Late into the night, the lights of the archives flickered back on. Kevin departed expressionlessly, leaving Phyllis alone with the silent room and the surging emotions within her. John's silent protection, like an invisible net, had tightly enveloped her. She knew he was protecting her in his own way, but this protection also carried a hint of suffocation. Her trust in him blossomed at that moment, yet at the same time, she grew more curious: how many secrets did this man still hold that she didn't know? She realized she had to unravel all the mysteries quickly to truly understand him, and only then could she decide whether there was love or hatred between them.
Time flew by amidst intense preparations and underlying currents. In a blink, the highly anticipated New Year's Gala arrived as scheduled.
The Yafei family castle was adorned like a fairytale on this night. Countless crystal chandeliers illuminated every corner as bright as day, sparkling with dazzling light. In the grand ballroom, flowers bloomed, champagne towers soared, and the air was filled with a mix of exquisite perfumes, fine wines, and fresh blossoms. Celebrities, dignitaries, and business magnates from all over the world, dressed in their finest attire, mingled and conversed, their laughter and clinking glasses filling the air. They chatted animatedly, their gestures elegant, presenting a scene of peace and prosperity, as if all worries and crises were masked by the magnificent ambiance.
However, beneath this veneer of peace, an invisible sense of oppression permeated every corner of the castle, making the very air seem to stagnate. The Yafei family's security personnel were twice their usual number, dressed in uniform black, their faces grim, their eyes vigilantly scanning every corner, every guest. Their hands rested subtly on their holsters, ready to respond to any sudden situation.
Phyllis wore a tailored deep blue evening gown, its cut accentuating her graceful figure, yet retaining a hint of competence and restraint. Outwardly, she was poised and elegant, exchanging pleasantries with guests and offering appropriate smiles. But her eyes, like radar, keenly picked up on every anomaly around her. An invisible communicator nestled in her ear, relaying real-time security data and guest movements from Lynn and Kevin. John, meanwhile, still hadn't made an appearance. He was hidden in the castle's most secluded surveillance room, controlling every detail of the entire gala through countless screens, like a commander behind the scenes.
"All targets have entered, positions locked," Lynn's voice buzzed in Phyllis's ear, tinged with excitement. He was referring to the suspicious individuals flagged by John and Phyllis on the guest list—pawns of the "Shadow" organization's infiltration, and key to tonight's "lure the snake out of its hole" plan.
"Monitor their movements. Report any anomalies immediately," Phyllis calmly responded, her gaze sweeping to a corner of the ballroom where a flagged "entrepreneur" held a wine glass, seemingly casually chatting, but his eyes periodically darted towards the various exits, appearing unusually vigilant.
As the gala reached its peak, John delivered a brief yet powerful address via the castle's broadcast system. His voice, deep and magnetic, filled with an authoritative presence, echoed clearly throughout every corner of the ballroom. He thanked the guests for their presence and outlined the Yafei family's grand vision for the new year. After his speech, dazzling fireworks exploded above the castle, painting the night sky with vibrant colors. The immense roars and brilliant lights captivated the attention of all the guests.
Just as everyone's gaze was drawn to the fireworks, lost in the fleeting visual feast, a sudden change occurred!
The castle's electrical system briefly flickered, followed by the ballroom lights abruptly extinguishing, plunging the entire hall into darkness. Simultaneously, several faint explosions emanated from hidden corners of the castle. Though muffled by the fireworks, Phyllis's keen hearing still caught them. Those weren't fireworks; they were directional demolitions!
"Alarm! Security system breached! Partial area surveillance offline!" Lynn's anxious voice crackled through the communicator, tinged with panic. Even he was clearly surprised by the speed and precision of their intrusion.
"The 'Shadow' organization has made their move!" Phyllis's heart sank. She immediately drew the pistol concealed beneath her gown, her eyes turning sharp. She knew this was the real beginning.
The ballroom instantly descended into chaos. Guests screamed in terror, fleeing in all directions, shoves and cries echoing. In the darkness, several dark figures flickered like specters. Agile and with clear objectives, they darted towards the key targets John had preset—the flagged suspicious guests. The weapons in their hands glinted coldly in the dark, clearly indicating they had come prepared.
"Kevin, activate backup power! Lynn, restore surveillance at full capacity and pinpoint the intrusion source!" John's voice roared through the communicator, carrying an undeniable command and suppressed fury. Though deep, his voice pierced through the chaos, reaching the depths of Phyllis's heart.
Phyllis rushed towards the nearest dark figure. The opponent was clearly an operative of the "Shadow" organization, highly skilled. A fierce close-quarters combat ensued in the darkness, punches and kicks exchanged, every move deadly. Relying on years of agent experience, Phyllis deftly dodged the attacks, seeking an opportunity to counter. She knew this was no time for prolonged combat; she had to subdue the enemy quickly to protect the innocent guests.
Just then, a dazzling beam of light suddenly shot from above the ballroom, precisely illuminating several dark figures attacking guests. Immediately afterward, John's voice resonated through the ballroom via the loudspeaker, carrying a powerful calming presence: "Ladies and gentlemen, please remain calm! The Yafei family's security team is handling the situation. Please proceed to the nearest emergency exits immediately!"
Phyllis looked up to see John's figure on the second-floor balcony of the ballroom. He held a modified high-beam flashlight, its light precisely aimed at the dark figures, buying time for the security personnel. His appearance offered a glimmer of hope to the chaotic guests and surprised the "Shadow" organization's operatives. He stood there like an unshakeable pillar, instantly stabilizing the situation.
"John! Get down! It's too dangerous!" Phyllis cried out anxiously. She knew John was luring them out, but exposing himself in such a dangerous position was practically gambling with his life! Her heart pounded with anxiety; she wished she could rush to his side immediately.
"To lure the snake out, one must personally be the bait!" John's voice, cold and resolute, echoed through the ballroom. Before his words finished, a shadow deeper than the darkness itself, like a reaper, burst from the balcony's gloom, lunging directly at John! It was "Phantom," the "Shadow" organization's top assassin! A cold glint flashed in his hand as a poisoned dagger silently aimed straight for John's heart.
"Look out!" Phyllis screamed, but it was too late.
"Phantom's" speed was lightning-fast; the dagger plunged towards John's chest. Although John reacted quickly, he was still in an amnesiac state, his physical response not at its peak. He twisted his body, dodging the fatal blow, but the dagger still grazed his shoulder. Blood immediately stained his white shirt, appearing exceptionally stark in the darkness.
"John!" Phyllis's heart sank. She saw John's body sway, but he quickly regained his footing, pain flashing in his eyes, but more so, a chilling sharpness.
"Lynn, lock onto 'Phantom's' position!" John's voice, tinged with pain, grew even more resolute. "Kevin, lead the encirclement!"
"Yes, Mr. Zhuo!" Kevin's voice rang out through the communicator, filled with anger and killing intent. He was already leading the Yafei family's elite security team, closing in from all directions.
Phyllis ignored her immediate enemy, anxious to see John injured. She knew this was a critical moment; John's memories were being intensely stimulated, and she had to seize this opportunity!
"John! Yaya is here! Do you remember?! The vow from five years ago! Never to part!" Phyllis shouted, her voice filled with despair and a desperate plea. She even began to hum that old folk song from five years ago; its melody resonated particularly clearly in the chaotic ballroom, carrying a soul-piercing power.
John's body stiffened violently. In his once cold eyes, an unbearable surge of pain erupted. He clutched his injured shoulder, trembling uncontrollably, as if countless sharp knives were twisting in his mind. Fire, explosions, her terrified yet resolute face, her hand gripping his... those long-buried images and sounds were savagely assaulting his brain, tearing at him. He could feel the blurred outlines slowly becoming clearer, the fragmented whispers gradually coalescing into a complete melody, every note carrying raw agony.
"Yaya..." John murmured, his voice filled with pain and yearning. His body began to tremble violently, cold sweat streaming down his forehead, as if enduring immense torment. But he still stared intently at Phyllis, as if she were the only one who could pull him from this suffering.
"John!" Phyllis rushed towards him. She knew he was experiencing the agony of memory regression; she had to be by his side!
However, just as Phyllis rushed towards John, a dark figure suddenly lunged from the side, aiming straight for Phyllis! It was another "Shadow" organization operative!
"Phyllis, look out!" John shouted. Ignoring his shoulder injury, he lunged towards Phyllis, trying to shield her from the attack.
But Phyllis reacted faster. She dodged the attack, simultaneously firing her pistol precisely at the assailant. However, the assailant was agile, and the bullet grazed past him.
"John!" Phyllis saw John's shoulder wound tear open again from his violent movement, blood gushing out. She knew he couldn't afford another injury!
"Catch them! Don't let a single one escape!" John's voice was tinged with pain, but his tone was filled with fierce resolve. He knew this was his plan to lure them out, and his crucial battle to reclaim his memories!
The entire castle plunged into unprecedented chaos and fierce battle, gunshots and screams echoing one after another, while fireworks exploded uselessly in the night sky.