Love Beyond the Mask novel Chapter 1172

“A couple days?” Whitney scoffed, rolling her eyes. “You’ll be lucky if you’re out of bed in two weeks, old man.”

“I’m not gonna argue with you,” the man replied through gritted teeth, his face pale with the effort. He’d already said more than he should have and was clearly drained. He waved her off, signaling her to leave.

Whitney had just stepped out into the hallway when Parker came rushing in, looking like he hadn’t slept in days. “Whitney! Has Ludwik woken up after the surgery?”

“Parker.”

Whitney had barely gotten his name out when Ludwik, sharp-eared as ever, caught the sound from inside the hospital room. His expression darkened, and he called out, forcing himself to sound stern, “Parker, get in here. Now!”

Parker shot Whitney a questioning glance. “He’s already off the anesthesia? He can talk?”

“He’s said plenty,” Whitney said dryly. “Most of it useless banter, but yeah, he’s talking. Felix took the bullets they pulled out of him to analyze. Ludwik’s been grilling me about what’s happening on Saltland Island with you.”

Parker’s brow furrowed at that, and Whitney felt a twinge of worry. Had things gone badly?

She stayed silent, stepping aside so Parker could enter. “You tell him yourself.”

She lingered at the door.

No sooner had Parker set foot inside than Ludwik’s icy stare pinned him. “Well? You chased them down with a busted leg—what happened?”

Parker’s jaw clenched. “They got away.”

He let out a frustrated sigh. “My uncle called the President as soon as Bryce was busted out of jail. The President sent a squadron of Black Hawks to sweep Saltland Island all night, but they didn’t spot the chopper. I spread word that I had Bryce’s severed leg, hoping to draw them out—but no dice.

Parker nodded. On his way over, Felix had handed him the report. He hadn’t had a chance to look at it yet. He pulled the folder from under his arm and flipped it open at Ludwik’s bedside.

“Felix broke down the bullet type—it’s a .45 caliber, standard M1911 model, with a rare alloy shell. Felix says the metal’s only manufactured in—”

“—the Southeast Eurovoria region, near the Savanterra border,” Ludwik cut in coldly.

His gaze darkened as he pieced it together. “Forget Surelia District. Bryce has never set foot there. But Eurovoria? He’s definitely been there.”

“Ludwik! Are you saying… Germinia? The mercs and the bullets came from Eurovoria?” Parker stared at him in disbelief.

“Who else would dare ignore the President of Harmonia?” Ludwik’s eyes narrowed, calculating. “This isn’t just about Bryce’s jailbreak. Whoever’s behind this has a bigger plan brewing. I just don’t know what it is yet.”