A Second Chance at Forever (Eleanor and Bernard) novel Chapter 1383

If Yates weren't the founder of Area Opaca, Eleanor might have found his actions somewhat touching.

But at that moment, she felt nothing, simply quickening her pace to keep up with his stride.

Peterson was the one behind the wheel, and there were no other passengers.

Eleanor thus confirmed her earlier suspicion: aside from Peterson, the rest of the Sharp clan were oblivious to Area Opaca's existence.

She scoffed at Yates' ability to deceive, while he tried to impress upon her just how ruthless the Siren Organization was, and the extent of suffering its victims within Area Opaca had endured.

Yates' attempts at indoctrination bored Eleanor. She threw him a few sarcastic remarks, turned her head away, and started to memorize the route as the landscape whizzed by outside the window...

The journey was long, entailing a drive, followed by a helicopter ride, a ferry crossing, and several more rotations of helicopter transport, spanning an entire day and night, before reaching an unnamed mountaintop.

Eleanor suspected Yates was deliberately taking a roundabout route to prevent her from memorizing the path. Yet, as they transferred from one mode of transportation to another with such familiarity, it didn't quite seem so.

Frustration clouded Aidyn's features as he pounded the steering wheel, his voice laced with irritation. "That cunning old man," he muttered under his breath, "Despite our chopper on standby, we've lost his trace!"

Scott tried to calm him down, "Hey, the guy founded Area Opaca. If he lacked this kind of counter-surveillance skill, we would've toppled him by now. Don't rush it, we'll wait for the lady to send her location."

While the two men waited, Eleanor was already following Yates and Peterson towards a secluded cottage.

Yates wasn't worried about her knowing too much. He pointed out the scattered villas within the mountain's embrace.

"See that south-facing villa? That's District A. The one to the north is District B, to the west is District C, and to the east, that's the Bio Zone..."

After briefing her on Area Opaca's layout, Yates told Eleanor that since she was to be a player, she should familiarize herself with the terrain and rules of the game.

Only then did Eleanor realize that Area Opaca was established underground and those villas were its gateways.

No one would suspect such a hidden location, nor would they imagine that villas housing ordinary residents could be the facade for a den of malice.

Having explained the essentials of Area Opaca, Yates led her into the villa in District A, home to an elderly couple who greeted him with utmost reverence.

Through their conversation, Eleanor learned that the couple were former housekeepers for the Sharp family, well-cared for by Yates, who had provided for them and nurtured their children – it was no wonder they held him in such high esteem.

Eleanor recognized Yates' talent for leadership and strategic thinking, but she was repulsed that he used these skills for nefarious purposes.

Eleanor, observing the people on the monitors, asked Yates about the number of operators.

He explained that each district had two groups, each with nine members, all his partners. In addition to the operators, there were many men in black.

Having roughly gauged the layout and personnel, Eleanor seized the moment before the meeting to sneakily check her phone for a signal.

Finding it unblocked, she quickly excused herself to the restroom, hid in a stall, and rushed to send Aidyn a message along with her location.

Yates, keenly aware of her intentions as soon as she asked to use the restroom, nonchalantly nodded to the man at the control panel, who began typing codes to intercept the message.

Eleanor, oblivious to any issues on her phone, was relieved that the message had been sent. She quickly pocketed her device and left the restroom.

When she returned to the control room, it was filled with individuals wearing masks and black protective suits.

The operators lifted their heads as she entered, their gazes heavy even behind their masks, each a titan of industry.

Eleanor steadied her nerves, ignoring the intense scrutiny, and took her place beside Yates as he motioned for her to sit down.