âThe two of you are overreacting!â Benjamin had a frown on his face as he explained to Ethan and Janie, âWeâve just got an update about Emma from the abductor. Mr. Abel and I have to discuss what to do next!â
Ethan turned his eyes to Abel and saw the man nod firmly. He felt as though he could finally breathe again at that moment.
Ethan heaved a sigh of relief.
âHah⦠Thatâs good news, That means Emma is still alive. Thank Godâ¦â
âYou two should wait outside for a while.â Abel said, âMr. Benjamin and I will discuss the details of our next action, and we will let you know in a bit.â
Ethan wiped the tear off the corners of his eyes. âIâm counting on both of you to save Emma!â
Eventually, Janie and Ethan exited Benjaminâs office.
âWere you guys scolded by the boss and his guest?â Ms.
Plummer asked as soon as she saw them walking out of the room with gloomy expressions on their faces.
âCanât you just keep your mouth shut?!â Janie snapped at her. âHave you forgotten that I am your superior? Or do you not want to keep your job here anymore?â
Ms. Plummer fell silent immediately.
Janie and Ethan took a seat on the sofa placed just outside the CEOâs office. They decided to wait there until Abel and Benjamin called for them again.
âMr. Ethan.â Janie leaned toward the man and asked in a muted voice, âIs it possible that Emmeline is actually a very very extremely important person whoâs disguised herself as a normal person? See, the CEO of Ryker Group was her gardener. Apart from that, even our boss, Mr. Benjamin listens to her all the time!â
âYou donât say.â Ethanâs brows drew together in a slight frown. âStill, Iâve known Emma all my life, and sheâs just a normal, playful lady. How could she be someone as extraordinary as those two in the office?â
âThatâs strangeâ¦â
Despite Ethanâs words, Janie still had the feeling that her hunch was right.
Emmeline must be someone special and extraordinary! I should remember that and try to earn her favor more!
Putting those things aside, I just hope that Benjamin and Mr. Abel would be able to find Emmeline soon.
Inside the office, both Abel and Benjamin were looking at the photo again.
At closer inspection, the photo was actually an advertisement. At the top center part of the photo, the words âThe Imperial Palaceâs Canary No. 9â³ were printed in small fonts above Emmelineâs face. Below that line, Canary No. 9âs height, weight, and bust measurements were also included in the photo.
The Imperial Palace?! Canary No. 9?!
Both Abel and Benjamin did not expect things to turn out like this.
Emmeline has fallen into the hands of someone from the Imperial Palace?!
On the surface, the Imperial Palace is an establishment that provides entertainment and recreation activities. However, there is more than that to it.
Rumor has it that the Imperial Palaceâs owner has expanded their influence beyond Struyria to multiple foreign countries. Whatâs more, no one knows who the owner of the Imperial Palace is even until this day/
As for the Canaries from the Imperial Palace, almost all of the richest and most powerful men in the world know about them. They are the exclusive âproductsâ put out by the Imperial Palace during their annual underground auction. The Imperial Palace is the only place where you can find the Canaries.
âSo, it was these guys who had abducted Emmaâ¦â Abel said with a pensive look in his eyes.
âThat explains why we havenât been able to find any clues about Emmaâs whereabouts.â A deep frown creased Benjaminâs forehead.
Abel lifted his eyes and met Benjaminâs gaze.
âWhat should we do next?â
âIâm thinkingâ¦â
âThe Imperial Palace is a huge criminal organization.â Abel had gotten up and started pacing slowly around his seat. âIf we were to do this the violent way, we would have to be equipped with firearms.â
âYouâre saying that we go up against those people and take them down with guns and bullets?â
Benjamin asked.
âAlternatively, we could do it the eivilized way by joining the underground auction,â Abel replied.
âThatâs also why theyâve sent us Emmaâs photo thatâs used for advertisement. They are trying to lure us into making an appearance at the auction.â
âIâm sure weâll be receiving the invitation to join their auction soon. Moreover, they would most likely invite some of the richest people in our country and even from abroad to take part in the event,â Abel concluded.
âWe canât let Emmeline fall into the hands of those people!â Benjamin said in a steely voice.
Abelâs expression hardened. âBoth of us might have to use all the Financial resources we have.â
Benjamin nodded. âIâm ready to use all our available assets in the Adelmar Group to save Emma.â
âThe same goes for me!â Abelâs eyes burned with fierce determination. âIâll use every means necessary to get Emma out of that place.â
A faint smile played across Benjaminâs face at that instant. âMr. Abel, I bet you can also tell what the abductorâs true intentions are by now.â