To Nigel, it was obvious-Damien was seriously underestimating Calliope.


    Honestly, he thought their presence was just icing on the cake. If Calliope could handle things on her own, she certainly didn''t need their help. And if she couldn''t, well, what difference would they really make?


    On the flight, Damien and Nigel barely exchanged a word. The cabin soon settled into a quiet lull; both of them were caught up in their own thoughts.


    After a long, exhausting journey with connections andyovers, Calliope finally arrived in Stormgard.


    Stormgard was a tiny, unruly nation-one packed with local gangs, foreign interests, and all sorts of unsavory organizations jostling for power. Life here was cheap, and nobody bothered to mourn the dead. For some, Stormgard was awless paradise. For most, it was nothing short of hell.


    This wasn''t Calliope''s first time in Stormgard; she had a few acquaintances scattered across the country. But today, she was here on one mission only: to save Mavis. She had no intention of causing a scene or dragging her old contacts into trouble. All that mattered was finding Mavis and performing the surgery as soon as possible.


    ording to Uriah, time was not on their side. Every minute mattered; every second wasted brought more risk.


    This time, Calliope hadn''te alone. She brought along several of her most trusted people—operatives she''d trained herself. They rarely saw her face-to-face, but when the situation called for it, she knew they''d be there. With so much uncertainty ahead, she''d wanted backup. If things got ugly, she needed people willing to take a bullet for her.


    Once she crossed into Stormgard, Calliope and her team piled into a car she''d arranged in advance. To cover their tracks, the car was loaded up with goods, so they passed for ordinary traders making a delivery.


    As they drove, Calliope called Uriah to check on Mavis. For now, Mavis was stable, but the local medical team was out of their depth. Just keeping her alive was a small victory.


    "When are you getting here?" Uriah''s voice crackled over the phone.


    "I''m at the Stormgard border now. It''ll be another ten hours at least before I reach you,” Calliope replied. "Just keep Mavis stable. I''ll get there as fast as I can."


    "The doctors here say she''s not in immediate danger. But the longer this drags on, more things could go wrong. I''m scared she''s not going to wakeup. She''s been unconscious for so long." Uriah paused


    desperation creeping into his tone. "Can''t you hurry?"


    "Uriah, if I could go any faster, I would! You think I''m not anxious?" Calliope shot back, irritation ring in her voice. "I don''t know what you feel for Mavis, but Portia and 1 we? both risk our lives for her. We''re every bit as desperate as you!”


    She hung up with a frustrated sigh.


    The car sped along the road, engines humming. Calliope nced at the driver. "Rowan, do you think this route is safe?"


    "We''re taking one of the safer roads,"


    Rowan replied, eyes on the road.


    "Shouldn''t be any problems


    unless


    we drive straight into a turf war、 Honestly, Boss I''ve been down this read before. I know it wett We''ll be fine.”


    swn!