Chapter 716 The Cyren Mines

    This was the only way Artemis could think of to keep Marie in check.

    No matter what, she couldn’t allow her to spout wild usations in front of Dale.

    Marie arched a brow. “How long?b” /b

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    Her calm tone only made Artemis feel more cornered. In Marie’s ears, her own words had sounded gentle, but in Artemis’s, they were cutting and merciless.

    Still, she swallowed her fury. “Three days. I’ll try my best to find her, all right?”

    Marie rose to her feet. “Fine. Three days. Send her to me.”

    Artemis had said she would itry /ito find her, but Marie’s words left no room for doubt–deliver the girl.

    It was the same as dering she knew Artemis had taken Tessa.

    Derrick stood as well, slipping the silver knife back into his pocket before casually draping an arm around Marie and steering her toward the door.

    As they left, Marie threw onest remark over her shoulder. “Remember, Mrs. Nn. I want her unharmed. Not a single scratch.”

    ?? ??

    Artemis: “…”

    Dale: “…”

    Unharmed? They hadn’t evenid eyes on Tessa–where were they supposed to find her, let alone promise she’d be safe?

    Once the visitors were gone, Dale’s chest burned with rage. “Why did you agree to that? She’s not even in our hands!b” /b

    Artemis sighed. “We had to calm her down. You saw it yourself–she came with Mr. Nathaniel, and Victor is on his way too.”

    The moment Victor’s name was mentioned, Dale’s head throbbed.

    With him here, Ashen Pact would only spiral further into chaos. Power transfer had already left them unstable, and Diana’s return had stirred things even more.

    Now, with outside forces stepping in, how much of Ashen Pact’s resources could they even hold

    onto?

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    Chapter 716 The Cyren Mines

    “Ask Manny. See if he took her,” Dale said grimly.

    “Manny?” Artemis’s tone carried a trace of displeasure. “You mean it wasn’t… Dan?”

    “Dale came twice today demanding we hand her over.”

    Artemis fell silent.

    So Manny was the only one left to me?

    Once, Dale had never doubted her Manny. But now…?

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    The thought left her chest tight and heavy. Still, looking at Dale’s dark expression, she held her tongue and nodded. “I’ll call him right away.”

    Marie’s visit left the household shaken.

    Her fierce pressure snuffed out anyfort Dale might have offered his tearful wife.

    And now that he’d heard Dan’s house had been sted apart, he knew full well—dealing with Marie and Derrick was no trivial matter.

    Every step had to be taken with caution. Ashen Pact’s resources had always been coveted, and if they faltered now, outsiders would swoop in.

    Artemis had just stepped aside to call Manny when Butler Lenny appeared. “Sir, Mr. Victor has arrived.”

    Dale’s chest seized. “…”

    The pounding in his head grew worse, his heart thudding like a drum.

    “Tell him I’m not here.”

    Right now, he didn’t want to face anyone. Each visitor was harder to deal with than thest.

    But Lenny’s face tightened. “Sir… Mr. Victor brought quite a few men with him.”

    Brought men to demand her?

    “This is Noctarth!” Dale snarled, teeth clenched.

    When had Ashen Pact grown so weak that outsiders dared march straight into their territory and make demands?

    b8:53 /bbMon/bb, /bbSep /bb15 /b

    Chapter 716 The Cyren Mines

    Lenny lowered his head quickly, too nervous to speak further.

    Just then, Dale’s phone rang.

    With a snap, he picked up and barked, “Talk.”

    “Sir, Madam Evelyn says she wants the mines.”

    His face sank to its darkest. “What do you mean?”

    “She wants them,” came the reply.

    Dale’s knuckles whitened around the phone.

    The Cyren Mines–one of Ashen Pact’s most critical resources, rich with rare minerals.

    “Is this a joke?” he hissed.

    “She said she wants them,” the voice repeated.

    “How much is she offering?”

    “Nothing.”

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    No money.

    She meant to take them by force.

    Lawless. Absolutelywless.

    Ashen Pact was already on the edge of copse, and now Madam Lorette dared to seize their lifeblood outright?

    She was trying to strangle them where it hurt most.

    “Mr. John has already arrived,” the caller added.

    John–the old fox who had stood at Madam Lorette’s side for decades.

    If she had sent him personally, then this was no bluff.

    Dale mmed the phone down, his whole body trembling with fury.