Chapter 3

Another person was dead.

When the bandits looted the town, how many more people would die?

I couldn’t sleep at all.

When I endured until daybreak, Vivian had someone bring over beer and grilled meat, then continued training me in Victor Kane’s aura and mannerisms.

Vivian said the underlings were easy to fool, and the key was not showing fear in front of the Strategist.

When she mentioned the Strategist, I could sense fear in her tone.

It was as if, in her mind, the Strategist was even more terrifying than the bandit leader Victor Kane.

“Vivian, something happened.”

Someone suddenly knocked on the door and reported, “A cop is here, and he specifically asked for the artist.”

The next second, I shouted excitedly, “The police don’t know about you!”

“The cop coming to see me must be Luke Parker.”

“He asked me to draw a sketch of him, and I already finished it.”

“The sketch is in my room, so he must be here to pick it up.”

Vivian smiled.

“I didn’t even suspect you, so why are you so nervous?”

“Besides, didn’t I tell you?”

“I don’t care if you call the police or not.”

“Dragging them into this only means a few more people die.”

“Go see Luke.”

“I won’t stop you.”

I forced out a faint smile. “I really didn’t call the police, and I don’t have any other reason for seeing him.”

“I’m just worried Luke might get suspicious.”

“Vivian, I’ll behave.”

“I want to make some money too, so I won’t have to worry about making a living later.”

I said this to dispel Vivian’s suspicions as much as possible.

My only chance to survive lay with Luke.

If he had seen that note, then he must have come this time to test the situation.

As long as he sensed danger at the hotel, he would immediately contact reinforcements and get help before the sandstorm arrived.

But if he had only come to pick up the drawing and hadn’t seen the note, how should I hint at it?

Vivian’s people were definitely watching.

“Big-shot artist, this looks way too much like me.”

After getting the sketch, Luke grinned from ear to ear. “I’ll treat you to a good meal to thank you.”

“Let’s see what good dishes the hotel has, and you can order whatever you want.”

I picked up the menu, but I had no idea what to order.

All I could think about was the note I had hurriedly thrown out at dawn.

“The owner of the Crown Hotel is a bandit, and she destroyed the police station’s radio and phone lines, intending to loot the town when the sandstorm comes…”

I wasn’t sure whether Luke had seen the note or not.

He had a habit of jogging in the morning, would pass by the hotel, and could recognize my drawing paper.

“What are you spacing out for?”

Seeing that I still hadn’t ordered, Luke snatched the menu from me and ordered several of the most expensive signature dishes.

And I let out a long breath of relief.

Because when Luke’s hand touched mine, he slipped me a scrap of drawing paper.

That meant he had seen the note.

Help was coming.