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
Lina and Renee took advantage of the shift change in the communication room, sneaking in multiple times. They couldn't stay inside for long, just briefly familiarizing themselves with the equipment or searching for a manual.They felt fear and trepidation each time, but strangely enough, they were never discovered. Even when they heard approaching footsteps, they managed to avoid danger, as if a hidden force was guiding them.Lina had a good understanding of the ship's layout, while Renee had a natural aptitude for numbers. Working together, they seamlessly gathered enough information about the communication room through several attempts.On this particular evening, they found themselves on the deck of the large ship, slowly moving amidst the vast expanse of the deep blue ocean. The moon illuminated the night sky like an everlasting pearl, and the salty sea breeze made them feel cold and sticky.They were still waiting—for the people on the ship to fall into a deeper sleep.Renee,
At that moment, Lina realized she may have harbored ill feelings about Gia in the past. Renee took a quick look at the necklace and swiftly returned it to Lina. "It looks really nice," she said with a smile, repeating herself, "And it's shaped like a star. Zuko is really good to you!""If you ask Toph for it, he'll give it to you too.""No, no, I don't want something so precious!" Renee quickly waved her hands."What do you want then?" Lina asked.Renee thought for a moment and honestly replied, "As long as I'm with him, I don't want anything else!"The two girls smiled at each other, their eyes sparkling as they talked about their crushes.Lina played with the necklace while looking up at the sky. Tonight, there was a full moon with no stars visible. As she raised the necklace, the star pendant stood out against the deep blue background, shining alongside the moon as if the stars and moon were united."Zuko said that if I make a wish on the stars, it'll come true." Lina rec
Lina took a sharp breath, her legs going numb from squatting. She managed to support herself and stood up, but her vision went black as her blood pressure dropped, nearly causing her to fall to the ground."Lina..."Renee quickly got up to support her but felt dizzy after crouching for a long time.Then, a hand reached out and supported both of them.Lina and Renee looked up and called out with shaky voices, "Madame Krys."Krystal crossed her arms in front of her chest, her expression showing a mix of anger and amusement. She was still wearing the dark-colored fitted dress, with the collar slightly unbuttoned, revealing her fair neck and beautiful collarbone.She glanced at them and snorted. "Come with me."The two girls followed her, matching her steps.Lina's legs felt weak, but her mind was racing. Though it was a short walk, she thought of the worst-case scenario and how to handle it if it happened.But as she was lost in her thoughts, Krystal suddenly stopped in her track