A pleasure to see you again

In a sense, Jonas had foreseen this moment long ago. Otherwise, he would never have laid his plans in advance and waited for Miss Shiyu to walk straight into his trap.

So nine out of ten things Jonas had told her were pure bluff... because he himself had been the first to break the rules.

"So that's why your methods keep getting nastier, Mr. Jonas?"

Standing behind Jonas, Eiffel couldn't help making the remark.

"I just don't want to waste too much time."

Jonas raised a finger and wagged it, then said:

"After all, this is the simplest, most efficient way to break someone psychologically."

At that, Eiffel opened her mouth, but couldn't find any grounds to argue.

She could only change the subject and ask:

"How do you plan to deal with Miss Chelsea from the Nathen Conglomerate, Mr. Jonas...?"

Jonas's actions had undoubtedly been a slap in the Nathen Conglomerate's face. Miss Chelsea certainly wouldn't let the matter rest.

After all, Jonas only seemed to have the upper hand because the two sides operated on different levels, leaving the Nathen Conglomerate unable to bring its full power to bear.

"Let me make this clear first. If you really intend to go head-to-head with Chelsea Claudi, Mr. Jonas, don't expect me to join you."

There was a barely perceptible note of resentment in Eiffel's voice, but Jonas knew perfectly well that she was only venting.

So he merely smiled and said:

"We just didn't have enough bargaining chips before... now that we're in a position to negotiate, why would we choose a head-on clash?"

Eiffel gave him a strange look.

-That wasn't what you said in front of Miss Shiyu just now.

Seemingly noticing her gaze, Jonas coughed twice before saying:

"That was just to make our actions seem more justified."

After all, when it came down to it, Jonas had been the only one playing the villain from start to finish.

He had stolen their property, abducted their subordinate, and now wanted to negotiate with them...

Eiffel sighed helplessly, then asked:

"When do you plan to negotiate with Miss Chelsea, then, Mr. Jonas?"

"Anytime."

Jonas glanced at the time in the upper-right corner of his field of vision and said with a smile:

"After all, we're the ones holding the initiative, aren't we?"

The Nathen Conglomerate.

As Chelsea stared at the completely severed Communicator before her, an ominous feeling crept into her heart.

That was her private Communicator with Shiyu Ryoko, but now the connection was completely dead. No matter how many messages she sent, they vanished without a trace.

Chelsea rubbed the space between her brows. As much as she wanted to look on the bright side, the situation clearly left no room for wishful thinking.

Shiyu Ryoko had most likely been captured. Once again, Jonas Wetting had defied her expectations.

Even though she had warned Shiyu Ryoko beforehand, Chelsea still found it hard to believe now that it had actually happened.

Chelsea tapped her fingers lightly on the desk. Much as she hated to admit it, the situation had become a serious headache.

She had no choice but to take this Mr. Jonas of the Wetting Conglomerate seriously.

After a moment of silence, she raised her hand, only to lower it again hesitantly a moment later.

Things had not yet reached the point of a fight to the death. There was no need for the Nathen Conglomerate to battle him to the bitter end.

But the initiative was no longer in her hands... it had fallen into those of Jonas Wetting.

-Beep, beep.

Just as Chelsea was pondering this, a communication request suddenly appeared before her, interrupting her thoughts.

Taking a deep breath, Chelsea answered the unfamiliar Communicator.

An unfamiliar Communicator, not even displaying their address, yet they managed to find my private Communicator.

Chelsea frowned, then checked the caller's communication channel.

The caller was Shiyu Ryoko.

Chelsea froze. A moment later, she understood, and a vague sense of what was about to happen arose in her heart.

Though she already had an answer in mind, she still spoke first:

"Who are you?"

-Hiss...

There was no reply, only a long silence.

Just as Chelsea frowned and was about to end the Communicator call.

After a burst of electronic static, a voice finally came from the other end of the Communicator.

It was a male voice Chelsea had never heard before, yet its tone was strangely familiar.

"Ms. Chelsea Claudi, a pleasure to meet you... ah, no, I shouldn't say that."

The voice on the other end of the Communicator was perfectly calm. As if gathering his words, the man paused, then continued:

"I should say this is our second meeting."

Chelsea was considering who he might be, but before she could speak, he quickly continued:

"Our last meeting was too rushed for me to introduce myself..."

"So allow me to introduce myself properly."

"I'm Jonas Wetting."

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Ms. Chelsea Claudi."