"How did you guys respond?" Sophie asked, looking between the two of them as they exchanged nervous nces. Robert''s voice was barely a whisper, "We fought."


    "Well, I mean, it was a kidnapping situation, so of course, we had toe clean," Robert stammered, trying to justify.


    Jenna, standing beside him, scoffed, "Summerfield? What kind of ce is that? Their interrogation tactics are designed to put you behind bars!"Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Good thing we showed up when we did, or it could''ve gotten real ugly," Adler chimed in, clearly agitated.


    Sophie, who was used to a certain level of respect in Devonport, found it ridiculous that she was being treated like a criminal in Summerfield. "Look, I admit I hit someone, but..." She turned her gaze to Robert, who was kneeling on the ground. "Mr. Zhang, I don''t remember hitting you, do I?" "You didn''t hit me, but you did kidnap me," Robert mumbled, his protest barely audible.


    "So, it''s okay for you to scheme against me, but not for me to defend myself?" Sophie stood up, and as she stepped toward Robert, he instinctively scooted back, shouting, "Help!"


    "Shut it!" Jenna snapped, stepping forward and giving Robert a swift kick to the chest. His constant whining was grating on her nerves.


    "So, what''s the n now? Let these little punks off the hook?" Jenna was frustrated. It seemed too easy on them after such a mess.


    "What else can we do? We can''t just knock them off," Sophie sighed. "They''re just a bunch of kids. If they were really with The Silent Shadows, that''d be different, but they''re just wet behind the ears."


    "But there is a way you can save


    your skins," Sophie continued. "You said your school clubs idolize The Silent Shadows, right? Go dissolve those clubs and hit the books. I''ll let this one go."  en


    Robert, taken aback by her offer, looked up. "You''re really gonna let us go?"


    "Don''t be so gullible! She''s bluffing!" Spencer, ring at Sophie, clearly didn''t trust her intentions.


    Sophie turned her attention to Spencer, who seemed to be the most devoted to The Silent Shadows. "Him, I can let go," she said, nodding towards Robert. "But you, I''ve got questions."


    The tension in the room spiked. Robert quickly interjected, "We all know the same stuff. If he won''t talk, ask me!"


    "Ask you? doubt we''d get anything


    useful," Sophie replied. "How did


    Kena contact you? You must have a direct line to The Silent Shadows. Why else would they notice @high school club?"


    Colby added, "Don''t waste time. I''ll have my guys take him down. He''ll talk in an hour."


    Spencer paled at Colby''s suggestion. The rumors about Colby''s methods were enough to scare anyone.


    Sophie shot Colby a disapproving look. "Colby, we can''t use those tactics on these kids. One wrong move and it could end badly. We can''t do such cold-hearted things."


    "Yeah, right! We''re the future, the flowers of our homnd!" Robert echoed, trying to ride on Sophie''s plea.


    "Still, this kid seems to have gone the extra mile for The Silent Shadows, showing some serious loyalty," Sophie mused. "Maybe just a fewshes with a spiked whip... no need to break bones, just a finger or two Or maybe... lose a couple of ribs?"