Chapter 431

Hugo Rothschild crouched among the captives, his fingertips brushing against the cold steel of his gun.

Along the coastline, Evelyn Laurent and Ethan Sullivan moved swiftly.

Three pirate ships cut through the waves, their hulls leaving jagged scars on the ocean's surface.

"Blow up their ships?"

Evelyn narrowed her eyes as the sea wind tossed her hair.

Ethan tightened his grip on his weapon. "Do it."

He glanced at the woman beside him. "Know how to use this?"

Evelyn checked the magazine with practiced ease, a smirk playing on her lips. "Let's find out."

Ethan quickly explained the key functions.

Evelyn raised the rifle, her scope locking onto a target fifty meters away.

Bang!

The bullet tore through the air.

Ethan fired almost simultaneously.

Both shots struck the hull with deadly precision.

Chaos erupted on the pirate ships.

"Ambush!"

The deck splintered as seawater gushed in.

All three vessels took hits, the pirates scrambling to plug the leaks.

Evelyn scoffed. "They're not hurting enough."

She exchanged a glance with Ethan before they shouldered their weapons in unison.

Two shadows darted into the jungle like panthers.

The pirate ships finally reached shore.

Thirty armed pirates disembarked.

Their leader, a burly man, signaled for the group to fan out.

Their movements were disciplined—clearly trained professionals.

Drones flickered among the treetops.

On the screens, the pirates combed the island inch by inch.

Evelyn lay hidden in the underbrush.

A lone pirate passed right in front of her.

She lunged, her hand striking the back of his neck with surgical precision.

The pirate collapsed without a sound.

On the other side, Ethan materialized like a ghost behind a tree.

Another pirate dropped silently.

The deadly game of cat and mouse had begun.