CHAPTER 818: CHAPTER 819

Rosemary stepped off the plane, immediately feeling her mother’s warm concern through a text message. After sending a quick reply, she looked up and saw her right-hand man, Horace, waiting to pick her up.

"Boss," Horace couldn’t help but notice something different about Rosemary the moment he laid eyes on her. It wasn’t just her change in fashion; her usual icy aura had thawed, replaced by a lively sparkle in

her eyes and an air of refined grace. She was breathtaking.

Horace, who rarely got the chance to be in her presence, couldn’t suppress his goofy innocent smile.

He had always envied Jack and Jones for sticking close to the boss, facing danger by her side, while he was often dispatched elsewhere. He learned things related to the boss from other buddies of his, and had only recently heard the gossip about her love life.

Once in the car, Horace reported the situation, "Boss, we still haven’t secured Els Island. There’s this guy, Sean. Without his say-so, we can’t make a move."

Els Island boasted a unique climate and pristine environment, perfect for cultivating delicate herbs, including some rare varieties that were crucial for Rosemary’s research.

Take hairyvein agrimony, for instance. Previously, Rosemary needed a concoction of over a dozen herbs

to replicate 80% of its effects. But on Els Island, hairyvein agrimony was abundant, mistaken for a common weed due to its unassuming appearance.

Rosemary had hoped to acquire the island at a modest price, letting its natural herbs flourish while introducing other sensitive plants for her research.

"What’s Sean’s deal?" Rosemary inquired with detached curiosity.

Horace had no clue, "Only know he’s a big shot here. Everyone speaks of him with reverence. He’s a mystery, rarely seen, and Els Island is in his grip. His men have jerked us around; we’ve been outplayed at every turn and haven’t secured the deal."

The island was a treasure trove of botanical potential for Rosemary, both for the inherent value of the herbs and the research opportunities they presented.

"Negotiate again, and be prepared to raise the offer."

"Understood."

As Horace drove, he glanced at the rearview mirror before adding, "Oh, and boss, the seller agreed to part with the medicine you want, but insists you pick it up personally."

"Time and place?"

"Tonight, eleven o’clock, at the Demon Ring, room 11."

Rosemary nodded, "I’ll go alone tonight. You don’t need to be involved."

"Boss, let me come with you," Horace’s protective instincts kicked in. If there was a chance to stand by her, he wouldn’t miss it for the world.

After a bit of persistent coaxing, Rosemary relented, "Fine, but you follow my lead."

"No problem."

Horace dropped her off at the hotel, insisting on carrying her backpack to the door of the presidential suite. Only after seeing her safely inside did he leave with a silly satisfied grin, "I’ll pick you up later,

boss."

"Okay."

Meanwhile, the dimly lit basement reeked of blood.

A man hung suspended, his body battered and lacerated. His captors, breathless from exertion, had yet to extract any useful information.

"Mr. Collins, he’s still not talking," one of the underlings confessed, out of options. They had tried both beating and threats to no avail.

A man with a dangerously charming demeanor lounged in a chair, his lips curling into a merciless smile. He peered through the bars at the wounded man, idly playing with a snake in his hands, and

said indifferently, "Then there’s no longer necessary for him to live."

The green python hissed, its tongue flickering as it glared menacingly at the injured captive. A rare mutation, impossible to mass-produce, one had to gamble on numerous snake eggs and raise them to maturity before knowing if they had this particular variant. Due to the rarity and high cost of nurturing, such a python could fetch around 300 thousand dollars.

Sean had a whole bunch of this breed of snakes, treated them like pets, and played with them.

"Little guy seems pretty stoked," Sean reached toward the barrier. The snake quickly wrapped itself around the railing from his hand, flicking its tongue as if ready to nip at the man any second.

Steward flipped a switch, and a horde of snakes slithered out from beneath the wall, hissing menacingly as they eyed the man dangling above them.

"Let’s get some use out of him before his curtain call," Sean said with nonchalance, as if a human life was no more significant than an insect’s.

The man’s feet were barely off the ground.

"Just biting him to death would be too kind," Steward felt like they were letting the man off easy.

Sean flashed a grin, "Let these little critters have their fun first, then we’ll toss him to the mountain."

The man heard the hissing and Sean’s words, his scalp tingled with dread.

Since ancient times, humans have had an innate fear of snakes, with their cold skin and naturally venomous nature.

The snakes moved forward in a wave-like pattern, hissing loudly as they aimed for the man’s ankles.

The man, terrified, quickly drew his feet up. The snakes flicked their tongues and tried to approach him again.

Sean stood up, ready to leave.

"Felix told me to find him in the Demon Ring after I’ve done the job! Ahh." The man’s plea was cut short as a snake bit him fiercely, making him scream in agony.

He didn’t know if the breed was venomous, only that if he didn’t speak up, he wouldn’t have a chance to live!

He had thought that Sean, wanting answers from him, would at least spare his life, just long enough for someone to come to his rescue.

But Sean was as ruthless and brutal as the rumors said, not only releasing these snakes but also intending to throw him to the mountain. Rumors had it that Sean kept hundreds of large, fierce, and temperamental dogs there.

Sean exuded an aura of arrogance and detachment. He walked away, seemingly uninterested in listening anymore.

The man, enduring the excruciating pain, shouted, "Only I can meet Felix. He’s very cautious; you won’t catch him with the slightest rustle of grass. Spare my life, and I can lure him out, ahh."

He was bitten a few more times by the snakes, his expression twisted in agony.

Sean simply left the basement. Steward initiated the system on the wall, raising and lowering the rope as if toying with the man. The man screamed in terror.

"What else?"

"The fire years ago, I swear I didn’t know. I just did whatever he told me," the man was completely petrified with fear.

Finally, Steward switched off the system, using sound waves and bait to lure the snakes back. The rope lowered, and the man crashed to the ground, his expression contorted in pain.

The door opened, and Steward stepped in, pressing a foot onto the man’s wound, saying coldly, "On Sean’s turf, don’t even think about playing tricks."

"I wouldn’t dare." The man gasped for air, pain choking his words, "I’ll definitely lure him out for you."