Upon seeing someone faint, the man wearing a ghost mask finally removed it.

Under the moonlight, the man's dark gaze was cold and unfathomable, filled with icy bloodlust as he looked at Charles.

Nico stepped forward and asked, "Boss, how should we handle this?"

"Tie up these two subordinates and throw them in the car. As for Charles..."

Maverick's voice suddenly stopped, and he narrowed his eyes. His expression was fierce. "Hang him up and take him to the cabin that is ready. Gwendolyn will be here in about ten minutes. Before she arrives let's interrogate him first."

"Understood."

Charles was abruptly awakened by a splash of cold water.

When he woke up, he found his hands tied behind his back and suspended from a broken beam in the dilapidated house. His feet barely touched the ground, and he had to stand on his tiptoes to maintain his balance.

That position was extremely tiring, especially as the arms became unbearably sore. If he was being suspended for an hour, the arms could ache to the point of dislocation, and the armpits would bruise and become swollen.

He let out a soft chuckle.

That torturous method was clearly a tactic commonly used by the military.

"What are you laughing at?"

A deliberately lowered, deep male voice rang out from nearby.

Charles glanced over.

It was the man with the ghost mask he had seen before he fainted. The man was leisurely and elegantly leaning against a wooden pillar.

Charles' deep blue eyes showed not the slightest hint of panic. His face was still carrying a smile.

"I'm not sure what I did to offend the Federal Bureau of Investigation. You're setting me up to arrest me."

The masked man approached him and said, "Recently, a labeled sample of S404 RNA Virus has gone missing from the lab. I checked the records, and you were in the lab half a month ago." Charles was indignant. "I'm not the only one who visited the lab, so why do you suspect that I took it?"

"Because on the day you invited Gwendolyn to Realm Bar, someone just happened to use that potion to hurt us, and you dare to say this has nothing to do with you?"

Charles frowned slightly. "How did you know?"

In front of him, the masked man removed the silver mask from his face, revealing Maverick's handsome yet cold and detached expression.

Charles stared at his face, feeling shocked. "It's actually you! How could you have this mask? I can't believe it. How could the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation possibly be you!" He had felt that something was off about Maverick before and even had someone investigate him. Maverick's profile was too clean, which made him suspicious that there was more to it.

However...

Even if the man was not simple, there was no way he could be involved with the Federal Bureau of Investigation!

Maverick's dark eyes narrowed as he observed Charles' expression.

Seeing Charles genuinely shocked, he said, "It seems that you didn't steal this potion because you tracked me down, but to harm Gwendolyn. You pretend to love her so much, yet you're cruel enough to want to use the S404 potion to destroy her."

"I didn't! I truly love her!"

Charles firmly refused to admit it.

He decided to skip that topic, sneering while staring at Maverick. "You're deliberately using the name of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to get information from me? Do you think I'd believe you? You're nothing but the young CEO of the Wright family in Fairlake. How could this be possible?"

Maverick's eyes were cold, but he did not respond.

Charles added, "Today, I just happened to fall into the trap you and Gwendolyn set. Do you really think you can keep me here for long? Tomorrow, my people will notice my disappearance. Kidnapping and assaulting the director of the Central Intelligence Agency is no small crime. Think carefully!"

"Oh?"

With a slight smirk, Maverick responded nonchalantly, "Well, give it a try and see if any of your men will come to rescue you tomorrow."

Charles looked at the calm indifference on the man's face, which did not seem to be feigned, and then glanced at the ghost mask in Maverick's hand.

That mask, representing the highest leadership of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, was crafted from pure silver by a skilled artisan exclusively. With its intricate design process, unique patterns, and unparalleled craftsmanship, there was only one such mask in the entire world.

At that, he began to waver.

Outside the door, Nico knocked softly and said, "Boss, it's been five minutes. Ms. Shalders will be here soon."

"All right."

Maverick turned his attention back to Charles, getting straight to the point. "You got this potion half a month ago, but you only came to Fairlake a week ago. There must be someone behind this, conspiring with you and encouraging you to take the potion. Who is that person?"

Charles looked down at the ground, smiling but not saying a word.

Maverick grabbed him by the hair, forcing him to make eye contact.

"You know very well the methods the Federal Bureau of Investigation uses to deal with stubborn individuals. Are you sure you won't talk?"

Charles was instantly infuriated by his words. Veins bulged on his forehead as he gritted his teeth in anger.

"How dare you!"

"Why wouldn't I dare? You already know who I am. Considering what you've done this time, do you really think you can walk out of here unscathed?"

As Maverick continued speaking, his gaze grew increasingly fierce and filled with surging rage.

Charles looked into his eyes, and after a brief two-second pause, he burst into laughter. "You're not the young master of the Wright family, are you? Who are you?"

There was no way the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation could merely be the CEO in a small place like Fairlake.

Maverick did not say anything.

"You keep saying that I have an ulterior motive for getting close to Gwendolyn, but she probably doesn't even know your identity. Don't you have a motive too? What's your purpose in acting weak and pitiful in front of her?"

Maverick's hand that was clenching Charles' hair became tighter.

Charles felt as if his scalp was about to be torn off. His expression showed slight pain, but he quickly burst into laughter again.

"Since you already know that it wasn't sulfuric acid that day, you should be well aware that your days are numbered! If I can't have her, neither can you!"

Maverick's eyes filled with rage as he released his grip on the man's hair and threw a fierce punch at him.

Charles' cheek quickly swelled up, turning into a deep shade of purple.

He spat blood onto the ground, but those deep blue eyes remained defiant.

"Even if Professor Yancey can suppress the S404 RNA virus in your body and prevent your death, there will be long-term side effects. Eventually, you'll become disabled. If she finds out, she might feel sorry fo you in the short term, but what about in the long run?"

"Maverick, from the moment you got attacked by the virus, your disabled body is destined to be unworthy of her!"

Maverick's brows knitted slightly.

He was stunned and did not speak for a long time until Nico's voice came from the doorway again.

"Boss, Ms. Shalders' car has reached the highway, and it will be arriving in two minutes."

"All right."

He looked back at Charles and said, "Since you've fallen into my hands, you should know that there's no mouth in this world that I can't pry open. I'll dig out all your secrets in the next few days." Charles glanced over and snorted coldly.

Maverick grabbed his hair again as he warned threateningly in a low voice, "When Gwendolyn comes in, you should know what not to say. If you dare to reveal even a single word, I'll make your life a living hell!"

"Ms. Shalders! You're here!"

Just then, Nico's voice rang out from outside, neither too loud nor too soft.

Maverick hid the mask and turned around to greet Gwendolyn.

The door opened, and he found himself gazing directly into Gwendolyn's beautiful eyes.

Thinking about some of the words Charles had just said, he lowered his eyes, and for once, he did not take the initiative to speak enthusiastically.

Gwendolyn did not notice and simply asked, "How did it go? Did he say anything important?"

Maverick shook his head. "No, he wouldn't speak."

"I'd like to have a chat with him alone."

"All right."

"Make sure it's private, and no one is allowed to eavesdrop, including you," Gwendolyn emphasized.

He hesit

After Gw

Inside th

"Gwen,

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