20. 'F*ck.'

This was supposed to be up on 6/27/21 EST @7 am but I forgot to put a timer so I'm really sorry for the delay. 🥺

* * *

Sophia was about to take her sportbike and leave for Angel city and complete the delivery before hearing some thuds inside the room. There seemed to be the sounds of a few people passing by the area. Guessing that those people were just passing by, she went inside the barn to hide.

Though it wouldn't be a problem to just stay outside and do whatever needs to be done, Sophia didn't want anyone knowing that she was at the barn. It would only lead to trouble so she sneaked her way into the barn once again.

When she saw a few bodyguards using the walls to hold themselves up, Sophia couldn't help but curse in her head.

'These f*ckers sure are strong. It hadn't been half an hour yet and these f*ckers are already up and kicking. Heh. To think that the gas was enough to knock a regular person out for at least half a day!'

'Well, as long as I stay hidden there's no need to worry.'

Just as Sophia was getting a little comfy she heard the sound of cars pull up in front of the barn, followed by the wondrous voices of several people.

Sophia: "..." 'Sh*t.'

For the tourers to pull up at the barn even though there were barely any sounds or movements meant that they were looking for something or rather someone. Just hearing their voices was enough to make Sophia curse her luck. Despite their curious voices and outgoing demeanor those people who just pulled up at the barn were by no means tourers. Rather, they were the mercenaries she had met a few hours back.

She was in no way ready to face them again at the time being.

Those seven-night tourers were but a few lackeys of the mercenaries group. Even though they belong in the group, these seven were the ones cleaning up afterward, hence being in the area doing their job.

The barn was thirty kilometers from the d*mn warehouse and yet they were here to do a clean-up. It didn't make sense at all, unless the leader of the mercenaries checked the USB taken from Sophia.

Since Sophia switched out the real USB with a fake one at the washroom before the open tailing, the USB that the mercenaries had successfully taken away after beating Sophia was but a fake.

It had been around six hours since their last meeting so it made sense that the mercenaries found out about the fake USB thing. It would also make sense on how these seven well-disguised mercenaries were making a night tour around the area. They were obviously looking for Sophia.

Naturally, Sophia was hiding from those mercenaries AND the ten bodyguards inside the f*cking barn. Sophia couldn't help but let out an irritated sigh. 'F*ck this crappy night.'

She was really having it today. First, she was beaten up by mercenaries because she was 'Luna', then she had to move sixteen girls into vans one at a time. Now after barely catching her breath, she has to face ten well-trained bodyguards and seven dangerous mercenaries?! 'Are you f*cking kidding me right now?!'

Sophia was hella annoyed but as she had been doing the past 48 hours, Sophia just went with the flow. Not wasting time in her grievances, Sophia searched around for an opening.

Since the entrance of the barn was open and dim lights were flowing outside, the seven mercenaries made their way in. Their curious and retrained actions as they entered and yelled out for someone resembled a stranger going into an empty house. Only these mercenaries were by no means looking for anyone in the house but rather a certain someone who had managed to fool them and waste their time.

They were greeted with the sight of ten men in their late twenties and early thirties. All dressed in black suits resembling those of bodyguards.

The leader of the bodyguards came forward and with a rather imposing aura, he opened his mouth to question the intruder. "Who are you people? Why are you here?"

His voice was by no means soft nor did it hold any kindness for the group of 'cheerful visitors.' Of course, the mercenaries knew that the bodyguards had already seen through their disguises so they just came out clean. "Brothers! We are looking for a girl around 18 years old. Have you seen her?"

The bodyguards were irritated to the max at this point. They had lost the girls and the eggs. That meant no money for them for the next two months. Moreover, they were going to get scolded by their boss and might even get fired! They can't even redeem themselves because they didn't even know who the enemy was! 'Do these mercenaries think we're some easy playthings?!'

"No, we didn't. Now, get out of here!" The bodyguard leader's voice was rather impulsive and cold but there was a hint of annoyance in it. The leader of the mercenaries was rather confused by this but when he looked around the barn he saw patches of blood on the ground along with the heavy stench of blood filling the entire barn. Seeing the irritated faces of those bodyguards, he could naturally guess that their goods when missing.

Putting two and two together, the mercenary leader decided to play along. "Don't be so cold to us brother!~ After all, we might be looking for the same enemy."

The bodyguard's interest piques and they straightened their postures as the leader asked to confirm his guess. "You mean to say..."

The mercenaries leader let out a cold smile before his gaze turned dark. "I mean to say that the girl we are looking for might be the one who stole your goods."

Confusion marred the faces of the bodyguards. 'How could an eighteen-year-old girl steal sixteen of their girls all in one go? Moreover, she was able to do it so quickly!'

Seeing their confused gazes the mercenaries all took turns gritting their teeth and cursing Sophia in their hearts. The mercenary leader gritted his teeth tightly. "Don't be fooled by the age. That girl is as cunning as fox! She had managed to escape through our grasps a while ago, so I doubt she would have any trouble stealing your goods!"

Hearing his words, neither the bodyguards nor the mercenaries were in a good mood. That young girl was able to trick experienced mercenaries and even had the guts to steal their sixteen girls so easily! How was she able to knock them all out without getting noticed? They have been training for years and had been on the job for more than ten years! How was a young girl able to pass under their noses?!

"What if she isn't the one who stole our goods?" By no means were the bodyguards gullible. Just because the girl was capable didn't mean that she was the one who stole their goods. After all, according to the mercenaries' actions, the girl was injured or something was blocking her from making a clean escape. Who in their right mind would come to save girls who had nothing to do with them at that state?

Besides, the bodyguards were not going to admit their fault. The girl tricked them because the mercenaries were underestimating their enemy and had let them escape but the bodyguards were not the same! They refused to think that they were even less capable than those seven mercenaries!

Their jobs may be different but they have the same capabilities in terms of physical strength and IQ required on the job. Considering how they had been educated on the job, the bodyguards were smarter than the mercenaries who were only street smart. Agreeing with them would mean that they were tricked by street rats if the girl they were looking for was not the one who stole their goods.

However, if she was indeed the one who stole their goods, then searching for the little girlie together would be better because they already know what she looks like. They didn't even see the shadow of a person in the barn before they got knocked out, so even if they searched they would have no idea where to even begin the search!

Better yet, if the bodyguards find that girl and make her the thief even if it isn't true, they would be in a better position than if they showed up to Grey Securities to report without a clue on who the f*ck stole their goods.

Seeing the tiny fluctuations of emotions passing through Leo(the bodyguards' leader)'s eyes, Arlo(the mercenaries' leader) was inwardly thrilled. Despite the displeasure of getting tricked and having to spend the night searching high and low for a little girlie, the mercenaries were thrilled to know that someone was in an even more shameful position than them. For the mercenaries, their pride was knowing that they saw and beat up the girl before taking some pity on her, however, these bodyguards didn't even have a glimpse of her shadow!

'Oh the fun in seeing others suffer~'

Seeing the tiny glimpse of mirth in the eyes of Arlo, the bodyguards all gritted their teeth in anger.

"Don't get too smug. We're only helping with the condition that the girl ends in our hands in the end."

Naturally, the mercenaries agreed. After all, they were only after the USB, but she had already made of fool of them once so they were going to teach her a lesson before leaving. Whatever happens to the girlie was no longer their problem.

Arlo walked up a few steps to meet Leo halfway and both shook hands. Different thoughts rang in their minds but the aura around them got darker as an evil glint passed through their eyes. Their crooked smiles were enough to send a shiver down the spines of their coworkers.