Gibson''s sharp gaze was locked on Joshua''s face.


    Here the man stood, not a hair out of ce, his clothes impably clean.


    All his borate preparations had been reduced to a joke.


    Joshua''s eyes scanned the room. Keen was tied to a chair, his mouth sealed with duct tape. Besides Gibson and Keen, there were five burly, athletic-looking men in the room. From their posture, it was clear they were trained fighters, and dangerous ones at that.


    When Keen saw him, his eyes lit up. He had been sitting quietly, but now he began to struggle frantically, muffled sounds escaping from behind the tape.


    Joshua offered Keen a reassuring smile. "Keen, don''t be afraid. I''ll get you out of here."


    Tears immediately welled up in Keen''s eyes.


    Joshua tore his gaze away and turned back to Gibson. "I''m here. State your terms."


    Gibson quickly recovered from his shock. A cold smile spread across his face. "You want to negotiate? Fine. Get on your knees, and we''ll talk. Otherwise..." He nced at one of his bodyguards, who understood immediately and pressed a knife against one of Keen''s fingers.


    Joshua raised an eyebrow. "That''s it?"


    Gibson frowned. "I''m warning you, don''t try anything clever. Whether this kid leaves here with all his fingers depends on your


    cooperation youth


    you can


    outsmart me, he might end up cripple even if you do rescue him. A life like that would be more painful than death."


    Joshua''s voice wasced with amusement. Mr. Gibson, it''s clear you''re new to this whole viin thing. You don''t even know how to property torture someone. Making a man kneel is just a psychological blow. For someone shameless, means nothing. Kneeling won''t kill me. If you start with such a low-stakes threat, how do you n to escte?"


    Gibson had be the head of his family without much bloodshed or intrigue. As his father''s only son, he''d never had to fight for his


    position. While he wasn''t a saint, hecked teonard''s talent for cruelty. Joshua''s critique atung. "Are you telling me how to do my job?!" he snapped.


    Joshua, looking entirely unthreatened, continued conversationally. "I just find your methods... disappointing. There isn''t even any blood. Are we ying a game here?"


    Gibson let out a cold, cruelugh. "It seems you have better ideas. By all means, share them. If I''m not satisfied, this kid loses a hand."


    Joshua smoothly produced a knife from his belt.


    At the motion, Gibson and his men tensed, two bodyguards instantly moving to nk him.


    "The hostage is in your hands," Joshua said calmly. "You don''t need to be so defensive."


    Gibson knew the man before him was dangerous and refused to lower his guard, his eyes still fixed on Joshua.<fnffa9> Th?s chapter is updated by Find~Novel</fnffa9>


    Joshua sighed as if disappointed. "Alright, then. Let me give you a lesson, Mr. Gibson." He looked directly at him. "First, you should ask me which of my hands killed your son. Then, there must be blood. Otherwise, the threat has no impact."


    He nonchntly ced his hand t on the table. "You were just threatening to cut off Keen''s hand, weren''t you? If you really wanted to use that to pressure me, why not demand that I stab my own hand, or his would be forfeit? Like this..."