Nathan couldn’t bear to witness M’s anguish. He enveloped her in a tight embrace, murmuring


    soothing words into her ear, “Chubs, gather your strength.”


    M clung to Nathan’s chest, her sobs heavy with grief. “Nate, that monster took my parents from me.”


    Nathan leaned in close, his voice a gentle whisper in her ear. “Stay strong. You must seek justice for


    them.”


    M nodded through her tears in determination. “Fine.”


    “Are you ready?” Nathan delicately cradled the back of M’s head, drawing her close to his chest, their


    closeness puzzling onlookers.


    Once more, Mnodded. In a swift motion, Nathan plucked the hairpin from M’s hair and aimed a


    shot at Ss, who was lying on the bed.


    The muffled sound of the gunshot barely registered. Before anyone couldprehend the events


    unfolding, a crimson dot appeared on the forehead of the elderly man on the bed.


    Ss froze, his eyes wide open, his body rigid and unresponsive.


    As Murray grasped the gravity of the situation, he moved to raise his gun, only to find Nathan aiming


    the hairpin squarely at his forehead.


    All eyes turned to Nathan and M, guns at the ready.


    Murray, gripped by fear, pleaded, “Please, don’t kill me.


    Nathan swiftly disarmed Murray and passed the weapon to M.


    M epted the gun, wiping away her tears, and trained it on the opposite side of Murray’s forehead.


    “Release Mr. Manning,” a nearby gunman demanded, “or we’ll end both of you.”


    M approached calmly, retrieving the box containing the Azurium and tucking it into her pocket.


    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Addressing the others, she warned, “I’ll use him as a meat shield if anyone dares to shoot.”


    Murray raised his hands, a smirk ying on his lips as he eyed the device in Nathan’s hand.


    He had never encountered such a formidable weaponpact yet potent, concealed within M’s hair


    like a simple hairpin. No one could have guessed its lethal capability, a gun cloaked in silent death.


    Murray’s voice trembled with anxiety as he asked, “How did you manage to get it in?”


    Approaching Murray, M asked softly, “Are you familiar with M?”


    “We’ve been hunting her for years, investigating extensively. Of course, we’re familiar with her,” Murray


    replied./


    M chuckled softly. “Aside from her work as a chemist, she has another identity. Any


    guesses?”


    Murray’splexion turned ashen, and his throat constricted as he replied slowly, “Yes, a system


    engineer.”


    M hummed in response. Then, she nced at the others in the room. “Arrange for a speedboat for


    us if you want him alive.”


    Murray barked, “Move, what are you waiting for?”


    His subordinates hurried away to prepare the boat.


    Murray nced at Ss, who was lying on the bed. Hey there, eyes wide open in death. Technically,


    he didn’t even know he had been shot, yet he was already dead.


    “Why kill him instead of holding him hostage, and why risk holding me?” Murray asked, bewildered.


    M exined calmly, “If we hold him hostage, your men will kill us all, including him. If we hold you,


    his men will kill us all, including you.


    “You both refuse topromise for each other. With him dead, you be the leader. Holding you


    hostage is the best choice.”


    M smiled faintly, examining the gun in her hand, and added, “By the way, let me demonstrate the


    power of this small gun I designed.”


    +