"I surrender, I surrender! I'm not running anymore!"
Jade, hanging upside down, was utterly defeated and raised her little hand to surrender loudly.
"That's more like it."
Victor nodded in satisfaction. The Venom tentacle loosened, and Jade landed nimbly back on the deck.
Victor reached out and ruffled her hair into a complete bird's nest, messing up the already disheveled locks from her escape.
With her hair a wild mess, Jade plastered an extremely "well-behaved" smile on her face, her eyes curving into crescents:
"I promise, I'll be very good!"
"Good, I like obedient children."
Victor nodded with a smile, his tone gentle.
However, the instant his words fell—
"So..."
Victor's voice suddenly turned icy. His right hand shot out like lightning, precisely grasping another pale, Zombie-painted arm that had been silently and swiftly reaching for Jade's collar from the side!
Simultaneously, the Venom on his shoulder surged out like a living black tide, rapidly covering Victor's entire body and completing the symbiote fusion!
Victor (Venom) turned his head toward the figure whose arm was firmly clamped. Those huge white eyes locked coldly onto the target, his low, mixed voice carrying undeniable pressure:
"So... until I get the talisman, this child will stay with me for now. No problem with that, 'Zombie' sir? Or should I call you... Mr. Jackie Chan?"
Jackie Chan, his disguise seen through, could barely maintain the awkward, stiff Zombie smile on his face.
His eyes sharpened. With lightning speed, his other hand grabbed a nearby metal beach chair, trying to swing it forcefully at Venom-Victor's head!
However, his arm sank, and the chair didn't budge an inch.
Jackie Chan looked down to see Venom's foot had, at some point, planted itself firmly on the chair leg, rooted like a tree.
Venom (Victor) tilted his massive head slightly, his white eyes narrowing into a dangerous curve, the mixed voice tinged with mockery:
"I really admire your talent for using environmental props, I do. But..."
He applied slight pressure with his foot. The metal chair leg emitted a teeth-grating creak and began to deform.
"When the power gap is too large, these little tricks are useless."
Venom leaned down, his terrifying giant face pressing close to Jackie Chan, exuding overwhelming pressure.
"Now, have you considered my terms? Ready to cooperate?"
"Alright, I understand."
Jackie Chan took a deep breath, his shoulders slumping, his voice filled with weariness and resignation.
"I'll help you get the talisman. You... don't hurt Jade."
He finally said it.
For Jade's safety, he had no other choice.
"Please—"
Venom rapidly receded into Victor's body like a receding tide. Victor, back to normal, rolled his eyes exaggeratedly, his tone full of the frustration of being misunderstood.
"Don't make me out to be some ultimate villain kidnapper who murders hostages, alright?"
He rubbed his wrist as if the previous form was just a minor incident, then showed a more genuine, slightly annoyed expression at his disrupted plans:
"Do you think I wanted this? My plan for today was perfect! Taking my two girlfriends to play zip lines, experience water slides, dive to see the underwater volcano"
"Then enjoy sunbathing and food on the private beach, and finally rent out the 3D cinema for a movie... What a fulfilling and romantic vacation schedule!"
The more he spoke, the angrier he got. He extended a finger, gently poking Jade's forehead repeatedly.
"Now it's all ruined! And I have to bring along a little tag-along and super third wheel! My romantic trip!"
"Victor!"
Enid couldn't stand it anymore. She slapped away Victor's finger that was "bullying" Jade, giving him a reproachful glare that clearly said, "Why are you picking on a kid?"
"See that?" Victor immediately turned to Jackie Chan, his expression even more aggrieved.
"How pathetic is my hostage guardian situation? Getting bossed around by my own girlfriend!"
Jackie Chan watched Victor's genuine "low domestic status" reaction, then glanced at Jade, who, despite having her head poked, was unharmed and even making a sneaky face.
The tightly wound string in his heart finally loosened a bit.
This young man named Victor, though his methods were crazy and forceful, didn't seem... like a villain who would truly harm a child.
Jade should be safe for now.
"Uncle jackie, don't worry, go ahead!"
Jade, on the other hand, puffed out her little chest, putting on an "I'm super sensible" act, her eyes sparkling as she promised.
"I'll be really good! I definitely won't cause any trouble for you!"
Her little mental abacus was clicking away: Being this hostage's treatment is way too good!
There are delicious drinks, and I get to play all the cruise ship attractions!
If you had said the conditions were this good earlier, would I have run? I'd have gone with you willingly!
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right nobut who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/TripleCrown
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"