Chapter 258 - 258: The Day of Negotiation

The day passed by too quickly. Now was the day Catseye and the Azumi Twins would have to confront each other.

After her discovery yesterday, Elle became more determined to save Erick's parents. She found out that her Dad and his Dad had a strong connection with each other. She was overjoyed by that revelation.

After this mission, she decided to tell Erick about everything. His parents knew her parents as well. It was also the time to tell Raymond and Sarah about her identity as the missing daughter of Agent Cedrick Falcon.

But as of now, she didn't mention anything to Erick. She wanted to finish this mission first. This was not the appropriate time yet to tell him what she had discovered relating to their past connection with each other.

Their next moves were already set in stone. On Elle's team, she had Phantom, Lu, Yu, and Yan while on Erick's side, he had Bryan, Captain Jason, June, Carl, and Allen.

An hour before the agreed meet-up time, Elle's team already succeeded in infiltrating the M.V Athena. The ship was currently docked in the middle of South Carolina's coast. Erick's team would also have to travel by boat to go there.

M.V Athena was a mini version of a mainstream vessel that could accommodate 300-500 passengers per sailing. It had four level decks. Inside the cruise ship, there were pools, casinos, spas, restaurants, private rooms, and cabins, as well as a wide area for banquets. 

The inside looked like a hotel hall. Once you were inside you wouldn't think that you are inside a ship and sailing in the middle of the sea.

Just as expected, the ship was full of members of the Dark Knight Organization who were equipped with high powered firearms. There were approximately one hundred men inside. It seemed that the Azumi Twins and the Dark Knight Organization were being cautious upon meeting Catseye.

Phantom and his henchmen posed themselves as crews from the ship's galley which served as the kitchen and where the foods were being prepared. They grabbed the remaining time to roam around the ship and familiarize every part of it. 

Meanwhile, Elle was the one who searched for the location of Erick's parents. After twenty minutes of surveying the ship, she found them in the middle decks along with the Azumi Twins. 

It was the main hall and banquet area inside the ship. Raymond and Sarah were being tied on the chairs. Several guards were also scattered in the area. 

Elle was wearing a crew's uniform that's why they didn't suspect her. She immediately informed Erick of the location where his team should go upon boarding the ship. 

Aside from Bryan and Erick, the rest of the team should also sneak inside without alarming the enemies. Brother Lu was the one who was assigned to help them enter the ship without hassle.

Currently, Kevin and Kelsy were leisurely drinking at the bar counter on the corner. Kelsy couldn't help but check the time in the clock hanging on the wall. She seemed bored already.

Quarter to Seven, Erick's team successfully entered the ship. Lu gave them the instruction to proceed to the middle deck where Erick's parents were being held captive.

They didn't expect that Erick was telling the truth when he told them that there was someone inside the ship who would help them. Lu was wearing a crew's uniform also. He also wore a mask when he faced the members of the Joint Task Force.

After talking with them, they went separate ways. The members of the Joint Task Force also split up into two teams: Captain Jason and Allen were together while June and Carl formed the other team.

At exactly 7:00 o'clock in the evening, someone approached them. He informed the twins that Erick had arrived.

"There is one ferry boat that just arrived. It docked on the rear side of our ship. When our men asked them to identify themselves, they told us that he was Chief Detective Erick Lee."

"He was also with someone," The man added.

Kelsy's face brightened up with excitement upon hearing that. She immediately stood up from her seat.

"That's great! They are finally here. Tell our men to guide them and bring them here!" she said cheerfully as she gave him the order.

The man picked up his handheld radio and relayed the order to their men on the lower deck who were currently facing Erick and his company.

Meanwhile, Elle also informed her team to get ready. The show was about to start.

"Master, it is time to move." Elle simply said through their communication device. It was her go signal.

"Got it!" Phantom replied to her.

On the other hand, Captain Jason and the rest were already inside the middle deck, silently waiting in their hiding spots. They were also contacting each other through their communication devices.

Carl and June were both hiding on the spot near the location where Erick's parents were tied down.

"Chief Lee assigned to us this very important task. We should secure Uncle Raymond and Aunt Sarah no matter what!" June reminded Carl.

"I know. We should act quickly. I think Chief Lee and Bryan already arrived." Carl responded in a low voice.

They averted their gaze back to the hall. They were holding their guns while observing the situation. They noticed that lots of men started to gather around the area.

"D*mn! Are we going to be fine? There are lots of them. We are outnumbered this time!" June voiced out his concern.

Carl also became anxious. He started to have cold sweats.

"Don't worry about that. Chief Lee assured us that everything will be alright. Let's just focus on what we have to do." Carl said to him.

June took a heavy sigh before nodding at him. Several minutes had passed and some men entered the hall. It was Erick who was escorted by ten men.

"Oh, Chief Lee is here!" June blurted out.

Carl frowned when he looked at the direction of Erick. "Wait… why is it he is alone? Where's Sergeant Bryan? I thought they would come together." he couldn't help but wonder.

June also felt puzzled. "Yeah. That's our plan. But where is he?" 

They peered the area but they didn't see Bryan among those people.

'Is there a sudden change in our plan that we are not informed?" Carl commented again.

After a few seconds, they noticed another presence alongside Erick.

"Hey, Carl! Who's that person beside Chief Erick?"

The two men focused their eyes on the figure who was beside Erick. That person was wearing all black matching with a hood and black mask. They were both confused and curious at the same time about that person.

"I have no idea! But I can't understand. Why do I feel like I saw that similar get-up before? It has a familiar vibe to me but I couldn't remember." Carl was thinking hard to remember where he had seen it before.

They were still wondering when suddenly they heard Kelsy's voice greeting the newcomers.

"Oh My Gosh! It's my pleasure to finally meet face to face the famous handsome and youngest chief detective of this country, Erick Lee!" There was a hint of admiration in her eyes as she said those words.

Kevin also stood up from his seat as he walked over to Kelsy's side. The men inside were looking at the newcomers, the person in black in particular. They became more alert after seeing that person. 

On the other hand, Erick remained silent as he didn't respond to Kelsy's greeting. Instead, he searched for his parents. When their gaze met the parents and son called each other.

"Mom! Dad!"

"Erick!"

"My Son!"

"Mom and Dad, don't worry I've come to save you," Erick said to them. He was glad that his parents were just fine.

Sarah started to cry while Raymond stayed vigilant with complicated emotions on his face. He was worried to see his son being surrounded by a large number of enemies. Even he didn't know if they could leave this place safe and sound.

But he wanted to trust his son. He knew he had come prepared before going there.

Then seconds later, Kevin Azumi spoke up as he eyed the person in black who was very silent beside Erick.

"Hello, Catseye! Welcome aboard!" Then a smug smile crept on his face after saying that.

Every member of the Joint Task Force who was hiding in shadows as well as Erick's parents were dumbstruck after hearing that.

"Catseye?!"

"Who's Catseye?"

"What did he mean by that?"

"Is he referring to the person beside Erick?!"