The car drove on, receiving instructions through the monitor as it navigated the way.
With each passing mile, the car veered further off track.
Nearly three hours had passed since the incident.
The area was gradually losing its surveillance coverage.
The tracking signal was lost!
Just when they thought the trail had gone cold and were starting to panic about finding it again, Freya spotted a car parked amidst a clump of grass.
“There!” she pointed.
Evan followed her gaze and indeed saw a car in the direction she had pointed.
The tall grass obstructed a clear view of the car, only the top visible.
Fresh tire tracks were visible in the grass by the roadside.
Evan and his team got out of the car. And Freya followed suit.
Interweaving grass, with tall branches, delicate leaves, ground entangled with trip hazards, and prickly vines.
They followed the tire tracks forward.
Soon, they reached the side of the car.
The car sat there, seemingly deserted.
Evan opened the car door with a clatter.
It was empty inside, no one there!
Were they intentionally abandoning the car here to divert their attention?
Evan said, “Search everywhere for any leads.”
…
In Country F.
Guided by Xander, Elijah found Ronan’s hideout in Country F – a white standalone building surrounded by front and back yards.
They had a small number of people with them, and they kept a low profile.
After all, this was not their home country, caution was necessary.
Their men subdued the man tending to the lawn in the yard and they broke the lock.
After escaping, Ronan had been recuperating here. He hardly left the house.
Hearing movement, he didn’t turn, and said, “Pour me a glass of water.”
He thought it was his caretaker entering.
Elijah walked up behind him.
Ronan reached out for the water. But the water was not handed over, and as he complained and turned around, “What’s the matter, where’s the water…”
The moment he saw Elijah standing behind him he got up in a state of shock.
Forgetting his injured leg had not fully healed, he sat on the coffee table.
His eyes widened.
“H-How did you find me here?” Ronan couldn’t comprehend.
If Ronan had gone to another country, Elijah might not have located him this quickly.
But this was Country F where Elijah had substantial resources. This was also why Xander managed to find Ronan so swiftly.
“Do you think you can escape?” the coldness in Elijah’s eyes, with a hint of disdain and menace, was chilling.
Ronan had not expected Elijah to find him so soon. If he had known that Elijah had such power here, he would not have come. But foresight is a luxury one rarely has.
“You won’t let this go, just because you can’t accept it, right?” Ronan tried to stand up. “Let me tell you a secret, we can call it even…”
Elijah cut him off coldly, “Dream on!”
He was not going to make any deals with Ronan.
“I may have caused you harm, but the trauma I inflicted upon you will remain. I can help you with that. Do you know why the video I gave you abruptly ended?”
He knew Elijah wouldn’t listen to him and continued, “Because, truth be told, I almost had her, but I couldn’t make it happen at the critical moment.”
He was quite upset about it at the time.
Everything was in place, but he couldn’t deliver.
Ronan had wanted to disgust Elijah but he hadn’t succeeded!
He lashed out with his words, unwilling to admit defeat.
During this time outside, he had come to a realization.
Holding onto something that never happened had indeed infuriated Elijah, but the price he paid seemed too heavy.
Being alive, he still had a chance to turn things around. But if he died, everything would be lost.
“Ronan, you’re truly insane!”
Suddenly, a figure dashed out from inside.
And kicked right towards Ronan’s weakness.