Kerry's punch was not only blindingly fast but also thunderously powerful—so much so that, had it landed on Lin's jaw, it would have utterly shattered it.
Yet Lin made no move to evade. In an instant, a jagged icicle materialized in his right hand, swiftly elongating to over a foot in length, then lunged toward Kerry's abdomen with lethal precision.
Had Kerry persisted with his strike, the ice shard would have impaled his gut the very next moment.
In that fleeting collision of threats, Kerry abruptly halted his fist, instinctively grasping Lin's wrist with both hands.
Lin smiled faintly. In the blink of an eye, a thick sheath of ice encased Kerry's hands—like shackles sculpted from frost, binding him with unrelenting force.
Kerry furrowed his brows. He now understood Lin's power: cryomancy. Yet he did not yield. With a cold snort, and despite the numbness creeping into his hands, he heaved Lin upward and smashed him ruthlessly toward the ground.
But Lin twisted mid-air with uncanny grace. His legs locked around Kerry's neck, using the momentum to pivot his body, and he flung Kerry away instead.
With a deafening crash, Kerry was hurled against the SUV, denting the door with a violent thud before collapsing to the ground. Though a level-four ability user with unmatched speed, Kerry's body was still as fragile as any ordinary man's—this blow nearly knocked him unconscious.
Just then, a battered van screeched into view. The doors burst open, two figures emerged, seized the dazed Kerry, flung him inside, and sped off.
Lin, still clad in his fitted black trench coat, adjusted his crisp white shirt beneath, twirled the toothpick in his mouth, and casually walked away.
When Kelly received the call from the Godo City Alliance Legion, she was stunned—why had her SUV ended up there? Without delay, she straddled her motorcycle and raced toward the city.
Upon seeing the SUV, Kelly shook her head in dismay. The collision had left the vehicle even more battered and miserable-looking.
Pierre stood beside her. "I've confirmed it—it was your brother Kerry driving this vehicle."
"And where is he now?" Kelly asked, pulling out her communicator to dial his number. Almost immediately, the device inside the SUV began to beep.
Kelly stepped forward and found the communicator lying on the passenger seat. She muttered under her breath, "Sh*t!"
Pierre approached calmly. "Special Envoy, don't worry. I believe I can offer you a few clues."
Kelly glanced at him sharply. "If you have leads, then spit them out—now."
With a grin, Pierre said, "Please, follow me."
He led her deep into the heart of the Alliance base, stopping outside a surveillance control room. With a note of pride, he declared, "Special Envoy, I dare say that in all the Alliance, Godo City has the most comprehensive camera network. Naturally, we managed to capture footage of your brother's abduction. Please take a look. Perhaps you'll recognize the culprits."
Kelly stared intently at the footage on the screen.
It was grainy but unmistakable—Kerry being subdued with swift efficiency by Lin. Despite the lack of clarity, Lin's features were evident.
Black hair. A black trench coat. A lean frame.
He reminded Kelly instantly of Xiao Feng. But she knew Feng's face better than anyone. This was not him—though clearly an Asian man. Possibly someone connected to Feng in ways yet unknown.
Kelly scoffed coldly. "I'm going to ask Xiao Feng directly. And make me a copy of this footage."
Pierre handed her a memory card. "Everything is on here."
Taking the card, Kelly turned on her heel and strode out of the base. She jumped into her vehicle and sped toward the hospital, her mind racing with questions about Lin's connection to Xiao Feng.
Though the SUV's exterior was a wreck, the internal equipment remained functional. Kelly opened the console, one hand on the wheel, the other tapping rapidly on the onboard computer. Within moments, an image of Lin's face had been isolated and uploaded to the Alliance Bureau's central database for identification.
As she drove, she kept an eye on the screen, waiting for results.
Seconds later, the computer pinged sharply. Kelly glanced over—and her eyes widened in disbelief.
Lin's file was classified. Her clearance was insufficient.
She cursed under her breath as her vehicle rolled into the parking lot of a dilapidated hospital. Stepping out, she reached into the glove compartment, pulled out a holstered pistol with a belt, and slung it around her slim waist.
Her figure—encased in a tight black leather outfit—now exuded even more primal ferocity with the weapon in place.
Inside the hospital, Kelly asked a nurse for directions and strode straight to Alice's room. She pushed open the door to find Xiao Feng chatting amiably with Alice, who was now awake. Old White lay snoring on the sofa nearby, clearly exhausted from days of vigil.
Without hesitation, Kelly drew her pistol and aimed it squarely at Xiao Feng's head.
"Don't move, Xiao Feng. You're under arrest."
Xiao Feng raised his eyebrows, slowly lifting his hands with a genial smile. "And may I ask what the charges are?"
Kelly's eyes narrowed. "I have ten reasons to put you behind bars. Each one enough to bury you in the deepest cell at the Ability Bureau. But for now, I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself. Look at this man. Do you know him?"
She held out her communicator, revealing Lin's photo.
Xiao Feng studied it, brow furrowed. The face seemed vaguely familiar, but he shook his head. "No. I don't know him."
"Are you sure?" she pressed.
"If I'm lying, may I be struck by lightning. I swear—I don't know him."
"Even if you don't," Kelly said, "I'm arresting you anyway."
Xiao Feng chuckled softly. "This isn't the place, is it? I still need to take care of my sister." Then he turned toward Alice and called gently, "Alice?"