Thug and Idol: 10X Rewards Second Identity System Chapter 172 Gratitude

"Here" was a hostel in the center of the city. Although Tristan had already arranged the rooms and the paynt, the receptionist was still staring with large eyes at the sudden amount of people going inside.

Then he rembered the generous tip left by Tristan and looked away.

Tristan nodded, more to himself than anyone, and went to organize the unpacking.

Eventually, the essential items were moved from the cars and inside the hotel, and people separated into rooms—there weren't 14 free rooms, but there were enough rooms for 14 people.

[Hidden task complete: ensure the safety of Rafael's family. Reward: your PP increased by 1500!]

Tristan blinked in surprise at the notification, then smiled.

Standing in the emptied hotel hall, Tristan thought now he can finally tell Rafael that his part was done, and go on with his not-hidden tasks.

Before he could leave, though, he was approached by an elderly woman—Rafael's mother.

Mrs. Villanueva, a short and wide woman, looked up at Tristan through her rectangular glasses. There was worry in her expression.

Tristan had checked the phones of the Villanueva family for bugs and viruses, and he was going to tell Rafael to change his phone as soon as he contacted him. Just in case—Tristan doubted it was really tapped.

Cuatro Angulos was more likely to plant spies in Rafael's surroundings.

Mrs. Villanueva nodded.

Hell, Tristan Gello wouldn't have wanted to be friends with Tristan Hayes if he wasn't Tristan Hayes himself. That'd be inviting danger to your doorstep—deadly danger.

Most people weren't prepared to deal with deadly danger.

Mrs. Villanueva chuckled. Continue your adventure with empire

She pulled a gold chain from her pocket, from which dangled a golden cross. It was a small, but well-made thing, with a detailed figure of crucified Jesus.

The chain was relatively new, but the cross was tarnished with age. It was an antique, at least half a century old, and from the wistful way Mrs. Villanueva looked at it, had a lot of sentintal value.

Tristan had convinced—manipulated—many people to give him their endless trust and obedience, including this woman. But people rarely had reasons to be actually grateful to him. Whenever he helped, it was mostly a side-effect of achieving his own goals.

Now he felt strangely touched.

It was the kind of people which, he felt, he could get addicted to. Pure, sincere gratitude. Not to be mistaken with adoration or worship.

Tristan gently took the woman's wrinkled hand and closed it around the cross.