Chapter 1487: It’s second brother

"They didn’t put a hit out on Miss Penny. Not directly. This mission—this plan—is just to weaken Prime Group. That’s what they told me. But that doesn’t mean they won’t put a hit on her in the future."

Another moment of silence stretched between them before Nathaniel continued, detailing what else he had learned during his time inside the Information Center. Everything that had weighed on him for so long now poured out, as if speaking could finally lighten the burden he carried.

Meanwhile, Penny found her thoughts drifting away.

In my first life, I wasn’t meant to die —not at someone’s hands, at least. The law did that.

She recalled, narrowing her eyes.

After my incarceration and those brief months of trial, I was given capital punishment. So it makes sense... whoever is behind it didn’t need to kill me. My fate had already been sealed.

But in this life... I’ve changed so much. I stopped the research, even if Mint warned me that its mere existence was a threat. Still, I’m alive. The only real threat I’ve faced so far was tonight. And according to him, they haven’t put a hit on me. Yet.

She glanced at Nathaniel, half-listening to his words. And it seems no one’s targeting Global Prime Logistics. Not even Miller’s Company.

Letting Atlas step away from Global Prime Logistics had been a calculated move — to avoid repeating the future. Their family business was where everything had started. Atlas had been framed for a crime, and Penny took the fall. She was supposed to take the fall; after all, she had approved the shipments in her brother’s stead.

Now, Atlas was no longer affiliated with logistics. Hugo was still alive and doing whatever it was he did. And Slater... Penny wasn’t too worried about Slater. He remembered their past life—miraculously—and he knew what he was doing.

And Finn is still alive too, Penny noted. Because Third Brother joined Homeland Security instead of being used by that organization to start killing people.

In other words, their lives had changed — subtly but significantly. The ripple effects were massive, even if not immediately visible.

Yet somehow, she was still being targeted. And this time, maybe not as a scapegoat. Maybe... for something more.

But why? she wondered.

Is it really just about that unfinished drug?

Would they truly waste their resources on someone who’s already abandoned the project?

Or is it the Prime Group itself that’s drawing this attention?

"I don’t think they’ll attack Miss Penny directly," Mark offered from the side when asked for his thoughts. "If they tried and failed, the chance of success next time would be slim—maybe even impossible. Aside from Prime Group’s security, there are many who would rally behind her."

Atlas and Zoren nodded. They had already reached that conclusion. But hearing it from Mark—an expert—still gave that reassurance.

"No, because..." Nathaniel trailed off, his gaze drifting to Penny. His pause made both Atlas and Zoren turn toward her too.

Her brows twitched as she met their eyes. All three were staring at her.

"Is everything alright?" Zoren asked, reaching out to take her hand. "You’re zoning out."

Atlas didn’t speak, but waited for her response.

"It’s nothing," she said softly. "I’m just... a little distracted."

Clearing her throat, she turned back to Nathaniel. "You were saying?"

"I was saying..." Nathaniel drew a deep breath as he looked at the powerful trio before him. "Miss Penny, you might not be their priority right now. But I know they’ve set their sights on someone."

He hesitated, his face tensing. "They’re going after the head of Homeland Security. I’m not sure what kind of relationship you have with Homeland Security, but from what I’ve heard, they’re planning to send someone after her."

Uncertainty flickered across his expression as he watched their reactions. He knew Penny and Mint had been in contact, though he didn’t know the full nature of their relationship. He had debated whether to share this, but seeing their faces now, he realized just how crucial the information was.

"Mark." Zoren raised a hand, turning his eyes toward him.

"Yes, sir." Mark bowed his head slightly and moved without waiting for instructions. The command was clear even before it was said. He left immediately to check on Mint’s situation.

"Mint wasn’t saying much the last time I called her," Zoren said, looking at the others. "So I assumed the threats—if there were any—weren’t serious."

Penny nodded. "Same here. Though she did ask me to look after Benji."

"Targeting the Head of Homeland Security means..." Atlas muttered, frowning. "They’re not going after Penny yet—not because they can’t risk failing. So, the conclusion that if they strike and miss, there won’t be a second chance, is nonsense."

Unlike them, Atlas had no emotional ties to Mint. So, his focus was more analytical.

"Meaning—"

"Miss Penny just isn’t the priority," Nathaniel finished for him. "That’s what I’m saying. This organization isn’t afraid to attack anyone. The person they’re targeting now is the woman at Homeland Security. From what I gathered, it’s because she’s been interfering with them."

It made sense. Mint had led the raid on one of their branches. But more than that, Zoren, Atlas, and Penny knew she had been investigating the drug long before that. It was the reason Slater had joined her team.

Because in their first life, Mint had been fated to die.

With or without Slater’s involvement, her death had been certain.

These people—whoever they were—would kill Mint. Be it in the first life or the current one.

As a heavy silence fell over the room, their attention turned to Mark.

He had returned — too soon — and his face was grim.

"Sir," Mark said, bowing slightly as he approached Zoren. He leaned in and whispered something into Zoren’s ear.

Zoren’s brows furrowed sharply. Then, lifting his gaze, he looked at Penny and Atlas, his expression clouded with dread.

Seeing the look on Zoren’s face, both Penny and Atlas felt their hearts sink.

"Don’t just look at us like that," Atlas said, straightening up, a knot of unease forming in his chest. "What is it?"

Zoren swallowed hard. Then, in a low voice, he said, "It’s Second Brother."