While Sam and Rodney continued their conversation, Grayson's expression soured as he peered out the window, clearly disgusted by what he saw. He noticed many laborers, likely his own countrymen, being mistreated. Though he didn't know any of them personally, he couldn't help but feel remorseful witnessing their plight.When the car rolled to a stop, Sam and Rodney exited, and Shane promptly opened the door for Grayson before they could reach it themselves. "Mr. Quinn!"Grayson composed himself before getting out of the car and surveying the surroundings of the mine.Shane briefed him, "This is the Roland family's largest mine. We've recently unearthed an exceptional batch of emeralds. Would you care to take a look?""Sure."Shane led Grayson and his entourage into the depths of the mine. "I took over this mine three years ago. It's known for its richness, even among our standards. "The Hannibals have made attempts to seize it, but I've managed to hold them off each time. Despi
Observing Grayson's quiet demeanor, Shane hesitantly inquired, "Mr. Quinn, may I ask where you acquired the information about the Hannibals' search for tombs? "Is it possible you've fallen victim to a scam? The Hannibal family is notorious for peddling false leads to drive up the value of genuine intel, ultimately lining their own pockets."Grayson, shaken from his reverie, responded, "If there are indeed no tombs beneath Mandoria, then it seems I've been deceived."Shane cautioned, "The Hannibal family doesn't harbor a shred of goodwill. It's wise to exercise caution in their dealings."Grayson merely smiled, opting not to engage further with Shane's advice.Grayson remained in the mine until the afternoon, the sky darkening by the time he returned home.Belle eagerly greeted Grayson upon his arrival. "You're back! How is it?""Everything went as planned. Why are you at the door?""I was waiting for you."Grayson smiled. "Have you eaten yet?""Not yet. I took a nap in the a
Grayson had been in Mandoria for some time now. Though he had successfully rescued Robert, progress toward his ultimate objective remained minimal.He hadn't even gotten the chance to see the Hannibal family's true leader yet.Unlike the Rolands, dealing with the Hannibals proved challenging. As one of the enigmatic four families, they held considerable power and influence in opposition to Belle.Grayson harbored concerns about potential repercussions if Belle continued her involvement with them.Belle proposed, "Should our tactics fail against the Hannibal family, we could resort to confronting them directly. We're unlikely to be defeated. And is it imperative to identify their leader? If we eliminate every member of their ranks, their leader will stand alone and powerless against us."Grayson met her suggestion with a silent gaze.His strategy focused on capturing the head of the Hannibal family to neutralize their operations. While he acknowledged Belle's approach of eradicati
Belle received a message from Morgan confirming his acceptance of her terms. She then turned to Grayson and informed him, "The Hannibal family agreed to meet us tomorrow. You'll need to prepare ten billion dollars for the business deal. I'll be meeting up with Hunter."Grayson remained concerned. "The Hannibal family's leader isn't to be underestimated. Be careful out there.""I know."That night, Grayson found himself unable to sleep while Belle slumbered peacefully, seemingly unfazed by the impending meeting.The following morning, Belle woke to Grayson's reminders about safety. Irritated, she quipped, "You're already nagging so much. What will you be like when you're older?"Grayson responded firmly, "I'm warning you that dealing with the Hannibal family's leader won't be easy. You—""And I've told you that I won't be easy either. Relax. Focus on your business talk with Morgan. You don't need to worry about me. I know what I'm doing."With a kiss on Grayson's cheek, Belle hea
Hunter was locked up in the innermost cell. He huddled in the corner and watched the both of them cautiously just like last time.Upon seeing Belle, his eyes flickered with a hint of surprise before he lowered his head once more.Belle swiftly scanned him from head to toe and felt at ease after confirming that he was unharmed. "I want to speak to him alone, so I need you to stay away from us.""Sure… But Angora, I'd like to remind you one last time not to hurt him.""I know, I know. Just get out already."As Belle walked into the cell, Morgan's assistant stared at her for a while before leaving.Belle didn't strike up a conversation with Hunter just yet. She scanned the cell before destroying all the hidden surveillance cameras with the vicinity.The alarm sounded instantly.The next moment, a group of armed men, including Morgan's assistant, ran into the room and glared at Belle. "Angora, what did you do?"Belle replied, "I destroyed your surveillance cameras. Part of the dea
Belle asked, "Have you seen the Hannibal family's leader's face?"Hunter shook his head. "He's always wearing a mask, so I've never gotten a look."Belle pondered for a moment before suggesting, "When he invites you to venture underground, insist that I accompany you. If questioned, cite fear as the reason and say that you need my protection."She was worried about Hunter venturing into the depths alone. At the same time, she was also curious about the underground palace and why the Hannibal family wanted it built.Hunter asked, "Will you not be in danger?""Don't worry. I'm pretty good at protecting myself.""Okay. I'll tell their leader the next time we meet, but I don't know if he would really agree to such a demand.""I believe he will. He doesn't want anything to happen to you either, and I can help ensure your safety. Unless he already knows my identity. But I doubt he'll uncover it. I'll try to find out who the leader really is when we're underground.""Alright."Belle
Belle explained, "I'm done talking with him. Let me out."The soldier paid her no heed, intent on departing. Belle, however, seized him from behind, gripping his neck. "I'm talking to you!"The soldier began to panic. "I need backup!"Another soldier arrived and pointed his gun at Belle. "Let him go!"Belle replied, "I don't want to fight any of you. Where is Morgan's assistant? I want to speak with him.""He's already left.""He left? What is the meaning of this? Does he intend to keep me down here?""Orders from above dictate that you remain here!"Belle was speechless, realizing that the Hannibals intended to imprison her. She pondered whether they were no longer concerned about antagonizing Grayson.Belle scoffed inwardly before breaking the two soldiers' wrists and started to beat them up.Two minutes later, Belle turned to Hunter and said, "Let's get out of here, Hunter."Hunter asked, "Belle, are you busting me out?""Yup.""Didn't you say that we shouldn't cause tr
Belle used her strength to try and break the man's wrist, but he swiftly leaped, twisting mid-air to evade her grasp.In a flash, he surged toward Belle once more, engaging her in a fiercely matched struggle.Hunter watched the fight nervously. He was worried that Belle might get injured.The Hannibal family's boss approached Hunter and asked, "You know him?"Hunter regarded him warily, saying nothing. The Hannibal boss continued, "You seem deeply troubled for your friend."Hunter's expression darkened. He said, "If he's harmed in any way, don't expect me to help you design the mechanisms or guide you through the tombs! I won't cooperate, even if it costs me my life!"The boss' gaze sharpened with interest. "I've heard you don't have many friends except for a woman named Belle Walters. And she happens to be Grayson's wife. Both you and Grayson behave abnormally around Angora."He then stared at Belle and continued, "I would understand your anxiety if Belle was the one before u
Belle playfully reached for Sixteen again. "Come here!"Sixteen barked back, seemingly firm in his stance. "I'll cry if you don't come here, okay?" Belle then held her face in her hands and pretended to cry.Sixteen immediately calmed down as it nudged Belle's hands with its paws, trying to comfort her. Belle broke character, revealing a grin. "Are you still mad at me?"Sixteen, appeased, finally got into her arms and launched into enthusiastic licks.Grayson watched the exchange with a hint of envy. "Hey, Sixteen!"Sixteen whimpered and offered Grayson a sheepish look.Belle scolded, "Why are you scolding Sixteen? You're a bad guy!"She then petted Sixteen on its head and stood up. "Let's go! We'll get something tasty to eat! Just ignore him, okay?"Grayson was left speechless. He felt defeated by the pet dog as he watched Belle and Sixteen skip and hop into the house.Meredith had already finished preparing dinner when they arrived. She put on a gentle smile as she watched Belle
After returning to the house, Ava asked, "Why did Xenia go crazy? Wasn't she fine not long ago?"Lena wiped her hands and handed the towel back to Ava. "Someone drugged her and induced hallucinations of her worst fears. She's been on the edge ever since. After all, she did commit all sorts of misdeeds." "Someone?""Belle Walters."Ava was shocked. "Why would Belle drug Xenia?"Ava and Lena had been moving from place to place, seeking a safe hideout ever since they picked up Xenia. They had only found a relatively safe place today, so Ava finally had the chance to inquire about the details.Lena shot her a look of disgust and proceeded to ignore her question.Ava dared not press further and changed the topic. "Now that Xenia's lost her mind, can we still get her to talk?"Lena continued to ignore her and went to scribble down a prescription. She had spent the entire day with Xenia in the basement but hadn't managed to extract any useful information from her. Ava sheepishly c
Meanwhile, Ginger, too, was grappling with confusion. She'd also offered Hunter money, only to be stunned into silence by the astronomical sum in his bank statement. Compared to him, she was practically penniless. The largest amount she'd ever held was a few million Gabriel had won in the lottery—a drop in the bucket compared to Hunter's wealth."Why do you think Mr. Sanders was so wealthy?" Ginger queried, seeking Gabriel's insight.Gabriel was similarly grappling with confusion and remained quiet. However, he was preoccupied with a different mystery. His mind was consumed by the deaths of Penny and Terry. He had taken time to visit the corpses and noted the peculiarity surrounding their deaths. Their autopsies revealed unusual injuries that baffled forensics.Both victims, young adults in their prime, looked as if they'd been scared to death.Aware of Hunter's ties to the Nightwalkers, Gabriel wasn't surprised by the inheritance. Compared to the wealth amassed during the Sanders f
Belle pondered aloud, "While Hunter isn't as averse to exploring tombs as Benjamin, they share a similar disposition. Otherwise, with his expertise, he could easily be making a fortune.""The Sanders ancestors might not have been saints," Grayson conceded, "but perhaps Hunter's grandfather started a positive trend. Like Benjamin, he likely tried to shield Hunter from their legacy. A truly evil man couldn't have raised such a kind son."As Benjamin grew, he remained kind-hearted despite his timidity. And now, Hunter has grown into an upright, kind, and courageous young man. His talent for exploration makes him the pride of his lineage."Belle nodded and sighed. "Money is crucial for a comfortable life today. With what Hunter has, financial worries shouldn't trouble him. He'll be well provided for."Grayson pulled her into his arms and responded, "Don't fret. While Hunter may still be in school, he's mature for his age. He can take care of himself just fine."Belle leaned onto his s
Hunter crouched by the bed, methodically clearing away the books until a single floor tile lay exposed. Prying it open revealed a dark hole just big enough for one person. Grabbing a flashlight, he squeezed through the narrow opening and emerged into a moderately sized room of perhaps about 130 square feet. Wooden boxes, weathered with age and adorned with simple designs, filled the space.Hunter made a beeline for a particular box, brushing off the dust before prying it open. The wooden box was filled to the brim with notebooks. Hunter sat down on the floor, picked up one of the books, and started reading it.This hidden chamber and its contents were discovered by a young Hunter, seemingly guided by destiny. Hunter's father, Benjamin, had buried them, driven by a desire to safeguard their knowledge from Hunter's curious gaze. Fear had gripped Benjamin after learning about the Sanders family's history, the expertise that had seemingly drawn them toward a dangerous path. He
Nora let out a long sigh. "It's fine. Just keep it with you! I don't really need the money right away or anything. Besides, an old woman like me won't be spending much in town even if I tried."Hunter stopped Nora as she was about to leave and took a wad of money from his bag. "I have 20,000 dollars right here. It's far from the actual price, but you can keep it for now. I'll pay you the rest when I can."Nora was stunned. "Where did you get so much money?""It's the money I gathered from donations for the funeral, mostly from Ms. Belle and Mr. Grayson.""Oh, that makes sense. Here I was, wondering how you managed to get such a huge amount from donations. I can tell your friends are really kind-hearted people. You should treat them just as well as they treat you, okay? Study hard and make a name for yourself, and then you'll be able to properly repay their kindness.""Yeah, I know. Anyway, the gold nugget weighs slightly over 17 ounces. So, its worth is about 37,500 dollars. I'll pay y
As the final step of the funeral, the townsfolk gathered for a meal after Benjamin's burial. After Benjamin was buried, Belle and Ginger approached Hunter, inquiring about his plans for the future. Belle expressed her desire for Hunter to stay with her and Grayson, mentioning that their house had plenty of spare rooms. The only drawback would be that it was quite the distance from his school, but they could always arrange a driver for him.Ginger also invited Hunter to stay with her and Gabriel as their house had just finished with renovations. They also had a spare room for Hunter if he were to join their house.Hunter was genuinely touched by their offers, but he still declined them both. "I'd like to stay in my school's hostel for now. I'll think about what to do next when I graduate."Belle and Ginger recognized that they couldn't sway Hunter's decision, so they ceased their attempts to pressure him into making a choice."If you run out of space for your belongings, you ca
Hunter detailed, "I recall every person who came to offer prayers for my father... However, it was during my trip to the restroom that the dogs began barking. Upon my return, I spotted some unfamiliar footprints. Without seeing anyone there, I dismissed it. But upon hearing about Penny and Terry's deaths this morning, I began to connect the dots..."Both Gabriel and Grayson were left speechless.Gabriel exchanged a glance with Grayson before turning back to Hunter. "So, you're suggesting that the stranger who came to town also visited your house to pray for your father before departing to exact revenge on Penny and Terry for Mr. Sanders' death?""Yes.""Why didn't he meet you then?""I don't know.""Any other suspects you have in mind?"Hunter shook his head. "My father and I don't have friends other than you guys. It's just the two of us for as long as I can remember.""Could it be someone else from the Sanders family?" asked Gabriel."I don't think so. I'm an only child, and
Belle, Ginger, and the rest of the group arrived at 8:00 am. They noticed the crowd alongside police cars at the entrance to the town. The two of them then squeezed through the crowd to make it to the house as soon as they could. "What happened, Hunter?"The policemen were stunned by their sudden arrival. "Who are you?""We're Hunter's friends. You can tell us about what happened."Hunter's eyes gleamed with hope as he greeted them. "Ms. Belle and Ms. Ginger!"Grayson's car stopped in front of the town alongside a truck filled with equipment for the funeral.Without Belle and Grayson's friendship, Hunter would have had to manage all the funeral arrangements alone, and he wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet Ginger.Sam remained outside to stand guard while Grayson and Gabriel entered the Sanders family's old home.The townsfolk and the police were shocked when they saw them.They didn't recognize Grayson or Gabriel, but they could tell at a glance that they were really special peo