Free Web NovelChapter 468: Chapter 430: The Shadow’s Headquarters (Part 1)
Aurora Sinclair didn’t give chase.
Morgan had warned her that Elias Lennox would definitely come to test her this time and prepare his next move. He told her not to make a move just yet.
"Ma’am, why aren’t we giving chase?" a Basic Supervisor asked doubtfully.
Aurora Sinclair shot him an ice-cold look over her shoulder. "Then you can go chase him!"
The Basic Supervisor was speechless.
The revelation that Hogg was the Dark Shadow Lord had forced The International Martial Arts Bureau to launch an internal investigation. Its director, Francis Sloan, looked furious; it was a direct slap in the face.
"Lord Sinclair, I honestly had no idea. Who could have ever guessed he was with The Shadow?"
Aurora Sinclair gave an understanding nod.
"I want my people to look at his office."
Francis Sloan immediately led her over.
Hogg’s office was right next door, currently sealed with evidence tape.
Two Basic Supervisors carefully pushed open the door and gestured for Aurora Sinclair to enter.
The room was immaculate, as if it had been untouched.
A desk, a chair, a cabinet, a computer—and nothing else.
Aurora Sinclair went straight for the computer, intending to see what he had been doing on it.
The computer hadn’t been shut down, but when she moved the mouse to wake the screen, the entire machine suddenly blared with system alerts.
As if infected by a virus, the computer continuously spawned system windows, each displaying a single line of text:
Aurora Sinclair, can you guess what I’m about to do?
Then the computer tower burned out, and a burnt smell wafted up from it.
With a stony face, Aurora Sinclair flicked a finger toward the computer tower.
The power cut out.
A look inside revealed that the components were destroyed beyond recognition.
Aurora Sinclair immediately contacted Alvin Morgan and asked him to look at the computer.
In the end, Benjamin Morgan took the computer away.
It took a long time for the AI to recover the data, and even then, only his web browsing history could be restored. They waited two weeks to see what he had been searching for.
All of his queries were related to the weaponry at The International Penitentiary.
’Is he planning a prison break?’
As a precaution, Aurora Sinclair had Alvin Morgan upgrade all the weapon systems in The International Penitentiary’s security network.
「The International Penitentiary.」
Ward 3 in the Special Section of Zone A.
Aurora Sinclair returned, this time carrying a pot from which a fragrant aroma wafted.
She unlocked the chains of the "monster" on the bed and stuffed a spoon into his hand.
"Ooh, that smells pretty good. Little lady, you don’t have designs on me, do you?" the man asked with a smile after tasting a spoonful of the soup.
"How about I get you out of here?"
"Get out? I’m sentenced to life in prison," the man replied flatly, taking a large bite out of a chicken leg.
"The serial bombing case wasn’t your doing."
The man’s hand paused. He suddenly lifted his bangs, letting her get a clearer look. "Take a good look, miss. I blew myself up like this. If I didn’t do it, who did? But hey, if you want to let me go, that’s fine too. You gonna take care of me in my old age?"
The man laughed brazenly, making the hideous scars on his face even more gruesome.
To his surprise, Aurora Sinclair said directly, "Fine. I’ll take care of you." freēwēbnovel.com
The man froze, and his spoon fell into the pot. freēwebnovel.com
Then he replied, a bit unnaturally, "I was just talking... you actually took me seriously? Ah, youth..."
"Dad..."
It took the man a long moment to respond. "I don’t have any kids. You’ve got the wrong person."
"How about a DNA test?"
The man fell silent. He fumbled for the spoon and went back to his chicken soup.
Only after he had finished the entire pot of soup did he roughly wipe his mouth and chuckle. "If you’re that set on being my daughter, I guess it’s no skin off my back. C’mere, go make your old man another pot. Haven’t had meat in so long, I’m really craving it..."
Aurora Sinclair’s gaze darkened slightly. She pressed her lips together and took the pot from the man’s hands.
"Add more salt. This is bland as dishwater, no flavor at all."
The man seemed to be pushing his luck. A normal person might have become suspicious of his actions by now.
But Aurora Sinclair showed no anger, silently carrying the pot and walking out.
After leaving Zone A, she handed the spoon the man had used to Alvin Morgan.
"How did he react?" Alvin Morgan asked.
Aurora Sinclair sounded a bit resigned. "He won’t admit it, but he won’t deny it either."
Alvin Morgan took her hand and comforted her. "Beta Morgan will be here this afternoon. He can run the DNA test for you both."
Aurora Sinclair’s hand was a little cold, her gaze dim. "He doesn’t want to acknowledge me."
His heart aching for her, Alvin Morgan pulled her into his embrace.
"If I had a daughter, I wouldn’t want her to see me like this either."
***
「That afternoon.」
When Beta Morgan arrived with the equipment, Aurora Sinclair suddenly didn’t want to do the test anymore.
She once again walked into Zone A carrying a pot of soup.
The man was very happy to see her and couldn’t wait to have the soup.
His crude actions and unruly personality were impossible to reconcile with the calm, steady figure from her memories.
The father in her memories would always patiently coax her with all kinds of sweets, teach her how to draw, and secretly take her out to play... he would...
"I’m an Intermediate Supervisor now. I’m in charge of The International Penitentiary. And I’m the successor to the Martial God of The Holy Mountain."
The man paused his soup-drinking and remarked, "Whoa, pretty impressive..."
"I’m engaged," Aurora Sinclair continued.
The man suddenly looked up, then, as if realizing his reaction was inappropriate, broke into a wide grin. "Well, he’s a lucky guy."
"He’s an ordinary person. Not very talented in martial arts, his power has only just reached the Martial King rank, and he was even kicked out of his family..."
The man was silent.
Seeing his silence, Aurora Sinclair said flatly, "But he’s very handsome, smart, and treats me very well..."
The man remained silent. Aurora Sinclair straightened up, preparing to leave.
Just as she reached the door, she heard his voice from behind her. "Is it that kid who came the other day?"
"Yes."
"Have him bring me soup next time."
"Okay." A light flickered in Aurora Sinclair’s eyes.
Afterward, Alvin Morgan entered Room 3 alone, carrying a pot of soup.
No one knew what they discussed, but when he came out, Alvin Morgan wore a grave expression.
Only after the two of them had left the special section did Alvin Morgan say to Aurora Sinclair, "He said the person who saved him back then was a member of The Shadow."
After the explosion all those years ago, Thomas Sinclair didn’t die. He was rescued while in a daze and transported to a very cold place.
He spent two years there before he was substituted for the real bomber and sent to The International Penitentiary.
The person who saved him said that as long as he stayed here obediently, he would be able to see his daughter in the future.
"How did he know they were from The Shadow?"
"The man called himself The Holy Lord, said he would change the world, and had your father join The Shadow Organization."
Aurora Sinclair’s hands instantly clenched into fists. A towering rage shot to the heavens, and the sky around them seemed to darken.
Alvin Morgan understood how she felt. This was Elias Lennox’s goal: to threaten her using Aurora’s father.
"Aurora, based on my conversation with your father, I have a good idea of where he was taken back then. It’s very likely The Shadow’s main base. We can strike first..."
"Where?"
"The Continent of Boreas..."
Alvin Morgan then used a computer to simulate the route used to transport Thomas Sinclair back then.
The farther north the route went, the colder the temperature dropped, and the higher the concentration of Power became.
Since The Holy Lord of The Shadow wants to reclaim The Holy Mountain, the main base can’t be too far from it. It must be well-hidden so the people of The Holy Mountain can’t find it, and it must be habitable.
Few places met all those criteria.
One such place was the uninhabited region on the northernmost edge of the Continent of Esteros, bordering the Continent of Boreas. It was only a few dozen nautical miles from The International Penitentiary...
