Chapter 79: The Kidnapper – Eryx

Alia's wrists tensed slightly as her fingers brushed against the rough rope binding her. The coarse hemp was frayed in places, but the knots themselves seemed less than professional—slightly loose at the joins. If she could free even one hand, the knife hidden in her sleeve might provide a swift escape.

"They're not seasoned kidnappers," Alia calmly deduced. "Probably an inexperienced group acting out of urgency."

The surrounding silence was unsettling, broken only by occasional birdsong outside and the low whistle of wind through cracked window frames. Alia strained her ears and caught snippets of muffled conversation. Though the words were indistinct, the subdued and tense tones betrayed unease.

"What are they afraid of?"

This sense of uncertainty gave Alia a flicker of confidence. She shifted her weight subtly, testing the ropes. Though there was some give, it wasn't enough for her to break free.

Suddenly, the fabric covering her eyes was yanked away, and a harsh beam of light struck her face, forcing her to squint.

As her vision adjusted, Alia took in her surroundings—a decrepit warehouse.

A single, flickering bulb hung from the ceiling, casting uneven shadows. The walls were peeling, revealing gray bricks beneath, while the floor was scattered with rusted tools and rotting wood. The air reeked of dust and decay, with a faint, sickly-sweet hint of rot. Broken windows lined one wall, letting in occasional gusts of wind and the mocking cries of birds outside.

"This isn't just a random hideout. It looks like an abandoned base repurposed for this purpose," Alia thought, her mind racing.

She turned her gaze to the men in front of her—five tall figures standing in a line, each masked with black cloth, their eyes cold and alert. Their clothes were unassuming, but small details gave them away: sturdy military boots, reinforced coats, and the faint bulge of concealed weapons at their waists.

"The Second Army Group," Alia thought grimly, her heart sinking.

Though they had made an effort to disguise themselves, Alia's sharp eyes recognized their uniforms. She had observed similar figures lurking near expansion sites, moving discreetly but equipped with top-tier gear. All of them had eventually converged at the Second Army Group's headquarters.

"Eryx," she realized. "This has to be his doing. They want the 'Holy Grail"

This wasn't a random abduction. Their knowledge of her movements and their precision in capturing her suggested they had planned this meticulously. She forced herself to remain composed. The question was whether they targeted her as Livia, the wife of Marcellus and daughter of Edgar, or because they knew she discovered some papers about Grail few days ago.

The lead figure stepped forward, his voice gravelly and low. "You're awake."

Alia lifted her head, meeting his sharp gaze. She decided to feign ignorance, curling her lips into a defiant smirk. "And who might you be? Don't you think it's a bit rude to hide your faces?"

The man let out a derisive snort, his tone laced with disdain. "Don't play dumb. You don't need to know who we are. Cooperate, and we might let you go. You're just a delicate flower raised in a greenhouse—play the role of the noblewoman and do as you're told. Otherwise…" He trailed off, flipping a small knife in his hand, the blade glinting ominously in the dim light.

"So they do know who I am," Alia thought, her suspicions confirmed.

She controlled her breathing, letting a flicker of fear cross her face as she spoke with a trembling voice. "If you've gone to the trouble of bringing me here, you must know exactly who I am. So let's cut to the chase—what do you want? Is it money?"

She deliberately mentioned only money, hoping to appear as a clueless, sheltered aristocrat.

The man didn't respond immediately. Instead, he turned to his companions, whispering something. Alia strained to catch their words, picking up fragments like "test her," "necessary," and "wait longer."

"They're uncertain," Alia deduced, "which means they're hesitant to act rashly."

In that moment, a strategy formed in her mind: stall for time.

The leader finally turned back to her, his stance more rigid. "You'll find out soon enough. For now, stay quiet."

"Drag it out," Alia told herself. She needed to learn more, to glean any information that might hint at this location and their intentions.

But deep down, she understood this wasn't a simple game. The stakes were high, and the players were formidable. If she miscalculated, the consequences could be catastrophic.

Straightening her posture slightly, Alia leaned into the ropes, subtly testing their strength again. Though her outward demeanor was one of feigned fear, her mind remained razor-sharp, ready to seize any opportunity.

"I'll find a way out of this," she vowed silently. "I won't let Eryx win."