Chapter 581 - Stealing What Was Stolen

"Humans."

There was a long silence after Zoey's remark. Zoey briefly ground her teeth making her jaw tighten while Matthew stared at her emotionlessly. 

"I haven't heard about that." Matthew finally broke the silence. 

Whether it was their previous life or the current one, Matthew never heard about it. This was news to him, but he wasn't surprised about the Silva Family's activity. 

What surprised him was that his intelligence team didn't uncover that. It only meant that the Silva Family had more to offer than he thought. 

'How did Inigo bring them all down?' Matthew wondered internally. 

"Since you know about Cecil, it's the same with the Silva Family. Their front business, as known by his competitors, are smuggled weapons. They never touched the drug dealing business since Niko had friends who were drug lords and he is avoiding such troublesome problems." Zoey explained with a sigh. 

It may sound odd for the Silva Family to have an illegal business as their front business, but it's not like anyone in their continent could touch them. However, from her knowledge from her previous life, Zoey somehow got a hint of this secret business because Niko told him. 

"But, aside from smuggling weapons, this business seems to be very important to Niko. Inigo is targeting this area of Niko's business and the container that will land here are Niko's goods."

When Matthew heard Zoey's last remarks, he knitted his brows in confusion. 

"Did you steal it from Niko?" He asked, puzzled by how Niko's so-called 'goods' would arrive in the country. 

"No. I mean, yes." Zoey sighed, shaking her head sideways as she cleared her throat. "I did steal it but, I stole it from the person who stole it and want it to return to Niko." 

Zoey added which clarified a few things for him. Matthew nodded in understanding, leaning back as he continued to drive cautiously.

Matthew remembered that in the auction from his previous life, there were also human goods that were auctioned. There were just different kinds of humans who were akin to animals to buy and enslave people. 

Not that it was his problem. But to think the Silva Family's current main source of income was human trafficking, that's surprising. Perhaps, it was not just enslaving people, but probably their organs since black market was also known for that. 

It was a saddening fact that existed in the world. However, it was just how the world revolves. Unless the dark side of this world would vanish, this misery would never stop. 

"Initially, my plan was to use it to make an alliance with Niko. But, last night... I was reminded of what kind of person Niko is." 

Slowly, Zoey raised her head as she stared at the highway. The look of Niko's eyes flashed across her mind which sent chills down her spine as she felt a knot in her stomach. 

"No, he's not a person. He's evil and to think I forgot about how rotten he was... what a shame." Zoey muttered before a heavy sigh slipped past her lips. 

When Zoey uttered her last remarks, they reached a stoplight. Matthew tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, before shifting the gear to a halt. 

"Can I ask you something?" Suddenly, Matthew turned his head to her side and watched her look back at him. 

"Hmm?" Zoey hummed a low tune, furrowing her brows and tilting her head to the side. 

"You sound like Niko has done something to you. But from what I see, he seemed to be a person who is fond of you." Without a second hesitation, Matthew inquired and added his own conclusion. 

Sure, Matthew was not surprised that Zoey would join hands with Niko to destroy Inigo. However, he was aware of Nikolai's ulterior motives. 

But now, hearing Zoey spout her thoughts about Nikolai, Matthew was puzzled. He didn't understand why Zoey was saying such bad stuff about Nikolai if the latter — aside from being obsessed with her — seemed like he wouldn't harm her; no matter how crazy he could be. 

"Ironically, he hasn't." Zoey shook her head sideways. "But that doesn't mean him being lenient towards me will justify everything he has done to others."

Zoey closed her eyes as she tried to shrug the memories that flashed across her head suddenly. The thought of Nikolai, those evil pair of hazel eyes... they brought more fear to her more than anything else. 

Thus, seeing them once again last night was akin to bringing Zoey back to those old days. Nikolai, as a child, and even as an adult was just evil. 

"Although he has been lenient to me all these years, giving me the freedom I wanted, deep down, I know there's an end to everything. I know that one day, I will be like the rest of the people he has used to achieve his goal." Zoey added solemnly as she slowly shifted her eyes to Matthew before the red light from her peripheral vision turned green. 

"The question is not 'will he kill me?', but 'when will he?'" 

Matthew stared at Zoey for a second before he looked away and resumed driving the car. He could feel Zoey's gaze still at him as he delved deep in his thoughts. 

"So, what exactly are you trying to say, or should I say warn me about subtly?" He asked without looking at Zoey. 

Matthew had already guessed what Zoey was pointing at. But, he needed confirmation.

"I'm warning you about the burden that we're both carrying now. You can still back out while it's early." 

Matthew remained silent and silence gradually enveloped the entire car. Neither of them talked as Zoey let out a deep sigh as she looked away. 

"I'm going home — to the Kwan's." After a long silence, Zoey uttered softly. 

Yet, instead of hopping to the new topic she started, Matthew's next words were still about the previous one. 

"The end of the Silva Family it is, then." 

Zoey knitted her brows as disbelief flickered across her eyes as she returned her gaze back to Matthew. 

"I happen to know someone who has a deep grudge towards the Silva Family; the reason I know about Nikolai and Ivan — even about you. Don't worry about Nikolai anymore.. Focus on building the Z Image and don't stay too long in the Kwan's house or I'll burn the Kwan General Hospital."