The firefight raged on, with neither side showing any mercy, each hoping to sink the other with a single, well-ced shot.


    But something was off.


    "Boss, Subterra Vanguard is acting strangely," Flint noted, staring at the drone feed. "It looks like they''re protecting their rearmost ship while simultaneously attacking our cargo vessel."


    Part of the cargo was their own supplies for the fight, but the vast majority was a shipment destined for a certain military base that they were transporting along the way. If Subterra Vanguard managed to seize it, the consequences would be dire. "There''s a high probability Specter is on that ship in the back," Shanley said, his lips thinning into a grim line.


    "Boss, should we focus our attack on that vessel?" Flint asked.


    "No." Shanley crossed his arms, a low, maic chuckle rumbling in his throat. He raised an eyebrow. "Specter is too smart for that. You think he''d just wait in a ship for me to kill him?"


    "Then he....." Flint trailed off, scratching his nose in confusion.


    "Knowing Specter..." Shanley turned to gaze out the foggy window, a slight smirk ying on his lips. "He''s not one to sit and wait. He''s probably already snuck aboard our ship, preparing to assassinate me."


    "What?" Flint was instantly on high alert, gripping his gun and scanning their surroundings nervously. “Boss, should I call for more men?"


    "It wouldn''t matter how many you called. They can''t stop Specter." Shanley shook his head, slowly shrugging off his trench coat to reveal the ck silk shirt


    underneath. He then put on a life-like mask thatpletely concealed his identity unless inspected up close.


    "Have everyone on this ship retreat to the others," Shanley ordered coolly, fiddling with a high-precision rifle. "You, Felton, and Flint, leave as well."


    "Boss, what about you?" Flint''s eyes widened.


    "I''ll be waiting for Specter." Shanley''s mouth curved into a cold smile. "If you stay here, you''ll just die for nothing."


    "Boss-" Flint''s expression changed, his reluctance clear.


    Shanley said nothing, simply fixing Flint with his dark, piercing gaze, his powerful aura silencing any protest.


    "Yes, sir." Flint didn''t dare disobey. He knew his boss was skilled enough not to be at a disadvantage against Specter. But as he was leaving, he couldn''t help but add, "Boss..."


    Shanley nced at him.


    "Please be careful," Flint said, his voice low. "Ms. Payne is still waiting for you at the hotel."


    At the mention of "Ms. Payne," the man''s tall frame stiffened for a moment. After a few seconds, he finally spoke. "I know."


    For Juniper, he would return in one piece.


    Meanwhile, the battle between Subterra Vanguard and Sigma Network was at its peak. In the dense fog, only the sparks of bullets striking steel and the incessant, piercing gunshots were visible.


    Juniper had slipped into the sea, using an oxygen tank to swim to the ship carrying the leader of Sigma Network. Ditching her gear, she deftly climbed into the vessel''s hold.


    The ship was massive, with countless rooms. Instead of rushing to find her target, Juniper found a quiet corner to lean against. She pulled out her phone and dialed Shanley''s number.


    “Juniper?” A momentter, a warm, gentle voice came from the other end.


    "When are youing back?" Juniper felt that killing the leader of Sigma Network might be trickier than she''d thought and would


    ??? ?


    probably take some time, so she


    decided to gauge Shan S


    schedule.  s?novels


    "What''s wrong?" Shanley stood by the window, his gaze darkening as he looked out


    at the shimmering sea. "Miss me already?"


    Juniper pressed her lips together and didn''t answer.


    "The negotiations are going to take a


    little longer probably be backte,” Shanley said, covering the phone''s microphone to ck the sound of the sea breeze. "If you''re bored, go find Tucker and chat with him."