Chapter 1541 Burning with Rage
Zaid received an urgent message from the research facility. He and Atlas had no choice but to make the journey.
Atlas followed Zaid like a shadow—a shadow without independent thought. Whatever Zaid commanded, Atlas executed without question.
As they boarded the plane, Atlas leaned toward Zaid. "Are we going to make sure Raymond never returns?"
"We're going to make his death excruciating," Zaid replied coldly.
Traveling to Vesperia during this crisis was tantamount to suicide. International news outlets provided round-the-clock coverage of the disease ravaging the region. Every nation had issued immediate evacuation orders, desperate to extract their citizens while the virus remained contained within Arcturus. If the contagion spread beyond those borders, the world faced catastrophe.
Raymond had just checked into a hotel in Arcturus. Agent 00 shadowed him closely, staying in the same building like a faithful sentinel. Later that evening, more of Raymond's operatives arrived and took rooms in the hotel. They gathered around a computer for a briefing until Raymond's phone chimed with a notification—a map sent by an unknown contact.
This map was the very reason he had risked coming to Vesperia. Four days earlier, the same anonymous source had provided him with detailed schematics of Mystic Prison, complete with every corridor, chamber, and even the secret passages.
Most disturbing was the fact that the map showed the exact location where Raymond had once used carrier pigeons to communicate with the outside world—information he had shared with no one. This mysterious cartographer was clearly someone with insider knowledge.
Raymond hadn't needed those plans at the time, having already escaped through the tunnels with Emilio's help. But two days ago, the stranger had sent something even more valuable: a map of Arcturus with the research facility's precise location clearly marked.
With the disease outbreak in Arcturus, Raymond couldn't risk bringing Selena along. Knowing her stubborn nature, she would never have agreed to stay behind if consulted. Instead, he assembled a small team of his most trusted operatives for this dangerous reconnaissance mission.
Now, with his team assembled in the hotel, Raymond prepared to investigate the coordinates on the map. His finger traced a path to a specific building.
"This hospital allegedly collaborates with the research facility," he explained, his voice low and measured. "We'll start here. If we can verify they're supplying human subjects to the facility, it confirms the map's authenticity."
Raymond's finger lingered on the location as he issued instructions to his team. "This is reconnaissance only. Document surveillance cameras and track where the so-called 'voluntary donors' are being transported. The map remains unverified—if anything feels wrong, abort immediately and return."
The operatives nodded in understanding. Raymond had personally trained this covert unit, and their intelligence-gathering skills were unparalleled.
Glancing out the window at the pitch-black night, Raymond nodded. "Perfect conditions. Begin your initial sweep."
After the team departed, Raymond summoned Agent 00 to his room.
"Mr. Montague," 00 said.
"Keep your face covered—mask and hat at all times," Raymond instructed. "Scout the city over the next few days. The outbreak in Arcturus likely connects to the research facility. If K's people come here, they won't pass up the opportunity to find you."
More accurately, they wouldn't spare Selena.
Agent 00 was part of Raymond's expendable forces—assets he had cultivated without emotional attachment. These arrangements had been established years ago when he'd resolved her problems. Raymond understood that accomplishing the impossible required willingness to sacrifice.
"Understood, Mr. Montague," 00 replied without hesitation.
With his orders given, Raymond exhaled slowly and reached for his phone, which had remained powered off until now. He turned it on and sent Selena a message—just a single question mark.
Surprisingly, she hadn't blocked him despite his abrupt departure for Vesperia. His expression softened as he quickly followed up with a kissing emoji.
He typed: [I'm fine. Don't worry. Take care of yourself at home.] he typed.
Meanwhile, Selena had been pestering Richard for days to gather information about Raymond's whereabouts. Now that Raymond had contacted her directly, anger surged through her body, a physical pain constricting her chest.
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