“Inflicting a thousand wounds on the enemy, but suffering eight hundred in return, huh?”
Dexter didn’t rush either. He leaned back, maintaining his composure as he negotiated with the enigmatic man before him.
Wayne was also looking at him. “Dexter, to be honest, the one I wanted to choose back then was actually you. Despite coming from a broken home and being shrewd in your calculations, you were no less than Arnold. I believed that if you had joined forces with me, we could have written an even more magnificent saga than what we have now. Regrettably, it was Arnold who came to pledge his loyalty to me, not you.”
Wayne firmly believed that the more troubled a person’s mind was, the bolder and more ambitious they became. Dexter was the perfect example of this. This matter had always weighed heavily on Wayne’s mind.
“Tell me; would we be in this situation today if we had joined forces?”
Upon seeing his enthusiasm, Dexter squinted his eyes and said, “There is no need to ask such a thing. I made money in the gray areas too, but I would never cross the line.”
His ambition was evident, yet he had the ability to restrain his own desires. This made him even more intriguing in Wayne’s eyes.
“There is a bomb on that ship. If I gave the order, there was no way Arnold could have survived. But I can assure you, Josie won’t die. So, how about it? Shall we make a deal?”
Dexter caressed the fabric of his sleeve cuff as he replied, “To give up half a lifetime’s savings for a deal with a talented individual is quite an enticing proposition.”
“I am sincere enough.”
Then came another long stretch of waiting. During this time, Wayne once again looked out the window. The sky was already bright, the sun was about to rise, and everything would soon be out in the open.
Finally, he couldn’t help but interrupt Dexter’s contemplation. “Aren’t you the least bit worried? Not everyone can withstand the water dungeon.”
Dexter didn’t seem to understand. “Why the rush? You have to give me time to think. After all, this is a matter that concerns my future. Besides, you’ve already said that Arnold is hard to control, so how much should I trust what you’re saying now?”
No sooner had the words been spoken, when the phone on the table began to ring. The caller ID displayed Justin’s name. The phone vibrated for quite some time, drawing the attention of both individuals.
“Not going to answer it?” Wayne asked teasingly.
Dexter pursed his lips, abruptly ending the call. “He’s just someone insignificant.”
At that moment, Wayne’s phone also vibrated. After reading the message, he laughed and slid the phone toward Dexter. “Arnold really can’t keep his cool.”
The video above showed Josie as she was then, with the water level rising, lapping at her neck. Her face was ashen, and she was on the verge of collapse, her consciousness becoming increasingly blurry.
“The sea at night is bone-chilling. Could her body withstand it?” Wayne asked leisurely.
Dexter’s heart ached as if being cut by a knife. He clenched his fists tightly, yet his expression remained calm. “It seems he really wants to provoke Mark. Arnold didn’t consider your situation at all, Wayne.”
Despite the current circumstances, he was still able to analyze the situation with such calmness. This completely changed Wayne’s expression. Just then, the cell phone rang again. Dexter, being considerate, pushed it toward him. “It’s for you.”
Wayne stared at him for a moment, then rose to his feet and answered the phone, “What’s up?”
Dexter was completely engrossed, his gaze unwavering. Suddenly, he noticed a tiny scar on Wayne’s finger. It was so small that it was almost imperceptible unless one looked closely.
Whatever was said over the phone, it was clear that Wayne was not pleased. After hanging up, he looked down and said, “Mr. Russell, now that we’ve come this far in our little drama, perhaps it’s time we take a look at the scene firsthand.”
Dexter raised an eyebrow.
“Wavery is swarming with too many flies and mosquitoes. Mr. Russell, would you mind going ahead?”
Outside, Arnold had been waiting to the point of irritation. Upon seeing someone emerge, his eyes finally lit up. “Dexter!”
