Time Is on His Side

"Or... should we give them a parting gift on the plane?"

The phone was on speaker, and the subordinate's voice came through without any unnecessary emotion.

In the dim room, the hideous scar on the man's face looked even more terrifying in the faint glow of the phone, while a feverish yet icy light flickered in his eyes.

Beside him stood a man of average height. He lowered his head slightly, his light brown eyes resting gently on the phone before turning toward the scar-faced man.

"Mr. Thorne, there are many passengers on that plane. Wouldn't this be going too far? The risk of acting is great, and it would be easy to leave evidence behind. Wouldn't it be better to keep looking for a safer opportunity later?"

"What opportunity? Once they return to their own territory, what chance will our people have left?"

The scar-faced man, Thorne, raised his voice and said fiercely:

"Stern, it's exactly this cowardly hesitation that has slowed our cause! You're always waiting for the perfect moment, but the perfect moment won't come knocking on your door!"

He leaned forward and stared at Stern. "Opportunities are like flashes of lightning—once you see one, you have to seize it! Even if it means risking your life!"

"Otherwise, once they return to Britain and have that old fox Dumbledore protecting them, making a move against Wade Gray will cost ten times, a hundred times more than it does now!"

His voice traveled through the phone and radio waves to the other end as well.

After the call ended, the car parked on the street corner outside the White Bridge Inn quietly started up and merged into the traffic.

Through the half-open window, voices from inside could vaguely be heard:

"Listen up, everyone! This is the Leader's order—under