Chapter 1450


    The trio had made it through security without a hitch. It wasn''t that Maja didn''t want to bring more


    people along, but ess to the Forbidden Ind was limited to thrice a year, and only three individuals


    were allowed entry each time. The passes they had were costly.


    And then there was that particrly distasteful rule.


    To prevent outsiders from banding together and disrupting the ind''s secretive operations, each


    person was knocked out upon entry. When they came to, they found themselves separated from their


    Maja had been well-informed of these details from the note Walter had slipped her, but the sight of the


    stone b inscribed with over a thousand words of rules still churned her stomach.


    For someone who had lived her entire life in modern society, such practices were hard to swallow.


    Ian stood by her side, gently cupping her face.


    "Once we''re in there, don''t rush to find me. Just take care of yourself first," he said, his voice tinged


    with concern as his eyes drifted to Maja''s midsection.


    "I really wish you''d reconsider and stay behind."


    The ce wasn''t fit for her, and there was no telling when one might get out once inside.


    "I''ll be fine," Maja replied, her expression serene as she handed over her weapon.


    "You too, watch your back."


    Her gaze shifted to Patric, a frown creasing her brow, "Are you sure it''s okay to bring him along? We


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    could get separated."


    "We need him," Ian said resolutely.


    Eric had provided the clues to find this ind and likely knew more, but his lips were sealed due to


    Patric''s presence.


    The guards couldn''t hide their surprise upon seeing Maja, their eyes lighting up before they shook their


    heads in disbelief.


    "Well, it''s been years since a woman entered Forbidden Ind. She was so pretty. I can''t imagine what


    she must''ve done to have to hide out here."


    To them, only someone with crimes heinous enough to warrant international pursuit would willingly


    enter.


    After all, Forbidden Ind was infamous for its asylums, which at one time were more numerous than


    the local pubs, and even now, the asylums remain a dominant presence.


    Maja addressed the guard nearby, "The gas you use to knock us out is not harmful to pregnant women,


    right?"


    The guard paused, then frowned, "You''re with child? What business do you have inside? Take my word


    for it, and it''s no ce for a woman, let alone an expectant mother."


    "Is it harmful or not?"


    "It''s safe."


    "Then we''re good to go."


    The three of them stepped into the pitch-ck void, and soon enough, the world spun, and darkness


    took them.


    When Maja''s eyes fluttered open again, she found herself amidst a sea of faces in hospital gowns,


    dappled sunlight poking through. The ind was massive, and she wasn''t even sure if she was on the


    outer, middle, or inner ind.


    Finding Ian and Patric immediately was out of the question.


    Fortunately, one thing that connected this ce to the outside world was money.


    The currency from the maind was epted, and credit cards could be swiped here too.


    But the ind''s rulers seemed keen on severing ties with the outside world, making devices like cell


    phones ridiculously expensive, costing an average person''s annual sry. These gadgets were


    symbols of status, and yet, they couldn''t dial out to the outside world.


    Communication was primarily through shouting or training pigeons.


    The inte was restricted, blocking news from the maind.


    Thunder rumbled, hinting at an impending downpour.


    Maja quickly purchased an umbre from a nearby shop. As she stepped out, she noticed a high


    school kid being bullied by his peers in uniform, who looked tough.


    Aside frommunication, life here wasn''t much different from the outside world.


    Without a second thought, Maja grabbed a mop from next to the shop and charged at the bullies.


    "What''s the big idea? Picking on someone smaller than you?"


    The teens, nearly adults, scoffed at the sight of a woman intervening.


    "Beat it,dy! This ain''t your fight."


    A fist swung her way, which Maja dodged with ease, retaliating with a swift jab of the mop handle to the


    attacker''s head.


    She found herself grateful for the training K had put her through, even with her eyes closed back then.


    Handling a few brash teens was a piece of cake.


    The boysy on the ground, wailing, looking at her as if she were the devil incarnate. They scrambled


    to their feet and took off.


    Maja turned to the boy in the corner. He leaned silently against the wall, giving her a fleeting nce


    before moving past her.


    She was surprised by his indifference. She had just helped him, after all. Shouldn''t he be a bit more


    grateful?


    Passing by, she caught a whiff of medicinal herbs on him.


    Someone in his family was seriously ill.


    Maja was new here and still ignorant of the ind''s power dynamics, aside from the four major families


    on the inner ind.


    The boy wasn''t keen on interacting, and Maja didn''t want to invite trouble. She had done her bit for


    justice and was ready to walk away when she caught sight of a cubic jellyfish tattoo on the nape of his


    neck.


    Her body tensed, and she called out, "Wait."