Imperial Capital, Easton Group.
âThird Master, Peter Qinke has been captured.â Juan Wright received a call and went to the office to report.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Kevin Clark was looking at all the maps in the office, searching for possible places where Charlotte Lane and her party could be hiding.
Upon hearing Juanâs words, Kevin turned his gaze towards him.
Understanding his intentions, Juan replied, âOnly Peter Qinke.â
The expression in Kevinâs eyes darkened, and he asked, âWhere did they take him?â
âEmperor Winter Mansionâs basement,â Juan responded, âOur men had just brought Peter Qinke back when they ran into Luke. Luke and James Collins followed them to Emperor Winter Mansion, seemingly wanting to see you.â
The Emperor Winter Mansion was Kevin Clarkâs residence, and when he wasnât at Clark Manor, he would return there.
But after discovering Charlotte Laneâs liking for the rose garden, he started frequenting the mansion more often.
Besides, there were a lot of places in Emperor Winter Mansion that were under renovation, which was why he never took Charlotte Lane there.
Kevin Clark made his way out: âLetâs go to Emperor Winter Mansion.â
âYes, sir.â
Arriving at Emperor Winter Mansion, Kevin didnât go to the living room but went directly to the basement in the backyard.
The basement was dark and damp.
Even though the lights on the walls on either side were bright, they still gave off an unbearably gloomy and lightless atmosphere.
Juan followed Kevin into the room where Peter Qinke was detained.
Peter Qinke was tied to a chair, shivering at the sight of Kevin, âTh, Third Master.â
Kevin sat across him, his expression cold and his tone light. He cut straight to the chase, âDid you ever feel guilty when you harmed the Dean?â
Peter Qinkeâs terrified expression suddenly turned dumbstruck.
âThe Dean never suspected you until his death,â Kevin said, âOtherwise, he wouldnât have been tricked by you.â
Peter Qinke was unable to utter a single word, but his hands were shaking uncontrollably.
âWith your abilities⦠and the Deanâs feelings for youâ¦â Kevinâs hand was rhythmically tapping on the table beside him. Each tap sounded like it was striking Peter Qinkeâs heart, causing his eyelashes to tremble, âIf you came clean with the Dean, would the M Continent Laboratory have been yours?â
Peter Qinke slightly furrowed his brows.
Kevin said, âIt would have been. The Laboratoryâs style wouldnât have lasted much longer. If you were honest with him⦠the Laboratory would be yours.â
All of a sudden, Peter Qinke closed his eyes and leaned back against the chair, appearing to be quite relaxed.
Kevin clenched his fist, stopped tapping the table, and asked softly, âDid you cause the Deanâs initial illness?â
Peter Qinke replied mechanically, âYes. I tampered with his meals. Thatâs why the hospital thought it was from lab radiation exposure.â
Standing behind Kevin, Juan was on a call with his cell phone.
The screen displayed the name Turner Daniel.
Kevin asked, âWhere were you planning to go when you escaped?â
âI was going to meet Edward Kirsten,â replied Peter Qinke.
âWhere is he?â Kevinâs gaze darkened.
âI donât know,â Peter Qinke replied, âThe few escorts and I were separated from the main group by your men. We were following the people ahead and didnât know the destination. Once we were separated, we had no idea where to go. We were trying to secretly get in touch with them, but we never found them.â
âWhere were you separated from each other?â
âWest Hillside Road.â
Kevinâs eyelashes trembled slightly. His assumption about the location was correct.
But nothing happened in and around West Hillside.
âThere was no fight on West Hillside. How did you lose track of each other?â Kevin asked.
âWe disguised ourselves as a wedding procession,â Peter Qinke explained slowly, âWhen we passed a junction, your cars rushed out, and we had to stop. After waiting for your fleet to leave completely, we lost sight of the cars ahead.â
Juan murmured, ââ¦â¦Edward Kirsten doesnât have any communication equipment with him, so itâs challenging to get in touch once the team is separated.
They must have their method of communication.
However⦠for Edward Kirsten, Peter Qinke probably holds no value anymore.
So they abandoned him outright.â
â¦
Juan followed Kevin out of the basement with a noticeably pale face.
Even though he was one of the people who had seen the biggest storms with Kevin, he still felt horrified seeing this side of Third Master.
Due to Miss Laneâs presence, they gradually forgot what kind of person Kevin Clark really was.
They forgot how ruthless he could be.
Miss Laneâs sudden departure had made Kevinâs ruthlessness escalate to an altogether different level.
Thinking about the scene just now in the basement, Juan couldnât help but quiver inwardly.
Kevin halted at the doorway, rolled up the sleeves of his shirt.
The exposed forearm was entirely smeared with blood.
Because his sleeves were black, it seemed only wet, but the blood seeped through onto his skin.
The bloodstains on his hands were somewhat terrifying too.
He wiped them with paper in the basement, but some stayed lodged on his skin, uncleanable.
Some had splashed onto his neck too.
On his fair skin, it was even more horrifying.
Standing at the basement entrance, someone from the front courtyard hurriedly ran over, not daring to look at Kevin Clark, they said: âThird Master, Mr. Daniel is outside, he wants to see Mr. Peter.â
Kevin Clark thought for a while: âLet him in.â
âYes.â
Kevin Clark said to Juan Wright: âYou wait here for him, if he insists on seeing, let him.â
âYes,â Juan Wright said.
After responding, Kevin Clark returned to the villa through another road.
Turner Daniel came very fast.
He was furious, his face was full of harshness, obviously here for a fight, his eyes were even red with anger.
After hearing Peterâs words, he hopped in his car and rushed over.
Unable to dissuade him, Juan Wright could only take him into the basement.
Then a few minutes later, Daniel came out, supporting himself against a tree, retching.
Seeing him constantly throwing up, almost bringing up his bile, Juan Wright kindly patted his back.
Poor kid, he told him not to go in.
Heâllprobably lose his appetite for many meals.
After a while, Turner Daniel was unable to vomit anymore. His face was pale. He walked a few steps to the side, leaned against another tree, his whole body still trembling a bit. He asked in a listless tone: âIs he still alive?â
âYes,â Juan Wright said, âJust barely.â
Turner Daniel shuddered, his body hair standing up again: âIâve learned one thing.â
âWhat?â
âPeople must heed advice.â Turner Daniel squatted down against the tree.
Juan Wright chuckled softly: âThird Master went to the front hall, do you want to see him?â
Turner Daniel shook his head: âI donât want to see him for a while, I dare not.â
âOkay, then I wonât keep you.â
âWait a bit, stay a bit longer.â Turner Daniel sat down directly, âMy legs are weak, I canât walk.â
Juan Wright: ââ¦â¦â
Meanwhile, after Kevin Clark returned to his room and changed clothes, he met with Luke and James Collins.
Both men stood up from the sofa when they saw Kevin Clark.
Luke was typically indifferent, greeted, âThird Master.â
James Collins thought for a moment and greeted, âBrother-in-law.â
Kevin Clark didnât respond but gave James Collins a glance.
He sat down, and without showing any politeness, Luke and James followed suit.
Kevin Clark poured a glass of water, took a sip, and asked: âHas Lila said anything to you?â
âThe Big Boss told us to follow your command.â Luke said, âOur people have been arranged around the Imperial Capital, some inside. We all obey the Third Master.â
Kevin Clark looked at Luke: âThatâs all?â
Luke nodded.
Kevin Clark shifted his gaze away, silent for a while.
There wasnât much to ask anyway, they just followed orders, their knowledge of the matter was probably less than his.
The purpose of this meeting was to tell him that they awaited his command.
So after a moment of silence, he casually asked: âWhy didnât you participate when Dark Radiance sent people before?â
âThe Big Boss said⦠by helping her leave the Imperial Capital, she surprised Dark Radiance. Dark Radiance will hold back due to old ties.â Luke said calmly, âBut if we interfere again afterwards, Third Master wonât show any mercy. So she asked us to pull back in time.â
If they were to fight without any restraint, both sides would probably end up hurting each other.
Kevin Clark closed his eyes, gritting his teeth in anger, âShe really knows me well.â
Luke and James Collins remained silent.
Kevin Clark was infuriated, his head throbbing in pain.
That little girlâs tactics were all used against him.