Sam and Gracie ran for a long time, heading towards the edge of the island.
To the north was the place where they had initially landed, and there was a lifeboat hidden in the grass.
Given the current situation, he could only take advantage of the night to escape by boat.
However, as soon as they reached the shore, Sam sensed something was wrong.
Most of the lights were on the opposite side of the island, where a large number of Chulae soldiers in green uniforms were boarding boats to retreat.
The leading officer commanded, “Everyone listen up, there’s an outbreak back home. We’ve been ordered to withdraw immediately and support the front lines!”
“General, what about the situation here?” a curious soldier asked.
The officer quickly responded, “Leave one team to continue the pursuit; the rest will withdraw!”
“Yes, sir!”
Sam had dealt with them many times and roughly knew their troop deployment.
There were a total of 10 squads, each with 50 men.
They had suffered losses, and so had the enemy. He estimated that only about 30 soldiers would be left behind.
On the vast Dragon Serpent Isle, these 30 men would have to split up to conduct a thorough search.
But the group that had surrounded them earlier seemed much larger, likely over a hundred men.
Sensing a conspiracy, Sam immediately smelled something fishy.
A third party had indeed infiltrated the island, and they possessed significant military strength. What were they after?
If it was for Chulae’s army, he hadn’t heard any gunfire so far;
It seemed their only target on Dragon Serpent Isle was his father!
“No! They are not Chulae’s army. Father is in danger!”
“Sam, what are you saying?” Gracie was focused on the soldiers’ movements and didn’t notice her son’s distress.
Hearing his words, Gracie felt a sudden jolt of anxiety.
Sam urgently explained to Gracie, “These are the real Chulae soldiers! We’ve been deceived!”
“Then who were those earlier?”
Gracie’s face changed as she realized something, trembling with fear.
“No, no, I have to go back and find Gregory. He can’t be in trouble.”
For the first time in years, Sam saw fear on her face. The usually calm and composed Gracie was now terrified.
“We’ll know if we go back and check.”
As he turned to leave, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his neck, his eyelids growing heavy.
“Mommy, you…”
Gracie quickly injected a sedative into his bloodstream and looked at him with reluctance.
“Sam, listen to me. You just need to sleep well.”
“No, don’t!”
Sam bit his tongue hard to stay awake through the pain.
He knew his mother intended to leave him behind and go rescue his father alone.
She couldn’t go alone; they had to go together!
But what mother wouldn’t love her child deeply? Even at the cost of her own life.
“Sam, I’m sorry. Please forgive my selfishness. I love you so much that I can’t bear to see you get hurt.”
“No!”
Sam’s eyes widened as he watched her fade into a blur.
The sedative quickly took effect in his bloodstream. He felt incredibly sleepy and couldn’t fight it.
“Sleep, my child…”
Finally, Sam blacked out under her soothing voice.
His tall body fell backward, caught by Gracie.
She struggled to carry Sam to an abandoned grass hut and covered him with banana leaves to hide him from view.
Surrounded by poisonous snakes and wild beasts, Gracie dug a trench with her hands and set traps using sharp bamboo stakes.
Her hands were bloody and injured, but she worked tirelessly from morning till evening without feeling any pain.
“It’s done… finally done… I can go find Gregory now.”
“Sam, stay safe. Mommy has to leave now.”
At that moment, she saw a wisp of smoke rising through the dense forest into the night sky.
Red flames flickered in the distance, like firelight.
The vast rainforest resembled a beast lurking on the sea surface, with the red glow as its eyes.
It exuded a warning of danger and ferocity.
Despite this, Gracie resolutely headed towards the red glow, guessing it was Gregory who had lit the fire.
He wouldn’t have done so unless it was absolutely necessary.
Because doing so was akin to walking into a trap.
What emergency could have forced him to take such a risk?
The answer was harsh; Gracie didn’t want to think about it.
Her only goal now was to protect Sam and find Gregory’s whereabouts.
Gracie was indeed the ace assassin trained by the Lucas family. She was quick and precise, even with sedatives.
She ensured it wouldn’t harm his body while keeping him asleep for a day and night.
When Sam woke up the next morning, he saw a cross necklace hanging above him and felt confused.
It was Gracie’s personal item, given by his father.
The necklace was part of a couple’s set; his father had one, and she had the other.
He had often seen Gracie kiss this necklace devoutly, showing how much she cherished it.
Once, when his father made her angry, she almost threw it into the garden but couldn’t bring herself to do it.
She said, “Gregory designed this himself; there’s only one in the world. If I lose it, I’ll never find another.”
Sam grabbed the necklace and held it tightly in his hand. “Why did she leave this for me? Is she planning not to return?”
“No! I’ve always been the one abandoning others; no one abandons me! Not even you!”
He got up and saw several dead poisonous snakes in the trench around him.
The fresh soil indicated she had dug it herself.
Seeing this blood-stained protective line moved Sam deeply.
“Wait for me! You must wait for me!” Sam shouted.
Ignoring his discomfort, Sam ran through the rainforest like a lost beast.
He had only slept for a while, but the rainforest had changed dramatically.
There were signs of fire everywhere; small flames still consumed plants and animals. Nearby lay countless animal carcasses burned by the fire’s wrath.
The deeper he went, the heavier his heart felt.
“It looks like there was a big fire last night. Was it natural or man-made?”
He leaned towards the latter answer.
Chulae’s army wouldn’t use such destructive tactics. If it wasn’t them, then Gracie and his father were in even greater danger.