In a moderately quiet restaurant, the afternoon hummed with comforting sunlight. The atmosphere felt bright and inviting, yet in one corner, two individuals exuded an air of seriousness.One of them was Zack White."So, my dear winner, came to meet you?" The woman asked, her presence stifling as she spoke."She didn't come to me. We met by accident as we have the same target," Zack replied, his gaze involuntarily studying the woman's face.She had been providing system items to him for free, making his progress easier despite his tribute system being suspended.He looked at her with a mix of awe and intrigue."What's intriguing about her is that she always claims she doesn't have any clue about the tribute system, denies being a user, and labels all the system items she possesses as her research items. What a peculiar woman," he thought inwardly, feeling curious whenever he interacted with her. "I don't know what game she's playing, but it's obvious her system was suspended too. She w
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
In the luxurious surroundings of the Royal Eleanor Hotel, Drake and Eleanor Chwe were enjoying a peaceful evening together on their balcony, indulging in a lavish dinner and engaging in light conversation about their respective days.While Drake found himself at ease, Eleanor and Lucille seemed less content."How was your day, Ely?" Drake inquired, his tone gentle."Not great," she replied. "Spent most of it in tedious therapy sessions.""Ah, I see," Drake said, relieved. "But it'll be beneficial for you, Ely. Just take it one day at a time.""Fine," she huffed, pouting. "And you?""Just the usual at BellRox Corp," Drake answered casually."Dealing with shady characters?" Eleanor muttered under her breath."What was that?" Drake asked, failing to catch her words."I said, I bet you were just flirting with Lucille there the whole time," Eleanor retorted, her tone tinged with sarcasm."What are you saying? I was just working," Drake replied with a playful smile before leaning in to peck
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
"You… Both of you… what are you?" Zanjo quivered, hugging his brother's remains tightly as he backed away from Drake and Lucille. "Surviving the fire is already a miracle for me, but..."He continued to tremble, his eyes wide with disbelief, as he stared at Drake and Lucille."How… how did you do that?" he stammered, his voice barely a whisper. "Jumping from the 20th floor... surviving the fire... it's impossible."Drake smirked, his demeanor unapologetically confident. "Let's just say we have our ways," he replied cryptically.Lucille stepped forward, her expression gentle yet firm. "Zanjo, we understand this is difficult to comprehend. But there are things beyond our understanding, things we can't explain with logic alone."Zanjo shook his head in disbelief. "But... but I saw it with my own eyes. You both... you’re doing something extremely impossible.""Sometimes, the truth is stranger than fiction," Lucille said softly. "But right now, our priority is keeping you safe and finding
"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
The night after Drake and Lucille hastily departed from the Royal Eleanor Hotel, Eleanor promptly instructed Cedric, the spy hired from Bigas’s agency, to discreetly tail them without Aunt Ling and the others catching on. Cedric shadowed them smoothly until they reached the KHG Hotel, but lost track as soon as the two entered."What do you mean you lost them?" Eleanor queried in a hushed tone, tucked under her covers on her bed, ensuring Aunt Ling remained oblivious to her activities.“They suddenly disappeared in the crowd,” Cedric responded, equally puzzled.Eleanor sighed, releasing her frustration.“Find them or at least investigate why they went there. I want to know why they resorted to lying to me.”“Yes, madam.”Eleanor concealed her burner phone under her pillow before sitting up cautiously. Her toe barely touched the floor when the door connecting her room to Aunt Ling’s room swung open.“Privacy is really not a thing for her,” she grumbled.“What is it, miss? Do you need som
Eleanor seethed with anger towards Zack White. She had buried her resentment, believing Zack to be dead. Yet, the revelation of his survival, concealed by her own brother, reignited a fierce fury within her."How could he hide this from me?" Eleanor's voice trembled with frustration as memories of Zack's deeds flooded her mind—the pain he had caused her and her brother. She had thought she had moved on from the trauma he inflicted.But now, with Zack's existence confirmed, her feelings resurfaced with a vengeance. Rage stung anew, cutting deep into her heart."I trusted Drake to be honest with me," Eleanor muttered bitterly. "But he kept this from me, just like he kept so many other things hidden. How could he do this to me?"Her hands clenched into fists, nails digging into her palms. Anger and hurt pulsed through her veins, overwhelming her senses. She struggled to contain the whirlwind of emotions raging within her, feeling as if her world had been turned upside down once again."T
Ten years had passed, yet the dream of earning a sextillion coins remained elusive. Time slipped away unnoticed as Drake immersed himself in the relentless pursuit of money to settle his debts. Only too late did he realize the true cost of his singular focus.Seated in his office, absorbed in his tasks, Drake was jolted from his concentration by the ringing of his phone. Glancing at the caller's ID, he recognized his sister Eleanor's number. With a resigned sigh, he answered the call."Hey, Ely," Drake greeted, attempting to sound nonchalant despite his apprehension."Drake, where are you?!" Eleanor's voice crackled with frustration and disappointment."I'm at the office, why?" Drake responded, his heart sinking as he anticipated the conversation that was about to unfold."Seriously? You forgot, didn't you?" Eleanor's incredulous tone pierced through the line.Drake's stomach churned with guilt. "Forgot what?"Eleanor let out an exasperated sigh. "My wedding, Drake! The one I've been
Drake was shocked to learn the truth, his jaws dropping even further when Lucille revealed that he needed to repay the tribute system twofold."Earning sextillion coins is impossible!" he exclaimed."You have to offer it back, or else you'll spend your life paying for it," Lucille replied grimly, exaggerating the explanation to divert Drake's attention away from herself."Damn it. Is this why I can't kill Zack? He cannot die until he pays his debt," Drake said frustratingly, but then he smiled viciously. "But does that mean I can keep him in prison to suffer?""He doesn't change. Good luck," Lucille muttered under her breath, slowly becoming accustomed to Drake's viciousness."What is it?" Drake asked."Nothing. I was just wondering why you came here," she bluntly asked, inwardly worried about the chance of Drake hurting her."What else? To pick you up?" Drake said, grabbing Lucille's hand and looking into her eyes with sincerity. "Lucille, please believe me, what Marianne said was al
Lucille Bmak seized the opportunity to escape when Drake and Rebecca were engrossed in their own conversation.Thinking it was her chance, she began to make her way out. However, unbeknownst to her, she was trapped in a labyrinth from which only Zack, Rebecca, and Drake could find their way out."What the hell is this place?" she muttered to herself as she continued downwards in an attempt to escape, but the path seemed endless."Aah!" she screamed as someone suddenly yanked her back."You're new here? There's nothing above your head yet," the female said, her tone cautious and discreet. “I got the ability to see other users status and progress. You're still fresh. Save yourself!”"What? I don't belong here. Do you know the exit?" Lucille asked, sensing no hostility from the girl."Go up instead of down," the girl replied honestly."Really? But why aren't you leaving?" Lucille inquired."I'm weak, but I can't die. You should be careful. Let go of the system as soon as possible while i
Lucille Bmak had prepared herself for this inevitable day.She knew all too well that her peaceful days would come to an end as long as Zack White and Drake Chwe existed.However, despite her thorough preparation, she couldn't shield her heart from the viciousness that Zack and Drake displayed towards her.The constant hostility from both men exhausted her heart and mind, leaving her unable to display any emotion upon seeing Drake, whose presence made her heart throb, or Zack, whose mere presence sent shivers down her spine."Damn you! Damn your luck!" Zack White growled in frustration, his anger palpable as he longed to inflict harm upon Lucille.He yelled and pounded on the barrier as if he desired nothing more than to tear Lucille apart, but what frustrated him even more was the nonchalant expression on Lucille's face."Do you think you'll escape me for imprisoning me for three years? I'll torture you every second of the day!" he threatened."So foolish," Lucille commented, further
Drake Chwe hurried to find Lucille. He strode past the long underground passage, paying little heed to the torture cell, laboratories, and whatever bizarre occurrences filled each room. As long as Lucille wasn't there, Drake's focus remained undeterred."Where the hell are you?" he muttered exasperatedly to himself, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he reached the final room at the end of the underground complex. Taking a deep breath, he swung open the door, only for his eyes to widen in shock at the sight of his lover bound by chains."Lucille!" he exclaimed, rushing forward to free her, but his efforts proved futile."Drake, long time no see," Lucille greeted casually, her gaze devoid of emotion as if she had just woken up from a nap."Hang on a little longer. I'll free you soon," he promised, frantically rummaging through his bag for any tool that might help, but none did the trick."Damn it!" he cursed in frustration, realizing he couldn't access his trusted system in a time of
Zack sported a victorious grin, his eyes locked onto Drake with the same intensity Drake once aimed at him from within the torture cell. His lips curled as he relished the sweet taste of turning the tables."It'll be better if we suffer together. You know, I didn't plan to torment you for just three years," Zack said, closing the distance between them. "Let's make it forever," he whispered, his voice dripping with menace.His grin widened as he observed Drake's expression darken. However, standing closer to Drake proved to be a mistake."Oh, damn it," Zack cursed, blood bubbling up as he collapsed to the ground."All talk, huh?" Drake snorted, a twisted smirk forming on his lips as he pressed his foot onto Zack's face. "Your only shot at survival was staying locked away. Why set yourself free?""What's happening?" Zack grunted in agony, attempting to extract the knife lodged in his side, but it remained stubbornly embedded in his flesh."Can't you recognize these?" Drake sneered, with
Thanks to Merlyn, Drake finally learned where Lucille had been taken. He instructed Merlyn to locate her using his device, unaware that she would succumb to a heart attack afterward, much like the way he deceived and threatened Natasha into her demise."Code blue! Code blue! Room 203!" a nurse frantically announced.Medical staff rushed to Merlyn Spenser's side, the monitor next to her bed blaring with the alarming sound of a code blue. Doctors and nurses swarmed into the room, their faces etched with urgency as they converged around Merlyn's bed. The room was filled with the sound of rapid footsteps and the clatter of medical equipment."Goodbye, Merlyn. Thank you for your help," Drake coldly muttered as he casually walked out of the ICU, a strange sense of satisfaction washing over him."Why Canman, though?" he wondered, glancing at the address Merlyn had provided. "This doesn't sound good."He immediately hopped into his car and drove to Canman, Zack White’s hometown. Arriving the
When faced with a choice between life and death, the decision might seem obvious to most. Yet, Lucille Bmak's response was anything but expected. Though she typically valued her own survival above all else, this time she made a different choice."F*ck you!" Lucille spat defiantly, refusing to entertain whatever offer Zack White had in store. Having fallen into Drake's traps before, she was adamant about not allowing herself to be ensnared by another chain, even if it meant facing death."This is the last time I'm asking you. Listen to me, or—" Zack seethed, tightening his grip around her neck."I don't care! Kill me!" Lucille exclaimed, though her body trembled with fear. Summoning a forced smile, she added, "You've repeated yourself three times now. You sound like the one who needs me.""Who needs who?" Zack White yelled, his fury palpable. Despite his rage, he found himself unable to carry out Lucille's demise.Rebecca, the veteran user of the system, who had once bestowed favors up
Inside Lucille's house, the dimly lit corridors exuded an eerie aura as Zack White prowled through them, his presence ominous and foreboding. His eyes gleamed with a dark resolve as he approached Lucille's study, his heart pulsing with venomous intent."Finally... the moment I've been waiting for," he whispered to himself. He tried to be as quiet as possible so that no one could detect him."I'll kill you once I'm done with my task," he murmured, his voice low and menacing. Despite the vigilant guards stationed at every corner of Lucille's house, Zack's movements remained undetected. He used a system device to camouflage himself through the guards.Peering into the study, he observed Lucille seated at her desk, completely absorbed in her work, unaware of his presence. Zack's lips curled into a sneer as he watched her, memories of past torment flooding his mind."You thought you could hide from me, Lucille. But I always find my prey," he hissed, his voice dripping with malice. "How dar