Never See You Again (Happy New Year!!!)

"Hello?"

"..."

No one answered on the other end of the phone.

Just as Maureen frowned and was about to hang up, her gaze fell on the entrance of the restaurant, where a man wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a decent black suit stood.

Lake walked over, and a hotel attendant promptly brought a chair.

"Are you following me?"

"No."

Lake first nodded to Natasha in greeting, then said to Maureen, "Half an hour ago, I was sleeping at home when I received a call."

Maureen remained silent.

Lake smiled, "The person who called told me one sentence: 'Do you want to know the truth?' Frankly, I do, so I came. So, Maureen, tell me, why?"

Why use such a stupid method when a simpler, more direct approach was available?

Why use such a foolish method?

Six months should have been enough to understand my personality. Just asking directly would have been much better than this stupid method. At least asking directly wouldn't have risked my life.

Natasha spoke up from the side, "Edwin..."

Lake looked at Natasha, narrowing his eyes, and directly interrupted, "Natasha Romanov, am I correct?"

Natasha frowned.

This person knows us?

Natasha thought this and then looked directly at Maureen.

Seeing this, Lake smiled, "Don't misunderstand, I don't know anything about you, but my friend helped me find out."

"That killer, the Black King!"

"I prefer to call him the righteous orderly."

"Heh!"

Natasha let out a sarcastic laugh, "If you knew that the righteous orderly you speak of has taken the lives of twelve innocent people in three years since appearing in the assassin world, would you still think he's a righteous orderly?"

Lake said, "There are always beasts that the law cannot judge, especially those who make the laws."

It wasn't surprising that S.H.I.E.L.D. knew about the Black King.

After all, the Black King had been direct and undisguised in these two assassinations.

After saying this, Lake chuckled and looked at Natasha, "Isn't what you did this time the same? The law can't do anything to you."

Look at this.

Calculating others, attempting to cause their social death, what kind of crime is that? It's enough to ruin a person's life, and in a way that they can't live or die.

But Natasha was unfazed, as in her eyes, this was just a mission. Moreover, they might even think that recruiting Lake this way was for his own good.

This was no different from what Lake had said before.

Full of righteousness and morality, but a scoundrel in private!

After speaking.

Lake looked at Maureen, took a deep breath, "So, Maureen, give me an answer."

Maureen looked directly at Lake, "Do you need it that badly?"

Lake nodded.

"Why?"

"After all, the story is nearing its end. Leaving a suspenseful ending is not a good ending."

"..."

The killing intent had arisen, and no one could stop it.

Lake really wanted to say, After all, we were in love, let it go.

But...

Lake's true nature wouldn't allow it.

If Maureen were just an accomplice, Lake could convince himself, but what Maureen had just said to Natasha had been clearly heard by the clone sitting not far away.

This matter... was orchestrated by Maureen.

So, Lake couldn't convince himself.

Maureen let out a laugh, "If I told you we wanted to recruit you, would you agree?"

Lake shrugged, "You can try."

Although it was equally impossible, the outcome wouldn't have reached this point, where he would have lost his life.

What would people say if this matter got out?

Looking for a relationship? The deadly kind. If you are, find Lake Edwin. He'll give you that kind of love.

Jesus Christ.

What did I ever do to anyone?

Maureen shook her head and looked at Lake. "What if I told you I've already tried, and you very clearly rejected me?"

Lake snapped back to attention. "That's hardly a good reason. Since I rejected you, you should know that I won't join for any other reason."

Maureen nodded, agreeing with Lake's statement, but still said, "But you have to try. Your skills are being wasted in the NYPD."

Natasha chimed in from the side, "I've seen your file, I know you well. You graduated with honors at sixteen, joined the Navy directly after, and then the Marines six months later. During your time in the Marines, you completed three overseas combat missions with all excellent ratings. After returning from the third, you were exceptionally promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade and then joined SEAL Team Six as a commander. During your tenure, you completed five overseas operations. At twenty-two, you suddenly retired and applied to Yale University's Art Department for further study. You graduated two years later, ahead of schedule, and then joined the NYPD. You're thirty now. Can you tell me why you suddenly left the military?"

Lake chuckled and looked at Natasha. "It seems you don't have a complete picture of my file."

Natasha frowned.

Incomplete?

That's impossible. S.H.I.E.L.D. wouldn't have such issues.

Lake continued, "Do you know I'm an orphan?"

Natasha nodded.

Lake went on, "When I joined the military, I only cared about the opportunity to go to college without exams or tuition after retirement. So, don't say you know me well. You have no idea who I am."

That was the very reason he joined the army back then.

It was also why Lake, despite being appreciated by a certain general at the time, resolutely left the military.

He just wanted to go to college for free. His goal was achieved, so why stay in the army?

Moreover...

Who said he had retired?

Heh!

Natasha's brows furrowed tightly.

That reason...

Natasha found it utterly ridiculous, but seeing the expression on Lake's face, she felt a strange sense of conviction. This man was telling the truth. He joined the army just to go to college.

...Natasha didn't know what to say or think anymore.

Lake ignored Natasha, glanced at his wristwatch, then said to Maureen, "Maureen, do you remember what I was thinking when I first saw you?"

Maureen frowned. "Does it matter to say that now?"

"Perhaps..."

"Perhaps, whenever a story reaches its end, one can't help but recall the beginning."

Lake's gaze lingered on Maureen's face with a hint of nostalgia. He said, "Back then, my feeling was as if I had received an Easter egg that day. What about you?"

Maureen's expression was blank. "It was just business."

"Just business?"

"Yes!"

"Understood. Thank you!"

Lake stood up, his gaze shifting from nostalgic to normal, finally settling into his usual impassive state. He said to Maureen, "See... no, never see you again, Maureen Hand."

With that.

Lake turned around.

Natasha, sitting opposite Maureen, seemed to sense something. Her eyes widened, and she started to lunge towards Maureen.

But!

Bang!

A bullet from two thousand meters away pierced through the distance of space, instantly penetrating the restaurant window, and then, at the moment Natasha lunged at Maureen, it blasted in...

Pfft!

Lake, turning around, closed his eyes slightly.

Then...

He walked away without any lingering attachment.

Happy New Year, everyone, Happy New Year to one and all! ! ! ! !