When Juniper leaned in and got no reaction, she frowned in confusion. What was wrong?


    Normally, if she took the initiative like this, the man would be over the moon. Why was he so calm today?


    A few secondster, it dawned on her. Oh, right. She''d forgotten she was disguised as a man. In everyone else''s eyes, she was a man. A man trying to kiss him? That was admittedly a bit creepy.


    "Shanley..." Juniper licked her lips, her sweet voice a stark contrast to her appearance. "Close your eyes."


    Before Shanley could ask why, a hand covered his eyes, and a warm sensation pressed against his lips. It was the familiar taste of Juniper.


    After a fleeting touch, Juniper pulled away, a faint blush on her cheeks. "I''m off," she said. She patted down her clothes, shoved her hands in her pockets, and strutted towards the ferry with an audacious swagger.


    The audacious girl. She really wasn''t afraid of blowing her cover.


    "Boss, should I get the ferry ready?" Flint asked respectfully. It was just likest time. Ms. Payne had barely left before the boss was chasing after her.


    "Forget it," Shanley said, turning to give Flint a deep look before curving his lips into a helpless smile.


    "You''re not going?" Flint asked.


    "...I don''t dare!" Shanley bit out, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles were white.


    Felton and Flint exchanged aplicated look. Henpecked? That was their boss, alright.


    After disembarking from the ferry, Juniper arrived at the Liberty Ind dock. Following the "fireworks incident, the


    increased umber of gue


    significantly


    Visitors were being strictly inspected.


    Juniper wasn''t worried, though. After all, she had a personal "invitation" from Warren.


    Once she cleared security, the man Warren had sent to meet her was waiting respectfully. "Are you Nocturne?" the man asked, his eyes scanning Juniper from head to toe with a hint of doubt.


    The renowned physician was this young? He looked to be in his early twenties at most. Hopefully, he wasn''t another troublemaker from Sigma Network in disguise,ing to stir up chaos on Liberty Ind.


    "I am," Juniper replied without expression.


    "You''re really the physician Nocturne?" the man pressed after a moment, his voice rising. "You''re so young!"


    "What about it?" Juniper shot back, her chin tilted up, her temper ring. "Do you want the treatment or not?"


    Intimidated by her powerful aura, the man immediately deted. "Yes, of course," he said hastily. "This way, please."


    He had an invitation, and his identification checked out. It should be correct. If he turned out to be a fake, the ind''s Lord would deal with him.


    Juniper got into the car, looking


    around with interest. Though people called it "hell on earth," the


    environment was quite beautifu


    especially thendscaping


    e lush


    trees and fields of flowers were a


    refreshing sight.


    After driving around the ind for half an hour, the car stopped in front of a white, castle-like building. It


    wasn''t the same castle she had


    visitedst time; this ce felt more like a private, idyllic estate.


    As she walked forward, Juniper''s gaze fell on a nearby vegetable garden filled withtro, medicinal herbs, and flowers.


    "The Lord''s wife grew all of these," the man exined helpfully. "Ourdy may be intellectually dyed, but she''s a very kind person."


    "Except for forcing us to eat thetro she grows, she''s wonderful," he added with a whimper.