Before making a decision, I needed to uncover what was hidden in this city. If luck was on my side, most vault owners wouldn’t know how to shield their treasures from a spirit’s prying eyes.

  "Vex, change of plans. You're coming with me. We’re searching the city for valuables. I need to make a decision quickly, so we don’t have time to waste."

  Vex’s shadowy form shifted slightly. 'Hm? Why the sudden change, Patron?'

  “I’ll explain everything once I exit my body. I want to hear your thoughts on the matter as well.”

  Without waiting for a reply, I lay down on the bed, slowing my breath, calming my racing heart, and preparing for [Astral Projection].

  If there was something truly valuable in this city, then staying behind to claim it before leaving might be worth the risk. But what if the beasts that would soon spawn here were beyond my ability to handle? Death would come swiftly. And I hadn’t prepared a backup life yet.

  [ Location: Usub Villa ]

  A towering, hundred-floor skyscraper stood in the heart of Kew Dew, serving both as a headquarters and residence for the Usub family. On the 93rd floor, inside the former family head’s office—a room of unparalleled opulence adorned with exquisite burgundy wood furniture from a bygone era—three men gathered.

  Two guards sat on a luxurious sofa, while the third, Henrol Usub, the the former family head, stood behind his desk, reviewing a holographic file sent by his son, the current head of Usub Industries.

  Suddenly, one of the seated guards, Rolf, tensed unnaturally. His mouth hung open for a few seconds before twisting into a grotesque grin, his expression shifting into something… wrong.

  Henrol’s sharp gaze snapped toward him. “Something the matter, Rolf?”

  Rolf didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he stood, bowing slightly before speaking in an eerie, unfamiliar tone.

  “Yes, Head of the Usub Family, I have come to relay an urgent and highly important piece of information.”

  A shiver ran down Henrol’s spine. The other guard, Simon, reacted instantly, tensing as he eyed his colleague with suspicion.

  “Rolf? What the hell’s wrong with you?” Simon asked, already preparing to leap into action.

  But Rolf ignored him entirely, his focus locked solely on Henrol.

  “You seem surprised. No need to be alarmed.” A dark chuckle escaped his lips. “I’m merely borrowing this body for a short while. It’s far more convenient for holding a civilized conversation with a Virean such as yourself,” Vex spoke through Rolf’s body.

  Simon shot to his feet, fingers hovering over the Zyon pistol holstered at his hip, awaiting Henrol’s command.

  Meanwhile, Henrol’s expression darkened as he activated his flux, the energy rippling around him like an unseen storm. He channeled a portion into his eyes, trying to perceive whatever force had taken hold of his guard.

  Yet, nothing revealed itself.

  Unwilling to take any chances, he silently pressed the distress button beneath his desk.

  Rolf leaned back into the sofa, exhaling as if he were speaking to a particularly slow student. His grin had faded, leaving behind a look of cold amusement.

  “Even with all your experience, you seem to be struggling to grasp the situation,” he said, giving Henrol a pointed look. “Unfortunately for you, I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain it.”

  Settling more comfortably into his seat, he let Henrol process the statement before continuing.

  “The almighty System has granted me knowledge—an extremely valuable piece of information that could determine the future of your family and empire.” Rolf’s fingers drummed against the armrest in an idle rhythm. “With this knowledge, you can prevent near-total ruin. However, nothing in this world is free. In return, I require something from you. An item that I know you possess.”

  Before Henrol could respond, the three doors leading into the office burst open all at once.

  A squad of fully armored enforcers stormed inside, weapons raised, scanning the room for a visible threat. Finding none, their gazes flicked between Henrol, Rolf, and Simon, searching for any sign of hostility.

  Among them, a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped forward—Jarlow Usub, Henrol’s son and the CEO of Usub Industries.

  “Father!” Jarlow called with a tone of concern.

  Henrol raised a hand, silently signaling his son to remain still. His expression remained unreadable as he turned his attention back to Rolf.

  “If you've come to negotiate,” Henrol said smoothly, “then I assume you wouldn’t object to me reinforcing my own defenses. After all, I am merely a fragile old man.”

  Rolf let out a chuckle, lazily crossing his legs. “By all means, bring in more guards. Call the media if you wish—broadcast this conversation to the whole world. It makes no difference to me.” He stretched his arms behind his head, gaze drifting toward a centuries-old oil painting hanging on the wall. “Of course, every second you waste is costing you money… and lives. But do take your time.”

  Henrol remained silent for a moment, then motioned for Jarlow to approach.

  In a hushed tone, he quickly summarized the bizarre sequence of events that had transpired before Jarlow’s arrival. Meanwhile, Rolf remained unnervingly calm, a picture of quiet confidence.

  Vex, the entity inhabiting Rolf’s body, understood men like Henrol all too well. The wealthy lived in the illusion that they were the most important beings in existence. They clung to control, convinced that everything revolved around their power and influence. Vex knew that, for this negotiation to go smoothly, he needed Henrol and Jarlow to believe they had the upper hand.

  Patience was key. But Vex wasn't gifted with enough.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Finally, Jarlow turned to face Rolf, his sharp eyes scrutinizing him with suspicion. “You claim to have knowledge of an impending catastrophe that will affect my family?”

  Rolf gave an indifferent shrug. “Something like that.”

  “Then, given our history and ties, you should be able to share this information freely. Of course, we would ensure you receive an appropriate reward—one that matches the importance of your revelation.”

  Rolf let out a low chuckle, shaking his head.

  “No, no, no.” He sighed, “You still don’t get it. But I don’t have the mood to explain it to you any further.”

  The room tensed as Rolf’s body suddenly went limp, collapsing onto the floor like a puppet whose strings had been cut.

  A sharp, panicked gasp escaped from one of the armored enforcers.

  “A-ahhh!”

  One of the guards, previously standing rigid among his comrades, suddenly stepped forward, unholstering his weapon—but instead of aiming it, he placed it on the table.

  The room fell into stunned silence as he removed his helmet, tossing it to the floor with an air of nonchalance. Without hesitation, he sat on the sofa, assuming the same relaxed posture Rolf had held just moments before.

  When he finally spoke, the voice that came from his mouth was the same deep, husky tone that had filled the room earlier.

  “To refer to me as ‘this’ or ‘that’—depending on whose body I inhabit—is an insult.”

  Henrol and Jarlow stiffened. Vex had jumped hosts.

  The possessed guard lazily stretched his arms, letting the weight of his presence settle over the room. “Now that we’ve clarified the power dynamics, I’ll be adding an extra charge for the waste of my time.” His voice turned sharp, cold. “I am not some parlor trick for your amusement. I am a messenger, operating within a very narrow and limited awareness.”

  He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, his eyes dark with unspoken menace.

  “If not for my master’s orders, I would have already killed you all and simply taken what I need.”

  A heavy silence hung in the air.

  “So, consider your next words carefully,” Vex continued. “Because they will determine the outcome of today’s events.”

  "You can possess people?" Henrol asked, his voice laced with disbelief.

  Vex offered no response, merely tilting his head with an amused expression.

  "Father—" Jarlow began, but Henrol lifted a hand, silencing him.

  "I will handle this personally. Step back."

  Whether Henrol had noticed something subtle or if it was his years of experience as a Vault Breaker speaking, it was unclear. He had witnessed plenty of strange occurrences in his time, and he knew better than to let emotion cloud his judgment.

  Straightening in his seat, he locked eyes with Vex.

  "Before we can discuss terms, you'll need to tell me more about this so-called catastrophe that threatens my family. You expect me to take your word for it? Telling a man that he is about to lose everything—his wealth, his home, his loved ones—sounds a bit too dramatic without proof. I need confirmation before we proceed."

  For a moment, silence stretched between them.

  Then, Vex burst into laughter. A deep, chilling sound. It wasn’t the laughter of someone amused—it was the kind that made men question whether they were in over their heads.

  Henrol's expression darkened. This one is no joke.

  Vex finally stopped, shaking his head. "It doesn't work that way, Head of Usub. We will both sign a system contract. If the information I provide undeniably saves your life, your wealth, and your legacy, then you will hand over the item I require as payment. This way, I ensure you uphold your end of the bargain, and I don’t have to take it from your cold hands after dealing with you myself."

  Henrol mulled over the words. He exchanged a glance with Jarlow.

  A system contract meant there was no deception involved—no possibility of being scammed. But the mere fact that Vex suggested it in the first place implied that the threat was very real.

  Henrol exhaled slowly. "Which item do you want in exchange for this information?"

  He rested his chin on his fists, waiting.

  Vex's lips curled into a knowing smile. "You are in possession of a crystal-blue card—one resembling a chessboard. I want it."

  Henrol's brows furrowed. "The crystal card?"

  "Yes. You don’t even know its use, do you? It’s better off in my hands. Think of it as a fair trade—a simple token in exchange for saving your family’s lives and assets. Don’t you agree, Head?"

  Henrol pressed his fingers against the table, considering the implications.

  "I may not know its purpose," he admitted, "but I will include a condition in the contract—I will not hand over anything that could threaten this world or has the potential to wipe out civilization."

  Vex gave a dismissive wave. "No need to worry, Head. That card is far less significant than you fear. You can write it into the contract if it eases your conscience. Besides," his grin widened, "you still owe me for wasting my time."

  Henrol’s eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

  "Consider it a small penalty for your earlier lack of cooperation," Vex said smoothly. "I’ll be generous—transfer one hundred thousand krix onto a universal card, and I’ll forgive this transgression."

  Silence stretched between them again. Then, after a moment, Henrol nodded.

  He opened his system interface and began drafting the contract. His fingers moved with practiced ease—this was not his first time handling high-stakes negotiations, but there was an undeniable tension in the air.

  When it was done, Vex read it twice, ensuring there were no loopholes or misinterpretations. Still lounging in his stolen body, he pressed his flux signature onto it.

  [ Congratulations on making a deal. Please uphold your end of the bargain. Failure to do so will result in system-imposed penalties for being unworthy of trust. ]

  Both parties received the notification, and Vex rose to his feet. "In less than three hours, this city will become a wild zone. The—"

  "What?" Jarlow interrupted, his voice sharp with disbelief.

  The room fell into stunned silence. Even the family head, usually composed, had eyes wide with fear.

  "The pollution levels have exceeded the system’s limit," Vex continued. "This outcome was inevitable. Nature will reclaim the city—plants will erupt from the ground and overtake buildings, and beasts will spawn to guard this new territory. My advice? Pack your belongings, sell your stocks, and get out before it’s too late."

  Panic rippled through the room as everyone processed his words, minds already racing toward their families and next steps.

  Henrol’s voice cut through the chaos. "How do you know this?"

  Vex met his gaze without hesitation. "My master received a system notification as a reward for completing a trial," he explained. "I have a screenshot if you want proof."

  Henrol immediately straightened. "Show me."

  Under the worried gazes of those present, he stepped forward.

  As the ultimate authority governing the universe, the system's notifications, interface, and even screenshots were absolute. No one could forge them—no one could manipulate them.

  Henrol examined the message carefully. He checked the timestamp, cross-referencing when it was received and when the screenshot was taken. The writing style, the system's unmistakable formatting—it was undeniable.

  "It's true," Henrol murmured, stepping back. His expression void of color. "Less than three hours?"

  "I suggest you hurry," Vex replied. "And keep this to yourselves. If word gets out, the exits will become a death trap."

  EDEN

  "Mom, what’s wrong?" my father asked, casting side glances at my mother.

  "Nothing," she said quickly, but the tension in her voice betrayed her.

  "Honey?" he pressed, gentler this time.

  She swallowed hard, then finally let out a shaky breath. "I just... I don't know if it was the right choice to stay silent. There are so many people we care about. The thought of never seeing them again—the thought of families being torn apart by this catastrophe—it’s weighing on me." Her voice broke, and tears welled in her eyes. "Maybe I’m not strong enough, but... sob... but—"

  "No, darling," my father interrupted softly. "You're human. That’s how we were meant to be. But Eden was right—before we can help others, we have to help ourselves."

  He hesitated, then added, "Besides, we did tell them. Even if they don’t have much time, we did our duty as fellow humans. We warned them."

  That was what he told himself. What he wanted to believe.

  But I knew better. I knew the truth.

  What I had done was not noble.

  I had acted out of selfishness. And no matter what anyone said, it would never sit right with me. I could have prevented so many deaths.

  And yet... I didn’t.