Penny sensed Rnd approaching as each step seemed to echo across the forest with the crunching of leaves. Fearful of making any noise, Penny covered her mouth tightly.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    ...


    "Hurry up," Lucas urged. He was able to ascend the mountain swiftly thanks to his long legs. However, Monica struggled to keep pace and was panting heavily. Still, she hesitated to ask Lucas to take it slower simply because he was prepared to save her friend.


    Lucas moved forward without checking if the other people were following him. Anxious, Monica pressed on and began to hike desperately up the mountain.


    Upon reaching a peak, Lucas stopped abruptly and signaled the others to halt.


    "What''s wrong?" Monica inquired cautiously.


    Lucas discerned a faint movement.


    Monica held her breath and wondered if it could be Penny.


    "To our left! Come on!" Lucas directed before turning left. He heard a woman struggling, and he believed that it was Penny with the assant.


    Penny, exhausted from hiding in the mountains, had been discovered by Rnd. She struggled as he covered her mouth and strangled her. However, Rnd-as a security officer-was much stronger than her. As she was about to surrender, she heard a noise from another direction, to which Rnd immediately dragged her back in fear.


    ''Is someone here to save me?''


    A burst of unclear images filled her mind. She was very grateful to have be friends with Monica, and she did not regret calling her before the incident. When she decided to tell Monica everything, she regretted that there might not be a chance for her to bid Monica a proper goodbye.


    Given the chance, she would not hesitate to rejoin the crew and meet Monica again, despite having grown disillusioned with the dynamics of the industry and going on a different path from what she wanted. In a field where connections were insignificant and interactions were dictated by fame or fortune, decisions to interact with a person were based on the value that person could bring.


    "Penny!" Monica screamed and rushed forward upon seeing Penny.


    Rnd, realizing that the situation was unfavorable for him, threatened, "Don''te any closer if you want her to live!"


    Lucas frowned as he held Monica back and cautioned, "Don''t act rashly!" He looked at the man as the one who nearly killed Melody.


    "What do you want?" Lucas asked.


    Rnd pretended to act calm. He knew who Lucas was but did not know why Lucas would be there. "Does this mean I can demand whatever I want?" he asked, hinting at a desire to negotiate rather than face the consequences of his actions.