Time is Running Out
I sat there, listening to them chat nonstop. It was a very dark night, and just two smallmps, like fireflies, were lit dimly out of dread of being found. It was so dark that there was no way to see far ahead!
However, I was aware that I was surrounded by our people.
After a while, As walked towards me and reached out his hand. "We need to get closer. Can you still walk?"
"I can!" I insisted.
I grabbed his hand and stood up with his support. He hugged me and said, "You''ve worked hard!"
I leaned my forehead against As''s chin and then strode forward.
I should be thanking everyone here. They had been here day and night for a long time, walked this path countless times, for my father''s sake. What right did I have to whine? What right did I have to pity myself?
However, it was physically taxing for me—I had never done a hike like that before.
As always mentioned that I needed to exercise more after our intimate moments. I used to refute him resentfully, but now I admit Icked exercise. Dn led us to climb a small hill. It was already stuffy andcking oxygen in the forest, and climbing the mountain made me feel like my lungs were about to explode, almost unable to breathe. I was panting heavily.
As crouched in front of me and said, "Come up!"
I quickly pulled him up and said, "No need... slow down, I''m... fine!"
"Come on! Listen to me, it''ll be faster this way!" He persisted.
I saw everyone looking at me. I was dying the progress. I quickly took a deep breath and said firmly, "I''m fine! Let''s go!"
Then I walked ahead quickly, and As had to hold my hand again and pull me forward.
When we finally reached the top, everyone came to a stop. I took a seat on the ground.
Everyone mbered over to the brink, peering down. It emerged that there was a rather sizable stronghold inside a sizable mountain basin encircled by mountains on all sides and a single outlet.
At this moment, it was even darker. I asked As, "What time is it?"
"5 a.m."
This was probably the darkness before dawn. Lights were dimly visible below, but it was hard to see anything else.
"Is this... Navi''s base?" I still asked As as I panted.
As wiped the sweat off my forehead. He nodded and patted my head in distress. "Yes, this is his base below."? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.
"... It''srge," I sighed.
"This was originally a vige, but Navi discovered it. Because it''s surrounded by mountains on three sides, it''s easy to defend, so they chose this ce," Dn whispered to me.
As asked Dn, "How much longer until the agreed time?"
"It''s already time," Dn responded, "But there''s still no news!"
As muttered, "Navi should have arrived! But this time is when people are most vulnerable, so there might still be some time!"
"If we still can''t find it, there''s only one possibility..." Dn nced at As and said, "Underground!"
I understood Dn''s meaning. He meant that there might be underground facilities here.
"In fact, I''ve considered this, but if it''s underground, it''s only possible to be under the main building. Ordinary people can''t get close to it at all!" Dn said.
"It seems we''ll have to wait until dawn!" As said.
Suddenly, the screen of Dn''s phone lit up. He quickly unlocked it, and an urgent voice entered my ears, "... Gone! I don''t know..."
After hanging up the phone, Dn
looked at As and whispered, "Loak
is missing! And someone from the
organization has entered the territory. I suspect Navi wants to make a final decision!"
As frowned, "It seems Navi is waiting for someone. He should be waiting for instructions from inside!"
I saw As''s subordinates clenching
their fists understood it to mean
that he wants to make a final negotiation with the organization, weighing the value of both sides.
That is to say, there was a significant danger regardless of Navi''s decision if my father was not found before he made the decision.
"It seems time is running out," As said softly.