Chapter 5

Liam's gaze fell on Ruby, recognizing the bloodied wizard's robe she wore. Sharp as ever, he instantly pieced together what had happened. He had clearly underestimated Ella—this was all part of her carefully crafted scheme. Fine! The game had just gotten more interesting. But she had better hope she didn't fall into his hands. With the hotel exits sealed, just as he ordered, there was no way Ella could escape. In the underground parking lot, Elevator No. 2 opened just as Ella and Hunter dashed toward the car. "They're there! Quick, after them!" Several men picked up their pace, giving chase as soon as they spotted the pair. Ella reached Hunter's car just as Liam stepped out of Elevator No. 1. A concrete pillar had blocked his view, keeping her hidden from sight. Watching her sprint ahead, Hunter couldn't help but be impressed—this was Ella at her best, fueled by adrenaline and danger. Hunter unlocked the car, and Ella slipped inside right as Liam rounded the pillar, catching just a glimpse of her leg disappearing into the vehicle. Hunter took the driver's seat, quickly reversing with a sharp drift and speeding off like a pro racer. His skill behind the wheel left no doubt that racing was in his blood, and within moments, they shook off their pursuers, including Liam. "Consider the job done!" Hunter grinned. This was way too thrilling! "Say that once you leave the hotel." However, Ella's response was less hopeful as she knew Liam's power and capabilities. "What do you mean? Is there an ambush at the exit?" Hunter was momentarily confused, but he quickly understood what she meant. "It's possible," she replied, recalling the earlier mention of the blocked exits. She wasn't sure if it included the underground parking lot, but with so many exits to cover, they couldn't have enough men to guard them all. There was still hope. "Which exit should we take, then?" Hunter asked in all seriousness. It was odd to see him, usually so arrogant, actually asking her opinion. "The closest one," Ella decided. With little information, their best option was to escape as quickly as possible. Watching the car speed away, Liam gave up the chase and pulled out his phone. "Where are you, Liam? I'm already at the hotel. What's going on?" Mason's voice crackled over the phone when Liam didn't speak first. "How many men did you post at the underground parking lot's exits?" Liam's voice was cold, making Mason shudder despite the lack of emotion. "I've stationed six or seven at each," Mason answered cautiously, sensing Liam's displeasure. "You haven't caught her yet?" "It's a Bentley, and the license plate ends in 666. Do whatever it takes to stop them from leaving," Liam instructed. Mason, listening closely, realized he had inadvertently given him the answer. "Don't worry, Liam. I'll be sure to get the job done!" Mason boasted confidently. As the police chief, he took pride in his abilities. Yet he couldn't help but feel curious about the person who had pushed Liam to such extremes. "What's going on? Why are there so many people here?" Hunter was startled by the seven people forming a human barricade at the exit. Had he driven any faster, they would have been run over. Trapped in a standstill, they couldn't retreat or advance. It would be a disaster if none of them moved when the car continued forward. Hunter slowed down, unwilling to risk running anyone over. Ella pursed her lips. They were trapped between a human barricade ahead and multiple pursuers behind. And she believed Liam would soon catch up to them. She'd be at his mercy if caught, and it would be entirely due to their failure to move past this human blockade fast enough. "Let's try a different exit," Hunter suggested. "There's no way they blocked them all, especially at this hour!" "It's no use. Do you not see the uniforms they're wearing? They're auxiliary police and not the hotel's staff members. There's nothing we can do. Auxiliary police patrols around the clock—anytime and anywhere," Ella said. Trying a different exit wouldn't make a difference. The auxiliary police, likely on Liam's payroll, had positioned themselves everywhere. They were stuck. "What kind of grudge does he have against you to resort to such extreme measures just to hunt you down?" It was only now that Hunter understood the seriousness of their predicament. He had never faced anything this intense nor imagined that leaving a hotel could be this difficult. Extreme was an understatement. Ella thought it fit the situation perfectly. "Maybe we should pull back for a bit?" Hunter suggested. Since charging ahead was out of the question, they could retreat momentarily and keep moving to avoid getting caught. "No. We can't," Ella replied firmly. She was convinced that retreating now would only seal her fate—she'd be caught for sure. Hunter turned toward her, a mix of expectation and hesitation on his face. "You have a solution?" "Keep driving. Don't slow down," Ella instructed, her gaze fixed on the barricade. "Won't they die?" Hunter asked, his concern evident. Things could go terribly wrong if they accidentally killed any of them. "Don't worry. They won't," Ella assured him, her voice calm and unwavering, as if there was not a single doubt in her mind. "Alright," Hunter replied, pressing the gas pedal harder. It was only then he realized how much trust he had in Ella's judgment. The car barreled toward the exit where the auxiliary police waited. Though their expressions had tightened with anxiety, none of them moved. Hunter squinted, but he didn't slow. Ella's confidence in the situation was unwavering, and somehow, he found himself trusting her without question. When they were a mere ten yards from the exit, Ella opened the sunroof and stood up, her hand outstretched as she threw something toward the auxiliary police. "Here! Have a taste of the Grimoria M-DN31 grenade!" As it hit the ground, the grenade released a thick cloud of smoke, enveloping the officers. Ella couldn't help but appreciate how convincingly realistic the prop was! Hunter's jaw dropped. He was stunned, watching in disbelief. How did Ella come up with this? Her ingenuity was absurd—and brilliant. "Bomb! It's a bomb! Run!" The seven auxiliary police panicked, scattering in all directions at the sight of the grenade spewing smoke. Since they were in her way, Ella had to find a solution to get rid of them. After all, it wasn't as if they could just crash straight into them. But with the grenade going off, they'd have no choice but to scatter. After all, no one would be crazy enough to risk their life for a command from Liam, right?