"This kind of life—constantly hiding and running—isn't something Isabel should be living at her age." Winyaad clenched her fist as she looked out at the street.
"Chis, let's go up to the surface," Levi said calmly.
"To the surface? That's not a problem—but we'd become wanted criminals. We still wouldn't be able to live like normal citizens. Damn this royal government!" Winyaad said bitterly.
"There's another way. We cooperate with Lobov," Levi said flatly.
"Assassinate the commander of the Survey Corps?" Winyaad was slightly stunned.
"Chis, do you know anything about this person from your time on the surface?" Levi asked, glancing at the file in his hand.
"Not in detail, but he seems to be a responsible leader—well respected within the Survey Corps," Winyaad recalled.
"I see…" Levi's eyes hardened slightly. "If we want to bring you all to the surface and live normal lives, killing him might be our only option."
At Exit No. 11 of the Underground City, a skylight opened wide. Sunlight poured down, illuminating a patch of ground roughly ten square meters in size.
A crowd of underground residents pressed together, greedily soaking in the warmth they had never felt in their lives. This might be the only chance they would ever have to experience sunlight.
"Woohoo!" Isabel gritted her teeth as she squeezed her way in, then cheered freely under the sun.
Seeing this, Farlan felt deeply relieved and was about to push forward as well—
"Boss Farlan! Boss Tani's restaurant has been smashed!" one of his men rushed over to report.
"What? Who did it?!" Farlan shouted, shocked and furious.
Tani's restaurant had supported him during his hardest days—the owner had once let him eat on credit for an entire week. Even after becoming Levi's sworn brother, Farlan had continued to protect the place.
"It was Damian's people," another subordinate whispered.
"Damn it! Keep an eye on Isabel. Jess, come with me!" Farlan immediately ordered.
After Farlan left, several restless figures in the crowd suddenly rushed out, clashing with his remaining men. At the same time, four large men charged straight toward Isabel.
"Who are you?! Aren't you afraid my brother will beat you to death?!" Isabel didn't back down—she rushed forward.
Jess was alarmed and quickly blocked her, standing in front of the attackers.
The four men drew knives and stabbed him repeatedly. In an instant, multiple bloody wounds opened across his body.
"Run…!" Jess shouted through blood, desperately holding them back.
"Jess!" Isabel cried out in panic, then charged forward in anger.
Though she had learned a lot from Levi, she had no weapon. She was quickly overwhelmed, knocked unconscious, and carried away.
In front of Tani's restaurant—
As soon as Farlan arrived with his men, Damian's forces retreated like a receding tide.
"Thank you, Farlan. If you hadn't come, half my shop would've been destroyed," Tani said, wiping sweat from his brow.
"No need to thank me, Uncle Tani. It's what I should do," Farlan replied with a smile—but unease stirred in his heart.
Why would Damian's men retreat so easily without a fight?
"Next time, bring Isabel with you. I just got a new batch of rice dumplings—only place in the Underground that has them," Tani said with a grin.
"Definitely," Farlan replied, though his unease only deepened.
He immediately led his men back to Exit No. 11.
But Isabel was nowhere to be seen.
The once-crowded area had already dispersed, and the exit had closed again.
On the ground lay Jess's corpse, surrounded by blood.
"Jess…" Farlan gently closed his wide-open eyes.
Rage surged within him. He immediately led his men toward Damian's base, only retaining enough reason to send someone to notify Levi and Chris.
"Damian…" Levi's gaze turned cold as he reached for his blades and ODM gear.
"I'll go," Winyaad said, stopping him. "It might be a diversion. There are still children at the base—I'm worried Damian will abduct them if you leave."
"…Alright. Be careful," Levi agreed after a brief pause. He trusted Chis's strength. Aside from himself, almost no one could match her—and she possessed hypnotic abilities.
After nearly a year together, absolute trust had formed between them.
Winyaad nodded, took a long blade, and left. She didn't even bother bringing ODM gear—she didn't think she'd need it.
At Damian's base—
She walked in openly, her hips swaying.
The two guards, staring at her pale legs, didn't even have time to drool before silently slitting their own throats.
Inside the main hall, over a dozen gang members rushed at her from all sides.
With a single sweeping kick, she knocked out three instantly.
Her pupils turned faintly gray.
Five others suddenly froze—then drew their knives and stabbed their own allies.
"Brother… why…" one man coughed blood, staring in disbelief at his sibling.
"…No!" The killer cried out in agony—only to have his throat slit by Winyaad.
In moments, thirteen men lay dead.
She stormed into the villa and found a room filled with kidnapped family members of local shopkeepers.
She freed them all—but after searching every room, she found no trace of Isabel.
Frowning, she stepped outside.
"Thank you, big sister! Thank you for saving my dad!" A little girl with twin ponytails approached her, holding two cups of what looked like juice.
"You're welcome. Have you seen a red-haired older sister?" Winyaad asked gently, patting her head.
"I don't know. This is carrot juice from our shop—it's really good! I made it for you!" the girl said, drinking one cup first.
"…Thank you," Winyaad hesitated, then—seeing the girl's hopeful eyes—took a few sips before finishing it.
Suddenly—
A large group of people surged out, surrounding her.
In the center were two bound figures:
Isabel… and Farlan.
"Isabel! Farlan!" Winyaad cried out.
"Mmph! Mmm!" they struggled desperately.
Her vision blurred. Hallucinations crept in. Dizziness overwhelmed her.
The juice… was poisoned.
She staggered.
"Attack! Don't damage her face or legs," Damian ordered, leaning on his cane, smiling calmly.
Winyaad's heart sank. She should have realized sooner—but she didn't blame the girl.
The little girl stepped back nervously.
"I did what you said… Can you release my parents now?" she asked.
"Of course," Damian smiled gently. "You'll be reunited soon."
After all, a young girl like her could fetch a good price… A mother and daughter sold together might even please Duke Miroslav.
A cruel thought flickered through his mind.
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