Chapter 42 Smart Person

Chapter 42 Smart Person

Emily's POV

"You know I'm famous for assassination, yet you dare get this close to me. You're too bold."

"Neuroparalytic poison. After being poisoned, you'll die within fifteen minutes. During that time, your entire nervous system will be paralyzed—you won't be able to move or feel pain. You'll walk toward death in inner terror."

I let my lips curve slightly, my eyes on her cold and steady. "I have to say, your performance was excellent. Well-constructed. Convincing enough that for a moment, I almost believed you."

"Unfortunately, I still saw through it."

I shrugged. I might not be that smart. But I'm not that stupid either.

Especially after being tricked over and over by that bastard Christopher.

"Why?"

I watched the disbelief move across her face and let out a quiet laugh. "I'll tell you — since you're about to die anyway."

"First, the day the cargo ship set sail, Douglas had people on aboard. Anyone who knows Douglas knows he definitely arranged backup. But until the very end, no backup showed up — which told me there was another player in the game."

"Combined with what just happened, I'm certain it's the Shadowmoon Council."

"Even if you genuinely didn't know about the plan and thought Douglas was purely money-motivated — you've been tracking him long enough. You must have seen that his motives run deeper."

"Your intelligence network is impressive. So either you already know — or you've been pretending not to?"

"So from this point alone, I concluded that everything you told me was a cover story."

"Now back to Bruce. As you said, he's offended so many people who want him dead. Why isn't he dead yet? Because someone profits from keeping him that way. They'll extract every possible resource from Bruce before killing him. Until then, he's safe. As for the bruises he'll collect along the way — that's simply part of it."

"From the very beginning, you've been using this — making me worry about Bruce to cloud my thinking and push me toward the wrong conclusions."

"Your real target was never Douglas. It was me — all along. If I'm not wrong, although you know Douglas has other schemes — but you haven't found the critical piece yet."

"So you've targeted me, wanting to learn Douglas's secret through me. To use me as a lever."

As for Elizabeth, once I was under their control — she would have no further use. Death would follow naturally.

Elizabeth's life meant nothing to them.

The only one who has ever cared whether Elizabeth lives or dies — from the very beginning — is me.

Wait—Christopher.

The poison used on him was Silvervein Kiss, exclusive to the Shadowmoon Council. No known antidote existed. To them, Christopher had died the night they poisoned him.

But I have the antidote. Only I know this.

Christopher had obviously reached the same conclusion — which was why he chose to vanish, using his supposed death as cover while he moved through the shadows.

I suddenly connected all the details:

Douglas thought he was the hunter. Shadowmoon Council was his prey. But Christopher knew better. He was hunting the hunter.

The realization hit me all at once, and I felt cold sweat break across my back.

Douglas's purpose never changed from the beginning—he just kept hiding it from me, letting me walk into the trap step by step, and drawing me into this mess without my knowing.

Christopher's purpose — I'm afraid I've worked that out too.

Since he was the one waiting in the shadows, the next step was to wipe them all at once.

I could not allow myself to fall under the Shadowmoon Council's control. In their plan, I was nothing but a disposable piece.

Elizabeth even less than that.

I must rely on myself to rescue Elizabeth.

As for Bruce, he won't die any time soon.

That was close.

If I'd really been controlled, there would have been no way out.

If I die, neither Bruce nor Elizabeth will make it.

I don't believe Christopher would put himself out to save me.

After confirming Hawkeye's death, I cleared the room of any evidence.

Then I lowered her body out through the window.

I slid down the rope and saw a man already waiting — helping to load the body into the trunk.

I instinctively moved to attack, but fortunately he spoke before I could.

"Hey, beautiful — I step out for a moment and you've already killed someone. Quick, come on, deal with it before anyone sees."

I was briefly speechless. Birds of a feather — his manner was uncannily similar to Christopher's.

But the thought came quickly: since he was here — wouldn't trading him for Elizabeth be the perfect solution?

It wasn't something I was proud of — but I had no other option.

As long as Elizabeth survives — even if I have to answer for this with my own life afterward — it's worth it.

Thinking this, I slowly approached him, positioning myself.

"Let's move. Christopher just reached me — Mrs. Howard was kidnapped by Douglas. They're using you to force a trade: me for her. So why are you standing there?"

I stood there stunned, certain I had misheard.

What did he say?

Christopher had told him. Elizabeth had been taken by Douglas.

And then he's willing to use himself to exchange for Elizabeth?

No way, is he really this selfless?

"You..."

Joshua had already dealt with the body and turned to look at me with a strange expression. "Hurry up, what are you waiting for? She's more important — isn't that what you've always said? Mrs. Howard comes first?"