Chapter 42: The Unexpected Ally

Chapter 42: The Unexpected Ally
"Tell me, Agnes. Where can I find Elijah?" Vanya insisted. Agnes froze. Her body went rigid, and a look of fear flashed across her face.
"Why? You can't just approach Elijah," Agnes said, voice taut.
"I need his help. I'm sure he will help me because this is for Damian's own good." Hearing her master's name mentioned, Agnes's resolve began to soften. She glanced right and left anxiously, as if afraid someone might see them.
"Follow me. But I'm not responsible if Elijah gets angry," Agnes finally said.
Vanya nodded quickly. "Don't worry. You only need to show me the place. I won't say a word about you."
Agnes turned and walked down the villa corridor toward the back section, to a corner Vanya had never passed. It turned out that at the end of the hallway was an exit door. As the door opened, the villa's backyard garden stretched out before Vanya.
"Walk through that garden to the West. There is a small cottage there. Elijah is inside," Agnes whispered, explaining.
Vanya nodded in understanding. After thanking her, she immediately stepped out and followed the garden path westward, as Agnes had instructed. And sure enough, when she was only halfway, the mentioned cottage was visible. She took a deep breath, beginning to feel nervous as she imagined Elijah's reaction if he knew she had come. Yet, her determination to save Damian and expose this entire kidnapping conspiracy only grew stronger. She had to do it now, whatever the risk.
The cottage looked simple from the outside. The windows and door were tightly shut. Vanya couldn't understand why Elijah lived separately like this, despite being Damian's right-hand man. The man seemed far too mysterious and guarded too many secrets.
Vanya bravely dared to knock on the door. But there was no answer from inside. She knocked again. Still silence, as if the cottage was empty. Vanya sighed. Maybe Elijah was out with Damian. She still wanted to try knocking one last time, and if there was still no answer, it meant she would have to give up and leave.
But suddenly...
"What do you want here?" The deep voice startled Vanya. She turned and saw Elijah standing behind her, having just emerged from the garden.
Vanya swallowed. "There's something I need to discuss..."
Elijah looked at Vanya with narrowed eyes, as if stripping her alive. Vanya had to admit this man was far more terrifying than Damian. If this weren't for Damian and the three kidnapping victims, Vanya would choose to leave rather than talk to him.
"Vanya Mikhailova wants to talk to me? I didn't think I was that important," Elijah said with a sneering tone.
"This is about Damian. I need your help to save him," Vanya said directly.
"I already warned you, don't get too deeply involved. If you fall into Pablo's hands, he won't just destroy you. He will also destroy Damian."
"That's why you need to help me!" Vanya quickly countered. "Damian decided to fight Pablo alone and isn't including me in his plan. I don't want anything to happen to him! I won't stand by while he's in danger!"
Elijah quickly stepped forward and gripped Vanya's arm. "Damian said that? No wonder he wasn't there when I looked for him. Where did he go?" he asked sharply. His face struggled to contain immense emotion.
"I-I don't know... I thought he went with you..."
Elijah groaned and roughly tossed Vanya's arm away. He anxiously rubbed his face. His usual controlled demeanour had completely fractured, replaced by a genuine fear that betrayed the depth of his loyalty to Damian. The thought of his boss facing an enemy as calculated and ruthless as Pablo, especially on the eve of a planned operation, clearly terrified him.
"Elijah, I want to help. You yourself said Pablo is dangerous. We can't defeat him alone," Vanya said, trying to persuade him. "I need my phone. I will inform Interpol and clear Damian's name. Then... We will catch Pablo together."
"Interpol!?" Elijah repeated in disbelief. "Don't be ridiculous." Elijah turned, intending to leave Vanya there. But Vanya immediately ran in front of Elijah and blocked his path.
"You want Damian safe, right? You want him free, right? If so, then we are on the same side," Vanya said, still trying to convince him.
Elijah was silent. His jaw hardened, and his hands clenched into fists. He knew Damian deeply hated Interpol. But Vanya's words held truth. They wouldn't be able to defeat Pablo alone. The sheer scope of Pablo's network and influence demanded a response that went beyond their localized criminal power.
"I beg you, Elijah..." Vanya pleaded pitifully. "For Damian's sake..."
Elijah remained frozen. His mind was furiously wrestling with the decision he had to make now. But time was ticking, and he didn't know Damian's location. What if Damian recklessly went to meet Pablo alone and walked right into danger? The risk of not acting outweighed the risk of defying Damian's wishes.
"Alright," Elijah finally said, "Follow me."
Vanya sighed in relief. She briefly thanked him as Elijah walked past her, heading back into the villa.
She no longer felt any fear, because now she was certain that Elijah was on her side. Not only would she get her phone back and contact Interpol, but soon she would also be free from here, naturally after clearing Damian's name and saving the three kidnapped women from Pablo's clutches.