Chapter 689

The night was as dark as ink.

Evelyn Ross stood at the bow of the ship.

The sea wind carried a salty, fishy scent as it brushed against her face.

The ocean ahead was pitch black, deep and unfathomable.

Alexander Vance walked to her side.

"Afraid?"

His voice was low.

Evelyn did not turn her head.

"Afraid of what."

This dark sea was just like her past life.

Alexander was silent for a moment.

"From here to the Aldorian border, four hours."

He paused.

"There's no signal on the open sea."

Evelyn turned her head to look at him.

Alexander continued, "Professor Nathaniel Wright has already set off."

His tone was steady.

"We'll pick him up and return home immediately."

Evelyn nodded.

"What if it's not smooth sailing?"

Alexander looked at her.

"I have a backup plan."

He reached out and gently ruffled her hair.

"I will bring him back this time."

Evelyn felt the warmth of his palm.

"Do you know people in Aldoria?"

"I know a few."

Alexander withdrew his hand.

"Anyway, don't be afraid tonight."

"Hehe—"

A light laugh came from behind them.

They both turned around simultaneously.

Natalie Castillo leaned against the ship's railing, holding a handful of sunflower seeds in her hand.

Seeing them look over, she blinked.

"Don't stop on my account."

She cracked a seed.

"Watching a young couple in love is so interesting."

Natalie tilted her head.

"Even someone like Mr. Vance tells lies."

Evelyn frowned.

"What did he lie about?"

Natalie pursed her lips.

"If there were really no problems, why would you two come personally?"

She pointed at Alexander.

"You're probably the strongest in your organization, right?"

Alexander's eyes turned cold.

Natalie immediately raised her hands, making a zipping motion over her mouth.

"Alright, alright, I won't say anymore."

But her eyes darted.

"Still, I don't get it. Evelyn doesn't need you to give her confidence."

She looked at Evelyn.

"Oh, I remember now."

Natalie clapped her hands.

"Evelyn is afraid of water, right?"

She lowered her voice.

"I heard Evelyn and Grace fell into the sea in San Francisco."

She paused.

"Grace died then, didn't she?"

Evelyn's head snapped towards her.

Her gaze was icy.

Alexander's expression darkened further.

Natalie wasn't afraid of him. Instead, she stuck her tongue out at Evelyn.

"Hmph."

She finally shut up.

Evelyn turned back to face the front.

Natalie was right.

Facing the sea, she was indeed a little afraid.

Her sister died in this sea.

She almost died here too.

Alexander's words earlier had relaxed her somewhat.

Natalie just had to poke holes in it.

So annoying.

Evelyn pressed her lips together tightly.

The ship moved forward through the darkness.

Four hours later, they reached the coast of Aldoria.

All ship lights were extinguished.

The engines were shut down.

They drifted slowly towards the shore.

Alexander glanced at his phone.

"Five more minutes."

Evelyn narrowed her eyes.

Figures moved on the shore.

A flashlight beam swept across the sea surface.

"Border police."

Alexander said in a low voice.

Evelyn's heart tightened.

"They'll leave in one minute."

Alexander's voice was steady.

"The timing is precise."

Sure enough.

The flashlight beam wavered.

The police turned and left.

Evelyn let out a sigh of relief.

Natalie leaned closer.

Her breathing was a little rapid.

"So tense."

She whispered.

"Feels like we're thieves."

Evelyn glanced at her.

"As long as you don't cause trouble, nothing will happen."

As soon as the words left her mouth.

A car approached from the distance.

Its headlights were especially conspicuous in the dark.

Alexander said softly, "They're here."

Natalie was taken aback.

"Just one car?"

Alexander looked at her coldly.

"We're picking up Professor Nathaniel Wright to take him home."

His tone was flat.

"His students will return gradually."

Natalie pouted.

"So fierce."

"Quiet."

Evelyn said with two words.

Natalie shut up again.

Alexander: "..."

Evelyn stared intently at the car.

It got closer and closer.

A few more seconds.

They could pick him up.

She held her breath.

Suddenly—

Blinding flashlight beams lit up from all directions!

The police who had just left returned!

Motorcycle engines roared!

They surrounded the car!

"Don't move!"

Shouts pierced the night sky.

Evelyn's pupils contracted sharply.

Alexander grabbed her wrist tightly.

"Don't move."

His voice was extremely low.

Natalie gasped.

"Something's wrong..."

She murmured.

Evelyn stared fixedly at the shore.

The car was forced to stop.

The door opened.

A figure was dragged out by the police.

A flashlight illuminated the person's face.

It was Professor Nathaniel Wright.

Evelyn's heart clenched.

Alexander squeezed her hand.

"Don't panic."

His voice was calm.

"Let's see the situation."

On the shore.

Professor Nathaniel Wright was held down by two police officers.

He struggled to look up, gazing out to sea.

His eyes were full of despair.

Evelyn gritted her teeth.

Natalie asked quietly, "What do we do now?"

Alexander didn't answer.

He stared at the shore, his gaze sharp.

The police seemed to be searching the car.

Soon, they dragged another person out of the car.

A young man.

Probably a student of Professor Nathaniel Wright.

Both were handcuffed.

The police escorted them, preparing to leave.

Evelyn looked at Alexander.

"Save him."

Her voice was soft, but firm.

Alexander nodded.

"Wait."

He pressed down on Evelyn's shoulder.

"Charging out now would get us all killed."

Evelyn understood.

But she watched Professor Nathaniel Wright's back as he was led away.

Her fingers clenched tightly.

Natalie suddenly spoke.

"Someone's coming."

She pointed in another direction.

A black sedan sped over.

It stopped in front of the police.

The door opened.

A man in a suit got out.

The police immediately saluted.

The man walked up to Professor Nathaniel Wright.

He said a few words.

Then he waved his hand.

The police removed the handcuffs.

Professor Nathaniel Wright was stunned.

The man gestured for him to get in the car.

Professor Nathaniel Wright hesitated for a moment, then got into the black sedan with his student.

The sedan turned around and drove away from the coast.

The police also dispersed.

The coast fell silent again.

Evelyn looked at Alexander.

"Who was that?"

Alexander narrowed his eyes.

"Aldorian."

He paused.

"On our side."

Evelyn was taken aback.

"You arranged it?"

Alexander shook his head.

"Not me."

He looked in the direction the black sedan had disappeared.

"But likely a friend, not a foe."

Natalie let out a sigh of relief.

"A false alarm."

She patted her chest.

"That scared me."

But Evelyn frowned.

"Professor Nathaniel Wright was taken away."

She looked at Alexander.

"How do we pick him up?"

Alexander took out a satellite phone.

He dialed a number.

Said a few words.

After hanging up, he looked at Evelyn.

"Follow that car."

He turned and walked towards the cockpit.

"There's a small speedboat on the ship."

Evelyn immediately followed.

Natalie also chased after them.

"I'm coming too!"

Alexander looked back at her.

"You stay on the ship."

Natalie was indigSterlingt.

"Why?"

"You're too noisy."

Evelyn answered for Alexander.

Natalie: "..."

Alexander started the speedboat.

Evelyn jumped on.

The speedboat cut through the sea surface, rushing towards the shore.

After landing, the two quickly got off.

Alexander pointed ahead.

"The car went that way."

He took out his phone and pulled up a map.

"There's a small town ahead."

Evelyn nodded.

"Let's go."

The two ran along the coastal road.

In the darkness, only the sound of footsteps and waves could be heard.

They ran for about ten minutes.

The lights of a town appeared ahead.

Alexander stopped.

"The car stopped there."

He pointed to a house at the town entrance.

Evelyn squinted to see.

The black sedan was parked in front of the house.

Lights were on inside.

The two quietly approached.

They hid behind a tree to observe.

Voices came from inside the house.

They were speaking Aldorian.

Evelyn couldn't understand.

Alexander translated in a low voice.

"They're asking about Professor Nathaniel Wright's research."

He paused.

"Asking in great detail."

Evelyn's heart sank.

"They're after the research?"

Alexander nodded.

"Probably."

He looked at the house.

"We need to get him out quickly."

Evelyn looked around.

"How do we get in?"

Alexander pointed to the side of the house.

"There's a window there."

He lowered his voice.

"I'll distract them. You go in through the window and bring Professor Nathaniel Wright out."

Evelyn nodded.

"Be careful."

Alexander touched her face.

"You too."

He turned and walked towards the front door of the house.

Evelyn took a deep breath and circled to the side of the house.

The window was closed, but not locked.

She gently pushed it open.

Climbed inside.

It was a storage room inside.

She quietly pushed the door open.

In the living room, Professor Nathaniel Wright and the student sat on a sofa.

Opposite them were the suited man and two bodyguards.

The suited man was asking questions.

Professor Nathaniel Wright's face was pale, but he remained stubbornly silent.

Evelyn observed.

Bodyguards stood by the door and the window.

The suited man had his back to her.

An opportunity.

She quietly approached the living room.

From behind, she covered one bodyguard's mouth and delivered a chop to the back of his neck.

The bodyguard went limp and fell.

The other bodyguard noticed and turned around.

Evelyn was already in front of him, punching him in the abdomen.

The bodyguard grunted and fell to the ground.

The suited man turned his head sharply.

Evelyn had already rushed to Professor Nathaniel Wright.

"Let's go!"

She grabbed Professor Nathaniel Wright's hand.

The student also reacted and stood up.

The suited man pulled out a handgun.

"Stop!"

Evelyn turned and kicked the gun out of his hand.

At the same time, the front door was smashed open.

Alexander charged in.

He punched the suited man, knocking him down.

"Go!"

He shouted.

Evelyn pulled Professor Nathaniel Wright and rushed out of the house.

Alexander and the student followed behind.

The four of them ran towards the coast.

Footsteps of pursuers came from behind.

And gunshots.

Bullets whizzed past their ears.

Evelyn didn't look back, running desperately.

The speedboat was just ahead.

She jumped onto the speedboat.

Alexander started the engine.

The speedboat shot into the sea.

The pursuers reached the coast, firing at the sea.

But the speedboat was already far away.

Evelyn looked back at the receding coastline.

She sighed in relief.

Professor Nathaniel Wright slumped on the speedboat, gasping for breath.

"Thank you... thank you..."

His voice trembled.

Alexander looked at him.

"Professor, you're safe now."

Evelyn also looked at him.

"We're taking you home."

Professor Nathaniel Wright's eyes reddened.

He nodded heavily.

The speedboat headed towards the larger ship.

Natalie stood at the bow. Seeing them return, she waved.

"Success!"

She shouted.

The speedboat pulled alongside the ship.

The four climbed onto the deck.

Natalie handed over towels and water.

"You scared me."

She looked at Professor Nathaniel Wright.

"Professor, are you alright?"

Professor Nathaniel Wright shook his head.

"I'm fine."

He looked at Evelyn and Alexander.

"Thanks to you."

Alexander waved his hand.

"It's what we should do."

He looked towards the cockpit.

"Set sail for home immediately."

The ship turned around, heading in the direction of home.

Evelyn stood at the bow, watching the gradually brightening sky.

Dawn was approaching.

She turned her head and looked at Alexander.

Alexander also looked at her.

They smiled at each other.

Natalie came over.

"Hey, stop the meaningful glances."

She said with a grin.

"Consider the feelings of us single people, okay?"

Evelyn glanced at her.

"You don't have to look."

Natalie pouted.

"Mean."

She turned and walked away.

Evelyn looked at Alexander.

"This went a little too smoothly."

Alexander nodded.

"That suited man didn't seem like an enemy."

He paused.

"But he wasn't one of ours either."

Evelyn frowned.

"Then who was he?"

Alexander shook his head.

"I don't know."

He looked at the sea.

"But someone is definitely helping us from the shadows."

Evelyn fell silent.

Who could it be?

She couldn't think of anyone.

But regardless, Professor Nathaniel Wright was rescued.

That was enough.

The ship cut through the waves.

Getting farther and farther from Aldoria.

Closer and closer to home.

Evelyn leaned against Alexander's shoulder.

She closed her eyes.

Finally, they could go home.