Arabella stood on the rear bumper of the car, tucking her pant legs into her combat boots. She then reached into the trunk, pulled out a handgun from one of the black duffel bags, and secured it in the holster on her waist.
Bramwell stepped out of the driver's seat, opened the rear door, and dragged out a trembling Merrick. The moment Merrick saw Arabella, he immediately opened his arms and rushed toward her.
"Bella, are you okay?"
Arabella's eyes softened as she quietly allowed Merrick to embrace her. She whispered gently into his ear, "I'm fine, don't worry."
Merrick clung to Arabella, refusing to let go, his wary eyes fixed on Bramwell. He whispered nervously in Arabella's ear, "Be careful, Bella. He pointed a gun at me earlier. He must be a bad guy." Spending time around Arabella seemed to stabilize Merrick's emotions, and his conversations with her even appeared normal. In truth, however, his madness had deepened—he could no longer distinguish between reality and illusion.
Arabella gently patted him to reassure him. "I asked him to bring you to me. It's fine, don't worry."
Hearing that everything was fine, Merrick relaxed and broke into a radiant smile. From his brows to the contours of his face, every line was almost identical to Cyrus's. Coupled with the uncanny resemblance in his gaze, even a simple smile was enough to make Arabella momentarily dazed, luring her into distraction—and ultimately, toward her demise.
Years ago, had Nicholas not been consumed by jealousy, using Merrick as a pawn to provoke her, he might have succeeded. Nicholas was convinced that Merrick's madness was entirely his doing, never realizing that Arabella had secretly used a drug on him. However, after just a few applications, she had to leave the base for other matters with Raven. Yet, as fate would have it, all parties seemed to agree that a deranged Merrick was far safer and easier to control than a lucid one. Like a doll, he needed only a beautiful shell, with no soul inside.
Arabella glanced at Merrick, her emotions deepening in her gaze, and softly instructed, "Stay close to me later."
As Merrick nodded, Arabella turned her gaze toward Bramwell, who immediately stepped forward to report, "Master Unknown, everyone has been arranged to retreat. Some have already headed toward the Doma border."
Arabella nodded, then turned her head to see a crimson dawn slowly rising in the distance, painting the sky from bottom to top in vivid hues. She withdrew her gaze indifferently and waved her hand, issuing the command: "Move out."
A line of SUVs moved silently across the wilderness. In the distance, a red glow illuminated the horizon, while the nearby surroundings remained dark and shadowy. Inside the vehicle, the sound of Arabella loading her gun broke the stillness. Even Merrick, seated beside her, quieted his breathing, the madman finding rare calm. In the silence of the night, he quietly reached out and pressed down on the back of Arabella's hand holding the gun, just as he had on the night they once promised to leave together.
Arabella was unlike most women. Though she appeared slender, her well-trained muscles and high stamina meant every part of her body radiated strength. At that moment, she held the K09 heavy machine gun in one hand while using the other to grip Merrick's hand in return.
The road to the border was rough and bumpy. Fandel was a hypocritical country, flourishing only in its central regions while its borders grew increasingly desolate and chaotic. Years ago, Arabella had established a secure base in the border town. But during a recent smuggling run, the leader in that base and Rus governments had conspired to kill her as she passed through. In response, Arabella had annihilated the base in a bloodbath, leaving nothing behind.
Over the past three years, she had abandoned her old bases, establishing new ones around Scalien's periphery. Her main base was now inconspicuously located in a factory on the outskirts of Jingle's industrial zone.
To approach Scalien, there were only two neighboring countries. The borders between these nations and Scalien were nearly impenetrable. With her limited manpower, direct infiltration was impossible. Thus, her initial target had always been Doma.
The country of Doma is naturally shielded by the sprawling the dangerous Mountain Range, which encircles it from all directions. This geographical barrier has led neighboring nations to collectively acknowledge that Doma is unsuitable for either smuggling or surprise attacks.
Doma is bordered by Jingle to the west, Fandel to the east. Geographically, it appears to have no connection with Scalien. However, the Mountain Range naturally links Doma to Scalien, creating a hidden connection.
After the previous clash, Jasper had grown much more cautious. This time, he ordered the troops stationed in the board towns to retreat over ten kilometers, allowing Arabella and her group to advance unimpeded into the natural barrier zone of the Mountains range.
For some reason, Jasper found himself unable to sleep that night—a rarity for a soldier with an iron will who never succumbed easily to stress. Alone in the general's residence, he watched as the night gradually faded and the sky was painted a brilliant crimson by the dawn. He calculated that Arabella's group must be nearing the Mountains range by now.
Three years ago, Arabella had emerged like a phantom from the southern Mountains range. Now, three years later, she was leading her group like ghost, slipping away silently from his territory to head toward Scalien.
He hadn't even known there was a hidden path in the northern Mountains range that led directly to Scalien's border. To him, Arabella was like a breeze—free, untethered, and seemingly capable of anything. But Arabella was no ordinary breeze; she seemed to possess an unyielding soul that drove her body to accomplish the impossible.
Arabella, who had taken countless lives and lived a life steeped in bloodshed, was once again embarking on a path of slaughter. Whether she would survive or perish was uncertain. Perhaps, after this journey, the world would see Arabella no more.
When daylight finally broke, the growing light at the window illuminated Jasper's bloodshot eyes, making them even more striking. After a moment, he stood up, raised his hand, and poured a glass of strong liquor out the window. Without a trace of hesitation, he turned and walked away.
"Arabella, I toast to you with this drink. Whether you live or die from here on out, I'll consider you as someone who never crossed paths with my life."
When Arabella and her group arrived, Raven was already waiting with the team from Jingle. This operation had been initiated suddenly, with Arabella deliberately avoiding Ferdinand. That kid was still in Spanka, producing a large batch of weapons for her. What he didn't know was that, this time, her journey to Scalien required minimal equipment; it was a mission where she might not return. There was no need for Ferdinand to risk his life unnecessarily.
After stepping out of the vehicle, Arabella glanced around and asked, "Is Taras not here yet?"
Raven shook his head, his gaze fixed on Arabella. He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt an inexplicable aura of deathly chill emanating from her, something different from before. His mind wandered back to the instructions Arabella had given him that night, causing him to clench his teeth unconsciously before silently averting his gaze.
Hearing that Taras hadn't arrived, Bramwell furrowed his brow, recalling how he had seen Taras leave in a hurry before their departure. Unable to hold back, he asked, "Master Unknown, did you assign Taras to handle something?"
Arabella glanced at Bramwell with interest before nodding. "That's right. I sent him to take care of something. But it seems things didn't go smoothly, as he's still not here."
Upon hearing that Arabella had indeed tasked Taras with something, Bramwell let go of his doubts and stopped asking. To him, the only chain weighing on his heart was his past identity. When Arabella personally lifted that burden, he felt as light as a feather. How others were used by Arabella was none of his concern. He was willing—life or death didn't matter. What mattered was that Arabella accepted his devotion.
By the time Taras arrived in a hurry, Arabella had already led the group to the foothills of the Mountain Range. The northern mountains were rugged and treacherous, far more desolate than the southern part. There were no extra villages for Arabella to send people to annihilate. Delayed by the wait, the group decided to rest on the spot, pulling out dry rations to satisfy their hunger. The harsh climate of the Mountains range made it impossible to start a campfire, even at the base of the range.
Arabella stood on a jutting rocky slope, holding a pair of binoculars and observing the terrain ahead. Taras deftly climbed up to stand beside her, grumbling incessantly, "I never thought distracting those cops would take so much effort. Master Unknown, have you been waiting long?"
Arabella lowered the binoculars in her hand and turned to sit on a large rock nearby. One leg dangled casually while the other braced against the stone. She cast a playful glance at Taras, her smile calm and sweet, though a storm raged within her heart. On the surface, however, she remained the picture of composed serenity. "By now, that batch of formula we sent out should've made its way into the Scalien market, right?"
The mention of the formula left Taras baffled. "Master Unknown, I brought such a capable crew, thinking we'd be pushing drugs for you. But you used them to sell baby formula? Are you really that short on formula money?"
Arabella laughed at this and teased, "I'm just looking out for the next generation of Scalien."
Taras snorted, barely stopping himself from rolling his eyes. "Can you be serious for once?"
"It's just a test," Arabella replied casually. "It's been years since I last went back. I need to assess the situation with the opposition."
Taras unhooked his water pouch, took a few sips, and smacked his lips before snapping, "Formula isn't even illegal. Smuggling some doesn't count for much. This so-called test is barely worth it, and you made me move fifty thousand cans of formula to sell for so long? And now it turns out you've had a secret passage to Scalien all along? Why did you go through all that effort in the first place?"
Arabella leapt nimbly off the large rock, a playful grin on her face as she replied cheerfully, "It's all just a smokescreen. Did you really think I'd take people to the border for a head-on battle?"
Taras paused in surprise before shamelessly sidling up to Arabella. His tall frame exuded raw, untamed energy, and as always, he carried himself with a devil-may-care attitude. Without hesitation, he pulled Arabella into his arms, teasing her in his usual playful manner. "Master Unknown, I work so hard for you, but you go out of your way to track down your old flame? Don't you think that makes me feel a little hurt?"
"How about you switch places with him? You die, and I'll bring him back to life. Then you can see what it feels like for me to go on a long journey just to find your corpse," Arabella quipped.
Taras grinned and shook his head vigorously. "Stop spouting nonsense. I plan to stay alive and have hundreds of rounds with you in bed."
Arabella swung her hand, pretending to swat his cock, but he dodged just in time. "Arabella, go easy on me. If you break my little buddy, won't you need it later?" he teased.
The two bantered carelessly for a while before descending. As soon as Arabella landed, Merrick, who had been nervously waiting, rushed over. Grabbing her sleeve with both hands, he looked at her anxiously. "Bella, I feel uneasy. Why did we come to these desolate mountains? Didn't we agree to stay far away from Scalien?"
Arabella held his hand in return, her tone light as if it were a simple errand. "It's fine. I forgot something and just need to go back and get it." Taras, trailing behind, saw Arabella's feigned nonchalance and couldn't hold back this time, rolling his eyes and looking away. Arabella was a cold and ruthless woman; he never harbored any illusions of a virtuous bloom blossoming atop her icy crown.
This time was different from the perilous journey through the southern Mountains range, where a single misstep could send one plummeting into an abyss. The northern secret path was hidden within a towering mountain, its caves winding and deep. Standing at the entrance, one could feel a chilling wind rushing out. Most people wouldn't dare enter such an ancient cavern, its depths exuding an air of danger.
Before setting out, Arabella had everyone double-check their gear. Now clad in a sleek, tight-fitting outfit, she tightened her sleeves, glanced at Merrick by her side, and placed him behind her, softly instructing, "Stay close to me." Merrick trembled all over but stubbornly shook his head at her words. "Bella, get behind me. I'll protect you."
Taras, busy packing his gear nearby, let out a scoff and said, "Alright, pretty boy, just stay in line and follow behind." Seeing Taras's menacing demeanor, Merrick pressed himself closer to Arabella, tense and protective, like a mother hen shielding her chick.
Raven returned from scouting the cave just in time, his presence cold and his expression stern. Standing before Arabella, he reported, "Master Unknown, the cave is just as before—everything's normal."
Arabella nodded, glancing back at Bramwell, who was hanging behind the group. She gestured for him to catch up, and the group of over fifty began moving toward the cave.
