Chapter 132 Triumph of the Mental Tactician
Paige was momentarily stunned. From Xanthe's viewpoint, the antidote was the ultimate prize. She couldn't surrender the keys to the hidden funds. It dawned on Paige that Raymond's strategy was to stall for time while she was tasked with securing the antidote without divulging the crucial information.With a nod of understanding, she declared, "I'll persuade the siblings."Raymond was well aware that once Paige overcame her initial shock, her fighting spirit was formidable.Rising from Raymond's lap, Paige took a few steps before announcing, "Our discussion is over."Marigold and Finnegan entered the room, Marigold's provocative smile still in place. "Have the lovebirds reached a decision?""We have," Paige confirmed.Marigold's laughter rang out, even brighter than before. "It seems we must indeed release one of you.""There's no other option; without me, you won't get the information," Paige stated with unwavering certainty.Finnegan chimed in, "We can't leave this place. It's a one-way street. If you want to leave, you'll have to wait for the supply delivery in five days."Paige's expression hardened. "Five days? Impossible! Arrange for a plane to pick me up immediately. Time is of the essence, and I don't have a moment to waste. My client, Mrs. Sackler, lies in a hospital bed awaiting the antidote."Paige's commanding presence filled the room.Marigold's gaze remained locked on Paige, her expression considerably more guarded than before."We can arrange a plane," Marigold conceded. "But I'm only giving you three days. If you don't return with the documents within that time, not only will you not receive the antidote, but Raymond's life..."Her words trailed off into a chilling chuckle.The implication was clear, and Paige understood the unspoken threat.Three days was a tight deadline, and Paige knew it would be a challenge to devise a flawless plan to return on time.It was evident that Marigold was also playing a dangerous game with time.Three days should suffice for a round trip to Quorinthus to retrieve the documents."Fine, three days it is," Paige agreed briskly.Marigold signaled to Finnegan with a glance. "Arrange the transportation and escort Ms. Sackler out."Half an hour later, the helicopter arrived.Paige clasped Raymond's hand, whispering, "I'll be back within three days."Raymond nodded, "I know. Go now, there's no time to waste."With a simple "Mhm," Paige approached Marigold."Three days from now, at Echo Peak in the evening, we'll have the helicopter ready for you. You come alone with the documents!" Marigold instructed."I'd like to change the meeting spot. It's easy to get into your place, but not so easy to leave. What if I bring the documents you want, and you decide not to release the hostage?" Paige countered."The antidote and the coordinates will arrive at Echo Peak with the helicopter picking you up. You board our helicopter, and the antidote and coordinates will be handed over to your people. Ms. Sackler, isn't that fair enough?" Marigold proposed.With the coordinates and antidote in their possession, the issue of locating the place would be resolved.Then, their team could bring a helicopter, or even an entire squad, to storm this natural fortress if necessary.Paige had no objections and nodded in agreement, "Okay!"As Marigold handed Paige a black hood, the words hung in the air.Paige understood the procedure and donned the hood herself.They had transported her here in a shipping container under the cover of darkness.As she prepared to leave, they didn't want Paige to see too much of the surroundings.Paige had no knowledge of the coordinates of this place, so she couldn't possibly navigate her way there. After retrieving the documents, she would have to wait patiently. Marigold had been very precise in her calculations on this point.However, Paige wouldn't necessarily follow the exact path Marigold had calculated just because it was precise.Paige was helped onto the helicopter.Finnegan, pushing Raymond's wheelchair, watched her as she boarded.Marigold stood nearby and suddenly mused, “What if she just runs away and leaves you behind, Raymond? What then?”Raymond's brow furrowed, and he shot Finnegan a frosty glance.As soon as Paige was gone, his jovial facade disappeared without a trace.Taken aback by Raymond's swift change in demeanor, Marigold scoffed. Men!Seeing that Raymond was in a foul mood, Marigold turned on her heel and walked away.
Finnegan maneuvered the wheelchair, guiding it back to the quaint building where they had offered Raymond a modest room. This gesture saved him the inconvenience of returning to the container for shelter. The weather, however, grew increasingly severe over the ensuing two days, testing the limits of the container's heating system, which proved to be woefully inadequate. In earlier times, Paige and Raymond had hypothesized that given the number of bodyguards and the house's two-story structure, there was an apparent shortage of rooms. It was on the night following Paige's departure that Raymond unearthed a hidden secret - the house was built over a network of basements. The bodyguards had claimed these underground chambers as their quarters. Apart from Raymond's room on the ground floor, Marigold and Finnegan also had their accommodations in the basement. The basement, to Raymond's surprise, held a comforting warmth. Yet, Raymond remained unperturbed. His room, though small, was sufficiently warm as long as the fireplace was kept ablaze. Despite the masters' rooms being located in the basement, guards maintained a vigilant watch in the small building during the night. Raymond was under their constant surveillance, a clear indication that escape was a futile endeavor, even in the absence of overt monitoring. As for Paige, the helicopter's flight was brief before it began its descent. Blindfolded and bereft of sight, Paige relied on her keen senses, having started calculating the moment the helicopter lifted off. Before the blindfold was secured, she had taken note of the aircraft's landing direction. For Paige, who had honed her skills over five years of rigorous training, determining directions with her eyes shut was no formidable task. By mentally charting the direction and timing, mastering the flight duration and bearing, she was confident in her ability to locate this place. Marigold and Finnegan, the sibling duo, seemed to possess technical support, but their schemes were far from foolproof. Paige was determined to outmaneuver them, a task she didn't deem too challenging. All she required was the opportunity to pinpoint the precise coordinates, and Raymond's safety would be assured. As the plane gently alighted, the individual seated next to Paige removed her hood. "Madam Paige, we have arrived at Echo Peak. You should be familiar with this place," the bodyguard stated, extending Paige's bag towards her. "Your phone is inside. We've secured the area at the mountain's base today. Contact your team to retrieve you, and we eagerly await your good news." Paige inhaled deeply, and as the cabin door swung open, she disembarked from the plane. In the past, Julian and the others would have been on standby, but their absence today was conspicuous. Paige was not in a hurry. She retreated a few steps, observing as the helicopter ascended once more. The direction it took was startlingly opposite to what she had anticipated!
