The rugged mountains of West Domo County.


    Jasmine was cautiously making her way through the valley.


    Even in winter, the valley was lush with vegetation, thanks to the abundance of evergreen trees like pines and cypresses.


    Moreover, this dark and frigid valley showed no signs of human presence; there wasn’t even a goat path in sight.


    This made traversing the area extremely challenging.<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    For someone like Jasmine, who was not an experienced explorer, even a seasoned adventurer would struggle to maintain a swift pace in such conditions.


    Fortunately, it was winter, so Jasmine was dressed warmly. She wore a thick cashmere trench coat, a ck mid-length skirt with fitted ck bottoms, and sturdy ck leather boots, which helped protect her from the prickly pine needles and brittle twigs scattered on the ground.


    Jasmine had grown ustomed to the valley’s darkness and could have used her cell phone—despite its cracked screen—to light her path and ease her journey.


    However, the fear of being hunted by someone intent on killing her kept her from illuminating her surroundings.


    Every now and then, she considered checking for a signal on her phone but opted to keep it tucked away in her trench coat, wrapping herself and the device tightly to avoid revealing any light.


    After navigating through the valley for two to three hours, Jasmine remained resilient, but her hands and face bore the marks of her struggle. Scratches from branches and leaves had left her skin dotted with small red wounds, some even oozing a bit of blood.


    Yet, at that moment, Jasmine pushed past the pain, focused solely on escaping the mountains and preserving her life.


    ……..


    Meanwhile, Rueben’s special ne was the first to touch down at Tokyo airport.


    Uponnding, he wasted no time and headed directly to the Tokyo Police Department.


    He had already nned his visit; this trip to Tokyo was merely a performance for the old man.


    Once Jasmine’s body was discovered, he intended to express his sorrow, then leave the investigation to the Tokyo Police Department. He wouldter return to Aurous Hill with either Jasmine’s body or ashes for a grand funeral.


    As he traveled to the Tokyo Police Department, Rueben’s phone rang; it was a call from the United States.


    When he answered, he recognized his father Theodore’s voice on the line.


    “Hello, Rueben, is this a good time to talk?”<fne8e4> Read full story at f?ndnovel</fne8e4>


    Rueben replied with a nonchnt, “I’m surrounded by loved ones, so no need to worry, Dad.”


    Theodore then inquired, “So, you’re in Tokyo?”


    “Yes, Dad, I’m here.”