Meanwhile, there were twelve women inside the vehicle including Winnie and Greta.

For some reason, many of them had veils covering their faces which inadvertently helped Winnie and Greta’s cause.

That way, their foreign faces wouldn’t stick out as much from within the group.

As Manchernius’ topography was largely made up of low mountains and rolling hills, a proper road could barely be seen. All the roads available were largely formed from well-traveled tracks.

After a bumpy forty-minute journey, their vehicle finally arrived at an expansive plain.

There, Winnie and the others were ordered by the innkeeper to alight.

Upon exiting the vehicle, they were surrounded by nothing but trees. The innkeeper subsequently led them around a bend before their destination came into view.

Instead of the luxurious mansion they were expecting, a massive base greeted their eyes.

Security was tight with armed men guarding the entrance. When Winnie and the others entered, everyone’s bodies—including that of the innkeeper—were searched.

Winnie, who wasn’t naive, naturally didn’t carry a gun with her.

Nonetheless, the weapon she brought was in the form of the necklace she was wearing. On top of that, she had an ornamental hairpin stuck in her hair.

The hairpin—brought from Chanaea—was custom-made. When pulled out, it would turn into a sharp weapon capable of piercing through any threats that she faced.

Once the ladies were determined to be unarmed, they were ordered to form a line.

Subsequently, their veils were all removed to reveal their faces.

On Winnie’s left was Greta; on her right were two meek-looking girls who looked very young still.

Both of them—already crying while inside the vehicle earlier—were now trembling in fear.

After walking past to inspect all of them, the guard stopped abruptly in his tracks.

Scrutinizing Winnie and the others, he instructed the innkeeper, “Mr. Horton prefers fair-skinned women. Thus, I’ll choose two to be sent to him. As for the rest, you can take them to the backyard as usual.”

“All right, all right,” the innkeeper responded obsequiously. “I know what to do.”

While bending forward and nodding his head, the innkeeper snuck a glance at Winnie.

She’s the fairest and most beautiful among them all. If she’s sent to Mr. Horton, the plan would go up in smoke.

Meanwhile, Winnie too, knitted her brows, especially when the guard stopped in front of her.

Fortunately, he didn’t choose her. After sweeping his gaze across her face, he turned his attention away.

The reason was that Winnie had purposely used her makeup to make herself look uglier.

In the end, the guard chose the two girls beside her. “You and you. Follow me!”

After sighing in relief at the close call, the innkeeper added to the guard, “Good choice. Those two are virgins who have just been sold over. With their porcelain white skin and beautiful features, I’m sure Mr. Horton would be a very satisfied man.”

“Mmm-hmm,” the guard grunted in response before leading the two girls away at gunpoint.

Meanwhile, Winnie furrowed her brows tightly as she watched the girls being taken away.

At that moment, she resented the innkeeper along with everyone there. The only emotion she felt was the urge to burn down the filthy place.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t in a position to act upon her desires. As her rational mind cast away the rage and hatred in her eyes, she quickly caught up with the innkeeper with Greta following closely behind her.

The innkeeper whispered, “I’ll be taking you to the backyard. That’s where all the men sleep at night. If you go further back, you’ll find the women’s and children’s quarters. However, I have no idea in which room the people you’re looking for are held. You’ll have to find them yourself. Now that it’s dark, you should use the opportunity to fall behind and slip away.”

Winnie simply grunted in acknowledgment.

While they were passing through the yard that had a banana plantation, she suddenly rushed to the side and began vomiting.

Greta, who was behind her, knowingly rushed up to her side to pat her on the back.

As for the rest of the women, no one dared to look their way. Only one or two with wandering eyes threw them a glance before retracting their gazes.

As for the innkeeper, he pretended to bark at them. “Stop dilly-dallying and hurry up!”

As Winnie continued her charade, Greta gave him a cursory response. “Got it. We’ll be right there.”

Once the group was far ahead, the two of them quietly disappeared to the side.

As darkness had already fallen, the lamps on the ground only illuminated the small area they were placed in, while the moon glowed with a silvery hue from the night sky.

Nevertheless, the light was just enough to help Winnie and Greta navigate their way around and not too much to expose them to their enemies.

Pointing at a man-made hill diagonally opposite them, Greta suggested, “Do you see the wooden door? That’s where the women and children live.”

Winnie nodded firmly before following Greta from behind as both of them began creeping around.

Soon, they managed to slip in and found a secluded corner to hide.

In a soft but stern voice, Greta reminded Winnie, “Ms. Garland, even though they’re only women and children, you shouldn’t underestimate them, let alone show them any mercy. Otherwise, a single mistake would cost you your life.”

to do. However, with so many rooms here, how

men. Hence, the people you’re looking for should be on the opposite. With only two rooms having their lights

Winnie nodded. “Let’s go.”

to move forward with their bodies hugging the wall, Greta reiterated, “Ms. Garland, if

“Mmm-hmm.”

arrived at the first room that was

door was suddenly opened from the inside.

of her, Winnie and Greta instantaneously

splash was heard, the woman returned

just came out to dump some water, the two ladies

wasn’t until they heard the noises from the room again that Greta whispered to Winnie, “Ms. Garland, did you

“Although there’s only one room left, we cannot let our guard down, for the people I’m looking for

arrived at

head, Greta pried open the window and

the ground and reported, “This is the place, Ms. Garland. The person you’re looking for is here.

is Rachel

there was no time to dwell upon the question.

out a hairpin and began

technique left a lot to be desired, as the door remained

you not know

sweat.

the hairpin from Greta’s hands.

knelt down beside Greta and

her head awkwardly and murmured, “That’s

her with a faint smile before gently

the room, she saw a wooden club as thick

by surprise and with Greta blocking her retreat, Winnie

bracing for never transpired, for Greta’s hand had suddenly

time, Greta’s other hand grabbed

Granny, put down

out that the person hiding behind the door

saw that the intruder was Winnie, the shocked Jacinta took a moment to regain her

Greta too, realized they had found Winnie’s

Jacinta almost forgot to

Winnie, with her lowered voice, reminded, “Granny, not so

locked the door and closed the curtains. After that, she led Winnie and Greta into

Greta hid

Winnie’s hand, the teary-eyed Jacinta sat her down

in an attempt to comfort her. “Granny, I’m

replied, “Actually, I’m largely all right but Rach’s condition isn’t good. After being shot in her leg, she only had her bullet removed today. During the entire journey here, she fell into a daze after being stricken by a fever. Despite taking some fever

Winnie glanced at Rachel, who was lying in bed, she could see how the latter’s face had reddened

“I’ll take her to a proper doctor once we

was brimming with concern. “Not only does the rule of law not apply here, but they’re also armed. Can we really

reassured Jacinta with a smile. “Can’t you see how successful we were in infiltrating this place? Hence, we naturally have a

be able to walk, making

there’s two of us here. Greta is really strong and will

guess there’s no other choice. I’m sorry to have

“This has nothing to do with you,

held her tongue when she

a glance, she looked out the

more hours

Winnie explained,

to

Jacinta nodded. “We’ll do

by painfully as they

everyone was sound asleep, it was Winnie

Rachel on her back, the agile Greta led Winnie and Jacinta

back to the way they came from before scaling the wall where

plantation, a gunshot rang out in the air, followed

stunned, Winnie

“Can it be that Captain Manfield

more chaos there is the better, for it’ll make our escape much easier. Nevertheless, we should

picked up her pace

did they expect someone to be shooting at them the moment they

from getting a good aim. Hence, no one was

breath, “There must be someone else trying

were unarmed and they couldn’t tell how many enemies there were in the banana plantation, they had no choice but to back off. It

during their retreat, they ran into the Horton family’s

the men in pursuit were going to shoot first and

rest had no choice but to dive to the side. Unfortunately, Greta’s leg was hit

have turned on all the lights including that of their cars, it would be impossible to escape tonight. If we force the matter, it would only

into deep thought, Jacinta immediately suggested, “Winnie, both of you should hurry up and escape. I’ll take

tonight’s mission is a failure. It will be bad if they were to conduct a search later and don’t find your grandmother

spoken than two men came

instructed Greta, “In that case, you

priority is to keep you safe. There’s no way I’m letting you out of

a burden if you come with me. Besides, in your line, aren’t you supposed to just follow orders? Now, stop wasting time and

the logic in Winnie’s words, Greta nodded before

for Winnie, she ran in a different direction while creating a diversion. Before she knew

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