Chapter 2: The Despicable Jonas
The atmosphere instantly froze at his words. The surroundings became so quiet one could hear a pin drop, with only the faintest hum of the climate control system hidden in the ceiling.
Esney’s gaze turned dangerously sharp. Her voice came out hoarse, as if she were struggling to suppress it:
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about…”
Ignoring her words, Jonas looked into her eyes and continued:
“Ellison’s muscular atrophy—a progressive wasting disease.
As the condition worsens, the nervous system gradually deteriorates, and the patient slowly slips into brain death…”
Then, as if talking to himself, he mused in a tone just loud enough for her to hear:
“For an underage girl to suffer from such an illness… it must be utterly despairing.”
As he spoke, Esney could no longer hold back. She glared at him and interrupted:
“How did you know this?”
She had meticulously concealed Nora’s identity—even the account used to pay hospital bills was opened under a different name.
Unless someone deliberately investigated, there was no way he could know she had a sister.
Working under the corporation, how could she not hide her weaknesses?
Yet now, it seemed this predatory beast had uncovered what she’d painstakingly concealed.
A truly… hopeless situation.
“Life in the slums must be hard without someone to rely on… You’ve depended on each other since childhood. Though not related by blood, Ms. Celine must be the most important person to you.”
Jonas smiled as he spoke.
Of course, he wouldn’t mention that this was information he’d gleaned from the plot.
Esney took a deep breath, choosing not to dwell on the loopholes in the other party’s words.
For the Vetting Conglomerate, finding someone would be far too easy—there was no reason for them to lie about this point.
Realizing that the other party truly had leverage over her, Esney could no longer remain calm. Her demeanor turned dangerous, and the alloy blade at her waist seemed to sense its owner’s emotions, emitting a faint hum.
She took another deep breath, abandoning any lingering hope, and spoke:
“What do you want with her?”
Hearing this, Jonas waved his hand dismissively, as if amused.
“It’s not about what I want with her…”
Malice flickered in his eyes, like a hunter who had gained the upper hand in a confrontation, as he slowly continued:
“Even if I do nothing, she won’t live much longer.”
At these words, the girl’s imposing aura faltered for a moment—before surging back like a raging storm.
Being told to her face, “Your sister is going to die,” even someone as mentally resilient as Esney couldn’t help but glare furiously at the black-haired young man before her.
The hum of the alloy sword at her waist had reached an unmistakable intensity, its hilt charged to maximum capacity. Combined with the girl’s aura, no one would doubt that she might draw the blade in the next second and cleave the conglomerate’s building in half.
It seemed the danger had reached a critical threshold, as the hidden security systems in the room activated.
Floating turrets in the corners aimed at the girl’s limbs, while concealed micro-machine guns behind the hanging plants locked onto every possible cover she could use to evade.
The situation had escalated to the brink of explosion.
Of course, Esney was at an absolute disadvantage.
No matter how formidable her physical abilities, she stood no chance of threatening Jonas under such comprehensive targeting.
Even a fully armed mech unit couldn’t breach the Vetting Conglomerate’s security system—let alone Ms. Esney, armed with nothing but a single alloy sword.
With a mere wave of Jonas’s hand, Esney would undoubtedly be riddled with bullets.
Fortunately, his next words dissolved the tension.
“Don’t look at me like that, Ms. Esney.”
Even under such pressure, Jonas remained unfazed. He grinned, his tone laced with malice as he spoke:
“Or do you plan to keep lying to yourself?”
At his words, the hum of the alloy sword at the girl’s waist ceased.
As if realizing her own outburst, she fell silent for a long moment before asking:
“What do you want?”
She knew it wouldn’t be long before he entered the Vetting Conglomerate’s board of directors, becoming one of its true powerholders.
A figure of his stature existed in a world entirely separate from hers… She couldn’t fathom what he could possibly want from her, nor why he would go to such lengths to corner her.
After all, she was just a mercenary. The Vetting Conglomerate could find as many like her as they pleased.
But his earlier words…
“If I told you I could save your sister’s life, what would you do?”
Just as her thoughts raced, Jonas suddenly spoke. The content of his words left her stunned, her mind struggling to process them.
“You… what?”
Seemingly anticipating her reaction, Jonas replied calmly:
“Exactly as I said. I’ve laid out my offer. Whether you pay the price is up to you.”
Her mind moved sluggishly, still unable to believe it, but she didn’t hesitate. Taking a deep breath, she asked:
“What do you want me to do?”
She understood all too well—these conglomerate powerholders never made losing deals. If he saved Nora’s life, the price would undoubtedly be her own.
A faint unease rose in her heart. Whatever he needed her to do might be a death sentence… but she had no intention of backing down. This might be her only chance.
Hearing her response, Jonas smirked.
The collar in his hand gleamed silver, deepening Esney’s unease.
Jonas spoke unhurriedly, as if stating the most ordinary thing in the world.
“I want you to wear this…”
“And then, pledge your loyalty.”
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