Chapter 558 Kidnapping?
Villain Ch 558. Kidnapping?
Shanty paused, her curiosity piqued. "What? Why would the company care about Allen?"
Noah, once again assuming a guarded demeanor, swept his gaze around their surroundings. Satisfied that they were alone, he approached Shanty with a certain urgency, his footsteps echoing softly. Leaning in, he whispered to her, "Last time James and I got a photo where Allen and Mr. Jordan spoke at the hospital. They looked quite close."
Shanty's features contorted into a frown, her forehead creased in confusion. She turned to Noah, looking intently into his eyes. "Who's Mr. Jordan?" she inquired, her tone reflecting her perplexity.
Noah, his patience wearing thin, replied in a serious tone, "Jordan Goldborne, the owner of this Hell's Gate game, who else?" An undertone of annoyance laced his words.
Shanty's expression shifted from confusion to shock. "Wait, Jordan Goldborne knows Allen?" she asked, her disbelief evident.
Noah shrugged, a sense of uncertainty in his demeanor. "I don't know. They were talking at the hospital. Maybe it was just a casual chat. But it didn't seem that way."
Shanty's eyebrows knit together in concern. "Why does the owner of Hell's Gate know Allen? And what business does he have with him?" Her voice held a note of genuine worry.
Noah shook his head, mirroring her confusion. "I don't have all the details. A guild member just happened to be there and snapped a photo. It's strange, though."
Shanty's mind raced with possibilities. The connection between Allen and the owner of the game they were so deeply immersed in left her intrigued and unsettled. "What if it's something bad? What if Allen's in trouble?"
Noah placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I don't think so. Allen's a skilled player, and if there's anything serious, it should be related to the game."
Shanty, still processing the revelation about Allen's connection with the game's owner, nodded in agreement with Noah's assessment. "You're right, but what is their relationship? Why would the owner of the game be talking to Allen?"
Noah shrugged, a gesture of uncertainty. "That's what I was looking into," he confessed. "I've tried investigating Allen's background, but there's nothing special. He's an adopted child and comes from a simple family. When his parents passed away, he lived with his sister's family and continued his education at university. His academic skills aren't particularly striking; he's not a genius or anything. His relatives and friends have nothing to do with the Goldborne family."
Shanty frowned, the pieces of the puzzle not quite fitting together. "So, there's no reason for him to have a direct connection with the owner of the game. It doesn't add up."
Noah nodded in agreement, mirroring a sense of confusion. "Exactly. I thought maybe he had some hidden talents or connections, but it seems like a dead end. The Goldborne family doesn't have any known ties to him or his circle."
Shanty sighed, the mystery deepening with every revelation. "Maybe it's just a coincidence. They met at the hospital, and it meant nothing."
Noah, however, wasn't convinced. "Could be, but I don't believe in coincidences. There's something more to it, and I can't figure out what." His brows furrowed in contemplation, mused aloud, "I guess this might have something to do with the game."
Shanty, still trying to wrap her head around the situation, questioned, "What do you mean?"
Noah, attempting to connect the dots, offered his speculation, "Mr. Jordan might be trying to recruit Allen for their next game or maybe something related to this one. Allen's a champion in the tournament, and he has a strong sense of competition. It would be strange if he decided to 'play for fun' in this game. He didn't even participate in any events or join any famous guilds."
A visible frown etched itself onto his forehead. Shanty, absorbing the implications, fell into a contemplative silence, her thoughts mirroring the suspicion etched on her brother's face.
Noah had a good reason for his skepticism, and Shanty couldn't deny that he might be onto something. "Maybe," she finally said, her voice thoughtful, "that's why Allen rejected your offer to become a beta player at Dad's company? Because he already got the same job at the Goldborne company?"
Noah's eyes widened, and he turned abruptly to face Shanty, a mix of disbelief and surprise etched across his?expression. "When did you ask him?" he demanded, his tone a blend of shock and suspicion. He couldn't quite fathom that his seemingly clueless little sister had managed to beat him to the punch.
Shanty, feeling a hint of satisfaction at catching Noah off guard, replied casually, "This afternoon, but Allen refused. Why?"
Noah's disbelief deepened. He was just about to make the same offer to Allen, and the fact that Shanty, his little sister, had taken the initiative was both impressive and, in his eyes, a bit infuriating. "You asked him?" he repeated, as if confirming that this wasn't some elaborate joke.
Shanty nodded, her expression mirroring genuine surprise. "Yeah, but he said he wasn't interested."
Noah ran a hand through his hair, a mix of frustration and surprise playing on his face. "I was planning to make the same offer to him. You beat me to it."
Shanty's eyes widened in shock. "Really?" The coincidence of their intentions left her momentarily dumbfounded.
Noah nodded solemnly. "Yeah, really. I was just about to pitch the idea to him. But now that you've already asked, it seems he's not interested in the position anymore."
Shanty couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. "Maybe you should ask him again. Maybe I didn't convince him enough. I didn't mean to mess things up for you. I just thought it would be a great opportunity for Allen."
Noah offered his sister a reassuring smile. "No harm done. It's just a strange coincidence. If Allen isn't interested, it's his choice. We'll figure something else out."
Shanty, her expression a mix of confusion and concern, asked, "What do you mean?"
Noah's gaze turned serious, and he fixed his sister with a determined look. "Kidnapping him, for example," he said, his words hanging heavily in the air.
Shanty's eyes widened, mirroring the shock she felt. "Kidnapping? Are you serious?"
Noah nodded solemnly, his tone grave. "Dead serious. If Allen is involved in something big with the Goldborne family or the game, we might need to find out what's going on. And sometimes, unconventional methods are the only way."
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