Starlance City's docks. A massive luxury cruise ship was slowly pulling away from the port, its propellers churning the water into long trails of white foam. "Mr. Hawthorne, you went through all this trouble just to 'invite' me aboard. Is this business, or are you trying to reconnect?" Darius rested his hands over his abdomen, looking calm and polite as ever, though his eyes were icy as they fixed on the man across from him. Elliott had sharp features typical of Euronians. He wasn't strikingly handsome, but his face carried a cold, threatening edge. Speaking fluent Astralis language, he openly studied Darius. "You took a tranquilizer dart and can't move, yet you're still so relaxed. No wonder you're the youngest person to run Skybound Group. This trip was worth it." He ignored the question and glanced at the shrinking harbor. "The ship has already set sail. Aren't you worried?"Darius smiled faintly, completely unbothered. "Your ship won't be leaving these waters." Elliott's expression shifted. So Darius had something planned. Right then, a white sports car came screaming toward the loading platform at the edge of the dock, sparks flying as its tires scraped hard against the ground in the morning light. Seeing the cruise ship already about 160 feet away, Thora cursed under her breath. "Damn it." She threw the car into reverse for a short distance, then floored the gas. The engine roared so loudly that it shook the air. Boom! The car shot off the platform like an arrow. Darius' pupils shrank instantly. It was Thora! He had left himself exposed on purpose, letting Elliott's men drag him onto the ship. The plan was to test them—and maybe even slip inside their operation. To make it convincing, he really had been hit with tranquilizer darts. His body was temporarily paralyzed now. All he could do was watch as the car flew through the air, his heart jumping into his throat. The sports car traced a smooth arc midair. Anyone could tell it didn't have enough momentum. It should've fallen into the sea halfway. Blue light flared in Thora's eyes as she activated her telekinesis. In the next second, the falling car suddenly sped up, as if it were driving on solid ground. With a deafening crash, it slammed onto the cruise ship's deck. The car skidded wildly, spun, and came to a drifting stop. The screech of metal against the deck made everyone tense. Armed men immediately raised their weapons, surrounding the car. Dozens of gun barrels pointed straight at it. "Who are you?!" The moment the door opened, every nerve on deck went tight. A figure rolled out in one smooth move. As soon as her feet hit the deck, she raised her arm and fired. Three gunshots rang out. Three armed men dropped on the spot. But there were too many enemies. In a blink, dozens of rifles locked onto Thora. "Move one more step, and I'll turn you into Swiss cheese!" the lead man shouted, shoving a machine gun forward until the muzzle was nearly touching her nose. Thora's eyes turned ice-cold. She shifted her foot slightly. The pistol she had just kicked off someone's belt popped up on her toe. With a flick of her wrist, she slapped the pistol midair. It shot forward like a bullet, smashing into the machine gun, and the handle cracked straight into the man's jaw. The sharp crack of breaking bone echoed. The man didn't even finish screaming before he flew backward and collapsed on the deck, completely still. It all happened so fast that it left only blurs behind. By the time the others reacted, Thora had already surged into the crowd like a cheetah.