She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 432

Before officially setting off, Daphne invited Melanie out for dinner.

Originally, Daphne was just being nosy, wanting the latest gossip on how things were progressing with Preston.

But the conversation naturally shifted to Melanie's upcoming business trip.

"You're going to the MD region for an inspection? No way! Absolutely not!" Daphne rejected the idea instantly, shaking her head vigorously.

Melanie ate a spoonful of ice cream, letting out a helpless laugh. "Why are you acting exactly like Preston? You're worrying over nothing."

"Girl, I've known you way longer than he has. We have history!"

"Yes, yes, of course, you're my favorite person in the world."

Melanie scooped up a bit of ice cream and playfully fed it to Daphne.

"Stop messing around, I'm being serious!"

Daphne swatted Melanie's hand away with a stern look.

"Do you have any idea what the environment in MD is like right now? That medical association you mentioned... do you realize the only way to get there is through Ravencrest Mountain?"

"I used to run with a rough crowd, and I'm telling you, the Ravencrest Mountain area is absolute chaos. Several factions are fighting for turf. Going there for research is like throwing a lamb to the wolves. You'd be lucky if you weren't trafficked."

Daphne crossed her arms, fuming.

"I've heard rumors about the situation in MD, but scientific research can't just stop because of a little danger. Plus, Dr. Hayes contacted the local medical association. They're a semi-official organization. Local gang shootouts shouldn't drag an official group into the crossfire, right?"

"Besides, I did my own research. To reach the medical association, we have to take Crownline Avenue, right next to Ravencrest Mountain. By an unspoken rule among the factions, any car traveling on Crownline Avenue is considered neutral. As long as we don't cross the line, their turf wars won't affect us."

Melanie's calm, logical analysis made Daphne sigh heavily, plunging her into a long silence.

After a moment, she couldn't help but stand up and pinch Melanie's cheeks hard.

Melanie listened intently to Daphne's warning.

Though she felt the chances of running into a gang war were slim, Daphne's information was worth keeping in mind, just in case.

The research team took a daytime flight to MD, landing just as the sun was setting.

Their local contact, Keith, was a guide and driver hired by the MD Medical Association.

The association had sent over ten people to receive them—double the size of Melanie's research team.

According to the itinerary Dr. Hayes had provided, the medical association was supposed to pick them up, take them to the institute's guest quarters for the night, and begin the inspection of the new mutated Dendrobium strain the following day.

There was nothing inherently wrong with the schedule.

But given the simplicity of the plan, Melanie couldn't understand why the association had sent such a massive welcome party.