Michael <b>and </b>the robed man simultaneously tumed their heads toward where Pete had been lying. The <b>spot </b>was now empty, save for a few drops of blood left on the ground.
He ran? Pete <b>had </b>escaped?
The robed man stared dumbfounded at the empty spot as if someone had struck him over the <b>head </b>with a club.
Only now did he finally realize what <b>had </b>happened. The reason Pete had handed him the c, explosives was not out of trust or sacrifice but to distract and draw <b>all </b>the attention and firepower toward himself. This allowed Pete to slip away unnoticed.
Now that he thought about it, Pete’s injuries didn’t seem all that serious. He must have faked his wealmess, pretending to copse so convincingly that he had fooled everyone!
And the robed man had fallen for it. He believed Pete’s lies!
“That bastard<b>!</b>–
The robed man’s eyes zed with fury. He didn’t know whether to me Pete for being <b>so </b>cunning or himself for being so gullible.
He knew Pete wasn’t trustworthy. He knew Pete was the kind who showed a gentlemanly facade but <b>never </b>hesitated to stab someone in the back. How many times had Pere pulled simr stunts in the past?
Michael shot a quick nce at his team, signaling them to pursue Pete. But past as they <b>began </b>to move, the unmistakable hum of a helicopter rose from a nearby clearing
Everyone turned to watch as the helicopter slowly ascended into the sky and flew away, vanishing into the horizon
The robed man couldn’t hold it anymore. He let out a guttural curse, “Fuck!”
The so–called ten–minute backup <b>was </b><b>a </b>hoax. Pete had nned this all along. He must have secretly arranged <b>for </b>the helicopter beforehand, ensuring <b>a </b>smooth escape for himself while leaving the robed man behind to fend off the Special Operations Unit on <b>his </b>own.
Michael frowned as he watched the helicopter disappear. Then, he tumed back to the robed <b>man </b>with a mocking smirk. “Looks like you’ve been sold out. Are you sure you still want to help this guy?
The robed man closed his eyes and said nothing
Michael stepped forward and effortlessly took the remaining C out of the robed man’s hand, handing it to one of <b>his </b>agents for safekeeping. Without wasting another word, he hauled the robed man up and shoved him into the back of a vehicle.
One suspect had been sessfully apprehended, but Pete was still atrge. Michael looked up at the empty sky once more before ordering his team, “Put out <b>an </b>alert. Start the manhunt. It’s time to get a warrant for his arrest.”
Over the past two years, Pete and the robed man had been involved in numerous secret operations, <b>including </b>the abduction case that Michael had been on for the longest of time. Now, with one of the two suspects in custody, the other wouldn’t be able to hide for long
<b>Or </b>so he thought.
Little did Michael know, after that day, Pete would vanish without a trace. It was as if the man simply disappeared into thin air, leaving no trail behind.
Meanwhile, in Se
in Seldvale’s finest hospital, the door to a brightly lit operating room finally swung open
Sten, who had been sitting just outside<b>, </b>immediately opened his eyes. His <b>usual </b>calm and steady demeanor was intact, but if one listened carefully, there was a subtle tremor in his voice when he asked the doctor who just tookati his mask, “How is she?”
When linogen was rushed to the <b>hospital </b>earlier, her condition was terrifying. Her face was ashen, and the knife wound she sustained was fatal. It was one that most people wouldn’t have survived for more <b>than </b>a few minutes. Even the experienced medical team shook their heads upon seeing her injuries.
“It’s not looking good,” one of the doctors muttered at the time.
Now, after two grueling hours, the <b>lead </b>surgeon managed a smile despite his exhaustion.
“Mr. Russell, the surgery y
y was a sess. Ms. Russell is out of immediate danger. And I have to say, it’s all thanks to whoever treated her wounds before she got here. The hemostatic medication used was incredibly effective <b>and </b><b>also </b>bousted her recovery!”
The surgeon sighed, then continued, “To put it simply, without that medication, Ms. <b>Bussell </b>wouldn’t have <b>made </b>it to the hospital in time. Mr. Russell, if I may ask -where did you get such extraordinary medicine? Does it have a name? Do you have a source?”
To be honest, the surgeon was more interested in knowing who performed first–aid on Imogen. However, after noticing how Stephan’s expression went through a whole slew of changes<b>, </b>the surgeon didn’t dare voice his question