Riley’s sobs gradually turned into cackles as he exclaimed, “I’ve waited a long time for this day! May this place explode into smithereens!”

Suddenly, he grabbed Winnie’s wrist agitatedly and asked, “Is this your doing? Have you any idea how great a service you’ve done for mankind? You’ve done an admirable deed!”

Meanwhile, explosions continued all around them. Cracks appeared on multiple surfaces, and the ceiling above them was beginning to crumble.

Winnie broke free of the professor’s grasp and grabbed his hand instead. She pulled him into a run and said, “Now’s not the time for this conversation. We need to get out of this place!”

They ran as fast as they could, yet the ground collapsed at a frightening pace.

A slab of cement suddenly broke off from the ceiling above Riley.

Though Winnie reacted quickly and pulled the professor away, the slab still struck him in the leg.

She hurriedly turned back to help him, as did Mason and the others.

Alas, the underground sewage was in a precarious state, and it would not be easy to free Riley.

Worst of all, it was pitch black in the underground tunnel. The torchlights carried by Mason and his men hardly allowed them to see anything.

Winnie even stepped on a steel rod while trying to move the cement slab off Riley.

Mason immediately turned toward her when she screamed in pain. He shone the torchlight in her direction, and everyone saw a steel rod impaled in her foot.

That was the only time she screamed. She gritted her teeth through the pain as she pulled the rod out of her foot.

Then, instead of tending to her own foot, she turned her attention back to moving the cement slab off Riley’s leg.

The professor could not bear to watch her suffer. Tears welled in his eyes, and he insisted, “The ground is still shaking. It’s too unstable here, and different parts of the tunnel could continue to collapse. You must go! Leave me behind. I’ll just die here! Don’t risk your life for an old man like me. I can die in peace even if this is my final resting spot.”

He added, “You’re Yulissa’s friend, right? Please send my last message to her. She must live a long and good life. Tell her to perform more good deeds in the future and make up for all the sins I’ve committed.”

Winnie never imagined Riley would think of ending his life. After all, he had persisted for years in Harold’s captivity, yet now, he was simply throwing his life away.

“No, Professor White!” Winnie stared straight into his eyes and declared, “You can’t die now! You need to go outside and watch how Harold and his factory burn to ashes! How can we die before those vile people?”

Her words struck a chord within Riley. She’s right! How can I die before that devil Harold meets his end?

He suddenly found the will to live again. Still, he muttered hesitantly, “The whole tunnel is about to collapse. If you don’t leave now, we could all be buried alive! I don’t want to ruin your chances of survival!”

“That’s not for you to worry over! You just need the will to live!” Winnie continued pulling at the slab as she added, “We’ll focus on saving you. Don’t concern yourself about our well-being. There are some aftershocks now; make sure you cover your head!”

It took four people to finally free Riley’s leg from under the cement slab.

While his leg was broken, he was at least alive and breathing.

Mason quickly carried Riley on his back. The group pushed on as fast as they could and arrived at the sewage entrance about ten minutes later.

Mason’s fellow mercenaries were already waiting for them outside.

They knew their teammates like the back of their hands, and they instantly identified a stranger in their midst.

mercenaries raised his gun and pointed it right at the

gave everyone a huge

instinctively stepped in front of Riley to protect him.

face. Who is he, and why is he

Is he

her gaze thoughtfully and was about

not work for Harold. He’s my assistant and was captured like me. When you arrived with your men to

right. I really don’t work for Harold!” The stranger raised his hands and pleaded, “Please save me from this place! I promise I won’t bother

at Winnie earnestly and vowed, “I can vouch for him. I hope you trust

Winnie did not have time to hesitate. “Fine. Let’s go. We can’t hang around here

ahead. They had walked over

to cover his eyes. Then, he looked at Winnie

Mason yelled out reassuringly, “Don’t worry! He’s with us! Let’s go. We’ll

as the car drove closer

to a stop, and

could see at that moment was his

a couple of strides and pulled her into a tight hug. At

“I’m fine. Look! We saved Professor White! We can cure your

tone, yet he could not bring

around her and croaked through the lump in his throat, “Thank you. It must have been grueling in

out now, so it wasn’t that bad. You should let go of me. We’re technically still

before turning his attention to Riley, who stood behind Winnie.

quickly recognized Xavier. He exclaimed, “Are

“Yes, that’s me.

Winnie’s identity before, all his doubts evaporated once he laid eyes

driven a small military

the front. There were even

took the

as the truck began moving. He asked

to Xavier’s face. Several seconds later, he answered curtly,

reply. He subconsciously looked out the

into flames at that exact moment, followed by the sound

Winnie stuck her head

were quite far from the factory, she could clearly feel the heat waves from the explosion on her

at the burning factory

but he quickly realized something was

his brows as he asked, “What’s

just burn; there’s an explosion too. But Christopher and I never planned to cause an explosion. We only wanted to burn their warehouse to the ground. There must

a frantic look and questioned, “Where

divided our tasks precisely. I received their signal from

and muttered, “An accident must’ve happened, or there wouldn’t have been an explosion. We can’t just leave them there to

their options before asking calmly, “What do you want to do? He’s not alone; he has backup. If anything happens to him, they’ll try their best

soothe Winnie’s nerves. Instead, she insisted, “That’s different! It’s pretty safe for us to escape underground, but they’re out in the open. The enemy could engage them anytime.

only one car carrying

risk the lives of everyone in this car, but Christopher’s my partner. I have to go back for him! I can’t just let him die here without trying to save him. There’s a

at Winnie and demanded, “Do you have any idea what you’re suggesting? You’re willing

my life! I can’t leave him for dead! He doesn’t deserve that!” Winnie shot Xavier a steely gaze and added determinedly, “You don’t understand what they’ve gone through. All of them deserve to live! Their

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