Kayden found himself lost in thought. Indeed, to provoke a battle between two such powerful families, the force behind it must be formidable. Could it be the work of Hellblazer? The all-encompassing Hellblazer-it wasn’t impossible.
Seeing Kayden remain silent, Mrs. Rocco spoke up. “Forget it, Mr. Scott. There’s no need to trouble yourself. My husband only asked me to inquire about the situation. If you don’t know, that’s fine. After all, this is a matter for our family. However, if you encounter this enemy in the future and they use underhanded tactics, I hope you’ll lend a hand.”
“Oh, by the way, there’s something I’d like your help with,” Kayden said suddenly, as though remembering something important.
Mrs. Rocco raised an eyebrow, smiling slyly. “Oh? What’s this? It’s rare to hear you ask for help so directly.”
“My father has a friend named John. If possible, I hope you can give him a hand. He has a wealth of experience in the business world; all he needs is an opportunity.”
Hearing this, Mrs. Rocco’s smile grew teasing. “Helping people? That’s no problem. But that depends on your performance tonight! If you perform well, I’ll gladly help. But if you fail to please me… well, why would I do something that doesn’t benefit me? Wouldn’t you agree?”
As she spoke, Mrs. Rocco’s hand rested on Kayden’s chest, her touch carrying a strange, almost magical allure. It was the kind of presence only a mature woman could exude, leaving a man overwhelmed by an inexplicable sensation.
Just as the tension reached its peak, a phone suddenly rang, breaking the moment. It was Mrs. Rocco’s ringtone.
Her brow furrowed slightly as she muttered under her breath, “How annoying. Who would call at a time like this?”
She picked up the phone and glanced at the screen before answering it.
On the other end, a woman’s frantic voice rang out. “Madam! The girl you rescued yesterday has woken up, but she seems to have lost her memory. She’s gone mad and started biting people! Julie has already been bitten!”
Woken up. Gone mad. Biting people.
Hearing this, Mrs. Rocco immediately responded, “Restrain her for now. I’m coming right away!”
She hung up the phone and turned to Kayden. “Mr. Scott, it seems you’ll need to come with me.”
Last night, while out for a stroll, Mrs. Rocco had noticed a girl stumbling out of a hotel. The girl’s disheveled appearance immediately made her suspect that something was wrong. When she approached to ask, the girl collapsed before she could answer.
Mrs. Rocco had taken her to safety and had a doctor examine her. The doctor concluded that she’d simply been frightened and assured her it was nothing serious. To ensure her safety, Mrs. Rocco had arranged for the girl to stay in one of her villas, leaving staff to keep an eye on her.
Now, Kayden and Mrs. Rocco arrived at the villa.
As they stepped inside, they were greeted by the sight of a bloodied girl lying on the sofa, someone tending to her wounds. Another woman rushed over to them, her face pale with fear.
“Madam, that girl is insane! Julie went to check if she was awake. When she opened her eyes, we thought everything was fine. But out of nowhere, she lunged and bit Julie! She tore off a chunk of Julie’s flesh!”
Kayden stepped closer to observe. Indeed, a significant piece of flesh was missing from Julie’s back. It had been bitten off, along with a piece of her clothing. The bite was ferocious, the kind that could only come from someone consumed by madness.
Without hesitation, Kayden and Mrs. Rocco moved deeper into the villa. At the doorway to one of the rooms, several frightened women stood trembling, their faces pale with terror.
Inside the room, they found the girl, bound tightly to two tables pushed together. Heavy ropes secured her to the makeshift platform, but she struggled violently, veins bulging on her face as she fought against her restraints. Her small frame thrashed with alarming intensity, every movement a display of raw desperation.
The girl looked to be in her early twenties, with short hair, a pair of jeans, and a simple T-shirt. She seemed like an ordinary young woman, but her current state was anything but normal. Her face was twisted in rage, her expression feral and terrifying.
As Kayden and Mrs. Rocco approached, the girl let out a guttural roar.
“Raaah!”
It was a sound like that of a wild animal, cornered and ready to strike. Her eyes burned with a savage light, warning them not to come closer.
To see someone so young and beautiful reduced to such a state was heartbreaking.
Mrs. Rocco sighed and turned to Kayden. “Mr. Scott, can you tell what’s wrong with her?”
Kayden didn’t answer. Instead, he moved toward the girl.
The closer he got, the more agitated she became. Her growls grew louder, her body straining against the ropes, and her bloodshot eyes locked onto him with a demonic intensity.
Even as her wrists and ankles bled from her struggles, she showed no sign of pain.
“Be careful, Mr. Scott,” Mrs. Rocco warned, her voice tinged with concern.
Kayden didn’t hesitate. He stepped right up to the girl, his calm demeanor unwavering.
Then, gently, he placed a hand on her face.
In an instant, the girl’s wildness subsided. Her feral expression softened, and her body stilled. She stared at Kayden with wide, innocent eyes, as if seeing him for the first time.
Kayden’s hand moved softly across her face. Slowly, her eyes fluttered shut, and she became docile, her earlier rage completely gone. She now looked like a tame kitten, quiet and subdued.
Seeing this, Kayden pulled out a set of silver needles. “Bring me a flame,” he instructed.
A flame was quickly brought to him, but instead of sterilizing the needles, Kayden took two-a long one and a short one-and inserted them into specific points on the girl’s body.
The girl let out a sharp cry before falling unconscious.
“This is the Yin-Yang Acupuncture Technique,” Kayden explained. “It calms heightened emotions.”
After finishing with the needles, Kayden pulled out a knife and began heating it over the flame.
Mrs. Rocco, watching closely, asked, “What happened to her, Mr. Scott? Why did she suddenly change like this?”
Kayden’s voice was calm but firm. “She’s been poisoned. It’s Venomshade.”