“How can it be gone?”
“I just took it out to look at it in Northview, now where did it go?” Molly frantically searched through her pockets, but even after checking her entire body, she couldn’t find it, and tears began to fall.
For Molly, who was obsessed with martial arts, this feeling was worse than winning a billion-dollar lottery and then losing the ticket.
“What is Miss George looking for?” Madeline asked, noticing Molly’s distressed expression and frowning.
Molly was too preoccupied to respond, looking around helplessly as tears welled up in her eyes.
She knew she could ask Flynn to write another one.
But remembering how Flynn had scolded her before they rescued Rose, she dared not entertain that thought.
She hadn’t even read the paper, and Flynn had been so fierce. If he found out she had lost it, he would be furious.
Besides, she couldn’t bring herself to beg that old lecher Flynn.
Flynn might be highly skilled in martial arts, but to Molly, he was still a jerk.
One thing at a time.
But let’s not forget, that old lecher had sneaked glances at her several times.
If she asked him, that jerk would probably take even more liberties!
Molly desperately wanted a breakthrough in her martial arts, but she was not willing to sacrifice her dignity.
Seeing Molly ignore her, Madeline lost interest and climbed into her car, leaving Cloudgate Mountain.
Braiden’s death meant her two hundred million dollar investment was completely lost.
Who could she blame?
Investments could go either way; it was just the nature of the beast.
Thinking back, Madeline felt a twinge of regret.
If only she had listened to Flynn!
After all, it was two hundred million dollars.
If she had heeded Flynn’s advice to pull out, the Kaur family could have avoided the two hundred million dollar loss.
With the contracts from Corbin and the others, the Kaur family could have made over six hundred million this year.
Six hundred million was an astronomical sum for a small clan like the Kaur family.
When the annual financial report was released, it would shock the Niarak circles, and she, Madeline, could have been crowned the “Investment Queen.”
She could have used that reputation to secure more partnerships.
Such a pity.
But how could Madeline be defeated by this setback?
Hardships were only temporary; the future of the Kaur family was promising!
“With my abilities and looks, I can definitely make a mark,” Madeline was confident.
After all, reality had proven it, even Nathan, a legitimate son of a prominent family, liked her.
The Kaur family was also supportive of her because of this incident.
Knowing about the two hundred million dollar loss, the Kaur family didn’t scold her; instead, they comforted her.
In the past, they would have cursed her out.
Especially Max’s family, they would have strangled her!
But they didn’t.
Everyone knew she was the hope of the Kaur family, and they didn’t dare offend her lightly, letting her take charge.
But Madeline wasn’t comforted by this; she didn’t want to earn the Kaur family’s respect just because Nathan liked her.
She wanted to earn it on her own.
“Corbin and the others seem to be returning to Niarak, probably the day after tomorrow,” she thought.
“Once they arrive, the money for the three projects will be transferred, and everything will get back on track…”
Madeline looked through the car window at the brightest star above Niarak and smiled.
Niarak, wait and see, I will soon shine like that star, and you can only look up to me!
“Where is that paper? Where could it be?” Molly sat on the grass, hugging her knees, feeling miserable.
Since returning from Northview, she had been busy preparing and boiling medicine for Rose, who was slightly better now, and Flynn had to go to Cloudgate Mountain.
During that time, their concerns were solely focused on Flynn’s life and death, leaving no room to think about the paper.
“I’ve been to so many places, I can only start looking from Northview again,” Molly said sadly, her lips forming a thin line as she got into the car and drove towards Northview.
…
Northview.
The Milky Way stretched endlessly, and the forest was tranquil.
Layla and her servant parked the car, looking at the bullet-riddled building, already imagining how intense the scene must have been.
“Go ahead and take a look,” Layla said as she headed straight for the two-story building.
Kimber, who was easily frightened, glanced around at the pitch-black forest and shivered involuntarily, hurrying to follow.
As soon as they entered the leprosarium, they were struck by a strong smell of blood.
Upon entering the first floor and seeing the room filled with fragmented flesh, Kimber could no longer hold it in and vomited violently, tears streaming down her face.
She had already vomited once at the top of Cloudgate Mountain, losing her dinner completely. This time, she even threw up bile, making her head spin with discomfort.
“It’s exactly as Flynn said, those Semi-Grandmasters exploded into pieces,” Layla observed the gruesome scene, her eyebrows deeply furrowed and her expression grave.
Only someone at least at the peak of Grandmaster level could have done this. Could Flynn’s martial arts…
Just as a flicker of worry crossed her eyes, she felt a sudden numbness on her scalp and quickly pushed Kimber aside, just as a shadow rushed in.
Dressed in black with a masked face, the figure threw a punch at Layla.
Layla tried to dodge to the side, but the assailant was quicker, landing a reverse elbow on her arm.
“Bang!”
The strike sent Layla staggering three to four meters back, stopping only when she reached a dust-covered table.
Pain shot through her, and Layla clutched her injured arm, shock apparent in her eyes.
The attacker was a cultivator.
From his aura, he was definitely at the peak of Grandmaster!
And he was an old man, his eyes sharp as an eagle’s, emitting a sinister green glow in the darkness, looking particularly terrifying.
He had killed people before, and many of them!
“Did Flynn send you to kill me?” Layla said furiously.
She felt certain this had something to do with Flynn, as it was Flynn who had suggested they come to Northview.
It was Flynn’s strategy to set a trap in Northview, waiting for them to walk right into it!
Moonlight shone on Layla’s face, accentuating her typically cold features.
Seeing Layla’s face clearly, the old man abruptly paused, his eyes revealing a complex emotion, before he swiftly moved out of the room and ran straight into the dense forest behind the building.
His actions only confirmed Layla’s suspicions.
Realizing his plan had failed and that his target was Layla, the old man couldn’t face the consequences and chose to flee.
Given Layla was a benefactor to many powerful clans and had friends in both military and political circles, it was understandable why the old man couldn’t bear the consequences and fled.
But Layla only knew half of the truth.
The old man was not Flynn’s man but Zion’s, indeed! This man was Xavier.
A servant of Zion!
A cultivator at the peak of Grandmaster!
Having previously escorted biologist Dr. Isaac with the Black Mamba squad, this assassin organization had reportedly been wiped out in Niarak. Zion had sent Xavier to Northview to confirm this.
If the news was true, Zion had to strategize accordingly.
Arriving in the dense forests of Northview, Xavier discovered large blood stains and items such as military boots and communication devices from the Black Mamba squad scattered around.
These were clear evidence that the Black Mamba squad had indeed been annihilated.
Just as Xavier was about to leave, he heard Kimber vomiting, which alerted him.
Fearing Layla was tracking him, he decided to eliminate her.
However, after throwing a punch, he realized his opponent was Layla, a woman of high societal standing.
Xavier thought about finishing Layla off to resolve everything but feared the unnecessary trouble it could bring.
Uncertain of what to do next, Layla’s unexpected comment eased his worry.
It turned out to be a mere coincidence; Layla didn’t know his identity.
Relieved, Xavier quickly retreated and ran down the mountain.
Once he reached his car at the mountain’s base, Xavier steadied his emotions and dialed a number…