Chapter 301 Where the hell is this place?

Her gaze remained fixed on the doorway through which Mr. Philip had disappeared.

Anya hesitated for a moment before quietly nodding.

Soon, Mr. Philip returned with one of the soldiers.

The soldier carried a tray with two cups filled with steaming tea. He approached Ivy and Anya and carefully placed the tray on the table in front of them.

"Here," Mr. Philip said with a warm smile. "Have some tea. It should help you relax after everything you’ve just been through."

Ivy lowered her gaze toward the two cups, while her expression remained calm.

"Thank you, Mr. Philip, but I’m not even in the mood to drink tea right now," Anya said with a light chuckle. "Maybe I’ll have it later."

"You should have it now while it’s still hot," Mr. Philip replied immediately, a warm smile still plastered across his face. "Or perhaps you don’t like this particular flavor? I can get you another one if you prefer."

"There’s no need for that, Mr. Philip," Ivy chimed in immediately, turning her gaze toward Anya. "Mr. Philip has been nice enough to us. He invited us to the second floor when we were in danger, and now he has prepared tea for us to help us relax. Yet you’re rejecting it without even trying it? That’s not very nice."

"But I’m really not in the mood for tea," Anya insisted, her expression becoming slightly uncomfortable.

"Just take a sip at least," Ivy urged, her tone leaving little room for argument.

Anya let out a heavy sigh of defeat before finally picking up the cup of tea. She brought it to her lips and began drinking slowly, her eyes still carrying a hint of reluctance.

Ivy also reached for her own cup of tea.

However, instead of drinking it, she quietly tilted the cup over her black dress.

The warm tea immediately soaked into the fabric, spreading across the front of her dress until she had emptied every last drop.

Ivy lowered the empty cup and maintained a calm expression as though nothing unusual had happened.

I’m very sure something was laced in the tea, Ivy thought inwardly. But whatever it is, it isn’t meant to kill us.

Ivy’s lips curled into a faint smirk.

Whatever their plan is, I’ll let them believe it had worked.

A few seconds later, Ivy deliberately allowed her body to go limp before feigning unconsciousness and collapsing onto the table.

Before Anya could react, the drug began taking effect in her system. Her eyelids became heavy, and she soon collapsed onto the table beside Ivy.

Two soldiers immediately stepped forward.

One of them waved a hand directly in front of Ivy’s face.

Ivy remained completely still.

The soldier then waved his hand in front of Anya’s face as well.

Neither woman blinked.

The soldiers exchanged a knowing glance.

Their lack of reaction was enough confirmation that the sleeping drug they had laced into the tea had taken effect.

"Nice!" Mr. Philip finally exclaimed, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

He looked at the two unconscious women for a moment before gesturing toward the soldiers.

"Now, let’s take them to the underground stronghold."

The soldiers immediately nodded.

"Yes, sir."

Without wasting any more time, they bent down and carefully lifted Ivy and Anya onto their backs.

Despite the fact that the soldiers were still wearing their not-too-heavy armor, carrying the two women was not much of a problem for them.

However, the situation actually worked to Ivy’s advantage.

Her black dress was already soaked from the tea she had deliberately poured over herself, making it easier for her to conceal any subtle movements beneath the wet fabric. More importantly, no one suspected for even a second that she was pretending to be unconscious.

Ivy kept her eyes firmly shut as the soldier carrying her began walking.

Now I wonder where they’re taking us, Ivy thought inwardly.

She could hear their footsteps growing fainter as they moved farther away from the brighter part of the building.

The surroundings gradually became darker.

The temperature also seemed to drop as they descended deeper into the building.

Ivy remained motionless, carefully listening to every sound around her.

One turn then another.

The soldiers continued walking until the light completely disappeared.

For a brief moment, everything became eerily dark.

Then, just when Ivy expected them to continue deeper underground, brightness suddenly returned.

But this time, it wasn’t the familiar light of the upper floors.

Instead, the moment the soldiers stepped into the new area, Ivy heard something that made her heart tighten.

Loud voices of humans. Not monsters.

Theie desperate cries echoed throughout the underground space, accompanied by the harsh voices of several men barking orders.

Ivy’s expression remained perfectly still, but inwardly, her mind was racing.

What the hell is this place?