Joseph laughed and deliberately challenged, "But I... don't find getting a pen and paper troublesome."
His words rendered North speechless.
"Alright, since you want to draw lots, we'll play with you, but that's not very challenging."
North spoke disdainfully.
It was as though he was implying that Joseph enjoyed playing a game that even kindergarteners like them didn't want to play.
Joseph suggested, "How about this? I'll play rock, paper, scissors with you. The one who wins gets to leave, and we'll start over again if I win."
That way, the game would be more challenging.
North furrowed his eyebrows. Since they were always together, they could understand each other with just a glance.
But now that Joseph was going to join the game, they had no idea what he would do.
"If someone wins along with you, that person gets to leave."
Joseph smiled and rejected North, "How can that be? We agreed that only one person gets to leave, so he must be the sole winner. We'll start over if there are two winners."
The four siblings glared at him, their gazes fierce like four wolf cubs, wishing they could rip him to shreds.
At that moment, Blake shouted to Olivia, "Mommy, don't worry about me. I won't let you exchange yourself for me. I don't want you to die."
Those words almost made Olivia burst into tears.
She took two steps forward again.
"Blake, listen to me. None of us will die. Your condition cannot be delayed. Come out and wait for me."
While saying so, she turned to Joseph. "You've given your word, so you can't go back. Since you promised to let Blake come out, you shouldn't go back on your words."
With a cunning smile, Joseph argued, "Who says I'm going back on my words? I only promised to let one person go. As for whether it's the child you mentioned, that is up to fate."
Olivia was furious. "How despicable of you!"
Disregarding Olivia's anger, Joseph laughed and asked the four siblings, "So, are we playing the game, or do we draw lots?"
North replied, "Play the game."
Joseph smiled and ordered, "Blindfold them."
Furrowing his eyebrows, North asked, "What if you cheat when we're blindfolded?"
Joseph argued, "You don't have the right to choose."
North rebuked, "Then, why did you promise our mother? You could have just said you won't let us go! You're the second commander of the Double Dragon Court. Aren't you afraid you'll get laughed at if you break your promise?"
Instead of being angry, Joseph laughed and pinched North's cheek. "Kid, do you know who you're talking to?"
North broke free and replied, "I do. You're Joseph Lee, and your reputation is well-known. But what reputation would you have left if word got out that you argued with a bunch of kids?"
Joseph said, "You know about my reputation, yet you still dare to speak to me this way?"
As he spoke, he grabbed North by the back of his collar and lifted him from the ground.
The other three siblings were frightened and exclaimed, "Let go of him!"
"You baddie!"
"Let go of him."
Olivia couldn't see what was happening from below, but she heard the children's screams and shouted angrily, "Joseph Lee, I'll kill you if you hurt them!"
Meanwhile, Eugene remained silent, but a storm was brewing in his eyes. He had been observing the terrain, trying to find a way to break in.
Unfortunately, there was none.
There were electric fences and surveillance cameras around the entrance. With such an array of modern equipment, it was nearly impossible to get inside.
Most importantly, their children were still held captive. He couldn't provoke them and could only think of another plan.
North was being swung around in the air. Though he was frightened, he still tried negotiating, "Are you afraid you'll lose?"
Joseph snorted. "Me? Lose? Can you guarantee you'll win if you're not blindfolded?"
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