Operation Red Book

Deep in the woods east of the McMillan Manor, the moon moved. The dense branches blocked the moonlight like white bones, leaving only tiny gaps to let in soft light.

The surroundings became increasingly darker, and the chirping of birds gradually faded away. There was complete silence, with only the sound of Ivy's weak breathing remaining.

Ivy was the only one left in front of the thick branches. Her hands were tied behind her back and she was lying on the ground sideways.

Her black hair was spread out on her back and on the ground, and her weak breathing blew her long hair and the dead leaves on the ground in front of her eyes.

A few minutes ago, the contract between her and Dorian was officially concluded. After the mud tornado surrounding the two of them slowed down, a loud noise came from the mansion, attracting the attention of both of them.

"What's going on over there?"

Ivy struggled to get up, but her movements were restricted by her hands tied behind her back.

"Don't worry about it, I'll take care of it."

Dorian looked into the distance, his eyes turning noticeably red.

"Aren't you going to help me?" Ivy sat sideways on the ground and said anxiously.

"Then untie the ropes that tie me up quickly. I want to go see what's going on."

Dorian turned his head, his expression clearly displeased, his red eyes glowing in the darkness, like a poisonous snake foraging in the woods.

"I'm sorry, my voice was too loud." Ivy instantly became timid and muttered an apology.

"You are safest here. Don't go out and cause trouble for me." Dorian turned and slowly walked towards the direction of the loud noise.

Ivy struggled to stand up, trying to be as quiet as possible without making any noise.

"Snapped--"

Ivy felt a sharp pain in her shoulders and neck, and then her body fell uncontrollably to the left, and her consciousness became increasingly blurred.

Dorian's high-heeled lace-up boots appeared in Ivy's sight, and his hand with a six-pointed star pattern on his wrist gently stroked Ivy's cheek.

"What a troublemaker." Dorian's clear voice echoed in his mind.

The voice became smaller, farther and farther away, and more and more blurred. These were the last words in Ivy's consciousness.

It felt like a very long time had passed, so long that the moon had lost its light and the darkness around us had become endless.

It was just a matter of a moment, and the sound coming from afar brought Ivy back to her fuzzy consciousness. Listening carefully, it seemed to be the sound of shoes stepping on dead branches and soil.

"Has it been solved? How long have I been unconscious? As expected of a little devil, it can be solved in a snap of a finger..."

Ivy thought about this, but her body was still numb.

"Ms. Ivy, why are you here?"

Ivy's eyes widened instantly. The deep and gentle voice was definitely that of Count Waite.

"I don't want Count Waite to see me like this."

Ivy closed her eyes in despair and buried her head in the ground.

Count Waite's voice became louder and louder, and the feeling of approaching gradually became deeper and deeper.

A pair of big hands lifted Ivy's upper body. He pushed Ivy against himself and reached out to lift the black hair in front of Ivy to both sides.

"Ms. Ivy, are you okay? Miss Ivy?" Count Waite called her softly.

"Don't look at me, please, Lord Earl, my makeup must be ruined! Ahhh, damn little devil, what crime will you be punished for letting Lord Waite see me like this!"

Ivy still kept her eyes tightly closed, the voice in her heart echoing desperately in her mind.

Count White took a quick look at Ivy's clothes, fortunately there was no damage or tearing, so he put Ivy on himself.

"Oh, my hand!"

Count White's movements seemed to touch Ivy's arms behind her back, causing her to scream out.

"Ah, Miss Ivy, you're awake! Hand? Let me see."

Count White was surprised and happy. He pulled off the dagger tied to his calf, held Ivy in his arms, and concentrated on cutting the rope behind Ivy.

Ivy rested her chin on Count White's broad shoulders. She felt a sense of reliability and couldn't help showing her white teeth and laughing.

When Count White heard Ivy's silly laughter, he couldn't help laughing, and the stone in his heart finally settled down.