At a secluded villa on the outskirts of the city, Mosby and Rafael sat brooding, their faces dark and twisted with frustration.

Rafael muttered through gritted teeth, "We're still missing the final fragment. And the one we snatched from the Rhodes family? Completely blank. All that effort and the map's still incomplete—and I got stabbed in the damn groin for it! Screw this!"

A thick cigar dangled from his lips as he cursed loudly, wincing as a sharp pain from his crotch shot through his body again.

It was pure bad luck. Andrew had aimed that golden acupuncture needle straight at Rafael's vital point, but Mosby had yanked him aside at the last second. The needle missed his heart, only to land squarely in a far more sensitive spot.

Though Mosby had pulled it out quickly after, Rafael still felt sore and twitchy every time he moved.

"Mr. Driscoll, good things take time. We're closer than ever to uncovering the treasure vault of the Fallen Crimson Dynasty," Mosby said calmly.

H