Penny really couldn't argue against that, and she immediately became furious and tense, seeing how Charlie completely dismissed her as a threat.

Her tone was suddenly a lot less confident than earlier, and she was barely able to hide her nerves as she asked, "Then, what do you want from me?"

Charlie shrugged. "Like I said, you're more useful to me alive, so you'd better start cooperating. Otherwise, I won't just kill you—I will fool Fleur into believing that you defected. Can't blame me if she massacres your family in retaliation."

Penny gritted her teeth. "Never make things personal! Or were you never taught such basic honor?!"

Charlie snorted. "'Never make things personal', you say? Look around you—the dead soldiers and the armed cavalry guards' families are right here in these mines with them! Or maybe you think the Qing Eliminating Society wasn't making it personal when they threatened their family's lives in exchange for their loyalty?

"No. You're nothing short of an accompli