Chapter 78

Gerald sighed. "You can take care of yourself, right? What did you get?"

"I don't know. I didn't look. Everything is in this bag." Jimmy pushed aside a branch that suddenly blocked his path. "We'll think about it once we're really out of their reach."

Reluctantly, Gerald agreed. Especially when Bella's voice chimed in. They walked quickly, ignoring anything that stood in their way, including tree roots that occasionally tripped them. They believed that at the end of this dense pine forest, they would find freedom without involving Sam, the Quassanos, or Ferdi.

However, plans remained plans.

Their steps came to a sudden halt as the blood-smeared sword blocked their path. It wasn't just in front of their chests; it was right at their necks. The gleaming samurai sword rendered them completely helpless.

"Where do you think you're going?" Eland asked with a wicked grin. "Do you think you can escape from me, huh?"

***

Sam was trained for five year