As Karla spun around, her heart pounding in her chest, she hastily dialed Duncan's number, desperate for an explanation. However, before she could complete the call, a sudden thud echoed through the room. Time seemed to freeze as fear gripped her, and her phone nearly slipped from her trembling grasp. With cautious dread, Karla turned around slowly, her eyes widening in disbelief as she witnessed Duncan stepping across the window into her room. Shock threatened to escape her lips in the form of a scream, but before she could react, he swiftly rushed towards her, covering her mouth with his hand. In the process, their balance faltered, causing them to tumble onto the nearby bed, with Karla ending up on top of Duncan. The unexpected turn of events caused Karla to let out a shrill cry of pain. "Ahh!" she exclaimed, the jolt causing a surge of discomfort. Duncan's concern was immediate. "Shit. Are you okay?" he asked urgently, his worry evident in his voice. With a gentle touch, h
Thoughts of Tara crossed Karla's mind, but she decided not to mention her just yet, not wanting to burden Duncan with additional concerns. Duncan noticed the slight change in Karla's demeanor and sensed that there might be something more she wanted to say. "Is there something wrong?" he inquired. Karla shook her head, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. "No," she replied, offering him a reassuring smile. "Just thinking about tomorrow and wishing you all the best. You've got this, Duncan." Duncan's features relaxed, a grateful expression settling upon his face. "Thank you, Karla," he said sincerely, a flicker of determination gleaming in his eyes. Karla nodded once again. "We're in this together," she stated firmly. "And we'll see it through till the end." With a shared understanding and a renewed sense of purpose, they prepared themselves mentally for the tasks that awaited them on the following day. The following morning, at the Walton Domicile mansion, Lady Zinnia sat i
Slowly turning back, Duncan's eyes locked onto the safe resting on the table. Determination welled up inside him as he approached it, ready to give it one last try. "Give it the last ever try, Duncan. Let's be hopeful," he silently encouraged himself, summoning a glimmer of optimism. Taking a minute to gather his thoughts and calm his racing mind, Duncan allowed his eyes to roam around the room. The familiar words from his father's diary echoed in his thoughts once more, "...It's all about you." The significance of those words struck him with renewed intensity as if they held the key to unraveling the mystery of the password. His eyes widened as a word suddenly flashed across his mind. It felt right, resonating with the theme- "Mystery" of the diary and his own personal journey. Without hesitating, Duncan swiftly entered the word as the password, his fingers moving with purpose and anticipation. After what felt like an eternity, Duncan's impatience reached its peak as the saf
Gently letting go of Karla, Duncan proceeded to explain further. He spoke with a mix of concern and firmness, wanting to make it clear that he needed her to step back from his life. "I need you to draw the line here, Karla," Duncan began. "I don't want you interfering in my business any longer. Let me fight my battles alone." "Duncan…" Karla tried to interject, wanting to express her thoughts, but Duncan interrupted her, determined to make his point. "End it, Karla," he insisted. "You're still hurt from getting involved in my life before. I don't want to see you get hurt again." Karla, understanding the worries behind Duncan's words, tried to reassure him. "My wound is healing," she said, hoping to convey that she was stronger now and capable of handling the challenges that might come their way. Duncan's frustration was evident as he cut her off, not fully convinced of her healing progress. "Shut up," he replied, his tone sharp. "It's barely been a week, and you're already t
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
As Duncan grappled with his memory, desperately trying to recall the password, a growing sense of suspicion emanated from the woman before him. Her eyes narrowed, and her tone became tinged with an edge of hostility. It was clear that she was beginning to doubt Duncan's intentions."This is it for you, mister," she declared, her voice laced with a mix of anger and distrust. "You're attempting to deceive me once again." Duncan vigorously shook his head, his expression a blend of fear and disbelief. He knew that his life was in imminent danger, and the gravity of the situation weighed heavily upon him. He had to find a way to convince the woman that he was not trying to deceive her, but time seemed to be slipping away. With each step the woman took closer to him, Duncan's heart raced faster. He could see the determination in her eyes, and he knew that she was ready to strike and end his life. It was in that critical moment, as her hand was raised, poised to deliver a fatal blow,
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.
As Duncan went down on one knee, feeling the pain of the arrow in his shoulder, Karla gasped and immediately knelt before him, her expression filled with concern."D... Duncan?!" she uttered, her voice trembling with worry. Duncan struggled to speak through the pain as he observed three men clad in ninja outfits suddenly appearing before them. "Fuck, who are they?" he muttered, bringing Karla's attention to their presence.Karla tilted her head, meeting their cold and bloodthirsty gazes. "Who the hell are you guys?" she demanded, her voice laced with defiance. One of the trio spoke, his voice filled with menace. "We are the Wipers. You're lucky you got saved by him," he gestured towards Duncan, "because we didn't want to harm him. You were our target because you're useless to us." The revelation sent a chill down Karla's spine, and she instinctively moved closer to Duncan, protective and ready to face whatever threat lay before them. Glaring at the trio of Wipers, Karla let