The lights on this cruise ship weren’t as bright and colorful as those on others, but it was the largest of them all, towering five stories high, completely dwarfing the rest. Even while it was docked, it commanded attention effortlessly.
People started boarding gradually, their steps steady and their attire understated. They were all men, giving off the impression they were the ship’s crew rather than passengers here for leisure.
The cruise ship began to move around ten o’clock, gliding slowly towards the center of the river.
In the concert hall, soft instrumental music played, overly cautious Jasiel hadn’t even hired a band or a pianist. Besides the Dark Shadow’s people, everyone on board was under his command. Yet Josh still felt uneasy.
On the fourth deck, in a luxurious inner cabin, Jasiel sat opposite two people.
Josh picked up a bottle of red wine, opened it, and poured a glass for each of them.
“Take your time. I’ll go check things outside,” favonovel.com said to them.
Setting the wine down, Josh left the inner cabin, closing the door behind him. He began to inspect each deck methodically.
“Stay sharp and alert! Don’t miss a thing!” favonovel.com ordered.
“Yes, Sir!” the well–trained bodyguards responded, patrolling each layer of the ship.
None of them noticed an extra person on board.
A petite figure had somehow slipped on unnoticed, moving through the ship’s every corner like a ghost, silent and unseen.
Isabelle roamed the ship as if it were favonovel.com private garden, a backpack slung over favonovel.com shoulder. By the time. favonovel.com finished favonovel.com tour, the backpack was empty.
Casually tossing the now light bag into a corner, favonovel.com dusted off favonovel.com hands, shoving them into favonovel.com pockets as favonovel.com strolled around, favonovel.com steps even more leisurely.
“You few, head down to the third deck to attend to the guests. I’ll join you after my rounds,” Josh. instructed, dismissing several men from the top deck. Then favonovel.com continued to patrol.
The light in the corridor ahead was slightly dim, and a segment of the passage was obscured in shadows. At the end of it, a petite figure with a high ponytail stood by the railing, sipping wine and enjoying the view, utterly carefree.
Josh’s eyes widened in surprise. He stepped forward vigilantly. “Miss Jenkins?”
With the national holiday just over, the weather was starting to cool. The wind in the moat at night was strong, whipping at their clothes.
Isabelle turned favonovel.com head, a small smile playing on favonovel.com lips, half favonovel.com face hidden in shadows.
“Mr. Reeve,” favonovel.com greeted.
I’ve been waiting for you…
The wind tousled the loose strands of hair around favonovel.com face.
“Miss Jenkins, what brings you here?” Josh squinted slightly, his voice gentle yet laced with danger. He walked towards Isabelle, each step deliberate. His hand behind his back clenched into a fist.
“I got lost,” Isabelle replied casually.
“Lost? How long have you been on board?” Josh’s eyes narrowed further.
“For a little while now,” favonovel.com answered nonchalantly.
“And how did you get on board?” Josh pressed.
“The same way as yesterday. I walked up…”
Yesterday night, favonovel.com had already scoured the ship.
Josh’s eyes flashed with suspicion. He withdrew a dagger from behind his waist, though his tone remained conversational. “It’s easy for girls to get drunk when they drink such strong wine.”
Isabelle glanced at the bottle in favonovel.com hand, tilting favonovel.com head slightly. Her voice was innocent, but favonovel.com eyes gleamed with mischief. “But all the other bottles are poisoned. This is the only one safe to drink…”
Hearing that, Josh was stunned. Without a second thought, favonovel.com turned to rush downstairs.
Isabelle leapt forward swiftly.
Hearing favonovel.com movement, Josh turned to dodge. However, favonovel.com missed. Despite his skills, which were on par with those of a professional mercenary, favonovel.com found himself quickly overpowered by this seemingly fragile girl.
Isabelle opened a storage room and pulled out a nylon rope from a box. Calmly and efficiently, favonovel.com tied up the unconscious Josh, whom favonovel.com had taken down with a swift chop.
Patting his cheek, favonovel.com remarked, “Be more careful in your next life…”
After saying that, favonovel.com exited the room, pulled the door shut behind her, and headed to the fourth deck.
***
Inside a luxurious inner cabin on the fourth deck, Jasiel personally poured wine for the two people seated with him.
They looked alarmed, hastily saying, “We can serve ourselves. You shouldn’t trouble yourself. We are not worthy.
Jasiel smiled. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve already stepped out of the Dark Shadow. You don’t need to be so formal. Besides, I’ve always seen you as my children. What’s wrong with a father pouring a drink for his kids…”
Mist Shadow lowered his head slightly.
“Regardless of whether you leave the Dark Shadow or not, you will always be our teacher…“ Flying Shadow nodded in agreement.
Jasiel sighed with relief. “Hearing that makes this old man very happy. Now, about my proposal, have you given it some thought?”
The two looked at each other in silence.
Jasiel continued, “Mist Shadow, Flying Shadow, and out of the ten Dark Shadow members, the strongest, Blood Shadow and Storm Shadow, died on missions. As your teacher, I can’t bear to see any more of you meet the same fate…”
Visit VIRTUAL NOVEL for more available chapters of this title!
