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    Chapter 3354 Do I Have To Go


    Abel''s pharmaceuticalpany was across town.


    Watson was out in the suburbs. The drive would take over half an hour, and with N involved, Luca dared not to waste a second. She rushed out of the building without even putting in a request for leave. She gged down a cab and jumped in.


    As soon as she was in the cab, she called Rhett to go over the day''s tasks and asked him to put in a leave request on her behalf.


    After helping her out, Rhett asked, "Dr. Craw, are you okay?"


    "I''m fine. Just tell them I wasn''t feeling well and went to the hospital." Luca hung up the call as soon as she finished speaking.


    After the cab driver heard her, he asked with concern, "Miss, are you feeling sick? Would you like me to take you to the hospital instead?"


    "No, just take me to my destination please." Luca knew her face looked tense and strained because she was worried about N''s situation.


    That was why the driver, overhearing her conversation with Rhett, ended up misunderstanding the situation. "Alright." The driver did not pry further, though he nced at her in the rearview mirror. Then, she added, "Could you speed it up, please? I''m in a bit of a hurry."


    The driver checked the GPS, nodded, and said, "No problem. The rush hour has passed, so I can get you there in half an hour, tops."


    "Thank you," replied Luca.


    Every second mattered now. Luca knew too well what was at stake for both her and N.


    She had seen the brutal training for captured children on the Ind of Despair. Their training was harsher than for adults.


    Abel only kept children with high potential.


    They were forced to fight every day, and any who did not survive were simply discarded without a second thought. Abel and his people would not show them any mercy.


    After all, it cost more to raise and train a child than an adult. That was why they were very selective about those they chose.


    Luca knew how cruel it was. If N ended up in one of those training centers, she probably would not survive even a single day. If she could not endure, she was bound to be eliminated.


    Luca, as a mother, would never let that happen.


    The driver sped up, managing to reach her destination in just half an hour. After Luca paid the fare, she rushed inside the building.


    The receptionist saw her and tried to stop her. "Miss, please check in over here."


    Ignoring her, Luca went straight for the elevator.


    The receptionist quickly followed. "Miss, who are you here to see? Do you have an appointment?"


    Just then, a security guard came over and asked, "What''s going on?"Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    "She''s trying to go upstairs without checking in," exined the receptionist.


    The guard frowned and blocked Luca from entering the elevator. "Miss, please check in first."


    "I''m in a hurry. I''ll check in when Ie back down," replied Luca as the elevator doors opened.


    She started to step in, but the guard blocked her again. "Miss, you need to check in first."


    "I don''t have time for this." Luca shoved the guard to the side.


    The security guard froze, stumbling a step to the side from the push. This woman looked so slim and frail. How could she be that strong?


    He had steadied himself, yet she still managed to push him aside. What was going on?


    Luca walked into the elevator.


    As the doors started to close, the receptionist, sensing that Luca was not someone to mess with, hurriedly asked, "At least tell us who you''re here to see!"


    "The CEO told me toe." Luca pressed the top-floor button, watching as the elevator doors slowly closed.


    The guard scratched his nose, exchanging a look with the receptionist.


    "What''s your deal? You couldn''t even stop one person?" grumbled the receptionist. Even though Luca said she was meeting with the CEO, who could guarantee that was true?


    No one wanted to risk going upstairs to bother the CEO if it was not legit.


    The receptionistined to the security guard, trying to pin the me on him.


    The guard''s expression darkened. "Oh, it''s my fault now? It''s your job to make people check in at the front desk. If anyone gets in trouble over this, I''ll be sure to point out whose responsibility it actually is."


    He was not about to take the fall.


    "You!" The receptionist did not expect the security guard to be so sharp-tongued. Hiseback left her speechless.


    She red at him and stalked back to her desk, unwilling to keep arguing.


    They would find out if anyone was going toe down on them soon enough.


    After a tense wait, no call came from upstairs. She nced at the guard, who gave no sign of movement either. Only then did she rx.


    No one wasing to scold them.


    Upstairs, Luca stepped out of the elevator and went straight to Abel''s office. She knocked on the door.


    His voice sounded from inside. "Come in."


    As she opened the door, a heavy cloud of cigar smoke hit her, making her sneeze.


    Abel looked at her with a smile on his face, but his eyes did not match it. He exhaled a thick plume of smoke and took another drag, unconcerned with her obvious difort.


    "I heard Luke quit smoking for you once. Guess it''s true. You''re not used to secondhand smoke anymore, are you?" taunted Abel.


    The air was nearly unbearable. Who knew how many cigars Abel had taken? While she could handle regr secondhand smoke, this special cigar''s pungency was something else.


    "This cigar is overpowering," replied Luca with a steady expression.


    Abel gestured for her toe closer. Luca stepped in.


    "Shut the door," instructed Abel.


    She closed it behind her.


    Abel gave her a crooked smile. "Luca, any idea why I called you here?"


    Luca paused for a moment, appearing to be thinking deeply. After a while, she replied, "You want me here for Mr. Shank''s research."


    "Not bad, huh? You figured it out." Abel chuckled. "His research is about to seed."


    "So soon?" Her heart skipped a beat. If Shanks was really developing that kind of drug, he was working faster than she had anticipated.


    No one had ever attempted to create something like this before. Shanks would be the first. However, could he


    truly seed?


    Luca could not help but doubt.


    However, Abel had no reason to lie to her, so Shanks had to be close...


    He really was a medical genius. He was able to sessfullyplete such a difficult research project. The speed at which it was happening made Luca feel uneasy. The moment this drug was finished would be the best time for Luke''s team to act.


    Still, were they ready?


    Clenching her fists, she listened as Abel praised Shanks again, "He''s a genius. You''ve always known that, right?"


    Luca remained silent.


    Shanks was indeed a genius, but he was using his talents for Abel''s twisted purposes. She still could not understand why he would do it.


    Medicine was meant to save lives, yet it was being used to help Shanks harm people.


    "What do you need me to do?" Luca brushed off her thoughts and focused on the task at hand.


    "Only a few experimental steps remain. I need you to help Shanks finish it up," said Abel.


    "Do I have to go?" questioned Luca.


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