Katelyn typed her response swiftly. “Send it.” Without hesitation, she walked out.

Vincent wasn’t home today, so once Jaxen sent the location, Katelyn set off immediately. Sliding on her earpiece, she focused on the road. The destination Jaxen had provided was far—over an hour’s drive from her villa. By the time she arrived, the sun was at its peak.

Jaxen, on the other hand, was even farther away—he wouldn’t reach the area for another two hours.

Katelyn surveyed her surroundings. This was the most run-down part of Yata’s urban sprawl, a place straight out of a gritty crime drama. Slums stretched in every direction. Despite living in Yata for some time, she had never set foot in this area before.

She found a relatively safe spot to park and got out of the car.

The landscape was bleak—rows of makeshift shacks pieced together from tin sheets, broken bricks, and rotting wooden planks. A strong wind could probably flatten the entire area.

Even before she reached the heart of the slum, an overwhelming stench filled her nostrils. Garbage littered the streets, and the mud beneath her feet was thick, dark, and sticky.

As she ventured deeper, a group of barefoot children—no older than five or six—darted past her. Thin as twigs, yet their eyes gleamed with curiosity as they looked at her.

She ignored them and continued forward. The further she went, the narrower the pathways became. The low-hanging eaves forced her to duck, and the air turned damp and cold.

Katelyn frowned. She hadn’t expected the conditions here to be this severe.

Just then, a scrawny young man emerged from one of the alleyways. Chewing gum lazily, he swayed unsteadily, as if struggling to stay upright.

g0ν., ?

Despite Katelyn stepping aside, he deliberately staggered toward her, attempting to bump into her.

She reacted instantly. Sidestepping at the last second, she avoided him with ease.

Unable to stop himself, the man crashed headfirst into a nearby tin wall. The metallic impact echoed through the alley.

The man groaned in pain, clutching his forehead. “Damn it! Are you blind or something?”

Katelyn eyed him coolly. Dark circles stained his sunken eyes. His pupils were unfocused. His entire demeanor screamed one thing—drug addict.

She had no interest in dealing with him. Judging by his sluggish reactions, he was likely high. Confronting him would be pointless. She turned away, preparing to leave.

But the man had other plans. He grabbed her arm. “Hey! I’m talking to you. You’re not going anywhere unless you cough up five grand.” A classic shakedown.

Katelyn glanced at his filthy fingernails and cracked, grimy hands. Disgust flickered across her face. Her voice dropped to an icy warning. “Let go.”

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