Chapter 554: Are We Going To Die?

Nikki released a heavy breath as she skimmed through the remaining reports. There wasn’t much information. She had asked for details about the man in the photograph, but aside from the obvious fact that he belonged to the White Serpent Brotherhood, they had found nothing.

“This isn’t enough,” she whispered.

A small note tucked between the pages caught her attention. She pulled it out and held it between her fingers, her brows drawing together.

“I can’t give this to Lucian,” she murmured. “Not yet.”

Nikki knew she had broken Lucian’s trust. She needed to accomplish something significant to earn it back. Therefore, she wanted this investigation to be perfect—to remind everyone that she was still better than Ashley.

She couldn’t afford to screw it up.

“The White Serpent Brotherhood…” she trailed off, sinking deeper into thought. “Lucian has a truce with one of their division leaders.”

They were working toward a common goal.

Then again, no one would be surprised if the White Serpents betrayed them. They were snakes to begin with.

Nikki returned her attention to the note and then to the photograph of the man who had exchanged something with Tinie.

Part of her wanted to call Lukas and ask for his help. It wouldn’t be the first time. However, Lukas looked at her differently now. She couldn’t approach Gustav either, because he would undoubtedly report everything to Lucian.

Nikki couldn’t hand over the information while it was incomplete.

If she gave Lucian only half of it, she wouldn’t receive any credit for whatever they discovered afterward.

She could ask Jony since they both worked for the High Chamber faction, but she didn’t trust him at all. If anything, Nikki wished him dead. There were a few other people within Dominion she could approach, but with Lucian, Gustav, and Lukas monitoring everyone, she doubted the investigation would remain a secret for long.

“Should I do it alone?” she whispered.

Her brows suddenly rose.

Slowly, Nikki lifted her gaze toward the entryway.

She pushed herself off the couch and approached the security monitor mounted on the wall. When she pressed a button, the dim hallway appeared on the screen.

It was empty.

Even from this angle, however, she could see that Rum had left his door wide open.

“Seriously.” She frowned. “Does he think he’s living in a squatter’s area? How can he leave his door open like that?”

Nikki pursed her lips as an idea crossed her mind.

“Compared to everyone else in Red’s crew… Rum is the simplest,” she muttered.

Everyone knew that. Even Rum openly admitted that he was as straightforward as an arrow—and a complete simpleton.

The man was basically an adrenaline junkie.

“As long as I give him a logical explanation, he’ll do it,” she told herself. “It’s not as though he’s hiding the fact that he’s spying on me.”

Even if Rum tried to hide it, he would fail. He had always been like that.

With that thought in mind, Nikki pushed away from the wall and marched toward the entryway. Once she stepped into the hallway, she craned her neck to peer inside Rum’s open apartment.

Her face contorted slightly.

Rum was lying flat on the floor just beyond the doorway.

He remained perfectly still, staring blankly at the ceiling. If anyone else passed by, they might assume he had died with his eyes open.

“Seriously…” Nikki stopped in the doorway and crossed her arms beneath her chest. “If you’re going to sleep, at least close the door.”

“I’m not sleeping,” Rum muttered emotionlessly. “I’m… evaporating. I hate you, woman.”

Somehow, Nikki reminded him of the resentment he had once felt toward Ashley—the Ashley from the first volume.

Back then, Rum had cursed her day and night. Because of her, he and his crew had been forced to babysit her. Even when she ran away, it hadn’t been exciting. How could it have been when the chase was so one-sided?

“Now that I think about it, why didn’t she fight us back then?” he mumbled to himself. “Was she looking down on me?”

The thought breathed life into his dying heart, making him sit up abruptly.

Nikki clicked her tongue.

“Want to do something interesting?” she asked.

Rum paused, his brows knitting together. He raised his gaze until his eyes met hers.

“What?” He blinked. “You’re still here?”

Nikki’s expression went blank, but she chose not to dwell on it.

“I’m asking if you’re bored.”

“No, Nikki.” Rum laughed dryly. “I’m having so much fun. The kind of fun a child has during his first trip to an amusement park.”

He frowned. “Do you always ask such obvious questions? Or has my opinion of you changed so much that everything you say irritates me?”

“Never mind.” Nikki turned on her heel and walked away.

After a few steps, however, she stopped and clenched her jaw.

Don’t let your emotions cloud your judgment, she reminded herself.

She took a deep breath and exhaled sharply. Forcing a smile onto her face, she turned around and faced him again.

“You’re spying on me, and you’ve been bored,” she said. “Do you want to have some fun?”

Rum narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Just say it.”

“I’m investigating someone,” she explained. “I can’t give you the details yet, but you’ll learn everything if you come with me.”

Rum didn’t respond. He merely stared at her.

“If you want to tag along, then do it. If you’d rather follow me from the shadows while I pretend not to notice you, that’s fine too,” she added knowingly. “But I’m asking because… the person I’m investigating is dangerous.”

She paused and huffed. “And as much as I hate to admit it, I need someone’s help.”

“How do I know you’re not tricking me?”

“You don’t.” Nikki shrugged. “But understand that if you die, I’ll probably die too—”

“I’m in.”

Nikki halted. “I wasn’t finished.”

“When are we leaving? Now? In an hour? Tomorrow?” Rum jumped to his feet. “Get me out of here, woman, and I’ll forgive you for your sins.”

Naturally, Nikki wanted to point out that she didn’t need his forgiveness. However, she instinctively bit her tongue.

“Tomorrow night,” she said, offering him a smile. “You’re coming?”

Rum took a few steps toward her. “Are we going to die?”

“…” Nikki swallowed. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

“Tomorrow, then.”

Rum smoothly turned on his heel and began humming as he walked deeper into his apartment.

A few steps later, he glanced back at her.

“Oh, close the door. I don’t want anyone watching me clean my grenades.”

Nikki shook her head at the adrenaline junkie but didn’t linger.

“Don’t tell anyone yet,” she warned. “Otherwise, you’ll ruin everything.”

Rum didn’t appear to hear her. He continued humming, even adding a few dance steps as he walked away.

“Whatever.”

Nikki grabbed the doorknob and pulled the door shut as she left. Once it clicked closed behind her, the corners of her lips curled into a satisfied smile.

Just like that, Nikki and Rum were set to enter a territory neither of them should have stepped into.

We’re having an early celebration for my son’s birthday tomorrow.

Been busy with the preparation. So, I might not update tomorrow.