Chapter 271: Testing the Limits Sweat slid down the side of Wolf’s face, clinging to his skin like ice. It wasn’t often that he got nervous. In fact, he prided himself on staying calm, no matter the situation. But this? This was different. Because this time, his life was actually on the line. A loaded gun pointed at your head by a military-trained killer, that kind of thing had a way of rattling even the toughest people. Should I have told him the truth? Wolf wondered. That Max is in the hospital, recovering? What’s the worst they could’ve done with that information? But Aron had made it clear. Do not tell them about Max’s condition. Wolf didn’t know why that mattered so much, why keeping that secret was more important than diffusing a dangerous situation, but he’d listened. And now here he was, staring down the barrel of a loaded threat, trying not to choke on the pressure. Still... how could Chrono possibly know if he was lying? That thought kept him grounded. There was no way for Chrono to tell for sure, unless Max’s own people betrayed him. Finally, after what felt like a full minute of tension so thick it was hard to breathe, Chrono lowered the gun. He placed it back into the drawer with a slow, deliberate motion. The click of the metal sliding into place was the only sound in the room. "Keep trying to get in contact with him," Chrono said as he stepped forward. "And if you hear anything... anything at all, you let me know immediately." Wolf gave a subtle nod, trying not to show how close he’d been to losing control. But then Chrono stopped right in front of him. And without warning, without even a shift in his expression, he swung his fist. CRACK! The punch connected squarely with the side of Wolf’s face, full force, body weight and all. It knocked him clean off his feet, sending him crashing down onto his backside. Pain exploded through his cheek and jaw. A warm, metallic taste filled his mouth. Iron. He spat to the side, wiping his lip with the back of his hand. That was a hard hit, Wolf thought, blinking stars from his vision. I thought Chrono just hid behind his two A+ rank fighters... but he’s not bad himself. What frustrated him more than the pain, though, was the way Chrono had handled it. He’d pulled a gun like a coward, then proved he didn’t even need it. Why act like a weakling when you’re that strong? Wolf thought bitterly. What kind of leader hides behind a weapon when he can fight? Chrono turned without saying another word and walked away, leaving Wolf on the ground. The hit wasn’t just physical. It was a message. And Wolf understood it loud and clear. There was nothing Wolf could do to retaliate, not in a place like this, and certainly not in his current situation. He stayed down, biting back the pain. "That was for not listening to me the first time," Chrono said flatly as he stepped back behind the desk, straightening his coat. "If both you and Max really consider yourselves members of the Rejected Corps, then that means you both listen to me, not the other way around." His eyes narrowed coldly. "So that was your punishment." Wolf didn’t respond. He just slowly stood back up, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. Chrono returned to his seat, his voice firm and unshaken. "We’ve got a valuable prisoner right now. I told you that on the phone." He looked Wolf dead in the eyes. "And now it’s your job to look after her. Make sure she doesn’t escape, doesn’t cause any trouble. If anything happens to her... it’s going to fall squarely on you." Before Wolf could react, Na stepped forward and grabbed him firmly by the arm. Only now, being held directly by him, did Wolf truly feel Na’s strength. It wasn’t just visual anymore, it was crushingly real. His grip alone was enough to make it clear: Na wasn’t someone to take lightly. Wolf didn’t resist. Na led him out of the room and through the base. At least I’m being taken to where Abby is, Wolf thought, letting that sliver of silver lining keep him grounded. To his surprise, she had been in the same hangar all along, the one he had first walked through earlier, surrounded by fighters, vehicles, and rows of supplies. They had simply hidden her away in one of the isolated rooms. Na shoved him past two stationed guards and opened the heavy steel door without saying a word. With one firm push, Wolf was sent inside. The door slammed shut behind him. No explanation. No orders. Just silence. Na didn’t speak. He simply left. Feels more like I’m the prisoner than the guard, Wolf thought as he looked around the dimly lit space. And then he saw her. Abby. She looked up from the corner of the room, where she sat curled against the wall. Her eyes, wide with uncertainty, locked onto his, and for a moment, her fear shifted into confusion. She recognized him. Not from the streets. From school. Wolf stood there, unsure of what to say, but somehow, the smallest flicker of familiarity had just sparked between them in a place filled with nothing but danger. "Ah... aren’t you Max’s friend?" Abby asked, her voice soft but hopeful. Wolf nodded slowly. "Yeah... something like that." He leaned against the metal wall, arms crossed. "I’m kinda here for the same reason as you. They’re looking for Max... and they can’t find him." He didn’t say more. Didn’t mention the hospital. Didn’t tell her what Chrono had done or that Aron was the one who sent him here. Who knew if the room was bugged? Cameras, microphones, these people were military-trained. It was safer to stick to the same story he’d been telling everyone else. At least until he had a better idea of what they were dealing with. While he spoke, his eyes scanned the room. It was small, metallic, cold. He searched every corner discreetly, looking for anything useful, a vent, a camera, a weapon, something. But the space was bare. No openings. No tools. No way out. Meanwhile, Abby kept talking, her voice picking up a little now that someone, anyone, was finally with her. "The whole thing is so scary," she said, clutching her arms. "I have no idea what kind of trouble Max got into for them to go this far. It’s like... this stuff keeps following him." She hesitated before asking, "How did you meet Max, anyway? He’s never talked about you before." Wolf didn’t take it personally. He could see she just wanted to distract herself, take her mind off everything. The isolation, the fear, the unknown... it was eating away at her. She’d probably spent hours trapped in here, going over every horrible scenario in her head. And now that she had someone familiar nearby, she was clinging to whatever conversation she could get. Wolf let out a quiet sigh. His search was done. The room was just as empty as it looked. "Me and Max," he finally answered, "our relationship’s... practical. We help each other out when needed. That’s all." He gave her a brief look. "I’m only here because Aron sent me." "Aron?" Abby repeated, confused. "Who’s that?" "You know," Wolf said, raising an eyebrow, "the guy that’s always with Max. Tall. Quiet. Built like a tank." Abby blinked. "Wait... that guy’s his bodyguard?" Wolf grinned. She genuinely didn’t know. He tilted his head slightly and gave her a half-smirk. "You really have no idea who Max is, do you?" Abby stared at him, trying to process what he was implying. And Wolf could tell, She was about to have her whole world flipped upside down.