The World They Left Behind

Ningning shook her head. "No need. Just you." Her gaze locked onto Arga's eyes—there was something in them. A secret, perhaps. Or a trust so deep it couldn't be measured. "Tomorrow morning, I'll be waiting for you at the district gate," she continued.

With graceful movements, Ningning stood up, brushing off imaginary dust from her skirt before looking at Arga once more. "Alright, I'm heading back to my residence. You should rest too, Arga. Get some sleep and recover. See you tomorrow morning."

A faint smile accompanied her departure. As Ningning stepped out, the room felt quieter—her presence left an odd emptiness.

Arga sighed, then turned toward his quarters. However, in the dimly lit hallway, his steps halted. From around the corner, Nico emerged with an unusual expression on his face, now free after finally being granted permission to leave his confinement.

"Arga!" he called, his voice low yet urgent. He quickly approached, his eyes filled with concern.

"Have you met the District Chief?" he asked.

Arga gave a brief nod. "Yes."

Nico crossed his arms over his chest, his demeanor serious. "Sana and I felt awful seeing you punished in front of so many people earlier," he said softly. "I don't like that woman, and now she's keeping us in this district to work for her. But..." he sighed, as if weighing his words, "I'm trying to see the silver lining. At least we're safe for now, until we can figure something out to help Kirana."

His voice lowered to almost a whisper. "I was walking outside the district earlier, trying to gather more information. There's talk of dangerous people who kidnap and kill just to steal their victims' wealth. I'm not trying to scare you, Arga. But I think it's something we should be cautious about, especially for beautiful women—whoever they may be."

Arga nodded slowly, absorbing every word Nico said. "Alright," he finally replied, his tone calm but firm. "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the warning."

Nico continued on his way, leaving Arga standing in the hallway. Inside his head, thoughts swirled, trying to make sense of all the mysteries surrounding the district.

In front of the district, a horse-drawn carriage was already prepared. Ningning could be seen sitting inside, waiting for Arga. "Is it just the two of us?" Arga asked. Ningning simply nodded, and Arga followed her into the carriage.

The train began to move, leaving the city gates behind and following a narrow path surrounded by trees. A heavy silence enveloped the atmosphere, broken only by the screech of the wheels on gravel. Ningning seemed preoccupied with something in her hands—a small bracelet she was crafting from brightly colored beads.

Meanwhile, Arga's mind was in turmoil. Ningning was too calm, too mysterious, and it unsettled him.

"Ningning..." he finally spoke, staring straight ahead while trying to keep his tone casual. "Have you ever heard stories about criminals who kidnap people to rob or even kill them?"

Ningning simply nodded, her eyes still fixed on the bracelet she was assembling. "Of course. They say those kidnappers are usually beautiful. They lure their victims with their charm and then..." She paused, shrugging lightly.

Her tone was so nonchalant that it sent shivers down Arga's spine. He swallowed hard, fear creeping into his chest.

"Ningning..." Arga turned to her slowly, his voice now more serious, even slightly panicked. "I don't really know you. We only met yesterday. Are you… are you a criminal?" He hesitated, then added with a flushed face, "Are you the beautiful woman who kidnaps people?"

Ningning stopped what she was doing. She looked up slowly, her expression suddenly serious. Arga felt his body stiffen, his instincts screaming at him to be cautious. Ningning squinted her eyes, then smirked.

"Interesting... So you think I'm interested in you, a little mouse caught in front of a cat?"

Arga froze. "Why are you silent?!" His voice rose an octave, panic starting to take hold. "If it's true, can't I be an exception to your targets? I... I promise... I promise to return your interest! Please don't do anything weird, okay?!" he stammered, his face red with embarrassment.

Ningning chuckled softly, her gaze enigmatic. "We'll see, Arga... We'll see."

For a moment, Ningning stared at Arga without expression. Her dark eyes were piercing, as if trying to strip away his thoughts. Then, with a slow yet deliberate motion, she reached out and tapped his forehead with her fingertip.

Suddenly, laughter burst from her lips. Loud. Echoing. Her body shook as she laughed uncontrollably, as if she had just heard the funniest joke in the world.

"Oh my gosh, Arga! Are you serious? Me... interested in you? Hahaha! Oh, this is priceless!" she said between fits of laughter, even wiping tears from the corners of her eyes.

Arga stared at her with his mouth slightly open. A mixture of relief and humiliation crossed his face. "This isn't funny, Ningning!" he exclaimed, annoyed. "You almost made me faint!"

But Ningning's laughter didn't stop. She shook her head slightly, still laughing. "I didn't expect you to have such a vivid imagination, Arga. I have to admit, this is the best entertainment I've had all week."

Then, suddenly, she stopped laughing. Her smile faded into a small, meaningful smirk. Her narrow eyes narrowed further, as if examining something unseen.

"Yes... I admit, I'm interested in you," she said, her voice soft and teasing. "So, what now? Will you reciprocate? Isn't that what you said earlier? You promised to return my interest."

Arga fell silent. His gaze remained serious, his face as if carved from stone. He knew what Ningning wanted. But he chose not to answer. The silence between them suddenly felt heavy, enveloping them like a cold mist that refused to dissipate.

"I won't answer that," Arga finally said. His voice was cold, but there was something restrained in his tone, something almost unspoken.

Ningning chuckled softly. Her bright eyes sparkled, revealing a hint of disappointment quickly masked by her mischievous expression. But before she could speak, Arga continued.

"But..." His voice this time was softer. More honest. "You're quite fascinating to like."