Chapter 299 The Hired Hand

The night wind was heavy with the smell of the charred ruins, a scent so acrid that it made Emily's throat tighten. The suspicious figure moved with surprising speed as he navigated the maze of narrow streets. Emily stayed right on his heels. She didn't care about anything else in that moment. Her only thought was to catch him. The man took several sharp turns before ducking into a secluded, narrow alleyway. Emily didn't hesitate for a second before she followed him inside. She soon realized the path was a dead end. "Stop right there!" Emily shouted. The figure stopped and slowly turned around. His face was a mask of panic, and he was holding a knife that glinted in the dim light. "You just had to follow me and be all suicidal," he rasped as he stepped closer, his voice full of a dark intent. "Don't blame me for what happens next." Emily realized the danger too late. This wasn't just a bystander—he was the key to everything. She had just backed a desperate man into a corner. Su