Marna had no intention of revealing the true power of her fortune-teller to Aria. Deep down, she still clung to the hope that the fortune-teller—and the gods—would shield her from danger and grant her an escape.It was true that Marna had never seen the fortune-teller's face. Yet, ever since she had received the pendant, she had come to regard the fortune-teller's words as divine commandments.Marna was painfully aware of the sins she had committed as a human trafficker. The fortune-teller had assured her there was a way to cleanse her soul. All she had to do was return to Nymeria every year to pray.After years of operating her grim business, Marna had begun to believe in a higher power, though uncertainty now clouded her faith.She pressed on, Aria close behind her, and with the baby in her arms, there was no way she could escape.Aria had no intention of letting herself be trapped either. She had strategically matched the number of policewomen to the young women carrying childr
Seeing Marna frozen in place, the man furrowed his brows. "Did you hear what I said?""Y-Yes!"Marna had hoped the receiver wouldn't arrive today. But now that everything was going smoothly, she could only go with the flow.Meanwhile, Aria exchanged glances with the female police officers behind her, and they shuffled toward the plaza's west, their postures hunched.At the same time, Sam and Landon sat together. Sam was furiously coding while adjusting Aria's gear, sending the photos he captured to the Special Missions Unit.In stark contrast, Landon was enjoying fried chicken with two children, one of whom was a spirit.Devon, feeling anxious, wondered if someone was waiting for him, but he couldn't recall where they had planned to meet. Eager to search Nymeria for clues, he felt restless.Devon couldn't understand why Aria insisted on pursuing other matters first until Sam voiced his support for her more than anyone else—they had to prioritize human lives, especially those of
Fortunately, Marna was well-prepared. "Ever since the trouble we had in Southbury, they've been hunting us down. I can't continue to use the same women. The cameras would catch them easily. I've been searching for other women throughout the year. They're all in this for the money."The man glanced at the middle-aged women, their faces partially obscured by scarves. Aria had expertly applied enough makeup to enhance their appearances."It's good that you're all here for the money. The best part of our line of work is the quick cash! Just be obedient and follow our rules. Don't look at what you're not supposed to see, and don't ask about anything out of line. If you do that, the money will be in your account by tonight."Aria said after the man finished speaking, "How much can I get? Marna mentioned we earn extra for performing well.""Don't worry. I won't underpay you."The man would be more worried if they didn't ask any questions. He only started the car after Aria's inquiry. Nat
Aria threw open the car door, her excitement bubbling over. "Marna, the perks you arranged are incredible! We even get to travel for free!""Huh? Oh, you're right. It's all on us," Marna replied with a forced smile. The two men in charge of the delivery were satisfied with Aria's reaction. Dumb country bumpkins like her were easy to manipulate.If they stayed in the car, the men would get suspicious.As such, the female police officers stepped out, their enthusiasm palpable, seemingly unconcerned about the fate of the babies.Once they were out, the men swiftly exited the tourist area through the back.The officers opened their mouths to speak, but Aria raised her gaze, silently indicating the surveillance cameras nearby.She then checked her watch, signaling for them to stay calm, as a tracker had been installed in the car. With Nyx and the twins nearby, no one could harm the babies.Aria redirected her focus to the tourist site, pulling out her phone for a selfie while subtl
Marna felt a wave of guilt wash over her, leaving her particularly anxious. "I do. I've sent goods here before, but I've never actually been inside."She lowered her gaze, feigning a search for something. In reality, she was avoiding Aria's eyes, terrified of revealing her true feelings.Upon hearing that, Aria raised her eyebrows and grinned. "You're a firm believer, yet you're telling me you didn't go inside and pray. Marna, don't you think it sounds illogical?"Seeing Marna stiffening, Aria said slowly, "Did you get the pendant from there?""I told you I got it from a fortune-teller on the train," Marna insisted. Aria nodded. "So, you still come here to express your gratitude. I wonder which god you prayed to."Marna's face drained of color at that question.The other female officers had initially been puzzled by Aria's fixation on the pendant; after all, the children's safety was their priority. But as they observed Marna's reaction, realization struck. The human trafficker
The voice coming from the little girl didn't sound like hers at all. It was as if she had been possessed.Aria's eyes darkened as she studied the girl's face. How could this be? The child was supposed to be the reincarnation of a heroic figure destined for greatness, at least according to her features.The crowd quickly gathered around, murmuring, "Sir, let Mr. Blooms take a look at her."The man mumbled a short prayer before replying, "Mr. Blooms is preparing for a class now. Everyone can remain outside and pray for this little girl."If she doesn't improve after the prayers, it means the gods above have not blessed her. She must atone for her past life's sins. Please do not make this difficult for us."With that, the man clasped his hands together and shut the hall doors. Though it seemed like advice, he was clearly leaving the girl to fend for herself.The old woman stumbled forward, tears streaming down her face. "My granddaughter is kind-hearted. Her parents are useless, so
"Leave if you're not here to pray!" the bodyguard snapped impatiently, ready to throw Aria out.But Aria wasn't about to let that happen. She swiftly grabbed his wrist and pressed a pressure point.With that, the bodyguard could no longer speak. He opened his mouth but nothing came out."How noisy," Aria muttered lazily, digging a finger into her ear. Causing a scene would make her mission easier, and this was the perfect chance to confirm her suspicions about the church.Another priest walked over and mumbled a prayer. "Your mouth is a tool of both blessing and karma. Stop what you're doing right now. You have already sinned, so please stop causing any trouble."Upon hearing that, Aria raised her eyebrows. "I'm causing trouble? Didn't you see the sick little girl right there?""If she's sick, she can rest in the backyard. We need to conduct our class," the priest said in a matter of factly.Aria chuckled. "Are you saying that praying to you all is useless?"Her words riled u
Aria had only asked because she noticed signs of fortune on Queenie's face and a noble air between her brows. Her eyes were filled with determination and purity, which caught Aria's attention.Tobias had once told her that some reincarnated heroic figures often acted differently from ordinary children. For instance, a child might suddenly tell their mother they'd been to a particular place before, but it had been in ruins, and they'd fought in straw shoes. Time was multidimensional, and it wasn't unusual for fragments of memories to linger.Most parents, however, would dismiss such claims as mere jokes. But in truth, there was a chance these children were carrying memories from past lives.Aria silently hoped they could return. Her expression softened as she lowered her gaze.Queenie looked at the woman before her. There was indeed something she didn't dare to say. She was afraid it would affect her grandmother if she said it. After all, they were at a holy church where people cl