I immediately sensed that he was hiding something.
I asked, "Does the A District research base have secrets?"
Lee answered in a deep voice and nodded.
On the highway, there were cargo trucks speeding by.
I chased and overtook them one by one.
Finally, I spotted the transport truck for A District.
Just as I was breathing a sigh of relief.
Bang—
A bullet grazed my scalp and shattered the car window.
I was stunned for a moment.
Have the A District people started firing at civilians indiscriminately? What a bunch of unreasonable lunatics! She truly is an unreasonable madwoman.
The next second, more gunfire was directed at me.
I gritted my teeth and suddenly saw a bullet heading straight for my forehead.
Clang—
A force deflected the bullet, sending it towards the car window.
The car window cracked like a spider web.
With a crack, it shattered!
I turned my head and saw it was Lee!
He looked unwell, with scales on his tail scraped by bullets, emitting a burnt smell.
My face turned pale. "Why are you here? I told you to stay home!"
Lee said quietly, standing in front of me.
"If I hadn't come, you might have been in trouble."
His scaled tail swept away the bullets, protecting me, while I was unharmed.
Many of his beautiful scales were damaged, exposing and burning the flesh beneath.
Yet despite that, he showed no sign of retreat.
He resolutely stood in front of me.
A pang of sadness and an unusual tenderness surged within me.
After raising Alvaro for so many years, he had never worried about me or considered my safety.
This sense of security was instead given to me by the fleeting Lee.
Another loud explosion.
A cloud of powder exploded in the car, making one feel a bit drowsy.
It's a sedative bomb!
Those research madmen from A District.
They forced my car to a stop and locked us in the transport truck.
In the dim dungeon.
Alvaro, injured all over, was weakly shackled in a cramped cage by iron chains.
He looked at me with surprise, confusion, and sadness in his eyes.
And some obscure, complex emotions.
Suddenly, he saw Lee, who was unconscious beside me.
Alvaro's gaze darkened, filled with hostility as he asked,
"Who is this snake person?"
I blurted out, "Oh, he's my new beastman. Isn't he beautiful?"
His jaw tightened.
Pulling at the chains, ignoring the blood streaming down, he grabbed my hand.
"Did you break up with me... just for this snake person lover?!"
"Noelle, are you out of your mind?"
I slowly pulled my hand away, smiling at him.
"Alvaro, I heard everything you said on your birthday. Why the pretense?"
"By letting you go, I'm also letting myself go."
I wasn't sure if it was my imagination.
Alvaro's eyes seemed to glaze over with tears as he turned his head away.
"Then why did you come to save me?"
Like a wronged little fox.
Unfortunately, he was no longer the adorable fox he once was.
I sighed, thinking to myself.
I didn't want this either, if I had known there would be life-threatening danger, I would have stayed away, even if it meant facing punishment from the Beastman Association.
Clank—
The lock on the cage was opened, and a well-built woman walked in.
She wore high heels and had bright red lipstick.
I was astonished. "Sis?"
Yes, the woman before me was Carley.
She was also the one Alvaro had been yearning for.
But at this moment, Alvaro was huddled in a corner.
He avoided eye contact, his body trembling involuntarily, as if he feared her.
I guessed at a few things in my heart.
My sister had always enjoyed using various methods to torment beastmen.
Only the unsuspecting beastmen would eagerly approach her, attracted by her 79% excellence rate.
Alvaro's injuries were probably caused by her.
It could be considered as retribution, he deserved it.
Carley saw me and gave a light laugh.
"Long time no see, Noelle."
"Beastmen are sentimental. I knew it would follow you here."
A smile played at the corners of her mouth.
She seemed to see through the entire situation, controlling everything.
I suddenly realized.
All the clues connected.
That phone call was made by her; she used Alvaro as bait, knowing I would come.
And Lee, being sentimental, would follow me to ensure my safety.
All of this was a trap set by her.
