Chapter 137
Inside the Cruise Ship
The atmosphere aboard the cruise ship buzzed with luxury. Guests in designer suits and glittering gowns clinked champagne glasses as waiters weaved through the crowd, trays of exotic delicacies balanced effortlessly in hand. Soft music drifted from a string quartet tucked beside a grand staircase, and the salty breeze from the sea mixed with the subtle scent of roasted meats and wine.
At one corner of the grand hall, a man devoured his food like he hadn't seen civilization in days.
"Hmm... this chicken is insane... tastes better than victory," Drax muttered with his mouth full, tearing into a drumstick as grease ran down his fingers.
A passing waitress slowed, eyeing him with mild disgust. "Sir, please... eat slowly before you choke. You act like you've been stranded on a deserted island."
She leaned toward a colleague and whispered with a smirk, “Is he... slow? Maybe he's one of those guys, you know..." she snickered, making the universal 'cuckoo' gesture.
Across the room, Hope stood, arms folded, watching the chaos unfold with clear irritation. Her eyes narrowed as she shook her head. "This idiot only knows how to eat... forgot the boss gave him a job to do," she muttered to herself.
Reaching into her pocket, she slipped on a sleek pair of black-rimmed glasses. But these weren't ordinary—small blue holographic grids flickered across the lenses as advanced scanning systems powered up.
"I'm an expert in this kind of work," Hope whispered confidently, adjusting the
glasses. The tech projected data across her view, scanning the ship, flagging faces, identifying threats.
She was locked in, focused-until an unwelcome interruption approached.
“Hey there, beautiful," a cocky voice cut in.
James.
He slid beside her with a practiced smile, sizing her up. "Where's your boyfriend? You shouldn't be standing all alone on a ship like this," he said, oozing misplaced confidence.
Hope didn't even spare him a glance. “Move. I'm working."
James chuckled. “Come on, pretty lady, your boyfriend's clearly not here... wouldn't want you getting lonely. Why not ditch him and come with me?"
Before Hope could verbally slice him apart, a man in a dark tailored suit passed behind James, moving with the quiet confidence of someone dangerous. The glasses immediately triggered, highlighting his face with red indicators.
Hope's expression sharpened. "Boss, target acquired," she whispered, her voice coming through a hidden comm link.
Matching profile: confirmedet
ก่อนซื้อ จน
connection to your mother's murder."
Jaden's voice crackled through her earpiece, calm and lethal. “Good work. Stay locked on him."
"I can take the shot right now," Hope offered, fingers subtly brushing the concealed weapon at her waist.
"No. Don't spook him yet," Jaden ordered, voice ice-cold. "I'll handle him myself.”
James, oblivious to the deadly undercurrents unfolding, continued his unwanted advances.
"Hey, I'm still talking to you, babe. You don't have to stay loyal to some scrawny little
Hope cut him off with brutal efficiency.
Without warning, her knee rocketed straight into James' groin, folding him like paper. His eyes bulged as his breath whooshed out of him in a high-pitched squeak. He dropped to his knees, gasping for air.
Before he could process the pain, her boot connected with his face, slamming him flat onto the polished floor.
"How dare you compare yourself to him," Hope hissed, stepping over his writhing body without so much as a backward glance.
James lay there, clutching himself, groaning in agony as guests nearby stifled laughter.
Hope pressed a hand to her earpiece, continuing the conversation with Jaden as if nothing had happened. "You're too merciful, boss... If it were me, I'd have ended that man already."
A low, dangerous chuckle filtered through the comms. “Merciful?" Jaden's voice was quiet, but laced with venom. "I'm just not in a hurry."
Hope smirked, eyes locking back onto the target moving deeper into the ship.
"No matter where they run... no one escapes me," Jaden finished, his tone promising destruction.