"If you two haven''t sorted things out, it would be awkward if you started fighting in front of us. I really don''t want to watch you two argue."


    "Actually, I''d love to watch them argue. It would be really interesting."


    “Think about it. A strong-willed woman like Hannah, and this is about her mother. Then this guy finds out somehow and takes it upon himself toe here. She''s probably going to be furious and tell us to throw him out!"


    "That''s all too boring. Here''s a better idea. When Hannah gets here and sees him, we tell her that because she brought someone, we''re not going to tell her where her mother is!"


    One of the men proposed the idea, and the others pped in approval.


    "Then we''ll say the only way we''ll tell her is if she stabs this guy to death. Now that would be interesting."


    The man had barely finished speaking when a collective gasp filled the air. Everyone stared at him in shock.


    "I never would have guessed. You look so harmless, but you''ve got a twisted mind!”


    "That''s a brilliant idea. Let''s do that!"


    At first, Lionel had ignored their rambling, but when he heard thest man''s suggestion, he suddenly felt a surge of panic.


    If his presence here really caused them to withhold information about Hannah''s mother, making her trip here pointless, she would absolutely hate him for it.


    But more than ten minutes had passed since the appointed time, and Hannah still hadn''t arrived. Could it be that she knew it was a trap and wasn''ting?


    For a moment, Lionel waspletely at a loss, his mind in turmoil.


    He took a deep breath, swallowed hard, and after a long moment of thought, still said nothing, simply watching them.


    The ruin fell silent. After about ten seconds, one of them spoke up.


    "It''s gettingte. Hannah hasn''t shown up. I guess she''s really noting."


    “Looks like our brilliant n won''t work after all. You got lucky."


    Hearing this, Lionel let out a long, silent sigh of relief and subconsciously nced outside, confirming that no one was there.


    Thank God Hannah hadn''te. If it


    hade


    they never


    just the two of them here,


    would have been p


    fight off this many people content


    "Since Hannah didn''t show up, you''ll


    have to take the punchenel


    was meant to receive, receive," the leader. looking at Lionel.


    >


    "After all, you took it upon yourself toe in her ce and ruin our


    infuriating how you ne


    ns. And now she''s a


    wrecked everything!"


    It''s


    The leader gave the order to his men. There was no point in dragging this out any


    longer; it would just be a waste of time.


    Before Lionel could even process what was happening, the men around him charged forward like a pack of wild animals.


    The next second, fists rained down on him, the sound of punches echoing through the cavernous ruin.


    On the other end of the listening device, the sound made everyone freeze.


    They stared at each other, stunned, unable toprehend what was happening.


    "Holy crap," Samuel said in shock. "Are they actually beating him up?"