Chapter 1212: Called wolf today

But Atlas?

He wouldn’t grovel at her feet or cry his eyes out. He might apologize, but at this point, it was long overdue. It wasn’t enough to quell her anger and pain. Moreover, if what she said was true, then if she didn’t get her revenge, he would. Even if he had to spend the rest of his life trying to find a way to go back in time just to punch himself, he would.

"I’ll help you plan my murder."

Penny’s mouth fell open, her eyes widening. Her mind blanked momentarily as she processed the words he had just spoken.

"Wait, what?" she gasped when she recovered. "You want to plan your own murder?"

"I said I’d assist. So you can call me an accomplice to this crime we’re about to commit."

"Uh." She blinked. Then blinked again, her mind failing to compute. She thought she was smart, but right now, it felt like her brain wasn’t working properly. "So, the deal is... we plan your murder, but I’m the mastermind, and you’re just an accomplice?"

Atlas nodded. "That’s right."

"But you’re the one who proposed it!" she barked. "Doesn’t that make you the mastermind?"

"Do you want to redo it and propose it instead?"

"Are you insane?" she gasped. "You’re saying all of this just to save everyone? Do you think you’re a hero?"

"No. Kill them for all I care." He shrugged. "All I’m saying is if you crash this plane, chances are you’ll die too. Just because you want me dead. I don’t want to kill you a second time. I’m not taking you with me. Over my dead body."

"Wow..." she blurted out in awe, her eyes widening slightly.

She had told him he better have something brilliant if he wanted to change her mind because she didn’t think he could. But Atlas had just proven why Atlas Bennet was Atlas Bennet. He always proved he had a brain.

"Amazing." Penny clapped, a shallow smile on her face. "Great job."

"Is that a yes?" he asked, tilting his head. "Are we having this deal or not?"

"Hmm..." she hummed a long note. "Let me think."

"Stop stalling."

The corner of her mouth stretched into a grin as she turned back to him. "Sure. I think planning your murder sounds fun, and getting away with it is... let’s just say, not a bad idea! I get to live without you breathing the same air as I do, and I can mock you on your grave. Maybe drink a few beers while camping there, have my own little pool party, and just show you how unremorseful I am. Exciting!"

"Then, I’ll wake them up," he said, standing from his seat—only to stop when Penny spoke again.

"But I can’t leave this seat yet."

He frowned. "I thought we had a deal."

"We do, but I can’t leave just yet." Penny glanced up, her eyes scanning the buttons before her. She pressed a few, moving her microphone closer to her mouth to speak. "This aircraft..."

Deep lines formed between his brows as he listened to Penny communicate with whoever was on the other end. She spoke in codes—whether they were accurate or not, he wasn’t sure. But by the sound of it, she knew what she was doing.

Once Penny finished, she looked back at him and took off her headphones. When she stood, she faced him with a smirk.

"This is exactly what I meant when I said you believe too easily that I’m capable of horrific things," she said matter-of-factly. "Did you really think I’d kill everyone here just because I want to kill you? My husband’s here."

After saying her piece, Penny turned and walked toward the unconscious pilots. Meanwhile, Atlas stood frozen, eyes wide as he followed her with his gaze.

"What does that mean?" he blurted out. "You weren’t—"

Penny rolled her eyes and cocked her head back at him. "I know how to pilot an aircraft, genius. We’re not going to crash. Gee! I’ve lived twice. I don’t want to live a third lifetime!"

"The Boy Who Cried Wolf, my butt!" she hissed, eyes swirling with judgment. "I literally just screamed ’wolf’ today, and you believed me. Tch."

"..." He opened and closed his mouth but failed to find any words. She had completely rendered him speechless.

Penny squatted in front of the pilots, resting her arms on her legs. She darted her eyes between the two, humming as she pondered something. But before she could say anything, her brows lifted when Atlas spoke again.

"About our deal..."

"Oh, it’s still happening," she returned in a knowing tone, looking back at him to make sure he understood she was serious. "We’re still going to plan your death. Hehe. Do you think you’re the only business-minded person here? You just walked into a trap. Or rather, you dug the trap yourself and jumped into it."

"..." A shallow breath slipped past his nostrils as he nodded. "Very well. I’m glad that’s the case."

"Huh?"

His lips pressed together, but the corners twitched up. "Zoren would be very disheartened if you tried to kill him too."

"..." This time, it was Penny who fell silent. She simply studied the look of relief on his face, realizing that he wasn’t even worried about the negotiation they had just made.

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she bit her inner cheek before looking away.

Penny briefly raised her brows as she composed herself, keeping her unmoved facade intact.

"Anyway, if you know how to pilot this thing, is it okay for you to be away from the controls?" he asked, since neither of them were in their seats anymore.

"It’s on autopilot, so it’s fine," she replied without looking back, her attention on the unconscious pilots. "I already fixed our route, so we’ll land where we’re supposed to. As for these two... time to wake them up and ask whose brilliant idea it was to make a detour."