ARCANUM

CHAPTER 43

RUBY POV

We traveled to Konye-Urgench, which should be taken in two hours, in just over an hour at a speed that was quite frightening. Even though my heart was beating as fast as the speed of this jeep I was driving, but I had to do it if I didn't want to lose Rattle's Jeep. She was driving fast and I had to keep up with her.

Entering the city of Konye-Urgench, she slowed down her car a little but was still very fast compared to the maximum speed allowed. But it seemed she didn't care about the rules and rushed to where she was headed. The place was opposite from where I was staying all this time with Manoban.

Rattle steered her Jeep into a quieter, more secluded area on the outskirts of town before making a sharp turn and into the basement parking lot, where she finally stopped and parked haphazardly before rushing out. Irene even opened the Jeep door before the car came to a complete stop.

Someone I didn't see before was waiting there and ran over to Irene with a wheeled stretcher, then immediately helped Irene and Rosie carry the unconscious Manoban onto the bed. Without waiting for me, who had just parked my jeep, they immediately ran to push the bed with Manoban on it to enter the white double door, which was not far from there.

I told Punpun to follow me, and she followed suit to after them. Luckily, Punpun didn't make the situation difficult and listened to my orders. Maybe because she had caught a glimpse of Manoban before, the only person she knew here.

"Rattle!" I called out to her as Manoban was with Irene and the other person entering the white double doors at the end of the long hallway. She stopped and turned to look at me with a serious, worried face. I've never seen her expression like this.

"What is it?" I asked, as soon as I was in front of her. Ignoring my ragged breaths.

"Valdo Bykov. I got word he escaped from prison and tried to track him down. Three days ago, I found him in Baku, Azerbaijan. He met Altair Khaliq. Then two days ago, he was seen smuggling at night through the port there and was seen back in Turkmenistan last night. So I predict that he will come to see Oraz Tagan. That's why we rushed here," Rattle explained quickly.

"But why do you and Irene seem so worried?" I ask.

"Luca. I didn't foresee you would shoot him that fast. It's not your fault, I know you only trust him. But I didn't expect that your trust in him was so deep that you took action before I was ready. Luckily, I shot your gun right away, but I can only hope that your bullet strays from his heart," she explained with admiration and concern at the same time.

"What do you mean? He's wearing a safety net... He's beckoning me..." I answered hesitantly.

Rattle took a deep breath before replying to me, "Right, he's signaling. He did it so you don't hesitate to point the gun at his chest as Valdo asked. But he gave me a hint that what he said wasn't true."

"Y-you mean he already knew you were here?" I am surprised.