Chen Family Manor.
Nono cautiously avoided the sturdy security guards patrolling all around. Those mixed-blood guards, who looked like nothing but muscular brutes, stood watch every few steps.
But she seemed to have mapped out their patrol patterns in advance, even the blind spots of the surveillance cameras, and slipped away on catlike steps.
Honestly, life had not been good for her lately. Though her father had said nothing openly, the Chen Family's situation was undoubtedly growing worse by the day.
The siblings who usually had time to bicker with, exclude, and bully her had all disappeared. The older ones had probably been sent out on some mission, while the younger ones obediently stayed indoors and were forbidden from wandering about.
As for Nono—her, Father Chen's biological daughter, whom he had designated as the bride for a marriage alliance with the Gattuso Family—she was placed under strict watch. In Father Chen's eyes, Nono would surely oppose the marriage because of her rebellious nature and attempt to run away.
That was why Nono hated this family so much. They claimed to love her most, only to turn around and send her away, sacrificing her as fuel to strengthen the Chen Group...
And precisely because of that, Father Chen never expected that an enemy of the family would happen to infiltrate the main estate and approach her. Nono decisively made contact and became their inside informant.
Nono arrived at a stretch of woods within the family estate that no one bothered to inspect. Her gaze swept over it as she counted, one, two, three, locating the tallest and healthiest ginkgo tree. Come to think of it, there were two trees planted outside her house too—one was a ginkgo tree, and the other was also a ginkgo tree...
Nono circled beneath the tree, found the right spot, and dug up a shallow hole. A satellite phone, tightly wrapped in a bag, lay quietly inside.
The moment the call connected, a cold female voice came through, stern in manner and seemingly carrying the aura of a queen.
"You are 32 seconds later than our scheduled contact time, Miss Nono."
Nono, the Little Witch who had always been rebellious and unruly at home, now spoke in a meek, humble manner. "Sorry, Ninja Master. I nearly ran into a guard who had just come back from the restroom, so I... I had to take a longer route."
On the other end of the phone, Jiu De Mayi's corner of the mouth twitched when she heard the cringeworthy title "Ninja Master." Goosebumps were almost rising on her skin... Forget it. A person was not young without a little chuunibyou. She would not lower herself to the level of a rebellious little girl.
"Enough nonsense. Our contact time is limited. I was the one who figured out the security guards' movements around your home, so you know that in less than ten minutes, they'll enter to confirm whether you're in your room."
Nono helplessly pursed her lips. Father Chen would not go so far as to install surveillance in her room, but the inspections every ten minutes meant that even if she evaded the nearby guard patrols, she would not have enough time to escape this overly vast private estate.
"Now remember every word I say. The time for our final operation is drawing near, and we need you to investigate a piece of vital intelligence for us."
Nono's eyes lit up, delight appearing on her face. "You're attacking? Master, when are you coming..."
When exactly are you coming to help me overturn the entire Chen Family and save me from this living hell?
Nono had been waiting desperately, anxious to the point of burning up inside. If she were not such dead weight, she might have wanted to join them herself.
Ever since she learned that she had made contact with the Chen Family's hostile forces and discovered that her family had secretly been conducting "inhumane experiments unknown to the public" at some base, she often dreamed of being chosen by fate, wielding a signal axe to destroy her own family for justice, cleanse the household, and finally hold her head high...
Well, Nono at this age was still a child who had not entered society. Frequent bouts of delusion were only to be expected.
"Tch, cut the nonsense. Our operation has nothing to do with you, and the timing cannot be disclosed. Listen carefully. After your father finishes the company's project meeting tonight, he will likely make a symbolic inspection of the estate. Take that opportunity to tell him this..."
That night, Father Chen was puzzled that Nono, who usually avoided him as if he were poison, had actually come to him on her own and said she had something to discuss.
"Motong, now that you're grown up, you should learn to be sensible. The Gattuso Family is now one of the top Hybrid Families. The eldest son of its current head is also a well-known young gentleman with an excellent reputation in Western aristocratic circles. Your life certainly won't be bad after you marry into their family."
"Motong, I know you haven't adjusted to this family, but that's all right. Every child goes through a phase like this. As long as you obediently go to the Gattuso Family, Daddy promises he won't interfere with your decisions again..."
Father Chen spoke kindly, thinking that Nono had come to protest the marriage alliance. That would not do. He had already contacted Frost, the acting head of the Gattuso Family.
Frost's attitude was ambiguous. He neither agreed nor refused immediately, merely saying they should wait and that he would give a reply in a few days when he had time.
Based on Father Chen's understanding of how the Gattuso Family had selected "brides" in the past, they would certainly observe Nono's behavior openly and secretly. This time, he could not let her throw a tantrum and go crazy.
"No, Father. That's not what I wanted to say. And let me emphasize this again: I'm not Motong. I'm Nono!"
Nono's face was icy. She had no interest whatsoever in the Gattusos. Heh, a marriage alliance? In your dreams. Just wait a while—there would be a little "loving filial daughter and kind father" reunion, and she would overturn their whole family!
"All right, then may I ask... what does Nono want?"
"Father," Nono followed Jiu De Mayi's instructions. Her acting skills took over as her voice suddenly became distant and ethereal, while her beautiful eyes opened wide, revealing an unprecedented sorrow and desolation.
"...Today, I was passively drawn into a Profiling State. I seemed to see a scene from ancient times. I was wearing the robes of a priestess, a white garment that appeared to be an elaborate and luxurious gauze dress. At the time, I was speaking to a Black King who was about to put on a crown..."
Bang!
Father Chen jolted violently, nearly springing out of his chair. Nono's words seemed to have shocked him so badly that he lost his composure. Greed and fanaticism flashed through his eyes, but only for an instant before he returned to normal.
"Good, very good! My good daughter, don't panic. This is the destiny within your bloodline. Come, let's go somewhere that can help you uncover the secret."
Father Chen clapped his hands, and a large squad of armed mixed-bloods immediately surged into the spacious room from outside.
They rushed forward and injected the unprepared Nono with an anesthetic. Then they wrapped and bound her tightly with a thick black hood, a long black bag, and metal chains. Their movements were practiced and highly skilled, clearly not the first time they had done this, while Father Chen watched coldly from beginning to end.
His eyes remained fixed on Nono, but they no longer held the gaze of a father looking at his daughter. Instead, he looked at her as though she were some kind of experimental specimen.
The armed personnel loaded Nono into a transport vehicle. What they failed to notice was that a wisp of black smoke, nearly invisible in the dead of night, drifted into the carriage the instant the door opened.
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