Chapter 229Â
An hour later.Â
Emily stepped off the plane and quickly found the group of mercenaries waiting for her.Â
It was their first time meeting SQ in person. They had expected a man, so they were taken aback when a young woman showed up instead. And not just any woman, but someoneÂ
who looked barely out of her teens.Â
“Who is our target? We’ve taken on this rescue mission. Don’t worry, we’ll get the target out. But you should stay at the hotel and wait for updates. We don’t want you slowing us down,” said a middle-aged man with the codename Leopard. His tone was serious, not condescending. He was just being practical. Even though Emily was their employer, herÂ
safety was crucial. If something happened to her, their payment could be at risk.Â
“You think I’ll be a burden and you doubt my skills, right?” Emily shot back, her voice steady and confident despite her petite frame.Â
Leopard was caught off guard by her composure. She clearly wasn’t just any youngÂ
woman.Â
But Zephyria was a dangerous place. Rescuing someone there was like walking a tightropeÂ
over a pit of knives; confidence alone wouldn’t cut it.Â
“Since you get it, and we’re worried about your safety, just wait for our updates,” LeopardÂ
reiterated.Â
The rest of the team nodded in agreement.Â
Emily gave a faint smile and pulled out her laptop. As her fingers danced over theÂ
keyboard, she said, “I think I might be more useful than you think.”Â
Within moments, images and video feeds started popping up on the screen. It was aÂ
detailed layout of the compound they needed to infiltrate. This intel would significantlyÂ
boost their chances of a successful rescue.Â
The woman codenamed Bird, the only other woman in the group, dressed in practical, no-Â
nonsense gear, looked impressed. “Sorry, we almost forgot you’re SQ, the top hacker onÂ
the dark web! Perfect, you can provide us with safe routes and keep communicationsÂ
open. That’ll be good for you too.”Â
“Sounds like a solid plan. Clear division of labor!” the others chimed in.Â
Emily didn’t respond with words. Instead, she suddenly threw a punch at Leopard’s face.Â
He instinctively stepped back, ready to counter, but Emily was quicker. Her punch turnedÂ
into a palm strike, her fingertips stopping just short of his carotid artery. Her fingers wereÂ
like steel.Â
The move left everyone stunned.Â
“Now, you shouldn’t doubt my abilities anymore. I’m leading this mission, and you’llÂ
follow my orders,” she declared, her gaze sweeping over the group. “I’ve been to this placeÂ
before, so I know it better than anyone. With my skills, I’m the only one fit to lead thisÂ
mission!”Â
She was the one funding the operation and had the experience. No one dared to argue.Â
Emily then made a phone call. Soon, someone from Zephyria delivered the supplies sheÂ
needed. Some items couldn’t be shipped by plane, so it was better to buy them locally.Â
Thanks to her past knowledge, she knew who had the goods and managed to contactÂ
them.Â
Seeing Emily’s thorough preparations, the group felt reassured. It was time to act.Â
Emily decided they would move at night.Â
Although there would be more patrols, the darkness would help them blend in and moveÂ
Chapter 229Â
undetected.Â
Everyone rested, saving their energy until nightfall.Â
They moved through the night, quickly reaching the perimeter of the compound.Â
The walls were topped with electric fences, making climbing over impossible.Â
Emily knew there would be a vehicle delivering new “goods” that night. She timed it perfectly, having two people distract the guards while she and another person hid underÂ
the vehicle.Â
They entered the compound without incident.Â
Once inside, Emily used a combination of drugs and hypnosis to get two guards to open aÂ
path, allowing the others to enter.Â
Emily handed her laptop to another member. Though not as skilled as her, he could useÂ
the decrypted codes to navigate without raising alarms. He could track the layout andÂ
patrol shifts.Â
Emily needed Leopard and the others to create a diversion while she infiltrated Hayden’sÂ
location.Â
Hayden was in bad shape, unconscious.Â
Emily thought it might be for the best; at least he wouldn’t make noise and attractÂ
attention. Leopard hoisted Hayden onto his back.Â
“Get him out of here.”Â
“What about you? Aren’t you coming?”,Â
Leopard had assumed their mission would be half-complete once they rescued Hayden. AsÂ
long as they all got out alive, the mission would be a success.Â
Chapter 229Â
“Don’t worry, you’ll get your payment. I’ll handle some unfinished business.”Â
This place shouldn’t exist. Besides helping the authorities rescue people, she needed toÂ
destroy it.Â
“What’s that noise?”Â
As Leopard hesitated, Hayden began to stir, making a faint noise that caught theÂ
attention of a nearby patrol.Â
Emily signaled that they couldn’t delay any longer. If they waited, no one would get out.Â
Leopard gave Emily a look that said, “Be careful,” and quickly left with Hayden.Â
Emily moved swiftly and quietly, leaving the room and heading to another one she knew,Â
in which an important figure was held.Â
“Who are you? What are you doing here?”Â
The man inside, clearly on edge from his ordeal, woke up at the slightest noise.Â
He had a gentle appearance but was worn down, his eyes sunken.Â
“Mr. Roach, shh, calm down. I’m not with them. I’m here to rescue you!”Â
Emily quickly covered his mouth, urging him to stay quiet.Â
A stranger claiming to be a rescuer, out of the blue, was hard to trust. Elmer Roach hadÂ
been through so much that he had lost hope. He nodded, agreeing not to make noise, butÂ
he didn’t trust her.Â
“I don’t believe you’re here to rescue me. There are too many armed guards. How couldÂ
you get in? You look young and pretty, probably lured in like me. If you help them,Â
tricking me into making programs for them, there’s no turning back. I won’t be fooled!”Â
447Â
Elmer’s voice was cold.Â
Emily had expected resistance but not complete distrust.Â
She didn’t have time to convince him.Â
“If you haven’t given up after all this, why not take this chance? Either I’m telling the truth, and you have a shot at escaping, or I’m lying, and the worst that happens is you’reÂ
caught again and punished. If you’re afraid, pretend I never said anything.”Â
Emily was confident that he would agree.Â
After enduring so much, his willpower was strong.Â
“Alright, I’ll go with you!”Â