"Ah, you finally came, Mr. Albert James Moriarty! Or should I say...the Lord of Crime..."
"Let's get to the point, Charles Milverton", Albert said with his hands positioned at the back.
"No formal greeting? My...I am disappointed."
"I am here to discuss with you regarding the ownership of the Universal Trading Company."
Milverton was surprised by his declaration, but he can already tell what his decision will be.
"I'm planning to pass it on to you.", Albert said.
Milverton was taken aback! He wasn't expecting that; he thought he came all the way from Durham to save his love. But did he really mean what he said?! Or was that just a bluff?
"Ahh really? You're giving it to me? And here I thought you came all the way from Durham just to take your love home. If you're really here to hand over your company, then how will I know you're not putting up an act in order to save her?"
"But how will I also know if you're holding up your end of the bargain?
...where is she?"
Milverton snapped his fingers and Reuben, the other burly man, entered the room while carrying Ella.
"Ella!", Albert was shocked to see Ella's state because the moment she is brought into the room she is already tied up to the chair, gagged, and looked beaten up and weak. But then he suddenly remembered Milverton's promise before: hurt him and it shall be done unto her. This made him livid because what Milverton did was way beyond!
When Ella heard Albert calling her name, her eyes widened, but there is this little hint in her eyes that shows between relief and sorrow.
"What did you do to her?! You promised you wouldn't hurt her!"
"Oh...we just only punish the ones who tried to escape. After all, you'll also be raging right now if I didn't present her to you."
Milverton proceeded to check her pulse on the neck.
"At least she's still alive...
...but not for long.", and with that Milverton proceeded to point his gun toward her skull.
Albert immediately took out his gun from his back and aimed it at Milverton; however, he was restrained to pull the trigger when Milverton began speaking again.
"Moriarty, now that I have shown her to you let's make this deal quick and yet...interesting. To further encourage you...", Reuben proceeds to wrap a black tie around Ella's neck; thus, making Ella breathe in panic. Evading it was useless since Reuben managed to set it up.
Milverton continued, "I only want full ownership of the MI6. If you shoot me, my associate here can snap her neck in a jiffy - the same way how your mother died!"
Ella proceeded to look at Milverton after he said that, full of shock in her eyes. She is aware that Albert's parents weren't around anymore...but not the way how they died; Albert never told her anything about this before. Thus, Ella looked at Albert with concern. She can see him standing on the other end of the room with a gun pointing in her direction, and his eyes are wrathful.
Milverton continued, "But if you shoot my associate...I shoot her. And of course, you only have 5 seconds to respond. Deal?" Ella's whimperings are the only sounds echoing in consistency.
It's at this moment, Albert remembered his dream earlier. He felt that his world is about to crumble. He really can't hand over the MI6 to this pure evil creature. At the same time, he wanted to kill Milverton and his ally cold-blooded so badly, but doing so can also risk Ella's life - that is the only thing he couldn't gamble on! His thoughts are wildly racing on what's the right thing to do where the only casualties must only happen on Milverton's end.
'Do you trust not to let your emotions get the betterment of your judgment?' Albert suddenly remembered what William also told him a while ago. 'Just trust me, nii-san!'
"Hmmpf...no wonder you are the King of Blackmailers.", Albert said with a smirk on his face.
"5...", Milverton started counting. Reuben started tightening his grip on Ella's neck.
"4...", Reuben tightened his grip more. Albert is still dumbstruck, trying to imagine what would Will do in his position.
"3...", Albert can hear Ella's choking sounds.
"2..."
"o-..." a loud slashing sound was heard that made Milverton stop counting midway.