?Chapter 527:


    The address the kidnappers sent to Brenna pointed to an old, abandoned chemical nt on the outskirts of northwest Shirie, a ce long left to rust and rot. Military scouts had already swept through the site. It was deserted, just as expected. They moved fast, setting up surveince in and around the area, ready to spring into action the second the kidnappers showed up with the hostage.


    Meanwhile, at a private port in Shirie, a man clutching a ck backpack broke into a brisk stride and scrambled onto a sleek luxury yacht. The yacht, modest yet elegant with its three decks and 140-foot length, began to drift away from the dock the moment he boarded. He carelessly flung his ck backpack onto the deck and unzipped it to reveal Patrick, who was still engulfed in a deep slumber.


    Jade emerged from the cabin, her expression cold. Spotting Patrick, she delivered a sharp kick to his side without a moment’s hesitation. “As soon as we hit international waters, dump him into the sea,” she said.


    With a dutiful nod, the man yanked Patrick from the backpack, quickly bound him with ropes, and anchored him to the yacht’s railing. He then stuffed the empty backpack with stones, zipped it, and tossed it aside with a dismissive gesture.


    Turning to Jade, he said cautiously, “Miss Hewitt, there’s a chance Brenna might have military connections. Just yesterday, she managed to summon a military band to the Russell estate with a single phone call. We need to tread carefully; if the military gets on our trail…”


    Jade scoffed, her gaze fixed on the frothy wake the yacht left behind. “Unlikely. We neutralized all surveince within a 700-foot radius around the restroom. Besides, we orchestrated a parade of distractions; twenty people exited that restroom consecutively, each carrying identical backpacks. Not even the military could discern which person kidnapped the kid.”


    Acknowledging her confidence with a silent nod, the man retreated into his thoughts.


    As darkness enveloped the sea, the yacht became a solitary beacon on the boundless waters.


    Jade waited until the clock struck ten. Then, she made a call. “Proceed. And if Brenna dares to show her face, don’t hesitate—shoot to kill.” Within moments, Jade slid a freshly bought SIM card into her phone and braced herself to make a call to Brenna.


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    Beside her, the man lifted his pistol, pressing the cold barrel against Patrick’s temple without hesitation.


    Jade crouched down, took a quick shot of the unconscious Patrick with her phone, and forwarded it to Brenna. Activating the voice distorter, she masked her tone beneath that same harsh, mechanical rasp. Jade was well aware that Brenna wasn’t alone; she had the military watching her back. That was why every second counted; she couldn’t afford to stay on the line longer than sixty seconds.


    She had anticipated every angle, every surveince tactic the military might throw at her. The route, the timing, even the signal bounce-back. She dialed the number. It rang, but Brenna didn’t pick up.


    Time seemed to stretch, and just as the automated disconnection loomed close, Brenna answered the call.


    Jade’s distorted voice shed through the silence. “Listen carefully—show up alone, or I will put a bullet in the kid’s head.”


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