Underground tunnels emitted a soft red glow, filling the air with an eerie atmosphere. In an instant, a hand suddenly covered Sophie''s mouth and nose. Shocked, Sophie could feel the sleeping drug seeping into her nostrils, identical to the one Odie had used on her back in Devonport!


    Quickly holding her breath, Sophie feigned unconsciousness and copsed.


    Before passing out, she pinched her thigh hard, forcing herself to stay awake.


    There had to be secrets in this tunnel that weren''t meant to be seen. She was determined to uncover what made this boutique so


    special.


    Sophie felt herself being hoisted onto someone''s shoulder, t


    hen ced into a tunnel cart and transported underground to another


    location.


    Next, she heard the sound of an elevator being summoned. After three seconds, the elevator came to a halt with a ''ding.''


    Soon after, she heard a familiar voice.


    "Quick, put her down gently."


    The voice belonged to Wayne!Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Taking over, Wayne scolded, "Who gave you the right to knock Ms. Sophie out?"


    "Wayne, I just don''t want her to start scream and shout. If the people above had heard, it would have been the end of me!"


    Wayne didn''t me him but instead asked, "When will she wake up?"


    "The dose wasn''t strong. She should be awake in half an hour."


    Hearing this, Wayne responded, "Alright, you can leave now."


    "Yes, Wayne."


    The person quickly left.


    Taking advantage of the moment, Sophie squinted her eyes open. The décor was familiar, resembling that of Minton Casino, but this ce didn''t seem like it was on the first or second floor. Could it be... that she was on the exclusive third floor, which was essible only to VIP guests?


    "Now, take her to the second floor lounge. If Mr. Odiees and finds a single hair out of ce on Ms. Sophie, I''ll hold you ountable!"


    "Yes!"


    The guards carefully carried Sophie downstairs.


    Once she was sure she was alone in the lounge and no one else was around, Sophie opened her eyes.


    She took a couple of deep breaths and drank a bottle of mineral water from the table in one gulp.


    Having inhaled a small amount of the sleeping drug, drowsiness overwhelmed her. Now, the most important thing was to metabolize the drug as quickly as possible.


    Sophie looked around. Wayne probably thought she was still unconscious, so there was no one guarding the door. She pushed the door open and walked out along the corridor.


    Following her memory from before,


    Sophie quickly found the elevator. During the day, there was no onen guarding the elevator entrance, probably because it wasn''t yet time for the reception of guests. There was no noise when she was on the third floor earlier.


    Sophie approached the elevator. Last time, she hadn''t seen clearly, but this time, she could see everything.


    In front of the elevator was a card


    reader, She didn''t have an employee card; only guests holding a gold card could ess this elevator. But where could she get a gold card or an employee card?


    At that moment, Wayne''s voice echoed from downstairs. "Hurry up, these are all new arrivals! Get them upstairs quickly!"


    The voice didn''te from the first floor/but from the basement level below the elevator.


    Normally, deliveries were made


    through the main entrance or, at


    worst, the back door on the first floor.


    What kind of delivery was being m


    made from the basement to the upper floors? Moreover, just like those deliveries, she had been transported to the third floor without passing the first or second floors, indicating the use of a direct elevator from the basement to the third floor!