Chapter 386

"Ah—"

The man's grotesque face twisted under the harsh light.

Just as the blade came within inches of Alice's throat, a shadow darted past.

"Thud!"

He was flung sideways like a ragdoll, slamming into the concrete five meters away.

"My hand! My arm!" He writhed on the ground, clutching his broken limb.

Alice stood frozen.

"Alice?" Hannah's voice snapped her back to reality.

She shook her head mechanically, lips trembling too much to speak.

"Stay... stay back!" The man scrambled backward, dragging his injured leg toward the wall.

A black combat boot pinned his shirt to the ground.

He looked up into Evelyn Roland's icy gaze.

"Who sent you?"

Slender fingers closed around his throat.

His face turned from pale to ashen, eyes bulging with suffocation.

Just before he blacked out, Evelyn released him.

"Cough... cough..." He curled into a fetal position. "I... I never met the employer... just got a photo..."

"Phone."

Trembling, he handed it over.

Evelyn's fingers flew across the screen.

"Found it."

She tossed the phone back and dialed a number.

Leaning against the graffiti-stained wall, she idly twirled a butterfly knife.

Alice stood behind her like a loyal guard.

Each time the man tried to flee, Hannah kicked him back into place.

"Click-clack—"

Polished shoes echoed down the alley.

Two officers appeared at the entrance.

"You..." The man's face drained of color. "Officers, I confess! I didn't even succeed!"

"Attempted assault still carries criminal charges," the female officer said coldly.

"Bitch!" He suddenly lunged.

"Crunch!"

An elbow strike sent him crashing down.

Two bloodied teeth skittered across the pavement.

"Ms. Roland..." The male officer hesitated.

"Quieter this way." Evelyn flexed her wrist. "Wouldn't want to disturb the neighbors."

The officers exchanged a look.

After giving their statements, Evelyn led Alice away.

"Ms. Roland!" The female officer called after them. "I'll notify you immediately after closing the case!"

Evelyn waved without turning around.

Alice dug her nails into her palms.

In just a few hours, she'd lived through the most heart-stopping moments of her life.

"So badass..." The female officer murmured, watching their retreating figures. "What a waste she's not on our SWAT team."

"Agreed." Her partner nodded. "That joint lock technique? Takes at least a decade to master."

Deep in the alley, Evelyn pulled out her vibrating phone.

An encrypted message flashed onscreen:

「Photo received. Game on.」