"By the way... how much are you asking from my husband?"

Silence fell in the empty, almost abandoned room as the trio standing several steps away furrowed their brows. Then one of them shook his head and muttered,

"Definitely not her first, huh?"

"That’s not something you should concern yourself with," the guy who had served the instant noodles answered. "Just eat. Unless you don’t want to anymore, then hand it over."

Ashley held her food closer to her chest and twisted her body away, a frail attempt to hide it from them.

"I’m just curious," she muttered with a slight frown. "Why are you guys so grumpy?"

It wasn’t that they were grumpy, but anxious.

Not until this operation was over could they relax. They knew the risk they had taken — they had even argued about it endlessly before finally agreeing.

The guy who had given her food leaned against the wall and took out a pack of cigarettes. "We’re not asking your husband for money."

"Really?" Ashley perked up, while the others furrowed their brows at him.

The man let out a snort. "What makes you think this is an abduction for ransom?"

"Uh... it’s not?" Ashley tilted her head to the side, blinking innocently. "That’s weird. I thought this was a kidnap for ransom."

"What makes you think that?"

"Because it’s obvious? If it weren’t for ransom, what else would this be? You would’ve killed me if it were something else, right?" She blinked almost innocently, then smiled. "But you didn’t, so it’s probably money."

"Trying to sound smart, huh?" one of the men snickered, but Ashley had already looked away, focusing on her food.

"I’m not. I’m just saying... I hope whatever amount you’re asking is enough to be worth your lives," she murmured, though her voice carried clearly across the room. Ashley sighed and looked up, meeting their eyes.

There was not a trace of fear or panic in them. And the longer they looked, the more these men realized that even when she had first woken up, she hadn’t looked scared — nor had she been trying to hide it.

If there was anything in her eyes beyond indifference, it was pity.

"You just declared war against Dominion," she added quietly. "Dominion has been choosing diplomacy in every transaction and every hiccup, not because the big boss has changed."

Ashley paused, sighing. "But because you do not want his wrath. At all."

Another heavy silence fell over the room as the three men kept their eyes on her. What she said in that calm — almost innocent — voice sent a chill down their spines. Not because it was something they hadn’t expected, but because they knew exactly what it meant.

"Have you eaten enough?" one of them hissed, peeling himself off the wall and marching toward her. "Stop talking smart — just shut up!"

He snatched the food from her hands, causing some to spill. One of the chopsticks clattered near her feet. Then he grabbed the bottled water.

"Wait —" Ashley’s voice made him pause for just a second. She opened and closed her mouth, pointing at the bottle. "Can you at least let me keep that?"

The man’s grip on the bottle tightened, his face hard. But despite the flash of annoyance, he tossed it toward her, letting it land by her side.

"Talking nonsense," he grumbled, walking out without looking back and slamming the door behind him.

A loud clang and a string of curses erupted outside as he slammed the noodle cup against the tin drum and kicked it in frustration.

Meanwhile, Ashley stared at the door and listened. Then she looked up at the two remaining men.

The duo exchanged glances until one of them said, "I’ll talk to him," and went after the first.

As he left, the remaining man shot her a look. "You’re lucky he didn’t kick that water away. If I were you, I’d keep my mouth shut. It’s for your own good."

Ashley nodded, then said, "But why me, though?"

The man didn’t answer, so she continued. "Wouldn’t it make more sense to abduct the big boss? You’d cash in a lot more if you did."

"Are you dumb?" the man scoffed. "Stop with the nonsense. Do you think we’re friends or something?"

"Well, abducting Lucian would be tough," she nodded. "Actually — wait. Am I really the target, or is it my son?"

The man’s expression soured. She just wouldn’t stop. His eyes dropped to the ropes around her ankles and wrists, still loosely tied from when they’d let her eat.

"Hey, Miss." He clicked his tongue and marched toward her, crouching down in front of her. He grabbed her wrists and began re-tightening the ropes. "Don’t make me gag you."

He snapped his tongue again, eyes fixed on the ropes. "Do you really think this is as simple as a kidnap for ransom? Hah. We’re not that stupid."

"Then what is it?" she asked.

"I said stop talking," he hissed, glaring up at her. "This is the last time I’m asking nicely. One more word, and you know what happens."

Ashley opened her mouth, then pressed it shut. She nodded. She let him finish tightening the ropes and watched as he stood and turned his back on her. But after a few steps, he stopped.

"You don’t look like those types of people," she said quietly.

He glanced back at her.

"All I’m saying is... you still have time to change your mind and run. This isn’t worth it. No amount of money is worth your lives."

Her voice was calm, but sincere. The man held her gaze for a moment, seeing it — the sincerity — before he hissed and turned away.

He was almost at the door when it flew open with a bang. He flinched back as three men rushed in, the last of them dragging a bloodied figure by the collar.

"Kh — Khan?" he stammered, recognizing the long-haired man with the scar across his brow, now being hauled into the corner. "What the hell is going on!? Did Dominion find us already!?"

Ashley’s eyes darted between the newcomers and the man who had been keeping watch over her.

"I don’t think that’s Dominion," she murmured, just loud enough to make them all look at her. "If it were, he’d already be dead."