“Yes. We chased him for over an hour, then kept him pinned down here for another.”“The brat’s like a turtle in its shell—refuses to come out no matter what.”“If we weren’t in Nova City, where explosives are off-limits, I’d have blown him to pieces already.”Neil Foster spoke through clenched teeth.“Leave it to me.”As he spoke, Joseph removed the rest of his gear and tossed it to Neil.“Sir, you’re not thinking of going in through the second-floor window, are you?”Neil asked.“That won’t work. Didn’t you say he’s covering both the stairwell and the windows with a heavy machine gun?”“Going in that way would make you a sitting target.”Joseph gave a cold smile.“Exactly. So what’s your plan?”Neil pressed.“Where did he even get a heavy machine gun? In a place like Nova City, how did he manage to bring something like that in?”Joseph asked, puzzled.“He must’ve ambushed one of the Nova City Guard’s heavy-weapons posts after entering the city.”“With most of the Guard focused on the

“By the way, sir, things here are more or less under control.”“Quite a few assassins entered Nova City tonight. It might be wiser for you to return to Miss Morgan’s side.”“Though we’ve stationed plenty of capable men around her residence—”“—with you protecting her personally, her safety would be beyond question.”Brian Adams seemed to recall something and turned to Joseph.“You’re right.”“I’ll leave the rest to you.”“I’ll head back now. Contact me if anything arises.”Joseph glanced at the time. It was just past midnight.Compared to the previous operation, this one had been resolved swiftly.“Understood.”Brian nodded.Joseph did not linger. Before long, he was driving toward Whispering Pines Villas.When he arrived home, the lights in the villa were still on.It was already one in the morning.That girl Alice—and Mason Alvarez—were likely waiting up for him again.The thought stirred a warmth in Joseph’s chest.He pushed the door open and stepped inside.Alice was curled up bes