"Stop!" shouted Ed until the veins popped into his neck and arms. "She has nothing to do with any of this. Don't involve her! I don't even know her," Ed said hesitantly.
At a glance, Jonea saw Ed's face had turned into a wolf with growling jaws and then returned to his human form.
"Is it true you don't know her? How about it, Miss? This young man claims he doesn't know you. I am allowing you to leave here without a fuss."
Jonea glanced at Edison. The girl knew that Ed was only trying to protect her by claiming not to know her. But, Jonea would not back down. She had decided to come there and would take Ed with her.
'If the same thing happens to Miller, I hope someone will save him. I don't want anyone else to end up like Miller–suffering and hurting alone.'
"I don't care if he admits me or not! I will not leave this place without taking him along!" said Jonea firmly.
"Wow, this is really interesting. Are you able to redeem it, Miss? He owes us a huge debt," said Jay.
"How much do you owe?"
"That's my business!" Edison shouted as he lunged at Jay. However, Jay's men restrain him. "My debt is my responsibility. It has nothing to do with other people."
"Is it really your business?" Jay's face became cold and stiff instantly. "Until this second, you've been avoiding me, Fuller. You keep running away and running away from responsibility."
Jay turned to Jonea and gave her a friendly smile.
"This young girl is offering to help clear your debt. Why don't I accept? I want mine back. But I don't think you'll be able to afford that either, miss!"
"Just say it. I will definitely try to pay for it," Jonea exclaimed. Even though she sounded doubtful, she still dared to say that.
Meanwhile, Ed looked desperate. He was too embarrassed and couldn't do anything at this time. Ed even got Jonea into trouble. The guilt in his chest was growing more and more intense.
"He owes us about 100 million coll."
"What?" Jonea almost screamed when she heard the number she had never imagined before. That's not a small number, especially for a high school teenager like her. Jonea couldn't stop thinking why Edison owed these mobsters and moneylenders such a large amount.
"That's only 1% of the total interest he has to pay for this month. He kept shirking his responsibilities. And that number will continue to increase if he continues to escape," Jay continued.
'Did Edison really go bankrupt?' thought Jonea, shaking her head slowly. 'But, I can't back down anymore. I was determined to help Ed out of his troubles.'
"Enough!" shouted Ed. "Don't bother this girl. She really has nothing to do with me. The debt is my responsibility. I will finish it myself!" he shouted.
"Wow, so how is this?" Jay looks really enjoyed the role and play. "Miss, are you willing to negotiate with me? I will give you a way to get out of this tricky situation. Do you agree?"
Jonea repeatedly faced the angry and desperate Ed and the old man before her. Jonea nodded firmly.
Jay again called his men to drag Ed out of the room.
"Let me go!" shouted Ed, struggling. "Don't touch and hurt her, or you will regret it!"
"Let him go!" Jonea shouted when she saw Ed being dragged away.
"Calm down, miss. I won't hurt him. I'll just put it in its rightful place. If you meet my requirements, then I will release him. Didn't you say you would pay off your friend's debts?"
The two large bodyguards released Jonea. Now, Jonea stood up straight and faced Jay alone in his office.
"So, what conditions did you put forward for Ed to be released?"
Ed was put in a steel bar. Jonea watched the cell through the surveillance cameras.
Jonea really couldn't hear Ed's screams and tantrums. But, just by looking through the silent video, she could feel how desperately Ed was trapped inside there. Ed was seen repeatedly hitting his fist very hard against the iron bars that became his cage.
"How is it, Miss? Do you agree with my offer?" Jay asked very persuasively.
Jonea looked up, averting her gaze from the monitor to the man before her.
"So, Edison did not go bankrupt?"
Jay shook his head.
"So, all this time, he left all his wealth and facilities, lives in a small rooftop house, and works part-time to make ends meet just because he wants to get out of that contract?"
Jay nodded grimly.
"As I explained before to you. The contract cannot be canceled. He had to pay a fine for the default. I will release Edison from all charges of violating the agreement only if… you will persuade him and sign the agreement."
Jonea closed her eyes.
"Why are you making things difficult for your life and him? Edison refused. Surely he had a reason. And as the person closest to him, you should support his decision. Not the other way around; you force and drag him into a vicious circle that has probably made him worse off."
Jay chuckled. "Youngblood is really different, huh? An innocent and naive character. You only see the world from your own side. Your own ego. Try to see the world from outside the box and look at it from a wider perspective."
Jay took a new cigar and sniffed it.
For humans, the rules we apply to our pack are something cruel. But he is our future leader. He is the alpha. There are a lot of people who depend on his leadership. And if he leaves his responsibilities, there will definitely be chaos."
Jonea took a deep breath and began to exhale. She was thinking about every word the man in front of her said.
"Could you give me some time?"
"I'm afraid I won't have enough time for that, Miss," Jay said with a tone full of regret.
Before Jonea requested time leeway, a bodyguard suddenly walked in after knocking on the door.
He was in such a rush and panic. After glancing at Jonea, the bodyguard approached Jay to whisper something. The bodyguard left after him.
Jay pursed his lips as he looked Jonea up and down. "You say you want time? I can give you enough time, but you must pay for it."
"If you ask for money, obviously, I don't have any right now."
"No. I don't need your money, Miss. But you can work for me. One day only. One day's work for seven days of time allowance is requested. How?"
"What job is that?"