“Even if you’ve got nothing to add, you owe me an exnation.


    What’s the real reason?” Hannah pressed.


    Clivepsed into silence for a moment before finally speaking, “Something serious went down a while back.


    We lostrades, and Mr.


    Vargas nearly… nearly didn’t make it out alive.


    ”


    “What?” Hannah’s brows furrowed in disbelief.


    “Were you involved in some shady business without my knowledge?”


    Upon hearing this, Clive flinched, his silence unbroken.


    Hannah’s frustration peaked at his reaction.


    “Fine, if you won’t tell me, I’ll contact Franklyn right now.


    ”


    Seeing her reaching for her phone, Clive acted swiftly to halt her.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    “Don’t call Mr.


    Vargas!”


    He the exined, “Actually… It’s not Mr.


    Vargas’ fault.


    His men depend on him for their livelihoods, but his business has hit a rough patch recently.


    You warned us to steer clear of the gray market.


    For the past half a year, we’ve been living off our past earnings to support our team.


    Mr.


    Vargas took a job from an old client out of desperation—we had no other options.


    It was supposed to be quick money: five million dors in three days for just providing some muscle as bodyguards.


    But we never anticipated how deadly it would be.


    Mr.


    Vargas took a dozen men; only he and three others made it back.


    ”


    Hannah’s brow furrowed, her mind racing.


    Did Franklyn venture into Muvrand?


    Muvrand was notorious for its unpredictable nature.


    She and Bryson also had their share of tumultuous experience there.


    “What exactly did you do for this client?” Hannah inquired.


    Clive’s expression darkened.


    “Mr.


    Vargas imed it was a gambling event on an ind.


    It seemed harmless at first, but by the end, the stakes had escted to their very lives! They were stranded on the ind without a means of escape and were coerced into gambling for their lives.


    ”


    “Where is this ind?” Hannah pressed for more information.


    Clive opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak, a knock sounded at the door.


    The bartender entered, bearing bottles of wine.


    “Mr.


    Wainwright, here’s the wine you requested.


    And the guests have arrived.


    ”


    As the bartender served the wine, Maloney and Dotson entered one after the other.


    Maloney nodded at Clive before taking a seat beside Hannah, while Dotson settled in nearby.


    “We can discuss thister,” Hannah suggested, addressing the group.


    “But first, let me introduce you.


    This is Mr.


    Pierce and Dotson.


    They’re friends of mine.


    ”


    After exchanging nods, Hannah delved into the recent events at the research institute.


    Maloney’s expression turned slightly shocked.


    “You’re so quick to confirm it’s from your institute?”


    “There’s no one else it could be,” Hannah replied firmly.


    Clive interjected, “Then what’s the next step? Should we restrain them and interrogate them?”


    His suggestion elicited puzzled looks from the others.


    “What? Am I wrong?”


    Maloney turned to Hannah, inquiring, “Is Cadilind really in such disarray?”