Ch. 1031..1040: Chapter 1031-1040

Chapter 1031

Falcon followed his accomplice's gaze as he spoke. The moment he saw Bonnie, he sprang up from the ground.

"B-Boss!"

Bonnie showed a fake smile. "Don't call me boss. We're not that close."

She then slowly approached Falcon with her hands in her pockets. "Falcon, hand over the chip, and I'll spare your life."

Falcon took a step back and touched his chest out of instinct. It was clear that he had hidden the chip there. Bonnie moved to attack before he could respond.

Falcon reacted quickly to defend himself, but Bonnie's relentless assault left him unable to retaliate, and he was soon overwhelmed.Chapter

Seizing the opportunity, Collin dashed forward and delivered a kick to Falcon's abdomen.

The force of the kick was immense, causing Falcon to spit out blood and nearly collapse. Collin approached him with an icy expression.

"Falcon! You treasonous dog! Hand over the chip now!"

Falcon clutched his chest and managed a defiant smile. "Why should I give up something I earned?" Collin's face grew even colder upon hearing this. "If you hadn't exploited our trust to sneak into the lab, do you think you would have had a chance to take the chip? Hand it over now, and we might consider leniency."

Falcon knew this was just a tactic to force his compliance, and he refused to be swayed. "Haha! I earned this chip. If you want it, come and take it."

This provocation ignited Collin's fury. Just as he was about to speak, Bonnie interrupted him.

"Don't waste words on him. Let's just take the chip."

Collin took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. "Understood, Mr. Boyd."

Bonnie acted swiftly, her hand clawing at Falcon's clothes. The force of her grip tore a piece of fabric from his shirt. With a ripping sound, the chip fell from its hidden place inside his shirt.

As Bonnie reached for it, Falcon's two accomplices leaped forward to shield him. Falcon caught the chip and held it tightly, attempting to negotiate with Bonnie.

"Boss, considering how long I've worked for you, even if I haven't done much, I've still put in effort. Could you give me this chip? I'm begging you, just let me off this once."

Bonnie laughed mockingly. "If you needed the chip that badly, you could have asked me before. I might have considered it. But now that you've stolen it, you're a traitor! I don't tolerate treachery.

"Hand over the chip and come back with me to face punishment, or your fate will be much worse."

Falcon heard her and took a step back while clutching the chip. "Then I'm sorry, boss."

He pulled a smoke bomb from his coat and tossed it at Bonnie's feet.

 

Chapter 1032

When Falcon threw the smoke bomb, Bonnie immediately dodged but couldn't prevent the smoke from spreading. She immediately covered her mouth with her collar out of concern that the smoke might be poisonous.

Collin wasn't as quick to react and inhaled much of the smoke, causing him to cough violently.

"Cough, cough, cough"

Bonnie's eyes flashed with concern, hearing the continuous coughing beside her. She strode over and asked, "Collin, are you okay?"

"Cough, cough, cough-"

While coughing, Collin waved his hand. "I-I'm fine, Mr. Boyd. Don't worry about me. Catching Falcon is more important."Chapter

As the smoke began to clear, Bonnie scanned the surroundings with her sharp eyes. She spotted Falcon and his two accomplices fleeing in a panic. She swiftly drew the dagger from her boot and threw it at Falcon's shoulder.

With a "whoosh," the dagger struck Falcon's shoulder, causing blood to spurt and eliciting a scream from him.

"Aaah!"

Falcon could have endured such a wound without screaming under normal circumstances. However, Bonnie's precise strike targeted a particularly painful spot and caused him to cry uncontrollably.

Seizing the moment, Bonnie advanced quickly and kicked Falcon's shoulder, driving the dagger deeper. Falcon could not speak due to the intense pain, causing cold sweat to stream from his forehead.

Falcon, now barely able to stand, was supported by his two accomplices. Seeing his dire state, one whispered urgently, "Didn't you say you had a backup plan? You better use it now, or we'll be finished here."

Just as Falcon was about to respond, he saw Bonnie preparing to strike again. Desperately, he bit his lip and pulled a signal gun from his pocket, firing it into the air.

"Bang-"

A red flare exploded in the sky, making Bonnie frown. It was a signal for reinforcements. 'Does Falcon have more allies coming to rescue him? This can't be allowed.'

Bonnie quickly pulled out a communicator and sent a message to her subordinates around the area. "Falcon is at the center of the forest. Close in from all sides and make sure to capture him."

She continued to chase Falcon while giving orders, her composure and calmness never wavering despite the chaotic situation.

Falcon's shoulder bled profusely, and his face turned ghostly pale.

Eyeing the chip in Falcon's hand, one of his accomplices urged, "Falcon, you're not going to make it. Why don't you give us the chip and card? If something happens to you, we can at least take care of your family,"

"No need," Falcon replied, taking a deep breath. "I got this myself, I'll keep it myself."

Seeing Falcon's determination, the two accomplices exchanged glances but didn't argue further. Soon, they found themselves cornered at the edge of a cliff.

 

Chapter 1033

Below the cliff, a torrent of rapids surged. The two accomplices looked terrified as they turned to Falcon and asked, "Falcon, we're cornered. What do we do now?"

Falcon looked up into the sky as if he were looking for something. But when no signs appeared, his expression darkened.

He bit his lip and said determinately, "If it comes to it, we'll jump. We can't let them capture us. If they do, the consequences will be dire."

Upon hearing this, one of the accomplices looked at Bonnie with a fierce glint in his eyes. "We might as well fight to the death! We can take them down!"

Falcon chuckled as if he'd heard a joke. "It's not just that we can't beat my boss, there's also Collin. And once their reinforcements arrive, we'll have no chance."

Falcon's knowledge of the Nidhogg organization was more profound. His words turned the accomplices' faces pale.

"Is there really no other way?" one of them asked.

"There is," Falcon said, stepping closer to the cliff's edge. "We gamble on the jump. It's our only shot at escape."

The accomplices hesitated, unsure about Falcon's plan. "What if we jump and die-"

Falcon cut him off before he could finish. "If you don't want to jump, then wait here to be captured."

Seeing Falcon's determination, the accomplices reluctantly agreed. "Fine! We'll do as you say. If you jump, we jump!"

They had no better option.

Bonnie finally spoke up leisurely, "This cliff is high, and while there are rapids below, it looks very dangerous. Are you sure you want to jump? You stole the chip and got the money, indicating you want a better life. Do you really want to throw that all away?"

She slowly approached Falcon and his accomplices and spoke in a soft tone. "Hand over the stolen chip and money, and I'll spare your lives. As long as you're alive, there's always hope, right?"

Falcon knew Bonnie was trying to trick them and didn't fall for it. However, the two accomplices were swayed. They looked at the cliff and the rapids below, then at Bonnie standing not far away.

Finally, they decided to help Bonnie persuade Falcon. "Falcon, let's hand over the chip and card. Surviving is more important. If we live, we can always rebuild."Chapter

"Yeah, if we die, we get nothing. All our efforts will be for nothing!"

Falcon saw through their intentions immediately. "You're just afraid of dying. I won't force you. If you don't want to jump, don't. I'll jump alone."

The two accomplices protested, "You need to give us the chip and money! If we don't have it, they'll never let us go!"

Falcon stepped back and watched them warily. "I earned this chip and money. You can't have it."

Seeing his resolve, the accomplices moved to grab it from him.

As they wrestled, Bonnie's eyes flashed with sharp determination. She sprang forward, aiming to snatch the chip from Falcon's hand.

 

Chapter 1034

Falcon noticed Bonnie's move out of the corner of his eye, and his expression changed. His eyes grew cold, and a shadow of deep malice flickered in them. He then shoved one of his accomplices toward Bonnie to block her.

Bonnie swiftly kicked the person aside and looked back at Falcon, only to see him leap off the cliff. As she rushed towards the edge, Falcon shot her a mocking smile.Chapter

Witnessing this, Bonnie's eyebrows knitted together, and her lips pressed into a tight line. Falcon was as slippery as an eel and disgustingly cunning,

Despite the cliff, the stream below gave Falcon a chance to survive. Jumping off the cliff wasn't necessarily fatal, but getting caught by her certainly would be. Likely, this realization drove Falcon's reckless leap.

As Falcon's figure disappeared from view, Bonnie immediately took out her signal transmitter to alert her subordinates, instructing them to head toward the stream and capture Falcon. Dead or alive, they had to find him.

Falcon might have escaped, but his two accomplices remained. They also considered jumping but were quickly subdued by the swift-acting Collin.

Collin asked Bonnie, after seeing only the two accomplices, "Mr. Boyd, where's Falcon?"

Bonnie glanced back at him, then looked towards the cliff. "He jumped."

Collin was momentarily stunned. "He's that fearless?"

"There's a stream below, not hard ground. Jumping might not kill him," Bonnie's eyes glinted with a cold light. "I've already ordered our men to head to the stream. They must bring Falcon back, even if it's just his body. If not, I'll keep searching."

Collin sensed the chill emanating from Bonnie and felt a pang of pity for Falcon. If Falcon had confessed and shown some remorse earlier, Bonnie might have given him a second chance due to their long history. But now, Falcon had pushed Bonnie too far.

Imagining Falcon's fate upon his return was daunting. No doubt, his punishment would be even harsher than what Bonnie originally intended.

Bonnie's gaze shifted to the two captives Collin had secured, and she spoke in a calm voice. "Take these two back for interrogation. They must know Falcon's next steps. Extract all information about him."

"Yes," Collin responded, immediately binding the two tightly. The knots were secure, leaving them no chance to escape.

While waiting for updates from her subordinates, Bonnie discovered a shortcut to the stream. She instructed Collin to hand over the captives to other team members and then proceeded.

As they reached halfway down the hill, a series of roars filled the air. When they looked up, they saw over a dozen helicopters circling. One had already landed by the stream, and two people were loading something onto it.

 

Chapter 1035

Bonnie's brows furrowed deeper, and she quickly extended her hand towards Collin.

"Quick! Give me your binoculars."

Not understanding the urgency, Collin swiftly handed them over to Bonnie.

Bonnie adjusted the focus and looked ahead. The person being carried onto the helicopter by those two men was none other than Falcon, who seemed lifeless.Chapter

The people on the other side seemed to sense their presence. Immediately, someone in the helicopter hovering above opened a window and aimed a gun at them.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The shots were fired so unexpectedly that Collin would have been hit. However, Bonnie was quick and pressed Collin's head down behind a tree, narrowly avoiding the bullets. Collin swallowed nervously.

"Mr. Boyd, what's going on? Why are they attacking us? Don't they know we are from the Nidhogg Organization?"

"So what if they know? In the face of immense interests, even if our strength is formidable, they'll still take action," Bonnie replied, not expecting Falcon to have found backing so quickly. This miscalculation could have been prevented if she had anticipated it earlier.

"Immense interests?" Collin was puzzled for a moment. Then it dawned on him. "Mr. Boyd, are you referring to the chip and the 1.6 billion dollars?"

"What else?" Bonnie's lips curled into a cold smile, her eyes glinting with icy light.

"When this chip was developed, you wouldn't believe how many eyes were coveting it. But no one dared to make a move because it was kept at our headquarters. Hence, the chip remained safe. But everything's different now since Falcon has taken it out. People will protect Falcon with their lives to get the contents of that chip, making them our enemies."

Given that the Dark Kight Organization was willing to pay 1.6 billion for the chip, its value was clear.

It was no surprise that these people were going mad over its worth.

"Did Falcon anticipate this all along, which is why he dared to go against us?" Collin pondered, realizing he had underestimated Falcon. Falcon was cunning and intelligent, constantly slipping through their fingers just when they were about to catch him.

Bonnie tried to see the organization logo on the helicopter through the gaps in the trees using the binoculars, but it was too far to make out clearly. Therefore, she couldn't determine which organization was helping Falcon.

Collin followed her gaze. "Mr. Boyd, did you see which organization took Falcon?"

"No, it's too far to see clearly." Bonnie pocketed the binoculars. "Let's regroup with our men and plan our next move. Only by identifying the organization that took Falcon can we track him down. Staying here aimlessly won't help and might even pose a risk."

Collin thought it over and agreed, nodding. "You're right, Mr. Boyd. I'll tell the brothers to retreat. Once we're back, we'll discuss how to investigate the organization that rescued Falcon."

Bonnie responded with a simple "Hmm."

When they returned, Ivor saw them empty-handed and asked, "Where's Falcon? Didn't you catch him?"

 

Chapter 1036

"No," Bonnie replied. Then she meticulously recounted everything that had transpired to Ivor.

Ivor raised his eyebrows and asked. "He managed to find support in such a short amount of time? Your subordinate is quite capable!"

Bonnie rolled her eyes at him after sensing a hint of sarcasm in his tone. "Given the situation now, there's no point in dwelling on it. We should focus on figuring out how to solve the current problem."

Ivor chuckled at her words. "So you do need my help after all. I thought you wouldn't want me to get involved."

Bonnie didn't rise to Ivor's teasing. "If you don't care about your 1.6 billion, you can leave. No one is forcing you."

Ivor hadn't joined Bonnie in capturing Falcon because he wanted to build goodwill with her, hoping to extend the chip loan period in the future. However, Bonnie's response seemed a bit ungrateful.

Still, he didn't want to quibble. The immediate priority was to find Falcon.Chapter

"Of course, I want the money," he said, pausing briefly before narrowing his deep-set eyes and sharing his plan. "We should post a bounty on the dark web and observe which organization reacts the most. This will help us deduce who took Falcon.

"Many organizations don't know about our alliance. Since we're both prominent on the international stage, learning about our cooperation will make them wary, leading them to possibly make mistakes. We can use these clues to uncover the truth."

Bonnie looked at Ivor with newfound respect. "That's a pretty good plan. I didn't think of that."

She had expended a lot of energy trying to capture Falcon and had just been through a fight, making it hard to think clearly.

"It's not that you didn't think of it; you're just exhausted," Ivor remarked, believing that with the Nidhogg leader's intelligence, coming up with such a plan would be easy.

Bonnie raised her finely shaped eyebrows. "I didn't expect you to understand me so well."

"It's not that I understand you; I trust your intellect and capabilities. Given your wit, it's impossible for you not to think of this," Ivor said.

Though they were both allies and rivals, he didn't shy away from giving credit where it was due.

Bonnie's eyebrows arched even higher. "I'm not sure if you're complimenting me or mocking me." Ivor laughed softly. "I'm complimenting you. When did I ever mock you?"

 

Chapter 1037

"Your eloquence is quite impressive," Bonnie offered a mild compliment. However, it was merely a courteous exchange devoid of genuine sentiment.

"Is that so? Well, thank you for the compliment." Ivor's smile remained unchanged, but a closer look revealed that his eyes lacked any genuine amusement.

This was his way of cooperating with others, making him appear more approachable. In reality, his genuine smile was evident only in Bonnie's presence.

"You're welcome," Bonnie responded perfunctorily. She then glanced at her watch. "It's getting late. Let's head back. Otherwise, the road will be difficult to navigate when it gets dark."

"Head back just like that? Aren't we going to investigate further for any other clues?" Ivor had assumed Bonnie would start the process of issuing a bounty right there and then. He was surprised when she suggested leaving.

Floyd, who was standing nearby, echoed his sentiments. "We deployed so many people, and not only did we fail to capture Falcon, but we also didn't recover the 1.6 billion or the chip. Are we just going to give up now? We should keep searching; maybe we'll find some clues."

Ivor's eyes were as dark as ink and grew even colder at Floyd's words. Undoubtedly, they had been outsmarted by Falcon, leaving them in a frustratingly precarious situation.

'But, the most unsettling aspect is the Nidhogg Organization leader's overly calm demeanor. He should be persistently tracking them down, given that Falco might hand over the chip to his rescuers. Yet he suggested returning instead."

This led Ivor to question whether the Nidhogg Organization might be colluding with Falcon to swindle his money. Was this all just an elaborate ruse?

His eyes narrowed with suspicion as he looked at Bonnie. "What are you planning next? Are you really going to just leave and abandon the chip?"

"You mentioned posting a bounty on the dark web to monitor the organizations' actions. We don't even have the equipment here to do that," Bonnie replied, fully aware of Ivor's underlying suspicion but choosing not to address it directly, instead teasing him slightly.Chapter

"Just that measure? What if he sells the chip? The technology within it is precious. If someone fully replicates it, the chip becomes worthless." Ivor's brows furrowed deeply, his tone was more serious than ever.

"You're more concerned about my chip than your 1.6 billion. Why does it seem like you're more worried about my chip than I am?" Bonnie said, hinting at his concern.

"Considering our agreement, the technology within that chip is at least half mine. How could I not be worried?" Ivor admitted it frankly, showing no attempt to hide his concern for the chip.

Bonnie smiled. "Don't worry. Even if he sells the chip, they won't be able to decipher the technology right away,"

Ivor's suspicion turned to curiosity. "Why are you so certain? Is there something special about your chip?" Bonnie nodded slightly. "Yes, Falcon thinks my chip has only two layers of encryption. In reality, there are four. He has only cracked the first two layers, which contain basic and simple technologies. The critical elements are hidden behind the remaining two layers.

"With Falcon's skills, it will take him some time to break through. Moreover, I can precisely locate him

once he does. When that time comes, he won't be able to escape."

Chapter 1038

The more Ivor listened, the more astonished he became. He hadn't realized how meticulously Bonnie had planned everything by considering all possible angles.

It dawned on him that when he had initially made a deal with Falcon, he might have unwittingly fallen into Bonnie's trap.

Bonnie spoke again. "Even if we can pinpoint his exact location, we might not be able to reach him immediately if he's far away. Therefore, we need to identify his general area and set up in advance to ensure the chip's technology isn't stolen."

She arched toward Ivor. "So, what do you think? Should we follow my plan, or do you have another way to track down your 1.6 billion?"

Ivor gathered his thoughts. "Falcon was once your subordinate. You understand him better than I do and can predict his next move. If I send people after him on my own, it might disrupt your plan and fail. It's best to follow your lead."

"Good. Since you agree, you must fully cooperate with me. If you disrupt the plan and affect our chances of capturing Falcon, it could lead to a serious fallout between us," Bonnie warned, giving Ivor a significant look. "I believe you don't want that outcome, right?"

"Of course. I prefer us to be allies rather than enemies," Ivor replied sincerely. After all, no one liked making enemies, especially someone as capable as Mr. Boyd, both in intellect and combat skills.

"How coincidental, I feel the same way." Bonnie shrugged lightly. "Now that I've said this, are you reassured? Can we head back now?"

"Yes, we can." Ivor paused, then added, "Once we're back, let's exchange contact information. We can communicate directly if any issues arise."

Bonnie gestured an OK. "No problem."

An hour later, Ivor and Floyd also returned to the hotel. Just before entering, Ivor turned to Floyd and asked, "How long have we been out on this trip?"

Floyd thought for a moment. "It's almost been a week."

"A week? That long?" Ivor furrowed his brows, reflecting on Bonnie, who was far away in Pyralis. His longing for her felt like a tight cord wrapping around his heart. "I wonder how my honey is doing? Does she miss me?"

He hadn't contacted Bonnie during this period, considering her focus on her research. When Bonnie worked on research, she often became entirely absorbed and neglected everything else.

He didn't want to disturb her. However, he was surprised at how quickly time had passed.Chapter

Floyd opened his mouth but remained silent, realizing he couldn't predict Bonnie's thoughts. He decided to keep quiet to avoid saying anything wrong.

Ivor stood there, lightly rubbing his chin as if contemplating something. After a moment, he spoke, "Book me a flight for tomorrow. I want to surprise honey. Tomorrow also happens to be our one-week wedding anniversary. I'll treat it as a celebration."

Floyd had no objections. "Alright, Mr. Ivor. I'll make the arrangements as soon as possible."

Chapter 1039

"Don't just do it quickly, arrange it right now, or it'll be too late by tomorrow," Ivor said with a hint of urgency, revealing how much he wanted to see Bonnie.

Floyd also nodded slightly, "Understood, Mr. Ivor. I'll handle it immediately."

Meanwhile, Bonnie was sitting cross-legged on her bed, discussing with Collin which organizations in Yale might have rescued Falcon.

Collin said while resting his chin on his hand, "First, we need to rule out the smaller organizations. Even if they saw the huge profits in the chip, they wouldn't dare to make a move. Next, we need to consider the larger organizations."

Bonnie furrowed her brows and began to ponder. "There are indeed quite a few large organizations in Yale. I can't figure out who it could be off the top of my head."

"Ms. Bonnie, it's understandable that you can't remember. You haven't managed the organization in a long time," Collin thought for a moment and quickly came up with an idea. "How about I draft a list of potential organizations for you to analyze?"

"That works. We won't get anywhere just guessing," Bonnie said as she lazily leaned back against the bed. "Tracking Falcon is proving to be trickier than I thought. It looks like we won't be able to go home anytime soon."

Collin smirked teasingly upon hearing this. "Ms. Bonnie, are you missing Mr. Ivor? Is that why you seem so wistful?"Chapter

Bonnie rolled her eyes at him. "Wistful? Where did you get that?"

As she spoke, the image of Ivor's handsome face flashed through her mind. She sighed slowly. "But honestly, it's the first time I've been away from him for so long. I do miss him a bit. It's kind of hard to get used to."

"Long? It hasn't been that long," Collin calculated. "We've been out of Pyralis for less than a week. How is that long?"

He exaggeratedly rubbed his arms, pretending to be grossed out. "Is this how you married folks are? So clingy?"

"How is that clingy? It's a normal reaction," Bonnie said, taking the opportunity to tease Collin. "Oh, I forgot. You're single. Single people like you wouldn't understand our feelings."

Collin was speechless for a full ten seconds before he found his voice again. "Boss, you guys can be all lovey -dovey. I didn't say anything. Why the personal attack? That's really hurtful, you know?"

"Really? I didn't see you looking hurt," Bonnie retorted, continuing to tease him. Then, as if struck by a thought, she frowned. "But seriously, in the past few days, Ivor has only called me once. Could he be dealing with some difficult issue?"

Usually, Ivor would call her at least three times a day and send dozens of messages when he was on a business trip. But in the past few days, there hadn't even been a single message, let alone a video call. This was very unusual.

Collin joked, "Could Mr. Ivor have found a new lover? Is that why he doesn't have time for you?"

 

Chapter 1040

Bonnie gave him a sharp look without hesitation. "Don't talk nonsense. He's not that kind of person."

Although she often teased Ivor with similar remarks at home, she trusted his character completely. Those words were just jokes. She never believed Ivor would betray her or seek out other women.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Collin shook his head and commented, "You're a husband protector."

Bonnie lifted her chin, her expression filled with pride and confidence. "Of course. If I don't protect my own man, should I expect you to?"

Collin waved his hands frantically, "No, no, I wouldn't dare think that."

After all, someone as capable as Mr. Ivor wouldn't need his protection. He understood that Bonnie's words were just a retort. But truthfully, he didn't dare think that way.

Bonnie gave him another sharp look. "Shut up. Listening to you gives me a headache."

Collin chuckled awkwardly and mimed zipping his lips.

Bonnie took out her phone from the drawer. "I need to call him and see if he's facing any difficulties. Maybe there's something I can help with."

'Ivor always wanted to bear it himself by keeping everything inside, no matter what he encountered. I need to ask him. Otherwise, he would never tell me!'

"Someone as impressive as Mr. Ivor probably wouldn't encounter anything he couldn't handle, right? Maybe he's just too busy to call you." Collin tried to comfort her, seeing the worry etched on her face.

Bonnie suddenly remembered how Ivor used to compress his work schedule to return to her as soon as possible during business trips.

"Being too busy is a possibility, but I'll call him to make sure. Otherwise, I won't feel at ease."

"Do you need me to leave?" Collin pointed towards the door.

Considering how Ivor liked to whisper sweet nothings in her ear, Bonnie thought it might be awkward if Collin overheard. So, she waved him away.

"You should leave. I'll make the call."

"Okay." Collin didn't say anything further and got up to leave.

Just as Bonnie was about to call Ivor, a video call request popped up on her screen. The caller was none other than Ivor himself.Chapter

Instinctively, she almost pressed the answer button. But then she remembered she was still in disguise and stopped just in time.

Taking a deep breath to compose herself, she switched the call from video to audio and asked in her usual tone, "What's up?"