“What?” Balthasar snapped out of his thoughts and smiled. “Tiffany, could you get me a glass of water? I’d like to make tea with a bit of the pill.”
Marissa was taken aback but stood to fetch the water. Balthasar carefully scraped off a small portion of the pill with a knife and brewed his tea
“Grandpa, can we talk about my sister now?” Marissa asked
Sipping his tea and savoring the moment, Balthasar responded, “Your sister died right after birth.”
“Died?” Marissa was surprised
“Yes. She’s dead,” Balthasar confirmed. “Your mother was pregnant with twins. On the night she went into labor, a war erupted in Blo Grein. Your sister was killed by an explosion just after she was born.”
Marissa frowned deeply. Balthasar claimed her sister had died in an explosion, yet Marissa was alive and unharmed. She wasn’t even injured at that time. If she had been injured, it was unlikely she would have survived and thrived in the harsh conditions of the refugee camp
“Grandpa, do you have proof that my sister died in that explosion?” Marissa asked
“Your sister was born naturally. An explosion occurred in the hospital right after her birth. Many people died, including her. Your mother was badly hurt, and the doctor had to perform an emergency cesarean to deliver you safely.”
“Grandpa, how do you know all this?”
“A doctor from that hospital told me.”
“Where was my father at that time?”
“He had disappeared before the explosion.”
“Why does the Sanchez family claim my mother only had one child?”
This question seemed to irritate Balthasar. His expression turned to one of regret and annoyance. “Before your mother became pregnant, the situation in Blo Grein had already deteriorated. We all urged them to come back home, but your mother was deeply committed to her journalism and insisted on staying. As the crisis in Blo Grein worsened, we eventually lost all contact with them. Only after hearing the tragic news did we learn your mother had given birth there. I personally traveled to Blo Grein to bring you and your mother back. My resentment for your mother and my disdain for the Sanchez family led me to withhold the details from them.” Balthasar, despite being pleased to have the MindEase Elixir, now appeared distressed
“Tiffany, I was always most proud of your father. He was our family’s beacon of hope. But due to your mother’s insistence on staying there, he…” Overcome with emotion, Balthasar broke down, his tears flowing freely, resembling a flickering candle in the wind
Moved by his vulnerability, Marissa softened her approach. She got up, approached Balthasar, and discreetly slipped a pill into his glass. “Grandpa, have some water.”
Balthasar took a sip and soon became drowsy. Marissa then helped him back to his bedroom. Once Balthasar was asleep, Marissa returned to her room, deep in thought. The information from Balthasar had come from the hospital’s doctor. Some of it was accurate, but some seemed fabricated, making the doctor a questionable figure. She pondered who might be orchestrating these events and to what end. The doctor was her only lead, but after so many years, finding this person wouldn’t be easy
Just then, her thoughts were interrupted by a notification from the Dark Net. Silver Fox said in their chat group, “Black Snake, I’ve located Amiri.”
Before Marissa could respond, Blue Wind chimed in, “Where is that son of a bitch?”
Silver Fox replied, “Not sure yet. But based on my intel, he will show up on the cruise ship named the Sunrise soon.”
Blue Wind addressed Marissa, “Black Snake, we can’t miss this opportunity. Otherwise, we might wait years to see Amiri again. I need to kill Amiri myself to avenge Red Thunder.”
Before Marissa could reply, Silver Fox sent her a private message. “Black Snake, I’ve also tracked down Tiffany Nash and got something.”
When Marissa read Silver Fox’s message, her excitement surged. “Tell me!” she said eagerly. Silver Fox responded, “I haven’t traced how Tiffany managed to leave Blebert and cross the border, but she was seen on the Sunrise cruise ship a month ago. It’s unclear whether she got off the ship.”
This information deepened Marissa’s confusion. The Sunrise roamed the high seas year-round and did not belong to any country. Its massive size and luxurious amenities had earned it the nickname “Floating City.” In many ways, it operated like an independent nation
The cruise ship enforced its own strict regulations. Everyone on board had to adhere to these rules, or face severe consequences. The owner of the Sunrise was mysterious and influential. No one dared challenge him. His name was Paul Alvarado, and that was the only piece of information people had. His past, his appearance, and other details were as unknown as the true face of death itself-known to all but seen by none
Whenever Paul was offended, trouble was sure to follow. This reputation often labeled the Sunrise as a dangerous place. Despite its reputation, the cruise ship bizarrely flourished in business. People flocked to it, even with its high costs, because Paul was a merciless enforcer of rules. He never meddled in external conflicts, showing indifference to disputes even if they happened right in front of him. On his ship, however, any disturbance was met with fatal consequences. For rule-abiders, the Sunrise was a paradise; for rule-breakers, it was hell. On this cruise ship, if you adhered to the rules, you could enjoy unparalleled service and utmost security. It was a place where guests, whether on business or leisure, were free to pursue their activities
Given its unique nature, it was impossible for ordinary people to set foot on this Floating City. Marissa wondered how Tiffany had managed it
After some thought and without any clear answers, Marissa decided to temporarily shelve her speculations. She realized that to find Amiri and Tiffany, she would need to visit the Sunrise herself
In the group chat at that time, Blue Wind asked, “Black Snake, why are you quiet? Are you considering giving up this opportunity?”
Silver Fox quickly chimed in, “Blue Wind, enough. Black Snake knows what to do. Do you realize how dangerous the Sunrise is? Taking out Amiri there could provoke Paul, and the fallout could be beyond our wildest fears!”
Blue Wind retorted, “Are you afraid? I’ve had enough of waiting. Just tell me where Amiri is. I’ll go after him myself. I won’t return until I’ve avenged Red Thunder!”
Marissa then warned, “Blue Wind, hold off on any rash actions. Follow my lead. We’ll get justice for Red Thunder, but I want to make sure we all return safely. It’s not worth provoking Paul just to get to Amiri.”
Blue Wind asked, “Boss, what’s your strategy?”
Marissa responded, “Give me a moment to think.”
She then sent a private message to Silver Fox, saying, “Going forward, any updates on Amiri should come straight to me. Keep it from Blue Wind.”
Silver Fox questioned, “Based on what you’re saying, are you planning to exclude Blue Wind from the operation against Amiri?”
“Why? You know how deeply he desires to avenge Red Thunder. He’s going to be furious if he’s left out.”
Marissa replied, “That’s correct. I have different tasks planned for him. Continue to locate Tiffany and report to me promptly if there is any news.”
Silver Fox responded, “Okay.”
Marissa logged off the Dark Net. After pondering for a while, she logged back in and sent a new message to someone known as Lone Wolf. Meanwhile, in his office, Connor received a notification
In the world of mercenaries, two figures were particularly legendary: Black Snake and Lone Wolf. Both had established their reputations through remarkable feats, becoming well-known and undefeated over many years. They were considered the twin legends of the mercenary world, instilling fear in many
Their true identities were shrouded in mystery; no one had seen their faces, and their genders remained unknown. It was often said that truly exceptional individuals acted in unique and unconventional ways. Both were known to be particularly capricious and willful. Black Snake was associated with the Rasetsu Group, but the group never truly commanded Black Snake’s loyalty. They merely used her name to bolster their own reputation. Lone Wolf was even more enigmatic, affiliated with no organization and living up to his name as a solitary figure
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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