Chapter 175
"Understood."
Soon, the outline of an abandoned factory reeking of rust and harsh chemicals appeared through the window.
They stopped in a concealed corner about five hundred meters away.
The moment Charlotte and Alexander stepped out of the car, Rhett and his team emerged from the shadows.
"Boss, all the sentries have been taken care of."
"The factory's internal structure is complex, but the main personnel are concentrated in the central production workshop. That area is brightly lit."
Listening to his report, Alexander nodded, his gaze shifting to Charlotte.
Charlotte narrowed her eyes at the massive workshop in the distance, then lowered her head to speak into her micro-communicator.
"K."
"I'm here, boss." K's voice came through immediately.
"Hack the surveillance. Loop the footage and give us one minute of absolute safety."
"No problem. Active in thirty seconds."
Thirty seconds later, Charlotte's phone vibrated. An "OK" appeared on the screen.
"Move."
Before Alexander finished speaking, the two shot forward like arrows released from a bow.
Though Charlotte had known Alexander was skilled, witnessing it firsthand still left her in awe.
This man was truly formidable.
Suppressing her amazement, she slipped silently into the factory's shadows, with Rhett and his team following close behind.
Inside the factory, patrol guards weren't scarce, but their attention was focused on corridors and entrances. They never expected anyone to infiltrate through their defensive blind spots.
Before long, they reached the side of the main production workshop.
Through the grimy glass, Charlotte immediately spotted the man in the office—blond hair, legs crossed, lounging on a sofa while drinking and talking on the phone.
His face was full of smug satisfaction.
One look was all it took. The rage in Charlotte's chest erupted beyond control.
Richard!
Alexander sensed the shift in her emotions. He patted her shoulder gently, signaling her to stay calm—rescuing her mother came first.
Charlotte gritted her teeth, took a deep breath, and nodded.
Then she gestured to Alexander, and the two split up.
They began a systematic search through the factory.
Drawing on their accumulated experience, they successfully pinpointed the most likely location.
The underground boiler room in the corner of the workshop.
Two guards stood watch in front of the iron door.
After observing for a moment, Charlotte chose not to force her way in. Instead, she spoke quietly into her communicator.
"Rhett, three o'clock direction, underground entrance, two guards."
"Copy."
In less than ten seconds, both guards were silently taken down and dragged into the darkness.
Charlotte immediately darted over, with Alexander right behind her.
He pulled professional tools from his coat, picked the padlock on the iron door, and pushed it open with a creak.
In the dim light, Charlotte's eyes locked onto the bloodied, frail figure. Her pupils contracted sharply.
The person chained to the water pipe lifted her head. The moment she recognized Charlotte, shock flooded her dazed eyes.
"Charlie... you... how did you get here?"
But the next instant, as if realizing something, she began shouting frantically.
"Charlie, run! This is a trap—they're after you!"
"Don't worry about me, just go!"
Watching Victoria's desperate outburst, Charlotte's eyes immediately reddened. Without another thought, she rushed forward in two quick strides and pulled the frail body into her arms.
"Mom, I'm sorry. I'm late."
Feeling her daughter's warm embrace, Victoria's eyes turned red as well, but she didn't lose her composure. She shook her head forcefully.
"Charlie, just go. Don't worry about me. I'm fine."
"Mom, don't worry. I know what I'm doing. Trust me, okay?" Charlotte knew Victoria was only saying this out of fear for her safety.
Her heart ached even more now, making it hard to breathe.
Victoria stared into Charlotte's focused eyes. After a long moment, as if understanding something, she bit her lip and hummed in agreement.
Alexander stepped forward, pulling out a knife he carried and prying open the chains binding Victoria.
"We need to move fast. Richard's men could patrol through here any minute."
Hearing Alexander's words, Charlotte nodded firmly and immediately turned her back to Victoria, crouching down.
"Mom, get on. I'll carry you."
Victoria stared at the noticeably thinner back for a moment. Her heart twisted in pain, but she knew this wasn't the time for words. She climbed onto Charlotte's back.
Soon, the three of them exited the room.
Alexander led the way with his gun drawn, while Charlotte followed closely behind with Victoria on her back. The three moved through the dark, damp underground corridor toward the exit.
The entire way, they were on edge.
Just as they neared the stairwell leading to the first-floor workshop, they suddenly heard footsteps and voices overhead.
"Strange, why can't we reach the guards at the underground room?"
"Team One, check the boiler room. Everyone else, follow me."
Hearing their footsteps heading downward, Alexander's expression darkened.
But they had nowhere to hide. Left with no choice, Alexander gestured for Charlotte and Victoria to stay hidden while he pressed himself against the wall.
But as luck would have it, three mercenaries descended the stairs the next moment, coming face-to-face with them.
"Intruders!"
Almost instantly, the mercenaries reacted, roaring the alarm.
As his words fell, searchlights converged from all directions, locking onto their position.
By now, Richard had learned of Alexander's intrusion. His face was ashen with fury. Gripping the walkie-talkie, he barked at his men.
"Useless! They got in and none of you noticed!"
"Since that's the case, kill them all!"
Following orders, the mercenaries drew their weapons and charged at Alexander.
The man reacted with lightning speed, shoving Charlotte and Victoria behind a piece of machinery before spinning around and delivering a brutal kick to the lead mercenary.
The assault was fierce. Soon, wounds began appearing all over Alexander's body.
Blood flowed from every slash, quickly soaking his clothes.
Hiding in the corner, Charlotte watched as his face grew paler and paler. Her heart felt like it was being torn apart.
She gritted her teeth and reached for the knife on her body, ready to rush forward and fight alongside him. But the man seemed to sense her intention and shouted sharply.
"Don't come out! It's too dangerous—take your mother and go!"