Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 971

They needed to prepare medicine for the human traffickers—poisons that would rot their skin and make them wish for death...

Everything had to be ready. Different remedies for different scum.

Aside from eating, Mira Mercer and Master Ellis spent every day brewing these concoctions.

Three days later, Jude Vance called.

"Are you planning an operation in Balkana?"

"Why do you ask?"

This was highly classified intelligence. How did Jude know?

Lawrence Lance was currently behind bars and couldn't possibly leak information. Could it be the local authorities in Balkana?

Most likely. The international terrorist syndicates had been entrenched in the Balkan Underworld for so long; they definitely had insiders within the local government.

The massive criminal enterprise brought in astronomical profits. They couldn't care less about crimes against humanity.

"A friend told me Mishka has laid a massive trap in the Balkan Underworld, waiting to slaughter someone."

"You're in contact with Mishka?"

Mira asked.

"Miss Mercer, I admit I'm no saint when it comes to business competition. But I am not one of those soulless monsters in the Balkan Underworld.

I would never cause physical harm to anyone.

I wouldn't stoop to associating with someone like Mishka,"

Jude explained.

"Yet you hung around a piece of trash like Lawrence."

Mira replied dismissively.

"Miss Mercer, that was a misunderstanding.

I was new to the country and didn't know anyone. At the time, I only knew he was the heir to the Lance family—the most powerful family in Aethelgard.

I partnered with him to leverage his influence.

I didn't fully understand his methods back then.

"Telling you wouldn't have made a difference. Those things aren't meant for everyday use. Break the rules once, and they get confiscated or permanently banned.

So, locally, we have to rely on our own combat skills and pharmacological arts for defense."

"I've never used a gun. Should I practice?"

"Didn't I teach you how to throw needles? Shooting a gun is basically the same concept."

After a brief chat, the two returned to their brewing.

Master Ellis had somehow sourced a massive stockpile of medicinal herbs. He had also brought over his entire set of pharmaceutical equipment, and the two of them sorted and refined the compounds together.

That afternoon, a guest arrived at Mira's villa. "You're..."

"I'm York Vance, your instructor. Have you forgotten me, Mira?"

"Oh, York! This is a rare surprise. How did you find my place?"

Seeing York again, Mira noticed that even in civilian clothes, he looked more imposing and sharp than he had during the orientation.

"Dominic West sent me to find you."