Chapter 50
Ten minutes later, in Wikaio Prison, Briar stouched lazily on the office couch, her gaze drifting over to the m
Briar glanced over and drawled. “What do you want from me?”
in the wheelchair beside her.
in a cat’s
It was her first time in Wikato Prison, and she must admit she felt a little uncomfortable. It was not guilt, but feeling more like a mouse in a den. And she still had no idea what Cynus wanted with her
Cyrus looked at her and said, “Miss Shepherd, you’ve traveled extensively over the years, I assume you must have some connections with various international organizations, right?”
Hearing that, Briar instantly let out a sigh of relief.
So he needs something from me… she thought. “Well, that makes things much easier.
Briar smirked and said. “Oh, I just happen to know a few people. Wouldn’t call it connections, though
Enzo’s lips twitched. “Gosh, you’re not even pretending to be humble, are you!“
Briar shrugged nonchalantly and drawled, “How could someone like me ever compare to you young heirs from powerful families? In places like jhat, anyone who survives is bound to have some connections
Cyrus asked coolly, “So, Miss Shepherd, are you admiting you were part of the child soldiers in Estoriam!”
Briar let out a feigned sigh. “Didn’t you already investigate everything thoroughly, Mr. Morrow Thack then, I was just a kid trying to survive. What was so wrong with that
Cyrus said calmly, “If you only wanted to survive, Miss Shepherd, you should have learned to live and let live!
“Child soldier“-the term might sound almost endearing, but the reality was anything but.
In Estoriam, child soldiers were notorious for their brutality. Those children, barely ten years old, were thrust into the chaos of war before they could even tell right from wrong.
Their innocence made them even less capable of empathy or humanity than adults.
Several years ago, there was a shocking incident where a child soldier opened fire on civilians in broad daylight–nineteen people were killed instantly, and dozens more were injured. The world was horrified.
That child was only twelve. After a trial by the International Court, he was acquitted.
But six years later, the same child became a mercenary and once again, carried out an indiscriminate massacre of civilians in a war zone, only to be shot dead on the spot by international law enforcement.
Later, psychologists found that those who had joined child soldier units at such a young age would never truly respect human life for the rest of
their lives
In other words, they had lost their humanity.
Briar found Cyrus’s way of purting
sting it was quite something.
She challenged, “So tell me, when a child is forced to carry a gun into battle, do you really think the one at fauch is the child!”
Cyrus fell silent instantly
Har scuffed, “You privileged lot. I don’t even want to waste my breath. Just cut to the chase.”
battlefield.
They sat at the top p of the authority, playing their political games and sending countless innocents to die on the battlel
And yet they had the audacity to call themselves civilized while condemning the victims for fighting back
After a brief pause, Cyrus spoke again, “Miss Shepherd, are you acquainted with anyone from the Black Hat Alliance?“
“I might know one or two,” Briar replied with a half–truthful smile, though she already had Cyrus figured out.
It was all about Ghost For rescue, and maybe, if he was ambitious, decrypting File 531. But at the rate they were going. Cyrus would kick the bucket before he ever uw that file.
Cyrus said calmly. “Miss Shirpherd, there’s someone codenamed IMOK in the Black Hat Alliance. Please contact this person for me.
“Pth Briar had just lifted her glass for a sip when she heard those words and instantly sprayed water everywhere, coughing uncontrollably.
13
4:09 PM ₫ B
Chapter 50
Cyrus studied her with a deep, penetrating gaze..
“Was that really necessary?” Enzo quickly grabbed a towel and handed it to Briar
Briar rolled her eyes. “Seriously? IMOK left the Black Hat Alliance years ago. Wish the hell knows where she is now!”
you can’t find her, Miss Shepherd!” asked Cyrus.
Briar narrowed her eyes at him “Yeah, I can find her, but…
Cyrias waited in silence, his gaze fixed on Briar, patiently anticipating what she would say i
Briar shrugged. “You need to pay”
Enzo was speechless.
“Miss Shepherd, you’re with the Supervision Department too,” Cyrus said calmily
Briar said matter–of–factly, “Dude, think it through. That Supervision Department Ladge was the payment for the last job–separate deals, separate terms. Even a lurker gets pail. What makes you think you can get this for free!”
Cyrus and Enzo were speechless.
With both men watching her, Briar held out her hand. Five million dollars. Take it or leave it”
“That’s too much” Enzo blurted our without thinking.
But Cyrus saw through to the heart of the matter,
Cyrus looked Briar straight in the eye and suddenly asked, “Are you short on cash, Miss Shepherd?
In his mind, Besar wasn’t the type to care about money. If the was asking for payment, it probably meant she really needed it.
Briar choked violently on her own spit. “How could that be? I’ve got money to burn!”
Cyrus didn’t call her bluff. He simply nodded and sail “The money will be transferred to the same account as before, right away”
further.
“Deal” Seeing how readily he agreed, Briar didn’t press furth
Tll help you track her down, but let’s get something straight,” Briar said. “This is just the finder’s fee. Any deal you make with IMOK will have to be negotiated separately”
Cyrus understood it perfectly well.
Years ago, IMOK’s fer for a single jola was already in the nine figures. How could a mere five million possibly cut
Briar was about to head on when she suddenly remembered something and stopped in her tracks.
Briar looked at him and quipped, “Cyrus, don’t tell me you’re really crippled for good!”
It had been days. No matter how serious Cyrus’s injuries were, he should’ve started rehab by then.
Anicus said Cyrus wasn’t permanently disabled–that he could recover
But then, it really seemed like Cyrus couldn’t stand up at all..
“What do you think, Miss Shepherd” Cyrus asked
Briar didn’t add anything further. She winked and said, “Good luck with that?
Then, she turned on her heel and walked out.
Ennis expression shifted several times before he finally blurted out, “Cynus, how did you know Briar knows someone from the Black Hat Alliance?”
Cyrus was and mulling over Briar’s last words. After a moment, he spoke.
“She travels to many places every year, but many of her trails are fake. We’ve filtered our quite a few recently. Besides Mestruoland, the places she suits most air Norum, war–torn regions, the Xandrotar, Hurglor, and the Strieze region in Estoriam.”
The Supervision Departament’s intelligem e capabalities had always been world–class. As Briar’s profile had become more detailed over the past few days, a lot of information that was initially hidden had started to surface.
Normal tourists would visit developed, bustling cities, but she did the opposite.
Chapter 50
Who would go to those pl
places without a specific purpose?
“Holy crap!” Enzo froze for a second.
“Is Briar some kind of hidden hig shot Like those cliché web novel plots where the almighty boss returns to the city to relive their youth, and three years later, a hundred thousand troops welcome the King back?”
This script was pure gokli
Cyrus drummed his fingers on the desk.
He said. “The Supervision Department’s mielligence capabilities have reached their limit, yet we still haven’t pinpointed her exact whereabouts. Either she’s just an ordinary person, or her identity is extraordinary. What’s your take?
Enzo scratched his head. “Joining child soldiers before even turning ten, you wouldn’t call that ordinary, would you!”
While Briar’s background was heartbreaking, she had never been–and would never be a victim
Cynis instructed, “Send word back Call off the investigation.”
Enzo was confused. “Cyrus, aren’t you curious about who Briar really is anymore?
Cyrus said flatly. “No matter how much more we investigate, we won’t find anything new.
Enzo shrugged. “Alright then”
Enzo had picked Briar up when she left, but when she returned, she slipped back in unnoticed.
She stood in the bathroom stall and casually sent Cyrus a link.
21: Login, get a premium account, then place an order with IMOK]
Cyrus didn’t respond, but Briar wasn’t bothered. Noticing her phone’s battery was low, she just switched it off.
Briar was just about to push open the stall door when she overheard two girls talking outside.
one gul exclaimed, Tomorrow’s the final test. I heard we have to shoot at a larger 193 feet away. Oh my god! I can’t even hit the target at 65 feet, let
alone 195 feet…
“Ugh, I heard the boot camp counts for several credits I’m trying to get a scholarship. If this tanks my GPA. I’ll totally freak out
“Hey, between Briar and Imani, who’s better in the shooting test?”
Briar!” one girl exclaimed. “Did you see how the instructors at the camp were looking at hert Their eyes were practically glowing with
