Chapter 223: Chapter 221: Look at That Pathetic Look of Yours (Part 1)

Young Master Grant flashed a charming smile. "That’s my brother."

He had just finished speaking when one of the Men in Black reported from the doorway, "Young Master, we just got a call from the front desk. The guest from Room 414 is out."

Quentin Grant said calmly, "Keep an eye on her. I’ll be right there."

"Now, all of you, listen carefully. I’ve had this guest from 414 under surveillance for two days. I suspect she’s the mastermind behind the raid. Ethan, I’m going to need your full cooperation on this."

Ethan Ellsworth nodded. "What do you need me to do? I’m game."

Quentin Grant nodded. "I need your help. The target is a young woman. Since you’re the only single one here, you’re the natural choice for the job. Plus, you’ve won acting awards, so you have to be the one to do it. Herman and I will provide support. As soon as we confirm her identity, we arrest her. This whole thing is partly for personal reasons, and partly because the local police requested our cooperation. Besides, our branch office is here, so we have to get involved."

"A young woman? How’s her figure? Is she pretty?" Ethan Ellsworth fired off three questions in a row.

Chloe Marshall’s expression became awkward. "Boss Ellsworth," she reminded him, "you’re supposed to be on a mission, not here to pick up girls."

Ethan Ellsworth chuckled. "You fool, you just don’t get it, do you? I’m a nobody here in Fravia; almost no one recognizes me. If not now, when am I supposed to have some fun? Besides, I bet this woman is seriously hot!"

"Then why don’t you just take her home, Boss Ellsworth!"

Sensing her displeasure, Ethan Ellsworth asked in surprise, "Are you jealous?"

Chloe Marshall’s face flushed. "Who’s jealous?! I’m not!"

Herman Hawthorne joked, "Then you must have swallowed a lemon instead."

Chloe Marshall turned away. "I’m going to the restroom."

She shut the door, her heart aching with a bitter pang.

Ethan Ellsworth gestured toward the restroom door. "I was just kidding. Look how worked up she got."

Nora Ainsworth remarked knowingly, "People only react like that when they truly care."

Ethan Ellsworth froze. "Huh?"

Herman Hawthorne patted Ethan Ellsworth’s shoulder with a smile. "You’re usually so sharp. How can you be so blind when it matters most? That girl likes you."

Hearing someone else say it out loud left Ethan Ellsworth a little stunned.

Quentin Grant spoke up. "Ethan, Nora and I will pose as a married couple. When the elevator stops on the fourth floor, there’s a hidden mechanism. On the left wall, there’s a nearly invisible button. Press it, enter the password ’444444’, and then use a fingerprint to get in. The two of us will go first. Young Master Hawthorne and Chloe will pose as siblings. You go in last. I’ll have the four Men in Black who’ve seen the woman follow you."

Ethan Ellsworth nodded. "No problem."

Quentin Grant took Nora Ainsworth’s hand and led her out the door.

Chloe Marshall emerged from the restroom and followed close behind with Herman Hawthorne.

Ethan Ellsworth was the last to leave.

The elevator stopped on the fourth floor. Sure enough, there was an invisible button on the left wall. After he input the password and fingerprint, a section of the wall slid open. He stepped inside with the Men in Black right behind him, and the hidden door closed.

Inside was a twisting corridor. He walked for quite some time before spotting a door ahead. Past the doorway, the scene that unfolded left Ethan Ellsworth dumbfounded.

He thought he’d seen it all, but this... this was something else.

It resembled a gathering place for the wealthy, and a cacophony of sounds filled the air.

Ethan Ellsworth had always known that things could get wild abroad. Not only was law and order often worse, but many of the ultra-rich indulged in some... peculiar pastimes.

That was why he usually only traveled internationally for on-location shoots; he wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about traveling abroad for leisure.

The people here, however, seemed completely used to it.

He made his way to the back of the room and found a raised stage. Chained to a cross on it was a woman, wearing nothing below but a sheer, translucent piece of gauze.

Her upper body was bare.

Many people sat in the audience below, holding paddles, apparently bidding on the woman on stage.

Amid the crowd, Ethan Ellsworth spotted Quentin Grant and Nora Ainsworth sitting together, with Herman Hawthorne and Chloe Marshall not far off. One of the Men in Black behind him whispered, "Young Master Ellsworth, the guest from Room 414 is the fourth woman to Young Master Grant’s left."

He looked over and saw a very young and strikingly attractive woman. Just by looking at her, you would never guess she was the she-devil who had organized the hotel attack that killed innocent civilians.

"Got it. Let’s go sit next to her." Ethan Ellsworth walked over and calmly sat down beside the woman, his eyes fixed on the stage, watching the woman and the auctioneer.

"Any more bids?" the auctioneer called from the stage. "If not, then I’ll call it. Ten million, going once! Ten million, going twice! Ten mil—"

Before he could finish, a man next to her raised his paddle. "We’re raising the bid! Fifteen million!"

The auctioneer called out again, "Any other bids?"

Seeing no more paddles raised, he banged his gavel three times. "Alright, sold!"

Ethan Ellsworth sat there, perfectly still.

Just then, he felt a gaze land on him, but he kept his eyes forward, not turning his head.

"Hey, handsome. Where are you from? I don’t think I’ve seen you here before." Her voice was melodious.

Only then did he turn to meet her gaze. "You really want to know where I’m from?"

She chuckled softly, taking a small sip from the glass of red wine in her hand. "Hello, I’m Audrey. And you are?"

"Ethan Ellsworth. That’s my name, plain and simple."

Her eyes never left his face. "Are you interested in coming to my room for a chat?"

An idea flashed through Ethan Ellsworth’s mind. "No, thanks. I have other business to attend to."

Audrey didn’t give up easily. She smiled. "I promise you won’t regret it. Eight o’clock tonight, Room 414. Be there. I’ll be waiting for you."

With that, she got up and left, just as the woman from the stage was being led away.

Ethan Ellsworth glanced over at Quentin Grant, then took a walk around the venue. He discovered it wasn’t just a sordid playground, but also a marketplace, catering to the whims of the rich and powerful.

The attack had happened just a few days ago, yet the place was still packed. It was easy to imagine how little these people feared for their safety, and even easier to imagine how crowded the place must be on a typical night.

The three pairs left one after another. Back in the room, Quentin Grant said, "Now that you’ve all seen the place... Ethan, what did that woman say to you?"

"She told me to go to Room 414."

Quentin Grant mulled it over for a moment before saying, "Don’t go. Tonight, just go back to that venue on the fourth floor and wait. She’ll come to you. Catching her won’t be easy. From what I’ve gathered, her combat skills are exceptional, and she carries various weapons. You won’t be able to take her down by yourself."

"So what’s the plan?"

Quentin Grant pulled a small box from his pocket. Inside was a single needle. "So, you’re going to have to use your charms, Ethan. Lure her in, then prick her with this needle. It doesn’t matter where it hits her; she won’t be able to escape. I’ll plant a listening device on you. Her room likely has a secret exit, and she definitely won’t be alone. When the time comes, I’ll contact the police, and we’ll move in to capture her and her associates."