No one, not even Persephone's parents or the persuasion of Zephyr and Nicholas, could deter her from making her
decision. -
A few days later, Persephone arrived in Flinge, the central city of the five provinces by the border. It was far from
Centrolis, a world she had never seen before. Here, it was different from elsewhere, with its prosperity and
darkness, a place of extravagance and infamy.
This area was a mix of everything, housing many fugitives, drug dealers, and wanted criminals. It was a haven for
crime, as the rumors suggested.
"I heard Greta was sold to human traffickers by her own father!" Persephone remembered Theodore's words.
"There are many human traffickers in Flinge. They torture kidnapped girls in various ways... The place is terrifying.
Are you really going there?"
Persephone looked up at the neon signs overhead and took a deep breath.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtIn truth, human traffickers posed no threat to her. Even if there was no influence from the Hamertons there, they
wouldn't allow her to face danger alone. Zuko had dispatched elite Hamerton bodyguards to protect her secretly,
and Nicholas had arranged manpower in advance upon her arrival in Flinge.
After all, the Hamertons belonged to the legitimate business world, but in a place like Flinge, the influence of
underworld forces was more prominent.
"Don't let Ms. Persephone find out!" They had reminded their subordinates before their departure. They just needed
her to know that she was absolutely safe no matter where she was.
The streets of Flinge left Persephone a bit overwhelmed. It was different from Centrolis' grandeur—even the
prosperity here carried a hint of allure.
Especially at night... Underground casinos, underground arenas, red-light districts... They transformed this place
into another world.
Persephone wandered around this area for over a week. She knew someone was tailing her, and she knew the
button on her bag was a tracking device.
Although she disliked the feeling of being watched, she understood she was the apple of her family's eye. Her
parents, grandparents—both maternal and paternal, even her granduncle in Cumulus City— loved her more than
themselves.
She couldn't allow any harm to come to herself. The bodyguards were necessary, and her safety was a priority.
Even if she didn't care for herself, she had to ensure her own safety for those who loved her.
However, things took an unexpected turn in the second week. The local factions targeted the bodyguards
shadowing her.
The bodyguards were mistaken for members of rival factions, and they were attacked. Oblivious to it all,
Persephone continued strolling down the streets, seeking Greta's whereabouts...
Unexpectedly, she stumbled upon a clue and formed a plan to rescue Greta.
In the underground arena, amidst the hazy lights and the frenzied crowd's cheers, fighters battled for their lives.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThese fighters had signed a life-or-death contract. They weren't just fighting for a lucrative prize but also for a
chance to survive.
A misstep meant only two outcomes—either being maimed or killed.
The strong scent of hormones excited the nerves of women in the crowd, screaming and generously rewarding the
fighters. Among these fights, one involved the most renowned fighter in Flinge... Morpheus Orton.
As he entered, the cheers from the crowd escalated, almost lifting the roof. His movements were fluid and precise
—a powerful throw followed by a heavy punch, and his opponent was thrown out of the ring, down and out.
The boxing ring bore marks of blood, and as Morpheus licked his lips, wiping sweat from his face, the referee's
countdown ended without the opponent rising.
The referee raised Morpheus' hand, prompting another wave of screams from the crowd. Those who had bet on
him won fortunes, while those who had bet against faced enormous debts and left gloomily.
Morpheus descended from the ring with an indifferent expression, heading to a corner. He removed his gloves and
bandages, grabbing an ice pack from a bucket to place it directly on his head. The refreshing sensation spread
from his head to his entire body, the mix of water and sweat trickling down his muscular chest, disappearing into
the edge of his shorts.