Lyra snapped out of her shock and realized Roben had already taken Elena away. She instinctively moved after them—only to be stopped.
"Excuse me."
Lyra turned around. "Yes?"
The man smiled lightly. "Could you tell me the address?"
Lyra glanced once more in the direction Elena had gone. She wasn't worried. She remembered the last time she had gone out with Elena—how effortlessly Elena had beaten those goons, calm and ruthless.
Lyra already knew—nothing would happen to Elena.
So without hesitation, she told him the address. It was nearby anyway.
Then Roben spoke calmly,
"Could you take me there? I'm new here."
Lyra looked at him for a second, then nodded.
"Alright," she said simply—and turned to lead the way.
Roben pulled Elena into a narrow, shadowed corner and finally released her wrist.
The moment his fingers left her skin, Elena slowly rubbed her hand, as if it had suffered a great injustice.
She exhaled dramatically.
"You know," she said in a soft, deliberate tone,
"I actually like bold men… but that doesn't give you permission to grab my delicate hand like that."
Her eyes flicked meaningfully to his chest.
"Not when half your team is breathing through a walkie-talkie."
She stepped closer—just enough to invade his space.
Roben didn't move. His voice dropped, cold and sharp.
"My patience is limited."
Elena smiled, fearless.
"Then don't waste it by limiting yourself," she replied.
"I prefer things without rules. Unlimited feels… more honest."
—Static crackled.
Joker nearly dropped the walkie-talkie.
"…Is she flirting?" he whispered to no one.
Lingfeng stared at the device like it had betrayed him.
"She's negotiating with the Major. Casually."
Elena tilted her head, studying Roben's unreadable face.
"Darling," she continued sweetly,
"if you only glare at me and stay silent, how am I supposed to know you care?"
Her tone softened, almost wounded.
"Or is it that after everything we've done… you don't want me anymore?"
The walkie-talkie went dead silent.
Joker swallowed hard.
"This woman has nerves of steel."
Lingfeng's voice was barely a breath.
"And zero survival instinct."
"I love you," Elena said lightly, like she was commenting on the weather.
"For you, I could do anything."
Roben's eyes darkened by a shade.
"Anything?" he asked slowly, as if testing a loaded weapon.
"Yes." No pause. No blink.
"We've already crossed enough lines. You still doubt me?"
"No."
A beat—too calm to be safe.
"But you'll do what I ask."
Elena's smile sharpened, turning playful and dangerous.
"What do you want?"
Roben didn't answer.
He only smiled.
Not a smile meant to charm—
but one that promised consequences.
He stepped away.
For the first time, Elena froze.
That smile…
No warmth. No anger. Just certainty.
Danger slid down her spine, cold and precise—
and then, instead of fear, excitement followed.
So this is how he plays, she thought. Interesting.
Footsteps.
Roben returned—with rope and tape in his hands.
Elena blinked. Once.
Then laughed softly, as if she'd just been impressed.
"Oh?" she said, clutching her chest in mock offense.
"Is this your idea of trust?"
She leaned forward slightly, voice dropping.
"Or were you planning to tie me up and handle everything… all by yourself?"
Elena's words echoed through the walkie-talkie.
Lingfeng thought, his fingers tightening around the device:
Miss… do you not like your life at all?
People usually run from the Major. You're flirting with him.
Is this courage… or a signed resignation from life?
Joker thought, eyes turning misty in the most unnecessary way:
She's completely gone in Major's love.
This level of madness deserves respect.
Then his expression turned oddly hopeful.
God… when will someone be this crazy for me?
Roben didn't respond.
Not a single word.
Elena's fearless teasing washed over him like background noise. Instead of answering, he acted.
In one clean, practiced motion, he caught both her wrists and twisted them behind her back. The restraints were on before she could even finish blinking. Cold. Efficient. No hesitation.
Elena finally reacted—eyes widening, more offended than scared.
"Darling," she said quickly, voice laced with mock pain,
"do you know how badly you're breaking your darling's heart right now?"
She glanced at the tape in his hand and sighed dramatically.
"First you tie me up, and now you're planning to silence me too?"
She shook her head.
"That's cruel. Absolutely cruel."
Roben raised the tape closer.
Elena hurried on, words tumbling out faster.
"And be reasonable—if you're going to do all this, there will be a little noise. Just a little. At least let me protest properly—"
Too late.
Roben pressed the tape firmly over her mouth.
The words died instantly.
Silence fell.
Roben picked up the walkie-talkie, his voice calm—too calm.
"From today," he said evenly,
"four extra hours of night training."
—Silence.
On the other end, Joker froze.
Lingfeng froze harder.
They looked at each other.
"…Ok, Major," both said at the same time—stunned, shocked, and instantly depressed.
Joker thought, soul leaving his body:
So this is my punishment… for knowing too much about major's love life.
Lingfeng thought, painfully realistic:
Every show comes with a cost. Nothing in life is free. Especially gossip.
Roben ignored their collective heartbreak.
He pulled Elena further into the shadows, staying hidden near the corner. The mission came first—Derek was the target. His focus sharpened instantly.
"Team, positions," he ordered through the walkie-talkie.
"Block exits. No mistakes."
Elena stood beside him, hands bound, mouth taped.
Bored.
Extremely bored.
She listened to tactics, coordinates, breathing reports—
and mentally yawned.
So dull, she thought.
Kidnapped, tied up, silenced… and all I get is mission briefing.
Minutes passed.
Then—
"Major," the walkie-talkie crackled again, excitement barely contained,
"Target secured."
Roben didn't smile.
"Ok," he replied simply, and switched the device off.
Mission complete.
Elena glanced at him from the corner of her eye, eyebrows lifting slightly.
Even taped, her expression said only one thing:
Finally. Now… what about me?
Roben glanced at Elena once—just once—then turned away as if she didn't exist.
He walked off without a word.
Elena tried to make a sound, tried to protest, but he didn't even slow down.
Because Roben already knew—
rope or no rope, she'd free herself.
And he was right.
The moment he disappeared, Elena sighed dramatically, twisted her wrists once, twice—click.
The rope fell like it was embarrassed to even try.
She peeled the tape off her mouth and muttered under her breath, voice dripping with sarcasm.
"That man," Elena hissed through clenched teeth, slowing her steps only to glare at the empty space where he'd disappeared,
"is going to stay single his entire life."
She jabbed a finger in the air, as if he were still standing there.
"And honestly?" she added coldly,
"Humanity will be much safer for it."
Her lips twisted into a scowl.
"He has no idea how to treat a woman. No gentleness. No warmth. No care."
She counted on her fingers dramatically.
"Love? Respect? Basic human decency?"
She scoffed.
"Those words don't even exist in his dictionary."
Elena rolled her eyes so hard it almost hurt.
"If some poor, unlucky girl ever ends up with him," she muttered,
"that'll be the worst fate imaginable.
Meeting that blockhead should come with a warning label—
Danger: Emotionally Frozen. Approach at your own risk."
Still mumbling curses under her breath, Elena turned and walked back toward the mall entrance, her heels clicking sharply against the floor.
Lyra was already there, leaning against a pillar, arms crossed, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"…So," Lyra said slowly,
"who exactly was that guy?"
"And where did he disappear to so dramatically?"
Elena stopped mid-step.
She inhaled deeply, as if preparing herself for an important speech—
then turned around and delivered her review with absolute sincerity.
"Oh, him?" she said sweetly.
Lyra nodded.
Elena tilted her head.
"Just a walking iceberg," she continued calmly.
"Zero emotions. Zero manners."
Then she smiled thinly.
"One hundred percent unnecessary attitude."
She flicked her hand dismissively.
"He thinks silence is a personality trait
and rudeness is some kind of charm."
Lyra blinked.
Elena sighed theatrically.
"Very dangerous," she added.
"Very handsome."
A pause.
"Very, very stupid."
Lyra stared at her for two seconds—
Then burst out laughing.
Elena crossed her arms, chin lifted, clearly still offended.
"And the worst part?" she said bitterly.
Lyra wiped a tear of laughter.
"What?"
"He left," Elena replied flatly,
"without even saying goodbye."
.....
Somewhere, far away—
Roben sneezed.
Roben suddenly slowed his steps.
For no reason at all, a strange chill ran down his spine.
He frowned slightly.
"…Why do I feel," he thought,
"like someone is talking badly about me?"
His brows knitted together.
A pause.
Then he dismissed the thought with his usual indifference.
A few steps behind him, Joker and Lingfeng exchanged a knowing look.
Joker sighed internally.
Yep. No doubt about it. That girl is absolutely roasting sir right now.
Lingfeng adjusted his headset, voice calm but merciless.
"Leaving a woman tied up and walking away without even offering help…"
He paused.
"Very on brand."
Joker shook his head in quiet admiration.
"Major really has a rare talent," he thought,
"for making lifelong enemies without saying more than three words."
Roben, completely unaware of the character assassination happening miles away, continued walking.
Straight posture. Steady pace. Zero concern.
Unbothered.
Uninformed.
And—by universal agreement—
Completely deserving of every single word.