Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 291

"Ms. Prescott, our men have fanned out, using the Southern Docks as the epicenter. But so far, we haven't found any trace of Pierce."

Phoenix narrowed her eyes and walked to the edge of the dock.

The salty sea breeze brushed against her face, tossing her hair and elongating her shadow beneath the moonlight.

She turned around and surveyed the area. Traces of a struggle remained, but it was obvious the attackers hadn't used firearms to avoid drawing official attention.

That was a stroke of luck.

"Knowing Pierce's caution, he wouldn't expose his whereabouts easily. To evade detection, he would have erased his tracks. However..." Phoenix's voice carried absolute certainty.

"He definitely left me a message."

"Ms. Prescott, we will follow your instructions. What's our next move?" Eustace asked respectfully.

"Get me a map of the Southern Docks. The more detailed, the better."

"Right away."

Eustace handed a map over to Phoenix.

She scanned the intersecting roads until her eyes landed on a river that cut straight through the Southern Docks and emptied into the sea.

"The Cloud River. Have we checked it?"

Eustace shook his head. "The terrain around the Cloud River is flat, offering zero cover. Our men didn't search it thoroughly."

"I understand."

Phoenix's eyes lit up as she tapped the river on the map. "Exactly as you said, the terrain is flat with no cover, making it an impossible escape route. But Pierce would have anticipated their logic and done the exact opposite. He escaped through the Cloud River."

The massive conference room was packed. The shareholders looked disgruntled and full of resentment.

After all, they had been dragged out of bed or pulled away from their late-night entertainment by a single phone call from Silas. Even the most patient among them were in foul moods.

Had Silas not claimed the company's survival was at stake, none of them would have shown up.

Sitting at the head of the table, Silas leaned back and looked down at the shareholders. So this was Pierce's everyday view?

It was truly an intoxicating perspective.

"Silas, what the hell do you want in the middle of the night?" an angry shareholder demanded. "You better not tell me this is some kind of prank."

"You better have a good reason. Otherwise, I won't let this slide," another scoffed, glaring at him.

To these powerful shareholders, Silas was a freeloader. He wasn't in their league and only had a seat at the table because of the Sterling family name.