Chapter 93
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Of course, the man didn’t dare lay a hand on Leroy.
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In his wavering eyes, one could sense numerous calculations being made. He seemed to be weighing whether Leroy’s words were sincere or not.
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Then, Leroy spoke with finality, as if to drive the point home.
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“I have a good memory. I’ve definitely remembered your voice at least.”
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The man swallowed the curse that he couldn’t bring himself to voice out loud.
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His shoulders shook minutely with anger.
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Or perhaps it was a trembling born of fear.
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The man, clutching his fists, finally spoke with a cracked voice after simmering down his rage.
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“...What do you need?”
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“For starters, some warm food.”
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“Just a moment, please... wait.”
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The man stuttered, adding honorifics as if he was still unsure how to address Leroy.
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He glanced over at Leroy as if seeking approval, then soon left to fulfill the request.
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As soon as the door closed, Leroy let out a weary sigh.
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He hadn’t expected the kidnappers’ cautious attitude to work in his favor like this.
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Their persistent efforts to conceal their identities had given off the impression they were afraid of any potential repercussions.
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Seeing them readily cowed by such a threat, it seemed Leroy wouldn’t have to worry about unnecessary harassment in the future.
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True to his hunch, the man didn’t keep Leroy waiting long.
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In just a few minutes, a steaming stew was delivered in a wooden bowl. It looked rustic, presumably prepared for the thugs, but compared to the dry bread he had been eating, it was a feast.
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Yet, possibly worried about Leroy’s previous threat, the man hastily made excuses as he set down the tray.
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“This is all we have for now. I’ll take better care of the next meal. The other things you mentioned, I’ll have them ready by evening.”
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Leroy gave a slight nod. Understanding the gesture to leave, the man promptly vacated the room.
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Meanwhile, the girl still seemed to be lost regarding the situation, sitting far away with a blank stare, observing the scene.
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Leroy gestured towards the tray and called out to her.
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“Come and eat.”
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The girl obediently approached and sat near Leroy, yet hesitated to touch the utensils.
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With an expression of awe, the girl looked at Leroy and asked,
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“How did you do that?”
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“They’re really nothing special.”
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It wasn’t a boast. Leroy truly thought so.
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They were cowards who kidnapped children for money—hardly something to be frightened of.
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Indeed, those scoundrels were struggling to handle the mess they’d created, desperately trying to downplay their own faults.
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Leroy offered the spoon to the girl with a reassuring addendum.
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“Don’t be so scared,” he said gently.
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It was uncertain if his words fully registered, but the warm meal effectively soothed the girl’s anxiety.
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The girl, without properly chewing, gulped down a large chunk of meat and her eyes twinkled.
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“It’s delicious.”
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“I’ll feed you something even tastier later.”
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Perhaps it was the camaraderie that had developed between them during the days of their shared confinement that lightened Leroy’s mood a bit when he saw the girl’s happy expression.
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Despite his firm belief that they would soon be released, surviving the past several days in captivity had not been easy.
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Leroy frowned at the thought that negotiations were dragging on longer than expected when suddenly, an indistinct noise erupted from outside.
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Both Leroy and the girl reflexively glanced up at the small window; it wasn’t big enough to offer a view of the outside, let alone any meaningful information.
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Instead, Leroy pressed his ear against the door, concentrating on the sounds that followed.
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It seemed the kidnappers hadn’t intended to make noise, as they too were flustered and scrambling around.
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Amidst the chaos as they searched for the source of the disturbance, someone suddenly yelled as if screaming.
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“We’re being attacked! The soldiers are breaking through the entrance!”
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“Damn it, how did they find this place?”
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“There’s no time to chat. Everyone grab your stuff!”
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“What about the kid? Do we take her?”
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“Are you crazy? Don’t you realize they’re here for the child? Leave the kids, and make sure they’re after him first!”
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Hearing this, Leroy felt a surge of relief within.
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The soldiers were breaking through the entrance. It seemed his family had finally succeeded in tracking down the kidnappers.
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Turning quickly to the girl, who was wearing a nervous expression, Leroy reassured her.
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“They’re here to rescue us.”
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“To rescue us?”
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“Yes, they’re not with the bad guys. Just stay calm, and we’ll be able to get out safely soon.”
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Leroy pulled the girl’s arm, drawing her towards himself. Together, they sat flush against the wall, watching the situation outside intently.
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It was out of worry that someone, driven by foolish greed, might act on their own.
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Leroy’s wary reaction caused the girl to instinctively stifle her breathing, tense with apprehension.
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Glancing at the girl, Leroy noticed her small hand trembling and, without a second thought, grasped it tightly, repeating almost habitually that it would be okay.
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Though meant to comfort her, this gesture was equally reassuring for Leroy himself.
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Despite positive indications, they were still trapped, forced to guess the events unfolding outside from the snippets of sound that reached them.
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It was only natural not to feel safe until the commotion was completely over.
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Holding the girl’s hand tightly, Leroy hoped earnestly that they would be safely released.
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How much time had passed?
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The outside noise, once clamorous with the kidnappers moving about, suddenly went silent as they seemed to have finally fled with their belongings.
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Just as a relieved Leroy was about to reveal their location to his rescuers, someone violently opened the door to the room where they were confined.
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It wasn’t their rescuer. The figure was wearing a mask identical to those worn by the kidnappers they had seen before.
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Leroy and the girl both tensed up in alarm at the man’s sudden appearance.
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The man, too, kept silent, and a discomforting stillness fell between them for a moment.
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A pungent smell wafted in from outside; perhaps someone had knocked over something in their flight.
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The man, after alternately looking at Leroy and the girl, muttered an indistinguishable phrase.
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“Should’ve separated them.”
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The girl flinched noticeably at his voice, almost as if triggering a reflex.
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As Leroy tried to calm her, the man strode forward and grabbed the girl by the nape of her neck.
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Seemingly terrified of being dragged away, the girl desperately curled up and clung to Leroy’s arm, as if begging to be saved.
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Leroy glared fiercely at the man, positioning himself between them.
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“Leave her alone.”
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The man let out a scornful chuckle. With a voice heavy with suppressed rage, he retorted,
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“Do you have any idea how much we’ve lost because of you, young master? I’d feel somewhat compensated if I take this girl with me.”
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Was his immense anger due to things not going as planned?
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The man was showing an incomprehensible animosity towards Leroy, but no chance was given to ascertain its origin.
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For he had turned his attention back to the girl and started to bully her relentlessly.
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“Come here now, if you know what’s good for you.”
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“I-I don’t want to...”
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“Do you want to see him hurt, the guy next to you?”
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At that question, the girl’s expression changed drastically. The hand that had been gripping Leroy’s arm fell away in an instant.
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Leroy wanted to call out her name, to hold onto her, but it was impossible.
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Seizing the fleeting moment, the man hoisted the child over his shoulder.
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Leroy, bound and delayed, tried to intervene but was powerless to stop him.
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He gritted his teeth in regret for not having asked the person who brought their meal to untie his hands.
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“Put the girl down. Do that, and I won’t pursue you; I’ll let you go quietly. Isn’t escaping unscathed the most important thing right now?”
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Leroy desperately stepped into the role of a negotiator.
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Even if this negotiation failed, he needed to stall for time until his family’s people came searching for him.
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His promise of letting them go quietly if they released the girl was not a lie.
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If the girl was safe, Leroy was prepared to quietly bury and move past all of these events.
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With unshaken eyes that reflected his sincerity, Leroy looked up at the man.
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Perhaps sensing the honesty in Leroy’s offer, the man replied in a voice tinged with reluctant admiration.
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“Well... our young master is quite the strategist, despite his youth.”
--- End Of The Chapter ----
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