Chapter 552: The Coming Turmoil

What Robert Lancaster said next completely defied Melody Summers’s expectations.

According to Robert Lancaster’s account, the epidemic that followed the torrential rains might not have been a natural disaster, but a man-made one.

Shortly after Sylvia Lancaster produced the water that controlled the epidemic, and after the Lancaster family received a government commendation, Robert Lancaster and Elaine Hughes were targeted in an assassination attempt.

Luckily, they had brought plenty of bodyguards, who performed their duties diligently, and the assassins failed to succeed.

Robert Lancaster had initially assumed these people saw the Lancaster family on the rise again and were planning a kidnapping for ransom. But he later found out that he had been far too naive...

A few days later, government officials found Robert Lancaster. They alerted him that the assassination attempt on his family might be connected to the current epidemic.

The officials told Robert Lancaster that based on their recent investigation, they suspected the epidemic was man-made. A group of criminals had been researching a new type of virus, and this was what led to the catastrophe.

Because the Lancaster family had produced the water that controlled the epidemic, thwarting the criminals’ plans, the group now saw them as a thorn in their side and wanted to eliminate them as quickly as possible.

By this point, Melody Summers was already dead, so she was unaware of these events.

As Melody Summers listened to Robert Lancaster’s halting description, her frown deepened. She never expected this turn of events.

’This epidemic was actually man-made?’

’Someone was researching a new type of virus?’

’This is just too absurd!’

’It’s hard enough just to survive after three years of natural disasters, and someone still has the nerve to pull something like this?!’

Melody Summers frowned at Robert Lancaster and asked in a low voice, "Is everything you’re saying true? Or are you just making up stories to save your own neck?"

Robert Lancaster hurriedly shook his head and swore, "I-It’s... all... true... I s-swear..."

Seeing that Robert Lancaster’s expression didn’t look fake, Melody Summers asked again, "Then tell me, what else do you know about this new virus and the people who were researching it?"

Upon hearing her question, Robert Lancaster’s eyes darted about, and he hesitated without speaking.

Just as Melody Summers was growing impatient, Robert Lancaster finally answered, "...I... I can’t... say... right now... unless you p-promise... not to kill me..."

Melody Summers scoffed. "Can’t say? I bet you don’t actually know."

Melody Summers knew Robert Lancaster. If he truly knew the inside story of this epidemic, he certainly wouldn’t have come to her now. He would have laid low, waited for the epidemic to break out, and then used his foreknowledge to secure benefits for himself.

He might have even waited until the situation spiraled out of control before making a move. After all, the more dire things became, the more valuable his information would be and the more he could gain from it.

The only reason he would risk seeking her out was that he was truly at the end of his rope.

He probably knew the epidemic was man-made but was ignorant of any further details.

Melody Summers watched Robert Lancaster with a cold smirk, saying nothing. Seeing this, he continued to bluff, "I... I know... J-just... don’t kill me... I’ll... I’ll tell you... bit by bit... later..."

"I’m... your father... I’ll help... help you... We can... we can team up, father and daughter..."

Robert Lancaster was trying with all his might to persuade Melody Summers, but she couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on him.

Melody Summers would find out the truth behind the epidemic on her own. Robert Lancaster knew too much, and his intentions were malicious. No matter what, he could not be allowed to live.

Melody Summers pulled the knockout drug—the one that induced a 24-hour sleep—from her space and, with a flick of her wrist, sprinkled it on Robert Lancaster.

The next second, Robert Lancaster’s eyes fluttered shut, and he passed out.

Staring at Robert Lancaster’s unconscious form on the floor, Melody Summers found herself in a bit of a predicament.

Having learned her lesson with Felix Ford, and knowing that Robert Lancaster was also reborn, Melody Summers didn’t dare put him in her space. Killing him here would also make disposing of the body a problem.

After careful consideration, she decided to leave the professional work to a professional. She dialed Saul Archer’s number.

Once the call connected, Melody Summers got straight to the point. "Hey, Saul Archer, it’s me. Come up to 1603 if you have a minute."

Having worked together several times, Saul Archer knew what the call was about. He soon arrived with two of his men.

Upon seeing Robert Lancaster on the floor, Saul Archer didn’t ask a single question. He simply motioned for his two subordinates to carry the man away.

Only Saul Archer and Melody Summers remained in the room. Melody Summers pulled a gold bar from her pocket, tossed it to him, and said coolly, "Don’t leave him alive. Take care of it quickly. You can have whatever else you find on him."

Saul Archer caught the gold bar, hefting it in his palm. Feeling its substantial weight, he said to Melody Summers with satisfaction, "Miss Summers, when we do a job, you can rest assured."

But after saying this, Saul Archer didn’t leave. He looked at Melody Summers, hesitating as if he wanted to say something more.

Melody Summers, puzzled by his expression, asked, "What’s that look for? Is one gold bar not enough?"

"It’s enough! More than enough!" Saul Archer replied hurriedly. It wasn’t just enough; it was far more than enough!

Melody Summers was incredibly generous, paying in Gold by the pound. If it weren’t for that, Saul Archer wouldn’t want to get blood on his hands. So...

Saul Archer looked at Melody Summers, gritted his teeth, and finally said, "Miss Summers, to be frank, I’m leaving in a couple of days. I probably won’t be able to do any more work for you after this."

"Leaving? Why?" Melody Summers was surprised, not understanding what he meant.

’Countless people out there were fighting tooth and nail to get into The Metropolis Residences, so why would he want to leave?’

’What was he thinking?’

What Melody Summers didn’t know was that Saul Archer’s decision to leave was not made lightly—he felt he had no other choice.

Saul Archer’s direct superior had received orders from the top brass to stir up a riot in The Metropolis Residences and raid the supply depot in the back-hill reconstruction area.

When Saul Archer and his brother, Jay Lowell, found out about this, their first instinct was to flee. They might not be good men, but they wanted to live, not throw their lives away.

Starting a riot in the community and raiding the back-hill reconstruction area—what was the difference between that and suicide?

The two brothers might not have had a choice before, but now, with the several bars of Gold from Melody Summers, they had enough to lay low outside for some time.

But Saul couldn’t tell Melody Summers any of this now. If his boss found out he’d leaked the plan, his own life would be forfeit.

Facing Melody Summers’s questioning gaze, Saul Archer could only say, "I can’t go into the details... In any case, you shouldn’t go out for the next few days. Lock your doors and windows and stay home. Or better yet, go hide somewhere outside for a while!"

Without waiting for her reaction, Saul Archer pocketed the gold bar and hastily turned to leave.

Saul Archer’s words left Melody Summers completely bewildered. Already weighed down by what Robert Lancaster had told her, she now felt even more vexed. Her intuition screamed that the peaceful life she had worked so hard to achieve was about to be shattered.

On her way home, she kept trying to recall what had happened around this time in her past life. Just as she reached her front door, it suddenly came to her—

In her past life, a group of gamblers had robbed the supply depot in the reconstruction area!

And as luck would have it, Saul Archer had been involved in that incident!