Harvey stared at the body sprawled in a pool of blood, his whole body drenched in cold sweat, a lingering fear gripping his heart:
"You''ve only been back a few days, and someone''s already taken a shot at you. What are we going to do now?"
"Don''t worry, before I bite the dust, I''ll make sure to drag those backstabbing, ambitious little devils down to hell with me..."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Avery paused, his gaze darkening, deep, and endless.
Unconsciously, he had used the word "hell," as if it were a prophecy.
Could it be that he, too, felt that with his hands stained in blood, filled with sins, he deserved nothing but hell after death?
In the chilling silence, Avery''s phone rang.
Turning his back to Harvey and his men, he faced the haunting moon outside the window and picked up the call, pressing the phone to his ear.
"Speak."
"Mr. Chambers, the situation back home is... very much against you."
The informant''s tone was heavy, as if Avery''s downfall was inevitable.
"It''s already this bad, how much worse could it get? Just spit it out." Avery coughed a few times, his face pale and devoid of any color.
"The prosecutors have raided the entire Chambers Group. Now, Mr. West and the CFO have been taken in for questioning. They were never truly loyal, just driven by their own interests. Seeing your decline, it won''t be long before they spill everything they know."
"You said it yourself, they were never my confidants... just puppets. The core of the Chambers Group, they''ve never touched, so they can''t reveal much."
Avery''s coughing became severe, prompting Harvey to step forward and offer him a handkerchief.
Taking it, Avery covered his mouth, his cough so violent it seemed his insides were shaking, then handed the handkerchief back to Harvey.
Harvey took it, nced at it, and his pupils shrank in shock and fear!
In the center of the once-white handkerchief was a stark patch of blood!
Harvey dared not make any sound, forcibly suppressing his emotions, trembling as he pocketed the handkerchief.
"Another thing... you''re now on the national wanted list by the Elmsworth police!"
"What did you say?" Avery''s breath hitched, a thick taste of blood rising in his throat.
"Somehow, the police are iming Jeff''s death is connected to you, they must have significant evidence to issue a warrant!"
The informant hesitated, then ventured, "Mr. Chambers... did Jeff''s death really have anything to do with you?"
Avery closed his dry eyes.
He recalled the scene in his office, watching his father struggle with illness and die at his feet.
"Heh, what if it did? Over the years, countless people have died by my hand, he''s just another one."
Avery, with Harvey''s help, slowly sat on the edge of the bed, "Back home and in Helgen, there are no extradition treaties. This is my kingdom, they can''t touch me here."
"But don''t forget, there are two powerful figures in Elmsworth who want you dead! If they join forces with the police and corner you in Helgen, your situation will be dire!"
Avery thought of Evadne, a sharp pain in his heart, "Got it, thanks for the concern.
Your job here is done. From now on, you''re no longer one of mine. You don''t have to keep an eye on Elmsworth for me anymore. If all goes as expected, I won''t be returning to Elmsworth."
"Mr. Chambers..."
"You''ve been with me through thick and thin, I won''t leave you hanging. I''ll have Harvey transfer a sum to your mother''s ount, enough for you to livefortably."
Just as Avery was about to hang up, the informant, emotionally stirred, said:
"Mr. Chambers! Everyone ims you''re a ruthless viin who''smitted unforgivable sins, even Ms. Evadne, who grew up with you, has turned against you!
But I know... you''re not as bad as they say. Even if your methods were harsh, anyone who knows what you''ve been through would understand everything you''ve done!"
"You''re wrong."
A tear welled up in Avery''s eye, a bitter smile on his lips, "I am that ruthless viin, cunning and selfish, a rat that grew up in the gutter, a snake lurking in the shadows."