As Drake joined the chase, the exchange of gunfire between Zack's group and the police intensified. Oddly, despite the relentless barrage, Drake’s car remained unscathed, not even a scratch evident from the hail of bullets."I'm burning through 1000 coins every second. What a splurge!" Drake exclaimed with a mix of enthusiasm and urgency.In a swift and calculated move, he accessed the system marketplace, purchasing an item that granted him an invisible protective barrier. This high-end acquisition not only shielded him from harm but also extended its protective influence to the objects around him. However, this impressive defense came with a hefty cost: his balance decreased by 1000 coins every passing second.“Hmm, is he planning something else?” he wondered.He observed Zack's car's unexpected maneuvers, noting another vehicle waiting to join the fray. The sudden collision with the police cars caused a chaotic halt to the pursuit. With no other choice, Drake surged ahead, taking th
The moon cast an eerie glow as Zack White, wary yet in pain, allowed the seemingly benevolent old man, Drake, to tend to his wounds. Unbeknownst to Zack, Drake concealed sinister intentions beneath the guise of helpfulness, a deceptive mask that hid the true nature of his motives."I know how to tend wounds with forest resources," Drake claimed, displaying a handful of random grasses he gathered along the way. "This may sting, but it will surely help stop the bleeding."Zack, tears welling up in his eyes from the excruciating pain, questioned, "Are you sure it will help me?""Yes, of course," Drake replied benignly, wrapping Zack's wounds with grass and cloth before applying a potion and poison. With his system, he dropped the barrier that concealed their presence, unwittingly inviting the police, who relentlessly pursued Zack, closer to the cave."He's probably hiding here," one of the police officers declared, the sound of their voices echoing off the cave walls.“Hurry! Search the
In the aftermath of Zack's fatal fall, Drake stood before the officers, his expression a carefully crafted mask of feigned fear and concern. The police hurried to the edge of the hole, their flashlights piercing the darkness and confirming Zack's grim fate."He just grabbed me. I was so scared," Drake exclaimed, skillfully portraying the victim role.Preoccupied with the situation, the officers offered comfort and reassurance. "You're safe now. We'll get you out of here," they promised, eager to secure the scene and assist the supposed captive.Drake, masked by his disguise, hid the satisfaction of witnessing Zack's demise. He allowed the officers to escort him out of the cave, successfully playing the part of the shaken and relieved hostage.As they emerged into the crisp night air, Drake noticed a familiar figure among the crowd of officers securing the perimeter."Why is she still here? She's working too hard," Drake murmured to himself, observing Marianne’s dedicated work. He saw
“A-Aunt Beck?” Drake stammered in disbelief as the elevator doors slid open, revealing the late Rebecca Luansing standing there, a sight he hadn't anticipated or prepared for."Who?" she replied, looking behind her as if expecting someone else, though there was no one around but the two of them."Aunt Beck, you're back?" Drake continued."Who are you talking to, sir?" she asked, genuinely puzzled.Drake flinched, taken aback by his aunt talking to him politely. "You're not Aunt Beck?" he asked, blinking multiple times."No, sir. You've got the wrong person.""Really?"Now, taking a better look at her appearance, Drake noticed that she looked younger than Aunt Beck. Despite the age difference, her entire demeanor bore an uncanny resemblance to Rebecca Luansing."Who are you?" he asked."I am Felicia Mendez, sir. It's my pleasure to finally meet you," she introduced herself."Felicia? The one who took my position while I was gone?" Drake inquired."Yes, sir. I was about to welcome you d
Drake stepped back into his office, relieved to find Felicia no longer there. As he settled in front of his computer, a torrent of troubling thoughts flooded his mind. Felicia's sudden appearance after Zack's death left him uneasy, an unsettling feeling compounded by the strange timing of her employment."System, I need information on Felicia Mendez," he ordered."That will cost 50 billion," the tribute system replied. Drake's hands slammed onto the table in disbelief. "What?"His voice reverberated loudly in the office, yet his shock stemmed not from the exorbitant price, but from the reason behind it."Such a high price suggests she's under the system's protection! An ordinary person would only cost 50,000 coins!" Drake exclaimed, sharing his assumptions with the tribute system."Hey, answer me!" Drake's irritation grew as the system remained silent. "I'm right, aren't I?”The tribute system, as usual, maintained its silence, frustrating Drake as he sat seething in anger in his chai
The holographic display flickered ominously, bearing the stark warning: “Notice: All your system features and activities are suspended.” Drake received the notification from the tribute system, triggered by Lucille’s meter dropping to zero.It should have been alarming, but Drake remained unfazed. “Take it or suspend it. I don't care,” he thought dismissively, his gaze fixed on the holographic screen. Meanwhile, in the background, Lucille's panic crescendoed into frantic screams.Drake had preemptively prepared for this scenario, creating a storage room stocked with all the system items he might need during a suspension. Money, health potions, poisons, tracker devices, and an array of other useful tools neatly filled the room. Whether the system outage lasted briefly or for an extended period, Drake felt no concern; he believed he was well-equipped.“Do you think I'd always panic every time Lucille goes haywire?” he mused, a smirk tugging at his lips.As Drake relaxed, Felicia unexpec
Felicia Mendez, abandoned at the roadside, contorted her face as the dignified corporate facade melted away. She spat on the concrete floor, frustration evident as she stomped her heels."Damn it! Why penalize me for something I have no control over!" she exclaimed, her voice growing more manly as she vented her frustration on the tribute system. She attempted to grab the holographic screen, as if challenging it to a fight, oblivious to the onlookers who regarded her as if she were unhinged."That Lucille! She has a system too, right? I'm right, aren't I? She's the one who's been supplying Drake with items! He got all those items from her to kill me!" she proclaimed. However, her protests and inquiries fell on deaf ears as her system remained suspended, trapped in a frozen screen following her encounter with Lucille.“I should make them pay! All of them must pay!” she growled.Zack White, now masquerading as Felicia Mendez, vividly recalled the near-death experience he had narrowly es
Felicia Mendez stared intently at her system, her fingers clicking randomly as her face contorted when nothing responded. "Seriously, what's wrong with you? It's not me who revealed the system! Is it my fault Lucille found out?" she grumbled. "Open up! I don't even have the cash to buy a cigarette!"She kicked the vending machine in the smoking area. It wasn't break time yet, but as a staff member who just turned over her work to Drake, she had nothing left to do. Frustration consumed her, both because her system froze and because she couldn't take action against Lucille and Drake."Just you wait, b*tch! I'll find a way to deal with your lover!" she cursed, another wave of frustration surging. She knew the risks of confronting another system user, yet she yearned to confront Lucille. "If only I didn't need this system so badly, I'd run over and end their lives in an instant!"She kicked the vending machine again, venting her frustration, when suddenly her phone rang. Glancing at the ca