Chapter 680:
With that, their coordinated effort continued smoothly.
Allison huddled deeper into the shadowed gap, trying to appear inconspicuous. She thought she could be stuck there for a while, but after only a few minutes, she heard the rhythmic cadence of footsteps outside.
Her pulse quickened.
The footsteps sounded sharp, almost imperious.
âWhatâs happening out there?â she whispered.
âThe boss is here. Looks like heâs doing a walk-through.â Gordon quickly reviewed the surveillance footage, his brow furrowing in concern.
Allison braced herself.
The silver-haired man with eyes like embers⦠she knew he was the most dangerous presence in the entire facility.
With a soft creak, the conference room door opened, and Allison heard several figures entering.
The murmurs died down, replaced by an oppressive silence.
She couldnât see what was happening, but she sensed Verrucktâs dark mood bearing down on the room.
Then his voice cut through the silence, deep and cold. âProceed.â
Through a faint reflection in the glass, Allison caught a glimpse of Jareth standing stiffly, extending a file with both hands.
âToday we negotiated with Immortality Pharmaceuticals,â he said, his voice taut with tension.
Jareth reported carefully. âTheyâve agreed to all terms except one â they want more test subjects.â
The entire lab was aware of the precarious arrangement. Immortality Pharmaceuticals bankrolled them, shielding them from outside interference. It was a partnership they couldnât afford to upset.
âGreedy bastards!â Verruckt spat.
His voice was cold, each word laced with an edge that made Allisonâs skin prickle. It was a voice that could make someone vanish on a whim.
Silence blanketed the room like a shroud. Even Jareth seemed to hesitate, afraid to utter another word in the face of Verrucktâs dark mood.
Allison realized why Jareth wouldnât dare disclose todayâs events to Verruckt. Bringing it up would only escalate the situation. No one could predict the frightening choices Verruckt might make.
The chilling memory of Room 9, the horrible slaughterhouse, still lingered in everyoneâs minds, and Jareth was determined to avoid becoming the next victim.
Breaking the tense silence, Verruckt spoke again. âIâve heard Immortality Pharmaceuticals is in turmoil. Have they tracked down the researcher who vanished from Ontdale?â
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