“I can't do it; I can't become a security guard on the day of my graduation. My mom will be furious. She wants the best for me. Find some other task!” Ethan snapped as he shook his head endlessly. He wasn't willing to do it. He wasn't willing to carry out a task that would make his mother sad.
She had given him a dress that he definitely needed to wear, and that was what he was going to do. He had promised not to break her heart in his second life, and he wasn't going to do so.[Host has no choice but to carry out the task given. Host has ten life bars, and if the Host refuses to carry out a task successfully, two bars will be deducted from host's life span.]“What? That isn't even fair! How do you expect me to...” Ethan was about to say, but he had already gotten to the nerves of his system, and it just couldn't take it anymore.[Host shouldn't speak when System has given its order! You either accomplish the task or forget about getting revenge!]It sounded so furious that if it were a human, it would have beaten Ethan up. There was always a reason for each task, but Ethan was somewhat blind to see or know it.“But...” he was about to say, but the RRS system was done for the day.[System integrating into sleep mode in 1…2…3…]“Wait, don't leave yet. I still haven't figured this out!” Ethan tried bargaining, but when the system gave its order, it was expected that he would follow and not counter.“Hey? Hello?” He called out, trying to get a response, but it didn't respond to him. It kept calm and mute and wasn't willing to speak to Ethan.Ethan, at this point, only had one choice. If he really wanted to get revenge, then he was definitely going to carry out the task. He couldn't die before his mother, and he couldn't forget about getting revenge.Getting a second life was to be ruthless to them, and that was what he was going to do no matter what.“I guess I must do this!” He mumbled as he stood from his bed and pulled off his clothes, releasing a heavy sigh from his lips.He laid on his bed and shut his eyes, hoping the RRS in his head would change his decision or task.***Next morning.Ethan woke up earlier than his mother in the morning, and before anyone else, he left the house in casual wear, heading for their school's graduation. His mother didn't attend his graduation in his other life, so it won't hurt that bad if he doesn't wear the dress she gave him.He boarded a cab and headed for school. He went straight for the security building, and reaching for the door knob, Ethan took a deep breath.“Are you sure this is worth it, Ethan?” He mumbled, swallowing loudly, before coming to a conclusion again. Without any further thought, he opened the door to the building, and facing him were two security staff.“How may we help you?” One of the men asked, staring at Ethan closely and waiting for his response. Walking into the security building wasn't something a student as weak as Ethan could do.“RRS, this better go well!” He said it inwardly, warning the mechanical voice in his head.“I... I want to stand in as security for today!” he finally revealed, making the two staff look at themselves in shock.“You? Become a security guard? Yeah, you've got to be kidding me!” They both mocked and laughed at him.They've seen him get bullied by Gideon, but because Gideon was from a rich family, they allowed it to continue.“I am… I am capable!” Ethan stuttered, seeing they were looking down on him just as everyone did in his past life.“No. No, you can't, young man!” One of the security guards stood to his feet and walked over to where Ethan was standing, clenching his grip on his bag.“You can't take care of yourself... How do you expect to protect others?” He questioned, and this time he was standing pretty close to Ethan.“Just for six hours... if I don't do this, I might die!” Ethan begged, recalling what the RRS had said to him last night. He didn't want anything to come in the way of his revenge plan.“Listen up, man,” he said, leaning closer to Ethan's face, making him take a step backwards in uncertainty.“Even a second isn't allowed. Now get out of here, dummy!” He scoffed before turning on his heels to walk back to his seat.Ethan felt bad, but there was nothing he could do at this point. He left the building and was heading out of the school, feeling like a loser, when just then he heard his name from behind.“Ethan Will?”He instantly turned around, and seeing the same staff that sent him out calling him back made him confused. He responded to him, and Ethan was instantly taken into the building.“You want to be a protector? Here! Just return it after six hours!” The uniform was instantly handed over to him.“But I thought you never liked me!” He asked, staring at both of them.“Are you still interested or not?” They asked, and instantly, Ethan went ahead to change into the uniform. He was ready to carry out the task at the moment, but he wasn't yet sure of the reasons for being given such duty.He was still walking around the area when he sighted Camilla making a suspicious move towards the back of the academy building.“What is she up to?” He pondered, but he didn't hesitate to follow her. Soon, she came to a stop, and right before her was Gideon.Just as Ethan was watching, Gideon and Camilla hugged each other, and he kissed her. Ethan's eyes widened at the scene before him.“What's happening? She has been cheating on me before we graduated. Why didn't I know?” He asked as his veins coursed with fury.The two people who had killed him stood before him, and he felt like getting his revenge immediately. Before he could rush towards them, the mechanical voice spoke up.[Don't let your emotions control you, Host! Watch!]Ethan stayed calm for a second when, just then, Nathan, Nick, Samuel, and, oddly, Albert walked into the scene.Albert wasn't part of them; Albert was his friend in school.“What are they doing with Albert?” He asked as he squinted his eyes. Albert was looking scared of Gideon, and Ethan wondered why he was with them.Just as they were discussing, Ethan found it difficult to hear them, but then he couldn't hold it in anymore. Wherever Gideon was, trouble was there. Without thinking twice, Ethan interrupted their gathering.“What are you all doing here when you should be at the field?” Ethan asked, leaving his hiding spot.The second Camilla saw him, she froze with her eyes bulging out.“E…Ethan? How…” She stuttered, finding it difficult to explain her reason for standing with Gideon. But Ethan didn't ask; he didn't care.“Return back to the field, now!” Ethan commanded all of them. His veins were burning with rage and fury.“I see you've gotten so much courage to speak back! How dare you?” Gideon charged towards him and was going to hit him, but then he halted, seeing that Ethan was in the staff's uniform. He would be in huge trouble if he touched him.“Return to your seats... I won't repeat myself! And remember, I am the one in control now!” Ethan sneered as he glared at Gideon and others.Gideon felt weak at this point and couldn't help but obey. He left the scene with his boys while Albert ran away.Ethan was going to leave too, but then his RRS spoke up with a mechanical voice.[Task 2 RRS has been completed successfully, and the host will be rewarded immediately with 1+ bar life; $50,000,000].[Host's account number ******4567 has been credited with $50,000,000 successfully.]“What a joke!” He scoffed and was still going to leave, but the vibration in his pocket made him halt in his tracks.He pulled up his phone from his pocket, and the second he saw the screen, he froze at the alert before his eyes.“What!!!!??????”He didn't just stop Albert from beingfriends with Gideon in the future, he had also become richer than his imagination.“Tell me I am hallucinating right now!!!!”Going back home after the graduation and having fun with himself, Ethan turned to return home. He was so excited that he just couldn't help but stop at a store to get some food stuff.He kept dancing to the song playing in the supermarket, but his joy was cut short when he heard muttering voices from behind him. “Watch him go; it looks as though he has successfully stolen from someone. and can't wait to use their money to pay!” Ethan stood at a spot as he heard them. He just couldn't move, and he felt a pinch of pain in his veins. He wished to deal with them, but he just couldn't expose himself, at least not yet. “Who knows if he can pay for it? I bet he'll keep buying on debt while his mother pays for him! Mommy's poor church rat boy!” Another voice uttered, adding a sense of mockery to his tone. Ethan furiously shut his eyes briefly and clenched tightly on the item that he held in his hand. Without hearing any more word from them, he stormed out and headed for the counter to pay
"It's over! It all ends here," Ethan muttered beneath his breath, his voice heavy with resignation as he closed his eyes. Despite his readiness, a sense of dissatisfaction lingered within him, knowing that he had missed his opportunity for revenge."Kill me!" he asserted, bracing himself for the worst outcome. After all, facing death was nothing new to him.As he waited, anticipating the sharp sting of a bullet piercing his flesh, the sound of the trigger being pulled caused him to flinch. But to his surprise, the shot didn't find its mark; it didn't strike him.Slowly, Ethan opened his eyes, confusion clouding his thoughts as he tried to make sense of what had just occurred. Why hadn't he been killed? And why had the shot merely echoed through the air?In that moment of uncertainty, his gaze fell upon a figure standing before him: a young man, roughly his own age. He was protecting Ethan and in this case he was curious. No one has ever stood in for him before.“Who is this?” He ques
“Who are you, really? You are not the weakling everyone used to know!” James inquired, putting Ethan in a state of confusion, fear, and uncertainty. Ethan wasn't sure how he was going to react to James's question. His identity must be concealed. It must be hidden. There was definitely no way anyone should find out that he had reincarnated, and with a system too. He kept mute and could only turn to James with a stare filled with apprehension. His heart had begun to race rapidly too, and although he wished to speak, his lips were too heavy to explain his situation. He feared getting caught and not having his revenge. Just then, James walked slowly towards where Ethan was standing again, and with his eyes squinted, he gazed right into Ethan’s eyes, his attention fully concentrated on Ethan. “You are not him; you've changed. Something in you has changed. The Ethan I know will never ever speak back at anyone! Who are you?” James asked again, this time with a more drastic tone. Ethan's
“Congratulations on becoming the new CEO of the Newhope Robotics company!” The voice sounded, and at that moment, Ethan couldn't help but freeze for a split second. It felt like a dream. There was definitely no way that anyone was going to recruit him as the CEO of a company; the same company that he had avoided applying to because of Camilla's father. His grip around the phone tightened as his heart raced with joy immediately. [Hot has been rewarded! Congratulations] Tears rolled out of his eyes as he ended the call and dropped the phone right on his bed. Who would have believed or imagined it to be this way? Who would have believed he'd get a system that would help him get this high? ‘Thank you so much, RRS!’ He said inwardly as his eyes became moist. Just as he was still feeling emotional, his mother's voice echoed through the house. “Ethan? Ethan, it's time to get to work at the construction site.” Ethan immediately stood from his bed and rushed out of his room, his brows fu
"Wait, a cleaner?" Camilla exclaimed, feigning shock though secretly relishing the idea. She found herself oddly delighted by the notion of him joining the company in such a humble position.Ethan's lips curled into a manipulative sneer as he gazed at Camilla, his eyes gleaming with hidden agendas. "Surprised, are you? Shouldn't I be the CEO?" he taunted, his tone dripping with arrogance.Camilla scoffed at the suggestion. "CEO? Not a chance. Cleaning suits you perfectly. Besides, my father is set to take over as CEO soon, and I'll make sure to lend you a hand wherever you need it," she assured him, closing the distance between them.As she reached out to adjust his collar, a surge of electricity seemed to pass between them, leaving Ethan momentarily breathless in her presence."I'm sure you'll reach out to me, won't you?" Camilla forced a smile, though her scepticism was evident."I promise, Camilla. But remember, the offer goes both ways. If you ever need help, don't hesitate to as
“What do you wish to do now, sir?" James inquired as he stared at Ethan, who was grinning right before him. “Nothing for now. Just show…” Ethan was going to say, but the second he turned to his left, the sight he saw immediately infuriated him, and he instantly tightened his fist. His eyes had caught sight of Mr. Han, Camilla's father, in the company, and just then, the words his girlfriend or Camilla said to him before he walked into the company rang in his mind. He also recalled the past and how he was treated by Mr. Han. “Sir?” James called out, seeing that he had been quiet for so long that he needed to get words out of his mouth, and watching him just stare at someone he barely knew made James curious. “James?” Ethan called out, making James respond immediately as he bowed his head to Ethan without delay. “Send Mr. Han to my office, and I mean now!” Ethan commanded with a smirk curling up on his lips before he looked away from where Mr. Han was standing. He swiftly wal
The second Ethan walked into the panel hall just to get the discussion with the executives started, a familiar voice boomed through the expanse of the room, drawing his attention immediately. “Who let this poor dude in here?” The second he turned in the direction the voice was coming from, he found Nathan standing to his feet in rage. He was furious to see him in the hall. Nathan was one of his bullies in school, and it made Ethan furious to see him as one of the executives he was working with. “I guess I'm making more than just one person pay for their crimes today!” He smirked at Nathan, who had left his seat and had begun to trudge closer to where he was standing with James. “Ethan, he's from school, remember... He can do something crazy!” James emitted, calling Ethan by his name, knowing what had been happening back then in school. “I don't care... Let him come to me!” Ethan spoke softly, a smile still on his lips. He just couldn't wait to hear what Nathan had to say to him.
Getting respected and no longer bullied, mocked, or looked down upon was one thing that Ethan had always desired. Seeing how they all had their heads bowed to him the second he stood up from his chair, Ethan couldn't help but sneer at their behaviour. If there was anything he loved so much, it was when people were scared of him, and that was what was happening. With a smirk curling up in his lips, he turned around and left the hall, heading for the exit of the company. “Sir?” James called swiftly, halting Ethan right in his tracks. “What again, James?” Ethan asked the second he stopped in his tracks. “Nathan might come back for you... We both know him. What should we do?” James was questioned. “Ignore him; he can't do anything that'll endanger the company… That I am pretty sure about! And you can let him go now,” Ethan stated before continuing his path towards the exit of the company. The second he left, he was going to think about how he would leave the company and head back h
The sudden knock at Ethan's door pulled him out of his trance, making him turn around to find out who it was. As he turned, he saw Daniel, the new chief of staff whom he was uncomfortable with, standing at his door.“Why is he here?” he panicked for a split second before calming his nerves.“Come in,” he demanded, and Daniel didn't hesitate to push the door open and walk into the office.“Hello, Mr. Ethan, I heard you are the…” Daniel began, but Ethan cut him off sharply, not wanting to allow any familiarity or genuine greetings.“Why are you at Newhope Company?” Ethan asked, his eyes searching Daniel’s for any trace of evil intentions.Daniel paused for a second. He definitely wasn't expecting Ethan to ask him such questions—not now, not ever. He thought Ethan would at least welcome him into the company, but the opposite was the case.“I… I am here to work,” he tilted his head slightly to the right, giving Ethan a confused look.“Work? Are you joking? I know you have some evil plans
“You are our number one suspect, Mr. Ethan, so why don't you let it out? Tell us why you killed Nick? Was it for his money? To get revenge?” the detective questioned with a grin on his lips.Ethan was more confused than ever. How was he enjoying his morning, and all of a sudden, he was now a suspect in Nick’s murder?“We are waiting, Mr. Ethan!” they urged, wanting to get the truth out of him before anyone else did.Ethan, on the other hand, wouldn’t say a single word without his lawyer, but he knew he had to find a way to clear his name.“You are right; Nick bullied me back in school, and if there’s anything I wanted back then—and still do now—it’s revenge! To get revenge on every one of them that bullied me in school, and…” Ethan was about to continue, but the man cut him off before he could say another word.“And killing him now was your only option, right? Just like you said, you wanted justice, and the only way to get it was to kill them all. Who is your next target?”Ethan’s bro
Three weeks later:Ethan felt a smile slowly spread across his lips as he got up from his bed and walked into the bathroom. His steps were light, and he couldn’t help but hum softly, his mind swirling with feelings of pure joy and relief. It had been three long weeks since he had managed to rescue his mother from the clutches of Gideon, Samuel, and Nick. The memory of that night still lingered, but the sense of triumph overpowered the fear. So far, there had been no signs that any of them would come after him. It seemed, at least for now, that he and his mother were safe, and that thought filled him with a comfort he hadn't felt in a long time.To Ethan, they were too scared to make another silly and daunting move towards him, but Ethan didn't care. As long as he had his mother, everything was fine; everything was okay to him.“Ethan? Breakfast is ready!” His mother's voice echoed through the expanse of the house as she prepared the table for their meal.“Coming, Mom!” Ethan respon
“Kneel and beg for everything you’ve done, and maybe; just maybe; I’ll consider saving her life.” His tone was taunting, the smirk on his face daring Ethan to comply.Ethan’s eyes flared with defiance. He clenched his fists, every muscle in his body tense with fury. “We both know that if anyone should kneel and beg, it’ll be you! Not me, Gideon!” Ethan shouted, his voice echoing off the walls. “Come on, tell me where the fuck she is!” His voice was raw, filled with the pain of a son desperate to save his mother.Gideon merely snorted, dismissing Ethan’s stubbornness with a wave of his hand. “Let’s go, guys… he isn’t ready!” he said, turning his back on Ethan, his arrogance on full display. He began to walk away, Samuel and Nick following behind him as if this was just another game they were playing.But Ethan wasn’t about to let them leave. Not like this. Not without answers. Fueled by sheer rage, Ethan lunged forward and grabbed Gideon by the collar, yanking him back into the room
“What do you want from me?” Ethan demanded, his voice tight with frustration as his fists clenched at his sides. He knew Nick all too well—there was no way Nick would release his mother without getting exactly what he wanted in return. “Now you’re talking…” Nick said with a smirk, clearly pleased that Ethan was finally ready to listen. He spun on his heels, not wasting a second. “Come with me.” He motioned for Ethan to follow and started walking down the dimly lit hallway.Ethan hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting around the room as he checked his surroundings. He couldn’t afford to trust Nick, but he also couldn’t leave his mother in danger. Taking a deep breath, Ethan fell in step behind Nick, his senses on high alert, ready for anything.They walked in silence, the sound of their footsteps echoing through the narrow corridor. After a few tense moments, they stopped in front of a heavy, wooden door that looked old and worn. Nick paused, resting his hand on the doorknob. Witho
After returning from Nick's mansion, Ethan didn't take a break, not even for a moment. His heart was racing, filled with worry. He desperately needed to know if his mother was still alive, but there was no way to find out until he met with Nick as they had arranged.The moment he got back, he started pacing around his room, unable to sit still. He kept glancing at the clock, watching the minutes crawl by. When the clock finally struck 10:00 p.m., a small smile appeared on his face. The time was almost here.Ethan pulled out a pair of black pants and a matching hoodie from his closet, his mind focused on the task ahead. He dressed quickly, mentally preparing himself for what lay ahead in Sin City. The mansion was quiet, and he moved with purpose, ready to slip out unnoticed.Just as he was finishing getting dressed, the door to his room swung open with a loud thud. James stormed in, his face a mix of anger and shock. His eyes widened when he saw Ethan dressed entirely in black, a c
Ethan shuffled closer to the nightstand, his footsteps growing heavier with each step. The dim light from the lamp cast long shadows, making the room feel eerie and suffocating. As he neared the nightstand, his heart pounded, and an icy dread began to coil around his chest.His hand trembled, and he clenched his fist tightly, fighting against the rising anxiety that twisted in his gut. His fingers finally reached the paper, which felt unnervingly cold and damp. He pulled it towards him, the edges crumpling under his grip. With a deep breath, he flipped it open, every movement feeling like it took an eternity.The message was blunt and ruthless. It simply stated that his mother was gone. The words hit him like a punch to the gut, leaving him gasping for breath as the world seemed to tilt around him.Ethan's eyes filled with tears as he stared at the letter, the sight bringing back painful memories. "They left a letter after all, just like when Ryan was taken," he mumbled, his voice
“I’m the bartender at Monique’s Bar… Your boss is completely out of it and needs help. Please come get him out of here,” the bartender explained, his concern growing as he glanced at Ethan’s dishevelled state.With a curt acknowledgment, James ended the call. His frustration was palpable as he stormed out of the mansion, urgency driving his every step. The drive to the bar was swift, fueled by worry and impatience.When James arrived at the bar, the sight before him was grim. Ethan was slumped in a chair, the remnants of his drinking binge evident in the empty bottles and glasses scattered around him. The dim lighting and the messy scene struck James with a mix of shock and disappointment. “Shit!” he muttered under his breath, rushing to Ethan’s side.He gently but firmly helped Ethan sit up, noting the disorientation and tears streaking down his friend’s face. Ethan’s eyes were glassy, his expression a mix of pain and self-loathing. As James prepared to carry him out, Ethan’s voic
As Ethan stormed out of Samuel’s mansion, a wave of shame and regret washed over him. The gravity of his situation struck him hard: his mother was missing, and he had no idea where to find her. The meeting with Samuel had yielded no answers, only deepened his anguish.His eyes stung with the threat of tears, but he fought them back with a grim determination. The workers at Samuel’s mansion watched him with a mix of curiosity and pity, their whispers barely audible over the distant hum of the night. Ethan felt their gazes like piercing needles, their silent judgement branding him as nothing more than a madman driven to the edge of sanity.Without a second glance at the mansion or its workers, Ethan climbed into his car. The engine roared to life, its growl a stark contrast to his inner troubles. He slammed the gear into drive and sped away, the tires screeching as they struggled to grip the road.His mind was a storm of rage and confusion as he raced back home. Every heartbeat see