My Substitute CEO Bride (Nash Calicraft) novel Chapter 2323

The masked man continued, "I followed the trail of the fire and searched in the distance, but all I found was this."

He pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to Francel.

Francel took it, and tears began to stream down his face uncontrollably. It was candy—Smiley's favorite kind.

"W-Where?" Francel asked, his voice trembling.

The masked man pointed toward the only passage leading to the upper levels. "I don't know exactly what happened, but I advise you to give up.

"Among those people, there's someone incredibly powerful who's nearly at the Profound Oriental Realm. If you go, it's a death sentence."

Francel stood up with determination in his eyes. "Can you help me?"

The masked man looked puzzled. Both he and Francel were competitors; there was no reason to help each other. He shook his head. "I've already told you, going there now is useless..."

"Even you can't help me?" Francel asked, examining the man's weapon. He knew that if this mysterious figure fought alongside him, they might have a chance.

The masked man hesitated and then asked, "Why should I help you?"

Francel took off his bracelet and held it out. "Because of this."

The masked man let out a small, mocking laugh. "Do you think I can't beat you right now?"

As he cautiously approached Smiley, a figure suddenly snatched her away. Francel looked ahead and recognized the person—it was Barther, the heir to the Patel family.

Barther had Smiley tightly restrained and threatened, "If you want this little girl to live, hand over the bracelet now!"

Francel had no choice but to remove his bracelet. To him, nothing mattered more than the people around him.

"Here's the bracelet! Now give me back my girl!" Francel shouted.

Barther released Smiley the moment Francel threw the bracelet toward him. As Smiley and the bracelet were airborne, Francel and Barther lunged toward each other almost simultaneously.