Thalia was still baffled, but after seeing Tony 's serious expression, she quickly followed him.
As the boy led the way, Thalia trailed a meter behind and scrutinized him. After a while, she finally spoke up. “A-Are you not angry with me anymore?”
“What's there to be angry about?” Tony replied without turning his head, seemingly having anticipated the question.
Thalia lowered her gaze and murmured, “Why do you still ask when you already know...”
Tony suddenly halted and turned to look at Thalia, prompting the latter to freeze from guilt and begrudgingly meet his gaze.
“Thalia, you really don't need to worry too much about my thoughts and opinions,” Tony said with a weary sigh.
Upon hearing that, Thalia furrowed her brows. “What do you mean? Are you planning to sever ties with me?”
“What I meant to say is that the fault of this matter doesn't lie with you, so you don't have to tiptoe around me.”
Thalia narrowed her eyes as she stared at the boy suspiciously, “Are you sure?”
Tony nodded.
“In that case, why did you ignore me when I talked to you yesterday?”
With that, Tony lowered his eyes and heaved a heavy sigh, “I didn't say anything because I couldn't accept the truth then. The one I'm angry at is myself. Both of you are very important to me, and I can't bear to see anything bad happen to either of you,” he explained before looking up at Thalia. “Do you understand?”
Thalia, who had been grappling with conflicting emotions, was stunned by Tony 's words.
She gazed at the boy and found her unhappiness slowly dissipating, only to be replaced by a sense of relief.
“A-Am I that important? Can I really be compared to Nelly ?” Thalia muttered.
Tony looked at the woman incredulously. Oh, gosh... Even at this moment, is that all she's concerned about?
“What do you think?” he grumbled, his eyes sweeping over her impatiently.
“How would I know?” Thalia retorted.
“Forget it if you don't know!” Tony said before turning around and walking away. After all, continuing that conversation would only make the situation even more awkward.
Thalia immediately followed behind and caught up to the boy in two strides. The next second, she casually wrapped an arm around his shoulder and acted like they were best buddies. “Oh, come on. Tell me about it!”
True to her nature, Thalia could light up the room with just a little sunshine.
Tony , on the other hand, actually felt pretty guilty. He knew the incident wasn't what Thalia had intended, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't control himself that day.
However, now that he realized Thalia wasn't dwelling on it, he started to wonder if he was the one being too short-sighted.
“Let me go!” he grumbled.
“I'll let you go if you say it!”
“What do you want me to say?”
“I want you to say what was on your mind earlier! Tell me. Are Nelly and I equally important to you?” Thalia asked. One thing was for sure—that one question was enough to make her day.
Alas, Tony continued to struggle. “Let me go!”
“If you don't speak up, I won't let you go!” Thalia retorted as she put the boy in a headlock.
“You—”
“What? What about me?” Thalia interrupted. “Listen up. If you don't tell me what I want to know, I'll hound you until you do!”
For a moment, Tony was speechless. “Come on... Haven't you heard that you can lead a horse to water but can't make it drink?”
“Who cares? What matters is that I've led the horse to water, so it'd better drink up!”
Once again, Tony fell silent.
He knew Thalia well, and she was the kind of person who would talk the talk and walk the walk.
Left with no other options, Tony finally relented. “Fine, fine, fine. You're important, just like how Nelly is important to me. Will that do?”
“What does 'fine, fine, fine' mean, huh? What kind of nonsense is that? Are you implying that I'm forcing you?” Thalia snapped back.
“Well, shouldn't you know—”
“Hmm?” Thalia interrupted as she cocked an eyebrow at Tony .
With that, the latter held his tongue and stared at the woman until an ingratiating smile surfaced on his face. “What I meant was... Shouldn't you know what I'm thinking about?”
Thalia shook her head. “I don't!”
Still smiling, Tony took a deep breath. “Yes. You're as important to me as Nelly is!”
Thalia's eyes instantly lit up. “Really?”
“Of course!”
“That's more like it!” Thalia said as she burst into a hearty laugh and let Tony go.
With that, the latter immediately took the opportunity to move his neck, straighten his clothes, and take a deep breath.
Thalia couldn't help but glance at Tony . Even though he had said those words under her coercion, she was still happy to hear them.
Oh, I know Tony too well... His problem is he isn't good at expressing himself. That's okay, though. I'll slowly teach him how to open up and speak his mind in the future.
With that thought in mind, Thalia felt her heart burst with joy.
She had been alone and helpless from a young age, living a life full of hardship until Spencer came into her life and let her experience the warmth of the human touch. Alas, the older she got, the more she understood the harsh reality of life. It was difficult enough to find sincerity in most people, let alone familial love. Even after joining Darknetz, the people around her were nothing more than friends or colleagues. The arrival of Tony , however, changed her mindset. Thanks to him and Nelly , she finally felt what it was like to have a family.
Thalia, without a doubt, was happy.
Love, friendship, and family... I have them all, haven't I? Granted, my love life wasn't very smooth sailing, but it still worked out eventually.
At the thought of that, Thalia curled her lips into a smile.
Naturally, Tony couldn't help but notice her big, goofy grin as he stood beside her. He quickly waved his hand in front of her eyes and piped up, “What are you smiling at?”
Thalia snapped back to her senses and shook her head. “It's nothing!”
Despite that, Tony gave her a somewhat puzzled look. “Let's get going if there's nothing wrong then.”
“Okay!” Thalia responded before following the boy.
Alas, in her moment of joy, she had again forgotten to ask where they were headed.
Upon reaching Dave's study, Tony promptly knocked and entered the room. Unfortunately, Thalia's smile faded away when she noticed the people standing inside.
Apart from Dave, Alpha Kilian and Spencer were also present.
The sight of Spencer reminded Thalia of their argument from the day before, and even though she now knew that everything he had done was for her, she still hadn't figured out how to face him. As a result, she averted her gaze and avoided making eye contact with him.
On the other hand, Spencer had fixed his eyes on Thalia from the moment she entered the room, and it wasn't until she looked away that he reluctantly withdrew his gaze.
Dave instantly picked up on the awkward atmosphere, but thankfully, he knew there were more important matters to prioritize.
The next second, he cleared his throat and looked at the group before him. “Now that everyone's here, I'll get straight to the point. I've gathered you guys because there's something important to discuss,” he announced as he glanced at Alpha Kilian leaning against the window. “Due to some special circumstances, I discussed briefly with Alpha Kilian yesterday and have decided to bring our plan forward. Therefore, we need to assign tasks for our upcoming mission.”
Upon hearing that, Thalia turned to Tony .
Tony , too, was looking at her. “Soon, Nelly will be just like you!”
With that, Thalia suddenly became full of energy. She looked up at Dave, her playful demeanor long gone and replaced by a look of steely determination.
Half an hour later, the tasks were distributed among several people.
Dave looked at them, his expression serious. “When the time comes, everything will be centered on the information. Try to manage your time as best as you can. I believe all of you are seasoned veterans, so I shouldn't need to remind you of this!”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Alpha Kilian stood silently at the side, his gaze fixed on the window with a serious expression.
Meanwhile, Thalia, who was standing nearby, furrowed her eyebrows upon hearing Dave's words. Then, she decided to speak up. “May I suggest something?”
At that moment, everyone turned their attention to her. “Go ahead,” Dave said.
Thalia's gaze swept over them. “It's pointless for me to stay at the rear guard. Anyone can do that job. I'm better off going to Midnight fang pack 's headquarters!”
Upon hearing that, everyone was slightly taken aback.
Before Dave could say anything, a sudden harsh voice came from the side. “No way!”
Spencer approached her, looking down at her. “You can't go!”
Thalia looked up, speaking softly. “This is my business!”
Spencer's brows furrowed tightly as he looked at her. “Thalia, now is not the time to be willful!”
“Do you think I'm being willful?” Thalia asked him, looking into his eyes.
Spencer looked at her, momentarily at a loss for words.
“I am atoning for my sins!”
“You're innocent. This matter has nothing to do with you. It was me who acted on my own accord—”
“Spencer!” Thalia suddenly called out to him softly, then looked up at him with a complex expression. “I know everything now!”
Spencer looked at her, momentarily at a loss for words.
“Even if not for atonement, I'm willing to take this risk for Nelly . No one is more suitable than me!” Thalia said, emphasizing each word as she looked at him.
Spencer stared at her, wanting to say something, but the words were stuck in his throat.
After a while, his hand rested on her shoulder. Spencer caressed her with both hands. “My presence in the raid of Midnight fang pack will be enough. I will definitely find the antidote!”
Thalia, however, disagreed. “You still don't get it after what happened last time? Boss is a wary individual. He won't leave the antidote at home or the base. He must be carrying it on him if he's dealing with us. Therefore, you must follow Alpha Kilian and Dave. Only by finding him can we find the antidote!”
“Still, you—”
“Don't worry. Midnight fang pack will be weakened after Boss leaves. It'll actually be the safest place for me to be in. I'll be careful!” Thalia said each word deliberately, looking as if her mind was made up.
Spencer gazed at her while his hands were trembling.
They all understood Boss was a very cautious person. So far, they only had their plan. They had no idea what countermeasures their adversaries might have nor did they know what their enemies would ultimately do.
Perhaps Boss wouldn't show up at all. In that case, Midnight fang pack would be the most dangerous place for Thalia to be in.
Seeing the complex look in Spencer's eyes, Thalia deliberately averted her gaze. Instead, she looked toward Dave and Alpha Kilian , who were off to the side.
“Anyone from your organization can take my place from earlier. As for Midnight fang pack , I'll go there!” Thalia said, emphasizing each word.
For a moment, Dave didn't know what to say, his gaze directly fixed on Spencer.
As soon as Dave's sight shifted toward Spencer, Thalia immediately spoke up. “My life is my own. I don't need anyone's approval!”
Spencer looked at her silently. His brows furrowed tightly. He knew that Thalia's words were meant for him.
“Whether you agree or disagree, it doesn't matter because I will definitely go when the time comes. If you agree, then I will proceed as planned. If you disagree, then I will do it on my own!” Thalia said. He'll disrespect the entire plan if he still doesn't agree.
Dave nodded. “Okay!”
He had just agreed when Spencer's gaze turned toward him. “Dave...”
“Don't look at me. I'm all for it if you can convince her not to go!” Dave said directly.
Spencer knew he couldn't blame others for that matter.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I must stress that we are not dealing with some random guy. We are up against the leader of the largest criminal organization in the area, Boss. Therefore, it's crucial that we unify our internal opinions. If we encounter disagreements during our operation, it won't just end with the plan failing!” Dave said, emphasizing each word.
No sooner had he finished speaking than Thalia spoke. “Rest assured. I won't affect the operation. Let's stick to what I just said!”
Seeing that Spencer was no longer speaking, Dave raised an eyebrow. “Okay, let's call it a day then. We should make the most of our time to prepare. See you all tonight!”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
After that, everyone exited Dave's study.
It seemed as if Tony also had something on his mind. After coming out of the room, he lifted his gaze. “Thalia...”
“Stop right there!” At that moment, Thalia looked at him. “If you're here to persuade me, then forget it. If it's something else, then you can speak!”
Tony looked at her, his brows deeply furrowed.
Thalia understood his intentions.
At that moment, she stepped forward and looked at Tony . Unlike her previous carefree demeanor, she now seemed more composed, like a child who had grown up overnight.
“Tony , I know what you're about to say. However, just as Nelly is willing to do things for me, I can do the same for her.” As she spoke, a faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. “Don't worry, I'll be fine!”
“How can you be so sure everything will be fine? Do you think Midnight fang pack is your family business?” Tony asked.
Seeing him somewhat anxious, Thalia laughed. “I've been through life and death situations for so many years. How hard could it be to go to Midnight fang pack ? Don't worry, I'll definitely come back safe and sound, okay?”
“How are you going to guarantee that?” Tony asked.
Thalia suddenly froze, looking at Tony . “I don't know... How about if I don't come back, all the money under my name goes to you?”
“Who cares about your money?”
“How do you expect me to guarantee it, then?” Thalia retorted.
Tony looked at her, his gaze complex. True. How can I ask her to make any guarantees? This journey is a perilous one. No one knows what will happen. What's the point of making promises?
Tony didn't know what to say. He just stared at her, his fists clenched tightly at his side.
His worry and inner conflict were clear to see. Thalia casually patted his head. “All right, stop being so dramatic. If Nelly , who has never received any training, can escape a wolf's den like Midnight fang pack , then I certainly can. Besides, I'm not going alone. I've got DX members with me. Don't worry. Nothing will happen.” Thalia assured him, emphasizing each word.
The moment she ended her sentence, Spencer emerged just in time to catch what she had said.
“The reason Nelly was able to escape was that she was smart and lucky enough to do so. Do you really think that everyone can make it out alive from that place?” Spencer walked out and said word by word.