couple had given him, Frank would have pushed for a DNA test. The couple said the girl was petite and skin
Aria's mind drifted to her own origins. However, she couldn't recall anything.She didn't have much memories, especially about her childhood. It was just a blank canvas for her. Regardless, she doubted something as melodramatic as her being the Carvers' missing daughter would happen. After all, she didn't look like the Carvers' adopted daughter.She decided to wait for Olivia's explanation. A distance away, Landon watched her interaction with Jeffrey, and a flicker of something unreadable crossed his features.Although it was inappropriate for him to think this way, he wished that he was the one being saved by her in the cellar. Escaping the desolate village together would have certainly created a more intimate bond.Perhaps Aria didn't notice it, but there was something indescribable in the way she treated Jeffrey. Landon swallowed hard as he stood in the wind, the chill emanating from him growing stronger.Solo didn't dare to approach him. He kept his distance as he reported
The doctor at Beacon Hospital made it clear to the Renners that there was no cure for the poison.Garrett wailed, "You're just refusing to treat him because you look down on us folks from the countryside!"He stubbornly refused to be reasoned with. With his head still bandaged, he looked like he had come to cause a scene. Many of the villagers had come to the hospital too, and they took his side.The doctor started to fear that Garrett might actually hurt someone."I don't care what you say! You're going to treat my grandson!" Garrett roared, his eyes red with anger as he lunged at a nurse who had gone pale.Thankfully, it was then that a few plainclothes police officers came in. They swiftly grabbed Garrett and pressed him on the floor.Garrett shouted, "What the hell are you doing? Let go of me!"The villagers tried to step in to help Garrett, but Gregory called out, "Don't you dare move, all of you!""Mr. Webb?" Garrett exclaimed in fright. He timidly twisted his head around
While Jeffrey questioned Olivia and Grant, Frank remained outside. Since Olivia recognized Frank, she would most likely be even more adamant about not revealing the truth if he were around.As it was, she was a cunning woman. When Jeffrey asked about the family's involvement in child trafficking, she made it sound like they were only a bunch of middlemen."Well, some families wanted a child, while others wanted to sell theirs off. All we did was connect the buyers to the sellers. We wouldn't have dared to kidnap a child, of course."Jeffrey's gaze turned cold. "I guess you don't care that much about your son's life after all."Glancing to the side, he continued, "I guess you're useless too, Mr. Webb."Gregory started sweating profusely. He grabbed Grant and snarled, "The Barters have been arrested! Why isn't your wife telling the truth? Does she want you and your entire family to be imprisoned for life?"Shuddering in fear, Grant slapped Olivia on the face and demanded, "Tell the
Landon's sudden appearance wasn't just a coincidence. With Aria's intelligence, she would figure something out soon—he knew that. He hadn't planned on revealing himself like this. But something that belonged to him was here, and the demonic energy in this place… Aria couldn't face it alone.She studied him from head to toe, her hand still in his. His grip was firm, protective."There's a lot of mist ahead," he said quietly. "We'll need to tread carefully."Aria tilted her head. "You speak like you know this place well.""I do," Landon replied with a calm honesty. "I was deathly ill once. My soul wandered into a place just like this. Homer pulled me back."His voice made it sound like a distant memory, and Aria gave a soft laugh, tightening her hold on his hand. "You really are full of surprises. I guess it's true—handsome men are the most dangerous."But Aria's thoughts were racing. Why had he come after her like this, knowing it would reveal parts of himself he'd tried to keep h
Landon was still handling the stragglers behind Aria when he paused, his gaze flicking upward. Cameras were mounted in every corner—too many eyes. Vanishing without a trace wasn't an option.He glanced in Aria's direction, then lowered his head. His lips moved in a whisper, but the sounds were incomprehensible—something rhythmic, otherworldly. It was less like a speech and more like a chant—an exorcism.Meanwhile, Dave descended into the underground, calm and unrushed. That place reeked of foul energy, dense and suffocating. His master had cast a spell over it—one designed to kill anyone who dared to enter, no matter their strength. Dave wasn't afraid. He had more pressing priorities—destroying documents, erasing traces, minimizing damage.His bodyguard stayed close, watching for anyone who might try to stop them.Aria, moving swiftly, reached the lower floor—only to halt. Mist curled along the ground, thickening with every step. The air turned icy. And the corridor behind her…
"Why would there be people outside?" asked Dave. He had been disguising himself as a doctor for years, and that was the first time he looked so anxious. After all, if someone did approach their building, the villagers would have informed them about it. However, they received no news this time.Dave wondered what was going on."Dr. Dave, what should we do now? I think we're surrounded!"He was still in his coat as he slightly clenched his fists. "Let's move out. Bring the girls in the basement with us.""T-They're not in the basement."When Dave heard that, he looked furious. "What do you mean they're not in the basement?""Someone took them away, and I'm guessing it was her fault!" The bodyguard pointed at Aria, who was standing on the highest point, showing off her skills. With swift, lethal kicks and a taser turned weapon, no one dared get close.Whoever touched Aria would die, and no one dared to approach her at all.As for Landon, he still had his mask on as he stood behind
Chaos erupted at the auction. For all their pride and arrogance, the wealthy clients' expressions had twisted into pure panic the moment something went wrong.So, their first reaction was to seek a staff member."The power's unstable!" Dave spoke into the microphone, trying to project calm. "Everyone, stay calm. There's scheduled maintenance in town—it's just affecting the electricity. Nothing's wrong."He genuinely believed that. It was what he'd been told.But Aria knew better. The blackout wasn't random. It was a signal. Sam had tracked down the source of the call. With the exits sealed off, Aria had everything she needed to act.A faint smirk curled on her lips. Without hesitation, she grabbed Landon and swiftly took Aliya hostage. Her movements were sharp, practiced, so fast that no one around her even had time to react.Then came the needles.Aria flicked her wrist, sending a series of acupuncture needles flying. The rich guests closest to her froze in place, locked in stu
Tony's accusation stirred a ripple through the room, and it didn't escape Dave's attention. With a subtle flick of his wrist, he signaled to someone nearby.Aria caught the movement. Her fingers tensed, ready to slip free of the rope she had already loosened. But before she could act, she heard a smooth, composed voice glide through the air."I need her to boost my luck," the man said coolly. "I've done my research. She's the ideal bride for someone like me."Dave stopped in his tracks, and it seemed like he was telling someone else to verify what Landon had said."Sir, it checks out," one of the staff murmured after a brief consultation. "Mr. Crow's fate is complicated. The master said only a spiritual match could extend his life. Otherwise, he won't make it past his next birthday."Dave let out a low chuckle, visibly relaxing. "Well then, Mr. Crow, it seems you've come to the right place. Please—carry on, everyone."Aria listened in stunned silence. Landon hadn't lied. His life
Aria couldn't tear her eyes away from Dave.He was still quietly speaking to the man on the screen, their exchange shrouded in secrecy. No one nearby could hear what they were saying—but Aria could guess. It had to be a deal of some sort, something about her. Everything about Dave's posture, the glint in his eyes, told her this wasn't just business. It was personal.She glanced up at the clock again, nerves coiling in her chest. Something was wrong. Sam was taking longer than usual. That wasn't like him.The auction was nearing its close. They couldn't miss the chance to strike. Sasha, glowing with excitement, clapped her hands and declared, "Six million! It looks like no one else is bidding—congratulations to our newest member, Mr. Tiger—""Ten million dollars."The voice sliced clean through the noise, calm, clear, and cold.Everyone turned toward it.A man stood at the edge of the crowd, dressed in a sleek tuxedo dusted with black feathers, his mask intricate and dark.T
Aria had once told Sam to avoid chaos if he could—but she'd also said that when desperation knocked, rules could bend.Now was one of those moments.Sam hesitated only briefly before diving in.He had to know who was behind this. Who kept targeting Aria? Who was pulling the strings in the dark? And once Sam decided on something, there was no turning back.Without Aria by his side, he breached the system, knowing full well the other side had already alerted the police.The firewall he faced wasn't just tough—it was nearly impenetrable. It filtered everything, controlling access with surgical precision. But Sam wasn't interested in the broader network. He narrowed his focus and cut straight to the source, filtering out all the noise to lock onto the actual IP.The auction raged on aboveground. The man behind the screen, confident in his usual routine, remained calm and unaware that the mask he'd worn for years was finally slipping. He'd always stayed out of sight, appearing only
While Aria discreetly signaled to move, the auction hall was buzzing with excitement. Laughter echoed, wine glasses clinked, and the room pulsed with greed.Sasha's voice came through the mic, smooth and cheerful. "While everyone's enjoying themselves, let's welcome our latest arrival of the evening."She glanced at the man beside her—her bodyguard—who immediately stiffened under her gaze.To the crowd, it looked like he was escorting Aria to the stage under control. In truth, Aria's hand was already pressed lightly against his chest, right over a poisoned pressure point. He knew better than to resist—he'd seen what she was capable of.And she'd made her warning crystal clear—if she was exposed or captured, he wouldn't live to see morning.The guests didn't notice a thing. All eyes were on Aria, their expressions hungry. They saw value in her—fresh, young, healthy. To them, she wasn't a person. She was premium merchandise.She was brought to stand beside a young woman who had alr
Eamon and Waymond had just been thrown out of the Chamber of Commerce. Waymond's face was flushed with fury, his eyes red. "Eamon, why didn't you let me speak earlier? Mr. Lincoln was being unreasonable!"Eamon, ever perceptive, shook his head. "Mr. Lincoln's been bribed. He was never going to take our side."Wise and strategic, Eamon had always been top of his class—but now, he was even sharper when it came to reading a room."I'm guessing Aria found something during her investigation that made them nervous," he continued. "Durand couldn't have controlled Lincoln on his own. There's more to it."Waymond frowned, still struggling to piece things together. "But who could bribe Mr. Lincoln? Not even the mayor has that kind of sway. He's—""What if it's someone from the state?" Eamon cut in, eyes flicking back toward the building. "We need to tell Dad. There's no point in staying here, but there is someone we can talk to.""Who?" Waymond asked quickly. "Lucas Murray—the new secr