IN THE CAGE

130. TIME TO TALK

...NORMAL pov...

...----------------...

The sun hangs low in the west direction, at the end of the horizon nuanced orange. Just a few minutes before sunset and the time will turn into night.

It was just a few hours before Anggara stepped down into the basement of the Caspian family, where Vera was. Although he was about to meet the girl anyway, Anggara was somehow immersed in an extraordinary dilemma. He is afraid of making mistakes, afraid of creating more problems for the figure of Vera who should not be involved in this situation.

Thinking the girl was suffering, Anggara felt a pain in her chest. He must do something to save Vera, get the girl out of all her troubles.

But..., how? What he can do when himself is a marionette played by Evan Caspian. He had no power to protect those he loved, that power was in the hands of Evan Caspian. That power...

"If you will be used by him, why not be a tool. A tool that doesn't need to think of anything, a tool that just does its job."

Eleanor's voice echoed in Anggara's head, poisoning her brain. What the girl said was like paint that stained her black.

That speech should have been a mistake. However, oddly enough Anggara found relief there. If he were to leave everything in Evan's hands, letting the man take control of this battle ground, could it be that things would end soon?

If Evan manages to get rid of Ace, then.., both Indira and Vera, they will not have to suffer anymore.

"You're not wrong, you're just doing what you need to do. Everything was Evan's fault."

Even if a complication occurs, then..., then all of that is Evan's fault!

"I just need to do my job," Anggara gripped his own mane, pressed his scalp with a sharp fingertip and stabbed. "I will do whatever it takes to save you both, Vera.., Indi."

While the earth on the Anggara side of the stand had rotated away from the sun, the blue sky above was dyed black. The night had come, along with a knock on the door.

"Mr Anggara," that's Rishan's voice.

"Boss Evan is waiting for you in his study."

Anggara who stayed while in the guest room of the Caspian residence also rose from where he stood. Before Anggara followed Rishan's call, Anggara once again turned to the orange trail of the sun that was slowly erased by black and gray clouds.

After this, if saving Indira and Vera means he needs to give up his humanity, morally, then Anggara has no regrets. He is willing to jump into the game Evan if it means he is able to contribute in solving this war.

The most important thing now is to solve everything -, the important and main thing for Anggara is to sweep Ace Hunter's existence off the face of this earth.

It's over, everything has to be done!

...----------------...

"Are you ready?" Evan greeted Anggara who had just entered his study. His brother-in-law joined him while carrying a different atmosphere. Something that I don't know - has changed the essence of Anggara in Evan's eyes. He's very-foreign.

A pair of Anggara honey slices that often show discomfort, are always defensive, and full of fun are now gone. His expression became very calm. His self-bringing also became quite confident. It was as if all the anxiety that had arisen earlier in the morning had been washed away.

"I'm very ready" Anggara said.

"Then, then..." Evan paused his speech while he fixed the end of his shirt arm. "I hope you don't mind the things I'm going to do."

"I know torture is one of the necessary mediums for information retrieval, but.., may I speak to Vera for a moment."

"What do you want to talk about?"

"I'll try to convince him to work together. I believe he'll listen to me."

Evan held a smile blooming on his face. "You're pretty confident" muttered Evan, half underestimating. "alright. I'll see you try. However, if Vera still refuses to talk, I don't want you to interrupt whatever I'm going to do to her."

"Are you going to kill him?" Anggara felt a needle slip through his heart, stabbing him with slow but sure pain. If Evan kills Vera then...

"You don't have to worry about anything" Evan said. "You just have to watch."

With the end of the conversation, Evan sauntered first towards the exit. Anggara followed Evan from behind. Accusing the man by repeatedly reassuring himself that this was a necessary act. If he wants this war to end soon, he needs to trust Evan. Even if it means he has to hurt Vera in the process.

"Bos Angga," on the way to the basement, Fawn interrupted Anggara's steps. His sister's bodyguard watched him closely, a somewhat suspicious face.

In Fawn's eyes, Anggara was a benevolent god who always walked in the truth. Aggara knows how Fawn looks at him and that leaves Anggara a little hurt. He who has now decided will abandon all moral values that he holds. He who is now an inappropriate figure Fawn admired with high loyalty.

"Good night, Fawn." Anggara would not say hello back.

"What's going on here? Is Angga's boss going to the basement?"

"I believe it's none of your business to interfere with things that are none of your business, Fawnia Alder." The cruel voice interrupts, Fawn glances beside Anggara and finds Rishan - Evan's personal assistant reprimanding him.

"I-I'm sorry." Fawn immediately pulled a step back.

"Just do the things you've been assigned and don't interfere!" Rishan passes Fawn after delivering a deadly condemnation. Fawn who was left behind them held her breath.holding herself from cursing behind Evan Caspian's extremely arrogant and irritating assistant.

"How are you after yesterday?" Evan asked Rishan.

"The condition was good enough after we gave him the fever medicine."

"Fever?" Anggara.

"It's not something you need to worry about, Mr. Anggara." Rishan chimed Anggara like trying to limit the man's curiosity enough to get there. "We're up."

As Rishan says, Anggara and Evan finally arrive in front of the cell that supports Vera's existence. The dim light there does not make Anggara blind. He could still see clearly how the bruises were painted on Vera's skin, injuring her face and body. He looks very messy and painful to look at.

Anggara's breath gets stuck in the esophagus.

"You said you wanted to talk to him, didn't you? Then I'll give you 5 minutes."

"Five minutes?"

"I didn't come here to watch the drama." After ending his speech, Evan immediately gestured to his bodyguard to open the door of Vera's cell. Let Anggara talk to Vera while Evan sits on his throne sipping a cigarette.

Anggara who did not want to miss the opportunity he had obtained immediately sailed into the black cage. He approached Vera and smiled faintly after realizing that Vera was now looking at him.

"Figures," murmured Vera astonished. "Why are you here?"

"uh? I'm seeing you, what else?"

Vera glared at Evan and showed displeasure. "Did he bring you here?"

"I was worried about you, so I came."

Vera looked at Anggara and bit her lip, "You shouldn't have come."

"Where might I ignore you" Anggara said. "Vera, I came here to save you."

Anggara's words did not make Vera feel relieved, instead, she became very alert. His eyes scanned Anggara pessimistically. There's no way Evan would let Anggara set him free just like that. Something must be needed...

"You just need to work together. After that, I'll set you free and take you to the safest place." Anggara smiled sincerely on his face, because of that sincere smile, Vera felt bitter in her mouth as she pulled away from Anggara.

"What do you mean working together?" As Vera had expected, there was a fee that needed to be given to obtain freedom.

"Ace's weakness" Anggara said. "I heard you knew?"

Oh?

"I know you have loyalty to Ace, Vera. But is loyalty more important than your own life? Think again, Vera. Prioritize yourself. Ace doesn't help you here, it's just me. I'll save you."

"Enough," cut Vera. He turned his face to face Evan who had been monitoring them with a slanted grin on his face. "Do you think I'll change my mind just because you brought Angga here?"

"Veras?"

"I thought that would be your response." Evan chuckles.

"I'm sorry, Anggara." Vera turned back to look at Anggara. Look at the man who is close enough to her. "I won't be able to work with you."

"Vera, this is all for your own good.., think again..., do you think your life is worth your loyalty?"

"This may sound cliche and arrogant, but Anggara, I would rather die than lose the values I've held for so long. It's not just a matter of loyalty, it's my principle. If I could betray someone who trusted me, I don't think I'd ever trust myself again."

"But Vera...."

Bang out!

A gun eruption stopped their conversation. Vera's eyes widened stupefied, she looked at Anggara who was equally surprised by her.

Just then, far away from them, Evan pointed his gun at Anggara.

"Oh, I missed..." Evan said a joke. "Maybe because the room is a little dark..."

"W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Vera shouted fiercely. His shock combined with the wrath.

"Oh, should I repeat it again?" Evan, sitting cross-legged, stared at Vera with a pair of her hazel irises sparkling like a pair of venomous snake pupils. His slanted smile implied danger.

"Now, Vera... are you interested in talking?"

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