Benjamin promptly rushed over.
Anthony dug a black rope out of his bag.
“Although this isn't rock-climbing equipment, it should work just fine!” Anthony crowed.
There was a hook-shaped item that appeared very exquisite on one end of the rope.
Taking it, Benjamin turned it over in his hands. A glimmer of surprise showed in his eyes. “Why does this look just like those ropes thieves use in movies?”
“It's about the same. It's a bit different but functions similarly,” Anthony replied.
“No, I don't get it. W-Why would you carry such a thing with you?” Surprise inundated Benjamin.
“Back when something happened to Denise, we had to climb down the cave. After that, I had someone customize this. I've been carrying it with me ever since. Never had I thought that it'd really come in handy now!” Anthony explained.
Words eluded Benjamin.
“Come, let's try it out!” Anthony gushed, heading to the window with the rope in hand.
“Wait!” Stretching out a hand, Benjamin stopped him.
“What's wrong?”
“Wait for a while longer. There are people down there right now!” Benjamin warned.
Looking at him, Anthony hesitated for a moment before nodding.
“Calm down first. Think about where we'll be going and what we'll be doing after we get out of here. Even if we go and look for Daddy, can we still find him?” Benjamin questioned.
As he spoke, he strolled over to the couch and sat down. He held Anthony's gaze.
By then, Anthony had already calmed down. “Even if we go out now, we definitely won't be able to find him. But still, we've got to look for him, no?”
Benjamin was silent for a while, seemingly thinking about something. Subsequently, he lifted his head and looked at Anthony. “Mr. Dave said that Daddy drove off in his car. Didn't we track his car previously? Can't we use the same method now?”
His remark was a timely reminder to Anthony. “We can, but how would we know which car when he has so many cars?” he wondered.
“We'll just try one by one, then.”
Feeling that it made sense, Anthony turned on his computer in the next second.
“Do you remember the license plates?”
“When I walked past previously, I took a few glances, so I somewhat remember.”
Upon hearing that, Anthony immediately placed his hands on his computer. “Let me check the previous car first!”
Benjamin got up and walked over, watching beside him.
A moment later, the location indicated was two hundred meters away from them.
“This isn't the one!” Anthony groaned.
“Try this one!” Benjamin typed in a license plate on the keyboard.
Again, the location indicated was two hundred meters away from them.
“This isn't it either!”
Glimpsing the pen and paper at the side, Benjamin snagged them and jotted a few license plates down. When it came to the final figure, he wavered slightly.
“It's seven!” Anthony interjected.
Benjamin stared at him.
“I didn't pay attention to the other cars, but I've got some impression of this one!” Anthony maintained.
After noting down the figure “seven” on the paper, Benjamin turned to him. “This is all.”
“I'll try each one,” Anthony remarked.
Benjamin didn't budge but continued watching from the side.
There were five to six cars in total.
Only when they reached the last car that the location indicated was a distance away from them.
“Bingo!” Anthony exclaimed excitedly.
Benjamin bent down and leaned closer for a look. Sure enough, the car was presently on the move.
“Say, could it be this one?” Anthony inquired.
“My instincts say yes!” Benjamin gazed at him, seemingly seeking affirmation.
A while later, Anthony echoed, “My instincts say the same!”
“Then, this is it!” The corners of Benjamin's lips turned up, and he shifted his gaze back to the screen.
They both fixated their eyes on the screen and studied the direction in which the car was moving.
Half an hour later, the car came to a stop.
“It has stopped!” Benjamin cried out.
“Where's this place?” Anthony wondered, his eyes pinned on the screen.
“Send it to Thalia and ask her. Perhaps she knows,” Benjamin suggested.
“Great idea!” Thus, Anthony sent the location to Thalia.
At the same time, Benjamin phoned the latter.
After a few rings, the call was connected.
“Hey, Thalia!”
“What's the meaning of the location you sent?” Thalia asked.
“Do you know where it is?”
“Judging from the location... it seems to be an uninhabited zone.”
“An uninhabited zone? What does that mean?”
In response, Thalia elucidated, “Many years ago, this was a prosperous area. Later on, there was war, and the area became barren. For that reason, it's known as an uninhabited zone. But that was years ago. I haven't been there recently either. What happened? Why are you asking?”
“My daddy went there.”
“Kenneth Hamilton? Why did he go there?”
“If I'm correct, that person with the codename Boss asked to meet him there. Daddy went there to save Nat!”
“How many people went along?”
“He went alone.”
A brief pause came from Thalia. “Did he go to die?”
Benjamin went speechless.
Seemingly realizing something, Thalia clarified, “I didn't mean to curse him. But what else could it be when he went there alone?”
“Thalia, Anthony and I are currently locked up. But we've already figured out a way to escape. Can you come and pick us up if we send you our location?”
“You're both locked up? What's going on?” Thalia queried.
“Nothing, really. Mr. Dave did it for our good. Afraid that we'd run into danger if we go out, he locked us up,” Benjamin explained.
At that, Thalia understood the gist of things. “Oh, I see!”
“We'll try to escape while you come and pick us up. I'll text you the specific time on WhatsApp.”
“Hold on! What happens after I pick you both up? What then?” Thalia questioned.
“Then, we'll naturally go and look for Daddy!”
“Benjamin, do you and Anthony harbor some misunderstanding toward me?” Thalia drawled.
“Huh?”
“Would I not be afraid that you'd both be in danger if I bring you out?”
“Um...”
“Also, I'm a member of Darknetz. Therefore, I'm inherently on opposing sides with Kenneth Hamilton and DX. It's already magnanimous of me to help you two save Nat. Isn't it rather difficult to explain if I were to help save Kenneth as well? If Holden were to learn about it later, he'd definitely sever his friendship with me. I can't help you with this!”
Benjamin was promptly left without a retort.
That seems to be the truth.
Glowering at him, Anthony snatched the phone away. “You don't need to save him, Thalia. All you only need to do is to drive us there. We'll figure out the rest ourselves!”
“Come on! Would you two sit back and do nothing if something were to happen to Kenneth after I drive you over? Besides, could I turn a blind eye if they were to make a move against you both? Hence, wouldn't I be helping him indirectly? No, I can't help you with this!” Thalia insisted. I've got to maintain my bottom line!
“I'm not going there to save my daddy. Instead, I'm going there to save Nat. Daddy is a man, so he doesn't need us to save him. We're just going to follow his location and find Nat!”
Thalia was all turned around by his twisted logic. “This is some very fuzzy notion, Anthony Watson!”
“This is the truth!”
“Save it!”
“Thalia!”
“It isn't going to work even if you call my name. I can't help with that. My mission is to ensure the safety of you both first and foremost!”
It was evident that Thalia had made up her mind.
After deliberating for a moment, Anthony lowered his voice. “You're right. As the saying goes, treat others as you want to be treated. Indeed, we shouldn't be putting you in a difficult position.”
Thalia was utterly confounded at that turn of events.
He actually realized that so quickly?
While she was all confused, Anthony continued, “We'll go ourselves!” Having said that, he hung up the phone.
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