Chapter 1543 Still Haven't Found Her
As daybreak arrived, the team set out early. Raymond gave 00 final instructions to wander the city inconspicuously. Masked and capped, she began exploring the urban landscape while maintaining a low profile.
Zaid and Atlas reached their destination by afternoon, but rather than entering Arcturus city, they took a helicopter directly to the research facility headquarters.
The facility occupied the most challenging terrain—its surface hidden beneath dense forest teeming with venomous creatures, while below stretched a vast underground complex. Initially funded with billions of dollars decades ago, the facility remained pristine despite the years.
Retinal scanners at the entrance verified their identities, with similar checkpoints positioned every thirty feet to prevent unauthorized access.
The final security corridor, sixty feet long and lined with cameras, analyzed their gait patterns against stored data. Any discrepancy would trigger the ceiling-mounted guns, leaving security personnel to quietly dispose of the remains. In all its years of operation, no outsider had ever infiltrated the facility.
After clearing all security measures, Zaid and Atlas entered the main hall—a sprawling thirty-thousand square foot space filled with white-coated personnel.
Unlike other research institutions, these workers wore ankle restraints that prevented them from ever leaving the facility. Any attempt to escape would trigger an explosion, destroying far more than just their legs.
"Where's Ms. Isolde Porter?" Zaid asked a nearby staff member.
"Waiting for you inside," the worker replied, leading them through multiple barriers to a hidden residential section.
Standing at the door, Zaid knocked with practiced familiarity. Their mentor, Isolde Porter, was an elegant woman in her fifties who had been with the facility for thirty years. As a core member, she too was forbidden from leaving.
"Ms. Porter," Zaid called respectfully.
Isolde sat in a leather chair, wearing simple bracelets—still graceful despite her age.
"You're back," she said, her face appearing gentle though her eyes remained cold as she assessed them both. "Did you resolve your matter while you were away?"
"I still couldn't find her," Zaid replied flatly, sitting down and pouring himself water. "But Jason Smith in Vistalia has been poisoned to near death. Nothing but the facility's medicine can save him."
He respectfully presented the Jellyfish Seal. "Ms. Porter, a birthday gift for you."
Isolde's birthday fell this month, and the BK organization was Zaid's gift to her. She ran her fingertips over the seal, smiling slightly. "Pity I can't leave this place. Still, you've done well with Jason. I want the Smith family to suffer!"
Her eyes flashed with malice as she clutched the Jellyfish Seal. Her hatred for the Smith family, particularly Octavia, pleased Zaid, who shared her antipathy.
"Ms. Porter, Octavia is likely being held by Manuel. His feelings toward her are... complicated," Zaid explained.
"Manuel?" she inquired.
"Someone in the organization. He's the one who obtained the Jellyfish Seal."
"So it was him," she remarked, her tone laden with unspoken meaning.
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