Step by step, Jonah walked into the darkness, his footsteps steady and determined.


    The front doors mmed shut behind him with a resounding groan, as if a deep abyss had opened and swallowed him whole.


    At the same time, Jasper and Remy stood side by side in the chilling wind atop a tall abandoned building across from the factory, their grim gazes fixed on the structure.


    "That guy is slick. He picked a factory that''spletely sealed off. No one outside can see what''s going on inside."


    Jasper tightened his grip on the magazine of his sniper rifle. "There''s no way I can have an urate shot if I can''t see his exact position."


    Remy knitted his brows tightly. "What about thermal imaging? We could use it to track the movement of people inside the building."


    Jasper shook his head slightly. "It''s useless. Even if we can see them, they''re too far away, and there are too many obstacles in the way. I won''t be able to take him down with a single shot, no matter how good a shooter I am.


    "Instead, it would only alert the enemy. If he gets desperate, Jonah''s and Dr. Lovce''s lives could be at risk."


    Remy''s chest felt heavy, and his injured left shoulder throbbed faintly. Still, he ignored the pain. Steadying his breathing, he asked, "So... what should we do now?"


    Jasper''s eyes darkened. "We''ll sneak in."


    "We''ll sneak in."


    Another voice echoed the same words from behind them.


    Jasper and Remy turned around, surprise shing in their eyes. "Mr. Axel?" they eximed.


    Axel stepped out of the darkness and walked toward them with effortless grace. Though his striking features looked slightly haggard, he still carried himself with his usual elegance andposure.


    "A pathetic bastard like him doesn''t deserve a clean bullet to the head. That''s too merciful. We should barge in and blow him up."


    Axel rolled his shoulders and tilted his head from side to side, loosening his muscles like someone warming up before a fight.


    Jasper''s eyes lit up immediately. "Ditto."


    Axel narrowed his sharp eyes, and a faint smile appeared on his face—an


    expression that hadn''t been seen in a long time.


    Remy curled his lips into a gratified smile. "Just what you''d expect from two military academy alumni who both ranked first. You really do think alike."


    Axel brushed away the gloom weighing on his heart and began issuing orders for the operation.


    "There''s no time to waste. Jasper and I have more expertise in rmaissance, so we''ll head to the factory and look for entry points. Maybe the basement, a backdoor, or something simr.


    "Given how massive the factoryplex is, there''s probably more than one way in. Damien, stay out here and coordinate with us from the outside."


    Remy nodded. "Got it. We''ll do as you say, Mr. Axel. I''ll cover both of you from out here."


    "Excuse me? Mr. Axel?"


    With warmth in his eyes, Axel walked


    up to Remy and looked intently at


    the face he hadnt forgotten, even after all these years: Holding back Fat


    his tears, he pulled Remy into a tight hug.


    "It''s Axel."


    A wave of emotion swept through Remy''s heart. Awkwardly, he said, "Axel."


    Perhaps finally having a home and someone to love had changed him. Axel, who had once been wild and untamable, had grown softer inside In the end, he couldn''t stop a tear from slipping down his cheek.


    "Let''s finish this as soon as possible. The longer we drag it out, the more dangerous


    it bes for Jonah and Dr. Lovce."


    Jasper was already prepared. With a stern expression, he added, "The sooner we finish this, the sooner Mr. Axel can go home and be with Ms. Altman."


    Axel raised a brow and clicked his tongue. "Excuse you. Mr. Axel? Just call me Axel!"