Try Begging

Episode 254

Tap. Tap. The sound of a riding crop lightly hitting leather gloves echoed through the quiet forest.

 "Grace isn't very interested in revenge."

 Leon, walking along the forest path following the recent tire tracks, began to speak about hisfavorite topic. It had been quite a while since revenge had been his go-to subject of conversation. 

It seemed like he was on the verge of turning the world to ashes, but as soon as his daughterreturned, he had become someone who had forgotten the entire world.He twisted his lips and chuckled.

 "Such a generous woman. Perhaps that's why my life is still intact."

 He continued,

 "Revenge and yet she's the one suffering. I did feel a sense of satisfaction seeing himunhappy without me, but looking at it from Grace's perspective now, I wonder if that was trulyrevenge." 

"Besides, she's far more fragile than she seems. I suppose that's why she's trying to take care ofsomeone like me."

Dave glanced nervously at the officer, who was once again grinning as he looked towards thewinding road. 

"Grace isn't pleased with the time I spend, even briefly, with your daughter. It sounds strange to put itthat way, doesn't it?" 

The young officer assisting Winston laughed, but Dave couldn't join in. 

"If I have to waste time with someone elses daughter, I'd rather spend it with my own. It's abrilliant thought, isn't it?"

 "Why has he brought me to this desolate forest and is spouting such nonsense?"

 His hand, shackled,visibly trembled. Even though the execution date had arrived, Dave was not yet hanging from thegallows. Winston had said that the world believed he was executed on that day. It was an ominousstatement. 

"This time too, your life was extended thanks to your daughter." 

But Dave was never grateful to Nancy.Nancy had been captured. Now he was as good as dead, helpless. She should have been escaping,not getting caught by causing unnecessary trouble.In the past month, he had anxiously awaited the day he would actually die. 

It was only this morningthat he realized, with deep regret, that he had secretly hoped for an unexpected stroke of luck toprevent that day from ever coming.The guards had suddenly put him on a transport vehicle and driven him for a long time to thisremote forest. The ominous words from Winston and the deputy seemed to come closer with the  sound of the river.

Robert Fisher also said he would let her go, seeing her as a daughter and feeling pity for the wifeand child.Winston's expression twisted as if he was displeased.

 The sound of the whip cutting through the airgrew sharper. 

"I don't empathize with Fisher's feelings. He was also involved in the circus attack and had plannedto kill my daughter, and he was a key culprit in the abduction. I have no desire to forgive him.However, it is best to fulfill the wishes of the family. Don't you agree?"

 So Winston began to talk about how he "dealt with" Robert. He said that Robert had been infiltratedinto a workers' union and was now among a few former revolutionary comrades.

 "Of course, there are some who, as a father, I can empathize with." 

Dave looked at Winston with a fearful gaze, as Winston spoke with a seemingly carefreeexpression, as if reflecting on the final moments. 

"You've heard of Jeffrey Sinclair, right? You must know that he was never involved in theinsurgency. As expected, he was framed by a petty king." 

"From Bobby to Sinclair. Why does he keep telling me confidential information that should neverleak?"