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When the message had been relayed, all three of them stared intently at the darkened room, but even as time ticked by, there was still no response. Disappointment showed in Tony’s and Ben’s eyes as they looked at each other.
Alpha Kilian, who was standing beside them, uttered, “Perhaps Nelly is already asleep and couldn’t see it. Or maybe she isn’t in those three rooms at all. All that is possible.”
Tony looked up at him. “Then what should we do now?”
Sweeping his gaze over Tony’s and Ben’s expectant faces, Alpha Kilian reminded them of their purpose in coming there. “We’re only here to survey the terrain and observe the situation. If we find her, it’ll be a pleasant surprise. But if not, that’s to be expected.”
“But-” Tony began, but Alpha Kilian cut him off.
“Tony, Ben, are you two going to Darknetz for training in the future?” Alpha Kilian inquired suddenly.
Both boys were stunned, not having expected him to bring it up when they hadn’t even mentioned it before. Nonetheless, they chose to lay their cards on the table since he had asked.
“Yeah. Thalia said it’s necessary if we want to continue further in this line of work,” Tony answered honestly.
No surprise showed in Alpha Kilian’s eyes. Instead, it was as though he had expected this response. He turned and looked at them, his dark eyes flickering dimly. “Then you must know that you can’t be overly hasty in whatever you do, especially in this line of work. If you rush headlong into things, you’ll only sabotage yourself.”
The duo nodded as they listened, cognizant that Alpha Kilian was educating them. “Got it!”
“In this line of work, waiting is very common. If you can’t remain patient, failure will be your constant. This isn’t only true for this work, but for every other field out there. Remember, you must consider the worst outcome before doing anything. Then, when the worst happens, you’ll be able to accept it. In fact, you can even make decisions swiftly and prevent paying an even heftier price,” Alpha Kilian advised, holding their gazes.
That was the first time the man had spoken to them in such a didactic tone. While Tony and Ben listened, a hint of elation crept into them. “Got it, Daddy!” they replied in unison.
“All right, let’s go over there and have a look at things,” Alpha Kilian said, smiling at their eagerness to learn.
When Tony saw the man getting up and leaving, he followed behind. “Have you ever failed, Daddy?”
“Of course! How many times?” Alpha Kilian asked.
Tony replied,” Once was enough.”
They walked ahead, chatting about something or other.
Ben trailed behind them, and out of the corner of his eye, he abruptly glimpsed a faint flickering light from one of the hotel rooms. His steps promptly screeched to a halt, and he stared in that direction intently. Knowing his eyes weren’t playing tricks on him, he cried out, “Daddy, Tony, look!”
Alpha Kilian and Tony stopped short and looked in the direction he pointed to see the darkened room. A faint light flickered on and off before the glass window, as it had done earlier.
At once, Alpha Kilian held the binoculars up to his eyes and peered through them, but the refraction of light made it impossible for him to distinguish anything. All he could make out was a figure by the window, but their face was entirely shrouded in darkness.
Putting down the binoculars, he glanced at Tony and Ben. They were both excitedly pointing to the room, saying, “It’s Nelly! It’s Nelly!”
Alpha Kilian smiled, knowing that they were both smart and quick to understand his teachings. Just then, there was a sudden movement at the hotel entrance, and Alpha Kilian yanked them both to the ground, concealing themselves in case they were spotted.
After the guards finished looking around with their torchlights, they headed back to their posts to smoke and chat. Tony and Ben didn’t appear afraid, instead excited at the prospect of seeing Nelly.
During the drive back, Alpha Kilian frowned deeply, appearing troubled. Tony leaned forward and eyed him. “Are you still worried about Nelly, Daddy?” Alpha Kilian said nothing.
“Aren’t you asking the obvious?” Ben hissed beside him.
Tony’s brows furrowed. Then he looked at Alpha Kilian. “Do you remember when she left with that person? Actually, Ben and I analyzed everything and surmised that she wasn’t kidnapped. Instead, she went willingly!”
Alpha Kilian looked at him through the rearview mirror, his ebony eyes brimming with curiosity.
“Some time ago, Thalia and I went to find someone. That person used to stay at Midnight Fang Pack and had met Granddad before. He told us some things about Granddad during his time there. At that time, I was hasty and shared that information with Nelly. But after she left with that person, I started thinking that she must have learned something. That’s why she sought out Boss. I think she wants to enter Midnight Fang Pack through him and find out the truth about Granddad’s demise.”
Listening to Tony’s hypothesis, Alpha Kilian kept his eyes ahead and continued driving. “Even if that’s true, so what? Just because she wasn’t kidnapped doesn’t mean she wasn’t coerced!”
Tony nodded. “Yes, that possibility exists. But at the very least, you can rest easier now. She’s not an easy prey, and no one can force her to do something she’s unwilling to do.”
Alpha Kilian’s face relaxed slightly. He was thankful that they chose to work together. Otherwise, the mission today wouldn’t have succeeded if either of them hadn’t been there or if any step had been missing.
Something occurred to Alpha Kilian. “She said the back entrance of the shop, but there are quite a few shops in the uninhabited zone.”
Tony and Ben plunged into silent contemplation. A while later, Ben mused, “Could it be the shop where we bumped into her at the door back then?”
Realization dawned on Tony, and he nodded. “Yes, I think that should be the one.”
Alpha Kilian regarded them in puzzlement.
Holding his gaze, Tony explained, “We bumped into Nelly at a shop entrance when we were looking for you back then. It was the one where we discovered that she passed us a message about General Will after entering the shop.”Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.
After hearing that, Alpha Kilian nodded thoughtfully.
Meanwhile, at the hotel, Nelly heard someone knocking on her door while relaying messages to Alpha Kilian and their two children.
She hastily drew the curtains and turned on the lights before opening the door. Boss stood there, his gaze fixed on her.
Nelly remained calm and unruffled. She regarded him with an exceedingly indifferent look in her eyes. “Is something the matter when it’s so late at night?”
Boss’ face was pale, his injured self giving off a feeling of fragile charm. His gaze swept her room before settling on her. “You’re still not in bed despite the hour?”
“I was just about to do so,” Nelly answered.
Boss continued staring at her. “Can I come in for some coffee?”
“Sorry, but it’s late. It isn’t appropriate for a man and a woman to be alone in a room,” Nelly declined immediately.
At her refusal, Boss chuckled. “Why, are you still afraid that I’ll do something to you in my condition?”
Nelly’s exquisite eyes flickered as she glared at him. Her voice was low and tinged with iciness. “I’m worried that I’ll do something to you!”
A grin spread across Boss’ face, his eyes still fixed on her. “Oh, really? I’m curious to know what you’ll do to me!”