Chapter 725 165.1 - Fine

Chapter 725 165.1 - Fine

The aftermath of the battle settled into an uneasy silence, broken only by the murmurs of frightened civilians and the distant wail of approaching sirens. Irina stood beside Astron, her arms crossed tightly as she surveyed the scene with a mix of frustration and resignation. The operatives had escaped, leaving behind only the chaos and destruction they'd wrought within the museum.

A few minutes later, the heavy sound of boots and wheels reached their cars. A group of Hunters from the City Government and members of the local security team poured into the museum, their weapons drawn and their expressions tense. It was clear from the way they moved-hurried yet slightly disorganized-that they hadn't been prepared for what had transpired.

Irina's amber eyes narrowed as she turned to Astron. "Took them long enough," she muttered, her tone laced with irritation.

Astron, ever calm, simply nodded. "It's not surprising. The assailants were thorough in their preparations. This wasn't a random attack."

As the Hunters fanned out, one of them, a middle-aged man wearing the standard black-and-red armor of the City Bureau, approached Irina and Astron. His expression was grim, his brow furrowed as he took in the damage and the frightened civilians still huddled near the walls.

"I'm Captain Orwin," the man said, his voice steady despite the tension in his eyes. "We got the emergency alert, but..." He trailed off, glancing around the room. "It seems we arrived too late."

Irina crossed her arms tighter, her flames sparking faintly at her fingertips as her frustration boiled over. "You think?" she snapped, earning a sharp glance from Astron. She sighed, reigning in her temper as she continued, "What happened? Why did it take so long for anyone to show up?"

Orwin's jaw tightened, his shoulders sagging slightly as he responded. "The assailants sabotaged us. They disabled the museum's security team before the attack started. We didn't even get a distress call until it was too late. And when we tried to mobilize, we found several of our vehicles sabotaged. Our response was delayed while we secured alternate transport."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Irina's eyes widened slightly, her irritation giving way to reluctant understanding. "They sabotaged your vehicles too?"

The captain nodded grimly. "This city's not that big, and our resources are limited. We weren't prepared for something this coordinated. The operatives knew exactly what they were doing"

Astron's sharp purple eyes flicked toward the captain, his expression unreadable.

"Were there casualties among your team?"

Orwin hesitated before nodding. "Several members of the museum's security staff were incapacitated, but they'll recover. As for our Hunters... we had a few injuries, but no fatalities, thankfully."

Irina frowned, her amber eyes scanning the faces of the arriving Hunters and security personnel. The weight of the situation settled heavily on her shoulders. The attack hadn't just been a random act of chaos-it had been meticulously planned, a deliberate strike against the city's limited defenses.

"They knew exactly how to exploit your weaknesses."

Captain Orwin's voice dropped, heavy with unease. "There's more," he said, glancing warily around the wreckage. "Some of our members are missing. We suspect they were working with the assailants."

Irina's flames flickered faintly at her fingertips again, her frustration rekindled. "So, you're saying this was an inside job? They knew exactly what they were doing because someone from your side helped them."

Orwin gave a grim nod. "It seems likely. Their coordination, the sabotage... none of this would have been possible without inside information. And considering how targeted this attack was-"

"They were after me," Irina cut in, her tone sharp.

_"

"And I'm sure you are," Irina cut him off, her tone firm. "But let's not pretend this isn't going to take weeks of chasing leads that might not even exist. The fact that they escaped this easily tells me they've prepared for every contingency, including this

one."

Orwin's jaw tightened, but he nodded reluctantly, clearly aware of the truth in her words. "Very well," he said, his tone formal. "You're free to go. However, given the nature of this attack, we'd be willing to provide a security detail to ensure your safety

while you're in the city.

Irina shook her head, already turning away. "Don't bother. Your resources are limited, and you need them here. Astron and I can handle ourselves."

Astron offered a small nod of agreement, his sharp purple eyes briefly meeting

Orwin's before shifting toward the exit.

"Understood," Orwin said, his voice resigned. "But please, if you need assistance, don't

hesitate to contact us."

Irina didn't respond, already striding toward the exit with Astron following silently at

her side. The chaos of the museum faded behind them, replaced by the muted hum of the city streets as they stepped outside.

But before they could make it far, a sudden commotion erupted ahead of them. Irina's eyes narrowed as a crowd surged into view-reporters, their cameras flashing and microphones thrust forward as they clamored for attention.

"Miss Emberheart! Is it true you were the target of the attack?"

"Who were the assailants? Do you know why they were after you?" "Was anyone seriously injured in the museum? Are you planning to retaliate?"

The barrage of questions was relentless, the reporters pushing closer with every step. Irina halted, her expression darkening as she realized there would be no easy way past them.

Astron's sharp gaze swept over the crowd, his posture steady but subtly shifting as if preparing for anything. "This is going to be inconvenient," he murmured quietly. Irina rolled her eyes, her frustration simmering beneath the surface. "No kidding." One reporter pushed forward, their voice rising above the others. "Miss Emberheart,

do you believe this attack is connected to your family's prominence in the Federation?

Were these political enemies?"

Irina's ember eyes glinted dangerously, but she managed to keep her tone calm. "No comment," she said firmly, her voice cutting through the clamor.