Thalia's gaze turned gloomy, but she kept mum and looked at Tony .
As Thalia remained silent, Donna began to feel that something was off. “Come on, Thalia. Tell us!”
Thalia narrowed her eyes, took a deep breath, and said softly, “Because anyone who wishes to quit Darknetz will have to swallow a pill...”
“Poison?”
“Something similar,” Thalia said. “If one abides by Darknetz's rules, the antidote will be delivered on time. Or else...” She did not finish her sentence, but it was clear what she meant.
Upon hearing that, Donna knitted her brows. “That's so twisted. That demand is too unreasonable!”
“Rules are there for a reason, and this is just one of Darknetz's. If we start breaking rules, it will only lead to chaos within the organization. Don't you think so?” Thalia countered.
What she said was not wrong, but Donna had a different opinion. “I always believed that Darknetz was a humane organization. I never expected them to resort to such dirty tactics. What if Sam is in our shoes? Would the same thing happen to him if he wants to leave the organization?”
“Darknetz was founded by a few people, so to ensure fairness, each of them added a unique ingredient to the medicine. Anyone can leave the organization, but they must obtain approval from everyone before coming up with the antidote. Otherwise, even Sam himself will not be able to leave Darknetz unscathed,” Thalia explained.
Upon hearing that, Donna froze for a moment, somehow understanding what Thalia had implied. “So, does that mean Tony could still have a chance if they agree to let him go?”
“I supposed you can say so.” Thalia nodded.
“So there's still hope!” Donna exclaimed. She tilted her head to look at Tony , “Tony, we might be able to get their approval. We just need to talk to them nicely!”
Tony glanced at her calmly and spoke in a deep voice. “Donna , this is not a child's play. Leaving the organization is not an easy matter. Besides, they would see me as a traitor, as it will undermine their benefits and safety. What makes you think they'll agree to my request so easily?”
“What should we do, then?” Donna asked.
Tony lowered his eyes. “Leave it to me, don't worry. I'll figure something out.”
“But what good plans can you come up with?” Donna knew Tony was merely saying that to console her. What else can we do under such circumstances? It's either we give up or die.
That being said, Thalia was aware that Tony would not give up easily once he set his mind on something.
At that moment, Tony lowered his eyes as if something had popped into his mind.
Thalia glanced at him. “Tony , I think we still can make this work. Go and talk to Sam nicely. We don't have to burn bridges with him.”
“I've never thought of burning bridges with him,” Tony uttered.
“But you also didn't tell him about your thoughts. If Sam knows you're doing it for your mom, I'm sure he can understand. We might not figure out a solution right away, but you can at least ease the tension with him,” Thalia said.
Donna nodded in agreement. “That's right. What Thalia said made sense.”
Ben , too, chimed in. “Tony, I know you have your own perspective on things, but I could tell Sam is a decent guy, even though I've only met him for a short time. Maybe you should try talking to him.”
“What if Sam finds out about Dad? The tension between us is just going to escalate!” Tony voiced his concern.
“As long as we keep it a secret and don't mention it, it's unlikely he'll find out within a short period. However, if he does eventually find out, we'll have to deal with it then. What do you think about that?” Ben said while looking at Thalia.
Thalia bobbed her head in agreement. “Ben 's suggestion is also a solution. We can handle it when he finds out about it. And when that happens, it will be treated as a separate matter. At least from their perspective, you didn't betray the organization.”
Donna nodded upon hearing that. “Exactly!” Tony pressed his lips and said nothing.
“All right, let's go with that plan,” Thalia said while glancing at them. “I'll go out and take a look.” She got up and left the group.
Donna , Ben , and Miguel got up to Tony and continued persuading him.
Tony remained seated in an upright position, his gaze fixated and pitch black, as if lost in deep contemplation and not uttering a single word.
A few minutes later, Sam came in with Thalia.
Sam looked at Tony before walking over and sat in front of him.
Just when Tony was about to speak, Sam suddenly looked at him seriously and said, “Why didn't you tell me earlier?”
Tony was stunned for a moment. He did not expect to hear that from Sam . Sam 's question instantly disrupted the emotions that were brewing inside him.
“W-What?” Tony asked.
Tony was stunned after listening to Sam .
According to the latter, they could gather their men tomorrow and confront Midnight fang pack the day after.
Although Sam was rather impatient, Tony had to admit he was quite touched.
Their interaction felt familiar, just like the time when they used to chat online. At the same time, it also filled Tony with a sense of absolute security.
Even so, Tony spoke up to halt him. “No. You shouldn't be impulsive.” Sam frowned at him. “Why?”
Tony stared at him. “Although Midnight fang pack is not as powerful as it used to be, we still shouldn't underestimate them. Moreover, things have just settled down, so now is not the time for a head-on
confrontation.”
Sam curled his lips into a smile after hearing that. “Do I seem like a dimwit who would clash head-on with them?” He arched his brows. A knowing look flashed across his handsome countenance as he
continued, “I'll deploy some men over so you can command them and also to ensure your safety. That way, even if something happens, we can buy some time.”
“Uh, don't do that first. Allow me some time to think for now and let's discuss this matter later,” Tony tried to stop him. Once he transfers his men over, they may come into conflict with DX Group. If that happens, this situation won't be as simple as facing Midnight fang pack , as a chaotic fight involving all parties may happen. In that case, the circumstances will spiral out of control.
However, to Sam , it seemed Tony was just pretending to be courteous to him.
He furrowed his brows at Tony . “What's the matter? Why are you acting distant from me? I admit I was a little agitated earlier, but that was because you hadn't told me what had happened, so I was clueless. We can let this matter slide now that we've laid it out.”
Tony regarded Sam with a troubled expression. “I'm not being polite. I—”
Tony was momentarily at a loss for words. If I speak further, the secret will easily be exposed. “What is it, then?” Sam asked.
Tony pursed his lips and looked at Thalia. Why is she quiet now? No one is stepping up to say something.
Sensing his gaze on her, Thalia chimed in, “Boss, since we've discussed this openly, you should respect Tony 's wish. He has always been crafty and creative. Perhaps he's harboring a different plan.”
Hearing that, Sam shifted his attention to Tony . “Regardless of how many ideas you have, we still need to rely on our fists to solve problems. This matter is inevitable.”
Tony took the opportunity and said, “I know you're trying to help me. Don't worry. If I truly need assistance, I won't hesitate to ask for your help.”
Sam sized him up as he knew Tony was hiding something else from him. Still, he figured he shouldn't put too much pressure on Tony . Ultimately, he nodded. “Fine. I shall respect your decision since you've said that. However, you must remember Darknetz has your back, no matter the circumstances. You must not hesitate to ask for my help or think you'll burden us.”
Tony bobbed his head in response. “Okay. Rest assured. I won't.” If it weren't for Daddy and Darknetz's relationship, I wouldn't have wanted things to progress to this stage.
Taking in Tony 's reaction, Sam let out a sigh of relief. Then, he appeared to have recalled something. “In that case, do you still want to do your own thing?”
Tony fathomed if he persisted at that point, it would undoubtedly lead to another argument. After contemplating briefly, he said, “We still need to discover new talents. Even if we don't form our own
team, these people can still be useful to Darknetz afterward, right?” Sam 's eyes shone after he listened to Tony .
“I knew I chose the right person.” Tony flashed a faint smile at Sam too.
“Oh, by the way, speaking of which, I am curious about something. How did your mum end up having a feud with Midnight fang pack ?”
Sam put forth another difficult question to answer.
While everyone ruminated on what to say, Tony piped up, “Do you really need to specify a reason to make enemies with Midnight fang pack ?”
Sam raised his brows. “You have a point.”
He added, “Speaking of this reminds me of something. Do you still remember Shadow Seeker I mentioned to you before?”
Thalia, who was feeling relieved after sensing that the atmosphere had eased, picked up the glass of water on the table and took a sip. However, when Sam asked that question, she immediately spat out the water.
She coughed and ended up spewing the water all over the place.
Sam instantly frowned in disdain. “What are you doing, Thalia?” Thalia hastily replied, “I'm sorry. You guys carry on...”
He swept his eyes across her before looking away, shifting his attention back to Tony .
Tony shot a meaningful glance at Thalia. I knew it. One will always end up fabricating more lies to cover up the first lie. What should we do now? There's no other choice but to brace ourselves. At most, we'll stay silent or provide him with ambiguous responses, neither admitting nor denying anything.
With that thought in his mind, Tony nodded. “I remember. Why?”
“They were also investigating Midnight fang pack previously. If I'm not mistaken, that person must also have a grudge against Midnight fang pack . I think you can consider joining forces with him or her,” Sam suggested.