Ch. 411..420
Chapter 411 Connections
Branden went to pick up Catherine from school. After getting her homework, winter break had officially begun. The winter in Casier was a bit cold, so he planned to take Catherine to Oceanvile.
Besides, the business of the Swann Corporation and the Duncan Corporation had been doing well there lately. The man had it all planned out in his mind, but he still needed to ask Catherine’s advice.
“Do you have any plans for winter break? If not, how about I take you to Oceanvile for the winter?”
Catherine might have regarded Branden’s arrangement favorably if she hadn’t taken the training mission to Scorpion Island.
Rodge had messaged her a couple of times for help, and Dr. Dunn had been urging her to make a trip over there.
“No!” Catherine instantly rejected the man. “I’ve got to go to Alton to tutor those brats… I promised and took the money. It can’t be refunded!”
In her opinion, training those rookies was just like tutoring little kids!
“For how long?” The smile on the man’s face was already fading.
Catherine casually replied, “About a month!”
Although it wouldn’t take a month, Catherine preferred to grant a wide range of time to cope with all sorts of changes.
The winter break was less than 40 days, and Catherine would be gone for a month. Three days was long enough for Branden, and when he heard this, his brows instantly furrowed.
“Can’t you not go? I’ll pay for the tuition. Double!”
The man’s generosity took Catherine by surprise. She clicked her tongue and thought, “He offers double without asking me how much the tuition fee is?”
“No, I have to go!” Catherine rejected and winked at the man, a naughty and adorable look on her face.
“I’m not the kind of person who gives in to money. I am a person of principle!
It sounded like a joke, but the man knew that Catherine had made up her mind. Knowing that he couldn’t persuade her, the man could only reach out and embrace Catherine into his arms, letting her sit on his lap and hug her tightly.
After all, they were about to be separated for a month, and the thought of going through such a long period without seeing each other made him feel irritable and depressed.
“The Duncan Corporation has a branch in Alton. Can I arrange for someone there to take care of you if you go over there?”
Catherine could see the man’s depression and held back her laughter inside. As compensation, Catherine agreed to his request. “Okay!”
After returning to the apartment, Catherine ran into Audrey, who rarely had free time at home, and Catherine told her that she would be going abroad for a month during her winter break.
Audrey immediately shouted, “Kathy, you’re going abroad for a month alone? How can that be?”
Then she added, “Kathy, how about I go with you? It’s risky for you to be alone in a foreign country.”
Images of crises instantly flashed through Audrey’s mind, scaring her pale!
Catherine repeated inwardly, “Risky to be alone in a foreign country?”
Catherine could not understand why Audrey was worried about her being in danger. She felt that Audrey should be more concerned about the brats she would train. After all, they were the ones who were in danger.
Hearing Audrey say that she would accompany her abroad, Catherine looked at her with a raised eyebrow and a playful look in her eyes.
“Don’t you have an audition next week? After that, you’ll likely be on the set getting ready for the shoot, so how can you go with me?”
Catherine’s words instantly put Audrey in a tangle.
Kim had said that there was a good chance that she would be selected this time, and it would be a waste to miss out on a movie as good as Cloudy World.
But Audrey still felt uneasy about Catherine going abroad alone and surrounding herself with danger.
After a long time of struggling, Audrey made her final decision.
“Kathy, I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to go with you to Alton. That movie is a big production, and the chances of me being chosen are slim. Besides, compared to your safety, a movie is nothing.”
“Nothing?” thought Catherine.
She stared at Audrey, and for a moment, Catherine felt that she had never understood Audrey.
She clearly knew how much Audrey cared about this movie. Otherwise, Audrey wouldn’t sacrifice her sleep to read the script.
But now, Audrey was giving up this opportunity to accompany her abroad.
And she even said her safety was more important than the opportunity!
Audrey’s words kept echoing in Catherine’s mind as she gradually returned to her senses, her initially blank eyes lighting up.
“You don’t have to accompany me to Alton. The Duncans have a company over there, and Branden will arrange for someone to take care of me.”
After that, she added, “Focus on your practice. I believe you’ll be in a position to be selected!”
It was rare to hear Catherine say so much at once, and Audrey was a bit surprised.
She almost forgot that Catherine had a big shot like Branden beside her. After all, the Duncans’ industries were spread all over the world.
Since Branden said that he would arrange for someone to take care of Catherine, Audrey could rest assured.
“Kathy, do you really think I’ll be able to succeed in the audition?”
Catherine nodded her head without hesitation. Although movies were not what Audrey was good at, she had seen Audrey’s performance at home, and it was indeed not bad.
Catherine’s affirmation gave Audrey the greatest encouragement, and Audrey’s eyes crinkled as she smiled.
“Kathy, that’s really nice of you. Thanks for your affirmation, and I’m super happy!”
“There is still a long way to go, but I’ll work hard. Kim said that those like me who passed the second round of auditions would have a chance to show their faces in the movie. But only if no one among the competitors has a strong background or connections.”
The entertainment industry was complex, and making a name without a background or backer was incredibly difficult.
It always took a while to start to matter. But if it was impossible to start, everything after that was a fantasy. Looking at Audrey’s silly smile of pleasure, Catherine could not help curling her lips upward.
She didn’t intend to tell Audrey that the person with the strongest connection in the entire Cloudy World crew was no one else but herself.
Although the Cloudy World project was the biggest project of Triston’s entertainment company next year, the financier behind it was the Duncan Corporation.
And the Duncan Corporation was willing to fund the project only because Audrey would be acting in the movie. As long as Audrey’s acting skills were up to par, no one could snatch her role!
Anyway, no one dared to stand against the Duncans in the whole of Zerwick. After talking about Catherine’s trip abroad, Audrey thought of another crucial thing.
“Kathy, if you’re going abroad for a month, will you return in time for Christmas?”
For people from Zerwick, Christmas was a very significant day, and they would go out of their way to return home for Christmas no matter where they were.
For Catherine, however, Christmas was a somewhat foreign word.
As far as she could remember, she didn’t seem to have celebrated Christmas, but looking at Audrey’s eyes full of expectation, Catherine couldn’t bear to refuse her.
“It depends. I’ll try my best!”
“Okay!” Audrey excitedly held Catherine’s arm. “Kathy, it doesn’t matter even if you come back on Christmas Eve, as long as you can be there. We’ll spend Christmas together as a family!”
“Family!” Catherine muttered inwardly.
Frowning slightly, Catherine mumbled in a hoarse voice, “Okay.”
Chapter 412 Departure
Branden took Catherine to the airport. Catherine was going to Alton. Branden gazed at her, his eyes filled with reluctance.
“Come back as soon as possible. I’ll pick you up!”
Catherine’s name could be heard in the airport announcement, but Branden didn’t intend to let her go.
“Alright, I’ll try.”
After saying that, Catherine swiftly took the luggage from Branden’s hand and ran into the security checkpoint.
“Gotta go, bye!”
Watching her back as she ran away without turning her head, Branden helplessly chuckled.
“Well, that’s very cruel of you,” he murmured inwardly. “I showed so much reluctance, yet you could still happily leave without showing me mercy.”
After Catherine boarded the plane, she realized that Branden had booked her the entire first-class cabin.
The flight attendant politely placed Catherine’s luggage down and led her to her seat. Being able to book the entire first-class cabin exclusively for one person was enough to prove the man’s wealth. He must be a big shot.
Catherine used to travel a lot, and Ronin would also book first-class for her, but not as extravagantly as Branden did. The quiet first-class cabin was indeed comfortable and suitable for resting.
After the flight attendant brought a clean blanket, Catherine decided to rest well and not be disturbed. During the three-hour journey, Catherine slept peacefully without any disturbances.
The money spent was indeed worth it!
When Catherine disembarked, she walked through the exclusive VIP channel, which was much faster than the regular passengers.
After she walked out of the airport, she saw several men in uniform standing in the VIP waiting room ahead.
She noticed them at first glance because the group leader emitted an extraordinary aura, indicating that he had excellent combat skills.
Soon, he noticed Catherine, their eyes meeting. The man walked straight toward Catherine and stopped a step away from her, politely and respectfully saying, “Miss Swann, hello, I’m Francis Duncan!”
“So, he’s Branden’s person,” Catherine thought. After knowing about Cory and Carlo, Catherine had wondered if there was another Duncan. But she was too lazy to ask Branden about it.
Unexpectedly, there really was another Duncan. Francis respectfully reached out and took the luggage from Catherine’s hand. “Miss Swann, may I ask if you intend to stay at a hotel or Duncan Manor?”
It was normal for Branden to have his own house or manor in Alton, given that the Duncans had business interests worldwide.
However, Catherine had no intention of staying at the manor. She was only staying for one night and would be leaving tomorrow.
“Arrange a hotel for me!”
“Alright!” Francis said without any hesitation. “Miss Swann, this way, please. The car is waiting outside!”
Catherine didn’t bother with pleasantries and walked straight ahead.
Francis watched her arrogant and domineering steps, his eyebrows slightly furrowing. He had always been curious about what kind of woman a powerful man like his boss would choose, but the answer had never appeared in his mind.
When Francis knew that Catherine was coming, he felt a bit excited. He wanted to see what kind of person this young lady, whom Cory always considered extraordinary, would be.
After seeing Catherine, however, he was disappointed.
Catherine looked too much like an inexperienced student. Not only was she young, but she was also exceptionally beautiful. In Francis’s opinion, being too beautiful might not necessarily be a good thing.
A great doubt arose in his heart. He wondered why his boss, such a formidable man, would choose Catherine.
Was it just based on her appearance?
After Catherine got in the car, she adjusted the angle of the seat and comfortably leaned back. The hat on her head was pressed down low, and the large brim completely covered her small face.
Seeing that she didn’t intend to speak, Francis secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It was easy for him to protect someone, but he wouldn’t be able to handle it if he had to entertain a talkative person.
As soon as the car engine turned off, Catherine spontaneously woke up. Francis exited the car and opened the door for her, handling her check-in procedures.
“Miss Swann, you will be staying here tonight. I will be in the room next to yours. I am responsible for all your safety matters during your time in Alton. If you need anything, feel free to tell me!”
Catherine walked into the room without saying a word and threw herself onto the sofa, propping her feet up without moving.
Francis didn’t show any expression, but inside, he was slightly displeased with Catherine’s behavior. After placing her luggage down, he respectfully said, “Miss Swann, if you don’t have any special instructions, I would like to take my leave. I will bring your dinner at six o’clock, and you can contact me anytime if you have any needs.”
Catherine remained silent, and after waiting for three seconds, Francis turned and left.
Upon hearing the sound of the door closing, Catherine pulled over a nearby blanket and comfortably rested. She knew that Francis didn’t like her and only treated her with respect because she was Branden’s girlfriend.
But for Catherine, that didn’t matter. After all, she didn’t expect everyone to like her. She just wanted to sleep peacefully while Francis did his duty without disturbing each other. That was enough.
After leaving the room, Francis immediately contacted Carlo. “Carlo, are you kidding me? You couldn’t even beat a little girl?”
Carlo had previously told Francis that he had fought against Catherine and was defeated by her instantly.
Francis’s disbelief brought a mischievous thought to Carlo’s mind.
Carlo, Paxton, and Cory had all been punished by their boss before, but Francis had never experienced it.
As good friends, they naturally faced difficulties together, and Carlo decided to give Francis a chance.
Carlo deliberately said vaguely, ” Whatever, I’m currently on a mission and don’t have time. That’s it!”
The hastily disconnected call made Francis furrow his brow tightly. He guessed that Carlo was deliberately fooling him. This guy was full of lies. At six o’clock in the evening, Francis knocked on Catherine’s door with her dinner right on time.
The door was fully automated. The door opened automatically after Catherine pressed a button on the remote control.
Francis pushed the food cart and personally delivered it to Catherine. This was because Branden, his boss, had instructed him that Catherine didn’t like interacting with strangers.
Catherine, exhausted and worn out, sat down at the dining table. She had initially thought that Francis would arrange some special dishes for her, but to her surprise, the dishes he had prepared were all her favorite.
Glancing at the dishes, she was happy.
“Miss Swann, these dishes were ordered by our boss. We prepared them according to the menu he provided. You can taste them first, and if you’re not satisfied, I can arrange for a different chef!” Francis said.
Francis hadn’t expected his boss to value Catherine so much, not only giving him strict instructions but also personally providing a menu for him.
Francis was instructed to arrange three meals for Catherine according to the dishes listed on the menu, which even took into account her favorite fruits.
Chapter 413 Top Three Assassins Internationally
Catherine sampled the food. Even though it did not taste as good as Branden’s cooking, it was acceptable.
“No need. This is good!” replied Catherine coolly.
Since dinner was alright, Francis could continue with the rest of the arrangements.
“Miss Swann, do you have any special arrangements tomorrow? Otherwise, here is a list of nearby travel destinations. Why don’t you take a look? If there is anywhere you are interested in visiting, I can make arrangements.”
Francis felt sad inside. He did not expect to see the day when he would become a mere tour guide!
After waking up, Catherine received a text message from Ronin. He informed her that the client would contact her at night and she could make her way over tomorrow. Her time was very precious, so she did not have the time to travel.
“No, thanks. From tomorrow onward, you don’t have to follow me around. I have my own arrangements!”
Hearing Catherine’s rejection, Francis nearly lost control of his expression. He quietly inhaled and asked, “Miss Swann, do you have a problem with my work? If there’s any way I should change, just let me know. I will do my best to accommodate.”
Catherine looked at Francis coldly. She treated people she did not know well with the same attitude.
“I have personal matters to attend to. I will personally tell Branden about it. Just remember. I don’t need you to follow me!”
Seeing her firm attitude, Francis could only do as she said. After leaving, Francis contacted Branden immediately and told him about the situation.
“Do as she says. Just protect her secretly!”
“Got it!”
Hearing Branden’s instructions, Francis hung up the phone. He did not expect to see the day that his brilliant boss would act this way!
Shortly after dinner, Catherine’s phone rang by the side. She swiped the phone to answer and held it to her ear.
A man’s husky voice came from over the phone. “Hi there. Is this Anon?”
It was not that she did not have a name. She never left any information out there, so people started calling her this.
Since she never denied it, “Anon” became her codename over time. Anon had always been among the best in the international assassin’s ranking. J and Anon had always been the top two.
Some said she was the number one assassin, while others supported J.
However, neither of them confronted each other before, so no one knew who was better.
“Speak!” The moment Catherine opened her mouth, her cool female voice turned into a deep male one. Perhaps the other party wanted to talk to Catherine badly, so he did not notice anything amiss with her voice. Instead, he simply automatically continued with the conversation.
“Mr. Anon, please give me the address so I can pick you up tomorrow. The trainees have already gathered and are ready for training.”
“I’m good. Just send me the location. I will show up punctually!”
Saying this, Catherine did not allow the other party to say no and hung up the phone. After Catherine washed up and left the next day, Francis promptly sent security detail to protect her secretly.
However, 30 minutes later, Francis received an unexpected update.
The security detail he sent had lost Catherine!
Considering how much his boss cared about Catherine, Francis checked on the situation without hesitation. In the end, after investigating for some time, he could not find her.
Sadly, Francis could only contact Branden, update him about the situation, and apologize.
“We lost her!”
Branden did not react particularly strongly at the get-go. He asked coolly, “Did you lose her or something?”
Based on their subordinates’ reports, Catherine had deliberately lost them. He did not expect Catherine to discover the men secretly following her and even manage to lose them successfully.
From the looks of it, he was indeed careless. He had underestimated Catherine’s abilities.
“Miss Swann deliberately lost the tail on her!”
No matter what, Francis was at fault. He admitted his mistake honestly and awaited the punishment.
“Francis, you should see Carlo and the others tomorrow. You need more training as well!”
Despite Branden’s gentle, airy tone, Francis nearly wanted to crumble and kneel. Francis did not dare argue or hesitate in the slightest.
After leaving, Catherine noticed the secret security detail. Catherine confirmed that they were not after her before she lost the tail entirely.
She went to the pier as agreed with the client. Scorpion Island was globally well- known as a training ground facility.
Scorpion Island’s location was mysterious. It was on an unknown island somewhere in the Patrific, undetectable even by satellite. The only way to access the island was by helicopter. After Catherine got properly dressed, she showed up punctually.
Not long later, the thunderous sound of a helicopter could be heard. It landed on the helipad in front of Catherine. A burly man dressed in camouflage got off the helicopter.
He walked straight to Catherine and eyed her up and down. Catherine was wearing a cap, a mask, and black training gear covered from head to toe. Jon scrutinized Catherine feeling something did not feel quite right about her.
Then again, considering the location and time, if this person did not receive any prior instruction, there was no reason for anyone to be here.
Jon hesitated before he finally asked, ” Are you Anon?”
Catherine stood with her arms crossed. She raised her head, looking at Jon particularly coldly.
“Are any introductions needed?”
Jon was caught by surprise. He did not expect the small, inconspicuous guy to be Anon.
Judging from the petite frame, he looked like a girl.
Jon had a particularly beefy body. He was 6.2 feet and covered with muscles.
Catherine was 5.5 feet in height. In Zerwick, she was considered tall, but looked short next to Jon.
However, Jon could sense her incredibly powerful aura.
This was probably why Anon could become the top assassin in the industry.
This was Anon, so he had to treat her with respect. Otherwise, he might die without knowing who took him out.
“Mr. Anon, this way, please!”
Catherine got onto the helicopter deftly. The helicopter took nearly an hour to get from the pier to the island.
After getting off the helicopter, Jon initially wanted to let Catherine take a break and introduce the island to her.
Unexpectedly, Catherine turned down his offer coolly. “It’s fine. Let’s start immediately!”
Seeing her drive, Jon did not continue with the subject. “Mr. Anon, the little cabin up ahead is your living quarters. I will gather the trainees, and we can start in 10 minutes!”
The moment he finished his sentence and proceeded to turn, Catherine had already disappeared out of sight.
Jon suddenly understood why his boss would spend a considerable sum of money for her to be the instructor. Her moves were simply incredible.
Chapter 414 The Instructor
Scorpion Island was a small island located in the central Patrific.
It was surrounded by steep cliffs. Leaving this place without a sound was nearly impossible. Unless one happened to be the Sea King of Atrantis.
Just ten minutes ago, the island’s commander, Jon, sounded the alarm. It signaled the beginning of the training in earnest.
As is customary, the special ops team members assembled on the training ground. Rumor had it that they had enlisted the world’s top assassin as their instructor this time.
Every three years, Scorpion Island arranged for a special training session, each time with a different instructor, but these instructors were always someone notorious for their brutality.
There were casualties in every training, so they signed a life-and-death agreement before being selected to come to the island.
Although the mortality rate was extremely high, those who managed to leave the island could rise to the top of the world rankings. So, being able to train on Scorpion Island was a source of pride for everyone present.
It meant that those who walked away from here would be among the world’s elite. They stood on the training ground for about five minutes, but there was no sign of their instructor.
Though everyone was puzzled, no one dared to question it. They weren’t ordinary trainees. If they couldn’t wait for five minutes, there was no point in coming to Scorpion Island.
Carlo discreetly glanced at Cory and signaled him with his eyes. But Cory paid him no mind. They had been sent here for training again because they had offended someone dear to their master.
Six years had passed since their last visit. They knew that their master had sent them to Scorpion Island not only because they had offended Catherine but also to strengthen their physical conditioning.
Once before, they had managed to leave Scorpion Island. This time, if they couldn’t, it would mean they were worse off than they were six years ago and would be considered expendable. Five more minutes passed, and the group remained motionless.
No one knew what the instructor, codenamed “Anon”, had in mind. No one dared to raise any questions. No one wanted to be the first to offend the instructor and become the prime target.
Suddenly, a deep, eerie, and unsettling male voice boomed from the loudspeakers on the training ground. It echoed like it had come from the abyss.
“Everyone, welcome to my training squad. I am your instructor, Anon!
“My goal is to eliminate every one of you!”
With such a bold statement, it was hard for the top-notch individuals present to remain calm. The scene erupted with various voices, which created a commotion.
“It seems you all have some opinions about my words. Well, use your strength to prove me wrong!”
After that, Anon officially announced, ” Special selection begins now!
“In the dense forest to your left, I left a signal behind. Find it within ten minutes, and you pass. If you can’t find it within ten minutes, you’re out!
“Good luck!”
Anon made a mischievous remark, and then a buzzing sound ensued. She muted her microphone. No one expected the first training exercise to involve finding something. The instructor had just arrived on the island, yet she had already set up props and started training.
This kind of instructor who didn’t even give them a chance to meet before training was a first.
Time passed quickly. The group rushed madly toward the dense forest.
Catherine sat in front of the monitor and observed every move of the trainees.
When she saw some of the trainees blindly charging into the forest without surveying the terrain, she couldn’t help but scoff and comment, “I have to train these fools?”
Jon stood nearby. He was overpowered by Catherine’s strong presence.
Although Catherine appeared petite and feminine, she had a domineering aura.
It left Jon breathless. Actually, Jon was a former strict instructor from the Middle Estria battlefield.
He had seen all sorts of gruesome scenes. However, when he stood beside Catherine, he was still awed by her presence.
Catherine kept a close eye on the monitor and suddenly noticed two familiar faces. Despite their disguises and camouflage, there was no hiding from someone as skilled as Catherine.
Catherine smirked quietly. Catherine recognized them. However, she was different from others. When encountering acquaintances, she wouldn’t hold back. Instead, she would provide even stricter training.
Whether the two people from the Duncans could make it through her rigorous training depended on their true abilities.
Five minutes later, Jon, who had initially left, returned to Catherine’s side.
“Instructor, there’s a request from higher-ups to add one more member.”
“Are you trying to pull some strings?” Catherine gave Jon a cold glance. Even though Jon couldn’t see her eyes, he could feel her mockery. It was his first time encountering such a situation, but he had to obey the higher-ups’ orders.
“Mr. Anon, this new recruit is exceptionally talented, a former graduate from here who made it off the island. I hope you can make an exception.”
If he hadn’t seen the recruit’s file, Jon wouldn’t dare say such a thing.
“When will this recruit arrive?”
Catherine asked.
Jon’s face lit up, and he replied, ” Tomorrow morning.”
“Very well. Provide a parachute over the waters near the neighboring island and have him jump.” Catherine’s eyes were cold and ruthless.
If he was truly outstanding, then let her see just how outstanding he was. If he was capable, he could swim over and make his way there. If not, he shouldn’t join her team.
Jon, who was standing by, was taken aback. Despite her unassuming appearance, he hadn’t expected Catherine to be so ruthless in her actions.
It seemed like this batch of trainees was in for a tough time.
Once Catherine arrived on the island, even Jon, as the commander, had no authority to interfere with her decisions. That was the rule of Scorpion Island. Those who didn’t obey had to be thrown to the sharks.
Seeing Catherine’s determination, Jon didn’t dare say more and silently prayed for the recruit who jumped the queue. The conversation between the two had just taken five minutes. After that, Catherine sounded the alarm.
It signaled the end of the first round of the game. Out of the 30 members in the special training squad, five hadn’t found the signal, and five were injured. Three of them were seriously injured.
Eight individuals were eliminated in one fell swoop.
The remaining trainees on the training ground wore troubled expressions. Initially, they thought the training would gradually intensify, but it had started at full throttle.
With one-third of the participants eliminated in the first round, would they all be gone in just three days without needing the full 21 days?
Carlo sat on the ground and panted heavily. He exchanged whispers with Cory.
“Cory, this is much tougher than our initial training. This instructor seems to be a formidable one. If this intensity continues, who can endure it?”
“At this intensity?” Cory raised an eyebrow and looked at him with disdain.
There was no way they would continue at this intensity. He had a hunch that what they had just experienced was merely a warm-up.
The real challenges were likely waiting for them ahead.
Chapter 415 The Nighttime Training
The first round had just ended. Then, the speakers above the training ground began to emit that chilling, devilish voice again.
“Round two begins!”
The cold tone of the announcement caused even the famously tough individuals present to shiver involuntarily. The second round was relatively simple. It focused on physical tests.
If one could complete the test within the allotted time, he would pass. Once the rules were revealed, a collective sigh of relief swept through the group.
Despite the tight time constraint, their physical fitness was up to the task, so they believed they would all pass.
Eight individuals had been eliminated in the first round, and nobody wanted to face the same fate. Everyone gave their all to complete the task.
Even those who were initially holding back their strength had to show their true abilities under Anon’s relentless scrutiny.
The second round concluded, and the afternoon training was done for the day. Anon announced the dismissal through the loudspeakers.
As for their food, they had received a large supply package before starting the training. It was meant to sustain them for the next three weeks. If they ran out, they’d be without supplies. Carlo enjoyed a compressed biscuit and leaned comfortably against Cory.
He was so hungry that even dry, throat- scorching biscuits tasted delicious.
“Cory, my legs feel like they’re not mine anymore!”
It wasn’t just Carlo. Everyone in the group had trembling legs. Cory was the same, but he showed greater restraint. He didn’t display the fatigue as obviously as the others.
While the trainees rested, Catherine also planned to have a break. She returned to her dorm. After she changed into more comfortable clothing, her phone rang.
It was a video call from Branden. Catherine answered it without hesitation. Then, the handsome face of Branden appeared on her screen. From the background, it was clear that he was in his office.
Sure enough, the next second, Branden spoke up and confirmed the setting.
“I just finished a meeting. I want to see you.”
Branden’s expression was straightforward and not hesitant. It was a style of interaction that Catherine preferred.
He didn’t inquire about her dismissing the Shadow Guards. At the same time, she didn’t feel like explaining either. It was perfect.
“What about you?” Branden’s soft, husky voice came through the phone. He asked Catherine, “What are you up to?”
Catherine wiped the sweat from her forehead and looked exhausted. Then she replied, “I just finished a session with a bunch of rookies. I’m preparing to grab a bite and continue in the evening.”
Seeing the delicate beads of sweat on her forehead, Branden frowned slightly. He couldn’t help but remind her.
He said, “Eat on time and eat well. There is no need to be so proactive.”
He wasn’t sure who had requested Catherine to teach, but he had received her grade report from the school. Catherine had marked her address as his apartment.
She had scored zero in all seven subjects, not a single point more. It seemed she had gone to school early in the morning for two days during the final exams just to make up the numbers.
On Branden’s end, someone brought him a file that needed his attention. Catherine noticed he was busy with work, so she excused herself and claimed it was time for her to eat. Then, she ended the video call.
After ending the call, she was about to put her phone aside when it rang again. This time, the call was from Withal. Catherine glanced at the number for a moment and then answered the call. As soon as she picked up, she heard Withal’s excited voice.
“Catherine, I’ve got information on Red Star. I heard they’re organizing a deal in Alton in two days. Because the cargo is special, the chief of the Red Star will likely attend.”
Catherine thought inwardly, “The chief of the Red Star?”
Catherine’s mind immediately conjured up the terrifying man who had been worse than a devil back in the day. He was the man who had caused her to stumble for the first time in her life.
If he were standing before her now, she would make him pay for the grudge she had held for so long. Withal noticed that Catherine hadn’t responded for a while and asked, ” Catherine, are you coming?”
Although Catherine was in Alton, she currently couldn’t leave Scorpion Island.
“Withal, I’m working as an instructor on Scorpion Island this month. I can’t leave right now. Keep an eye on the situation of the Red Star and inform me if you have any updates.”
Withal readily agreed to take on the task once he learned Catherine couldn’t make it.
“Catherine, don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on it for you.”
After Catherine hung up, Withal finally realized what Catherine had said. She was working as an instructor on Scorpion Island.
He thought inwardly, “Oh, my God. Catherine is an instructor on Scorpion Island.” He realized that he had stumbled upon a major secret.
Withal had never been to Scorpion Island for training. It was not because he didn’t have the qualifications but because the selection process for Scorpion Island was rigorous and complicated.
He was just too lazy to deal with the intricate procedures and hadn’t participated in the training. Although he hadn’t participated, it didn’t mean he didn’t know about Scorpion Island’s reputation.
Those who could leave Scorpion Island were among the elite of the elite, let alone becoming an instructor there.
Catherine was truly capable and impressive. At the same time, Catherine hung up the phone, made a quick tidy-up, and prepared to leave. It was getting dark, and she was about to begin the nighttime training.
The trainees, who had just sat down to rest, were jolted by the alarm bells ringing on the training ground.
Everyone gathered on the field. Carlo whispered to Cory, “You guessed it right. Looks like we’re in for extra training tonight.”
Initially, Carlo had wanted to relax and take a break, but Cory had told him that the instructor was unlikely to give them such a long rest.
Cory’s prediction turned out to be correct. Fortunately, Carlo heeded Cory’s advice and didn’t let his guard down in the slightest.
The devilish voice echoed once more through the loudspeakers and entangled everyone’s minds.
“Everyone, it’s dinner time. Tonight’s dish is called ‘The Great Escape’. The deadline is tomorrow noon, and the goal is simple. You should stay alive.”
The location was the same as the afternoon. The only requirement was surviving in the dense forest until noon the next day.
While the forest didn’t house many dangerous animals, it had its share of unusual insects, traps, and landmines.
For ordinary people, entering this forest was a life-or-death gamble, but for these elites, it was a less daunting task.
Despite the seemingly straightforward mission, a sense of foreboding lingered in the hearts of the trainees.
“Cory, why do I feel like things aren’t as simple as they seem? Can they really let us off the hook so easily? Just stay one night?”
Cory glanced at the incessantly talking Carlo with an expression that seemed to say, “You’re not entirely foolish.”
It was apparent that this mission wasn’t as straightforward as it appeared.
Often, the simpler a task seemed, the more dangerous it actually was.
One never knew just how massive the iceberg hidden beneath the surface was.
Chapter 416 The Bombardment
Paxton knocked on Branden’s study door, bearing the latest message from Alton. After receiving Branden’s permission, he gently pushed open the door.
“Mr. Duncan, on the Alton side, the transaction time for that shipment has been confirmed. With Francis and the others away, maybe I should handle this trip.”
They were the four finest members of the Duncans. Each was highly capable and trained from a young age by the family head.
They had taken on nearly all the projects the head had accepted but had yet to excel in them as the head did.
This trade deal in Alton was worth tens of billions of dollars and was supposed to be managed by Francis in Alton. But the head had surprisingly sent Francis to Scorpion Island. Not only Francis, but the other two were also on Scorpion Island.
With such a substantial project, Paxton couldn’t entrust it to others, so he volunteered. Branden leisurely finished signing the last document. Then he looked up at Paxton.
“Arrange a flight to Alton for tomorrow afternoon.”
Paxton was taken aback. “Mr. Duncan, are you planning to go yourself?”
Branden rested his elbow on the desk, and his deep eyes glinted with a hint of coldness as he gazed at Paxton.
“Is there a problem?”
That cold look sent a shiver down Paxton’s spine. He shivered and quickly replied, “No, Mr. Duncan. Your presence is naturally the safest option. I’ll arrange it right away.”
As Paxton exited the study, he couldn’t help but feel a lingering unease. Branden arranged the deal personally. It was not because Branden didn’t trust Paxton.
There were other reasons for his trip to Alton. It might be partly due to manpower issues, but the more significant reason was Catherine.
Catherine was in Alton right then, and Branden had a chance to meet her. Paxton finally understood the saying, ” Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
Catherine and Branden hadn’t been parted for long, but Branden was deeply bewitched. What would become of him in the future?
Paxton was deeply troubled.
On Scorpion Island, the third round of special training had officially begun. To secure their chance of staying until the end, these trainees had already started secretly forming groups. More people meant more strength and ample resources.
Carlo had no doubts about partnering with Cory. He didn’t trust the others. The duo quietly infiltrated the forest. Carlo’s strategy mirrored many others’ strategies. He chose to stick to the outskirts.
As per the current rules, surviving until noon the following day would be considered a successful mission. Carlo spread out a map and selected a concealed location.
“Cory, what do you think of this spot?”
Cory looked at Carlo’s choice. It had a strategic advantage for both offense and defense.
But it seemed too safe.
He had a feeling this training was not as simple as it appeared. Then he pointed to a different spot on the map. ” I’d like to go here.”
Carlo furrowed his brow at Cory’s choice.
“Cory, aren’t you making it unnecessarily difficult for yourself? This place is riskier and deeper within the jungle. Aren’t you worried about not making it until noon the next day?”
“The riskier, the safer,” Cory replied. Carlo hesitated, but he ultimately agreed.
“Alright. I’ll go with your suggestion!”
Even though Carlo thought he had chosen a good spot, he had more faith in Cory.
Over the years, Cory’s judgment had seldom faltered. Cory was the most like the head among the four of them. He was silent, composed, and decisive.
Besides unwavering loyalty to Branden, Carlo only had these few close friends. After agreeing, they familiarized themselves with the route and set off. Catherine sat in front of the monitoring screen and observed every trainee through the cameras.
When she saw the spot chosen by Cory’s team, a slight smile tugged at her lips. Indeed, they were people from Branden’s camp. They displayed a hint of cleverness.
Seeing that most trainees were well- prepared, Catherine took out her walkie -talkie and informed Jon. She said, ” Spice things up for them.”
Hearing Catherine’s instructions, Jon became excited. He knew there was no way they would let these trainees off so easily.
“I’ll arrange it.”
Without warning, poisonous smoke ignited around the perimeter of the jungle. It spread rapidly. After noticing that, many trainees near the jungle’s edge began to sprint.
Carlo noticed the scene and quickly informed Cory with excitement on his face.
“Cory, you’re amazing. We’ve struck gold this time!”
The two of them were positioned in the jungle’s center, and the poisonous smoke wouldn’t penetrate as quickly. It gave them ample time to prepare.
Cory glanced at Carlo and signaled for him to stay cautious. “Don’t celebrate too soon. The real challenge may still be ahead.”
Catherine, who was watching from the monitor, couldn’t hear their conversation. But she was good at lip-reading. It was easy for her to know what they were talking about.
Back during her training, she had learned lip-reading from a team member from Middle Estria. She was highly talented and mastered it in just seven days. She could pick up most languages, provided they weren’t too obscure.
Cory indeed showed some intelligence.
He knew that the real challenge was yet to come.
The real challenge was just around the corner. She relayed another order into the microphone and said to Jon, “No stopping until daybreak!”
Jon couldn’t help but feel uneasy as he watched bomb after bomb raining down on the jungle.
His heart ached.
It wasn’t because he cared for the trainees but rather for the money. Each bomb cost millions. Without a second thought, Anon had used them at such a rate. It depleted the island’s ammunition and wasted a significant amount of money.
However, the higher-ups had instructed him that they must adhere to all of Anon’s commands for these three weeks, regardless of the cost.
He had to do it even if he had to part with the money.
The once silent jungle transformed into a hell on Earth. It was filled with cries of agony.
Another bomb dropped, which was dangerously close to Carlo.
Carlo reacted swiftly and dived away just in time.
Thanks to his quick reflexes and agile movements, he narrowly escaped, becoming another victim of this human -made disaster.
With a deafening explosion, the bomb went off not far from him.
It showered Carlo in sand and debris. When he looked up, his face was covered with dirt. He was unable to contain his frustration as he complained to Cory.
“Damn it. This instructor is insane! First, the poison gas, and now this bombardment. He’s giving us no chance at all. Are they not planning to let us leave Scorpion Island alive?”
While Carlo ranted, Cory remained remarkably calm. “Complaining won’t help. Let’s focus on getting through until dawn.”
This was not the most challenging part of the training. It was just getting dark. The most difficult phase should be the last two hours before the end of the competition.
At that point, everyone’s energy should be nearly depleted. It could be catastrophic if the instructor added more challenges at that time.
To survive until the end, they had to prepare accordingly.
Catherine watched the group of trainees desperately fleeing on the monitor. They were increasingly disheveled, one worse than the other. She sneered and turned to take a break.
The trainees’ suffering was their problem, and it was better for her to get a good night’s rest. She would check the situation when she woke up the next day.
Chapter 417 Being Thrown off the Helicopter
The next morning, Catherine woke up on time at nine o’clock. As soon as she woke up, she received an update from Jon. Last night, three trainers chose to quit due to being unable to withstand the pressure.
This was better than Catherine expected. It was only three people, whereas she had anticipated at least half would not make it.
Looking at the messy faces on the monitor, Catherine couldn’t help but feel disgusted and said, “What poor physical strength!”
Since she was awake, she would prepare some “breakfast” for them. A smug smile appeared on Catherine’s face.
“Jon, get ready to drop the bombs!”
Upon hearing that, Jon immediately woke up with a jolt.
“Okay!”
This was really exciting. Bombs were being dropped 24 hours a day without interruption.
He finally understood why the higher- ups spent a lot of money hiring Anon. Although Anon was an assassin, he was very good at combat training.
The team members who could stay this time would definitely become the elites among the elites.
The trainers in the dense forest had only rested for a while before discovering something wrong. There was a particularly subtle sound coming from above them. Unlike the sound of roaring helicopters, it was very light and sounded like a drone this time.
It was difficult for ordinary people to hear it clearly, but those trainers weren’t ordinary people. They had undergone professional training so they could hear it. Sure enough, following the direction of the sound, the trainers saw the drone flying straight toward them.
The distance between them and the drone was getting closer and closer, and there seemed to be something tied underneath the drone. By the time they could see what was tied under the drone, it was already too late.
“Run. There are bombs!”
One bomb landed just after one trainer said that, and the trainer who had just spoken was instantly injured, with no possibility of continuing training. The extensive bombing that began last night did not stop until 7 a.m.
It was only 9 o’clock now. The trainers had rested for less than two hours before being bombarded by a new round of bombs.
Unlike last time, it wasn’t an extensive area bombing but a precise drop of bombs using the drone.
With surveillance in the dense forest, the drone could accurately capture their positions and bomb them all in one go.
To avoid being bombed, they had to avoid the drone radar and the dense surveillance everywhere.
Even Carlo was in despair. “Cory, this instructor is the devil!”
Two hours later, the sound of an alarm on the playground reached the dense forest, and this round of testing was finally considered over. The crowd gathered on the playground, dragging their tired and tattered bodies.
Failing to reach the playground before noon would also result in them failing the test. Everyone knew that the training on Scorpion Island was brutal, but no one expected it to be brutal to this extent.
The instructor, this time, was really perverted!
It was only the second day, and half of them had already been eliminated. When the trainers arrived at the playground, they saw an off-road jeep on the playground.
On the car’s roof, a heavily armed man wrapped tightly from his head to his feet. His sitting posture was extremely lazy and arrogant. Even if they could not see his body and face, the aura emanating from him alone was enough to intimidate everyone present.
Seeing that everyone was almost there, Catherine picked up the nearby loudspeaker and casually placed it in her hand to speak.
“I’m glad to still see you all standing here!”
Judging from this familiar voice, everyone knew who this seemingly annoying person in front of them was.
At first, everyone didn’t recognize him as the instructor because he was so petite in front of them. Compared to them, the big and tall men, he looked like a tall woman.
But when the crowd heard his iconic demonic voice, they immediately trembled all over. There might be nothing in the world that could make them feel more terrifying than his voice. It was not until the third day that they saw the instructor, which showed how unique he was!
Before Catherine could continue speaking, a sudden voice broke the quiet of the scene. “Report, team member Francis is here!
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a man who was all ragged and wet walking toward them from the side. Everyone was somewhat puzzled. The quota for this training was fixed. Could someone join in now?
Just as they wanted to watch the instructor teaching this trainer a lesson, they heard the voice of the instructor calling him to take his post.
Catherine didn’t expect that the trainer who was said to be excellent and joined through connections would be Francis.
It seemed that Branden really had the ability. He even enjoyed privileges on Scorpion Island. Francis took the initiative to walk over to Cory and Carlo’s side, but he didn’t rush to greet them.
The three exchanged glances at each other, each tacit. Various noisy voices echoed in the team, all of which were questions about Francis’s sudden joining.
After all, they had a difficult day and night. If Francis could join them without passing the previous tests, would it be fair for those eliminated?
The questioning voice grew louder and louder, and it wasn’t until Catherine looked up and glanced at the crowd that the voice gradually disappeared.
But this was due to Catherine’s authority. They were completely unwilling to accept Francis’ joining in their hearts.
Catherine was very clear about their ideas.
To ensure fairness, Catherine directly reached out and pointed at Francis.
“You, come out.”
Francis stepped out of the line as instructed.
Catherine told him coldly, “Tell these people how you came to the island!”
“I was thrown off the helicopter over the Patrific and swam to the island!!”
Francis said it lightly, but those familiar with this area knew how difficult it was to swim from Patrific to this island.
Putting physical strength aside, if one wanted to go to the island, one not only needed to pass through an island full of cliffs but also through a sea area frequently infested by cannibal sharks.
No one expected Francis to be thrown off a helicopter, which was much more difficult than what they experienced last night.
The point was that Francis was still alone, unlike them, who could still have a team and a buddy to help, which further increased the difficulty factor for Francis.
“Take your post!” Catherine shouted coldly, scanning the crowd. “So, do you have any more questions?”
The crowd didn’t dare to speak again. This competition was meant to choose the strong. Since Francis was so strong, the others had nothing to say. A few seconds later, Catherine announced the latest task.
“Since no one has any objections, let’s continue.”
What?
Everyone present had their blood frozen. This instructor didn’t treat them like humans at all. He treated them like animals.
No, they should be inferior to animals in his eyes.
They hadn’t rested since yesterday. Looking at the dejected faces of the trainers ahead, Catherine couldn’t help but curse, “Look at yourselves. You’ve become tired so easily?
“I promise I’ll let you rest for an afternoon after the new task!”
Although this news sounded somewhat exciting, everyone knew that the instructor in front of them was a pervert.
Who knew how tough the next task would be?
They didn’t even dare to be happy, mainly because they were scared.
Chapter 418 An Impossible Task
The next training task was target shooting. Those who were able to go to Scorpion Island as trainees were all considered sharpshooters.
Ordinary shooting was nothing to them, but now, no one dared to ignore the task arranged by this seemingly petite instructor.
No one knew what kind of difficulties they were about to face, and they had never had such a moment of despair about the way ahead.
Each person had ten bullets, and Catherine required everyone to hit the nail in the center of the bull’s eye within the specified time. Under normal conditions, this task was not impossible for sharpshooters to complete.
The trainees had just gone through a one-day and one-night escape battle, and their physical strength was already overdrawn. Not to mention hitting the bull’s eye, they didn’t even have the strength to hold the gun.
Even more frightening was that Catherine didn’t seem to have any intention of letting them go. She asked Jon to bring a few large buckets and placed them in front of the crowd.
No one knew what Catherine was trying to do, but many people were already feeling uneasy. They knew that there was no way Catherine would let them go.
Cory noticed that Francis’s expression was not right and lowered his voice to ask in a low voice, “Is there a situation?
Francis nodded slightly. They did not want the people in this training camp to know about the relationship between the three of them just yet.
If the others knew about the relationship between the three of them, this would only be bad for them.
“There’s something inside!”
Francis conveyed the message to the two by silently mouthing the words.
Both Cory and Carlo received it and they trusted Francis’ judgment. There wasn’t just something in that bucket; it was a living creature. Francis had a unique ability to tell if a living creature was nearby as long as the distance was close enough.
After confirming Francis’s judgment, Cory and Carlo began to worry. They were really in trouble. Sure enough, when Catherine ordered someone to open the buckets, the trainers who were close enough to see what was inside cried out frantically.
“Snake… There are so many snakes…” The person who said these words had turned pale with fear and kept retreating.
A horrified expression appeared on the faces of the surrounding several big- sized men.
The big buckets were densely packed with snakes. There was an island called Snake Island nearby, where highly venomous snakes lived year-round, making it difficult for people to approach.
These snakes were the venomous snakes that Catherine had arranged for people to capture from that island, specifically used to train these trainees.
Catherine narrowed her eyes and scanned her surroundings. Seeing the pale faces of the group of trainees around her, she chuckled in her heart.
She had already achieved half the effect she wanted. Catherine said coldly, “As you can see, this training is not very demanding. Just stand in the bucket, shoot out the bullets, finish the target, and rest!”
Disapproving voices then appeared on the scene. At first, because Catherine was their instructor, these trainers tried their best to obey her.
Usually, they train others, but rarely have they been trained so hard that they do not even have the energy to lift their heads.
Thinking of Catherine’s initial statement that none of them would be able to complete the assessment, and under this kind of blow and pressure, everyone could no longer hold back and started to rebel.
Various noisy voices rang out, which were all questioning Catherine’s decision. Everyone felt that Catherine was not training them but wanted them to die. Finally, someone couldn’t help but take the lead in questioning.
“Sir, there’s no way anyone can do what you’re asking. All of the snakes inside the buckets are poisonous, and every single one is highly venomous. In such a situation, being bitten will most likely cause irreparable damage even if we have the snake venom serum!”
Facing the question, Catherine answered easily.
“As long as you can control your body temperature and maintain a balance, you naturally don’t have to worry about these snakes biting you.”
There was an active volcano on Snake Island, and these snakes were different from other species of snakes in that they would only eat or attack under certain temperature conditions. In other cases, they remained in a dormant state.
Unless one was emotionally excited and his body temperature rose sharply, those snakes would not actively attack. Catherine said those words lightly, but those people still felt the task was challenging.
“This is simply impossible!” Someone complained loudly, even questioning if Catherine was the executioner and wanted to kill them.
Where there was oppression, there would be resistance.
The best way to suppress these voices of resistance was to display even greater strength. Catherine grabbed a gun from the side and jumped into the bucket with a cool somersault.
Her movements were very precise, and her jumping into the bucket was exceptionally gentle, not disturbing the venomous snakes inside.
She picked up her gun, her movements fast and steady. She used only three bullets to hit the nails placed in front of her into the bull’s eye. Catherine didn’t stop, hitting the nails into the bull’s eye with every shot.
She asked the trainers to use ten bullets to hit one nail into the bull’s eye, but she used ten bullets to directly hit four nails on four targets into the bull’s eye, three of which were still lateral to her because she had never changed positions throughout.
The trainers present were stunned!
Amidst everyone’s stunning gaze, Catherine somersaulted and jumped out of the bucket, tossing the used gun casually.
The gun landed steadily on the display rack in front. With her hands in her pockets, Catherine walked arrogantly and left without turning back.
There was complete silence. For these people, the best way to convince them was to show them greater strength.
Catherine proved everything with her super strength. What else could those who clamored that Catherine was trying to kill them say?
Glancing at the crowd, Jon’s eyes were filled with mockery and disdain. The higher-ups weren’t fools. If Anon had no skills, how could they spend a lot of money hiring him?
There were few people in this world who were more stingy than those people.
“What are you waiting for? None of you want to rest?”
Jon let out a roar, snapping everyone’s wondering thoughts back to the present moment. Some people were still unconvinced by the instructor before, thinking that the instructor was intentionally panicking them. However, from that moment onward, no one would dare to bring up the topic.
Strength determined everything, and the instructor’s strength was clearly far superior to theirs.
“Cory, why do you keep staring at the instructor’s back? If Mr. Duncan and the instructor were to confront each other, who do you think would win?”
Facing Carlo’s inquiry, Cory asked thoughtfully, “Don’t you think the instructor’s back is particularly familiar? I always feel like I’ve seen him somewhere!”
“What?” Carlo thought carefully and replied with a teasing smile, “I don’t know any men who are this petite and delicate!”
Cory thought Carlo had a point. If there were such a petite man around them, even if they only saw him once, they would remember him.
“Cory, let’s not think about all this nonsense. Let’s think about how we’re going to get through this first.”
Just thinking about it gave Carlo a headache.
The task this time was challenging, and if they couldn’t complete it, they didn’t know what punishment would be waiting for them.
Thinking about it made Carlo feel heartbroken. He regretted that he had offended Catherine and ended up being punished on this island.
Chapter 419 Missing
The plane from Zerwick to Alton had only just landed, and Branden, who had just gotten off the plane, turned on his cell phone and made a phone call.
A mechanically cold female voice came over the phone, “Hello, the number you have dialed has been turned off!”
Branden hung up and used WhatsApp to make a video call. Still, no one answered, and it disconnected automatically. Branden’s brow instantly furrowed. ” Go find out where Catherine is!”
Knowing that Branden had gone to Alton primarily for Catherine’s sake, Paxton didn’t dare to cause a delay.
“Mr. Duncan, I’ll do it right away!”
On Scorpion Island, Catherine had just walked from the shooting range to the lounge when she saw her phone screen darkening.
She picked up her phone and realized that Branden had called her. For convenience, she didn’t bring her phone with her during training. She usually set her phone to quiet mode and placed it in the lounge.
Just as Catherine was about to return Branden’s call, Withal called in. Catherine picked up the phone and put it to her ear.
“Catherine, the news of Red Star is confirmed. The chief of their organization will personally come to preside over this deal this time!”
A deal that could make the chief of Red Star personally appear was definitely not ordinary. After learning about this matter, an idea immediately came to Catherine’s mind.
“Withal, don’t act rashly. You only have one goal: to find out the chief of Red Star for me. You just need to find out his identity.”
As long as she could find out who the Red Star’s chief was, she believed she could take revenge with her ability.
Although Withal was usually arrogant, he knew that his ability was limited. Red Star’s chief was a big man who had made even a tough character like Catherine fall into his trap back then. Withal was no match for him, and he needed to be self-aware of this fact.
“Don’t worry. I’ll do what I can. It’s best if I can find out his identity. I’ll try my best!”
Catherine also meant the same thing. She couldn’t leave right now for the time being. Otherwise, she would definitely go to meet the chief of Red Star in person to avenge herself.
Withal was the person who worked for her, and his life was more important than anything else. After hanging up Withal’s phone call, Catherine received a message from Jon.
She didn’t have time to respond to Branden. Thinking that it shouldn’t be a big deal, she dropped her phone in the lounge and returned to the playground. After arriving at the shooting range, Catherine obtained the latest data from Jon.
Eight out of a group of 18 people passed the test. What surprised Catherine was that the three people sent by the Duncans all passed the test. It seemed that these three people still had some skills.
Catherine stood in front of the crowd with her hands behind her back, her body’s aura unusually powerful, giving people an unparalleled sense of authority.
“I always keep my word. Those who passed the task can rest now. Those who didn’t pass will now begin the next round of physical training. You must practice more if your physical fitness is not as good as others. Do you think you’ll have food if you can’t practice well? Dream on!”
The eight people who passed the task breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Catherine kept her word and didn’t make things difficult for them again.
The people who did not pass the task had a fluke mentality. Although physical training was painful, it was only physical pain, which was much simpler than psychological pain.
Jon approached Catherine, and now he had no doubts about her abilities. He dared to guarantee that the people Catherine trained would be the kings of Scorpion Island.
He had never seen such a training method before, and after only two days of training, half of those who participated in the training were eliminated. In such an environment dominated by the strong, only the strongest among the strong could survive.
“Mr. Anon, are you still planning to train them with such intensity next?”
Catherine sat on the roof of the jeep in an extremely arrogant posture, looking down at Jon and saying, “There will only be stronger intensity.”
Jon furrowed his brow slightly, and based on the current situation, the trainees were already exhausted.
“Mr. Anon, aren’t you worried that if the intensity is too much, there won’t be anyone left in the end?” Jon asked the thing worrying him the most.
He really couldn’t guarantee how many people would be left in the end.
Facing Jon’s inquiry, Catherine smiled playfully and looked at him. “That only proves that there is no one strong among them!”
The truly strong would be stronger when they met the strong. “Isn’t the mission I came to Scorpion Island to select the strong?”
Catherine’s explanation made Jon understand her intentions.
Catherine would not reduce the training intensity. The scene in front was brutal for the trainees, but it was only beginning for Catherine. To survive there, one must be the strongest among the strong.
Jon had no right to interfere with any of the training content. He could only silently pray for those trainees in his heart. He didn’t know whether it was their good fortune or misfortune to run into such a devilish instructor.
After arriving at the Duncans’ villa in Alton and putting down his things, Branden contacted Catherine first.
She still couldn’t be reached, and no one replied on WhatsApp. The man, who was always calm and steady, had an immediate change in his expression because he couldn’t contact Catherine.
Hearing a sound coming from the front, Branden immediately looked up. Realizing that he was looking over, Paxton quickened his pace quickly.
“Mr. Duncan, I can’t find out anything about Miss Swann. This is the last picture of her before she disappeared!”
Paxton showed the footage taken by the surveillance cameras before Catherine disappeared, and everything in the footage was normal. Catherine got rid of those who had been placed around her for protection on her own.
Branden was able to contact Catherine the first two days so he did not inquire about her specific situation. It had only been half a day since he couldn’t reach Catherine, and Paxton felt that Branden was a little overwrought.
“Mr. Duncan, maybe Miss Swann is just giving a class to the students and doesn’t notice the call. She will contact you after class later! Now is not yet the end of class time in Alton!”
Actually, Paxton really wanted to say that they hadn’t been in touch for just half a day. Moreover, after Catherine disappeared, it was not that she hadn’t been in contact with Branden. A few hours ago, the two video-called, and Catherine was doing fine.
The probability of not looking at her phone due to being busy in such a short period of time was very high. The biggest concern for Paxton was still the issue of time, as there were only two hours left before they needed to trade.
He was worried that Branden would be distracted by this. Although he knew Branden was powerful, there had never been a Catherine as a variable in the past.
Branden had made too many impossible things possible because of Catherine. Despite the danger, Paxton took the risk to remind Branden of the current time. Branden nodded slightly with a cold expression before standing up.
“Let’s go!”
The two cold words instantly gave Paxton the feeling of returning from hell to heaven. Just a moment ago, he almost thought he was going to be killed by Branden.
Chapter 420 Behind the Scene
From the bustling streets in the east to the chaotic zones in the west, this place was a forbidden zone for the rule of law. Due to geographical reasons, it was often filled with crime and darkness.
The most dangerous place was also the safest place. With the cooperation of the intelligence network between Withal and Hacker Alliance, Withal finally figured out the location of Red Star’s transaction today.
To investigate the identity of the chief of Red Star, Withal arrived there early and had been camping there, suffering from hunger and dizziness but still not daring to leave the narrow flue pipe.
He had paid a huge price to find out who the chief of Red Star was. The agreed time for the transaction at 7 o’clock was approaching. Withal’s heart began beating faster and faster.
The other party’s forces had already taken their positions and were only waiting for the arrival of Red Star’s personnel. When the clock on the wall hit 7 o’clock, the people from Red Star promptly showed up in the warehouse.
Upon witnessing the meeting between the two sides, Withal was beyond excited. He would soon find out who the chief of Red Star was, and the opportunity to avenge Catherine was just around the corner.
He lay motionless inside the flue pipe, not daring to breathe too loudly. Paxton accompanied Branden to the scene.
“Sir, let me handle it. You can rest in the car. You’ve already personally come here. If they’re still unsatisfied, we can choose not to do business with them.”
To persuade Branden, Paxton cleverly mentioned Catherine.
“What a pity it would be if Miss Swann happened to call you at that very moment and you missed the call!”
No matter how important the business was, it couldn’t compare to a phone call from Catherine. Branden nodded at him, consenting for him to get out of the car to conduct the transaction.
Red Star sent a big shot to show up. Even if the other side wanted to play tricks, they had to weigh their options first. The whole process went very smoothly.
Paxton handed over the location and key for storing the weapons to the other party and instructed them to transfer the payment to the designated account.
The payment and the delivery of goods occurred simultaneously. No one expected that a pair of eyes was watching this massive transaction unfold from the flue pipe above.
Withal had thought that the chief of Red Star would be some intimidating figure. But after seeing him in person today, Withal thought the chief seemed pretty impressive but less scary than he had expected.
For some reason, he always had a feeling that something was off. Only after the completion of the transaction did he leave in secret.
Before coming, Withal specially borrowed an LCD recorder from Hacker Alliance. This recorder hadn’t hit the market yet and only existed within Hacker Alliance. It possessed an enormous storage space and could continuously record for 24 hours.
The most impressive aspect was that its appearance looked just like regular contact lenses on the market. Even the most powerful detection devices would be unable to detect it when placed above the pupil.
This device had been developed by Catherine the year before when she was bored as a form of entertainment. Little did she know it would come in handy now.
Withal saved the photos inside the recorder and sent them to Catherine. Catherine discovered that she had not had the opportunity to answer Branden’s call today. When she returned home, she saw she had missed his call. Just as she was about to call him back, she received a document from Withal.
The data had been highly encrypted. Catherine knew this must be information of the chief of Red Star. She was a little curious about this mysterious enemy, so she decided to look at the information first.
When she opened the email and the photos began to load, Catherine’s eyes instantly turned as cold as ice.
Right after that, a video call from Withal popped up. Catherine casually clicked on it. Once the video call was connected, she could hear the excited voice of Withal on the other end of the phone.
“Catherine, have you seen that guy’s photo? Should I release it right now and catch Red Star off guard?”
“Are you sure you didn’t take the wrong photo?” Catherine asked with a hint of skepticism in her tone.
“Of course not. These are all people from Red Star. Middle Estria has also sent intelligence, confirming the transaction was completed. There’s absolutely no room for error!”
Withal might seem carefree, but he was actually very cautious in his actions. After he left, he didn’t immediately hand over the things to Catherine but went to verify them first.
That was why he dared to confirm the person was from Red Star. However, he wouldn’t dare to question Catherine. Over the years, Catherine had never been wrong. He just had doubts in his heart.
“Catherine, I checked. He is from Red Star. Is there something else going on?”
Catherine glanced at the photo and said coldly, “The person in the picture is from Red Star, but he’s not the chief of Red Star.”
“Catherine, did you already find out who’s the chief of Red Star?” Withal’s voice sounded excited. “Catherine, you’re incredible!”
“What a coincidence! I happen to know him!”
There was a hint of sarcasm in Catherine’s voice. Maybe because Withal was too excited, he didn’t notice it and excitedly asked about the situation.
“Catherine, you actually know him? Why didn’t you take revenge?”
With gritted teeth, Catherine said, ” Didn’t I just find out? This grudge will be settled soon.”
Her cold voice made Withal suddenly feel a shiver running down his spine. He instinctively asked, “Who is it? Who is the chief of Red Star?”
Catherine uttered a name coldly, ” Branden Duncan!”
“Branden Duncan?” said Withal inwardly.
He paused for a moment and almost didn’t react in time.
“Oh my goodness! Isn’t Branden Duncan Catherine’s man?” he thought. After a long while, Withal finally found his voice and hesitantly asked in a trembling voice, “Catherine, what do you plan to do?”
Catherine hadn’t yet thought of it.”
Let’s talk about it later!”
After finishing speaking, Catherine promptly hung up the phone. She took a glance at the photo. The person captured by Withal in the picture was Paxton. Paxton was the personal bodyguard of Branden, like a shadow always by his side.
Catherine had previously fought against the chief of Red Star, knowing Paxton couldn’t reach her skill level. The only possibility was that the chief of Red Star was the boss behind Paxton.
So, it must be the heir of the Duncans, Branden Duncan. Since Catherine escaped from Red Star back in the day, she had never disclosed the details of her experience to anyone.
However, after returning to the base, she did not get out of bed for a month. She had never hated anyone in her lifetime. After all, there were not many people who could trip her up or take advantage of her.
The chief of Red Star was an exception. Catherine had never given up investigating the chief of Red Star over the years.
Her only goal was to avenge the humiliation she had suffered in the past. However, it never occurred to her that the person identified ultimately would be right by her side after all she had been through.
Catherine was lost in thoughts when her phone, which was placed aside, started ringing again. With a slight glance, she discovered that the caller was none other than her arch-enemy.
Catherine picked up the phone, but she did not answer the call. Instead, she hung up and turned her phone on airplane mode.
She was not in the mood to answer the phone now. She needed to carefully consider how to solve the big problem in front of her.