Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism novel Chapter 226

As Violeta spoke, her gaze swept around the room, spotting a staircase on the right leading to the second floor. "They're upstairs, aren't they?" she asked.

The man froze, his eyes losing their previous dismissiveness. Now he was scrutinising her, his hand moving subtly towards an alarm button under the table. At the slightest hint of trouble, he would alert the people upstairs.

"Who exactly are you?!"

"No need to be so tense."

The black market's vast information network was controlled by five people.

They were spread across the globe and only met once every two years.

The data they held maintained a delicate balance of power worldwide. Their separation ensured they couldn't all be captured at once.

The server for the Eye of Heaven information database was secured with three keys.

Every two years, these keys were handed over to the next set of guardians, with the five taking turns safeguarding them.

Today was the day they met to transfer the keys.

The location of this meeting was highly confidential, never to be leaked.

Who exactly was this woman?

She didn't seem like a regular bar patron.

Violeta tapped her fingers on the table, her tone intriguing. "Why don't you take a guess at who I am?"

The man's internal alarm bells rang loudly, and his gaze towards Violeta turned murderous.

"I don't like guessing games. I don't care who you are. You're about to become a dead woman ... "

As he finished speaking, the man drew a gun equipped with a silencer from his waist and aimed it at Violeta.

At such close range, he almost didn't need to aim to hit her.

However, Violeta moved faster.

The man froze mid-action, not even having time to pull the trigger before he felt a cold sensation on his neck.

Glancing down, he saw a small utility knife blade embedded in his throat.

A wave of intense pain swept over him.

Violeta effortlessly took the gun from his hand and toyed with it, saying, "Don't move, don't pull it out, or you'll start bleeding everywhere. You wouldn't want to make a mess here, would you?"

The utility knife blade was extremely sharp. Violeta had been careful to avoid any critical spots, ensuring he wouldn't die—unless he pulled it out.

She tucked the gun behind her and glanced at her watch. Time was running out.

"I'm heading upstairs. I advise you not to pull it out. You'll die if you do."

With that, she quickly ran up the stairs, taking two steps at a time.

Reaching the second floor, she found only one room.

She knocked politely and introduced herself at the door, "Hello everyone, I'm coming in."