Bam!
"What are you trying to do?"
Just waking up from a dream, Benjamin was suddenly kicked off the bed. His face instantly turned sour as he squinted at the angry Isabella lying on the bed.
"What do I want to do? I want to stomp you to death!"
"Wait, hold on!"
Seeing Isabella's furious appearance, Benjamin finally awoke from his dream. He quickly got up, looked at Isabella, and raised his hands above his head.
"This wasn't my fault, either. It was you who provoked me last night. Then, I couldn't hold back anymore. So..."
"Shut up, and I won't let you speak!"
Before Benjamin could finish speaking, Isabella's piercing scream interrupted him. Caught off guard, Benjamin had no choice but to close his mouth obediently.
Immediately afterward, a torn dress was thrown from the bed to the floor. As she glared at him, Isabella's expression grew colder and more challenging.
"I want you to buy me a new dress like this!"
As Benjamin looked at the torn dress thrown before him, he intended to catch it. However, Isabella suddenly yelled at him again.
"What are you still doing standing there? Go buy me a dress, quickly!"
Although Benjamin wanted to say something more, Isabella's scream brought him back to his senses, and he could only look at her with a bitter smile.
"I'll buy you a new dress, but could you lend me more money? As you know, I don't have much on me."
As he spoke, Benjamin showed his nearly empty wallet to Isabella. But her demeanor remained unchanged, and her face showed a trace of contempt.
"Hmph, don't even think about it. I don't care how you do it. I want a dress like mine to appear in this room within half an hour!"
Knowing that reasoning with this woman was impossible, Benjamin could only stare at the dress he had torn last night and dejectedly leave the room.
...
"Miss, how much does this dress cost?"
"Five hundred USD!"
"What about this one?"
"Four hundred fifty USD!"
"Well..."
Benjamin incessantly pointed at the dresses displayed in a clothing store about four or five hundred meters from the hotel. However, as he listened to the shop owner's prices, his expression became increasingly difficult.
At this point, the shop owner's patience was also thin, and she looked annoyed at him.
"Look, handsome, do you want to buy something or not? The clothes in my shop are the cheapest in this area. If you don't believe me, go outside and ask around. Why would I cheat you?!"
When hearing these words from the shop owner, Benjamin's face showed a hint of surprise. Then, he gave a bitter smile and pulled out two hundred USD he had carefully stashed in his wallet.
"But I only have this much money left. I wonder if anything in the store costs about this much?"
As he spoke, Benjamin tried to appear sincere and forced a smile. Seeing this, the shop owner could only curse under her breath before pointing to a hidden corner.
"If you weren't the first customer and weren't somewhat good-looking, I wouldn't to sell you something for this amount of money. However, out of respect for your good looks, I'll give you a fifty percent discount and sell you that dress for a low price. It'll only take exactly two hundred USD from you!"
Seeing the new white dress, strikingly similar to the one Isabella had worn the night before, Benjamin couldn't help but feel relieved. However, when he thought about the remaining money in his wallet being taken away, his heart ached with pain. Nonetheless, his mood quickly stabilized as he hurriedly took the purchased dress and returned it to Isabella.
But as Benjamin pushed the door open and entered the room, his face instantly turned pale. At some point, Isabella grabbed a shard of broken glass and pointed it at his face. Her expression was also frighteningly fierce.
"Hey, what are you trying to do? Put that down right now!"
"You scoundrel, I want to kill you, kill you!"
"You've gone mad! Yesterday's incident had nothing to do with me!"
"Yeah, I'm crazy! So what? If you hadn't taken advantage of me when I was unconscious last night to do unspeakable things, how could I have gone crazy?"
"But..."
"I want to kill you!"
As Benjamin tried to explain, Isabella suddenly screamed. Immediately after, her body lunged forward, aiming the glass shard directly at his face.
Instantly, anger surged within Benjamin. He dodged and quickly grabbed Isabella's wrist, locking it tightly. Then, he snatched the glass shard from her hand and threw it to the ground. Finally, he looked at her coldly.
"Don't provoke me, or I won't be courteous to you anymore!"
Isabella's face momentarily showed signs of panic under Benjamin's intense gaze, and her body trembled slightly. However, she spoke coldly.
"What if you're not courteous to me? Are you going to assault me again? I'll tell you that if you dare touch me again, I won't give you a single cent. Then, I want to see how you'll find the money to treatment your sister!"
Initially still angry, Benjamin's expression became awkward upon hearing Isabella's words, and he hurriedly tried to explain.
"No, that's not what I meant. You know very well that my sister desperately needs money. And I still need to find a job. So, you can't do that."
"Hmph, what does your sister have to do with me?"
Isabella snorted coldly, and her voice carried a hint of sarcasm.
"Weren't you quite fierce just now? How come you're scared now?"
Hearing her taunts and seeing Isabella's smug demeanor, Benjamin's expression became even more embarrassed.
Indeed, without her monthly financial support, he couldn't afford even his sister's daily medication, let alone her treatment. At this point, all Benjamin could do was clench his fists tightly. He then looked at Isabella with a weak voice and asked: "So, what do you want me to do? Should I apologize to you?"
"Apologize? Can you change what happened yesterday?"
As she spoke, Isabella glanced at the bloodstain on the bed. For a moment, Benjamin was at a loss for words. He could only shake his head, sigh, and place the newly-purchased dress on the table.
"I'm sorry. Yesterday's incident was my fault. If you want to hit me or scold me, go ahead. But you can't withhold the money for my sister's treatment."
This time, Isabella has yet to respond. She simply looked at him with a disdainful gaze. Feeling helpless, Benjamin turned around and left the room.
As Benjamin walked away, the corner of Isabella's mouth slightly curled upward. But soon after, her eyes turned cold as she looked at the traces left on the bed from the previous night.
...
"Dad, how's my sister doing?"
Standing in the hospital corridor, Benjamin anxiously looked at the elderly, frail man with a hunched posture and inquired.
"She's the same, still needing the special care of the doctors. Moreover, the hospital has been pressing for payment these days. Benjamin, don't you plan on finding a side job?"
Hearing his father's question, Benjamin's face showed a hint of annoyance. He had previously sought work at several places, but they all paid meager wages. It was difficult enough to cover their daily expenses, let alone his sister's medical bills. Often, he could only eat instant noodles and drink some coffee to get by. Life in the city was expensive, and it was challenging for a recently discharged soldier like him to make a decent living.
"Dad, I've thought about it carefully. I'll continue looking for work today. Once I have a stable job, I'll provide for my sister's treatment."
"Ah..."
Benjamin's words were met with a sigh from his father, Jevin. His aged face grew even more worn. But then, as if remembering something, Jevin asked:
"By the way, your wife didn't come again today? Last time, Isabella only sent money for your sister's treatment. What's keeping her so busy that she hasn't visited our family since you married?"
Hearing Jevin's words, Benjamin was slightly startled. He didn't want his father to know that his marriage to Isabella was merely a transaction. So he hastily explained,
"Dad, my wife is busy with work. She said her company is working on a big contract with a foreign partner. She has to be in charge of it. After the contract is completed, she'll visit my sister!"
Hearing this, Jevin didn't show any suspicion. However, a hint of disappointment could be seen in his eyes.
"Ah, being busy is good. Moreover, since your wife works so much, you should help her; you can't just wander around all day. Besides, she's a good person, so you must cherish her, understand?"
Listening to Jevin's advice, Benjamin could only nod continuously. However, he didn't know what he was thinking deep down.
After leaving the hospital, it was then that Benjamin decided to look for a job. He had thought carefully, he could only sometimes rely on Isabella. Like the morning incident, how could he afford his sister's medical expenses if he didn't have money and Isabella didn't provide for him?
Determined, Benjamin spent the entire morning searching for a suitable job. After exploring various places, he noticed an eye-catching job posting. It advertised a security guard position with an attractive salary.
Seeing the job requirements, Benjamin didn't hesitate and quickly entered the restaurant, intending to apply for the security guard position.
"Ma'am, is this place hiring security guards?"
Seeing a young woman sitting at the restaurant's cashier counter, Benjamin carefully inquired. Hearing Benjamin's voice, the young woman looked up.
After observing Benjamin for a while, the young woman finally nodded in response.
"That's right, and my restaurant is looking for security guards. However, this job requires you to handle pressure. Moreover, you must be prepared to work overtime when I ask."
After speaking, the young woman's gaze lingered on Benjamin briefly before continuing.
"So, can you handle it?"
Contrary to the young woman's thoughts, Benjamin responded promptly and decisively.
"I can!"
Leaving the restaurant, Benjamin felt great. In addition to the demands the young woman mentioned, the job still offered a high salary, especially since the restaurant owner promised to pay him extra if he performed well.
Nothing was better than earning extra cash for someone needing money like Benjamin, as long as it was appropriate.
However, Benjamin's joyful smile only lasted a moment. Immediately after, his expression turned gloomy. Then, he realized he had no money left, and his stomach was still growling with hunger.
Fortunately, there were a few free water dispensers and some bread for passersby along the way. Biting into a piece of dry bread, Benjamin gulped down a mouthful of water to help it go down his throat.
After finishing the bread, Benjamin's empty stomach felt somewhat complete. But now, he didn't know where to go. Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice calling out."Hey, we meet again!"Recognizing the familiar voice, Benjamin couldn't help but turn his head. As he did, he saw Isabella and Edwyn eating in a nearby restaurant. For a moment, Benjamin's face was filled with astonishment. However, that was quickly replaced by disdain.It was apparent that Isabella was well aware of Edwyn's ill intentions towards her, yet she not only refrained from avoiding him but also chose to dine alone with him. Benjamin couldn't help but feel disdain and contempt for her."Isabella, what do you think of my proposal?" Edwyn asked."Director Edwyn, I'd like to finalize this contract before we go to the hotel. If you agree, I'll reconsider your offer afterward."Not far from Benjamin, Edwyn paid him no attention and began conversing with Isabella. Although their voices weren't loud, Benjamin could still h
Benjamin swung his leg and kicked down forcefully. Although the kick wasn't too strong, Edwyn was so much pain. His eyes bulged, and his face contorted beyond imagination. It seemed as if he had just heard the sound of an egg cracked."You bastard... I'll kill you!"Clutching his crotch, Edwyn's mouth sounded like a pig being poked. Tears involuntarily streamed down his face like a waterfall."Let's go, and we're leaving!" Benjamin said.Seeing Edwyn's pitiful state, a satisfied smile finally appeared on Benjamin's face. However, just as he was about to leave with Isabella, Edwyn's voice suddenly rang out."You wait. I'll make sure you end up in jail!""Who are you trying to scare? You would have humiliated my friend if I hadn't shown up. If you dare to accuse me of assault, I'll report your attempted rape to the police!"Hearing Edwyn's threat, Benjamin stopped, his gaze electric, staring straight at him.But at this moment, Edwyn didn't show any worry or fear. Instead, a hideous smi
Afterward, both of them left without speaking to each other, walking home on their own. As they reached the front door, Isabella paused momentarily before looking at Benjamin with a somewhat disgusted expression."You go in first; I don't want to walk with a good-for-nothing like you."This time, Benjamin didn't react to her, he just glanced at the house's main gate. Then, he grabbed the keys to the car and threw them back to Isabella."I don't want to go in. If you want to enter, do it yourself!"With that, Benjamin decisively turned away and left. However, at that moment, Isabella suddenly blocked his path, standing before him, and said."My father is returning home today; you can't just leave."Benjamin's eyebrows furrowed slightly after hearing the mention of his father-in-law, whom he had only met once at their wedding. Seeing his expression, Isabella added: "After today, you can go wherever you want, and I won't care. But you're not allowed to leave this house before my father l
Leaving the bedroom, Benjamin quickly descended the stairs and poured himself a glass of water. Meanwhile, Isabella was browsing her phone and checking the news in the living room. She hurried towards him as soon as she saw him, limping slightly."By the way, my father is coming home for dinner tonight. So, we need to act affectionately towards each other and not give him any reason to suspect anything. You understand, right?"With a warning gaze, Isabella's demeanor seemed odd.Indeed, Benjamin found this whole situation bizarre. Usually, his wife never shows kindness to him. Even in front of his mother-in-law and sister-in-law, she still acts cold and contemptuous toward him. However, whenever her father was mentioned, whom he had only met once at their wedding, Isabella's attitude changed drastically.Though he felt suspicious, Benjamin did not want to cause conflict with Isabella at this moment, so he calmly nodded in agreement.At seven o'clock that evening, the doorbell rang. A
Looking at the eight full glasses of wine, Benjamin's expression remained unchanged. He was resolute, walking over and pouring the entire glass of wine on the table into his mouth.Seeing this, everyone in the room was filled with fear. Especially Olivia, who never expected Benjamin to do such a thing for her. After all, even someone with a high alcohol tolerance could only handle a few glasses of this type of wine at most. Moreover, this was the first time anyone else had ever downed eight drinks in one go as he did."Good, the wine has been finished. Can we leave now?"Although the eight glasses of wine weren't a big problem for Benjamin, drinking that much at once left him feeling dizzy. At this moment, Olivia felt incredibly guilty. Meanwhile, seeing her wrist still held tightly by Benjamin, her face flushed with embarrassment."Corbin, we'd like to take our leave now."Olivia's body leaned slightly forward. She then took Benjamin's hand and quickly led him out of the room."Wait!
“No, I genuinely had no idea that it was your restaurant. If I had known, I wouldn’t have gotten into a fight there. Besides, he was bullying people too much, and I just wanted to stand up for justice!”After a moment of shock, Benjamin finally began to explain himself. However, Isabella seemed as if she didn’t hear him at all. She stared at him with a highly disdainful look.“Do you... do you think I’m that despicable? That I would damage your restaurant’s reputation to get revenge on you?”Feeling frustrated and unable to explain, Benjamin angrily stormed out of the car. But at that moment, Isabella suddenly spoke up.“Where are you going?”“If you don’t believe me, why do you want me to drive you home?”As he spoke, Benjamin opened the door to get out.“Suit yourself, but if you dare leave, I’ll go to the hospital to visit your sister.”This time, Benjamin’s movement faltered.“What do you plan to do?”“I won’t do anything. I’ll tell your sister and father about the fight and how y
Upon seeing Benjamin walk into the hotel with his letter of introduction, the hotel manager couldn't help but cast a sidelong glance at him. Afterward, the manager flashed a smile and spoke."A new employee, huh? The hotel only has a little work at the moment. You can help me clean, and once there's more work, I'll hand it over to you later."As he spoke, the manager discreetly handed Benjamin a broom. Benjamin was no stranger to such situations, as the old ones often hazed new employees.However, Benjamin was not like the others. He didn't accept the broom offered by the manager but calmly shook his head and responded."Sorry, I'm here to work as a driver, not to do janitorial work for the hotel."Hearing this, the manager's eyes widened in surprise. It was the first time he had encountered such an assertive new employee. Just as he was about to lose his temper and teach Benjamin a lesson, he was interrupted by a call from a subordinate, saying that there was an issue that required h
Not wanting to respond to Benjamin, but Isabella eventually couldn't bear it and snapped back."Who are you calling deceitful? You're just someone I bought with money to serve as a stand-in. What right do you have to scold me? Furthermore, look at yourself. If you weren't such a useless waste, would I even need to look for another man?""You..."Being scolded by Isabella to the point of grinding his teeth, Benjamin's fists clenched tightly, making a grinding sound. He felt extremely uncomfortable, but he could not refute Isabella's words.For a moment, the atmosphere in the car became incredibly silent. Neither spoke to the other, each lost in their thoughts. After a while, Isabella's attitude began to cool down. This matter couldn't be entirely blamed on Benjamin. After all, they never had any feelings for each other. They were simply in agreement, a contract."Fine, I don't want to continue arguing with you either. Let's divorce now. After the divorce, I'll give you more money as co
Benjamin, unbeknownst to him, was oblivious to the demonic prince's frenzy over the armor. He held in his hand a command token, under which lay a somewhat tragic corpse. However, a familiar energy emanated from the token, causing his brows to furrow deeply, for a voice resounded urgently within his mind."Chirp chirp!"Deep in thought, Benjamin was roused by Alan's voice. The creature, now the size of a sparrow, perched gracefully upon his shoulder.Recognizing the intention behind the creature's head rubbing against him, a tender smile graced Benjamin's lips: "You did wonderfully." he praised."Chirp chirp!"In response, Alan regurgitated an ancient ring which landed deftly in Benjamin's palm. As it touched his skin, the ring transformed into a golden glow, wrapping around his finger. It was the space ring Benjamin had discovered in the Dragon Palace. Although the spirit inside was dormant, its basic functions remained accessible.Earlier, Benjamin had entrusted this ring to Alan to
Instantly, his face became grave. Only now did he discern the fading form of Alan, with even the flames upon it having waned by more than half. Yet, what was most alarming was the emanating ominous aura from the Demon God's heart, causing Benjamin to jolt and hurriedly shout,"Elder!""Hm?!"Hearing Benjamin's call, an ethereal figure suddenly appeared outside the central region of the altar. Its gaze locked onto the sealed space above the altar."Ha ha ha, foolish humans, my true form is almost here. Once it arrives, I'll reduce the both of you to mere ashes!"Sensing the familiar aura steadily nearing the altar, the Demon God's heart laughed triumphantly.However, a languid voice suddenly intervened,"Quiet!"Following which, an overpowering force, emanating from Benjamin, suddenly descended, shattering the very core of the heart."AHH!"A scream echoed from within. Simultaneously, an ethereal figure, eyes filled with disbelief, turned towards the altar."What is this force?!"Feeli
Boom!Boom!Several blows in succession, and Benjamin had lost track of time. But at this moment, cracks began to appear on the wall before him. They spread and widened until finally, with a full-force punch, the wall collapsed. A vast space revealed itself, stretching out before his eyes.Here, Benjamin beheld a huge sacrificial altar, filling almost the entire space. Above the altar hung a heart. Though he could not ascertain from what creature it was taken, its appearance allowed him to sense an incredibly evil energy, pervading the entire space.Moreover, this evil energy made his mind reel slightly. Were it not for his strong will, Benjamin feared he would have been bewitched by the heart.Instantly, his face marked with caution, he retreated a few steps."This is truly bizarre? How could such an altar appear here?"But just then, stepping back some twenty meters, a sound of great astonishment suddenly came from behind him.Startled, Benjamin quickly turned to see the people who
A few minutes later, a middle-aged man with blonde hair and glasses, holding a laptop, arrived looking somewhat harried and sleep-deprived. He looked toward Red, placed his hand over his chest, and rapidly spoke.“Prince Red, why have you summoned me here? My research is on the brink of completion, needing only one final step. If there's nothing urgent, I would like to return and continue with my work.”After speaking, the middle-aged man seemed incredibly impatient, ready to turn and leave.Seeing this, Red felt slightly annoyed but did not show anger. Instead, his face bore a placating expression, and he hastily replied.“Mr. Steven, I genuinely have a very important matter that requires your assistance. Agat and Orange are in trouble in New Braum, and I want you to go there and bring them back. What do you think?”Red's attitude was extremely humble, a stark contrast to his earlier arrogance and pride.However, Steven seemed not to care, his eyes sweeping the control room in a glan
However, Steven seemed uninterested, his eyes sweeping the control room before he spoke, a little annoyed.“Your Highness Red, such a trivial matter, and you call me here? If you feel overly bored, I can help you with some training time. Within the next twenty-four hours, I assure you that the time spent will not be wasted at all!”Hearing this, Red's eyes showed a hint of fear.Although the man was just a human, his strength was not particularly great. However, Steven's status in the kingdom was very special. He was a scholar, and his creativity was terrifying.Hundreds of years ago, when the kingdom of Autuman was just a small tribe on the planet Namec, their king, then a young man, luckily rescued a human, and this human was the middle-aged man before him, Steven.Harnessing the terrifying breadth of Steven's intellect, in less than a decade, Autuman evolved from a minor tribe, nestled in the wilderness of planet Namec, into a mighty empire. They conquered the entirety of Namec, an
Boom!Boom!Boom!Blood painted the sky, and countless pieces of metal debris littered the ground.A smirk formed on Benjamin's lips. He hadn't expected that after such a long slumber, its power had grown so immense.However, the sight of the scattered armor shards pained him.Such high-quality armor pieces, capable of enhancing a warrior's strength and providing incredible defense, were now in ruins. For someone of Benjamin's caliber, these armors might not pose much challenge, but if equipped by his soldiers, they would have been invaluable assets, exponentially amplifying their combat prowess.Although he felt a twinge of regret, Benjamin didn't blame Alan. Instead, he commended him."Alan, you did splendidly!""Chirp, chirp!"As Benjamin's praise graced his ears, a rush of exhilaration surged through Alan. In mere moments, his form swiftly contracted, taking on the delicate guise of a sparrow, which alighted on Benjamin's shoulder, its chirps melodious and relentless.Witnessing s
"Ha ha ha, I was merely jesting with you." he laughed with ease, his eyes dancing mischievously: "No need to take it so seriously. Anyway, feel free to examine it. It's now mine, and even if you wish, you cannot claim it."With a boisterous laugh, Benjamin, brimming with amusement, effortlessly tossed a ring towards her.Catching a glimpse of his action, a pang of surprise coursed through Fidelma. Still, she reached out, catching the item.Holding the ornate ring in her hand, she felt a strange force emanating from within. The intricate designs adorning it suggested an ancient aura. Fidelma could confidently deduce that this was a space treasure. Its grade was undoubtedly high, surpassing any artifact she had previously encountered in the annals or in the treasury of the Moonlight Religious Sect."Done examining?" His voice hinted at impatience: "If so, kindly return it."Watching Fidelma cradle the ring, almost reluctant to release it, a twitch of amusement played on Benjamin's lips.
Now, even though its headpiece had been severed, it was still far more complete than the other armors.Without hesitation, he approached, with a mere thought, his storage ring's light flared. The entire armor, along with the leader's corpse, was drawn into it.He then surveyed the surroundings once more, detecting no anomalies. Benjamin then proceeded towards Dermot's wooden house atop the hill."Boss, you're not hurt, are you?" asked Azaria, eyeing Benjamin's bloodstained appearance with a hint of concern.Benjamin glanced at him and shook his head."I'm fine; go rest. Tonight, there may be more to do. I'll handle it myself." he said, continuing straight to Dermot's bedroom.Upon seeing Benjamin's bloodied state, Irina suddenly rushed over, her face filled with alarm. She hastily grabbed his hand, her expression fraught with concern."You...you're alright?" she stammered.Seeing her worry, Benjamin merely shook his head without verbally responding. Meanwhile, Dermot emerged from the
Although puzzled, Benjamin refrained from questioning her outright. Instead, his gaze swept the room. Aside from scattered clothing and discarded food on the floor, nothing seemed amiss. It was logical. After all, someone fleeing in a hurry wouldn't leave traces behind."Where did the woman who was in your room go?" he inquired, his sudden question startling Irina, making her let out a soft gasp.At her reaction, Benjamin's eyebrows furrowed, his gaze growing wary: "What did you ask?" she stammered, fear evident in her voice.Reiterating his query but with more firmness, he watched as Irina visibly shrank back, finally murmuring: "She...she said she had something to do and left. Can...can you not look at me like that? I'm truly scared."Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke, every word dripping with fear. Benjamin felt a pang of confusion but, before he could react, she threw herself at him, gripping him tightly: "Please don't go. I'm truly terrified. This place... I can't bear to