Life is a Play, All Depends on Acting

"p-pocket watch?"

Bruce was momentarily stunned, then his mind conjured up the gold pocket watch with the intricately carved harpy that he had held in his hand that day.

"Y-you, you mean…" he swallowed, his throat dry from nervousness, "Jialong hired you?"

"Now, it's my turn to ask questions. Say one more unnecessary word, and watch out for your eyes," Evangeline continued to threaten.

"But I've already sold the pocket watch!" Bruce's voice grew sharp with fear. "Didn't I already tell him? Why is he coming to me for it again!?"

His mind was in turmoil. As far as he could see, the only person who would come to demand the gold pocket watch from him was Jialong – in fact, after Veronica's arrest, Jialong had indeed found him and proposed to buy back the watch with money.

However, after the watch had come into his possession, he had sold it off the very next day. He didn't think too much about it at the time. He didn't have the nerve to use the gold watch to extort Jialong, and at the same time, he was worried that Jialong might change his mind. So, he simply exchanged the watch for cash right away.

At that time, when Jialong heard about it he was a bit frustrated, but he didn't do anything to him. So why was he suddenly hiring an assassin to come after him now?

He quickly remembered that day when the warden came to visit him, and afterwards, he deliberately arranged to meet him to warn that there might be someone conducting a case review. He warned Bruce to keep his mouth shut.

Could it be… because of this?

Because someone had started to investigate, Jialong was worried that Bruce might spill the beans, so he decided to take drastic measures…

"Since you can't give me what I want…" the assassin said coldly, "then I'll have to take your life instead."

"W-wait! Let me meet your employer! Let me talk to him! I'll explain everything to him. I absolutely won't reveal his involvement! Please don't kill me!" Bruce pleaded incoherently.

"I only received the job of silencing. A dead man's mouth is the most reliable," the assassin's voice grew darker.

Bruce, gripped by despair, foresaw the imminent surge of blood from his own neck. "St-stop—"

"Stop!" a deep male voice from behind interrupted, halting the assassin's movement. "Harm him, and I'll shoot right away."

At this moment, the lead actor entered the scene.

"H-help! Help me!" Bruce instinctively pleaded to the mysterious figure.

Evangeline sheathed her blade, using her free hand to grab Bruce and turn him around, facing the mysterious figure.

After being forcibly turned around, Bruce blinked, tears of fear welling up in his eyes. He finally saw the person who came to rescue him. "You are… Mr. Aiden?"

"The thing I feared the most has happened," Aiden sighed gravely, pointing his gun at the assassin behind Bruce. "Release the hostage quickly. You'll be surrounded soon, surrender now!"

The assassin didn't speak, but instead used his free hand to grab Bruce's collar, effortlessly lifting him up with a strength that Bruce couldn't fathom, using him as a shield.

Bruce was choked by his own collar, struggling to breathe for a moment, and could only kick and squirm desperately.

"Don't make any reckless moves!" Aiden warned sternly. "I said release the hostage. If you kill him, you'll be shot on the spot!"

The assassin's movements hesitated for a moment, then he moved the blade away from Bruce's neck and held it up.

"That's right," Aiden pretended to be relieved.

Seizing on this moment of distraction, the assassin suddenly exerted force, throwing Bruce towards Aiden.

Aiden was caught off guard and stood frozen in place. He was collided into by Bruce.

Both of them fell to the ground together. When Aiden pushed Bruce away and got up with the gun in hand, the assassin had already vanished without a trace.

"Damn, he got away!" Aiden pretended to grit his teeth in frustration.

Bruce sat on the ground, legs was weak, and his face filled with lingering terror.

"Are you okay? It's a pity we didn't catch that guy," Aiden put away his gun and reached out to help him up.

Bruce finally reacted, staring at the spot where the assassin disappeared, a sudden shiver running down his spine. His life had just been targeted, and the assassin was still lurking in the shadows.

"Why didn't you catch him?" He got up from the ground, his emotions running high as he glared at Aiden, demanding an explanation. "If you let him escape, I'll die!"

Aiden paused for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh at the boy's attitude. "Is this how you treat your lifesaver? Well, it's understandable, considering you even betrayed Veronica, who has been looking after you."

"What did you say!?" Bruce was struck dumb.

"It's about time we have a frank conversation, kid. Aren't you curious why I'm here?" Aiden gave a meaningful smile.

"Why?" Bruce subconsciously followed Aiden lead.

"Because I've been monitoring you," Aiden planting his cane firmly on the ground and stated. "Officer Bruce Kane, we suspect you of taking bribes and giving false testimony to frame others and hide evidence in the case of Officer Veronica Wolfe murder. You are now a suspect."

"I… I didn't!" Bruce was completely caught off guard and shook his head frantically.

From almost being assassinated to being accused face-to-face by Aiden, he had no time to think rationally.

And Aiden had no intention of giving him a chance to catch his breath. He went straight to the point, "Don't rush to deny it. Let's talk about the gold pocket watch that Officer Jialong Rowton gave you, shall we?"

Bruce was petrified on the spot.

"Now you should understand how far we've come," Aiden stared at Bruce. "Let me tell you the truth. I'm currently assisting Officer Veronica Wolfe's case for reexamination. Her application for reexamination has been approved by the prosecutor's office. They already have many crucial leads, and now they've traced it back to you, which is why I've been following you."

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Bruce wanted to be evasive, but he was drenched in sweat.

"Has someone told you that as long as you say nothing, you'll be fine? Do you still believe that person now?" Aiden calmly pressed him. "Do you have no clue where that assassin came from just now?"

This statement sent a shiver down on Bruce's spine.

After Aiden had talked to him, Jialong specifically invited him for a conversation. In addition to intercepting a meeting that Aiden had requested, Jialong had kept him isolated from the investigator.

Then, he encountered the assassin, and it was Aiden who saved him…

Was all of this part of Jialong's design? Because the prosecutor's office had them in their sights, did that guy rush to silence him!?

The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

"Mr. Bruce, I mentioned this to you because I considered that you were being coerced," Aiden patted Bruce's shoulder with a solemn tone. He spoke with eloquence, "Assist us, and apply for witness protection. This is your only way out. If you remain stubborn, you'll inevitably be silenced sooner or later."