Chapter 1149: Dove and Doreen

At the same time, on the boat heading to Pierson Island, Finn rose from his spot to approach the captain.

"Can we get there a little faster?" Finn asked the person in charge. "We really need to get there quickly."

The captain sighed. "But, sir, we’re already at the fastest speed we can go."

"Then how long will it take to get there?"

"About ten to fifteen minutes."

"Fifteen minutes..." Finn shook his head, forcing a smile. "Alright, but if we can get there faster, I’d really appreciate it."

"I’ll do my best, sir."

With that, the captain refocused on his duties as Finn walked back a little. Finn’s eyes remained on the man, sighing heavily.

Fifteen minutes wasn’t that long, but considering the situation, he was growing increasingly worried.

’Of all the times for them to get in trouble...’ He clenched his teeth, bitterly swallowing a reality that only a few knew about. While the group tried to enjoy the boat ride, Finn’s anxiety continued to grow.

Penny hadn’t given him all the details. All he knew were a few keywords: abduction, syndicate, and rescue. Even so, those were enough to raise an alarm. Finn was still grateful that, even though he had briefly given Nina some details, she hadn’t panicked. Instead, she was helping him distract everyone.

Finn massaged his forehead as he stayed on the deck. He gripped the railing, glancing at the waters around them. Although he couldn’t see anything in the darkness, looking at something else might distract him, even if just for a moment.

’They better stay safe,’he thought to himself, gripping the railing tightly. ’Otherwise, everything in Anteca will fall apart. We have other problems to resolve, and this shouldn’t be one of them.’

******

[Syndicate’s Base]

"Hello there!" The man in charge of the facility greeted Zoren and Penny as they entered his office. His mouth stretched wide into a smile, matching the openness of his arms. "Welcome, welcome! Please, come into my humble office."

Penny studied the man in the red polo shirt and long trousers. She glanced over her shoulder before feeling a tug on her hand, allowing Zoren to lead her into the office.

"Take a seat," the man offered as they settled down. He sat on the only new furniture in the office, a wing chair, still wearing a wide smile. "Get the owner of the castle and his beautiful companion some drinks. I don’t have tea or anything fancy. Would a soda suffice?"

Zoren nodded. "Anything is fine. Thank you."

"Alright then." The man snapped his attention to the soldiers by the door, nodding at them. When they left and closed the door, he focused back on the couple. However, instead of eyeing Zoren, his gaze lingered more on Penny.

’What a stunning lady.’

"Your eyes..." Zoren remarked quietly, observing the man as he shifted his attention to him. "She’s my wife and the real owner of that island."

The man smiled. "I’m sorry. It’s just that it’s not every day I see someone as stunning as her."

"And it’s not every day I ask my men to take away someone’s eyesight."

"Mister..." The man laughed, running his tongue across his inner cheek. "It seems you’re forgetting that you’re now in my territory. I let you in kindly because you’re the owner of the castle. However, you don’t get to come here and threaten me."

"I can threaten you even if you have all your men in this room with their guns pointed at me." Zoren’s tone remained calm, his eyes sharp and unmoving. "And I’d still get out of here unscathed, regardless. That’s something I can guarantee you."

A moment of silence filled the air as the tension reached an all-time high. Zoren and the man in the red polo held each other’s gaze, neither of them backing down. Penny, on the other hand, tucked a portion of her hair behind her ear.

’So dreamy...’

Penny offered the man a kind smile while leaning slightly against Zoren, holding his hand gently. She cast him a reassuring nod, acting so modestly it could make anyone who knew her suspicious. When she snapped her gaze back to the man, her smile stretched.

"Shall we start over again?" Penny suggested. "My name’s Paloma, but you can call me Dove."

She then tilted her head toward Zoren and moved her hand to him. "This is my husband, Zo... Doreen — like Loreen. His parents were a bit confused about his gender when he was born because they were expecting a girl. So they had to improvise on the spot. It was a pressuring moment... so I heard."

"..." Zoren slid his eyes to his wife. ’Didn’t we agree that I’d introduce myself as William? So, if this man wants revenge, he’d go after William Pierson?’

But Penny kept her smile, knowing she had messed up their agreed alias. It wasn’t like this guy would dwell on it.

The man in the red polo darted his displeased eyes between the couple before nodding. "You can call me Glenn."

"Nice to meet you, Glenn." Penny nodded in satisfaction.

Glenn cleared his throat, now much more comfortable speaking with Penny. After all, Penny appeared eloquent and kind — naïve, very naïve, just like the many women he had encountered before. Not to mention, she was beautiful; a face he wouldn’t have easily ignored if they had crossed paths on the street.

But that man with her — her husband...

’Tch.’Glenn secretly clicked his tongue at Zoren, casting a brief look at him. "So, Mr. Doreen—"

"Pfft—" Penny pursed her lips, waving her hand in front of her. "I’m sorry. I was trying to hold back my sneeze."

Zoren remained quiet, not pleased with his wife’s naming skills. ’Not funny, Penny.’

Glenn, on the other hand, nodded. "Well, I’m sorry about that, Miss Paloma."

"Oh, please, call me Dove."

"Miss Dove," Glenn raised his brows knowingly at her, watching her smile. "The building is quite old and a bit messy, so apologies if the smell makes you sneeze. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it."

Penny maintained her smile as she playfully faced her husband. "I’ll let you two men talk."

"Mhm." Zoren briefly tucked her hair behind her ear before shifting his attention back to Glenn. "I’m sure you already know why I’m here, Mr. Glenn. The people you brought in here... I want you to give them back. Unharmed."