Aria removed her helmet and noticed a camera overhead. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. Sam hadn't mentioned this was a filming set.While Sam remained excited, Aria considered approaching the crew members. The directors and audience watched as Aria perched atop her motorcycle. Her one foot casually braced the ground, the other resting easy on the bike's belly. Her grip on the handlebar was a casual command while her free hand danced effortlessly across the phone screen, seemingly texting someone. Not receiving a reply, her fingers drummed impatiently on the handlebar. Her profile appeared flawless under the lights. She was stunning, with an indifferent allure. Her dark, depthless eyes and a small mole beneath one eye added to her mystique.She was a masterpiece of casual seduction, a femme fatale on two wheels. The camera refused to pan away from her. When she looked up, the comments section buzzed."I want to know everything about her, now!""Is she a new celebrity fro
The season's celebrities were scattered across different areas of the set, blindfolded until they arrived. The non-celebrity guest participants, however, were guided in without any blindfolds by the production assistants.Evelyn's eyes widened at the filming location. Lily had been right—the first challenge this season was set in an abandoned children's hospital! Although Evelyn was from Janovin, she had never known such a hospital existed in the suburbs.The dilapidated building and overgrown grass suggested it had been abandoned for years.While the show used real locations, the hospital's interior had been refurbished. However, the exterior remained untouched, giving the building a haunting, time-frozen appearance.Lavender Erikson, an award-winning actress, was the first celebrity to arrive. Removing her blindfold, she surveyed the building with a teasing remark, "Are they trying to scare off the newbies before we even start?"Chandler Lucson, standing beside her with a confid
"One of the audience members commented, "It's finally time for them to choose their partners!"While the production claimed the non-celebrity partners were chosen randomly, the director had actually hand picked them. The background stories for each episode were complex, often tweaked from actual incidents, making it challenging for the celebrities to piece together the original stories. Some even required professional knowledge, so the crew included non-celeb participants with medical backgrounds.Viewers were already speculating about the chosen candidates for this season."Ladies and gentlemen, there are five people in front of you," announced the director. "Only those who successfully match will form a pair for the upcoming challenge. The candidates' information is displayed on the screen. Two have medical backgrounds, while the others bring diverse skill sets. Please carefully consider your needs and choose a partner who can complement your abilities."Everyone's expressions
The third non-celeb participant displayed on the screen was a middle-aged surgeon named Alistair Whitman. He wore glasses, looked ordinary, and was of average height. However, his medical experience was exceptional.A viewer commented, "The second and third non-celeb participants seem to be the best options."The fourth guest participant was Evelyn, and she majored in media studies. She appeared normal until she shouted, "Leon, choose me! I know how to make you win!"Her words brought Leon into the spotlight.Anthony mocked, "Mr. Carver, your fans are quite enthusiastic. Not everyone gets a chance to be on this show, you know."His comment made it seem like the show's crew was favoring Leon.Leon's haters pounced. "Dumb pretty boys shouldn't be on variety shows. Their fans are crazy, and it's unfair to the other participants. He's just embarrassing himself!"Amidst the ongoing conversation about Leon, the fifth participant was introduced. Everyone was surprised to discover tha
Leon was determined not to embarrass himself on national television. Those eager for more screen time were clearly planning ahead. Yet, Chandler and Anthony's performances seemed lackluster compared to his."Has everyone decided on their partners?" Kian asked. In unison, the celebrities and their partners replied, "Yes."As their voices echoed, the veils covering the guest participants dropped.Aria removed her blindfold, unveiling her striking and composed face. She had heard what the celebrities had to say and had already seen all the faces of the guest participants.She'd consented to the filming after sensing a dark, vengeful energy in the air. If this dark presence persisted, it could spell catastrophe. Yet, she hadn't foreseen that she would also be expected to complete various tasks. As soon as all the participants were on camera, Aria's appearance took everyone by surprise. Her stunning features set her apart from the rest, including Lulu, whose innocent looks couldn'
Leon's sudden warning to Aria left the production crew and audience speechless. A viewer asked, "What does he mean?""I'm in tears! What is he doing?" another exclaimed. The other participants also sent odd looks their way. After all, Leon didn't seem like the type to say such things.However, Aria wasn't surprised to hear this coming from Leon. From the pictures and stories Warren had told her, this was Leon's true nature. "Leon, the instructions are on the screen," Aria pressed, not wanting to waste a moment. The sooner they completed filming, the sooner she could drive away the oppressive aura lingering around them.If they didn't hurry, the frail-looking Lulu might not make it to morning.Aria had no intention of revealing her relationship with Leon on camera. She planned to have a private conversation with him after filming.Leon's expression tightened. "I'd prefer if you didn't use my first name. I don't think my sister would like it."Meanwhile, Warren was watching t
To capture the most genuine reactions, the producers and assistants monitoring the participants were called out of the building. Instead, cameras were set up in every corner to record the participants' responses.The children's hospital, a two-story building with long, dimly lit corridors, wasn't particularly frightening when bustling with people. Now, with the production crew gone, the atmosphere turned chilling.All the female participants seemed unnerved except for Aria. Lulu, in particular, nervously rubbed her stomach as she glanced at the delivery room.The livestream audience was intrigued. "Why is Lulu rubbing her stomach?"Suddenly, the signboard above the delivery room fell, crashing loudly and startling everyone. Despite his own unease, Chandler saw an opportunity to take the lead. "Given the hospital's age, accidents like this are expected," he announced. "Let's be cautious."He continued, "I don't think we need to head that way. I believe the clues will be in a well
Chandler erupted in anger. "What did you say?""The camera’s rolling, Mr. Lucson. You might want to consider your image," Aria said calmly.Chandler's anger twisted his face into a repulsive scowl.Anthony stepped forward. "Have you no manners? Is this how dumbasses like you usually speak?"Aria's expression darkened. "As a public figure, you should set a proper example for your fans. What are you doing? Are you trying to incite cyberbullying?"You should spend more time improving your acting skills. You sidelined Leon impressively just now, but why can't I see the same talent on your shows? Do you believe you're a good actor just because your fans say so?"Aria's tone was deliberate, as if revealing a harsh truth. "With your ordinary looks, your family must have invested heavily to land you the lead role when you debuted."Anthony seethed, "You little—"Nobody expected someone as gorgeous as Aria to deliver such cutting remarks. The comments section exploded in reaction.One
"But he does look familiar." This was the first time Morwenna had such a feeling. It was as if the man from the York family was even more noble than her. Before him, she felt like a nobody. The idea of that provoked Morwenna. She was a deity from Krowo, so who was he to make her feel this way? "I think you should find a chance for me to meet that guy from the York family sometime." Morwenna met the old man's eyes. "The Yorks are the true noble family when it comes to protecting the nation. They've just been focused on commerce for the past century, which made us overlook them. The Yorks might be helpful to us." "I'll look into it." The old man glanced aside. "But why haven't you completed the tasks I assigned?" William stepped forward and said, "Sir, I came to bring good news. We've located the celestial essence you sensed earlier. Rest assured, we'll present it to you soon." "Good." This was the first time the old man showed satisfaction in days. "Before you bring it, inve
The child's fate was not merely at odds with his own—it actively threatened it. On that fateful day, the old man had been plagued by dreams from a distant past, visions long buried in the sands of time. It became clear that his unnatural existence, suspended between life and death as a half-human, half-ghost, was tethered to the very essence of that unborn child.A shadow crossed his eyes as he clenched his fists. "Perhaps I should have altered my perspective earlier. It's time to take a proper look at that child... the one I couldn't read, no matter how hard I tried."Morwenna's voice, filled with venom, cut through the silence. "The Carvers have always been a thorn in our side. They were a problem then, and they remain one now. We should've eliminated that woman before she could interfere."The old man shot her a sidelong glance. "You need to keep your presence hidden in Farshya. Stop drawing attention by appearing in their churches. I've told you before not to provoke the Farshya
Something had fallen to the ground, and a small shadow began to stir behind the curtains."She's not only hindering you but me as well," came a voice that sounded like that of a little girl. Yet, it carried an unsettling, unnatural tone, more akin to the mechanical chatter of those dolls."How could she return?" Behind the curtain, the shadow's long hair seemed to extend at an unnatural speed, growing longer by the second.The entire mansion was cloaked in an eerie atmosphere. The butler at the door stood trembling, yet William appeared almost euphoric as he bowed low and said reverently, "Morwenna, you've finally regained yourself!"The wooden doll named Morwenna let out a mocking laugh. "Regained myself? Is this what you call recovery?"The shadow behind the curtain trembled, and the lights overhead flickered ominously."We anticipated years ago that she would disrupt everything, that the Carver family's plans would crumble," Morwenna hissed. "And yet, you let her return!"A l
Furrowing his eyebrows, the old man moved his fingers as if counting something. "That's weird, then."It was the same issue as before—he couldn't predict anything about Aria. If she had some ties to Homer, he should at least catch a glimpse of it. At best, she would only be Homer's apprentice. Yet, she remained an enigma beyond his foresight, shielded from even his most refined techniques.If someone was backing her, how did they conceal her from his visions? And why?The recent downfall of the Daley family was equally perplexing. It had been executed so seamlessly that no one even noticed until it was too late. The Daleys had served the country well, earning enough merit to secure the higher-ups' protection. But despite this, they were wiped out overnight.This incident triggered a memory—the old man recalled an organization he had encountered in passing—the Special Missions Unit.The unit was not affiliated with any government, yet it was always a step ahead in hunting down spie
The old man glanced at William and spoke sharply. "What went wrong with the seal?"William bowed his head, unable to provide a clear answer. "The rumors about the Daley family emerged from nowhere. We tried to suppress the information while investigating the source, but all efforts were futile."Nobody knew who the Daley family had provoked, only knowing the higher-ups were the ones giving orders. Plus, the entire case was executed quickly and privately. It was as if someone was targeting the Daley family. "The case wasn't investigated using normal procedures at all. I can't reach out to the Daley family without risking exposure. I'm afraid someone might recognize me. "If I'm identified, all our hard work over the years will unravel. And now, the matter has already been brought to light online, putting us in a precarious position."They had used a lot of energy and time to ensure their plan was executed perfectly. Their actions had gone unnoticed for the past few years. Howeve
Sam had always been by Aria's side during her bouts of self-doubt. That was why she had always prayed that Tobias' ominous prediction would never come true.Before he vanished, Tobias had warned her that if Chaos reemerged, it would wreak havoc across the world. And when that moment arrived, Aria would need to steel herself and eliminate it.But Aria disagreed. To her, Sam was like family. He would happily carry out her every request as long as he was rewarded with a bit of food. How could such an earnest and loyal companion be a threat?Sam was undoubtedly righteous, just somewhat slow to react. How could he possibly bring chaos to the world?Aria could only dismiss the grim rumors as baseless. Either that or Sam had been misled by someone else.Pahana had once told her that Sam had a previous master. He was still young then and couldn't yet distinguish right from wrong. It must have been that previous master who failed to teach him properly.The notion that Sam could be a dange
It was a rare, honorable opportunity. If Pahana's worthless father could witness him now, he'd surely regret abandoning him and his mother.Pahana understood Aria could have chosen not to give him the merits. She could have chosen to continue enslaving him like the other fortune tellers. Yet, she chose to honor her promise, compensating him for his efforts.If all humans kept their promises like Aria, creatures like Pahana wouldn't harbor such deep hatred that they'd want to devour them.Approaching Aria, Pahana was ready to repay her generosity by renewing the blood pact. However, Aria stopped him. She wasn't interested in complicating things further. Who knew where she'd be a century from now? There was no point in binding herself to a lizard—especially when the river was so polluted.Her eyes darkened. "No need. Just stop eating humans and keep an eye on the river. You saw how I handled things. If you don't want to end up as grilled lizard meat, behave.""Ms. Carver, don't worr
With a thud, Pahana fell flat on the ground. He was utterly speechless. Why did Aria suddenly lash out at him?Aria regarded him with a calm yet piercing gaze. "You had a sly look on your face just now. What were you scheming?"Pahana was still far from being fully obedient. Since she had taken him in, it fell upon Aria to teach him the proper order.Pahana blinked, bewildered. This was simply how he looked—Aria couldn't blame him for appearing sly just because of his natural features."I'm merely admiring your skill," he ventured carefully, trying to appease her. "Your mastery of the Decatorian way is impressive." He was referring to how she used Landon's heavenly fortune to sever the binding contract.Aria could sense the subtle disloyalty within Pahana. Cunning was second nature to lizards like him, but with a contract binding them, it was of little concern to her. She glanced down at Pahana, who was sprawled at her feet and spoke coolly, "That's not all I'm good at. I'm also
Back then, those fortune tellers were blind to Landon's true identity and insisted on sealing him away underground. Landon must be seeking revenge for what happened back then.That explained his pursuit of Aria.To Pahana, Aria was an enigma. Her skills were average, yet she possessed undeniable talent and a unique approach that defied the traditional Decatorian methods he knew.Fortune tellers were rarely bound by the conventional, their minds trained to think in ways others could not fathom. Pahana could also feel the hidden strength within Aria, a power she kept buried deep.Landon must have noticed that and sought to consume her soul.Yet Pahana found no trace of a binding contract between Landon and Aria.There were rumors, however, that Landon had once made a pact with a woman who was as infamous as she was beautiful. She was a woman of no redeeming qualities, a heartless temptress who reveled in tormenting others. Her disrespect for people was unmatched, yet Landon had