Chapter 544

Hannah and Brixton stepped into a cabin within the yacht.

Brixton rested on the mattress, his torso uncovered, a gunshot injury on his abdomen gaping outward, flesh torn with blood steadily leaking.

Scorpio arranged a crude collection of surgical instruments across the nearby table. He retreated to the doorway, wordless and alert, prepared to step in if Hannah attempted to harm Brixton.

Hannah stared at the selection of tools, her fingers trembling violently as she reached for the forceps. She tried aiming at the wound, but her grip faltered uncontrollably.

With a loud clink, she hurled the forceps back onto the tray,her voice breaking. "I can't. I've never performed something like this!"

Brixton observed her distress and let out a faint laugh. The chuckle pulled at his injury, forcing him to grimace. "You had the nerve to fire at people, yet you falter at pulling a bullet out of skin? Hannah, how does your bravery crumble so easily?"

"This isn't the same!" Hannah answered in haste,her voice quivering. "Squeezing the trigger lasts a second, but this... This demands..."

"What difference is there?" Brixton cut her short."|t′SCstill bullets involved. Quit stalling and get on with it. I'm losing blood fast."

"And if I decline?" Hannah clenched her jaw, pushing back one last time.

Brixton's gaze turned icy at once, his words calm but edged."Then step outside, leap into the sea, and serve as food for fish. Scorpio will gladly help you overboard."

Hannah's chest tightened. She realized this lunatic meant every word. At last, she yielded, her eyes shutting briefly. With a dry tone, she asked, "What about anesthetic? At least give me some anesthetic?"

Before Scorpio could respond, Brixton cut him off sharply. "We don't have any. None at all. Stop stalling and get on with it."

Hannah felt her spirit sink. Shaking, she seized a bottle of alcohol and poured it liberally across Brixton's stomach injury to sterilize it.

Brixton's frame stiffened, a muted groan forced through his lips, yet he clamped his jaw, refusing to cry out.

Hannah's trembling worsened. She forced her focus away from Brixton, lifted the forceps, inhaled deeply, and slid them into the bloodied gash, searching for the bullet.

The sensation of metal navigating torn flesh made her scalp prickle and her stomach twist.

The seconds dragged unbearably.

Finally, the tip struck something solid.

Her chest tightened as she latched onto the bullet and began dragging it outward with care.

A few seconds later, the bullet emerged.

Hannah felt drained, staggering back before rushing out of the cabin to vomit violently over the railing.

Inside the cabin, Brixton nearly collapsed on the bedding,soaked in cold perspiration.

Scorpio moved near at once, lowering his tone with confusion."Mr.Ward, we did have anesthetic. Why refuse..."

Brixton lifted a weak hand, stopping him. "What thrill lies in that? The only real test is seeing her true nature at·a critical moment like this."

Forcing Hannah to extract the bullet wasn't Brixton's real purpose; it wvas to confirm if she was the infiltrator. In that vulnerable state, he couldn't afford unconsciousness due to the anesthetic.

Scorpio caught on, his stare sharpening. "Mr. Ward,you were testing her? You suspect she's..."

"Quiet..." Brixton warned, his eyes hardening. "Until the traitor is exposed, suspicion falls on everyone. Especially her-she appeared suddenly, the most suspicious."

Brixton paused, calculation flickering in his expression. "Later,find some excuse to leave. Let her stay as the one tending me.With my state this fragile, will she resist taking advantage?"

Scorpio nodded firmly. "Understood! Leave it with me,Mr.Ward! I'll handle it!"

Scorpio slipped back to the doorway.

Moments later, Hannah returned, her complexion pale, nausea still clawing at her.

Scorpio, stationed at the door, barked sternly, "You, inside! Mr.Ward is your responsibility now! Fail him, and I'll throw you into the sea!"

Hannah cast him a weary look, inwardly scoffing at their predictable threats. But with no energy to argue, she pushed the cabin door open and stepped in again.

Inside, Brixton drifted between faintness and pain, his eyes shut,breaths shallow. The wound bled on, unattended.

A dagger rested on the small surface beside him.

Hannah froze mid-step. After a silent moment of thought,she finally extended her hand and took the dagger from the table.