The jade pendant burned against Kelly's skin.
Hot.
Far hotter than it had ever been before.
Kelly's smile vanished instantly.
The children were still gathered around the food.
Fortunately, none of them noticed the faint green light leaking from beneath her collar.
The system flashed repeatedly.
[UNKNOWN ENERGY DETECTED]
[SOURCE LOCATED]
[TARGET: MALTED MILK TIN]
Kelly's heart skipped a beat.
The tin?
Slowly, she picked up the unopened tin of malted milk.
The pendant immediately grew hotter.
The reaction was unmistakable.
The source was inside.
"Stepmother?"
Lu Chuan tilted his head.
Kelly quickly smiled.
"It's nothing."
The little boy nodded obediently.
But inwardly, Kelly's mind was racing.
What could possibly be hidden inside a tin of malted milk?
That night, after the children fell asleep, Kelly entered her space.
The moment she appeared inside, the jade pendant erupted with green light.
The tin of malted milk trembled.
Then—
click.
A hidden compartment popped open from the bottom.
Kelly's pupils contracted.
There was something inside.
Not money.
Not jewels.
A folded piece of yellowed paper.
Her hands trembled as she unfolded it.
Most of the writing had faded.
Only a few words remained legible.
"Military District..."
"...missing daughter..."
"...jade pendant..."
Kelly's breathing stopped.
The jade pendant?
Her jade pendant?
Before she could read further, the paper suddenly crumbled into dust.
Gone.
Completely gone.
Kelly froze.
The only thing left behind was a tiny metal badge.
The badge was old.
Worn.
And engraved with a symbol she had never seen before.
A soaring eagle surrounded by wheat.
The moment she touched it—
the system exploded.
[MAIN QUEST UPDATED]
[SEARCH FOR THE LOST DAUGHTER]
[QUEST PROGRESS: 1%]
[WARNING]
[SOMEONE ELSE IS ALSO SEARCHING]
Kelly's heart sank.
Someone else?
Who?
At that exact moment—
outside the Lu family home—
a shadow stood silently in the darkness.
Watching the window.
Watching Kelly.
And in that person's hand was an identical metal badge.
The same eagle.
The same symbol.
The shadow smiled.
"Found you."