Chapter 1618

After all the commotion, Helen found it hard to relax. She decided to turn on her computer and search for Ivy's family. She refined her search criteria—families in Glendale, both parents deceased, with a missing daughter. This produced three or four relevant results, mostly concerning families devastated by accidents. The first three entries included photos of missing girls, but none resembled Ivy; she had distinctive features and striking eyes that hinted at a mixed heritage. This left only the fourth case—the Page family, known for their involvement in rare-earth magnets. However, their missing daughter was named Luna Page, not Ivy, so that didn't match either. Given Ivy's young age, there was no facial recognition data available. It seemed that uncovering Ivy's background would require more time and effort. … On the other side of the city, Abigail effortlessly pulled down the roll-up door. She dusted off her hands and prepared to bike home. Just then, a silver Mercedes raced around the corner and came to a stop right in front of her. The car window rolled down to reveal Gideon, his face alight with excitement. "Abigail, get in!" "What's the secret mission today? Why didn't anyone mention it in the group chat?" Abigail asked, leaning against the car window. "Just hop in, and I'll fill you in on the way!" Gideon said, leaning over to open the door. Without further delay, Abigail climbed into the passenger seat. As soon as the car began to move, Gideon couldn't resist teasing, "Take a guess—what do you think we found this time?" "What? Is it Chandler again?" Abigail replied, her thoughts drifting. "No, it's not him. He always manages to slip away whenever we track him. We suspect there's a mole in the journalist group, so we've decided to temporarily abandon the lead on Destiny Corporation," Gideon said earnestly. Abigail nervously scratched her head, unsure of what to say. Noticing her lack of enthusiasm, Gideon got straight to the point. "It's SK Group! You know, that mysterious organization. Their leader has been elusive for years, but tonight, he's reportedly meeting with the local gang to discuss port jurisdiction!" Abigail frowned, a sense of unease washing over her. It seemed Taylor's ominous prediction had come true once again—it was once more connected to Helen. "Has SK Group done anything particularly heinous?" Abigail asked. "Not that I know of," Gideon admitted, barely containing his excitement. "But that organization is willing to do anything for money. Just because we haven't heard of any specific wrongdoings doesn't mean they don't exist. "An organization that operates outside the law is a serious threat. Bringing their activities to light could help promote stability in society." "Maybe you're right, but I think this will be the last time I join you on a mission," Abigail said wearily, resting her chin on her hand against the window. "I'm feeling worn out and want to explore a different path." Gideon's smile faded, but he didn't argue. "Alright." The rest of the ride passed in silence. As darkness settled in, they finally arrived at the secluded spot Gideon had scouted. After seven years of hard-won experience, they had become skilled at finding secure hiding places; their current hideout was virtually undetectable. Before long, members of the gang and SK Group began to gather at the port. The gang had assembled a group of dozens of thugs, their bravado on full display. In contrast, there were only two men from SK Group—one was Kyle, while the other wore a mask that completely concealed his identity.