"Is it safe?"
In the farmhouse, Stella finished reading the letters Hunter had brought back.
She didn't blame him for entering her apartment or reading her mail without permission.
He had been clear from the start: he needed to understand the situation on the ground.
And he had warned her beforehand.
Having finished the letters, she looked at Hunter, who was preparing a sumptuous dinner, and asked curiously.
"Mhm."
Hunter nodded. He thought for a moment, then, like a magician, produced a digital camera from thin air.
"See for yourself."
The camera contained a photo Hunter had taken after sniping Steve from over a hundred meters away.
He had driven closer to confirm the kill and snapped a picture of Steve lying on the ground.
In the photo, it was clear that a crossbow bolt had pierced Steve's chest.
A large pool of blood had formed beneath him.
With that kind of wound, Hunter knew Steve was dead for sure.
So after taking the single photo, he had driven away.
He took a long detour before finally returning to the farm.
Stella looked at Hunter's body, puzzled. She knew magicians—like Henley—could hide things in impossible places.
But she was still amazed at how he could conceal a bulky digital camera on his person without her noticing it earlier.
However, her curiosity about his "magic" had been dulled by years of friendship with Henley Reeves, the escape artist.
More than how he hid the camera, Stella was interested in what was on it.
She took the camera, fiddled with the controls for a moment, and opened the gallery.
When she saw the last photo and recognized the figure, Stella sat bolt upright.
"Steve?"
Even though Steve was in disguise, Stella recognized the villain who had killed her father and tormented her for two days instantly.
Hunter, who had just finished plating the last dish, felt her intense gaze on him.
He looked up and saw the shock and astonishment on her face.
Sensing her silent question, Hunter just smiled faintly and said nothing.
Eliminating Steve was his way of repaying her for teaching him [Lockpicking].
Without Hunter's interference in the plot of The Italian Job, Stella would have eventually gotten a few million dollars and lived happily ever after with Charlie.
She would have faced danger, sure, but she would have survived.
Hunter had selfishly stolen the gold for himself.
But he never intended to harm Stella.
As for killing another person? To the current Hunter, it meant nothing.
He was a transmigrator. And this wasn't China.
Hunter had shed many of his old moral constraints. He followed his own code now: do whatever he wanted, as long as it didn't violate his principles.
Killing a scumbag like Steve didn't weigh on his conscience at all.
Hunter said nothing, but his expression said everything.
Stella suddenly remembered his promise from that morning before he left the farm.
"I need to guarantee your safety before I let you go back."
In that instant, a warm current surged through her body.
It was the feeling of being protected. Of safety. A feeling she hadn't experienced since her father died.
"Thank you."
She put the camera aside, resisting the urge to scroll through the other photos to see more of Hunter's life.
Hunter smiled and brought the food to the table.
"You can leave tomorrow, Stella."
"Charlie and his team will probably contact you soon."
"However, I have one request. Do not tell them my name, age, height, or race."
" anything else is fine."
"Tell them it was a man. Tell them I stole the safes. That doesn't matter."
Even though Charlie had a skilled team, Hunter's safes were stored in his Personal Inventory.
Even if he bought a mansion later, he would keep his valuables in that unassailable space.
So he wasn't worried about Charlie stealing them back.
He had also been careful. Knowing about Lyle (The Napster), Hunter had changed his bike's appearance and plates constantly.
He used disguises.
As long as Stella didn't leak his biometrics, Charlie would have a much harder time finding him than they did finding Steve.
Especially since Hunter was about to leave to help Dom move his shipment.
Once he got that $600,000 payment, he wouldn't need to fence the gold anytime soon.
Even if Charlie found him a year from now?
By then, Hunter's stats and skills would make him a literal superman.
Retaliation wouldn't be an option for them.
Of course, it wasn't that Hunter feared them.
But being hunted by international thieves was a hassle.
And he had secrets to keep.
He didn't want the trouble, hence the request.
Stella didn't hesitate. She nodded immediately.
"Okay. I promise."
Even though Hunter had saved her initially just to learn skills...
After ten days together, she found she didn't dislike this sunny, tragic, yet ambitious boy at all.
Moreover, he hadn't just saved her when she was helpless.
He had avenged her father.
Stella, bound by her upbringing and the law, couldn't bring herself to kill Steve. But seeing him dead brought her immense relief and satisfaction. And gratitude toward his executioner.
Besides!
Hunter was handsome.
Even by Western standards, his face was striking.
He was young, but his personality was mature.
And his body... Stella had felt it firsthand. He was far more physically developed than most adult men.
When talking to him, she often forgot he was eight years younger.
He felt like a charming, mature man who knew exactly when to be dominant and when to be gentle.
So, realizing they would likely part ways tomorrow...
Looking at his handsome face...
Stella felt a reluctance to let him go. And beneath that reluctance, a different emotion was brewing in her chest, ready to erupt.
She suddenly felt that maybe... she should make the first move.
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