"Eula, is it you?" Deanna asked, her eyes steady.
After all, besides Eula, she couldn't think of anyone else who would go to such lengths to kidnap her, especially a woman.
However, her question received no response.
Seeing this, Deanna assumed it was an admission and felt her heart sink.
At that moment, footsteps echoed nearby.
Deanna immediately became alert and turned her head to see someone approaching in the research institute's janitor uniform.
It was then she realized that everything since yesterday afternoon, from being splashed with dirty water, had been a series of traps.
This thought raised some doubts in her mind.
She remembered Lance saying that Eula's power had been completely dismantled, her assets frozen, and she was being watched. So how did Eula get to Cloudmere and infiltrate their research institute?
As Deanna pondered this, the newcomer spoke, "Cloudmere is on lockdown. We can't leave for now. The captain wants us to find a place to hide. They will use this time to negotiate with Gunner. If Gunner agrees to go to Abla, we'll leave with them."
"I understand. We'll stay here for a few days. Lance and Chiaz officials would never think to look for us here," said the woman mistaken for Eula.
Hearing this, Deanna realized she had misunderstood.
From the conversation, it was clear these two were not Eula and her subordinates but people sent by Abla's higher-ups. Her heart sank further.
She couldn't just sit and wait; she had to find a way to get a message to her master and Lance.
But how? Deanna couldn't think of a way at the moment and could only wait for an opportunity.
Meanwhile, Lance was on the verge of losing his mind.
The news of Deanna's kidnapping couldn't be kept from Logan and Samantha.
"Just when things were finally peaceful, something happens again!" Samantha said, frowning and upset.
Logan's expression was equally grim. "Abla is mocking us! Lance, pull all our investments from Abla and disrupt their financial market. I refuse to believe we can't pressure them!"
Lance thought it was a good idea and it gave him an inspiration.
"I'll discuss this with Mr. Martinez," Lance said as he prepared to leave.
He paused, remembering something, and asked, "Mom, Dad, could you take care of Gregory and Chloe, as well as Deanna's grandmother while Deanna is away?"
"We will. Just focus on finding Deanna. Make sure she and the children are safe," Samantha urged.
Lance nodded. He was deeply concerned about these matters too.
Logan had another thought. "This involves foreign affairs and might get exposed. If Deanna's grandmother hears anything, should we tell her the truth?"
"If she insists on knowing, tell her. But if we can keep it from her, we should. Her health can't take any more stress," Lance said with a sigh.
Deanna's previous incident had worsened her grandmother's condition several times. If it happened again, she might not have much time left.
With these heavy thoughts, Lance returned to Gunner's side.
Gunner hadn't slept all night; his eyes were bloodshot and he looked exhausted and angry.
Seeing Lance return, Gunner asked with concern, "Is everything arranged?"
"Yes, and I have an idea," Lance replied, sharing Logan's suggestion and his own thoughts.
The plan was to unite domestic forces to economically sanction Abla, forcing them to return Deanna.
Gunner thought for a moment and agreed. "I'll contact the higher-ups."
The next day, the public gradually realized something big was happening internationally.
"What's going on? Has Mercer Group gone mad?"
"It's not just Mercer Group; several old domestic families are also making moves. I need to sell my YJ stocks quickly before I lose everything."
"What happened? Why are several key foreign enterprises being targeted?"
"Could it be related to what happened last night?"
People speculated online, but no one answered them.
Deanna had no idea that chaos was erupting outside because of her.
She was tied up in a sewer, the stench making her dizzy.
Once again, she couldn't hold back and dry-heaved in discomfort.
The two Abla agents nearby watched coldly, occasionally commenting, "You Chiaz people are so delicate. Can't handle this?"