Chapter 131: Chapter 131 Looking For A Collaborator Themselves 2

"Oh?" Gideon raised an eyebrow, his interest immediately piqued. "Meaning?" Although his tone was casual, the look he directed at Ashley was anything but. His deep gaze lingered on her face, clearly intrigued by the confidence in her voice.

Ashley turned toward him, a mischievous glint flashing in her eyes as the corners of her eyes crinkled with her widening smile. "Meaning," she said, drawing out the word slightly, "we’ll find a better collaborator ourselves. And I just so happen to have thought of the perfect place."

The sight of her looking so pleased with herself brought a smile to Gideon’s face. For a brief moment, he fought the urge to reach out and ruffle her hair, finding the confidence and cunning in her expression unexpectedly adorable.

Unfortunately, before he could act on the impulse, he felt an intense gaze from the front seat. Looking up, he met Gage’s stare through the rearview mirror, the warning in it almost tangible.

His hand immediately paused mid-motion. Gideon clicked his tongue inwardly while Gage narrowed his eyes even further. Neither man said a word, but the silent exchange between them was louder than any argument.

"Since I let you sit in on my meeting earlier, why don’t you let me tag along and learn a thing or two from you?" Gideon suggested, his lips curving into a faint smile as he looked at Ashley with unconcealed interest and expectation.

"Okay."

Ashley agreed without much thought. After all, having Gideon and his assistant chauffeur her and Gage around was far more convenient than arranging transportation themselves.

Besides, he had generously allowed her to observe his meeting earlier, giving her a firsthand look at how he conducted business, negotiated deals, and interacted with the influential figures of the city.

More importantly, she had witnessed how local businessmen treated outsiders behind the polished masks they usually wore in public.

Now that she had benefited from that opportunity, it only seemed fair to return the favor.

Taking out her phone, Ashley spent a moment scrolling through it before finding what she needed. She then leaned forward and handed the device to Gage.

"Here."

Gage took the phone and entered the destination into the navigation system. Once the route was set, Gideon’s assistant quickly followed the route.

Two hours later, they finally arrived at their destination.

"Ash, is this the place you were talking about?" Gage asked, turning to Ashley with a puzzled expression.

Outside the window stretched a scene that could only be described as impoverished and neglected. Rows of dilapidated houses stood crowded together, their weathered walls bearing the scars of time and hardship.

The ground was a sea of mud, and the roads were little more than uneven dirt paths riddled with potholes large enough to swallow a tire. Murky rainwater filled the craters, reflecting the gray sky above.

Children ran freely through the muddy streets, laughing and chasing one another. Their clothes were so stained with dirt that it was impossible to tell what color they had originally been. Streaks of grime and dried snot marked their faces, yet their eyes sparkled with curiosity and youthful energy.

The moment the car entered the neighborhood, it became the center of attention.

The luxury vehicle looked completely out of place among the rundown surroundings. One by one, the children abandoned their games and rushed over, gathering around the cars with wide eyes. Some pointed excitedly while others pressed closer, openly gawking at the expensive vehicle they rarely had the chance to see up close.

Ashley quietly observed the scene before her gaze shifted toward Gideon and his assistant.

To her surprise, neither of them showed the disgust, discomfort, or superiority that many wealthy people displayed upon entering places like this. There was no wrinkle of disdain on their faces, nor did they seem annoyed by the children crowding around the vehicle. Gideon remained as calm and composed as ever, his expression unchanged as he watched the curious youngsters.

In fact, judging by his indifferent demeanor, Ashley had the distinct feeling that even if one of the children accidentally scratched the luxury car, Gideon wouldn’t spare it a second thought.

"Isn’t it true that slums are home to all kinds of people?" Ashley replied cryptically, a faint smile playing on her lips.

As she spoke, she casually patted one of the children on the shoulder after she stepped out of the car. The youngsters had gathered around the vehicle out of curiosity, but none dared get too close.

They knew better than to touch expensive cars. Even at their age, they understood that if they accidentally damaged something they couldn’t afford to pay for, they would only bring trouble upon themselves and their families.

Ashley crouched slightly to meet the child’s gaze.

"Kid, how about you help me watch over our car?" she said, sounding as though this was a routine arrangement she had made countless times before. "If anyone tries to take them without us being around, tell them the cars have an alert system. If someone attempts to steal one, the police will be notified immediately."

She reached into her pocket and waved a bill in front of him.

"And if you do a good job, I’ll give you ten dollars as a protection fee."

"Really?"

The boy’s eyes widened instantly. His grimy face lit up with excitement, and his expression brightened as though Christmas had come early. To a child from the slums, ten dollars was no small amount. It was enough to buy food for days and ease a burden that most people could hardly imagine.

"Really," Ashley confirmed with a reassuring smile and a small nod.

The boy’s eyes immediately brightened.

Ashley studied him for a moment. He looked to be around seven years old, though his gaunt frame and obvious malnourishment made it difficult to determine his true age. Years of hardship had stunted his growth, making him appear younger than he probably was.

Despite that, she could tell he was the leader of the group. The other children constantly glanced at him before acting, clearly following his lead.

That was precisely why Ashley had chosen him.

If she got him to work for her, the rest of the children would naturally follow his example and help keep an eye on the vehicle.

As for the ten dollars, it wasn’t that Ashley couldn’t afford to give more. In fact, the amount was insignificant to her. However, she understood that giving too much money to children living in such circumstances could do more harm than good.

Children who had never possessed much money often had little understanding of its true value. If they suddenly got their hands on a large sum and experienced the things it could buy, they might be tempted to seek more through the wrong means. Their lives were already difficult enough without introducing that kind of temptation.

Ten dollars was different.

It was enough for the children to buy snacks and enjoy themselves for a day, maybe even share a small treat among their friends, but not enough to attract unwanted attention. The adults in the neighborhood wouldn’t suspect they had stolen anything, nor would local hooligans target them out of greed.

In a place like this, too much generosity could sometimes become a danger rather than a blessing.

Ashley had learned that lesson a long time ago.