?Chapter 1277:


    Despite his protest, Goodwin interjected, “Kid, you don’t have to pretend to be strong.”


    Goodwin caught his gaze.


    Dario reluctantly resumed sitting and said quietly yet assertively, “I’m not a kid. I’m already fifteen.”


    “You still need medical care at fifteen,” Goodwin said while tending to Dario’s injuries.


    Dario observed the process in a haze, puzzled about Tonya’s sudden disappearance and equally mystified by Harlee’s unexpected arrival on the ind. Yet, at that moment, he felt an overwhelming sense of joy. Goodwin efficiently cleaned and dressed the wounds in under ten minutes. Goodwin turned to Harlee. “Mrs. Green, given the basic tools at my disposal, I’ve managed to only treat the surface injuries. We’ll need to take care of the rest on the cruise ship.”


    Harlee gave a nod and offered her hand to Dario. “Are you able to walk? Would you prefer toe with us for a walk or rest aboard the cruise ship?”


    Dario noticed Harlee’s hands, so clean and delicatepared to his own dirt-undeid nails. He swiftly got to his feet and said, “I can walk. I want toe with you.”


    As they walked, Dario stayed close to Harlee.


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    “Harlee, may I ask why Tonya hasn’t visited the ind for so long?” Dario asked with as much bravery as he could gather. He was certain that Tonya wouldn’t abandon them, but the fear of receiving bad news still lingered in his mind.


    Harlee stopped walking, her smile fading into a sorrowful expression. “Tonya has passed away. That’s why she hasn’t returned.”


    Dario was at a loss for words. He grasped the meaning of each word individually, yet together they formed a truth he couldn’t digest. He struggled to ept it. Tonya was both powerful and kind-hearted. He felt people like her deserved to live much longer.


    Tears welled up in Dario’s eyes, and he clenched his fists to hold them back. He wouldn’t have epted this from anyone else, but it was Harlee who spoke of Tonya’s fate. She wouldn’t mislead him about such a matter. The light of hope in his life had just dimmed.


    Harlee soothingly tousled his hair. “It’s alright. Tonya remains with us in spirit.”


    Dario raised his head. “Harlee, can you take me away from here? I wish to see Tonya.”


    Since his first encounter with Harlee, Dario hadn’t spoken of leaving, as he felt obligated to protect others still on the ind. But now…


    “Absolutely,” Harlee responded, her smile gentle. “Do you see those I’ve brought along? They’re here to establish a farmhouse restaurant on the ind. It’s going to breathe life into this ce, and everyone will be free to leave at their will.”


    “Really?” Dario was utterly astonished, hardly daring to believe such a possibility. “We can freelye and go from the ind?”


    “Yes,” Harlee assured, still smiling.


    “Great!” Dario eximed, overwhelmed with joy. It was his brightest moment in two years. “Let’s head to the secret base and spread this amazing news to everyone.”


    “Secret base?” Harlee asked, looking confused.


    “Yes. Everyone who came to the ind with Tonya, except for that family, was Kina. We simplycked weapons, which is why we were always taken advantage of.” A shadow passed over Dario’s face again. “To resist, we discovered a cave and made it our secret base, but many were hurt, some critically. A few are even near death.”


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