John Bennett let out an angry snort, and in the blink of an eye was already behind Peter Yates. Peter Yates suddenly changed direction; his first move had been a feint. Veering to the side, Peter Yates crashed through the staircase with a bang, smashed through a deck, leapt up to the next level of the cabin, and with a spring of his legs shot toward the door! Suddenly, John Bennett's body blocked the doorway. Peter Yates couldn't stop in time and crashed right into him! John Bennett's belly sank downward, and as Peter Yates hurriedly tried to turn and escape, he realized his body had moved but his head had not—John Bennett's belly was like a suction cup, firmly stuck to his head! With a low shout, Peter Yates kicked out with both legs, deciding to just keep ramming forward. John Bennett's body bent backward with incredible flexibility, but the suction on his belly didn't lessen. Peter Yates had used too much force and ended up flipping right over John Bennett's body, landing hard on his back on the floor, smashing a big hole in it. John Bennett twisted his body and planted his feet firmly on the upper deck, while Peter Yates's body dangled in the hole, half on the lower level, half on the upper, his head still firmly stuck to John Bennett! Even for such a powerful carnivore, in this position—unable to get leverage from above or below—there was nothing he could do. John Bennett reached out and slapped his head; two streams of dark energy shot down from his temples, instantly coursing through Peter Yates's entire body, severing his mind's control over his body and strength. John Bennett released the suction from his belly, and Peter Yates dropped limply onto the floor below.

Peter Yates's mind was still clear. He stared in horror as John Bennett pulled a cloth bundle from his clothes, opened it, and revealed a set of steel needles, each as long as a finger! "What are you going to do?" Peter Yates asked in terror. John Bennett glanced at him and said, "Didn't you want to watch? I'll let you watch here for a few days! I have things to do, no time to keep you company!" John Bennett casually pulled out a steel needle, a black flame igniting on its tip, and quickly stabbed it into Peter Yates's body. Peter Yates let out a miserable scream. John Bennett curled his lip disdainfully: "Your senses have already been cut off, what are you screaming for!" Peter Yates only managed half a scream before falling silent, because he really couldn't feel anything. John Bennett quickly pulled out and stabbed in the needles; every part of Peter Yates's body was completely isolated. Once he was done, John Bennett picked up a suitcase nearby: "Alright, I'm leaving. Take your time watching. You've got several days to look, but you can only look, not touch. Sorry about that!" With a flourish, John Bennett strode out.

Not long after he left, several heavy trucks arrived. A group of Peter Yates's assistants rushed over, armed with electric drills, welders, and saws. After a chaotic round of work, several steel cables were brought over, their hooks attached to parts of the ship's structure. The trucks started up together, and with a thunderous crash, tore off an entire section of the deck. The group rushed inside, hauling Peter Yates out with much effort. Peter Yates still couldn't move, and as he was carried on a makeshift stretcher formed by his assistants' hands, he roared, "You idiots! You tore up someone's lair—if that lunatic comes back, we're finished!" None of the assistants had the courage to enter the ship the usual way, so they came up with this worst—but in their eyes, temporarily safest—solution. At least, for now, it was the safest.

Chapter 007

Although Peter Yates had been rescued, no one could lift the restriction on him. The seal John Bennett had placed, a mix of Eastern mysticism and Western dark magic, was known only to himself. No one else understood it, so naturally no one dared to try to help Peter Yates break it. Peter Yates wanted to seek help from Lord Patrick, but explaining to his lord how he ended up like this was a problem in itself. Although Lord Patrick valued him highly, John Bennett had always enjoyed almost unconditional trust in the Senate; otherwise, he would have been arrested long ago, instead of still wandering around freely as he was now. There was good reason for this trust: from the very beginning, when he was suspected over his residence, to now, when the trust in him was as solid as rock—not only because John Bennett was the most powerful carnivore, but also because he had contributed a lot. Peter Yates lay there for a long time, but honestly, this position was not suitable for thinking. Peter Yates rarely thought about problems while lying down to sleep, and this posture made him feel very uncomfortable.

In the end, he still decided to go ask Lord Patrick for help. In fact, he knew that Lord Patrick probably couldn't do much either. After all, John Bennett was the most powerful carnivore, and even the elders would have a hard time breaking his seal. Without certainty, Lord Patrick wouldn't dare take the risk. Although the chances were slim, he decided to go anyway. He didn't really expect Lord Patrick to break the seal for him; having witnessed the power of the strongest carnivore, what he needed now was to find a refuge before John Bennett returned—to escape the wrathful punishment of John Bennett for having his lair raided. At the very least, Lord Patrick could shield him from John Bennett. The real headache now was how to explain to his lord why he had trespassed into John Bennett's residence—this secret place that John Bennett had refused to reveal even to the elders.