As they left the Western restaurant, Joyce pointed to a black sedan parked by the roadside. "I've arranged for a bodyguard to take you back," she said.
"Alright. And what about you? Heading back to work?" Clint inquired.
"Yes. You rest up first, we can discuss the rest later," Joyce smiled, glancing at her watch. The time lost today was really starting to add up, and she was eager to leave.
"Don't forget to consider my proposal," Clint reminded her.
"I know," Joyce chuckled awkwardly, feeling Munin's intense gaze on her as she was about to leave. "I'm off."
"Wait," Clint pulled out a phone from his pocket. "Let's exchange contact information and add each other as friends. This is the phone your people sent me a couple of days ago. I've figured out how to use it already."
With that, he opened the phone to display a QR code and handed it to Joyce. She had no choice but to accept. Munin seemed to have a knack for taking charge, and she found herself following his lead, influencing her own thoughts and actions in the process. It was a trait only a true leader possessed. She couldn't help but wonder, was Munin truly just a scientist?
Opening the phone interface, Joyce scanned the QR code. With a beep, she added Munin's contact information and casually added a note. Once Clint had her contact details, he sent a smiling emoji and added, "If I get bored, I might text you. If you're free, reply. If not, just ignore me. Don't worry about me, I'm just too idle, have no one to talk to. Feel free to ignore messages from me."
At this point, Joyce was left speechless. She awkwardly replied, "Alright, I'll reply when I have the time."
In that moment, she really hoped Munin would regain his memory soon and be sent back to W-country. Otherwise, if he stayed here and kept pestering her every day, she wouldn't be able to handle it. Not to mention the big jar of jealousy waiting for her at home.
Seeing through Joyce's thoughts, Clint offered, "If your husband misunderstands, I can personally explain." Joyce quickly waved it off, "No need for that. Don't overthink it, just go back and rest. I have things to take care of. I really have to go now."
With that, she turned and hurried away. But as she turned, the corner of her eye caught an unusual black shadow darting past a nearby alley at the intersection. Joyce's sharp instincts immediately sensed danger. Something was off.
Unable to tell who the target was, whether it was her or Munin, Joyce was momentarily frozen in indecision. It seemed her enemies were all dealt with, so why target Munin? Her body instinctively reacted faster than her mind could process.
Joyce pushed Munin aside abruptly, shouting, "Get down, quickly!"
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