Chapter 44 - Stucked in conflict

HANZAKI'S POV:

Inhale~ exhale~

"haaaaaaa~"

Coming from a long slumber, my consciousness was slowly taking its rise. Synchronize to my breathing, my head was taking in oxygen, filling and lightening up my mind in trying to restore my ability to think.

"Ah right."

The moment I got a hold of myself, I instantly remembered what had happened--- I was captured on the act, due to my foolish action.

Good grief~

But more importantly, having signs of myself still being able to breathe, I guess I'm not dead yet. Oh well, let us see what is going on around here then.

Trying to move my arms and hands----- I was not feeling them. Trying to move my legs and feet----- I was not able to feel them either.

Wha-What in the heck?

Having to realize of my current condition, except of having to slightly feel my face where I could sense my breathing, the rest of my body went numb, unable for me to neither get a hold nor move them.

Great… just great. I guess I'll just have to wait until I would regain authority of my precious body.

Trying to see what the situation around me, I tried opening my eyes carefully little by little, but when it went open wide, the same black pitch of surroundings was hoarding my entire sight.

'What the---'

Feeling a bit of control as my blood flow was taking its time to flow back through my veins, I managed to move myself a bit, but it was a terrible thing to know that my hands are somehow tied up around my back and as well as for my legs below, and knowing that I was lying on the ground for an unknown time given the plain, rough surface where a portion of my right face, the right side of my body supporting me as I slept on this floor, was being stretched, squashed was infuriating.

Calm down self… you have got to calm down~

Consider yourself dead already when you recklessly charged into them at that time. Yes, that should be my mind-set… for now. Panicking would do me no good.

"H-H-Hello?" I asked in a low tone, expecting that someone would respond to me despite of this seem to be lifeless place where I currently am, not a bit of noise even near me I was hearing around.

"...…."

Hmmm… I guess there is no one here. Great… I'm doomed to die now.

Yet after seconds, sounds of footsteps have reached my hearing, and before an unknown man has started talking, a sharp, light noise was made coming from a door that has been likely opened. "Oh! This one's already awake, saves us a little of the trouble. Remove the blindfold and tape his mouth."

Instantly upon the somewhat command, the cloth covering my eyes has been brought down, permitting me to see four guys who were wearing the same black suits and masks from earlier during that massacre in the atrium, and it didn't take that much of a while as my mouth was shut closed with a masking tape, gluing the both of my lips to restrict me from talking, most likely.

Looking around, the other two guys, somewhat to be the subordinates of the man that just gave his command, were waking up my fellow four hostages, Miss Wendy Lin including in the count and has done them the same as what they did to me, taping up their mouths.

"Okay, Listen up. If you people don't want to die, then you better not have funny ideas inside your heads and just follow our instructions." said the likely commando as he looked at each of us straight in the eyes while holding a heavy firearm. "Now all of you get your feet up, it is time to go out." He added while our feet were being freed from the bind.

With our hands still tied up from behind, we stood up and began moving in line as we had no choice but to follow them, if we want to stay alive that is. Together with the others, especially Miss Windy, their terrified and silent expressions were obviously showing out while we were stepping out of the closed room we have been hidden.

As we were going out, or more likely going down on a wide long stairs coming from a likely second floor, my eyes have secretly wandered in the area, trying to know where and what exactly is this place we have been brought into.

From what I have noticed, it seems that there were a number of rooms above the second floor. The ground floor was occupied by the same household appliances and having also a luxurious design of a dining and living room.

As we stepped out from the humungous space inside, I saw a wide pool right next to the house.

Goodness, are we in a villa?

"Here they are boss."

Boss?

Looking to the person the man was referring, he was not wearing a mask which revealed his long brownish hair that was brought down, yet the darkness was blocking me in trying to know the color of his eyes. His long pointed nose runs down with a pair of pinkish lips. His features were blessed with a sharp jawline together with well-built curved bones on his face. He was looking a little buff in his black suit as well.

"So, you are Miss Wendy Lin, right?" Their boss said while slowly nearing the helpless Miss Wendy.

"Who are you? What do you want from me? "

"We don't want anything from you beautiful ma'am."

"Hah?"

"But we need you here to lure out a certain person."

"Lure out someone?"

"Yes, that is right."

"Who?"

"You will know soon enough. Now you people, just behave yourselves here while we wait for our guest to arrive."

While awkwardly eavesdropping to the conversation in front, I took my chance to study the rest of the surroundings and have noticed that the villa was encircled by an infinite number of trees. Moreover, from a far, figures of mountains were slightly to be seen under this lightless time from this very distance of mine--- Oh, so it is already night?

As we waited for a couple of minutes as per what that bossy man had blabbered about while we were being heavily guarded inside the villa, a bit near to the gate, a light has shunned out from afar. Trying to look closely, the brightness was quickly becoming larger and larger as it was likely nearing to this place while taking on a dusty and bumpy pathway.

Not for long, a white automobile has halted outside and was a bit of a distance away from the gate. Scoping the scenario outside, the door of the white automobile was opened, and accordingly an old man wearing a Tang suit came out from inside it---

Wait… It's not the police? I expected this is some ransom thingy of a case or something. So this is what that man was talking about. Good grief, just what in the world is going on here?

A CERTAIN OLD MAN'S POV:

"Master, preparations are complete. Shall we head off?"

"En." I nodded to my men, my mind was all mixed up from the anxiety that I was feeling inside which was killing my mood to speak and utter some words.

My men holding the opened door of this automobile of mine, I stepped inside together along with the heavy responsibilities weighed on my stiff shoulders.

Damn it! How dare those terrorist bastards! Kidnapping and using my granddaughter just to face me! Tch!

Just hold on my little Wendy, Grandpa would soon be over there to get you back~

En, and from what I've heard, it seems that these bastards had also brought along a few hostages with them, tsk. How much of a coward could they really be? But anyways, I will be sure to make the person responsible for kidnapping my granddaughter pay his own life. I hope they are not underestimating me just because I'm an old man. I'll break every bit of their bones!

Not for long from going through a lot of bumps on the road, we managed to find and have stopped at the location where I was told of through a call coming from an unknown number around 7pm.

From stepping out inside my car, I stood straight up to face this loathsome man standing a distance away from me and who is probably behind all of this.

"Well hello there, Old man Lin!"

"Hmp! Where is my granddaughter?" I exclaimed while holding my composure.

"Whoa… easy there old tiger. Your daughter is just fine."

"Just fine? Then let me see if she's just fine!"

"Being too impatient, huh? Hays~ Boys! Bring her out!" As per his command, some guys went out as they brought my granddaughter along with them at the gate.

"Grandpa!"

"Wendy!"

"Awww! What a touching reunion this is."

"Don't worry Wendy, your grandpa would take you out off of their hands."

"Whoa, really? Then let me see you try then."

"...."

"But going back to the main point old man, this show isn't just about your little reunion, you know. So I'll getting directly to the point… do you have it with you?"

Hearing his question, I hesitated first before answering. "I have it with me."

"Good… very good. Then as for what I have done for you in showing out your granddaughter, would you mind doing the same favor as well?"

Poking my head back inside the car, I reached to grab the item with my right hand and have shown it out to the man. "It's inside this pouch."

"Then, please hand it over."

"No way, hand over my granddaughter first."

"Oh, tsk tsk… That won't do old man."

"Then how should I suppose to be rest assured that you would be giving me back my granddaughter after I gave you the pouch?"

Showing some doubts of him, the man then showed signs of bad temper. "Tch, you are quite the annoying one, you know." The man then paused for a bit as he took a deep breath, likely trying to get his composure back. "Fine then… rest assured that you will have your granddaughter back."

But despite his hearing statement, I was still feeling unease about it. I know I can't trust this terrorist's words in the first place.

"You liar."

"Hooo? Kuku, since you already knew about it old man, why bother asking in the first place?" He said as he looked at me in a playful and dominating manner, yet then he noticed my eyes that were quickly glancing from left to right. "Wait, is it---"

"NOW!" I shouted as if I was signaling to someone, and then…

BAAANG!

Upon my call, my 6 men who were divided into two groups and were hiding and positioning themselves from 9 and 3 O'clock of my position, have begun shooting the terrorists using their heavy firearms. As the firing began, I quickly jumped to the opposite side of my car to hide from the passing bullets.

Damn it. If only I was not in a pinch situation where I could buy time to gather some people for this, then I wouldn't have resorted to this kind of method and have just directly overpower these bastards. Yet in the first place, the possibility of my granddaughter being kidnapped hasn't even passed my thought, which is really unanticipated and shocking for me to hear and have gone urgently into this place with not having myself being able to prepare. Tch!

"Noo! Let me go! Grandpa!"

On the other hand, I heard Wendy's scream getting fainter and fainter.

Oh no! Wendy!

"Quick! They are escaping!" I exclaimed, pointing out to my men.

No no no! This would be entirely my fault if anything happens to my granddaughter. My little Wendy! I'm coming for you!