<b>Chapter </b><b>198 </b>
<b><i>97 </i></b>
Jade’s POV:
The cer was cool and dark, smelling of earth and preserved vegetables. I sat at the rickety table, casually popping blueberries into my mouth. I’d been waiting for nearly an hour, but patience had always been one of my strengths.
Finally, light footsteps approached. I concealed my presence, maintaining a rxed posture as I continued eating. The door creaked open, and a tall man stepped inside. When he spotted me at the table, surprise shed across his face, quickly reced by recognition and wariness<b>. </b>
He regained hisposure quickly. “So, you’re the one causing trouble on Scorpio family territory.”
I looked up, a slight smile ying on my lips. “And your boss must be the ‘Ace of Spades.“”
The man narrowed his eyes, studying me. “Who are you?”
“The person who’se to kill you all,” I replied calmly.
Commotion erupted inside the Scorpiopound, but I had already slipped away. I easily evaded the patrolling guards, vanishing into the night like a ghost.
As I rounded the corner, I found Ethan Haxton waiting in the shadows. In the moonlight, his tall figure was particrly striking.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, slightly surprised but not rmed.
Ethan stepped forward, his expression calm. “I came looking for you.”
‘Here, I pulled a small bunch of blueberries from my pocket and offered Ethan a few.
He epted them, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Is it sweet?”
“Sour, 1 replied briefly,
Ethan tasted one, smile deepen. “You’re right. It’s sour.”
We walked side by side down the streets of Crimson Valley, surrounded by buildings casting long shadows in the moonlight.
“Who was that man?” Ethan asked.
<b>8:22 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>25 </b>
“A member of <b>the </b>Shadow Organization, Ace of Spades‘ right–hand man,” I said evenly. “He’s dead now.”
Ethan’s steps faltered momentarily. “You’ve been hunting them?”
“Yes. I’m eliminating the old guard in the organization one by one,” my voice remained steady. “Four targets left.”
“Are you sure Ace of Spades will appear?”
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“He will. He’s already got his eye on me,” I popped another blueberry into my mouth. “Either he’lle to me, or <b>I’ll </b>go to him.”
We continued walking in silence for a while.
Ethan suddenly spoke. “Night clearly likes you.”
“What kind of ‘like‘ are you talking about?” I asked.
“Romantic interest, of course.” Ethan’s voice was calm, but a flicker ofplex emotion passed through his eyes.
I smiled.
“Am I wrong?” Ethan pressed.
I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could speak, Night and Chris Jensen appeared ahead of us, interrupting <b>our </b>conversation. Night’s face showed obvious displeasure, while Chris maintained his usualposure.
The next day, we visited a secluded warehouse in the suburbs. Maverick was inspecting a pile of weapons and equipment. When he saw <b>us </b>enter, he immediately put on a business–like smile.
“Wee, wee! What can I do for you?” Maverick greeted enthusiastically,
“Timed explosives. The high–precision kind,” I stated our purpose directly.
Maverick raised an eyebrow. “Those don’te cheap,”
“Price isn’t an issue,” Ethan interjected calmly.
Sloane emerged from a back room, her eyes lighting up noticeably when she saw Ethan, her face showing
admiration.
“Mr. Haxton, <b>it’s </b>an honor to meet you!” Sloane said eagerly.
Night rolled his <b>eyes </b>and turned to me. “Darling<b>, </b>should we buy a few rocketunchers? We could level the whole
<b>8:22 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>25 </b>
:
ce at once<b>. </b>Save time. I’m itching for some action.<b>” </b>
:
Ignoring Night’s suggestion, I whispered to Ethan, “Looks like Sloane is very interested in you.”
Ethan chuckled. “I’m afraid I might have to disappoint her.” His gaze lingered meaningfully on me.
<i>97 </i>
Over the following days, Crimson Valley was engulfed in a series of explosions. Night’s 791 team members were dispatched to different locations, executing carefully nned bombing missions.
First, we demolished several key Scorpio family territories. Explosions echoed through the night sky, orange–red mes illuminating the entire valley. Then we turned to the drug lord’s strongholds, first bombing their ntations, then the processing nts, and finally the transport vehicles.
For each operation, I personally participated in the night missions, precisely detonating the devices. And after each mission, Ethan would wait for me at the designated spot, no matter howte.
“You don’t have toe every time,” I told Ethan.
“I want to make sure you’re safe,” Ethan replied, his voice filled with concern.
The situation in Crimson Valley grew increasingly chaotic, with residents living in fear. Local media dubbed us “Death’s Agents,” as death and destruction followed wherever we appeared.
After the series of explosions, the drug lord’s empire wasrgely destroyed. This finally caught the attention of the mastermind behind it all–Ace of Spades appeared in Crimson Valley.
We received a formal invitation to a maze–like high–rise building. The structure stood alone, surrounded by buildings that had been reduced to rubble.
As we entered the lobby, I immediately recognized three familiar faces–former Shadow Organization assassins. They stood coldly, their eyes filled with hostility.
Suddenly, a middle–aged man in an impable suit emerged from the elevator. His eyes scanned everyone present, finally resting on me.
‘Wee,” his voice was deep and powerful. “Mr. Haxton. Mr. Night. Mr. Jensen. And this sweet girl.”
Right behind him appeared a cold–faced man–Eclipse. I frowned slightly, clearly surprised to see this person following Ace of Spades.
Ace of Spades examined everyone carefully, especially me. Danger glinted in <b>his </b>eyes.
8:22 Thu, Sep 25
…
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“You know what?” he turned to the others. “This seemingly harmless young girl might be the most dangerous among
you. She might even be the one with the most authority.”
Night and Chris maintained vignt postures, ready to respond to any sudden developments.
“I’m curious,” Ace of Spades continued. “Night and Chris, you were once Shadow’s friends, yet now you stand with this American girl. When I learned that Night, Chris, and an American girl named Jade were causing trouble in Crimson Valley, I investigated the rtionship between the three of you, but found nothing.”
His smile grew more dangerous. “Now, you stand before me, May you tell me?”
“Just friends.” <b>I </b>said, feeling Ethan’s gaze.
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