Chapter 73:

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In the top-floor private room, the manager had gone above and beyond, ordering another round of cleaning and ensuring everything was prepared to perfection. With a delectable spread now gracing the table and fireworks beginning to light up the night sky, he dismissed the waitstaff and bowed deeply to Allison. “Boss, your visit took me by surprise. I didn’t have a moment to get everything ready. I hope it’s not too basic,” he said, practically drenched in sweat.

Who could have predicted that two fools would dare to cut in line ahead of the boss of the restaurant?

“Relax, you did a fantastic job. No need to sweat it,” Allison replied with her usual calm. “You’ve been running Jasmine Restaurant like a well-oiled machine. But now, I need you to revoke Colton’s membership.” Rebecca, seated next to her, clicked her tongue and added, “Exactly. They should be banned for life. They lack any sense of decency and are like a couple of crazies who don’t even grasp human language.”

The manager nodded fervently. “You can count on it — this will never happen again!”

In truth, no one needed to remind him — after Colton’s blunder today, he was already blacklisted.

Allison waved her hand dismissively. “You can leave now. Make sure no one else disturbs us.”

“Yes, boss.”

Once they were alone, Allison served Rebecca a slice of abalone, her favorite delicacy. “I’m heading to the Lloyd family’s house on Monday to tutor Kellan’s niece.” Allison’s brow furrowed with thought as she spoke. “Dealing with a child will be straightforward, but my mother’s whereabouts are tangled up with Kinslee, and that’s the real puzzle. Kinslee has Alzheimer’s and barely remembers anything. Plus, she’s in a nursing home that no one can pinpoint. I’m sure it’s heavily guarded. I’ll need to find a way to slip in unnoticed.”

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“Is this going to be a tough nut for you to crack?” Rebecca wasn’t the slightest bit worried, offering Allison a piece of white truffle in return.

“With your talents, why not just dive back into the hacker world? You could easily connect with top-notch medical experts. Once you throw out a reward and get in touch with brain specialists, you can dig into the Lloyd family’s files and uncover all the internal intel you need.”

Allison considered it while savoring her dish. “True enough, but it isn’t quite that easy.”

He had thought about that route, but reviving the hacker world would demand both time and a fortune, and she would need to assemble a team.

“I’d need fifteen million dollars just to get the global systems operational. And that’s the simple part. What really worries me is the chance of my old enemies getting wind of it. If all the world’s hitmen organizations come knocking at once, things will spiral out of control. Right now, I just want a moment of peace. I’m weary of constant assassination attempts.”

Yet, reactivating the hacker world was unavoidable. After all, it was her master’s dying wish.

Rebecca shrugged. “You don’t have to sweat the cash. I can cover it, and you can use it however you want. Forget fifteen million; even a billion is a walk in the park.”

“You might be willing to hand it over, but I can’t accept it. If your dad gets wind of this, he’ll probably have a heart attack,” Allison joked, laughing.

“And really, the money is just a drop in the ocean. I’m going to be a tutor for the Lloyd family, right? A tutor of my caliber comes with a hefty price tag.” Allison shrugged. “I might as well snag some cash from Kellan. No harm in that.”

“But are you sure you can easily get fifteen million from him?” Rebecca chuckled.

“Don’t worry; the money will flow my way,” Allison said, winking.

“That’s good,” Rebecca teased, not pressing for more details. She had never been particularly money-minded anyway.

“Allison, let’s cut to the chase. If you’re going to be pursued by assassins, what can I do to lend a hand?”

“When the moment arrives, I’ll need your family’s muscle to tidy up any traces of me overseas. I’ll rely on you to tie up loose ends. I might be in the country, but I can’t cover every angle. Your family has the clout for that.”

Hearing she could be of assistance, Rebecca raised her glass eagerly. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure everything’s spotless! If you ever need anything else, just say the word. I only fear I won’t be able to help enough!” They clinked glasses, laughing, and Rebecca couldn’t help but reminisce. “When we first crossed paths, you were not this fearless. You were like a prickly hedgehog — sharp and standoffish, fierce and hard to approach.” Fate had a hand in it, after all.

That prickly version of Allison hadn’t hesitated to save her life. From that moment on, Rebecca had been at her side.

Allison felt a wave of nostalgia as she reflected on their journey. “I really was a wild child, adrift with no compass. If not for my master, I’d probably have rotted away on that deserted island.”

Sensing the shift in mood, Rebecca quickly pivoted with a smile. “By the way, you’ve always been drawn to extreme sports. The international parkour competition is coming up — it happens every five years. Maybe you should throw your hat in the ring and clear your head.”

“Good call. I’ll check it out,” Allison replied. She hadn’t had a real workout in ages, and the thought of the challenge sent a rush of excitement through her.

For some reason, Kellan popped into her mind — the man who pretended to be disabled, always lounging in that wheelchair. When they had faced assassins in Athton, he exuded that same dangerous aura.

But instead of intimidating her, it intrigued her — like an extreme sport. Allison found it fascinating.

Or perhaps it was that subtle sense of mutual attraction between two kindred spirits.

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