Night descended upon Lithium City. The buildings within the city bathed in darkness. The only source
of light was the moon hanging high in the sky.
After determining that the coast was clear with his telescope, Xavier waited until one before he left his
hiding spot to sneak into Timothy and Sasha’s home. With the information that he had gleaned over the
last few days guiding him, he soon reached their bedroom. He unlocked the door with a specially-made
knife and walked inside with gentle footsteps.
“Who’s there?” The man in the bed was rudely woken up.
Xavier rushed over with large steps to cover Timothy’s mouth while he positioned a sharp knife by
Sasha’s neck. “Timothy, Sasha, someone paid me a handsome sum of money to ask me to bring you
two back. Come with me, and I won’t hurt you.” Xavier’s voice was low, but the threatening
undercurrent was evident.
“You call this a polite invitation?” Timothy’s voice was even. As he spoke, he looked at the knife by his
wife’s neck through his peripheral vision.
“Apologies, but there is no other way,” Xavier said expressionlessly. “I don’t want to hurt you two either,
so long as you cooperate.” Having said that, he put the knife away. A pause later, he reminded, “By the
way, I know the escape routes in this area very well. Neither of you will be able to make it past me, and
you cannot defeat me in a fight either. You should get rid of your thoughts of escape.”
“Don’t worry. We aren’t looking to die yet.” Timothy pushed his glasses up his nose. There was no sign
of fear on his face.
Xavier didn’t want to waste time talking. Quietly, he got up and stood aside to give them space to move.
“Let’s go. It’s better for us to leave while it’s still nighttime.”
Both Timothy and Sasha frantically put on their clothes and got off the bed. Holding onto each other
tightly, they slowly began to make their way outside.
Xavier’s eyes were slightly narrowed as a strange feeling rose within him.
Since they’re hiding here, they must know very well that countless people are looking to assassinate
them. They probably knew that such a day would come. They shouldn’t be behaving like this now,
holding each other calmly; they should be trying to die like martyrs or beg for their lives.
Xavier quickly swept a gaze across the room. A sly look immediately flashed across his eyes. “Stop,”
he ordered coldly.
Timothy and Sasha stopped in their tracks, but they didn’t look back. Timothy turned his head back
slightly. “What do you want?”
Xavier walked over to them with soft footsteps. He remained behind Timothy and Sasha as his fingers
ran across the gun he held behind him. “A famous physicist with not a single book in his bedroom.
Don’t you think your disguise is a little sloppy, Professor Lancaster?”
The room descended into a deathly silence at his words. In the blink of an eye, the fraudulent professor
and his wife rushed out the door, still holding onto each other.
But Xavier was faster than they could ever hope to be; the moment they took a step, two gunshots rang
out, the bullets striking them right in their hearts. Regular people would have already fallen over with
such grievous injuries, but Timothy and Sasha kept running as though they had a beast on their heels.
Xavier’s senses were on alert as he realized that being stuck inside a place where death was inevitable
was even more terrifying than facing death itself.
The house!
The next moment after that thought, Xavier leaped out of the sole window in the room.
At the same time, a huge explosion rattled the sky as the houses around the site were instantly
reduced to smithereens.
…
When Elise and the others emerged from the alley, someone stopped her. “Miss Sinclair, Master Bryce
would like to see you.”
Elise did intend to pay him a visit, so she let go of Alexander’s hand. “You guys can go back first and
hand them over to the police. I’ll be right back,” she reassured him.
Before Alexander could voice his concerns, the man, Macaque, interrupted, “What Master Bryce
means is for you, Miss Sinclair, to bring them along and see him.”
“What’s the meaning of this? Has this Master Bryce of yours fallen so low as to dabble in this kind of
business?” Elise asked sarcastically.
“You misunderstand. Since we are in the black market, we have to follow its rules.”
Now that Macaque had laid that out, Elise couldn’t say anything against him.
However, Alexander did not feel at ease. In the end, everyone followed Elise to Bryce’s place.
Although this place was considered the administration district for the black market, it more resembled
an opera stage. Lights blazed down on it. Seats were arranged haphazardly below the stage, but there
were no guests.
Bryce was dressed in a red stage outfit as he lay on a bed with sumptuous covers and pillows, looking
like he had stepped out of a period drama. He was an absolutely beautiful man. Although his eyes
remained closed, his beauty could clearly be described as mesmerizing, like he was Narcissus.
The entourage stopped before the stage. Macaque then went onstage from the steps by the side as he
respectfully delivered his report. “Master Bryce, Miss Sinclair has arrived.”
Bryce slowly opened his eyes, an eyebrow gently raised as he idly looked at the crowd. With just one
glance, he immediately found her.
“You’ve changed again,” Bryce said in jest.
“The same goes for you,” Elise said calmly.
It was only then that Bryce got up from the bed. With measured steps, he walked to the forefront of the
stage and leaned down, extending a hand toward Elise. “We’ll have to speak as equals.”
Elise was about to take his hand and jump onto the stage with his help, but Alexander stopped her.
“Who is he?” Bryce withdrew his hand, pulling it behind his back.
“My fiancé,” Elise answered.
Bryce narrowed his eyes as he meaningfully studied Alexander. Then he turned around. “If you wish to
speak with me, you will have to first come up on stage,” he said, his voice clearly distant.
Elise looked at Alexander. Can I even get up there from this height? she asked with her gaze.
Alexander gave her a calm look. The next moment, he bent down and scooped Elise into his arms.
Kicking over one of the stools next to him, he stepped onto the stool, and with a powerful leap, he was
on the stage.
Before Elise could get her bearings, she was already safely deposited on the stage.
It was then that Bryce finally looked at Alexander properly, but it was just a momentary look. His gaze
then once again rested on Elise. “You and I do not like beating around the bush. So, I shall lay it out to
you—you cannot take that man with you.”
“But he’s not one of yours,” Elise said lightly.
“That is, indeed, the case,” Bryce replied. “However, he is part of the black market, and so he shall only
be judged within the black market. No other place will be allowed to judge him.”
“I’d like to see if you’re going to deal with him, or if you’re going to shelter him,” Elise said, her face
devoid of expression.
“You still do not understand me well enough.” Bryce’s lips curled up into a sneer. “If he was someone I
wish to protect, then there would have been no need for me to speak in circles.” With that, he looked to
the side and shot a glance at one of his men.
The man nodded before looking at two other subordinates by the side. The two subordinates
immediately understood what he wanted. They dragged the repulsive man forward. With a kick to the
repulsive man’s legs, he fell forward on his knees. The knives in the two subordinates’ hands rose in a
smooth motion before being brought down.
Instantly, the wretched man’s legs were separated from his body. Blood gushed out like a raging river,
dyeing the floor crimson. He couldn’t even scream. After a few choked whimpers, he passed out.
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