The Heiress’ Return: Six Brothers at Her Beck and Call (Wynter Quinnell) novel Chapter 2037

Wynter's brow furrowed. The figure in the crowd was none other than Krugen—the man who had trailed them from Southeast Ibira to Meprida.

Krugen smiled faintly, his eyes fixed straight ahead. He had seen Wynter, Dalton, and Wolf on the same boat.

Barry noticed Krugen's reaction and asked casually, "Krugen, do you know them?"

Krugen maintained a faint smile. "Yes. I know them very well."

Esmund, standing by Barry's side, stiffened when he heard their exchange. Wynter's party was supposed to be a secret. If Krugen exposed them now, everyone on the shore would be in mortal danger.

Esmund's gaze sharpened, his fingers creeping toward the blade at his hip. Masking his movement in the crowd, he eased himself closer to Krugen.

Wynter had guessed there were tangled ties between Krugen and Shadowless, and seeing him standing near the guy in an eyepatch, she suspected he might be one of Barry's trusted sidekicks or…

Her expression remained calm as she looked forward and muttered softly, "Krugen is there."

"I see him. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing," Dalton replied in the same low tone.

By the time they finished exchanging whispers, the boat docked near the cave entrance.

Barry toyed with the pistol in his hand. When Wynter and the others disembarked, he fixed a practiced smile on his face and stepped forward to greet Dalton, "Mr. Millard, a pleasure to meet you at last. Thank you for making this trip."

Dalton extended a hand out of formality. "I deal in tech, not pleasantries. Please cut to the chase."

The line fit the role Wynter had built for him perfectly.

Barry, far from offended, only smiled wider. "Of course. Rest assured, Mr. Millard. The data's in our hands, but our men just couldn't crack it. Mr. Millard, would you like to come to the lab with us?"

Wynter's eyes narrowed slightly. Though it was a good opportunity, if it came straight from Barry, it was probably risky.

Feigning impatience, Dalton snapped, "I don't have time for idle chatter. You promised the data would be ready, and now you say it isn't? Do you think I'm someone to be toyed with?"

"We'll have it prepared right away. Please give us some time. By the way, my son says he recognizes you. You should meet him."

Barry turned aside and glanced toward Krugen. "Krugen, are you sure you know them?"

The atmosphere stiffened with the question. The armed men tightened their grip on their guns and aimed them at Wynter's group.

Krugen's smile widened. "I know them very well."

Barry waved dismissively. "Good. Mr. Millard, do you know him?"

Dalton's tone was icy. "Why would I know such a small-time player?"

Barry's smile thinned, then he spun on his heel. "You don't? Fine. Men, lock them up. No one is allowed to see them without my order."

Suddenly, Wynter spotted Esmund hidden behind a cluster of men. His right hand was already clutching a knife, aimed to lunge at Krugen.

She opened her mouth to shout, but Krugen was faster. He turned around and booted Esmund hard enough to send him flying. "Are you trying to kill me?"

The move happened in a flash. Barry barked an order, and his men scrambled to bind Esmund.

Esmund snarled, his eyes flaring with bloodlust and fatal resolve. "You and I have a grudge! Your father killed my family. I bided my time to avenge them. Today, I'll kill you in front of him!"

Krugen met his gaze coolly. "Oh? Lock him up. I'll flay him alive myself after we're done receiving the professor."

"Yes, Mr. Krugen!" the men replied.

Barry said nothing, but seeing that ruthless streak in Krugen filled him with dark satisfaction. At last, his son had grown strong.

He then turned to Wynter and her companions. "Their identities are suspicious. Detain them and watch them closely."

"What do you mean by this?" Krugen demanded, fixing Barry with a look. "I don't know that professor personally, but I do know the aide. She saved my life once. I'd know her anywhere."

Barry waved his men back a step and said, "Are you saying the aide is your savior?"

Krugen stepped forward. "Of course. I just didn't expect her to be the professor's aide."

Barry's eyes flickered cold. "Next time, just say everything at once. Don't break it into parts."

Then, he turned to Dalton. "My apologies, Mr. Millard. My son's savior happens to be your aide. I was only joking earlier to lighten the mood. Please forgive the jest."

Dalton's voice was flat. "That joke isn't funny. I'll give you 30 minutes. If the data isn't here by then, I'll leave. My time is precious."

"Yes, of course. I'll have my men get to it right now," he replied. Then, he turned to the subordinates at his side. "Take the professor and his companions to their rooms. Let them rest."

"Yes, sir." One of the guards stepped forward. "Professor, this way, please."

The cave's entrance emptied, leaving only Krugen and Barry standing guard.

Barry asked with a frown, "Krugen, are you sure you didn't make a mistake? Is your savior really the professor's aide? Isn't that just too much of a coincidence?"

Krugen's smile was thin and cold. "I'm not mistaken. Every line of her face, every movement—I remember them all."

"If that's the case, then go talk to the aide. I'll pry open the scientists' mouths myself." Barry's eyes narrowed menacingly.

Krugen hummed in agreement. "Fine. I'll go buy us some time. But I'll personally deal with that guy who tried to kill me. No one stabs me in the back and walks away."

"Alright. He's all yours." With that, Barry headed toward the lab.

Wynter had suspected as much when Esmund lunged earlier. He must have heard something and, fearing exposure, tried to silence Krugen with a blade.

The act made sense in context—Esmund had panicked. Now, though, the plan had changed. She had to save the scientists and get Esmund out alive, too.

"Sit down. I checked the room, and there are no cameras," Wynter said in a low voice.

Dalton lowered himself into a chair. "The man who tried to kill Krugen is the mole, isn't he? He's exposed now."

Wynter frowned deeply. "Yes, he's the mole. I didn't expect Krugen to be Barry's son. However, he didn't expose us in front of his father."

Just then, a commotion at the doorway drew their attention.

"Mr. Krugen, they're in there," a guard said.

"Alright. Step away. I'll handle this," Krugen ordered.

"Yes, sir." The guard retreated.

Krugen pushed the door open and stepped inside with a smile. "Hi, Wynter."

Krugen washed his hands and then walked toward the lab.

"Sir, Mr. Krugen is here."

Barry glanced up. "Is everything okay with the professor?"

"Not yet. They say the deadline's tight. Hurry them," he said as he watched the men inside savagely beat the scientists.

Then, Krugen's eyes turned icy. "How about you let me try? Of the lot, only one may be useful. The rest can die."

Barry smiled when he heard his ruthless tone. "But we don't know which is the useful one. What about the man who tried to kill you? You should deal with him first."

"He's dealt with. That clown died quickly during torture. What a bore."

Barry's eyes brightened. "Wonderful. I'll leave them in your hands. Break them."

He left a few men behind, then turned to the guards who were watching Krugen's room. "Are you sure Esmund's dead?"

"Yes, sir. We saw it with our own eyes. He was no longer breathing, and the room was covered in blood. When Mr. Krugen tortured him, his screams kept coming from the room. It was brutal."

Barry laughed in delight. "That's my son! He's finally grown up! That ruthlessness befits his identity as my heir!"

…

Meanwhile, back at the lab, Krugen rolled up his sleeves casually. "Are you still not willing to talk? Just so you know, I just killed someone earlier. A few more deaths now won't matter much."

One of the scientists, Emmanuel, stared at him with steady eyes. "If you've got the guts, just kill us all. Our country will avenge us. None of you will escape the law!"

"Law?" Krugen crouched down to his level, blocking the view from his men. He straightened the collar at Emmanuel's throat like a ritual, his voice thin and lethal. "Here, I am the law."

He rose, snatched a gun from a henchman, and fired once into Emmanuel's chest. The bullet punched through.

Emmanuel's face crumpled in pain as he watched the dark spread across his shirt, then fell silently to the floor.

The others screamed.

"Emmanuel! Are you alright?"

"Open your eyes, Emmanuel! Don't fall asleep!"

But no matter how much they shouted, Emmanuel didn't move.

With an icy expression, Krugen glanced at the henchmen beside him. "Toss him into the sea as fish food."

Even the thugs by his side were shaken. They had never seen Krugen like this before.

"Didn't you hear me?" His gaze cut to them like a blade, his tone brooked no argument.

"Y-Yes, sir. Right away!"

One guard found his courage and spoke up. "Sir… the boss said not to kill them yet."

Krugen's mouth twitched into a sinister grin. "Are you telling me how to run things? If I want to kill someone, I kill. Who do you think you are to tell me what to do?"