Luther shouted, "Put the child down. You're surrounded. The people you brought will soon be subdued by my men."
Just as he spoke, a column of mercenaries rushed in, fully armed.
After seeing Luther, they reported, "Mr. Warner, we have taken control of the situation outside."
Several other mercenaries restrained the remaining black-clad individuals who had been stunned inside the house. They tightly encircled Cloud.
Cloud held Anderson in front of himself and laughed maniacally. "I don't care about those people outside. With him in my hands, you can't stop me."
Luther knew that Cloud wasn't just bluffing. He knew that the leader of OGW was skilled in ninjutsu, practically disappearing among a hundred people. Most importantly, Luther couldn't let Anderson suffer any harm.
He shouted, "I know you, Cloud. Let's negotiate. You name your conditions, and I can fulfill them. Whatever Athena can give, I can give you."
"Heh," Cloud sneered, "Sorry, I'm not interested. I only fight; I don't negotiate."
He held Anderson in his arms and took a few steps closer. "If you don't want to harm the child, step aside."
The mercenaries were itching to move forward, wanting to press on.
Luther quickly raised his arm to stop them. "Don't move forward. Stay where you are."
The mercenaries held their guns, watching vigilantly.
Luther continued to persuade Cloud, "You're a man. Holding a child hostage doesn't reflect well on your reputation. Besides, Athena has been sent to Christian's place. You don't necessarily need to obey Athena in everything. Give the child back to me, and I'll find a way to satisfy your demands."
Cloud didn't care. "What I want, you can't give. Step aside."
"Or you can take me hostage and let the child go. We can make the exchange," Luther proposed again. "This way, you can also give Athena an explanation."
Cloud wasn't here for Athena, after all.
He didn't want to say much and simply took out his gun, pointing it at Anderson, and coldly commanded, "Stop talking and step aside."
Luther was filled with anxiety. Darrin pulled him back forcefully. "Mr. Warner, don't push him. Desperate men are prone to taking risks, and that would make Anderson even more dangerous."
Luther understood this reasoning well. He couldn't bear to watch Anderson be captured again.
Unexpectedly, a cold female voice sounded from outside, a voice with penetrating power that pierced through all the haze.
"How about using me as the exchange?"
Hearing this voice, Cloud was startled. It was her!
Luther also turned towards the voice and saw Vicki, dressed in a snug black outfit, exuding a heroic aura. She walked in, stopping not far from Cloud, facing him directly.
"Put down Anderson, and I'll go with you. Your goal can be achieved the same way," Vicki said in a calm tone.
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