?Chapter 1143:


    “El, you’re unbelievable. I’ve never seen anyone crack so much this fast. Total respect,” Lance said, genuine awe in his voice.


    She retorted without missing a beat, “Enough talk. If you’re done admiring me, help me unlock the rest.”


    Resigned, Lance let out a groan as he started breaking down his own defenses.


    Meanwhile, high above on the top floor of the Yoswye military base, a heavy atmosphere filled the room. The general, tense and frustrated, stood before his superior. “Your Grace, we’ve turned this ce upside down and still haven’t caught the intruder.”


    Coolly flicking away the ash from his cigarette, Torin replied, “All exits are under lockdown. Nobody’s getting out, not even a mosquito. Whoever it is, they’re still here somewhere.”


    The general looked troubled. “We’ve searched every corridor and every room. Is it possible the intruder’s invisible or something?” After so many failed sweeps, he could only guess at impossible exnations.


    A sharp nce from Torin made the general immediately rethink his attitude. “Understood. I’ll have the teams sweep the base again right away!” Nobody wanted to linger under the Duke of ckwood’s icy stare.


    A slow exhale of smoke curled from Torin’s lips as he suddenly asked, “What about the Ninth Prison? Have you checked there?”


    “The Ninth Prison?” The general stared, caught off guard. “Isn’t that where we keep the criminal masterminds? The security system there is supposed to be unbreakable. No one can get inside.”


    Nobody in their right mind would ever try to sneak into the Ninth Prison. Once inside, people never came out.


    With a sneer, Torin looked at the general, sending a chill down thetter’s spine. Instantly, the general snapped to attention. “I’ll get on it right away!”


    Wasting no time, the general hurried from the room and tookmand of a search team. Marching straight for the Ninth Prison, he gave a sharp order. “If you…”


    see anyone out of ce, shoot first and ask questionster!” Armed guards stood shoulder to shoulder at the entrance, their rifles ready.


    Snipers scanned every shadow from their vantage points nearby.


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    The general gave a curt nod. “Open the door. Now.”


    As the door swung open, everyone was on high alert. Front-row soldiers charged forward while their rear counterparts swiftly raised their weapons, providing cover.


    The team stormed inside, only to discover no sign of any intruder.


    Elena had already slipped past the guards and infrared sensors, abandoning the military base far behind. She cut through the darkness with practiced efficiency.


    Once back in her room, Elena took a quick shower, peeled away her soiled clothes, and pulled onfortable pajamas.


    Before leaving her room earlier, she had arranged for housekeeping to restore order, recing all damaged furniture with pristine pieces.


    The moment she settled into bed, her phone vibrated insistently. SecondBest’s message appeared on the screen. “El, did you sessfully rescue your friend?”


    She typed back simply, “Yes, thank you.”


    Lance narrowed his eyes, convinced El was deceiving him.


    After prating the firewall for El, unease settled in Lance’s chest. How could El’s friend possibly end up imprisoned in the Ninth Prison? That facility housed only high-intelligence, maximum-risk criminals. Common offenders never qualified for the Ninth Prison—those who did were anything but ordinary. He had contacted the military and discovered that no recent prisoners had upied the Ninth Prison. If the Ninth Prison remained empty, whom exactly had El rescued?


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