Chapter 667
Emmett gave Aria a thumbs-up behind Wade’s back.
Wade snorted. “You always have ulterior motives. You’re way too calculating.”
Aria chuckled lightly. “I’m born that way. No payoff, no play.”
This situation truly offered her no advantage. Losing meant losing her title as number one and becoming the subject of gossip. Winning wouldn’t bring her any benefits either, since she had already left this world behind.
Wade fell silent, refusing to say another word. Before leaving, he shot Owen a glare.
Owen couldn’t believe he got stared down for no reason. He thought, ‘Does he glare at me because he doesn’t dare do the same to Madelyn? That makes sense though.’
Emmett smiled apologetically. “Looks like you two will be staying a bit longer.”
Aria said with a smile, “Yeah. I guess so.”
Just as Aria and Owen were about to leave, a dungeon guard burst in, breathless. “Mr. Murray, Olivia is dead.”
A woman in her late forties put down her pen, surprised as she looked at the three at Arressto headquarters. “Do you mean someone helped Margery escape?”
Dorian stepped forward, his face grim. “Ms. Langford, I suspect Wilson is involved in this matter.” His voice rose sharply. “His sister Aria definitely has something to do with this.”
Tessa tapped her fingertips lightly on the desk, signaling him to continue his report.
Dorian went over what happened again. “Aria obviously led us off on purpose so Margery could get away. The guys who met up with her were good fighters. It must have been the same crew.”
Although Wilson was usually unreliable, he wouldn’t dare meddle with Arressto’s kill order, so Dorian didn’t suspect that Wilson and his two companions did this.
Tessa suddenly changed the subject. “So, you couldn’t even take on Wilson’s little sister, could you?”
Dorian’s face went tense. “Yes, I’m no match for her.” He sounded a bit frustrated. “She strikes fast and hard, and her moves are tricky. I couldn’t defeat her.”
The two people beside him exchanged glances, clearly surprised that Dorian, who was usually so proud, would admit defeat so readily.
“Aria’s moves aren’t amateurish,” Dorian added, his expression grave. “She must have had years of formal training. At Arressto, maybe only three people can take her down.”
Tessa nodded thoughtfully. “Having such skills in her early twenties? That’s some real potential.”
The person to Dorian’s left instantly caught on. “Ms. Langford, are you thinking of bringing her on board?”
“Yeah.” Tessa twirled her pen between her fingers. “Arressto doesn’t have many female operatives. Getting someone like her would really help our future missions.”
Chapter 667
Dorian frowned. “Our male operatives have always performed excellently. There’s no need to go out of our way to-”
“No, it’s not.” Tessa interrupted with a smile. “Physiologically, men do have more muscle and power, but women tend to have better endurance and observation skills. That’s just a fact.”
She looked at the three of them. “Though our female operatives score lower on physical tests than you, in real missions, their dedication matches that of any man.
“When it comes to scouting and stealth missions that demand intense focus over time, women have the advantage. Arressto’s data proves it.”
Dorian pursed his lips. “Arressto recruits only the best. In this area, women do tend to outperform men, but eliminated, men have the upper hand.”
among
those
Tessa replied calmly, “That’s why none of them made the cut.”
The three were left speechless.
Tessa abruptly declared, “You’re off Margery’s case. Find out who Aria is by the end of today, and check up on Wilson and hi
crew.”
They left with Aria, so finding them would lead straight to her.
Dorian stood still. “Ms. Langford, please give us one more chance. We will kill Margery.”
Tessa smiled. “There’s been new progress in Margery’s case. The investigator she killed years ago wasn’t innocent, so the organization decided to stop pursuing her.
“Rather than chasing someone no longer relevant, it’s more meaningful to recruit the right talent for the organization. I trust you with this mission.”
Hearing this, the three breathed a sigh of relief.
Dorian was stunned for a long moment after discovering who Aria really was.
One of the team members exclaimed, “No wonder Aria could defeat Dorian. Turns out she’s Echohawk.”
Another teammate chimed in, “And I never expected Wilson to be a rich boy.”
“Holy shit, Aria is the real deal.”
“I know, right?”
The two were about to continue when Dorian shot them a glare that shut them up. “Go report to Ms. Langford.”
Tessa was both astonished and overjoyed upon learning Aria’s background. “You three are going to the Solemnity Guild. Make sure to bring her in.”
Dorian said, “I think that’s going to be very difficult.”
Dorian thought, ‘If she truly wanted this life in Arressto, she wouldn’t have left the Solemnity Guild at just twenty. Recruiting her into Arressto would be impossible.’
Tessa said firmly, “We have to give it a try. Pack up and head out immediately. Whatever demands Aria makes, just say yes.” Someone said, “What if she demands to take your place?”
2/3
Tessa hesitated. “Err, I don’t think she will.”
Dorian said, “Okay, Ms. Langford. We’ll keep you updated.”
“Sure,” said Tessa.
The dungeon was thick with the stench of blood. Someone withdrew his fingers from Olivia’s neck and said gravely, “It’s
suicide.”
Solemnity Guild was known for crushing spirits with mind games, yet Olivia cracked so badly that she chose to kill herse
“That’s impossible,” Tyree roared. His eyes were red with anger. “Those tiny puncture marks on her neck are proof. It was murder.”
He thought, ‘Olivia wouldn’t have done it. She knew I was coming to save her.’
The dungeon fell into dead silence as all eyes locked onto Aria in the shadows. With her long hair and dark clothes, she looked cold and serious. Everyone knew that Echohawk was the only person who could kill with a needle.
“It was you,” Tyree roared. He exploded, lunging straight at Aria.
Wilson and Owen instantly shielded Aria.
Tyree got halfway there before Wade stepped in, pulling his knife and blocking him. “It can’t be Echohawk. She just arrive at the Solemnity Guild yesterday, and she hasn’t even been to the dungeon.”
Tyree’s voice was hoarse with rage. “She wants to avenge Sara. No one else kills with needles.”
Not far away, Russell wore a mocking smirk. He was clearly the prime suspect, but here he was, acting like nothing was wrong.
Olivia was never the suicidal type. This was obviously a setup targeting Aria. Emmett fixed his gaze on her and asked, “Echohawk, did you kill her?”
Aria said flatly, “No.”
Owen added firmly, “Aria and I were together all night, and we never left our room. The security footage will confirm it.” Wilson stared at Owen, eyes wide with shock. “Wait. Did you two actually spend the night in the same room?”
Owen thought, ‘Oh, not only did we share a room, but also the same bed!
