The next morning, Lucille didn't accompany Drake to work. She claimed she had something to do at the university, which Drake didn't think much about and simply allowed."I have to find out," she murmured to herself as she was escorted to the university by Drake's guard.An ominous thought gnawed at her—that the powers emanating from the miniature temple were not a blessing but a curse. With no real business at the university, she needed to be away from Drake to conduct her investigation."I don't want to unwittingly bargain with the devil instead of a deity," she thought, feeling the weight of her unease."Is something troubling you?" the driver inquired."No, I'm fine. Why do you ask?" Lucille responded, her caution heightened, feeling as though every person under Drake's employ was an eye watching her."You seem quite anxious, biting your nails like that, madam," the driver observed, causing Lucille to glance at her ruined nails."I'm just concerned that I'm not of much help to Drak

Inside a hotel in Magrao City, sunlight streamed through the windows, casting warm rays across the room where two brothers, Zemo and Zanjo, sat, their eyes fixed on the view of the city."What a beautiful view, very different from the hell we've seen here," Zemo White commented as he sat on one side of a polished mahogany table, while Zanjo White, his younger brother with a more laid-back demeanor, leaned against the window, gazing at the city below. Both men were dressed in sharp suits, a reflection of their affluent backgrounds.Leaning forward, Zanjo asked, "Zemo, do you really think we can trust Drake Chwe?""He helped us out when Zack tried to ambush us," Zemo replied, focusing more on observing his brother than the outside view. "He promised to protect us, after all."Zemo was well aware that Zanjo White was the one who understood and cared about Zack White the most. That's why he was genuinely worried about his brother's loyalty wavering at any moment."But isn't he more suspic

Back to Zemo and Zanjo, they still looked perplexed by the sudden news that Zack would be meeting them today."Shall we go?" Zanjo said, pacing back and forth."Are you stupid? We're here to catch him. Why do we have to go? To hide?" Zemo responded, appearing more calm and composed compared to his brother."But Zemo, what if Zack doesn't want to do this at all? What if–" Zanjo began."Enough with your 'what ifs.' We've already discussed this. Don't take his side," Zemo interrupted, pushing his hair back from his face.Zanjo could only swallow his words, unable to voice his concerns.He watched as his brother gathered all their men in the hotel lobby, preparing them as if for war, instructing everyone not to give Zack a chance to retaliate."Shoot him immediately," Zemo instructed coldly after showing Zack and Kale Justinbaste's picture to his men."Don't let your guard down, Zanjo. This will end smoothly if he comes here with his original face or the face we know," he said."I underst

The memories of Lucille witnessing Drake Chwe kill and store his own mother inside his storage space took her breath away for a moment.She trembled as she gasped, “These memories…”Whether it was because Lucille had become a tribute system user or because Drake was revealing more of his true colors, the resurfacing of her suppressed memories was the least of her worries, she needed to survive!Lucille’s body trembled in fear as she realized that the person in front of her was extremely vicious and terrifying.“He… he killed his mother too,” she stuttered.“What?” Drake asked irritably, knitting his brows. He stepped closer to Lucille, unable to understand her mumbling and puzzled by her sudden terror.“D-don’t come near me!” she exclaimed, her eyes welling up with tears.“Are you scared that I’ll scold you? You shouldn't have stopped me if you were going to be this scared,” he sighed. The aggravation he felt moments ago dissipated as he watched Lucille trembling pitifully in front of

"What did you say?" Zanjo's tone bristled with offense as he confronted Drake.Drake's hands moved in a slow, mocking clap, his expression a mix of amusement and annoyance. "I said, Are you some kind of saint? Sprouting forgiveness like it's your job?"Zanjo's gaze remained fixed on Drake, his irritation evident. "I'm no saint, Drake," he responded evenly but firmly. "I just refuse to let hatred consume me. I still hold onto the belief in redemption, even for someone like Zack."Drake's features hardened, his frustration evident in the set of his jaw. "Redemption? After everything he's done? Zanjo, you're being naive. Zack is a lost cause, and we need to make him pay for his crimes."Zanjo shook his head, his resolve unwavering. "I can't join you on that path, Drake. Revenge won't bring back the ones we've lost or heal the wounds Zack has inflicted. I choose to believe in the power of forgiveness."Drake's eyes flashed with anger, though he quickly masked it with a forced smile. "Suit