Since Joseph had been captured, the thought of asking his master for help hadn't crossed his mind.
For one, he was too nervous. And two, this was his first time experiencing something straight out of a martial arts novel—being captured by the villain and interrogated for treasure. In the midst of the adrenaline rush, he lacked the experience to know what to do.
After being captured, he briefly considered calling the police. But his phone, smartwatch, and any other communication devices were quickly confiscated by his captors. Clearly, these people weren't the kind of isolated martial artists from novels, completely ignorant of modern technology.