The City was W Country's only coastal town, and Arabella's stronghold was firmly rooted there, securing control over the main port's shipping routes.
Since its formation, the interim government had been intent on eliminating Arabella. Yet her influence was so deeply entrenched and intertwined that they found her impossible to uproot.
This time, they had planned to take advantage of Arabella's travels, heavily fortifying all entry checkpoints in an attempt to sever her connection with headquarters.
Unexpectedly, Arabella took a small, hidden path to enter the country, cutting through like a sharp blade, slipping through their defenses and returning to the City with ease.
Not long after Arabella's return, a shipment arrived at the port, accompanied by a group from the "Abyss" gang, who had built their smuggling business across the northeastern sea.
Since this was their first time negotiating with Arabella, Abyss sent their gang's second-in-command.
The second-in-command, named Walter Bexley, had previously been unremarkable. Yet, over the past year, his abilities had come to the forefront—recruiting troops, seizing territories, and rising at an astonishing pace. Recently, he even eliminated Abyss's second-in-command to take the position for himself.
This time, Walter was determined to secure the deal, especially after hearing that Arabella was just a woman.
The City, a town hot year-round, suffered from frequent power outages due to war and poor infrastructure, with disruptions in the electrical grid.
On this particularly sweltering day, the power went out. Arabella put on a tight vest and denim shorts, lounging in the courtyard on a chair woven from silk wood. The coolness of the wood relaxed her as she drank large gulps of ice water.
Raven stood silently by the lounge chair, dressed in a black shirt, standing upright without a hint of expression.
Next to Arabella sat another man, fanning himself as he chuckled and advised, "Don't drink so fast; don't overindulge in the cold."
The speaker was a young man with an oval face and a high, prominent nose. His features were soft, with closely set brows that lent him a natural air of charm and intensity, making his gaze appear heartfelt. His long lip line gave his smile a gentle, endearing quality, making him exceptionally attractive.
A handsome yet gallant man.
Arabella murmured an acknowledgment, tilting her head back to swallow another gulp of ice water. A few drops escaped down her lips, and she licked them, savoring the taste.
The young man's gaze fixated on the drop at her throat. Leaning forward, he brought his mouth to her face, extending his tongue to trace her throat from bottom to top, licking away the bead of water.
"Don't waste it." Arabella smiled, pointing at her lips.
The young man wrapped his arm around her, pressing a kiss onto her moist lips, lowering his head with a smile, "Is this enough?"
Arabella reached out, placing her hand on the back of the young man's neck, pulling him close for a kiss—deep and utterly unrestrained.
The young man pulled her onto his lap, his hand caressing her waist. His back was taut, his face handsome, yet his physique sharp, like a sword perfectly sheathed.
He returned the kiss with tenderness and affection, facing in the direction where Raven stood.
As the kiss deepened, he narrowed his eyes, a flicker of light shooting toward the stoic Raven, his gaze shifting with enigmatic intent.
When a subordinate reported Walter's arrival, Arabella was already dragging the young man to bed.
Interrupted, Arabella rubbed her brow, her expression dimming a little.
The young man lay reclining on the bed, his outer garment undone, revealing a toned, youthful body exposed to the air. At the center of his chest were kiss marks of varying depth, casting an aura of languid, decadent allure.
Arabella swiftly jumped off the bed, slipping on her vest, smiling as she ordered, "Albatross, wait for me to continue when I'm back."
The young man, called Albatross, lay back on the bed, blowing her a kiss with a playful taunt, "Not too long, or I might not stay hard."
With a light slap to his crotch, she made him yelp, curling up protectively. Arabella threw him a parting line: "Stay hard for me until I get back."
As Arabella stepped out, Raven, stationed silently in the room's corner, immediately followed.
He was silent and motionless, like a puppet on strings, with only Arabella's thread able to pull him, bringing him to life with a reaction.
Albatross watched them walk out, one after the other, his gentle expression shifting into a dark, intense frown.
Being in bed was nice, but in the end, it was just the bed. How could she take him out of there?
Before Walter crossed the sea, his boss had warned him: though Arabella was a woman, she was feared by both sides of the law, not one to be underestimated.
He dismissed it, thinking, "How strong could a woman possibly be?"
He imagined Arabella as likely mannish, tall, sturdy, rough around the edges, and androgynous. After all, in a world of blood and blades, only someone with enough swagger could hold the stage.
But when Arabella stepped out of the car, he rubbed his eyes and stared in disbelief as she sashayed gracefully from a distance.
She wasn't a beauty, but she looked delicate and frail, as if a mere breeze could topple her—were the people in this line of work blind?
She looked like a cat, exuding cleverness, yet nowhere near the ferocity of a tiger.
"Mr. Bexley, thank you for your hard journey."
Arabella spoke, her voice soft and gentle, surprising Walter even more. How could anyone listen to her commands if she spoke like this?
Already holding Arabella in low regard, Walter smirked and sneered, "Didn't expect Master Unknown to be someone without a rod."
Arabella smiled, nodding along, "Of course, a woman can't carry a rod."
Arabella accepted the word casually, leaving Walter with no room to continue mocking.
He turned to his men and ordered, "Tell him to bring out the goods. Let Master Unknown have a look."
His words were brazen, with an arrogant tone that made Arabella's subordinates darken their expressions.
Raven's gaze had never left Arabella. Seeing her unmoved, he remained steady as a rock.
Arabella seemed to ignore Walter's words entirely and smiled warmly, "Mr. Bexley, you've come from afar; there's no rush about the goods. I've prepared drinks; let's enjoy ourselves first, then discuss business."
Having little regard for Arabella, Walter was certain the deal would go through. Tempted by her invitation, he nodded, "Master Unknown is indeed hospitable. Let's go."
After agreeing, Walter turned and called out, "Taras, unload the goods and come over."
A distant, low, magnetic voice answered.
Following the voice, Arabella's gaze fell on the back of a man.
Due to the heat, the man had removed his fitted jacket, wearing only a black tank top that revealed his exceptionally toned physique—broad shoulders and a powerful build. A dark mark was visible on his back shoulder, likely a tattoo, though the distance made it hard to discern the design.
Arabella left some of her own men to help Walter's people with the unloading.
She took Walter and left first.
After they departed, the man, called Taras Emerson, who had been busy with the goods, straightened up, gazing at the receding convoy with an inscrutable expression.
