She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 818

Tanur frowned slightly. He held his daughter by the shoulders, gently pushing her back so he could examine her face.

"You look terrible," he said. He turned to Yale, the temperature in his voice plummeting. "Yale, what the hell happened? My daughter looks like she's suffered far more than just a scare."

Yale's heart skipped a beat, but he maintained a perfectly exhausted, respectful expression. "Mr. Ares, you know how X operates. Luna was locked in a signal-dead mine shaft. She underwent immense psychological stress and terror. They used some... unconventional interrogation tactics. She was out of it for most of the ride back. She'll likely need time and the best psychiatrists money can buy to fully recover."

His excuse was a masterclass in half-truths. It kept his hands clean while shifting all the blame onto the mysterious X Syndicate and "psychological trauma."

Tanur scrutinized him for a few agonizing seconds. Finding no obvious cracks in the story, his expression softened slightly.

"Fine, let's table this for now." Tanur pulled his daughter close again, his voice gentle. "Luna, you must be exhausted. I'll have Jenny take you to your room. Put on your favorite essential oils and get a good night's sleep. Everything will be better tomorrow."

Luna nodded obediently. The maddening buzz in her head seemed slightly muffled by her father's comforting tone. Supported by her personal maid, she walked out of the candlelit garden. Her posture still carried that faint, unnatural stiffness.

Watching her leave, the doting father vanished from Tanur's face, instantly replaced by the shrewd, ruthless mastermind of an arms empire. He gestured for Yale to sit at a table draped in pristine white linen and personally poured him a glass of full-bodied red wine.

"Yale, you did good work this time," Tanur said, raising his glass and clinking it against Yale's. "Despite the hiccups, you brought Luna back safe. That's what matters."

Yale bowed his head humbly. "You flatter me. I was just doing my job." He took a sip of the wine; the rich liquid warmed his throat, settling his nerves.

"I always reward merit," Tanur said, leaning forward slightly, the candlelight dancing in his eyes. "Aside from what we already agreed upon, the funds hit your offshore accounts this afternoon. Also, I have a private island in the Caribbean. Beautiful scenery, clean paperwork. It's yours now. It's more than enough for you to live like a king in your 'retirement.'"

Hit with a tidal wave of sudden wealth, Yale's breath hitched.

"Thank you, Mr. Ares," he replied, making sure his voice trembled with the appropriate amount of gratitude.

"Don't thank me just yet," Tanur waved a hand, his gaze darkening. "Yale, it’s a damn shame for a talent like yours to retire. I'm getting old, and sometimes my vision isn't what it used to be. Ares needs fresh blood. Stay and work for me. The status, the power, the money—it will be infinitely more than what you have now."

Yale fell into deep thought. He knew perfectly well that if he helped Tanur as a globally recognized traitor, the payouts would be astronomical. But high reward meant high risk. Who knew if he'd be lucky enough to survive the next mission?

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