In a secret surveince room somewhere, Lily was handcuffed, surrounded by white walls so seamless even the gaps between the doors and walls were white. She trembled, overwhelmed by fear. After Jared had knocked her unconscious, she awoke to find herself confined here, too terrified to resist. Could it be that the viruses she was researching had been discovered? Was she facing the death penalty? No, that couldn’t be happening…


    As these thoughts raced through her mind, the sound of the door lock opening snapped her back to reality. She jerked her head up, eyes wide with tension, and watched the door. Soon after, a figure d in a ck trench coat entered. It was Mr. White, who coldly threw a key towards her-the key to her handcuffs.


    “Mr. White, what exactly is happening? Where is this ce? Do I still need to return to theb?” Lily asked, just before Mr. White pped her across the face, knocking her from the chair to the floor, her mouth bleeding from the impact, nearly fainting.


    “Fool, who told you to coborate with Vivienne on your own!” Mr. White barked.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    This time, there was no disguise in her voice. Her identity exposed, Lily could only operate under strict supervision from now on; disguises were unnecessary. Lily was stunned-Mr. White was a woman?


    Mr. White removed her hat, revealing Elsa’s familiar face, which she hadn’t had time to change. “Tell me, where is Crimson Silk?”


    Lily, slowly regaining herposure, was shocked. “You’re Tina’s sister!”


    Mr. White nced at her dismissively. “Answer my question.”


    Lily swallowed hard, afraid to ask more. “I… I don’t know. Vivienne didn’t give me Crimson Silk. She said she would hand it to me at a critical moment to pass on to Tina, but she hasn’t yet.”


    Mr. White ground her mrs in frustration. She had thought she would find Crimson Silk this time, but Vivienne had hidden it well. Their dealings weren’t new; they often transferred goods required by GTO through Vivienne, who she had thought operated alone. Yet, behind Vivienne, there was an organization capable of acquiring Crimson Silk.


    Over the years, GTO had never fully developed Crimson Silk; the initial data collected by Natalie had been mostly destroyed, halting further research. Now that Crimson Silk had resurfaced, GTO was desperate to acquire it. She looked down at Lily and slowly extended her hand. Confused, Lily hesitated for a few seconds before cing her hand in hers.


    Mr. White abruptly pulled her, nearly dislocating Lily’s arm, then gripped her throat. “Lily, do you know why I spared your life?”


    Lily shuddered, staring into the gentle face that now instilled pure terror. “I… I don’t know.”


    Mr. White’s fingers tightened around Lily’s neck. “I value your medical expertise. If you cannot produce the Crimson Silk I need within a month, your life bes worthless!”


    Lily shivered profoundly, feeling as though she was bargaining with a tiger, a single misstep away from doom. “I will figure it out, I must…”


    A nauseating smell wafted up; drip, drip, drip… Mr. White, disgusted, threw Lily out.


    “TCL, you can’t go back now,” said Mr. White as he wiped his hands disdainfully and turned to leave. “Someone from yourb will take you there. Remember, you only have one month.”


    Lily copsed alone in a puddle of charred liquid, shedding tears of regret.


    She couldn’t even begin to describe how much she regretted her actions. Had she known Tina was Spectre, she never would have provoked her. Perhaps she wouldn’t have ended up a prisoner under others.


    Now, she couldn’t even return to the TCLb.


    TCLb.


    Jared brought Tina inside.


    “Mr. Daryl,” said Timmy, the research assistant, approaching them. “The director isn’t here and won’t let us into hisb.”


    Jared nodded. “Carry on with your work.”


    Timmy didn’t say any more, casting a surprised nce at the hat-wearing woman behind Jared.


    Such a beautiful woman!


    But no one dared to look twice at thepany Mr. Daryl brought.


    Timmy, valuing his life, averted his gaze.


    At Lily’s office door, Jared found the lock had been changed. He pulled out a maic card, swiped it, and the door unlocked with a beep.


    “Uncle, you’re quite skilled,” Tina teased.


    Jared pocketed the card. “Always be prepared when you’re out.”


    Tina remarked, “X agency’s essential skills include slipping through doors and picking locks!”


    Hayden added, “Of course, that includes brawling, eating, drinking… having fun.”


    Nathan protested, “No, we’re a serious organization!”


    Jared pushed the door slightly ajar, suddenly noticing a thin fishing line under it. If not carefully observed, the door’s opening would have triggered an explosion.


    Tina’s eyes narrowed. “Quick action.”


    It seemed they had just taken Lily away when the bomb was set.


    “Timmy, evacuate allb personnel except for the vital documents. Leave everything else,” Jared ordered.


    In a crisis, Jared wasted no time.


    Timmy didn’t ask questions, immediately leading all personnel out of theb.


    Mr. Daryl’s orders were absolute; no dys were allowed.


    “Tina, you go first. I’ll handle the bomb,” Jared said, carefully controlling the doorknob.


    A slight movement could trigger the bomb if it was a bnce mechanism.


    Tina raised an eyebrow. “Uncle, are you sure you can defuse it now?”


    Jared took a deep breath. “I’ll call Hayden.”


    “Did you forget about me?” Tina pulled out scissors from theb, approaching Jared.


    Her small frame squeezed through the crack, close enough that her nose almost touched Jared’s cheek.


    Suddenly, she smiled and nted a kiss on his face. “Don’t let this happen again.”


    Jared’s breath hitched, nearly losing control.


    Inside the office, Tina followed the fishing line to the bomb.


    Just as Jared suspected, it was a bnce device. If the door opened even a centimeter more, it would detonate.