The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 2153

The deafening noise grew louder.

The men of The Stygian Syndicate also heard the roar from above.

Looking up, they realized it wasn't just one helicopter.

As everyone stood bewildered, a subordinate scrambled into the room, gasping in panic, "Boss, we have a problem."

"Ships from N Organization and X Organization are advancing on our position."

"The helicopters up there belong to them, too!"

N Organization and X Organization?

Salazar looked momentarily stunned. "The Stygian Syndicate has no business dealings with either of those factions. What are they doing here at such a critical moment?"

The room fell completely silent.

The guards exchanged uneasy glances before one ventured tentatively, "Boss... could it be because of Nine?"

Nine?

Salazar's face drained of color.

Aside from being a hacker, Nine was also Asclepius.

But what did that have to do with N Organization and X Organization?

"Boss." Another guard rushed in, waving a newly intercepted message.

It was from X Organization.

The text was explicitly clear: Nine is the head of N Organization, and the Madame of X Organization.

It was a direct warning for The Stygian Syndicate to release her immediately.

Salazar stood frozen, his mind completely blank.

No wonder.

No wonder that girl hadn't panicked once. No wonder she warned him he couldn't afford to cross her.

Her backing was terrifyingly powerful.

"Let them go," Salazar ordered, his voice heavy.

The cargo had already cleared customs. There was no point starting a war with other syndicates now.

Especially not those two.

He absolutely couldn't afford to provoke them.

"Beep— beep— beep—"

Before Salazar could fully process the shock, the shrill ring of the comms system echoed through the room.

Charlotte, Donald, and Tansy were making their way onto the deck of their boat.

"Bang—"

A gunshot echoed over the island, instantly triggering the base's lockdown alarm.

No ships were permitted to leave.

In a heartbeat.

Dozens of muzzles were aimed squarely at the three of them.

"Donald, only my men can disable the timer on Tansy." Salazar marched to the dock, glaring at them with a livid, murderous expression. He let out a cold laugh. "Nine, you really played me."

Silence hung heavy in the sea breeze.

Donald raised his weapon, stepping in front of Charlotte and Tansy to shield them. "Lottie, see if you can disable it."

"Okay."

Charlotte helped Tansy into the cabin.

Crouching down, she examined the device. There were less than three minutes left until detonation.

And while the timer looked deceptively simple on the outside, its internal wiring was a labyrinth of complexity.

She could disarm it. But doing it in under three minutes was damn near impossible.