Chapter 271 I Am Tired

Chapter 271 I Am Tired

At 3:30 in the afternoon, the sun finally broke through the clouds, casting its light on a black sedan parked on the road.

Isabella leaned back in her seat, her gaze calm as she watched the scenery speed by outside the window. Her eyes were slightly downcast, lost in thought.

"Don't you think the whole reborn thing sounds pretty unbelievable?" Kian gripped the steering wheel, his brow furrowed, occasionally glancing at the rearview mirror while he kept talking. 

"But when you think about it, her actions were pretty strange. Like that bottle of Macallan 1926—at the time, I couldn't understand why she spent so much money on it. And she borrowed the money from us to buy it. Later, the value of that bottle skyrocketed, and I was completely shocked."

He sighed, "No one's luck can be that good. Knowing she has memories from a past life makes me feel a bit better."

Isabella chuckled softly. "Cecilia has always been impressive. Being reborn just gave her an extra edge. But the fact that she shared this with us shows she really trusts us."

Kian shrugged. "You're talking differently now. It's weird."

Isabella raised an eyebrow and smiled, but didn't respond.

The car continued to drive, the buildings around them becoming sparse, and the road grew more rugged. 

The sunset painted the distant mountains a deep orange, adding a sense of desolation to the remote area.

Kian glanced at the GPS and frowned. "This place is really out of the way."

"The more remote the place, the easier it is to hide. Kingsnake Laboratory is always cautious, frequently changing locations. It's not surprising they chose here."

Isabella's eyes darkened. She had gathered a lot of information while shadowing Sepia. 

Cedric had previously sent people to observe Kingsnake Laboratory's old base, but they were quickly discovered, prompting the lab to relocate again. 

Now, with Sepia and Christopher's forces weakened, Kingsnake Laboratory struggled to secure funding and safety for their projects.

This was her chance to strike.

Eight years ago, she couldn't save Clio, but this time, she was determined to rescue Jessa, no matter the cost.

"If Alaric hadn't insisted I come with you, I wouldn't be here," Kian grumbled.

"You don't have to go."

"Forget it! If I let you go alone and Caroline finds out, she'll skin me alive."

They got out of the car, cautiously entering the abandoned factory through a half-open, rusty gate.

"Even in broad daylight, this place is creepy. Who knows what might jump out next?" Kian muttered as he followed Isabella.

"Stop scaring yourself," Isabella said without turning around.

Just then, they heard faint footsteps ahead. Isabella quickly pulled Kian into the shadows.

A few seconds later, three men wearing shirts with half-snake, half-butterfly prints walked by, holding walkie-talkies, seemingly on patrol.

Once they were gone, Kian exhaled in relief.

"Follow me and stay quiet," Isabella whispered.

The factory's interior was complex, with intersecting corridors and pipes everywhere. 

Yet Isabella seemed familiar with the layout, leading Kian through twists and turns without getting lost, until they reached a closed blue-green iron door.

She signaled Kian to stop and listened at the door. Hearing no movement inside, she gently pushed it open.

In the corner, a frail figure was curled up.

"Jessa?" Isabella's throat tightened as she called softly.

The girl lifted her head, revealing a pale, haggard face under messy hair, her eyes vacant.

Isabella noticed her veins had turned bluer and frowned slightly.

"Is she okay?" Kian asked, looking worried.

Isabella shook her head, indicating she didn't know. She quickly glanced behind them and closed the door. Jessa's expression remained unchanged.

"Do you remember me?"

Jessa mechanically lifted her head, her bones making a crisp sound, but she still didn't speak.

Kian frowned deeply. "What now? What's wrong with her?"

"She was abandoned by Kingsnake Laboratory," Isabella said coldly. "Her sensory system is disrupted, making her unable to perform tasks perfectly. Kingsnake Laboratory doesn't need failed experiments."

Kian cursed under his breath. He crouched down, looking directly at Jessa. "I'll carry her out. You keep an eye on the surroundings. As long as she doesn't make a fuss, we'll be fine."

"Later, we'll ask Cedric if there's a way to help her."

Isabella looked at him, pressed her lips together, and nodded. "Thank you."

Kian smiled and, with Isabella's help, lifted Jessa onto his back. Jessa's eyes were wide open, neither resisting nor accepting.

The three of them quietly left the room, retracing their steps without making a sound.

Six hours later, neon lights illuminated the night in Skyview City.

In a hotel suite, Sepia lounged on a leather sofa, a slender cigarette between her fingers. Smoke swirled around her, making her look tired and weary. 

She wore a loose silk robe, her long hair falling freely, shedding her usual sharpness and revealing a sense of fatigue.

Scarlet stood before her, arms crossed, brow furrowed. She wore black combat gear, a short knife at her waist, her eyes sharp, contrasting with Sepia's languor.

"So, what's next?" Scarlet asked, her voice cold. "Since 'Isis's Tear' is fake, why not just replicate a sapphire and give it to the bounty hunter? He only wants the gem; he might not care if it's real."

Sepia exhaled smoke, her expression obscured. She chuckled, her voice hoarse. "Scarlet, you're still so naive."

Scarlet narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"They're not fools." Sepia flicked ash from her cigarette, her gaze indifferent. "Other sapphires can't bring people back to life."

Scarlet was silent for a moment, then sneered. "Who believes that crap? If we're going to be hunted anyway, might as well scam more money."

Seeing Sepia's lack of reaction, she continued, "You used Hunted Shadows Guild's highest control to make this deal with Christopher, but neither side got what they wanted. You've long stopped caring about the guild, haven't you? Whether Christopher keeps his word or not doesn't matter to you."

Sepia didn't respond immediately. She slowly extinguished her cigarette in the ashtray.

"Scarlet, I'm tired."

Scarlet was taken aback.

"I want to go back to Skylandia and rest," Sepia said suddenly, smiling. "Do you want to come with me?"