Your Guise Is Slipping, Miss Pearl

"You seem pretty sure of yourself, Mister Andrei. We'll see who's going to be in trouble."

Pearl glanced sideways, and suddenly, about twelve strong-looking men in black appeared. "Grab them," she commanded.

The men rushed toward Andrei at her command.

Andrei, caught off guard by Pearl's backup, turned pale. "Where did these guys come from?"

"I left a trail on purpose. They've been tracking us for a few days, and now they've found us," Pearl said with a smirk. "Now it's your turn to face the music." Aside from looking much stronger, the men outnumbered Andrei's group, causing Andrei to plead, "This is all a big misunderstanding. I just came here to see you off." Esther burst out laughing.

"You're a terrible liar." Pearl raised her brows. "If you were really just seeing me off, you'd act like it."

Frantically, Andrei pulled out some hundred-dollar bills. "Will this cover it? It's all I have." Although it hurt him to part with the money, he thought it was worth it to save his skin.

Pearl instructed her men to take the money and then tossed it to the ground. "Who do you think you're trying to bribe? Money isn't what I want."

ached to see his

"I want you to

felt trapped.

others. If we take them back, the villagers will be furious!" He shrugged, acting as though his hands

this, you shouldn't be the

of the men threatened Andrei with

Andrei

and I'll go

Esther replied, though she looked worried. "Just be

Pearl and Richard headed back

around nervously, as if he was waiting

up to something, told Richard to keep

had

the villagers.