Ch. 1001..1010: Chapter 1001-1010

Chapter 1001

Bonnie could never win against Ivor regarding such topics. She could only palm her forehead and say, You're the most smart-mouthed man I've ever known."

Ivor's smile widened. He would have embraced and fooled around with her if they were together now. Then, he grew disheartened when he remembered not knowing when he could see her again.Chapter

His smile faded as he said, "I miss you so much, Bonnie. I wish you were with me."

Bonnie could feel her heart flutter when she heard the longing in his voice.

'I'd fly to where he is if I was in Pyralis, but I must deal with Falcon.'

With that in mind, her expression grew grim before she sighed helplessly. Even so, she did not forget to comfort Ivor, "It'll be okay. We'll see each other again once you finish working."

"Yeah, I'll do my best to wrap it up and return home to keep you company," Ivor said. Soon after, his car arrived. "I have to attend the meeting now. I'll talk to you soon."

Bonnie replied, "Okay, focus on your work. Don't worry about me."

After he hung up the phone, she leaned into her chair and sighed in relief. Fortunately, she had managed to trick her husband. A moment later, she caught Collin looking at her inexplicably.

Bonnie felt her cheeks and said, "What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"

Collin rubbed his arm and said in exasperation, "Have you and Mr. Ivor always been this lovey-dovey, Chief?"

He would not have believed it if he had not heard it himself. He had never heard Bonnie speaking to anyone so affectionately. After all, she had always been decisive, unforgiving, and uncompromising when dealing with the organization's members.

Although Bonnie tried to tone down her affectionate tone, Collin could still feel how special Ivor was to her. Her expression and tone differed significantly from her usual demeanor when talking to her husband.

"What kind of question is that?" Bonnie frowned. "Ivor's my husband. Who else will I act all lovey-dovey with? Am I supposed to do that with you?"

When Collin heard that, he recalled how gently she spoke to her husband.

'I can imagine the chief being that way with me, but I also can't help but be suspicious of her affection. I would feel like she can kill me anytime she wants.'

The more he thought about it, the more afraid he became. He shook his head and stammered, "I-It was a joke, Chief! Save the lovey-dovey stuff for Mr. Ivor. You'll only show him genuine affection, after all. If you did that to me, I'd constantly wonder when you'd slap me."

Bonnie chuckled and said, "At least you know where you stand."

Collin sighed helplessly. "Yeah, I guess you're right. No one else will receive the same affection Mr. Ivor gets from you."

She rolled her eyes. Then, she had an idea and said coldly, "All right, stop pretending to feel sorry for yourself! I know what kind of person you are. I'll give you a crucial task now. Assemble a team to track Falcon down immediately after we return to the hotel.

"Under no circumstances will you let the Dark Knights get to him first. I want you to catch Falcon and bring him to me, and I'll deal with him myself!"

 

Chapter 1002

Collin felt Bonnie's intense demeanor. Although he had worked for her for a long time, he felt a chill down his spine as he thought, 'Gosh, the chief looks pissed! I can imagine how things will end for Falcon when we catch him.'

Collin asked, "How will you deal with Falcon, Chief?"

Bonnie grinned, saying, "How do you think I'll deal with him? I'll punish him by sending him to our basement and beating the shit out of him before leaving him to rot in Selva Muerta. That'll teach him to betray me."

She might have sounded calm, but the coldness in her tone could terrify anyone.

The mention of the organization's basement and Selva Muerta gave Collin goosebumps. The organization owned these harsh and unforgiving places, and anyone sent there would wish they were dead.

Once they captured Falcon and sent him to one of these hellholes, he would instantly regret betraying Bonnie.

'I can't say Falcon doesn't deserve it. After all, the chief has treated us with nothing but kindness and honesty. He just had to betray her. Frankly, I won't feel an ounce of pity for him if he dies.'

With that in mind, Collin made an oath to himself.

'I'll catch Falcon as quickly as possible and alleviate the chief's frustration.'

"I understand, Chief. I'll lead the team and track Falcon down. We'll catch him in no time."

Bonnie did not want to send Collin on such a task. After all, it was boring being alone in a foreign country. Having someone as talkative as him made her days less mundane.

Then, she thought of something and asked, "Haven't you seen Falcon's partner on several missions? You should know where he would hide better than anyone. I guess that makes you the perfect guy to lead the team. Bring him to me as soon as possible."

Collin nodded enthusiastically. "Of course, Chief. I won't let you down."

Bonnie waved, saying, "Hurry up and get to it. We have no time to lose."

"Copy that," he said before leaving.

Meanwhile, Ivor listened to Floyd's report in the hotel. The former squinted and said, "You said the Nidhoggs sent more people than we agreed on beforehand? His most trusted assistant is on the move, too?"

Floyd nodded. "That's right, Mr. Ivor. That's the information we've gathered as of now."

Ivor tapped the table, frowning while trying to determine the reasons behind the Nidhoggs' decision." Floyd, why did they mobilize so many people? Are they trying to take the 1.6 billion dollars for themselves?"

After some thought, Floyd responded, "I don't think that's the case. After all, the Nidhoggs suggested the agreement. They wouldn't break the rules they set themselves."

"You have a point," Ivor said. Then, his eyes glinted in surprise as he thought of something.

 

Chapter 1003

Ivor said, "I think I know why the Nidhoggs are doing this."

On the other hand, Floyd remained clueless. He hastily asked his boss, "Why, Mr. Ivor?"

"They're such a considerable organization that Falcon's actions are a huge embarrassment. They sent that many people because they want to get to Falcon before we do. They'd feel ashamed if we got to him first."

Floyd finally understood what was happening after listening to his boss's reasoning. "So, that's how it is."

Ivor continued to tap the table as he went silent for a while. Finally, he said, "Dispatch another team of our most elite guys to track down Falcon. They must report to the Nidhoggs when they pinpoint his whereabouts. We won't capture Falcon unless we have to."

Floyd was stunned, not entirely understanding his boss's actions. "Mr. Ivor, I know the Nidhoggs are doing this to deal with their traitor, but there's no reason we should do something to benefit them.

"Also, we'll get our money and the chip if we get to Falcon first. Why should we work with the Nidhoggs?" "How are you this dense?" Ivor looked at his assistant, exasperated. "You're forgetting there are two passwords in the chip. Although the Nidhoggs have agreed to lend it to us, what will we do if we piss off their leader and he chooses not to give us the second password?

"Then, he'll say he has given us the chip, and it's our fault for not being capable enough to unlock it. What'll we do then?"

After a brief pause, Ivor continued, "I have a hunch the leader of the Nidhoggs is reasonable and easy to converse with. Doing something that'll benefit them will make it easier for us to negotiate with them."

He spoke with the organization's best interest in mind. He did not think it was wise to go against the Nidhoggs' leader when there were insufficient benefits. Moreover, it did not make a difference who caught Falcon first. Hence, there was no need to build resentment over something so trivial.Chapter

Floyd facepalmed when he finally understood the situation. "Jeez, Mr. Ivor. Your analysis was impeccable. I wonder why I didn't think of that."

Ivor said indifferently, "You're a fool, that's why."

Floyd could only scratch his head and chuckle dryly. He would not have taken it lightly if someone else had called him a fool. Instead, he would have retorted. However, Floyd was more than ready to accept it since Ivor was the one who called him that.

After all, Ivor's intelligence far surpassed those of average people.

Collin spent all day and night tracking Falcon down. Finally, he brought some good news to Bonnie, "We got him, Chief! He's holed up in the basement of an abandoned villa in the countryside. He probably thinks he's safe there and that we won't find him.

"That's why he made it his hideout for several days. We can catch him if we move out immediately."

Bonnie shot up from the couch, emanating an imposing demeanor. "Did you confirm it? Don't let his misdirection deceive you!"

Collin confidently responded, "I'm sure of it, Chief. We found Falcon several days ago but continued monitoring him first because we feared it was a trap. We can finally confirm that he's there." Bonnie nodded. "Let's catch that son of a bitch!"

 

Chapter 1004

"The car is ready, Chief. We can go to Falcon's hideout now." Collin took the lead and showed Bonnie the

way.

When they reached the hotel entrance, they saw Ivor coming out of a car. Bonnie stopped and waited for him to approach, thinking he was looking for her.

Collin noticed her stopping and watched as Ivor approached. Collin asked, "Why is the leader of the Dark Knights here at this time of night?"

After some thought, Bonnie figured out why Ivor was there. "I'm guessing he also discovered Falcon's location and came here to tell me about it."

Collin's eyes widened. "We just got the same information. How did he find out soon after we did? Are the Dark Knights that capable?"

Collin had dealt with the Dark Knights before. Although they were no slouch, they were not remarkable, either. He thought everyone else in that organization only had that level of capabilities. He finally realized that he had underestimated them.

Bonnie glanced at Collin sideways, saying, "The Dark Knights are equal to us among the various

international organizations. Don't take them lightly. Do you think they could've held on to that position if they weren't capable enough?"

Collin nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly. "You're right, Chief. I was too cocky and dismissed the Dark Knights as a mere inadequate group. It seems I must correct my flaw."

Bonnie was satisfied with his response. She said, "Exactly. Underestimating an enemy is never good. Correct your flaw, or a powerful adversary will take you by surprise."

He nodded solemnly. "Understood, Chief."

Ivor stood before Bonnie, wearing the same silver radioactive-patterned mask from last night. However, he wore casual attire instead of a black suit tonight, adding leisure to his demeanor. Bonnie thought he commanded a captivating air about him.

That said, she knew she was a married woman, so she glanced at him before composing herself. She asked smilingly, "Are you here for me?"

Ivor nodded. "I came to tell you we've discovered Falcon's whereabouts. He's in the basement of an abandoned villa in the countryside. Do you want to tag along with me?"

Collin gave Bonnie a big thumbs up inwardly.

'The chief is awesome! She perfectly predicted why the Dark Knight came here.'

Meanwhile, Bonnie grinned and said, "We just tracked him down, too. I was on my way to ask you to come with me, yet you already arrived before I could leave. Let's hit the road."

'I wanted to confront Falcon and take care of this mess alone. Then, I would've given the Dark Knights their money. Since their leader has come here, I guess a few niceties wouldn't hurt.'

Ivor had already considered joining Bonnie, so instead of turning her down, he said, "All right, let's move."

Bonnie pointed at the car Collin had arranged, saying, "Should we split up?"

 

Chapter 1005

"Sure, I'm okay with that." Ivor did not suspect a thing. After all, they were heading in the same direction, and it did not matter how they got there.

Bonnie walked over to the car, got in, and told Ivor through the window, "I'll see you at the abandoned villa."

He nodded to show he acknowledged her before getting into his car. Soon after, the two cars sped through the freeway. Although they were on their way to catch Falcon, they could not afford to make their intentions known.

Otherwise, they might alert him and give him a chance to escape. That was why the duo drove black sedans, which were common in this country. They did not even bring many others with them.

Even so, more than enough people were present to complete the mission. Moreover, Ivor and Bonnie were around, so catching Falcon was elementary.

When they reached the abandoned villa, Bonnie told Collin to park somewhere secluded. Then, she sent a small team to scout ahead. Meanwhile, Ivor and his men were nearby. They parked near Bonnie's vehicle, and Ivor approached her car.

He pulled out a binocular and looked ahead, asking, "Did you send your men to scout the area?"

"Mhm," she responded dryly, "Falcon is too cunning, so we must sweep the area for traps. Otherwise, we might fall for them."

Bonnie had trained Falcon in countersurveillance and trap-setting. The knowledge she passed onto him was close to flawless. He was naturally gifted, too, and she could see that from how he further refined everything she had taught him.

'It'll be a daunting task to catch Falcon. After all, he's undeniably capable. Otherwise, he couldn't have joined my organization. I planned to train him further since I recently had free time.

'Too bad he didn't cherish the opportunity. He has no one else to blame but himself for what's about to happen!'

Ivor said, "It looks like it'll be pretty tricky to catch this Falcon guy."

Although the Dark Knights were capable, it still took them a while to track Falcon down. Ivor knew he could not take Falcon lightly.

Bonnie grinned sarcastically. "I would've come alone if Falcon wasn't so formidable. Still, I'm mainly here because of the chip. I can't bear the thought of it getting stolen after I spent so much time and effort developing it. To add salt to the wound, the thief is my apprentice."Chapter

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. If Falcon stood before her now, she would have beaten him senseless.

Ivor pried, asking, "Are you trying to say you're not based here? Where are you most of the time?"

She sensed his intentions and glanced sidelong at him. "Have you heard the phrase, 'Curiosity killed the cat?' Never ask about something you're not meant to know about."

Ivor could not help but feel impressed when he realized she had seen through him.

'He's the leader of the Nidhoggs, all right. He's sharp.'

Since Ivor had failed to pry, he decided to drop the topic. After all, he did not want to offend Bonnie by stepping over the line.

"I just wanted to know if we stay in the same place. You've been a pleasure to talk to. Perhaps we can hang out sometime."

Ime:

Bonnie raised her brow. "Oh? Then, why don't you tell me where you're based? Let's see if we're meant to be close enough to hang out."

 

Chapter 1006

Ivor was startled. He tried to pry for Bonnie's information, but she twisted his words and neutralized his efforts. Worse, she turned the tables and pried him instead.

Bonnie grinned when she noticed his silence. Suddenly, she began to find the leader of the Dark Knights intriguing. "Why aren't you saying anything? Is it because you can't reveal where you're based? It looks like you're not sincere about hanging out with me."

Ivor squinted, thinking, 'The leader of the Nidhoggs is something special. He's not easy to deal with.'

He sighed and said, "It isn't the right time to tell you. I'll wait until next time."

Bonnie smiled and shook her head. Instead of exposing him, she looked ahead and kept watch. Ten minutes later, Collin and his men finished scouting the area and returned to Bonnie.

"Everything checks out, Chief. Let's head straight to the basement and catch that son of a bitch."

Bonnie had always been meticulous and vigilant. That was why she remained motionless when Collin told her everything was clear. She was in no hurry to lead her men into the villa. "Have you scouted the basement? Are there any surprises we should prepare for?"

Collin shook his head. "There's only one path leading to the basement. We didn't go in because I was worried Falcon might see us."

After some thought, Bonnie asked, "Are there any exits in the basement?"

Collin shook his head again. "We only found one path leading to it, but we can't confirm how many exits there are."

She frowned, saying, "The basement is enclosed, and you guys don't know much about it. What'll we do if we lead everyone straight to a trap?"

He helplessly replied, "That's why we couldn't investigate too closely even if we wanted to, Chief. Falcon is highly adept in countersurveillance. If we make too much noise investigating him, he'll know we're here."

Bonnie had considered this when she left the hotel. However, she did not expect Collin to lead a team and still return with almost no new information about Falcon's hideout.

'I can't blame Collin. Falcon is excellent at picking his hideout, and Collin can't do anything about that. That said, we must catch Falcon today. I need to think of something quickly.Chapter

Bonnie rubbed her chin while trying to devise a solution. Soon after, she said, "All of you stay here while I scout the area myself."

Collin frowned and instinctively denied her suggestion, "No, Chief. You're the heart of the organization. What'll we do if something happens to you? Maybe I can give it another shot. Either way, you shouldn't go."

Bonnie scoffed. "What do you think Falcon can do to me?"

Collin continued to persuade her, "I know you're tough, but that doesn't mean you're invincible to underhanded tricks. It's risky to go in there yourself. You can forget about it, Chief."

 

Chapter 1007

"I know you're concerned about my safety, but we must catch Falcon," Bonnie added firmly after a brief pause, "I've decided to scout the basement myself. Once I'm confident it's safe, you'll lead our men in to catch him."

If the situation permitted, she would even catch Falcon herself. Then, her men would not have to risk their safety. Naturally, she could not tell Collin because she knew he would nag at her.

Collin did not argue once he realized Bonnie was determined. He said, "Watch your back once you're in there, Chief. Don't fall for any of Falcon's traps."

She waved, saying, "Don't worry about it. I'll never put myself in danger."

Then, she prepared to enter the basement. Suddenly, she heard Ivor's voice, "I'm coming with you."

His words stunned everyone. Floyd looked at him in a daze, asking, "Wh-why are you volunteering to do something so dangerous, boss?"

'It's getting harder to understand Mr. Ivor's actions. He's too enthusiastic toward the Nidhoggs' leader. If the leader weren't a man, I'd say Mr. Ivor has a thing for him.'

Ivor looked at his assistant condescendingly. "You do realize he offered to go in alone, right? Why would it be okay for me to stay back while he risks his safety? I should help him now that I'm here. Otherwise, what will the others think of me?"

Still, Floyd failed to understand his boss's actions. "Will they really think poorly of you if you stayed behind?"

"Did you forget everything I told you?" Ivor looked at Floyd helplessly.

'Damn, Floyd is getting dumber by the day.'

Floyd began to understand everything when he heard that. "Oh, you're doing this to build a good rapport with the Nidhoggs' leader. That'll make it easier for us to negotiate terms with them later, right?"

"Of course. Why else would I do it?" Ivor whispered, "They offered us a few weeks to study their chip, but I might be able to extend it to a month. I can buy us more time if I become his buddy."

Floyd finally understood his boss's intentions. "Excellent job at thinking so far ahead, Mr. Ivor."Chapter

"Remember, there's always a reason behind all my actions. All you have to do is stay out of it." After that, he approached Bonnie and asked, "Should we go? Is it okay if I join you?"

When he first offered, she thought he was joking. After hearing him repeat it, she knew he was serious about tagging along.

However, Bonnie did not understand his actions. She raised her brows and asked, "Are you sure you want to come? Falcon's tough, and I won't be responsible for you if we get into trouble,"

Ivor raised his chin and said confidently, "Let me assure you you're free of liability. I don't consider Falcon a threat, either."

Bonnie chuckled and said, "Don't be so sure of yourself. Otherwise, you'll have to eat your words if he outdoes you."

 

Chapter 1008

Ivor chuckled. "We're on the same boat, buddy. Do you often look down on your allies like that?"

He had gotten to know the Nidhoggs' leader for a few days now and thought the latter was intriguing.

"It was just my advice. I didn't mean to look down on you." Bonnie cracked her knuckles and stretched. Then, she stopped smiling and glared toward the basement, adding, "If you're sure about coming with me, we should move out soon. We have no time to lose."

"All right, let's go." Ivor's expression grew solemn. After all, catching Falcon was their priority. They could discuss the rest once they completed their task.

As the duo moved, Collin nagged, "Be careful in there, Chief."

Bonnie did not even bother to turn. She simply waved and said, "All right already. Stop nagging me." He shook his head helplessly. "I'm just concerned about you. Why do you find me annoying instead?" Bonnie and Ivor had gone too far and could not hear Collin. However, Floyd could not help but make a snide remark, "You keep nagging like you're his mom. If I find you annoying, imagine your leader." "What'd you say?!" Collin whipped around and glared at Floyd. "How dare you say that about me? You must be itching for a beating."

Floyd shrugged. "I was just speaking the truth. Don't you take kindly to honesty?"

"Why, you little-" Collin was about to punch Floyd, but the former's henchmen stopped him.

"Don't lower yourself to his level, Mr. Collin. Come over here. We'll discuss something interesting instead of arguing."

Collin struggled to suppress his anger. He glared at Floyd and barked, "You Dark Knight people are just obnoxious, as usual!"

'I suspect Floyd was the one who annoyed me when I dealt with this organization. Even his speech pattern is the same!"Chapter

Floyd retorted, "Speak for yourself. We're cut from the same cloth, so you don't have the right to talk about me like that."

"I would've pummeled you if it weren't for my chief!" Collin did not want to stir up trouble, but Floyd was infuriating.

The latter also thought something terrible might happen if he continued arguing, so he dropped the matter. "Bah! I can't be bothered with you!"

Collin rolled his eyes and scoffed, "Hmph! You're making it sound like I intended to talk to you."

Then, he turned away arrogantly as if he could not stand Floyd. The latter could not stand Collin's behavior either. Ultimately, Floyd returned to his men.

Meanwhile, Bonnie stared at the overgrowth in the abandoned villa, saying, "Falcon knows how to pick a hideout all right. I can't believe he can live somewhere this miserable. No wonder it took us a long time to track him down."

Ivor frowned and added, "His choice in hideout tells me just how tough he is."

Bonnie looked like she knew he would say that. She said, "I told you not to take Falcon lightly. I know both of us are capable and will even say we're better fighters than him. Still, it pays to stay vigilant."

 

Chapter 1009

Ivor could not help but glance at Bonnie sideways when she said that. He said, "Although you look like a carefree guy, you're pretty cautious."

Her lips twitched. "Are you sure you consider me carefree?"

That was her first time hearing someone refer to her as carefree, and she found it refreshing. After all, people had always found her mature, reliable, and wise. As for carefree, she suspected she had only shown that side of her to Ivor, albeit occasionally.

Bonnie had not acted out of character before Ivor when she first met him. She wondered how he saw through her and discovered her carefree side.

"I have a hunch that's just who you are." Ivor was stunned. After all, he called her carefree out of instinct. "A hunch, huh?" Bonnie's lips twitched. "That sounds unreliable."

"I wouldn't say that. My hunches have always been accurate, so I often trust them." Ivor walked forward and cleared the way for Bonnie as he spoke.

Ivor thought, 'Although he's also a man, his stature is smaller and weaker than mine. I should clear the way for him.'

On the other hand, Bonnie looked at his back and felt like he was taking care of her. For a moment, she suspected the man before her was Ivor.

'Nah, Ivor's on a business trip to one of Arvandor's neighboring countries. Yale is on the other side of the world. He can't be here. I must be imagining it because I miss him too much.'

Soon after, the duo reached the abandoned villa. Bonnie peered inside, but all she could see was darkness. Although she had superb vision, she still could not see a thing. She turned and whispered, "This place isn't strategic for us. Tread cautiously."

To her surprise, Ivor turned when she did. The two almost hit each other's faces. They were so close to each other that Ivor caught a faint aroma. He froze when he sniffed it.Chapter

'Wait a minute. Why does this guy smell so much like Bonnie? The Nidhogg's leader is a man, so why would he smell so feminine?'

With that in mind, Ivor remembered the soft and plump sensation when he first fought the Nidhoggs' leader. He had buried his suspicions previously, but after smelling the faint aroma, he could not help but become suspicious again.

'Is this guy a lady instead?! She might be disguising herself as a man because of personal reasons.'

Bonnie realized they were an inch away from touching each other. She stumbled backward before finding her footing. She noticed the stunned Ivor and asked, "Hey, why'd you turn so suddenly? Now you look like a deer in headlights."

Ivor returned to his senses and chuckled when he heard that. He said, "This place is pretty creepy. It'd be wild if something supernatural happened. Maybe you should watch your back."

 

Chapter 1010

Bonnie rolled her eyes and said, "Stop trying to scare me. I'm not afraid of ghosts. Also, am I supposed to be impressed if I see one? I'll even make the ghost regret haunting me."

She spoke with a natural tenacity as if nothing could scare her. Ivor could not help but feel a little frightened when he sensed her unwavering air. He thought the Nidhoggs' leader was as mature as he was, even though the latter looked young,

'I wonder what harrowing experiences he must've experienced to be so mentally tough.'

Meanwhile, Bonnie noticed him staring at her. She felt her face and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?"Chapter

Her voice brought Ivor back to his senses. He collected his thoughts and chuckled, saying, "I'm surprised you're pretty brave despite your small frame."

She felt offended. "What do you mean by that? Watch your tongue."

'He sounds like he's underestimating me. How annoying!'

Meanwhile, Ivor thought she had misunderstood him. He was about to make fun of her again when they heard a rustling sound. The duo composed themselves and looked toward the sound. Suddenly, a bird burst out of the foliage and flew away.

Although they realized it was a bird, it made them more alert and no longer as relaxed as they were a second ago. Bonnie approached the villa's edge and gestured toward Ivor. "You go left, and I'll take right. Let's split up and cover more ground."

Ivor had no objections. "Got it."

The duo flanked the villa and scouted its surroundings. However, this tactic only allowed them to check the perimeter they still knew nothing about its interior.

Soon after, the duo rendezvoused. The inside of the villa was pitch black. Bonnie asked, "Should we check inside? We can't find anything useful if we keep looking outside."

Ivor peered inside and looked around. He saw nothing but darkness without a single ray of light. He frowned and immediately disagreed, "It's too risky to enter like this. Are you sure? I think you should reconsider. There's a good chance we might run into real danger inside."

Bonnie raised her brow, asking, "Are you scared?"

Ivor sneered, knowing she was goading him on. "Hmph, I don't know the meaning of fear. Still, this isn't something you can afford to underestimate. I hope you can consider your actions more carefully."