Tiffany was at a loss. "Not bad, young guy," she scoffed. "Already injured, and you're still trying to pick up girls?" Her anger erupted in laughter. But in Kenneth's eyes, he saw the girl before him—her sparkling eyes hinted at a captivating beauty, though her face remained unclear. He opened his mouth to speak, but she slapped him, sending him reeling into unconsciousness.
Tiffany's palm tingled. One word summed it up: Awesome! If he dared hit on her again, she'd beat him senseless. Relieved, she declared, "Let's go." June immediately entered the car.
As they drove off, several cars arrived. Richard emerged. "Mr. Hampton, we found him!" His subordinates, following the trail of blood, discovered Kenneth unconscious in a dark corner, his body a shocking sight, covered in wounds of varying sizes.
"Send him to Sidney," Richard ordered. He paused, his gaze lingering on Kenneth. The wounds were serious but avoided vital areas; Kenneth would live. His subordinates carried Kenneth to a car. Richard remained, stepping on something. He picked up an arrow feather, miraculously unnoticed until that moment. It was an ordinary arrow, the type common in shooting ranges, yet its arrowhead was bloodstained, a testament to the archer's skill. Richard's eyebrows rose, a glint in his eyes.
Chapter 168
Tiffany was still searching for Jeremy. They circled the area three times, finding nothing. The sparsely populated area was deserted, devoid of life in the dead of night.
"Miss, are you sure Jeremy's nearby? Could he have returned to Luna Villa?" June asked.
"No chance," Tiffany replied firmly, her gaze fixed on the path ahead. "Drive there, and let's try another circle."
"Okay."
June drove towards a dark area, the headlights illuminating a square building that resembled an ordinary small factory. But a strong fragrance emanated from it. Tiffany, direct as ever, told June to stop.
"June, wait in the car. In case anything happens—"
Before June could respond, Tiffany exited the vehicle and approached the factory. The door was locked, but she spotted a vent. Without hesitation, she climbed up and peered inside.
She gasped. Lights illuminated the interior, and there, bound in iron chains and covered in blood, was Jeremy, near death.
Tiffany was shocked. With Jeremy's skills, how was he ambushed? How skilled was his opponent? she wondered. Muttering curses, she entered the vent. Her arrival went unnoticed; something felt amiss about the factory. Besides her and the bound Jeremy, no one else was present. There must be a reason for this, she thought.
She proceeded cautiously. Jeremy, stirring, slowly opened his eyes. Upon seeing Tiffany, his lifeless eyes widened in surprise.
"You…" he began, then roared, "Get back!"
Instantly, Tiffany heard a whistling sound and leaped back, narrowly avoiding a razor-sharp wire. A killing move from the start? she thought, her expression grim. Yet, she continued forward. Jeremy watched in disbelief, wondering why she persisted in the face of such danger.
"Go, leave this place!" Jeremy commanded, his voice strained.
Tiffany smiled calmly, unfazed. "If I retreat now, I'll have no dignity."
As she spoke, the ground gave way, revealing a pit lined with knives. In a flash, Tiffany reacted, plunging her switchblade into the ground, flipping, and escaping the trap. The entire sequence was breathtaking. Jeremy let out a sigh of relief.
Tiffany smiled. "I'm not nervous. Why are you?"
Over twenty yards remained, with multiple traps along the path. The danger was palpable.
"It's dangerous. Leave quickly," Jeremy urged, his breathing ragged.
"I know," Tiffany said, her voice still calm. "But I told you I'd do my best when you needed help." Her tone was the same as before, casually spoken yet deeply meaningful.
She didn't just see him as a colleague; she saw him as one of her own. Hence, despite the danger, she pressed on. Jeremy, who believed himself devoid of feeling, experienced an inexplicable pang of emotion. He always felt like a disposable pawn, uncared for and insignificant. But now, he felt something he hadn't felt in a long time.
Another trap activated—an infrared net, inescapable it seemed. Tiffany deftly dodged each strand. Jeremy, frantic, yearned to help but was constrained by the chains.
The trap deactivated after a minute. Panting, Tiffany surveyed the distance. She pondered her approach: run through, activating all traps at once, or cautiously proceed? With a playful smile, she decided to take her chances.