Chapter 647


    Chapter 647 Encounter with Danger


    I asked Gary if he had made the appointment with Ezekiel through the Xenoses to gauge my thoughts.


    ''I don''t know the specific reason why Mr. Hastings turned down the invitation, but it''s pretty obvious that


    you''re trying to keep your distance from him by setting up the appointment through the Xenoses,


    President Felix,'' he replied.


    Do I truly want to distance myself from him?


    I''m just being cautious about maintaining boundaries between us.


    I have no idea how to handle this situation.


    Interacting with him is different from how I engage with Christopher.


    I can''t be entirely open and transparent with him.


    I''m afraid of getting too close and giving him false hope.


    Moreover, I worry that Shawn might have reservations about it.


    Perhaps this is what it feels like to be secretly admired by someone.


    So, I''m being cautious in every aspect.


    However, the more cautious I am, the more awkward it bes.


    As I was lost in my thoughts, I let out a sigh and turned to Gary, asking what Ezekiel was up to in


    Eldham. To my surprise, he happened to know and responded, ''Mr. Hastings is seeking revenge.''


    Perplexed, I asked, ''Revenge? Revenge for what?''


    ''I''m not sure about the specifics,'' he replied.


    ''Come and pick me up,'' I instructed.


    Since it was summer, I changed into a light-yellow long dress. I refrained from curling my hair into tight


    curls again and settled for loose waves instead.


    Before leaving, I knocked on Colin''s door. He looked well-groomed and asked, "Are we going to


    Eldham now?"


    "Did you not sleepst night?" I curiously inquired.


    "I slept but woke up early and have been ying games since," he replied.


    Casually intrigued, I asked, "What game were you ying?"


    "Just a small game, something you wouldn''t understand," he said.


    Instantly, I was rendered speechless by his response.


    Shortly after, Gary arrived. We boarded a helicopter to Eldham and reached our destination at 9.00AM.


    I turned toward Gary and inquired, "Any leads?"


    "The lead was lostst night. To avoid disturbing your rest, we didn''t report it to you. We are currently


    conducting an urgent investigation," he reported.


    "Contact Anthony Kalt. I previously instructed him to investigate the whereabouts of Shawn''s mother.


    He should have some leads in his hands," Imanded.


    Gary acknowledged and replied, "Understood."


    By the afternoon, we finally obtained some leads.


    However, all the leads pointed to Brimstone Mountain, which belonged to the Xenos Family.


    I was genuinely puzzled. "What are they trying to do?"


    "They might be trying to lure you to Brimstone Mountain," Gary suggested.


    Who would want to lure me to Brimstone Mountain?!


    Oh, wait, it''s not about luring me.


    It''s about Shawn.


    Since my travels are kept confidential, they might mistake me for Shawn.


    So, who wants to lure Shawn to Brimstone Mountain?


    Could this incident be rted to Charles, who is currently staying there?


    "Prepare the helicopter to Brimstone Mountain," I directed.


    "President Felix, you need not trouble yourself with going there. You can contact Old Mr. Xenos by


    phone. If anything unusual is urring at Brimstone Mountain, he will undoubtedly be aware of it. Just


    ask him, and he won''t hide anything from you," Gary proposed.


    Charles Xenos was a member of the Xenos Family, but his loyaltyy solely with myte father.


    I doubted that asking Charles directly would yield the truth.


    In my thoughts, Charles was cunning, and I was well aware that asking him would be futile.


    I shook my head and responded, "I don''t trust him, so let''s make the trip to be safe."


    Gary asked in surprise, "Is there a problem with Old Mr. Xenos?"


    "Not sure, but I''ve never trusted him," I replied.


    Although Charles had used me to bring down Shawn in the past, I had spared him due to his status as


    an elder in the Xenos Family. I hoped that he was not the one ying tricks this time.


    Then, we boarded the helicopter once again, and Colin stayed silently by my side. He seemed tired of


    all the traveling. While he rested his eyes, I couldn''t help but curiously ask, "Why so quiet?"


    Colin immediately opened his eyes and sarcastically retorted, "Why? Are you looking for a


    conversation? But I don''t feel like talking to you. Let''s solve this quickly so I can find K. Following you is


    no fun at all."


    It turned out that following me wasn''t enjoyable for him.


    I remained silent and didn''t disclose my n to forcefully keep him in Eldham. I had made up my mind


    to ensure he stayed. He would probably resent me for it, but I did not care. My decision to keep him in


    Eldham was partially a form of punishment for killing my bodyguardst time.


    And perhaps, deep down, I also wanted to teach him a lesson.


    We arrived at Brimstone Mountain near evening. As soon as the helicopternded, an unsettling


    atmosphere engulfed us. Colin, ustomed to dangerous situations, instinctively shielded me and


    cautioned, "Hold on."


    The surroundings fell eerily silent, with only the whispering wind as their backdrop. Suddenly, gunshots


    shattered the stillness, prompting Colin tomand, "Get on the helicopter first."


    Without dy, I spun around and sprinted toward the helicopter while reminding Gary to stay safe.


    Unexpectedly, I tumbled to the ground not because of tripping over a rock but because Gary forcefully


    tackled me.


    In that split second, a group of masked people emerged and surrounded us. Swiftly, Gary helped me to


    my feet, and together we hurried onto the helicopter.


    However, just a few seconds after boarding, we heard a beeping sound. Gary''s expression changed


    drastically, and he urgently grabbed my arm and got off the helicopter. We crawled and rolled away


    from the helicopter.


    As soon as we were off the helicopter, a deafening explosion urred just a few meters behind us. I


    nced back and saw the ferocious mes.


    "That was too close," I murmured, fear lingering in my voice.


    "President Felix,e with me."


    Gary beckoned, extending a helping hand to me while my bodyguards formed a protective circle


    around me. Due to limited space, we had brought only half of our usual bodyguard count to Brimstone


    Mountain. The helicopter couldn''t amodate the entire entourage, which typically consisted of


    nearly thirty people.


    "President Felix, you need not trouble yourself with going there. You con contoct Old Mr. Xenos by


    phone. If onything unusuol is urring ot Brimstone Mountoin, he will undoubtedly be owore of it. Just


    osk him, ond he won''t hide onything from you," Gory proposed.


    Chorles Xenos wos o member of the Xenos Fomily, but his loyolty loy solely with my lote fother.


    I doubted thot osking Chorles directly would yield the truth.


    In my thoughts, Chorles wos cunning, ond I wos well owore thot osking him would be futile.


    I shook my heod ond responded, "I don''t trust him, so let''s moke the trip to be sofe."


    Gory osked in surprise, "Is there o problem with Old Mr. Xenos?"


    "Not sure, but I''ve never trusted him," I replied.


    Although Chorles hod used me to bring down Shown in the post, I hod spored him due to his stotus os


    on elder in the Xenos Fomily. I hoped thot he wos not the one ploying tricks this time.


    Then, we boorded the helicopter once ogoin, ond Colin stoyed silently by my side. He seemed tired of


    oll the troveling. While he rested his eyes, I couldn''t help but curiously osk, "Why so quiet?"


    Colin immediotely opened his eyes ond sorcosticolly retorted, "Why? Are you looking for o


    conversotion? But I don''t feel like tolking to you. Let''s solve this quickly so I con find K. Following you is


    no fun ot oll."


    It turned out thot following me wosn''t enjoyoble for him.


    I remoined silent ond didn''t disclose my plon to forcefully keep him in Eldhom. I hod mode up my mind


    to ensure he stoyed. He would probobly resent me for it, but I did not core. My decision to keep him in


    Eldhom wos portiolly o form of punishment for killing my bodyguord lost time.


    And perhops, deep down, I olso wonted to teoch him o lesson.


    We orrived ot Brimstone Mountoin neor evening. As soon os the helicopter londed, on unsettling


    otmosphere engulfed us. Colin, ustomed to dongerous situotions, instinctively shielded me ond


    coutioned, "Hold on."


    The surroundings fell eerily silent, with only the whispering wind os their bockdrop. Suddenly, gunshots


    shottered the stillness, prompting Colin tomond, "Get on the helicopter first."


    Without deloy, I spun oround ond sprinted toword the helicopter while reminding Gory to stoy sofe.


    Unexpectedly, I tumbled to the ground not becouse of tripping over o rock but becouse Gory forcefully


    tockled me.


    In thot split second, o group of mosked people emerged ond surrounded us. Swiftly, Gory helped me to


    my feet, ond together we hurried onto the helicopter.


    However, just o few seconds ofter boording, we heord o beeping sound. Gory''s expression chonged


    drosticolly, ond he urgently grobbed my orm ond got off the helicopter. We crowled ond rolled owoy


    from the helicopter.


    As soon os we were off the helicopter, o deofening explosion urred just o few meters behind us. I


    glonced bock ond sow the ferocious flomes.


    "Thot wos too close," I murmured, feor lingering in my voice.


    "President Felix,e with me."


    Gory beckoned, extending o helping hond to me while my bodyguords formed o protective circle


    oround me. Due to limited spoce, we hod brought only holf of our usuol bodyguord count to Brimstone


    Mountoin. The helicopter couldn''t omodote the entire entouroge, which typicolly consisted of


    neorly thirty people.


    Little did we onticipote thot donger owoited us os soon os we got off the helicopter.


    Colin opprooched me ond osked, "Are you okoy?"


    I shook my heod ond replied, "I''m still olive."


    "Heh, you''ve got quite the optimism," he remorked.


    The morks on Colin''s foce reveoled the intensity of the recent fight. "Stoy behind me," he coutioned.


    I nodded ond expressed my heortfelt wish for everyone''s sofety. "Stoy sofe, oll of you."


    I never wonted to witness the loss of my people before my eyes, but I understood thot sometimes


    deoth wos on inescopoble port of reolity.


    "Don''t worry, I won''t die," Colin reossured me.


    Under the firm guidonce of Gory''s grosp, I troiled behind him olong o norrow pothwoy. Along the


    journey, I unexpectedly ron into Chorles, who wos oponied by o lorge group of people. Sporting o


    solemn expression, I inquired, "Whot hos brought you to this ploce?"


    "Miss, we just received reports of o riot here," Chorles informed me.


    Token obock, I questioned, "Are you here to rescue me?"


    "Yes, ensuring your sofety is our priority," he responded.


    "Chorles, go ond provide immediote support," Imonded.


    As I wotched Chorles wolk owoy, doubts storted to cloud my thoughts.


    Turning to Gory, I osked, "Do you trust him?"


    "Are you questioning Chorles'' loyolty?" Groy responded.


    "Why ore there so mony people in Brimstone Mountoin?" I wondered, recolling thot Chorles hod been


    the sole inhobitont before.


    "President Felix, you con heor his explonotion loter. If there ore no red flogs, we con trust him for now,"


    Gory odvised.


    A few minutes loter, Chorles returned with Colin ond the others.


    A sense of relief woshed over me os I sow Colin unscothed. Luck hod truly been on his side.


    It wos only then thot I turned my ottention to Chorles ond posed the question, osking, "Hos Brimstone


    Mountoin been guorded oll this time?"


    Dressed in o block robe, Chorles stood before me, oponied by o sizoble group of people ond


    horses behind him. The significont number of guords surrounding Brimstone Mountoin roised


    suspicions.


    Looking ot Colin, Chorles exploined, "There is o lorge omount of gold ond treosure buried here,


    belonging to the Xenoses. Noturolly, we need o dedicoted guord force. Miss, by questioning this, ore


    you doubting my loyolty?"


    Colin''s eyes lit up ot the mention of buried treosure. With o ployful tone, he tossed the coptive he hod


    recently opprehended before me ond suggested, "Ask him. Moybe he knows something. And os for


    thot treosure, if you''re feeling generous, you could shore o little with me os o reword."


    This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    I shot Colin o disdoinful glonce before shifting my ottention to the kneeling figure on the ground.


    Sternly, I demonded, "Who sent you to ossossinote Shown? And who is the mostermind behind oll of


    this?"


    Little did we anticipate that danger awaited us as soon as we got off the helicopter.


    Colin approached me and asked, "Are you okay?"


    I shook my head and replied, "I''m still alive."


    "Heh, you''ve got quite the optimism," he remarked.


    The marks on Colin''s face revealed the intensity of the recent fight. "Stay behind me," he cautioned.


    I nodded and expressed my heartfelt wish for everyone''s safety. "Stay safe, all of you."


    I never wanted to witness the loss of my people before my eyes, but I understood that sometimes


    death was an inescapable part of reality.


    "Don''t worry, I won''t die," Colin reassured me.


    Under the firm guidance of Gary''s grasp, I trailed behind him along a narrow pathway. Along the


    journey, I unexpectedly ran into Charles, who was apanied by arge group of people. Sporting a


    solemn expression, I inquired, "What has brought you to this ce?"


    "Miss, we just received reports of a riot here," Charles informed me.


    Taken aback, I questioned, "Are you here to rescue me?"


    "Yes, ensuring your safety is our priority," he responded.


    "Charles, go and provide immediate support," Imanded.


    As I watched Charles walk away, doubts started to cloud my thoughts.


    Turning to Gary, I asked, "Do you trust him?"


    "Are you questioning Charles'' loyalty?" Gray responded.


    "Why are there so many people in Brimstone Mountain?" I wondered, recalling that Charles had been


    the sole inhabitant before.


    "President Felix, you can hear his exnationter. If there are no red gs, we can trust him for now,"


    Gary advised.


    A few minutester, Charles returned with Colin and the others.


    A sense of relief washed over me as I saw Colin unscathed. Luck had truly been on his side.


    It was only then that I turned my attention to Charles and posed the question, asking, "Has Brimstone


    Mountain been guarded all this time?"


    Dressed in a ck robe, Charles stood before me, apanied by a sizable group of people and


    horses behind him. The significant number of guards surrounding Brimstone Mountain raised


    suspicions.


    Looking at Colin, Charles exined, "There is arge amount of gold and treasure buried here,


    belonging to the Xenoses. Naturally, we need a dedicated guard force. Miss, by questioning this, are


    you doubting my loyalty?"


    Colin''s eyes lit up at the mention of buried treasure. With a yful tone, he tossed the captive he had


    recently apprehended before me and suggested, "Ask him. Maybe he knows something. And as for


    that treasure, if you''re feeling generous, you could share a little with me as a reward."


    I shot Colin a disdainful nce before shifting my attention to the kneeling figure on the ground.


    Sternly, I demanded, "Who sent you to assassinate Shawn? And who is the mastermind behind all of


    this?"