Chapter 148: Sophie Wexler is Missing

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There had always been someone waiting for him, a light left on, every time he came home. The quiet that greeted him now felt strange to Cillian Forrest. He opened the door.

Cillian Forrest stepped inside, turned on the lights, and called out. For a long moment, there was no reply.

"Sophie Wexler?"

The house was perfectly quiet. No one answered.

Cillian Forrest then went to knock on Sophie Wexler’s bedroom door, but there was still no answer.

He pushed the door open and went inside. The room was spotless, the blanket folded neatly on the bed.

Cillian Forrest’s expression wavered. ’Where is she?’

’She should be home at this hour. Where could she be?’

Just then, Tammy slid over. Seeing him, it spoke in its cute, robotic voice, "Cillian Forrest, you’re back."

Cillian Forrest immediately asked Tammy, "Where’s your owner?"

"Owner?" Tammy tilted its head, blinked its mechanical eyes, and said crisply, "The owner went out."

’Out?’

Hearing this, Cillian Forrest picked up his communicator and called Sophie Wexler.

The constant ringing from the communicator sounded in his ear, over and over again.

’No answer?’

Cillian Forrest lowered his gaze to the still-ringing communicator, his handsome brow furrowing slightly.

’Why isn’t she answering? Could it be...’

’Something’s happened?!’

Cillian Forrest’s expression hardened. He immediately switched to his chat with Leo Fane and only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw a recent message.

The message had been sent half an hour ago. It was brief, only stating that everything was normal on Sophie Wexler’s end.

Cillian Forrest replied to the message: [Understood.]

Leo Fane must have seen Cillian Forrest’s message, because he replied at once, updating him on Sophie Wexler’s activities.

[Marshal, Miss Wexler is out shopping.]

’It’s true she went into that shop and hasn’t come out, so it’s normal for her not to reply.’

’It’s not like this hasn’t happened before.’

’Besides, everyone on StarNet says that when girls go shopping, they always take a bit longer.’

’They have to look at so many things. It’s perfectly normal for them not to come out for a while.’

Cillian Forrest looked at the message from Leo Fane and felt relieved.

[Understood.]

’So she’s shopping. It’s normal that she wouldn’t hear her communicator then.’

With that thought, Cillian Forrest put down his communicator and got up to take a shower.

’I’ve been away for so many days. I wonder what her expression will be when she comes back and sees me. Will she be surprised? Or will it be a happy surprise?’

Thinking about her possible reactions, a faint smile graced Cillian Forrest’s lips.

After his shower, Cillian Forrest glanced at the freshly prepared food on the table, and then at the time.

’It’s already this late. Why isn’t she back yet?’

Cillian Forrest picked up his communicator and called again. Still no answer.

Cillian Forrest: ’???’

When he tried a second time, the communicator showed the call could not be connected.

Cillian Forrest: ’!’

The man’s eyes turned cold in an instant. He shot up from his chair and dialed Leo Fane’s communicator as he strode toward the door.

Leo Fane answered, "Marshal?"

"Where is Sophie Wexler?" Cillian Forrest’s urgent voice reached Leo Fane’s ear.

"Miss Wexler went into a shop and hasn’t come out yet." Leo Fane was a little confused. "What’s wrong, Marshal?"

"Go in and find her now!"

’If she were just shopping, it would be normal for her to not answer her communicator. But it’s not just unanswered anymore; the call won’t even go through.’

’The Empire’s communication network doesn’t normally have issues like this. Unless... something’s wrong!’

Leo Fane’s expression also turned serious in an instant. He immediately rushed inside.

After searching the whole shop without finding anyone, Leo Fane’s composure began to crumble. Panic set in, and the palm holding his communicator grew sweaty.

He opened his mouth, "Marshal..."

Cillian Forrest: "Where is she?!"

"Miss Wexler..." Leo Fane said with difficulty, "is gone."

Cillian Forrest’s fingers tightened around his communicator, his eyes incredibly dark. His lips parted as he enunciated each word: "Find her!"

"Find her for me!" Each word seemed to carry immense weight. "Mobilize the First Legion. Find her!"

"Yes, Marshal!" Leo Fane answered immediately, not daring to show the slightest hesitation.

’Protecting Miss Wexler was the mission the Marshal had given him.’

’It was because Miss Wexler had saved him before, and also because the Marshal trusted his abilities.’

’But he had let Miss Wexler vanish right under his nose.’

’The situation had been so chaotic these past few days. If something were to happen to Miss Wexler... Leo Fane didn’t dare to imagine the consequences. He would never be able to atone for his failure.’

After ending the call, Cillian Forrest immediately set off, striding swiftly outside.

At night, the massive structures of the Galaxy shone with even greater brilliance. But against this dazzling nightscape, countless flying vehicles streaked through the sky, followed by military warships.

The major powers across the Galaxy were all alarmed by such a massive mobilization, and their hearts trembled.

’What’s going on?’

’What happened to cause such a huge commotion?!’

’The election assembly just ended a few days ago. Don’t tell me there’s more trouble already.’

’You have to understand, these were the warships and personnel of the First Legion.’

The First Legion is under Cillian Forrest’s direct command and is never mobilized lightly. For it to cause such a disturbance this time...

’...could it be that something truly terrible has happened?’

Witnessing this spectacle, everyone was terrified. Some high-ranking officials even rushed to the Imperial Palace in the middle of the night to make inquiries with His Majesty.

’Did something happen? Otherwise, why would the Marshal deploy the First Legion’s forces and conduct a search?’

Ian Thorne was woken up. Looking at the officials standing one by one in the Imperial Palace, he too felt a little bewildered.

He frowned. ’The election matters have been more or less dealt with. What else could there be?’

’What is that Cillian Forrest up to now?!’

He immediately called Cillian Forrest’s communicator. "Cillian Forrest, what are you doing, causing such a massive scene?"

’Making all these people come and ask me, trembling with fear.’

Cillian Forrest’s expression was guarded, concealing the endless darkness in his eyes. He said in a low, heavy voice, "Your Majesty, my love is missing."

For a moment, Ian Thorne didn’t register what he’d said. "What did you say? Your love?"

After a long pause, he remembered that Cillian Forrest had indeed been matched with a partner. He just wasn’t used to the idea yet.

Still, he asked, "Sophie Wexler is missing?"

Cillian Forrest’s hands gripped the controls of his flying vehicle, his knuckles turning white. He gritted his teeth and said, "Yes."

Ian Thorne was silent for a moment. "Alright. I’ll arrange for some men to help you search."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

With that, he hung up.

The main city of the Capital Planet was in complete chaos.

Cillian Forrest had mobilized all of his forces to find Sophie Wexler.

This was a turbulent time, with all the major powers vying for influence. It was highly likely that someone would target her to get to him.

He had clearly arranged for Leo Fane to protect her, but he never expected she would still go missing.

’Sophie Wexler, you have to be okay!’