Chapter 6: Chairman Kraf

Kagumo poured two glasses of water and placed them on the table in front of the sofa.

"How did you meet Mo Ying?" As expected, Ansel asked about Mo Ying.

"Well..." Kagumo recounted what happened three years ago and then explained how Mo Ying saved her today.

"Sounds suspicious." Ansel said, though his tone had softened a little.

"But who doesn't have their own issues?" Ansel said meaningfully.

Kagumo smiled slightly. Everyone in this world had secrets—she did, Ansel did, and so did Yvette and Davis.

"But Mo Ying doesn't seem like a bad person." Kagumo said. As long as they confirmed that, becoming allies wouldn't be a problem.

"Doesn't seem like it, but the leader and Davis are way too trusting." Ansel shook his head.

His Affinity is Harmony, with abilities more focused on support. Kagumo's was Life + Radiance, but only in aspects related to healing and purification. A support and a healer—two of the most vulnerable roles when isolated—were just left alone with a stranger like this.

"In a way, it also shows their confidence in our abilities." Kagumo picked up her glass of water.

"What abilities?"

"The ability to run away." Kagumo took a sip.

Ansel: "..."

If Mo Ying's speed was that of an ordinary person, they might have a chance to escape. But clearly, she wasn't.

"Speaking of which, what do you think her Affinity is?" Ansel pondered.

"No idea. If she joins the mercenary group, we'll find out." Kagumo didn't feel like thinking about it.

"Fine. I'm going to check if there's anything to eat." Ansel headed to the kitchen.

Not long after, he walked out sighing.

"Only some greens left."

"I thought we had five loaves of bread yesterday?" Kagumo asked in surprise.

She and Ansel exchanged glances, seeing the same answer in each other's eyes—it had to be Davis!

"Let's just order delivery." Kagumo opened a food delivery app.

At that moment, her phone rang. The caller ID showed Mo Ying.

Oh, right. Before taking Mo Ying upstairs, she had given her phone number to her.

"Mo Ying? What's up?" Kagumo asked.

"The fridge is empty, isn't it? Want me to grab dinner on my way back?" Mo Ying's side of the line was noisy, suggesting she was in a crowded place.

"How do you know?" Kagumo asked.

"When Ansel was showing me the kitchen, he opened the fridge door slightly. I saw it." Mo Ying replied.

"What do you want to eat?" Mo Ying asked.

"Let's go with burgers, something quick. We have to meet with the chairman at seven." After confirming with Ansel, Kagumo answered.

"You didn't ask for my opinion?" Mo Ying questioned.

"N-no, I didn't mean to ignore you!" Kagumo hurriedly explained. "It's just that Ansel and I wanted burgers, but you can order whatever you like."

A soft chuckle came from the other end of the line. "Just kidding. I'll have a burger too. What flavors do you want?"

Kagumo and Ansel told Mo Ying their orders and waited for her return.

Mo Ying was quick. She came back in just fifteen minutes.

She carried a 26-inch purple suitcase in one hand while placing the burgers and sodas on the table with the other.

"How long does it take to get to the chairman's place?" she asked.

"Not far. About twenty minutes by car." Ansel answered after taking a sip of soda.

Mo Ying nodded, still effortlessly carrying the suitcase as she went upstairs.

"Kagumo... are we really safe staying with her?" Ansel's hand trembled slightly as he held his drink.

Kagumo remained calm. "What's there to be afraid of? I can give you some sustained healing."

Ansel: "..."

"Besides, you can carry a suitcase by yourself too, can't you?" Kagumo added.

Ansel: "..." But Mo Ying carried it single-handedly, effortlessly!

When Mo Ying came downstairs again, she noticed Ansel looking at her with a strange expression.

…Had she done something?

After dinner, the three of them drove to Kraf Group's headquarters, with Ansel behind the wheel.

"I haven't asked yet—why are we meeting the chairman?" In the car, Mo Ying asked.

"It's not that he called us. We requested to see him." Kagumo replied.

"After the chairman issued the commission, we proposed this approach: once he hands over the money and gets the hostage back, we track the kidnappers and recover the ransom. It's the safest plan." Ansel explained.

"Let me guess—he refused?" Mo Ying said.

"Correct. For some reason, he insisted on finding his son's location first and rescuing him directly. So Yvette decided to meet with him today to negotiate again." Ansel said.

"Got it." Mo Ying nodded.

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at Kraf Group's building. A receptionist led them to the top floor via elevator.

Chairman William Kraf was waiting for them in his office, typing on his phone. Upon seeing them, he stood up.

"Please." Chairman Kraf gestured for them to sit on the sofa.

After serving tea, the receptionist exited the office.

"They sent a bunch of inexperienced kids to negotiate with me?" Chairman Kraf looked displeased.

"My apologies, but our leader is currently investigating the kidnappers' whereabouts." Ansel replied with a polite smile.

"I have made my request very clear, yet your captain insists on further discussion."

"Yes, we still believe our plan is the safest approach." Ansel said.

"I'm the client. What I say goes. Rescue Jason before the ransom deadline!" Chairman Kraf's attitude was firm.

"Could you tell us why you insist on this approach?" Ansel maintained his smile.

"Because the longer Jason stays in their hands, the more dangerous it becomes!" Chairman Kraf raised his voice.

"That won't happen. The kidnappers want money. Killing your son would do them no good." Kagumo spoke gently, but it failed to calm Chairman Kraf.

"They're lunatics! Who knows what they'll do!" Chairman Kraf slammed the table and stood up.

Ansel and Kagumo exchanged glances. This was going to be difficult.

"Pardon me, may I ask a question?" Mo Ying, who had remained silent, suddenly spoke. "Are you this insistent because your company is in trouble and you can't afford the ransom?"

Chairman Kraf's face changed. His small eyes widened as he glared at Mo Ying. "Miss, you shouldn't say such things carelessly."

Mo Ying simply looked at him calmly, catching a flicker of panic in his gaze. It seemed quite possible that he truly couldn't afford the ransom.

Ansel looked at Mo Ying in surprise. He had just thought of that possibility, and Mo Ying had already said it aloud!

"Chairman Kraf, please don't be upset. I was merely speculating. If I offended you, I apologize." Mo Ying said, making the chairman's expression soften slightly.

"Chairman Kraf, I understand your concerns. But the kidnappers have stated that if another rescue attempt is discovered, they will execute Jason immediately. That would put your son in even greater danger." Ansel emphasized Jason's life, hoping it would persuade the chairman.

Chairman Kraf fell silent. Ansel sensed that he was wavering—perhaps they could reach an agreement.

Just then, a piercing alarm rang out. Chairman Kraf quickly stood up. "What's happening?"

He walked to the window and looked outside. The area below was in chaos—there was a fight going on. "What's going on?"

Ansel, Kagumo, and Mo Ying followed him. Thanks to their sharp eyesight, they quickly saw the situation—three armed attackers were fighting, and the security guards were struggling to hold them off.

"Mo Ying, stay here and protect the chairman. Kagumo and I will head down." Ansel made a swift decision and ran toward the elevator with Kagumo.

So, they were leaving her with the safest job to keep her out of danger? Mo Ying looked at the scene below.

This building was forty stories tall, but the elevator was fast. Before long, Kagumo and Ansel arrived downstairs.

Kagumo tended to the injured while Ansel pulled out a small knife. The knife disassembled into floating particles before reforming into a sleek, silver staff about a meter long.

Whoa, that's cool. Wonder which craftsman made it.

At that moment, the security line was breached. One attacker rushed at Ansel, another at Kagumo, while the last sprinted toward the building entrance.

Danger! Mo Ying's eyes widened.

A blade nearly struck Kagumo, but she quickly pushed a healed guard aside and dodged skillfully.

She moved to the attacker's right, grabbed his wrist with one hand, pressed down on his arm joint with the other, and forcefully wrenched it downward!

A sickening crack sounded, followed by a scream. The attacker's right arm bent at an unnatural angle, and his knife was now in Kagumo's hand.

Meanwhile, Ansel faced his own attacker. He swung his staff powerfully, striking the enemy with a resounding thud and sending him flying.

Bonus Skit:

Attacker: "Aren't you guys supposed to be support and healers? Why are you so good at fighting?"

Kagumo: "You have to protect yourself before helping others."

Ansel: "Because it looks cool."