34: Chapter 34 Unexpected Gains

At the entrance of the first floor.

Scarface's subordinates had already gathered behind him.

Everyone was staring at the door that had opened on its own; no one dared to walk inside.

"Boss..."

Cold sweat seeped from Scarface's forehead. Especially when the entire estate suddenly lit up, he felt a sense of hair-raising dread.

But he gritted his teeth.

If they didn't even go in now, it would be hard to explain when they returned.

It would be easy enough to explain to his underlings, but as the leader, he certainly wouldn't have a good outcome.

So he hardened his heart and said: "We're already here, go in!"

Having said that, he was the first to step through the door.

But as soon as he stepped inside, he stopped.

He saw a person standing in the foyer.

No.

Not a person.

It was a woman wearing a long white dress, standing with her back to them at the foot of the stairs.

Moonlight shone in through the window, stretching her shadow out long.

But she had no feet.

There was nothing where the shadow should be.

"Who are you?"

Scarface's voice trembled slightly.

The woman slowly turned her head.

That face... pale, bloated, with empty eye sockets.

But the corners of her mouth were smiling.

Scarface took a step back.

Then he realized there wasn't just one woman in the foyer.

On the stairs, in the hallway, in the corners!

One after another, those things appeared.

There were old people, children, men, and women.

Every face was pale, every eye socket hollow.

But they were all looking at them.

"Run!!!" Scarface's voice was stuck in his throat.

Then he ran.

Actually, there was no need for him to yell; seeing this situation, who could stay?

They turned around and took to their heels!

Eight people rushed out frantically.

Someone tripped on the threshold, scrambled up, and continued running.

Someone slammed into the doorframe, ignored the pain, and clutched their face while rushing out.

Someone lost their shoes and ran barefoot through the overgrown front yard.

Scarface was the unluckiest; he flipped over and slammed into a pillar, instantly passing out.

But his underlings didn't have time to worry about him; they were only focused on escaping themselves.

Those things did not chase.

They just stood where they were.

Watching those panicked figures disappear into the night.

Then they slowly dissipated, as if they had never appeared.

By the second-floor window.

Shaun stood there, watching those people scramble out of the iron gate, pile into the black SUV, start the engine, and drive away frantically.

The night wind blew in through the window, carrying the scent of the night.

Footsteps came from behind.

Shaun didn't turn around, but he knew it could only be Ballard.

"You're awake?"

Ballard's voice came from behind. Perhaps because it was night, her voice sounded uncharacteristically gentle: "With such a commotion, it's impossible to sleep."

She paused, then asked: "Were those people here for us?"

Shaun nodded.

Ballard was silent for a few seconds, but finally couldn't help asking: "Why did they run away?"

Shaun thought for a moment: "Maybe... they didn't like the atmosphere here?"

Ballard turned her head to look at him.

Moonlight shone on her face; that expression was hard to describe.

After a while, she said with a conflicted expression: "Shaun. What exactly... is in this house?"

Shaun looked out the window.

With a solemn face: "Nothing much, it just doesn't really welcome bad people."

It wasn't that Shaun was trying to act cool; it was just that he really didn't know how to explain it, so he had to use this slightly pretentious way.

Thinking to change the subject immediately, Shaun stood on the porch, looking at the mess below and Scarface lying on the ground, and asked Ballard: "What about him?"

Ballard didn't speak.

She stared at Scarface, her eyes suddenly becoming very strange.

Then she walked down, and Shaun followed.

The two walked up to Scarface.

Ballard crouched down and prodded his face to take a look.

That face had a hideous scar running from his left eye to his chin, which was particularly striking under the light.

Ballard stared at that face for three seconds, then laughed directly, turned to Shaun, and said: "Do you know who this is?"

Shaun shook his head.

Ballard stood up, gently kicked Scarface's arm, and said: "Hector the 'Hyena', the number two figure of the Colombian gang in New Orleans. He specializes in doing dirty work."

Shaun was stunned for a moment and asked uncertainly: "Number two figure?"

"Yes." Ballard put away her gun. "The narcotics unit has been chasing him for three years. Every time they have evidence, he gets away. Informants say he has a network in Colombia; even if he's caught, he'll be bailed out."

She looked down at the unconscious man, the corners of her mouth curling up: "Now... he's lying here."

Shaun was silent for a second: "So... did we hit the jackpot?"

"A huge jackpot," Ballard said. "Trespassing, armed assault on an officer, and with that face of his, it's enough to sentence him to twenty years."

She took out her phone and started taking pictures.

First she photographed Scarface's face, then the surrounding environment, then the crooked SUVs and the machetes and iron bars scattered all over the ground.

After finishing, she put away her phone and looked at Shaun.

"Does your house... have any rope?"

Shaun thought for a moment: "There should be."

After saying that, he immediately asked in his heart: Is there any rope?

In less than five seconds, a thick hemp rope flew out from the door and landed at his feet.

Ballard looked at the rope and went silent.

Shaun just decided to go for it; anyway, Ballard had already felt that this estate was wrong, so he might as well let her see clearly.

Fortunately, Ballard didn't say anything.

After her silence, she took the rope and began to tie Scarface's hands.

Shaun stood by, watching her movements. Seeing Ballard finish tying him up, he asked: "What now?"

She stood up and brushed the dust off her hands: "What now? Call for backup, take him back to the station, and interrogate him overnight."

"What he has to say will be enough for us to investigate the White case."

Shaun nodded, thinking to himself that this accidental encounter had really caught a big fish.

Over there, Ballard took out her phone, preparing to make a call.

But she didn't dial immediately; instead, she looked up at Shaun.

That gaze was different from before.

Not suspicion, not vigilance, nor that professional detachment.

But... filled with strong curiosity.

She softly called out: "Shaun."

"Hmm?"

"You today..."

Shaun's heart tightened; he was afraid that Ballard would get to the bottom of it, and he really wouldn't know how to answer.

Fortunately, Ballard seemed to feel it wasn't appropriate to ask, so she paused and then said: "Never mind."

Having said that, Ballard lowered her head and began to dial.

Shaun stood in place, watching her.

In his mind, the golden book flipped open a page.

【Renee Ballard Favorability: 25 → 50】

【Note: Your estate scared away a group of gangsters + 13】

【You directly handed her a target she'd been chasing for three years + 12】

【Current Favorability: 50/100】