Chapter 1867

chapter1867

King lifted the lid of the box and took a moment to really look at what was inside before reaching in to grab the pendant. Under the light, the white jade pendant gleamed, pure and without a speck of imperfection. It wasn't long before the warmth seeped into his fingers.

If you judged it by its material alone, it was top-notch white jade, but—

King carefully returned the pendant to the box, his eyes locking onto Santos's face, deep and probing. "You're sure this is the half-key that opens the passage?"

Santos nodded with a determined seriousness. "I got this pendant from Cian herself. No mistake about it."

It was those classmates of Cian who had kidnapped her that gave them the chance to snatch the pendant from around her neck. They might not have succeeded in bringing her back, but getting the pendant was a win in itself.

Seeing that Santos didn't seem to be lying, King narrowed his eyes. "This pendant looks just like any other piece of warm jade. Are you certain it has special

powers?"

Santos was taken aback by the question and hesitated. "Honestly, I've never seen how the passage is opened, so I don't really know what this pendant can do."

King placed the box down, his voice tinged with something hard to pin down. "Ever thought this could be a fake?"

"A fake?" Santos was caught off guard. Once he processed it, he assumed King was accusing him of trying to pass off a counterfeit. "I got this straight from Cian. It's the real deal."

"Wearing it doesn't guarantee it's authentic," King said slowly, a touch of mystery in his expression.

Santos found King increasingly perplexing. "Why are you questioning its authenticity?"

Shouldn't he be the expert on the Stevenson family? So why did King seem to know even more? Doubt started creeping into Santos's mind, and he found himself studying King's face more closely.

But there was nothing odd there.

King, unfazed by Santos's St

replied "Maybe it's because the pendants materials too common. From the cut, it looks newly

polished, not like an antique."

Hearing this, Santos stepped forward, picked up the pendant again, and inspected it thoroughly Sure enough it quickly became clear-it didn't look ancient at all. ? Find_Novel(.)net

Santos's face darkened, and his doubts about King faded. "I might've missed this."

Thinking it through, would Cian really wear something so crucial around her neck so nonchalantly? Back then, it wouldn't have been so easy for him to get it.

Damn it! Santos's fingers tightened, fury flashing in his eyes.

King glanced at him. "Cian's a tough cookie. If you'd really gotten it, I'd be surprised."

Still stewing in frustration, Santos

didn't catch the last part of King'et

Re

words, only muttering through gritted teeth Don't worry she won't slip through my fingers."

Cian had a scent that his pet loved, one that could be tracked from miles away.

"It's not a big deal," King said coolly, his gaze thoughtful. "Maybe it's time to visit the Stevenson family."

Santos's head snapped up.

King's voice was soft but firm. "I've waited long enough."

He wasn't willing to wait any more.

**The next day, Mirabella headed out for a meeting. She had arranged to meet with [HRTL]. When she arrived at the spot, her contact was already there.