"I feel like my entire worldview just collapsed... Why would you go to such lengths to buy out Dorian Wilson’s work?"
Lyra looked dazed, clearly struggling to comprehend.
"I just think he has potential. It’s a negotiation tactic—play the emotional card. Even if he agrees, it’s not like I’d really go through with it."
So things couldn’t be explained. Veil couldn’t exactly tell Lyra that Dorian Wilson was a transmigrator, soone carrying mories of entire universes filled with future blockbusters.
Impossible, right?
"Alright... So what’s your plan now? This Dorian Wilson seems pretty confident in his work—and he’s got a big appetite." Lyra had co along hoping to help sohow, but seeing the talks stall left her feeling awkward.
Veil didn’t dwell on it. He wrapped an arm around Lyra’s waist and said casually, "Wait it out. So people, when they’re buried in hopelessness, they learn to numb themselves and adapt to being exploited. But once they catch a glimpse of hope—it’s like the final straw. It breaks them. Dorian Wilson will co to eventually."
When it ca to understanding people, Veil always knew how to pull the strings.
Did they really think he’d just let Dorian Wilson walk away without tying up loose ends?
Dream on.
The next act was already in motion. If he didn’t stay one step ahead, who knew what chaos might erupt?
In Veil’s eyes, only those with value deserved to stay. Anyone else—he wouldn’t waste his ti.
Now that he was here, he was going to deal with the Dorian Wilson situation—once and for all.
...
That night—
With Lyra away, Kai approached Veil in private.
"Young Master, those actresses you asked to keep an eye on—they’ve all reached out. From what their agents said, they’re desperate to land the role of Clara Lewis. Each one is aggressively fighting for it."
"That’s it?"
Veil lounged on the luxurious sofa of his presidential suite, swirling a glass of red wine before taking a slow, satisfied sip.
Kai continued, "There’s more. One agent asked if you’d consider having dinner with her client."
In this industry, people rarely said things directly.
After all, in their world—this exclusive, high-tier circle—certain things couldn’t be said out loud.
But this one? She might as well have spelled it out: If her actress could land the role of Clara Lewis, it didn’t matter whether the al was in a restaurant... or in a bedroom.
"Ding! The Destiny Value of Protagonist Dorian Wilson has decreased.
Congratulations, Host: 20,000 Villain Points!"
"Ding! The Destiny Value of Protagonist Dorian Wilson has decreased.
Congratulations, Host: 20,000 x 2 Villain Points!"
"Ding! The Destiny Value of Protagonist Dorian Wilson has decreased.
Congratulations, Host: 20,000 x 3 Villain Points!"
Veil narrowed his eyes, savoring the harvest.
By now, Dorian Wilson should have been gaining traction in the entertainnt world—getting attention, connecting with rising stars.
But thanks to Veil’s interference, the entire script had been rewritten.
Those struggling actresses, who were ant to shine in Dorian’s work, were now circling the drain—careers crumbling, dreams dying.
So were even on the verge of crossing a line they could never return from.
Sure, the agents might not have their stars’ consent to make such desperate offers—but that only highlighted how hopeless these actresses had beco.
"Put that aside for now. What matters most is keeping an eye on Dorian Wilson."
Just as Veil gave the order, Kai’s phone rang. He answered, listened for a few monts, and his eyes widened in alarm.
"Young Master! There’s trouble at the mine—soone powerful is causing chaos!"
Veil didn’t hesitate. Without another word, he bolted for the site.
...
Night had fallen.
The moonlight was choked by heavy clouds, casting the mine into darkness.
A tall, fortified wire fence surrounded the area. Inside, a few prefab buildings served as makeshift housing for the workers.
Now, under the glare of white-hot floodlights, workers scurried like ants on a skillet.
"The mine collapsed! The mine collapsed! The boss is trapped inside! Soone help!"
"Call for rescue!"
"Move, move, move! There are lives on the line!"
Shoved out of the barracks by their foreman, the workers rushed toward the collapsed shaft. Makeshift tools beca improvised supports as they worked frantically to dig through the rubble.
"What the hell happened? Why did the mine collapse? Is Dorian Wilson in there?"
Veil’s brow furrowed as he grabbed one of the bodyguards who had accompanied Dorian that day. His voice was ice-cold.
The man paled the instant he recognized Veil—this was soone even his boss didn’t dare offend. He answered quickly.
"That shaft wasn’t scheduled for excavation tonight. Dorian wasn’t inside. The boss went in for a surprise safety inspection and it just... collapsed.
He’s not alone—so of the senior staff are trapped too!"
With that, the man ran off.
Veil narrowed his eyes, scanning the stream of workers rushing past.
Still no sign of Dorian Wilson.
Suddenly, a wave of danger surged through him.
Two overwhelming auras pulsed from the hilltop nearby—far stronger than Blood Mandala or Roy.
Soone was there. And not just soone—strong soone.
Veil reacted instantly, speeding toward the source.
"Young Master, be careful!" Kai shouted, chasing after him.
...
They reached a forested ridge littered with jagged rocks and natural cover—perfect for hiding.
Kai was gasping for breath, struggling to keep up. He was shocked. He’d always known Veil was hiding his true strength, but not to this extent.
He was wheezing like a dying dog while Veil’s breathing didn’t even falter.
"Young Master, are you sure soone’s here? I don’t see—"
Veil’s eyes locked on a massive boulder. A slow smile curled across his lips.
"You’ve made co all this way... and now you’re hiding? Will you co out yourselves, or shall I invite you?"
A calm voice answered.
"You’re quick. I take it you have no real ties to the mine owner?"
A young man in white stepped from behind the stone. By his side stood a stunning woman, her face hidden behind a veil.
She looked like she’d stepped out of a painting—ethereal and otherworldly.
Her silver hair shimred like moonlight, soft waves cascading over her shoulders. It seed to glow with every movent, like a dream barely clinging to reality.
Her eyes were deep, crystalline blue, sharp enough to see through lies. When her gaze swept across you, it felt like she could read your soul.
Long, curled lashes frad her gaze, adding a touch of mystique. Her lips were full and delicately tinted a soft rose hue—like a freshly blood flower.
"Young Master..."
Kai spoke softly, took a deep breath, and forced himself to calm down. He then stepped forward slightly, positioning himself in front of Veil.
He was trying to warn him. The mont he laid eyes on the man in white, he sensed sothing unusual. The aura, the composure—it was more terrifying than a battle-hardened veteran, more chilling than soone who had killed before.
This man was dangerous.
"You killed the mine owner, didn’t you? No—wait. You didn’t kill him right away. You trapped him in the mine. So, there’s bad blood between you two?" Veil said with a calm smile, occasionally glancing sideways at the stunning woman wearing a veil.
This kind of dramatic entrance... if she wasn’t so chosen heroine of fate, she wasn’t far off.
But more importantly, the sense of danger she gave off—it was even stronger than Blood Mandala.
She was no ordinary woman either.
The man in white let out a cold laugh. "Why the hell should I explain anything to you? This has nothing to do with you. Stay out of it. And stop eyeing my Elder Sister. Wipe that filth off your mind before you suffer consequences you can’t handle."
Veil laughed.
He didn’t respond. He just stared at the man in white, then deliberately looked back at the veiled woman—again and again—ignoring the warning completely.
Oh?
You don’t want to look?
Then I’ll look. And not just once—I’ll keep looking.
"Derek, let’s go," the veiled woman said. Her voice was like a spring in the mountains—clear and soothing, instantly calming.
She didn’t want to cause trouble, nor did she want to stay in this place any longer. Sothing about it felt off.
They had done what they ca to do. No reason to waste more ti.
But the man in white—Derek—shook his head and glared coldly in Veil’s direction.
"When I, Derek, say sothing, I an it. Rember, this is the ss you started. Don’t bla anyone else."
And with that—
He vanished from the woman’s side, leaving only a fading shadow behind, lunging straight at Veil.
Kai, who was already standing in front, imdiately tensed. His arms swung wide like paddles, slamming toward the incoming attacker in an attempt to block his path.
Bang!
Kai crashed straight into a tree as thick as two n hugging. The force of the impact shook the leaves loose, sending them drifting to the ground.
"Aether Vortex?!"
Derek dodged the blow with a sidestep and looked at Kai, who now appeared completely idiotic—charging headfirst into a tree. Yet, instead of underestimating him, Derek’s expression turned serious.
He wasn’t afraid.
But for soone who had mastered the essence of the Aether Vortex to willingly serve Veil?
That said sothing.
Veil might not be as simple as he seed.
"You’ve got so nerve! It wasn’t enough to fra the mine owner—you’re trying to clean up the witnesses too? Trying to kill and the Young Master?!"
Kai winced as a sharp pain shot through his back. In his heart, he was cursing Derek’s entire family. The guy was just too fast. Kai had clearly aid for the man—but missed completely and ended up smashing into a tree. Worse, once he committed to the strike, there was no pulling back.
Now he looked like a fool—and his whole body burned with pain.
Angrily, he tried to flip the script and accuse Derek of covering up a murder.
"Which eye of yours saw trying to cover up anything?! If your Young Master didn’t have such a perverted mind, I wouldn’t have needed to act!" Derek snapped, clearly pissed.
Everyone has a reverse scale—a line that must never be crossed.
His Elder Sister was that line.
Kai sneered, though it was more to mask the internal pain than out of real contempt.
"Perverted mind? Which eye of yours saw that, huh? My Young Master was just curious—who the hell are you two anyway? She’s wearing a veil. You expect people not to look? What, is she gonna lose a piece of flesh if soone glances her way?
And hey, your Elder Sister didn’t say anything—but you’re barking up a storm. What’s the deal? Jealous ’cause my Young Master’s better looking than you?"
Honestly, Kai’s ability to twist the truth was so ridiculous that even Veil wanted to give him a standing ovation.
Absurd.
He had no idea Kai thought he was such a righteous gentleman.
Dead wrong, of course.
Where did he even learn this nonsense?
"Derek, there’s no need to argue with him," the veiled woman said softly, breaking Veil’s amused train of thought.
"Elder Sister, don’t worry. He’s nothing to worry about," Derek said, then turned to Kai, eyes glinting coldly.
He wasn’t going to waste more words. When it ca to verbal battles, he knew he couldn’t match Kai—but real strength spoke louder.
He leapt—clearing almost three ters in one bound—and struck down with a palm that roared through the air.
Kai hurriedly raised his arm to block.
Crack! The two palms clashed.
Kai grunted, his hand pulled back imdiately. He staggered back a few steps, one arm dropping limply to his side. His face twisted in pain.
"Young Master, run! This guy’s strong—I can’t take him!" he shouted.
"Run? Did I say you could leave?"
Derek scoffed and ignored Kai, charging straight for Veil—the real target.
But Kai launched himself forward like a koala, clinging tightly to Derek’s back.
Don’t be fooled by how cuddly it looked.
This was a killing move—military-grade close combat technique.
Kai’s hand shot toward Derek’s throat in a vicious chokehold. If it landed, not even God could save him.
"You’re asking for death."
Derek’s expression darkened. He flipped his palm upward, seized Kai’s wrist, and twisted hard. The sound of bones grinding against each other filled the air.
Kai’s grip broke instantly.
Then, using his spine like a coiled spring, Derek flung Kai over his shoulder and slamd him into the ground in front. He raised his foot—ready to stomp his chest in.
In monts of life-or-death stress, your senses sharpen. Everything feels like it’s in slow motion.
Kai knew that if this stomp landed, he’d be crippled—if not dead.
But he had no strength left to dodge. Instead, he glanced toward Veil’s direction, praying his Young Master had already escaped.
He saw the spot was empty.
And smiled.
Relieved, he closed his eyes, ready for the worst.
Thud!
The dull crash rang out—not on his chest, but sowhere above.
Kai opened his eyes.
Two feet—Veil’s and Derek’s—were locked in mid-air, muscles tensed, shaking from the force of their collision.
"Young Master..."
Kai gasped. He hadn’t run. He ca back. He saved him.
"The hell are you smiling for? Think you were gonna die, huh? Close your eyes and give up just like that?"
Veil didn’t look at him. He kept his gaze fixed on Derek, leg tensed, then suddenly twisted it down—aiming a sharp kick right between Derek’s legs.
Derek’s eyes narrowed. Before retreating, he viciously yanked Kai’s arm one last ti, worsening the injury, and then darted back to avoid Veil’s low blow.
"Hsss..."
Kai drew in a sharp breath, arms trembling, pain radiating through his body. "Young Master... that guy’s no joke..."
Veil snorted. "It’s been a while since I saw you in action. Thought I’d give you a chance to shine. Not only did you not land a hit—you got both arms wrecked. Looks like you can kiss those VIP club passes goodbye."
"No, wait—" Kai tried to protest.
He wanted to play dumb, but the truth was right there: both arms were out of commission. Recovery would take a while.
Without his strength, how could he stay as Veil’s personal bodyguard? Hell, he couldn’t even be a decent driver like this.
Veil pulled two pills from his system’s storage space—one Beauty Pill, one Marrow Cleansing Pill—and shoved them into Kai’s mouth.
The guy’s arms were useless—he couldn’t even hold his own ds.
And Veil saw the look in his eyes—the fear of being useless, of being cast aside.
Of course he understood.
But Kai had stuck with him—even after living the good life. Still loyal, still ready to throw down for him.
There was no way he’d let Kai be ruined by soone else.
Not only would he help him recover—he’d make him stronger than before.
A true right-hand man—worthy of investnt.
"Derek. Let’s go."
The veiled woman spoke again—but this ti, when her eyes t Veil’s, there was no more calm or detachnt.
There was caution.
She had seen everything—Veil’s even match with Derek, and more importantly, those pills.
Healing pills powerful enough to visibly shift a man’s dislocated bones?
That wasn’t sothing a normal martial artist could pull out of nowhere.
"Elder Sister," Derek called, voice low.
She didn’t answer. Just turned, leapt down from the boulder, and vanished from sight.
Derek stared at Veil for a long mont before reluctantly turning away.
Veil was about to chase them down—but just then, he felt it again.
That sa sense of danger from earlier—still lingering.
He frowned.
"Let’s go check on Dorian Wilson," he said calmly.
"Young Master! I can move my hands again!"
Kai’s excited shout cut through the air.
"Holy crap! This is insane! I swear they were broken just now—like really broken! I thought I’d never be able to hold anything again!
But now—look! I’m almost fully healed?!"
He stared in awe, flexing his fingers again and again, eyes wide with disbelief.
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