Felicia was speechless, feeling agile, even frustrated. She explained honestly, “Captain Cortez, you’ve misunderstood. I know nothing about the bronze bell. I’ve been investigating its mystery, hence my close attention.” She omitted details—her ability to hear the bell, to feel its summons—a secret, and her fatal weakness. Without a solid foundation of trust, she couldn't reveal such vulnerability to an outsider.
Michael nodded, seemingly accepting her explanation. However, as captain of the Special Operations Unit, his intuition was sharp. His next question was pointed: “Ms. Faber, why are you investigating this bell’s mystery?”
Felicia tilted her head, half-jokingly asking, “Captain Cortez…”
“Not at all,” Michael interrupted, writing a string of numbers and handing them to Felicia. His tone was calm, his gaze deep. “This is my private number. Contact me if you make any discoveries.”
She took the number. Before Michael and his team departed, Felicia called out, “One more question.”
Michael turned. “Go ahead.”
“You mentioned ‘sacrifice.’ What does that mean? The mastermind kidnapped those women for sacrifice? What’s the sacrifice for?”
Felicia felt on the verge of understanding. A flash of recognition flickered, a faint sense of familiarity, but deeper thought yielded nothing. Her mind went blank.
Michael paused before answering. “We’re still investigating; details aren’t yet releasable. But I thank you for saving so many victims. Until we capture the mastermind, prioritize your safety. This organization is vast; get too involved, and they might target you.”
Felicia nodded. “Understood. Thank you.”
The two groups parted ways. After Michael's departure, Felicia didn't leave immediately. She sent mercenaries to escort Monkey to the hospital while she and Scarlet remained near the bomb shelter.
Scarlet seemed to guess Felicia's intentions. “Do you think they'll return? Are you waiting for them?”
That was Felicia's plan. But two hours passed with nothing unusual. Worse, the mountain mosquitoes were numerous and vicious. When Felicia looked at Scarlet, she was startled. Scarlet was covered in bites, even on her face, yet said nothing.
Felicia couldn't bear it, pulling Scarlet up. “Let’s go.”
But Scarlet insisted, “Wait longer. I trust your instincts. What if someone comes? The bell is linked to the mastermind. If we capture someone alive…” Her words trailed off. “…we'll have a clue.”
Felicia blinked, a fleeting emotion crossing her face. Then, she took off her coat and draped it over Scarlet.
“What about you?” Scarlet asked, noticing that, despite the mosquitoes, Felicia was entirely bite-free. They swarmed around her, avoiding her completely.