Nora's face was the only thing that was in Malcom's mind. What Ben said after no longer had any meaning.
Even the explanations of how it had happened seemed irrelevant to the fact that she had been kidnapped. She was taken and must be completely helpless at that moment.
Everything else was not important in Malcom's mind.
"Who did it?" He asked with the anger that he knew so well. The words that came out of his mouth focused on what he believed to be the priority.
He didn't yell, nor did the tone of his voice changed, but the impact of the question, or Malcom's murderous presence, was such that Ben couldn't immediately respond.
"Ben!" Malcom repeated. While looking this time at his friend, "Who did it?"
Ben stared at Malcom and realized that his friend's eyes were cold, and his determined gaze spoke for itself.
He cleared his throat and was about to speak when Albert's voice drew the attention of that icy expression.
"A guy who calls himself The Dark Jester―world's most ridiculous name," Albert commented. Still, not even the comment diverted Malcom's attention.
He faced the soldier and demanded, "Where do I find him?"
Albert also felt the pressure Malcom generated with that incredible anger that he tried with all his spirit to keep under control.
He looked at the young man and thought for a second that there was a huge possibility for the boy to attack him to get that information.
Albert also knew what it implied.
He stared down at Malcom before speaking, "If I knew where he is, child, your friend would be here with you!"
"And even if I could tell you, what is your plan? Go for it? In your current state? This is not the Biosphere, and wounds do not heal when you wake up, friend," Albert added seriously.
Malcom heard every word from the man, and they all made sense, but none of it was relevant.
The only thing that was relevant was that Nora had been kidnapped and had to find her.
Albert released a deep breath. He then spoke with a friendlier tone, "Look. I know you want to find her, but for now, your safety is the priority―"
"No!" Malcom interrupted firmly, "The priority is to find her!"
Albert looked at him curiously and, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder, said, "You must calm down."
But Malcom removed the soldier's hand abruptly.
"Don't ask me to calm down!" His eyes look intensely into Albert's. "No time for that. We must find Nora immediately!"
"We know!" Another man answered loudly from the hospital corridor.
Malcom turned to look at who was speaking to him and saw how Maximo, Mabel, Satin, and the man who spoke to him walked in his direction.
"And that's what we do, but we must also understand that an attack on the Marked is something that can't be taken lightly. That is why we must protect the others."
Malcom looked at Jonah for the first time. The man walked towards him firmly. All the virtues had that characteristic air of superiority around them. The law did not mean anything in his presence, but this man was different.
The feeling that Albert emanated, that character and respect that he inspired with his mere presence, was in this man multiplied by ten. Malcom's anger and despair at his action were immediately appeased by the man's words moving in his direction.
"Look, boy," Jonah said, speaking directly to Malcom, "This attack was our responsibility."
"Jonah!" Maximo yelled with authority, rattling his cane against the ground.
But Jonah moved his military overcoat before facing the leader of the Virtues.
"What? We can place the burden of an entire civilization on his shoulders without asking for his consent, and now that it puts them in danger, you pretend that we should not assume responsibility?" Jonah questioned without showing any sign that he was intimidated by the leader of the Virtues.
Malcom heard those words, fascinated.
It was the first time that someone recognized what they had done and decided to treat the situation as it was supposed to be.
He looked at the back of that man who faced Maximo. While looking at Jonah, Malcom felt the respect that he had not felt towards any Virtue from the time he was born.
Maximo sighed in frustration when Jonah turned his back to continue talking to Malcom.
Jonah stared at him explaining seriously, "You see, we have some informants and investigations that indicated that something like this could happen, but we did not think that anyone would really dare."
"The truth is," Albert suddenly chimed in, "The concert had good security, the best provided by my father's company. Believe me, boy, you can't get better."
"So, what the hell went wrong?" Malcom asked, feeling completely frustrated and almost helpless.
"It was the scale of the attack!" Jonah said through clenched teeth. He had a regretful expression on his face when he continued, "You see, we did not expect this wide scale of surprise attack. What we knew and what the investigation had revealed was just a hint of what was hidden in the shadows."
Everyone listened attentively to what the Materializing Virtue was saying.
Jonah continued to explain seriously, "That clown, the Dark Jester, is a mercenary of high caliber. Someone is willing to pay a lot of money to kidnap the Riders and not satisfied with that, he also provides help."
"But why would someone pay to kidnap a member of a pop group?" Malcom asked with worry. He then remembered how he talked to Nora the last time they see each other.
"I don't think this has to do with the fame of the friend group," Albert said from behind, "we think this has to do with their Mark."
At that moment, Malcom felt the weight of his Mark. He could not help but glance at Ben, who nodded in response.
Ben had a stiff expression as he instinctively reached out to touch his Mark. Malcom did the same as well.
"That's why your safety is a priority," Johan continues while looking at the two Markeds.
Malcom frowned and looked at Ben with worry.
"Violet is protected, several soldiers are patrolling the houses now, and there are even two Virtues," Ben said, answering Malcom's unspoken question.
Malcom saw Mabel nod as confirmation.
Jonah continued, "There are two options. Many have been transferred to a safe residence. The chances of someone attacking them there are slim."
"How can you be so sure?" Malcom asked in disbelief.
To which Jonah replied, "Because it is the official home of the Virtues!"
A smug smile played on Jonah's lips. Although Malcom hated to admit it, no lunatic would ever attempt to attack that place.
"And the second option?" Malcom asked while looked at Jonah directly.
"You are a strategist," Jonah said with a brotherly tone of voice, "You know that if we insure all the remaining Marked, they will disappear, and the chances of rescuing your friend and the other victims would disappear."
"So," Malcom said smiling, "Option two is to use certain Marked as bait."
Albert groaned before he started saying, "If it's OK. We will not force anyone―"
Malcom interrupted him. "It's fine by me," Malcom then said with disdain, "Let them try to take me!"