What Tinjau was most concerned about at that moment was, of course, Maria's condition. After learning from Martha and Vera that Maria, who was in the nursing home, had regained consciousness and, upon physical examination, was determined to be fine, Tinjau was finally able to relax his tense nerves and breathing a sigh of relief.
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Following that, his anger towards Mr. Gorky began to escalate rapidly.
"How outrageous! What era are we in? How can there still be such a controlling father?" Tinjau angrily pounded the counter of the bakery, scaring the customers in the store so much that their faces turn pale.
Puisam and the others quickly appeased the customers and, after sending them away, closed the shop to discuss the matter privately.
"Tinjau, calm down. Actually, your both intentions are the same; both of you are try to do the best for Maria. It's just that the methods used are different," Vera comforted him.
"I disagree," Tinjau said. "His attitude is completely unfair to Maria."
"We should all respect Maria's wishes," Puisam agreed.
"What a damn old man," Martha said indignantly. "If it weren't for him suddenly intervening, Tinjau might have already successfully convinced Maria to have the surgery. Right?"
"What a pity, Tinjau even dressed in a full suit today."
"Stop making fun of me," he said seriously, "I've made up my mind to fulfill Maria's dream. This old man can't stop me."
"Maria's dream?"
"She hates being a little bird trapped in a cage," he said. "So I will set her free and take her wherever she wants to go!"
"Oh my god! Are you really planning to elope with Maria?" Vera exclaimed. "Uncle Gorky is not just some ordinary country uncle. He will chase you to the ends of the earth!"
"This man has influence both in the underworld and the upper echelons. I’m not sure what he would do if he caught you," Martha said. "And according to his habits, the nursing home where Maria is currently staying is definitely being guarded. You might not even get to see her..."
"Hmph... When it comes to using financial influence, I, Tinjau, am not necessarily at a disadvantage."
Martha and Vera looked at Tinjau with puzzled expressions. Tinjau, looked proudly at Puisam. She was so smart and immediately guessed Tinjau's thoughts.
"'LV'!"
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Tinjau has not had any contact with 'LV' since arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, not to mention his wild days in Hanoi to Paris. Even after meeting Puisam, he never thought there was anything that required the power of 'LV'.
Traveling was not inherently difficult; like an ordinary backpacker, he could casually wander around, experience local life, and use his ample budget without extravagance or frugality, which was already very satisfying for Tinjau.
Although the war games in Cu Chi Village were thrilling and fun, he did not pursue experiencing some spectacular legends in every place he passes through.
But this time was different.
He was determined to use every possible resource and means to create the most unforgettable memories for Maria.
In order to confront Mr. Gorky, his mind was filled with various unconventional ideas. And it seemed that only a bizarrely powerful organization like 'LV' could help him realize these ideas.
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How could he connect with the local 'LV' branch? The first person Tinjau thought of was Siupui. Fortunately, he had exchanged phone numbers with her before leaving Ho Chi Minh City.
"Tinjau!" Siupui exclaimed excitedly, "Do you know how worried we were about you? I often asked Bianca about you, and she said that since Ho Chi Minh City, you haven't checked in at any 'LV' again! Where have you been? Why being so mysteriously? Did you end up in some African tribe and were forced to marry the daughter of the head of the tribe?"
"This... you used such an extreme example that it downplays my experiences," Tinjau thought. Although he had had some experiences over the past few months, he probably had nothing to boast about in front of these travel-savvy people.
"I'm just joking! I really want to know about your travel experiences! But let's get to the point first. You... must have something urgent to called me, right?"
"It's about how to contact with 'LV'! How do I find the nearest 'LV' branch? I'm currently in the suburbs of Dublin—"
"Wait! Why don't you check out 'LV's official website?"
"Website? I didn't know there was a website! Give me the URL!"
"No way! Can you look more carefully at your 'Pandora's Box'?"
Tinjau immediately took out the iron box containing the '0713' card from his backpack. He had kept the membership card in his wallet, and the only thing left in the box was the copy of "The Great Gatsby" that his sponsor, Haruki Murakami, had given him.
"Ah! I'm such a fool!" He pulled out the bookmark that was stuck in the pages of the book. It was made from an official 'LV' business card, threaded through a hole.
That business card clearly printed the URL of the 'LV' official website: http://ivanadsprince.3forum.hk.
"It must be that Mr. Murakami is punishing me in the dark! Because I haven't even flipped through the 'The Great Gatsby' he gave me!"
"Don't you Chinese read books while traveling?" Martha and Vera asked in surprise. "How do you pass the time on long train rides?"
"This guy was too busy flirting with girls on the train to have time to read!" Puisam teased him.
Using the sixteen-digit number on the membership card as his personal password, Tinjau logged into the 'LV' official website. The main content of the site was essentially a map showing the distribution of 'LV' branches around the world, along with detailed contact information.
What surprised Tinjau immensely was that there was even a 'LV' base in the International Space Station (perhaps NASA, which has been facing financial constraints in recent years, accepted a lot of donations from 'LV' related people). According to the check-in records, there were still two cardholders currently stay at the space station.
In addition to the distribution map, the most interesting part of the website was the member sharing discussion forum and the real-time online chat room. In this high-quality discussion forum, there are countless records of travel experiences and insights from 'LV' cardholders since the establishment of the website.
Several former members currently served as moderators in the forum, answering members' questions and providing pairing services for members who wanted to travel together. Bianca, who worked at the 'LV' branch at Tinjau’s hometown, was also one of the moderators.
"Next time I have the chance, I must come here to check out people's experiences and make friends," Tinjau thought as he got the address of the Dublin 'LV' branch and set off immediately.
Curious about Tinjau's mysterious plan, Puisam, Martha, and Vera naturally followed along.
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**Day 179**
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The Dublin 'LV' branch, both in appearance and interior decoration, was exactly the same as the branches Tinjau had visited before.
As soon as he entered that small white house, it felt like stepping into an surreal world. This mysterious organization seemed to transcend geography and time, silently helping those suffocated by urban life to realize their dreams of traveling freely.
The on-duty staff at the branch was named Cristiano, a young man with tanned skin. He had short black hair, deep facial features, and a pair of light blue eyes, making him a typical Latin handsome man.
Martha and Vera were slobbering over him, but Cristiano appeared very calm and paid them no mind, as if he was used to such attention.
After checking Tinjau in, Cristiano seemed to have guessed his thoughts and asked meaningfully, "Is there anything I can help you with?"
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Faced with a stranger, Tinjau suddenly didn't know where to start. In fact, he didn't have a clear concept in his mind. He just wanted to use 'LV' to do something special.
While he was hesitating, the office phone rang. After chatting for a few moments, Cristiano handed the receiver to Tinjau with a surprised expression, "Bianca is looking for you."
Tinjau was startled by this coincidental call, but then thought it was nothing; Bianca must have seen his check-in record. Any member who updated their check-in record would easily be noticed on the electronic screen set up in all 'LV' branches, which displayed the distribution of all members.
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"Tinjau, you little bastard! Finally willing to reveal your whereabouts?" Bianca shouted on the other end of the line. "How long have you been in Dublin? What are you planning to do?"
To avoid occupying the other person’s phone for too long, Tinjau exchanged a few pleasantries before directly telling her about Maria's situation. Upon hearing about Mr. Gorky’s speech, Bianca angrily shouted curses into the phone, and everyone on Tinjau's end could hear her.
"Tinjau! I absolutely support your plan! It's so interesting! Don't worry! I believe there are many friends in 'LV' who will be willing to lend you a hand!"
Cristiano listened to Tinjau's conversation with Bianca and had a rough understanding of the situation. After chatting with Bianca for a while longer, he hung up the phone, smiled at Tinjau, patted him on the shoulder, and said generously, "It's been a long time since I've seen such an interesting mission! Leave it to me! I will do my best to 'link up' you with other members!"
Young people who love backpacking often share similar personalities and preferences.
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Cristiano took Tinjau and the other three to an office behind the reception area. He introduced Tinjau's situation to a few young men and women who were playing American Billiards inside.
As they listened, cheers and shouts erupted, and excitement filled the air. They took turns running over to shake hands and hug Tinjau and the others, giving thumbs up to the ideas he proposed.
Cristiano clapped his hands, and everyone cleared the pool table. Then, several of them worked together to split the tabletop in half, flip it over, and put it back together, transforming the pool table into a smooth large office desk.
They each placed their laptops on the desk, put on hands-free headphone, tapping sound coming from the keyboard, they all began working busily.
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A few minutes later, Cristiano called Tinjau over. "Tinjau, we've contacted your sponsor, Mr. Haruki Murakami. Do you want to explain your plan to him directly?"
"Uh, um... I’m not mentally prepared..."
"Then I'll speak for you." Cristiano talked to the person on the other end of the line for a few more minutes, and after hanging up, he said to Tinjau, "I just introduced your idea to him, and he was very enthusiastic about it!"
"Really?"
"He's a generous person. He got straight to the point: he can give you an unlimited budget, but please don't joke around with him, like buying the Empire State Building or something; try to avoid that. That's what he said."
"Hahaha... of course I won’t!"
"He also said he would try to connect you with friends who might be able to help you. Although he mentioned that he doesn't have many friends."
"That…That’s great!"
"He also said he hasn't met such an unruly young man for a long time. If he wasn’t busy finishing his long novel in hand, he might have flown over to join you making trouble right away."
"Haha..." Tinjau was so excited he couldn't find the words.
"Aura! Falio! How's it going over there?" Cristiano asked his busy colleagues.
"The response has been overwhelming!" Falio took off his headset and shouted to Cristiano, "I've been at 'LV' for five years and have worked as a liaison for dozens of different crazy plans, but I've never received such enthusiastic feedback as this time!"
"At least sixteen sponsors are willing to fully assist Tinjau's plan! The waiting list is also full! We even can't turn them down! They all said they want to be involved no matter what."
"We want to be participate too!" Martha and Vera raised their hands simultaneously. Although Puisam didn't move, Tinjau could tell from her expression that this plan absolutely required her participation.
"Then let's first plan how to rescue Maria! Come on! Let's go to the other room; it's too noisy here!" the energetic Cristiano said.
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**Day 182**
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Martha and Vera, who went to scout ahead, found that even after the tea party on the tree incident was exposed, they had not been totally frozen out by Mr. Gorky.
They able to visited Maria in the nursing home for two consecutive days without any obstruction.
On the third day, they brought along a female friend (who claimed to be an painting teacher) to visit, and again, they raised no suspicions. They were filled with confidence for their actions the next day.
On the fourth night, Martha and Vera similarly brought the painting teacher along and were easily let through by the security guard at the entrance.
However, this evening's "painting teacher" had slightly broader shoulders.
After three days of investigation, they learned that the security at the nursing home was not very tight. Mr. Gorky had only sent two bodyguards to guard outside Maria's door.
But getting past this level was more troublesome. These two bodyguards were not easy to deal with; the female friend they brought last night had been interrogated by them for a long time.
But tonight's "female friend" was not someone who “can be” interrogated.
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"These two bodyguards are not difficult to handle; leave them to us. Vera and I guarantee we can manage," Martha said confidently during they had strategy meeting at the 'LV' Dublin branch. She cupped her hands over her chest and said, "We know exactly these two men's weaknesses, just from the way they look at our bodies."
Martha and Vera were the first to appear in the corridor. Martha enthusiastically put her arm around two bodyguards' shoulders, pressing her chest against their bodies, and then whispered in their ears, "I know that while you were being intimate with your wife last night, you were thinking about this place, right?"
"What a strong hand," Vera sighed, slipping her hand into her collar. "Being touched by such rough skin makes my whole body feel sore."
After about a minute of entanglement, the two bodyguards were tamed like dogs, led by the two seductresses by their ties into the cleaning supply room at the end of the corridor.
The supply room door gently closed.
The "painting teacher" brought by Martha and Vera had been hiding around the corner of the corridor, having already removed her female disguise. Dressed in a neat suit, “she” seized this rare opportunity and quickly slipped into Maria's hospital room.
A few seconds later, two heavy thuds echoed from the supply room. Martha and Vera were greatly satisfied with their roles as "Bond girls." They even pretended to put away the self-defense taser they had used to subdue the two bodyguards, returning it to the holster strapped to their thighs.
They lightly high-fived and danced for a bit before stepping out of the supply room.
Standing in the middle of the corridor was Mr. Gorky, with a face full of disdain and mockery. He stared at Martha and Vera, casually twisted his wrist, and locked Maria's room.
"Quite amusing, isn't it? A children's game of 'enemy infiltration'... I used to play it often when I was a child," he said. "Unfortunately, it's just a game for child. Do you think the security guard at the door is just for show? From the way you were looking around when you first came to visit, I knew what you were planning. The so-called 'bodyguards' you just tricked were just homeless people I casually bought off from the street, deliberately used as bait!"
"Uncle Lev... then... who's in the room..."
"In the room?" Mr. Gorky couldn't help but laugh. "Who is in the room? Aren't you the ones who know best?"
At that moment, several uniformed Irish police officers rushed in. "Senator, did you just report that your daughter was in danger of being kidnapped?"
"Ah... yes. But it's no big deal now. I just arranged for my daughter to go into the operating room for surgery, and there was originally no one in the room. As for the kidnapper... no, let's add 'attempted rapist' to that; he fell for my empty city strategy and was trapped in the room. He probably still has no idea and is waiting for Maria to come back."
Mr. Gorky once again displayed a proud smile that everything was under his control. He casually twisted his wrist and then opened the door of the room, intending to look down on this prey that was within his grasp.
Unexpectedly, the room was completely empty, with only a few male formal suits left on the floor.
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The man had long hidden behind the door. He sprang out, hugged Mr. Gorky, pushed him to the ground, and gave him a series of wet kisses.
"Oh~~ Martha! Vera! Why did you make me wait so long? My thing is already so hard, I can't wait any longer. Feel how hard I am? ... Huh? Why is it a man? Ugh! Who are you?"
Cristiano, wearing only a pair of shorts, was on top of Mr. Gorky whose face was covered with saliva, trying hard to suppress his laughter while feigning surprise and innocence.
"You… are not that Chinese guy?"
"Uncle Lev, what Chinese guy are you talking about?" Martha said innocently. "We only like sexy Latin hunks, you know that."
"Mr. Senator, is this man the kidnapper who wanted to take your daughter?" the leading police officer asked.
"Nonsense! I don't know this uncle at all, nor do I know who his daughter is!" Cristiano said. "Two hours ago, I met Martha and Vera at the bar, and they told me that their uncle had booked the entire nursing home, and there were many empty rooms inside where they could have sex with me in nurse’s outfit! That's why I'm here! I was invited into this private place! I haven't broken any laws!"
"He... he knows your two nieces?" the officer said awkwardly. "Then, Mr. Gorky, should we take him back to the police station for questioning?"
"Arrest him! Arrest him! You might as well take us all in too," Martha said. "Mr. Senator, booked the nursing home in the suburbs of Dublin for his two nieces to throw wild parties sounds like a sensational newspaper headline."
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Mr. Gorky's face turned red, and he gritted his teeth, having never experienced such humiliation and threat in his life.
Cristian seems still tried to stir up trouble and chaos, kept on making up stories, portraying the nursing home as a debauched paradise overflowing with human flesh every night. No one took his words seriously, except for Mr. Gorky, who listened to every word. With each sentence Cristiano spoke, Mr. Gorky's expression twisted further.
"Then... since... it seems to be a misunderstanding... Senator... we..."
"Roar!" He pushed Cristiano, who was still on top of him, away and jumped up, yelling at the police officers, "Get out! Get out! Don't tell anyone about what happened today! I will give instructions to the police chief! If even a hint of this leaks out, all of you here will be finished! ... Wait! Don't leave!"
Mr. Gorky seemed to suddenly realize something and slowly turned his face towards Martha and the other two. "You... you intentionally let me catch you?"
"Mr. Gorky, we don't know what you're talking about," Martha replied seriously.
"Maria! Where is Maria?"
"Huh? Uncle, didn't you just say that you sent Maria into the operating room?"
"I want to know where Maria is right now! Find her for me quickly!" Mr. Gorky shouted madly. The officers immediately ran to find the hospital staff, and soon after, they discovered several medical authorities and senior nurses bound and gagged in the staff lounge.
Martha, Vera, and Cristiano were very concerned about the feelings of these bound individuals. They quickly ran over to untie them, constantly apologizing. The medical staff could only shake their heads helplessly, thinking how unfortunate it was to be caught up in someone else's "family dispute."
But one of the doctors sighed in relief and said, "Being tied up by them is much easier than performing brain surgery on a frail girl for money."
"Traitor!" Mr. Gorky pointed at the doctor and shouted, "There are traitors in the hospital! This is a strategy to lure the tiger out of its mountain! Hurry up and chase! Bring Maria back to me!!!"
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Just a few minutes earlier, Maria was lying on the hospital bed, being sent into the elevator.
However, the elevator did not stop on the fourth floor where the operating room was located but continued to rise. Upon reaching the top floor, several strong doctors worked together to lift the entire bed and ran up the stairs to the rooftop.
These masked kidnappers were trying hard to comfort Maria along the way, told her not to worry.
The bed shook violently as they climbed the stairs. As long as Maria loosened her grip slightly, she risked being thrown off, so she couldn’t escape even if she wanted to. She could only desperately hold onto the bed to prevent herself from falling.
They arrived at the rooftop of the building.
The sky was dark and overcast.
It turned out that a huge round hot air balloon was floating in the air less than a meter from the rooftop, waiting for Maria. With a rope hanging outside the passenger cabin, Tinjau, dressed in a full suit, arm outstretched to her.
"The sky looks good tonight. If we fly at full speed, we should still make it to see Paris under the moonlight," Tinjau said. "Come over here, Maria!"
Maria wanted to reach out her hand, but just as she was about to touch Tinjau's fingertips, she withdrew it. She clutched her blanket, filled with anxiety and unease.
"Maria! Trust me! I haven't accepted any commissions from anyone! I'm here to fulfill your dream!" Tinjau shouted to Maria.
"Maria!" Mr. Gorky had arrived at the rooftop, "You beast! Don’t even think about taking Maria away!"
"Maria! You want to prove to your father that you are not a bird that should be trapped in a cage, right?"
"Maria! Come back to your father! This guy doesn't know how to take care of you! Without your father providing you with the best treatment, you won't be able to survive!"
After hearing this, Maria gritted her teeth and threw herself into Tinjau's arms without hesitation.
Those masked doctors who had already climbed into the passenger cabin quickly threw out the ballast. The hot air balloon slowly began to rise.
"Oh no! I forgot the most important thing!" Tinjau, like an action movie star, hung upside down and barely grabbed the sketchbook that was on Maria's bed as the hot air balloon slowly ascended.
Just then, he felt a sharp pain in his arm, as if something hot had grazed his skin. The loud noise of gunpowder explosion reached Tinjau's ears half a second later.
(This guy! He really shot!) Tinjau quickly pulled himself back into the passenger cabin.
"Tinjau! You bastard!" Mr. Gorky pulled the trigger again, and the bullet grazed the top of Tinjau's head.
The most dangerous moment passed, and the hot air balloon had already risen to q height of dozens of meters in the air. Even if Mr. Gorky was mad, he did not act recklessly and shoot into the sky, watching helplessly as they took his daughter away.
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"Ah~~ to quote the Chinese phrase Tinjau taught me, 'Super cool!'" Martha, who had just arrived in time to witness this elopement scene, said to Vera beside her. "A stubborn man like Uncle is the easiest to read. He knows we disagree with sending Maria for surgery immediately, so he hurried to send Maria into the operating room just as we were bringing Tinjau to her, and at the same time, he caught us in the act to show he could completely control us."
Mr. Gorky knelt on the ground, pounding the concrete floor to vent his anger that had long exceeded the limits of tolerance.
"Uncle Lev... now he seems quite pitiful," Vera said.
"This man is not so easily defeated," Martha said. "The game has just begun."
Martha was right.
A few minutes later, Mr. Gorky regained his usual indifference and pride, striding away from the rooftop, and shouting orders into his phone.
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**Day 183**
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They arrived just before dawn, the full moon's light cast the shadow of the hot air balloon onto the Eiffel Tower. Maria opened her arms, feeling the ethereal moonlight and the depth of the night sky.
The area around Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées, and near the Arc de Triomphe, curious crowds had gathered. When they spotted the hot air balloon mentioned in the television promotional clip, they immediately waved and cheered at it excitedly.
The hot air balloon slowly approached the Eiffel Tower. The personnel waiting in the observation tower had already opened the previously sealed glass windows, allowing the VIP in the cabin to descend.
"Mr. Quinn, Mrs. Quinn, aren't you going to stay to watch the fireworks?" Tinjau asked. Among two fake doctors involved in the "kidnapping" were the Quinn couple, who had rented the place to Tinjau to open the bakery. This was specifically to fulfill Mrs. Quinn's request to let them participate in this "great and romantic plan."
"I'm already very satisfied to have taken a ride in a hot air balloon and seen the night view of Paris from above," Mrs. Quinn glanced at her husband, who looked a bit pale. "Tonight's thrilling events have been enough, it is time for us to go back home. If we play another chase game, my old partner's heart won't be able to take it."
"Take care then," Tinjau waved goodbye to them. After the hot air balloon moved away from the tower, Tinjau gave instructions to the logistics staff who were busy behind him.
Some of these logistics staff were also "kidnapping accomplices" who had come with him on the hot air balloon. Some were employees of the 'LV' Dublin branch, while a few were actual doctors and nurses. They were responsible for monitoring Maria's physical condition along the way.
"Everything is okay! We're just waiting for Maria's signal!"
Maria looked at Tinjau with a puzzled expression. He nodded, picked up the microphone, and broadcasted to the crowd below, "Maria, let's come over here! You can stick your head out the window; I will hold you tight. Maria! Do you know? All these people gathered below are here to express their gratitude to you! Do you know why?"
Maria shook her head.
"Because you are the firework goddess in the hearts of the Parisians. Because of you, they are fortunate to witness the most splendid fireworks in Paris in hundreds of years tonight. Don't you all agree?"
The crowd below cheered in unison.
"Maria! Isn't this very similar to the dreams in your sketchbook?"
Maria looked at Tinjau in surprise.
"Maria, your dream has come true now." Tinjau pulled out a short sparkler from behind and handed it to Maria. Then he lit it for her.
The flickering golden light immediately burst forth from Maria's hand.
"Maria, send your magic to tonight's Paris!"
Following Tinjau's instructions, Maria extended the sparkler out of the window. A series of loud bangs erupted below, and dazzling fireworks were launched into the sky in every direction around the Eiffel Tower, illuminating the entire city in a riot of colors.
The crowd below cheered and danced.
Tinjau even felt that this hastily arranged fireworks show was even more spectacular than what he had seen during the Lunar New Year in his home town.
(Maria, have I fulfilled your dream?) Tinjau kept observing Maria's reaction, constantly questioning himself in his mind.
Maria smiled exceptionally brightly, and turned her head from time to time to look at Tinjau with a smile.
But he always felt that this smile, was still missing something compared to the one she had when they first met, when she leaned out of her room's window to tease him about the bread on his head.
When the last firework exploded, the faint smoke that lingered set off her slender and frail figure, Tinjau thought at this moment, Maria had not yet attained the happiness she desired most.
"Tinjau! Unknown individuals have broke through the cordon on the ground!" Falio said.
"Contact the control center! Tell them to cut the power of the elevator! Where is the helicopter sponsored by Mr. Branson? Hasn’t it arrived yet?"
"Don't worry! They promised to arrive in three minutes." Falio smiled and said, "I don't believe they can run up the stairs to get here in three minutes."
"Alright! Maria! Are you ready? We're about to head to the next performance venue!" Tinjau had made up his mind to turn every dream that Maria drew on her sketchbook into reality.
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