Donald’s gaze moved back and forth between the tablet device beside him and Mr. Cross’s cold stare. His eyes showed his worry, and he swiped across the tablet screen.
The image seed to be a screenshot of a recent top post on the forum.
— What does it an when your first sign-in attempt shows ’ERROR: No EXE Environnt Found!’? (6:02 AM. Wed, 9th.)
— Have you tried viewing your skills?
— >> Reply: Yes, I have. It says I must sign in before I can view my skills. But when I try to sign in, it says sign-in unsuccessful.
— Maybe you’re signing in wrongly. Not all EXEs have the sa sign-in activation thod; most are just easy. I have STDY.exe, so I have to answer a question before I can sign in. I haven’t failed any yet, maybe that’s why it has never told sign-in unsuccessful. But at the sa ti, I’m not dumb enough to attempt to fail my sign-in just because. Your system’s title might even be a hint on how to sign in.
’Roy did tell that his system world was "Null"...’ Donny thought. Cash God knew this very fact, too, because Roy ntioned it in their first eting.
The forum didn’t display the usernas of the Irregulars that frequented there to make it a safe space for them to ask questions and share their opinions without the fear of their posts about their EXEs being traced back to them, revealing secrets they would rather keep. This way, the E.A. could also attain more encompassing and general data related to executables from otherwise unwilling-to-participate citizens.
"How do you know this is Roy? This is just a random post."
"Take note of the ti the original post was created and... swipe."
— 6:02 AM. Wed, 9th.
Donald reluctantly swiped, and a video began to play.
Nurous cheers and voices spoke from all angles of the cara. Even behind.
— Get him, Roy! Pierre’s a pain in the ass!
— Didn’t Roy like Jane? She’s dating Pierre now, could that be why they’re fighting?
— Probably, haha! This shit is going viral!
Pierre scread.
— What is wrong with you?! Leave the fuck alone! You’re embarrassing !
Roy laughed and said sothing, but the other voices drowned out his words.
— Yeah. Fight for us, Roy.
— End Pierre’s reign of terror!
— We, your fellow single losers, stand with you, Roy! You’ve got this!
Donald’s eyebrow twitched.
Pierre scread again.
— What shit are you bastards saying?!
Female voices cheered.
— Pierre, you can do this!
— Beat that pervert, Pierre!
— Don’t let Roy win, Pierre!
— Avenge , Pierre. Roy tried looking under my skirt once.
Mid-fight, Roy raised his head and scread, "I didn’t try to look under anything, you lying flat-chested bi—"
Pierre hit Roy’s cheek with his elbow before he could finish.
— Roy! Roy! Roy!
The person videoing moved in close as the area started becoming crowded.
Pierre asked.
— What do you want?! Why are you still holding on to ?
And Roy answered.
— Until it’s over, I’m never letting you go!
The crowd wailed and laughed harder just when the video ended.
From the brightness of the sun and the school setting, it was easy to infer that this happened in the morning.
’Roy wasn’t really fighting him. He just held on to him for whatever reason.’ Donald concluded. He almost facepald, but he drowned out the urge. Whatever Mr. Cross discovered about Roy, it was most likely true; however, he couldn’t let this man exert so kind of pressure upon Roy just because he knew his secret.
There was one more image in the series, so he swiped once again.
It was a screenshot of a post that quoted a response to the original post.
— The study guy was right! So systems have a harder activation thod than just simply tapping sign in! Thank you! (5:47 PM. Wed, 9th.)
This post was surely sent after that encounter with his classmate, was what Donald was thinking. He rembered that day. Nana called him later that night to co back ho to see Roy and talk to him. She felt he was now harboring too much anger and started causing fights.
’So this is the real reason he was suspended.’ Donald knew Roy would never fight. That boy was weak. However, if his system told him to hold on to a particular person so he could sign, would the edgy Roy still remain docile? Donald knew the answer was a resounding no.
That kid had been chomping down Golden Masked Ranger propaganda from a young age and started anticipating the arrival of his system. Who knew he would actually get it? And a unique one at that.
"But... why are you showing this to ?"
"To prove my claim, of course."
Mr. Cross placed his cutlery down and steepled his fingers.
"Roy has two skills. The first allows him connect to other systems and reap their rewards. And the second, his multiplier, not only doubles the effect of his attacks but also the rewards he receives from the systems he’s connected to, evident from the fact that he had two apples while the other guy had only one.
I also reckon his skill will continue to develop. If he can appropriate the skills of other system hosts, and maybe even their stat points..."
"Th-That’s all just a speculation."
"Donald Mclloyd."
"..."
"Your brother had a divine system. Do you have any idea what he is capable of? Beyond S-Class. I say this as a warning, if he falls into the wrong hands—"
"Wait, wait, wait. Wrong hands?" Donald was visibly annoyed and sat back. "Then whose hands are right? Yours? You tried to coerce us into making a deal with you. With your cash system, who knows what would’ve happened if Roy took up your one-billion-dollar offer?"
"I see my apology wasn’t sufficient. But sentints aside, you have experience in the world of executioners. From your expression, I can tell you weren’t aware of his ’connective’ ability..."
Donald muttered, a bit salty, "He would’ve told eventually."
"...If anyone else finds out what I just found out, and they will, Roy will never go above D-Class."
He was right. Donald knew higher-class executioners were the ruling class. Just one of them had to find Roy’s existence not to their taste, and that would be the end. A few higher-class executioners may have been portrayed as heroes by dia agencies and the Association, but in reality, there were quite a few who were outright tyrants.
In this world where being granted a system didn’t truly guarantee that one would reach the top of society, those who do get there see themselves as the demigods, the chosen among the chosen, and the eventual saviors of humanity. And they weren’t entirely wrong for thinking so.
This was mainly why they couldn’t let an individual beco stronger than them without thoroughly making sure that they could control him. Otherwise, if he were more of a soldier of justice, he would rule over them for better or for worse.
Hence, Donald knew Mr. Cross’s words held so truth.
"What do you want?"
"Nothing."
"W-What do you an nothing?"
"This isn’t about what I want. This is about what you want, Donald."
"What do you know about ?"
"Enough to know that you want Roy to succeed, but also not be hunted by jealous demigods. I an, isn’t that why you told him to lie about his real system na?"
Donald’s gaze sharpened. ’How did he find out?! Wait, he didn’t. He just said that to read my expression. He found out just now because of how I reacted. Tsk. Goddamn irregulars.’
"You’re good."
Mr. Cross smirked and sighed.
"I was going to convince you to help bring Roy under my wing, but now... I can’t even let you leave."
Alarm bells rang in Donald’s head.
"Erm... Heh. Sorry, I don’t think I heard you correctly."
"No. You did. I said I can’t let you return ho." Donald’s expression hardened.
He sprang up from his seat, holding his short knife for self-defense. "I-I’m leaving!"
Mr. Cross said nothing.
Donald took a step and saw the world spin in his vision.
Thud!
He fell on the floor and struggled to crawl. His entire body had gone limp.
"I told you the food wasn’t poisoned, but you should have watched out for the wine."
Mr. Cross got up from his seat and walked over to Donald.
"You’re a regular person, Donald Mclloyd. You know Roy’s real system na and have no defense against system powers. That is a problem."
"You... wud... never... gech away wit... this..."
Donald started finding it hard to move his mouth. His mind was already going blank.
Mr. Cross shook his head.
"I’m not a bad guy, Donald. I’m doing this for our shared safety. Don’t worry, you won’t be lonely. Your grandma is joining you soon."
"Arrghh... Bashtard...!"
Donald wailed. Tears were already falling down the bridge of his nose. "Pleash..."
Mr. Cross tapped Donald’s face.
"Rest now. I’ll take good care of Roy."
In Donald’s hazy vision and fading consciousness, Cash God’s red bionic eye glowed with ominous intensity.
Shortly after, Mr. Cross stood, peering down the city line from his skyscraper.
"Why didn’t you ask him what Roy’s real system na is?" His shadow asked.
His hands rested in his pockets, and he took his precious ti before answering.
"Because... that is Roy’s secret to tell."
The corner of his lips curled into a pleasant smile. "That was a nice lunch."
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