Bride Behind the Mask novel Chapter 729

Marguerite stepped off the plane into the sweltering embrace of Veracoria, a stark contrast to the frosty grip of Stonebridge City she had just left behind. The humid, hot air wrapped around her like a thick blanket.

Chuck was already waiting at the exit, a beacon of anticipation. Spotting Marguerite, he swiftly handed her a set of light, airy clothes and said, "Marguerite, change into these in the restroom before you get heatstroke."

After a quick change, Marguerite realized she was now donning an extravagantly unique outfit that sparkled with an almost comical brilliance. It struck her as odd since she remembered Veracoria as a cosmopolitan giant, not a place for such niche fashion. Chuck must have grabbed it in a panic, she thought.

Eager to meet Frederick, she didn't dwell on it. She urged Chuck to drive faster, her excitement making her indifferent to the fatigue that clung to her bones.

Expecting to be taken to a hotel to rest, she was surprised when the drive extended for over an hour, taking them further from the bustling city center. High-rise buildings gave way to endless fields of lavender, and finally, the car stopped in what appeared to be a tribal village.

"Here we are," Chuck announced, opening the car door for Marguerite.

Bewildered, she stepped out to see stilt houses layered upon one another, with armored vehicles and tanks dotting the landscape. Was this a military base?

"Where are we?" she asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.

"Tunez Tribe," Chuck explained matter-of-factly.

Tunez Tribe? Why were there so many heavy weapons here?

Before she could process it all, two men in camo gear, their faces obscured by vibrant paint but their eyes glittering with an unsettling intensity, approached them for a "routine check."

Chuck reassured her, "It's just a security measure, Marguerite. They need to ensure you're not carrying anything dangerous. Don't worry."

But Marguerite's worry only deepened. Wasn't Frederick here for a tech collaboration? These menacing figures hardly seemed the hacker type.

During the inspection, one of the men discovered a box of pills Marguerite had been given by Miley. It was actually an aphrodisiac, but she hastily lied, saying, "Just some cold medicine." The awkward situation escalated when the pills were confiscated for "individual testing," leaving Marguerite mortified at the potential discovery of their true purpose.

Chuck led her into a stilt house, trying to distract her, but a sudden explosion near a lake sent a mushroom cloud into the sky, the scent of gunpowder permeating the air. Marguerite's fear and confusion reached a boiling point.

"What are you and Frederick really up to? This was supposed to be about tech, not war. Have you lost your minds?" she demanded, her voice cracking with emotion.

The serene expectation of a technological venture had given way to a bewildering, almost dystopian reality. Marguerite stood at the edge of understanding, her heart racing as she confronted the unknown depths of Frederick's involvement in Veracoria.