“How could this happen…” Queena was distraught when she heard that Jenna had also received the news. Mollie, heavily pregnant and uncomfortable, walked in, “Mom, Sylvia sent me a message saying she would be away for a while.”
Queena picked up her phone and saw the same message. “It seems she sent it to all of us. This child…”
The Hipps family felt a heavy sense of worry. They were concerned about Sylvia’s situation and what she needed to do that required leaving the family.
A red helicopter ascended into the sky, leaving a faint trail of white smoke. Inside the helicopter, Sylvia sat next to Franklin, gazing at the blue sky and white clouds outside. Her red lips parted slightly, “The Palace of Elegance might not refer to a palace from this era. It could be from the last century or even earlier…”
Franklin pondered, “That’s possible. Nowadays, there are few places called palaces; those that are usually date back to earlier times.”
“Let me check some records to see if there was a place called the Palace of Elegance in the last century or two to three hundred years ago,” Sylvia said as she opened an app on her phone designed for research.
In about five or six minutes, she excitedly told Franklin, “I found it!”
Franklin was taken aback, a look of disbelief crossing his handsome face, “So quickly?”
“Yes! In the 1930s, just after the borders opened, there was a place called the Palace of Elegance. The ruins are now in Cocester Pass, a steep area with many herders and people from various ethnic groups living there,” Sylvia narrowed her eyes. “So… we should head to Cocester Pass immediately.”
“Cocester Pass? It’s in the mountains…” Franklin had heard of the place but had never been there.
“Yes, let’s find the ruins of the Palace of Elegance first,” Sylvia nodded. Although uncertain about the future, she was determined to solve this mystery.
The plane flew steadily through the sky, piloted by Jasper. Sylvia brought only Jaden, Vaild, and Mark with her, while Franklin brought Jasper.
The six of them quietly left Aettosa, thinking they had done so unnoticed. However, word still reached Lucille.
Sitting in her spacious office, Lucille raised an eyebrow at her subordinate who came to report, “Oh? They left Aettosa? Why are we only hearing about this now? It’s already…”
She glanced at the clock on the wall, “Noon.”
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry. Our people were negligent and didn’t expect them to leave so suddenly,” the subordinate trembled as he apologized.
Lucille raised an eyebrow and tapped her fingers on the desk unconsciously, “Our information delay is too long. If it were a matter of life and death, this slow pace would be unacceptable.”
“Yes. Yes, I’ll go and supervise them immediately,” the subordinate quickly agreed.
Lucille’s presence was too intimidating; her methods of dealing with people were unmatched. Working for her paid well but required a strong constitution.
Lucille watched his retreating figure with a cold expression and increasingly dark eyes. Why did Sylvia and Franklin leave Aettosa at this time? She had an uneasy feeling…
What could they be doing?
Lucille couldn’t figure it out. She walked to the window and stared at the clear sky after the snow, lost in thought.
Night fell as the plane finally landed on a mountaintop. The mountain wind blew gently as Sylvia stretched and stepped off the plane.
“Sitting on a plane for so long is exhausting.”
During the ten-plus hours of flight, Franklin and Jasper took turns resting and piloting the plane.
“It’s winter at home, but here it’s as hot and humid as summer,” Franklin said as he stood beside her, looking at the dark forest and helping Sylvia take off her coat.
“The difference in weather between north and south,” Sylvia smiled brightly. “It’s been so long since I left the city; being in such a peaceful place feels refreshing.”
“Is everyone hungry?” Franklin glanced at Vaild and Mark, who were breathing in fresh air after getting off the plane, along with Jaden and Jasper.
“Sir, we have supplies on the plane. What should we eat tonight?” Jasper asked.
Franklin looked at Sylvia tenderly, “What would you like to eat?”
“We brought a refrigerator, right? Let’s have a barbecue. The atmosphere here is perfect,” Sylvia pointed to an open area in front of them. “It should be great.”
“Alright,” Franklin nodded. “Jasper, start preparing for the barbecue.”
“Okay,” Jasper replied and began preparations. Fortunately, they had brought plenty of ingredients and seasonings.
Vaild and Mark hadn’t been on a mission with Sylvia for a long time and were excited to join her. “Sylvia, what are we doing out here in the wilderness?”
“Looking for something,” Sylvia replied calmly.
“What are we looking for? Jaden, do you know?” Vaild asked Jaden.
“I don’t know,” Jaden was curious too. “Sylvia, didn’t we find something useful at that abandoned research facility last time?”
“It was very useful,” Sylvia said as she looked at them curiously. “Those books contained a lot of knowledge about poisons, which I found very interesting.”
As Jasper started a fire for the barbecue, Sylvia joined him with her curious trio.
With everyone’s help, they quickly set up the barbecue grill and prepared the ingredients.
Skewers of meat were placed on the grill, and the faint aroma of barbecue filled the air, making everyone’s mouth water.
“The instant noodle hotpot we had on the plane was good, but this barbecue smells even better,” Jaden said casually as he handed a skewer of lamb to Sylvia. “Sylvia, have some.”
Not only him but Vaild and Mark also handed over skewers simultaneously.
And so did Franklin!
The atmosphere became awkward.
Jaden laughed heartily, “Mr. Maskelyne, don’t mind us. We’re used to prioritizing Sylvia in everything. All of us brothers do this.”
“Yes, yes.”
“We’re used to it; don’t get angry or jealous.”
Vaild and Mark quickly explained.
Franklin’s large hand discreetly pinched Sylvia’s waist as he handed her a skewer.
Sylvia glared at him before accepting his skewer.
Petty man!
Even jealous of his subordinates.
But they didn’t expect that finishing their barbecue would attract wild animals from the mountains.
Hearing the distant roars of wild beasts approaching in the dark night was terrifying.
Sylvia frowned slightly, her eyes showing seriousness. “There are wild beasts coming in large numbers. Be careful.”
Franklin held her hand tightly as they ran toward the plane. “Everyone get on the plane and take cover.”
“It’s late at night; wild beasts are hunting now. If they come in groups, we won’t stand a chance,” Jaden urged. “Everyone move quickly.”
Jasper also turned and ran toward the plane.
Just as they entered the plane, they heard the chaotic sounds of wild beasts running closer until they reached the mountaintop.
Sylvia saw that it was a pack of wolves!
Rows of green eyes glowed menacingly in the moonlit night.
“Wolves!”
“It’s wolves!”
Vaild exclaimed in shock with wide eyes. “Luckily we got on the plane in time; otherwise, dealing with such a pack would be tough.”
Especially since wolves are drawn to blood; it would attract even more wolves!
The wolves surrounded the strange object they had never seen before-the plane.
Jasper quickly piloted the plane away from the mountaintop.
The wolves howled in frustration as they watched them leave.
“We should find a safer place to rest tonight or stay on the plane,” Franklin suggested after seeing how dangerous it was in the forest.
“Let’s land somewhere safe and rest on the plane tonight. We’ll search for the Palace of Elegance’s exact location tomorrow,” Sylvia agreed with him. “What do you all think?”
“We’ll follow your lead,” Jaden said without much enthusiasm.
Vaild and Mark nodded in agreement.
The plane circled nearby for a few minutes before Jasper chose a high mountain where wild animals couldn’t easily reach.
Everyone settled down on the plane to sleep.
Franklin held Sylvia in his arms and closed his eyes.
Although it had been a long time since he held her like this to sleep-even under such simple conditions-he felt at peace.
This sense of peace was irreplaceable by anything else.
As night deepened, Sylvia listened to Franklin’s steady breathing beside her but slowly opened her eyes.
Outside was a dark sky like black velvet dotted with twinkling stars.
She hoped they would find something worthwhile tomorrow.
Unknowingly, she also closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Morning came quickly as sunlight bathed the mountaintop and shone into the plane.
The light touched their faces through the windows as Sylvia slowly opened her eyes to see the red sunrise outside. “What a beautiful sunrise.”