Chapter 89: Everything Reduced to Ashes

Under the veil of night, the sharp crack of gunfire shattered the stillness of the forest. The mingling scents of gunpowder and damp wood filled the air as Marcellus, Elias, and Mark spread out into a fan-shaped formation, silently advancing to eliminate the guards stationed outside the factory.

Mark moved like a seasoned predator, swift and precise. His first shot struck a guard's shoulder, disabling him instantly. Before the second guard could react, Mark had already repositioned and fired twice in quick succession, dropping him to the ground.

On another flank, Marcellus crouched behind an abandoned vehicle for cover, his gun steady and trained forward. When a cautious enemy peeked out, searching for targets, Marcellus fired a single, clean shot. The guard collapsed, a bullet in his forehead. Marcellus remained expressionless, his calm demeanor making the act seem like a routine task.

Elias, though a bit more reckless, was no less efficient. He darted through the forest like a shadow, closing in on his target. A precise shot to the leg brought the guard down, and Elias delivered a final blow without hesitation. His eyes burned with suppressed rage, as if each bullet was avenging Livia and buying her precious time.

Within minutes, the guards outside the factory were neutralized. The three regrouped, with Mark reholstering his weapon, his face as impassive as ever. Elias, however, couldn't help but stare at him in astonishment.

"You… just who are you? No ordinary butler could pull off what you just did," Elias said, his tone a mix of awe and suspicion.

Marcellus let out a low chuckle and patted Mark's shoulder. "Mark was a former Special Forces captain. He's been with me for years. Do you think I'd come here with just the three of us otherwise?"

Elias fell silent, his gaze lingering on Mark with newfound respect, marveling at the hidden depths of the unassuming butler.

Their next move was interrupted by a sudden flare in the distance. A wall of orange-red flames erupted from the factory, the fire spreading rapidly and illuminating the night sky. Thick smoke billowed upward, suffocating the air.

"They're burning it down! They want to destroy the evidence!" Marcellus shouted, his face darkening.

The trio rushed toward the factory, but the blaze and choking smoke blocked every entrance. Frustration mounted as they searched for a way in, knowing time was slipping away. Mark's sharp eyes caught a figure fleeing through the forest, moving erratically.

"You two get Livia! I'll handle this," Mark ordered, not waiting for a reply before darting after the fleeing man.

The figure was experienced, weaving through the forest and changing directions to throw off pursuit. But Mark was faster and more relentless. Within minutes, he cornered the man against a rocky outcrop.

"Stop running," Mark commanded, his gun leveled, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable threat. "What's your plan? Where's the lady you took?"

The man smirked, his eyes glinting with defiance. "You'll never know. As for the lady, she's already ash in the fire."

Before Mark could react, the man raised his gun to his own temple and pulled the trigger. The gunshot echoed through the forest as his lifeless body crumpled to the ground.

Mark cursed under his breath, quickly searching the man's body, but found no useful information. He returned to the others, dragging the corpse with him, only to be greeted by the harrowing sight of the roaring fire consuming the factory.

"We're out of time! Livia's still inside!" Elias yelled, his voice breaking as he moved toward the flames, only to be held back by Marcellus.

"Don't be reckless! You'll die too!" Marcellus shouted, though his own voice betrayed his mounting desperation.

Mark scanned the area, his sharp gaze landing on an old water valve connected to a series of pipes leading to a nearby water source. "Over here!" he called, rushing toward it and cranking the valve open.

The pipes shuddered, and a powerful stream of water burst forth.

"Get the water to the flames!" Marcellus barked, grabbing one end of the hose and hauling it toward the fire with Elias. The heat was blistering, their skin stinging as they worked to douse the inferno.

Mark directed the flow with precision, his commands cutting through the chaos. "Increase the pressure! Focus on the left—those flames are still spreading!"

For what felt like an eternity, they battled the fire, the relentless heat and smoke pushing them to their limits. Slowly, the flames began to subside, reduced to smoldering embers under the unyielding torrent of water.

When the last of the fire was extinguished, silence fell. Only the sound of water dripping onto charred ground and their ragged breaths remained. Mark shut off the valve, his soaked figure standing tall despite the exhaustion etched on his face.

But as they turned to survey the factory, their hope sank. The structure was unrecognizable—twisted steel beams jutted out at odd angles, and the ground was a carpet of blackened ash.

"It's all gone…" Elias murmured, his voice heavy with despair.