Chapter 6

"Herbal Chronicles: The Lost Remedies" was not just any old book; it was a national treasure filled with ancient, long-lost medical techniques.

If it fell into foreign hands, the essence of our medical heritage could be exploited for profit.

After parting ways with Clover, Zoey returned to the medical school.

Having stayed up all night, her face looked even colder in the early morning, and no one dared to approach her.

However, some people seemed to love courting trouble.

Scarlett came to the school with a smile: "Zoey, Nexus School of Medicine isn't like those other mediocre medical schools. It's very strict here, and I hope you can behave yourself."

"Don't ruin Cleo's future, got it?"

She had to issue a warning to prevent Zoey from destroying Cleo's career. Cleo was set to inherit the King Group.

"Mom, what are you doing here?" Cleo appeared and linked arms with her. "Don't worry, Zoey is very well-behaved. If she doesn't understand something, she can ask me, and I'll help her."

As she spoke, a hint of mockery flashed in her eyes.

Two years ago, she had managed to ruin Zoey, and she could still make her life in the medical field unbearable.

"Two dogs barking in my ear first thing in the morning, how annoying. Instead of worrying about me, why don't you make sure Cleo doesn't dress so provocatively when seeing patients? And whether I'm well-behaved or not has nothing to do with you. You're not my mom, so you have no right to control me."

"You..." Scarlett trembled with anger. "Ungrateful brat! If it weren't for me and your dad speaking up for you in front of the Brown family, do you think you'd be standing here unharmed?"

Though she was Zoey's stepmother, she had never mistreated her. Why should she be treated like this?

Seeing Zoey infuriate Scarlett, Cleo's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

"Mom, don't bother with her. She doesn't understand anything, unlike me, who always listens to you."

She whispered in Scarlett's ear, "As long as we secure the deal with the Garcia family, the King Group will have a firm foothold in Emerald City. I get that."

Scarlett looked pleased. "Yes, remember, you must be better than Zoey."

Zoey watched the two of them daydreaming and sneered before walking away.

Late at night, in an antique shop.

Zoey opened the safe and gently touched the remaining page of "Herbal Chronicles: The Lost Remedies."

Though it was just a fragment, it was the most crucial page. The book at tonight's secret auction was missing this page, and everyone wanted it.

Especially the foreigners, they were practically salivating.

She intended to keep this fragment for someone who truly needed it, so she didn't reveal it at the auction.

Suddenly, her ears picked up a sound; someone had entered.

Zoey silently placed the fragment in her bag, threw a needle to extinguish the light, and a surgical knife appeared between her fingers.

The back window was violently broken, and three shadows flipped in, heading straight for the ancient book section.

Her vision was clear even in the dark, and she recognized their peculiar movements.

Novaria, of course, they were the most impatient.

"Looking for this?"

The three turned sharply and saw the fragment in Zoey's hand.

"A woman?" The leader sneered. "Hand it over, and I'll spare your life."

The surgical knife in Zoey's hand gleamed coldly. "Too much talk."

The three exchanged glances and lunged at her simultaneously.

Ten seconds later, Zoey stepped on the last man's wrist, the surgical knife pressed against his carotid artery. "Who sent you?"

The man gritted his teeth and remained silent, but the earpiece crackled with urgent voices. "Did you get it?"

Zoey raised an eyebrow, took the earpiece, and spoke into it. "What do you think?"

The other end fell silent.

The last man tried to struggle, but she knocked him out with the back of the knife.

"Tell your leader," she kicked the men out the window, "touch Lumaria's things, and you'll die."

Elsewhere, someone angrily smashed an earpiece. "Three useless fools, they can't even handle a woman!"

The black-clad man kneeling on the ground was drenched in cold sweat.

"She... she's not an ordinary woman... we couldn't even see how she moved..."

A chilling male voice came from upstairs. "An expert in Emerald City?"

Everyone looked at him respectfully.

"Yes, and she's a woman," the black-clad man stammered. "She took us down with just a surgical knife..."

"Surgical knife?" The man suddenly laughed coldly. "That reminds me of an old acquaintance, Rose from the Iron Vanguards, a top mercenary skilled with surgical knives."

"If I had faced her tonight, I might not have won either. You were unlucky to encounter her."

Meanwhile, Zoey handed the fragment of "Herbal Chronicles: The Lost Remedies" to Clover and took down all three secret bases of Novaria in Emerald City.

"Rose, you're amazing!" Clover's voice trembled with excitement. "We've been searching for those bases for six months and couldn't find them, but you took them all down in a day. No one can match your skills."

Zoey still wore her mask, her tone indifferent. "Let's talk business. Where's the money?"

Clover quickly pulled out two black briefcases from the car. "Two million dollars in cash, as usual."

Zoey took out her device, scanned the briefcases to verify the money, and picked them up to leave.

"Wait!" Clover chased after her. "Mr. Garcia clearly wanted to meet you at tonight's auction. Why didn't you show your face?"

Zoey's eyes flickered, her voice cold. "I don't want to meet him."

"But the Iron Vanguards want to meet you, offering..."

"No." She disappeared into the night without looking back.

The next day, the Garcia Group's convoy arrived at the abandoned factory in the east of the city.

"Late again." Benjamin White kicked aside the debris and shook his head helplessly.

"Benjamin, aren't you supposed to be the best at tracking people? Mr. Garcia asked you to monitor Novaria's actions, and they were taken down in one night, right under your nose," Oliver mocked.

"Rose is different." Benjamin squatted down, his fingers brushing over the special marks on the wall.

Three knife marks, one silver needle scratch, Rose's signature.

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Rose?"

"The Iron Vanguards' top mercenary, code name Rose." Benjamin stood up. "No one has seen a true face, not even the gender is known."

"But one thing is certain..." He pointed to the silver needle hole on the wall. "Rose should still be in Emerald City, hasn't left."

"Just from a needle hole? You can tell that Rose is still in Emerald City?" Oliver was shocked.

Benjamin pointed to his head. "I rely on my intelligence, gathered from within the mercenary circles."

Alexander narrowed his eyes. "Contact the Iron Vanguards. I want to meet their leader."

"They don't accept direct commissions..."

"They will, for the sake of money." Alexander walked towards the car door. "Offer a price they can't refuse."

Meanwhile, Zoey had just finished the final pre-surgery check for Rhea and was about to get up when Rhea grabbed her wrist.

"Zoey, share a bed with me tonight." Rhea patted the empty spot beside her. "I want to talk to you."

Zoey hesitated for a moment but then gently lay down.

"Zoey," Rhea suddenly asked softly, "was it Cleo who brought the whole family to force you to confess two years ago?"

Zoey's tone was calm. "Grandma, don't worry about it. I can handle it."

Rhea's eyes filled with tears as she looked at her. "You're growing more and more like your mother... If only I hadn't agreed to let Scarlett..."

"It's not your fault." Zoey held Rhea's hand. "It's Aiden and Scarlett's fault."

Rhea tightly gripped her hand. "When I recover, I'll make sure you get justice. No one will dare to bully you anymore. I've already spoken to Nexus School of Medicine. You can be yourself and not listen to others."

No one had ever told her they would stand up for her.

Zoey's cold eyes softened with a touch of emotion. "Okay, I'll listen to you, Grandma."

The next day, Zoey had just finished cleaning the equipment when Clover called via video.

Zoey returned to her single dorm room before answering. "What's up?"

"Rose, I told you the Garcia family is interested in you."

Why was it about the Garcia family again?

"Get to the point." Zoey's tone was a bit impatient.

Clover quickly explained. "The Garcia Group wants to meet the leader of the Iron Vanguards."

"And?" What did that have to do with her?

"They want to inquire about you. Either they're interested in you or want to buy your life," Clover summarized.

In Emerald City, the Garcia Group was like gods; no one dared to offend them.