Sophia Sullivan's words left David Macmillan stunned.
He hadn't expected his random guess to be correct.
"This item came from M-Country."
David recalled the details of the transaction.
"The merchant at the black market deal was unfamiliar—very secretive in his movements."
Sophia's brows furrowed deeper.
M-Country was vast.
Finding a lead based solely on an earring was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Her gaze fell on the earring's clasp.
A trace of long-dried blood clung to it.
"Which specific region in M-Country?"
Sophia forced down the turmoil in her chest.
She didn’t even know if her mother was still alive.
Right now, staying calm was the only thing she could do.
"Greenland!"
This time, David answered without hesitation.
"My contacts in the black market told me Greenland is M-Country's infamous Ghost Island."
"It's located in the ungoverned western zone—almost no one dares to set foot there."
David's expression grew graver.
He leaned forward, lowering his voice further.
"Rumors say human trafficking runs rampant there, along with illegal live experiments. The place is notorious in M-Country."
Sophia's teacup tipped over.
A sharp clatter rang out.
Emerald-green tea spread across the table.
For three years since her marriage, she had gradually let go of the past.
She stopped paying attention to many things related to M-Country.
Only now did she realize some places were far more dangerous than she'd imagined.
"Sorry..."
Sophia snapped back to reality and reached for the broken pieces.
"Don't worry about it, kid. Just watch your hands—don't burn yourself."
David quickly mopped up the spill with napkins.
"I'll handle this."
Sophia's fingers clenched tightly.
Her heart sank like a stone.
"Isn't there any military control?"
"They try, but it's impossible to manage."
David shook his head with a sigh.
He didn't want to imagine what might happen to people sold to that island if live experiments were truly happening there.
"M-Country's military authority is decentralized. Greenland likely has high-ranking military-political figures backing it."
David's face turned even more serious.
"The black market has long whispered that Greenland is a place of no return."
Sophia's blood ran cold.
She refused to let herself dwell on what her mother might be enduring.
No.
She needed proof—alive or dead.
Until she had concrete evidence, she wouldn't give up.
Sophia took a deep breath.
Steeling herself.
"Thank you. I'll send people to investigate further."
This time, she wouldn't overlook a single clue.
By the time Sophia left the Treasure Appraisal Institute, dusk had fallen.
She stood on the high stone steps, staring up at the darkening sky.
Her expression was icy enough to chill the bones.
A tall figure cast a shadow over her.
"I'll take you back first."
Ethan Sullivan's gaze was deep as ink.
Though he'd remained silent in the office earlier, the fragments of conversation had told him enough—Sophia's birth mother was in dire straits.
"Alright." Sophia didn't refuse.
Her thoughts were in chaos.
An inexplicable restlessness gnawed at her.
She let Ethan open the car door for her and fasten her seatbelt.
The car pulled smoothly away from the cultural center.
Outside the window, the scenery blurred past.
Silence lingered until they reached the crossroads near The Underground City.
The traffic light counted down from forty-five seconds.
"If you need help, Ms. Sullivan, I can step in."
Ethan's low voice finally broke the quiet.
"Following the earring's trail, the black market should yield more useful information."
"Thank you, Mr. Sullivan."
A flicker of resolve finally surfaced in Sophia's cold eyes.
Greenland?
This den of evil would crumble beneath her hands sooner or later.
"You plan to go directly to M-Country."
Ethan phrased it as a question, but his tone left no doubt.
As if he'd already anticipated her next move.
"Yes."
Sophia didn't deny it.
Ethan's grip on the steering wheel tightened.
"But that's not all—"
"You intend to venture straight into the lion's den—to personally investigate Greenland."