Chapter 177


    After confirming that Simon Hernandez had fallen into a deep sleep, Marina Bailey got up and moved.


    The floor where Professor Jardine was located was just above this one


    Last night, she had already familiarized herself with theyout of the entire apartment.


    The venttion ducts between each floor were interconnected.


    She only needed to climb up through the venttion ducts below.


    However, timing was crucial and had to be precise.


    Marina immediately opened herputer and hacked into the surveince system between the two


    floors.


    Afterpleting these tasks, she contacted Brendon,


    “I havepleted the preparations here. We will officially begin the operation in one minute.”


    “Roger that!” came the voices of Brendon and his team through the earpiece, responding promptly.


    Almost simultaneously, everyone focused on the watches on their wrists.


    As the minute hand reached twelve, Marinamanded, “Initiate the operation!”


    With hermand, the surveincework around the apartment instantly came under attack.


    Inside the surveince room, rms immediately started ring.


    Everyone else sprang into action except for one person left behind to monitor the surveince footage.


    Marina wasted no time either.


    After packing her belongings, she swiftly pried open the venttion duct in the room. Gripping the


    edges, she climbed up with agility.


    Then she closed the venttion duct cover, leaving no visible signs of damage from the outside.


    Unbeknownst to her, after Marina entered the venttion duct, Simon, who should have been asleep,


    suddenly opened his eyes.


    He slowly propped himself up and nced upward.


    His vision was clear, without any trace of the herbal medicine.


    “This woman has quite the courage,” Simon muttered under his breath, then spoke to the person on the


    other end of the earpiece.


    “The situation has changed. The top priority is to ensure Marina’s safety.”


    Upon heating this, Gavin, on the other end of themunication, briefly doubted if he had misheard.


    “Mr. Hernandez, who did you say?” Gavin asked again.


    “Marina Bailey!” Simon spoke once more.


    After uttering those words, he ended themunication.


    Then, he followed the venttion duct in front of Marina Bailey


    Gavin, on the other end of themunication was stunned for half a second before snapping back to


    reality.


    09.05 Mon, 3


    How did Miss Bailey end up here?


    This was a troublesome situation.


    However, he dared not defy Simon’s orders and immediately ryed them to the team.


    Meanwhile, Marina remained unaware of these developments. Following the map in her mind, the


    quickly located the room where Professor Jardine was supposed to be.


    She paused and carefully peeked down from the venttion duct to assess the situation in the room


    below.


    She noticed that Professor Jardine was seated on the couch, and three imposing individuals from


    Meridonia were present in the room.


    It appeared they were trying to persuade Professor Jardine to engage in a transaction with them.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    “Professor Jardine, you should understand that our conditions are already highly advantageous. Once


    you return to your country, there is absolutely no way you can enjoy the treatment we can provide for


    you,” said the young man sitting across from Professor Jardine.


    However, Professor Jardine remained silent throughout the conversation.


    “Professor Jardine, I advise you not to hesitate any longer. You must realize that besides cooperating


    with us, you have no other choices,” the young man continued.


    “Your country would never take such a big risk to send people to bring you back. Moreover, even if they


    wanted to send someone, they could never snatch you away right under my nose.”


    “You can take a look at this document. If you don’t have any other demands, go ahead and sign it


    quickly.”


    Crossing his legs, the man slid the agreement in front of Professor Jardine.


    It was a secret research agreement.


    Meridonia could provide Professor Jardine with all the necessary facilities and conveniences.


    However, all of Professor Jardine’s research findings would have to be exclusively used by Meridonia.


    The conditions offered were indeed tempting, but Professor Jardine’s gaze remained unwavering.


    “You’ve been guarding me here for half a year, and I’ve already said the same thing countless times. I


    will not sign this agreement,” Professor Jardine stated firmly.


    “Professor Jardine, I do admire you. However, if you insist on this, then there is nothing more I can do


    to save you,” the man said, cing his weapon on the nearby table.


    The implicit threat was evident.


    Professor Jardine did not even frown.


    “Whether you kill or torture me, it’s up to you. Even if I die, millions of mypatriots will rise up, and


    you can never defeat us!”


    “Very well!” The man seemed to be infuriated by Professor Jardine’s defiant attitude.


    He stood up, picked up his weapon, and aimed it at Professor Jardine’s head.


    Professor Jardine fearlessly met the man’s gaze head–on.


    However, in the next moment, a faint sound could be heard.


    The man suddenly raised his hand and clutched his neck, his face contorted in pain, before copsing


    to the ground.


    This unexpected turn of events caused a change in Professor Jardine’s expression.