Tarquin''s voice was icy. "I don''t know her. Do you really think I''d let you walk away just because of a stranger? Not unless you spill his details and whereabouts!"


    The man chuckled darkly. "You will. I know you."


    Tarquin frowned. "And why would you know me?"


    "Because we''ve met before, haha. But sadly, you don''t remember me. No worries, you''ll recall soon enough."


    As he spoke, the man tightened his grip, causing the elderlydy to struggle for air.


    Tarquin''s expression darkened further. The man was right. Although he didn''t know this elderlydy, he couldn''t just stand by and watch her die.


    "I can let you go, but first, you answer my questions."


    "Do you think you''re in any position to negotiate with me?"


    Tarquin red at him coldly. "If you really knew me, you''d understand that when I''m pushed, I can be someone even I don''t recognize." The implication was clear: push me too far, and I won''t care about this olddy''s life anymore. Then you''ll really be in trouble.


    The man eyed Tarquin warily, pondering the truth of his words. Before he could decide, Tarquin began his interrogation.


    "Who is he, exactly?"


    This ''he'' was the enigmatic figure. Tarquin had encountered him once, and Axel had shed with him as well. Neither the aura nor the skill set matched; the man before him was not the enigma. He merely shared a simr build and attire.


    The man looked momentarily flustered, but quickly regained hisposure. "I don''t understand what you''re talking about. Haven''t you been searching for me? Remember what I told you thest time we met? That night, I said to you..."


    He repeated the words the mysterious figure had told Tarquin during theirst encounter.


    Tarquin''s brows knitted together instantly. What he''d just said were indeed the enigma''s exact words! So far, not even Lowell, Axel, or Elliot were privy to these words!


    Yet, even so, Tarquin was certain the man before him was not the enigma, just a stand-in. It must''ve been the enigma who told him, which is how he knew.


    Tarquin didn''t expose him. Instead, he followed up on the topic. "Where is she now?"


    The man chuckled. "Let me go, and I''ll tell you her location."


    Before Tarquin could ask anything else, the man suddenly intensified his grip. "If you don''t let me go, I won''t just kill her; I''ll make you suffer for life. You''ll never find out her whereabouts or that of Elijah''s mother. Don''t believe me? Try me!"


    As he spoke, he tightened his hold on the elderlydy''s neck and edged toward the door, forcing Tarquin to step back. There was no way Tarquin was letting him go today! Even though he was just a stand-in, he must know a lot about the enigma. But, he couldn''t just let the elderlydy die either.


    Tarquin pondered his next move, nning to save the elderlydy first, then deal with him!


    Dragging the elderlydy by the neck, the man reached the entrance. Seeming to sense his escape from Tarquin was imminent, he chuckled again. "Mr. Bradford, apologies, but I must eat my words. Next time we meet, I''ll surely reveal her location. Until then."


    With that, he shoved the elderlydy toward Tarquin and swiftly opened the door to flee. Tarquin caught the elderly woman, gently cing her on the ground, ready to give chase, when suddenly-


    Thud!


    The man was kicked back into the room, crashing heavily onto the floor!