Chapter 85: ‘The Treasure File’

The man on the other end of the phone spoke with a leisurely tone, but his words carried a heavy threat. "Good, you've already regrouped. That saves me quite a bit of effort—no need to hunt you down one by one."

Hearing this, Marcellus and Elias exchanged a glance, their eyes now tinged with a cold sharpness. The fact that the caller had learned of their meeting so quickly and made this call suggested only one thing: there was an informant in their ranks leaking information to the kidnappers. Both men understood this unspoken truth but knew they couldn't alert the mole just yet. For now, they had to deal with the kidnapper on the phone and buy time.

Marcellus lowered his voice, speaking calmly but with a hint of impatience. "Who are you? And why are you calling?"

The kidnapper let out a cold chuckle, his tone becoming even more casual. "Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is who I have."

With that, he handed the phone to Livia, who was bound beside him. His tone was laced with mockery. "Say something. Let your husband and your lover know who you are."

The word "lover" sent a jolt through Livia. The kidnappers clearly knew far too much, information they could not have obtained through conventional means. It must have been overheard during her argument with Elias and Marcellus. This revelation also narrowed down the possible identities of the informant. Gritting her teeth, she worked to steady her emotions, pretending to be terrified and helpless. She burst into sobs and spoke into the phone with a trembling voice.

"Elias, my lover. Marcellus, my husband. Please, come save me! This place is so scary—dark, like an abandoned factory. There's a terrifying sound of water nearby, and lots of birds chirping. I'm so scared! They're not going to hurt me, are they?" Her sobs grew louder, her tone full of fear.

The kidnapper, annoyed by her incessant crying, barked, "Enough." Snatching the phone back, he carefully gagged Livia again before speaking into the phone. "You heard her, didn't you? Livia is in my hands now. I'll tell you what I want. Once you're ready, we'll discuss the exchange."

On the other end, Marcellus and Elias were momentarily stunned by Livia's cries. To them, Livia had always been composed and resilient, rarely losing her composure. But they quickly picked up on the crucial details in her words and exchanged a meaningful glance.

Marcellus resumed his tactic of stalling, his tone softening slightly. "What do you want? We can negotiate. Just don't hurt her, and we can discuss anything."

Meanwhile, he subtly signaled Elias with his eyes. Elias understood immediately, pulling out a map and analyzing the clues Livia had provided.

"Lover"—this term should never have been part of the kidnapper's information unless leaked during their argument. This confirmed the presence of a mole among their team.

"Abandoned factory"—a factory wouldn't be located in the city center but rather in a remote area.

"Water sounds" and "bird calls"—this indicated proximity to a water source and a wooded area, far from the noisy urban environment. It was likely a factory that required water or had drainage facilities.

"Unconscious for an hour"—this provided a crucial time frame. Factoring in the time it took the kidnappers to transport and secure her, the factory's location was likely 45 to 50 minutes' drive from where she was taken.

Using his years of experience in underground operations, Elias mentally mapped the area. He drew a circle with a 50-minute driving radius around the abduction site and, using his knowledge of the terrain, identified three potential locations with water and abandoned factories. One stood out: a possible former textile mill in a secluded hiking area, matching Livia's mention of "bird calls." However, Elias needed more information to confirm this. But given the presence of a mole, assigning tasks recklessly could lead to irreversible consequences.

Lowering his voice, Elias said to Marcellus, "I've pinpointed three possible locations, but we need to confirm who the mole is first. Otherwise, the plan will be exposed."

A cold glint flashed in Marcellus's eyes, and he nodded grimly. "In that case, we'll play along for now, but we must find Livia quickly. Time is running out."

After reaching an understanding, Marcellus took a deep breath to steady himself. Releasing his hand from the phone, he spoke in a low, composed tone with a hint of compromise. "Fine, tell me what you want. Just don't hurt Livia, and I'll do whatever you ask."

The man on the other end of the line chuckled, his voice dripping with smugness. "Smart choice. I want you to send me all the details of this city's expansion project. I know you have a top-secret document—a complete version. You call it the 'Treasure File.'"

At the mention of the "Treasure File," Marcellus's expression darkened further. A storm brewed in his mind. This document was of the utmost secrecy, known only to a select few. How could outsiders possibly know of its existence? Not only was the kidnapper aware, but they had also made it their direct target, clearly aiming for the Holy Grail!

Hearing this demand, Livia's heart sank. She struggled to keep her face neutral, her mind racing. As expected, their target was the Holy Grail. But how could these kidnappers know that the city expansion project was connected to the Holy Grail? Could it be… they had planted spies around Marcellus or Edgar? Otherwise, such high-level secrets would never have been leaked.

Meanwhile, Marcellus tightened his grip on the phone, his voice remaining steady. "The document you're asking for is extremely important. But let me make this clear—if you harm Livia, you'll never get your hands on it."