Campbell couldn't help finding it very amusing. Face the consequences? Did they not understand where they were? They were on his turf and deep in it at that. As he whistled once, many figures began to appear surrounding Justin's team. There were more than three dozen cultivators that showed themselves. Maybe there were even more still in hiding. But the worst of it all was that they were all high-level cultivators or end of the mid-level.

Justin and Campbell were both high-level very close to the peak. They were even in strength or not far from that. But the others... To be fair, Justin never thought the young miss would go directly to infiltrate their gathering. If he had known, he would have found a way to get her home earlier. He only came here through her shadow with the others after receiving the alert sent by his shadow mark that he had left on her. A way to make sure she was always safe and be warned whenever something happened.

But this... They were truly fucked. And Campbell knew he won. With a wide grin, he walked up to Justin who had a grim face, and tapped gently on his shoulder before he told him: "Now then, I wonder who is surrounded and who should fear the consequences?"

Justin remained motionless as he grinded his teeth. There was truly nothing he could do in this situation. He decided to negotiate: "Let us go and we will owe you one"

Campbell laughed even harder: "Owe me? Owe me?! Do you know how much I lost because you didn't do your job and let this bitch do whatever she pleased?! Can you even begin to imagine how much money and prestige I lost due to her?! Due to you not putting a leash on that fucking animal! ...Phew... Anyways. I am very glad to be able to welcome you here, Justin"

Justin spoke again, this time having understood that negotiation was a no-go: "You do understand that the Mistress won't let it go if something happened to her sole daughter"

Campbell answered him with a nod and some words: "I do. But I won't do anything to her and she won't even remember anything either. Now then, while it had been a pleasure, I have a business to manage. Guys, kill them. Try not to damage the goods too much. Also, make sure the girl is safe"

"Yes, boss!"

One of Justin's friends who agreed to help him sighed: "If I knew this would be where I would die, I wouldn't have come with you, Justin"

Justin agreed with him and added: "I wouldn't have either, my friend"

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

And then, he focused all his energy and created a dark portal. As he saw it, Campbell hurriedly ordered his men as he moved himself: "Don't let them leave!"

In the end, two managed to escape. Not Justin and not his friend who spoke earlier either, both of those died. Two other members of the group managed to flee but they weren't what they seemed to be. Campbell asked one of his men: "You are certain those two won't betray us?"

His man confirmed it: "Not to worry, boss. We've been bribing them for decades and we are rather good friends. A small lie like this? They will do it"

Campbell nodded as he turned towards the terrified and shivering girl on the ground. He had a broad smile on his face:

"Bring her to Victoria so she can wipe her memories and send her out. Don't delay on the way...And take care of the goods here"

"Yes, boss!"

Campbell left the final jobs to his underlings as he walked back to the higher underground levels. He changed into a different, non-bloodied robe, and went to greet the customers once again before opening the doors to the exhibition. Today started badly but turned out to be wonderful. He was very satisfied with himself at the moment.

Meanwhile, two subordinates were escorting Sophia Crowe even deeper underground. On the fifth level was where Victoria's lab was. She was an alchemist and a researcher but more than anything, she had the skills to wipe certain parts of the memories of others. She was a precious asset to this branch.

Unfortunately though, the two subordinates weren't that much. They were rather laidback. Due to being mere henchmen even though they were high-level cultivators, they didn't find abiding to their superior's orders fulfilling. In fact, the more they gazed at the shivering beauty, the more they wanted to make a little detour.

Sophia Crowe had many faults but her biggest quality, in her opinion, was her sense of justice. And there, she had seen her benefactors die for her. Their bodies would likely be used and sold later on too. It was unfair and disgusting. It was evil. What's more, she was now aware of traitors amongst her own. She was fidgeting not due to her being frightened...well, there was a little of fear...but it was mostly shame and anger.

In the end, she knew that it was her justice that brought the death of those guys.

And if her memory was wiped out now...It would be forgotten. No one would ever be made aware of this. She could not let her memory be wiped!

She was only a mid-level cultivator and far from being the opponent to both of those high-level cultivators... But she had something else. She had a certain technique that could affect everyone, regardless of their cultivation. And those two didn't seem to be wary of her. She only had one chance. And she took it.

She began to ooze out her spiritual energy to forcefully open the hearts of the two. And little by little, it eroded their hearts. They began to feel a small attraction to her that turned into passionate love and finally jealousy towards the other.

After mere minutes, they were both engaged in a fight to the death over the woman they loved. Unfortunately for them, this woman loved neither and left right away as fast as she could. She had to find her Mother and fast!