After dealing with the two men, M rushed over to help Phoebe up and check her injuries. ” Phoebe,


    where does it hurt? Tell me. Where’s the blooding from?”


    Phoebe shook her head. “I’m fine. I just coughed up some blood from getting kicked in the chest and


    abdomen. No visible wounds, so it’s probably internal.”


    “Those jerks,” M cursed.


    Phoebe managed a weak smile.


    M gave her a stern look and asked disapprovingly, “You’re a ck belt in taekwondo. Plus, you’re


    skilled in judo and boxing, too, right? How did you end up so vulnerable? Couldn’t you handle just


    those two guys?”


    “You think I didn’t want to fight back?”


    “Why didn’t you, then?”


    “If I resisted, they would have targeted you.”


    Tears welled up in M’s eyes instantly. Her heart ached at the sight of Phoebe battered and bruised.


    Overwhelmed with emotion, she hugged Phoebe tightly. Phoebe was undoubtedly strong. Her


    vulnerability didn’t stem from herself but from her love for M.


    “M, I’m truly okay. But right now, we need to figure out what to do with these two bodies.” Phoebe


    gently patted M’s back to reassure her.


    M let go of Phoebe and nced at the men lying on the ground. She stuttered, “Phoebe, I–1 killed


    someone.”


    “Don’t fret. This isn’t Suntend. It’s Norvania.”


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    M wasn’t well–versed in Norvania’sws. She asked, “Did Imit a crime?”


    “No. If you kill someone who’s holding you captive in self–defense, the Norvanian government might


    even reward you for it.”


    “Seriously?” M breathed a sigh of relief.


    “In Norvania, it’s legal to defend yourself against intruders in your home.”


    M helped Phoebe stand up and whispered, “So, that means I can defend myself against all these


    people.”


    Phoebe clutched her stomach in pain and nervously eyed the door as she asked, “M, how many


    bullets do you have left?”


    “Just one,” M replied.


    “We’re in big trouble, then.”


    M leaned in and covered Phoebe’s ear as she whispered, “Phoebe, I sent a distress signal to Nathan


    using the virtualputer. It’ll take about three hours for help to arrive from the military base to


    Phoenicia.”


    Phoebe’s expression turned worried. “But they’ve nted bombs all around. They’ll trigger them for


    sure if General Morrison and his teame to rescue us.”


    M fell silent.


    Suddenly, there was a deafening crash as someone kicked the door open. M and Phoebe trembled


    with fear, huddling together as they stepped back.


    Several burly, tough–looking men pointed their guns into the room as Lucas entered with a few of his


    men. His eyes were steely, and he looked grim. When he noticed the two bodies on the floor, his fists


    tightened in fury so much that they trembled.


    Without hesitating, Lucas lunged at M and snatched the pen gun from her hand. Through gritted


    teeth, he growled, “This gun again. You got awayst time because of it.”


    M looked at him warily while shielding Phoebe behind her. She maintained a calm fa?ade and


    remarked, “Your men may demand money, but targeting women leads to deaths.”


    It was then that Lucas noticed Phoebe’s disheveled appearance and realized that his men had acted


    excessively.