In the last half hour, most students in the exam room grappled with the final, difficult questions, feeling overwhelmed. Yvette, however, calmly rose, walked to the podium, placed her test paper down, and nodded to the proctor.

Her departure left the other students dumbfounded. A mix of emotions washed over them. "What happened to the promised torture of difficult questions?" they wondered. The disparities among them were evident. Observing this, the remaining students quickly returned to their tests.

The proctor's curiosity was piqued. He genuinely wanted to see how many questions she'd answered and how many were correct. Completing the entire test correctly seemed improbable; perhaps barely passing was feasible. But he was astonished upon closer inspection of her paper.

At Argrol University's entrance, Jeremiah waited in a black Jeep with Andrew, Samantha, and Charles. Andrew discovered Yvette's vanilla toffees left in the car and, once he started eating, couldn't stop. He shook his head, gazing at the school entrance. "Listen, Jeremiah," he said earnestly, "Yvette might not be in the best mood when she comes out. I've heard this exam is challenging." He tossed another toffee into his mouth.

Jeremiah, leaning against the car window, murmured, "You've already eaten ten pieces."

Samantha snatched the last toffee from Andrew's hand, returning it to its place. "You're a grown man eating candy like a child," she chided.

Charles quietly swallowed his candy and nodded in agreement, appearing unfazed. Andrew quickly retrieved the toffee, pocketing it. "Samantha, you've never tried these," he insisted. "Yvette's candy is incredibly delicious. You won't find it anywhere else."

Samantha paused, intrigued. "Candy one can't find anywhere else?"

Just then, Yvette emerged from the school and spotted the Jeep. She approached, opened the door, and slid into the front passenger seat. The familiar sweet scent was immediate.

She gave Andrew a thoughtful look. "Don't forget to transfer the money," she said. "Thirty million dollars."

Andrew was stunned. The candy lodged in his throat, turning his face red. Thirty million dollars? Are these candies worth that much? he wondered.

In the end, Andrew, tears welling in his eyes, transferred thirty million dollars to Yvette, his heart aching. He vowed never to eat that candy again.

Normis enjoyed a year-round spring-like climate, abundant resources, and pleasant weather. Previously, it received minimal national support. However, a recent tourism boom prompted active government support for its development, transforming Normis into a highly desirable destination.

After their plane landed, Yvette and Jeremiah were met by a private car at the airport exit; Jeremiah had already sent their luggage ahead.

At a villa in Normis, Andrew froze at the entrance. The villa's gate mirrored a Skyland design, even the layout seeming identical. Samantha and Charles briefly paused before calmly carrying their luggage inside, leaving Andrew alone.

"Wait for me!" he called out.

Inside, Emmett, recently returned from Afria at Jeremiah's behest, stood quietly. He was delighted to see Jeremiah and Yvette, quickly stepping forward with a slight bow. "Mr. Chavez, Yvette, you're here! The room is ready," he announced. He then greeted Samantha and Charles, acknowledging Charles's background – a prominent figure in the Mysonna underworld, leader of the Goodman family's Seventy-Two Chambers.

Yvette's circle is indeed full of remarkable people, Emmett mused. Even someone as tough as Charles takes orders from her.

Jeremiah nodded curtly. Yvette's expression was indifferent. Her voice cold, she addressed Emmett: "Looks like you're doing well."

Emmett's mouth twitched. Doing well? he thought. My time in Afria was brutal; I was hounded by local women proposing children. Have kids, just like that? Do they think kids are like cabbages?

Two days ago, he'd received orders from Jeremiah to return home. He'd left Afria as quickly as possible.

Emmett nodded, tears in his eyes, forcing out a hollow, insincere, "It's fine."

Andrew entered, seeing several people on the couch. What the heck? Why is he back? he thought upon spotting Emmett. He tossed his luggage aside, flopping onto the couch. "Emmett, I want vanilla ice cream!"

Emmett glanced at Andrew, nodding without hesitation. He went to the refrigerator, revealing stacks of vanilla ice cream. He handed some to Andrew, softly reminding him, "Don't overeat."

"Alright," Andrew replied. "I knew it, Emmett. You're the best."

Charles paused briefly; Samantha was unfazed. Emmett had been with Jeremiah since childhood, developing a particularly close bond with Andrew. To others, Emmett was serious and reserved; those unfamiliar with them might mistake them for brothers.

Yvette rose, raising an eyebrow. "I'm going upstairs to change."

Jeremiah gently squeezed her fingers. With a serious look, he said, "I'll join you."

Andrew admired Jeremiah. See? That's how one elevates flirting – saying the cheekiest things with a completely serious expression. Impressive, he thought.

Yvette glanced at Jeremiah with a faint smile, lazily curling one lip. "No need," she said, turning away.

Jeremiah watched her ascend the stairs, then turned to Emmett. "The Dungo Village documents."

Samantha, uninterested, followed Yvette upstairs. Only Jeremiah, Charles, and Andrew remained.

Andrew sat up straight at the mention of Dungo Village. Emmett retrieved a file and handed it to Jeremiah.

Jeremiah leafed through the documents as Emmett explained: "Mr. Chavez, Dungo Village is located southwest of Normis, near Glenwood. It's a historically significant village inhabited by poison sorcerers. It's notoriously closed off to outsiders. Nearby villages have developed tourism, but Dungo Village has consistently rejected government development plans for years. The government has essentially given up. Access requires traversing a cliff, limiting visitors. Information is scarce. One interesting point: over twenty years ago, a plague killed roughly half the population. How it ended, and the truth of the story, remain unclear; it's a rumour from other villages."

Andrew asked anxiously, "Emmett, have you heard anything about Bonnie?"

Emmett looked serious and shook his head. "No. We've been inquiring, but all we know is that since she entered the village, she hasn't left. Someone saw her at the bus station; she seemed anxious, almost tearful. She paid a considerable sum for an unregistered car to take her back to Dungo Village. Our people showed the driver her picture; he recognized her."