Once Duncan regained his composure, he found his voice and posed another question to the enigmatic system. "You're a system that's going to help me?" he inquired, his tone a mix of hope and uncertainty. The system responded promptly, confirming Duncan's assumption. "{Yes, I've been waiting for you for ages}," it affirmed, its words carrying a sense of anticipation and purpose. Duncan's mind swirled with a whirlwind of questions, eager to understand the nature of this system and its connection to his journey. Before he could voice his inquiry, however, the system abruptly cut off any further conversation. "{End of chatting}," it stated matter-of-factly. "{You should go now to the Quest X Apex Dungeon. Keep walking straight. I'll guide you.}" Tilting his head slightly, Duncan regarded the system with squinting eyes, a mix of curiosity and skepticism etched across his face. He was still grappling with the newfound reality of his situation, unsure of whether to trust this mysterio

Walker and Sophia exchanged a hesitant glance, their expressions betraying a mix of guilt and loyalty. After a moment of contemplation, Sophia took a deep breath and spoke, choosing her words carefully. "We simply carried out his orders," she admitted, a subtle tremor in her voice. "There were operations, tasks that your father assigned to us. Some of them... they weren't entirely... ethical." Duncan's heart sank at Sophia's revelation. The image he had held of his father, once noble and untarnished, now began to crack under the weight of these hidden truths. "I need to know," Duncan said, his voice filled with a mix of determination and vulnerability. "What were these operations? What did my father involve himself in?" Walker, his face etched with remorse, stepped forward to join Sophia in explaining. "Your father, Sir Dunstan, he was a complex man," Walker began, his voice heavy with regret. "He had connections and dealings with various unsavory individuals and organizations.

Inside the car, Duncan continued driving in silence, his focus on the road ahead. However, he couldn't help but notice Karla's intense gaze fixed on his wounded shoulder. Intrigue filled her eyes, and he could sense that she had something on her mind."What is it?" he asked, his forehead creasing with a frown. He kept his eyes on the road, not wanting to be distracted from his task of safely navigating the car."Your shoulder is..." Karla began, her voice trailing off as she stretched her hand toward his wounded shoulder, intending to examine it. However, Duncan instinctively leaned away from her touch, causing him to momentarily lose control of the steering."What's wrong with you?" he exclaimed, his voice laced with a mix of concern and frustration as he quickly regained control of the car. Karla, undeterred, persisted in her worry for his well-being. "Why don't you pull over while I look at it?" she suggested, her tone filled with genuine care. Duncan glanced at Karla but re

The following morning, Duncan and Karla arrived at her house after getting his deflated tires fixed by Jack and brought back to him at the hotel they stayed in overnight. "Thanks for the ride home," Karla said, getting off the bike and removing her helmet. "You're welcome," Duncan replied with a smile. Karla waved. "See you some other time." Duncan nodded and watched as she made her way to the doorway of her penthouse. As Karla reached the door, instead of using the doorbell, she knocked. She tilted her head and caught Duncan watching her, returning his smile before the door opened. "Hey, cousin," Julie's voice boomed, causing Karla to look forward, but she was surprised to see someone other than Julie. It was the girl she had met the other day, Tara, Julie's friend. "Hello," Tara waved, and Karla forced a smile, her instincts turning up as if alerting her to something. Julie's arrival injected an excited energy into the scene. "I guess you got a free ride here," she remark

Amid the palpable tension, Ma'am Luna, perceptive to Duncan's hesitancy, probed with suspicion, "Why aren't you saying a thing? Do you have other plans?" Duncan, gathering himself, responded with a shake of his head, "I'm just thinking of how I can carry out a presumed huge presentation smoothly. I've got no experience and I can't do it. I'm sorry, grandmother-in-law, but I won't do it." His unspoken hope for reprieve was dashed as Ma'am Luna persisted, an audience stunned by the unfolding drama. "You can do this, Duncan. I believe in you. Zinnia will put you through. Okay?" Resigned, Duncan nodded, accepting the looming challenge. Exiting the house, he made a beeline for his bike and dialed Karla. "Hello, Duncan?""Hey, let's meet up in the next one hour.""Alright." As he hung up, a heavy sigh escaped him, encapsulating the weight of his predicament. Meanwhile, back inside, Zinnia approached Ma'am Luna, masking her discontent. "Grandmother, how can you trust Duncan with