Carter, with a nonchalant expression, replied, "What about you? You called first!"
The kidnapper, now growing colder, responded, "I will inform Consul Han that because you talk too much, Consul Han's daughter will be killed."
Carter, suddenly silent, hurried to calm down, "Okay, okay, take it easy, I'll help you!"
"I will contact you again half an hour before the payment. I will release the hostages after I get the ransom." The kidnapper's voice sounded increasingly cold before finally hanging up with a loud click.
At that moment, the FBI agent in the room took off his headset and shouted enthusiastically, "Meet at 620 South Broadway."
Ross slammed his hand on the table, a sign of rising tension. "Let's go now!" The command sounded firm, reminding everyone to move quickly.
Hululu.
The sound of footsteps began to be heard, and most people in the room immediately moved toward the door. Lee and Carter intended to follow, but Lance remained still, standing like a statue.
Seeing Lance still silent, Carter couldn't help but ask, "Hey, aren't you coming with us?"
Lance merely pursed his lips, his expression unreadable. "Do you think the kidnappers are that stupid? They know there are FBI agents everywhere here, yet they still waste time talking to you, waiting for the FBI to trace the signal?"
Lee, who was starting to understand Lance's point, took a step back and said calmly, "You mean, this is just a trick to lure the tiger away from the mountain?"
Lance nodded casually, "I trust my own way of finding people."
...
...
...
"Mr. Lance, do you have a way to find Soo Yung?" Consul Han asked hoarsely, trying to calm the anxiety creeping across his face. The look in Consul Han's eyes was probing, yet slowly ignited with hope. Lance's words did sound reasonable—and he was too desperate to deny any possibility.
Lee and Carter exchanged glances, then both stopped in their tracks. For the first time since this investigation began, the two men were no longer following the FBI's lead.
The kidnapping case of the Chinese consul's family had crossed the boundaries of domestic affairs—Lance now stood as a sensitive diplomatic incident. The FBI was strict, unwilling to let outsiders interfere, even slightly. Their resources were vast, but because of that, Lee and Carter were merely sidelined spectators. Thus, it made more sense to listen to Lance's methods—even if they sounded irrational.
"Please bring something that Soo Yung often touched," Lance said calmly, his eyes focused, his voice almost sounding like a gentle command.
Lee merely frowned, disliking things that couldn't be explained logically. But Carter, despite the scar on his head still being fresh, grinned widely. "Hey, don't tell me you're going to use a tracking dog. Come on, that's impossible, right?" Carter scoffed, then let out a short laugh. The laughter sounded more like an escape from confusion.
Lance ignored Carter. He continued to gaze at Consul Han, calm yet insistent. "Is there?"
Consul Han hesitated for a moment but then nodded. "Wait a moment." Consul Han then hurried upstairs, his steps quick, like a father half unsure, half afraid to hope. A few minutes later, Consul Han returned with a worn brown teddy bear. "Soo Yung often hugs this while sleeping... Is this enough?"
Lance took it gently, as if touching something fragile. He placed it on the table. Lance's hands then moved swiftly, forming small seals in the air with his fingers, as if dancing in a silence filled with meaning. Lance's fingertips touched his forehead, and thin lines of light began to appear.
"In the name of Vishanti, All-Seeing Tracking—open."
In an instant, a glowing eye appeared between Lance's brows. A golden light burst forth, swirling and pulsing like a living heartbeat.
The Room of Shadows had many spells inspired by great artifacts. The "Crimson Bands of Cyttorak" were created to mimic the gem of Cyttorak, while this "All-Seeing Tracking" was a replication of the Eye of Agamotto—though a copy, it still retained a small fraction of its extraordinary abilities.
The light from the eye resembled sunlight in the mystical realm. Under its beam, the teddy bear emitted a faint purple glow. A soft mist radiated from its body, slowly spreading around the villa. The longest line stretched across the floor and out through the main gate.
It wasn't just Lance—everyone in the room could see it.
Consul Han held his breath, his eyes widening. "This… what…?"
Consul Han recognized August Wu as a family friend. But a sorcerer? He had never suspected it even once.
Lee stared with disbelief that was hard to conceal. Meanwhile, Carter—with a spontaneous movement like a child in a toy store—jumped up, exclaiming, "Whoa! Whoa! Oh my God! What is this?! This is magic, right? This is magic, isn't it?!"
Lance merely glanced over and said flatly, "Just consider it that way."
He then pointed to the line of light that twisted like a thread of fate. "This is Soo Yung's biomagnetic field. All the places covered by the light are locations where she has been. The strongest line indicates her current whereabouts."
Consul Han, who initially seemed overwhelmed with disbelief, now straightened his body. Consul Han's eyes began to well up with tears. "Good... very good... Mr. Lance, please... help save my daughter..."
Consul Han had been nearly desperate before. The FBI, with all its power, had yielded no results. Lee and Carter were just wandering the city empty-handed. But now, a mysterious young man was showing real miracles.
Carter, of course, couldn't hold back. He patted Lance on the shoulder while chuckling. "Buddy, your skills are amazing. Can you teach me? I'll pay, seriously. Even though I'm just a broke cop, but friends can get a discount, right?"
"Carter!" Lee roughly pushed Carter's body, his expression full of displeasure. Quickly, Lee nodded to Consul Han, "Consul Han, Mr. Lance and I will save Soo Yung. You wait for news from us here."
Consul Han patted Lee's shoulder gratefully, but his anxious eyes were now fixed on Lance. "I beg you, please save my daughter!"
Lance gave a faint smile, trying to reassure him, "Don't worry, I promised Aunt Wu. I will do my best."
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