Chapter 195
Chapter 195
In the outskirts, inside an abandoned factory, thirteen people huddled together, eating a hasty meal.
Suddenly, a beeping sound came from a laptop. The man in the yellow bandana rushed over, scanned the screen, and called out, “Aria’s phone la online
Aria’s phone interface glowed on the monitor.
Hadson strode over, his gaze sharp. “Let’s see what she’s up to.”
The man replied, “She just opened an app called Notes and typed one sentence: ‘So, how are you planning to move my money?“”
“Hudson, is she taunting us?” Isaias growled, frustration written all over his face.
Hudson gripped his shoulder, voice steady but grave. “Don’t forget who she is. We play this smart, or we’re done.”
“Got it.”
After sending her message, Aria sketched a giant middle finger on the screen, tossed the phone aside, and moved on.
She picked up her other phone, opened MapleLink, and jumped into a group chat. New messages were popping up every second.
Jack: [Heard the Thirteenth Sigil headed to Huthailia. That true? Hudson must have a death wish if he’s messing with Huthailia.]
The Thirteenth Sigil–that was Hudson’s name for his team.
Yalo: [It’s true. Apparently, he’s planning something big. One last job before he retires.]
World’s No.1: [Let’s see if he makes it back alive.]
Echohawk: [He’s always had a knack for scamming Huthailians. No doubt he’s after another huge payout.]
Black Rose: [Echohawk, change your username already.]
Echohawk: [Black Rose, heard you botched a hit on a civilian and gave up needles for good. Gonna keep copying me now?]
That one stung. This person always knew how to twist the knife.
Black Rose: [You’ll regret that.]
Jack: [Alright, enough fighting. Half this group is using Echohawk as a nickname. Just get used to it.]
Some used their real names, others preferred aliases.
There weren’t many with the guts to be themselves–Aria was one of them.
But no one in the group actually knew which Echohawk was really her.
A: [There were four from Thirteenth Sigil in here. I kicked them all out.]
World’s No.2: [Why kick them?]
A: [Because they went to Huthailia and now they’ll drag us down with them.]
DungMaster: [Honestly, it’s smart. If they get caught, the Huthailian police will be all over us.]
World’s No.1: [Hey, who developed MapleLink? Can we ban them?]
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− 11:26 FII, 6jun DJ W
Chapter 195
A: Relax, even if the cops find the software, they can’t get in.
Echohawk: [Bounty post: capture or kill anyone from Thirteenth Sigil–70 million dollars. Hudson: 100 million dollars.]
Aria wasn’t about to do this alone, If money could solve it, she’d spend big. The group chat went dead for a second–then exploded.
DungMaster: [Wait–who the hell is this big shot? Are you for real with that reward?]
Jack: [That much money? I’m in.]
World’s No.1: [Me too.]
At those numbers, half the underground world wanted in.
Aria exited the app. Her phone rang. It was from Vanessa. “Aria, let’s meet up. Give me your phone, I’ll see if I can track their location.”
Another woman’s voice came through. “Aria, we need to head out
“Text me your location. I’ll come find you,” Aria replied.
“Okay.”
to
the set.”
She’d barely stepped outside when she ran into Owen on his way
to
work.
He looked completely unfazed, phone in hand, rideshare app open. Not even last night’s sparring had made things awkward between them.
“Morning, Ms. Saxon,” he greeted politely.
“Morning.” Out of courtesy, Aria asked, “Your car still not back yet?”
“Not yet,” he said.
“Need a lift?” After all the times he’d fed her, leaving him to fend for himself would be pretty heartless.
“Would that be alright?” he asked.
“No trouble.”
“Thank you, Ms. Saxon.”
Aria dropped him off at Seacrest Law Firm. As she was turning the car around, she spotted Mason, so she rolled down the window. “Mr. Webb, good
morning.”
Mason nearly jumped out of his skin, forcing a nervous smile. “Morning, Ms. Saxon. Is Griffin’s case finally over?”
“Yeah. Thanks for your help.”
“Just doing my job,” Mason breathed a secret sigh of relief, then forced a cheerful, “Well, I’ll head in.”
Aria nodded, then paused as if something had crossed her mind.
Webb, has anyone tried to contact you lately?”
Mason’s heart nearly stopped, his hand trembling behind his briefe
“No, no one.”
Realizing he sounded too nervous, he quickly added, “No trouble from the Palmer family, you can rest easy.”
“Good. See you next time, Mr. Webb.”
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Chapter 195
“See you.”
As her car disappeared, Mason finally let out a long breath–only to look up and meet Owen’s eyes. His heart almost stopped again. “Mr. Shaw…. morning.”
“Morning.”
Shaken, Mason hurried inside to pull himself together.
Owen watched him go, a thoughtful look on his face.
“Aaron, is that you?” Aaron greeted Owen as he walked up. “You look so much younger today.”
Owen was in a long coat and a grey scarf. He raised a brow, amused. “Do I usually look old?”
Aaron’s eyelid twitched as he realized he’d slipped up. “No, no–you’re young already. Just younger today.”
Owen let it slide. “Let’s go in.”
Inside, Owen hung up his scarf and coat.
As he did, Aaron caught a glimpse of finger–shaped bruises and a scratch around Owen’s neck. He gasped, “Mr. Shaw, were you…domestically abused? But you’re not even married–was it a break–in?”
“No,” Owen replied simply.
But there was no denying those marks were from someone’s hand.
Sensing it was private, Aaron wisely didn’t push, dumping all his accumulated work questions on Owen before leaving.
Owen’s phone buzzed.
Ashen: [Someone posted a hit on Hudson. Boss, are we getting involved? Nobody’s motivated without money.]
Moss: [Let those rookies try their luck. Good training for them.]
Officially, mercenaries weren’t allowed to take private contracts. Otherwise, plenty of them would jump at it.
Owen figured Aria had put up the bounty and replied, 15 million dollars each. I’ll pay.
Reaper: [Knew there’d be good eats following you. Better than yelling drill orders all day–killing’s more fun.]
Owen left it at that and closed the chat.
Aria arrived at Vanessa’s film set, making her way through the crowd when a voice called out, “Aria?”
It was Tina, surrounded by a group–Maximo, the cameraman, the assistant with a backpack.
Tina stared in disbelief. “What are you doing here?
Aria didn’t slow down. “None of your business.”
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