"You said you liked me, didn't you? Show some sincerity," Joyce said. She didn't believe him at all. To her, Clint was just a madman obsessed with getting what he wanted, like a child snatching someone else's toy. He convinced himself that something belonged to him, just like Athena. Such people often delude themselves into believing that what they desire is rightfully theirs. Obsession is a disease. Love? People like him don't understand it and don't deserve it.
Clint chuckled softly. "Alright, as you wish. Is it Darrin?"
Joyce was momentarily stunned; she hadn't expected him to agree so readily.
"Yes," Clint said, knowing her inside out.
"At this time, it's impossible for him to enter the country; he's already been hiding here for a long time."
Clint's expression turned cold as he glanced at Watanabe, who stood respectfully to the side. "Your intelligence work has major flaws and needs rectification. He's been here for so long, and you didn't know."
No wonder he hadn't seen Joyce's aide, Darrin, in Khebury. He had already arrived on Clint's turf.
"My apologies," Watanabe immediately bowed his head.
"Dismissed," Clint waved his hand, signaling Watanabe to leave.
Watanabe left at once.
Darrin whispered in Joyce's ear, "Let me stay on the same floor as you."
Joyce nodded.
"Arrange for him to stay in the room next to mine," she said. There was a door between her room and the adjacent one, allowing Darrin to respond quickly if needed.
"Alright," Clint agreed without objection.
He stepped closer. "You don't look well. Are you in pain?"
"Thanks to you, I'm still alive," Joyce sneered and took a step back.
Clint's eyes darkened as he turned away. "Come in, don't stand outside."
He walked inside without waiting for a response.
Joyce gave Darrin a look, and they followed Clint into his mansion one after the other.
Darrin observed the guards stationed around the mansion, both openly and hidden. There were at least two full squads of personal guards. Taking them on alone would be impossible.
Joyce whispered, "The security has doubled since I left."
Darrin nodded; it seemed getting out would be much harder this time.
As they entered the mansion, Joyce glanced at the side hall where she had previously seen Clint polishing the Dawnblade. She couldn't see any safes and wondered if there were hidden compartments or secret rooms where he might store it.
Seeing her hesitation, Darrin asked, "What's wrong?"
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