Chapter 1402


    Beyond the borders of Golden Sea District the helicopter settled gracefully onto the trimmedwn. The


    pilot, a man in a sharp suit, nced over his shoulder at the passenger behind him. “Mr. Nine, we’ve


    arrived. Time to switch rides.”


    The passenger, known only as Bernard, lifted his heavy-lidded gaze, a cold, dangerous glint in his eyes


    that sent a shiver down the pilot’s spine. In an instant, darkness enveloped the pilot’s vision as he


    slumped onto the controls, unconscious.


    With an emotionless expression, Bernard unwound his silk tie from around his neck, looping it around


    his fingers as he stepped off the helicopter. The ground crew, who had been ready for the transfer,


    watched in shock as Bernard knocked out their colleague. Like bees swarming, they rushed toward


    him.


    Bernard finished wrapping his tie around his hand, clenched his fist, and faced the approaching crowd.


    His eyes didn’t even blink as his fists flew,nding hard and fast against the faces of the pilots.


    Despite nursing injuries, hisbat skills were unmatched, and the men of Area Opaca were no match


    for him. In mere moments, he hadid out a group of adversaries.


    Kicking aside a fallen pilot, Bernard’s icy gaze lifted as he unwound the tie from his hand and strode


    swiftly toward the helicopter.


    With seamless precision, he fired up the rotors, seized the controls, and lifted off. As the chopper


    soared away, a ck tie fluttered to the ground… The battered pilots on the ground, regaining their


    senses, grabbed their phones and dialed the control room.


    “Boss, Bernard got away.”


    The controllers, each with their own agenda, turned their eyes toward Yates, the old man at the center


    of it all. Without a hint of emotion, he simply said, “Let him go.”


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    His stratagem was simr to a game of patience – biding his time and nning to nab all his opponents


    at once, instead of chasing them down one by one, thus conserving resources.


    Bernard, piloting the helicopter away from Golden Sea District realized his brain chip was silent, a clear


    sign that Yates had intentionally let him escape. He had to admit, Yates was a master strategist. Even


    though he hadn’t instigated the situation, Yates had manipted everything, even using Eleanor’s


    desire to rescue him to his advantage. He had lured Eleanor into bing a pawn in his game, taking


    her, the child, and Bernard’s freedom and life as leverage to force a break-up.


    Once the split was done, Yates had enacted a charade of letting Bernard go, dispelling Eleanor’s


    doubts while fulfilling his promise.


    In reality, letting Bernard escape was a ploy to draw him back with S in tow, to capture them all in one


    fell swoop. That was the ultimate aim of the game. But even knowing Yates’ intentions, Bernard was


    determined to avenge Caleb and his crew. His immediate priority was to remove the brain chip and free


    himself from control.


    Recalling Eleanor’s contact with Aidyn before entering Area Opaca, he guessed they would be nearby


    andnded just outside Golden Sea District.


    He needed to return home quickly to deal with the chip, so his first act afternding was to abandon the


    chopper and head to a public area to call Aidyn. Aidyn, scouring Golden Sea District for any sign of


    Area Opaca, felt a weight lift off his heart upon hearing Bernard’s voice after so many months. “Mr.


    Laurence, I’m on my way to get you.”


    Without wasting another second, Aidyn hung up and floored the elerator, leaving Scott, who had


    been eager to hear Mr. Law’s voice, fuming with irritation.


    “Why couldn’t you let me have a word before hanging up?”


    There’s no need for words; we’ll see Mr. Laurence soon enough.”


    Unperturbed, Aidyn drove on, his car speeding toward Bernard’s location. Scott, unable to contain his


    frustration,nded a heavy punch on Aidyn’s arm. Aidyn winced in pain but didn’t retaliate, instead


    stealing a nce at Scott. Their eyes met, and suddenly, the tension broke as they both burst into


    laughter.


    For them, as long as Mr. Laurence was alive and safe, they could breathe easy and smile again.


    Without that assurance, peace of mind would always be out of reach.


    Aidyn, driving swiftly, reached the public area where Bernard waited just as dusk approached. He


    hadn’t even stepped out of the car when he spotted the man standing in the sunlight, hands casually


    tucked into his pockets.


    Bernard always presented an air of unruffledposure, like thest flower standing resilient against


    the chill of winter. Unyielding to the frost, it remained a vibrant testament to purity and defiance.


    There, bathed in the soft amber light, was Bernard-much like that solitary flower, standing quietly amid


    the crowd. His silent figure seemed out of ce in this world, both alien and astonishingly brilliant.