Chapter 241 - 240: The Past 3

Ivan Hayes’s team had their rendezvous point near the embassy in Ratanak.

After they arrived, Ivan Hayes led her to a lounge in the embassy and then turned to leave.

Besides the participants, only the top brass in Ratanak were supposed to know about this mission.

Yet, in such a short time, Upton had somehow learned all the details and arranged for a body double to cover his escape. It was obvious who was responsible.

If it weren’t for their informant close to Upton, they probably wouldn’t even know they’d gone into the rainforest.

So he had to report this information up the chain immediately, and maybe get Elder Clark to come handle this little monster.

Yvonne Lowell’s gun case was, as expected, taken from her. And while no one was assigned to guard her up close, she was well aware of the two unfamiliar presences outside her door.

A knowing smile played on Yvonne Lowell’s lips. ’Looks like they brought me here for more than just a statement.’

’But... they couldn’t possibly think this place could actually hold me, could they?’

’If she hadn’t come willingly, she would have just dusted her hands of the whole affair and walked away back in the rainforest.’

Fortunately, Ivan Hayes had some decency. He’d remembered what she said and had someone prepare food for her.

After eating her fill, Yvonne Lowell lay down on the bed to rest.

It was two hours later when Ivan Hayes came to get her.

Yvonne Lowell looked at the man before her, who had since washed the camouflage paint from his face. Her gaze was appraising. "A statement? Now? And it’s *just* a statement?"

"Yes, now. Come with me." Ivan Hayes didn’t meet her eyes, deliberately avoiding her last question.

’She’s just a kid. How can her gaze hold so much killing intent?’

The corner of Yvonne Lowell’s mouth twitched beneath her mask, but she said nothing more, simply following him out.

Ivan Hayes led her to an office, then turned and left.

When she saw the man in his fifties sitting at the desk, flanked by two guards, a sharp glint flashed in Yvonne Lowell’s eyes.

The man spoke first. "You’re here. Sit."

Yvonne Lowell didn’t bother with pleasantries, sitting down directly across from him.

A fleeting glint of admiration crossed the man’s eyes. "Hello. The name is Clark."

"I know. I’ve seen you online more than a few times. But if this is just about taking my statement, there’s no need for you to be here in person, is there?"

Though her words were blunt, Yvonne Lowell had still used a respectful form of address.

Elder Clark watched her, his expression appraising. "You figured it out long ago? Then why did you come back with Ivan Hayes? Weren’t you afraid we’d detain you?"

Yvonne Lowell met his gaze directly. "Because I have a natural trust in your organization? Of course, the most important thing is that I have confidence in myself. If I wanted to leave, this place couldn’t stop me."

"Quite confident. Are you from Aurelia?"

Although Elder Clark asked the question, he already knew the answer.

"I am." Yvonne Lowell clicked her tongue, shifted into a more comfortable position, and decided to get straight to the point.

"To be precise, I was, before I was sold into human trafficking. After that, I was undocumented, so I figured out a way to get myself a new legal identity.

The reason I was in the rainforest today was to assassinate Upton. I’m not a professional hitman, just someone who occasionally takes jobs on the dark web for some extra cash.

I do background checks before accepting any contract. I’ve never assassinated a good person. In the past, present, and future, I will never be an enemy to Aurelia.

That’s the gist of it. So, what is it you wanted to see me about?"

Elder Clark had wanted to ask her about the trafficking, but now was clearly not the time.

"You’re an interesting one. Have you considered joining us?"

Yvonne Lowell was stunned for a moment. "First, I feel obligated to remind you, sir, that employing child labor is illegal. Second, I’m used to my freedom, and I have other things to take care of. So, no, I’m not interested."

"You’re only sixteen? That’s fine. Special circumstances call for special..."

Yvonne Lowell cut him off, her tone tinged with mockery. "I’m fourteen. And it’s not my birthday yet."

"COUGH! COUGH!" The two guards behind him sputtered.

Elder Clark was momentarily speechless but recovered quickly. "Ahem, special circumstances call for special measures. We can register you in the system, send you back to school, and we’ll figure out the rest later."

"Tsk. No need to send me to school; I have my own education arrangements. But you’re that eager for me to join?"

"We do. We need people with your talents," Elder Clark said with conviction.

’If she agrees, we’ll still have to run a thorough check on her background before making any further arrangements.’

’But he could see the clarity in her eyes. They lit up when she mentioned her motherland.’

’She concealed it well, but his eyes were a perfect measure of character! This girl was capable of great things!’

"Forget about officially joining the system, but..." Yvonne Lowell leaned forward, her hands on the desk, and whispered a few words to him.

After hearing what she had to say, Elder Clark was silent.

’He must be going crazy,’ he thought, ’to actually be considering the possibility of what she just proposed.’

"This isn’t a decision I can make alone. I’ll have an answer for you tomorrow. Just don’t run off... ahem, don’t leave."

"Deal. I’ll be going then." Yvonne Lowell stood up and walked out of the office.

The next day, Yvonne Lowell paid another visit to Elder Clark.

After a classified video conference, she left Ratanak ahead of the others.

...

「Two years later. Kingsland, Aurelia.」

Yvonne Lowell had just gotten off the plane when she was picked up by a plain, unmarked black car.

After passing through numerous security checkpoints, Yvonne Lowell once again saw Elder Clark, as well as the man from the video conference six months prior.

The man and Elder Clark looked at the sixteen-year-old girl before them, their emotions a complicated mix.

There was admiration, nostalgia, and a touch of guilt.

Initially, they had taken a wait-and-see approach regarding her allegiance and identity. But with each successful mission, she reminded them that she was truly, unconditionally, giving her all for their cause.

She had done so, so much for them over the past two years.

And all they had given her in return was a paltry bonus—the sum total of which was less than what she could make from a single, casual job on the dark web.

Yvonne Lowell raised an eyebrow. "What is it? Don’t you recognize me?"

Elder Clark studied her, his brow furrowing slightly. "You’ve lost more weight. Have you not been eating properly?"

Yvonne Lowell’s lips twitched. Ever since completing her first mission for them, she had shown them her real face.

And ever since then, Elder Clark’s inner "mother hen" had been activated, and he’d nag her every time they spoke.

"Don’t start with that," she said. "What’s going on? You actually needed me to come in person for this."

The man cleared his throat, pulled three brocade boxes from a drawer, and pushed them in front of her.

"Yvonne Lowell. These are the honors you’ve earned over the past two years. We’re returning them to their rightful owner."

Yvonne Lowell casually opened one to take a look. ’Woohoo! Not bad looking.’

’It wasn’t that she was slacking off, to have only earned three of these in two years.’

’It was mostly that the other teams were plenty strong, and there weren’t many missions that both required her personal intervention and qualified for one of these medals.’

The words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them. "Are you firing me?"

The man and Elder Clark exchanged a glance, then burst out laughing.

A rare flush of embarrassment appeared on Yvonne Lowell’s face. ’This stupid mouth of mine. Can’t ever say anything smart when it counts.’

"I wouldn’t let you go even if you tried to resign."

The man stifled his laughter and pushed a new ID plaque and a letter of appointment across the desk to her.

"Here’s to a pleasant working relationship, new colleague."

...

「Back in the present.」

The man pulled himself from his reverie, opened his email client again, and personally typed out a reply.