Wouldn’t it have been easier to force him to lead from the start? Finley wanted to explode with rage. But then, the memory of Arthur’s dagger nearly plunging into his stomach sent a cold shiver down his spine. He swallowed his frustration. A wound to the leg was painful. A wound to the stomach could be fatal. Arthur didn’t respond to Finley’s frustration, but he knew exactly what he was thinking. If something happens before we reach the exit and I don’t know where it is, then what? He had no plans of dying in this abandoned warehouse. Finley’s whole body shook as he tried to move. His legs, riddled with pain, made every step feel impossible. Arthur wasn’t in the mood to wait. After just a few steps, he suddenly lifted his knife again, aiming straight for Finley’s stomach. "Need me to speed things up for you?" "Ah!" Finley yelped instinctively. As soon as he realized what was happening, he frantically waved his hands. "No! No! That won’t be necessary! I’m fine!" In a single instant, the pain in his legs magically disappeared. His wounds no longer mattered. Walking wasn’t a problem at all. Finley straightened his spine and marched forward with such urgency that even Arthur was momentarily stunned. Watching Finley’s sudden shift in attitude, Taylor and the bodyguards couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of awe toward Arthur. Ever since they first encountered him, the bodyguards had secretly admired Arthur. An eighteen-year-old, kidnapped yet showing no signs of panic or fear. He had remained calm and composed the entire time. And more than that, he was ruthless and efficient. Every stab, every action was clean and precise—without hesitation. A normal teenager would have been scared out of their mind, losing all control the moment they realized they had been kidnapped.But Arthur? In just a short time, he had completely flipped the situation in his favor. He had left Finley in this state—wounded, trembling, yet obediently leading the way despite the excruciating pain. His intelligence, decisiveness, and sheer fearlessness were beyond anything an ordinary person could hope to match. Finley had seriously underestimated the wrong person this time. If they weren’t on opposing sides, the bodyguards would have loved to sit down and have a conversation with Arthur. Finley’s mind had never been clearer. He wasn’t thinking about anything else—his only goal was to get Arthur out of here as soon as possible and finally be free of him. Everything else was a mess in his head. His thoughts were drowned in fear, making it impossible to think too deeply about anything else. Honestly, he was starting to wonder if Arthur had X-ray vision. Earlier, he had randomly pointed to a direction, hoping Arthur would charge ahead so his bodyguards could take him down. But Arthur had seen through it in an instant—and made sure to remind him with another brutal stab. Now, he had pointed at the actual exit. He had been bracing himself, half-expecting Arthur to distrust him and stab him again. To his shock, Arthur didn’t even hesitate. He simply told him to lead the way. At this moment, Arthur wasn’t just terrifying in Finley’s mind. There was also a grudging hint of admiration. The bodyguards followed at a cautious distance, keeping just far enough to avoid suspicion. Taylor stayed pressed against Arthur, wary that the men might make a sudden move. Out of nowhere, Arthur shouted, "Get me a light!" The path ahead was shrouded in darkness. He had no way of knowing if an exit was really there. The men jolted at his sharp tone. The leader quickly responded, "Oh—right, okay!" Whatever confidence or intimidation they once carried was now gone.The leader scrambled to retrieve a flashlight. With Finley still in Arthur’s hands, even if they wanted to fight back, they wouldn’t dare gamble with Finley’s life. Acting recklessly wouldn’t just provoke Arthur—Finley himself would make sure they suffered for it. The flashlight wasn’t very bright, but as it lit up the space ahead, Arthur finally got a clear view of the area. A large roll-up metal door stood in front of them. Arthur motioned to the bodyguards. "Open it." The bodyguards hesitated, their eyes darting toward Finley. By now, there was nothing left of his previous arrogance. He quickly shouted, "Open it! Just open it already!" With Finley’s command, the bodyguards no longer hesitated. They rushed forward and pulled the door open. Arthur stayed vigilant, watching them closely, ready for any sudden move. He had left Finley in terrible shape. If Finley’s people managed to capture him, there was no telling what they would do. As the metal door creaked open, blinding light spilled in, forcing Arthur to turn his head slightly and squint. But before he could even see what was beyond the door, a sharp cry rang out from behind him. "Look out!" Almost the instant Taylor shouted, a dagger shot through the opening, slicing through the air—aiming straight for Arthur’s face.