Chapter 25 - 23: Making a Move 2

Another person lay at Seth’s feet, their back toward her. There wasn’t an inch of them that was unscathed; their clothes were in tatters, revealing skin covered in wounds.

Hearing the man’s weak but familiar voice, a flicker of surprise appeared in Flora Bloom’s eyes.

It was because this person had originally been on Belle Bloom’s side, but what he was saying now was completely unexpected.

"Belle Bloom, you treacherous bitch! I’ll get you for this even if I have to come back as a ghost!"

Like a frightened fawn, Belle Bloom burrowed into the man’s embrace, whining pitifully, "What nonsense are you spouting! It’s a blessing for all of us to follow Mr. Dash! Can’t you see how powerful he is? It would be Flora Bloom’s good fortune to serve Mr. Dash."

"Hmph, Flora Bloom is nothing like a sycophantic bitch like you! She’d rather die than sell herself out!"

Belle Bloom looked at Seth, batting her eyelashes. "Mr. Dash, look at him! Teach him a lesson for me. He’s bullying me!"

Belle Bloom squirmed coquettishly in Seth’s arms, but instead of getting a response, he turned his gaze to the grievously wounded Mervin Warren, who was clearly at the end of his strength.

"Oh? Now that you mention it, this Flora Bloom sounds like an interesting woman. I find myself growing even more curious about her."

Mervin Warren tried to say more, but Seth kicked him aside, knocking him out completely.

"Mr. Dash, my sister is very proud and aloof. But I’m sure that once she sees you, Mr. Dash, she’ll be more than willing to submit at your feet."

Hearing Belle Bloom’s words, a vulgar smile spread across Seth’s face—a face hardened by a life in the criminal underworld. He lowered his head, took a deep sniff of her, and asked pointedly, "Oh? At my feet, just like you? All docile and well-behaved?"

Belle Bloom’s face went pale at his words, but she quickly masked it with a fawning smile.

"Oh, Mr. Dash, you’re so naughty. I’m not like that at all. But my sister is much, much prettier than I am. You’ll definitely be satisfied."

Belle Bloom kept her head down, forcing herself to please the terrifying man beside her even though she felt so disgusted she wanted to throw up. ’I don’t want to go through what just happened ever again.’

’Flora Bloom, you think you’re so high and mighty, don’t you? You’re always going after me, aren’t you?’

’Hmph. I’ll make you suffer the same torment I have. We’re sisters, after all. Neither of us gets to escape!’

But just then, Seth abruptly stopped fondling Belle Bloom. The corner of his mouth curled into a smirk as he looked up toward the doorway and spoke slowly.

"You’ve been spying from out there for a while. Why not come in and join the fun?"

Flora Bloom froze as if petrified, staring in disbelief at Seth inside the break room.

’How did he find me? I haven’t made a single sound. After that first peek, I didn’t even dare show my head.’

’To spot me so easily... he must have awakened a superpower, too.’

’Seven people inside,’ Flora Bloom calculated. ’Oscar Owen’s allegiance is unclear, and Mervin Warren is unconscious. That leaves five.’

’Belle Bloom and Scott are negligible, but Seth alone will be tough to handle. And that’s not even counting Blondie and Muscle Man, two big guys with guns.’

’Looks like I got cocky. If things go south, I can always hide in my space for a bit.’

So, Flora Bloom stepped out into the open and slowly approached Seth and his group.

"I never would have guessed Mr. Dash was so skilled. To think you could detect me out here... I’m impressed. Truly."

When Seth saw that the newcomer was a filthy-looking young woman, he frowned, a look of disgust on his face.

Belle Bloom, however, laughed with excitement. She went to Flora Bloom’s side, linked arms with her intimately, and quickly explained, "Mr. Dash, this is my sister, Flora Bloom. I’m sure she made herself this dirty on purpose. If you get her cleaned up, she’s as beautiful as a goddess."

Seth looked at Flora Bloom, a flicker of doubt in his eyes, but then a playful cruelty took over. He gave her a suggestive look, his eyes filled with wicked interest.

"You," he said to Belle, "go help your sister take a bath. Then bring her here. We’re going to play some... stimulating games."

A glint flashed in Flora Bloom’s eyes as she gave a contemptuous smile.

Though her face was caked with filth and her body gave off a foul odor, the dazzling spirit of her smile could not be concealed.

"Mr. Dash, is it? You want me?"

Seth had never seen a woman like this. She was so filthy he couldn’t even make out her features, yet her smile was both radiant and bewitching. Even with a clean Belle Bloom standing right beside her, Belle’s own radiance didn’t amount to a fraction of Flora’s.

"Marvelous. Absolutely marvelous. Belle wasn’t lying after all. A single smile from you is enough to shake me to my core. Do I want you? No, no, no. In a little while, after you’re all cleaned up, I’m going to make you so wild with need, you’ll be the one *doing the wanting*."

Flora Bloom fought back the bile rising in her throat, her voice dripping with disgust. "You’ve got it wrong. What I meant was... are *you* even worthy?"

"What did you just say?"

Flora Bloom repeated herself with a derisive laugh. "You must be seriously sick in the head, getting off on people cursing you out. I said, a disgusting piece of work like you isn’t worthy."

"You’re courting death!"

With that, Seth violently shoved Belle Bloom aside. He paid no mind as she crashed into the corner of a table, her forehead splitting open and starting to bleed.

Seth closed the distance to Flora Bloom in a few short steps, his hand shooting out to grab her by the neck.

He was so enraged he wanted to crush the life out of this woman who dared to defy and insult him.

Just as his hand was about to close around Flora Bloom’s neck, Oscar Owen suddenly stepped in front of her.

"Wait."

Seth’s hand stopped, blocked by Oscar Owen’s body.

"Oh? What’s this? Does Young Master Owens want to play the hero and save the damsel in distress?"

Oscar Owen glanced back at Flora Bloom with a blank expression, giving her a slight shake of his head, a clear signal for her not to be rash.

Then he turned back to Seth. "She’s my girlfriend. She’s young and doesn’t know any better. For my sake, don’t hold it against her."

But Seth just burst out laughing.

"Your sake? If you weren’t still useful to me, I’d have already sent you to join your damn dead father in the ground."

"Her being your girlfriend just makes it better, doesn’t it? If you’re up for it, I don’t mind you joining in. Sharing a friend’s woman... isn’t that more exciting? HAHAHAHA."

Oscar Owen was about to say more, but Flora Bloom had reached her limit. She shoved him aside, leveled the axe in her hand, and swung to slit Seth’s throat.

"You disgusting toad! Your granny here is sending you to Hell to play with the she-devils!" The moment the words left her lips, Flora Bloom lunged, swinging her axe in a furious attack. It was hard to believe such a slim, frail body could possess such explosive power. She didn’t look like a weak girl at all.

Seth showed no fear in the face of her sudden assault. Instead, he leaned back effortlessly, dodging the axe. He then retreated with agile speed, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

’He never expected such a frail-looking girl to be this skilled. That swing was incredibly powerful; if he hadn’t dodged in time, he’d be a corpse right now.’

"Tsk, tsk. A feisty little thing. I like that even more. Soon, I’ll have you writhing under me, begging for more!"

Flora Bloom frowned. ’I can’t believe he reacted so fast and dodged my attack.’ But she wasn’t too discouraged. ’It’s impossible to be the leader of so many people without some real skill.’

And so, the axe in her hands became a whirlwind of horizontal slashes and vertical chops, a blur of speed and agility. Every swing whistled through the air, but Seth dodged each one. Gradually, however, in the middle of his evasions, he failed to dodge in time, and Flora Bloom’s axe slashed across his cheek.

Instantly, blood gushed from a wound deep enough to show bone. Seizing the moment he was stunned, Flora Bloom unleashed a flurry of unpredictable attacks, landing blow after blow. For a moment, he was overwhelmed, unable to dodge and looking utterly pathetic.

Oscar Owen stared at the delicate figure before him, fighting Seth to a standstill. And as the fight wore on, Flora Bloom actually began to gain the upper hand.

’Is this still the simple, naive girl I knew?’ Her eyes were now resolute and icy, her expression cold and indifferent. She was like a completely different person from the lively, smiling, gentle Flora Bloom of the past. ’What in the world happened to make her change so drastically?’