Chapter 104

Erick only wanted to spit out his report and get outof there. "It was one of the workers hired for the ancient tomb project. He messed with the materials and swapped the support beams for cheap ones, and that's what caused the collapse. I checked his bank accounts, and there's a huge deposit in there. It came from the Fist Guild, the gang that runs Zerovia."

The Fist Guild?

Eleanor frowned.

Those thugs were Zerovia's local bullies, but she had never crossed paths with them.

Why would they be after her?

Nolan's thoughts lined up with hers. There was no reason for the Fist Guild to target her unless someone else was pulling the strings.

His eyes narrowed, a sharp coldness flashing across his face.

"Keep digging. I want the truth," Nolan ordered.

"Yes, sir!" Erick bobbed his head and practically bolted out of the tent, tripping over his own feet in his hurry.

He knew he had barged in at the wrong time, and the only way to make up for it was to find the person behind this mess.

Once he was gone, the air between Eleanor and Nolan grew heavier, almost charged.

Nolan's stare was burning with something she couldn't face.

As she felt that intensity, Eleanor's chest tightened.She broke eye contact quickly.

"I... I should go check on Dyer," she muttered, then slipped out of the tent.

Nolan didn't stop her.

He simply watched her leave, lifting his hand to brush his lips with his fingertip, as though her taste was still there.

It had been his first real kiss, and it left him wanting more.

A slow, satisfied smile tugged at his lips until it hardened in the next instant.

Whoever had dared to target his girl, he would hunt them down and make them regret it.

As Eleanor stepped out of the tent, she almost bumped into Lillian,who looked worried.

Lillian immediately reached for her, scanning her from head to toe. "Eleanor, are you alright? You're not hurt, are you? You scared me half to death!"

Eleanor forced a steady smile, trying not to give anything away. "I'm fine. Really, don't worry." Lillian let out a breath of relief, but then her gaze froze on Eleanor's lips. Her eyes widened in shock."Eleanor! What happened to your mouth? It's all red and swollen. Did some insect bite you in there? Oh no, what if it was one of those tomb bugs? Those can be dangerous! You need ointment, quickly!"

"I..." Eleanor parted her lips, but no excuse came to mind.

She couldn't exactly admit Nolan had kissed her,could she?

Ryland, picking up on the situation faster than Lillian,gave a dry cough and stepped in.

"That's enough fussing. Didn't the doctor already check her? If something was wrong, it would've been handled. Let her rest. Come on, we've got other things to take care of."

Still reluctant, Lillian allowed herself to be tugged away by her brother.

Even so, she glanced back and shouted, "Don't brush it off, Eleanor! I'll have someone send you proper ointment!"

Back inside, Nolan's face darkened as he overheard every word.

Later, when Eleanor entered Dyer's tent, a doctor had just finished examining him.

"He's not in immediate danger," the doctor explained, "but the situation isn't ideal. His recovery will take time. It's lucky he was brought out when he was... any later, and he might not have made it."

Eleanor's expression hardened, and her clear eyes turned sharp and cold.

Dyer was like family to her.

If people wanted to mess with her, she didn't care.But dragging him into it was something she couldn't accept.