Maybe K would scoff at her bravado or see through her bluff, but she clung to hope as long as she could keep pushing forward.

Ariana braced herself for K's reaction, but he remained silent, lowering his gun and walking toward her instead.

"Stay back!" Ariana said fiercely. "Don't come any closer, or I'1L shoot!"

K was only a few steps away, and with each one, Ariana's heartbeat quickened. She tried to frighten him off, but she knew it was probably useless.

Sure enough, K remained unbothered, moving closer like a predator eying its prey.

“Stop! Don't come any nearer!" Ariana shouted, terror flooding her, her hands shaking but still gripping the gun.

She added, "One more step, and I'll kill you! I mean it! I've killed before, and I'll do whatever it takes to survive!" Seeing K unmoved, Ariana's panic rose, her threats pouring out as her finger hovered over the trigger.

Then, just as she was about to lose it completely, a click echoed beside her, the unmistakable sound of a safety being flicked off.

K's voice whispered chillingly close, "Next time, take the safety off first."

What Ariana heard left her completely bewildered. She slowly opened her eyes, meeting K's gaze as her mind raced to make sense of it all.

She couldn't comprehend the situation. Wasn't this person sent to apprehend her? What was he playing at now?

K, seemingly unconcerned about her confusion, said, “The gun you're using has excessive recoil. It's not suitable for you. You might injure yourself rather than hitting your target."

Disregarding her expression, K calmly exchanged his sleek silver pistol with Ariana's gun. He then swiftly departed without waiting for a reply.

"Wait!" Ariana exclaimed, growing more perplexed and contemplating if K was plotting something. "What's your motive? Aren't you concerned about Bennett's retaliation if you let me go? He's extremely unpredictable. No matter your loyalty to him, falling short of his demands can be fatal."

"He won't be aware of this; he's currently missing," K responded with a monotone voice, briefly halting in his walk.

Before Ariana could inquire further, K added, "However, this is a one-time gesture. If we encounter each other again, I won't hold back. So you better depart swiftly and put some distance between us. Don't let me find you again."

With those words, K vanished into the darkness.

Although the entire encounter was fleeting, Ariana felt as though she were still in a dream long after K's departure.

She found it unbelievable. Had the cold and ruthless K truly let her go without any conditions?

It appeared implausible, yet that was what had happened.