Nick wasted no time, splashing half a glass of red wine. “Wake up.”
Darnell smiled faintly, “I hope you two have been well.”
Blown by the sea breeze and splashed with wine on their faces, Eliezer and Brian shivered. Upon seeing Darnell and Nick, they immediately began to plead, “Mr. Halford, Mr. Dane, please spare us. We dare not go up against you anymore, never again…”
The torment they had suffered, especially being deprived of sleep for three consecutive days by the Apex disciples, had left Brian and Eliezer wishing for death rather than life, almost driving them crazy.
If not for their lingering desire for worldly pleasures and fear of pain, they might have already bitten their tongues to kill themselves. Seeing a chance to survive, they desperately pleaded, “If you spare us, we’ll do whatever you ask.”
Nick kicked each of them. “Don’t beg me. Beg my master.”
“Nick, let me handle them.”
Darnell nodded slightly at Nick. “You and the others go down for a meal first.”
“Alright, Master. Take your time handling this. If you need us, just tell us.”
Nick knew Darnell wanted to speak with them alone, so he nodded and smiled as he led his men away, reminding Eliezer and Brian, “Behave yourselves!”
Eliezer and Brian trembled. Although they didn’t understand why Nick called Darnell “Master”, they knew Darnell controlled their fate.
The deck was left with only three people.
“Mr. Izzard, Mr. Towne, come sit.”
Darnell’s face lit up with a harmless smile as he invited Brian and Eliezer to dine. “You must be starving. Come on, eat something.”
He cut their ropes with a knife and poured them each a glass of red wine. “Then we’ll settle the score between us.”
But Brian and Eliezer dared not touch it. “Mr. Halford, we don’t dare!”
“Eat first. We’ll talk afterward.”
Darnell gestured again for them to enjoy themselves and placed two crabs before them. “You can’t think clearly on an empty stomach.”
Despite their anxiety, hunger drove them to sit down and start devouring the crabs.
During the days since Nick had captured them, they had survived on just a bun and a cup of water each day, and their stomachs were empty.
Even if they were destined to die, at least being well-fed was better than starving to death.
“Crack, crack!”
The sounds of tearing into the crabs and savoring the crab roe quickly filled the terrace. Darnell watched as the two devoured their meal, smiling as he handed each of them a roasted chicken.
Brian and Eliezer eagerly stuffed the meat into their mouths, relishing the flavors they hadn’t tasted in a long time.
Ten minutes later, Brian and Eliezer felt full and content, downing a glass of red wine that left them thoroughly satisfied.
Their pale faces began to regain some color, and their eyes sparkled with newfound warmth.
Darnell picked up a napkin and gently wiped his hands. “So, gentlemen, did you enjoy your meal?”
Brian and Eliezer replied in unison, “Thank you, Mr. Halford.”
“At this moment, do you feel that life is beautiful?”
Darnell swirled his wine glass. “Blue sky, white clouds, yachts, fine wine, gourmet food, and the sea breeze-don’t you feel happy?”
Brian and Eliezer nodded, their faces reflecting a shared intoxication. After suffering for half a month, they cherished these moments now.
When they were locked in the hold, they had wanted to die. Now, they desperately wished to live.
Only by living could they enjoy such good things.
“Now that you’re feeling happy, it’s time to settle the score.”
Darnell smiled. “Some matters need to be resolved.”
Eliezer spoke up first, “Mr. Halford, although we have had our conflicts, we ultimately testified against Roberto, leading to his arrest.”
“We cleared the way for you and Miss Fanshaw. While we may not deserve credit, we certainly endured hardships. We hope you can grant us a way out and spare our lives.”
He wiped the sweat from his face, trying to appeal to emotions. “Mr. Halford, we’ve worked together. Please, let us go.”
“Exactly.”
Brian, realizing the gravity of their situation, quickly chimed in, “When we set the trap, paid the Apex to cause trouble at the company, and intercepted the Python Team’s clients, though it was Eliezer and I who executed the plan, it was all at Roberto’s orders. We relied on him for our livelihood and had no choice.”
“Now we’re facing retribution. We’ve lost our jobs, and our women cheated on us. We’ve suffered too.”
He put on a pitiful expression, tears almost spilling. “Mr. Halford, I beg you. Spare us.”
“We can no longer threaten you. Please, don’t hold it against us.”
Eliezer added, “You’re magnanimous. Give us a chance to live, and we promise to leave Whiteville-as far away as we can.”
Darnell placed the wine glasses in their hands, a gentle smile on his face. “You’ve plotted against me and nearly sent me to prison. Now you think a few apologies will suffice? That doesn’t seem fair.”
“And you both know I’m not a forgiving person. When someone offends me, I usually make sure they pay dearly.”
Brian and Eliezer shivered, their eyes filled with unspoken terror, fearing Darnell would take severe action against them.
“Mr. Halford, please! Have mercy. We’ll repay you for your kindness in the future.”
Eliezer added, “I’ll give you all the remaining money and assets I have-five hundred thousand-for a chance to live.”
His wealth was more than that, but it had mostly been taken by Simone, leaving him with only a car and a small shop.
Brian nodded in agreement. “I’m also willing to pay for my life.”
The suffering and torment they had endured in the hold made them realize that nothing was more important than life and freedom.
Money was tempting, but if it could buy back their lives, they were willing to offer it.
Darnell smirked slightly. “You want to buy your lives? That’s not a problem. But this plan isn’t the best choice for either you or me.”
“Although your actions have been unscrupulous and your methods despicable, it’s clear that you both have ambition, guts, and talent.”
“As long as you do one thing for me, I can let you stay in Whiteville, and you won’t need to hand over your money and assets. On the contrary, I can even offer you wealth and status,” he continued.
“I can guarantee you that you’ll rise again very soon.”
“In no more than three to five years, you’ll be back in high society in Whiteville, both of you. Are you interested?”
Brian and Eliezer were momentarily taken aback, then they asked in unison, “What do we need to do?”
Darnell leaned closer, holding his wine glass, and whispered, “Go to Spectrum Pharmaceuticals!”