My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin novel Chapter 452

Chapter 452: Charm

Meanwhile, outside the base, Rum and Khan had set up camp some distance away.

Rum whistled as he sat in a camping chair, binoculars pressed to his eyes.

"Wow, this place is packed," he remarked, watching the activity inside the compound. "I wonder how Red’s holding up in there."

He lowered the binoculars and considered it for a moment. Tilting his head, he turned to Khan.

"I think sending Red was a bad idea."

Khan remained silent, keeping his attention on the base through his own binoculars.

Ashley, Gin, and Red were the only ones who had entered disguised as recruits. Of course, Khan was worried about them.

"Rum, focus on keeping watch," he said. "Something could happen in there at any moment, and we should be ready."

"Just hear me out, okay?" Ignoring the reminder, Rum shifted comfortably in his chair. "Red is short-tempered. He might be our leader, but honestly, I’d make a better captain."

He paused.

"If that sounds like too much of a stretch, then Gin... or Tank." Rum quickly shook his head. "No, not Tank. Being a leader means you have to talk, and he doesn’t. That stingy bastard treats words like currency."

Khan said nothing.

"Anyway, the madam assigned Red and Gin to convince the male workers to join our side so we can make up the numbers, right?" Rum continued. "But now that I think about it, neither of them is particularly good at convincing people."

This time, Khan lowered his binoculars and looked at him.

"Red is a good captain because we already knew him before he became one," Rum explained. "But if you really think about it, he’s too selfish and impatient with other people. If I didn’t know him—if Red wasn’t my friend—I’d probably ignore him and do whatever I wanted."

He shrugged.

"And Gin might be the brain of our group, but sometimes he gets too technical. People lose interest before he even reaches his point. If I didn’t know Gin, I wouldn’t listen to him either."

Rum leaned back in his chair. "But because I know both of them, I listen one way or another. They’re my buddies."

Khan blinked as he listened to Rum’s sudden analysis.

There was little point in discussing it now. Red and Gin were already inside the base with Ashley.

"And yet, you listen," Khan replied.

Rum’s expression fell. "I literally just explained why. It’s because I know them."

"Mhm." Khan raised the binoculars again. "The madam was the one who chose those two."

Ashley had told them she needed Red because he looked like the sort of thug who would naturally end up in a place like this. Gin, meanwhile, needed to enter the base to plant the device that would send the signal.

However, after listening to Rum ramble, Khan suspected Ashley might have had another reason for choosing them.

"Rum," he called, keeping his eyes on the compound. "You said you listen to Red because you know him."

"I do."

"I doubt that’s the only reason."

"Huh?"

The corners of Khan’s mouth lifted. "I think you know exactly why you listen to him. It isn’t because he’s your friend, because he’s a good speaker, or because he knows how to persuade people."

Khan adjusted the binoculars.

"The people inside that place have been heavily traumatized and conditioned. The mere thought of walking out of that base is probably something they no longer allow themselves to consider."

Rum’s expression slowly changed. "Your point?"

"Words alone won’t reach them," Khan continued. "That’s why I think the madam and Red are the best people to deal with them."

He briefly pulled away from the binoculars and glanced at Rum.

"I mean, if Red can make someone like you listen to him, I’m sure they’ll be fine."

Rum’s brows rose as Khan returned his attention to the compound.

A quiet chuckle escaped him.

"Wow. I should tell Red you said that," Rum muttered, raising his binoculars again. "And warn him that you might be into him."

*****

Back inside the base, Red lingered outside their quarters.

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