Chapter 268: Ethereal Isle Collapse

"Alaric, I didn't expect to see you again," Christopher said coldly, his gaze shifting between Cecilia and Alaric.

Suddenly, he let out a laugh, his eyes narrowing. "So the rumors about you dating the Medici family's heiress are true. Last time, I could chalk it up to coincidence. But this time, it's clear you're here for Cecilia."

Cecilia frowned, but Alaric's expression remained unchanged. He helped her stand up slowly, casting a brief glance at the group of armed men in black.

He then turned to Christopher and said in a cold voice, "Stop this. These things don't belong to you."

"What makes you think you have the right to talk to me like that?" Christopher's eyes narrowed, his voice turning icy. "People really shouldn't fall in love; it turns their brains into mush."

"A person who doesn't understand love might as well live a thousand lifetimes; it wouldn't make any difference," Alaric retorted, gripping Cecilia's hand tightly.

Ten Eyes, standing nearby, glared at Cecilia and whispered, "Mr. Taylor, it's getting late. Let's just take action."

"Don't order me around," Christopher shot him a sideways glance before turning his cold gaze to Cecilia. "Open the chest and give me what's inside, and I'll let you go."

Cecilia's lips curved into a mocking smile. "Just twenty-something men? Do you really think we're afraid of you?"

"Besides, not all of Mr. Taylor's men are loyal. If word gets out that Mr. Taylor is targeting the Medici and Percy families, it won't end well for you."

As she spoke, she discreetly glanced at two familiar figures hiding in the bushes, then lowered her eyes and gently stroked the surface of the chest. "I don't know what's inside, but I can't trust people like you with it."

Ten Eyes leaned forward slightly, his fists clenched tightly, his golden eyes filled with anger. "Stop being so smug! You'll die quietly, and no one will ever know."

Cecilia simply raised an eyebrow and shrugged.

Seeing that negotiations were futile, Christopher's expression turned grim, his pale face looking eerie. He raised his hand and made a gesture. "Take them down."

At that moment, two smoke grenades exploded from the side, and thick white smoke quickly engulfed the area around the cave.

"Go!" Kian's voice rang out through the smoke. "We'll cover you!"

Reacting quickly, Alaric and Cecilia dashed out under the cover of the smoke. Bullets whizzed past their feet, kicking up a spray of gravel.

"Split up and chase them!" Christopher hadn't anticipated the presence of others. He had clearly ordered a thorough search. "Don't let any of them escape!"

"Yes, sir!"

In the smoke, Alaric and Kian hid in the shadows.

"There are four on your side," Kian said as he loaded his gun, still finding time to complain. "Next time, don't go off on your own. You really had us worried!"

Alaric didn't respond, instead pulling the trigger.

Three shots rang out, and three figures fell. The fourth man raised his gun, only to be taken down by Kian with a single shot to the head.

"Piece of cake," Kian said, raising an eyebrow at Alaric.

Alaric smiled briefly, quickly changing his magazine, but his peripheral vision caught Ten Eyes flanking them.

"I'll handle Christopher and his men," he said coldly. "You go help Cecilia and Caroline."

Kian nodded solemnly, rolling to dodge bullets and heading in the direction of Cecilia and Caroline's retreat.

Meanwhile, Caroline was pulling Cecilia through the dense forest.

Cecilia's right arm wound was bleeding again, her face pale and frightening.

"Cecilia, hang in there!" Caroline panted. "We're almost to the shore!"

Suddenly, the bushes ahead rustled, and two armed men emerged!

Caroline reacted swiftly, rolling to avoid the bullets and drawing her gun.

The two men fell instantly, but the gunfire attracted more pursuers.

"This way!" Victor's voice echoed in Cecilia's mind again. She abruptly turned, pulling Caroline into a nearly hidden path covered in vines.

Caroline frowned but followed without question.

The remaining men stood at the fork in the path, one of them crouching to examine the tracks. "They went east."

Cecilia and Caroline finally burst out of the forest, facing a steep cliff with the turbulent sea below.

"No way out," Caroline said grimly.

Cecilia, however, stared intently at the sea, her voice hoarse. "No, there is."

She pointed to a protruding rock in the distance. "It gets submerged at high tide, but we can still cross now. Follow the rocks to the hidden cove on the other side. Our boat is there."

She paused. "It's Christopher's boat."

Caroline nodded.

The two exchanged a glance, and Cecilia strapped the chest to herself before carefully descending the cliff. The sharp edges of the shells cut into their delicate hands.

Suddenly, a wave crashed, and Caroline slipped.

Cecilia grabbed her wrist, but the chest nearly pulled her down.

They hung precariously on the cliff, with sharp rocks and raging waves below.

"Cecilia, let go!" Caroline shouted urgently. "I..."

"Shut up!" Cecilia gritted her teeth, her fingers digging into the rock crevice. "Don't talk!"

Using all her strength, she pulled Caroline up. Her wound tore open from the effort, the pain nearly causing her to faint, and blood soaked her sleeve.

Caroline regained her grip on the rock, and they continued down, finally reaching the narrow ledge.

"Thanks," Caroline said, panting heavily.

Cecilia shook her head, looking towards the distance, her lips pale. "Let's go."

When they reached the cove, mist was already rising. The sea was shrouded in a milky white fog, obscuring their view.

"Thank goodness!" Caroline nearly cried with relief upon seeing the intact speedboat. "We can go back! We just need to wait for Alaric and the others!"

Cecilia forced a smile, but a sense of unease gnawed at her.

Caroline started the speedboat and glanced back at Cecilia, only to find her collapsed on the deck, her face turning white.

She rushed over, her hands touching a pool of blood. "Cecilia! Cecilia! Stay with me!"

Cecilia barely moved her fingers, seemingly wanting to say something, but she lacked the strength to even open her mouth.

Caroline's tears streamed down her face. She wiped them away hastily, her trembling fingers searching for bandages to give Cecilia some basic treatment.

She took deep breaths, forcing herself to stay calm, and found the direction to meet Alaric and the others.

But the fog thickened, the compass spun wildly, useless. She didn't even know where their boat was anchored.

"Damn it!" She slammed her fist on the dashboard, causing the speedboat to jolt.

Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed from the island.

Caroline's eyes widened as she saw a massive fireball rise through the fog, followed by continuous sounds of collapse.

Ethereal Isle was in trouble!