Rey’s heart was racing as he stared at the coordinates.His fists were tightly clenched, and he felt his eyes growing bloodshot.‘Why would Alicia be in the Black Market?’ Instantly, he knew she couldn’t have been there willingly. She was clearly in some kind of trouble.‘Is it because of Billy? I’m sure it’s him!’Remembering the face of his former best friend was enough to make him grit his teeth.He was extremely annoyed.Despite his annoyance, Rey felt a wave of relief wash over him. ‘At least I found her. Ditching the rest and coming here on my own really was the right move.’Rey managed to slip away from the watchful eyes of the Investigation Squad and come here on his own after they split up to look for clues.Thanks to that, he managed to slip into the Black Market space.‘I simply guessed that I could use their network or information channels to find Alicia.’Rey had figured they would use Tracking Magic on their Items, but he didn’t expect it to be this detailed.He also d
The KariBlanc Group’s Central headquarters was a three-story building.Its Ground Floor was used for commerce. Its First Floor was used for brokerage and special transactions—as well as the storage of regular Items.As for the Second Floor, it was used for three major purposes.First, it housed the cream of the crop in terms of products. Second, it was where those products received their final touches, ensuring excellence.And as for the final reason, it lay behind the door that Aldred was about to open.The manufacturing stations were situated in the bulkier half of the building, which served as an extension to the back.Since the building had a lot of space—especially at the rear, it wasn’t surprising that manufacturing operations occurred there.That place was also off-limits to those without authorization, but compared to those areas, it was the real deal.The Holy of Holies.‘I haven’t taken permission from father to do this, but…’He already knew what his father would say in thi
“Sir! It’s such a pleasant surprise to see you!” Rey was instantly greeted by a very excited Aldred Winsley.The man was grinning sheepishly at him. He seemed almost starstruck, like a fan meeting their favorite celebrity for the first time.‘He’s literally gushing…’ was Rey’s impression as he nodded slightly, entering the room.‘I was just asking your subordinate here when we might see you next.’Rey glanced at Noah and noticed him giving an uncomfortable smile.‘Were they pressuring him to convince me to come? Is that why he took so long?’It was just a guess, so Rey dismissed it.“In any case, it really is good to have you here. We have a lot to discuss.”Taking a seat on the sofa, Rey observed as Noah quickly positioned himself behind him.‘Good. He knows how to keep appearances without me needing to tell him…’ Rey felt relieved.Noah seemed to be able to handle himself in business now, but sometimes he was still an indecisive klutz.Like now, when he allowed his time to be delay
“This isn’t how it’s supposed to go…”Adonis muttered to himself, his gaze fixed on the night sky. While he couldn’t recall every single detail from the past, this particular incident was engraved in his memory.‘The kidnapping of Billy and Alicia… it’s supposed to happen way further in the future!’Sure, a lot of things had been altered now, but he hadn’t expected such a drastic change to the original timeline.‘They’ll nearly be sold at the slave auction a few days after being captured, but thankfully the investigation was done before the auction was completed.’As a result, the Royal Knights swooped in and apprehended a lot of criminals in the Black Market and Slavery World.Unfortunately, this huge victory came with a great loss.‘Alicia’s mental state became unstable and she went insane. Billy was fine, but he was so concerned with Alicia’s health that he didn’t focus on training any longer…’Eventually, Alicia’s mental health deteriorated to the point where she eventually commi
“Haha! Is it all done?” A hefty man, his belly protruding, emerged from the 'staff-only' room.He had blood stains on his hand, and each finger had rings on them. His fat-ridden body moved slowly as he cleaned his bloodied hands with a rag and flung it to the side once he was done.“Oh, Leader? Did you kill that woman already?” One of the men who had secured both Alicia and Billy said with a somewhat disappointed face.“What do you think?” The fat man replied, a twisted grin on his faceThough he had cleaned his hands, stains of red still appeared in some areas.“I-I see… I shouldn’t have asked in the first place."In all honesty, this man—as well as the rest of his six comrades—wanted to have his way with her.He had been looking forward to enjoying the waitress for some time now.‘When we killed her Boss and took over this shop, I expected my time to come soon…’He felt frustrated that his Leader had done away with her already.“She intentionally tripped, that woman. I was watching
The deal was sealed after that.Aldred Winsley used an Enchanted Item to calculate the amount of Monster Cores in each sack, and by multiplying them with the agreed price, they arrived at the selling price.It turned out to be a whopping 4,650 Platinum Coins!‘I still can’t believe this…’Rey was trying his best to remain composed after hearing such an insane number, but his heart raced uncontrollably.Adding that to his balance of 1,251 Platinum Coins, he now possessed 5,901 Platinum Coins in total.‘I never thought I’d get this much at once… let alone now!’ Rey felt like he was pulling off a scam, but he didn’t feel guilty. Why would he? This was the Black Market, after all.‘Once the Monster Cores start flooding in, these guys will be in trouble. I should probably avoid this place for a while…’Rey felt a sense of satisfaction knowing he had enough money for the moment. Now, it was time to focus on training; distractions like this were unnecessary.“As always, it’s a pleasure d
‘Ah… I see. So that’s how it is…’Rey smiled as he stared at his opponent.Even though his eyes were on the BigFoot-like creature, his senses also observed the ceiling where it fell from.‘There are more of them lurking above.’ Rey couldn’t see them even if he tried. There was a reason he hadn’t detected any until this one landed to confront him.‘A Camouflage Skill, maybe? Interesting…’ These creatures were masters of blending into their environment, making them nearly impossible to detect unless someone paid close attention.‘Even now, I can only detect their movements due to the sound they make and slight distortions they cause in space.’He still couldn’t see them properly.‘I already have [Stealth], which basically allows me to be invisible. But I guess this isn’t too bad either.’ When Rey raised his head and studied the Skill, he figured that the camouflage ability would be more than enough for it to be registered by [Doppel].He sighed softly and turned his attention back to
“What do you think about all this, Aldred?”As Rey’s question echoed in the air, Aldred gave a knowing smile—as if he already expected the question.“It’s probably a ruse. The actual Warehouse must be hidden underground.” Rey made a slight grimace underneath his mask.‘Just as I suspected…’Even with this discovery, it didn’t change what they had to do. ‘We still have to invade. The entrance to the underground passage must be here somewhere.’Rey almost felt like he was invading the territory of a mafia group or some sort of cartel. He hadn’t done it before, but it seemed like this was how it would feel.“This establishment is run by Evals Redart, the biggest guy in business in the South.” Aldred went on, his tone still retaining the same hint of amusement from earlier.“I don’t imagine that we’d run into him here, but if we do, then the KariBlanc Group would like to stay out of it.”Rey let out a sigh and shrugged lightly.“I hadn’t planned for both of you to come inside with me a
Anna's POV The world had watched Freddie Markson’s death unfold, but now, the world had moved on.His empire had crumbled, his enemies had been silenced, and those who remained knew better than to challenge the ones who had orchestrated it all. Anna and Dorian had won—not just their freedom, but the power to shape their own future.They settled into a life neither had ever dared to dream of.A Life Without FearThe estate that once belonged to Freddie was now theirs, though they had stripped it of anything that reminded them of its former owner. The rooms had been redecorated, the walls painted in lighter tones, the heavy, oppressive air of its previous life erased.Dorian had taken control of Freddie’s financial network, diverting assets, cutting ties with anyone who had been a liability. The wealth was staggering—far more than they could ever need. But it wasn’t about the money. It was about never having to run again.And for the first time in years, Anna felt safe.She spent her d
Anna's POV The world was watching.The chaos erupted within minutes.Freddie Markson was dead.The sprawling estate, once filled with laughter and murmurs of power, now buzzed with panic. Security flooded the halls, hushed conversations turning into frantic whispers as news spread like wildfire. Guests clutched their champagne glasses, some gasping, others exchanging knowing glances—men and women who had spent their lives in high-stakes deals, familiar with the consequences of power plays gone wrong.No one knew what had happened. Not yet.But they would soon.And that was why Dorian moved quickly.He had infiltrated the wedding unnoticed, slipping in through the mass of high-profile guests, blending into the sea of tailored suits and designer dresses. He had watched everything—Anna on Freddie’s arm, the way she smiled at him, the way she played her part so well it made Dorian’s blood boil. He had clenched his jaw through every toast, every scripted glance, every sickening display of
The world was watching.Hundreds of guests filled the sprawling estate, their laughter mingling with the soft notes of a grand piano. The ballroom itself was a masterpiece—vaulted ceilings adorned with intricate gold detailing, chandeliers dripping with crystals that refracted the warm glow of candlelight. Outside, the vast gardens were illuminated with soft lanterns, casting long shadows over the manicured hedges and reflecting pools. Waiters in crisp white jackets wove through the crowd, balancing silver trays laden with vintage champagne, caviar, and delicate amuse-bouches.The guest list read like a who’s who of power—Hollywood elite, Wall Street titans, political dynasties, and foreign dignitaries. They moved through the estate like chess pieces, each conversation laced with subtle negotiations and whispered alliances. Tonight wasn’t just about a wedding—it was a spectacle, an orchestrated display of power.And at the center of it all stood Freddie Markson and Anna.The cameras n
Dorian’s POVDorian woke to cold sheets.At first, he thought that Anna was in the shower or making coffee. But the apartment was silent—too silent. His gut twisted. He reached across the sheets, finding them cool to the touch.For a moment, he lay still, his mind sluggish with sleep, but then it hit him—Sophia was gone. She had taken advantage of the night and slipped out.He slept late which was what had made him wake up late as well. He knew it was futile to search for her on foot since she'd have had a wide head start. His heart pounded as he threw back the covers and sat up. The apartment was silent. Too silent. He grabbed his phone from the nightstand and dialed her number. It went straight to voicemail.He tried again. Nothing.Panic gnawed at his insides as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood, scanning the dimly lit room. Her things were still here—her shoes by the door, her jacket draped over the chair. But she wasn’t.Moving quickly, he checked the front do
The wind roared around me as the private jet touched down on a long, isolated runway. I had barely spoken since Viktor led me aboard. Part of me still couldn’t believe I had agreed to this. The USB drive he’d given me burned in my pocket, but I hadn’t dared to look at it. Not yet. Not until I knew exactly what I was stepping into.As the plane taxied to a stop, Viktor unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to me. “This is your last chance to turn back.”I met his gaze. “You and I both know that’s not an option.”His jaw tightened, but he said nothing. He stood and grabbed his coat, nodding for me to follow. The moment we stepped off the plane, a sleek black car was waiting for us, the driver already holding the door open.I slid into the backseat, my fingers curling into my lap as Viktor settled in beside me. The moment the door shut, the car moved forward, gliding through the night.The estate was massive. Iron gates loomed ahead, the emblem on them gleaming under the dim security lights.
The fear never left me. It clung to my skin, wrapped around my throat and sat heavy in my chest. I told myself I was strong, that I had survived worse, but the truth was, I was exhausted.Every night, I laid awake listening to Dorian’s steady breathing. I imagined them finding us, breaking down the door, dragging us back into the nightmare we had barely escaped. I imagined what they’d do to us.After a while I couldn’t live like this anymore. I knew what I had to do.I waited until Dorian was asleep. He always slept light, but exhaustion had finally caught up to him. It was the only chance I’d get.I moved carefully, easing out from under the blanket, barely breathing as I pulled on my coat. My heart pounded so hard I was sure it would wake him. My boots were by the door. I slipped them on, then hesitated. My fingers hovered over the doorknob.If I left now, there was no turning back.I stepped out into the night.The cold bit at my skin as I pulled my coat tighter, shoving my hands i
Anna’s POV“You need to be checked, Anna. We don’t know—”“No,” I cut him off, shaking my head. “We don’t know who we can trust.”Dorian clenched his jaw no doubt frustrated by my stubbornness but I wasn't going to back down.We were arguing once more about going to the hospital. I knew that he was right and I ought to but the facility had been relentless in hunting us down. We had no way of knowing who was still looking and who might recognize me. A simple doctor’s visit could be the mistake that led them straight to us.Instead, I focused on listening to my body, trusting what little instinct I had. The nausea came and went, and a strange sort of awareness settled in my bones. It wasn’t just me anymore.Dorian was torn. I saw it in the way his hands hovered near me, as if he wanted to shield me from everything but didn’t know how. He tightened security around us, changing our routines. No more walking the same routes, no more visits to the same markets or shops. He made sure the apa
Anna's POV The highway stretched endlessly before us so much that I wondered if it would end. The sound of the engine was the only noise we heard as we crossed another nameless border under stolen identities. Dorian kept his hands tight on the wheel, his jaw clenched. There were so many things I wanted to talk to him about but I was content for the moment with watching the road signs blur past, my fingers tapping anxiously against my thigh.Neither of us spoke because we didn’t need to. We both understood what was happening. Our old lives and everything as we had known it were gone. The facility, the experiments, Reinhardt. Everything we had run from was behind us. But the thought of them was hard to let go off.I closed my eyes, but the moment I did, flashes of the lab burned behind my lids. I remembered being trapped on the cold metal table. The scalpel in my hands and the guard’s blood seeping between my fingers.I jolted upright, gasping and saw Dorian hovering above me. "Nigh
Anna's POV "You were meant to be an experiment," Dr. Reinhardt said to me leaning over to emphasise his words.I wondered what I had done to warrant the attention of this mad German scientist. I knew though that it had to be because of Dorian mixing up with the wrong crowd.The heavy door behind Reinhardt hissed open and a guard in a black uniform stepped in and Reinhardt nodded toward me."Prepare her for transport."I yanked at the restraints with all the strength I could summon. I wasn’t going to let them win like this.The guard moved closer and just then the lights flickered.The sudden dimming made Reinhardt pause and looked up at the overhead lamps which buzzed as if it was struggling for power. Then, in a blink, red emergency lights flooded the room.A low alarm groaned through the facility and the pitch kept increasing.Something was wrong.Reinhardt’s expression tightened as he turned toward the guard. "Find out what—"~BOOM!!!~The entire room shook and dust rained down