"Go ahead... hit me!" Melvin spat out a mouthful of blood, his voice mumbled. "Ha... It's futile even if you kill me! If you do... I'll take the two of them with me to hell!"Toph yelled, and the brothers shoved Melvin against the wall. Zuko's pale joints and trembling hands tightened around Melvin's neck. The inability to kill his enemy was tormenting him.Just then, the interrogation room door swung open, allowing light to flood in. Several officers entered, urging them to stop.Someone stood behind them.Slowly, he walked forward, each step landing heavily on the ground. His presence weighed heavily on him.Zuko released his grip on Melvin and turned to face the newcomer."Uncle Nicholas..."Sorrow flickered across Nicholas' exhausted face, his sideburns now peppered with silver hair strands. Zuko remembered how Nicholas' hair had turned white overnight when he received the devastating news about Pammy 20 years ago. Although he gradually recovered, he was no longer the same m
Lina and Renee leaned against each other, their panic evident.Lina reached into her pocket and realized her phone was missing, confirming their suspicions. With a signal in her eyes, she conveyed the message to Renee.Meanwhile, Renee racked her brain, recalling the incident of drinking juice from the maid before arriving."Cuz, it was the juice!" Renee exclaimed, and Lina was taken aback, still feeling the numbness on the tip of her tongue.Renee grabbed Lina's arm, trying to appear calm despite their distress. "Cuz... What should we do now?"Lina took a deep breath, but the air in the confined space was nauseating. She gathered herself, attempting to calm down.Renee pointed toward a small window nearby. Lina crouched down to look and saw the vast ocean covered in mist, making it impossible to determine their direction.They had no means of communication to contact the outside world. Meanwhile, the gazes of the other girls around them turned gradually hostile."Hey, are you
Lina struggled to get up, her body aching. She crawled toward Renee, exerting all her effort. They tightly held each other's hands, seeking comfort and support.The men who entered the room wore stoic expressions, but their eyes burned with intensity. As the sound of heels echoed, they positioned themselves on either side, creating a path through the narrow space."What do you think you're doing? Have you lost your minds!?" A woman's voice pierced the air, resonating like a loud bell. The girls remained motionless as she unleashed her anger.The entire cabin seemed to be engulfed in a suffocating atmosphere, overwhelmed by the weight of the woman's presence.Arms crossed, she demanded in a cold tone, "Who started this? Show yourselves!"No one uttered a word, but all eyes shifted toward the girl who had instigated the commotion."Hah, I knew it, even if no one confesses." The woman walked slowly, assuming a condescending posture before the girl. "You again, Rose?"Rose's earlier
Krystal was taken aback, holding the half-burnt cigarette between her fingers as the smoke rings slowly dissipated. She carefully scrutinized Lina from head to toe, noting the girl's disheveled appearance yet sensing a fearless aura emanating from her being. Like gleaming silver stars, Lina's eyes shone with resolute determination, reminiscent of someone familiar to Krystal.Lost in her thoughts, Krystal failed to realize that her cigarette had burned down, only snapping back to reality when it scorched her hand, causing her to gasp. She quickly regained composure, adjusting her breathing and wearing the same confident smile."Young lady, don't you think you have too many questions?" she asked."Even if it means my death, I want to die with clarity," Lina softly replied."Heh, nobody's asking you to die. You two are precious to me," Krystal replied."Valuable enough to sell?" Renee stepped forward, instinctively positioning herself in front of Lina. "We're well aware of the busine
"Do I need a reason to come to you, Madame Krys?" The man's hoarse voice echoed, each word feeling as blunt as a dull knife. "Heh, I heard you have precious gems here, and I wanted to take a look!"Lina couldn't be certain, but she felt as though Krystal was deliberately blocking the man's view. Was she trying to protect them? It was hard to say for sure.There was something cunning about this woman. If Lina had to say it, it seemed like Krystal was more interested in safeguarding her own interests rather than protecting them.Krystal spoke, crossing one hand over her chest and propping the other up. The cigarette between her fingers burned slowly, exuding a sensual charm. "Justin, we may share this boat, you trafficking drugs and me transporting people, but we should mind our own business. Why bother seeking treasures from me?""It's precisely because we share the same boat and have this chance encounter that whoever gets the gems should share them!" Justin patted her shoulder, a
Justin had heard about Krystal's ruthlessness, knowing she wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice her own forces to eliminate her enemies completely. She could even drag others down with her when necessary.Nobody dared to provoke Madame Krys in the underworld, as everyone wanted to prolong their lives in this line of work.As Justin slowly released his grip on Lina, his eyes remained fixed on Krystal, a cold smirk forming on his face.Krystal's heart raced irregularly, realizing that offending Justin would have dire consequences for her future. Although he wouldn't openly confront her, she knew he was capable of causing trouble behind the scenes.However, in this situation, she had to confront him, not for Lina's sake, but for her own redemption.As Justin approached her, his laughter grew louder, and he casually patted her shoulder. "We're all from the streets, Madame Krys. No need to get angry! I don't want this girl anymore!"Krystal smiled back, her bright red lips accentuating her
Krystal squinted, a fierce glint flashing in them as she heard the name "Melvin Thompson.""Yes," Gabby confirmed, handing over the recorded conversations. "These conversations were captured the day before the two girls were brought here."Krystal couldn't help but snicker. Melvin had called her at that time, promising to bring her two high-quality girls.Engaged in dubious business, Krystal was cautious in her dealings. Through careful probing, Melvin had revealed that these two girls were, in fact, Nicholas' daughter and his own daughter!The revelation shocked Krystal. Even a ruthless tiger wouldn't harm its own cub, but Melvin proved to be worse than a beast!The recorded conversation further exposed his deceitful nature. After their transaction, he immediately leaked the information to Justin.Realizing this, Krystal understood that Melvin must have known Justin was also on the ship, which was why he had the girls knocked out and brought here.How could Justin, with his poo
Zuko and Toph had been holed up in the study for five days, tirelessly searching for any records of planes, trains, and ships entering or exiting Centrolis. They checked immigration records and reviewed highway surveillance cameras leading to other provinces, hoping to find a clue about Melvin's possible mode of transportation. However, their efforts often ended in disappointment.As the days passed, both of them grew visibly thinner, with disheveled hair and dark circles under their eyes. The constant search took a toll on their mental state, and they dreaded the thought of losing their loved ones.After another failed attempt, Toph's frustration boiled over, and he slammed the table in despair. Zuko, though expressionless, stared at the computer screen with bloodshot eyes, his restless fingers betraying his inner anxiety.Toph turned to him, about to say something, but his voice choked, and he couldn't utter a word. Zuko remained blank-faced.The service staff visited several tim