What Winnie was talking about wasnât childâs play at all, for it was a critical matter that involved the lives of countless people. The frowning Christopher simply stared at her, at a loss for a response.Then, an indiscernible look appeared in his eyes.âWinnie, is Xavier the reason why youâre so determined to see Professor White?ââYes!â Winnie admitted candidly.Her steadfastness caused the furrow of Christopherâs brows to deepen. âGiven how precarious the situation is, is it really worth the risk?âWinnie couldnât stop a chuckle from escaping her lips. âIâm surprised to hear those words roll off your tongue. Instead of asking me, have you asked yourself the same question?ââItâs not necessary for me.â The solemn expression on Christopherâs face intensified. âMy situation is different from yours.ââI know, but fundamentally, thereâs no difference at all. This place is where the borders of the three countries meet. Other than us, there are other soldiers willing to sacrifice their lives for their country and people. All of you support yourselves with your loyalty and belief, for thereâs no one to cheer for you here. In fact, your body might not even be returned home in the event of death. Iâm well aware of how brave and noble you are for being driven by your faith and desire to protect your fellow citizens. As for me, I, too, have my own principles and lives to protect. From this perspective, there isnât a big difference between our motivations. Technically, they are exactly the same. Moreover, isnât rescuing Professor White your mission too?âGiven that this is Jipsdale and not Chanaea, thereâs no way you can arrest and repatriate the drug lords back home even if you stay undercover for twenty years. What youâre trying to do is to find out the routes they use for smuggling drugs into Chanaea, the factories they have established there, and their various points of sale.âIn other words, youâre searching for their manufacturing and sales distribution network. However, your current position has limited your knowledge to just the tip of the iceberg. Also, thereâs no way you can get Harold to tell you about his networks, routes, and buyers. However, if I were to become a business partner of his, I would have a good excuse to extract such critical information from him. Putting it another way, if you help me, Iâll be able to assist you in return. As for my intention for doing this, it shouldnât be within your considerations.
All you need to know is that this is a win-win situation for both of us.âEvery single word of Winnieâs soliloquy made sense to Christopher and struck at the core of his soul.Nevertheless, the frown on his face didnât ease at all. âI was almost persuaded by your argument.âWinnie cocked her brow slightly.
âWhy do you say âalmost?âââBecause I donât know who you are and donât dare trust you. That aside, how do you know so much about my mission?âChristopherâs eyes glistened with suspicion and determination.Despite the complexity of his emotions, Winnie had no trouble seeing through him.She knew that Christopher, as someone fighting for Chanaeaâs peace, had his own principles and would obey his orders unconditionally.If her identity was a threat to him or Chanaea, he would have no qualms about eliminating her, even if he had once professed his feelings for her.Nonetheless, she still chose to lean in and whisper something into his ear.No sooner had Christopher heard her words than his eyes widened in disbelief. In spite of that, he quickly accepted the revelation.âGive me some time. I need to run this up the chain.âWinnie nodded before walking to the other side of the rooftop.In less than five minutes, Christopher ended his call with his superiors and returned to where Winnie was waiting.At that moment, she was admiring the flaming sky ignited by the setting sun. The clouds, bathed in a reddish hue, had glowing edges that were a sight to behold.Even though she heard Christopher walking over, she didnât turn around until the latter was standing next to her and asked, âIs it beautiful?âA faint smile emerged on Winnieâs face. âIt is. Donât you think so too?ââYeah. On the day a comrade of mine lost his life, I remember how the sky seemed to have been set ablaze in crimson colors. It felt as if the clouds were the same color as the blood that flowed out of his chest. When he collapsed, his face was looking in the direction of our country. As we never again want to see another of our own fall here, I donât want to fail my mission. In fact, failure is not even an option, for I must bring them all home alive!ââIâm sure your men will definitely make it home.â All of a sudden, Winnie felt as if her admiration of the crimson sky had waned. Knitting her brows, she turned her attention to Christopher. âSo, have your superiors agreed?ââYes. I need to formulate a more detailed plan, but thereâs not much time left today.â Christopher glanced at his watch and said, âI only have twenty minutes before I need to return. Otherwise, theyâll begin to suspect something. As for our next move, Iâll let you know once Iâve planned out everything.ââAll right.â Winnie nodded. âIn that case, letâs stay in touch. Iâll be heading over to Lightspring together with Xavier tonight. Weâll meet there when the time comes.ââNo problem.ââAnyway, you should head down first. Iâll leave a short while later.âStanding on the rooftop, Winnie watched as Christopher headed down the stairs and out of the hospital. It wasnât until she had determined he wasnât being tailed that she swiftly left the rooftop.Winnie then returned to the hotel with a bag in hand.She had barely arrived at the entrance when Xavier opened the door from the inside, catching Winnie by surprise.âHow did you know I was back?âXavierâwith a raised browâ
replied, âWe have a telepathic connection, of course. I heard the bodyguard mention that you left the ward an hour ago. Why did you only return now?âWinnieâs eyes narrowed. âHow did you know? Were you spying on me?âThe frowning Xavier voiced his dissatisfaction. âI already told you directly. How is that considered spying?âHis reaction amused Winnie. âYou should see the look on your face. Iâm just pulling your leg, you know.âWhile speaking, she raised the bag she was holding to show Xavier. âI left the hospital to prepare this. Thus, I didnât go out for no reason.ââWhat is it?â Xavier reached out to take the bag from Winnieâs hand.Winnie flashed a smile at him. âMy equipment.ââEquipment?â A skeptical expression emerged on Xavierâs face. âWhat sort of equipment is this light? I donât believe you.ââJust open it and see for yourself.â As Winnie pushed Xavier inside, she closed the door with a kick. Upon placing the bag on the table, Xavier unzipped it to find a variety of clothes inside.âIs this your so-called equipment?ââThatâs right. What did you think I was talking about? Firearms? I might not be able to get them even if I had one whole day, let alone one measly hour.ââWhy did you have to buy them here?
Canât you wait till we get to Lightspring?ââWe might not have time once weâre there. Anyway, Iâll contact Christopher shortly, as I went to see Granny and didnât have time to do so earlier. After reaching Lightspring, we might need to meet Christopher there first thing tomorrow morning. Therefore, it pays to be prepared.âEven though Winnie related everything in detail, that wasnât her true objective.She was under no illusion that the bodyguard hadnât kept Xavier informed of all of her and Jacintaâs movements.Hence, Xavier knew exactly what time she had left the ward. Nevertheless, she didnât want him to know about her meeting with Christopher at the hospital rooftop for the time being.That was the reason why she bought the bag of clothesâto distract Xavier and avoid arousing his suspicion.That night, Winnie and Xavier returned to Lightspring under the escort of the mercenaries.Along the journey, Winnie received Christopherâs message, informing her that he would be picking her up the next morning to take her to the Horton familyâs territory.However, Winnie didnât share the news with Xavier right away.It wasnât until they found a place to stay and Xavier had just emerged from his shower that she informed him, âCome over here. I have news from ChristopherâIâll be able to go over tomorrow.ââWhat about the details of the plan? Let me see.â With one hand drying his hair with a large towel, he reached the other one out to demand her phone.Winnie, chuckling lightly, handed it over.
âYouâre too late.ââWhat do you mean?â Frowning curiously, Xavier put his towel away and sat down beside Winnie.When he saw the words âmessage has been read and deleted,â he immediately understood why.It turned out that both of them corresponded through an app that would automatically delete messages once they were read. It also didnât allow screenshots to be made.Xavier took a deep breath. âIt looks like Iâm indeed too late. In that case, whatâs the plan both of you have come up with?
Why didnât you discuss it with me?ââAm I not doing so right now? Otherwise, what did I call you over for? Anyway, a new face is needed to do business with Harold, and Christopher has arranged for me to be that person. With my photographic memory, I can remember the route I traveled even when blindfolded, something beyond the capabilities of an ordinary person. Therefore, as long as I can enter Haroldâs factory once, Iâll definitely be able to locate Professor White. Whatâs with that glum face of yours? Youâll be growing wrinkles in no time. I obviously know how dangerous this is, and thatâs why I need you to be in total control of the situation outside, be it coming to my rescue or using your wealth to force Harold into submission. No one else but you can play this role, as I donât trust anyone else to do it.ââD*mn it!â Xavier threw Winnie a fiery glare. âYour gift of the gab has not only made splitting us up sound so convincing, but your final sentence is also nothing but exaggerated flattery!ââWhat do you mean by flattery? Am I not stating the truth?â Amused by his reaction, Winnie curled her arms around Xavierâs neck.As their foreheads leaned against each other, Winnie nuzzled his nose. âItâs true that youâre the only one I trust with my life. Donât you believe me?ââI do.â Sitting Winnie down on his lap, Xavier replied through gritted teeth, âHow can I not? After all, you are just so amazing!ââHahaâ¦â Winnie loved to see the look on Xavierâs face when he was desperately trying to suppress his lust after being seduced by her.Releasing her hands that were wrapped around his neck, she gave him a forceful shove, pushing him down onto the blanket behind himâ¦The next day, at eleven in the morning, the sun was shining brightly in the sky. Despite having the air-conditioning turned on, Winnie could feel the sweatiness of her palms.The reason for her nervousness was that Christopher was late by an hour.
She had tried calling him, but no one answered.Checking the time, Xavier couldnât help but furrow his brows. âCould something has happened to him?âWinnie shook her head gently. âI donât know.
Hopefully, heâs all right.âNo sooner had she spoken than a manâs voice rang out from the innâs yard.âWhich of you is Vivian? Get your ass out here!âThe manâs hostile words elicited a concurrent frown from Winnie and Xavier.Exchanging glances, both of them knew who the person downstairs was looking for, as âVivianâ was the temporary name Winnie had chosen to go by.Without any hesitation, Winnie pushed open the second-floor window and leaned out to take a look.She was immediately greeted by the sight of a small-framed man with a dark complexion.He was the man from the other day who came to search the inn and even beat up the jewel merchant. Christopher called him âWesleyâ and was at odds with the latter.âIâm she. What do you want with me?ââYo! Vivian, itâs you.â Wearing a devilish smile, Wesley looked up at her. âChris ordered me to pick you up.âThis man has bad blood with Christopher. Thus, I canât trust him easily.âAre you telling the truth? Chris clearly said that he would personally pick me up. How did it suddenly end up being you?ââAh, Vivian.â Stuffing a cigarette into his mouth, Wesleyâin a sarcastic toneâexplained, âIâm not sure if youâre really ignorant or just pretending, but donât you know who Chris is to Mr. Horton? Why would he come personally to pick up a woman?
Obviously, matters like this are left to subordinates like us. So, whatâs your problem? Do you not trust me?ââI want to talk to Chris on the phone.ââYou can try, but thereâs nothing but disappointment waiting for you since youâll never get through. Heâs not allowed to carry a phone at the moment. Thus, even if you call him till the cows come home, youâll never get him.âWinnieâs reaction was swift. While Wesley was still rambling along, she had already made the call.However, the result was consistent with what Wesley had saidâthere was no answer from Christopherâs phone.âCome on down, Vivian. What are you afraid of? Thereâs no way I would be lying when I told you that Chris sent me. Otherwise, how would I know youâre here? Whatâs wrong? Are you worried that I might do something to you?ââPlease show some respect! Iâll be down after getting changed.âWinnie had barely finished when she swiftly shut the window.Turning around, she exchanged a quick glance with Xavier, whose brows were tightly knitted.âDo you think itâs a trap?â