Chapter 1709: Leave my Penny alone

[Back to Zoren’s Memory]

In Zoren’s memories, weeks had already gone by since he sent the tip to Atlas and visited Hugo’s resting place. And just like any complicated case, there were days when Zoren would find himself backed into a dead end.

It wasn’t because he lacked information, but rather, because he lacked evidence.

Some of the information he had gotten—well, he had obtained it through different means. That said, it meant he had gotten it through illegal means, which could be inadmissible in court or couldn’t be used.

Hence, he had to spend plenty of time not just concocting schemes and setting up traps, but also breaking a few laws.

It kept his hands full, but he was still aware that Atlas had started his own investigation. Initially, Zoren just thought to let the man do whatever he thought was right—let him run around and beg people.

That was Zoren’s plan, until Atlas started making progress on his own. Atlas began making progress based solely on the tip Zoren had sent him. And with Atlas making progress, Zoren had no choice but to feed him more and more. He could use a little bit of help since his plate was already full.

But then—

The inevitable happened.

---

The sound of the mechanical heartbeat filled Zoren’s ears along with a few medical devices. Standing beside the bed, his eyes gazed down at the patient.

Atlas Bennet.

Healing wounds and burned parts could be seen all across Atlas’s body. Half of his face was burned from the car explosion—just after he had crawled out of it following the crash. It was a good thing that Zoren had put someone on Atlas’s trail, and they managed to recover his body even before someone else could.

Zoren shoved his hands into his pockets.

"..." He blinked, showing no reaction to the person he was staring at.

This was the first time he had seen Atlas up close. There wasn’t anything Zoren felt about it. After all, he could’ve prevented this from happening by putting more people on Atlas’s shadow. But he didn’t.

Why?

Just because he didn’t like Atlas that much. And to be honest, he wanted this man dead.

"You shouldn’t have crawled out of there," Zoren muttered to the unconscious Atlas. "Your suffering would’ve ended by then. Yet, you cling to life... just like how you cling to the truth."

Another shallow breath escaped him as he shook his head mildly. "In the end, it was all futile without power."

Cold as it may sound, that was the truth.

Zoren turned on his heel, not planning to stay with Atlas. He just came to check—out of pure curiosity at that. He simply wanted to see Atlas up close, no more, no less.

When Zoren walked out, he noticed a few armed men standing around the small bungalow. Greenery covered the area, and a fence lay beyond the thick sprawl of trees.

Mark quickly approached from his side. "Sir," he called, making Zoren glance at him.

"What now?" asked Zoren with disinterest. "Who died this time?"

"No one yet, but Slater Bennet is missing," Mark reported. "Our men came to get him, but he wasn’t in his apartment anymore."

"Did you check other places?"

"Yes. We checked all the possible places he could’ve gone and people he could’ve contacted. However, there’s no sign of him."

Zoren studied Mark’s face, tilting his head. "What else did you find?"

"I sent some of our men to his apartment, and there were signs of a struggle."

"Send someone to scout the area around his place and see if they got him."

"I already did, sir, but he’s not there."

This piqued Zoren’s interest.

Behind all of these cases, there was only one force orchestrating everything. Everyone and everything else were simply accomplices to their goal. And Zoren had already found their hive, keeping them in his sights until the time was ripe.

"He’s not there?" he repeated, almost skeptical.

"Yes." Mark nodded. "I’ve already asked our mole inside, but it seems they were also looking for Slater Bennet."

Deep lines appeared between Zoren’s brows, now even more confused.

’Is there another force behind the scenes?’ he wondered. ’What am I missing?’

Zoren rubbed his chin, deep in thought. His thoughts, however, were interrupted when he heard shots fired.

He snapped his eyes up, his gaze landing on the fence behind the trees.

"Why are they firing?" he wondered, arching a brow as he saw one of the bodyguards running in his direction.

Neither Mark nor Zoren showed any sign of panic, knowing even if they were being raided, they wouldn’t be found immediately. After all, if someone invaded this place, they would immediately go to the Pierson Castle first.

And from that castle, there weren’t any windows positioned in this area. After all, this place was a secret area—sealed off, hidden by the thick trees and that fence.

"What is it?" Mark asked the bodyguard. "Why did someone fire a shot?"

The bodyguard panted for a second before straightening his back. He looked at Mark, but when he answered, he locked eyes with Zoren.

"Sir, the head of Homeland Security is here," he announced. "And she said she wants to talk to you. ASAP."

Hearing the report, Zoren closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Mark, on the other hand, glanced at Zoren’s side profile.

Seeing Zoren’s reaction wasn’t surprising. He and Mint didn’t get along, and they’d been racing on this case as if there were a reward at the end.

---

[At Pierson’s Castle]

In the Pierson Castle, Mint and Zoren sat across from each other in the attic.

Mint cocked her head to the side, blinking almost creepily. "One question, one answer. Zoren, did you kill Atlas Bennet?"

"No."

"Really?" she repeated, blinking almost innocently while Zoren’s expression remained unreadable.

"If I did, I would’ve made sure he was dead."

"Your men were spotted at the scene, though."

"That’s because if they didn’t take him, whoever manipulated his car’s engine would’ve finished the job."

Mint narrowed her eyes suspiciously, only to repeat, "Really?"

"..." Zoren stayed silent.

"Well, where is he?"

"Somewhere safe."

"Which room?" she hummed, almost without care. "I need to make sure he’s alive, so I don’t have grounds to arrest you."

"Mint." Without breaking his tone, he gazed at her sincerely. "You don’t trust me, and neither do I. However, we share a common goal: to put all these people to rest. You get to put them behind bars, and I get to prove a point."

Mint shook her head. "No, that’s not my goal now." She then beamed at him. "My goal right now is the same as yours. Clear Penny’s name."

"Penny?"

"Mhm! That’s what they call her, so I call her that too!" she chuckled. "Also, since you’re so interested in her, I will make sure she knows I’m her savior, not you."

"Petty, you are."

She smirked. "Petty, but confident. Zoren, leave my Penny alone. She’s mine after this, and you? Six feet under. If not, behind bars."