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“No. First of all, we have to stay on the phone; secondly, we must make sure that the call time is long
enough. Otherwise, our colleagues won’t be able to trace the call. Besides, they may have crossed the
border already. We can’t track signals outside the country,” Zayn answered without even thinking about
it.
Winnie frowned. “Can you guys ask for help from neighboring countries, then?”
“We’ve contacted people in Rodunst, but it will take some time for both parties to go through the
procedure. I hope those people can be arrested and brought to justice too! They are simply too
outrageous!” Zayn said through gritted teeth and thumped the car hood indignantly.
Winnie’s frown grew deeper.
“What I’m most worried about now is the safety of my granny and Rachel. Under normal
circumstances, they would have reached international waters by now. If those people had kept their
promise, they should have released my granny and Rachel. But if they don’t keep their word…”
Her voice trailed off.
She was well aware of the possible outcome, but she couldn’t bear to say it out loud.
Sensing her sorrow, Zayn consoled her, “Don’t worry. Our colleagues are heading to the maritime
border. If the hostages are released in the open sea, we will immediately initiate search and rescue
operation.”
“Thank you! Please feel free to approach me if there’s anything I can help with,” Winnie said. She
shook hands with Zayn, then turned around and left.
Right after she was out of Zayn’s sight, she made a call.
The person on the other end of the line answered the call quickly. “What are your orders, Your Majesty?
Please use me to your heart’s content!”
Both of them were very close friends, so there was no need for them to exchange pleasantries.
“Help me find a boat.” Winnie went straight to the point. “It’s at the border of the waters of Chanaea and
Rodunst, and it’s currently moving at high speed. There are five people on board: three kidnappers and
two hostages. The kidnappers are armed with guns and bombs, and the hostages are an elderly
woman and a young woman. I need the hostages to come back alive. As for those kidnappers, they
don’t deserve to live.”
Lucas, who was the person on the other end of the line, was slightly taken aback. “Wow! A massive
operation this time, huh?”
Winnie furrowed her brows. “This is serious, Lucas. I’m not joking with you.”
Lucas hummed in agreement, then continued solemnly, “I just received news that the south dock at
Avenport was blown up, and the casualties were quite heavy. Is this the work of those kidnappers you
mentioned?”
“Exactly. I almost died. You know what to do.”
“Got it! I promise I’ll find the most ruthless people to handle this matter for you!”
“Lucas, I only need the steadiest ones. One of the hostages is my granny, and I want her to come back
unscathed. Money is not an issue. I can afford it no matter the cost.”
“All right. Wait for my news.”
Winnie murmured an acknowledgment before hanging up the phone.
She clutched the phone in her hand and knitted her brows once more.
This country can’t be compared to Epea. Besides Lucas, I don’t have any other useful connections
here. Everything is so inconvenient. Damn it!
After composing herself, Winnie went to the ambulance.
Josiah was bandaging the wound on Xavier’s arm.
Stunned by the sight, Winnie asked, “Why are you here, Josiah? Where’s the doctor?”
Josiah didn’t bother to look up as he continued to tend to Xavier’s wound.
“What’s all the fuss about? Am I not a doctor too? There are so many people injured on site. Let’s not
waste any medical resources.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“What about the wound on your back?”
“I’m fine. The injuries on Xavier and I may look terrifying, but it’s not that serious. Besides, we’re young.
It will heal in no time.”
Winnie nodded before squatting down in front of Xavier so that she could see his face and he could see
hers when he lowered his gaze.
As they locked gazes, Xavier’s eyes were filled with gentleness and warmth. “Have you spoken to
Lieutenant Zielinski? How did it go?”
Winnie let out a sigh, but there was unwavering determination in her eyes. “Not that great. I can only
depend on myself for the time being!”
Xavier frowned. “What are you going to do, then?”
Winnie could see the worry in his eyes. After pondering for a while, she decided not to tell him the plan
she had in mind.
“I haven’t thought about it yet. Let’s see if the police can track their whereabouts first. Anyway, does
your wound hurt?”
Xavier smiled faintly. “No. I forgot to tell you that not only is my reaction slower than before, but I’m also
not so sensitive to pain. You don’t have to worry at all.”
How can I not be worried if he can’t feel pain where it should hurt?
Winnie didn’t say anything in response. She gently rested her head on his lap instead.
Xavier used his other uninjured hand to stroke the top of her head, his eyes brimming with affection.
Josiah glanced at them as loneliness and envy surged within him. He then quickly bandaged Xavier’s
arm.
After a few seconds, he said, “All right, I’m done.”
“Okay. Both of you are hurt. I’ll get someone to send you two back first.” As Winnie spoke, she helped
Xavier to his feet.
Xavier glanced at her sideways. “What about you?”
“I’ll stay. What if Granny comes back soon?”
“I’ll stay here with you, then. I’m not leaving.”
“But your injury—”
“It doesn’t matter. Dr. Houghton has already given me the diagnosis, hasn’t he?”
Winnie smiled in resignation. Before she could reply to Xavier, Josiah looked at her and shrugged.
“Don’t look at me. My suggestion is that he should head back and get some rest, but he definitely won’t
listen to me.”
Winnie sighed. “You bring him back, then. You’re injured too and need to get some rest.”
“I’m not leaving.” Josiah pushed his glasses up his nose bridge. “Even though I’m injured, I’m still a
doctor. They need me here.”
“All right. No one is leaving, then.” Winnie sat down at the side.
However, she was not one who liked to stay idle. After thinking for a moment, she turned to Josiah and
continued, “Let me assist you.”
Josiah glanced at Xavier, who had his eyes glued on Winnie, and firmly declined, “I’m good. There are
professional nurses over there. You can just stay here with Xavier.”
With that, he carried the first-aid kit and went to another injured person, leaving Winnie and Xavier
alone.
As soon as Josiah left, Xavier called out, “Winnie Garland!”
Winnie was stunned. She was not used to him addressing her by her full name out of the blue.
“What is it, Xavier Fairchild!” Winnie responded in the same manner.
Knowing that she was rather irascible, Xavier let out a sigh and asked, “What exactly do you want me
to do? Kneel down and beg you?”
“What are you talking about? Are you having a fever?” Winnie was baffled.
As she spoke, she raised her hand to touch his forehead.
Xavier grabbed her hand and stared at her intently. “I don’t have a fever.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Winnie hurriedly grabbed his hand. “Don’t you know that your arm is
injured?”
“I said it doesn’t hurt!” Xavier could not care less about his injury. “Do you remember what you
promised me before? What are you secretly planning now?”
Winnie rarely gave Xavier her word in a serious manner, but she did promise him one thing not long
ago.
I promised him not to deal with dangerous issues all on my own.
She nodded, feigning ignorance. “I do remember. But the situation is not dangerous now. Why would
be I planning something behind your back?”
“Winnie, do you really think I don’t know what you’re thinking about? I heard you say it with my own
ears just now. You said your discussion with Lieutenant Zielinski didn’t go well and that you could only
depend on yourself. You had a determined look in your eyes when you said that. I don’t believe you
didn’t do anything!”
Winnie parted her lips, wanting to speak, but she was at a loss for words. Suddenly, she thought of
something she saw on the internet, which was a common quote jerks would say.
She cleared her throat and sneered, “If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Xavier frowned instantly. “Excuse me?”
“I said—”
She looked him in the eye, wanting to repeat herself. But when she saw that his eyes were filled with
mixed feelings of vexation, resentment, and hurt, she immediately swallowed everything she wanted to
say.
After all, she didn’t have the heart to hurt him.
Xavier’s eyes were already red with anger, but he was more upset with her instead. “What? Who was
the one who said we should trust each other and never lie? Who was the one who said we should
respect each other’s privacy but would always answer every question when asked? It was you, Winnie
Garland!”
Seeing him acting like this made her feel ashamed. “Yes, it was me. I’ll tell you now, then. It’s nothing
much. I just asked someone to help me to check the waters and other places.”
“Is it the underworld or legal authority?”
“Um… A little of both.”
“And where are those other places?”
“I don’t know either. I’ll find a way to follow them at sea first. I’ll find them no matter they go.”
“Where do you think Zyon will go? I won’t believe it if you tell me you don’t know.”
Winnie almost chuckled in amusement. “You… Why does it seem as though you’re interrogating a
criminal?”
“Will I interrogate a criminal with pleading eyes?”
Winnie did not know what to say. She grabbed his hands tightly as she gazed at his reddened eyes.
“I’m sorry. Don’t be mad.”
“Answer me.”
“He might go to Jipsdale. They must have a huge base there. If he goes there, the Chanaean police
can’t do anything to him.”
“If he doesn’t release Granny, will you go to Jipsdale?”
He was met with silence for a few seconds. Then, Winnie asked, “What will you do if I say yes?”
“I don’t want you to go. But if you insist on going, I’m going with you.”
Looking down at his wound that was still bleeding even though it had been bandaged, Winnie kept
mum.
“Answer me. Will you? Don’t lie to me because that’s a promise between us.”
Winnie lifted her hand and stroked his cheek. “Okay. To be honest, I haven’t thought about it yet.
Maybe Granny will come back soon. But if she doesn’t come back, I’ll have to go there in person. There
are three reasons: Granny, the black badge, and Yulissa’s antidote. But don’t worry. Even if I go, I will
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmdiscuss it with you in advance. You know that they are extremely important to me.”
Yes, that is true. Every one of them is important.
Xavier nodded in understanding. At the same time, he emphasized, “Don’t you hide anything from me
again!”
Winnie promised, “I won’t.”
“Okay.” Xavier trusted her.
Winnie looked at his wound thoughtfully.
Seeing that she was lost in her thoughts, Xavier couldn’t help but embrace her and plant a kiss on her
forehead.
“I’m sorry if I sounded a little harsh earlier. I was just too worried about you. I hope you won’t hold a
grudge against me.”
Winnie was amused. “Hold a grudge? Am I that small-minded?”
“Yes, you are. You have a lot of ambitions and crazy thoughts in your mind, yet you only have me in
your heart and mind. Say, are you not small-minded?” Xavier rubbed his chin against her head.
Winnie pinched him fondly. “Nice wordplay. You complimented and criticized me at the same time… I
really hope Granny is safe and sound.”
“She will be.” Xavier still believed that there was some kind of unspoken connection between Zyon and
Jacinta.
If his speculation was true, it would mean that Jacinta’s life was not in danger.
As the two of them chatted, Winnie’s phone rang all of a sudden.
She surmised that it was Lucas calling her to inform her of the news, but she didn’t expect Xavier to be
more excited than her.
“Who is that? Is that your gray friend?”
Winnie had no idea what he was talking about. “Gray friend?”
“You said so, a little of both underworld and legal authority. The underworld is black, and the legal
authority is white, so the combination of both is gray.”
“Oh, I guess it makes sense if you put it that way. He’s Lucas Marsh. I’ll introduce him to you when
there’s a chance. Lucas and I are very close with one another.”
“Okay. You should answer the call, and let me listen to it too.”
Winnie nodded. “No problem.”
With that, she answered the call. Since Winnie and Xavier were standing close to each other, Xavier
could hear the voice of the person on the other end of the line as well.
“How is it, Lucas? Can you tell me about the situation now?”
“No news yet. I’m sorry for disappointing you.”
“No, it’s fine. Continue the search and don’t give up!”
“Okay.”
After the brief conversation ended, Winnie hung up the phone and sighed. “I’ll ask Lieutenant Zielinski
again. Don’t go anywhere else.”
Xavier bobbed his head in response.
After making sure that Xavier couldn’t see her, she immediately called Lucas back.
Lucas picked it up in a heartbeat and asked, “What happened? Why did you ask me if I can tell you
about the situation just now? Is it inconvenient for you to talk now?”
“It was inconvenient just now, but it’s fine now.”
Asking the other person if he or she could tell something was a code word between both of them. It
meant that nothing should be disclosed at the moment.
There were no secrets or lies between them, so naturally, there was nothing they couldn’t tell each
other.
“Okay. I’ll tell you the information I have now, then…”
Winnie was so focused on avoiding Xavier that she didn’t realize Josiah had been watching her.
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