《The Strongest Curse Master》


 Chapter 1: Resilience

    Chapter 1: Resilience"Why didn''t you email me the nudes as I asked?" An older student clad in school uniform demanded, his fist crashing into Ace''s abdomen with such force that the fat throughout Ace''s body jiggled, compelling him to double over in excruciating pain.


    Suppressing the pain, Ace propped his head up and shot a pleading look into the older student''s eyes, irking him. Then he grumbled, "She left for the city before I could take''em."


    Infuriated, the student continued to assault Ace relentlessly, yelling, "Don''t you dare lie to me."


    "Mike, I swear, I am not lying to you. I will get you her nudes next time she is home. I promise," Ace swore in pain as his borderline obese frame collapsed onto the cold concrete of the school''s roof, unable to withstand the heavy punches.


    "Do you take me for an idiot, fatty? Last time, you swore the same thing but tried to pass off random edited nudes from the internet as your sister''s secret pics. I was gracious enough to give you a second chance, yet you still dared to play me. I''ll kill you, pig."


    Recalling how Ace had made a fool of him, Mike became enraged and began stomping Ace as he lay there helpless, his school uniform marred by dusty bootprints.


    Witnessing the brutal scene unfold, the two students on the sidelines began to panic. Fearing that Mike might accidentally hit one of Ace''s vital points and kill him, one of them cautioned, "Mike, enough. At this rate, you''ll kill him."


    Stopping his ruthless pounding, Mike turned to the student who had just spoken and warned, "Next time you dare interrupt me, you''ll also know the taste of concrete."


    Mike then squatted down next to Ace''s prone body. Grabbing his head by the hair, he lifted it and, staring into his dim eyes, rhetorically asked, "Fatty, you think you''re smart, huh?"


    Mike reached into his left sock and pulled out a small zip-lock bag half-filled with white powder. Dangling it in front of Ace''s eyes, he said, "You see, this here is enough coke for a person to overdose. Now, riddle me this: What if I force-fed this to you or your sister during one of her early morning long runs in the secluded community park?"


    "Mike, you promised you would leave my sister alone as long as I get you her nudes," Ace cried in dread.


    "Well, Fatty, if you can''t be bothered to keep your end of the promise, then why should I? My body is brimming with hormones and youth. I have no idea what or who I''ll do next."


    "Tell you what, if you get me your sister''s nudes before the next time I see her, I promise not to use this on her." Issuing an ultimatum, Mike spat on Ace''s face before slamming it onto the concrete floor.


    As Mike was about to continue to humiliate Ace, his phone rang. His expression turned serious as he read the caller''s name. Declining the call, he rose and ordered his lackeys, "Let''s go."


    After Mike and his lackeys left, Ace slowly propped himself and sat up, leaning against the nearby wall. Wiping the spit on his face with his hand, he stared into the evening sky, disgusted with himself for being so weak.


    A few days ago, his life was average. Like his classmates, he was pondering which college to apply to. Should he apply to a college far from home or one closer to home?


    However, his elder sister, who had moved back into her childhood bedroom a month ago to save on rent after quitting her decent job as a graphic designer to pursue her dream of creating a webtoon, somehow had a run-in with Mike on the streets and to make matters worse, she utterly berated him. If not for the patrolling cops, things would have gotten ugly.


    Since their encounter, Ace''s life had turned upside down. Now, he was concerned for his sister''s safety since Mike threatened that the 9Ks would put a target on her back for insulting one of their own. But if Ace could provide nudes of his sister, they would forget the whole matter.


    If Mike were alone, Ace would have tried to gather enough evidence and report him to the faculty and the authorities. However, Mike was part of the local gang known as the 9Ks, short for 9 Kings. To top it off, he''s a legacy since his elder brother was a captain in the 9Ks.


    The last time a student complained about Mike to the faculty, he was jumped and hospitalized for three months. When the student''s father filed a police complaint against Mike, he became a casualty in a drive-by. The next day, police cleared Mike of all suspicions, citing a lack of intent and evidence. Was it a coincidence? Honestly, Ace didn''t want to find an answer to that.


    Since the dispute between Mike and his older sister, Ace, neither intended to meet Mike''s demands nor inform his family about the situation. Instead, Ace planned to bide his time, aware that his sister would soon depart for a two-year-long Webtoon creation course away from this cursed city. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even though his sister had left the city, Ace continued to take a beating and planned to say and do anything to ease Mike''s wounded ego, knowing that if Mike learned that his elder sister had left the city for two years, he would nurture a grudge and wait for her return during holidays meanwhile making his life a living hell.


    Ace believed that as long as he pushed this issue for a month or two, the whole situation could blow over as both the 9Ks and Mike would eventually forget such a trivial matter over time. After all, anything could happen, especially if you were a drug-paddling thug who has made an enemy out of a brother willing to go to any lengths for his sister and family.


    *Buzz* Ace''s phone vibrated. It was a text from his elder sister,


    [I arrived safely. I never thanked you for encouraging me to apply for the course. It is an incredible opportunity. Thank you, little bro.]


    An unconscious grin formed on Ace''s face as he read the text. There were many webtoon creation courses within the city, but he manipulated his elder sister into choosing a fancy one far from home to serve his purpose. So what if he was weak? One doesn''t need strength to deal with stupid mutts, ''Mike is going to regret showing me the bag of coke he carries on him.''

 Chapter 2: Curse Core Initiation Ceremony

    Chapter 2: Curse Core Initiation Ceremony"Pathetic scum," A cold and condescending voice full of judgment broke Ace''s chain of thoughts. When he lifted his head, he saw a stunning beauty that could stir wild feelings in a stone standing not far from him. He wondered how long she had been there and how he had failed to notice her presence.


    "I feel sorry for your parents for having a son like you," Disgust for Ace was apparent in the beauty''s eyes as grudgingly spoke these words.


    "Who are you again?" Ace looked at his fellow rude schoolmate, wondering if he knew her.


    Ace never knew their school uniform possessed a seductive allure until today. However, he quickly shook his head, realizing it was the individual wearing the uniform rather than the uniform itself. Her ample curves and slender waist, complemented by her flawless pure white skin and mid-thigh long silky hair, added charm to the otherwise plain school uniform.


    "Your ancestors would roll in their graves if they knew their descendant was a lowlife who would trade his sister''s nudes to save his skin," the rude schoolmate did not bother to introduce herself to Ace but did clarify why she was disgusted with him. It seems she was present for the whole Mike ordeal.


    "This doesn''t concern you; stay out of it and forget what you think you saw or heard here," Ace stated, giving the rude schoolmate a cold stare. She understood the situation but opted to confront Ace instead of Mike. In Ace''s eyes, she and Mike were the same, preying on the weak and cowering before the strong.


    "Why? Is it because you don''t want the world to know what a terrible brother you are?" the rude schoolmate scoffed at Ace and did not heed his words.


    "This is for your good. You don''t know these streets as I do. They are very dangerous. Especially for a pretty gal like you," Ace warned as he rose, aware that Mike would target the girl if she gossiped about him. Doing his part, Ace prepared to leave. Now, it was up to his schoolmate. She was responsible for her choices.


    "Are you threatening me?" the schoolmate misunderstood, listening to Ace''s ambiguous words accompanied by his act of standing up.


    Seeing the girl''s face up close from a better angle, Ace recognized her, "You are the new transfer student, Ria Hart, right? You look different without your big glasses and bangs covering your face. Particularly without that oversized sweater."


    "Creep," Ria uttered in disgust, taking a step back. "I feel for your sister," she added.


    Even though it all started over a misunderstanding, now it was getting annoying. Ace had enough of Ria. Glaring at her, he said, "Since you care about my sister so much, why don''t you go help her?"


    5''8" Ria lifted her head to stare right back into 5''11" Ace''s eyes as she taunted him, "Acting tough in front of a harmless girl, I expected nothing less from a lowlife scum like you. Where was this bravado earlier? You didn''t hesitate to sell your sister to save yourself from a little beating, coward!"


    After being called names by Ria, Ace''s eyes burned with fury, but his mind remained calm. He turned to leave as she wasn''t worth it. However, just as he took his eyes off Ria, he felt a small fist crash into his gut. Doubling over, he collapsed to the floor as his knees gave up in pain. Ria had sneak attacked him. But what surprised him most was that her punch was heavier and faster than Mike''s.


    Ace groaned in pain and looked up at Ria in rage, only to have his face ruthlessly stomped by her boot, "You pervert, how dare you look up my skirt?"


    Ace''s nose was hit, and a torrent of uncontrollable tears gushed out, obscuring his vision. The pain he felt at that moment was worse than when he had fractured his leg in middle school, losing his grip on a spinning monkey bar.


    As Ace struggled to get hold of his senses, he felt Ria grasp his ankle and drag his 159-pound body like nothing. Despite his attempts to resist, his efforts proved futile against Ria''s monstrous strength.


    "Consider yourself fortunate, Ace Lander. You are born with an aptitude for curse energy. Regardless of my disgust towards you, since you asked me to help your sister, I will assist you in awakening your curse core. So that you can use it to get your act together," Ria explained, dragging Ace onto a curse core initiation array she had drawn using animal blood on the other side of the school roof while Mike whooped Ace''s ass.


    As Ria''s grasp loosened, Ace immediately sprang to his feet and ran for his life. Hearing Ria talk about cursed energy and cursed core¡ªcoupled with the occult circle drawn in blood¡ªled him to believe she was some kind of delusional cultist.


    However, before he could step out of the blood circle, Ria suddenly appeared in front of him and delivered a swift kick to his groin. Ace momentarily forgot to breathe as he fell to the floor, screaming in pain.


    "I pity your sister but that doesn''t mean I have to be nice to you. So, for your own sake, behave," Ria said, grinning as she looked at Ace rolling inside the curse core initiation array in pain.


    As Ace rolled on the curse array, it suddenly began to glow. Then Ria gestured with her left hand in the air, and a blood-red candle magically materialized in her grasp. Setting it in the array, she snapped her fingers, lighting the candle.  S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The burning candle started to emit red smoke, which settled on the floor and remained within the boundaries of the curse array. Within seconds, the red smoke submerged Ace. As a result, he inhaled a large amount of it.


    As Ace inhaled the thick red smoke, his senses began to unravel, plunging him into a turbulent world of hallucinations. These distorted visions dredged up his memories of every incident that made him feel ashamed, angry, helpless, sad, or scared, stirring the negative emotions that built up in his heart into a crazed whirlpool. As a result, his blood pressure skyrocketed, and he felt his heart was a ticking time bomb on the verge of detonation.


    "Compress all the negative emotions gathered in your heart to the extreme, turning them into your strength, much like the pressure of the Earth''s crust transforming a lump of coal into a diamond. If you fail to do so, the negative emotions that have built up in your heart will burst out, and the blood vessels near your heart will snap as you die of a heart attack. So no matter how painful it is, surpass your limits; a new world awaits you," Ria guided Ace through the process. She was surprisingly as articulate as she was vengeful.

 Chapter 3: Forging Innate Curse Tool

    Chapter 3: Forging Innate Curse ToolUnder the influence of the red smoke, every memory Ace had tried to escape or forget suddenly sprang to life and haunted him. However, one memory overshadowed them all.


    Ace remembered the night he spent scouring the internet to find the nudes of women with the same body type as his elder sister, cropping out their faces and emailing them to Mike. He recalled the attention to detail he put into them such that Mike would not realize they were random nudes from the internet.


    The shame and humiliation that Ace endured for committing this act were known only to him. Despite this, the fear that one lowlife''s bruised ego could endanger his family drove him to see it to completion.


    He needed them to be good enough to buy him time as he sent his elder sister out of the city to safety without drawing any suspicion of his family and the 9Ks. However, a simple image search undid all his hours of tolerance.  sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The feeling of helplessness as his plan nearly collapsed, leaving him at the mercy of the scoundrel who was hell-bent on ruining his sister''s life. These memories brewed a torrent of negative emotion in Ace''s heart to the point where he felt like his heart was about to burst, releasing his grievance onto the world as divine punishment.


    As Ace began to lose his sense of self to the insanity brought to him by the hallucinations, Ria''s words acted as a beacon guiding him to sanity. Ace then recalled the memories that the red smoke was not showing him. The memory of how he persisted through every humiliation Mike and his lackey put him through and successfully managed to send his sister to safety.


    This realization gave Ace the strength to follow Ria''s guidance and compress all the negative emotions gathered in his heart to the extreme with his will. Soon, he felt the compressed negative emotions undergo a qualitative transformation beyond his understanding, making him aware of an energy only heard in stories.


    With the transformation of Ace''s negative emotions, the red smoke no longer affected him. His mind cleared, making it easier for him to focus his willpower on the task at hand.


    "Persist, maintain that pressure for as long as you can as if your life depends on it. A lump of coal in the Earth''s crust doesn''t transform into a diamond overnight; it takes thousands, even millions, of years. The longer you persist, the more refined your curse core will become. You better persist as your curse core will determine your fate," Sensing the transformation in Ace''s negative emotions, Ria instructed him while emphasizing the importance of curse core refining.


    Ace struggled with helplessness his entire life as he and his family made daily compromises to survive the society whose existence was to protect their freedom. Thanks to his upbringing, Ace understood that one''s freedom should not limit or infringe upon others'' freedom. He and his family have abided by this principle their entire lives.


    But what if others didn''t abide by that? Wasn''t society and its laws supposed to protect them from such infringement? Unfortunately, things did not function as intended. As a result, Ace and his family had to compromise their freedom every day. This helplessness has grown to the point where it has become the norm in their life.


    Ace decided to change that today by channeling his frustration over his helplessness as fuel to make the most of this opportunity to seize the strength he needed. Resolving himself, Ace continued to persist to the point where he was mentally exhausted and struggling to remain conscious.


    "If you are on the verge of losing consciousness, then stop the refining process. The next step is forging your innate curse tool, which is as crucial as refining your curse core. If you pass out and miss this part, the remainder of your life will regret not forging your innate curse tool on your first try," Ria stressed the importance of forging an innate curse tool on the first try to Ace.


    Heeding Ria''s warning, Ace ceased refining his curse core and prepared for the next step, forging his innate curse tool. As he did, profound knowledge flooded his mind, making him fully aware of his curse core and all there was to know about forging his innate curse tool.


    "Here, take this wooden clown box. It''s a cursed item. Refine it as your innate curse tool," Ria passed Ace a 6-inch tall wooden cube box with a simple design, smooth edges, and a polished surface with intricate detailing. The box was adorned with colorful painted designs depicting a clown''s face on its exterior. Under the lid, a miniature clown figurine, carved from wood and painted with vibrant colors with a spring mechanism, can be seen.


    Ace''s eyes shifted between the wooden clown box and Ria, wondering if she was being serious. From the profound knowledge he received, he understood a curse master''s innate curse tool determines their strength.


    "Curse items don''t grow on trees. A cursed wooden clown box is all I have. Take it or leave it. With the enlightenment you received, you should know how important it is to forge the innate curse tool right after refining your curse core. It is your choice. I won''t force you," Ria explained, holding out the wooden clown box.


    Curse Masters should forge their innate curse tool as soon as possible since it serves as a conduit for channeling their cursed energy. Using cursed energy without a conduit was dangerous. Besides, Ace couldn''t guarantee to find a cursed item, let alone one better than the cursed wooden clown box. The choice was obvious and logical.


    Taking the cursed clown box from Ria, Ace moved his curse core into it and began to forge it as his innate curse tool, following the profound knowledge he had gained after refining his curse core. Merging Ace''s curse core with the box, it vanished from his hands and appeared in his soul space.


    Successfully forging his innate cursed tool, Ace rose to his feet. Then Ria handed Ace a red pill, "Here, swallow this. It will help relieve your mental exhaustion."


    "Uh-huh," Ace took the suspicious-looking pill from Ria and swallowed it without hesitation. Because if she wanted to, she could force it down his throat. Soon, he felt a refreshing energy erase his mental fatigue.


    "What is your innate curse tool called?" Ria inquired, her tone more of an order than a request.

 Chapter 4: Cursed Toybox

    Chapter 4: Cursed Toybox"My innate curse tool is called Cursed Toybox," Ace replied hesitantly, aware that Ria would eventually find out when he used it.


    Learning of curse masters, curse energy, curse core, and innate cursed tool, his anger toward Ria had decreased, knowing that she needed him railed up for the curse core initiation array to work.


    "Cursed Toybox, can I see it," Ria asked with curiosity apparent in her eyes.


    "Sure," Ace agreed, conjuring a small, teak-colored wooden cube box.


    "The color has changed and the clown paintings have been erased. Do you know what its abilities are? Can you store things in the box?" Ria enquired in anticipation.


    "Not yet. I can''t get the box to open. Maybe it will reveal its abilities to me when I nourish it with enough cursed energy," Ace replied, praying that his innate curse tool doesn''t turn out to be a dud.


    "Uhuh," Ria nodded, learning that there wasn''t much change to the box except for its aesthetics. Her initial curiosity quickly turned to disappointment. She was not subtle about it.


    Quickly adjusting her expression, Ria added, "Follow the enlightenment you gained after refining your curse core to nourish your innate curse tool as much as possible. Don''t slack off. This new world is more dangerous than the old one."  sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "An enlightenment is what it''s called," Ace mused aloud recalling the profound knowledge he gained after refining his curse core.


    Suddenly, a massive shadow enveloped the rooftop. Ace looked up to find a gargantuan figure shaped like an Asian hornet circling the evening sky, approaching them. Soon, Ace made out its rotting body and other grotesque features. Repulsed by what he saw, he asked in distress, "What is that?"


    "That thing is a Curseling. A creature born out of the amalgamation of negative emotions accumulated over years, decades, or even centuries. Visible only to those with an aptitude for curse energy. They typically congregate in areas filled with negative emotions to feed on them. Your curse core initiation ritual likely attracted it. After all, curse energy is their preferred diet. Typically, they are not that big, but even the weakest one can kill you at your current power. So nourish your innate curse tool and learn to use it as soon as possible," Ria did not let go of the chance to mock Ace''s strength as she introduced Curselings to him.


    However, Ace had no attention to spare for Ria''s taunt, as his mind was consumed by fear when the Curseling fixed its gaze on him. The creature''s predatory stare weakened his knees and made him acutely aware that his life was in imminent danger.


    "Acquired curse art, Curse slash," Ria''s authoritative voice resounded. Then Ace saw three streaks of brilliant light twinkle in the sky, slicing the Curseling into three pieces. The diced pieces of the Curseling then disintegrated and vanished as if they never existed.


    "This is the Curseling''s curse core. You can use it to cultivate or replenish your curse energy," Ria explained, catching the marble ball dropped upon the big Curseling''s death. Then she turned to lock eyes with Ace to bask in his admiration and worship-filled gaze.


    "Amazing! You''re so strong," Ace played along, feeding Ria''s vanity.


    "Yes, I am. You can also be this strong if you diligently cultivate your curse energy and nourish your innate curse tool. Here, take this curse core and grow stronger to escape your pathetic life," Ria sincerely advised Ace, passing him the curse core.


    "Thank you, I will not slack off," Ace nodded resolutely, accepting the curse core with a thirst to gain the power to protect his and his family''s freedom, as it was no longer impossible with the newfound prospects for his future.


    "It is getting late. Let us exchange our numbers and discuss the rest over an IM chat." Ria pulled out her phone to get Ace''s contact number. Exchanging contact information, she offered, "My house is on the same block as yours. I can drop you off in my car."


    "How is that possible? Last I checked, no houses were on sale in my block," Ace asked Ria, filled with dread. She shrugged and replied, "I made them an offer they couldn''t refuse."


    "Your family must be rich," Ace said, feeling as if Ria''s rich girl aura were blinding him.


    "All curse masters earn a fortune by exorcising Curselings. You will see¡ª well, if you grow stronger, that is," Ria was not mocking Ace''s curse art but telling him as it was. The only reason exorcising Curselings was worth a fortune was because of the risk associated with it.


    Noticing it was getting dark, Ace accepted Ria''s offer for a lift home, adding, "Let''s head home."


    Collecting their school bags, they soon arrived at the parking lot next to their school. Ria''s beauty did not garner attention as it was long past the last bell. At this hour, the school was akin to a graveyard.


    "No way," Ace exclaimed, seeing Ria open the door of a red Durango Hellcat.


    "Get in," Ria said, acting as if it was not a big deal. However, in her heart, she loved Ace''s reaction.


    As they headed home, Ria expressed concern, saying, "Hey, are you okay? You''re adapting to this so well that you''re freaking me out. After our run-in with the Curseling, you should be the one freaking out, scared for your life."


    "I am scared for my life. However, freaking out will do me no good. Besides, I have you by my side," Ace replied with a gentle and honest smile.


    "Aren''t you trusting someone you just met too much?" Ria appreciated Ace''s mindset but disapproved of how easily he trusted a stranger with his life.


    "As if you left me any choice," Ace said, referring to Ria forcing him to undergo the curse core initiation ceremony.


    "Don''t blame me. You asked for my help, and the way I choose to help you is up to me. Just be glad that I helped you," Ria shrugged without offering any additional explanation.


    Ace chose not to comment, as he couldn''t force Ria to explain. He needed to maintain the trusting facade since she was his door to the Curse world. Without her guiding him, he would be lost or wound up dead or worse bring harm to people around him. Regardless, he was now more concerned with Ria''s driving skills. She was getting the value for her money, riding the Fat Hellcat to its limits. He felt for the car.


    "Hey, tomorrow, let us head to school together," Ria informed, stopping in front of Ace''s house.


    "Sure," Ace agreed, getting out of Ria''s fat hellcat.


    "Come by house no.69 by eight, or I will leave without you." Ria left swiftly after dropping Ace at his house. Ace watched the speeding Hellcat with envy until it disappeared around the corner.

 Chapter 5: Toymancer

    Chapter 5: ToymancerEntering his house, Ace called out, "Ma, I''m back."


    In the kitchen, Ace found his mother busy at the cooking counter, preparing dinner, while his father was engrossed in reading the daily news on his iPad. Both of them were in their early fifties, and judging by their body frames, one could tell they had been popular in their youth. However, years of struggle took a toll on their physical appearance, making them look older than their actual age. Apart from raising their two children, this three-bedroom house represented their entire life''s work.


    "Go freshen up. Dinner will be ready soon," Mrs. Lander said, clearly busy with her tasks. Heading upstairs, Ace agreed with her aloud, "Okay."


    "You''re late. Look at your uniform¡ªIs that a shoeprint on your back? Son, were you in a fight?" Mr. Lander enquired, setting his iPad on the dinner table, and Mrs. Lander paused her cooking, turning her gaze toward their son on the staircase, wondering if her husband was right.


    "Fight? Nah, just played soccer with some friends," Ace fibbed, dismissing his parents'' worry. Heading toward his room, he quickly added, "I''ll be in my room; let me know when dinner''s ready."


    "Honey, do you think someone''s bullying our son?" Mrs. Lander queried her husband as her son locked himself in his room. "Should we bring this up with his homeroom teacher?"


    "Let''s wait. If it continues, I''ll talk to those soccer buddies of his," Mr. Lander advised his wife to be patient and watch out for apparent signs.


    Ace didn''t like lying to his parents unless necessary, primarily because they respected his decisions and generally didn''t interfere unless they felt he was doing something wrong. They were pretty cool parents, which his elder sister took full advantage of, even in her mid-twenties.


    Entering his room and locking the door. Sitting in a lotus position, Ace closed his eyes and focused on his cursed toybox within his soul space. Following his enlightenment''s guidance, he channeled his curse energy into the teak-colored wooden cube, measuring 6x6x6 inches, attempting to establish communication with it.


    Instantly, a message appeared before his eyes, written in an archaic font with golden borders and a glowing sunshine hue. Despite overlapping his field of vision, it didn''t obstruct his regular sight.


    [ ¡ª Status screen¡ª


    Name: Ace Lander


    Race: Human (¡á)


    Class: Toymancer


    Title: Curse Master


    Health: (17/95)yrs


    Physical Power: 11


    Spiritual power: 12


    Curse Energy: (201/201) Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Skills: Cursed toybox, Status screen


    Note:


    i) Class ''Toymancer'' will gain new skills with quantitative change in user''s stats.


    ii) Title ''Curse master'' will help learn curse arts.]


    [Skill name: Cursed toybox


    Skill class: Innate cursed tool


    Skill effect: Helps the Toymancer animate and enchant toys using curse cores and items. Then, store animated toys in it.


    Toy space: (0/2)


    Additional effect:


    i) Sense share: Toymancers can share their sense with their toy to monitor and manipulate them. The current range is a mile.


    ii) Recall: Toymancer can summon his toys back to his side. The current range is a mile.


    iii) Repair: Toymancer can repair their toys in the toybox by providing the parts.


    iv) Kill switch: Toymancer can detonate his toy with a command.


    Note:


    i) The toy spaces will increase with the toymancer''s spirituality and cursed energy.


    ii) The toybox can only store toys, their accessories, and curse items.]


    [Skill name: Status screen


    Skill class: Innate curse art


    Skill effect: The user can perceive their sensory information in digital data form, allowing them to index and sort data faster.


    Note: It is limited to the user''s knowledge.]


    "Awesome," Ace whooped, his voice ringing with excitement as he read his status screen. The enlightenment he gained after refining his curse core revealed that only a select few curse masters are fortunate enough to awaken their innate curse arts. As for the innate curse tool, one needs it to be called a full-fledged curse master.


    "Cursed toybox," Ace declared, summoning his innate curse tool, eager to put its power to the test. He whipped out the curse core that Ria gave him and brought it next to the cursed toybox, only to see its lid open as a flamboyant clown emerged from within it and headed back into the box after collecting the curse core.


    Snapping out of the wonders of his cursed toy box Ace eyed the lineup of action figures on his bookshelf, musing, ''Hmm, which one''s gonna be my guinea pig?''


    After a lot of struggle, Ace''s eyes locked onto a 1:60 scale master-grade model of a sentient giant robot race from a hit anime series ''Morphing Bots.'' His elder sister gifted it to him using her first salary. It was the most expensive model in his small collection. With a grin, he declared, "Starstream, you are the chosen one!"


    Grabbing the 12-inch real-grade model, Ace hesitated, wondering how on earth he''d cram it into the tiny toybox. Yet, as the model approached it, its lid popped open, and the clown popped out with ghastly laughter and promptly sucked the model inside the toybox. Ace then peeped into the box, pondering how something so small could contain a clown toy and a toy two times its height. Only to find the curse core and the robot model suspended in a dark void. With a thought, he could command the toybox''s clown to spit them back out.


    [ ¡ª Status screen¡ª


    > Curse core: Wasp form


    > Toy: Starstream morphing bot


    > Compatibility: 36%


    > Recommendation: The success rate of animating the toy ''Starstream morphing bot'' with the curse core ''Wasp form'' is low.


    Note: A compatibility rate greater than eighty percent is optimal for animating a toy.]


    "Now what?" Ace scratched his head, baffled that the curse core wasn''t a match for Starstream.


    "Sorry, Starstream, not your lucky day," Ace shrugged, plucking the model out of the toy box. Turning to the shelf, he pondered, ''Which one do I choose next?''


    Remembering that the curse core came from a Curseling shaped like a wasp and was dubbed ''Wasp form'' in the status screen, Ace figured he should opt for a toy with a similar nature this time. His eyes fell on the 1:144 scale action figure, a 5-inch tall female cyborg donning a wasp exoskeleton, on the shelf. Seizing it, he swiftly inserted it and all its accessories into the cursed toybox. Soon, the status screen once again conveyed the cursed toybox''s response to him,


    [ ¡ª Status screen¡ª


    > Curse core: Wasp form


    > Toy: Dame Wasp


    > Compatibility: 89%


    > Recommendation: The success rate of animating the toy ''Dame Wasp'' with the curse core ''Wasp form'' is high.]


    "89%, hell yeah!" Ace shouted in excitement. The compatibility was high enough, meaning his guess was correct. Since he had no other wasp-related toys, Ace commanded, "Come to life, Dame Wasp!"

 Chapter 6: Toy Summons

    Chapter 6: Toy Summons[ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    > Cursed toybox is merging curse core ''wasp form'' with toy ''Dame Wasp''¡­


    > Cursed toybox is animating the toy ''Dame Wasp'' as a toy summons¡­]


    ''You know what? Having a cyborg spy/assassin for my first toy summon might not be half bad compared to a robot that could morph into a spaceship,'' Ace mused while his cursed toybox was animating Dame Wasp. Then he reminisced, ''Dame Wasp is the main character of the science fiction action franchise ''Cyber Craft.'' The story revolves around Betty Rose, a talented engineer in a dystopian future city called Roit. Her body dies in a brutal accident, but her brain miraculously survives.''


    ''Roit International, a powerful corporation, uses Betty Rose''s brain to create a human cyborg known as Dame Wasp. It can mimic the ability of a wasp, specializing in stealth and infiltration, to carry out covert missions and gather intelligence.''


    ''They rope poor Betty into being their spy/assassin, but she ain''t having it. That''s when things get juicy. The rest of the movie series is all about Betty, or should I say, Dame Wasp, busting loose from Roit International''s grip and getting payback.''


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    > Cursed toybox has animated the toy ''Dame Wasp.''


    > Toy summon ''Dame Wasp'' added to toy space.


    > Toy space: (1/2)


    > Toymancer can now summon Dame Wasp. ]


    "Summon Dame Wasp," Ace excitedly summoned his first-ever toy summons with great anticipation.


    With Ace''s command, the toy box opened, and a beam of light shot out. In mid-air, it morphed into a 5-inch tall action figure announcing, "Dame Wasp online, awaiting your orders!"


    "D-dame wasp?" Ace gulped nervously, locking eyes with the plastic marvel floating before him. Dame Wasp''s exoskeleton shimmered as though crafted from genuine metal, and her long french braid gently swayed from side to side, as if alive, similar to a curious cat''s tail. As a real-grade model with greater detail, articulation, and more intricate inner frame designs, Dame Wasp was closest to the real thing a 5-inch tall model could be, but now she looks more realistic after being animated by the cursed toybox.


    "Yes, master," Dame Wasp replied, retracting the translucent visor into the headgear, revealing her iconic silicone face.


    [ ¡ª Status screen¡ª


    Name: Dame Wasp (Betty Rose)


    Race: Curse Tool


    Class: Toy summon


    Title: Human Cyborg (¡â)


    Durability: (100/100)


    Enchantment: 1-Star


    Individuality: (100/100)


    Curse Energy Consumption: 5 units per hour


    Skills: Toy actualization, 1/100th, Waspoid, Cyber Braid


    Note:


    i) Class ''Toy summon'' will gain new skills with quantitative change in the Toymancer''s stats.


    ii) Title ''Human Cyborg'' will give Dame Wasp access to all her character abilities.]


    [Skill name: Toy actualization


    Skill class: Innate curse art


    Skill effect: It turns the concept and idea behind the toy into reality.


    Additional effect:


    i) Toy physiology: The power to use the abilities of the toy.]


    [Skill name: 1/100th


    Skill class: Innate curse art


    Skill effect: Dame Wasp''s cybernetic body can shrink, becoming as small as 100th of her body size.


    Additional effect:


    i) Camouflage- Dame Wasp''s cybernetic body can blend in with their surroundings and avoid detection.]


    [Skill name: Waspoid


    Skill class: Innate curse tool


    Skill effect: The human-cyborg body of Dame Wasp has cybernetic components and enhancements that mimic the abilities of a wasp.


    Additional effects:


    i) Silent Flight: Insect-like wings integrated into Waspoid''s cybernetic components allow her to fly silently at high speeds, maneuvering with agility and grace in all sizes.


    ii) Cybernetic senses: Cybernetic sensory components allow enhanced vision, hearing, and detection of electromagnetic signals to perceive surroundings in great detail.


    iii) Wasp-Exoskeleton: In all its sizes, the Waspoid''s cybernetic components possess enhanced strength, agility, durability, and reflexes, allowing it to lift heavy objects, withstand powerful attacks, and survive in extreme conditions, making it a formidable combatant.


    iv) Hidden weapons: Various weapons and tools, such as cannons, blades, shields, etc, are integrated with the cybernetic body.


    v) Curse fuel core: Formed by the merger of fuel cell and curse core. Harvests and stores curse energy from the surroundings to maintain its energy levels and power its various functions and transformations


    Note: The toy summons has integrated all add-ons of the toy as cursed tools.] sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Skill name: Cyber Braid


    Skill class: Innate curse tool


    Skill effect: Dame Wasp''s cybernetic braid can transform and reconfigure itself into a data jack to hack electronic systems and project laser beams as a means of attacking enemies or a tool for cutting, welding, cleaning, etc.


    Additional effect:


    i) Repair- Dame Wasp can repair damaged or destroyed cybernetic parts, allowing her to recover from injuries in the battleground.]


    ''She can do everything that Dame Wasp did in the movie. She isn''t just like Dame Wasp, but she is better,'' Ace cheered, reading Dame Wasp''s skill on her status screen. Then, scrolling back to her stats, he mused, ''What''s durability, enchantment, Individuality, and curse energy consumption?''


    Ace noticed that the stats of his toy summons were different from his own, likely due to it being a cursed tool while he was a curse master.


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    > Durability: A gauge to determine if the toy summons can serve the Toymancer or needs repair.


    > Enchantment: A counter to record the number of times the cursed toybox has used a curse core or cursed item to enchant the toy summons.


    > Individuality: A gauge to determine if the toy summons has the sentience to execute the Toymancer''s orders. If there are identical toy summons in the cursed toybox, then the individuality will be equally divided between all the identical toy summons. Toy summons with low sentience will have a tough time following the Toymancer''s orders.


    > Curse energy consumption: A gauge to determine the amount of curse energy the Toymancer has to spend to summon his toy summons for an hour.]


    "Does this mean I should not animate another Dame Wasp toy summons unless I wanted them both to become too stupid to follow my command," Ace thought aloud, learning how the individuality stats of toy summons worked.


    If Ace were to animate another Dame Wasp, the two Dame wasps in his toy space would have fifty sentience each instead of an entire hundred. Both would be equally dumb and less intelligent than the original. The only exception to this rule was if there were identical characters in the toy summon''s backstory, like the mass-produced drones and clones in the sci-fi genre.


    Knowing that the toy summons before him was as intelligent as the original character in the film series, Ace introduced himself to Dame Wasp, "Betty Rose, I am Ace Lander. Nice to meet you."


    "Likewise, Master Ace," Betty Rose said with a gentle smile, appreciating being addressed by her birth name.

 Chapter 7: Dame Wasp, Betty Rose

    Chapter 7: Dame Wasp, Betty RoseBetty Rose''s preferences were meticulously documented in her fandom, revealing that she favored her birth name over her code name, Dame Wasp. This detail was evident to anyone who closely followed her character arc in the movie.


    But Ace preferred to come clean with her because he did not want her to be under the misconception that she was the real deal. With her abilities, she can access the net. Learning the truth there would only shatter her psyche.


    Though Dame Wasp was just an animated toy, her sentience was the same as the original Betty Rose in the movies or Ace himself. She could feel all the emotions just like humans.


    To avoid complications in the future, Ace decided to be truthful to his toy summons from the get-go, "Betty Rose, a.k.a Dame Wasp, are you aware that you are a toy that I animated and not the original?"


    "Yes, Master Ace. You have nothing to worry about in that area. The cursed toybox has updated my memory and sense of purpose. So that I can serve you to the fullest of my capabilities," Dame Wasp replied to Ace to the best of her knowledge.


    "Great," Ace perked up, learning that the cursed toybox had taken care of everything.


    "Betty Rose, now fly around the room at your fastest speed," Ace ordered, wanting to gauge the agility of Dame Wasp.


    Betty Rose, fueled by her master''s command, darted through the room with remarkable speed, her movements agile and precise. Ace observed closely, noting the grace and swiftness with which Dame Wasp maneuvered through the air. Most impressive of all, she made no noise. Her wings did not produce buzzing noise like the wings of the Houseflies, Mosquitoes, Bees, or Wasps.


    "Wow," Ace exclaimed in excitement as Dame Wasp halted before him after a quick lap around the 10x10 room. Then he asked, "Rose, what is your flight speed?"  sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "My current average flight speed is 28 miles per hour, with a top speed of 45 miles per hour. If not for my small body, I would have achieved an even higher speed," Dame Wasp boasted, seeking to impress her master with her impressive capabilities despite her diminutive size.


    "Does that mean you will be slower when you shrink?" Ace asked in concern. After all, for the foreseeable future, Dame Wasp was his only defense/offense against Curselings as he had used the only extra curse core on him to animate her.


    "No, Master Ace. When my body shrinks, it will have the same density and energy as my current size. Allowing me to display far superior capabilities," Dame Wasp explained and added, "Let me demonstrate, Activate 1/100th."


    Soon, Dame Wasp''s size reduced to a hundredth of her size. 1.2mm tall, she was smaller than a mosquito. To the naked eye, she was invisible most of the time as she completed a lap of the room. Ace couldn''t find her until she halted before his eyes and excitedly said, "Did you see Master Ace? In this size, my average speed of flight is the same as my top speed in my regular size. This speed is not my limit. It will increase with quantitive change in my stats."


    "Awesome, now try and lift that dumbbell," Ace ordered, pointing at the dusty 40-pound steel dumbbell in the corner of the room.


    In her 1/100th size, Dame Wasp flew next to the dumbbell. Getting a grip on its edge, she lifted it 5 feet above the ground and then above her head with ease. Showcasing that despite her size, her grip and strength were not to be underestimated.


    If one were not paying attention or had poor vision, they would think the dumbbell was floating by itself. If Dame Wasp were to turn on her camouflage, she could easily fool any regular person into thinking that.


    "Now, place it down and use your braid laser to inscribe my name on it¡ªor maybe make a hole from one end of its shaft to the other," Ace demanded, trying to gauge the limits of Dame Wasp''s laser.


    Dame Wasp''s braid came alive and morphed into a laser point and projected a thin beam of laser at the steel dumbbell with super precision, inscribing the words ''Ace Lander''s property'' in calligraphy faster than it would take Ace to write the same in his regular handwriting using a marker.


    Next, finding the center of the dumbbell shaft, Dame Wasp increased the intensity of the laser beam to dig a hole in it as Ace had asked her to while keeping the noise to the minimum. Two minutes later, the laser beam shot out from the other end of the 25-cm-long steel shaft.


    "Now that was awesome," Ace exclaimed in excitement but then mused aloud, "Will this be enough to fight Curselings?"


    "Master, if I consume your curse energy, I can shoot higher-intensity laser beams and display far superior prowess. But your curse energy reserves will deplete faster," Dame Wasp informed to ease her master''s worries.


    "That''s assuring to hear, but let us save it for desperate times," Ace nodded and then continued, "Rose, let''s try sense sharing."


    Sharing Dame Wasp''s sense, Ace saw the world throught her cybernetic sensory components. It was more detailed and felt like playing a full-immersive version of the flight simulator. Such an experience was only possible because of her cybernetic sensory system. Also, everything else appeared bigger because of her small size. It was a unique experience, especially seeing his motionless body from a third-person view.


    ''I can only use this skill when in a safe area,'' Ace thought, looking at how defenseless his body was when using the sense share skill.


    ''Rose, head downstairs. Let us see what''s for dinner,'' Ace commanded Dame Wasp. Flying through the door gap, Dame Wasp headed toward the kitchen to find that his father was no longer fiddling with his iPad but hugging his mother from behind while she stirred the chili pot. They both gently swayed to "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston, playing on the iPad, enjoying each other''s company.


    ''Awe!'' Ace was happy that his parents could be this romantic with each other even after two and a half decades of marriage. Then he ordered, ''Rose, head outside to house no.69.''

 Chapter 8: Rias Hidden Agenda

    Chapter 8: Ria''s Hidden Agenda''Is this what a completely functional VR technology would feel like?'' Ace wondered as Dame Wasp, in her 1/100th form, flew towards Ria''s house under the starry night sky.


    Through their shared senses, he could feel the cool breeze of wind brushing past her synthetic body, and experience the altitude and agility of her flight as if he were right there. Not to mention the breathtaking sight, Ace never knew flying through his neighbors'' flower beds and vegetable gardens in ''1/100th form'' under the illumination of the porch lights and the stars would feel so adventurous.


    The rush Ace felt seeing insects of the same or larger than Dame wasp''s 1/100th form was just otherworldly. Dame Wasp eradicated any pesky insect that dared to target her with her insane strength, and the excitement Ace experienced was beyond what modern VR games could offer. Particularly when this one 2-inch mantis suddenly jumped out of the bushes, aiming for Dame Wasp with its blades. In response, Her cyber braid swiftly morphed and shot a laser beam, splitting it into two halves.


    ''Master Ace, we are here,'' Dame Wasp reported with house no.69 in sight.


    Beautiful transfer student / powerful curse master / rich new neighbor, these were all Ace knew about Ria. Beyond that, she was an enigma. However, Ria seems to know about Ace''s school and home life. Earlier, she not only knew that they lived in the same neighborhood but did not need directions to his house. Not to forget, the array drawn with animal blood for his curse core initiation ceremony was in place even before he asked her to help. Therefore, Ace thought her helping him wasn''t a coincidence or a whim but pre-planned.


    Regardless of how rich Ria was, the awakening array, cursed wooden clown box, mental recovery pill, and curse core, each one of them, would have cost her a hefty sum, not to mention the time it would have taken her to draw the array with animal blood on the school roof avoiding the eyes of the school janitor and the security. This whole thing stunk of conspiracy, but Ace seemed to ignore or be forgetful of these minor details in her presence.


    ''Ria being beautiful and me being a virgin has nothing to do with this,'' Ace denied the obvious out of pride. It was an age-old stereotype that a beautiful woman could get the virgin geek to do anything with just a smile. But Ace believed he would not be led by a woman, even if she puts out. His forgetfulness must be related to something else.


    ''Rose, turn on camouflage, infiltrate the house, and gather information on the target,'' Ace ordered Dame Wasp.


    Entering camouflage mode, Dame Wasp entered the house through the gap between the main door and its threshold. The house was empty, with no sign of any necessary furniture. Even though Ria had just moved in, the house should have had a few boxes that needed unpacking, but it had none. If not for seeing the red hellcat SUV in the driveway, Ace would have thought they had entered the wrong house.


    Suddenly, they heard the sound of running tap water from above. Following the noise, Dame Wasp headed to the main bedroom on the first floor. It had a new mattress on the floor, a mini fridge by its side, and a dresser with a full-body mirror. The room was cleaner than the rest of the house. Ace noticed Ria''s phone on the dresser table, along with a laptop. Then, heading to the attached bathroom, they found Ria in a bathrobe, preparing the bathtub for a soak.


    ''Great timing!'' Ace''s thought burst out and instructed Dame Wasp, ''Rose, quick, use this opportunity to hack into her phone and laptop to copy all the data in her devices. Let us see who the real Ria Hart is.''


    Following Ace''s instruction, Dame Wasp headed back to the dressing table. Morphing her cyber braid into a data jack, she prepared to connect to Ria''s phone through the USB-C port, but just then, the phone rang. Aborting the mission, she quickly hid behind the full-body mirror. She had camouflage, but Ria was a curse master. Underestimating her would be foolish.  S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Argh! Who is calling at this hour? I just added the salts to the tub," Ria complained aloud as she came out of the bathroom in a fit, but her expression turned dignified, reading the caller ID ''Loki'' on the phone screen. She solemnly picked up her phone and answered the call, "Loki, I was just about to call you to give a report."


    "Save your excuses for later. Did you find a candidate?" Loki asked sternly. Thanks to Dame Wasp''s cybernetic hearing system, Ace could hear Loki as clearly as if he were the one answering the call.


    "Not only have I found a suitable candidate fitting my requirements, but I have also contacted him. You will be happy to know he has refined his curse core and forged his innate curse tool in a single try," Ria proudly reported to Loki.


    "That means his innate curse tool should be formidable. What is his innate curse tool called, and what is its ability?" Loki asked eagerly. Her anger had eased, learning the progress of Ria''s mission was further ahead than she expected.


    "It''s called ''cursed toybox.'' However, it has yet to reveal its ability to him. I have given him a curse core of a knight-tire Curseling. If he were to diligently nourish his innate curse tool then he should learn its ability in a week or two," Ria promptly informed Loki and added her titbit, "I don''t want to count my chickens before they hatch, but I feel that his innate curse tool''s ability might be a storage-type curse tool."


    "If it is a storage-type curse tool, as you guessed, then you will have made a remarkable contribution to our society and be rewarded with appropriate merit points," Loki acknowledged Ria''s effort but warned, "Ensure you complete your cleanup thoroughly before finishing. Don''t leave any loose ends. It would be a pity to deduct half of your merit points for something like that."


    "Rest assured, this isn''t my first time. The boy and his sister are at odds with the local gang. I will make it seem like they all died in a home invasion," Ria calmly replied as if it was a regular thing for her.


    "Good to know, but send me the boy and his family''s details just in case," Loki instructed.


    "Sure, I will do that," Ria agreed and hung up the call. Then, placing the phone back on the dressing table, she headed to the bathroom without sharing the details Loki asked for while uttering, "Does she take me for a fool."

 Chapter 9: Gloria Hart, Steal Song Society

    Chapter 9: Gloria Hart, Steal Song SocietyAs Ria stepped into the bathtub to indulge in a soothing soak, Dame Wasp used her cyber braid data jack to hack into Ria''s phone. The phone''s security was no match for her cybernetic system. Then, she proceeded to copy all the data from Ria''s phones as Ace had asked her to.


    ''Rose, go through her IMs and pull up all her conversations with Loki,'' Ace instructed Dame Wasp after recovering from his shock upon learning Ria''s true motives for him.


    From Ria''s conversation with Loki, it was evident that Ria was grooming him for his innate cursed tool. She planned to plunder it from his corpse after learning its ability. She didn''t just plan to kill him but kill his entire family to erase future troubles.


    Soon, Dame Wasp''s visor reflected Ria''s IMs. Loki was present in two conversations. One was a group chat belonging to their secret society, ''Steal Song,'' while the other was a private chat between Loki and Ria. Ace went through Ria''s IMs while Dame Wasp continued to execute her mission. Ria''s IMs revealed her true identity to Ace, astonishing him once again. The biggest shocker to Ace was Ria''s age. She wasn''t a teenage high schoolgirl but a middle-aged woman in her late forties.


    Ria Hart was Gloria Hart, a popular daytime TV host who suddenly quit the show at its peak, stating that she was taking a sabbatical from public life. Her private chat with Loki started a day before that. The chat history revealed that Loki had approached Gloria and similarly recruited her as Gloria had recruited Ace.


    Though Gloria Hart had achieved a successful career as a talk show host, she was almost fifty with immense wealth but nobody to share it with. She spent many nights sleepless, fearing that someone younger and more ambitious than her would replace her. As no amount of makeup or Botox could hide her age anymore. So, she fell prey to Loki''s temptation.


    However, when Loki hunted Gloria for her innate curse tool, Gloria offered to pay millions to buy her own life and innate curse tool from Loki. This way, Gloria had not only managed to survive but joined the secret society ''Steal Song'' under Loki''s recommendation.


    Gloria soon learned the teachings of Steal Song society under the direction of Loki. The Steal Songs were a secret society of rogue curse masters. On the surface, they made their living only by hunting Curselings. However, in secret, their primary source of living was made by finding people with an aptitude for curse energy, grooming them for their innate curse tool, harvesting their innate curse tool, and selling them for millions in the curse market.


    Forging curse tools with good abilities was difficult and expensive, as it was a game of chance. Nobody knew what kind of ability a curse tool would awaken. But the Steal Song had found a cruel loophole. It was only for those who lost touch with their humanity.


    Though Gloria was not short on money, she still harvested innate curse tools from 7 innocent teenagers to acquire society''s merit points, which she needed to learn curse arts provided by the society that can only be bought using their merit points.


    Unlike Loki, who targeted single and insecure old women who were not only gullible but whose sudden suicide would not lift anybody''s eyebrow, Gloria used her innate curse tool ''Charm Earring'' to relive the peak of her life by transferring from high school to high school, while targeting neglected teens with troubled household or school life whom she could control with a simple smile. Then, she would cover their death as an accident or suicide.


    Gloria''s phone had all the reconnaissance she had done before selecting her victims and committing the crime. Each one of these victims was either having problems at home or bullied in school. She effortlessly gained their trust with a few smiles and compassionate words. Introducing them to the new world, she harvested them when they were ripe.  Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace was Gloria''s eighth target. She has been monitoring him for a week before finally approaching him. He barely fit the template of her usual victims with his overprotective parents. But he had an unusually high aptitude for curse energy. So, she made an exception this time, planning to kill everyone who would look into his death with him.


    Everything so far was within Gloria''s calculation, except for one tiny detail. Ace had learned his innate curse tool ''Cursed Toybox''s'' ability sooner than she expected, thanks to his innate curse art ''Status screen.'' As Loki and Gloria expected, Ace''s innate curse tool ability was formidable, even more so than what they had imagined.


    ''Master Ace, mission complete. Awaiting further orders,'' Dame Wasp''s mission update awakened Ace from his contemplation.


    ''Good job, Rose. Continue to hide for now,'' Ace instructed Dame Wasp to hide so he could think of the next course of action¡ªdealing with Gloria.


    ''Hand over the evidence of Gloria''s crime to cops¡ªno, that would be stupid. Who should the cops catch, Gloria or Ria? Even if they believe Ria is Gloria, with her strength, she can escape their pursuit easily. Then, I will have to look out for her revenge every moment. That won''t do.''


    ''Maybe I can join the ''Steal Song'' society. But I do not have millions to pay the entry fee or the strength to be invited by them. Even if I somehow manage to join them, I would have to overlook their crimes and be an indirect participant.''


    ''Joining them or calling the cops, neither one of them is an option. There has to be some other way¡ª'' While Ace struggled to make up his mind, Dame Wasp interrupted him, ''Master, if I may?''


    ''Rose, you don''t need to ask permission. Speak your mind,'' Ace said. He could use a second opinion right now.


    ''Master, isn''t it obvious? You have to get rid of Gloria,'' Dame Wasp suggested what she thought was the best fix for the problem.

 Chapter 10: Seven Tiers Of Curse Energy Mastery

    Chapter 10: Seven Tiers Of Curse Energy Mastery''...'' Ace was without words listening to Dame Wasp suggest that he kill Gloria. It was not as if that thought had not crossed Ace''s mind, but he ignored it as he was not a killer and sought to solve it as a regular high schooler would.


    Feeling that her master''s mindset and outlook were not fit for the problem at hand, Dame Wasp narrated her experience to stir him in the right direction, ''Master, the original me kept running from the Roit corporation and never confronted them because she did not want violence and bloodshed. However, they never stopped coming for her. Anywhere she would find a place to call home or someone to call family, they would find her and destroy it all.''


    ''She had begun to think she was bad luck as destruction followed everywhere and everything she touched. But the truth was she was running from her problems and making things worse for herself. Only when she faced the Roit cooperation and uprooted them did she finally gain her freedom and get a new lease on her life¡ª''


    ''Woah, Rose, I am going to stop you right there. I hate to be blunt, but that''s a movie, and this is real life. I don''t want to be a murderer,'' Ace cut off Dame Wasp in the middle, as he felt that he should not let his fear dictate his actions.


    ''What about the Curse Investigation Bureau that they keep mentioning in their group chat? If they are anything like regular authorities, I could reach out to them for help,'' Ace proposed, brainstorming with Dame Wasp.


    ''I was able to retrieve the deleted text of the group chat using the phone''s auto backup and found that two people from the Curse Investigation Bureau are on the Steal Song society''s payroll. I think you approaching the CIB will only hasten your demise,'' Dame Wasp pointed out, doing her best to help her master.


    ''Not everyone in CIB is corrupt, right? Damn it all,'' Ace cursed in frustration finding that he could not trust anybody. He was all on his own.


    ''This isn''t how it is supposed to be,'' Ace muttered. A few days ago, he was a regular schoolboy planning to party hard in college. Now, he was at odds with the 9Ks and a target of the Steal Song society. His life seemed to spiral out of his control.


    Feeling the unrest of her master, Dame Wasp spoke, reminding him of his priorities, ''Master, I can''t tell you what to do, but I can tell you that if your hesitation causes your family harm, you will never be able to forgive yourself.''


    Being reminded by Dame Wasp of what was at stake here, Ace pulled himself together. He chuckled, seeing that his animated toy was advising him. This whole thing was absurd. Just then, Ace realized he wasn''t a regular high schooler anymore. So, he should stop trying to live as a regular high schooler. Didn''t he resolve to protect his family''s freedom with his newfound powers? Determined, Ace decided to take matters into his own hands.


    With firm eyes, Ace agreed with Dame Wasp, ''Yes, Rose. You are right. In the end, it''s me or Gloria. I need to get rid of her for my family¡ªno, to protect everything I hold dear.''


    In his entire life, Ace had never intentionally harmed a soul, yet once again, he found himself considering killing a person, as even if Ace chose to stay out of trouble, the trouble seemed to find him.


    The first person Ace contemplated killing was Mike, and now Gloria. Back then, Ace could not of a scenario where he could kill Mike without getting caught. He wasn''t afraid of the jail time but the 9Ks, they would not only come for him but also for his family, so he did not give in to his intrusive thoughts.


    But in Gloria''s case, it was different. Ace had to get rid of her before she came for him and his family. If she were to disappear, nobody would suspect him. Still, he would have to be careful of Steal Song society''s investigation into Gloria''s disappearance. However, all that was if he could kill Gloria. After all, Ace stood no chance in a head-on confrontation against her.


    The Steal Soul Society''s group chat was very informative to Ace about its members, their atrocities, the world of curses, and Curse masters in general. It was where Ace learned that Curse masters, based on their control over curse energy, could be categorized into seven tiers,


    i) Mortal Tier: In this tier, Curse masters can control their curse energy to cause change to their mortal body.


    Ex: Curse reinforcement-I, augmenting physical prowess with curse energy.


    ii) Knight Tier: In this tier, Curse masters can control their curse energy to cause changes outside their mortal body to their surroundings.


    Ex: Curse reinforcement-II, augmenting the prowess of an object with curse energy.


    iii) Hero Tier: In this tier, Curse masters can control their curse energy to cause changes in their dynamic surroundings.


    Ex: Curse reinforcement-III, augmenting the prowess of a projectile with curse energy or shooting curse energy as projectiles.


    iv) Earth Tier: In this tier, Curse masters can control their curse energy to cause changes to Earth in their surroundings.  Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ex: Wall steps, using curse energy to walk on walls.


    v) Ocean Tier: In this tier, Curse masters can control their curse energy to cause changes to water in their surroundings.


    Ex: Water steps, using curse energy to walk on water.


    vi) Sky Tier: In this tier, Curse masters can control their curse energy to cause changes to the wind in their surroundings.


    Ex: Wind steps, using curse energy to walk on the wind.


    vii) Void Tier: In this tier, Curse masters can control their curse energy to cause changes to the space in their surroundings.


    Ex: Void steps, using curse energy to walk in the void.


    Ace, who had yet to master control over his curse energy, was not eligible for these tiers. Meanwhile, Gloria was a hero-tier curse master and had achieved curse reinforcement-III, which was how she could kill the huge wasp Curseling.


    So even if Ace wanted to kill Gloria, he could not, as they were leagues apart. Not to forget, these tiers did not account for the vast difference in their curse energy, stats, and skills.

 Chapter 11: Innate/Acquired Curse Arts

    Chapter 11: Innate/Acquired Curse ArtsCurse masters can grow their curse energy and stats using the curse cores dropped by Curselings. As for the skills, the Curse master can gain them in two different ways. First, innately, during the curse core initiation ceremony. These skills are called Innate curse arts. Second, learning and practicing curse arts, these skills are called Acquired curse arts.


    Even though Gloria never actively hunted Curselings, she had killed seven teenagers to harvest their innate curse tools and exchanged them for curse cores and two curse arts. With these curse cores, her curse energy might have entered three digits, meanwhile mastering the two curse arts helped her reach the peak of Hero-tier in curse control.


    Dame Wasp had found four curse arts, Body reinforcement, Curse Detection, Curse Shroud, and Curse Slash, saved in Gloria''s devices. These curse arts were ranked and priced based on curse energy control a Curse master could achieve by or require to master them.


    [Curse Art: Body reinforcement


    Curse Tier: Mortal Tier S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Effect: The user can enhance their physical prowess using this curse art. Its master will help the user achieve curse reinforcement I.


    Cost: Steal Song Society welcome gift]


    [Curse Art: Curse Detection


    Curse Tier: Mortal Tier


    Effect: Under regular conditions, the user can utilize it to sense curse energy in their surroundings by augmenting their senses using curse reinforcement-I.


    Cost: Steal Song Society welcome gift]


    [Curse Art: Curse shroud


    Curse Tier: Knight Tier


    Curse Effect: The user can hide their curse energy and erase their presence with this curse art. Its mastery will help the user achieve curse reinforcement II.


    Cost: One innate curse tool]


    [Curse Art: Curse slash


    Curse Tier: Hero Tier


    Curse Effect: The user can release concentrated curse energy from their fingertips, creating powerful slashing attacks. Its mastery will help the user achieve curse reinforcement III.


    Cost: Four innate curse tools]


    Body reinforcement curse art was a welcome gift for everyone joining the Steal Song Society. Also, the only curse art that Gloria did not practice as she believed it would make her body frame bulky and broader, similar to a man''s body frame. So, Gloria bought the curse art ''curse shroud'' with one innate curse tool to practice her curse energy control instead of having to rely on the body reinforcement curse art.


    Aside from these acquired curse arts, Gloria''s innate curse tool, ''Charm Earrings,'' was also not to be underestimated. Even though its ability was deemed subpar by Steal Song Society, it was because of its ability she was able to go around fooling and killing teenagers without being suspected. It even had Ace believing her lies and ignoring the obvious tell signs.


    Fortunately for Ace, as the newest and weakest member of the Steal Soul Society, Gloria had to ''discuss'' the abilities of her ''Charm Earrings'' in the group chat. So, he knew that Gloria''s innate curse tool did not have any offensive abilities except for charming her targets.


    Overall, Gloria had Hero-tier curse energy control, high triple-digit curse energy, superior stats, subpar innate curse tool (Charm Earrings), and a minimum of three acquired curse arts. She was far from something a newbie like Ace, who awakened as Curse Master a few hours ago, could contend against.


    ''How am I supposed to kill someone so powerful?'' Ace pondered. Now that he had decided to take matters into his own hands and kill Gloria before she came for him and his family, the answer to how he would see through his decision remained elusive to him.


    ''Master, you don''t have to fight her directly. You can try to assassinate her in her sleep for one or poison her food and drinks. With my capabilities, she will never know what hit her,'' Dame Wasp offered her services as a professional assassin.


    ''Yes, we can do that. But where do we find a poison strong enough to take down a Curse master? I don''t think rat poison will kill her,'' Ace agreed with Dame Wasp''s suggestion, but where was he supposed to find a strong poison? He did not suppose rat poison could kill a Curse master whose physique was augmented by curse energy.


    ''Master, I noticed a few poison mushrooms in your neighbor''s garden on my way here. If we dry, grind, and mix them, we can make a poison strong enough to kill an elephant,'' Dame Wasp informed, willing to give her best to help her master.


    ''Wait, we don''t need to go through all that trouble. Rose, in your 1/100th form, can you stealthy enter Gloria''s ear?'' Ace proposed.


    ''I am currently 1.2 mm tall, and with my camouflage, I can enter Gloria''s ear canal without being noticed. Master, I like your plan better. I think you have a future as an assassin,'' Dame Wasp was genuinely impressed by her master''s idea. She wondered why she never thought of this before.


    That''s because the original Dame Wasp character was 6 feet tall in the movies, and in her 1/100th form, she would be close to 2cm tall. At that size, it would be impossible for her to enter a person''s ear without being noticed, even with her silent flight and camouflage. However, as a 5 inch toy, it was a different story.


    ''This is only a one-time thing. I don''t want to make a career out of this, let alone something I am good at. However, you got this right, or we could just stick to poisoning her food,'' Ace asked, as they would only have one chance at assassinating Gloria. If they failed, he had no idea how she would react. Therefore, Ace preferred a plan with the highest success rate.


    ''Don''t worry, Master Ace. I got this. I think we should strike when she is fast asleep. She would never see us coming,'' Dame Wasp had already planned her course of action to assassinate Gloria.


    ''Okay then, let us wait till she is asleep,'' Ace agreed with Dame Wasp''s plan to assassinate Gloria in her sleep.


    At that moment, they heard the sound of water draining from the tub in the bathroom. Shortly after, the noise of a blowdryer starting filled the air. A sudden thought crossed Ace''s mind, and then he quickly instructed, ''Rose, go check on Gloria.''

 Chapter 12: First Blood

    Chapter 12: First BloodDame Wasp flew into the bathroom, where she discovered Gloria seated on the edge of the tub, clad in her white bathrobe. Gloria had her head tilted sideways, revealing her beautiful neck and ear, as she dried her hair with a blow dryer. The sound of the blow dryer filled the small bathroom, echoing and amplifying in the confined space.


    Looking at the defenseless Gloria drying her hair, unsuspecting of her surroundings, Ace''s eyes shone with a cruel determination. He then informed Dame Wasp, ''Rose, this is a perfect chance. Use the sound of the blow dryer as a cover to charge into her ear with your fastest speed. At the moment of impact, muster all your strength and increase your size. If you get lodged into her ear canal or middle ear, shoot your strongest laser into her brain. We have one chance, so give it your all and make it count.''


    ''Leave to me, master. Watch me take this bitch down,'' Dame Wasp declared confidently and added, ''Master, I will limit our ''sense share'' to our thoughts because what is going to happen next will not be a pleasant experience.''


    ''Okay, go ahead and do that. I will wait for the news,'' Ace did not reject Dame Wasp''s proposal to limit the ''sense share'' skill to their thoughts. This way, Ace would not have to witness the blood and gore but be prepared to use the ''kill switch'' skill if required. It was just the last resort in case of something unexpected.


    With her camouflage and the noise of the blow dryer, Dame Wasp believed she could infiltrate and navigate through Gloria''s ear canal to reach her middle ear without getting noticed. Unlike her master, she had already used her knowledge of human anatomy to create a detailed and foolproof plan to assassinate Gloria without any complications.


    As planned, Dame Wasp entered Gloria''s ear in her 1/100 form and camouflage mode under the cover of the blow dryer''s noise. Avoiding the ear wax and hairs, the natural protective mechanism of the ear, Dame Wasp navigated through the curves and narrow sections of the ear canal and made it to the middle ear, stopping in front of the eardrum.


    At this point, feeling a sense of discomfort and irritation in her ear from the moment of wind created by Dame Wasp''s flapping wings, Gloria stopped drying her hair and reflexively began to shake her head. She instinctively began to scratch and pick her ear with her pinky, believing water might have gotten into her ear. Unfortunately for her, that wasn''t the case, and it was too late for her to do anything about it.


    Ignoring the turbulence, Dame Wasp morphed her cyber braid into a laser point and shot her powerful laser beam at ear dram at an angle such that it burned through all the soft tissues and made it to Gloria''s brain stem in a second.


    The average distance from the human eardrum to the brainstem is approximately 3 to 4 centimeters (about 1.2 to 1.6 inches). Destroying it was child''s play for Dame Wasp, compared to burning a hole in a 25-cm-long pure steel dumbbell shaft.


    With a severely damaged brainstem, before she knew it, Gloria fell to the ground with a terrified look, conscious and aware but unable to move or communicate. Dame Wasp did not stop with Gloria''s fall. She continued to shoot laser until a tunnel big enough for her to fit in formed. Then, entering it, Dame Wasp swiftly expanded her size. With a 5-inch action figure lodged in her brain, Gloria died with blood flowing from her eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Until the very end, she did not know what had transpired.


    After making sure Gloria''s heartbeat had stopped and showed no sign of revival, Dame Wasp was about to exit through Gloria''s ear in her 1/100th form. But Gloria''s corpse, with the blood and brain matter covering Dame Wasp, dissipated, forming a mass of curse energy, leaving behind a pair of stud diamond earrings.


    ''What happened?'' Ace asked, lifting the limit on the ''sense share'' skill, sensing shock and confusion from Dame Wasp.


    ''Master, I think those earrings are devouring Gloria''s corpse by turning it into curse energy,'' Dame Wasp speculated, pointing at the earrings at the center of the swirling curse energy, slowly entering it.


    ''That should be ''Charm Earrings,'' Gloria''s innate curse tool,'' Ace muttered, not knowing how to feel about this. Though vivid, this eerie and unsettling scene felt like a realistic video game, especially with Gloria''s corpse vanishing and dropping a cursed item.  S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Master, don''t dwell on it. Just remember those dear to you are safe now,'' Dame Wasp reminded Ace to focus on the positive instead of dwelling on the negative.


    ''Thank you, Rose. If not for you, none of this would have been possible,'' Ace sincerely thanked Dame Wasp. From uncovering Gloria''s true intentions for him to assassinating her, were all only possible because of Dame Wasp. If not for her, Gloria''s plan would gone without a hitch.


    Ace felt that it was fate that Dame Wasp was his first animated toy and not the morphing bot Starstream he chose first. If he had animated some other toy, they would not have been able to achieve the results that Dame Wasp had accomplished today.


    ''It is my purpose to serve and protect you, Master. You can always count on me to do exactly that,'' Dame Wasp replied, feeling a sense of fulfillment listening to her master''s words of gratitude and appreciation.


    As a toy summons animated by her master''s prowess, the only purpose of Dame Wasp''s being was to serve her master. She was willing to kill and die for Ace. As for her memories as Betty Rose/ Dame Wasp, to her, they were mere tools to help her better serve her master.


    Soon, a string of text message notifications from Gloria''s phone distributed the rare moment shared by Toymancer and his Toy summons.

 Chapter 13: Aftermath

    Chapter 13: Aftermath''Rose, grab the stub earrings first and then check on Gloria''s phone,'' Ace instructed Dame Wasp.


    Reverting to her original size, Dame Wasp held the stud diamond earrings in one hand and flew to Gloria''s phone. Unlocking the phone, she found that it was the Steal Song Society''s group chat that had suddenly become active,


    [Aztec: @Everyone, It''s confirmed the newbie died.]


    [Bane1: @Aztec. How did she die?] S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [EchoEcho: @Loki, I thought Loki already killed her.]


    [Aztec: @Bane1, No idea. All I know is that the newbie''s curse signature in the society''s records vanished a minute ago.]


    [Bane1: @Aztec, Was it a Curseling or a Curse master?]


    [Aztec: @Bane1, What did I just say? I have no idea.]


    [RadRider: @Loki, Someone contact Loki. She should know. They were close.]


    [Loki: @RadRider, How am I supposed to know what happened to her? I''m not her babysitter. But if I had to guess, considering her cautious nature, she would never fight a Curseling unless it''s a tier below her. So it must be a Curse Master. A powerful one at that because she could not even send a distress signal.]


    [Aztec: @Loki, You are the newbie''s mentor. You are responsible for her.]


    [Azel: @Aztec, Are you gonna investigate her death? How many merit points do I snag if I sign up for the investigation team?]


    [Bane1: @Azel, That''s cold, bruh. It''s only been a few minutes since she bit it. I bet her corpse ain''t even cold yet.]


    [Mindbug: @Bane1, I doubt that. Her innate cursed tool should''ve chomped her corpse up by now. Whoever offed her must be grinning like crazy. If I''d known, I''d have done the job myself.]


    [Bot1: @Mindbug, You have been muted for the next 24 hours by @Aztec.]


    [Azel: @Bane1, I''m too broke to give a damn about some dead newbie. If you''re feeling all sympathetic, why don''t you loan me a few merits?]


    [Aztec: @Azel, Investigation of a society member''s death falls under mandatory duty. You will not get any merits for that.]


    [Azel: @Aztec, Then forget I ever offered.]


    [Loki: @Aztec, No need to form an investigation team. As her mentor, I will handle it.]


    [Aztec: @Loki, What about your current mission?]


    [Bane1: @Loki, Way to stepup, Bruh. Love you.]


    [EchoEcho: @Loki, Did you kill the newbie?]


    [Loki: @Aztec, I''ll wrap up my mission in a day, then head over to where the newbie bit the dust.]


    [Loki: @EchoEcho, Bitch, shut the fuck up.]


    [Aztec: @Loki, Do you need any help? I can assign someone.]


    [EchoEcho: @Loki, Share the location. I will join you.]


    [Loki: @Aztec, No need to waste society''s resources on this. I will handle it alone.]


    [Loki: @EchoEcho, if I share the location, do you dare to come?]


    [EchoEcho: @Loki, Humph, you meanie.]


    [MadamThree: @Everyone, The newbie is online. Isn''t she dead? Do you think her killer is lurking in our chat?]


    [Bane1: @Ria, You dare to kill one of us. We will hunt you down till the ends of the earth. I am right, Loki?]


    [Azel: @Ria, Mr.Lurker, If you are willing to pay good money, I don''t mind betraying these people.]


    [Bot1: @Azel, You have been muted for the next 48 hours by @Aztec.]


    ''Rose, quick. Destroy all the data in Gloria''s cloud and device storage. Then burn the laptop and phone to ashes with your laser,'' Ace ordered Dame Wasp immediately after the society members caught him lurking in their group chat.


    ''Master, if we go offline now, won''t they know you were lurking?'' Dame Wasp pointed out.


    ''So what? I''m worried that one of them might have some strange curse ability to spy on us or curse us or travel through the phones or something,'' Ace remarked.


    ''Oh, I didn''t think of that. I''ll destroy everything right away,'' Dame Wasp declared, swiftly wiping Gloria''s cloud and local storage clean before reducing the phone and laptop to ashes with her laser.


    ''Good, now use your sensors to scan the rooms. See if Gloria had something stashed in here,'' Ace instructed Dame Wasp, hoping to find some curse cores or pills that Gloria had kept for her use.


    ''Sorry, master. I could not find anything,'' Dame Wasp went around every room, scanning them, but found nothing.


    ''Not your fault, Rose. Animals only hunt when hungry. I was her meal ticket, but unfortunately, I became her ticket to the afterlife,'' Ace lamented. Then he asked Dame Wasp, ''Rose, if I use the ''recall'' skill on you, will the earrings be teleported with you, or will they be left behind.''


    ''I don''t know, Master. We can only try it first. If the earrings don''t come with me, I can come back to fetch them,'' Dame Wasp and Ace had never used the ''recall'' skill, so they had little idea about its working.


    ''Okay, see you in a bit.'' Ace then deactivated the ''sense share'' skill and soon found himself back inside his room. He moved his hands to feel his body and then used the ''recall'' skill on Dame Wasp.


    *Poof!* Dame Wasp manifested right next to him out of thin air while holding the stud diamond earrings in her hand.


    "It worked," both Toymancer and Toy summons cheered simultaneously.


    Taking the ''charm earrings'' from Dame Wasp, Ace stored them in the only empty toy space in the cursed toybox. Soon, the cursed toybox used the Ace''s status screen innate curse art to convey the Charm Earring''s abilities to him.


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    Skill Name: Charm Earrings


    Skill Type: Innate Curse Tool


    Skill Effect: The user can change their physical appearance to all walks of life, from young to old, on their whim.


    Additional Effect:


    i) Flawless skin: The wearer gains flawless skin regardless of age and ailments.


    ii) Charm Blind: Everyone will easily trust the wearer''s words.


    iii) Fat Ratio: The wearer''s extra body fat will be converted and stored as curse energy, maintaining an optimal body composition.


    iv) Symmetrical body alignment: The wearer gains a balanced and proportional arrangement of body parts in terms of size, shape, and position.


    Note: The user cannot change their appearance to look like others as they can only change their age.]


    [Curse Tool: Charm Earrings


    Toy Summons: Dame Wasp


    Compatibility: 39%


    Recommendation: the success rate of using the curse tool ''Charm Earrings'' to enchant Toy Summons ''Dame Wasp'' is very low.


    Note: A higher success rate requires a minimum compatibility of eighty percent.]


    ''This Charm earring''s abilities are every girl''s dream ability,'' Ace remarked, reading the charm earring''s abilities and wasn''t surprised by the low compatibility rate between Dame Wasp and the charm earrings. After all, they had different skill sets and had nothing in common.

 Chapter 14: Apex Boy Band

    Chapter 14: Apex Boy Band"This Charm earring''s abilities are every girl''s dream ability," Ace remarked, reading the charm earring''s abilities, and wasn''t surprised by the low compatibility rate between Dame Wasp and the charm earrings. After all, they had different skill sets and had nothing in common.


    "Master, I have to remind you, Loki will be here in a day. Even if he claims it''s for investigating Gloria''s murder, I believe he''s headed here to harvest the corp Gloria planted. That is you, my dear master. Considering the proximity between Gloria''s house and your home, the chances of him finding you are good. If he has a better curse detection art, his chances of finding you increase considerably. So, I suggest you go into hiding for a few months. But, if you choose to stay, you need to make adequate preparations to avoid running into him at all costs," Dame Wasp cautioned Ace about Loki and suggested that he leave town during Loki''s visit to avoid running into him.


    "Going into hiding is not an option. However, many kids in this neighborhood attend my high school. As long as I practice Gloria''s curse shroud art to hide my aptitude for curse energy, it will be hard for him to find me among all the kids in the neighborhood even if he has a higher-tier curse detection art," Ace rejected Dame Wasp''s suggestion. If he were of legal age and alone, Ace might have considered Dame Wasp''s suggestion, but he was still a high schooler living under his parents'' roof.


    "But master, can you learn the curse shroud art in a day?" Dame Wasp pointed out that he did not have enough time to master the curse shroud art.


    "I have to," Ace asserted, adding, "Gloria did it, I too can."


    "Gloria could learn the curse shroud art so fast because it is compatible with the Charm Earring''s abilities." Dame Wasp and Ace knew this because Gloria bragged about it in the Steal Song Society''s group chat.  S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Speaking Charm Earrings, I just recalled something that I think will be compatible with them," Ace did not argue with her. Taking out his phone, he video-called his elder sister.


    Answering his call, Ace''s sister connected his call to a conference video call with their parents, "Hi, Ace. I was just showing my room to Mom and Dad."


    "Hi, sis¡ª" Before Ace could greet his sister, his mother interrupted him, "Ace, you are still in your school uniform. Didn''t I ask you to freshen up like an hour ago? Boy, don''t make me come upstairs."


    "Honey, let the boy talk to his sister. I am sure he will get to it after the call, right, son?" Ace''s father came to his son''s rescue, knowing his wife''s temper.


    "Yes, I will," Ace nodded and then asked his sis, "Hey, sis. Do you remember the apex earring you got me? By chance, you didn''t throw it away, did you?"


    "Why would I do that? Even if you don''t like it, it''s a collectible. I paid good money for it," Ace''s sister raised her eyebrows, wondering if her brother was crazy.


    "Where is it?"


    "I remember placing it on the top shelf of my closet."


    "You''re the best, sis. Gotta go, bye!" Hanging up the call, Ace rushed to his sister''s room. Only to hear his mother yell, "Ace, dinner will be ready in 10mins. Clean yourself and come down."


    "Yes!" Ace replied aloud, on his way to his room, holding a glass case containing a gold-plated stub earring.


    Locking his room, Ace found Dame Wasp blankly gazing into the void. Concerned, he asked, "Rose, what are you doing?"


    "Master, I am updating my software to integrate the four curse arts we got from Gloria with my cybernetic components," Dame Wasp informed Ace what she had been up to while he was fetching the apex earring.


    "You can do that?" Ace had no idea Dame Wasp was capable of something like that.


    "Yes. By doing this, I can not only master these curse arts faster but use them efficiently," Dame Wasp answered Ace, looking at the glass case containing a gold-plated stub earring in his hand.


    "Awesome," Ace nodded, then taking out the apex earring from its casing, he said, "I am going to pair ''Apex Earring'' with ''Charm Earrings'' to create a new toy summons."


    "Apex Earring, what does it do?" Dame Wasp asked curiously.


    "It supposedly has transformation abilities like the Charm Earrings. Connect to the home wifi and google ''Apex Boy Band'' for details," Ace did not go into details about the apex earring and asked Dame Wasp to learn about it on Google.


    ''Apex Boy Band'' was a widely acclaimed television series spanning 12 seasons. The show centered around a globally renowned boy band enlisted by the government for a clandestine mission: utilizing their fame to covertly gather intelligence and conduct missions in nations lacking diplomatic ties.


    Each member of the band received an ''Apex Earring,'' a state-of-the-art device created using top-secret technology, to compensate for their lack of spy training and physical prowess. These earrings enabled them to transform into their apex spy personas, granting them superhuman abilities to help them complete their mission.


    Each one of the cast was handsome and dreamy. So, the TV show was popular among teenage girls. But It was discontinued because the actors had grown too old to be in a boy band.


    After learning about the Apex Earring, Dame Wasp asked Ace, "Master, did you like this TV show?"


    "No, I did not. But my sister did, and she bought this earring to dress me up as one of the boys from the Apex Boy Band for Halloween, but I didn''t agree with her. So, it was eating dust in her closet till now," Ace hurriedly denied as the cursed clown returned to the cursed toybox, taking the Apex Earring from him.


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    Curse tool: Charm Earrings


    Toy: Apex Earing


    Compatibility: 95%


    Recommendation: The success rate of using the curse tool ''Charm Earrings'' to animate the toy ''Apex Earring'' is High. ]


    "95% compatibility rate, heck yeah!" Ace shouted aloud. Then he commanded the cursed toybox, "Cursed Toybox, animate, apex earring."

 Chapter 15: Fun Family Dinner

    Chapter 15: Fun Family Dinner[ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    > Cursed toybox is merging curse item ''Charm Earrings'' with toy ''Apex Earring''¡­


    > Cursed toybox is animating the toy ''Apex Earring'' as a toy summons¡­]


    While the cursed toybox did its thing and Dame Wasp was busy updating her software, Ace washed up and changed into something comfortable before heading downstairs for dinner. With everything that transpired today, dinner was the last thing on Ace''s mind, but he did not want to test his mother''s patience anymore.


    "Ace, help your mother set the table," Ace''s dad ordered, seeing him arrive.


    "Sure," Ace began to set the table while his father seated himself comfortably.


    "Al, the juicer is acting up. You have to take it to the service center before its warranty expires," Ace''s mother informed his father while setting the chili pot and cornbread loaf at the center of the table.


    "Mary, can it wait till the weekend? Its service center is all way on the other side of the city," Alwin Lander proposed.


    "No, the warranty ends in three days," Mary Lander lamented, expressing concern while serving three chili bowls.


    "How about I do it?" Ace suddenly offered, reaching for a slice of cornbread.


    Alwin and Mary simultaneously gazed at their son in astonishment, hearing him offer to help.


    "Okay, son. But you can''t Uber. You have to take the city bus," Alwin intently instructed his son and then grinned to his wife, "Honey, problem solved. The boy will take the juicer to the service center."


    "No, wait, who said anything about going to the service center? I was only offering to repair the juicer," Ace interjected, clarifying himself.


    "Oh, you were kidding. Al, he was kidding. Is this some kind of prank? It''s not funny, Ace," Mary brushed off her son''s offer to repair the juicer.


    "No, I am serious. I can fix the juicer," Ace asserted. But he was not surprised by his parents'' reaction.


    "No, you are not going anywhere near the juicer." Mary sternly warned her son and continued, "It is a $600 cold press juicer and the most thoughtful New Year gift your father''s greedy company has ever given. It makes the best homemade orange juice I have ever had."


    "Mary, let the boy give it a try. It''s the first time he has shown interest in anything other than video games, cartoons, or his model toys," Alwin expressed, feeling pleased that his son was finally showing interest in something he could make a living off.


    "Al, the juicer has the latest microchip in it. What does he know about them? Please, just take it to the service center," Mary did not want to part with her favorite juicer so soon.


    "Tell you what, Mary, if Ace wrecks your juicer, he will buy you a new one¡ªno, a better one," Alwin declared, disregarding his wife''s threatening stare.


    "But I don''t have that kind of money," Ace said after swallowing the cornbread he was chewing in his mouth.


    "Then get a part-time job," Alwin suggested.


    "You didn''t let me get a part-time job, saying I have to focus on my studies," Ace reminded his father.


    "What I meant to say was if you improve your grades, you can get a part-time job. Besides, why are you worried? Didn''t you say you can fix the juicer?" Alwin retorted, slurping his chili from the bowl, then asked Mary for seconds.


    "Then what do I get if I fix the juicer?" Ace inquired, believing he should be rewarded for a job well done if he were to be punished for failing.


    "You get to be a good son," Alwin answered shamelessly, reaching for another slice of cornbread.


    "Mom, was I adopted," Ace asked, feeling wronged hearing Alwin''s cold answer.


    "No, honey. But the hospital you were born in was mentioned in the news in light of a baby-switching scandal. But that was long after you were born. I am sure you have nothing to worry about," Mary reassured her son.


    "..." Ace was without words.


    "I am kidding," Mary said as she signaled Ace if he needed seconds after seeing his bowl was empty.


    "You guys will be sorry that you ever doubted my capabilities," Ace declared, rising from his seat. Then, soaking his bowl in the sink, he picked up the juicer from the countertop and carried it upstairs to his room.


    "Sign~, I have to buy a new juicer," Mary sighed, suddenly losing her appetite.


    "Mary, have faith in our son," Alwin urged. He later added, "But if I were you, I would find one within our budget. You know he isn''t skilled or social enough to be a part-timer."


    "Al, are we bad parents for having low expectations of our kids."


    "No, Mary, we are not. It helps us love our socially awkward kids."


    ¡­


    "Rose, I need your help with this," Ace requested, placing the juicer on his study table.


    "Yes, master. What do you need me to do?" Dame Wasp asked, looking at the juicer that Ace brought with him.


    "See what''s wrong with it and fix it. I can trust you with this, right?" Since Dame Wasp could repair her cybernetic parts and make drones, Ace felt she would have no problem fixing the juicer.


    "Leave it to me, Master. The technology used in this juicer is too primitive to pose any challenge to me," Dame Wasp assured. Then she confidently offered her expertise, "If you want, I can try enhancing its performance."


    "Go nuts, but keep it user-friendly and safe. My mom''s the one who will be using it," Ace did not care what Dame Wasp did with the juicer as long she got it working again, and he saw his parents shocked faces in the morning.


    "Got it, master."


    "Do you need tools?"


    "No, my cybernetic body has the tools I need."


    "Okay, then," Ace planned to see Dame Wasp work her magic before studying the curse arts, but his status screen popped up, informing him that the cursed toybox had animated apex earring,  sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    > Cursed Toybox has animated the toy ''Apex Earring.''


    > Toy summon ''Apex Earring'' added to toy space.


    > Toy space: (2/2)


    > Toymancer can now summon Apex Earring. ]

 Chapter 16: Apex Earring

    Chapter 16: Apex EarringReceiving the alert from his status screen, Ace summoned his second animated toy with great enthusiasm, "Toy summon, ''Apex Earring.''"


    Soon, a diamond stud earring with the letter ''A'' engraved in it appeared in Ace''s right hand. As he scrutinized it, the cursed toybox reported the Apex Earring abilities to him through his status screen skill,


    [ ¡ª Status screen¡ª


    Name: Apex Earring


    Race: Curse Tool


    Class: Toy summon


    Title: Apex Spy


    Durability: (100/100)


    Enchantment: 1-Star


    Individuality: (100/100)


    Curse energy consumption: 5 units per hour / 1 units per 5 hours (Depending on mode selected)


    Skills: Toy actualization, Apex persona, Combat specialist, Apex charm, Fat inverter, Stealth mode


    Note:


    i) Class ''Toy summon'' will gain new skills with quantitative change in the Toymancer''s stats.


    ii) Title ''Apex Spy'' will give the Toy summons access to all original item abilities.]


    [Skill name: Toy actualization


    Skill class: Innate curse art


    Skill effect: It turns the concept and idea behind the toy into reality.


    Additional effect:


    i) Toy physiology: The power to use the abilities of the toy.] Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Skill name: Apex persona


    Skill class: Innate curse art


    Skill effect: The user can transform into their apex spy form.


    Additional effect:


    i) Apex human: The user capabilities are pushed to the human limits, granting them,


    >Extreme human physique displaying enhanced strength, speed, agility, durability, senses, and reflexes.


    >Extreme human mental faculties displaying heightened intelligence, perception, advanced problem-solving skills, concentration, focus, and enhanced memory.


    ii) Apex human anatomy: The user gains an extraordinary body with balanced and proportionally arranged flawless body parts regardless of age and ailments.


    iii) Apex persona mode: The user can more efficiently use all the skills of the Apex earring in this mode except for the Energy-saver mode. Curse energy consumption: 5 units per hour.]


    [Skill name: Combat specialist


    Skill class: Innate curse art


    Skill effect: The user gains extensive training and expertise in various forms of combat, including both armed and unarmed techniques.


    i) Weapon specialist: The user gains exceptional skill, proficiency, and knowledge in handling various types of weapons, such as firearms, melee weapons, explosives, etc, with heightened accuracy, agility, and strategic thinking.


    ii) Martial arts specialist: The user gains mastery in various forms of martial arts to an extraordinary degree with heightened understanding, agility, strength, speed, and coordination using knowledge of pressure points, joint locks, and human anatomy with strong discipline and focus.


    [Skill name: Apex charm


    Skill class: Innate curse art


    Skill effect: The skills of a master spy to manipulate and influence others through charm, persuasion, and charisma.


    Additional effect:


    i) Spy charm: The ability to effortlessly blend into any social situation, gaining the trust and cooperation of others with ease. A natural charisma that makes others instinctively trust and confide in the character helping them to extract information, manipulate adversaries, or sway the course of events in their favor.


    ii) Reconnaissance specialist: The user gains exceptional skills in stealth techniques, camouflage, and evasion tactics for gathering intelligence, scouting enemy territory, and identifying threats covertly using their heightened senses, keen observation, excellent hearing, and sharp vision, making them adept at analyzing data, interpreting maps, and identifying strategic locations.]


    [Skill name: Fat inverter


    Skill class: Innate curse art


    Skill effect: The user can interchange fat tissue and curse energy within their body to maintain an optimal body composition.


    Additional effect:


    i) Minor healing: The user can heal minor injuries by converting fat into biological materials needed for tissue repair.]


    [Skill name: Stealth mode


    Skill class: Innate curse art


    Skill effect: The user can use stealth mode to make the apex earring virtually invisible to others.


    Additional effect:


    i) Energy saver mode: In this mode, the user can access all skills of the ''Apex Earring'' except the Apex persona. Curse energy consumption: 1 unit per 5 hours.]


    "This is remarkable. It''s no wonder the innate curse tools are so in demand they make the best ingredients to forge great curse tools in capable hands," Ace lamented, looking at the status screen of ''Apex earring.'' It had the skill ''Fat inverter,'' which the Apex earring from the TV show did not have. It appears to have obtained that from ''Charm earrings'' used to animate it.


    "Congratulations, Master, on animating your second toy summons. With this, you should be able to learn the curse shroud art in a day just like Gloria managed to," Dame Wasp''s voice suddenly sounded from the side. She sincerely congratulated her master, as the longer he was alive, the longer she got to live and have a purpose.


    "Thank you, Rose. You done already?" Ace asked Dame Wasp, pointing at the juicer with his eyes.


    "Yes. Its PCB had a loose IC. I soldered it with my laser. Then, I tweaked its software a little. Now, It should be more user-friendly and work smoother than before," Dame Wasp gave a brief report. Thanks to her 1/100th form, she reached the juicer''s circuit through its vent without removing its outer shell. This approach allowed her to repair the juicer in under a few minutes.


    "Excellent work, Rose. You are the best," Ace praised Dame Wasp for a job well done, pondering if he should open an electronics repair shop after high school instead of joining a college. With Dame Wasp''s expertise, he would not only make a killing repairing electronic devices but save a ton on college tuition fees. However, it was just a fleeting thought.


    "Happy to be of service, master," Dame Wasp beamed, listening to her master shower her with praises.


    "Now, help me wear this stud earring on my left ear," Ace informed Dame Wasp, passing her the Apex earring.


    Taking the earring, Dame Wasp locked on Ace''s left earlobe. Knowing what she had to do, she morphed her cyber braid into a laser pointer, and said, "Master, this is going to sting a bit."


    "Let us get over with this quick," Ace knew piercing a hole in his earlobe with a laser would be painful. But less painful than using a needle or piercing gun. As a bonus, the laser can cauterize the tissue as it makes the hole, reducing bleeding and discomfort.


    "Or master can share my scenes while I pierce the earring. This way, you can avoid the whole ordeal," Dame Wasp pointed.


    "Rose, you are a genius. Let us do that," Ace slept on the bed on his right side, giving Dame Wasp easy access to his left earlobe before sharing her senses.


    ''Rose, I am here. You can begin now,'' Ace ordered Dame Wasp, looking at his senseless body. Following his orders, Dame Wasp grabbed Ace''s left earlobe, and with a single laser beam, she burned a hole big enough to hold the Apex earring. Checking that there were no signs of bleeding, she carefully adorned her master''s left earlobe with the diamond stud earring and declared, ''Master, all done. If there is still any pain left, you can use the earring''s minor healing effect to heal it.''


    ''I think I can handle a little pain, Rose,'' Ace remarked, feeling that Dame wasp was babying him. Yet he didn''t immediately cancel the sense-sharing skill.

 Chapter 17: Apex Persona, Curse Energy Consumption

    Chapter 17: Apex Persona, Curse Energy Consumption"Alright, here we go, Rose. It''s the moment of truth¡­, Apex persona!" Standing before a mirror, Ace uttered, activating the Apex earring''s apex persona.


    In an instant, a profound transformation washed over Ace, reshaping his physical form and essence in a burst of dazzling light. His once chubby cheeks tightened, his belly flattened, and his plump frame turned lean and sturdy with bulging toned muscles. His youthful features became chiseled, exuding an aura of confidence and determination. Eyes that once held uncertainty now glowed with the fiery intensity of a hero ready to face any challenge. His hair, once tousled and unkempt, now flowed in locks.


    Along with the aesthetic transformation to his physical appearance, Ace had grown from 5ft 11 inches to 6ft 7 inches, and he felt lighter¡ª a lot lighter than 190 pounds. His baggy Pjs were now tightly wrapped around his muscles. It was like he had become a different person. Staring at his reflection, Ace whispered, "Is this my best version? My Apex persona."


    "Master, I find your original appearance more appealing," Dame Wasp added, her voice carrying a note of sincerity.


    "Well, I beg to differ, Rose. Who wouldn''t want to look their best? Besides, it feels great," Ace quipped, thinking Dame Wasp was starting to feel more like his mom than his toy summons.


    "Well, master, you could look this good without the earring with a little exercise," Dame Wasp sincerely suggested.


    "Ugh!" Ace rolled his eyes at Dame Wasp and redirected the conversation, "Rose, can you continue your software update in the toybox, or do you need to be outside?"


    "I can continue my software update in the toybox. But I prefer to be outside with you, Master," Dame Wasp answered.


    "Rose, my curse energy isn''t high enough to keep you by my side all the time. You have to return to the toybox for now. But you can communicate with me using my status screen skill," Ace informed Dame Wasp with a heavy heart, showing her the status screen.


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    > Curse energy


    i) Curse energy: (186/201)


    ii) Curse energy recovery: 1 unit per hour.


    Note:


    i) Curse energy recovers only when the user is not actively using curse energy.


    ii) User can use curse core to recover and cultivate curse energy.]


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    > Toymancer curse energy consumption log,


    -5 units of curse energy to summon Dame Wasp for one hour.


    -5 units of curse energy to summon Dame Wasp for one hour, four minutes remaining.


    -5 units of curse energy to use the Apex earring (Apex persona mode) for one hour, 59 minutes remaining.


    Note:


    i) Dame Wasp has been active since summoning. So, energy gets consumed once it''s summoned.


    ii) Apex Earring is only active when the user uses its skills. So energy is consumed once the user activates Apex persona or Energy-saver mode.]


    "I understand, Master. Please, call on me when you need me," Dame Wasp willingly agreed to return to the toybox, but her disappointment could not be more apparent.


    "You know, I will," Ace responded. He might have curse energy to spare, but it was hard for a curse master to recover curse energy naturally without a curse core. With Loki arriving tomorrow, he had to be frugal. So, steeling his heart, Ace broke the news to Dame Wasp.


    "Rose, before you return to Toybox, transfer all the files on the curse arts to my PC. I want to start practicing them right away," Ace instructed Dame Wasp. He lacked both time and curse energy. So, every second counted.


    "I have already transferred the files, Master. You can find them under the name ''curse arts,''" Dame Wasp informed, her efficiency matching Ace''s eagerness to learn the curse arts.


    "Way to show initiative, Rose," Ace complimented Dame Wasp, acknowledging her proactive approach. Then, seeing her reluctant to return to the toybox, he assured her, "This is only temporary. Once my curse energy increases or we find a way to earn a stable source of curse cores, you can always be by my side."


    "I know, master," Dame Wasp nodded with a gentle smile and returned to the toybox.


    Ace then swiftly accessed his PC and located the "Curse Arts" file. Without hesitation, he selected the ''Curse Shroud Art.'' Despite its classification as a high-tier skill for a novice curse master, Ace felt compelled to learn it, if not master it entirely. His objective was clear: to conceal his curse energy aptitude and reserves by the following morning. With determination fuelling his actions, he delved into the intricate techniques outlined within the file, knowing that mastering this skill would be crucial for maintaining his secrecy and protecting those around him.


    It took him a while, but assisted by the Martial Arts specialist effect of the Apex earring, Ace grasped the intricacies of the ''Curse Shroud Arts.'' Now, all he had to do was follow it and try to mask his curse energy aptitude and reserves. But first, he had to learn to control his curse energy so he could circulate the curse energy in his body as specified in the curse art.


    Aided by the combat specialist skill of his Apex Earring, it did not take long for Ace to succeed in mobilizing the curse energy within his body. He was pleasantly surprised at how rapidly he adapted to manipulating the curse energy, utilizing his innate curse tool as a conduit despite being a novice curse master. Just then, his Apex earring contacted him using the status screen skill,


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    > -5 units of curse energy for using the Apex earring (Apex persona mode) for one hour, two minutes remaining.


    > Do you want to keep the Apex persona active for another hour by consuming 5 units of curse energy? (Y/N) ]


    ''It''s been an hour already. Apex persona''s focus is impeccable. I did not know how the time flew by immersed in practicing my curse energy control,'' Ace pondered, gazing at the status screen, and then he instructed the Apex earring, "No, activate energy saver mode."


    In the energy-saver mode of the Apex earring, except for the Apex persona, Ace could access all its skills for five hours at the cost of one unit of curse energy. With five units of curse energy, he could use the Apex earring for a whole day and an extra hour. Ace did not need the skill ''Apex persona'' as of now. It was great for hiding his identity and combat, but for mastering a curse art, it played moderate role.  S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 18: Fat Inverter, Cloaking Curse Energy

    Chapter 18: Fat Inverter, Cloaking Curse Energy[ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    > -5 units to use the Apex earring (Apex persona mode) for one hour.


    > -1 unit to use the Apex earring (Energy-saver mode) for Five hours, 4hrs 58mins remaining.]


    Soon, the Apex earring switched to energy-saving mode, and Ace''s appearance reverted to its original form. However, he no longer felt great in his skin, having experienced the best version of himself. Now Ace understood why Gloria would use ''Charm Earrings'' 24/7.


    ''Maybe I should start exercising more, or I could just use fat inverter skill,'' Ace pondered, as converting his fat would also solve his temporary curse energy recovery problem. With Ace''s thoughts, the Apex earring used the status screen to give him the relevant information,


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    > Fat inverter


    i) Toymancer''s excess fat tissue: 50 pounds


    ii) Toymancer''s curse energy: (185/201)


    ii) 1 unit of curse energy = 10 pounds of fat


    > Do you want to interchange your fat and curse energy? (Y/N)


    Note:


    i) Excess fat tissues are the fat that the Toymancer needs to lose to maintain optimal body composition.]


    ''5 units of curse energy, that is all I can get 50 pounds. Still, it is better than nothing. However, I cannot lose all that fat at once, as I cannot explain my sudden weight loss to my parents and friends. Ten pounds of fat tissue twice a week should do the trick,'' Ace thought and instructed, "Convert 10 pounds of fat tissue."


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    > Fat inverter


    -10 pounds of excess fat tissue


    +1 unit of curse energy


    i) Toymancer''s excess fat tissue: 40 pounds


    ii) Toymancer''s curse energy: (186/201)


    > Do you want to interchange your fat and curse energy? (Y/N)]


    "No, more. See you in two days." Ace checked himself in the mirror, but he noticed no difference. Later, he pondered, ''If I had an enhanced digestion and fat accumulation type skill or curse art, I could replenish my curse energy without hassle at a buffet.''


    "Let''s pin it for another day. For now, let''s focus on practicing ''curse shroud art'' before sunrise," Ace reminded himself of what''s important and continued to practice curse shroud art.


    Now that Ace could manipulate curse energy in his body with his innate curse tool as a conduit, he started to manipulate his curse energy, circulating it in his body, following the instructions in the ''Curse Shroud Art.'' Despite initial setbacks, Ace eventually succeeded in moving his curse energy, as outlined in the ''Curse Shroud Art,'' without any errors.


    However, Ace found that the speed at which he circulated curse energy in his body was not yet proficient enough to cloak his curse energy aptitude and reserves. He remained determined, convinced that with rigorous practice, he could achieve it by morning.


    Ace continued to circulate curse energy in his body, repeating the same pattern over and over again relentlessly. Soon, he became proficient enough in curse shroud arts to camouflage his curse energy aptitude and reserves with a mere thought. After a rigorous practice, it became as easy as clenching one''s butt cheeks. But Ace only stopped when he could achieve the same instinctively. It was possible to use it instinctively because it hardly consumed any curse energy, as it hid the curse energy in his body.


    Ace could only persist till he met his goal because of the discipline and focus provided by the apex earring''s martial arts specialist effect. Even though Ace had achieved his goal, he was too sleepy to celebrate. By the time Ace went to bed, it was almost 4 a.m. He had to get up in three hours. Thankful, he fell asleep as soon as his head rested on the pillow.


    Cloaking curse energy aptitude and reserves was just a part of what the ''Curse Shroud Art'' could do. Once completely mastered, it would help the curse master hide their presence, turning them undetectable by regular means and senses, much like Dame Wasp''s camouflage.


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    > Dame Wasp,


    - Good morning, Master Ace.


    - It''s 7:15 a.m. You have to wake up now. Otherwise, you will be late for school.]


    "I am up," Ace woke up. He had no choice. The status screen interrupted his sleep to make sure he read it. Though disgruntled, he did not forget to thank Mommy Dame Wasp, "Thanks, Rose."


    Turning on the water heater, Ace continued to finish his daily toiletry routine. Then, he took a quick shower. Later, he changed into his school uniform and groomed himself. He then strapped on his school bag and carried the juicer downstairs. As he reached the bottom, he heard his mother''s voice, "Good morning! I''m making pancakes. Grab a plate."


    "Good morning, Mom. Where should I put the juicer?" Ace asked, scanning the kitchen for a suitable spot.


    "So, did you fix it, honey?" Mary inquired, her skepticism evident, though she felt compelled to support her son''s efforts.


    "Yep, why don''t you give it a try?" Ace replied confidently. Then, he placed the juicer on the kitchen counter next to the switch. Such that his mother could check if he had indeed fixed it.


    Listening to Ace, Alwin, who had been scrolling through his iPad while sipping his morning coffee, paused everything just like his wife. The duo looked at their son in shock. Though Ace might be socially awkward, they knew he was not a liar. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Mary, why don''t you give it a try? Make some fresh orange juice," Alwin compelled his wife.


    "Sure, Al," Mary shot her husband a glare. Then, turning to her son, she asked in concern, "Son, are you sure it won''t explode, right?"


    "Mom, just give it a try," Ace urged, grabbing a plate, taking a pancake, and sitting beside his father.


    After initial hesitation, Mary took some fresh oranges, washed them thoroughly, placed them on the cutting board, and then cut them in half. Next, she cleaned and set up the cold press juicer. Then, taking one half of an orange at a time, Mary pressed it firmly onto the juicer''s cone, applying gentle pressure to extract the juice. The cold press juicer slowly crushed the orange, separating the juice from the pulp while preserving the nutrients and flavors.


    "Well, what do you know, it works," Mary exclaimed in surprise. However, she wasn''t quick to compliment her son. She needed to taste the juice first, and if the flavor remained the same as she remembered, only then she would praise him.


    As the juice started to flow, Mary watched with satisfaction, occasionally adjusting the position of the oranges to ensure maximum extraction. When done, she turned off the juicer and carefully poured the freshly squeezed orange juice into a pitcher before pouring it into glasses for herself and Ace. As for Alwin, nothing could ever come between him and his morning coffee.


    Taking a sip of the juice and savoring the flavor of orange, Mary looked at her son in surprise. Impressed by the taste of the freshly squeezed juice, she exclaimed, "Are you sure it''s the same juicer? I didn''t think homemade orange juice could be better, but I stand corrected. Thank you, son."


    "I told you I could get the juicer working again," Ace remarked, listening to his mother''s exaggerated words.


    "Good job fixing the juicer, son. Now, see if you can fix my old mini fridge. It will save me a trip to the fridge every time I am out of a cold one during the match," Alwin praised his son and handed him more responsibilities before returning to scrolling his iPad.


    "..." Ace did not respond but recalled why he and his sister used to do very little around the house. Nonetheless, Dame Wasp would be doing the actual work. So Ace just nodded along.


    Seeing this, Mary and Alwin shared a look, ''Honey, our son has grown.''

 Chapter 19: Mountain Lions

    Chapter 19: Mountain Lions*Buzz* *Buzz* *Buzz*


    Ace and his parents'' phones chimed simultaneously with a message alert,


    [Warning: Mountain lions have been spotted in the neighborhood. Authorities urge all residents to remain indoors and stay vigilant until further notice. If you observe any suspicious activity, please contact the authorities immediately.]


    "Mountain lions, meaning there are more than one of them loose in our neighborhood," Mary said in panic.


    "Honey, first help me check if all the doors and windows are closed. If their latches are not working, then board them with something. Son, turn on the TV and put on the local news," Alwin swiftly entered crisis mode, assigning each family member their tasks.


    "Al, I''ll take the upstairs, and you take the downstairs," reminded by her husband''s words, Mary swiftly switched into crisis mode too and divided the tasks to fortify their home.


    While his parents rushed around the house to close all the doors and windows, Ace turned on the TV and switched to local news. They were airing various camera recordings of the mountain lions roaming the neighborhood streets and lingering around the houses.


    "That''s Mrs.Thompson''s house. It''s two blocks from here," Alwin remarked, looking at one of the recordings, having finished checking all the doors and windows downstairs.


    Receiving no response from his son, Alwin turned to look at him and found him shell-shocked, as if he had seen a ghost. In concern, he shook his son and asked, "What''s wrong?"


    "Nothing, I will be in my room," Ace replied, turning to leave, but his father wouldn''t let go. Alwin reminded Ace, "First, finish your breakfast. We do not waste food in this house."


    "Yes," Ace nodded, pulling himself together before heading to his plate.


    "Upstairs is secured," Mary announced, joining the father and son.


    Suddenly, the family''s smartphones buzzed in unison, signaling another incoming message. With a sense of apprehension, they glanced at the screens to find a notification from the school. The message flashed, informing that considering the ongoing mountain lion incident, the school would remain closed for the day. Relief washed over them, knowing they had one less thing to worry about.


    "This is new. The authorities never closed the school before," Mary muttered, reading the school''s text message.


    Every year, in the late spring and early summer, there were sightings of wild animals in the neighborhood. So the Lander family was not surprised by this incident. But multiple mountain lions being sighted at once was first.


    "All done, now can I go upstairs?" Ace asked his father, placing the plate in the sink and cleaning his hands.


    "Did you even chew your food?" Alwin questioned, having observed Ace swallow the pancake whole and chug the orange juice.


    "Yes, I did," Ace replied, heading to his room.


    "What''s with him? Shouldn''t he be happy, he gets a day off?" Mary wondered aloud.


    "He has been acting weird ever since he saw the mountain lion footage aired on the local news channel," Alwin filled Mary in.


    ¡­


    Returning to his room, Ace paced around in a panic. Through the video of mountain lions roaming the neighborhood streets aired on the local news channel, he learned that the mountain lion incident was not a coincidence. But the work of a skilled curse master using a remote-type curse tool to control the mountain lions. When Ace saw an antenna probe sticking on each mountain lion''s head, he knew they were curse tools, visible only to curse masters like himself.


    ''Is it the Steal Song Society? But I thought only Loki was coming. Did their plan change once they discovered Gloria''s killer was lurking in their group chat? There was a lot of evidence of their crime in Gloria''s phone. Did they all mobilize to catch her killer and protect their society''s secrets?'' Ace contemplated, based on the information he had with him.


    The reason Ace did not suspect Loki was behind the mountain lions incident was because, according to Gloria''s records Loki was a shapeshifter and an assassin like her. So, it had to be some other curse master controlling the mountain lions.


    Suddenly, Ace stopped pacing around his room, wondering, ''Am I being monitored right now?''


    The curse abilities were weird and beyond common sense. Take Ace''s cursed toybox, for example; it could breathe life into inanimate toys. So Ace did not put anything past the Steal Song Society. Thankfully, he has been hiding his curse energy aptitude and reserves instinctively, like breathing.


    Swiftly grabbing his headphones, Ace connected them to his phone and settled on his bed. He listened to loud music while sharing senses with Dame Wasp in the cursed toy box. ''Rose, I need your help,'' he thought urgently, seeking a sound second opinion.


    Ace informed Dame Wasp of everything, bringing her up to speed. After a quick contemplation, Dame Wasp responded, ''I had had a feeling that something like this would happen. So, I left a back door into the Steal Song Society''s chat group. Unless they created a new one overnight, we can still peek into their chat using the back door. To see what they have been up to recently.''


    ''What if we get caught, won''t they be able to trace us?'' Ace voiced his concern.


    ''Master, as long as I am inside the toy space, they can never trace me,'' Dame Wasp assured.


    ''But you will be using the home wifi, right? They can trace that,'' Ace pointed out.


    ''No, master. I will use your neighbor''s satellite internet connection to access their chat group while hiding my identity with an advanced obfuscation method. Rest assured, they will never know we were there. Even if they did, they will never find us,'' Dame Wasp assured Ace.


    Trusting Dame Wasp knew what she was doing, Ace gave her a green signal, ''Good, access their chat group.''


    Dame Wasp''s visor acted as a screen for them, and she soon used his neighbor''s satellite internet to access the web. Then, she pulled up the Steal Song Society''s chat group and uttered, ''Master, they are still using the same chat group.''


    ''Okay, scroll back to where we left off yesterday night,'' Ace instructed.  Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Bane1: @Ria, The newbie killer went offline. This is bad guys.]


    [Loki: @Aztec, I will be needing that investigation team.]


    [Aztec: @MainGirl, Were you able to access Ria''s phone''s front camera and capture the image of whoever was using it?]


    [MainGirl: @MadamThree, Thanks to your big mouth, the murderer destroyed the phone instantly. Don''t you think the rest of us noticed that the newbie''s username was online? You blew up the whole plan.]


    [MadamThree: @MainGirl, Sorry.]


    [MainGirl: @Aztec, Though I could not capture the newbie killer''s image, I know the newbie''s phone was destroyed by him.]


    [Aztec: @MainGirl, That''s not good enough. But before we begin, is it safe to continue using this group?]


    [MainGirl: @Aztec, I have checked, everything is fine. It''s safe to continue using this group. Besides, it would be a hassle to start a new group and add all the members, especially those geezers. Why can''t they just learn to keep up with the new tech?]


    [MountainOfSwords: @MainGirl, Little girl, you know we can read right?]


    [MainGirl: @MountainOfSwords, Sorry, master. [img=cute emoji]]


    [MountainOfSwords: @MainGirl, Apology accepted]


    [Aztec: @MainGirl, @Bane1, @MadamThree, @EchoEcho, You all are part of the investigation team. Stop what you guys are doing and head to the crime scene by morning. I will meet you guys there, and Loki will join us later.]


    [MainGirl: @Aztec, Affirmative]


    [Bane1: @Aztec, Okay]


    [MadamThree: @Aztec, Okay]


    [EchoEcho: @Loki, The universe wants us to be together.]


    [Loki: @EchoEcho, I think the universe wants you dead ahead of your time.]

 Chapter 20: Curse Investigation Bureau (CIB)

    Chapter 20: Curse Investigation Bureau (CIB)''You were correct, master,'' Dame Wasp acknowledged while reviewing the Steal Song Society''s previous night''s chat.


    ''...'' Ace remained silent, unable to respond, as he had never felt so wrong about being right.


    As Ace had guessed, after he destroyed Gloria''s phone, the Steal Song Society created a team of six curse masters to catch Gloria''s murderer to protect their society''s secret.


    ''This is bad,'' Ace mused, before deciding to continue reading the rest of the chat. After a long silence, the next conversation sparked at 6:15 a.m. this morning,


    [Bot3: @Everyone, Danger Alert! Danger Alert! Danger Alert! @Bane1 is asking for help.]


    [Bane1: @Everyone, Guys, it''s a trap. The whole neighborhood is crawling with CIB]


    [Bane1: @MainGirl, @Aztec, @MadamThree, @EchoEcho, Did any of you arrive yet?


    As soon as I arrived, I ran into two CIB curse masters. They would not listen to reason and just wanted me to cooperate. What kind of dumbass do they take me for to willingly surrenders my innate curse tool to them? So, I ran for my life.]


    [Aztec: @Bane1, What is your status now?]


    [Bane1: @Aztec, For now, I am safe. But I need help getting out of here. Where are you at?]


    [Aztec: @Bane1, I am still two hours drive from there. I will not be coming. Get out of there as soon as possible.]


    [Aztec: @MainGirl, @Loki, @MadamThree, @EchoEcho, Change of plans. Lay low until I contact our contacts in CIB and figure out some details.]


    [Bane1: @Aztec, At least a dozen CIB curse masters are monitoring this neighborhood. I need help getting out of here.]


    [Aztec: @Bane1, Than, you hang tight. Once I know the details. I will make some arrangements.]


    [Bane1: @Aztec, I am hiding underground using my innate curse tool''s ability. So they cannot find me. But send rescue at the earliest. I will keep you guys updated.]


    [MainGirl: @Bane1, You''re using the phone I distributed, right? Because they are hard to track even for CIB]


    [Bane1: @MainGirl, Yes, I am. But I regret not spending more time mastering ''Curse Shroud Art.'' Then could not have been so easily spotted by those CIB goons.]


    [Aztec: @Bane1, I will get back to you once I get to the bottom of this.]


    [MadamThree: Guys, do you think this is a trap set by the newbie killer? Is the newbie killer working for CIB? What did the newbie do to piss off CIB this much?]


    [MainGirl: @MadamThree, Don''t speculate until you know something because it will only lead to chaos. But the Newbie Killer is likely part of CIB based on what Bane1 said.]


    The conversation continued for another hour or so. It was nothing but speculation about Gloria''s murder, the identity of Gloria''s killer, and the reason CIB was monitoring the neighborhood.


    ''Master,'' Dame Wasp began after thoroughly reviewing the entire chat, ''It appears that the CIB is using the mountain lions to search for Bane1 without alarming the residents.''


    ''Yes,'' Ace concurred, then added, ''It seems we are facing a more significant threat than we initially anticipated.''


    Steal Song Society was bad, but CIB was the worst. Because, unlike Steal Song Society, they had access to the entire nation''s resources and license to kill those they deemed as threats to the country and its democracy. The worst part was that, as a secret agency, they only answered to the president. If they declare someone as a terrorist, death would be a boon for that person.


    ''The situation has spiraled out of control. I can only pray that I don''t get discovered. Hopefully, my current mastery of ''Curse Shroud Arts'' is enough,'' Ace mused, knowing that as the situation was now, he was powerless to do anything but wait in hiding.


    ''Master, the chat group is lively once more. Aztec appears to have some news,'' Dame Wasp relayed to Ace as the Steal Song Society''s chat group resumed their conversation.


    [Aztec: @Everyone, Our contacts in the CIB have reported that they possess limited insight into the situation unfolding in that neighborhood, as a different branch is spearheading the operation. However, they have stated that it involves the illegal recruitment of high school children as Curse Masters and their subsequent killings for their innate curse tools. They said a senior official''s relative goes to school in that neighborhood.]


    [MainGirl: @Loki, Isn''t that Ria''s M.O.? Did the newbie target someone she shouldn''t have?]


    [MountainOfSwords: How many times have we warned you guys not to target children and women? Target homeless and old. Nobody cares about them.]


    [Bane1: So the newbie kicked the beehive, and now I am paying for it.]


    [Aztec: @Loki, What was Ria doing in that neighborhood? Shouldn''t you be vetting her targets for her?]


    [Loki: @Aztec, I spoke with Ria a few minutes before her murder. She said she had recruited a student who managed to refine his curse core and innate curse tool on his first try. She felt that his innate curse tool might be a storage-type curse tool. So she wouldn''t share his details with me.]


    [EchoEcho: @Loki, No wonder you volunteered to investigate the newbie''s death alone. You were planning to harvest the newbie''s crop. So, cold-hearted. Just the way I like it.]


    [Aztec: @Loki, When were you planning to share this information with us? Things could have turned out far worse for us if Ria''s killer had not rashly destroyed her phone to protect his/her identity.]


    [Loki: @Aztec, Any of you would have done the same in my position. It is a storage-type curse tool for godsakes.]


    [Bane1: A storage-type curse tool user. No wonder the CIB is so active.]


    [Aztec: @Loki, that student is related to CIB. This means you morons not only lost one of us but handed the CIB a storage-type curse tool user.]


    [Bane1: @Aztec, What about me? Somebody get me out of here?]


    [Aztec: @MountainOfSwords, Master, can I leave this to you?]


    [MountainOfSwords: @Aztec, Sure. By the way, who is heading the CIB operation in that neighborhood? Is it someone I know?]


    [Aztec: @MountainOfSwords, It''s the Crimson-eyed Curse master.]


    [MountainOfSwords: Crimson-eyes, I heard of that lad. But never had the fortune of crossing my sword with him. Let''s see if all the hype is true.]


    [Bane1: Crimson-eyes! He must have already found me. Since he hasn''t caught me yet, does that mean he is using me as bait?]


    [Aztec: @Bane1, Which is why I am sending Master MountainOfSwords.]  Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [MountainOfSwords: @Bane1, Kid, don''t run around. When you hear my signal, show yourself and leave the rest to me.]


    [Bane1: @MountainOfSwords, Master, what''s the signal?]


    [MountainOfSwords: You will know when you hear it.]

 Chapter 21: Both Problems Solving Themselves

    Chapter 21: Both Problems Solving Themselves''Master Ace, there seems to be a misunderstanding,'' Dame Wasp pointed out, reading the conversation of the Steal Song Society.


    Due to miscommunication or a lack of proper information, the Steal Song Society mistakenly believed that the CIB was casing the neighborhood because Gloria had unknowingly targeted a student related to a senior officer within the CIB. The misunderstanding led them to believe this to be the reason why Gloria was killed and also why the CIB was waiting for them in the neighborhood.


    Dame Wasp and Ace had no idea why CIB was here today of all days, but they knew that CIB did not kill Gloria as they killed her.


    ''Agreed,'' Ace nodded and added, ''For, now the Steal Song Society is off our back. But we need to uncover why the CIB is truly here. So that I can stay out of their way.''


    ''Yes, master. I think we should start with your school. Because it seems to be the origin of this misunderstanding,'' Dame Wasp speculated based on the information they had with them.


    Though the Steal Song Society had misunderstood the situation, there was some truth to it. First, Gloria was indeed killed for illegally recruiting a student from the high school she was recently attending. Second, the CIB was here cause one of their senior official''s relatives studied at the same school. As Dame Wasp highlighted, Ace''s high school was a big part of this misunderstanding.


    ''My mother was a member of the school''s parent-teacher association (PTA) when my sister attended the school with me. They have a chat group, and she should still be a part of it. Will that be of help?'' Ace asked.


    ''I could use it as a doorway to infect the phones of all the teachers in the chat group and then use them to infect the phones of the other teachers or even the school principal until we get the information we are seeking,'' Dame Wasp informed confidently.


    ''You can do that?'' Ace asked Dame Wasp in astonishment.  S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Yes, Master Ace. No offense, but your Earth is seriously lacking in technological advancement compared to the one in my memories,'' Dame Wasp commented, her voice betraying a sense of nostalgic superiority.


    ''Can you do the same thing with the Steal Song society chat group?'' Ace asked in anticipation.


    ''No, their smartphones have better security than regular ones. Remotely, I can''t do anything to their devices without getting caught. Not to forget their mysterious curse abilities. Without direct access to Gloria''s phone, I couldn''t have created the backdoor into their chat group to peek at their conversation,'' Dame Wasp elaborated, highlighting the potential risks involved in infiltrating the Steal Song Society members'' devices.


    Dame Wasp could force her way into Steal Song Society members'' devices. However, she feared they might possess curse abilities, enabling them to retaliate or track attackers remotely. She was confident about the technological aspect of this Earth but not the supernatural side of it.


    ''Do you need me to get my mom''s phone, or did you already access her phone?'' Ace asked Dame Wasp, knowing her cybernetic body was akin to a micro-supercomputer, and remotely hacking a few smartphones posed no challenge for her.


    ''Master Ace, you know me the best. I am already on your class teacher''s phone. Wait for it and¡­ I am on your principal''s phone,'' Dame Wasp announced enthusiastically, seeming to attempt a speedrun challenge since hacking regular smartphones posed no difficulty for her.


    ''Good. Did you find anything on there regarding CIB?'' Ace asked eagerly, hoping they found some answers on the principal''s phone.


    ''Yes. It seems your principal has a secret life as the husband of a curse master. Ava Martin, the principal''s daughter, is the student the Steal Song Society''s CIB contacts spoke of. Ava''s mother, a.k.a the principal''s wife, is the senior official of the CIB they spoke of,'' Dame Wasp revealed going through the principal''s smartphone.


    ''Ava Martin, is the principal''s daughter? Who could have guessed that the redhead delinquent is the principal''s daughter? No wonder she only got suspended for two days for smoking the pages from the library books during detention,'' Ace was astonished to learn his classmate''s true identity. But keeping the issue in mind, he asked, ''So why is the CIB casing the neighborhood?''


    ''It seems to have all started last night when the night guard went to check the school rooftop. He spotted an occult array drawn using blood, and he shared the pics with the principal as vandalism of school property. The principal, identifying it as a curse core initiation array, shared the pics with his wife in concern. By early morning, the school and the neighborhood were crawling with CIB. Trying to find the person who drew the array,'' Dame Wasp informed Ace after snooping around the principal''s phone.


    ''Curse core initiation array on the school rooftop¡ª It must be the one Gloria used to awaken me as Curse master. How could she be so careless as to forget to erase the evidence of her crime?'' Ace commented, figuring out why the CIB was casing the neighborhood.


    The initiation array on the school rooftop likely led the CIB to suspect that a curse master was illegally recruiting high school students as Curse Masters and then murdering them for their innate curse tools. This explains why they were casing the neighborhood early in the morning and how they ended up chasing Bane1, who had arrived to find Gloria''s killer.


    Since Bane1 did not choose to cooperate and ran, they must have concluded he was the culprit and used mountain lions to track him down and to keep residents out of the streets while they conducted their manhunt.


    ''Master, in Gloria''s defense, how can she know that a seemingly average school principal would identify the curse core initiation array and know to contact CIB,'' Dame Wasp pointed out that Gloria was out of luck yesterday.


    Even if Dame Wasp and Ace didn''t kill Gloria, the CIB would be searching for her now. But since she had mastered ''Curse Shroud Art,'' she would have fared better than Bane1. Thus, she would have likely come after Ace to finish what she started. Therefore, killing Gloria last night was the most prudent decision on Ace''s part.


    ''Is this just an unlikely coincidence, or am I simply lucky?'' Ace wondered in disbelief, finally piecing it all together.


    The Steal Song Society mistakenly believed that the student Gloria recruited was part of CIB and had given up on that end. So, unless something unexpected happens, Ace does not have to worry about them coming for him.


    The CIB was monitoring Bane1, waiting for him to stupidly lead them to his associates or for his associates to come to rescue him. So, as long as Ace stayed low and out of their way, he did not have to worry about anything on their end.


    ''As long as I hide in my home concealing my curse energy, my problems will solve themselves,'' Ace muttered, then instructed Dame Wasp, ''Rose, keep monitoring the chat group. If something changes, inform me using the status screen. Meanwhile, I will check on my parents.''

 Chapter 22: Thunderstorms and Wildfires

    Chapter 22: Thunderstorms and Wildfires"Ace repaired the juicer? I don''t believe it. How did he know how to repair the juicer," Ace heard the voice of his elder sister as he headed downstairs. Seeing him arrive, his mother turned her phone toward him, saying, "He is here. Ask him yourself?"


    "Ace, how did you fix the juicer?" Ace''s older sister exclaimed


    "With a little help from YouTube, of course," Ace replied casually, heading into the kitchen to find his father making a new pot of coffee. He asked, "Are you working from home, Dad?"


    "Yes," Alwin nodded and asked, "You looked shaken up earlier. Everything alright, son?"


    "Yep," Ace nodded, fetching a soda from the fridge.


    "Good. By the way, if you have some free time, the mini-fridge is in the basement. Check if you can repair it. My home office could use a mini-fridge," Alwin mentioned casually, more interested in seeing if his son could fix the mini-fridge than needing it.


    "I am busy with something right now, but I will check on it later, Dad," Ace replied, feeling his dad''s intention could not be more obvious. Besides, he did not want to summon Dame Wasp until absolutely necessary.


    "Mom, I''m heading out to grab breakfast. Let''s continue our conversation in the evening," Walking past the living room, Ace overheard his sister hanging up on their mother.


    Ensuring everything was fine downstairs, Ace got ready to head to his room. However, a sudden loud thunderclap abruptly disrupted his train of thought. Its booming noise rattled the windows and echoed through the walls. But that wasn''t the end. It was soon followed by a series of equally loud thunderclaps. It felt like the house was going to collapse.


    Soon, a loud siren sounded throughout the neighborhood. It was the storm siren. Listening to it, Mary yelled, "Ace, don''t just stand there. Head to the bunker in the basement. Your Dad and I will be down there soon."


    The area they resided in frequently experienced storms and tornadoes during the spring and early summer months and wildfires during the late summer and early fall. A year without any storms and wildfires was considered a good year. So, around here, having a safe room in the home was given.  S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Local weather news said it would be a warm sunny morning. There was no warning about a thunderstorm," Alwin shouted as he rushed out of the kitchen, carrying the coffee pot.


    "Al, forget your damn coffee. Go turn off the main breaker of our home and hurry to the safe room," Mary yelled at her husband while dragging her son to the basement.


    "Just take the coffee pot with you. I will be you down there soon," Alwin passed the coffee pot to his wife, hurrying to turn off the home''s main breaker.


    Entering the safe room, Mary glared at her son and asked, "Okay, what''s going on with you? You have been acting weirdly since the morning."


    "Nothing, I was just startled by the thunderclap," Ace replied, avoiding his mother''s eyes.


    "Boy, please. I have seen you light the bottle rockets in your hand and do stupider stuff. Do you expect me to believe that you got startled by a few videos of mountain lions roaming the streets and a couple of thunderclaps? Tell me what''s really going on, son?" Mary locked her eyes with her son, wanting to force the truth out of him.


    "I am telling the truth," Ace did not budge. After all, how could he tell her that the thunderstorm was two Sky-Tier curse masters clashing?


    When the first thunderclap sounded, Dame Wasp used the status screen to inform Ace that Steal Song Society''s chat group was active again. But since Ace was not in a position to use the skill ''sense share,'' she summarized the chat and reported it to him,


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    > The Steal Song Society''s chat group is buzzing.


    > MountainOfSwords has arrived in our neighborhood.


    > Crimson-eyed Curse master has killed Bane1.


    > MountainOfSwords wants to retail by destroying the entire neighborhood.


    > MountainOfSwords and Crimson-eyes are both in Sky-Tier. It''s hard to tell if Crimson-eyes could protect the neighborhood from MountainOfSwords'' wrath.


    > The Steal Song Society''s chat group has no eyes down here, so now they are speculating.


    > Master, I will update you if something important pops up.]


    "Honey, get Ace. We are heading out now," Alwin called urgently, rushing to the basement in a panic.


    "What about the thunderstorm and mountain lions?" Mary exclaimed in concern.


    "Forget about the thunderstorm and the damn mountain lions. I saw a forest fire break out in the hills. We have to get out of town now," Alwin hurriedly explained as he grabbed the disaster preparedness bags in the safe house, planning to move them to the back of his old but trusty Toyota Camry. Then, turning to his dumb-struck family, he said, "I could use a hand here."


    "Yes," waking out of her stupor, Mary rushed to help her husband, asking, "Where are we heading to?"


    "To my brother''s ranch. We should be safe there," Alwin replied, then turning to his son, he said, "Don''t just stand there. Go pack what you need."


    "The go bags have my clothes, underwear, and extra toiletries," Ace answered while keeping in touch with Dame Wasp using the status screen.


    "A thunderstorm and a wildfire occurring together should convince your brother that global warming is real," Mary made a joke to lighten the mood and ease their nerves.


    "Nope, knowing him, he would just think this is another one of the government''s conspiracies," Alwin played along, carrying the go bags to the garage.


    "Al, what about the neighbors? We should inform them," Mary suddenly remembered.


    "Who do you think told me about the forest fires in the first place? We owe the Johnsons a dinner. They are waiting for us outside. We decided to leave the town together," Alwin said, placing all the bags in the Camry''s trunk. Then, he prepared to open the garage door, but Ace stopped him, saying, "Dad, I don''t think it''s safe outside with the thunderstorm. Let us wait for the authorities to make an announcement."


    Listening to Ace, both his parents were surprised to see him dare to put forward a different opinion now of all the times.


    "Son, the hills are a few miles from here. We need to take the risk despite the odds and get out of here before it''s too late. Trust me, son. Go get in the back of the Camry," Alwin explained how bad the situation was to his son and assured him.


    "..." Ace remained silent, not knowing how to tell his parents that with two Sky-Tier curse masters fighting in the sky of their neighborhood, nowhere in the neighborhood was safe. However, with the CIB curse masters doing their best to keep the damage to the neighborhood minimum, they had a better chance of survival by staying put in one place than running around. After all, with all the curse abilities at the disposal of the CIB, they would not let the wildfire spread to the neighborhood.


    Honestly, Ace couldn''t make up his mind. Because right now, with MountainOfSwords planning to destroy the neighborhood to make up for his failure to rescue Bane1, be it outside or inside, they can only count on their luck.

 Chapter 23: Forced To Escape

    Chapter 23: Forced To Escape*Honk* *Honk*


    "Hey, Lander! What''s taking you so long?" listening to Johnson calling, Alwin''s patience was waning, he sternly ordered his son, "Get in the car, son."


    Seeing the tension between the father and son, Mary stepped out of the driver''s seat and walked towards Ace, intending to persuade him to trust his father. But before she could try and mediate, she heard him relent, "Yes, sir."


    After seating Ace in the back, Alwin opened the garage door and waited for his wife to drive out before closing it. With a final glance at their house, Alwin took the driver''s seat while Mary moved to the passenger side.


    Seeing the Landers'' car in the driveway, the Johnsons took the lead in their SUV while the Landers followed. Ace glanced at the neighborhood from the back seat of the Camry. The blazing wildfires in the hill cast an ominous shadow on it, but he could not tell the dark smoke apart from the roaring dark clouds that refused to rain. However, his lungs and eyes felt the smoke.


    While on the street, Ace noticed that many other residents had the same idea as Mr Johnson and his father. Fortunately, everyone remained civil despite the missing local authorities and did not let the panic breed chaos. Otherwise, they would all be stuck on the streets instead of being on the free roads or in the safety of their homes.


    Earlier, back in the garage, Ace backed down because Dame Wasp''s latest report proved his father''s instinct correct,


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    > MountainOfSwords has retreated.


    > MountainOfSwords claims that Crimson-eyes cheated.


    > Other members of CIB set up an array formation and aid Crimson-eyes to kill MountainOfSwords.


    > This round, CIB won.


    > MountainOfSwords has warned Steal Song Society members to cease all illegal activities and temporarily go into hiding.


    > Steal Song Society members have agreed to lay low.]


    Ace was relieved that the battle between two Sky-Tier curse masters had concluded but was dissatisfied with the CIB. They blatantly disregarded the lives of the citizens in the neighborhood and prioritized their agenda.  Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There was no need for Crimson-eyes to provoke MountainOfSwords by killing Bane1.


    Then, other members of the CIB chose to help Crimson-eyes fight MountainOfSwords instead of protecting the neighborhood.


    The result of their actions was even more disappointing. They risked the lives of thousands of residents and failed to defeat MountainOfSwords. Hopefully, now that their hands were free, CIB would focus on subduing the wildfires and save what''s left of the neighborhood.


    Ace couldn''t help but shudder with dread, wondering what would happen if MountainOfSwords didn''t escape but opted to destroy the neighborhood at the risk of his life. Meanwhile, Ace forced his parents to hide in the basement, trusting CIB to handle the situation. The consequences would have been dire. Things worked out this time, but he can''t rely on luck every time.


    Soon, the Landers and Johnsons made it out of the town. With local cops busy assisting the CIB and Firefighters subduing the wildfire on the hills, they were blessed with not running into the local authorities. After reaching the highway, they separated and headed their ways. With a long line of cars behind them, they didn''t get to say a proper goodbye.


    "We are far from the thunderstorm. The worst is behind us," Alwin announced, and looking at his son''s reflection in the rearview mirror, he said, "Son, you did well today."


    "No, Dad. I was wrong," Ace admitted.


    "Ace, look at me," Alwin locked eyes with his son through the rearview mirror for a moment and added, "Who is right or wrong doesn''t matter. You were thinking about your family. Now that''s what counts."


    "..." Seeing his father not blame him for questioning his judgment and instead try to cheer him, Ace felt guilty.


    "Ace, one cannot be right every time¡ª"


    "Keep telling yourself that," Mary interjected, cutting off Alwin.


    "Did you have to interrupt me? Can''t you see I''m having a moment with our son?" Alwin exclaimed in disbelief. He couldn''t believe his wife would do that.


    "I am never wrong, and don''t you two forget that," Mary warned her husband and son.


    "Really?" Alwin challenged.


    "Yes, name one instance when I was wrong?" Mary demanded, unwilling to let it go until her husband agreed she was never wrong.


    "What about when I wanted to buy the farmland next to my brother''s ranch, but you insisted on the house instead? Now, that farmland''s worth 60 times more while we''re unsure if your house survived the wildfire," Alwin instantly pointed out.


    "Wow, you had that one locked and loaded, didn''t you," Mary said grudgingly. Then she continued, "We''ve been over this countless times, Alwin."


    "Guys, time out. We''ve all been through a stressful day and are on edge, so let''s enjoy each other''s company in silence, agreed?" Ace spoke up before his father could aggravate his mother further.


    An awkward silence hung in the car, turning their most thrilling and memorable ride ever into an uncomfortable one. They just escaped a thunderstorm and a wildfire, they should be celebrating for goodness'' sake.


    ''How did a pep talk between father and son pivot into a couple''s fight?'' As Ace attempted to make sense of what had just transpired, he heard an eerie murmur echoing, repeating, ''Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?...''


    With the whispers came a sharp chill in the car. Ace noticed a small, 2 ft tall Curseling, resembling a red gremlin, moving from his mother''s lap toward the driver''s footwell, reaching for the accelerator while murmuring, ''Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?...''


    Ace''s parents seemed oblivious to the presence of the gremlin-like Curseling, not noticing its actions or hearing its whispers. Fearing the worst, Ace yelled, "Dad, stop the car. I need to pee."


    "Hold it in. There''s a gas station a few miles from here. You can pee there," Alwin replied.


    "No, I can''t hold it. Dad, stop the car, or I''ll pee in my pants," Ace urgently pleaded, noticing the Curseling slowly near the accelerator.

 Chapter 24: Curseling: Gremlin Form

    Chapter 24: Curseling: Gremlin Form"Don''t you dare pee in my car! Let me switch lanes and pull over to the side of the road," Alwin conceded to Ace''s threat.


    "Dad, hurry!" Ace urged. But then he noticed the gremlin stop reaching for the accelerator and locking eyes with him. It seemed to have noticed that Ace could see it. Just then, the status screen popped up, informing him,


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    Target: Gremlin


    Race: Curseling


    Class: Mortal-Tier


    Title: Mischievous Grunts


    Info: Gremlins are small, impish Curselings with grotesque features with large, pointed ears, sharp teeth, and clawed hands and feet. They are known for tampering with technology & machinery and playing pranks on unsuspecting individuals.


    Known Skills:


    i) Mischief Breeder: Brings out the worst in people and technology alike.


    ii) Mischief Feeder: Feeds on negative emotions generated by its mischief. So, its mischief usually doesn''t kill victims unless gremlins are caught in the act.  S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Note:


    i) Source: Dame Wasp, Steal Song Society archives.


    ii) This data is created for human convenience by humans. Curselings don''t assess to this.]


    ''Fuck!'' Ace cussed in his mind, feeling a sense of impending danger reading the status screen, and sure enough, the gremlin''s grotesque red face twisted into a grin as it taunted Ace, whispering, "Are we there yet?"


    Meanwhile, as Alwin prepared to change lanes, he encountered a sudden issue: the accelerator got stuck. The car steadily picked up speed, making it impossible for Alwin to slow down or change lanes. Faced with an unexpected situation, he stayed composed, trying to regain control by gently tapping the brakes and freeing the accelerator pedal with his foot.


    "Alwin, what are you doing?!" Mary asked, sensing the car speeding up instead of slowing down.


    "The accelerator''s stuck. Hold on!" Alwin informed, his knuckles turning white as his grip on the steering wheel tightened, with his attempts to regain control proving unsuccessful. The car accelerated steadily as the accelerator remained stuck, and the brakes did not function.


    ''Come on out, Rose!'' Ace mentally called out to Dame Wasp, aware that the gremlin was responsible for the malfunction of the accelerator and brakes.


    As Dame Wasp arrived next to Ace in her 1/100 form and camouflage, the Gremlin continued to grin at Ace, enjoying the chaos it breed in the car, unaware of Dame Wasp''s arrival.


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    > Cybernetic Braid laser, activated.


    > Target Locked


    > Maximum output selected.


    > Fire! ]


    In an instant, a string-sized beam of red light pierced between the brows of the gremlin, morphing its grin into disbelief as its body dissipated, leaving behind a small marble rolling by the shifter.


    Soon, Ace heard his father shout, "Nobody panic! Everything''s fine now." The accelerator and the brakes were functioning normally again.


    Regaining control of his car, Alwin quickly switched lanes and brought it to a screeching halt by the side of the road.


    Parking the car, Alwin turned to look at his wife, Mary, who had remained silent throughout the chaos. She nodded in confirmation of her well-being. Her steady presence was a source of comfort for him amidst the turmoil. As they took deep breaths and their racing hearts slowed, the couple exchanged grateful glances.


    Camouflaged, Dame Wasp carried the gremlin''s curse core and handed it to Ace,


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    > Master, it is good to see you again.]


    With a gentle smile and nod, Ace took the curse core from Dame Wasp and shook his head, feeling she had gotten addicted to using the status screen.


    "Ace, you okay back there?" Alwin checked on his son, his concern evident in his voice.


    "Yes, and I don''t have to pee anymore," Ace replied in relief, having exorcised the Curseling.


    "Don''t tell me you went in the car," Mary exclaimed.


    "If I did, trust me, you guys would be first to know," Ace replied. Mary rolled her eyes at the son. Then, turning to her husband, she said, "It''s time you bought a new car?"


    "I get it, Mary, but my Camry has been with me for two decades. Both our kids learned to drive in this. I reckon with a few fixes, this baby can still squeeze out a few more miles," Alwin replied casually, not wanting to part with his Camry yet.


    "Alwin, it''s time to let go. Besides, we can afford it, and you deserve it," Mary persuaded her husband, then added, "Nothing fancy, but let''s go with a Ford Fusion this time."


    "Nope, if we have to, we''re getting another Camry," Alwin declared firmly, leaving no room for negotiation.


    "Okay, we are getting a new car then," Mary said with a sly smile.


    "Mary, that''s not what I meant. We still have to worry about the house, with the wildfire and all," Alwin said, giving his family a rare insight into the weight of responsibility he carried on his shoulders.


    "Alwin, you worry too much. The house will be fine," Mary assured her husband. Even Ace spoke up, saying, "Yeah, Dad. I believe the firefighter subdued the fire before the fire could spread down the hill."


    "Sure, if the house is fine. We''re getting a new Camry," Alwin played along, hoping it might help calm their nerves. After all, it had been a nerve-wracking day for his family.


    "Say, Dad, if you''re getting a new Camry, I can take this one off your hands. I promise to take good care of her," Ace sneakily offered, his eyes gleaming with eagerness. He could not be more obvious about his desire to own a car.


    "You wish, and what''s next, a teenage pregnancy?" Mary immediately dismissed her son''s request before her husband could agree.


    "Mom, this is just an old Camry, not some miracle worker," Ace protested, implying that an old Camry wouldn''t suddenly make him a hit with the ladies, especially girls his age.


    "Hey," Alwin interjected Ace''s sarcasm, but he agreed with his son. "Honey, the boy is right. If anything, it will help him repel women. Camry tends to have that effect on ladies."


    "Let us discuss this later, but what now?" Mary did not budge in her decision.


    "Let us call a tow truck. It''s too risky to drive this with a sticky accelerator. There''s a gas station a few miles ahead. So, it will be cheap," Alwin responded, prioritizing his family''s safety.


    Mary glanced at her phone, then announced, "We seem to be out of network coverage here."


    "Then, you two stay here with the car. I will be right back with the tow truck," Alwin said, deciding to walk to the gas station and get help.


    "Dad, no need. My phone has bars. I will contact the garage in the gas station up ahead and ask if they can send a tow truck for us," Ace informed his father while Dame Wasp used her cybernetic enhancements and advanced software to upgrade Ace''s smartphone into a satellite phone.


    Ace didn''t persuade his father that driving the car was safe, realizing it would be pointless. His father wouldn''t take the risk with his mother and him in the car. While his father was concious about spending money on himself, he didn''t hesitate to get a tow when a gas station was nearby. For his father, family''s safety always came first, no matter the inconvenience or expense.

 Chapter 25: Human Skin Book

    Chapter 25: Human Skin Book"When do you reckon we''ll be able to hit the road again?" Alwin''s voice held a tremor of urgency as he inquired of the mechanic, who had just towed his weathered Camry to the local gas station.


    The mechanic gazed at the old Camry and answered, "I''ll need to take a gander. Should there be a need for parts, you''re looking at a night''s stay. I''d have to venture into the city to fetch them." His eyes reflected years of experience as he surveyed the Camry''s aged frame. Soon, doubt clouded his certainty in locating the necessary components within the confines of his workshop.


    Alwin nodded, his gaze lingering on his Camry. "I understand. Do what you can," he said, trying to hide his concern. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As the mechanic, a stout man with years of grease under his nails, knelt beside the car with his tools, flashlight in hand, examining the pedals, Alwin turned to his family and said, "Mary, you and Ace wait at the diner. I''ll get you when the car is ready."


    "Sure, do you need anything? Coffee or soda or bottled water," Mary inquired of her husband.


    "Bottled water will do," Alwin replied, standing near the car, arms crossed, worry etched across his weathered face.


    "Ace, you heard your father," Mary ordered her son to find him heading to the gas station toilet. So, she decided to get the bottled water herself, saying, "I will be right back."


    ¡­


    Heading into the gas station toilet, ignoring the smell of disinfectant and old cigarettes, Ace checked if the stalls were empty. Making sure he was alone, he asked, "Rose, are you certain you felt curse energy on one of the trailers behind the diner?"


    "It''s faint, but yes. I do not doubt it. Do you want me to inspect it, master?" Dame Wasp replied confidently.


    "They say curiosity killed the cat, but we are stranded here for now. Before whatever you have sensed comes finding us, you better go and make sure it isn''t a threat to us," Ace ordered Dame Wasp, putting his family''s safety first.


    "Yes, Master. I will keep you informed using the status screen," Dame Wasp flew out to check the trailers while Ace headed out to stay by his parents'' side.


    ...


    Returning to his father''s side in the garage, Ace smelled grease and old tires, a pleasant scent compared to the smell of disinfectant and old cigarettes from the gas station toilet. He then heard the mechanic inquiring his father, "Sir, what did you say the problem was again?"


    Alwin cleared his throat. "The gas pedal is sticky, and the brakes aren''t functioning properly," he replied.


    "The pedals look fine, but I''ll adjust them for your peace of mind," the mechanic assured. He tweaked the gas pedal, tightening and loosening bolts, giving equal attention to the brakes as if coaxing life back into them.


    "There," the mechanic declared, rising to his feet. "Give her a test drive. She''ll surprise you."


    Alwin climbed into the driver''s seat. The engine roared to life, and he pulled out of the garage. The road stretched ahead, a ribbon of asphalt leading to unknown destinations.


    As Alwin pressed the gas pedal, it responded smoothly¡ªno more stickiness. The brakes engaged with precision. Returning to the garage, Alwin glanced at the mechanic, who stood by the garage door, hands on his hips. "Good job, man. What do I owe you?"


    "$75," the mechanic stated a reasonable fee, considering that some charge more for a simple tow.


    "Is the car ready?" Mary inquired, stepping out of the gas station store with an orange pop. She added, "They were out of bottled water."


    "Yes, we can be back on the road," Alwin replied, paying the mechanic.


    "Dad, wait. I will get some snacks for the road," Ace suddenly said, hoping to buy time for Dame Wasp.


    "Here''s a twenty," Alwin said, handing his son a crisp twenty-dollar bill. "Hurry up. We need to be at your uncle''s place before dusk."


    Ace darts to the store next to the diner, hurrying Dame Wasp through his status screen,


    [Rose, we are heading back on the road. I am recalling you.]


    [No master, wait. I found a curse core and a book made of human skin in one of the trailers.]


    [Rose, is it dangerous?]


    [No, Master. From what I gathered, we have already taken care of the danger.]


    [Rose, I don''t understand?]


    [Master, I will explain everything to you later. Give me a few minutes to copy the human skin book and destroy it. And once I have the curse core in my grasp. I will inform you. Then you can recall me.]


    [Okay, Rose. Let us do that.]


    Ace decided to trust Dame Wasp''s judgment. Even though she was just a toy he brought to life, she had the same intelligence as the character she was modeled after. Considering that the Dame Wasp character in the movie had bravely defeated an entire evil corporation that sought to control her, Ace believed she had a good sense of judgment.


    [Master, I am done. You can recall me now.]


    Ace casually browsed the store shelves until he received Dame Wasp''s signal. He swiftly retreated to a secluded corner and whispered, "Recall, Dame Wasp."


    Manifesting next to Ace, Dame Wasp passed the curse core she brought to Ace, saying, "Master, I believe this is the curse core of the human controlling the Gremlin Curseling we killed earlier?"


    [Not, here. Let''s talk Inside the car. I will pretend to be asleep while using the sense share skill.]


    Ace used the status screen to inform Dame Wasp while he stored the curse core in the specific toy space reserved for Apex earrings. This space already held the curse core of the Gremlin they had defeated earlier. Ace avoided carrying the curse cores on his person, knowing that curse energy attracted Curselings.


    After purchasing popcorn, potato chips, and a few other snacks, Ace returned to his parents, who were waiting for him in the car. As he got into the back seat, he announced, "Next stop, Iron Valley Ranch."

 Chapter 26: Curse Slave

    Chapter 26: Curse SlaveNoticing his wife and son had dozed off, Alwin lowered the radio volume and gazed at his wife''s exquisite and serene sleeping face with a subtle smile on his lips. Despite their occasional disagreements, she remained the blessing in his life.


    Believing himself to be the luckiest guy alive for marrying the love of his life, he continued driving to his brother''s ranch at the suggested speed limit.


    Through Dame Wasp''s senses, Ace observed his father''s subtle gestures. Knowing that his parents'' love continues to grow to this day filled him with joy and hope that he could experience the same with his significant other. As that thought crossed his mind, Ace shook his head, thinking it was still too early for him to be tied down by love, and asked Dame Wasp, ''Rose, did you mention that a human was controlling the Gremlin Cursling we defeated?''


    Dame Wasp confirmed, saying, ''Yes, master.''


    With a worried tone, Ace asked, ''Rose, was it truly a curse master? Since curse masters don''t leave behind curse cores when they pass away because their curse core resides within their innate curse tool. Could it that you have mistaken?'' Even as he spoke, Ace trusted that Dame Wasp had a valid reason for her assertion.


    ''Master, she wasn''t a curse master but a curse slave,'' Dame Wasp corrected him, her voice firm yet respectful.


    ''A curse slave?'' Ace inquired, his curiosity piqued. ''How do they differ from curse masters?'' It was the first time he had encountered the concept of curse slaves.


    Before Dame Wasp could respond, Ace interjected, instructing her, ''Hold on a moment. Let''s start from the top. Provide me with a detailed account of the events in the trailer. Also, explain how you came to learn all this information.''


    ''Yes, master,'' Dame Wasp agreed and began to narrate, ''After I located the trailer oozing faint curse energy and entered it while searching the area for clues, I spotted the curse core lying on the ground. When I went to pick it up, I found two books wedged behind the cabinet. One was a plain old diary, and the other was a grotesque human skin book. Going through their contents, I learned about curse slaves and that the trailer belonged to the mechanic''s estranged mother, the Curse slave controlling the gremlin curseling. Understanding that the information in the diary and the human skin book could be used to harm others in the wrong hands I destroyed them after copying their contents.''


    After a small pause, Dame Wasp continued, ''According to the books, in a twist of fate, the mechanic''s mother was dragged into the world of curses by a curse master who took a fancy to her beauty. He not only repeatedly raped her but threatened and forced her to leave her family and follow him as his slave.  S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But the mechanic''s mother was clever. She knew the curse master would keep her alive until he got bored of her or she lost her charm with age. So, she slowly gained his trust and convinced him she could be an asset to him. As such, the curse master helped her become a curse slave.


    Curse slaves are those who practice the Curse Slave Art¡ªa lifeline for those lacking aptitude for curse energy. This art enables them to perceive the world of curses while helping them ensure their survival. However, it comes with a heavy price.


    To master this cruel discipline, one must embed a curse core deep within one''s heart, fueling it with raw negative emotions. This process allows the curseling of the curse core to regenerate as a whole in their heart. It is a tormenting process and those with a weak will die in mid-process. When the curseling regenerates it turns the curse slave''s heart into its vessel, forging an unbreakable life bond between them. If one perishes, so does the other, safeguarding the Curse slaves against their Curslings.


    The curse slave can use the life bond to communicate with their curseling and command it to fight on their behalf. The drawback is that they only establish a life bond with one curseling unless they find a way for humans to have multiple hearts.


    Once completely tamed, the curseling aids in refining the curse slave''s negative emotions into a curse core. With their curse core, the curse slaves can wield the curse energy, arts, and tools akin to traditional curse masters. They can even allow their tamed curseling to possess them, granting them superhuman and curse abilities of their curseling.


    However, a curse slave''s strength and growth are ultimately tied to the tier of the curseling they have a life bond with. But a single human''s negative emotions can only help regenerate a mortal-tier curseling after a long period of accumulation at best.


    So, despite all the pain they suffer trying to form a life bond with curseling, they can only grow to the mortal tier. Because of this limitation, curse slaves are a cannon-fodder-like existence in the world of curses. But they gain partial immortality, allowing them to live past their natural lifespan thanks to their life bond with the curseling. Yet they age at a regular rate. So, their body gives up before they turn 150 years old.


    This was why the curse master did not think twice before helping the mechanic''s mother become a curse slave. He was not worried about her backstabbing him but happy about gaining a capable bottom bitch. However, last year, the curse master was killed by his enemy.


    Finally free, the mechanic''s mother returned to her family to learn that her husband, until his last breath, never believed she left them and searched for her. But her son resented her for everything their family had been through, yet he grew a respectable family man.


    Unable to find the courage to tell the truth to her son, she watched over him and his family from the trailer behind the diner. Learning that his son''s garage was barely making any profit with new cars that could only be serviced and maintained in the dealerships, she decided to use her identity as a curse slave to help him.


    She commanded her Gremlin Curseling to cause minor issues in passing cars, such as sticky gas pedals or faulty brakes, to attract business to her son''s garage.


    Today, she was out of luck as she messed with the wrong car. Once her gremlin was killed, she died in her trailer. Her corpse dissipated leaving behind her curse core.''

 Chapter 27: Loot

    Chapter 27: LootAs Dame Wasp spoke about the mechanic''s mother and cursed slaves, Ace found himself at a loss for words. The situation perplexed him. While he empathized with the mechanic''s family history, particularly the tragedy surrounding his mother, Ace harbored no remorse for killing the Gremlin curseling¡ªeven if it meant he indirectly killed the mechanic''s mother. His heart held no mercy toward those who threatened his family.


    No longer sparing thought to it, Ace inquired Dame Wasp, ''Rose, did you thoroughly search her trailer? Given her extensive history as a curse slave, she may possess curse tools and cores.''


    ''Master, I searched the trailer and the area around it but found nothing. According to the diary, after the curse master who held her captive died, the mechanic''s mother gave all her belongings to his killer in exchange for sparing her life. If it weren''t for the fact that the killer had no interest in the cursed slave arts, she wouldn''t even have the human skin book,'' Dame Wasp explained, noting that the mechanic''s mother was broke.


    ''I suppose if she had wealth or power, she wouldn''t have been hiding in a trailer in the middle of nowhere and would have found a better way to assist her son and his family,'' Ace reasoned. ''With the CIB around, curse slaves and even low-level curse masters could only stay hidden, especially when even members of the Steal Song Society had to bow out.''


    ''Master, our loot isn''t entirely useless. Even though you can''t utilize the curse slave art, it provides a detailed explanation of how to use the curse core to cultivate your curse core,'' Dame Wasp informed Ace.


    After refining his curse core, Ace was enlightened about forging an innate curse tool and nurturing it with his curse energy. This process aims to grow one''s curse core by nourishing one''s innate curse tool. Therefore, the profound insight centered on replenishing curse energy via a curse core, with less focus on directly using it to expand one''s curse core. This approach was because growing one''s curse core through one''s innate curse tool reduced the associated risks. However, curse slaves operated differently; they utilized the curse core directly to expand their curse core.


    Growing one''s core by nurturing the innate curse core, while safer, was a slow process. On the other hand, directly using the curse core to grow one''s core was faster, with minimal risks as long as the curse core matched the user''s tier. Due to the safety-first and slow-growth nature of a curse master''s practice, Gloria didn''t hesitate to give Ace the core of a knight-tier curseling to nurture his innate curse tool. If it were curse slaves, they could never use a knight-tier or above curse core due to the volatile nature surrounding their practice. Not to forget, their strength was limited to the mortal tier.


    ''Master, while using curse cores to grow their curse core might pose risks for other curse masters, you have a status screen. With it, you can direct the cursed toybox to assist you in utilizing curse cores to grow your curse core. This way, you can bypass the associated risks, similar to how curse masters nurture their innate curse tool to avoid such dangers,'' Dame Wasp suggested to Ace, highlighting that he could benefit from both methods thanks to his status screen.


    For instance, let''s consider guns. Typically, people use guns to shoot. But to hit a target accurately, they need to aim before firing. However, in Ace''s situation, he had a status screen, allowing him to instruct his gun to both aim and shoot for him.


    ''Rose, that''s a great idea. Do you think it will work?'' Ace enthusiastically exclaimed as he listened to Dame Wasp''s suggestion.


    ''Yes, it will. I''ve already instructed the cursed toybox about this through the status screen. With your permission, it''s ready to assist you in growing your curse core using the curse cores stored in its toy space. Master, please forgive me if I overstep,'' Dame Wasp informed Ace about her actions while he was enjoying his time with his parents.


    ''Rose, you are my guardian angel sent from heaven. You did not overstep at all,'' Ace praised Dame Wasp for taking the initiative to make things easier for him.


    ''Master, I was simply fulfilling my duty as your toy summons,'' Dame Wasp beamed with joy as she listened to Ace refer to her as his guardian angel. She felt as though she was bestowed with the highest honor imaginable.


    ''Okay, let''s get started,'' Ace said eagerly, unable to wait to see if Dame Wasp''s proposal was feasible. If it was, his growth rate as a curse master would be unparalleled.


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    > Chose a curse core to enchant your curse core with,


    i) Curse Core: Gremlin form


    ii) Curse Core: Humanoid form


    Note: Cursed Toybox recommends the Toymancer have optimum body composition to gain maximum benefits from enchantment.] S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Fuck! Did my innate curse tool just call me fat?'' Ace exclaimed, reading the note section. Not dwelling over it, his focus shifted to the humanoid form curse core and mused, ''This must be the curse slave''s curse core.''


    With countless toys compatible with humanoid form curse cores, Ace opted to save it for animating a toy and instead use the gremlin form curse core to enchant his curse core. After making this decision, Ace summoned the fat inverter of the apex earring to convert all the excess fat. Since he wouldn''t be attending school that week and it had been a while since his uncle and his family had seen him, it seemed like the perfect time for him to make the change. As far as his parents were concerned, he had never been overweight. That was their words. Ace was only planning to use it against them.


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    > Fat inverter


    i) Toymancer''s excess fat tissue: 40 pounds


    ii) Toymancer''s curse energy: (179/201)


    > Do you want to interchange your fat and curse energy? (Y/N)]


    ''Convert all excess fat tissue,'' Ace commanded.


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    > Fat inverter


    -40 pounds of excess fat tissue


    +4 units of curse energy


    i) Toymancer''s excess fat tissue: 0 pounds


    ii) Toymancer''s curse energy: (183/201)


    > Do you want to interchange your fat and curse energy? (Y/N)]


    ''No.''

 Chapter 28: Level-Up

    Chapter 28: Level-UpSince Ace was sharing Dame Wasp''s senses, he did not feel the changes in his body after losing 40 pounds of fat tissue. However, through her vision, he did see his body slim down a little. At present, his body possessed an adequate quantity of fat for his age and height, rendering it lean and firm, though it lacked the defined musculature typically associated with a trained physique.


    Ace wanted to reserve some additional fat tissue in case he required the ''Fat Heal'' ability to address minor injuries. However, given his capability to transform curse energy into fat, he opted against it. After all, the enchanted toybox had requested him to shed excess weight to maximize the benefits of the curse core enchanting process.


    ''Begin the process of enchanting the curse core with the Grimlin form curse core,'' Ace instructed the cursed toybox, looking forward to the changes that could occur as his curse core grew.


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    > Using curse core (gremlin form) to enchant Toymancer''s curse core¡­


    > Enhancement complete.


    > Toymancer has gained,


    i) +5 physical stats


    ii) +5 spiritual stats


    iii) +70 curse energy


    Note: Toymancer''s personal status screen has been updated.]


    ''Rose, it worked. It worked better than I thought,'' Ace exclaimed in sheer joy and excitement. Thanks to Dame Wasp''s brilliant suggestion, he did not have to spend time nourishing his innate cruse tool to grow his curse core. Since Ace''s curse core grew, the innate curse tool it was empowering would also grow with it.


    Typical curse masters use curseling''s curse core to nurture their innate curse tool so that as it matures, it assists in the growth of the curse core within them. This method is indirect, as curse masters prioritize safety over speed and efficiency.


    However, Ace utilized his status screen to command his innate curse tool to directly imbue his curse core with the power it harnessed from the curseling''s curse core. Here, Ace''s innate curse tool was an active participate. By using his innate curse tool as the conduit in the curse slave''s extreme and direct cultivation process, Ace retained safety of curse masters'' indirect cultivation process without losing any speed and efficiency. As a result, not only did his curse core experience growth, but his innate curse tool progressed in parallel.


    It would have taken days of concentration and practice for regular curse masters and hours for talented curse masters to achieve what Ace had achieved in mere seconds. Ace was excited to have found this loophole only available because of his innate curse art, Status screen. He could not thank Dame Wasp for suggesting it and making it happen, ''Rose, you are the best thing that ever happened to me.''


    ''Master, stop. I was just doing my duty,'' Dame Wasp shrugged off her master''s praise. But, deep down, she was delighted and could not be more happy.


    ''Rose, use the status screen to pull up my status on your visor,'' Ace instructed Dame Wasp, who instantly agreed, ''Yes, master.''


    [ ¡ª Status screen¡ª


    Name: Ace Lander


    Race: Human (¡á)


    Class: Toymancer


    Title: Curse Master


    Health: (17/95)yrs


    Physical Power: 16


    Spiritual power: 17


    Curse Energy: (271/271)


    Skills: Cursed toybox(2/3), Status screen


    Note:


    i) Skill ''Cursed toybox'' has added extra toy space.]


    ''In addition to permanently increasing my curse energy, it has filled it up. This curse core enchant feels more like a level-up in a game,'' Ace mused, and then gazing at the note section, he added, ''Best of all, the Cursed toybox gained an extra toy space. And it just so happens we have a curse core (humanoid form). Rose, we are getting a new friend. Whom do you suggest?''


    ''I get a say in this?'' Dame Wasp asked in surprise, not expecting her master to bestow her with such an important task.


    ''Absolutely, why not? Your instincts have been crucial in keeping me alive thus far. Rose, no pressure at all, just compile a list of humanoid toys that you believe would make valuable additions to our family. We can discuss whom to select later,'' Ace expressed, acknowledging the significance of Dame Wasp''s opinion, given her consistently proving herself to him in various situations. It wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say that without Dame Wasp, he might still be a sacrificial pawn in Gloria''s schemes.


    ''Our family? We are a family,'' Dame Wasp blurted out. Listening to her, Ace affirmed warmly, ''Yes, we are a family, Rose.''


    Dame Wasp was on cloud nine, learning that her master considered her as a family. It took a while for her to emerge from her euphoria, but soon, she responded, ''Yes, master, I will prepare the list of humanoid toys that would be fit to join our family.''


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    > Do you want to use five units of curse energy to extend Dame Wasp''s summon time limit by another hour?


    (Yes/No)


    Note: Dame Wasp''s remaining summon time: 2 minutes.]  sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Rose, how about spending another hour outside? You earned it,'' Ace asked Dame Wasp, hoping to reward her for the big help she has been to him in his secret life as rookie curse master.


    ''No, master. We never know when another crisis will be up on us. I will head back in,'' Dame Wasp rejected Ace''s offer and decided to head back into the curse toybox, keeping the bigger picture in mind.


    ''Rose, don''t stress over it. Once we''re at my uncle''s ranch, I''ll call you to join me for some fun,'' Ace assured. It wasn''t solely for Dame Wasp''s sake; he was curious about her capabilities and wanted to play with her. Unlike at his home, Dame Wasp would have free rein to explore her abilities at his uncle''s ranch.


    ''Yes, master. I''ll eagerly await it,'' Dame Wasp agreed. As a toy, her primary instinct was to be played with, so hearing her master express his desire to play with her was like a dream come true for her.


    After Dame Wasp returned to the cursed toybox, Ace woke up in his body and immediately noticed the changes. He felt significantly lighter and stronger, with well-defined and trained muscles. ''This must be because of the five physical stats I gained,'' Ace mused, reflecting on his transformation. Not just his body, but his mind and senses also sharpened, becoming clearer and more acute.

 Chapter 29: Iron Valley Ranch

    Chapter 29: Iron Valley Ranch"Mary, honey, we are 10 minutes from my brothers," Alwin reluctantly awakened his wife.


    "What 10 minutes? Didn''t I tell you to wake me up at least 30 minutes early?" Mary exclaimed, waking up from her sleep.


    "Sorry, you were fast asleep, so I didn''t wake you up," Alwin explained,


    "Go slower. I don''t want to meet my in-laws with gunk in my eyes," Mary ordered, wiping her drool and cleaning goo off the corner of her eyes.


    "I already am. If I go any slower, I might get a ticket for driving too slow," Alwin said helplessly. Then he added, "Besides, it is just my brother and his wife."


    Mary responded, "It''s them I am worried about. Your sister-in-law already believes we''re poor because we rely on each paycheck. I''d rather not appear tired and old in front of her." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "But isn''t that true?" Ace''s words hung in the air, momentarily freezing the atmosphere within the car. Sensing the tension, he hastily explained, "I mean the poor part. You are beautiful, Mom. All my friends think you are my Elder sister."


    "You are lucky. I do not have time to deal with you," Mary spared her son''s audacious tongue as she was busy using the rearview mirror to fix her hair.


    Alwin hurriedly changed the topic, "Mr.Thomson from the neighborhood watch called. He said that the fire department subdued the fire on the hill before it could spread to the neighborhood. So our house is safe, and Ace''s school is closed till Monday. They are hoping that the air would be breathable by then."


    "That''s a load off our minds," Mary said, doing her best with what she had, but she missed her makeup kit.


    "Mary, I was thinking I should take leave from work so we can spend the week at my brother''s ranch," Alwin proposed, thinking a week off at the ranch would be a good change of pace for his family from their busy lives.


    "A week, Alwin? We do not have the clothes or the undergarments," Mary pointed out that they only brought the disaster preparedness bags and weren''t prepared to spend a whole week at their relative''s place.


    "I am sure Pam would happily lend you a few of her clothes. Besides, their town has a mall now. We can buy temporary clothes and stuff there," Alwin tried his best to sell his idea to Mary.


    "I think it''s a great idea, Dad," Ace backed his dad, believing his uncle''s ranch would be the best place for him to lay low with CIB crawling all over their neighborhood.


    "Since the air in our neighborhood is unbreathable, we have little choice but to impose on them," Mary reluctantly gave her consent, as she didn''t like the idea of imposing on their relatives for an entire week on short notice.


    ¡­


    As Alwin pulled up in front of his brother''s big ranch house, he noticed his brother and sister-in-law coming to receive them.


    "Are they receiving us in their swimwear?" Mary asked, surprised to see Dan in his swim trunks and Pam in a white beach kaftan covering her swimsuit.


    "Yes, they are," Alwin answered as he parked the car. He avoided glancing at Pam in her swimwear, conscious of his brother beside her and his wife beside him.


    "Oh, man, the countryside is wild," Ace blurted out, staring at Pam''s long legs, recalling that his aunt was a model before she married his uncle, the veteran turned wealthy rancher.


    Danny Lander was the eldest of the two brothers. His Iron Valley ranch spanned over 120 acres, of which 40 acres was farmland that Ace''s dad wanted to buy instead of their house. This 40-acre land''s a goldmine, generating four times the income of Dan''s entire livestock operation on the ranch. Initially started as a side hustle, Dan transformed the 40 acres into a thriving tangerine plantation. Now, it was the source of his wealth.


    "Al, you guys made it," Dan said as Alwin parked the car.


    "We saw it on the news, a thunderstorm and a wildfire at the same time. We couldn''t believe it. Glad you guys made it out of there safely," Pam expressed as Mary stepped out of the car.


    "Dan, you are naked," Alwin said as he avoided his brother, who came to hug him.


    "About that, we''re having a small pool party. We recently got a pool installed in our backyard. With summer around the corner, we figured it''s the perfect time," Dan explained, clarifying why the husband and wife greeted them in their swimwear.


    "Oh, congratulations, then," Alwin said, contemplating how one decision had changed his brother and his life.


    "Dan, let''s head in. So, they can change and join the party," Pam reminded her husband.


    "We would love to, but we didn''t bring swimsuits or clothes for that matter," Mary said, recalling the real reason why she did not like to visit the Iron Valley ranch. If they had bought the farmland instead of the house, they would not be struggling financially and her husband could have retired by now.


    "You can borrow mine," Pam offered as they headed inside the house.


    "Don''t worry, guys. I will move our go-bags in the house," Ace commented aloud, seeing the adults leave, ignoring him.


    "Ace, don''t just stand by the car. Come say hi to your uncle and aunt," Alwin called over his socially awkward son.


    "Ace, you''ve grown a lot since we last saw you," Pam exclaimed, noticing her healthy nephew had grown into an eye candy.


    "Ace, what on earth happened to you?" Mary exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise. She couldn''t believe how snugly his school uniform fit around his muscular frame. ''Heck, he never had muscles like that before,'' she thought, astonished.


    "Son, did your uniform shrink, or did you suddenly bulk up in the past hour?" Alwin asked incredulously, eyeing Ace''s transformed physique with confusion, wondering if they had somehow passed through a magical tunnel. Now, that would explain his son''s transformation.


    "My usual school uniforms were all in the laundry. So I am wearing my old uniform. It''s too tight," Ace lied without remorse. The look of awe on Pam''s face made it all worth it. As for his parents, they will get over it.


    Ace never got the chance to change out of his uniform since he was too busy trying to make sense of what was happening with the mountain lions roaming the streets and then the thunderstorm followed by the wildfire.


    "Al, your son has grown into one fine young man. Unlike mine, who wears a t-shirt to a pool party," Dan remarked, comparing his nephew with his shut-in overweight son.

 Chapter 30: Dont You Knock

    Chapter 30: Don''t You KnockAce''s uncle''s house had so many rooms that they spared an entirely furnished room for him for the week. He couldn''t help but wonder if having excessive wealth and leisure time led one to build spare rooms and extravagantly furnish them, especially when stuck on a ranch three hours away from the city.


    "My god, I can barely recognize my body, except for the face everything else feels so unfamiliar yet familiar," Ace uttered in disbelief, staring at his naked body reflected in the full-body mirror. He felt like the character''s in the comic books that gain incredible bodies as they awaken their superpowers. Except that was fiction, and this was reality.


    "Admiring ourselves, are we," Pam remarked, walking into the room and placing a few sets of clothes and a swim trunk on the bed for Ace to use. She had bought these clothes for her son but was about to return them since they didn''t suit him. But seeing Ace today, she thought he could use them, especially with his body frame.


    "Oh, shit. Auntie Pam! Don''t you knock," Ace exclaimed in shock and hurriedly tried to cover himself with whatever he could get his hands on.


    "Boy, you don''t have to be shy in front of me. I have changed your diapers and taught you how to wipe," Pam lingered, watching Ace struggle to hide his massive body behind a small pillow. "Come on downstairs. Everyone''s eager for you to join the party," she said before leaving the room as a subtle mischievous smile graced her lips.


    ''This would never happen to me in my old body,'' Ace mused, having spent many summer breaks at his uncle''s ranch. He was used to seeing all these ''surprise scenes'' in the movies and TV shows and wondered why it never happened to him. Now, he knew why. He did not look the part. In simpler words, he didn''t have the right body for it.


    Changing into a slim-fit floral half-sleeve yellow shirt and white swim trunks, Ace headed downstairs to join his parents at the pool party. He might have gained an athlete''s body but lacked the confidence to flaunt it.


    Walking into the bustling backyard, Ace scanned the crowd for familiar faces, only to realize that all eyes were on him. This time, it was not a figment of his imagination. Every gaze had turned his way. His mere presence had captured their interest. It was the first his presence was acknowledged with him just being there. Good-looking people did live in a world of their own.  S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just then, a blonde babe in a white knitted swimdress covering her ample curves warped in a black swimsuit walked up to Ace and said, "Hey, nephew. Long time no see."


    "Hi, Mandy. When did you turn blonde?" Ace exclaimed, recognizing that the blonde was none other than his Aunt''s younger sister. Mandy and Ace were of the same age group, just a few years apart. Since Pam''s parents had Mandy when she was a senior in college. Pam practically raised Mandy, so she was more of a mother to Mandy than an elder sister.


    "Since when did you have a jawline?" Mandy asked in astonishment, pondering when her bratty nephew had matured into a man.


    "Blonde is your color. It suits you," Ace complimented Mandy and asked, "Where''s Danny?"


    "Which one, the senior or junior? If you''re searching for Danny Senior, he''s out grilling with your father. As for Danny Junior, he''s probably holed up in his room, lost in video games," Mandy relayed, occasionally glancing at Ace''s well-defined thighs. While she had encountered her fair share of handsome men, she had never encountered someone with such finely sculpted thigh muscles.


    "Could you be a bit less obvious?" Ace grumbled in annoyance. They weren''t blood-related, so he wouldn''t have minded Mandy''s advance if they were in some other place and company, but they were among family and friends.


    "What? As if you never sneaked glances at my cleavage," Mandy retorted.


    "I don''t want to be part of this conversation," Ace remarked, rolling his eyes at Mandy. "I''m going to find Danny," he added before turning away.


    "What just happened?" Mandy uttered in disbelief. Ace''s dismissive attitude left her feeling a bit embarrassed.


    "That''s called rejection," Mandy heard Pam''s voice coming from beside her.


    "Hi, Pam. Hi, Mary. I was just teasing him," Mandy laughed awkwardly, avoiding their glares.


    "Mandy, I can''t dictate who you date. But Ace is off-limits. He''s family and underage," Pam sternly warned her younger sister.


    "Pam, you talk as if I''m some kind of promiscuous woman with no self-control," Mandy protested, objecting to her sister''s characterization of her.


    "Lately, your actions have given off that impression," Pam persisted, concerned that if she didn''t defuse Mary''s anger, Mandy would have to face Mary''s wrath for flirting with her son.


    "You''re impossible, Pam," Mandy exclaimed, stomping her foot in frustration before turning to leave. Not only had she been rejected by a teenage boy who once drooled on her, but now she had also been reprimanded by her sister in front of a crowd of people. As someone who was the ''Miss Country Rose Pageant'' for three consecutive years, she did not need to take this.


    ''Sigh, I dodged a bullet,'' With his increased spiritual stats, Ace had sensed his mother and aunt''s presence nearby, so he rejected Mandy''s advances despite her looking smoking hot in her swimdress.


    Ace then headed to his cousin''s room. Though the pool party only had friends and family, they were all his uncle and aunt''s side of family and friends. Ace was not acquainted with most of them. So, he felt it was better to play video games with his cousin in his room than awkwardly lingering in some corner at the pool party.


    Without knocking, Ace brazenly entered his cousin''s room, to find him naked, standing behind a woman on all fours, equally naked. Their eyes met, and a shocked Danny exclaimed, "Ace! What the hell? Don''t you knock!"


    "Why didn''t you lock your door?" Ace retorted.


    "Get out!" Danny demanded angrily.


    Noticing that the woman''s head was turned oddly, in an inhuman angle, Ace cried out, "Is she dead?"

 Chapter 31: Esmeralda, The Elven Queen Mother

    Chapter 31: Esmeralda, The Elven Queen MotherAce walked back and forth in the hallway outside Danny''s room, his mind racing as he tried to comprehend the recent events and whether his cousin could be capable of such heinous acts as murder and rape.


    ''No human can turn their head at that angle, and she did not make any noise or movement. Should I call for help? Or should I give him the benefit of the doubt?,'' Ace pondered. Then, another unsettling thought crossed his mind, ''Who''s to say he isn''t planning to escape or even to silence me, the lone witness? What if she isn''t dead and needs medical attention.''


    "Okay, Ace, I''m decent. You can come in now," Danny called out. But Ace hesitated, his suspicions growing. "Dude, are you planning to kill me now that I know your secret?" he questioned in uncertainty.


    "No, what are you talking about?" Danny replied, genuinely perplexed by Ace''s accusation. He opened the door wider and exclaimed, "Jackass, stop messing around and just come inside before someone sees us." Danny''s tone was a mix of frustration and urgency, eager to dispel the misunderstandings.


    Ace entered the room, confident that with his stats and the effects of the apex earring, he could take on a dozen Dannys at the same time. Then, looking at a comforter covering a humanoid figure underneath it, Ace directly asked Danny, "Danny, did you kill a woman?"


    "No!" Danny exclaimed, his facial expression contorting with disbelief at Ace''s question, finding it utterly absurd.


    "Then did you roofie her?" Ace pressed on, unwilling to believe that Danny could have consensually engaged with a woman before him.


    "No, you fool. Stop guessing. All you''re doing is showing how little opinion you have of me," Danny denied vehemently, frustration evident in his voice as he begged Ace to stop guessing.


    "Then who is she? What is she doing under your comforter? Does she even know she is here? Danny, I know you want to be famous, but I didn''t think it would be like this," Ace questioned, his tone a mix of concern and disbelief at the situation unfolding before him.


    "Shut up, you asshole! Just let me explain. Otherwise, there will be a murder, and it will be yours," Danny warned Ace sternly, his frustration boiling over at the constant interruptions.


    "..." Ace fell silent. His cousin''s explosive outburst left him momentarily speechless.


    "Ace, what I''m about to show you is my deepest secret. Promise me you won''t tell anyone, not even your elder sister," Danny implored Ace, seeking his assurance before divulging the truth.


    "As long as it''s not criminal in nature, you have my word that your secret is safe with me," Ace promised solemnly, understanding that this was important for Danny.


    "Good," Danny nodded, then grasping the edge of the comforter, he said, "What I''m about to show you next is going to blow your mind. Ace, are you ready to have your mind blown?"


    "My mind is already blown. Now, I''m just trying to piece everything together. Hurry up and show me," Ace urged, his curiosity piqued and patience wearing thin.


    "Tsk," Danny clicked his tongue in annoyance but continued with a hint of showmanship, saying, "Behold, I present to you Esmeralda, the Elven Queen Mother."


    Danny lifted the comforter, revealing a stunning woman with long blonde hair adorned in a gold-plated tiara and wearing a green royal elven dress. She exuded an otherworldly beauty that seemed to meet every unrealistic standard men have for women: flawless skin, silky hair, a curvy and symmetrical body, a slender waist, and more. Esmeralda appeared to have it all, just too perfect to exist. However, upon closer inspection, Ace realized she wasn''t a real woman but a life-size silicone sex doll. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Amazed, mind blown away, huh?" Danny asked with a hint of anticipation, waiting for Ace''s reaction to the revelation.


    "Dude, that''s a silicone sex doll," Ace remarked in surprise and disbelief.


    "Hey, careful, she can hear you. You''re hurting her feelings," Danny interjected, closing the doll''s ears with his hand. This astonishing action left Ace thinking, ''This is worse than what I had imagined.''


    Looking at the doll''s unrealistically perfect and sizable breasts, Ace asked Danny, "Can I touch her?"


    "Can I touch your sister?" Danny asked Ace angrily, his rage evident in his tone.


    "Hey, that''s my sister," Ace warned Danny firmly, asserting his boundaries.


    "Hey, hey, hey, this is my wife," Danny retorted possessively, implying how much the sex doll meant to him.


    "Okay, let us both calm down and take a step back," Ace suggested, attempting to defuse the tension. He realized he had unintentionally stirred things up by not understanding the significance of the doll to his cousin.


    The cousins nodded in agreement. Then Ace watched as Danny carefully carried the doll and properly hung her in his closet. After securing the door with a lock, Danny then turned to Ace and sincerely apologized, "I shouldn''t have said that about my cousin. I am sorry."


    "Water under the bridge. I am also sorry, I did not know that doll¡ª I mean, Esmeralda meant that much to you," Ace forgave Danny and genuinely apologized.


    "It''s okay. Now you know," Danny nodded, then he remarked, "Dude, you are jacked. When did that happen?"


    "I have been working out a little recently, that is all. What about you? Where did you get the money to buy a silicone partner? I heard my classmate say a good one costs around two grand," Ace was not living under the rock. Kids his age had long stopped jacking off to phone screens but were using silicone sex toys and dolls with VR headsets. Danny was too attached to Esmeralda, so he did not need a VR headset to help with his imagination.


    "You are talking about the mass-produced once from the east. Esmeralda is top-grade compared to those mass-produced trash. The best medical-grade silicone there was used to make her, and she is a one-of-a-kind, custom job, domestically made by an experienced dermatologist specializing in plastic surgery. Two grand? Try adding another zero," Danny confidently and enthusiastically declared the information about the quality and uniqueness of Esmeralda with a sense of pride and satisfaction.


    "Twenty grand! No wonder it looked so realistic, but where did you get that kind of money?" Ace asked in astonishment. He could not believe his cousin spent so much money on a doll.


    "Mandy bought it for my birthday," Danny replied as he turned on his PC, preparing to play a game.


    "Mandy, your auntie Mandy? How did she come into so much money, and what was she thinking?" Ace exclaimed in disbelief.

 Chapter 32: Silicone Partners

    Chapter 32: Silicone PartnersAce planned to check in on Danny and then return to his room to practice curse arts, but after meeting Esmeralda, the Elven Queen Mother, that changed.


    "Ace, Mandy was a real estate agent. She made over a million by brokering land deals for a few old but rich and powerful people who wanted to retire and move to the countryside for a quiet life. Now, she, too, retired and used her millions to buy a ranch and farmland not far from here. My dad helps her manage them, and they split the profits," Danny updated Ace on what Mandy had been up to recently.


    When Ace was younger, his family used to spend the summer break at their uncle''s house, but as they grew older and his uncle''s family got wealthier, these last few summers, Ace''s parents spent their summer in the city. It''s not that Alwin and Mary were jealous of Dan and Pam''s success. It''s just that buying the farmland and starting a tangerine plantation was Alwin''s idea, but due to their choices, things ended up as in the present.


    Ace''s parents were happy for his uncle, but visiting the ranch reminded them of their missed opportunity. So they stopped visiting the ranch and invited his uncle''s family to the city. However, their house was too small to accommodate two families. So, they politely spent the night and left the next day, making some excuse.


    "So everyone is rich except for my family?" Ace exclaimed in shock. His father attended college, got a job in a reputed MNC, and worked hard his entire life, nearing retirement age, but he was yet to make his million. Honestly, he was far from it. However, his uncle and Mandy barely passed high school yet met their million-dollar mark. As for his sister, she was a few years older than Mandy and a college graduate but had yet to get her life together. Let alone earn a million dollars.


    "Ace, you are smart. I am sure you will think of something to make your million," Danny comforted his cousin while thanking god for making him the only son, allowing him to inherit his parents'' millions without any competition.


    "Enough about that. Where did you purchase Esmeralda?" Ace inquired.


    "Ace, if you plan to buy a cheap one, my guy will not fit you as they only do high-end custom jobs and charge a high service fee. You are better off trying the online stores," Danny advised Ace, knowing his family''s financial prowess.


    "Dude, so what if I don''t have the money? Can''t I just ask?" Ace remarked, not taking offense at Danny''s words.


    "Well, it doesn''t cost anything to dream. So go ahead, ask away," Danny nodded, expressing his willingness to discuss his hobby with his cousin.


    "Tell me, what kind of high-end custom job are we discussing here? Can your guy make characters from comics, video games, and anime?" Ace asked eagerly, sensing the potential significance of this for him.


    "Legally, because of the copyrights on these characters, sales of their dolls would not be allowed without the copyright holder''s permission. However, as long as you agree to a confidentiality agreement and pay a little extra for their troubles, they''ll get you whatever you need," Danny explained with a cunning smile. Then, he eagerly shared, "I''m saving up to take the vampire heroine from that one comic as my concubine." Rubbing his palms together in excitement.


    "Dude, won''t your parents notice?" Ace asked. He could understand Danny hiding a doll from Dan and Pam, but a harem of dolls, now that''s pushing his luck.


    "I guess you are right. I should think about getting a vampire concubine when I move out," Danny contemplated, recalling how his father removed his room''s door locks over an argument. Now, he has to move the drawer behind the door to lock it. It''s a hassle. Earlier, he thought that with everyone downstairs in the backyard, nobody would disturb him, but he was wrong. Fortunately, it was just his cousin.


    "I need to make money fast," Ace mused aloud. Hearing him, Danny exclaimed, "Ahah! You admit you want to buy a silicone partner."


    "Can''t I just need money for other things," Ace remarked, rolling his eyes at Danny, who, for some inexplicable reason, seemed excited about the idea of him buying a silicone doll.


    "Well, Your family is poor and doesn''t even give you pocket money," Danny agreed with Ace''s argument and pondered aloud, "Man, how can one live without any money?" S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace stared blankly at Danny before asking, "You still haven''t told me where you bought the doll."


    "Dude, just be honest with me. I might be willing to help you in the cash department," Danny pressed, demanding to know if Ace wanted to buy a silicone sex doll because Ace kept insisting that he didn''t want to buy a silicone doll, yet he continued to inquire about its details.


    "Fine, I am looking to buy a silicone doll, but I don''t need your cash," Ace agreed since Danny was harmless, and as cousins, they share far worse secrets.


    "I knew it, haha, I knew it. You like to collect action figures. How could you pass on a chance to own a life-size model of the character of your dreams? Bro, don''t be shy. I have ten grand saved up. I will lend it to you if you want," Danny offered, feeling emotionally closer to his cousin. Before Ace could ask Danny how he saved that much money, a familiar voice interrupted him.


    "Hey, you two nerds. Your dads are calling you downstairs to give you two a lesson on how to grill meat," Mandy bragged into the room and announced loudly.


    "Shit!" Danny exclaimed, surprised by Mandy suddenly bragging into his room. Then he cried out, "I need to do something about the freaking door locks."


    "Why? What were you two talking about?" Mandy asked Danny while suspiciously staring at Ace, wondering if he was gossiping about how he rejected her advances.


    "We were talking about the ''dolls.'' Ace wants to buy one, but he doesn''t have the money. Mandy, his birthday is in a few months, so why don''t you book one as his birthday gift in advance? Considering the waiting period for a custom doll and all," Danny suggested to Mandy while Ace stared at him in shock. He regretted sharing his interest in buying a silicone doll with Danny.


    "Oh really," Mandy said as her stare at Ace softened, and a mischievous smile graced her lips. Only she knew what she was thinking.

 Chapter 33: Proving A Point

    Chapter 33: Proving A Point"Mandy, ignore Danny. We were just talking," Ace promptly denied. Then, he shot a glare at Danny to silence him.


    "So you don''t want a sex doll?" Mandy asked, walking toward Ace.


    "No, I don''t," Ace responded. Then he added, "Let us go downstairs. We shouldn''t keep them waiting."


    As Ace moved to head out, Mandy would not move out of his way. Locking eyes with him, she put her hands on his chest and playfully ran her index figure along his shirt buttons. Feeling his defined midline, she said, "That''s good. Because I was planning to introduce you to girls from our town."


    "What?" Danny exclaimed. Then he complained to Mandy, "I have been asking you to introduce me to someone for months. But you keep telling me to wait."


    Listening to Danny, Mandy turned to look at him and warned, "Don''t you have Esmeralda. Besides nephew, you should head downstairs before Dan decides to come up. I don''t need to tell you about your father''s temper."


    "Fine," Danny hurried downstairs. He had figured out the best way to keep his parents out of his room was to do what they said when they said it.


    Seeing Danny leave, Ace looked at Mandy, saying, "We should be leaving too."


    "No rush," Mandy replied, dismissing the notion. "So, tell me, Ace, do you have a girlfriend?"


    "No, I don''t have one," Ace said, grabbing Mandy''s hand, which had dangerously neared his swim trunks area.


    "That''s quite a grip. You must workout regularly," Mandy said, trying to free her hand, but Ace would not let go. He looked into her eyes and said, "Enough with the games. Wasn''t Pam''s warning enough?"


    "Don''t tell me that was enough to scare you," Mandy said provocatively. She then leaned forward to kiss him. That''s when Ace knew she was trouble. Pushing her to the side, he rushed downstairs as if a ghost was chasing him.


    Was Mandy hot?


    Yes, freaking hot.


    But was she worth complicating the relationship between his family and his uncle''s family?


    No, absolutely not.


    In his current form, Ace could get any woman. So why defecate where his family eats? If he were in love with Mandy, that would be another thing. But just for a fleeting moment of pleasure, he did not want to ruin the bond between the two families.


    Being shoved away by Ace, Mandy stood in disbelief, finding it hard to accept that a teenager rejected her twice. ''Guess I am stud hunting this weekend,'' But she quickly recovered, taking Ace''s rejection as a challenge.


    Reaching downstairs, Ace saw his mother and Pam coming towards the stairs. Seeing him, Pam sighed in relief and said, "See Mary. You were worried over nothing."


    "Hi, Mom. That dress looks good on you," Ace complimented, looking at his mother''s modest swimdress. It was a mesh kaftan covering a dark green swim romper. It was stylish and better than the baggy t-shirt and shorts she usually wears at any water-related family outing.  S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ace, listen up. I''m telling you straight, keep your distance from Mandy. I don''t give a damn if she comes at you. If I catch you flirting with her again or alone together. So help me god, I''ll kick your ass to the curb," Mary cautioned her son that if he was mature enough to show interest in women, then he was mature enough to live on his own.


    "Mom, where did that come from? There is nothing between me and Mandy. Besides, she is not my type," Ace clarified. He hadn''t done anything, yet here he was, getting the third degree from his mother. He couldn''t even fathom what it would be like if there actually was something between him and Mandy.


    "Don''t act smart with me. My eyes aren''t blind yet. Why didn''t you come down with your cousin? Where is Mandy? Why did she not come down with you? What were you two doing alone?" Mary did not go easy on her son, even though she knew that if Mandy and Ace were determined to get involved, there wasn''t much she or anyone else could do about it.


    However, Mary was not the one to sit back and watch her son ruin his life over adolescent sexual experimentation. She might not be able to control Mandy, but she believed her son was still under her control.


    "Mom, will you relax? You are making a big deal out of nothing," Ace said helplessly, feeling his mother was unreasonable.


    "I am making a big deal over nothing. What do you think Dan will do if he learns of this," Mary cautioned her son of the potential consequences of his actions involving Mandy.


    "Mom, I swear nothing happened. Mandy was just playing around. Auntie Pam, help me over here," Ace feared his uncle''s reaction the most, as Mandy was like a daughter to Dan. If he were to get even a whiff about this, knowing his temper, things would turn ugly, even if Ace was his nephew. Or especially because Ace was his nephew, as Dan was big on familial bonds and family having each other''s backs.


    "Ace, if I were you, I would listen to your mother," Pam did not want to tell Mary how to guide her son. She was not going to repeat that mistake.


    "You guys are being unreasonable. I did nothing wrong. I am going to take a dip in the pool," Ace took off his shirt and handed it and his phone to his mother before heading toward the pool. He remembered his father is waiting for him, but he wanted to prove a point to his mom and aunt first.


    "Ace, where are you going? I''m still not done talking to you," Mary yelled, but Ace ignored her and entered the backyard, heading to the pool.


    Beneath the scorching sun, Ace''s sculpted body radiated with a primal allure, instantly becoming the envy of every man and the desire of every woman in the party. His muscles seemed to pulse with raw energy, captivating the gaze of onlookers. His toned skin, slick with sweat, radiated a magnetic heat, igniting desires and oozing an intoxicating scent of temptation.


    Arriving by the pool, Ace ignored the intent gazes upon him. He used the apex earring''s effects to gracefully dive into the pool, drawing gasps from the onlookers. As he plunged into the water, their longing eyes followed his descent, never letting his captivating body out of their sight.


    "Mary, it looks like you got your work cut out for you," Pam commented as Ace took a lap around the pool.


    "Wipe your drool. He is your nephew, for goodness sake," Mary said in disgust.


    "Hey, I was just admiring how my nephew has grown into a fine young man. If I were you, I''d worry about those temptresses. Look at them, none of them bothered to enter the pool before, but now they''re swarming over there like bees to honey," Pam remarked, looking at the teenage daughters of her friends and neighbors finally entering the pool. Before, it was just the adults and kids.


    "..." Mary clenched her teeth, observing the young girls in their skimpy swimdresses approaching her son. Mary was tough on her son, even though she knew he hadn''t done anything wrong, because she understood how women could be. She trusted her son but not the women around him. However, her son was too young to understand that.


    "Take my advice and get him a pack of condoms or give him money to afford them. Otherwise, get ready to be called grandma in a year or two," Pam suggested bluntly.


    "Shut up, this isn''t funny."

 Chapter 34: Wide-Eyed Farm Girls

    Chapter 34: Wide-Eyed Farm GirlsAfter completing a lap around the pool, Ace emerged from the shimmering water. Droplets clung to his glistening skin, emphasizing the sculpted outline of his physique.


    Standing at the pool''s edge, he ran his hands through his damp hair, causing the water to cascade off his toned body, captivating the attention of onlookers.


    By the poolside, young girls stood in anticipation, holding a towel, hoping Ace would notice them. They wanted to offer their towel to him, but none dared to approach him with their fathers present in the crowd.


    Ace glanced past the girls and spotted his mother rushing towards him with a towel. He awaited her with a sly grin, but her intense stare sent shivers down their spines. When he avoided her eyes, he saw an arm outstretched, holding a towel, "Here''s a towel, Ace. Need me to help you dry off?"


    "Mandy!" Ace exclaimed in shock, looking at the 5ft 9inch tall hot stuff acting coy in front of him. Then, he hurriedly warned, "Run if you want to keep your life."


    Ignoring Ace''s warning, Mandy stepped forward, lifting the towel to his head, but he grabbed her hand and said, "What are you doing?"


    "Helping you dry," Mandy replied, working a seductive smile on her lips.


    But Ace was not having it. With his mother approaching, ready to explode, and the intent onlookers, Ace saw all the ingredients for a family drama come together. So, he dragged Mandy toward the grill station.


    "Ow! That hurts," Mandy protested. Unable to resist Ace''s strength, she had no choice but to follow him. "Shut up!" Ace muttered sternly under his breath. He hoped she would behave with Dan by their side.


    Ignoring his father and Danny''s curious gaze, Ace headed to Dan, who was engrossed in grilling the meat. Sensing their arrival, Dan glanced at them but frowned, seeing Ace dragging Mandy by her wrist. Then, he said, "Boy, that''s no way to treat a lady."


    Ace hurriedly let go of Mandy''s hand and apologized, "I am sorry." Dan nodded at Ace and said, "You two are late. Grab a plate. But first, Ace, rinse yourself. Mandy, give him the towel."


    When Ace reached for the towel in Mandy''s hand, she withdrew it, saying, "No, let me." Stunning Danny, but Alwin and Dan did not think much of it.


    "No need. Ace, come here," Mary''s stern voice sounds from behind. She had rushed over, fearing the worst. Seeing her husband watch as Mandy tempted their son, she felt she was right to do so.


    Sensing his wife''s wrath-filled stare, Alwin almost choked on his beer ''Cough-Kawf-Cough'' and thought, ''What did I do now?''


    "Alwin, we are leaving for my brother''s place today," Mary suddenly declared to her husband while handing her son the towel.


    "Why? Didn''t we agree to spend the week here?" Alwin asked in shock.


    "Something came up. Let us leave soon. So we can get there before it gets dark," Mary said, intently staring at Mandy, the succubus targeting their son.


    "Mary, what''s going on?" Alwin inquired in concern, fearing it might be something serious.


    "I will explain it to you on the way over," Mary insisted they leave. Alwin could only nod. Since his brother was too henpecked to press his woman for an answer, Dan stepped in and asked, "Mary, everything alright? Did something happen?"


    "Uncle Dan, let me talk to my mom," Ace intervened. With the towel on his shoulder, he locked eyes with his mother and asked, "Mom, don''t you trust me at all?"


    "You are a kid. You don''t know anything better. Just let me handle this," Mary said, disregarding Ace''s question and continuing to undermine him.


    "Mom, I am not going anywhere. I am spending the week at uncle''s place," declaring that Ace rushed into the fields barefooted. He had no choice. His mother was too controlling and overbearing. If she decides on something, nothing he said would change her mind.


    "Danny," Pam called out to her son, tilting her head in the direction where Ace ran, signaling for Danny to go after him.


    "What?" Danny asked. He was too busy chewing on ribs to catch her signal.


    "Go after your cousin, boy," Dan instructed.


    "He will be fine," Danny said, licking his fingers. Before Dan could yell at him, Mandy offered, "I will go after him."


    "You stay put. You have done enough already," Pam grabbed Mandy by her arm before she could run after Ace.


    "Boy, put the plate down and go bring your cousin back. Don''t make me repeat myself," Dan warned his son sternly.


    "Mom, save me some ribs," Saying that, Danny grabbed a few paper napkins and rushed into the fields in the same direction as his cousin.


    "Mary. Now, can you tell me what''s going on?" Alwin asked in concern, finding his son and wife''s argument unsettling.


    "Al, our kids are growing up too fast. Our son needs a pack of condoms," Mary broke into tears, ignoring her surroundings. All of this was too sudden for her. She thought there was still time before she had to worry about her son outgrowing her. If today was any evidence, that time had long passed.  Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "He needs what now?" Alwin asked in disbelief.


    "He needs money to buy condoms," Mary grabbed her shell-shocked husband and wept.


    Black lines formed on Pam''s forehead because the words Mary spoke were the exact words she used to tease her. She did not think Mary would take them seriously. As a result, her grip on Mandy''s arm tightened.


    "Aw! Sister, you are hurting me," Mandy complained, trying to free her arm.


    "Good. See what a good thing you did. Have you no self-control, Mandy? He is four years younger than you and your nephew," Pam wasn''t loud, but Dan heard her and asked, "What are you talking about?"


    "Nothing, honey, I am just telling her to act her age and be responsible," Pam knew Dan''s temper the best, so she did not dare to tell him what was happening.


    "Listen to your sister, Mandy. Don''t let your success make you lazy. Life is not all party and fun. Starting tomorrow, you will follow your sister and me to the ranch. As a rancher, you at least need to know the basics," Dan did not doubt his wife''s words. As for his weeping sister-in-law, he thought she was an overbearing cuckoo. He had advised his brother against marrying a city girl and recommended marrying a farm girl instead but his brother did not listen. Arguably, his wife had attended college and moonlighted as a model, but Pam was a wide-eyed farm girl through and through. She could milk a cow dry and inseminate it like nobody''s business.

 Chapter 35: Auto Salvage Yard

    Chapter 35: Auto Salvage YardRunning into the fields, Ace did not stop until he reached the tangerine plantation. He walked the lanes barefoot, admiring the neatly planted rows of tangerine trees. He would love to engage in productive conversation with his mother, but evading her was the best way to stop her from forcing them to return to the city, where they had a higher chance of running into a curseling or a curse master.


    Ace knew they would return to the city next week, but he was considering getting his parents to move here permanently. After learning about the world of curses, he knew it was safer for regulars to live in less crowded places since curseling liked to convene where more negative emotions gathered. And where there were curselings, the curse masters would flock since exorcising them was their means to accumulate strength and wealth.


    But how would Ace go about it? His school, his father''s job, and their house were in the city. He could not just ask his parents to move to the countryside. What would they do here, and where would they live? His parents'' wealth had depleted to pay off the house loan and cover his sister''s college fees. The remainder had been earmarked for his college expenses and his sister''s marriage.


    Ace''s family had to think twice about buying a new Camry, let alone starting afresh in the countryside. Without a miracle, they would likely remain stuck in their neighborhood for the next decade or two. Fortunately, as a curse master, creating a miracle was not a big deal for Ace. The problem was timing, place, and means. He needs to figures these three out to set a miracle in motion.


    ''Master, I sense a faint curse energy in your surroundings,'' Dame Wasp''s voice sounded in Ace''s head, awakening him from his thoughts.


    Ace has been using his skill ''Sense Share'' to lend his senses to Dame Wasp so she can monitor his surroundings for a situation like this. He figured to use this skill this way just recently. It was easier and a lot handier than Dame Wasp using the status screen to contact him.


    ''From where? Which direction?'' Ace asked in a panic, praying it was not from his uncle''s house, wondering if a curse master joined the guests after he left.


    ''From the west,'' Dame Wasp replied.


    ''West, you must be sensing it from the auto salvage yard,'' Ace mused, relieved that it wasn''t from his uncle''s house.


    On the western side, Dan''s ranch shared a border with an auto salvage yard occupying ten acres of land. Due to its relatively small size, unsuitable for farmland or ranching, the owner repurposed it into an auto salvage yard several decades ago.


    The auto salvage yard has been the bud of many haunted stories in the town. Ace had heard numerous eerie tales associated with it, particularly because the owner didn''t hesitate to accept cars involved in accidents. Most of it was in fun and for entertainment. But Dan, who typically didn''t shy away from much, avoided passing by it after nightfall. So when Dame Wasp mentioned sensing a curse energy emanating from the west, Ace suspected the salvage yard must be the source.


    ''Come on out, Rose,'' Ace called, summoning Dame Wasp in her 1/100th form and camouflage. He instructed, ''Go search for the source of the curse energy. Stay in touch with me through the status screen, and don''t venture beyond a one-mile radius. If you find anything, report it, and I will recall you. Don''t take unnecessary risks. We can discuss what to do later.''


    ''Yes, master,'' Dame Wasp responded before heading toward the auto salvage yard, following the trail of curse energy she sensed.


    As for Ace, he opted to wait right there for her report. Just as he began to feel a sense of solitude, he heard the heavy footsteps approaching. It was Danny. Spotting Ace, he slowed down to catch his breath.


    "Man, how were you that fast despite being barefoot?" Danny asked rhetorically, nearing Ace.


    "What are you doing here? Did uncle send you? Otherwise, nobody can separate you from your plate of ribs," Ace teased Danny, referencing his well-known love for ribs.


    "You know it. Let''s head back before the guests devour them all," Danny replied, gesturing toward his house.


    "Danny, what''s wrong with your maternal aunt?" Ace asked, blaming Mandy for ruining everything.


    "She likes to party," Danny replied bluntly, then countered, "What''s wrong with your mother?"


    "Don''t expect me to insult my mom just because you insulted your aunt," Ace responded, not succumbing to Danny''s provocation.


    "Dude, did you ask your mother for money to buy condoms?" Danny inquired, recalling the amusing conversation between his uncle and aunt.


    "No," Ace denied with exaggerated emphasis, then asked with a deadpan expression, "What gave you the impression that I would do something like that?"


    "Your mother said it. Almost everyone at the party heard her. You should have seen your father''s face. It was so hilarious. If she hadn''t burst into tears, everyone would have laughed," Danny recounted, gesturing animatedly, as if he were reliving the moment.


    "She cried? Why? If anyone should be crying, it should be me. She is embarrassing me," Ace remarked in annoyance. With an overbearing mother who constantly undermined him, such incidents were not new for Ace.


    "Dude, let''s head back. You don''t possibly think you can avoid your mother. Knowing her, if we don''t return soon, she will send your father to fetch you," Danny remarked, knowing Mary well enough to anticipate that she wouldn''t let Ace have his way.


    "Danny, there comes a time in every man''s life when they have to take a stand. For me, that moment is now. I will make my stand from here. So, go my dear herald, fetch me a plate of ribs and beer before your dad and his drinking buddies devour them," Ace instructed Danny, as if giving him a heroic quest.


    "No way, it''s too much work," Danny rejected Ace''s proposal instantly.


    "Then call somebody in the party and ask them to bring them to us," Ace made a counter proposal that Danny could get on board with.  S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ace, I don''t know if you noticed, but I don''t have any friends. Let alone someone willing to steal beer for us. There''s Mandy, but I don''t think your mother will like that," Danny said as he sat down, finding a fresh patch of grass.


    Ace remained silent, refraining from making any comments, and instead found himself a patch of grass to sit on. Just then, Dame Wasp used the status screen to report,


    [Master, your guess was correct. The source of the curse energy I felt was indeed from the auto salvage yard. There''s a curseling hiding here.]


    Reading Dame Wasp''s report, Ace''s expression soured as he thought, ''Well, so much for my plan of escaping the curselings by moving to the countryside.''

 Chapter 36: Scavenger Spirit

    Chapter 36: Scavenger Spirit[Rose, do you know what kind of curseling it is.] Ace asked Dame Wasp using his status screen.


    [Yes, Master. It is a Scavenger Spirit. I am sending you the details I learned from Steal Song Society archives.]


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª  Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Target: Scavenger Spirit


    Race: Curseling


    Class: Mortal-Tier


    Title: Curse-Eater


    Info: The scavenger spirit''s form resembles a monstrous vulture. Its feathers are tangled and afflicted with disease, its wings worn and ragged. Despite this, it retains the ability to fly and glide. Its beak is elongated and serrated, with sharp talons adorning its massive feet, each capable of inflicting terrible wounds upon its prey.


    They only eat the remnant negative feelings attached to objects or land that have been part of a gruesome death. These negative feelings turn the object/area into a cursed item/land and are very harmful to humans. Since this curseling resolves them by feeding on them, indirectly helping humans, they have gained the name Scanvager Spirits.


    Because of their skills, these curseling get tamed by powerful curse masters as curse spirits. They are worth more alive than dead. Therefore, the curse masters prefer capturing them rather than exorcising them.


    Known Skills:


    i) Curse-eating: they can eat the curse attached to an object or area. This skill also allows them to grow stronger by eating other curselings.


    ii) Curse-tracer: they can detect and trace curses. Earning them a second title ''Heilbringer of Misfortune.''


    Note:


    i) Curse Masters are advised not to exorcise this curseling if capture isn''t possible since they are necessary for the regular world.


    ii) Source: Dame Wasp, Steal Song Society archives.


    iii) This data is created for human convenience by humans. Curselings don''t assess to this.]


    ''Curseling that don''t harm but help humans are called curse spirits. Now that''s new,'' Ace pondered after learning about the curseling that Rose found in the auto salvage yard. Later, he inquired, [Rose, do you have more information on curse spirits and how to capture curselings?]


    [No, master. The Steal Song Society has locked info on capturing curselings and curse spirits. Members need to spend merits to receive a hard copy of this information. However, I have gathered that a mortal-tier ''Scavenger Spirit'' is worth $10 million alive in the curse market. Just providing clues about it is worth $100,000.]


    ''10 million dollars!'' Ace''s expression turned dignified, hearing how much a scavenger spirit was worth alive.


    "Ace, what happened? You look like you have seen a ghost," Danny asked his cousin, seeing him staring solemnly into the void.


    "Huh, nothing. Let us head back. I am feeling parched," Ace replied, getting back on his feet.


    "Great. If we hurry, there might still be some ribs left," Danny responded excitedly. Rising to his feet, he dusted his shorts.


    As the cousins decided to return, Ace used the status screen to inform Dame Wasp, saying, [Rose, if you''re finished there, I''m recalling you.]


    [Yes, Master. Please do. The entire auto salvage yard is its domain, and I fear that if I remain here any longer, it will become aware of my presence.]


    Getting confirmation from Dame Wasp, Ace recalled her and headed back to the pool party, hoping his father had calmed his mother by now. It might appear Mary dominated their relationship, but Alwin knew how to coax her. He knew all the right words to say to her. One might call him the Mary whisperer. He wasn''t the hero everyone needed, but he was the hero their family needed.


    [Master, are you thinking about capturing the Scavenger spirit?] Dame Wasp asked Ace, returning to his side.


    [Certainly. After all, it is worth $10 million alive. Even if we can''t find a reliable buyer, we can tame it for its valuable skills. However, our current priority is finding information on capturing curselings and taming them into curse spirits.] Ace informed Dame Wasp about his plans. Since the scavenger spirit wasn''t a threat and was not hurting anyone, Ace did not see a point in exorcising it. Yes, he could use its curse core, but he could also use the $10 million.


    [The only place we can find the information we need is in the curse market. But we lack the money and strength to participate in the curse market.] Dame Wasp pointed out.


    The Curse Market served as a hub for curse masters, akin to a mall. They were conveniently situated in major cities. However, within the world of curses, where the law of the jungle prevailed, rookies like Ace weren''t seen as customers but as prey. While he might gain entry, his ability to leave unscathed would hinge on his strength. Furthermore, the information he sought there came at a hefty price.


    [Rose, scratch what I said earlier. Our current priority is to increase our strength and earn enough money. You work on the money part, and I will work on practicing curse arts and increasing my tier as a curse master. Next, we will use the money to add a new member to our family. Later, visit the Curse Market to buy the necessary information and curse cores.


    Meanwhile, think of a way to move our parents to the countryside.] Ace listed his to-do list to Dame Wasp. He hadn''t forgotten about his school and college entrance exams. With Dame Wasp by his side, he did not have to worry about them.


    [Don''t worry, master. I will think of a way to earn a lot of money in little time as fast as possible.] Dame Wasp assured Ace of taking the task he assigned to her very seriously.


    [Rose, no need. I have already thought of a way to make the money we need. Your task is to devise a method for us to execute the plan and ensure that none of it can be traced back to us since what I am about to suggest is not legal. Can you do that?] Ace informed. As a teenager in the 21st century, he was not short on criminal ideas just lacked the means to do it. That was where Dame Wasp shined with her unparalleled cyber prowess.


    [Yes, Master Ace.]

 Chapter 37: Online Gambling Sites

    Chapter 37: Online Gambling Sites"You brat, how dare you ask your mom to buy you condoms?" Alwin exploded, seeing his son return with Danny.


    Listening to his father, Ace was shocked. Meanwhile, Danny exploded into laughter. However, Ace quickly recovered, and with an indifferent face, he asked his father, "Dad, what is a condom?"


    "..." Alwin stared at his son, unable to respond. He anticipated Ace would deny it. But, he never expected him to pull a reverse Uno.


    "Yes, Al. Tell your son what''s a condom," Dan shouted from the grill station, sipping his beer.


    Alwin ignored his brother and his laughing nephew. Then, he sternly warned Ace, "Don''t act smart with me. Just for that, you''re grounded for the entire week."


    "Does that mean we are not leaving for Uncle Rob''s house?" Ace asked eagerly. He did not mind being grounded because he planned to spend the week locked in his room, training curse arts anyway.


    "We are not going anywhere," Alwin replied with a proud smile and then instructed Ace, "Go apologize to your mother?"


    "Why, I did nothing wrong," Ace protested. It was not his fault that his mother could not trust him around Mandy or another woman.


    "Why? She carried you in her womb for nine months and suffered hours of unbearable labor pain to bring you into this world. You should be apologizing and thanking her every day for the rest of your life," Alwin had no idea what had happened between his son and wife. But as a good husband and father, he unequivocally backed his wife.  S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Fine," Ace agreed unwillingly. He left to find his mother and get it over with. Only to hear his father warn him, "Remember, you''re grounded. After you finish apologizing to your mother, go directly to your room. Don''t let me catch you sneaking around."


    "Ace, come to my room. I will bring enough ribs for both of us," Danny said, filling a tupperware with all the ribs on the table. Then he hurried into the house before Dan could scold him to leave some for others.


    Ace soon found his mother relaxing by the pool with Pam and Mandy. He hurried over and apologized, "Mom, I am sorry for my behavior earlier."


    "Did you have something to eat?" Mary asked her son, not dwelling on his rebellion earlier.


    "No. Dad grounded me. So, Danny and I will eat in his room," Ace replied, taking his phone and shirt resting by his mom''s side.


    "Don''t worry about it. I will talk to your dad. Enjoy your week," Mary responded casually, shocking Ace. He nodded, thinking his father''s title, ''Mary Whisperer,'' wasn''t just for show.


    "Thanks, Mom," Ace thanked Mary for returning to her regular self. Changing into his shirt, he returned the towel to his mother. Then, he headed into the house toward Danny''s room.


    After Ace left, Pam asked, "Mary, what did Al tell you? You are a lot calmer after talking to him."


    "Nothing," she replied, "he said our son was too much of a chicken to do what I had in mind. That''s how we raised him," Mary said, her smile brimming with satisfaction.


    "..." Pam remained silent, not knowing whether to laugh or worry about Ace''s sex life. Mandy slowly tried to slip away from his sister''s side, but Pam grabbed her wrist and said, "Where do you think you are slipping off to? Stay put. This week, just like my shadow, you will follow me everywhere. And I am sleeping in your room."


    "Sister, I am a grown woman. I can do whatever I want," Mandy protested, only to hear Mary retort, "Are you sure you want me to treat you like a grown woman?"


    "You heard her, Mandy. Answer her," Paw challenged her sister. She finally had enough of her sister''s antics.


    "..." Mandy chose to remain silent. She could handle her sister, but Mary was a different story. She did not dare to provoke her.


    "That''s what I thought. While I''m staying here, I''ll also be sleeping in your room," Mary informed Mandy. She was a teenager once and had enjoyed her share of sneaking around, which made her wary of any girl approaching her son.


    ¡­


    "Danny, can I borrow your laptop for the week?" Ace asked while whipping his finger with a paper napkin.


    "I can do you one better. I recently upgraded my PC setup. So, I was planning to sell the old parts online. You can reassemble and use them for the week," Danny offered while munching on ribs. Ace was astonished to see how Danny could continue to eat without pausing.


    "Great, I will get started on it right away. Where are the parts?" Ace asked, only to find Danny pointing at neatly packed, labeled, and stacked carton boxes, ready to be shipped. Observing this, Ace inquired, "Did you find buyers for them? If so, I can use the laptop."


    "No, I did not. I had packed them to save trouble later," Danny explained. Seeing Ace not believe him, he complained, "Those jerks online want them for less than half price. Some of these parts aren''t even six months old. I''m waiting for someone to offer the right price for these parts."


    "Okay, if you say so," Ace said, trusting his cousin''s words. Then, he placed all the parts in a larger carton box and carrying the box he prepared to head to his room. As he did, he heard Danny say, "Let me know once you''re all set up. We can play a game or two."


    "Sure," Ace responded while using the status screen to ask Dame Wasp, [Rose, will these parts be enough, or do you need more?]


    [Master, these parts will be enough for me to hack into online gambling sites without getting traced], Dame Wasp informed, assuring Ace that the components in their hands were sufficient for her to win money from online gambling sites without the risk of being traced.


    [Great. Finally, we are making some progress.] Ace exclaimed.

 Chapter 38: Benefit Of Doubt

    Chapter 38: Benefit Of DoubtAs Ace walked to his room, he encountered Pam in the hallway. Seeing him carry a large cartoon box, she asked, "Do you need help?"


    "I got this," Ace assured her. Then, he asked, "Auntie, do you still have your old phones? Or did you exchange them?"


    "No, Dan doesn''t let us exchange our old phones. They are all stored somewhere. Dan said he would depose properly," Pam responded with an exaggerated head shake and then inquired, "Why do you ask?"


    "Can you lend them to me? I plan to salvage them if possible," Ace made up a random excuse.


    "Sure, nobody is using them anyway. I will bring them to you," Pam nodded in agreement without much thought.  S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Thank you, Auntie. I will be in my room," Ace informed, heading toward his room.


    Entering his room and placing the box in a corner, Ace locked his room door. Then, he said, "Rose, do your thing. If you need help with anything, just say the word."


    "Master, I''ve got this under control. Feel free to focus on your curse arts practice," Rose assured. She then carefully unpacked the packages. Retrieving the PC parts in them, she stacked the covers neatly in a corner.


    Dame Wasp started assembling the PC on the study table without creating a mess. In her miniature 1/100 form, she utilized her braid laser to fine-tune the hardware components for optimal performance with the available parts. Assembling the hardware was relatively straightforward. The real challenge lay in implementing the software update she had prepared.


    Meanwhile, Ace reviewed the body reinforcement curse art on his mobile device. He intended to grasp its intricacies aided by the Martial Arts Specialist effect of the Apex earring before commencing practice. Leveraging this effect, Ace comprehended the body reinforcement curse art and tailored it to his physique, enhancing its effectiveness by drawing upon the Apex earring''s otherworldly knowledge of martial arts and human anatomy.


    The Toymancer and Toysummons were fully absorbed in their tasks when a knock on the door startled them awake.


    ''It must be Pam,'' Ace mused as he opened the door while Dame Wasp entered her camouflage mode, ceasing all her activities.


    Opening the door, Ace was astounded to find Mandy. Walking out of the room, he closed the door behind him. Then, with a frown, looking at the box of old phones in her hand, he asked, "Where''s Auntie Pam?"


    "She is busy entertaining the guests. So, I came. Here," Mandy answered, passing him the box of old phones. Seeing most smartphones in the box were almost brand new, Ace asked, "Are you sure they don''t need these phones? They don''t look that old."


    "Most of these phones are gifts from boys pursuing me. I used them for a week or two until I got bored. Now I am interested in a younger and more beautiful model. So do whatever you like with them," Mandy said with a mischievous smile. Her wordplay could not be more ambiguous.


    *Gulp* Ace gulped his saliva, resisting Mandy''s charm. "Thank you," thanking her for the phones, he hurried into the room and locked the door behind him.


    Making sure Mandy had left, he asked Dame Wasp, "Rose, will these smartphones be enough to run multiple online gambling accounts simultaneously."


    "Yes, they will be more than enough. Master, with your permission, I want to salvage the parts of these phones to assemble a high-performance phone with advanced software and privacy. This way, even on the road, I can use the phone to perform high-level cyber tasks without worrying about revealing our identity or being tracked," Dame Wasp nodded, assuring Ace that the smartphones were enough, and proposed to upgrade his phone.


    "That''s a brilliant idea, Rose," Ace praised. Then, having already understood and modified the body refinement curse art, he passed his phone to Dame Wasp, "Here, go nuts. But make sure it looks like a regular phone. I don''t mind whichever phone design you end up adopting."


    Once again, the Toymancer and Toysummons got absorbed in their work. Ace practiced the modified body reinforcement curse art, while Dame Wasp primarily focused on setting up the PC and the smartphones, prioritizing the online gambling project.


    Ace and Dame Wasp''s online gambling project specifically aimed to target online gambling sites that utilized cryptocurrency for payment and wagering. Their goal was not to rob these online gambling sites blind but to exploit them by periodically playing and winning small bets without attracting too much attention.


    Given that the government had special forces like CIB to handle the threat from the ''World of Curses,'' Ace believed that major entities like big companies, world leaders, kingpins, and mafia would have private security teams of skilled curse masters. Otherwise, criminal organizations like Steal Song Society would target them for money instead of going through all that trouble of harvesting innate curse tools.


    Warning himself that the world was too big and he was not the only one with unique supernatural abilities, Ace did not plan to do something huge but planned to play the long game, putting his and his family''s safety above all else.


    By periodically playing and winning small bets, it would take long before Ace could amass enough money to buy a custom sex doll, let alone gather significant wealth, which was where the multiple old smartphones came into the picture.


    Let us say one device opens accounts in 10 online gambling sites and earns $100 from each site per day. That added up to a sum of $1000 per day. Now, let us say there were ten such devices. That would add up to a sum of $10,000 per day. It was just a rough estimate.


    Dame Wasp vouched that one account in a site could win $100-$500 without attracting attention. She planned to create multiple fake accounts and never use the same account on the same online gambling site. Each account would have its unique self-custodial crypto wallet to make payments and withdrawals.


    Dame Wasp could earn millions per day using this model, but Ace advised against it. If they made millions per day, each online gambling site would lose nearly a few hundred thousand daily. The site owners would promptly detect a profit drop.


    However, if they only made a hundred thousand or less daily, each online gambling site would lose a few thousand per day. The site owners would ignore such small losses, giving it the benefit of the doubt. This method would enable him to operate discreetly and accumulate wealth without attracting attention.


    Ace could have instructed Dame Wasp to steal millions from them once and for all, but he refrained from doing so because the primary objective was to remain undetected. Because if their activities get detected, someone out there will start looking for them and the money, endangering him and his family. Whether they would eventually find him, Ace did not know, but he believed that his safety depended on ensuring nobody was aware of his existence and abilities.

 Chapter 39: Over $100,000 A Day

    Chapter 39: Over $100,000 A DayAfter putting the PC and smartphones together and updating their software, Dame Wasp intended to inform Ace. However, seeing her master was absorbed in reinforcing his body with curse energy, not wanting to disturb him, she chose to go ahead and complete the testing by herself. After all, Ace wasn''t tech-savvy and would be no help to her. Not to mention, Ace had already permitted her to do so.  S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Firing up the PC, Dame Wasp used a smartphone to start playing poker on an online gambling site using a fake account with ten dollars worth of cryptocurrency as seed money. She played a few games, won some matches, and lost several without making it obvious. At her peak, she had won $1100, but then she opted out with a $400 winning. She withdrew the amount into a self-custodial cryptocurrency wallet, making Ace $390 richer.


    Then, within the next hour, Dame Wasp fired up other smartphones and used multiple fake accounts to gamble on several online gambling sites, amassing over $100,000. It was an astonishing amount, but Dame Wasp seriously held back. Meeting the day''s quota, she immediately moved the money, deleted the fake accounts, and erased all her tracks. She was meticulous about this process since Ace had repeatedly stressed that remaining undetected was their priority.


    Out of over three thousand online casinos worldwide, around half of them facilitate cryptocurrency transactions. Using advanced translation software and a couple of dozen fake accounts, Dame Wasp could go through all these sites and amass millions, but Ace had warned her not to be greedy and only take what they needed, treating the online gambling sites as their piggy bank.


    How was Dame Wasp able to win? By understanding the programming of online gambling sites, counting cards, and peeping at her opponents'' cards.


    Since Ace had warned her not to mess with online gambling sites, she used her cyber abilities to understand how these online gambling sites and their algorithm functioned. Then, using their flimsy attempt at maintaining their players'' privacy, she would remotely hack into her opponents'' smart devices to peep at their cards. Dame Wasp then used her cybernetic brain to beat all the odds and ensure total control over each game. It was up to her to decide if she won or lost.


    Dame Wasp spent an hour and fifteen minutes completing tasks ranging from modifying hardware and assembling devices to updating the software on the PC and smartphones. She then assembled a state-of-the-art smartphone equipped with futuristic functions for her master. Later, she used the remaining time to make $100,000 in a prominent cryptocurrency while ensuring to erase all the traces of her activities. When her two hours were up, she returned to the cursed toybox without disturbing her master.


    With the PC and smartphones configured, Dame Wasp could access them remotely through her toy space using their shared WiFi network. Knowing her master was short on cursed energy as he lacked the proper method to replenish his curse energy, she did her best to manage her time outside to complete her tasks. Even after returning to her toy space, Dame Wasp repeatedly reviewed her work to ensure she did not overlook anything or make a mistake.


    Meanwhile, Ace continued to focus on reinforcing his body with curse energy following the modified body reinforcement curse art. The original body reinforcement curse art was intent on enhancing the muscles and bones to the extreme using curse energy. As a result, those who practiced it would bulk up to the extreme, seriously compromising their flexibility and agility.


    However, thanks to the apex earring''s ''Martial Arts Specialist'' skill, Ace was able to modify it such that body reinforcement curse art didn''t just focus on strengthening the practitioner''s body to the extreme but instead concentrated on balanced enhancement of the body using its otherworldly knowledge of martial arts and human anatomy. As a result, the practitioner''s flexibility and agility would improve concurrently with their strength.


    The apex earring''s ''Martial Arts Specialist'' skill was not only handy in helping Ace modify the body reinforcement art but also helped him practice the modified curse art with great focus and without making any mistakes, allowing him to practice body reinforcement art for hours without losing his concentration or motivation. The ''Martial Arts Specialist'' skill compensated for his talent and gave him discipline to endure rigorous training. Under its effect, Ace continued to train his body with curse energy with a one-track mind until he heard a knock on his door, "Ace, dinner''s ready. Come downstairs."


    It was Danny. He did not wait for Ace to respond, instead hurried downstairs, causing Ace to wonder if Auntie Pam had cooked something special tonight. Shaking his head, Ace checked the time to find it was past nine. He was astounded to find he trained the curse arts through the evening. When Ace decided to conclude his training and head for dinner, the status screen popped up, informing him of his gains from the training,


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    > Curse art ''Body Reinforcement'' learned.


    i) +10% proficiency


    ii) +6 physical stats


    Note:


    i) Continued practice of curse art will increase its proficiency.


    ii) Rigorous practice of curse art will increase related stats.]


    ''Well, this feeling is addictive,'' Ace uttered, feeling a rush of dopamine in his body, knowing how much progress he had made from an entire evening of training. This prompt did not show up when practicing ''Curse Shroud'' because he did not learn it entirely but only the part that allowed him to mask his curse energy aptitude and reserves.


    Then, noticing that assembled PC, Ace lent his senses to Dame Wasp and mentally asked her, ''Rose, did everything go according to the plan?''


    ''Yes, Master. I made over $100,000 and ensured to erase all the traces of my activities,'' Dame Wasp reported. Ace nodded and complimented her, ''Good job, Rose.''


    ''Thank you, Master,'' Dame Wasp humbly accepted her master''s praise. Then, Ace asked, ''Were you able to find the information on the custom life-size doll makers that made Danny''s Esmeralda?''


    ''I did, Master Ace. I even conducted a thorough background check on them. They are a legitimate business and take their craft very seriously. I could not find a single bad review about them except for the ones that did not condone sex dolls and called it blasphemy. They are everything you are looking for, master,'' Dame Wasp informed.


    ''Excellent, Rose. Did you prepare your list of potential dolls that would be a good addition to our family?''


    ''Yes, master. I will share it with you through the status screen.''

 Chapter 40: Aces Observation

    Chapter 40: Ace''s ObservationDame Wasp soon shared a list of character names that would make a perfect addition to her master''s cursed toybox using the status screen. However, going through the list, Ace frowned, not because most of the characters suggested by Dame Wasp were male but because all the listed characters were overpowered characters of their fictional universe wielding reality manipulation or space manipulation abilities.


    Before Ace could say something, Dame Wasp explained the reason why her list primarily focused on characters with reality and space manipulation abilities, ''Master, I believe that these characters will be the best fit for our family because their abilities will move you and your relatives to safety to different space or dimension in case of threat.''


    Reality or space manipulation abilities would take a load off Ace''s mind about his family''s safety when enemies come knocking on the door. The more Ace thought about it, the more he liked the idea of adding a toy that could hide him and his family in a different space in case of a threat he could not handle.


    However, Ace worried that the curse core (humanoid form) would not be compatible with the toys'' of these characters. He believed this because of his previous experience animating Dame Wasp. The curse core he used to create her was of Wasp form. Dame Wasp had a humanoid form, but her abilities were those of a wasp.


    Because of this observation, Ace believed the curse core''s form didn''t suggest compatibility with the appearance of a toy but the ability of a toy. So, he judged a toy with the prowess of a humanoid would be more compatible with the curse core (humanoid form) than a humanoid toy.


    ''Rose, I like where''s your head at, but¡­'' Ace informed Dame Wasp about his observation, explaining his worry that just any humanoid toy wouldn''t be compatible with curse core (humanoid form).


    ''I think your observation has merit to it, master,'' After some contemplation, Dame Wasp agreed with Ace. Then, she added, ''We can verify our doubts by checking the compatibility of the curse core (humanoid form) with the action figures of these characters.''


    ''I, too, was thinking that,'' Ace agreed with Dame Wasp. He, too, believed he needed to check the compatibility of the curse core (humanoid form) with select action figures. Ace hoped he was wrong because he wanted his next toy summons to have reality or space manipulation abilities. Then, he ordered Dame Wasp, ''Rose, check if any stores selling action figures are open at his hour in this town.''


    Dame Wasp performed the search and replied, ''Yes, master, there is. The town has a mart that''s open till 11 p.m. They have a section for action figures and dolls.''


    ''Aren''t we in luck? Let us head there after dinner,'' Ace decided, as this was important for him to understand the abilities of his innate curse tool.


    With a plan in his mind, Ace headed downstairs to join his family for dinner. While heading to the dining table, he heard voices coming from the backyard, where he found his parents and relatives gathered by the brick pizza oven built by the grill station. They were having homemade brick oven pizza for dinner. No wonder Danny did not wait for him.


    "Ace, you are here," Mandy greeted Ace, handing him a plate with a slice of pepperoni pizza. The cheese oozed from its edges and was topped generously with pepperoni.


    Ace noticed while others had their fingers stained with cheese and bread dust, Mandy seemed to have waited specifically for him. Even his mother hadn''t bothered to wait for him, but Mandy did. Feeling it would not be right to reject her, he took the plate and thanked her, "Thank you, Mandy."


    "Don''t mention it," Mandy said with a charming smile. Seeing Ace resist her bold approach, she tried the innocent approach, as he appeared to be a mama''s boy. Ever since she was rejected by him she decided to seriously up her game, going as far as to spend an hour and a half to select the perfect dress for a homely look. After all, preparation and patience were integral in stud hunting.


    "Mandy, pass the oregano," Danny requested, only to receive a glare and a cold reply, "Wait." Mandy then gently asked Ace, "Do you want some oregano?"


    Danny frowned and asked Mary, "Auntie, are you seeing this?"


    "Here, have your oregano fatty," Mandy said in annoyance, throwing the oregano dispenser at her nephew.


    "Mom, she called me fat," Danny caught the dispenser with ease, and with a grin, he complained to Pam.


    "Mandy, he''s not fat. He is healthy," Pam did not appear to believe what she said.


    "Son, it would not kill you to exercise more," Dan said as he brought a freshly baked pizza out of the oven and placed it at the center of the dining patio table. He had harsher words in mind, but he toned down because his wife did not like him talking like that to their son. Out of fear for his wife, he didn''t dare to compare their son with their nephew either.


    "Dan, not now, let him eat," Pam warned her husband not to hound their son. She felt their son was fine as he was. For someone who was a model, looks didn''t seem to matter to Pam. Otherwise, she would not have married Dan, a redneck rancher. Well, Dan was a lot more handsome two decades ago. Even now, he was in great shape for someone his age.  sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Dad, can I borrow your car to visit the mart in the town? I need to buy a few undergarments for the week," Ace said, sitting next to his mother, who was not bothered by Mandy''s attention toward him. That may be because Mandy had toned down her charm, especially with her pink floral-printed western shirt dress. She looked more like the girl next door than the head cheerleader. Ace could not help but sneak a few peek at her. He was very subtle about it, but Mandy caught him in the act and pretended not to notice.


    "I will drive you there. Your mom and I, too, need to buy some stuff," Alwin said, recalling he too needed to buy undergarments for the week.


    "Al, can I tag along?" Mandy asked, only to be rejected by Mary, "Mandy, honey, just tell me what you need, and I will get it for you."

 Chapter 41: Expected Results

    Chapter 41: Expected Results"Mom, you know my size. Please help me buy my underwear. I''ll be in the toy section. Don''t worry, I don''t plan on buying any. I''ll just be browsing. Call me when you guys are done," Entering the mart, Ace immediately requested his mother and hurried to the toy section without waiting for her to agree.


    "Ace!" Mary called out to her son, but Ace did not heed her; instead, he fastened his pace, leaving her fuming.


    "See, I told you. Even though he has the body of a jock, inside he''s still the scared little nerd, with a passion for action figures and toy models, that you know and love. You were worried over nothing," Alwin assured his wife, watching their grown son eagerly dart toward the toy section.


    "It''s not him I''m worried about. It''s that vixen, she can''t wait to eat our son," Mary replied grudgingly, recalling how Mandy remained insistent on coming to the mart with them despite her repeated polite rejections.


    "I don''t understand. Who are you talking about?" Alwin genuinely did not know who his wife felt so threatened by.


    Wondering how her husband could remain so blind to what was happening in front of his eyes, Mary bit her lips in frustration and remarked, "Forget it." heading to the clothing section.


    ¡­


    ''Master, I have hacked into the mart''s CCTV cameras. I will keep watch while you experiment,'' Dame Wasp reported to Ace through their shared senses, even though the mart was empty at this hour. Not to mention mortals cannot see anything related to the ''World of Curses.''


    ''Thank you, Rose,'' Ace liked this about Dame Wasp. She took the initiative to do things that would be necessary without him asking.


    Walking into the toy section aisle, Ace frowned, glancing over the shelves on both sides because the mart did not have many options for action figures. But there were enough for him to verify his observations about his innate cursed tool''s abilities.


    Most action figures in Mart belonged to a classic fighting video game, Cosmic Combat. It''s popular for its competitive one-on-one battles between characters from around the game universe, each with unique fighting styles and special moves. It had many characters with space and reality manipulation-type abilities.


    ''It should be because Cosmic Combat VI is being released next week, and the corporation wants to unload all their ''Cosmic Combat'' related stock,'' Dame Wasp said, sensing Ace''s concern.


    ''I see,'' Ace nodded. Then, he picked a toybox containing the action figure of Cosmic Overlord, a humanoid alien overlord and the main antagonist of Cosmic Combat V. He possessed the unique ability to manipulate reality itself, perfectly aligning with Ace''s requirements. Summoning his cursed toybox Ace placed the action figure in it. Soon the cursed toybox reported back to him using the status screen:


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    > Curse Core: Humanoid Form


    > Toy: Cosmic Overlord


    > Compatibility rating: 2%


    > Recommendation: It is not recommended to animate this toy with this curse core.]


    Ace was not surprised by the result, as he did not believe any humanoid toy would be compatible with this cursed core since it came from a human curse slave.


    Removing the toy from his cursed toybox, Ace turned his attention to Ms. Comet, the human character with a unique superpower related to space manipulation. She gained her powers from a comet, hence her name. In the game, she was granted immortality by the cosmic arena for serving as its herald, with the sole purpose of bringing it worthy combatants. Placing the action figure in the cursed toybox, Ace glanced at the status screen shared by the cursed toybox:


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    > Curse Core: Humanoid Form


    > Toy: Ms. Comet


    > Compatibility rating: 32%


    > Recommendation: It is not recommended to animate this toy with this curse core.]


    Reading the compatibility rating, Ace was only slightly surprised as even though the character was a human her powers were not of human origin. Then Ace tried various other characters with space or reality manipulation abilities, whose unique superpower origin was due to a gene mutation, failed experiment, radiation exposure, etc none of the toys were compatible with the curse core.


    Left with no choice, Ace turned to characters whose abilities were honed by training in special martial arts, aura arts, or magic. No surprise there, as he expected the curse core was highly compatible with these toys. From this Ace determined that if he wanted a Toysummon with space or reality manipulation ability he would have to get a curse core of curseling with similar abilities.


    Though disappointed by the outcome, Ace was happy that he understood how to use his innate curse tool better. Besides, all hope wasn''t lost, the Curse Mall should have the curse core he was looking for.


    Right now, Ace felt, he should not worry about what he could not control and focus on what he could control. That was to increase his strength so he could visit the Curse Mall as soon as possible. This also included deciding on a new Toysummon fast. After all, there were many qualities to look for in Toysummons other than their unique superpowers. Strong skills, a decisive nature, a cunning brain, etc were a few of them. They would be a good help for Ace to explore the merciless ''World of Curses.''  S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This time, Ace was planning on recruiting someone strong but also with some medical expertise. Mainly because he believed with the otherworldly medical abilities of his Toysummon he could help his parents live healthier and longer life. His abilities have helped him become healthier and stronger, he wanted the same for his family. After all, there was no point in him having a healthy and long life if he was destined to live most of it alone and scared. Not that Ace wanted to reveal his abilities to his family, but there were many ways for him to help them secretly.


    ''Master, your parents are heading to the cashier,'' Dame Wasp informed Ace, as he aimlessly roamed the mart contemplating whom he should choose as his next Toysummons. After all, there were too many good characters to choose from.


    ''Thank you, Rose. I will also head there.''

 Chapter 42: Scratch Off Lottery Tickets

    Chapter 42: Scratch Off Lottery Tickets"Dad," Seeing his father take out his phone to call him, Ace called out to him from the corner and nodded. As he neared his parents, he noticed his mother had bought quite a few things including a customary gift for his uncle''s family.


    "Dad, give me the car keys. I will bring the car around," seeing his father hesitate, Ace persuaded, "It''s already late and there is no traffic around here. You taught me how to drive. Have you no faith in me, Dad?"


    "Fine," Alwin reluctantly handed his son the key, with a stern glare as a warning to be careful. After all, the Toyota Camry was like the third child he never had. Not to mention, it has been with him longer than his son. It was a trusty and dependable machine, all it was missing was a heartbeat.


    Taking the key from his father, just as Ace was about to leave, he noted the lottery tickets machine by the checkout area. Eyeing it, a thought crossed his mind. Then, with great anticipation, he asked Dame Wasp, ''Rose, can your cybernetics see through the scratch-off coating of a lottery ticket?''


    ''Yes, master, I should not have a problem seeing through them,'' Dame Wasp replied confidently.


    "Son, what are you doing standing there? Go, bring the car around," Alwin said, noticing his son had not left yet.


    "Dad, give me five dollars," Ace requested, though he and Dame Wasp had made over $100,000 this evening, they were all in cryptocurrency. He needed cold cash. Not to mention, he wasn''t of legal age to buy lottery tickets. But there was no law against his parents buying him one.


    "No," Alwin refused firmly, having noticed his son eyeing the lottery machine.


    Ace did not bother to continue to pester his father and head to his mother who was checking out the items they had bought.


    "Mom, do you think your son is lucky?" Ace asked, knowing his mother''s response.


    "Yes, you are son," Mary replied without thinking, only to hear, Ace demand, "Mom, help me buy a scratch-off lottery ticket?"


    Mary paused what she was doing, turned to look at her son, and asked him in disbelief, "Are you out of your mind?" She could not believe her son would ask her that. It was as if he did not even know her.  S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Come on, Mom. I don''t ask for much, just do this one thing for me, please," Ace pleaded making puppy eyes, even though that had never worked for him.


    Mary was about to reject her son and give him a stern lecture about gambling, but she suddenly found she could not resist his cuteness. It was a surprise to her, as she was under the belief that her son stopped being cute when he turned fourteen. Regardless, she caved and said, "Just one, but don''t make a habit of it."


    "..." Alwin wanted to stop his wife but he didn''t recalling she worried their son was growing too fast.


    "Don''t worry, Mom," Ace assured his mom. Then, he heard the cashier say, "Sir, the lottery machine doesn''t dispense scratch-off lottery tickets, you will have to buy them here."


    "Do I get to choose the ticket I want?" Ace asked. The cashier nodded saying, "Yes, sir. But we currently only have $10 tickets left."


    Ace turned to look at his mom, feeling he might not be able to try Dame Wasp''s ability on scratch-off lottery tickets today. Considering his family''s finances, $10 was too much to spend on a fleeting moment of rush. He knew he would win something but his mother had no idea. This was why he was surprised when he heard Mary say, "We will be taking on one."


    "Please wait, I will show the ticket to you after billing this," the cashier informed politely.


    Meanwhile, Ace and Alwin looked at Mary dumbfoundedly, as this was unlike her, only to hear her say, "Consider it as an apology for embarrassing you at the party."


    "You are the best mom," Ace hugged his mom in joy. He made over $100,000 a few hours ago, but he was happiest now.


    "I was embarrassed too, you know," Alwin said feeling left out, only to receive a stare for his loving wife. Now that was the Mary he knew and loved.


    After billing and bagging the items, the cashier took out the $10 scratch-off lottery tickets and said, "Please, take your pick."


    "Yes," Ace nodded while silently summoning Dame Wasp in her 1/100th form with camouflage.


    Without waiting for Ace''s instruction, Dame Wasp scanned all the lottery tickets with her cybernetics and found that about 9/10th tickets were a dud. As for the winning tickets, there wasn''t a single big cash reward let alone the jackpot prize, $1 million.


    ''Master, there isn''t a single big cash reward. But, I found a $35,000 and a $10,000 cash reward ticket. Also, there are three $5,000 cash reward tickets,'' Dame Wasp informed Ace, causing Ace to wonder what were $10,000 & $35,000 if not for a big cash reward. It seemed having made $100,000 in an evening, Dame Wasp no longer had eyes for such amounts. Ace''s family could be satisfied with a $5000 cash reward ticket let alone the $10,000 & $35,000 ones.


    "Mom, I want this one," Ace said, pointing at the $35,000 cash reward ticket.


    "You heard the boy, we will be taking that ticket," Mary informed the cashier since she was the one buying the ticket, not Ace for legal reasons.


    "Go ahead, scratch it, son," Mary passed the ticket to Ace taking it from the cashier. Ace scratched the card without hesitation, knowing that it was a winner.


    "$35,000, I can''t believe this," the cashier said in disbelief. He has bought his share of lottery tickets, but not once has he won more than 10 dollars.


    Mary and Alwin were too overwhelmed, they only reacted when they heard Ace say, "Mom, we won $35,000."


    "We won?" Alwin asked his wife, unable to believe it, as it was more than half his annual salary.


    "We won!" Mary exclaimed


    "Mom, can I buy one more?"


    "No!" Alwin and Mary rejected their son simultaneously.

 Chapter 43: Destined Foes

    Chapter 43: Destined FoesAlwin and Mary were honest people, they strongly believed there were no shortcuts in life. So, when they heard Ace ask to buy another lottery ticket, the happiness of winning $35,000 diminished and they grew worried that this experience might send their son astray. Mary was starting to regret her decision.


    "Fine, I will go bring the car around," Seeing the worry written all over his parent''s face, Ace threw his hands up in the air feeling helpless. Before leaving he turned to look at the cashier and pointing at the $10,000 reward scratch-off lottery ticket, he said, "You are in luck. Buy this one, if you want to take a chance."


    "Sure kid," the cashier did not take Ace''s words seriously as he only had $5 on him.


    Seeing their son not insist on buying another lottery ticket, Alwin and Mary sighed in relief. Turning to the cashier they inquired about how to claim the reward money.


    ¡­


    Walking to the parking area of the mart, Ace noticed that the gas station across the road was noisy. When he glanced over there he saw a familiar figure. It was Mike, the thug who had turned these last few weeks of Ace''s school life a hell. Mike wasn''t alone, he seemed to be with goons from the 9Ks on some gang business. Ace was surprised he would run into Mike here of all places. They might really be destined foes.


    Controlling his emotions, Ace turned his gaze and hurried to the car. Thinking Mike was lucky that he was here with his parents. Feeling her master''s turbulent emotions, Dame Wasp asked, "Master, what''s wrong?"


    "Rose, do you see the guy in the red hoodie at the gas station across the road? I need you to go over there and hack into his smartphone. Such that, you track his whereabouts and spy on him using its microphone and camera functions," Ace ordered Dame Wasp, without explaining why.


    Dame Wasp didn''t need to be ordered twice. In her 1/100th form, she easily slipped into Mike''s pocket and transformed her cybernetic braid into a data jack to hack into his smartphone through its USB port. By the time Ace entered the car and drove it to the front of the mart, she had completed the mission and returned to his side.


    "Master, all done," Dame Wasp reported, landing on Ace''s left shoulder.


    "Good. Now, I will lend you my senses. Eavesdrop on Mike and inform me of what he is up to. Also, go through his files and see if you can find anything incriminating," Ace instructed Dame Wasp. He then moved from the driver''s seat to the back, observing his parents as they walked out of the mart and headed toward the car.


    "I thought you wanted to drive," Alwin asked his son, seeing him seated at the back.


    "I am feeling sleep, you drive," Ace made an excuse, only to hear his mother say, "How are you sleepy, shouldn''t you be too excited to sleep? After all, you did just win $35,000."


    "What''s the point of being excited? When I know I won''t get a penny of that money," Ace said with a sigh, leaning back in his seat. Shaking his head, he added, "Besides, after tax, that amount is barely enough to buy a new Camry."


    "Al, our son has grown up. He is prioritizing our family''s needs over his own," Mary said getting into the passenger seat. Only to hear her husband say, "Well, he shouldn''t be. We will put the money in a savings account. So he can use it as a down payment to buy a house when he lands a real job after college."


    Alwin''s plan was simple: when his son finally landed a stable job after completing his higher studies, he wanted him to use the lottery winnings as a down payment to buy a house. His son would then cover the mortgage payments with his monthly salary. This way, his son would own a house outright before turning thirty, rather than spending his salary on unnecessary items and rent.


    Alwin regretted that nobody had advised him to start saving his money early and how to invest it properly with minimal risk. He was simply doing what he thought someone should have done for him. Besides, he didn''t need the lottery money. His family''s finances were only tight because he was saving most of it for his son''s college tuition, his daughter''s marriage, and his own retirement.


    "Dad, don''t go planning my life for me. Just buy a new car and hand this one over to me. That is all I ask of you," Ace knew his father was too proud to use the lottery money he won. So, he pleaded with him to use it. Ace did not know what else to say to convince his father to use the money and not put it in a savings account for him. His dad had too much self-control and was strict about where he spent his money. Otherwise, no man would drive the same beat-up car for decades and not even consider buying a new one.


    "I don''t know what you guys want to do with the money. But my son just won $35,000, I am going buy something pretty for myself," Mary said, listening to her husband and sons plan for the money. Then, looking at her phone screen, she added in frustration, "What is this girl doing, why isn''t she answering my call?" S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Honey, it''s late. She might be asleep," Alwin defended his daughter. Mary rolled her eyes at him and remarked, "I have never known her to go to sleep before two in the morning. Is she ignoring my call to binge-watch one of her Eastern dramas?"


    "That might be it, Mom," Ace added fuel to the fire.

 Chapter 44: 9Ks Dilemma

    Chapter 44: 9Ks DilemmaMary managed to connect with her daughter over the phone after her sixth try and informed her about how her little brother won $35,000 in a scratch-off lottery, after giving her an earful for ignoring her call. It turns out she had kept her mobile in silent mode, as she planned to focus on starting her webtoon tonight, gaining confidence from the new friends she made in the webtoon course.


    While the family talked about Ace''s luck, he was busy listening to what Dame Wasp had to report about Mike.


    Starting with the incriminating evidence on his phone, there were videos and photos of him doing drugs at the parties and in the privacy of his home. The parties were mostly thrown by his elder brother, a captain in the 9Ks. Hence, the parties were wild, with prostitutes, guns, and all kinds of drugs. The videos all involved how Mike tried to gain his elder brother''s attention by doing all kinds of stupid stuff that he believed would gain him respect in his brother''s and the gang''s eyes.


    Just when Ace was starting to think Mike had no chance growing up under the care of such a brother, Dame Wasp brought up obscene videos and photos of school girls and women from their neighborhood. They were either taken without their knowledge or consent. In some of them, Mike could be found abusing them. Ace realized, even without his brother, Mike was destined to grow up to be a scum.


    Still, Ace grew more appreciative of his family for teaching him about the values and morals that would help him to lead a life without many regrets. No Ivy League education could teach him that. Their teachings were priceless. This did not mean he would grow up to be a carbon copy of his parents, they have given him enough freedom to make his mistakes and learn from them. This allowed him to form his set of values and principles.


    Ace had enough evidence to put Mike in jail for life. However, he did not plan to do that as his plans for Mike were more grand. He wanted Mike to feel the desperation he felt when he had forced him to do things Ace would like to forget. This was why he did not ask Dame Wasp to assassinate him with her laser braid back at the gas station.


    Aside from the evidence on Mike''s phone, Dame Wasp used the contacts and IMs on it to track down most of the important members of the 9Ks. However, unlike Mike, they were all smart enough to use burner phones. Hence Dame Wasp did not gain much on them.


    Done reporting on Mike''s smartphone, Dame Wasp continued to report on what she learned by eavesdropping on Mike in real-time.


    Turns out, the reason why Mike and the 9Ks gang members were in this town was because of the forest fire and thunderstorm that affected their neighborhood this morning. Apparently, their stash house was a remote cabin in the hills. It contained all the drugs they needed to distribute this month along with the money they had amassed so far. Because of the forest fire, fearing the worst they had no choice but to move all the drugs and cash to a new safe house, a remote farmhouse 10 miles south of the town.


    However, because the neighborhood was crawling with CIB and Cops, they had to temporarily hide the drugs and cash in the vehicles of the cops that were on their payroll. In the evening, when the high alert was lifted, they loaded the drugs and money in their trucks and made it to the town at this hour. Resulting in the fateful encounter between Mike and Ace.


    ''Rose, keep tracking Mike''s phone, I want the exact location of their safe house, and inform me when they reach it. Also, how much money and drugs are they carrying on them?'' Ace instructed and asked how much money the 9Ks had amassed by peddling drugs in their neighborhood.


    ''Yes, Master. I will inform you when they reach the safe house,'' Dame Wasp affirmed and answered, ''Master, they have nearly two million in cash and 60 kgs of unsold coke. From what I have gathered, eighty percent of whatever they make goes to their drug supplier. That is to say, Coke they have is a loan. They need to sell it for a profit and pay the retail price to the supplier.''


    ''All that money just from our neighborhood?'' Ace exclaimed in surprise.


    ''No, master. It is from the entire district. That coke would last them another month,'' Dame Wasp seemed to have gotten the hang of the 9Ks drug operation.


    ''Did you find out who their supplier is?'' Ace was only interested in the 9Ks supplier because he wanted to know how serious the repercussions would be if for some reason the 9Ks were to lose all their money and drugs.


    ''Yes, Master. The supplier is a prominent cartel from down south. They are transporting the coke into the state in the form of carbonated drinks and beer since the border patrol doesn''t bother them much when they see the big MNC logo. With all of the big beverage companies having their factories down there, it makes it easier for them to hide their drugs in their product and send it to the states,'' Dame Wasp reported briefly surprising Ace.


    ''You got all that by hacking into Mike''s phone?'' Ace did not believe Mike had access to such sensitive information. Even if he was the brother of one of the 9k''s captains this kind of information was above his rank.  S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Mike''s phone was only a gateway into their world. If you give me some more time I will be able to gather detailed information on their coke operations, base of operations, their money laundering operations, and their offshore bank accounts. Tech in this world is not very challenging,'' Dame Wasp boasted to her master.


    ''Wow, you are amazing, Rose. But don''t go poking the hornet''s nest just because you can. Even if you are confident that you can get away with it let us be humble,'' Ace praised Dame Wasp while warning her not to do unnecessary things that might potentially leak their existence.


    But Ace could not help but ponder that if he let go of his caution, with Dame Wasp''s cybernetic capabilities he could become a billionaire overnight. If not for his age restriction forcing him to get his parent or guardian''s consent for everything, Ace would have thought of a legal way to make use of Dame Wasp''s ability to make himself a billionaire.

 Chapter 45: Step One To Riches

    Chapter 45: Step One To RichesReturning to his uncle''s home Ace found that everyone was already aware of his big luck. His mother had shared the winning scratch-off lottery ticket image in the family IM group. $35,000 wasn''t a huge amount for his uncle''s family but they were happy to participate in their relative''s joyous moment. The adults celebrated with their liquor and wine. Meanwhile, Danny sipped on his grape juice and whispered to Ace, "So, do you plan to use the money to buy yourself a life-size action figure?"


    Ace rolled his eyes at him and then addressed his parents, "Mom, Dad, I know you guys are planning to put the winnings in a savings account for me to use later. But I would prefer it if you guys helped me create my trading account with the bank. Don''t worry I don''t plan to use all the money for trading, I just need $500 seed money. I don''t care about what you do with the rest, keep it in the savings account or buy me a new car, your wish, but I want $500 seed money for stock trading."


    There was a reason why Ace did not bring this up earlier but now in front of Dan and Pam. If he said this back at the mall, his parents would lecture him about how the stock market and gambling were the same without the proper resources and research that he lacked. But now in the presence of Dan and Pam, they would feel a little pressured to agree to his whim. As he expected his sudden revelation brought the whole celebration down a peck.


    "We will talk about it later, son," Alwin frowned and dismissed his son''s request. But Ace was already prepared for rejection, so he added, "Dad, I know you don''t mean it. Why don''t you think of this as an opportunity for me to learn about money management and the daily market? If I had asked the same amount for academic courses or study camps, you would not think twice, would you? Please, just let me give this a try. I promise regardless of the outcome I will not let it affect my studies."


    Alwin stared at his son hard, and so did Mary but the one person Ace was counting on suddenly spoke up, "Al, the boy makes a good point. Besides, all he is asking is to let him learn. Speaking of which, Danny, I still haven''t gotten the bill for the $10,000 online course you joined a few weeks ago."


    "Dad, I shared it with your phone long ago. Didn''t you see it? I will send it again, later," Danny lied as naturally as breathing air.


    Listening to the conversation Ace''s eyes widened and he stared at his cousin in disbelief, figuring out how Danny had managed to save up $10,000 for the second sex doll he was planning to buy.


    Meanwhile, Alwin and Mary had shifted their stare from Ace to Dan. They looked at him in utter disbelief. Alwin sternly turned to look at Danny and inquired, "Danny Jr, $10,000 online course? What is it about?"


    "Uncle Al, you won''t understand, it''s about computer programming and networking," Danny tried to use the same trick he used on his parents on Alwin, however, it failed.


    "No, try me," Alwin had already guessed Danny was lying. He could have let it go had it been a small amount, but $10,000 wasn''t something he could overlook.


    "Boy, go ahead and answer your uncle. Unlike me, he works with computers for a living. I am sure he will understand," Dan still had no idea what Danny had done. Though he complained a lot about him, he trusted his son. Meanwhile, Mandy snickered at fidgeting Danny and Pam had a bad feeling that her son was up to no good.


    "Al, leave the boy alone. And just think about what Ace asked, he did promise that he would not let it affect his studies," Mary suddenly spoke up, signaling Pam, who nodded and asked her son, "Danny, help me get salted nuts from the kitchen." She then headed to the kitchen and waited for Danny to join her and come clean.


    As gullible as Dan was, he had a very bad temper, if he learned what Danny had done, he might have broken his leg in rage just like how he broke the locks on Danny''s door for not answering in time. This was why Mary hinted at Alwin to stop with the third degree and signaled Pam to take Danny to the side and talk about it.  Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace shook his head unable to imagine what would happen to Danny if Dan and Pam were to learn about the elven queen mother Esmeralda he was hiding in his closet. Once again, he stared at Mandy wondering, ''What was she thinking buying Danny a sex doll?''


    "Ace, I will help you set up a trading account in your mother''s name. But once you have used the $500 don''t you dare ask for more and if it affects your studies I will close the account that very day. Do you understand me?" Alwin would never have agreed to Ace''s request if not for Danny Jr. He was a little proud that his son was honest and upfront. He wanted to reward that behavior.


    "Yes, sir," Ace nodded vigorously, as he completed the first step in his plan to make his family rich. Then, he added, "I am heading to sleep, good night everyone."


    Without waiting for their reply Ace hurried to his room since Dame Wasp had just informed him that Mike and the 9Ks had reached their destination, their temporary safe house a remote farmhouse 10 milies south of the town. As he passed the kitchen to head upstairs, he overheard Danny confess about the money to Pam and promise to return all of it to Dan making up an excuse that the online course was canceled and his money was refunded. As for Pam, she seemed to be disappointed in her son and made sure he was aware of it.

 Chapter 46: Dont Mess With The Government

    Chapter 46: Don''t Mess With The Government"What took them so long?" Ace complained returning to his room and locking the door. Mike and 9Ks had taken a lot of time to reach their temporary safe house. He almost thought that they changed their destination.  S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Master, the farmhouse they are using as a temporary safe house, is very remote, and none of the drivers had ever been there. Not to mention, it''s late night. It took them a while to find the farmhouse. Hence the delay," Dame Wasp explained based on what she heard by eavesdropping through Mike''s phone.


    "Dame Wasp, do you know how long they plan on using that farmhouse?" Ace asked, his intentions could not be more obvious.


    "Until they find a new safehouse within the city. It could be tomorrow, three days from now, or even a week from now. It is hard to tell. However, I will bet on three days or later. After all, even if they have cops on their payroll moving around so much coke and money would be very risky," Dame Wasp replied, speculating based on the information she had.


    "Good, then we have time. Tomorrow morning, we buy our new partner. Tonight, you scour the internet for ''pump and dump'' & ''short and distort'' investment frauds. We will ride their tails to make ourselves a small fortune," Ace instructed Dame Wasp, informing her of their schedule.


    Pump and Dump fraud: It is a type of investment fraud where perpetrators artificially inflate the price of a stock through false or misleading information, creating a buying frenzy among unsuspecting investors. Once the price reaches a peak, the perpetrators sell off their shares at a profit, causing the price to plummet and leaving investors who bought during the hype with significant losses.


    Short and Distort fraud: In this scheme, perpetrators take short positions on a stock, betting that its price will decrease. They then spread negative information or false rumors about the company to drive down its stock price, profiting from their short positions.


    Daily, hundreds of such investment frauds occur. It was like a plague in the domestic and international investment markets. Despite being aware of these frauds, millions of people keep falling for it. Ace had no plans of becoming a herald of justice by outing these frauds, he just wanted to use these frauds to grow his initial $500 seed money into something sufficient to do good old-fashioned insider trading.


    Thanks to Dame Wasp''s one-of-a-kind cybernetic capabilities Ace would have all the information on the fraud to earn profits and leave before things take an ugly turn. She could also get him insider information to make big trades with a high margin of profits and zero risks.


    However, growing $500 to something sufficient solely based on these investment frauds would be time-consuming. After all, a lot of time and planning goes into these investment fraud. Just when Ace was thinking he could not earn a million within a week, such that his parents would not have to return to the city and start a ranch life with his uncle, Dame Wasp came to the rescue.


    "Master, we do not have to go through all that trouble. I have a better way. I will find a way to get the stock market information faster than the rest of the investment apps available. Even a few milliseconds ahead would be enough for me to create a program that would execute the trades for us. This way you can easily grow your $500 investment into a million or more within a week," Dame Wasp proposed, explaining how they best use her cybernetic capabilities.


    "No way, don''t even think of going there. The stock market is the backbone of the country''s economy. The government would have dedicated secret agencies like CIB to monitor and stop any potential manipulation in the stock market from the ''World of Curses.'' If they even catch a whiff of your actions they will try everything in their power to track us down. That is too dangerous," Ace immediately rejected Dame Wasp''s proposal. What she suggested was sound and good, but it was too risky. Even risker than stealing from online gambling sites.


    The curse masters backing the online gambling sites were thugs at best but the curse masters employed by the government were best of the best with at least two centuries worth of legacy. After all, that was how old the country''s democracy was.


    For the country to remain a democracy even after so many years despite the obvious threat from the ''World of Curses'' meant that they had strong defense and offense against the ''World of Curses'' allowing the country to maintain its sovereignty for so long.


    Ace did not plan on messing with anything government-related, the steal song society''s Sky-tier curse master MountainOfSwords was the best example of what would happen if one tries to mess with the government. The CIB ruthlessly focused on killing him over the safety of the residence. Despite his previous dissatisfaction with the CIB, Ace now felt that only such a ruthless response would keep strong curse masters from terrorizing the country.


    "I understand, master," Dame Wasp agreed understanding Ace''s concern. Then, she proposed an alternative, "Master, what if I were to create a top-grade advanced automatic trading software copying the proprietary trading programs used by big hedge funds to make their day-to-day trades? These programs analyze the domestic and international markets and automatically make large quantities of trades with profitable returns. Obviously, there is a margin for error but with me personally assisting the software with my cybernetics. I think we can increase our chances significantly."


    "I like the sound of that. You can try that," Ace agreed with Dame Wasp''s revised proposal. It was a lot safer since it did not involve anything seriously criminal except for a few trademark breaches which no one will know since they will not know of the advanced trading program created by Dame Wasp.


    "Okay, Master. I will get right to it," getting a green light from Ace, Dame Wasp immediately got to work.


    ¡­


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 Chapter 47: Generous Auntie Mandy

    Chapter 47: Generous Auntie MandyWhile Dame Wasp got busy with creating her version of trading software by copying the proprietary trading software of big and well-known hedge funds, Ace decided to continue practicing the modified body reinforcement curse art.


    Just as Ace was about to start circulating his curse energy, his phone rang with an IM notification. He decided to ignore it and continue with his practice but his phone rang twice more, notifying him that he received two more IMs. Annoyed Ace picked up his phone to check who was texting him at this ungodly hour.


    It was Mandy. Of course, it had to her.


    [Mandy: Hey, Ace.]


    [Mandy: Ace, you up?]


    [Mandy: Are you ignoring my texts because you are busy masturbating?]


    [Mandy: Did I catch you at the wrong time?]


    [Mandy: Let me make it up to you. +5 image files attached.]


    Just as Ace read her texts, Mandy spammed him with two more texts and the top five of her bikini selfies. That was what the image files were called. After sending her bikini pics, Mandy stopped spamming Ace, as if waiting for him to savor her pics.


    Ace gulped his saliva looking at Mandy''s pics. They were too tempting, he then shook his head and deleted the pics. Keeping them would only spell trouble. Then just as he was about to put his phone down, as if she were watching him Mandy sent another text.


    [Mandy: Are you finished? Or do you need a few more minutes? If my bikini selfies are not enough I can send some topless ones.]


    Fearing Mandy would send her topless pics, Ace hurriedly replied to her text.


    [Ace: Speak, what is it that you need from me?]


    [Mandy: No honey, the topless pics are for free.]


    [Ace: Mandy, stop fooling around. Or I will block you.]


    [Mandy: Fine, but you are no fun do you know that.]


    [Ace: Boys are fun, Men are responsible.]


    [Mandy: (Rolling eyes emoji) Boys are virgins, Men are experienced. Let me help you complete your transition into a Man.]


    [Ace: I will share our chat with my sister. Maybe you would like to explain to her how you will help her little brother transition into a Man.]


    Ace''s elder sister was older than Mandy by a few years. Growing up Mandy used to look up to her but when she entered high school things changed as Mandy was the head cheerleader while Ace''s sister was an introverted geek who spent her time watching cartoons or reading comics. They started to grow apart, however, Mandy still respects Ace''s sister¡ª feared would be more appropriate word.


    [Mandy: Why do you have to be such a killjoy? Am I not beautiful?]


    [Ace: Are you listening to yourself? This is not how you should be talking to your nephew-in-law. Besides, are you trying to give Dan a heart attack? That man thinks of you as his daughter.]


    [Mandy: Enough, I contacted you to inform that I would like to invest in your trending venture.]


    Listening to Ace bring up Dan, Mandy was no longer in the mood to flirt with him. Instead, she skipped to the reason she texted him.


    [Ace: My trading venture? I don''t even have a trading account yet. If you want to invest you better find someone trustable, like the big hedge funds. They charge a hefty fee but it''s worth it. ]


    Ace found Mandy''s words funny. And advised her to find the best investment manager her money could buy.


    [Mandy: You will soon have one and I want to invest in you. I trust you.]


    [Ace: Fine, but I too charge a hefty fee. 50 percent of whatever I can earn using your money.]


    Seeing Mandy continue to insist on investing in him, Ace quoted an unreasonable fee to force her to back off. However, things did not go as he had planned.


    [Mandy: Okay.]


    [Country Bank: Mandy has credited $30,000 to your account ending with XXXX.]


    Mandy readily agreed and sent him the money.


    [Ace: Are you crazy? Or just too rich?]


    When Mandy said she wanted to invest, Ace thought she was going to invest $500 to $2000 at best but he did not think that she would directly send him $30,000. Then, he wondered if this was her way of courting him. Since her charm and bikini selfies failed she wanted to make him submit to her using her money. Well, lots of men do it, but this was the first Ace saw a woman do it. Especially, a beautiful woman.


    [Mandy: I feel you are worth it.]  S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Ace: This doesn''t change anything. My answer is still no.]


    [Mandy: Get your mind out of the gutter. Besides, I don''t need money to get some, my charm is enough.]


    [Ace: (Rolling eyes emoji) Thank you, Auntie Mandy.]


    [Mandy: Good night nephew Ace (sweet dreams emoji)]


    "Rose, our seed money has increased to $30,500," Ace excitedly informed Dame Wasp who was staring at the PC monitor while her braid data jack connected to the CPU. This way she can power the PC with her cybernetics. Allowing it to display capabilities similar to that of a supercomputer.


    "That''s great news, Master. With that much seed money, we can amass a million within a week," Having gone through the proprietary trading software of the big hedge funds Dame Wasp was now more knowledgeable about how the share market worked. So she could confidently say that they could earn a million within a week with ease.


    "Make that two million, because the extra $30,000 belongs to Mandy. I agreed on a 50:50 split on whatever we earn using her investment," Ace informed Dame Wasp.


    "No problem, Master. Based on what I have gathered so far from the proprietary trading software, we can earn a profit of up to three million dollars in a week without much risk with our current initial investment," Dame Wasp assured Ace that his plans to make his family a millionaire within a week was still possible.


    "That''s good. How are we on the government front? Will they be suspicious of our transactions?" Ace asked in concern as earning nearly three million within a single week was bound to attract attention.


    "Don''t worry master, these hedge funds have a very detailed map on how to stay under the radar of the government. Especially, SEC and IRS. Trust me, I will take care of everything," Dame Wasp confidently assured Ace.


    ...

 Chapter 48: Buick Regal Turbo-T

    Chapter 48: Buick Regal Turbo-T[¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    > Dame Wasp: Master, it''s seven in the morning, time to wake up. ]


    Following Ace''s instructions, Dame Wasp awakened her master like a well-oiled alarm clock. Ace had his reasons for waking up so early on a holiday, especially after sleeping in late due to his curse arts practice.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    > Curse art ''Body Reinforcement'' learned.


    i) +15% proficiency


    ii) +11 physical stats


    Note:


    i) Continued practice of curse art will increase it is proficiency.


    ii) Rigorous practice of curse art will increase related stats.]


    Opening his eyes, Ace summoned the status screen to check the progress he had made in practicing the modified ''Body Reinforcement'' curse art the previous night, and he had made significant progress. The change was visible physically, Ace felt his body was sturdier than yesterday. Its shape was more defined and detailed, especially, the muscles of his cheek and jawbones. Models and actors would starve and dehydrate themselves to get the look that Ace now normally had.


    After completing daily toiletries and taking a shower, Ace headed downstairs for breakfast. He was famished even though he had stuffed himself with enough pizza for two last night. Practicing the curse arts has increased his metabolism, he guessed.


    Arriving downstairs, Ace saw the whole family was by the kitchen island, having beacon and sunny-side-up eggs for breakfast. Ace loved this about his uncle''s house they did not care about their carb intake. Pizza for dinner and bacon for breakfast, people in the countryside knew how to live life the best.


    "Good morning everybody," Ace greeted all, taking a seat by the edge of the kitchen island next to his cousin.


    "Good morning, you''re up early," remarked Alwin, finding it odd that his son had gotten up so early of his own volition on a holiday.


    "Is it just me or is Ace getting handsome by day?" Mandy said aloud, gazing at Ace. Her words immediately garnered the attention of Mary who was making fresh tangerine juice for the family. She wanted to snap at Mandy, but looking at her son, she stuttered, "Mandy you¡ª you are right."


    "I used to look like that back when I was in the army," Dan suddenly said, finding that Ace looked like he could take a punch or two.


    "Dan, I was dating you back then, and trust me, you were nowhere as fit as the boy," Pam corrected her husband, as she passed Ace the plate she fixed for him.


    "Do you want me to get the pictures?" Dan proposed feeling challenged. However, Pam shook her head and Mandy poked fun at him, "Tell that to your beer gut."  sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Your sister said she likes it," Dan got a glare from his wife. Ignoring her, he called on his brother for help, "AI, you remember right?"


    "Hey, how am I supposed to know what you husband and wife talk about behind closed doors?" Alwin said misunderstanding his elder brother. Dan stared disappointedly at his little brother before declaring, "That''s it, I am getting the album."


    The entire family ignored Dan. Soon, Danny finishing his breakfast, grabbed his school bag and left announcing, "I am going to school."


    Ace hurriedly cleared his plate and saying, "I am going with Danny." He rushed behind his cousin before Mary or Alwin could say no. They finally knew why Ace had gotten up so early.


    Seeing Ace leave, Mandy, too, prepared to leave saying, "I will go drop Danny at the school."


    However, she wasn''t quick enough. Dan rejected her, "Danny has his car and did you forget you will be joining us at the ranch?" Listening to him Mary sighed in relief.


    ¡­


    Following Danny to the shed, Ace arrived before an old Buick, a resto-modded 1987 Buick Regal Turbo-T to exact. Danny had shared its pics with Ace when Dan bought it for him. But this was the first time Ace was seeing it in person and he instantly fell in love with its Darth Vader black muscle body.


    "Where are you going?" Danny asked his cousin seeing him enter the passenger seat.


    "I am going to drop you off at the school," Ace indirectly asked to borrow Danny''s car.


    "Fine. Just make sure you don''t scratch it and remember to pick me up at four," Danny agreed to lend Ace his car.


    "Don''t worry I will take utmost care of it and will pick you up at four sharp," Ace said trying to sound as sincere as possible.


    ¡­


    Dropping Danny off at school, Ace went for a spin in the Buick and only when he was satisfied did he return home. It was past nine by the time he returned. Nobody was home, everyone had left for the ranch including his parents. The front door was locked so he entered from the back door.


    ''Rose, can I contact the doll makers, will they be open now?'' Entering his room, Ace mentally asked Dame Waspm who was borrowing senses the whole time.


    ''Yes, master. Their site says they open at nine. Do you want me to make the call?'' Dame Wasp replied based on what she had learned from the site of the doll makers from whom Danny had bought his partner, Esmeralda.


    ''Go ahead,'' Ace permitted, taking out his phone. Dame Wasp connected to it and remotely called the Doll Makers.


    "Hello, you have reached Oracle Doll Makers. How may we assist you?" the female voice answered the call.


    "Hi, I would like to place an order," Ace replied


    "Sure, sir. Can we continue this over a video call? It will be easier for us to connect and understand your requirements. Rest assured sir, the privacy of our customer is our utmost priority," the staff requested, asking Ace''s permission to switch the call to a video call.


    "Give me the contact info, and I will make the video call," Ace agreed to the staff''s request feeling that it would indeed be easier for him to convey what he wanted to her.


    "Sure, Sir. You can make a video call to this number at your convenience," the staff replied politely.

 Chapter 49: Oracle Doll Makers

    Chapter 49: Oracle Doll Makers''Master you don''t need to use your apex form, the phone has a video filter that will use deep fake to change your appearance during the video call,'' Dame Wasp informed Ace after he hung up the call.


    ''Great, make me look like a filthy rich chubby guy in his late thirties or early forties,'' Ace said as he prepared to video call the doll makers.


    ''Sure master,'' Dame Wasp greed and immediately got to work. When done, she informed, ''Master, everything is set, shall I make the call?''


    ''Yes,'' Ace nodded, as Dame Wasp remotely made the video call. The call was immediately answered by a beautiful gingerhead woman with golden trim round glasses on. She appeared to be in her early thirties. With a gentle smile, she greeted Ace, "Welcome to Oracle Doll Makers, I am Dr. Abby Moore a dermatologist and a plastic surgeon, may I have your good name, sir?"


    "You can call me Bob," Ace replied, visibly surprised that Abby was a doctor and surgeon.


    Ace did not understand why someone with such an esteemed educational background would make sex dolls for a living. But her qualification did help him understand how her establishment could get their hands on medical-grade silicon to make sex dolls. Besides it should be easier for her to work on dolls than a living person with her qualifications.


    "Mr. Bob, before we start I would like to ask you a few questions if you don''t mind," Abby politely asked.


    "Sure, ask away," Ace decided to cooperate as he needed to score good points with Abby since he needed her to do him a favor by placing a rush order for his doll.


    "Sir, how did you learn of our establishment?"


    "From a friend."


    "May I know the good name of your friend?"


    "No."


    "Sir, I only ask because if your friend has referred you, you and your friend are both eligible for a five percent discount on our purchase. Are you sure you and your friend don''t want the discount, sir?" Abby hurriedly explained feeling that the customer might have misunderstood her.


    "No, we don''t need the discount."


    "Sir, is your friend satisfied with our product?"


    "Yes. Otherwise, why would he recommend me to you?" Ace replied, feeling Abby''s questions were getting a bit silly.


    "I only ask because you did not prefer the discount, it led me to believe your friend was dissatisfied with our product. Please, let your friend know each customer is valuable to us, and we will do our best to satisfy them," Abby informed hoping to keep both Bob and his friend''s business. They were a small business, they needed every customer they could get.  S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Don''t overthink it. Money does not matter to us as long as you deliver the promised quality," Ace assured Abby.


    "I understand, Sir," Abby nodded in understanding and said, "Sir, if you don''t mind I would like to invite my team to join the call. This way we can all discuss your various requirements from hairstyle to fashion to props."


    Abby was only going to such lengths because she believed Bob was a customer with deep pockets based on what he said. Her thoughts were simple. She believed as long as she managed to turn Bob into a regular, their small establishment would have an easier time ahead.


    "No, let''s not drag it anymore. I need a doll, do you have any in stock?" Ace rejected Abby, losing his patiences. She might have all the time in the world but he did not.


    "Sir, Did your friend not inform you that we only do custom jobs and do not have ready-made dolls?" Abby replied with a frown.


    "I thought you would have a few of your bestselling dolls in stock," Ace replied.


    "No, Sir, We don''t," Abby replied shaking her head.


    "Do you have any that you prepared for other customers? I will pay you double," Ace offered eagerly.


    There was a reason why Ace was acting as such. It was the waiting period to get a custom-made doll. It takes the Oracle Doll Makers anywhere from three to eight weeks to make a doll after a customer places the order by paying in full.


    Ace heard Danny talk about the waiting period but he did not take it seriously until Dame Wasp checked their website and customer reviews. All their customers had only one issue with them and it was the wait period. This was why Ace and Dame Wasp did not further discuss who their new teammate should be after returning from the Mart. They decided to go with the available one as long as it met their requirements.


    This was also why Ace wanted to play nice and slowly grease Abby but seeing that she was sincerely attending to him he decided to ditch the charade and come clean even at the risk of coming off as a wealthy spoiled jerk.


    "Double?" A female voice sounded from Abby''s background, soon she peeped from behind her entering the screen. She was of similar age as Abby, and introduced herself, "Hi, Bob. I am Emily, Are you serious about paying double?"


    "Yes, as long as I like the doll, I will pay double or even more cause I really need the doll soon. If possible by today. Think of it as if a life depended on it," Ace said trying to convey his urgency to the doll makers. He was not worried about them overcharging him. He only cared about getting a quality doll that would fit his requirements as fast as possible. He could always earn more money but he could not get the lost time back.


    "Sir, that is not possible¡ª" Seeing Abby was about to reject him Ace interrupted her saying, "I have transferred $50,000 in cryptocurrency to the cryptocurrency wallet listed on your website. Consider it as a down payment."


    "Sir, things don''t work like that around here¡ª"


    "Shut up, Abby, he really did send the money," Emily interrupted Abby showing her the cryptocurrency credited to their wallet on her phone. Then, turning to face Bob she said, "Dear customer, I will now list you the dolls we have in our workshop ready to ship, please select the one you like. If you live nearby we will personally deliver it to your home."


    Emily showed such a drastic change in her attitude because not just anybody could transfer $50,000 without receiving any form of guarantee, that too in cryptocurrency. This led her to believe that Bob''s pocket was deeper than she previously assumed. She would always welcome such customers over those who haggled over pennies.


    Listening to her response, Ace finally understood the words, ''Money makes the world go ''round.''

 Chapter 50: Emi Nakamura The Kunoichi Shaman

    Chapter 50: Emi Nakamura The Kunoichi ShamanHad Ace known that all he had to do was flaunt his money, he would not have bothered to grease Abby. Ace had always lived frugally, spending money wisely and avoiding unnecessary expenses. He often made deliberate choices to save money, such as avoiding luxury purchases, and always going for deals and discounts.  S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That was how Ace was brought up. So even though he had heard of the words ''Money makes the world go ''round,'' he never truly understood what it meant until he put it into practice. Now Ace knew why most of the rich guys were jerks and jackasses, it was only natural when they see people willing to bend their principle and values for extra money. How could they respect someone like that.


    Ace did not bring up paying double right off the bat because he was worried that he would hurt their pride and come off as a jackass. But seeing how Emily was acting it seems his worries were for nothing. Abby showed reluctance but she did not say no when Emily proposed to let Bob choose any doll in their workshop. Ace did not judge them, he was in no place to do so, also earning a living wasn''t easy. It was what it was.


    "Bob, first up in the list is the most popular female character in the game series ''Cosmic Combat,'' Emi Nakamura, the champion of the spirit world. She is a skilled kunoichi and a member of the prestigious Shaman clan. Therefore, she is skilled in kunai while possessing spiritual and healing powers. She can summon ghosts she turned into her shinigami to aid her in combat," Emily introduced the first doll in her list and instantly grabbed Ace''s attention.


    Emi Nakamura fit the template of Ace''s next Toysummons perfectly. She was everything he was looking for and even more. She was a strong female ninja and had spiritual healing powers. As bonuses, she could convert ghosts into her shinigami to manipulate them and make various spiritual talismans for defense, support, and attack.


    Not to mention, her ghost-to-shinigami conversion skill sounded very much like the curse slave art which could allow a mortal to turn a curseling into their pet. This skill assured Ace that Emi Nakamura would be highly compatible with the curse core (humanoid form). Based on his understanding of Cursed Toybox so far, Ace knew the more the skills of the curse core and the toy used to animate a toy summon were similar the more compatible they were.


    "I will buy her," Ace said. After careful consideration, he felt that he could use Emi''s talismans to protect his family even when he was not by their side.


    Not to forget, Ace was planning on finding more information on the cursed art that allowed curse masters to turn curselings into their curse spirits. Making Emi who can convert ghosts into shinigami the most suitable Toy summons to practice such a curse art. Since Dame Wasp could practice the curse arts Ace believed the rest of his Toy summons could too.


    The more Ace thought about it, the more he felt that Emi Nakamura was the perfect candidate to become his third Toy summons after Dame Wasp and Apex Earring.


    "Great," Emily exclaimed in joy, listening to Bob agree to buy the first doll she introduced to him. She was now more certain that Bob was indeed filthy rich. Then, quickly connecting her phone to the video call she said, "Bob, let me show you the doll."


    Soon, Emily arrived before a black 6ft long military trunk. Asking Abby to hold the phone, Emily opened the trunk revealing the life-size doll of Emi Nakamura. Then, she began to explain, "Bob, this is the finished product. We have used medical-grade silicon to make her flesh and titanium alloy to make the frame and bone structure. As you can see our craftsmanship is top-notch¡ª"


    "Isn''t her figure a bit curvier than in the game? I am worried it will affect the doll''s balance," Ace interrupted Emily seeing that the doll''s breasts were bigger and hip was wider than the actual game character. He did not care that Emi''s body was a bit more voluptuous compared to her athlete body in the game. What he was worried about was that the doll was not well-balanced and steady enough to stand on its feet. After all, his toy summons were only as good as their vessel. If the doll was not balanced, then it would affect his toy summons movement, and she would trip for no reason.


    Listening to Ace''s concern, Emily''s face beamed with a proud smile as she boasted, "Well Bob, that is why you pay us the big bucks. The doll is symmetrical and well-balanced enough to stand on its two feet. I would also like to proudly inform you that the doll has not been touched or seen by any man. Except for its titanium frame, everything was made by our team which only consists of females, maintaining the doll''s purity and sanctity. Hence our name ''Oracle Doll Makers.'' Bob, I am only showing this doll because you agreed to buy it. Otherwise, regardless of how much you were willing to pay I would not show her to you. After all, this is our brand''s selling point."


    "I see, but you still did not tell me why the doll is curvier than her game character?" Ace did not let Emily confuse him with her words.


    "That''s because the customer who ordered this doll preferred it that way," Emily answered, continuing to maintain her business smile.


    "Did that customer make any more changes that, I should know about?" Ace asked, to make sure he was not in for more surprises.


    "No more, but if you prefer it we can make small adjustments like changing her makeup, polishing her nails, adding pubic hair, etc," Emily replied offering a wide range of services.


    "No, she is fine as is. What about her props the Kunai and talisman brush?" Ace inquired since Cursed Toybox could actualize all add-ons of toys along with them.


    "Yes, they are right here. We have even made a few extras just in case you break or lose them," Emily responded, showing a hidden compartment in the trunk containing the props.


    "What do I owe you?" Ace asked having decided to buy Emi Nakamura.


    "The $50,000 you had paid covers it as her original price tag was $25,000," Emily answered with a bright smile having made a profitable sale.


    "I have transferred another $10,000 in cryptocurrency to your wallet. Consider it as a down payment for my next doll," Ace informed, and before Emily or Abby could react he continued saying, "Now let us discuss the delivery."

 Chapter 51: Doll Delivery

    Chapter 51: Doll Delivery"Bob, like I mentioned earlier. If you live nearby and don''t mind us, we can deliver the doll to your place," Emily hurriedly answered. She wanted to take this opportunity to get closer to Bob and inform him of the various services they could provide him for extra cost. Basically, bug him in person like every other door to door salesperson.  S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No, need. But since you are willing to do in-person delivery head to the Red Rose Resort. It is 12 miles from your establishment. I have booked a room there, you can collect the room key at the front desk by sharing the booking itinerary I will share with you. Drop the doll there and leave, understood?" Ace instructed Emily and Abby.


    "Red Rose Resort, sure. Are you staying there Bob?" Emily continued to try and get closer to Bob only to fail. She seemed to be unaware that her overzealousness was annoying the customer.


    "That doesn''t concern you. It''s 9:20 a.m. now, so can you deliver the doll to that room before noon today?" Ace asked hoping to animate his third Toy summons this noon.


    "Sure, Bob. As a matter of fact, we can deliver the doll to the room before 11 a.m. today. But will you be meeting us there?" Emily agreed and inquired if she would get to meet Bob. Her persistence to meet Bob was starting to get annoying so much that it showed on his face. Noticing this Abby spoke up, "Bob, don''t worry. We will drop the doll and leave. We respect our customer''s privacy."


    Listening to Abby, it dawned on Emily that maybe Bob did not want to meet them, and hurriedly nodded agreeing with her colleague.


    "That''s good. Send me a text when the delivery is done," Ace nodded at Abby before hanging up the video call.


    ''Master, I have shared the booking itinerary for the drop room with the Oracle Doll Makers,'' Dame Wasp informed Ace as he hung up on the call.


    ''Good. Let us head there now. We have a long drive ahead of us,'' The Red Rose Resort was 36 miles from Ace''s uncle''s ranch. The reason Ace chose a drop zone so far from his location was because it was 21 miles from the nearest Curse Mall. Ace planned to visit it after he had animated Emi Nakamura''s sex doll as this third Toy summons.


    ¡­


    An hour and a half later, a Darth Vader black Buick Regal Turbo-T parked in the Red Rose Resort''s parking lot. From within it, Ace monitored Abby and Emily''s truck leaving the parking lot after texting him that they had delivered the doll to the room booked by him. Seeing that Oracle Doll Makers respected his privacy as advertised, Ace sighed in relief thinking he could continue to do business with them in the future.


    Then, Ace summoned Dame Wasp in her 1/100th form with camouflage and instructed her, "Rose, go into the drop room, check the doll, and inform me once you carry the doll case. Then, I will recall you both directly into the back of the car."


    "Master, that might not be a good idea. I can feel a couple of curse energy signatures in the resort," Dame Wasp informed Ace. Being summoned her cybernetic senses immediately picked up on the curse energy in the surroundings.


    "It is not surprising that curse masters are staying at the resort considering we are 21 miles from the Curse Mall. As long as we do not disturb them they will not disturb us. Besides, with my mastery of ''Curse Shroud Arts'' and your camouflage they might not even detect our presence let alone cause us trouble. Once we get the doll, let''s immediately leave for the Curse Mall," Ace assured Dame Wasp.


    Ace was not worried about the other curse masters because they would be wary of other curse masters just as much as them. People mostly avoid trouble unless they stand to gain something from it. Fighting an unknown curse master was too much trouble for an unknown innate curse tool. Otherwise, considering the strength of the Steal Song Society, they would hunt curse masters for their innate curse tool instead of wasting time planting and nurturing new curse masters over the period to harvest their innate curse tool.


    Being cautious was good but Ace also needed to grow his strength fast. The only reason he was safe now was because of the misunderstanding between the Steal Song Society and the Curse Investigation Bureau. But considering the allure of storage type curse tool, once the misunderstanding clears, Ace will have nowhere left to hide.


    Ace was not naive enough to believe that Loki or any other member of the Steal Song Society would leave this matter alone. Once the heat on them wears off, some of them will look into this matter again. Even if they did not, Ace owed it to his family to prepare for such a possibility. He could not put his family at risk because of his incompetence since its consequence was death.


    "Okay, master," Dame Wasp agreed and headed to the drop room to collect their new partner.


    In her 1/100th form, Dame Wasp easily entered the room. Then, she quickly used her cybernetic eyes to scan the doll case and the doll within it, making sure everything was in order. She carried the doll case and used the status screen to inform Ace that she was in possession of it and that he should recall her.


    Receiving the signal from Dame Wasp, Ace immediately started the car, and on his way out of the resort he recalled Dame Wasp in the back seat. Instantly, a big black military truck appeared on the back seat. Confirming that everything was okay, Ace continued to drive out of the resort heading to the Curse Mall.


    "Rose, how is the doll? Is everything okay, it isn''t missing anything, right? Can I begin to animate it?" Ace inquired Dame Wasp, instead of hastily animating the doll.


    "Yes, master, from what I learned about silicon dolls on the internet, this doll created by the Oracle Doll Makers is top-notch. The technique they used to make dolls is advanced compared to what is used on the market. Making the doll more human-like. It must be because of their background as a plastic surgeon."

 Chapter 52: Advanced Enchantment

    Chapter 52: Advanced EnchantmentDame Wasp was full of praise for the doll which was not often as her standards were very high hailing from a fictional futuristic dystopian world. Recalling that Dr. Abby introduced herself as a dermatologist and a plastic surgeon, Ace believed that the Oracle Doll makers took utmost care to make the doll life-like. Not just in the sense of appearance but in function as well, allowing the user to arrange and balance the doll in various positions for sexual gratification.


    "Rose, are we being followed? Or did you notice anything suspicious," entering the highway, Ace asked Dame Wasp.


    Though Ace was pretty confident about his mastery over the curse shroud art and Dame Wasp''s camouflage, he could not take chances. He was new to the ''World of Curses,'' he had little idea of what the Curse Masters were capable of. Therefore, Ace had resolved that he would be cautious regardless of how certain he was about something. He felt this was necessary because if he did something irresponsible or stupid then he wouldn''t be the only one paying the price for it but his family would be too.


    "Rest assured, Master. I did not notice anything out of the ordinary," Dame Wasp replied as she scanned their car and the cars behind them.


    Dame Wasp has been monitoring a mile radius of their surroundings using her cybernetic eyes since they left the resort. Only when she was sure they weren''t being followed or watched did she report to her master. Still, she did not dare to let her guard down.


    "Good, now open the case and arrange the props next to the doll so I can add them all into the Cursed Toybox together," Ace instructed, having confirmed that they were in the clear.


    As Dame Wasp opened the case, a whiff of perfume filled the car, its fragrance was captivating and tempting. Opening the hidden compartment Dame Wasp revealed a set of kunai, talisman brush, talismans, two big brand perfume bottles, half a dozen wigs with different shades & hairstyles, and a dozen costumes consisting of casual attire, evening attire, provocative dresses, kimonos, swimsuits, and lingerie. The Oracle Doll Makers did not hold back on freebies and Dame Wasp noted that freebies weren''t cheap but of good quality.


    From the rearview mirror, Ace looked at the doll and felt like he was looking at a real person, deep in sleep. Its beauty was otherworldly and unparalleled, even Mandy who was ''Miss Country Rose'' three times in a row paled in comparison to it. Comparing Mandy to the doll would be unfair to her as the doll''s beauty standards would be unrealistic for a human.


    The doll had a black hemi-cut hairstyle, a maroon half-face scarf mask covering her nose & mouth, and was dressed in a white kunoichi suit with maroon trim. Ninjas prefer black uniforms but Emi Nakamura was a kunoichi and a shaman hence her uniform was white with red trim specifying that she was more of a skilled support than an assassin.


    Despite being dressed from head to toe, the doll''s unrealistic beauty and vulgar body gave birth to despicable feelings and thoughts in Ace''s heart and mind. He wanted to park the car and inspect the goods personally but chose not to. He did not have the time as he had to complete his errands at Curse Mall and return to the town school before four in the afternoon to pick up Danny. He was on a tight schedule and had no time to fool around.


    Controlling his desires, Ace summoned the cursed toy box, as he instructed it to collect the toy with his thoughts, its lid opened, and the clown with ghastly laughter popped out. It promptly sucked the doll and all of its accessories inside before heading back into the toy box and closing the lid. Ace was surprised to find that the clown took all the props, perfumes, wigs, and costumes into the toy space along with the doll. It was better this way as he planning donated them since he could not keep them with him. Soon the cursed toybox contacted him using the status screen:


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    > Curse Core: Humanoid Form


    > Toy: Emi Nakamura


    > Compatibility rating: 98%


    > Recommendation: It is highly recommended to animate this toy with this curse core.


    Note:


    i) Due to the high compatibility rating, there is a chance for advanced enchantment.]  sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "My guess was correct, the compatibility of a core and toy depends on their abilities," Ace uttered in satisfaction as his understanding of his innate curse tool''s abilities deepened.


    Then, he grinned reading the note section. Ace was excited to learn that with a higher compatibility rating, there was a chance for advanced enchantment while animating the toy into toy summons. This meant that the toy summons created would have well-defined skills augmented to suit the curse energy power system.


    So, without further ado, with great anticipation, Ace commanded the cursed toybox, "Animate Emi Nakamura!"


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    > Cursed toybox is merging curse core ''humanoid form'' with toy ''Emi Nakamura''¡­


    > Cursed toybox is animating the toy ''Emi Nakamura'' as a toy summons¡­


    > Cursed Toybox has animated the toy ''Emi Nakamura.''


    > Due to high compatibility between the curse core and toy, advanced enchantment has been triggered¡­


    > Toy Summon ''Emi Nakamura'' undergoing advanced enchantment¡­.


    > Advanced enchantment complete.


    > Toy summon ''Emi Nakamura'' added to toy space.


    > Toy space: (3/3)


    > Toymancer can now summon Toy summons ''Emi Nakamura.'']


    Reading the status screen, Ace was enthused to learn that the Curse Toybox had not only animated the sex doll Emi Nakamura as his Toy Summons but had also triggered the chance of it undergoing advanced enchantment.


    Ace felt like he had hit a double jackpot, experiencing twice the joy of acquiring a new toy summons. Now that Ace knew how the Cursed Toybox''s compatibility rating for a toy and curse core functioned, he felt that in the future he would be able to recreate similar feats. Just the thought of it got him excited.

 Chapter 53: Two Star Toy Summons

    Chapter 53: Two Star Toy Summons[ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Name: Emi Nakamura


    Race: Curse Tool


    Class: Toy summon


    Title: Kunoichi Shaman (¡â)


    Durability: (100/100)


    Enchantment: 2-Star


    Individuality: (100/100)


    Curse Energy Consumption: 10 units per hour


    Skills: Toy actualization, Cursed ninja arts, Cursed talisman Arts, Cursed shinigami manipulation, Tantric sex doll


    Note:


    i) Class ''Toy summon'' will gain new skills with quantitative change in the Toymancer''s stats.


    ii) Title ''Kunoichi Shaman'' will give Dame Wasp access to all her character abilities.]


    [Skill name: Toy actualization


    Skill class: Innate curse art


    Skill effect: It turns the concept and idea behind the toy into reality.


    Additional effect:


    i) Toy physiology: The power to use the abilities of the toy.]


    [Skill name: Cursed ninja arts


    Skill class: Innate curse arts


    Skill effect: The user can perform a wide range of ninja arts for stealth, infiltration, sabotage, assassination, and unconventional combat tactics by channeling curse energy. They are skilled in moving silently, blending into their surroundings, and evading detection. They have ancient knowledge of poisons, traps, and specialized weapons passed down by generations of ninjas.


    Additional Effect:


    i)Taijutsu specialist: A Taijutsu specialist is adept in hand-to-hand combat techniques, utilizing precise strikes, evasive maneuvers, and physical prowess to overcome opponents.


    ii) Kunai Master: A Kunai Master excels in the skillful and versatile use of kunai, employing them for precise strikes, ranged attacks, and strategic utility in combat situations.


    iii) Hidden Weapon specialist: A Hidden Weapon specialist is skilled in concealing and deploying various concealed weapons with precision and efficiency, mastering the art of surprise attacks and covert combat.


    Note:


    i) This skill has undergone advanced enchantment.


    (AN: The subject of ninjutsu is wide. What the toy summons can do with it will be explored in the story and is limited to my interpretation.)]


    [Skill name: Cursed Talisman arts


    Skill class: Innate Arts


    Skill effect: The user gains knowledge in the creation, activation, interpretation, and application of talismans. Talismans are objects possessing magical protective properties, often inscribed with symbols, words, or images by channeling curse energy to give luck, protection, elemental manipulation, illusions, summoning, and various combat techniques to the wearer or owner.


    Note:


    i) This skill has undergone advanced enchantment.


    (AN: The subject of the talisman is wide. What the toy summons can do with it will be explored in the story and is limited to my interpretation)]


    [Skill name: Cursed shinigami manipulation


    Skill class: Innate curse arts


    Skill effect: The user can turn curselings into their shinigami and manipulate them.


    Note:


    i) This skill has undergone advanced enchantment.]


    [Skill name: Tantric sex doll


    Skill class: Innate curse arts


    Skill effect: The user''s physique is made for tantric sex practices, profound experiences of pleasure, emotional bonding, and spiritual growth through intimacy.


    Additional Effect:  S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    i) Human-like: Even though the user is a toy summons she will appear and function no different than a human for Toymancer''s sexual gratification.


    Note:


    i) This skill has undergone advanced enchantment.]


    ''A 2-star Toysommons consume twice the curse energy of 1-star, now that''s a pain but skills are good though,'' Ace mused going through Emi Nakamura''s status screen.


    Reading Emi''s curse energy consumption, Ace was thankful he controlled himself and did not immediately summon Emi. They were still far from Curse Mall so summoning her now would only be a waste of curse energy.


    "Congratulations Master on acquiring your third toy summons," Dame Wasp congratulated her master.


    However, there was a hint of sadness in Dame Wasp''s eyes. As a toy, her ultimate purpose was to play with her master but seeing him acquire a new toy, a sex doll at that. She could not help but feel lost. She could imagine her master summoning the new Toysummons more often than her and felt she would be lucky if her master were to summon her once per week.


    "Rose, what''s wrong?" as the Toymancer, how could Ace miss Dame Wasp''s feelings?


    "It''s nothing master," Dame Wasp replied with a forced smile. Seeing her not willing to speak what''s on her mind, despite him giving her a chance, Ace spoke up, "Are you worried that gaining a new Toysummons, I will not play with you as much?"


    "Yes, master," Dame Wasp replied honestly as she could not lie to her master.


    "That is indeed a problem but I promise I will make time for both of you. Besides, if today we can get our hands on a lot of curse core and increase my curse energy reserves, I don''t think I will have trouble summoning you two together," Ace did not make any false promises to console Dame Wasp. He acknowledged the problem and promised to do his best to ensure that what she was worried would not happen.


    Ace did this with the foresight that he would recruit more Toysummons in the future. It would be impossible for him to give each of them individual attention. He felt that he should prepare his Toysummons for that possibility from now on. Still, since Dame Wasp was his 1st Toysummons and they had been through a lot together he could not bring himself to be heartless to her. Hence, he promised to make time for her.


    "Don''t worry master, I have gone through all the websites listed in Steal Song Society''s IM group on Curse Malls to ensure that the information about Curse Malls is accurate. As long as we have money and appropriate strength we can buy anything there. Let alone a dozen curse cores," Dame Wasp cheered up feeling her master''s emotions, and assured him about their visit to Curse Mall based on her investigation into it.


    "Rose, you sure the shops in the Curse Mall will accept cryptocurrency?" Ace asked because if the shops did not then, their trip to Curse Mall would be a waste of time as they did not have cash.


    "Don''t worry master. They only accept cryptocurrency, gold, and curse cores. Any form of legal tender is no good there. As they are worried about their translations being monitored by CIB," Dame Wasp informed confusing Ace.


    "Wait, that doesn''t make sense. If they are worried about doing business in cash, are they not worried about CIB raiding it? After all, they are operating a Mall in the middle of the city."

 Chapter 54: Curse Council

    Chapter 54: Curse Council"Master, that is not a problem as the Curse Mall is built on the land belonging to the ''Curse Council.'' CIB or any government entity has no jurisdiction in the land belonging to the curse council," Dame Wasp informed Ace, assuring him that he did not have to worry about CIB inside the Curse Mall.


    "Curse council?" Ace uttered in confusion.


    "Curse council is a form of government governing the entire ''World of Curses.'' They were responsible for regulating and overseeing the curse community and enforcing curse laws. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Unlike the mortal world that is still divided into multiple sovereignties, the ''World of Curses'' was long ago conquered and united by the founders of the Curse council and their followers.


    I read that it was founded thousands of years before our government was founded but I could not find when exactly. Some sources claimed that they existed even before the pyramids.


    Most importantly, it is rumored a country''s government or its ruler needs to be acknowledged by the Curse council to continue their reign without any hiccups," Dame Wasp explained to the best of her knowledge.


    "Sounds like something I should know. So, Rose, why am I hearing about it just now?" Ace did not spend time learning about the ''World of Curses'' mostly because Dame Wasp was doing such a good job keeping him informed about it. Imagine his surprise when she suddenly sprung the words ''Curse council'' on him.


    "I am sorry master but it never came up until now," Dame Wasp apologized.


    "Forget it, but next time you discover something important, inform me as soon as possible," Ace forgave Dame Wasp understanding that they both were new at this and still learning. Slowly, but surely they will develop an efficient communication system that he and his toy summons would follow.


    "Sure, master," Dame Wasp affirmed nodding her head vigorously.


    "So, does that mean our government is a puppet approved by the curse council?" Ace asked, having heard Dame Wasp say the government required the curse council''s approval.


    "No, master. That is not the case. The curse council and their curse enforcers don''t involve themselves in the mortal world unless it involves the curse community.


    However, if a government or ruler is acknowledged by the curse council, wise men are appointed by them to assist the government or ruler in governing their sovereignties.


    The Wisemen use the ancient knowledge and records of civilizations maintained by the curse council to help the new government or ruler avoid repeating the mistakes that doomed the civilizations before them and ensure prosperity for its people.


    It is believed that the Wisemen helped the mortal government create CIB to deal with the malicious curse masters hiding in the mortal world since the curse council prefers that the government be prepared against threats from the curse community.


    The curse council and the government respect each other and would never try to enforce their law on another. However, for the past three decades, since the telecommunication boom mortal governments around the world have come together to push the agenda of registering curse masters and their innate curse tools onto the curse council.


    The registration law is still being debated in the curse council meanwhile though the governments did not dare to forcefully enforce the registration law on the curse masters the curse masters are free to register themselves and their innate curse tools to access their rights as citizens in the mortal world.


    It was at this time the curse council suddenly announced that they would stop using legal tenders and be exchanging all their legal tender for gold with the respective governments having learned that the mortal governments around the world were tracking the curse masters following the money trail and using despicable means to force them to register themselves and their curse tool.


    The curse community was enraged and believed that the curse council would teach the mortal governments around the globe a lesson for their treachery. However, the curse council never acted against the mortal governments. Instead, they announced that the curse council had no right to judge the governments for what they did in their sovereignties.


    After the announcement, the mortal governments became more daring and have been coming down hard on the unregistered curse masters. However, none of the governments dared to infringe on the land belonging to the curse council as their announcement couldn''t be clearer about its intent.


    The curse council did not want the curse community to interfere with the mortal world. They used this as an opportunity to stop the curse master from roaming the mortal world and return to the ''world of curses.'' However, the Curse Malls and other areas belonging to the curse council in the mortal world continue to remain a haven for the curse community," Dame Wasp briefly explained the curse council and its impact in the mortal world.


    "Does that mean that if I am caught by the CIB then I cannot access my rights as a citizen of this country unless I register my status as curse master and innate curse tool?" Ace asked Dame Wasp in concern.


    Ace knew that not registering as a curse master with the government would have consequences if caught but he never thought that the consequences would be of such a serious nature. Losing all rights was akin to him being considered an exile. Worst of all his life would be at the mercy of the authorities.


    "That''s right," Dame Wasp nodded failing to grasp Ace''s growing concern.


    "I am beginning to think heading to the Curse Mall is a bad idea. I bet the Mall is under surveillance," Ace said feeling that the area surrounding the Curse Mall would be crawling with CIB.


    "Master, you are overthinking it. The Curse Mall is one of the most profitable income sources of the Curse Council in the mortal world, though they do not want to interfere in the mortal world their curse enforcers would not sit by if CIB or any other government agency dared to disturb their business," Dame Wasp shook her head and informed Ace that he was worrying over nothing.


    "Who are these curse enforcers you keep bringing up?"

 Chapter 55: Summoning Emi Nakamura

    Chapter 55: Summoning Emi Nakamura"Master, the curse enforcers are a group of strong curse masters trusted by the curse council to enforce their laws in the world of curses. They only answer and follow the arrangements of the curse council," Dame Wasp answered gravely she seemed to revere the curse enforcers.


    "So they are the same as the CIB, but they serve the curse council instead of the government," Ace concluded from Dame Wasp''s answer however the latter corrected him saying, "CIB wishes they were equivalent of curse enforcers. Master, the qualifications of becoming a curse enforcer and a CIB member are leagues apart. To give you an idea, getting into Curse Enforcers is equivalent to getting into an Ivy League university while getting into CIB is the same as admitting into a community college."


    "A community college, not even a regular college. Now that''s a stark comparison," Ace was shocked to learn that the CIB he was afraid of wasn''t even worth mentioning in the world of curses. This caused him to ponder if he should reassess the Steal Song Society''s threat level but he did not go ahead with it because the curse enforcers were a strong organization but he wasn''t.  Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This is why master, you do not have to worry about CIB monitoring the Curse Mall and its surroundings. They will never dare to harm the Curse Council''s interest. But because of this the surroundings of the Curse Mall are a haven for Curse Masters so it would be crawling with them. No one will dare to act rashly in Curse Council territory, but we need to be careful and watch out for being targeted," Dame Wasp warned Ace that they shouldn''t be worried about CIB but the rogue curse masters roaming the Curse Mall and its surroundings.


    Ace nodded taking Dame Wasp''s warning seriously. After genuinely contemplating the dangers Dame Wasp warned about Ace instructed her, "Rose, use the status screen to greet our new partner, update her about the situation, and share everything we have on curse energy with her. I want her to be ready for the upcoming mission."


    "Got it, Master," Dame Wasp replied taking her orders seriously.


    ¡­


    "We are here, Rose. Scan the surroundings for any presence or surveillance," Ace whispered, as he parked the Buick in a remote corner of the underground parking lot of a three-star hotel 200 meters from the Curse Mall.


    It took them an hour to reach their destination, Ace did not hesitate to extend Dame Wasp''s summon time spending five curse energy units because she had programmed the curse senses art along with other curse arts into her cybernetics, she was a great help to him in navigating to their destination avoiding unnecessary trouble.


    Listening to Ace''s instruction, Dame Wasp exited the Buick in camouflage and her 1/100 form, pensively and thoroughly scanning the parking lot she returned to the car and reported, "All clear, Master."


    "Good, what about our new partner? Is she ready to be summoned?" Ace asked, he felt it was a hassle to talk using the status screen so he had not contacted Emi Nakamura. With Dame Wasp acting as go-between he did not need to.


    "Yes, master," Dame Wasp confidently affirmed nodding vigorously. After all, her master had made her responsible for Emi''s integration into this world. She would like to think she did a good job as a mentor and not to mention, Emi was a brilliant student who soaked up everything taught to her like a sponge.


    Getting confirmation from Dame Wasp, Ace summoned this third toy summons, ''Come out Emi Nakamura.''


    With Ace''s mental chant, a graceful figure appeared on the passenger seat of the Buick filling it with a pleasant fragrance.


    "Greeting respected master, I am yours to command," Emi declared bowing respectfully and unintentionally revealing her snow-white cleavage. Bound in her tight and sexy kunoichi suit, her white puppies clamored to burst free, alas the suit fabric was strong and elastic enough to withstand their rebellion.


    Glancing at Emi''s red plump lips and smelling her aromatic fragrance Ace swallowed his saliva finding everything about her tempting. Her existence alone awakened despicable feelings in Ace''s heart, which grew uncontrollable the longer he stayed in her company. It took him a will to control his raging hormones to break free of Emi''s allure and answer her greeting, "Welcome to our family, Emi."


    Though Emi did not have allure-related skills or abilities, she looked no different than a hot-blooded human thanks to her ''tantric sex doll'' skill and was submissive to Ace''s every command. He could do and command anything to her, Emi would accept them all, and nobody could stop him. These conditions alone were greater than any allure skill to confuse a healthy teenager.


    In this day and age where teenage boys would beat to a drawing closely resembling a voluptuous female body, it was impressive that Ace was able to hold himself back from engaging in pleasure with Emi. If it were some other teenage boy in his place nine out of ten times they would stop at a motel and never make it here prioritizing their carnal needs over everything else. Hence, the self-control displayed by Ace was commendable.


    "Thank you, Master," Emi was touched to learn that her master considered her as a part of his family. Yet, she did not let her emotions show on her face after all she was a kunoichi.


    "Since you have already talked with Rose, I will skip the introduction and get right to the plan. First, can you change into something more casual?" Ace asked Emi if she could change into casual attire recalling the clothes they received as freebies. This was important as she needed to blend in with the crowd for the purpose of the mission.


    "Yes, master," Emi nodded, and taking out a yellow talisman she crushed it chanting, "Transfrom!"


    A bright light flashed in the car, almost blinding Ace. When he regained control over his sight, he saw Emi was no longer in her kunoichi costume but in a pair of ripped blue jeans and a tight white t-shirt. He stared at her ample bosom with his mouth ajar as she wasn''t wearing a bra underneath her t-shirt.

 Chapter 56: Friends

    Chapter 56: FriendsAce''s attention was captivated by the enticing sight before him, Emi''s rounded mounds of flesh snugly wrapped in a white t-shirt. It was stretched to the maximum at the chestal region emphasizing her generous endowment, accentuating their allure even further. Underneath the tight t-shirt, Emi''s busty breasts retained perfect curvature and fullness even without a bra, their nipples were erect and poked through the t-shirt as if staring at Ace.


    At this moment, Ace found himself on the brink of succumbing to the temptation of Emi''s unrealistic beauty. He almost gave into his irresistible urge to reach out and feel Emi''s impeccably flawless bosom, eager to assess its supple firmness.


    "Master," Emi called out to Ace fearing the flash from her transformation talisman was harsh for his eyes. Receiving no answer from her master, she repeated louder, "Master!"


    "Huh!" Ace reluctantly lifted his eyes, his gaze leaving Emi''s ample bosom to travel over her long neck, plump pink lips, cute nose, rosy cheeks, and finally stop at her beautiful pair of blue eyes. He was mesmerized by her flawless skin and perfect facial symmetric. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Locking eyes with Emi, Ace noticed a hint of shyness in her gaze, which reminded him he was being rude immediately jolting him awake from his lewd reverie. Clearing his throat to hide his embarrassment, he said, "*Ahem!* Emi, next time remember to wear your undergarments under the clothes."


    "Yes, master," Emi nodded in agreement but Dame Wasp suddenly interjected, "Master, don''t be fooled by her act. She did that on purpose."


    Emi sharply turned to glare at Dame Wasp who stared right back at her asking, "What, did you not do it on purpose?"


    "So, what, Rose senpai? I am a sex doll, I am supposed to seduce master," Emi boldly defended her actions.


    Even though Emi Nakamura and Dame Wasp were animated, their purpose remained true to their origin as a sex doll and an action figure, to play with their master.


    Seeing his toy summons fight over him Ace''s felt an unknown satisfaction and never felt so important in his life. Yes, his parents fight for his attention¡ªwell, they have to¡ªand so did his toy summons, but this was different, as he liked it.


    Yes, Ace planned to be strict about their playtime from the beginning, but Dame Wasp''s jealousy and Emi''s Eastern accent when she addressed Rose as her senpai were too cute for him to resist. The Toysummons were obsessed with their master, but Ace too had an obsession with them.


    Emi Nakamura was one of his favorite heroes in the game Cosmic Combat. He had spent countless hours of gameplay mastering her moves and combos. He was so skilled at playing her that he was ranked in the game''s world ranking list for her hero mastery. Though he was more used to seeing her with atheletic than sinful body-type.


    As for Dame Wasp, his elder sister gifted her action figure to him on his eleventh birthday. He still remembers how disappointed he was to receive her but that night he and his sister binge-watched the entire ''Cyber Craft'' franchise for the first time.


    After that night, for weeks all Ace could talk about was Dame Wasp and nobody could separate him from her action figure, he took her everywhere. Dame Wasp might not remember them but he did.


    Ace had many memorable memories associated with both of these characters and to see them fight over him how could his ego not be boosted? However, he didn''t lose sight of what was truly important over a little self-importance. Feigning impatience as if his tolerance was wearing thin, Ace sternly ordered, "Girls, enough."


    "I am sorry, master," Dame Wasp apologized and so did Emi, "Sorry, master."


    "Rose, what do you have to say to Emi?" Ace didn''t hide his disappointment at Dame Wasp''s action toward Emi. As her senpai her actions weren''t cool and she owed her an apology. Ace knew each of his Toysummons was loyal to him so he focused on maintaining a harmonious relationship between them so they could trust each other.


    In a moment of weakness, Dame Wasp acted unlike her led by her fears. She knew she was wrong but seeing her master''s disappointment she experienced myriad feelings.


    As a Toysummon Dame Wasp did not have a heart, but there was this stuffy feeling within her similar to a heartache. Her cyborg body could sense temperature but not feel it yet her body suddenly felt cold to her. Her cybernetics could see the colors that human eyes cannot but now the world looked devoid of colour to her.


    Dame Wasp felt as if everything she knew was coming to an end, but she gathered her courage and did the right thing, "Emi, I am sorry. I let my jealousy get the better of me. It will not happen again."


    "Its okay senpai," Emi forgave Dame Wasp.


    "Rose," Ace called, and looking into her lost eyes with a gentle simple he said, "You are my first Toysummons. You will always be special to me."


    Ace wasn''t lying as he believed it was fate that brought him and Dame Wasp together. There were many action figures in his room that he could chose from but if she hadn''t been his first toy summons he could never have learned of Gloria''s conspiracy and managed to get rid of her without leaving any evidence.


    Seeing her master''s gentle smile, Dame Wasp''s world once again had colors in it and her body coursed with these warm feelings. Regaining her will, she hurriedly added, "Thank you master, but as you first Toy Summons I will live up to all your expectations and be an example to other Toy Summons."


    Listening to Dame Wasp, Ace shook his head saying, "No pressure honey, just be yourself. I like you the way you are even though I feel you are too formal."


    Someday Ace might have an army of Toy summons but for now, he wanted his Toy summons to be the friends he could grow together with. It was more fun that way as experiencing Dame Wasp''s jealous side and Emi''s slyness was refreshing.


    "Emi, your appearance is too attention-grabbing for the mission so change into something less eye-catchy. Please, be serious this time."

 Chapter 57: Curse Mall

    Chapter 57: Curse Mall"Yes, master," Emi replied, as another yellow paper talisman appeared in her hand, pinching it she uttered, "Transfrom."


    This time Ace was prepared, when he saw the talisman paper he immediately closed his eyes, and soon a bright golden flash filled the Buick and leaked through its windows. Opening his eyes, Ace saw Emi wearing a dark trucker hat under a loose-fitting black hoodie, gray sweatpants with sneakers, glasses, and a maroon half-face scarf mask concealing her features.


    "Good enough," Ace nodded, Emi appeared less conspicuous compared to before.


    However, Ace felt that with her sinful body shape, regardless of how she dressed it was impossible for her not to attract attention. Even a khaki overcoat would not be able to hide that ample bosom and fat ass of hers simultaneously. But, they had to do good with what they had.


    *Clunk* opening the passenger side car door, Ace instructed Emi, "Head into the mall without attracting attention. I will be with you the whole time using sense share. If anything goes wrong I will recall you into the toybox and skedaddle out of here."


    "Don''t worry master infiltration and scouting are two of my strongest suits as a Kunoichi," Emi assured her master as she got out of the Buick and closed the door behind her heading out of the parking lot to the cursed mall.


    "Rose, I will be sharing Emi''s senses now so you keep watch and do not hesitate to contact me through the status screen if anything seems out of place. When it''s time for payment I will use the status screen to inform you, you complete the transaction remotely, got it?" Ace gave Dame Wasp her instructions as he prepared to use his sense share skill on Emi.


    "I will protect you with my life master," Dame Wasp replied. Feeling that she had become a lot more uptight because of the incident earlier, Ace shook his head and shared Emi''s senses. He could not persuade Dame Wasp to let loose, it was up to her, in time.


    ¡­


    ''This is it,'' Ace said soaking in the majesty of the curse mall through Emi''s eyes as she stepped into it, and added, ''Rose was right, the cursed cores exchange stores are by the main door. Emi, head into the one with the red glass door, according to Rose it has good reviews.''


    The gates of the cursed mall were enchanted such that mortal customers entering it would visit a regular mall while customers with cursed energy would be able to choose between entering the regular mall or the cursed mall.


    From inside, the cursed mall was just like any other big mall but a bit more luxurious and less crowded. The foot traffic here was the same as when one entered regular malls during working and school hours.


    ''Mh,'' Emi nodded and headed into the store with the red glass door to be welcomed by an enthusiastic and beautiful salesgirl, "Welcome, esteemed customer."


    Stepping into the store, Emi mentally warned Ace, ''Master, the space here is locked. One cannot use space-related abilities here.''


    ''It must be to avoid theft but still be on guard,'' Ace immediately guessed why the store had locked its space. It was understandable as stopping someone with a space-type curse tool from stealing using regular means would be hard.


    However, what surprised Ace was that the beautiful salesgirl was only a year or two older than him and was a curse slave. He immediately smelled a tragic story surrounding her and could not help but wonder if Dame Wasp was right about this store having good reviews. Well, it was possible since most curse masters treated mortals as disposable trash but treated their fellow curse masters humanely.


    The sales girl led Emi inside asking, "Esteemed customer, I am Jo, your designated sales staff, how can I help you?"


    "I am here to buy some curse cores," Emi answered looking around the store. She noticed that every customer here was attended to by an ambiguously-dressed young salesgirl who was a curse slave.


    ''No wonder it had good reviews,'' Ace thought.


    However, what he saw here prompted him to suspect the store owner might be participating in human trafficking. Ace did not plan to poke his nose where it belonged but the same couldn''t be said for Emi. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Recalling that Emi Nakamura''s hero character profile highlighted that she could not stand injustice, Ace hurriedly instructed her, ''Emi, just buy the cores we need and walk away. How they do their business doesn''t concern us.''


    "Are you looking for rare curse cores for curse tool refining or just simple ones for practice?" the salesgirl asked since Emi wasn''t detailed with what kind of curse cores she needed.


    ''Don''t worry master, I know my mission takes priority,'' Emi assured Ace and proceeded to answer the salesgirl, "Just the regular ones for practice."


    "And what tier of curse cores would you require, esteemed customer?" the salesgirl patiently asked Emi.


    "Give me ten mortal-tier curse cores and five knight-tier curse cores," Emi answered recalling what Dame Wasp had taught her in the briefing.


    As soon as Emi stated the tier of curse cores she would need for practice, she and Ace immediately felt multiple gazes on Emi. These people had been discreet earlier but now they dared to brazenly gaze at her body. Even without looking at them, Ace could tell they were undressing Emi with their eyes.


    Openly declaring that she needed mortal-tier and knight-tier curse cores for practice was the same as declaring to everyone that Emi was a knight-tier curse master at best as curse masters of higher-tier would order higher-tier curse cores for practice.


    "One moment esteemed customer, I will be right back with your order," sitting Emi in the lounge at the center of the store, the salesgirl left to get Emi''s order.


    Despite her inconspicuous looks and loose-fitting clothes, all these gazes on Emi seem to have taken notice of Emi''s unrealisticly curvy body. Pretending to be unaware of their gazes on her, Emi got comfortable on the single sofa picking up the store''s brochure on the tea table. She went through it while waiting for the salesgirl Jo to bring her order.

 Chapter 58: Curse Crafting

    Chapter 58: Curse Crafting''Cruse Crafting,'' while reading the store''s brochure Emi and Ace found that it had a detailed curse crafting technique written in it. They were surprised that the store was providing such a profound technique to its customers for free.


    However, considering the randomness of the curse crafting technique''s success rate in creating a curse tool Ace felt this was a bottomless pit dug by the store to profit from the dreams and ambitions of the unsuspecting and naive curse masters who hoped to become curse crafter one day.


    The store''s brochure stated that as long as the curse masters were patient and persevered, they would successfully craft a curse tool using the curse crafting technique printed on it, and right below that they offered various newbie curse-crafting bundles, even the most basic bundle cost a hundred grand.


    ''Patience and Perseverance?'' Ace scoffed after reading it and continued to add, ''The store just wants the curse masters to spend all their life savings to buy curse cores and curse items with the hope that they might become a curse crafter.''


    Ace said this but could not avoid the charm of a curse-crafting technique, ''Emi, use the status screen to share the curse-crafting technique with Rose.''


    ''Yes, master,'' Emi agreed and immediately proceeded to complete the task before the staff arrived with her order and interrupted her.


    Meanwhile, recalling that Emi was a renowned talisman master, Ace pondered if she had what it took to become a curse crafter with a little guidance and practice. After all, capable curse crafters were respected and sought after in the curse world. Ace did not plan on exposing his identity ever but it would be safer if he had the identity of a master curse crafter just in case.


    "Esteemed guest, sorry for the wait but here''s your order, ten mortal tier cores and five knight tier cores, which will be $99,999. Will you be paying in gold or cryptocurrency?" Salegirl Jo asked as she passed Emi a wooden box.


    Having shared the last of the curse crafting technique with Dame Wasp through the status screen, Emi took the wooden box from Jo and opened it to check the contents.


    "The mortal-tier cores are of gremlin form and knight-tier cores are of changeling form," Salesgirl Jo informed Emi.


    Emi nodded adding, "The money has been deposited to your store''s crypto wallet." She had used the status screen to share the bill and store''s crypto-wallet ID with Dame Wasp. Since they were going shopping, Dame Wasp visited the online gambling sites early knowing that a mortal-tier core was worth $5000 and a knight-tier core was worth $10,000 in the curse market.


    "Thank you for your patronage," Salesgirl Jo cheerfully thanked Emi after checking that $99,999 was deposited to the store''s crypto wallet. Then, she enquired, "Esteemed guest, are you interested in curse crafting?"


    Without waiting for Emi''s response, Salesgirl Jo introduced Emi to the store''s various offers, "With every purchase of one of our curse crafting bundles, our store offers various curse crafting techniques to choose from for free. After all, not all curse masters are suited for the same curse crafting technique."


    ''Wait, what? These people sure know their stuff,'' Ace praised the store listening to their cunning marketing strategies. However, he was surprised that the store was willingly giving away curse crafting techniques for free which could be sold for a good price. Therefore, he contacted Dame Wasp using the status screen,


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    > Rose, why are they giving away curse crafting techniques for free? Aren''t curse arts expensive? S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    > Master, they are only giving low-level techniques for free. It is to create a market for curse-crafting items and promote curse-crafting. After all, the curse market can never have enough curse crafter s.


    > I see, but how much is a good curse crafting technique worth?


    > Millions of dollars.]


    Talking to Dame Wasp, Ace grasped the situation. It was akin to a friend offering the first few puffs of a cigarette for free¡ªonce you''re hooked, there''s no turning back.


    "No, thank you. That will be all," Emi politely declined the salesgirl and exited the store.


    Unsurprisingly, the customers monitoring Emi subtly exited the store right after her. These people had been eyeing Emi for a while now. However, none approached her, so their intention was clear. They had targeted Emi for her innate curse tool and not her body. Ace and Emi, did not bother to waste time and energy trying to lose them because, within the curse mall, they did not dare to attack them unless they were tired of living.


    ''Head to the restroom behind the escalator and enter any of the stalls, according to Rose, it should be within a mile from where we parked the Buick. So, I should be able to recall you to the toybox without worrying about being followed,'' Ace instructed Emi on their predetermined exit strategy that he previously discussed with Dame Wasp.


    ''Master, aren''t we going to continue shopping? It would be a shame, after all, we did come this far,'' Emi asked Ace in surprise and persuaded him to check out what the cursed mall had to offer. As a hero of justice, Emi was courageous and outgoing compared to Dame Wasp who was hunted by an evil corporation all her life.


    ''No, we are not here to fool around. We are here on a mission. Wasn''t Rose clear about this when briefing you? Let us be quick, I don''t want to spend too much time in this part of the city,'' Ace did not succumb to Emi''s persuasion as he preferred to leave the city as soon as possible as he had a hard time believing that the CIB would just give up on such a good location to register new curse masters roaming the mortal world.


    ''Fine,'' Emi agreed heading into the women''s restroom behind the escalator. Seeing her enter the ladies'' room her followers had no choice but to wait by the door. As Emi entered one of the stalls, Ace instructed, ''Emi, ditch that wooden case and stuff the cores in your pockets. So, that I can recall you into the toybox.''


    ''Oh, you are worried that the wooden case has a tracking curse. Good thinking, Master,'' Emi praised Ace as she took out a yellow talisman paper. Pointing the talisman at the fifteen cores in the open wooden case she mentally chanted, ''Store.''


    ''Impressive,'' Ace exclaimed seeing the cores vanish from the box with Emi''s chant. He was impressed to learn that Emi could use her talisman to store things. Now he knew where she hid her seemingly infinite kunai and other weapons in the game. Once Emi was prepared to be recalled, Ace mentally uttered, ''Recall.''

 Chapter 59: Agent Hundred Eyes (Centoculus)

    Chapter 59: Agent Hundred Eyes (Centoculus)"Master, your back," Dame Wasp greeted Ace seeing his senses return to his body after recalling Emi into his cursed toybox.


    "Good job, holding down the fort, Rose. Let us get out of here," Ace said wasting no time starting the Buick and heading out of the parking lot. He did not want to spend one second more than he needed to in this city. He just wanted to get out of it as fast as possible.


    "Master, it is the wrong route," Dame Wasp reminded seeing Ace take a different route. However, he shook his head and said, "Rose, we are heading home through a different route it is twice as long but I think it''s best if we don''t head back the same route."


    "But we won''t be back in time to pick up your cousin after his school," Dame Wasp reminded Ace of his promise to Danny to which Ace said, "I will think of something on the way."


    ¡­


    "Level-7 Agent, Codename Centoculus, reporting for duty," A perky young girl in her mid-twenties with high bun style dark hair donning a neat black Italian suit announced saluting to her immediate superior, a stern male in his 40s with short gray hair in a worn-out black suit, "Agent, clever use of the Latin words Centum and Oculus. However, I like ''Hundred Eyes'' better. Let us go with that."


    "Sir Cloud, I don''t think it would be appropriate as people would mistake that I am related to Agent Crimson Eyes," the young Agent rejected her superior''s whim without hesitation.


    "I don''t know why you would think that people would make such a mistake but aren''t you related to Crimson Eyes?" the Head Agent teased his junior understanding that she did not want her colleagues to know that she was related to the CIB''s infamous Crimson Eyes.


    Noticing his junior purse her lips and clench her fist in self-restraint, the Head Agent continued to provoke her, "Are you worried that others will laugh that the great Crimson Eyes'' little cousin is an insignificant desk jockey? Agent Hundred Eyes, are you ashamed that you were assigned to CIB''s surveillance department? Let me tell you, if not for the information collected and submitted by our department, agents like your brother can''t be great."


    "No, Sir. I am not ashamed that I am assigned to CIB''s surveillance department," Agent Hundred Eyes immediately denied her superior''s accusations.


    "I want to believe you. But, why did you not want your colleagues to know that you are Agent Crimson Eyes'' cousin?" despite Head Agent Cloud''s stern exterior his eyes exposed him. He seemed to be enjoying himself at his junior''s expense.


    Agent Hundred Eyes felt her superior''s questions were too personal and inappropriate. However, she still chose to answer him, "Sir, I want my colleagues to know me for my work and not whom I am related to."


    "Good answer, I hope you do feel that way. However, your codename will be changed to Hundred Eyes. Trust me, you will thank me for this one day," Head Agent Cloud unilaterally decided to change his junior''s codename for her despite her resistance.


    "Sir, I¡ª" Seeing Agent Hundred Eyes continue to reject his codename for her he sternly warned her, "It has been decided. Let us move on to discussing your work here."


    "Yes, Sir," Agent Hundred Eyes gave in to her overbearing superior as compared to her codename she cared more about her work. She couldn''t wait to prove herself with her exemplary work at CIB''s surveillance department.


    "Remember everything here is confidential. Agents below level 7 do not even know that this facility exists. So, you should know better than to talk about your work here with your friends and family," Head Agent Cloud warned Agent Hundred Eyes before continuing to explain her task, "Your task here is simply to monitor the surveillance cameras of all toll booths to this city and note down the numberplates of the vehicles that have visited the city for more than forty-five minutes or returned through the same toll booth. At the end of your shift, someone will come to collect the list of numberplates."


    "That is it? I get paid a seven-figure income, yearly training resources, and full insurance just to flag a few vehicles visiting the city for more than forty-five minutes or leaving through the same toll booth. I understand my curse tool is perfect for monitoring a hundred screens at a time, but it is capable of more, I am capable of more," Agent Hundred Eyes blurted feeling that the job assigned to her was a ridicule to her ability and the taxpayer''s money.


    Feeling his junior''s blatant disdain for her job, Head Agent Cloud shook his head and decided to explain the importance of the said surveillance job to his junior to correct her attitude so that she would take her task more seriously.


    "Newbie, the city in question here has a Curse Mall and most of its land falls under the jurisdiction of the Curse Council. Chances are the people visiting it would mostly likely be Curse Masters. So, when you are flagging a vehicle that has visited the city for more than forty-five minutes or is returning through the same toll booth, someone will check the vehicle''s owner and people close to them to find unregistered Curse Masters who have been plaguing our beautiful country," the Head Agent sternly spelled it out to his junior who was too eager to prove herself and failed to see the bigger picture.


    The idea behind the CIB''s toll booth surveillance was simple, those visiting the city for more than 45 minutes must have some business in the city. Those returning from the city through the same toll booth meant they were returning after conducting their business in the city. Considering that the city in question had Curse Mall and most of its land was under Curse Council''s jurisdiction, those conducting business in this city were mostly likely to be curse masters.


    But why the minimum 45-minute visit condition? That was because the CIB did not have enough personnel to check out all the vehicles that visited these cities. Therefore, after a healthy period of brainstorming, a few in the higher up decided on this condition believing that even if their net misses a fish once, they could catch it next time. Catching all the unregistered Curse Masters wasn''t the priority but not to get caught by the Curse Council was.


    "Can''t you just place curse energy detectors at these toll booths? It would be far more efficient," Agent Hundred Eyes proposed still failing to see in line with her superior.


    "Do you want the Curse Enforcers to kill us all?" the Head Agent thundered at his junior hearing her stupid idea that could get the entire CIB killed.


    Following Hundred Eyes''s idea, once the Curse Masters learn that there are curse detectors at the toll booth they will stop going to the city through regular means. This would cause the flow of potential customers to the Curse Mall and other businesses of the Curse Council to decrease sharply giving the Curse Enforce enough reason to hunt down all those responsible for the decrease in their revenue. Curse Enforce rarely interfered but once they did nobody could stop them except for the Curse Council.


    "No, sir. Forgive my oversight," Being reminded by her superior, Agent Hundred Eyes saw the shortcomings of her approach and immediately apologized.


    "Listen up, our approach might not be efficient and in many ways appear as a waste of resources but it is not risky. Due to this method, we have tracked down thousands of unregistered Curse Masters roaming the mortal world just this last month. You are not the only one assigned to this job, various teams are doing the same for different cities that have lands governed by the Curse Council. Together they are making this country safe one Curse Master at a time," the Head Agent conveyed to his eager and headstrong junior, around here, things get done slowly but correctly. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 60: Date

    Chapter 60: Date"Thank you! Have a safe journey!" the toll booth operator wished to Ace passing him the toll receipt. Receiving it he politely replied, "Thank you! Have a good day!"


    Pressing on the gas, Ace sped out of the toll booth. Then, comparing the time stamps on the toll receipt in his hands with the toll receipt on the dashboard he received when entering the city, Ace learned it took them thirty-three minutes to complete their mission and head home. This also meant Emi had more than half an hour left in her summon time.


    Ace pondered if he should pull over at a motel to use Emi''s remaining summon time. Then, his mind wandered, wondering if doing it with Emi would be considered masturbation or sex¡ª worse incest. After all, she was a product of his powers. Feeling that he wasn''t horny enough to find an answer to that, Ace focused on the road.


    Until Dame Wasp broke the silence, "Master, I accessed the online maps to see if we can shorten our route, it seems you will not be able to make it back in time to pick up your cousin."


    "About that, call Mandy and turn on the speaker," Ace ordered Dame Wasp taking out his phone and placing it on the tray in the center console of Buick. With the revelation about his relation to his Toy summons Ace had almost forgotten about picking up Danny. Being reminded by Dame Wasp he decided to make arrangements since he could not make it there on time.


    "Hey, Ace. What''s happening?" Mandy answered with a touch of enthusiasm in her tone.


    "Mandy, I need a favor¡ª" Before Ace could finish, Mandy interrupted him saying, "Hey, hold up! What''s that sound? Ace, are you behind the wheel? Don''t you know it''s risky to drive and talk?"


    "Okay, I will keep this short. I was supposed to pick up Danny at school, but I''m running late. Can you swing by the school and pick him up for me?" Ace requested Mandy as he did not know anyone else to ask for help without getting an earful.


    "Sure, but you owe me a date," Mandy agreed in exchange for a date.


    "What, no way. I might as well try my chances asking Danny to take the school bus," Ace immediately regretted calling Mandy for help.


    "Sure, give that a try. I will be damned if he lends his Buick to you a second time," Mandy dared Ace knowing Danny''s history with the school bus.


    "Fine, one date," Ace caved understanding he would not be Danny''s favorite person if he made him take the school bus.


    "It''s just a date. What are you worried about, you big chicken?" Mandy laughed successfully extorting a date from Ace.


    Ace hung up on Mandy without replying, only to receive back-to-back texts from her.


    [Mandy: Looking forward to our date. I can''t wait to see your moves. Don''t make me wait too long.]


    [Mandy: FYI, I''m going all out and expect nothing less from you. Don''t you dare cheap out on me.]


    [Mandy: Braless Mandy in a backless red dress with a deep v-neck.img]


    [Mandy: Braless Mandy teases nipples and cleavage in a fancy red dress.img]


    [Mandy: Braless Mandy''s seductive cleavage in a red dress.img]


    Feeling all riled up by Mandy''s provocative pics, Ace decided to pull over at the next motel he spotted and calm himself using the remainder of Emi''s summon time. His previous dilemma seemed meaningless now.


    ¡­


    "Good job, Agent Hundred Eyes," A middle-aged female agent with a lean figure complimented collecting the list of number plates Agent Hundred Eyes had recorded.


    "Thank you for relieving me, Agent Big B," Agent Hundred Eyes politely thanked the agent preparing to end her shift.


    "One minute agent, what''s with this numberplate you wrote down separately?" Agent Big B pointed out going through the list.


    "Ah, I almost forgot. This one is a restored Buick Grand National. The driver was in the city for about thirty minutes and left on a different route. However, my innate curse tool sensed a second presence in his car even though the toll cameras showed he was alone in the car, both times. So, I made a point to note down his number plate," Agent Hundred Eyes reported in a single breath. Then, she added, "Also, I think you should add a separate section to the list so that I can record such cases."  S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The vehicle belonging to this number plate was not in the city for more than forty-five minutes and left through a different route, am I correct?" Agent Big B asked her enthusiastic colleague. Seeing her nod, she took a correction fluid and erased the written number plate before her fellow agent''s eyes. She was quick, the latter could not react.


    "Agent Big B, what are you doing?" Agent Hundred Eyes exclaimed in shock seeing her colleague''s actions.


    "Agent Hundred Eyes, please follow the rules. You can''t go ignoring them. The list doesn''t have additional sections for a reason. Next time this happens, things will not end with a verbal warning," Agent Big B warned her colleague sternly to ensure she would understand the gravity of this matter.


    There was a specific procedure for using the numberplates to find the unregistered curse masters and coerce them to register. These procedures were designed so that the said curse master would not connect their identity being leaked to the CIB to their recent visit to the curse mall. The planning and manpower it took to execute them perfectly was insane. Still, over the years the CIB had perfected their act. They can''t risk it all by breaking the rules they had in place to protect themselves.


    "What?" Agent Hundred Eyes stared at Agent Big B in disbelief as she felt she would be commended for showing initiative but instead received a reprimand. Feeling wronged, she could not help but ask, "Isn''t my job description to report possible unregistered curse masters?"


    "No, it is not. Your job is to monitor the city''s toll booth surveillance feeds and record the number plates of vehicles following the conditions decided by the higher-ups in the department. Nothing more nothing less," Agent Big B coldly stated only to hear her colleague snap at her, "Why hire me for something like that, won''t computer software be more disciplined, accurate, and cheaper than me?"


    "For that, we will need more advanced surveillance cameras at the toll booths. However, worried that we might use facial recognition software, the Curse Council has seriously regulated the type of tech we can use near its cities. The department handbook has all this mentioned in it. Did you not read it?" Agent Big B blamed her fellow agent for slacking off and not doing her homework.


    "What department handbook? I did not get one," this was the first time Agent Hundred Eyes heard about the department handbook.


    "The head agent should have given you one. Sigh, sir Cloud must have forgotten to hand you one. Collect it from him later," Agent Big B sighed learning of her superior''s oversight. Then, she advised the newbie, "I understand you are eager to prove yourself with your work but I am warning you, don''t rock the boat. If the outside world gets the slightest hint of what we are doing here then the entire CIB will be done for.


    I know you feel this job is not worthy of your abilities but you alone are doing the job of two dozen agents. By recruiting you, the department is considerably reducing the risk of a whistleblower and saving a ton on staff pay, resources, and insurance. Hence, your high pay.


    My advice to you, use this opportunity and leisure time to train and increase your tier. A Knight tier has no voice in the CIB but it is a different story for an Ocean or Sky tier. If that doesn''t work for you, just keep your head down and follow the rules, because these rules are there to protect the likes of you, me, and the entire CIB. Not to mention this is what you signed up for."


    "I will keep that in mind," Agent Hundred Eyes nodded and excused herself. However, she had not given up. She consoled herself with the belief that if her guess about the Buick Grand National being driven by a curse master was correct, he would eventually visit the curse mall for supplies. She would catch him then.

 Chapter 61: 1967 Chevrolet Corvette C2 Stingray

    Chapter 61: 1967 Chevrolet Corvette C2 Stingray[Mandy: Hey loser. I''ll be at the caf¨¦ by your school. Get your butt over here ASAP.]


    [Danny Jr.: Why are you here?]


    [Mandy: Ace is out of town and couldn''t come. He told me to pick you up.]


    [Danny Jr.: Alright, I''ll be there in five.]


    ¡­


    Parking her 1967 Chevrolet Corvette C2 Stingray by the cafe, Mandy stepped out of the Chevy coupe with a cool, effortless swagger, ignoring the onlookers. Her beautiful dirty blonde hair was tied in a loose side braid and she wore a white pullover crop top with matching Lululemon pants.


    Finding the sun on her face, she pulled out her retro square aviator sunglasses to shield her eyes from the bright glare. Then, crossing her arms she leaned back against the sleek, black hood of her Stingray with a look of detached indifference.


    As she waited for her nephew, the jocks inside the caf¨¦ couldn''t help but glance her way. Yet, the icy air around her kept them firmly in their seats, not one daring to breach the invisible barrier her presence created.


    Mandy did not have to wait long, soon she spotted her fat nephew approaching. However, she was surprised he wasn''t alone, three beautiful schoolgirls were with him. ''Good for him,'' she thought heading back into her Chevy.


    Bidding goodbye to his classmates, Danny entered his young aunt''s black stingray while glancing at the jock''s in the cafe with a smirk, provoking them. However, when inside the C2, looking at the red, modern interior his smirk froze. Its entire dashboard, center console, and rest of the interior were replaced with the interior of a 2023 Chevy C8 Z06.


    Lord only knows how much money and planning it took to pull this off but now the C2 had a big touchscreen display, multiple USB ports, wireless charging, and all the modern systems to assist the driver. It was comfortable but Danny felt he had to speak up for the atrocities done to this car and comment, "Grandpa, will roll in his grave for days if he knows what you did to his stingray."


    "Shut up and get your seat belts on," Mandy reminded, starting her Chevy. This was her car and she was tired of the people criticizing her about modifying it.


    A few yards in, irked by the silence in the car, Mandy made small talk, "Looks like you are quite popular these days."


    "What do you mean?" Danny had little idea of what Mandy was talking about.


    "Don''t act, I saw you with those girls. They were good-looking, which one are you after?" Mandy asked, curious about her nephew''s choice.


    "Neither, I only have eyes for my Esmeralda. Besides, they were only talking to me because they wanted me to introduce them to Ace," Danny was offended that Mandy would think he would cheat on his queen with some high school slut.


    "Oh my god, can you be any lame?" Mandy was starting to regret buying her nephew a sex doll for his birthday. However, she was more concerned about Ace, "You did not happen to give them his number. Did you?" Her grip on the steering wheel tightened waiting for Danny''s answer.


    "No, but I did get their numbers making an excuse that I will give them to Ace if he is interested," Danny replied with a sly grin.


    "Here''s a hundred, Ace doesn''t need to hear about those numbers," Mandy swiftly pulled out a hundred dollar bill from her Givenchy purse and slid it over to Danny wanting to buy his cooperation over this matter.  S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No, we are planning to go to the movies in the evening," Danny rejected Mandy feeling her offer wasn''t enough.


    "I thought you only had Esmeralda in your eyes," Mandy fumed seeing Danny try to extort her.


    "I can''t take Esmeralda to movies," Danny shamelessly remarked.


    "Urgh," Mandy groaned, as she added another hundred dollar bill to the existing bill, and asked, "Are you still going to the movies?"


    "I am, but Ace could not make it to the movies because something had come up at the last minute," Danny said, pocketing the two hundred dollar bills.


    "I see you are not being picky, you are not a lost cause after all," Mandy praised her nephew, understanding his game plan. Danny planned to invite all three girls to the movies using Ace''s name, hoping to get close to whichever one showed interest in him. He was trying his luck and would be satisfied if any one of them took his bait.


    "Enough about me, how did Ace get you to come over to this side of the town? You hate school more than me," Danny was astonished that Mandy came to pick him up because he knew she did not like visiting the school. After all, it reminded her of how most of her friends entered college while she could not. She claimed it was her choice but, as her nephew, Danny knew the truth.


    "He promised me a date," Mandy answered casually, making it sound like the date was Ace''s idea.


    "No way, he wouldn''t," Danny exclaimed in disbelief. Finding his exaggerated reaction unacceptable, Mandy asked, "Why is it so hard for you to believe he would ask me on a date? Am I not hot enough?"


    Giving his young aunt a blank stare, Danny answered, "I don''t know about you but Ace would never go against his mother''s wishes. Besides didn''t he already say you are not his type?"


    "I am everybody''s type," Mandy asserted.


    "Whatever," Danny dismissively remarked, rolling his eyes at Mandy''s narcissism. Then, thinking of something he commented, "Mandy, if you and Ace did it won''t that be incest?"


    "No, you fool, we are not blood-related and eew. Why would you even think about that?" Mandy looked at Danny in disgust.


    "Hey, I am not the one trying to bang my sister''s hot nephew. Not to mention the age issue. He is underage for goodness sake," Danny reminded Mandy that if someone was being gross here, it was her and not him, sparking a war. It was a miracle that the aunt and nephew duo made it home alive and in one piece.

 Chapter 62: Coaxing Rose

    Chapter 62: Coaxing Rose''That worked up an appetite,'' Ace thought walking out of the resort room with a satisfied expression. His time with Emi was so fun that he had to extend her summon time by another hour. The tantric sex doll skill was out of this world. If not for Ace''s worries about making it to his uncle''s ranch before dark, he would have enjoyed her company longer.


    Making a quick stop at the resort convenience store for some snacks and beverages, Ace got back on the road. Feeling lonely he summoned Dame Wasp to keep him company on the road.


    "Master, you called," being summoned, Dame Wasp answered Ace''s call in her 1/100th form. Instead of standing on Ace''s shoulder like usual, she hovered next to him.


    "Rose, you mad?" Ace judged sensing her tone lacking her usual enthusiasm. She didn''t seem excited to be summoned, or was it just Ace letting his guilt get the best of him?


    No, it was not the usual guilt that he felt after whacking off. He felt guilty because he locked her in the toybox and stripped her access to the status screen while he played with Emi for almost two hours. In his defense, she kept using the status screen to interrupt his fun time with Emi. However, knowing that Dame Wasp just wanted to play with them he felt guilty about doing that.


    "I wouldn''t dare," Dame Wasp''s reply made it clear that she was a little dissatisfied with Ace for locking her in the toybox and playing with Emi for almost two hours. What she had feared with the animation of Emi as toy summons was already happening despite her master promising her otherwise.


    "Tell you what, I plan on commissioning the Oracle doll designers to design you a new body," Ace informed Dame Wasp believing that if she had a regular body then she could join him and Emi. It would mean twice as much fun for him and nobody would feel left out. Truth be told, this was the only way Ace could think of to ease Dame Wasp''s insecurities.


    "Really?" Listening to Ace''s words, Dame Wasp forgot her previous complaints. She could not stay mad at her master for long anyway.


    "It is about time you got an upgrade. We should buy a good curse tool crafting technique to ensure that your second enchantment is a success," Ace was serious, not just saying this to please Dame Wasp. In her current size, Dame Wasp was little help in an actual fight. She needed a regular-sized body to display the full extent of her combat prowess.


    Enchanting toy summons was a huge part of Ace''s innate curse tool''s ability. He believed if he taught his toybox advanced curse crafting techniques using his status screen it should be able to increase its success rate of animating or enchanting toy summons by a huge margin. Considering the benefits alone it was worth a shot.


    "Master, can I decide how the Oracle doll designers build my new body?" Dame Wasp requested out of the blue. It seems she had plans for her new body or she just wanted it to be better than Emi''s. Only she knew.


    "Why not, you know the cursed toybox''s functions better than me so I will give you full creative permission for your new body''s build. But just remember no fake body hair," Ace agreed to his first toy summon''s request knowing that she always had his best interest in her heart.


    Throughout the entire "Cyber Craft" movie franchise, there were numerous iterations of Dame Wasp''s cybernetic body as it was upgraded once or twice in every movie to face the new threat. Ace''s favorite was the nanobot version but he wasn''t sure if the Oracle doll makers could create a life-size model of that version. So, he thought it would be best to leave it to Dame Wasp. She could be in touch with the Oracle doll makers team and design her body to the best of their abilities.


    "Thank you, master," Dame Wasp expressed her gratitude. Soon, she landed on Ace''s shoulder, getting comfortable, she went quiet. Thinking of a possible reason for the silence, Ace asked her, "Rose, did you already start designing your new body in your head?"


    "Yes, master," Dame Wasp replied with a high-pitched voice, her excitement was apparent in her tone. She seemed to have totally forgotten the ordeal of him locking her away and playing with Emi. Ace shook his head thinking, ''She''s too easy to please.''


    Just then, Ace''s phone rang. It was Danny calling. So, he immediately answered, "Hey, Danny."


    "Don''t, hey Danny me. Where are you? I need my car tonight," Danny impatiently asked. He needed his car for the movies with the girls.


    "I will be there by seven will that do?" Ace asked, wondering if Danny needed the car urgently.


    "That will do, but what''s taking you so long?" Danny enquired worried about his car and of course his cousin.


    "Went on a long drive and lost track of time, don''t worry your car is fine," Ace answered knowing Danny was more worried about his car than him.


    "Forget about the car. What''s this I hear about you asking Mandy out on a date. Is it true?" Learning his car was fine, Danny skillfully switched the topic.


    "Did Mandy tell you that? That''s the only way I could get her to pick you up at the school," Ace did not bother to clarify Mandy''s deceit as it did not change the fact that he still owed her a date.


    "Fuck! Are you really going to take her out on a date?" Danny cussed, surprising Ace.


    "I have to, that was the deal," Ace replied, not understanding why Danny''s reaction was so intense. He wondered, ''Was Danny protective of who his young aunt dated?''


    "Dude, are you out of your mind? She did not specify when you have to take her on a date, did she? Just push that date two or three decades in the future," Danny persuaded Ace to use a loophole to get out of his commitment to Mandy.


    "That won''t do. My word is my bond. Mandy has held up her end of the deal, now I have to too," Ace asserted he did not plan to break his deal with Mandy.


    "My mother is going to kill me," Danny remarked confusing Ace, "Why is that?"


    "She asked me to keep an eye on you two and report back to her if things get weird between you guys," Danny revealed the truth as to why he cared so much about what Ace and Mandy did. From the looks of it, he did not plan to rat out Ace or his young aunt, hence his dilemma.


    "Just tell Auntie Pam everything as I plan to tell my mom. Knowing her, she will throw a fit. But it will be worse if we get caught lying. Besides, it is just a date. It''s not like I plan on doing something," Ace said, not surprised that Pam asked Danny to keep an eye on Mandy and him. He knew Pam was not worried about him but Mandy as her reputation preceded her.  sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That''s a load of my mind," Danny sighed in relief getting an all-clear from Ace.

 Chapter 63: Charity

    Chapter 63: Charity"You are late," Danny stated as Ace returned him his Buick''s keys defending, "It''s only seven oh five, I said I would be by seven, didn''t I?"


    Despite his two-hour playtime stop with Emi on his way back, Ace managed to return to the Iron Valley ranch five minutes past seven in the evening to find impatient Danny waiting at the driveway.


    "I don''t have time to argue with you," Danny said as he walked to his car, finding it spotlessly clean and shining. He turned to his cousin and asked, "Did you get the car washed?"


    "Yes," Ace lied, he had used Emi''s cleansing talisman to clean the car''s exterior and interior as he neared the ranch to thank Danny for lending him the car.


    "Why don''t I smell the chemicals?" Danny wondered as he sniffed his Buick, hoping to enjoy the refreshing scent of a newly washed car, but there was no trace of it.


    "I drove with windows down to air out the car, those chemical smells can be harsh, don''t you think?" Ace said the first thing that came to his mind.


    "Nah, I like the chemical smell. Anyway, thanks man," Danny thanked as he entered the Buick preparing to leave.


    "Don''t mention it," Ace said. Then, watching his cousin drive out of the driveway he head to the home to find his mother, Pam, and Mandy huddled up at the front patio. Seeing him arrive, his mother tore her eyes from Mandy''s iPad screen and asked, "Where have you been? I haven''t seen you after breakfast."


    "I lost track of time, sorry," Ace immediately apologized, knowing there was no point in trying to argue with his mother. He would never win and only make her angrier.


    Meanwhile, Mandy winked at him subtly only to be elbowed in her ribs by Pam who caught her trying to flirt with her underage but handsome nephew.


    "Have you had anything to eat? Do you want me to fix you a sandwich?" Unaware of Mandy''s mischief, Mary asked her son seeing him immediately admit his mistake.


    "No, I''m not hungry," Ace replied, ignoring Pam and Mandy, who were now engaged in a glaring contest that Pam seemed to be winning. He glanced around, searching for his father. Unable to locate him, he asked his mother, "Mom, where''s dad?"


    "He went to the shooting range with you uncle," Mary replied. Ace detected anger in his mother''s tone. She did not like the idea of anyone in her family near a gun, let alone enjoying it as a hobby or owning one. So, he hurriedly asked, "What about my brokerage account?" before she went off topic complaining about his father and his fascination with guns.


    "Your father said if you are in a hurry you can use his old brokerage account, if not he will set one up for you after we return home," Mary repeated what her husband told her.


    "I am fine using his old brokerage account. I will call him and ask him to share its details with my phone," Ace felt this was for the best, this way it would be easier for him to show his father that he did not do anything illegal when makes his millions within a week.


    "It is good that you are excited but remember if you lose the $500 don''t come asking for more," Mary warned her son, she still did not understand what came over her husband to let their unremarkable teenage son try his hand in the stock market. Pity, for $500 she could get a nice pair of earrings.


    "Yes, mom. I won''t," Ace assured while Mandy gave him a knowing smile, understanding that he did not tell his parents about her investing $30,000 in his trading venture.


    "Mary, what do you think about this one," Pam suddenly said showing her the iPad screen. As Mary was going through the screen, Pam added, "They are holding a Black tie evening party two days from now. Isn''t that fancy?"  S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "But it is in the city, too long of a commute for an evening party," Mary replied. Ace came next to his mother to see what they were talking about. The iPad screen showed a charity foundation website, seeing this he was further confused. So, he asked, "What are you guys talking about?"


    "I plan to donate ten percent of your lottery winnings. Might as well make an evening out of it," Mary informed going through the charity foundation''s black-tie evening party itinerary and sighed, "This is perfect but it''s too far."


    "Besides it is expensive, there is a minimum donation of $3000 per person to get entry to their black-tie evening party," Mandy read the fine print at the end of the website. Considering all seven of would be attending it, they would have to donate 21 grand. Now that was too pricy for a fun family evening. Not to mention she was not used to paying to enter a party.


    "Guess we are stuck with the raffle party two towns from here," Pam sighed, as she was looking forward to a fancy night with her husband.


    "I will leave you guys to it," Getting the gist of what his mother was up to with Pam and Mandy, Ace did not want to be a part of it. So, he prepared to leave as he had better things to do.


    "Where are you going? You just got back," Mary asked her son seeing he was not heading into the the house but to the fields.


    "Going for a run," Ace replied aloud running into the fields.


    "It''s dark now, go in the morning," Mary yelled but Ace''s figure had already vanished into the fields.


    "No wonder he has such a nice physique," Pam blurt. Getting a stink eye from Mary and a surprised look from Mandy, she coughed and assured, "Don''t worry, just last week Dan and the neighboring farmers got together and took care of the pests in surrounding fields. You have nothing to worry about."


    Running through the field, Ace headed toward the auto salvage yard planning to deal with the Scavenger Spirit hiding in it. That thing was like a ticking time bomb. If curse masters were to learn about it, the entire town would be swarming with them. He had to do something about it before it became a nuisance.

 Chapter 64: Petty Rose

    Chapter 64: Petty RoseUnder the moonlight, Ace navigated through the tangerine fields toward the auto salvage yard. Stopping half a mile from it, he looked around just in case and summoned Emi and Dame Wasp.


    "You called master," Emi sultrily reported in a dark stealth uniform instead of her signature kunoichi shaman uniform.


    Listening to Emi''s intoxicating voice and seeing her busty figure, Ace recalled the fond memories of their time together earlier this evening. It gave rise to unspeakable urges within him causing blood to rush to both of his heads. His breath became a little heated and faster as his thoughts wandered thinking about having his way with Emi in the moonlit tangerine grove. However, he calmed down and did not let his urges cloud his judgment.


    "Could you cut it out? You know master called us on a mission. So, why do you try to distract him with your profane act?" Dame Wasp asked Emi in annoyance. Even though Ace managed to get Dame Wasp to forgive him she was still mad at Emi for seducing their master.


    As an act of superiority, Dame Wasp hovered over Ace''s left shoulder finding a good spot she got comfortable. Showing Emi, no matter what she would always be their master''s first toy summons and favorite.


    Emi did not respond to Dame Wasp''s provocation finding their master''s heated sight on her body. She calculated that if she completed the mission soon, their master could use the rest of her summon time to reward her. But she had a small worry about the mission.


    "Rose, be nice," Ace admonished Dame Wasp controlling the raw urges Emi stirred within him.


    "Yes, master," Dame Wasp agreed but did not mean it. She could never forgive Emi for trying to steal their master from her.


    "Master, are you sure you want to capture the Scavenger spirit? The reason the auto salvage yard has been cursling-free is because of it. If we capture it the auto salvage yard will gather negative emotions and attract curselings or even give birth to one," Emi spoke her mind revealing her concern. She feared that capturing the curse spirit would make things worse for the auto salvage yard it was guarding.


    "You are right Emi, however leaving it alone is not an option. If its existence is known to the curse master community this whole town will become a warzone for the curse masters who want it. Besides we can always check on the auto salvage yard and cleanse it periodically. I have thought this through and this is for the best," Ace assured Emi that he made his decision taking everything into account.


    "Yeah, Emi! Stop being a worrywart. Your little brain can''t comprehend Master''s grand schemes. Why don''t you just stick to doing what you are told? Trust me, it''s for the best," Dame Wasp commented criticizing Emi for questioning their master''s orders.


    Emi did not bother to respond to Dame Wasp, knowing the latter was jealous of her playtime with their master. Now that her worry about the mission was cleared, all she thought about was how to end the mission as fast as possible such that, their master would use her remaining summon time to help her get back at Dame Wasp for her frivolous remarks and comments.


    Knowing Dame Wasp was acting petty, Ace shook his head helplessly deciding to overlook it. He planned to talk with her and try to mediate between the two after they finished the mission and returned. As for now, he decided to commence the mission before their petty differences sparked into a full-out brawl and affected the mission.


    "Alright, you''ve been briefed on the target and your role. Capture the target as instructed, and proceed with the mission without drawing attention. Switch communication to the status screen and remember, be professional. Move out." Warning the girls not to let their feelings affect the mission, Ace instructed them to begin the mission.


    With Ace''s order Dame Wasp and Emi nodded in unison and simultaneously dashed toward the Auto salvage yard. Midway, Dame Wasp entered camouflage mode while Emi took out a yellow talisman, and pinched it chanting in her mind, ''Invisible.'' They chose to hide themselves not wanting to spook the target.


    Ace stayed behind as his role was to extract them safely and quickly after the mission completion or if they run into trouble. Not to mention, unlike Dame Wasp and Emi, he was not trained to participate in such missions. Both their characters were elite assassins trained to fight in the shadows while he was a mere high school senior.


    He had the ''Apex Earring'' but it was more for self-defense than actively putting himself in harm''s way as risking his safety would be stupid because if he died it was game over for them but if he survived they could always start over. It was a no-brainer.


    During this mission, Ace decided not to share his sense with either of his toy summonses as he trusted them to carry out the mission successfully and planned to maintain communication through the status screen. Besides their target was a mortal-grade curse spirit. They weren''t aggressive like curselings and this one in particular barely had any lethal skills. If things take a wrong turn he could always recall them or even reanimate them using a new body and ingredients.


    Ace did not have to wait long, Dame Wasp soon updated him on the mission through the status screen,


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª-


    Dame Wasp: Infiltrating target area.


    Dame Wasp: Sweeping the target area for civilians.


    Dame Wasp: One civilan found.  S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace: Hold position. Update civilian status.


    Dame Wasp: Male, mid-fifties, overweight, intoxicated, and unconscious on the bed of a rusted 87 Ford pickup.


    Ace: Ignore the civilian and locate the target.


    Dame Wasp: Copy that.


    Dame Wasp: Target located, permission to approach the target.


    Ace: Is civilian within the area of operation?


    Dame Wasp: Negative, civilian secure.


    Ace: Excellent, approach the target.


    Dame Wasp: Approaching the target.


    Emi: Target insight, permission to engage the target.


    Ace: Emi, execute mission. Rose, provide cover.


    Emi: Roger that.


    Dame Wasp: Affirmative.


    Emi: Commencing assault. Be on standby for updates.]

 Chapter 65: Haunted Auto Salvage Yard

    Chapter 65: Haunted Auto Salvage YardA sudden clanging sound echoed through the salvage yard, startling Hank awake. His eyes snapped open, and he groaned, his head pounding with a hangover. Blinking blearily, he took in his surroundings, trying to piece together where he was and how he had ended up there.


    He was atop the bed of his 87 Ford pickup, surrounded by hulks of vehicles that lay scattered like skeletal remains forming a maze of twisted metal, broken glass, and weeds that had grown through the cracks in the concrete in his family''s auto salvage yard.


    Looking at his overalls stained with grease and spilled liquor he recalled what he was doing here, he was no stranger to alcohol-induced blackouts after an honest day of work, and today was one of those days.


    Due to ingrained habit, he rubbed his scruffy beard as he gazed into the night sky. He found that night air was cool, and had a faint, eerie breeze as it whispered through the jagged metal and shattered windows.


    He suddenly heard a noise jolting him awake from his thoughts, the noises continued ¨C the crunch of gravel underfoot, the creak of doors swinging open and shut, and a low, guttural moan that seemed to come from the yard in front of him. Hank''s pulse quickened, and he felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead.


    The yard was dimly lit by a single flickering streetlamp, casting long, sinister shadows. Hank''s breath caught in his throat as he heard all these eerie noises coming from the yard in front of him but he could not find the source. Regardless, he had a feeling that he wasn''t alone, it was enough to send a jolt of fear through him.


    "Who''s there?" Hank''s voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. He tried to stand, but his legs were unsteady, and he stumbled, gripping the edge of the truck for support.


    Hank''s mind raced, his drunken haze making it difficult to think clearly. As the owner of an auto salvage yard, he had heard his share of horror stories about haunted salvage yards. Tales of salvage yards being haunted by the spirits of those who had died in car accidents, their souls trapped in the rusting carcasses of their vehicles. He never heeded them but today he ¡ª


    Suddenly, a loud bang came from behind him. Hank whirled around, his heart pounding in his chest. The sound had come from an old, dented sedan, its door hanging open as if someone had just climbed out. But there was no one there.


    He took a step back, his eyes wide with fear. "This can''t be real," he muttered to himself. "Just the booze messing with my head." But the noises continued, causing his pulse to quicken, and his back wet with cold sweat.


    Desperate to escape, he hurried into his old but trusty Ford truck, his movements frantic and uncoordinated. In the camber, Hank''s heart was still pounding as the old truck groaned in protest as he turned the ignition, but by sheer luck or sheer will, the engine roared to life.


    As the headlights cut through the darkness, illuminating the twisted metal and overgrown weeds, Hank could still hear noises of something flitting between the wrecks. His pulse raced even faster. Slamming the truck into gear, he tore through the yard, the tires kicking up gravel and dust in his wake.


    Once on the open road, Hank didn''t dare to look back. His knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel, driving as fast as the old pickup would allow. The haunting sounds of the salvage yard receded into the distance, but the terror remained, etched into his mind forever.


    ¡­


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Dame Wasp: Unexpected development. The civilian is awake.


    Ace: Have you already engaged the target?


    Dame Wasp: Positive.


    Dame Wasp: Permission to neutralize the target.


    Ace: Negative.


    Ace: Authorizing force to secure the civilian if necessary but exercise restraint.


    Ace: Update me on all developments.


    Dame Wasp: Affirmative.


    Dame Wasp: Civilian on the move.


    Dame Wasp: Civilian has left in his old pickup truck.


    Dame Wasp: Situation handled. All clear.


    Ace: Proceed as planned. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dame Wasp: Copy that. Be on standby for updates.]


    "Now that the nuisance has finally left, I can go full out," Emi said seeing Hank drive off in his old pickup truck.


    Three gloss black kunai magically appeared between the gap of her right fist, she threw them aiming at the left wing of the scavenger spirit, pining its tattered wing to the wall of staked cars behind it.


    The curse spirit screamed in pain as it struggled to free its wing but failed as these kunai were enforced and enchanted by curse energy. All the efforts of the spirit to free its wing proved useless as despite its grotesque looks and size it was just a mortal-tier curse spirit with no combat training whatsoever.


    Soon, Emi threw three more kunai, pinning its right wing down. The spirit howled in agony, with both of its wings pinned down it was trapped and in a lot of pain. Still, the scavenger spirit tried to leverage its massive figure to struggle free of its kunai restraining its wings.


    Unfortunately for it, Emi was one step ahead of it, taking out a talisman, and pinching it, she leaped to the blad forehead of the spirit and stuck it to its wrinkly skin chanting in her mind, ''Sleep.''


    Under the influence of the sleep talisman, the spirit instantly fell asleep but as its body went limp, unable to bear its weight, the wall of staked cars fell forward with the spirit underneath them, *Boom*


    Looking at the scavenger spirit buried under the old cars, Emi hurriedly used the status screen to update her master before Dame Wasp could,


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Emi: Target subdued.


    Ace: Well done.


    Dame Wasp: Target still to be captured.


    Ace: Capture the target, clear the field, and return to rendezvous.


    Emi: Roger that.


    Dame Wasp: Affirmative.]


    Giving Dame Wasp a good hard stare, Emi took out a talisman, pinching it she placed it on the scavenger spirit and mentally chanted, ''Turn Cursed shinigami.'' A bright light covered the spirit''s asleep body and soon the body vanished into the talisman.

 Chapter 66: Consequences Of Rumors

    Chapter 66: Consequences Of Rumors"Good job guys," Ace greeted the girls, and curiously asked, "Well, let me see our scavenger spirit." He had only seen the images that Steal Song Society archives had but had never seen the real deal.


    "Master, turning a curseling into a cursed shinigami takes a while. I will inform you once the transformation is complete," Emi informed, a little disappointed that she could not satisfy her master''s curiosity.


    "That''s alright, let me know when it is done transforming and ready to be summoned," Ace then asked Dame Wasp, "Rose, have you been monitoring Mark and the other 9K gang members'' phones, everything set for a late-night raid?"


    "Yes, master. There is no change in their status quo. So, tonight is perfect for us to raid them," Dame Wasp concluded based on the information she had gathered.


    Listening to her master discuss a late-night raid with Dame Wasp, Emi suddenly had a premonition that her plans to spend her remaining summon time with her master getting back at Dame Wasp wasn''t going to happen.


    "Fantastic. Now, back to your toy spaces, I will summon you guys again for your second mission tonight," Ace said, wanting to utilize the remaining summon time of toy summons efficiently.


    Seeing her premonition come true, Emi dejectedly entered the ''Cursed Toybox'' with Dame Wasp following their master''s orders. Ace had seen through Emi''s little thoughts but chose to ignore them in the interest of their group''s harmony. He further decided to keep his fun time with Emi to a minimum until Dame Wasp gained her new body. He did plan to mediate between them but he was hoping Dame Wasp gaining her new body would solve this problem for him. He was no casanova, he had no idea how to mediate between two women fighting over him.


    ¡­


    Returning home, Ace found his mother and others still on the front porch while his uncle''s black Lincoln Navigator pulled up in the driveway.


    Getting off his large luxury SUV, Dan called out to Ace who was heading to the front porch, "Hey, champ. Where were you the whole day? I was hoping to teach you a little about the ranch life."


    "Uncle Dan, I am not falling for that again," Ace replied recalling that the last time he was here his uncle made him shovel cow shit.


    "Your loss, I was thinking about paying you this time," Dan said with a smirk, meeting him at the porch.


    "I will pass," Ace replied, heading into the house. As he stepped through the door, he heard his father call out from the porch, "Ace, fetch us two cold ones, will you?"


    "Sure," Ace answered aloud. Heading into the kitchen, he fetched two beer bottles and a pop for himself. Returning to the porch, he heard Dan ask Pam, "Guess who we ran into on our way over here?"


    "Who?" Pam asked, leaning back in her chair.


    "Old man Hank. The sheriff had stopped him for speeding and driving while drunk," Dan replied with a chuckle, taking the beer bottle his brother passed.


    Ace handed the beers to his father, then leaning on the porch railing he took a sip of his pop, listening to Dan''s story.


    "I can''t believe it. That man never learns. The sheriff should give him an earful," Pam''s expression turned stern, she did not like the idea of one drunkard making the streets unsafe for others.


    "He did, but Hank claimed he was speeding while drunk because he saw a ghost in the salvage yard," Dan laughed, finding the whole situation absurd.


    Listening to Dan, Ace almost spurt his pop in shock, learning that Hank was the drunk civilian that Emi and Dame Wasp ran into at the salvage yard.


    "Wasn''t he the one who kept claiming there''s no such thing as ghosts or spirits when everyone warned him," Mandy pointed out.


    "I guess the hefty fine the sheriff stuck him with changed his mind," Dan grinned recalling Hank''s hilarious reactions in his drunken stupor. Later, he added, "But you are in luck, Mandy. Hank said he will give you a generous commission if you help him get the salvage yard off his hands ASAP."


    "Is he serious? If so, you need to call him immediately and tell him to do himself a favor by not telling everyone that he saw a ghost in the salvage yard. If rumors about the auto salvage yard being haunted spread even I can''t find a buyer for it," Mandy gave her professional opinion since Dan and Hank were friends. She seemed to be very confident in her skills as a realtor despite not having practiced for a while.


    Seeing Dan not reach for his phone to call Hank, Ace urged him, "Uncle, you should call him now. Rumors like these spread like wildfire and tend to stick. Not to mention, these rumors will attract weirdos calling themselves ghost watchers or ghost hunters. I don''t think you would want all that disturbance next to your ranch."


    Ace was worried that the rumors of a haunted salvage yard would attract curse masters into the town. Therefore, he urged his uncle to take action quickly.


    "Honey, the boy is right. I don''t want rumors to affect our farm negatively. Call Hank right now," Pam ordered Dan, she was concerned that merchants would use the fact that their farm was next to the rumored haunted salvage yard as an excuse to give an unfair price for their tangerines and livestocks.


    "I did not think that far ahead," being reminded by his wife Dan understood the seriousness of this situation and reached for his phone. As he called Hank he could not help but mutter, "Hank is difficult to talk to when drunk."


    "Damn it, he is not answering the phone," Dan cussed as all his attempts to contact Hank went unanswered.


    "Did you forget that the town sheriff has detained him for the night, finding him in no shape to be driving? I''m sure they have confiscated his phone along with other belongings on him. How about we go pick him up tomorrow morning? It should be easier to explain things to him when he is sober," Al proposed, feeling his brother had the memory of a goldfish. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 67: Night Raid

    Chapter 67: Night RaidAfter a hearty dinner with his family and relatives, Ace excused himself and turned in early.


    Inside his room, in preparation for the late-night raid plan, Ace ordered Emi to feed one of the mortal rank gremlin curse cores to his toybox. He planned to have it enhance his curse core so he could level up and restore his curse energy reserve.


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    > Using curse core (gremlin form) to enchant Toymancer''s curse core¡­


    > Enhancement complete.


    > Toymancer has gained,


    i) +5 physical stats


    ii) +5 spiritual stats


    iii) +70 curse energy


    Note: Toymancer''s personal status screen has been updated.]


    ''I guess this is the maximum stats a mortal rank Germlin curse core can give,'' Ace thought as he felt a significant rise in his overall strength as his curse core grew. He was starting to like the idea of gaining maximum benefit with little to no effort.


    However, he did not plan on consuming all the curse cores he bought at once. If he was just gaining stats, he might give it a thought but it also restored his curse energy reserve simultaneously. Considering, how hard it is to recover one''s curse energy he planned to get the maximum benefit of the curse core on him unless there was an emergency.


    Soon, he used the status screen to check the growth in his status,


    [ ¡ª Status screen¡ª


    Name: Ace Lander


    Race: Human (¡á)


    Class: Toymancer


    Title: Curse Master


    Health: (17/95)yrs


    Physical Power: 21


    Spiritual power: 22


    Curse Energy: (341/341)


    Skills: Cursed toybox(3/3), Status screen.


    Arts: Body Reinforcement]


    ''No extra toy space this time? Did I not meet the threshold this level up, huh, well maybe next time I will,'' Ace contemplated seeing that his cursed toybox did not gain an extra toy space like he did during the last level-up.


    He did not give this much thought as the toybox had informed him before that he would gain a toy space with the growth in these stats. He believed if he did not gain a toy space during this level-up he would get it during the next level-up or the one after that, no point in worrying about something you can''t control.


    Then, he decided to go through the late-night raid plan with his toy summons while he waited for the others in the house to turn in so he could commence his covert mission.


    ¡­


    In the middle of the night, the moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale glow over the sleeping Iron Valley ranch.


    Ace''s family and relatives were sound asleep in their room. Emi had made sure of that by sticking ''Sleep'' talismans on their bedroom doors. Anyone in the room wouldn''t wake up until the talisman on the door was disturbed. She also set up an alarm talisman in the house to warn them in case of unexpected situations.


    Ace then headed out of the house through the back door. Walking into the garage, he ignored the cars and eyed Pam''s hybrid cycle. He retrieved it and pedaled away following Dame Wasp''s directions to the 9Ks''s safehouse, his heart pounded with a mix of excitement and uneasiness. After all, vengeance was going to be his tonight.


    The road to the safe house was long and winding, but Dame Wasp knew every shortcut. Ace stuck to the shadows, avoiding the few streetlights that dotted the outskirts of town. With his current physical stats, the 10-mile journey felt like a breeze, he reached his destination in little to no time. He was half a mile from the gang''s hideout. With Emi''s ''Invisible'' talisman stuck to him and the cycle, being discovered was least of his worries.


    The safe house was a dilapidated farmhouse, hidden from the main road and guarded by a few men. Ace decided to have Dame Wasp scout the place, with her small size and camouflage skill she would easily be able to get past the patrol guards and case the joint without getting noticed. Once she locates the target, they would move in.


    Ace''s target wasn''t Mark or his brother but their money and coke. These brothers valued this shit as more important than their life, which was why they were out here risking their lives for it. He felt taking all of their money and coke would be the best way to start his revenge on Mark and his enablers, the 9Ks.


    However, he could not be too brazen about it just because he was a curse master and they were not. The 9Ks might not have curse masters amidst their ranks but the cartel, they worked for, definitely did. Therefore, he had to be very careful how he pulled this off and leave no trace behind when he was done.


    Ace never planned to harm any member of the 9Ks, he planned to replace their shit with papers and sand without them knowing. Then, wait to see how long it took for them to realize their money had turned into toilet paper and coke into sand. Next, enjoy their horror as they try and figure out what''s going on while the cartel''s due date hangs on their heads like a guillotine. Later, watch as the chaos descends as the cartel makes an example out of the 9Ks.  S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Will the cartel not suspect the involvement of an unknown third party? They would and most definitely sent out their hounds to track the unknown third party down, kill them, and get their shit back. But that was the price of Ace dealing with not just Mark but the entire 9Ks gang without getting his hand dyed in blood.


    Ace had no savior complex. However, the disturbing things Dame Wasp dung up from Mark and other gang members'' phones, had him want to bury the 9Ks with Mark. It was not a surprise that these gang members were horrible individuals outside of the gangs too, but the shit they did and were getting away with, the words unfair and unjust weren''t enough to describe it. It had him wondering if their justice system even functioned.


    He could still endure it if they committed these heinous crimes on the other side of the globe far from him but they did it in his city, in his neighborhood to the community and people he knew. It was one thing if he did not know, but now that he knew he had to do what he could to the best of his power.


    He would consider this as his first contribution to the society. Though flawed, society was there in his family''s time of need, and now that he found something he could do in return, he believed he should. As for the cartel hounds, they had to find him first. Since Ace planned to never cross paths with them again it was not going to be easy for them find him.

 Chapter 68: Reconnaissance

    Chapter 68: Reconnaissance''Rose, let us move out,'' Ace instructed as he shared Dame Wasp''s senses, leaving his body in Emi''s care.


    Dame Wasp soon arrived at the farmhouse and checked the gangsters'' vehicles in case they were too lazy to move the product and money. She did not find the product and money but she did find a few muddy gardening tools, semi-automatic guns, and lots of ammunition.


    It appears they came prepared for unexpected cases, even though they were bad humans they were professionals at it. Leaving the vehicles, Dame Wasp soon made it past the armed guards outside and entered the hideout.


    With her size and skills, it wasn''t a challenge. Not to mention the windows and doors of the hideout were decayed and broken so they did not close properly. The farmhouse was too rundown for a temporary hideout.


    Arriving inside, Ace and Dame Wasp were greeted by an old interior with walls, floors, and broken furniture covered in dust and thick cobwebs. The wooden walls, floors, and cabinets had mold and were infested with pests.


    Unconscious men holding emptied liquor bottles with crusty white power around their noses could seen passed out on the couch or chair or the floor leaning against the wall. It was a buffet for mosquitoes. They were burning mosquito and insect repellent coils in each corner but they seemed to have no effect on the pests.


    Empty Chinese takeout containers, white powder, liquor bottles, knives, guns, and ammo were spread across the only table in the living room. Roaches and insects could be seen crawling in and out of the Chinese takeout containers and running on the passed-out gangsters.


    Except for the seven armed gangsters on the outside sixteen gangsters inside were high and wasted. Especially, Mark and his brother. It would appear these were Mark''s brother''s most trusted men otherwise he would not be comfortable enough to get high while protecting so much money and product in the middle of an unknown place.


    Ignoring the gangsters, Dame Wasp searched every nook and corner of the living room, unable to find the product and money the thugs were protecting in there she prepared to search all the rooms for them.


    However, except for the living room which was lit by two floodlight lamps, all other rooms were dark. It may be because of this gangsters were all gathered in one room. Dame Wasp followed the low noise of a running motor to find that the floodlight lamps were running on a gas-powered portable inverter generator.


    Learning this, Dame Wasp and Ace knew the gangsters came thoroughly prepared and this might not have be the first time they used this rundown farmhouse as a temporary hideout. This meant the product and money were hidden somewhere discreet enough to make Mark''s brother feel secure enough to party and get wasted.


    Turning on her night vision, Dame Wasp and Ace began to carefully search all the rooms trying to find the hidden location where the product and money were hidden. Unable to find anything, Ace asked Dame Wasp, ''Rose, when you were eavesdropping on them through their phones did you happen to listen where they hid the product and money?''


    ''Master, let me check... I heard them talking about moving the bags containing product and cash in drums but there are no signs of drums here,'' Dame Wasp informed recalling the conversations between the thugs.  sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Um¡­ let me think,'' Ace began to contemplate where the thugs hid the product and money based on the information he had.


    Soon, recalling the muddy gardening tools that Dame Wasp and he found in the vehicles, Ace exclaimed, ''That''s it, they have buried the drums containing the bags of product and cash somewhere around here.''


    Since Dame Wasp was sure that the thugs moved the bags of coke and cash into drums despite them not finding any drums in the house or its surroundings, Ace concluded that the thugs brought the gardening tools to bury the drums. He reached this conclusion seeing how they were prepared enough to bring floodlight lamps, generators, and insect repellent.


    Since the gangsters bothered enough to bring gardening tools with them they definitely had use for them. That was to dig and bury the drums containing the bags of coke and cash. Though this was time-consuming and tedious, it was indeed good thinking.


    In case of an unexpected local sheriff or rival gang visit, if their enemies prove too much to handle or they get caught, they could just bail and return for the product and cash later or have someone else they trust pick it up. This was better than them being caught or dying with the product and cash on them.


    ''Good thinking master, I think so too,'' Dame Wasp praised her master''s deduction skills without holding back.


    Her reaction wasn''t surprising to Ace anymore as day by day she was turning into a sycophant. This was getting worse with the addition of Emi and Ace''s exclusive playtime with her. Hopefully, she could return to her old self when she gets her new body.


    Right now, Ace was more concerned about where the thugs had buried the drums as he planned to finish his work here and return home before sunrise. So, betting that the drums must be buried somewhere around the house he had Dame Wasp search the house''s vicinity.


    Unable to find any clues to where the drums were buried with her night vision, Dame Wasp decided to switch to heat vision to find the buried spot comparing the heat of the terrain believing that the area where the drums were buried should have a different heat signature come compared to the heat signature of the rest of the area.


    Dame Wasp scanned the surroundings of the hideout but found nothing. So she was forced to use X-ray vision. She did not use it earlier because its range was smaller than that of the heat vision. It took her a lot longer to search the surroundings than earlier but it was more thorough. Still, she found nothing but junk and garbage. However, she concluded that the drums were not buried in the surroundings of the hideout.


    Frustrated Dame Wasp looked at the hideout next to her only to learn that the drums were buried under it, to be exact they were buried under the farmhouse''s living room. It appears the gangsters took out the floorboards, buried the drums, patched up the floor, and stayed on it to guard them. This way nobody could get to the product and cash without alerting the thugs. No, wonder Mark''s brother was confident and comfortable enough to get high and wasted on the job.

 Chapter 69: +$1,987,500

    Chapter 69: +$1,987,500Having discovered that the drums containing the bag of cocaine and cash were buried beneath the living room of the rundown farmhouse, Dame Wasp returned to the rendezvous point as instructed by Ace.


    Canceling the sense share skill, Ace opened his eyes to find his head resting on Emi''s bountiful bosom and sitting on her lap as she sat in seiza position on the bare ground. Seeing his senses return to his body, Emi greeted him, "Welcome back, Master."


    "Sssh!" Ace shushed Emi and looked at the guards in distress, only to hear Emi assure him, "Master, don''t worry, I have used a silence talisman, if we speak within a 10-meter radius of it, nobody outside that area will hear a thing."


    "I see," Ace hurriedly got off Emi''s lap and stood up not wanting Dame Wasp to see them in this position and get jealous of Emi sparking unnecessary tensions between the two.  Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace updated Emi on the situation as Dame Wasp joined them. With the whole gang present, he took the lead saying, "Let us brainstorm how we are going to get to the cocaine and the cash without alerting the gangsters."


    "We can use the sleep talisman, and be in and out of there without them noticing," Emi suggested they put all the thugs to sleep and completed their mission.


    "That''s an idea but let us save it for when we cannot think of something else. I don''t want to leave behind any trace of us, even in their memories. After all, one cannot be too sure what the cartel''s curse masters are capable of," Ace was worried that if they put the guards to sleep the cartel''s hounds might get suspicious if they were capable of going through their memories. So, he left Emi''s idea to use the sleep talismans as the last option.


    "Master, I have a better idea," Dame Wasp condescending gazed at Emi before continuing, "How about we use the farmhouse''s crawl space to our advantage? Emi can use the crawl space to get under the living room, quietly dig the ground, and store the drums in her storage talisman. Then come here to quickly replace the cocaine and cash with sand and toilet paper. Later place the drum back where she found them. This way, nobody except us will have any clue as to what happened to the cocaine and the cash stashed in the drums buried beneath the farmhouse."


    "Excellent idea, Rose!" Ace exclaimed finding Dame Wasp''s plan perfect for their mission. Being praised by her master Dame Wasp held her head high as hovered before.


    "That''s a great plan, senpai," Emi excitedly praised Dame Wasp for her plan, feeling it was in line with their master''s requirements to complete their mission.


    Dame Wasp was taken aback listening to Emi''s sincere praise, but without a hint of modesty, she replied, "As master''s first toy summon, this is to be expected of me."


    "Mhm," Emi nodded enthusiastically listening to her little senpai, and confidently said, "Leave the rest to me, senpai. I will complete the mission following your plan."


    Emi''s enthusiasm bugged Dame Wasp, reminding her that she was not being a good senior to her junior. However, she couldn''t get over the fact that Emi had exclusive playtime with their master while she was locked away in her toy space. So, she could only click her tongue in annoyance.


    "Let us not get ahead of ourselves," Ace said curbing Emi''s enthusiasm. He eyed her curvy body and spoke his doubt, "I wonder if your body can fit into the crawl space."


    Ace was not calling Emi fat, she had a thin waist and frame but her ample bosom and butt were his concern. He believed they might get in her way of completing the mission.


    "Don''t worry master, you know I am very flexible," Emi coquettishly replied assuring Ace that her body would not get in her way of completing the mission.


    Seeing Emi was at it again, Dame Wasp no longer felt guilty for her actions toward the former. If only Emi did not constantly try to seduce their master and continued to act as her cute junior they would not have a problem.


    "That I do," Ace vouched recalling their time together in the resort room. Quickly collecting his thoughts, he checked with her one last time, "You sure you got this?"


    "Leave to me, master."


    "Okay, you guys go ahead. Keep in touch using the status screen."


    "Roger that."


    Under the cover of the night, invisible Emi and camouflaged Dame Wasp soon made it to the farmhouse and entered its crawl space. Following Dame Wasp''s lead Emi found the exact location where the drums were buried. Together they quietly dug the ground and uncovered the drums. As planned, Emi stored the drums in storage talismans and they reported back at the rendezvous point where they could replace the cocaine and cash with sand and toilet paper without worrying about making too much noise.


    "That was fast," Ace said seeing the duo return.


    "They did not bury the drums too deep," Dame Wasp replied while Emi pinched a yellow talisman, producing two rusted steel drums with chipped paint out of thin air. She then opened them, revealing black bags. Taking out the bags she replaced the cocaine and cash with sand and toilet paper that she had stored in her talisman with Ace''s orders.


    "$1,987,500 in small bills and 59.8kgs of cocaine," Dame Wasp scanned the small bills and white powder bags to give Ace the exact amount of the cocaine and cash before Emi stored them in her storage talisman.


    "That''s a lot of money," Ace muttered. He was a little overwhelmed as this was the first time he saw all that cash in one place, not to mention the sheer amount of cocaine.


    "Master, some shady places in the ''world of curses'' accept cocaine for transactions. Though the rates vary based on its purity," Dame Wasp informed her master just in case he was worried about how to deal with the cocaine.


    "I''ll keep that in mind, Rose," Ace replied, but he wasn''t sure if he wanted to trade cocaine; he''d rather let it rot in Emi''s toy space.


    "All done, master. I will¡ª" Just as Emi prepared to return the drums to their original location she was interrupted by the sound of a roaring engine. Dame Wasp used her cybernetic vision to locate the source and said, "Master, it is a middle-aged curse slave in a rusted Baja Bug. He is heading this way."


    It wasn''t just the Ace and the girls, even the gangsters were alerted. Seeing an unknown vehicle heading toward their hideout, they panicked, and two of the seven guards rushed inside to awaken others. It seems they weren''t expecting any guests at this hour.


    "Emi, hurry, go bury the drums, now!" Ace urgently ordered Emi. He wanted to return the drums to their original location and bolt before the curse slave arrived. Even though it was just a curse slave, they were still sensitive to curse energy like any mortal-tier curse master. Ace did not want him to sense their presence. So, it would be best if they left before he arrived.

 Chapter 70: Dead?

    Chapter 70: Dead?[ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Emi: Master, I have buried the drums. I overheard the thugs, and it is as you guessed. They are preparing for the worst.


    Ace: Good job, Emi. I will recall you right away.]


    Ace and Dame Wasp had already moved a mile away from the 9Ks'' hideout. Meanwhile, the unknown cursed slave, driving his Baja Bug, was nearing the hideout and a few yards away from making contact with the thugs.


    Recalling Emi to his side, Ace and Emi then moved another mile away from the hideout, leaving Dame Wasp behind. Now, Dame Wasp was one mile from the hideout, while Ace and Emi were two miles away.


    Hiding among the trees and leaving his body in Emi''s care, Ace shared Dame Wasp''s senses. With her cybernetics, it wouldn''t be hard for her to spy on the farmhouse from a mile away.


    Given the limitations of a mortal-tier curse sense, being detected by the curse slave was unlikely. They couldn''t sense a curse from a mile away, and Dame Wasp, in her 1/100th form with her camouflage, was virtually undetectable even if she were right next to the curse slave. Nonetheless, Ace wanted to exercise extreme caution due to the involvement of cartels. A minor slip-up could lead to endless troubles.


    ''Rose, focus on the curse slave,'' Ace mentally instructed, seeking a clear view of the unknown third party. Obeying her master''s command, Dame Wasp directed her attention to the curse slave driving a rusty Baja Bug towards the 9Ks'' hideout. The curse slave was an average-looking white middle-aged man, wearing a grease-stained red trucker hat and sporting a gray, unkempt Viking-style beard. His eyes were swollen and bloodshot, suggesting he was high. Notably, he carried no weapons on his person or in his car.


    Ace''s decision to be extra cautious proved wise. The seemingly innocuous appearance of the curse slave could easily deceive someone less vigilant, but Ace knew better than to underestimate anyone from the ''World of Curses.'' The slightest error in judgment could spell disaster.


    Observing the curse slave, Ace pondered whether this junkie intended to raid the 9Ks'' stash. The idea made him question whether the curse slave was exceptionally confident in his abilities or just a reckless fool. Even with a curseling and curse power at his disposal, facing nearly two dozen thugs armed with semi-automatic weapons would be a formidable challenge.


    As the Baja Bug neared the hideout, it slowed down and eventually stopped. The armed thugs had used their vehicles to block the road to the hideout and conveniently hid behind them with their guns aimed at the approaching car. They were prepared to open fire at any sign of aggression. It was clear that if the rusty vehicle didn''t halt, the thugs wouldn''t hesitate to empty their magazines, riddling it with bullets.


    Most of the thugs were still high and on edge. They could be triggered by the slightest provocation. The situation was volatile, and any miscalculation could lead to a deadly confrontation.


    "Throw the car keys out and put your hands out the window," Mark''s brother demanded from the farmhouse patio. Mark stood behind him, still half-awake, yawning and rubbing his eyes with one hand while holding a Beretta M9A4 in the other.


    To Ace''s surprise, the curse slave complied immediately. He tossed the car keys out the window and extended his hands. Mark''s brother then signaled two of his men to check on the unexpected late-night visitor.


    The two armed thugs approached the car cautiously, each moving to opposite sides. The thug on the passenger side inspected the car while the one on the driver''s side interrogated the curse slave. "Who the fuck are you, and what the fuck are you doing here? If you lie, I''ll put a bullet between your brows."


    The curse slave, his demeanor unexpectedly compliant, seemed unfazed by the armed thugs. The tension was palpable, with both thugs ready to act at the slightest hint of danger. Mark''s brother, observing from a distance, remained vigilant, ready to respond to any sudden moves.


    Ace, watching intently, wondered if he had misjudged the curse slave''s intentions seeing the latter cooperate with the thugs. However, the curse slave''s next words confirmed Ace''s suspicions. Locking eyes with the thug, the curse slave spoke in a deep, indifferent voice, "It''s me, your death. If you give me all the cocaine you have, I''ll spare your lives today."


    The thug was momentarily shocked but quickly began to laugh along with his partner. "Looks like we got a funny guy here," he sneered. Amidst their laughter, the thug on the passenger side shot the curse slave in the back of the head three times.


    *Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!*


    "Geez, couldn''t you give me a warning? Look at that¡ªyou got blood all over me," the thug on the driver''s side complained. He slapped his neck, annoyed by a mosquito bite. "Damn mosquitoes."


    "Enough fooling around. Check if he has any ID on him," Mark''s brother ordered, walking to the front now that the threat was neutralized.


    Mark and the other thugs relaxed and followed their captain to scrutinize the scene. The thug on the passenger side, shaking his head at the mess he created, began searching the curse slave''s pockets.


    Ace, still observing, felt a chill despite being prepared for the worst. The curse slave''s audacity and the thugs'' brutal response were not surprising to him. Both were ruthless criminals with the blood of countless innocent lives staining their hands. However, Ace could hardly believe it was over so soon.


    Just as he was beginning to think the curse slave was an ignorant fool, Dame Wasp reminded him, ''Master, I don''t think the curse slave is dead. His corpse did not get devoured by his core and vanish, leaving behind his and his curseling''s curse core.''


    Ace looked at the curse slave''s corpse skeptically, considering Dame Wasp''s words. His instincts told him that something was off. The situation, seemingly resolved, suddenly felt far from over.


    As the thugs gathered near the car, the thug who had interrogated the curse slave suddenly stopped rubbing the blood from his clothes. In a deep, indifferent voice similar to the curse slave''s, he said, "I gave you a chance, but you didn''t appreciate it. Now die!" He then mercilessly opened fire on the unsuspecting thugs.


    S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 71: Parasitic-Type Curseling

    Chapter 71: Parasitic-Type CurselingAs the blood-stained gangster emotionlessly opened fire on his fellow gangsters, those in front of him did not even have time to react. The rest instinctively took cover behind the car but a few brave ones fired back only to witness the bullets bounce off their target''s body or embed into his skin unable to break into his flesh.


    Before the shock of witnessing the supernatural could register in their mind a bullet to their heads forced them into eternal rest. Meanwhile, those hiding behind the Baja Bug lay on the ground and aimed for the traitor''s legs from under the car but to their horror, the bullets could not break past his skin. The despairing gangster could not help but look at the guns in their hand in dismay.


    The blood-stained gangster''s aim was eerily accurate, with each shot somehow he managed to claim a headshot. None of the bullets in the magazine were wasted. He then circled the Baga Bug to hunt down the rest.


    Realizing they were not facing a traitor in their ranks but a monster in human flesh, the overwhelmed gangsters rushed into the empty fields under cover of the night, hoping to escape the monster but they could not make it far before a bullet claimed their lives.


    Seeing the fate of their comrades those who remained gave up struggling. Unsurprisingly, Mark and his brother were among the surviving four. They threw their weapons and prostrated before the monster following Mark''s brother''s lead who begged aloud, "O! Great curse master Max, please spare us."


    As his brother begged for mercy, Mark and the remaining two gangsters lay flat on the ground facing downwards in submission. They did not dare to move a single muscle in their body let alone lift their head to look at the monster in human flesh. Afraid of provoking it they even controlled their breathing.


    Listening to the head gangster address him as a curse master, the armed gangster Max''s indifferent expression morphed into an amused one as he replied, "I am not a curse master nor am your henchman Max."


    Mark''s brother was stumped. He did not know anything about the ''world of curses,'' the only reason he knew of the curse masters was when he asked his bosses why they did not cook their product instead of acting as middlemen for the cartels they warned him to erase such thoughts by telling him unrealistic stories of a group of boggymen called curse masters.


    They did not go into details nor did he bother to ask. Seeing his bosses who weren''t scared of breaking the law and going against the authorities were too scared to even speak about the curse masters he understood the power of the curse master. Even though he did not believe them he prayed that he would never run into one if they truly existed but today he did. Despite being denied by the latter, he believed the latter was a curse master if not his trusted soldier Max.


    "Esteemed sir, we have hidden the cocaine. If you let us live we will tell you where our cocaine is," Mark''s brother was quick to adapt and sharp-minded. Based on what he learned from the conversation he tried to negotiate with the monster. However, the monster was one step ahead of him, "I know you have buried the product and the cash underneath the farmhouse."


    "I can help you get more cocaine. I know locations of other stash houses," Mark''s brother was more than willing to betray the 9Ks to save his skin.


    "Thank you for the information," Max thanked and soon the sound of four shots disturbed the peace of the night again.


    *Thud* Max''s towering body fell next to Mark''s brother''s body who was lying face down on the ground. A sting on his neck awakened Mark from his shock before he could feel the relief of being spared he saw his younger brother Mark had a bullet hole on the back of his head. Just as he was about to scream in anguish, his facial expression suddenly turned indifferent before breaking into a grin as he muttered to himself, "Looks like I have hit the jackpot."


    Getting on his feet Mark''s brother then took a shove from the back of one of the trucks and headed into the farmhouse to collect his loot leaving nearly two dozen dead bodies behind him.


    ''Rose, what the fuck is happening?'' Ace exclaimed looking at the bizarre sense unfold before him.


    ''Master, it appears this curse slave''s curseling is a Parasitic Maggot. As its name suggests It is a parasitic-type curseling. By itself, it is not worth mentioning but when used by a curse slave it grants them immortality by allowing them to move their soul into different bodies,'' Dame Wasp reported as she shared the records of half-life maggot with everyone using the status screen,


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    Target: Parasitic Maggot


    Race: Curseling


    Class: Mortal-Tier


    Title: none


    Info:


    i) A parasitic type of curseling that lives in the bodies of mortals and induces depression within them by feeding on their other emotions. Ultimately driving their host to suicide.


    ii) They cannot switch hosts until their present host is dead.


    iii) Washing the body of the host with a gentle curse energy is enough to kill the curseling.


    Skill:


    i) Memory manipulation: It can read the memories of its host and manipulate them to drive them to depression and ultimately suicide.


    ii) Carrier: They can carry memories, emotions, and curse energy of their old host into a new host to induce depression faster within them and drive them to suicide faster.  Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Note:


    i) Source: Dame Wasp, Steal Song Society archives.


    ii) This data is created for human convenience by humans. Curselings don''t assess to this.]


    Listening to Dame Wasp''s explanation and going through the curseling records, Ace finally spoke, ''I guessed as much but I still do not understand how it allows its curse slave to transfer their soul into new bodies. After all, both of its skills are not that overpowered.''


    ''Master, by allowing their curseling to possess them the curse slave can use the parasitic maggot''s skill ''Carrier'' to transfer their soul to a new body by killing their old body. However, it is said that this process of separating the soul from one''s body is very painful, cursing the soul to eternal agony. Therefore, the curse slaves that contract this curseling abuse various drugs in hopes of numbing their pain. However, the relief gained is only momentary and no amount of the drug is ever enough for them,'' Dame Wasp explained as she played the recorded video of the parasitic maggot entering Max and Mark''s bother''s body on her visor showing Ace how the curse slave used his curseling to switch bodies like changing clothes.

 Chapter 72: Overly Cautious

    Chapter 72: Overly CautiousOn Dame Wasp''s visor, Ace saw her play the enhanced and zoomed-in video of a fingernail-sized maggot drilling into Mark''s brother and Max''s necks as the unknown curse slave switched his bodies like changing clothes. Observing how the maggot allowed the curse slave to assume full control of the new body in under 30 seconds, Ace was both scared and impressed by this. He was relieved that this curseling was only a menace to the mortals and not the curse masters. However, he could still not shake the fear, worrying for his friends, family, and relatives.


    Soon a loud wrathful scream broke his chain of thoughts. It was the curse slave, he seemed to have already dug up the drums and roared in rage finding nothing but sand and toilet paper in the drums instead of the money and cocaine that he came for.


    After the curse slave calmed down, he appeared to be dumbfounded. Seeing his expressions and actions it wasn''t hard to guess his thought process. He mostly likely used his curseling''s memory manipulation skill to go through Mark''s brother''s memories over and over again only to learn the same thing that the gangsters stored their product and money in the drums and buried them in the ground under their hideout.


    Regardless of how many times he went through the memories he could not find the answer to why he found sand and toilet paper in the drums instead of cocaine and cash. He did not believe that the cocaine and cash turned into sand and toilet paper overnight, he strongly felt that there was a third party involved.


    This third party in question, unlike his direct and gore-filled approach, utilized a stealthy approach. They silently raided the hideout and stole all the cocaine and cash in it. They even had the time and humor to play a joke on their victim. The more the curse slave thought about this the more angrier he got. That was because not only did he not find the cocaine he came for but became a patsy for someone else.


    Just the thought that he was taken advantage of by an unknown third party enraged the curse slave so much so that he wanted to kill. However, he had killed everyone in the hideout. Therefore, he could only let out his anger and frustration by screaming at the top of his lungs which were enhanced by cursed energy making his every scream sound like a thunderous roar frightening every animal and bird in the 2-mile radius.


    The curse slave thinking of something suddenly paused his grieving and drove Mike''s brother''s truck out of the town speeding to the other hideouts of the 9Ks. He believed that if the unknown third party knew about this hideout they should know about other hideouts of 9Ks too. Hence, he rushed to the nearest hideout of 9ks from here hoping to catch the unknown third party in the act.


    ''Does he not fear the cartels or the C.I.B?'' Ace wondered aloud seeing the brazenness of the curse slave. After all, the curse slave was immortal and unkillable by mortal standards but a seasoned card master would easily be able to track the parasitic maggot and kill it not giving the curse slave the chance to escape.


    ''Master, actually not everyone is as overly cautious as you are. With the curse slave''s body-switching skill, it would be hard for anyone to find him if he went into hiding. This should be what gives the curse slave the confidence to mess with the cartels and be unbridled in the mortal world without fearing the C.I.B,'' Dame Wasp commented.


    She really felt that her master was too cautious in doing things. Especially, the part where he only allows her to steal $100,000 from the online gambling sites per day when she could steal millions or even billions from them without any risk of being traced. After all, her cyber skills were unmatched in this world. Her master had no reason to be so cautious but he always kept reminding her never to underestimate others, especially in the ''World of Curses.''  S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Rose, can you track the curse slave''s whereabouts and moments? I noticed Mark''s brother was carrying his smartphone on him,'' Ace ignored Dame Wasp''s comment about him being too cautious and asked her if she could trace Mark''s brother''s phone which was now on the curse slave.


    ''Yes, I can. I had managed to hack into the phones of everyone in Mark''s friend circle long ago. So, if the curse slave continues to carry that phone on him, I will not only be able to track him but eavesdrop on him,'' Dame Wasp informed confidently.


    ''That''s good, continue to monitor him as far as you can,'' Ace planned to use this to confirm if this curse slave would be the end of the 9Ks.


    He planned to spark distrust between the 9Ks and their cartel supplier by stealing their product and money but things took an unpredictable turn with the arrival of the unknown curse slave. Though things did not go as he planned Mark, his brother, and their fellow goons meet a terrible ending that they deserved and the rest of the 9Ks would soon follow them.


    Ace was so sure that the rest of the 9Ks would meet the same fate as Mark and his brother because it wasn''t news that any criminal organization would never shoulder any form of loss and always find someone else to make up for the said loss. The same was true for the 9Ks''s cartel suppliers.


    Even if the unknown curse slave was to be blamed for the loss the cartel would demand the 9Ks to make up for it or suffer the consequences. While pressuring 9Ks, the cartel would hunt the unknown curse slave for their product, money, and payback. Knowing the fate of the 9Ks was sealed, Ace was happy with the way things turned out. Especially, the part where the curse slave acted as his patsy. Soon he ordered Dame Wasp, ''Rose, let us head home.''

 Chapter 73: Midas Touch Mandy

    Chapter 73: Midas Touch MandyReturning home, Ace was relieved to find that everything was as he left it and everybody was sound asleep. Emi deactivated and removed the talismans she pasted around the house and returned to the toybox with Dame Wasp. As for Ace, he did not go to sleep but chose to practice his curse arts while having Dame Wasp keep him updated about the parasitic maggot curse slave.


    By the early morning, Dame Wasp informed Ace that the curse slave had rushed to the nearest 9Ks''s hideout and raided it as he had guessed. It appears the curse slave switched his body again, as Mark''s brother''s smartphone was in the same location for the past hour, and when Dame Wasp tried to eavesdrop on the phone''s surroundings through its microphone she heard sounds of dogs tearing and chewing on flesh but there was no sign of a human presence.


    Knowing some gangsters liked to keep savage dogs to gain rep and intimidate others, Ace assumed the worst. However, one thing was certain, the cruse slave would not rest until he had raided all the 9Ks''s stash. The 9Ks will never be able to recover from this and mostly likely be made an example by the cartel they were dealing with. As for the beef between the cartel and the curse slave, Ace did not concern himself with it. He was just happy that the curse slave acted as his patsy.


    ¡­


    *Knock* *Knock*


    "Ace, you up?" It was Danny, the last person Ace would expect to knock on his door as his lazy cousin would text him if he needed something rather than come find him.  S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "One moment," He answered, as he went through the status screen to see his progress.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    > Curse art ''Body Reinforcement'' mastery increased.


    i) +12% proficiency


    ii) +9 physical stats


    Note:


    i) Continued practice of curse art will increase its proficiency.


    ii) Rigorous practice of curse art will increase related stats.]


    Satisfied with gains, Ace opened the door welcoming a well-dressed and groomed Danny into his room, "Good morning."


    Danny rushed into his cousin''s room without greeting him back. Then began to pace around the room nervously. Seeing him like this Ace could not help but ask in concern, "Everything alright?"


    Danny did not answer him, instead took out his phone and began to fiddle with it. Ace patiently waited giving his cousin his space and soon his phone rang with a message notification. Seeing it was from the bank, he went through it to learn that his cousin had transferred $10,000 to his account, "Danny, what the fuck? Didn''t you promise Auntie to return the money to Uncle making an excuse that the online course was canceled?"


    "Ace, Mandy told me that she has invested $30,000 in your trading venture, I want in. Hence, the $10,000," Danny''s forehead was covered in sweat as he explained showing that it wasn''t easy for him to make this decision. After all, he was already in hot water with his mother and his actions now were akin to pushing her limits.


    "Do your parents know about this?" Ace asked having guessed the answer. So, he wasn''t surprised to hear his cousin say, "What do you think? Of course not."


    Shaking his head Ace prepared to persuade Danny otherwise but before he could get to it the latter spoke with a grave tone, "Ace, they will not understand even if I told them. Besides, I will pay them back once you give me my share of profits."


    "Bro, I appreciate your trust and faith in me but there is a lot of risk involved in this. Even if I were lucky and did everything right it would take months for me to earn a decent profit let alone a 200 percent profit such that you can pay back your parents after I keep my share¡ª" Before Ace could finish Danny interrupted him, "Dude, regardless of what happens I will take full responsibility. Just tell me you got my back on this one."


    Listening to Danny, Ace stared at him wondering where his confidence in him came from. He too was confident thanks to Dame Wasp''s ability to make bank but Danny did not know that. Besides, he didn''t readily agree with Danny because he did not want to encourage such behavior as it could easily escalate into a bad habit that was hard to get rid of.


    Therefore, he asked, "Danny, this isn''t like you. What makes you so confident in my skills? Or are you just too desperate to gather enough money to buy the sex doll you wanted?"


    "This is not about that but me trying to profit from Mandy''s luck," Danny denied his cousin''s accusations giving the reason behind his action.


    "Say what now?" Ace exclaimed in bafflement.


    "You see, Mandy has the midas touch. Anything she undertakes or bets on, regardless of how ordinary they seem ends up making a killing. Why else do you think a 21-year-old high school graduate has a net worth in the millions when her classmates are buried in college loans? If she trusts you enough to invest $30,000 in you, my only regret is that I do not have the money to match her investment in you," Danny explained in a hushed but deep voice as if he was sharing a top secret not to be shared with anyone. Showing he had a future as a conspiracy theorist.


    "Danny, are you hearing yourself right now?" Ace remarked finding his cousin''s reason for his actions retarded even though his speculation about Mandy making a killing by investing in him couldn''t be more accurate.


    "Bro, I know this sounds insane but did you know that our cattle were sold for a record high price the year Mandy had bought her ranch? My father has been running a ranch for several decades now but he never sold cattle for such high prices. I am telling you, man, some people are destined to make money without even trying and our Mandy is one of them," Danny stood by this superstitious theory despite the judgemental looks his cousin gave him.


    "I agree Mandy did have a few lucky breaks but I don''t think it''s wise of you¡ª" Ace was once again interrupted by his cousin who locked eyes with him and pleaded, "Dude, don''t make me beg."


    "Fuck it, I got you cus but my service ain''t cheap. I take fifty percent of all profits," Ace agreed, seeing no point in trying to argue with Danny about Mandy having midas touch or not. Besides, Danny''s $10,000 will bolster his initial investment making his earnings at the end of the week more believable. So, he did not see any point in continuing to reject Danny.

 Chapter 74: Lander Men

    Chapter 74: Lander MenCleaning himself up Ace headed downstairs for breakfast to find everyone at the dining table. Danny still hadn''t left for school and the kitchen was a mess. His mother and Pam hurried around to set a decent breakfast for the family while his father, uncle, and Mandy enjoyed their morning coffee sticking their eyes to their smart devices.


    "Good morning everyone," Ace greeted as he seated at the dinning table next to his cousin who was engrossed in a MOBA game on his overpriced handheld console.


    "Good morning," everyone greeted back without sparing him a glance causing Ace to feel lonely even if he was at the table with the people he cared for most.


    "Ace, have some juice. Breakfast will be right up. We are running late thanks to certain someone," Pam said as she poured him a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice giving her husband the stink eye.


    Listening to his aunt''s words, Ace''s expression froze as he screamed in his mind, ''Auntie Pam, too much information. I don''t want to know what you, husband and wife, do in your bedroom at night.''


    "How many times do I have to apologize? I overslept alright. Every day I wake up at four in the morning like clockwork but I don''t know why today I overslept," Dan argued, helping Ace realize he had misunderstood his aunt''s words. Not dwelling on it, he pondered if Emi''s talisman was to be blamed for this.


    "You still refuse to use an alarm clock, huh," Al commented on his brother''s quirk while scrolling through his iPad.


    "Not only does he not use an alarm clock he doesn''t allow me to use one. He says it is a matter of pride for him but if Marty had not woken us up the cattle would still be starving and rolling in their filth," Pam complained.  S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She had to put her regular household work on hold to team up with Dan and their ranch hand Marty to make up for the lost time. As any respected rancher would, Pam and Dan prioritized their cattle over anything else. Therefore, she could not prepare the breakfast on time.


    "Pam, you should have woken me up. If nothing else I could have helped prepare the breakfast at the least," Mary said as she whisked the eggs to prepare scrambled eggs despite Pam asking her not to and enjoy her morning coffee with the rest.


    "Now, that is her matter of pride. She could never allow her guests to cook their own breakfast. It must be killing her to share her kitchen with you," Mandy chimed in, putting down her phone. Then, she turned to look at Ace and flirtatiously said, "Hey, you."


    Ace ignored her but Pam warned with a stern voice, "Mandy!"


    "What?" Mandy acted innocent frustrating Pam who ordered her, "Help me set up the table."


    "Breakfast isn''t even ready yet," Mandy argued, yet she reluctantly headed into the kitchen to fetch clean cutlery and set the table.


    The table was finally quiet again, but the silence was soon broken by Dan who asked his nephew his plans for the day, "Ace, what do you plan to do today? Don''t tell me you plan to hole up in your room the entire day."


    "Yep, that is exactly what I plan to do," Ace answered without any shame or doubt as that was the only way for him not to let his uncle force him into helping him.


    "You can do that any other day. Today, we are going crabbing at the lake. Danny, you are coming too," Dan decided for everyone.


    "Dad, what about school?" Danny asked lifting his head to face his father, finally hearing something worth diverting his attention from his game.


    "You are going to miss the first period anyway. So, take the morning off and go in the afternoon," Dan said ignoring his wife''s stare knowing what exactly she had to say.


    "Yes!" Danny exclaimed. With his dad''s love for his boat, they would end up spending the entire day at the lake so he wouldn''t be able to attend school in the afternoon and would get the whole day off.


    With her son''s blatant celebration, Pam''s stare at her husband intensified. No matter how thick Dan''s skin was he could no longer ignore his wife and remarked, "Pam, it is not every day all the Lander men get the chance to spend some quality time together. Besides, Marty will handle things at the ranch."


    "Fine, do you need me to pack the lunch?" Pam agreed, as her husband made a sound argument. Like her son, she knew her husband would end up spending the entire day at the lake so she offered to pack some lunch.


    "Thank you, hon, but today we eat what we catch. Right, guys," Dan looked at his fellow Lander men for support but not getting any he wanted to repeat himself aloud only to be stopped by his brother''s deadpan look.


    "Just the men? I am sure Mary would love the lake," Mandy brought up Mary, knowing Dan would reject her if she demanded to tag along with them on their ''boy''s trip.''


    Before Dan could say something, Mary spoke for herself knowing what Mandy was up to, "Nope, I won''t."


    She felt sunbathing on the boat deck surrounded by a beautiful lake was a good way to spend her break but she couldn''t stand the thought of Mandy in her revealing bikini trying to seduce her son.


    "You heard her. It''s decided, the Lander men are going crabbing. AI, help me carry the cooler and fishing gear on the boat while I hitch the boat trailer to the car," Dan left hurriedly before Mandy could demand him to bring her on the trip. Just like that Dan hijacked Ace''s schedule for the day.


    "Sure," Al would rather spend his day on the couch with his iPad sipping his coffee or beer but he went along with his brother''s demand feeling it would be a good experience for his son.


    "I will help too," Ace tagged along with his uncle and father after emptying the glass of orange juice in a hurry.


    "Aren''t you coming?" Dan stopped in his tracks and asked his son who returned to playing on his handheld console.


    "No, call me when it''s time to go," Danny said, but seeing his father wasn''t going to take no for an answer, he reasoned, "I haven''t had my breakfast yet."


    "Neither did we. Stop making excuses and follow me, it won''t hurt if you skip a few breakfasts," Dan ordered his son indirectly calling him fat. Danny complained to his mother, "Mom¡­" But to his surprise, his mother who never judged him for being obese agreed with his father, "Son, go help your father. I will call you when the breakfast is ready."


    As much as Pam wanted to respect her son''s choices, let him make his mistakes, and learn from them she could not help but compare him to her nephew who looked like the god''s gift to humankind, and ultimately found herself forcing her ideals on her son.


    Dan was the most shocked and elated to see his wife take his side about their lazy son for once. So, he could not help but grin ear to ear as he hurried his son, "You heard her, move your ass. Help me carry the crab nets and the fishing gear onto the boat."


    Betrayed by his mother, Danny could only submit to his father''s wishes commenting, "What''s the point of having the boat if you don''t keep your fishing gear in it?"


    "Uncle, where is the cooler? I will move it on the boat," Ace offered, ignoring Danny''s comments.


    "Wait, the cooler is filled with ice and beer, it will take at least two people to move it. Let me remove the tarp covering the boat first, then I can help you move the cooler," Dan was impressed to see his nephew take the initiative. He would love to see some of it in his son but he would be satisfied if he did his share of the job without complaining.


    "No need, I can manage," Ace insisted on moving the cooler by himself. He wasn''t a fan of fishing but with the presence of Dame Wasp, he looked forward to it.


    The brothers wanted to advise Ace not to push himself but glancing at his bulging muscle tightly wrapped in his t-shirt, they swallowed their words wanting to see if Ace could truly move the cooler onto the boat alone.

 Chapter 75: Treasure Hunt Madness

    Chapter 75: Treasure Hunt Madness"There it is. See if you can pick it up," Dan pointed Ace to the white Yeti Thandra 210 cooler under the garage tool table as Alwin helped Danny carry the crab nets, fishing rods, and other gear from the corner of the small barn-turned garage.


    Tightening his grip on the handles of the cooler, Ace effortlessly lifted it and commented, "It is not that heavy." Astonishing Dan and Alwin. Thinking of another possibility, Danny asked his father, "Dad, is the cooler empty?"


    "Nope, we stocked it yesterday night," Dan blurted out the secret that the brothers had planned this trip last night. Alwin glared at his elder brother and remarked, "And you call yourself a veteran. From oversleeping to your loose tongue, you are slipping Dan. We should have been at the lake hours ago, we missed the prime time for crabbing."  S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I know, I know," Dan remarked feeling guilty.


    The brothers had planned that Dan would complete his daily duties at the ranch early with Marty''s help and they would leave for the lake at dawn. They intended to ambush their families with their plan so that their sons couldn''t say no and their wives wouldn''t tag along at such short notice. However, because Dan overslept, it was past eight and they still hadn''t hitched the boat trailer to the car.


    "Can''t we just go tomorrow?" Danny pointed out while his body did its best to carry the fishing gear. "You would like that wouldn''t you?" Dan snapped knowing his son was scheming to miss school two days in a row. Then, he enthusiastically declared, "We go today and We enjoy ourselves."


    "Um, guys. Let us get moving," Ace reminded everyone to get moving. He had placed the cooler down, pretending the cooler was indeed heavy for him even though his increased physical stats made hauling this amount of weight next to nothing for him.


    "Don''t push yourself, let me give you a hand," Dan laughed as he grasped one handle. Together, the uncle and nephew hauled the cooler to the boat trailer at the entrance of the barn.


    "Uncle, I don''t remember your boat being this big?" Ace said looking at the 27ft long beauty hidden under a gray tarp as they placed the cooler on the ground.


    "The old one felt crowded with four or more people on it. So, I bought a new one this year. It''s a stock white 2024 Seaborn LX22 center console boat. I am telling you, you will fall in love with it once you see the storage space," Dan''s inner boat geek came out as he unfastened the tarp off it.


    "Amazing, we can spend the night at the lake if we want to," Alwin commented aloud, having climbed onto the boat. Then he signaled his son and brother to lift the cooler to him so he could move it onto the boat and fasten it. Though decades of city life had suppressed the country in him, it would surface at moments like this. Especially, when he was in the presence of a 27 ft long water nymph.


    "Let us do that," Ace suddenly expressed aloud, surprising everyone. Especially, his father, "I thought you hated fishing, son."


    "What can I say, Dad? Uncle Dan was right. I fell in love with the boat. It was love at first sight," Ace lied as he and his uncle lifted the cooler above their heads so his dad could pull the cooler onto the boat.


    Resting the cooler on the boat, Alwin asked his son, "Are you serious?"


    Ace nod. There was a story behind why he was so enthusiastic about their outing. The lake they were visiting was popularly known as ''The Treasure Lake.''


    During the early 1800s, the beauty of the lake and its rich marine life along with the healthy agricultural land in its surroundings attracted the wealthy and powerful to invest in it and settle around it. Their combined wealth attracted merchants from all over the country. By the mid-1800s, it had become the prime hub to buy luxury goods such as diamond and gold jewelry. However, at the end of the mid-1800s, the civil war happened.


    Learning that the rebel army was coming for their wealth, the townsmen and merchants sought help from the allied army but because of the stormy wheather they would not be able to send help in time. Desperate, despite the unpredictable weather, they loaded all their valuables on their boats to cross the lake to seek refuge with the Allied forces. However, they were caught in the biggest storm recorded in that century and then a landslide.


    On that unfateful night, many lives were lost and all the wealth they risked their lives to protect was scattered in the lake by the storm and later buried in the lake by the landslide. The rebel army had its men and best divers salvage as many riches as possible from the lake and its surroundings and fled when the allied army finally arrived. Then, the allied forces continued where the rebel forces left.


    The rebel and allied army could not take all the wealth that was buried in the lake that night as over the years many divers and fishermen have fished various treasures from the bottom of the lake or its shores. It even led to a treasure hunt madness in the late 1800s and early 1900s.


    Though its hype had died down lately, the treasure hunt madness was still strong enough to force the local authorities to make unlicensed diving, fishing, and use of magnets in the lake illegal to protect the wildlife and habitat of the lake. However, people were allowed to use metal detectors by the lake shore, its beach, and its surroundings to fulfill their treasure hunt fantasies.


    This tradition has been a hot topic ever since it was featured in many outdoor magazines and aired on many national channels, attracting tourists from all over the country. Even Ace has many happy childhood memories of him, his sister, and cousins renting metal detectors in the stores by the shore and searching for treasures all day long. Though they did not find anything worth selling, they had tons of fun together and made many happy memories.


    However, recently a few activist groups have been protesting by the lake to stop this tradition claiming that people digging around the lake for treasure was destroying surrounding habitats dependent on the lake. The current local government had made no comments on it and was ignoring them but the opposition was supporting them and flaming the fire.


    Since the elections were nearing, if the activists managed to get some of the locals'' support they might get what they wanted. After all, many locals hate the monopoly the resorts have gained on the lake by buying all the land around it and shutting down local businesses using illegal and cutthroat business practices.


    The treasure hunt tradition had now become a tool for these resorts to pull in tourists. They have spent a fortune and gone to many lengths to keep it alive. They did not hesitate to create and spread fake treasure hunt success stories on social media and national news. With elections on the brink if these activists played their cards right they might get what they want. So, this might be the only window for Ace to make a fortune from the lake using Dame Wasp under the guise of a metal detector treasure hunt.


    Listening to his brother and nephew discuss spending the night on the lake, Dan immediately agreed with them and exclaimed excitedly, "I can finally use the solar planes I paid extra to install on the boat''s roof rack." Then, he barked orders left and right, "Al, check the weather. We are spending the night at the lake! Danny, go fetch the sleeping bags and camping gear after you are done moving the fishing gear onto the boat. Ace, you follow me, I will teach you how to hitch a trailer to a car."


    "Dad, can''t we stay at the resort by the lake?" Danny suggested, not wanting to spend an entire night in a sleeping bag on the boat in the middle of a lake. Though he liked the idea of missing school for two days in a row, he wasn''t willing to compromise his comfort, screen time, and sleep over that.


    "Ace, go bring the navigator around," Dan passed his car''s keys to Ace pretending he did not hear his son. Only to hear Danny complain, "Don''t I get a say in this?"


    "No, you don''t. Now stop arguing and go get the sleeping bags and camping gear. I will help your uncle load the fishing gear and crab nets on the boat," Dan chilled his son seeing him struggling to lift the rods and nets above his head and pass it to Alwin.


    "Fine!" Dropping the fishing gear and crab nets on the ground, Danny hurried to fetch the camping gear in a fit only to hear his father warn him, "If you dare to complain or rat on us to your mother, I swear I will break all the video game stuff in your room."


    Dan knew his son the best. Similarly, Danny was Dan''s son, he almost lost it in rage but controlled his emotions fearing his actions now might put his love, Esmeralda, at risk. So he could only swallow his anger and follow his father''s arrangements. He knew better than anyone that his father was a man of his word, he would uphold his words regardless of the consequences.


    "Dan, take it easy. He is just a kid, your kid," Al reminded his brother when Danny stepped out of the barn.


    "Al, he has no interest in studies and shamelessly keeps bragging about inheriting the ranch. He needs to toughen up if he wants to survive on the ranch after I am gone," Dan as a father had his fears.


    He feared his good-for-nothing son would not survive the country without his protection. He just wanted a little assurance that his son would be alright if anything were to happen to him. He did not believe leaving his son a huge fortune was a solution because, with his son''s current mindset and skills, he would lose it all within a year.


    Nor did he want to burden Mandy with his dimwit son. Deep in his heart, he wanted Mandy to inherit his ranch. He considered her as the daughter he never had. If not for the fear of complicating the family tree he would have adopted her as his daughter. Though Mandy was no cowgirl, she had the mindset of a strong businesswoman. He believed with proper support and guidance Mandy could run her own Agribusiness or become a Ranch Operator. That was only if she wanted to.

 Chapter 76: Project Dark Starpedo

    Chapter 76: Project Dark Starpedo"Honey, what are you doing with the expensive wine? I''m saving it for a special day," Pam said, raising an eyebrow as she watched Dan bring her prized wine bottle from their wine cellar after finishing his breakfast.


    "It''s for the sheriff''s wife," Dan replied, his tone casual as he carefully set the bottle down. "I asked the sheriff not to release Hank until I get there," he explained, glancing at Pam.  S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Because Dan started his day late, his plans were delayed. As a result, he had to pull a favor with the sheriff to catch Hank at the station before he had a chance to blab about seeing a ghost in the auto salvage yard. So, Pam could only bid a helpless goodbye to her prized wine bottle, watching as Dan took it away with a resigned sigh.


    On his way out, Dan noticed a packed suitcase by the door and asked, "Whose luggage is this?"


    "Us girls plan to hit the resort while you and the boys spend two days on the lake," Pam replied with a deadpan grin, her expression implying, ''I know everything.''


    Dan''s face froze as he struggled to find words to defend himself. After a moment, he gave up and pleaded, "Honey, please don''t be mad. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision."


    "I''m not mad," Pam said, but her eyes told a different story.


    "Was it Danny?" Dan quickly blamed his good-for-nothing son, planning to retaliate.


    "No, I heard you on the phone, instructing Marty to hire extra help for tonight and tomorrow''s ranch work because you''ll be out camping and crabbing," Pam revealed. Then, pointing at the trolley she added, "Could you place the suitcase in the car? I''m sure you can make some time in your busy schedule to drop us off and pick us up at the resort."


    "With the luggage taking up the third-row seating, I don''t think the Navigator can seat all of us," Dan said, hoping to force his luck.


    "Mandy''s driving her own car," Pam responded coolly. "If Danny rides with her, I''m sure your car can seat the rest of us." Her expression made it clear she wasn''t buying any excuses.


    "Can''t you three take your car?" Dan argued, but being glared by his wife he caved, "Your idea sounds better honey."


    Dan shock his head dejectedly, knowing his wife was being unreasonable to punish him for making plans without involving her. He could only resign to his fate and cancel his plans to give his son and nephew a little taste of the adult life that his wife and sister-in-law would never approve of. Dan sighed inwardly, as things did not go as his plan since the start. He''d be playing chauffeur, far from the wild trip he had imagined.


    ¡­


    "Dan, what''s with the pink bag and the wine?" Al asked, sitting in the passenger seat, ready to go.


    "Change of plans," Dan replied, exhaling heavily. "We''re dropping off the women at the resort," he informed his brother, signaling that their wild trip was officially off.


    Al sighed, his mood souring even more when Danny chimed in from the back, "Then I''m staying at the resort too."


    "No, you''ll be staying at the hospital if you don''t shut up," Dan snapped at his son, who quickly buried his face in his handheld console, trying to stay out of further trouble.


    "Ace, you''re traveling with Mandy to the resort, there you can switch cars," Dan instructed, determined to keep an eye on Danny. He knew his son would pick a resort over boating any day if given the chance, and Dan wasn''t about to let that happen.


    "Uncle, I don''t mind sitting in the third row. I can adjust, the lake isn''t that far," Ace proposed not wanting to be alone with Mandy.


    "Nah, we will be stopping at the sheriff''s station first. Just go ride with Mandy," Dan reject Ace without giving it much thought. He did not seem to notice the tension between Ace and Mandy. After all, he trusted Ace and Mandy more than his own flesh and blood, Danny.


    Ace sighed as he stepped out of the car and headed to garage to meet up with Mandy while he heard his uncle complained to his father, "How much longer are they going to take to come out of the house? We are already late."


    ¡­


    "Print all the documents and meet me at the sheriff''s station." Arriving at the garage, Ace heard Mandy on a call. Noticing him, she hung up and asked, "Pam said Danny would be riding with me. Don''t tell me you switched to be with me."


    "No way. I came because he got in trouble for his big mouth," Ace replied, his attention immediately drawn to the spotless jet-black 1967 Chevrolet Corvette C2 Stingray behind her. Its sleek lines were hard to ignore. Curious, he peeked inside, admiring the modified red interior.


    "What do you think?" Mandy asked, though she wasn''t sure why. She usually didn''t care about other people''s opinions on her car''s modification.


    "Mind-blowing," Ace said, genuinely impressed. "It looks like the black version of Red Racer''s car *Starpedo.* It''s even cooler with that touchscreen display and exotic center console. How did you come up with this? It''s amazing!" His enthusiasm asked as he reminisced about one of his favorite childhood cartoons. It was a old cartoon from way back in the 60s. Due to its popularity and record breaking merchandise sales, they air its reruns even today.


    Mandy couldn''t help but crack a small smile. "It was my dad''s project. He called it Dark Starpedo," she said, shrugging it off, though clearly pleased with his reaction. "He was a huge fan of Red Racer. He never got to finish it as my late and unexpected addition to the family took a huge chunk out of his retirement fund. So, when I inherited it and had more than enough money to spare, I hired people to finish it in his vision," she shared finding Ace more pleasing to her eyes.


    "Can I drive it?" Ace asked, eager to fulfill his dream of driving the iconic Starpedo even it was a fan''s reimagined version.


    "Nope," Mandy instinctively rejected him, without even considering it. Then, playfully added, "I might consider it if we were seeing each other."


    "Never in a million years," Ace rejected, sliding into the car''s passenger seat.

 Chapter 77: The Realtor Queen

    Chapter 77: The Realtor Queen"A big plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, hashbrowns, pancakes, and a pitcher of beer¡ª"


    "Hank, we had breakfast at home. And isn''t it a bit too early for beer?"


    Sitting in the diner across from the sheriff''s office, surrounded by the aroma of sizzling bacon, pancakes, and the clatter of dishes, Alwin''s jaw dropped as he listened to old Hank recite his hearty order to the waitress. When Hank ordered a pitcher of beer, Al misunderstood, thinking it was for all three of them, and hastily interrupted.


    "Al, that is Hank''s regular order," Dan explained, shaking his head.


    Listening to his brother, Al looked at Hank as if he were staring at a medical marvel. Unable to comprehend how Hank''s heart and liver were still functioning, Al sat in disbelief. The waitress, amused by Al''s shocked expression, remarked, "Hank is big eater. Would you two gentlemen like coffee or something else?"


    "No, thank you, Dorothy. We''re good for now. But please bring the beer over a few minutes later. We need to discuss business with Hank," Dan politely declined. Dorothy nodded and left, aware that discussing business with Hank while he enjoyed a beer was futile.


    "You guys planning to hit the lake with your families?" Hank asked, eyeing the boat trailer outside the window.


    "My nephew wants to go fishing, so we are," Dan nodded, then turned to Hank in a serious tone. "About last night, did you really see a ghost, or was it just the booze playing tricks on you?"


    "Dan, I''ve passed out drunk in that auto salvage yard countless times over the years, but I''ve never experienced anything like last night," Hank exaggerated, swearing in a hushed voice. "I swear on my unborn grandchild, there was a ghost, and it chased me out of there. If I''d been any slower, you''d be searching for my remains now."


    Dan had previously warned Hank that rumors of the yard being haunted could hurt its value, so Hank had kept quiet about his fear¡ªuntil Dan asked him directly.


    The fear in Hank''s eyes was evident, making Dan wonder if there was some truth to his story. Shaking his head, Dan asked, "So, what do you plan to do now?"


    Hank frowned. "Didn''t we already talk about this on the phone last night?"


    "I just want to confirm with you again before I take you to Mandy. You know how serious she gets about these things," Dan explained, though he was really stalling until Mandy''s ex-colleague arrived with the necessary documents. His task was to keep Hank away from booze until the deal was done.


    Hank nodded, then declared, "I want to sell the auto salvage yard. I need Mandy to help sell it as soon as possible. There, I said it. Now can you call her in?"


    It was no secret that Mandy was the best realtor in town. Her rapid success at such a young age was proof of that. Hank firmly believed that if anyone could sell the land quickly in this town in the current market, it was Mandy.


    Seeing a black Prius pull up outside the diner, Dan agreed. "I''ll call her in." Through the glass window, he signaled to Mandy, who was greeting her ex-colleague exiting the Prius.


    "Dan, we''ve been friends for many years, right?" Hank began.


    "Don''t worry, Hank. I''ve asked Mandy to give you the friends and family rate," Dan assured him. As Mandy and her ex-colleague entered the diner, Dan signaled Al to follow him outside.


    As the brothers left, Dorothy prepared to bring Hank''s pitcher of beer, but a slender, lily-white hand holding a crisp hundred-dollar bill stopped her. It was Mandy. Peering over her sunglasses, she looked at Dorothy''s wrinkled face and said, "You know what to do."


    Placing the beer pitcher back under the counter, Dorothy took the hundred-dollar bill and pressed it to her chest, promising, "I''ll treat him like a king for the next hour."


    "Where are you two headed?" Al asked, running into his troublemaker nephew and suspiciously-well-behaved son at the diner''s entrance.


    "I''m bringing Ace to see Mandy in action. Uncle, you should join us. It''s like watching a work of art," Danny said, hurrying into the diner with Ace.


    As his son and nephew walked past them, Al asked his brother, "Is Mandy really that good?"


    "He''s exaggerating, but yeah, she''s pretty good. It''s a pity she hates workplace politics. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have retired from real estate so early," Dan replied with a sigh, regretting her early retirement.


    "At least she knows what she wants and built a solid safety net for herself. My eldest keeps changing her goals every year," Al said, still coming to terms with his daughter giving up a career in animation to become a comic artist. He wanted to be supportive, but he worried she''d end up living in his basement, especially if she got involved with a useless boyfriend.


    Inside, Hank was shocked by Mandy''s proposal. "You want to buy my auto salvage yard?" he asked.


    "No, I don''t want to. I have to, as a favor for my brother-in-law," Mandy said, preferring to be straightforward. She disliked playing games.


    She believed the important thing was ensuring all parties were happy with the transaction. Her trick was getting everyone to agree on a price that felt fair, without any games or secrecy. Though it wasn''t easy, Mandy had a way of making people feel comfortable enough to speak openly. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "How so?" Hank asked, still confused.


    "Your yard is next to my brother-in-law''s ranch. If it''s really haunted as you claim, word will eventually get out, which could affect property values in the area," Mandy explained, while omitting some truths that might complicate things.


    "And how does you buying it change that?" Hank asked, still skeptical.


    "First, no realtor would dare sell your auto salvage yard without revealing the real reason you''re selling. Hiding it could expose them to litigation, and you''d also be liable if you failed to disclose it. Even though no one can prove in court that the yard is haunted, you''d still face consequences for not being upfront. These kinds of cases tend to attract tabloids and social media attention. No reputable realtor would want to deal with that, and neither do I. But since it affects people I know, I''m willing to buy it myself to avoid all the trouble. However, you''ll have to sign an NDA, agreeing not to talk about what you saw last night or gossip about the yard being haunted," Mandy explained patiently, detailing the consequences of Hank''s request. Though retired, she took her job very seriously and wasn''t willing to compromise her ethics as a realtor over this.


    "Don''t you care that it''s haunted?" Hank asked Mandy with concern, realizing things were more complicated than he''d assumed. He had watched Mandy grow up before his eyes and didn''t want to knowingly harm a child of his town, especially considering his relationship with Dan.


    "Don''t worry," Mandy reassured him, "I plan to dump all the dirty junk you''ve collected over the decades in a landfill and plow the land. No matter how low-grade the soil is, it should be able to grow fodder for cattle. It''s important that I get rid of the salvage yard before rumors about it being haunted spread around town." She explained her plan, assuring Hank that she had thought it through.


    "That''s good. Tell me where to sign," Hank replied, feeling relieved that no one would be harmed because of his family''s salvage yard. He had grown up in this town and knew everyone, especially those with land near his. He didn''t want stories about the yard being haunted to affect his friends'' property values.


    He was deeply grateful that Mandy was handling things properly and couldn''t have been more satisfied with her work. He trusted her so much that he didn''t even bother to hear her offer, let alone negotiate for a higher price. He was ready to sign away his family''s land, trusting Mandy blindly.


    "Your daughter told me you and your son are planning to move to her city to be closer to her and her children. This should be enough for both of you to get settled and start fresh," Mandy said, signaling her ex-colleague, who passed Hank the paperwork.


    She had contacted Hank''s daughter and learned that he was planning to move to her city to be closer to his grandchildren but couldn''t let go of the family''s salvage yard. However, the incident the night before had helped him make his decision.


    Looking through the documents, Hank exclaimed, "$420,000! That''s like $42,000 per acre¡ªthat''s too generous." The offer was much higher than he had expected. Once the initial shock wore off, he shook his head and added, "No, this isn''t right."


    "Mr. Hank, this is a very generous offer. If I were you, I''d take it," Mandy''s ex-colleague frowned, trying to persuade Hank not to be greedy.


    "I''ve spent my whole life on that land, so I know how much it''s worth. This offer is indeed generous. Let''s reduce it to $350,000. After all, you''ll still have to pay out of your pocket to clear the junk and prepare the land for farming," Hank insisted. He didn''t want to owe Mandy more than he already did. Though the junk he and his family collected over several decades was worth something to someone or as scrap, but he trusted Mandy''s instinct to bump it in a landfill since he really believed that his auto salvage yard was truly haunted. This had to be done such that no unsuspecting innocent person would be harmed in this.


    His family had moved to the town when it was still a small village. The town and its people had helped them survive tough times. Despite his reputation as a drunk, Hank wanted to ensure that when he left, the townsfolk would remember his family in their prayers, not with curses. Mandy had made that possible. Although his mind had been clouded by greed upon seeing her offer, his heart didn''t want to take advantage of her, so he chose to do the right thing.


    "Hank, I considered all of that when I made the offer. You don''t need to feel burdened. Just sign it, and don''t forget to visit us once in a while," Mandy replied. She had indeed factored in all the costs of cleaning the land and getting it ready for cattle grazing. Although she preferred straightforward and honest deals, that didn''t mean she would sacrifice her interests to help others.


    "Hahaha, I still remember how worried Dan was when you refused to go to college. But look at you now, all grown up into a capable woman. I can''t help but envy Dan in that regard. I wish my daughter was half as smart as you," Hank said, making small talk as he took the pen from Mandy''s ex-colleague and signed the property transfer documents and NDA.


    Watching Hank sign the papers, Ace, who was sitting at the diner counter, looked at Mandy in awe. He had heard she was good, but seeing her in action was enlightening experience. He realized that she had done all her homework before approaching Hank with an offer. What amazed him most was that she''d done it all in the span of a single night. That was some serious skill.


    "Mandy, now that the yard matter is settled, I''d like your help with my house. It''s old and shabby, but I''m sure it''s worth something to someone," Hank said, having signed the papers and taken a $420,000 check from Mandy''s ex-colleague.


    "First, let me introduce you to Jared. We used to work together, and I''ve told him about your house. He''s interested in buying it for $82,000. If you agree, we can transfer it right away," Mandy said, scaring Ace and Danny who were watching from the sidelines. Her performance was almost as if she could see the future.


    Although she could have fetched a better price, the house was in poor condition, having seen no maintenance for nearly half a century. It was surprising it was still standing. Other than the frame, Jared would have to renovate the entire structure. That offer was mostly for the land and it''s thriving borewell. They had come to an agreement¡ªMandy would help him buy the house, and Jared would handle all the legal work for the salvage yard transfer and handling the relocation of the junk in it.


    "Deal," Hank agreed readily, grinning from ear to ear. He couldn''t believe someone was willing to buy his dump for $82,000. With this he was now worth half a million. He couldn''t be more satisfied with Mandy''s service. He thanked his lucky stars that he made the decision to chose her over some big name real estate agency. She solved all his problems in a single meeting. Now he was free to move whenever he pleased.


    To all CADL readers: I will update two chapters for CADL within next few hours. I trying to establish a schedule which would allow me update both my works daily. Please bear with me.

 Chapter 78: Greedy Greg

    Chapter 78: Greedy Greg"Come meet me at the salvage yard with the transfer deed in two days," Mandy ordered Jared from the driver''s seat of her Stingray, giving him time to settle the legal matters.


    "Sure," Jared nodded, though he seemed hesitant. Noticing this, Mandy asked, "What is it? Speak your mind."


    "It''s Mr. Greg. He increased his offer for the yard to $360,000," Jared replied, showing her his IM with Greg, but immediately regretted mentioning it. After all, it wasn''t relevant¡ªMandy had already bought the yard. Plus, Greg''s offer was fifty thousand dollars shy of Mandy''s, though it was ten thousand more than what Hank was willing to settle for.


    "Tell that greedy old fool to go to hell with his offer. I shouldn''t have approached him in the first place. Now I have to rush things because of him," Mandy snapped. After a moment, regaining her composure, she added, "Make an offer of $900,000 for his 25 acres by the salvage yard."


    "Mandy, are you sure you want to spend so much money on land only good for growing fodder? Besides, $900,000 is too low. He won''t even consider it," Jared pointed out. He also didn''t understand why Mandy was so intent on buying up farmland. Even going as far as to sell her shares in a promising local indie game company.


    "If he refuses to negotiate, tell him he''ll need to find another water supply for his plantation. Let him know I''m no pushover like Hank," Mandy asserted, dismissing Jared''s concerns.


    "Mandy¡ª"


    "See you in two days," Mandy interrupted, cutting off Jared''s attempt to persuade her, before stepping on the accelerator. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace, an unwilling spectator to all this, sat silently in the passenger seat of the Stingray, not daring to speak. He couldn''t figure out why, but Mandy seemed genuinely furious with this old guy, Greg. He''d met Mr. Greg once before and remembered him as a mean old man, so he assumed Mandy had a good reason for being so upset.


    Soon, Mandy''s phone rang, breaking the tense silence in the car. Ace managed to sneak a peek at the caller ID as Mandy reached for her phone. It read "Greedy Greg." Seeing this, Mandy rejected the call, switched off her phone, and threw it onto the dashboard, fully aware of why Greg was calling. Jared should have already informed him that Hank''s yard was no longer on the market, as Mandy was now the owner.


    "Want to talk about it?" Ace asked, his concern motivated by the fact that Mandy, in her anger, seemed to have forgetten how to drive, with her foot glued to the gas pedal.


    "Enjoy the rest of your high school days as much as you can, because once you enter the society, things will change very fast. Well, you''ve still got college, so forget I said that," Mandy sighed, finally easing her foot off the gas.


    "What''s wrong? In your line of work, you must be used to dealing with people like Greg by now, right?" Ace asked, hoping to learn more about Mandy. Having seen her at her best, he was thoroughly impressed by her.


    "No, I am not. Which is why I quit after I earned enough," Mandy said, tight-lipped at first, but then she suddenly opened up. "I had to sell my shares in a local indie game company to get the money to buy the yard."


    That''s when it hit Ace¡ªhow did Mandy manage to buy Hank''s yard and make an offer on Greg''s land when she''d already spent most of her money starting her own ranch? It turns out she had invested in a local indie game company that was doing well¡ªso well that Mandy regretted selling her shares. He learned this as Mandy recounted her struggle to gather the funds to acquire Hank''s auto salvage yard.


    According to her, she hadn''t planned to buy Hank''s land at first, as neither she nor Dan had the extra funds to do so. But, against her better judgment, she reached out to Greg, who owned 25 acres on the west side of Hank''s yard. Greg had been buying water from Hank''s borewell to meet the needs of his 60-acre avocado plantation, so Mandy assumed he''d be reasonable.


    With declining underground water levels, the local authorities had banned new borewells and imposed strict regulations for getting licenses to drill. However, borewells drilled before the ban could still be used. But many older wells had dried up in recent decade which prompted strict monitoring of underground water usage in the first place.


    Fortunately for Hank, both of his borewells¡ªone at his house and the other in the salvage yard¡ªwere still thriving with no signs of depletion. This was the primary reason his property fetched such a high price, farmland without a proper water source was practically worthless. Since Hank''s auto salvage yard didn''t require much water, he sold most of it to Greg for cheap, due to the close ties between their families.


    However, Greg, forgetting Hank''s help, tried to take advantage of his situation by offering a lowball price for the yard. This didn''t sit well with Mandy. Knowing if she trusted Greg, not only will Hank suffer a loss but her bother-in-law''s tangerine plantation would too, overnight, she sold her shares in the local indie game company, planning to give Greg a taste of his own medicine. Ace was amazed to discover this side of Mandy. He used to think she was just a brainless blonde bimbo who only cared about her beautiful self, but his opinion of her kept improving.


    "I don''t know if this helps, but I did a quick check on the indie game company you invested in. Their promises to investors and the market data don''t align. I think you got out at the right time," Ace said, pretending to look through his phone.


    What he revealed wasn''t even a fraction of what Dame Wasp had uncovered about the company. The local indie game company in question was involved in too many fraudulent conducts such as inflating their games'' popularity and success stats, misleading their investors, and diverting the gathered funds. It was a total scam. Mandy was lucky to get out when she did, turning her $350,000 investment into $1.7 million. That''s almost 5x return. This was only possible because she was one of the early investors who opted out while the company''s false hype was still at its peak. It made Ace wonder if Danny was right about Mandy having the Midas touch.


    "That''s sweet, Ace. But you don''t have to lie to console me. I''m over it," Mandy said, dismissing Ace''s words. She wasn''t gullible enough to believe he could find all that with a simple internet search. But she was touched by Ace''s attempt to console her. It''s the thought that counts.


    Ace shook his head, not bothering to explain himself. Just then, Dame Wasp updated him about their last night''s escapade through their shared senses, ''Master, the sheriff''s office has finally discovered the massacre at the cabin outside town. They''re keeping it on the down low since it is related to the ''World of Curses.'' Based on the deformed bullets at the scene, they''ve determined that the entire gang was taken down by a single curse master or slave. The sheriff has already reported it to the CIB and handed the case over to them. Knowing the way CIB does things, the whole town will soon be crawling with CIB curse masters and slaves. It seems leaving town for the lake saved you a lot of trouble.''

 Chapter 79: Gregory Macoys Present

    Chapter 79: Gregory Macoy''s Present"Ms. Mandy, I am William Reginald, your personal butler." A gentleman in his early fifties, dressed in a dark suit, approached Mandy and introduced himself, reaching out to take her luggage just as she was about to hand her car keys to the resort valet. Overhearing him, Pam and Mary, who were heading to the front desk with their luggage to book their rooms, paused in their tracks.


    Mandy swatted William''s hand away from her luggage, staring intently at him before replying, "I don''t recall hiring any butler services."


    "It was Mr. Gregory Macoy. He has booked our most expensive lake cottage for a week, as a present for you and your family," William informed her politely, unfazed by Mandy''s reaction. He quickly added, "He is waiting for you at the lake cottage''s private dock."


    "Greedy Greg? Isn''t this present a bit too generous to be from someone like him?" Mandy asked skeptically, knowing Greg wouldn''t do anything good for others without an agenda.


    "Is there a problem, Mandy?" Pam asked, hearing the butler mention Greg''s name. Without waiting for a reply, she turned to her nephew and instructed, "Ace, go fetch your uncle." S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sister, I can handle this by myself," Mandy said, hurriedly signaling Ace to stop. But the latter ignored her and headed out of the resort''s main gate, where Dan was waiting for him. They had planned this arrangement to avoid the hassle since they were towing a 27-foot-long boat trailer.


    "I know you can, but just in case, it would be reassuring if your brother-in-law were present," Pam said, recalling the devastating downfall of Greg''s competitors. She wasn''t willing to take any chances, especially with her little sister locking horns with someone as tricky as Greg over Hank''s auto salvage yard.


    "Fine, whatever," Mandy replied, not wanting to waste her breath on Pam, knowing it would only lead to more drama. She turned to William and ordered, "Make arrangements to launch my brother-in-law''s boat in the lake by the private dock you just mentioned while we wait."


    "Right away, ma''am," William nodded, reaching for the walkie-talkie on his waist. He swiftly relayed Mandy''s request.


    "Mandy, are you sure about this?" Pam asked, concerned about Mandy accepting Greg''s gift without knowing his true intentions.


    "William, tell my sister about your resort''s spa," Mandy said, deliberately ignoring Pam and signaling her to stop undermining her decisions and to let her do her business.


    Understanding the cue, Pam fell silent, waiting quietly for her husband to arrive. Meanwhile, Mary fidgeted, unsure of what to do. She had little knowledge of what was going on and even if she did, she wasn''t in a position to do much. She was a regular housewife; this was out of her depth.


    "Madam, our resort offers world-class spa treatments. If you have any special requirements, please let me know, and I will do my best to accommodate them," William said, handing a pamphlet to Pam and Mary as a formality.


    Soon after, a Lincoln Navigator towing a boat trailer stopped in the middle of the resort driveway. Ace and the party got out of the car while Dan gave William a wary glance before asking his wife, "What''s the problem?"


    Before Pam could answer, Mandy interjected, "Nothing. We''re staying at a lake cottage. It comes with a private dock, so you can launch your boat there. Hand the keys to the butler; he''ll take care of it."


    "Great, that saves us a lot of trouble," Dan exclaimed, relieved since launching and retrieving boat from the lake was always a hassle. He handed the keys to William, adding, "Be careful."


    "Rest assured, sir. Please give me a moment to make the arrangements," William replied sincerely before excusing himself to instruct a nearby valet. Then, he returned and led the group to an eight-seater golf cart, saying, "Let me show you to the lake cottage where you''ll be staying."


    "The lake cottage has five rooms, each with a view of the lake and the sunrise. It also features a large hot tub that can seat up to 12 people, along with other amenities, including a complimentary buffet for 10 people at each meal. My colleague and I will be available to assist you 24/7. As our VVIP guests, you also have free access to our water park. We also offer additional services such as renting small floating docks for parties, entertainment packages with DJs, bands, dancers, and chefs, and even a treasure hunt package that includes military-grade metal detectors," William explained as they drove toward the cottage.


    "We won''t need all that; we''re here for crabbing," Dan announced, losing patience as the boat trip was not turning out as planned.


    "Sir, I''m afraid that''s not possible¡ª" William began to explain, but Dan interrupted him.


    "Don''t worry, I have a license. I''m a regular on this lake," Dan insisted.


    "Sir, we also provide fishing licenses to our customers, but that''s not the issue. The concern is the weather. Our resort''s meteorologist predicts rain in the coming evenings," William clarified, causing Dan and Alwin''s expressions to freeze.


    "No way! The forecast didn''t mention rain when I checked earlier. It only said the nights would be cloudy," Alwin immediately argued.


    "Sir, did you check the weather specifically for the lake? Online forecasts usually cover the town, but our meteorologist''s predictions are specifically for this area of the lake," William explained.


    "So, we won''t be spending our nights on the boat?" Danny asked, his interest in crabbing waning after hearing the long list of resort services, not that he had any to begin with.


    "Shut up," Dan snapped at Danny, misplacing his frustration, only for the latter to argue under his breath, "It''s not my fault it''s going to rain." With his mother around, Danny had become slightly bolder.


    Meanwhile, Ace was busy sharing his senses with Dame Wasp to use her cybernetics to scan the resort for any curse activity. As the only curse user in the family, it was his responsibility to ensure his family avoided any unexpected encounter with the ''World of Curses.''

 Chapter 80: Lansky’s 45 Acres Avocado Orchard

    Chapter 80: Lansky¡¯s 45 Acres Avocado Orchard"We''re here," William said, stopping the golf cart in the driveway of a secluded cottage nestled among towering pines. Its rustic cedar exterior and large glass windows blended seamlessly with the natural surroundings. The cottage faced a tranquil lake, whose shimmering waters reflected the morning sky, and had been thoughtfully designed to maximize the lakefront experience.


    "It''s beautiful," Mary uttered as she stepped out of the cart, inhaling the smell of freshly cut grass, pine trees, and the lake. Her week off had just leveled up. It was a pity they were only staying for two days, even though Mandy''s friend had booked it for the entire week.


    "It is," Pam and Danny agreed, though their moods soured when Dan chimed in, "It''s nice, but when''s my boat getting here?"


    "Soon, sir. Until then, why not enjoy a cold beverage at the dock?" William replied politely, pointing to a luxurious all-cedar gazebo dock with a seating area, mini-bar, and grill station.


    "Is that Greg?" Dan asked, spotting a familiar figure on a mini-yacht by the dock. Greg, dressed in casual fishing attire, was enjoying a scotch and conversing with his lawyer while the resort butler attended to them. Seeing Greg''s fancy mini-yacht, Dan felt a bit better about his own boat''s delay.


    "Yes, sir. Mr. Macoy has an appointment with Ms. Mandy," William answered before Mandy could. She glared at her butler, then instructed, "William, help my sisters settle in while we go greet old Greg."


    With that, the group split in two. Pam, Mary, and Danny followed William into the cottage, while Mandy led Dan, Alwin, and Ace to the dock.


    On their way, Ace summoned Dame Wasp in her stealth mode and had her start scouring the lake for treasures, as planned. With a lot of ground to cover in very little time, early start would help her gather as many valuable items as possible. Ace only intended to report the one with the highest trade value to meet his immediate needs.


    "Greg, it''s been a while," Dan greeted casually upon reaching the dock. Greg nodded back, sipping his scotch, though he did little to hide his irritation as he stepped off the yacht and headed toward the dock''s seating area.


    As neighbors, Dan had interacted with Greg numerous times. Greg avoided Dan whenever possible because he found Dan''s bold, direct approach incompatible with his own cautious and calculating style. He felt that Dan''s success was merely luck; otherwise, he believed that someone with Dan''s approach would hardly survive long in their line of business, let alone prosper. There was a reason why most farmers and ranchers end up bankrupt and many can barely make ends meet.


    Taking a seat on the couch, Greg set down his scotch and rubbed his brow before glancing at Mandy. "I was hoping we could talk privately," he said.


    "I would''ve preferred that too, but I wasn''t the one who booked a cottage for my entire family to force a single meeting with me," Mandy replied, holding him accountable for the awkward setup. Then she added, "Let''s make do with what we''ve got."


    Greg wanted to argue that they could have arranged something else by phone if she hadn''t turned hers off. But he held back, instead apologized, "Let me start by apologizing for my behavior. You brought me a great deal, and I disrespected you out of greed. I hope this makes amends."


    "Apology accepted. Now get to the point," Mandy replied, sitting opposite Greg as his butler fixed drinks according to each guest''s preference.


    Greg frowned at Mandy''s directness, thinking, ''The niece and uncle really are cut from the same cloth. This won''t be easy.'' Shaking his head, he said, "I was hoping you''d sell me Hank''s 10 acres at cost."


    He needed Hank''s land more than he wanted to admit. It bordered his 25 acres, and its borewell provided water for about a quarter of his avocado plantation. However, he hadn''t expected Mandy to buy it out from under him.


    "You wanted the yard? I thought you were lowballing Hank because you had no interest in it since you were saving up for Lansky''s avocado orchard. That''s why I didn''t wait for your final offer and sold my shares in the indie game company to buy the land," Mandy lied, feigning ignorance of Greg''s intentions. She held a grudge against him, having been forced to sell promising shares because of his underhanded dealings.


    "Lansky''s selling his orchard? Why am I hearing it from you and not my lawyer?" Greg erupted, turning to glare at his lawyer seated beside him.


    "Sir, I¡ª" The lawyer fidgeted, searching for words to explain but fell silent, knowing any explanation on this issue could land him and his firm in a conflict-of-interest issue.


    "Oh, I see what''s happening," Mandy interjected. "Your firm is helping a big-name organic farm company that recently expanded here acquire Lansky''s 45-acre orchard, right? No wonder you kept old Greg in the dark. With what you and your firm stands to earn on this deal, I can''t blame you guys."


    "Is she telling the truth?" Greg demanded, standing and staring down his lawyer. The man''s inability to meet his eyes confirmed everything Mandy had said. Humiliated, Greg dismissed his lawyer, who hurried off the dock, leaving Greg to mask his embarrassment with a sip of scotch.


    "I thought you needed the money, so I based my offer for your 25 acres on your offer for Hank''s 10 acres," Mandy clarified, giving him a taste of his own medicine with her offer of $900k for his land, using his own "generous" valuation as a benchmark. Watching this unfold, Ace mentally noted to stay on Mandy''s good side.


    "How much did the company offer for Lansky''s orchard?" Greg asked in a low voice, choosing to ignore Mandy''s remarks.


    "4.59 million dollars¡ª102k per acre," Mandy replied, accepting a mocktail from the butler.


    "And what does Lansky think of this?" Greg asked, though he suspected Lansky might reject the low offer, given that his orchard was still young and could bear more fruits as it has been only 12¨C13 years since he planted them. Not to mention, the 45 acres sat on prime farmland by the highway with ample water year round. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Lansky accepted the offer, but the company pulled their offer last minute, requesting a corporate inspection of the orchard before moving forward. Looks like they too weren''t expecting Lansky to agree to their first offer either," Mandy said calmly, monitoring Greg''s shock.


    "Wait¡ªwhat''s going on? Is there a problem with Lansky''s orchard? That''s impossible. Last season, his 45 acres outperformed my 60," Greg responded, utterly baffled that Lansky would sell so cheaply.


    "That''s up to you to find out," Mandy said, raising her hand to signal that it wasn''t her concern. She quickly changed the topic, adding, "Do you still want Hank''s land? If not, my offer on your 25 acres is good for another six days."


    Greg frowned, annoyed that Mandy had pulled out of the conversation so abruptly. He was sure she knew more than she was letting on, which only added to his frustration. With his lawyer now compromised and working for his competitor, he knew no one capable enough to help him compete against a big organic farm company for Lansky''s Orchard.


    Now that he knew Lansky''s orchard was up for sale, he felt Hank''s 10 acres weren''t worth his time. Lansky''s orchard had enough water to sustain both their avocado plantations year-round. Missing this opportunity would be a decision he''d regret on his deathbed. To avoid that, he needed the best on his side, even if that best was Dan Lander''s niece.


    Mandy watched with amusement as Greg''s greed took over. She''d long planned to get even with him, and now that he''d come to her of his own accord, she wasn''t about to let the opportunity slip away. Sipping her mocktail, she flashed a playful smile and winked at Ace, who was sitting by the mini bar counter and had been watching her intently since the start of her exchange with Greg.


    Ace, though startled by the wink did not shy away, quickly composed himself and gave her an impressed nod. Mandy tilted her head cutely, as if she didn''t know what he was talking about. Seeing her play coy, Ace shook his head and took a sip of his drink smiling to himself. Watching her skillfully steer Greg to exactly where she wanted him mentally, he was thoroughly impressed. Although she claimed to be retired, she seemed to know an awful lot about the current local real estate news.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Dame Wasp: Master, we''ve hit the Motherload. Please share my senses so I can show you exactly what I mean.]


    "Already?" Ace muttered under his breath, shocked to hear from Dame Wasp so soon. Noticing the sudden change in his expression, Mandy''s brows narrowed as she raised her head up enquirying him in concern. With a gentle smile, Ace shook his head assuring her nothing was wrong.

 Chapter 81: The Motherload

    Chapter 81: The Motherload[ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Dame Wasp: Master, we''ve hit the Motherload. Please share my senses so I can show you exactly what I mean.


    Ace: Rose, I have company. I can''t use sense-share right now. Just cast the video to my phone, and I''ll view it there.


    Dame Wasp: Alright, I''ll get on it.


    Dame Wasp: I''ve cast the video onto your phone, Master.


    Dame Wasp: Master, are you seeing it?


    Ace: What is that? A pile of bones and rags? Are those human skeletons? I thought they excavated all the human corpses by the early 1900s.


    Dame Wasp: Not these ones. They seem to be buried almost 3,000 feet deep below the lakebed. I think these unfortunate souls drowned in a fault beneath the lake, reaching 3,100 feet below the lakebed. Later, the fault got filled with layers of sediment due to the landslide that unfortunate night, so no one ever managed to find them or the riches buried with them.


    Ace: Holy shit! That''s a huge discovery, Rose. Wait a minute, how are we going to get them without anyone noticing?


    Dame Wasp: Don''t worry, Master. I can use my braid laser to perform laser boring and reach them, and once I grasp the treasure, you can recall me.


    Emi: Master, you can use my talismans to create a barrier on the lakebed and set up a temporary shop underwater. This way, Senpai and you can mine buried treasures right under everyone''s noses without any disturbance.


    Ace: Emi, I''m not sure about using talismans on such a grand scale. Though we didn''t sense anyone from the ''World of Curses'' staying at the resort they could be using high-level stealth arts. We need to be cautious and avoid using curse energy on such a large scale. Do you have any underwater breathing talismans? We could just use those to mine underwater and your storage talisman to secure the haul.


    Emi: I do have ''Underwater Breathing'' talismans.


    Dame Wasp: Master, you''re doing it again. You''re being too cautious. The dig site is about 500 yards from the lakeshore, and the depth of the lake there is 3,300 feet. The chances of someone from the ''World of Curses'' staying at the resort and sensing us using curse energy at the lakebed from who-knows-where are very low, almost negligible.


    Ace: Guys, it wouldn''t hurt to be cautious. And Rose, you''re my first toy summon. If you act like this, you''ll set a bad example for the others.


    Dame Wasp: I''m sorry, Master. I''ll do better next time.


    Emi: Master, Rose-Senpai didn''t mean any disrespect. She was just looking out for you. After all, swimming for hours, 3,300 feet underwater, and mining for treasure would be taxing. But within the barrier, you''ll be safer and more at ease. You can also use my ''Presence Erasing'' talisman to erase any trace of curse energy.


    Dame Wasp: Emi, I don''t need you to speak up for me. Hurry and apologize to our Master. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Emi: I''m sorry, Master. I spoke out of turn.


    Ace: That''s alright. I made a casual remark. The status screen failed to convey the intended tone. Dame Wasp, you did nothing wrong. I''m not always right, and I need you guys to help me stay on track. Also, Emi, good job standing up for your Senpai. I prefer these kinds of active and harmonious team meetings. Let this harmony be an example for the toy summons yet to join us.


    Dame Wasp:


    Thank you, Master. And thank you, Emi.


    Emi: Thank you, Master. Senpai, don''t mention it.


    Ace: Alright, let''s get back to work.


    Ace: Dame Wasp, use your cybernetics to make a detailed map of the dig site and all buried treasures so you can excavate them efficiently when we commence Operation ''Fortune Dive'' at midnight.


    Ace: Emi, make sure you have enough ''Barrier,'' ''Presence Erasing,'' ''Underwater Breathing,'' and ''Storage'' talismans.


    Ace: You two discuss and decide how much time and how many talismans we need to excavate all the treasure from that buried fault. Now, get to work.


    Dame Wasp: Affirmative.


    Emi: Gory¨­ itashimasu (I will comply).]


    Pocketing his phone with a satisfied smile, Ace sipped his soda, recalling the mother lode of buried treasures discovered by Dame Wasp. The rush and excitement of a treasure hunt were unlike anything else. He couldn''t wait for midnight to start digging. Thinking of the treasures, Ace couldn''t help but grin from ear to ear, looking like a loon.


    He looked around with a silly grin on his face, only to find Mandy glaring at him. Perplexed, he raised an eyebrow, silently asking, ''What?'' But she turned away without responding, seemingly mad at him for reasons only known to her.


    ''What crawled up her butt?'' Ace wondered, but he didn''t dwell on it for long as his mind drifted back to fantasies of treasure hunting. After all, it was every boy''s dream, right up there with banging the hottest teacher in their school. Knowing that tonight one of his fantasies was about to come true, how could he not be excited?


    "Mandy, I might consider selling my 25 acres to you if you can help me get a $1.5 million loan, in cash, by this afternoon. It should be interest-free for the first week," Old Greg suddenly proposed. He had just double-checked the little info Mandy shared with him and learned from his contacts at the town hall why Lansky was urgently selling his orchard.


    It turned out Lansky was under investigation by the IRS. His sudden rush to sell assets at bargain prices only made him look more suspicious of whatever the IRS was investigating him for. Sensing an opportunity to buy Lansky''s orchard for less, the big farming company withdrew their offer at last minute, using corporate inspections as an excuse to bide their time.


    Old Greg could have waited like the organic farm company, but he knew that as time passed, Lansky would grow more desperate, and the competition for the orchard would only increase. Someone might swoop in and buy it from Lansky right under their noses, just like Mandy had bought Hank''s 10 acres from under his nose. Not to mention, the IRS could freeze Lansky''s assets at any moment. Most importantly, he had been eyeing that orchard for years and wasn''t about to let it slip through his fingers this time.


    Being both a friend and rival of Lansky, Old Greg knew the orchard well enough to make a bid of $4.4 million for it with his eyes closed. It was nearly $200k less than what the big organic farm company had offered, but he thought Lansky might agree if he could pay the full amount on the spot, in cash.


    However, Greg could only arrange $2 million by this afternoon. With Mandy''s $900k for his 25 acres and an additional $1.5 million loan, he planned to make Lansky''s orchard his by this evening.


    Listening to Old Greg''s proposal, Mandy frowned but quickly countered, "That changes things. I can get you a $1.6 million loan, in cash, interest-free for the first week by this afternoon¡ªif you sell your 25 acres to me for $800k right now. Of course, I''ll be paying in cash too. Do we have a deal?"


    "Deal!" Old Greg instantly agreed, adding, "I like how you do business."

 Chapter 82: Mandys Request

    Chapter 82: Mandy''s Request"Call me when you have the cash and papers ready," Old Greg reminded Mandy before leaving with his butler on his mini yacht to gather the remaining $2 million in cash before the afternoon.


    Mandy nodded indifferently, her lips curving into a subtle sneer that didn''t escape Ace''s sharp eyes. Right now, though she wore a tempting sundress, she exuded a majestic aura that was reassuring to her allies but oppressive to her foes.


    "Do you need me to arrange for the loan?" Dan asked Mandy, watching Greg sail away on his three-quarter-million-dollar mini yacht.


    "No. I''ve got it covered," Mandy replied confidently. Dan nodded, commenting, "Your sister was worried over nothing."


    "Danny wasn''t exaggerating¡ªyou''re too good. Even though I watched it happen, I still can''t believe Old Greg agreed to sell his 25 acres to you for $800K. You made it seem so easy," Alwin expressed his disbelief praising Mandy for the mind blowing display of her skills.


    Though he couldn''t afford it, Alwin had been eyeing farmlands around his brother''s ranch and tangerine orchard. Among them, Old Greg''s 25 acres stood out as the cheapest because of its average soil quality and lack of a proper water source. However, the land was well-maintained and periodically used to grow fodder for cattle. He believed that with a little investment and proper water supply, it could be used for much more, making it a steal for $800K, especially given current inflation.


    "Alwin, I need your help to turn the 35 acres into a plantation, just like you helped my brother-in-law back then," Mandy requested.


    She knew that without Dan following Alwin''s initial plans and proposals for the tangerine orchard, it wouldn''t have been possible for him to secure the bank loan to buy the land and start the orchard, let alone make it the success it was today. Not to mention, there was also the paperwork and procedures required to secure government subsidies.


    It was Alwin''s extensive research that had given Dan the foresight to plant a tangerine orchard instead of following the avocado trend that Old Greg, Lansky, and the others in town fell for. Now, they were all struggling to meet the high water demands of their avocado orchards. Meanwhile, Dan had no such worries. Although avocados fetched higher prices, they required more investment and attention than tangerines.


    Alwin had spent weeks on the road, juggling his city job while surveying and testing the soil of the 40 acres the brothers planned to buy. Based on his analysis of the climate and soil conditions, he concluded that the land would best serve a tangerine orchard. He sacrificed countless nights to prepare a proposal for a bank loan. In the end, everything was set, but his wife was unwilling to bet on him. However, his brother did, and the result of their decisions was evident to everyone today.


    "Mandy, I was young back then. Even though my heart and mind both want this, I don''t think my body can handle that kind of ordeal again," Alwin admitted, he was tempted by Mandy''s request but ultimately turned it down because of age, also his responsibilities at work had increased while his pay scale barely kept up with inflation. He couldn''t just take a leave and travel 3hrs to country on a moments notice.


    "If that''s your only concern, don''t worry. With today''s technology, you don''t need to be here throughout the entire process¡ªonly when necessary. I''ll do all the work and learn whatever I don''t know. You just need to guide me and handle the paperwork," Mandy persisted. She could have hired an expert, but she and her intuition trusted Alwin over any other alternatives. As for Dan, as a veteran turned rancher he had his unique skill sets and she was already taking advantage of them.  Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Then I''m in," Alwin agreed happily. He preferred the slow paced farm life which could be tough on body instead of his fast-paced city life which was tough on his heart and mind. If not for his overbearing wife and his responsibilities as a father of two, he would have exchanged his fancy city job for a farm life in a heartbeat.


    "It looks like you''ll be visiting us more often now," Dan said, excited by the prospect of Alwin and Mandy working together. Not only would he get to spend more time with his brother, but he could rest assured that Mandy was in good hands.


    "About that, you guys need to keep this a secret until I find the right time to tell Mary," Alwin warned gravely, knowing his wife wouldn''t be happy, especially since he made the decision without consulting her.


    "Dad, relax. I don''t think Mom will mind as long as you treat it like a hobby and not as your second wife," Ace quipped, believing his father''s exaggerations about his mother had led his cousins to think of her as a typical city ''b-word.'' He expected better from the renowned Mary whisperer.


    "Sure, son. Whatever you say. You know your mother best," Alwin replied sarcastically, while his brother rolled his eyes and Mandy offered a tight-lipped smile to Ace. Clearly, neither of them thought his mother was as reasonable as Ace made her out to be, but they didn''t dare to argue with him.


    "Al, let''s go find that butler and ask what''s holding up my boat," Dan suggested, seizing the opportunity for him and his brother to escape the awkward situation with his nephew, leaving Mandy and Ace alone on the dock.


    While Dan and Alwin walked away, Ace headed to the minibar to grab another soda. He turned to Mandy and asked, "Do you want anything?" Planning to keep his carb intake high enough to regularly generate a unit of curse energy using his Apex Earring''s fat converter.


    "You said you didn''t have a girlfriend," Mandy brought up suddenly, sitting by the counter and resting her hands on it. Ace, who had ducked down to retrieve a soda from the mini-fridge, froze at her unexpected question. Fetching a soda and placing it on the counter, he looked Mandy in the eyes and answered, "Yes, I don''t."


    "Then who were you chatting with earlier?" Mandy pressed, locking eyes with him. After all, eyes don''t lie.


    "Nobody," he dismissed, breaking eye contact to open the soda. He finally knew why Mandy previously grew angry at him. Her intuition was scary.


    His action made him seem guilty to Mandy, who wasn''t ready to let it go and further inquired, "Was it a girl?"

 Chapter 83: Lanskys Conspiracy

    Chapter 83: Lansky''s Conspiracy"What is it you? I said nobody, didn''t I," Ace muttered, his tone defensive as he sidestepped Mandy''s question. He retreated from the minibar, making his way towards the dock railing savoring the soothing view.


    Mandy trailed behind, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "So, it was a girl? Someone you like?" she guessed. She knew it was unlikely that a good-looking nerd wouldn''t have female friends, unless the school girl''s today have developed unrealisticaly high standards.


    "You''re not going to let this go, are you?" Ace asked, turning to face Mandy and leaning against the railing. Seeing her cute nod, he shook his head in irritation. To get her off his case, he lied with a straight face, "One of my friends shared a funny meme in the group chat, which garnered amusing reactions and reply from the group. That''s all."


    "What was it?" Mandy questioned, her intuition nagging at her. Ace''s story sounded reasonable, but something still didn''t feel right.


    "It''s a crude meme, not really your kind of humor," Ace scoffed, hoping to end the conversation.


    "I''m not some delicate little girl from your class. Show me, I can handle it," Mandy insisted, her suspicion mounting with Ace''s dismissiveness.


    "I''m not going down that road again. You all say that at first, then suddenly I''m a creep. Nope, not happening," Ace rejected Mandy''s demand, shaking his head in protest. Then crushing the empty can, he trudged to the minibar to fetch another one.


    Mandy was stunned by Ace''s accusation. It infuriated her that he would lump her in with the other girls he knew, her, the three times Ms. Country Rose. She was fuming, but found herself at lose of words to retort him as he wasn''t wrong.


    *Brup!* With a satisfying burp, Ace cracked open another soda. Mandy, jolted from her thoughts, demanded, "Ace Lander, as your aunt I order you to show me your chat history. Otherwise, I''ll tell on you to your mother."


    "Please, don''t, Auntie Mandy," Ace mocked. Returning to the dock rails, he added, "Aren''t you a bit too relaxed for someone who needs to raise $2.4 million in cash by noon? Not to mention, the paperwork for the land transfer and the loan." Someone crafty like Old Greg wouldn''t trust Mandy to gather that much money if she wasn''t capable of it, Ace wasn''t concerned, he was just trying to change the subject.


    "Why, nephew, are you worried about your dear auntie?" Mandy teased, deciding to drop it. She''d lost the moment she mentioned his mother.


    "No, I''m just curious. I know you won''t handover the golden goose to Old Greg just so you can keep a golden egg. What are you scheming?" Ace knew Mandy was plotting revenge as she blamed Old Greg for her liquidating a profitable investment prematurely. Its just that he didn''t how helping Old Greg played a part in it.


    "Scheming? Nephew, you make me sound like a two-bit villain from a daytime drama," Mandy exaggerated, dramatically shaking her head. She feigned disappointment in Ace''s view of her, yet answered him, "Since you asked, it''s water."


    "Water?" Ace questioned, perplexed. He couldn''t understand why the townspeople hadn''t solved their water problems, given the abundance of water in the nearby lake.


    As if reading his mind, Mandy explained, "Based on the lake water level, a fixed amount of lake water is divided among the surrounding towns, then allocated to farms based on acreage. Plus, most farms have borewells or alternative water sources, so most farmers have enough water year round but avocado orchards are water-guzzlers. Your father was wise to advice Dan to stick to tangerines. Only the greedy continue to grow avocados."


    "Old Greg must know this, right? He owns an avocado orchard, too," Ace exclaimed, confused. Why would he buy another one if he can''t even meet the water needs of the current one?


    Listening to Ace''s doubts, Mandy grinned and revealed, "Lansky''s avocado orchard has an abundant water supply. It''s famous around town for growing avocados almost twice the size of those from other orchards. That''s why last season, Lansky''s 45 acres outperformed Old Greg''s 60-acre orchard.


    "However, what that old fool and the townspeople don''t know is that this season, that won''t be the case. The output of water from the borewells in Lansky''s orchard has shown a sharp decrease, with signs of drying up. He thought that by hiring experts from outside town to examine the borewells, no one would find out.


    "Knowing it would be too late to act once the news got out or the borewells dried up, that crafty old bastard blew a minor IRS investigation out of proportion at the town hall as a cover to offload the ticking time bomb for a good price."


    ''Fuck!'' Ace cursed in his mind, learning the hidden conspiracy. Soon, he asked in doubt, "If the water is no longer sufficient in his orchard, how is he keeping up appearances to avoid scaring away potential buyers?"


    "Lansky has a total of 70 acres in that part of town. However, he only used 45 for the avocado orchard, leaving 11 acres for a shooting range, 10 acres for water harvesting trenches, 2 acres for a solar power station, and the remaining 2 acres for a fancy ranch house with all the luxury amenities, proper spacing, and roads. The construction of house was completed last month and before they could move in the water shortage began. For now, he''s using the water from his 10 acres of water harvesting trenches to maintain the status quo. But that''s only temporary; he needs a buyer, and he needs one fast."


    Mandy''s insights into Lansky''s conspiracy astonished Ace. He now had no doubts that Mandy''s success as a young real estate agent, earning millions, wasn''t a fluke or coincidence but pure skill. No wonder a seasoned millionaire like Old Greg respected her.


    "If you know all this, why are you leading Old Greg into Lansky''s trap? Something like this could spark a blood feud," Ace warned, hoping she knew what she was doing. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mandy laughed at Ace''s concern, finding him cute for finally reacting. "Don''t worry," she said. "Lansky won''t sell his orchard to Old Greg, even if he''s willing to pay double. At most, he''ll use Greg''s offer to reel in the organic farm company into his trap. Lansky is crafty like Greg but also a man of principle. He won''t harm the townsfolk or farmers. After all, the family name is more important than any wealth."


    "So, Old Greg would have sold his 25 acres to you for $800k and taken a $1.6 million loan for nothing. Auntie Mandy, remind me to never make you angry," Ace said, his face turning grim as he grasped Mandy''s revenge plan for Old Greg. He couldn''t help but feel pity for Old Greg for crossing paths with her.


    "Sure, Nephew. Now unlock your phone and let me go through your chat history."

 Chapter 84: Janice J

    Chapter 84: Janice JListening to Mandy lead the conversation back to his phone catching an opening, Ace sighed heavily crushing the empty soda can. Seeing her wait for his answer, maintaining a steady eye contact with a calm and composed expression, his gaze hardened as he leaned in and softly muttered, "Why can''t you just let it go?"


    "Why can''t you just admit you were chatting with a girl?" With her eyebrow arched, her shoulders squared, and a subtle smirk on her lips, Mandy sharply retorted in a clear and steady voice.


    "Fine, it was a girl, happy?" Ace admitted with his jaw clenched. Leaning heavily on the hard cedar, he rapped the crushed can against the railing, a frustrated exhale escaped his lips as he pondered, ''Mandy has a point, why was he avoiding telling her the truth? She was family, a trusted friend, he couldn''t fathom why he went through the trouble of hiding it from her in the first place.''


    Getting Ace to confess, Mandy gave a subtle nod, lounged beside him on the cedar beam, and pressed, "Do you like her?" S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes, we''re close," Ace replied thoughtfully, sighing in relief.


    "Was that so hard?" Mandy concluded with a soft smile, her warm eyes reflecting a sense of calm and understanding.


    "Then why were you mad earlier?" Ace hesitantly asked, glancing downward, staring at the cedar floor.


    "I hate men who think about other women when they''re with me. But since you''re my nephew, I''ll forgive you this once. Next time¡ªwell, there won''t be a next time, right?" With a playful nudge, Mandy warned him. Her exaggerated expression made it hard for Ace to take her words seriously.


    Rejuvenated by Mandy''s humorous reply, Ace headed to the minibar to grab another soda. The dark, fizzy drink had lost its appeal; it was starting to feel more like a chore. The amount of body fat needed to generate a unit of curse energy now seemed astronomical. He shook his head in dismay, realizing it had taken him seventeen years to accumulate the fat he had previously converted into curse energy.


    "Stop stuffing yourself and follow me. I''m cashing in the favor you owe me for picking up Danny after school," Mandy ordered, firmly leaving the dock without waiting for Ace''s reply.


    "You want me to take you on a date, now?" Ace exclaimed, unable to figure her out.


    "If you want to, sure. But it''ll have to wait. I need you for something else," Mandy replied evasively with a cryptic smile, gesturing with her slender fingers for him to follow. Placing the soda can back in the mini-fridge, he ran after her, thinking his initial impression of her was correct: She is trouble.


    Soon, Ace followed Mandy to the back of the cottage, where three two-seater golf carts were parked in a row. Getting into one, she started the engine and yelled, "Get in."


    "Where are we going? Shouldn''t we inform someone?" Ace pointed out as he got into the passenger seat. Fortunately, Dame Wasp had completed her survey of the buried fault in the lake; otherwise, he could only make an excuse to refuse Mandy.


    "You have your phone, right? They''ll call us if they need us," Mandy rolled her eyes and answered flatly, stepping on the accelerator. With a jolt, the golf cart sped forward.


    Ace grew silent, unless one were ignorant they couldn''t help but feel inadequate next to Mandy. She was capable and confident, backed by experience, while he was capable but lacked the same experience. Her confidence came from her expertise, while his inexperience bred hesitation despite his skills. However, he knew that with every step he took trusting in his own capabilities, he would grow. Experience, after all, was only a matter of time.


    "We''re going to meet the reason behind my quick success and one of my close friend, Janice J. I''m skilled, but without a regular source of high-end clients, I''d still be toiling to pay my bills like my colleagues. No one can deny my hard work, but if it weren''t for her vouching for me and introducing high-end clients, I could never have become the young success I am today," Mandy narrated gratefully, her eyes remaining on the road.


    "So, why are you taking me to meet her?" Ace asked, still unclear on his role in all this.


    The golf cart came to a sudden halt, and Ace, who wasn''t wearing a seatbelt, almost stumbled out if not for his firm grip, which left finger marks on the steel frame. Turning to face Mandy, who was already glaring at him, he asked, "Why did you stop?"


    She leaned toward him, staring into his eyes as she sternly inquired, "Do you have somewhere better to be?"


    "No," Ace answered after weighing fishing with his uncle and father against meeting a rich woman with Mandy.


    Ace''s father was right about him¡ªhe hated fishing. Now that Dame Wasp had found the motherload, he had little motivation to sit motionlessly under the sun, holding a rod in the middle of a lake. As for searching other similar faults that had been buried that unfortunate night, first let him finish digesting this fault. Not to mention, seeing how Dan treated the boat like his mistress, Ace was sure his uncle wouldn''t let him near its console let alone drive it.


    "Then stop complaining and let me finish. I wasn''t done," Mandy said with a measured tone before the golf cart jolted forward again.


    "When did I complain?" Ace exclaimed, taken aback by Mandy''s sudden criticism. Feeling wronged, he pursed his lips, closed his legs, and leaned toward the openside of the cart, maintaining a subtle distance between them.


    "Fine, stop whining." Mandy snapped curtly, without sparing him a glace or explaining her sudden irritation.


    Ace wanted to sharply retort but went quiet, realizing Mandy was suddenly critical of him for no apparent reason because she hadn''t truly forgiven him for chatting with Rose when she was flirting with him.


    He had seen his mother do the same to his father. Whenever they had a fight, his mother would compromise with his father on the surface, knowing that in the heat of the moment, his father would temporarily become bolder. However, when his father least expected it and had forgotten what they were even fighting about, she would strike, catching him off guard and making his life miserable, he would apologize even if he had done nothing wrong because he just wants to watch the game or read the news in peace.


    "Auntie, I thought you forgave me," Ace regretted falling for the obvious and sighed heavily, ''You think you can learn by watching others fail, but you''ll never know until you are in their shoes.''


    "Nephew, I''ve had a change of heart," Mandy hissed, her grip tightening on the steering wheel. Her pride had been wounded. He''d dared to chat with others when with her and had the audacity to lump her in with them when asked. She won''t tolerate such disrespect, even if he was family.


    "Auntie, I just remembered I have to go fishing with Uncle."


    "My dear nephew, you don''t get to also have a change of heart."

 Chapter 85: Threesome With Janice J

    Chapter 85: Threesome With Janice J"So, where was I? Yes, Janice was my first big client. We hit it off because of our shared interests. Which is why I''m bringing you to her," Mandy paused, tilting her head slightly to look at Ace from the corner of her eyes. Seeing his sore face, a subtle smile played on her lips as she continued, "I''m sure she''ll come to appreciate you like I do."


    Listening to her words, a glint of understanding shone in Ace''s eyes, and he indifferently pointed out, "So, I''m just eye candy, distracting her while you get her to give old Greg a loan."


    When he was average-looking, his own sister had hesitated to introduce him to her friends. But now, with his newfound good looks, even the three-time ''Ms. Country Rose'' was charmed and eagerly introducing him to her closest friends. He couldn''t help but sigh, a wry smile forming on his lips as he mused, ''It seems even in real life good-looking people get a entirely different script from the one the average-looking get.''


    Mandy leaned toward him, giving him a playful nudge to lighten his mood. But seeing Ace maintain his indifferent expression no matter what, a mischievous glint shone in her eyes. With a smirk forming on her lips, she teased, "Maybe I should have led with the fact that she owns this resort and is a celebrated figure in society." Yet, she failed to garner any reaction from him.


    Usually, Janice would come to greet her upon learning of her arrival. But today, she seemed to be late. Mandy decided to go find her, as it happens she had some work with her.


    Soon, the duo entered a secluded part of the resort. As they approached a massive gate, the alarmed security guards relaxed upon seeing Mandy, returning to their posts. The ornate gates swung open automatically, allowing Mandy to drive through. After a leisurely ride past a mile-long vibrant flower garden, they arrived at a stunning Victorian villa with the Teasure Lake in its backyard. Parking the golf cart recklessly right infront of the grand staircase leading to the villa''s front door, Mandy led Ace, advising, "Don''t be shy. As long as you don''t hit on or hound her, everything''s fine."


    Ace didn''t understand why Mandy would say that¡ªuntil he saw the woman who confidently came to receive them. She wore nothing but an oversized white T-shirt that barely concealed her curvaceous figure, exuding a poised aura as her ample hips swayed naturally with each measured step. His feet froze, and his mind went blank as he guessed the true identity of Mandy''s close friend. He tried hard not to stare at her but found it impossible to look away from her face.


    "Mandy, I heard you came with your family, so I didn''t want to intrude," Janice explained, giving Mandy a bear hug that caused her T-shirt to ride up, revealing cheeky denim shorts underneath and putting an end to Ace''s wild imagination that had sent all the blood rushing to his second head below his waist.


    "That''s alright," Mandy replied warmly, gently embracing Janice.


    "So, this is the nephew you''ve been raving about online," Janice whispered, looking directly at Ace and biting her lip mischievously. Releasing Mandy from the hug, she tied the hem of her T-shirt around her waist in a knot, leaning forward to accentuate her mature figure as she teased, "I thought you were exaggerating, but now it feels like your words didn''t do him justice." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes, that''s him, Ace Lander. He really admires your work," Mandy announced proudly.


    "Is it." Janice stepped forward gracefully with her shoulders back, intentionally emphasizing her ample bosom. She extended her delicate hand to Ace and said smoothly, "Hi, I''m Janice Jane."


    "I¨CIt''s an honor to meet you, Madam Jane," Ace stammered at first but then returned the greeting with a firm handshake once he recovered from the shock of meeting his childhood celebrity crush, Janice Jane¡ªthe talented and beautiful actress who had starred as the iconic character Betty Rose, a.k.a. Dame Wasp, in the sci-fi franchise Cyber Craft. However, his shock didn''t end there, as Dame Wasp reported, ''Master, Janice Jane is from the ''World of Curses.''''


    Whenever Dame Wasp resided in his cursed toybox, Ace made a point of sharing his senses with her, allowing her to monitor his surroundings for curse activity. Just now, he learned that his childhood celebrity crush was a curse master¡ªor perhaps a curse slave.


    Now he understood how an actress with one hit franchise, who had vanished from screens for over a decade, could live such an ultra-rich life. Fortunately, she didn''t seem to be a high-tier curse user; otherwise, she might have seen through his incomplete curse-shroud arts during their handshake just like Dame Wasp discerned she was a curse user.


    "So, you''re one of those, huh? Chivalrous on the outside but a perv on the inside," Janice remarked, pursing her lips as she noticed the sudden change in Ace''s gaze. She thought she was just having a little harmless fun with her friend''s beloved nephew, but his gaze suggested a different intent.


    "Excuse me?" Ace asked with a frown, pulling his hand back. Knowing Janice was a curse user, his gaze on her hardened and his caution hit all time high, erasing all his juvenile fantasies about her. Finding her remark unsettling¡ªnot something one would say to an acquaintance, let alone someone they had just met¡ªhe guessed celebrities were used to making such rude comments to people''s faces without fearing consequence.


    "J, I thought the same thing at first," Mandy interjected casually. Ignoring Ace''s questioning gaze, she rested her elbow on his shoulder and locked eyes with Janice. "But when I basically threw myself at him, to my surprise, his mask didn''t crack. He''s genuine. If you don''t believe me, have a crack at it."


    "I trust you, but some wolf require more experienced hands to get them to reveal themselves," Janice replied judgingly, her disapproval clear from her expression, before turning to meet Mandy''s eyes. "So, what brings you here?"


    "I need you to arrange $2.4 million in cash and have your manager draw up a few contracts by this afternoon," Mandy requested, not bothering to ask if it was feasible¡ªshowing her trust in her friend''s capabilities.


    "Alright, let''s go find her. Last I heard from her, she was sunbathing by the lakeshore," Janice recalled, leading Mandy and Ace into her lavish villa.


    Noticing Ace''s tense expression as they trailed behind Janice, Mandy sighed and tried to console him. "That''s why they say, ''Don''t meet your heroes.'' But don''t give up yet. If you play your cards right, you might get lucky and fulfill your childhood fantasies."


    Ace''s eyes widened in shock as he glanced between Mandy''s mischievous grin and Janice''s swaying back. Mandy quickly delivered the twist with a laugh, "I meant an autographed picture or an action figure, silly. What did you think?"


    "A threesome," Ace growled in a deep voice, his eyes narrowing. Mandy''s mischievous smile faltered, and Janice spun around to face him, disbelief etched on her face. Savouring their expressions, a slow smirk spread across his face as he asked, "What, you think only you girls know how to joke around?"


    As she listened to him, Janice arched an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. Her eyes danced over Ace''s physique before she nudged Mandy with her elbow, signaling her to step aside. "Mandy, darling, you know where the lake is, don''t you? Go find Delores¡ªshe''ll take care of your request."


    However, Mandy clung to Ace''s waist possessively and sharply announced. "He''s mine, J. Back off!"


    "Just a gentle reminder¡ªI''m underage," Ace muttered, hoping to curb their wild antics. He couldn''t afford to be bold in this situation. Janice was a curse user, Mandy was family, and he couldn''t tell if either of them was being serious.


    "Forbidden fruit is tastier," Janice remarked, ignoring Mandy''s threatening glares as she briskly turned to lead them to Delores. Her words hung in the air, leaving Mandy clinging to Ace like a squirrel guarding its nut. She had only wanted to surprise him, but now Mandy was starting to regret bringing him here.

 Chapter 86: Dangerous Delores

    Chapter 86: Dangerous DeloresSoon, the trio arrived at the villa''s lakeside pier, where a solitary figure, wearing a wide sunhat, lounged on a chair by the water. Janice exchanged a knowing glance with Mandy as they approached the seemingly slumbering figure.


    "There she is. Looks like she''s out cold," Janice murmured, her voice barely audible.


    "I''m not sleeping¡ªjust resting my eyes," came a lazy drawl from the lounger. Delores opened one eye, rolling it dramatically before letting out a theatrical sigh.


    Unfazed, Janice smirked and pointed toward her companion. "Mandy''s here, and she''s got work for you. Chop-chop!" she said, her tone more teasing than urgent.


    "Lately, I feel more like Mandy''s manager than yours," Delores complained, her tone dripping with frustration. "Maybe I should start taking my salary from her too," she grumbled, exasperated by Mandy''s increasing dependence on Janice, which inevitably translated to more work for her.


    "At least someone''s getting my money''s worth," Janice muttered with a touch of sarcasm. "It''s been over a decade since you landed me a decent role. Honestly, I wonder why I still keep you around¡ª" Her words cut off abruptly, her eyes widening in shock.


    "Delores!" she exclaimed, her voice rising. "Cover yourself! We have a guest!"


    Delores, lounging topless on the sun lounger, barely stirred. "Mandy''s always here; I don''t think she counts as a guest," she mumbled lazily, only reacting when three distinct shadows fell over her. Sliding her sunglasses down her nose, she blinked up at the approaching trio¡ªa young boy, unfamiliar to her, accompanied Mandy and Janice.


    "We have a virgin among us!" Mandy hissed dramatically, clapping her hands over the Ace''s eyes. Despite her efforts, he peeked through her fingers, his eyes lingering on the brunette''s toned beige color figure. Clad only in a tiny g-string, she offered a tantalizing glimpse of her athletic yet curvaceous body, leaving little to the imagination.


    Delores raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "I can see that," she replied dryly, rising to her feet with deliberate grace. Stretching languidly, she draped a short white towel over her shoulders, though it did little to conceal her generous and proud twin peaks.


    "If he dies from bursting a vein or blood loss, I''m holding you responsible," Mandy declared furiously, finding Delores''s current attire¡ªor lack thereof¡ªtoo provocative for a young virgin like her nephew. She couldn''t believe she''d brought Ace into what now felt like a cavern of sluts. Sure, she knew they were couple of tease, but this, right here, felt more like an outright assassination attempt using sexual provocation.


    "Uh, Mandy, I think I''ll take a walk along the lake shore. You guys carry on. Just give me a call when you''re done here," Ace said hastily, turning on his heel and hurrying off the pier without waiting for a response. He had no intention of lingering around Delores any longer¡ªshe was far too dangerous for his comfort.


    Janice took a step toward following Ace, but Mandy grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks. "And where do you think you''re going?" Mandy demanded, her tone sharp.


    "To accompany my guest/fan," Janice replied casually, slipping her wrist free from Mandy''s grip with ease.


    Mandy''s eyes narrowed, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous tone. "J, if you take one more step, I''ll sell your scandalous jpegs to the paparazzi¡ªfor peanuts." Her words carried a clear warning: stay away from Ace.


    ¡­


    ''Delores'' actions were deliberate,'' Ace pondered in his mind, his brow furrowed in concentration. ''How could a powerful curse master like her not notice my presence? It was intentional,'' He paced along the lakeshore, his footsteps quick as he put as much distance as possible between himself and the villa. He needed privacy to contact Dame Wasp and uncover what she had learned. The moment he felt Delores'' suffocating curse energy, he had immediately deactivated the sense-sharing skill. Fortunately, Dame Wasp understood his intent and refrained from using the ''Status Screen'' to check on him.  sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Did she figure out I''m a curse master too?'' he mused. ''No, they seemed too relaxed. Probably because they''re on familiar territory and think I''m just Mandy''s harmless nephew.'' He exhaled in relief. ''That was close. Thankfully, Delores wasn''t dressed for handshakes. If she had touched my hand, she''d have sensed that my body is strengthened by curse energy¡ªjust like Dame Wasp detected with Janice.''


    ''Considering they entertained me for Mandy''s sake, I don''t think I need to worry about her being around them. But if Uncle Dan found out Mandy was hanging out with such wild women, his receding hairline would go bald overnight.'' He frowned. ''Still, why are curse users befriending a mortal? And how lucky is Mandy to have met law-abiding curse users? If it had been someone else, she''d either be dead or become some human trafficking curse user''s curse slave by now.'' Ace''s mind raced, trying to determine whether Janice and Delores posed a threat to him or his family. He needed a second opinion, fast.


    From what he''d observed, they seemed to care about Mandy, especially Janice. What he couldn''t figure out was why a powerful curse master like Delores was following Janice. Unless she wasn''t really Janice''s manager, as they claimed, but her bodyguard. That made more sense. It meant Janice had strong backing, capable of hiring an Earth-tier or even Sky-tier curse master as guard. From what Ace sensed, Delores was at least an Earth-tier curse master.


    If they held such a high status in the ''World of Curses,'' why was Janice befriending Mandy, a mere mortal? It seemed contrary to her status. After all, to Curse Masters, mortals were often regarded as little more than animals. Ace needed to uncover their true identities and discern their intentions behind forging a friendship with Mandy. Considering their bond had spanned several years, Ace felt it might not be immediately alarming, but he couldn''t afford to let his guard down. He had to do his part to ensure his family''s safety.


    Making sure he was a safe distance from the villa, Ace decided to use his innate curse art, Status Screen, to communicate with Dame Wasp. It was subtler than ''Sense Sharing,'' though less convenient.

 Chapter 87: Cursecrafter Aurelian Eyes

    Chapter 87: Cursecrafter Aurelian Eyes[ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Ace: Guys, I am fine. We were lucky this time around.


    Ace: Rose, what happened? There were two curse users, and you couldn''t detect a single one. If not for Janice being weaker than us and Delores'' blatant display, we would have been made by them.]


    Using the status screen, Ace first reassured his sentient Toy Summons of his wellbeing, aware of their selfless concern for him. Then, he immediately inquired of Dame Wasp why her cybernetic senses, aided by curse-sensing arts, failed to identify Janice or Delores as curse users. If not for Delores'' leaking curse energy providing a critical warning, the consequences could have been disastrous.


    [  ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Dame Wasp: Master, I am sorry, but I believe they were using a mass-produced curse tool with stealth abilities to conceal their identities as curse users. Otherwise, unless they had an innate stealth art, it would have been impossible for them to evade my curse-sensing arts and cybernetics at such close range.


    Dame Wasp: Considering that the curse tool couldn''t fully suppress Delores'' Ocean-tier curse energy, the tools they are using are likely no higher than Earth-tier in rank.


    Dame Wasp:  In conclusion, it''s a miracle we haven''t been made by them.]


    The effects of a curse tool''s abilities are absolute within the bounds of their tier unless counteracted by an equally powerful abilities or curse energy. Dame Wasp deduced that the duo must have been using mass-produced curse tools since they displayed similar stealth abilities when her cybernetics, aided by curse-sensing arts, failed to detect them.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Ace: What are mass-produced curse tools?


    Ace:


    I thought it was impossible to determine a curse tool''s abilities until after they were forged.]


    Although Ace wasn''t proficient in curse tool forging and was relatively new to the ''World of Curses,'' he knew enough to find this perplexing. Even the most seasoned Curse Cafter couldn''t predict a curse tool''s abilities based solely on the affinity of the curse core and the curse item used.


    However, with the aid of specific curse crafting arts tailored to the affinities of the curse item and curse core used, experienced curse crafters could narrow the potential outcomes to a desired range. Even so, the idea of mass-producing curse tools remained an unattainable dream even for the Curse Concil.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dame Wasp: Master, mass-produced curse tools are exactly what their name suggests, but they aren''t created the way you think.


    Dame Wasp: These mass-produced curse tools are produced by other curse tools, that have similar abilities like our Cursed Toybox or Emi.


    Dame Wasp: For instance, our Cursed Toybox can produce an army of Dame Wasps if supplied with enough Dame Wasp toys and cores. Similarly, Emi can produce as many talismans as needed as long as she has the necessary curse energy.


    Dame Wasp: Likewise, there are innate and regular curse tools capable of mass-producing specific curse tools, provided their requirements are met.


    Dame Wasp: Based on the information I''ve gathered, I believe Janice''s family possesses a curse tool that can mass-produce tools with the ability to hide a user''s identity as a curse user. However, it has limitations, as I could feel Janice''s body was enhanced by curse energy during your brief handshake.


    Dame Wasp: Even so, it''s extremely convenient, as it saves the user the trouble of mastering stealth arts, allowing them to focus on other curse arts to decent proficiency level.]


    Ace couldn''t help but agree with Dame Wasp''s final observation. Acquirable curse arts were notoriously difficult to master, especially for those lacking innate talent. If not for the passive effects of his Apex Earring, it would have taken Ace months or even years to achieve his current progress in body reinforcement and curse shroud arts.


    The ''World of Curses'' was a chaotic world with little order, even the strongest found survival challenging. Cursemasters often relied on tools to compensate for their weaknesses, as Delores seemed to. Despite being an Ocean-tier Cursemaster, she hadn''t mastered stealth arts and relied entirely on a curse tool for concealment. Assuming she was Janice''s bodyguard, she likely specialized in offensive or defensive arts.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Ace:


    Rose, I assume you''ve already uncovered their true identities. Report your findings.]


    From their conversation so far, Ace surmised that Dame Wasp had deduced Delores'' Ocean-tier Cursemaster strength and Janice had a privileged background capable of facilitating a ultra-rich life style and a Ocean-tier Cursemaster bodyguard because she uncovered their true identities. Confident in her thoroughness, he anticipated a detailed report.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Dame Wasp: Master, at first, I suspected they were from the C.I.B. During the brief opportunity I had, I detected that their phones used the same encryption and firewall protocols as the C.I.B website. It''s a distinct signature¡ªthere''s no mistaking it.


    Dame Wasp: I tested my luck on the curse web to see if they were listed in the database of known C.I.B agents. While I didn''t find them there, a casual search revealed their identities. Turn''s out Janice and Delores are famous in ''World of Curses'' too. But for totally different reasons, as McSuile family''s princess and knight.


    Dame Wasp: Janice''s true name is Janice McSuile, a direct descendant of the infamous McSuile family. The McSuile family is popularly known as the "Eyes" of the government in the "World of Curses." Members of this family hold high positions in the government, the military, and the C.I.B. The power and authority wielded by this family is unimaginable. In short, this family and its members are essentially royalty in our country.


    Dame Wasp: Also, Janice is the younger sister of Jason McSuile, better known as Crimson Eyes, a Sky-tier Cursemaster and the C.I.B''s infamous hunting dog. Unlike her brother, who excels in combat, Janice is a talented Curse Crafter, earning her the codename Aurelian Eyes.


    Dame Wasp: It is said that by combining her innate curse tool and curse art with various curse crafting arts and expertise, she is able to craft numerous curse tools with guaranteed powerful abilities. If not for her powerful background, she would have long been locked in someone''s basement or a government facility to craft curse tools for them for the rest of her life.


    Dame Wasp: Due to her focus on curse crafting arts, she hasn''t cultivated her curse core or combat arts extensively, which explains her relatively weak strength despite her lineage.


    Dame Wasp: As her bodyguard, Delores is equally famous for killing a Sky-tier Cursemaster and surviving the pursuit of half a dozen Sky-tier Cursemasters who tried to kidnap Janice while she was still an Ocean-tier Cursemaster. Not to forget, she accomplished this while protecting Janice. She is a pure combat-type Cursemaster with an enigmatic innate curse art, aided by the McSuile family''s collection of powerful curse tools and acquirable combat curse arts.


    Dame Wasp: It is rumored that later, the McSuile family hunted down those Sky-tier Cursemasters, along with their factions, friends, families, and relatives, to serve as a warning to others with similar intentions. This incident occurred almost simultaneously with Janice''s disappearance from the big screens. However, as a result, Janice can now enjoy her current freedom.]


    ...


    AN: "McSulie" is a Gaelic surname, and it''s likely derived from the personal name "s¨²ile," the Gaelic word for "eyes." Therefore, an Anglicized interpretation of "McSuile" could be:


    i) Son of the Eyes


    ii) Descendant of the Watchful One


    Emphasizing the McSuile family''s unique royal status and ancestral curse arts.

 Chapter 88: McSuile Family

    Chapter 88: McSuile Family[ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Ace: It was indeed a miracle that I wasn''t exposed as a Cursemaster.


    Ace: Rose, were you able to find anything about Janice and Delores'' personal lives? For instance, how they treated mortals or what the McSuile family''s attitude was toward them?]


    Ace took some time to process all the information Dame Wasp shared about Janice and Delores. He still couldn''t comprehend how he managed to leave without being discovered by Delores¡ªor the fact that he had been in the presence of modern-day royalty. Recalling his offhanded comment about a threesome to Janice and his lingering gaze at Delores'' semi-naked body, he finally grasped the meaning of the saying: ''Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.''


    Reflecting further, Ace considered that the only reason he had been treated as an equal by them was that he was Mandy''s guest. This made him rethink Danny''s theory about Mandy having the Midas touch. The way Janice and Delores had kept up their facade of being an actress and manager in Mandy''s presence, even until the end, suggested that Janice valued their friendship¡ªthough her true intentions remained unclear.


    Knowing Janice was the modern-day princess of the McSuile family, Ace couldn''t see any reason for her to value a country girl''s friendship unless she thought of Mandy like a pet. He couldn''t help but worry about Mandy, assuming the worst. Ever since he entered the ''World of Curse,'' all he had seen was its vile and ugly evil, so much so that he had begun to believe it wasn''t capable of any good.


    Adding his cautious nature to the mix, he couldn''t see past the evil it had shown him to recognize any good if there was any. However, he was wise enough to realize that, in his current mental state, even if he stumbled upon gold, he might discard it, believing it to be fake. To avoid such misjudgment, he sought counsel from his Toy Summons, encouraging them to intervene if he was wrong.


    Therefore, he vowed never to animate two identical Toy Summons, as he needed their individuality stat to remain at its maximum. This way, they could fully actualize the complete characteristics of the characters they were designed after, compensating for his lack of experience and ignorance with their character design. It was an undeniable fact that both Dame Wasp and Emi were the reason he was still alive.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Dame Wasp: Master, aptitude for curse energy is not hereditary. While the chances of Cursemaster parents giving birth to children with an aptitude for curse energy were high, it was not guaranteed. This was one of the reasons the ''World of Curse'' did not consume the mortal world entirely and even defended it when necessary. It was also the reason the Curse Slave method was originally created¡ªafter all, even animals love their offspring.


    Dame Wasp: Even in the McSuile family, there are many mortals. They are famously known for treating their mortal and cursed descendants equally. The mortal descendants often take key positions in the government or military, while the cursed descendants become powerful Cursemaster and serve in the C.I.B. However, some mortal descendants choose to become Curse Slaves of their own volition. Whether in the government, military, or C.I.B., all have benefitted from their selfless service and sacrifice.


    Dame Wasp: In summation, the McSuile family and its members are true patriots. Their combined contributions to the country justify their royal status and the government''s trust in appointing them as its "Eyes" in the "World of Curses."


    Dame Wasp: Master, there is more to the ''World of Curses.'' You must truly embrace it to see all it has to offer. But since you choose to hide in the shadows, you see only the monsters lurking there, missing the rest of what it has to offer.


    Dame Wasp: Lastly, I couldn''t find anything specific about Janice and Delores'' attitudes toward mortals. I don''t think they would have waited this long to take action if they had ill intentions toward Mandy. However, I will subtly reach out to the cast and crew who worked with them on the Cyber Craft movie serie to draw a profile and better understand their attitude toward mortals.]


    Knowing her Master''s overcautious nature, Dame Wasp subtly urged him to step out of the shadows and embrace the ''World of Curses.'' She then immediately proposed her plan to investigate Janice and Delores'' attitudes toward mortals by leveraging their history as an actress and manager duo in the Cyber Craft movie franchise.


    Dame Wasp was aware it was impossible to change her master''s nature overnight, and pressing him to do so could have adverse effects. She had to remain patient and keep trying. Her master''s history as a bullied student had left deeper scars in his heart and mind than he was willing to show. It was apparent to her that she had to help him heal those wounds if she ever wanted to see him embrace the light.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Ace: That''s a great idea, Rose. But make sure not to leave any traces¡ªafter all, her status is sensitive.


    Dame Wasp: Yes, Master. Rest assured.


    Ace: Emi, have you finished compiling the stealth ninja arts you promised me?]


    Emi Nakamura, being a skilled kunoichi shaman, when animated, her school''s ninjutsu actualized as her innate curse art''s Cursed Ninja Arts. It contained numerous ninjutsus that could now be performed using curse energy. One of those ninjutsus was concealment ninjutsu.


    Emi promised Ace that she would use it to modify the cursed shroud arts. Occasionally, she would borrow his Apex Earring for additional assistance and thoroughness. As a result, Ace paused his study of cursed shroud arts and focused solely on body reinforcement arts. After the recent run-in with an Ocean-tier Cursemaster, he couldn''t help but check in on her progress.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Emi: Master, with the help of the Apex Earring, I managed to compile it this morning. I planned to surprise you during your next practice session, but since you asked¡ªThe combined curse art is called Curse Concealment Arts.


    Emi: Once you master it, unless your enemy possesses enigmatic curse arts or tools, you won''t need to worry about being identified as a curse user or discovered while in hiding. Since I couldn''t find information on void-tier Cursemaster''s detection capabilities, I can''t guarantee its effectiveness against them.


    Emi: Still, it is created using the best of two universes: Cosmic Combat and Apex Boy Band. Not to mention, my school''s ninjutsu is unparalleled in Cosmic Combat, capable of tricking even cosmic beings. So, it should prove sufficient for your present needs.


    Ace: Great! I''ll head to the lakehouse and start practicing immediately, using my Apex Persona and your Presence Erasing talisman.


    Dame Wasp: Master, don''t you plan to return with Mandy?


    Ace: She''s a big girl; she can return on her own. Besides, why would I go back there and risk exposing my identity as a curse user?


    Dame Wasp: But, Master, you must¡ªfor my sake.]

 Chapter 89: Dame Wasps Hypothesis

    Chapter 89: Dame Wasp''s Hypothesis[ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Dame Wasp: But, Master, you must¡ªfor my sake.


    Ace: Rose, what do you mean? Give me the details.]


    Learning about the Curse Concealment Art, Ace immediately decided to hurry to the lakehouse and begin practicing as quickly as possible. Even without Emi boasting about it, Ace knew that Nakamura Ninjutsu was unparalleled in the game Cosmic Combat. Her family''s ninjutsus allowed the ninjas of the Nakamura sect to stand toe-to-toe with powerful alien races and cosmic beings who gathered at the cosmic arena to determine the strongest.


    As for Mandy, he could tell her that something urgent had come up and that he had to return on his own. He felt she would be relieved to hear that, especially considering how she clung to him while fending off Janice and Delores'' teasing¡ªor, more accurately, their sexual provocations.


    He couldn''t help but feel that the actress and manager duo were tempting him into committing a crime. Unfortunately for them, after experiencing Emi''s unrealistically perfect body combined with her innate sexual arts, his tolerance to such provocation had significantly increased. Still, the real thing had its own charm¡ªnot to mention their bodies were enhanced by curse energy, erasing mortal flaws.


    Be that as it may, he never expected one of his Toy Summons to ask him to return to Janice''s villa, especially after he had miraculously managed to escape without exposing his identity as a cursemaster. Knowing Dame Wasp, he was certain she must have a reason and waited for her to explain herself.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Dame Wasp: Master, after you granted me full authority to design my new body for my second enchantment, I have been collecting and studying various curse-crafting techniques and curse-tool forging arts posted on the Curse Web. Among them, I discovered techniques and arts for identifying the abilities of unowned curse tools. These are the same methods the Steel Song Society relies on to double-check the abilities of curse tools they harvest from newborn cursemasters.


    Dame Wasp: Those techniques and arts rely on the principle of using the original cursemaster''s or cursesmith''s blood, hair, nails, or DNA materials to identify the tool''s abilities.


    Dame Wasp: Master, when I saw Janice Jane¡ªthe talented actress who brought the character Betty Rose and Dame Wasp to life on the big screens, making the movie series an international sensation¡ªI had a sudden inspiration. What if I were to use blood, hair, or nails from Janice Jane as a material for my second enhancement? I believe that, if nothing else, it would greatly increase my chances of successfully undergoing the enhancement.


    Ace: Rose,how sure are you about this?


    Dame Wasp: For now, it is just a hypothesis, Master. However, if the Cursed Toybox were to accept Janice''s DNA along with other materials during my second enhancement, I believe that would be enough to prove my theory correct.] sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When preparing to animate Emi, Dame Wasp and Ace conducted tests on their Cursed Toybox to better understand the principles behind its functioning and to increase the compatibility rate between a curse core and a toy. While they were unable to uncover the principles of the Toybox''s enigmatic curse ability, their efforts were not without gains.


    They observed that when they prepared materials for the Cursed Toybox to animate a toy, the cursed clown would omnisciently sort out the toy and its add-ons, rejecting anything that didn''t belong. After rigorous testing and validation, they concluded that their Cursed Toybox wouldn''t accept just anything as part of a toy or its add-ons. They didn''t know how it worked, but they were never able to trick it.


    Therefore, Dame Wasp wanted to use the Cursed Toybox as the final judge of her hypothesis that using Janice''s DNA material in her second enchantment might lead to something unexpected¡ªor at least increase the odds of successfully undergoing the enhancement.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Ace: I find no reason to rebut your hypothesis, Rose. Good work. If you continue like this, we might have a capable curse crafter among us.


    Dame Wasp: Master, your words are kind. I will work hard to be worthy of your praise. But does this mean you will be returning to Janice''s place?


    Ace: No, not unless I have mastered Emi''s Curse Concealment Art to a sufficient level of proficiency. There''s no rush¡ªJanice isn''t going anywhere. I will think of something to get you her DNA material before we begin your second enhancement.]


    The hypothesis proposed by Dame Wasp was too attractive to dismiss without giving it a fair shot. If she were correct, at the very least, he would have found a way to increase the success rate of animating a toy or advancing a toy summon. The prospects of this were worth the risk of entering the tiger''s den to collect its shedding fur.


    Curse cores that matched the abilities of toys with overpowered character designs were rare and hard to come by. He couldn''t afford to gamble when it came to using them for animating toys and advancing toy summons created with them. Therefore, if there were ever a chance to figure out a way to increase the success rate of animating a toy or advancing a toy summon, he would take it despite the risks, as the potential gains were tremendous and worth it. This was a gamble he had to take.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Ace: Speaking of which, how far has the creation of your new body progressed?


    Dame Wasp: Master, they said they can deliver it by tomorrow evening.


    Ace: That''s quick.


    Dame Wasp: Master, I only asked them to make the silicone face mask and the wig for Dame Wasp''s Queen form. I plan to recycle metals from the auto salvage yard, using laser ablation to create magnetic nanoparticles, and then craft the closest version of my Queen form.


    Ace: Hang on, Rose. Let me catch up! Laser ablation¡ªwhere are you going to perform it without drawing attention?


    Dame Wasp: Emi and I were thinking of building an underground lab at your uncle''s ranch.


    Ace: Why don''t you just pollute and maybe burn my uncle''s ranch while you''re at it? Have you two gone insane. Tell me you''re kidding.


    Dame Wasp: We plan to use Barrier, Silence, Storage, and Purification talismans to keep the disturbance and pollution to a minimum. Master, trust us, we''ve got this.


    Emi: Master, fighting!]

 Chapter 90: Curse Concealment Art

    Chapter 90: Curse Concealment ArtTo avoid having to fabricate more lies to support the one he told to avoid returning to Janice''s villa, Ace texted Mandy to inform her that he was heading back alone. Then, following Dame Wasp''s directions, he made his way to the lake house, waving at the villa''s security as he passed.


    Arriving at the lake house, Ace noticed his uncle''s boat at the dock, but there was no sign of his parents or relatives. Heading inside, he found Danny indulging in a lobster feast, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings. The aroma was tempting, but resisting the urge to join in, Ace began searching the house. When he couldn''t find their parents, he asked, "Danny! Where is everybody?"


    "Holy shit!" Danny yelped in fright, spilling lobster claw juice onto his pleated shorts. Glaring at Ace and pointing at his groin, he sighed heavily. "Ace, look what you did." He reached for a napkin, muttering as he dabbed at the stain, "This is definitely going to leave a mark. Ugh."


    "Just soak it. Now, where is everybody?" Ace repeated, narrowing his eyes in irritation as Danny, instead of answering, took a seat on the couch and resumed eating his lobster claw. After sucking the meat out of a claw, Danny finally responded, "Your mom freaked out when she saw you leave with Mandy. To calm her down, your dad decided to take her to some couples'' spa thing¡ªon William''s recommendation, no less.


    "With you gone and your dad leaving, my dad snapped at my mom, blaming her: ''You always find a way to ruin my fishing trips, blah blah blah!'' And, of course, my mom wasn''t having it. She went ballistic, yelling back, ''You''re never considerate of me like your brother is of Mary. Look at him¡ªwaiting on her hand and foot, blah blah blah!''


    "Long story short, my dad had to take her to the spa with your parents. Alone and starving, I ordered room service for lunch. Want me to order something for you? Get the lobster¡ªthey''re too good to miss. Don''t worry about the cost. Old Greg is loaded."


    "Well, I don''t think he''ll be so generous once Mandy is done with him," Ace revealed, hoping Danny wouldn''t be stupid and go easy on the room service, especially since the lake house came with a complimentary three-course buffet.


    Hearing Ace''s comment, Danny, who had just picked up another lobster claw, froze mid-bite. He stared at the three empty platters of lobster, then at the two full ones still on the table, before exclaiming, "My dad is going to make me shovel cow shit until I graduate!"


    "Mandy saved money on this deal," Ace said, trying to console him. "If you beg her, she might cover your bill."


    Danny, however, sipped loudly on a Coke before wailing, "Then I''ll be shoveling cow shit until I leave for college!" Knowing his father hated him taking advantage of Mandy''s generous nature.


    "If I were you, I''d savor the last two platters," Ace advised, shaking his head at Danny''s melodrama as the latter stuffed himself with more lobster. Unable to fathom where Danny was putting all the food, Ace asked, "Do you know when our parents will be back?"


    "They said not to wait up and to just have dinner. So, I''m guessing after dinner but before midnight," Danny replied, wiping his fingers on a napkin. Reaching for the phone, he turned to Ace and asked, "What do you want? I''m ordering two more lobster platters. By the time I''m done with these and made room for more, they should be here."


    "I don''t want anything. I''ll go to the complimentary buffet if I''m hungry. You should too¡ª" Ace stopped mid-sentence, processing Danny''s statement. He stared at him, speechless.


    Danny, undeterred, narrowed his eyes and clenched his jaw. Patting his chest, he declared, "If I''m going down, I''m going down fighting."


    "Your funeral. So, which room is mine?" Ace asked, deciding to leave Danny to his eccentricities and focus on his own plans.


    "The one by the dining room and the last room upstairs are empty. Take your pick," Danny said, already dialing room service.


    Ignoring his cousin, Ace chose the room downstairs.


    Walking into the room, he was greeted by a beautiful master bedroom with a view of the pine trees and a glimpse of the lake. He headed straight to the luxurious bathroom, closing the doors and windows securely. He took out Presence Erasing talisman from his toybox, he activated them following Emi''s instructions and stuck them on the four walls. They should last him till it was time for dinner.


    With the arrangements complete Ace stripped naked and activated his Apex Persona. At once, his height shot up from 5''11" to 6''7". Turning from a athletic student to someone competing for Mr. Olympia. His apex physique appeared more muscular and toned than the last time he used Apex persona. He credited it to his recent fat loss. As he admired his Apex form, a notification from the Toybox system interrupted him.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    -5 units of curse energy for using the Apex Earring (Apex Persona mode) for one hour. 59 minutes remaining.


    Note:


    i) The Apex Earring is only active when its skills are in use. Energy consumption occurs in Apex Persona mode (5 units/hour) or Energy-Saver mode (1 unit per 5 hours).]


    Normally, Ace preferred using Energy-Saver mode, only activating the Apex Persona to deepen his understanding of Curse Arts or modifying them. However, the situation was urgent, and his current curse core reserves could handle the high curse energy demand. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He enabled sense-sharing with Emi, allowing her to teach him Curse Concealment Art and guide him as he practiced it. Through the shared senses, Emi monitored his curse energy circulation and provided corrections. With her guidance, Ace''s in his Apex form minimized mistakes, accelerating his progress in learning it.


    Within minutes, Ace memorized the Curse Concealment Art and began performing it flawlessly. After completing the energy circulation twice without assistance, he had the art committed to memory and achieved basic proficiency.


    After about another half an hour of rigorous practice, the status screen updated him with his progress when he reached a milestone in the Curse Concealment Art proficiency level:


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    - Curse Concealment Art learned.


    i) +10% proficiency


    ii) Curse Concealment: Passively hide all signs of curse energy in your body unless you choose otherwise.


    Note:


    i) Continued practice will increase proficiency.


    ii) Rigorous practice will enhance related stats.]


    Encouraged by his success, Ace redoubled his efforts, determined to master the art to a satisfactory proficiency before dinner.

 Chapter 91: Mad Mandy

    Chapter 91: Mad MandyA few minutes shy of late evening, a golf cart barreled past the pine forest at an alarming speed, its wheels kicking up a cloud of dust. Mad Mandy, nearing the lakehouse, yanked the steering wheel sharply, bringing the cart to an abrupt halt just inches from the front porch. She parked it haphazardly, its back end jutting out into the driveway.


    Visibly fuming, Mandy emerged from the golf cart, her face flushed and her breathing rapid. She dashed toward the front door, her movements hurried and determined. Seeing the door slightly ajar, she kicked it open, shouting, "Ace, you jerk!"


    Inside, Danny, passed out on the couch, lay covered in butter and hot sauce, surrounded by empty soda cups, lobster shells, and dirty plates. Startled awake by the slamming door and Mandy''s shout, he bolted upright in terror, yelling, "It wasn''t me! It was Ace! Ace did it!"


    When he turned and saw no one but Mandy glaring at him with disgust, he sheepishly lay back down, retreating into his filth.


    "Junior, where''s Ace?" Mandy demanded, her tone sharp. Danny didn''t respond verbally; he simply lifted a sluggish hand and pointed toward the room by the dining area.


    Taking the hint, Mandy added dryly, "Remind me never to trust you as a fake witness¡ªor for anything, for that matter." Danny gave a half-nod and immediately drifted back to sleep. Mandy, rolling her eyes, muttered as she stomped toward Ace''s room, "At least get to your room before passing out. I''ll get someone to clean this mess."


    Half-asleep but obedient, Danny trudged upstairs to his bedroom.


    When Mandy reached Ace''s room, she grabbed the doorknob and twisted it, finding it unlocked. She stormed in, only to be met with an empty bed and room.


    Frowning, Mandy paused, thinking Ace might have gone out for dinner alone, given that Danny was already passed out. Before leaving, she decided to check the washroom. Seeing the door locked, she knocked sharply. "Ace, are you in there?"


    Silence.


    Knocking again, she raised her voice, "Ace, are you in there?" Still no reply.


    Her frustration boiled over as her imagination ran wild. Assuming the worst, she began pounding on the door, shouting, "Ace! Are you hiding from me in there, you coward? Face me like a man! Get out here this instant, or I''m calling the resort staff!"


    "Come out, you big jerk!"


    "How dare you ditch me? Come out!!!"


    Just then, the door swung open, and Mandy, caught off guard, stumbled forward. Before she could hit the ground, a pair of sturdy arms caught her, wrapping her in a warm embrace.


    Brushing the hair from her face, she blinked up at the owner of those arms. Her eyes met a bright, familiar gaze, and for a moment, she felt herself falling into their depths until he spoke, his voice calm but bemused. "What''s the big idea, Mandy?"


    ¡­


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    Dame Wasp: Master, it''s 8:55 PM. Mandy has come looking for you. She seems furious that you ditched her and is threatening to call the resort staff if you don''t open the door and meet her.]


    Ace, in his apex form, was deeply immersed in practicing the Curse Concealment Art, completely oblivious to his surroundings. Mandy''s screams and furious banging on the door didn''t faze him in the slightest. Every fiber of his being, all his senses, were attuned solely to the practice of the curse art, unraveling its intricacies and observing his body''s response to it.


    At that moment, Ace''s presence was diminished to near nonexistence. If Mandy were to open the door, she wouldn''t see him sitting in a lotus position on the toilet seat, his entire focus devoted to the circulation of curse energy as described in the Curse Concealment Art. She would likely assume the washroom was empty unless she physically touched him, which would immediately reveal his presence.


    It was only thanks to Dame Wasp''s reminder through the status screen that Ace realized Mandy was calling for him and threatening to involve the resort staff. Reluctantly, he acknowledged that he needed to break the momentum he had painstakingly built over ten continuous hours of rigorous practice.


    He didn''t hold it against Mandy, though. After all, he had instructed Dame Wasp to remind him at 9 PM, and cutting his session short by five minutes wouldn''t significantly impact his progress.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    - Curse Concealment Art learned.


    i) +29% proficiency


    ii) +16 Spiritual Stats


    Note:  S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    i) Continued practice will increase proficiency.


    ii) Rigorous practice will enhance related stats.]


    Awakening from his deep practice, Ace stood up and stretched his arms and legs while checking his progress through the status screen. As he deactivated his apex form, he dressed quickly. Moments later, he opened the door, only to have Mandy fall straight into his arms.


    Gazing into her eyes, he grumbled, "What''s the big idea, Mandy?"


    Feeling the weight of his blame, Mandy quickly pushed herself out of his embrace and grabbed him by the collar, pulling his face close to hers. She could feel his warm breath on her face as their eyes locked. Fighting the hypnotic pull of his gaze, she narrowed her eyes and snapped in a firm tone, "Would it have killed you to answer me? Or were you too busy snickering in there, listening to me make a fool of myself?"


    Instead of replying, Ace held her gaze, his expression indifferent. Then, without warning, he placed his hands on her slender waist. Before she could react, he effortlessly lifted her off the ground. Shocked, Mandy let go of his collar and stammered, "Ace, w-what are you doing?"


    Setting her aside gently, Ace stepped out of the washroom and closed the door behind him. Ignoring Mandy, who stood frozen, still feeling the lingering sensation of his touch, he began walking out of the room. Pausing at the doorway, he turned to ask, "I''m heading to the complimentary buffet for dinner. Will you join me and Danny, or have you already eaten?"


    Snapped out of her thoughts, Mandy rushed after him. Clenching her fists, she pounded them lightly on his back, yelling, "Ace, how dare you? Did you forget I''m still your aunt?"


    Ace didn''t flinch; her punches lacked both intent and strength. Calmly, he turned to grab her wrists, gently spreading them apart. Lowering his head to meet her gaze, he stared closely into her eyes and murmured, "So, Auntie, what do you want from me?"

 Chapter 92: Rewards

    Chapter 92: RewardsLooking into those hypnotic eyes, Mandy felt half her anger evaporate, with the rest slowly fading as she became distracted by the warmth of his breath on her skin, the faint scent of him, and the way his tempting lips curled into a subtle grin¡ªWTF! Noticing the grin, Mandy snapped herself out of her trance and shoot a glare at Ace. Fighting the urge to look deeper into his eyes and struggling to free her hands from his firm grasp, she roared, "Apologize! You jerk. Apologize for everything!"


    "Alright, I''m sorry. And to show my sincerity, I now owe you two dates. Will you join me and Danny for dinner?" Ace promised, fully aware that Mandy wouldn''t let it go until she got something from him. She''d never cash in on the dates but would delight in holding them over him at every opportunity. She was an even bigger tease than Janice or Delores.


    "First, let go of my hands."


    Ace complied, freeing her wrists. Mandy rubbed at her cuffs, throwing another glare his way before adding, "Danny''s full and asleep. It''s just us. Let''s order room service. What do you want?"


    "What''s wrong with trying the complimentary buffet?" Ace asked, wondering if he was the odd one for wanting to take full advantage of the free meal.


    "I''m tired from dealing with Greg. That old fool doesn''t know when to give up. He''s lucky I agreed to buy his 25 acres for $800k. He would''ve taken a lower price just to secure the loan on such short notice. Anyway, I''m too exhausted to go out to eat. Let''s order in." Mandy brushed past Ace, heading to the minibar in the hall.


    "Fine," Ace relented, realizing he didn''t feel like waiting alone in a buffet line and risking being the odd one out. Sure, he could sit at the bar, ignore the judgmental stares, and pig out, but he had plans for Operation Fortune Dive tonight.


    Just as he was about to ask Mandy what she wanted to order, he noticed her at the minibar, grabbing as many nips as her two hands could carry. She closed the fridge door with her hip, spread the nips across the bar counter, and began chugging them one by one.


    Sitting at the bar, Ace waited for her to finish before asking, "What happened?"


    "Of course, I taught that old fool a lesson, just like I said I would. But then the old bastard had the nerve to ask me to resell him the entire 35 acres for cost or help him buy Lansky''s Orchard! I tried to do right by everyone, but he chose to be ungrateful and greedy. How dare he call me a scheming wench? Forget it¡ªJanice will handle him," Drunk Mandy vented, reaching for another nip.


    Before she could grab it, Ace caught her hand and held it down. "Let''s order something to eat first," he said gently. "Drinking this much on an empty stomach is dangerous."


    "Nephew, be honest. What do you think about me?" Mandy asked, resting her hands on the counter and leaning forward, her gaze locking with his.


    "Honestly? Meeting you after all these years, I could hardly recognize you. You''d become quite the tease. But over time, I''ve come to admire your skills. And eventually, I began to respect you¡ªespecially after seeing how content and considerate you are," Ace replied sincerely after giving it some thought.


    Mandy could have continued earning millions if she had gone solo, combining her skills with Janice''s connections, but she didn''t. She chose to be content and retire. If not for helping her brother-in-law and teaching Greg a lesson for Hank, she wouldn''t have reentered that world. Mandy had many shades to her character, and Ace had grown fond of each one.


    He was honest because he felt she needed to hear it after the ordeal with Gregory. Ace was certain that things with sly Greg hadn''t ended as easily as Mandy made them seem. Thankfully, Janice was overseeing the situation. Otherwise, Ace would never have forgiven himself for ditching Mandy if their meeting had escalated into something more serious or tragic.


    "You sweet talker¡ªyou! I can''t trust a single word from those lips. Let''s order in," Mandy dismissed his remarks with a smile. However, she didn''t reach for the nips again, and her mood noticeably brightened. She even skipped over to the phone to call room service.


    After a light dinner and some wine, Ace carried a drunk, fast-asleep Mandy upstairs to her room. Naturally, the wine had been Mandy''s choice to celebrate purchasing the 35 acres; Ace couldn''t touch a drop. Tucking her in carefully, he didn''t linger and headed to his own room to prepare for the night''s tasks while waiting for their parents to arrive.


    Once in his room, Ace began preparations for Operation Fortune Dive. He instructed Emi to feed one of the mortal-rank gremlin curse cores to his toybox. Using his Apex persona for ten straight hours, combined with his prior curse energy consumption, had drained his reserves significantly. Ace planned to enhance his curse core with the gremlin core to level up and restore his curse energy reserves.


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    > Using curse core (gremlin form) to enchant Toymancer''s curse core¡­


    > Enhancement complete.


    > Toymancer has gained,


    i) +5 physical stats


    ii) +5 spiritual stats


    iii) +70 curse energy


    Note: Toymancer''s personal status screen has been updated.]


    Just as Ace was about to check his new stats to see if his toybox had gained extra space, he heard the sound of the front door opening. It was their parents. They appeared to have had an excellent couples'' date, judging by the way they were buzzing with laughter and joy. Quickly, Ace dove under the covers, pretending to be asleep.


    However, the laughter abruptly stopped.


    "What the heck happened here?" Pam exclaimed, her eyes widening and jaw dropping in disbelief as she surveyed the chaotic scene.


    "It looks like a garbage dump! Lobster shells all over the couch and floor, empty wine bottles on the dining table, and shooters scattered across the bar counter. Did they get drunk while we were gone? Ace, you''d better be asleep in your room!" Mary let out a dramatic gasp, throwing her hands up in frustration, her face a mix of anger and disappointment.


    "No, no, this doesn''t look like Ace''s doing. These lobsters are clearly Danny''s mess, and the wine and nips are definitely Mandy''s. They pull this kind of stunt every vacation," Pam said knowingly. She understood her son and little sister too well to be mistaken.


    "And I''m sure Ace tagged along. He''d better not reek of alcohol, or I''ll smother him in his sleep," Mary muttered, not disagreeing with her sister-in-law. She knew her son wouldn''t start trouble but wouldn''t hesitate to cheer it on.


    "Ahem, honey, can''t this wait until morning? I''m feeling sleepy," Alwin interjected, darting his eyes toward their bedroom, clearly seeking his reward for being well-behaved all day. Dan, scratching the back of his head, eagerly chimed in, "Yes, Pam. I''m sure Mandy only drank in moderation. Besides, we''re drunk too."


    Pam and Mary exchanged knowing looks, both recognizing exactly what their husbands were hinting at. After all, the men had indeed been gentlemen all day.


    "Fine, honey. Let me check on Ace first," Mary relented.


    "Why don''t you go to bed? I''ll be there after I check on the kids," Pam offered with a smirk. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 93: Fortune Dive

    Chapter 93: Fortune Dive[ ¡ª Status screen¡ª


    Name: Ace Lander


    Race: Human (¡á)


    Class: Toymancer


    Title: Curse Master


    Health: (17/95)yrs


    Physical Power: 56


    Spiritual power: 43 S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Curse Energy: (411/411)


    Skills: Cursed toybox(3/4), Status screen.


    Arts: Body Reinforcement, Curse Concealment.]


    Ace looked at his updated stats and was elated by the results of his hard work. He had been worried about his spiritual power falling behind, but the curse concealment technique seemed to boost it. He speculated that this might be because the Nakamura family''s ninja arts were originally spiritual arts designed to enhance spiritual power. Making a mental note to explore more cursed ninja arts from Emi in the future, Ace resolved to first master his current curse arts to maximum proficiency.


    What pleased him the most was discovering that his toybox had gained an extra toy space. However, this also became a source of concern¡ªit had required doubling his stats to unlock the additional space. He couldn''t help but worry whether the same effort would be necessary to unlock the next one. Hopefully, that wouldn''t be the case.


    Not allowing this worry to overshadow the joy of his progress, Ace began to consider which character he should animate as his next toy summon. The last time, he had chosen based on the dolls available at the Oracle Doll Makers. He planned to do the same now, hoping to find a doll compatible with the knight-rank changeling curse core. He wanted to avoid the wait period of custom doll and also a trip to the Curse Mall. Just because his last visit had gone smoothly didn''t mean it would this time. Unless absolutely necessary, he preferred to steer clear of that place.


    "Master, everyone is asleep. The coast is clear for us to start Operation Fortune Dive," Dame Wasp reported, appearing before Ace. Their parents, after a perfect couple''s spa and date night, were in the mood for "adult stuff," so Dame Wasp had monitored them alone to ensure they were all sound asleep before giving Ace the all-clear to head to the lake and begin the operation.


    This time, Ace avoided using the ''Sleep'' talisman, given its after-effects from the last time and the fact that the resort owner was a curse master. Instead, he relied on Dame Wasp''s cybernetics to confirm that everyone was deeply asleep. It was a risk, but there was no choice¡ªtoday was the last opportunity before they would leave the resort and return to the ranch the following evening.


    Using Emi''s ''Invisible'' talisman, Ace hurried to the lake, stark naked. The heavy rain, as William had warned them about earlier, was relentless. Following Dame Wasp''s precise directions, he arrived at the designated dive location. Standing at the edge of the dark lake, its surface rippling gently to the rhythm of the raindrops, Ace swallowed hard.


    When he had planned the operation in his mind, diving into the lake in the dead of night and descending to its bed alone had seemed straightforward. Now, however, he found himself frozen by the biting cold and a deep, primal fear. As if sensing her master''s inner turmoil, Dame Wasp chose not to rush him. She knew that while Ace could be cowardly at times, when the moment called for it, he would rise to the occasion.


    However, to her dismay, she saw Ace taking a few steps back. Just as she was about to offer some words of encouragement, he dashed forward and leapt into the lake. In midair, he activated his Apex persona, transforming into a 6.7-foot-tall Mr. Olympia figure and executing a dive that would make even Olympic divers envious.


    As the massive splash echoed across the stillness of the lake, Dame Wasp couldn''t help but feel that her master had cast aside his cautious side to confront his fear head-on. Quickly, she scanned the surroundings to ensure the noise hadn''t attracted any passerby or unwanted attention before following him into the water. Controlling her laser braid''s lazer beams to perform as flashlights, she led Ace toward the dig site.


    Once they reached the lakebed, Ace immediately summoned Emi''s ''Barrier'' and ''Presence Erasing'' talismans, activating them simultaneously. A luminous, 3-meter-long cubic barrier formed around him, effectively expelling the water and creating a dry, air-filled space. The barrier''s glowing surface illuminated the interior like daylight, while the ''Presence Erasing'' talisman concealed both the curse energy signatures and the barrier''s light, preventing it from spreading and drawing attention from above.


    ''Emi, is there oxygen in here?'' Ace mentally asked Emi who was watching through his sense-sharing skill. Only after receiving a positive confirmation did he release his held breath. He deactivated his Apex persona, saving it for the return trip and practice session. Then he and  Dame Wasp hurriedly removed the aquatic lifeforms trapped with them in the barrier, tossing them outside before cleaning the lakebed to prepare for laser boring.


    "Alright, Rose, do your thing," Ace said, noticing Dame Wasp momentarily spacing out.


    "Master, I don''t think this is going to work," Dame Wasp replied, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. After a moment of contemplation, she continued, "Once I begin laser boring, the oxygen inside the barrier will be consumed, its level dropping rapidly and be replaced by fumes from my lazer burning through sand and mud."


    "Then go outside the barrier and start boring in your 1/100th form," Ace suggested. "At that size, the borehole will be so small it shouldn''t cause noticeable ripples on the surface, and the bubbles from the fumes will likely go unnoticed. Once you reach the treasure, I''ll recall you back into the barrier." Unlike him, Dame Wasp, though alive, was fundamentally a plastic toy enchanted and enhanced by curse energy. She had significantly higher resistance to elements.


    "Master," Dame Wasp began patiently, "if I do that, the borehole will become unusable for a second use, or it might even collapse on me during the first use as water fills it. While I can make it work, it will take far more time. In other words, a single midnight won''t be enough for us to excavate all the treasures.


    "Master, you can summon Emi, so she can create a second barrier adjacent to this one, or a smaller one within this one, where I can perform laser boring without worrying about poisoning or suffocating you to death first."

 Chapter 94: Buried Treasures

    Chapter 94: Buried Treasures"Great solution, Rose. But Emi had an even better one: I''ll use a storage talisman to cover the opening of the bore you dig. It will continuously absorb the fumes while preventing the oxygen inside the barrier from escaping into the bore and being consumed by your laser, which would otherwise deplete the levels faster," Ace explained, praising Dame Wasp for her creative thinking but highlighting Emi''s ingenious fix. Emi, as the Talisman Master, had devised a clever and efficient solution to address all the issues raised by her senpai without consuming much curse energy.


    "We can use a storage talisman like that too?" Dame Wasp asked in astonishment. Her surprise was understandable¡ªsuch a practical application was something only Emi, with her extensive experience in creating and using talismans, could have conceived so quickly.


    "Alright, Rose. You ready?" Ace asked, summoning a ''Storage'' talisman from Emi''s toy space and kneeling beside the dig location, ready to deploy it as soon as Dame Wasp started laser boring. Since her laser was generated using curse energy, ventilation wasn''t necessary as long as there was a outlet for the fumes to move into.


    In her 1/100th form, Dame Wasp nodded, "Ready!" With precision, she began boring into the predetermined spot using her laser. Ace immediately activated the ''Storage'' talisman and placed it over the borehole, ensuring it functioned as intended: one side absorbed the fumes, while the other side kept the air inside the barrier from entering the bore.


    Dame Wasp directed her laser with precision to create a main bore 3,100 feet deep, targeting the center of the fault where the majority of the treasure was concentrated. Thanks to her futuristic cybernetics, enhanced by curse energy, navigating underground was effortless. After reinforcing the main bore to ensure it could be used multiple times, she began boring into its walls to extract the larger treasures first¡ªprimarily old wooden and iron trunks filled with gold bricks.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª-


    Dame Wasp: Master, recall me. But watch out, I''m bringing something huge.]


    "Recall," Ace muttered, his eyes widening with anticipation as a rusted old iron trunk materialized at his feet.


    Dame Wasp grew to her normal size and, with a swift motion, broke open the trunk. A dazzling sight greeted them: neatly arranged pure gold bricks, their radiant hue untarnished by time. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Holy shit!" Ace exclaimed, running his fingers slowly over the smooth surface of the gold. But his amazement was fleeting. With a determined expression, he closed the trunk. "Let''s get back to work. Once we''re done, we''ll have all the time in the world to admire it."


    Dame Wasp nodded in understanding. She shrank back to her 1/100th form and disappeared into the main bore. Her laser resumed cutting through the earth with renewed vigor as she worked her way toward the next big treasure. Meanwhile, Ace stored the rusted truck in the ''Storage'' talisman, making space for the next haul.


    This time, Dame Wasp returned with a petrified wooden trunk. Buried underground for centuries, the wood had undergone petrification, deforming into what now resembled a rectangular block carved from peculiar rock. Ace didn''t bother checking its contents, trusting the list Dame Wasp was compiling with descriptions of everything she unearthed. Time was of the essence, by three in the morning the lake would be swarming with boats of those visiting the lake for crabbing. So, every minute counted.


    After a few rounds of rusted iron or petrified wooden trunks filled with gold bricks, Dame Wasp began retrieving trunks containing rubies, jewels, and diamonds¡ªsome cut, others uncut. It was during this process that Ace noticed markings on the boxes: "KK Jewelers." The origin of the buried treasure was clear now. Much of the wreckage appeared to have belonged to KK Jewelers, who from the look of the haul Dame Wasp dug out appeared to be a prominent jeweler of the time in this region.


    Dame Wasp also unearthed trunks of silverware and jewelry, though most had succumbed to rust and decay. Thinking the gold, jems, and diamonds in the jewelry could still be salvaged, Ace stored the viable pieces. As for the heavily damaged silverware, he decided to toss them back into the lake, hoping to stoke the treasure-hunting fantasies of anyone lucky enough to stumble upon them in the future. However, he kept select items that might fetch a good price as antiques.


    As the operation progressed, Dame Wasp began surfacing less frequently. When she did, it was mostly with trinkets scavenged from corpses buried or valuables scattered throughout the fault. It appeared she had already retrieved all the significant treasures, leaving only scattered remains and personal items. These were widely dispersed, making them time-consuming to collect.


    Ace, finding little urgency in storing these smaller items, amused himself by examining them as Dame Wasp worked. It was a way to pass the time as they neared the conclusion of their midnight fortune dive.


    During this, a small, deformed rock-like box caught Ace''s eye. On closer inspection, it turned out to be a square wooden ring box that had been deformed and petrified after spending over a century buried in the fault beneath the lake.


    He waited for Dame Wasp to return, and this time, she surfaced with a rusted sword. Realizing they were now sifting through less valuable remnants, he gave a firm order: "Rose, don''t waste your time on these junk items. They won''t fetch much even as antiques. Focus on bringing up anything containing gold or diamonds. Leave the rest."


    Dame Wasp nodded in understanding. Ace then held up the petrified ring box in his hand and asked, "What''s in this?"


    "Master, that contains a 21-carat, flawless, round-cut diamond ring with a gold-platinum alloy band," Dame Wasp replied, referencing the list she had compiled. "Based on the current market value, it could fetch close to $2 million. But as an antique, it''s worth even more. Back then, many mistook platinum for silver, so for a jeweler to use platinum, thinking it was silver, was both rare and not unusual. It''s one of the most valuable items we''ve retrieved so far."

 Chapter 95: +410Kg Gold

    Chapter 95: +410Kg Gold"Whoa, that''s a lot," Ace remarked, carefully storing the deformed ring box in the storage talisman. Then he asked, "Rose, by your estimate, how much are the treasures we''ve collected so far worth?"


    "Master, due to the large number of uncut gems and diamonds, not to mention the antiques, it''s impossible to estimate the actual value of our treasures. If I were to personally cut the gems and diamonds with my laser, they would be worth significantly more in today''s market, though they might attract unwanted attention. Antiques are more likely to fetch higher prices at auction. So, I can''t accurately price them or provide a reliable estimate of our haul. However, just in gold alone, we''ve accumulated more than $34.6 million. That''s from the 410 kg of gold bricks we found in the rusted iron and petrified wooden trunks¡ªnot including the gold from jewelry and other items," Dame Wasp explained, emphasizing the difficulty of valuing the treasures they had unearthed.


    "$34.6 million? 410 kg of gold bricks!" Ace exclaimed, his jaw dropping in astonishment. His eyes widened as he stared at Dame Wasp, as if she had just revealed the most unbelievable news in the world. After all, it was an enormous sum for a high school senior.


    Recovering from his shock, Ace looked at Dame Wasp with a mixture of awe and gratitude. "Rose, you''re the best thing that ever happened to me," he declared. "I couldn''t have asked for a better first Toy Summon. I love you. Come here, let me give you a few kisses." He reached out enthusiastically to grab her tiny body, but she dodged his affectionate gesture.


    "No, Master. My body is covered in harmful fumes. Maybe later," she replied with concern in her voice.


    "Then go wash up in the water outside," Ace suggested, his eyes gleaming with joy. If only she were an adult silicone doll, he thought, he could have rewarded her more appropriately. "Rose, all of this wouldn''t be possible without you. I have to show my appreciation properly. Come on, don''t be shy," Ace insisted, his voice filled with a mix of gratitude and authority as he leaned forward.


    "Master, let''s save it for when I get my new body," Dame Wasp replied firmly. Seeing her unwavering determination, Ace sighed and relented, though he playfully added, "Okay, as you wish, my lady."


    As Dame Wasp prepared to return to digging out treasures, Ace stopped her. "Dame Wasp, wait. Before you go, tell me¡ªhow much would the $2 million diamond ring fetch at an auction?"


    "If you can prove it''s historical¡ªmeaning it''s from the wreckage of that unfortunate night one and a half centuries ago¡ªit could be worth about $5 million, possibly more. At auction, it might fetch anywhere from $6 to $7 million. However, if you were to sell it as a regular 21-carat flawless round-cut ring, it might fetch around $2.4 million. Still, I wouldn''t get our hopes too high," Dame Wasp answered thoughtfully, her eyes narrowing as she considered the intricate relationship between a jewel''s history and its value, especially in the volatile auction market.


    "Now that''s just..." Ace trailed off, struggling to find the words to express the sheer absurdity of the situation. It was mind-boggling to think that the same piece of jewelry could be worth multiple times more simply because it was tied to a significant historical event. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shaking his head, Ace said, "Rose, that diamond ring is going to get you Janice''s hair, as you requested, first thing tomorrow morning. This way, you''re one step closer to getting your new body." He wanted to do something meaningful for Dame Wasp, and knowing that the diamond ring was worth significantly less without its historical provenance, Ace devised a plan to kill two birds with one stone.


    "Thank you, Master!" Dame Wasp exclaimed, her tiny body trembling with excitement. She still harbored insecurities about her size, especially her inability to participate in her master''s adult play time. She yearned for a body that would allow her to fully experience her Master, just like Emi.


    "Alright, now get to work. Remember¡ªjust grab the valuables and leave the junk," Ace reminded Dame Wasp, his voice sharp and impatient as he recalled her haul out all sorts of debris from the wreckage.


    "Got it, Master," Dame Wasp replied, her voice small but resolute. She then reduced herself to her 1/100 form and disappeared back into the main bore, ready to comb through the debris and salvage any valuable items scattered across the buried fault.


    Ace stopped wasting time sifting through trinkets and quickly stored them away in the storage talisman, which he had placed in Emi''s toy space. They had arrived late¡ªhalf an hour past midnight¡ªbecause of his parents. Now, two hours into their operation, they had already dug out most of the valuable treasures. With only half an hour left before the lake surface filled with boats and its bed with crab nets, they needed to wrap up quickly.


    Dame Wasp was giving it her all. Without her laser and the toybox''s recall skill, they wouldn''t have been able to extract so many treasures in just two hours. However, if they couldn''t recover the remaining valuables in the next half hour, they would have to leave them behind. Ace didn''t want to push their luck. After all, the buried treasures weren''t going anywhere, and he could always return later. That said, considering the few small items left, he doubted he would bother coming back. Instead, he preferred Dame Wasp to search the lake for another buried fault or hidden treasures.


    ¡ª Twenty-Five Minutes Later ¡ª


    "Done. That''s the last valuable item in there, Master," Dame Wasp announced, handing Ace a small diamond ring with a gold-and-silver alloy band. She seemed to have salvaged it from one of the skeletons buried within the fault. A triumphant smile played on her lips accomplishing her mission with time to spare.


    "We still have five minutes to spare. Well done, Rose. I knew you could do it," Ace praised, patting her tiny head affectionately. A sense of satisfaction washed over him. They had successfully cleared the buried fault of all its treasures and wouldn''t need to return.

 Chapter 96: Caught Red Handed

    Chapter 96: Caught Red Handed"Rose, you go trace the shoreline and find a good spot¡ª" Ace instructed Dame Wasp as he returned from the lake under the cover of the ''Invisible'' talisman. He had just reached the sliding glass door of his room when a sudden voice interrupted him.


    "Ace, is that you? Are you outside? Who are you talking to?"


    Recognizing the voice, Ace quickly deactivated the talisman, grabbing a nearby flower pot to cover his groin. Dame Wasp, already in stealth mode, remained unseen. The sliding door opened, and a blonde head peeked out¡ªit was Mandy. Her eyes widened in shock as she took in the sight of a naked Ace, her gaze lingering on every exposed inch. A frown creased her brow as she scanned the patio, clearly searching for the invisible companion.


    "Where did Rose go? I wanted to meet her," she inquired playfully, her voice tinged with confusion.


    "Mandy, what the heck are you doing in my room? And are you just going to stand there, or will you pass me my clothes?" Ace exclaimed, his voice rising in panic as he desperately shielded his groin with the flower pot, his eyes darting in alarm at Mandy''s lingering gaze. She reached for her phone, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips.


    "No! Don''t you dare," Ace pleaded, his eyes wide with desperation, but Mandy ignored him and raised the phone to capture the moment. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Fuck it!" In one swift move, Ace lunged forward, snatching the phone from her grasp and shoving her aside. Grabbing his scattered clothes, he dashed into the bathroom, slamming the door shut with a force that echoed through the room.


    "Ace, you jerk! I almost scraped myself," Mandy complained, rubbing her elbow with a grimace. Her eyes flashed with irritation as she examined the tender skin. If not for her quick reflexes and a nearby object to grab onto, the force of Ace''s push might have caused a more serious injury.


    "My purity was at stake. I did what I had to," Ace muttered as he emerged from the bathroom, now fully clothed. He fumbled with Mandy''s phone, checking for any accidental photos of his exposed form. Mandy snatched the phone back, a teasing smirk still on her lips.


    "It''s bad manners to go through other people''s phones," she teased.


    "And it''s bad manners to walk into other people''s rooms late at night without permission," Ace shot back, his voice laced with irritation. "So, what are you doing here?"


    "I woke up feeling thirsty, so I came downstairs. I decided to check on you while I was at it, but I didn''t expect my nephew to be experimenting with the opposite sex, and naked, no less. So, who''s Rose? Don''t tell me she''s the girl you ditched me for this morning?" Mandy asked playfully, momentarily forgetting the boundaries between aunt and nephew. Her expression quickly turned serious as she recalled the events of the previous day.


    "It''s not what you think. I just went skinny dipping¡ª" Ace began, offering the first excuse that came to mind. However, Mandy cut him off, her tone stern.


    "Save those stories for your gullible parents. Tell me the truth, or do you want me to wake them up?" she warned.


    Ace narrowed his eyes, his tone hardening. "If you don''t leave this room soon, you''ll be the one explaining to my mom what you were doing here late at night. If I were you, I''d leave right now," he threatened.


    "You¡ªdamn it! I should''ve been smarter and sneakier about taking those photos. Ace, you might have won this time, but remember: a thief always gets caught. And when that happens, no amount of pleading will work. Don''t say I didn''t warn you," Mandy muttered, her voice laced with frustration. Knowing she had overplayed her hand, she retreated, leaving behind a firm warning that next time he got caught, no amount of begging would change her mind.


    "Sure, don''t let the door hit you on the way out," Ace scoffed, rolling his eyes as he settled back into bed. Mandy glared at him, her eyes burning with a mix of anger and frustration. With a final, defiant look, she turned and left the room, slamming the door shut. Ace sighed, dismissing her threat, knowing it was the only way to defuse the situation.


    Just as Ace began to relax, his mother''s voice echoed through the house. "Mandy! Why are you coming out of Ace''s room?"


    Mary, who had come downstairs for a drink of water, stood frozen, shocked to see Mandy emerging from her son''s room. Hearing his mother''s shout, Ace groaned inwardly, regretting his choice of the room near the dining hall. It was proving to have the most foot traffic than anywhere else in the house and why was everyone feeling thirsty tonight of all nights.


    Mary''s shout startled everyone. Dan, a retired military man, reacted first, his instincts kicking in. He burst out of his room, his face etched with concern. "What''s going on?" he demanded, his voice sharp and commanding.


    "This witch came out of my baby''s room! Ace! Ace!" Mary shrieked, her voice filled with panic as she rushed into Ace''s room, her eyes wide with alarm. Caught in a situation ripe for misinterpretation, Ace felt a wave of dread wash over him.


    "Mom, calm down. It''s not what it looks like¡ª" he tried to explain, but his words only seemed to fuel her anger.


    Without waiting for further explanation, Mary slapped him hard across the face, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Didn''t I repeatedly tell you to stay away from her? Why didn''t you listen? Why?" she cried, her voice trembling with anguish. She only stopped when Pam grabbed her hands, pleading, "Mary, control yourself. He''s your son."


    Dan, the voice of reason, turned to his brother, Alwin. "Al, get Mary to calm down and help us figure out what''s going on here," he instructed, urging him to calm his wife so they could make sense of the situation.


    ...


    AN: The book is going premium in next eight hours. Your support is crucial to help it gain the momentum it needs for promotion. The next four months are especially critical. Good Power Stone rankings, Golden Tickets, and Gift rankings will boost the book''s visibility in the NovelFire algorithm, leading to extra promotions. This will help attract more readers and build momentum. Your support now can make all the difference! Every bit of support counts!

 Chapter 97: Cleared Of All Charges

    Chapter 97: Cleared Of All ChargesReminded by his brother, Alwin snapped out of his shock and approached his wife to console her and help her see reason. However, she swatted his hand away, her eyes blazing with anger. Pointing at Mandy, she yelled, "Don''t touch me! I warned you over and over that this little witch had her eyes on our son, but you didn''t listen! You said I was overthinking it, that there was nothing to worry about. Now look at what''s happened. This is all your fault! My baby, my baby!" sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Mandy! Didn''t I warn you to stay away from Ace? What''s wrong with you? He''s family, and he''s underage. Have you completely lost your mind?" Pam snapped, her voice sharp. Piecing together Mary''s accusations and Mandy''s panicked demeanor, Pam realized the seriousness of the situation. With things spiraling out of control, she could no longer tolerate her sister''s reckless behavior.


    "Will somebody just tell me what the heck is going on here?" Dan demanded, his voice tense. Though not the most perceptive, the implications of Mary and Pam''s words were clear enough. Still, he clung to the hope that he had misunderstood, as Mandy was like the daughter he never had.


    Seeing Dan''s expression¡ªa mix of confusion and dawning realization¡ªMandy finally found the courage to explain, hurriedly, "I came downstairs to get some water, but I heard Ace talking to a girl. So, I went to check on him. That''s all! I didn''t mean anything else by it."


    "What? Is that it?" Pam repeated, her voice filled with anticipation. She desperately hoped her sister was telling the truth, knowing a misunderstanding could fracture the two families.


    "Yes, that''s it. You can ask Ace," Mandy said calmly, nodding. Her voice was steady, though a flicker of unease passed through her eyes. Mary, now somewhat calmed, turned to her son, waiting for his explanation.


    With all eyes on him, Ace hesitated, unsure how to respond. Mandy''s explanation was a half-truth, and he couldn''t fully corroborate it. Yet, her subtle smug grin made it clear she was getting back at him for earlier, she could have said any other story but she chose this one, and fate seemed to be on her side.


    Gathering his thoughts, he blurted out, "I was talking to an online friend. She couldn''t sleep, so she video-called me when she saw I was online. When Mandy came in, I hung up. After checking on me, Mandy left immediately, but you saw her, and now we''re here. If you don''t believe me, check my phone. The timestamp on the video call history will prove I''m not lying."


    Ace confidently handed his unlocked phone to his mother, hoping she would verify his story by checking the call log. Mandy, however, panicked. If Mary checked the call history and found no such call, their entire cover story would collapse. But Ace wasn''t worried¡ªDame Wasp had already set everything up to support his story.


    "Is the boy telling the truth?" Dan asked Mary, who was intently scrolling through Ace''s call logs. A moment later, she nodded. "It appears so," she confirmed.


    Mary then turned to Mandy and sincerely apologized. "Mandy, honey, I''m so sorry. I misread the situation and said things I shouldn''t have. As your elder, I''m truly ashamed. Pam, Dan, I apologize for my behavior. Please know I didn''t mean any harm. I hope you can forgive me."


    "Mary, you don''t have to apologize. I know you wouldn''t have said those things under normal circumstances," Pam replied, her tone understanding. While she had checked Ace''s call log along with Mary, a nagging feeling persisted that Ace and Mandy were still hiding something. As such, she was more than willing to forgive Mary''s outburst.


    "Mary, don''t apologize. I should have explained sooner, and we could have avoided all this," Mandy said, knowing she bore some responsibility for wandering into Ace''s room late at night.


    "It''s okay, Mary. Anyone could have misread the situation. But next time, try to understand the full picture. Now, let''s all go back to sleep," Dan said gently. After all, she was his brother''s wife, and he knew her occasional outbursts came from a place of care. Besides, he understood Mandy well enough to suspect she had played a role in the misunderstanding. After all, where there''s smoke, there''s fire.


    "Thank you for being so forgiving. Or, since we''re already up, why don''t we go crabbing? The rain seems to have stopped," Alwin suggested, stepping forward taking over for his wife and defusing the tension. He gestured toward the window, encouraging his brother to check the weather.


    "Now that''s a plan! Fifteen minutes¡ªyou two have fifteen minutes to freshen up and meet me and Danny on the boat," Dan announced as he headed toward his son''s room to wake him. He was surprised the boy could sleep through all the commotion.


    "Alright, Uncle Dan," Ace chimed in, only to have his ear tugged by his mother. "Now, who''s this online friend of yours? What business does she have video calling you this late at night? Until you give me a proper explanation, you''re grounded," Mary warned.


    "It''s just an online friend. If you want, I can call her now so you can talk to her. We''re just friends¡ªthere''s nothing more to it," Ace replied confidently. He needed to explore the lake to find a good spot to fulfill his promise to Rose.


    "Is that all?" Mary asked, her voice skeptical. However, seeing how confident her son was, and not wanting to be proven wrong again, she relented. "Fine, you''re free to go crabbing with your uncle," she conceded.


    "Since I''m awake, I might as well give crabbing a shot," Mandy announced, only to be met with a stern glare from her sister.


    "Since I''m awake, I might as well give you a lecture on family and underage boundaries," Mary warned, her voice laced with authority. In her guilt, Mary may not have noticed the subtle exchange between Mandy and Ace, Pam wasn''t so oblivious. She would not allow their family to become fodder for a daytime TV scandal. She wanted to appear on TV¡ªbut not like that.


    ...


    AN: The book is going premium in next eight hours. Your support is crucial to help it gain the momentum it needs for promotion. The next four months are especially critical. Good Power Stone rankings, Golden Tickets, and Gift rankings will boost the book''s visibility in the NovelFire algorithm, leading to extra promotions. This will help attract more readers and build momentum. Your support now can make all the difference! Every bit of support counts!

 Chapter 98: The Deformed Ring Box

    Chapter 98: The Deformed Ring Box"We were late, but we kicked everyone''s butt! This is the biggest haul I''ve ever seen," Dan declared, tying the boat to the dock, his grin stretching from ear to ear. His excitement was infectious as he waved toward Pam, Mary, and Mandy, who were relaxing on the deck, sipping their morning drinks.


    "Looks like you boys had fun, but you''re back too early," Pam teased, watching her husband''s exuberance from the deck. Curious, the trio set down their mugs and strolled over to the boat to see what had Dan so thrilled.


    "We had no choice! We caught so many crabs we ran out of storage space. Had to let a few go," Dan said dramatically, flinging open the icebox and other compartments to reveal the impressive haul. His enthusiasm was almost child like, as if Christmas had come early.


    "How about we unload these and go for another round?" Alwin suggested, smiling as he watched his brother''s energy. It had been a while since he''d felt this kind of joy and nostalgia. He missed these moments with the whole family.


    "Uncle Al, let me off first! Then you can go for as many rounds as you want," Danny said with mock exasperation, dashing off the boat toward the house.


    "Slow down, tiger," Pam chuckled, catching him by the collar. "Your games aren''t going anywhere. Spend some time with the family."


    "Dad, I''m out too. I want to go treasure hunting. Danny, you guys wanna join me?" Ace called, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he hopped off the boat.


    The family exchanged bemused glances. Mandy, however, rolled her eyes, thinking to herself how such a handsome body was being wasted on a nerd.


    Danny smirked and shook his head. "Dude, you still believe in that? We''re not kids anymore, you know. We''ve spent enough vacations hunting treasure and never found so much as a penny." His disbelief was evident as he gestured dramatically.


    "Fine, your loss. Don''t come crying to me if I find something," Ace retorted, shaking his head as he strode away. Turning to William, he asked, "Where can I get a metal detector?"


    "Right here, sir," William replied, pulling a metal detector from one of the larger storage compartments on the deck. Treasure hunting was a popular pastime at the resort, now it mostly served to entertain kids while their parents relaxed. He handed the device to Ace with a knowing grin. "Happy treasure hunting, sir."


    "Thank you, good mate," Ace said, slipping into a pirate accent as he snatched the detector and rushed off, grinning like a kid with a new toy.


    "See? Told you¡ªhe''s still a total nerd," Alwin said to his wife, clearly unfazed by the events this morning.


    "Such a waste," Mandy muttered under her breath, but Pam caught her and shot her a stern look, her eyes silently warning her sister to watch her words and actions.


    ¡­


    Ace walked along the shoreline with his metal detector, heading toward the spot he and Dame Wasp had agreed upon to start their little show. He was playing the long game, aiming to secure his family a fortune sooner than originally planned. This risky endeavor was necessary because Dame Wasp needed Janice''s DNA for her next enchantment.


    Since returning from his successful mission, Operation Fortune Dive, Ace had been carefully orchestrating his plan. The real hero behind Dan''s impressive crab haul was Dame Wasp. Without her secretly placing crabs in Dan''s traps, he wouldn''t have caught nearly as many, even if he had spent the entire day on the lake. After Dame Wasp found the perfect spot, Ace returned to the deck and pretended to go on a treasure hunt¡ªan essential part of the scheme to secure his family''s fortune and help Dame Wasp obtain Janice''s DNA.


    Now, it had all commenced!


    ...


    Arriving at the designated spot, Ace began his search. He had chosen a public area outside the resort''s claimed territory¡ªa place where hidden treasure could have lain undisturbed for centuries. As he swept the metal detector across the sand, it suddenly buzzed, signaling a potential find. Intrigued, Ace knelt down and unearthed a rock. But upon closer inspection, his eyes widened in surprise. The rock was actually something else¡ªa peculiar, deformed, petrified wooden box.


    Ace''s heart raced as he examined it, imagining a small, ornate jewelry box. He tugged at it, but it wouldn''t budge. Frustrated, he picked up a nearby stone, ready to smash it open. But he paused, fearing he might damage whatever treasure lay inside. With a resigned sigh, he decided to head back to the resort and consult a expert or someone who might know an expert¡ªperhaps Mandy.


    Hurrying back to the lake house, Ace found his parents and relatives still busy on the deck, sorting crabs from the boat. His uncle was prepping for a crab boil.


    Ace sprinted toward them, waving the wooden box in the air and shouting excitedly, "Guys, look what I found!" His face was flushed with excitement as he held up the deformed, petrified box for everyone to see.


    "What? A rock?" Danny asked, disappointment evident in his voice. His brow furrowed as he watched Ace with a mix of irritation and disbelief. For a moment, he''d thought Ace had found something valuable, even regretting not joining the treasure hunt. But seeing it was just a rock, he crossed his arms and rolled his eyes, disdaining Ace''s childish excitement.


    Alwin held up the object, brushing dirt off its rough surface. "It looks like a petrified wooden ring box. I wonder if there''s a ring inside," he mused, inspecting the stone-like object carefully. His words piqued the entire family''s curiosity causing them to lean in closer


    "Did our Ace really find a treasure?" Pam was the first to react, her eyes wide with excitement. She eagerly stepped forward, followed by the rest, who gathered around Alwin and Ace in growing anticipation.


    Mandy snatched the small box from Alwin''s hands, turning it over with a skeptical grin. "Well, it''s one ugly engagement ring box, that''s for sure," she remarked, shaking it gently next to her ear. Her expression shifted to intrigue. "If someone thought it worth bringing to the lake centuries ago, there''s got to be something valuable inside."


    "Let''s break it open!" Danny proposed eagerly, his hands twitching with impatience.


    "No, don''t!" Pam interjected, holding up a hand to stop him. "I''ve seen this on TV¡ªif you find something like this, it''s best to open it in front of experts. It''ll make the treasure more credible and valuable."


    Danny frowned, tapping his foot. "Where are we supposed to find experts here?" he muttered, clearly frustrated by the delay.


    "I might be able to help with that," William chimed in, stepping forward with a knowing smile.


    However, Mandy waved him off dismissively. "I know someone better," she declared. Turning to Ace, she added, "Come on, bring your treasure box and follow me. Let''s find out how lucky you really are."


    Mary opened her mouth to protest, but recalling the incident this morning she couldn''t speak. Pam, however, wasn''t ready to relent. "Hold your horses! Where exactly are you going? Take Danny with you."


    "I''m going to meet with the resort owner¡ªJanice," Mandy revealed, flashing a smug smile. "She''s a friend of mine. She could gather every expert in the county with a snap of her fingers. And no offense, but Danny would cramp my style." She threw a pointed look at Danny, who flushed with embarrassment. "But if you insist, feel free to go with William''s suggestion."


    Pam glared at her, clearly irritated. "How dare you talk about your nephew like that!" S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mandy shrugged, unfazed. "Fine, go with William," she said coolly, clearly determined. She didn''t mind taking Danny to meet Janice, but she wanted to be alone with Ace. There were questions she wanted to ask about¡ªparticularly about the girl named Rose.


    Pam was about to argue again, but Mary gently placed a hand on her arm. "Pam, it''s okay. Let them go," she said softly. Then turning to Mandy, she said, "Just remember to return in time for the crab boil. It won''t be the same without everyone present."

 Chapter 99: $10 Million Finders Fee

    Chapter 99: $10 Million Finder''s Fee"What are you up to, Mandy?" Ace asked, his voice barely audible over the cart''s hum and the rustling pine needles. Mandy focused on the winding road ahead, leaning back with a knowing smirk.


    Ace wanted her to take him to Janice''s, but Mandy''s silence gnawed at him. She hadn''t forgotten the morning''s incident, and her quiet demeanor was far from her usual bubbly self. She was the biggest unknown in his plan.


    Emi had assured him that his proficiency in the Curse Concealing Art met the minimum standard, meaning his identity as a Cursemaster would remain hidden unless he used curse energy. As long as he avoided using curse energy around Delores, his secret was safe thanks to his passive curse concealment. Except for Mandy, he had everything else under control.


    "Where did you find the ring box?" Mandy''s sudden question startled Ace. He collected himself. "Outside the resort, a few yards into the woods."


    "Was Rose with you?" she asked. Ace feigned confusion. "Rose? Who''s Rose? I was alone."


    "Ace, stop pretending. I heard you last night," Mandy said. "Come clean, and I might help."


    Ace sighed. "Fine. When I''m ready, I''ll tell you everything."


    "Fair enough," Mandy replied, surprising him. A breeze tousled her hair as she steered the cart effortlessly, her relaxed demeanor captivating. Ace thought, ''So cool.''


    Sensing his gaze, Mandy smiled. "I was a teenager once too. Just make smart choices." S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Thanks for understanding," Ace said, relieved.


    As they neared Janice''s villa, Mandy suddenly asked, "So, you''re not sharing anything with a cool, considerate aunt?"


    "Like what?" Ace asked, wary.


    "You and Rose¡ªhow did you meet? How long has this been going on?"


    Ace frowned. "Didn''t I say I''d tell you when I''m ready? Was all that ''cool aunt'' stuff just an act? Why can''t you let it go?"


    Mandy''s eyes sparkled mischievously, but she let it go¡ªfor now. She signaled the guards and drove through the grand gates. As they neared the villa, Delores and Janice came into view, jogging.


    "Isn''t it a bit early for a jog?" Mandy teased, steering toward them.


    "Mandy, I''m dying here. Just get me to my room," Janice gasped, flushed and panting. Mandy and Ace exchanged concerned glances, wondering how far they had run. Yet, Ace''s eyes couldn''t help but linger on their tight athletic attire¡ªsports bras and Lululemon yoga pants stretched to max trying to cover their ample curves . A smirk tugged at his lips, emboldened by the Curse Concealment Art.


    "Like what you see, Ace?" Janice teased, catching his gaze. Delores, unfazed, jogged ahead. "Focus, Janice. Just a few yards more."


    "Mandy, go on. I''ll catch up," Janice said, her attention on the path.


    Arriving at the villa, Mandy hurried inside to grab towels and prepare protein shakes. When Janice and Delores finally arrived, she handed each of them a towel. As the two women wiped the sweat from their necks, Ace couldn''t help but stare, his gaze lingering a moment too long.


    Feeling a pang of shame, Ace resolved to train himself with some adult playtime with Emi and Dame Wasp as soon as possible. After all, that was why he was here. Janice''s DNA was the key ingredient to making that happen.


    Though Janice''s villa was grand, it seemed devoid of servants, yet immaculately clean. Ace suspected Janice and Delores maintained it themselves using their curse abilities. Given their status, one would expect multiple curse slaves at their beck and call, but he had never seen any during his visits. This led him to believe that dealing with Janice, despite the risks, might be feasible. After all, he had to do it for Dame Wasp''s sake.


    Taking the protein shake from Mandy, Janice asked, "Since you came without me begging, I''m guessing you have some work for me. What is it?"


    "By ''me,'' you mean ''me,'' right? Mandy, What is it this time?" Delores added, irritation evident, though she didn''t refuse.


    "It''s not work. Girls, it''s a treasure. Come on, Ace, show them," Mandy said, gesturing toward Ace, who handed her the petrified ring box.


    "Whoa, it looks like a wooden ring box. Haven''t seen one of these in ages. Ahem, I remember seeing one with my great-grandma," Delores said, adding fake details. Ace knew better. She was over 170 years old¡ªher "great-grandma" was herself. Her youthful, alluring appearance belied the truth.


    "Ace found it by the lakeshore in the past hour and I brought him straight here," Mandy explained. "We were hoping you could get a few experts to open it and estimate the value." She handed the box to Janice. Without warning, Janice snapped the petrified box in two, revealing a large, vivid yellow diamond embedded inside one of the halves.


    "What the hell, Janice?" Mandy shrieked, her shock briefly outweighing her anger. But as she stared at the dazzling gem, her awe replaced her fury. "It''s beautiful¡ªand huge!" she whispered in wonder.


    "A 21-carat, fancy vivid yellow, flawless, round-cut diamond ring. That''s Duke Lambert III''s lost ring," Delores exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief. She couldn''t fathom how someone like Ace had stumbled upon such a infamous lost ring when many failed.


    Mandy, oblivious to the diamond''s historical significance, snatched the half containing the gem. Her eyes sparkled as she turned it in her hands, fingers tracing its contours. "What Duke Lambert? Ace found it; it''s his," she declared with a sense of ownership.


    "It has a $10 million finder''s fee," Janice added, hoping to dissuade Mandy from any ideas about keeping the ring, knowing the trouble it carried.


    "I think it''ll fetch more at auction," Mandy retorted, still entranced by the diamond.


    "No auction house will touch it, and no buyer will risk it," Delores said coldly. "At best, they''ll pretend to agree, then sell your information to the Duke''s house for the finder''s fee." Her tone dripped with disdain, knowing Mandy''s mortal mind couldn''t grasp the true danger involved.


    Mandy ignored Delores''s warning and tried to pry the ring from the petrified box''s half to slip it on. Meanwhile, Ace panicked, watching his plan unravel at the last moment. According to Dame Wasp, the ring would fetch $7 million at auction at best, but now he had learned it carried a $10 million finder''s fee. He instinctively wanted to contact Dame Wasp to ask who Duke Lambert III was and why Janice and Delores seemed to fear him¡ªbut he forced himself to stay calm.

 Chapter 100: Sky Slayer vs Cloud Voyeur

    Chapter 100: Sky Slayer vs Cloud Voyeur''How could I have overlooked that the Curse User might have been involved in the Treasure Lake incident a century and a half ago?'' Ace was furious with himself for the oversight. Janice and Delores''s reactions confirmed that Duke Lambert III was a major player in the ''World of Curses.'' To cause such distress to a royal like Janice over a mere lost ring suggested that the Duke''s house was more powerful than hers, or perhaps there was more to the story¡ªsomething she didn''t feel comfortable sharing with Mandy, a mortal.


    In hindsight, however, this turned out to be the best possible outcome. Had Ace retained the ring and attempted to sell it elsewhere, the buyers might not have been as benevolent as Janice and Delores. Not only did they inform him of the ring''s origins and caution him against any intentions about selling or keeping it, but they also refrained from coveting it themselves. Instead, they actively assisted him in ridding himself of the troublesome find and securing a substantial finder''s fee of $10 million. Ace couldn''t help but feel fortunate.


    "Hey!" Mandy protested suddenly, snatching the ring away as she noticed Janice reaching out to stop her from slipping it on. The latter didn''t give up, "Mandy, this is serious." Janice explained, "Rumor has it that this ring is cursed. Only Duke Lambert''s daughter is supposed to wear it."


    Listening to Janice, Ace wordlessly grabbed the ring from Mandy''s grasp and hurled it to the ground. Mandy and the others were stunned. "What was that for?" Mandy demanded, bewildered by his actions.


    "Didn''t you hear? The ring is cursed," Ace replied, then added with an exaggerated tone, "We should visit a priest later, just to be safe." He knew full well that anyone from the ''World of Curses'' would never seek a priest for help.


    "Ace, do you believe in curses?" Delores asked, picking up the ring and dusting it off.


    "I believe in a higher power," Ace replied, his voice filled with conviction. "If it can punish the wicked, it can certainly curse an object." A zealot couldn''t have said it better. He had long since decided to use superstition and religion as a cover to help his family with matters involving the ''World of Curses.''


    Still, he couldn''t help but wonder how Dame Wasp and even Emi had overlooked the ring''s curse. He also recalled that Dame Wasp hadn''t mentioned the diamond''s rare, vivid yellow color. This meant her initial valuation of the diamond ring was significantly underestimated; its true worth was likely in the tens of millions.


    Knowing that Dame Wasp''s cybernetic imaging looked more like an ultrasound, Ace understood how she might have missed the diamond''s specific color. However, the fact that both she and Emi had failed to detect the curse baffled him. He yearned to ask them through the status screen but managed to restrain himself.


    "Wow, Ace, I didn''t think you were so superstitious," Mandy said in surprise, recalling the time he''d ogled the town''s nun with a rather tempting figure and cused, ''Damn!''


    "Superstitious or not, it''s best to stay clear of the unknown," Janice advised her friend. Mandy was still foolishly trying to put on the ring, ignoring the warnings. If not for Ace''s quick intervention, Delores, standing farther away, would have been forced to act, revealing her superhuman speed.


    "You guys go inside and talk," Delores said, her eyes narrowing as she focused on a particular cloud in the sunny sky. Though her voice was soft, it carried a weight that made the air feel heavy.


    Ace sensed a surge in Delores''s cursed energy¡ªmore intense and intimidating than before. His eyebrows furrowed, and his eyes widened slightly at the sudden shift in the atmosphere. Without the cursed tool she used to conceal her power, a mortal like Mandy would have been rendered unconscious by its sheer force.


    "I''ll hold onto the ring for now," Delores said firmly, noticing Mandy''s gaze fixed on the ring in her hand. Then, without another word, she turned abruptly and jogged toward the woods with swift, purposeful strides.


    "It''s almost noon. How long does she plan to jog?" Mandy muttered, but more puzzled by Janice and Delores''s exaggerated concern over the ring. She rolled her eyes, the annoyance and confusion clear on her face.


    "Let''s head inside first," Janice urged, her expression grave. She knew the true reason behind Delores''s sudden departure.


    As they walked to the villa, Ace glanced toward the woods where Delores had vanished. A sudden movement caught his eye. Something shot into the sky at incredible speed, too fast for him to register even a blur¡ªonly a trail of wind in its wake. He blinked, wondering if it had something to do with Delores.


    ¡­


    In the woods, Delores''s expression hardened. Her steps grew heavier, and her eyes, usually indifferent, now burned with fierce intensity. A low, rumbling hum echoed through the trees and the earth itself as a titanium-gray surfboard slowly emerged from the forest floor beneath her feet. It rose with a surge of power, lifting Delores into the air and vanishing into the clouds in a fraction of a second, leaving only a trail of wind behind.


    Soon, the titanium-gray surfboard slowed to a halt, bringing Delores face-to-face with a figure standing on a speeding, cushion-shaped cloud. The man, his expression startled, yelped, "Sky Slayer!" as his cloud came to an abrupt stop a few yards away.


    "Seriously? I''m tired of that nickname," Delores complained, rolling her eyes. "Can''t you people come up with something more creative and flattering? Like Sky Surfer or even Sky Succubus? Blame me for expecting you guys to suddenly develop some naming sense."


    "You''re too late, Sky Slayer. I''ve already reported it. The world knows the princess was here," the Cloud Voyeur boasted. He had resigned himself to his fate the moment he saw Sky Walker in his path.


    Delores was an Ocean-tier Cursemaster, capable of killing and evading even Sky-tier Cursemasters. Catching and killing him, an Earth-tier Cursemaster and spy, was a trivial task for her. If not for the shock of learning the ring''s true origin, which momentarily muddled his thoughts, Delores would never have had the opportunity to find him. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Delores''s eyes darkened, a dangerous glint flashing in them. "For trespassing on McSuile territory, by the power vested in me by the president, I, Delores McSuile, sentence you to death. Any last words?" Her voice was cold and menacing.


    Listening to Delores righteously sentencing him to death over trespassing instead of imprisoning him, the Cloud Voyeur''s eyes widened in shock before he burst into a maniacal laugh. "Fuck you and your president! Hahaha! He will come! He will come for her! Just like last time, your McSuile family will do nothing but watch as he turns everything upside down for her!" he yelled losing all reason.


    Delores sighed and raised her right hand. A pulse of cursed energy shot forward, piercing the Cloud Voyeur''s chest. His body disintegrated into cursed energy, dispersing into the surroundings, leaving behind only a small white cushion that began to free-fall toward the Earth. Catching it, Delores muttered, "We''re not alone this time," as she prepared to head back.

 Chapter 101: Deloress Acknowledgement

    Chapter 101: Delores''s Acknowledgement"Ace, stop pacing. You''re making me nervous," Mandy said, grabbing his wrist. Seeing the confusion and worry in her eyes, Ace explained, "I''m just worried I might be cursed for finding that cursed ring." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Are you serious?" Mandy let out an exaggerated sigh, sarcastically placing a hand on his forehead as if checking for a fever. Then, out of nowhere, she slapped him lightly and said, "Stop being ridiculous."


    "Wow, Mandy was right. That body is wasted on your cowardly religious ass," Janice scoffed, realizing Ace''s worries were trivial compared to her own genuinely serious concerns.


    "Why do you two have to be so mean? Would it hurt you to be a little compassionate?" Ace retorted, annoyed.


    Seeing Delores leave in a hurry, Ace knew something was wrong. She had gone to handle a serious situation, and while he trusted her abilities, he couldn''t help but worry. Someone else might take advantage of her absence to cause trouble. Feeling that Delores was too reckless for a bodyguard, he nervously paced around the room, hoping for her swift return.


    "If we were compassionate, you''d fall in love with us," Janice said bluntly. Ace wanted to retort, but he couldn''t deny the truth in her words. They both possessed a dangerous level of charm. If they were kind and compassionate, any guy would misinterpret their smiles and fall hopelessly in love.


    "J, who''s this Duke guy?" Mandy asked, rolling her eyes at Ace, who had finally stopped pacing and found a seat.


    Janice leaned forward, her eyes narrowing as she spoke in a hushed tone, "Duke Lambert III. You probably know him as the Duke of Sole."


    "The owner of the renowned wine Fattoria del Sole? I''ve heard he''s notorious and has ties with the mafia," Mandy said, her eyes widening in shock, her jaw dropping slightly as she grasped the Duke''s true identity. Then she asked in doubt, "Isn''t he from our parents'' generation and a foreigner? How can this ring be his daughter''s if it was lost in Treasure Lake a century and a half ago?"


    "The ring belongs to the Duke''s house, the ''House of Sole,'' and it''s said to be created for the daughters of their lineage. It''s complicated. Just know that keeping or trying to sell the ring won''t do any good for you or your family," Janice lied smoothly, using the first explanation that came to mind.


    "You don''t have to remind me. I know better than to piss off a mafia boss. But what now?" Mandy finally grasped the gravity of the situation and couldn''t help but think the ring was truly cursed. She too wanted to get rid off it as fast as possible.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll help mediate and get your nephew his finder''s fee," Janice assured, her tone easing as she noticed Delores stepping into the room, holding a small white cushion. Seeing her return with a cursed tool lifted a weight off Janice''s mind¡ªand Ace''s too. Now, he could finally start thinking of a way to cut all ties with the ring.


    "A finder''s fee? No, thank you," Ace scoffed, his tone dismissive. "Just return the ring to its rightful owner, and please, don''t breathe a word about me. I want nothing to do with this." His eyes held a dangerous glint as he plotted to sever his connection to the ring.


    "Is he for real?" Delores whispered to Mandy, unable to hide her frustration. She found Ace''s cowardice appalling, especially after Janice had promised to mediate.


    Before Mandy could respond, Ace nodded emphatically. "Yes, I am. I don''t want me or my family involved with this ring. That $10 million finder''s fee isn''t worth it. If anyone asks, just say your staff stumbled upon it during a routine campus cleanup or something."


    "I can respect that," Delores said, her tone softening. Her eyes widened in admiration. Most people would be salivating at the thought of a $10 million windfall, but Ace was more concerned with the consequences. She finally recognized Mandy was right about him.


    "Whoa, did you just get Delores to recognize you in your second meeting? It took me a whole year!" Mandy exclaimed with her eyes widening in astonishment. She knew firsthand how difficult it was to impress Delores.


    "So, can I count on you guys for this one?" Ace asked, locking eyes with Janice. He knew that while Delores was stronger, Janice had the final say.


    "Of course, you can. But I won''t let you leave empty-handed. Returning the ring to Duke Lambert III could be a strategic move for my family''s business. So, tell me your price," Janice declared firmly, her eyes gleaming with calculated intent. Being of royal lineage, she wasn''t inclined to covet the belongings of others, especially those of her friends.


    "T-this¡­ a few acres of farmland near my uncle''s and Mandy''s farms¡ªthat would be enough," Ace stammered at first but quickly made his request.


    "A few acres? Have you lost your mind? That ring is worth tens of millions, and their family business is worth hundreds of billions! And all you ask for is a few acres of farmland? How can you be this prodigal? If your mother heard of this, she''d either kick the bucket or disown you," Mandy yelled, her eyes wide in disbelief, as if he were giving away her family''s property.


    Before Ace could reply, Mandy declared, "You shut up. Let me handle this." Putting on her game face, she locked eyes with Janice and said, "J, no hard feelings, but that fool is family. I can choose my friends, but not my family. I''m stuck with that dummy."


    "I''m hurt¡ªdeeply hurt," Janice lamented, her voice dripping with feigned despair. "But I shall persevere for the sake of our friendship."


    "Alright, for starters, how does a billion dollars sound?" Mandy asked with a straight face.


    "Delores, give them the ring back," Janice ordered, a smirk playing on her lips.


    "J, you drive a hard bargain! How about a few thousand acres of farmland in my town?" Mandy countered.


    "I''ll give him a hundred acres of your choosing in your town," Janice replied, knowing full well Mandy would never stop haggling.

 Chapter 102: 135 Acres

    Chapter 102: 135 Acres"Just 100 acres? Come on, J, don''t embarrass me in front of my nephew," Mandy pleaded, her tone dripping with entitlement, as if 100 acres was a mere trifle. In reality, even in her small town, 100 acres of farmland could easily cost over $10 million, depending on its fertility, available water sources, and location. Not to mention, if the owner wasn''t interested in selling, the price could get steeper. Fortunately, Janice didn''t care about that. To her, this was a gesture of courtesy and pride a royal must show.


    "Mandy, are you trying to rip me off for your nephew? I''m deeply hurt," Janice teased, feigning sorrow, though a playful glint sparkled in her eye.


    Mandy''s playful facade quickly dropped. "Fine, I''ll just come out and say it. I want the 135 acres that falls between my land and my brother-in-law''s. That way, our family will own the entire 320-acre stretch in this part of town," she declared, her eyes gleaming with avarice, fixed on the prize. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Done. Delores will help you with the necessary paperwork," Janice agreed, her tone flat. While the McSuile family''s return of the ring to the House of Sole was undoubtedly beneficial, the extent of their reward would depend on their efforts and abilities. In Janice''s mind, this compensation for Ace was a fair trade. Noticing Ace''s hesitation, she prompted, "Anything else?"


    "I was hoping you could get your legal team to find a way to explain our deal to my parents. If possible, I''d like them to believe this was the best possible outcome," Ace pleaded. While he was thrilled with the prospect of owning 135 acres, his primary concern was his parents. His father might be delighted, but his mother would likely be less enthusiastic. He needed both Mandy''s and Janice''s help to sell this deal to his parents, especially his mother.


    "So, you want me to trick your parents for you. Am I correct?" Janice asked sharply. She was beginning to see Ace for who he truly was: a level-headed teenager who wasn''t swayed by wealth. Even now, as the owner of 135 acres of farmland¡ªpractically a millionaire¡ªhe was more concerned with his parents'' approval than his newfound fortune. It was refreshing to see a young man prioritize family over material possessions, especially in a world obsessed with wealth and status. Mandy''s choice, it seemed, wasn''t half bad after all. However, she had to make sure, "Is it because you don''t trust them?"


    "No, I trust them," Ace shook his head softly. "It''s just that I''m making this decision to prevent any potential conflict between them. I don''t want this sudden wealth to disrupt our family''s dynamic and harmony. This way, if they want to move to the country to pursue farming, they''re free to do so. Otherwise, they can lease the land to Uncle Dan and Mandy. Neither of my parents has to compromise or feel pressured."


    "Impressive. Mandy, you''ve got a gem for a nephew," Janice said, unable to hide her admiration. She marveled at how a teenager could think so maturely, especially when faced with such enormous wealth. Beside her, Delores also nodded in acknowledgment. Developing such character at such a young age was indeed worthy of recognition.


    "I know that," Mandy nodded proudly, as if she were the one being praised. Ace, eager and hopeful, asked, "Does that mean you agree?"


    "Yes, I''ll make the arrangements," Janice assured him, then turned to Mandy. "Mandy, it''s time I invited your family for dinner. How does tonight work for you?"


    Mandy''s expression fell slightly. "Actually, that won''t work," she said, disappointment coloring her voice. "We were planning to leave this evening."


    "Lunch, then?" Janice suggested, raising an eyebrow.


    "We''re having a crab boil. We''re already running late, but you two are welcome to join us," Mandy offered with a warm smile.


    Janice glanced at Delores, who nodded in agreement. "Sure, you guys go ahead. We''ll clean up and meet you at the lake house."


    "Great!" Mandy exclaimed, clapping her hands.


    "Alright, see you in half an hour," Janice said as Mandy and Ace prepared to leave.


    ¡­


    On their way back, Mandy noticed Ace lost in thought, his brow furrowed in serious contemplation. Her heart quickened, and she felt a flush rise to her cheeks. Struggling to keep her thoughts in check, she asked, "Ace, what are you thinking about so deeply?"


    "Nothing," Ace replied honestly. "I''m just wondering how to get my mother to agree to move to the country." Though he had said it was up to his parents, deep down, he wanted them to leave the city for the safety of the countryside, where curselings were far less common. His father would likely agree to move today, but his mother would be a challenge. Born, raised, and having spent her entire life in the city, her resistance to rural life was understandable.


    "Don''t worry," Mandy reassured him. "Once she sees Lansky''s mansion-like ranch house, complete with all the luxury amenities and a flower garden, she''ll fall in love with it." Mandy''s eyes sparkled as she revealed one of the properties she had her sights on.


    "Wait," Ace said, astonished. "Don''t tell me Lansky''s 70 acres are part of the 135 acres you want to buy."


    "Yes, they are. Don''t worry about the borewells pumping less water. I''m sure they''ll recover after a storm or two. Even without them, there''s enough water for a tangerine orchard," Mandy assured him, misunderstanding his surprise as concern.


    "Didn''t you say he wouldn''t sell it to a farmer out of principle?" Ace wondered aloud.


    "Yes, but he''ll sell it to a fancy resort," Mandy replied, winking.


    "So, what''s the estimated value of the entire 135 acres you plan to acquire?" Ace asked, curiosity piqued.


    "About $13 to $14 million, maybe more," Mandy answered nonchalantly.


    "Let me guess, the remaining 65 acres is also an orchard," Ace asked, feeling the price was too steep considering the location of the land useless it too happened to be a orchard.


    "Yes, an avocado orchard. So, you''d basically own 110 acres of avocado orchard," Mandy said with a grin.


    ...


    AN: Guys, these four months your support is crucial to help the NovelFire gain the momentum it needs for promotion. Good Power Stone, Golden Tickets, and Gift rankings will boost the book''s visibility in the NovelFire algorithm, leading to extra promotions. This will help attract more readers which means more power stones, golden tickets, and gift to continue building momentum. Your support now can make all the difference! Every bit of support counts!

 Chapter 103: War Orphan X Caged Bird

    Chapter 103: War Orphan X Caged Bird"Is this the spy''s cursed tool? Was he working alone?" Janice asked Delores, carefully examining the small white cushion.


    "Yes," Delores replied concisely, passing her the Sole Ring as well.


    "Which faction did the spy belong to this time? Was it someone seeking revenge against the McSuile family?" Janice asked, her tone disinterested. She brought the cushion and ring close to her right earring, and with a subtle movement, they vanished. Moments later, she produced a brass compact powder case from her left earring. The earrings, seemingly ordinary, served as hidden storage curse tools¡ªthe right one as the entrance and the left as the exit.


    Opening the brass compact, she channeled her curse energy into it. Gazing into the mirror, she intoned, "Mirror, mirror, make me most magnificent!" A surge of peculiar energy washed over her, erasing all traces of sweat, dirt, and filth from her body and clothes. A thin layer of curse energy settled on her skin, shielding her smooth, pale complexion from the surrounding elements.


    "I don''t know. I killed him before I could question him. But he seemed to be thrilled that the Sole Ring was found here, clearly had a bone to pick with the McSuile family," Delores replied casually. She took the compact from Janice, activated it with her own curse energy, and repeated the incantation. The same transformative process refreshed her.


    "You''re growing soft, Delores. You should have arrested him and left him for the family to handle. Alas, I''ll deal with the cursed tool. Let''s stick to the same story as last time when Uncle asks," Janice said, placing the brass compact back in her earring. She then pulled out two crop-top hoodies for them to wear for Mandy''s family''s crab boil. She showed them both to Delores signalling her to chose one the one she liked.


    Janice knew the real reason Delores had killed the spy without interrogating him: if he were captured, the McSuile family would use every method to extract his identity and affiliations, only to then execute everyone connected to him¡ªwomen, children, the elderly, even mortals. It was their way of warning others and preventing future threats at the root.


    "The strong should be benevolent, not fearful," Delores said, pulling on the red crop top over her red sports bra and pairing it with dark Lululemon pants.


    "There you go, quoting Grandpa again. We haven''t heard from him in two decades, and the family''s been on edge. Now that the Sole Ring has shown up in our territory, things will only get more intense. Don''t give them a reason to criticize you. I don''t want to return to the family," Janice said, donning a yellow crop top over her dark sports bra and matching pants.


    "Don''t worry. As long as I''m alive, no one will force you against your will," Delores said firmly, locking eyes with Janice.


    "I don''t want things to escalate to that extent. If something were to happen to you while protecting me, I wouldn''t know how to face Grandpa. After all, you are his beloved eldest disciple," Janice said with genuine concern.


    After her talent for curse crafting was discovered, she wasn''t allowed to leave the family castle for any reason. She felt like a caged bird. No one listened to her pleas¡ªnot her parents or elder brother¡ªbut Delores, her grandpa''s eldest, most loyal, but weakest disciple, did.


    Delores wasn''t born into the McSuile family. She was a war orphan. Her grandpa took her in after discovering her aptitude for curse energy, gave her his surname, and trained her personally as his first disciple. To him, she was no less than one of his children. He would jokingly call her his eldest child, which irked his other disciples and many in the McSuile family, but such was his love and faith in Delores.


    When Janice''s grandpa was present, no one dared to question Delores'' authority, much less criticize her. But the longer they went without hearing from him, the less authority Delores held in the family. Once her grandpa''s right hand, she was now reduced to being Janice''s bodyguard.


    It was because of Delores that Janice could fulfill her dream of becoming a star. If not for that unfortunate incident a decade ago, she wouldn''t have had to disappear from the big screens or be caged once again. Thankfully, with Delores''s support, she could at least choose her cage within her family''s territory¡ªthis resort.


    "Don''t think too much into it. I''m sure Master will return soon," Delores said as the duo headed out the villa and toward a golf cart.


    "You''ve been saying that since you decided to become my bodyguard," Janice said, rolling her eyes as she climbed into the cart. "I know nothing will happen to Grandpa, given his strength, but I worry that when he returns, it might be too late."


    "There''s still your elder brother, Master''s heir," Delores reassured her, placing her faith in the person her master had chosen to lead the family in his absence. She started the cart and drove toward the lake house where Mandy''s family was staying.


    "That fool is too busy at the C.I.B. He can''t even make time for his own sister, let alone run an entire family. The grand elders, uncles, and aunts will never hand over the reins to him," Janice remarked in annoyance but they were the current facts.


    "You''re underestimating the Young Master. One day, he''ll surprise you," Delores said with firm conviction.


    "You''ve been saying that too since you became my bodyguard," Janice replied, shaking her head before changing the topic. "What do you think the Sole Princess was doing here, of all places?"


    "We only found the Sole Ring, not any clue related to the Sole Princess herself. I fear this is part of someone''s conspiracy against the family in Master''s absence," Delores said, her tone serious. The timing of the ring''s appearance seemed too coincidental.


    "I''m guessing the Duke will want to dig up the lake and its surroundings to find more clues about the princess. There go my peaceful days," Janice sighed as their destination came into view.


    ...


    AN: Guys, these four months your support is crucial to help the NovelFire gain the momentum it needs for promotion. Good Power Stone, Golden Tickets, and Gift rankings will boost the book''s visibility in the NovelFire algorithm, leading to extra promotions. This will help attract more readers which means more power stones, golden tickets, and gift to continue building momentum. Your support now can make all the difference! Every bit of support counts!


    S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 104: 40% Gift Tax

    Chapter 104: 40% Gift Tax"I still can''t believe it," Mary uttered, leaning back on the couch cushion, disbelief etched on her face.


    The most amazing day of her life had just unfolded. Not only had she enjoyed a crab boil with a real-life star, but she''d also learned that her son had found a diamond ring, which he exchanged for 135 acres of farmland in her husband''s hometown. Her legs still felt weak, the shock still continued to drain all her strength. The entire day felt surreal.


    Yet, a frown creased her brow as she complained, "Why did it have to be farmland? Couldn''t she have just given us the cash so we could spend it on whatever we wanted?"


    Pam, busy fixing virgin cocktails, rolled her eyes and gave Mary a knowing look. "Then you''d have had to pay nearly forty percent of it to the government as income tax." She paused, a triumphant smile playing on her lips. "Exchanging the ring for the farmland was ingenious." She refused William''s help, genuinely happy for her relatives and wanting to express it.


    Mary, unconvinced, raised an eyebrow. She hesitated, then spoke up. "We still have to pay nearly forty percent gift tax, right? I think I heard that on TV." Her argument was weak, as she was misinformed about the gift tax. Though she was happy about the sudden windfall, the fact that it was 135 acres of farmland in a rural town left a bad taste in her mouth.


    Mandy, scooting closer to Ace, corrected her. "The giver of the gift is responsible for paying the gift tax. So, Janice will be paying the tax. You guys just have to sit back and enjoy." Everyone was so occupied by the good news that no one¡ªnot even Mary or Pam¡ªnoticed her small tricks.


    However, Ace, wanting to conclude his long play, got up from the couch, saying, "Dad, we should move into the town this week and get me enrolled in the local school. I can start attending classes with Danny."


    Mary''s eyes widened in surprise. She shot Ace a stern look, and before Alwin could speak, she reminded her son, "Whoa, hold on, buddy. We haven''t decided on moving here yet. Your dad''s job is in the city, and there are other things we need to consider."


    "Mom, you know better than anyone how Dad always wanted to buy a farm and move to the country. Now that it''s possible, why are you fighting it?" Ace''s expression turned serious. He didn''t hold back, wanting to confirm his parents'' move to the country today.


    "Boy, watch your tone. Just because you found a treasure worth millions doesn''t mean you can disrespect your mother. Now, apologize to her, or I will get up from this couch," Alwin snapped at Ace, not liking the tone his son took with his wife.


    "Mom, I''m sorry," Ace apologized, though he wasn''t done. "Mom, Dad takes care of us and our every need at his expense. I think, in return, it''s our duty to care for him. I just hope you guys come to the right decision." He stormed off the deck and headed into his room, despite his father yelling at him to stop.


    "Ace, come back here or I..." Alwin trailed off, giving up as he watched his son vanish into the lake house. Turning to his brother, he made an excuse, feigning bravado. "If I hadn''t unbuttoned my pants to make more room for beer, I would have taught him a lesson."


    Dan, ever the blunt one, raised an eyebrow. "Why? The boy speaks the truth. Tell me, besides that job you hate but are too good at, what else is there to consider?"


    Pam shot him a warning glance, silencing him before he dragged Mary into the conversation causing it to spiral into a fight.


    "Dan, it''s not that simple¡ª" Alwin began to explain, but Mary cut him off. "Honey, your brother and Ace are right. You''ve supported my every whim so far. This time, let me do this. We''re moving to your hometown. That is, if you guys don''t mind having us over until we sell our house and buy one here." She turned to Pam with a genuine, hopeful smile, awaiting her answer.


    Pam squealed with excitement. "Yes! You guys are welcome to stay with us as long as you want."


    Mandy, brimming with enthusiasm, chimed in, "There''s no need for that. You guys already have a house in the town¡ªa big and luxurious one at that. The 135 acres Janice gifted Ace falls between mine and Dan''s land. That is to say you can move into the Lansky ranch house this week because our family will own the entire 320-acre stretch of land in that part of town." She paused, eager to see Dan''s reaction, but it was less enthusiastic than she''d hoped.


    Dan, knowing his neighbors too well, skeptically shook his head. "Even if Lansky agreed to sell his entire 70 acres, there''s no way Paulson will sell his 65-acre avocado orchard." Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m personally handling this," Mandy declared confidently. "Not only will they sell their lands, but they''ll do it at market price. You''ll believe me when they come to our house this evening to sign the papers. Pack your bags; we''re heading back in an hour. And Dan, give your boat keys to William. The resort will take care of it along with Janice''s boat."


    Mandy was confident. With the information she had on Lansky''s borewells, it would be difficult for him to refuse selling his remaining 25 acres and 45-acre avocado orchard to the resort at a cheap price. As for Paulson, his orchard yielded below average every season due to insufficient water. Mandy was certain that when Paulson heard the right numbers, he would be eager to sell the orchard without hesitation. She knew he and old Greg were cut from the same cloth¡ªthey valued money above all else.


    "Then I will owe you an apology," Dan said with a wide laugh knowing Mandy would be successful.

 Chapter 105: Monarch & 12 Champions

    Chapter 105: Monarch & 12 ChampionsAce might have stormed into the lake house and locked himself in his room, but his ears¡ªor, to be precise, Dame Wasp''s cybernetic senses¡ªwere keenly attuned to the conversation outside. Hearing his mother willingly agree to move to his father''s hometown without Mandy even needing to reveal all her cards, Ace was chuffed. Things had unfolded exactly as he had planned, making his pretense of being an ignorant, religious coward worth it.


    He could have asked Janice for anything, but he requested a few acres of farmland because he knew that if he were to bring it up, Mandy¡ªhesitant to participate in the transaction due to her ties to both Ace and Janice¡ªwould inevitably join in for her own interests ensuring that Ace and Janice would reach a deal which would help Mandy''s interest of acquiring more farmland in that part of the town for reasons unknown.


    Manipulating events from the shadows to align with his goals required patience and the ability to keep his ego in check. Every time Mandy, Janice, or Delores mocked him for his cowardice, religious beliefs, or ignorant remarks, rage simmered in his heart. Yet, Ace mind remained calm, controlling the fire within, ensuring that everything unfolded according to his design.


    Except, that is, for one unexpected twist: discovering that the diamond ring was connected to the ''World of Curses.'' Fortunately, he managed to sever all ties with the ring and secure appropriate compensation for it. Otherwise, Ace wouldn''t have been able to enjoy the delicious crabs to his heart''s content.


    With that issue resolved, Ace used the status screen to discuss the oversight he and his toy summons had made regarding the diamond ring. Thanks to Delores and Janice joining the crab boil, he never found a window large enough to go through this with his toy summons.


    [ ¡ªStatus Screen¡ª


    Ace: Guys, what the heck? How could both of you miss that the ring is cursed?


    Dame Wasp: Master, we''re sorry for not detecting the ring''s curse.


    Emi: Yes, Master. Please forgive our oversight.


    Ace: Skip the apologies. Tell me what went wrong and how we can avoid it in the future.


    Dame Wasp: I believe the wood used to make the ring box has the ability to shield curse energy, or the curse on the ring is conditional. It only triggers when specific conditions are met, making it undetectable until then.


    Dame Wasp: Master, next time, if you suspect an item has a conditional curse, feed it to the cursed toybox as material for a toy summon''s enchantment. It will appraise the item and report its findings to you via the status screen.


    Emi: Senpai, awesome solution! You''re the best.


    Ace: Then let''s do it with all the treasure we dug up from the buried fault once we return home.


    Ace: Rose, what have you found about the ring and Duke Lambert? What''s the story?


    Dame Wasp: Master, according to what I''ve found, Duke Lambert III of the House of Sole is royalty from a small country in the Middle East. The ring, called the Sole Ring, was crafted by the Duke for his heir, the Sole Princess. Apparently, it has a conditional curse that only the heir of the House of Sole can wear it.


    Dame Wasp: Despite being a small country, their progress in curse energy rivals ours, thanks to their inhumane curse research program, which is constantly criticized by the wisemen assigned to them by the Curse Council.


    Dame Wasp: Nearly two centuries ago, for reasons unknown, their country became the target of multiple Void-Tier curselings. Knowing their strength wasn''t enough to face the calamity, they turned to their allies, but none came to their aid. Desperate, they appealed to the Curse Council, but their country''s assigned wisemen refused to make the appeal, saying, ''You reap what you sow.''


    Dame Wasp: sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With no other options and their end near, in their desperation, they turned to the one that everyone in the ''World of Curses'' calls the ''Monarch.'' He promised to help them if they agreed to play a game of hide and seek with him. With no choice, they agreed.


    Dame Wasp: The rules were simple: within the time it took for the Monarch to save their country, a dozen of the country''s best champions had to hide anywhere, in both the mortal and curse worlds. If the Monarch found and killed all twelve within five centuries, he would destroy the country himself. But if even one survived, the country would be spared.


    Dame Wasp: The Monarch eliminated the Void-Tier curselings in under a day and found eleven champions within a week. But for two centuries, he hasn''t been able to find the last one¡ªthe Sole Princess, heir of the House of Sole.


    Dame Wasp: So the Sole Ring being found here is a huge deal. It means the Sole Princess could have been here.


    Ace: How do they know she''s still alive?


    Dame Wasp: Because of the curse contract signed by the Monarch and the 12 Champions. If the Sole Princess were dead, the contract would have declared the Monarch the winner, and that country would no longer exist.


    Ace: Then why is the Duke offering a $10 million finder''s fee for the ring?


    Dame Wasp: Before joining the game, the Sole Princess returned the ring to her father to choose a new heir. The Duke refused, saying she would always be his heir. However, if one day she found a better reason to step down as his heir, she could arrange for someone to deliver both the ring and the reason. He would accept it if he deemed the reason just enough. Following that, he declared that no one could sell the Sole Ring and offered a $10 million finder''s fee to anyone who returned it.


    Ace: That could also mean the Princess wasn''t here, but someone she trusted to return the ring was. Also, is that $10 million in today''s currency or from two centuries ago?


    Dame Wasp: Considering inflation and currency exchange rates, the finder''s fee is $10 million in today''s currency.


    Ace: I knew Janice wouldn''t lie. But this turned out to be bigger trouble than I expected. Anyway, it''s the McSuile Family''s problem now.]

 Chapter 106: A New Day, A New House, A New School

    Chapter 106: A New Day, A New House, A New School"Mom, come on, hurry up! Danny''s here, honking his horn outside." Ace, his eyes glued to his phone, tapped his foot impatiently, the sharp rhythm filling the room with a growing tension.


    "A minute!" his mom replied, hurriedly reaching for the saran wrap to pack his lunch. Her hands moved with practiced efficiency until she noticed her husband hand their son a twenty-dollar bill. "Here''s a twenty, kiddo. Grab lunch at the cafeteria. Have a great first day at your new school!" he said, beaming, his voice full of pride.   sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mary''s brow furrowed. "Al, I''m almost done," she protested, the hint of frustration in her voice underscored by the way she clutched the saran wrap tighter.


    "I''ll eat it," Alwin insisted, rolling his eyes in exasperation, his lips twitching with a playful smirk. "Let''s make sure the boy gets to new school on time, especially on his first day."


    "Thanks, Dad," Ace said, grabbing the bill and rushing out the door, his sneakers squeaking slightly on the floor. He hopped into his cousin Danny''s Buick Regal Turbo T and threw his backpack in the back seat with a grin spreading across his face as he felt the crumple of the bill in his hand. His dad had been in a generous mood lately, handing him twenties like they were candy.


    "Ace, you''re a millionaire now. Can''t you just ask your parents for a car already?" Danny teased, a mischievous glint in his eye as he revved the engine, the low hum of the car vibrating through their seats.


    "And give my mom a heart attack? Moving from the city to this small town was already a big shock for her. We haven''t even unpacked yet. Besides, I''ve got you, the car can wait," Ace replied, leaning back in his seat, his eyes fluttering shut as he let out a sigh of relief and breathed in the fresh country air.


    Danny glanced sideways at Ace, his voice turning more serious. "Speaking of which, how''s your trading coming? Don''t tell me you haven''t started yet. My dad asked for the receipt in the driveway, and I don''t know how much longer I can keep him off your back."


    Ace opened one eye, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Danny, that''s the stock market, not some magic lamp. Things take time. $40,500 is a lot of money, and I can''t be careless." His voice was calm but firm, the weight of responsibility heavy in his tone.


    Danny sighed, slumping in his seat. "If only I''d followed you on that treasure hunt, I wouldn''t be worrying about this measly $10,000," he said dejectedly, before his face brightened with excitement. "Oh! My dad had the principal put you in my class. I get to be friends with this year''s homecoming king. Let your good luck and charm rub off on me."


    Ace chuckled softly. "I wish. But it''s great that we are in the same class." He glanced out the window, a flicker of concern in his eyes. Danny''s lack of confidence stung a little, but he didn''t let it show.


    Now that his family had moved to the country, Ace was ready to focus on the real reason he had chosen Emi as his third toy summon: to help with his family''s health like the Apex earring did with his. Danny''s weight has been a concern especially since it was the source of his lack of confidence, but it''s a long-term project.


    It had been two days since they returned from the resort. In that time, thanks to Mandy, Ace had become the proud owner of 135 acres of farmland, just as she had promised. He had even leased it to his father for 20% of the annual profits, with the earnings placed in a trust under Ace''s name until he turned 21. They would renegotiate the lease terms then, depending on whether he chose to pursue a career or stick with farming.


    Mandy had also arranged for the Lanskys to vacate the house within a day, and by the next, she had helped the Landers move into the Lansky¡ªor now the new Lander¡ªhouse. She even had the Danny''s high school accept him mid semester. Her efficiency was almost unsettling, moving them from city and settling them into the town in under forty-eight hours. Her network of contacts was vast, and Ace was convinced that if she ran for town mayor, she would win easily. Even Mary''s opinion of Mandy had softened, impressed by the incredible help she had provided in such a short time.


    Meanwhile, Ace hadn''t been slacking either. Knowing that the ''World of Curse'' could spring up him anytime, anywhere and in any form, he had been practicing both ''Curse Concealment'' and ''Body Reinforcement'' curse arts with extra intensity. He had made significant progress in mastering both arts¡ªso much so that his cursed toy box gained an additional toy space purely from the stats he earned through practice, without even him having to enhance his curse core.


    He now understood why he only gained one toy space during the last enhancement of his curse core, despite the significant growth in his stats. While the growth was substantial, it wasn''t enough to earn two toy spaces. However, the stats he earned in the past two days made up for it. Also, he had even reached a major milestone in the Body Reinforcement curse art, increasing his lifespan from 98 years to 150 years.


    [ ¡ª Status screen¡ª


    Name: Ace Lander


    Race: Human (¡á)


    Class: Toymancer


    Title: Curse Master


    Health: (17/150)yrs


    Physical Power: 64


    Spiritual power: 55


    Curse Energy: (411/411)


    Skills: Cursed toybox(3/5), Status screen.


    Arts: Body Reinforcement, Curse Concealment.]


    "Lucky, an unmarked parking spot close to the entrance opened," Danny said as slowed the car to a stop in the school parking lot, and Danny pointed toward the clock on the dashboard. "Let''s hurry. You don''t want to be late to Ms. Matthew''s class." He gave Ace a playful nudge as they both reached for their backpacks at the back seat.


    ...


    AN: Sorry for the delay. 2nd chapter of day will take a little longer to be posted.

 Chapter 107: Blast From The Past

    Chapter 107: Blast From The Past"Hey! Asshole, that''s my spot," an arrogant voice shouted at Danny as he and his cousin got out of his Buick. They found a glossy black Mercedes G-Wagon blocking their exit from the parking slot. Danny sighed, irritation flickering across his face. "For the last time, I don''t see your name on the parking spot, Brooke! Now move your damn car," he shouted back.


    Meanwhile, Ace leaned against the car, arms crossed, his brow furrowed in disbelief, ''Who in their right mind buys a G-Wagon for their teenage daughter? Its chassis was designed to handle any position. No matter how rough you get in there, nobody outside will notice. it''s basically a double bed on four wheels''


    A blonde girl with big Gucci shades peeking out from the G-Wagon''s window, warned Danny in a icy tone, "You move your damn car, Lander. If I''m late to class, you''ll have to explain it to Ms. Matthews."


    "Hey, there''s a spot open over there. Just park there,"Ace advised, tilting his head toward an open spot further down the lot.


    The blonde turned her head, pushing her shades down slightly to glare at him. She sneered, "Who the heck are you to tell me where to park my car? Tell the fatty to move his."


    Ace''s gaze hardened. Without missing a beat, he turned to Danny. "Come out the other way. If she wants the spot, let her wait till after school."


    Danny nodded, turning toward the other side of the car. Suddenly, a loud thud made him whip around. His eyes widened in shock as Ace casually strolled across the hood of the G-Wagon, his boots thudding on the pristine paint before he jumped off with ease. Still stunned, Danny stammered, "Ace...what the hell?"


    Ace shrugged nonchalantly. "Hurry up," he said, as if nothing had happened.


    The blonde finally found her voice, screaming in despair. "Ahhhh!" Her baby had just been trampled, stepped on, and soiled by a bum right before her eyes.


    Listening to Brooke''s scream, Danny felt his stomach twist with fear. He bolted for the school entrance, dragging Ace along. Once inside the hallway, the silence between them hung heavy until Danny broke it, "Ace, I don''t need you standing up for me. I could have handled it like I have been doing so far."


    Ace gave a small nod, his expression serious but calm. "Sure, but if someone shames my cousin in front of me, I have to step in. You would''ve done the same." His jaw tightened as a flicker of something darker passed through his eyes. In the past, he couldn''t stand up for his sister against Mike and his cronies, but now things were different. He wouldn''t let history repeat itself. He was cautious, but when it came to his family, caution was never his first thought.


    Danny exhaled slowly, his steps slowing. "Ace, you''re the hot new transfer student. Every girl in our class¡ªor the whole school¡ªis going to be all over you." He shot Ace a grin but added grimly, "But stay away from Brock and Brooke Rockworth. Landers and Rockworths don''t get along. Things are intense between our families¡ªespecially now that we own more land than they do."


    "Why?" Ace raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Let me guess¡ªan old family feud." He tilted his head thoughtfully, finally understanding Mandy''s obsession with acquiring more farmland. Though her last name wasn''t Lander, as far as the townspeople were concerned, they saw her as one.


    Danny sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Exactly. I won''t go into details, but there''s a lot of bad blood between the two families." He glanced at Ace with a wry smile. "Ask your dad when you''re bored¡ªit''s a fun story."


    Arriving by the stairs, Danny pointed at a room informing Ace, "There''s the staffroom. Go find Ms. Matthews in there; she''s our homeroom teacher. It''ll be hard to miss her¡ªshe''s the only teacher with long box braids in the entire school. Good luck. I''m heading to class now." He dropped his cousin off in front of the staffroom and hurried away, like the staffroom was a haunted house filled with his worst nightmares, before Ace could ask him to tag along.


    Ace stepped into the staffroom and felt an unexpected serenity wash over him, a calming contrast to the crowded, noisy hallways. The quiet hum of whispered conversations and the scent of coffee in the air soothed his nerves. He scanned the room, his eyes finally landing on a tall, slim woman with long, dirty blonde box braids tipped in frosty white. Her symmetrical features and warm beige complexion gave her an ethereal beauty. Her professional grey suit emphsized her ample curves that were too big for someone in her late twenties.


    For a moment, Ace''s mind wandered. He imagined her twerking while he grinded behind her, gripping her braids with one hand and caressing her curves with the other. A rush of heat bloomed in his chest¡ªuntil a sharp voice cut through his fantasy like a cold slap.


    "Stop drooling and move aside, perv!"


    Snapped back to reality, Ace realized he was blocking the entrance. He spun around, an apology already on his lips. "I''m sorry¡ª" But the words caught in his throat when he saw two familiar faces. "Principal Martin?"


    Standing before him was his old high school principal, tall and broad-shouldered, with fiery red hair that hadn''t dimmed with age and was still too muscular for someone in his mid-fifties. Beside him stood Ava Martin, his old delinquent classmate, her red hair pulled into a messy ponytail, arms crossed as she stared at him.


    Ace froze, stunned by the blast from his past. He thought he had left his old life behind in the city, but it seemed it had followed him to the country.


    Principal Martin squinted at him, his brow furrowing. "I''m sorry, my boy. Do I know you?" S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ava tilted her head, narrowing her eyes at Ace. "Dad, I think I''ve seen him before," she muttered, staring into his deep-set eyes. There was something familiar about them, though they were darker, more intense than she remembered. She couldn''t shake the feeling that those eyes didn''t quite fit the face she recalled.


    Before the tension could thicken, a soft voice chimed in from behind Ace. "Ah, I see you''ve met. I guess introductions aren''t necessary since both of you are transferring from same school and class. What a coincidence," Ms. Matthews said with a warm smile as she approached.

 Chapter 108: Delinquent Daughter

    Chapter 108: Delinquent Daughter"Holy shit! You''re that weirdo Ace that Mike used to bully in our class. You''ve lost so much weight I almost didn''t recognize you," Ava exclaimed, her eyes wide with a mix of surprise and curiosity. Ms. Matthews'' words had confirmed her guess. Smirking, she leaned in slightly, her tone laced with amusement. "Did you transfer here because of Mike? Didn''t you hear? He and his brother were gunned down by a rival gang ten miles from here. Wait, it wasn''t you, was it?"


    "Ava, you knew your fellow classmate was being bullied? How could you not report it to me?" Principal Martin thundered, his face flushed with anger, completely forgetting his surroundings. The entire staff room fell silent, and all eyes turned toward him, the tension palpable.


    "Please, calm down, Uncle Martin," Ms. Matthews interjected, her voice soothing, though her expression showed concern. But before she could continue, crossing her arms defensively, Ava interrupted her, "Cuz, you stay out of it." With voice dripped with sarcasm she spoke to her father, "Dad, I am no snitch. Besides, weren''t you the one who said that at school, you''re not my father but Principal?"


    "Y-you know I''ve been trying to implement a zero-tolerance policy, right? The teachers were unresponsive, but you¡ªyou''re my daughter. How could you not mention it even once when I asked every day how school was?" Principal Martin''s voice cracked, his shoulders slumping as if the weight of her words had struck him deep. He looked heartbroken.


    "Dad, that''s your job as the Principal, not mine. I thought you cared about me. Turns out, you just want me to snitch," Ava shot back, her voice rising. She muttered under her breath, "Grown man asking his daughter to do his job."


    "Ava, shut up!" Ms. Matthews snapped, her eyes narrowing. Her tone was ice-cold, sharp enough to cut. "Uncle, please calm down¡­" She glanced between them, clearly trying to diffuse the growing tension.


    But Principal Martin seemed paralyzed, his face pale. He looked at his daughter as though seeing her for the first time, stunned by the harshness of her words.


    Meanwhile, Ace who was trigger the sparked this entire drama, silently watched the scene unfold with a detached, almost cold expression. To him, they were all strangers. Principal Martin could preach all he wanted now, but Mike''s atrocities had been well-known at their old high school. Unless the man had been deaf, dumb, and blind, he had to have known what was happening¡ªand he had chosen to look away. Not to mention, the numerous time he bent rules for his delinquent daughter.


    As for Ava, she was just another wannabe gangster who hung around the delinquents from their school. There were talks that Mike had spiked her drink and tried to force himself on her at a party. Even in her muddled state, she had allegedly beaten him and his friends unconscious and thrown them into a nearby dumpster.


    But no one believed it as there wasn''t any digital evidence. Not to mention, it sounded too far-fetched, and if it were true, the 9Ks would''ve retaliated on her with a drive-by. Ace believed there was some truth to the story, though. Perhaps the 9Ks hadn''t reacted because they knew Ava''s real identity, or maybe someone powerful had stepped in to diffuse the situation. He''d always suspected some of the Kings held high-level positions in the city. Otherwise, their heinous crimes wouldn''t go unnoticed for so long. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What surprised him was that Ava knew about the incident that happened ten miles from here, while his uncle Dan and Mandy, who lived in this town, had little idea. It seemed Ava''s mother brought her work home¡ªand did more than that, like getting her daughter out of the city. How could she not, after discovering a curse core initiation array on the school rooftop and learning that a curse user had killed one of the students?


    But why here? Wasn''t the incident ten miles away? Did she choose this place because of their relationship with Ms. Matthews? But they didn''t look alike. His homeroom teacher was mixed, with beige skin, while Ava and her father were redheads with skin as pale as snow. It seemed someone in their family tree had taken their fondness of dark chocolate to the next level. Ace didn''t dare guess further¡ªit was none of his business. Still, Ms. Matthews was a fine woman, ''No wonder Danny''s grades were slipping.''


    "Ahem! You folks might not mind airing your family business in public, but for the rest of us, it''s an eyesore. So, if you''re done, Ms. Matthews, please complete my transfer procedure so I can get to class on time," Ace arrogantly criticized the trio, his voice dripping with disdain. He''d had enough of their hypocrisy. When he was in trouble, no one cared to react, but now that it was over, everyone was suddenly sympathetic, ''Bullshit.''


    "How dare you talk to my father like that?" Ava snapped, her eyes blazing. She lunged forward, grabbing Ace by the collar. He could have easily dodged her, but he stood still, curious to see if this school would be the same as the last.


    "Uh¡­ Ava?" Ms. Matthews gasped, shocked by her cousin''s sudden outburst.


    "Ava, unhand him this instant!" Principal Martin shouted, his face turning a furious shade of red.


    "Not until he apologizes to you," Ava shot back, tightening her grip on Ace''s collar, her voice trembling with rage. She glared at him fiercely, only to hear him calmly ask, "And why should I apologize? You all should be apologizing to me for wasting my time with your family drama. It''s such an eyesore."


    "Now you''ve done it," Ava hissed. She loosened her left hand from his collar, preparing to slap him. But before her hand could land, Ace grabbed her wrist, holding it firmly in place. No matter how much force she applied, she couldn''t move it forward¡ªor break free.


    "Is this how the school treats its students?" Ace shouted, his voice echoing in the silent room. "The entire teaching staff is just watching while an entitled student attacks a humble one for speaking up. Is it because her father is the high school Principal and my father is a farmer? Wow. You''ve opened my eyes to how cruel society can be. You people are great, even when you are not teaching anything you teach something." He glared around at the teachers, who stood frozen, watching the scene unfold like a spectacle.

 Chapter 109: Principal Heyns X Ms. Matthews

    Chapter 109: Principal Heyns X Ms. MatthewsGraveyard silence filled the staff room as everyone listened to Ace''s accusations and sarcastic comments. Just then, the school''s first bell rang, breaking the tense atmosphere. Taking the cue, Ms. Matthews and Principal Martin quickly pulled Ava off Ace, while the teachers hurried to their classrooms, avoiding his gaze like guilty children. Ace, with a smirk, had the audacity to mutter, "Saved by the bell."


    There was a reason Ace was adding fuel to the fire, blowing the situation out of proportion. He wanted the school to reject Ava''s transfer or expel her if she was already accepted. Why? There were too many reasons. Among the important ones: ex-classmate, C.I.B mother, and Steal Song Society scapegoat.


    This was the only school in the entire town. If Ava wasn''t accepted here, she''d have to find another school district or return to her father''s school and resume her role as the rebellious princess. As long as she was out of his life he didn''t care what she did.


    "Principal Martin, please follow me to my office with your daughter," a gray-haired woman in her early sixties, dressed in a J.Crew suit and pearl necklace, said sternly. Turning to Ms. Matthews, she added in a crisp tone, "Ms. Matthews, take the boy to your class. You can complete the necessary admission procedures later."


    "Yes, Principal Heyns." Ms. Matthews hurried to her desk, grabbed her lesson plan, and gestured for Ace to follow her. But Ace didn''t move. Instead, he locked eyes with Principal Heyns and asked coldly, "Madam, you saw and heard everything that happened here. Until you give me a proper answer, I''m not going anywhere."


    "I will speak with your uncle. Now, follow your homeroom teacher to class," Principal Heyns ordered, her voice brooking no argument. The mention of his uncle made Ace hesitate. Realizing he was cornered, he decided to back down. Before he could leave, she added, "If I were you, I''d consider apologizing to all the teachers."


    "Thank you, but I''m not you, ma''am," Ace replied smoothly, stepping out of the staff room without waiting for her response, his voice echoing with defiance. Ava, still glaring at him fiercely, felt a flicker of admiration. But it did nothing to soften her sharp gaze.


    Seeing Ace go ahead and climb the stairs by the staff room without her, Ms. Matthews hurried after him, calling, "Lander, wait!" Reaching the stair platform, Ace paused, then followed her in heavy silence. He wasn''t in the mood to admire her swaying big butt ahead of him, knowing his plan to send Ava packing had failed¡ªand he''d gained a troublemaker status among the teachers. It seemed his school days ahead wouldn''t be easy.


    Just as they arrived at the classroom door, Ms. Matthews turned, saying, "Lander, things got¡ª" But Ace, lost in his thoughts, crashed into her soft body. Startled, he quickly apologized, "Sorry, ma''am. I wasn''t paying attention."


    "That''s okay. Are you alright?" Ms. Matthews asked gently, her brow furrowed in concern as she recalled the incident downstairs. It was only natural that he''d space out. At least he had stood up for himself¡ªif it had been her, she couldn''t imagine enduring the same. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace wanted to say, ''Ma''am, your meat bags saved me from a concussion,'' but instead, he said, "I''m alright. I''m truly sorry."


    "That''s good. As I was saying, things got out of hand downstairs, but I promise it won''t happen again. All students are equal to me," Ms. Matthews explained, only to see Ace roll his eyes at her. Her jaw tightened, irritation flashing across her face, but she decided to prove herself through actions, not words. She continued evenly, "Now, follow me into the class, and introduce yourself to your new classmates when I give the cue."


    As the duo opened the classroom door, they were met with a chaotic chant of, "Fight! Fight! Fight!" Ms. Matthews'' eyes narrowed, and Ace''s gaze swept over the room, quickly taking in the scene. A blonde jock wearing the school''s letterman jacket had Danny by the collar, glaring at him in fury. Suddenly, Danny let out an exaggerated cry, "Awhh, ahh!"


    "Brock, unhand Danny!" Ms. Matthews shouted, her voice sharp with shock. The students scattered like startled birds, hurriedly returning to their seats. Brock released Danny''s collar, his face twisting in confusion. But to his dismay, Danny immediately crumpled to the floor, wailing dramatically, "Ah! Ah! Brock, don''t hit me anymore! I''ll give you my lunch money!"


    Ms. Matthews rushed to Danny''s side, shooting a fierce glare at Brock. Brock''s shoulders slumped, frustration plain on his face. He raised his head in protest, looking genuinely confused. Aside from grabbing Danny''s collar, he hadn''t touched him.


    Meanwhile, Ace stood by the door, a subtle grin creeping onto his face. He watched as Ms. Matthews tried to help Danny into his chair, unaware of the boy''s antics. However, the rest of the boys, including Ace, noticed Danny''s deliberate attempt to lean his full body against her, pressing into her E-cup fun bags.


    From the corner of his eye, Danny had spotted Ms. Matthews and Ace enter the room. Sensing an opportunity, he pretended to be hurt. He exaggerated his injury, hoping to get Brock in trouble while taking advantage of Ms. Matthews'' ignorant kindness.


    "Ms. Matthews, he''s clearly pretending," Brooke said, crossing her arms with an exasperated sigh. But Ms. Matthews wasn''t in the mood. "Shut up, Brooke," she snapped. Then, turning to Danny, she softened her tone. "Are you alright, or do you want to go to the nurse''s office?"


    "It hurts a little, but I''ll manage," Danny replied, careful not to overplay his hand lest the whole act blow up in his face.


    "Everyone, take out your textbooks and revise yesterday''s lesson. I will return in five minutes," Ms. Matthews instructed the class, her tone firm. She turned a hard glare on Brock. "You, follow me to the Principal''s office."


    As they passed Ace, she paused to say, "You sit beside Danny. I will get to you after I deal with him."

 Chapter 110: Changeling Curseling

    Chapter 110: Changeling Curseling"Mom, I am home¡­" Ace called out as he entered his new house, the words slipping out by habit as he returned from school. His voice trailed off, however, as he took in the scene¡ªfamiliar, yet unfamiliar. Unlike their previous small house, this one was enormous, like the ones on daytime television. It had seven bedrooms, and in the backyard, there was a guesthouse and a servant''s quarters, each the size of a medium-sized home.


    Mandy had casually dismissed it as just a big ranch house, but to Ace, it felt more like a small mansion disguised as one. Uncle Dan''s house, now that was a big ranch house, he thought. The Lansky family¡ªbig with elders, children, in-laws, grandchildren, full-time servants, and many relatives visiting during holidays¡ªhad built this house to suit their needs. But for Ace''s family of four, it was simply too much space. He sighed, pulling out his phone to call his mom.


    "Hello, Mom, I''m home. Where are you and Dad at?" he asked, his voice echoing slightly.


    "We''re at your uncle''s house," Mary answered warmly. "Sorry, honey, I meant to call you so you could come here directly with Danny. Anyway, come join us. We''re all going to attend a charity dinner tonight. We''ve decided to donate your entire lottery winnings to charity. What do you think?"


    Ace blinked, surprised. His mom, who had gone from living paycheck to paycheck to being a millionaire''s mom overnight, was full of gratitude. She praised the Lord daily, hoping this sudden fortune wouldn''t bring misfortune.


    "I would prefer you guys buy me a car, but I guess that works too," Ace replied, chuckling. He didn''t mind what his parents did with the money. Ever since he became the Toymancer, wealth had become the least of his concerns.


    "I knew I taught you better," Mary said with a laugh. Her voice softened, and she added, "I forgot to ask¡ªhow was your first day at school, sweetie? You know what? Come over and tell me and your aunt in detail." Mary felt a wave of relief washing over her. She was thrilled that Ace had agreed to donate the winnings. It was his money, she could only advise him, so his decision made her proud.


    Ace smiled. "School was the usual, Mom," he answered and then added, "But I was thinking I''d set up my new room, and you guys can come get me when it''s time."


    "Alright, sweetie," she said warmly. "Though it''s not a black-tie event, please dress appropriately. After all, this is our family''s debut in the town''s social circle. People will be watching, so make sure you look your best. We''ll see you at 7:30."


    Ace smiled faintly as he ended the call. With a soft sigh, he locked the main doors behind him, listening to the heavy click echo through the large, empty house. He headed upstairs, his footsteps muffled by the plush carpet, making his way to his room¡ªone of the four master bedrooms in the house. As he stepped inside, he glanced around the spacious room, the afternoon sunlight streaming through the wide windows. He took a moment to stretch, shaking off the lingering tension from the day.


    He planned to use the quiet time wisely: Selecting new candidates for his toy summons and practising curse arts. But the first thing Ace did was ask Dame Wasp to set a reminder for 7 PM for the charity dinner event. Then, he asked her to pull up all the information on the Changeling Curseling on the Status Screen.


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    Target: Changeling


    Race: Curseling


    Class: Knight-Tier


    Title: Shapeshifter


    Info: The Changeling''s form resembles a grotesque and monstrous humanoid shaped flesh golem. It has no eyes, a lipless mouth revealing its entire razor-sharp teeth set. It has a very flat nose with two wide nostrils and no ears, but has earholes. Its skin is heavily scarred and disfigured, with deep, red scars marring its surface. Its hands and feet have razor-sharp claws capable of cutting through block of steel at amazing speed.


    They tend to attach themselves to a target with a lot of negative thoughts and feelings. They feed on these negative emotions and read them to learn their trigger points. Then use it to shapeshift into objects and people that bring up those thoughts. However, they can only be visible to their mortal target for a second or less per day, hence they are often dismissed as hallucinations. As such, a single target can last for months, and in cases of strong-minded and willful mortals, years. But if the target were to become aware of their existence, it would immediately kill them and drain their soul.


    Even though they don''t have eyes, they are capable of using curse location. It works by emitting short, high-frequency curse waves that bounce off objects in the surroundings and return as echoes. The Changeling then processes these echoes to create an image of the object''s shape, distance, and other characteristics. This allows them to perfectly shapeshift.


    Known Skills:


    i) Curse Location: Using curse energy as waves to navigate and hunt.


    ii) Negative Memory Reading: Being able to read memories attached to negative energy and emotions.


    iii) Shape Shifting: Being able to transform into any shape they create an image of using Curse Location. If their shape-shifting is perfect, they can be vaguely visible to mortal targets for under a second per day.


    Note:  S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    i) Curse Masters are advised not to underestimate this curseling and erase all their negative emotions when fighting it.


    ii) Source: Dame Wasp, Steal Song Society archives.


    iii) This data is created for human convenience by humans. Curselings don''t assess to this.]


    [Guys, what characters have you chosen to animate as toy summons with this Curse Core?] Ace asked through status screen, curious but composedly as he settled into a chair by the large window. He leaned back, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest while gazing at status screen.


    Dame Wasp and Emi had been meticulously combing through every creative work ever produced on Earth, compiling a list of potential characters for future toy summons. Ace''s eyes glinted with anticipation, eager to see what they had produce.


    They weren''t alone, during his classes earlier, Ace had been multitasking. With the help of Sense Share and Dame Wasp''s cybernetic capabilities, he had seamlessly read through comics without raising any suspicion. School no longer posed challenge to him. With his innate status sceen curse art, he could breeze through any written or oral exam they could throw at him. Now, attending it was simply a matter of maintaining his cover.

 Chapter 111: Doctor Druid AKA Luna Green

    Chapter 111: Doctor Druid AKA Luna Green[Master, there are many prominent superheroes and mythical creatures with shapeshifting abilities, but only one possesses all three of the Changeling Curseling''s abilities. Emi and I believe this character will have the highest compatibility with the core (Changeling form). Emi, take it away,] Dame Wasp said through status screen, her intent brimming with excitement as she built up anticipation for the character they had chosen as their next partner.


    [Introducing the superheroine from the moon, a herbaceous humanoid, the most beautiful and just Moonkin, the priestess of moon¡ªLuna Green aka Doctor Druid,] Emi declared with enthusiasm, following her senpai''s lead and adding a dramatic flair to the introduction.


    [Yes, Doctor Druid. How could I have forgotten her? One of the superheroes from the infamous Justice Five. She really does have abilities similar to all three of the Changeling''s abilities. Honestly, guys, when you said you had only chosen one character, I thought you might have dropped the ball on this¡ªbut good job,] Ace admitted, filled with admiration and a hint of relief. He couldn''t be happier with the character his toy summons had chosen, though he was a little annoyed with himself for not suggesting it first.


    Luna Green a.k.a. the Doctor Druid, has been one of the most iconic comic book superheroines since the Golden Age of comics. Her origin story dates back to the 20th century, when humans had yet to set foot on the Moon. Just as humans were unaware of sentient life on the Moon, the Moonkin were equally oblivious to the existence of sentient beings on Earth. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Moonkin, though humanoid in form, were distinct from humans and more closely related to plants. They were described as the pinnacle of plant life evolution and only inhabitants of moon. Capable of bipedal locomotion, they could also root themselves like plants thanks to their shape-shifting abilities. Their green skin enabled them to survive the harsh rays of the sun and nourish themselves through photosynthesis by extracting oxygen from lunar soil through their roots. On the Moon, they thrived like plants in a lush jungle, unlike materialistic humans.


    Living in space without the protective shield of an strong atmosphere capable of sustaining life, they developed specialized senses to help them see and communicate. They could generate strong mental waves, which they used to navigate and transmit messages by controlling their frequencies with help of specialized glands allowing them to control and focus these mental waves into directed beams.


    They used their mental waves to navigate space by emitting short, high-frequency pulses that bounced off objects and returned as echoes. The Moonkin''s brains processed these echoes to create detailed images of the objects'' shapes, distances, and other characteristics. Similarly, they could use their mental waves to convey feelings and emotions directly to one another, fostering a peaceful society. They lived in harmony, respecting each other''s freedom and helping one another.


    However, when humankind finally set foot on the Moon, an unknown plague caused a catastrophic epidemic that wiped out the entire Moonkin population. Since the Moonkin''s way of life and communication were so different from humans, the astronauts found no trace of sentient life¡ªonly pale dust and stones.


    The astronauts returned leaving their mark on the Moon, confirming to the world that no life existed there. Unbeknownst to them, however, their space shuttle carried numerous Moonkin seeds on its surface, which were scattered across Earth when the shuttle reentered the planet''s atmosphere. Many seeds did not survive, but among those that did, only Luna Green¡ªDoctor Druid¡ªchose live among humans as Psychologist / superhero. The others chose to remain far from humans and their tumultuous emotions as only Doctor Druid underwent a mutation that allowed her to process human emotions without compromising her mind and mental health.


    Although the Moonkin preferred to live in isolation, humans did not leave them in peace. Various governments and multinational corporations hunted them down to experiment on them and unlock their secrets to their powers. Luna Green, who had been moonlighting as a superhero, Doctor Druid, learned of these atrocities and fought to rescue her kind, hiding them from human grasp.


    This created a profound dilemma: should she dedicate herself solely to protecting her kind and avenging them by punishing humanity, or should she become a bridge between the two species and lead them to a new future? Rising to the challenge, she chose the path of a savior, fulfilling the destiny she chose by becoming the protector of both humanity and the Moonkin.


    Thanks to her dedication to helping others and her unwavering sense of justice, combined with her superpowers, she became one of the founding members of the Justice Five. Her saga continues to this day. Although she has yet to star in a solo movie, she has appeared in countless animated films and cartoons. After all, she has been a crowd favorite for more than half a century.


    [Guys, I think Danny has the entire action figure collection of the Justice Five. Dame Wasp, send him a message asking him to bring the Doctor Druid action figure to the evening dinner event.] Ace recalled, his words commanding but casual, as he instructed Dame Wasp to text Danny.


    [Yes, master.] Dame Wasp replied promptly, her words tinged with excitement. [Actually, there are two other important reasons we selected Doctor Druid as the next toy summon. First, her emotion manipulation superpowers allow her to communicate with and manipulate plants, animals, and insects, which will be useful for managing the orchard. Secondly, the Oracle Doll Makers have a stock of Doctor Druid figures in her Moonkin form. They were once contacted by the comic museum to create a life-size doll of Doctor Druid in this form, free of charge, for display. They agreed, seeing it as a great way to promote their business, and put their best efforts into it. However, the doll was rejected for being too sexually provocative and inappropriate for public display. Since then, it is in storage, waiting for a buyer willing to pay a decent price.]


    Dame Wasp''s enthusiasm was evident as she explained the reasons she and Emi had chosen Luna Green as their new partner.


    ...


    AN: Which character do you think inspired this toy summon? (MMH & MM)

 Chapter 112: Bob The Big Tipper

    Chapter 112: Bob The Big Tipper[That''s great news. You guys were very thorough with this one. Color me impressed, girls,] Ace praised his toy summon upon learning that Doctor Druid''s doll was in stock and he could animate his fourth toy summon within a day or two. His voice carried genuine admiration, though his smile remained faint, controlled.


    [However, I''d still prefer to check the doll and its condition before deciding,] he added, tapping his fingers rhythmically against the armrest.


    [Master, I knew you''d ask for an inspection,] Dame Wasp replied with a hint of pride, [So, I already made an appointment with them. They''re waiting for our call.] She added, her confidence evident.


    [Great. You can arrange the video call through our shared Wi-Fi network,] Ace leaned back, eyes gleaming. [Don''t forget to use the video filter to deepfake my appearance as Bob¡ªthe one they know and love,] he added eagerly, pulling out his phone and waiting for Dame Wasp to work her magic.


    Moments later, the call connected, and a zealous Emily, dressed in a pink casual suit with a white plunging V-neck blouse, appeared on the screen. Her smile was wide, almost too eager. "Hello, Bob¡ª"


    "Skip the small talk," Ace cut in, tone sharp. "Show me the doll." He wasn''t in the mood to chat. He knew all too well that if he let Emily, she''d steer the conversation toward probing for information. Her subtle tactics had become clear during the last call. Besides, Dame Wasp had been conversing with them as Bob, long talks would only make it easier for them to spot any inconsistencies.


    Emily blinked, her smile faltering for a second. "Yes, of course. A man of your status must be very busy," she said smoothly, regaining her composure. "We''ve already set up the display. But before we proceed, I should inform you that the doll was inspected by staff from the Comic Museum." She hesitated briefly, gauging his reaction. "Luckily for you, the inspector was female¡ª"


    Ace''s brow furrowed. "What do you mean?" he interrupted, voice hardening.


    "I mean no offense, Bob," Emily replied quickly, her expression turning apologetic. "The doll was rejected because the inspection staff was female. If it had been a male inspector, they wouldn''t have been able to reject Addy''s craftsmanship. Actually, with her superhero costume, the doll looks decent and presentable for display. But the staff claimed that the night guards and janitors do nasty things to the wax figures. She claimed that if they added this doll to their collection, the night staff would turn the museum into a brothel¡ªor steal the doll by the next day," she explained, her words spilling out in an eager rush, as if desperate to unload the doll on to Bob. Understandable, after all, no would want thousands of dollars worth merchandise to eat dust in a warehouse.


    Ace leaned forward slightly, steepling his fingers. "I see. I don''t mind that," he said evenly. His eyes narrowed just enough to show intrigue. "But it''s comforting to know I''m the first man to lay eyes on her. Unless you''ve shown the doll to other potential buyers?" His tone turned teasing. "You didn''t, did you?"


    Emily flushed, clearly caught off guard. "N-no, of course not!" she stammered. Her usual flirtatious demeanor was absent, replaced by a more serious, desperate edge. It was clear she wanted to make this sale more than anything.


    Ace chuckled softly, savoring the shift in power.


    "That would be against our brand policy. We would rather take a loss on this deal than compromise our brand," Emily hurriedly explained, her voice firm but tinged with nervousness. She leaned slightly forward, as if willing him to believe her sincerity. "I''m only showing you this because you asked us to deduct your $10,000 advance if you don''t buy it after seeing it. Even if you don''t buy it, we''ll sell it off-brand to cover our costs but not hurt our brand." Her expression softened, trusting that Bob valued their integrity as much as the craftsmanship of the doll more than money.


    Ace smirked, the corners of his mouth lifting just enough to hint at approval. "I like your honesty. Just for that, I''m tipping your entire team $20,000. Take them out for coffee on me," he said casually, the confidence in his tone underscoring his indifference to money. Following his cue, Dame Wasp seamlessly transferred the funds to their listed crypto wallet.


    A soft ding echoed from the other side of the video call, followed by a ripple of murmurs and gasps.


    "Oh my God, he really did tip $20,000~!"


    "Someone pinch me. I feel like I''m dreaming."


    "No, you''re not."


    "What kind of coffee is worth $20,000?"


    "Shhh! Save it until after the call!"


    Emily visibly struggled to contain her excitement as she hushed her colleagues, shooting them a quick glare. She smoothed her hair, subtly tugging the neckline of her dress lower, offering Bob an even more revealing glimpse of her cleavage¡ªif she pulled it any further, it risked a nip-slip fiasco. Turning back to the camera, she composed herself and apologized, voice sultry yet sincere. "Bob, I''m sorry about that. My team and I weren''t expecting such a generous tip. Thank you¡ªyou''ve made our day." S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace chuckled softly, his eyes glinting with amusement. "That''s alright. Just keep doing what you''re doing. Never compromise," he said with a casual wave. "I''m sure you''ll have many loyal customers soon and make it big. When you do, just don''t forget about me." His words were laced with encouragement, but the underlying message was clear: loyalty could be bought, and he had big plans for them.


    Emily''s smile widened, her eyes sparkling with genuine gratitude. "Thank you for your kind words, Bob. My team and I will remember you in our prayers tonight. Now, let''s not delay any longer¡ªintroducing Luna Green, aka Doctor Druid," she said with an alluring smile, switching to the back camera to provide a detailed view of the life-size silicone adult doll.

 Chapter 113: Done Deal

    Chapter 113: Done DealAs screen displayed the product, Ace''s eyes narrowed slightly, assessing the life-size silicone doll now unveiled to him. The figure posed confidently on its feet, showcasing impeccable balance and symmetry. Its green skin shimmered under the soft lighting, the texture smooth and lifelike. Her vibrant ginger hair cascaded in long, loose waves, crowned with delicate leaves.


    She wore a short, form-fitting armored corset and skirt in a darker shade of green, complementing her skin tone perfectly. The craftsmanship was exquisite: the face was detailed and eerily human, with well-sculpted ears, a delicate nose, and soft lips. However, her eyes were bandaged with numerous intertwined thorny vines, a subtle yet striking touch, suggesting she was blind.


    She didn''t wear a bracelet or boots, but her bare hands and feet looked remarkably human. However, they were elegantly adorned with thorny vines, designed to resemble ornate bracelets and sandals, curling a few inches above her elbows and knees. Ace brought the mobile screen closer, a slow grin spreading across his face, ''Perfect.''


    "Those leaf crowns and thorny vines¡ªare they silicone too?" Ace asked, his eyes narrowing as he studied the intricate details. Emily, who was busy rotating the doll to show every angle, paused to answer. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes, they are. You don''t have to worry about them snapping," she assured him, her voice steady. "The vines are designed to last. We''ve tested them extensively."


    At that moment, Abby appeared in the frame beside the doll, dressed in a casual suit. She carried herself with a professional air as she added, "They''re highly elastic and can withstand a lot of tension, ensuring durability. Plus, we''ve made enough spares, so you have nothing to worry about."


    Ace''s gaze shifted. "The hair doesn''t look like a wig," he noted, voice calm but curious.


    A flicker of pride crossed Abby''s face. "Great catch. I personally implanted those hairs into the doll''s scalp," she explained, her tone edged with frustration. "Since the doll was originally meant to be displayed in a glass case and left undisturbed, we opted for this approach to make it more realistic." She sighed, clearly exasperated. "Hours of hard work, down the drain."


    Her candidness caught Ace off guard. He hadn''t expected her to be so open, but he reasoned that perhaps she had grown comfortable after frequent conversations with Dame Wasp pretending as Bob. Deciding not to point it out, he instead leaned forward slightly and said, "No, it''s not wasted. It''s more lifelike. You did an excellent job. Consider this my preference for future doll hairstyles." He paused, letting the praise sink in. "And don''t worry, you''ll be fairly compensated for your effort. Set the price accordingly."


    A genuine smile bloomed on Abby''s face. "Thank you, Bob. I''ll remember your choice." Her voice softened, and the satisfaction in her expression was clear. To her, the art mattered more than the money. If wealth had been her sole focus, she could''ve opened a plastic surgery clinic and earned a comfortable living injecting Botox into rich old ladies.


    [Master, I''ve processed the doll''s video from every angle using my advanced algorithm,] Dame Wasp reported through the status screen, her voice calm and precise. [It appears to be in perfect condition, as they claimed.] Though they trusted the doll makers, it was their duty to verify.


    Receiving the all-clear, Ace nodded and said, "I like it. Now, let''s talk numbers. How much do I owe you?"


    Emily switched to the front camera, her demeanor shifting to one of professionalism. "It''s worth $20,000. After deducting your $10,000 advance, that''s another $10,000."


    Ace gave a small nod, signaling Dame Wasp. She immediately transferred $50,000. The soft ding of the text notification echoed through the call, causing a stir on their end. Ace leaned back and added, "Keep the extra $40,000 as an advance for the next doll. Now, let''s talk about delivery."


    The reason Ace so confidently placed the order without checking the compatibility of the core (Curseling form) with Danny''s Doctor Druid action figure was due to two key reasons.


    First, he was 99.99% certain that the core and the doll would be highly compatible. Through meticulous experimentation with Dame Wasp, they had discovered that if a toy''s abilities matched those of the core, compatibility was almost guaranteed. Since Doctor Druid possessed abilities similar to all three of Changeling''s, it was highly unlikely they would be incompatible.


    Secondly, Ace didn''t mind spending cryptocurrency on this purchase. The admiration and loyalty they held for "Bob" made it worthwhile. He knew that the next time he requested a doll from their shop, they would have zero hesitation. If he ever needed a rushed order, they''d willingly pull all-nighters, confident that Bob would compensate them fairly.


    "Bob, would you like us to make the delivery like last time?" Emily asked, her voice soft but eager, fully aware of Bob''s quirks.


    Ace paused, tapping his fingers lightly on the desk. "No, I''ll text you the details of the delivery along with the drop site location. You just let me know when you''re free to deliver," he responded, his tone calm but deliberate. He needed the location to align with an errand he planned to run during this doll pickup. After all, with school and other responsibilities, Ace couldn''t leave the town and go on long trips repeatedly.


    "We''re free whenever you want us to be," Emily replied without hesitation. Her voice carried a hint of something softer, something more personal. Him spending $70,000 in under fifteen minutes made her wonder if she was falling in love with Bob. She believed it had started when he tipped them $20,000 to have coffee. Bob appeared overweight and greasy but she believed she could change him or leave with half of his money.


    Ace offered a faint smile. "That''s great. I''ll send the delivery instructions along with the drop site location soon," he said smoothly, then ended the call without waiting for their replies or offering any goodbyes.


    The screen went dark, and Ace leaned back in his chair, satisfied.

 Chapter 114: Curse Exorcism Request

    Chapter 114: Curse Exorcism Request[Rose, bring up the curse exorcism request once again,] Ace asked, his tone measured but persistent. This curse exorcism request was the errand he wanted to tackle while picking up the Doctor Druid doll.


    During the move, Dame Wasp, who kept up to date with news in the ''World of Curses,'' found a few curse exorcism requests located about 45 min to 2 hrs'' drive from their town. As the name suggests, these were mercenary missions to exorcise curselings.


    In cases of curseling emergencies, the local authorities usually contacted the C.I.B., who would immediately dispatch curse slave personnel to investigate and report the situation to headquarters. Based on the threat level and urgency, C.I.B. would decide on an appropriate response.


    If the threat wasn''t immediate or didn''t involve risking the lives of a large population or important individuals, the C.I.B. would typically post it as a curse exorcism request on its official website on the curse web. These requests were available for registered and rogue curse users to complete in exchange for a decent cryptocurrency reward, paid upon submission of exorcism proof to the local/honorary C.I.B. representative overseeing the case¡ªno questions asked.


    While it might seem like the C.I.B. was being incompetent, the reality was that they were stretched extremely thin. They were responsible for monitoring borders and states for curse terrorists and powerful curselings. They had to stay prepared at all times for threats from the World of Curses, enemy nations, or curse calamities.


    On top of that, the C.I.B. was tasked with protecting politicians, bureaucrats, lawmakers, VVIPs, and key figures critical to the nation''s economy. Their duties also extended to safeguarding their own families from enemies they had made on the job. After addressing these priorities, there weren''t many personnel left to attend to lower-level curse exorcism requests. Adding to their burden, they frequently had to deal with politicians and bureaucrats pressuring them to prioritize their neighborhoods over others.


    This situation was why governments worldwide were pushing the issue of registering curse users among their citizens. It wasn''t about forcing them into servitude but about maintaining order¡ªtreating them like tagged endangered species in a nature reserve. So they knew where they were and what they were upto. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Creating more curse masters and slaves seemed like a potential solution, but even among the best candidates, half died during the process. Aptitude for curse energy or strong will wasn''t enough; an element of luck appeared to play a crucial role as well.


    Thus, governments came up with a clever alternative: the curse exorcism request board on the curse web. Here, any curse user could take on requests and claim rewards upon proof of completion, no questions asked. Initially, curse users were skeptical¡ªhow could they not be? After all, these were the same governments that pushed for curse user registration. However, after decades of use, they were no longer skeptical, though they still warned others to undertake requests at their own risk.


    Ace, who did not want his existence known to the World of Curses, would never have considered taking on a curse exorcism request¡ªever. But Dame Wasp had brought him one he simply couldn''t refuse.


    [¡ªStatus Screen¡ª


    -Curse Exorcism Request-


    Location: Wesley Winery Resort & Spa


    C.I.B Rep: Town Mayor


    Casualty: One staff member missing


    Suspect: Phantom Paint (Confirmed)


    Objective: Search for and exorcise the curseling


    Time Limit: One week from the date of posting


    Reward: $100,000


    Notes:


    i) Report to the Town Mayor upon completion of the request to collect the reward. (No Questions Asked)


    ii) Only the curse user with the Phantom Paint''s curse core will receive the reward.


    iii) In case of property damage, the cost will be deducted from the reward.


    iv) Any inappropriate conduct by the curse user will result in permanent banning from the curse exorcism request board and inclusion on the C.I.B. wanted list pending investigation.


    v) Any inappropriate conduct by the local/honorary C.I.B representative should be reported via the C.I.B curse exorcism request board on the Curse Web, will be investigate immediately.]


    Ace frowned as he reread the request. [Rose, how far is Wesley Winery Resort & Spa from here?]


    [It''s an hour''s drive, Master,] Dame Wasp answered promptly.


    [Alright. We''re skipping school and heading there first thing tomorrow morning. Set the winery as the drop location. Ask the doll makers to deliver your wig, silicon face, and the doll there by 10 a.m. tomorrow. Follow the same protocol as the last delivery and text them all the details,] Ace instructed Dame Wasp through the status screen after a brief moment of thought.


    For the first time, Ace was making a decision in haste. He couldn''t let the opportunity to acquire the Phantom Paint curseling''s core slip through his fingers.


    To other curse masters, the Phantom Paint curseling might have been nothing more than a rare mortal-tier entity, but to Ace¡ªthe Toymancer¡ªit could be the key to actualizing an overpowered Toy summon. The reward wasn''t what drew him to this mission; it was the curseling''s core, and for that, he was willing to take the risk.


    [All done, Master. But I no longer require the wig and the face,] Dame Wasp reported to Ace, catching him off guard.


    Ace raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. [Why, Rose? Did you change your new body''s design or something?]


    [No, Master, I didn''t. The design is still the same,] Dame Wasp replied calmly. [But Emi mentioned that she can use the DNA material we collected from Janice during the Crab Boil to create an actual hair wig and a flesh face.]


    Ace blinked, surprised. Before he could ask for more details, Emi chimed in to clarify, her tone warm and reassuring. [Master, I can use my spiritual arts to heal and accelerate regeneration for others. Similarly, with a little help from science, I can apply the same principle to the hair strands and skin cells we collected from Janice. By enhancing their growth, I can produce very long hair strands and flesh tissue, which we can then shape into a wig and a face for Senpai''s new body.]


    Ace leaned back, processing the information. [That''s... impressive. A blend of spiritual arts and science, huh?]


    Emi chuckled softly. [Exactly, Master. A perfect harmony of the two.]

 Chapter 115: Volley Of Gunshots

    Chapter 115: Volley Of GunshotsTaking up the Phantom Paint curse exorcism request meant Ace and his toy summons had already decided on what the fifth toy summon would be. Considering the abilities of the fifth summon, Dame Wasp had delayed forging her new body. Its unique abilities would greatly aid her in creating it. Emi, too, was waiting for the fifth summon to help her grow the wig and flesh face she had promised her senpai.


    As a result, the Dame Wasp and Emi were now entirely focused on studying curse crafting to help actualize the fifth toy summon. Especially since Ace had put off adult fun until Dame Wasp got her new body.


    [Rose, how many curse craft techniques have you been able to authenticate so far?] Ace asked, his tone curious as he recalled Dame Wasp''s ongoing effort to collect free curse craft techniques from the Curse Web.


    Dame Wasp had been meticulous in her approach. She didn''t simply gather everything that crossed her path; instead, she focused only on those techniques that had genuine, positive reviews and had proven their effectiveness over time. Even with these criteria, she would painstakingly fact-check each one to ensure its authenticity.


    Initially, Ace and Dame Wasp had considered purchasing a decent intermediate or advanced curse crafting technique online. However, Ace couldn''t bring himself to trust those online techniques. It wasn''t the money he was worried about losing¡ªit was the risk of going astray. Practicing a fake curse crafting technique could cause irreparable damage to his innate curse tool or even his curse core. That was a risk he wasn''t willing to take.


    Although some online sellers tried to prove the legitimacy of their goods by signing curse contracts, Ace had his doubts. It was difficult to verify whether the person signing the contract was the actual seller or just a scapegoat being used to peddle fake techniques. This ambiguity frustrated Ace, and he began to realize the downsides of staying in the shadows.


    His over-cautiousness, while keeping him safe, was costing him in terms of growth rate. He resolved to find a solution soon¡ªbefore it became too late to recover lost ground.


    Dame Wasp had previously advised him to abandon his reclusive approach and fully embrace the World of Curses for what it was, saying, ''Master, until you step into the light and embrace the World of Curses completely, you will just keep seeing monsters lurking in its shadow.''


    Ace, however, had laughed it off. ''Maybe when the sun stops setting. But that''s impossible¡ªdarkness is eternal, sweetheart.''


    Dame Wasp''s voice brought him back to the present. [So far, I''ve been able to authenticate five curse crafting techniques, Master. As for the rest, they have good reviews, have been around for decades, and are widely used. But I haven''t found enough conclusive evidence to confirm their authenticity.] Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There was a hint of frustration in her tone. Despite her futuristic cybernetics, which allowed her to process incredible amounts of data, Dame Wasp had only managed to authenticate five genuine basic curse crafting techniques out of the hundreds she had reviewed. This fell far short of her expectations, leaving her visibly irritated.


    Ace frowned, noting her frustration. Attempting to reassure her, he said, [I suppose quality always beats quantity. But still, it''s no small feat, Rose. You guys should first start familiarizing yourselves with curse crafting using these techniques. After all, you need to be prepared in time for actualizing the fifth toy summon.]


    [We understand, Master. For now, we will start practicing these five curse crafting techniques and familiarize ourselves with curse crafting,] Dame Wasp agreed, fully aware that there wasn''t much time left before they would need to prepare for actualizing the fifth toy summon using the Phantom Paint''s curse core. Determined not to waste more time authenticating other curse crafting techniques, she resolved to focus on practicing the five she had already verified.


    [Good. If you feel something is off, stop practicing that curse craft technique. If none of them fit you or Emi, or fail to meet our needs, we''ll have no choice but to wait until our next visit to the curse mall,] Ace advised, knowing that not every technique was suitable for everyone or the curse tool one plans to craft. This was why curse crafters often practiced numerous curse crafting techniques¡ªthough it came at the cost of cultivating their curse core and honing other curse arts.


    [Don''t worry, Master. We will be careful,] Dame Wasp assured him. With that, each of them prepared to begin practicing their individual curse arts and techniques.


    Soon, Ace settled comfortably into his practice session focusing on the Body Reinforcement curse art. His brows furrowed in focus as he channeled his energy, determined to master the two curse arts he was currently undertaking before moving on to others, like Curse Sensing arts.


    After all, it would be a little inconvenient to rely on Dame Wasp if they were ever in a fight with other curse masters. However, he couldn''t simply pause the Body Reinforcement curse art to practice other arts, as it was a fundamental technique. With every increase in proficiency, his body would be augmented by the curse energy, becoming more refined and sturdier.


    Time slipped away unnoticed as Ace immersed himself in circulating his internal curse energy, following the intricate flow of the Body Reinforcement curse art. His breathing slowed, deep and even, his mind entirely focused on the steady hum of energy coursing through his limbs. He had no idea how much time had passed¡ªuntil a sudden, sharp crack shattered the silence¡ªBang! Bang! Bang!


    A series of gunshots jolted him out of his meditative trance. His heart pounded as his eyes flew open, darting to the window. Ace shot out of his chair, adrenaline surging through him. His muscles coiled like springs as he dropped into a crouch and took cover beside the wall.


    His breath came quick and shallow, his mind racing. For a brief moment, he strained his ears, waiting to hear if the shots were directed at him or the house. The seconds stretched unbearably.


    Nothing. No bullets tearing through walls. No shouts or footsteps.


    Ace exhaled shakily, realizing the gunshots were nearby but not aimed at him. Relief crept in slowly, but his instincts stayed sharp. He clenched his fists, steadying his nerves, and carefully leaned toward the window.


    The courage to take a peek came reluctantly. Just as his eyes swept over the field, another volley of gunshots shattered the tense stillness. Ace flinched back instinctively, his pulse thundering in his ears¡ªlup-dup! lup-dup! lup-dup!

 Chapter 116: Dragons Breath

    Chapter 116: Dragon''s BreathAce cautiously peeped through the window, his heart sank but his mind eased, finding his father, Uncle Dan, and his friend were using the shooting range that, unfortunately, happened to be right outside his window. His cheeks burned with embarrassment as he instinctively dropped to the floor.


    ''Thankful no one was there to witness me army crawling on floor like a fool in search of cover.'' He muttered under his breath, blaming his father, who had sworn to his mother that he would turn the shooting range into part of the orchard or a water-harvesting trench. Yet now, here he was, laughing and enjoying the gun range with Uncle Dan and his drinking buddy.


    Ace shook his head, glaring out the window. If he had known his father was planning to keep the firing range, he would have chosen another room¡ªor so he told himself. But no, it wouldn''t matter. The gun range had to go for the sake of everyone''s peace of mind.


    Just as his frustration reached its peak, Ace''s eyes flickered with curiosity. The corner of his mouth twitched as he noticed the array of firearms Dan''s drinking buddy had brought along in the bed of his ford pickup. His pulse quickened. He couldn''t deny the temptation bubbling up inside him¡ªIs that a Genesis Gen-12 Shotgun with dragon''s breath rounds?


    That was it. He couldn''t resist any longer. Without a second thought, Ace scrambled to his feet and bolted out of his room. As he ran, his mind moved automatically, summoning his status screen to check his progress.


    [¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Toymancer made little progress in the ''Body Reinforcement Curse Art'' through practice.


    i) +3% proficiency


    ii) +2 physical stats


    Note:


    i) Continued practice will increase proficiency.


    ii) Rigorous practice will enhance related stats.]


    Even though the gains were minor, Ace felt a sense of satisfaction. The higher his proficiency in the curse art climbed, the harder and longer it took to make progress. He smirked, wiping sweat from his brow. At least he was still earning stats for every ounce of effort he poured into practice sessions


    Arriving at the yard connecting to the gun range, Ace paused to collect himself. He pressed a hand against his chest, taking slow, deliberate breaths to steady his heartbeat. Composing his expression, he strode toward his father and Uncle Dan, who were caught up in a heated debate about the dragon''s breath rounds.


    "I''m telling you," his father said, shaking his head as he loaded the Genesis Gen-12 shotgun, "the efficacy might not be as great as they show in those action movies, but it''s hellishly cool to shoot one of these rounds!"


    Uncle Dan, meanwhile, was rummaging through his Yeti cooler in the back of his Polaris Ranger XP 1000. As he grabbed a beer and looked up. Spotting Ace, his lips stretched into a grin, he raised the bottle in greeting. "Hey, buddy. Did we scare you? Nice reflexes, though!"


    Ace stopped a few feet away, narrowing his eyes at Dan. "You guys did that on purpose," he accused, disbelief lacing his tone. Fortunately, he didn''t instinctively summon his toy summons.


    Dan barked out a laugh, the sound echoing across the yard. From where Ace stood, it was painfully clear they had a perfect line of sight into his room through the window. His jaw tightened as the realization hit him. He had been practicing by the window earlier, and they must have mistaken him for taking a nap. Of course, they couldn''t resist the chance to scare the living daylights out of him.


    "I''ll get you back for this, Uncle Dan," Ace promised, his voice low but resolute.


    Dan smirked leaning against the polaris. "I''ll be waiting," he replied, amusement twinkling in his eyes. Then, tipped his beer toward the range, jerking his chin at the targets, he added, "Want to fire a few rounds?"


    Listening to his brother''s words, Alwin, who was preparing to use a dragon''s breath shotgun round, engaged the safety with a decisive click. He then turned, pointing the shotgun down but angling it slightly toward his brother, and warned, "Dan, Mary wanted to divorce me when you taught the boy to hunt pheasant with an air rifle. She''ll follow through if you hand him a real gun."


    "Dad, Mom won''t know if you don''t tell her," Ace said with a smirk, walking over to the Ford pickup, on whose bed the guns and ammunition were neatly arranged.


    As he arrived next to the truck, a slender girl with messy, long brown hair and pale skin caught his eye. Subtle freckles sprinkled across her nose and cheeks. She was dressed in denim overalls over a red turtleneck, layered with an unbuttoned red lumberjack shirt. Her three sizes were hard to determine under the overalls. Appearing to be about Ace''s age, she handed him a pair of earmuffs with an indifferent expression, her movements slow and deliberate.


    "Lola, you heard the boy. Give him something fit to be his first," Alwin instructed encouraging his son''s interest in guns.


    Then seeing Ace wear the earmuffs Lola had given him, he turned toward the range. With a flick of his thumb, Alwin removed the safety and fired¡ªBang¡ªthe shotgun roared, spewing a fiery blaze that crackled and left a smoky trail behind. The sound echoed across the yard, making Ace''s adrenaline surge.


    The spectacle was captivating, but Alwin lowered the gun after a single shot. Dragon''s breath rounds were expensive, after all.


    Meanwhile, Ace''s curiosity deepened. "Dad, I want to give the dragon''s breath a try," he announced, shaking his head slightly at Lola as she passed him an empty Beretta handgun. Unimpressed, he walked over to his father and grabbed the 12-gauge shotgun Alwin was handing back to the man Ace mistook for Dan''s drinking buddy, he was actually an enthusiastic local and a licensed gun dealer. Lola, meanwhile, was helping her father sell firearms after school.


    Ace reached for the shotgun, his grip firm as he attempted to take it. Lola''s father, unwilling to let go, resisted momentarily. But Ace, surprising everyone with his strength, tightened his hold and effortlessly snatched the weapon away. The latter raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback.


    Before either Alwin or Lola''s father could protest, Ace calmly double-checked the safety and opened the shotgun''s action, exposing the chamber. His movements were fluid, almost professional, as he stretched out his hand toward Lola''s father, signaling for the dragon''s breath round.


    The latter hesitated, clutching the shell tightly, his cautious eyes meeting Ace''s determined gaze. Sensing the tension, Dan, who had been leaning casually against his Polaris and sipping his beer, intervened, "Luke, it''s on me."  S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You sure?" Luke asked, still wary.


    Dan gave a nod of affirmation. With a resigned sigh, Luke passed the shell to Ace and took a few cautious steps back¡ªthis wasn''t his first rodeo, and he knew better than to stand too close.


    Ace accepted the round with a small nod, carefully inserting it into the chamber. Aligning the rim of the shell with practiced ease, he gently closed the shotgun''s action. Taking a steadying breath, he raised the weapon, aiming toward the range. Just as he prepared to remove safety, Alwin stepped forward and handed him a pair of shades, "Here."


    Ace slipped the shades on with a small grin, took a steadying breath, and removed the safety¡ªBang¡ªthe shotgun roared again, the fireball even more dazzling this time. Smoke curled in the air as Ace held his stance, unaffected by the weapon''s recoil.


    With his enhanced stats, the kickback felt negligible. Lowering the shotgun, Ace''s lips curled into a satisfied smirk. He silently thanked his Apex Earring''s passive effect, which made him an expert in firearms¡ªeven though this was his first time handling one.

 Chapter 117: 1874 Sharps Rifle, Lola Loren

    Chapter 117: 1874 Sharps Rifle, Lola LorenNoticing Ace''s posture as he fired the shotgun and the smooth way he handled the weapon, Luke said in disbelief, "Al, there''s no way this is your kid''s first time using a gun. I''d sooner believe you if you told me he served."


    Alwin wanted to retort, but he couldn''t ignore the same nagging thought. Skeptically, he asked his son, "Ace, you haven''t been hitting the gun range in the city without your mother''s or my knowledge, have you?"


    "Dad, are you seriously doubting me right now? With my knowledge from first-person shooter games, handling a gun isn''t that hard," Ace argued, handing the shades and shotgun back to Luke. However, nobody seemed convinced, and Ace didn''t seem to care.


    Ignoring their gazes, he walked to the Ford pickup and picked up an M16 assault rifle. Cycling the action to eject any rounds in the chamber, he visually inspected the chamber to confirm it was empty. Then, extending his hand toward Lola, he said, "Add it to my uncle''s tab!"


    Lola leaned back to glance at Dan, and after receiving a nod of confirmation, she handed Ace a magazine loaded with 5.56x45mm NATO cartridges. Taking the magazine, Ace skillfully located the magazine well on the underside of the rifle, just in front of the trigger guard, and inserted it in one smooth motion until it locked into place with a satisfying click in a single try.


    Next, he pulled the charging handle back forcefully until it locked in the rear position, chambering a round as he slowly released the handle. Then, engaging the safety, he headed to the range.


    Watching this, Lola rolled her brown eyes, concluding that Ace was lying¡ªthis wasn''t his first time handling an M16 rifle. It was impossible for a first-timer to handle a weapon so smoothly, especially under so many watchful eyes. As her curiosity about the handsome transfer student grew, she couldn''t help but scrutinize him further.


    Lola was in the same grade as Ace but in the class next to his. So, it didn''t surprise her that he didn''t recognize her. However, she knew him because he was the school''s new hot topic. All the school and class chat groups she was part of had mentioned him several times.


    Apparently, he had stomped on the hood of Brooke''s G-Wagon after she body shamed his cousin over a parking spot. Brooke''s brother had tried to retaliate by beating Danny but got caught by Ms. Matthews. The principal called their parents, and Brooke''s brother was suspended from school for two days.


    Taking his position at the range, Ace set the M16 to semi-automatic mode and disengaged the safety before taking aim. The range featured 12 target dummies made of rusted iron, shaped to resemble human heads and torsos. Behind them stood a four-teeth-thick brick and concrete wall.


    Ace opened fire, each bullet hitting its target squarely in the center of the head. Starting from the rightmost corner, he hit all the targets one by one, repeating the process until he was out of rounds.


    Seeing this, Alwin and Luke stared at the targets, their jaws hanging open in sheer disbelief. Dan, who had been casually leaning against his Polaris, slowly walked toward them, equally amazed. Lola stood frozen in shock, watching Ace hit every target with perfect precision, each shot landing squarely in the head.


    She was now even more certain this wasn''t Ace''s first time handling a firearm. He had lied, but she couldn''t fathom how someone could be so shameless. Yet, she found herself looking at him with an admiring gaze, unable to look away from he handsome and focus face she bit her lower lip.


    Ignoring the attention on him, Ace turned to walk to Lola and handed her the M16. She gestured as if to ask if he wanted another gun, but he shook his head handing her the earmuffs too and said, "I''ve had my fill for today, and it''ll be harder to collect the spent casings if it gets any darker."


    "The boy''s right. Let''s call it a day," Luke agreed, signaling his daughter to start collecting the casings. He then turned to Alwin and said, "So, Al, are you sure you don''t want a gun? I''ll give you a great deal on that M16. Your son seems to handle it better than you, you need more practice."


    "Not today, Luke. But if I ever do, I have your number," Alwin replied reluctantly, recalling his wife''s stern warning about the gun range.


    Meanwhile, Dan turned to Ace and ordered, "Boy, don''t just stand there. Go help the girl collect the casings."


    "No, Dan, I can handle it¡ª" Lola started, but Dan interrupted, "I paid for the bullets. The least he can do is clean up the ammunition he used."


    Before heading to help Lola, Ace turned to his father and demanded, "Dad, I want that 1874 Sharps rifle."


    Alwin''s eyes widened as he scolded his son, "Boy, have you lost your mind? Or are you scheming to get your mother to leave me?"


    "Dad, I just want it as a prop to display in my room. You can even keep the springs," Ace pleaded hurriedly. Realizing it was impossible to convince his father, he turned to his uncle with an innocent expression and said, "Uncle Dan¡­"


    "Al, buy the boy the gun. Just be happy he''s not asking for dolls¡ªaction figures¡ªto decorate his room," Dan said, supporting his nephew. He saw in Ace someone who could carry the responsibility of leading the next generation of the Lander family.


    Getting the hint, Luke hurried to the pickup, retrieved the 1874 Sharps rifle, and handed it to Dan, saying, "That''ll be $3,200."


    "Dan, it''s a gun, not some toy! Unless you want me to stay at your house for the foreseeable future, stay out of this," Alwin warned, knowing his wife would lose her mind if she found out he''d bought their son a gun¡ªeven if it was to be a prop.


    Ignoring Alwin''s warning, Dan inspected the rifle before turning to Luke and saying, "Send the entire bill to my number. I''ll settle it."


    "Dan¡ª" Alwin began to protest, but his brother cut him off.


    "Al, let me do this for my nephew. I''ll explain it to Mary," Dan assured him.


    "Okay, boss." Luke grinned from ear to ear, making the sale. Then he asked, "Do you want me to spring it for you?"


    Dan looked at Luke as if to confirm he was serious and replied, "I think I can handle it. Don''t you?"


    Alwin dropped his head in dismay as he watched his brother buy the gun. He knew there was no stopping Dan once he made up his mind. But then there was his wife to consider¡ªsigh. He braced himself for lonely nights ahead.


    Ace, meanwhile, happily hurried to the range to help Lola collect the casings. She had gathered most of them in a can and was searching for the ones that had previously eluded her.


    "Hi, I''m Ace Lander," he introduced himself with a gentle smile, easily spotting a casing and placing it in the can Lola was holding.


    Lola was taken aback, a subtle blush spreading across her cheeks, highlighting her freckles. Collecting herself, she replied, "I''m Lola Loren. We go to the same grade."


    "Sorry, I didn''t recognize you."


    "It''s okay. We''re in different classes."


    "No wonder. For a minute, I was worried¡ªhow could my eyes have missed a beauty like you?"


    "You''re funny." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Wow, you''re too modest for someone beautiful."


    "You know, my dad is right there, right?"


    "Don''t tell me he''s standing right behind me, listening."


    "No, silly."

 Chapter 118: Crafting Curse Item

    Chapter 118: Crafting Curse ItemCarrying the 1874 Sharps rifle''s fitted carry case, Ace made his way toward the two-acre solar power station on his property. Meanwhile, his father hopped into his brother''s Polaris, heading to his uncle''s home. Ace''s uncle had not forgotten to take the three springs from the Sharps rifle, leaving it an empty shell of its former self¡ªa once-deadly weapon now rendered a mere prop.


    Ace and his family had suddenly come into possession of several properties, ranging from the orchards, a flower garden, the solar power station, to the water harvesting trenches. However, neither Ace nor his family had any experience managing such ventures. Fortunately, Mandy, ever the pragmatist, had included a crucial clause during the land transfer. This clause compelled Lansky and Paulson, the previous owners, to assist in managing the properties for three months. This gave Ace''s father enough time to familiarize himself with the properties, secure a bank loan, hire appropriate help, and prepare to handle the operations independently.


    Arriving at the solar power plant, Ace strode into the control room, only to find it deserted; the technician had evidently left early. A flicker of irritation crossed his face, but he quickly dismissed it. Without hesitation, Ace headed down to the basement¡ªa spacious, empty area. The click of the lock echoed in the quiet as he closed the door behind him.


    Taking a deep breath, he summoned Dame Wasp and Emi. The air swirled briefly before the two materialized in front of him: Dame Wasp, diminutive but sharp-eyed, and Emi, curvaceous and confident. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Rose, are you sure you can turn this rifle into a railgun?" Ace asked, holding up the weapon with a mix of skepticism and anticipation.


    The reason Ace had gone to such lengths¡ªconvincing his father to purchase the antique rifle and even pleading with his uncle to help¡ªwas simple. Dame Wasp had informed him via the status screen that she could use the rifle to create a railgun. The idea of owning a railgun had been a childhood dream, fueled by countless cartoons and anime. Ace couldn''t pass on the chance of owning one.


    "Yes, Master," Dame Wasp replied. "To be precise, Emi and I are going to use the Sharps rifle as the base to create a cursed tool that functions like a railgun." Dame Wasp corrected her master. With the materials they currently had, creating a true railgun was impossible. However, by incorporating cursed energy into the equation, the impossible became possible.


    "I still can''t believe you two not only memorized but mastered all five basic curse-crafting techniques," Ace admitted, shaking his head in amazement. His gaze flicked between the two summons. The feat was extraordinary, but both were geniuses in their own right. So, it wasn''t much surprising.


    "Master, the curse-crafting techniques are rudimentary compared to my talisman arts," Emi said with a hint of pride. "I''ll focus on turning the Sharps rifle into a cursed item, while Senpai will use her laser and silver to modify the barrel to fit the rails needed to launch the projectile. However," she added, her tone growing serious, "It will cost you a cursed core (gremlin form) to turn the modified Sharps rifle curse item into a curse tool."


    Dame Wasp nodded in agreement with Emi, her expression firm. "We''ve thought this through thoroughly, Master. This isn''t a whim," Emi added, holding up a cursed core and silver brick that she had drawn from her ''Storage'' talisman seeing her master nodded firmly, signaling his approval.


    "You can turn a regular item into a cursed tool at will?" Ace asked, his voice tinged with shock. His wide eyes and raised brows revealed his disbelief; after all, he had been under the impression that such a feat was impossible. Ria, who had given him the cursed item to forge his innate cursed tool, had made it seem like curse items were very rare.


    "Curse masters can''t, but those capable of taming Curselings into curse spirit can," Dame Wasp replied, retracting her visor with a matter-of-fact air. "But curselings, seasoned curse slaves, and powerful cursed tools can. Especially sentient cursed tools like us." She gestured slightly as she continued, explaining how items possessed by curselings or left around powerful cursed tools for a long time could become infected by curse energy and eventually transform into cursed items. "Seasoned curse slaves," she added, "can even order their curseling slaves to possess an object for an extended time, turning it into a cursed item. So, can we with just our presence."


    Ace leaned back, crossing his arms as he processed the information. "Wow," he said, exhaling slowly. "It looks like you guys have been very busy in your toy spaces while I was sleeping or fooling around." His lips quirked into a wry smile. "It seems I need to step up my game to be worthy as your master. Still," he added, glancing at his phone, "there''s only two hours left before we leave for the charity dinner event." His tone softened as he looked at them. "Wouldn''t it be better to craft the Sharps rifle into a cursed tool some other time when we''ve got more time on our hands?"


    "Don''t worry, Master," Dame Wasp said gently, her small form radiating a reassuring calm. "You will always be our beloved and dearest master, no matter what. We are here to serve you. So, please live your life to the fullest, trusting us." Her voice held an almost maternal warmth, her hands clasped earnestly as she indirectly advised Ace, ''Time will pass, your youth won''t wait, but we''ll always be here with you. So, you should get out more and enjoy your youth than wasting it on trying to please us.''


    Ace blinked, touched but slightly confused. Her intended message¡ªthat he shouldn''t stress over proving himself to them¡ªseemed to elude him. Still, her words left him moved, and a faint smile softened his expression.


    "Yes, Master," Emi chimed in, nodding with an encouraging grin. "Senpai is right. And don''t worry about the time¡ªwe only need an hour, or even less, to craft the cursed tool." Without missing a beat, she took the rifle carry case, pulled out the Sharps rifle, and asked, "Master, may I borrow your Apex ring to help with the curse crafting?"


    "Sure, go ahead," Ace replied, reaching up to gently pull back his earlobe. He slid the Apex earring off with care and handed it to Emi. Turning toward the door, he added, "You guys go ahead. If you need anything, you know where Hank''s salvage yard is. I''ll head out and keep a lookout. If something comes up use the status screen to in touch."


    As Ace stepped out of the control room, the crisp evening air met him. Instead of idly standing around, which might appear odd or even suspicious to anyone passing by, he decided to exercise. He began a light jog around the solar power station, occasionally scanning the area. Despite being on his property, he couldn''t shake the feeling of needing to stay vigilant.

 Chapter 119: Rail Rifle Curse Tool

    Chapter 119: Rail Rifle Curse ToolInside the solar power plant basement, Emi equipped the Apex earring and activated Apex Persona mode. Her stance remained steady, her expression calm, but her physique stayed unchanged¡ªunlike Ace''s transformation when he used the same mode. This subtly demonstrated that while Ace, as a curse master and a teenager, had significant room to grow, Emi, as a curse tool, was already at her limit. Her progress was limited to cursed toybox''s enhancements rather than organic growth. However, the Apex earring''s other effects were not lost on her. She could now operate as an arms expert, a critical advantage for crafting a decent gun-type cursed tool.


    Emi moved with focused precision, utilizing the Apex earring''s effects to disassemble the Sharps rifle so that her senpai, Dame Wasp, could modify the barrel. Her fingers worked swiftly, each motion deliberate. Once finished, she retrieved multiple ''Barrier'' and ''Presence Erasing'' talismans from her storage. Placing them strategically around the room, she shielded it from harm and concealed their curse energy from any passerby curse users. Then, following prior instructions from Dame Wasp, she activated another ''Barrier'' talisman, forming a mold/furance. These mold/furance acted as a framework for her to use her laser to forge and modify the rifle barrel, allowing the addition of two parallel nano-electromagnetic silver rails to launch projectiles.


    Dame Wasp, in her 1/100th form, hovered silently for a moment before entering the airtight mold-turned-furnace created by Emi. Her small stature and focused demeanor gave her an almost otherworldly presence as she activated her laser braid, evaporating the barrel into electromagnetic nanoparticles. Inside the mold, she utilized her futuristic cybernetics to generate an electroelectric field, recasting the nanoparticles into a nano-reinforced steel rifle barrel. Intricate engravings lined the inner walls, marking the spaces where the silver rails would later be placed. Emerging from the mold, Dame Wasp gave a nod of satisfaction as Emi quickly activated multiple freeze talismans, cooling the barrel to room temperature.


    Once cooled, Dame Wasp re-entered the mold, this time carrying a silver brick. Her tiny eyes glowed faintly as she wielded her laser braid again, reducing the silver to electromagnetic nanoparticles. Generating a electromagnetic field, she expertly aligned the silver nanoparticles into the engraved grooves along the barrel''s inner wall. A faint hum resonated in the enclosed space as the silver settled. When she exited the mold, Emi, without hesitation, used the freeze talismans again, solidifying their work.


    The duo then turned their attention to forging additional parts for the rail gun using old steel salvaged from Hank''s yard. The steady light as metal evaporated and recast aslong with the occasional hiss of cooling metal punctuated the air as they worked. Dame Wasp''s cybernetic expertise and Emi''s talisman mastery allowed them to craft each piece with precision. Following her senpai''s instructions, Emi began assembling the modified Sharps rifle. The result resembled a rifle in form but not in function¡ªit was something entirely new.


    Next, Emi and Dame Wasp together concentrated their Curse Energy, channeling it into the modified Sharps rifle. The room grew heavy with the aura of their combined energy, the air almost vibrating with intensity. Within minutes, the rifle underwent a transformation, becoming a cursed item.


    Emi straightened, wiping imaginary dust off her hands before accessing her status screen. Her expression was neutral, but a glint of pride sparkled in her eyes. She transmitted a message to her master: [Master, we have modified the rifle and turned it into a cursed item. I would like you to let me access the cursed toybox to craft the cursed item into a cursed tool using the curse core (gremlin form).]


    The reply came swiftly: [Wow, that was fast. Sure, go ahead and summon the cursed toybox,] Ace responded as with his permission, his toy summons could summon the toybox themselves. However, he was also aware of the trade-off. During the time the toybox was in their possession, he wouldn''t be able to use its ''Summon'' and ''Recall'' skills. If necessary, he would have to summon the cursed toybox back to his side to effectively utilize those functions.


    Receiving permission from her master, Emi summoned the cursed toybox with a small, practiced gesture. A faint shimmer in the air heralded its arrival, and it appeared before her with a quiet hum, emanating a subtle aura of malevolence. Emi''s gaze sharpened as she carefully fed the gremlin core and the modified Sharps rifle into the cursed toybox and communicated with it using the status screen.


    Her eyes moved across her status screen as she entered detailed instructions for the curse toybox to fuse the core and curse item into a curse tool, utilizing the knowledge she had acquired from the five basic curse crafting techniques.


    The cursed toybox responded promptly, its form pulsating slightly as it processed the materials and instructions. Emi stepped back, crossing her arms and tilting her head slightly, watching the cursed toybox with a mix of anticipation and professional detachment. Dame Wasp hovered nearby, her tiny frame radiating quiet confidence, while her glowing eyes flickered over the toybox''s activity.


    Within a minute, the toybox completed its work, its lid snapping shut with a clang and the cursed clown sprung out handing the curse tool to Emi. A status screen notification simultaneously appeared before Emi, Dame Wasp, and Ace:


    [¡ªStatus Screen¡ª


    >Crafting curse tool ''Rail Rifle'' successful.


    Name: Rail Rifle (Incomplete)


    Race: Curse Tool


    Class: -/- Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Title: Incomplete Rail Gun Replica


    Durability: (100/100)


    Curse Energy: 5 units per round


    Skills: Mischief Bullet, Super Durability, Power Chamber


    Mischief Bullet: The bullet brings out the worst in its target. The tool can produce an unlimited number of mischief rounds specifically designed for the rail rifle when supplied with sufficient curse energy.


    Super Durability: The rail rifle exhibits supernatural resistance to physical, thermal, and electrical stress. It will not sustain any damage from firing mischief bullets, provided only one round is fired every 30 seconds. However, durability will degrade if the firing frequency increases.


    Power Chamber: A chamber requiring an electrical source for operation. The power and speed of the mischief bullets depend on the amount of electricity supplied to the rail rifle''s rails.


    Note:


    i) The title ''Incomplete Rail Gun Replica'' offer zero electrical resistance effect limited to the railings of the rail rifle.


    ii) The rail rifle will appear as a regular Sharps rifle to mortal eyes.]

 Chapter 120: Orchard Bed & Breakfast

    Chapter 120: Orchard Bed & BreakfastHolding the Rail Rifle, Emi reviewed the results with her lips curved into a small, satisfied smile. She turned to look at her senpai, who gave an approving nod, her tiny arms crossed as if she were a master craftsman proud of her apprentice''s success. Emi''s confident demeanor softened for a moment as she messaged Ace through the status screen, [Master, the crafting process is complete. The Rail Rifle is ready.]


    Ace replied almost immediately, [The toybox updated me already¡ªWell done, Emi! That was quicker than I expected but just in time. My mom just texted me to return. Testing the Rail Rifle will have to wait. I will recall you guys for now.]


    Emi''s chest swelled slightly with pride at her master''s praise. She turned back to Dame Wasp, her tone now filled with determination. "Senpai, we did it. It''s not perfect, but it''s a start." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dame Wasp gave her a rare, approving smile. "Yes, this is only the beginning. The Rail Rifle may be incomplete without me acting as its energy source, but we can refine it further in future. You''ve done well, Emi."


    The faint hum of the Toybox dissipated as it retreated back to its master. Emi stretched her arms, recovering the talismans she had placed, and stored the Rail Rifle in its case before sealing it into her storage talisman. Soon, they vanished from the room, retreating back into their toy space, leaving the room quiet except for the subtle, almost electric energy lingering from their combined efforts.


    ...


    Arriving in front of his home, Ace noticed his uncle''s Navigator and Mandy''s Stingray parked in the driveway. He checked his phone and saw there was still an hour left before the charity dinner event. Wondering if their visit was related to his uncle buying him a gun, he hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath before walking into the house.


    Following the sound of their voices, he found them gathered in the main living hall. They were mid-conversation. He heard Mandy''s voice saying, "It''s possible, this place will be perfect for it but we''ll need professional help to pull this off. Also, we''ll have to consider renovating too."


    "Ace is here," Danny was the first to notice his cousin. He straightened his posture, giving Ace a once-over. Danny himself was dressed in traditional Southern formal attire, his expression strained as he tugged at the stiff collar. He was clearly uncomfortable in the outfit, but Ace couldn''t deny that it suited him¡ªPam must have picked up a thing or two during her short stint as a model.


    Pam, who usually let her son dress as he pleased, looked satisfied as her eyes flicked between her son and Ace. Tonight, however, she had insisted on proper attire. The charity event was important; it would greatly impact their social standing in the town. With her husband and younger sister already making enemies left and right, Pam didn''t want their family to become isolated or labeled as the "weird" ones in the community.


    Danny reached into his vest pocket, his movements deliberate, and retrieved the Doctor Druid action figure. He held it out to Ace with a stern expression.


    "Here. Remember to return it to me tomorrow when I pick you up," Danny said, his tone firm.


    Ace nodded in acknowledgment, the corners of his mouth twitching in amusement. At this, Danny''s brows relaxed, and he leaned slightly forward.


    "I heard my father bought you an 1874 Sharps Rifle replica. Where is it? I want to hold it," Danny said, his curiosity evident.


    "Replica?" Ace muttered in confusion, tilting his head slightly. Just then, a loud cough broke through his thoughts, and he turned his gaze toward his father and uncle. They were exchanging glances and subtly gesturing for him to play along.


    Ace caught on quickly. When his uncle had said, ''Al, I will talk to Mary,'' he had actually meant, ''Al, I will lie to Mary.''


    Suppressing a smirk, Ace decided he didn''t care about his uncle''s methods as long as he got to keep the rifle. He nodded to Danny and replied, "It''s in my room. Follow me."


    "Ace, hold up," Pam called out, raising her hand slightly to stop him in his tracks.


    Ace paused and turned to face her. Pam crossed her arms and shifted her weight onto one foot, her gaze steady as she continued, " We need your opinion on something."


    "I''m all ears, Auntie. What is it?" Ace asked, stepping further into the main hall, his brow slightly raised in curiosity.


    Pam exchanged a quick glance with Mary, who nodded, before turning back to Ace. "Your mother and I got to talking and decided to start our own agritourism business¡­"


    Ace smiled encouragingly, the lines of his face softening. He thought it was great that his mother and aunt wanted to start a business together. He had already resolved to support them to the best of his ability, his mind briefly drifting to ideas of how he could help.


    Encouraged by her son''s reaction, Mary clasped her hands together and added with a hopeful tone, "Son, this is too much house for our small family. We''ll need a couple of people just to maintain it and don''t get me started on the flower garden."


    Pam and Mary exchanged excited glances before announcing in unison, "We are planning to turn this house into an orchard bed and breakfast. What do you think?"


    Ace''s smile froze, his jaw tightening. He felt as though his mother and aunt had just hammered a nail into his head. His throat felt dry as he barely managed to squeeze out the words, "Are you guys sure about this? Where are we going to live?"


    "Yes, Mandy and Lyra think it''s a great idea, and your father and uncle agree too," Mary said hesitantly, her brows furrowing slightly as she noticed the sudden shift in her son''s expression.


    "Your family is moving in with us. With you guys back, the house will be lively again," Pam chimed in cheerfully, oblivious to the dark cloud settling over Ace''s demeanor. Mary, however, gave him a concerned glance.

 Chapter 121: Lyra Lander

    Chapter 121: Lyra Lander"What does Lyra know? She quit her job to become a comic artist on a whim. Dad, Uncle Dan, do you guys really agree with them, or are you just too afraid to tell them no?" Ace''s voice rose slightly, his emotions clearly getting the better of him. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his frustration mounting. He felt as though all his hard work to shelter his family from the unknown was being rendered worthless. The shock of hearing they were planning on inviting the unknown into their lives made his head spin. He cast a helpless glance at the ceiling, resisting the urge to shout, ''Oh, God, why can''t I catch a break?''


    "Boy, ease now," Dan warned, raising his hand slightly as though to calm his nephew. His voice softened but carried a firm undertone as he added, "It doesn''t matter what we think. If we don''t support our women, who will?"


    "What the fu¨Check do you mean, Dan?" Pam snapped, her eyes narrowing as her voice rose. She caught herself mid-outburst, correcting her language in consideration of the children present. She straightened her posture, folding her arms as she shot her husband a sharp glare.


    "Well, since you asked, I think it''s a stupid idea. I don''t want strangers in or anywhere near my property," Dan declared firmly, his hands planted on his hips. His voice carried an edge, emboldened by his nephew''s bravery. A hint of pride flickered across his face as he thought, ''I was right to choose my nephew over Mandy as my successor. If it were up to her, she would have let her sisters take out mortgages on his property and turn it into a damn tourist dump.''


    "Alwin, tell me that you don''t agree with your brother," Mary demanded, turning her sharp gaze on her husband. Al, who had been hoping to stay out of the mess, shifted uncomfortably, running a hand through his hair. He sighed, realizing he had no choice.


    "Honey, how can you ask me that? Don''t you know you have my unparalleled support in everything?" Al said, spreading his arms with exaggerated sincerity. "I think the orchard bed and breakfast is a great idea. I''ve already started preparing a proposal in my mind to secure a bank loan for it. Honestly, I''m hurt you would doubt me."


    "Al, that is clearly not what you said to me earlier¡ª" Dan began, leaning forward slightly, about to expose his brother.


    "Stop this nonsense!" Al interrupted, raising his voice and throwing his arms in the air. "We have an event to attend in half an hour. We can discuss this later. For now, all of you will forget this and behave such that the whole town thinks we''re the model happy big family." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mary narrowed her eyes suspiciously, her lips pursed, while Pam gave her husband a sharp, icy glare. After a tense moment, Pam relented, her voice clipped as she said, "Fine. We''ll continue this right after we return from the party."


    As they agreed to postpone the argument and dispersed, Mandy sauntered up to Ace with a devilish grin. She tilted her phone toward him, showing its screen. Ace''s eyes widened slightly as he saw his elder sister, Lyra, staring at him through the video call, her expression one of obvious disappointment.


    "Is that truly what you think of me? I thought you had my back little bro. Or now that you own a estate worth couple of millions, you think you''re better than your elder sister?" Lyra''s tone was sharp, her brows furrowing as she spoke.


    "Lyra¡ªit''s not lik¡ª" Ace began, his voice faltering as he tried to explain.


    But Lyra didn''t give him a chance. With a huff, she hung up the video call, leaving Ace staring at the now-black screen in stunned silence.


    Noticing his shoulders slump, Mandy''s grin only widened. She patted him on the back in mock sympathy before cheerfully ordering, "Dress in something pretty. Tonight, you''re going to be my shield. This town has a lot of sleazy men who want a taste of your auntie."


    Ace blinked and looked at Mandy blankly, his face devoid of any humor. He clearly wasn''t in the mood to joke around, and his tired gaze made that abundantly clear.


    ¡­


    Ace, dressed in a white funnel shirt under a denim jacket paired with dark-wash jeans and a pair of sneakers, stepped out of the house as his father locked the front door. His gaze shifted to Mandy, who was leaning casually against her car, dressed in an outfit identical to his.


    "What a coincidence?" Mandy muttered, her brows raising slightly as she gave him a once-over. Her thoughts betrayed her expression, ''Damn, he looks better than me in this. But I don''t want to change.''


    "Mandy, now will you change into a dress?" Pam demanded, crossing her arms as she looked at her sister disapprovingly. The one night she wanted Mandy to flaunt her beauty and charm, she chose to dress like a tomboy.


    "Arrgh," Mandy sighed in annoyance, running a hand through her hair. She turned sharply and headed toward her car, muttering, "You guys go ahead. I''ll join you at the event after I change."


    "Ace, you go with Mandy. She needs someone to accompany her tonight. And don''t you embarrass her," Mary said, giving Ace a pointed look.


    Ace froze, his eyes widening in disbelief as he turned to face his mother. "Mom, are you alright?" he asked, his tone laced with incredulity.


    "Ace Lander, just do as I say," Mary ordered, her voice firm. She watched Mandy with a softened expression as she thought, ''Yes, she can be a bit playful, but she''s smart enough not to cross the line.''


    Still shaking his head slightly, Ace climbed into Mandy''s Chevy. As he buckled his seatbelt, he cast a lingering, bewildered look back at his mother, feeling an inexplicable sense of betrayal in his heart.


    Mandy slid into the driver''s seat, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. She glanced at him sideways and muttered under her breath, "Don''t worry, nephew, auntie doesn''t plan on eating you right away. Now that you''re all mine, I plan to slowly savor you."


    With that, she pressed her foot on the gas, the engine roaring to life as they drove off. Mandy smirked to herself, thinking, ''The way to trap a mama''s boy is to capture his mama''s heart first.'' Her stud-hunting efforts were finally showing promising results.

 Chapter 122: Celebrity Couple

    Chapter 122: Celebrity Couple"Mandy, they have valet service," Ace reminded his aunt, raising an eyebrow as he watched her drive past the valet stand by the entrance. Instead, she steered the Stingray into the school''s parking lot, determined to park it herself. The lot, however, was crowded due to the event, making it difficult to spot a free space. Ace sighed and shook his head.


    "I''d rather skip the gala dinner than let one of those snot-nosed brats drive my Dark Starpedo," Mandy remarked dryly, her lips curling into a smirk as she finally spotted an empty spot. Her tone left no room for argument. The event was being held at the town''s schoolyard, and some of the teachers and students had volunteered their time. Mandy, an alumna of the school, rolled her eyes at the thought. She knew better than to trust its students with her prized car.


    Tonight''s gala dinner was a collaborative effort between Rural Revival and the town hall, aimed at raising funds for the organization''s mission to support family farmers through education, advocacy, and direct financial assistance.


    After Ace won the lottery, his mother had searched tirelessly for a charitable event to donate nearly ten percent of the winnings. She had been thrilled to learn about the town''s charity event but was initially disappointed when it clashed with their plans to return to the city. After exploring options in nearby towns, she ultimately changed course. Now that they had moved here, she not only adjusted her plans but also decided to donate a total of $40,000 to the charity¡ª$35,000 from Ace''s lottery winnings and $5,000 from their own savings. Meanwhile, Dan and Mandy each pledged $40,000 as well.


    The Lander family''s combined donation amounted to $120,000, a remarkable contribution. Yet, it wasn''t enough to place them in the top ten donors; their contribution ranked them 23rd overall. Individually, they each fell somewhere in the hundreds, as the gala wasn''t limited to their town but included surrounding communities.


    Even though he now owned an estate worth several million, Ace''s family finances hadn''t improved. In fact, they were spread thinner than before, burdened by the new expenses of maintaining a 135-acre estate. If not for his father''s retirement benefits, his father would have had to turn to his brother for help. Ace sighed, as Mandy neatly parked her car. The benefits were modest¡ªfar less than what his father would have received had he retired at the recommended age¡ªbut just enough to sustain them until his father secured a loan or the orchards yielded their first harvest. Whichever came first.


    "One moment," Ace interrupted, stepping out of the car with practiced grace just as Mandy reached for the door handle. Circling to the driver''s side, he opened the door for her and extended a hand, his gesture smooth and gentlemanly. Mandy raised her eyebrows in surprise but took his hand with a pleased smile, her lips curving softly as she stepped out. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As they prepared to leave the parking lot and head toward the schoolyard, Ace offered his arm to Mandy with an appreciative glance. His gaze lingered for a moment. Tonight, she looked stunning. Her golden hair cascaded down her back in loose, glossy waves, perfectly framing her face. The dress, a soft blush pink, was adorned with delicate white polka dots that danced lightly across the fabric. The V-neckline subtly highlighted her collarbone, complemented by a diamond pendant and matching earrings, while the puff sleeves added a touch of vintage elegance. The midi length of the dress balanced sophistication and practicality, its gentle sway adding an enchanting rhythm to her movements as they walked.


    Catching Ace sneaking another glance at her, Mandy grinned knowingly. She had gone all out tonight, wanting to appear just as charming and beautiful beside him. The overweight nerd she used to tease had grown into a strikingly handsome man, more so with each passing day. So much so that, standing next to him, she couldn''t help but feel a flicker of insecurity. Yet, seeing his admiring glances, her confidence swelled. Satisfied, she rested her hand lightly on his offered arm as they walked.


    As the pair strode toward the schoolyard hand in hand, the guests and staff couldn''t help but do double takes. Some even paused mid-conversation to steal additional glances, whispering and speculating whether the duo were celebrities. Mandy and Ace, however, paid no attention to the gawking. They moved with quiet composure, their focus set on finding their family amidst the bustling event.


    "This doesn''t look like a dinner event¡ªit''s more like a small carnival," Ace observed, his brow furrowing slightly as he scanned the lively schoolyard. Various game booths and food stalls stretched out before them, their colorful displays illuminated by string lights overhead.


    "The fine dining is set up in the school gymnasium," Mandy replied, her eyes sweeping the crowd as she searched for their family. "There''s also a raffle and a silent auction, but those are only open to guests who made a minimum donation of $5000. These outdoor games and merchandise sales are to raise extra funds for the cause and entertainment."


    Her explanation was matter-of-fact, but her eyes softened as she briefly glanced at Ace. The festive atmosphere around them buzzed with chatter and laughter, string lights casting a warm glow over the lively scene. Being here with Ace gave Mandy an unexpected sense of warmth, a comfort she hadn''t felt in a while. Yet, alongside that warmth was a fleeting pang of regret. She sighed inwardly, wishing¡ªjust for a moment¡ªthat they weren''t family. The thought startled her, and she quickly shook her head, forcing the unwelcome notion aside. Focus, Mandy, she told herself, scanning the crowd for any sign of their family.


    "It''ll be hard for us to find them like this," Ace remarked, reaching into his pocket for his phone. His expression was practical, his brows furrowed slightly as he prepared to call his parents and locate them in the bustling schoolyard.


    "Hold on," Mandy said, gently placing a hand on his arm to stop him. Her touch lingered for a fraction longer than necessary. "Let''s walk around a bit and look first. If we still don''t find them, then we can call." Her tone was light, but her eyes held a quiet plea. She wanted to savor the festive atmosphere with him for just a few more moments, to let the bright lights and cheerful hum of voices wrap around them like a shared memory.


    Ace hesitated, looking down at her. The sincerity in her gaze softened his resolve, and he slid his phone back into his pocket with a small, indulgent smile. "Alright," he agreed, gesturing for her to lead the way.


    As they began to weave through the crowd, Mandy''s lips curved into a small, contented smile. The festive air felt lighter now, and she allowed herself to bask in the joy of the moment, walking side by side with Ace under the twinkling lights.

 Chapter 123: The Hay Toss

    Chapter 123: The Hay Toss"Is that Danny? Danny!" Ace called out, spotting his cousin near a stall decorated with stacked hay bales. His voice rose above the chatter of the crowd. "Hey, Danny! Over here!" He waved enthusiastically, drawing a few curious glances.


    "Ah, don''t shout. Can''t we just walk over there?" Mandy hushed him, her tone exasperated. Ace''s sudden outburst had shattered the refined, gentlemanly image she''d crafted for him in her mind. She shook her head, muttering under her breath about her stupid brain romanticizing things.


    Soon, they reached Danny, who greeted them with a smile. "You guys made it."


    "Where are the adults? Don''t tell me you''re lost," Mandy teased, her voice light but laced with mischief. She raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she looked at her nephew.


    Unfazed, and clearly accustomed to her playful jabs, Danny shrugged casually. "They headed to their table in the gymnasium to socialize with the other adults."


    "Then what are you doing here?" Ace asked, his gaze shifting to the scene behind Danny. People were throwing hay bales in an enthusiastic competition. His brows furrowed in confusion. "Is that some sort of game?"


    "It''s the Hay Toss. I was planning to join it for a chance to win that large turkey leg," Danny explained, pointing toward the stall where comically oversized turkey legs resembling those show in cartoons were being glazed in honey on a giant grill with a glass shield. The smell wafting over was rich and savory, making Ace''s stomach rumble faintly.


    Danny''s grin turned sly as he added, "But now that you''re here, help a brother out, will you?" He patted Ace on the shoulder, his tone half-joking but hopeful.


    Ace glanced at the stall again, then at Danny, and sighed with mock exasperation. "I should''ve known you''d rope me into something like this." Mandy chuckled, her lips curling into an amused smirk as she watched the exchange. Ace sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly in mock defeat as he resigned himself to the task. "Where do I sign up?" he asked, shaking his head with a reluctant smile as with his physical stats participating in these games was basically cheating.


    "Here," Danny said, holding out a ticket. "I already bought it. Get in line, cus. Make it count¡ªit''s $10 per ticket." He pointed to a small queue nearby. Many of the participants in the line had sturdy builds, but almost all sported noticeable beer guts. Ace''s gaze lingered on the line, and he couldn''t help but deduce that the comically large turkey leg prize must have drawn in a very specific crowd.


    As the line inched forward, Ace''s attention was caught by a familiar figure collecting tickets and judging the Hay Toss. It was Luke¡ªthe man who had sold him the 1874 Sharps rifle. When their eyes met, they exchanged nods of recognition, a silent acknowledgment passing between them.


    When it was his turn, Ace handed his ticket to Luke. "What are the rules?" he asked, his brows furrowing as he observed that most of the participants before him had not managed to win, even though they had hurled the hay bales far past the designated line.


    Luke''s lips twitched in a faint smile as he explained, "You stay behind this line and throw the hay bale onto that target line. As long as any part of the bale touches the line, you win." He passed Ace a rectangular hay straw bale and added with a warning, "Careful¡ªit''s heavy."


    "Thank you," Ace said politely, gripping the bale. Its weight surprised him¡ªit was hefty, around 60 pounds¡ªbut it was nothing for him. From behind, he heard Mandy and Danny cheering enthusiastically.


    "Go, Ace!" Mandy called out, her voice brimming with encouragement.


    "You can do it! Danny needs that turkey leg!" Danny added, clapping his hands in anticipation.


    Ace adjusted his grip, hoisting the hay bale over his shoulder as he squared his stance. Taking a deep breath, he focused on the target and chucked the bale with calculated precision. With a satisfying thud, the bale landed squarely on the line.


    "Yeah!!!" Danny shouted, pumping his fist into the air. "Ace, you did it!" His voice carried over the noise of the crowd, and Mandy joined in with a delighted cheer, her face lighting up with pride.


    Ace glanced back at them with a triumphant grin, the festive energy around them growing as the spectators clapped and cheered.


    "Good job, kid," Luke said, handing Ace a coupon for a free comically large turkey leg. However, before Ace could fully accept it, Danny snatched the coupon with a gleeful, "Thank you!" and darted off toward the stall where the oversized turkey legs were being honey-glazed.


    Pressing his face to the glass shield, Danny eagerly scanned the rows of turkey legs, his eyes narrowing as he zeroed in on the biggest one. Pointing at it, he handed the coupon to the lady behind the counter and said, "I want that one in the third row."


    "Sure, my boy," the lady replied with a warm smile.


    Meanwhile, Ace called out from a distance, "Lola, hi!" His eyes widened as he finally recognized her face, obscured by the hair net and mask.


    Lola, who was helping her mother glaze the turkey legs, looked up to see the handsome transfer student waving at her enthusiastically. For a moment, her heart raced, her cheeks flushing faintly. But her gaze shifted to the beautiful Mandy standing next to him, and reality sank in. She quickly tempered her emotions and gave a polite wave. "Hi, Ace."


    Ace strolled over to the stall, pulling up the sleeves of his jacket. "Hi, ma''am. You need a hand?" he offered, flashing a friendly smile at Lola''s mother.


    "No, Ace. I''ve got this," Lola''s mother replied, her tone kind but firm. Then, turning to her daughter, she nudged her gently. "Lola, take a break and go hang out with your friends. Have some fun."


    Lola''s eyes widened slightly, catching her mother''s knowing smile. She pinched the bridge of her nose and squinted at her mother, silently pleading for her to drop the idea. "No, Mom. You can''t manage this alone," she protested, her voice steady but her cheeks still tinged with color. Mandy''s presence next to Ace only added to her reluctance to leave. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 124: Innate Curse Master

    Chapter 124: Innate Curse MasterNoticing Lola''s mother was fine with her taking a break, but Lola seemed uneasy and hesitant, Ace suddenly grabbed Lola''s wrist with a light, encouraging grip. "Come on, Lola," he said with a teasing grin. "You heard your mom. Don''t be shy." S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mandy and Danny exchanged puzzled glances. Mandy, especially, couldn''t help but frown slightly. Why was Ace being so familiar with Lola? To Mandy, Lola was a plain, average girl¡ªhardly someone she imagined Ace showing interest in. She folded her arms, watching the interaction intently, wondering what Ace was up to.


    "No, Ace, I have a lot of work," Lola insisted, her voice firm but wavering just enough to show her discomfort. "Please understand."


    When it became clear that his persuasion wasn''t working, Ace shrugged and said, "Fine, then let me help." He turned to Mandy and Danny. "You guys go ahead. I''ll stay and help Lola."


    Now even Lola''s mother and Luke exchanged startled glances, clearly taken aback by Ace''s determination. While they appreciated his polite offer, they couldn''t shake their unease. They wanted to tell him to leave their daughter alone and move along, but Ace wasn''t doing anything wrong. He was simply offering to help as a friend.


    On the other hand, Lola bit her lip, torn between embarrassment and gratitude, as Ace remained steadfast in his decision to stay. So, she finally caved: "There is no need for you to help; I will take a break."


    Hearing Lola decide to tag along with them, Ace nodded in satisfaction, a small smile playing on his lips. Mandy, however, frowned deeply, her eyes narrowing as she grabbed her nephew by the arm and dragged him a few steps away. She leaned in, her voice low but intense as she asked, "What the fuck are you doing? What about Rose?"


    "What about Rose?" Ace replied, blinking in confusion, his brows knitting together as he genuinely didn''t understand what she was getting at.


    "Rose¡ªyour girlfriend," Mandy clarified, emphasizing each word as she swatted the back of his head with a light smack. "I''m telling you, Lola is one of the most sensitive, well-mannered girls in our town. If you have any designs on her, erase them from your mind right now."


    Ace groaned softly, rubbing the back of his head where Mandy''s hand had landed. "We''re just friends. Get your mind out of the gutter, Auntie," he retorted, waving off her concerns with an air of exasperation. His gaze shifted back to Lola, who had just removed her hair net, mouth guard, and apron, neatly folding them before pocketing the money her father had pressed into her hand.


    Ace''s eyes briefly lingered as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her natural beauty now unobstructed. Smiling, he walked up to her and, with a playful flourish, offered his arm. "Will you do me the honor, my fair lady?" he teased, bowing slightly for dramatic effect.


    Mandy watched the scene unfold, her arms crossed tightly and her lips forming a pout. That arm¡ªAce''s arm¡ªused to be hers. She glanced away, irritated but also amused at her nephew''s theatrics.


    Lola blinked in surprise before breaking into a smile, her cheeks slightly pink. "Sure, my handsome knight," she replied, slipping her hand into the crook of his arm and playing along with his joke.


    As they walked away together, Luke and his wife exchanged uneasy yet hopeful glances. Watching their daughter and Ace from behind, their emotions were a tangled mix of pride and apprehension. They knew all too well the struggles Lola faced making friends due to their family''s financial constraints. While other kids played and had fun, Lola had spent her time helping out at their shop, pulling her weight for the family. Over time, her isolation grew with some tragic bullying incidents, and people began labeling her as "weird" never critizing their own kids for their behaviour toward their daughter.


    If it weren''t for them knowing their baby girl could talk care of herself and also Mandy''s presence, Luke and his wife would never have dared to let their daughter go off with Ace, even if he seemed kind. Yet, as they stood there watching the two walk off, a tiny flicker of hope sparked in their hearts.


    There was a compelling reason behind Ace''s enthusiasm for his friendship with Lola even though this was his second meeting with this plain and introverted girl. When Ace first met Lola, Dame Wasp had immediately warned him that Lola''s heart contained a dangerous level of negative feelings¡ªenough to birth a knight-tier curseling.


    Ace had been stunned by this revelation. The idea that a human could harbor such immense levels of negative feelings and still be alive was hard to grasp. Typically, negative feelings sufficient to birth even a mortal-tier curseling was enough to cause catastrophic damage to the heart''s capillaries, leading to a fatal heart attack. Yet here was Lola, walking around with negative feelings capable of birthing a knight-tier curseling, appearing perfectly fine, and carrying out her daily activities with no visible struggles.


    What shocked Ace even more was the fact that, despite the magnitude of the negative feelings inside her, Lola hadn''t attracted any curselings or been haunted by one. She seemed to be thriving, unaffected by the dark energy coursing through her. Her calm demeanor and untroubled routine defied all logic.


    According to Dame Wasp, this anomaly was due to Lola''s extraordinary aptitude for curse energy. She speculated that Lola could be one of the fabled innate curse masters. It appeared that either unconsciously or as a natural function of her body, Lola had been gathering and concentrating all her negative thoughts and emotions into her heart since birth. Over time, this accumulation had reached an astounding level¡ªfar beyond the process Ace had undergone when Ria used the depression incense stick to evoke his worst memories and nightmares. Back then, Ace had been forced to focus all his anguish on his heart to form a curse core. But Lola seemed to have achieved something similar without external intervention.

 Chapter 125: Rockworth Twins

    Chapter 125: Rockworth TwinsAce''s gaze often lingered on Lola when she wasn''t looking, his mind racing with questions. How could she smile so easily despite the storm raging within her? Was she aware of her condition? Did she feel the weight of it, or was she blissfully unaware? S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dame Wasp had confirmed the grim truth: sooner or later, Lola''s body would reach its limit. When that time came, her body would naturally attempt to condense all the accumulated negative feelings in her heart into a curse core. If successful, she would emerge as a powerful curse master, an extraordinary but rare phenomenon. However, if she failed, the negative energy would explode out of her, birthing a powerful curseling so destructive that it would massacre everyone in the town in its wake.


    Ace clenched his fists whenever this thought crossed his mind. The idea of such a gentle, hardworking girl being burdened with something so dangerous weighed heavily on him. As he watched Lola now, chatting with Mandy and Danny with a shy but genuine smile, he vowed silently to protect his family from her¡ªto ensure she would never be able to bring forth the dark fate Dame Wasp had predicted. However, he wasn''t sure of what to do with Lola, kill her, or help her successfully transition into a curse master when it was time, so he decided to befriend her first. But his mind kept leaning toward the latter as it was an easier solution.


    "Why are so many people gathered over there? Whose stall is that?" Danny asked, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the jam-packed crowd encircling a brightly decorated booth.


    "Ah, that''s Brooke Rockworth''s stall," Lola replied, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear as she glanced at the commotion. "She''s hosting a ''Gold Bar Challenge''¡ªit''s for charity and her YouTube channel. The winner gets a Polaris Ranger XP 1000, but you have to donate $100 to participate." Having spent hours helping her parents set up their stall earlier, Lola had scouted every booth beforehand. Brooke''s stall, being the loudest and most popular, had naturally stood out.


    Now that Lola had pieced together the odd dynamic between Mandy and Ace, who shared a peculiar aunt-nephew relationship, she found herself enjoying her time with them more than she expected.


    "My dad bought one of those a few months ago," Danny said, leaning casually against the nearby table in an obvious attempt to flaunt his father''s wealth. He shot a smug smile at Lola, hoping to impress her. She, however, remained unfazed, her expression unreadable. Mandy, on the other hand, rolled her eyes, her lips twitching with amusement at her nephew''s lackluster attempts at charm. She couldn''t help but think that instead of gifting him a silicone adult doll for his last birthday, she should''ve given him a crash course in talking to women.


    "That sounds interesting," Mandy said, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. Fishing a crisp hundred-dollar bill from her wallet, she handed it to Ace with a dramatic flourish. "Nephew, here''s $100. Go win your auntie a Polaris Ranger XP 1000." Her tone was light, but her expression hinted at an odd blend of confidence and mischief, as though she genuinely believed Ace might pull it off.


    Ace took the bill with a bemused look. "Auntie, what do you need that for? My dad could use it more," he said, his voice brimming with overconfidence as he folded the money and tucked it into his pocket before Mandy could snatch it back.


    Mandy''s expression shifted from smug amusement to barely restrained irritation. "You better win," she snapped, jabbing a finger toward the stall. She didn''t actually expect Ace to succeed. All she wanted was for him to try¡ªand, if possible, rip off a Rockworth in the process.


    "Yes, Your Highness," Ace said with a mock salute before diving into the bustling crowd. He maneuvered his way through until he reached Brooke''s stall, which was nothing short of dazzling. Strings of twinkling lights framed the booth, drawing attention to the centerpiece: a large glass case housing a gleaming gold bar. Behind it, on a stage of neatly stacked hay bales, stood a Polaris Ranger XP 1000, its pristine exterior shining under the spotlights. Brooke, brimming with energy, was working the crowd, while her brother Brock efficiently manned the ticket counter.


    Ace didn''t rush to sign up. Instead, he hung back, observing as only a few participants stepped forward. The steep $100 entry fee seemed to deter most, leaving the majority content to spectate. Ace crossed his arms and leaned casually against a nearby post, watching Brooke expertly play the crowd.


    "Come on, people!" Brooke called out, her voice clear and enthusiastic. "Don''t let the entry fee scare you. Every single dollar goes to charity! And who knows? You might just walk away with that Polaris Ranger." Her sharp eyes scanned the audience, locking onto a man who looked well-off but hesitant. She smiled sweetly, tilting her head as she pointed to him. "Sir, you look like you''ve got the skill. Want to give it a shot? It''s for a great cause!"


    Ace smirked, recognizing Brooke''s tactic. She wasn''t above using peer pressure to nudge potential participants into coughing up the entry fee. Her approach was clever¡ªtarget those who looked affluent enough to afford the gamble but unlikely to win.


    What no one knows but only the Rockworth twins knew, was that the odds of winning were practically nonexistent. Brooke had borrowed her father''s Polaris Ranger to drum up excitement for the event and draw in more donations. She had no intention of letting anyone take it home, which was precisely why the challenge carried such a steep price.


    Mandy suddenly appeared next to Ace, her presence as dramatic as ever. Grabbing his right wrist and hoisting it into the air, she shouted loudly, "Over here! A Lander will accept the challenge!" Her voice carried over the murmurs of the crowd, turning heads instantly.


    The reaction was immediate. The locals, well-versed in the longstanding feud between the Rockworths and the Landers, exchanged amused glances. Whispers and chuckles rippled through the audience as they anticipated what promised to be an entertaining clash.


    Meanwhile, Brooke''s cheerful demeanor evaporated in an instant. Her eyes narrowed, and her jaw tightened as if she were biting back a sharp retort. Beside her, Brock mirrored her reaction, his clenched fists resting on the counter as he stared daggers at Mandy and Ace.

 Chapter 126: Challenge Completed

    Chapter 126: Challenge Completed"Sure, please make the donation first and introduce yourself," Brooke remained, controlling her emotions and immediately regaining her professional smile for the camera. She gestured toward the donation box and register next to her twin, Brock, deliberately ignoring smug Mandy, who pulled out her phone and began filming. Mandy''s expression glimmered with satisfaction, ready to capture either her nephew''s or Brooke''s epic fail. Either way, it was worth the $100.


    Walking toward the donation box, Ace pulled out the hundred-dollar bill. But as he prepared to stuff the bill into the box, he paused. Turning to Brooke, he said, "I''m Ace Lander and I would like you to repeat the rules and rewards once again before I sign up."


    Brooke tilted her head slightly, her expression unflinching as she maintained her polished demeanor. "The rules are simple," she began, her voice steady. "You have to stand behind that line, use your dominant hand while keeping your other hand behind your back, and extract the gold bar through the opening in the glass within two minutes. Obviously, you''re not allowed to break the glass. If you do, you''ll have to donate $1,000 to the Rural Revival''s cause as a fine. However," she added, her tone brightening, "if you manage to take out the gold bar from the glass case following all the rules, you win that Polaris Ranger XP1000."


    She delivered the explanation with a radiant smile pointing at the UTV/SxS displayed behind her, carefully mustering her most charming expression for the camera. Even though the footage wasn''t live, she needed excellent shots to create a stellar video with great content.


    "Are there any hidden clauses I should be aware of? Also, you don''t have my permission to use me in your video," Ace said, nodding as he acknowledged the rules of the challenge. His tone was firm, masking his true intentions. He asked about hidden clauses to avoid being caught off guard later. At the same time, he warned Brooke about using him in her video, though he fully intended to have Dame Wasp hack into her devices and erase any photos or footage of him.


    "No, there are no other hidden clauses," Brooke replied, her voice calm and professional. "As long as you manage to take the gold bar out of the glass case through the opening within two minutes, following all the rules, you can take that Polaris Ranger home right away. And rest assured, without your permission, I will not use your footage in my video." She spoke with patience, addressing both Ace and the audience while skillfully setting aside her personal issues with him and the Lander family. Her poised response impressed everyone, showcasing her capability as an influencer.


    "Great. I''d like you to show that the hole in the glass case is big enough to take out the gold bar," Ace demanded as he finally stuffed the hundred-dollar bill into the donation box and wrote his name in the register.


    "Sure," Brooke said gracefully, nodding. She opened the back of the glass case, used one hand to push the gold bar through the hole, and then retrieved it with her other hand. After placing the bar back in the case, she locked it again. Turning to Ace with a charming smile, her eyes betrayed a flicker of annoyance. "Satisfied? Now, will you begin the challenge?"


    "Alright," Ace replied, shrugging off his denim jacket and handing it to Lola. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his toned arm muscles, and stepped confidently behind the start line. A self-assured smile spread across his face. He had seen this challenge countless times on YouTube and knew the trick to completing it. Considering his physical stats, the weight of the gold bar and the time limit weren''t an issue.


    With the crowd''s cheers echoing around her, Brooke pulled out a stopwatch pre-set to two minutes and a whistle. Standing next to the glass case and facing the crowd, she raised her voice above the noise and announced, "Ready, set, go!" She blew the whistle sharply while simultaneously starting the timer.


    Ignoring the crowd''s cheers and shouted advice, Ace focused solely on the task. He carefully positioned himself behind the line, double-checking his stance. Slowly, he inserted his dominant hand into the oval hole of the glass case, his other hand neatly folded behind his back. Inside the case, his fingers extended toward the gold bar. His thumb and index finger pinched the bar, while the remaining fingers provided support. His grip was precise yet delicate, ensuring that his fingers were perfectly aligned to maneuver the bar through the narrow opening.


    With fluid control, Ace lifted the bar to the level of the hole, drawing murmurs of surprise from the onlookers. Tilting the gold bar at an angle, he carefully aligned one end with the hole to aid in maneuvering it through. He slowly and methodically inserted the angled end into the hole, applying just enough pressure to guide it through without risking damage to the glass. His movements were deliberate, demonstrating both strength and precision.


    When Ace successfully inserted the gold bar into the hole in under twenty seconds, the crowd collectively held its breath, not wanting to disrupt his concentration. Many observant onlookers had already noticed the clever design by the Rockworth twins: the gold bar was unusually heavy, and the hole was positioned higher from the ground, making it nearly impossible for most participants to hold the bar long enough to extract it. Yet Ace moved with a graceful ease, showcasing his toned forearm muscles, biceps, and triceps as he worked.


    His display of strength and finesse earned Ace admiration from both men and women in the crowd, their awe evident in the murmurs and exchanged glances.


    Meanwhile, the Rockworth twins were beginning to panic as things weren''t going according to their plan. They had carefully designed the challenge to be nearly impossible, using the time limit, the requirement to use only one hand while the other remained folded behind the back, the minimum distance from the glass case, the weight of the gold bar, and the height of the opening in the glass case from the surface. Despite all these measures, someone was actually close to completing the gold bar challenge.


    Ace showed no sign of rushing as he continued to carefully maneuver the rest of the bar through the hole. His movements were precise and controlled as he adjusted his grip and the angle of the bar to ensure a smooth passage. Once the entire bar had passed through the hole, he lifted it triumphantly out of the case and shouted, "Yeah!"


    The crowd, who had been holding their collective breath, erupted into cheers, celebrating his victory as if it were their own.


    "Ace, you did it!" Mandy exclaimed, her voice ringing with excitement as she stood with Lola and Danny. But her attention, and her phone''s camera, was focused on Brooke and Brock. She made sure to record the visible shift in their expressions as Ace completed their rigged challenge with ease.


    The Rockworth twins were devastated by Ace''s victory. This was not part of their plan. The UTV had been intended solely as a prop to attract participants, not as a prize to actually be given away. Panic flickered across their faces as they considered their options: should they go back on their promise and face the wrath of the crowd or give away the UTV and face their father''s fury?


    The thought of the winner being a Lander only added to their dread. Either way, they knew they''d face their father''s anger, but going back on their word against a Lander would disgrace their family in town. Reluctantly, they decided to give away the UTV without causing a scene and braced themselves for the inevitable reckoning they would face back home.


    Pushing aside Danny, who was enthusiastically hugging him, Ace turned to the twins and extended the gold bar toward them. His grip tightened on it, signaling that he had no intention of letting go unless they handed him the papers and keys to the Polaris Ranger. His piercing gaze made it clear he wouldn''t back down.


    To his surprise, the twins reluctantly handed Ace the keys and papers while taking back the gold bar. "The Polaris Ranger is now yours," they said, their voices stiff but resigned.


    Brooke''s eyes darted over the crowd, her expression hardening as she noticed a few shady figures lingering among the onlookers. With a subtle movement, she slipped the gold bar into her LV handbag, her fingers brushing the smooth leather as she zipped it shut. Keeping her composure, she subtly signaled a nearby school security guards and a beat cop, her expression conveying urgency. They nodded in understanding and began making their way toward her.


    Brooke leaned slightly toward Brock and whispered, her tone firm, "Carry the donation box, we are heading to the school gymnasium where Mom and Dad are. We''ll be safer there." Together, they began moving with the guard and cop, determined to avoid trouble while maintaining a dignified front.


    Holding up the keys and papers with a triumphant grin, Ace turned to Mandy and said, "Looks like I''ll be heading back in a Polaris Ranger." His tone carried a teasing edge, and his eyes sparkled with satisfaction. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mandy rolled her eyes dramatically, crossing her arms with an amused smirk. "I don''t care about that," she said, waving her phone in front of him. "I got the best angle of the Rockworth twins'' devastated faces when you won. Their expressions were priceless¡ªpale as frozen popsicles!" She chuckled, her excitement bubbling over. "I can''t wait to get back home, edit it, make memes, and post them online."

 Chapter 127: Punching Power

    Chapter 127: Punching PowerAfter winning the Polaris Ranger, the gang happily wandered through the booths, buying and snacking on treats. Mandy, brimming with energy, kept insisting Ace participate in more games, but he refused unless the reward was worth it.


    Ace suddenly froze mid-step, his expression hardening as his gaze locked onto someone from his past¡ªAva Martin, the fiery redhead. She was dressed casually in jean shorts, a white T-shirt, and an unbuttoned red flannel shirt that swayed lightly in the breeze.


    The sight of her still in town caught him off guard. It seemed she had successfully transferred into their school without any hiccup, despite his efforts to get her application rejected. Then again, he shouldn''t have been surprised¡ªher family was well-connected, and her cousin worked as a teacher there, likely smoothing the way.


    To his astonishment, Ava completely ignored him. She strode confidently toward a booth featuring a "punching power machine." The sign above the booth read: Punching Power Machine ¨C Male: 750+ | Female: 400+ Ibf. Win a Large Plush Doll for a $5 Donation! (Best of three punches)


    Ace''s jaw tightened as he watched her approach the machine. She stood in front of it, inspecting the setup, her focus unwavering.


    Mandy''s eyes lit up as she spotted one of the oversized, cuddly plush cats displayed at the booth. Tugging at Ace''s sleeve, she demanded, "Ace, you have to win that plush for me! Please don''t say no." Her tone was pleading, her gaze fixed on the prize with childlike excitement.


    Ace sighed, glancing from the booth to Ava, hoping to avoid an interaction. "Why don''t you give it a try? They have a lower power limit for girls," he said, pointing to the sign with a faint smile, hoping his suggestion would deter her from pestering him. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Fine," Mandy said, shooting Ace a hard stare before grabbing Lola''s arm and dragging her toward the booth. "Let''s show him we can win a prize on our own and get someone off his high horse."


    If it had just been the two of them, Mandy would have insisted differently, saying, "Dear nephew, men shouldn''t say no to beautiful women," and flirted with him until he caved. But since they weren''t alone, she decided instead to prove her point with girl power, especially given the clear disparity between the genders on the stall''s banner.


    Ace shook his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips, and followed the gang as they approached the stall. They arrived just in time to see Ava land her final punch, registering a barely passing score of 402 Ibf.


    She turned to pick her prize from the pile of plush dolls while Mandy clasped her hands in silent prayer, hoping Ava wouldn''t take the one she had her eye on.


    Before making her selection, Ava turned to the boothkeeper, holding out a five dollar bill. "If I manage to break the men''s limit too, will you let me take another plush doll?" she asked, her tone casual yet confident.


    The boothkeeper, recalling her unimpressive punch force of 402 Ibf, chuckled inwardly and nodded, accepting the bill. After all, booth rules stated that once someone won, they couldn''t try again to ensure others in line had a fair chance.


    Ava''s eyes narrowed, her demeanor shifting entirely. She stepped back, adjusted her stance, and delivered a sharp, calculated punch squarely into the machine''s padded target. The meter beeped loudly before flashing 999 Ibf!¡ªthe maximum force it could register.


    The crowd gasped in unison, including the Mandy, Lola, and Danny. Especially, the boothkeeper. All eyes darted between Ava''s small, seemingly delicate fist and the impossible score. It finally dawned on the boothkeeper he was bamboozled


    by the gingerhead las.


    Mandy, snapping out of her shock, noticed Ava''s hand reaching for the plush she desperately wanted. Acting quickly, she stepped forward, blurting, "Hi! Can you please take another plush? I really wanted that one. If not, I''m willing to pay for it."


    Ava smirked, a mischievous gleam in her eyes as she turned to glance at Ace. Then, shifting her attention back to Mandy, she grinned and said, "If you or your friends manage to break my record, then I''ll think about it."


    "Nephew, please!" Mandy turned sharply to Ace, her eyes wide and pleading as she pulled off the cutest sad puppy dog face she could muster.


    Ace sighed and shook his head before stepping toward the punching power machine. Passing a five dollar bill to the boothkeeper, he took his position. Carefully correcting his posture, he clenched his fist, rolling his shoulders back as he prepared to punch. He focused on controlling his power to ensure he didn''t accidentally break the machine¡ªafter all, with his current physical stats, he has power far beyond what most humans could summon.


    The machine beeped loudly as the display once again flashed 999 Ibf, unable to register a four-digit number. The crowd gasped in amazement, breaking into applause and murmurs of astonishment.


    Mandy cheered, clapping her hands enthusiastically. Without hesitation, she reached for one of the plush dolls Ava was holding tightly and said, "My nephew broke your record. Now, can I take this plush?" Her tone was sweet but firm.


    "Hold it," Ava said, her voice calm but laced with mischief. She held the plush tighter, her lips curling into a smug grin. "He didn''t break my record. At best, he hit above 1,000 Ibf, but blame the machine, not me." With that, Ava turned on her heel, clutching both plush dolls and grinning with satisfaction as she began to walk away.


    Mandy wasn''t about to let her go. "Fine, then let''s settle this with an arm-wrestling match!" she declared, stepping forward with determination. "That''ll make it clear if he''s stronger than you or not."


    Ava stopped and turned back, her eyebrow arched in playful defiance. "Why should I?" she replied, her grin teasing as she glanced at Ace. Her eyes sparkled with amusement when she caught him sneering at her.


    Before the tension could escalate into a full-blown argument, Mandy raised her voice, cutting through the brewing hostility. "One hundred dollars! If you win, I''ll give you $100. But if you lose to my nephew, you give me that plush. Deal?"


    Ava''s gaze locked on Ace, her grin widening as her competitive streak flared. "I''m game," she said, her voice steady and confident.

 Chapter 128: Meeting The Martins

    Chapter 128: Meeting The MartinsMandy was not the type to plead with anyone¡ªDan had taught her better than that. So, when Ace saw her pleading with Ava over a plush toy, he knew it must have been something truly important to Mandy. Without hesitation, and without her needing to ask him twice, he stepped up to the occasion.


    However, watching Ava smirk and act clever, her sharp eyes practically mocking him, Ace quickly realized she had no intention of handing over the plush. Ava seemed content to keep teasing Mandy, clearly enjoying the chance to provoke him. Mandy, perceptive as ever, had caught on to Ava''s game but chose to ignore it, focusing solely on getting the plush. The way she clung to the hope of getting it showed just how much it meant to her. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace''s patience wore thin. He decided it was time to stop being passive and take action for his cute auntie. Knowing Ava''s fiercely competitive nature, he provoked her with a sly sneer, leaning in just enough to spark her temper. It worked like a charm. Ava''s lips curled in defiance as she agreed to Mandy''s challenge, determined to prove she was stronger than him.


    This time, however, Ace planned to lay out the rules and stakes clearly. He was not about to let her wiggle out of the deal on a technicality like she had earlier.


    But Ava Martin, sharp as ever, seemed to see through his plan. Before Ace could finalize the terms, she relented with a mischievous grin and said, "No, that wouldn''t be fair. He has the weight advantage." Her eyes flitted to Ace''s forearms as he casually shrugged off his denim jacket and folded his sleeves for the arm-wrestling match.


    For a brief moment, her confidence wavered. She studied his muscular arms with a hint of surprise, her gaze lingering longer than she intended. Ava, who knew Ace''s past well enough, couldn''t help but question her own memory. Was he always like this? Though they had been in the same class, Ava barely noticed him. Most days, she skipped class altogether, and when she did show up, she''d spend the time either napping or playing on her phone. To her, Ace had always been the invisible pushover nerd. And yet, here he was¡ªstanding tall, confident, and far from the boy she thought she knew.


    "If you guys aren''t going to arm wrestle and just keep bickering, please leave¡ªyou''re holding up the line," the booth keeper said with an annoyed sigh. He had impatiently prepared the table with anticipation to watch two of his strongest customers square off in arm wrestling. But with Ava backing down, his patience was wearing thin.


    As an ex-boxer, the booth keeper''s trained eyes quickly sized up their styles. He noticed how Ava relied on technique to make up for her lack of raw power, while Ace leaned entirely on brute force. To him, this match was more than a casual competition¡ªit was a fascinating clash of technique versus strength. He had been eager to see if Ava''s precision could outmaneuver Ace''s raw might.


    But when Ava backed down, the answer became painfully clear. Disappointment flickered across his face. Not everyone was blessed with extraordinary strength, but technique, he thought, was different. It was something anyone with enough patience and dedication could master. But seeing the development before him, he stood there, he felt a strange pang of nostalgia, like his entire boxing career had flashed before his eyes in those brief moments.


    Ava and Mandy, noticing his displeasure, turned to him briefly before their eyes darted to the growing line behind them. Realizing they were causing a delay, both women turned to the queue and simultaneously apologized, "I''m sorry¡ª" The words collided in unison, catching them both off guard. Their gazes locked for a split second before they quickly looked away, each reminding herself that they were supposed to be at odds.


    Mandy broke the awkward silence, turning to Lola with a decisive tone. "Lola, choose a plush toy you like," she ordered, finally resigning herself to the fact that the plush she had wanted was out of reach.


    Lola hesitated only briefly before picking out a plush that caught her eye. As the gang prepared to continue their stroll, Ava stepped forward, blocking their path. With a large, adorably cuddly plush in each arm, she grinned mischievously.


    "Where are you guys going?" she teased. "We''re not done yet. Follow me¡ªI know a game where we can compete fairly."


    Mandy wanted to reject Ava''s suggestion outright, but before she could speak, Ace unexpectedly agreed. "Take the lead," he said smoothly. Then, he turned and winked at her as their eyes met. The casual gesture made Mandy''s heart race. For a fleeting moment, she found herself thinking that her nephew looked exceptionally handsome.


    Following Ava''s lead, the gang arrived at a massive stall that occupied the space of four regular ones. At the center stood a mechanical bull, surrounded by a boisterous, drunken crowd. The chaotic energy was palpable. Just as they arrived, a guy was flung from the bull, landing awkwardly but safely on the foam padding.


    To everyone''s surprise, the stall was being manned by Ms. Matthews, Principal Martin, and a group of redheads who were unmistakably related to Ava. Their shared features¡ªfiery hair, sharp eyes, and proud stances¡ªmade it clear they were family.


    "Ava, where have you been? Didn''t I tell you not to wander off alone and to take your cousins with you?" Principal Martin thundered, his voice echoing over the din of the crowd. Concern lined his face, softening his stern tone.


    "Not now, Dad," Ava replied dismissively, her focus unwavering. "I''m about to teach a jerk a lesson." Without missing a beat, she thrust her prized plush toys into his arms. "Here, hold these for me. If you smudge their fur, I swear I''ll cry the whole night," she warned dramatically.


    As her dad held the plush toys, looking both bewildered and resigned, Ava tied her flannel shirt tightly around her waist. The movement accentuated her toned abdominal muscles, drawing a few admiring glances from the crowd.


    "Hi, Ms. Matthews," the gang greeted their school teacher in unison, their voices slightly nervous. Even Mandy, who rarely showed outward emotion, joined in the greeting.


    Ace, on the other hand, addressed Principal Martin separately. Giving him a respectful nod, he murmured, "Principal Martin."


    Principal Martin returned the nod with a hint of warmth. "Ace," he acknowledged simply.


    "Hello, kids," Ms. Matthews replied cheerfully, her tone softening as her gaze landed on Mandy. "Mandy, it''s been a while since I last saw you. I heard about the 135 acres your family purchased recently. It seems our family has to step up not to be out done by you Landers," she said with a lighthearted laugh.


    Her words carried an air of respect, addressing Mandy as an equal. Though Mandy had been her student years ago, now she was a capable, tax-paying adult¡ªand Ms. Matthews made sure to treat her as such.

 Chapter 129: Machanical Bull Challenge

    Chapter 129: Machanical Bull Challenge"Cus, save your greetings for later," Ava interrupted sharply before Mandy could reply to her former high school teacher. Her tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. Then, pointing confidently at the mechanical bull, she turned to Ace. "If you last longer on it than I do, I''ll give the blonde the plush she wants. But if I last longer, she makes a $1000 donation to the Rural Revival''s cause in my name."


    "$1000? We agreed on $100!" Danny exclaimed indignantly, his face flushing as he glared at Ava. Inwardly, he fumed, ''So what if she''s hot and insanely strong? She''s bullying my favorite¡ªand only¡ªaunt! Humph!'' Beside him, Lola crossed her arms, pressing the large plush toy against her perky chest, and nodded in agreement with Danny''s outburst, her eyes narrowing at Ava.


    "Now it''s $5000," Ava snapped back, her voice sharp and daring. "Just try me, fatty." Her words were laced with contempt as she glared at Danny, daring him to utter even a peep. The greasy turkey aroma emanating from his breath made her wrinkle her nose in distaste.


    To Ava''s surprise, her father, Principal Martin, stepped forward with an authoritative expression. "Ava, apologize to the boy, or I''ll give these stuffed toys to them," he said firmly, holding the plush toys in his hands. His gaze was stern, showing he meant business. Ava froze, panic flickering across her face as she realized her father''s threat was not empty.


    "You can''t do that! They''re mine¡ªI won them fair and square!" Ava protested, her voice rising in desperation. She clutched her flannel shirt as if the act would somehow shield her prized plushies from her father''s decision.


    "You won them with the money I gave you," Principal Martin countered, his tone unyielding as he prepared to hand the plush toys to Danny. "So, I''ll do as I see fit with them."


    Ava''s lips pressed into a thin line, and her hands curled into fists at her sides. Her pride battled her fear of losing the plushies. Finally, with a huff of frustration, she caved. "Fine, I''m sorry," she muttered through gritted teeth, glancing at Danny with a reluctant expression.


    Danny grinned triumphantly but didn''t say a word, fearing Ava might escalate further. Satisfied with her apology, Principal Martin held onto the toys but stepped back, letting the matter settle.


    Ava, however, wasn''t done. She turned to Mandy, her fiery determination returning. "Alright," she began, shooting a fierce glare at her cousin. "But if you don''t agree to donate $5000 if I win, then the deal is off." Her tone made it clear there would be no compromise.


    "Fine," Mandy agreed, her voice steady. She glanced at Ace, silently trusting him to handle the challenge. Then, she added with a warning glare at Ava, "But no tricks this time. If you lose, don''t try to weasel out of it like you did earlier."


    "Weasel out? It''s not my fault you guys were too stupid to comprehend the rules," Ava retorted, her voice laced with disdain. She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, her pride evident. "This time, I made the rules simple enough for your brains to process. Don''t come crying to me when it''s time to pay." A prideful smirk spread across her face as she turned back to the bull, her confidence unshaken. Her gaze locked on the mechanical challenge before her as she prepared to teach the teen who had dared humiliate her father a lesson.


    Turning toward the red headed hunk manning the bull, Ava signaled with a sharp nod. "Cousin, don''t sign up others. I''m going next. I''ve got a bet with this fool over here." She jerked her thumb in Ace''s direction, her tone daring anyone to oppose her.


    "Hey¡ª" Mandy began, her face scrunching in protest, but Ace gently pressed a hand on her shoulder. The subtle touch signaled for her to calm down, his steady gaze promising he had a plan to handle Ava. His silence spoke louder than words¡ªhe intended to teach Ava a lesson, not with arguments, but with actions.


    The red headed hunk scanned the people behind his cousin. His face lit up with recognition as his eyes landed on Mandy. "Hi, Mandy. Did my baby sister cause you guys trouble?" he asked with a teasing grin, leaning casually against the bull''s controls.


    Mandy smirked, crossing her arms. "Hi, Cam. When did your family get a daughter? I thought you Martins were incapable of giving birth to them," she quipped, her tone light but playful, showing the familiarity between them.


    Cam chuckled, shaking his head. "That''s why we''ve all spoiled her rotten. She''s the most beloved in the family," he said, his voice tinged with affection. He reached out to pat Ava''s messy red ponytail, but she swatted his hand away with a scowl.


    "Go pat your wife. She''s right there," Ava snapped, pointing toward Ms. Matthews at the entrance who was standing next to Principal Matthews, selling beverages¡ªboth alcoholic and non-alcoholic¡ªwith a friendly smile. Ava''s tone was sharp, but the flicker of a grin betrayed her amusement. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shifting her attention back to Ace, Ava straightened, her eyes narrowing with determination. "I''ll go first. We''ll ride the bull at maximum settings¡ªunless you''re too chicken," she challenged, her voice cutting through the air like a blade.


    "No way! That''s too dangerous," Mandy interjected immediately, stepping forward with an alarmed expression. Her eyes darted between the two, her concern clear. But before she could continue, Ace held up a hand to stop her.


    "I''m in. Go ahead," Ace said, his calm tone leaving no room for argument. His sharp nod was final, silencing Mandy''s protests as tension crackled between him and Ava.


    Cam leaned back and gave a low whistle. "Alright, resetting the timer," he said with a mischievous grin, knowing there was no such thing as max setting or at least his machanical bull didn''t, clearly enjoying the rivalry. Ava stepped onto the foam padding, her movements confident and almost heroic¡ªuntil Cam interrupted her stride.


    "If you want to play for the prize, that''ll be $10. Rules are the same for everyone, baby sis," Cam said, holding out a hand expectantly.


    Ava froze, her jaw tightening in annoyance. With a dramatic huff, she pulled a crisp ten-dollar bill from her jeans pocket and slapped it into Cam''s palm. "Happy now?" she muttered, her tone dripping with irritation. She climbed onto the back of the mechanical bull, her grip firm as she prepared for the challenge.


    As Ava sat on the mechanical bull, the crowd''s cheers grew louder. Cam, making sure his sister was ready, hit the timer, and the bull roared to life at full speed. Clearly no stranger to the challenge, Ava''s family barely reacted as the drunken crowd cheered her on. With determination, she gripped the bull''s handle and wrapped her legs around its body, clinging to it, aiming to break her cousin''s record and win the 18Kt gold pendant prize.


    The bull bucked and twisted, but Ava remained focused, her muscles straining as the crowd chanted her name. Seconds turned into minutes, the machine''s grew from soft to medium to hard level, and she fought to stay on, her grip slipping as the bull moved faster. Her heart raced, but she pushed through.


    At 97 seconds, the bull made a sharp turn, throwing Ava off. She landed hard on the padded floor as the crowd erupted into applause. Ava sat up, her chest heaving, a mix of frustration and pride on her face. She hadn''t beaten the record of 129 seconds, but she''d given it her all. Then she threw a provocative glance at Ace, mouthing, ''You''re turn.'' who replied with an impressed nod.

 Chapter 130: Record Breaking

    Chapter 130: Record Breaking"Holy shit, she is something else," Danny muttered, his eyes fixed on the timer displaying 97 seconds. He shook his head in disbelief. Just managing to stay atop the bull for 10 seconds was an achievement worth bragging about, but she had stayed on almost ten times longer.


    In a mix of awe and dread, he nudged his cousin beside him and added, "Ace, looks like you met your match."


    Ace smirked but didn''t reply.


    "Ace, you don''t have to do this. Let''s just go," Mandy pleaded, her voice tinged with worry. She couldn''t shake the image of Ava being flung off the mechanical bull moments earlier. The memory made her stomach twist¡ªAva could have broken a leg, an arm, or worse, her neck. In her growing panic, she tugged on the hem of Ace''s denim jacket, her grip firm as she tried to pull him back. "A plush doll isn''t worth it."


    Ace raised an eyebrow and gave her a teasing smile. "And donate $5,000 in her name? If you''re so generous, Mandy, why not use that $5,000 to buy me a used car or a motorcycle when I win that plush for you?"


    Ignoring Mandy''s exasperated sigh, Ace handed Cam a ten-dollar bill. With the swagger of someone who lived for the spotlight, he stepped onto the foam padding.


    As Ava retreated, brushing off dust and massaging her sore shoulder, Ace grinned at her confidently. Without missing a beat, he vaulted onto the mechanical bull, landing smoothly on its back like a seasoned acrobat. The crowd erupted in gasps and cheers, their anticipation palpable.


    He adjusted his position, gripping the bull''s handle tightly. "What''s the record?" he asked, his tone casual despite the growing excitement around him.


    Cam, leaning against the control panel, smirked. "129 seconds. My personal best. Ready?"


    Ace nodded, a confident glint in his eye as he flexed his fingers. "Let''s do this."


    At Ace''s signal, Cam pressed the button, and the timer began with a sharp beep. The bull shifted into motion, its movements starting slow but steadily intensifying. Ace leaned back lazily, one hand gripping the bull''s handle while the other rested on his thigh, as if lounging. The crowd murmured, their anticipation growing.


    As the bull''s jerks and twists became sharper, Ace moved effortlessly, his body adapting as though it were second nature. While others would cling desperately, he casually glanced between the timer and Ava in the crowd. Ava stood tense, arms crossed and biting her lower lip as her eyes flicked between the timer and Ace. He caught her staring, smirked, and raised an eyebrow in mock amusement. When the bull bucked aggressively, he let out an exaggerated yawn, covering his mouth theatrically.


    The crowd gasped, their shock quickly turning into laughter, but Ava''s jaw tightened. She shifted uneasily, her fingers gripping her elbow as the timer ticked past her 97-second mark. Ace remained unshaken as the bull hit its hardest setting. Its erratic movements¡ªwild slams and spins¡ªwould have flung most riders off, but he barely adjusted his grip. At 100 seconds, Ava grew visibly rigid, her nails digging into her arm as Ace surpassed her time. Their eyes met, his smirk deepening in subtle taunt.


    When the timer hit 125 seconds, gasps rippled through the crowd¡ªAce was close to breaking the record. Ava''s fingers twitched, her gaze darting toward Cam as though willing him to stop the timer. At 130 seconds, cheers erupted as Ace shattered the record and at 133 seconds he shifted his weight and let the bull''s next violent twist send him tumbling off. His landing was perfect¡ªa smooth roll that looked dramatic but gave nothing away about his true strength.


    Brushing imaginary dust from his jeans, Ace stood as the crowd erupted into applause, some stomping their feet in excitement. His face remained calm and collected, though he relished the ease of it all. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ace!" Mandy rushed to her dear nephew, circling him as her sharp eyes scanned for any signs of injury. Satisfied he was unharmed, she lightly kicked him on the butt and scolded, "You idiot. If you wanted a car that badly, you could''ve just asked me! I would have found a way to convince your mother and bought you one."


    Ace exaggerated a wince, clutching his butt where Mandy had kicked him. "Really? You''re the best aunt," he said, feigning a pained expression that earned an amused eye roll from her.


    Meanwhile, Cam, Lola, and Danny approached, their voices overlapping as they sang Ace''s praises.


    "You made it look easy," Danny said, his eyes lingering on the mechanical bull. For a moment, he considered giving it a try but quickly dismissed the thought. He recalled how both Ava and Ace had been flung by the bull, and his resolve wavered.


    "It is, as long as you can manage and shift your body''s center of mass to match the bull''s jerks, turns, twists, and sudden jolts," Ace said, casually explaining his strategy as though it were the simplest thing in the world. "But once you can''t keep up, you''ll be flung off."


    As he spoke, Ava approached, her expression tight and sour as she clutched the plush doll Mandy had wanted. She extended it toward Ace, her movements stiff, her lips pressed into a thin line as though holding back her frustration.


    "Here, as promised. It''s yours now," she said, trying her best to mask her disappointment.


    Ace took the plush and locked eyes with her. There was a flicker of temper in her gaze, but before it could erupt, he interrupted the tension with a warm tone. "Good game. I had fun. You were good out there. Let''s do it again sometime."


    Ava''s brows furrowed slightly as she processed his words. "Do you mean it?" she asked, her voice cautious, her dark eyes searching his face.


    Unbidden memories flashed in her mind: of growing up with strength far beyond that of a regular girl, a trait her mother had noticed early and honed with combat training. Ava had been a decent, kind girl once¡ªuntil boys she liked began rejecting her after losing to her in duels. Once, she even let one win, hoping for a different outcome. That night, guilt consumed her, and the next day, she knocked him unconscious in front of their class. From then on, she embraced her reputation as a delinquent, wearing it like armor.


    "Why wouldn''t I?" Ace replied with an easy grin. His eyes gleamed mischievously as he added, "I wasn''t the one who lost."


    Ava''s face flushed, caught between surprise and indignation. Her fist clenched reflexively at her side, itching to wipe that smug grin off his face. Instead, she forced a smirk and said, "Next time, let''s see if you can say the same thing when I win." With that, she spun on her heel, her hair swishing as she returned to her father''s side, helping him track the donations with renewed focus.

 Chapter 131: 18Kt Gold Pendant

    Chapter 131: 18Kt Gold PendantIgnoring Ava, Ace turned to hand the plush to Mandy and said, "Don''t forget your promise. If I don''t get my own car in a week, I''m taking your Dark Starpedo."


    Snatching the plush from Ace''s hand, Mandy narrowed her eyes at him and warned, "Try it, and I swear you''ll be missing one of your legs the next day."


    "Ahem," Cam cleared his throat, stepping forward to divert attention from their playful bickering. He held out a small box and said, "Here''s the 18Kt gold pendant, your reward for breaking my record."


    "Nice," Ace muttered, his tone casual as he accepted the fitted pendant box. He opened it to reveal a delicate yet striking cross pendant. Admiring its craftsmanship, he turned it in his fingers, noting how it exuded elegance and spirituality.


    Mandy''s expression softened as she watched him inspect the pendant. Though she suspected Ace would save it for someone special, like Mary or Lyra, a small part of her couldn''t help but hope he''d give it to her. But, to her surprise, Ace turned to Lola and, with an authoritative tone, said, "I think this will look good on you. Turn around."


    Lola blinked, startled. For a moment, her wide eyes betrayed her shock, and she hesitated, unsure how to respond. Before she could utter a word, Ace stepped behind her and whispered playfully near her ear, "Hold your hair, will you?"


    Lola''s body reacted unconsciously to the suggestion. She lifted her hair, revealing her graceful neck and collarbone. Ace didn''t miss a beat, swiftly fastening the pendant around her neck. Then, stepping back, he circled in front of her, his eyes lighting up with satisfaction. "It looks great on you," he declared with a confident smile.


    Lola''s cheeks flushed, a mix of embarrassment and gratitude flooding her expression. She fumbled for words, wanting to tell Ace the pendant was far too costly and that she couldn''t accept it. But before she could speak, Ace turned to Mandy with a teasing grin. "Auntie, don''t get jealous. You already have a diamond pendant set. Next time, if I win something like a bracelet, it''s all yours."


    "Whose jealous?" Mandy huffed under her breath, tightening her grip on the plush in mock annoyance.


    Meanwhile, Lola instinctively began to tug at the pendant, her fingers fiddling with the chain as she hugged the large plush doll to her chest. Noticing her reluctance, Ace quickly stepped forward, his face exaggerated with mock pain. "Lola, please, don''t make a big deal out of this! I didn''t buy it¡ªI just won it for $10. Please, don''t refuse," he pleaded, his tone earnest.


    Lola glanced at Ace, his exaggerated expression making her smile despite herself. With a soft sigh, she finally conceded, letting her hands warp around the plush toy. The pendant rested comfortably against her skin, a subtle but meaningful mark of their friendship.


    Meanwhile, Danny couldn''t help but nod in quiet self-realization. His cousin was no longer the nerd he once knew but a player¡ªconfident, incredibly handsome, and undeniably good at it.


    "It''s getting late, and a lot of people are drunk by now," Cam said, glancing at the increasingly rowdy crowd that buzzed with laughter and occasionally stumbled. "You guys should head to the gymnasium. We''ll finish packing up here and meet you there. They should be ending the silent auction, announcing the auction winners, and then raffle draw winner at the last."


    "Yes, we should," Mandy agreed with a curt nod. She glanced toward Lola, who was still clutching the plush toy. "We''ll drop Lola off at her parents'' stall and then head to the gymnasium."


    The others nodded in unison. As they turned to leave, they bid farewell to Cam and Ms. Matthews, exchanging smiles and quick waves. Ava''s gaze lingered on Ace and as the group left her eyes darted following his Ace''s back. Only she knew what she was thinking.


    They made their way across the fairground, weaving through clusters of merrymakers. The festive lights flickered overhead, and the smell of fried food lingered in the cool night air. At Lola''s parents'' stall, her mother greeted her with a warm smile and a relieved expression.


    Once Lola was safely with her parents, Mandy ushered the group onward. The gymnasium loomed ahead, its doors wide open and spilling warm light into the night. The sound of faint music and murmured conversations reached their ears.


    As they approached, the security guards standing by the entrance straightened up, but the moment they saw Mandy, they waved the group through without so much as a glance at their tickets. Ace raised an eyebrow at the preferential treatment, but Mandy brushed it off with a smug smile. Other guests from the surrounding communities were stopped, their tickets scrutinized, but Mandy''s presence seemed to grant the group an effortless passage.


    Inside, the atmosphere shifted. The gymnasium was well-lit and less chaotic, with tables neatly arranged for the auction and groups of people chatting politely. The gang looked around, taking in the change of pace as they prepared for the next part of the evening.


    Soon, they found their parents seated at their table, deeply engrossed in a heated discussion. From afar, their animated expressions hinted at the seriousness of the topic. The trio exchanged curious glances, wondering what could have gotten them so riled up, and approached the table quietly.


    As they drew closer, they overheard Dan''s voice, tight with frustration. "I can''t believe this. It was our idea¡ªI mean your idea. How can they shamelessly decide to just take it and do the same?" He corrected himself mid-sentence, feeling Pam and Mary''s sharp glares on him.


    "What are you guys discussing? Let me guess¡ªit''s Rockworth again," Mandy quipped, her tone light but knowing. She set her plush doll carefully on the chair next to hers before slipping into the seat beside Mary. "Other than them, no one else can get under your skin like this. So, what happened?"


    Pam, clearly still irked, turned to Mandy with an accusatory look. "Can''t you call? If not for Danny''s text, I would''ve been worried sick wondering what was taking you so long," she scolded her in a tone mixed with relief and irritation.


    Mandy rolled her eyes, leaning back in her chair. "We''re here, aren''t we?" she replied, waving her hand dismissively. Then, with a sly grin, she gestured toward Ace. "Besides, Ace has some news that''ll cheer you all up."


    The tension around the table shifted slightly as Mandy launched into the story, her voice animated. She recounted how Ace had not only completed the gold bar challenge hosted by the Rockworth twins but had won their prized Polaris Ranger. Her hands gestured emphatically, adding weight to the tale. To drive the point home, Mandy pulled out her phone and played the video she had recorded. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, to Mandy''s surprise, the adults'' reactions were mild. They offered polite congratulations to Ace for winning, their expressions calm and composed. Alwin, ever practical, crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow as he asked, "Where did you get the $100 to play the challenge?"

 Chapter 132: Sudden Storm

    Chapter 132: Sudden Storm"Auntie Mandy, of course," Ace replied smoothly, and waving the UTV keys with a casul tone he added, "I get to keep the Polaris Ranger. I discussed the terms with her before entering the challenge. I will be driving back in it."


    Ace''s confidence didn''t waver as he spoke, unfazed by their restrained response. He had expected as much¡ªfamily feud or not, the adults wouldn''t stoop so low as to openly revel in a child''s misfortune. Their composed reactions reflected a sense of dignity that came with age and experience.


    Mandy, however, found herself momentarily lost in thought. She felt a subtle shift in how she was perceived by the group. At her age, she occupied a unique space¡ªstraddling the line between teenager and adult. If she had attended college, she would be in her final year by now. That realization lingered in her mind as she noticed how the adults'' measured reactions contrasted with her own more exuberant response to Ace''s win.


    "No, you aren''t, mister," Mary said sharply, snatching the UTV keys from Ace''s hand with a decisive motion. Her brows furrowed, and her lips pressed into a thin line. To her, as long as it had four wheels and cushioned seats, it was effectively a car¡ªfar too much for her son to be driving, let alone owning.


    Ace watched his mother take the keys without protest, already resigned to the idea. He had intended to hand them over to his father anyway. Sighing, he shifted his weight, ready to suggest that they make the most of the buffet when Dan''s voice suddenly broke through the moment.


    "We can''t allow it. That''s it¡ªwe''re starting an orchard bed and breakfast," Dan declared, his tone firm and full of resolve.


    "Say what now?" Ace snapped his head toward his uncle, his brows shooting up in disbelief. He stared at Dan, half-wondering if he''d actually heard him correctly or if the stress of the evening had finally gotten to him.


    "Dan, calm down," Alwin said, his voice steady but firm as he placed a hand on his brother''s shoulder. "They might''ve just said that to get under your skin. Think about it¡ªtwo orchard bed and breakfasts in our town wouldn''t survive. Either they both die, or one devours the other. Think level-headedly," he urged, his gaze steady and imploring.


    Alwin then turned to Mandy, who had been watching the exchange with wide eyes, and began to explain. His tone softened slightly, though frustration lingered in his expression. "A while ago, we were discussing our loan application with the local bank manager to develop the estate. During that discussion, we brought up our plans to start an orchard bed and breakfast." He paused, exhaling sharply as his face tightened.


    "The Rockworths happened to pass by," Alwin continued, his voice tinged with irritation. "And just like that, they latched onto the idea. They even had the gall to boast about it to other guests as if it was their own idea." His fists clenched momentarily before he loosened them with visible effort.


    Dan''s expression darkened further as Alwin spoke. "It didn''t sit well with him," Alwin concluded, glancing at his brother. "And now he''s set on opening our orchard bed and breakfast just to spite them."


    Mandy''s gaze shifted between the two brothers, her lips pursed in thought. Ace, meanwhile, leaned back slightly, crossing his arms as he observed the heated exchange. Despite his disbelief, he couldn''t help but wonder how far his family was willing to go in this feud with the Rockworths. As such he could not help but grow curious as to what happened in the past for the two families to be at each other''s throats constantly.  Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, his chain of thoughts was interrupted by a sharp, piercing wail of the town''s storm warning siren, which shattered the festive atmosphere, sending a wave of panic through the gala attendees. Inside the auditorium, heads turned in alarm, conversations cutting off mid-sentence as the crowd exchanged uneasy glances. Outside, where many were still enjoying the games, food stalls, and activities set up across the schoolyard, the response was immediate and chaotic.


    Ace stared out the window at the once-clear night sky now swirling with dark, ominous clouds. "What the¡ª?" he muttered.


    "This wasn''t in the forecast!" Mary exclaimed, clutching his arm.


    The head organizer quickly took the stage, her voice steady through the speakers. "Attention! A severe storm warning has been issued. The school gymnasium is a reinforced shelter designed for emergencies. Please make your way there calmly."


    Despite her reassurances, murmurs of protest rose. Some insisted they''d be safer leaving. A local official stepped forward, cutting through the noise. "The roads will be hazardous. For your safety, we insist you shelter here. The gym is the safest place for everyone."


    Outside, local authorities and school staff sprang into action, using megaphones to direct the crowds. "Attention! Severe storm warning! Head to the gymnasium immediately!" Volunteers and teachers moved through the yard, guiding families toward the building.


    "Stay together!" a teacher shouted, her voice rising above the wind. Parents clutched their children as vendors abandoned their stalls, hastily packing their goods. Balloons tore free of their strings, twisting into the darkening sky.


    Some attendees tried to head for their cars but were stopped by officers. "The storm''s coming fast. The gymnasium is your safest option," one officer insisted. Reluctantly, they turned back, hurrying with the others.


    Inside, the gymnasium buzzed with tense energy as staff guided people to sit in designated areas, making the best of the available space and supplies. The heavy doors thudded shut once everyone was inside, sealing out the rising storm.


    Ace''s family worked together to settle in. Dan and Alwin helped barricade the doors, while Mandy, clutching her plush doll, assisted with supplies. Mary and Pam assured the younger family members. "We''ll be fine," Pam said, smoothing Danny''s hair. "The building''s solid, and we''re all together."


    Ace scanned the crowded gym. Spotting Lola and her parents near the entrance, he hesitated before walking over to help them settle in. He carried their supplies and guided them to an open space, offering a reassuring nod.


    Outside, the storm intensified, winds howling and thunder cracking in the distance. Authorities completed one last sweep of the schoolyard, ensuring no one was left behind, before locking the doors and joining the others inside.


    As the tempest loomed closer, Ace couldn''t shake the unease that churned in his gut. Something about the suddenness of the storm didn''t sit right with him. But for now, his focus remained on his family, helping to ensure everyone stayed safe as nature''s fury bore down on them.

 Chapter 133: Latent Curse Sensing Art

    Chapter 133: Latent Curse Sensing Art"Delores, I am bored," Janice said, rolling on the sofa to face the latter. Delores, seated in a lotus position by the window, didn''t respond immediately. Her eyes were fixed on a faint candlelight two miles away, flickering on a boat anchored in the middle of the lake. Without breaking her focus, she replied dryly, "Yes, I am painfully aware of that."


    Janice groaned and propped her head up with one hand. "It''s been a decade since you started trying to learn this curse-sensing art, and you''re nowhere near mastering it¡ªheck, you''re not even familiar with it! Besides, with your strength and my cursed tools, do you really even need to master this art? It''s a waste of time. You could''ve mastered another Sky-tier curse combat art in the time you''ve wasted just trying to figure this out." Her tone was firm but laced with exasperation, as though she''d repeated this argument countless times before. She gestured dismissively, emphasizing her frustration.


    Delores didn''t so much as flinch to the former''s words. The faint flicker of the candlelight danced in her steely eyes as she responded calmly, "This curse-sensing art is different from other arts. It''s like something that''s right in front of you¡ªyour gaze passes over it every day, every hour, every minute, every other second¡ªbut you don''t see it until, one day, you do. And once you do see it, you can''t unsee it. No matter how hard you try to forget it, you know it''s there. Just when you think you forgot it, it creeps up on you." S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She paused, her voice steady but laced with a hint of reverence. "By the way, I haven''t been trying to learn this art for the last decade. It''s been the last century. Master and Young Master learned it on their first try while there are others like me who haven''t been able to master it even after centuries. You should give it a try sometime. Who knows? Maybe you''ll master it on your first attempt like your grandfather and elder brother."


    Janice snorted, brushing back a strand of hair as she fiddled with her phone. Her thumb swiped across the screen, scrolling through Mandy''s newly posted photos on social media. "You know how I feel about leaving things incomplete or unconcluded. If I don''t master it on my first try, there''s no way I''m spending centuries stuck on it." She paused to like a photo on Mandy''s social media page. "By the way, what''s it called?"


    "Latent Curse-Sensing Art," Delores answered. Her gaze remained unbroken, unwavering from the distant candlelight, not even blinking during the entire conversation.


    "Ha, a name fitting for the art," Janice remarked, her tone light but distracted. Her eyes remained glued to her phone, lingering on Mandy''s photos with her nephews. A flicker of envy crossed her face, though she quickly masked it.


    "We have an unannounced company," Delores suddenly announced, her voice breaking the silence. She finally tore her gaze from the distant candlelight and walked toward the large window. With a casual shrug, she added, "Order dinner. I don''t feel like cooking after killing someone. But interestingly, I feel very hungry." Without waiting for a reply, she leaped out of the window. A titanium-grey surfboard materialized mid-air, catching her effortlessly and propelling her into the clouds in less than a second.


    "This time. leave some alive for Uncle! He was furious you killed that Cloud Voyeur without learning anything about him!" Janice called out hurriedly, but by the time her words reached the open window, Delores was already gone. Left alone, Janice slumped back on the sofa, returning to her phone. "What should we have for dinner? Di-di-dinner¡­" she muttered, her voice trailing off with boredom. "Ugh, I''m so bored."


    A voice broke the monotony, low and sharp. "Wow, my lady was right. The Sky Slayer really does make a terrible bodyguard."


    Janice froze for a fraction of a second, her fingers hovering over the screen. Slowly, unhurriedly, she turned toward the source of the voice. A middle-aged female curse master stood there, her long black cloak dragging across the floor as she approached. The faint rustle of fabric seemed amplified in the stillness of the room.


    Janice blinked, unimpressed. With a lazy flick of her wrist, she resumed scrolling through her phone. "So," she asked, her tone devoid of concern, "are you here to kill me or kidnap me?"


    The woman stopped in her tracks, tilting her head slightly as if studying Janice. "Does it matter?" she asked, her curiosity tinged with disbelief. The young woman''s calm demeanor was unsettling, though the curse master knew better than to underestimate her prey¡ªJanice was, after all, a direct spawn of the McSuile family.


    "If you''re here to kidnap me, you have a decent chance of surviving," Janice replied matter-of-factly, her eyes still fixed on her phone. "But your days henceforth would be¡­ rough and numbered. If you''re here to kill me, though," she said, finally locking eyes with the woman, "you will die." Her voice was casual, as if narrating the weather, but there was an undeniable edge to her words.


    "Hahaha, good thing I''m here for neither," the cloaked curse master said with a smirk, throwing her cloak wide, revealing an starry night sky. The edges of the fabric defied gravity, hanging in the air like the frame of a wide screen, the stars in it swirled and aligned to form a starry gate. From the shimmering void beneath it, a delicate figure emerged as the head of the cloak announced in a grandiose tone, "Aurelian Eyes, please rise and join me in welcoming the esteemed Countess Godiva Wulfric!"


    "Claudia, skip the formalities," a smooth, confident voice interjected as a striking woman in a crisp white casual suit stepped gracefully through the gate. Her poise and aura commanded attention, yet her tone was warm. "Janice is a friend, and she''s an unspoken princess."


    Janice''s eyes lit up at the sight of Godiva, a rare smile breaking through her usual composure. "Diva, long time no see. You''re looking younger," she teased, leaning back comfortably on the sofa. "Did your country discover another effective but wildly illegal skincare product?" The jab carried a sharp edge, poking fun at the notorious human rights violations of Godiva''s homeland, though the warmth in her tone made it clear it was all in good humor.


    If Ace had been present, he would have recognized Godiva instantly¡ªshe was the main antagonist in the Cyber Craft movie franchise. Both she and Janice had worked on the films together, their off-screen camaraderie mirroring none of the tension of their on-screen rivalry.


    Godiva''s lips curled into a sly grin. "J, it''s been ages, but you look exactly the same too. And, actually¡ªfunny you mention it¡ªwe did develop such a product." Her tone was playful as she added, "If your country relaxed its stance on human rights, you lot could shave off another decade with that product and look way younger."


    The two women exchanged knowing smiles before Godiva stepped forward, pulling Janice into a warm hug. Their embrace lingered for a moment, a genuine connection evident despite the sharp banter moments before. Janice gestured for Godiva to sit, the ease between them came naturally. Their conversation drifted into lighthearted small talk as they caught up, their laughter filling the room, Delore''s sudden disappearance and Claudia''s grand entrance now a distant memory.

 Chapter 134: Countess Godiva Wulfric

    Chapter 134: Countess Godiva Wulfric"So," Janice asked, her gaze steady on Godiva as the latter sipped from her glass of sparkling water, "what brings you to my corner of the world this time?"


    Godiva placed her glass down gently, her expression a mix of sadness and resolve. "I won''t beat around the bush. I''m here for the Sole Ring. I intend to deliver it to my granduncle, Duke Lambert III." Her voice softened as she continued, "Though disheartened, he was a little relieved to hear some news about my aunt after two centuries." Her eyes, though determined, carried no trace of deceit. After a pause, she added with a faint smile, "As for other matters, let our families handle them. Knowing my granduncle, he''s never stingy when it comes to his only daughter. You guys really hit the jackpot."


    Janice''s previously light demeanor shifted in an instant. Her smile faded, and her expression hardened. Leaning forward, she cut through Godiva''s reasoning like a blade. "Save your breath, Diva. Unless you''re here as the official representative of Duke Lambert III, I can''t give it to you. I was explicitly ordered to hand the ring only to him or his recognized representative. From where I stand, you''re neither." Her voice carried an icy finality. "Don''t bring this matter up again unless you no longer value our friendship."


    Godiva flinched ever so slightly at Janice''s words, then sighed dramatically, reclining back in her seat. "Damn it. I was too late to play the friendship card, and now you''ve played it. I guess I''m left with no choice but to play the villain. Story of my life," she said, a trace of dry humor in her tone.


    With a sharp snap of her fingers, she turned to Claudia. The cloaked woman stepped forward, her expression unreadable, and once again threw her cloak wide. Its edges hung in the air like the frame of an enormous screen, revealing a starry night sky. The stars swirled, rearranging themselves into a luminous portal that shimmered with an almost hypnotic beauty.


    Within the portal, an image began to form. It showed Delores, riding strong winds atop her titanium-grey surfboard, her form blurred slightly by the ferocity of the gusts. The scene zoomed out, revealing a massive twister swirling around her, its sheer size and power dwarfing everything in sight. As the view expanded further, it captured twelve curse masters stationed in a hexagonal prism formation, their combined efforts generating a glowing barrier that separated the raging storm from the earth below and sky adove. The hexagonal prism barrier pulsed with energy, holding the chaos at bay.


    "That''s the Sky Prism Formation," Godiva said, her tone even but laced with subtle pride. "Laid out by twelve Sky-Tier curse masters. Even a Void-Tier would struggle to break through it, let alone an Ocean-Tier curse master." She paused, letting the weight of her words settle before adding with a calm, calculating smile, "How about I trade Delores for the Sole Ring?" S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Janice''s gaze sharpened, her eyes narrowing as she studied Godiva. Her fingers drummed lightly against the armrest of the sofa, a sign of her simmering irritation. "If I go through with it, Delores will kill herself," Janice replied coolly. Her voice carried a hint of steel as she straightened in her seat. "She might not be the best bodyguard despite being one for over a decade, but she did warn me¡ªnever to risk my life for hers." Her determination crystallized, her lips tightening into a firm line. "Yeah, so no trade."


    Godiva''s expression darkened slightly, though her smile didn''t waver. She shook her head, feigning disappointment. "I tried to be civil out of consideration for our friendship, but you''ve forced my hand." She turned to Claudia and, with a slight flick of her wrist, coldly ordered, "Rip those damned earrings off her ears¡ªand make it hurt. I want to hear her scream."


    "With pleasure, my lady," Claudia responded, a slow smirk spreading across her face. She began to approach Janice unhurriedly, each step deliberate. Though a Sky-Tier curse master herself, she couldn''t completely hide her caution, her sharp eyes assessing the so-called Aurelian Eyes.


    Janice tilted her head, watching Claudia''s approach with a detached calm. "It seems you''ve made your choice," she said, her tone almost mocking. She gave a small wave, her fingers flicking in a gesture of dismissal as she added cheerfully, "Don''t say I didn''t warn you. Byeee!"


    In the blink of an eye, Janice''s figure vanished from the couch, her presence was replaced by a naked man with a towel wrapped around his waist, calmly applying cream to his face. His bronze skin glowed faintly under the room''s lighting. Despite the sudden change in his surroundings, the nonchalant way he continued massaging the cream into his cheeks made the shift in scene all the more surreal.


    Godiva and Claudia froze, their earlier confidence replaced by visible unease. The man''s red eyes glanced between the two, taking in their panicked expressions with a flicker of amusement. His movements remained measured as he finished smoothing the cream over his face and wiped his hands clean on the towel at his waist as he began, "So," his voice deep and steady, "which one of you wants to die first?"


    Godiva and Claudia felt the hairs on the back of their necks stand on end as the situation spiraled out of control, veering far from their carefully laid plans and hurtling toward the worst possible scenario. Despite their opponent''s mounting pressure, Godiva was the first to react.


    "Claudia, take the Sky Slayer hostage and do everything to survive. I''m returning first," Godiva instructed, her voice sharp with urgency as she activated her fail-safe to retreat. But nothing happened. A chill ran down her spine as her eyes darted ahead, only to find a pair of glowing crimson eyes staring back at her through the dim light.


    Her breath caught, but Claudia acted swiftly. Letting out a fierce war cry, she threw her cloak wide, the fabric rippling unnaturally as it extended. "Crimson Eyes, fight someone in your own league!" she yelled, her voice ringing with defiance. The cloak surged forward, enveloping the man in a shadowy cocoon that seemed to writhe with an almost sentient energy. In the next instant, the cocoon vanished into thin air, taking Jason McSuile with it.


    Godiva exhaled sharply, relief briefly washing over her, though her body remained tense. She pulled her phone from her pocket with shaky hands and quickly dialed her team. "Plan failed," she said, her voice low but laced with urgency. "Crimson Eyes is here. Teleport the entire Sky Prism Array Formation, along with the Sky Slayer, to our territory immediately. She''s now the key to deterring the McSuile family from declaring war on us."


    Her grip on the phone tightened as her instructions were met with a curt acknowledgment on the other end. Godiva''s gaze flickered toward the spot where Jason had been moments before, her mind racing. Despite the temporary reprieve, the stakes had just risen far beyond what she had anticipated. Then she activated her fail-safe once again. This time, it worked, safely teleporting her out of the room and back to her territory, halfway across the globe.

 Chapter 135: Executive Assistant Director Matthews

    Chapter 135: Executive Assistant Director MatthewsJanice, who had switched places with her brother, appeared abruptly in his bathroom. Ignoring her surroundings, she scrolled hurriedly through her contact list and paused on a name: Executive Assistant Director Matthews. Without hesitation, she dialed the number. As the phone rang, Janice exited the bathroom only to find a naked blonde standing in front of her brother''s bed, startled and wide-eyed.


    "Who the fuck are you? Where''s Jason?" the blonde demanded furiously, clutching the sheets to cover herself.


    Janice''s gaze didn''t waver. Her expression hardened as she said coldly, "Jason left. I''m his sister. You have three minutes to get the fuck out of here before I call the cops on you." She didn''t wait for a response, turning sharply on her heel and striding out of the bedroom.


    She made her way to the balcony of her brother''s two-bedroom apartment. Her movements were brisk, her eyes flicking between her phone screen and the city skyline beyond. The call finally connected, and the voice on the other end sounded strained, brimming with urgency. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Janice, whatever it is, make it quick. My family is stuck in an storm. I have to make arrangements to rescue them," Executive Assistant Director Matthews snapped, his tone sharp and impatient.


    Janice''s jaw tightened. "It''s not a storm. It''s Delores. She''s trapped by twelve Sky-tier cursemaster mages in a Sky Prism array formation. They''re from Countess Godiva Wulfric''s faction. She''s after the Sole Ring. I was forced to escape with the ring by displacing with my brother," Janice explained in a single breath, her words tumbling out rapidly. She took a moment to catch her breath, only for her frustration to mount as EAD Matthews replied dismissively.


    "Crimson Eyes is already there. That makes things easier on my end."


    "Let me finish!" Janice snapped, her voice rising slightly. She paced the balcony, gripping the phone tighter. "They have a cursemaster with space-type innate curse tool. Her abilities were strong enough to teleport people halfway across the world and block me from using my teleportation curse tool. If my guess is correct, my idiot brother probably underestimated his opponent¡ªlike always¡ªand has likely been teleported to God-knows-where by now. You need to send reinforcements ASAP to help Delores."


    "Since, their primary objective failed. I''m guessing they''re planning to take her hostage," she continued, her voice lowering but laced with steel. "That way, they can stop my family from declaring war on them. No matter how they treat her, my family can''t deny she''s my grandfather''s favorite disciple."


    Her words hung in the air, heavy with urgency, as she waited for EAD Matthews'' response. Janice couldn''t afford to trust this mission to her brother¡ªhe was strong but had never come through for her, and Delores was too precious for her to gamble on trusting her brother.


    "Janice, the only Sky-tier cursemaster I have on call is your brother. He is always available because he solves all his cases swiftly. Since he''s already there, I have no one except for the other low-tier C.I.B. agents, who can only help with crowd control and minimize damage but none of them are capable of participating in a fight with Sky-tier cursemasters. Contact your family¡ªthey should help. After all, they''re ones that stand to gain from the Sole Ring," EAD Matthews said bluntly, her voice devoid of comfort. The bad news hung heavily in the air, and her suggestion of involving Janice''s family¡ªdespite knowing the strained relationship Janice currently had with them¡ªfelt like a gut punch.


    Janice clenched her jaw, her hand tightening around her phone as she pressed it against her ear. Her voice trembled slightly with frustration as she asked, "What about you? You''re a Sky-tier cursemaster."


    Matthews exhaled sharply, her patience thinning. "Janice, just make the call before it''s too late," she snapped before abruptly hanging up.


    Janice stared at her phone, her knuckles white. She let out a shaky breath, pacing back and forth on the balcony. The night air did little to cool her rising anger. Just then, her brother''s blonde one-night-stand stopped by and said, "Tell your brother to lose my number," before hurrying out of the door and slamming it shut.


    Meanwhile, at her base of operations, Matthews sat back in her chair, her expression grim. She ran a hand through her hair, feeling the weight of her responsibilities crushing her chest. Leaving her post wasn''t an option¡ªnot unless someone of equal or higher rank was present to take charge in her absence. Everyone in her rank had been tied up with cases across the state for weeks, leaving her effectively grounded.


    It had been three months since she last went home. The memory of her daughter''s smile and the warmth of her husband''s touch flickered in her mind, an ache blooming in her chest. Even now, knowing her family was stuck in the middle of the storm, Matthews remained resolute. She wouldn''t abandon her post as it would be irresponsible.


    The last time she''d faced a family emergency that was when her husband had reported to her about the curse core initiation ceremony array on the rooftop of his and her daughter''s school. Without hesitation, she had deployed Crimson Eyes to handle the situation. But now, she could only rely on other agents, hoping they would be enough for securing civilians and her family or Crimson Eyes would come through like he always does.


    It wasn''t that the C.I.B. was completely helpless. They had other means to intervene, but the situation didn''t yet warrant their activation. The target of the curse terrorists was the Sole Ring, not the citizens. In Matthews'' higher ups'' mind, this made it the McSuile family''s problem to clean up, not the C.I.B.''s.


    She sighed deeply, rubbing her temples. It might seem heartless, but it was what it was.


    "Fuck!" Janice screamed at the city skyline, her voice echoing into the night. Her fists clenched at her sides as frustration roiled through her. She turned abruptly, stalking back into the apartment''s living room. Collapsing onto the sofa, she buried her face in her hands, her mind a whirlwind of indecision.


    The thought of calling her family gnawed at her. It wasn''t just the price of losing her freedom that held her back¡ªthough that weight was suffocating. It was knowing Delores would never want to be rescued if the cost was Janice''s freedom. Delores''s unyielding pride and sense of honor would drive her to choose death over becoming the reason Janice relinquished her independence.


    Janice leaned back on the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling, her phone resting heavily in her hand. Minutes ticked by as the internal battle raged within her. Finally, her resolve hardened. Letting out a slow, determined breath, she sat upright, scrolling through her contacts until she found the number she needed.


    Her thumb hovered over the screen for a moment before pressing it. She had made her decision¡ªshe was calling her uncle. Just then, a noise from the balcony caught her attention. She turned to find her brother landing gracefully, holding a messy-brown-haired, teenage girl in his arms. The girl was weeping, tightly clutching a big plush doll.


    Seeing the scene before her, she rubbed her temples in disbelief. With a sigh, she lifted the phone to her ear and said, "Hello, Police Station¡­"

 Chapter 136: Source Of Storm

    Chapter 136: Source Of Storm[Dame Wasp: Master, my cybernetics have a clear view of the storm''s origin. As you suspected, it''s the work of curse masters.


    Dame Wasp: Twelve powerful curse masters have trapped the twister in a hexagonal prism barrier, separating it from the earth below and the sky above. However, they''re not destroying it¡ªonly containing it. This seems deliberate.


    Dame Wasp: Based on my calculations, both the twister and the hexagonal prism are directly over the resort we visited this week at Treasure Lake.


    Ace: I have a feeling this is about the Sole Ring. Rose, can your cybernetics zoom in on the twister and see what''s inside the barrier? Something tells me those curse masters are trapping more than just a tornado.


    Dame Wasp: You''re right, Master. They''re trapping Delores. She''s... riding the twister on a surfboard. This might really be about the Sole Ring.


    Ace: What about Janice? Is she with Delores?


    Dame Wasp:


    No, Master. Janice isn''t there¡ªonly Delores.


    Ace: That''s bad. If Delores is trapped, Janice must have been left to fend for herself.


    Dame Wasp: I don''t think so, Master. I monitored the principal''s phone. He received a message from his wife saying Crimson Eyes is on the scene, and other C.I.B. agents are en route to assist him and protect the civilians.


    Ace: Rose, you''re incredible, you know that? I don''t think I''ve told you how amazing you are enough.


    Dame Wasp: Master, we might be able to help Delores free herself and also test the Rail Rifle. I have a clear shot from my position, with your permission I would like to take it.


    Ace: Are you serious? Rose, those curse masters are likely Ocean-tier at least if they''re going up against Delores. The Rail Rifle is barely a mortal-tier curse tool. Even if we hit our mark, it might do nothing more than scratch them.


    Dame Wasp: Normally, you''d be right, Master. But I plan to tap into the town''s electric grid to power the Rail Rifle. With that extra energy, I''m confident even if we fail to take them down, the shot should be enough to create a distraction and give Delores the opening she needs to free herself.


    Ace: Fuck it! If not for Janice covering for us, this could''ve easily been us in that trap.


    Ace:


    I''m sending Emi your way with the Rail Rifle. Just make sure you''re at least a mile away from here, and don''t leave behind any traces. You guys have one shot. Regardless of the results, I''m recalling you to the cursed toybox next second the bullet reaches its mark.


    Ace: Keep me updated through the Status Screen. Better yet, cast the feed to my phone. I want to see the Rail Rifle''s in its full glory.


    Dame Wasp: Roger that!


    Emi: Hai!]


    Once the crowd stuffed in the gymnasium seemed under control and everyone had settled down, Ace found a secluded spot to rest. He summoned Dame Wasp in her stealth mode, instructing her to scout and uncover what was truly causing the storm. It had appeared almost out of nowhere, completely absent from the weather forecast. A creeping sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu settled over him as he recalled the day Crimson Eyes and the C.I.B. agents nearly burned his neighborhood to the ground while hunting down the cursemasters of the Steel Song Society (S.S.S.).


    His instincts told him this was no ordinary storm, and he was right. The situation was far worse than it seemed. A dozen powerful cursemasters had converged on Treasure lake, targeting Janice and Delores. Though Janice had plenty of enemies, the timing of this attack made Ace suspect the Sole Ring was at the center of it. If Janice hadn''t taken the cursed ring off his hands, it might have been the death of him. He owed her¡ªdeeply. That debt weighed heavily on him when he listened to Dame Wasp''s proposal to help Delores so after a moment''s thought, he gave her his permission with a firm nod.


    Having made up his mind, Ace knew he needed to act swiftly. He turned to his family and, masking the urgency in his voice, excused himself. "Mom, I''m going to the restroom," he said, slipping away from the group.


    The gymnasium, once a place of elegance and celebration, was now tightly packed with anxious bodies. People shuffled and murmured, leaving barely enough room to maneuver. The air was heavy with unease, but at least there was food and water left over from the gala''s buffet. He was eager to eat but couldn''t taste anything thanks to the storm. Though calm Ace felt the tension was growing, amplified by the wailing of restless children and the complaints of the intoxicated. Ace gritted his teeth as the chaos pressed in around him.


    His sharp eyes scanned the room. Everyone was on edge, their nerves stretched taut by the relentless storm outside. He could feel the crowd teetering on the brink of a violent outburst. If that happened, the handful of cops and school guards stationed there wouldn''t stand a chance against a frenzied mob. The C.I.B. agents had to arrive soon as every second that passed was one second closer to a riot with in the gymnasium.


    When Ace approached the restroom, he noticed a small queue had formed. With all the windows and doors barricaded, there was nowhere were Emi could squeeze her voluptuous body out of the gymnasium unnoticed, so he joined the line, waiting his turn. His plan was simple yet delicate: use the small gap in the restroom''s exhaust fan to summon his cursed toybox outside the gymnasium. This would allow him to summon Emi directly outside the gymnasium without drawing any attention.


    As he stood in line, Ace''s eyes wandered and fell on the gleaming ''2024 FIAT 500e: Inspired By Beauty'' displayed on a stage nearby. Its pink-gold exterior sparkled under the decorative lights, framed by big shiny bow and balloons. The car was the grand prize for the raffle draw. Ace planned to gift this pinkgold beauty to his sister as an apology for his poor choice of words earlier today. As a cursemaster, he could afford to make such a grand gesture. However, now the raffle draw was indefinitely postponed leaving him hanging.


    When the line finally inched forward, Ace''s eyes landed on a ventilation vent beside him. He tapped his fingers lightly against his leg, a thoughtful frown crossing his face. Believing it might be faster than waiting for his turn, he glanced around to ensure no one was watching, he subtly adjusted his posture to block the view of what he was about to do.


    Ace summoned the cursed toybox into the ventilation ducts. Moments later, Emi materialized inside it, her ''Invisible'' talisman already activated. He exhaled quietly, the tension in his shoulders easing as his plan moved into motion.


    Confident Emi had what she needed, Ace stepped away from the line and casually made his way back to his family''s side, slipping his phone from his pocket. His thumb hovered over the screen as he waited for Dame Wasp to cast the video feed. Just then the status screen popped up, displaying Emi''s update.


    [Emi: Master, I am out. Heading towards senpai''s location.]


    Ace smirked faintly, his grip on the phone tightening. "Good," he muttered under his breath, the corners of his mouth lifting in satisfaction as the next phase began to unfold. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 137: 23.47 Mach

    Chapter 137: 23.47 Mach"Senpai, how are we going to pull this off?"


    A familiar voice broke through the cacophony of the storm, drawing Dame Wasp''s attention from the Hexagonal Prism barrier, 35 miles away, displayed on her cybernetic vizor. She turned her gaze to see a strikingly voluptuous, translucent figure outlined with glistening water droplets.


    "Emi, can you use a ''Barrier'' talisman to create a platform on that utility pole? The one with the transformer," Dame Wasp commanded, without going into details about the intricate plan she had concocted to execute this mission. She had been waiting for Emi in her 1/100th form deactivating her stealth mode.


    Emi''s sharp eyes followed the direction her senpai indicated. Without hesitation, she harnessed her ninja arts, leaping atop the utility pole in a fluid blur of motion while water streamed off her invisible body, giving it a translucent frame. A yellow talisman clung to the pole''s apex, fluttering slightly in the rain. As Emi activated it, a golden, translucent cube barrier¡ªthree meters across¡ªmaterialized atop the pole, enveloping both Emi and Dame Wasp. Emi strode confidently across the platform, demonstrating its stability as she asked with a slight smirk, "Like this, Senpai?"


    "Perfect," Dame Wasp affirmed, her sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. "Now, use your ''Invisible'' and ''Presence Erasing'' talismans to conceal it. Hurry."


    Her caution and urgency was understandable despite the raging storm around them acting as their cover and that they were a solitary mile away from the nearest human settlement¡ªthe town school, as success was not top their priority¡ªbeing undetected was. Dame Wasp felt her master was right to be cautious in this instance because the target of their mission were beyond anything they had ever faced. Her nerves were tightly wound; after all, she had been the one to convince their master to undertake this audacious task.


    "All set, but we''ve got a problem," Emi reported, her voice carrying both focus and concern. "The rain makes us more translucent than truly invisible. We need to move fast."


    Using talisman''s power to cloak the cube barrier from sight and erase its curse signature, Emi pulled out the rail rifle and awaited Dame Wasp''s next order resolutely. The rifle gleamed with cold precision in her hands as she pointed its ominous barrel pointed toward the horizon.


    "Now, point the rifle southwards and remain steady. Don''t move a muscle unless I guide you by adjusting the barrel to fix the angle of the rifle," Dame Wasp instructed, her tone sharp yet precise.


    Emi aimed the rifle in the direction of Treasure Lake, her hands gripping it tightly. Her senpai''s tiny form fluttered into view and landed gracefully atop the open end of the rifle''s barrel. Dame Wasp used her tiny, mechanical feet to nudge the barrel while her cybernetic visor calculated the precise angle of elevation required to hit their target.


    The target lay 35 miles away. Even the smallest deviation in the angle of their aim could cause the shot to miss by miles. Numerous factors complicated the task: the rail rifle''s bullets traveled in a straight line, the Earth''s surface was curved, and the area was plagued by strong wind currents. Emi exhaled slowly, understanding the gravity of remaining completely still.


    Dame Wasp finished her adjustments, her movements precise and methodical. "All set. Now, I''ll get into the power chamber. Things might get a little¡­ sparky as I borrow electricity from the transformer below, but you must remain steady, no matter what." Her wings vibrated faintly as she emphasized the importance of Emi''s steadiness.


    After setting the aim, Dame Wasp entered the power chamber of the rail rifle grasping the wires she had previously connected to the transformer on the utility pole under them. Her hands moved deftly, securing the connection before preparing to siphon power into the rifle''s chamber. The amount of electricity she could draw would determine the range and destructive force of the ammunition.


    Knowing her master wanted to see the rail rifle in all its glory, Dame Wasp didn''t hold back. She drained every bit of electricity from the town she could through transformer, pouring it into the rifle''s power chamber. The entire town plunged into darkness, the hum of electricity replaced by eerie silence.


    Emi stood motionless, like a marble statue poised in the night. The faint glow from the rifle''s power chamber reflected off her determined eyes as she waited for the signal.


    [ ¡ªStatus Screen¡ª


    Dame Wasp: "Emi, the recoil is going to be a enormous. You have to soldier through it. It all depends on you now. Steady¡­ Fire!"]


    With her senpai''s signal, Emi summoned every ounce of strength she had and fired the rail rifle, bracing for the bone-jarring recoil. The moment the trigger was pulled, a thunderous shockwave erupted, rippling through the area as the rail rifle''s mischief bullet tore from the barrel. Emi''s slender frame couldn''t withstand the force; she was thrown backward, landing hard against the barrier, which barely managed to break her fall.


    The bullet streaked forward at an incredible speed, leaving a dazzling trail of lightning in its wake.


    Dame Wasp, quick and nimble, darted out of the rifle''s power chamber. Her cybernetic visor flickered to life, scanning and tracking the bullet''s trajectory in real time while casting the feed directly to her master''s phone, her metallic wings vibrating faintly as she hovered.


    Powered by all the electricity Dame Wasp had gathered, the rail rifle fired the mischief bullet at a staggering speed of five miles per second¡ªan extraordinary 23.47 Mach. Yet even at that blistering velocity, the bullet would take seven seconds to reach its target 35 miles away.


    Meanwhile, Dame Wasp''s visor continued calculating the trajectory. A faint smile of satisfaction crossed her face. ''Emi, you did great,'' she thought. The bullet was on course to hit its target''s back dead center. Still, she frowned slightly because she couldn''t guarantee if the bullet''s destructive power was enough to affect an Ocean-tier or higher-tier Cursemaster


    Her attention flicked momentarily, using the status screen to check on Emi.


    [ ¡ªStatus Screen¡ª


    Dame Wasp:


    Emi, you alright?


    Emi: Yes, senpai. Please save the video so I can view it later.


    Dame Wasp: Okay.]


    As the seconds ticked by, Dame Wasp and Ace simultaneously monitored the bullet''s path. The feed showed the Cursemaster standing with his back to the incoming projectile, his black robe billowing as he faced the chaotic twister within the barrier. Oblivious to the danger heading his way.


    Then, something remarkable occurred. Just as the mischief bullet closed in, its unique effect ''mischief'' activated. For a brief moment, the Cursemaster lost control over his curse energy¡ªa split-second lapse that left him vulnerable. The speeding bullet struck squarely in the center of his back, punching a brutal .52-caliber hole through his body. Blood sprayed violently as it exited through his chest and continued its unrelenting path forward, disappearing into the night.


    The wounded Cursemaster plummeted toward the ground under the effect of the Earth''s gravity, his robes flaring in the wind as blood streamed from the gaping wound in his chest. His body didn''t dissipate leaving behind his curse tool. Showing that he wasn''t dead yet, the bullet gravely wounded him but failed to kill him. However, with one of the barrier''s pillars fallen, the hexagonal prism barrier began to waver, two of its walls disintegrating into faint particles of energy.


    As the barrier restraining her dissolved, Delories, who had been lurking in anticipation, made her move. She had been patiently waiting for the precise moment when the twelve Sky-tier Cursemaster would attempt to transform the Sky Prism array into a teleportation array, planning to teleport her with them into their territory, so she could break free during the quarter of a second gap between the switch. The sudden twist in events shocked her, but her instincts were sharp, and she acted without hesitation.


    A roaring wind marked her departure as she surged toward the defenselessly falling Cursemaster. Her speed was blinding¡ªshe caught up with him in less than a fraction of a second. In one fluid, brutal motion, her clawed hands tore through flesh and bone, ripping his head from his body. A spray of blood splattered into the air, shimmering briefly before dissipating.


    Delories didn''t pause. Her fingers plunged into the lifeless body, extracting the glowing curse tool buried within. With her prize secured, she retreated at a speed so immense it seemed as if she had vanished into thin air.


    Dame Wasp and Ace could barely comprehend what had just happened. Their reactions were delayed, their eyes wide with disbelief. If not for Dame Wasp''s quick thinking in replaying the recorded video in slow motion, neither she nor Ace would have even noticed Delories'' rapid intervention.  S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [¡ªStatus Screen¡ª


    Dame Wasp: Master, recall us, hurry!


    Emi: Recall us, master!]


    Both Dame Wasp and Emi urgently informed their master, sensing an intimidating gaze upon them. Overwhelmed by the pressure from the mere gaze that they did not even attempt to locate its source; they simply signaled their master to recall them planning to escape it as soon as possible.

 Chapter 138: Unknown Curse Master

    Chapter 138: Unknown Curse MasterAppearing in Janice''s villa, Crimson Eyes immediately sensed the space within it was blocked by a curse art or tool. What''s more, it severed the villa''s interior from the disturbances of the outside world. As a result, he remained oblivious to the fact that Delories was trapped in a Sky-Prism array half a mile above the villa.


    Standing in nothing but a small white towel, Crimson Eyes massaged face cream onto his skin with slow, deliberate movements, his crimson irises glowing faintly under the villa''s dim lights. His gaze flickered between the two female Cursemasters before him. He analyzed them silently, to determine which of the two possessed the space-type curse tool or art.


    Godiva''s sharp voice broke through the quiet as she barked commands at Claudia, preparing what appeared to be a teleportation-type curse tool. Crimson Eyes'' lips curved into a faint, humorless smirk determining her as the leader and narrowed his eyes on her assuming Godiva to be the one blocking the space of villa''s interior from the outside world.


    With a single thought, he activated his curse arts aiming at the two Cursemasters, restraining them both, though he focused more on Godiva, who seemed intent on escaping through teleportation.


    But Crimson Eyes had gravely miscalculated. The other Cursemaster¡ªsilent and composed¡ªwas the true wielder of the space-type curse tool. She moved with an almost eerie speed, she shattered his restraints with a flicker of power. Before Crimson Eyes could react, she retaliated, binding him with her Cloak curse tool and teleporting the two of them out of the villa, far from Godiva.


    Crimson Eyes wasn''t one to go down without a fight. Mid-teleportation, he activated his own innate curse tool, its crimson glow slicing through the space field with sheer force. The teleportation shattered, leaving the two of them stranded roughly 32 to 33 miles north of their original location.


    As the space around him stabilized, Crimson Eyes inhaled sharply. For the first time, he took in the chaos unfolding outside the villa. His glowing eyes darted toward the horizon, locking onto his sister''s resort. Hovering above it, a Sky-Prism array hung ominously in the air, radiating power. His brows furrowed, and a spark of fury flashed across his face.


    Focusing his gaze on the array, he could just make out Delories, her figure trapped within the hexagonal prism barrier. In each of its corners, twelve Sky-tier Cursemasters worked in unison, their curse energy humming ominously as they prepared to transform the Sky-Prism into a teleportation array. Their intent was clear¡ªthey were planning to teleport Delories and themselves out of the country.


    Crimson Eyes clenched his fists, cursed energy swirling around him like a storm as he stepped into the air, the space beneath his feet rippling with his power. Just as he prepared to intervene, his path was blocked.


    The middle-aged Cursemaster, shrouded in shadow like cloak, materialized before him, her presence oppressive and unwavering. Claudia''s voice was desprate, almost prepared to die as she declared, "You are not going anywhere, Crimson Eyes."


    Crimson Eyes'' jaw tightened, his glowing eyes narrowing as he locked onto Claudia. His voice was low but laced with menace as he spoke. "As if you can stop me." The blood-red hue of his irises deepened, a tangible aura of malice radiating from him as he prepared to strike, his cursed energy coiling around him like a living force.


    Claudia who was prepared to die didn''t falter, her own curse energy flaring in defiance.


    But before Crimson Eyes could make his move, both he and Claudia froze in shock. One of the Cursemasters responsible for the Sky-Prism array had fallen. The sharp hum of the hexagonal barrier began to wane as two sides of the prism flickered and vanished. High above, Delories seized the opportunity. With the swiftness of a predator, she tore through the air toward the falling Cursemaster. In one brutal motion, she ended his life, her movements a blur of violence, and claimed his curse tool before vanishing into the stormy sky.


    Crimson Eyes, poised to attack Claudia, was facing toward Treasure lake from beginning so his glowing eyes caught the events unfolding above the resort. His enhanced vision allowed him to clearly witness what had transpired as such the projectile that struck the Cursemaster caught his attention.


    Curiosity replacing his anger, Crimson Eyes extended his senses, following the residual energy trail left by the projectile. He traced its source to two peculiar curse energy signatures that were being constantly erased. His gaze flickered as he tried to discern who¡ªor what¡ªthey belonged to, but the signatures vanished, leaving behind no trace.


    Claudia, seizing the distraction, activated her curse art. A faint ripple of energy surrounded her cloak as she teleported away. Crimson Eyes'' head snapped back toward her position, but it was too late¡ªshe had already reached her comrades. From there, she swiftly teleported them all back to Countess Godiva Wulfric''s territory.


    Though they had the advantage in numbers, Claudia and her team had made a calculated decision to retreat. Staying to capture either Sky Slayer or Crimson Eyes would be risky, as both the McSuile family Cursemasters and the C.I.B. were undoubtedly already on their way.


    With the enemy gone, Crimson Eyes wasted no time. His oppressive curse energy surged as he propelled himself toward the source of the projectile. He did not restaint his energy because he was signaling the unknown cursemater to show himself. Delories, sensing his unmistakable curse energy signature, quickly joined him at the location. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two exchanged no words, their unspoken coordination honed over countless battles. With a shared understanding, they began scouring the area for any sign of the unknown Cursemaster who had intervened. The search brought them to the rooftop above the local school gymnasium. From their vantage point, they saw that the building was being used as a shelter for locals escaping the storm.


    Crimson Eyes'' sharp gaze swept across the gymnasium, his energy coiling around his irises as he scanned it searching for the unknown cursemaster. Delories remained alert, her feets ground on her innate curse tool. Just then she noticed Crimson Eyes'' breathing grow irregular as he withdrew his oppressive energy. Curious, she asked, "What is it, youngmaster? Did you find something?"

 Chapter 139: The Missing Purse

    Chapter 139: The Missing Purse[ ¡ªStatus Screen¡ª


    Dame Wasp: Master, recall us, hurry!


    Emi: Recall us, Master!


    Ace: Recall.


    Ace: Guys, what happened?


    Dame Wasp: We got made.


    Emi: We felt a very oppressive gaze on us. It must belong to a very strong curse master¡ªthey must have tracked us by following the mischief bullet''s trajectory.


    Dame Wasp:


    Master, stop using curse energy and hide in the crowd. They might come searching for us.


    Ace: Let''s continue this later.]


    With Dame Wasp''s urgent warning, Ace stopped channeling curse energy, allowing the curse concealment art''s passive effect to take hold. He had planned to recall them the moment the bullet hit its target. However, witnessing the shocking display of Delores'' might had left him frozen, speechless for just a moment¡ªand that was all it took. They''d been compromised.


    Now, Ace could only hope the passive concealment would be enough to shield them through the night.


    "Ace, the storm has passed," Danny informed, finally summoning the courage to approach his cousin after lingering anxiously with the adults.


    "Great. I need to check on Polaris Ranger. Hopefully, it''s still there and intact," Ace quipped, feigning nonchalance while glancing at the crowd bottlenecked at the exits. School guards and police officers were removing the barricades blocking the exit and were steadily organizing the evacuation, their stern voices cutting through the agitated murmurs of the mob.


    But just as Ace took a step forward, a shrill, piercing scream froze the gymnasium in its tracks. Conversations died mid-sentence, and all heads turned toward the source: a golden-haired, slender beauty standing near the bleachers¡ªBrooke Rockworth.


    "My purse is missing!" she cried, her voice trembling with outrage. Her wide, tear-filled eyes darted toward her father. "Daddy, I can''t find my purse!"


    Breaking into sobs, she wailed, "Someone stole my LV purse! Daddy!"


    "Brooke, have you lost your damn mind?!" Mr. Rockworth bellowed, his voice brimming with frustration. His face, already red from stress, grew darker. "It has to be here somewhere! Think, Brooke¡ªwhere did you leave it last?"


    He was yelling not because of the missing purse, but because of the chaotic scene she had caused. Hearing her scream, he had assumed something far more dire had happened. But no¡ªit was a purse.


    Turning to the uneasy crowd, he raised his hands in apology. "I''m sorry for the trouble, everyone. Please carry on."


    He desperately wanted to avoid angering the edgy crowd any further. But Brooke wasn''t finished.


    "Daddy, I searched everywhere!" she exclaimed, her voice cracking with desperation. "It''s really gone! And it had the gold bar you lent me!"


    The mention of a gold bar sent an audible ripple of gasps through the crowd. Mr. Rockworth''s expression shifted instantly. Panic overtook him as he spun toward the exits. "Don''t open those doors yet!" he roared, sprinting toward the officers. "Nobody leaves until my daughter finds her purse!"


    The tension in the gym spiked. Conversations erupted in hushed whispers, spreading like wildfire. The police and guards stationed at the exits hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances. After all, Mr. Rockworth was a highly influential figure in the community.


    But the senior officer in charge remained calm. Raising a hand to signal his men, he instructed them to proceed with the evacuation as planned.


    Approaching Mr. Rockworth with a composed demeanor, he said firmly, "Sir, we cannot detain everyone here over a missing purse, even if it has a gold bar as you claim. The law doesn''t work that way. Everyone here has their rights in this great country."


    Mr. Rockworth opened his mouth to argue, but the officer continued without missing a beat. "However," he added, "I can station officers at each exit to check everyone leaving the gymnasium. We will need your family''s assistance. There are three exits in this building. I want one of your family members at each exit to help identify your daughter''s bag. Does that sound reasonable to you?"


    "Yes, yes! Let''s do that. Thank you, Officer Loren. Thank you!" Mr. Rockworth said, his relief evident as his shoulders sagged. His voice softened with gratitude. Talking with officer helped him calm down and think clearly.


    ¡­


    "Mom, what the heck is in this bag? It''s heavy!" Danny huffed, his arms trembling as he struggled to lift a bulky duffle bag off the floor. His face scrunched with effort, and he shot a baffled look at his mother. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Pam barely glanced up as she adjusted her scarf in front of a nearby mirror. "Just a few items Mommy won in the silent auction and our purses," she replied with an air of nonchalance. She waved a hand toward the thinning crowd near the exits, signaling the family to move along.


    Danny staggered forward, nearly losing his balance. "This is not just a few items," he muttered under his breath.


    "Here, let me carry it," Ace said, stepping over quickly and taking the bag before Danny dropped it. He adjusted his grip as the weight settled in his hands¡ªthis thing was at least 60 to 70 pounds explaining why his cousin struggled.


    The Landers made their way to the exit. Just as they left the exit doors, a sharp voice called out, stopping Ace in his tracks. "Son, what''s in the bag?"


    Ace froze, turning slowly to face a stern-looking police officer. The man''s gaze was piercing, his hand hovering near the radio on his belt.


    "Problem, Lan?" Dan asked, positioning himself between Ace and the officer. His tone was calm, but his eyes locked onto the officer''s with a silent challenge.


    "Dan, I''m just doing my job," Officer Loren replied with measured calm. "But without your permission, I can''t open the bag. So, do I have it?" His voice was polite but firm, carrying the respect of an old bond. Lan Loren and Daniel Lander had served together in the army, so he extented a professional courtesy.


    "I understand," Dan said with a curt nod, but his eyes flicked toward Brooke Rockworth, who was glaring at the duffle bag with sharp intensity. Ignoring her, Dan turned to Ace and commanded, "Open the bag." Had it been Mr. or Mrs. Rockworth, the scene might have played out very differently.


    Ace set the duffle bag on the ground, his movements deliberate, and unzipped it. He stepped back, his expression neutral and his muscles relaxed. Officer Loren crouched and began sifting through the contents, pulling out items one by one.


    "That''s my purse! That''s it!" Brooke shrieked, her voice slicing through the air like a knife. She pointed furiously at a Louis Vuitton handbag nestled inside the duffle bag.


    The evacuation ground to an immediate halt. Heads turned, and the crowd¡ªmomentarily distracted from their exodus¡ªpivoted to gawk at the unfolding drama surrounding the Lander family.


    "Ma''am, settle down," Lan Loren said, his tone sharp but professional, though his furrowed brow betrayed his unease. "Others can own the same model handbag." He knew Brooke''s claim was unlikely to pan out, but he had to maintain procedure.


    Officer Loren reached into the duffle bag and pulled out the handbag. To his surprise, it was heavy. Suspiciously heavy.

 Chapter 140: The Missing Person

    Chapter 140: The Missing Person"That''s not one of our handbags. How did it get in there?" Pam suddenly exclaimed seeing the unfamiliar LV handbag in their duffle bag, her face pale with confusion.


    Ignoring her comment for the moment, Loren unzipped the bag. His jaw tightened when he found the contents¡ªa gold bar. He picked it up, weighing it in his hand¡ª44 pounds, his gaze flickering in disbelief between Dan and Ace.


    ''This has to be a mistake,'' were his first thoughts. Yet, personal feelings aside, he had a job to do. Securing the gold bar back into the handbag, Loren stood up, his expression grim.


    "Sir, step back," he instructed Dan as he began reciting Ace''s Miranda rights. He raised a hand to signal a fellow officer to take Ace into custody.


    But Dan wasn''t having it. Moving swiftly, he stepped in front of the other officer, his stance unwavering. "Lan, there has to be some misunderstanding here," he said, his voice steady but laced with urgency. "You heard my wife¡ªwe have no idea how that handbag got in there." Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Pam nodded, visibly shaken, clutching her arms as if to anchor herself. "We don''t own it. Someone must have planted it!"


    Mary and Alwin hurried to her son''s side, saying, "Yes, our son doesn''t have any relation with that. He is innocent." The Lander family came together to defend Ace but none was make a good case. Faces flushed, hands fidgeting, breaths shallow¡ªnone of them could fully process what was happening but they just wanted to save Ace.


    The crowd, emboldened by the unfolding spectacle, began murmuring louder, their whispers weaving a web of suspicion and judgment.


    Brooke''s voice shattered the growing hum. "Arrest them all!" she screeched, her face contorted with anger and self-righteousness. "They''re all in on it! A family of thieves!"


    Her harsh words ignited the crowd, which erupted in a chorus of gasps and muttered accusations. Fingers began to point. Eyes glared. The atmosphere grew thick with tension.


    "Ma''am, I know how to do my job. Please, step aside," Officer Loren warned, his tone firm and unyielding as he caught Brooke making a move toward the handbag.


    Seeing her outstretched hand, Loren swiftly pulled the bag away from her reach. "Ma''am, this is evidence now. You can collect it at the station when this is settled. If I were you, I''d be calling your parents right now."


    Brooke''s face flushed crimson with indignation, but the officer''s calm authority left her momentarily speechless. Then, as if spurred on by his reminder, she whipped out her phone with exaggerated urgency and dialed her father.


    "I found it, Daddy!" she exclaimed, loud enough for not just the officer but the entire crowd to hear. She turned deliberately, ensuring her words carried to everyone. "They stole it! The Landers stole my handbag!"


    Her voice rang out like an accusation from a judge''s bench, echoing through the already tense atmosphere. Every passing glance and murmured conversation stopped. The crowd began to stir with growing agitation, and it was unmistakable that Brooke was enjoying the attention, her dramatic gestures fueling the crowd''s curiosity and judgment.


    Officer Loren''s jaw tightened, his patience visibly fraying. Letting out an exaggerated sigh, he rubbed his temple briefly before turning to his fellow officer. With just a sharp glance, he conveyed instructions. The second officer, understanding immediately, reached for his radio and began updating the rest of the team about the escalating situation.


    Meanwhile, Loren turned back to Dan, his expression serious but calm. "Dan," he said, his voice lowering to a tone meant to soothe but still holding authority, "step aside. Don''t escalate this. We have to follow proper protocol. If your nephew is innocent, you have nothing to worry about."


    Dan''s fists clenched at his sides, the veins in his neck tightening. His eyes darted between Loren and the crowd, where whispers were quickly evolving into pointed accusations. Mary and Alwin held each end of their son''s shoulders tightly, their lips trembling as they tried to comprehend what was happening.


    Ace stood, his jaw tight and fists clenched, glaring at Brooke, who now seemed emboldened by the growing support of the crowd. Her chin lifted slightly, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips as murmurs of agreement rippled through the onlookers. Ace''s chest rose and fell with slow, measured breaths as he weighed the situation. He knew the circumstances weren''t in his family''s favor¡ªsomeone had to take the fall. His gaze softened for just a moment, a flicker of resolve passing through his eyes. If someone had to shoulder the blame, it would be him. Better him than anyone else in his family.


    Loren held Dan''s gaze, his calm exterior masking the weight of the decision pressing down on him. He didn''t want this to escalate further, but the procedure was clear. The crowd, however, seemed eager for more drama, their eyes darting between the Landers and the officers as though waiting for someone to snap.


    Just then, a man broke through the murmuring crowd, his face pale and contorted with panic. "Lan! Someone took Lola! My baby girl¡ªshe was taken!" he cried, rushing toward Officer Loren.


    "Luke, calm down!" Loren said sharply, gripping his brother''s shoulders to steady him. His voice softened slightly, though urgency tinged every word. "Tell me what happened, exactly. Start from the beginning."


    Luke''s chest heaved as he struggled to compose himself, tears pooling in his eyes. "I asked Lola to bring the truck around to the back of the schoolyard while Ronda and I salvaged what we could from our stall," he began, his voice shaking. "She called us to say she''d arrived, but then¡ª" His words caught in his throat, his hands trembling. "Then I heard a man''s voice. He said, ''Oh boy, I can''t believe my luck.'' The next thing I heard was Lola screaming¡ªscreaming and crying for help!"


    Luke''s voice cracked, and he briefly buried his face in his hands before forcing himself to continue. "I ran to the spot as fast as I could. All I found was her phone on the ground and the truck still running. But she¡­ she wasn''t there. Lan, he took her! That man took her!" Luke''s voice rose with desperation, his tears spilling freely. "You have to block the roads! Send the cops everywhere¡ªon every street, in every direction. Lan, Lola''s your niece! Help me find my princess!"


    Loren''s expression darkened, the weight of his brother''s plea settling heavily on his shoulders. His jaw tightened, and he turned to his fellow officer, his voice now sharp and commanding. "Put out an Amber Alert immediately. Notify the sheriff. I want every officer on this, now!" He glanced back at Luke. "Go with him and give them the most recent picture of Lola," he ordered, gesturing to the other officer. Mandy followed Luke and the officer to give them the most recent photos she took of Lola when she was with them.


    Turning back to Dan, Loren hesitated for just a moment. His gaze was heavy, filled with the conflict of duty and personal responsibility. "I''m sorry, Dan," he said gravely, his tone quieter but resolute. "Right now, I have more important things to deal with. If your nephew is innocent, I swear¡ªI will personally come to your house and apologize. But for now, forgive me."


    Before anyone could respond, Loren reached for his handcuffs, his hand hovering over them. But instead of cuffing Ace, he grabbed the boy''s wrist firmly, his grip unrelenting. Without a word, he began pulling Ace toward his duty vehicle.


    Alwin stood frozen, his lips pressed into a hard line. Mary clutched her chest, her fingers trembling, while Pam stared wide-eyed, her face pale. None of them moved to resist.


    In any other situation, Dan might have stepped in to stop Loren, and the family might have fought back. But now, a child¡ªan innocent girl¡ªwas missing. The gravity of the situation loomed over them, and their priorities shifted. Instead of resisting and wasting time, they wanted to help find Lola as the first few hours in a missing case mattered the most.

 Chapter 141: Special Agent Layla

    Chapter 141: Special Agent Layla"Layla! Laya, over here!" Ava call out, waving her hand, seeing a familiar figure in the crowd as she stood with her dad and the rest of the Martins by the parking lot while her cousins were still trying to find their cars, as cars were trying to squeeze out of the parking spaces all at once, horns were honking, and people were shouting instructions. It was a real mess. Everyone was in a bit of a scramble as the valet services could not cater to them all.


    A slender woman with short, wavy dark hair, wearing a tight black suit, walked through the crowd. She stopped in front of Ava, who had red hair tied in her signature messy pony tail. "Hey, little Martin," she said. "It''s good to see you''re okay. Mrs. Matthews sent me to check on you all."


    Before Ava could even say hello, Ava''s dad, asked the young woman in her late twenties, "Layla, what are you doing here? My wife said, now that the storm is over, everyone''s going to Treasure Lake, since that''s where the most damage is."


    "Everyone is going there, sir. However, I had some tasks to complete in town, so I came to check on you all first," Layla explained, giving Ava a brief hug. Ava looked up at her with admiration, knowing Layla was one of the secret agents who worked for her mother. Apart from Mr. Martin, no one in either the Martin or Matthews family ¨C including Ava ¨C knew the true nature of her mother''s profession. They believed she was a high-ranking officer in a confidential government agency, a subject they knew better than to inquire about.


    Layla had been Ava''s babysitter since she could remember, and the reason for Ava''s admiration was simple: Layla had become a secret agent at the remarkably young age of eighteen. Ava yearned to follow in her footsteps. However, her mother had explained that Layla''s path was unique. Layla had earned a degree from an Ivy League university at just sixteen and was subsequently recruited by her mother''s agency. There, she underwent two years of rigorous training before officially joining their ranks as a secret agent. Though gifted with strength, Ava wasn''t as bright when it came to academics so she never brought it up.


    Leaving Layla''s embrace Ava spotted another familiar figure in the crowd: Ace. He was being escorted by an officer, his family trailing behind him. The judging eyes of the surrounding crowd did not spare them as they made their way through the throng, together they endured the walk of shame as a family.


    A tremor of surprise ran through Ava. She tugged on Layla''s sleeve, her brow furrowed in question. "Why is that officer escorting Ace to his patrol car?"


    Layla followed Ava''s gaze, her expression softening slightly. A sigh escaped her lips as she began, "Have you perhaps developed an crush on yet another miscreant¡ª?" Her words trailed off as a wave of police cruisers entered the school grounds, turning the already chaotic scene more chaotic. She then noticed that there were uniformed cops methodically combing through the crowd, their gazes fixed on their mobile devices, as if engaged in a targeted search.


    "Ace? What''s he done now?" Principal Martin asked, frowning. He connected Ace''s apprehension with the sudden increase in police vigilance. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Mr. Martin, Ava, I should go see what''s happening. It looks like there''s trouble," Layla said, excusing herself. As a member of the C.I.B., it was her duty to check if the situation had anything to do with ''World of Curses.''


    But before Layla could go, Ava grabbed her wrist and urgently requested, "Help him."


    "Don''t worry, if he is innocent, he has nothing to worry about¡ª" Layla began, intending to dismiss Ava''s request, but Ava''s grip on her wrist tightened. Her wide eyes glistened with an emotion she couldn''t quite name as she pleaded, "Please, help him. He is not like the others."


    Layla glanced over at the boy, her brow furrowing as she listened to Ava''s insistence that he was different. This wasn''t the first time Ava had been smitten by a delinquent. With years of experience cleaning up after Ava''s messes, Layla knew it wouldn''t be the last. Sooner or later, the boys Ava liked always ended up fearing her.


    "Okay," Layla sighed, her voice softening as she relented. She couldn''t say no to the feisty redhead, who was like a sister to her. Patting Ava''s hand briefly for reassurance, she turned and strode toward the officer, determined to find out what was going on.


    ¡­


    Ace was grateful to Officer Lan for refraining from using handcuffs. The officer demonstrated remarkable judgment and professionalism, despite clearly dealing with his own personal crisis. However, the stares and murmurs of the surrounding crowd stung, no matter how hard Ace tried to ignore them. If he felt this overwhelmed, he could scarcely imagine how his father, mother, and the rest of his family must be feeling.


    Lola''s sudden disappearance had complicated everything. His family didn''t know how to cope¡ªthey could only try to support him while staying out of the way of the ongoing search for her.


    What surprised Ace most was Mandy''s decisiveness. She immediately followed the officer to provide Lola''s most recent photo, ensuring they had every possible tool to aid the search. Ace had no complaints about her actions. Despite being in custody himself, he wasn''t in a life-or-death situation¡ªbut Lola was. Mandy''s decision, was the only logical one.


    Turning to his family, Ace urged, his voice steady despite the chaos around them, "Dad, Uncle Dan, I''ll be fine. You guys go help with the search for Lola." His gaze lingered on their worried faces, his clenched fists the only sign of the turmoil he felt. Deep down, he knew they wouldn''t be able to find her, but on the off chance that his assumption was wrong, he wanted the two people he trusted most to look for his friend¡ªyes, he had began to consider her his friend. Since he was clearly in no position to join the search himself, this was the only thing he could do.


    Dan and Alwin exchanged glances, their jaws tightening as they prepared to argue. Before they could, the rumble of approaching vehicles stole everyone''s attention. An armada of police cars poured into the school premises, their flashing lights cutting through the tense atmosphere. They came to an abrupt stop near Officer Lan''s duty vehicle, nearly blocking the entrance.

 Chapter 142: Ms. Madison Banks

    Chapter 142: Ms. Madison BanksThe sheriff emerged out of the police vehicle in the front in a rush, his boots crunching on the gravel as he barked, "Lan! What are you doing? Why aren''t you with your family or out there searching for your niece?"


    Lan stiffened, his posture suddenly rigid as he stammered, "Sir, I was planning to head there after I secured the evidence and suspect¡ª"


    The sheriff cut him off with a sharp wave of his hand. "Ms. Banks called me and explained what''s going on. This is clearly a misunderstanding. Unhand the boy." He turned to Dan, his eyes narrowing with authority. "Dan, you''ll bring your nephew to my office first thing tomorrow morning, right?"


    Dan, still stunned, nodded quickly. "Yes, yes, I will. Thank you, Sheriff. Thank you."


    The tension visibly lifted from Dan''s shoulders, and the rest of the family''s faces brightened with relief as Officer Lan released his grip on Ace. Lan''s expression betrayed a flash of regret¡ªhe hated putting his friend and their family through such pain, but as a senior deputy, he had no authority to deviate from protocol. He sighed quietly, a resigned look on his face. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The sheriff wasted no time, already moving toward the scene. "Now that that''s settled, take me to the location of the incident. Have the officers secured the area? Are they searching the immediate vicinity? Who is leading the search party?" he asked as he and Lan strode toward the scene.


    Before they could get far, a sharp, clipped voice interrupted them. A woman in a tight suit and wavy bob-cut approached, her heels clicking briskly against the pavement.


    Ace watched her approach with narrowed eyes, a flicker of curiosity but his sight was obstructed by his family who had surrounded him. "Who is this Ms. Banks?" he asked, glancing at his family. He didn''t bother reassuring them that he hadn''t done anything wrong¡ªhe knew they trusted him. But the mystery of how Brooke''s handbag ended up in their duffle bag lingered, heavy and unresolved. The bag itself was a freebie from the Rural Revival, given to anyone who participated in the silent auction. Yet now, it seemed to have turned his family''s world upside down.


    "Our Mandy, aka Madison Banks. That''s her professional name¡ªso clients take her seriously. I guess she owes the sheriff a big favor now," Dan said, a hint of pride in his tone as he spoke about his little sister-in-law.


    Listening to him, Ace''s lips curved into an unconscious smile. It was comforting to know his aunt cared too much about him to leave him to fend for himself, no matter how dire the circumstances. However, his expression soon shifted as he heard his mother turn to Pam and ask with a questioning look. "How did that handbag get into our duffle bag? Pam, didn''t you check it when they handed it to you?"


    Pam hesitated, fidgeting with the strap of her wrist watch as guilt flickered across her face. "I did... but not that thoroughly," she admitted, glancing away. "I didn''t want to disturb how the Rural Revival staff had so neatly packed everything into the duffle bag. I''m sorry¡ªI should have been more careful." Her shoulders slumped as she looked at Mary, her voice tinged with regret. "I really am sorry. I didn''t mean for my oversight to cause all this trouble."


    Dan let out a frustrated sigh and ran a hand through his hair. "Damn it. Come on¡ªlet''s go find the Rural Revival staff and figure out what the hell is going on," he said, already turning on his heel and striding back toward the gymnasium.


    "Let us make this quick," Alwin muttered as he followed Dan, his jaw tight with urgency. "We need to join the search party as soon as possible."


    Dan nodded briskly in agreement, his pace quickening. Both men were caught between two pressing responsibilities, the weight of their choices etched into their expressions. Lola had people searching for her, so they decided to first address the crisis within their own family before joining the search for her.


    The Landers ignored the judgmental eyes of the crowd, their faces set with determination, as they pushed their way toward a member of Rural Revival. The person they found was responsible for organizing the gala dinner. From their conversation, they learned that most of the event staff were volunteers¡ªand due to the storm, many of those volunteers had bailed early. Unfortunately, the staff member who handed Pam the duffle bag was one of those volunteers.


    When they pressed for her contact information, the Rural Revival representative shook her head apologetically. "I''m sorry, but I can''t release that information without following the proper channels," she explained firmly. "That process could take weeks."


    Mary''s face paled as panic set in. She gripped the back of a nearby chair to steady herself, her voice trembling. "What do we do now?" she asked, her mind racing with dread. Just the thought of her son going to jail made her legs weak. Only she knew the silent ordeal she had endured while watching the officer drag her son toward his duty vehicle.


    At the same time, her heart held immense gratitude for Mandy, who had intervened and saved her son from facing prison¡ªwhether innocent or not. Today, Mary''s trust in Mandy had grown tenfold. If she were to catch Mandy sneaking out of Ace''s room in the middle of the night again, she wouldn''t bat an eye. The woman had earned her unwavering trust.


    Ace placed a reassuring hand on his mother''s shoulder, his tone calm and steady. "Don''t worry, Mom. The cops will figure this out and get everything straightened out. Besides," he added, his lips twitching into a faint smile, "god forbid it even goes to court, and if I get convicted, considering my age and squeaky clean record, the worst they''ll do is fine me or make me do some community service. So take it easy, okay?"


    Mary nodded weakly, though her grip on the chair remained firm. Ace turned to his father and uncle, his eyes determined. "Let''s go join the search party."


    Dan looked at him and shook his head. "Yes, we will¡ªbut not you." He reached into his pocket, pulled out his car keys, and handed them to Pam. "Pam, take the Navigator and take the kids home. Don''t wait up for us. Al and I will hitch a ride."


    Pam took the keys hesitantly, her brows furrowing. "You guys do that. I''ll find Ronda and check up on her," she said.

 Chapter 143: Foreboding

    Chapter 143: Foreboding"Uncle Dan, you and Dad don''t have to hitch a ride. Did you guys forget about the Polaris Ranger I won in the gold bar challenge?" Ace reminded, glancing at his mother and subtly signaling her to pass the keys. But then, his expression shifted as he remembered¡ªthe keys were in her purse, which was inside the duffle bag taken as evidence by the cops.


    Dan, catching the flicker of realization on Ace''s face, nodded knowingly. "I''ll talk to Lan and get the keys," he offered, his tone calm but understanding the dilemma.


    Alwin, standing nearby, interjected with a hint of worry etched into his brow. "You guys give us a call when you reach home." His voice carried a newfound edge of caution. Until today, he had thought the town was safe. Now, doubt crept in, and he couldn''t help but remind his family to stay vigilant.


    As they were about to part, Mandy approached with a purposeful stride, towing a short, wavy-haired woman dressed in a sleek black suit. "That''s my entire family¡ªthe Landers," Mandy introduced with a warm smile, gesturing to the group.


    The woman, Layla, eyed Ace with a mischievous glint as they neared. "Mandy, I think my little sister has a crush on your cousin brother," she said, her tone playful and teasing.


    Mandy''s brow arched as she quickly clarified, "I don''t have cousin brothers here. They''re both my nephews. Also, which one are you talking about?" Her voice carried a mix of amusement and puzzlement. It was a rare dynamic¡ªmost aunts would insist their nieces and nephews call them elder sisters, but Mandy, ever unconventional, openly referred to the boys as her nephews, even though they were only a few years younger than her.


    Layla shrugged nonchalantly, her gaze still fixed on Ace. "Of course, the handsome troublemaker. She has a thing for bad boys, but your nephew is the best-looking of all." Her words hung in the air, unabashedly bold, as though Ace weren''t standing right in front of her.


    Mandy moved closer to Ace and wrapped an arm tightly around his shoulders, a playful grin lighting up her face. "Yes, our Ace is the most prettiest boy in town¡ªno, the whole county. But I don''t know about the troublemaker part. He was a square and safest guy I know! Your little sister would be in good hands."


    Ace was caught off guard, both by Mandy''s exaggerated praise and by the fact that his mother, uncharacteristically, didn''t react. No sting-eyed glare, no dramatic rebuke. For a moment, he felt a strange sense of relief but also an unexpected sense of loss. He was shocked to realize he missed his mom''s fiery, protective side.


    "Sure, if you say so," Layla replied, her tone dismissive. Then, she pulled out her folding phone, frowning as she looked at the screen. "My phone has no reception. Not even a single bar," she complained, waving it in the air as though that might help.


    Ace froze when he spotted a faint wisp of curse energy emanating from her phone. His posture stiffened, but he forced himself to remain calm. The curse energy wasn''t directed at him or his family, so he didn''t react outwardly. Still, he kept a discreet eye on Layla, trying to determine if she was a curse user or simply an unlucky mortal haunted by a curseling or cursed item.


    Layla sighed and pocketed the phone. "I just remembered¡ªI need to be on a conference call. It was good meeting you, Mandy," she said quickly, turning to the Landers with a polite but hurried apology. "I''m sorry we didn''t get to properly introduce ourselves. Maybe another time." sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With that, Layla spun on her heel and left, her pace brisk and her demeanor oddly tense. From the way she had been waving her phone around to her sudden departure, Ace couldn''t shake the feeling that something was dangerously wrong. His unease deepened as Mandy chimed in casually, "That''s Layla¡ªa special agent or secret cop of sorts. Anyway, she found Luke''s daughter. Lola is safe and they''re taking the Lorens to meet her. If you guys are planning on meeting the Lorens or joining the search party, you''re already late."


    Before anyone could respond, Mary suddenly rushed forward and pulled Mandy into a tight hug. "Thank you! If not for you, our Ace would''ve had to spend the night in jail. I don''t know how I could ever repay you," she said gratefully, her voice trembling with emotion.


    The family stayed by Ace''s side the entire time, yet they were unable to offer any meaningful assistance to either Ace or Lola. However, Mandy, through her decisive actions, not only contributed to the search for Lola but also helped prevent Ace from being jailed tonight. Mary couldn''t help but find herself unconsciously comparing Lyra to Mandy.


    As Mary stepped back, still holding onto Mandy''s arms for a moment, Mandy smiled wryly and replied, "Funny you''d say that. Ace and I actually have something to tell you guys¡ª" She paused dramatically, glancing around the group. Mary and Pam froze, almost forgetting to breathe as they imagined the worst. Danny''s eyes darted to Ace, wide with suspicion, while Alwin and Dan remained stoic, their expressions unreadable.


    Then Mandy took Ace''s right hand in her left, interlacing their fingers as if drawing strength from him. Ace blinked in confusion but didn''t pull away. Mandy raised their joined hands slightly, as if they were about to share some grand revelation, and continued with a mischievous glint in her eye, "We are¡­ returning home in my car."


    There was a beat of stunned silence before Mary and Pam simultaneously let out sighs of relief, their shoulders sagging as the tension broke. Pam, however, quickly fixed Mandy with a stern glare and rebuked her, "This isn''t funny, Mandy. Believe it or not, I''ll whoop you if you don''t stop playing around."


    Ace, watching the exchange, wasn''t in the mood to react to Mandy''s antics. His mind was elsewhere, preoccupied with Layla. Learning that she was a secret cop of some sort immediately made him think of the C.I.B., which could explain the faint curse energy oozing from her phone¡ªbut it didn''t explain why she had been waving it around.


    At first glance, it had seemed like she was genuinely trying to catch a signal. However, Ace had noticed something unsettling: her hand would momentarily pause as the phone pointed toward each of his family members before moving to the next. Then, without warning, she abruptly ended the conversation and hurried off.


    The more Ace replayed the scene in his mind, the more uneasy he felt. A chill ran down his spine, and his jaw tightened. Something about her actions didn''t sit right with him. Though he hadn''t planned on using his curse energy until he was safely back home, it now seemed unavoidable. If he wanted to understand what Layla was up to, he would have to take action¡ªand soon.

 Chapter 144: Jason The Kidnapper

    Chapter 144: Jason The Kidnapper"Oh, boy, you go out of your way to do a good deed, but people still see you as a villain," Jason said, seeing his sister pretend to call the cops on him.


    "Enough with the jokes, J. Help me calm her down," Jason muttered as he stepped out of the balcony and into the living room carrying the weeping brown-haired girl in a princess carry. She clutched her plush toy tightly, burying her face into it as muffled sobs escaped her. Arriving behind the couch, Jason unceremoniously dropped her onto it without warning.


    The sudden motion caused the girl to stop crying out of shock, her tear-streaked face frozen in surprise. But soon enough, she scrambled to her feet, clutching her plush doll, and bolted toward the door. Just as her fingertips grazed the doorknob, she stopped abruptly. Jason, who should have been behind her, now stood firmly between her and the door, blocking her escape with an intimidating presence.


    Meanwhile, Janice sat on the couch, hurriedly texting Delores. A few moments later, she sighed in relief upon learning that Delores was fine and assisting the C.I.B. with the aftermath of the storm near Treasure Lake.


    Jason''s crimson eyes glinted as he glared at the girl. The glow in his irises seemed to pulsate faintly as he warned in a low, commanding tone, "You''re a crafty one, aren''t you? Return to the couch and sit down obediently."


    The brown-haired girl glared at him with defiance, her gaze briefly flicking to his half-dressed state. Reluctantly, she turned and walked back to the couch, sitting on one end with her doll still clutched in her arms. Jason smirked as he followed her with his eyes. "What were you trying to achieve by running? Haven''t you seen what I''m capable of?" he taunted.


    "Brother, stop scaring the poor girl and go put on some clothes. That towel looks like it''s about to fall!" Janice snapped, trying her best to avoid looking directly at him. Jason shook his head, and with a blur of motion, he vanished. He reappeared instantly, now fully clothed in a white pullover and dark-wash jeans, and took a seat on the opposite end of the couch.


    Janice sat between them and leaned forward slightly, her tone softening. "Lola, don''t be frightened. We won''t hurt you," she said reassuringly.


    Lola stared at Janice, wide-eyed, before asking in shock, "How do you know my name?"


    "I''m Mandy''s friend," Janice revealed, pulling out her phone and showing Lola a few pictures of herself with Mandy. "I recognized you from the Rural Revival event photos Mandy posted online."


    Lola''s mouth parted in surprise, and after a pause, she asked hesitantly, "Are you Janice Jane? Are you guys superheroes in real life too?"


    A small smile played on Janice''s lips. "In a way, yes. I promise we mean you no harm. Please trust us and be patient while I ask my brother why the heck he brought you here against your will." Her tone shifted as she turned to glare at Jason, who was busy texting on his phone.


    Lola nodded, her movements hesitant but thoughtful. From start till now, despite being brought here against her will, neither Janice nor her brother had given her the impression that her life was in any real danger. Janice''s calm demeanor and the fact that she was Mandy''s friend further eased Lola''s wariness, leading her to reluctantly grant the siblings the benefit of the doubt.


    Still, a flicker of doubt lingered in her mind. It wasn''t as if she had much choice in the matter. Instead of making things harder for herself by being uncooperative or loud, she resolved to bide her time, watching carefully and waiting for the moment when they might lower their guard.


    Feeling the weight of his sisters stare, Jason glanced up. "What? What did you say to Brittany? She blocked my number," he asked, holding up his phone with a frown.


    Janice''s patience snapped. She reached over and swiftly pressed the power button on his phone, turning the screen off. "First, tell me why you brought that poor girl here," she demanded, her voice sharp and unforgiving. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jason''s initial irritation faded as he met her serious gaze. "Can''t you see it?" he said, gesturing toward Lola. "She''s an Innate Curse Master. A strong one at that. Basically, a genius among geniuses."


    "I can see that, but that doesn''t give you the right to kidnap her," Janice snapped, her eyes narrowing as she folded her arms across her chest. "You know the C.I.B. has proper protocols for situations like this, right? Besides, her parents might be searching for her. You have to return her to where you picked her up¡ªright now!" Her voice carried urgency as she imagined the possible consequences of her brother''s rash decision.


    "Can''t do that," Jason replied, shaking his head. "I found her while trying to locate an unknown curse master. We couldn''t pinpoint them, but we found her instead. Feeling she wasn''t safe there, Delores told me to bring her with me," he explained, his tone calm but resolute.


    Jason''s crimson eyes flickered slightly as he intentionally left out his original plan. He had intended to use Lola as bait to draw out the elusive curse master. However, Delores had strongly advised against it, cautioning him about the unknown number and potential strength of the adversaries. Following the trail of the bullet Jason had sensed two or three distinct curse energy signatures at the time, but their peculiar similarity made him doubt whether he was dealing with one powerful entity or multiple weaker ones.


    Janice sighed in exasperation and leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees. "Then at the very least, you should inform the C.I.B. so they can handle the aftermath of Lola''s sudden disappearance," she said, her tone firm. "If you keep this up, you''re just going to create trouble for a lot of people."


    "Sure, I can do that," Jason said with a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of his neck. He pulled out his phone and began fiddling with it, trying to figure out whom to contact. After a moment, he snapped his fingers as if struck by a thought. "Layla is headed there on some errand for our cousin. Speaking of our ambitious cousin, I didn''t think she''d settle for being in the surveillance department. But she''s taking it surprisingly well," he remarked casually while typing out a text informing Layla about Lola and requesting her assistance in handling the situation, Janice watched him, her lips pursed.

 Chapter 145: First Kiss

    Chapter 145: First Kiss"It''s getting chilly," Danny said with a shiver, wrapping his arms around his shoulders and rubbing them for warmth.


    The cousins huddled together while their mothers explained their side of the story about the missing gold bar to their neighbors and friends. Alwin and Mandy were bringing the cars around while Dan went to get the keys to the Poloaris Ranger.


    The parking lot was chaotic, cars honking and inching forward as drivers tried to escape the gridlock. People milled about, craning their necks and squinting, attempting to locate where the valets had parked their vehicles. Adding to the confusion, police cars blocked half the school entrance, further tightening the already cramped space.


    "It''s not that cold," Ace replied dismissively, giving Danny a brief glance before turning his attention to the crowd. His gaze scanned the throng of people, searching for Layla. As he wandered a little closer to the school''s entrance, peering over heads and dodging impatient pedestrians, he suddenly felt a sharp kick to his left shin. Stumbling forward, he nearly lost his balance but managed to stay upright.


    "What the fu¡ª" he began, spinning around, his face twisted in fury. "Ava? Are you out of your mind?"


    Ava stood before him, a mischievous grin lighting up her face. Her oversized hoodie bunched slightly under her red flannel shirt as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her hands snugly tucked into the hoodie''s front pocket. She pouted dramatically, her eyebrows knitting in mock indignation.


    "Why are you shouting? It was just a little kick," she said with a teasing lilt. Then, with an exaggerated sigh, she added, "If you want, you can kick me back."


    "Don''t think I won''t," Ace shot back, stepping forward as if preparing to return the favor.


    Before he could make a move, a high-pitched voice pierced the air behind him. "Daddy! Why isn''t that thief in custody? Why is he roaming around, kicking girls?"


    The voice stopped Ace cold. His jaw tightened as recognition dawned. He didn''t need to turn around to know who it belonged to. That grating, smug tone had haunted his family, dragging their name through the mud.


    Brooke Rockworth.


    Just as Ace began to pivot toward her, Ava''s expression shifted from playful to seething. Her eyes narrowed dangerously, and in an instant, she closed the distance between herself and Brooke. With a sharp motion, Ava raised her hand and slapped Brooke across the face, the sound of the impact cutting through the surrounding noise. Brooke staggered backward, her feet fumbling for footing before she crumpled to the pavement, her head hitting the ground with a dull thud.


    The crowd froze, their murmurs silenced. Phones were hurriedly pulled out, cameras focused on Ava, who stood over the unconscious Brooke. Her voice, cold and unrelenting, cut through the tension like a blade, "Who the hell are you calling a thief? Answer me!"


    "Brooke!" Mr. Rockworth and his family rushed forward, their faces pale with panic. Dropping to their knees beside her, they frantically checked her condition, calling her name and searching for signs of consciousness.


    Meanwhile, Ace caught sight of Ava raising her leg, aiming to deliver a kick to Brooke''s unprotected stomach. His eyes widened in alarm. Without hesitating, he lunged toward her and wrapped his arms tightly around her, pinning her limbs against her body. Her struggles were fierce, but Ace held her firm, making sure she couldn''t strike either the unconscious Brooke or her distraught family.


    Ace''s mind raced. Sure, he had his own scores to settle with Brooke¡ªscores that burned like an old wound¡ªbut if Ava''s kick landed, it would likely break several of Brooke''s ribs, or worse. Ava''s fists packed over 1,000 Ibf of force, equivalent to that of a trained male boxer. Her kicks? Just as devastating, if not more so, especially with the hard soles of her Ugg boots. This wasn''t just a fight¡ªit could escalate into something life-threatening. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Brock, half-kneeling beside his twin sister, turned his furious gaze on Ava, now restrained in Ace''s embrace. His face twisted with rage as he rose to his feet, his hands curling into fists. Without a word, he charged at Ava, intent on retaliating.


    Before Ace could warn him, Ava tilted her head back to look at Ace and, with startling confidence, planted a quick kiss on his lips.


    For a moment, time seemed to stop. Ace froze, his brain scrambling to process what had just happened. This was his first kiss with a real and breathing girl with a heartbeat. Stunned, his grip on Ava loosened, and he stumbled backward, releasing her.


    Just as Brock''s fist was about to connect with her, Ava ducked with practiced precision. Moving fluidly, she struck Brock in the throat with the edge of her hand. Before he could react, she pivoted on her heel and delivered a spin kick to his chest. The force of the blow sent him flying backward, landing hard on the pavement. Brock lay there, motionless, unconscious from the sheer impact.


    "Brock!" his mother shrieked, scrambling to her son''s side. Her voice cracked as she screamed to the crowd, "Someone help! They''re killing my babies! David, what are you standing there for? Go teach that bitch a lesson!"


    Mr. Rockworth rose slowly, his towering frame drawing attention from the murmuring crowd. David was a large man, not in a soft, heavy way, but with the solid, imposing build of a lumberjack. His knuckles cracked ominously as he flexed his hands, his expression dark with intent.


    Ava, however, didn''t flinch. Her eyes gleamed with confidence as she raised her chin and gestured for him to come at her. The crowd, already murmuring among themselves, whispered louder now, their phones capturing every moment of the standoff.


    Just then, a slender figure dressed in a tight, dark suit stepped into the fray, slipping between Ava and David Rockworth. Her dark, wavy bob swayed slightly as she held up her hands in a calming gesture while shielding Ava behind her.

 Chapter 146: The Truth

    Chapter 146: The Truth"Sir, please," she began in a steady, urgent tone, her gaze locked on Mr. Rockworth. "Calm down. I understand you''re angry, and you have every right to be, but let''s not escalate this further. We can talk this out¡ªplease." She gestured subtly towards the growing crowd, their phones held high, recording every moment.


    The faint whispers and the rapid clicks of cameras seemed to break through Mr. Rockworth''s haze of rage. His eyes darted to the faces in the crowd, then back to Ava, who stood defiantly behind the young woman. Had his opponent been a big man¡ªor even just a man¡ªhe wouldn''t have cared about the crowd or their cameras. But Ava was a teenage girl, and the woman before him barely older. Regardless of his justifications, he knew the community would chastise him, erasing any goodwill he had earned through his past deeds.


    "Ace!"


    "Ava!"


    "What''s going on here?"


    Voices rang out from the edge of the scene as the families finally pushed past the crowd, their faces filled with concern and confusion.


    Before they could say more, Mr. Rockworth, still visibly simmering but now focused on his daughter, turned to address them. "You''ll be hearing from our lawyers," he said bitterly, his words clipped as he bent down to lift Brooke''s unconscious form.


    Before he could act, the young woman interjected sharply, her voice steady but commanding. "I''ll carry her. You and your wife should focus on your son." She gestured towards Brock, still lying unconscious on the pavement, his mother fussing over him.


    At that moment, the Sheriff and several officers approached, drawn by the commotion of honking cars and the crowd that had gathered. Their expressions shifted to alarm as they took in the sight of the Rockworth twins sprawled on the ground.


    "What the hell happened here?" the Sheriff demanded, his voice cutting through the murmurs of the onlookers.


    "That is what I should be asking you!" Mr. Rockworth snapped, his voice rising again as he knelt down by his daughter and rested her head on his lap. Then, pointing at Ace he demanded, "Why isn''t that thief in your custody? Instead, he''s roaming around, hitting¡ª"


    Before he could finish, Ava surged forward, her voice rising in a furious yell. "How dare you call him a thief? I swea¡ª"


    Her outburst was cut short as the young woman reacted quickly, catching Ava in a firm side hug and restraining her before she could reach Mr. Rockworth.


    "¡ªLayla, let go of me!" Ava struggled, her movements wild, but Layla''s grip was unwavering.


    Unable to break free, Ava glared over Layla''s shoulder at Mr. Rockworth, her eyes blazing with unrestrained fury. "I swear to God, call him a thief one more time and I will beat you to death and bruy you right here!"


    Layla hurriedly turned to face the Sheriff and Mr. Rockworth, still holding Ava tightly by the arm. With a forced smile and an uneasy chuckle, she explained, "Don''t take her words seriously; she just has a bad temper."


    Ava twisted in Layla''s hold, her eyes blazing as she opened her mouth to argue, but her father quickly stepped forward, his expression dark as he barked, "Ava, shut up."


    "But Dad," Ava protested, her voice rising in indignation, "they called Ace a thief! Brooke was the one who handed the Rural Revival staff her handbag to place in the duffle bag. I saw it with my own eyes! Ask that staff member¡ªor even her when she wakes up¡ªand the truth will come out."


    Ava had witnessed Brooke give her handbag to the staff but had initially dismissed it, considering it none of her business. Even when Brooke later pretended to have lost her handbag, Ava had ignored it. But everything fell into place when Layla informed her why Ace was being escorted by the cops. Realizing what was happening, instead of informing Layla or the adults she decided to directly expose the truth to Ace, hoping it would earn her some favor with him.


    However, seeing Brooke act so smug while accusing Ace of theft infront of a crowd despite her own actions enraged Ava. Fueled by righteous anger, she had acted on impulse. As her revelation sank in, the crowd collectively gasped, their murmurs swelling like a wave. The Rockworth couple''s faces turned ghostly pale, while Ace, standing nearby, clenched his fists, already regretting his earlier decision to stop Ava from kicking Brooke.


    The Sheriff, his brow furrowed and gaze stern, stepped forward and asked, "Girl, are you telling the truth? You''re making serious accusations. This isn''t something to lie about to save your friend from trouble."


    Ava squared her shoulders, her voice steady as she replied, "You can check her phone. She transferred money to the staff through it."


    "Sheriff, I will personally visit your office tomorrow morning to sort this out," Mr. Rockworth said with a measured tone, masking the tension in his voice. "But for now, I want to press charges against that girl for slander and assault. Also, help me carry my children to the infirmary."


    He glanced at Ava, his eyes narrowing slightly. Despite his outward composure, his mind was racing. The girl''s accusations rang painfully true¡ªBrooke was more than capable of such behavior, as she had pulled similar stunts in the past. But David Rockworth was nothing if not calculating. He moved swiftly, directing his anger outward and aiming to discredit the sole witness to his daughter''s crime. By charging Ava with slander and assault, he forcefully silence her.


    As for the money transfer? He had already concocted several plausible explanations for it, ranging from a misunderstanding to a legitimate transaction. And the staff? She had already shown her silence could be bought. If he played his cards right, he could sweep his daughter''s mess under the rug, just as he always did. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Sheriff''s sharp eyes studied David, his expression neutral but his thoughts churning. He knew David Rockworth too well. The man was shrewd, and even if the fault largely lay with his daughter, he would maneuver the situation to his advantage. But the Sheriff''s attention also flicked to Layla, who was still standing protectively by Ava''s side. Her closeness to the girl gave the Sheriff pause¡ªthis wasn''t a matter he could let escalate without due care.


    "David," the Sheriff said evenly, his tone firm but calm, "take your kids to the hospital first. We can discuss these matters later."


    David''s mouth tightened, his jaw flexing as though preparing to argue. But the Sheriff''s subtle signal¡ªa pointed pinch of the bridge of his nose¡ªmade David pause. He understood the unspoken message.


    With a curt nod, David relented. "I''ll do that," he said stiffly, his voice clipped. "But let''s meet first thing tomorrow morning."


    Without waiting for a response, he turned his attention back to his unconscious children while the sheriff signaled to his officers to help him move them.

 Chapter 147: Confession

    Chapter 147: Confession"Mom, tell me we aren''t letting them just walk away," Danny demanded, his voice sharp with rage. He turned to Pam, his eyes blazing with disbelief. He had never doubted Ava''s accusation against Brooke¡ªnot for a second. Having gone to school with the Rockworth twins, he already suspected that the gold bar incident was Brooke''s doing. But without evidence, his hands were tied. Now that Ava had come forward, Danny wanted to teach the twins a lesson. Yet, Ava had already handled it in her own way. All that remained was David but the cops standing nearby.


    He looked to his mother, desperation flickering in his eyes, hoping she would press charges¡ªcriminal conspiracy, slander, anything she could throw at Brooke and the Rockworths. Though Pam had once moonlighted as a model during her college years, she was still a law major.


    Pam sighed, her lips pursed as she watched the Rockworths retreat. "Settle down, honey," she said softly but firmly. "It''s better they slink away with their tails between their legs before your father gets here. I''m not getting any younger, I don''t think I have the patience to wait for your father to finish his time for homicide." Her voice was steady, but the tension in her jaw betrayed her ease.


    Danny bristled, but Pam''s words hung heavy in the air. Her eyes darted briefly toward the parking lot, a silent prayer forming in her heart that neither her husband nor her younger sister would show up right now. Dan''s temper was infamous, a wildfire waiting for a spark. Mandy''s temper, while rarer, was no less terrifying when unleashed. Pam shuddered at the thought of either of them confronting the Rockworths.


    The crowd stood in uneasy agreement. Mary, Ace, the Martins, locals, and even the officers¡ªnodded solemnly. Dan''s quick and explosive temper was no secret to anyone in town. The Rockworths had gone too far this time, and if Dan got his hands on David, no one doubted the outcome. Dan wiping the floor with David, but obviously he wouldn''t stop there and punch his ticket to the afterlife.


    Out-of-town spectators murmured and gossiped learning the truth. The drama unfolding before them was more entertaining than any telenova they watched as it was a live testament to a small town''s blood fueds being passed from one genration to another.


    "Pam, inform Ms. Banks she doesn''t need to come to my office tomorrow. I''m dropping all charges against the boy, and I apologize for any inconvenience my officers may have caused," the Sheriff stated with a formal tone. He was about to turn away when Pam quipped with a sharp smile, "Oh no, don''t trouble yourself with that. Both my husband and Mandy will be at your office first thing in the morning."


    The Sheriff froze mid-step, his shoulders stiffening as Pam''s words sank in. He glanced back at her, bitterness flickering in his expression understanding that the Landers weren''t planning to let this matter slide. Swallowing his frustration, he nodded curtly at Pam before turning to Layla. "Ma''am, please don''t worry. I''ll handle things accordingly."


    "Listen up, old man¡ªAH!" Ava interrupted, glaring daggers at the Sheriff as she rudely addressed him. Before she could finish her sentence, her father grabbed her ear and twisted it firmly. Wincing but defiant, Ava shot the Sheriff a fiery look and warned, "No funny business. I''ll be watching. If I''m not satisfied with the outcome, prepare for early retirement."


    The Sheriff''s jaw tightened as he fought to control his rising temper. His thoughts raced: ''Who is this insolent girl?'' But before he could speak, Layla stepped forward and calmly added, "If I were you, I''d take her words seriously."


    The Sheriff blinked, his expression shifting from indignation to realization. He studied Ava briefly, his gaze narrowing, before nodding at Layla with newfound caution. "I understand, ma''am," he said stiffly, then turned and hurried to his vehicle, his steps quick and deliberate as if he were escaping.


    "Ava, your mother and I raised you better than this!" Principal Martin scolded his daughter, still gripping her ear. His voice was stern, his eyes hard with disappointment. Before he could launch into the lecture forming on his lips, Ava twisted free from his grip and strode away without a word, leaving him momentarily stunned.


    The Principal shook his head, regaining his composure, and turned toward Layla, who stood nearby. Earlier, after hearing from Layla that a girl was missing, the Martins had joined the search party instead of heading home. Now that the girl was found, they were finally leaving, making it possible for this incident to happen.


    His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice. "Principal Martin, I wanted to come say hi earlier, but with the storm and everything, the timing just was not right," Mary said, her tone warm but tinged with weariness.


    "Mrs. Lander, it doesn''t matter. I could''ve reached out as well," Principal Martin replied with a polite nod. His expression softened as he asked, "By the way, how is Lyra doing?"


    Mary''s face lit up with pride. "Still pursuing her dreams," she said simply, her smile genuine despite the tense events of the day.


    ¡­


    With her hands buried in the pockets of her hoodie, Ava strolled toward Ace, her steps unhurried. As he glanced in her direction, she smirked and asked, "Hey, you. So, you still wanna kick me?"


    Ace''s brow furrowed slightly, his expression unreadable as he responded, "You kissed me. Why?"


    Even though Layla had explained the situation to him and his family, he couldn''t shake his disbelief. Ace and Ava had essentially grown up together in the same school, and the idea that she had suddenly developed a crush on him out of nowhere didn''t sit right with him.


    "Because I wanted to," Ava replied simply, a faint, teasing smile playing on her lips. It was only half the truth. The other reason was that back then, she hadn''t been able to wriggle free of his grip, and when her gaze fell on his lips, a sudden, impulsive desire had overtaken her. She kissed him because she felt like it¡ªsomething entirely her own, not part of any combat arts training. With a mischievous glint in her eye, she leaned forward slightly and added, "Why? Do you want to kiss me?" sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Nearby, Danny froze mid-step, his jaw dropping as he overheard the exchange between his cousin and the red-haired beauty. His wide-eyed shock deepened as Ace rejected her with a blunt, "No. But your sister told me you have a crush on me. Do you?"


    Ace wasn''t playing games. He had endured his fair share of prank proposals and staged love confessions chats at his old school, and he wasn''t about to fall for another. Knowing Ava''s association with those delinquents, he was wary and assumed she might be pulling a similar trick.


    "What if I was?" Ava asked, her voice quieter now, her eyes darting downward shyly. She hadn''t expected Ace to be so bold and direct, but she found she liked it. At least this way, they could skip the unnecessary drama and dive straight into the fun part.


    "If you were," Ace began, his tone measured, "I''d ask you: why now?" Seeing the confusion flicker across her face, he elaborated, "We''ve been schoolmates for almost twelve years. Why now? What changed?"


    Before answering, Ava shot a sharp glare at Danny, who quickly shut his gaping mouth. Realizing he was intruding, Danny threw the pair a knowing smile before turning on his heel. He strolled toward the adults, who were chatting while waiting for their family members to bring the car around.


    Seeing that Danny had gone far enough, Ava took a deep breath, her lips curling into a warm, gentle smile. "Earlier today, after that staff room incident, I talked to some of our old classmates. I learned that the only reason you let Mark bully and beat you around, despite being stronger than him, was because he was threatening you with your sister. That... and the fact that you''re a lot more handsome now than before," she added with a teasing lilt, "and also stronger than me."


    Ace''s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered her words. "Thanks for being honest with me," he said, his tone measured. "But let me ask you something: would you have gone out with the old me?"


    Ace''s question hung in the air, weighted with resentment. He struggled to forgive their old classmates who had known what he was going through yet did nothing to help him. Ava, had been one of them, and her being principal''s daughter yet doing nothing stung the most.


    Ava''s expression froze, her smile fading as she caught the edge in his voice. Quickly, she locked eyes with him and asked, "Are you rejecting me? I can''t believe this. This can''t be happening again." Her voice sharpened, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "Tell me, why should I go out with a loser? Would you have gone out with me if I was a fat loser? Would you have even bothered to talk to a fat, ugly version of me?"


    She stepped closer, her voice rising slightly, but not enough to draw attention. "Do you know how hard I worked to be me and look the way I do? You should know¡ªbecause you have worked very hard to look the way you do now. Tell me, why should I settle for someone who''s ignorant and too weak to even stand up for himself when I''m striving to reach higher every day? Grow up!"

 Chapter 148: Avas Resolve

    Chapter 148: Ava''s Resolve" ¡ªGrow up!"


    Ace flinched at Ava''s words but stood his ground, locking eyes with her, unwilling to back down. His voice was calm but firm as he replied, "Since you already know my answer, let''s just part ways and stay acquaintances, like in the past."


    For a moment, Ava stared at him, her fiery determination flickering with hurt. Ace held her gaze steadily, refusing to take the coward''s way out. Despite her beauty, loyalty, and the fact that she had stood up for him, too much history stood between them¡ªwounds that hadn''t fully healed and scars he couldn''t ignore.


    Besides, Ace had planned to use Dame Wasp''s help. His plan was to have her hack into the Rural Revival''s systems to track down the volunteer who handed Pam the duffle bag. From there, he would dig deeper, hacking into the electronic devices of the volunteer and the Rockworths to uncover the truth. Something didn''t add up¡ªhow could someone "misplace" an expensive handbag containing nearly 40 pounds of gold? Brooke didn''t seem like such a klutz. The entire situation reeked of suspicion, but Ace knew better than to jump to conclusions without solid evidence. So, even without Ava''s help he would have cleared his name.


    As Ace mulled over his thoughts, Ava''s simmering frustration reached its boiling point. Hearing his indifferent tone and composed demeanor, she snapped. Enraged, she shoved him hard, shouting, "You want to be friends after rejecting me and publicly humiliating me?"


    When Ace barely budged, her anger intensified. She grabbed him by the collar, her fiery gaze boring into his. "Give me back my kiss!" she yelled, pulling him closer as she leaned in to kiss him again.


    Ace remained calm, gently pressing the back of his palm against her mouth to stop her. "Ava, I''m sorry," he said softly, his tone steady but empathetic. "I know it''s not easy to confess your feelings to someone, only to learn they don''t feel the same way. But you''ll get over it soon. And if hating me helps you move on faster, that''s fine too."


    Ava''s frustration and embarrassment only grew. Unable to swat his hand away, she stepped back, her fists trembling. In her disappointment and sorrow, she lashed out, swinging her arms wildly at him. "You think you know me? You don''t!" she screamed, her voice cracking. "And don''t be delusional¡ªI never expressed any feelings to you! I would never fall for a loser like you. Loser!"


    Ace sighed, his expression softening as he took a step back. "You''re clearly distressed and hurting right now. So, I''m going to walk away," he said quietly, his tone free of judgment. He turned to leave, but Ava wasn''t done.


    Consumed by a whirlwind of emotions, she began hitting and kicking his back, her screams echoing across the clearing. "You coward! Loser!" she yelled, her strikes more fueled by pain than force.


    Layla and the adults, alarmed by the commotion, rushed over. Layla quickly pulled Ava away from Ace, who walked away with his shoulders slumping slightly as he exhaled deeply. Ava struggled against their grip, tears of frustration streaming down her face, while the crowd exchanged uneasy glances.


    Before Mary could say anything, Ace gently held her arm and led her away, his voice calm as he said, "It''s nothing, Mom. She confessed to me and I told her¡ªI''m not interested in her, and clearly, her feelings were hurt." Pam and Danny followed closely behind, their footsteps echoing in the quiet as they made their way toward the school gate. They''d had more than enough drama for one night. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As they walked, Danny look at his cousin, confusion evident in his expression. "Ace, why aren''t you interested in her? She''s freaking hot," he asked, his tone equal parts curiosity and disbelief.


    Mary and Pam perked up, their ears tuning in for Ace''s response. Both women were caught off guard when he nonchalantly replied, "Mandy''s hotter."


    Their jaws dropped, but before they could react, Ace quickly added with a mischievous grin, "I''m kidding, relax."


    "Typical men," Pam muttered, rolling her eyes. Ignoring Ace''s attempt at humor, she continued, "Ava is strong-willed and clearly fearless. You men love the idea of strong women, but when it comes to actually dating one, you can''t handle it when your masculinity is challenged. Take your uncle, for example. He would never let a woman drive him! When he got his vasectomy, he wouldn''t let me drive him home, he stubbornly drove himself home in pain, and I was terrified for our lives."


    "Mom!" Danny exclaimed, his face turning red with embarrassment.


    "What?" Pam shrugged, unfazed. "I''m just saying, even though your dad''s all about that macho ''I''m the man'' nonsense, when it comes to doing the right thing, he doesn''t hesitate. You two could learn from that. Honestly, I kind of liked that Ava girl¡ªespecially the way she stood up for you. It was cool. I bet Mandy would love her too."


    Mary nodded in agreement. "Son, she seemed like a good girl," she said softly, her gaze lingering on Ace. "She still looked like she is crying. Are you sure about this?"


    Ace stopped in his tracks, staring at his mother in shock. "Mom, are you really the same woman who raised me?" he asked incredulously, shaking his head. Ever since their family''s net worth had climbed into the tens of millions and achieved a form of financial security, he had noticed that his once-strict mother had softened considerably.


    Mary shot him a sharp glare, and Ace immediately raised his hands in defense. "I mean, there''s just too much history between us," he explained quickly. "And besides¡­" He glanced at Pam and gave her a sheepish smile. "Auntie Pam is right¡ªshe''s way too much, I can''t handle her."


    ¡­


    "He''s such a loser. Look at him! I hit him so many times, but he didn''t hit me back even once. He didn''t even get angry¡ªwhat a loser," Ava muttered, her voice trembling as she stared at Ace''s fading silhouette. She tried hard to hold back the tears streaming down her flushed cheeks, the cold night air making them sting even more. But the chill was nothing compared to the ache in her heart.


    "Yes, such a loser. Clearly, he''s not worthy of our Ava," Layla agreed with Ava knowing that was the best way to console and clam her down. Gently pulling Ava into a comforting hug. She stroked Ava''s back in slow, soothing circles. The Martins exchanged concerned glances. Principal Martin, in particular, couldn''t help but feel uneasy. His little girl was growing up too fast, and he wasn''t sure he was ready for it.


    "No, he''s not a loser," Ava sobbed, her voice muffled against Layla''s shoulder. "If he were, he would have hit me back or yelled at me. Instead, he walked away. He was so considerate, even when I called him names and hit him. Layla¡­" Her voice cracked as she looked up, tears staining Layla''s dark blazer. "Why won''t he like me?"


    Layla sighed, brushing a few strands of Ava''s hair from her damp face. "Honestly, you come off too strong," she said hesitantly, trying to tread carefully. "Maybe you should try being more girly for a change¡ª"


    Ava abruptly pulled out of Layla''s embrace, her tear-filled eyes blazing with determination. "It''s because I''m weaker than him," she declared. "If I were stronger, I could make him like me."


    "Wait, what?" Layla blinked in surprise, her brows furrowing. "How did you come to that conclusion? I don''t think it works like that¡ª"


    "It worked for my mom," Ava interrupted with a firmness that left no room for doubt. "So, it''ll work for me too."


    Layla opened her mouth to argue but stopped herself, sighing as she realized Ava wouldn''t be swayed. Principal Martin, however, shifted uncomfortably at the mention of Ava''s mother. His nephews and nieces exchanged amused glances, their lips twitching as they tried not to laugh. He resisted the urge to bury his face in his hands, thinking grimly, ''How did we get here?''


    "Hello, Mom. I want to get stronger like you," Ava said firmly, her voice carrying newfound determination. She had made up her mind and wasted no time in reaching out for help.


    On the other end of the line, EAD Matthews'' voice brightened with excitement. "I''ve been waiting for this. I thought you would never ask!" she exclaimed, barely able to hide her enthusiasm. She had always hoped to train her daughter but had held back when Ava began rebelling, accusing her of making her so strong that every boy she met was too intimidated to approach her.


    "Well, here''s the plan," Ava''s mother continued, her tone brisk yet affectionate. "Layla will be your instructor for a few days while Mommy works on finding someone to take over her current duties. Once I''ve sorted that out, I will rush home to officially begin your training." EAD Matthews could not wait to return home.


    "Great, mom!"

 Chapter 149: Womens Shelter

    Chapter 149: Women''s Shelter"You guys go ahead. I''ll check up on the girls." As Ace slipped into the passenger seat, Mandy turned to Pam and informed with a casual but decisive tone. Mandy was the first to return, while the other two were still off fetching their car and UTV. Turns out she was right to park her own car.


    Her foot hovered just an inch above the gas pedal as she turned to Ace''s mother, locking eyes with her. "Mary, don''t worry," Mandy said firmly. "I''ll make sure they pay for what they put Ace through."


    Mary''s eyebrows shot up. "No, you don¡ª" she began, trying to explain she was perfectly fine with just clearing up the misunderstanding and didn''t want things to escalate.


    But before Mary could finish, Mandy pressed the gas pedal, her jaw set in determination as the car sped away. She didn''t bother to hear Mary''s protest as she had already made up her mind.


    Mary glanced at Pam, her voice laced with concern. "Who are these girls Mandy mentioned? And is it really fine to go there at this hour?" Although she trusted Mandy now more than ever, she was still a mother, after all. And after seeing women shamelessly fawning over her son, she couldn''t help but feel a little protective.


    Pam chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Relax, Mary. Mandy''s got a rental building in town. She repurposed it into a women''s shelter¡ªa safe house for troubled women from our town and the surrounding communities. It''s mostly widows, single moms with young kids, orphaned girls who are too old for the system but too young to be on their own, and, well, those rebellious teens who end up pregnant and get disowned by their families."


    Mary''s expression softened, though the worry didn''t completely leave her eyes.


    Pam continued, a hint of pride in her voice. "The women there manage the place themselves most of the time, so it doesn''t take much of Mandy''s attention. I''m guessing, with the storm passing, she just wants to check in on them."


    "That''s amazing! How come I''ve never heard about it until now?" Mary''s eyes widened in awe. "No wonder people in town respect her so much. To think I called such an incredible child those horrible names¡­" Her voice trailed off, and she shook her head in regret. "I feel so ashamed now. Instead of donating to the ruler revival, we could have given to her shelter," she lamented, her face clouded as she recalled the terrible things she''d said about Mandy that night at the resort.


    Mary, who once thought her son was too good for Mandy, now found herself wondering if Ace was even worthy of someone like her. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Pam smiled softly, placing a reassuring hand on Mary''s arm. "Well, that''s just Mandy. She doesn''t like us talking about the shelter, and she doesn''t take donations either. She funds it completely on her own. Mandy believes donations come with strings attached, and she''s adamant about keeping her work independent. Besides," Pam added with a chuckle, "she likes to say her girls don''t need anyone''s charity. They''re strong enough to stand on their own¡ªand she''s proven it, time and time again."


    Mary nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful.


    Pam continued, her tone laced with pride. "Over the past few years, she''s helped so many women turn their lives around. Mandy gives them a home, three meals a day, and the chance to rebuild. And they do. A lot of them have managed to save enough money, buy a small house or land, and move out of the shelter with their dignity and pride intact.


    "A few of them, together, opened a small bakery. It''s very famous in the county. At first, town folks went there to support a local business, but now they need to reserve days ahead to get a bite of one of their famous pies. But they always have enough for Mandy. Now that you have moved here, you will hear about their famous pies sooner or later."


    "Great mom, now I am craving their pumpkin pie," Danny grumbled, his stomach rumbling in agreement as a picture of their pies flashed through his mind.


    ¡­


    "Mrs. McGee, you and the others don''t need to adjust like this. Day or night, just call me. I''ll arrange for someone to come help¡ª" Mandy''s voice was firm as she stressed her point to the matron.


    Before she could finish, Ace cut in, his tone steady and reassuring. "Ma''am, if you''d rather not disturb my aunt, here''s my number. I''ll personally come and fix it if anything stops working." He handed over his number with a small, earnest smile.


    Mandy and Ace had arrived at her women''s shelter to find the lights had gone out during the storm¡ªand hadn''t returned, even though the rest of the town''s power had been restored. It was late, and the storm had left the roads slick and the air frigid. The matron had tried to find someone to fix the problem, even offering to pay extra, but no one was willing to come until morning.


    Not wanting to burden Mandy, the women at the shelter had resigned themselves to a chilly, uncomfortable night without lights or space heaters to keep them warm. Thankfully, Mandy and Ace arrived just in time.


    With Dame Wasp''s help, Ace managed to get the lights back on. After ensuring everything else was in order, they were preparing to leave. But concerned Mandy couldn''t resist lecturing Mrs. McGee not to hide things like these from her because they were worried about burdening her


    The matron, a kind-faced woman in her late fifties, sighed softly before nodding. "Alright, son. I''ll do that," she said, taking Ace''s number with a grateful smile.


    Ace''s enthusiasm in helping was because he felt guilty. The power surge across town had been caused by him using the Rail Rifle earlier, and the thought of pregnant women, toddlers, and young kids shivering through the night weighed heavily on his mind.


    Just then, the soft hum of a car engine drew their attention. A sleek, silver birch Aston Martin DB5 pulled up to the curb in front of the women''s shelter, its polished exterior glinting under the dim streetlights.


    The trio instinctively turned toward the car, their curiosity piqued. When the headlights dimmed, Ace saw Layla step out with her usual confident stride. She glanced at them, her eyebrows lifting slightly in surprise.


    "Hi," she greeted, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "What a surprise. What are you guys doing here?"


    "Ms. Banks runs this women''s shelter," Mrs. McGee said proudly, her chest puffing slightly as she spoke. It was clear she took great pride in working under such a remarkable individual. Ignoring Mandy''s sharp glare, the matron turned to the newcomer with a welcoming smile.


    "Hello, I''m the matron of the shelter. You can call me Mrs. McGee. How may I help you?" she asked, her tone warm and inviting.


    "I was wondering if you have an extra bed for me to stay for a few nights?" Layla asked sincerely, her eyes earnest and her smile gentle. "Don''t worry, I''ll clean up after myself. I''m also happy to volunteer and help with anything you need."


    Though the Martins had graciously offered her a place to stay, Layla wanted to check the local women''s shelter for herself while trying to find the curse master her friend had sent her to track down in this town. As a C.I.B. agent, she had witnessed firsthand the horrifying things some curse masters did to local shelters for women and kids. With the Crimson Eye''s report, she was certain there was a curse master hiding in this town. She needed to locate them and ensure they couldn''t harm anyone.


    "No," Mandy said abruptly, her voice laced with alarm. She glanced at Layla''s polished Aston Martin DB5 parked nearby and gestured toward it. "You''re way too eye-catching. Just follow me¡ªyou can stay at my place as long as you need."


    "Yes, honey, Ms. Bank''s right," Mrs. McGee chimed in, nodding in agreement. A women''s shelter was a mark for ruffians and junkies around town as it was, they didn''t need extra attention. Especially one easily worth a few millions.


    Layla opened her mouth to decline Mandy''s offer, but recalled that the curse master she was tracking had been spotted in Mandy''s nephew''s car. She believed staying at Mandy''s place could give her a chance to dig deeper making it worth the trouble.


    Reluctantly, she nodded. "But just for tonight. And only if I can come stay at the shelter after I ditch the car." Seeing Mandy nod, she thanked, "Then, thank you, Ms. Banks. I appreciate it."


    When Ace was done admiring the classic DB5''s beauty and was taken aback by the development. Because he was planning on finding Layla tonight after everyone was asleep but she somehow managed to bunk with Mandy. Was it a coincidence or conspiracy, he would find out tonight.


    "Ms. Banks, don''t worry about us; this won''t ever happen again. Be careful on the road."


    "You guys go ahead. I will trail behind your Stingray."

 Chapter 150: Second Chances

    Chapter 150: Second Chances"I didn''t know you were handy with tools," Mandy said, glancing at Ace as she drove to their estate. Layla''s sleek DB5 followed closely behind.


    Ace chuckled, leaning back in his seat, replying , "I do okay, but I had no idea you were a philanthropist."


    Mandy smirked and brushed off the compliment, "I''m not. They''re just taking care of my rental building, and I pay them back with food and whatever daily necessities they need. The only reason I call it a women''s shelter is because¡ªlet''s be honest¡ªa huge tax write-off." She waved a hand dismissively, clearly trying to downplay her efforts.


    "Hey, don''t do that." Ace shook his head firmly, a grin tugging at his lips. "I''m prouder to be your nephew now than ever. What you''re doing here is amazing. If you ever need my help, just say the word."


    Ace had visited the shelter earlier, and it didn''t feel like one at all. It felt more like a small, thriving commune. While Dame Wasp worked on the buildings main circuit, Ace had also asked Dame Wasp to check the Matron''s electronic devices. The findings had stunned him. Mandy wasn''t just the lone benefactor of the shelter; the women living there were using the total freedom she gave them responsibly.


    Mrs. McGee, the Matron, kept detailed logs of every penny spent¡ªno discrepancies, no frivolous spending. It was meticulous, almost too good to be true. Ace couldn''t help but marvel at how everything Mandy touched seemed to thrive. It was as if a higher power was watching over her. Was it luck? Or did the people around her somehow become luckier just by knowing her?


    "I will hold you up to it," Mandy nodded as she stirred the steering wheel to take a sharp left and asked, "So, tell me why you don''t want to start an orchard bed and breakfast?"


    "Does it matter? Uncle Dan seems to have decided, and soon my dad will cave to your combined pressure and bury my single vote with a landslide," Ace said, though he was already scheming how to discourage his family from pursuing the orchard bed and breakfast idea.


    "I know you don''t believe that," Mandy eyed Ace skeptically, but seeing that he did, she elaborated. "Oh, dear Acey~, I can''t believe you got played by your father and Dan. I know my brother-in-law better¡ªhe''d rather lose a hand than let tourists walk all over his property like they own it. Those two were playing the fool and fool''s advocate so they don''t have to sleep on their couches tonight. They plan to show their wives they''re on board with the plan but will then do the worst things one could possibly do when starting a new venture. Like, for example, leaking their idea to their rivals, the Rockworth for example, so they would open a orchard B&B before them out of spit. They''ll keep it up until Pam and Mary decide opening an orchard bed and breakfast was their worst idea yet and back off."


    "If you saw through their act, why didn''t you call them out?" Ace''s brows furrowed in surprise. He hadn''t thought his dad and uncle could be so crafty, but what concerned him more was why Mandy had let it slide. After all, he was certain it was Mandy who had instigated his mother and Pam to consider running an orchard B&B to make use of all their free time.


    "Because what Alwin and Dan think doesn''t matter since Pam and Mary will be running the orchard B&B," Mandy replied, her tone calm yet resolute. "I would have advised them to get started on it, but there''s one problem¡ªsurprisingly, it''s you. Why don''t you want them to start a orchard B&B?" Mandy circled back to her question, hoping to get an answer from Ace this time. But seeing his hesitation, she continued, her gaze softening. "It''s fine if you don''t want to answer me, but let me tell you why I''m rooting for them to start the orchard B&B. Then you decide whose reason should take priority. Whatever you decide, I''ll follow it."


    Ace nodded thoughtfully. He could come up with numerous reasons why he was against the orchard B&B idea, but he didn''t want to lie to Mandy. Not to mention, he didn''t need to¡ªshe was being so reasonable.


    "The women and girls you saw back in the shelter, a lot of them are depending on this town," Mandy began, her voice steady yet earnest. "But unfortunately, it doesn''t have enough jobs for everyone. Only during the harvest season do they have abundant work, but the rest of the time, they can''t find jobs even if they''re willing to work for less. So during harvest, they work long hours in the fields to save for winter when there are less jobs, ignoring their health, and end up paying more than they earn in hospital bills¡­" She trailed off, her gaze flickering as if recalling something tragic. Then, drawing a steadying breath, she continued, "I know starting an orchard B&B isn''t the solution, but it can be a start. You know, despite the odds, some of the smarter ones have saved enough and started small businesses like bakeries, tailor shops, and salons in the surrounding communities. They''ve gone independent."


    Mandy paused, glancing at Ace from the corner of her eye. He appeared lost in deep thought, his brows slightly furrowed. Sensing he still wasn''t convinced, she added softly, "Do you know the idea behind me opening the women''s shelter? It''s about giving second chances to those who can''t afford one. I could do a lot more for them personally and through my connections, but I rarely visit the shelter. Mostly because I don''t want them to feel burdened or like they owe me something. Also, I want to give them full freedom to utilize the facilities and funds as they see fit. After all, none of it would matter if they can''t grow to take care of themselves."


    After a long moment of reflection, Ace finally nodded, his gaze meeting Mandy''s. Agreeing with her, he said, "Your heart is in the right place, but you''re going about this all wrong."


    "What do you mean?" Mandy asked, her brow furrowing as she slowed the car, wanting to focus on what Ace had to say.


    "An orchard B&B is a hospitality business¡ªmore specifically, an accommodation business," Ace explained, leaning back comfortably in his seat. "It''s hard for such a business to flourish, let alone expand, especially in a rural area. How many people can you employ with an orchard B&B? Two dozen? Let''s be generous and say 50. But what will you do when more women hear about your amazing women''s shelter and come seeking refuge?"


    Mandy frowned, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. "Didn''t I already say it''s just a start?" she argued, wondering if anything she''d said earlier had actually registered with him. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What I''m saying is your start is wrong," Ace replied, sitting up slightly, his tone confident. "Instead of starting an orchard B&B, you should think about starting something in the production sector. Knowing you, you''ll find a way to make it a success. That way, it can keep expanding, creating more jobs¡ª"


    Mandy cut him off midway, her voice sharp but tinged with frustration. "You don''t think I know that? You''re forgetting that most of these women don''t have any skills other than doing household chores some don''t even know that. Let''s say I can train them to master the required skills. Even starting a small production-based business would require a lot of preparation¡ªmaterials, suppliers, distributors, and so on. Let''s say I figure all that out. I''d still need a lot of capital to ensure the production runs long enough to start turning a profit and sustain itself. And don''t even get me started on the competitions and permits!"


    She glanced at Ace briefly, her expression firm. "I''ve already thought about it all, Ace. That''s why I came up with the idea of opening an orchard B&B. It''s the lowest-risk option for us. We already have a tangerine orchard, an avocado orchard, two ranches, a mansion, and the women at the shelter have skills to work there. With a little investment, we can create jobs for 8 to 20 people and earn profits, depending on the popularity of the orchard B&B."


    "Yes, I agree, but now you have me. Give me some time, and I''ll come up with a proposal you can''t deny. But if you do, then you have my blessing to start an orchard B&B," Ace confidently proposed. He didn''t want to let his fear stop his family from pursuing what they wanted. In that moment, he decided to support them in whatever they chose and to protect them quietly from the shadows.


    "Alright, I''ll be waiting," Mandy smirked at his proposal, easing off the accelerator as she pulled into the driveway of the Lander house.


    "Wait, why are you parking the car in the shed? Drop me off at my house first," Ace demanded, leaning forward in his seat.


    "Sorry, I forgot to tell you," Mandy said, her tone nonchalant but her eyes gleaming with mischief. "I hired people to move everything from your house to our home while we were at the gala dinner. Mary agreed. So, if you have a problem, take it up with your mom."


    "You sneaky little shi¡ªaunt," Ace muttered, narrowing his eyes at her.


    Mandy chuckled as she parked the car. "The contractors will be here in a week to discuss renovating the Lansky house. So, you have until then to prepare and present your counterproposal."


    "Mandy, this is not over!" Ace shot back, his voice tinged with mock frustration.


    "I don''t care, my dear nephew!" she replied breezily, waving him off as she stepped out of the car.


    "Guys, is everything alright?" Layla called out, approaching them with a curious expression.


    "Layla, don''t worry. He just has a habit of whining," Mandy said, throwing a playful glance at Ace. "Come on, let me help you park your car in the shed."

 Chapter 151: Midnight Visit

    Chapter 151: Midnight VisitThanks to the women in the house stealthily conducting a coup while they were stuck in a disastrous gala dinner, Ace was now back in his old room at his uncle''s house. It felt as if he had never left. They should have seen this coming. Mandy was never one to let go once she was determined to achieve something.


    "The caller you are calling is not answering. Please try again later."


    Ace sighed in exasperation as the automated message echoed in his ear for the seventh time. He had been trying to call his elder sister, Lyra, to apologize, but she wasn''t answering. Even his heartfelt text messages had gone unread. If he could get in touch with Dame Wasp right now, he would ask her to hack into Lyra''s phone and set up a video call so he could apologize directly.


    "Argh!" Ace groaned aloud, rolling onto his bed in frustration. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thanks to Layla staying over at their place tonight, he couldn''t use his curse energy, let alone talk to his toy summons through the status screen or practice curse arts. It was maddening.


    After speaking with Dame Wasp at the women''s shelter, they had come to an unsettling conclusion¡ªLayla was a mortal agent in the C.I.B. who was fully aware of the ''World of Curses'' and had been granted access to state-of-the-art curse gadgets to detect and combat threats from that world.


    Yes, Layla was mortal, but she was not to be underestimated. Although she couldn''t sense, see, or use curse energy herself, she was armed with an arsenal of Curse Gadgets, like the folding phone she had been casually waving around during their first meeting. According to Dame Wasp''s research on the Curse Web, it was a curse energy detector. Its sensors could pick up on curse energy in her surroundings, and its cameras were capable of seeing curselings, all while functioning as an average smart phone.


    Apparently, the latest curse energy sensors had an impressively wide range of 70 feet. Because of this, Ace didn''t dare use his curse energy¡ªnot even in the safety of his own home.


    After extensive research, governments around the world discovered Cursed Gadgets¡ªa hybrid of curse cores and electronic devices¡ªarming mortals against the threats from the ''World of Curses.'' According to the Curse Web, nine countries, including their own, now possessed cursed gadgets capable of killing Void-tier curselings or even curse users.


    Ace recalled how Layla had been discreetly using her folding phone cursed gadget on his family members and himself when they first meet. It became clear that she was trying to determine if any of them were curse users. Fortunately, thanks to his curse art''s curse concealment effect, Layla''s gadget hadn''t been able to detect any curse energy from him.


    The fact that Layla hadn''t used her device on anyone else¡ªand had even found an excuse to spend the night at their house¡ªwas troubling. Ace frowned, deep in thought, his brow grew narrower thinking she must have a strong reason to suspect that someone in his family was either a curse user or connected to one. Otherwise, why go through the trouble of befriending Mandy and spending a night at there home.


    He couldn''t help but wonder what had given her that idea. Replaying everything he''d recently used his curse energy for, he tried to pinpoint what might have prompted the C.I.B. to send a special agent to monitor his family. The only thing that stood out was his use of Dame Wasp to cheat on online gambling sites. Could that really be it? he mused, biting his lip.


    Just then, Ace sensed a faint trace of curse energy emanating from outside his door. His body tensed, and he moved soundlessly to the door. Opening it swiftly, he caught Layla in the act. As he expected, she was pointing her folding phone¡ªher cursed gadget¡ªat his bedroom door.


    Layla jumped, startled by the sudden confrontation, but she quickly recovered, leaning into her training. "Oh my god, you scared the heck out of me!" she exclaimed with an uneasy laugh.


    "Did I? Sorry," Ace replied coolly, his expression neutral. He tilted his head, feigning curiosity. "What are you doing upstairs? Isn''t the guest room downstairs?" He pretended to be oblivious to her actions, genuinely surprised to find her there.


    It was obvious to Ace what Layla was up to¡ªshe was using her cursed gadget to search for curse users or traces of curse energy in the house. But she was bound to find nothing. Ace had already used Emi''s presence-erasing talisman to scrub all traces of curse energy from his estate, fearing they might attract curselings.


    "Actually, I came to find you," Layla said, her tone shifting as she scrambled to improvise. "But I didn''t know which room was yours or you would be up this late, so I was just... Now that you''re here¡ª"


    Before she could finish her excuse, Ace interrupted, cutting her off mid-sentence. "Nope, not interested!" he declared, slamming the door shut in her face without another word.


    Staring at the closed door in front of her, Layla blinked in dumbfounded silence. A second later, she snapped out of it and hurriedly knocked on the door, raising her voice in protest. "Ace, you misunderstood me, you little perv! I''m here to talk about you and Ava, nothing else!"


    "Still not interested. Go away¡ªunless you don''t mind being registered as a sex offender," Ace retorted coolly from the other side.


    He leaned back against the door, his arms crossed, mulling over the situation. He wouldn''t have opened the door at all if he could have been completely certain that the curse energy outside was just Layla and her cursed gadget, not something more concerning. But now that he knew, Ace was now more concerned about learning exactly what she knew as speculating wasn''t going to get him anywhere.


    Layla huffed in frustration, stomping her foot against the floor before storming off. Her operation tonight was a complete bust. Not only had she nearly been caught red-handed, but she had also failed to detect even a trace of curse energy in the entire house. The lack of evidence gnawed at her, fueling her irritation.


    Exhaling sharply to regain her composure, Layla debated calling it a night. She wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and let the day''s failures wash away. But a nagging thought lingered. What about the car? The one her friend had said the curse user had been spotted driving.


    Determined to finish the job, Layla slipped out of the guestroom window and made her way toward the garage shed. She moved silently through the cool night air, her eyes focused on finding Mandy''s nephew''s car. However, she failed to notice Ace monitoring her from his bedroom window.


    Ace narrowed his eyes as he sighed, stepping away from the window he left his room. Ensuring they were at least 80 feet apart, he summoned both of his toy summons.

 Chapter 152: Cursed Gadgets

    Chapter 152: Cursed Gadgets"This isn''t a Grand National. It''s a Regal Turbo-T," Layla muttered, standing before a Darth Vader-black Buick. Glancing at its license plate, she shook her head in frustration, her lips tightening. Her friend could''ve at least corrected the model information after pulling up the car''s registration and before sending her here.


    Sighing, she took out her latest model cursed smartphone and began scanning the Buick for traces of curse energy. The results came back clean. Not a single trace. Layla frowned, her confidence wavering. Was the intel wrong after all? She chewed her lip, conflicted. Knowing her friend''s innate curse tool''s abilities, she trusted the info and felt something wasn''t adding up. Perhaps the curse user she was tracking was highly skilled at covering their tracks.


    Beep. Beep. Beep.


    The sharp alarm of her cursed smartphone broke her train of thought. Her heart skipped a beat as the screen flashed a warning¡ªthere was a curseling or curse user in the vicinity. Layla instinctively tensed, ready to act. But before she could react, a sudden zap coursed through her body, and darkness consumed her as she crumpled to the ground, unconscious. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hovering nearby, Dame Wasp dove silently into action. The tiny toy summons slipped into the USB port of the cursed smartphone, bypassing its defenses. She disabled the alarm and shut down all emergency protocols that would have been triggered if Layla didn''t respond in time. Once assured that Layla wasn''t carrying any additional cursed gadgets that could pose a threat, Dame Wasp reported back via the status screen: [All clear.]


    With Dame Wasp''s job complete, the invisible Emi stepped into the shed, her presence undetectable. She effortlessly lifted Layla''s unconscious body and began carrying her toward the basement of the solar power plant''s control room.


    Meanwhile, Ace remained seated in his bedroom, his fingers idly drumming against the armrest. Letting his toy summons handle the dirty work, he turned his attention to the Doctor Druid action figure Danny had given him. Reaching for it, he fed the action figure to his cursed toybox along with a changeling''s curse core. Moments later, the toybox reported back what Ace had already deduced using his innate status screen curse art.


    [ ¡ª Status screen¡ª


    > Curse core: Changeling form


    > Toy: Doctor Druid


    > Compatibility: 91%


    > Recommendation: The success rate of animating the toy ''Doctor Druid'' with the curse core ''Changeling form'' is determined to be very high.]


    With a satisfied nod, Ace retrieved the action figure from his cursed toybox, his fingers brushing over its surface as he turned it over thoughtfully. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze shifting to the glowing status screen, waiting for Dame Wasp''s report on what she had uncovered from hacking into Layla''s cursed smartphone.


    Ace exhaled slowly, his brows knitting together. He had always hoped to keep his presence hidden from the world for as long as possible. Yet, for reasons still unknown to him, the C.I.B. had already learned about him¡ªand worse, they had managed to infiltrate his home. If he didn''t act now, he feared it would soon be too late.


    As his jaw tightened in resolve, Dame Wasp finally reached out via the status screen and began her report,


    [ ¡ªStatus Screen¡ª


    Dame Wasp: Master, the smartphone is quite advanced for this planet''s technology, but it posed no challenge to me.


    Dame Wasp: I''ve gone through Layla''s chat groups and gathered more intel about the C.I.B. than we previously knew. However, her clearance level is fairly low, so the information is limited.


    Ace: We can deal with that later. First, tell me¡ªwhy is she here?


    Dame Wasp: Our initial guess was correct. She''s here to track a curse user¡ªspecifically, the one who used Danny''s Buick to visit the Curse Mall a few days ago.


    Ace: What? How did they know about that? Was it the curse store? Are they searching for Emi?


    Dame Wasp: No, it wasn''t the curse store. The C.I.B. is surveilling toll booths around cities with Curse Malls and a lot of curse activity. They''re conducting a top-secret operation to identify potential curse users traveling to or from these areas.


    Dame Wasp: Fortunately, we unknowingly circumvented their protocols. However, the C.I.B. personnel monitoring the toll booth we passed has a special innate curse tool. Using this tool, she flagged the Buick''s license plate as suspicious, suspecting it was driven by a curse user.


    Dame Wasp: It''s not just us. She flagged multiple plates using this method.


    Ace: Then why aren''t they swarming the house already?


    Dame Wasp: The flagged plates were dismissed because they didn''t strictly fall within the operation''s parameters. After all, the C.I.B. has limited resources and is cautious about the operation''s secrecy. If their activities were exposed to the ''World of Curses,'' the repercussions could be severe.


    Dame Wasp: However, that particular C.I.B. agent wasn''t willing to let it go. She''s been running the flagged plates through the DMV database on her own initiative. Layla is helping her by visiting the registered addresses to locate potential curse users and then anonymously reporting them to the C.I.B.


    Ace: So, basically, what we have here is a couple of C.I.B. agents taking matters into their own hands?


    Dame Wasp: Precisely, Master. Also, on an unrelated note, it turns out that Crimson Eyes was the one who spotted us back when you were in the gymnasium. As you suspected, he was the one who kidnapped Lola.


    Dame Wasp: Layla doesn''t know why he did that, but she did help arrange a meeting between Lola and her parents. From what I''ve gathered, Lola seems to be doing well. There''s a chance the C.I.B. might even help her safely awaken as an Innate Cursemaster.


    Ace: That''s good to hear.


    Dame Wasp: What should we do now, Master?


    Ace: Now? Now we teach these overly enthusiastic C.I.B. agents the consequences of overstepping their bounds.


    Ace: Emi, how good is your acting skills?


    Emi: Good, but the Apex earring''s effects should make it good enough.]

 Chapter 153: They Know

    Chapter 153: They KnowIn a room lit with glow emanating from the walls and floors, Layla stood motionless in the center, her eyes closed. A yellow paper, inscribed with intricate red characters, was stuck squarely on her back.


    Snap!


    The sharp sound reverberated through the room, jolting Layla awake. Her eyes fluttered open, disoriented, only to focus on a familiar figure with messy red hair tied into a ponytail. The girl stood a few feet away, a subtle grin playing on her lips.


    "Ava," Layla muttered, blinking rapidly. Her gaze darted around the strange surroundings as confusion etched itself onto her face. "Where is this? What happened?" she wondered aloud. The fragmented memories began piecing together¡ªshe had been in the Landers'' shed. Her cursed smartphone alarm had gone off, and before she could act, she''d been zapped unconscious.


    Her body instinctively tried to move, but no matter how hard she strained, she was frozen in place. Groaning in frustration, she fixed Ava with a sharp glare. "Who are you?" she fearlessly demanded, her voice steady despite her predicament.


    Ava''s grin widened, her expression mischievous as she replied in a familiar, feisty tone. "I''m whoever you want me to be, honey." She began to circle the room, her figure shifting as she spoke. Her body stretched and morphed, transforming into that of a muscular man in his mid-fifties with short red hair. His voice dropped into a deep, commanding timbre. "A friend or a foe¡ªit''s up to you."


    Layla''s frustration flared, her voice cutting through the air. "Cut the tricks and stop talking in riddles! What have you done to me?" she roared, not letting helplessness overshadowed her determination.


    The man chuckled, the sound low and resonant, before his form shifted again. As his muscles shrank and his frame slimmed, his voice rose into a feminine pitch. Now a slender, ivory-skinned woman with a dark, wavy bob cut stood before Layla. "I thought waking up to a familiar face would be... comforting, given your circumstances," she said, her voice mockingly sweet. "As for your frozen body? Well, that''s just a precaution¡ªso you don''t try anything funny and make me kill you by accident."


    "Why did you apprehend me? What do you want from me?" Layla demanded, her eyes searching her captor for any hint of their intentions.


    Fake Layla leaned in closer, staring intently into Layla''s eyes. "You tell me. You were the one who came to this town tracking me. Well, here I am¡ªyou found me."


    Layla feigned ignorance, her expression calm but her mind racing. "What are you talking about?" she asked casually. No one should know what she was doing here¡ªnot just for her own safety, but for the entire C.I.B.


    Fake Layla smirked, shaking her head. "You don''t have to pretend, sweetheart. You left your cursed smartphone unlocked, so I couldn''t help but take a peek. Unfortunately for me, now I know everything. Especially what you and your friend from the surveillance department have been up to. What were you guys thinking?"


    Layla''s face drained of color. Her worst fear had come true. The very scenario she dreaded when accepting her friend''s risky proposition had now unfolded. She couldn''t help but regret it all¡ªjeopardizing not just herself, but the entire C.I.B., all for what? To track down a handful of rogue curse users? She had messed up big time.


    Fake Layla tilted her head, noticing Layla''s despair. "Do you know where you went wrong?"


    Layla took a deep breath, nodding slowly. "It was the car, wasn''t it?" She answered understanding that a rogue curse user wouldn''t dare to kidnap a C.I.B. agent unless it was the last resort.


    Fake Layla''s eyes narrowed, her frustration evident. "I''ve been monitoring you the whole night. I had no intention of harming you, even though I helped your C.I.B. agents. All to have my disciple candidate stolen from me by them. But when you came for the car, I knew you knew something you shouldn''t."


    She paced a few steps back, her anger simmering. Layla stood her ground, going through her captors words repeatedly in her mind. She had to find a way out of this, but for now, she was trapped by her own mistakes. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Wait, it was you who broke the Sky Prism Array formation," Layla asked her captor in shock. She had read the report on the Treasure Lake curse terrorist incident and knew that the terrorists failed in their secondary objective because a unknown curse master helped Sky Surfer and Crimsion Eyes.


    "I couldn''t just sit back and watch as curse terrorists wreak havoc on my country, could I?" the fake Layla grumbled, pacing the room with visible frustration. "And how did my country reward me? They chased me down and stole my precious disciple candidate. This is exactly why I try to stay hidden. But no¡ªyou had to come looking for me. And now I know things I really wish I didn''t." Her voice wavered slightly, betraying the fear simmering beneath her anger.


    Layla''s head turned following captor. She narrowed her eyes, catching onto the tone of fear in her captor''s voice and her training kicks in. "Crimson eyes didn''t know about you or your plan to make that girl your disciple," she said carefully. "He only acted as anyone would in that situation, in the girl''s best interest¡ªand you know that. But what now?"


    The fake Layla stilled, meeting Layla''s gaze with an eerie calm. "Now," she said, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, "we decide what to do with this little secret of yours. Will it turn us into friends... or will it be the ruin of the C.I.B.?"


    As she spoke, she reached out and subtly peeled the talisman from Layla''s back, freeing her. The faint crackle of curse energy dissipating sent a shiver down Layla''s spine. Regaining control of her body, Layla stretched her arms and legs cautiously, her gaze never leaving her captor.


    The fake Layla stepped back, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. "So," she said with an unsettling grin, "what''s it going to be?"

 Chapter 154: Gift or Conspiracy

    Chapter 154: Gift or ConspiracyListening to her captor, Layla found herself deep in thought. It dawned on her that the person before her had no real intention of killing or even seriously harming her. They just wanted to negotiate.


    "I get that you want us to be ''friends,''" Layla said cautiously, tilting her head as she tried to make sense of the situation. "But why go through all this trouble? If you wanted be hidden, you could''ve easily taken me out after I had left here. Why this elaborate setup?"


    The fake Layla sighed, folding her arms and leaning back slightly, as though explaining something to a stubborn child. "First, I needed to know how you figured out I used that car to visit the Curse Mall. Secondly, someone had to show you and your friend the consequences of poking around where you shouldn''t. And lastly¡ª" she paused, her voice softening, "¡ªbecause I don''t want to. Killing you would''ve been the easy way out. But just because something''s easy doesn''t make it right. Don''t you agree?"


    Layla blinked, momentarily thrown off by the sincerity in the fake Layla''s tone. Then, with a sardonic smirk, she muttered, "Wow, lucky me. I ran into a ''good'' Curse Master. What are the odds?" Her words were dripping with sarcasm, her years of training and instincts refusing to trust her captor so easily.


    The fake Layla''s lips curved into a thin, humorless smile. "Believe whatever you want," she said coolly, stepping closer. "But I have no intention of revealing to the ''World of Curses'' what your precious C.I.B. has been up to. That said," her tone hardened, her eyes narrowing into a steely glare, "if you push me, I will take all of you down with me. No hesitation."


    Layla stiffened, the weight of the warning sinking in.


    The fake Layla continued, her voice calm but with an edge of finality. "The fact that I haven''t already exposed your little operation and am instead standing here trying to teach you the error of your ways¡ª" she gestured vaguely around the room, her expression unreadable, "¡ªshould be proof enough of my intentions."


    "So, I''m just supposed to believe you did all this out of the goodness of your heart and want nothing in return? Fat chance. Spill it¡ªwhat do you want from me?" Layla demanded, crossing her arms. The only reason she hadn''t lashed out yet was because her captor''s words and actions seemed genuine, but she needed more proof. Something to solidify the growing feeling in her heart that maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªthey could be trusted not to expose the C.I.B.''s secret operation to the ''World of Curses.''


    The fake Layla shook their head with a bemused smile, as if dealing with a stubborn child. "Kids," they muttered under their breath, their tone tinged with exasperation. Then, more firmly, they continued, "I''ve lived for centuries. I have everything I want. There''s nothing you can offer me."


    They paused, tilting their head as though sizing her up. "Instead, let me ask you, tell me¡ªwhat do you want? Consider it a gift for finding me."


    Layla narrowed her eyes, her skepticism evident. Her training screamed at her not to trust a rogue curse user, no matter how generous or honest they seemed. But despite herself, she hesitated, caught between the logic instilled by the C.I.B. and the unsettling feeling that her captor might actually be telling the truth.


    Her silence didn''t deter the fake Layla, who leaned in slightly, their voice soft but compelling. "I can help you become a Curse Slave."


    Layla''s eyes widened, but she said nothing.


    "Isn''t that why you agreed to help your friend? With a brilliant mind and a body that doesn''t fear pain, you could''ve easily earned a six-figure salary anywhere¡ªmaybe even built your own empire. But instead, you stayed with the C.I.B.," the fake Layla said, their tone almost pitying.


    "Even after they rejected you for the Curse Slave program, you stayed. You threw away a glorious destiny and settled for being a glorified babysitter for spoiled kids, an unknown bodyguard, or a janitor cleaning up after arrogant curse users. And why? Because deep down, you''ve always hoped to find a way to step into the ''World of Curses.''"


    Layla''s jaw tightened, her mind racing.


    "I can give you that chance," the fake Layla offered, their voice low and deliberate, as though weighing each word carefully. "But there''s a price. When you leave here, you''ll forget all about me. You''ll go straight to the C.I.B. higher-ups and report everything you and your friend did. All of it. Of course, leave out any mention of our meeting."


    Layla snapped out of her daze, locking eyes with her captor. Suspicion and curiosity flickered across her face. "Why would you do that? Why help me?" she finally asked, her voice steady but edged with doubt. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The fake Layla leaned back slightly, folding their arms. Their expression was unreadable, a carefully crafted mask. "To prove to you that I want to be your friend." Their tone was calm, almost disarming, but there was an undertone of seriousness.


    A moment of silence stretched between them before fake Layla added, "Whether you accept my offer or not, that''s your call. But make no mistake, Layla. Actions have consequences."


    Layla''s gaze sharpened, and she squared her shoulders as if bracing herself. "You act like you''re trying to help me become a curse slave," she said, her tone accusatory, "but what you''re really doing is trying to get me to willingly embed a curse core into my heart. You want me to kill myself in the process, don''t you?"


    "Thereby solving your problem and covering your tracks," Layla accused, her voice rising with intensity. The sharp glint in her eyes made it clear she truly believed she had unraveled her captor''s scheme.


    The fake Layla blinked, their expression shifting ever so slightly¡ªa flicker of surprise, perhaps even amusement, before their composure returned. They tilted their head, their lips curling into a faint smile.


    "You''ve got quite the imagination, don''t you? And here I thought I was the paranoid one."

 Chapter 155: Voltaic Wisp

    Chapter 155: Voltaic Wisp"Stop lying. I''m not someone who just learned about the ''World of Curses.'' You and I both know it takes years¡ªdecades, even¡ªfor a mortal to consistently feed their raw negative emotions to the curse core embedded in their heart to nourish it. Only then can they give rebirth to a curseling using their heart as a vessel to form a life bond between them. The only reason you''d tell me otherwise is because you want to make my death look like an accident. That way, you solve your problem¡ªme¡ªand cover your tracks," Layla argued with a sharp and unwavering voice as she crossed her arms tightly over her chest and her sharp gaze locked on her captor.


    Years of working in the C.I.B. had taught her enough about ''World of Curses'' to see through her deceit, as such her brain''s reasoning triumphed over her heart''s emotions. She silently thanked her lucky stars for not falling for the witch''s temptation.


    "You''re not wrong, but neither am I," Fake Layla replied smoothly and unsettlingly calm tone. She tilted her head slightly narrowing her eyes calculating her next move. "Tell me, your cursed smartphone¡ªit''s different from other cursed gadgets, isn''t it? It uses a special curse core as its power source, right?"


    Layla''s brows furrowed, her skepticism plain on her face. "Yes," she admitted reluctantly, with a suspicious voice. "What are you trying to get at?"


    Fake Layla didn''t answer directly. Instead, she leaned forward slightly, her expression unreadable, and continued leading Layla to her own conclusions. "Do you mind telling me which curseling it belongs to? And why it was used?"


    Layla hesitated, her mind racing. "Voltaic Wisp," she said finally, her tone clipped as she began to explain, "It can convert electricity to curse energy and vice versa¡ª" She froze mid-sentence, her breath catching in her throat as realization struck her like a bolt of lightning and she recalled the information on it,


    [ ¡ª Cursling Records¡ª  S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Target: Voltaic Wisp


    Race: Curseling


    Class: Mortal-Tier


    Title: Cursed Conduit


    Info: Voltaic Wisp is described as a luminescent spectral sphere that can range in size from a pea to several meters in diameter. It can appear in various colors, either transparent or translucent. Thanks to its spectral and electric nature, it can hover, rise, fall, or move through objects in unpredictable ways according to its will.


    Voltaic Wisp is usually associated with electrocution and is often seen during electrical accidents, especially right after someone dies from being electrocuted. They can appear for a few seconds before mortals, who often mistake them for a soul leaving the body. In truth, it is a curseling born from the remnants of negative emotions tied to the electrocution accident or victim.


    Voltaic Wisps are shy and non-aggressive by nature. They never harm humans but are misunderstood because they can cause electrical interference, damaging electronics and triggering explosions in electronic devices, flammable materials, or volatile substances when they pass through objects.


    They can absorb electrical energy and convert it into curse energy to heal themselves. Therefore, in the modern world, they don''t need to haunt humans for nourishment.


    They are considered one of the weakest curselings in the mortal tier, as they have no offensive abilities except for zapping those who come in contact with them. However, they can be deadly if they pass through someone''s body and directly zap their internal organs. Despite this, Voltaic Wisps tend to avoid passing through living beings due to the disruption caused by electromagnetic neural signals, which mess with their mind. If cornered, though, they will not hesitate to do so.


    Known Skills:


    i) Cursed Arc Converter:


    It can manipulate electrical and curse energy, converting them from one form to another. It absorbs ambient electrical energy and stores it in its curse core for later use, such as converting electrical energy into curse energy or healing its spectral body.


    ii) Enhanced Electromagnetic Field Generation:


    Its body generates electromagnetic fields that can cause objects to explode, especially electronic devices, flammable materials, or volatile substances. Even its curse core generates these fields. However, Curse Crafters have figured out ways to use these fields to enhance electronic devices and systems.


    iii) Hybrid Elemental Body:


    Its body is a mix of electric and spectral elements, making it immune to physical damage, as physical attacks often pass through it. Its curse core exhibits a similar nature but gains physical form when the curseling is killed.


    Notes


    i) Source: C.I.B. archives.


    ii) This data is created for human convenience by humans. Curselings don''t assess to this.]


    "Whoever gave you this cursed gadget must really value you," Fake Layla remarked with a sly smile, her tone tinged with curiosity. She was confident the C.I.B. wouldn''t issue something so valuable to a low-level agent like Layla.


    "Janice," Layla muttered under her breath, recalling that name her mind flashed back to the moment. She remembered the Aurelian Eye''s confiscating her standard-issue cursed smartphone and replacing it with it''s cutting-edge model, saying with a warm yet cryptic smile, ''I hope this will helps you while you persue your ambitions.''


    Fake Layla''s eyes glinted as she noted the shift in Layla''s expression. Seizing the opportunity, she leaned in slightly, her voice lowering to a persuasive murmur. "So, now that you know I wasn''t lying... how about it? Do you want me to help you become a curse slave?" She gestured subtly with fluid and deliberate movements, circling back to her initial offer as if reeling in a fish already caught on the hook.


    "It doesn''t matter," Layla countered, her tone sharp with skepticism. "The method you''re suggesting to help me become a curse slave is theoriticaly sound but not practical. Many had tried to do it and failed." She crossed her arms, leaning slightly back as if to distance herself from the absurdity of the proposal. If a regular cursemaster could accomplish this, she was certain the C.I.B. or her friends would have helped her become curse slaves long ago or the C.I.B. could have army of curse slaves by now.


    "Hello? You have me," Fake Layla interjected with a smirk, casually pointing at herself. Her confidence radiated in the slight tilt of her head and the relaxed posture she adopted. "Kid, opportunity is here, it''s up to you to decide." She shrugged nonchalantly, as if the weight of the offer rested solely on Layla''s shoulders.

 Chapter 156: Trust Goes Both Ways

    Chapter 156: Trust Goes Both Ways"Even if you''re capable of that, why are you telling me? Aren''t you afraid I''ll report you to the higher-ups for some merit?" Layla''s voice was sharp, almost incredulous. She didn''t even consider her captor''s offer¡ªit sounded absurd. How could a lone cursemaster, someone she''d stumbled upon by chance, accomplish what governments around the world had failed to do?


    Since Voltaic Wisps could heal themselves using electricity through their skill ''Cursed Arc Converter,'' cursemasters around both the worlds had long theorized that it might be possible for a mortal to a Voltaic Wisp curse core to become a curse slave skipping all the suffering and waiting. The idea was to embed a Voltaic Wisp curse core into their heart feed it electricity instead of negative energy to nourish the curse core and use the heart as a vessel to bring about its rebirth.


    In theory, it sounded plausible. However, in practice, attempting this would inevitably result in the mortal''s heart exploding during the rebirth process due to the immense electric fields generated by the curseling''s regeneration. The fatal flaw lay in the lack of a life bond between the reborn curseling and the mortal host.


    Establishing a life bond required raw negative emotions. Feeding the curse core this raw negative emotions allowed the mortal''s heart to function as a true vessel, forming the necessary connection between them. Electricity, on the other hand, couldn''t create this bond. Instead, it would merely facilitate the curseling''s regeneration within the person''s heart¡ªinvinting a horrifyingly cruel way to die.


    Still, the debate raged on. What if the electricity supplied was derived from curse energy? Many had experimented with this idea, but so far, no success had been reported.


    Layla''s mind raced. It was becoming painfully clear that she might not make it out of this alive. Her captor wasn''t just toying with her; she had a plan. A cruel, calculated one. If Layla played along, she''d end up trying to become a curse slave. Her death would look like the result of her own reckless ambition to become a curse slave. When the C.I.B. investigates her death, they''d chalk it up to her greed for power. Her captor''s hands would be clean.


    "Honey," the fake Layla said with a tilt of her head and an unsettling calm in her tone, "trust is a two-way street. If I want you to trust me not to expose what the C.I.B. has been up to in the ''World of Curse,'' I have to trust you not to reveal my identity and my abilities to the C.I.B. That''s my true intention here." She leaned closer, her voice softening. "Now that you know, it''s up to you. You can trust me¡ªor remain my captive for the rest of your life."


    Layla studied her captor''s expression, searching for any crack in the facade. She didn''t find one. After a moment, she exhaled and straightened up, her resolve hardening. "Fine. Let''s go." Her voice was steady, her face unreadable. "But don''t think for a second that I trust you. I''m just embracing the inevitable and saving us both some trouble. If I die, you''d better be grateful."


    She knew the stakes. If she died, her life signs would vanish from the C.I.B.''s monitoring system, triggering an immediate investigation, giving the C.I.B. a chance to protect its secrets. It was her only chance to redeem herself¡ªand she wasn''t going to waste it.


    At first, Layla''s plan was to wait it out for as long as possible. She knew that once the C.I.B. realized she was missing, they''d be able to respond more efficiently after she died. But when her captor mentioned keeping her as a prisoner for the rest of her life, a chill ran down her spine. It dawned on her that they might be planning to escape to the ''World of Curses'' and kill her there. If that happened, even if the C.I.B. somehow figured out what went down, they''d be powerless to act¡ªno authority, no jurisdiction in that world.


    Layla''s eyes narrowed as she weighed her options. There was another problem: if cornered, her captor could easily spill the beans about the C.I.B.''s surveillance operations just to save themselves. The thought of it made her jaw tighten. She couldn''t let that happen.


    The sooner she died, the better the C.I.B.''s chances were of avenging her and protecting their secrets. It was grim, but she knew it was her best shot at redemption by stopping this from spiraling any further.


    Fake Layla seemed to see right through Layla''s intentions, but instead of reacting with hostility, she simply smiled. Her voice was calm, almost unnervingly so, as she said, "I need you to be unconscious for what''s about to happen next. The next time you wake up, you''ll be a curse slave."


    "What? Wait¡ªwhat are you¡ª" Layla tried to move, panic rising in her chest. But before she could do anything, the world around her began to blur. Her captor had already acted, and Layla felt herself slipping under.


    As her vision darkened, she caught one last image: Fake Layla leaning closer, her expression soft, almost tender. "Night, night, little Layla," she murmured with a chilling sweetness.


    "Well done." The tiny figure of Dame Wasp appeared as Fake Layla morphed into a voluptuous female with unrealistic beauty while slowly resting the unconscious Layla on the floor.  sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I should update master on the progress," Emi said standing up only to find her master rely through status screen,


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Ace: No need¡ªI saw everything through Rose''s senses. You did an excellent job, Emi.


    Ace: But are you sure about this reverse curse-slave method you developed? The Shikigami Slave Art, right? If she dies, it''s going to make it a lot harder for us to stay hidden.


    Emi: Don''t worry, Master. I based it on my family''s Shikigami Possession Arts combined with curse-slave techniques. I''m confident that by the time I''m finished, not only will she survive, but she''ll become my Shikigami''s vessel. Honestly, there''s no need for this facade at all.


    Ace: Leave it as a last resort. She''s my way into the C.I.B., and the less she knows, the better. She''ll serve me far more effectively believing she''s free than realizing she''s someone''s puppet.]

 Chapter 157: Innate Curse Art: Cursed Ascension

    Chapter 157: Innate Curse Art: Cursed AscensionHumans'' relationship with freedom is ironic. When they have it, they often take it for granted, willingly trading it for a more comfortable life. Yet, when they lose it, they yearn for it desperately, even to the point of risking their lives to reclaim it.


    Ace had paid enough attention in history class to realize this. If he wanted to turn things around with Layla and get her to serve him willingly¡ªenthusiastically even¡ªhe needed to make her believe it was her choice. It had to feel like she was doing it out of her own free will. Whether or not she realized she was Emi''s Shikigami Slave didn''t matter in the long run. Her life bond with Emi''s Shikigami, her Curseling partner, would ensure she fulfilled her intended role.


    All Layla had to do was use her new status as a curse slave to climb the ranks of the C.I.B., gaining higher clearance and access to sensitive information. The more she uncovered, the more Ace would know¡ªensuring he was never blindsided by the agency again.


    The most effective way to make that happen was simple: Layla had to believe her new powers came without strings attached. If she suspected otherwise, she might try to distance herself from the C.I.B., or worse, do something reckless. That couldn''t happen.


    Even though the Shikigami Slave Art gave Emi absolute control over Layla''s body and life through the life bond, it didn''t extend to her will. Layla had already shown she was highly ambitious but also willing to make enormous sacrifices for what she believed was the greater good. Someone like that couldn''t be controlled through brute force or fear alone. Trying to dominate her outright would only backfire.


    No, the key was making Layla believe that the cursemaster who had helped her become a curse slave was nothing more than a well-meaning stranger¡ªsomeone who wanted nothing from her and simply wished to be left alone. If she saw the powers as a gift, freely given, and the cursemaster as a harmless passerby, she''d be far less likely to question her situation. That illusion of autonomy was critical. Only then would Layla willingly follow the path Ace had set for her.


    Still, no plan was without its flaws. That''s where Emi''s Shikigami Slave Arts came into play. Whether to control Layla or eliminate her would depend entirely on the choices she made. If her actions aligned with Ace''s interests, great. If not, there was always the last resort.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Ace: Emi, has the Voltaic Wisp''s curse core regenerated as your Shikigami?


    Emi: Yes, Master. I''ll summon it now.


    Ace: Whoa, it really looks like a living lightning ball. Did it pick up any new abilities as your Shikigami?


    Emi:


    No, Master. It is too weak¡ªit took an hour to regenerate as my Shikigami. That''s actually why I picked this one from all the curse cores we had.


    Emi: But there''s an upside. As my Shikigami, it''s more spiritual and intelligent. This little lightning guy will be perfect for keeping an eye on Layla and keeping us updated on her every move through your innate curse art, Status Screen.


    Ace: That''s convenient, but it''s a shame it had to go this way. I could''ve used that curse core to summon another cool toy summons.


    Dame Wasp: Master, this is for the best. Since you have no plans to head to the ''World of Curses'' anytime soon, it''s about time we had an insider in the C.I.B. Besides, it can help me infiltrate their systems. And let''s not forget¡ªyou can always buy a similar curse core at the Curse Mall if the price is right.


    Ace: True enough.


    Ace: All right, let''s get back to work. We are losing precious time.]


    The Shikigami Slave Art, in simple terms, was a reversed curse slave technique. It was something Emi had developed by combining her family''s shikigami possession spiritual arts with the curse slave techniques of this world.


    Shikigami possession spiritual arts, as the name suggests, allowed Emi to have one of her Shikigami possess her, merging its power with hers to enhance her combat abilities. There was also a forbidden application of this art¡ªallowing the Shikigami to possess other humans, gaining a body of flesh and blood, tap into their spirtual power to aid her in battle.


    Using this forbidden aspect of the Shikigami Possession spiritual arts, Emi planned to have her Voltaic Wisp Shikigami possess Layla. She would then instruct the Shikigami to use its control over Layla''s body and its curse energy to initiate the curse slave technique. This would create a curse core within Layla, using her heart as the vessel, and establish a life bond between them, ultimately turning Layla into a Shikigami slave.


    Though Emi promised 99.99 percent success rate, Ace had his doubt. But it did not stop him from proceeding with the plan anyway. Because if he planned to stay hidden in the shadows, someone had to go out and get him the latest and privileged information. The Curse Web was great place to learn about ''World of Curses'' but it had its limitations. But having a ambitious pawn like Layla would fill that gap for him if things progress as his plan.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Emi:


    Master, it''s done.


    Ace: Great. Did she awaken any innate curse arts?


    Emi: She did. Even though she''s unconscious, thanks to my Shikigami, she experienced an enlightenment in her dreams.


    Ace: That sounds promising. What kind of art did she awaken?


    Emi: It''s a powerful one¡ªsomething every curse slave dreams of, though I''m not sure if she''s lucky to have gotten it or not. Her innate cursed art is called Cursed Ascension. As the name suggests, it allows her to ascend to the next curse tier, but it comes with two requirements and a steep price.


    Ace: Let''s hear it.


    Emi: First, she has to gather the curse energy needed to ascend to the next tier. Second, she must meet all the milestones in curse mastery that a cursemaster would need to break through to higher tier. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Emi: As for the price¡­ she won''t gain the immortality that usually comes with reaching a higher realm.


    Ace: Hmm. Considering the skills of your Shikigami, I doubt the requirements or the price will hold her back. It looks like I placed my bet on the right horse. Now, we just have to see if it''s willing to race for me.


    Emi: Don''t worry, Master. Layla''s a smart girl. I''m confident she''ll make a decision that works out for everyone involved.


    Ace: Fair enough. Go ahead and settle her in the guest room. The rest is up to her.]

 Chapter 158: Master

    Chapter 158: Master"Gasps!" Layla''s eyes flew open as she sharply inhaled, her chest rising with a sudden breath of air. She looked around, disoriented, and realized she was lying on a bed back in the Lander''s guestroom.


    Throwing off the covers, she sprang up and scanned the room, her heart pounding as she searched for the mysterious cursemaster. They were nowhere to be found. Instead, on the nightstand, she spotted her cursed gadgets alongside a folded letter which read,


    Dear Disciple,


    I have fulfilled my end of the bargain. I hope you will, too. But just in case, by the time you read this, I will have left the country.


    I would have loved to stay and teach you everything I know, but your status as a C.I.B. agent complicates things. I trust the C.I.B. will help you navigate your path. If fate allows, we may meet again.


    I know it will be difficult to explain how you became a curse slave so quickly, but do whatever you must to achieve your ambitions. Don''t worry about me¡ªI can take care of myself.


    You are my first disciple, so go and make your master proud.


    P.S. In my rush to leave, I didn''t have time to replace the curse core in your cursed smartphone. Don''t blame your master.


    Layla sighed, sitting back down on the bed with the letter clutched in her hands. "I never agreed to be your disciple, Master," she muttered under her breath.


    As her thoughts swirled, a luminous, ethereal sphere emerged from her chest and floated in front of her. Though it lacked a face, its shifting, squirming form exuded a clear sense of concern for her.


    "Hey there, little guy. Come to think of it, I should give you a name," Layla said softly to the luminous sphere, a gentle smile curling her lips.


    The sphere seemed to perk up at her words, darting closer to her face with an excited energy wanting to brush against her cheek in the same way it had in her dreams¡ªthe dreams where she''d been enlightened about her becoming a curse slave and learned her innate curse art.


    "No! No!" Layla cried, recoiling slightly, her hands flying up in alarm. She braced herself for the inevitable zap¡ªshe''d already been shocked enough for one night. But to her surprise, no electric jolt came. Instead, a warm, soothing energy radiated from the sphere as it pressed against her skin.


    Her brow furrowed in amazement. "Wait¡­ did I gain resistance to electricity?" she wondered aloud, tilting her head to examine the sphere more closely.


    Before she could ponder further, a knock sounded at the door, followed by Mandy''s concerned voice. "Layla? Is everything alright in there? We heard a scream¡ªI''m coming in."


    Panic flickered across Layla''s face. She whispered hurriedly to the sphere, "Hide¡ªwait, she can''t see you." Her panic ebbed as she remembered mortals couldn''t perceive a curseling. Taking a deep breath, she composed herself just as the door swung open. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mandy stepped inside, her gaze sweeping the room until it landed on Layla, who sat calmly on the bed. "Are you alright?" Mandy asked, her tone still laced with concern.


    "Yeah, everything''s fine," Layla replied, thinking quickly. "I just realized I forgot my charger, and now my phone''s dead." She gestured vaguely toward the cursed smartphone on the nightstand.


    Relief softened Mandy''s expression. "You can borrow mine."


    Layla shook her head, smiling faintly. "No, it''s okay. I''ve got one in the car. I''ll charge it there." She made her tone firm, signaling she planned to leave soon.


    Mandy, however, wasn''t so easily swayed. "Breakfast is ready. Freshen up and have some before you go, or the townspeople will start saying the Landers are bad hosts," she said with a playful but pointed tone, leaving no room for argument.


    "Alright, I''ll be out in a minute," Layla replied, standing and heading toward the guest bathroom.


    Mandy lingered briefly, then added with a smile, "There are fresh toiletries in the drawer by the sink. Feel free to use them." With that, she left, closing the door softly behind her.


    Layla let out a quiet sigh of relief before glancing back at the sphere, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Well, little guy, looks like we''ve got to stay for breakfast."


    ¡­


    "Honey, breakfast is ready. Want me to fix you a plate?" Pam asked her husband as she watched him step into the kitchen, heading straight for the plates and cutlery.


    Dan barely glanced her way, his tone indifferent as he replied, "No, I''m just grabbing a few plates."


    Turning toward his son and nephew seated at the breakfast bar, about to dig into their meals, Dan added with a pointed edge, "I had Marty slaughter a couple of chickens. Alwin and I are having BBQ for breakfast. Anyone who wants a breakfast that won''t stab them in the back can join us."


    The comment hung in the air like a challenge.


    Danny caught his father''s eye briefly but quickly looked away, his focus returning to the plate in front of him. He had no interest in getting involved in his parents'' brewing spat. BBQ chicken was tempting, sure, but risking his mother''s wrath wasn''t worth it


    Ace, however, stood up, his chair scraping lightly against the floor, ready to join his uncle and father without hesitation. For him, it wasn''t just about breakfast¡ªit was about protecting the sanctuary he had painstakingly built for their family¡ªnot to mention he had to butter up both his uncle and dad later for a favor.


    But before he could take another step, Mary''s voice cut through the tension like a whip. "Young man, if that plate and glass aren''t empty before you leave, you''d better be prepared to make your own breakfast for the rest of your life."


    Her gaze pinned him in place, her tone brooking no argument.


    Ace froze mid-step, then, under his mother''s watchful eyes, returned to his seat. He carefully picked up the bacon strips, laid them over his omelet, rolled them together, and stuffed the whole thing into his mouth. His chewing was deliberate, exaggerated almost, as if to emphasize his compliance. He washed it all down with a gulp of orange juice, finishing it in one go.


    As he set his empty plate and glass back on the counter, he looked around at the stunned faces of everyone in the kitchen. Even Mandy, who had just walked in, froze mid-step, her eyebrows raised in astonishment.


    "What?" Ace said, shrugging innocently. "I love her cooking. Besides, there''s always room for BBQ chicken."


    "Ahem!" Dan cleared his throat, trying to mask the awkward tension as he reached for the plates. Just as he was about to leave the kitchen, Pam''s voice stopped him in his tracks.


    "My plates don''t leave the house, Dan," she warned, her tone firm yet teasing.


    Dan froze mid-step, slowly turning back to glare at her. For a moment, he looked like he might argue, but instead, he caved with an exaggerated sigh. "Fine. Where are the disposable ones?"


    Pam''s playful smile widened. "We used them all for the pool party last week."


    Dan groaned, clearly exasperated. "Fine. We''ll just eat off the skewers," he muttered, placing the plates and cutlery back on the counter with a loud clink before storming out of the kitchen. Ace trailed after him ignoring Mandy''s gaze.


    "Dad, save some for me!" Danny called from the breakfast bar, shoveling food into his mouth as fast as he could. Once he finished, he wiped his mouth, looked at Pam with an earnest expression, and said, "Mom, you know I''m always on your side, right?"


    Pam raised a skeptical eyebrow, but before she could respond, Danny grabbed his backpack and bolted for the barn.


    "Make sure you two get to school on time!" Pam called after him, her voice carrying a note of maternal exasperation.


    As the kitchen settled back into a quieter rhythm, Mandy sat down at the breakfast bar, eyeing Pam with a smirk. "Wow. They''re making their own breakfast. You ladies need to get your men under control if you''re serious about running a successful Orchard B&B."

 Chapter 159: Mandys Reckless Plan

    Chapter 159: Mandy''s Reckless Plan"If you men are done eating breakfast caveman-style, let''s get to work!" Mandy said, glaring at her nephews and brother-in-laws huddled up around the old grill by the barn. They were tearing into hot, greasy barbecued meat straight off the skewers with their teeth and bare hands without regard for burning their mouth. Watching them, Mandy couldn''t help but think her family''s men were living proof that evolution sometimes took a few steps backward.


    "Mandy, you should try some. It''s too damn delicious," Danny said, licking the oil dripping down his hands.


    "Junior, don''t talk with your mouth full," Mandy scolded, raising an eyebrow at her nephew. Then she turned to Ace, crossing her arms. "Ace, clean yourself up. You''re coming with me today."


    Before Ace could reply, Dan interjected. "He''s coming with me to the sheriff''s office." His tone was firm, his jaw clenched. Dan still regretted not being there to face the Rockworths when it mattered, but he was determined to make up for it now¡ªregardless of the consequences.


    "Dan, I''m handling this," Mandy shot back, her voice sharp. She pointed a finger at him for emphasis. "You and Alwin need to get those pipelines laid from your ranch to the avocado orchards before those trenches dry up. Don''t fight me on this one. I''ll get you what you need."


    She knew Dan well enough to understand that if she left things to him, he''d handle it the old-fashioned way. And the old-fashioned way would likely land him in lockup alongside the Rockworths. That would be plain stupid. Why complicate things when they could be solved with some common sense?


    "What I need," Dan yelled, his face reddening, "is to punch that smug son of a bitch David until I knock out every one of his perfect white teeth for what he and his spawn put our family through!" His fist slammed against the table, making Danny flinch.


    Danny, sensing the tension rise, decided it was in his best interest to slip away and head to school early. As for Ace, he just stood there, confused. He couldn''t understand why his uncle, father and Mandy got so worked up every time the Rockworths¡ªespecially David¡ªwere mentioned.


    "Alwin, handle your brother," Mandy ignored Dan and asked Alwin to make sure his brother doesn''t do something stupid and then turning to Ace she stern reminded, "Ace, what are you still doing here? Clean yourself and get into my car. Now!"


    "Mandy, I don''t think I''m needed there. Besides, I have school," Ace said, stepping in front of Danny, who was quietly slipping some BBQ into a paper bag planning to sneak off but he was his ride to school, and Ace also needed his car to get to Wesley Winery Resort & Spa and complete the Curse Exorcism Request before someone else beat him to it.


    "Like hell you''re not," Mandy and Dan said in unison. They exchanged a look, then turned their eyes back to Ace.


    Mandy crossed her arms and leaned slightly forward. "I need you there to see me make them squirm helplessly for what they put you and our family through last night," she said in tone simmering with barely restrained fury. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace hesitated. As much as he wanted to watch Mandy take down Brook and her family, his priorities lay elsewhere. The Curse Exorcism Request¡ªand the phantom paint curseling''s curse core¡ªwas far more important right now. Revenge could wait, but the opportunity to secure that core couldn''t. He prioritied it so much because it might end up being a lifeline for his family in the future.


    "I¡ª" he started to explain, but his father cut him off.


    "Son, go with her," Alwin ordered firmly, his eyes locking onto Ace. "If you want to live out here, every act of aggression against you and your family needs to be properly addressed before it escalates in to a tragedy."


    Alwin''s tone left no room for argument, and Ace felt the weight of the unspoken lesson in his father''s words. Family came first¡ªand so did protecting it. He knew that he was doing just that in his way but he was needed here today.


    "Fine. If my grades start to slip, don''t blame me," Ace muttered, putting up one last, weak protest.


    His father shot him a sharp look and countered effortlessly, "Only if you don''t blame me when my boots end up on your ass."


    "Alright, alright. Let''s just get this over with," Ace grumbled, heading to the tap by the barn to wash his hands and mouth. He scrubbed quickly and dried off with a rag hanging nearby before making his way to Mandy''s prized dark Starpedo. Sliding into the passenger seat, he buckled up, noticing her setting a course on the map.


    As they pulled out, the map destination caught his eye. "Wait... aren''t we going to the sheriff''s office?" he asked, raising a brow at the route.


    "The sheriff''s office? Pfft, no way," Mandy said, smirking as she hit the gas, sending the Starpedo roaring down the dirt road. "If I take them there, that bitch Brooke and her family will get off too easily. I''ve got something much more interesting planned."


    Ace glanced at the map again, noting their destination seemed to be a remote area on the outskirts of the town. He couldn''t help but feel both intrigued and uneasy about whatever Mandy had in mind. So he used Dame Wasp''s help to check Mandy''s phone and relay him her findings. Hearing the report, Ace''s brow furrowed, and he couldn''t hold back his frustration. "Are you kidding me, Mandy? You''re going to meet David Rockworth by the fallen bridge alone? How could you be so reckless?"


    Mandy, unfazed, waved off his concerns with a flick of her wrist. "How am I alone, exactly? Aren''t you coming with me?" she said matter-of-factly, shooting him a quick glance before returning her focus to the road.


    Ace ran a hand through his hair, exasperated. "What if he brought a gun? What if he''s not alone? Or worse, what if he doesn''t even show up and sends his hired goons to ambush you instead? What were you thinking agreeing to this? It''s not too late¡ªturn the car around." His voice was firm, his worry evident.


    The Rockworths were strangers to Ace but after the last night incident he understood them well enough to know that they weren''t above dirty tricks, and this plan of Mandy''s was teetering on dangerous.


    Mandy let out a sharp laugh, her grip on the wheel steady. "Relax, Ace. Nothing like that''s gonna happen. David''s a pussy compared to the assholes I''ve dealt with before," she said, her voice brimming with confidence as the car sped along the dusty road.


    Ace didn''t look convinced, his jaw tightening as he stared out the window, mentally preparing for the worst.


    The fallen bridge was part of an old route that had fallen into disuse after a storm caused the bridge to collapse. What was once the busiest path to town had become an abandoned, weed-covered dump¡ªa haven for shady dealings and people up to no good. Ace''s worry about Mandy agreeing to meet David there was entirely justified, especially since she was blackmailing him.


    Yep, Mandy wasn''t exaggerating when she said she''d put Brooke and her family through something far worse than what they did to the Landers last night. By "worse," she meant blackmail¡ªthe kind that would make them beg for forgiveness.


    After learning Brooke had orchestrated the previous night''s incident, Mandy called in a favor from Janice, who connected her with her family''s cybersecurity team. Within hours, Mandy had obtained chat and transaction logs between Brooke and the Rural Revival volunteer staff. The messages painted a damning picture, exposing Brooke''s role in the scheme.


    Of course, Mandy knew she couldn''t use the evidence legally¡ªthe way she''d obtained it was, well, questionable. Instead, she decided to weaponize it another way. She sent the logs directly to David Rockworth, along with a simple threat: She''d post everything online in five minutes.


    David''s response came almost immediately. He asked Mandy to meet him at the fallen bridge to "sort things out." But Mandy didn''t agree right away. She laid down a condition of her own: he had to bring his daughter, Brooke, with him.


    Now, driving toward the outskirts of town, Mandy was cool and confident. Ace, on the other hand, was anything but that as he thought the whole setup felt like a disaster waiting to happen.

 Chapter 160: Saving The Day

    Chapter 160: Saving The Day"See? I told you he couldn''t be trusted," Ace muttered as Mandy brought the car to a stop in front of the Rockworths. David and Brooke weren''t alone¡ªthey''d brought two tall, menacing men who looked more like hired muscle than family friends.


    Mandy sighed, rolling her eyes. "Stop worrying. That asshole probably brought them because he was scared I''d bring Dan along," she said, stepping out of the car. Ace followed her without hesitation with his jaw tight and his eyes scanning the surroundings warily.


    "David," Mandy called out, a sarcastic lilt to her voice as she approached them. "I didn''t think you''d need two bodyguards just to meet me. I''m flattered, really." She smirked, but before she could say another word, a blur shot past her.


    Ace moved like a coiled spring, his fists landing with precision. His first punch caught one of the tall men square in the throat, leaving him choking and stumbling. The second barely had time to react before Ace drove a solid gut punch into him, following up with a brutal knee to the face as he doubled over. With fluid efficiency, Ace turned back to the first man, who was gasping for air, and delivered a sharp kick to the groin that sent him crumpling to the ground.


    As both men writhed in pain, Ace bent down and disarmed them, pulling the handguns tucked into their waistbands. Without so much as a glance at the fallen men, he turned his attention to David, Brooke, and Mandy, who were staring at him in stunned silence. Calmly, Ace disassembled the guns piece by piece, letting the parts and ammo clatter to the ground, their metallic echoes breaking the eerie quiet of the desolate bridge.


    Satisfied, he hopped onto the hood of Brooke''s pristine G-Wagon, leaning back as if he were settling in for a casual conversation. "Please," he said, gesturing with a casual wave of his hand, "continue."


    Mandy blinked, momentarily speechless, before regaining her composure. Meanwhile, David and Brooke looked too shaken to speak, but their pale face and trembling legs spoke everything that need to be said.


    Ace, meanwhile, was stone-faced, hiding the adrenaline coursing through him. His doubts about the meeting had been confirmed when Dame Wasp, through their shared senses, reported earlier that David''s goons were armed. Ace''s father''s words echoed in his mind: Out here, you don''t wait for trouble to escalate¡ªyou deal with it before it becomes a tragedy.


    And Ace had done just that, ensuring the situation was under his control before it even began.


    Noticing Brooke subtly reach for her phone, Ace''s voice turned sharp, almost daring, as he said, "Go ahead. Call the cops. Make sure to tell them to bring an ambulance while they''re at it."


    David''s head snapped toward his daughter. His glare was a mix of fury and warning as he lunged forward, yanking her purse from her grip and tossing it to the ground with a thud. Then, turning his steely gaze to Mandy, trying to regain some control over the situation, David demanded, "What''s the meaning of this?"


    Mandy''s expression hardened. Her tone was steady, her eyes holding his without a trace of fear. "You tell me," she shot back. "Didn''t we agree to meet alone? So why did you bring two armed men with you?"


    Her voice carried an authority that hadn''t been there earlier. Before, she''d been feigning¡ªnot letting David savor the fear in her eyes. But now, with Ace by her side, she nothing to fear. The risk of the plan has been apparent to her. She wasn''t naive to think David would play nice. If he was capable of that then they wouldn''t be here.


    However, Mandy was confident David wouldn''t dare harm her¡ªnot with the detonator she held over his carefully constructed plans for his precious daughter''s bright future. Still, she wasn''t foolish enough to trust human nature especially when they had their backs backed up against a wall. People could be unpredictable, and desperation had a way of making even the most rational individuals dangerous. Knowing Ace had her back provided comfort and confidence to her.


    She was suprised to find that Ace wasn''t just strong¡ªhe was skilled. Mandy had brushed off Dan''s privious claims that Ace knew his way around firearms better than even his brother. But after watching him disassemble the men''s handguns with practiced ease, she realized Dan hadn''t been exaggerating. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    David exhaled slowly, his voice lowering as he tried to sound reasonable. "They were here for my protection. I didn''t think you''d trust me enough to come here alone without Dan accompanying you."


    Mandy''s lips twitched in a faint, humorless smile. "If you were that scared of Dan," she countered, her tone cutting, "you could''ve asked me to meet in a crowded place¡ªor even at the sheriff''s office. But you didn''t, did you?"


    Her words hung in the air like a challenge, her gaze pinning him. "Admit it¡ªyou never intended to play fair."


    David''s jaw tightened, but before he could respond, Mandy pulled out her phone. Her voice was cool, almost dismissive, as she said into the receiver, "Boys, head home. I''ve got this under control."


    Just as Brooke and David exchanged wary glances, trying to figure out who Mandy was talking to, the distant roar of engines broke the silence. The rumble of ATVs and dirt bikes echoed from the woods, growing louder before gradually fading into the distance.


    "Idiot! You ruined my whole plan," she snapped, her eyes blazing as she rounded on Ace. Mandy''s sharp voice cut through the tension, pulling the father and daughter duo''s focus back.


    Ace, who had been sitting casually on the G-Wagon''s hood, froze mid-smirk but he shrugged it off. He knew Mandy had been counting on David to pull some stunt¡ªsomething reckless enough to secure the absolute proof she needed to see him and Brooke locked away for good. And she hadn''t hesitated to put herself¡ªand Ace¡ªin harm''s way to get it.


    Ace liked to think she chose him for this because Danny wasn''t tough enough for the job. However, he had a feeling it was most likely because she was still mad at him for opposing her Orchard B&B venture.


    He had no clue what had sparked this bitter feud between the Landers and the Rockworths. Whatever it was, it was enough to push even level-headed Mandy to risk everything.


    Reckless as it seemed, Ace trusted her judgment. He always had. So, he planned to follow her lead but when he learned that David''s goons were armed the situation had spiraled too far, and Ace couldn''t just stand by and watch as things tipped into tragedy.


    "Mandy," Ace said, his voice steady but tinged with frustration. "You don''t have to put yourself in harm''s way to deal with trash like him." He crossed his arms, his tone softening. "I had my friend dig up some dirt on David. Let''s just say he found some pretty interesting stuff. I sent it to your email. Use it. Do what you were planning¡ªjust without putting your neck on the line."


    With that, he slid back onto the hood of the G-Wagon, resting against the windshield with a deliberate ease. Hands clasped behind his head, he stared up at the fading clouds as if the situation were no more than an inconvenience. But the slight furrow in his brow betrayed the weight of his thoughts.

 Chapter 161: Evil Genius

    Chapter 161: Evil Genius"Holy shit, I didn''t peg you for a passport bro. Though, to be fair, I don''t think that term really fits your situation," Mandy said, scrolling through the email Ace had sent her. It was packed with all the dirt his friend had dug up on David Rockworth.


    "What''s a passport bro?" David asked, his brow furrowed in genuine puzzlement. The term was clearly foreign to him.


    "It''s a guy who travels abroad to find love," Brooke cut in, her tone dripping with passive-aggressive sweetness. She tilted her head slightly, her face twisted into a mock innocent expression. "But don''t worry daddy because it doesn''t really apply to you. Since you''ve only got a second family in the East. That means you''re just a two-timing bigamist, daddy."


    "Holy shit, you knew?" Mandy exclaimed, her jaw dropping as she glanced at Brooke. The shock in her voice was genuine¡ªBrooke knowing about her father''s secret life was one thing, but what stunned her even more was, "You knew she knew? Unreal. Like father, like daughter. Your mother his luck to have a daughter and husband like you two. No wonder you''re grooming her to take over the family business instead of your ''dull'' son."


    "Call my brother dull again, and I''ll rip your tongue out, even if it kills me," Brooke snapped, her eyes flashing as she threw a warning glare at Mandy. Her gaze flickered briefly toward Ace, who lay sprawled on the hood of her G-Wagon, lazily cloud-gazing.


    "I hear you twins are inseparable," Mandy taunted, her voice sharp as a blade. "You''re not dabbling in a little... taboo, are you?"


    She stalked toward Brooke, her movements fierce and deliberate. Meeting Mandy''s menacing gaze, Brooke instinctively stepped back, but before she could retreat further, Mandy grabbed her collar. Bringing her raspberry-red lips dangerously close to Brooke''s ear, she whispered, "I have the photos. Unless you want to become the next town gossip as the true redneck hillbilly twins, you better behave and watch your tone around me."


    Brooke''s face turned ashen, the defiance in her eyes draining away. Seeing her reaction, Mandy smirked and released her grip on the collar.


    "I''ve half a mind to leak them after the little stunt you pulled last night," Mandy said, her tone cold and deliberate. "But I won''t¡ªunless you give me a reason to." sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Janice''s family''s cybersecurity team had uncovered far more on Brooke than Mandy had asked for. While Mandy wasn''t planning to use all of it¡ªshe had principles and values she refused to compromise¡ªshe wasn''t above leveraging it to tame Brooke. This was a far cry from the underhanded tactics Brooke had used against Mandy''s family.


    "Leak what?" David''s voice cut through their tense exchange. His face was a mix of confusion and worry as he looked between Mandy and Brooke.


    Both women snapped their heads toward him, Mandy''s glare sharp enough to silence him. "This doesn''t concern you, David," she said coldly. "You should worry about yourself¡ªaffairs, tax evasion, bribery, extortion, money laundering, fake witness testimonies, attempt to murder,... Heck, is there any crime you haven''t committed?"


    "Don''t slander me!" David shot back, his voice defensive and shaky. "You can''t prove any of that!"


    Mandy let out a humorless laugh, crossing her arms as she stared him down. "Oh, can''t I?" she said, raising a brow. "Check your email. I sent you a copy of everything we have on you. Now, here''s the deal: I want you to gift back the land your grandmother stole from Dan''s grandfather.


    "As much as I''d love to see you rot in prison for the rest of your miserable life, I know Dan would value reclaiming that land more. So, count your lucky stars and do as I say. If you even think about trying something funny, so help me God, I''ll bury you alive. Literally. And while you''re rotting, I''ll bankrupt your family and buy that land from the bank for pennies."


    David''s face went pale as Mandy''s words landed like a hammer. Her voice was calm, but her tone made it clear she wasn''t bluffing.


    Satisfied with his stunned silence, Mandy turned her attention to Brooke. Her expression was icy as she barked, "And you¡ªget on your knees and beg for his forgiveness. Stay there until he forgives you. Now."


    Brooke hurried toward Ace, her high heels clicking sharply against the asphalt road. She passed the unconscious muscle her father had hired to protect them without sparing them a glance. Standing before her G-Wagon, she looked at Ace, who was seated on its hood, leaning back lazily against the windshield, his eyes fixed on the sky as though none of this involved him.


    Her gaze flicked nervously toward her father, but she found Mandy glaring at her instead. The intensity of that look sent a chill down her spine. Swallowing her fear, she hesitated before lowering herself to her knees, her snow white and rosy kneecaps pressing into a patch of grass sprouting from a crack in the old asphalt.


    "I said, beg for his forgiveness!" Mandy snapped from behind, her voice sharp as a whip.


    David, meanwhile, was too distracted to intervene. His attention was locked on his phone, scrolling through an email Mandy had just sent him. His face paled as he read its contents. The file detailed many of his white-collar crimes¡ªembezzlement, tax evasion, fraud. Though it lacked evidence of the beat down he had personally committed, it did include enough damning proof of the thugs he''d hired. It was more than sufficient to ensure he''d rot in prison¡ªor face execution. After all, their state had some of the weakest protections against capital punishment in the country.


    Brooke''s voice trembled as she finally spoke. "A-Ace, please forgive me. It was wrong of me to frame you and your family for stealing." Tears streamed down her cheeks, streaking her mascara as she bowed her head, pleading for mercy.


    Ace didn''t even look at her. His gaze remained fixed on Mandy, his tone calm but detached as he said, "If you''re done here, let''s go. I have an appointment."


    With Dame Wasp having compiled the entire digital and offline footprint of the Rockworth family, Ace had already uncovered every skeleton in their closets. But digging through their dirt only reinforced one truth: the Rockworths were one of the worst human beings he had seen. That''s says a lot considering his history with the 9Ks.


    He was here for revenge. He wasn''t about to become the very thing he hated the most. His purpose here was simple: to neutralize the threat the Rockworths posed to his family. Mandy now held the weapon to dismantle them, and his role in this saga was complete.


    As he slid off the G-Wagon''s hood, his mind was already elsewhere. The only thing on his agenda now was to reach the winery, retrieve the Phantom Pain curse core, and collect Doctor Druid''s doll.


    "Hey!" Mandy snapped her fingers sharply in front of David, dragging him out of his daze. He had been staring blankly, still reeling from the proof Mandy had on him. It wasn''t the legality of how she obtained it that haunted him¡ªit was the devastating reality of what would happen if it ever came to light. If leaked, the fallout would be catastrophic. His reputation, his power, his place in this town¡ªall gone in an instant.


    As David''s eyes refocused, Mandy leaned closer, her tone cold and firm. "Here''s the deal: I want you to hand over the deeds to those lands to Dan by tonight. No excuses. If you don''t¡ª" she held up her phone, her thumb hovering dramatically over the screen, "¡ªI''ll seal your fate with one click. Your choice."


    Without waiting for his response, Mandy turned away, her heels clicking confidently on the pavement. She glanced at Ace as she passed. "We''re done here. Let''s go," she said, her tone dismissive.


    Ace followed a few steps behind but paused briefly beside David. He leaned in, his voice low, almost sympathetic. "If you care about your kids even a little," he murmured, "withdraw all your wealth from the bank, sell whatever''s left of your property as soon as possible, turn all of it into cryptocurrency of your choice, and give it to your children. Don''t fight Mandy on this. There is no way you will come out on top of this¡ªjust let it happen. If you beg her she might consider giving you some time to make arrangements for your kids. The quicker you cooperate, the less traumatic and painful it will be for your kids. Then maybe... at least they can lead a better life. Even though its not what you had planned for them, its better than the alternative."


    David''s face tightened, his jaw clenching as Ace stepped away. He knew Mandy wouldn''t just spare him if he just returned the land to Dan and Ace''s words just confirmed it.


    Brooke, still kneeling on the cracked asphalt, caught every word of Ace''s quiet advice. Her tear-streaked face turned toward him, confusion flickering in her eyes. She couldn''t understand. Why would Ace, of all people, show even a sliver of concern for them after everything they''d done to his family? Especially after what she had done. The question lingered, heavy in her mind, as she watched him ride away without so much as a glance in her direction.


    As Mandy and Ace drove away, Dame Wasp''s voice crackled through the car''s speakers, her tone laced with mock exasperation. ''Master, you are truly an evil genius.''


    Ace smirked faintly, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. ''I''m not evil, Rose,'' he replied calmly. ''I''m just thorough.''

 Chapter 162: Friend Or Aunt

    Chapter 162: Friend Or Aunt"What are you planning?" Mandy asked, her tone casual but curious as she glanced at Ace. She had vaguely overheard his quiet advice to David earlier.


    "Nothing," Ace replied with a shrug, his gaze fixed out the window. "What about you? Since when did you start hanging out with cowboys? Does Auntie Pam know about this?" He smirked, clearly teasing. Ace had noticed the way Mandy''s backup¡ªcowboys and girls from nearby ranches¡ªhad been waiting in the woods for her signal.


    Mandy shot him a side-eye while steering with one hand, her other arm resting on the wheel. "Ace, I don''t hang out with them. They owed me a favor, and now they don''t."


    Just as they approached the main road, Ace''s attention was drawn to a chick on a dirt bike waiting by the cross. Mandy slowed the car and pulled over beside her, the engine rumbling softly.


    Mandy stepped out, and the biker chick leaned casually against her bike, her dark green leather jacket creaking as she shifted her weight. "I just wanted to make sure you got back safe," she said, her voice gruff but warm.


    "Thanks, Harper," Mandy replied with a nod. Though she hadn''t really needed their help, she appreciated that they had shown up when she called.


    Harper waved it off, spitting a wad of chewing tobacco onto the ground. "Don''t mention it. Compared to what you''ve done for us, this is nothing. Everything handled? If that bastard ever comes near you again, just give me a call."


    Mandy''s lips curled into a sly smile. "Don''t worry. When I''m done with him, he won''t be able to show his face anywhere."


    Harper barked a laugh, her eyes gleaming with approval. "Ha! You look soft like one of those city skanks, but you''re a mean bad bitch insided." She then glanced past Mandy, noticing the young man sitting in the car. Recognition flickered in her gaze. "That the kid who took down all those hired goons like it was nothing?"


    Mandy turned slightly, gesturing toward the car. "That''s my other nephew, Ace Lander."


    Ace stepped out, his hands casually in his pockets, and gave a small nod. Harper extended a hand, a rough but friendly grin on her face. "I''m Harper. Nice to meet you."


    "Do you know where I can rent one of those for a day?" Ace asked shaking her hand, skipping any small talk and getting straight to the point. He had originally planned to borrow Danny''s car to get to the winery, but with Danny at school, retrieving the keys would mean a detour. Instead, he considered renting a dirt bike. It would let him take an off-road route, saving time and avoiding the risk of running into another C.I.B. operation or a rogue curse user.


    Harper didn''t answer right away. Her eyes flicked to Mandy, who raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why do you need it?"


    "Isn''t it obvious?" Ace replied, leaning back slightly with an easy grin. "I plan to skip school and have some fun. I was hoping you''d cover for me. Don''t worry¡ªI''ll be back by evening."


    Mandy folded her arms, her expression unimpressed. "And why would I do that?" she asked, her tone cool but edged with challenge.


    Ace blinked, incredulous. "Really? I just took down two armed guys for you." His disbelief was evident, his hands gesturing slightly as he spoke. He couldn''t believe Mandy would still hold a grudge, especially after everything they had been through just now, together. If anyone should be apologizing, it was her¡ªfor last her night''s stunt and the stunt earlier. Even though she had backup, things could have easily turned into a tragedy.


    Mandy leaned in, her sharp gaze locking with Ace''s. Her voice dropped, firm and unyielding. "Acey, let me make something clear. The moment you stood against me¡ªeven after I opened up to you about my reasons¡ªyou lost the friend in me." She straightened slightly, her tone sharpening further. "Right now, I''m just your aunt. As for what I did earlier, nobody gets away with framing my nephew for stealing."


    Ace frowned, momentarily taken aback, but he didn''t respond right away. Mandy''s words had hit their mark, stripping away any trace of the lightheartedness he''d tried to inject. After a beat, he stepped closer, his gaze steady as he looked down at her. "Well, Mandy, you leave me no choice, then. But are you sure you don''t want a friend in me?"


    Mandy didn''t flinch. She met his eyes with a cool intensity. "I didn''t start this¡ªyou did¡ª"


    Before she could say more, Harper stepped between them, raising her hands in a calming gesture. "Alright, alright, enough of this standoff," she said firmly. "I don''t know what''s going on here, but from what I''m hearing, it''s clear you both care about each other enough to risk your lives for one another. So, how about you sit down and actually talk it out? Mandy, you''re the older one. You should go first."


    Mandy let out a sharp exhale, glancing at Harper before glaring back at Ace. "Well, Harper, I did talk to him, but he won''t talk to me," she said, her frustration spilling into her tone.


    Ace blinked, processing her words. For the first time, it dawned on him¡ªMandy wasn''t angry about his opposition to her Orchard B&B plan. She wasn''t holding a petty grudge. No, this was deeper. She knew he was hiding something from her. She wasn''t asking him to confide in her for the sake of it. She just wanted to understand his reasons, the same way she had helped him understand her reasons last night during their drive back to the estate. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His shoulders tensed slightly as the realization settled. Mandy wasn''t asking for the full truth¡ªshe just wanted enough to understand, the same way she had helped him see why the Orchard B&B plan was important to her. Just enough clarity so she could let go of her plans without any lingering, unfinished feelings.


    "Let''s talk," Ace compromised.

 Chapter 163: Leader & Guardian

    Chapter 163: Leader & Guardian"Mandy, who do you think is the most dangerous being in the world?" Ace asked, his gaze fixed on the rolling expanse of grassland stretching out before him. Cattle grazed lazily, while cowboys rode their horses along the fence line, checking for signs of tampering. A gentle morning breeze rolled down from the distant mountains, carrying with it the earthy scent of the raw scene.


    "Really? When I agreed to talk, I didn''t sign up for a counseling session," Mandy said, rolling her eyes at Ace. She crossed her arms, clearly uninterested in humoring his question. But as her eyes met his, seeing the flicker of seriousness in them her demeanor softened. She sighed and answered, "Humans."


    "I used to think the same," Ace said after a pause. He shifted his weight and glanced back at the fields, his expression darkening. "But there are things worse than humans."


    Mandy frowned, her brow furrowed in confusion as she tried to follow his line of thought. Before she could ask, Ace turned back to her. "You are friends with Janice, did you ever ask her why she quit acting?"


    "What does that have to do with what we''re talking about?" Mandy asked, tilting her head slightly, the confusion evident in her voice.


    "The reason she quit acting is almost the same as why I''m against you turning the estate into an orchard B&B¡ªor starting one anywhere else, for that matter," Ace said with an uncharacteristic edge, weighing how much to reveal.


    Mandy opened her mouth to argue but stopped when she noticed the tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw clenched briefly before he exhaled.


    "She said she had to quit acting because it clashed with her family business," Mandy muttered in a quiet tone. Recalling the memory now she felt something amiss about it.


    Ace gave her a knowing look. He didn''t want to drag her into the "World of Curses"¡ªshe was too pure, too untainted for such a grim reality. But the path she was walking would inevitably lead her to someone from that world. She already had, though Janice had been merciful. The next encounter might not be so forgiving. He needed Mandy to understand, even if only subconsciously. One day, when such a time comes, she''d remember this conversation¡ªand she''d know she wasn''t alone in the two worlds. She had him.


    "Mandy, why do you think I asked for farmland, of all things Janice could have given me?" Ace asked. His tone was calm, but the sharpness in his gaze revealed he knew Mandy was starting to see through his and Janice''s carefully crafted excuses¡ªevery discrepancy, every omission for what they were¡ªlies, plain and simple.


    "Does Janice know?" Mandy asked, as a dangerous glint flashed in her eyes. Her voice was steady, but it was clear she cared more about the implications for his relationship with Janice than uncovering the truth itself.


    "No," Ace replied firmly. "She can never know¡ªespecially because of her family business." His voice softened hinting her that none of this could fall into Janice''s ears. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I see," Mandy said, her expression softened pivoting back to the previous topic, "So why farmland? Wasn''t it for your father?"


    Ace hesitated for a moment before revealing, "My father was part of the reason. But the truth? I wanted to create a sanctuary for the family. Somewhere far from the dangers of world I know." He closed his eyes briefly, letting the fresh breeze sweep over him, carrying a rare sense of relief. His shoulders felt less burdened.


    "And me planning to use the estate to start an Orchard B&B¡­" Mandy''s voice trailed off as understanding dawned on her. "That''s the same as destroying the sanctuary you worked to build for the family, isn''t it?"


    Ace nodded slightly. Before he could respond, Mandy''s hand shot out to grip his shoulder, spinning him to face her. Her eyes locked onto his, unwavering. "Your combat skills, your firearms expertise," she said, her voice low but charged, "are they for fighting those dangers you are unable to speak of?"


    "You don''t need to worry about that," Ace assured her with a confident smile, one that didn''t quite reach his eyes. "You focus on leading the family. Leave guarding it to me."


    Mandy studied him for a moment, her intense expression softening. An unconscious smile crept across her face as her hand drifted to his. Their fingers brushed, and for a fleeting moment, the tension between them ebbed.


    "Nephew," she began with a teasing lilt, "if I were a few years younger, I''d say screw society and date you for real."


    Ace raised an eyebrow and with a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes he said, "Auntie, if that were the case, I''d have to reject you." He paused dramatically, savoring the moment her eyes widened in surprise before adding, "You see, I''ve got a thing for older women."


    "Nephew," Mandy eyes narrowed in mock-stern as she released his hands and clasped hers behind her back. Leaning forward playfully, her eyes rolled upward to meet his, "are you flirting with your auntie?"


    "Auntie, if I were, believe me¡ªyou''d know," Ace smoothly replied as a sly grin spread across his face.


    "Why would you flirt with your aunt when there are young girls throwing themselves at you, you little heartbreaker?" Mandy teased with a knowing smirk playing on her lips and raised an eyebrow before adding, "Like Ava Martin, for instance." Her voice was light, but her expression turned serious as she continued, "Don''t worry. I''ll get my sister¡ªand your mother¡ªto back off."


    "No need for that," Ace said, shaking his head. "Just stall for a while. I''ll bring you the business proposal I promised. If you think it''s something worth backing, you can use it to sway their minds." His tone was calm but deliberate, not wanting Mandy to lose the trust of his mother and aunt over this.


    Mandy studied him for a moment, before nodding in agreement, "Alright." Then, with genuine concern evident in her eyes, she said, "Nephew, you know you''re not alone in this, right? You have us. If you ever need my help, come to me. I''ll do my best¡ªno questions asked."


    Ace smiled faintly, the corners of his mouth lifting as he met her gaze. "I''ll hold you to that," he said with a small nod. "But for now," he steadily added, with a hint of grin creeping into his tone, "help me rent a dirt bike¡ªand cover for me at home."


    "Is that all?"


    "Also, help David sell his estate if he comes to you. Don''t worry, I''m just planning to take care of that problem with its roots."

 Chapter 164: Cursed Bike

    Chapter 164: Cursed Bike"Looks like you guys sorted things out." Harper smiled as she watched Mandy lead Ace merrily toward her garage. If she hadn''t known they were aunt and nephew, she might have mistaken them for a young couple.


    "Since you brought him to my garage, I''m guessing you want me to hook him up with a dirt bike," Harper added with a knowing grin.


    "Harper, thank you for accommodating us," Mandy said gratefully, knowing there were no motorbike rentals in town. Harper had graciously offered to loan one of her bikes to Ace for the day.


    "So, Harper, what will I be riding?" Ace asked, rubbing his palms together in excitement as he eyed the array of motorbikes neatly arranged in the garage. He''d never ridden a motorbike before, but with the Apex earring''s driving effect, he was confident he could handle it like a pro racer.


    "That one." Harper pointed to a small bike by the door. "It''s a KTM 50 SX." The bike looked more like a toy than a real dirt bike.


    Ace raised an eyebrow. "Harper, come on. I''m sure I can handle something bigger than 50cc. How about something in the 250cc to 450cc range? Whatever you''ve got available works for me," he said, his eyes gleaming as he glanced at the Kawasakis, Suzukis, and Yamahas. He couldn''t wait to get his hands on one. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Harper crossed her arms and tilted her head. "Do you have any experience riding one of these?" she asked cautiously, a hint of a frown forming. Ace might be underage, but she''d seen him take down two armed men with ease. She didn''t want to underestimate him.


    "Yes," Ace said without hesitation. Showing no remorse for lying he added with a playful smirk, "Why don''t you let me try one out? I''ll show you what I''ve got."


    "Well," Harper said, glancing around the garage, "I do have a 125cc that I could loan you, but it''s old. I haven''t used it in a while, so I''d need to check it out first." She tapped her chin, trying to recall where she''d last stashed her old Kawasaki.


    "What about those?" Ace asked, pointing at the array of motorbikes neatly lined up in the garage. He wondered if they belonged to her customers.


    "Even I''m not allowed to touch those," Harper said with a shrug, her tone tinged with helplessness. "They''re from my uncle''s dealership. I just rent out space in my garage to him."


    Ace frowned, already knowing better than to push Harper for one of those bikes. Instead, he said, "Alright then. Does he have an electric one? I''ll buy it now."


    "Buddy, pump your brakes." Mandy stepped in quickly, holding up a hand before Harper could answer. "I only agreed to rent you a bike, not buy you one. Your mom would skin me alive if she found out I bought you a dirt bike of all things."


    She crossed her arms, clearly exasperated. Mandy still remembered how Mary reacted when she casually mentioned gifting Ace a car for his upcoming birthday. Mary had joked she might forgive Mandy if she dated Ace instead, but never if she let him own a "Bed/death on wheels." It was crystal clear where Mary stood.


    "No worries, I can afford one myself," Ace said, dismissing Mandy''s concerns with a wave. Turning back to Harper, he asked, "I heard the Stark VARG is a good electric motocross bike. Do you guys have one in stock? And do you take crypto, or is it strictly cash?"


    Harper blinked, staring at him in disbelief. "Wait, are you serious?" She couldn''t believe a high schooler had the kind of money to buy a Stark VARG, let alone pay with cryptocurrency.


    "Yes," Ace said flatly, raising an eyebrow. "So, do you have it or not?"


    Harper hesitated, her gaze shifting to Mandy for confirmation. Mandy threw her hands up in defeat. "Give him what he wants," she said, shaking her head. "I''m heading home. If your mom asks, I''ll just say I dropped you off at school. I want no part of this."


    With that, Mandy left the garage without bothering to ask where Ace had gotten all that money. She didn''t suspect him of misusing the money she''d invested in his trading venture. Based on the combat skills he''d shown her and their conversation today, it was clear her nephew was leading a second life¡ªone that no one in their family knew about until now.


    The revelation didn''t shock her; instead, it explained a lot. While curiosity gnawed at her, Mandy chose not to pry. She trusted that Ace would share the truth when he was ready. For now, she was simply happy to be the first person he''d confided in. For reasons she couldn''t quite explain, that mattered more to her than uncovering the details.


    "Thanks, Auntie! You''re the best!" Ace shouted after her, grinning, then turned back to Harper, clearly waiting for an answer.


    Harper hesitated. "Well¡­ my uncle does have a Stark VR1," she admitted. "You can get it for cheap, too¡ªbut trust me, you don''t want that bike."


    Ace raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"


    Harper sighed, conflicted. On one hand, she wanted to help her uncle make a sale. On the other, she felt indebted to Mandy''s kindness and didn''t want to lead Ace astray. "It''s cheap because¡­ well, the day the guy who bought it was testing it in the mountains, he wasn''t wearing any protective gear. The rest is history," she said grimly. "Shockingly, the bike didn''t have a single scratch. It was totally fine despite the brutal accident.


    "The deceased''s family returned the bike to the dealership and got their money back, but my uncle can''t resell it¡ªeven with a huge discount. It''s electric, which puts some people off, and¡­ well, folks around here think it''s cursed."


    "A cursed bike, huh?" Ace muttered, his interest piqued. He had a feeling Harper meant the usual superstitions, not the kind of curse he could actually wield. His lips curled into a mischievous smirk. "Lead the way. I want to check it out."


    Harper groaned, throwing her head back. "Ugh, you''re really not gonna let this go, are you?"


    "Nope."


    With a reluctant sigh, Harper gestured for Ace to follow her. "Alright, fine. But don''t say I didn''t warn you." She led him to the back of the garage, her steps heavy with reluctance.


    Soon, they arrived at a container office. A fat, bald man stood by the door, puffing on a cigarette. Spotting Harper arrive with a young man, he squinted and asked, "Who''s that?"


    "He''s a customer. He''s interested in buying the Stark VR1," Harper said, cutting straight to the point.


    The man immediately stubbed out his cigarette on the ground, his demeanor shifting. "Harper, you told him everything about its past, right? I don''t want any trouble later."


    "Yes, I told him," Harper replied. Before she could say more, Ace interjected. "Harper, I handle it from here."


    Harper hesitated, glancing at him. For Mandy''s sake, she felt like she should stay and oversee the situation, but Ace''s confident demeanor convinced her otherwise. "Alright," she said with a nod. "I''ll be back at the garage if you need me."


    Once Harper was out of earshot, Ace turned to the dealer and pointed to a green-and-blue motocross bike parked beside the office, plugged in for charging. "Is that the bike?"


    "Yes," the dealer confirmed with a nod. "It''s fully charged. Do you want to test drive it?"


    "No need," Ace said, his tone brisk. "I''m willing to pay $10,000 in cryptocurrency, and I''ll handle the registration myself. So, do we have a deal?" He was in a hurry; he needed to hit the road now to make it to the winery on time.


    The dealer''s face lit up at the offer. $10,000 was $1,000 more than his asking price. Not to mention he did not have make trip to the DMV. "Deal!" he said enthusiastically. "Here''s my wallet ID. Let me go grab the keys for you."

 Chapter 165: Serial Killings

    Chapter 165: Serial Killings"Rose, are you sure no one''s within a mile radius?" Ace asked, leaning over the cliff edge. Sitting on his bike, he rested his elbows on his helmet, which was perched on the gas tank, as he gazed down at the winery nestled at the foot of the mountain.


    After leaving Harper''s garage with his new bike along with freebie helmet and smart phone holder, Ace followed Dame Wasp''s directions through the woods to the winery. Thanks to his enhanced stats, he easily navigated steep slopes and crossed creeks, even carrying the bike when necessary. What should have been a two-hour road trip took him less than an hour.


    Instead of heading straight into the winery, Ace stopped on the hill above it, choosing a vantage point where he could safely enter his Apex persona and store the bike in Emi''s storage talisman. This time, hiding wasn''t an option¡ªthe curse exorcism request made it clear the curseling was hiding somewhere in the winery. With the property spanning thousands of acres, Ace would have to search on-site to track it down. His plan was simple: pose as a guest and explore the premises to locate the target.


    ''Yes, master. My cybernetics confirm it,'' Dame Wasp replied, she double-checked their surroundings using her cybernetics systems through Ace''s senses.


    Satisfied, Ace donned his helmet and started the bike, turning into the woods under the cover of tall pine trees. After stopping in a secluded spot, he summoned his third toy summon and instructed as he began undressing, "Emi, store this bike and take out the other set of clothes."


    Emi stepped forward, her movements fluid as she retrieved a neatly folded outfit and polished boots from her storage talisman. "Master, should I use the scavenger spirit to absorb the curse energy attached to the bike?" she asked, glancing at the vehicle.


    The clothes she handed him were slightly dated¡ªDan''s old clothes and boots. While still in good condition, they''d fallen out of rotation once Dan had grown his beer gut. They''d fit Ace''s Apex persona well enough, even if the style wasn''t ideal.


    "No," Ace replied, shaking his head as he slipped into the fresh clothes. "If possible, turn it into a cursed item. Next time we visit a cursed mall, let''s buy a curse core suitable for making it into either a cursed tool."


    As he tied his boot laces, Ace cast a quick glance at the bike, already envisioning its potential. It wasn''t just convenient transportation¡ªit was fun to ride.


    The moment Ace walked to the back of Harper''s garage to her uncle''s container office, Dame Wasp had informed him that she sensed curse energy in his surroundings. That was how he noticed the Stark VR1 plugged in for charging beside the container. He stopped, narrowing his eyes as he examined it. At first, he was surprised to find that the bike carried curse energy, as the townsfolk had claimed. But upon closer inspection, he realized it wasn''t a cursed item¡ªit simply had curse energy lingering on it.


    The realization clicked: the bike had recently been in the company of a strong curseling. This could only mean the previous owner had encountered a curseling on the mountain near the town while testing the bike. Ace pieced it together¡ªthe owner''s death hadn''t been an accident but rather the work of a curseling or curse slave using their curseling partner. The lingering energy on the bike was a chilling trace of that encounter.


    "Rose, did you dig up anything about the bike''s accident or its previous owner?" Ace asked, recalling Emi with a thought after she promptly stored the bike and its helmet in her talisman.


    ''Yes, Master,'' Dame Wasp replied. ''There''s nothing remarkable about the previous owner himself. But the location of his accident caught my attention. That spot has been linked to four other accidental deaths in the past year. Before that, there were no incidents.''


    Ace frowned, listening intently.


    ''The circumstances of each death were different¡ªthey were all doing unrelated activities¡ªbut every incident occurred exactly three months apart. I doubt it''s a simple curseling. My analysis suggests it''s likely a curse slave¡ªa human acting as an mastermind. They could be a serial killer feeding human souls to their curseling partner,'' Dame Wasp speculated, her tone firm.


    Ace''s clenched his jaw tightly. "A curse slave," he muttered, a flicker of anger in his eyes. The pattern, the calculated timing, and the grisly implications painted a dark truth that there was a curse slave hiding in the town or its surroundings.


    He exhaled sharply, refocusing. "Good work, Rose. Keep digging. I need everything¡ªpast incidents, the first reporters, known witness, anything unusual about that mountain. We''re not letting this thing run loose."


    ''Understood, Master,'' Dame Wasp affirmed. Before diving back into her data streams, she arranged for a cab to pick him up from the bus stop on the highway near the mountain. After all, walking straight to the winery would be odd and suspicious.


    ''Master, I''ve booked a cab,'' she informed him.


    "Good," Ace replied, adjusting his pace as he descended the mountain toward the bus stop. "Can you pull up the info on the phantom paint again?"


    ''Right away, Master,'' Dame Wasp responded, sharing the details seamlessly onto his status screen.


    [ ¡ªStatus Screen¡ª


    Name: Phantom Paint


    Race: Curseling


    Class: Mortal-Tier


    Title: Ghost Painter


    Info: The Phantom Paint typically appears as a dark and eerie silhouette but is essentially curse energy manifested in the form of paint and a curse core. It haunts paintings of any style or genre, though it has a marked preference for renowned portraits. The Phantom Paint can adopt the colors and textures of the paintings or murals it inhabits.


    It thrives on the fear of those near the haunted artwork, using its abilities to invoke dread in observers. For example, when haunting a portrait, it may make the eyes in the painting move, follow the observer around the room, or give the impression that the painting is watching them.


    If a mortal catches the Phantom Paint in the act, it can drag them into the painting it inhabits and devour them entirely.


    Known Skills:


    i) Dimensional Shift:


    The Phantom Paint can alternate between two-dimensional and three-dimensional forms when possessing a painting.


    ii) Fluid Body:


    Its liquid paint-like body renders physical attacks largely ineffective.


    iii) Camouflage:


    The Phantom Paint can blend seamlessly with its surroundings by altering its color, effectively camouflaging both its form and curse energy.


    iv) Dimensional Stomach:


    It possesses a dimensional stomach that allows it to access and digest three-dimensional food even while in a two-dimensional form.


    Additional skill:


    Paint Domain: Utilizing its skills ''Dimension Shift'' and ''Dimensional Stomach,'' the curseling can transform the painting it possesses into an actual, separate dimension. This dimension mirrors the artwork depicted within the painting. Within in it''s Paint Domain, the curseling has complete dominion making it near impossible to kill it from with in its Paint Domain. If the curseling is killed, anything trapped within its Paint Domain will be expelled into the real dimension.


    Note:


    i) Source: C.I.B. archives, S.S.S. archives


    ii) This data is created for human convenience by humans. Curselings don''t assess to this.]


    sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 166: Wealth Watchlist

    Chapter 166: Wealth Watchlist"With skills like these, this curseling''s core should be perfect for creating a mule-type curse slave to smuggle goods, right?" Ace muttered, arriving at the bus stop. He couldn''t understand why the curseling''s curse core wasn''t more sought after to make curse slaves with it.


    ''Master, at the mortal tier, its abilities are weak,'' Dame Wasp began, her tone tinged with dry precision. ''It can only pull mortals into its paint domain, but the skill breaks if the painting its haunting is touched or moved, throwing it out of the painting severing the connection between the curseling and its domain. Its powers may seem dream-like, but they''re heavily limited. Moreover, at the mortal tier, it lacks the curse energy needed to fully unleash its abilities. Since curse slaves can only embed mortal-tier cores, they see little value in this one. It''s rare but not desirable.''


    Ace frowned, crossing his arms as a cold breeze brushed past. "How reliable is the C.I.B. when it comes to the information they post in curse exorcism requests? If this curseling is so weak, why didn''t the investigators handle it themselves?"


    The reward attached to the request nagged at him. From everything he''d learned about the phantom paint curseling, it seemed far too feeble, especially considering its lack of offensive, attack-type skills that could pose a threat to curse users. The C.I.B. investigators, responsible for verifying and cataloging this curse exorcism requests, should have been able to deal with it effortlessly.


    Yet here was a $100,000 bounty on its head. Even if the C.I.B. had state funding to spare, the amount didn''t add up. Something about this request didn''t sit right with him. Still, the phantom paint curse core was too tempting for Ace to let go. With it, he could create a toy summon capable of protecting his entire family in a pinch. Letting this one slip away meant losing a rare chance to secure a curse core with space-type-ish abilities¡ªa resource so scarce that even billions of dollars couldn''t guarantee one. In the ''World of Curses,'' money wasn''t the problem; finding high-quality resources was.


    ''Master, the information on the curse exorcism request is legitimate,'' Dame Wasp assured him, her tone matter-of-fact. ''The reason the C.I.B. investigators posted the request is because the curseling is incredibly agile and good at hiding. They weren''t about to waste days combing through the winery''s estate for such an insignificant target. Instead, they passed the task along with a bounty to the curse exorcism request board. And the cash reward? That''s not from the C.I.B.¡ªit''s from the owner of Wesley Winery Resort & Spa.''


    Ace''s frown eased slightly, though he still felt uneasy. Dame Wasp continued, sensing his lingering doubts. ''Master, the C.I.B. wouldn''t risk conducting a top-secret mission here. If they were caught, it wouldn''t just endanger themselves but also jeopardize one of their most efficient¡ªand cheapest¡ªmethods for dealing with curselings across the country. They rely heavily on the trust of rogue curse masters and those from the "World of Curses."


    ''Their numbers are too limited to respond to every curseling-related incident across the country. Losing that trust would cripple them. As much as they despise rogue curse users roaming like ticking time bombs¡ªready to cause chaos over something as trivial as waking up on the wrong side of the bed¡ªthey''re powerless. They have no choice but to depend on them. That''s why they wouldn''t dare compromise the legitimacy of the curse exorcism request board.''


    Ace nodded slowly, absorbing her explanation. It made sense, but the feeling that something didn''t quite add up still nagged at him.


    "Is the owner of the winery a curse user?" Ace asked, narrowing his eyes as Dame Wasp mentioned the reward for the curse exorcism request being funded by the owner.


    ''No,'' Dame Wasp replied, her voice calm but matter-of-fact. ''But the winery''s owner has a net worth of $350 million¡ª''


    Ace cut her off with a tired sigh, shaking his head. "So, he''s on the C.I.B.''s wealth watchlist. The rich really are this country''s favorite children."


    The wealth watchlist: a catalog of the nation''s wealthiest individuals identified as potential targets for rogue curse users or curse terrorists. These people were particularly vulnerable to curse users because of their mortal status, immense wealth, and influence over the economy. The list was maintained by the C.I.B., law enforcement, financial institutions, and other organizations tasked with safeguarding the country''s economic stability.


    At least, that''s how the C.I.B. justified it. The reality, Ace thought, was far more self-serving. The list wasn''t just about protecting the rich¡ªit was about monitoring them. The government feared what might happen if the wealthy turned to the ''World of Curses'' to cheat death.


    The rich had a singular fear: dying. If someone with their resources discovered the ''World of Curses,'' they wouldn''t hesitate to buy immortality¡ªor at least eternal youth and health.


    Sure, awakening as a curse user came with risks, but the ''World of Curses'' offered other methods. Through curse sacrifice rituals and other dark arts, even a regular curse user could extend a mortal''s lifespan and vitality. On the curse web, it was widely speculated that the wisemen of the Curse Council had used such methods to control kings in the past.


    However, that theory was shaky. After all, the Curse Council weren''t the only ones with access to those techniques. Any capable curse user could grant a mortal a long and healthy life, if the price was right.


    Regular cursed means could extend a mortal''s lifespan to 130 or even 150 years, all while maintaining perfect health. But beyond that limit, things turned dark¡ªrequiring forbidden curse methods that often involved human sacrifices.


    History was riddled with accounts of wealthy individuals sacrificing thousands of innocent lives to push their lifespans beyond natural limits. And it wasn''t just about living longer. The rich could also use their wealth to buy the loyalty of curse users, eliminating rivals or manipulating events to suit their interests.


    This was the real reason the government kept the wealthy and influential under close watch. These individuals posed a greater threat than small time rogue curse user. History had repeatedly shown what mortals were willing to do for just a few extra years of life.


    If there was any silver lining, it was that the government imposed extra taxes on the rich to protect them from the dangers of the ''World of Curses'' when actually they were using it to monitor them. But even with the C.I.B. keeping a tight leash on those in the wealth watchlist, the rich always found ways to get what they wanted. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They would simply go to countries with lax regulations and little regard for human rights¡ªplaces where health, youth, and even immortality were just commodities for sale.


    Ace''s jaw tightened as he thought about it. He did not mind them using wealth to increase their lifespan and youth but to sacrificing human lives for it, that was were he drew the line. The sheer audacity of it all was infuriating, but it was the reality of the world he lived in.

 Chapter 167: Curse Energy Everywhere

    Chapter 167: Curse Energy Everywhere"What does she want?" Ace muttered under his breath, glancing at his ringing phone as he waited for his cab at the bus stand. The Truecaller ID displayed "Ava Martin."


    Ace considered ignoring it but hesitated. She had gone as far as threatening the sheriff for his sake¡ªhe couldn''t just brush her off entirely. With a sigh, he answered and waited silently for her to speak.


    "Hello, Ace?" Ava''s voice carried a mix of nerves and worry. Only she knew how much she feared he might decline the call after seeing her name on the screen.


    "Yes. How did you get my number?" Ace didn''t bother with small talk and cut straight to the point.


    "Danny gave it to me¡ª" Ava began, but Ace interrupted before she could explain.


    "You didn''t hurt him, did you?"


    Ava bit her lower lip, her frustration simmering as she clenched her fist. "And what if I did? What would you do? Hit me? Go ahead, I dare you."


    In the background, Ace heard Danny''s voice shout, "Ace! I''m fine!" S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Shut up!" Ava snapped at Danny, her tone sharp before turning her attention back to Ace. "Why aren''t you at school? Don''t tell me the sheriff is giving you a hard time."


    The exchange between Ava and Danny confirmed Ace''s suspicion: his cousin had betrayed him by giving his number to Ava. Worse, they might even be friends now¡ªor, knowing Ava, she had probably roped Danny into becoming one of her underlings.


    Not that Danny''s betrayal surprised him. Since last night, Ace had a nagging feeling both Danny and his mother were subtly pushing him to date Ava. It was an awkward situation, especially considering he''d just rejected her. Even more so because his mom had been right next to him.


    "No," Ace replied flatly. "I''m taking the day off. Is that all?" He was ready to hang up.


    "Do you have somewhere to be? Can''t you talk to me for a few minutes?" Ava asked, her tone carrying a hint of entitlement. "After all, I went through the trouble of checking on you."


    "I thought you didn''t want to be friends with me," Ace shot back, his voice steady. After all, Ava had made it painfully clear she didn''t want his friendship after he rejected her.


    "Yes, I don''t want to be your friend. And what''s wrong with your voice? Why does it sound deeper and more appealing to listen to? Are you using a voice filter? I didn''t know you were so insecure about your voice," Ava teased, her tone light, though it was obvious she was trying to steer the conversation in a different direction. She didn''t want this to escalate into a fight¡ªdespite openly daring him to hit her earlier. Truthfully, she had no clue what she wanted from this call, only that she wasn''t ready to end it.


    "No, I''m not using a filter. I just have a little sore throat," Ace lied, aware that his Apex persona had not only altered his appearance but also deepened his voice. Then, he shot back with a smirk, "Why? Is my regular voice not appealing enough for you?"


    "It is," Ava replied, a playful lilt in her voice, "but this one''s even more appealing. Does that mean a cold makes you hotter?" Her tone grew flirtatious as her imagination wandered, picturing herself nursing a sexy but sick Ace back to health.


    "What kind of question is that?" Ace deadpanned, pouring cold water on her attempt to flirt. "Doesn''t everyone get a slight fever when they catch a cold?" he added as he climbed into the cab that had just pulled up.


    "Wait, where are you? You''re not at home?" Ava asked, catching the sound of the cab''s honking in the background.


    "No, I''m heading out to visit a friend. Let''s meet tomorrow, okay?" Ace lied smoothly, his tone casual. He''d noticed the cab driver was eavesdropping¡ªnot just catching fragments of the conversation because they were in the same car, but actively trying to listen to Ava''s voice on the other end of the line. That was reason enough for him to cut the call short.


    Though the driver didn''t display any trace of curse energy, Ace knew better than to drop his guard. After all, curse users could partner with mortals, just as the C.I.B. worked with agents like Layla.


    "A friend, huh? Is it a she or a he?" Ava probed, her voice tinged with suspicion.


    Before Ace could answer, Danny''s voice chimed in mischievously, "It must be a she. Apart from me, he doesn''t have any friends in town."


    "Does it matter? A friend is a friend," Ace said, deciding to indulge Ava. He didn''t dare abruptly hang up¡ªit might alert the driver. Then again, he could just be overthinking it; maybe this was one of those cab drivers who didn''t care about passenger privacy and just happened to be nosy.


    "I suppose it doesn''t. Let''s meet tomorrow at school," Ava replied, her voice carrying a hint of reluctance. Before Ace could respond, she hung up, leaving him with a heavy feeling.


    Ava couldn''t shake her hope that the "friend" Ace was visiting really was just a friend. She wasn''t someone who bottled up her emotions. She faced them head-on because, in her experience, being honest hurt less in the long run than hiding how she felt.


    "Sir, this isn''t the route to the winery," Ace pointed out, noticing the driver had gone off course. His concern deepened when he suddenly sensed curse energy saturating the air around him. It was as if the entire car had been imbued with it. Then, just as suddenly as it appeared, the curse energy vanished, leaving no trace.


    "Don''t worry. This is a shortcut¡ªyou can see it on the map," the cab driver replied, his tone unnervingly calm, almost eerie.


    ''Master, it''s not the cab,'' Dame Wasp''s voice echoed in Ace''s mind, her tone grave. ''I believe we''ve entered a massive cursed array formation. It seems to cover the entire winery.''


    Ace stiffened at her words. He hadn''t expected this.


    ''And he''s right¡ªthis route is technically a shortcut to the winery,'' Dame Wasp added, though the revelation did little to ease his tension.


    ''Rose, how did you miss such a huge cursed array formation when we were scouting the winery from the cliff?'' Ace asked her mentally, his shock evident.


    ...


    AN: Sorry for the mixup.

 Chapter 168: Ambush

    Chapter 168: Ambush''I''m sorry, Master. Even now, I can''t sense the array formation. We only detected it when we entered. Other than that, this array seems completely traceless,'' Dame Wasp replied, her voice tinged with panic. She couldn''t fathom how she''d missed something so critical. Then, as if things couldn''t get worse, she added in a worried tone, ''Master, the array is blocking signals. We''ve lost contact with the outside world.''


    ''Damn it, we have to get out of here,'' Ace responded mentally, his jaw tightening as his mind raced. He prepared to instruct the driver to turn the car around and head back to the bus stop where they''d started.


    Before he could speak, the car abruptly stopped in the middle of nowhere. The driver turned to him with an unnervingly vacant expression and said in a cheery yet eerie tone, "You''re here! Hope you enjoy your stay at Wesley Winery Resort & Spa. Don''t forget to try their Weslian grape wine. And please, give me a five-star review!"


    Ace froze, his eyes narrowing. He didn''t respond or step out of the car. Instead, he stayed put, carefully assessing the situation while keeping an eye on the driver''s expression in the rearview mirror. The man''s frozen grin and glassy eyes told Ace everything he needed to know. ''Mostly like hypnotized,'' he guessed grimly as there wasn''t a trace of curse energy on the driver, which only made the situation more unsettling.


    ''Master, it''s an ambush,'' Dame Wasp suddenly warned, her tone urgent. ''Both sides of the road and the path ahead are rigged with land mines. There are thirty men and women in the woods on each side, armed with grenade launchers and RPGs. They appear to be mortal and in a similar state as the driver. I don''t understand what they''re waiting for.''


    Ace swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. His hands clenched into fists on his lap as he processed the gravity of the situation. Thanks to his meticulous practice of the body reinforcement curse art, he wasn''t afraid of regular bullets anymore. But grenade launchers, RPGs, and land mines? Those were on an entirely different level.


    ''They need the car and its driver to lure curse users into their trap. Seeing how the back road is left wide open, I''m guessing that once you''re in, you can''t leave the array formation,'' Ace deduced, his sharp gaze scanning his surroundings. It was clear a curse user had set up camp here, meticulously crafting a trap and patiently lying in wait for anyone responding to the curse exorcism request.


    "You have reached your destination, sir," the driver suddenly said, turning to face him with an unnerving grimness that made Ace''s stomach twist. It was as if the man''s voice alone was pushing him to step out of the car, just as Ace had been wondering what might happen if he incapacitated the driver.


    ''Master, our best option is to make a run for the woods using Emi''s invisibility talisman. I''ve mapped out all the land mines in the area, so you could get there safely¡ªunless stray shrapnel or debris triggers a nearby mine. Alternatively, you can use Emi''s barrier talisman and take your chances,'' Dame Wasp suggested, her tone steady despite the dire situation.


    ''Alright, let''s get this over with,'' Ace replied mentally, gripping a yellow talisman in each hand.


    He stepped out of the cab cautiously, his jaw clenched and his muscles coiled with tension. The only reason he hadn''t broken the rules of his enemy''s game was that doing so might prompt the curse user to detonate the car with the driver still inside. Ace couldn''t bring himself to risk the mortal''s life¡ªeven if, by all accounts, the man was as good as dead under the influence of a cruel curse user.


    Ace had always drawn a line in the sand, even in the brutal ''World of Curses.'' The only comfort he found in bloodshed was that he never killed those who didn''t deserve it. And he wanted to keep it that way for as long as possible.


    As he watched the cab begin to turn around and prepare to leave, Ace''s eyes narrowed in thought. ''Could the car take me out of the array formation?'' he wondered, his legs instinctively tensing as if ready to chase after it.


    But just as he took a step forward, the car came to an abrupt halt about 30 yards away.


    ''Master, barrier!'' Dame Wasp''s urgent warning echoed in his mind like a thunderclap.


    Soon, an opaque golden, one-meter-wide cubic barrier enveloped Ace as grenades and missiles struck it squarely, unleashing deafening explosions. The once-quiet forest was thrown into chaos as birds took flight, squirrels scrambled, and insects fled from the roiling cloud of smoke and dust. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At first, the barrier trembled violently under the onslaught, cracks spider-webbing across its surface. It barely withstood the first wave of grenades and missiles but faltered under the second. The relentless barrage continued for another two minutes, shaking the ground with each blast.


    When the dust finally settled, there was no trace of Ace. The road was left riddled with craters of varying sizes, debris scattered everywhere, and black scorch marks smeared across the pavement. Just as the woods began to regain their eerie silence, it was broken by the sound of approaching footsteps.


    A man dressed in a preppy cardigan, looking more like a weekend golfer than someone at the center of destruction, strolled past the cab. His hands rubbed together jubilantly as he muttered to himself, "Best two million dollars I''ve ever spent. Five curse users in just two days! At this rate, by the time the curse exorcism request''s time limit is up, I might hit two dozen. That means not only will I make my investment back, but I''ll also rake in a fortune. Please, let this one be a curse tool!"


    Reaching the debris-strewn area, he began sifting through it eagerly, his eyes scanning for curse cores or, better yet, a valuable curse tool. He prayed the person he''d taken out was a curse master and not some lowly curse slave.


    But then, his movements froze.


    There was no sign of charred flesh, no bones fragments, no lingering barbecue scent in the air¡ªnothing to suggest a body had been caught in the explosion.


    Panic flared in his eyes. He whirled around, ready to sprint into the woods, but he didn''t make it a single step.


    A sharp crack echoed through the air as a clean, precise hole appeared in the center of his forehead. The man collapsed to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut.


    For a moment, his lifeless body lay still before it began to dissipate into nothingness, leaving only a pile of empty clothes behind.

 Chapter 169: In Hiding

    Chapter 169: In Hiding''The kickback on this thing is no joke,'' Ace though to himself, rubbing his sore shoulder as he quickly moved to a new vantage point deeper in the woods. He couldn''t assume the curse user was working alone. To stay undetected, he stuck three talismans to his body¡ªSilence, Invisibility, and Presence Erasing¡ªensuring his movements remained entirely stealthy as he fired or relocated.


    Earlier, when he activated the barrier talisman, Ace had already planned his decoy. Instead of staying inside, he slipped out using an invisibility talisman and stuck the barrier talisman to the ground. This misled his attackers into focusing their firepower on the barrier. Guided by Dame Wasp''s navigation, he avoided the land mines scattered ahead and made his way into the woods, where he found a secure vantage point to eliminate the curse user with his rail rifle.


    ''Master, that was overkill. I could''ve taken him out with my braid laser,'' Dame Wasp''s voice chimed from the rail rifle''s power chamber, her tone slightly teasing through their shared senses. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''We know that now,'' Ace replied, his tone clipped. ''But we didn''t know what we were dealing with before.'' Shifting his weight slightly, he asked, ''Did you pick up any other traces of curse energy nearby?''


    The hypnotized mortals who had been armed and positioned in the woods had all collapsed when the curse user died. Dame Wasp, emboldened by the turn of events, reported her findings, ''Other than the two curse cores I can sense in his clothes, there''s no other trace of curse energy in the area. He was a curse slave¡ªmost likely acting alone.''


    ''No sign of a curse tool on him?'' Ace pressed, his voice low but tense. He needed to understand how the curse user had managed to evade Dame Wasp''s detection earlier, even when she had identified the armed mortals hiding in the woods.


    ''No, I don''t sense any curse tools on his remains,'' Dame Wasp replied, her voice tinged with concern. ''Now that you mention it, how was he able to hide from my detection and hypnotize the mortals? I guess there''s another curse user in hiding¡ªsomeone proficient in stealth.''


    Ace frowned, he had already considered this. Curse slaves were typically weak, limited by their mortal-tier curselings. Their control over curse energy was average at best compared to Curse Masters, which made it much harder for them to master curse arts. Unless, of course, they were lucky enough to awaken an innate curse art, like Layla did. But the one they''d just taken down didn''t seem powerful enough to be that exceptional.


    Curse slaves rarely mastered multiple curse arts in their short lifetimes. Judging by the one they killed¡ªwho looked to be in his early thirties¡ªit was highly unlikely he had the skill to master a stealth art capable of evading Dame Wasp''s detection or a hypnotizing art strong enough to control over sixty people simultaneously.


    That led to one conclusion: there had to be two curse users. One of them likely had a curseling or curse tool capable of hypnotizing mortals, while the other had a curseling or tool specialized in stealth. The evidence pointed in this direction because the hypnotized mortals fell unconscious when the curse slave died. Logically, the curse slave they killed must have been the one with the hypnosis ability. Meanwhile, the remaining curse user was still hiding¡ªundetectable, probably using a stealth-oriented curseling or curse tool.


    ''It might not be that simple,'' Ace cautioned, his eyes scanning the woods warily. ''It could be the other way around, too. Don''t jump to conclusions¡ªthat''s how you get blindsided.''


    Dame Wasp acknowledged his advice with a mental hum.


    Ace adjusted his position, crouching low to minimize his profile as he continued to monitor their surroundings. ''We''ll wait another five minutes. If nobody shows up, we''ll head deeper into the woods to find a better vantage point.''


    Ace hesitated, torn between rushing back to see if he could leave the array formation on his own and staying put to avoid drawing attention of the array master by coming in contact with it. He clenched his fists, glancing in the direction of the cab that had brought him here. It crossed his mind that the vehicle might have special permission to enter and exit the array, but he didn''t dare approach it¡ªnot with a hidden curse user likely watching. Staying in one spot for too long didn''t feel safe either. If the curse slave they had taken down had allies, there was no telling when reinforcements might arrive.


    The sheer scale and tracelessness of the array left no doubt in Ace''s mind: this wasn''t something two random curse users could pull off. It had to be the work of an organized group of curse users¡ªor worse, a high-tier Curse Master. The thought made his chest tighten. This wasn''t a situation where recklessness could be afforded.


    Taking a deep breath, Ace steadied himself and gave a quick mental command to Dame Wasp. ''Rose, circle the woods and check for anything suspicious. Once you''re done, head to the curse cores in the cardigans. Signal me when you''ve secured them¡ªI''ll recall you. Move fast.''


    ''Got it, Master,'' Dame Wasp replied, her tone sharp with focus. The sense share broke off as she exited the power chamber of the rail rifle in her tiny 1/100th form. Cloaking herself in stealth mode, she darted through the woods, her movements as silent as the wind rustling through the leaves.


    Ace crouched low, scanning his surroundings while keeping one hand on the rifle, his grip tightening. The seconds felt like hours as he waited, every small sound in the forest making him tense.


    Dame Wasp''s tiny form swept through the half-mile radius around their position, her sensors on high alert. But despite her efforts, she found nothing out of the ordinary. When she reached the remains of the curse user, she slipped into the gaps between the folds of the clothes. Navigating carefully, she located the curse cores and sent the signal to Ace.


    Ace exhaled sharply in relief, recalling Dame Wasp back into his pocket. Leaving the curse cores in the pocket as planned, and Dame Wasp quickly re-entered the rail rifle''s power chamber. When the sense share re-established, her voice carried a tone of frustration. ''Master, I couldn''t find anything suspicious. Either the hidden curse user has capable curseling / curse tool, or their stealth art is on another level.''


    Ace frowned, his jaw tightening. ''Damn it,'' he mentally cussed, glancing toward the forest''s edge. ''This just keeps getting more complicated.''


    After five minutes, Ace swiftly abandoned his position, moving deeper into the woods. His steps were cautious but purposeful, eyes scanning his surroundings as he sought a better vantage point. He needed a spot where he could observe the area, piece together what was happening, and figure out his next move. His grip on the rail rifle tightened as he pressed on, weaving through dense underbrush with practiced stealth.


    Ten minutes later, back near the ambush site, the previously unconscious mortals suddenly stirred awake. They scrambled to their feet, rearmed themselves with mechanical efficiency, and began systematically sweeping through the woods on either side of the road. Sporadic blasts from RPGs punctuated the eerie silence of the forest, the explosions sending up plumes of smoke and scattering debris.


    From his new location, more than a mile away, Ace caught the distant sounds of the chaos. The muffled booms and faint trails of smoke rising into the sky confirmed that his earlier decision to move had been the right call. He exhaled a small sigh of relief, crouching low and observing the surrounding forest.

 Chapter 170: Double Kill!

    Chapter 170: Double Kill!"Looks like he ran away," said an old man in cardigans and golf attire as he stepped out from within a wide and solid tree trunk, his voice tinged with mild disappointment. "I thought I could snag him when he came for Bryan''s cores. But he was too cautious for someone so young. Maybe this wasn''t his first time."


    "Yes, dear. It seems this time we''ve run into one that knows the hunters'' tricks," replied an old woman dressed in Victorian attire, layered under a cardigan, with a shawl draped over her shoulders and a bonnet perched neatly on her head. She stepped out from the same tree trunk, her movements deliberate. With an almost casual air, she thrust her hand into the solid bark and pulled out a polished wooden walking stick. Linking her arm with the old man''s, the pair began strolling toward the ambush site, their demeanor was too casual almost like an elderly couple out for a leisurely walk in the park.


    "What do we do now, dear? Without Bryan''s curseling, we won''t be able to restore the ground and keep using our old trick," the old man remarked, his gaze sweeping over the charred pavement, scattered debris, and craters of varying sizes. His tone was detached, as if Bryan''s death were a minor inconvenience rather than a loss to grieve or avenge. His only concern was how Bryan''s absence would affect their operations.


    "We still have the cab, don''t we? Send the driver out of the array to wait for the next targets," the old woman suggested, her voice sweet and polite but no less chilling for its tone. She glanced at the road, her expression calculating. "In the meantime, have your slaves clean up the mess and get back into position before the next target arrives. Once they''ve made it this far, it doesn''t matter if they see through the ambush. They''ll be as good as dead anyway."


    "Okay, dear. But what about the one that just escaped? After all, he did kill our grandson," the old man asked, his voice devoid of emotion. Despite referencing his grandson''s death, he appeared utterly indifferent, as though it were a trivial matter rather than a personal loss.


    "He''s trapped in the array. He''s bound to run into someone else, and they''ll take care of him for us. Let''s focus on hunting for now¡ª" The old woman''s words abruptly stopped, her expression freezing as her mouth fell open in shock. She looked down to find a clean hole punched through her chest, blood rapidly staining her pristine white cardigan a deep crimson.


    Before she could collapse, the old man caught her in his arms, cradling her frail body as tears welled up in his eyes. "I''ll join you in the underworld soon, my love, but not before I avenge you," he vowed, his voice trembling. The light drained from the old woman''s eyes, her body dissipating moments later, leaving only the wooden walking stick behind.


    Gripping the stick tightly, the old man''s grief twisted into rage. He darted into the woods, moving with an agility that belied his apparent age. His pace was inhuman¡ªfaster than a professional athlete at full sprint. The hypnotized mortals followed as best they could, their movements sluggish under the weight of their weapons and ammunition. It was clear they couldn''t keep up.


    ¡­


    [Master, we miscalculated. There were two of them in hiding,] Dame Wasp reported through the status screen, as her cybernetic visor scanned the ambush site. [From what I can tell, the old woman was a Curse Master.] Through advanced lip-reading algorithms, she had analyzed the couple''s brief conversation as they came out of hiding.


    Despite having fled the site, Ace had no intention of letting his enemies off so easily. With the rail rifle in his hands, he lied in wait, prepared to snipe them from miles away when the opportunity arose.


    Ace''s jaw tightened at the report. [Figures. Let''s stay sharp. We''re not out of this yet,] he replied through his innate curse art, steadying his breathing as he calibrated his aim. Following Dame Wasp''s precise instructions, he locked onto the Curse Master. After helping him align his shot, Dame Wasp returned to the rail rifle''s power chamber and then Ace took the shot.


    The shot was silenced by the silence talisman. The projectile struck the Curse Master squarely in the chest, dropping her instantly without any complications.


    Ace exhaled sharply but didn''t waste time savoring the kill. Instead of immediately taking aim at the second target, he bolted from his hiding spot, sprinting toward the ambush site at his maximum speed. The rail rifle required a thirty-second cooldown, and in that window, Ace intended to take down the remaining curse user himself.


    As he ran, Ace used his innate curse art to order Dame Wasp. [Rose, you go ahead and finish off the old fool.]


    [Affirmative!] she responded immediately, darting through the air toward the Curse User. Her braid morphed into a razor-sharp laser cutter as she pushed herself to her fastest speed, leaving Ace behind.


    For Dame Wasp, this mission was more than just survival; it was about redemption. Her failure to detect the massive array formation while they were scouting the winery from the cliff still gnawed at her. Although Ace hadn''t mentioned it again, she couldn''t forgive herself. It was her responsibility to spot such threats, and the oversight weighed heavily on her.


    The old man tore through the woods at a speed that belied his frail appearance, clutching his late wife''s innate curse tool in one hand. Blinded by grief and fury, he was no longer concerned with strategy or survival. The only thought in his mind was avenging his beloved wife, no matter the cost. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His primal rage fueled him, and with each step, his resolve grew stronger. He no longer cared about escaping or crafting another scheme¡ªhis life had already ended when hers did. Now, all that mattered was vengeance. Afterward, he would join her in the afterlife


    Tears streamed down the old man''s face as he raced through the woods, deftly avoiding the branches, stones, and roots jutting out from the ground. Grief and rage fueled his relentless pace¡ªuntil a small red dot appeared on his forehead.


    The old man''s body kept moving for a few more yards, momentum propelling him forward, before it crumpled to the ground, lifeless. The hypnotized mortals trailing behind him, oblivious to the damage they inflicted on themselves during their mindless sprint, collapsed as well, their connection severed the moment he died.


    Hovering above the old man''s dissipating corpse, Dame Wasp observed the scene in her 1/100th form. She watched silently as his body dissolved into the void, leaving behind two curse cores. With precision and speed, she had used her laser cutter to bore through his forehead and exit cleanly from the back of his skull, killing him instantly.


    Wasting no time, Dame Wasp secured the curse cores left behind and the innate curse tool. Once her task was complete, she signaled Ace to recall her, her efficiency speaking louder than any words. As human presence faded, the woods gradually hushed, reclaiming the serene tranquility it had always known.

 Chapter 171: Looting

    Chapter 171: Looting[Emi, store all the weapons and the ammo you can find in your storage talisman. Make sure to check if those weapons are marked with curse energy or something] Ace ordered Emi, summoning her and then instructed Dame Wasp, [Rose, you go high and scan just our surroundings and nothing more. Check if someone is heading our way. Watch out for the array barrier or powerful curse masters.]


    [Copy that!] Both Emi and Dame Wasp immediately sprung into action to execute their orders knowing that the situation was dire and they had no time to waste.


    [Master, some of these mortals are gravely injured. If left like this they will bleed to death. Do you want me to heal them?] Emi reported to her master through the status screen as she collect the weapons and ammos from the unconscious mortals.


    [Yes. And also, if it isn''t much trouble, arrange them safely.] The answer was obvious, he could not knowingly let these mortal bleed to death. His concious would not allow it.


    What bothered Ace the most was how come the the family and friends of these people haven''t reported them missing? He had heard the first curse slave he killed say they were doing this for two days. That was to say, it has been more than forty eight hours surely someone out in the town should be looking for them right? Unless, the town to was also under the influence of a similar traceless curse array formation.


    ''What the fuck is going on here?'' Ace pondered, trying to figure out how a simple curse exorcism request turn into a scene straight out of a horror triller anime. He did not understand how a C.I.B. approved curse exorcism request could go so horribly wrong.


    He had prepared himself for a C.I.B. sting operation or a misinformation on the curseling they were supposed to exorcise but this, a hugh traceless array and ambush from unknown curse terrorists hunting curse users coming to complete the curse exorcism request for thier curse tools and curse core, this not one of the scenarios he excepted when he left his town this morning.


    [Master, our surroundings is clear. Though I did sense various curse energy from around. I think that there are many more curse users in the array than we would like to.] Dame Wasp reported grimly before returning to her masters side. She did not dare to stay in the open sky for too long for the fear of being noticed by a powerful curse master.  S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Rose, go and check on the cab. See if its rigged. I planned to use it to try and get out of the array fromation.] Ace intrusted Dame Wasp, though he wasn''t sure if it would work, he had to give it a try because he had no idea what these curse terrorist were planning.


    [Roger that!] With that Dame Wasp rush to the cab and began to check it with her cybernatic sensors trying to find anything odd about the cab that she could have missed when her master first entered it. However, no matter how many times she checked she found no trace of curse energy on any parts of the car. With this her expression grew grim because it meant her masters assumption that he should be able to get out of the array formation using the car was wrong.


    [Master, all done. We can leave now.] Emi reported after she stored all the weapons she coud find in a storage talisman and arranging the unconscious mortals safely.


    Emi and Ace soon arrived next to the car skillfully avoiding the landmines. Since, they were hiding their presence with talisman Dame Wasp who was checking the cab repeatedly in her stealth mode never noticed them until, the status screen reminded her, [Rose, anything wrong with the car?]


    [No, master. Its too clean. I fear you might not be able to use it to leave the array formation. I am sorry master I couldn''t be of more help.] Dame Wasp was blaming herself for everything wrong when none of it was her fault. In her guilt, she was trying her hardest but was only running into a dead end. Therefore, she grew desperate because of her innate fear of failing her master.


    Ace immediately realized Dame Wasp was going through stuff but right now he did not have time to deal with her feelings, once they were out of this mess. He would have all the time in world to tell her that she did nothing wrong and console her feelings. But first he had to make it out of here alive.


    [We won''t know for sure until we try,] Ace said opening the driver door and throwing the unconscious cab driver in back and getting into the divers seat while Emi got into the passengers seat. Then turning on the cab, switching the gear, he stepped on the gas. He drove the cab slowly as he did not want to be crash into the array border if Dame Wasp was right.


    Soon as he drove down the road they suddenly felt the curse energy filling the car. Ace drove the car even slower and as he expected just as the car was halfway through the array he felt a resistance against his kneecaps and toes, like they were pressed against a wall. Understanding, the car could leave the array but he couldn''t Ace put the car in reverse gear and drove it back before halting it. Getting out of the car he opened the back door and carrying the driver out he layed him on the ground and pushed him sending him rolling. The driver managed to cross the part of the road that he could not.


    Seeing this Emi immediately reported, [Master, it appears, only things without curse energy can enter and exit the array freely. As for those with curse energy they can only enter the array but not exit it. Master, recall us back to the toybox and try using the curse concealment art to pass through it. We can only hope it works.]


    [Master, hurry! I am sensing multiple strong curse energy heading our way.] Dame Wasp alerted the two in panic.

 Chapter 172: Escape

    Chapter 172: Escape''Fuck!'' Ace cursed silently as Dame Wasp reported that the curse user was already on their tail. His eyes darted to the road ahead, blocked by an array, and then to the dense woods flanking it. He needed to decide¡ªand fast.


    The vigilance of the group that had set this array was a glaring red flag. Whatever was happening in this town, it was serious. Deadly serious. These people wouldn''t hesitate to tie up loose ends. Whether this had to do with the curse exorcism request or not. Ace didn''t care. His survival was all that mattered to him now. But how?


    [Emi, help me push the car out of the array,] Ace commanded sharply. Without hesitation, he moved around to the driver''s side, gripping the steering wheel to guide the car while Emi shoved from behind. The vehicle creaked as it rolled out of the array. Ace avoided the unconscious driver sprawled nearby¡ªthe one he used to tested the array. Satisfied, he recalled both Dame Wasp and Emily. [Recall!]


    His heart pounded as he began circulating the curse concealment art and then began to hurry out of the array. Every step toward the array felt like walking a tightrope over an abyss, his life hanging by a thread. But with grit and determination, he pushed forward and he broke free from the array. However, there was no time for relief, he immediately summoned Emi while using status screen to instruct her, [Emi, take the car and drive as fast as you can. When you''re a mile out, signal me, and I''ll recall you. Don''t forget to leave an explosion talisman,]


    [Hai!] Emi responded, climbing into the car.


    Ace hoisted the unconscious driver into the back seat and got in but left the door ajar. Quickly, he applied three talismans¡ªsilence, invisibility, and presence-erasing¡ªto himself and the driver. Without missing a beat, he then carried the limp figure and slipped into the cover of the woods closing the door behind him. Soon Emi sped off, the car''s tires screeching against the gravel.


    ¡­


    A few dozen seconds after the cab sped away, four figures appeared, soaring into the airspace above the ambush site on a wide stone slab, moving at high speed. Without pausing at the edge of the array formation, they chased after the fleeing cab. The leader could be heard barking, "I have no idea how they managed to escape the array, but we have to catch them before they inform the outside world what is happening here!"


    However, just shy of a mile from the array, the cab suddenly exploded in a deafening blast. The stone slab jerked to a halt, hovering mid-air.


    "It''s a decoy! A fucking distraction to keep us busy while they hide!" shouted the figure at the rear, slamming a foot against the slab. "Those bastards are still in the array! Turn around!"


    "Fuck!" the leader cursed aloud, spinning the stone slab sharply. They sped back toward the array formation, urgency etched on their faces. Once inside, the leader stopped the slab at the edge of the array and pointed at the ground. "This is where the curse users tried to leave."


    "What the fuck happened here?" muttered the figure behind him grimly, scanning the scorched craters on the road and the singed woods nearby. His expression darkened. "Who won the bid to guard this part of the array?"


    "Old Lady Benson did," answered the second figure, pointing at scattered clothing on the ground. "Looks like these belonged to her and her grandson. No sign of her husband, though. He was probably killed somewhere nearby too."


    "Alright," the figure from the behind growled, his voice cold and commanding. "Spread out. Search for those assholes who dared to kill our guild members." He crouched, preparing to leap from the slab, but the frontmost figure raised a hand, warning, "Be careful. Knowing Old Lady Benson''s temperament, she might''ve rigged this entire area with landmines."


    "Great. That makes our job real easy," the other muttered sarcastically.


    "See how they moved through here without triggering the land mines?" the leader pointed out. "One of them must be a powerful sensory type curse user. That''s probably how they managed to take out Benson, even with her exceptional stealth abilities."


    "Whatever," the figure in the middle scoffed. "We stick to the Feather Steps arts. Our light steps won''t set off the mines. Let''s hunt down those assholes before afternoon."


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, invisible Ace carried the unconscious driver through the dense woods. His breath was steady as he issued a command to Dame Wasp through his Status Screen: [Rose, report this curse exorcism request on the Curse Exorcism Request Board and the C.I.B.''s official website. No! Don''t. Those fucker will be alerted if they are monitoring the Curse Exorcism Request Board and the C.I.B.''s official website. You know what? Go ahead and send a detailed text about what we''ve seen here to every contacts of senior C.I.B. agents you got from Layla''s cursed gadget. Make sure you don''t leave behind any trail. I want this fuckers to pay.]


    [I''m on it, Master,] Dame Wasp replied promptly but then, another prompt flashed on the Status Screen: [Rose, first contact the Oracle Doll Makers. Tell them to turn around and set a meeting point somewhere en route. Update me right away.]


    [Got it!]


    Ace''s grip tightened on the unconscious figure as he trudged forward, his thoughts racing. He silently prayed that the Oracle Doll Makers hadn''t already reached the winery. That would be a disaster. What would he do then? Should he risk going back to rescue them or leave it to the C.I.B.? S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His gut churned at the dilemma. From his history with the C.I.B., Ace knew their brutal pragmatism. When it came to rogue curse users and curse terrorists, they prioritized eliminating the threat over minimizing mortal casualties. Cruel, but effective. If they bent the knee to protect civilians, every curse-using bastard would take hostages using their peculiar abilities to force the country into submission.


    The C.I.B. had made its stance clear: they didn''t negotiate with terrorists and criminals. It was a harsh doctrine, but it kept others from trying the same stunts. Still, if the Oracle Doll Makers were already trapped in the winery... Ace could only mentally cuss in frustration, ''Fuck!''

 Chapter 173: Missing Loot

    Chapter 173: Missing Loot[Master, the Oracle Doll Makers are en route now. I have arranged for them to meet us at a resort 70 miles from here,] Dame Wasp reported to her master as he laid the unconscious driver on the bus stop bench where he had initially picked Ace up in the cab.


    "Oh, thank God!" Ace exclaimed in relief as he tore the talisman from the unconscious driver. Summoning his motorbike, he affixed fresh talismans to it and rode through the woods, following Dame Wasp''s directions to the new delivery location where she had agreed to meet the Oracle Doll Makers.


    [Master, I sent a text to every superior C.I.B. agent''s contacts I found in Layla''s cursed smartphone. Don''t worry¡ªthey''ll never be able to trace us,] Dame Wasp assured her master, emphasizing her meticulous care.


    [Good,] Ace complimented Dame Wasp as he carefully navigated the bike through the forest. Then, wanting to stay ahead of the situation, he asked, [Rose, is there a way for you to monitor their responses and track what they plan to do?]


    [Unfortunately, no, Master. I have reasons to believe that the C.I.B. server is one big cursed gadget. If I try anything, while it might not be able to track me, it would detect my traces,] Dame Wasp admitted dejectedly. Having examined Layla''s cursed smartphone and after today''s incident, she was no longer confident that she was unmatched skill in cursed cyber arts. The curse users of this world had tricks of their own. Fortunately, not everyone could afford to turn their servers into cursed gadgets like the government did.


    [That''s alright, Rose. You did excellent today,] Ace praised Dame Wasp wholeheartedly, aware that she had been blaming herself for not noticing the array formation. However, neither Ace nor Emi blamed her for it¡ªIf they were in her place they wouldn''t have detected it either. Their tiers and knowledge were simply too low to tackle an array formation capable of covering an entire winery spanning several thousand acres while successfully hiding its presence.


    [No, Master. I almost got you killed,] Dame Wasp replied, unable to forgive herself for missing the array formation. In her eyes, it was her responsibility to sense the curse energy in the surroundings and warn her master. The fact that she failed in this task was unacceptable to her. To her the reasons for her failure were secondary; her incompetence could have cost her master his life, and that was what truly weighed on her. She believed such a failure should not be easily forgiven and demanded punishment accordingly.


    [Rose, it''s not your fault. I''m sure that array formation was high-tier¡ªlikely sky or void tier. Just wait for the C.I.B. to post a report on the curse web, and you''ll see it wasn''t your fault. So, don''t beat yourself up over it,] Ace said, though he didn''t fully understand how critical Dame Wasp was being with herself so he had no idea how to console her properly.


    [Master, you cannot let me off so easily. I made a mistake during a mission that almost got you killed. I should be punished accordingly,] Dame Wasp insisted.


    [Sure. But save it until you get your new body. Then I''ll punish you to my heart''s content. Do you have any objection?] Ace replied, attempting to lighten Dame Wasp''s mood by agreeing with her in a teasing manner.


    [No objection, Master,] Dame Wasp responded, knowing he was just joking. However, she still felt it wasn''t right to burden him with her guilt. She resolved to deal with it herself by becoming stronger so she could better protect her master in the future.


    [Master, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we did not get the Phantom Paint curse core. Now, where are we supposed to craft Senpai''s new body?] Emi used the status screen to remind the other two that, although they had managed to save their lives, they had failed to achieve their main objective of this trip. As a result, their previous big plans were now all for naught.


    [Don''t worry. We''ll do it as you guys proposed previously¡ªbut not underground at my uncle''s farm. Instead, we''ll use the basement of the solar power plant control room. We''ll use the barrier and storage talisman to keep pollution and contamination to a minimum. Besides, by then, we''ll have Doctor Druid to help us. I''m sure her skills will come in handy,] Ace informed his trio about his updated plan to build Dame Wasp''s new body. He had no choice but to improvise. After all, they couldn''t cry over what hadn''t happened and could only keep moving forward with what was.


    Without the toy summons he had planned to create using the Phantom Paint curse core, Ace now had to find another place to build Dame Wasp''s second body. However, it couldn''t be far from home because the process would take almost half a day. If he went missing for that long, his parents would freak out and search the streets for him. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As much as he loved his parents, he was beginning to understand why his sister had moved out the second she got her job. Mooching off one''s parents came at a cost¡ªlosing one''s privacy and private life. However, he was still too young to move out of his parents'' house. His only viable option was going to college, but knowing what he did about the world now, he wasn''t sure if he wanted to waste four years of his life attending college.


    [That sounds like a plan,] Emi agreed. Meanwhile, Dame Wasp advised them, [Master, I think after all this ordeal is over, we should visit the winery again.]


    [And why would we do that, Rose?] Ace asked in surprise. As far as he was concerned, he had no intention of returning to that part of the world ever again even if it was safe after C.I.B. was done with those assholes.


    [To find the loot of our attackers. I didn''t find it on their persons, so I believe they hid it in the tree trunk they were hiding in. Once the heat on the winery settles down, we should check it out,] Dame Wasp explained, reminding her master about the missing loot of the trio of curse users they had killed.

 Chapter 174: Rose Rocks The Boat - l

    Chapter 174: Rose Rocks The Boat - l''Rose, what are you up to?'' Ace narrowed his gaze and mentally asked Dame Wasp while giving her access to his senses to have proper conversation while driving.


    The possibility of the missing loot belonging to the trio of curse users he had killed being in the tree trunk they were hiding in was next to nothing. If that were the case, Dame Wasp would have sensed it after they had killed the old lady curse master and informed him before he went to test the array formation. Dame Wasp wasn''t incompetent nor one to lie to him. He tilted his head slightly, curiosity mingling with skepticism. ''Rose, what''s going on?''


    ''Master,'' Dame Wasp replied, her tone steady, ''even if it''s slim, there is a real possibility that their missing loot is in that tree.'' She wasn''t lying. Based on the data she had, there were some chances the loot was hidden in that tree. That much was true. But that wasn''t the real reason she wanted Ace to revisit the winery.


    She hesitated for a fraction of a second, then added with soft conviction, ''But the real reason I want you to revisit the winery later is because I don''t want this experience solidifying your opinion about the ''World of Curses''¡ªand stopping you from ever taking on another curse exorcism request. I don''t want you to hide from life anymore.'' Her voice lowered slightly, almost imploring. ''I want you to live your life to the fullest, like the rest of the teenagers. In all the time I''ve been with you, the happiest I''ve ever seen you was at that charity fair with your friends. I want you to feel that kind of happiness every day. Please, don''t worry about threats from either worlds. We, your toy summons, will stop anything that comes your way.''


    Ace frowned, processing her words, but said nothing. Dame Wasp truly hoped her master would stop viewing both the mortal and curse worlds through the lens of someone scarred by bullying. She wanted him to start seeing them for what they truly were. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If the "World of Curses" was as bad as Ace had assumed, would it have been possible for his forefathers to build this beautiful country and its remarkable constitution? Would mortals have progressed to the current modern era? Dame Wasp thought, they reflect her quiet determination.


    She wasn''t denying that evil existed in both worlds. What she was saying was that there was also more than enough good in both worlds to outweigh their evils.


    As Ace''s first Toy Summon, Dame Wasp knew him better than anyone. She had guessed how deeply the first curse exorcism request going wrong had affected him. From that moment, she knew her master would want nothing to do with such requests again.


    Given his cautious nature, he might never travel to a known area unless it was absolutely necessary. The thought gnawed at her. It added to her guilt for failing him during the mission. Even though they had escaped the ambush unscathed, the weight of it clung to her. She couldn''t forgive herself, and the guilt was eating away at her. Finally, she decided to speak openly about it.


    Dame Wasp''s voice softened, but her tone carried conviction. She didn''t just want to protect her master¡ªshe wanted the best for him. Hiding in the shadows, lying in wait for monsters, was not how she envisioned him spending the rest of his life.


    Yes, becoming stronger would help, but it wasn''t the entire solution. The stronger one became, the stronger the enemies they attracted. It was a never-ending cycle¡ªa universal truth: For every force, there is an equal and opposite force.


    The best way to enjoy this world, she believed, was to live it while one could, doing what they loved. Dame Wasp sighed lightly, her wings fluttering in her toy space. She knew Ace''s heart was in the right place, but his past had derailed him. As his Toy Summon, she saw it as her duty to guide him back to the right course.


    Ace, however, had no idea about the complicated thoughts running through his Toy Summons'' mind. But he did know one thing: they would never harm him. Therefore, with a small smile, he said, ''Rose, you know me too well. Even better than I know myself. I''ve taken your advice into consideration. I can''t promise you an immediate change, but I can promise you this¡ªif someday I feel like I no longer need to hide, I won''t hesitate to step out, just as you want me to.''


    Dame Wasp was right about him. After the incident at the winery, he had already decided to stop taking curse exorcism requests, no matter how tempting the rewards might be. This time, he had been lucky, but next time, he might not be. Listening to Dame Wasp, Ace couldn''t shake the feeling that she didn''t just want him to live his life¡ªshe wanted him to live it like a hero. Like she and Emi had in their respective fictional universes.


    He exhaled slowly. He''d been afraid this day would come. It had come sooner than he''d expected.


    Even though Dame Wasp and Emi knew they weren''t the real Dame Wasp and Emi, their individuality was deeply tied to the character profiles of the fictional personas they were designed after. It wasn''t surprising, he always dreaded, that sooner or later they would clash with his way of doing things. They preferred he approach problems the way their fictional counterparts would¡ªwith boldness and heroism.


    ''I can respect that,'' Dame Wasp said, her tone calm but insistent. Her eyes glinted with determination. ''But what about the curse exorcism requests? Are you planning on ignore them?'' To her, it was her master''s duty as a curse master to protect and help those who couldn''t help themselves¡ªjust like how Emi and she had used their powers to aid the common people in their fictional stories.


    Ace''s brow furrowed. ''How about this,'' he said after a moment of thought. ''If there''s ever a curse exorcism request in or near our town, I''ll take it. I''ll do my duty as a curse master for the mortals.'' His tone softened, and he glanced at the track ahead him meaningfully.

 Chapter 175: Rose Rocks The Boat - ll

    Chapter 175: Rose Rocks The Boat - llAce agreed with Dame Wasp''s request not because he can''t say no to her, but because she was right. he can''t knowingly let people die when he could have helped.


    However, he acclearted the bike with a slight smirk. With Ava Martin just moving into town, he doubt he would have to worry much. Her mother will probably have C.I.B. to handle curselings and rogue curse users around there town swiftly. As for the occasional ones that manage to slip through their net¡ªwell, he would take care of those if he saw them. Like he has been from the start.


    Dame Wasp''s eyes narrowed as she processed her master''s words. A faint smile played on her lips. It wasn''t perfect, but it was a step forward.


    ''Thank you, master. This means a lot to me. I was worried that my mistake in this mission had added to your past trauma. But knowing you''re not letting it affect you negatively... I feel relieved.'' Dame Wasp''s voice softened as she opened up, her genuine love and care for her master clear in her tone.


    ''Hold up, what past trauma? I have no past trauma.'' Ace frowned, confusion flickering across his face. He had no clue what Dame Wasp was talking about. She made it sound like he was a victim. Ace had been many things in life, but a victim? Never.


    ''Master, it''s alright. You don''t have to hide it.'' Dame Wasp''s gaze didn''t waver. ''I know that Mark and his friends bullied you at your previous school, constantly traumatizing you by speaking derogatorily about and threatening your sister and family. I also know what you did to make sure they stopped and didn''t escalate things toward your sister.'' Her voice carried a quiet conviction, as though she believed there should be no secrets between them. To her, being Ace''s loyal summon meant sharing everything¡ªhis joy and his pain. She had no idea, though, just how deeply Ace had been hurt. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was a miracle that he hadn''t killed Mark when he had the chance. The constant beatdowns were nothing to him; he could endure thousands of those for his family without uttering a word. But for a teenager to search for nudes of women who resembled his elder sister in body type, skin tone, and hair, and then alter those images to look like her to satisfy the ego of a gangster and stop him from making do on his threat to rape her¡ªwas just too sickening.


    Ace didn''t have to do that. He knew why Mark was asking for nude photos of his sister. He wasn''t stupid. He would never trust the empty promises of a gangster; he wouldn''t do that to his family. Yet, he went along with it because he could no longer stall Mark. It seemed that if he didn''t give in, Mark would take drastic action.


    If Mark had been threatening to harm him, Ace would have fought back, even if it meant risking his life. Even suicide would have seemed like a better option than doing what he did. But Mark wasn''t threatening him¡ªhe was threatening his sister. Yes, regardless of the reasons, what he did was horribly sick, but he managed to buy himself a week, successfully sending his sister out of their damn neighborhood and the city.


    It was because he managed to stay level-headed that day and do what needed to be done that, today, Mark and his brother were dead and his family was worth in millions. Ace believed he had no trauma, only victory scars. In many ways, he thought that part of his life had taught him a lesson that no school, mentor, parent, relative, or friend could ever teach. It was partly because of that lesson that he had made it this far in both worlds. Otherwise, if he had been like Dame Wasp and Emi wanted him to be, he would have been killed by Gloria Hart for his cursed toy box.


    ''I have no trauma, Rose. I won. Yes, I''m not happy with how I won, but I won. Winners don''t have trauma; we have victory scars to remind us of the lessons we learned.


    ''You won''t understand because you were the main character in your world, not some average Joe. Despite the crazy little stunts you pulled, somehow, you always came out on top, where anyone else in your place would have been dead or, worse, lost everything they valued and loved in their life. This is not a fictional world, this is reality. I can''t afford to make a mistake here.


    ''My family is everything to me. I can''t lose any one of them. And when I say family, I include you guys too. My duty is only toward my family. It is my joy and happiness. Therefore, I will protect them the safest way I know how, and this is it, Rose: by being constantly on watch, waiting in the shadows, so that they don''t have to be.''


    Ace was triggered listening to Dame Wasp say he had trauma. He believed only those who were wronged or who had wronged others experienced trauma for what they went through or did. However, he didn''t feel that way because he won. He beat Mark in his own way and made a life for his family.


    ''I understand, Master.'' Dame Wasp did not argue with Ace, understanding that she had overplayed her hand. Seeing him be so open to her suggestions and requests, she mistook his willingness to listen as a sign that he was ready to move on from his past. However, he proved to her that she was horribly wrong.


    As for Emi, she did not dare stick her nose in, being the youngest. Her senpai and master were arguing about something very important and detrimental to their master''s development. Though she agreed with her senpai, she did not voice her opinion. She knew her senpai could manage on her own but also didn''t want her master to feel ganged up on and alone. It didn''t matter who was right or wrong¡ªarguments tend to affect the people involved that way, especially those who know they were wrong but didn''t want to accept it.

 Chapter 176: Running Into S. S. S. Again

    Chapter 176: Running Into S. S. S. Again''A highway resort?'' Ace asked, sitting on his bike, hidden among the tall grass and trees. His eyes were fixed on a quirky resort with unique yurts nestled among the redwoods, offering a secluded and scenic experience just half a mile away from them.


    ''Yes, the Oracle Doll Makers recommended it. As compensation for the last-minute change, I offered them an all-expenses-paid stay for two days. They seemed happy about it,'' Dame Wasp replied, explaining why she picked this resort over other options. ''I booked another room where they are to deliver the doll.''


    ''That''s good.'' Ace didn''t let it show, but he was still a little mad at Dame Wasp over their previous argument. He didn''t appreciate how she treated him like a victim of that story¡ªespecially since, in his eyes, he had undoubtedly won. Sure, he had taken a beating, endured shame, and done things he wasn''t proud of, but in the end, he managed to save what was precious to him. However, she wasn''t entirely wrong about the other stuff.


    ''How is it? Do you sense any curse users in the resort?'' he asked.


    ''A couple of them, actually,'' Dame Wasp answered.


    Ace sighed heavily and muttered, ''Ah, is today some kind of national holiday for curse users or something? Why am I finding them everywhere? And in groups, no less.''


    ''Master, I looked into it on the Curse Web but didn''t find anything useful. However, the S.S.S.''s chat group gave me a clue,'' Dame Wasp explained. ''Based on their discussions, it seems the sudden surge in curse-user activity in this part of the state is most likely linked to the oil mercenaries being in town.''


    ''And what are they doing here?'' Ace asked, frowning as his grip tightened on the bike handles.


    ''I couldn''t determine that. Even the C.I.B. seems spooked by the oil mercenaries'' sudden appearance in our county. For now, we should collect the doll and get out of here as quickly as possible,'' Dame Wasp reported. She had scoured the S.S.S.''s chat group for any information that might explain the recent curse-user attacks on the winery, but her efforts had yielded nothing concrete about their motives. Still, she did uncover the likely reason behind the influx of curse users in their area. Unfortunately, the exact motives of these groups remained a mystery.


    ''What about the S.S.S.? Are they joining in too?'' Ace asked. Through the Curse Web, Dame Wasp had learned that they were one nefarious bunch of feinds, infamous even in the ''World of Curses.''


    There seemed to be no limit to the evil the S.S.S. was capable of, as long as they stood to gain something or were compensated fairly. While many such groups operated in the ''World of Curses,'' what made the S.S.S. stand out was their sheer insanity. These lunatics had burned down an entire marine camp just to get their hands on nuclear warheads. The C.I.B. report detailed the horrors the S.S.S. had inflicted on the Fleet Admiral, his family, his C.I.B. guards, and the soldiers and their families. The atrocities were stomach-turning.


    However, the S.S.S. had met their match when they ventured into Ace''s neighborhood and encountered Crimson Eyes. That maniac had been willing to let the entire neighborhood burn if it meant taking down the S.S.S.''s MountainOfSwords. Because of his decisive and ruthless approach, MountainOfSwords¡ªknown in the S.S.S. chat group as the sword-mad senior¡ªwas forced to flee with his tail between his legs.


    Ace believed that if Crimson Eyes had shown even a hint of hesitation, MountainOfSwords would have burned down the neighborhood before retreating, just to hurt Crimson Eyes. Reflecting on this, Ace was beginning to appreciate the C.I.B.''s firm stance on refusing to negotiate with curse terrorists and criminals. If organizations like the S.S.S. were left unchecked, even one of them could bring the country to its knees. After all, these were the same people who had wiped out an entire marine camp and had done so methodically. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''In the chat, they said they''d continue to lay low and not join the fray to hunt for curse tools. But I think they only agreed on that to appease MountainOfSwords,'' Dame Wasp replied, her voice laced with dread. ''I pinged the locations of two of their members from the chat group¡ªand both are at that resort.''


    Ace frowned as the weight of the situation settled in. Four members of the S.S.S. were in the very resort where they were supposed to pick up the doll.


    ''Rose, tell me you''re kidding,'' Ace remarked, hoping against all odds that Dame Wasp was joking. Even though she had never joked in the past, it seemed more plausible than the possibility of running into two members of the S.S.S. at the resort where they were supposed to pick up Doctor Druid.


    ''Master, I''m not. I think we should collect the doll and get out of here before the other S.S.S. members arrive. They seem to be waiting for their fellow members to join them,'' Dame Wasp warned, hurrying her master and emphasizing the urgency of acting fast.


    ''Fuck!'' Ace cussed but immediately calmed himself, his mind already devising a plan. Soon, he began barking orders at Dame Wasp. ''Rose, it''s up to you now.''


    ''Don''t worry, Master. Leave it to me,'' Dame Wasp assured him confidently.


    Ace couldn''t stay mad at her over their previous spat. As his toy summon, Dame Wasp held no grudge or score against him. Even now, he could sense her disappointment¡ªnot in him for scolding her, but in herself for not handling their earlier conversation more wisely. She had only been trying to help him make better choices in life so he wouldn''t regret them later. She did that despite knowing the risk of losing his favor which was the scariest thing for a toy summons. For Ace, she was willing to sacrifice the only thing that brought joy to her existence.


    Sensing Dame Wasp''s selfless devotion, Ace began to feel guilty about getting mad at her. He realized he could have handled the situation better. This moment of clarity made him acknowledge that Dame Wasp might be right: his past had likely left a lasting trauma on him. Otherwise, why would he get so defensive when all she was trying to do was help him?

 Chapter 177: Thrill-Seekers

    Chapter 177: Thrill-SeekersTurning the bike off the trail, Ace guided it deeper into the woods, searching for a secluded spot about a mile from the resort. He eventually found a cozy space nestled between a cluster of tall, closely packed trees. After parking his bike, he activated the barrier talisman, followed by a presence-erasing talisman and an invisibility talisman, creating a secure hideout for himself.


    ''Master, I''ll head to the delivery room, secure the doll, and signal you to recall me,'' Dame Wasp offered confidently. Her voice softened before she added, ''While I''m at it, do you want me to grab some food for you? Your stomach''s growling.''


    Ace smirked faintly, though his cheeks flushed at her remark. Thanks to their sense-sharing link, Dame Wasp could hear his stomach protesting that he fed it meals as early as he could.


    ''Let''s not complicate things,'' he replied firmly, folding his arms as he leaned against his bike. ''In and out. Got it?'' He noted how Dame Wasp seemed more like herself again¡ªcalm, confident, and focused. After telling him her worries, she''d regained her old spirit. He admired that about her. She thrived under pressure and, in some ways, was an adrenaline junkie.


    Ace had seen the same thrill-seeking tendencies in Emi, too. The two of them were like peas in a pod¡ªdrawn to danger, smiling in the face of it. Meanwhile, he was more of a couch potato, perfectly content to stay miles away from trouble. Living with them he had come learn one thing them: they seemed most like themselves when on a mission.


    ''Got it, Master,'' Dame Wasp replied before being summoned, her expression determined. Without waiting for further instructions, she activating her stealth mode and shranking to her one-hundredth form, she rushed out of the barrier reporting through the status screen: [I''m heading out.]


    Ace sighed, brushing a hand through his hair as he shared his senses with his third summon and called, ''Emi.''


    ''Yes, Master?'' Emi responded promptly, her tone warm and attentive.


    ''Am I wrong?'' Ace asked suddenly, the weight of uncertainty creeping into his voice. Dame Wasp''s willingness to risk everything¡ªher very joy and meaning of existence¡ªto convince him earlier had stuck with him. Now, he couldn''t help but second-guess himself.


    There was a pause before Emi spoke. ''Wrong about what, Master? she asked gently, her tone encouraging him to elaborate.


    Ace hesitated, staring into the dense woods as if searching for answers among the trees, ''You know, earlier.''


    ''I can''t answer that, Master. Though I know what Senpai talked to you about I don''t know what you two actually said. So, that''s for you to decide,'' Emi replied thoughtfully. Then, as if reminding him of her stance, she added, ''But I can tell you this: your path aligns with the teachings of my family. Considering that I turned my back on them and joined my friends in the Cosmic Combat, so you tell me.''


    Ace raised an eyebrow at her response, her words lingering in his mind. ''I underestimated you guys'' loyalty to me. Looks like I owe Dame Wasp an apology,'' he admitted, a tinge of guilt in his voice.


    Seeing both of his toy summons willing to risk everything for him was humbling. The cursed toybox''s skill descriptions had specified they would sacrifice themselves for their master, but he had never thought it carried such a profound meaning. Besides his parents, he had never known anyone who would go so far for him.


    ''Does that mean Senpai got through to you?'' Emi asked, surprised. The Ace she knew was notoriously stubborn¡ªit was rare for anyone to change his mind once he had set it on something.


    ''No,'' Ace replied firmly, his tone softening just slightly, ''but you two keep trying. It''s a constant reminder to me of what I''m most afraid of losing.'' He moved away from his bike, reaching the edge of the barrier, staring into the direction of the resort with a firmer resolve in his eyes.


    ''Master, you sound just like my sister, you know that, right?'' Emi remarked with a wry smile, referring to her assassin-for-hire sister, infamous for destroying her universe''s Earth in the first Cosmic Combat.


    Ace smirked. ''A lot of fans like her, even more than you, you know. And didn''t you and your friends revive Earth in Cosmic Combat 2? What are you crying about?''


    He wasn''t exaggerating¡ªEmi''s sister had been a fan favorite since the game came out. Her actions in the first Cosmic Combat left such a lasting impression that fans still considered her one of the best characters in the series. Despite the flashy powers and tragic backstories of subsequent final bosses, none had come close to her popularity. There was something raw and unforgettable about her willingness to destroy everything she loved and had joined the cosmic combat to protect.


    Emi opened her mouth to argue but stopped as the status screen popped up, displaying a message from Dame Wasp.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Dame Wasp: Master, I want to hack into the resort''s systems. It''ll let us monitor and eavesdrop on the S.S.S. members.


    Ace:


    Rose, what did I say? In and out. Repeat after me¡ªin and out.


    Dame Wasp: But, Master, it''s simple! All I need to do is connect to the resort''s Wi-Fi, and bam¡ªwe''ll know exactly what these evildoers are up to.


    Ace: No. Don''t you get it? The only reason the S.S.S. feels safe gathering here¡ªdespite the C.I.B. breathing down their necks¡ªis that this place is either their base or it belongs to someone working with them.


    Ace: And knowing those psychos, their systems probably have top-tier security. Even if they don''t trace it back to you, they''ll know something''s off. That''s a risk we can''t afford.


    Ace: Just secure the package and get out.


    Dame Wasp: But, Master¡ª sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace: Listen, Rose, you don''t have to prove anything to me. I already trust you. And... I''m sorry for snapping at you earlier. I get what you were trying to say¡ªit''s just... that''s not who I am.


    Ace: Please, just grab the doll case and signal me when you''re ready to be recalled.


    Dame Wasp: Understood, Master. Recall me now.]

 Chapter 178: The Great Outdoors

    Chapter 178: The Great Outdoors"Rose, you scared the shit out of me!" Ace barked, his voice sharp with both relief and frustration as Dame Wasp materialized before him.


    For a fleeting, agonizing moment, he had thought she''d gone rogue in a reckless bid to impress him and win back his trust. But no¡ªDame Wasp had already secured the doll case. On her way out, however, she wanted to hack into the resort''s Wi-Fi, intending to hijack its surveillance system. She planned to monitor the movements of the S.S.S. members and eavesdrop on them through the microphones of devices connected to the network.


    He should have known better than to think Dame Wasp would pull a reckless stunt just to impress him and end up putting him in danger. He understood that he had grown insecure about his powers and often wondered if he truly deserved them. Ace wasn''t afraid of hatred or hardship¡ªbut love, unconditional and selfless, terrified him. He felt unworthy of something so precious, something so many could only dream of. And yet, here he was, with two loyal toy summons who would do anything for him, and soon, he was going to animate another one.


    "Sorry, Master. I should have been clearer in my report. Do you want me to return and hack into the resort''s Wi-Fi?" Dame Wasp apologized, in a tone laced with contrition, understanding that her incomplete report had caused her master distress and worry.


    However, the words Ace had said to her earlier, and seeing him receive her with concern and worry, made her feel blessed, like the luckiest toy in the whole damn world. Though she felt bad for making her master worry unnecessarily, her wings vibrated, unable to hide her extreme joy. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dame Wasp thought she had lost her master''s favor because she prematurely confronted his trauma, but it turns out she underestimated her master''s love and faith in her. Knowing this made all of it worth it, though it would not have affected her duty in any way, as she would have continued to serve him loyally regardless of his feelings for her.


    "No!" Ace exclaimed, then added with a grin, "I can''t wait for you to gain your new body and teach a lesson or two. Why go looking for trouble when we just got out of it? Now that we''ve collected the doll, let''s go camping by the creek. I''m famished. We can catch and grill some fish while the new member of our family animates."


    "Alright, Master. I know just the place that fits your requirements and taste," Dame Wasp replied. She began to prepare to return to her toy space but paused when she noticed Ace kneeling down.


    He reached for the doll case, eager to inspect the life-size adult silicone doll of Doctor Druid, which he planned to animate as his next toy summon using the changeling curse core.


    Ace ran his fingers over the military-grade case that served as the doll''s box, his awe evident. With a determined tug, he broke the locks and lifted the lid. As it creaked open, a glimpse of flawless green skin made him stop short. Swallowing hard, he slowly lifted the lid further, revealing a stunning green-skinned female humanoid doll with ample curves.


    Adorned in thorny vines that accentuated her striking figure, the doll was both enchanting and provocative. Ace couldn''t deny the temptation she stirred within him. He hesitated for a moment before reaching out, his fingertips brushing over her dark green, alluring lips.


    His hand moved instinctively, caressing her flawless skin and toned yet curvy body. The doll''s cold surface reminded him it wasn''t real flesh but silicone, yet it was almost better¡ªsmooth, supple, and sturdy all at once.


    Snapping out of his trance, Ace shook his head to clear his thoughts and pulled out the drawers built into the case to check for accessories. What he found left him momentarily speechless.


    In addition to all the props for Doctor Druid, the girls from the Oracle Doll Makers had packed an array of sultry dresses and lingerie tailored to the doll''s green skin tone and voluptuous body. The pieces were trendy, fashionable, and undeniably alluring. It was as if the women from Oracl Doll Makers had perfected the art of appealing to every man''s fantasies.


    Ace let out a low whistle, closing the drawer with a chuckle. "Those Oracle girls really know what they''re doing," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head as he prepared to focus on the task at hand.


    "The Oracle Doll Makers outdid themselves with this one," Ace muttered, closing the doll case. With a flick of his hand, he fed it to his cursed toy box sending it to Emi''s toy space for her to store in her storage talisman. Turning to Dame Wasp, he asked, "Speaking of them, should I be worried about them?"


    Dame Wasp considered the question before replying, "The resort seemed like a legitimate business to me than a hideout. Especially, its prices were insanely high but the rooms and service was equally flawless. While I was there, I didn''t find anything suspicious or concerning. It was entirely run by mortals and not by curse slaves like in the curse mall. Plus, this isn''t the first time the girls have visited this resort. They''ve been here a few times before and liked it, which is why they recommended it in the first place."


    She paused, her wings flickering slightly before continuing. "Considering the surge in curse-user activity across the county, I actually think this resort is one of the safest places for them to unwind. After all, the members of the S.S.S. aren''t stupid enough to ruin their own hideout, nor are they likely to tolerate anyone else causing trouble here. They''ll keep the peace to maintain the sanctity of their safe haven."


    Ace nodded, his brow furrowing as he absorbed her reasoning. Dame Wasp''s logic was sound. It was true that curse users were everywhere¡ªtoday more than ever, for reasons unknown to him. Mortals had few places to escape the growing menace, and this resort, guarded by the self-interest of the notorious S.S.S., was likely as secure as it got.


    He could demand the Oracle Doll Makers leave under some pretense, but who was to say they wouldn''t run into a malicious curse user on their way home? That was beyond his control. Believing otherwise would be foolish.


    Ace sighed, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "You''re probably right," he admitted, though the weight of responsibility lingered in his eyes.


    Shaking his head, Ace stuck the invisible and presence-erasing talismans onto his body and bike before gathering the three talismans he had used to create his cozy hideout.


    As he climbed onto his bike, Dame Wasp returned to her toy space but continued to share his senses. With his growing curse prowess and spirituality stats, Ace had discovered he could use his sense-sharing skill to allow both his toy summons to experience his senses simultaneously.


    However, it came at a cost¡ªprolonged use left him mentally and spiritually drained. He wondered if practicing curse arts that focused on sensory enhancement might help him utilize this skill more efficiently. It was yet another item to add to his ever-growing to-explore list to remind him to hurry and complete mastering the body reinforcement and curse concealment arts.


    Not wanting to exhaust himself before reaching the campsite, Ace decided to cut off the sense-sharing connection with Emi, preserving his energy for the journey ahead.


    Navigating through the dense woods and steep slopes under Dame Wasp''s guidance, Ace finally arrived at a hilltop. The sight before him stole his breath. It was, without question, one of the most beautiful scenes he had ever laid eyes on.


    The landscape looked untouched by mankind, like one of those pristine, unspoiled vistas often featured on outdoor channels. It stirred something deep within him¡ªa primal feeling he hadn''t known existed.


    The breeze carried the crisp, invigorating fragrance of wood and the creek below. The wind whistled gently through the trees, mingling with the melodic calls of birds. The serene symphony of nature created a peacefulness that felt almost otherworldly.


    Ace couldn''t help but feel a pang of regret. He only had a single afternoon to enjoy this slice of paradise. If he didn''t have to return home before school let out, he would have gladly spent a few days here practicing his curse arts.


    Now that would have been fantastic.


    Lost in the breathtaking scenery, Ace''s eyes caught sight of steam rising further uphill among the dense woods. He blinked in disbelief before summoning Dame Wasp and Emi. "Is that what I think it is?" he asked, his voice tinged with excitement.


    "Yes, Master, that''s a natural hot spring," Dame Wasp replied with a smile. Her tiny form hovered around him, basking in his joy. This had been the big surprise she''d kept from him, and seeing his elation made it all worthwhile.


    "Rose, I love you!" Ace yelled, breaking into a sprint toward the spring. Dame Wasp followed close behind, her wings vibrating in delight, while Emi quickly stored the bike in the storage talisman and hurried to join them.

 Chapter 179: My Toy Family

    Chapter 179: My Toy FamilyTaking the winding path that snaked through the woods, Ace hurried uphill. Golden sunlight filtered through the leaves and dappled the ground in shifting patterns. His boots crunched on fallen leaves as he breathed deeply, savoring the air thick with the earthy scent of damp soil and pine needles. A thrill of excitement buzzed in his chest as he rushed along the faded trail.


    Finally, he broke through the trees and stopped, his breath catching in awe. Nestled among the rocks was a small pool of shimmering water, steam rising lazily into the cool air. The vibrant turquoise surface rippled gently, as though beckoning him closer. Ace could almost feel the warmth radiating from it, even at a distance.


    Arriving at the pool''s edge, he carefully crouched down and lowered his hand into the water, letting its soothing heat envelop his skin. It was perfect¡ªnot too hot, not too cold. The warmth seeped into him, chasing away the lingering chill of the hillside.


    Ace closed his eyes, letting the sounds of the forest wash over him: the cheerful chirping of birds, the soft rustling of leaves. Together, they formed a calming symphony that made his worries seem to dissolve into the crisp air. Breathing deeply, he allowed himself to revel in the moment.


    When he gently opened his eyes, he stood and gazed at the steam rising gracefully from the pool. The mist thickened the air with a comforting warmth as it disappeared into the canopy of ancient trees overhead. His eyes wandered to the winding, moss-covered trail that had led him here.


    There, under the dappled sunlight filtered through the trees, stood Emi. The interplay of her unreal beauty and the divine backdrop stirred an unspeakable feeling within Ace. He suppressed it quickly, catching sight of Dame Wasp hovering beside Emi. Her tiny figure darted playfully through the golden beams as if dancing with the light.


    Shaking his head to dispel his wayward thoughts, Ace focused on the natural masterpiece before him: the spring. Smooth, moss-covered rocks formed a natural basin, the water overflowing into a small, cascading stream of vibrant turquoise. It shimmered like liquid gemstones, inviting him to lose himself in its magic.


    Without further hesitation, Ace began to undress, eager to enjoy the spring''s embrace. Though it was afternoon, the uphill air still carried a refreshing chill that made the thought of the warm water all the more enticing.


    Emi had noticed her master''s lingering gaze, the way his eyes rested on her with an unspoken longing. It stirred something deep within her, evoking her innate instincts as a tantric sex doll. Yet, with her senpai Dame Wasp hovering nearby, she, like her master, suppressed those feelings. Turning her attention to the surrounding forest, she let its serene beauty distract her. The secluded atmosphere, filled with birdsong and the occasional rustle of leaves, created a tranquil symphony that softened the silence.


    As Ace looked around for a place to set his clothes, Emi approached him, her movements graceful and purposeful. Without a word, she took his clothes from him and stored them in her storage talisman. Standing just a breath away, her presence felt magnetic. Ace''s thoughts wandered dangerously¡ªhe wanted to grab her, pull her into the spring with him, and lose himself in her under the filtered sunlight that danced across the water''s surface.


    But he refrained. Instead, he nodded at her and calmly stepped into the spring, sinking into the warm water. Leaning against the smooth stone edge, Ace let out a contented sigh as he allowed the spring''s warmth to envelop him.


    The sensation was transformative. The buoyant water soothed his tired muscles, melting away the aches from hours of riding through the woods. Despite his superhuman strength and stamina, Ace was not immune to exhaustion and pain. Moments like these reminded him that even enhanced bodies needed rest. The mineral-rich water worked its magic, leaving his skin feeling refreshed and invigorated.


    Breathing deeply, he savored the earthy aroma of the forest mingled with the unique mineral scent of the spring. A serene expression settled over his face as he leaned back, resting his head against a rock. Closing his eyes, he let the wonders of the spring flow through him, soothing every fiber of his being.


    The world''s worries seemed to dissolve in the spring''s embrace. The tranquility of the forest, the soft murmur of the nearby stream, and the rhythmic cadence of his breath created a profound sense of peace. Ace realized he had never experienced anything like this before. Growing up in the city, his vacations were often spent at relatives'' homes, theme parks, or resorts¡ªnever in nature''s untouched splendor.


    Now, with this hidden haven all to himself for the afternoon, he felt blessed.


    "What''s wrong, girls?" Ace asked, opening his eyes and turning his head to find his toy summons. Dame Wasp was circling around Emi, while the latter seemed to be avoiding her senpai for some reason.


    Before Dame Wasp could respond, Emi stepped forward and asked, "Master, may I go to the creek to catch some fish and grill them for you?"


    Not missing a beat, Dame Wasp added, "Master, may I gather herbs for flavor? Also, I think I can scrape up some salt from the surroundings." She shot a pointed look at Emi as she spoke. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sure, but first, someone explain to me why you two are fighting again. I thought you''d gotten close enough to team up on me by now," Ace said, resting his arms on the rocks and propping his head on his hands. His gaze shifted between his toy summons, noting their odd behavior.


    Dame Wasp huffed before answering, "Master, I suggested Emi join you in the hot spring while I prepare the food, but she refuses. It seems I''m only her senpai in name." She shot another sharp glare at Emi.


    Dame Wasp didn''t want to be the reason her master and Emi missed an opportunity to enjoy each other''s company, so she asked Emi¡ªthrough the status screen¡ªto accompany their master in the spring. She thought it''d be a good idea while she went to the forest to gather herbs and catch fish. But Emi ignored her, which was a first as normally Emi would never say not her.


    Now that she had gotten to know Emi, Dame Wasp found herself more than happy to share their master with her. She valued their growing bond and felt no jealousy¡ªonly a desire to see their master enjoy the serenity of this breathtaking scenery to the fullest.


    "Master, may I go?" Emi asked, her voice soft but insistent. She didn''t wait for Ace to respond to Dame Wasp, knowing full well he was holding himself back for her senpai''s sake, just as she was. Emi''s guilt weighed heavily on her. The idea of indulging in intimate moments with her master while leaving Dame Wasp out felt selfish. She resolved to suppress her innate tantric instincts, just as Ace seemed to be doing, out of respect for their bond as a trio.


    Ace sighed, noticing the subtle tension between them, and nodded. "Sure, you two can go ahead. But don''t wander more than a mile radius from me," he said firmly, his tone a mix of authority and care. "And remember to keep me updated."


    His gaze lingered on them as he gave his permission. Though they weren''t children, they were still only a few weeks old in existence. Knowing he could recall them to his side at any moment provided him with some peace of mind.


    "Master, she ignored me again," Dame Wasp pointed out, her voice tinged with frustration, though it sounded more like complaining. She looked helpless, her tiny wings twitching in the air as she hovered nearby. Seeing her usually obedient junior suddenly act rebellious and ignore her left her confused. Unable to understand why Emi was acting this way, Dame Wasp turned to Ace for an explanation.


    Ace sighed, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "Rose, I understand where you''re coming from," he said gently, "but you can''t force others to do something they don''t want to do. Since Emi doesn''t want to let it go..." He trailed off, his tone implying that he wasn''t going to force the issue. He didn''t bother explaining Emi''s behavior further to Dame Wasp, knowing it would only make her feel bad and guilty.


    It was like a family planning an exotic vacation, only for the mother to suddenly be called into work and unable to join them. The mother, despite her disappointment, wants her family to enjoy the vacation without her, knowing they''ve been looking forward to it for so long. It''s one of the reasons she worked so hard.


    But the family, out of love, chooses to stay behind, because they can''t bear the thought of her returning to a empty home. They wouldn''t be able to enjoy the vacation knowing she''s alone. Not every family expresses their love in this way, but some do¡ªturning their love for each other into a source of pain that cements their bond stronger. But in the end, when they sit together at the dinner table, sharing a meal, it''s the togetherness that makes it all worth it.


    Dame Wasp gave a respectful nod, her wings vibrating faintly as she hovered in place. Emi, meanwhile, hesitated for a moment, glancing at Dame Wasp before bowing slightly to Ace and turning toward the forest path. Ace watched them go, the soft rustle of their movements blending with the natural symphony of the forest around him. He felt blessed to have such a dynamic with his toy summons. He couldn''t help but wonder if this would continue if he were to turn a villain into one of his toy summons.

 Chapter 180: Cursed Doll Experiment

    Chapter 180: Cursed Doll Experiment"How many did you catch?" Ace asked Emi as she pulled another trout from her storage talisman, preparing it for her senpai to grill using her laser.


    "Enough, Master," Emi replied, avoiding specifics about how she had likely reduced the trout population in the nearby creek to single digits. Her barrier talisman had allowed her to catch more than enough to satisfy her master''s appetite. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace frowned but chose not to press further. If Emi had wanted to elaborate, she would have done so before he asked. His gaze shifted to the assortment of herbs and spices Dame Wasp had gathered from the hill for marinating the fish. Shaking his head, he wondered if he even wanted to know how she had managed to procure such a variety within a mile radius of the hot spring.


    Deep down, Ace feared he wouldn''t like the answers from either of them. Rather than ruin the moment with questions, he decided to enjoy the grilled fish and the luxury of soaking in the hot spring, letting the girls treat him like a king. He was certain he wouldn''t receive such royal treatment anywhere else.


    Yes, he worried that their actions might be damaging the delicate ecosystem of this paradise, but it didn''t stop him from indulging. He reassured himself with the thought that soon he would animate his fourth toy summon, Doctor Druid. With her powers, restoring this place would be a simple task.


    "Emi, how is the progress on turning Doctor Druid''s doll and accessories into cursed items?" Ace inquired, steering the conversation back to their primary objective.


    There was a reason Ace hadn''t immediately fed the Doctor Druid doll to the cursed toy box along with the changeling curse core to animate it. After learning that his toy summons could use their curse energy to imbue objects and transform them into cursed items, he wanted to experiment. He hoped to test whether a cursed doll of Doctor Druid combined with the changeling curse core would result in higher compatibility. If successful, he intended to adopt this method for animating future toy summons.


    However, Ace was hoping for more than just improved compatibility. He anticipated unique enhancements that might arise from using a cursed doll instead of a standard one in the animation process.


    "Master, a few more minutes," Emi replied, handing him a wooden tray shaped like a canoe, which held the grilled steelhead trout. Dame Wasp had skillfully deboned and cut the trout for her master, even crafting the curved canoe tray so it could float on the spring water, leaving both of Ace''s hands-free to enjoy the meal.


    "Girls, you''ve outdone yourselves with this one," Ace praised his toy summons as he bit into a juicy piece of trout. He couldn''t help but lick his fingers¡ªit was simply too delicious. Turning to Emi, he instructed, "Feed the curse core of the curseling from the first curse slave killed to the cursed toy box." His curiosity about the loot from the winery made him eager to inventory its contents, wondering if it held any surprises.


    Following her master''s orders, Emi placed the curse core of the first curse slave killed that day into the cursed toy box, waiting for it to analyze and deliver its report through the status screen.


    "Master, if you allow me to go a little farther, I can catch a boar. I spotted one just outside the mile-radius range," Dame Wasp proposed. Her laser braid danced in the air, emitting a conical beam to grill the trout evenly. She couldn''t help but recall one particularly lucky boar that had lingered near the edge of her operational range before abruptly turning and fleeing as if sensing its impending doom.


    "Rose, let''s finish the trout Emi has already caught. I don''t want them to go to waste," Ace said, his appetite waning despite his initial enthusiasm. His stomach was already full, yet Emi showed no sign of running out of trout. The gentle smile that appeared on her face each time he requested another serving filled him with unease, as it hinted at just how many trout might have been sacrificed.


    He also couldn''t ignore the sheer quantity of herbs and other species Dame Wasp had gathered. Their actions had likely wreaked havoc on the ecosystem of this serene paradise, but for now, Ace decided to focus on enjoying the moment.


    "Master, you don''t have to do that. The trout won''t spoil and will remain fresh for another decade or two as I used my preservation talisman on them before storing them in my storage talisman. So, if you''re full, you don''t need to force yourself," Emi said, as though she had read her master''s mind and introduced her new preservation talisman to him, which could keep a corpse from rotting or prevent food from spoiling.


    "Oh my god, thank you. I reached my limit two trout ago," Ace confessed with a sigh of relief. He admitted that he had been forcing himself to eat the grilled trout to show appreciation for their efforts and avoid wasting food. His father would have been furious if he found out Ace had caught more fish than he could eat and left the rest to go to waste.


    "Master, you can be so silly sometimes, you know that?" Dame Wasp said with a giggle, amused by her master''s exaggerated struggle to finish the last trout.


    "Make sure to clean up the area and leave it more beautiful than we found it," Ace instructed his toy summons. As for the trout population in the nearby creek, he could only silently pray that the remaining trout would be particularly virile and repopulate the creek swiftly.


    Both Emi and Dame Wasp nodded. Emi used a preservation talisman on the unused herbs and stored them in her storage talisman, while Dame Wasp carefully incinerated the fish bones, scales, and other waste from the grilling process. She used her laser with precision, ensuring the ashes didn''t spread and cause a forest fire. It didn''t take long for the pair to clean up their waste and restore the area to its pristine state.


    Going a step further, they sowed seeds from the harvested herbs in the surrounding area, placing them farther from the spring so they could grow undisturbed. They hoped these herbs would be ready to use during their master''s next visit to the hot spring.


    Just as they finished, the trio received a status screen report on the curse core they had fed to the cursed toy box:


    [¡ª Status screen¡ª


    - Curse core analyzed and is determined to be of Slimoid Form belonging to Mudwax curseling.


    > Curse core: Mudwax (Slimoid Form)


    > Class: Mortal-Tier


    > Title: MudWeaver


    Note:


    i) Source: Dame Wasp.]


    "Rose, it seems your efforts did not go to waste," Ace remarked to Dame Wasp, observing that the cursed toy box was now capable of not only analyzing the curses fed to it but also providing more detailed information about them.


    This improvement was possible because Dame Wasp had used the Status Screen to update the cursed toy box with a list of curselings she had compiled from the S.S.S. and C.I.B. archives. She wasn''t certain the cursed toy box could store this information in its memory and learn to utilize it, but her gamble had paid off.


    Dame Wasp had suspected it might succeed, given how the cursed toy box had previously demonstrated its ability to process curse cores to enhance the curse core it and Ace shared, and as a result, he no longer needed to cultivate or recharge his curse energy manually. He simply fed curse cores to the cursed toy box, it took care of the rest.


    This wasn''t the only instance of the cursed toy box displaying its capabilities. Emi had used the Status Screen to teach it basic curse crafting, which it employed to transform the cursed item Modified Sharper Rifle into the curse tool Rail Rifle. Time and again, the cursed toy box had proven its intelligence was highly advanced and capable of learning new skills.


    Still, Dame Wasp hadn''t been entirely certain the cursed tool''s consciousness could handle the vast amount of data she was painstakingly inputting. The S.S.S. and C.I.B. archives contained an overwhelming number of curselings¡ªfar more than even a human mind could memorize, let alone a cursed tool.


    Even if it could store the data, there was the issue of processing. Would the cursed tool be able to sift through all that information effectively? If so, how long would it take to make use of it? Yet the cursed toy box exceeded her expectations, overcoming all these challenges. It demonstrated its newfound capability by providing a more detailed analysis of the curse core that had been fed to it.


    "Yes, Master. It seems your innate curse tool is more complex and capable than we previously believed," Dame Wasp said, her intrigue growing as she considered the cursed toy box''s potential.


    "No, Senpai. It''s Master''s innate curse art, the Status Screen, that is more than meets the eye," Emi interjected. "The only reason the cursed toy box can understand what we''re trying to convey to it is because of the Status Screen. Its existence allows our master to utilize his innate curse tool in ways that other curse masters can only dream of."

 Chapter 181: Mudwax Curseling

    Chapter 181: Mudwax Curseling[ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    Target: Mudwax (Slimoid Form)


    Race: Curseling


    Class: Mortal-Tier


    Title: MudWeaver S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Info: The Mudwax resembles a dirt-brown humanoid clay figurine of a rotting corpse, usually standing between 7 and 9 feet tall. It has no eyes or teeth, a very flat nose with two wide nostrils, and earholes instead of ears. Its entire body is composed of a clay-like substance, which it uses to mimic the appearance of the corpse it has recently ingested. The creature possesses incredible strength and defense but lacks agility. Its clay body can absorb physical damage and reform to avoid attacks.


    Mudwaxes typically attach themselves to corpses buried in the ground that are imbued with strong negative emotions or lingering thoughts. They swallow these corpses whole, feeding on the negative energy while adopting their appearance. However, the Mudwax only assumes the likeness of a clay figurine of the consumed corpse. If the corpse is rotting, the Mudwax''s mimicry will also appear decayed.


    Due to their eerie resemblance to zombies, Mudwaxes are often mistaken as such during the night. They are visible only to mortals who had a deep emotional connection¡ªwhether love or hatred¡ªwith the ingested corpse. When spotted by the living, they are easily frightened and retreat by burrowing into the ground, leaving no trace of their presence. Because of this behavior, many who encounter them dismiss the experience as a hallucination caused by unresolved emotions for the deceased.


    Mudwaxes are harmless to the living since they specifically feed on the negative energy of the dead and avoid human contact. Interestingly, their curse cores make ideal candidates for embedding into a mortal''s heart to create a curse slave. Unlike other curselings, which often fail the curse-slave transition due to their greed for negative emotions, Mudwaxes use only what they need to regenerate their forms. This significantly increases the chances of a successful transformation into a curse slave.


    Due to the nature of the Mudwax''s behavior, there is an ongoing debate about whether it should be classified as a curse spirit. However, this proposal has faced strong resistance, particularly from those who hold the remains of their ancestors and loved ones as sacred. These individuals argue that Mudwaxes desecrate the peace of the dead, subjecting them to eternal agony within their forms.


    Although Mudwaxes lack eyes, they possess the ability to use Curse Location. This ability functions by emitting short, high-frequency curse waves that bounce off objects in their surroundings and return as echoes. By processing these echoes, Mudwaxes can create an accurate mental image of an object''s shape, distance, and other characteristics. This skill allows them to navigate flawlessly underground when they burrow to escape.


    Known Skills:


    i) Curse Location


    Mudwaxes use curse energy to emit waves that help them navigate underground and locate corpses imbued with lingering negative emotions.


    ii) Corpse Mimicry


    Mudwaxes can assume the current appearance of a corpse they have ingested, manifesting as a clay figurine version of the corpse.


    iii) Mud Rush


    Mudwaxes can travel through the ground by burrowing tunnels. They seal the tunnels behind them seamlessly using a wax secreted by their bodies, leaving no trace of their passage.


    iv) Corpse Wax


    The wax produced by Mudwaxes allows them to weave mud and other related materials into various forms. This unique ability has earned them the title "Mudweaver."


    Note:


    i) Curse Masters are advised not to kill this curseling unless it is absolutely necessary and unavoidable. Because they keep the cemeteries around the globe clean of negative energies which can accumulate over generations and attract curselings or give birth to a curseling.


    ii) Source: Cursepedia (Curse Web), Curse Investigation bureau archives, Steal Song Society archives.


    iii) This data is created for human convenience by humans. Curselings don''t assess to this.]


    "This explains why the curse-user trio didn''t care about bombarding the road and damaging it beyond repair, even though they needed it for their next hunt. With Mudwax''s corpse wax, it must have been relatively easy for them to fix the road without triggering any landmines surrounding the area they had planted using it."


    This realization dawned on Ace as he reviewed the detailed information about the Mudwax curseling that Dame Wasp had shared with him through the status screen.


    "Yes, Master. I believe so too," Dame Wasp agreed. The Mudwax could rebuild the entire road to look as good as new using its corpse wax. While asphalt wasn''t mud, the corpse wax acted as an adhesive, binding the debris of the asphalt closely enough to resemble a repaired road. With this insight, they understood how the curse-user trio had managed to set up their ambush so effectively.


    "This curse core alone makes our trip to the winery worth it," Ace remarked. Then, turning to Emi, he ordered, "Emi, turn it into your shikigami. While the world is still debating whether it should be considered a curse spirit instead of a curseling, I say it''s a curse spirit. Its methods might be too unconventional for curse masters to accept, but its abilities and contributions to nature are undeniable."


    "Um, Master, are you sure about this? I think this curse core could be used to animate a resourceful toy summon," Emi said, double-checking her master''s decision. She wanted to confirm that he wanted the Mudwax as a shikigami and not as an animated toy summon. After all, they still had an empty spot in their toy space apart from the one reserved for Doctor Druid now that they had failed to procure the curse core of the phantom paint.


    "Yes, Mudwax will make a handy shikigami. We can never have too many curse spirits with us¡ªthey''re nature''s cleaners of negative energy," Ace replied, asserting his decision as final. Then, he added, "From now on, I''ll summon you once a month to clean the negative energy around our estate using your scavenger spirit and the Mudwax shikigamis. This will ensure that no curselings are attracted to or born on our land. Additionally, it will be good for the orchards, as they will thrive in a more positive environment."


    "I understand, Master," Emi replied, nodding in agreement. She realized that a toy summons animated using Mudwax''s curse core wouldn''t have the ability to feed on the negative energy of the dead¡ªa quality her master seemed to value most.

 Chapter 182: Earworm Curseling

    Chapter 182: Earworm Curseling[¡ª Status screen¡ª


    - Curse core analyzed and is determined to be of Formless belonging to Earworm curseling.


    > Curse core: Earworm (Formless)


    > Class: Mortal-Tier


    > Title: Hypnotist


    Note:


    i) Source: Dame Wasp.]


    "Just in time," Ace exclaimed as the trio received a status screen report on the curse core Emi had fed to the cursed toybox after it had done analyzing the first one.


    "My guess was right. I believe the title says it all," Ace remarked proudly, taking pride in the fact that he had previously deduced that he wasn''t able to sense any curse energy from the driver that drove them into the cursed array formation because the latter was hypnotized rather than being possessed or turned into puppet manipulated by curse energy.


    Meanwhile, Dame Wasp shared detailed information on the Earworm Curseling with her master without even him having to ask through the status screen.  S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [ ¡ª Status screen ¡ª


    Target: Earworm (Formless)


    Race: Curseling


    Class: Mortal-Tier


    Title: Hypnotist


    Info: The Earworm has no fixed form; it appears as a dark, amorphous entity that constantly shifts and floats in the air, often mistaken for a wisp. Its size can vary based on the amount of negative energy or curse energy it has consumed. It lacks facial features such as eyes, teeth, a nose, or ears, yet its amorphous body is surprisingly expressive. It conveys basic thoughts by morphing its shape. Its entire body is composed of tiny dark particles that swarm and move together as though controlled by a single mind. This unique form enables it to vibrate its curse energy to produce noises, complete sounds, and even music. However, while it lacks physical strength, it can absorb physical damage and evade attacks by reforming its body.


    Earworms typically attach themselves to mortal targets with sharp hearing as they remain invisible to mortals but can be heard by them. However, the sounds they produce, although heard through the ears, are registered by the mortal''s mind only after being processed by their brain. As a result, these sounds often seem like subconscious inner thoughts. Mortals haunted by Earworm curselings rarely realize they are being haunted or even sense the presence of the curseling. This lack of awareness is crucial, as Earworms can hypnotize those who discover their presence, compelling them to commit acts of self-harm, including suicide.


    The Earworms whisper into the ears of their victims, repeating words or sounds that had the most profound psychological impact on them. Whether it be a plea, song, scolding, or playful banter, the Earworms replicate the exact voice and tone that left a deep impression on their targets. They whisper these relentlessly, causing distress and unease, and then feed on the negative emotions that arise from it. In many cases, prolonged haunting by an Earworm can drive its victims to the point of self-harm or suicide, unable to endure the relentless voices in their heads.


    Although earworms lack many senses, they possess the ability to use Curse Location and absorb and perceive sound waves. Their Curse Location ability is exceptional compared to others because they are formless and capable of vibrating curse energy to emit various curse waves. They can also mimic the sound waves their formless bodies absorb. Thanks to this, it is easy to locate an earworm in a room by identifying its "dead spot," where all sounds end.


    The Curse Location ability works by emitting short, high-frequency curse waves that bounce off objects in the surroundings and return as echoes. By processing these echoes, earworms can create an accurate mental image of an object''s shape, distance, and other characteristics. Similarly, this skill also allows earworms to mimic the sound waves they have absorbed and whisper it into the ears of the mortals they are haunting from any location as if it is right in their head.


    When not haunting a mortal, the curseling will occasionally emit sound waves it has previously absorbed, creating a lingering, eerie voice that resonates in its surroundings. As a result, mortals in the vicinity become frightened, believing the place is haunted. This also allows the curseling to find its next target.


    Known Skills:


    i) Curse Location


    Earworms use curse energy to emit waves that help them navigate and locate prey.


    ii) Sound Mimicry


    Earworms can absorb sound waves in their surroundings and then emit similar sound waves by vibrating their body at corresponding frequencies and wavelengths. The interesting thing about the sound produced by earworms is that they don''t lose intensity within a set range, defying the rules of physics.


    iii) Sonic Blast


    Earworms can focus their vibrations to generate powerful sound blasts capable of creating explosions and breaking through thick concrete walls.


    iv) Formless


    Due to their formless body, earworms can negate most attacks aimed at them, that was if any manage to land.


    v) Hypnosis


    Earworms can hypnotize their haunted targets and implant various instructions in them, including but not limited to self-harm and suicide. With proper training and guidence it can be used to let the hypnotized target perform and execute complex actions and tasks.


    Notes:


    i) Curse Masters are advised to eliminate this curseling as soon as possible, as they will not hesitate to haunt even curse users with heightened hearing. Once the curseling deems them a threat, it will hypnotize them into committing suicide.


    ii) Source: Cursepedia, C. I. B, Steal Song Society archives.


    iii) This data is created for human convenience by humans. Curselings do not have access to this information.]


    "With such a sneaky curseling partner, that fool chose to fight head-on to avenge his dead friends. Idiots like him don''t deserve such a valuable curseling," Ace commented as he went through the information on the Earworm curseling.


    "Master, emotions get the better of even the wisest," Dame Wasp pointed out, feeling that her master was belittling the relationship between the curse users they had killed. "Not to mention, those we killed weren''t just his friends¡ªthey were his grandson and beloved wife. It''s not surprising that he lost all rational thinking." Given Ace''s willingness to forsake the life of a regular teenager to protect his family from the shadows, she couldn''t understand how he of all people could be so dense about the love shared and enjoyed by his enemies.

 Chapter 183: Cursed Wooden Cane

    Chapter 183: Cursed Wooden Cane"So, Master, I take it you''re planning to use the Earworm curse core to animate a Toy summon?" Emi asked, tilting her head slightly. Her tone carried the faintest trace of curiosity, though her eyes hinted she already knew the answer.


    Ace nodded, a glint of determination flashing in his gaze. "Its hypnosis ability will be convenient for dealing with difficult mortals¡ªespecially for ensuring the loyalty of those my family will hire to manage the estate and other ventures they plan to start. If we''d had someone with this ability sooner, we could''ve manipulated Layla more easily."


    He paused, tapping his fingers thoughtfully against the cursed toybox. "Having a strong hypnotist among our Toy summons would make it easier to navigate the mortal world without drawing the attention of curse users. That''s the most important thing."


    As Ace finished his point, a sudden prompt interrupted their discussion. The cursed toybox emitted a faint hum as text materialized before their eyes:


    [ ¡ªStatus Screen¡ª


    - The Curse Tool was analyzed and determined to be the ''Cursed Wooden Cane.''


    > Curse Tool: Cursed Wooden Cane


    > Class: Curse Tool


    > Effect: Helps the user move through wood without resistance. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wood Room: Allows the user to create a stationary and untraceable 21x21x21 space in any wood. The cursed wooden cane acts as the key to the Wood Room. The wood''s system and surrounding will act as the wood rooms ventilation system.


    Notes:


    i) Toymancer gains the subclass Wood Walker and access to related abilities when using this curse tool.ii) Attempting to summon the Wood Room in a different wood will result in items previously stored in it being discarded at the previous rooted location.]


    Emi blinked, the faint glow of the screen reflecting in her wide eyes. "So, that''s what it does... Not bad."


    Ace smirked faintly. "Rose, your guess was right. Looks like we''ll need to head back to the winery."


    He sighed, running a hand through his hair. The memory of the curse slave he had killed flashed in his mind¡ªthe one who''d boasted about their recent haul from hunting near the winery. Ace hadn''t planned on returning, but now it seemed unavoidable.


    "Master, I don''t take pleasure in being right," Dame Wasp said, her voice carrying its usual tone but coming off with an edge of sarcasm. Yet, the faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips betrayed her mood. She was visibly more cheerful than before. Without missing a beat, she added, "But look on the bright side¡ªthe cursed cane''s Wood Room more than makes up for the Phantom Paint curse core we missed, don''t you think?"


    Ace exhaled sharply, his expression darkening. "The Phantom Paint Curseling''s curse core would''ve let us enter a full fantasy world of our choosing," he said, his voice heavy with regret. "But I guess a 21x21x21 space will have to do for now." The sting of losing that core was still raw, and every mention of it felt like salt on an open wound. He had so many ambitious plans for the Toy summons he would''ve created using it.


    "That''s it! We can finally start working on Senpai''s new body tonight without worrying about being discovered!" Emi blurted out, her excitement lighting up her face. Only she knew how much restraint it had taken on her part to hold back from fully attending to her Master''s gratification as a tantric sex doll¡ªout of respect for her Senpai. If her Senpai gained an adult-sized body, they could serve their Master together, making every day a shared effort.


    Ace glanced at her, the briefest flicker of relief crossing his features before he forced himself to nod casually. "Yeah, let''s do that," he replied, keeping his tone neutral.


    What Emi didn''t realize was just how much self-control it took for him to resist seeking her out to relieve his stress¡ªor, failing that, tending to it himself. Being around Emi, with her unrealistic beauty and constant presence, felt like walking through hell. But Ace had his reasons.


    He shot a quick look toward Dame Wasp and quickly resolved not to act on his urges¡ªnot yet, at least. As much as it pained him, he''d wait until Dame Wasp also had an adult-sized body. She was his first Toy summon, after all. That alone made her special, someone who would always mean more to him than any other toy summons that would follow.


    But that was a truth he''d never voice aloud. Dame Wasp didn''t need to know how much she meant to him, not when she''d already shown how spiteful she could get. The memory of her meanness toward Emi, after they''d shared an hour of adult-time fun without her, was still fresh in his mind and enough to serve as a reminder.


    "You two seem happier than I am about me getting an adult-sized body," Dame Wasp remarked, a sly smile playing on her lips as she cast a teasing, suspicious glance at Emi and Ace. "If I didn''t know any better, I''d think one of you was getting a new body instead of me."


    Her words hung in the air for a moment, the tension between Emi and Ace grew thicker. Dame Wasp had sensed it long ago. Hoping to give them a chance to act on their feelings, she had intentionally stayed away for an extended period while she was gathering herds. Yet, to her disappointment, they had squandered the opportunity. Instead of resolving things, they had let the tension between them fester, eventually leading to an awkward silence that forced her to return.


    Still, she appreciated the thoughtfulness and consideration they had shown for her feelings¡ªespecially her master. Ace didn''t owe her such care, yet he went out of his way to include her. That effort, unspoken but clear, warmed her more than she''d let on.


    "Senpai, we''re just happy for you!" Emi blurted out, her voice a little too bright, her cheeks faintly flushed. She tried to sound casual, but her embarrassment was evident. They all knew why she was so eager to create a new body for Dame Wasp.


    Ace cleared his throat, his expression unreadable. "Emi, how far along is the transformation of the Doctor Druid doll into a curse item?" he asked, steering the conversation onto safer ground.


    The sudden shift in the topic didn''t go unnoticed, but neither Dame Wasp nor Emi called him out on it. Ace, for his part, focused on keeping his composure. If they lingered on the previous subject any longer, he wasn''t sure he could hold himself back.


    "It''s done master, we can proceed with checking compatibility between the cursed doll and changeling curse core."

 Chapter 184: Tough Trail

    Chapter 184: Tough Trail"It''s done, Master. We can proceed with checking the compatibility between the cursed doll and the Changeling curse core," Emi reported, her tone measured but her eyes glinting with excitement as she awaited Ace''s permission.


    Ace gave her a subtle nod, his expression calm but deliberate. Taking his cue, Emi carefully placed the cursed Doctor Druid doll and the Changeling curse core into the cursed toybox.


    Moments later, the toybox hummed softly, and the status screen flickered to life:


    [ ¡ªStatus Screen¡ª


    > Curse Core: Changeling Form


    > Toy: Cursed Doctor Druid Doll


    > Compatibility: 99%


    > Recommendation: The success rate of animating the toy ''Cursed Doctor Druid Doll'' with the curse core ''Changeling Form'' is determined to be very high.]


    "Now that''s a whopping 8 percent increase in the compatibility rate. Not quite 100%, but close enough," Ace remarked, the corners of his mouth twitching into a satisfied smile. He signaled to the cursed toybox, giving the command to animate the cursed Doctor Druid doll as a Toy summon using the Changeling curse core.


    "I have a feeling that using a cursed toy to animate a Toy summons might have greater significance during the enchantment process," Emi mused aloud, her brows furrowed thoughtfully. "The Toy summon might end up with a higher enchantment level than me." Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dame Wasp tilted her head, a skeptical yet amused glint in her eyes. "A 2-star enchantment is likely, but 3-star? That''s a stretch. Still, I think this might let the Toy summons retain all its original character''s abilities and the Curseling''s abilities."


    The two exchanged looks, their excitement growing as they speculated. It was clear both were eager to welcome a new member to their family, their banter grew with their anticipation.


    "You don''t have to guess," Ace said, his attempt at nonchalance betrayed by the gleam in his eyes. "We''ll get to meet her soon enough."


    Though he kept his tone even, his anticipation was impossible to hide. It wasn''t just another Toy summons¡ªit was another step toward securing his family''s safety in both the Mortal World and ''World of Curses.''


    "Master, I hate to say this, but it''s time," Dame Wasp suddenly informed Ace, her tone firm but tinged with reluctance. The faint glow of her cybernetic interface flickered in her eyes, reminding her of the alarm she''d set earlier. "If you plan to catch up with your cousin before he heads home after school, you need to be on the road now."


    Ace exhaled deeply, his shoulders sagging slightly. "I was hoping to summon Doctor Druid and check her abilities out before leaving, but I guess we''re out of time." His voice carried a trace of disappointment as he stood and stepped out of the hot spring. "Alright, let''s head back."


    Emi quickly retrieved a towel from her storage talisman, stepping forward to help dry him off. Ace froze for a moment, his eyes widening slightly before he raised a hand to stop her. "Not now," he said firmly, his tone softening as he added, "I can''t handle... that kind of stimulation right now."


    Emi blinked, her cheeks flushing as she stepped back, nodding in understanding. Ace took the towel from her, drying off briskly before changing into his clothes.


    Once ready, Ace led the group back to the trail. Dame Wasp and Emi returned to their toy space, leaving only his motorbike behind. Dame Wasp been thorough as always, confirming the bike''s battery was fully charged and ready for the return trip.


    Climbing onto the bike, Ace glanced at the woods ahead. "Rose, have you maped the shortest route to the town?" he asked, his tone lighter now.


    Dame Wasp''s voice chimed in his mind through their shared senses, calm and assured. ''Of course. Just follow my lead.''


    With a nod, Ace revved the engine, the low hum of the motorbike cutting through the stillness of the woods. He guided it downhill, weaving through the forest as Dame Wasp directed him toward his hometown. The journey ahead was long, but his mind remained focused on the road¡ªand the plans waiting for him back home.


    The return trail was the toughest Ace had navigated all day. The steep inclines and razor-sharp turns tested his limits, but thanks to his boosted stats and the Apex earring''s passive effect, he managed to ride without a single fall or accident at the maximum speed possible.


    Halfway down the trail, Dame Wasp abruptly stopped giving him directions. Confused but trusting her judgment, Ace kept going straight¡ªuntil his instincts screamed at him to hit the brakes coming out of the woods and seeing a cliff ahead.


    The motorbike skidded across the dirt, tires screeching as Ace fought to control it. It finally halted at the very edge of a cliff. Heart pounding, he stared down at the sheer drop below. "Rose! What gives? You still there?" he yelled, his voice sharp with alarm.


    A soft but urgent voice crackled in his mind. ''Ssh! Master, hide quickly. Avoid that curse wave¡ªhurry!''


    Without hesitation, Ace leaped off the bike and clung to the cliffside like a gecko, his movements precise and fluid. His reaction was instinctive, almost reflexive. Though he couldn''t see the curse wave Dame Wasp had warned him about, he didn''t dare question her. If her cybernetic interface had detected a dangerous curse energy, he wasn''t about to take chances.


    ''What curse wave? What''s going on? Fill me in,'' Ace demanded mentally, his mind racing.


    As he glanced upward, his breath caught. A dark ripple of energy surged through the air, distorting the scenery like a heatwave. Alarmed, he asked, ''Is that the echolocation of a Curseling?''


    ''Yes,'' Dame Wasp confirmed, her tone tense. ''But it''s an enhanced version. A curse slave fused with their Curseling partner is emitting it. Master, quick! Use the gap between waves to collect the bike. The Curse slave is heading this way, tracking the sound we made while riding.''


    Ace gritted his teeth, his eyes darting between the looming curse wave and the bike perched precariously at the cliff''s edge. Timing would be everything.

 Chapter 185: Berserk Curse Slave

    Chapter 185: Berserk Curse Slave''Rose, this curse wave is so thick it''s visible to the naked eye. Does it have any other effects?'' Ace asked, his voice tight with focus as he studied the pulsating waves. He was trying to find a wide enough gap between the consecutive bursts to retrieve his bike, but they came too fast, one after another, like relentless tides.


    The problem wasn''t just the frequency of the waves¡ªit was the source. The curse slave wasn''t waiting for the echoes to return before interpreting them. Instead, they were emitting curse waves in continuous succession, flooding the area. The intervals were so short that Ace couldn''t make a move without risking contact. Therefore, Ace pondered if there is more to this enhanced curse location than just echolocation.


    ''Yes, Master,'' Dame Wasp replied, her tone urgent. ''If any living being comes into contact with those waves, they''ll be marked by the curse. The curse slave will be able to track them until the mark wears off. Right now, they already know your general direction. They''re trying to mark you so you can''t escape.''


    Taking a pause, Dame Wasp then grimly warned, ''Master, if you''re marked, even Emi''s talismans will not be able to help you. The curse mark is too strong for the presence-erasing talisman to erase it.''


    Ace''s jaw tightened as the gravity of her words sank in. The curse slave wasn''t playing around¡ªthey wanted to hunt him down. He didn''t have the luxury of asking Dame Wasp why and what. His immediate concern was preventing the curse slave from spotting the bike. If they noticed it, they''d know exactly where he was hiding.


    Clenching his fist, Ace summoned his innate cursed tool and mentally commanded, ''Come out, Emi!''


    Moments later, Emi appeared beside him. Her voluptuous figure seemed to defy the danger of the moment as she materialized with effortless grace. Unlike Ace, who clung to the cliffside like a gecko, Emi stood upright on the sheer surface, as if gravity itself had no hold over her.


    Her family''s ninja arts were on full display, and the sight was breathtaking. Her poise, the way she balanced with ease, and the quiet determination in her eyes¡ªit was enough to momentarily distract Ace. She looked freaking cool. And gorgeous.


    But there was no time to linger on her impressive entrance. The curse waves were closing in, and the clock was ticking.


    Without needing Ace to give her any instructions, Emi sprang into action. The moment a curse wave passed, she moved with stunning precision, using her family''s ninja arts to scale the cliff. Her feet barely seemed to touch the surface as she ascended, her movements silent and fluid.


    Once at the top, she swiftly retrieved the bike and stored it in her storage talisman. Then, with the same quiet grace, she descended the cliff, avoiding the incoming successive curse waves with hair''s-breadth precision. Her confidence was infectious, and the elegance of her movements left no doubt about her mastery of her family''s ninja arts.


    Reaching Ace, she gave him a brief nod before returning to the cursed toybox, vanishing with the same quiet assurance she had arrived with.


    Ace finally let out a sigh of relief, his tense shoulders loosening. From the moment he had clung to the cliffside, he''d used an invisible and presence-erasing talisman to keep hidden. Now, with the motorbike safely tucked away in Emi''s storage talisman, he was out of immediate danger for now.


    ''Rose, what''s going on?'' Ace asked, leaning back against the cool cliff wall and getting comfortable.


    ''Master, earlier, my cybernetic senses detected a curse wave within its range,'' Dame Wasp began, her tone tinged with frustration. ''I focused on it to gather more details before reporting to you, but it seems the opponent was faster than me. After all, a curse slave fused with a Curseling is a formidable foe¡ªessentially on par with a knight-tier curse master.''


    Ace furrowed his brow, understanding now why Dame Wasp, who usually preferred to face threats head-on, had instead urged him to hide. This wasn''t an enemy to take lightly, even for her.


    Still, something didn''t add up. He pondered, ''Why is this curse slave targeting us? I was just passing through on a dirt bike. It doesn''t make sense.''


    As if reading his thoughts, Dame Wasp continued. ''Master, I believe the curse slave has gone berserk. Fortunately, it''s isolated, roaming in the middle of the woods far from any mortal establishments. Unfortunately for us, we''re trapped on this hill with it.'' sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace''s jaw clenched. The thought of being stuck with such a dangerous foe didn''t sit well. He glanced up toward the direction of the incoming curse waves, weighing his options.


    ''Can''t we risk getting marked by the curse wave and just take it out with the rail rifle before it gets to us?'' he asked, his impatience slipping through. If they stayed hidden much longer, he might not make it home on time.


    ''We could, but I wouldn''t recommend it,'' Dame Wasp replied, her tone heavy with caution. ''I haven''t been able to identify what Curseling the curse slave is fused with. It could have hyper-regeneration or teleportation abilities. If it has hyper-regeneration, it might instantly heal from any mortal wound. And if it has teleportation, it could appear right next to its marked target.''


    Ace''s eyes narrowed as he considered her words. The possibility of facing a teleporting opponent was chilling.


    ''Teleportation abilities are rare among Curselings,'' Dame Wasp continued, her voice lowering, as if even mentioning it might tempt fate. ''But I wouldn''t take the risk, especially not with the Oil Mercenaries in town. They''re some of the most vicious and skilled curse mercenaries in both worlds. Even fighting one of them head-on would be dangerous for us. Now add the fact that this curse slave has gone berserk¡ªit''ll stop at nothing to hunt us down, even if it costs its life.''


    Ace exhaled sharply, his fingers drumming against the cliff wall as he absorbed the warning. Dame Wasp wasn''t one to exaggerate, and the gravity of her advice was clear.


    Berserk curse slaves were a nightmare. Without fear or rationality, they operated on primal instinct, drawn like magnets to negative energy and curse energy. And what better source of that than humans?


    ''So, What now?''

 Chapter 186: Werefur Curseling

    Chapter 186: Werefur Curseling''So, what now?'' Ace asked Dame Wasp, frustration creeping into his voice. His grip on the wall tightened, and the tension in his tone was evident. ''I can''t stay here all day.''


    ''Master, we have three options¡ªor rather, two suitable options for your style,'' Dame Wasp replied calmly, her tone steady despite his irritation. ''If you give me a little more time, I can narrow down the possibilities of what Curseling the curse slave is fused with. If it''s something we can handle with the rail rifle, we take it out. If not, we scale down the cliff and take a new route home on foot, once we are out of its range you can ride the motorbike. The third option is to fight the curse slave head-on. With the three of us, I don''t think it''ll stand much of a chance.''


    She knew that considering Ace''s style, he would not like the last option. Therefore, she warned him beforehand that there were only two options he would like.


    Ace clicked his tongue, clearly annoyed. ''If we scale down the cliff, can we still make it home in time?'' he asked, his brow furrowed. His family, especially his parents, couldn''t suspect he was living a double life. Mandy might cover for him, but she was his ace card, and he didn''t want to play that hand too soon. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dame Wasp hesitated for a moment before replying, ''No. It''ll be late evening by the time we get back. I''ll need anywhere from ten to thirty minutes to analyze the curse slave''s behavior pattern and determine the list of possible Curselings it''s fused with.''


    The answer made Ace''s decision clear, but he still double-checked. ''Are you sure it''s alone?''


    ''Yes,'' Dame Wasp replied confidently.


    Ace exhaled sharply, determination hardening his features. ''Then we fight,'' he declared, surprising Dame Wasp. She had believed her master would rather risk getting home late than face the berserk curse slave head-on. However, he showed her that he was more afraid of his family learning of his double life than facing the feral curse slave head-on.


    Without hesitation, Ace summoned Dame Wasp and Emi from their toy space. As the two materialized before him, he activated the status screen and issued his orders:


    [¡ªStatus Screen¡ª


    Ace: Emi, hand me the rail rifle. You''ll take the lead and engage the opponent.


    Ace: Rose, once the curse slave locks onto Emi, you''ll follow her and wait for an opportunity to assassinate it.


    Ace: All right, let''s move out.


    Dame Wasp: Roger that.


    Emi: Hai.]


    The tension in the air grew thick as Emi handed Ace the rail rifle, her expression calm but her movements quick and precise. Dame Wasp adjusted her posture, her cybernetic enhancements glowing faintly as she prepared for combat. Ace tightened his grip on the weapon with one hand and began to scale the cliff with another with a resolute gaze.


    Reaching the edge of the cliff, Ace gave Emi a quick nod. Without hesitation, she leaped up the cliff with the grace of a predator, landing softly on its edge. The moment her feet touched solid ground, an incoming curse wave washed over her, marking her instantly. Undeterred, Emi sprinted forward in the direction Dame Wasp had provided earlier, her movements fluid and purposeful.


    As soon as Emi was marked, the relentless tide of curse waves abruptly stopped, signaling that the berserk curse slave had locked onto her. Only then did Ace and Dame Wasp climb back onto the cliff''s edge. Dame Wasp moved swiftly, her posture low and stealthy as she followed closely behind Emi. Meanwhile, Ace scanned the area, searching for a suitable vantage point where he could use the rail rifle if things turned south.


    Suddenly, Dame Wasp''s voice came through their mental link, her tone tinged with concern. [Guys, bad news. It''s a Werefur. The curse slave is fused with a Werefur.]


    Ace froze for a moment, his brow furrowing deeply. He had no idea what a Werefur curseling was but from Dame Wasp''s words, he gathered it was a nightmare to deal with especially one fused with a cursed slave.


    Dame Wasp continued her report, her cybernetic senses clearly focused. [A Werefur is hard to handle even in its normal state, but in a fusion state, the odds are stacked against us. Let''s hope the curse slave doesn''t have an innate curse art. If it does, this is going to get a whole lot more hectic.]


    Ace tightened his grip on the rail rifle, his jaw clenching tightly. ''Great. Just when I thought the day couldn''t get worse,'' he thought to himself, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon for Emi. She was already closing in on the cursed slave rushing her way, her movements fluid, precise, and eerily silent¡ªlike a shadow hunting its prey.


    Dame Wasp''s voice cut through his thoughts, calm yet firm. [Master, recall me. With the Werefur''s incredible recovery ability and thick fur, I''ll hardly be of any help from here. We''ll need the rail rifle to handle this properly.]


    Ace exhaled slowly, grounding himself as he processed her words. His mind raced as he mentally asked, [Rose, give me a quick rundown on the Werefur. Do they have any specific weaknesses?]


    Dame Wasp responded immediately, her tone efficient but tinged with urgency. [Master, a Werefur is essentially an enhanced werewolf, but without any of its biblical weaknesses. No silver, no holy artifacts will work here not that there are any to begin with. The only way to stop it is to keep damaging it repeatedly until it runs out of curse energy and stamina to regenerate.] She paused, then added gravely, [As for killing it, we''ll need to aim for the fused core in its heart. It won''t go down without a fight.]


    Ace nodded grimly, his gaze fixed on Emi as she weaved through the undergrowth like a whisper of wind. Every step she took brought her closer to the Werefur, but Ace knew this wasn''t going to be easy. He steadied his breathing, his fingers flexing around the rail rifle''s trigger.


    "Recall, Dame Wasp," he instructed to his innate curse tool, determination settling in his eyes.


    This wasn''t going to be easy, but they had no choice.

 Chapter 187: Kill

    Chapter 187: Kill"Kurae!" Emi yelled in her native language, her voice sharp and commanding as she hurled a volley of kunai. Each blade shimmered in the dim light, its hilt attached to an explosion talisman. They whizzed through the air toward the charging monstrosity¡ªa Werefur curse slave covered in thick, long, dark fur¡ªclosing in on her at a terrifying speed.


    The Werefur curse slave resembled a grotesque hybrid of man and beast, its entire body cloaked in long, tangled fur reminiscent of an ungroomed black komondor dog. Its razor-sharp fangs glinted menacingly, and though its eyes were obscured by the dense fur, it moved with unnerving precision, as if its senses were completely unimpaired.


    Charging forward with reckless abandon, the Werefur curse slave seemed utterly unfazed by the oncoming kunai. Its massive frame barreled toward Emi, single-mindedly focused on its target, exuding an aura of primal ferocity.


    Clunk!


    The kunai struck their mark, embedding themselves in the creature''s dense fur. However, the fur proved tougher than steel wire, halting the kunai before they could pierce the skin. The Werefur curse slave didn''t flinch; it continued its relentless charge, the kunai lodged firmly in its fur like insignificant thorns.


    But Emi wasn''t done. The talismans attached to the kunai began to glow ominously before detonating with a deafening BOOM. The blast reverberated through the woods, accompanied by a guttural roar of agony from the Werefur curse slave. Though the explosion failed to shred through the thick fur, it drove the fragmented kunai shards deep into the creature''s body.


    The Werefur curse slave stumbled briefly, its roar echoing through the forest like a thunderclap. But even as its wounds smoked and its fur smoldered, it showed no sign of retreating. Blood didn''t spill from its injuries; instead, the embedded shards were forcefully expelled as its flesh began to knit itself back together. Within moments, the wounds healed entirely, and the fur regrew, now even denser and more impenetrable than before.


    Emi narrowed her eyes, her breathing steady despite the tension in the air. "Tch," she muttered under her breath, taking a defensive stance as the creature resumed its charge, holding a talisman and kunai in each of her hands, undeterred and more dangerous than ever.


    [Emi, get out of there. Don''t try to face the Werefur curse slave head-on. It''s pointless. Use your family''s movement ninja arts to keep it occupied in one spot. I''ll aim for its heart and take it out cleanly,] Ace instructed through the status screen, his voice firm yet calm. From his vantage point, he had a clear view of the battlefield, his rail rifle poised to strike. His plan was simple but precise: take out the Werefur by destroying its heart, the vessel holding both the curse slave and Werefur''s curse cores.


    [Got it, Master,] Emi responded without hesitation, her tone unwavering despite the gravity of her task. She knew what her master was asking of her¡ªbe the bait¡ªbut she didn''t falter. As a summoned toy and a hero of her fictional universe, fear wasn''t in her nature, even against stronger and more feral enemies.


    The Werefur, now only a few yards away, growled deep in its throat, its bloodlust had reached its peak. Spotting its prey within striking distance, it lunged forward with incredible force, its razor-sharp claws slicing through the air, aimed directly at Emi''s heart. The strike wasn''t random; it was instinctively targeting her curse core, the source of her essence.


    But just as its claws were about to land, Emi vanished. A faint puff of displaced air was the only sign she''d ever been there.


    The Werefur stumbled, its momentum throwing it off balance. It growled in frustration, quickly bouncing back onto its feet with unnerving agility. Its senses locked onto the curse mark it had planted on her earlier. Spinning around, it spotted Emi again, standing calmly just behind it, as if taunting the beast.


    Letting out a feral roar, the Werefur charged at her once more, but the result was the same. Emi''s form flickered out of existence just as its claws grazed the air where she had stood. The Werefur skidded to a stop, disoriented but undeterred. Again and again, it lunged, each time faster and more reckless, only to find its prey slipping through its grasp by a hair''s breadth.


    Emi''s movements were fluid and unyielding, her family''s ninja arts allowing her to outmaneuver the berserk Werefur curse slave with grace. Her expression was calm, even as the beast''s claws swiped dangerously close. She was a step ahead every time, her figure reappearing just out of reach keeping it hooked while mocking its primal rage.


    Meanwhile, Ace adjusted his aim, his sharp eyes tracking the chaotic movements below. His finger rested lightly on the trigger, his breathing measured and deliberate. "Damn that thing is fast," he muttered under his breath, his jaw tightening as he watched the Werefur curse slave relentlessly pursue Emi.


    Dame Wasp reported to him with his innate curse art status screen. [Master, the rail rifle''s power chamber is fully charged.]


    The Werefur was fast¡ªblindingly so¡ªbut Emi was faster, her nimble movements keeping her just out of reach. Yet, her speed only complicated Ace''s shot. Every time he thought he had a clear angle at the creature''s heart, it twisted, lunged, or Emi shifted to another spot, forcing him to recalibrate.


    He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stay calm, putting his faith in the Apex earring''s effect. It sharpened his focus and filled him with the steady confidence of countless battles he had never fought but somehow knew. His mind worked like a machine, calculating the exact moment to fire.


    The chaos below seemed to slow, and Ace saw his chance. He squeezed the trigger.


    The rail rifle jolted against his shoulder with a satisfying thrum, releasing a streak of light that cut through the air like a lightning bolt. The mischief bullet tore through the Werefur''s back, its speed so intense that it exited cleanly through the center of its chest in the blink of an eye.


    The Werefur froze mid-lunge, a guttural roar stuck in its throat. Its body trembled as the cursed energy within it began to destabilize, and dark mist seeped from the gaping wound.


    Ace lowered the rifle slightly, his eyes narrowing. "Gotcha," he murmured, his lips curling into a grim smirk as he watched the creature falter.


    sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 188: Not Over Yet

    Chapter 188: Not Over Yet[Master, it''s not over yet. The corpse isn''t dissipating,] Emi''s calm but cautious reminder through the status screen broke through Ace''s momentary relief as she observed the unmoving body of the Werefur curse slave. Despite the significant time that had passed, the creature''s remains showed no signs of vanishing. However, the gaping hole in its chest remained unhealed, and it wasn''t moving at all. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Did I miss the fused curse core?] Ace asked, his gaze sharp and tense as he shifted his position, his hands steady as he aimed the rail rifle once more.


    [I don''t know, Master, but I''ll finish it,] Emi replied without hesitation. Her figure moved swiftly, the glint of determination in her eyes. She pulled a handful of explosion talismans from her storage talisman and, with precise movements, stuffed them into the massive wound in the Werefur curse slave''s chest.


    Without waiting, she leaped back to a safe distance, her body twisting in the air with ninja-like grace. Then, with a sharp hand signal, she triggered the detonation.


    A deafening explosion rocked the area, sending a massive plume of smoke, dust, and debris into the air. Shards of bone and chunks of flesh scattered like shrapnel, raining down across the forest. Ace shielded his eyes, squinting through the haze to assess the aftermath.


    When the dust settled, both Ace and Emi stood frozen in shock. Despite the devastating blast, the scattered remains of the Werefur curse slave showed no signs of dissipating. Instead, they lay eerily still, strewn about the woods as if the creature''s unnatural essence still clung stubbornly to its flesh.


    Ace''s grip on the rifle tightened, his jaw clenched as frustration bubbled within him. [What the heck is going on?] he muttered, a deep frown creasing his brow. His gaze darted between the scattered remains, his mind racing for answers.


    [Master, I will try to find its fused curse core in the remains and send Senpai, with her cybernetics it will be easier and faster.] Emi replied as she hurriedly went through the scattered remains of the Werefur curse slave one by one trying to find its fused curse core and kill it once and for all before the unforeseen happened.


    "Rose, go help Emi find the fused curse core and destroy it on the spot," Ace ordered, his tone sharp with urgency as he scanned the area. His mind churned, trying to piece together why the Werefur curse slave wasn''t healing if it wasn''t truly dead. The entire situation gnawed at him, defying logic.


    Ace''s brows furrowed deeply as a sudden thought struck him. It must be the mischief bullet''s effect.


    The realization sparked a thought in him. ''I definitely missed its fused curse core, but thanks to the mischief bullet, its healing factor was delayed long enough for Emi to blow it up. But... how did its fused curse core survive the explosion? Does this curse slave have some kind of defense-related innate curse art? And how much time do we have before the Werefur curse slave regains its strength?''


    Ace''s fingers tightened on the rail rifle as his thoughts raced. His breathing slowed as he tried to analyze the situation further. The delay in the Werefur''s regeneration suddenly made perfect sense, but the resilience of the fused curse core baffled him. He clenched his jaw and shared his theory with Emi and Dame Wasp via the status screen


    [Girls, listen up. The mischief bullet delayed its regeneration, giving Emi the chance to blow it up. But somehow, the fused curse core survived the explosion. Could it have a defensive innate curse art? What do you think?] Ace typed quickly, his eyes scanning the eerie stillness of the forest floor for any signs of movement.


    [Master, I''ve scanned the entire area with my cybernetics, but I can''t find the fused curse core,] Dame Wasp urgently reported, her gaze tinged with unease as look at her surroundings.


    Ace stiffened, a string of curses running through his mind. He exhaled sharply, raking a hand through his hair. This was the worst-case scenario.


    [Dammit! Emi, see if you can erase that curse mark. We''re getting out of here before that thing regains its ability to regenerate and comes after us again,] Ace barked out through the status screen, his frustration barely held in check.


    He didn''t fear another fight with the Werefur curse slave, it was weak and stupid, but the risk of being bogged down by it again was unacceptable. It wasn''t just the fight; it was the delay, the possibility of being cornered while trying to make it home unnoticed. Luck had been on his side this time, with the mischief bullet''s effect activating on the first shot. Without it, who knew how long the battle might have dragged on, given the Werefur curse slave''s sheer resilience?


    [Master, just send me back to my toy space. The curse mark won''t track me in there, and I can reappear once it dissipates,] Emi calmly assured him, her voice steady despite the tension in the air.


    [Good. Let''s bail,] Ace replied decisively. He slung the rail rifle over his shoulder, his mind already racing through potential escape routes. The longer they lingered, the greater the risk of attracting nearby curse users. The explosions and curse energy from the fight might deter cautious curse users, but they would undoubtedly draw the attention of the curse mercenaries roaming the county. Ace wasn''t about to take that chance.


    Within a minute, Ace and his toy summons had vacated the area.


    Back at the battlefield, amidst the scattered chunks of flesh and bone, the largest piece of the Werefur curse slave began to regenerate at an astonishing speed. Piece by piece, muscle and sinew knit back together, though the process took several agonizing minutes. Slowly, it took on a humanoid form, and another minute later, its skin regenerated, revealing the features of a naked, silver-haired woman.


    She rose unsteadily to her feet, her silvery hair cascading over her shoulders, and scanned her surroundings with cold, calculating eyes. Her gaze shifted skyward, her frown deepening as she realized it was still late afternoon. She had prepared to be out of it because of her berserk state till the next morning but woke a lot earlier than she anticipated.


    "What the fuck happ¡ª" she started, her voice low and raspy before her memory caught up to her. Her fists clenched, and her lips curled into a snarl. "I was blown to pieces by a Emi Nakamura cosplayer. This could not be more shameful. Let me find that bitch. I''ll get even with her," she growled, her voice seething with venom, before running uphill buck naked.

 Chapter 189: Sonia Everhart

    Chapter 189: Sonia EverhartThe silver-haired girl suddenly sprinted uphill through the woods, her movements fluid and purposeful. Without breaking stride, she leaped high into the air, her voice echoing through the trees as she yelled, "Come out, Scratchifer!"


    In response, a massive, dark Komondor-like curseling appeared out of thin air. Its long, neatly arranged fur swayed and dragged along the ground as it bounded uphill with effortless grace. The girl landed squarely on its back with an elegance that spoke of practiced ease. Hugging the bull-sized curseling tightly, she laughed, her hands eagerly scratching its dense fur.


    The Werefur let out a howl of delight, its tail wagging as it carried its partner uphill. The girl grinned, her silver hair flying wildly in the wind as they ascended together.


    Half an hour later, the duo reached the cliffs overlooking the Weasly Winery, Resort, and Spa¡ªincidentally, the same spot Ace had scouted earlier this morning. But instead of stopping, the Werefur curseling surged forward, increasing its speed.


    As they approached the cliff''s edge, the girl whooped, still completely naked, and yelled, "Yeah, Scratchifer, you can do it!"


    Without hesitation, the curseling leaped off the edge of the cliff. The girl let out an exhilarated scream as they plummeted toward the ground.


    Then, something remarkable happened. The Werefur''s long fur seemed to come alive, shifting as if it had a mind of its own. Strands of fur intertwined and stretched outward as the curseling spread its massive legs wide, forming a makeshift kite. The transformation allowed the pair to glide smoothly through the air, defying gravity with a mix of precision and instinct. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes! You did it, Scratchifer! You did it!" the girl shouted, her voice full of excitement. She leaned forward, patting the Werefur''s head affectionately, her face glowing with joy.


    This trick had taken months of dangerous attempts to master¡ªattempts that often ended with her body slamming into the ground, leaving her broken and bloodied. While the Werefur''s regeneration could heal her, the pain and the visceral memory of near-death experiences were not so easily dismissed. But now, all the effort, pain, and close calls felt worth it.


    Besides, she secretly loved the thrill of cheating death¡ªit was an intoxicating rush that made her feel invincible.


    Using her knowledge of wingsuit flying, she expertly guided Scratchifer, adjusting their angle to catch the wind and ride the currents toward their destination: the Weasly Winery.


    Soon, the pair felt an overwhelming surge of curse energy enveloping them as they entered the cursed array surrounding the Weasly Winery. The girl didn''t seem surprised¡ªshe clearly knew of the array''s existence beforehand.


    However, her expression quickly darkened. The inside of the cursed array was nothing like the serene, picturesque view it projected from the outside. The entire winery was ablaze, thick smoke choking the air and trapped within the array''s confines.


    "Cough! Cough!" The girl doubled over, hacking violently as the acrid smoke filled her lungs. She quickly buried her face in the soft, lush fur of her curseling, inhaling deeply to calm herself. Then, she shifted her focus, steadying her breathing with the breathing exercises she''d been taught by her guild to fight underwater.


    Once her breathing stabilized, she cautiously lifted her head, narrowing her eyes to peer through the smoke and flames. The haze made it difficult to see, but she eventually made out the silhouettes of several curse masters encircling someone who appeared completely incapacitated.


    Her heart sank as she stared harder, willing her vision to sharpen. When she finally recognized the figure in the center, her blood ran cold. It was her guild master.


    Despite the distance, their eyes met. The moment he saw her, his already pained expression twisted into one of despair. His body shuddered violently as he coughed up blood, tears welling at the corners of his eyes. His lips trembled as he silently mouthed two desperate words: Run away!


    But even he knew it was futile. The curse masters surrounding him hadn''t reacted to her presence, but it wasn''t because they hadn''t noticed her¡ªit was because they didn''t see her as a threat.


    For reasons he couldn''t fathom, the local C.I.B. branch had suddenly raided the Weasly Winery. He had no idea how they''d discovered their operations there, but that hardly mattered now. Worse still, all the Sky-Tier curse masters from the local C.I.B. branch had shown up together. They''d annihilated the entire guild before he even had time to react and had cornered him.


    If he hadn''t possessed the critical information they needed, he would''ve been killed long ago. And maybe that would''ve been better. But in a desperate bid to save himself, he''d tried to bargain with that information. Now, with no hope left, he realized he''d only prolonged his suffering.


    "Father!" a familiar voice rang out, cutting through the chaos.


    His daughter.


    She rode in on her Werefur curseling, which dived swiftly toward his location. The moment they arrived, she leaped from the curseling''s back with practiced ease, landing right beside him. Her curseling quickly wrapped itself around her naked body like a massive, living fur coat.


    She spun on her heel to face the curse masters, her body tense, eyes blazing with defiance. Standing protectively in front of her father, she shouted, "Who the fuck dared to hurt my father?" Her voice was fierce, commanding¡ªlike that of an avenging goddess ready to bring the heavens down.


    Before she could escalate things further, her father, recognizing the dangerous glint in her eyes, grabbed her and pulled her into a tight embrace. "Don''t, Sonia," he murmured, his voice shaking as he fought back tears. He knew her too well¡ªif he didn''t stop her now, she''d throw herself into a battle she couldn''t win, fighting all the curse masters present until her very last breath. She believed she was unkillable but he knew there were many things worse than death in this world.


    From a distance, Crimson Eyes, the youngest of the C.I.B. squad, narrowed his gaze at the girl. "Who is she?" he asked, his tone calm but laced with curiosity.


    "Sonia Everhart," replied EAD Matthews, the middle-aged female curse master beside him. Her brow furrowed as she studied the girl and her curseling closely. "His daughter," she added, her voice carrying a hint of puzzlement.


    Matthews''s eyes narrowed further as she noticed something strange. Neither Sonia nor her curseling possessed a curse core.


    "She''s got a peculiar innate curse art," Crimson Eyes remarked his tone a mix of curiosity and disdain. His piercing gaze analyzed Sonia and her curseling partner. "Each cell in her body functions like a curse core. But right now, it seems she and that curseling of hers are only using one of them¡ªor rather, they''re only capable of using one. What a waste of a powerful innate curse art." He sighed, shaking his head as if lamenting squandered potential.


    The air grew heavier with tension as one of the older curse masters stepped forward, his voice dripping with menace. "Let''s kill the spawn before she figures out how to use all those cells and comes back for revenge."


    Sonia, standing her ground, glared at them with unflinching defiance, her fists clenched at her sides. The curseling at her shoulder rumbled low, its fur bristling in response to its partner''s tension. She could feel the threat in the air and knew these people wouldn''t hesitate to act.


    Her father''s grip tightened on her shoulder, a silent plea for her to stay calm. But Sonia''s jaw tightened, and her eyes burned with fury as she whispered under her breath, "Let them try."

 Chapter 190: Shrewd Matthews

    Chapter 190: Shrewd Matthews"Hold your horses, old man," Curse Master Matthews interrupted, cutting through the murmurs of agreement rippling among the gathered curse masters as their faces were hardened with resolve to eliminate Sonia Everhart and continue interrogating her father. Despite their seniority, Matthews, as the acting EAD and head of the local C.I.B branch, maintained her authority.


    The old curse master from earlier, sneered openly. "Matthews, Bishop has already relieved you as acting EAD of our branch. Know your place. Don''t make me repeat myself." His tone carried a smugness, as though he''d been waiting for an opportunity to challenge her.


    Matthews squared her shoulders, her voice sharp and steady. "Sir Beyton, until the clock strikes midnight, I am the acting EAD. Madam Bishop is merely filling in for me today and will officially take charge of the branch tomorrow. So, you don''t make me repeat myself."


    Without waiting for a response, Matthews turned to Guild Leader Everhart, her expression softening slightly. "I have a daughter her age," she said, nodding toward Sonia. "She''s just like yours¡ªheadstrong, strong-willed. She doesn''t like to show it, but she''d fight the world for me and my husband. And just the same, my husband and I would do anything for her. What about you, Guild Leader Everhart?"


    Everhart hesitated, his jaw tightening as he glanced down at Sonia, who was furiously mumbling into his palm as he covered her mouth. She thrashed slightly, trying to tell him not to give up, that they could still fight. But her father''s shoulders slumped, and he gave a weary nod. "So will I. What are you proposing?"


    Beyton, clearly irked by the shift in tone, interjected, "How about we start with you telling us what we want?" His attempt to undermine Matthews was met with an icy glare from her.


    "Sir Beyton," Matthews said firmly, her voice carrying the weight of authority, "Crimson Eyes and I have this situation under control. You and the others may return to your ongoing tasks now."


    If not for Matthews'' desire to keep the local C.I.B. branch''s infighting hidden from an outsider¡ªespecially a criminal¡ªshe would have taught the old-school Beyton a lesson in never undermining her authority. Today, however, was Beyton''s lucky day. He wasn''t entirely unaware of this either, as he snorted, preparing to make another snide comment. Before he could utter a word, one of his colleagues wisely whisked him away.


    Meanwhile, the other curse masters subdued the raging fire, cleared the smoke, and dismantled the cursed array formation. They left without further incident, leaving the lower-ranked C.I.B. agents to clean up the aftermath and secure the area.


    Once the field was clear of onlookers, Matthews turned her attention back to Everhart. "Before I tell you what I want, let me first tell you what I can offer," she began, her sharp gaze fixed on him. "You can rebuild your guild and continue your old operations, though most of them will need to be outside the country. Not only will the C.I.B. refrain from hindering you, but we''ll also assist you if needed. And your daughter¡ªshe''ll have the chance to live an honest life, free from your criminal past, as a C.I.B. agent directly under my supervision."


    "Ha!" Everhart let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Let me summarize," he said, his voice tinged with bitterness. "You''re saying you want me and my new guild to work as your informants while holding my daughter hostage to ensure I don''t step out of line. Did I get that right?"


    "You''re a smart man, Everhart," Matthews replied, her tone calm yet firm. "I hope you won''t squander this opportunity¡ªfor your daughter''s sake." She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked around before gaze once again landed on the latter. "Is this the future you want for her? If you let go of your pride and grudge, you''ll give her the chance to build a future in the C.I.B. Yes, the pay is modest, and the risks are high, but the perks and the honor are immeasurable. Your decision today will determine whether your daughter dies a criminal¡ªor a hero."


    "Fuck!" Crimson Eyes cursed under his breath, his body tensing as a wave of d¨¦j¨¤ vu washed over him. A chill ran down his spine as he recalled how Matthews had roped him into the C.I.B. years ago, pulling him away from his life as a rich, carefree playboy. She had made him abandon his family, his status, and his future as the next heir of the McSuile family¡ªall to serve the agency.


    "I would agree, but I don''t trust the C.I.B.," Everhart finally said, breaking his contemplative silence. His tone was calm but resolute as he ignored his daughter''s muffled protests. She was chewing on his palm, trying to wrestle free from his grip to speak for herself.


    "That''s a risk you''ll have to take," Matthews replied bluntly, crossing her arms. She didn''t push further, recognizing that Everhart had already made up his mind.


    Everhart shifted his gaze to Crimson Eyes, his voice lowering as he addressed him directly. "If you can promise me that my daughter will be treated fairly, I''ll agree to her terms immediately." sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Crimson Eyes let out a sharp scoff, his expression incredulous. "You do realize I work for the C.I.B., right? What makes you think you can trust me?"


    "I''m not asking you to promise me as a C.I.B. agent," Everhart countered, his voice steady but edged with emotion. "I''m asking as the heir of the McSuile family. Back in the day, I had the honor of working for your grandfather. I was a nobody then, but he inspired me. He was the most honorable man I''ve ever known, in either world. As his heir, I believe you''re a man of your word¡ªjust like him."


    Crimson Eyes'' expression darkened, his jaw tightening at the mention of his grandfather. A flicker of anger crossed his face, but before he could lash out, Matthews caught his eye and gave him a subtle but firm signal to hold back. He inhaled deeply, reigning in his emotions, and finally replied, "Fine. I promise. But the day you break the deal with her, your daughter is no longer under my protection."

 Chapter 191: Ava and Danny

    Chapter 191: Ava and Danny"Danny, your parents bought you a car? Lucky¡ªthough it''s just an old Buick," Ava said, her tone dripping with playful envy as the two strolled toward his car after school let out for the day.


    "Old Buick?" Danny raised an eyebrow at her comment, suppressing the urge to correct her outright. He decided to let it slide¡ªshe was a girl, after all. If a guy had said that, he wouldn''t hesitate to cut ties then and there.


    Danny''s car, a resto-modded 1987 Buick Regal T-Type Turbo, he held in almost sacred regard. If someone couldn''t recognize that, they weren''t worth his time. Ava, however, got a pass. She was a girl¡ªa hot one at that. A hot chick who could, admittedly, kick his ass in less than two seconds flat.


    "You don''t have a car?" Danny asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Then how do you plan to get home? The school buses already left. Don''t tell me you rode a bicycle to school."


    The mental image hit him like a slap, and his expression froze. Had he really made friends with a freak who willingly rode a bicycle to school in their senior year? The thought unnerved him. The Martins were one of the wealthiest families in the county¡ªthey could afford to get Ava a car if she wanted one.


    "Heck no! I''d rather die than ride a bicycle to school," Ava shot back, wrinkling her nose at the very idea. Then, with a flash of confidence that almost made Danny nod along in agreement, she added, "Besides, even if I did, I could totally set a trend in motion. It is just that my father doesn''t trust me with a car."


    Danny smirked, shaking his head. "Yes, yes, you totally could. But seriously, what is it with the city parents and them not buying their kids a car? My aunt flips out every time Ace begs her for a car. By the way, how do you plan to get home every day?" S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Same way I get to school," Ava replied casually. "Ms. Matthews¡ªmy cousin, our homeroom teacher? She''s my ride."


    "About Ms. Matthews," Danny began hesitantly, glancing at Ava as they walked. "I''ve been meaning to ask¡ªwhy do you keep calling her your cousin? Isn''t she your cousin Cam Martin''s fianc¨¦e? Shouldn''t you be calling her sister-in-law or something?"


    Ava smirked, clearly anticipating his confusion. "Cam''s my cousin from my dad''s side, and his fianc¨¦e, Ms. Matthews¡ªour homeroom teacher¡ªis my cousin from my mom''s side," she loudly explained matter-of-factly. "They met at one of our family get-togethers years ago and, well, hooked up. Then, out of shame or whatever, neither of them contacted the other until she started working here. One thing led to another, and now thanks to those two, we''re officially the inbreeding family of the town."


    Ava didn''t hold back, delivering the details loud enough for passersby to hear, almost daring them to react. Danny, however, flushed with secondhand embarrassment, glancing nervously around as a couple of students turned their heads. He regretted asking but didn''t dare tell Ava to lower her voice. If he did, she might hit him¡ªand Ava''s punches were no joke. He''d learned that the hard way.


    "Hey, every family has one or two black sheep," Danny said, attempting to console her as he shoved his hands into his pockets. "After all, you can''t choose your family."


    Ava''s eyes lit up mischievously. "Oh really? Does that mean your family has one? Who is it? What did they do?" she asked eagerly, practically bouncing in excitement as she leaned closer to him.


    Danny hesitated, his lips twitching as he considered her question. He wasn''t holding back because he didn''t want to share¡ªhe just genuinely couldn''t think of anyone in his family who fit the bill. But not wanting to disappoint Ava, he finally admitted, "Well, there is something going on in my family recently. It''s more of a ''will-they-won''t-they'' situation, though."


    Ava narrowed her eyes in mock suspicion. "What does that even mean? Spill the details!"


    Danny scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, glancing away. "I''ll tell you, but I''m warning you¡ªyou probably won''t like what you hear."


    "Holy shit, is it someone I know? Who is it?" Ava''s interest peaked as she leaned closer, her eyes practically gleaming with curiosity.


    "It''s Mandy and Ace," Danny said softly, hesitating before continuing. "Everyone in the family¡ªexcept for our dads¡ªis on edge, thinking they might cross the line."


    Ava froze mid-step, her expression quickly morphing from surprise to fury. Without warning, she grabbed Danny by the collar and pulled him closer. "Don''t tell me they have a thing for each other. Is that why he rejected my proposal?"


    Danny grimaced, tugging at her hands. "I have no idea. But, yeah¡­ they''re unusually close. Especially Mandy¡ªshe flirts with him openly, everywhere," he admitted, shooting a warning glare at the nearby students gawking at their heated exchange.


    "That bitch!" Ava cussed, releasing his collar with a shove. "She dares to steal my man," she muttered, pacing angrily. Then, spinning on her heel, she pointed at Danny. "Change of plans! We''re not going to check on Ace. Take me to Mandy. I need to warn that bitch."


    Danny sighed, continuing towards his car. "I seriously advise against that. Mandy knows how to hold a grudge. I''m telling you¡ªpeople who cross her never have a good day again," he warned, genuinely concerned for his new and only friend. He knew better than anyone that those who crossed Mandy would not have a good day in their life henceforth, it was like the universe abandoned them for her. It''s as if the universe has her back or something


    Ava crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "I don''t give a shit. If she''s trying to take what''s mine, I''ll have to teach her some manners. Maybe even have a proper heart-to-heart about why incest is not okay."


    Danny opened his mouth to respond, but the words died on his tongue as the duo reached his car. They both stopped abruptly, staring at the familiar figure casually leaning against it¡ªit was Ace.


    "Danny, it didn''t even take you a day to sell me and Mandy out," Ace teased his tone light but had a sharper edge to be considered as a mischievous comment. He glanced at Ava with a raised brow, clearly unsure if she was Danny''s friend as the latter believed her to be or just using him. His smirk widened as if daring Ava to prove which one. "You are up to your old tricks, I see."


    Yes, Ava stood up for him when many wouldn''t but he knew her history with delinquents from his old school so he knew how she operated. She could be an acquaintance but to be a friend she would have to prove herself.

 Chapter 192: Selfish Ava

    Chapter 192: Selfish Ava"What''s that supposed to mean?" Ava snapped, her glare sharp enough to cut steel. If she didn''t already know Ace was out of her league in a fight, she might''ve gone for his collar right then and there.


    "Using people and tossing them aside like trash," Ace replied coolly, his eyes fixed on her like a predator sizing up prey. He leaned slightly forward, as if to emphasize his point, and smirked faintly at her growing irritation. To him, she was nothing more than a scrappy, feral kitten hissing for attention.


    The thing about kids like her, Ace thought, was that they treated friendships like tools¡ªshamelessly cozying up to others when they needed something, only to vanish without a second thought once they got it. They left behind kids who''d believed in them, kids who''d start to think that every friendship worked that way. And when those kids lost their faith in real, genuine connections, it was people like Ava who were to blame.


    Without waiting for Ava''s rebuttal, Ace turned to Danny. "Get in the car. She''s not your friend, Danny. In fact, she doesn''t have friends. She has subordinates. If that''s what you''re into, then congrats¡ªyou''ve got yourself one."


    "What''s your problem?" Ava shot back, her voice shaking with fury. She took a step closer, fists clenched at her sides. Ace was spouting nonsense about her as if he''d known her his whole life, but the truth was, he didn''t know her at all. The last time they''d talked, he''d done the same thing¡ªacting like he was better than her, like he had her all figured out. She couldn''t help but wonder what she''d ever seen in him to begin with.


    Ace''s expression darkened as he straightened up. His voice dropped an octave, calm but laced with a warning. "Stay away from Mandy. Or anyone I care about. Your parents won''t be able to bail you out this time like they did at your old school."


    Ava flinched, her defiance flickering for a split second before her glare returned full force. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Danny, meanwhile, had frozen halfway between them, his hand hovering awkwardly over the car door handle. Ace turned his sharp gaze on him and barked, "Didn''t you hear me? Get in the car."


    "Ace, she didn''t mean any harm," Danny stammered, raising his hands in a weak attempt to mediate. He looked between the two of them, trying to defuse the tension but failing miserably. "She was just¡ª" He paused, realizing he didn''t actually know what Ava''s plan was. She''d been ranting about Mandy, but what had she actually wanted to do? Talk to her? Threaten her? Beat her?


    Danny hesitated, then turned to Ava with an uncertain expression. "What did you plan to do after meeting Mandy?"


    "Wasn''t I clear already?" Ava scoffed, her eyes narrowing at Danny''s hesitation. She crossed her arms, looking at him like he was the biggest coward on the planet. ''Why the heck does he let Ace talk to him like that?'' she thought. ''Can''t he decide for himself who he wants to be friends with?''


    "Wait... you weren''t just venting?" Danny asked, his voice rising in disbelief as the realization hit him. His jaw dropped, and he stared at Ava like she''d just grown a second head. He couldn''t believe he''d almost driven her to Mandy''s place. If his dad ever found out, that''d be the end of him. Danny could already picture the scene: his dad disowning him on the spot without so much as a goodbye. It wasn''t a secret in their household that his father cared more about Mandy than he did about him.


    "That''s one thing you can count on her to do¡ªshe follows through," Ace chimed in, leaning casually against the car with a smirk. His sharp gaze flicked from Ava to Danny, taking in the stunned expression on the latter''s face. "She might be a lot of things, but she''s no liar."


    Ace had been standing there long enough to hear the entire conversation between them, and what he saw made him shake his head internally. It was obvious to him that Danny was bending over backward to make friends with Ava, even though she didn''t treat him like one. She wasn''t sincere¡ªAce could see that from a mile away. Ava stuck to Danny because he had something she needed, and she had no problem dominating him at every turn.


    Still, Ace couldn''t quite figure out why Danny was so desperate. What had he gone through at this school that made him latch onto Ava, the transfer student, of all people? And why put up with someone so demanding and bossy? Ace sighed softly, feeling a twinge of pity.


    Not that Ace blamed Danny for spilling the beans about him and Mandy¡ªit wasn''t like it was a huge secret. Sure, it was private, but it wasn''t earth-shattering. Ace knew Danny wouldn''t truly sell them out over something like this.


    "It seems you have an opinion about me. Keep it to yourself until the day I beat it out of you and drag your ass to my home," Ava snapped at Ace, her tone sharp and her eyes blazing with determination. She completely ignored Danny''s wide-eyed expression, dismissing his shock like it was irrelevant.


    She didn''t care why she''d liked Ace in the first place. What mattered now was that she wanted him, and she''d get him¡ªno matter what. Ava clenched her fists, her resolve hardening. She just had to wait for her mother''s help and work on getting stronger. Once she had the strength and Ace was hers, then she''d sit down and think about whether she truly wanted him or why she''d even liked him to begin with.


    And if it turned out she didn''t like him? Well, then Mandy could have him for all she cared. But for now, if Ava wanted something, she was going to take it. It didn''t matter what anyone else thought or how it affected others.


    "Good luck," Ace replied coolly, his voice laced with mock amusement. Danny hesitated for a moment, glancing nervously between Ava and Ace. Finally, he sighed and slid into the Driver''s seat. Ace climbed into the passenger seat without sparing Ava another glance, as if her declaration hadn''t fazed him in the slightest, mumbling a quiet, "Let''s just go."

 Chapter 193: Fasting Pill

    Chapter 193: Fasting Pill"So, you ditch school. Did Maddy help you?" Danny asked, breaking the awkward silence in the car. He couldn''t handle the tension any longer and figured starting a conversation might ease things up. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yep. Don''t tell on me," Ace replied with a faint smirk, grateful Danny had taken the initiative. Ace himself wasn''t sure how to start a conversation without dredging up what had happened in the parking lot. Normally, he wasn''t one to comment on others'' lives, but Danny was his cousin, and he felt a responsibility to step in¡ªespecially knowing the kind of person Ava was.


    "That goes without saying. And also, about earlier¡ª" Danny began, guilt evident in his tone. He was about to apologize for the parking lot incident when Ace interrupted him, his tone firm but casual.


    "Already forgotten," Ace said, making it clear there were no hard feelings.


    "That''s a load off my chest. For a second there, I thought I lost both my cheat codes in life," Danny admitted with a dramatic sigh of relief, his mood lightening.


    Ace raised an eyebrow, curious. "Cheat codes?"


    "My father''s millions and my aunt''s Midas touch," Danny replied shamelessly, flashing a wide grin that made it clear he had no qualms about his plan to rely on his family''s wealth and Mandy''s insights to breeze through life.


    "Cus, I feel secondhand shame for you right now," Ace said, shaking his head in disbelief. Danny had so much potential, but his confidence seemed locked at the lowest possible setting.


    "Check again¡ªit''s not shame, it''s envy," Danny quipped back without missing a beat.


    Ace chuckled, but his expression shifted to curiosity when Danny took a different route. "We''re not heading straight home?"


    "Nope. We''re going to the town''s most famous bakery. I''ve been craving their pumpkin pie since last night," Danny explained with enthusiasm, his stomach growling in agreement as if to emphasize his point.


    Hearing his cousin plan a trip across town just for a slice of pie¡ªhopefully for a slice of pie, Ace decided it was time to step in and use his gifts to help Danny. But before doing so, he needed to ensure Danny truly wanted the help¡ªotherwise, his efforts might end up feeling like pure torture for his cousin.


    "Danny, you know I like you the way you are, and I''m not judging you, right?" Ace said, his tone warm and sincere as he glanced at Danny. He wanted his cousin to know this was coming from a place of care, not criticism.


    "I know. We grew up together. Heck, we even learned to masturbate together," Danny replied with a cheeky grin, his tone casual as if trying to lighten the mood and assure Ace he was open to whatever he had to say.


    Ace shook his head with a faint chuckle. "Good, because I need you to be honest with me when I ask this: Do you genuinely love food, or is it just an escape?" Ace''s expression turned serious, his gaze fixed on Danny to gauge his reaction.


    Emi''s family has these pills¡ªthey call them fasting pills. They use them to suppress hunger during long missions and training. They''re packed with all the nutrients one needs, especially protein, and they don''t mess with one''s body. Actually, they help maintain it, which is vital for ninjas since their bodies are like temples to them. The best part? The ingredients are all regular stuff you can find in this world too, so Ace could make them here.


    And, if food is more of a coping mechanism for Danny than something he truly enjoys, Ace could give him those pills to help him manage this weight. Pair them with a little exercise, and one would not only control their weight but get it to an average weight level for their physique.


    However, if Danny truly loved food, then introducing the fasting pill would feel more like a punishment than a gift. That''s why he needed to have this conversation, no matter how difficult and awkward it might get. It was also the only solution Ace could think of that didn''t involve curse energy. He wasn''t ready to use it on Danny even if the latter would not be aware of it¡ªthere were risks, and Ace was still a rookie and was too cautious. The thought of endangering someone he cared about was out of the question.


    Danny blinked, visibly caught off guard by the question. "What? What do you mean?" he asked, his usual grin faltering as confusion took over.


    Ace shifted in his seat, propping an elbow on the car door. His voice softened as he began, "You know, I didn''t always look like this, right?"


    Danny tilted his head, narrowing his eyes as he processed what Ace was saying. "Yeah, I know. So¡­?" he prompted, his tone curious but still unsure where this was headed.


    "I just wanted to share the secret behind it," Ace continued, his gaze steady on Danny. "Before you freak out or think I''m judging you, this isn''t about looks. It''s about health¡ªand more importantly, confidence. But listen, it''s completely up to you. If you''re not interested, just forget I ever brought it up." Ace leaned back in his seat, his posture relaxed but his expression attentive. He wanted to make sure Danny knew this was his decision.


    Danny stared ahead for a moment, his fingers drumming against the steering wheel as he considered Ace''s words. Then, with a small nod, he said, "Look, I''m not gonna lie¡ªyeah, food is kind of my escape, but it''s also more than that to me. I love it." He glanced over at Ace, his tone turning more serious. "And since I''m being honest, there''s something I''ve never told anyone¡ªnot even Mandy."


    Ace raised an eyebrow, silently urging Danny to continue.


    "After high school, I don''t plan on going to college right away," Danny confessed, his voice steady but quieter than before. "I want to take a year off and backpack around the world¡ªjust to taste the food in every country I can get to. I have no idea how I''m gonna convince my parents, but Mandy? She''ll probably be thrilled to fund my dream." He let out a small chuckle, his grin returning briefly before fading.


    Ace smiled faintly, impressed by the passion in Danny''s voice but staying quiet to let him finish.


    "But if there''s a way to get in shape faster¡ªlike you did¡ªthen yeah, I''d give up food for a few months," Danny admitted. "Because when I get back to eating, it''ll taste even better. I''ve done it before¡ªstarved myself for a meal or two just to make the next meal taste amazing. It''s weird, I know, but it works."


    Ace watched him closely, the corner of his mouth twitching upward in a knowing smirk. "It''s not weird," he said simply. "It''s you. And if that''s what you want, I''ll help you."


    "So, when do we start?" Danny asked eagerly, leaning forward in his seat with excitement.


    Danny knew Ace wouldn''t lie to him about something like this. Weight had always been a sensitive topic for him, even though he pretended it wasn''t¡ªespecially when his father teased him about it in front of others. With Ace, though, he felt safe. There was no judgment, just an offer to help.


    Danny also knew that if he wanted to enjoy everything the world had to offer during his year off after high school, he needed to be in better shape. And, to be honest, he wouldn''t mind improving his chances with the local women on his travels. After all, food wasn''t the only delicacy he was planning to indulge in.


    "How about tonight?" Ace replied after checking with Emi to confirm she could whip up the fasting pills with what they had in the kitchen by evening.


    Danny''s face lit up, but then he hesitated before asking, "Does that mean I can have a pumpkin pie?"


    Ace shot him a look of disbelief. "An entire pie?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "Hey, don''t judge me," Danny said defensively, throwing his hands up. "If I''m going to be fasting for the next few months, I might as well have a hearty meal before I start." His grin made it clear he was planning to eat way more than just a slice of pie.


    Ace sighed, shaking his head with a small smirk. "Fine," he relented, though a part of him was certain Danny wouldn''t last more than a day on the fasting pills.


    As Ace thought about it, he realized hunger wasn''t just physical for most people¡ªit was mental, like cigarettes or alcohol. Cravings weren''t about survival; they were comfort food for weak minds. He just hoped Danny could prove him wrong.


    ¡­


    "Lisa, one pumpkin pie and two large Cokes," Danny ordered at the bakery counter. Then, turning to Ace, he added with a grin, "What about you? It''s on me."


    "Same," Ace said after a moment of hesitation.


    Both Danny and Lisa raised their eyebrows at him in surprise.


    "You sure?" Lisa asked, glancing at Ace with a mix of curiosity and concern. His toned physique didn''t exactly scream "indulge in dessert and soda." Maybe he was going through a rough breakup?


    "Yes," Ace replied firmly, though his ears tinged red with embarrassment. "And, uh, throw in two of those scones, please," he added, gesturing toward the glass display.


    Danny tried to hold back a chuckle, but Lisa wasn''t as subtle. "Coming right up," she said, smiling as she keyed in the order.


    Just then, a healthy-looking middle-aged woman standing nearby commented with a smirk, "Show-off."


    Ace''s jaw tightened, and he muttered under his breath, "I''ll be waiting at the table outside," before walking briskly out of the shop.


    "Margaret, you scared him off!" Lisa scolded, shaking her head at the woman. "If you keep this up, you''ll never find yourself a second husband."


    Margaret shrugged with a mischievous grin, clearly unbothered. Meanwhile, Danny paid for the order, grabbed the tray, and headed outside to join Ace, who was already sitting at a shaded table, staring off into the distance.

 Chapter 194: Dannys Resolve

    Chapter 194: Danny''s ResolveAs Danny headed toward the table Ace was holding for them, just then, a stunning woman in a flowing one-piece sundress and a wide-brimmed hat strolled over and sat down in front of Ace, causing Danny to freeze mid-step. She looked to be in her early twenties, with a radiant smile and a figure that turned heads¡ªher sundress clung to her curves, leaving little to the imagination.


    Danny couldn''t help but notice her striking presence, and, well, let''s just say her "assets" didn''t escape his attention either. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She leaned forward slightly, her posture casual yet deliberate, and started talking to Ace. Her voice seemed lively and confident, but Ace, as far as Danny could tell, barely reacted. He just sat there, stoic, as if he didn''t even notice her beauty¡ªor maybe he was just too used to this kind of attention.


    Danny hesitated for a moment, clutching the tray in his hands as he debated whether to interrupt. Finally, summoning his courage, he started walking toward them.


    But before he could get too close, the woman leaned in, her face just inches from Ace''s ear, and whispered something. Whatever she said made Ace stand up immediately.


    Without so much as a glance back, Ace and the woman walked away together, leaving Danny standing there, dumbfounded.


    Danny stared after them, blinking as he tried to process what had just happened. "I mean, I know Ace is good-looking, but this¡­ this is on another level," he muttered, a mix of awe and disbelief washing over him.


    His gaze drifted back to the retreating figures of Ace and the stunning woman, then down to the tray in his hands. The pumpkin pie he had craved since last night sat there, taunting him, but suddenly, it didn''t seem so appetizing. The excitement he''d felt earlier was gone, replaced by an unfamiliar tightness in his chest.


    Usually, whenever he saw a woman as breathtaking as the one Ace had just left with, Danny would distract himself by burying his face in food. Not that he didn''t appreciate beauty¡ªhe absolutely did¡ªbut because he knew, deep down, he couldn''t do anything about it. Every time, he''d quash that flicker of hope with thoughts like:


    ''She''d never go for someone like me.''


    ''Stay in your lane, fatass.''


    But this time, something felt different.


    The talk he''d had with Ace earlier had ignited a spark he didn''t know he had. Instead of dousing the fire in his chest, Danny let it burn brighter. He clenched his fists around the edges of the tray and thought, ''I want that.''


    It wasn''t about the pumpkin pie anymore. It wasn''t even just about the stunning woman Ace had left with. It was about the life he wanted to live¡ªthe life he''d dreamed of while imagining himself traveling the world, tasting exotic cuisines, and meeting incredible people.


    For the first time, he let himself picture it: confidently walking up to women like her, exchanging easy conversation, and knowing he was more than just the guy who stood on the sidelines.


    His jaw tightened as a wave of determination washed over him. Maybe he couldn''t have it all right now, but he was willing to work for it.


    Danny took a deep breath, turned on his heel, and walked toward a homeless man sitting nearby. Handing him the tray, Danny offered a soft smile and said, "Here, man. Enjoy it for me."


    Returning to his car, he sank into the driver''s seat, crossed his arms, and waited for Ace. His mind steeled with determination to become the kind of man who could have the life he wanted. He wanted to start right away but he knew better than to interrupt whatever godly luck his cousin had just been stepped into.


    ¡­


    Exiting the bakery in a hurry, Ace paused outside the door, inhaling deeply as the fresh air hit his face. He rubbed the back of his neck, his mind raced pondering, ''Why am I feeling shy? It''s just food. So what if I ordered enough for four people?''


    His eyes scanned the outdoor seating area until he spotted an empty shaded table nearby. Walking toward it, he replayed the scene inside the bakery in his head. That middle-aged woman''s snarky remark suddenly clicked into place. He realized why he felt so awkward. It wasn''t just the sheer amount of food he ordered¡ªit was how it looked to everyone else.


    Sitting down at the table, Ace leaned back in the chair and let out a low sigh. He hated to admit it, but the answer was yes. His oversized order along with his physique could easily come off as him showing off or, worse, rubbing it in the faces of other customers who were probably counting calories or cutting back.


    He tapped his fingers lightly on the tabletop, his thoughts drifting. The truth was, his embarrassment didn''t just stem from what other people thought¡ªit was also guilt. Deep down, he knew he didn''t lose weight the hard way. He hadn''t spent countless hours sweating it out at the gym or resisting his cravings. He''d cheated using a curse tool, plain and simple, and now he was parading around in a body that didn''t feel entirely earned.


    Ace let out a humorless chuckle learning something new about him. Turns out he was not as thick-skinned as he would like to believe. Leaning forward with his elbows on the table, Ace stared off into the distance, his mind turning over this new self-awareness.


    Just as Ace was about to settle into his thoughts, an alluring young woman, wearing a one-piece sundress and a big beach hat, in her early twenties strolled over and took the seat right in front of him. She didn''t ask if it was occupied¡ªshe just claimed it, like she owned the world.


    Ace opened his mouth, ready to tell her off, but the words caught in his throat the moment his eyes dropped to her deep cleavage¡ªor rather, the pendant resting there. It was nestled against her cleavage, a striking diamond-shaped like an eyeball, framed by gold eyelids.


    His heart skipped a beat as he stared at it. Something about that pendant sent a chill down his spine. Before he could even process what was happening, his entire body froze¡ªliterally.


    Ace''s breath caught in his chest as panic crept in. He couldn''t move. Not his hands, not his legs, not even his lips to speak. It was as if some invisible force had locked him in place. His thoughts, however, were racing. Instantly, the realization struck him like a thunderbolt, he''d run into a curse user. The million-dollar question here was whether it was random or targeted. If Danny was okay?

 Chapter 195: Curse Magnet

    Chapter 195: Curse Magnet''A curse user, right in the middle of town. Just great,'' Ace internally groaned, blaming his luck. Today was officially not his day. First, he stumbled into a curse array and an unknown curse guild at the winery. Then, he nearly ran into members of the S.S.S. at the highway-side resort. If that wasn''t bad enough, he barely escaped a berserk curse slave in the woods. Now, all he wanted was to enjoy a hearty meal and bank some fat, but no¡ªa curse user had to come to find him.


    It was as if he was wearing a giant neon sign that said "Curse Magnet!"


    To make things worse, this was the second time Dame Wasp''s cybernetic senses had failed him today. Ace clenched his jaw, silently controlling himself from contacting her to ask what was going on, and Dame Wasp, who was sharing his sense, did not contact him either. There was a reason why they were holding back.


    First, they wanted to keep curse activity to a minimum to gauge what kind of threat they were dealing with. Second, they were in a crowded place¡ªif a fight broke out here, it would result in too many casualties, not to mention exposing Ace''s identity as a curse user.


    Dame Wasp was trying her best to figure this out quickly. Their priority was that they would be able to neutralize the curse user without any collateral damage, but their opponent''s curse skill wasn''t making it easy by petrifying Ace''s body.


    Ace mentally cursed his helpless situation. He was confident that he could save himself but that would be taking the easy way out in his current situation. Even though it was hard, he had to make sure there were no casualties and his identity as a curse user wasn''t revealed to the world. Whatever this woman was planning, he knew she wasn''t here to make small talk.


    "Your skin is just flawless for someone from the countryside. I couldn''t help myself," the curse user purred, her voice low and flirtatious.


    Her smirk deepened as her eyes roamed over Ace, scanning him from head to toe like she was evaluating a prize. Ace''s body remained frozen, but his thoughts churned, ''Flawless skin? Really? That''s your opening line?''


    However, listening to her words, Ace felt a slight wave of relief wash over him. From what she said, it seemed the female curse user hadn''t realized he was a curse user too. Her comments hinted that this wasn''t some premeditated attack but more of a crime of opportunity¡ªa spur-of-the-moment thing. That wasn''t surprising; many curse users treated the mortal world like their personal playground, taking whatever caught their eye.


    Despite that small relief, Ace still knew nothing about her, aside from her gratingly smug voice and her hourglass figure. He couldn''t even get a clear look at her face because his frozen eyes were locked onto her cleavage¡ªmore specifically, the pendant nestled between her curves. It had to be her curse tool, Ace guessed.


    "My, my, you really are the whole package¡ªbeauty and brawn," she cooed, her gaze slowly raking over him like she was inspecting merchandise. Her attention lingered on his toned forearms, his triceps, and his biceps, a gleam of satisfaction in her eyes. Before he could process her words, she reached out and ran her fingers along his arm, testing his muscles.


    Ace''s stomach churned in disgust. Her touch felt slimy, even though it wasn''t physically so. His thoughts hardened, praying Danny wouldn''t show up and stumble into this mess. He didn''t even want to imagine what this creepy curse user might do to his cousin for intruding on her fun time.


    "It''s just too perfect," she murmured, pinching a bit of his skin as if she were testing the quality of the fabric.


    Ace''s internal alarms went into overdrive when she followed up with a comment that sent an icy shiver down his spine. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I can''t wait to wear your skin. I have to add it to my collection."


    Ace''s mind reeled. Skin? Collection? Suddenly, everything clicked. He had been dead wrong. This wasn''t some casual encounter or a random act of lust. She didn''t care about him as a fuck boy¡ªshe was after his skin.


    The realization only made things worse. If she was this unhinged, there was no telling what she might do if Danny showed up. Ace''s panic deepened, but his body remained frozen, utterly at her mercy.


    Amid Ace''s growing panic, the curse user leaned in close, her lips brushing dangerously near his ear. The cloying scent of her pungent perfume filled his nostrils, making him want to recoil¡ªbut, of course, he couldn''t. His body was frozen, his muscles unresponsive, leaving him completely at her mercy.


    She whispered something in a language he couldn''t recognize: "@#$%^&!" The sound of the unfamiliar words sent a chill down his spine.


    Before Ace could even try to process what she had said, she straightened up and began to walk away. To his horror, his body followed. He wasn''t walking by choice¡ªhis limbs moved on their own, compelled by some unseen force. She had not only petrified him but also taken control of his body entirely.


    ''Great,'' Ace thought bitterly, ''this just got worse. Not only can she freeze people, but she can make them her puppets too.''


    As he unwillingly trailed behind her, his thoughts raced. This was not an enemy to take lightly. Still, he felt a small sense of relief¡ªthey were leaving the crowded area. If Danny showed up now, at least he wouldn''t stumble into this mess.


    The curse user led Ace to a parking lot on a secluded adjacent street. As they moved deeper into the lot, Ace''s mind sharpened with a singular focus. This was his chance. Away from the crowd and prying eyes, he could finally act. He had held back all this time to keep his identity as a curse user secret and to avoid harming innocent bystanders. But now, he planned to take her out swiftly, before she even realized what hit her.


    Just as Ace was preparing to make his move, a sudden motion caught his eye. From the corner of his vision, he spotted a figure stepping out of a Chrysler.


    "Excuse me, ma''am!" a woman''s voice called out.


    The curse user ignored the interruption, continuing toward her car as if the voice didn''t exist. Ace followed helplessly, his feet still moving under her control.


    "Excuse me, ma''am!" the voice called out again, louder this time.


    The curse user sighed in annoyance but didn''t bother to look back. "Go away while I''m still in a good mood," she said dismissively, her tone cold and commanding.


    Ace''s heart sank. He silently willed the woman to back off, to leave before she got herself hurt. But she didn''t.


    Instead, to both his and the curse user''s surprise, the woman¡ªan alluring middle-aged figure with an air of authority¡ªsuddenly appeared right in front of them, as if she had teleported.


    "Please, show me your curse ID," the woman demanded extending her left hand out, her voice calm but firm, as though she had done this a thousand times before. Ace felt the woman was familiar but he could not recall where he had seen her.

 Chapter 196: Standoff

    Chapter 196: StandoffIf Ace''s body¡ªalong with his facial expression¡ªhadn''t been completely petrified and been under the curse user''s control, his eyes would have widened in shock right now seeing that the middle-aged woman turned out to be a curse user among the other two things was blowing his mind at once.


    First, the speed of the stunning middle-aged woman, who carried herself with an air of effortless authority. And second, the faint but unmistakable curse energy radiated from her as she moved from her car to stand in front of the female curse user. The curse energy she leaked wasn''t overwhelming, but it was potent¡ªstronger than what Delores had ever emitted. This woman wasn''t just any curse user; she was an ocean-tier curse master, no doubt about it. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When the woman spoke, her tone was calm but commanding when she demanded, "Please, show me your Curse ID." with her sharp gaze fixed on the female curse user.


    Ace''s mind raced. This middle-aged woman wasn''t just some passerby; she had to be a C.I.B. agent. The Curse Investigation Bureau wasn''t known for being subtle, and this woman fits the bill perfectly¡ªstrong, no-nonsense, and authoritative.


    Curse IDs, short for curse registration IDs, were issued by the government to registered curse users. Ace knew these weren''t just identification documents; they were special cursed gadgets designed to track a curse user''s location and stealthy log every single time they used curse energy.


    He wouldn''t have known this if Dame Wasp hadn''t found it while going through Layla''s cursed gadget. To most people, the Curse ID was just a glorified tracker. But in reality, it was far more invasive¡ªit recorded everything. Every curse technique, every minor flicker of energy¡ªit all went straight to the C.I.B.


    Ace''s thoughts turned grim. The female curse user in front of him wasn''t going to take this well. She hadn''t shown any signs of being registered or carrying a Curse ID, which made things infinitely more dangerous. And if this escalated, there was no telling how the thing would spiral out.


    The C.I.B. had a reputation for being ruthless when dealing with rogue curse users, often disregarding collateral damage. The middle-aged agent''s behavior made it clear she was no exception. She hadn''t even bothered to ask what the rogue curse user was doing with him¡ªshe went straight for demanding the latter to show her latter''s Curse ID. Her words were cold, commanding, and devoid of concern for Ace as if she did not care what the latter had in store for him.


    Ace''s heart raced. The agent''s indifference toward his safety was crystal clear. She had made sure as long as she fulfilled her duty, she didn''t care what happened to him. Fortunately for him, both of them were within his field of vision so he was able to see the alteration between them.


    He focused briefly on the rogue curse user, who looked far from cooperative. The tension in the air was suffocating, and the situation felt like a ticking time bomb.


    Ace''s thoughts spiraled wondering what if the duo started an all-out fight right here? He wasn''t sure how he should react or deal with the two curse users going at each other with full force. Should he defend himself if a stray attack came his way? Or should he keep up the act, pretending to be an ignorant mortal, and let the attacks hit him?


    Both options carried enormous risks. If he reacted, he''d almost certainly expose his identity as a curse user. But if he didn''t and the attack was deadly, he might not even live to regret his decision.


    He clenched his jaw, making a silent decision. He''d play it by ear. If the attack was something a mortal could conceivably survive, he''d grit his teeth and endure it. But if it was life-threatening, he''d have Emi intervene to save him. Either way, the chances of his cover being blown were high, and the weight of that realization settled heavily on his shoulders.


    Ace concentrated his gaze back on the two women, his body frozen in both fear and indecision. The rogue curse user seemed to be sizing up the agent, her expression a mix of defiance and amusement. The agent, meanwhile, stood unwavering, her steely eyes fixed on her target while Ace silently prayed that he shouldn''t be forced to come out of hiding, his mind racing as he tried to prepare for the worst.


    "A C.I.B. agent?" the female curse user sneered, her lips curling into a mocking grin. "You have gorgeous skin for a C.I.B. dog. How lucky am I to run into not one but two excellent human skins?" She leaned slightly forward, her voice dripping with derision, showing no sign of fear despite the agent''s commanding presence.


    Ace wasn''t surprised by the female curse user''s dismissive attitude. Her confidence made sense. When Dame Wasp''s cybernetic senses failed to detect her, Ace had already guessed that she was a formidable curse master. Her actions only added merit to his guess.


    His initial plan had been straightforward yet ruthless: summon Dame Wasp in her 1/100th form and stealth mode right next to the curse user''s ear while simultaneously summoning Emi a few yards away to create a distraction. Once the curse user turned her attention to Emi, Dame Wasp would penetrate her ear canal and eliminate her. And if that didn''t work? Ace had steeled himself to detonate Dame Wasp inside her head, as brutal as it sounded it was a better outcome than the present situation as he could revive his toy summons with new toys as their body as long as he was alive.


    But now, with the unexpected involvement of a C.I.B. agent, everything had grown infinitely more complicated. Ace''s thoughts raced as he observed the silent standoff. The agent''s expression remained cold and unflinching, a testament to her discipline, while the curse user continued to radiate her twisted confidence, clearly unfazed.

 Chapter 197: Curse Master Astrid

    Chapter 197: Curse Master AstridNo matter how this ended, it wasn''t going to be good for Ace. If the C.I.B. agent won, Ace would be in trouble. He knew all too well how the agency dealt with "accidental witnesses" who stumbled upon the hidden world of curses. Their motto when it came to preserving secrecy was simple: leave no loose ends. Ace would have little choice in this matter.


    On the other hand, if the agent lost¡ªor worse, died¡ªit would be a disaster. Even if Ace managed to kill the deranged curse user who wanted to skin him and save himself, it would only land him in the middle of another C.I.B. investigation. And this time, he wasn''t sure he''d get lucky like he had with Layla, a rogue agent operating solo without backup.


    Ace swallowed hard, his jaw tightening as his mind churned with contingency plans. Every possible scenario led to a dead end. All he could do now was wait and hope for an opening, but deep down, he knew he was walking a tightrope, and one wrong step could unravel everything.


    "Astrid, stand down," a sudden feminine voice called out from the direction of the Chrysler. The voice was young but carried a sharp edge. It caused the curse user''s smile to freeze and sharply turn to find its source.


    From the corner of his frozen vision, Ace managed to make out the source of the voice¡ªa teenage girl with striking gray hair stepping out of the vehicle. His deduction was quick, and so was his confusion. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What puzzled Ace even more was the little amount of chaotic, unrefined curse energy emanating from her. She was clearly a novice, yet she dared to speak to the female curse user with a commanding tone, addressing her by name as if she were her subordinate. That, coupled with her body language¡ªrelaxed yet purposeful¡ªmade it obvious that the two knew each other.


    "Sonia?" Astrid''s tone shifted, disbelief flickering across her face. "What are you doing with a C.I.B. agent? Don''t tell me she''s one of the dogs the Guild Master has on payroll?"


    Astrid''s eyebrows furrowed as her initial shock morphed into suspicion. Her stance stiffened slightly, the earlier air of confidence now tinged with unease. Though the sight of Sonia Everhart¡ªof all people and here¡ªwas unexpected, her faith in the Guild Master was so resolute that she instinctively tried to rationalize the situation. It had to make sense somehow. Was this C.I.B. agent one of the guild''s paid assets?


    Astrid''s gaze darted between Sonia and the agent, trying to piece together what felt like a very misleading situation. Still, the fact that Sonia was here, issuing orders in that commanding tone, was enough to make her hesitate.


    "Yes, she is. I''m guessing you already heard," Sonia replied, her tone calm but guarded. She then continued, gesturing subtly toward the middle-aged woman, "She''s the one who tipped off my father about the C.I.B. raid on the Weasly Winery. Thanks to her, he and I managed to escape in time¡ªthough, unfortunately, not everyone was so lucky. Father sent me with her to lay low in this town until the heat from the C.I.B. on our guild dies down."


    Astrid''s expression shifted, her brows knitting as she fell into deep contemplation. Her fingers tapped rhythmically against her thigh, a sign of her inner conflict. After a moment, she raised her head and locked eyes with Sonia, her gaze sharp and searching. "Where''s the Guildmaster?"


    "He''s heading to the guild''s hideout outside the country," Sonia answered evenly, her voice steady. "He plans to rebuild the guild there while investigating who leaked the operation at the Weasly Winery to the C.I.B. He''s expecting all surviving members to join him soon."


    Astrid''s jaw tightened as she processed the information. Then, narrowing her eyes, she asked, her voice low and dangerous, "And can you trust her?" She shot a glare at the middle-aged C.I.B. agent, her curse energy suddenly surging forth, creating an oppressive pressure that bore down on the agent.


    The agent appeared unaffected and remained completely composed, her arms crossed as she smirked with a mocking gaze.


    "You know my father. What do you think?" Sonia replied, shrugging slightly as if to say the decision wasn''t hers to question. Her body language conveyed compliance, a subtle message that she was simply following her father''s arrangements.


    Astrid held Sonia''s gaze for a moment longer before finally retracting her curse energy. With a slight nod, she muttered, "Fair enough." Then, a faint smirk tugged at her lips as she added, "I''ll leave on the next flight. Until then, I plan to enjoy this one."


    Without warning, Astrid moved swiftly, appearing beside Ace in an instant. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace and burying his face against her chest.


    Ace, still under the curse user''s control, could do nothing but endure, his thoughts racing in a mix of confusion, annoyance, and sheer disbelief.


    "No, you will leave him alone," the middle-aged C.I.B. agent suddenly interjected, her voice firm and cutting through the tension like a knife. Her piercing gaze shifted between Astrid and Sonia. "We came here to lay low. This is a small town. If a teenager goes missing, it''ll make big news and completely undermine my mission to keep her out of the C.I.B.''s radar."


    Her stance was clear, her tone brooking no argument.


    But the duo acted as though she hadn''t spoken at all, her words seemingly holding no weight in their decision-making.


    Astrid smirked, tightening her grip on Ace possessively, while Sonia''s head tilted slightly as if she had caught a faint scent in the air. She sniffed again, her sharp, calculating eyes narrowing. Slowly, Sonia stepped forward, her movements deliberate and curious.


    Stopping beside Ace and Astrid, Sonia leaned in closer to Ace, her gaze scrutinizing as she sniffed him audibly, her nose wrinkling slightly. Astrid''s brows furrowed in confusion as she watched the odd display.


    Sonia finally straightened, her expression thoughtful, and remarked, "He smells familiar. Where did you pick him up?"


    Her words hung in the air, loaded with suspicion, while Ace, trapped in Astrid''s grip and still unable to move or speak, felt her scrutiny alarming.

 Chapter 198: Please Dont Kill Me

    Chapter 198: Please Don''t Kill Me"In the popular bakery nearby," Astrid replied, finally letting go of Ace. She stepped back, her posture casual, though her expression betrayed a hint of wariness. She knew better than to underestimate Sonia''s sense of smell¡ªit was sharper than that of a typical Werefur curseling, thanks to her peculiar and bizarre innate curse art.


    "How long has it been since you got him?" Sonia asked, her voice calm yet probing. She moved closer to Ace, her eyes narrowing as she began sniffing him methodically. From his head to his neck, down to his chest, waist, and finally to his shoes, where her attention lingered on the mud clinging stubbornly to the soles, she sniffed like a predator identifying its prey, her movements deliberate and unsettling.


    Finally, she straightened and turned to Astrid with an unexpected demand, "I want him."


    "He''s yours," Astrid said with a shrug, shoving Ace forward without hesitation. "Consider it compensation for not being there when the guild master needed me the most."


    Caught off guard, Sonia instinctively stepped aside, and the still-petrified Ace toppled to the hard ground with a dull thud.


    "What was that for?" Sonia snapped, astonishment flashing across her face. Though she knew Astrid would never refuse her, this was far beyond what she expected.


    "You said you wanted him, didn''t you?" Astrid tilted her head, her confusion evident. She couldn''t fathom why Sonia would show interest in the boy unless it was for obvious reasons. Her logic was clear¡ªSonia wanted the boy, not because she wanted to try and save him, but because of her lust, her thought process was straightforward. They had killed more mortals than they could count and Sonia never came to anyone''s rescue, so this conclusion was no-brainer for her. Not to mention, the boy was a looker for a mortal, especially his skin it was just flawless.


    "I did, but¡ªforget it," Sonia said, cutting herself off mid-explanation as the truth was worse than what Astrid was assuming. Resigned, she added, "Just release him from your curse arts before you leave. He''s no use to me as a statue."


    Astrid nodded in acknowledgment, then turned to the middle-aged C.I.B. agent with a sharp glare. "If something happens to her, I''m coming for you."


    "Come at me right now," the C.I.B. agent shot back, her tone laced with provocation, clearly unimpressed with Astrid''s attitude.


    Astrid smirked, her confidence unwavering. "You''ve got the character of a turncoat¡ªI''ll give you that," she said mockingly. Then, without waiting for a response, she approached Sonia.


    Grasping Sonia''s head gently but firmly, Astrid kissed her on the forehead and whispered, "Don''t worry. I''ll finish what your father started." Before heading to their hideout out of the country she wanted to bring a present for her guildmaster now that she had given Sonia one.


    The words struck Sonia like a bolt of lightning. Her eyes widened in alarm, and she hurriedly blurted, "Astrid¡ªWhat are you planning? Just go straight to the hideout."


    "Yes, I plan to do just that, but not before making a quick stop to get a present for the guild master," Astrid assured Sonia, her tone casual but with a glint of determination in her eyes as she headed toward her car.


    The sound of her engine roared as she drove out of the parking lot, leaving Sonia watching her go with a conflicted expression. True to Sonia''s instructions, Astrid released the curse on the mortal boy as soon as she exited the lot.


    The moment the curse lifted, Ace sprang to his feet in a panic, his breath ragged, and let out a high-pitched scream like he''d seen a ghost. He turned to bolt, his feet barely touching the ground in his haste, but before he could get far, Sonia appeared in front of him with unnatural speed. With a calculated movement, she tripped him, sending him sprawling onto the cold, hard pavement.


    "Stay still, or I''ll kill you," Sonia warned, her tone icy as she pressed her foot firmly against his back, pinning him down.


    Ace froze instantly, his screams cut off as he lay trembling beneath her, pretending to be frightened out of his wits.


    The C.I.B. agent, however, didn''t seem remotely interested in Ace''s predicament. Instead, she focused her attention on Sonia. "Should I be worried about her?" she asked, nodding toward the direction Astrid had driven off.


    "Yes," Sonia replied, her tone serious as she glanced back at the agent. "She''s one of our guild''s twelve captains. You guys really lucked out that all the captains were scattered across the county to deter other curse mercenaries aiming for our prize. Otherwise, you''d have never managed to corner my father, let alone capture him."


    "Sure, we were lucky," the agent said with a dry chuckle, crossing her arms. She tilted her head slightly and added, "Where''s she heading now?"


    "What do you think? To bring Weasly''s head to my father as a present," Sonia said, a sly smirk curling her lips.


    "Well then, she''s heading straight for her death," the C.I.B. agent remarked, shaking her head knowing that Weasly''s under full C.I.B. protection now, ever since the Everhart guild attacked his winery to try and force him off his ancestral land which just so happens to sit on newly discovered oil reserves.


    "Don''t underestimate Astrid. She''s a skilled assassin. If I were you, I''d pull my people from the protection detail before they risk their lives for some random mortal," Sonia warned, crossing her arms. Her tone carried a mix of caution and indifference, mostly indifference. Clearly, she mistakenly assumed the C.I.B. functioned like her own guild.


    The middle-aged C.I.B. agent smirked, her confidence unshaken. "Don''t worry. I''ve got a subordinate who specializes in hunting assassins," she replied coolly.


    Sonia''s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, the air between them seemed to thrum with tension. Both women stood their ground, locked in a silent standoff, their curse energy faintly rippling in the atmosphere.


    The uneasy silence broke when a trembling voice piped up from below. "You''re Mrs. Martin, Ava''s mom, right? I saw your picture on her social media page. Please, don''t kill me. I''m your daughter''s classmate," Ace stammered, his voice cracking as tears streamed down his face.


    "Fuck!" EAD Matthews cursed under her breath, the color draining from her face as she processed his words. This was not just any mortal¡ªthis was one of her daughter''s classmates.


    "Shit!" Sonia exclaimed, her expression shifting from smug amusement to outright disbelief. She lifted her foot from Ace''s back and took a step away, staring at the agent like she''d grown a second head. "Wait¡­ did you seriously bring me here to lay low with your family? Are you not worried I might harm them? Damn, you C.I.B. agents really are insane," she added, shaking her head in astonishment.


    The agent''s expression didn''t change. If anything, her calm demeanor only added to the unsettling confidence she radiated. "I told you¡ªyou are a part of C.I.B. now and I meant it," she replied, her voice low and steady, leaving Sonia with more questions than answers.


    "Damn, you''re even crazier than Astrid," Sonia muttered, shaking her head in disbelief. Her crossed arms tightened, her brow furrowed as she tried to process how the agent could trust her¡ªknowing full well what she did for a living and the bad blood between them.


    When the C.I.B. had taken her hostage, Sonia had braced herself for a harsh, unforgiving road ahead. The agent had promised she''d work for the C.I.B., get a fresh start, and live a life free of crime. But Sonia hadn''t believed it for a second. She was convinced she''d always be treated as nothing more than a criminal and a chip to keep her father in check, no matter how hard she worked to prove herself to them.


    But to her surprise, the agent had proven her wrong.


    True to her word, the agent brought Sonia into her hometown¡ªher actual home¡ªwhere her family lived and treated her like a colleague rather than a prisoner. Sonia had expected cold, distant professionalism, maybe even hostility. Instead, she found herself faced with warmth and trust, and it unsettled her more than she cared to admit.


    Sonia glanced at the agent, trying to read her. Was this genuine, or just some elaborate ploy? Her lips parted as if to speak, but she hesitated, unsure whether she wanted to challenge the agent''s motives or simply let it be.


    "Young man, where do you think you''re scurrying off to?" EAD Matthews asked, her sharp gaze locking onto Ace as he army-crawled to take cover under an SUV. Her tone was calm, but there was a dangerous edge to it. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace froze mid-crawl, his body stiffening like a deer caught in headlights. Slowly, he turned his tear-streaked face toward her, his wide, pleading eyes glistening with fear. Snot dripped from his nose as he sniffled and stammered, "Ma''am, please¡­ please don''t kill me. I didn''t see anything. I didn''t hear anything, I swear!"


    He raised his trembling hands in surrender, his voice breaking as he practically groveled for mercy.

 Chapter 199: Dormant Curse

    Chapter 199: Dormant Curse"Stop acting and get back on your feet, or I''ll crush them," Sonia threatened, her voice cold as she approached the boy lying on the ground. She lifted her foot slightly, ready to stomp on his legs to prove her point.


    Ace flinched, his body trembling as he tried to muster the courage to move, but seeing the seriousness in her eyes, he froze.


    "Alright, that''s enough," EAD Matthews finally intervened showing concern for the mortal, stepping forward and grabbing Sonia''s wrist mid-motion. Her grip was firm but calm as she stopped the impending stomp. "Lesson number one: we don''t hurt innocents. Got it?" Her voice carried an unmistakable authority.


    Sonia narrowed her eyes at the agent, glancing down at the hand gripping her wrist. "He''s not innocent," she retorted flatly, her tone unwavering. "He''s dangerous." She twisted her wrist slightly, trying to free from Matthews'' grip, but the agent''s hold was ironclad.


    "What do you mean?" Matthews asked, furrowing her brow as her gaze shifted to the boy still sprawled on the ground. His face was a mess of tears and snot, trembling as if he couldn''t pose a threat to a fly. Matthews activated her best curse-sensing art, focusing on him. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t detect any curse energy emanating from him. She frowned in confusion. "He feels ordinary to me."


    "He''s been to the Weasly Winery," Sonia stated, her sharp eyes narrowing as she pointed at the mud caked on the boy''s shoes. "And the mountain range behind it. Today."


    Ace''s heart skipped a beat. How does she know? His mind raced, panic clawing at him, but he kept his face carefully composed, thanks to the Apex earring''s passive effect. Though his tears and snot added to his act of helplessness, his mind was a storm of alarm.


    Matthews glanced at the shoes, her expression still skeptical. "Are you sure?" she asked, her gaze flicking between Sonia and Ace. She couldn''t reconcile the terrified, wailing boy before her with someone who could cause Sonia, a curse slave, to feel threatened.


    "Give me a second alone with him," Sonia said, her voice low and steady, her gaze piercing as she stared at Ace. "I''ll prove it to you."


    The weight of her words hung in the air as Matthews hesitated. Meanwhile, Sonia''s senses remained sharp, her instincts screaming at her that this boy wasn''t as harmless as he appeared. Traveling both worlds with her father, she had encountered countless monsters, but none had unsettled Scratchifer like Ace¡ªespecially after sensing the mud on his shoes.


    "Young man, get up and clean yourself," EAD Matthews commanded the mortal with a firm tone firm tinged with exasperation unable to continue watching Ace crumpled on the ground, covered in tears and snot, was more than she could bear. She turned to Sonia and asked again for confirmation, "Are you sure? Could it be a dormant curse or something?"


    Ace scrambled to his feet, fumbling as he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. He quickly wiped his face, cleaning away the mess with hurried, purposefully clumsy movements. His hands trembled slightly as he worked, and his wide, teary eyes darted nervously toward the agent, as though silently pleading for mercy. Every action screamed obedience, an effort to convince her he was no threat.


    Sonia nodded, her gaze still fixed on Ace. "Yes, it''s possible," she admitted, her brow furrowed in thought. She couldn''t shake the feeling of danger Ace exuded, but as she considered it further, she realized it might not be him she was sensing¡ªit could be a dormant curse. After all, dormant curses were infamous for their ability to linger, waiting to strike, and capable of spreading. The more powerful the curse, the greater its influence on its surroundings. Her voice softened slightly as she added, "I''ve known Astrid to use dormant curses for assassination."


    The shift in her tone was subtle but noticeable. Sonia''s initial hostility was replaced by pity as her mind began to piece things together. If Ace was carrying a dormant curse, his fate was already sealed. She couldn''t help but feel a pang of sympathy¡ªno one deserved the kind of gruesome death that awaited him.


    "Can you call her and ask her to undo it? Or at least get the name of the curse?" Matthews asked, her voice steady but laced with urgency. She understood the risk of tampering with a curse without knowing its nature, especially one that might be as insidious as this. Removing it improperly could easily kill the boy.


    She made a mental note to alert her team stationed at the Weasly Winery to be on high alert for dormant curses. Especially, Crimson Eyes as they McSuile were famously known for being capable of detecting them. The realization that Astrid might be employing such tactics made her reassess just how dangerous the woman was. Matthews couldn''t afford to underestimate her again¡ªnot when her subordinate''s lives were at stake.


    As her thoughts raced, she couldn''t help but consider the bigger picture. Her plan to secure an international informant was already proving more troublesome than she had anticipated, but she remained resolute. The potential intelligence could be invaluable for her country, even if the road to securing it was fraught with complications.


    Hearing them mistake him for someone cursed with a dormant curse, Ace couldn''t tell if it was a blessing in disguise or another nail in his coffin. The situation had long spiraled out of his control, and there wasn''t much he could do now but go with the flow, carefully navigating the dangerous waters and watching out for the hidden boulders.


    His eyes darted toward Mrs. Martin. Despite her outward indifference, he had noticed subtle cracks in her fa?ade. It was an act, he was certain of it.


    She looked just like an older version of Ava¡ªmature, composed, and strikingly similar in features. The only difference was her hair: blonde, unlike Ava''s vibrant red. Yet their most telling feature was the same¡ªtheir eyes. Those eyes seemed indifferent at first glance, cold even, but they betrayed something deeper. They always looked just slightly wet, not in a way that suggested tears but as if they were under constant, immense restraint. She seemed reluctant to harm an innocent unnecessarily, and Ace found himself clinging to that sliver of hope, betting everything on it.


    "No, asking her will only speed up his death," Sonia said flatly, folding her arms. She knew Astrid too well. If Sonia dared to inquire about the dormant curse, Astrid wouldn''t hesitate to kill the boy outright rather than risk revealing her curse arts. Astrid''s loyalty to Sonia and her father was unquestionable, but when it came to survival, she trusted no one but herself. That was the golden rule in the cutthroat ''World of Curses.''


    "Fuck!" Matthews cursed under her breath, breaking her composed demeanor. She was so frustrated that she momentarily forgot her status. The situation had grown far more complicated. She couldn''t simply dispose of the boy without first dealing with the dormant curse, not with the risks involved. If the curse was powerful, it could influence those around it, slowly spreading to his family or anyone who spent enough time near him.


    Altering his memory and sending him home was no longer a viable option. If the curse claimed him, his anguish and the dormant curse combined could give birth to a curseling. He was essentially a walking time bomb. Matthews sighed deeply, rubbing her temples in irritation.


    But what truly annoyed her wasn''t the boy or even the cursed situation¡ªit was the logistics. Removing a dormant curse could take days, maybe even weeks. And during that time, how was she supposed to deal with his parents? The thought of having to explain any of this made her head throb.


    Seeing the struggle on Mrs. Martin''s face, Ace began to calm down, realizing she likely wouldn''t use the memory-altering drug on him.


    The memory-altering drug used by the C.I.B. wasn''t from the World of Curses but the mortal one. It was essentially a chemical compound¡ªnot addictive but still dangerous in its own way. Depending on the dose, it could wipe away a few hours or even days of memory. Though it wasn''t physically harmful, with the way C.I.B. used it after was enough to ruin someone''s life.


    If Mrs. Martin followed standard C.I.B. protocol, she would use the drug on him, then dump him at a hospital by the police involved. His parents would be called in, and they''d be told the cops found him unconscious on the street. Conveniently, the "tests" would show that he was experimenting with some new street drug.


    Even if Ace ever managed to recall fragments of the truth in the future, no one would believe him. The C.I.B.''s strategy was flawless: paint him as a drug addict, severing trust with everyone who cared about him. It was a cruel, calculated move that could shatter someone''s life as effectively as a curse.


    Ace swallowed hard, his hands trembling slightly at the thought. But Mrs. Martin''s hesitation was clear. Her eyes were locked on him, flickering with conflict, her lips pressed in a tight line. She wasn''t indifferent¡ªfar from it. And for now, that was his only hope. But he doubted she would let him off the hook with just a warning.  S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Still, Ace was grateful that Emi''s curse concealment art was working flawlessly. Against all odds, he had managed to evade detection by two high-level curse masters.


    He wasn''t entirely sure how Sonia had sensed that his fear was merely an act¡ªit had unnerved him for a moment. Yet, in the end, they seemed to have fooled themselves.


    Ace''s shoulders sagged slightly as he let out a slow, silent breath, careful not to draw attention. Beneath his terrified facade, his mind raced. He had survived this encounter without revealing his identity, but he wasn''t na?ve enough to believe his luck would hold out forever.

 Chapter 200: Enlisting

    Chapter 200: Enlisting"Young man, what do you want to do after you graduate?" EAD Matthews asked, her tone light but her eyes sharp.


    Ace froze for a moment, his mind racing. Why was she asking him this now, especially when she didn''t even know his name? The question felt completely out of place given the current situation, which only made him more suspicious.


    "Ma''am, I plan to join the Marines and serve my country, ma''am!" Ace replied, standing up straighter and throwing in a tone of conviction, hoping that playing the patriotism card might win him some favor with Mrs. Martin.


    Matthews raised an eyebrow at his response, her gaze drifting over his frame. His physique seemed promising¡ªlean but with potential¡ªbut then she recalled his earlier high-pitched scream and tearful pleas. She couldn''t help but wonder if this boy really had the fortitude for the Marines. Still, she nodded thoughtfully and said, "Do you really mean it? Because if you do, here''s your chance. I work for the government, directly under the president. Impress me, and I''ll enlist you. Right here and now."


    Sonia and Ace both turned to look at her like she''d just lost her mind. The absurdity of her statement left them momentarily speechless. Out of all the ways she could''ve handled this situation, this felt like the worst possible option. All she had to do was inform him that he was inflicted with something dangerous and should be quarantined away from his family and she would like his cooperation with it. Simple. But she overcomplicated it. Leaving both Sonia and Ace wondering what the latter was planning.


    "Ma''am, it''s not that I doubt you work under the president," Ace began cautiously, choosing his words with care, "but I''m still underage. I don''t think even the president can get me enlisted in the Marines at my current age."


    He paused, deciding to backtrack and try a new approach. The more he talked, the more absurd this entire situation felt. "Also, I''m not sure. My girlfriend''s been threatening to leave me if I don''t become a banker, and my parents want me to go to college before I make any life-altering decisions."


    "Hahaha!" Sonia suddenly burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as she bent over. "See, he seems innocent now, doesn''t he?" she said between laughs, clearly amused by Ace''s response.


    Matthews stood silently, her lips twitching slightly as she tried to ignore Sonia''s pointed remarks. She turned back to Ace and asked, "Are you sure?"


    Ace squared his shoulders and held her gaze. "She might be the one," he said firmly, refusing to back down. He wasn''t blind¡ªMrs. Martin''s intentions were crystal clear. She wanted him to join the C.I.B., but that wasn''t a path he was willing to walk.


    "Unfortunately for you, it''s no longer your decision to make. The universe has decided, she is not the one," EAD Matthews said, her voice firm. She pulled out her phone, handed it to him, and ordered, "Call your family. Tell them you''re staying at your friend''s tonight."


    Ace hesitated but realized there was no point in arguing. The look in her eyes left no room for negotiation. With a reluctant nod, he took the phone. As he dialed Danny''s number and waited for him to pick up, he muttered, "My girlfriend can get pretty possessive. If she gets suspicious, you''ll have to explain everything to her."


    Sonia smirked and shot Matthews a knowing look before glancing at Ace as if to say, ''See? I told you it was all an act.''


    Matthews frowned, her expression growing more conflicted. She studied the boy in front of her, trying to piece him together. On the surface, he seemed like just another wimpy mortal, but there was something deeper¡ªsomething she couldn''t quite pin down. Knowing he was her daughter''s classmate had already made it difficult to treat him like just another subject.


    Still, if Ace truly carried a dormant curse, he might be the perfect candidate for the C.I.B.''s latest experiment in curse-slave creation, courtesy of their R&D department. The stronger the curse, the better. Her frown deepened as her resolve hardened. Whether Ace liked it or not, she was determined to enlist him.


    "Danny, I''m staying at a friend''s place tonight. Go home and cover for me, got it?" Ace said quickly as soon as Danny picked up the call.


    There was a pause before Danny''s astonished and impressed voice came through. "Wait, whose number is this? Is it hers? Dude, are you spending the whole night with her?"


    "No, no!" Ace snapped, his voice a mix of exasperation and embarrassment. "She turned out to be a freak. Fortunately, Ava''s mother saved me. Now she wants me to spend the night with her¡ª"


    Ace froze mid-sentence, realizing too late how his words sounded. He glanced nervously at Mrs. Martin, whose piercing gaze made his stomach churn. Before he could correct himself, Danny''s voice erupted on the other end of the line.


    "Ace, are you for real? Ava''s mother? Seriously?" Danny sounded like he was grinning ear to ear, completely misunderstanding the situation.


    Under the weight of Mrs. Martin''s steely glare, Ace scrambled to explain. "It''s not what you''re imagining!" He forced an awkward smile, waving a hand in silent apology toward her. "But yeah, this is her number. I''ll explain everything later. Just cover for me at home, alright?"


    Danny let out a laugh that could only mean trouble. "Ace, you''re a god. God, I tell you."


    "Dude, shut up! She is married. You''re going to get me killed," Ace hissed, his tone desperate as he plastered a nervous grin on his face for Mrs. Martin''s benefit. "Just cover for me."


    "Got it, got it. Leave it to me. And hey, enjoy¡ª"


    Ace didn''t wait for him to finish. He hung up so fast that Danny''s voice was cut off mid-sentence. He let out a breath, his shoulders sagging slightly in relief, but that relief was short-lived.


    "Hahaha!" Sonia burst into laughter, doubling over and clutching her stomach as tears welled up in her eyes. She laughed so hard she slapped her knee for emphasis. "This is priceless! If I hadn''t seen it myself, I wouldn''t have believed it. Oh my, you''ve got yourself a real charmer here!"


    Ace cringed, shooting a sidelong glance at Mrs. Martin, whose expression was caught somewhere between disbelief and irritation. Sonia, meanwhile, continued to laugh, studying Ace with a mix of amusement and curiosity, wondering if he was just as crafty as she''d suspected.


    As she took her phone back from Ace, Matthews asked, "You sure you don''t want to call your parents?" Her tone was even, deliberately brushing past the earlier misunderstanding¡ªthere was no point in giving it any more weight than it deserved.


    Ace shook his head. "No, it''s fine. So, what now? Are we going to the Martin Ranch?" His voice was calm, almost casual as if he had already resigned himself to whatever fate Mrs. Martin had planned for him. Deep down, though, he was certain her endgame involved enlisting him into the C.I.B.


    Matthews raised an eyebrow, studying him. For someone who had looked like he was seconds away from wetting himself earlier, he had grown suspiciously comfortable around her. Was this how all teenagers were nowadays? Entitled, cheeky, and utterly unpredictable? She exhaled sharply and rubbed her temples. "No, we''re not going to the ranch. We''re headed to Treasure Lake Resort. There''s someone there who can help us with your¡­ condition."


    Ace blinked innocently, tilting his head. "My condition?" He played dumb, hoping to milk this situation for as long as possible without giving away anything he knew.


    Sonia''s eyes narrowed into slits as she fixed him with an incredulous glare. "Are you deaf or just pretending? Didn''t you hear us talking about how you might be cursed by Astrid?" Her tone was sharp, edged with frustration.


    Ace met her gaze with a blank expression, his face a perfect mask of confusion. Inside, however, he was suppressing a grin. He could feel the tension rising in Sonia, like a pot about to boil over. Meanwhile, Matthews watched them both, her lips pressed into a thin line, clearly debating whether she should intervene.


    Sonia crossed her arms, tapping her fingers against her bicep as if to say, You''re not fooling me. But without solid proof to back up her instincts, she reluctantly held her tongue.


    "I''m cursed?" Ace''s face paled, fear creeping back into his expression. His voice quivered as he asked, "Was that woman a witch? Did she use some kind of dark arts or witchcraft to control my body?"


    Sonia''s eyes narrowed, her patience snapping. "Stop pretending. I know you know."


    Before Ace could respond, Sonia lunged forward, grabbing him by the collar with one hand and effortlessly lifting him off the ground. Her strength was intimidating, her grip unyielding. She brought him close, her fiery gaze boring into his. "If you don''t come clean," she growled, her voice low and full of menace, "I''ll beat the shit out of you."


    Ace''s legs dangled as he tried to process the sudden turn of events. His hands instinctively shot up to grasp Sonia''s wrist, but he knew better than to try and fight her off. Instead, he stammered, "I-I swear, I don''t know what you talking about!"


    Sonia''s grip tightened just slightly, enough to remind him she wasn''t bluffing. Matthews sighed in the background, pinching the bridge of her nose as if trying to stave off a headache. "Sonia put him down," she said firmly. "You''re not helping."


    Sonia hesitated, her jaw clenching as she stared at Ace, trying to decide if he was lying or just a really good actor. Finally, with a frustrated huff, she let go, dropping Ace to the ground like a sack of potatoes.


    Ace scrambled to his feet, brushing himself off and muttering, "Geez, you could''ve just asked nicely¡­" under his breath. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sonia''s glare intensified, but Matthews quickly stepped between them, raising a hand to keep things from escalating further. Then looking at the ceiling, helplessly, she asked under her breath, "Lord, is this my punishment for neglecting my child?"

 Chapter 201: Overbearing Entry

    Chapter 201: Overbearing Entry"You know, I could''ve run here faster, right?" Sonia said, her voice laced with sarcasm, as she watched EAD Matthews park at the Treasure Lake Resort.


    "Good for you," Matthews replied flatly, stepping out of the car and tossing the keys to the valet without a second glance. Ace followed her quietly, keeping his head down, knowing that no matter what he did, he seemed to get on Sonia''s nerves.


    As the valet slid into the driver''s seat to park the car, Sonia turned her fiery gaze to Ace and snapped, "What are you looking at? You don''t believe me, do you?"


    Ace blinked, startled. He glanced around to make sure she was talking to him before replying, "No, I don''t. Besides, what I think doesn''t matter. I''m just a lowly mortal, right?" He threw her words from earlier back at her, his tone calm but tinged with subtle defiance.


    Sonia''s eyes narrowed as she glared at him, her jaw tightening. Before she could retort, she noticed Matthews already heading toward the resort lobby without waiting for them. With a huff, she stalked after her, and Ace hurried to keep up.


    The moment Matthews mentioned earlier that someone at Treasure Lake Resort could help with his condition, Ace had a pretty good idea of who she meant. Janice McSuile, the Aurelian Eyes. Unless there was another expert lurking around the resort, that had to be it. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just as Mrs. Martin reached the administrative section of the resort, a bald, muscular man in a tailored dark suit stepped into her path, his movements smooth but deliberate. "Ma''am, please hold," he said, his deep voice calm yet firm.


    Before anyone could react, a silvery blur shot past Ace''s peripheral vision. The next thing he knew, the man was flying backward, his body colliding with a granite-clad wall with a bone-jarring crash. His body was embedded into it. Fortunately, he was a curse user. Otherwise, that force would have killed a mortal.


    As Ace stood frozen in shock, the silver flash turned out to be Sonia, who turned toward him with a smirk. Raising her hands, she nonchalantly tied her hair into a knot as if gearing up for battle. The look she gave Ace was clear as day¡ªSee? If I wanted to, I could outrun any car out there.


    Ignoring the commotion behind her, Mrs. Martin strode into the administrative block, heading straight for the manager''s office with unwavering confidence.


    Meanwhile, Sonia darted toward the wave of curse-user staff in dark suits who were rushing to intercept them. Her movements were almost a blur¡ªfast, precise, and impossibly efficient. She took them down one by one, leaving a trail of unconscious bodies in her wake. Mrs. Martin didn''t even have to slow her pace as Sonia cleared the path with ease, her expression calm and unbothered.


    Ace followed a few paces behind, staring at the duo in disbelief. ''This is McSuile territory,'' he thought. ''We''re here to ask for their help, and yet they''re acting this overbearing?'' Mrs. Martins'' action didn''t make sense to him, especially since the McSuile family was an ally of the C.I.B. and the government.


    What puzzled Ace, even more, was the sheer number of curse users at the resort when there weren''t any when he visited it last time. Although most of them were low-level, their numbers were overwhelming. Still, Sonia was proving to be a freakishly powerful Mortal-Tier curse user. She hadn''t even drawn her cursed tool yet, but the strength and speed she displayed made Ace suspect she might actually be a Curse Master.


    Snapping out of his thoughts, Ace hurried to catch up with Mrs. Martin. He weaved through the unconscious bodies sprawled across the floor, carefully placing his steps to avoid tripping over them.


    Just as he caught up to her, Sonia came face-to-face with a formidable opponent¡ªa middle-aged Knight-Tier Curse Master.


    The man wielded a steel wire cursed tool that gleamed menacingly under the overhead lights. Every time Sonia launched a kick or punch, he countered with swift precision, the razor-sharp wires slicing into her fists and legs. Blood sprayed with each cut, but Sonia didn''t even flinch. The wounds closed almost instantly, her regeneration abilities keeping her in the fight as if nothing had happened.


    Ace paused, watching in awe as Sonia''s relentless attacks clashed with the Curse Master''s disciplined defense. Her unwavering determination and sheer resilience made it clear¡ªshe was someone to fear, even without her cursed tool.


    Sonia suddenly came to an abrupt halt. Ace''s eyes widened as he noticed that her wrists, ankles, neck, and waist were tightly restrained by the middle-aged Curse Master''s cursed steel wire. The wires glinted under the light, intricately weaving into the surrounding infrastructure to anchor her in place like a trapped beast.


    As Sonia struggled against the restraints, the Curse Master''s lips curled into a triumphant grin. "Don''t struggle," he warned smugly. "The more you fight, the tighter the retrain will get. Keep it up, and your body will be diced into numerous pieces before you know it."


    Sonia lifted her head, meeting his gaze with a manic grin that sent a shiver down both the curse master and Ace''s spine. "Thanks for the tip," she said, her voice dripping with defiance.


    Then, letting out a guttural war cry, "Arrrrah!" Sonia pulled with all her might, completely ignoring the steel wire slicing deeper into her skin. Ace flinched, his stomach twisting at the sight. The cursed wire grew tighter and tighter, cutting into her flesh until, with a sickening snap, her body was diced into pieces. Her limbs, torso, and head all fell to the ground in a grotesque heap.


    But no blood spilled.


    "Shit," the Curse Master muttered, his confidence wavering. For the first time, he took a hesitant step back, his expression twisting with fear.


    Before he could process what had just happened, Sonia''s body parts began to move. Right before their eyes, they reassembled themselves with unnerving speed, snapping back together as if nothing had happened. In less than a second, Sonia stood tall once more, entirely intact.


    Her clothes, however, hadn''t been so lucky. The cursed steel wire had shredded her dress, leaving her curves partially exposed. Before Ace could even avert his gaze, a dark fur coat materialized out of thin air and draped itself over her shoulders, covering her body completely.


    Taking a deliberate step toward the Curse Master, Sonia flashed him a wicked grin that stretched ear to ear. Her eyes shone with a menacing glint. Her voice was low and menacing as she said one word:


    "Run."

 Chapter 202: Awooo!

    Chapter 202: Awooo!"Run."


    The Curse Master''s eyes widened in fear at Sonia''s chilling command. He moved to ready his cursed steel wire, his hands trembling as he tried to prepare for her next attack. But before he could even raise a proper defense, Sonia became a dark blur. A second later, she appeared behind him, her movements eerily silent.


    When she came to a stop, she stood still, holding his severed head in her left hand by its hair. Her right hand dripped with fresh blood, crimson drops falling to the floor. A heartbeat later, the Curse Master''s headless body crumpled to the ground with a heavy thud before both the head and body dissipated into the surroundings leaving behind a coiled bundle of steel wire.


    "Get that bitch!" roared one of the curse users, who had been watching from the sidelines up until now. Fueled by fury and a thirst for vengeance, he charged at Sonia, his eyes blazing with intent to kill. Earlier, neither side had planned to escalate to killing. But Sonia had crossed a line, and now the fight had reached a deadly turning point.


    Meanwhile, Mrs. Martin, standing calmly amidst the chaos, glanced at a nearby CCTV camera. Her lips moved as she mouthed, "You have five minutes to get your revenge." Her tone was firm, her decision cold but calculated. This was her compromise¡ªallowing the McSuile family''s curse users to retaliate for the death of one of their own. It was also her way of sending a message to Sonia, a subtle warning that the C.I.B. had no use for a dog they couldn''t control.


    Behind her, Ace stood frozen in shock, his mind racing as he processed what he had just witnessed. His eyes widened as he stared at Sonia''s fur-draped figure. That black fur coat and the dog head on her shoulder jogged his memory, piecing together fragmented thoughts and past encounters.


    Suddenly, everything clicked. Sonia was the berserk Werefur curse slave he and Emi had blown up in the mountain ranges behind the Weasly Resort. After seeing the insane regeneration ability displayed by her it was no mistaking it. She was it.


    He had suspected the Werefur curse slave might have survived, but seeing Sonia now fight a small army of curse users and even kill a Knight Tier curse master was something else entirely. It was as though the explosion had done nothing to her¡ªlike it never happened. In a way, she survived it without a single scratch.


    Ace swallowed hard, his chest tightening as realization dawned. Sonia being a curse slave with a Werefur curseling explained everything. Her uncanny ability to sniff him out and remark that she''d met him before. How she''d pieced together him having visited both the Weasly Winery and the mountain ranges behind it the same day by the mud on his shoes. And most of all, how she''d easily seen through his act¡ªher instincts honed beyond supernatural degree almost into a lie detector.


    Now that he had pieced everything together, Ace finally understood Sonia''s problem with him. Though she didn''t seem to have any conscious memory of it, her instincts clearly remembered one thing: he was the one who blew her up. No wonder she bristled at everything he did or said. It wasn''t personal¡ªit was reflexive. The only reason she hadn''t acted directly on those instincts was that she didn''t fully understand why she felt so hostile toward him.


    At least, that''s what Ace thought.


    In reality, Ace was only half right. Sonia did remember the entire event. But in her memory, her fusion form hadn''t seen Ace¡ªit had smelled him. That scent was burned into both her mind and the instincts of her curseling, making them wary of him, almost like a lingering phantom threat.


    Even though Sonia seemed unharmed now, despite being blown to pieces by him and Emi back at the mountain ranges, the experience had left a mark. Not on her body¡ªbut on her mind and her curseling''s. After all, for several minutes, she had been dead.


    Ace gulped as he watched Sonia from a distance, squaring off against a curse user. Then, with a burst of speed, she turned into a dark flash, dashing at her opponent. Her movements were almost too fast for Ace''s eyes to follow. She was using a movement curse art that perfectly complemented her natural agility, making her several times faster than her berserk fusion form. Ace shuddered at the thought¡ªif she''d been capable of this speed back at the mountain ranges, Emi wouldn''t have been able to outrun her.


    "Atom Slasher!" the curse master bellowed, swinging his cursed kitchen knife tool. In an instant, Sonia was reduced to minced flesh. There was no blood, just tiny fragments of her body scattered across the floor.


    The curse master retrieved his blade, confident it was over, and turned toward Mrs. Martin. He didn''t even spare Sonia''s remains a glance as he stepped past her shredded form.


    But just as he took his second step, the sound of flesh reassembling behind him froze him in his tracks.


    The minced pieces of Sonia''s body began to knit themselves back together, bone and muscle locking into place like puzzle pieces. Her mouth and throat formed first, and she let out a gleeful yell, "That was fun! Again!"


    The curse master''s blood ran cold. It wasn''t clear whether she wanted to be diced into pieces again or if she just wanted another round, but her intent was unmistakable: she wasn''t done with him.


    Without turning around, the curse master swung his hand and shouted, "Atom Slasher x2!" The cursed knife lashed out again, its force shredding Sonia''s body into pieces for a second time.


    This time, she didn''t yell.


    Instead, as her body began to reassemble once more, an eerie sound echoed through the room¡ªa low, guttural howl.


    "Awooo!"


    The curse master''s eyes widened in horror. In his mind, it was impossible. His Atom Slasher should have cut through Sonia''s curse core by now. No matter how small or well-hidden it was, his enhanced attack should have destroyed her curse core ending her ability to regenerate.


    And yet, there she was. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As her body fully reformed, Sonia stood draped in her signature dark fur coat. Her eyes glowed faintly, like dim LED lights, and her teeth and nails grew into razor-sharp points.


    She looked completely unharmed.


    Noticing the disbelief etched onto the curse master''s face, Sonia grinned ear to ear, baring her sharp teeth. Then, throwing her head back, she let out another bone-chilling howl.


    "Awooo!"


    The sound reverberated through the hall, leaving the curse master trembling in place. Even the curse users watching from the sidelines unconsciously retreated listening to Sonia''s primal howl.

 Chapter 203: Unkillable

    Chapter 203: Unkillable"Atomic Slasher x3!" the curse master roared, shaking off the primal fear that had crept up on him after hearing Sonia''s chilling howl. His cursed knife moved with incredible speed and precision, slicing Sonia''s body into minced meat, then dicing the minced meat into even finer pieces, and finally reducing those pieces into near-powder. Still, there was no blood.


    He had used his most powerful technique three times in rapid succession. By the time he stopped, he was doubled over, gasping for air, sweat dripping from his forehead, and a thin trail of blood running from his nose. Yet, his eyes stayed locked on the scattered remains on the ground.


    His frown deepened as he noticed something unsettling¡ªthe tiny particles of flesh weren''t dispersing like they should. Instead, they began moving, gathering together in defiance of logic and reforming piece by piece into a fully intact Sonia. Her naked body was once again draped in her signature Werefur coat as if the attack hadn''t even grazed her.


    The curse master stumbled back instinctively, fear flickering across his face.


    Before he could react further, Sonia vanished.


    "Your knife is sharp and fast. I''ll give you that," she said, suddenly reappearing behind him. Her claws pressed against his throat, sharp enough to draw tiny drops of blood that slid down his neck. "I''ll do you the honor of letting you tell me your name before I kill you."


    The curse master froze. His body sagged under the weight of exhaustion. Using his most powerful move in succession had drained him completely, leaving him defenseless. Closing his dark eyes, he sighed, resigning himself to his fate.


    Just as he opened his mouth to speak his name, Sonia''s head exploded.


    The curse master flinched as her grip loosened, and blood sprayed from her neck. But to his horror¡ªand everyone else''s¡ªher head grew back in an instant, fully formed as if nothing had happened.


    "Damn it!" a voice shouted from the sidelines.


    A second curse user intervened, seizing the opportunity to grab the curse master and drag him away. Sonia''s glowing eyes followed their retreat with a predator''s hunger, her grin widening as if the interruption had only made things more exciting.


    Just as Sonia prepared to give chase, a blinding flash of light illuminated the room, followed by an arc of electricity that struck her. The bolt hit with such force that it evaporated more than half of her body, leaving behind smoldering, charred remains.


    Before anyone could react, another arc of electricity surged through the air, reducing what was left of her body to ash. But then, from within the ash, a mass of flesh began to grow. As it reached the size of a football, yet another arc of electricity struck it, incinerating it back into ash.


    This time, the ash scattered across the hall as another arc followed, spreading the remains further and filling the air with the acrid stench of charred flesh. Everyone instinctively covered their noses and mouths, wincing at the nauseating barbecue-like odor and trying not to inhale the floating particles.


    To everyone''s horror, a new mass of flesh began to form mid-air, defying all logic. The shapeless clump grew rapidly, contorting and twisting as it took on a humanoid form. Even the bravest in the room hesitated, their eyes wide with disbelief. They had seen the horrors the "World of Curses" could offer, but this was something else entirely¡ªsomething unnatural and deeply unnerving.


    With the growing fear of the onlookers, the flesh''s growth accelerated. Within seconds, Sonia stood before them again, fully formed, her glowing eyes locking onto her target¡ªthe curse master who had narrowly escaped her earlier. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This time, she wasted no time. With a burst of speed even greater than before, Sonia dashed toward him, a manic grin stretching across her face. Just as she was within striking distance, another arc of electricity struck her.


    Unlike before, this attack didn''t evaporate parts of her body but instead left her fur coat and skin badly burned, with the point of impact charred black. Yet, despite her injuries, Sonia didn''t falter. She surged forward, her grin widening as if the pain only fueled her.


    Before she could reach her target, thick roots burst from the floor and wrapped around her, coiling tightly around her limbs and torso like living ropes. They pinned her in place, twisting and squeezing until she was completely restrained, her body wrapped mummy-style.


    Sonia struggled violently, her muscles straining as she fought to break free. The roots only tightened, their grip relentless, until her body was crushed into a pool of viscous meat juice. The liquid seeped through the gaps in the roots, pooling on the floor.


    Then, as if mocking the laws of nature, the meat juice began to move. It slipped across the ground, gathering into a single spot and quickly reassembling into Sonia''s form once more.


    Her Werefur curseling appeared around her like a dark fur coat, and without missing a beat, she rushed at her target again, her glowing eyes blazing with madness. But before she could strike, the roots erupted from the floor once more, coiling around her in an instant and binding her tightly.


    Once again, Sonia was wrapped like a mummy, restrained in the relentless grip of the roots. However, this time, the roots didn''t try to crush her¡ªhaving apparently learned their lesson. Instead, they branched out, drilling into her body with a vengeance, causing excruciating pain. Sonia responded with a blood-curdling howl, "Awooo!" The sound reverberated through the hall, carrying a primal madness that clawed at the minds of everyone who heard it.


    The veterans in the room stiffened but managed to steady themselves, their experience allowing them to resist the howl''s maddening pull. EAD Matthews subtly shifted her gaze toward Ace, who stood frozen, his wide eyes fixed on the scene. Though fear was evident in his expression, he showed no sign of being influenced by Sonia''s howl. Matthews narrowed her eyes slightly, suspicion flickering across her face.

 Chapter 204: Evil Eyes

    Chapter 204: Evil Eyes''She being rebuilt faster and stronger every time,'' Ace thought, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of what he was witnessing. His heart pounded in his chest as he watched Sonia defy logic, her body recovering with terrifying efficiency. It wasn''t just him¡ªother curse users exchanged uneasy glances, equally baffled. None of them could comprehend how a curse slave, bound by the limitations of her kind, could be so overwhelmingly powerful.


    Not only had Sonia managed to kill a Knight-tier curse master, but she had also come dangerously close to taking down a Hero-tier curse master¡ªan unthinkable feat. If not for the interference of other curse masters, she would have succeeded in killing him. Worse still, she appeared to have sustained no lasting damage and was brimming with energy, her movements were faster, sharper, and relentless each turn.


    Even Matthews couldn''t deny the growing realization creeping over her. When Sonia had faced off against the C.I.B.''s senior agents and declared she would take on everyone to save her father, Matthews had dismissed it as an overestimation of her own abilities. Now, however, Matthews recognized that Sonia hadn''t been bluffing. While killing Sonia might have proven impossible so far, immobilizing her was far easier. Yet, despite the odds stacked against her, Sonia had shown she could back up her bold words back then.


    "Awooo!"


    For what felt like an eternity¡ªthough it was closer to four minutes¡ªAce and the other curse users watched in grim silence as the roots drilled mercilessly into Sonia''s body. Her flesh struggled to regenerate, only to be pierced again, the pain fueling her agonized, feral howls. The sound was maddening, yet the curse users kept their composure, though sweat glistened on some of their brows.


    EAD Matthews stood motionless, her expression cold and calculated, not lifting a finger until the five-minute mark was up. Finally, with a faint flick of her fingertip, a burst of curse energy shredded the roots binding Sonia. The feral woman collapsed to the ground, writhing, but before she could resume her hunt, Matthews pressed her down with an oppressive wave of energy, pinning her firmly in place.


    Just then, a young, almost childlike voice echoed through the hall, breaking the tension. "Looks like the C.I.B. has managed to recruit another monster into its ranks. Congratulations."


    Ace''s head whipped around, searching for the source of the voice. To his shock, he saw a boy¡ªno older than eight¡ªwalking casually through the crowd of curse users. The guards parted for him with deference, their heads slightly bowed, as if he were royalty. The boy moved with an eerie confidence, his youthful features at odds with the authority he exuded.


    Mrs. Martin didn''t waste time on pleasantries. Her tone was sharp as she demanded, "Where is Aurelian''s eyes? Wasn''t this resort supposed to be under her management?"


    The boy stopped and tilted his head, his innocent expression unreadable. "It is," he replied simply before turning his curious gaze to Ace. His eyes narrowed slightly as he walked toward him, his small hands clasped behind his back. "Is he also with the C.I.B.?"


    "Yes," Matthews responded without hesitation, her voice as steady as ever.


    The boy circled Ace slowly, his gaze scrutinizing him like a scientist examining a specimen. "Interesting," the boy muttered, his voice laced with both curiosity and amusement. "I can''t believe there exists a mortal who wasn''t driven mad after listening to those howls for four minutes straight. Interesting¡­ but, unfortunately, you''re off-limits." The boy clicked his tongue in frustration, his annoyance clear.


    Ace''s heart raced as he forced himself to stay still under the boy''s penetrating stare. His mind screamed, ''I should''ve pretended to faint!'' While he''d done his best to act the part of a terrified teenager, shaken and frozen by the carnage, his lack of reaction to Sonia''s maddening howls had clearly drawn suspicion¡ªfrom both the boy and Mrs. Martin.


    The boy''s gaze lingered on Ace, unblinking and predatory like a child deciding whether to pull the wings off an insect. The sensation of being watched so intently made Ace''s skin crawl making him feel like a specimen on a cutting board, causing him to struggle to keep his composure as the boy''s small smile widened slightly, sending a chill down his spine.


    "He does have a powerful dormant curse on him, could that be the reason?" EAD Matthews asked, her tone sharp, directing her question at the boy as she tilted her head toward Ace.


    The eight-year-old''s crimson-red eyes flickered to life, glowing faintly as they scanned Ace from head to toe. After a moment, he shook his head, his expression neutral. "No, I don''t sense any dormant curse on him," he replied confidently, his voice calm but firm.


    "Are you sure?" Matthews pressed, narrowing her eyes. She gestured at Sonia, still pinned to the ground, growling like a feral animal. "That Werefur curseling''s instincts feel an existential threat from him."


    Matthews valued the eight-year-olds opinion because he was Evil Eyes, an elder of the McSuile family who cast a glance at Sonia, his expression momentarily thoughtful. He stroked his chin, his small fingers moving with an oddly adult-like precision. "Is that so?" he murmured, narrowing his glowing eyes at Ace, studying him like one might examine a puzzle with a missing piece.


    He stood silently for a few moments, considering Matthews'' words. Then, with a slight shrug, he concluded, "A dormant curse strong enough to evade my senses is technically possible, but I don''t think any mortal could survive hosting one like that¡ªlet alone walk around as if nothing''s wrong. Maybe that Werefur is wary of him for some other reason." Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Matthews frowned but said nothing. Evil Eyes continued, his voice almost clinical. "Even dormant curses, despite being inactive, put an enormous strain on their vessels. Unless the vessel is strong enough to hold the dormant curse, it would collapse under the dormant curse''s weight before the curse is even activated."


    "You''re useless," Matthews snapped, throwing up her hands in frustration. She glared at the boy, her patience clearly at its limit. "Where is Aurelian Eyes?"


    Her irritation was palpable as she folded her arms tightly across her chest her mind wandered thinking, ''I should be home right now, catching up with my daughter''s life. Instead, I''m stuck here babysitting two teenagers who aren''t even mine.'' Her expression carried a mix of annoyance and exhaustion, though her stern demeanor never wavered.


    Evil Eyes raised an eyebrow at her outburst but said nothing, his expression faintly amused. Meanwhile, Ace shifted uncomfortably under the weight of their scrutiny, silently cursing his bad luck.

 Chapter 205: The Death Match Challenge

    Chapter 205: The Death Match Challenge"Get off me!" Sonia yelled, her voice sharp but steady as she finally regained control over her bloodlust. Her eyes burned with resolve, no longer wild or feral madness. Hearing her speak in complete sentences instead of growling like a wounded beast or howling like a predator on the hunt, Matthews raised an eyebrow but relented. With a flick of her wrist, the pressure pressing Sonia to the ground vanished.


    The moment Sonia stood upright, she inhaled deeply, her sharp senses scanning the room. Her nose wrinkled slightly as she began sniffing out the crowd of curse users, intent on identifying the curse master who had restrained and tortured her for four agonizing minutes.


    Before she could pinpoint her target, the Werefur head draped over her shoulder growled and barked, its gaze darting to her left. Sonia''s nose followed its direction, narrowing as her stare locked onto a young male curse master in the group. He was wearing round glasses with a wooden frame, and his demeanor was calm yet calculating.


    "You and me," Sonia said coldly, her voice dripping with menace. She stepped forward, her posture tense, ready for a fight. "Right here, right now. Till one of us is dead, do you dare?"


    The young curse master adjusted his glasses with his middle finger, a deliberate, mocking gesture. He didn''t bother responding with words¡ªhis actions said enough. Only a fool would accept a death match with her. The idea of battling someone who grew stronger with every death, someone whose very existence defied reason, was beyond reckless. He wasn''t ready to gamble his life being provoked by her. As a fight with her would be exhausting and tiring, trying to uncover the mystery of what made her so indestructible in order to figure out a way to kill her.


    Sonia''s lips curled into a sneer at his silence. "Fine," she said, her tone laced with icy disdain. She tilted her head slightly, her gaze boring into him. "But don''t you ever step out of line? Even if you''re just another McSuile family dog, I only need the tiniest reason to kill you."


    The Werefur on her shoulder let out a low growl, almost as if echoing her sentiment. Sonia''s nose twitched as she and her curseling locked in on the young curse master''s scent, committing it to their memory. Whether he realized it or not, he had just been added to their list of prey.


    Matthews raised her left eyebrow slightly as she listened to Sonia''s words. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. She couldn''t help but nod in approval¡ªSonia was adapting to her role as a C.I.B. agent remarkably fast. So what if these guys were from the McSuile family? They weren''t above the law. As long as Sonia hadn''t killed that curse master, Matthews was fully prepared to back her up and even join her in plowing through the curse users, despite their friendship with the McSuiles. The nerve of these people trying to stop her, knowing exactly who she was.


    "Aurelian Eyes cannot meet you at this moment," Evil Eyes finally said, his tone neutral but his frown betraying his disapproval. His gaze flicked to Matthews, clearly displeased by her visible support of Sonia''s bold stance. Not everyone in the C.I.B. dared to challenge the authority of the McSuile family, but Matthews and her team were a different breed altogether.


    Still, the McSuile family had always treated Matthews with an appropriate degree of respect¡ªthey knew better than to provoke her. But her newest subordinate? She was turning out to be even crazier than the older ones.


    Sonia, without hesitation or warning, had kicked a man unconscious simply for attempting to stop Matthews. The McSuile family wasn''t used to that level of blatant disrespect, especially from a rookie C.I.B. agent.


    Evil Eyes glanced back at Sonia, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. ''This one might grow into bigger trouble than Matthews,'' he thought to himself. Though Matthews seemed to notice his thoughts through his gaze, she didn''t react outwardly, but the gleam in her eyes said she wasn''t about to rein Sonia in anytime soon.


    "So, she''s still here. I know where to find her. No need to escort me," Matthews said, dismissing Evil Eyes with a wave of her hand as she headed toward the nearest exit. The latter didn''t even bother looking back, knowing full well he wouldn''t try to stop her. If he did, she''d probably end up fighting him instead of reasoning like someone of her rank was expected to. Also, he was here, guarding Aurelian Eyes, as a punishment for breaking family rules. He did not want to go a extra mile for something like that.


    Ace scrambled to keep up with Mrs. Martin, his steps hurried and awkward. There was no way he was staying a second longer next to Evil Eyes. Sonia followed too, but her pace was deliberately slow, her posture challenging¡ªpractically daring the McSuile curse users to test her. Her sharp gaze swept over the crowd before locking briefly on Evil Eyes. Even then, her defiance didn''t waver.


    As a former member of the Everhart Guild, Sonia was keenly aware of how much authority the C.I.B. carried within the country. To them, anyone not tied to the president or the Supreme Court judges was beneath her¡ªespecially these McSuile family curse users.


    Seeing Ace climb into the two-seater golf cart Matthews had chosen to drive, Sonia casually leaped onto its roof. Her movements were graceful and controlled as she used the Feather Step art to keep the roof from caving under her weight. She perched there with a smug grin, unfazed by the stares she was drawing from every direction.


    Matthews drove off without so much as a glance at the crowd gawking at them. Sonia''s rooftop antics clearly didn''t bother her. Ace, however, couldn''t match their indifference. He shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting toward the phones pointed at them. Finally, with a resigned sigh, he raised his shirt collar and buried his head in his chest, awkwardly trying to shield his face from them.  S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 206: Caught Red-Handed

    Chapter 206: Caught Red-HandedAs the guards scrambled to open the gates noticing Ace on the passenger side of the golf cart, Matthews raised an eyebrow, her sharp gaze flicking toward Ace. "Have you been here before? The guards seem to recognize you."


    Ace hesitated for a split second before replying. "My aunt and Janice Jane are friends," he admitted, realizing there was no point in trying to hide it. Janice would probably spill the beans the moment they met anyway.


    "Janice Jane?" Matthews repeated, her tone tinged with curiosity. For a moment, her brow furrowed as she searched her memory. Then it clicked¡ªAurelian Eyes used to moonlight as an actor in the mortal world. Her expression shifted slightly, intrigue replacing confusion.


    Turning her full attention back to Ace, she asked pointedly, "What''s your family name?" Her voice carried an edge as if trying to piece together whether he was connected to anyone noteworthy in her Husband''s friend circles.


    "Lander," Ace replied casually, not thinking much of it. Matthews, however, shook her head slightly, the name not sparking any recognition.


    Reaching the villa, she carelessly parked the golf cart at an odd angle and strode up the steps with the confidence of someone who owned the place, Ace trailing closely behind her.


    Meanwhile, Sonia had already leaped gracefully from the cart, landing a few steps ahead of them. Her fur coat fluttered with the motion, briefly revealing more than Ace was prepared to see. His face turned a deep shade of red as he quickly averted his gaze, determined not to linger.


    But his hurried reaction didn''t go unnoticed. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sonia pause mid-step, her sharp gaze locking onto him. Beside her, her curseling let out a low growl, its eyes narrowing as if it too had caught his momentary slip. Ace swallowed hard, his heart racing as he silently cursed his luck.


    "You can''t kill him," Matthews warned without looking back, her tone casual as she climbed the steps.


    Sonia, however, wasn''t ready to move on just yet. She took a deliberate step down, her movements slow and purposeful, her piercing gaze locked onto Ace. He stood awkwardly, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, fidgeting under her scrutiny.


    Stopping just a foot away from him, Sonia tilted her head slightly, her lips curling into a faint smirk before muttering under her breath, "Pathetic."


    Ace stiffened, his eyes fixed firmly on the ground, refusing to meet her gaze. His awkwardness only deepened her suspicions. Why would her curseling feel threatened by someone so unassuming?


    "You''re good at acting," she said suddenly, her voice laced with a newfound determination. Sonia''s eyes narrowed as she studied him more intently. Despite his timid demeanor, her curse art picked up no trace of fear radiating from him.


    This revelation gnawed at her. Back in the parking lot, she hadn''t thought to use her curse art on him, but now, after noticing the same lack of fear in the administrative building, she trusted her instincts to test it out again. And surprise, surprise¡ªScratchifer''s instincts had been right all along.


    There was something off about him. Something dangerous. Whatever Ace was hiding, it was on a level far beyond the curse users she had effortlessly destroyed earlier. Sonia was certain of this because he had managed to fool even the infamous sadist of the McSuile family, Evil Eyes.


    Though Evil Eyes was only a Sky-tier curse master, far from the ranks of a Void-tier, his reputation made him just as fearsome. To see someone like him misled so easily by Ace only cemented her suspicions.


    Her sharp gaze lingered on Ace as her curseling growled softly, its instincts still on edge. She didn''t trust easily, but her gut¡ªand Scratchifer''s unease¡ªtold her this awkward, fidgeting mortal wasn''t as harmless as he seemed.


    "So-sorry," Ace stammered, feigning confusion as if he had no idea what Sonia was talking about.


    Sonia narrowed her eyes, unimpressed. "Let''s see how long you can keep up this charade," she challenged, her tone dripping with mockery.


    Turning around, she climbed a few steps, but then, in one swift motion, she spun on her heels and lashed out with a spin kick aimed straight at Ace''s chest.


    Before either of them could react, the kick was intercepted by a plush dinosaur that flew in from seemingly nowhere.


    Sonia froze mid-motion, her sharp eyes flicking to the plushie now hovering between them. "I knew it! I knew it!" she yelled triumphantly, pointing at Ace as if she had just uncovered a grand secret.


    But before she could gloat further, the plush dinosaur suddenly lunged at her with startling speed, as if it had come to life. It tackled Sonia with enough force to make her stumble, catching her completely off guard.


    Fortunately for Sonia, Scratchifer steadied her, keeping her from falling flat on her backside. The curseling barked furiously at the plush dinosaur, expressing its rage, but its defiance was cut short by a deafening roar from the plush.


    The sound was overwhelming. Sonia and Scratchifer both winced in pain, clutching their ears as they collapsed onto the steps. Their superhuman senses amplified the roar to an unbearable level, leaving them momentarily stunned.


    Ace stood frozen, his jaw slack as he stared at the plush dinosaur that had single-handedly brought Sonia to her knees¡ªa feat an entire squad of curse users had failed to accomplish. His mind raced as he glanced around, trying to find the owner of the mysterious plush.


    Before he could spot anyone, the plush''s mouth opened wide¡ªalmost unnaturally so¡ªforming a 180-degree angle. From its cavernous maw, a brown-haired girl with freckles popped halfway out, her mischievous grin lighting up the otherwise tense scene. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The girl flashed a friendly smile at Ace and greeted, "Hi, Ace."


    Hearing a familiar voice in such an unexpected place, Ace froze for a moment, his eyes widening in surprise. But then, a wave of relief washed over him, and he couldn''t help but smile back. He was genuinely glad to see that his friend was doing well.

 Chapter 207: Lola and McSuile Siblings

    Chapter 207: Lola and McSuile Siblings"Alright, Lola. Now that you''ve spoken to your family and your uncle has confirmed we''re not bad people and mean you no harm, go ahead and get some rest in the guest bedroom," Janice instructed gently. "That way, you''ll be refreshed and ready to meet your parents when they get here."


    Lola, who seemed to have finally started recovering from the ordeal her elder brother had put her through, nodded. Despite her bravery and composed demeanor, the events of the night were overwhelming. Being abducted by a semi-naked man and flown to a city apartment at supernatural speed was terrifying¡ªespecially for a mortal with no knowledge of the ''World of Curses.''


    "Yes, thank you, ma''am," Lola replied politely knowing the latter were helping her. Most of the misunderstandings had been cleared up, but one question still lingered. "Ma''am, why did your brother bring me here? Couldn''t he have just talked to me and my parents there and saved all this trouble?"


    "Lola, didn''t we agree to drop the formalities?" Janice reminded her, pouting cutely. The expression caught Lola off guard, and she spaced out for a moment.


    "You''re so beautiful and cute," Lola said, unable to stop herself.


    "And so are you," Janice replied automatically, reaching out to playfully tap Lola''s nose. "Thank you."


    Meanwhile, Jason, standing off to the side, raised an eyebrow as he eyed Lola. A thought seemed to dawn on him¡ªhe was finally starting to figure out why Lola wasn''t charmed by him or his chiseled physique. Unfortunately for him, he was entirely wrong.


    "You seem to really like that plush. Did you win it at a fair?" Janice asked, smoothly changing the subject after noticing her brother''s subtle reaction. Despite being her sibling, she couldn''t help but find him a bit pig-headed sometimes.


    "No, Ace won it for me," Lola said softly, clutching the plush tighter to her chest.


    Seeing this, Janice couldn''t help but smile, figuring out something more interesting. Lola''s feelings for Ace were written all over her face.


    "Ace? Is he your boyfriend?" Jason asked abruptly, a hint of irritation creeping into his tone. The idea of being overshadowed by some unknown teenage boy didn''t sit well with him. Internally, he thought, ''How good look is this Ace for her to not even notice me?''


    Hearing Jason''s question, Lola''s cheeks flushed crimson. Her emotions swirled, but she managed to steady herself and reply, "No, he''s just my friend."


    "Oh, so it''s a one-sided crush?" Jason replied with a dismissive smirk, assuming Lola''s feelings were nothing more than puppy love. ''No wonder,'' he thought smugly.


    Not that Jason was romantically interested in Lola or anyone so young¡ªit wasn''t about that. What he relished was the idea of being the dream of every girl and woman out there. If it weren''t for the responsibility of shouldering his family''s business, he would''ve pursued a career as an actor or singer long before his sister had.


    This mindset was also why he''d supported his sister''s decision to debut as an actor and had instructed Delores to serve as her manager without hesitation. Apart from his grandfather, only Jason, as the heir, had the authority to order Delores around¡ªthough it was more out of her respect for his grandfather than for him or his family. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Janice''s eyes widened, and she blinked awkwardly while Lola buried her face deeper into the plush, trying to disappear. Janice couldn''t believe her brother was being so nosy and blatant toward a teenager he had just met. They weren''t even acquaintances, yet he had the audacity to act like that. She felt secondhand embarrassment on his behalf.


    "What?" Jason asked, his tone tinged with annoyance as he noticed his sister''s judgmental stare. Defensively, he added, "I just saved her freaking life. I think I''m entitled to make a few insensitive comments."


    Janice was taken aback, realizing that her brother knew he was being inappropriate and still chose to behave that way, it made her want to throttle him. She decided to take control of the situation to ease Lola''s discomfort.


    Finally, she said, "First off, my brother isn''t exactly the sharpest tool in the box, so I apologize on his behalf. Second, he had reason to believe someone dangerous might target you for your talent. He acted preemptively to stop that from turning into an actual tragedy."


    "Really?" Lola asked, startled by the explanation. Then, her brows furrowed in concern as she followed up, "If that''s true, what''s stopping this dangerous person from targeting my parents to get to me?"


    Janice took a moment, carefully thinking through her response, wanting to reassure Lola without adding to her worries. But before she could say a word, Jason chimed in, stealing her opportunity, "You''re C.I.B. property now. No one dares mess with the C.I.B. unless they''ve got a death wish. We have a strict policy against negotiating with criminals."


    "What the heck is wrong with you?" Janice yelled, finally losing her patience and throwing a couch pillow at her brother. She''d officially had enough of his antics.


    "What? I''m just speaking the truth. She is C.I.B. property," Jason asserted, ensuring Janice understood he had no intention of making Lola one of the McSuile family''s retainers. After all, Janice was famously known in the family for rescuing "broken things," and he didn''t want her getting too attached to Lola.


    Then, turning to Lola with a sly grin, he asked, "Do you have a bully at school? Just give me their last name. I''ll have our logistics team bankrupt their family and even throw them all in prison on some trumped-up charges."


    Lola''s eyes widened, and she quickly shook her head. "No, I don''t have any bullies," she replied hastily, though a flicker of a memory from middle school surfaced in her mind. It was something she had long buried and decided she wasn''t about to unearth now. Not to mention, she would like to think she had got even with everyone that wronged her.


    Jason, however, wasn''t one to let things slide. He leaned in slightly, watching her carefully. "That right there," he said, his tone sharper. "Whose face just flashed through your mind? Don''t be scared. Just give me their last name."


    Lola shook her head firmly, her voice steady. "No, it''s in the past. Let it stay there." She paused, her grip on the plush tightening as she looked at the ground. "Yes, I was wronged back then because of some people''s ignorance and insensitivity, but I don''t want an entire family to suffer because of it. When one person in a family suffers, the whole family suffers with them. I wouldn''t wish that on anyone¡ªnot even my enemies."


    Jason studied her for a moment, his brow furrowed, but he wasn''t ready to drop it. "Are you sure? Just a surname. That''s all it takes," he pressed, his eyes meeting hers, testing her resolve.


    Janice, beside her, decided not to intervene this time. She watched closely, curious about how Lola would handle her brother''s persistence.


    Without hesitation, Lola met Jason''s gaze and replied firmly, "No."


    "You pass!" Jason suddenly announced, his lips curling into a gentle smile. His tone was lighter now, almost approving, and even Janice mirrored his reaction with a nod. They both had silently agreed¡ªLola was worth their help. Had she failed to meet their expectations, Jason would have simply handed her over to the C.I.B., checked on her once or twice to ensure she integrated properly, and left it at that. After all, regardless of her personal opinions, Lola was ultimately Jason''s responsibility, as he was the one who involved her with the C.I.B.


    Lola blinked awkwardly, her brows furrowing as she tried to make sense of Jason''s sudden declaration. "Passed? Passed what?" she mumbled, not realizing the siblings had been testing her all along.


    Shaking her head with a soft chuckle, Janice stepped forward. "Don''t mind his words, honey," she said warmly. "Come on, let me show you to the guest bedroom."


    But Lola shook her head, her movements slow and deliberate. "No," she said firmly, her voice steady despite the slight tremor of anticipation. "I don''t think I''ll get any sleep now." She hesitated for a second, then continued, her fingers nervously rubbing the cross necklace around her neck. "Can you guys tell me... what you are? Or, more importantly, what I am?"


    Her gaze darted between Jason and Janice, her expression raw with vulnerability. "Ever since I was little, I''ve always felt out of place¡ªlike I didn''t really belong with my family or my friends. But now... now, I feel like I might finally get some answers. I don''t think I can sleep without knowing the truth."


    Listening to Lola''s heartfelt plea, Janice turned to Jason, her eyebrows slightly raised in silent inquiry. Jason met her gaze and gave a small nod, his approval clear. With his permission granted, Janice let out a soft sigh and prepared herself to officially introduce Lola to the "World of Curses." After all, it was only a matter of time. Lola was bound to learn about it sooner or later. Janice settled in next to Lola, her expression soft but serious. Her tone shifted slightly, carrying the weight of the secrets she was about to share.

 Chapter 208: Lola The Witch

    Chapter 208: Lola The Witch"Holy shit," Lola blurted out, her voice a mix of shock and awe as she learned about the existence of the ''World of Curses'' and ''Curse Masters.'' Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she exclaimed, "I knew it¡ªI''m a witch!"


    The McSuile siblings exchanged glances, finding her fascination with witches oddly specific. A fairy or a unicorn obsession, they could understand¡ªbut a witch? Really?


    "A talented witch at that," Janice teased with a playful smile, unable to resist.


    "Janice, don''t encourage her," Jason cut in, his tone firm. "She''s an innate curse master. You have no idea what her emotions and thoughts might manifest during the awakening ceremony. You''re a curse crafter¡ªyou should know better than that."


    Janice shrugged, her expression softening as she glanced at Lola''s beaming face. "Still, seeing her so excited, I can''t help but find her adorable and want to spoil her," she admitted with a warm smile.


    Lola, caught off guard by their attention, felt her cheeks flush. She had always been invisible to her peers, but now, she was the center of attention. The mix of happiness and embarrassment warmed her chest as she was literally living her eighth-grade fantasy.


    Just then, both Jason and Janice, who had been smiling at Lola''s shy and embarrassed reaction, abruptly lost their smiles. Their expressions turned serious as they sensed an intense surge of emotion radiating from her. Jason furrowed his brows and asked his sister, "What''s going on?" He couldn''t figure out why the negative energy compressed within Lola''s heart was growing at such an alarming rate.


    "I think it has something to do with her innate curse master physique," Janice replied, though uncertainty laced her voice. Despite her extensive research on curse masters as a curse crafter, Lola''s situation was unfamiliar to her. After all, there wasn''t much documented about innate curse masters¡ªfew ever survived infancy or childhood due to society''s intolerance to those who were different.


    Noticing the sudden change in their expressions, Lola''s eyes widened in alarm. She had a guess what had caused their concern. "Oh no, it''s happening again," she muttered, panic seeping into her voice.


    Her mind flashed back to her first¡ªand only¡ªmiddle school sleepover. That night had started out perfectly: she''d had so much fun, made so many friends, and felt, for the first time, like she truly belonged. But just when she thought everything was perfect, things took a turn for the worse. She began to hear strange whispers¡ªsounds that no one else could hear. Freaked out, she''d screamed in panic, scaring everyone in the house. Her classmates, confused and frightened, called her parents and sent her home. Afterward, the kids she thought were her friends began to bully her, call her names, and ostracize her. She became the town freak¡ªand worse, her parents suffered because of her, that was when she learned if one person in the family suffers the whole family suffers.


    "No, no, no," Lola whimpered, her voice trembling. She scrambled to her feet, bolted out of the living room, and rushed into the nearest room. Slamming the door shut behind her, she yelled, "Please, stay away from me!"


    The siblings exchanged worried glances before slowly approaching the closed door. Jason clenched his fists, sensing the emotions inside Lola beginning to stabilize. Janice hesitated, then gently knocked on the door and asked softly, "Lola, are you okay?"


    "Yes, I''m fine now. Sorry, I¡ª" Lola opened the door and stepped out, her voice faltering as the whispers in her head finally faded into silence. Her expression was a mixture of relief and lingering embarrassment. Before she could offer an explanation, Janice stepped forward with a warm, understanding smile and interrupted her, "Honey, don''t worry. We understand."


    Jason, less sentimental but equally curious, raised an eyebrow and asked, "How often do these... episodes happen?" He assumed it must be fairly frequent, triggered by moments of intense sadness or joy. But Lola''s response caught both siblings off guard.


    "This is the second time," she said simply.


    "What?" Janice exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock. For a moment, she studied Lola''s face, wondering if something deeper was wrong¡ªor if Lola had simply never experienced such intense emotions only one other time until now. A pang of sympathy hit her as she imagined how lonely or controlled Lola''s life might have been.


    Jason, skeptical and determined to clarify, asked, "You''re saying you''ve only ever felt this level of happiness once before in your entire life?"


    "No, no," Lola replied quickly, shaking her head. "I''ve been happy lots of times! Last night, for example, before the storm¡ªwhen I was with Ace and his cousins. That was one of the happiest moments of my life. And... well, I''m always happy when I''m with my family."


    As she spoke, a soft smile lit up her face, and her voice softened with affection. She recalled the evening she spent with Ace and how he''d gifted her the cross pendant. That memory still shone brightly in her mind. But even that happiness, she realized, couldn''t compare to the quiet joy she felt on weekend nights when her parents, despite their busy schedules and financial struggles, set everything aside just to make the evening all about her. She knew her parents didn''t have much but when it came to love for her, her parents were the richest and most generous in the world.


    Jason opened his mouth to ask her to elaborate, but Janice suddenly stiffened, her eyes narrowing in alarm. "Wait," she said, her voice urgent, "I''m sensing weak curse energy... from her."


    Jason frowned, confusion clouding his face as he followed his sister''s gaze. Janice''s eyes flicked rapidly between the plush in Lola''s hands and the pendant around her neck. She froze for a moment, her breath hitching before she whispered, almost to herself, "She just turned the pendant and the plush into cursed items."


    "How is that even possible? She doesn''t even have a trace of curse energy in her body," Jason countered, his brow furrowing deeper as he activated his innate curse arts to scan Lola again. He exhaled in frustration, unable to detect anything unusual. "I don''t get it."


    Janice, however, had a clearer explanation. "Her emotional attachment to the pendant and plush must''ve influenced them. During that episode earlier, her innate curse master physique manifested subconsciously and turned them into cursed items. She''s a lot more powerful than I initially thought." sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Great," Jason muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Things just keep getting more complicated." His voice carried a mix of irritation and concern. If the extent of Lola''s raw talent for curse energy¡ªeven before her officially becoming a curse master¡ªbecame known to the world, it wouldn''t just put her in danger. His family might even disown him for handing her over to the C.I.B. instead of keeping her as a family retainer. The thought weighed heavily on him.


    "This can''t wait any longer," Jason said firmly, his tone laced with urgency as he turned to his sister. "We have to help her become a curse master now."


    Janice''s eyebrows shot up in surprise, but she said nothing as Jason continued. "Originally, I wanted to wait and let her innate curse physique develop naturally¡ªlet it grow to its full potential before it awakened. But now, we don''t have that luxury. We need to help her ascend as quickly as possible and hand her over to the C.I.B."


    His gaze softened slightly as he thought, ''It''s not just for her safety¡ªit''s for ours, too. If we try to recruit her as a family retainer, we''ll attract too much attention. The McSuile family''s already powerful enough as it is. If we amass more power, we''ll just make ourselves a bigger target. With Grandpa gone, we can''t risk upsetting the balance between us and the C.I.B.''


    Janice nodded slowly agreeing with her brother, but her face had a mixture of foreboding and apprehension. "You''re right. The sooner she''s protected and in the right hands, the better¡ªfor everyone."


    "Good," Jason said after seeing his sister was on board. He glanced at her, his expression serious as he asked her, "So, how do we proceed with this?"


    Janice tapped her chin thoughtfully, her eyes narrowing. "I''m not sure. She''s got enough negative emotions bottled up in her heart to produce a knight-tier curseling. I don''t think the standard curse core initiation array formation would of enough help for her to help her condense a curse core and survive to tell the tail," she said slowly, her voice heavy with consideration. After a moment, she added, "We might need to use the family''s advanced curse core initiation array formation. It should be powerful enough to condense all that concentrated emotion into a curse core."


    Jason''s jaw dropped slightly, and he stared at her like she''d just lost her mind. "Are you insane?" he shot back, his voice rising in disbelief. "That thing''s a torture device! It''s only meant for people who''ve hit a dead end in their growth¡ªpeople who have no chance of advancing naturally and are desperate to squeeze out every last drop of potential. Instead of sending her there, we might as well kill her now."

 Chapter 209: Dual Curse Core

    Chapter 209: Dual Curse CoreThe Advanced Curse Core Initiation Array Formation¡ªit wasn''t just a signature of the McSuile family. Anyone who was anyone in the ''World of Curses'' had their own version of it. After all, this formation was the ultimate last-ditch effort, squeezing out the full potential of a curse master when they had nothing else left to give.


    Janice glanced sideways at Lola before turning to her brother. Her voice carried a mix of caution and curiosity. "Maybe we shouldn''t underestimate her. I mean, she''s survived this long with, like, an actual time bomb ticking away in her chest." She folded her arms and tilted her head, clearly thinking it through. In her mind, the reason Lola hadn''t been completely overwhelmed by the curse was her soul¡ªa rare mix of strength and gentleness. It was like a shield, holding everything in check, especially when she was around people she trusted, like her parents¡­ and oddly enough, Mandy and her nephews.


    Jason exhaled deeply, rubbing the back of his neck as he mulled it over. "We could take a chance, sure. But if she tries now, she''s just gonna end up condensing a Knight-tier curse core. That''ll do her no favors." He shook his head, frustration creeping into his tone. "It''ll make things way harder for her to pick up the basics. Maybe¡­" He trailed off, tapping his fingers against his thigh.


    "Maybe I should help her vent some of the emotions she''s been bottling up. That way, she gets a regular, easier start, just like the rest of us," Jason finally said, his brow furrowed in thought. He knew full well that if Lola attempted to form a curse core now, it''d almost certainly end up being Knight-tier, that was only if she somehow stayed conscious through the process, for a mortal that would only make things harder, not easier. He was convinced his approach¡ªhelping her let out some of that emotion in her heart¡ªmight just give her a higher chance of becoming a curse master and not give birth to a curse Ling with her death.


    "Jason, you''re being way too cautious," Janice complained, folding her arms and leaning back slightly. There was a flicker of envy in her tone¡ªit annoyed her how much concern her brother was showing for Lola. When it came to her, he always seemed to have this devil-may-care attitude.


    However, her thoughts were totally different from her brothers. Lola wasn''t like most people. As an Innate curse master, Janice figured it would be much easier for Lola to become a proper curse master compared to those who merely had the aptitude. They shouldn''t forget that Lola had been lugging around that much negative emotion in her heart for who knows how long. Sure, it had probably grown over time, but wasn''t that all the more proof they shouldn''t underestimate her as just another mortal?


    Jason groaned dramatically, throwing his head back. "I have to be cautious! If anything happens to her, Matthews is going to chain me to the C.I.B. for, like, a century. You know how she is." He shot Janice a mock exasperated look, hands thrown up in surrender. "The only reason my phone isn''t blowing up right now with fresh cases is because Matthews put me on Lola duty." His tone was laced with humor, but it was clear he wasn''t thrilled about it.


    Janice narrowed her eyes slightly, her head tilting. "I still don''t get how she managed to convince the family to let you join the C.I.B. in the first place. It doesn''t add up." Her voice held a tinge of disbelief. She really wondered how did Matthews, a Sky-Tier curse master, pull that off? The family should''ve been fighting tooth and nail over control over her brother now that their Grandpa''s gone. Instead, Matthews somehow has all those snakes at bay, and she couldn''t wrap my head around it. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jason''s expression darkened for the briefest moment¡ªa flash of something grim and heavy in his eyes. But just as quickly, he masked it, his features smoothing over before Janice could catch on.


    Meanwhile, Lola stood there, blinking at the two of them like she''d just wandered into a conversation in another language. She shifted awkwardly, clearly wondering if she was even supposed to be part of this discussion. Somehow, it had veered so far off course that she wasn''t sure if she should interject them. The conversation they were having seemed to be heavy.


    Lola''s worries began to ease as soon Jason changed the topic, throwing her a lifeline. "Janice, not happening," he said firmly, shaking his head. "I don''t have the authority to let her forge a curse using an advanced Curse Core Initiation Array Formation. Think of something else if you don''t like my idea. And for the record, mine''s still the safest method for her to become a curse master. Just saying."


    Janice crossed her arms, her brow furrowing in thought. "Fine. Give me some time to think," she replied pensively, clearly dismissing Jason''s suggestion but not entirely sold on an alternative either.


    Lola, noticing how much the McSuile siblings seemed to be worrying over her, finally spoke up, her tone hesitant. "Can''t you just let the C.I.B. decide?"


    The reaction was immediate¡ªand loud.


    "No way!" Jason and Janice exclaimed in unison, their voices overlapping with the kind of urgency that made Lola flinch slightly. It was as if she''d just suggested the most absurd idea in the world.


    Her confused expression must have been obvious because Jason quickly stepped in to explain. "Look," he started, his tone softening as he gestured vaguely with his hands. "If the others in the C.I.B. find out about you before you become a curse master, it''ll trigger this ridiculously long bureaucratic process. Everyone will be fighting over who gets to train you and guide your path to becoming a curse master. And once they decide, that''s it. You''ll be stuck with whatever they say."


    He paused, running a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated by the very idea. "Sure, you''ll probably end up with a mentor who''s super capable because, let''s face it, your talent would demand it. But their intentions?" He shook his head, his expression darkening slightly. "That''s what worries us. However, if you join the C.I.B. as a curse master, EAD Matthews can directly put you under her command allowing me to keep an eye out for you," Jason added, his tone careful but firm.


    Lola blinked, trying to process his words. The concern in Jason''s voice was impossible to miss, and it left her feeling like she was suddenly in over her head. Maybe becoming a witch wasn''t all chocolates and sunshine like the cartoons had made it seem. Her breathing quickened as panic started to creep in.


    If even Jason and Janice¡ªpeople who were clearly stronger, more powerful, and well-established in the World of Curses¡ªwere this worried, then how was someone like her supposed to feel? She''d barely stepped into this world, and it already felt suffocating. Especially, with Jason making the C.I.B. seem like a den of thieves and bandits. But what scared her the most was what this all might mean for her parents. They were mortal, with no power to protect themselves, and now they had a witch for a daughter.


    Janice noticed the alarm spreading across Lola''s face and immediately swung into action. Without a second thought, she jabbed her elbow into Jason''s ribs¡ªnot that it seemed to affect him¡ªand hurried to reassure her. "Lola, don''t worry. We''ve got your back. Nothing''s going to happen to you or your family," she said firmly, her voice softening at the end.


    When Jason didn''t immediately jump in, Janice shot him a sharp glare and followed up with another elbow jab, this one more insistent.


    "Okay, okay, didn''t I say it already, we''ll make sure of it," Jason said quickly, raising his hands in mock surrender. The repeated elbowing didn''t even faze him¡ªit didn''t hurt, didn''t itch, didn''t do anything. But he played along anyway, his tone more lighthearted now in an effort to ease the tension.


    Lola exhaled shakily, some of her panic easing, though her worries didn''t completely vanish. Still, their words gave her a tiny spark of comfort, even if the road ahead felt daunting.


    "Lola, I don''t like saying this out loud, but Jason is ridiculously strong. So, don''t worry about anything and just focus on awakening as a curse master," Janice said, her tone soft and reassuring as she caught the lingering concern in Lola''s eyes. It wasn''t as intense as before, but it was still there.


    Jason''s brow furrowed slightly as he glanced at his sister. "Wait¡ªdid you already figure out how to handle her situation?" he asked, picking up on the way Janice was encouraging Lola to prepare for forming her curse core. That could only mean one thing: Janice already had a plan.


    "Yes, I did," Janice replied, her lips curling into a sly smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Instead of having her form a higher-tier curse core or venting some of her negative emotions, we''re going to help her forge two curse cores."

 Chapter 210: Anomaly

    Chapter 210: Anomaly"Help her condense two curse cores? What have you been smoking?" Jason teased, raising an eyebrow at his younger sister. He leaned back with a smirk, clearly thinking she''d lost her mind. "As a curse crafter, you should know better than anyone that one Knight-tier core isn''t the same as two Mortal-tier cores."


    Janice''s eyes narrowed, and her lips curved into a sharp, humorless smile. "You dimwit," she shot back, her tone laced with irritation. "I never said that." She folded her arms and leaned forward, her gaze drilling into him. "Listen carefully, because I''m only saying this once. If a curse core is 0.01 unit away from becoming a Knight-tier curse core, it''s still a Mortal-tier core. And if someone condenses a curse core with the bare minimum curse energy, it''s still classified as a Mortal-tier core."


    She paused for effect, letting her words sink in, then arched an eyebrow. "Do you get where I''m going with this, or is your brain too dull? Should I dumb it down for you?" S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jason blinked, caught slightly off guard by her brutal tone, though he tried to mask his surprise. Janice didn''t care. She wasn''t about to spare him just because he was her older brother. Mocking her intelligence and her craft as a curse crafter? Oh, no. He wasn''t getting away with that.


    "But how is she going to pull that off?" Jason asked, leaning forward slightly, his brows knit in thought. He understood Janice''s plan clearly enough, but he couldn''t wrap his head around how she intended to help Lola execute something so unconventional. After a moment, he added, almost to himself, "I wonder why no one''s ever tried condensing two curse cores at the same time before."


    Janice let out an exaggerated sigh, rolling her eyes at him. She knew Jason wasn''t just speculating aimlessly. Sure, the World of Curses was full of strange, borderline insane practices, but even it had its natural rules and limitations. Most people with an aptitude for curse energy weren''t guaranteed to condense a curse core in the first place. Experimenting during such a critical process? That would be like daring death to come knocking.


    But Lola wasn''t like most people.


    Thanks to her innate curse master physique, she was unique. According to myth, those with such a physique naturally gathered negative emotions in their hearts. If they managed to survive the overwhelming buildup, they would eventually condense a curse core naturally once the negative emotions reached a critical threshold.


    Historically, many notable figures with innate curse master physiques had condensed mortal-tier curse cores. This meant they''d gathered enough negative emotions to form a mortal-tier curseling in their hearts before the curse core naturally condensed on its own, with no outside intervention.


    But Lola? She was an anomaly. She had accumulated enough negative emotions in her heart to give birth to a Knight-tier curseling, yet she showed no signs of naturally condensing a curse core. What''s more, she seemed to function as though the immense burden wasn''t even there.


    This was why the McSuile siblings believed Lola was a rare genius, even among those with an innate curse master physique. As long as she maintained her current mental stability, she could potentially condense a higher-tier curse core naturally without anyone''s help.


    But if her mental state wavered, even for a moment?


    Janice''s expression darkened as she considered the grim possibility. If things went wrong, Lola wouldn''t just fail¡ªshe''d die, leaving behind a powerful curseling in her place.


    Her brother had wanted to nurture Lola, to see just how far her innate physique could go. But life had other plans. Now, their priority was ensuring Lola didn''t end up as someone''s pawn in a twisted game or, worse, a lab specimen.


    Helping her become a curse master as early as possible was their best bet. Sure, it was a shame they''d never get to fully explore the limits of her talent, but given her current situation, it was still the only way forward. Otherwise, her fate would likely involve ending up on either a chessboard or an operating table.


    Getting an innate curse master to condense a curse core early was uncharted territory¡ªnobody had ever attempted it before. It was risky, even for someone with Lola''s extraordinary affinity for curse energy.


    To complicate things further, their plan wasn''t just to help Lola condense one curse core; they intended to have her form two. With the Knight-tier level of negative emotions built up in her heart, a regular curse core initiation array formation wouldn''t work. However, if they divided the energy into two Mortal-tier curse cores, the standard formation would suffice.


    "Is she going to condense the two cores at the same time, or one after the other? And how exactly are we supposed to divide the negative emotions in her heart?" Jason asked, his tone sharp with curiosity as he stared at Janice.


    But Janice was too deep in thought to respond.


    Frustrated, Jason flicked her forehead to snap her out of it. "Hey! Pay attention."


    Janice jolted, blinking back to reality. "What the heck?!" she snapped, rubbing her forehead and shooting him a glare.


    "I asked you a question," Jason said coolly, ignoring the threatening look she gave him.


    Without a word, Janice reached up to her earring, and with a subtle touch, an emerald ring materialized on her middle finger. She clenched her fist, her lips curling into a mischievous smirk. Before Jason could react, she delivered a swift punch to his gut. The moment her fist connected, a tiny spark of energy shot out from the emerald and bypassed all of Jason''s defenses.


    Jason dropped to his knees, groaning in pain and his hair stood erect as though he''d just been struck by lightning.


    "Ahh!" Lola exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock as she covered her mouth with both hands. Her gaze darted nervously between the two siblings. She didn''t have any siblings of her own, so this level of roughhousing felt extreme to her.


    But for the McSuile siblings, this was just another casual spat. If anything, Janice was holding herself back¡ªher brother''s bachelor pad was small and fragile compared to the sturdy grandeur of their family mansion.


    "I''ll get you back for this," Jason muttered under his breath as he got to his feet, brushing off the lingering sting in his gut. He made his way back to the couch, sank into it, and grabbed a pillow to place on his lap. Oddly enough, the aftereffects of Janice''s spark had left him with a strange, almost too comfortable sensation in his balls¡ªcausing little Jason to stir awake.


    Janice and Lola trailed after him, exchanging confused glances. Neither could make sense of his odd behavior.


    "Is he hurt?" Lola asked, her voice tinged with genuine concern as she hesitated by the arm of the couch.


    "Nah, he''ll be fine," Janice said, waving a dismissive hand. "He''s survived worse. Trust me."


    "But he''s so quiet," Lola pointed out, furrowing her brows. "The only time I''ve seen my dad or uncle go that quiet is either when they''re holding in pain or talking about some woman who isn''t their wife."


    Janice snorted at that, but Lola however quietly relived a memory. One time, her dad forgot to use mittens when he was taking out cookies she made. He thought her mother baked them before heading to work. He burned his hands so badly, but he didn''t make a sound¡ªnot even a yelp. He just walked over to the sink, ran them under cold water, and let her put ointment on them.


    Lola''s eyes misted over slightly as she remembered the sight of her dad''s red, blistered hands. She wanted to cry just looking at them, but he didn''t say a single word. He just kept his mouth shut the whole time like he was holding something in.


    Janice raised an eyebrow at Lola''s concern for her scumbag of a brother, glancing back at Jason, who was uncharacteristically quiet, staring blankly at some random point in the room. She shook her head, thinking Lola was far too kind for her own good. Still, Janice knew she had to focus on ensuring this kind soul didn''t end up as yet another tragedy in the ''World of Curses.'' As if there weren''t enough of those.


    Feeling a sense of urgency, clearing her throat, Janice turned to her brother and said firmly, "I''m going to modify the curse core initiation array formation so that Lola will not only be able to control her negative emotions despite being a mortal but also have it help her split those gathered negative emotions in her heart into two. That way, she can focus on condensing one part into a curse core first and then move on to the second. Unfortunately, apart from modifying the array and giving her some good curse items, there''s not much else we can do to help her successfully form dual curse cores."


    Jason finally shifted his gaze from the void and gave his sister a skeptical look. "Do we really need to provide her with curse items? She''s already made two on her own¡ªthough accidentally¡ª she''s clearly attached to them. Honestly, there couldn''t be a better fit for her innate curse tools than the ones she''s already created."


    Lola, who had been quietly listening, blinked in surprise. She clutched the plush in her hands together nervously and glanced at Janice, trying to understand their conversation.


    Janice paused, tapping her chin in thought before shrugging. "You are right."

 Chapter 211: Initiation Ceremony

    Chapter 211: Initiation CeremonyThe once modern and luxurious living room now looked like the setting of a grisly ritual. All the furniture had been pushed to the walls, creating space for a massive occult circle etched in blood at the center of the room. The metallic scent hung heavily in the air, adding to the eerie atmosphere.


    "Go stand in the middle of the circle," Janice instructed, her tone brisk as she extended her hand toward Lola. "I''ll hold onto the plush and the pendant until you need them."


    However, to her surprise, Lola clutched the plush tighter, her knuckles whitening as she shook her head slightly. The McSuile siblings exchanged a concerned glance, their brows furrowing in unison.


    "Can''t I take them with me into the cursed array formation?" Lola asked, her voice soft but tinged with desperation. It wasn''t just a question¡ªit was a plea.


    Janice tilted her head, eyeing the plush warily. "Lola, I''m not sure that''s a good¡ª"


    "She hasn''t let go of it since she got here," Jason interjected, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. His sharp eyes softened just a little as he studied the younger girl. "It might be more important to her than we realize."


    Lola''s grip on the plush only tightened as she looked between the two siblings, her gaze darting nervously. "I just... I feel safer with it," she admitted quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. Though her cheeks and ears were flushed red.


    Janice sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose before giving in. "Fine. Take it with you. But if it interferes with the array, we''ll have to remove it immediately¡ªno arguments."


    Lola nodded quickly, her relief evident as she hugged the plush close to her chest. Jason smirked faintly, muttering under his breath, "You''re going soft, Janice."


    "Shut up, Jason," Janice snapped, though there was no real bite in her voice. Her eyes stayed on Lola, a hint of concern flickering beneath her otherwise composed demeanor.


    With a deep breath, Lola stepped toward the circle, her steps hesitant but determined. She clutched the plush like a lifeline as she crossed into the heart of the blood-drawn formation.


    "Once I activate the array formation, you''ll start sensing the negative energy," Janice explained, her tone firm as she adjusted the runes on the edge of the circle. Her gaze flicked to Lola, serious and stern. "Don''t get overwhelmed by the negative emotions in your heart. They''ll actively try to consume your sanity. You must hold your ground. If you let it cloud your mind or judgment¡­ it''s game over for you."


    Lola swallowed hard and nodded, but Janice wasn''t satisfied. Her voice sharpened as she repeated, "Do you understand?"


    "Yes, I do!" Lola replied, her voice loud and resolute like a cadet responding to a commanding officer.


    Jason couldn''t help but snicker, finding her sudden formality endearing. But his amusement was cut short when Janice shot him a cold, warning glance. He coughed and straightened, reminded of just how critical the situation was. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For a regular mortal with an aptitude for curse energy, even the minimum amount of negative emotions required for attempting to condense mortal-tier curse core was a grueling and perilous task. Many failed¡ªthose lucky enough to survive were often left with scars, both mental and physical, and would have to start over.


    But Lola''s situation was leagues beyond the norm. She wasn''t just dealing with the weight of a mortal-tier curse core. She carried enough negative emotions to condense a knight-tier curse core. The sheer scale of it was unfathomable, and no one could predict how her mind would hold up under such pressure, let alone how she''d manage to condense not one but two curse cores.


    Despite the enormous risks, Janice encouraged her. She wasn''t blind to the dangers; she knew exactly what was at stake. But based on everything she''d observed, Lola''s innate curse master physique was the key. No ordinary mortal could carry such an immense burden of negative emotions and still function like a normal person. It was proof of Lola''s unique resilience.


    Janice adjusted the emerald ring on her finger and gave a short nod, her voice softening just a fraction as she said, "I wouldn''t ask this of you if I didn''t believe you could handle it, Lola. Trust me¡ªyou''re stronger than you think."


    Lola''s hands trembled slightly, clutching her plush tighter, but she nodded again. "I trust you," she whispered, her voice quiet but steady.


    Jason crossed his arms, watching the exchange. He glanced at the blood-drawn circle and then back at his sister, muttering, "You''d better be right about this, Janice." He could almost see his freedom waving goodbye at him. But he decided to trust his brilliant sister anyway.


    "I am," she replied without hesitation, her voice resolute as her fingers hovered over the circle to activate the array.


    As soon as Janice activated the cursed array formation, the circle began to pulse rhythmically with a deep crimson hue, casting an eerie glow across the dimly lit room. Lola stood in the center, gripping the plush tightly in one hand and clutching the cross on her pendant with the other. Her eyes were squeezed shut, her breathing slow and deliberate as she focused inward, becoming acutely aware of her body and mind.


    Just as Janice had warned, Lola could now sense the negative emotions gathered in her heart. But instead of being overwhelmed, she was taken aback by what she discovered. The negative emotions weren''t hostile or malicious toward her as Janice had described¡ªthey felt strangely docile, almost... protective.


    Still, the sheer magnitude of the emotions stunned her. How could her small heart hold such a colossal, formless mass of negative emotion and still function like a normally? For the first time, she truly understood the shock and concern she had seen on the McSuile siblings'' faces.


    Lola took a shaky breath as she continued to explore the energy within her. Slowly, she realized something extraordinary: the negative emotions seemed to respond to her will. Intrigued, she decided to test it. With a simple thought, she commanded the formless energy to split into two equal parts.


    To her delight¡ªand astonishment¡ªit obeyed instantly, separating into two perfectly balanced orbs of dark, swirling mass. Her lips parted in awe as she stared at the orbs in her heart. The experience was overwhelming yet exhilarating, and a small, nervous smile crept onto her face.


    But she quickly reminded herself of the task at hand. Her joy faded as she refocused, knowing her priority was to condense these negative emotions into two curse cores. Still, as she held control over the orbs, another thought struck her: what if she could simply will the entire formless energy to condense into knight-tier curse cores directly?


    The idea felt... plausible. She sensed the energy''s responsiveness, its willingness to bend to her intentions. If she wanted, she was certain she could condense two mortal-tier curse cores simultaneously or even create a single, more powerful knight-tier curse core.


    Lola frowned, lost in deep thought. Her mind swirled with possibilities, weighing the pros and cons of her options. A single knight-tier curse core would undoubtedly make her stronger and more formidable, but two mortal-tier cores might offer her greater flexibility and stability.


    The room around her seemed to disappear as she became engrossed in her internal debate. The crimson glow of the array reflected faintly in her eyes as she opened them, revealing a mixture of determination and uncertainty. She knew she had to make a decision soon¡ªbut which path was the right one?


    Lola didn''t have enough knowledge about curse cores or curse masters to make this decision with confidence. She felt completely out of her depth. But as her fingers brushed against the pendant on her neck and her arms tightened around the plush in her embrace, she realized something: she wanted both of them to become her innate curse tools.


    The thought of choosing between the two was unbearable¡ªthey were both precious to her, tied to her sense of comfort and self. With that in mind, she finally made her decision. She would condense two mortal-tier curse cores. This way, both the pendant and the plush could become her innate curse tools, and she wouldn''t have to let go of either.


    If Janice and Jason were to learn about her decision, their reactions would probably be priceless. For a brief moment, Lola considered stopping the ceremony to get their opinions. She almost opened her eyes to glance at the two, to inform them of her development and gain their opinion.


    But then she remembered Janice''s stern warning: You have to condense both curse cores on the first try. The weight of her friend/mentor''s words settled heavily on her shoulders. It seemed like there was something more to that warning, something significant that Janice hadn''t fully explained.


    Letting out a slow, shaky breath, Lola pushed her doubts aside. She clenched the pendant tightly and hugged the plush closer. ''This is my choice,'' she thought. ''I''ll see it through, no regrets!''

 Chapter 212: The Infamous Uncle

    Chapter 212: The Infamous UncleWith just a thought, Lola effortlessly condensed the two massive pools of negative emotions in her heart into curse cores¡ªsimultaneously. There was no strain on her body or mind, no struggle. It was as if it were the most natural thing in the world for her.


    And then, it happened.


    As the curse cores formed, a wave of enlightenment washed over Lola, a sudden, overwhelming flood of understanding that sent shockwaves through the world of curses.


    Unbeknownst to her, every curse user and curseling within a hundred-mile radius felt it. A tremor in the air. A call. A presence so powerful it sent a ripple of instinctual fear¡ªand hunger¡ªthrough them all.


    The McSuile siblings, standing mere feet away, felt it most intensely.


    "What the hell is happening?" Janice gasped, staggering back as a suffocating force pressed down on her. It wasn''t just powerful¡ªit was divine. A presence so overwhelming it nearly forced her to her knees in reverence.


    Before she could collapse, Jason stepped in, shielding her from the oppressive aura. His presence steadied her, but his expression was unreadable, his crimson eyes glowing ominously as he locked his gaze on Lola.


    "You''re witnessing the birth of a curse prodigy," Jason murmured, his voice tinged with something between awe and urgency.


    Then his gaze flicked past Lola, out through the balcony.


    In the distance, emerging from the shadows of the city, figures began to stir. Dark, grotesque shapes slithered from alleyways and rooftops. Powerful curselings, drawn by the irresistible energy, abandoned their usual cunning and stealth. They didn''t care about remaining hidden anymore. Right now, Lola was the most tempting meal they could possibly imagine.


    Jason''s expression hardened.


    "Set up a barrier and stay by her side," he instructed sharply. "I''ll handle the pests."


    And with that, he vanished from the living room.


    "Be careful!" Janice shouted after him, but Jason was already gone, leaving only the faintest ripple in the air where he had stood.


    Janice hurriedly pulled out various curse tools and cores from her earrings, working quickly to set up a defensive line around the living room. If she had known Lola''s initiation ceremony would stir up such a storm, she would never have used her brother''s apartment¡ªshe would have found a secure location far outside the city.


    But there was no time for regrets now.


    Just as she got busy, a figure materialized out of thin air, appearing right in front of the curse core initiation array.


    Janice froze.


    The man standing there was no ordinary intruder. He was a middle-aged giant of a man, his physique putting even the most dedicated bodybuilders to shame. His tailored, high-collared coat barely concealed the raw strength in his frame. Yet despite his intimidating presence, he simply stood there, arms crossed, observing Lola in silence. He showed no intention of interfering with her ceremony¡ªnor of helping Janice secure the location.


    Janice''s breath hitched.


    "Uncle?!"


    Her voice was a mix of shock and suspicion as she snapped her gaze toward him. He was none other than him¡ªher infamous uncle, the man who held the most authority in the McSuile family ever since her grandfather went missing and Jason joined the C.I.B.


    "What are you doing here?" she demanded, her fingers tightening around a curse tool hidden in her sleeve.


    The man finally spoke, his voice deep and oddly soothing. "I heard my nephew had found an innate curse master," he said, still watching Lola. "Since I was in the city, I figured I''d come take a look. But it seems I''m late."


    He didn''t even bother to glance at Janice his gaze was fixed on Lola as she underwent enlightenment. That only made her more wary. Causing her sweating paw to tighten their grip on the stele-shaped curse tool hidden on her sleeve, her stance firm. "She belongs to the C.I.B."


    It wasn''t technically true¡ªLola wasn''t officially part of the bureau yet¡ªbut Janice didn''t care. She knew her uncle well enough to understand that if he wanted something, he would take it, blood ties be damned. So she felt the need to make damn sure he understood that Lola wasn''t his for the taking.


    "That''s not what I heard¡ª" Before the muscular man could finish, Janice activated the stele-shaped curse tool in a heartbeat, muttering, "Expel!"


    The space around him twisted violently, swirling into a vertical vortex as if reality itself was trying to eject him.


    But instead of panicking, the man merely smirked.


    ''Cute,'' He thought as the space warped and coiled around him, threatening to drag him into an unknown abyss, he clenched his jaw and flexed his muscles. Instantly, the vortex hesitated¡ªas if stuck. Then, with a sudden, sharp jolt of his body, the entire swirling mass shattered like brittle glass.


    Janice''s breath caught as cracks spread through the air like fractures in a mirror. A moment later, the space completely collapsed, exposing the void beyond.


    And that was when she realized the real danger.


    Her uncle''s smile widened as he turned his head, peering deep into the void¡ªwhere monstrous figures were beginning to stir. Lola''s presence had leaked beyond their reality, awakening the entities that lurked deep in the void.


    Janice''s stomach dropped. Her knees buckled, and she fell onto them, her Aurelian eyes catching a glimpse of the horrors rushing toward the opening. If even one of those creatures made it through, the entire state would be plunged into chaos. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But her uncle?


    He didn''t even spare her a glance.


    Instead, he joined his hands together, cracking his knuckles with an eerie sense of calm. Then, taking a deep breath, he dug his fingers into the edges of the fractured space¡ªright where the void had begun to spill in¡ªand pulled.


    A low, guttural growl built in his chest before exploding into a thunderous "ROAR!!!"


    The sound shouldn''t have traveled in the vacuum of the void. But somehow, it did.


    Shockwaves rippled outward, visible to the naked eye, crashing into the abyss like tidal waves. The very fabric of space trembled in response.


    With a final, bone-crunching pull, he forced the two fractured spaces back together, sealing the rift before the void''s horrors could fully spill into their reality.


    Exhaling through his nose, he turned to his niece, who was still on the floor, her face pale from what she had just witnessed.


    His lips curled into a smirk. "Those little toys of yours can only do so much."


    Janice clenched her fists, gritting her teeth, but she said nothing. She knew he was right.


    Meanwhile, the man shifted his focus back to Lola, his gaze settling on her with a mix of intrigue and expectation. She was still deep in enlightenment, her presence radiating something entirely unnatural.


    He did not wonder if she would awaken an innate curse art. He had no doubt. It wasn''t a matter of if¡ªonly what.

 Chapter 213: Dark Dominion, Let There Be Light

    Chapter 213: Dark Dominion, Let There Be LightJason fought relentlessly in the airspace above the city, cutting through waves of curselings like a force of nature. He didn''t wait for them to come to him¡ªhe hunted them down, striking with his full strength from the very start. Exhaustion never factored into his movements; he fought with the unwavering resolve of a crusader on a divine mission, a single-minded determination to eradicate every last one of them.


    Then, suddenly, a shift in the air¡ªsomething far more ominous.


    Jason''s instincts flared as he sensed the void stirring near his apartment. His head snapped in that direction, his sharp gaze locking onto the disturbance. But then, he caught sight of another presence¡ªhis uncle.


    For a brief moment, the grip of his fist tightened.


    Then, without hesitation, he turned back to his battle, slicing through another curseling without missing a beat.


    If his uncle was there, Janice was safe.


    No matter their differences, no matter the tension that ran through their family, one thing remained unshakable: they shared their grandfather''s blood. They had all been raised with the same core principle¡ªfamily first.


    Everything else¡ªambitions, grudges, even power¡ªcame second.


    ¡­


    "Uncle, you can''t take her! She''s mine!" Janice declared, planting her feet firmly on the ground. She knew exactly what he was waiting for¡ªthe moment Lola completed her curse initiation, he''d swoop in, claim her, and turn her into another one of his brainwashed retainers, willing to live and die for the McSuile family.


    The man barely spared her a glance. "So?" he asked, his voice indifferent. He knew just as well as she did¡ªthe McSuile family had no concept of entitlement. All their descendants were drilled that they deserved nothing since their birth. If you want something, you take it with your own strength. Because if you weren''t strong enough to keep it, you never deserved it in the first place.


    Janice clenched her jaw. "If you want to take her, you''ll have to go through me."


    At her words, an array of curse tools materialized from her earring, each one levitating into position around her in a slow, calculated orbit. She shifted into a fighting stance, her determination burning through the fear in her chest.


    Her uncle finally turned to her, amusement flickering in his dark eyes. Then, with an exaggerated crack of his neck, he smirked. "Alright. Have it your way." His tone made it sound like he was bored, but Janice knew better¡ªhe was enjoying her fear. "I guess this will keep me entertained until she''s finished."


    Then, he muttered two words.


    "Dark Dominion." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A chilling wave of cursed energy surged from him, swallowing the entire living room in pitch-black darkness¡ªan abyss so deep it mirrored the infinity of the void itself. The temperature dropped instantly, and the air thickened with something ancient and oppressive.


    Janice braced herself.


    She knew exactly why he''d done it.


    Now, he wouldn''t have to hold back.


    Janice knew her uncle too well to be caught off guard. Anticipating his moves, she had carefully selected an array of curse tools from her arsenal, choosing those best suited to deal with him. As soon as he activated Dark Dominion, she unleashed one of her own tools. Her body and the curse tools orbiting her vibrated for a moment before seamlessly blending into the dark dominion, vanishing into the oppressive darkness.


    Her voice echoed through the void, laced with confidence and teasing mockery.


    "Uncle, you really need to learn some new tricks. Keep this up, and I''ll be heading home soon¡­ for your funeral."


    The muscular man smirked, unfazed. But just as his pupils began to contract¡ªa sign that he was activating the signature McSuile abilities¡ªhe felt it. A touch. On his back.


    Reacting instantly, he swung his arm and caught an arrow just as it attempted to retreat, unable to pierce his defenses. He glanced at it briefly before crushing it in his grip.


    "What did I tell you?" he taunted, shaking his head. "Your little toys can''t even scratch me, let alone break my defenses. If this is all you''ve got, then¡ª"


    His words cut off abruptly.


    A strange sensation crept over him.


    Paralysis.


    His muscles locked up as the dormant curse hidden within the arrow activated the moment he destroyed it. Realization dawned, and despite himself, he let out an amused mental chuckle.


    Clever girl.


    She was compensating for her lack of raw strength by using her deep understanding of him¡ªpredicting exactly how he would react. It was a strategy only she could pull off, thanks to her status as the Aurelian Eyes.


    But then¡ªwithout warning¡ªhe moved.


    Fast.


    With a sharp, precise thrust, his arm plunged into the depths of the darkness, fingers closing around a mass of darkness. He tightened his grip, and slowly, the swirling darkness twisted and morphed, revealing his niece.


    Janice''s breath hitched. He had found her. Holding her effortlessly in place, he leaned in, his voice dripping with amusement, "Don''t tell me you actually thought a curse of that level would stop me?"


    His grip tightened slightly, just enough to remind her exactly who she was dealing with.


    But before he could press his advantage, a calm yet commanding voice rang out.


    "Let there be light."


    The words were gentle, almost whispered, but their power was undeniable.


    A soft glow flickered in the distance, growing rapidly until golden rays exploded outward, flooding every corner of the darkness. The Dark Dominion shattered in an instant.


    The sudden burst of light sent a shockwave through the room. The man staggered back, his eyes widening in disbelief as he felt his domain being erased as if it had never existed. A sharp pain ripped through his chest, and before he could suppress it, a splatter of blood escaped his lips.


    His grip on Janice slackened.


    She wasted no time. Twisting free, she stumbled back, hand clutching her throat as she gasped for air.


    But her uncle barely acknowledged her escape.


    His attention was locked elsewhere.


    Slowly, he turned toward the source of the voice¡ªthe one who had effortlessly destroyed his dominion.


    "Lola!" Janice screamed seeing Lola collapse on the curse array unconsciousness.

 Chapter 214: Void-Tier

    Chapter 214: Void-TierJanice rushed to Lola''s side, her heart pounding as she lifted the unconscious girl and gently laid her across her lap. She shook her lightly, her voice urgent and laced with concern, "Lola! Lola!"


    Receiving no response, Janice pressed trembling fingers to Lola''s neck, feeling a faint but steady pulse a relief washed over her, but it did little to stop the tears that spilled down her cheeks. Wasting no time, she activated a long-distance teleportation curse tool. The air around them shimmered as space itself began to warp.


    But her uncle, still reeling from the backlash of his Dark Dominion being shattered, sensed the shift. His head snapped up, eyes blazing.


    "Oh, no, you don''t!" he snarled, lunging toward them with terrifying speed. Janice''s breath hitched finding he was too fast. Faster than her teleportation tool. A lot faster. Just as his fingers were mere inches from Lola¡ªthe golden cross on Lola''s pendant floated up, radiating a brilliant light.


    A horrifying snarl tore from the man''s throat as his curse energy ignited in contact with the light from the cross. The burning spread through his body like wildfire, sending waves of unbearable pain through his body.


    "Rrraaaghhh!!!" His guttural cry shook the walls. Yet, despite the agony, he still reached for Lola, desperate, reckless. But the moment his fingers edged closer, the light flared even brighter¡ªthe burn spread faster. He paused as a chilling realization struck him¡ªif the burning curse energy spread to his curse core, it could cause it to detonate like dynamite. He wasn''t about to find out if that was true. With a fierce growl, he staggered back, retreating from the cross''s glow, focusing all his will on purging the burning curse energy before it could consume him. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing her uncle at his weakest, Janice saw her chance. Without hesitation, she yanked the teleportation curse tool from her wrist and flung it at her uncle. The moment it neared him before he could react¡ªshe detonated it. A violent rip tore through space, revealing the endless void beyond. Due to the energy from the explosion, the void pulled him in like a black hole. Janice watched as her uncle was sucked into the void.


    However, knowing the void wouldn''t stop her uncle, Janice sprang to her feet, yanking a cursed tool¡ªshaped like a wooden wheel resembling a ship''s helm¡ªfrom her earring. Without wasting a second, she pressed it against the fractured space, watching as it slowly began to spin between their reality and the nothing mending the paper-thin space separating them.


    Urgency twisted her features as her tool worked, but her uncle was already adapting. He planted his foot on the void itself, stabilizing as if it were solid ground. Then, without hesitation, he bolted straight for the closing gap. Her heart pounded. At this rate, he''d escape before she could seal the tear completely. Gritting her teeth, she started flinging cursed tools into the void, aiming straight for him. Each one detonated with a violent burst¡ªbut to her horror, he barely flinched. He tore through the explosions like a runaway train, unstoppable.


    As he neared the opening in the space, noticing the desperation etched on her face, he sneered. Janice''s stomach dropped, her legs trembling beneath her. But she refused to falter. She kept going, pushing forward with her plan¡ªeven as he reached the very edge of the opening. His lips curled into a triumphant smirk. He thought he had won.


    Then, out of nowhere, a massive tentacle lashed out, coiling around his wrist with an iron grip. His fingers had just breached the opening¡ªbrushing against their reality itself¡ªbut before he could react, the tentacle yanked him back into the void''s depths.


    Janice barely registered his stunned expression before she forced herself to finish the job, repairing the space shut with the last of her strength. As soon as it was done, her legs buckled, and she collapsed to her knees, a shaky sigh escaping her lips. Relief crashed over her like a wave, thinking to herself, ''It was over. For now.''


    Without sparing a second or a single thought about her uncle''s well-being, Janice let herself sink onto the floor. Her body ached with exhaustion, but as she turned her head and caught sight of the unconscious Lola, a gentle smile tugged at her lips. Despite everything, she was in a great mood¡ªshe had just successfully stopped a Void-Tier Curse Master.


    Sure, she had been lucky, and yes, her uncle had been holding back. But how many Mortal-Tier Curse Masters could say they had faced a Void-Tier Curse Master head-on and lived to tell the tale?


    None.


    Not even Delories, the infamous Sky Slayer¡ªwho had taken down half a dozen Sky-Tier Curse Masters as an Ocean-Tier herself¡ªcould make such a claim. Then again, comparing their feats felt almost insulting to Delories. Janice had never truly been in danger; her uncle had never intended to harm her. This had all been a lesson¡ªone she barely scraped through.


    Regardless, Janice was proud of what she had accomplished today¡ªno one could take that away from her.


    Most importantly, she had protected a soul under her care. That alone made everything worth it.


    A satisfied smile tugged at her lips as she stretched out on the floor, letting exhaustion settle into her limbs. She made herself comfortable, breathing in the quiet, knowing the hardest part was over.


    Now, all that was left was to wait.


    Her brother would return from his crusade soon, and when he did, he''d take them to safety.


    ¡­


    "Hi, Lola," Ace greeted, his voice laced with awkwardness as he struggled to process the bizarre scene before him.


    Lola''s torso appeared normal, but below that¡ªnothing. Or rather, not nothing, but something else entirely. Her lower body had seemingly been replaced by the plush she was perched on. Ace''s confusion must have been obvious because Lola, catching the look in his eyes, quickly dove back into the plush''s mouth. The plush''s jaws snapped shut around her, and then, disturbingly, it began to expand, growing to a towering 6 feet 4 inches. Its mouth opened just enough to reveal Lola''s face peeking out. She had transformed the plush into a costume.

 Chapter 215: Reunion

    Chapter 215: ReunionAce''s curiosity piqued. He knew as a curse master, Lola likely possessed her own innate curse tool and curse art, but this? This was something else. He was curious as to what her innate curse tool and curse art were capable of.


    "Ace¡ª" Lola started, her voice tinged with excitement as she finally got the chance to talk to her crush.


    But before she could say anything more, Sonia tackled her from the side, sending both of them tumbling down the steps in a chaotic blur of limbs and angry cries. Ace instinctively took a step forward, ready to follow, but a firm voice from the top of the stairs stopped him.


    "Leave them be," Mrs. Martin called out, her tone making it clear there was no room for argument. Ace hesitated, then nodded and hurried after her to the villa main door.


    At the entrance, however, they were met with a barricade in the form of Delores, who stood with arms crossed, blocking their path. Her sharp gaze flickered over Ace before landing on Mrs. Martin.


    "What business do you have here, Matthews?" she asked coolly, her brow furrowing slightly.


    Matthews, however, didn''t even bother meeting her gaze as she ordered Delores, "Go fetch Aurelian Eyes. I have business with her." Her voice was dismissive, treating Delores like nothing more than a servant.


    Ace, caught off guard to meet Delores here, gave a small, awkward wave, "Uh¡­ hi."


    Delores ignored him and her expression darkened listening to Matthews''s order her around like she was just another maid, "Young Miss is busy crafting. Come back later."


    Matthews finally locked eyes with her, his tone dropping to a dangerous low. "I''m here instead of keeping a promise to my daughter. So I''ll ask you one last time¡ªfetch Aurelian Eyes."


    A muscle in Delores'' jaw tightened. For a moment, she stood her ground, but then, with a clipped nod, she stepped aside.


    "Come in," she said tersely. "But you''ll have to wait. You know how she hates being interrupted."


    "I can wait," Matthews replied, stepping inside without another word.


    As they followed Delores through the villa, Matthews''s usual indifference remained, but deep down, she knew¡ªshe could ignore the likes of Evil Eyes and Sky Slayer, but Aurelian Eyes? She was different. And right now, she needed her help.


    As Ace and Matthews took their seats, Delores couldn''t help but shoot Ace a sharp look. "What are you doing with the likes of her?" she asked, her tone laced with thinly veiled disapproval.


    No matter how indifferent she usually was toward Ace, her loyalty to Mandy wouldn''t let her just sit back and watch her friend''s nephew entangle himself in something dangerous.


    Ace noticed the way Delores spoke as if Mrs. Martin and the C.I.B. were the lowest of the low. It confused him¡ªespecially since the McSuile family was deeply intertwined with the C.I.B. Weren''t they supposed to be on the same side? Watching the tension simmer between Delores and Matthews, Ace started to second-guess everything Dame Wasp had told him about the McSuile family''s ties to the C.I.B. Considering Dame Wasp''s main source of information was the curse web, maybe this¡ªwhat he was seeing now¡ªwas closer to the truth than all the rumors and propaganda floating around.


    "I was unlucky enough to run into a witch who took a fancy to my skin," Ace said casually, as if recounting an inconvenient shopping trip. "Luckily, Mrs. Martin saved me and brought me here to lift the curse the witch put on me."


    Delores blinked, visibly thrown by his nonchalant tone. Her brows knit together as she repeated, "Witch? Mrs. Martin?"


    "He means a curse master," Matthews clarified smoothly. "And Martin is my husband''s family name." She glanced at Ace before adding, "He''s my daughter''s classmate." That last part, though said offhandedly was to explain why Ace knew her family name that wasn''t widely known in the ''World of Curses.''


    Delores, still skeptical, exhaled sharply before shifting her attention to Ace. "What about the curse? I don''t sense anything from you."


    She moved closer, taking his left wrist with cool fingers as she tried to trace the supposed curse within his body. Her eyes narrowed in concentration, searching.


    Matthews, watching her attempt, simply said, "It''s a very high-level dormant curse." Her voice was calm, almost amused. "If I couldn''t detect it, I didn''t expect you to." S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Delores tensed at that, her grip tightening slightly before she let go of Ace''s wrist. She didn''t like being underestimated¡ªbut more than that, she didn''t like the implications of a curse even Matthews couldn''t sense.


    "Then how is he still alive?" Delores asked, her brows furrowing in disbelief.


    It was common knowledge that the stronger the curse, the stronger the vessel needed to contain it. A mortal-tier curse was the absolute limit for an ordinary human. Anything beyond that should have torn Ace apart.


    Matthews exhaled sharply, rolling her eyes. "That''s why I''m here."


    There were too many unanswered questions surrounding the boy, and Matthews had none of the answers. She could only hope that Aurelian Eyes would.


    "Do Mandy and your parents know about this?" Delores asked, her tone edged with concern.


    She had met Ace''s folks before¡ªthey were good people. The last thing she wanted was for them to get entangled in the ''World of Curses.''


    "No. They think I''m staying over at a friend''s," Ace admitted.


    As if on cue, his phone buzzed in his pocket. The sudden ring made his stomach drop. When he glanced at the screen, his entire body tensed.


    Mom.


    Ace froze, fingers hovering over the decline button. He considered ignoring it, but knowing his mother, that would only make things worse. She''d squeeze the truth out of Danny and send his father straight to the Martin family ranch to drag him home.


    With a sigh, he resigned himself to his fate and answered the call. He planned to get over this as fast as possible so he could focus his mind on the matter at hand.

 Chapter 216: Embarrassing Evening

    Chapter 216: Embarrassing Evening"Ace William Lander, are you rebelling? Is this about you wanting a car? Is that it? How many times do I have to tell you¡ªyou are too young to be driving that deathtrap!" Mary''s voice blasted through the phone.


    Ace''s face turned beet red. The call wasn''t even on speaker, but that didn''t matter. He was surrounded by high-tier curse masters¡ªpeople with supernatural senses who could hear every word of his unreasonable mother loud and clear. Embarrassment washed over him. Even Delores, who had been sitting beside him on the couch, quietly slipped away. She didn''t want to invade his privacy, but he could tell from the pink tinge on her cheeks that she felt second-hand embarrassment for him.


    "Mom, listen to me¡ªyes, it''s about the car. I''m not coming home until you get me one."


    Midway through his sentence, Ace decided to lean into it. His mother had just unwittingly given him the perfect excuse to extend his absence while he sorted things out with C.I.B. He was banking on Janice to handle Mrs. Martins so he could return to his normal life sooner.


    "I knew it!" Mary exclaimed, triumph in her voice. "Tell me exactly where you are so I can send your father to come get you or else your uncle will have to tag along."


    "Does that mean you are getting me a car?" Ace asked, hopeful that his mother had finally come around.


    But to his dismay, she snapped, "Over my dead body! You''re at the Martins'' ranch, aren''t you? I''m sending your father and uncle over right now. And here I thought you didn''t like Ava¡ªwas that all an act to trick me? You don''t have to do that, you know. I actually like that girl. I think she will fit right in our family¡ª"


    "Mom, bye."


    Ace immediately hung up, feeling Mrs. Martins'' gaze settle on him. He forced a polite smile as he powered down his phone, only to hear her say, "So, you''re the boy Layla was talking about. Well, it''s comforting to know Ava''s taste in men hasn''t changed."


    Mrs. Martins took a slow breath, as if reassuring herself. If Ava''s taste in men hadn''t changed, then maybe Ava herself hadn''t changed either. And that made it easier to believe she could still connect with her daughter when they met again. The worst nightmare for any parent wasn''t just losing touch¡ªit was realizing they no longer knew their own child.


    Ava had too many crushes in her short life to count, so when Layla casually mentioned her latest one, it barely registered as news. She wouldn''t have even bothered to bring it up¡ªif not for the part where Ava threatened the sheriff for Ace. Therefore, Matthews did not know that Ace was the boy her daughter had taken fancy to in her new school.


    Ace cleared his throat, shifting uneasily. "Mrs. Martins, I''m pretty sure my mom is sending my dad and uncle to your family''s ranch. You might want to do something about that."


    She waved a dismissive hand, completely unfazed. "Don''t worry, I have things covered."


    Matthews knew exactly how overprotective parents could be. She had already made arrangements, just in case Ace''s family decided to show up at her in-laws ranch to check on their son. She hadn''t been around for Ava much, but she''d hosted enough sleepovers back in the day to know how these things played out.


    Then, out of nowhere, she turned to Ace with a sharp look, "Why did you reject my baby girl? Is she not good enough for you?"


    Ace blinked, taken aback, "Wait, what?"


    His brain scrambled to keep up. "Are you saying you want me to date your daughter?"


    Mrs. Martins tilted her head, considering. "No, not really. But I don''t like that you rejected her. We need to change that."


    Her gaze sharpened, and Ace suddenly felt like prey under a predator''s watchful eye. She loved her daughter fiercely¡ªthere was no question about that. And since she hadn''t been around much, she made up for it by giving Ava whatever she wanted. Now, she was debating whether she should go one step further.


    Sure, slavery had been abolished centuries ago, but as a high-ranking official at C.I.B., she had authority and influence. Enough to bend things in her daughter''s favor.


    Ace swallowed hard and yelled in his mind, ''Oh, hell no.'' Coming to a harsh realization¡ªit wasn''t just his mother. All women were unreasonable.


    Instinctively, he turned to Delores for support, only to be met with disappointment. She smirked and shrugged. "Being a heartbreaker was bound to catch up to you. Don''t resist¡ªjust make it easier on yourself."


    Ace groaned, running a hand through his hair before shaking his head. Nope. He was not going down this rabbit hole. Time for a subject change, "Does Janice know you''re a witch?"


    Delores blinked, caught off guard. For a moment, she just stared at him, trying to figure out if he was being serious. Then, hearing Matthews struggling to hold back laughter, she put the pieces together. Ace had done that on purpose. After all, she heard the latter correct Ace that it wasn''t witches but curse masters.


    "Keep it up, and you will lose the only thing you''ve got going for you¡ªyour pretty face," Delores threatened, her eyes narrowing dangerously. ''Oh, he was so going to pay for that.''


    Ace swallowed hard. ''Nope, not worth it.'' Deciding to remove himself from the situation, he got to his feet. "I''m going for a walk," he announced, hoping to clear his head until Janice was free. Mrs. Martins gave him a nod. "Don''t go too far."


    But just as Ace was about to step out, the wall exploded. A blazing figure crashed through, slamming into the floor with a heavy thud. It was Sonia¡ªin her Werefur fusion form. For some reason, her entire body was engulfed in flames.


    Ace stared at her, then slowly pointed. "Hey, look. A burning werewolf."


    His face was a masterclass in fake shock, so blatantly exaggerated that Delores and Mrs. Martins exchanged a glance, wondering the same thing¡ªWas he being sarcastic? Or had he actually lost his mind from fear?


    Soon, a fluffy, humanoid T-Rex plush strolled into the room through the gaping hole in the wall. Completely ignoring the still-burning Sonia, the bizarre creature made a beeline for Ace.


    It circled him slowly, sniffing him like a curious predator assessing its prey. Then, without warning, it extended its large, slimy tongue and licked his face¡ªcoating it entirely in a thick layer of saliva with a single, disgusting swipe.


    Ace stood there, stunned. ''What the actual hell?''


    Meanwhile, Sonia¡ªstill ablaze¡ªrose to her feet. The brilliant flames had seemingly replaced her fur, flickering wildly around her body like an endless bonfire. Despite being engulfed in flames, she showed no signs of pain.


    Without hesitation, Sonia lunged at the humanoid T-Rex plush. The creature, however, barely reacted, casually swiping at her with its thick tail¡ªits massive plush face still pressed against Ace''s.


    To its surprise, Sonia caught the tail mid-air, her grip firm. It was a clear display of how much stronger she had grown from a couple of seconds ago.


    Ace, meanwhile, made a point of ignoring the T-Rex''s oversized head breathing down on him. Instead, he muttered dryly, "Maybe try sticking a stake through its chest¡­ or using silver might do the trick."


    The plush T-Rex let out an exaggerated snort as if to say, ''Don''t be ridiculous.''


    Ace wiped his face with one hand, grimacing at the slime. "That''s what they do in the movies. It wouldn''t hurt to try¡ª"


    Before he could finish, Sonia yanked hard on the T-Rex''s tail, flinging it across the room. It crashed into the opposite wall with a heavy thud, and before it could recover, Sonia was already on top of it, clawing wildly at its thick fabric-type skin.


    But despite her relentless assault, her claws couldn''t pierce its ridiculously fluffy exterior. Ace sighed, rubbing his temples. ''This was going to be a long evening,'' he thought. Turning to Mrs. Martins and Delores, Ace raised an eyebrow. "Aren''t you going to stop them?"


    Mrs. Martins smirked. "Maybe call the church. That''s what they do in the movies." She threw his own joke back at him.


    Delores played along, nodding. "Yeah, they probably have a secret society for dealing with these kinds of monsters."


    Ace exhaled through his nose. "Sure. I''ll get right on that."


    With that, he turned and stepped out of the hall, heading toward the lake¡ªonly to pause by the big, fancy curtain. Without hesitation, he wiped his face against it, ridding himself of the T-Rex''s disgusting slobber.


    Clearly, Delores didn''t care what happened to the luxurious decor. But just as he was about to continue on his way, he felt it¡ª


    A threatening gaze burning into the back of his head. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Slowly, he turned.


    Janice.


    Her arms were crossed, her expression unreadable, but her eyes? Pure murder. "Ace, are you wiping your snot on my curtains?"


    Yep. She was definitely in a bad mood. Maybe because the flaming werewolf and wannabe T-Rex wrecking her villa had interrupted her curse crafting.


    Ace blinked, completely deadpan. "No, I was just cleaning your curtains with my face."

 Chapter 217: Curse Tool: Inner Mirror

    Chapter 217: Curse Tool: Inner Mirror"Is that supposed to be funny?" Janice asked, her annoyance evident.


    Ace immediately shut his mouth.


    She looked exhausted¡ªdark circles under her eyes, tension in her shoulders. Turns out, she''d burned through a third of her curse tools dealing with her uncle and had spent the entire night planning how to restock as quickly as possible. But before she could even get started, the chaos in the villa had ruined everything¡ªcosting her not just a curse item, but a rare curse core.


    Yeah. She was not in the mood to entertain Ace''s humor.


    Ace cleared his throat. "I''ll wash it¡­" he offered weakly, dragging out his words in hopes she''d just let it go.


    Janice sighed, rubbing her temples. "Leave it."


    Ace exhaled in relief seeing the crisis avert itself. Janice shifted her gaze to him, suddenly frowning. "What are you doing here? Is Mandy with you? I told her she didn''t have to check up on me, I''m doing fine."


    During the storm, Mandy had been worried¡ªTreasure Lake was one of the hardest-hit areas. She had called Janice, wanting to come check on her best friend in person. But Janice had waved her off, lying that their resort barely got touched. Now, her irritation wasn''t just from exhaustion¡ªit was from the thought of Mandy ignoring her and showing up anyway.


    Ace raised a brow, debating whether or not to mess with her¡ªbut then he noticed the way her chest rose and fell, her patience razor-thin. Yeah¡­ probably not the best time.


    "Mandy''s not here," he said instead. "But I got into some trouble with a curse master, and now I''m here looking for someone called Aurelian Eyes to help me remove the curse they put on me. Do you know them?"


    Janice just stared at him. Her brain was still trying to process what he had just said, but somehow, she still managed to stammer, "Wait, what?"


    Ignoring her stunned reaction, Ace grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the hall. Without a word, he pointed at the chaos unfolding before them¡ª


    A blazing werewolf and a fabric T-Rex rolling on the floor, locked in a vicious battle for dominance.


    Then, to the side, two middle-aged women who looked way too awkward to even be in the same room.


    Ace arched a brow, silently asking So¡­ you sure you still wanna be mad at me? Janice''s eyes darted from one absurd sight to the next. Then, her patience snapped.


    "Delores, what the heck is going on here?!" she yelled, her voice echoing through the hall.


    A curseling¡ªa literal flaming curseling¡ªwas wrestling with Luna in one of the halls of her villa, and Delores was just standing there, doing nothing about it.


    As if she wasn''t already dealing with enough, now she had to figure this mess out. But what was really sending her mind into overdrive was Ace and what he just said ''Curse masters,'' ''Cursed,'' ''Aurelian Eyes.'' She did not want her best friend''s nephew to step into the World of Curses. Because sooner or later his whole family would be dragged into it. She was worried for her friend and the people she loved.


    "I thought it''d be good practice for Lola," Delores said irresponsibly, then turned to yell at the latter. "Lola, finish it!"


    "Roar!" Lola let out a guttural roar¡ªbut interestingly, everyone in the room seemed to understand her.


    ''She won''t go down! She just keeps getting stronger!''


    Matthews'' eyes narrowed. "Sonia, retreat."


    But the moment she spoke, she realized something¡ªSonia had lost consciousness in her fusion form. She was in full berserk mode. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Matthews sighed deeply. "Tch." With a snap of her fingers, the blazing Werefur exploded into countless burning chunks, sending flaming meat flying across the hall.


    Janice recoiled in fright and disgust saying, "You didn''t have to kill it!"


    Matthews waved her off dismissively, explaining, "Don''t worry, she''ll regenerate."


    But Janice squinted at Sonia''s remains. The largest chunk still ablaze was struggling to reform as the flames kept consuming it.


    Ace followed her gaze, then pointed. "Uh¡­ someone should probably put that fire out. Otherwise, she won''t be able to regenerate."


    Everyone turned to stare at him in suspicion. Causing Ace to sigh and defend himself explaining, "Come on, isn''t it obvious? She''s struggling to regenerate because of the flames. You guys need to start watching anime¡ªyou have no imagination."


    Lola, still in her T-Rex form, let out a sheepish "Roar"¡ªas if saying, ''Oops, my bad.'' as she deactivated her other innate curse tool. Almost instantly, the flames on Sonia''s remains flickered out. The moment they did, her body began to regenerate¡ªfully restored... and completely naked.


    Ace didn''t even pretend to look away. He watched shamelessly, knowing full well that Sonia didn''t mind¡ªshe had made that very clear before.


    Unfortunately for him, the show was short-lived. Sonia''s Werefur curseling materialized, wrapping around her like a fur coat, covering her up.


    Just as Sonia became aware of her surroundings, Matthews immediately thundered, "Why the hell did you use your fusion form when you know you can''t control it?!"


    Sonia flinched instinctively, her body remembering what Matthews had done to her earlier. But she quickly shook it off and composed herself.


    "Why not? Do you expect me to become her punching bag instead?" she shot back, jerking a thumb toward the humanoid T-Rex plush.


    Matthews crossed her arms, unimpressed. "I thought I could deploy you in the field immediately, but clearly, you still need training."


    Sonia''s expression darkened with disappointment. She was frustrated with herself, too, as no matter how hard she tried she still couldn''t stay conscious in her fusion form.


    Before the tension could stretch any further, Janice cut in, "Enough of that." She then proceeded to point at Ace, as her sharp gaze met Matthews'', and demanded, "What''s this I''m hearing about you being cursed by a curse master?"


    Matthews kept it brief. "He was unlucky enough to run into a curse terrorist and got hit with a curse. It''s dormant but incredibly powerful. Even I can''t detect it or figure out how he''s still alive."


    Janice narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure he''s cursed?"


    She wasn''t just being skeptical¡ªwhat Matthews was suggesting should have been impossible. It completely defied the laws of curses as she understood them.


    Matthews simply gestured toward the fur coat draped by Sonia informing, "The Werefur curseling sensed it on him." Sonia nodded in agreement adding, "Yeah. Scratchifer is never wrong about this kind of thing."


    "Fuck!" Janice cursed aloud in frustration, running a hand through her hair. Without wasting another second, she pulled a mirror-shaped curse tool from her earring and thrust it toward Ace, instructing, "Hold this. Tell me¡ªwhat do you see reflected in it?"


    Under everyone''s watchful eyes, Ace hesitantly took the mirror and looked into it. His breath hitched as the mirror except for his reflection, reflected his cursed toy box, Dame Wasp, Apex earring, Emi, Doctor Druid, and a digital dialogue window. It showed his innate curse tools and art except for his reflection.


    Ace''s palm grew clammy. His mind raced as subconsciously screamed in his mind, ''Shit. How was I supposed to answer her?''


    Ace had no clue what kind of curse tool this mirror was or how it worked, but one thing was clear¡ªif he answered Janice honestly, everything would be out in the open. His secrets. His past. All of it. His brain kicked into overdrive, desperately searching for a way out.


    Janice, however, completely misread the hesitation on his face. Taking it as fear, her expression softened slightly as she encouraged him asking, "Do you see a monster reflected in the mirror instead of your own face?" Then her voice laced with concern she assured, "Don''t worry¡ªjust describe it to me."


    "No, I just see my own reflection," Ace lied, keeping his expression neutral. He figured that if a regular mortal held the mirror, they''d most likely see only their reflection¡ªno cursed tools, no lingering magic. He could only bet on that assumption because, either way, telling the truth or getting caught in a lie would lead to the same outcome for him.


    Janice studied him carefully. Her frown eased slightly, but suspicion still lingered in her eyes.


    "Are you sure?" she pressed, her voice softer now¡ªlike she was talking to a little brother rather than an outsider. It was clear how much she valued Mandy''s friendship.


    Ace nodded quickly. "Yeah, it''s just... I look even more handsome in it," he added with a smirk, hoping to play off his earlier hesitation.


    Janice rolled her eyes but let out a small chuckle. "That just means you''re even more beautiful on the inside," she said dryly before turning to Sonia. Her expression hardened. "Is your Werefur a knockoff? He clearly has no trace of curse energy on him. Otherwise, he wouldn''t be able to see his reflection on the Inner Mirror."


    "What? That''s impossible! Scratchifer is never wrong," Sonia shot back defensively, her brows knitting together. She glanced at her Werefur partner, almost as if expecting it to react. "There must be something wrong with your curse tool."


    Janice scoffed. "My grandfather used this to catch the Formless Curse Enforcer. If there''s an issue, it''s with your curseling, not my mirror."

 Chapter 218: Priority Training

    Chapter 218: Priority TrainingSonia clenched her teeth, glaring at Janice, but she didn''t dare get physical with her as she had with Lola and Ace. Frustrated, she snapped, "Scratchifer is never wrong! If there''s nothing wrong with your mirror, then he''s lying."


    Janice raised an eyebrow, but before she could respond, Lola¡ªnow in her regular form and dressed in casual clothes¡ªstepped forward, arms crossed. "What reason does he have to lie?" she shot back, immediately coming to her friend''s defense.


    Ace, meanwhile, blinked at Sonia, biting back a sigh. He was mentally adding this to his growing list of grudges against her. She was making things way more complicated than they needed to be. He hadn''t thought much of blowing up berserk Sonia this afternoon, but now, he was starting to regret it.


    Sonia huffed, determined to justify herself and defend Scratchifer''s honor, "I don''t know! But he''s been acting suspiciously from the start. I couldn''t sense any fear from him, but he kept pretending to be scared¡ªright from the beginning."


    Matthews, who had been observing quietly, nodded. "She''s not wrong." Then, she elaborated, "His actions have been off since the beginning. When I first saw him under Astrid''s control, there wasn''t fear in his eyes¡ªjust this¡­ unnerving calm. If I weren''t duty-bound, I would''ve stood back and let things unfold just to see what he''d do."


    Janice''s eyes narrowed. She trusted Matthews knowing she wasn''t one to twist facts to suit her side. Instinctively, she glanced at Ace, doubt creeping in, but before she could voice her thoughts, Matthews spoke again, "Is there a way for me to see the Inner Mirror while he is holding?"


    Janice exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "Not unless you''re Void-Tier."


    She sighed, running a hand through her hair. The Inner Mirror was a cursed tool that only revealed its full potential in the hands of a Void-Tier. Otherwise, it was limited to its passive abilities. She had borrowed it from her grandfather to study it, intending to return it¡­but before she had the chance, he vanished.


    "Young Master will be back from this urgent mission soon. He should be able to tell if he''s lying¡ª" Delores began, only to be cut off mid-sentence.


    "No, he won''t," Matthews interjected flatly. "He''s on guard duty."


    Delores frowned, " You mean Lola, right?" she asked, pointing at the girl in question.


    Matthews shook her head, explaining, "No, it''s a mortal. The Everhart Guild has targeted them. He won''t be back until things are cool on that end."


    Janice''s breath hitched. "Then what about Lola?" she asked, fear creeping into her voice. She knew that once her uncle freed himself from the void, he''d come straight for her.


    Matthews, however, remained unfazed. "She''s officially part of the C.I.B. now. Even though she''ll start as an agent-in-training, I''d love to see who dares to come after her. Also, I will be taking her off your hands today," she said, her voice carrying a weight of finality.


    Lola, still processing everything, suddenly perked up and asked with hope flickering in her eyes, "Wait¡ªdo agents-in-training make also a six-figure salary?" Because it was the reason why she agreed to join the C.I.B. in the first place. A government job with a six-figure salary was too good to pass on. Now, her parents could finally stop taking every odd job in town just to scrape by.


    Matthews gave a small nod. "Yes, but the best part is that the Bureau will be providing you with all the training resources you need. The higher-ups have agreed to prioritize your development."


    Across the room, Sonia¡ªwho had been listening in keenly¡ªfinally spoke up. "What about me?" she asked, her voice even. Money wasn''t an issue for her, but she was curious if the C.I.B. planned to invest in her training as well. Considering, she was more of a hostage than an agent to them. She wasn''t holding her breath.


    Matthews, however, didn''t hesitate. "Same goes for you. They''ve even commissioned Crimson Eyes'' request to create a curse art specifically designed to bring out the true potential of your innate curse art."


    Sonia blinked in surprise, her disbelief flickering for just a second before realization set in. Of course. Her father must have sacrificed something¡ªsomething big¡ªto make sure she got a fair shot in the C.I.B.


    "Also, you two need to get along because you''ll be in the same training batch. You might even end up on the same team," Matthews added casually, dropping a bombshell on both Lola and Sonia. "It''ll be an advantage for you during training."


    Lola and Sonia exchanged a look, both clearly unamused by the idea. Janice, however, seemed more intrigued hearing Matthews bring up this year''s C.I.B. trainees. "I heard Layla say that Ava is joining this year''s batch. Is that true?" she asked, leaning forward with interest. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Many people assumed Matthews had no intention of passing down her curse arts to her daughter, leading some to try and get on her good side in hopes of them or their progeny being chosen as heirs to her collection of curse arts that allowed her to become an EAD in C.I.B. at such a young age. If Ava was really joining, though, a lot of dreams were about to be crushed.


    Matthews smirked answering, "Yeah, that girl finally came around¡ªmostly because of him." She tilted her head toward Ace, who had been trying his best to fade into the background, relieved that the conversation had moved on from him. But just like that, Matthews dragged him back into the spotlight.


    "Me?" Ace blinked, pointing at himself. "What did I do?"


    Matthews shrugged. "I don''t know the details, but after you rejected her, she suddenly had a change of heart. So, thanks for that. Oh, and don''t worry¡ªI no longer hold a grudge against you for turning down my daughter." She offered him a small, almost amused smile deciding that meddling in Ava''s love life wasn''t worth the trouble.

 Chapter 219: Dead End

    Chapter 219: Dead EndAce''s jaw dropped. "Wait¡ªyou were actually holding a grudge over something that petty?" He stared at her in disbelief. Even Ava hadn''t held it against him for rejecting her, but her mother? Now that was crazy.


    Delores sighed, shaking her head in warning. "She loves her daughter too much, Ace. Just be careful¡ªif you mess with Ava any further, it''ll come back to bite you in the ass."


    Ace scoffed, throwing his hands up. "Mess with her? Ava''s the one entangling with me, not the other way around! Now I''m supposed to play nice with her just because her mother might come after me? That''s completely unreasonable!"


    Yet, judging by the look on Matthews'' face, Ace realized that "reasonable" had never been part of the equation when it came to Ava. Taking a cautious step back, he quickly added, "She''s leaving for witch training soon, right? So, I don''t think we''ll be crossing paths ever again."


    He really hoped Ava would find someone else to latch onto at the C.I.B. and forget all about him. The last thing he wanted was to make an enemy out of Mrs. Matthews. But his relief was short-lived.


    "No," Matthews sneered, her sharp gaze locking onto him. "You''ll be joining them in ''Witch'' training too. So, you''ll be seeing a lot more of her."


    Listening to her, Ace''s stomach dropped causing him to exclaim, "What?"


    Before he could properly object, an excited "Yes!" rang out.


    It was Lola, practically bouncing with excitement at the news. However, her enthusiasm was quickly overshadowed by a sharp, mocking comment from Sonia, "I didn''t know the C.I.B. had such low standards."


    Ace shot everyone a glare yelling in frustration, "What the heck? I never agreed to any of this!" He threw his hands up, feeling increasingly irritated and annoyed as people he barely knew made life-altering decisions for him. Even his parents did not do so without seeking his opinion.


    Before he could rant further, Janice cut in, reminding Matthews with a firm tone, "You can''t just enlist a mortal into the C.I.B. against their will even if you are an EAD."


    Matthews met her gaze evenly, nodding in agreement, "No, I can''t." Then, her eyes flicked back to Ace, her eyes unreadable but lips curved in an amused smile, "But he''s not a mortal. Or at least, not just any mortal."


    Ace stiffened unable to understand what she was getting and asked for more details, "Excuse me?"


    "Something about him doesn''t add up," Matthews stated, watching him closely. "I''ll hand him over to the crafters at the C.I.B. They''ll figure out if he''s lying or if there''s something special about him. Either way..." She tilted her head, a slow, knowing smirk forming. "He''s going to die as a C.I.B. agent. If worse comes to worst, at least his parents can collect the benefits."


    Ace felt a cold chill crawl down his spine. What the hell had he just gotten himself into? He now felt he would have rather taken his chances with Astrid.


    Janice frowned, turning to Delores, who subtly shook her head¡ªa silent warning not to act rashly. Yes, Delores could hold her own against Sky-tier curse masters, but Matthews was in a league of her own, just like Crimson Eyes.


    Feeling helpless, she glanced at Ace before turning back to Matthews, her tone almost pleading as she bargained for Ace''s freedom, "Can''t you just let him go? I''ll make three curse tools for the C.I.B. in return."


    She saw the slightest hesitation in Matthews'' expression and quickly pressed her advantage by increasing her offer, "Five curse tools."


    For a moment, she thought she had a chance, but Matthews ultimately shook her head rejecting the offer, "You and I both know you can''t make those kinds of promises without your family''s approval."


    Janice''s jaw tightened. However, she did not give up. "This can be a secret between us," she insisted, voice low. "They wouldn''t know if neither of us talks."


    Matthews exhaled, unimpressed, she made herself clear, "No, that won''t do. Your uncle is already breathing down my neck. I don''t plan on handing him a loaded gun."


    Her tone was final. The tension in the room thickened as the unspoken weight of their factions'' rivalry settled between them. Matthews and the McSuile faction had been at odds within the C.I.B. for years, both sides waiting for an opportunity to knock the other down. Besides, she had her own agenda. Ace might just make the perfect test subject for the new curse slave research¡ªit was already in human trials and still needed volunteers.


    Seeing Matthews wouldn''t budge, Janice turned to Ace, urgency flashing in her eyes, "Ace, if you''re hiding something, tell me now while I can still help you. Once you''re enlisted in the C.I.B., no one except the president can save you."


    Ace blinked, staring at them as if they''d all lost their minds. His breathing grew unsteady, his shoulders rising and falling as the gravity of the situation sank in.


    "This is just a joke, right?" His voice was hoarse, almost pleading. "You''re all pulling some kind of prank on me, right?"


    No one answered.


    His heart pounded. Slowly, he took a step back, then another¡ªuntil his back hit the wall. His legs gave out, and he slid down onto the floor, sitting against the cold surface.


    "¡­You guys can stop now," he muttered, defeated. His gaze flickered between them, his voice barely above a whisper. "I''m genuinely scared."


    "He''s lying. Both Scratchifer and I can''t sense any of the emotions he''s showing right now," Sonia chimed in, arms crossed, her tone laced with certainty.


    Lola and Janice immediately shot her fierce glares, their expressions practically screaming, Not now, Sonia! S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Delores sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose before muttering, "Kid, read the room."


    But Sonia just rolled her eyes. If she thought she could get away with it, she would''ve attacked Ace right then and there¡ªjust to prove she was correct from the very beginning. But she knew they''d stop her before she even got the chance.

 Chapter 220: Inevitable

    Chapter 220: Inevitable"Humph, drama queen," Sonia snorted, rolling her eyes at Ace. She knew he was putting on an act, but to everyone else, she was the villain for calling him out.


    Ignoring her, Janice dropped to her knees beside Ace and grabbed his shoulders. "Ace, get a grip!" she barked. When he finally lifted his face, eyes filled with despair, she softened, locking eyes with him. In a gentle but firm voice, she said, "Look at me, Ace. This is serious¡ªmore serious than being enlisted in the army or the Marine Corps. Matthews has the power to do exactly what she says. Crying and throwing tantrums won''t change that. You need to be honest with me so I can help you while I still can."


    Janice was genuinely worried about her best friend''s nephew. As a mortal, Maddy couldn''t be there for him, so Janice took it upon herself to step in. The gravity of the situation weighed on her, and as Lola watched Ace unravel, a pang of guilt hit her. She had been so caught up in her own excitement, cheering as Matthews forced Ace into the C.I.B., that she only thought about what it meant for her and hadn''t stopped to think what it meant for him. Seeing him like this, she realized how childish and selfish she had been. She had seen firsthand the dangers C.I.B. held¡ªAce didn''t belong there, not as a mortal.


    "Ma''am, you can''t force him to join the C.I.B. if he doesn''t want to," Lola suddenly spoke up, standing by her friend despite the risk of losing the godsend opportunity to bring her family out of poverty. "If that''s how this works, then I don''t think the C.I.B. is the right place for me either."


    Sonia scoffed. "Cough¡ªentitled," she fake-coughed into her fist, yelling a snide comment, and throwing a pointed look at Lola. Watching her so readily throw away an opportunity better than the one her father had sacrificed so much for to get her one, Sonia just couldn''t help herself.


    "That''s it. I''ve had it with you," Ace yelled, eyes locked on Sonia, his anger flaring as she mocked Lola. In the heat of the moment, he realized just how much he hated her. Aside from the S.S.S., she was the second person to truly earn his ire in the ''World of Curses.'' And now, he regretted not gathering the scattered remains of berserk Sonia earlier this afternoon and sealing them in Emi''s talisman. He hadn''t wanted to be that cruel¡ªespecially since he hadn''t known who she really was at the time¡ªbut now? Now, he wished he had.


    "What? You wanna take a swing, liar? I''m game. Bring it¡ª" Sonia jumped on her feet, fists raised in a boxing stance, motioning for Ace to come at her.


    Before she could do anything else, Matthews smacked her hard on the back of her head, sending her crashing to the floor with the sheer force of it.


    Without missing a beat, Matthews turned and delivered a much lighter slap to the back of Lola''s head, adding, "You no longer have a say in this. Your guardians have already given their consent to enlist you in our secret government agency."


    "They only gave it because I wanted to join your ''Secret Agency!'' Now that I don''t, you don''t have their consent," Lola argued, attempting to apply mortal-world logic to the ''World of Curses.''


    Matthews and Delores exchanged amused glances, chuckling at her naivety. Shaking her head, Matthews said, "It doesn''t work like that, sweetheart. You don''t get to change your mind now. I''m willing to overlook your insubordination this one time but don''t push it. Lose the favor of the higher-ups, and your career in the C.I.B. will be hell."


    Lola opened her mouth to protest, but before she could get a word out, Janice cut in, her voice urgent, "Lola, don''t." She shook her head solemnly, almost pleading, silently urging Lola not to test Matthews any further.


    Meanwhile, Ace could practically see his freedom waving goodbye. It had already been hard enough keeping his activities hidden from his parents¡ªnow he''d have to dodge the C.I.B. too? He felt like he was doing just fine on his own, and joining the agency would only weigh him down, just like how the once-great Crimson Eyes had been reduced to nothing more than an errand boy under Mrs. Martins''s control.


    As he brooded, his gaze drifted to Sonia, still on the floor, glaring at him with a deep grudge in her eyes like he was the one who had smacked her. Then, he noticed her mouthing something: I will expose you, dipshit!


    Her eyes burned with determination as if exposing him had just become her life''s mission. Black lines formed on Ace''s forehead. Seriously? If he ever got the chance, he''d make sure to teach her a lesson.


    "Get up and stop intimidating your fellow trainees," Matthews ordered, punctuating her words with a light kick to Sonia''s side¡ªfully aware of what she was up to.


    Sonia scrambled to her feet, brushing herself off, but Matthews wasn''t done. "Keep this up, and you''ll find it very difficult to climb the ranks in the C.I.B.," she warned.


    Then, turning her attention to Ace, she said, "If you care about your family, don''t struggle¡ªjust follow my arrangements. I''ll make sure they''re proud of their son and his achievements. Otherwise¡­" S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The threat hung in the air.


    Ace''s expression morphed into indifference as he silently stared at Matthews with a cold, eerily calm gaze. The room seemed to chill.


    Matthews lifted an eyebrow, clearly amused. "There it is," she mused. "That''s the look I was talking about. Tell me¡ªthere''s nothing off about that boy?"


    Delores sighed. "Well, you did just threaten his family," she pointed out, feeling like Matthews was going too far just to recruit Ace. It was clear to both her and Janice¡ªMatthews had already decided to use him as a pawn in whatever scheme she was hatching, and escaping her clutches was going to be nearly impossible. Delores sighed knowing Ace''s fate was sealed.


    Just then, a voice echoed through the villa¡ªa soft yet commanding tone that sent a shiver down their spines, "Warning. Enemy attack! I repeat¡ªenemy attack!" It was Evil Eyes. His voice was loud enough to make everyone stop everything they were doing and pay their full attention.


    ...


    AN: Fan give-back gift!


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 Chapter 221: Accepting The Inevitable

    Chapter 221: Accepting The Inevitable"Is this about the Sole Ring? I thought your family had taken care of that matter," Matthews asked, her sharp gaze flicking between Delores and Janice. She knew that, aside from the nobles lusting after the Sole Ring, no one would be desperate enough to attack a direct descendant of the McSuile family in their territory.


    At Matthews'' words, Janice''s cheeks reddened with guilt. She hesitated before admitting, "I was planning to lock the ring away in the family''s treasure vault for good¡­ but I started having doubts. I think it''s less of a cursed item and more of a cursed tool¡ªone with a powerful dormant curse on it. I wanted to study it for a while before sealing it away, but¡­ I got busy and forgot."


    Delores sighed but didn''t dwell on Janice''s mistake. Instead, she voiced her real concern. "That''s not the issue right now," she said, her tone serious. "What I want to know is¡ªhow did they find out that you didn''t lock it away like the family agreed with Duke Lambert III?"


    When the McSuile family confronted the Duke about one of his vessels attacking Aurelian Eyes, a direct bloodline descendant, he had offered them the Sole Ring as compensation¡ªgranting them control over it for the next 300 years. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Of course, the McSuile family had been well aware of the Duke''s true motives. He was using them to keep his heir position open, waiting until his country''s wager with the Monarch was settled. If all went according to plan, his daughter could return home as a hero and reclaim what was rightfully hers. Still, the deal was too good to pass up. The Duke had also granted them any trade concessions in his country, meaning they could expand their business operations there under his direct protection for the next three centuries.


    From the business point of view, storing the ring away in their treasure vault for a few hundred years seemed like a small price to pay. It was a no-brainer¡ªno one would be foolish enough to attack the McSuile family''s main house, where their treasure vault was heavily guarded by veteran void-tier curse masters.


    But no one had expected Janice to go against family orders. Instead of locking the ring away, she had kept it with her, determined to study it, believing it wasn''t just a cursed item but a cursed tool¡ªone masked using a dormant curse.


    "Evil Eyes should be able to handle them in a few minutes," Matthews said nonchalantly, already having decided on her next course of action. She turned to Lola and ordered, "Pack your things¡ªyou''re heading back to your town with us."


    She had made up her mind. With Janice confirming that Ace didn''t have a high-level dormant curse on him, he was no longer considered a threat to mortals around him. That meant he could reunite with his family¡ªat least until it was time for him to leave for C.I.B. training camp.


    "Okay," Lola nodded, relieved that she could finally go home. But at the same time, a wave of sadness hit her wondering if she would ever see Janice and Delores again.


    Just then, Ace¡ªwho was still on the floor, leaning against the wall¡ªsuddenly vanished, swallowed by his own shadow. Both Matthews and Delores reacted instantly, but they were a fraction too late.


    "Damn it!" Matthews cursed.


    "Ace!" Lola and Janice cried out in fear.


    Soon a dark figure materialized on the ceiling, upside down, rooted in the shadow of the chandelier holding Ace in their embrace. Their sharp claws were wrapped tightly around his neck. The figure''s voice was low and menacing as they issued their demand to Janice "Hand over the ring if you want the boy to live."


    Matthews and Delores tensed. This intruder hadn''t just appeared¡ªthey had been lurking in the hall for a while, long enough to gather intel. They knew exactly how much Janice valued Ace''s life, which was why they had gone straight for him instead of targeting Janice herself who was beside him. It made sense since Janice wasn''t defenseless¡ªshe might only be a mortal-tier curse crafter, but underestimating her would be a grave mistake.


    "Hurry up and kill him so I can kill you," Matthews taunted, her tone ice-cold as she put the C.I.B.''s no-negotiation policy into action.


    No one objected¡ªnot even Janice.


    Lola, however, hesitated. Her fists clenched at her sides, her breathing uneven. The only reason she hadn''t spoken up was because she wanted to believe Matthews had a plan. But what she didn''t realize was that Matthews genuinely had no intention of negotiating for Ace''s life.


    The intruder ignored Matthews entirely, well aware of how psychotic C.I.B. agents could be. Instead, they focused on Janice¡ªshe was the real target here. After all, she had openly admitted to possessing the Sole Ring. There was no need to waste time on bystanders.


    Janice felt the weight of both the intruder''s and Ace''s gazes on her. Her eyes hardened with resolve. "You heard her," she said, her voice firm. "We don''t negotiate with criminals or terrorists."


    This wasn''t just a C.I.B. rule¡ªit was a standard rule in nearly every faction in the World of Curses. Their descendants were raised with the understanding that, if captured by the enemy, they should be prepared to die rather than be used as leverage.


    Janice was no exception, despite being the direct bloodline descendant of the McSuile family. After all, in a family, everyone had to make sacrifices and poll their weight, regardless of their status.


    Locking eyes with a dumbfounded Ace, she gave him an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Ace," she said softly. "Please¡­ find it in your heart to forgive me. I promise to take care of your family for the next two generations."


    Lola''s breath hitched. It was only now that she was beginning to realize¡ªMatthews and Janice meant every word. They had already accepted Ace as dead.


    Just as she was about to step forward and take matters into her own hands, Sonia yanked her back and shook her head. "It''s his fault for getting caught," she muttered bluntly.


    Lola''s eyes widened. The sickening realization hit her like a punch to the gut. Ace was already dead in their eyes.


    Then¡ªboom!


    The intruder''s head exploded like a smashed watermelon while Ace landed effortlessly on his feet, catching the cursed tool that had dropped as the intruder''s corpse dissolved into the air.


    For a moment, silence filled the room. Then¡ªSonia shot up on her feet, jumping in excitement, practically vibrating with a sense of validation.


    "See?! I was right!" she yelled.


    "I told you guys!"


    "It was all an act!"

 Chapter 222: Out In The Open

    Chapter 222: Out In The OpenLanding effortlessly on his feet, Ace caught the dark, rag-shaped cursed tool midair. Without sparing a glance at the still-celebrating Sonia, he sent the tool to Emi inside the cursed toy box to store it in her storage talisman. Then, under the stunned gaze of everyone in the room, he calmly pulled out a barrier talisman and a rail rifle without bothering to give them any form of explanation.


    The atmosphere grew tense as with an indifferent expression, Ace pressed the talisman to the floor and activated it.


    A golden light spread outward of the talisman, rapidly forming a glowing barrier that sealed the entire room¡ªincluding the shattered walls¡ªas if reconstructing them with pure energy.


    Noticing Ace aiming the rifle-shaped cursed tool at her, Sonia''s eyes narrowed. With a fierce glare, she bared her teeth, her fingernails extending into razor-sharp claws, ready to fight.


    The others instinctively held their breath, assuming the worst¡ªbut no one moved to stop him. They all knew Ace would need more than that to kill Sonia. But Ace wasn''t aiming for her. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bang!


    The shot rang out, not at Sonia, but at the wall behind her where the golden light barrier was bulging inwards as if it was covering a dumped wall when the wall behind it appeared to be normal.


    The golden light barrier wavered for a split second as the bullet punched clean through. At first, the wall appeared normal, but then¡ªblood. Dark red liquid trickled from the bullet hole. Cracks spread across the surface before the entire section of the wall crumbled, revealing a gravely injured, overweight man pressed against the barrier, unconscious.


    Gasps filled the room, seeing there was another intruder in the room. Both Matthews and Delores were not proud to learn this.


    Ace''s Mischief Bullet had found its mark. Thankfully, its effect was triggered allowing it to bypass the defenses of a Sky-tier curse master and mortally wounding him by temporarily sealing his ability to use curse energy.


    Ace''s gaze moved, his voice devoid of emotion. Addressing a dumbfounded Delores, he said, "He''s all yours."


    Delores blinked, staring at him in shock as realization dawned, finding the streak of light left in the wake of the bullet familiar. She could not help but whisper, "It was you¡­ That night¡ªit was you who helped me break free from the array formation."


    Ace ignored her. His sharp gaze shifted to Mrs. Martins as he remarked, "Somebody subdues him now before he can use his curse energy again."


    Taking the hint, Matthews flicked her wrist backward without even sparing the wounded intruder a glance. A dense arc of curse energy shot from her hand, slicing through the barrier with ease¡ªbefore cleanly cutting the man in half. His body disintegrated into nothing, leaving behind a cement-brick-shaped cursed tool.


    Before anyone else could react, Ace coolly stepped forward claiming it as his, "I''m keeping the curse tool. I did find him, after all."


    But Sonia immediately scoffed opposing his claim, "The one who kills gets the curse tool¡ª"


    Bang!


    A sudden gunshot cut her off. Ace had fired the rail rifle without warning. The bullet landed squarely between Sonia''s brows, forcing her head to snap back slightly. Unfortunately, the Mischief Bullet effect didn''t trigger. Sonia''s wound healed in an instant, the hole in her forehead closing up as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, the stray bullet continued its path, piercing straight through the ceiling.


    Ace barely reacted. He had already accounted for this outcome. Unlike with a Sky-tier opponent, the bullet had met no resistance while passing through Sonia''s head, meaning it would keep going. That''s why he had angled his shot diagonally¡ªto ensure it wouldn''t hit any innocent bystanders.


    Sonia, on the other hand, stood frozen. Then, as if something had just clicked, her eyes widened in realization.


    "You¡­ You were there¡ªwith the Emi Nakamura cosplayer!" she exclaimed, pointing at Ace, her expression a mix of shock and rage. "You were the sniper! The one who shot me!"


    The memory had come rushing back, triggered by the bullet tearing through her head. Meanwhile, Ace was still holding his rifle and coldly stared at her while his expression was unreadable.


    "I knew it!" Sonia shrieked, her voice sharp with accusation. "I was right when I smelled mountain mud and winery on your shoes¡ªwait¡­It was you, wasn''t it?"


    She glared at Ace as if he were her mortal enemy, her chest rising and falling with each furious breath.


    "You''re at winery before you came to the mountain ranges, it had to be you. You were the one who ratted us out to the C.I.B.! They all died because of you!" Her voice cracked with hysteria. "No wonder I hated you the moment I laid eyes on you¡­ Scratchifer has been trying to tell me this whole time, but I was too much of a fool to understand."


    Her words trailed off as she clutched her head, groaning in frustration. Pain pulsed through her skull, memories of the Everhart Guild''s downfall replaying in an endless, agonizing loop. Then, as if lost in her own world, she started mumbling to herself.


    "I''ll kill him."


    "Yes¡­ I should kill him."


    "But I promised Father¡­"


    "No. I need to avenge them all."


    "Father will understand why I have to kill him."


    Then, after an eerily loud monologue, she suddenly threw her head back and screamed at the top of her lungs¡ª


    "I''LL KILL THAT MOTHERFUCKER!


    But despite her bloodthirsty declaration, Sonia didn''t lunge at Ace. Instead, she turned her head, fixing him with an eerily calm gaze. The Werefur head resting on her shoulder let out a deep, guttural grunt, its piercing stare locked onto him. At that moment, it was clear¡ªSonia and her Werefur were in complete sync. Only they knew what was going through each other''s minds.


    Matthews, watching intently, raised an eyebrow in surprise. She had expected Sonia to go wild, to attack Ace in blind fury. But instead, Sonia was stalking her prey¡ªbiding her time like a patient wolf waiting for the perfect moment to strike.


    Still, Matthews couldn''t ignore the accusation hanging in the air. She turned to Ace, her voice laced with curiosity, "Are they right?"

 Chapter 223: Sonias Game Plan

    Chapter 223: Sonia''s Game PlanJanice, Lola, and Delores waited for Ace to answer Matthews, but Sonia had already made up her mind. To her, there was no doubt¡ªAce was the one who had informed the C.I.B. about her father''s guild, leading to their downfall.


    Through Matthews, she had long since learned that an anonymous message had been sent to the higher-ups in the C.I.B., exposing how the Everhart Guild had taken over the Weasly winery. The message detailed their use of a high-ranking curse array formation and their grim method of farming curse users who arrived to complete exorcism requests.


    It didn''t take much for Sonia to put the pieces together. Some rat had escaped their net and alerted the C.I.B., setting off the chain of events that led to the Everhart Guild''s ruin. At first, she had suspected the Emi Nakamura cosplayer might have been the rat, but now she saw the truth¡ªthere hadn''t been just one rat. There were at least two. Maybe more.


    Fortunately for her, she ran into one of those rats. Her gaze locked onto Ace, cold and unwavering. In her mind, he was guilty. And she had already decided on his punishment¡ªDeath.


    However, she wasn''t reckless this time. Instead of charging at him head first, she decided to bid her time. She knew the others wouldn''t let her do as she pleased, and after witnessing how effortlessly Ace had killed an Ocean-tier curse master and subdued a Sky-tier one, she had to acknowledge the brutal reality¡ªhe wasn''t going down easy. Actually, she wasn''t even sure she could win.


    For now, she would endure. She would wait patiently monitoring him. It wouldn''t be too late to kill him when she was certain about her success. Knowing Matthews''s temperament, she only had one chance. If she were to screw it up, she wouldn''t just be breaking her promise to her father and let him down. She would have failed all her fallen comrades. And that wasn''t an option.


    So, Sonia stayed still, her expression unreadable. But beneath the surface, she was a predator biding her time. Her self-control not to charge at Ace right now showed how much she truly hated him. Therefore, she was willing to wait as long as needed for the perfect moment to strike.


    "It doesn''t matter. Let''s get to safety first," Ace ignored Matthews'' question, his focus instead on getting everyone to safety.


    Delores raised an eyebrow, taken aback. This was a whole new side of Ace. She had pegged him as a wimp, but now she saw the truth¡ªhe was a wolf in sheep''s clothing. And she couldn''t help but feel a newfound admiration for him, especially since he had saved her once before.


    Even without him confirming it, she knew. It had been him. There was no mistaking that bullet¡ªthe streak of electricity and light trailing behind was unmistakable. Though the speed and power of the bullet were a lot lesser, she was certain they were one and the same.


    "We''re safe here," Matthews assured Ace with a steady voice before she murmured, "Dusk Dominion." Soon an enormous surge of curse energy poured out of her, flooding the room. The space around them warped, shifting into a breathtaking late-sunset landscape, they were no longer inside a room but standing on the horizon itself.


    A faint glow outlined her figure as the cursed energy settled. "Now, nobody will disturb us. So, you can start¡ªwithout worrying about any interference," Matthews''s tone would not be more menacing.


    Her meaning was clear: if Ace dared to undermine her again, there would be serious consequences that he would not like. Ace heard her loud and clear. However, before Ace could respond, Janice stepped in front of him, her eyes burning with intensity. Ace''s expression softened, a gentle smile forming as he opened his mouth, ready to apologize¡ªSmack!


    The sharp sound echoed through the space as Janice''s palm met his cheek with full force, leaving behind a red, stinging imprint.


    "Don''t you dare lie to me ever again," she warned, her voice firm, unwavering.


    A second later, without warning, Ace slapped Janice hard. The impact sent her stumbling to the ground, her hair a tangled mess. A stunned silence filled the room, and everyone froze, their eyes wide with shock. Then, as if nothing had happened, Ace flashed a warm smile and extended a hand to her. With a calm but firm voice, he warned her, "Don''t you dare prioritize a stupid ring over my life."


    For a moment, Janice just stared at him. Then, surprisingly, she took his hand¡ªthough her other hand subtly brushed against her ear, pretending to fix her hair. In that instant, an emerald ring-shaped curse tool materialized on her middle finger. Without wasting a second, she pressed the ring against Ace''s hand, which was in her other hand.


    A sharp current surged from the emerald, sending a jolt of electricity through Ace''s entire body. His muscles seized, his limbs went limp, and before he could react¡ªthud¡ªhe collapsed face-first onto Janice. With a grunt of annoyance, she shoved his body off her and stood up. Then, without hesitation, she started kicking him mercilessly.


    "You ungrateful bastard!" she yelled, punctuating each word with a brutal kick. "I was so worried about you, not only did you dare to lie to me but this is how you repay me? I can''t believe Mandy is related to a dipshit like you!"


    While Janice took out her frustration, Sonia saw her chance. Quietly, she inched toward Ace, her expression unreadable. But before she could get any closer¡ª S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh, no, you don''t," Lola stepped in, blocking Sonia''s path. She had no idea what Ace had done to deserve Sonia''s hatred, but one thing was clear¡ªif Sonia got her hands on him, she''d kill him without hesitation. And right now, Ace couldn''t defend himself so as his friend she decided to step up.


    Sonia''s eyes narrowed, but she didn''t argue. Instead, with a deep ''Hawk'' she gathered saliva in her mouth and, with a sharp ''Tuah,'' spit on Ace''s body. Then she sneered making venomous remark, "Mark my words¡ªI am your death, Ace Lander."

 Chapter 224: Dusk Dominion

    Chapter 224: Dusk Dominion"Fuck! That hurt," Ace muttered as he slowly sat up, wincing, Janice did not hold back with her kicks. He made no move to stand, though¡ªnot when little Ace was brimming with energy.


    Apparently, the jolt of electricity that had surged through his body had done more than just paralyze him. It had stimulated him, sending an oddly pleasant tingle straight to his balls.


    "Here," Janice pulled a brass compact powder case from her left earring and held it out to him instructing, "Look into it and chant: Mirror, mirror, make me most magnificent!"


    Ace shot her a grudging look, making no move to take it. Instead, he pulled out a cleansing talisman, activated it, and let its energy wash over him, removing the spit and footprints that marred his clothes. Then, without a care for the very obvious tent in his pants, he stood up and turned his glare on Sonia.


    "You better watch your back from now on," he said, his voice low and dangerous. A menacing smile graced his lips as he continued, "I''ll chop you into a thousand little pieces and seal them in a thousand tiny Tupperware¡ªfor eternity."


    Sonia sneered, "I''d love to see you try, pervert." Still, even as she taunted him, she made a mental note that she needed to figure out a way to counter being sealed away. Now that was her worst nightmare.


    Ace shot back with a smirk, "Says the naked mutt wrapped in a mutt."


    His words hit their mark. Sonia bristled instantly, her hands curling into fists. But neither dared to get physical. Ace had been waiting for the right moment to get back at her, aware that Mrs. Martins was eyeing their every move. Inside her Dusk Dominion, she could shut them both down with just a thought.


    "Take that back!" Sonia snapped and said the four words that surprised everyone, "Scratchifer is not a mutt!"


    "Fine," Ace said with a nod, his tone all too soft and gentle before he proceeded to ask her with a mock smile, "But we both agree that you are a mutt, right?"


    A flicker of hesitation crossed Sonia''s face. It was no secret to everyone that her mind wasn''t the sharpest tool at her disposal but the realization hit a second too late, as she yelled in rage, "That''s it! You''re dead, you son of a¡ª"


    With a furious snarl, Sonia lunged at him, forgetting all about her carefully laid revenge plan. At this moment, all she wanted was to end him. But just as she was mid-air¡ªShe froze. Matthews stepped forward, her curse energy restrained Sonia mid-attack.


    "Settle down, Sonia," she said coolly eyeing Ace as she moved closer to him, informing, "He''s just riling you up to avoid explaining himself to us."


    Janice and Sonia''s eyes widened as the realization sank in¡ªthey had been playing right into his hands this whole time.


    Janice thought back to her first meeting with Ace, and then every interaction that followed. Piece by piece, the puzzle came together, and the truth hit her like a slap to the face. He''s been playing her and Delores from the start¡­ hiding behind that religious and naive act of his. Distracted by handsome looks they ate it all up off his palms.


    Sonia, on the other hand, was taken aback by something else¡ªAce''s complete willingness to harm and demean himself just to achieve his goals. She, too, was no stranger to pain or death, but that was different. She was practically immortal. Pain only made her stronger.


    But Ace?


    Sonia narrowed her eyes at him, taking in every detail. He''s not just strong¡ªhe''s decisive, ruthless, and cunning. Slippery when he needs to be. Unpredictable. That''s a dangerous enemy. Someone like him couldn''t be trusted, not a single word from his mouth could be taken at face value.


    Thankfully, she had Scratchifer. Her Werefur''s instincts had never failed her¡ªthey could see right through his lies and deceit.


    "Sonia, pay attention," Matthews instructed, stepping in front of Ace. She completely ignored the bulge in his pants, dismissing it as nothing more than the aftereffect of Janice''s attack. "Make sure he doesn''t slip away with any more lies."


    "Yes!" Sonia shouted nodding resolutely. She saw this as an opportunity¡ªnot just to get back at the most hated person in her life, but to sharpen her ability to utilize Werefur''s instincts with precision.


    Matthews locked eyes with Ace, studying him. She had to admit¡ªshe was impressed. Even when cornered, he kept up his act until the very end. That kind of discipline? That kind of composure? She liked that in an agent.


    Of course, she was disappointed that he was no longer a viable candidate for the curse slave research, but if everything about him checked out¡­ he might still have potential. Especially if Delores and Sonia''s accusations about him turned out to be true. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Talk," Matthews ordered, her voice cool and unwavering as she waited.


    "The avocado prices are on the rise¡ª" Ace started, blurting out the first thing that popped into his head. But midway through his nonsense, his throat seized. His words died before they could escape. His eyes widened in horror. What the hell? He quickly shifted his gaze to Mrs. Martins, raising his eyebrows in question: ''What''s wrong?''


    "Don''t play smart with me." Matthews'' voice was cold, unyielding. "Start from the very beginning. How did you become a Curse Master? Are you affiliated with a guild or a gang?"


    She took a step closer, her presence suffocating. "For every lie you tell," she continued, glancing at his bulging crotch her tone dropping to a menacing whisper, "or every minute you waste, I''ll crush one of your body parts."


    Ace swallowed hard. She wasn''t bluffing. It was no secret that Curse Masters operated under a very different set of rights in this country¡ªbut only if they were registered with the government.


    Ace wasn''t.


    This meant that if Matthews decided to kill him right here and now, no one would bat an eye. No one would come for justice. No one would hold her accountable. She was making that very clear to him.


    "No, I''m not affiliated with any gang or guild," Ace answered, his voice even. "I like to work alone¡ª" Before he could finish, Sonia cut him off.


    "He''s lying!" she yelled in a triumphant voice. She was enjoying the power she had over him.

 Chapter 225: The Truth

    Chapter 225: The TruthMatthews''s gaze flicked between Ace and Sonia before her left hand shot out, cupping Ace''s crotch with a grip that promised to turn it into meat mush.


    Ace''s breath hitched before he howled at the top of his lungs, "I swear I didn''t lie! That bitch just has it out for me¡ªAhhh!"


    Matthews tightened her grip, her voice calm but firm, "Language. She''s a C.I.B. trainee. That makes her superior to you an unregistered curse user."


    Ace sucked in a sharp breath, his hands hovering near her wrist but not quite daring to pry her off. "I thought I was a trainee too," he gasped, abandoning all pride and plans in a desperate attempt to save his family jewels.


    Then, to his horror, he noticed little Ace twitching¡ªswelling with excitement. Oh, hell no. His mind reeled, swearing up and down that he wasn''t some kind of masochist. It had to be Janice''s attack. That damn emerald ring curse tool had messed him up, making little Ace act on its own. Damn curse tools.


    "That was before. Also, I thought you were not¡ª" Matthews paused and scoffed, feeling the growth. Then she let go, wiping her hand on her coat like she''d touched something filthy. "Disgusting," she sharply remarked, eyeing him with thinly veiled contempt. What the hell did my daughter even see in this perverted loser?


    Well¡­ she had to admit he was capable. Not every day you see a Mortal-tier curse master blow the head off a Sky-tier one. Even if the intruder had mistaken him for a mere mortal, the gap between Sky-tier and Mortal-tier was enormous¡ªsomething no amount of skill or experience should have been able to bridge. And yet, he''d done it.


    Ace exhaled in relief, smirking as the pain finally subsided. "Still not interested. I prefer working alone."


    Matthews studied him, unimpressed. Cocky little bastard. But at least he wasn''t entirely useless. She''d let him live¡ªfor now. But the fact that she still had nothing concrete on him made her nostrils flare. Ace noticed it and was alarmed. Before she could resort to more drastic measures, he blurted out, "I only became a curse master recently! It''s impossible for me to have joined a gang or guild already!"


    Sonia folded her arms, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. "How is that possible? How did you manage to become a curse master without any help?" She leaned in slightly, watching him like a predator waiting for a slip-up. "Also," she continued, voice laced with certainty, "I clearly remember you hanging around with a curse master cos playing as Emi Nakamura. You two were obviously in cahoots."


    She was determined to expose him, to prove that she wouldn''t forgo her duties out of personal vendetta and wasn''t the liar in this situation¡ªthat Ace was the one spouting nothing but bullshit.


    Matthews exhaled slowly, her patience thinning. "My patience is waning, Ace." Her voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.


    The only reason she hadn''t taken a more¡­ persuasive approach was that she actually liked the kid. He had a way of operating that she respected¡ªdecisive yet cautious. She wanted him. Not as a test subject, but as an agent. She could mold him into another Jason or Layla.


    That was the only reason he still had both testicles. Because if she truly wanted answers, she knew exactly how to make a man sing. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace sighed, knowing that with Sonia here, he wouldn''t be able to spin this in his favor without giving up at least some truth. Left with little choice, he began, "Do you remember the incident where a curse initiation array formation was found on Principal Martins''s school rooftop?"


    Matthews frowned, her arms crossing tightly over her chest as she signaled him to continue, "Yes. What about it?"


    That incident had been linked to the S.S.S.¡ªthe worst of the worst in the World of Curses. If Ace had anything to do with them, his future was as good as dead.


    Ace hesitated, then exhaled. "That curse array formation¡­ was how I became a curse master."


    He said it with a heavy heart, subtly watching Sonia''s reaction from the corner of his eye. Damn it. Her presence made it harder for him to craft a story that painted him in a better light. Well. The truth was good enough but he didn''t plan to reveal everything. As long as the C.I.B. remained unaware of his true prowess, he could still move in the shadows¡ªprepare for the unknown and those scheming against him accordingly.


    "How is that possible? Don''t you live in my in-laws''s town? That''s three hours from the city where my husband''s school is," Matthews'' expression darkened as she took a step closer, reaching for Ace''s wrist. Only she knew what she intended to do¡ªbut just before she could, Sonia''s voice cut through the tension, "He''s not lying."


    Matthews froze mid-motion, then snapped her head toward Sonia. "What?" Her shock quickly turned to frustration as she remarked, "We need to get your curseling tested."


    Sonia, unfazed, folded her arms and defended her curseling partner, "No. There''s nothing wrong with Scratchifer''s instincts. Let''s hear him out first."


    Her tone made it clear¡ªshe wasn''t about to let her personal issues with Ace interfere with her duty as a C.I.B. agent. Besides, she had to be smart. She couldn''t do anything to Ace right now, so she might as well score some favor with Matthews. That could be useful down the line.


    Then, another voice spoke up.


    "Ace just transferred to our school," Lola said, stepping forward. "He''s only been to the school for two days. At most."


    Matthews narrowed her eyes, considering this. Slowly, she exhaled, her stance relaxing just a fraction.


    "Is that so?" she muttered, then turned her piercing gaze back to Ace. "Tell me everything. Don''t leave out a single detail¡ªbecause that incident was linked to some very high-profile curse criminals."


    "High-profile curse criminals?" Delores asked, her brow furrowing. "Someone I know?"


    No matter what, Ace was her benefactor. When the time came, she planned to repay that debt¡ªno matter the cost.


    Matthews'' expression remained unreadable as she answered, "The S.S.S." Causing silence to take over the room.


    Janice, Sonia, and Delores all stiffened, their eyes widening in shock. Then, almost in unison, their gazes snapped to Ace, filled with a mix of wariness and disbelief.


    The S.S.S. was no ordinary criminal organization. Their reputation preceded them. They were a menace to both worlds.


    However, Ace felt otherwise.

 Chapter 226: Hunting S.S.S.

    Chapter 226: Hunting S.S.S.Ace didn''t agree that the S.S.S. was a menace to both worlds, but he could admit their notorious reputation was enough to justify the shocked looks on Janice, Delores, and Sonia''s faces.


    The S.S.S. wasn''t some all-powerful force¡ªit was just a small and tight nit organization of curse criminals who would do anything as long as it got them paid. Sure, they were a force to be reckoned with in the Mortal World, but in the Curse World? The Curse Enforcers dealt with organized curse criminals like them all the time. Compared to the real monsters lurking there, the S.S.S. was bottom-tier.


    In fact, the way their low-tier and new members farmed innate curse tools from newborn curse users¡ªpeople they themselves groomed¡ªsaid everything about how cowardly they really were. The oil mercenaries were far more dangerous than these wannabes. At least they were upfront about their ways and wouldn''t hesitate to do whatever it took to get the job done.


    The incident at Weasley Winery alone was proof enough. If Ace hadn''t meddled, those bastards would have gotten away with whatever they were up to.


    "You don''t agree with us?" Matthews asked, her sharp voice cut through his thoughts while her eyes narrow as she studied his expression.


    She had noticed.


    That flicker of disdain when she called the S.S.S. high-profile curse criminals¡ªit hadn''t gone unnoticed. Now, she was wondering. Was he one of them? Or had they misled him somehow?


    Either way, his reaction¡ªand the way the others responded to it¡ªwas raising even more questions in her mind.


    "Well, they''re no big deal. What makes them dangerous is that they operate in the shadows, hiding their identities," Ace said with contempt. But when he saw the skeptical looks on their faces, he sighed and elaborated, "Gloria Hart¡ªa knight-tier curse master and a relatively new member of the S.S.S. She was hiding in my old school, pretending to be a transfer student named Ria Hart. Noticing my aptitude for Curse Energy and my¡­ less than ideal school life, she targeted me and literally forced me to awaken as a curse master on the school rooftop while claiming that she was helping me gain the strength to control my own fate."


    "But in reality? She was grooming me¡ªfor my innate curse tool." Ace''s jaw clenched, his fingers curling into fists at the memory before he continued, "Later that night, I found out what she was really up to¡ªand the horrors she had planned for my family. So, I killed her. It was either her, or me and my family. Since then, I''ve been operating alone, doing whatever it takes to keep them safe."


    Silence took over the atmosphere once again. Matthews, Janice, Delores, and Lola all fell into deep contemplation, his words settling like a heavy weight in the air. But Sonia? Sonia was stunned and also impressed. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You killed a knight-tier curse master the very day you awakened?" she asked, disbelief flashing across her face. But then, her shock gave way to curiosity. "You must have forged a very powerful innate curse tool¡­ or awakened an exceptionally strong innate curse art. Which is it?"


    For the first time, despite her resentment toward Ace, there was a flicker of admiration in her voice. Thanks to Scratchifer, she knew Ace wasn''t lying¡ªthere wasn''t even a hint of deceit in his words. That made it easier to accept his story. To appreciate his struggle for survival and what he had gone through.


    Meanwhile, Matthews'' eyes sharpened. It all made sense to her now. She began to piece everything together. she realized the real reason the S.S.S. had been gathering around her husband''s school that day. They weren''t planning on operating there. They were there for revenge. Ace had killed one of their own, and they wanted payback.


    Thankfully for Ace, Matthews'' overprotective instincts for her daughter had become his saving grace. As she sent Crimson Eyes to cleanse the neighborhood of all curse users. If not for that, he and his entire family would have been dead by now. However, with this newfound clarity, more questions flooded her mind.


    How did Ace figure out Gloria''s plan for him?


    How did he manage to kill her?


    How did he escape Crimson Eyes'' search?


    How was he still alive after killing an S.S.S. member? Why haven''t they come to find him after that incident?


    And how, in just a matter of weeks, had he become this capable and resourceful?


    Matthews didn''t let her confusion show. Keeping her expression unreadable and stern as ever, she prepared to question him¡ªone by one. But before she could, Janice beat her to it.


    "Now it all makes sense," Janice muttered, eyeing Ace with newfound understanding. "I can''t believe you only recently became a curse master. You act like a veteran in the ''World of Curses.''"


    Ace smirked, shrugging like it was no big deal, and touted his own horns, "What can I say? I adapt quickly."


    Janice let out a small huff, shaking her head with an amused smile. Yep, she''d forgiven him. It was hard to stay mad at that face¡ªespecially after hearing everything he''d been through.


    Meanwhile, Lola silently thanked her lucky stars that she had run into Jason instead. Sure, his methods were crude and easily misunderstood, but compared to Ace''s awakening story? Hers was practically a fairytale. Then again¡­ maybe she wouldn''t feel that way if she had the memory of a void-tier curse master who had tried to kidnap her during her awakening.


    "So, you''re not connected to the S.S.S.?" Delores asked, her gaze sharp, wanting to make absolutely sure Ace had no ties to those scumbags.


    "Nope," Ace replied easily. Then, with a smirk, he added, "But if you want more proof, I know where we can find a few of them. Want to go hunting? I bet they''ve got some powerful innate curse tools. We split them based on our contribution. Since, I provided the information I get to chose one curse tool from the pool first."

 Chapter 227: Checkmate

    Chapter 227: CheckmateEveryone went silent once again. Delores, Matthews, Janice, and Sonia all stared at Ace in disbelief. It wasn''t his readiness to kill that stunned them¡ªeveryone knew one couldn''t survive in the ''World of Curses'' without being prepared to take a life. It was who he was so casually willing to go after.


    People were cautious when dealing with the S.S.S. Even high-tier curse masters knew better than to provoke them outright. There was a fine line between confidence and recklessness.


    However, Ace showed he was capable of handling even the likes of Sky-tier curse master. He had killed one and incapacitated another. Maybe he wasn''t just talking big and was serious.


    "How do you know where they are?" Matthews asked, narrowing her eyes and pondering, ''How had a newborn curse master figured out something the Bureau couldn''t?''


    Ace shrugged, his expression unreadable as he answered, "Sooner or later, they''ll come for me. Might as well be ready for them." Then, without offering more detail, he urged, "Let''s go get them before they scatter."


    Janice let out an exasperated sigh, rolling her eyes, "You do remember that we''re in hiding right now, right?"


    She couldn''t believe how bloodthirsty he sounded. Then again¡­ considering what the S.S.S. had put him through, it wasn''t that surprising. Not to mention, considering the various curse tools he had shown so far she concluded he had hunted a good number of curse masters to mass a small wealth of curse tools.


    "You''re insane," Sonia muttered, shaking her head. The Everhart Guild had few dealing with the S.S.S. when they needed people to do something even they did not have stomach for. Therefore, she had first-hand experience of just how dangerous the S.S.S. really was. But Ace''s capabilities also spoke for themselves.


    Still, that didn''t mean she was going to let him take them all to their deaths. With a wicked smirk, she said, "You don''t get to die so easily. I plan to kill you myself¡ªslowly and in the cruelest way possible."


    Ignoring Sonia''s remark, Ace turned to Delores and Mrs. Martins, his gaze sharp as he hurried them, "We might not get an opportunity like this again. Based on my estimates, we can catch at least four of them."


    He wasn''t usually the type to take unnecessary risks. His sudden enthusiasm might have seemed out of character. But there was a reason for it¡ªhe needed time.


    Time to figure out a convincing lie about his innate curse tool and arts without getting caught by Sonia''s scrutiny. The truth about his Cursed Toybox was too dangerous.


    It wasn''t just some ordinary toy animation ability¡ªit brought to life entire conceptual universes, fully adapted to the laws of the ''World of Curses.'' If anyone found out what it was truly capable of, he''d be in serious trouble.


    Because the real danger wasn''t the animated toys. It was the intellectual property that they brought to life with them.


    Take the Fasting Pill from Emi''s universe, for example. Compared to everything else he could introduce from that universe in this world, it was one of the least valuable things and of little significance. But here? With the right management and marketing, it could easily turn into a billion-dollar industry.


    Obesity was deeply rooted in their country, and plenty of people would gladly sacrifice their health just to be a size zero. Not to mention, their nation was already infamous for spending hundreds of billions on beauty and health-related products alone.


    The point was: that he couldn''t afford to reveal the truth about his innate curse tool. Not until he had enough power to protect both himself and his family from the consequences. That meant he had to come up with an explanation¡ªone that sounded believable without exposing the true potential of his abilities.


    And the hunt for the S.S.S. members? It was the perfect distraction.


    "How sure are you about this intel?" Matthews suddenly asked, catching Janice and Sonia off guard. Delores, on the other hand, remained outwardly indifferent¡ªbut the sharp glint in her eyes made it clear she couldn''t wait to get her hands on the S.S.S.


    "They''re holed up at a highway resort near the mountain ranges behind the Weasley Winery. There are at least four of them, probably waiting for other members or scheming something. I ran into them this afternoon before heading home, so we need to hurry maybe we will be able to catch them," Ace revealed, keeping his tone casual¡ªthough he deliberately left out one crucial detail.


    That resort was actually one of their secret hideouts. If he mentioned that, Matthews would insist on setting up surveillance to catch bigger fish instead of just a few low-tier members. And while that might seem like the smarter move, Ace knew better.


    The S.S.S. were too cautious which was why they were able to survive so long in Mortal World despite their notorious reputation. The moment they sensed they were being watched, they''d disappear without a trace. No way was he letting that happen.


    Matthews studied him for a moment, then abruptly switched gears, "So, Sonia was right. You were the one who tipped off the C.I.B. about the Everhart Guild''s plan."


    Ace stiffened cussing in his mind, ''Damn.'' Noticing She wasn''t going to let this go. And with Sonia here, lying wasn''t an option.


    Matthews wasn''t just curious¡ªshe was concerned. Whoever leaked that intel had somehow gotten their hands on the private contact information of multiple high-ranking C.I.B. officials. The breach had been so alarming that they''d launched an internal investigation, suspecting a hacking incident. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Considering their servers were mostly made up of cursed gadgets, the possibility of a cyberattack had them on higher alert.


    Ace exhaled, realizing he was cornered. Checkmate. There was no avoiding this.


    "Yes, it was me," he admitted, his voice steady despite the weight of the confession. "I got the contact information by hacking into Layla''s cursed smartphone."


    "What?" Matthews'' expression darkened¡ªnot in anger at him, but at Layla. Because somehow, she hadn''t even noticed her cursed gadget had been compromised.

 Chapter 228: Worthy Hunt

    Chapter 228: Worthy HuntHearing Ace finally admit his role in her father''s downfall, Sonia and Scratchifer let out a low, threatening growl, their gazes locked onto him with pure hostility.


    Ace, unfazed, smirked and taunted, "What? You wanna have a go, mutt?"


    Sonia''s eyes flashed with rage, informing him "You lowlife! How dare you insult a C.I.B. agent in training? For your offense, by the power vested in me by the state I sentence you to death," Her nails extended three inches in an instant, their razor-sharp edges gleaming under the setting sun as she lunged, aiming straight for his neck.


    But just as her claws were about to draw blood, Matthews caught her wrist in a firm grip.


    "I like that you are adapting to your new title," Matthews said, her voice calm but commanding. "But he''s a trainee too. And I don''t tolerate infighting among my people."


    ''Her people?'' Ace nearly scoffed.


    He wanted to emphasize that he had no interest in joining the C.I.B. but decided to postpone the discussion until later¡ªmaybe when Mrs. Martins was in a better mood. He wasn''t afraid to use Ava to deal with her if necessary.


    As much as Ace loved his country, he had no desire to be roped into some organization''s power struggle, especially one that wouldn''t benefit him in any way.


    Reading the reluctance on his face, Matthews tried to sweeten the deal to tempt him informing him, "You''d receive priority training and never have to worry about resources again."


    Ace arched a brow, "Awesome. Where do I sign?" he replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Before Matthews could respond, Sonia scoffed. "Could you be more fake?"


    Ace turned to her, finally deciding it was time to put her in her place. "What is your problem?" he asked coolly, his eyes narrowing.


    He wasn''t just calling her out¡ªhe was setting the stage. If he played this right, he''d chip away at her legitimacy, making it easier to slip past any little discrepancies down the line.


    "My problem? You guys!" Sonia snapped, her voice rising with frustration. "You''re so entitled! The C.I.B. is practically drooling over you, while my father had to¡ª"


    "That''s enough, Sonia!" Matthews cut in sharply, her voice laced with authority causing Sonia to stiffen.


    Sonia stopped biting back the rest of her words, but the anger in her eyes burned brighter. It infuriated her how effortlessly Matthews had just handed Ace a spot in the C.I.B., when her father had to sell his soul to secure the same opportunity for her. She had nowhere to vent, no one to blame except Ace. And she knew better than to direct her anger at Matthews.


    Matthews had to act¡ªseeing Sonia was about to spill classified information. Worse, she was dangerously close to revealing her true identity. Guild Leader Everhart was her hidden ace, and Matthews wasn''t about to let him be exposed just because a teenager couldn''t keep her emotions in check.


    For a moment, she studied Sonia with a mixture of disappointment and scrutiny. Was this really someone raised in the ''World of Curses''? Right now, Sonia is acting more like a spoiled brat than a battle-hardened curse user.


    Maybe it was her father and guild members'' unconditional love that had made her spoiled her rotten. It was clear from how Astrid, a cold-blooded killer, treated her with tenderness. Or maybe¡­ it could also be the arrogance that came with her immortality making her reckless.


    "So, are we doing this?" Ace asked, his gaze shifting between Mrs. Martin and Delores. These two were the only ones experienced and strong enough to take part in this hunt.


    He had already done enough to chip away at Sonia''s credibility in Mrs. Martin''s eyes. If he kept targeting her at every turn, she''d eventually catch on to what he was doing¡ªand that was the last thing he wanted.


    "Yes," Matthews confirmed with a nod. Then, turning to Lola, she added, "This hunt should be worthy enough for her to draw her first blood."


    Ace blinked, taken aback.


    "What?" he asked, genuinely surprised. He had thought it would be just him, Matthews, and Delores participating in this hunt, but Lola? That was a shock.


    From the prowess she had shown in her fight against Sonia, he knew she was strong. But being strong and being ready were two entirely different things. She had no real experience as a curse master, and bringing her along on a hunt against the S.S.S. would only make her a liability. He hated thinking of a friend that way¡ªbut facts were facts.


    "Don''t underestimate our Lola," Janice said, ruffling the girl''s hair with a proud grin. "She''ll become the strongest curse master our country¡ªno, the mortal world¡ªhas ever produced." Lola shyly looked down, her cheeks flushing at the praise.


    Ace and Sonia exchanged wide-eyed glances. That was a bold claim. But what really caught their attention was how neither Matthews nor Delores refuted it. That meant there might actually be some truth to it. Their gazes snapped to Lola, now studying her intently. Trying to figure out her strengths and secrets.


    "Alright, Janice, teleport us there," Matthews ordered, having decided to hunt down an S.S.S. member when she got the opportunity as it would serve as a strong warning for other organized curse criminals reminding them not to think of themselves above the law.


    Janice shot her a look of pure disdain as she did not plan to use her precious teleportation curse tool over this. Not a chance. That thing had a 12-hour cooldown, and wasting it on hunting the S.S.S.¡ªwhich could go south fast¡ªwasn''t a logical decision.


    Subtly touching her left earring, she retrieved a canoe-shaped curse tool which materialized on the floor. It wasn''t big¡ªfit for two people comfortably, four if they all squeezed in back-to-back. Pointing at it, she said, "You guys take the canoe. I''ll go with Delores."


    Matthews eyed the small vessel, then the three people she''d have to cram in with. She raised an eyebrow, demanding, "You don''t have anything bigger?"


    "Nope," Janice said, folding her arms. "But it''ll be more than enough with Lola''s innate curse tool." She and Delores waited expectantly for Matthews to withdraw her Dusk Dominion.


    Ace was stunned. Everyone was coming? He could understand Sonia tagging along¡ªshe was unkillable¡ªbut Lola and Janice? With their strength levels, they were just liabilities.


    Then, out of nowhere, a strange, instinctual tingle ran down his balls, serving as a sharp reminder not to underestimate Janice. He flinched, unconsciously covering his groin, though it was pointless. Janice''s emerald ring curse tool didn''t specifically target that area¡­ it was just an unfortunate side effect. And suddenly, he wasn''t so sure about anything anymore.


    Before he could dwell on it, Lola''s voice cut through his thoughts. "Guys, don''t resist!" Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace turned just in time to see Lola wearing her plush innate curse tool¡ªan oversized humanoid dinosaur costume with her face in its mouth. The head of the costume acted as a helmet, and before he could process what was happening, its mouth suddenly expanded wide enough to fit two people inside.


    His vision went dark as the gaping maw swallowed him whole. He tensed instinctively but forced himself to relax. He trusted Lola and the others¡­ he just really hoped this wasn''t about to be the worst decision of his life.


    "Let''s go," Lola said, patting her belly with her small, skinny dinosaur arms.


    Matthews didn''t move immediately. Instead, she hesitated for a moment staring at Lola''s costume''s comically large belly before asking, "Are they okay in there?"


    "Yes," Lola nodded, then added, "I should check on them before they panic and do something stupid. So, please take care of me." Without waiting for Matthews'' response, she hopped into the back seat of the canoe-shaped curse tool. Once she got comfortable, she sank into her costume, disappearing as its jaw snapped shut, as if the plush had gone into sleep mode.


    "Wait¡­" Matthews started to say, wanting to ask more questions, but she trailed off as Lola fully vanished inside the dinosaur suit along with the others.


    "Quit staring at the damn plush and get moving," Janice snapped, crossing her arms. Matthews was still standing there, dumbfounded, gaping at the oversized dinosaur plush as if at a total loss for words. The reason she was so out of it was that this was the first time she had seen a nonstationary curse tool that could store a living person without harming them.


    Snapping out of it, she shook her head, climbed into the canoe, and took control, feeding her curse energy into it while withdrawing her Dusk Dominion. In a fraction of a second, Delores scooped up Janice on her innate curse tool and carried her out of the resort, speeding toward the highway resort Ace had mentioned.


    Halfway through the route, she noticed they were not being followed, so she slowed down slightly, allowing Matthews to catch up.


    But Matthews wasn''t alone.


    Standing atop Lola''s massive dinosaur plush was a child¡ªone whose eyes gleamed with an unsettling wisdom that only came with age. It was Evil Eyes.


    Fixing his gaze on Janice, he spoke calmly. "Young Miss, next time, please remember to inform me if you''re heading out."

 Chapter 229: Heaven?

    Chapter 229: Heaven?"Are we in heaven?" Sonia asked, her bare feet sinking into a white, fluffy floor that felt like clouds. She looked up, puzzled, to see a vast, cloudy blue sky. In the center of it all, an enormous cross gleamed like a miniature sun, illuminating the dreamlike space.


    Ace snorted, commenting, "If you''re here, I seriously doubt it." Then, as his gaze trailed over her naked body, he smirked and added, "Not that I''m complaining about the view."


    Sonia''s head snapped toward him, ready to shut him down, but the moment she caught his leering gaze and perverted grin, she became more self-conscious and felt her plus-sized bosom bounce around more than usual causing her to instinctively look down. A jolt of realization hit her¡ªScratchifer was missing¡­and she was completely naked.


    "Scratchifer! Madam Scratchifer!" she called out, her voice firm. Not once did she make an effort to cover herself from Ace''s stare.


    Ace, thrown off by her boldness, quickly looked away losing interest. Her lack of shame took the fun out of it. There was a reason why nip slips and wardrobe malfunctions were such a hit with paparazzi¡ªthe thrill of capturing something forbidden. But Sonia? The moment Sonia stripped that thrill and the forbidden aspect away, she could not have been more cruel to Ace.


    Losing interest in Sonia''s vulgar body, Ace tilted his head back toward the sky. The cross suspended at the center of it looked familiar to him. A second later, it clicked. It was the same as the one on the pendant he''d gifted to Lola during the charity event. His brows furrowed, pondering, ''Was Lola''s innate curse tool the pendant or the plush?''


    Meanwhile, Sonia was spiraling. "Madam Scratchifer!" she yelled again, her voice climbing in pitch. No matter how many times she called, no response came. Panic tightened around her chest. Her brain was never her strongest asset, in distress it was stuck in a loop. Like a jammed tape recorder she kept repeating the same name over and over in a desperate attempt to summon her curseling.


    Annoyed, Ace decided to do himself a favor and spelled it out for her, "If you haven''t figured it out yet, we can''t use curse energy in here. So stop yelling for your mutt and, for the love of all things decent, cover yourself. I don''t know how much longer my eyes can handle your vulgarity."


    Sonia''s eyes narrowed before sternly warning him with a sharp voice, "Madam Scratchifer is not a mutt. And what the hell is that supposed to mean? Just a second ago, your eyes were glued to my body and you were practically drooling over me." She was brutally honest, reminding him that his eyes clearly hadn''t found her body so vulgar earlier.


    Before Ace could shoot back a retort, the cloud beneath Sonia suddenly shifted, rising and wrapping around her body. In an instant, it transformed into a fluffy white dinosaur onesie¡ªeerily similar to Lola''s dinosaur costume. Turns out the fluffy thing under there feet wasn''t the cloud but cotton stuffing of the plush.


    Then, Lola''s voice echoed around them, filled with guilt, as she repeatedly apologized to Sonia, "I''m sorry, Sonia. I should''ve thought things through before sending you in here. I really am sorry."


    Ace rolled his eyes. "Enough, Lola. She doesn''t care¡ªshe''s a nudist," he said sarcastically before getting to what actually mattered. "Anyway, why can''t I use my curse energy in here?" He really hated the feeling of being truly alone with out his cursed toybox and toys.


    Sonia had been ready to snap back at him, but his question made her pause as it mattered to her too. More importantly, she wanted to get a better read on Lola''s abilities¡ªespecially since they might end up competing at the C.I.B. training camp. For someone who rarely used her brain, she had a knack for these little calculations. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lola hesitated for a moment and pointing at the glowing cross hanging above them she explained, "It''s a condition I had to set as anything with curse energy in here will be incinerated by the cross and turned into nourishment for it and the plush''s curse core."


    After a brief pause, she added, "But by adding this condition, I indirectly weakened the plush''s swallowing ability, as when under this condition it can only swallow targets weaker than it or those that don''t resist its ability."


    "Does that mean that without that condition, you could swallow anyone¡ªeven a Void-Tier?" Sonia asked, dread creeping into her voice. She prayed that wasn''t the case. If it was, her immortality might not be enough against Lola. Even if she somehow regenerated after being incinerated by the cross, she''d still be trapped in this space¡ªwhere Lola had absolute control.


    Lola nodded casually as if it were no big deal, saying, "Pretty much. But honestly, I could use some help swallowing, closing the gap in our strength."


    Ace and Sonia exchanged a look. So that''s why Janice could so confidently claim Lola would become the strongest curse master the Mortal World had ever made.


    "I hate you," Sonia muttered, though her response was exaggerated she was being honest. Now it all made sense¡ªwhy Matthews favored Lola so much. She was just too strong for a Mortal-Tier curse master. Sonia couldn''t even imagine what she''d be capable of if she reached Void Tier. Then she turned to briefly look at Ace who actually killed a Sky-tier like popping a watermelon. It was then she knew that she could not keep her promise to her father¡ªto top the C.I.B. agent training.


    Lola simply bobbed her head in understanding, as if accepting Sonia''s resentment was the most natural thing in the world.


    Meanwhile, Ace was lost in thought, trying to work through a problem far more pressing¡ªhow to counter someone like Lola. If she could seal his curse energy so easily, was there a way to block it? Maybe some kind of toy that could resist her near-miraculous abilities?


    His train of thought shattered as a searing heat engulfed his body. A sharp inhale was all he allowed himself before the pain became unbearable. His skin turned red-hot, and in an instant, his clothes burned away, reduced to nothing but ash.


    Despite the agony, he remained unnervingly calm. "Lola," he said through clenched teeth, "what the hell is happening?"

 Chapter 230: Scheming Sonia

    Chapter 230: Scheming Sonia"How the heck are you using curse energy? It was supposed to be sealed the moment you entered here!" Lola exclaimed, panic creeping into her voice. She didn''t spare a second glance at Ace''s red-hot, very exposed situation.


    Sonia, on the other hand, arched a brow, both impressed and entertained. Watching Ace writhe in pain and struggling not to scream, brought her way more joy than it should have.


    Ace barely heard them over the roaring heat inside him. He focused, checking on his curse energy¡ªand sure enough, Lola was right. His curse energy was active, but it wasn''t just active¡ªit was burning through him like fuel, heating his body from the inside out. If this kept up, he''d be cooked alive long before he ran out of curse energy.


    ''Shit,'' Realizing the danger, he immediately cut off all curse activity, but as he did, he found out why he was able to use curse energy after it was sealed away in the first place?


    Inside the cursed toybox, Dame Wasp and Emi were hard at work. Using the status screen, they had been guiding the toybox on how to undo the seal that blocked their Master from accessing his curse energy¡ªand them.


    Ace clenched his jaw, cussing in his mind, ''These adorable idiots.'' If not for the pain of being bbq''ed inside out, he would have been able to appreciate their effort better. Without hesitation, he immediately ordered them to stop using the status screen, [Cease all curse activities outside the toybox¡ªnow!]


    Once they obeyed, he activated his curse concealment arts, hoping it would be enough to fool Lola''s curse tools and finally put an end to his suffering. Slowly, his body cooled. His skin returned to its usual Caucasian complexion, and the unbearable heat subsided.


    Noticing this, Lola let out a relieved sigh. "Ace, you okay?" she asked, her voice laced with guilt as she continued to apologize, "I''m really sorry. I still can''t completely control the cross¡ªit''s too strong. I didn''t mean for this to happen."


    Sonia, meanwhile, scowled. Not only had Ace recovered, but he was now pulling out fresh clothes to change into. Damn it.


    Despite the pain he had just endured, Ace endured being burned briefly to take out a set of clothes to change into. He had stashed extra clothes with Emi, expecting his outfit to be ruined in a fight¡ªnot like this.


    Ignoring Lola''s guilt and Sonia''s disappointment, he quickly dressed, making a mental note to thank his cursed toys later. They had shown him that he could count on them even when he was expecting it.


    "You got another set of clothes?" Sonia asked, setting aside her pride and their ongoing grudges¡ªat least for now. She knew she''d have to do that in the C.I.B. training camp anyway, so she might as well start practicing. Then, when the moment was right, when he started trusting her or when he was most vulnerable, she''d stab him in the back. After all, no matter how powerful a curse master was, their heart was still human at its core. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No," Ace said flatly, not even pretending to consider it. He did have extra clothes with Emi, but there was no way in hell he was sharing. Especially with Sonia.


    Sonia eyed the red checkered flannel shirt he was about to throw on over his black t-shirt. "That flannel will do," she said, reaching for it.


    Before her fingers could even graze the fabric, Ace yanked it away and swiftly slipped it on, buttoning it up without missing a beat. He knew her too well¡ªSonia would rather strut around naked than owe him anything. The fact that she was going against her own nature meant she was up to something. And even if she wasn''t, he still wouldn''t help her. Not even at gunpoint.


    Lola and Sonia both stared at him, looking a mix of surprised and vaguely offended.


    "What?" Ace deadpanned, completely unfazed. "I''m chilly."


    Lola shook her head and sighed, deciding she had better things to do. "I''ll go check if we''re there yet," she muttered, walking away.


    Sonia, however, kept her eyes on Ace, her expression hardening, thinking, ''He might be a pervert through and through, but he had resisted my charm way too easily.''


    If Ace knew what she was thinking, he''d laugh in her face saying, ''You''re delusional.''


    But she wasn''t. She knew her body was the kind that made men go wild, bending to her every whim. It had worked on countless others. The problem? Ace wasn''t like them.


    After tasting the unrealistically perfect Emi, his standards had skyrocketed. Even a supermodel wouldn''t be enough for him now¡ªunless, of course, they threw something extra into the mix. Something forbidden. Something taboo. For the thrill of it. Otherwise, he would not be interested.


    Before things could escalate further between them, a sudden suction force yanked them away. The next moment, they found themselves standing in the middle of a dark forest.


    As their eyes adjusted to the dim surroundings, they spotted Matthews, Delores, and Evil Eyes huddled around Janice. She was using a scope-shaped curse tool to surveil the highway resort, which was a few miles away.


    Just as Sonia opened her mouth to ask what they had learned so far, Evil Eyes turned toward them. Without a word, he lifted his tiny index finger to his lips and hushed them with a sharp, "Shhh."


    Ace and Sonia had to stifle their laughter¡ªthere was something undeniably funny about being shushed by someone trapped in the body of a nine-year-old. Meanwhile, Lola whispered under her breath, "So cute."


    Sonia side-eyed her and corrected her, "Cute? I think the word you''re looking for is creepy." She shuddered slightly. Despite his childlike appearance, Evil Eyes was over a hundred years old.


    Hearing this, Evil Eyes exhaled in exasperation, shaking his head. "Is it just me, or are the new recruits getting more ignorant and more disrespectful by the day?" he muttered under his breath before turning back, waiting for Janice''s update.

 Chapter 231: The Leprechaun Scope

    Chapter 231: The Leprechaun Scope"There are ten of them¡ªtwo Sky-tier, two Ocean-tier, one Earth-tier, and five Hero-tier," Janice said, passing the scope to Matthews reminding them, "There could be more since the scope doesn''t register those concealing their curse energy."


    Matthews studied the High Resort for a while before sighing and informing, "Too many civilians. I''ll have to deploy curse dominion dragging them all in it."


    Evil Eyes and Delores frowned as fighting within Matthews''s Dominion would limit them¡ªthey would have to alter their combat style. This was especially true for Delores, who thrived in open spaces, moving with the wind.


    Before either of them could voice their concerns, Ace casually held out his hand toward Mrs. Martin, silently asking for the scope. The trio exchanged glances, momentarily taken aback by this bold gesture. But Mrs. Martin humored him, passing it over.


    Ace took the scope, fed it his curse energy, and brought it to his eye. The view shifted¡ªeverything without curse energy vanished, leaving only figures of raw, flickering energy. No faces, only silhouettes, their tiers distinguishable by the size and intensity of their curse energy form.


    "Here''s the plan," Ace said, lowering the scope. "I''ll lure a few of them out by sniping one. Mrs. Martin, you deploy your Dominion¡ªtake control of the resort and eliminate the ones still inside. Evil Eyes, Delores, you handle the ones coming for me."


    As he spoke, he pulled out his Rail Rifle and, without hesitation, attached the scope to it. He didn''t bother asking Janice for permission¡ªshe had plenty of these tools, and she wouldn''t miss one if he borrowed it temporarily. Normally, he wouldn''t be so shameless. But with this scope, his Rail Rifle felt complete. With it, he could hit targets tens of miles away without needing Dame Wasp to guide his aim.


    Ace''s little stunt didn''t escape Janice''s notice. She just rolled her eyes, wondering how someone as genuine-hearted as Mandy could be related to such a shameless weasel.


    Meanwhile, Matthews, Evil Eyes, and Delores exchanged glances, silently assessing Ace''s plan. It was plausible and more importantly none of them would be restricted because of the other. The only real concern was if none of the Sky-tier enemies left the resort or if more were hiding inside. In that case, Matthews would be outnumbered. But even then, she wouldn''t be outmatched, and they could wrap up their side quickly to back her up.


    After a brief pause, the trio nodded in agreement. They''d go with Ace''s plan and improvise on the get-go as needed.


    Seeing the decision made, Janice pulled out earbud-type curse gadgets and handed one to each of them, explaining, "These work like regular walkie-talkies but with a wider range, better connectivity, and resistance to most curse energy interference. So, keep the line clear unless you''ve got something important to report."


    Sonia, not wanting to be sidelined, took an earbud and asked, "What are we supposed to do?"


    Evil Eyes gave her a long, unimpressed look before deadpanning, "Go hide somewhere and don''t get caught."


    Sonia bristled, barking, "Shut up, freak! How dare you order a C.I.B. agent trainee?" Then she turned to Matthews for instructions instead¡ªonly to hear her repeat the same.


    "Find a good spot and stay out of sight," Matthews said, then, seeing Sonia''s frustration, added dryly, "Don''t worry. I''ll save two Earth-tier for you and Lola."


    Sonia crossed her arms, clearly about to protest that it wasn''t enough¡ªshe wanted in on the real hunt. But Matthews cut her off with a sharp look, sternly wording, "I hate repeating myself."


    Sonia clenched her jaw, but before she could push further, Janice placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Just follow my lead," she said.


    Too disheartened to be defiant, Sonia gave in with a reluctant nod.


    After securing the earbud-type curse gadget in his ear, Ace glanced at Janice, who was preparing to lead the girls deeper into the woods, and called out asking, "Janice, do you have something that can increase the odds of triggering an effect?"


    Janice paused, surprised wondering, ''Was he treating her like a personal supply depot now?'' Ultimately, She sighed and answered anyway, "The Leprechaun Scope is enough. It boosts the user''s luck¡ªbut only while using it. It''s designed that way so the user doesn''t get caught when scouting enemies. But I guess you could use it with your rifle too when using it for aiming." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That''s perfect. Thanks for the gift." Ace grinned shamelessly, claiming the Leprechaun Scope as his own, and before Janice could protest or even open her mouth to object, he bolted toward the highway, searching for a vantage point with access to a strong enough electric source to charge his rifle. Evil Eyes and Delores exchanged glances before hurrying after him.


    Janice scowled at Ace''s disappearing figure, but then she let out a deep breath and shook her head thinking, ''No point in arguing now.'' Without another word, she turned and led Lola and Sonia deeper into the woods. Meanwhile, Matthews moved stealthily toward the Highway Resort, taking position and waiting for Ace''s signal.


    Ace soon arrived at a towering electrical pylon, its massive transformer perched at the top. Without hesitation, he started climbing. Above him, Delores and Evil Eyes hovered in the clouds, keeping watch while letting him do his thing.


    Reaching the top, Ace activated a series of talismans¡ªbarrier, invisibility, and presence erasure¡ªforming a stable platform for him at the top of the electric pylon. Then, following Dame Wasp''s precise instructions, he connected her within the rail rifle''s power chamber to the transformer using high-voltage cables that they had Emi prepare for situations like this. This time, they wouldn''t risk overloading the transformer or shorting it out like last time.


    With everything set up, Ace took position boldly thanks to the invisible talisman concealing him, and considering the distance between him and the target it would be hard for the enemies to pinpoint him except for the direction the bullet came from.


    While Dame Wasp gathered electricity within the power chamber, Ace used the scope to take aim, aiming at one of the Sky-tier curse masters. If not for the scope being able to increase his chances of triggering the mischief bullet''s effect, Ace wouldn''t have taken his chances with a sky-tier but limited himself between the two ocean-tier and the lone Earth-tier curse masters to secure a kill. After all, the loot would later be distributed based on individual contribution.


    "Bang!" After Dame Wasp had gathered more than sufficient electricity to kill a Sky-tier, Ace opened fire. Thanks to the combined effect of the Apex earring, Rail Rifle, and the Leprechaun Scope, he was sure he would not only get his target but would claim the first kill.

 Chapter 232: First Blood!

    Chapter 232: First Blood!"First blood," Ace radioed in, watching through his scope as one of the Sky-tier solitudes was erased. His mischief bullet had done its job perfectly. Meanwhile, Dame Wasp continued charging the power chamber for the next shot.


    Evil Eyes and Delores stared at the static trail left in the air by Ace''s bullet, dread creeping into their expressions. The sheer power and speed of the shot were staggering.


    Delores felt like this bullet was even stronger than the one Ace had used to rescue her. ''Was it just the distance making it seem that way?'' she wondered.


    No¡ªit wasn''t just perspective. Ace was better prepared this time, with a proper power supply allowing him to harness enough electricity to take down a Sky-tier curse master outright. And thanks to the nature of the Leprechaun Scope, he had been able to aim directly at the enemy''s core, annihilating them at the root.


    "Shit, incoming! Two Sky-tier, two Ocean-tier," Ace reported, his eyes fixed on the scope. A beat later, he tensely updated, "There are two Sky-tier at the resort and more low-tier curse masters."


    Turns out, three more Sky-tier curse masters and a lot more lower-tier curse masters were in the resort hiding their curse energy, evading the scope''s detection¡ªuntil now. The moment they activated their curse energy in alarm seeing one of them fall, the scope immediately revealed them to Ace.


    "Intercepting," Evil Eyes responded without hesitation.


    Evil Eyes, Delores, and Mrs Martins moved immediately. Through his scope, Ace watched as a veil of curse energy engulfed the entire highway resort. Just like that, the enemy had vanished from his sight being dragged into Matthew''s Dusk Dominion, securing the civilians in the resort.


    He exhaled sharply. No longer lingering on Mrs Matthews¡ªshe could handle herself. His priority was the incoming threats. Adjusting his stance, he recalibrated his aim. The fight was about to get real¡ªhis targets were no longer stationary or slow. Ace didn''t panic. Thanks to the passive effect of his Apex Earring, he remained patient and confident¡ªhis next shot would land.


    Still, he couldn''t help but wonder what the S.S.S. was up to. Five Sky-tier curse masters gathered at the resort? Last he checked, only low-level members were supposed to be there, looking to take advantage of the chaos caused by the sudden influx of Oil Mercenaries flooding the county. Something wasn''t adding up.


    "MountainOfSwords and Aztec are here¡ªI need backup, quick," Mrs. Martin''s voice crackled through the comms, urgent but composed.


    Having crossed paths with the S.S.S. many times, the C.I.B. had managed to identify most of their core and high-ranking members. Even if they only had their codenames, it wasn''t surprising that Mrs. Martin recognized them on sight.


    Evil Eyes cursed under his breath before updating, "You''ll have to hold on. MindBug and Demon7 are here too."


    That changed everything. They had severely underestimated the S.S.S.''s presence. But it wasn''t their fault¡ªnever before had so many infamous Sky-tier members of the S.S.S. gathered in one place. This was completely unexpected. Nobody had expected that their hunt for a few capable innate curse tools would turn so serious so fast.


    Mrs. Martin didn''t miss a beat and immediately instructed over the comm, "Janice, contact Layla and update her on our situation. She''ll know what to do."


    "Got it," Janice agreed.


    Ace took aim again as the 30-second down period ended and Dame Wasp finished gathering power. But there was a problem¡ªthe Sky-tier and Ocean-tier enemies were too fast for his eyes to track.


    So, he immediately radioed them in, "Evil Eyes, can you hold them down for a couple of seconds?" Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sure. Just don''t miss," Evil Eyes responded, making a snap decision to engage one of the Sky-tier, Demon7, head-on. He needed to stall them long enough for Ace to take Demon7 out.


    But if Ace didn''t land his shot, Evil Eyes would be trapped between MindBug and Demon7. Therefore, it was a dangerous gamble to make. However, he was prepared to take such a huge risk by putting his trust in Ace.


    Seeing Evil Eyes present himself, Demon7 and MindBug took the bait. They wanted to wrap this up quickly and regroup at another hideout before the McSuile and C.I.B. reinforcements arrived. Just as they thought they had Evil Eyes cornered¡ªBang!


    A streak of lightning ripped through the air.


    MindBug watched in shock as Demon7''s chest burst open, his body jolting before he began to freefall, lifeless. His form slowly dissipated into nothing leaving behind his innate curse tool.


    Panic seized her. She instinctively pulled back from Evil Eyes, scanning the battlefield. She turned to check on her Ocean-tier allies¡ªonly to find Delores had already finished them off.


    Her breath hitched. Before she could process what was happening, Evil Eyes and Delores closed in, cutting off her escape.


    "Fuck¡­" MindBug hissed, her eyes darting between them. They weren''t attacking yet¡ªthey were waiting, cautious, trapping her in. But her real concern was elsewhere. That sniper. That attack was too fast¡ªit came out of nowhere.


    She scanned the area, searching desperately¡ªuntil her eyes locked onto the electrical pylon. She couldn''t see or sense anyone there. But her innate curse tool could feel a mental field active there.


    "Found you," she muttered, realization dawning. The sniper was hiding up there.


    Then¡ªshe vanished from Delores and Evil Eyes'' field of vision. One moment, MindBug was in front of them. The next, it was as if she had never been there at all.


    Delores tensed, her eyes scanning the surroundings, ready to hunt her down¡ªbut was warned otherwise by Evil Eyes.


    "Don''t," Evil Eyes warned sharply. His voice was low but firm as he said, "She''s still right where she was."


    Delores froze in confusion, as she wasn''t able to sense anyone in front of them. Evil Eyes continued, his tone grim, clearing her confusion, "Her innate curse tool messes with her targets'' brains. It can make your senses feel things that aren''t there¡­ or erase things that are. Remember your training, stay on alert."

 Chapter 233: MindBug

    Chapter 233: MindBugDelores and Evil Eyes scanned their surroundings, relying on their various heightened senses to locate MindBug. But her innate curse tool interfered with their enhanced senses, making it impossible for them to detect her.


    MindBug, however, had already pinpointed the sniper''s position. She had priorities and didn''t spare Delores and Evil Eyes a second thought. The sniper first, then them.


    Moving like a phantom, she glided through the air using a strange curse art that allowed her to slip through unnoticed. Her presence left no trace, no ripple in the air, no shift in energy. It was as if she didn''t exist at all. With an eerie grace, she maneuvered through the shadows, unseen and undetectable.


    This way, she ensured Delores and Evil Eyes wouldn''t catch onto her presence, no matter how finely tuned their curse senses were.


    As MindBug made her way toward the electrical pylon, she suddenly slammed into an invisible wall with a dull thud. Staggering back, she scowled, lifting an eyebrow in irritation. She ran a hand over the empty space before her, then, with a flick of her fingers, sent a seed composed entirely of curse energy toward the unseen barrier.


    The curse energy seed struck the invisible wall and detonated with the force of a dozen grenades. A deafening explosion ripped through the air as both the barrier and the entire pylon were reduced to nothing but dust and rubble.


    Hearing the blast, Delores and Evil Eyes snapped their heads toward the electrical pylon, dread flashing across their faces. Without wasting a second, Delores used her earpiece and called out, "Ace, are you okay?"


    "Yes, but get me the hell out of here¡ªnow," Ace''s urgent voice crackled through the speaker as he sprinted into the densest part of the woods, pushing his speed to the limit.


    He had been prepared for this. The moment he heard Mindbug crash into the barrier, he knew it was her¡ªnot an insect, not a bird, not the wind. Thanks to Evil Eyes'' earlier warning to Delores, Ace had acted fast. Before climbing onto the pylon, he had subtly placed Emi''s replacement talisman on a boulder about his weight. The second the explosion hit, the talisman activated, swapping him out just in time.


    The blast was too concentrated¡ªso powerful it obliterated the entire electrical pylon in an instant.


    Still reeling from his near-death escape, Ace didn''t waste a second. He ran like his life depended on it¡ªbecause it did. Mindbug wouldn''t stop coming for him. Not just because he was the sniper, but because she wanted revenge for her fallen comrade, Demon7.


    The S.S.S. members were too self-serving to risk their lives avenging one another, but the organization did reward those who successfully took revenge for a fallen comrade with merits. That meant Mindbug had every reason to keep hunting him down, no matter what.


    "Can you see her?" Delores asked, not waiting for an answer as she swooped in, scooping Ace onto her surfboard-like innate curse tool. She shot into the sky at an astonishing speed, the sudden acceleration making Ace''s stomach lurch.


    For a few seconds, he was too stunned to speak, gripping onto Delores for dear life. Finally adjusting to the breakneck speed¡ªthanks to the innate curse tool''s effect¡ªhe managed to answer, "No, I can''t. That''s why I asked you to take me away from here."


    "Nope, not happening. I''m not leaving Evil Eyes and Matthews hanging," Delores shot back, her voice firm.


    Ace clenched his jaw but didn''t argue. He understood her reasoning. If she left, the odds against Evil Eyes and Matthews would skyrocket.


    One of the only reasons MindBug hadn''t attacked Delores and Evil Eyes when she had the chance was because they were covering each other''s backs. If she targeted one, she''d expose herself to the other. And for an assassin like MindBug¡ªwho wasn''t built for direct combat, either at close range or from a distance¡ªthat was a risk she wasn''t willing to take. She was a master assassin, skilled at staying hidden, waiting for the perfect opening.


    But if Delores left? That changed everything. MindBug would have a much easier time assassinating Evil Eyes before moving on to Matthews.


    Despite knowing that Ace was the target, Delores wasn''t about to prioritize his safety over the team''s survival. Instead, she made a split-second decision. She would use him as bait.


    "Hell no! I did not agree to this!" Ace shouted at the top of his lungs, realizing that Delores intended to use him as bait.


    "Ace, we agreed to improvise as the situation demanded¡ªwell, this is me improvising." Delores tightened her grip as Ace struggled with all his might to break free. Annoyed, she shot him a warning, "Settle down, or I will knock you out."


    Ace immediately stopped thrashing¡ªnot just because of her threat, but mainly because of Dame Wasp''s sudden report flashing in his eyes:


    [ ¡ªStatus Screen¡ª


    Dame Wasp: Master, I can see her. Her movement curse art is tricky, but she''s visible to me.


    Ace: Then why didn''t you warn me earlier?!


    Dame Wasp: I didn''t know. I thought you were waiting to shoot her in the face at point-blank range.


    Ace: Well, now you know. Keep an eye out.


    Dame Wasp: Master, we have enough electricity stored in the power chamber for another shot. Do you want to take it?


    Ace: Yes, if the opportunity presents itself.]


    Lost in thought, Ace suddenly felt Delores shaking him. "Hey, kid, you scared to death or something? Answer me."


    He blinked, his expression blank as if he had seen a ghost. Instead of speaking, he simply nodded¡ªaccidentally rubbing his head against Delores'' full bosom in the process.


    Delores narrowed her eyes, immediately catching on to what he was doing. But instead of making a fuss, she just sighed thinking, ''Typical hormonal teenage boy¡ªdon''t have fear or sense of time and place.'' Given the situation, she chose to ignore it.


    However, Ace took her lack of reaction as permission. Growing bolder, he subtly pressed his face against her full bosom again, feeling it up with his face, pretending it was accidental. A shiver of excitement ran through him¡ªpart thrill, part fear.


    At first, it was just an accidental move and not at all intentional, but when Delores didn''t call him out he grew bolder having felt the taste of thrill¡ªthey were in each other''s embrace escaping at a neck-breaking speed from an invisible assassin, things could not be hotter¡ªadding the forbidden factor to it, something in him snapped. That craving for the thrill overtook his better judgment, and he lost himself in it.


    He wouldn''t have dared to be this relaxed if he didn''t trust Dame Wasp to keep watch over MindBug for him.


    "Kid, you need to find a girlfriend soon, or I swear I''ll be attending your funeral next." Delores finally had enough of Ace''s antics and threatened him with death if he kept it up.


    But to her absolute dumbfoundedness, instead of backing off, Ace pressed his face harder against her chest and rubbed against it with slow and deliberate effort, letting out an exaggerated sigh, "Aww, so you are planning to attend my funeral? I knew you loved me."


    Before Delores could respond, she felt his free hand slowly trailing down her back, his fingers gliding over her waist before settling on her hip. And then¡ªhe didn''t stop. With a genuinely touched face, Ace''s hand went lower, firmly grabbing a handful of soft flesh, and giving it a playful squeeze.


    Delores exhaled sharply, narrowing her eyes. "Mandy was so wrong about you¡­ You''re a damn wolf in sheep''s clothing." She sighed, raising her hand, fully prepared to break his wrist¡ª


    But before she could, Ace abruptly let go. His hand moved up, guiding his rifle into position while he rested his chin lightly on her shoulder. His voice dropped to a whisper, "Don''t move. Hold me tight¡ªthe recoil on this thing is a bitch."


    Instinct took over, and Delores obeyed without thinking. Then¡ªBOOM!


    The rifle fired. The force of the shot sent a shockwave through both of them, nearly knocking them off balance as Delores braced hard against the recoil, keeping Ace steady in her embrace. Soon she used the wind to stabilize the surfboard.


    [ ¡ªStatus Screen¡ª


    Ace: Rose, did I get her?


    Dame Wasp: No, master. You only managed to blow off her left arm along with the shoulder. She''s retreating with her detached arm. Sorry, I couldn''t guide you to aim properly.


    Ace: No, Rose. You did great. It was Delores¡ªshe held me too tight. Pretty sure she''s into me. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dame Wasp: Don''t delude yourself, master. If you''d been a second late, it wouldn''t be the assassin''s arm but yours that would get detached.]


    Ace let out a dry chuckle at Dame Wasp''s brutal honesty but quickly shook it off. No point in dwelling on it. Pressing a finger to his earpiece, he reported, "I missed, but I managed to scare the assassin off. Let''s move¡ªhead to Mrs. Martins and wrap this up. Evil Eyes, don''t forget the curse tool."

 Chapter 234: Storm Surfer

    Chapter 234: Storm Surfer"How much longer do I have to stand like this?" Delores muttered, frowning slightly as she hovered within the clouds, Ace still wrapped around her front like an overfamiliar carryon. His chin rested on her shoulder, his arms tucked under her armpits and wrapped around her back, steadying his rifle as he aimed at the surroundings of the cursed mist veiling the Highway Resort.


    They hadn''t followed Evil Eyes into Matthew''s Dusk Dominion. Instead, she had pulled a feint, hiding in the clouds as per Ace''s suggestion. Apparently, he was taking her hunting.


    She exhaled through her nose, resisting the urge to shiver as she felt his breath brush against her collarbone, neck, and ear. Every so often, she could swear he was sniffing her. He claimed they had to stand like this so she could help absorb the recoil from his rifle, but she wasn''t buying it. The way he kept subtly shifting, pressing against her under the pretense of adjusting his aim¡ªit was obvious.


    "Bear with me," Ace murmured, his eyes locked onto his scope but ever so often they would briefly flick to the soft curve of her earlobe with a sudden urge to suck on it but he would restrain himself. Thanks to Dame Wasp monitoring the site he could afford such small distractions. "Haven''t you ever been hunting before? These things take time."


    They hovered a mile above the Highway Resort, hidden from sight. Instead of rushing to assist Matthews, they lay in wait¡ªfor MindBug.


    Delores didn''t particularly care about MindBug, but Ace did. She had seen his face. He knew that the S.S.S. might grant her a small merit for identifying him, but small wouldn''t cut it. The real reward would come from killing him and avenging her fallen comrade.


    Therefore, Ace was sure of one thing¡ªafter patching herself up, MindBug would be back. She wouldn''t just walk away from this. Whether she thought her side or the C. I. B. would win, she would be watching, waiting to harvest his life and claim the bounty on his head.


    Delores rolled her eyes at his response but remained perfectly still, standing like a statue despite Ace constantly shifting against her, rubbing himself on her whenever possible. She knew that if she moved even slightly, he''d start whining about how she was ruining his aim¡ªand worse, he''d take it as an excuse to really help himself to her body.


    Over the years, Delores had learned to work with any kind of teammate, no matter how insufferable. It was a survival skill in her line of work as the McSuile family''s retainer. And while Ace was an absolute menace, he was also proving to be an exceptional asset. For the sake of their mission¡ªand because he was showing results¡ªshe tolerated his antics. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have given a damn if he was Mandy''s nephew or a C.I.B. trainee. She''d have educated him on the consequences of getting handsy with her.


    The reason Delores didn''t mind spending time hunting MindBug was because MindBug was on McSuile''s wanted list for assassinating a direct family member. Bringing her down would be worthwhile. Besides, Delores trusted Evil Eyes and Matthews to handle the curse users trapped inside Dusk Dominion. If they needed backup, they''d radio her.


    "She''s here," Ace whispered against her ear, his breath warm against her skin. Delores stiffened, every muscle in her body going rigid, mentally exlaiming, ''Finally.'' She had endured his nonsense for this moment. If he screwed it up now, she''d make his life a living hell. Holding her breath, she stayed perfectly still, not wanting to give him the slightest excuse in case he failed.


    Ace steadied his aim, his grip firm and unshakable. Through the rifle''s Leprechaun Scope, he tracked MindBug''s movements, the crosshairs gliding with her as she slipped through the terrain. She finally stopped near the Highway Resort, tucking herself into a hiding spot.


    This time, Ace didn''t need Dame Wasp''s help to aim as MindBug''s ability wasn''t influencing them now. But through the scope, all he saw was a shadow of Sky-tier curse energy. He couldn''t be certain it was her. But Dame Wasp confirmed the target for him.


    When MindBug finally came to a halt, Ace zeroed in on her core¡ªthe source of her curse energy, where it swirled and pulsed through her body. Locking onto his target, he squeezed the trigger.


    The rail rifle fired.


    This time, the recoil hit like a jumbo Boeing plane. Ace had managed to store multiple times the required electricity to kill a Sky-tier curse user in the rifle''s power chamber by harnessing a massive lightning strike from the surrounding clouds¡ªcourtesy of Delores''s ability, Storm Surfer.


    Despite Delores''s preparedness and bracing for it, the force sent them both flying. Wind howled past as they tumbled through the sky, but thanks to Delores''s innate curse tool''s effect, they came to an abrupt yet controlled stop.


    Below them, a deafening explosion shattered the night. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Regaining her balance, Delores quickly scanned the ground. A massive crater had replaced the landscape, its depth and size resembling a small meteor impact. Everything within had been either reduced to ash or buried beneath layers of rubble. But at the very center, a single pinhole remained¡ªa narrow, unfathomably deep void marking the mischief bullet''s path.


    And right beside it, glinting under the moonlight, lay a silver-and-pearl headband. Delores recognized it instantly. MindBug had been seen wearing that same accessory on multiple occasions. Ace had once again eliminated his target with a single shot.


    With a nod of satisfaction, Delores turned to glance at him¡ªonly to find his head buried in her cleavage, clinging to her like a scared little kid. She might have believed the act¡­ if not for his free hand firmly cupping her ass, fingers sinking in with an unmistakable squeeze.


    Noticing him taking advantage of her using the situation without bothering to check on his target, Delores was amused by his confidence and audacity. She let out a quiet sigh, shaking her head with a subtle smirk.


    "Kid," she said, voice laced with dry amusement and sincerely advised, "Get yourself a girlfriend before your antics actually get you killed."

 Chapter 235: Miracle Maker

    Chapter 235: Miracle Maker"Sure. Can you be my girlfriend?" Ace asked, his voice muffled against her cleavage. The warmth of her skin, combined with his tongue accidentally grazing her cleavage, sent a shiver down his spine. Meanwhile, his hand continued kneading her ass with shameless enthusiasm.


    Delores was momentarily stunned. Not just by his words, but by the sheer boldness of his actions. Did this kid know no fear? Or was he aware that she was beginning to favor him and was just that confident she''d let him get away with his mischief? She had to admit¡ªhis direct approach did catch her off guard.


    "Nope," she shot him down without hesitation, regaining her composure she listed the reasons why she rejected him, "You''re too young for my taste. And I highly doubt you''d be able to satisfy me." With that, she flew them toward the ground to retrieve the cursed tool, intending to regroup with Matthews and Evil Eyes.


    Ace, however, was persistent.


    "I get it," he said with a dramatic sigh. Then, as if the idea had just struck him, he perked up. Lifting his head from her chest, he asked "What about a sex mentor? I bet I could learn a lot from you." As he finally worked up the nerve to bite her earlobe¡ªsoftly at first, then sucking on it just enough to test her limits.


    That was his mistake. Delores had had enough. Before he could push his luck any further, she seized the wrist of the hand still groping her and twisted it behind his back in one swift motion.


    "Ah¡ª! Ow, ow, ow!" Ace yelped in pain, immediately letting go of her earlobe.


    For a brief second, Delores seriously considered ripping his arm clean off. But no¡ªshe took a deep breath instead, forcing herself to stay rational. The fight wasn''t over yet, and the C.I.B. reinforcements were nowhere in sight. Now wasn''t the time to maim her surprisingly capable teammate.


    Then, to her absolute astonishment, Ace¡ªstill twisted in her grip¡ªdoubled down.


    "Miss Delores, no need to get physical," he said, grinning despite the pain. "Was my technique too sloppy? Just show me how it''s done once¡ªI promise to correct it, I''ve been told I''m a quick learner."


    He was getting bolder. Testing her patience. Enjoying how much she was holding back despite the anger in her heart. Delores narrowed her eyes, her grip tightening. Realizing he had definitely pushed her too far, Ace quickly backtracked. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I understand. Someone like me isn''t worthy to be your pupil," he said, his tone suddenly humble. "Please, forgive my arrogance."


    Delores wasn''t buying it. Just a few feet from the ground, she deliberately let go of him, sending him crashing into the crater below. He hit the ground with a grunt, kicking up a cloud of dust. Hovering above him, she crossed her arms and said coldly, "Collect the curse tool and get to the resort. It isn''t far from here."


    "Wait!" Ace called out, scrambling to his feet in a panic, and hurried to explain fearing she might leave without even listening to what he had to say. "Help me charge the rifle again," he blurted out before she could take off.


    Delores hesitated, then¡ªwithout a word¡ªslowly hovered down next to him, extending her hand. Ace took the chance and jumped on. But before he could steady himself, Delores shook him off with a sharp tilt of her board, sending him stumbling back down. He barely managed to land on his feet.


    "What the hell?!" he snapped, brushing dust off his flannel shirt.


    Delores stared him down, with an unimpressed stare, she ordered, "Pass me your rifle. I''ll charge it and bring it back."


    She had zero intention of letting Ace on her board again.


    Not because he was handsy, the real problem was that Ace had figured her out. Everyone saw her as indifferent and stern, even Mandy. But somehow, with his relentless antics, Ace had managed to find the one soft spot she had for him¡ªand she did not like that one bit.


    Ace exhaled dramatically, yelling, "I get that you don''t want to be my sex mentor, but do you really have to be this cold to me?"


    Delores''s expression twitched, thinking, ''Oh, he was pushing it now.''


    Seeing Delores approach with a dreadful grin, Ace hurriedly tossed his rifle to her.


    "I''ll be waiting by the resort!" he blurted out before snatching up MindBug''s curse tool and bolting toward the resort without waiting for her response.


    Catching the rifle Delores coldly stared at Ace''s retreating back only to be surprised by a deep voice sighing in dismay.


    "Sex mentor? Is that a thing these days? Damn¡­ I really can''t keep up with the times."


    Ace froze mid-step. Delores instinctively dashed ahead and scooped him up into her arms securing him in her embrace before snapping her head toward the voice.


    They both locked eyes with a one-eyed, gray-haired middle-aged man in a sharp diamond-inlaid suit. His short hair was neatly groomed, and his clean-shaven face gave him an air of refinement. But it was the wisdom in his single eye that caught their attention¡ªthis man was old. Not in the way mortals aged, but the kind of old that had seen centuries pass by.


    While the man still seemed to be processing Ace''s words, Delores was trying to figure out how he had managed to get so close to them unnoticed. Meanwhile, Ace¡ªcomfortably nestled in her embrace¡ªwas doing his best to assess whether this newcomer was a friend or foe. Being in Delores''s arms did help take the edge off.


    The man''s gaze shifted to the rifle in Delores''s hand, "That''s quite a curse tool you''ve got there. Mind if I take a look?"


    Seeing their tense expressions, he raised a placating hand. "Relax. I''m just a passerby, drawn in by your unique curse tool. I mean no harm¡ªI''m simply intrigued by the principle behind its workings." His voice was calm, almost curious. "For a mortal-tier curse tool to summon the kind of power capable of killing a Sky-tier¡­ That''s nothing short of a miracle. And tonight, I''ve already witnessed three of them."


    His lone eye gleamed with interest. "So, if you don''t mind please let me take a closer look."

 Chapter 236: Festus Norges

    Chapter 236: Festus Norges"I''m sorry, but I don''t know you, and we''re in a hurry. So, that''s not happening," Ace said flatly with an indifferent face, ignoring that just the presence of the one-eyed man made his heart feel pressured and about to burst.


    Delores''s heart jumped into her throat. Her grip on both him and the rifle tightened instinctively. She wasn''t someone who was scared easily, but the man in front of them made every fiber of her being screamed at her to run for her life. His presence alone was enough to put him in the same league as her missing master, the head of the McSuile family.


    Ace, on the other hand, wasn''t suicidal¡ªhe just wanted to see if this one-eyed man''s politeness was genuine or a facade. Better to find out now than later. Plus, he didn''t exactly mind being nestled in Delores''s bosom. Honestly, he hadn''t expected to relive this experience so soon.


    "Ah, where are my manners?" The one-eyed man gave a slight bow. "I am Festus Norges, a lowly curse crafter." His eye gleamed with something unreadable as he continued, "If I can examine that curse tool sooner, I wouldn''t mind lending you a hand with whatever urgent matter you''re dealing with."


    Delores was caught off guard. The man was surprisingly easy to talk to¡ªtoo easy. But before she could consider it further, Ace dismissed him again without hesitation, saying, "No, we''ve got it covered. We''ll be taking our leave now."


    Delores winced as Ace''s words left his mouth, her grip on him grew painfully tight. He felt it but pushed through, giving her a simple order, "Let''s go."


    She hesitated for a moment, stealing one last glance at the one-eyed man before taking to the skies. Seeing they made it to the clouds, Ace spread his arms, feeling the wind rush past him as he relaxed in her hold. Anticipating his usual antics, Delores had made sure to hold him from behind, keeping his chest and lower torso away from hers. But to her frustration, he lifelessly rested his head against her bosom instead, shifting his full weight onto her as if she were a couch.


    Delores sighed internally, ''This damn kid¡­ he''s got guts.'' She had to admit¡ªAce impressed her. He held his ground against that one-eyed man, even when she had nearly faltered. It was oddly reassuring to know that his boldness wasn''t just reserved for teasing her.


    This time, Ace wasn''t trying to take advantage of Delores''s tolerance. He was genuinely drained. The fact that the one-eyed man had let them walk away without any trouble¡ªdespite him rejecting him twice¡ªthough within his calculations it still came as a surprise to him. The mental toll of standing his ground against someone that powerful was overwhelming. Right now, he needed Delores''s embrace to take the edge off.


    He had turned the one-eyed man down again for a simple reason¡ªhe didn''t trust him. His name sounded made up, and he had that kind of slickness that didn''t sit right with someone with his prowess. Besides, they already had four people to split the loot with; they didn''t need another one especially someone stronger than them.


    "Don''t let your guard down. He might still be watching us¡ªjust like last time," Ace whispered, his voice was audible to the latter as her innate curse tool had a noise isolation effect, letting riders filter out unwanted sounds including the roaring wind and thunder at her will. Meaning, she could choose to hear him clearly.


    "It could''ve all been avoided if you''d just let him glance at your rifle," Delores muttered, pretending to scold him for his risky choice


    "Aww, were you worried about me?" Ace grinned, tilting his head slightly. "Don''t stress. I know what I''m doing," He confidently said having already figured her out. Delores had a habit of finding faults with people she cared about¡ªher way of masking how much she actually liked them. But those she didn''t favor? She either ignored them completely or treated them with cold indifference.


    "Shut up¡ªunless you''ve got parashoot in that storage-type curse tool of yours," Delores warned, though a hint of red crept onto her cheeks. Still, her message was clear: unless Ace was itching for a round of midnight skydiving, he''d better behave.


    Ace smirked. "No, but I do have a futon if you change your mind about being my mentor," he teased, finding it adorable how she kept trying to hide her true self from him. Just when he thought he had her figured out¡ªbam!¡ªshe shoved him off her surfboard without a moment''s hesitation.


    "You bitch!" Ace shouted as he plummeted toward the ground from a height that even she wouldn''t survive. Since he couldn''t complain that she hadn''t given him a heads-up he had no choice but to cuss. However, before he could use all the cultured words in his vocabulary, he saw Delores summoning a storm, charging up the rail rifle. He cussed in panic, "Shit!" Fearing a stray lightning bolt would be the end of him.


    Wasting no time, he yanked out a handful of barrier talismans, activating them all at once. Layers of shimmering barriers wrapped around him as he fell. Then, something really freaky happened.


    Out of nowhere, he spotted a one-eyed man floating just outside his barriers, descending with him at the exact same speed. The guy ran a hand along the outermost barrier as if assessing it¡ªbut carefully, almost gently, as though he was afraid to break it.


    When their eyes met, the one-eyed man mouthed, "Do you need any assistance?"


    Ace quickly shook his head.


    The man narrowed his only eye seeking a clarification, "Is that a yes or no?"


    "No! No!!!" Ace shouted, shaking his head more furiously this time. He really didn''t want to owe this guy. If he did, he''d feel obligated to return the favor, and that was a trap he wasn''t about to step into. Besides, he knew that once Delores was done charging the rail rifle, she''d come back for him. She wouldn''t leave him hanging.


    The one-eyed man gave a small nod as if he understood. Then, without warning, he vanished. And that was what really freaked Ace out. Not the fact that the guy had disappeared¡ªbut the fact that he had been so interested in his curse tools. Specifically, the ones tied to his curse toybox and toy summons. He felt what he feared the most ultimately happened.


    Moments later, a knock on the barrier jolted Ace from his deep thoughts.


    It was Delores.


    As he''d guessed, she had come back for him after charging the rail rifle. His eyes narrowed as a plan formed in his mind¡ªhe was definitely getting back at her for that stunt. Slowly, he repositioned himself within the barrier, waiting for the right moment. Then, with a smirk, he deactivated them all at once, launching himself at her.


    His goal? Grab her by the waist and punish her to his heart''s content.


    But Delores, as if she had read his mind, moved with ridiculous speed, vanishing right before he could make contact. Before he could even react, she reappeared behind him, locking her arms around him from behind. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What the¡ª?!"


    And just like that, she dashed straight into the cursed fog veiling the resort, letting Matthew''s Dusk Dominion pull them inside.


    The moment they entered, Ace took in the battlefield¡ªand what he saw was insane.


    Aztec and MountainOfSwords combined with their low-tier members were holding their own, pushing back Matthew and Evil Eye''s combined efforts inside her own Dominion. That alone was shocking. Sure, they''d heard that the core members of S.S.S. were deadly¡ªMindBug had proved that much¡ªbut seeing Aztec and MountainOfSwords in action?


    It was on a whole different level. Calling these guys deadly felt like an understatement.


    The moment Aztec''s gaze landed on Delores and Ace. Without hesitation, she turned to MountainOfSwords and informed, "Time to leave." She had clearly mistaken their arrival as a sign of Matthews and Evil Eye''s reinforcements arriving.


    Almost instantly, numerous brilliant stars began to appear in the dusky sky, twinkling as they aligned in a strange, unknown pattern. Within moments, all the S.S.S. members vanished¡ªdisappearing with the stars. However, they did hear MountainOfSwords scream, "No. Five more minutes!"


    "What the fuck just happened?" Ace blurted out in shock. He stood there, completely dumbfounded. His loot had suddenly vanished.


    "That''s Aztec''s innate curse art," Delores said as she moved forward to check on Matthew and Evil Eye, she continued adding, "It''s pretty handy in situations like this. She''s mostly the reason why the C.I.B. has failed to wipe them out so many times."


    "Who did they send?" Matthew asked, catching her breath as she tried to figure out how to explain the situation to the incoming reinforcements.


    "No one. It''s just us," Delores said with a frown, seeing Matthews make the same mistake as Aztec.


    Matthew gave her a sharp look before impatiently remarking, "I''m not in the mood for jokes. I can feel their gaze peeking into my Dusk Dominion."


    "What do you mean? The reinforcement¡ª"


    "I think she means Festus Norges," Ace cut in, his expression darkening. "He didn''t leave. He''s stalking me."

 Chapter 237: Cyclops

    Chapter 237: Cyclops"So they ran away because of him?" Delores''s brows furrowed as she processed Ace''s words. Only then did it click¡ªAztec had sensed Festus''s presence monitoring the Dusk Dominion and immediately chosen to retreat, mistaking him for their reinforcement.


    "Festus Norges¡­" Evil Eyes muttered, his expression tightening as he tried to recall. "I think I''ve heard that name somewhere before." His brows knitted together in deep concentration, making him look almost too adorable¡ªif one could ignore the fact that a centuries-old soul lurked within that child''s body. But that thought alone was enough to make anyone shudder in disgust.


    "Wow, you guys got your asses handed to you." Ace snorted, shaking his head. His concern over Festus had already faded¡ªhis real worry now? The loot.


    Among the spoils were three Sky-Tier innate curse tools, all gathered by him. But without the team''s effort, pulling it off would''ve been impossible. He knew if he didn''t downplay their contribution, he''d be lucky to claim even one.


    Back at Janic''s resort, he''d killed a Sky-Tier curse master and wounded another, yet he had only been allowed to keep a single Sky-Tier innate curse tool. Apparently, Sonia was right. He hadn''t argued then¡ªhe needed them to survive the invasion¡ªbut this time? He wasn''t about to back down.


    Matthews shot him a sharp glare, a silent warning to watch his mouth. Ace, as usual, ignored it. Instead, he doubled down, arms crossed, demanding, "You guys owe me two Sky-Tier innate curse tools since you let them get away."


    Matthews didn''t dignify that with a response. She simply flicked her wrist at him, gathering a little curse, and shifted her focus on her recovery, preparing to face the Festus clown who was stalking Ace. Seeing the young man attract the attention of someone like him, Matthews was certain that there was more to the boy than he let out.


    Meanwhile, Ace felt an invisible force shove him off the surfboard, launching him straight into the horizon where the sun was setting. He hurtled through the air, only to loop back and emerge from the other side of the dominion. His distress grew realizing this could go on over and over, he was flung into an endless cycle.


    As he came around again, he barely managed to snag Delores''s surfboard, fingers gripping the edge for dear life. If he hadn''t, he would''ve been stuck in that ridiculous loop, flying into the sunset until Matthews decided to retract her dominion or show him mercy.


    Just as he exhaled in relief, Delores smirked¡ªand tilted her board.


    "Agh¡ªfuck!" Ace yelped as his fingers slipped, sending him plummeting right back into the loop he thought he''d escaped.


    He flailed as he vanished into the horizon once more, frustration written all over his face. Lacking any flight skills to save himself, he had no choice but to try his luck again when he circled back near Delores.


    Seeing the pure disbelief and betrayal in his expression as he fell, Delores chuckled. "Haha." She took obvious pleasure in his misery¡ªher little way of getting back at him.


    Evil Eyes and Matthews exchanged surprised glances. Knowing her personality, Evil Eyes couldn''t help but ask, "Since when did you two get close?"


    In the McSuile family, many had tried to win Delores''s favor. She was Old Man McSuile''s prized disciple¡ªthe one he''d planned to adopt as his own daughter. But she had refused, believing herself unworthy, just like the rest of the McSuile family''s main and branch members believed.


    Many descendants had sought to become her disciples¡ªnot just for her expertise but also for the influence she held over the old man. She rejected them all with cold indifference, which only fueled the rumors that she was arrogant and full of herself. When the old gentleman went missing, that resentment turned into outright hostility.


    Despite that, Delores didn''t care for those who schemed to get close to her. Her loyalty remained unwavering¡ªdedicated solely to her master and, in his absence, to his heir. Her single-minded devotion infuriated many in the McSuile family. They stripped her of every privilege they could, but it didn''t matter. She had never cared for status or perks¡ªonly for the man who had given her a life of dignity and pride instead of leaving her to rot in some gutter like a disease-ridden rat.


    "It doesn''t concern you," Delores said sharply. Then, as if remembering something, she turned to Evil Eyes and warned, "Stay away from him."


    "You too," Matthews added, her tone just as firm. In her eyes, Ace was the next Crimson Eyes¡ªthe future leader of the C.I.B. She wasn''t about to let him get entangled with the McSuiles, who already had too much influence within the organization.


    Delores scoffed, but with a fake sorrow, she complained, "Tell him that. He''s the one bugging me to be his mentor." S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    To Matthews and Evil Eyes, though, it sounded more like she was bragging.


    "No way." Matthews immediately denied it. That went against everything she had observed about Ace¡ªshe had studied his every move, every word, every behavior.


    But then, something clicked. Her expression shifted as realization dawned¡ªWas Ace planning to use the McSuile family to get out of joining the C.I.B.?


    If he was scheming to pit the McSuiles and the C.I.B. against each other just to keep himself free, that would explain everything. Her frown deepened as she turned to look at Ace¡ªwho was just about to pass them again. A slow, evil grin spread across her face. With a flick of her fingers, she cranked up the speed of the loop tenfold.


    Ace shot past them at neck-breaking speed, his desperate calculations to grab onto someone instantly foiled.


    "Aah!" he screamed, flailing helplessly as he was sent flying over and over again, causing Delores to burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. "Hahaha!" she hadn''t laughed so much in the last decade combined.


    Matthews side-eyed Delores, suspicion creeping in. Noticing the look, Delores smirked and shrugged, standing by what she said, "If you don''t believe me, ask him yourself."


    Matthews snorted at that, dismissing her with a shake of her head. But her attention soon shifted to the curse master blatantly peeking into her Dusk Dominion. Noticing him ignore her and remain solely focused on Ace instead, her frown deepened. Her expression twisted in anger as if the man were planning to rob her family blind.


    She turned to Evil Eyes, her voice cold as she asked him, "Did you remember where you heard his name?"


    "Yes," Evil Eyes said, his tone unusually serious. "I recalled the memory, but for some strange reason, I am unable to view it. You know what that means, right?"


    Matthews''s eyes widened in shock as realization hit. Then, after a moment, she exhaled in relief and muttered, "Thank God he''s not my problem. You, McSuiles, deal with him however you see fit. My trainees and I will be out of your hair."


    "EAD Matthews!" Delores snapped, frowning. "He''s not just the McSuile family''s problem¡ªhe''s the C.I.B.''s too. Or did you forget the oath you all took? To protect everyone from the threats of the ''World of Curses.'' And by everyone, I mean us included. So, I expect your full cooperation on this."


    Matthews let out a dry chuckle, then fixed Delores with an icy stare.


    "Thanks for the reminder about my oath," she said, her tone cutting. "But this mess stopped being my problem the moment your family used the Sole Ring to cut a deal with Duke Lambert III. Now that it''s time to pay the price don''t expect the C.I.B. to bail you out. Enjoy the grave you guys dug for yourselves. C.I.B. has no interest in breaking centuries-old alliance over you guys."


    Without another word, she reached out and snagged Ace by the collar, pulling him out of the loop, and prepared to leave as quickly as possible. She knew this place was about to turn into a battlefield¡ªand she wanted no part of it.


    "What about Ace?" Delores pressed, crossing her arms, she went into details, asking, "You know what the Cyclops does when he takes a fancy to something, right? Or do I need to remind you of that too?"


    She deliberately used Festus Norges''s title¡ªCyclops, the Hammer of the Monarch. One of the most skilled crafters in the ''World of Curses,'' he was known for forging powerful curse tools exclusively for the Monarch and his army. When he set his sights on something, he got it by any means necessary.


    Matthews waved a dismissive hand, reminding Delores, "Save your breath, Delores. You and I both know Ace has nothing to fear. He is a part of the C.I.B. Cyclops won''t cross that line as long as the Monarch is alive."


    She shot Ace a pointed glance, subtly reminding him that his survival now hinged on his C.I.B. affiliation. It wasn''t an option anymore, no matter what he liked to believe.


    Ace, who had been absent for most of the discussion, frowned. Hearing somehow, he had become the center of the conversation, he could not help but ask, "What''s going on?"


    Before Delores could respond, Evil Eyes chuckled and spoke up, "EAD Matthews, let''s not mislead the kid." He turned to Ace with a knowing smirk, informing, "You don''t have to be part of the C.I.B."


    Delores narrowed her eyes in light of the new information. It was clear to Evil Eyes that Delores had no idea about the law, giving her an assuring nod, he confidently continued, "The Monarch and his army won''t harm any citizen of our country¡ªunless they provoke them or break one of the conditions in the alliance our founding fathers signed with the Monarch."


    He paused, then added with a smug grin, "From where I''m standing, Ace¡ªthough an unregistered curse user¡ªis still a partial citizen unless he declines to register. Also, he has never provoked the Monarch or violated any of the conditions in that alliance."


    He leaned back slightly, clearly enjoying himself. "So, he has nothing to fear¡­ except being stalked until Cyclops''s curiosity is satisfied or he ultimately gives up."

 Chapter 238: Dividing The Loot

    Chapter 238: Dividing The Loot"I get that you McSuiles have a thing for Eyes, but calling someone Cyclops just because he''s one-eyed¡ªisn''t that a bit much?" Ace said, clearly unimpressed as he glanced at Evil Eyes.


    The latter, however, looked downright appalled. ''That''s what that dumbass took from my entire explanation?'' He sighed, not even bothering to clarify that Festus had earned the title Cyclops long before he sacrificed an eye for profound knowledge in Curse Crafting.


    Ignoring Evil Eyes, Ace turned to Delores, and reminded, "Besides, shouldn''t you be more worried about Janice than me?"


    After all, Janice was the one carrying around the Sole Ring¡ªthe last known link to the Sole Princess, the very person the Monarch was hunting.


    "Nah," Delores replied, unconcerned, and continued to explain with a nonchalant voice, "She teleported straight to the States'' C.I.B. branch headquarters the moment she found out S.S.S.''s Aztec, MountainOfSwords, Mindbug, and Demon7 were here."


    That explained why she wasn''t in a rush to check on Janice, even after learning Festus''s identity and primary objective.


    "Great," Ace said, clapping his hands together. "Now let''s divide the loot," He announced, his expression turned serious as he continued, "Since I provided the intel and took out three Sky-Tier curse masters¡ªincluding one I soloed¡ªI think it''s only fair that I get at least two Sky-Tier, one Ocean-Tier, and half of the low-tier innate curse tools."


    His tone made it sound like a negotiation, but to the others, it came off as more of a demand.


    "No," Matthews didn''t hesitate to correct him. "You get either two Sky-Tier innate curse tools, or one Sky-Tier and a quarter of the remaining loot, or nothing. Choose," she proposed flatly. From the undertone of her voice, as she spoke the choices, it was clear¡ªthere was no room for argument.


    Ace frowned, clearly unhappy with either option. But as much as he wanted to push back, he knew the others had risked their lives too¡ªespecially Matthews, who had single-handedly held off Aztec, MountainOfSwords, and several low-tier S.S.S. members to buy him and the others time to deal with the two Sky-Tier and two Ocean-Tier curse masters who had come after him in retaliation for sniping one of their own.


    Evil Eyes had also put his life on the line, helping him take down Demon7, and without Delores¡­ Forget killing MindBug¡ªhe would''ve died at her hands, even if he had summoned all of his toy summons to fight her.


    Taking their contributions into account, Matthews''s offer wasn''t just reasonable¡ªit was generous. It also aligned with the loot distribution agreement they had made before the hunt. She had even given him first pick in exchange for the information he had provided as promised.


    Looking at the situation objectively, he was the one being greedy.


    The other three seemed to think so too, though they chalked it up to his age¡ªassuming he just didn''t know any better. If it had been anyone else trying to undermine their contributions, there would have been a fight to the death. Undermining someone''s role in battle was as good as saying their life was worth less than yours.


    Ace sighed, then made his decision.


    "I''ll take two Sky-Tier innate curse tools," he said, making the logical choice. Sky-Tier curse tools were hard to come by¡ªespecially powerful and capable ones. The market was always short of those. Low-tier curse tools, on the other hand? He had plenty of ways to get those. He could buy enough of them at the Curse Mall.


    Then, with a casual but calculated smile, he added, "Also, I''d be eternally grateful if the C.I.B. and McSuile family shared all the information they have on these curse tools¡­ and their original owners."


    "I already have MindBug''s curse tool. For my second, I want Demon7''s innate curse tool," Ace declared, stretching his hand out toward Evil Eyes. But Evil Eyes didn''t move. Instead, he glanced at Delores, silently prompting her to explain.


    "Janice said she''ll be taking half of your loot as rent for the Leprechaun Scope," Delores said, detaching the scope from the rail rifle. She handed the rifle back to Ace with a smirk. "So, kid, we owe you nothing."


    Ace''s eyes widened in shock. "That wasn''t a rental. She gifted it to me," he argued, reaching for the scope. Delores pulled back smoothly, shaking her head. "No, it wasn''t."


    Ace instinctively stepped forward to grab it¡ªonly to be forcefully reminded that he was still dangling by his collar in Mrs. Martins''s grip.


    He huffed and bargained, "Fine. But this rental rate is highway robbery. I took all the risks; all she did was lend me the scope. Splitting my loot in half is ridiculous. I''ll give her a Knight-Tier curse tool¡ªthat should cover it." His frustration was evident, but he kept his tone measured, knowing that an outburst wouldn''t help his case. Losing his temper would only make him look like a joke.


    But before he could press further, Mrs. Martins sided with Delores forcing him to ditch the speech on fair pricing he prepared to give to Delores.


    "Ace, that''s the normal rental rate for curse tools crafted by Aurelian Eyes in the market," she said matter-of-factly. "You used the scope¡ªyou know it was worth the price." Mrs. Martins was right¡ªthe scope was definitely worth it, even with its ridiculous rental price. Without it, there was no way he could have one-shot the three Sky-tier curse masters. It not only increased the odds of triggering the effect of mischief bullet but also allowed him to aim precisely at the core of their curse energy, ensuring they stayed down for good.


    "Fine," Ace grumbled, his expression making it very clear that he was not happy about it. But deep down, he was already plotting his revenge¡ªhe''d make one of his toys summon a better curse crafter than Aurelian Eyes just to get back at her. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Delores smirked, pleased to see that Ace knew when to push and when to back off. More importantly, he had managed to check his greed. The last thing anyone wanted was a wolf on the team¡ªsomeone they constantly had to watch their backs around. Hopefully, he would learn to do the same with his hands.


    Soon, she dangled the Leprechaun Scope in front of him teasingly and informed, "Don''t be a sore puss. Janice said she''s willing to sell you this scope for a Sky-tier curse tool if you let her study your rifle curse tool¡ª"


    "Deal," Ace accepted immediately, reaching for the scope. This was a no-brainer. Sure, Sky-tier curse tools were valuable, but the Leprechaun Scope was priceless to him. With it, his Rail Rifle would become an unparalleled weapon in his or his toy summons hands.


    But just as his fingers touched the scope¡ªDelores snatched it back. Glaring at her, he blurted aloud, "What the heck?!"


    Delores grinned seeing his frustration and annoyance. "Sky-tier curse tool first," she said, extending her other hand expectantly. She knew how slippery and shameless Ace could be, so she wasn''t taking any chances. Ace had given Delores plenty of reasons to be wary of him. If she still fell for his tricks after all this time, well¡­ that would be her fault.


    "Delores, you trust me, right?" Ace flashed what he hoped was a winning smile. "By now, I must have racked up enough goodwill to owe you a Sky-tier curse tool. You know I''m good for it."


    He wasn''t just stalling¡ªhe genuinely didn''t want to part with either of the Sky-tier curse tools in his possession. One had shadow-type abilities, the other had mental-type abilities. Both were unique and powerful, perfect for animating high-level toy summons. No way was he giving either of them up. But at the same time¡­ he also couldn''t part with the Leprechaun Scope.


    Delores didn''t even hesitate to shoot him down, she unamusedly remarked, "Ace, I wouldn''t trust you with a penny."


    She wasn''t just teasing¡ªshe was dead serious. Given their history (and how he constantly found ways to molest her), she was actually being polite. If it were anyone else in her place, they''d probably just spit in response.


    But instead of being offended, Ace actually looked proud of himself. A small, unconscious smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. Knowing that nothing he said would get Delores to change his mind.


    Delores rolled her eyes seeing his shameless smirk and could not help but utter, "That wasn''t a compliment."


    "Fine," Ace relented, switching tactics. "How much does a Sky-tier curse tool cost? Just give me a number, and I''ll wire the money right now. Janice can buy one she likes." His whole demeanor shifted in an instant¡ªconfidence replacing reluctance, arrogance replacing negotiation.


    That sudden 180-degree turn made Mrs. Martins, Evil Eyes, and Delores all pause. They exchanged skeptical glances. Despite his short debut, Ace had already garnered a reputation as a charlatan, a trickster. But he also had a track record of actually coming through when it mattered.


    So¡­ was he bluffing? Or did he really have that kind of money? Neither could tell.

 Chapter 239: Weak Are Entitled To Nothing

    Chapter 239: Weak Are Entitled To Nothing"You guys don''t believe me?" Ace asked, raising a brow as he caught the skeptical glances being exchanged.


    None of them responded, but their silence spoke volumes. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Offended, Ace pulled a fist-sized diamond ore from his cursed toybox and waved it around like a trophy, proclaiming, "I bet this diamond ore that I have more wealth than the three of you combined. Anyone daring enough to take me up on it?"


    Delores, Evil Eyes, and Matthews all stared, momentarily stunned by the sheer size of the gemstone. But before any of them could ask for a closer look, Ace promptly stashed it away again, leaving them no chance to inspect it.


    With that stunt he had proven that he had wealth. But did he have enough?


    None of them were buying his claim that he was richer than all three of them combined. They assumed he was just boasting¡ªthrowing a tantrum because they didn''t immediately believe him.


    "Ace," Delores sighed, choosing to ignore his antics. If she let herself get caught up in every ridiculous thing he said or did, she would''ve killed him by now. "You do realize that ''half your loot'' means you owe Janice a Sky-tier innate curse tool, right? Those are worth several times more than regular Sky-tier curse tools."


    Ace''s expression darkened slightly, his impatience flaring. "Yeah, I know that. What''s your point?" He spoke in the kind of tone that made it sound like every second of his time was worth millions. And that was when he officially stopped being cute to his temporary teammates.


    Neither Delores, Evil Eyes, nor Matthews appreciated his sudden rich-guy attitude, but they respected him enough as a teammate to let it slide¡ªespecially since, despite everything, he had been the MVP of this hunt.


    "Sky-tier innate curse tools aren''t just sold on the market¡ªunless, in rare emergencies," Delores explained, watching Ace carefully and continued adding, "They''re almost exclusively auctioned off because they always start bidding wars and end up selling for way more than they''re actually worth."


    She was trying to persuade him to give up one of the Sky-tier innate curse tools he already had instead of trying to buy one for Janice. But¡ªunfortunately for her¡ªshe had seriously underestimated Ace''s wealth.


    "That''s fine," Ace said, completely unfazed. His gaze flicked between Matthews and Evil Eyes. "You two have Sky-tier innate curse tools on you, right? Name your price, and I''ll pay double."


    Evil Eyes and Delores stared, caught off guard by how casually he threw that offer out. Matthews, however, narrowed her eyes at him and asked, "Young man, do you pay your taxes? Because I don''t remember seeing your or your family name on the wealth watch list."


    Ace snorted, his lips curling into a smirk, countering, "Taxes? I haven''t earned a single dime in my entire life. Why the hell would I pay taxes?"


    He took his attitude down a notch, realizing he might''ve been too quick to flaunt his wealth. How was he supposed to know that instead of focusing on curselings and curse criminals, the C.I.B. would be worried about whether or not he was paying taxes?


    Matthews'' frown deepened, but before she could say anything, Ace grinned and added, "You can''t prove anything. I''m innocent." Matthews looked like she was about to throw him back in the loop just to see him suffer.


    "You sure you only became a curse master a few weeks ago?" Delores asked, crossing her arms. She wasn''t sure if he was lying about his wealth or not, but at this point, she was starting to think he might not be. And if that was the case¡­ how the hell did he amass that much fortune in such short time of being a curse master? She has been one for more than a century and she did not dare to make the claims he made. More importantly, unlike the others, she knew his background better than anyone. He came from nothing. That was what made all of this even more baffling.


    Ace didn''t even bother answering her. Instead, he just rolled his eyes, silently broadcasting his contempt¡ªalmost as if he was pitying her for being poorer than him.


    "Sorry, not interested," Evil Eyes was the first to reject Ace''s offer. Though tempting, Demon7''s innate curse tool was far too valuable to give up. In the World of Curses, strength came first¡ªwealth was secondary.


    "Not interested," Matthews echoed, shutting him down without hesitation.


    She had plans for the Sky-tier innate curse tool¡ªspecifically, as payment for Janice''s help with her daughter''s curse initiation ceremony. That was the real reason she agreed to this risky hunt in the first place.


    As a C.I.B. agent, any innate curse tool she obtained while on the job technically belonged to the government. Instead of keeping the loot, she''d receive merits¡ªa currency she could exchange for regulated resources. But the innate curse tools were way more valuable than the measly merits the C.I.B. handed out in return.


    That was one of the grimmest drawbacks of being a C.I.B. agent. And Ace knew it. In fact, it was one of the biggest reasons he opposed the idea of ever joining them.


    "See? Just fork over one of your Sky-tier innate curse tools already," Delores huffed, clearly pissed at him for his contemptuous eye roll earlier. "My patience is wearing thin."


    "No. I need them," Ace shot back, stubborn as ever. His eyes flicked toward her before he tilted his head slightly, enquiring, "Is there an auction nearby? I''ll win one there and trade it for the Leprechaun Scope."


    There was no way he was giving up either of his Sky-tier innate curse tools. And there was definitely no way he was letting go of the Leprechaun Scope. So, he had no choice but to publicly flaunt his wealth¡ªdespite the dangers that came with it.


    "You''re a Mortal-tier curse master. At best, you can use a Knight-tier curse tool. What the hell do you even need two Sky-tier innate curse tools for?" Delores asked, eyeing him with clear exasperation as he stubbornly clung to his stance.


    She didn''t forget to roll her eyes at him either¡ªfull of contempt for a measly Mortal-tier curse master acting this entitled.


    Was she being petty? Well, in her defense, Ace started it.


    "Oh my god, am I not entitled to some privacy?" Ace snapped, throwing up his hands in frustration. "Do I have to spill every little detail about my life to you guys? I don''t see you sharing everything about you with me."


    It had been one hell of a night, and in just a few hours, more of his secrets had been dragged into the open than he was comfortable with. He''d had enough of sharing.


    "No. You''re weak. You''re entitled to nothing," Delores growled. Before he could react, she grabbed him by the collar, ripping him straight from Matthews''s grip. His flannel shirt tore in the process, but she didn''t care.


    Lifting him effortlessly by the neck, she stared him down, her tone deadly as she asked, "Now tell me¡ªare you entitled to privacy?"


    Ace struggled to breathe under her iron grip, but of course, he still hadn''t lost his sense of humor. The moment Delores loosened her grip just enough for him to speak, he chuckled¡ªhis voice hoarse, but mocking as ever.


    "I love that you''re taking your role as my mentor so seriously," he rasped, his lips curling into a cheeky grin, "but I''d love it even more if you focused on the other lessons we talked about earlie¡ªguh¡ª"


    Delores tightened her grip again, nearly crushing his throat. Lucky for him, she still owed him for saving her life. Otherwise, considering the mischief he''d been up to¡ªand Delores''s temper¡ªMatthews would probably be making a grim phone call to his family right now, arranging to send them whatever was left of him.

 Chapter 240: Tax Pardon

    Chapter 240: Tax Pardon"Not funny," Delores snapped, glaring daggers at him. Still, she loosened her grip when she felt him tapping vigorously on her hand¡ªa clear surrender.


    Only to hear him cough dramatically and quip, "Cough¡ªcough¡ªso we''re starting with choking and public s¡ªguh¡ª"


    "Do you have a death wish?" Delores yelled, tightening her grip instinctively. God, she really wanted to snap his neck. But she couldn''t. For the first time in her life, she actually regretted being too damn loyal. If not for that annoying sense of gratitude, she wouldn''t be holding back right now.


    During the entire exchange, Matthews just watched, arms crossed, not saying a word¡ªor lifting a finger to stop Delores. Not because she didn''t care. But because she, too, kind of wanted to break a few of Ace''s bones after getting confirmation from him that Delores hadn''t been exaggerating earlier.


    And yet¡ªshe liked him too much to act on those thoughts.


    For his age, he was scarily resourceful and calculating. What impressed her the most, though, was how he didn''t hesitate to put his body¡ªhell, even his life¡ªon the line to push his agenda.


    It was obvious to her now¡ªAce had figured out Delores, and he was toying with her. Though, of course, the imagery suggested otherwise.


    The very things she admired about him also made him an absolute nightmare to tame. But Matthews had built her career on taming wild horses to run for C.I.B. for the rest of their lives. She had come from nothing and fought her way up to become the youngest EAD in C.I.B. This was just another challenge. And it was only a matter of time before she tamed this one too.


    Ace''s face had turned red, but his mischievous gaze never wavered. He wasn''t mad at Delores for suddenly grabbing him by the neck or mocking him for being weak.


    He knew exactly what she was doing. This was her way of engraving the lesson into his brain¡ªunless he had the strength to back it up, he shouldn''t go around wagging his tongue and flashing his wealth. People died for a lot less in the World of Curses.


    Delores sighed, shaking her head seeing Ace wasn''t backing down let alone give up. Realizing she had no choice, she let go, dropping him onto her surfboard with an exasperated huff.


    She had to pull back¡ªbecause if she held on even a second longer, Ace wouldn''t just pass out. He''d be brain-dead. And instead of teaching him a lesson, she''d end up killing him. She went in too strong and he''d called her bluff. She hated this about him.


    "Love me or hate me, you''re stuck with me," Ace grinned, rubbing his sore neck before continuing, "But don''t worry¡ªI know better than to flaunt my wealth around. I only did it because I trust you guys. Yes, even you, Evil Eyes."


    "Whatever," Delores muttered, rolling her eyes, pretending she didn''t care. But when she noticed Ace stepping closer, she immediately blurted out, "Alright, I trust you, okay?"


    Not because she actually wanted to say it. But because she knew if she didn''t, Ace would definitely get handsy¡ªand worse, he''d do it in front of company.


    Across from them, Evil Eyes narrowed his gaze, murmuring under his breath, "Fascinating¡­" He was thoroughly impressed. In all his years, he''d never seen anyone¡ªnot a single soul in their family¡ªmanage to get Delores to speak her true feelings. Except, of course, for the old gentleman. And now, somehow, this teenager had done it.


    But the secret to Ace''s success was clear. Delores felt like she owed him. If he hadn''t saved her life, Ace would''ve lost a few bones the very first time he ran his mouth let alone when he got handsy with her.


    "Luck''s on your side, young man," Matthews suddenly announced, drawing everyone''s attention. Then, with a knowing look, she added, "My C.I.B. branch headquarters is holding an auction right now¡ªthey''re auctioning off the innate curse tools we collected last month. There are three Sky-Tier innate curse tools among them. If we hurry, we should just make it in time."


    Ace''s eyes lit up, but then he hesitated, glancing at Mrs. Martins. He''d noticed her stealing glances at the sky of her dusk dominion again and again¡ªas if keeping tabs on something. Or someone.


    "What about Cyclops?" he asked, narrowing his gaze. Knowing that he was the one-eyed man''s target.


    Matthews followed his line of sight, then waved off his concern assuring, "Don''t worry, I already reported it to the higher-ups. Someone will handle him soon." Then, turning to Delores, she added with a smirk, "You guys owe me one."


    Delores and Evil Eyes exchanged looks before nodding in acknowledgment.


    Satisfied, Matthews pulled out the canoe-shaped curse tool Janice had lent her. But just as she was about to activate it, she muttered in regret, "Damn shame. We should''ve captured one of those low-tier S.S.S. members alive¡ªcould''ve figured out why so many of them had gathered here."


    She sighed, shaking her head before recalling her dusk dominion. Evil Eyes climbed into the back seat of the canoe, ready to leave¡ªonly to pause when Ace casually dropped a bombshell, "I know why they were gathered here."


    Matthews, Delores, and Evil Eyes froze, their eyes locking onto him. No one doubted him as he was the one who informed them that S.S.S. members were gathered here in the first place. But the longer Ace stayed silent, the more impatient Matthews got.


    "Well?" she pressed. "Why?"


    Ace grinned, rocking back on his heels. "Come on now, Mrs. Martins," he drawled. "I can''t just hand out valuable information for free. You of all people should know how this works."


    "Fine. Give me the intel, and I''ll compensate you accordingly," Matthews agreed without bothering to argue.


    But Ace simply shook his head. He wasn''t about to waste time going back and forth with her. Instead, he laid out his demand flatly, "I want a tax pardon¡ªfor this year and the next."


    Matthews snorted. "Nope. Not happening. And besides, that''s not even within my authority." She shot him down almost immediately, not even giving it a second thought.


    Ace tilted his head, lips curling into a knowing smirk. "You sure?" His voice dropped slightly, the weight of his next words thick with implication. "Because the lives of your agents are at stake here."


    Matthews'' expression hardened, but Ace could see the subtle shift¡ªmaking him certain that she could give him what he wanted. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Fine," she relented, though her tone was ice-cold. "But if you''re lying to me, I''ll personally throw your ass into the darkest prison I can find and make your life miserable."


    Ace didn''t respond right away. Instead, he turned to Delores, wordlessly seeking confirmation. When she gave him a small nod, he finally spoke.


    "The S.S.S. were hired by Astrid to parcel¡ªaka behead¡ªmillionaire Mr. Weasley," Ace revealed, his voice casual but sharp enough to cut through the tense air. "Now, normally, they wouldn''t pull together this many core members for a hit of this size. But¡ª" He paused, letting the anticipation build before delivering the key detail. "¡ªthey found out Crimson Eyes was personally guarding him."


    Matthews'' expression darkened, she hurried him, "And?"


    Ace sighed dramatically, as if explaining the obvious. "MountainOfSwords who thinks Crimson Eyes only beat him last time by ganging up on him saw this as the perfect chance for payback. So, he rounded up every available S.S.S. member he could."


    Matthews clenched her jaw, processing the information.


    "That old man knows how to hold a grudge," Ace continued, stretching his arms lazily. "And something tells me he hasn''t given up yet." He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "If I were you, I''d tighten security around that Weasley guy. For the sake of your agents."

 Chapter 241: Consumable Curse Tools

    Chapter 241: Consumable Curse Tools"Ace, you''re not part of S.S.S., right?" Matthews suddenly asked, locking eyes with him.


    Ace narrowed his gaze. "Seriously? What kind of question is that?" he scoffed. "I killed three of their Sky-Tier members together with you guys¡ªshouldn''t that have earned me some trust and goodwill by now?" His tone was sharp, edged with clear irritation. He understood why Matthews was asking, but that didn''t mean he had to like it.


    He knew how this looked.


    First, he told them there were only a few S.S.S. members at Highway Resort. Then, when it turned out there were a hell of a lot more, he suddenly had an explanation.


    Yeah, he could see why they''d think he set them up. But it was still annoying as hell.


    "It''s because of that goodwill that I''m asking nicely," Matthews said, voice cool, her meaning clear. "Instead of questioning you in a dark cell."


    Ace forced himself to stay calm. He wasn''t about to let his mouth dig him into a hole he couldn''t climb out of.


    "No, I''m not a member of S.S.S.," he answered evenly. "I only learned this information afterward." He let the words settle before adding, "Or is this your way of trying to back out of our deal?" Yep, he went and did it again.


    Matthews didn''t answer. She just stared at him, unreadable, before asking, "Then how did you find out? You''ve been with us the entire time."


    Ace smirked, without going into details he answered, "I have my ways." He could tell she didn''t like that answer, but it was the only one she was getting.


    "Look, if I wanted to set you guys up, I wouldn''t hire someone else to do it." His smirk widened slightly, confidence lacing his voice as he informed with a deep tone, "I''d do it myself."


    He wasn''t just confident, he was certain, with enough time to prepare, he was damn sure none of them would even see him coming.


    Matthews'' gaze hardened as she studied Ace, but after a tense moment, she turned away to make a few calls.


    Meanwhile, Ace turned to Delores and smirked, "If she goes back on our deal, I''m holding you responsible." Delores barely reacted. Without a word, she kicked him clean off her board.


    Splash!


    Ace hit the resort''s pool face-first, sending water surging in all directions. The sudden impact startled the guests enjoying a peaceful swim, their relaxation instantly shattered by panicked screams and cries, "Ahhh!"


    Hearing the commotion, Ace surfaced, shaking the water from his hair. He spotted a group of familiar faces among the screaming guests and smirked.


    "Angel delivery service! Which one of you ordered an angel?" he quipped, shooting them a playful grin.


    The panic melted into laughter among the girls, they were none other than members of the Oracle Dolls. A few of them giggled, while one of them, dove into the pool and swam straight toward him.


    Reaching him, she grabbed his wrist, checking his pulse and looking into his eyes with concern. "Are you okay? You fell from¡ª"


    Abby paused, tilting her head back to scan the area. But there was nothing¡ªno platform, no diving board, no infrastructure above the pool that someone could have jumped from.


    Her brows furrowed, and she asked in wonder, "Wait¡­ where did you fall from, exactly?"


    "From heaven," Ace''s smirk deepened, smoothly pulling Abby into his arms adding, "Just for you."


    Abby froze, caught off guard.


    Ace had never met her in person before¡ªonly through video calls¡ªbut up close, she was something else. Flawless skin, a top-tier body¡­ He had definitely underestimated what was hiding under those layers of hers.


    As he shamelessly checked her out, Abby finally snapped out of it and started struggling in his grasp. Ace chuckled, letting her go as he raised his hands in surrender.


    "My bad, my bad," he said, still grinning. "I was just messing around. But hey, if you''re still mad, let me make it up to you¡ªdinner''s on me. You and your friends. Of course, I will not be joining you."


    Ace had only pulled that stunt and misbehaved with Abby to throw her off track¡ªhe had no idea how to explain where he had actually fallen from. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No, that won''t be necessary," Abby blurted, rejecting his offer of dinner as she hurried to the edge of the pool, scrambling out like a startled little mermaid. She didn''t even wait for a response.


    Shaking his head, Ace swam to the opposite side, deliberately avoiding Emily and the other Oracle Dolls. Just knowing they were safe, enjoying their vacation, was enough of a relief for him.


    Grabbing a towel and dodging the resort staff who were now looking for him, Ace slipped away and vanished into the nearby woods. He didn''t get far before Delores appeared in front of him, floating on her board, with her signature subtle grin.


    "Dry yourself properly," she said warning him, "Unless you like freezing your ass off. The ride ahead''s gonna be chilly."


    Ace grinned saying, "I''m not worried. You can keep me warm."


    With that, he jumped onto her board, landing smoothly. Without missing a beat, he pulled out a cleansing talisman and activated it, instantly drying and cleaning himself and his clothes.


    Delores eyed the yellow paper curiously. "What are those things you keep using? They seem pretty damn handy for consumable curse tools."


    To her, all the talismans looked the same¡ªjust different variations of yellow paper. She was surprised that a single curse tool could have so many practical uses.


    Instead of answering, Ace handed her a cleansing talisman instructing, "Here. Pour a little bit of your curse energy into it."


    Delores cautiously did as instructed, channeling a tiny amount of her curse energy into the talisman. The moment it activated, a refreshing, gentle energy washed over her entire body, cleansing her instantly.


    Delores'' eyes widened in pleasant surprise. She felt she needed a stash of these as consumable cusrse tools like these would be a lifesaver during long missions, where finding a proper place to bathe was more hassle than it was worth.

 Chapter 242: Greedy?

    Chapter 242: Greedy?"They''re not all the same¡ªyou just have to pay attention to the differences," Ace explained, handing her another talisman. "The one you used earlier is called a cleansing talisman. It cleans surfaces of most things."


    Delores brought the new talisman closer to her face, inspecting it curiously. "What does this one do?" she asked, trying to spot any differences between it and the first one.


    "Try it," Ace encouraged putting on his most sincere expression.


    Without a hint of suspicion, Delores channeled her curse energy into the talisman¡ªonly for it to explode in her hand, covering her face and fingers in a thick layer of black soot.


    Ace doubled over in laughter looking at her soot-covered face informing her, "It''s a smoke bomb talisman! Hahaha!"


    Before she could react, he launched himself off her board, not giving her chance shove him off it. However, seeing Delores float her board toward him with sharp glare full of silent threat, Ace with a sheepish grin, he handed her a talisman in compromise, "Here, take this cleansing talisman and let''s call it even."


    Delores snorted, snatching the talisman from his hand. But this time, she wasn''t about to fall for another prank. Holding the talisman at arm''s length, she activated it cautiously.


    To Ace''s fortune, it was exactly what he claimed¡ªa cleansing talisman and not another smoke bomb. Otherwise, he might have been making a detour to the emergency ward instead of the auction at the local C.I.B. headquarters.


    As she finished cleansing herself, Delores studied Ace, debating what to do with him, when a voice suddenly cut in.


    "You two sure you''re a mentor and mentee out on a hunt? Because it sure looks more like a couple on a date."


    It was Cyclops. For reasons only he knew, he had decided to make himself known again.


    Delores ignored him, choosing instead to scoop Ace into her embrace, her stance subtly shifting¡ªready to flee at the first hint of aggression from Festus''s side.


    Meanwhile, Ace¡ªshameless as ever¡ªtook full advantage of the situation, burying his face in Delores'' bosom while wrapping his arms snugly around her waist. She frowned but still didn''t push him away.


    Seeing this, Cyclops awkwardly cleared his throat, offering, "Ahem. Young man, I overheard that you''re in need of a Sky-tier innate curse tool. I happen to have a few on me. I''d be willing to trade them for a handful of those consumable curse tools¡ªand a brief inspection of that rifle-shaped curse tool of yours."


    At the mention of a deal, Ace immediately lifted his face from Delores'' bosom, turned, and walked to the edge of her board, preparing to negotiate.


    But before he could speak, he felt Delores'' palm press firmly onto his shoulder as she leaned down, whispering into his ear, "Don''t be greedy. If you like his offer, just take what he offers."


    "I know what I''m doing," Ace replied, his voice steady. Pulling out a cleansing talisman, he handed it to Cyclops, adding confidently, "My consumable curse tools are one of a kind. You won''t find anything like them in either the mortal or curse world. It''s a unique knowledge I derived from my innate curse tool."


    Cyclops took the talisman, scrutinizing it carefully. After a moment, he nodded in agreement, his sharp gaze lifting to meet Ace''s uttering, "Name your price."


    Ace didn''t hesitate before his eyes grew firm and he proposed with an unwavering tone, "I want curse crafting arts and techniques¡ªa complete set. Enough to help me grow into a capable Void-tier curse crafter. In exchange, I''ll provide you with a generous supply of these consumable curse tools and allow you to briefly study my rifle-shaped curse tool."


    He knew there was no avoiding someone as powerful as Cyclops. Instead of dodging him and risking offending him, Ace decided to be upfront and cooperative from the start. That way, they both stood to gain.


    His encounter with Mrs. Martins had taught him a hard truth¡ªno matter how much one tried to keep a secret, it would come out sooner or later. Instead of fixating on hiding his abilities, he should focus on growing so strong that he wouldn''t need to hide anything.


    And right now, he needed curse crafting arts and techniques. Since he couldn''t trust the ones sold on the open market or on the curse web, he might as well obtain them from one of the most brilliant curse crafters the World of Curses had ever seen¡ªFestus Norges, aka Cyclops.


    Meanwhile, Delores slapped her forehead in frustration thinking, ''Why did he always have to do the opposite of what I tell him?'' She warned him not to be greedy, and yet here he was, pushing for more. It was like he enjoyed ignoring her advice.


    She sighed, trying not to dwell on it, but her mind raced with how to handle the situation now. Social interactions weren''t her strong suit¡ªJanice''s short-lived acting career and non-existent list of sponsorships were proof enough of that. The only solution she could think of was to escape as fast as possible, though she knew that was the last thing they should do in situations like this.


    While Delores struggled with her thoughts, Festus fell silent, seemingly deep in thought as he considered Ace''s proposal. Noticing this, Ace quickly added, "Mr. Festus, I''m not asking you to share your entire legacy with me. I''d be happy with any curse crafting arts and techniques, as long as they help me improve step by step into a capable Void-tier curse crafter. I don''t think I''m asking for much, considering that the knowledge behind my curse tools is completely unique and new."


    "No, you aren''t," Cyclops admitted with a nod yet he rejected Ace, "But I still can''t agree to it¡ªit wouldn''t be fair."


    His response puzzled both Ace and Delores. Before Ace could even ask why, Cyclops continued, "Let''s add a condition to the deal¡ªneither of us is allowed to teach what we learn from each other to anyone else without the other''s permission. This will balance the scale." S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His proposal took both Ace and Delores by surprise. Ace hadn''t expected someone with the title of Cyclops to be so... principled. And as for Delores, she was even more shocked to realize just how valuable the knowledge behind Ace''s curse tools truly was.

 Chapter 243: Curse Contract

    Chapter 243: Curse Contract"What do you say?" Festus asked, flashing a gentle smile as he waited for Ace''s opinion on the condition he just proposed. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace was just about to agree to Cyclops''s terms when Delores hesitated for a moment, then swiftly glided closer to him. Without warning, she clamped a hand over his mouth and cut in, "Give us a few minutes to think this through."


    Before Cyclops could respond, she shot up into the clouds. The moment they were out of earshot, she activated her innate curse tool''s sound isolation effect, ensuring Festus couldn''t eavesdrop. Then, she whirled on Ace and hissed, "Have you lost your mind?" Only then did she remove her hand from his mouth.


    Ace scowled, "I should be the one asking you that!" He turned fully to face her, irritation flashing in his eyes. But when he caught the genuine concern in hers, his voice softened slightly, asking, "What''s wrong?"


    Delores crossed her arms trying to seem detached as she questioned, "You were about to agree to the last term he proposed, weren''t you?"


    Without hesitation, Ace nodded saying, "Yeah. What''s wrong with that? It''s a win-win condition."


    Delores scoffed, shaking her head saying, "It''s a win for him and a loss for you." Her tone dripped with disdain as she began breaking it down for him, "With his expertise in curse crafting, he''ll have no trouble unraveling the mysteries and secrets of your consumable curse tools¡ªwithout ever needing to study your innate curse tool. Meanwhile, you, with your absolute lack of curse crafting knowledge, won''t be able to make use of the arts and techniques you''re exchanging them for. You''ll have to find a mentor just to understand them." She leaned in slightly. "You see where I''m going with this, right?"


    Delores, in her own way, was reminding Ace that Cyclops hadn''t added this condition to make the deal fair¡ªhe''d added it to tip the scales in his favor. Once Ace realized he couldn''t master the curse-crafting arts and techniques on his own, he''d have no choice but to seek out a mentor. And thanks to the condition that neither of them could share the exchanged knowledge without the other''s permission, Ace would be left with no choice but to get Cyclops permission to find a mentor.


    And Cyclops wouldn''t just give that permission for free¡ªit would come with demands. If Ace''s consumable curse tools proved valuable enough, Cyclops might even offer to mentor him directly, ensuring that Ace remained under his influence.


    Delores believed Ace wasn''t seeing any of this with his focus locked on securing the knowledge behind his consumable curse tools, blind to the long game Cyclops was playing.


    Listening to Delores''s concerns, Ace rolled his eyes, his expression filled with amused contempt. "Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence," he scoffed. "You really think I''m that clueless?"


    Delores just stared at him her indifference masking the seer disbelief she was feeling right now.


    Smirking, Ace threw his hands up. "Look, I don''t wanna brag, but I''m way smarter than I am handsome¡ªand I''m pretty damn handsome. I don''t think I''ll have any trouble picking up curse crafting on my own." He paused, then added with a playful grin, "If Janice can learn it, I know I''ll be fine."


    Delores studied him for a long moment before shaking her head in exasperation.


    She could bring the horse to water, but she couldn''t make it drink. She''d done her part as the responsible adult¡ªwhat happened next was on him.


    Some people only learn from their mistakes, not from the experience of their elders. And Ace was definitely one of those people.


    "Your funeral," Delores muttered, steering the board back toward Festus. This time she did not wrap her arms around him, so Ace had no choice but to cling to the board for dear life, pressing himself against it as they sped forward.


    Festus took one look at them and smirked, throwing Ace a sleazy grin, "What happened, young man? A Couple''s spat?"


    Delores, already frustrated, threw caution to the wind and snapped, "That''s just sick, you disgusting bastard! He''s young enough to be my great-grandchild!"


    She''d had it with this one-eyed asshole pushing the idea of her and Ace together. Then, as if remembering something even more infuriating, she turned her glare on Ace, silently blaming him for ruining her name and image in the curse community.


    Ace, sensing the shift in hostility, laughed nervously, apologizing to Festus in her place, "Hahaha, don''t take her too seriously. My great-grandma forgot to take her pills today, so she''s a little on edge. I apologize on her behalf."


    Before Delores could kick him of her board in retaliation for calling her his great-grandma, he hurriedly hopped off her board, putting some much-needed distance between them.


    "I''m rooting for you, little dude," Cyclops chuckled before getting back to business. "So, what''s the decision?"


    "Let''s sign a curse contract to make it official," Ace said, his spirits high. Then, taking a little liberty, he asked, "You don''t mind if I draw it up, right?"


    "Great idea," Cyclops exclaimed, happy to hear Ace agree with his conditions. Then, nodding vigorously he gave his consent to Ace to draw up the curse contract, "Sure, go ahead."


    Ace grinned before shamelessly asking, "You wouldn''t happen to have a curse contract on you, would you?" He had only learned about the curse contract through Dame Wasp he had never seen one in person. Apparently, they were very expensive.


    Without missing a beat, Cyclops pulled out a parchment scroll and tossed it over explaining, "Here. Human-skin ones work best for curse contracts."


    Ace caught it without hesitation though a little disgusted to hold it after all it was dried-up human skin, not letting his disgust show on his face, he gave the one-eyed man an approving nod agreeing with him, "You''re the expert."


    With that, he sent the scroll into Dame Wasp''s toy space in his cursed toy box without actually summoning it, for her to draw it up for him.

 Chapter 244: A Life For A Life

    Chapter 244: A Life For A LifeActually, even before Cyclops brought it up Ace was planning to add clauses to the contract to not only secure his intellectual property but also protect himself from Cyclops. Seeing that Cyclops brought it up before he did, Ace was thrilled.


    Soon he summoned the scroll out of Dame Wasp''s toy space once she was done with it and signing it with his blood he passed it to Cyclops saying, "I have signed it, if you feel the contract is to your liking please sign it."


    Cyclops barely glanced at the curse contract before pricking his finger and signing it with his blood¡ªcompletely unfazed. Thanks to the alliance between Ace''s country''s founding fathers and the Monarch, he couldn''t harm Ace or those close to him unless provoked, so he didn''t mind the extra safety clause in the contract Ace had added without informing him. Not that it mattered. His plan never involved hurting Ace¡ªonly manipulating him.


    Despite his infamous title ''Cyclops,'' Festus considered himself a gentleman¡ªa fact that was evident in his choice of attire and well-groomed hairstyle. He was more about brains than brawn. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The moment both parties signed, the scroll crumbled into black soot, splitting into two equal portions before seeping into their scalps. The contract was now sealed. If either of them dared to break it, they''d be cursed¡ªeven in death.


    Cyclops suddenly smirked, keeping his act till the end, "Looks like the future of curse crafters from the mortal world is bright."


    Summoning a sleek, tablet-like curse gadget from thin air, he handed it to Ace informing, "Every type of curse crafting arts and technique you need to grow into a capable void-tier curse crafter is stored in here. It is not password protected. You can add one later."


    Ace gave him a nod before storing the curse pad with Emi. Then, retrieving a wooden box, he handed it over to Cyclops. Inside were neatly stacked talismans¡ªbarrier, cleansing, explosion, smoke bomb, presence-erasing, invisibility, and substitution talismans. He only gave the ones he used this evening during the hunt. He did not go out of his way to give him healing and other talismans.


    "So, when do you plan to study the rail rifle?" Ace asked as Cyclops checked the goods.


    "No rush," Cyclops replied smoothly, having inspected the box and finding that Ace had labeled the talismans and their uses for his ease he smiled before adding, "I''ll come find you after I''m done studying these consumable curse tools."


    In reality, he had no intention of rushing anything. He knew Ace would eventually hit a wall trying to learn curse crafting on his own. And when that frustration set in? That''s when Cyclops would show up¡ªready to tighten his grip over him. Then he will make Ace cough out everything he was hiding.


    Not letting his true intentions show, Cyclops simply nodded at Ace and Delores before turning and leaving for good.


    Ace waited for a beat before glancing at Delores. "Is he gone?" he asked, wondering if he could finally drop the act and stop playing the role of a narcissistic, obnoxious teenager.


    Every word, every action he had displayed so far had been a carefully crafted performance¡ªone designed to make Cyclops underestimate him and sign the curse contract without a second thought. Even now, with his goal achieved, Ace maintained his facade. He believed it might still prove useful in the future. It was always better to be underestimated than to be seen as the smartest person in the room. That way, he could run his little schemes right under the noses of those who fancied themselves as the smartest people in the room.


    "I have no idea," Delores replied hesitantly, scanning the surroundings as if expecting Cyclops to materialize again.


    Ace moved to step onto her board, but before he could, Delores shifted back, eyeing him with suspicion. He blinked taken aback, asking, "What?"


    Her expression hardened as she demanded him, "Tell me¡ªwhat do I need to do to even the score for you saving my life?"


    Ace raised an eyebrow, instantly understanding, ''Ah¡­ she''s had enough.'' She wanted to cut whatever ties made her feel responsible for him. She wanted her freedom.


    He met her gaze, his expression unreadable. Then, with all the seriousness he could muster, he stated, "A life for a life. I want you to start living for me from now on."


    Delores actually considered his demand for a moment. Then, shaking her head, she firmly rejected it saying, "My life isn''t mine to give." And quietly added, "I can''t live it for you."


    "Whose is it, then?" Ace challenged, not backing down. "Because they are the ones who owe me for saving your life¡ªunless, of course, they think your life is worthless."


    Delores stiffened. She wasn''t the sharpest tool in the shed, but she was loyal¡ªprobably the most loyal person he''d met. And right now, Ace needed someone like that. If she was watching over his family, he could step into the World of Curses with a little less worry.


    She fell silent, processing his words. The way he twisted her logic made her freeze. If she accepted his reasoning, that meant the patriarch of the McSuile family owed Ace a debt for saving her. The thought unsettled her¡ªnot because she was afraid of troubling her master, but because she realized she might not be able to repay Ace anytime soon. Which meant she''d remain his toy to tease until her master returned.


    Ace saw the moment she cracked. His lips curled into a subtle smirk, satisfied with his small victory. Without hesitation, he hopped onto her board, wrapped an arm around her waist, and instructed her, "Let''s head to the local C.I.B. headquarters."


    He wasn''t about to wait around for Mrs. Martins to make her arrangement for agents against the S.S.S.''s revenge. After all, she did say the auction was already underway, and if they didn''t leave soon, it might be over. He couldn''t afford to lose his chance at securing a Sky-tier innate curse tool¡ªhis key to acquiring the leprechaun scope.

 Chapter 245: For Your Country

    Chapter 245: For Your Country"Aren''t you getting a little too comfortable with me?" Delores snapped, finally shaking off her thoughts. She shot Ace a sharp look, her gaze landing on his arm wrapped snugly around her waist and his head resting lazily on her shoulder¡ªwithout her consent. He might not be pulling any wild stunts this time, but still, the sheer audacity of it all¡­ He had some lion''s balls, that was for sure.


    "Really? This is what you want to focus on right now?" Ace groaned. "Let''s just get to the local C.I.B. headquarters first. Hurry up!" His expression made it clear: Don''t get started, again.


    Seeing him dismiss her casually, Delores clenched her jaw, her frustration bubbling under the surface. But instead of lashing out, she exhaled sharply and informed him, "There''s no point in rushing. We don''t even have an invitation to the auction or permission to enter the headquarter''s premises."


    Ace''s brows pulled together in a frown, surprised, "And you''re just telling me this now? Can''t you get an invitation?"


    "No. I don''t have that kind of influence anymore," she admitted, steering her board in the direction of Matthews. "But as an EAD, Matthews can. So, we need to wait for her. Without her, we will have to wait on the streets"


    Ace mulled that over, his frown deepening. He was beginning to understand¡ªMrs. Martins hadn''t told him about the auction just to help him. No, she had other plans. She was likely trying to lure him to the local C.I.B. headquarters quietly¡­ and then strong-arm him into enlisting.


    "Delores," he asked suddenly, his tone unusually serious, "do you think I should join the C.I.B.?"


    Before she could answer, a voice cut in, dripping with menace.


    "Yes, Delores," Mrs. Martins said mockingly, stepping forward she repeated Ace''s words, "Do you think he should join the C.I.B.?"


    Delores'' eyes narrowed at her. She knew what Mrs. Martins was trying to do. The woman was planning to pressure Ace into joining whether he liked it or not. So, Delores made sure to stress, "It''s up to him." She turned to Ace, locking eyes with him she made sure he knew, "Ace, this is your decision. No one else gets to make it for you. Don''t let anyone else tell you otherwise."


    Ace shook his head, unimpressed with Mrs. Martins. His gaze flickered over to her as he flatly asked her, "Can we go now? If we miss the auction I am blaming you."  S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Let''s get a few things straight first," Matthews said, her eyes narrowing as she watched Ace stubbornly resist her plans for him. She needed to make it crystal clear¡ªthere was no escaping this. The sooner he stopped fighting, the better for everyone.


    "Good," Ace nodded, pretending to agree. Letting go of Delores''s wrist, he strode to the head of the board, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. He met Matthews'' gaze head-on.


    "I don''t see how the C.I.B. can do anything for me," he said, his tone calm but firm.


    Matthews arched a brow. "Does it have to?" she countered smoothly. "Can''t you just do it for your country?"


    Ace snorted, shaking his head. He wasn''t buying that patriotic nonsense, and she knew it. She wasn''t actually appealing to his sense of duty¡ªshe was trying to guilt-trip him.


    "Really?" he drawled, his voice dripping with disdain. "Since you brought it up, let me ask you something. Where was my country when a local gangster was abusing me? When he was planning to sexually assault my sister?" His voice darkened, fists clenching at his sides. "Don''t pretend you don''t know what I''m talking about. We both know it was Layla who kept the 9Ks off Ava''s back. I went through her cursed phone, remember? She knew everything¡ªeverything that was happening at our school, in our neighborhood." He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Yet, she did nothing. Just sat back and watched while those scumbags ruined more lives."


    His jaw tightened, anger simmering beneath the surface. This was the real reason he hadn''t hesitated to enslave Layla for life. To the C.I.B., she was a good agent. But to him¡ªto his family and neighborhood¡ªshe was a sinner. Having seen the videos on Mark''s phone he knew his sister wasn''t alone he targeted many girls and women from the neighborhood and succeeded most of the time. Layla''s inaction had ruined many lives in his neighborhood. And now? Now, she''d spend the rest of her life paying for it as his slave.


    "The C.I.B. doesn''t interfere with Mortal World affairs," Matthews stated flatly. "Agents like Layla are there to watch over the families of the C.I.B.''s curse masters. Don''t blame her¡ªor my daughter. Layla was just doing her job. And I sacrificed enough to make sure my family was safe and taken care of in my absence."


    She didn''t deny Ace''s accusations. She didn''t try to persuade him otherwise. Just a simple, matter-of-fact defense¡ªLayla''s hands were tied, and Matthews had paid her dues to secure the privileges her family enjoyed.


    Ace snorted. His frustration and irritation flickered for a moment, but then¡ªjust as quickly¡ªthey evolved into a disdain-filled smirk. Mrs. Martins'' words stung. But damn, he liked her brutal honesty. It was an eye-opener. The democracy he learned about in school and the one in real life were two different concepts.


    "If you make the same sacrifice I did, your family will also get the same privileges as mine," Matthews continued, her tone unwavering. "That is what you gain from joining the C.I.B." She let that sink in for a beat before adding, "Obviously, just signing up doesn''t entitle you to royal privileges. You''ll have to earn them¡ªprove your worth, fight for them."


    Then, without giving him a chance to respond, she leaned in slightly, her gaze sharp as whispered like a siren, "So¡ªare you willing to sacrifice your freedom so your family can experience real freedom? Not the cheap illusion they dangle in front of mortals to keep them in line but true freedom like royalty."

 Chapter 246: For My Family

    Chapter 246: For My Family"You really know just the right words to say, don''t you?" Ace scoffed, shaking his head as if snapping himself out of a trance. He locked eyes with Mrs. Martin and asked, "Can you guarantee it? Guarantee that my family will actually get to enjoy this so-called true freedom of yours? If you can, then until my last breath, I''ll be my country''s loyal hound."


    "..."


    Matthews had no answer. How could she possibly guarantee something as phantasmal as freedom?


    Ace''s lips curled into a sneer. "You can''t, can you?" He leaned in slightly, voice laced with mockery. "Because the true freedom you''re selling? It''s just another illusion. Another leash they tighten around your neck to keep you doing their bidding. You know damn well that the only real freedom comes with absolute strength¡ªstrength neither of us has." He let his words linger for a moment before adding, "So cut the bullshit. Or do you want another shot at convincing me?"


    Matthews exhaled sharply, tilting her head. "You might be right," she admitted. "No, I don''t have the absolute strength for the ideal freedom. But I do have the power of the herd. Together, our forefathers built and protected this country. And now, it''s our turn. We owe it to those who come after us."


    She shook her head, her voice softening just a little. "I know the C.I.B. can''t offer you anything. You were clearly blessed during your curse core initiation ceremony. That''s why I''m not asking you to join for your sake." She met his gaze again, unwavering. "I''m asking you to join so you can share that blessing with those less fortunate than you. That is the responsibility of the strong."


    She took a step back, arms folding across her chest, and gave Ace a way out, "If you disagree, you''re free to head home. No one will stop you. Tomorrow, an agent will come to register you¡ªthen you can pretend none of this ever happened."


    "I don''t know about this responsibility of the strong you''re talking about," Ace said, his tone even, but his eyes sharp. "My parents taught me to share, sure. But society? Society has taught me that sharing too much or selflessly just comes back to bite you." He crossed his arms, voice turning firm as he continued after a dramatic pause, "So if I''m doing this, I need to be paid¡ªand I mean something that''s worth my time. If you can make that happen, I''m in. Otherwise, I''ll find somewhere else that actually appreciates my time. Or better yet, I''ll build that place myself from the ground up."


    He didn''t take the out Mrs. Martins had given him. His family could use the royal privileges she spoke of¡ªbecause no amount of money could buy them that unless he built it for them like the McSuiles have, however, that would take time. For now, C.I.B. will have to do.


    Matthews studied him for a moment, then nodded. "I might not be able to guarantee your family the ideal version of freedom, but I can guarantee that you and your family will be treated fairly by the C.I.B.¡ªas long as I''m alive, at least. Unless, of course, you give us a reason not to," Her voice was steady, and something about the way she said it made it sound less like a promise and more like an oath.


    But she wasn''t done. She took a step forward, her expression softening just a little, "And to prove I''m not just telling what you want to hear, I won''t ask you about your innate curse tool or your innate curse art. Those sections in your file? They''ll be left blank."


    She held his gaze, letting the weight of her words settle before continuing adding, "And don''t worry¡ªno one will force you to reveal them later. If they do? You can just quit. I''ll put it in your employment contract, in writing. Sound fair?"


    "You really do know just the right words to say," Ace said, his gaze locked onto Matthews. "Hopefully, you can back them up¡ªbecause let me make one thing clear." His voice dipped slightly, carrying a quiet warning. "If it ever comes down to choosing between my family and this country, I won''t hesitate. And trust me, you don''t want me as your enemy."


    Matthews held his stare for a beat, then gave a firm nod. "Got it," she said, her tone serious. She did not let his mortal-tier strength undermine the seriousness of his words.


    Then, without missing a beat, she added, "Let''s head to my headquarters and make this official." She wasn''t about to waste time¡ªshe needed to get Ace''s name on those documents before he had a chance to rethink anything. The more she talked to him, the more she realized just how valuable he truly was.


    She knew about his deal with the Cyclops having eavesdropped on them. And for Ace to have something that even Cyclops was greedy for? Matthews could already see it¡ªthe day their country would rise above the Curse Council in any one of the fields of curse was coming. For years, they had needed someone like him. It was sheer luck that their wait was finally over.


    "Wow, young man. I never thought you''d actually join the C.I.B.," Evil Eyes remarked, genuine surprise flashing across his face.


    He had assumed Ace would be like all the others¡ªthose who, after gaining a little special power from their curse core initiation, immediately started scheming for world domination. But Ace had proven him wrong. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Everything Evil Eyes had observed about Ace, combined with his own years of experience, told him one thing¡ªC.I.B. wouldn''t be Ace''s final stop. No, the kid was going places. The mortal world was too small of a pond for him.


    Like their patriarch used to say, ''No matter how many dams you build, you can''t stop a river from finding the ocean. You can delay it but ultimately it will find its way and reach its destination.''

 Chapter 247: Elinor McSuile

    Chapter 247: Elinor McSuile"Whoa, isn''t this a little too high-profile for a secret government agency?" Ace muttered, staring up in awe at the tallest building in the city.


    "That''s nothing compared to the other branch headquarters," Matthews replied, barely sparing the structure a glance as she strode toward the entrance. She was in a hurry and had no patience for protocol, so she forced security to skip the usual due diligence and waved Ace and the others inside.


    Once in the lobby, she snapped her fingers at a nearby agent¡ªa tall, lean woman standing at attention¡ªasking, "Agent Big B, where is Agent Hundred Eyes?"


    "Ma''am, she took a break¡ªoh, there she is," Big B said, nodding toward a figure hurrying over the moment she spotted Matthews.


    "Ma''am," Hundred Eyes saluted sharply as she stopped in front of them, standing at rigid attention.


    Matthews narrowed her eyes at her, and with an intimidating voice, she questioned, "Be honest. Did you take a break to fool around with your cousin?" S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hundred Eyes flinched slightly but kept her posture straight and answered her honestly, "Yes, Ma''am." She knew she was in trouble¡ªgetting caught slacking off while serving disciplinary duty was bad enough, but lying about it? That would only make things worse.


    After her best friend had ratted her out to the higher-ups¡ªa.k.a. EAD Matthews¡ªHundred Eyes had been stripped of her previous duties and privileges. Until she earned back their trust, she was stuck serving as doorwoman for the branch headquarters.


    As for Agent Big B, as the senior agent in charge, she had taken responsibility for Hundred Eyes'' betrayal, shouldering the blame to prevent a complete overhaul of the surveillance department. Now, she too was stuck playing doorwoman. The only difference? Unlike Hundred Eyes, her pay and privileges remained untouched.


    Honestly, they were both lucky they hadn''t been imprisoned and still had their jobs, even if their titles had changed. Agent Big B figured they got off with nothing more than a slap on the wrist, mostly because Hundred Eyes was the little cousin of Crimson Eyes¡ªnot to mention her very influential family.


    Matthews gave a curt nod before asking, "Who gave you permission to leave your post?"


    Hundred Eyes felt the heat creeping up her neck. She was already sweating bullets, knowing she had gotten Agent Big B in trouble again. So, she did the only thing she could¡ªshe lied, "No one, ma''am."


    Agent Big B''s frown deepened. She stepped forward, ready to take responsibility, but before she could speak, a lazy voice cut through the tension, "Mrs. Martins, leave her alone."


    EAD Matthews'' eyes narrowed as she turned to face the speaker. Ace stood there, completely unfazed by her glare.


    "This doesn''t concern you," she warned.


    Hundred Eyes'' breath hitched when she saw him. Him. The reason for all of this. The boy who was the spark that lit fire in her heart and mind that made her betray the C.I.B.''s trust, the catalyst for her fall from grace. She never thought she''d see him again, let alone standing here in the lobby of their headquarters¡ªand daring to give their boss orders.


    Ace ignored Matthews completely and strolled toward Hundred Eyes, his expression unreadable. He extended a hand with a sincere smile as he introduced himself to her, "Hi, I''m Ace Lander. It''s good to finally meet you in person."


    Hundred Eyes hesitated. She shouldn''t, but something about the way he looked at her made it impossible to refuse. Slowly, she reached out and shook his hand, locking eyes with him.


    "Hi," she said, the words slipping out before she could think twice. "I''m Elinor McSuile. Are you here to register?"


    She froze the moment she said it. Elinor McSuile. She never gave her birth name or surname to anyone. But for some reason, staring into his eyes, it had come out on its own.


    Hearing her ask him to register with the government, a subtle smile tugged at Ace''s lips. Holding her hand in both of his, he shook it gently and said, "It''s gonna be fun working with you, Eli."


    Then, letting her hand go he turned to Matthews suggesting, "Mrs. Martins, why don''t you go ahead and draw up the contract? Agent Elinor here will lead us to the auction hall."


    Matthews'' face twisted with barely restrained rage. ''This brat¡­'' He had just undermined her in front of her own agents, but she wasn''t stupid¡ªhis words carried a clear message. He still hasn''t signed the employment contract. It was up to her to make sure he didn''t change his mind.


    Trying to suppress her irritation, Matthews refused to even look at Ace. Instead, she glanced at Elinor and ordered, "Take them to the auction. And make sure he doesn''t get himself into trouble. Can I trust you with this?"


    "Yes, ma''am!" Elinor responded swiftly before saluting to excuse herself. She then gestured for Ace to follow, giving a nod to Delores and Evil Eyes as well.


    As they neared the elevator¡ªnow out of Matthews'' immediate line of fire¡ªElinor''s demeanor shifted. She grew noticeably chipper and turned to Delores asking, "Auntie, are you here looking for Sister?"


    Delores let out an exhausted sigh, ''Great. Just what I needed¡ªanother headache on top of Ace.'' But since it had already come up, she might as well deal with it. She was the only one who dared to address her as aunt among the McSuile family''s direct-line descendants earning the entire main family and core retainers'' disatifaction including her own father. Delores had forgotten the number of times she had asked her to not address her as such but the latter did not listen saying, ''You are grandpa''s eldest child, that makes you my aunt.'' She was trouble.


    "Yes," she admitted, rubbing her temples. "Tell us where she is, and we''ll find her ourselves. You proceed to take him to the auction. Just focus on your duties¡ªyou''re already in enough trouble as it is. You know your father''s temper better than anyone."


    Elinor grinned not taking offense to Delores''s exaggerated reactions, "She''s at the auction too. I''ll lead you guys directly to her box. I am sure she would not mind an extra guest." She added the last sentence glancing at Ace.


    However, to her astonishment, Ace''s head snapped toward Delores, eyes narrowing. The latter, however, remained perfectly unbothered, offering a shrug as she said, "You never asked about Janice."


    Elinor lifted an eyebrow in surprise, her gaze flicking between the two of them. Seeing how close they were left her momentarily stunned. Knowing Delores'' personality, that was not something she expected to see. She could not help but grow more curious about him.

 Chapter 248: Ratris Edge

    Chapter 248: Ratri''s Edge"Cus! I''m back¡ªguess who I brought with me!" Elinor burst into the VIP box, completely forgetting her actual duty¡ªkeeping an eye on Ace.


    Janice, Sonia, and Lola turned toward the entrance just as Ace, Delores, and Evil Eyes stepped inside. Hiding any concern behind a casual front, Janice smirked and said, "You guys made it. So, how was the haul? How much did I make?"


    Ace squinted at her, debating whether to say something, but ultimately let it go¡ªonly for Sonia to chime in snarkily, "Ace, you''re alive. Good. I''d have gone crazy if you died an easy death."


    Ace smirked and strolled toward her, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Just admit you''re into me. Don''t worry¡ªI''ll let you down easy," he teased her, riling her up.


    "Fucker, you wanna die?" Sonia snapped, shooting to her feet as her teeth and nails grew sharper with her rising temper.


    Ace grinned, completely unfazed. "I love you too¡ªbut strictly as a colleague," he said, purposefully taking the empty seat next to her, as if daring her to make a move.


    Sensing an imminent brawl, Elinor hurriedly stepped between them, throwing up her hands. "Hey, hey! No fighting in C.I.B. headquarters. If you guys wanna let off some steam, we can hit the ring in the bureau gym. But if you''re really looking to throw down, there''s a nice, wide back alley just waiting for you two to go all out."


    Delores shook her head in exasperation, watching the chaos unfold. How did she even get recruited by the C.I.B.? It had to be her family''s influence¡ªthere was no way any rational recruiter would willingly bring a troublemaker like Elinor into a secret government agency.


    She sighed, wondering how this so-called niece of hers would even survive in life, forget having a successful career.


    "Well, which is it?" Elinor pressed, tilting her head at Sonia.


    Sonia flinched, suddenly regretting her outburst. Are all C.I.B. agents this unhinged? she wondered. Not wanting to get into trouble on her first day inside the local C.I.B. headquarters, she huffed and sank back into her seat.


    Ace, unfazed, turned to Elinor asking, "Did they auction off the sky-tier innate curse tools yet?"


    Before Elinor could respond, Janice cut in, answering him, "No, not yet. But you made it just in time. They''re up next. It''s gonna be intense¡ªall three have good abilities."


    "Good," Ace said with a smirk. "Which one do you like? Since I''m buying you one, I might as well get the one you prefer."


    Janice raised a brow, momentarily puzzled, until Delores leaned in and whispered the whole story in her ear, helping her catch up.


    Entering the box, Delores immediately took her post behind Janice, while Evil Eyes stood watch by the exit. Unlike Elinor, neither of them had forgotten their role as Janice''s security detail.


    "You took down three sky-tier curse masters?" Janice asked, turning to Ace in astonishment.


    He simply nodded. This caused Elinor to widen her eyes wondering if the teenager in front of her was like Evil Eyes. That would explain a lot, especially EAD Matthews and Delores''s attitude toward him.


    Processing the sheer weight of what he had done, Janice exhaled and waved a hand dismissively saying, "You don''t have to pay for the Leprechaun Scope. Let''s just call it even with half of your loot. But on one condition¡ªyou let me study that rifle-shaped curse tool of yours."


    She wasn''t expecting Ace''s haul to be this massive. Sure, she had seen him snipe a sky-tier curse master, but knowing that most of the S.S.S. core members were at the scene, she figured he''d be lucky to make it out in one piece. Yet here he was, not only alive but walking away with two sky-tier innate curse tools.


    A single one of those tools was worth her troubles¡ªand definitely worth a hundred of those scopes.


    Ace, caught off guard by her offer, shook his head, rejecting it outright. "No. The Leprechaun Scope is worth it. Don''t make this awkward. Just pick one. Otherwise, you''ll be stuck with whatever I choose¡ªdon''t come complaining to me later."


    Janice raised a brow as she eyed him suspiciously before asking him, "Did you suddenly come into money? A good sky-tier innate curse tool can go for a few hundred million dollars."


    "Don''t worry about that. Just name your picks," Ace assured her, his confidence unwavering. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sonia and Lola exchanged confused glances, unable to figure out where his boldness was coming from. Elinor, on the other hand, just assumed Ace was some ancient senior who had amassed wealth over centuries. Meanwhile, Delores and Evil Eyes barely blinked¡ªthey already knew the boy was loaded.


    Janice sighed, leaning back no longer bothering to figure out if Ace was kidding or being serious, "Any one of those three will do. They''re all solid."


    Before Ace could respond, Lola hesitantly spoke up, pointing at the crystal orb beside Janice. "Um¡­ guys, they''ve started auctioning the sky-tier innate curse tools. Should I turn off the noise isolator?"


    Thanks to the curse array formation covering the box, they had been able to talk freely without disrupting the auction¡ªor being disturbed by it.


    "Yes, go ahead, sweetie," Janice nodded.


    As soon as Lola adjusted the array, the hum of the auction filled the room, just in time for Ace to hear the beautiful auctioneer announce, "...making Ratri''s Edge a one-of-a-kind and a must-have for collectors. Now, let''s begin the bidding. The minimum bid increment is one million dollars. Do I hear fifty million?"


    Ace''s gaze shifted to the stage, where an ornamental dagger rested in the spotlight before he asked Janice, "How do I place a bid?"


    By the time she finished explaining how he could use the crystal orb to submit his bid, Ratri''s Edge had already climbed to 76 million dollars.


    Without hesitation, Ace placed his palm on the crystal orb and mentally fed it his bid, "152 million dollars."


    The entire auction hall fell silent. Even the auctioneer froze, realizing that a serious high-roller had just entered the fray, fast-forwarding the bidding wars.

 Chapter 249: $320,000,000

    Chapter 249: $320,000,000"What happens if one wins the bid but can''t pay?" Sonia asked, turning to Elinor, her voice edged with genuine concern seeing the auction come to a halt with Ace doubling the previous bid. If this dumbass got himself in trouble, she did not want to be held liable just for being in the same room as him.


    Elinor smirked, but her eyes remained disturbingly deadpan. The look alone sent a chill down Sonia''s spine. Instinctively, she lunged forward, reaching to snatch the crystal from Ace''s grasp, but he slapped her hand away.


    "What the hell do you think you''re doing?" he snapped, his expression a mix of irritation and amusement.


    "That''s what I should be asking you!" Sonia shot back, her voice rising hysterically, "Do you even have that kind of money? Haven''t I suffered enough because of you? My god, what sin did I commit to be stuck dealing with an asshole like him? I will kill you the first chance I get!"


    Thankfully, the curse array around the VIP box kept their shouting contained, preventing the outburst from disrupting the auction.


    Sonia wasn''t overreacting. 152 million dollars wasn''t just an insane amount¡ªit was around the Everhart Guild''s entire quarterly income. To make that much, the guild would have to work nonstop for three months, grinding at full capacity. And here was Ace, dropping that much on a single curse tool.


    It would have been one thing if he actually had that kind of money. But she knew he didn''t. How could a country hick have that kind of money?


    Sky-tier curse masters weren''t easy to kill, even when ambushed and outnumbered. Every single one of them had contingency plans¡ªsurvival strategies honed through years of experience. After all, those who reached the Sky tier were the best of the best sorted out by law of the jungle.


    The only reason the gang had managed to take down almost half a dozen today was because of the perfect combination of Ace''s rail rifle with Janice''s Leprechaun Scope. As for the first kill¡ªwell, that guy had it coming for underestimating Ace just because of his tier.


    Matthews had seriously lucked out. She had just secured two Sky-tier innate curse tools in a single day. Ace was proving to be the biggest pain in her ass¡ªbut also her most ridiculous, inexplicable lucky star. And she damn well knew it. That was why, back in the front lobby, Matthews swallowed her anger despite the humiliation he had put her through. She couldn''t afford to let her pride get in the way. Instead, she rushed off to draw up the employment contract before Ace had the chance to change his mind.


    Despite her rambling, Ace was able to gather that Sonia was just worried about getting stuck with the bill for him. Shaking his head, he cut her off to put an end to the noise, "That''s not how this works, you dimwit. Stop distracting me¡ª"


    Ace suddenly paused, his gaze flicking to the auction hall screen as a new bid flashed.


    160 million dollars.


    He blinked baffled by the bid. He thought it had to be someone with OCD and was bad at math¡ªrounding his 152 million bid to 160 million. What a weirdo.


    Without wasting another second, he placed his palm on the crystal orb and input his new bid, "320 million dollars."


    The entire VIP box went dead silent. So, did the auction hall outside. The auctioneer, ever the professional, recovered quickly. Her voice rang out, cutting through the tension, "Do I hear any more bids on this magnificent innate curse tool? Come on, ladies and gentlemen, this is a rare opportunity! Ratri''s Edge is truly one of a kind."


    The atmosphere grew thick with anticipation. The auctioneer''s gavel hovered in the air, the entire hall holding its breath as the countdown began, "Going once¡­ going twice¡­"


    Inside the VIP box, all eyes were on Ace. But he didn''t so much as flinch. His gaze stayed locked on the display case, the dark blade of Ratri''s Edge gleaming under the lights. His expression was calm¡ªdetermined.


    "Sold! To the honorable guest in VIP Box No. 012 for 320 million dollars!" The sharp crack of the gavel sealed the deal.


    "Congratulations, Your Grace! You have acquired a truly exceptional innate curse tool," the auctioneer announced, her tone bright and celebratory. She gestured toward the VIP boxes, though the array shielding them ensured no one could see or spy on their occupants.


    Ace felt way more satisfaction from watching Sonia''s panic-stricken expression than from actually winning the bid for Ratri''s Edge. Turning to Elinor, he asked casually, "Where do I pay? I''ll be using cryptocurrency."


    "In the orb," Elinor replied quickly, then hesitated before correcting herself. "Please choose the payment option in the orb. It will generate a wallet ID for you to complete the transaction, senior."


    Ace raised a brow at the sudden shift in her tone. She sounded weirdly respectful now. After all, anyone who could make Matthews and Delores act their best and drop $320,000,000 without batting an eye was clearly not someone to take lightly.


    In their collective shock, everyone missed the way Elinor had just addressed him as senior. Ace dismissed it himself, assuming he must have misheard or that it was just a slip of the tongue.


    Shrugging it off, he pulled up the status screen and forwarded the wallet ID to Dame Wasp. She had already gathered twice the necessary amount by draining multiple fraudulent online gambling sites across the globe. She had been keeping tabs on them for weeks, frustrated that she could only take a few hundred dollars at a time. But today she got to relieve her frustration and showcase the true extent of her cybernetic prowess to her master and juniors.


    Ace had only been so bold because he would soon officially be part of the C.I.B. Also, Dame Wasp''s activities were untraceable thanks to her cybernetics and futuristic knowledge. And most importantly, where were those criminals going to complain that they got robbed blind? The cops, fat chance.


    Still, he made a point not to touch the ones operating within the country. No matter how powerful his backing or prepared he was, making enemies on his home turf was just asking for trouble.


    "Transaction successful!"


    "Your item will be delivered to you shortly."


    The orb''s mechanical but feminine voice echoed through the room.


    Sonia, Lola, and Janice just stared with their jaws practically on the floor. Despite watching the entire thing unfold right in front of them, they still couldn''t wrap their heads around it.


    Ace, unfazed by their shock, stretched like he hadn''t just dropped a massive fortune, then turned to Elinor, demanding, "Eli, take me to the dining hall. I''m starving."


    Then, he glanced at the others, completely ignoring the comical expressions around him, he invited them to join him, "You guys coming? My treat. Let''s pig out tonight, yeah?"  sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 250: The Three Kings IN 9Ks

    Chapter 250: The Three Kings IN 9Ks"Wow¡­" Lola whispered under her breath as Elinor led them into the grandiose dining hall, her eyes wide with awe.


    Janice, catching her reaction, smiled in amusement finding her cute, while Sonia sneered at her. Tch. Since she couldn''t take her frustration out on her physically, she settled for silently ridiculing Lola. It wasn''t long ago that she believed herself to be the strongest among her peers. Now? She was the weakest. Even a wimp like Lola outclassed her. That realization stung¡ªbadly.


    As Elinor led them toward a private room, Janice abruptly stopped her. "Eli, we''ll take the table by the glass window over there," She pointed toward an open spot with a gorgeous view of the city skyline. The atmosphere in the main hall was lively, a stark contrast to the suffocating awkwardness she knew would settle over them in a private room.


    Especially, considering her company was mostly teenagers and old folks. Delores could accompany her but with recent increased attempts on her life she would rather not and Elinor was on the clock.


    Elinor glanced at Ace for his opinion. Seeing him nod, she wordlessly changed course, guiding them toward the chosen table¡ªnot too close to the band, but not too far either. With just the right acoustics.


    As they reached the table, Ace suddenly halted mid-stride. His gaze locked onto a group of well-dressed individuals seated two tables away, enjoying their meals.


    "You guys go ahead and order. I''ll be right back," he said, his voice casual but firm.


    Without waiting for a response, Ace peeled away from the group and strode toward the table in question.


    His arrival immediately drew the attention of the three men seated there. His attire was noticeably underwhelming for the venue, making him stand out like a sore thumb. One of the men, a distinguished-looking older gentleman with a kind face, spoke up first.


    "Young man, come back later. We''re in the middle of¡ª" He paused, choosing his words carefully, trying to be polite. After all, not just anyone could set foot in this building, let alone this exclusive floor.


    Ace, completely unfazed, pulled out a chair and seated himself without invitation.


    The three men narrowed their eyes, displeasure flickering across their faces. Yet, none of them immediately acted¡ªhis confidence and demeanor made them hesitate.


    Leaning back in his chair, Ace let his gaze sweep over them before greeting, "Congressman, Mayor, Police Commissioner. I was planning to meet you guys soon. But I''m lucky to catch you all three here." His voice was smooth, almost lazy, as he reached for the $4,000 bottle of wine sitting at the center of the table. He poured himself a glass without so much as a glance in their direction, leaving the bottle uncorked as he swirled the deep red liquid in his glass.


    The tension at the table spiked instantly. Taking offense at his blatant disrespect, the trio set down their cutlery in unison, their expressions turning stern. The Mayor¡ªthe kind-looking old man from earlier¡ªwas the first to speak, his tone laced with restrained irritation, "And you are?"


    Ace waved a dismissive hand, saying, "Enough about me." He took a leisurely sip of wine, his sharp gaze flicking between the three of them before he casually asked, "So, what are you conspiring about today? It''s not every day the three kings of the 9Ks gather in one place."


    At his words, their expressions darkened as if he had uttered something forbidden.


    Ignoring their discomfort, Ace reached for an untouched slice of cranberry pie, took a generous bite, and continued¡ªmouth still half-full. "Must be something big going down. If you don''t mind sharing, maybe I can help. Of course¡­" He smirked, swallowing. "I''d expect compensation for my time."


    Silence.


    The only response he got was three pairs of narrowed eyes staring daggers at him.


    Tough crowd.


    With a slight frown, he wiped his fingers on a napkin and elaborated, "I hope you''re catching my drift here. I''m just a little cash-strapped." He tapped his fingers against the table in mock thoughtfulness. "Don''t worry¡ªmy fees are very reasonable."


    Still, nothing but death stares.


    [Dame Wasp: Mission complete. Master, recall me.]


    Ace got up with a loud sigh, pushing his chair back with an intentional scrape. "Fine. If you change your minds, you know where to find me." He plucked another piece of pie from the plate and walked off, casually biting into it as he made his way back toward his table.


    Before he could get there, though, he spotted Elinor rushing toward him.


    ¡­


    As they took their seats, Janice kept a watchful eye on Ace, trying to gauge what he was up to. When she spotted him casually making himself comfortable at the congressman''s table, her frown deepened.


    Turning to Delores, she asked, "Who are the other two with the congressman? And how the hell did three mortals even get into this building, let alone this floor?"


    Delores barely spared a glance before answering, "That''s the city mayor and the police commissioner. If I remember correctly, they were working with Sir Beyton on a mission ages ago." She arched a brow, overhearing snippets of their conversation with her enhanced hearing. "It''s surprising they''re still holding their positions. Looks like working for Sir Beyton did wonders for their careers."


    Her frown deepened as she tuned in further. But before she could dwell on it, her gaze shifted to her niece, who was completely engrossed in her cursed phone going through the online menu, oblivious to everything around her¡ªincluding her duty.


    Sighing, Delores snapped, "Young lady, put down your phone and go check on your target. Unless you want another earful from Matthews."


    Elinor flinched at her aunt''s sharp tone and immediately turned toward the congressman''s table. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of the three men glaring at him, she felt their displeasure from where she sat. Without hesitation, she shoved her cursed phone into her pocket and shot up from her seat, rushing toward him.


    Janice, watching Elinor''s frantic movements, exhaled in exasperation. "She used to be so ambitious. What happened to her?"


    "Life," Delores murmured, a hint of sympathy in her voice.


    Not that she was surprised. The past few days had been brutal on Elinor¡ªbetween the C.I.B.''s rigid, illogical protocols, the crushing disappointment in the very system she once believed in, and the sting of betrayal from her so-called best friend. Frankly, it was a miracle she hadn''t walked away from the C.I.B. entirely.


    But Delores knew her niece too well. Elinor was up to something again. All she could do now was hope it wouldn''t land her in trouble.


    "Senior, is something the problem?" Elinor said eyeing the three mortals at the table that Ace just left.


    "Senior?" Ace was a bit taken aback by being called senior by someone almost a decade older than him again, but still answered, "Nothing, let us get back to our table and eat our fill."


    ¡­


    After Ace left their table, the Congressman immediately reached for his phone and called their master, Sir Beyton.  S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 251: Climbing The Ranks

    Chapter 251: Climbing The Ranks"Ace, why aren''t you eating?" Lola asked, noticing that his plate was still untouched. His face twisted in disgust as he watched Sonia and Scratchifer ferociously devour their fifth roasted suckling pig.


    Ace barely suppressed the nausea. "Those two ruined my appetite. I blame myself for sitting across from them," he muttered, getting up from his seat and grabbing his plate.


    The sight was disturbing. Sonia and Scratchifer tore into their meal like starving animals, their sharp teeth flashing in the warm candlelight. As a Werefur, Scratchifer was one of the many Cursedlings that like to kill its victims as gruesomely as possible such that negative emotions of their victims tainted their flesh preparing a tasty meal for themselves.


    That''s why Sonia had specifically requested that her dish be prepared in the most brutal way possible. The dish, priced at twenty times the regular, was a luxury only available in high-end restaurants catering exclusively to Curse Users. They justified the price claiming torture was also an art form. Seeing how much the duo were loving their meal maybe they were on to something.


    Scratchifer and Sonia were too engrossed in their meal to be bothered by the disgusted looks and comments from across the table, they tore into their meal like it was their last, letting out guttural, satisfied sounds with every bite. Ace, however, had seen enough. He walked to the far end of the table, as far away from them as possible, and settled into his new seat.


    Lola followed him and took a seat beside him. For whatever reason, her actions remind him of the school canteen. Ace barely spared her a glance before asking, "Do you really like that innate curse tool that much?"


    Ever since they met, she had been in her dinosaur plush curse tool. Currently, she was wearing it like a pair of pants. It gave her the bizarre appearance of a half-dino, half-human hybrid. And frankly, he found it cute.


    The plush suit highlighted a side of Lola he thought she had long outgrown¡ªa childishness buried under the weight of responsibility adding merit to the old saying: Children of the poor mature faster.


    Lola didn''t answer Ace. She did not know how to. So she kept her head down, cutting into her steak in silence. But Ace understood that silence, she was scared. Currently, the only place she felt safe was inside that cute dinosaur plush.


    Lola wasn''t someone who frightened easily, but the past few days had been hell for her. From being kidnapped to learning about the terrifying world of Curses, from awakening as a Curse Master by reliving her worst memories to actually living the scary world of Curses¡ªshe hadn''t had a moment to breathe. And if that wasn''t enough, she''d been hunted down by Curse Users one second and forced to hunt them the next.


    She wasn''t used to such a life. Not yet. But watching Ace and Sonia adapt so quickly¡ªfitting into this new world as if they''d always belonged¡ªmade her feel like she was already falling behind.


    The C.I.B. had been a godsend for Sonia, a second chance for her family, and Lola refused to be the reason they lost it. The pressure was real. The rat race had already begun the moment Matthews mentioned they would all be in the same batch and receive priority training. She couldn''t shake the feeling that she was lagging behind.


    "You''ll be fine," Ace said, his voice steady and sure. Then, more softly, he assured, "We''re in this together."


    Lola hesitated, then lifted her head. Their eyes met. Ace''s confidence was unwavering, and weirdly enough she found it infectious. She gave a small but genuine nod, then turned back to her steak and Ace went back to his smoked rib-eye. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Meanwhile, Evil Eyes¡ªwho had the misfortune of sitting next to Sonia¡ªawkwardly reached out to pat her back, trying to get her attention.


    Bad move.


    Sonia''s head snapped toward him, her eyes flashing as she snarled, mouth still greasy from her meal.


    Evil Eyes didn''t flinch and blinked unamused, trying to hide his disgust for her savage table-side manners.


    "What?" she snapped, irritation thick in her voice. She hated to be interrupted in the middle of a meal


    Evil Eyes ignored her attitude and gestured toward Ace and Lola with a subtle tilt of his head, advising, "Stop stuffing your face and use this time to befriend them. C.I.B. boot camp isn''t exactly a fun experience for Curse Slaves."


    Sonia barely spared him a glance arguing, "I don''t care. I''ll take them all on."


    Unfazed, she bit into another chunk of meat, as if she hadn''t just declared herself ready to fight the entire boot camp if that''s what it took to become a full-fledged C.I.B. agent.


    Evil Eyes sighed stressing, "With your strength, I don''t doubt you''ll hold your own. But if you want better grades, you''ll need capable teammates. And let''s be real¡ªnot many Curse Masters will want to team up with a Curse Slave, no matter how strong you are."


    That made Sonia pause.


    Evil Eyes leaned back, watching her closely. He wasn''t just throwing empty words at her¡ªhe was giving her a warning. The discrimination against Curse Slaves in the C.I.B. was very real. If she wanted to get ahead of it, she needed to secure a few reliable allies now. Ace and Lola were her best bet.


    Despite himself, Evil Eyes felt a flicker of admiration for Sonia. Most people in her position would have broken after what she went through on a daily basis¡ªdying multiple times in the most gruesome ways imaginable.


    It would have shattered anyone''s psyche. But not her. She was still standing. What impressed him even more was her Werefur curseling. Madam Scratchifer had stopped eating seeing her stop. Instead, the Curesling was waiting. Patiently. For her.


    That was rare. Curselings and their Curse Slave partners sharing a meal was unusual enough. But for a curseling¡ªnot just any curseling, but a Werefur, one of the most savage, bloodthirsty species¡ªto wait for its partner before continuing to eat? That was unheard of.


    Evil Eyes wasn''t sure whether to be disturbed or impressed. Maybe both.


    "Why do grades even matter?" Sonia asked, impatiently tapping her fingers against the table. She was eager to get back to her meal, but the way Evil Eyes kept stressing over her grades made her pause.


    It reminded her of her father. His voice echoed in her mind, firm and unwavering, echoing in her mind, ''Promise me you will top the C.I.B. boot camp.''


    She hadn''t thought much about it before, but now that the question was out in the open, she figured she might as well understand why it was such a big deal. If she knew its significance, it''d be easier to focus on the goal.


    Evil Eyes leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice just enough to make it clear he was serious, he began, "Your grades determine your rank when you officially join the C.I.B. as a special agent. With excellent grades, even a Curse Slave can secure a Supervisory rank."


    Sonia''s brow twitched slightly at that.


    "The C.I.B. might be the only place in the entire ''World of Curses'' and mortal where something as crazy as Curse Masters, regardless of their tier, collectively taking orders from mortals or Curse Slaves actually happens," he continued. "So, forget whatever grudge you have against that boy, stop envying the little girl, and do whatever it takes to befriend them."


    His tone was blunt, almost cutting, but there was no malice behind his words¡ªonly a raw, unfiltered honesty as he advised, "Don''t waste this godsend opportunity. With them on your team, you might actually have a shot at joining the C.I.B. as a Supervisory Special Agent from the get-go. Instead of slaving around as a special agent for years. Doing so will help you climb to C.I.B. management ranks faster."


    Evil Eyes couldn''t help but glance at Elinor as he spoke. Even though she was a McSuile¡ªa direct-line descendant, no less¡ªshe had underperformed in boot camp.


    Underperformed might be the wrong word since the competition in her batch was very fierce and Elinor wasn''t specifically easy to get along with because of her very uptight nature.


    Regardless, No amount of influence could change her grades. In the end, she had to join the C.I.B. at the bottom, as a mere special agent.


    He pitied her as ever since she left the McSuile house, society has been a cruel awakening to her with its brutal reality which was far from what she read and imagined within the walls of the McSuile household. It was like watching a princess trying to make it among commoners without her privileges.


    Sonia followed his gaze, her eyes landing on Elinor. She was sitting with Janice, sipping drinks and casually ignoring her duties¡ªbecause, of course, Delores and Evil Eyes were already handling them.


    For someone as secretive and calculating as Evil Eyes, he sure was laying it all out there. But there was no denying it¡ªhe sincerely wanted her to succeed. To him, it seemed like getting into the C.I.B. meant more to her than life itself. And maybe, just maybe¡­If she was smart about it, she might actually pull it off¡ªdespite her shady background and her Curse Slave status.


    A flicker of determination crossed Sonia''s face. With a sharp nod of acknowledgment to Evil Eyes, she reached for the service cart, grabbed the two untouched roasted suckling pig dishes, and made her way toward Ace and Lola.


    As she walked, Scratchifer casually tilted her head back and swallowed what was left of the roasted suckling pig they were enjoying earlier¡ªwhole¡ªin a single bite. The grotesque display made a few heads turn, but she didn''t care. She obediently followed after her master.


    Reaching Ace, Sonia plopped one of the suckling pigs onto the seat next to him. Ace eyed the dish, then slowly turned his gaze to her, asking, "Are you picking a fight?"


    Sonia scoffed, "No, you jerkwad. But if you are, I''m game."


    Evil Eyes groaned and dragged a hand down his face, wondering if maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªhe should have stayed out of it.

 Chapter 252: Flipping Beyton Off

    Chapter 252: Flipping Beyton OffLearning that Elinor had led Ace and the gang to the VIP dining hall, Matthews wasted no time¡ªshe bolted straight for the emergency stairs instead of waiting for the elevator. The stairwell had been purposefully designed with long quarter landings, creating open gaps in the center. Without hesitation, Matthews stepped into the empty space and launched herself upward, flying straight to the floor where the VIP dining hall was located, fully prepared to legally make Ace her bitch tonight.


    Moments after she disappeared, the emergency stairwell door creaked open again. This time, it was Sir Beyton. He hurriedly flew up the stairs with a stormy look on his face. His subordinates had been spooked by some unknown teenager. And considering that said teenager had managed to waltz into the VIP dining hall and sit down for a meal like he owned the place, Beyton had no choice but to take the situation very seriously.


    ¡­


    "What the fuck is going on here?!" Matthews roared as she stormed into the dining hall and arrived at Ace''s table, only to be met with the bizarre sight of Lola and Sonia pinning Ace down, stuffing the snout of a roasted hatchling pig down his throat.


    Ace gagged, struggling against them, but they were relentless.


    It all started when he had made the fatal mistake of calling the dish disgusting¡ªand, by extension, them disgusting for eating it. Even though he''d quickly backpedaled, claiming that''s not what he meant to say, it just came out wrong!, neither Lola nor Sonia was in a forgiving mood.


    Ace had been confident in his stats and the passive effect of his Apex Earring, but damn, these two were strong. Especially Lola¡ªher grip felt like he was being crushed by an elephant. Must be her curse tool, he thought bitterly.


    At the sound of Matthews'' furious voice, both Lola and Sonia immediately released Ace and scrambled back to their seats, sitting up straight at the dining table like nothing had happened. Meanwhile, Ace spit the snout out to the side without care but he could not help but lick the grease on his lips.


    Across the table, Elinor¡ªvery drunk¡ªlet out a loud, disappointed hiccup, "Aw, come on! It was just starting to get fun¡ªhic."


    Matthews shot her a murderous glare, but seeing how wasted she was, she held back planning to deal with her later when she was sober.


    "Go easy on her. She''s going through her rebellious phase," Delores said, unable to stop herself from defending her niece. Life was rough¡ªhopefully, she''d find her way soon.


    Matthews scoffed. "The C.I.B. isn''t running a charity for the rejects of your family," she shot back, irritation clear in her voice. Then, turning to Ace, she slid an employment contract across the table and ordered, "Sign it, so I can file it while I''m still in charge of this shithole."


    Ace didn''t even glance at it. Instead, he casually sent the contract to Dame Wasp''s toy space, waiting for her opinion, despite Matthews'' impatient glare. She had no choice but to wait.


    Just then, Ace''s gaze landed on the Congressman, the Mayor, and the Police Commissioner. He watched as they all suddenly put their cutlery down, stood up, and turned toward the entrance with an air of rigid respect.


    A second later, an old man entered the room. The moment he stepped inside, the three men instantly slightly bowed to greet him, but he waved them off, clearly in a hurry. The Congressman, catching on, quickly turned and pointed straight at Ace''s table.


    Sir Beyton, who had been storming in, ready to deal with the dipshit that had spooked his subordinates, visibly slowed down when he saw who were at the boy''s table. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    EAD Matthews. The McSuile family direct-line descendants.


    For a split second, Beyton hesitated. He had planned to deal with this swiftly, but now? Now, he had to think it through.


    Ace, on the other hand, didn''t hesitate at all. Completely ignoring the tension, he locked eyes with Beyton, smirked¡ªand then casually waved at him.


    Beyton narrowed his eyes.


    Then Ace''s raised hand shifted¡ªhis fingers curling into a thumbs-up. And before Beyton could make sense of it, Ace pressed down on his thumb, like he was pushing a detonator, and silently mouthed: Boom!


    Beyton barely had time to tilt his head in confusion when¡ªBOOM! Three massive, yet perfectly contained explosions erupted right next to him simultaneously.


    Blood, Gore, and Smoke covered half of Beyton while he stood there, frozen, as it finally hit him¡ªwhat the boy had been trying to say.


    The Congressman, the Mayor, and the Police Commissioner¡ªall three of them¡ªhad exploded, triggering the sprinklers.


    Beyton, still in shock, slowly turned his hand to the side, his fingers trembling. A bloody mess greeted him¡ªbits of flesh and bone raining from the ceiling, splatting onto the floor.


    Meanwhile, the staff and other patrons in the VIP dining hall barely flinched, let alone panicked. Sure, they were shocked, but not alarmed. Instead, they all turned to stare at Beyton, suspicion heavy in their gazes. Had he finally snapped? Had he crossed the line?


    Beyton ignored them. His breaths came shaky, but his eyes hardened as he slowly turned to Ace. Their gazes met. And there it was¡ªthat wide sneer stretched across the boy''s lips. Something inside Beyton snapped.


    "You¡ªwhat have you done?!" he bellowed, launching himself forward with blinding speed.


    Matthews, still struggling to process what the hell just happened¡ªwho the fuck would dare to kill mortals inside C.I.B. headquarters?!¡ªcould barely react as Beyton blurred past her, aiming straight for Ace.


    Honestly, she wasn''t to blame. The entire thing was too shocking. Even Delores and Evil Eyes hadn''t been able to react to Beyton''s aggression.


    Blowing people up inside C.I.B. headquarters? That wasn''t just unexpected. That was insane.


    But just as Beyton closed in¡ªAce, now holding what looked like a dark rag, suddenly vanished from his seat. A fraction of a second later, he reappeared at the far end of the dining table, completely untouched.


    Beyton tried to stop seeing his target vanish. He really did. But the momentum was a bitch. His body rocketed forward, unable to halt in time¡ªAnd with a bone-shaking crash, he smashed through the glass wall, flying a full thirty feet outside the building.


    The moment he breached the perimeter, the building''s defensive array activated. A glowing curse-energy barrier slammed into place, locking him out¡ªwhile the rest of them remained securely inside.


    Ace strolled leisurely to the edge of the shattered glass wall, hands in his pockets, his steps unhurried¡ªcasual, like he had all the time in the world.


    Outside, Beyton hovered just beyond the barrier, his body tense, his frustration growing. He couldn''t get back in.


    Their eyes locked once more. And just like before, Ace''s lips stretched into that same infuriating grin but wider. He wasn''t done. He slowly raised both arms and folded them into a double flip-off.


    Seeing this, Beyton snapped. With a furious snarl, he slammed his fists against the protective barrier, the force of it causing faint ripples to spread across its surface. It was useless and made things worse for himself. Also, his wild, rage-fueled pounding only made him look pathetic to the staff and other patrons solidifying their suspicions about him losing it.

 Chapter 253: Sky-Tier Innate Curse Tool: Cursed Clout, Subclass Clout Assassin

    Chapter 253: Sky-Tier Innate Curse Tool: Cursed Clout, Subclass Clout Assassin[ ¡ªStatus Screen¡ª


    - The Curse Tool was analyzed and determined to be the ''Cursed Clout.''


    > Curse Tool: Cursed Clout


    > Class: Curse Tool


    > Tier: Sky (Innate)


    > Effects:


    i) Locked


    ii) Locked


    iii) Locked


    iv) Shadow Clout (Passive): When in contact with a shadow, the user can use it like a cloth to conceal themselves.


    Additional Effect: Shadow Clout Folding


    i) The user can instantaneously fold the shadow they are in contact with to travel from one end of it to the other or anywhere in it, excluding the shadows overlapping the chosen shadow.


    Notes:


    i) The Toymancer tier is currently too low to fully analyze ''Cursed Clout.'' The cursed toybox can only provide an analysis of the effects permitted by the Toymancer''s current tier.


    ii) Upon reaching the required tier while using ''Cursed Clout,'' the Toymancer will gain the ''Clout Assassin'' subclass and access to its associated abilities.


    iii) Due to the Toymancer''s low tier, the size of shadows foldable using the passive effect ''Shadow Clout Folding'' is currently limited to 50 feet. This limit will increase as the Toymancer''s tier advances.]


    ¡­


    "How did you do it?" Matthews asked, her voice sharp, her expression grim. Inside the C.I.B. interview room, she sat across from Ace, arms crossed, eyes drilling into him. She still couldn''t believe that the psycho who had blown up three high-profile mortals inside her C.I.B. headquarters was the innocent-looking boy sitting right in front of her.


    Ace leaned back in his chair, completely at ease. "Oh, you mean this?" He slowly lifted both arms, clenched his fists, and almost extended his middle fingers¡ªAlmost. Halfway up, he hesitated. Yeah¡­ flipping off Mrs. Martins right now? Probably not the best idea. Especially when she was pissed at him and there were no trustable witnesses around.


    Matthews'' eyes narrowed as she watched him, her suspicion deepening. How the hell was he so calm? He was the prime suspect in the gruesome murder of three influential mortals, yet he sat there acting like this was some casual chat over coffee.


    What really got under her skin, though? The cursed array of the interview room.


    This entire interview room was designed to suppress curse energy. Inside these four walls, the suspects couldn''t manipulate curse energy i.e. they couldn''t use their curse arts, or activate their curse tools¡ªturning even the most dangerous curse users into helpless mortals.


    Yet Ace sat there, unbothered. That didn''t make sense. Even innocent suspects tended to get antsy in here, if only because the room itself made everyone feel powerless. But him? He looked like he was back in his bedroom.


    Her frustration mounting, Matthews paused the interview and ordered her agents to recheck the cursed array not once but three times, and each time, the result was the same: ''Ma''am the array is working perfectly fine.''


    Eventually, with no other choice, she let out an irritated sigh and turned back to Ace. Fine. If the usual tactics weren''t working she''d just have to figure out a different way to break him.


    "Ace, stop acting clueless. You know what I''m talking about," Matthews said, her voice sharp but measured. "We have multiple witnesses who saw you arguing with them just minutes before they died. Just come clean already¡ªmake this easy for both of us. That way, I can stop wasting time figuring things out and actually help you."


    She leaned back slightly, softening her tone just enough to make it sound like she was on his side. She''d learned the hard way that coming down hard on Ace got her nowhere. Maybe if he thought she was helping him, he''d finally crack.


    "I thought this was about that madman who blew up those people and later tried to kill me. Are you trying to cover for him by framing me? Is it because he''s one of you? Fine, I''ll play along," Ace sneered at the Matthews before beginning his act.


    "Arguing?" He scoffed, shaking his head in mock disbelief. "That''s just slander. I was there praising them¡ªthanking them for their tireless efforts to keep drugs off our streets. I mean, seriously, I''m their biggest fan! I could never even imagine harming them." He gasped theatrically, eyes wide with fake innocence. "Clearly, someone is trying to frame me for their murder."


    Matthews remained indifferent to Ace''s accusations and didn''t buy a single word he spoke but patiently observed his theatrics. Ace was far from done. He suddenly leaned forward, his voice turning desperate¡ªhis whole demeanor shifting into that of a man on the verge of tears.


    "Mrs. Martins, you''re my only hope." His voice wavered just enough to sound believable. "I can''t go to jail. I''m the only son of my family! Without me, who''s going to carry on the Lander lineage? You have to help me prove my innocence. I¡ªI can only put my life in your hands. I trust your judgment. I will be eternally in your dept."


    He sniffled dramatically trying to force out a few tears, but damn it he was just too damn happy to cry. So, he could only work with what he had, eyes slightly watery but way too dry for someone begging for his life.


    Matthews didn''t react but in her heart, her rage toward him kept growing knowing that he was mocking her. Still, something about his absolute calm gnawed at her. Even in this cursed array interview room¡ªwhere all curse energy was supposed to be locked down, making curse users no different from mortals¡ªhe was sitting there, completely at ease.


    What she didn''t know was that Ace had known about the array formation before even stepping inside. Thanks to Dame Wasp, who was sharing his senses, he had seen it coming and planned to counter it. His toy summons were using the status screen to instruct Cursed Toybox to manipulate curse energy on his behalf.


    This meant¡ªunlike every other suspect that had ever sat in that chair¡ªAce was still in control of his prowess, though in a roundabout way but it was better than nothing. That was why he wasn''t scared.


    "First off," Matthews began seeing Ace was done with his performance, her tone steady but firm, "a special team has been assembled to investigate this incident. So, whether you cooperate or not, the truth will come out eventually." She let that sink in for a second before continuing.


    "Secondly, Special Agent-in-Charge Sir Beyton has been temporarily suspended from the C.I.B. He''s been detained, stripped of his authority and privileges, and is currently awaiting both the special team''s findings and his formal hearing."


    Ace remained impassive, leaning back slightly in his chair, but she wasn''t finished.


    "However," she pressed on, "he was very cooperative during his interview. He''s willing to take full responsibility for his outburst, but¡ª" she paused, watching Ace closely "¡ªhe claims you taunted him about the explosions before, during, and after the incident. That is what led him to believe you were responsible for the murders.


    "He insists he only acted to restrain you¡ªswiftly¡ªbefore you could cause further harm," saying that Matthews studied Ace''s face for any flicker of reaction, but he gave her nothing.


    "That''s his side of the story," she added unable to get any true reaction from him. "And many eyewitnesses support it. This interview is your opportunity to tell your side. I sincerely hope you don''t waste it." She leaned forward, clasping her hands together on the table. She did plan to help Ace and hoped Ace would let her help him. Of course, her help came with a price, she wasn''t running a charity here.


    Ace tilted his head slightly, then let out a slow, deliberate exhale before breaking into a smirk. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 254: Agents True Seer, Sugarmite, And Man Hunter

    Chapter 254: Agents'' True Seer, Sugarmite, And Man Hunter"You want to hear my side of the story?" He shrugged. "Fine. Let''s pretend you weren''t there. Not that you were much use anyway."


    Matthews'' fingers twitched slightly, but she didn''t take the bait. Ace, however, was just getting started.


    "It was a fine night, I was enjoying it despite being held against my will by a crazy middle-aged woman," he began, settling into his chair like he was telling a bedtime story. "I had just won a sky-tier innate curse tool at the auction¡ªit wasn''t cheap, you know? So, feeling happy, I decided to treat my friends and, well, acquaintances to a nice dinner." He gestured vaguely as if setting the scene.


    "But just when we were truly beginning to enjoy our meal, the uptight, crazed, middle-aged woman¡ªyou know who¡ªbarged in and killed the vibe," His eyes flicked to her pointedly before he continued. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "And then¡ª" he clapped his hands together softly as if emphasizing a twist in the plot "¡ªa madman decided to blow up the congressman, the city mayor, and the police commissioner. Boom." He mimicked an explosion with his hands.


    "And as if that wasn''t enough excitement for one evening, that same madman then came charging at me." He sighed, shaking his head. "If not for my quick thinking and timely action, you probably would''ve gotten away with framing me for those murders."


    His smirk widened just a fraction. Matthews clenched her jaw wondering if Ace had absolutely no fear. That made him dangerous in her eyes.


    "Thank you for your cooperation. I''ll get back to you soon," Matthews said, her voice clipped and controlled. Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and strode out of the interview room. If she had stayed even a second longer, she knew she would have punched that smug look off Ace''s face.


    The moment the door clicked shut behind her, Ace casually waved at the large two-way mirror in the room. According to Dame Wasp, there were two people on the other side¡ªan older woman and a middle-aged man. Neither of whom he recognized. They had been observing the whole thing.


    A moment later, Dame Wasp reported that Matthews had just entered the monitoring room. Unfortunately, due to the room''s excellent insulation, she couldn''t eavesdrop on their conversation. And since the two agents were facing away from the mirror, lip-reading wasn''t an option either. They were sitting ducks.


    ¡­


    Inside the monitoring room, Matthews wasted no time. "Agent True Seer, was anything that dipshit said true?" she demanded, folding her arms.


    The middle-aged man, Agent True Seer, barely hesitated before responding, "Ma''am, aside from him being held against his will by a crazed middle-aged woman, everything else can be ruled out as false."


    Matthews stiffened. A crazed middle-aged woman? She narrowed her eyes at the agent, who suddenly realized his mistake. Ace hadn''t been talking about some random woman¡ªhe had been talking about her.


    Smart enough to shut up before making things worse, True Seer focused on his report. Matthews, meanwhile, let out a slow, deep breath before turning to Bishop, the older woman in the room.


    "We have to let him go," Bishop stated flatly. "We''ve got nothing on him except for Beyton''s testimony."


    The way she said it made it clear: They all knew Ace was responsible for the three high-profile murders. They just had no way to prove it.


    "No¡ª" Matthews shot back instantly, rejecting the idea outright. She needed to use this situation to force Ace into signing that employment contract. Even now, with all the pressure on him, he wasn''t showing the slightest sign of caving.


    But before she could push her argument, Bishop cut in, handing her a cursed pad.


    "This isn''t up for discussion," she said firmly. "Aurelian Eyes is making a huge fuss over Beyton''s arrest, and it''s getting harder to stall her. Everyone sees the kid as one of Beyton''s victims. And we have bigger problems."


    Matthews frowned, scanning the cursed pad as Bishop continued, "The C.I.B.''s official email address on the Curse Web received this threat¡ªtimed exactly with the bombing. They''re threatening to leak everything about Operation 9Ks headed by Beyton if we don''t shut it down and punish everyone responsible within the next 24 hours. We''ve tried tracing the source, but so far¡ªnothing."


    Matthews'' grip on the pad tightened as she read through the attached file. Her stomach twisted.


    "This¡­ this is way more detailed than what Beyton submitted," she muttered under her breath. "Shit¡­ This is nothing like the reports that old bastard gave me."


    Her pulse pounded in her ears as she uttered, "If the president or the opposition gets their hands on this we are¡ª" she trailed off, shaking her head and correcting herself, "No, I''m done for."


    "Inform Special Agent-in-Charge Sugarmite to take over Operation 9Ks. Instruct her to tie up the loose ends and make the Operation 9Ks squeaky clean on our end at least. Also, Double the personnel tracing the origin of that email," she ordered sharply, pointing toward the one person who was sitting in the interview room, completely unbothered by the harsh lighting¡ªAce, she instructed, "Start with all of the devices on his person, in his home, in his school, and town. If it is a electronic device he can access I want it double checked. Also, he has a storage-type curse tool on him. So, see if Senior Special Agent Man Hunter can persuade him to cooperate."


    Bishop arched an eyebrow, looking at her like she had lost it. "Him? Aren''t you giving the kid way too much credit?" she scoffed. She could believe Matthews seriously thought he was capable of evading their cybersecurity team.


    Matthews'' eyes stayed locked on Ace, watching the way he lounged in his chair, completely at ease.


    "He is behind the untraceable messages linked to the Weasly Winery incident and he killed five Sky-tier Curse Masters just this evening," she reminded Bishop. "Don''t be fooled by his age or his tier. That kid is one of the craftiest curse criminals out there."


    She signaled Special Agent-in-Charge True Seer to get to work. She had bigger things to deal with right now but she was not done with Ace she was just waiting for the special team to complete their investigation of this incident to put her leash around his neck.


    "Bishop, take a day''s leave. I will tie this shitshow up in the next 24hrs and hand over a spotless office to you," Matthews informed Bishop who nodded in agreement before asking, "What about your daughter? Won''t she be waiting?" After all, she took the office ahead of time cutting her break short so the latter could meet her daughter sooner.


    "She is used to me letting her down," Matthews said grimly staring at Ace in the interview room yawing in boredom without a care in the world.

 Chapter 255: Operation 9Ks - I

    Chapter 255: Operation 9Ks - IWith Dame Wasp confirming that the agents monitoring him from the other side of the two-way mirror had left¡ªleaving only Mrs. Martins¡ªAce got up, stretching lazily as he prepared to leave the interview room. His work here was done. The C.I.B. had nothing on him but Beyton''s story and Matthews'' gut. Shaking his head with a slight grin, he reached for the doorknob to find it locked, he wasn''t surprised.


    With an annoyed sigh, he tightened his grip and wrenched it off with minimal effort. The door creaked open. They appeared to have trusted the effectiveness of the cursed array enough that they hadn''t thought to reinforce the damn door. Regardless, it wasn''t his problem.


    Ace stepped out just as the agent stationed outside turned to address him, "Sir¡ª"


    Before the guy could finish, Ace casually handed him the broken knob adding, "The thing got stuck, so I helped myself."


    The agent blinked at the broken knob in his palm, dumbfounded unable to say to the latter that the knob wasn''t stuck but they had purposefully locked it. After all, the latter wasn''t under arrest and only here for voluntary interview to cooperate with the investigation.


    "That''s destruction of state property! Agent, handcuff him!" Matthews snapped, storming over the moment she saw him leaving.


    Ace exhaled sharply seeing her arrive out of the adjacent room, his patience wearing thin.


    "Mrs. Martins," he said, his tone edged with warning, "don''t test me. You have no idea what I''m capable of, and I have very little patience for your games." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Matthews narrowed her eyes, seizing the opportunity. "Is that a threat?" she asked, her voice sharp, trying to escalate the situation¡ªprobably hoping to drum up more charges against him so she could legally detain him.


    Ace didn''t take the bait. Instead, he kept his voice calm, his gaze unwavering.


    "I came here in good faith to cooperate with your investigation," he stated. "I didn''t even invoke my rights, against the advice of my friends. But from where I''m standing, you''re not just hostile¡ªyou''re actively trying to frame me for those murders." He took a step closer, looking her dead in the eye, "So either let me go¡ªor arrest me and face the consequences."


    The agent didn''t budge. He remained rooted to the spot, but his hesitation was clear. Instead of immediately following the order, he turned to EAD Matthews for confirmation, "Ma''am?"


    Matthews exhaled sharply, her gaze flicking between Ace and the broken door before waving the matter off and ordering the agent, "Get someone to fix the door."


    The agent gave a quick salute before heading off to complete his task. With that out of the way, Matthews turned her full attention to Ace. "Let''s talk," she said simply before leading him toward her office. Ace followed without protest, hands tucked into his pockets, his expression unreadable.


    Once inside her office, she took in the familiar setting. The office was as luxurious as ever, though noticeably emptier than before as had cleared it out for Bishop this afternoon. Matthews took her seat behind the desk, to Ace to sit across from her and leaning back into the chair like he owned the place.


    Ignoring it, She didn''t waste time before bluntly stating, "I know you''re responsible for those deaths and the threat the C.I.B. received at the exact same time."


    Ace blinked, his face the perfect picture of confusion as he feigned cluelessness, "I killed nobody¡ªand what threat?"


    "You don''t have to speak," Matthews said letting out an exasperated sigh before rubbing her temples and adding, "Just listen."


    Ace said nothing, merely tilting his head slightly as if granting her permission to continue.


    "I don''t know how you pulled this off, but I do know why you did it," she said, watching him carefully. Getting no reaction from him her eyes narrowed slightly. Before deciding to talk something that would, "Do you know why Operation 9Ks was sanctioned in the first place?"


    Ace remained silent, but his body language shifted just enough for her to notice. Not waiting for an answer, she continued.


    "Twenty-two years ago, Operation 9Ks was signed off by my mentor¡ªjust a few months before his retirement, when I was on the verge of stepping up to fill the gap he left behind," She leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice.


    "You see, Beyton and I were both in line for his position, but as our mentor, he couldn''t bring himself to choose between us. So, he assigned us each a different case¡ªplanning to judge us based on our results to determine who deserved to be next in line after him," She paused, letting her words sink in, watching Ace carefully for any tells. Ace, however, remained as unreadable as ever.


    "Back then, the crack cocaine epidemic was spiraling out of control. The president wanted to shut it down fast before it became too ingrained in our economy. The DEA eventually discovered that the sudden surge was due to cartels employing curse users to smuggle crack across the borders.


    "Our mentor assigned me to investigate the cartels, while Beyton was tasked with looking into an up-and-coming cult¡­ But before I continue, you need to understand¡ªback then, I was competitive as hell. Desperate to prove myself. I got results, no matter what it took.


    "The me from back then¡­" Matthews let out a long sigh, rubbing her temples as she continued, "was ruthless. I can''t stress that enough. Just thinking about those days gives me a headache."


    She shook off the memory and continued.


    "Anyway, once I got the case, I wasn''t about to waste time on a standard investigation. Instead, my team and I found the biggest and meanest gang dealing crack in the state¡ªalong with a handful of corrupt bureaucrats and politicians. And then? We introduced them to each other. That was how the Kingsmen Gang was born.


    "The ''King'' being me¡ªwell, figuratively speaking, of course. You get the point, right?" She waved a hand dismissively before leaning back in her chair.

 Chapter 256: Operation 9Ks - II

    Chapter 256: Operation 9Ks - II"Thing is, I didn''t even have to do much. The gang had the brute force, and the bureaucrats and politicians had the authority and connections. Together, they started wiping out rival gangs left and right¡ªeither taking them out completely or absorbing them. In just two months, the Kingsmen had eliminated all their competition and became the biggest gang and the sole distributor in the state.


    "But while the state now had one dominant gang monopolizing the entire crack dealings, the suppliers? There were still plenty. So, what do you think happened?" Matthews quizzed Ace to see if she had his attention.


    Ace, who had been quietly processing everything, finally spoke, "The cartels started fighting among themselves to secure the golden goose across the borders."


    Yes, Matthews had Ace''s attention as none of this was in the files Dame Wasp had secured on Operation 9Ks. Hell, he hadn''t even known Matthews was involved¡ªlet alone the one who started it. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ding! Ding! Ding!" Matthews grinned, tapping her fingers on the desk. "Looks like we have a winner."


    Ace rolled his eyes, but she continued, "So, now there was only one supplier and one distributor. These guys had swallowed up all their rivals so completely that there wasn''t any room left for other players¡ªon either side of the border."


    "But here''s the thing¡ªsince we controlled the distributor, we knew everything. Where the cocaine was made. Who made it. How it got into the country. And most importantly?" She leaned forward, lowering her voice. "We controlled what happened to it once it was here."


    Ace remained silent, listening intently.


    "The next step in my plan was to kill the monsters I''d created." Matthews exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "But I ran into a problem¡ªI didn''t have enough manpower. The cartel that survived? It had grown too big. Too powerful. My team alone wasn''t enough to take it down. So, I went to my mentor, showed him everything I''d accomplished, and demanded backup to finish what I started."


    She let out a dry laugh, shaking her head at the memory.


    "My mentor? He was beyond impressed. So much so that, that same day, he officially sponsored me to be next in line after him. But in exchange?" Her expression darkened. "He took my case away from me. Said it was going to be his legacy in the bureau.


    "At the time, I didn''t question it. I was young, ambitious¡ªI thought, fine, as long as it gets done and I get my much-deserved promotion, I don''t care who gets the credit." Her jaw clenched. "But by the time I realized what he actually meant, it was too late."


    She let that sink in before continuing, "You see, my mentor didn''t share my plan. He believed that if we wiped out the Kingsmen Gang and the last standing cartel, others would just rise up to replace them. As long as there was demand for crack, there would always be someone willing to supply it."


    "And with curse users getting involved?" She leaned back, exhaling. "He figured it was impossible to truly put an end to it."


    "Since he couldn''t eradicate it, he decided to control it," Matthews'' voice was sharp, her expression unreadable. "That''s how Operation 9Ks was born. He overhauled my Kingsmen Gang and handed it over to the person he trusted most¡ªapart from me." Her lips curled into a bitter smirk, "Sir Beyton."


    She let the name sit in the air for a moment before continuing.


    "And Beyton? He turned Operation 9Ks¡ªour mentor''s so called legacy¡ªinto one of the most successful operations in bureau history. Not only was it self-sufficient, but it brought in nearly half a billion dollars in seized drug money every year." She leaned back, shaking her head. "With numbers like that? None of us had a reason to question it. Hell, we barely even looked into it.


    "Even though we did hear whispers¡­ rumors¡­ about the cartel splitting up and all from across the borders we did not give it a thought since it was across our borders and Beyton claimed he had it under control¡­" She trailed off, her eyes locking onto Ace. Then, after a beat, she dramatically ends, "Until today. Until you."


    Ace simply blinked. "What did I do?" he asked, feigning confusion.


    Matthews let out a deep sigh¡ªthen, suddenly, her eyes flicked behind him, ordering, "Senior Special Agent Man Hunter¡ªhe''s all yours."


    Ace''s blood ran cold hearing a voice¡ªsultry, hypnotic, and undeniably dangerous¡ªrespond from right behind him, "Yes, Ma''am."


    The moment he heard it, Ace felt an unnatural haze creep over his mind. His thoughts slowed. His body felt heavy, and sluggish. What the hell? His instincts screamed at him¡ªsomeone was behind him. But how? Dame Wasp didn''t even notice¡ª


    Matthews watched him closely, her shoulders relaxing ever so slightly. Seeing Ace already under Man Hunter''s ability¡ªwithout even resisting¡ªwas a relief. Finally, things were going according to plan. She hadn''t wanted it to escalate to this, but desperate times called for desperate measures.


    "Make sure he deletes everything he has on Operation 9Ks," Matthews instructed her tone all business. "And find out how he pulled this all off. Especially details about his innate curse tool and curse arts¡ªif we should register him as a national-level threat."


    She glanced at Ace, who was still under Man Hunter''s influence¡ªuntil, suddenly, his eyes snapped into clarity. Matthews felt a chill crawl up her spine causing her to exclaim, "Holy shit."


    "I guess we''re done talking," Ace said, pushing himself up from his seat. He didn''t wait for Matthews or the agent to respond¡ªjust turned and made his way to the exit.


    Despite the urgency clawing at his gut, he kept his pace measured, casual¡ªlike he had all the time in the world. He needed to make it seem like Agent Man Hunter''s ability hadn''t affected him. When in reality? It had.


    He had no idea how long Doctor Druid could hold out, but he knew he had to get out of the agent''s range¡ªand fast. He needed to reach Delores. Actually, if not for Dame Wasp Switching places with Doctor Druid in time sensing his sluggish senses Man Hunter and Matthews would have gotten away with whatever their true plans for him were.


    But before stepping through the door, he paused. Turning his head slightly, he cast one last look at Matthews with an expression unreadable before remarking, "I''m thoroughly disappointed in you."


    Then, without another word, he slammed the door shut behind him.

 Chapter 257: Friends

    Chapter 257: Friends"Motherfucker!" Matthews screamed, her frustration boiling over. She wanted nothing more than to bash Ace''s indifferent face in. But since she couldn''t do that, she''d settle for smashing something¡ªexcept she couldn''t do that either. The office wasn''t even hers; she''d only borrowed it from Bishop for the next 24 hours.


    "Ma''am, should I finish what I started?" Senior Agent Man Hunter asked. She had already tried increasing the effects of her ability by several notches¡ªthis time through scent¡ªbut somehow, he hadn''t reacted. It didn''t make sense.


    However, that was far from her best. This time she wanted to attack all five of Ace''s senses with her ability. No one could stay that nonchalant after having all five of their senses hijacked. But pushing it further could leave him impaired¡­ or worse. And there was no way a mortal tier would be able to survive that kind of sensory stimulation.


    "No, damn it! I want him alive," Matthews snapped, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "Killing him would be a huge waste of a good resource."


    Why the hell did everything go sideways when it came to Ace? She had taken down actual feared curse criminals¡ªmen and women who had massacred entire cities without batting their eyes. They cracked to her in that very interview room. Yet somehow, this one teenager was on the verge of ruining her entire career.


    Sure, her name wasn''t mentioned anywhere in the files related to Operation 9Ks, but that wouldn''t stop her enemies. Curse users had a very long-term and razor-sharp memory. A little investigation¡ªjust a little¡ªand they''d dig up the truth her mentor had so carefully buried to build his so-called legacy.


    And once the truth was out? They''d drag her out of this office and throw her back into the field like some kind of disgraced agent. Then all of her hard work over several decades would go down the drain. Damn, she missed her baby girl''s entire childhood because of this damn job. She wouldn''t mind if it was the consequences of her mistake but she would forced to pay for the consequences of someone else''s mistake. Now, that wasn''t right.


    "Ma''am, I don''t understand," Agent Man Hunter said, brows furrowing. Was Matthews telling her not to waste resources trying to kill Ace? Or was she saying Ace was the resource she didn''t want to waste? Which was it?


    "Just go ask him to return the employment contract if he doesn''t want to sign it," Matthews ordered, pinching the bridge of her nose. "But if he needs time, give it to him. And keep an eye on him¡ªanything suspicious, I want to know immediately."


    She was too ashamed to face Ace right now. Hopefully, the investigative team would finally come through. Then, and only then, would she be able to look him in the eye¡ªwatch his face when she told him she had him dead to rights.


    "Yes, Ma''am," Agent Man Hunter agreed. Saluting the acting EAD she then excused herself from the EAD''s office.


    ¡­


    In the C.I.B. Headquarter''s Criminal Investigations Department''s Floor''s Lobby,


    "Why can''t I meet him?! He''s not under arrest or anything!" Janice yelled, her voice echoing through the lobby as she glared at the blonde, short-haired, hunky male agent blocking her way.


    "For the hundredth time, Janice, guests aren''t allowed on this floor. Even if it''s you." Bart, the agent in question, sighed, arms crossed. "So, please, stop embarrassing yourselves¡ªand our family. Just go wait in the visitor''s hall. Your friend will be out when the interview is done."


    He was so done repeating himself. But Janice? She just wasn''t getting it. The only reason he had been stuck with this task was because he was a McSuile too¡ªnot a direct-line descendant, but high enough in the hierarchy to talk to Janice casually.


    "Hic¡ªBart, step aside unless you wanna start vomiting eyeballs for the rest of your life," Elinor slurred, her glare unsteady but still dangerous.


    Bart shot her a look of pure disdain, he did not seem to have an iota of respect for the latter as he advised her, "Elinor, you''re already suspended. Go home, peacefully, and wait for their call. Don''t make me have someone throw your ass out of the building for creating a scene."


    "Janice, I can''t reach him," Lola suddenly said, worry creeping into her voice. She had been texting Ace, but none of her messages were going through. When she finally tried calling, the line didn''t even connect. Fear gnawed at her, and she turned to Janice for reassurance. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Don''t waste your time trying to call him," Elinor interjected with a hiccup. "Unless you''ve got a cursed phone, you won''t get any signal on this floor. Especially in the interview room."


    Lola''s face paled, her concern deepening.


    Meanwhile, Sonia, Evil Eyes, and Delores stood behind them, watching Janice and Elinor stir up a scene without interfering.


    "You think what they''re saying is true?" Sonia asked, lowering her voice as she glanced at Evil Eyes. "Did he really do it?"


    Evil Eyes took a moment to think before answering, "Well¡­ he had the motive, and the curse sensors on that floor did stop working briefly¡ªright when he happened to be talking to them. But all of that''s just circumstantial. Nothing damning, so¡ª"


    "He did it, alright." Sonia and Evil Eyes both turned in surprise as Delores cut in with a knowing grin on her face.


    Ignoring their shocked expressions, she smirked and continued, "For a crime of opportunity, he was very thorough. He even volunteered to cooperate¡ªjust to see if they had anything on him. If any of you are thinking about crossing him¡ªor even trying to kill him¡ªmake sure he''s dead and stays dead." She leaned in slightly, her tone almost amused. "Otherwise? A life worse than hell is what''s waiting for you¡­ if your mind even manages to survive the torture that is."


    With a side glance at Sonia, Delores made sure her warning was crystal clear. Not that she particularly cared about her¡ªshe just knew Ace could handle his own business thoroughly. Honestly? She was impressed with the kid.


    "You heard her, right?" Evil Eyes nudged Sonia''s thigh with his elbow, snapping her out of her thoughts as that''s how far he could reach her with his height. When she finally came to, she waved off his concern, "My sole focus at present is getting top grades at boot camp."


    She said that, but deep down, she was worried. How the hell was she supposed to get revenge on someone like Ace? At first, she had been relieved, even smug, thinking he was just some mortal-tier runt. But after watching him run circles around the entire C.I.B., a small voice in her head whispered that maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªit was best to put that particular grudge on hold. For now.


    "Good for you," Evil Eyes said, though he wasn''t fooled for a second. "I''d hate to see you waste your potential on something as stupid as revenge."


    Not that it was his problem. He''d said his piece¡ªwhat she did with it was up to her. Especially since he didn''t even know what Ace had done to make her hate him so much.


    Meanwhile, across the room, Janice was losing her patience.


    "Damn it, Barton J. McSuile!" she snapped, her frustration boiling over. "Just let me check on him and I''ll go wait in the damn waiting room like a good little girl."


    She knew how the C.I.B. operated. It claimed to be about the law, but that wasn''t always the case. And right now? She was genuinely worried about her best friend''s favorite nephew. If it were her in there and Mandy was in her place, she knew damn well Mandy would be doing the exact same thing.


    "Janice, Jason told us to go home," Lola said, putting her phone away.


    Janice turned to her, her eyes narrowing. "What?" she asked, only to hear Lola explain that Jason did not care. "I just got off the phone with him. You asked me to call, and I did. He shot us down immediately."


    Janice clenched her fists in frustration before declaring, "Fuck it, I''m going in¡ª"


    But just as she prepared to push past Barton, a familiar voice called out from the waiting room. "Delores! Delores!" She froze seeing Ace had just walked out.


    When Ace spotted Delores by the reception desk, he immediately beelined toward her, dragging his feet like he had just run a marathon. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her chest, exhaling dramatically.


    "I''m finally safe," he uttered causing to Delores stiffen, her entire body going rigid. She darted a glance around the room, taking in the very confused expressions of everyone watching Ace cling to her like a lifeline. Her first instinct was to shove him off, but then she caught sight of his face¡ªpale, exhausted, and drained.


    Her brows furrowed. Did he slip up somewhere? No. Impossible. If Matthews had anything solid on him, there was no way she''d have let him walk out that door.


    Janice, initially relieved to see Ace, immediately scowled at the scene before her. Her arms crossed over her chest as she glared at Delores. "What the hell is this?" she demanded. "Since when did you two get so close?" She knew Delores wouldn''t pull something like this. But still¡­ Ace was a boy of many means, and that made her suspicious as hell.

 Chapter 258: Agent Flux Eyes A.K.A Barton McSuile

    Chapter 258: Agent Flux Eyes A.K.A Barton McSuile"Fuck him!" Delores blurted her thoughts out aloud in panic before shoving Ace away from her¡ªalmost sending him flying across the room.


    Luckily, Lola caught him just in time, using her dinosaur-like strength to cushion his fall with her plush costume.


    "Great-grandma?!" Ace exclaimed in disbelief, his face twisted in an exaggerated expression of betrayal.


    "Great-grandma?" Elinor repeated in horror, her gaze darting between Delores and Ace before she hesitantly asked, "Auntie, what kind of sick roles are you two playing?"


    The entire lobby fell into dead silence. Only then did everyone start eyeing Delores suspiciously. But Janice? Her eyes were locked onto Ace.


    "You lot are a disgrace to the family name," Barton scoffed in disgust, shaking his head as he turned to leave.


    But before he could step away, Janice called out sharply, "Bart, wait!"


    "What is it now¡ªahh!" As Barton turned around, Janice tapped his shoulder¡ªher emerald ring glinting ominously. A sudden spark of energy shot from the gem into his body, and his legs instantly gave out beneath him. He collapsed to his knees, his face a mask of shock and disbelief, just in time to hear Janice say coldly, "You''re lucky you have a good mother. Otherwise, this wouldn''t have ended so easily."


    Though Janice seemed satisfied, Elinor clearly wasn''t done. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she strolled up next to Barton¡ªand without hesitation, drove her foot straight into his crotch. Barton let out a choked wheeze, curling forward in agony.


    "Your father''s an asshole¡ªjust like you," she said with a smug grin, stepping back as he writhed on the floor.


    Meanwhile, Janice closed the distance between herself and Ace, her expression darkening. She leaned in, her voice low and dangerous.


    "If you even think about taking advantage of her gratitude for saving her life, I will personally cut off your balls," She paused, letting the threat sink in before adding, "Mandy will understand."


    Ace swallowed hard trying to make an excuse, "I was just kidding around¡ª"


    Janice didn''t miss a beat and told him off as it was, "That wasn''t a joke, you pervert."


    "Hey, she isn''t easy to read, alright?" Ace defended himself, his voice laced with frustration. "I had to do something drastic¡ªshock her¡ªjust to get her out of that indifferent shell she likes to hide behind."


    He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply, he swore to prove his innocence, "I swear on myself, it wasn''t about anything else."


    Deep down, Ace knew what he did was morally questionable, but people like Delores? Once you got past their defenses, they were easy to influence. And right now, he needed a powerful and trustworthy watchdog for his family. So, given the chance? He didn''t think twice about exploiting her sense of gratitude.


    Janice''s expression darkened, her voice sharp with accusation, "You''re a damn wolf."


    Her eyes bored into him, and Ace knew¡ªshe had seen right through him. She had been right about him from the start, and now she was kicking herself for giving him a second chance because of Mandy. She wouldn''t make that mistake again.


    "Cus, why are you freaking out so much?" Elinor cut in, completely unfazed. "It''s about time Auntie found someone and settled down." Then, flashing Ace an encouraging grin, she gave him a thumbs-up, "Senior, I''m rooting for you!"


    Silence filled the lobby. Everyone turned to her like she had just grown a second head.


    Meanwhile, Delores let out a deep sigh, dragging a hand down her face in a mix of exasperation and sheer embarrassment, "Someone get her some tea." Her voice appeared tired as she added, "She has no idea what she''s talking about."


    Elinor blinked, confused by the sudden shifts in mood. Genuinely puzzled, she asked, "What? Did I say something wrong?"


    Evil Eyes narrowed his gaze at her, sensing she had misunderstood something, so he asked, "How old do you think Ace is?"


    Elinor shrugged, answering without hesitation, "I don''t know¡­ a few centuries old, maybe?"


    A heavy silence settled over the room as realization dawned on everyone at once.


    Janice snorted, shaking her head as she swept her gaze up and down Elinor in sheer disbelief, "Girl, you suck at your job. You might as well work at my resort and save yourself the embarrassment."


    "If someone like her made it into the C.I.B., I''m starting to wonder if the boot camp is even worth stressing over," Sonia muttered, eyeing Elinor with obvious disdain.


    Evil Eyes let out a sigh, rolling his eyes at her informing, "She''s a nepo baby. Considering your redacted family info, I''d advise you to tread carefully¡ªunless you''re the president''s bastard."


    "Hey! I can hear you, asshole!" Elinor snapped, throwing her hands up. She wasn''t even surprised anymore¡ªjust annoyed that people she didn''t care for kept taking shots at her.


    Before she could say anything else, an alluring voice cut through the chatter, instantly drawing everyone''s attention, "Why the hell is the lobby so damn noisy?"


    A hush fell over the room.


    All eyes turned to the newcomer, but hers were fixed on Bart¡ªwho was still sprawled out on the floor like a discarded ragdoll.


    She arched a brow at him and ordered, "Agent Flux Eyes, I don''t think we''re paying you to lie on your back. Get on your feet¡ªeven if your spine is broken."


    Bart scrambled up so fast that it was almost embarrassing. In a panic, he adjusted his pants, trying to discreetly hide the very obvious bulge he was sporting.


    "Senior Agent Man Hunter!" he greeted stiffly, snapping into a rigid stance. But she barely spared him a glance. Instead, she walked straight toward Ace.


    Ace''s expression immediately hardened. "What the fuck do you want?" he asked bluntly, narrowing his eyes as she closed in. He didn''t trust her.


    He didn''t think she''d be stupid enough to attack him openly in public, but still¡ªthis was C.I.B. territory. He wasn''t about to take any chances. With a flicker of intent, he had Doctor Druid share his senses again, just in case.


    But before Agent Man Hunter could respond, a sharp warning cut through the tension.


    "Stay ten feet away from him, or I will attack you," Delores'' voice was low and firm, laced with an unmistakable threat.


    She knew exactly who Man Hunter was¡ªthe fixer for Matthews. If something needed to be done quietly, efficiently, and without a trace, Matthews handed it off to Man Hunter. And she had never failed him.


    Now, it all made sense to her why Ace had rushed to her side earlier, exhausted and drained, and she hadn''t fully understood¡ªuntil now.


    Her eyes darkened in warning, "Don''t test me."


    "You McSuiles are getting bolder by the day." Man Hunter''s voice was sharp, laced with irritation.


    "To think you''d have the audacity to threaten a senior agent¡ªinside the damn C.I.B. headquarters, no less." She took a step forward, her piercing gaze locking onto Delores. "Have you lost your damn mind?"


    Most people would''ve backed down, but Delores stood her ground, her eyes burning with defiance. For a moment, the tension between them was grew, thick enough to choke the air out of the room.


    But Man Hunter wasn''t impressed. She let her gaze drift over Delores, head to toe, then scoffed, "Yeah. That''s what I thought."


    Satisfied with Delores'' silence, she finally turned to Ace. "Trainee Ace," she said, her voice taking on a clipped, businesslike tone, "I''m here to collect your employment contract."


    S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 259: C.I.B. Attacked

    Chapter 259: C.I.B. Attacked"Where''s Mrs. Martins? Is she too ashamed¡ª" Before Ace could finish, Man Hunter cut him off, her tone sharp, "Madam EAD is busy with the investigation and sent me in her place." She took a step closer, voice lowering with a hint of warning, "Also, regardless of your personal relationship with the acting EAD, I''d advise you to speak formally when addressing or talking about her. Unless you want to be charged with disorderly conduct."


    Ace didn''t bother responding. Instead, he pulled out the employment contract and handed it over. Man Hunter skimmed through it, then arched a brow, "Trainee, you forgot to sign it."


    Ace smirked, his tone dripping with mock politeness. "Tell your esteemed acting EAD that if she wants my signature, she should be a little more sincere with her offer." He folded his arms. "These hidden clauses? Her clever wordplay? Not fooling anyone."


    Man Hunter''s frown deepened, but she didn''t argue. Instead, she nodded, tucked the contract away, and quietly moved to a corner of the lobby. Her presence seemed to vanish, but Ace knew she was still there¡ªmonitoring him while silently relaying his refusal to Matthews. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Not giving her another thought, Ace turned to Janice, "Did you get Ratri''s Edge?"


    Janice nodded, pulling a scope from her left earring and passed it to him saying, "Yeah. And here¡ªthe Leprechaun Scope is yours now."


    Ace took the scope, casually flicked a cleansing talisman over it, then kissed it before summoning his Rail Rifle. With a practiced ease, he mounted the scope onto the adjustable rail, then ran a hand over the rifle''s sleek frame, admiring its beauty.


    From the side, Lola watched with thinly veiled envy. She wanted to own a gun too. But her parents would never allow it until she was of age. Even though she''d gained unimaginable powers, she still found comfort hiding in her innate tool¡ªthe one thing that connected her to her past. It made her feel safe, even if it also made her feel like a glorified mascot, half-assing her job.


    After returning the rifle to Emi in the Toybox, Ace turned to the group informing, "I''m heading home. What about you guys?"


    As everyone started figuring out their own plans, he glanced at Lola, "Need a lift?"


    Lola instinctively turned to Janice for permission, but before she could say anything, Janice made an executive decision, "Fine. We''re crashing at Ace''s place tonight. Let''s surprise Mandy."


    Though she said we, everyone knew she really meant herself. Evil Eyes and Delores had no choice but to follow¡ªbeing her bodyguards, it wasn''t like they could just refuse. Sonia, on the other hand, would probably need clearance from Matthews.


    Just as Ace was about to wrap things up, Elinor suddenly spoke up, "Senior, you can''t leave yet. Even if you''re holding out for better terms from the C.I.B., you still need to register."


    Her words slowed everything. Sonia looked at Evil Eyes bewildered. "Jeez, how dense is she?"


    Evil Eyes sighed, then turned to her with a warning, "Unless you want to be puking eyeballs for the rest of your life, tone it down."


    He knew Sonia was underestimating Elinor because of her scatterbrained tendencies, but despite her clumsiness, she was still a direct-line descendant of the McSuiles. That wasn''t something to take lightly.


    Janice, meanwhile, just shook her head informing her cousin, "Eli¡­ he''s not even eighteen yet."


    Elinor froze, "Wait¡­ what? Are you serious?"


    Her mind raced, trying to process how someone that young had the power to order EAD Matthews around. And now that she thought about it¡­ his closeness with Delores¡ªit was kind of creepy.


    A wave of realization hit her. She replayed everything she''d said up until now¡­ and suddenly felt sober. Without another word, she squatted down and buried her head in her knees. Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    A massive explosion erupted from several floors below, shaking the entire C.I.B. building. The walls trembled violently, but just as the barrier activated, stabilizing everything¡ªit vanished. As if it had never been there in the first place.


    Panic swept through the entire C.I.B. building. Were they under attack? In the lobby, Lola yelled, "Everyone, get into my Dinosaur Haven¡ªhurry!"


    Not a single person moved. Man Hunter, choosing to follow Bureau protocol despite the confusion, snapped, "Bart, lead the civilians to the bunker."


    Bart nodded sharply and signaled to the crowd. "Everyone, stay calm and follow me to the basement bunker."


    Sonia, however, scoffed, "Hey, dumbass, the explosion came from the basement."


    Ignoring Bart, she rushed off, following Delores, Evil Eyes, Ace, and Janice toward the glass walls to assess the situation outside. The moment they looked down, their blood ran cold. The entire street was on fire and chaos. C.I.B. agents were fighting each other¡ªkilling each other.


    At first, it looked like pure chaos, but on closer inspection, they noticed something chilling: One group moved with precision, like a well-organized unit. The other? They looked lost, confused, and fighting back purely on instinct, not knowing whom to help and whom to fight.


    Ace didn''t waste time. He turned away from the window, summoning his Leprechaun Rail Rifle and power cables. Finding an outlet, he plugged in. Returning to the window, he slammed the butt of his rifle into the glass, shattering it.


    Just as he knelt down and took aim¡ªMan Hunter''s voice cut through the tension like a whip, "What the fuck do you think you''re doing?"


    Ace didn''t even flinch as he answered her, "Trying to save lives." Seeing that Man Hunter still didn''t move, his voice dropped a level, colder now. "I know my rights. I don''t mind shooting through you." And he meant it.


    With the Leprechaun Scope, he didn''t even need a direct line of sight. The scope let him see through obstacles¡ªeven ones made of curse energy¡ªas long as they were close like Man Hunter was right now.


    "I''d take his words seriously," Sonia said, leaning against the shattered window as if this weren''t a life-or-death situation. "He''s already taken down five Sky-Tiers with that rifle last evening alone. I doubt an Ocean Tier would be much harder."


    She was helping her future senior, while the others? They just wanted to watch Man Hunter make a fool of herself.


    Man Hunter''s jaw tightened, but she eventually stepped aside. Her gaze flicked to Janice, Delores, and Evil Eyes¡ªonly to find them staring at her in disappointment.


    That stung. ''What the hell did I do to deserve this kind of hate?'' she thought. ''I''m just following orders. Just doing my damn job.''


    Breaking the tense silence, Sonia glanced at Man Hunter and asked, "Shouldn''t you be down there?"


    Meanwhile, Ace was locked in on his rifle, scanning for the true culprit through the scope while Dame Wasp charged the rifle''s power chamber.


    Man Hunter exhaled, her fingers flexing at her sides, but she shook her head. "No. If I go down there, it''ll just add to the chaos," she admitted, though everything in her wanted to jump in and help her colleagues. Still, she followed the damn protocol, "The task force will be here soon. They''re trained for this kind of situation."


    But the way she said it? Like she was trying to convince herself more than anyone else.


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 Chapter 260: Rust Worm Curseling & Immortal Sect

    Chapter 260: Rust Worm Curseling & Immortal Sect"Are they hypnotized? Under some kind of mind control? And why the hell isn''t the district''s protective array activating? Did they get to it?" Elinor muttered, her expression dark as she watched a group of C.I.B. agents ruthlessly slaughtering their own confused comrades. She clenched her fists. "At least it''s after midnight¡­ Otherwise, we would have had to worry about the casualties aside from this brain fuck."


    "Neither," Janice answered, her voice sharp with focus. She adjusted the golden-rimmed monocle over her right eye, scanning the chaos below. "C.I.B. has been infiltrated by some organization. The real question is¡­ why reveal themselves now?"


    Her monocle¡ªa legendary innate curse tool¡ªrevealed something odd. The attacking agents weren''t under mind control, but each of them emitted a distinct curse energy signature, one that came from their innate curse tools rather than themselves.


    "Is that¡­ the world-famous Aurelian Eye?" Man Hunter asked, her gaze locked onto Janice''s monocle. The tool, despite being mortal-tier, was rumored to be worth more than a couple of void-tier innate curse tools. Honestly, she was tempted.


    But, Janice ignored her. Meanwhile, Delores eyed Man Hunter suspiciously, "Shouldn''t you be contacting your superior? Maybe, I don''t know, organizing a response instead of hovering around us like a damn shadow?"


    "I''m on another mission," Man Hunter answered vaguely, careful not to reveal she was specifically assigned to keep an eye on Ace. Then, without missing a beat, she turned to Barton and ordered, "Agent Flux Eyes, I''ll handle the civilian. You go join the others."


    "Yes, ma''am," Barton nodded, then turned to Delores, and with a firm tone he answered, "Protect her with your life."


    Delores scoffed at his fake display of familial love, "You don''t need to tell me how to do my damn job."


    Still fixated on the chaotic scene unfolding below, Janice barely glanced at Barton before flipping him off, "Fuck off, Bart."


    Just as Barton disappeared into the chaos, Ace turned to Janice. "Did you notice the strange curse energy signature coming from those agents'' innate curse tools?" He asked with a low, but insistent voice. He needed to understand why she had dismissed it as simple influence from another curse user.


    Janice nodded, her gaze still locked on the battlefield below. "Yeah, I did. It''s like they''re on some kind of curse energy enhancer, but they''re definitely not being controlled by anyone else. They''re fully aware and acting of their own free will."


    Ace frowned, reflecting on his lack of knowledge about the ''World of Curses.'' He had never even heard of a curse energy enhancer, but if the name was any hint, it sounded like steroids for Curse Users. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Have you figured out who''s calling the shots yet?" he asked, his mind already formulating a plan. He didn''t want to waste bullets on these pawns¡ªevery shot needed to count. He knew these agents were just a distraction. The real fight was happening elsewhere. After all, none of the high-tier Curse Masters were down there¡ªnot on either side.


    Janice shook her head but speculated, "Not yet, but if I had to guess, based on the explosion earlier they''re in the basement jail. That''s where the inmates waiting for their hearings¡ªor about to be transferred to prison¡ªare held. My guess? These agents were forced to break cover after getting caught mid-mission or failing to break someone out."


    Her speculation made sense to Ace, given the circumstantial evidence. He exhaled sharply saying, "That means I have enough time to find a better vantage point." He got to his feet, already turning toward Delores. He was about to ask her for a lift to the rooftop of the opposite building when¡ª


    "Gross!" Elinor''s voice cut through the air attracting everyones attention to her.


    Ace snapped his head around just in time to see her hair branch out like twisted tree branches, each strand splitting into smaller tendrils. In place of leaves, about a hundred red, slit-pupil eyeballs blinked erratically.


    Janice stiffened. "Where? What?" she demanded. She knew that between her monocle and her cousin''s hundred eyes, Elinor had the superior field of vision. If she was reacting like that¡ªshe must have caught something she missed.


    "There! By the caved-in road!" Elinor shouted, panic creeping into her voice. She pointed southeast, her hundred eyes blinking erratically. "A fat, pale, worm-shaped curseling¡ªabout the size of a two-year-old baby. It crawled out of one of those double agents'' mouths after he was incapacitated! Look¡ªit''s climbing onto another agent, and he doesn''t even notice it! It must have stealth abilities."


    Ace adjusted his rifle, peering through the scope. The creature was grotesque¡ªsoft, bloated flesh writhing as it latched onto the oblivious agent''s back. His brows furrowed. What the hell is that thing? Neither the C.I.B., the S.S.S., nor the Dark Web archives had any records of a curseling like this. That alone set off every alarm in his head.


    "¡­I have no idea," Janice admitted. Without hesitation, she removed her monocle¡ªthe Aurelian Eye¡ªand passed it to Delores asking, "Do you recognize it?"


    Delores took the monocle, raising it to her eye. Her usually stoic expression immediately twisted in horror. The color drained from her face as she locked onto the creature¡ªa bloated worm, clinging to the agent''s back, inching toward his head.


    Her grip tightened on the monocle as she struggled to suppress the sheer terror clawing at her gut. She''d seen this before. Faced it before. One of her worst enemies from her adventures with her master into the darkest corners of the Mortal World. These little things were nightmares she and her master barely survived.


    Taking a shaky breath, she shoved the monocle back into Janice''s hand and turned to the group saying, "That''s a Rust Worm, they are one of the worst Curseling out there." Her voice grew eerily steady adding, "And I know exactly who''s behind this. There was only one group of people in history crazy enough to use these curselings..."


    A heavy silence fell over them as Delores grimmly revealed, "It is the Immortal Sect."

 Chapter 261: Samsara Cult

    Chapter 261: Samsara CultEven Janice tensed at the mere mention of the name.


    Delores took a step back informing the gang, "We need to get out of here. Now. This whole area is about to be crawling with curselings soon. That''s what the Immortal sect do when they do not get their way."


    "The Immortal Sect? I thought Grandpa and his friends wiped them out half a century ago," Janice said, disbelief clear in her voice. She knew exactly who Delores was talking about¡ªbut she also knew, for a fact, that they were supposed to be gone.


    Her grandfather had told them plenty of stories about how he and his comrades eradicated the worst of the worst¡ªthe kind of monsters that threatened their country''s very existence. And the Immortal Sect? They were easily in the top five.


    "He said this one was personal," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else. "They took a lot of good friends from him¡­ from all of them." Recalling the sadness on her grandfather''s face as he talked about the Immortal sect and their end.


    "I don''t know how they survived," Delores admitted, her jaw tight. "But not only have they recovered, they''ve infiltrated the C.I.B." She cast a wary glance at the chaos still unfolding around them. "That''s beside the point, though. Right now, we need to move¡ªbefore this place turns into a full-blown curseling nest."


    She didn''t wait for an argument¡ªtime was running out. But then, Man Hunter spoke up. "If it''s really the Immortal Sect, then I might have an idea what¡ªor who¡ªthey''re after."


    Delores shot her an impatient look as she continued, lost in thought.


    "It was 22 years ago¡­ Back then, I was just a rookie, fresh on Madam Matthews'' team. She personally recruited me seeing potential in my abilities," Man Hunter reminisced.


    "Damn it, woman!" Ace snapped. "Skip the prologue and get to the point!" He didn''t have time for a damn sob story.


    "I''m not a hundred percent sure," Man Hunter skipped to the main part and admitted, "but it might be the now-suspended Supervisory Agent in Charge, Sir Beyton."


    She paused before explaining her reasoning: "Back when Madam EAD and Sir Beyton were competing for their mentor''s sponsorship, their mentor assigned each of them a case to solve. Sir Beyton got a case involving an up-and-coming cult operating under a similar modus operandi to the infamous Immortal Sect. Many people suspected they were remnants of the sect trying to make a comeback.


    "But despite months of investigation, Beyton and his team came up with nothing¡ªthe cult was too smart, too careful for him and his team. With his mentor pressuring him to wrap it up and move on to Operation 9Ks, he started taking some questionable risks¡ªmoves that put his team''s lives in danger.


    "Then, suddenly, everything just... fell into place. Within a week, he exposed them as nothing more than a group of wannabes trying to become the next Immortal Sect. The evidence was airtight, and he got praised for his meticulous investigative work and following the book to the dot."


    Man Hunter frowned, shaking her head as she spoke of what was troubling her. "But now, thinking back... I don''t think he or his team were being completely honest. Something about it doesn''t add up. And it was right after that case that Beyton started openly going after Madam EAD. We all thought he was just bitter about losing to her, but..." She trailed off, the implication clear.


    Evil Eyes narrowed his gaze. "And how do you know that?" he asked, skeptical. Because even if it''s just speculation, throwing around accusations like that could destroy an honest agent''s career.


    "No comment," Man Hunter clamped up, realizing she had already let too much slip in the heat of the moment. Torn between keeping an eye on Ace and rushing to help her fellow agents¡ªcaught in that hesitation, she''d made a rookie mistake.


    "Let me guess," Delores said, eyeing her knowingly. "Matthews had you check in on Beyton''s team and case every now and then, didn''t she? Back then, she was very competitive. Not above bending the rules to get a win. Motherhood mellowed her out a bit, but I remember how she used to be."


    Delores sighed, shaking her head. She still regretted the day she introduced Matthews to her young master. If she hadn''t, maybe he''d be filling the gap left by her missing master instead of running himself ragged for the C.I.B.


    Ace, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke. "What was that cult called?" His voice was calm, but his fingers twitched at the side of the rifle. He was starting to realize he might be in deeper shit than he thought after pulling that stunt in the C.I.B.''s exclusive dining hall.


    "Samsara," Man Hunter answered without hesitation. "They use a horizontal eight as their symbol. Basically an infinity sign, but don''t call it that unless you wanna piss them off."


    She was surprisingly forthcoming about Beyton''s case¡ªmaybe she figured it was fair game since it was so long ago and didn''t involve her direct superiors.


    "Enough of this, let''s go," Delores ordered, signaling Lola to swallow everyone into her Dinosaur Haven. But Ace shook his head saying, "You guys go ahead. I need to finish what I started."


    "Not happening!" Janice and Delores snapped at the same time, their voices overlapping in perfect synchronization.


    Ace exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I wasn''t asking." He glanced between the two of them, knowing they wouldn''t let him leave without a fight, so he tried a different approach. "I''d go into detail, but with these two narcs here, I can''t." He shot a pointed look at Man Hunter and Sonia. "Just trust me¡ªI have to do this." sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace had taunted Beyton by blowing up his men in close proximity, framed him for their deaths, and ruined his career by sending the actual reports of Operation 9Ks to the C.I.B. If Man Hunter''s guess was correct, he needed to ensure Beyton couldn''t escape or kill him for good. He wasn''t afraid for himself but for his family.


    "Ace, you''re in way over your head if you think you can take part in something of this scale. If this incident is really related to the Immortal Sect, death is the best thing that can happen to you down there. Let''s head home now," Janice insisted, completely ignoring everything he''d just said. She clearly saw him as a bratty little brother rather than an equal.


    "She''s right," Delores added right after Janice. "Your rifle''s useless in close combat. Just follow us, or I won''t hesitate to haul your ass out of here," She reached for his wrist, fully prepared to drag him away if necessary. Having hunted alongside him, she knew that without his rifle, he was just an average curse user¡ªmaybe below average. She hadn''t seen him in combat hence her low opinion of his fighting prowess.


    But before either of them could react, Ace suddenly leaped through the shattered glass wall.


    "Ace!"

 Chapter 262: Founding the Samsara Cult

    Chapter 262: Founding the Samsara Cult"Ace, you''re in way over your head if you think you can take part in something of this scale. If this incident is really related to the Immortal Sect, death is the best thing that can happen to you down there. Let''s head home now," Janice insisted, completely ignoring everything he''d just said. She clearly saw him as a bratty little brother rather than an equal.


    "She''s right," Delores added right after Janice. "Your rifle''s useless in close combat. Just follow us, or I won''t hesitate to haul your ass out of here," She reached for his wrist, fully prepared to drag him away if necessary. Having hunted alongside him, she knew that without his rifle, he was just an average curse user¡ªmaybe below average. She hadn''t seen him in combat hence her low opinion of his fighting prowess.


    But before either of them could react, Ace suddenly leaped through the shattered glass wall.


    "Ace!"


    Janice and Delores both shouted, their eyes widening in shock. His sudden move caught his friends off guard, but the others¡ªmere acquaintances¡ªbarely reacted. They all rushed to the broken glass wall, only to spot him already scaling the side of the building, running along its exterior as if gravity didn''t apply to him, heading down to the basement from the 67th floor.


    What nobody noticed was that the outsoles of his shoes were thicker and clung to the glass, releasing with each step as he ran down the building. Trying to maintain his center of gravity and technique, Ace''s speed scaling down the building was slower than his regular running pace. They were Bio-Shoes, grown from Doctor Druid''s engineered seeds. They were not only fashionable and sturdy but were very handy.


    "Wait¡­ isn''t he just a mortal tier? How the hell is he running on walls?" Sonia blurted out, watching him in disbelief. She had tried to create her version of walking on walls¡ªbut always failed spectacularly, barely making it a few steps before falling back. It only took many painful attempts for her to realize that such a feat required at least Earth-tier curse mastery. Then, she partially fused with Madam Scratchifer to use her razor-sharp claws to achieve something similar to walking on walls, and with practice, it appeared just like that. That was one of the most memorable days of her life. However, she feared she couldn''t do the same on glass walls.


    She received no response, everyone was preoccupied with their thoughts. Until Man Hunter jumped through the opening without hesitation and took off after Ace, determined to stay on his tail. Feeling that in his desperation, Ace might just reveal his tricks despite her presence. As an Ocean-tier Curse Master, Man Hunter could not fly. Not everyone was fortunate like Delores to get an innate curse tool capable of flight.


    Meanwhile, Delores grabbed Janice and Sonia by their neck, and without any warning, she shoved them into Lola''s plush along with the latter. The moment those three were inside, the plush shrank back to its original form, appearing no different from a regular stuffed dinosaur. Handing it off to Evil Eyes, she ordered, "Get them as far away from here as possible. I''ll come find you once I secure him."


    Evil Eyes gave her a sharp nod before taking off at full speed. The Samsara Cult didn''t seem to care about those trying to escape¡ªonly those who planned to fight back. They were already outnumbered; they did not need more enemies. They just wanted to achieve their objective and scatter.


    Delores quickly caught up to Ace, flying alongside him as he sprinted down the side of the building, heading straight for the ground floor. He completely ignored her presence, his focus locked on his objective.


    "What''s your plan here, Ace?" Narrowing her eyes, she finally asked, breaking the silence.


    He didn''t even glance at her. "Why ask when you don''t plan to help?" He spoke with a firm voice, and his tone left no room for argument but pleaded, "I beg you¡ªjust stay out of my way."


    Delores hesitated, glancing in the direction Evil Eyes had fled. She could sense that he''d made it safely out of the area. With that reassurance, she made up her mind. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "How can I help?" she asked.


    Ace didn''t hesitate before asking, "Tell me everything you know about Rust Worms."


    Instead of asking her for a lift to the ground floor, he wanted information. He needed to know. Every single cultist they''d witnessed so far had been equipped with those damn things, and Janice had mistaken them for some kind of curse enhancers. If he was going up against them, he had to know exactly what he was dealing with.


    "Rust Worms are mortal-tier curselings that are completely invisible to the naked eye¡ªeven when aided and enhanced by curse energy. They infest cursed items and tools the same way rust eats away at metal, hence the name," Delores explained, her tone grim.


    "Once a Rust Worm latches onto a cursed tool, there''s no getting rid of it. A single worm won''t cause much harm at first, but by feeding on the tool''s core curse energy, it starts laying eggs. When those eggs hatch, the hatchlings devour the tool from the inside out, just like baby birds eating their eggshells.


    "On their own, Rust Worms aren''t much of a threat¡­ until some lunatic from the Immortal Sect figured out how to use their eggs to turn mortals into immortal curse slaves. That''s how the Samsara branch of the Immortal Sect was born," she continued, her expression hardening.


    "You have to understand¡ªthe Immortal Sect is a nightmare. Their entire purpose is to achieve immortality by any means necessary. Over the years, they''ve developed all kinds of twisted methods to extend life, but every single one of them comes with a bloody cost.


    "Back in the day, they promised immortality to the most powerful and influential people in the country, recruiting them into the sect. You wouldn''t believe how many so-called ''pillars'' of our government and constitution completely abandoned their morals the second they were promised eternal life.


    "They were this close to destroying our democracy," she said, her voice carrying the weight of history. "If my master and his friends hadn''t wiped them out back then, our world would look very different today. And you, Ace? A mortal-tier curse user with a strong innate tool and some flashy skills? You''d be nothing more than a glorified shell for someone higher up in the Immortal Sect''s hierarchy."


    Delores fell silent for a moment, letting the weight of her words settle. Thinking about what could have happened¡ªwhat almost happened¡ªsent a chill down her spine.

 Chapter 263: Cursed Samsara Art

    "Shell? What do you mean?" Ace asked, frowning. Delores had gotten sidetracked, and he still didn¡¯t have a clear answer about the Rust Worms¡¯ abilities.


    "These Rust Worms down below¡­ they¡¯re housing the souls of mortals," Delores explained, her tone grim. "They¡¯re using the worms¡¯ abilities to transfer their souls into a new body when their old one becomes useless."


    Seeing the confusion deepen on Ace¡¯s face, she sighed and elaborated, "The founder of the Samsara branch developed a modified version of the curse slave art¡ªone that only works on Rust Worm Curseling eggs. He called it the Cursed Samsara Art. The crazy part? It has a way higher success rate for turning mortals into curse slaves compared to regular curse slave arts.


    "With this art, a mortal dies and is reborn as a Rust Worm. From there, they infest the innate cursed tool of a comatose mortal-tier Curse Master. Once inside, they¡¯re taught advanced cursed body possession arts. The faster they master it, the lower their number in the line to choose a new body.


    "When their number is called, they get to choose their new body from the stockpile of imprisoned Curse Masters¡ªwho aren¡¯t comatose and limited to mortal tier. If they¡¯re confident in their cursed body possession arts, they can even go after Hero-tier or Earth-tier Curse Masters¡­ assuming any are in stock."


    Ace¡¯s stomach twisted at the implications. This wasn¡¯t just body-snatching. It was a factory for mass-producing immortal parasites to create a curse user of any desired curse tier.


    "This is the most horrifying thing about the Cursed Samsara Art," Delores continued, her voice laced with unease. "A curse slave could even possess the body of a Void-tier if they dared and were capable of it. But what¡¯s even more terrifying? These Rust Worm curse slaves can choose to infest the core of a curseling instead of a Curse Master¡ªand live as a curseling themselves. Many do. It¡¯s easier than possessing a Curse Master, and curselings are a hell of a lot stronger.


    "If these assholes don¡¯t get their way soon, their entire armada of curselings will be here. And trust me, they¡¯re not afraid to go all out. Their numbers are just too large. Even if we were to assume that they were only activated for the past 22 years, that¡¯s more than enough time to recruit a ridiculous amount of mortals¡ªthis is especially true since they even managed to infiltrate the C.I.B.," Delores said, her experience showing in the weight of her words.


    Ace processed everything quickly before asking, "The C.I.B. has Curse Slave Rust Worms too, right? To make their own army of curselings? Honestly, I¡¯d be surprised¡ªand a little disappointed¡ªif they didn¡¯t." He figured the government had been around long enough to develop some method of controlling a curseling army. It¡¯d be stupid not to.


    Delores glanced at him, an amused smirk forming. "No wonder Matthews likes you so much," she said, casting a quick glance toward Man Hunter, who was still following them closely. "I¡¯ve only seen her get this clingy when she was trying to recruit Young Master Crimson Eyes."


    The fact that Ace¡¯s first thought after listening to her explanation was to use the Cursed Samsara Art to build his own army of curselings finally gave Delores a glimpse into what Matthews saw in him.


    Just as Delores and Man Hunter were preoccupied in their thoughts on Samsara cult, Ace suddenly stomped on the glass wall he was running on, shattering it beneath him. But instead of plummeting down the side of the building, he fell into the floor below, using a barrier talisman to create a sloped surface that guided his descent. Before the other two could react, his figure vanished into the shadows.


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    "Ace, you obnoxious little asshole!" Delores yelled as she hovered inside the floor, scanning the area. But he was already gone. He played her.


    Man Hunter landed beside her, glancing around with narrowed eyes, she enquired, "Where did he go?"


    "I don¡¯t know! He just vanished into that damn shadow," Delores snapped, frustration laced in her voice. But there was no time for pride or pettiness. "Quick, use your abilities to track him!"


    Man Hunter grimaced. "I can¡¯t sense his emotional spectrum within my range. The curse suppressors in the walls are interfering with my scan." She exhaled sharply, glancing deep into the floor. "Do you think he¡¯s hiding somewhere here or already heading to the basement?"


    Delores didn¡¯t hesitate. "You take the emergency stairs¡ªI¡¯ll cover the building¡¯s exterior." Without waiting for a response, she shot out of the broken glass wall, riding her surfboard like a blur in the night.


    "Fuck, fuck, fuck," Man Hunter cursed under her breath as she sprinted toward the emergency stairs, moving much faster than when she had been scaling the building earlier.


    This whole attack on the C.I.B. headquarters was horrific, but there was no denying that it left a lot of high-ranking positions wide open. For someone like Man Hunter, this could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to catapult herself into supervisory¡ªor even management¡ªranks in a single move.


    But if Ace got himself killed?


    She could kiss that promotion goodbye let alone leaping to higher ranks in a single bound.


    Just as Man Hunter rushed down the emergency stairs toward the basement, Delores doubled back, cutting through the dimly lit hallways of the floor. Her voice echoed as she called out,


    "Ace!"


    "Ace!"


    "Ace, she¡¯s gone! You can come out now. Let me help you."


    "Oh, did I now?"


    A grim voice came from behind her.


    Delores jumped onto her board in shock, nearly losing her balance. "WTF?! Aren¡¯t you supposed to be covering the emergency stairs?" she asked, masking her embarrassment with irritation.


    "I did check," Man Hunter replied coolly, arms crossed. "He didn¡¯t take the stairs, and the elevators are out of order. That leaves two possibilities¡ªhe¡¯s either using the vents or has some kind of weird curse ability to move between floors."


    Delores clenched her jaw, scanning the hallway. "So, where is he?" Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Man Hunter sighed. "No clue. I can¡¯t sense any life on this floor, which means he¡¯s already moved¡ªbut up or down? That¡¯s the question." Her brows furrowed. "The kid¡¯s proving to be too damn crafty. Wouldn¡¯t put it past him if jumping down the building was just to throw us off his real plans."

 Chapter 264: Bio-Armor

    "¡­I¡¯ll come find you once I secure him," Delores instructed Evil Eyes, handing him a dinosaur plush¡ªLola¡¯s innate curse tool¡ªbefore shifting her gaze toward the lobby. She watched as her niece disappeared up the emergency stairs.


    Even though Elinor was suspended, she was still a C.I.B. agent, and Delores respected her decision. Without hesitation, she took off after Ace, while Evil Eyes fled the area at his fastest speed.


    Upon entering the emergency stairwell, Elinor did not waste time taking the stairs normally. Instead, she gripped the rails, vaulted over, and dropped two floors at a time, repeating the process until she reached the 10th floor¡ªwhere she stopped as the lower stairwell was completely blocked by rubble and mud.


    Someone had deliberately sabotaged the stairs, but the question was: Was it meant to stop those above from going down? Or to keep those below from coming up?


    Not letting this obstacle stop her, Elinor stepped into the 10th floor, intending to find another route¡ªperhaps the elevator shaft or the air vents¡ªbut what she found instead was a crowd.


    The floor was packed.


    Most of the people here weren¡¯t combat personnel. Instead, it was filled with logistics workers, janitorial staff, and a handful of guests. Just because someone was a curse user didn¡¯t mean they were a ruthless and skilled killer.


    Many tried to live normal lives, clinging to the mundane, refusing to let the "World of Curses" strip them of their old way of life. Besides, not everyone had the talent to climb to higher tiers. The vast majority here were mortal tier, with only a rare few reaching knight tier, but no mortals.


    For an ordinary person, even a mortal-tier curse user could be a nightmare opponent. But to the Samsara cult? They were nothing more than new clothes. It was best if these people stayed out of the chaos below.


    "Elinor!" A female agent in the crowd called out, but before Elinor could turn to respond¡ªBoom!


    A loud noise erupted from the direction of the elevator, cutting through the tense atmosphere like a gunshot. It sounded like someone was trying to force it open.


    The entire floor fell silent.


    People turned toward the source of the sound, some instinctively reaching for their weapons, bracing for a possible attack.


    The noise came again, louder this time.


    Elinor ignored her friend and strode toward the elevator, her sharp gaze locking onto the doors that were rattling from the pressure. As she got closer, she saw thick, gloved fingers wedging into the gap, forcefully prying the doors apart.


    "Should we help them?" someone in the crowd hesitantly suggested, wondering if it was a trapped ally trying to escape. Given that the elevator was out of order since the attack started not to mention the blocked stairwell, it wasn¡¯t far-fetched to think someone could be stuck inside.


    But before anyone could move, the elevator doors were yanked open from the inside with a metallic screech.


    A massive figure stepped out.


    The man was covered from head to toe in plant-type armor clinging to his body like spandex, every grain of the material almost looking alive. His towering form dominated the space, making it impossible to tell whether he was friend or foe.


    The room tensed, everyone poised to attack at the first sign of aggression. Then¡ª


    "Elinor?" the armored man suddenly blurted out, sounding surprised to find her before him, ready to attack.


    Elinor narrowed her eyes, asking, "Do I know you?" She mentally flipped through her memories, trying to place the voice or the face¡ªwhat little of it she could see. But nothing came up. No match.


    The man shook his head, "No. Forget it. This isn¡¯t the time for introductions."


    Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and made a beeline for the emergency stairwell.


    Silence fell as everyone watched him approach the blocked-off passage. He barely even acknowledged the debris before shifting his attention to the nearby glass wall.


    Without hesitation¡ªwithout warning¡ªhe dashed at it. The crowd instinctively moved aside, not wanting to provoke him. Then, to everyone¡¯s shock, he smashed through the glass and leapt out.


    Before they could process what had happened, his figure had vanished. Causing a stunned silence to take over the floor. No one spoke, no one moved.


    The silence only broke when someone finally muttered, "¡­Who the hell was that? He appeared to be cosplaying a moon race warrior from the Doctor Druid comicverse."


    Everyone turned to Elinor for answers despite having heard the conversation between her and unknown man loud and clear. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


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    "I have no idea!" she shouted before sprinting forward and leaping out of the shattered window, following the unknown man.


    The 10th floor was high, but for trained curse users, a fall from that height wasn¡¯t an issue. This was exactly why all the non-combat personnel had been gathered here¡ªif the attackers tried to collapse the building, this floor would give them the best chance to escape while ensuring that they were not interfering with the fight below. It was already chaotic, their presence would only feed the chaos.


    ¡­


    Ace moved swiftly through the shadows, slipping into one of the elevator shafts. Without hesitation, he used Cursed Clout to hitch a ride down, folding the shadows cast by the emergency lights highlighting the maintenance ladder.


    He descended quickly, aiming for the bottom floor, where Beyton was being held. But before he could reach his destination, his path was blocked. The shaft below the 10th floor was completely jammed with rubble and mud, sealing it off.


    Ace gritted his teeth, deciding to find another way. But fearing that Delores might be checking the shafts to track him down, he hid within the shadows, using Cursed Clout to stay unseen.


    Then, without wasting a second, he stripped down and activated Apex Earrings, shifting into his Apex Persona. Next, he retrieved the Doctor Druid¡¯s engineered seed and activated it.


    Almost instantly, the seed sprouted, growing around his body and forming a plant-based armor that covered him from head to toe. The material was unlike anything he had ever worn before¡ªit was sturdy yet flexible, providing full mobility while remaining incredibly breathable. It was Doctor Druid¡¯s infamous Bio Armor.


    Even his eyes were concealed beneath a thin, organic membrane. Although he could see through it clearly, his eyes were completely hidden from the outside.


    This was, without a doubt, the most comfortable armor Ace had ever worn. Also, he didn¡¯t forget to wear Mind Bug¡¯s innate curse tool, a tiara, under his helmet. To use its abilities to help him spot the Rust Worms as he could not use Leprechaun scope in close combat, and also it would give his identity away.


    With the tiara securely hidden beneath his helmet, Ace could keep his identity under wraps¡ªand, more importantly, avoid the embarrassment of running around wearing it in plain sight.


    Once everything was in place, he took a deep breath and stepped out of the shadows.


    Bracing himself, he gripped the edges of the elevator doors and began prying them open. He needed to find another way to the basement¡ªfast. He needed to get to the basement holding cells before the Samsara Cult¡¯s fanatics freed Beyton.

 Chapter 265: Age Old Cliche

    Jumping from the 10th floor, Apex Ace didn¡¯t bother scaling down the building¡ªhe simply let gravity do its job. He landed perfectly, despite the wrecked state of the streets, and was about to rush into the building, ignoring the chaos and bloodshed around him. But then¡ª


    "Move! Mister, move!"


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    The desperate yell made him pause and look up. It was Elinor.


    The moment she jumped, regret hit her like a freight train. A million things that could go wrong flooded her mind all at once¡ªand, to her horror, one of them was about to come true. She was about to crash land on the unknown man.


    Panic surged through her.


    "Move! Mister, move!" she shouted, flailing in midair. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But instead of moving, the man below did the exact opposite¡ªhe stood still, staring up at her.


    She had the sudden urge to slap herself silly. ¡¯Seriously? Of all the times to freeze up, it had to be now?¡¯


    But there was no time for self-scolding. Gravity was about to do the slapping for her.


    Bracing for impact, she clenched her eyes shut, ready to crash into him¡ªonly to feel a pair of firm arms catching her instead. The jarring fall she expected never came.


    Instead, she was held in a secure, almost effortless princess carry. Slowly, she opened her eyes. A masked face stared back at her¡ªsharp, unreadable, yet oddly¡­ handsome? Or maybe that was just the adrenaline messing with her brain.


    "You okay?" he asked, his voice steady and calm.


    Before she could answer, a new voice cut through the moment, dripping with sadistic glee.


    "Well, well, what do we have here? The age-old knight in shining armor and the damsel in distress? Shouldn¡¯t it be the other way around? She is clearly higher tier than you." The voice was practically purring with amusement. "Anyways, I¡¯m going to savor dismembering your bodies and sewing them back together. It¡¯ll be your happy ending¡ªthough I¡¯m not sure you¡¯ll like it. But I sure will."


    A figure emerged, grinning like a lunatic, brandishing an oversized needle, an innate cursed tool that looked more like a rapier.


    Apex Ace¡¯s grip on Elinor tightened for a fraction of a second before he swiftly set her down. Then, without a word, he dashed at the psycho, closing the distance in a heartbeat.


    The fanatic lunged at him, a manic grin stretched across his face¡ªonly for his world to spin.


    Or rather, his head did.


    His severed head flew through the air, tumbling, rolling¡ªjust in time to catch sight of his own body crumpling to the ground. Behind it stood his opponent, unbothered, a thorned wooden sword retracting into the right gauntlet of his armor.


    Before he could even process what had happened, everything faded to black.


    "What a weirdo," Elinor muttered, stepping past the severed head as it rolled along the pavement. "He just stood there grinning and let you cut his head off."


    Despite knowing nothing about him, she found herself instinctively following her knight in shining armor.


    But Apex Ace wasn¡¯t done.


    His sharp gaze swept the ground, ignoring the fanatic¡¯s body as it disintegrated into nothing, it didn¡¯t leave behind a innate curse tool. That was how you knew whether someone was a fanatic of the Samsara cult. The price for that knowledge, though? Unbearable.


    Then, his boot slammed down¡ªhard¡ªon a pile of rubble. A sickening crunch followed. He crouched, reaching into the debris, and pulled out a cursed core, It was a mutated Rust Worm cursed core; these Rust Worm curselings held human souls, hence their cores were mutated.


    Thanks to MindBug¡¯s innate cursed tool, Apex Ace had done more than just decapitate the psycho¡ªhe had traced the real body of the Rust Worm and crushed it before it could slither away and find a new body.


    A sharp gasp snapped him from his thoughts.


    "Oh, crap¡ªI totally forgot!" Elinor blurted, eyes widening in panic, seeing the armored man pick up the mutated Rust Worm curse core. She immediately activated her innate cursed tool.


    This time, instead of branching out wildly like tree branches, her hair wove itself into an intricate box braid with a hundred individual braids, and at the end of each one, an eerie red eyeball with slit pupils blinked to life.


    The braids moved, twisting and shifting on their own, as if they had minds of their own, scanning the surroundings with an unsettling awareness.


    Just then, Elinor froze in her steps, noticing the man had stopped in his tracks¡ªjust to blatantly stare at her. It was rude and creepy.


    But before she could snap at him, heat crept up her neck, embarrassment settling in. Was he checking her out?


    Her thoughts shattered the moment he blurted out, "Cool!" like a kid seeing the gift he wanted for Christmas.


    Her ego soared¡ªonly to come crashing down in a million pieces when he added, "Codename Medusa would suit you better. It¡¯d be way more fitting. And cooler."


    Elinor¡¯s eye twitched, but she muttered, "Unfortunately, it¡¯s taken." Masking her shame behind a forced calmness. She wanted to tell him off for his blunt comments¡ªand his blatant staring¡ªbut for some reason, she couldn¡¯t.


    Maybe it was because, against all logic, she found herself drawn to him even though she hadn¡¯t even seen his face.


    "Too bad," Apex Ace replied, unfazed. Then, without another word, he carefully made his way toward the building entrance, moving with deliberate steps, making sure not to attract any more psycho rust worms.


    If it weren¡¯t for Elinor, he would¡¯ve just used Curse Clout to head straight to the basement instead of taking the long and hard way there.


    Just as Apex Ace and Elinor stepped into the building, they were met with a gruesome sight¡ªfive curse masters lounging atop a massive pile of corpses submerged in an ankle-deep blood pool as if it were nothing more than an small island in a sea of blood.


    The stench was suffocating, but the curse masters didn¡¯t seem to mind.


    "Two more," one of them drawled, not even bothering to look up. He lazily shifted to the side, making himself more comfortable on the grotesque heap, asking his colleagues, "Whose turn is it this time?"


    After a brief pause, the other four eyed each other with a knowing smile before answering, "It¡¯s your turn, Captain."

 Chapter 266: Elinor’s Tragic Awakening

    "Bartha!" Elinor¡¯s scream tore through the air as one of her many eyes caught a familiar face among the gruesome pile of bodies¡ªSenior Special Agent Big B.


    Big B was a logistical personnel, not a field agent. But because of Elinor¡¯s mistake, she had been punished¡ªdemoted to being the C.I.B. local headquarters¡¯ doorwoman alongside Elinor. And now, she was dead while she was alive.


    Before Apex Ace could react, Elinor bolted past him, straight into the pile of corpses. Her hands stretched toward her senior¡¯s cold, lifeless body, but just before she could reach her¡ª


    A figure lunged out from the blood-soaked ground. Fast. Ruthless. Aimed directly at her chin. But to his shock, Elinor dodged with effortless precision¡ªwithout even slowing down. She barely seemed to register the attack, her focus locked solely on her fallen senior. Ignoring her attacker, she continued.


    Reaching the heap, she pulled Big B¡¯s lifeless body into her arms, her trembling hands frantically searching for any sign of life.


    Alas, Nothing. Only cold, stiff silence.


    Elinor clutched her tighter, her voice breaking as she whispered, "I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­ It¡¯s all my fault¡­" But her apologies fell on dead ears.


    The other four fanatics, who had been lounging atop the corpse pile just moments ago, sat on their asses. Their eyes sharpened, their postures tensing, having just watched Elinor effortlessly dodge their captain¡¯s attack¡ªeven while shaken and distracted from the death of her friend.


    "Youngest!" their captain barked, his voice laced with excitement. "She¡¯s mine!"


    Then, without warning, he dove into the ankle-deep pool of blood covering the entire ground floor and vanished without leaving behind any trace.


    Apex Ace¡¯s instincts screamed at him. The entire makeover of the ground floor was a trap set by these fanatics. They had willing walked into a damn trap, no wonder their opponents were so relaxed. But there was no turning back. If they wanted to reach the basement, they had to go through here.


    "Elinor, snap out of it!" Apex Ace shouted, his voice sharp with urgency, hearing their opponent plan to target Elinor first, but he wasn¡¯t about to let his guard down. It could just be a feint¡ªa trick to throw him off.


    He wanted to cover Elinor¡¯s back, but stepping deeper into the pool of blood wasn¡¯t an option. Everything about this scene screamed trap. The knee-high blood, the stacked corpses¡ªthis wasn¡¯t just carnage; it was intentional.


    He knew curse users¡¯ bodies were consumed by their innate tools or cores after death. Yet, somehow, these enemies had managed to pile up the bodies of fallen C.I.B. agents and let their blood pool on the floor without flowing and spreading. That could only mean one thing¡ªthis was related to their abilities.


    A grim possibility crossed his mind. What if the bodies and blood were only here because the victims weren¡¯t completely dead? But no that wasn¡¯t the case as MindBug¡¯s innate curse tool and Doctor Druid, who shared his senses, had already scanned the corpses. There were no mental or emotional signals from the corpses. They were well and truly dead.


    Apex Ace scanned his surroundings, searching for the fanatic who had disappeared into the blood. But neither MindBug¡¯s innate curse tool nor Doctor Druid¡¯s emotional sense could detect him. It was as if the man had vanished completely. Was he swimming through the blood? Or was it something worse¡ªsome kind of dimensional trick, allowing him to move unseen and emerge from anywhere in the pool?


    Apex Ace couldn¡¯t be sure. What he did know was that he wanted to get rid of this blood and the corpses before they could be used against him. A storage talisman would do the trick¡ªsuck everything up in an instant. But using it would expose his identity, and if that happened, this whole charade would be pointless.


    "Mister, stand back¡ªthey¡¯re all mine!" Elinor declared, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her.


    Then she leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Bartha¡¯s forehead. "I¡¯ll join you as someone you can be proud of," she promised before slowly, she rose to her feet.


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    The fanatics exchanged glances before bursting into laughter, both amused and mocking. Elinor was only a Knight-tier curse master, while even the weakest among them had the body of a Hero-tier curse master, and the strongest, their captain, had the body of a curse master close to breaking through to ocean-tier. To them, her rage-fueled confidence was nothing short of hilarious. She actually thought she could take on all five of them?


    "Get down here while I¡¯m asking nicely," Elinor ordered, her voice sharp as she warned them, "If you make me come up there, I¡¯ll make sure your death is the most painful thing you¡¯ve ever experienced."


    She ignored the absence of their missing captain, her focus locked on the enemies before her. What she really wanted was to avoid stepping on the corpses of her fallen comrades to get to them. But if they forced her hand, she wouldn¡¯t hesitate.


    Her words only made them laugh harder. Loud, jeering, cruel laughter.


    The idea that she could inflict pain worse than having one¡¯s soul forcibly stripped from their living body and inserted in a Rust Worm egg¡ªjust to be reborn as a Rust Worms Curseling¡ªwas laughable. That kind of agony was beyond comprehension. They didn¡¯t believe Elinor had the strength, much less the stomach, to do something worse than their rebirth. Her grief, her anger, her sadness¡ªit only made their amusement sweeter.


    Then, in an instant, a shadow emerged out of the pool of blood, right behind Elinor, striking with a fist aimed squarely at her back. But her reaction was faster.


    With an eerie, almost unnatural grace, she sidestepped at the last second. Before her attacker could even register what had happened, she drove her own fist straight through their chest.


    Her hand burst out of their back, gripping something plump, bloody, and pulsing¡ªa grotesque thing only visible to Elinor and the fanatics. But it wasn¡¯t a heart. It was a bloody orb.


    The fanatics¡¯ laughter died instantly, replaced by stunned horror. The girl they had mocked¡ªthe Knight-tier curse master they had so easily dismissed¡ªhad just taken down the strongest among them like it was nothing.


    Even Apex Ace was taken aback. He hadn¡¯t expected Elinor to be this strong. He should have known better than to underestimate a direct-line descendant of McSuile family, no matter how clumsy and airhead Elinor seemed.


    As Elinor stood there, the corpse hanging by her wrist dissipated into nothing, leaving no trace, not even an innate curse tool. Just then, the blood-drenched orb in her grasp twisted and writhed before morphing into a Rust Worm.


    Elinor didn¡¯t crush it. Instead, one of the hundred eyeballs at the end of a braid of her box braids ruptured with a wet pop. The braid immediately went limp, lifeless.


    A moment later, deep slits split open across the Rust Worm¡¯s body. It let out an agonized squeal, writhing in pain. Then, all at once, the slits peeled wide like eyelids, revealing countless blood-red eyes with slit pupils. And those eyes¡­ they began to weep. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thick, crimson tears streamed down its grotesque form as its screams grew sharper, more desperate, filled with pure torment. The sheer agony in its wails snapped its comrades out of their terror-stricken daze.


    "F-Fuck this¡ªYoungest, finish her off!" one of the fanatics shouted, panic thick in his voice. Gone was their arrogance. They were no longer amused. They were afraid¡­afraid for their lives. Unfortunately for them, they were up against a true McSuile, and they had no idea who they were up against. Otherwise, instead of ganging up to attack, they would scatter to escape.


    Without a second thought, Elinor casually tossed the wailing Rust Worm back into the blood pool, not even sparing it another glance. Its fate was already sealed. Once she had placed her curse on something, not even a Void-tier could save it from her whim.


    While Elinor stood ready to take on the remaining four clowns alone, determined to avenge her fallen comrades, Apex Ace couldn¡¯t help but track the Rust Worms she just threw, using MindBug¡¯s innate curse tool with Doctor Druid¡¯s assistance. He had no idea Elinor had only released it because she had already cursed it¡ªbut it didn¡¯t matter. He wasn¡¯t planning to steal her kills, just making sure the damn thing wouldn¡¯t slip away in the chaos.


    Though¡­ he¡¯d be lying if he said he wasn¡¯t tempted to kill it and take its curse core. After all, when he fed the mutated Rust Worm curse core he¡¯d obtained earlier to the Cursed Toybox, it had compiled a complete breakdown of that curseling and its abilities¡ªfar better than the half-baked explanation Delores had given him.


    Seriously, how the hell did she leave out the fact that Rust Worms could morph into cursed items or tools they infested and devoured? Especially when she had no problem detailing how the Samsara branch of the Immortal Sect was founded or how the Immortal Sect came very close to overthrowing their government and ruling this country.

 Chapter 267: Mutated Rust Worm

    [ ¡ªStatus Screen¡ª S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Name: Mutated Rust Worm


    Race: Curseling


    Class: Mortal-Tier


    Title: Samsara Cult Fanatic


    Info: Mutated Rust Worms are essentially Rust Worms born with human souls, making them smarter and more conscious of their actions than any Rust Worm curseling ever is. They manifest as plump, swollen worms about the size of a human infant, their bodies appearing full and distended with curse energy.


    They have no limbs, but strands of hair sprout from odd lumps and moles on their glistening, smooth skin. Sometimes, their flesh is slightly translucent, revealing the internal fluids within. Most, however, have a deep, rich reddish-brown color.


    Due to their natural stealth ability, they cannot be perceived by eyes or senses enhanced by curse energy. Detecting them requires special methods as they are invisible to conventional means.


    Mutated Rust Worm Curselings can infest any cursed item or tool, though they have a strong preference for the innate cursed tools of curse masters due to the tendencies of their human souls that want to live as humans again.


    When infesting a cursed item or tool, they adopt its color and texture, seamlessly merging with it. This makes them nearly impossible to detect despite one having the means to perceive their presence. Even if a Rust worm infestation is identified, there is no way to remove them. The only option is to abandon the cursed item or tool entirely.


    Unlike standard Rust Worm Curselings, Mutated Rust Worms cannot lay eggs within the cursed items or tools they infest as their existence is considered as blasphemy even in the ¡¯World of Curses.¡¯ However, like regular Rust Worms, they can morph into any cursed item or tool they have ever consumed¡ªbut only one at a time. In this form, they can fully access and use the abilities of the cursed item or tool they have transformed into.


    Mutated Rust Worms feed on the curse energy of the items or tools they infest, but they can survive or use curse energy by consuming the emotions of their human souls but at the risk of making themselves heartless and emotionless like Curseling.


    By fusing their curse core with the core of a cursed tool they are infesting, they temporarily gain its tier and abilities, sustaining themselves until the tool¡¯s curse core is fully drained, as they cannot recover curse energy higher than the mortal tier. Their tier changes depending on the strength of the curse core they are currently merged with.


    Known Skills:


    i) Natural Stealth/Invisibility:


    The ability to passively remain undetectable to normal and curse-enhanced senses.


    ii) Infestation:


    The ability to merge with and inhabit cursed items and tools, along with the skill to change their appearance to match the infested object. Making it nearly impossible to detect their presence in the cursed items or tools.


    iii) Emotion Consumption:


    The ability to absorb and feed on emotions of their human to increase their natural rate of curse energy recovery.


    iv) Curse Core Fusion:


    The ability to temporarily fuse their curse core with the core of the curse tool, allowing them to assume the tool¡¯s tier until the curse energy of the curse tool¡¯s core is drained, as they can only recover the curse energy of a mortal-tier even if their tier is temporarily elevated to higher tiers.


    v) Cursed Tool Transformation:


    The ability to transform their entire body into a cursed object they have consumed. In the transformed state, they can use the powers of the cursed object they have transformed into.


    Note:


    i) Source: Delores, a.k.a. Sky Slayer


    ii) This data is created for human convenience by humans. Curselings don¡¯t assess to this.]


    Ace frowned as he sifted through the information on Mutated Rust Worms, noticing a critical limitation in their abilities. It turns out that the mutated Rust Worms couldn¡¯t recover curse energy for curse cores higher than the Mortal tier, even if their own tier was temporarily elevated due to fusing with the said curse core.


    Learning this info, Ace quickly felt that things did not add up. If the limitation of mutated Rust Worm listed by the cursed toybox were true, then the Samsara Cult fanatics would have to swap bodies far more often. Meaning they wouldn¡¯t be able to afford this war. Find adventures at NovelFire.C?m


    Something wasn¡¯t right. Why would these fanatics go all out to hunt down a bunch of low-tier curse masters while using high-tier bodies? The exchange didn¡¯t make sense. High-tier curse master bodies had to be rare commodities for them¡ªespecially in the mortal world. Unless¡­ they had a way to recover the curse energy of higher-tier curse cores. Now, that would explain why they were willing to start a war.


    Ace¡¯s mind raced, wondering if it had something to do with the curse possession art they were taught right after being reborn as Rust Worms. Maybe that curse art was more than just taking possession of a body. If so, he needed to know more. The thought intrigued him, causing him to ponder if there was a way he could get his hands on a genuine curse possession art.


    A single therapy session with Doctor Druid and these fanatics would spill all the Samsara Cult¡¯s secrets. With that in mind, Ace made a decision¡ªhe needed to capture a high-ranking Mutated Rust Worm. However, his gaze unconsciously drifted to the spot where MindBug¡¯s innate curse tool had pinpointed the Mutated Rust Worm, the one that Elinor had just thrown.


    Then, he retrieved an engineered seed from Doctor Druid¡¯s toy space. She had just edited it to meet her master¡¯s needs. Apex Ace fed curse energy to it, and the seed transformed into a wicker jar. He waded into the blood pool like he was on the beach, briefly stirring the crimson liquid, before he caught the invisible mutated rust worm and placed it in the jar, all while Elinor and the fanatics stared in stunned silence. His actions, amidst the crimson pool, were bizarre and unnerving; it looked much like he was picking up a sea cucumber on the beach. Unlike him, they could see the mutated Rust Worm making his actions much disturbing for them. Especially the fanatics. They were starting to feel bad for their captain.

 Chapter 268: The Youngest Curse Slave

    "What the hell are you doing, mister?" Elinor asked, eyeing her unidentified ally¡¯s bizarre actions.


    They were literally standing in an ankle-high pool of blood, surrounded by a pile of corpses¡ªyet somehow, his actions were unsettling enough to make both her and the fanatics pause.


    Apex Ace glanced up, unfazed. "I¡¯m collecting it so we can torture it together later," he lied smoothly.


    In reality, he had no intention of sharing. He needed this one alive¡ªlong enough to extract the secrets of the Samsara Cult¡¯s curse possession art or whatever trick they were using to recover the curse energy of higher-tier curse cores because of which their hosts were more sustainable and long-lasting. Instead of constantly hunting for new bodies, they could recycle their hosts¡¯ curse cores after every battle.


    And a trick like that was definitely worth figuring out. After all, every curse master struggled with curse energy recovery. Apex Ace knew he¡¯d only get some gruesome curse arts from the Samsara Cult, but maybe his Toy Summons could repurpose them, using their universe¡¯s knowledge. Like he did with the Body Reinforcement curse art, thanks to his Apex Earring¡¯s Martial Master effect.


    Elinor squinted, studying him. Something about the way he spoke, the way he moved¡ªit was nagging at her, like a half-forgotten memory. Did she know him? No. She shook off the thought and refocused on her enemies¡ªonly to hear one of them suddenly bark out, "Youngest, what the hell are you waiting for?! Kill that bitch and the stickman already!"


    "No!" The middle-aged man with a well-groomed beard among the four fanatics shouted. Before anyone could react, the pile of corpses lurched.


    Dead hands shot out, grabbing the other three fanatics and yanking them into the mound of corpses before they could even scream.


    Elinor¡¯s blood ran cold. Without thinking, she lunged for Bartha¡¯s corpse and retreated next to the stickman.


    "What the fuck are you doing?!" Apex Ace shouted, recoiling. "Are you out of your goddamn mind? Throw that thing away!"


    He could understand that it had once been her friend¡ªbut did she not see the enemy just command a corpse to drag their allies into the pile?! That thing was a ticking time bomb! Who the hell knew what else the opponent could make it do?


    "No. I¡¯ll give her a proper burial¡ªthe one she deserves," Elinor said firmly, clutching Bartha¡¯s corpse tighter. She knew their enemy could weaponize it. But it didn¡¯t matter.


    "You dumbass, that¡¯s not your senior anymore¡ªit¡¯s a cursed corpse!" Apex Ace snapped, frustration lacing his voice. "Destroy it before it infects you!"


    Was something wrong with her head? He couldn¡¯t believe her stupidity and stubbornness. But at least now, he understood how the fanatics had managed to leave behind the corpses of the C.I.B. agents they¡¯d killed. They hadn¡¯t killed them using normal means, they¡¯d killed them by turning them into Curse Corpses.


    This meant that the "Youngest," the one the fanatics kept shouting orders at, must have the ability to transform curse users into cursed corpses.


    "No," Elinor shot back, defiant. "Janice knows how to turn cursed corpses back into normal ones."


    Apex Ace narrowed his eyes, realizing that instead of focusing on avenging Bartha, she was more concerned with saving her corpse for a funeral. So that her family could get closure and not be led to believe that she died so cruelly that her body evaporated.


    Before Apex Ace could argue that though her idea was noble, it was dumb, a child¡¯s voice rang out.


    "Don¡¯t worry, sister. You can keep your friend¡¯s corpse. I promise I won¡¯t use it... if you can help Death earn mine and my father¡¯s souls."


    Both Elinor and Apex Ace snapped their heads toward the sound.


    A throne¡ªmade of corpses¡ªslowly rose from the pile of corpses. A top it sat an eight- or nine-year-old girl, dressed in a perfectly clean red-and-white Catholic school uniform. At her side, standing like a devoted guardian, was the middle-aged man with the well-groomed beard.


    If not for the grotesque throne she perched on¡ªor the way she sat there, completely at ease, unbothered by the sight and stench of decay¡ªApex Ace would never have guessed that she was capable of such horror.


    However, Apex Ace¡¯s mind was elsewhere, racing with a new concern, ¡¯How the hell had MindBug¡¯s innate curse tool and Doctor Druid missed a sixth enemy¡ªone that had been hiding right there, in the pile of corpses?¡¯


    But that wasn¡¯t even the worst part. Doctor Druid¡¯s voice echoed in his mind, laced with something close to disbelief, ¡¯Master¡­ she¡¯s actually an eight-year-old curse slave.¡¯


    Apex Ace¡¯s eyes widened as he blurted aloud in horror, "What the actual fuck?!"


    The words left his mouth before he could stop them. His stomach twisted. Who in their right mind would be cruel enough to turn a kid into a curse slave?


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    Up until now, he¡¯d assumed the little girl before him was just another freak¡ªlike Evil Eyes. He had been fully prepared to kill her and move on. But now¡­Now, he was no longer sure.


    He hadn¡¯t signed up to kill an eight-year-old. Even though the obvious reasons to do so were glaring at him.


    "What¡¯s wrong?" Elinor asked, snapping to attention, startled by her Stickman ally¡¯s sudden outburst.


    "She¡¯s actually an eight-year-old curse slave," Apex Ace muttered, still struggling to wrap his head around it.


    Elinor went rigid listening to him. Her expression twisting in horror, she blurted out, "Shut your fucking mouth!"


    She had seen the process of becoming a Curse Slave up close. A few of her mortal relatives had chosen that path, and it was gruesome. The transformation took years, pushing even the strongest adults to madness from the sheer, unrelenting agony. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And this girl before her had been put through that but she miraculously survived it¡ªif she was eight now, that meant she had been forced into it when she was even younger. The thought alone made Elinor¡¯s blood run cold as all of her eyes focused at the girl in terror realizing the horrors the world was capable of.

 Chapter 269: Lilith Evelyn Willith

    "Little sister, I¡¯m Elinor McSuile. What¡¯s your name?" Elinor asked, snapping out of her initial shock as she adjusted her grip on Bartha¡¯s lifeless body. Since the girl had sweetly called her "sister," it only felt right to return the gesture¡ªthough it wasn¡¯t as if she had any illusions about her actual age.


    The little girl straightened up proudly, as if she¡¯d rehearsed this moment a hundred times, answering Elinor, "My name is Lilith Evelyn Willith."


    "Lilith, where¡¯s your dad?" Elinor asked Lilith, ignoring the man standing beside her corpse throne, believing that no father in his right mind would turn his daughter into a curse salve, let alone bring her to a battlefield and allow her to participate in such gore. But once again, Elinor had underestimated the cruelty of the world. Lilith simply pointed to the man beside her and said, "This is my dad, Lance T. Willith."


    Before Elinor could fully process that, Lilith¡¯s next words hit her like a punch to the gut, "Sister, does that mean you agree to help Death earn our souls?"


    Elinor froze. Her already pale face drained of what little color remained, her expression twisting in horror. She had barely registered those words the first time. But hearing Lilith repeat them¡ªthis time with relief, even excitement¡ªmade her mind stall, unable to process anything properly.


    Sensing the storm brewing inside her, Ace smoothly stepped in. Without a word, he hoisted the wicker jar containing the mutated rust worm onto his back. Small vines extended from his plant armor, wrapping around the jar to hold it securely in place.


    "Hey, Lilith," he greeted with a steady voice and continued to introduce himself, "You can call me Apex. If you don¡¯t mind, could you tell me why you want Sister Elinor to kill you and your father?"


    He made sure not to lie¡ªsomething told him this little girl was far sharper than she let on.


    Lilith stared at Apex Ace for a long moment, her eyes studying him intently. Just as he started to think she wouldn¡¯t answer, she finally spoke, inquiring, "Apex, are you a Moon Warrior? Do you know Doctor Druid?"


    Ace hesitated for a fraction of a second before deciding to roll with it. "Yes, I do," he said, keeping his voice steady. There was no way in hell he was going to kill a little girl¡ªor force a father to die in front of his daughter. No amount of reasoning could make him cross that moral line.


    Lilith¡¯s expression darkened. "You¡¯re lying. Doctor Druid isn¡¯t real. I hate it when adults lie to me." Her voice trembled with frustration, and in an instant, her presence exploded. The air around them turned suffocating, frigid, and unnatural.


    Her tier had shot up from Mortal tier to Ocean tier in the blink of an eye. Find exclusive stories on NovelFire.C?m


    Apex and Elinor felt it immediately, an oppressive, bone-deep chill that made their instincts scream at them to run. For a moment, it was as if they were being stared at by death itself. No, it wasn¡¯t her sudden Ocean-tier strength; the girl herself was the danger.


    "No, I didn¡¯t lie!" Apex said quickly, forcing himself to suppress the terror clawing at his chest. Acting on impulse, he summoned Doctor Druid. "See? She¡¯s right here."


    A figure materialized beside him¡ªa green-skinned woman with long, flowing red hair. Her armor, made of leaves and vines, clung to her voluptuous form. Thorny vines wrapped around her eyes like a blindfold, extending upward to form a tiara.


    As soon as Lilith saw her, the tension in the air lifted. The crushing presence faded, and both Ace and Elinor let out quiet breaths they hadn¡¯t realized they were holding. Neither of them fully understood what had just happened, but one thing was clear¡ªLilith was not to be underestimated, no matter her age or status as a curse slave.


    Lilith¡¯s eyes narrowed as she scrutinized Doctor Druid from head to toe. Then, suddenly, she pointed an accusing finger, "She¡¯s fat! Doctor Druid isn¡¯t fat!"


    A beat of silence.


    Ace blinked, caught off guard, while Doctor Druid merely arched an elegant brow. She wasn¡¯t fat¡ªfar from it. Voluptuous? Yes. Curvy? Absolutely. But her waist was trim, and if anything, the subtle eight-pack on her abdomen only added to her striking figure.


    Luckily, Doctor Druid didn¡¯t seem offended. She simply assumed Lilith¡¯s vocabulary was limited. But she did make use of her shape-shifting abilities to reduce her curves to match her original comic depiction that millions loved and admired. Seeing one of the heroes she had admired as a child exist in flesh Lilith¡¯s eyes shone brightly. Yes, she no longer saw herself as a child since none of the adults in her life treated her as such. Regardless, she was still a child; she only realized this after witnessing Elinor¡¯s breakdown during their conversation. However, her experience taught her not to act like one unless she planned to weaponize it.


    "Lilith, did you give your emotions to your father to slow the deterioration of his soul and delay his complete transformation into a Curseling?"


    Doctor Druid¡¯s words came out of nowhere, just like in the comics¡ªdropping a truth bomb that left both her opponent and the audience stunned. But she was far from finished, she continued adding, "Whatever curse art you¡¯re using to transfer your emotions to him¡­ It¡¯s turned you into a half-death, putting you in a state of pseudo-death, stunting your growth."


    Apex Ace¡¯s eyes widened as the realization hit. That was why MindBug¡¯s innate curse tool¡ªand even Doctor Druid¡ªhad failed to detect Lilith¡¯s mental and emotional activity. The little girl had willingly chosen to live as a half-dead, all to preserve what was left of her father.


    But something still didn¡¯t add up.


    If Lilith was feeding all her emotions to her father¡­ then what had they just witnessed? Her relief? Her excitement? Her anger? Where had those emotions come from?


    Ace exhaled sharply, shaking his head. There was no way a child could go through something like this and remain unscathed. It was more likely that the only reason they were even able to talk to this version of Lilith was because she was continuously feeding her emotional madness to her father¡ªa mutated rust worm. She was keeping him from completely losing himself, preventing his full transformation from a Curseling with a human soul into a true Curseling.


    But why?


    Mutated rust worms shouldn¡¯t feed on the emotions of their human soul to recover their curse energy unless they were desperate¡ªthat too in moderation. Unless they were willing to sacrifice the last shreds of their humanity, they would adhere to it. From the looks of it, Lilith¡¯s father appeared to have abused the emotions of his human soul by overfeeding on it on numerous occasions to recover his curse energy. As a result, his soul was now deteriorating and needed to feed on his daughter¡¯s emotions to delay the inevitable. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace could piece together their present, but the past remained a mystery. Lilith had avoided talking about it earlier, and he doubted she¡¯d open up now.


    Lilith, meanwhile, studied Doctor Druid for a moment before her lips curled into a small, impressed smile.


    "You figured all that out just by reading my emotions? That is awesome. So you really are Doctor Druid." She hesitated, then added, "Sorry that I called you fat."


    Her apology was genuine. Doctor Druid just smirked, unbothered. She wasn¡¯t petty enough to hold it against a pitiful little girl. Because of her racial traits, she alone comprehended the sheer madness within Lilith. She struggled to keep it from consuming her; after all, madness was infectious, and the amount the little girl concealed in her heart and mind was enough to burn down the entire country to the ground.

 Chapter 270: Make Death Earn One’s Soul

    "Lilith, honey, you don¡¯t have to die." Doctor Druid¡¯s voice was gentle but firm as she tried to persuade the latter. "Whatever problems or reasons made you think that¡­ I¡¯m sure that together, we can find a way. It might not be as big a deal as you¡¯re making it out to be¡ªmaybe it¡¯s nothing. Just let us help you."


    She didn¡¯t ask Lilith why she wanted to die. She already knew the girl didn¡¯t want to talk about it. Instead, she tried to convince her to give up her obsession with death.


    But Lilith wasn¡¯t having it.


    "If you really want to help me, then stop trying to tell me what to do and just help Death earn our souls!" she snapped, her voice sharp with frustration.


    The air around them became suffocating for a brief second before suddenly clearing. This gave them a momentary glance at the darkness hiding deep inside Lilith, which felt eerily similar to death itself.


    Fortunately, whatever darkness lurked within Lilith, it wasn¡¯t focused on making others suffer. It wasn¡¯t seeking revenge. No, Lilith was obsessed with dying a warrior¡¯s death¡ªfor reasons Doctor Druid couldn¡¯t begin to understand. She knew she shouldn¡¯t feel relieved because of this, yet she was.


    Apex Ace frowned, watching Lilith carefully, feeling something didn¡¯t add up.


    Her words and actions didn¡¯t match.


    If she truly wanted to fight to the death, she should¡¯ve attacked them already. They would have had no choice but to defend themselves. And yet¡­ she hadn¡¯t. Instead, she just kept repeating the same thing over and over¡ªhelp Death earn her and her father¡¯s souls.


    Apex Ace tried to understand Lilith¡¯s actions and could only think of two explanations.


    Either she was hesitating.


    Or¡­


    She didn¡¯t actually know what it meant to make Death earn her soul and had only heard it somewhere.


    Deciding to bet his life on the latter, Apex Ace took a slow breath and asked, "Lilith¡­ do you even know what it means to make Death earn one¡¯s soul?"


    "Not one soul. I said both mine and my father¡¯s souls," Lilith snapped, irritation flashing across her face. She stared at Apex Ace, genuinely baffled. ¡¯How could a fully grown Moon Race warrior be dumber than an eight-year-old? No wonder they¡¯re almost extinct,¡¯ she thought with a huff.


    That one sentence told them everything they needed to know.


    Apex Ace, Doctor Druid, and Elinor all came to the same realization¡ªLilith had no clue what she was actually saying; she was only repeating what she had heard somewhere, which had left an impression on her. She was willing to die with her father; that much was clear. But did she really understand what it meant to make Death earn their souls?


    She might have taken it literally. Maybe she thought it meant giving their soul to death as payment or something. Honestly, the possibilities were only as vast as her imagination. And with how stubborn she was, it was impossible to piece everything together without her offering more details. Read new adventures at NovelFire.C?m


    Doctor Druid let out a quiet sigh, her heart aching for the little girl, believing that there had to be a reason¡ªa wretched, painful story¡ªbehind why Lilith was so dead set on this.


    Instead of pushing, she asked gently, "Lilith, do you go to school?"


    Lilith perked up a little as if the question had caught her off guard. But soon, she confidently answered, "I did until second grade. Later, I had to drop out because of my health."


    She paused for a moment, then continued, "And when I got better, Captain said a second-grade education was more than enough for our line of work. Said anything more would just be a waste of time and would get in the way of our work."


    Despite everything, a hint of pride flickered in her expression as she smugly informed, "Actually, I¡¯m the second most educated member of our team."


    As Lilith spoke, a tragic story began to take shape in Apex Ace¡¯s mind. He couldn¡¯t help but consider the possibility that Lilith was only alive because she was a Curse Slave.


    His gaze shifted to the man standing beside Lilith¡¯s throne, her father. Unfortunately, the mutated Rust Worm in it was of no help¡ªhis soul was deteriorating, slipping away bit by bit. And yet, he still stood there, still protecting Lilith.


    Apex Ace could not help but ponder why that was. Was it fatherly love? Was that what kept him fighting for her, even as he edged closer to becoming a true Curseling?


    Then, a status screen prompt cut into Apex Ace¡¯s thoughts, [Master, the Mutant Rust Worm inside that man¡­ it¡¯s that little girl¡¯s Curseling partner.]


    It was from Dame Wasp. With Doctor Druid being summoned, she was back to sharing his senses. She detonated the truth bomb, casually upending everything Apex Ace thought he understood.


    Apex Ace stiffened upon learning this piece of information. Doctor Druid¡¯s breath also hitched as she mentally repeated, ¡¯Lilith¡¯s father¡­ is her Curseling partner?


    Neither of them had expected that. Before either of them could react, Elinor spoke up, her curiosity piqued. "Lilith, about your team¡ªwhat did you do to the other three?"


    She had assumed they¡¯d run, leaving Lilith to fend for herself. Lilith, however, painted a totally different picture, answering her without hesitation, "I killed them."


    A graveyard silence took over the surroundings. Even though Ace and Doctor Druid had guessed this, having noticed the panic on the latters¡¯ faces as they were dragged into the pile of corpses by the corpses they were standing on.


    "¡­What?" Elinor blinked, stunned. "Why?"


    Lilith tilted her head slightly as if the answer was obvious. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Because they were weaker than me. And they were mean to me." She shrugged. "I was going to kill them sooner, but Captain wouldn¡¯t let me. Now that Captain¡¯s dead, I killed them."


    Her tone was indifferent and devoid of remorse, which caused a chill to creep up the trio¡¯s spines.


    She didn¡¯t care. Not even a little. This was when her madness, what small amount remained, after most of it was fed to her father. But should she ever stop feeding her emotions to her father... the monster she could turn into was beyond their imagination.

 Chapter 271: Noah & Sophia

    While Elinor and Doctor Druid kept Lilith engaged, Apex Ace¡¯s mind was racing¡ªpiecing together the puzzle of when Lilith became a Curse Slave using what she had revealed so far.


    If he could understand her better, maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªthey could all walk away from this without becoming child murderers.


    The age of a second grader was usually around seven or eight years old. Lilith was eight now, which meant she would have been seven when she fell ill and dropped out of school. That meant¡­


    It had taken her less than a year to become a Curse Slave. That was fast. Amazingly fast. But the shocking part wasn¡¯t how little time it took for her to become a curse slave but under what circumstances she had achieved it.


    As a sick seven- or eight-year-old kid, Lilith managed to pull off something that even the C.I.B.¡¯s best, hand-picked agents had failed to do. Now, that was just amazing.


    Either Lilith had a willpower so monstrous that she had beaten the odds through sheer determination¡­Or she¡¯d had a shortcut. A shortcut that her daddy dearest had given her.


    Apex Ace¡¯s gut told him it was the latter. He believed Lance T. Willith had chosen to become a Mutated Rust Worm for his daughter.


    There were countless Curse Slave arts out there in the ¡¯World of Curses¡¯ and the mortal world, considering how heavily governments had funded the Curse Slave Project across multiple nations.


    And as the last surviving branch of the Immortal Sect, it would not be surprising if the Samsara Cult had an curse slave art that could help a sentient Curseling or a Curse Spirit to willingly become a mortal¡¯s Curseling partner, allowing them to forge a Curse Core in their chosen mortal¡¯s heart, permanently bonding them together with a life bond.


    Something similar to what Apex Ace and Emi had done with Lyla, transforming her into a curse slave in less than a couple of hours without her knowledge.


    Lilith¡¯s father must have used that kind of Curse Slave art to turn her into a Curse Slave and willingly became his daughter¡¯s Curseling partner, her eternal guardian. Ultimately, he saved her life at the expense of his own.


    Apex Ace figured Lilith probably didn¡¯t know about it since she was so young and kind of misguided; plus, parents usually keep the sacrifices they make for their children secret from their kids.


    Enjoy exclusive chapters from NovelFire.C?m


    However, seeing how Lilith¡¯s father¡¯s human soul was deteriorating from overusing his emotions to recover curse energy, which he most likely expended to create his daughter¡¯s curse core not wanting her to undergo the gruesome process, but Apex Ace was also convinced that whatever Curse Slave art Lance had used wasn¡¯t without its flaws.


    Maybe that was why he hadn¡¯t been able to protect Lilith from the Samsara Cult¡¯s influence.


    In under a year¡ªmaybe even less¡ªthey had turned an innocent little girl who chased butterflies into a cold-blooded killer with total disregard for human life¡ªshe stacked corpses into a throne like she was playing with Legos.


    Ace didn¡¯t believe this was the life Lance had envisioned for his daughter when he gave up his own.


    But during the time Lilith spent in the cult, while Lance had instinctively protected her physically¡ªjust like he was doing now¡ªnonetheless, he had failed her mentally.


    Maybe he never even considered that possibility when he made the decision to save her. Or maybe¡­ whoever introduced him to the Samsara Cult had maliciously kept that detail from him.


    Ace would know for sure once Dame Wasp finished running Lilith and her father¡¯s names through all the school databases in the country. But one thing was certain¡ªthe desperation to save his daughter had driven Lance to join the Samsara Cult.


    Before Ace could think any further, a sharp, angry voice yanked him back to the present.


    "No! Why don¡¯t you guys listen to me?! Just stop talking and make Death earn my father¡¯s and my souls!"


    It was Lilith. Her sudden outburst gave everyone present a glimpse of the darkness lurking inside her. Just a mere glimpse of it could shake anyone to their core¡­ and weak-hearted ones? It could put them to eternal sleep.


    But despite all that rage, she just threw a tantrum and didn¡¯t attack them. She was still just a kid. But no one should ever forget her darkness.


    "Lilith!" Apex Ace¡¯s voice thundered through the space, cutting through her tantrum like a blade. Doctor Druid and Elinor flinched, eyes widening as they turned to him, wondering, ¡¯Has he lost his damn mind?¡¯


    After all, the last people who had been mean to Lilith were killed by her. Neither Elinor nor Doctor Druid wanted to use force against her, let alone fight or kill her.


    Meanwhile, Lilith shot Apex a dangerous glare, her fingers twitching as if she were moments away from acting on some intrusive thoughts that entered her mind after seeing Ace yell at her.


    However, before she could act on those thoughts, Apex Ace spoke again, asking, "Do you remember Noah and Sophia? Your friends from school?"


    Lilith¡¯s eyes widened in shock, recalling her two best friends. She answered him with a shaky voice, "Yes¡­ I do."


    "They miss you, Lilith. They¡¯ve been worried about you. The last time they saw you, you were really sick." Apex paused, watching her reaction before continuing. "Sophia was so sad that you couldn¡¯t come to her birthday party. And Noah? He¡¯s really hoping you¡¯ll be able to make it to his birthday party next week." S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lilith¡¯s expression flickered, her usual stubbornness momentarily softened.


    Apex wasn¡¯t making this up. Dame Wasp had finally tracked down the primary school Lilith had attended. Using her picture, she combed through school photos and the social media of parents with kids in Lilith¡¯s class.


    Lilith had shown up in a lot of pictures with Noah and Sophia.


    Then, Dame Wasp accessed chat logs between their parents, piecing together what she could about their friendship. From what she gathered, Lilith, Noah, and Sophia weren¡¯t just classmates; they grew up together, and they had been inseparable.

 Chapter 272: Elinor The Babysitter

    Noticing how Lilith had calmed down, now lost in thought, Apex took a chance.


    "Do you want me to take you to Noah¡¯s birthday party?" he asked gently. "He and Sophia would love to see you again." sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lilith¡¯s lost expression twisted into fright almost immediately.


    "No," she said firmly, shaking her head. "If I meet them¡­ they¡¯ll die."


    For the first time, Apex heard and saw something in her voice and face he hadn¡¯t before: Fear. Real, genuine fear.


    And that told him everything he needed to know. She still cared about her old friends. She had even tried to see them in the past, but the cult never allowed it¡ªthreatening to kill them if she ever dared to meet them or bring them up ever again.


    "No, they won¡¯t," Apex Ace assured her. "Your captain is gone. No one¡¯s going to kill them if you were to visit them." His voice was steady, persuasive. He wanted her to see that she had reasons to live, to stop begging them to have Death earn her and her father¡¯s souls despite having no idea what it meant.


    Lilith¡¯s eyes widened. "Yes... Captain is gone." A spark of excitement flickered in her expression, her whole demeanor shifting. "Now, no one can stop me from seeing them!"


    Apex Ace smirked slightly. "I¡¯m sure Big Sister Elinor can take you to them. And she can help you pick out gifts for your friends. You¡¯re not planning on showing up empty-handed, are you?" His tone left no room for argument.


    That wasn¡¯t the only reason he was pushing for this. By sending Elinor along with Lilith, he¡¯d keep Elinor from following him around. With her occupied, he could use the Cursed Clout to slip away undetected. He was already running late, but with Cursed Clout¡¯s shadow-folding, he¡¯d make up for lost time. Elinor just had to go.


    "Right, Elinor?" Apex Ace pressed, turning to her. "You¡¯ll take Lilith shopping for gifts, won¡¯t you?" Stay updated with NovelFire.C?m


    He didn¡¯t actually need to push¡ªElinor had already planned to help Lilith. She nodded eagerly. "Of course! Lilith, do you know what your friends like?"


    "They like candy! Can we get lots of candy for them?" Lilith asked eagerly as she hopped off her throne, practically skipping toward Elinor.


    As she moved, the gruesome scene around them¡ªpile of corpses, pools of blood¡ªbegan to fade, vanishing into nothing. Only two bodies remained: Bartha, cradled in Elinor¡¯s arms, and the lifeless form that had housed her father¡¯s mutated Rust Worm.


    Lilith seemed to have completely forgotten about making Death earn her and her father¡¯s souls, too caught up in the excitement of seeing her old friends again after a long and dark period.


    Leaving her in Elinor¡¯s care, Doctor Druid and Apex Ace turned toward the basement, but before they could leave, Lilith¡¯s voice rang out behind them, "Doctor Druid! Apex! Aren¡¯t you guys coming with us?"


    Doctor Druid smiled warmly, gently replying to her, "No, sweetie. Our work here isn¡¯t done. We have to catch the bad guys. But you go on¡ªdon¡¯t forget to buy your friends the best gifts!"


    Meanwhile, Apex Ace subtly signaled Elinor. Informing her to take Lilith to Janice. She¡¯ll know where to find candy or at least have someone arrange it. It was past midnight¡ªfinding a store open at this hour would be a miracle, and even a vending machine stocked with candy would be a stroke of luck.


    "I will!" Lilith beamed, and for the first time, her smile wasn¡¯t the unsettling, manic grin they were used to¡ªit was genuine. Then, without another word, she followed Elinor, who carried Bartha¡¯s corpse as they exited the building.


    ---


    When Apex Ace and Doctor Druid reached the basement stairs, Ace¡¯s suspicions were confirmed¡ªthe way down was completely caved in, blocked by mud and debris.


    He concluded that a C.I.B. operative had done this. No doubt about it. The Cultists would not be foolish enough to deliberately cut off their only way from the basement to the outside world.


    Judging by the low-tier cult members he had encountered earlier and the fact that both the stairs and elevator were still impassable, the fight below wasn¡¯t over yet.


    The basement was a warzone. When the cultists had broken in, the high-tier agents most likely had immediately reacted, sealing off every exit. They had one goal: prevent the enemy from overwhelming them and executing whatever twisted plan they had in store while securing the curse criminals in their holding cells.


    And right now, that battle was still raging.


    Apex Ace wondered if the basement was lined with various curse array formations, considering it housed the holding cells for cursed criminals. If that were the case, then blocking the elevator shaft and staircase with mud had to serve a purpose within those formations. Because regular mud wouldn¡¯t stop a high-tier curse user from escaping if their life depended on it.


    He wasn¡¯t particularly interested in unraveling that mystery, though. What mattered to him was figuring out how to get past the blockage and into the basement¡ªwithout alerting the C.I.B. The last thing he needed was to be mistaken for an intruder and killed on sight.


    "Master, leave it to me," Doctor Druid said confidently.


    Without hesitation, she materialized a small seed in her palm and pressed it into the mud sealing the staircase.


    Almost instantly, the seed sprouted, its roots expanding and burrowing deep into the packed earth. Within moments, the once-impassable blockage loosened and shifted, creating a clear tunnel down into the basement.


    Apex Ace stared at Doctor Druid in disbelief, wondering if she was messing with him. Out of his three toy summons, she was supposed to be the wisest¡ªher character was older than both Emi Nakamura and Dame Wasp, after all.


    But before he could voice his doubts, she spoke, explaining, "Those roots are undetectable in mud. We don¡¯t need to worry about being discovered."


    His skepticism faded instantly. Of course. He should have known better than to doubt her.


    "Let¡¯s go," he said, stepping into the tunnel¡ªfeeling a little ashamed for forgetting Doctor Druid¡¯s prowess.

 Chapter 273: Mission Complete

    Find your next read on NovelFire.C?m


    Thanks to the tunnel formed by the roots, Apex Ace and Doctor Druid reached the third underground basement floor in mere seconds¡ªcompletely unnoticed.


    According to Dame Wasp¡¯s research, the holding cells started from this level. The lower the floor, the higher the tier of the cursed criminals. But Beyton was no ordinary detainee¡ªhe was a distinguished bureau agent. Out of professional courtesy, he hadn¡¯t been locked away on the eighth underground floor with the other Sky-tier prisoners. Instead, he was placed here, among the Mortal-tier detainees.


    "Morph into Elinor," Ace ordered Doctor Druid.


    If they were going to step onto the third floor without getting shot on sight, they needed a cover. Even though Elinor was currently suspended, she was still a McSuile. That name had to count for something. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Without hesitation, Doctor Druid shifted into Elinor¡¯s form. Ace gave a quick nod, then gestured for her to clear the way to the emergency stairwell¡¯s door.


    The moment Elinor(DD) stepped inside, a stern voice rang out, "McSuile Cub? What are you doing here? This old man nearly blew your head off."


    Ace followed her in, his eyes immediately locking onto the source of the voice¡ªan older gentleman, dressed in white pajamas, sitting on a stool in the middle of the lobby. He was gripping a fancy walking stick with both of his hands, but Ace knew better than to assume he was just some frail old man.


    Scattered around him were curse tools and shattered curse cores. A quick glance told Ace everything he needed to know¡ªthis man had single-handedly slaughtered every cultist who had attempted to break into the third-floor holding cells.


    Noticing the old gentleman¡¯s sharp gaze locked onto Apex Ace, Elinor (DD) quickly spoke up, explaining their purpose on the 3rd underground floor, "We came after learning that the Samsara Cult is here to help Sir Beyton escape."


    The old man¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. "We?" he repeated, his tone skeptical.


    His eyes never left Ace, scrutinizing the man clad in full-body armor made from some kind of plant material. He didn¡¯t seem particularly interested in the information Elinor (DD) had just shared¡ªeither he had already figured it out, or he simply didn¡¯t trust them.


    Ace didn¡¯t waste time and informed with a direct and calm tone, "Sir, we need to check Beyton¡¯s holding cell. If he¡¯s still there, we¡¯ll try to convince him to get his men to surrender." More like asking the old gentleman¡¯s permission to access the 3rd underground¡¯s holding cells.


    Dame Wasp had combed through every file in the C.I.B. database she had access to, yet there was nothing on this old man. The only way they concluded he wasn¡¯t a cultist was that he did not attack Elinor(DD) on sight.


    However, having no information on the old gentleman meant he could not use words to get out of this one as he did with Lilith¡¯s case. Also, he had no intention of using force¡ªdoing so would be asking for death. According to Dame Wasp, his curse energy signals, though subtle, were too strong to be of Sky-Tier. Therefore, it wouldn¡¯t be wrong to assume he was Void-tier. What was odd, however, was why he was in his pajamas. Did he perhaps sleep here?


    "What do you think?" The old gentleman asked, shifting his gaze and glancing at the scattered curse tools and shattered cores littering the floor. Without saying a word, his message was clear: If you think you can pass, go ahead and try. Your fate will be no different from the owners of the curse tools and cores scattered on the floor.


    "We¡¯ll wait," Ace said simply, taking the hint. Then he walked over to the wall far from the stairs or elevators and leaned against it, arms crossed, deep in thought. Elinor (DD) silently followed him. Soon, a graveyard silence filled the lobby.


    If it wasn¡¯t clear already, they were the old gentleman¡¯s prisoners. He couldn¡¯t leave nor check on Beyton, and most importantly, he had to stay in sight of the old gentleman if he wanted to stay alive.


    Thanks to the Mutated Rust Worms, trust was no longer a luxury C.I.B. agents could afford. The old man¡¯s suspicion wasn¡¯t just understandable¡ªit was necessary. But the real question was¡ªwhy wasn¡¯t he suspicious of Elinor (DD)? Did the McSuile have some kind of protection against possession or similar abilities?


    ¡¯Where the fuck are the high-tier cultists?¡¯ Ace mentally cursed, frustration bubbling inside him.


    Dame Wasp had just confirmed that among the curse tools scattered on the floor, only two were Sky-tier. The rest were low-tier.


    That didn¡¯t mean he could afford to underestimate the old man¡¯s strength. But it did suggest that the cult had likely concentrated its real forces on the lower floors, assuming Beyton was being held there due to his high tier. The attackers who had stormed this level were probably just a distraction¡ªsent to free the lower-tier criminals and spread the C.I.B.¡¯s limited personnel thin.


    However, all hope was not lost for Ace. He had chosen his spot carefully, leaning against this particular wall because its shadow stretched into the holding cell area.


    All he needed was a single second¡ªa moment of distraction¡ªto slip past the old man¡¯s perception and into the restricted area.


    Right now, he was waiting, hoping that the next person to enter this floor would be a cultist strong enough to keep the old man busy for a few seconds. Because if the situation wrapped up peacefully before that happened, he was screwed. It wasn¡¯t just game over for him, but all his secrets would be out in the open.


    The silence stretched between them until the old gentleman suddenly spoke, "Either of you got a smoke I can borrow?"


    "No," Elinor (DD) answered flatly while Ace just shook his head.


    The old man sighed, clearly disappointed, but before the room could sink back into eerie silence, the floors and walls trembled violently. Too strong to be an earthquake.


    Ace¡¯s first instinct was to worry about the building collapsing, but before he could even process that thought, the old gentleman let out a long, weary sigh as he pushed himself to his feet.


    Then, extending a hand toward Ace, he said, "You¡¯re coming with me."


    Before Ace could react, an invisible force yanked him forward, pulling him straight into the old gentleman¡¯s grasp.


    Turning to Elinor (DD), the old man gave a firm command, "McSuile Cub, guard this floor with your life."


    Elinor (DD) remained still as the old gentleman vanished, taking her master with him. She didn¡¯t react¡ªthere was no need. Instead, she turned on her heel and made her way toward the elevators and emergency stairs.


    She accessed them one by one, planting her engineered seeds deep within the mud. Thick, strong roots immediately took hold, reinforcing the blockages and ensuring no one could disturb her while she carried out her master¡¯s orders.


    [¡ªStatus Screen¡ª


    Ace: Don¡¯t worry, I can handle myself. You complete the mission. If I¡¯m not within a mile radius, head home.]


    With the entrances sealed, Doctor Druid stepped into the holding cell area. She didn¡¯t need to search¡ªBeyton was right there in the first row of cells. The entire row was empty except for his cell as these were temporary holding cells, designed for curse criminals awaiting trial soon or immediate transfer.


    Beyton was sitting inside a 4x5ft glass cell whose walls were covered in what looked like engraved golden occult circles. However, the cell was actually a curse array formation. The C.I.B. didn¡¯t cut corners when it came to security. These cells weren¡¯t just sturdy cages; the array formations on them completely severed a curse user¡¯s connection to their curse core, rendering them no different from ordinary mortals.


    Doctor Druid stepped forward, her gaze locking onto the small air circulation holes in the glass.


    "Elinor? What are you doing here?" Beyton asked.


    He barely had time to process the sight of her before her right hand revealed a green thorny vine bracelet coiling around her wrist.


    A single thorn suddenly extended¡ªfiring like a bullet straight through one of the air holes, aimed directly at his forehead.


    The thorn bullet hit, but it failed to pierce him instead, it bounced right off.


    "Who the fuck are you?" Beyton demanded, eyes wide with shock. He had been waiting for cultists to break him out¡ªinstead, someone disguised as a McSuile had just tried to assassinate him.


    Doctor Druid didn¡¯t bother answering. She had already deduced the truth¡ªBeyton had reinforced his body with curse energy. Even without access to his curse core, he was still bulletproof. So, without wasting any time, she materialized several small, round seeds in her palm and casually tossed them into the holding cell. These were the same seeds Dame Wasp had stealthily placed in the USB ports of the Congressman, the Mayor, and the Commissioner¡¯s smartphones.


    Beyton¡¯s voice cracked as he yelled, "What the fuck are you trying to do?!"


    Doctor Druid smirked, coldly answering, "Killing you, duh!"


    Before he could react¡ªBOOM! Every seed detonated at once, unleashing an explosion inside the cell.


    Doctor Druid watched patiently as the smoke billowed, taking a moment to appreciate the strength of the glass. It did not have a single crack and completely contained the entire explosion. Once the smoke cleared, she peered inside¡ª


    Beyton was gone. In his place lay a Mutated Rust Worm, its body badly burned. Without a second thought, Doctor Druid fired a thorn bullet straight at it. The creature let out a piercing death cry before disintegrating into nothing, leaving behind only a curse core. Her job here was done.

 Chapter 274: The Rot Runs Deep

    "Dregs."


    The word left the old woman¡¯s mouth like a curse, her voice rasping with disdain, materializing on the 8th underground floor of a C.I.B. branch headquarters.


    She stood there, her wrinkled, sagging skin practically hanging off her bones, looking as if she had one foot in the grave. Her gaze swept across the floor, locking onto the curse users, who were regrouping into two around her.


    Then, she turned to the group that had summoned her and scowled, "You had one job. Everything was laid out for you, yet you still failed." Her voice dripped with disappointment before it twisted into cold fury. "I don¡¯t care that you failed. But how dare you expose my new identity? Do you have any idea how much we had to sacrifice to her?"


    A sharp intake of breath echoed from the agents as they recognized the identity of the old woman.


    "Madam Director?" Matthew¡¯s voice barely came out, her tone laced with horror.


    The old woman before them was the former director of the bureau¡ªa legend who had retired when Matthews was still a trainee.


    Around her, the other C.I.B. agents stood frozen in shock, their expressions shifting from confusion to dread. It wasn¡¯t just her presence that unnerved them¡ªit was what she represented.


    She was one of the curse users from the most unstable and darkest period in their country¡¯s history. She single-handedly helped lay the groundwork for most of the things they now take for granted, which back then one would not even dream of.


    There was never a moment in their lives when they questioned her loyalty, not even now. And yet, seeing her like this, it was clear¡ªshe had fallen for the cult¡¯s conspiracy. Enjoy new adventures from NovelFire.C?m


    Tears welled in the eyes of agents who had never so much as flinched under extreme physical and mental conditions. The thought that the cult had desecrated their hero¡¯s memory and that they using her body to destroy what she fought to build was infuriating and heart-wrenching.


    Standing at the forefront, Matthew clenched her jaw. The morale of her unit had taken a severe hit as they weren¡¯t just facing an enemy; they were facing a legend.


    Just then, the ex-director tilted her head slightly, taking in their expressions. Then, her lips curled into a smile.


    "It¡¯s a pity," she mused. "But I¡¯ll just have to kill you all so no one can breathe a word about what happened here."


    Her gaze shifted slowly from the cultists to the agents. Then, with deliberate slowness, she lifted her frail-looking foot and stomped on the floor¡ªThud!


    Even though it looked like nothing more than a fragile old woman tapping her foot on the ground in a tantrum, the impact sent ripples spreading across the concrete floor.


    The waves were very defined; one could see them and feel them under their foot. The glass walls of the holding cells, which had withstood the previous battle among numerous sky-tiers without a scratch, began to crack.


    With each passing ripple, the fractures deepened, spreading toward the columns and walls of the floor. The entire structure began to tremble violently. The agents¡¯ eyes widened in shock as they saw that the walls and columns were designed with curse suppressors in them, making them capable of withstanding a few death blows from void-tier curselings or curse masters, wobbling like rubber all from a single stomp of the former bureau director. No one had ever doubted the ex-director¡¯s strength, but seeing it in person was an entirely different kind of terror.


    "Fall back! She¡¯s trying to bury us alive!" Matthews¡¯ voice cut through the chaos as she barked the order, her urgency undeniable.


    Even though she did not say it, it was clear to everyone who heard that if they could escape, they should. Even if it means leaving the rest of them behind, as someone had to make it out of here and warn the mortal world that their former director has been compromised. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Though the ex-director had been retired for almost half a century now, her influence still held immense weight within the government. If the cult were able to successfully make use of her identity, it could spell disaster for the government and the country.


    As Matthews¡¯ words rang out, the old woman smiled. Her loose, sagging skin trembled with the movement, a grotesque reminder of the age-worn shell that housed a monster.


    And then the agents realized the ripples weren¡¯t just affecting the building; they were affecting the space itself. As the helplessness of their situation descended upon them, and for the first time, despair began to creep in. They weren¡¯t alone; the cultists who summoned her for help also dispaired, knowing the reinforcement they called was burying them with their enemies.


    But just as the weight of hopelessness threatened to crush them, two figures materialized five feet from the old woman. One was an old man in white PJs, gripping a younger man dressed head-to-toe in plant-like armor.


    The moment the old man¡¯s walking stick touched the ground, the ripples stopped, and the building stabilized. The tide of battle had shifted in a fraction of a second. He threw the man he was holding at Matthews and ordered, "Leave her to me. Go secure the holding cells and the intruders."


    Then, locking his eyes on the former director of the curse investigation bureau, he said, "Old friend, let me give you peace. I know you would have done the same for me."


    "Fuck!" the old woman spat, her voice laced with frustration as she locked eyes with the old man standing before her.


    His presence alone confirmed the worst¡ªshe could no longer keep the Samsara Cult¡¯s possession of the former C.I.B. director a secret. But that wasn¡¯t the only reason for her anger. Today, they had lost their biggest source of income, the Operation 9Ks.


    In their efforts to recover and salvage what remained, they revealed themselves and suffered significant manpower losses. Today, they had suffered their greatest loss since the Samsara Cult undertook the mission that the Immortal Sect had failed to achieve.

 Chapter 275: Back On Land

    "Let¡¯s give the younglings some space, shall we?" the old man in his PJs said casually, tearing open the space before him to create a passage into the void. With a slight tilt of his head, he gestured for his opponent¡ªpossessing his friend¡¯s body¡ªto follow.


    The old woman let out a long, weary sigh before turning to the remaining cult members. "Count yourselves lucky," she stated, her voice cold and unforgiving. "Finish what you started here¡­ or kill yourselves." Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Without another glance at them, she shifted her focus back to the tear in space. She knew better than to fight him here¡ªthe massive curse array covering the entire C.I.B. headquarters would only work against her. Despite her attempts to destroy it, the old man had arrived just in time to keep it intact, but it had already sustained considerable damage.


    And he knew it too.


    She could tell he didn¡¯t want to use the weakened array¡ªfurther strain on it would drain the local C.I.B. branch¡¯s budget dry, and that budget had to last them until the end of the fiscal year.


    She didn¡¯t want him to use it against her. He didn¡¯t want to risk destroying it completely. Without a word, they reached a silent understanding. They would settle this fight without interference. May the best of them win.


    But just as they were about to step into the void, both of them halted¡ªsenses sharpening as they noticed a tall, bulky humanoid figure barreling toward the rift.


    "It¡¯s a trap!" the old lady shouted without hesitation, her sharp eyes immediately recognizing the humanoid figure as a McSuile. She didn¡¯t waste a second on anything else¡ªno hostages, no empty threats of blowing herself up. None of that nonsense. She had one priority: getting the hell out of there.


    With a sharp exhale, she blasted away the mud clogging the elevator and bolted, moving as if the devil himself were on her heels. One void-tier opponent was already bad enough¡ªbut two? That was suicide. Even with the body of a legend, she wasn¡¯t one herself.


    The old gentleman, however, paid her no mind. His gaze was locked on something beyond the man hurling toward him. His expression darkened as he caught a glimpse of the monstrous aspiration¡ªan entity resembling a humongous leviathan, relentlessly pursuing its prey. His frown deepened, resolving to close the rift once the man passed through, he had no intention of letting that thing follow him into the mortal world.


    Apex Ace, still in Matthews¡¯s grip, abandoned any thought of escape. Despite Matthews¡¯s stern warning, he twisted to get a clearer view of the void. He wouldn¡¯t be able to see what the old lady and gentleman saw¡ªbut Dame Wasp¡¯s cybernetics did, and that was enough to make his stomach turn.


    Just then, a blur shot through the tear. The old gentleman wasted no time¡ªhe snapped the rift shut the instant the figure was through, sealing it up perfectly, leaving whatever had been chasing the man stranded on the other side.


    "Kid, don¡¯t waste time catching your breath," the old gentleman said, already moving. His voice was calm, but there was urgency in his step. "We¡¯ve got a worm to kill." Experience more tales on NovelFire.C?m


    The man didn¡¯t argue. He simply fell in line and followed, but only after he bent down to kiss the floor. It was good to be back on land. He appeared to know and respect the old gentleman, seeing how he was willing to hunt down the legend on just one word from him.


    With the void-tier out of the way, the cultists¡ªalready on the losing side¡ªbegan to panic. Their leader seized the moment, barking out a desperate order, "Break the cells open! Even if it costs you your bodies¡ªhurry!"


    The reinforced glass walls of the cells had already begun to crack, thanks to their elder¡¯s earlier attack. They intended to use that weakness to free the cursed criminals and escape under the cover of chaos.


    Matthews¡¯s eyes narrowed as she took in the scene¡ªcultists hurling themselves at the glass, criminals clawing for freedom, the sheer madness of it all. Then, without missing a beat, she barked orders to her personnel, "Kill them all. Take no prisoners."


    Without hesitation, she grabbed Apex Ace and flung him into a nearby empty prison cell, slamming the door shut. It did not matter why the old gentleman had handed him to her; with him safely locked away in the cell, she could deal with him later, i.e., if she did not forget about him after all she had her hands full dealing with the cultists and the aftermath of their attack.


    Apex Ace didn¡¯t even bother resisting. Instead, he made himself comfortable in the cramped 4x5-foot cell, leaning back against the cold glass wall. His mind was still reeling from the monstrosity they had glimpsed in the void earlier.


    What was that thing? And what tier did it belong to if it could drive a Void-tier curse master to such desperation¡ªeven terrifying the old gentleman? That fear had been plain to see in the way he had sealed the rift instantly and thoroughly after the other Void-tier had passed through.


    Meanwhile, Dame Wasp was hard at work, using the status screen to force the cursed toybox to circulate curse energy in their master¡¯s place. The cell¡¯s array blocked his access to his curse core, but she wasn¡¯t about to let that stop them.


    [¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Doctor Druid: Master, I am here.]


    The moment Apex Ace received Doctor Druid¡¯s signal, he glanced at the chaos unfolding before him. Cultists were throwing themselves into battle without care for their bodies, the C.I.B. agents cutting them down with precise efficiency. He had no intention of joining the madness¡ªhe¡¯d had enough adventure for a lifetime just today.


    As he watched the fight, he couldn¡¯t help but notice something: the cultists, despite the agents holding back, careful not to damage the surrounding cells, were crumbling. It was clear now¡ªtheir initial overwhelming advantage was nothing more than the element of surprise. Out in the open, they were weak. Weaker than the original souls of the bodies they had possessed.


    With the cursed toybox¡¯s help, Apex Ace activated the Cursed Clout and slipped out of his holding cell, seamlessly entering the tunnel Doctor Druid had created for him. Without getting noticed by a single soul. Once they arrived at the surface, he wasted no time finding a secluded ally far from the city surveillance system and hopped onto his dirt bike, revved the engine, and sped out of the area, sending a quick signal to Emi.


    [¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Ace: Emi, ditch those fools. It¡¯s about damn time we went home.]

 Chapter 276: It’s Raining Curselings

    "Do you hear that?" Delores suddenly asked, signaling for Man Hunter to stop talking. Her ears perked up as she tried to focus on the faint noise she had just caught.


    "Hear what?" Man Hunter asked, narrowing her eyes.


    "That noise¡ª" Delores started, but before she could finish, Man Hunter cut in with urgency, "It¡¯s coming from the elevator shaft. Hurry!" Experience tales at NovelFire.C?m


    Without hesitation, the two of them rushed toward the shaft, heading downward in pursuit of the sound. That¡¯s when they noticed it¡ªa mud blockade, and above it, a massive man clad in green, spandex-like armor, prying open the elevator doors and stepping onto the floor.


    Just as they were about to follow him, another figure emerged from the shadows. Delores¡¯ eyes widened. Without thinking, she accelerated toward him, calling out, "Ace!"


    Before he could vanish again, she caught him. He struggled against her grip, but she held firm.


    "Let go of me, Delores," he growled.


    Instead, she tightened her hold, channeling curse energy to lock him down¡ªno curse tools, no abilities, no escape. Ignoring the chaos erupting below, she made a split-second decision and turned back, heading toward the quieter 47th floor.


    On the way up, she deliberately pulled Ace deeper into her embrace, hoping to distract him with her twin prides. But instead of the flustered reaction she expected, Ace shot her a look of utter disgust¡ªwhich he quickly masked with an annoyed, not-in-the-mood expression.


    The realization hit Delores like a punch to the gut, ¡¯Wait¡­ am I the pervert here?!¡¯


    Her mental state took a nosedive, ¡¯How the hell did I end up being the weird one in this scenario?!¡¯


    She scowled, shifting the blame onto Ace, ¡¯If not for his twisted ways, I never would¡¯ve resorted to something like this!¡¯


    Behind them, Man Hunter followed in silence, fully aware that physically restraining Ace herself would technically be a violation. But Delores? As long as he didn¡¯t plan on filing a lawsuit against her, there was nothing stopping her.


    "We¡¯re heading home," Delores declared as she stepped out through the shattered glass wall on the 47th floor.


    "No!" Ace immediately protested. When Delores didn¡¯t respond, he tried again, his tone shifting to something almost pleading, "At least take me to the roof of the adjacent building. I promise I won¡¯t try to go down¡ªI¡¯ll just stick to sniping the cult spies."


    Delores let out a frustrated sigh, "What did I tell you, Ace? This place is about to be crawling with Curselings. Trust me, I know firsthand how this cult operates." She didn¡¯t slow her pace, heading straight out of the C.I.B. headquarters, ignoring both Ace¡¯s protests and Man Hunter, who was quietly trailing behind.


    Ace¡¯s voice turned sharp, his frustration boiling over, "Delores, I¡¯m serious. Take me to that rooftop or leave me the hell alone."


    His stern tone caused Delores to pause.


    Meanwhile, Man Hunter watched them disappear into the night sky, feeling utterly helpless. She could practically see her promotion waving goodbye to her.


    As an Ocean-tier curse master, she had no way to perform flight-type curse arts, nor did she have any flight-capable curse tools on her. If she¡¯d known she¡¯d need one, she would have borrowed something from the bureau¡¯s treasury.


    "Fine," Delores finally relented, sighing. "But at the first sign of Curselings, I¡¯m taking you out of here."


    As they landed on the terrace of the adjacent building, Man Hunter¡¯s eyes lit up. Without hesitation, she launched herself through the shattered glass wall from headquarters¡¯ 47th floor, propelling herself toward the same rooftop. Midair, she twisted her body, then seamlessly transitioned into scaling the building¡¯s exterior with sheer agility, finally pulling herself up to the top.


    Rejoining Ace and Delores, Man Hunter found Delores scanning the night sky, eyes sharp with vigilance, while Ace peered through the scope of his rifle, observing the chaos below. However, despite the gruesome scene unfolding in front of C.I.B. headquarters, he showed no intention of firing his rifle to snipe the cultists.


    Ace would have loved to pick off the cultists one by one from up here. But there was a problem¡ªDame Wasp wasn¡¯t with him right now. That¡¯s because he wasn¡¯t the real Ace.


    He was Emi Nakamura, his toy summon disguised as him, meant to keep Delores and Man Hunter occupied while the real Ace completed his mission.


    Man Hunter sighed, already growing restless. "So, what exactly are we doing here?"


    She was getting real tired of watching these two just stand there and do nothing while the agents were fighting for their lives. Seeing them like this she wondered if it was worth it for C.I.B. agents to risk their life to govern peace and balance for these ungrateful pieces of shits.


    Sure, this was part of her job, but she could think of a hundred better places to be than babysitting some jackass who was watching her comrades die through the scope of his rifle¡ªwithout lifting a damn finger to help them.


    Had she known the true destructive power of Ace¡¯s railgun, she would have thanked him for holding his fire. There were too many friendlies below who could easily become casualties in the aftermath of a single mischief bullet¡¯s destruction. Unless the target was capable of absorbing all the power of the bullet firing, it would come with a huge risk.


    "I don¡¯t know about you," Delores said, still keeping her gaze on Ace, "but I¡¯m babysitting him."


    Delores made a point to remind Man Hunter that she wasn¡¯t with them but here to surveil them. So, they could never be ¡¯We.¡¯


    "Ah, so this is what it feels like to be used and tossed aside," Man Hunter mocked, reminding Delores of their short-lived alliance to track Ace down.


    Delores smirked, "About time you got a taste of your own medicine. You deserve every bit of it."


    "Ouch," Man Hunter clutched her chest in mock offense, accepting her defeat and remembering why she was up here when her comrades were down there, fighting. So, she decided to take her job up here seriously. Also, she knew Delores had a point. After all, her line of work wasn¡¯t exactly known for its loyalty.


    Meanwhile, Ace (EN) peered through the scope of the rail rifle, keeping a close watch on her master. But the moment he left the ground floor and descended into the basement levels, she lost track of him.


    She frowned as the curse suppressors embedded in the basement walls were packed far more densely, completely blocking the scope¡¯s vision. As time passed with no sign of him resurfacing, her frustration grew.


    Then, out of nowhere¡ª


    "Ace, we need to leave! Now!" Delores suddenly exclaimed, panic lacing her voice.


    Startled, Ace (EN) turned to look at her, only to find Delores staring up at the sky, eyes wide with urgency. Following her gaze, both Man Hunter and Ace (EN) turned their attention to the dark expanse above and their stomachs dropped.


    It was raining Curselings. Hundreds of grotesque, twisted figures plummeted toward the city, though it would still take a couple minutes for them to reach the ground.


    Ace (EN) felt a surge of fear, but not for herself. Her master was still underground. And worse¡ªshe hadn¡¯t received any updates from him or her sisters in a while.


    Just as she was about to check in, a Status Screen suddenly popped up in her field of vision,


    [¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Ace: Emi, ditch those fools. It¡¯s about damn time we went home.]


    A wave of relief washed over her and also she deduced why she hadn¡¯t seen him leave the C.I.B. building. He must have used the emergency exit, slipping away through the network of back alleys where CCTV cameras were either absent or malfunctioning.


    Still, she didn¡¯t execute his order immediately. Instead, she quickly updated him on the situation using the Status Screen.


    [¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Emi: Master, look up at the sky. Delores was right. This place is about to turn into a Curseling playground.


    Ace: What¡¯s your point?


    Emi: We could snipe them from outside the area before they even hit the ground. We could always use more rare and unique curse cores.


    Ace: And who¡¯s going to retrieve the cores?


    Emi: I¡¯m sure you can persuade Delores to be our porter. If things go south, she can always whisk us away.


    Ace: Now that¡¯s a plan I can get behind.]


    "Fine. Let¡¯s get out of here," Ace (EN) finally agreed, stowing the rail rifle away into a storage talisman.


    Delores blinked, momentarily thrown off. That was... easy. She had fully expected him to argue, maybe try to convince her to collect curse cores while he sniped from a safe distance. But instead, he just¡ªwent along with it?


    Her suspicion flared. But before she could dwell on it, Ace (EN) suddenly vanished into thin air, his voice ringing in the wind, "Come find me, I will be waiting for you."


    Delores¡¯s eyes widened.


    "CURSE YOU, ACE LANDER!" she roared at the top of her lungs, fists clenched in frustration, ¡¯Damn it!¡¯ He¡¯d pulled a fast one on her again.


    This time, she was so sure he couldn¡¯t escape from her. She had kept her eyes locked on his hands, making sure he didn¡¯t pull out that dirty rag-shaped curse tool to slip into the shadows. And he never even took it out, yet he vanished. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 277: Lazy Thieves

    "Where the fuck are you, Gael?!" the mutated rust worm screeched, its voice twisting through the throat of the former C.I.B. director. Her frenzied footsteps echoed as she scoured through the third floor, scanning every corner for her target¡ªbut he was nowhere to be found.


    Earlier, her minions had telepathically confirmed to her that Sir Beyton wasn¡¯t in the holding cells on the eighth underground floor. This could only mean that the C.I.B. was most likely keeping him on the third underground floor instead.


    Despite her small window to escape, she¡¯d made the detour anyway. Twice, she scoured the entire floor, overturning every possibility. Nothing.


    "Fuck!" she spat, frustration seething in her voice. She turned to bolt, but a few feet from the exit, she froze, finding C.I.B.¡¯s two Void Tier operatives standing in the lobby, blocking her only way out.


    One sat perched on a stool, holding his walking stick, eerily casual. The other was sprawled on the floor like a discarded puppet. The scene wasn¡¯t wrong, they were confident in their combined abilities. She knew this and wasn¡¯t about to make the first move.


    Instead, she stood her ground, muscles coiled, eyes darting between them, searching for the tiniest opening. She just had to make it outside. If she could escape this cursed building, she held the confidence to ensure her survival.


    "Senior Atticus, take your time. I¡¯ll guard the exit," Janice¡¯s uncle said, his voice heavy with exhaustion, knowing Atticus and the Ex-director¡¯s history together.


    He didn¡¯t move. Didn¡¯t so much as twitch. Just laid there on the ground. Only he knew how he planned to guard the exit unless it was something he could do by sheer willpower alone.


    Ever since Janice had outsmarted him into being stuck in the void, he¡¯d been locked in a relentless battle with the void entity, drawn to the chaos she had unleashed by recklessly detonating multiple curse tools. It dragged him into the void, preventing him from returning through the rift before she sealed it.


    He¡¯d beaten the damn thing to the brink of death more times than he could count¡ªbut every single time, just when he thought it was finally over it recovered instantly, and the fight started all over again. He had no idea how it was doing that, and when he couldn¡¯t figure is abilities out, there was only one logical choice left for him, and that was to run.


    But with the entity constantly on his heels, he couldn¡¯t afford to stop long enough to open a rift and escape. If he failed to close it in time, the creature would follow him into the mortal world, unleashing a whole new catastrophe.


    So, for what felt like an eternity, he had been trapped in a twisted game of tag. Except, in this game, if he got caught, he would most definitely die.


    To make matters worse, opening a rift from the mortal world to the void? Easy, at least for a Void-Tier. But doing it the other way around? Not so much. He couldn¡¯t just tear a rift open anywhere in the void and expect to land safely back home. The odds were just as high that he¡¯d end up deeper in the void¡ªor worse, flung into some unknown, godforsaken dimension. Explore stories on NovelFire.C?m


    Thankfully, he had managed to stay within range of his home world, never drifting too far, clinging to the hope that someone¡ªanyone¡ªfrom the mortal world or the ¡¯World of Curses¡¯ would open a rift. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And, by some miracle, his prayers had been answered sooner than he expected.


    "Sigh¡­" With a weary breath, the old man pushed himself to his feet. His gaze lingered on the hollow shell of his old friend, and for a moment, his eyes misted over, lost in memories of better days.


    But before he could take another step, the ex-director¡¯s body began to¡­ change.


    Blood seeped from her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, dark rivulets carving unnatural paths down her skin. Then, without warning, her entire body started to collapse inward, folding in on itself in an impossible, grotesque compression¡ªuntil, finally, she was gone.


    Just¡­ gone.


    "What the hell was that?" Janice¡¯s uncle muttered, lifting his head. His instincts screamed teleportation, but something about it felt¡­ off. He glanced at Atticus, expecting him to react, to do something¡ªbut the old man remained still.


    If senior Atticus wasn¡¯t stopping her, then¡­ was there something he was missing?


    "It destroyed her body in exchange for me letting it go," Atticus finally spoke in a low, almost tired voice, with his back to the latter as a single tear rolled down his left cheek as he watched his friend fade into peace.


    "Damn it. You let it go?" Janice¡¯s uncle snapped, hauling himself upright. His frustration boiled over as the realization set in. They had her cornered. Since it had a Void-tier shell, that rust worm was high up in the ranks of the renewed Immortal Sect¡ªif they had captured it, they could¡¯ve extracted information from it, prepared a full-scale attack, and wiped them out before they could even respond.


    But now? Now, they had nothing.


    All because he¡¯d let Atticus take the lead. All because he hadn¡¯t been willing to peel himself off the damn floor a second earlier than he needed to.


    He was so annoyed because, if his guess that the Immortal Sect had returned was correct and they were strong enough to openly attack a C.I.B. branch, then they were not just the C.I.B.¡¯s problem, but the entire country¡¯s, including the McSuiles¡¯. He still recalled how shaken his father was after the fight with the Immortal Sect. Even though they had won, they could not allow history to repeat itself, as the cost had been too high. This time, it had to be different.


    "You and your daughter have turned into a couple of lazy thieves," Atticus snarled suddenly, his voice laced with unspeakable rage. "I asked her to guard this place with her life, and what does she do? She kills an inmate and steals my trophies." He wiped his cheek, his movements sharp, then turned, his eyes blazing with deliberate anger.

 Chapter 278: Head’s Up

    "Senior, that¡¯s not possible. Elinor is too straight-laced to pull something like that," her father said, rubbing his chin in deep thought. "I was so disappointed in her that I threw her into the C.I.B., believing she was hopeless. But if what you¡¯re saying is true¡­ I might have to reconsider my plans for her."


    He paused and narrowed his eyes, asking, "Who did Elinor supposedly kill?"


    "The mutated rust worm that was occupying that kid Beyton¡¯s body," Atticus replied without hesitation. He didn¡¯t even need to check the surveillance tapes¡ªthough, even if he had, he wouldn¡¯t have found a shred of evidence. Dame Wasp had already taken care of that.


    Thanks to the chaos, slipping into the local C.I.B. branch servers had been almost too easy for her. Truth be told, the curse tools and cores that Doctor Druid had scavenged weren¡¯t even the biggest haul of the night. The real prize? The classified data Dame Wasp had extracted from those servers.


    Elinor¡¯s dad stiffened. "Wait¡­ when did they get Sir Beyton?" His voice carried genuine shock. He just got back from the void and had no idea what was going on.


    However, the reason for his shock was that he had quietly supported Beyton on more than one occasion, using him as a counterweight to Matthews and her ever-growing influence in the C.I.B.


    Atticus barely spared him a glance as he warned him, "Brace yourself. Knowing Matthews, she won¡¯t hesitate¡ªsractch that, she¡¯ll definitely drag you and the McSuile family into this shit show to cover her ass." With that, he sank back onto his stool, looking like an old watchman, yawning as if he had all the time in the world.


    Elinor¡¯s dad frowned. Watching Atticus lounge around while the chaos was still far from being concluded, he finally asked, "You¡¯re not gonna deal with those Curselings?"


    "The president only tasked me to guard the holding cells of this branch. What happens outside?" Atticus shrugged, shameless as ever. "Not my department. But if you¡¯re so concerned about it, maybe you should go help." S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He said it so casually, even though the eighth underground floor was still in complete disarray¡ªand, more importantly, someone had infiltrated the third underground floor and assassinated an inmate.


    "Nah, I¡¯m too exhausted, and it¡¯s not worth it," Elinor¡¯s dad said falling to the ground and sprawling. He then asked Atticus, "Are you sure it was Elinor?" He still couldn¡¯t believe that Elinor would steal from her superior and kill an inmate yet to be proven guilty. That was not the daughter he remembered.


    "She¡¯s the only girl I know with a hundred eyes. If someone was disguising themselves as her, believe me, I¡¯d know," Atticus said confidently¡ªcompletely unaware that he had, in fact, mistaken an imposter for Elinor McSuile.


    Not that it would have made a difference. With his ego, even if the imposter themself came forward to correct him, he¡¯d still shamelessly insist he was right.


    "Forget it," Atticus went on, shaking his head. "I saw her curse spell¡ªthey¡¯ve advanced considerably. Looks like putting off blind tier climbing and focusing on mastering her curse spells to hone the abilities of her innate curse tool and arts is finally paying off."


    He recalled the mutated rust worm that the Mortal-Tier following Elinor had been carrying on his back. Her curse spell on it had been too strong even for him to break. It was the source of his confidence that he ran into the real Elinor McSuile and not an imposter.


    Elinor¡¯s father scoffed. Then, shaking his head, he remarked, "Curse spells alone aren¡¯t enough. They don¡¯t help much in combat."


    Read exclusive content at NovelFire.C?m


    To him, all the time his daughter spent perfecting her curse spells was a waste. Instead of honing what she already had, she should have been mastering new arts and pushing to advance her tier. By his mid-twenties, he had already been preparing to break through to Ocean-Tier. It wasn¡¯t anywhere near Crimson Eyes¡¯ level of achievement, but it still cemented him as a genius, even by the current standards.


    "Tsk." Atticus clicked his tongue in irritation, deciding not to bother. He wasn¡¯t about to waste his breath on a pointless argument with a stubborn person.


    Executing curse spells took time and ingredients, but when used properly, they were lethal.


    Take the one Elinor had used on the mutant rust worm¡ªnow that it was under her spell, she could track it anywhere in the world. Not that she¡¯d need to. Her curse had already stripped it of its abilities, leaving it completely powerless and in pain.


    "Any news on your father?" Atticus asked, shifting the topic.


    "Same old. Why do you ask?" Elinor¡¯s dad narrowed his eyes. Atticus wouldn¡¯t bring up something that sensitive¡ªthat top-secret¡ªunless he knew something. Or unless something was very wrong.


    "The Cyclops was here," Atticus said, his tone grave. "Came looking for the princess after hearing the Sole Ring was found in this area."


    He figured it was better to tell him now before it was too late, considering he just got out of the void. Though, in his opinion, the McSuiles had brought this on themselves. Greed had a way of coming back to bite.


    Elinor¡¯s dad stiffened. Then, as the weight of those words sank in, he sat up straight on his ass.


    "¡­What happened?" he asked, his voice low, the seriousness of the situation settling over him like a cold shadow.


    "I have no idea. He had left before I had the chance to even meet him," Atticus said in a grim tone, knowing that only one reason could have caused the Cyclops to turn on his heels so quickly: he got what he came for¡ªclues on the whereabouts of the Sole princess. Considering what he found, it could be both good and bad news for the McSuile family.


    "It seems a lot has happened while I was stuck in the void," Elinor¡¯s dad said, getting to his feet, planning to return home to catch up before it was too late for them.

 Chapter 279: Frustration

    "Hey! Did you find him?" Man Hunter shouted at the top of her lungs just as Delores passed by the rooftop she was perched on.


    "Yeah, I did, agent, but guess what? I just love flying around the city skyline like a crazy person. So if you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯ll get back to it." Delores was fuming. She just wanted to find Ace and give him a good spanking. God knows he deserved it. But she also knew that if she did, he¡¯d just turn it into another thing to tease her about¡ªand that realization made her even angrier.


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    Because damn it, she wasn¡¯t supposed know him so well, he was supposed to be just another person in her life. Someone she didn¡¯t give a crap about. But somehow, that sleazy little parasite had wormed his way into her heart, and now, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t ignore him.


    She should have been focused on ensuring Janice¡¯s safety. That was her actual job. Yet here she was, darting from rooftop to rooftop, chasing after that little demon child like that crazy mom in the mall who can¡¯t find her child. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Well, you better find him soon, because the Curselings are halfway¡ª" Man Hunter didn¡¯t even flinch at Delores¡¯s snappy tone¡ªshe could tell the woman was stressed. But before she could finish her sentence, her words were cut off in shock as she witnessed a blinding flash of light, almost like lightning, shoot into the night sky from a building¡¯s terrace.


    "There!" Delores yelled, already taking off in that direction.


    Man Hunter followed, leaping effortlessly from terrace to terrace, moving like she¡¯d done this a hundred times before.


    ¡­


    Inside an elevator of an unknown building, about a couple miles from the local C.I.B. headquarters¡­


    "Master, this thing is useless. We should get rid of it as soon as possible," Doctor Druid muttered, peering into the wicker vase holding the mutant rust worm.


    "Why? Can¡¯t we just get it to talk¡ª" Ace started, then suddenly stopped, realization hitting him like a brick. He screwed up.


    Without its curse master¡¯s shell, they couldn¡¯t communicate with the mutated rust worm. Unless one of his toy summons just so happened to know how to speak Curseling¡ªor he was willing to go through the trouble of getting it a new curse master shell at minimum a Mortal-Tier one¡ªthere was no way to get anything out of it.


    Then, a thought struck him. He turned to the Kunoichi beside him, asking, "Emi, turn it into your Shikigami. Then, we can use the status screen to communicate with it that way."


    "I can¡¯t." Emi shook her head. "It¡¯s under a strong curse spell. Even if I managed to bind it, I¡¯d risk the curse spreading to me¡ªand then to you through me."


    Ace clicked his tongue in frustration, listening to Emi explain the serious consequences of binding the mutant rust worm as her Shikigami.


    "So, our only option is to find a curse criminal for it to possess, and then Druid can make it sing," he said, refusing to be deterred believing learning how the Samsara cult managed to solve the drawbacks of the rust worm curseling was worth it.


    "No, Master," Emi corrected him. "Because of the curse spell, the rust worm can¡¯t use its abilities. That means it can¡¯t fuse with an innate curse tool to possess another curse master. Druid¡¯s right¡ªit¡¯s useless to us."


    "Damn it!" Ace cursed, rubbing his temples. "All this time, I¡¯ve been lugging this damn thing around for nothing?"


    Had he known earlier, he might¡¯ve tried to snatch up a mutant rust worm from the 8th underground floor when he had the chance. Now, they had nothing. No¡ª they still had Lilith. She wasn¡¯t a mutated rust worm herself, but as a curse slave of the cult, she might know something. After all, her Curseling partner was a mutated rust worm.


    "What do we do with it?" Doctor Druid asked, handing the wicker vase to her master, hoping he had a plan to handle it.


    Ace took it, turning the vase in his hands. "I¡¯ll give it to Elinor¡ªtell her some dude calling himself Apex asked me to pass it along."


    If nothing else, maybe it would give Elinor and Lilith something to vent their grievances on.


    As the elevator reached the highest floor it could go, Ace recalled Doctor Druid and Emi into their toy spaces, leaving behind only Dame Wasp, who nestled herself inside the Rail Rifle¡¯s power chamber. He took the service stairs three steps at a time, making his way up to the terrace before kicking open the door.


    While Dame Wasp set the power supply up, Ace used the rifle¡¯s scope to scan the descending Curselings and the desperate Delores, still zipping around the skyline like a bat out of hell.


    Once Dame Wasp finished setting things up, Ace took his position, waiting for the power chamber to charge up a lot more¡ªbecause he planned to start big.


    Pearing through the scope, Ace adjusted the rifle¡¯s angle, trying to find a worthy pery, a Sky-teir at a bare minimum. Anything less would feel like a waste of a Mischief bullet. He locked onto a worthy target¡ªa Sky-Tier curseling. Just as his finger hovered over the trigger, he noticed a pattern.


    If he timed his shot just right, he could take out not just one but at least a couple of Sky-Tier Curselings and a handful of lower-tier ones in a single blast.


    The sky was swarming with them, all converging toward the C.I.B. headquarters. It was chaos¡ªand a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If he pulled this off, he¡¯d have something to brag about for ages.


    Hands steady, bracing for the kickback, Ace slowly breathed out and pulled the trigger¡ªboom! Even though he was ready, he still got thrown back. He quickly scrambled to his feet, wanting to see the once-in-a-lifetime shot with his own eyes. But his view was blocked by Delores, hovering on her board in red. He smiled and waved nervously. "Hi, Delores. You finally made it."

 Chapter 280: Void-Tier Curseling

    "ROAR!"


    A deafening scream ripped through the air, loud enough to drown out an atomic explosion. The sheer force of it shattered every glass window within a couple-mile radius.


    Ace barely managed to stay conscious as the shockwave hit him. His eardrums somehow survived, but the ringing in his head was so intense it felt like someone was driving nails into his skull.


    Gritting his teeth, he forced himself forward, stepping past Delores. His balance wavered, his legs threatening to give out beneath him. But his vision remained clear¡ªunfortunately.


    Because what he saw made his stomach drop.


    As he had expected, his mischief bullet had taken out multiple Curselings, including a couple of Sky-Tiers. But the moment their curse cores dropped, the surrounding Curselings went feral, tearing into each other in a frenzied battle over the fallen cores.


    For a brief, fleeting second, Ace thought they might wipe themselves out before they could even reach the C.I.B. headquarters.


    Then, it appeared.


    From within the dark clouds, a monstrous Curseling slithered into view¡ªa serpentine monstrosity spanning an entire mile. But it wasn¡¯t just a massive snake. Its head was wrong. It resembled a lion¡¯s, with silky mane, piercing eyes, and long, wispy whiskers but scaly skin like a reptile.


    With a single thunderous roar, it silenced the chaos below. Every Curseling instantly fell in line, abandoning their fight for the curse cores. Then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the Curseling vanished back into the clouds¡ªlike it had never existed.


    Ace swallowed hard, realizing that a Void-Tier curseling was leading this nest of Curselings.


    "Ace¡ª" Delores¡¯ voice cut through the tension. She turned to him, her expression a storm of frustration and disbelief. She thought this was the perfect opportunity to lecture him on the consequences of his recklessness¡ªbut before she could get another word out, Ace spun on his heels, eyes glowing with an unsettling mix of excitement and madness.


    "Delores," he said, voice brimming with barely contained energy, "do you want to hunt a Void-Tier Curseling with me?"


    Her face twisted in sheer horror, causing her to shout in response, "Are you fucking out of your mind?!"


    "Yes," Ace grinned, completely unfazed. "And I think you are, too." He took a step closer, lowering his voice. "You trust me, right?"


    Despite every single signal she had been giving him that she was done with his antics, his confidence in persuading her hadn¡¯t wavered one bit.


    And that infuriated her to her core. However, before she could act on the very intrusive thoughts flooding her mind, Ace suddenly leaped onto her board, completely ignoring her rising temper. Without missing a beat, he shoved a handful of yellow paper consumable curse tools into her hand.


    "They¡¯re substitution talismans," he said, grinning like an idiot. "We just need to stick them onto objects equal to our weight every mile before we hunt the void-tier curselin¡ª"


    *SLAP*


    Ace never got to finish that sentence as he was interrupted by Delore¡¯s slap.


    Delores backhanded him so hard that he was launched off her board, spiraling through the air like a ragdoll. He crashed into the ground with a sickening thud, skidding across the pavement before rolling six full rotations¡ªonly to come to a brutal stop as he slammed face-first into a concrete wall.


    She hovered above him, arms crossed, staring down like a disappointed parent. "Are you finally awake?" she asked, her voice dripping with frustration. "Because if not, I¡¯ve got plenty more of those locked and loaded."


    Ace groaned, barely managing to push himself up, his vision spinning. He was very angry and made sure Delores knew, "You ungrateful bitch! I was willing to share the glory of killing a Void-Tier with you¡ª"


    *SLAP*


    Once again, Delores struck without hesitation. This time, her slap sent him soaring across the terrace like a human frisbee.


    Ace wheezed as he hit the ground, rolling onto his back. For a moment, he just lay there, staring at the sky. One would think he was questioning every life decision that had led to this moment when actually he was thinking of words to persuade Delores to help him hunt the Void-tier curseling.


    Then, with a pained groan, he dragged himself up¡ªthis time, gripping his cursed clout in his free hand for insurance. His other hand clutched the rail rifle.


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    Glaring at Delores, he let out an exasperated yell, "At least let me finish before slapping me agai¡ª"


    *SLAP*


    Delores had been on the lookout for his dirty rag-shaped curse tool and had been watching Ace closely, anticipating the exact moment he tried to use it. So before he even finished his sentence, before his Mortal-tier brain could process what was happening, she smacked him so hard he went flying across the terrace, his body flipping through the air like a ragdoll. He didn¡¯t even get the chance to use his cursed cloth. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Delores hovered over his sprawled-out form, arms crossed. Without a shred of sympathy for the latter, she asked, "You alive?"


    Ace groaned, barely lifting his head. "You bitch¡ª"


    But before he could get up and curse her out properly, his face froze in sheer terror.


    "LOOK OUT!" he screamed.


    "What?!" Delores snapped, completely unaware of the horror looming above her.


    In a desperate move, Ace grabbed her by the ankle after shoving his Rail Rifle into Emi¡¯s toy space and then activated his cursed clout¡¯s shadow-folding ability, vanishing from the terrace and hurling both of them off the building.


    The very next second, the Void-tier Curseling came crashing down from the clouds, its massive jaws stretching wide open. With a single gulp, it swallowed the entire building whole and circled back into the cloud in a slow, deliberate motion with a bulging belly.


    Ace, Delores, and her board, caught in free fall, watched the nightmare unfold. As the building vanished into the monster¡¯s maw, their eyes wide with unfiltered terror.


    "Delores, hurry!" Ace yelled, still gripping her ankle like his life depended on it¡ªwhich, at this point, it did.


    Snapping out of her shock, Delores willed her innate curse tool to life. In a blink, she was back on her board, gripping Ace as they sped away, running for their lives.


    "FUCK!" Ace shouted, in Delores¡¯s embrace. The realization hit him¡ªhe had gone from hunter to prey in a matter of seconds. If Delores had just worked with him instead of slapping him around, they could¡¯ve been ready for this. They could¡¯ve given the damn thing a fight if not kill it.


    Delores, entirely ignoring Ace¡¯s frustration, poured everything into her speed. She pushed hard, bolting out of the city, banking on one hope: That the Void-tier Curseling was more interested in seeing its primary objective, the C.I.B. headquarters, through than chasing them.


    And she was right. The Curseling didn¡¯t chase them. But then Ace suddenly yelled, "CIRCLE BACK!"

 Chapter 281: Infection

    [ ¡ªStatus Screen¡ª


    Ace: Rose, get me a casualty report for that building.


    Dame Wasp: Accessing street cameras now, Master.


    Dame Wasp: Master, when all the glass shattered, security personnel mistook it for an earthquake and rushed outside for open ground. But the streets were already covered in glass pieces and other civilians, so they didn¡¯t make it far before the attack.


    Dame Wasp: I can¡¯t give an exact death toll, but there are many injured, some gravely. Nothing that immediate medical attention can¡¯t fix, but the situation is serious.


    Ace: Estimate the death count later. Locate all the injured¡ªI¡¯ll tend to them personally.]


    "CIRCLE BACK!" Ace yelled at Delores, guilt twisting in his gut.


    This was his fault. His greed had turned the battle into an uncontrolled disaster. If he hadn¡¯t acted out of greed, the destruction would have been contained to the immediate area around the C.I.B. headquarters, as it was the Curselings¡¯ primary and sole target. His greed attracted the disaster over to where it had no business.


    But Delores ignored him, pressing forward without hesitation. She couldn¡¯t believe how stubborn he was¡ªeven now, after seeing firsthand what a Void-tier Curseling could do. Therefore, she did not bother to talk to him and did what she thought was best for them.


    "Delores, there are too many casualties down there. I can help them," Ace insisted, realizing she might have misunderstood his intentions. His voice was urgent, pleading. "I swear, I¡¯m not scheming anything. This isn¡¯t a trick. People will die if they don¡¯t get immediate medical attention."


    "No," Delores shot back without a second thought. "We were lucky to escape the first time¡ªI¡¯m not risking it again."


    She wasn¡¯t about to turn back and taunt the Void-tier Curseling, practically daring death itself.


    "Damn it, Delores!" Ace snapped, frustration boiling over. "Why can¡¯t you just do what I ask for once?"


    For a split second, in his frustration, he almost blamed her for the casualties. However, deep down, he knew that it was neither of their fault. The world was just fucked up that way.


    "You dare to ask me that after what just happened?" Delores snapped at Ace with a voice laced with utter disbelief. She could not believe he did not learn his lesson despite the incident a couple minutes earlier.


    "I take full responsibility for what happened back there," Ace admitted with a firm tone. "But if you had just listened to me¡ªif you¡¯d followed my instructions and helped me prepare to hunt the Void-tier Curseling¡ªit never would have targeted that building. Things could have gone a lot differently."


    He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "I¡¯m not trying to point fingers. I¡¯m just trying to get you to trust my judgment. We can save lives, Delores. We can spare many families from losing their one¡¯s tonight, not to mention their future hardship."


    His grip tightened around her arms as she held him in her embrace as they flew out of the city at breakneck speed.


    However, Delores still didn¡¯t respond. Ace sighed a little disappointed, but he wasn¡¯t ready to give up. So, pleaded, "At least hear me out."


    "Fine," she relented with an exasperated sigh. Truthfully, she was just tired of hearing him whine. Given her personality and age, Delores cared about very few things, but the lives and families of some random mortals weren¡¯t on that list. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Without wasting another word, Ace pulled out a set of invisible and presence-erasing talismans, activating them on himself, planning to give Delores a demonstration, such that she understood he knew what he was doing.


    Delores¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She could feel him in her arms, but to her other senses¡ªher sight, her smell¡ªhe was completely gone. She had seen him do something similar while hunting the S.S.S.


    "We can use these to get in, help the injured mortals, and slip away without being noticed," Ace explained with an unwavering tone. "I know these talismans won¡¯t fool a Void-tier Curseling, but I doubt it¡¯ll waste any more attention on us. And even if it does, we have displacement talismans. They¡¯ll teleport us to a predetermined location within a mile instantly."


    "I¡¯ve covered all our bases. Trust me, Delores. That way, we both get to sleep in peace tonight," Ace continued to assure her, feeling the shift in Delores, not through words, but through the subtle changes in her grip and body language.


    "Alright," she agreed, almost too easily. Ace blinked in surprise, clearly taken aback. He hadn¡¯t expected her to cave so quickly.


    Delores gave in not because of his foolproof plan but because of that last thing he¡¯d said.


    Moments like this reminded Delores of Ace¡¯s actual age. As much as he acted mature and wise though mostly reckless and overconfident, there was still a part of him¡ªsome flicker of innocence¡ªthat she wanted to protect, even if just for a little while longer.


    But before Ace could say anything, another roar split through the air.


    It wasn¡¯t as intense as before, since they were nearly out of the city, but there was something different about it. It wasn¡¯t the same commanding, oppressive sound; instead, the roar sounded more like a pained cry. Both of them heard the difference.


    "What the hell?" Ace muttered, eyes narrowing.


    Delores slowed, turning back toward the skyline. Given the sheer size of the Void-tier Curseling, it didn¡¯t take much effort to see what was happening.


    "Wait¡­ isn¡¯t that Elinor¡¯s signature curse spell?" Delores asked, astonished.


    Ace¡¯s eyes widened as he took in the sight. The entire body of the Void-tier Curseling was covered in massive, grotesque red eyes with slit pupils. Blood poured from them as the creature plummeted, seemingly unable to use its abilities anymore.


    "How the hell is that even possible?" Delores muttered in disbelief, adding, "I saw her leave earlier."


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    Ace¡¯s breath hitched as realization hit him. "Damn!" he cursed in excitement. "It got infected by her curse when it ate the mutant rust worm that she had cursed earlier!"

 Chapter 282: Epic Fail

    Looking at the grotesque eyes on the serpentine body of the curseling, Ace¡¯s mind flashed back to the wicker vase he had set aside on the terrace since Emi¡¯s talisman couldn¡¯t store a living Curseling, which he had completely forgotten about in the chaos.


    Delores exhaled, watching as the monstrous body tumbled earthward, sighing, "There¡¯s nothing we can do."


    Ace gritted his teeth. Realizing that once it hit the ground, the sheer impact alone would flatten everything within at least a mile. Not to mention the shockwaves and tremors that would soon follow. Worse, they could only watch it happen.


    "Hurry! Charge it with all the lightning you can summon," Ace said, summoning the rail rifle and shoving it into Delores¡¯s hands.


    "Fuck it¡ªI can¡¯t have Elinor kill a Void-tier before me," Delores muttered, gripping the rifle with a new resolve.


    She refused to be outdone by her niece, especially when the girl probably didn¡¯t even realize what she might have pulled off.


    Delores was stunned, realizing that in the current younger generation of the McSuile family, it wasn¡¯t Crimson Eyes who would be the first to take down a Void-tier, but it was going to be Elinor.


    Even after watching the Curseling get brought down by Elinor¡¯s signature curse spell, Delores still found it hard to believe. ¡¯That clumsy, scatterbrained girl? The same one even her own father couldn¡¯t tolerate¡ªso much so that he dumped her in the C.I.B. like an unsalvageable wreck?¡¯


    And yet, here she was watching Elinor¡¯s signature curse spell be the key to the fall of a Void-tier curseling.


    Even in the C.I.B., they hadn¡¯t assigned Elinor to any major division; they stuck her in surveillance, the least demanding department possible. And somehow, she had still managed to fuck that up.


    Yet this girl, the same one everyone had written off as difficult to work with, now had a Void-tier Curseling¡¯s life at her mercy.


    And worst of all? Elinor probably didn¡¯t even know what she had accomplished. Delores exhaled sharply, gripping the rail rifle tighter. This really had her reconsidering her whole damn life.


    If it had been Crimson Eyes, she could have accepted it. That would have made sense. But Elinor? It almost felt like her entire life had been a waste.


    Despite Delores¡¯s thoughts, she wasn¡¯t underestimating Elinor. In fact, she had been one of the few people who actually encouraged and supported her decision to focus on Curse Spells when her own father had dismissed her. Even when it meant putting herself at odds with a scary Void-tier and the second prince of the McSuile family himself.


    Elinor¡¯s innate curse tool abilities and her talent in curse arts made her perfectly suited for executing Curse Spells. In fact, she was so well-suited that she decided to pause her development in other areas and dedicate herself entirely to mastering them. Explore stories on NovelFire.C?m


    But because Curse Spells had almost no practical application in combat¡ªespecially solo combat¡ªher father and many of the McSuile family¡¯s elders strongly opposed her decision. They urged her to focus on other curse arts to make up for her obvious shortcomings while she was still young.


    Elinor ignored all of them.


    Even when they threatened to disown her, she stubbornly stuck to her decision, not letting anyone dictate her life. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the end, that threat came half true.


    Her father threw her out of the house, telling her that if she wanted to live life on her own terms, then she could find her own damn roof to do it under.


    For someone who had never set foot beyond the walls of McSuile Castle, the outside world was a harsh awakening. The only real option she had¡ªthe only way to survive and maintain the lifestyle she was used to¡ªwas joining the C.I.B.


    At the time, Elinor told herself she had chosen the C.I.B. to prove she could live independently, without relying on the McSuile family. She even rejected the traditional codenames assigned to the McSuile bloodline and picked her own.


    But the truth?


    Her father had pushed her into it. That fool didn¡¯t even realize that even today.


    Delores couldn¡¯t be prouder of Elinor¡¯s achievements, but at the same time, she hated the idea that Elinor might actually be stronger than she was now. Sure, it was only in the field of Curse Spells¡ªbut still, it was a rude awakening for someone like Delores, who had been stuck at Ocean-tier for far too long.


    "Done," Delores said, charging the rail rifle with all the lightning her board could summon from the strongest storm it could generate. But instead of passing it to Ace, she aimed the rifle herself, warning him, "Stay still and hold tight. I¡¯m taking this son of a bitch down."


    "What?!" Ace¡¯s eyes widened in shock in light of Delores¡¯s betrayal. He shook his head, thinking, ¡¯Even the best of us have a price.¡¯


    "Make sure you¡¯re extremely steady when you fire," Ace advised, believing as long as he had a share in the Void Tier curse core the Curseling dropped it didn¡¯t matter who brought down that damn thing. "Even the tiniest deviation¡ªlike, a decimal point off¡ªcan throw the shot way off and make you miss your target completely."


    "Shut up¡ªI¡¯m focusing here." Delores did not appreciate his unsolicited advice. When she first held a gun, Ace¡¯s grandmother was still in her mother¡¯s womb. She didn¡¯t need some kid lecturing her on how to pull a damn trigger.


    Calculating the speed of the curseling¡¯s fall, Delores timed her shot¡ªBOOM!


    To her shock and Ace¡¯s amusement, she epically missed by an entire foot.


    To make matters worse, the insane kickback from the rail rifle sent them both spinning through the air. They spiraled out of control, flipping wildly until Delores¡¯s innate curse tool finally stabilized itself.


    Fortunately, the Mischief Bullet shot straight into space due to the angle of elevation. If it hadn¡¯t? Delores might have ended up causing another disaster while trying to prevent one.


    Before she could process her failure, a figure suddenly appeared in the sky next to the plummeting curseling.


    In one swift motion, the man decapitated the beast¡ªthen vanished, taking its curse core with him.

 Chapter 283: Elinor’s Father

    "What was that?" Delores asked, passing Ace the Rail Rifle. At the same time, Ace asked, "Who was that?"


    "That¡¯s just some random asshole you need to stay away fr¡ª"


    Before she could finish, the rail rifle vanished before her finger¡¯s left it and Ace could grasp it. A voice awakened them from their shock, "Random asshole? I¡¯m hurt, Delores. I thought I was your favorite."


    A tall man in a crisp, dark suit hovered a foot away from them. Neither of them had noticed his presence until he spoke. Ace¡¯s eyes widened in recognition¡ªthis was the same man who had decapitated the earthbound void-tier curseling.


    The man casually turned the rail rifle over in his hands, inspecting it without a care for their permission. He gave it a few experimental motions, but when the weapon remained unresponsive, he lost interest. Ignoring their stunned expressions, he mused aloud, "Is this one of my niece¡¯s creations? She¡¯s getting very good at these. So tell me¡ªwhy don¡¯t I see her offering such curse tools in her monthly quota? Don¡¯t tell me she¡¯s cheating her own family?"


    Ace bristled and leaned forward, extending his arm to take back the rifle, "Hey¡ª"


    Before he could demand the rifle back, Delores¡¯ palm clamped over his mouth and other his extending hand. Her grip was firm, her body tense as if she was scared of this man. Ace could feel it in the way she subtly shifted her stance into a defensive one¡ªgenuinely scared of what he would do if displeasured. Not to her but to him. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even her voice was careful and measured as she answered, "It¡¯s not one of Janice¡¯s creations. It¡¯s just the scope. The rifle belongs to the boy. If you¡¯re done, return it to him."


    Ace¡¯s eyes widened as he realized Delores had let the man get away with calling Janice a cheat. That wasn¡¯t like her. It hit him then¡ªDelores wasn¡¯t just wary of this man¡¯s strength; she was helpless against his status.


    She never reacted like this when he offended the likes of Matthews or Cyclops. This guy was different. He had to be high up in the McSuile family hierarchy¡ªprobably an elder. The way he carried himself, like he owned Janice and Delores, only confirmed it.


    The man still didn¡¯t return the rifle. Instead, his sharp gaze landed on Ace, making him tense. Delores took that as her cue to elaborate, "He bought the scope from her for a high price. So, the rifle, along with the scope, legally and rightfully belongs to him."


    The tall man listened carefully, his expression unreadable. He took in Delores¡¯s measured tone and the way she positioned herself, arms around Ace, burying him in her embrace as if shielding him. That piqued his curiosity.


    "Who is he?" he asked, studying Ace with newfound interest.


    Delores didn¡¯t like that shift in attention one bit. Her voice grew firmer as she demanded, "He doesn¡¯t matter. What does matter is that the rifle belongs to him. If you return it along with Elinor¡¯s curse core, we¡¯ll be on our way."


    The man¡¯s lips curled slightly, amused. Shaking his head, he corrected, "Aren¡¯t you forgetting something? The one who lands the killing blow keeps the loot. If Elinor wants her share, she can come find me." Enjoy exclusive adventures from NovelFire.C?m


    His tone was final. He showed no intention of giving back the rifle.


    Delores¡¯s frown deepened, but before she could say anything, Ace struggled harder against her grip, his muffled protests growing louder. She could feel the frustration radiating off him.


    She clenched her jaw and tightened her hold over his mouth, knowing that letting him speak would only make things worse.


    "Why don¡¯t you let him speak?" the tall man asked, his gaze flicking between Delores and Ace. With a firm and commanding tone, Delores immediately replied, "Just give back his rifle so we can be out of here."


    Her protectiveness toward Ace only deepened the man¡¯s curiosity. She knew it too, but there was no other choice¡ªif she let Ace run his mouth, he¡¯d get himself killed for sure.


    Matthews had been right about the McSuile family. Among the curse community in the mortal world, they were the most lawless, the most overbearing. They acted as if they were above the law, and frankly, they weren¡¯t wrong. With their influence and military strength, they practically were.


    Under normal circumstances, such arrogance would have been dealt with swiftly by the government. But the patriarch of the Matthews family had too many powerful friends¡ªsome of them in unsettlingly high places. He personally knew all the presidents sworn in since the government was established, including the three different presidents that had taken office during his absence in the past decades.


    As long as the McSuile patriarch was around, anything short of treason would be forgiven with a single word. And in his absence? That same privilege extended to his children.


    That meant one thing¡ªAce could offend the C.I.B. if he was feeling reckless. But the McSuile family? That was a death wish.


    The tall man did not seem to like Delores¡¯s secrecy but also did not push the latter. However, he did not forget to assert his power. His voice cut through the tension as he informed her, "Tell Janice her quota is doubled this month for the stunt she pulled."


    With that, he finally tossed the rail rifle back to Ace. Then, as if just remembering something, he glanced around and asked, almost hesitantly, "Where is Elinor?"


    Ace caught the rifle and immediately stored it away. This made the man raise an eyebrow in surprise, but after a beat, he seemed to brush it off. If Ace could afford one of his niece¡¯s creations, then maybe it wasn¡¯t all that surprising that he possessed a storage-type curse tool.


    "How the hell am I supposed to know that? You¡¯re her father¡ªisn¡¯t it your job to keep track of where she is and what she¡¯s up to?" Delores shot back, frustration bleeding into her tone. She wasn¡¯t just questioning him¡ªshe was calling him out for his parenting style. She did not like it one bit.


    Ace¡¯s eyes widened. Elinor¡¯s father? That caught him off guard. He studied the man again, but there was no resemblance between him and Elinor whatsoever, be it appearance-wise or demeanor-wise.


    The tall man¡¯s expression darkened instantly. His voice turned cold and oppressive as he warned her, "Don¡¯t make me repeat myself."


    Before Delores could speak, a mechanical voice cut through, "The Void-tier curse core has my share too. I risked my life to infect Curseling with Elinor¡¯s curse."


    Listening to it, Delores¡¯s body went rigid. Her blood ran cold. Slowly, her gaze dropped to Ace¡¯s hand to find that he was typing on his smartphone; he wasn¡¯t done.

 Chapter 284 284: Aces Share

    The moment Delores let go of Ace''s arms so he could catch the rifle, he took full advantage of the opening. Without missing a beat, he subtly retrieved his smartphone, finally getting the chance to say what Delores had been preventing him from saying.


    "You can keep the core. I want five Sky-tier innate curse tools in exchange for my share."


    Ace''s smartphone''s mechanical voice relayed his demand as he locked eyes with Elinor''s father. Then, glancing sideways at a visibly stunned Delores, he quickly typed another message.


    "Delores, stop spacing out and wasting time. Take me down there before it''s too late."


    Elinor''s father wasn''t amused. Not one bit. But he was taken aback by Ace''s sheer audacity. Where did this kid''s confidence come from? And why was Delores, of all people, treating him with such care and friendliness? As if he was her child.


    He studied Ace for a moment, trying to piece things together, guess Ace''s identity and status before reacting.


    "Elinor is with Janice."


    Delores informed Elinor''s father of the latter''s whereabouts. Then, without another word, she made a swift exit on her board, heading straight for the site of the incident. She didn''t look back. She didn''t bother explaining herself and certainly didn''t try to smooth things over with the second prince of the McSuile family, knowing it would not help.


    What was done was done. She just needed to get out before Ace made things even worse.


    Elinor''s father watched them disappear into the city skyline with an unreadable expression. Before, silently, he followed them. Only he knew what he was thinking.


    Ace had piqued Elinor''s father''s curiosity enough to gain his attention. After all, his niece didn''t just lend Delores out to any of her customers¡ªso what made Ace different? And more importantly, what did he mean when he said he risked his life to help Elinor infect the Curseling with her curse?


    ''What the¡­'' Elinor''s father was caught off guard. Delores and the boy were rushing¡ªactually rushing¡ªto save a bunch of mortals who had been unlucky enough to get caught in the curse incident. That alone was strange enough, but what truly shocked him was Delores'' involvement.


    The Delores he knew wouldn''t have spared a second glance at these people¡ªnot unless his father ordered her to. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire


    His interest in Ace deepened. The more he watched, the more it became clear¡ªDelores wasn''t just helping the boy; she was practically waiting on him. Ace healed the injured mortals using peculiar consumable curse tools, and Delores followed his lead without question.


    Not even Janice or Jason could force Delores to do something she didn''t want to. But this kid? After his father, it seemed Ace was the only one who had managed to tame that wild mare, which even he had failed to achieve, despite numerous attempts.


    Ace, meanwhile, was still focused on the task at hand. As he pressed another recovery talisman onto a wounded man''s chest, he glanced at Delores, confirming, "Are you sure these guys won''t remember any of this in the morning?"


    He was concerned as Delores had stopped him from using an invisibility talisman on them.


    Delores let out an exasperated sigh before assuring him, "Yes, I''m sure. If you ask me again, I swear I''ll slap you."


    She was clearly still pissed about his reckless stunt earlier, but even so, she put her anger aside. Right now, keeping him safe was her priority. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If it''s you, I don''t mind a little S&M, but damn, you''re too rough¡ªfuck! No, I''m sorry, I was just joking!" Ace blurted out, grinning as he bent down to press a recovery talisman onto a security guard''s abdomen after carefully removing a shard of glass.


    However, the moment he felt Delores'' shadow looming over him¡ªgrowing larger by the second¡ªhis confidence wavered.


    He spun around too fast, lost his balance, and stumbled backward, landing hard on his ass. Panic set in as Delores floated toward him, her expression dark and unreadable. Desperate, he scrambled away, dragging himself across the pavement. He pleaded and apologized to her.


    Delores hovered over him, eyes narrowed. "Lighten my mood? I have half a mind to beat you into a coma¡­"


    She let the words hang, but the longer she stared at him flailing on the ground, the harder it became to stay mad. Against her will, the corners of her lips twitched. Getting annoyed at something was second nature to her, but somehow, she found that it was hard for her to stay annoyed at him. He always managed to slip past her defenses.


    Ace noticed the subtle smile and took that as a victory. Quickly getting to his feet, he dusted himself off, satisfied that his antics had worked.


    "How many more?" Delores asked impatiently as Ace circled the building, searching for more wounded.


    "Two dozen," he answered, repeating what Dame Wasp had informed him.


    Delores groaned loudly. She didn''t bother hiding her impatience or annoyance, even though part of her still wanted to shield Ace''s more innocent side from the reality of things.


    Ace, unfazed, pulled out a handful of recovery talismans and held them out to her, saying, "It''ll go faster if you help."


    Delores eyed the talismans, then scoffed, shaking her head, "I''d rather wait."


    "It''s getting late. Just help me out¡ªyou know how to use them."


    Ace placed the talismans on her board and moved on to the next victim, trusting that Delores would step in. And he was right.


    With an irritated sigh, she picked up the talismans and started searching for more wounded mortals, helping them as quickly as possible. She wasn''t doing this out of kindness¡ªshe just wanted to get it over with. The sooner they finished, the sooner she could drag Ace somewhere private and start getting some damn answers.


    Because a lot of things about him during this incident didn''t add up.


    And before she took any necessary action, she needed confirmation¡ªstraight from him.


    First off, how the hell did he get his hands on a mutant rust worm carrying Elinor''s curse when they had both watched Elinor leave the city?

 Chapter 285: Family Drama

    "Delores, I¡¯m pretty sure this isn¡¯t the way home," Ace said, frowning as Dame Wasp informed him that their route wasn¡¯t leading back to town. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Delores didn¡¯t bother answering. Instead, she suddenly shot up into the sky, piercing through the clouds and rocketing higher¡ªhundreds of yards above them¡ªbefore coming to an abrupt stop.


    Just as she was about to interrogate him, as she had practiced in her mind all the way there¡ªnot that she needed to, but considering it was Ace, she decided it was necessary¡ªshe heard Ace murmur in awe, "It¡¯s beautiful..."


    "We¡¯re not here for sightseeing," Delores snapped as she did one last careful scan of their surroundings, making sure they were far from any prying eyes or ears.


    Satisfied, she turned to Ace, and with a sharp and demanding voice, she asked, "Come clean. How did you get your hands on a mutant rust worm that was cursed by Elinor¡¯s signature curse when you were with me¡ªon the terrace¡ªwatching Elinor leave the city? And just so you know, ¡¯I just happened to pick it up¡¯ is not the right answer."


    Ace scoffed, shaking his head as if she were being ridiculous. "Whoa, what¡¯s with the third degree? It¡¯s not like I stole nuclear codes or something. You could¡¯ve just asked me earlier."


    Delores¡¯ glare hardened as she barked, "Then stop stalling and answer me." She didn¡¯t have time for his snark and couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡¯Why can¡¯t he just give a straight answer for once?¡¯


    Ace sighed, then smoothly launched into his explanation¡ªone he had carefully prepared and rehearsed in his mind beforehand for Elinor.


    "I didn¡¯t pick it up. After I left you on the terrace, I ran into this weird, tall guy covered in full-body plant armor. He called himself Apex and claimed to be Elinor¡¯s friend. He handed me a wicker vase with the mutant rust worm inside, said it was cursed by Elinor, and asked me to pass it along to her. Apparently, the thing killed her friends, and she wanted to torture it to vent her anger or something. It sounded harmless enough, so I agreed."


    Ace delivered the lie flawlessly¡ªnot a single stutter, not a single misstep, raising no doubt in Delores¡¯s mind if he was lying. Ace couldn¡¯t help but grin like an idiot, thinking he had gotten away with it.


    But then, A deep voice, laced with an eerily commanding undertone, cut through the air like a knife, making both of them jolt, "I know for a fact he¡¯s lying."


    "Holy crap!" Ace yelped, whipping around toward the source. It was Elinor¡¯s father. Ace¡¯s stomach dropped wondering if this guy has been following them the whole time? He couldn¡¯t help but ponder, ¡¯Does a glorified Void-tier curse master really have nothing better to do than stalk us?¡¯


    "What the fuck are you doing?" Delores snapped, her voice sharp with genuine anger. She turned on the second prince of the McSuile family, her glare dripping with disgust. Without caring for proper etiquette, she asked him, "You were following us? Eavesdropping? Seriously?"


    But the bastard wasn¡¯t even fazed. Instead, he grinned¡ªear to ear¡ªlike he was enjoying this. Ace squinted at him. Is this guy a masochist?


    "It¡¯s been a while since you addressed me informally, Del," Elinor¡¯s father said, his tone almost¡­ endearing.


    Ace¡¯s eyes widened upon hearing Elinor¡¯s dad address Delores as ¡¯Del.¡¯ He couldn¡¯t believe his ears. Then, a thought crossed Ace¡¯s mind as he glanced between them. Suddenly suspicious, he couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡¯Are they... ex-lovers?¡¯


    Nonetheless, he dismissed that thought as quickly as it arose, recalling that Elinor liked to address Delores as her aunt, and the latter did not seem to object to being addressed as such. Thus, it implied Delores and Elinor¡¯s father were as close as siblings, but something had transpired between them, causing Delores to distance herself from Elinor¡¯s father, while he awaited her forgiveness until the present.


    Delores¡¯s entire body went rigid upon hearing Elinor¡¯s father address her endearingly as ¡¯Del.¡¯


    "You don¡¯t get to call me that," she hissed, her voice dripping with venom. "Only my friends and family can."


    For the first time, Ace saw true malice in her eyes. And that was when it hit him. Delores wasn¡¯t being polite to Elinor¡¯s father out of respect for his status. She just¡­ didn¡¯t care about him. She treated him just like a stranger who also happened to be her superior.


    Regardless of their relationship, there was history between them¡ªsomething ugly and unresolved. And judging by the way she was glaring at him, as if she wanted to tear him apart, Ace found himself leaning even more strongly toward the belief that it was Elinor¡¯s father¡¯s fault.


    "Fine. But that boy is lying." Elinor¡¯s father asserted with a firm voice. His gaze locked onto Delores as he added, "I know the man he¡¯s talking about, and he¡¯s currently in the custody of EAD Matthews. If you don¡¯t believe me, call her yourself."


    Honestly, he wouldn¡¯t usually concern himself with something this trivial. But since his daughter was involved, he had no choice.


    Based on what Senior Atticus had told him about his daughter¡ªand what he had seen her curse spells were capable of firsthand¡ªElinor¡¯s father was starting to worry that his daughter might be taking shortcuts. Shortcuts that were taboo¡­ even forbidden within their country and family.


    From what he had learned so far, he knew for a fact that "Apex" had been with Elinor when she attempted to access the third underground floor during the chaos.


    Later, Senior Atticus had taken Apex into custody, leaving Elinor in control of the third floor. By the time Atticus reached the eighth underground floor, he had handed Apex over to the Matthews.


    Then, after Elinor left the city¡ªhaving killed the mutated rust worm that had possessed Sir Beyton in his holding cell¡ªDelores and Ace had literally watched her leave.


    So how the hell could Ace claim that he had run into Apex after Elinor left the city?


    His story just didn¡¯t add up. It was obvious to him that Ace was lying. But the boy didn¡¯t even flinch. And worse of all Delores seem to be more than willing to buy whatever he was selling.


    "I have no reason to lie about this." Ace shrugged, completely unfazed. He even confidently permitted Delores, "Go ahead. Call Matthews."


    Elinor¡¯s father narrowed his eyes at Ace, observing his confidence. He couldn¡¯t help but mentally compliment Ace for being a very good liar. However, he also wanted his daughter far away from scoundrels like him. That was the reason he pushed his daughter into the C.I.B., where he could monitor and control her every move without her realizing it. Yet, somehow, she ran into this parasite who had managed to attach himself to Delores and, most likely, Janice.


    "No need. I trust you," Delores said, surprising Elinor¡¯s father¡ªbut not Ace.


    Ace knew better. Delores didn¡¯t trust him. Not after all the times he had abused her trust for his own benefit. But right now, she seemed far more pissed at Elinor¡¯s father than at him. So, Ace figured she only said that to spite him. Still, he had no doubt that the moment she was sure Elinor¡¯s father wasn¡¯t spying on them, she¡¯d double-check his story. Find exclusive content at FreeNovelFire


    After that remark, without another word, Delores turned her board and shot forward at neck-breaking speed, heading straight for Ace¡¯s home.


    But then¡ªsuddenly¡ªshe stopped. As if an invisible force had yanked her to a halt. It was Elinor¡¯s father. He was blocking their path with a pair of cold and intimidating eyes.


    "You might trust him, but I don¡¯t," he said, each of his words as sharp as a blade¡¯s edge cutting through the silence of the night sky. "If I don¡¯t get the truth out of him, you¡¯ll have to leave here without him."


    Delores¡¯s bosom heaved in rage, but before she could snap back, Ace sighed and cut in, "Delores, just call Matthews and be done with this. One call, and it¡¯ll be clear who¡¯s lying and who¡¯s telling the truth."


    He said it so he could void the inevitable fight between Delores and Elinor¡¯s control freak of a father. He just wanted to go home¡ªto crash into bed and forget this whole mess ever happened.


    "Fine, I am only doing this because you asked me to," Delores agreed with Ace, making a point to show Elinor¡¯s father that she was not doing it to appease him but because Ace wanted to prove his innocence. And retrieved her cursed phone.


    The coldness emanating from Elinor¡¯s father continued to intensify at a frightening speed, causing Ace to worry he might become collateral damage in their sibling conflict.


    "Delores, what is it? Hurry, I am a little occupied here," Matthew¡¯s impatient voice sounded from the cursed phone¡¯s speaker. She seemed to be preoccupied dealing with the Samsara Cult and its nest of curselings.


    "Is the boy Sir Atticus handed to you still in your custody?" Elinor¡¯s father asked while Delores struggled to find the right words to inquire about Apex. Matthew went silent, a little taken aback to hear Elinor¡¯s father, but still answered, "Yes, I locked him up in the holding cell on the 8th underground floor. Why? Is something the matter?"

 Chapter 286: Missing

    "Matthews, are you sure that man is still in your custody?" Delores asked, keeping her tone neutral, refusing to jump to conclusions just yet. Elinor¡¯s father, however, simply smirked smugly, his eyes practically sneering at Ace.


    "Let me check," Matthews replied, momentarily pausing her work.


    She frowned, her mind racing, ¡¯What am I missing here? Was this man somehow important?¡¯


    With big names like Senior Atticus and the McSuile family¡¯s second prince involved, Matthews felt she needed to get a better grasp of who this person was and how he fit into the picture. She liked to be in control and prepared for anything, so she did not like being in the dark about this.


    Meanwhile, Ace¡ªcompletely unbothered¡ªstarted whistling. Both Delores and Elinor¡¯s father immediately shot him annoyed glares. Ace ignored them. Instead, he tilted his head up to the moon and whistled even louder, acting like none of this had anything to do with him.


    That was when Elinor¡¯s father finally addressed him directly for the first time since their meeting, saying, "You¡¯re awfully confident for someone caught in a lie." He was targeting Ace mostly because of his dissatisfaction with Delores.


    "Since I spoke the truth, I have nothing to fear." Ace didn¡¯t give Elinor¡¯s father the satisfaction he sought. He just kept enjoying the view, mentally sketching out a new toy summon¡ªsomething with flight capabilities this time.


    Elinor¡¯s father felt his irritation shift into genuine hatred. He already resented Delores for siding with this boy over him. But watching Ace act so smug and carefree, he found himself seething. Still, despite his growing anger, he had to admit¡ªhe was curious, ¡¯What the hell is going on inside that lying parasite¡¯s head?¡¯


    Just then, Matthews¡¯ voice crackled back over the line.


    "What the heck are you on about?" she asked, clearly confused. Elinor¡¯s father stiffened, realizing she had misunderstood.


    "Not you, EAD Matthews," he clarified, a little embarrassed. "I was talking to this arrogant kid here."


    "Is it Ace?" Matthews asked, her tone shifting slightly before she abruptly demanded, "Ace, have you signed the employment contract? If you have, hand it to Layla. She¡¯ll get it to me."


    Ace blinked. ¡¯God, she¡¯s shameless,¡¯ he thought, shaking his head. Experience tales at FreeNovelFire


    He knew for a fact that Man Hunter had already relayed his issues with the employment contract Matthews had prepared. Yet here she was, pretending like nothing had happened.


    That made him wonder¡ª¡¯What happened to Man Hunter, anyway?¡¯


    ¡¯Did the Void-tier Curseling get her?¡¯


    Ace quickly dismissed the thought. He knew for a fact that she hadn¡¯t been near the building when it was attacked. But then again, she hadn¡¯t shown up later either¡ªnot even while he was helping the injured mortals. Even Dame Wasp, who had been scanning the area for survivors, hadn¡¯t spotted her. He could only assume, ¡¯Did she just give up and leave? Maybe she went to help her comrades instead¡­¡¯


    Elinor¡¯s father narrowed his eyes at Ace, carefully observing the way Matthews addressed him, the shift in her tone¡ªand more importantly, how Ace blatantly ignored her.


    He didn¡¯t get it. Why were Delores and Matthews both fawning over this lying parasite? Delores was one thing, but Matthews? That could only mean one of two things: Either Ace was seriously connected or he was skilled enough to earn Matthews¡¯ respect. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He believed the former was most likely. After all, how else could a mere teenager afford one of Aurelian Eye¡¯s curse tools?


    A few seconds of awkward silence followed. Then, Matthews¡¯ voice crackled back over the line¡ªthough this time, she wasn¡¯t speaking to them.


    "Agent, where is the man I locked in here? Did someone transfer him to another holding cell?"


    After a brief pause a faint voice¡ªbarely audible, but still clear enough to make out¡ªresponded: "Ma¡¯am, let me check¡­ The records show this holding cell was empty."


    "Shit!" Matthews cursed before responding through her cursed phone, "The man is missing. He¡¯s not in the holding cell I left him in. I need to check the security tapes to figure out what the hell happened. Is there something I need to know?"


    "We think he escaped. Ace saw him last leaving the city¡ª" Delores started, but Elinor¡¯s father immediately cut her off, "EAD Matthews, please check the security tapes first. We can¡¯t just take this boy¡¯s word for it."


    "I¡¯m already on it," Matthews said, rolling her eyes as she pulled up the footage.


    She couldn¡¯t help but wonder¡ªwhat the hell did Ace do to piss off Elinor¡¯s father this much? Then again, knowing Ace¡¯s usual smart-ass attitude, it didn¡¯t surprise her.


    Meanwhile, Ace completely tuned out the chaos around him. Instead, he focused on the scenery, stealing occasional glances at the clouds below. ¡¯Damn, I wish I could just sleep on them¡­¡¯ he thought wistfully, soaking in the vast, starry sky above.


    Today had been the longest, most exhausting day of his life. He still couldn¡¯t believe everything he¡¯d been through in just one day.


    Suddenly, Matthews¡¯ sharp exclamation snapped everyone¡¯s attention back to her.


    "He just vanished from the holding cell."


    Both Delores and Elinor¡¯s father stiffened at her words¡ªespecially the latter. He had just been proven dead wrong.


    "What do you mean, ¡¯vanished¡¯?" Elinor¡¯s father demanded, his frustration bleeding into his voice. "With the holding cell¡¯s array, it should be impossible for him to access his curse core¡ªunless someone let him out."


    Matthews¡¯ expression darkened.


    "Sir, what exactly are you implying?" Her voice turned ice-cold.


    Elinor¡¯s father¡¯s words painted a dangerous picture¡ªone that put her and her agents in a very bad light. Especially considering the Samsara cult incident¡­


    "I¡¯m not implying anything¡ªI¡¯m asking you how the hell someone just vanishes from your holding cell. And why are you only finding out about it now? What the fuck have you been doing this whole time? No wonder your branch was attacked of all the¡ª" Elinor¡¯s father shouted at the top of his lungs. His frustration only grew as he continued to lash out at Matthews, but he paused in sheer disbelief, hearing the call disconnected.

 Chapter 287 287: Back Home

    Matthews exhaled sharply, her patience wearing thin. "I don''t have time for this." Without another word, she ended the call without giving Elinor''s father the chance to finish.


    Elinor''s father froze, staring at Delores''s cursed phone in disbelief. Unable to believe the audacity of Matthews to hang up on him when she was clearly in the wrong.


    "That bitch¡ªdid she just hang up on me?" His face twisted in sheer rage, but Delores could see right through him. He wasn''t just angry¡ªhe was embarrassed. And instead of dealing with it, he turned on his heel and shot off toward the city, disappearing in a blur. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace watched him go before stretching his arms with a lazy yawn and uttering, "Welp, that''s enough drama for tonight. Let''s go home."


    He didn''t bother commenting on Elinor''s father or the mess they''d just witnessed¡ªhe was too damn tired to care.


    However, Delores was far from done, but she eyed the direction Elinor''s father left and was not totally sure that he had truly left; she could only postpone interrogating Ace for later. Then, giving Ace a sharp glance, she took him in her embrace and set course to his home at a neck-breaking speed.


    ¡­


    "What the hell? Delores, stop!" Ace shouted as they were about to fly over the Lansky Manor, his eyes widening at the sight of people in dark suits moving furniture inside.


    As Delores hovered, Evil Eyes flew over. Nodding at the Delores, he asked, "Took you guys long enough. What kept you?"


    Ace barely spared him a glance before snapping, "What the hell are you guys doing to my house?" His mind jumped to the worst possible scenario. "Was it Mandy? Is she behind this?"


    Not waiting for an answer, Ace wrenched himself free from Delores''s grasp and leapt off her board, landing in a low crouch before sprinting toward the house. His thoughts raced as frustration bubbled over, ''I basically begged her to wait. Why does she keep pulling this kind of stunt?''


    He could barely contain his anger. Mandy had actually gone behind his back and pushed forward with her ridiculous plan to turn Lansky Manor into a bed and breakfast.


    Evil Eyes hurried after him, explaining, "Ace, hold up! I don''t know what you think is happening, but Janice rented the house from your parents¡ªshe''s moving in."


    Ace came to a sudden halt. His stomach dropped.


    "What the fuck? That''s worse!" His voice rose in shock, his mind reeling. Janice? Moving in?


    He whirled back toward the house, thinking out aloud, "Why the hell would she do that? What could possibly make her think this was a good idea?"


    Evil Eyes sighed, stepping in front of him, trying to calm him down, "Ace, calm down. Your family is inside. Whatever it is bothering you, we can talk about it later."


    His voice was firm but cautious¡ªhe knew Ace''s temper, and the last thing they needed was for him to lose it and accidentally expose the ''World of Curses'' to his family.


    Ace halted abruptly, exhaling sharply as he tried to rein in his emotions. He was pissed¡ªat Janice, at his family, at this entire situation. But he also knew that, legally, the house belonged to his parents until he turned twenty-one. It was their decision what to do with it.


    As for Janice¡­ she better have a damn good reason for this. Because if she knowingly put his family in danger, they were through¡ªpermanently.


    With the Sole Princess''s countrymen and the Monarch''s people hunting her for the Sole Ring, Janice was a walking disaster zone. Anywhere she stayed could turn into a battlefield at any second. And now, she had moved into his family estate? Right next door to his parents? This was the worst possible scenario.


    Ace would rather let his mother and aunt turn the house into a damn bed and breakfast than have Janice move into it and put his family at risk.


    "Bring her outside. I need to talk to her¡ª" Ace started, but the words caught in his throat when a loud, too-familiar voice pierced the air.


    "Ace is here!"


    His entire body tensed listening to that voice. It was Sonia. His mortal enemy. In his heart, he knew that if he didn''t find a way to kill her, she was going to be the death of him.


    ''What the fuck is she doing here?!'' he screamed internally, resisting the urge to shout "Damn you, Janice McSuile!" at the top of his lungs.


    Then, as if to make things worse, Danny''s voice rang out, confirming his nightmare, "Ace? It''s really Ace!"


    His blood ran cold. Meanwhile, Sonia smirked triumphantly as she stepped down the front steps, sauntering toward him.


    "You have a beautiful fami¡ª" Before Sonia could finish her sentence, Ace grabbed her by the neck, his grip tightening as he growled, "If you so much as think about hurting them, I will personally hunt down every person you''ve ever cared about."


    Sonia smirked, "Now you know¡ªugh!" Seeing she wasn''t taking him seriously Ace''s grip tightened further with his jaw clenched. Sonia gagged, struggling against his hold. But just then, catching a glimpse of his parents stepping into the doorway from the corner of his eye, he released her.


    Sonia staggered back, coughing dramatically¡ªmilking the moment for all it was worth.


    "Sonia, honey, are you okay?" Mary rushed to her side in concern, gently rubbing her back trying to easy her.


    "Thank you, Mrs. Lander, I am fine now," Sonia said sweetly, then threw Ace a subtle, playful wink, but to Ace, it looked like a silent warning. She was showing him, loud and clear, just how easily she could take the most important thing in his life away.


    Ace forced himself to ignore her, knowing this wasn''t the time or place for him to deal with her. His mother''s voice snapped his attention back, "Young man, you are in so much trouble. But first¡ªwhat are you doing here this late at night?"

 Chapter 288 288: Buried Alive

    "I couldn''t sleep, so Delores was kind enough to bring me home," Ace lied. Not giving his mother a chance to question him or thank Delores, he quickly asked, "What''s this about Janice leasing the house? I thought you were going to renovate it into a bed and breakfast."


    "Yes, that was the plan, but Janice made an offer we couldn''t refuse," Mary sighed. "With your dad retiring early and the costs of maintaining the estate, we had to think practically. The hefty rent she offered just made sense. We signed a five-year lease. It all happened so fast that we didn''t get a chance to ask for your opinion. You''re okay with it, right?"


    She watched her son carefully, knowing how much he had wanted their whole family to move into the bigger house. But financially, this was the better choice¡ªat least until her husband figured out how to manage the estate properly.


    Mary then turned to Delores and addressed her with a sincere smile, "Thank you for bringing him home. I hope he wasn''t too much trouble."


    "No, I was headed this way anyway," Delores replied humbly, keeping an arm around Sonia''s shoulder to stop her from provoking Ace further.


    Before Mary could ask what Delores was doing at the Martin estate, Ace interrupted, asking, "Did you guys already sign the lease agreement?"


    Mary shook her head, having sensed her son''s disapproval with their decision, and answered, "With Mandy here, what do you think?"


    Ace clenched his jaw, knowing Mandy might have already handled everything. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mary exhaled, rubbing her temples. They had no choice. After this season, they have to replace the avocado plants with tangerine trees because of the water shortage. And even after planting, it''ll take two or three years before they bear fruit. By the time they pay off all their loans, it''ll be at least five¡ªmaybe even seven years¡ªbefore they start seeing real profits.


    After running through all these calculations in her head, Mary found a newfound respect for Dan and Pam. She couldn''t even begin to imagine how much hardship they had endured to get to where they were today. Unlike her and her husband, who got their land because of their son''s luck, Dan and Pam had built their success from the ground up. In Mary''s eyes, they had truly earned everything they had.


    Meanwhile, Ace was trying¡ªand failing¡ªto suppress his bubbling frustration. It was written all over his face. Still, he awkwardly attempted to make small talk, "So, why aren''t you guys in bed yet?"


    "We thought we''d help Janice move in, but she already had everything covered," Mary said, briefly glancing at the men in dark suits effortlessly moving furniture into the house. Then, with a slight pause, she continued, "We were going to head home, but she invited us in for a few cocktails."


    Caught up in answering Ace''s questions, Mary had momentarily forgotten she was supposed to be mad at him. The cocktails she had earlier certainly didn''t help, and neither did the sight of everyone now stumbling out of the house, getting ready to leave. Dan, Alwin, Pam, and Mandy all looked far drunker than she was¡ªthough, to be fair, she hadn''t been able to enjoy the party. She had been too worried about her son the whole time.


    Her husband and brother-in-law weren''t much help in easing her worry. They had come back from Martin Ranch completely hammered¡ªso much so that they hadn''t even gotten the chance to meet Ace. In the end, they were too drunk to drive, so Cam and Principal Martins had to drive them and their car home.


    "Hey, Ace. We''ll talk first thing in the morning," Dan said in a firm tone¡ªone that would''ve been convincing if he hadn''t been reeking of alcohol.


    Noticing him clumsily fishing around for his car keys, Delores stepped in offering, "One of our security personnel will drive you guys home."


    "No need. Danny and Ace can drive us," Pam said, eyeing her son and nephew. Tonight had been a rare moment of nostalgia for her¡ªdrinking with a renowned actress had brought back memories of her modeling days, and she had let loose a little too much.


    Danny took charge of driving the others home since there was no way Mandy would let him get behind the wheel of her Dark Starpedo. Meanwhile, Ace helped Mandy into the passenger seat. The car''s door mechanism was a bit tricky for a drunk person to handle, and as soon as she settled in, she immediately passed out.


    After securing the car with a series of talismans, Ace turned back toward the curse users, his anger simmering. Without hesitation, he pulled out the rail rifle and fired.


    Sonia¡ªwho had just managed to free herself from Delores''s grasp¡ªnever even saw it coming.


    The Mischief Bullet hit her square in the chest, piercing straight through her heart and leaving a gaping, inch-wide hole. The bullet itself flew several hundred yards before embedding into the ground, thanks to the angle of Ace''s shot.


    Sonia collapsed, stunned. The effects of the Mischief Bullet scrambled her curse energy, causing it to malfunction. Even Madam Scratchifur, her ever-faithful familiar, was unable to materialize to heal her master.


    The McSuile guards immediately stopped what they were doing and moved to apprehend Ace, but before they could act, Evil Eyes raised a hand, signaling them to stand down.


    "They''ll resolve it themselves," he said coolly. "Finish up here and move out. Secure a perimeter around the town. Use your stealth arts to avoid attention."


    As the guards hesitated before following orders, Ace handed the rifle back to Emi in her toy space and, without a word, pulled out a meat cleaver. His expression darkened as he stepped toward Sonia, who was still dazed, struggling to get back on her feet despite the gaping wound in her chest.


    As Ace neared her, he crouched beside her head. Sonia''s vision was hazy, her breath ragged. She could barely form his name.


    "A...ce¡­" she rasped.


    Without a word, Ace grabbed a fistful of her hair and slammed her head into the ground. She barely put up a fight. With one swift motion, he swung the cleaver¡ªcleanly severing her neck.


    Lifting her decapitated head by the hair, Ace noticed her eyes still darting around. She wasn''t dead yet. She hadn''t even lost consciousness.


    He set her head down nearby, carefully angling it to face her own body. Then, with precise, merciless strikes, he began chopping her body apart at the major joints. Each limb was divided into three pieces. The McSuile guards, who had started to move earlier, now stood frozen. A chill ran down their spines, but something in the sheer brutality of the act kept them rooted, watching in horrified fascination.


    Ace worked methodically and fast. He separated the hips, torso, and chest, storing each piece in Emi''s storage talisman¡ªexcept for her head, which remained somehow alive.


    Then, he dug a narrow hole, six feet deep and a foot wide. Taking out a wicker box, he placed Sonia''s still-aware head inside and buried it.


    "You should have never involved my family," he murmured. "Even if it was just to provoke me."


    With that, he sat back, methodically retrieving his tools into Emi''s toy space, thinking, ''Fortunately, Sonia doesn''t bleed. Otherwise, this would''ve been a mess.''


    But he wasn''t done. Rising to his feet, he summoned his rail rifle and turned toward the house...

 Chapter 289 289: She Lives

    Ace wasn''t done. Rising to his feet, he reached for his rail gun and turned toward the house¡ªonly for Delores to step in front of him, blocking his path.


    "Ace, don''t force me," she warned with a low and tense voice.


    "Don''t worry, I don''t plan to," Ace said with a grim smile. Then, eyeing the rifle in his hands, he added, "This is just to show how serious I am."


    Delores nodded, stepping aside. She figured Ace wouldn''t be reckless enough to attack Janice while surrounded by McSuile''s best and brightest guards¡­ right? Still, she decided to stick by his side, just in case.


    As Ace attempted to climb the steps of the front patio, something strange happened. The moment his foot landed on the patio, he found himself back on the first step. Frowning, he tried again, but he got the same result.


    "What the heck?" he muttered, turning to Delores for an explanation.


    "It''s one of her prized Hero-tier curse tools," Delores explained, shaking her head. "It animates a small house into a living entity that protects its landlord. You can forget meeting her unless she wants to see you."


    Ace scoffed, his left brow raised and arched, he asked, "You sure about that?"


    Turning toward the solar power plant in the distance, he muttered darkly, "I''ll meet with her today, even if I have to blow the house up."


    "No, you won''t," Delores said firmly. She knew Ace was furious, but he wasn''t the type to let his anger completely dictate his actions.


    "Wanna bet¡ª" Ace started, his tone challenging. Before he could finish foolishly challenging Delores into something he''d likely regret later, a loud, eerie howl echoed through the night.


    "Awooo!"


    It was Madam Scratchifur¡ªshe had finally arrived to rescue her master. Ignoring Ace completely, she frantically began digging up the wicker box that contained Sonia''s head. Once she had unearthed it, she placed the box on the ground and tore off the talisman Ace had used to seal it, chewing through it with her sharp teeth.


    The moment Sonia''s head was freed, it rapidly regenerated into a full body. Scratchifur immediately wrapped around her master, forming a cloak of thick fur to cover her naked body.


    Now fully restored, Sonia let out a long, guttural howl. Slowly, she and Scratchifur began to merge¡ªbut the instant she noticed Ace aiming his rifle at her, she froze. Fear flickered in her eyes, knowing, Even in her fused state, she stood no chance against Ace''s cursed tool.


    "You bastard! I swear, one day I''ll kill you! I will kill you!" Sonia screamed, her voice trembling with frustration. Scratchifur snarled in agreement, their rage boiling over. But deep down, beneath all that bravado, the truth was clear¡ªwatching Ace methodically butcher her body and bury her alive while their curse energy was unresponsive had left an indelible scar. The sheer terror of that experience was now ingrained in both their minds. So much so that Sonia didn''t even dare to bring up Ace''s family again.


    Ace scoffed, eyes cold, as he advised her, "Then you better hurry¡ªbefore I figure out how to kill you for good. Just so you know, I have enough of your DNA material. If you don''t want to be plagued by curse spells for the rest of your undying life, you better stir clear of me."


    Sonia opened her mouth to retort¡ªbut no words came. A horrifying thought crossed her mind, ''What if he decides to start experimenting on how to kill me on me right here, right now?''


    For once, she chose silence.


    Ace knew that Sonia wouldn''t dare harm his family¡ªit went against her best interests, especially if she wanted to join the C.I.B. But he had acted as if she would, just to make it crystal clear that his family was off-limits. He wanted that message to be drilled into her mind and heart.


    With that settled, he turned toward the house, silently praying that Janice had a damn good reason for her actions. Otherwise, he would be forced to use means that he wouldn''t be proud of.


    "I''m heading home," he announced loud enough for everyone¡ªinside and outside the house¡ªto hear. "Tell Janice that when she''s ready, she knows where to find me. And let her know¡ªI hate waiting. Especially when my family''s involved."


    Without another word, he got into the Dark Starpedo and drove off. He knew his parents would be waiting for him, but right now, he wasn''t in the mood to deal with them. Hell, he wasn''t even in the mood to enjoy the Dark Starpedo¡ªwhich sucked, considering this might be the only time he got to drive it. He was certain Mandy would flip out the moment she sobered up.


    As soon as Ace was gone, Janice finally stepped out of the house. Without a word, she tossed a small vial toward Sonia.


    "Drink it," she said. "It''ll help with the mental stress."


    Sonia caught the potion and nodded. "Thanks." She downed it in one gulp, instantly feeling refreshed¡ªspiritually and mentally. Her heartbeat, which had been erratic, finally slowed to a normal pace.


    ''Damn,'' she thought impressed by the effect of the potion.


    Being shot, butchered, and buried alive while her curse energy went haywire had left a real mental toll. That was worse than getting crushed to death or burned alive. At least in those situations, her curse abilities kicked in to shield her from the mental horror. But this time, she almost lost her mind. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What the hell were you thinking?" Delores asked Janice bluntly, wasting no time getting to the point.


    "I had no choice," Janice said, not bothering to go into details. Then, in a reassuring tone, she added, "Trust me, I only made this decision after really thinking it through."


    Delores shook her head, clearly unimpressed. "You don''t owe me an explanation," she said, "but you do owe one to Ace."


    Janice let out a long sigh before saying, "He was too pissed off to listen to reason. I''ll talk to him first thing in the morning." Then, without missing a beat, she turned to Sonia and said flatly, "That''ll be $150,000."


    Sonia''s eyes widened in shock. "What?!"


    Before she could protest, Delores cut in, glancing around, "Where''s Elinor?"


    Janice shrugged. "Probably passed out somewhere in the house. Why?"

 Chapter 290 290: C.I.B. Raid

    "What''s this ruckus so early in the morning?" Ace uttered, annoyed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he peered out his bedroom window. But what he saw instantly jolted him awake.


    Three AH-64 Apaches hovered in air space that should above Lansky Manor. These Apaches appeared to have curse array formations inscribed on their hulls and weapons. They appeared to be equipped with state-of-the-art curse gadgets, making them more expensive and capable than regular AH-64 Apaches.


    ''Master, while you were asleep, EAD Matthews and Janice had a disagreement over Lilith. Things escalated quickly,'' Dame Wasp updated her master via sense-share, detailing what had transpired.


    ''Fuck that! Those Apaches will ruin our entire avocado plantation if they continue to circle the area so low,'' Ace''s attention immediately shifted to the plantation.


    Although his parents were planning to replace them after the end of this season, Ace planned to get Doctor Druid to solve their failing borewell problem and genetically enhance the plants to yield more high-grade avocados. As for their financial struggles, he intended to inform them about his trading windfall by the end of the month. This way, his parents and sister wouldn''t have to worry about money for the next few decades.


    But if the Apaches continued to hover above his estate, he''d have to say goodbye to his avocado plantation. As for the rest, he couldn''t care less about the disagreements between the McSuile and C.I.B. Those two were cut from the same cloth.


    ''Master, I''ve detected multiple cursed gadgets within the immediate vicinity of the house. They seem to belong to McSuile guards and C.I.B. agents. The McSuile guards appear to be protecting our family and the premises, while the C.I.B. agents seem to be monitoring us, specifically you,'' Dame Wasp alerted her master, confirming they were being watched. Thanks to their infiltration of the local C.I.B. headquarters last night, she now had access to their secured networks and channels.


    ''Leave them be for now; I''ll figure out a way to get them off my property. What about my parents and uncle?'' Ace asked, heading out of the bedroom and downstairs, determined to address the Apaches before they ruined his avocado orchard.


    ''After Dan found government vehicles surrounding Lansky Manor, he tried to talk to the surrounding officers but was told to stop what he was doing and go inside his home or be arrested for obstruction. The entire family is now gathered in the hall, discussing what''s happening with Janice and what they can do to help her. However, seeing the Apaches arrive, they decided to stay out of it. Mandy still hasn''t given up and is using all her contacts to learn what''s going on. The fact that she can''t reach Janice and Delores''s numbers has her worried,'' Dame Wasp provided her master with live updates of what was currently happening in the living room.


    Listening to Dame Wasp, Ace immediately turned back, locked his bedroom door, and activated an invisibility and presence-erasing talisman before jumping out the window.


    As he headed toward Lansky Manor, he ordered Dame Wasp, ''Text Mandy not to worry about Janice. She''s not in any trouble and is just meeting a high-profile oligarch from a foreign country. Also, remind her to cover for me.''


    ''Done, Master,'' Dame Wasp replied, as quick as ever.


    With Dame Wasp tracking the C.I.B. agents using their cursed gadgets, allowing Ace to easily avoid them and reach Lansky Manor. However, just as he neared it, he was forced to stop as the Apaches'' laser guidance systems locked onto him.


    Just when Ace thought he was done for, a figure descended a few feet before him, kicking up dust and adding to the chaotic sound of the three hovering Apaches. The scene was utterly chaotic. Due to the dust kicked up by the Apaches, his vision was compromised, and now he couldn''t see anything before him.


    "Ace, show yourself, you little rascal!" a familiar voice shouted from the dust, loud and clear, cutting through the noise of the Apaches.


    "Matthews, what the heck are you guys doing on my property?" Ace asked aloud as he revealed himself, refusing to be intimidated by her show of strength. However, his voice was barely audible above the noise of the Apaches.


    "Your property? Mind telling me how you earned it?" Matthews asked with a smirk, nearing him and circling him in amusement.


    "What''s it to you? And tell those Apaches to go higher¡ªor better yet, just leave. You guys are killing my orchard," Ace said, gesturing for the Apaches, who still had their laser guidance systems locked on him, ready to blast him to smithereens at Matthews'' signal, to move away.


    "For someone who squandered nearly 400 million dollars in an auction, I''m sure you won''t mind us disturbing your little plantation to help us catch a cursed criminal hiding on your property, right?" Matthews teasingly asked, though her eyes conveyed she meant business. Simultaneously, she signaled the Apaches to climb to a higher altitude, where they wouldn''t be a nuisance and could continue to monitor the house where Janice and Lilith were holed up. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing the Apaches ascend and the dust slowly settle, Ace countered, "I don''t think it''s appropriate to label a misguided eight-year-old child a cursed criminal."


    Last night, Ace had Dame Wasp erase all the footage involving Doctor Druid and Lilith, but Elinor complicated matters by giving a detailed report of the incident to the agents who came to get her side of the story regarding the death of the mutant rust worm possessing Sir Beyton. Apparently, the old man guarding the 3rd floor hadn''t turned her in; otherwise, Matthews could have arrested Elinor too, regardless of her background.


    However, once she learned of Lilith''s existence, Matthews focused solely on securing the little girl, assigning all other tasks to her trusted agents. After learning what Lilith was capable of through Elinor''s report, it would have been surprising if Matthews hadn''t come for her.


    "No, it isn''t. This one is responsible for the deaths of about a hundred of my agents. So, I''ll call that thing what I want. Also, don''t think you can get away with screwing the system. I know you killed the mutant rust worm possessing Sir Beyton and freed the man calling himself Apex. Once I figure out how, I''ll nail your ass too," Matthews bluntly stated, making it clear she was coming for Ace.


    There were only two major groups present during the local C.I.B. headquarters attack: the C.I.B. agents and the Cult members. Neither had any reason to kill Beyton or release Apex. As for the other guests, they were either paralyzed by fear or running for their lives, unlike Ace, who was running around the C.I.B. building and its vicinity. This made Ace highly suspicious, even though Man Hunter was following him most of the time.


    Because Man Hunter had first seen Apex with Ace in the elevator shaft, and there were no sightings of Apex before that. Therefore, Matthews suspected him to be involved, nay the ring master of all these incidents during the attack. But since there was nothing factual to connect the two, Matthews could only watch Ace''s smug face grow more complacent as she blatantly accused him. The fact that he didn''t even bother to deny the accusations irked her the most.


    "Enough about what you think I did. What about you? How are you still in charge? After last night, I thought the C.I.B. would have kicked you to the curb by now or even imprisoned you," Ace genuinely asked, because Dame Wasp was unable to find any information about that in any of the C.I.B.''s secure networks or channels.


    "Kid, there are thousands of ways I can deal with you, but do you know why I haven''t used any of them yet?" Matthews asked Ace with a pleasant smile but a grim gaze. This was her subtle warning him not to push his luck. Otherwise, she wouldn''t hesitate to deal with him as she had with others before him.


    "You know, I''ve been thinking about what you said to me during my interview. About that anonymous email you accused me of sending to the C.I.B. You should catch whoever''s behind it soon, because I was thinking, if that someone is capable of doing something like that, then they should also be capable of a thousand more ways to make your life miserable than it already is," Ace countered Matthews'' threat with a threat of his own.


    "Is that a threat?" Matthews asked Ace grimly, exerting the pressure of her Sky-tier curse core on him.


    "A genuine piece of advice from your husband''s former student. Whether you use it or not is up to you." Ace squeezed the words out, not letting the stress of Matthews'' Sky-tier core''s pressure show on his face.


    "You know!" Matthews exclaimed in horror.


    "I have no idea what you''re talking about," Ace denied with a smug smile.

 Chapter 291 291: Matthews Justification

    "What do you know?" Matthews suddenly grabbed Ace by the collar, her grip tight and desperate.


    "I don''t know anything," Ace said quickly, prying her hands off him. The smugness drained from his face as he watched her expression turn ghostly pale at the mere mention of her secrets and husband together.


    Matthews muttered under her breath, her voice shaky, "No¡­ there''s no way you know about that. We left no paper trail¡­"


    Her face twisted into something dark, something dangerous. Ace instinctively took a step back. Everyone had skeletons buried in their backyard¡ªbut the real question was: how far would they go to keep them buried?


    "Okay, now I''m really curious," Ace said, tilting his head. "What exactly do you think I know? Must be pretty bad if it''s got you looking like that."


    He was trying to play it down. He was praying she wouldn''t do anything reckless. A few sentences, spoken in double entendre, sent her spiraling¡ªhe hadn''t expected that. He''d only meant to warn her that he could ruin the career that she neglected her only child for, but now? Now, he realized there was way more to Matthews than even Dame Wasp had uncovered in the local C.I.B. servers.


    And he wanted to know exactly what it was. Something told him it would be the perfect leverage over her. If used correctly, it might even become a rein to tame her.


    Matthews suddenly straightened, her gaze locking onto his with a deadly sharpness. "You do realize I could kill you right now and get away with it, don''t you?" she murmured, her tone low and ice-cold.


    Ace didn''t hesitate. He threw his hands up in mock surrender, and taking another step back, he smirked, "Yes, ma''am! Backing off right now."


    Matthews was capable of what she said. And it wouldn''t be her first time. Dame Wasp had plenty of data to prove it.


    Sonia had been right about one thing¡ªC.I.B. agents were truly untouchable within the country. They could get away with all kinds of shit, especially if they were in the good graces of the acting President.


    But Ace wasn''t helpless either.


    Before coming here, he had placed multiple substitution talismans on objects within his weight range, as walking in unprepared would''ve been beyond stupid.


    Matthews smirked, eyes glinting with something almost¡­ excited. "That right there is why I haven''t broken you yet," she said, her voice filled with an unsettling amusement¡ªlike she''d found a new toy worth investing time in.


    Though it was too soon to call Ace her rival, she did see him as a potential legacy for the C.I.B.


    She had already hit a ceiling¡ªboth in her curse-tier and in her career. As for her tier, she could only let nature take its course. But when it came to her career? She needed a break¡ªsomething that would finally get the higher-ups to call her to the capital where the real power and authority laid.


    She wasn''t the type to sit around, waiting for fate to hand her an opportunity. She believed in making opportunities. And Ace? She wanted him to be part of the one of the many seeds she had planted. As long as one of them grew tall enough to help her climb to the capital, it would all be worth it.


    Ace rolled his eyes, unimpressed. "Yeah, yeah, whatever," he muttered, then turned his gaze to the Apaches hovering in the air.


    "So tell me," he said, raising a brow. "Why all this fanfare? You''re more than capable of breaking in and dragging Lilith out yourself."


    "Kid, never underestimate a Curse Crafter just because of their tier," Matthews warned Ace with a sharp tone. "Especially someone with Aurelian Eyes'' reputation."


    She crossed her arms, eyes narrowing as she continued, "With Delores and Evil Eyes covering her, she won''t be easy to take down. And then there''s Lilith¡ªif that little girl and Aurelian Eyes join forces, all hell will break loose."


    She exhaled, shaking her head. "And let''s not forget Elinor. She''s willing to risk her job for that kid¡ªeven though it was Lilith who killed her colleagues."


    Matthews let that sink in for a second before adding, "Normally, I wouldn''t take her seriously. But after last night?" She scoffed. "Yeah¡­ I learned my lesson about underestimating the McSuile bloodline."


    She glanced up at the Apaches hovering above them. "So, as you can see, they left me no choice but to mobilize the Apaches." She let out a dry chuckle. "Honestly, I asked for a dozen, but they only sent three. And now? We''re stuck in a standoff. If they had just sent nine more, I''d be walking out of here with Lilith before daybreak. You wouldn''t even have realised I had been here."


    Ace listened carefully, arms crossed, expression unreadable. He disagreed with her reasons¡ªbut he understood her reaction. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Among the curse users holed up in that house, Lilith and Elinor were both capable of taking down a Void-tier under the right conditions. And with proper preparation, Janice wasn''t any less of a threat either¡ªespecially with Delores and Evil Eyes buying them the time they needed.


    Yeah¡­ Matthews had every reason to be cautious.


    "And what''s your plan here?" Ace asked, folding his arms. "Lock up an eight-year-old in one of your fancy glass holding cells for the rest of her life? Or test different ways to control and manipulate her?" He scoffed. "That''s literally how supervillains are made. You do know that, right?"


    He wasn''t saying Lilith was safe with the McSuile family¡ªhell no. They were worse than the C.I.B. But Elinor? She had already stepped into the role of Lilith''s guardian, willing to completely fall out with the C.I.B. for the kid. She was clumsy but had the big heart needed for this task.


    Matthews'' expression remained impassive. "She''s already a supervillain," she countered with a calm but firm voice. "That eight-year-old you''re so worried about? She has the power to start the next big plague and zero empathy for human life." She locked eyes with Ace, unflinching. "She''s killed countless people in cold blood¡ªwithout hesitation or remorse. She''s got all the makings of a budding genocidal maniac."


    Matthews exhaled, shaking her head. "The only thing standing between her and that grim future is me¡ªthe C.I.B." She took a step closer, voice lowering. "So, back off, kid."


    Ace let out a deep sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose. There was no way this was getting resolved peacefully¡ªunless Janice and Elinor involved the McSuile family. But then? They''d just have to save Lilith from the McSuiles instead. Either way¡­ her future wasn''t looking good.

 Chapter 292 292: A Disgruntled Mother

    "Mrs. Martin, have you been to your in-laws'' home? Have you meet Ava?" Ace asked, keeping his tone casual. He didn''t really care about Ava, but he knew appealing to Matthews''s maternal side was his best shot at stopping those Apaches from tearing through his avocado orchard¡ªand most of his estate.


    Matthews narrowed her eyes, skeptically asking, "No. But why do you suddenly care?"


    Ace followed her gaze to the house, where Lilith stood by the window, waving at him. He ignored her enthusiastic gesture and turned back to Matthews.


    "Why wouldn''t I care? Ava''s my friend," he said smoothly. "Which is why I''m strongly suggesting you go home. They''re not going anywhere with those Apaches watching over the place."


    If calling Ava his girlfriend would''ve convinced Matthews, he would''ve done it, but he did not want to make things more complicated than they already were. "Friends" was good enough.


    Matthews didn''t seem convinced. Instead, she frowned, still eyeing Lilith. "Why does that little girl keep waving at you?" she asked. "According to my reports, this should be the first time she''s seen you."


    Ace resisted the urge to shift uncomfortably. "Eh, I get that a lot," he said, smirking as he pointed at himself. "Being this handsome? It''s more of a curse than a blessing. Might sound gross, but everyone wants a piece of this." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Matthews let out a short, unimpressed scoff. "Narcissistic much? Kid, you look like you just rolled out of bed. You''ve still got eye gunk, your hair''s a mess, and honestly?" She snorted. "You''re not even half as good-looking as you think you are."


    "Well, your daughter seems to think otherwise," Ace muttered under his breath, pulling out a cleansing talisman to freshen up.


    He barely had time to activate it before he noticed Matthews glaring at him, her eyes dark with a dangerous glint shimmering in them. His body tensed up. But before she could act, a young, sweet voice rang out¡ª"Apex!"


    Ace''s face drained of all color. He went ghastly pale. Matthews whipped her head toward the source of the voice, spotting Lilith at the open window. The little girl had somehow managed to open the window and was staring directly at Ace. Her enthusiasm soon turned into irritation, seeing Ace not acknowledge her, let alone answer her.


    Following Lilith''s gaze, Matthews turned back to Ace just in time to catch him subtly signaling the girl to shut up. His hand stilled mid-motion when he realized Matthews had clocked him.


    Her eyes narrowed while she humored him, asking, "Why is she calling you Apex?"


    Ace forced a laugh¡ªlight, casual, like it wasn''t the worst question she could''ve asked. "What? Why would she call me that?" He shook his head, feigning confusion. "You must''ve misheard. This is the first time we''ve even met."


    Matthews didn''t buy it.


    Ace could see the gears turning in her head, trying to piece together a puzzle with too many missing pieces. But his stomach dropped when he saw Elinor standing beside Lilith and debating while pointing directly at him.


    The window was now shut and they were facing each other, making it impossible for Dame Wasp to eavesdrop or even lip-read. But whatever Lilith was telling Elinor, it wasn''t good for him.


    "She''s definitely pointing at you," Matthews murmured, her eyes flicking between Ace and the girls at the window. Then, as if a lightbulb went off in her head, a slow, knowing grin spread across her face learning that the evidence she needed to nail Ace and her primary objective here were one and the same.


    And now, she just had to figure out a way to take it. Thinking of this, she could not help but grin eerily.


    Seeing her eerie grin, Ace shook his head in dismay. He never thought an eight-year-old would be his downfall. Just then, he felt a burst of wind on his face, and before he knew it, he saw Matthews flying backward, crashing to the ground a few feet away from him.


    She''d tried to break the window and grab Lilith, but to her surprise, the house not only withstood her attack but also used it against her, sending her flying.


    "Fuck!" Ace cursed inwardly. Matthews had fired the first shot, and now the fate of his estate hung in the balance, depending on Janice''s response. If they chose to retaliate, it would most definitely turn into a full-blown war. But if they let it slide, Matthews would become even bolder.


    Just as Ace was waiting for Janice''s reaction, he saw a thin veil of red circle them within a 600-yard radius, climbing to the sky about 200 yards high. It was a barrier array formation.


    Ace knew it had to be Janice who activated it, as only her people had the time to lay that array formation. The C.I.B. agents had arrived early that morning.


    Meanwhile, Matthews got up, dusted herself off, and walked toward the house, saying, "Now that''s one hell of a cursed tool for a Hero-tier. As expected of a cursed tool created by Aurelian Eyes."


    "Mrs. Martins, stop it. As a mother, you know better than me that the best and cheapest way to control Lilith is love. Right now, she has both the power and means to do and acquire anything in the world but lacks actual love and guidance. Let Elinor give it to her. I''m sure she will help Lilith grow into a fine young lady who will be willing to lay down her life for her country. So, I advise you to please reconsider your decision," Ace pleaded, knowing that Matthews was just getting started, as the Apaches'' laser guidance systems had locked onto the house and were awaiting her signal to engage.


    "Oh, shut up. My own daughter, whom I carried in my womb for 10 months and breastfed for two years, hates me. What makes you think this little monster will turn out any better? She''s already far too gone. She is a disaster waiting to happen. She belongs in a cage, not roaming free in the country," Matthews yelled, her eyes hardening with resolve.


    She had lied to Ace when she said she hadn''t visited Ava. That was the first thing she did upon arriving in town. However, Ava, who was busy with her early morning exercise, though surprised to see her, threw a fit because she was a day late. Words were exchanged, and they both said hurtful things they weren''t proud of, and now they both regret what they said. At least Matthews did.

 Chapter 293 293: Not Official Yet

    "Dad, you promised I could have the Bronco if I moved to this shitty town and enrolled in their shitty school. You can''t back out now," Ava protested at the Martins'' family breakfast.


    No one at the table looked particularly surprised by her outburst¡ªexcept for Layla, who suddenly regretted showing up. She debated whether she should just skip breakfast and avoid the family drama altogether.


    "Hey, I work there," Ms. Matthews cut in, frowning. "And for the record, our high school football team is the best in the county. We were this close to winning the championship last year."


    "Awe, babe, you''re so sexy when you talk about football," Cam said, eyeing his fiance with intense passion.


    "Ewe, get a room," Ava shot her cousins a withering glare, effectively shutting them up. Then, turning back to her father, she watched him casually munch on a sandwich made from last night''s leftover chicken and snapped, "Dad! Are you even listening to me?"


    "No, I''m not," Principal Martins replied bluntly, not even looking up. "I plan to tune you out until you apologize to your mother and ask her to come home." Then, as if to emphasize his point, he took a huge, satisfied bite of his chicken and gravy sandwich.


    Ava clenched her jaw. She knew exactly what he was doing¡ªholding the Bronco hostage until she caved.


    ''Fine. Have it your way,'' she thought before taking a deep breath and apologizing to her father in a soft tone, "Dad, I''m sorry. I didn''t mean what I said to her." She hesitated, then added, "She had just got here, but she was still distracted by work, and already making plans to leave¡ªeven though she promised to spend an entire month training with me. I just... my anger got the better of me."


    She leaned forward slightly, pressing her case making puppy eyes as she asked, "Daddy, you know how much I love you two, right?"


    Ava figured if she played this right, she''d be driving herself to school in her own car instead of suffering through carpool hell with her cousin for the rest of the school year.


    "Cut the crap. I''m not falling for that bullshit again. You said the exact same thing last time¡ªword for word. At least try something new." Principal Martins leveled a firm look at his daughter and added, "For god''s sake, Ava, own up to this, or I''m returning the Bronco. I already called the dealership. You have until they get here to pick it up."


    He hated using gifts¡ªones he had thoughtfully picked out for her¡ªas leverage just to get her to do the right thing. But with Ava, it was the only way to get through to her. She left him little choice. Still, it was better than giving up on her. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ava''s jaw tightened. "Dad, why can''t you ever take my side? I wasn''t the one who broke a promise¡ªyou two did!" She pushed her chair back abruptly, ready to storm out, but before leaving, she turned and shot a glare at her disgustingly lovey-dovey cousins and snapped, "I hate you two."


    "What did we do?" Ms. Matthews asked, looking genuinely offended.


    Cam just smirked and pulled her closer. "Ignore her," he said smugly. "She''s just jealous of our love."


    Just as Ava was about to storm out of the room, her phone buzzed with a text. Annoyed, she glanced at it, fully expecting spam¡ªbecause seriously, who even uses regular SMS these days?


    But to her shock, the message was from Ace. Her face immediately lit up as she read it, [Come to my new home before I change my mind.]


    Ava''s heart skipped a beat. She knew exactly which home he was talking about. Without a second thought, she spun on her heels, rushed back to the dining table, and shoved her hand into Layla''s pocket.


    "Hey¡ª!" Layla barely had time to react before Ava yanked out her car keys and bolted for the door. As she sprinted outside Ava called over her shoulder, "Thanks for lending me your car, Layla!"


    Layla jumped to her feet and chased after her while Principal Martins bellowed, "Ava, get back here!"


    ¡­


    "Ava, open the damn door!" Layla shouted, pounding on the window. Ava had already locked the doors before she could get in. Instead of responding, Ava started the engine and brazenly spun the car around in the spacious driveway.


    But just as she was about to speed off, the passenger door suddenly swung open.


    "What the fuck? How did you¡ª?!" Ava blurted, slamming on the brakes as Layla slid into the seat beside her.


    Layla smirked saying, "It''s my car. I know a few tricks." In reality, she silently thanked her voltaic wisp for the assist.


    "Whatever," Ava grumbled, reaching over to shove Layla out, saying, "Now get out."


    Layla took the opportunity to snatch the keys from the ignition before Ava could react. The engine cut off with a quiet click.


    Ava''s eye twitched as she exclaimed, "Hey! Give back the keys."


    Layla held them up and bargained, "First, tell me where we''re going."


    "To a friend''s house," Ava answered vaguely. It wasn''t a lie¡ªshe and Ace weren''t official yet.


    "Aww, you made a friend already?" Layla cooed mockingly before her expression flattened. "Do I look like an idiot?"


    As Ava''s babysitter for years, Layla knew exactly how she operated. Ava didn''t have friends¡ªshe had minions. She did not have a friend group but an entourage. That was how she was, asserting her dominance and supremacy everywhere she went, just like her ambitious mom.


    Ava sighed, rolling her eyes. "Layla, if you don''t hand me the keys right now, I''ll tell my mom you broke her prized wine collection."


    Layla blinked in confusion. "No, I didn''t. I haven''t even been in the cellar since¡ª" She gasped, realization hitting her. "Oh my god, you broke them!"


    "Exactly," Ava smirked. "Now, are you gonna give me the keys and get out of the car, or¡­?" She let the threat hang in the air, knowing Layla would cave.


    Layla exhaled sharply, muttering curses under her breath before tossing Ava the keys and stepping out of the car.


    Satisfied, Ava wasted no time jamming the key into the ignition and twisting it. But nothing happened, the engine did not roar to life. She tried again, but still nothing.


    Frustration bubbling up, she turned toward Layla to demand answers¡ªonly to find that Layla was already gone.


    Somewhere in the distance, Layla smirked to herself. Ava wasn''t going anywhere¡ªnot with her Voltaic Wisp discreetly messing with the car''s spark plug.

 Chapter 294 294: Fire!

    ''Why the fuck is it taking her so long?'' Ace wondered, growing impatient as Matthews prepared to launch her attack on the Lansky house.


    The Apaches hovered lower, their Chain Gun-type curse gadgets primed to level the entire house. The hum of the engines and the slow rotation of the guns created an ominous tension in the air.


    Meanwhile, from the other side, Janice was making her own preparations. Just as the helicopters descended further, the curse barrier array surrounding the house¡ªoriginally cylindrical with an open top¡ªsuddenly sealed itself shut, trapping the Apaches inside.


    Ace''s eyes widened as he mentally cursed, "Shit!"


    The barrier was no joke¡ª600 yards in radius, 200 yards high. The Apaches had space to maneuver, but they weren''t getting out anytime soon.


    Seeing both sides were prepared to go to war, Ace turned to Ava''s mother in urgency and pleaded, "Mrs. Martins, please let me talk to them before you take extreme measures¡ª"


    But before he could finish, Matthews cut him off with a condescending voice, "You''d love that, wouldn''t you?"


    Ace clenched his jaw. He knew exactly why she was shutting him down. Matthews now believed Lilith was the key piece of evidence she needed to convict him, and she wasn''t about to let him anywhere near the girl. Hell, she wouldn''t even let him near the house, let alone negotiate with Janice on the C.I.B.''s behalf. Besides, he wasn''t C.I.B.¡ªwho the hell did he think he was, interfering in her operation?


    She gave him a pointed look before turning her attention back to the Apaches, "Men, blow that house up."


    She didn''t even bother giving Ace a warning or a chance to get clear. But before the Apaches could unleash hell, something changed. The air inside the barrier began to shift. Three small dust storms formed within the enclosure, each one swirling aggressively around an Apache. The pilots quickly realized something was very wrong.


    "Ma''am," one of them reported through comms, a hint of unease in his voice, "this cursed barrier array is more than it seems. It''s completely sealed, trapping the air inside. There''s no ventilation system to regulate the pressure."


    After a brief pause he gave her the ultimate bad news, "For the safety of the machinery and its equipment, we''re initiating an emergency landing."


    Matthews narrowed her eyes as the Apaches slowly descended to the ground while Ace exhaled in relief thinking, ''Well¡­ that changes things. Maybe I jumped the gun texting Ava too soon¡­ Whatever. As long as she can get Matthews to leave, it''ll be worth it.''


    The Apaches¡ªeach one practically a half-curse gadget on its own¡ªwere loaded with enough cursed gadgets to level a city block. Each of these setups was worth billions. If Matthews lost even one, let alone all three, over a botched negotiation, she could kiss her dreams of getting called to the capital goodbye. Hell, if the president was feeling generous, she might barely manage to keep her current rank.


    "Fine," Matthews snapped. "Land them in a way that keeps the house in firing range. I want that pain-in-the-ass curse tool gone, ASAP."


    Ace exhaled sharply, cursing in his mind, ''Shit.'' He had way overestimated Matthews'' ability to back down. A minor setback wasn''t going to stop her¡ªshe was committed.


    Following her orders, the Apaches touched down, encircling the house with their laser-guidance systems locked on target. The once beautiful flower garden? Completely trashed. The ground was a mess of churned-up soil, trampled petals, and deep gashes from the landing gear.


    Ace''s stomach twisted at the sight. The flowers? Whatever. He could get Dr. Druid to regrow them¡ªhell, probably even better than before. But if the house got blown up? How the fuck was he supposed to explain that to his parents?


    Then it hit him, ''Wait. Why am I even worried about explaining this shit to them?''


    It wasn''t his responsibility. It was the C.I.B.''s mess. They were the ones leading this operation, and if things went south, they were the ones who''d have to clean it up.


    Except¡­ it was the C.I.B. A slow, inefficient, bureaucratic nightmare. If they screwed this up¡ªif they dropped the ball like every other government agency¡ªhe''d still be the one stuck dealing with the fallout. And that was why he couldn''t stop worrying.


    A sudden barrage of machine-gun fire jolted Ace out of his thoughts. Before he could react, Matthews lunged in front of him as bullets ricocheted off the house''s walls¡ªsome of them heading straight for him.


    The gunfire continued for a solid five minutes. Yet, to their surprise, not a single bullet managed to break through the house''s defenses.


    Then again, maybe it wasn''t so surprising. This house had already shrugged off an attack from a Sky-tier opponent and even turned the force against her. Compared to that, chain gun-type curse gadgets¡ªwhile deadly to most¡ªwere nowhere near enough to crack it. These weapons could threaten a Sky-tier, sure, but the house was built differently. Its entire existence seemed to revolve around defense.


    Unless they figured out the trick behind its protection, breaking through with this level of firepower was a pipe dream.


    Matthews knew it. The Apache pilots knew it. So they didn''t even bother continuing their attack after the curse gadgets reloaded. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Uh¡­ thanks, I guess," Ace muttered, glancing at Matthews. He wasn''t entirely sure if he should be thanking her. After all, he was only in this shitshow because of her stubbornness.


    Matthews ignored him. She was too busy relishing the moment, secretly thinking about how badass she must''ve looked, stepping in front of him before those ricocheting bullets could hit.


    Ace would''ve agreed. But he also would''ve pointed out that it wouldn''t have been necessary if she hadn''t ordered her men to open fire, with a civilian in the vicinity, in the first place.


    "Use the missiles," Matthews commanded, her voice sharp. But before the Apaches could launch, a priority alert came through her earpiece, "Ma''am, your daughter is here. She''s making a scene, demanding to enter the lockdown zone. Permission to detain her?"

 Chapter 295 295: Wrong Move Genius

    "Argh!" Ava screamed in frustration before storming out of the car.


    Her eyes landed on one of her little cousin''s bicycles. Without a second thought¡ªcompletely ignoring its tiny size and bright pink color¡ªshe hopped on. Helmet? Who cares?


    She pedaled furiously, speeding out of her family''s estate like a bat out of the darkest cave one had ever seen.


    Meanwhile, back at the breakfast table, Layla sat, sipping her coffee, suddenly realizing Ava still hadn''t come back.


    When Ava finally reached Ace''s family''s new estate, she froze. The entire property was barricaded. And not by the local cops. These were her mom''s guys¡ªdark suits, stoic expressions, the type that followed her mother around, ready to snap to attention at a moment''s notice.


    Ava planned to just charge through, but as soon as she neared the barricade, the suits reacted with an inhumane reflex. Before she knew it, she was face down in the dirt, arms pinned behind her back, tasting mud.


    "Let go of me, asshole!" she snarled, struggling. But her gifted strength was no match for the agent''s supernatural grip.


    "Easy, Agent. She''s the acting EAD''s sole daughter," the Senior Agent on site called out.


    Listening to the Senior Agent, the agent immediately released Ava, letting her get to her feet who dusted herself off slowly, dragging it out as she locked eyes with the agent who had just pinned her. Then, with an exaggerated huff, she trudged planning to cross the barricade, but the senior agent blocked her path, politely adding, "Miss, this place is off limits. Please return otherwise I will be forced to detain you for obstruction."


    Ava locked eyes with the Senior Agent and sneered, "I''m going in. None of you are gonna stop me. Not even you."


    She took a step closer, her voice dripping with threat, "Go ahead. Do your worst. But I promise you¡ªmy mother is gonna love hearing how you not only attacked her daughter but detained her like some low-life criminal."


    "How about I ask her right now?" The Senior Agent didn''t waste time arguing with Ava. Instead, he immediately contacted the EAD through the comm earpiece, reporting the situation and requesting permission to detain her daughter.


    Experience had taught him that, in situations like this, it was always better to go straight to the source. Still, he wasn''t expecting the following response from EAD Matthews, "Don''t just detain her¡ªthrow her in the county holding cell. Let her see the real world. But if anything happens to her, I will have your entire family''s heads. Can I count on you, Agent Moonshade?"


    Moonshade had been on protective detail for plenty of high-profile kids before, but hearing such a request from the parents was a first for him.


    He didn''t question it. If anything, it just confirmed what he already suspected¡ªthis girl wasn''t just EAD''s daughter. She was probably her heir.


    "Yes, ma''am. Rest assured," getting off the comm, Moonshade turned back to Ava, flashing a grin, he informed, "Tough luck, kid. You''re going to prison. Hope you had your breakfast, prison food sucks."


    With a simple hand signal, one of his agents moved in, yanking Ava''s arms behind her and snapping cuffs around her wrists before shoving her toward the backseat of a black SUV.


    "What?" Ava gawked, still in shock as she was manhandled into the car.


    The door slammed shut, and within seconds, the vehicle pulled away, heading straight for the county sheriff''s office. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Meanwhile, after issuing that order, Matthews wasted no time turning back to Ace. Without warning, she grabbed him by the throat¡ªone-handed¡ªand lifted him clean off the ground.


    Ace didn''t struggle nor panicked, he didn''t even flinch. He remained indifferent and simply locked eyes with her, waiting for her to come to her senses. For her to realize the point he was trying to make here. However, staring into that unreadable gaze, Matthews'' jaw clenched.


    "It was you, wasn''t it?" she demanded. "You''re the one who called her here."


    "Yes, I did," Ace admitted without hesitation. His tone was calm, and measured. "I didn''t want things to escalate any further than necessary. I was hoping for a peaceful resolution, nothing more. No offense, no disrespect. I just thought that if Ava got involved, maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªyou''d see where I''m coming from."


    He held Matthews'' gaze, trying to get through to her. But it was obvious¡ªshe wasn''t seeing reason. First, it was her ambition. Now, it was her anger. Both had blinded her to what she was actually doing.


    Did she not realize? His entire family was just a few hectares away. If the C.I.B. and the MacSuile family clashed here, they''d be right in the middle of it.


    This whole thing could''ve been resolved over a drink, maybe a couple of drinks. But Matthews? She was hell-bent on escalating it into battle just to satisfy her ego.


    That''s why he called Ava¡ªto put Matthews in his shoes and force her to see what he was going through. However, it seems he failed.


    "Guess what, genius? Your little stunt did the exact opposite of what you intended." Matthews'' voice dripped with malice. "You never should''ve dragged my daughter into this. Congratulations¡ªyou just pissed off the one person who holds your fate in her hands."


    What really burned her wasn''t just that Ava had come running here for him. It was that her daughter was willing to break the law¡ªto throw away her future¡ªfor this asshole... yet she wouldn''t even spare her mother two kind words.


    And the worst part? Ace didn''t even see Ava the way she saw him. Not even as a friend. And definitely not whatever illusions Ava had built up in her head.


    That''s right¡ªshe knew everything. Layla had done a damn good job keeping her updated on her daughter''s life. And Matthews could not believe that Ava had grown into one of those girls¡ªgirls who threw away their entire future over some boy.


    It was pathetic and unacceptable to her. She refused to let her daughter turn into that. That''s why she asked Agent Moonshade to show her the harsh reality of the world before she could begin shaping her into her rightful heir.


    Shaking her head in disappointment, she turned her gaze back to the Apaches and sadistically barked, "Fire!"¡ªall while swinging Ace around by the neck like a ragdoll as she turned to eye the house about to be blown sky-high by the Apaches, getting the full worth out of the tax payers dollars.

 Chapter 296 296: Its My Turn Now

    Seconds passed, then a few more. The bombardment Matthews was eagerly anticipating never came. Nothing happened. Frowning, she snapped her attention to the nearest Apache and demanded, "What''s the holdup?"


    But before the pilot could even open his mouth, something caught her eye¡ª


    The stationary rotor blades of the Apache suddenly moved rearranging themselves before coming to a halt. Then¡ªboom!¡ªa controlled explosion sent the hatch flying, and before the pieces even hit the ground, the pilot and co-pilot were ejected straight up.


    And it wasn''t just that one Apache. The same thing happened to the others. One after another, their Jettisonable Hatch Systems triggered¡ªlaunching their pilots and gunners out like discarded cargo.


    Matthews'' body tensed. What the hell was going on? She was about to rush toward the pilots when she heard Ace warn her with an unnervingly calm voice, "If I were you, I wouldn''t move,"


    She didn''t need Ace to further explain himself as she felt it. The laser guidance systems from all three Apaches had locked onto her. And then¡ª"Hahaha¡­ Hahaha!"


    Ace let out a low chuckle which soon turned into a full-blown maniacal laughter. Matthews stiffened, her grip tightening around Ace''s throat as she finally put two and two together.


    The Apaches hadn''t malfunctioned, it had something to do with him. Somehow¡­ this was all him.


    "What the hell is going on?" Matthews demanded, tightening her grip around Ace''s neck, forcefully cutting off his manic laughter.


    But instead of answering, he just smirked. A slow, taunting sneer.


    "You wanted a fight?" he rasped, his voice laced with defiance. "Now you got one."


    Matthews'' eyes darkened, her grip tightening even further, as she warned, "Don''t think I won''t snap your damn neck."


    Ace didn''t flinch. Didn''t even hesitate.


    "Go ahead," he challenged, locking eyes with her. "I dare you."


    Matthews scowled unable to find a single trace of fear in his eyes. Understanding that Ace be was being damn serious. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Have you lost your damn mind, kid?" she asked, baffled.


    Her gaze flicked toward the six pilots who had crash-landed earlier. After struggling to free themselves from their seats they crawled out from beneath their parachutes. Some were badly bleeding, their faces twisted in pain, while others dragged themselves toward their Apaches, ignoring their injuries. They were determined despite the fact that they could barely stand as their mission was not complete.


    They only stopped when they heard Matthews say, "Stand down officers."


    Ace noticed her shift in focus and concerned for the pilots and flatly informed, "If they don''t get medical attention soon, some of them will bleed out. The rest? They''ll have to cut off infected limbs and live the rest of their lives as cripples."


    He tilted his head, his smirk deepening as he continued, adding, "Don''t look at me like that, Matthews. Whatever happens to them? That''s on you. You''re the one who wanted a fight, remember?"


    "You dipshit," Matthews spat with her jaw clenched. "Why the hell are you butting heads with me? This is between me and Janice."


    She genuinely didn''t understand why Ace was throwing himself into the middle of this. He''d been interfering even before she found out that Lilith might be the evidence she needed against him. So why was he pushing this so far?


    "Get off your high horse and look around! Where the hell do you think you are?" Ace shouted, his voice raw with anger. "This is my property. My family lives here. They work here. You lost your shit because I involved your daughter¡ªso tell me, how mad should I be when you''re the one putting my entire family at risk? Do you think your family is the only one that matters?"


    His chest heaved as he glared at Matthews, his frustration boiling over, as he roared, "Mine matters too. And I''m damn sure going to make sure they do."


    A tense silence stretched between them before Ace suddenly lunged forward, shoving against Matthews'' grip, challenging her, "Either kill me or let me go."


    Matthews blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Then her eyes flashed with irritation.


    "That''s it? You dipshit¡ªwhat do you think that barricade and those agents are for?" she snapped. "They''re here to secure the perimeter, to make sure no civilians get hurt¡ª"


    "Shut the fuck up!" Ace cut in, his voice razor-sharp. "I was there last night, remember? I saw how much the C.I.B. cares about civilians. You guys could barely save yourselves, let alone protect anyone else."


    Matthews clenched her jaw, but Ace wasn''t done. His glare burned into her as he stepped closer.


    "A single stray curse energy is enough to kill a mortal. My entire family¡ªall the people I give a damn about¡ªlive just a few hectares from here. Can you guarantee they won''t get caught up in your pointless battle?"


    Matthews didn''t answer fast enough. Ace exhaled sharply, then gave a single mental command to Dame Wasp, ''Fire.''


    The three Apaches roared to life, their chain gun curse gadgets firing in unison.


    Matthews reacted instantly, pulling Ace out of harm''s way, shielding him from most of the bullets. But one managed to slip through¡ªtriggering one of his displacement talismans.


    In an instant, Ace vanished. Matthews staggered, her grip tightening¡ªonly to realize she was no longer holding Ace. She was holding a log of wood.


    ''What the fuck?'' Her eyes widened in shock. Then, before she could process what had just happened, Ace''s voice rang out behind her.


    "Don''t move a muscle, Matthews," he warned, his tone almost amused. "They''ll open fire."


    Matthews swallowed hard, forcing herself to stand still. She knew better than to test her luck. The missile-type curse gadgets on the Apaches could lock onto their targets and hunt them down relentlessly. She wasn''t faster than them, and her defenses sure as hell couldn''t withstand twelve direct hits. She had no choice but to stay put.


    From the corner of her eye, she watched Ace make his way to one of the downed pilots. With a flick of his wrist, he used a consumable curse tool of his to help the pilot recover¡ªonly to knock them unconscious right after. One by one, he did the same to each of them, making sure they wouldn''t be a problem before finally making his way back toward the house.


    Matthews tracked his movements, then asked, "What''s your plan here, Ace? You know this makes you a curse criminal, right?"


    Ace smirked, completely unfazed by her warning.


    "It''s your word against mine. I''ll take my chances in court against you any day."


    Thanks to last night''s incident, he wasn''t the same ill-informed country kid he had been before. He knew someone who knew the C.I.B. laws better than the damn founders who wrote them, Dame Wasp.


    Without wasting another second, he turned to the house, squared his shoulders, and yelled, "Janice, come out while I''m still being civil. Don''t force my hand."


    It was time to put an end to this.

 Chapter 297 297: Curse Tool Set

    From the Victorian sash windows, Delores watched everything unfold between Ace and Matthews. When she heard Ace''s ultimatum to Janice, she turned to the latter, finding her casually sipping coffee with the other girls, completely ignoring him, Delores sighed, shaking her head in dismay before advising her, "Janice, you need to talk to him while he''s still willing to listen. The more you avoid him, the angrier he''ll get."


    "Relax, Delores. Those Apaches can''t even scratch the house''s defenses as long as it''s anchored to the ground," Janice waved her off dismissively, choosing to focus on her coffee instead.


    "No, you wake up," Delores snapped. "I''ve used his rail rifle. That enabled me to punch a hole through a void-tier curseling. And that wasn''t even its full power. I don''t think your curse tool can withstand its wrath."


    Janice frowned, remembering Ace''s peculiar martial-tier rifle-shaped curse tool. For the first time, she hesitated. But before she could respond, Lilith suddenly spoke up, her small voice cutting through the conversation, "Moon race warriors don''t hurt good kids. The Moon Race people might look different, but they''re our friends. We don''t have to be afraid of them¡­ unless we hurt them or their family."


    Lilith''s innocent eyes blinked up at Janice before she asked, "Big sis Janice, did you hurt any Moon Race people?"


    Janice raised a brow in confusion and asked cousin in doubt, "Hey, Elinor¡ªwhat the hell is she talking about?"


    Elinor, who was braiding Lilith''s hair, didn''t even look up as she replied, "She''s talking about a fictional race from some superhero comic book series. It''s definitely not age-appropriate, but she loves them."


    Pausing for a beat, Elinor finally glanced at Janice and smirked advising her, "Just say no. Otherwise, she might try to kill you to appease Ace."


    "Wait, what? Why would she do that?!" Janice blurted out, staring at Lilith in disbelief. She didn''t waste a second before scooting to the far end of the couch, putting as much distance as possible between herself and the little girl. Honestly, she was a little scared of her.


    Elinor chuckled before explaining, "She thinks Ace is a Moon Race warrior named Apex¡ªyou know, the guy I told you about? Apparently, he''s hiding from people who hunt Moon Race folks, or something like that. It was hard enough convincing her not to kill EAD Matthews to ''save'' him. So, if I were you, I''d answer her before she makes up her mind to kill you instead."


    Janice blinked. "What the hell?" The thought of being killed over a fictional race was too ridiculous to process. Then, deciding to tackle the problem head-on, she turned to Lilith with her best big sister smile, "Lilith, remember all that candy I bought you? You liked it, right? If you hurt Big Sis, who''s gonna bring you more candy?"


    Lilith, however, wasn''t swayed. Her small face hardened, and she locked eyes with Janice, her expression unnervingly grim. There was something dark lurking in those innocent eyes, something that made Janice shudder involuntarily. Instinct kicked in, and without thinking, she blurted out aloud, "No, I didn''t hurt any Moon Race people!"


    Just like that, Lilith''s serious expression melted into a bright, satisfied smile. "Good! Then I won''t hurt you." As if nothing had happened, she beamed and demanded, "I want more candy."


    But before Janice could respond, Elinor shot the idea down just like a mother would, "No more candy. You don''t want to lose all your teeth and end up looking like that old grandma from the ads, do you?"


    Lilith''s eyes widened in horror. Shaking her head frantically, she slumped in defeat, allowing Elinor to continue braiding her hair¡ªhair that, judging by its state, hadn''t seen proper care in months.


    "Cus, don''t take it personally," Elinor said, hoping to smooth things over. "After everything she''s been through, she really relates to the Moon Race. And after last night¡ªwith those cosplayers¡ªshe''s convinced the comic is real. She''s just grown attached to it."


    She shot Janice a meaningful look, silently pleading with her cousin not to overreact. The last thing they needed was to get kicked out¡ªor worse, handed over to the C.I.B.


    Janice sighed and waved it off. "Don''t worry, I''m not that petty." Then, noticing Elinor struggling with Lilith''s tangled hair, she offered, "Are you sure you don''t want help? I can just lend her my magic mirror."


    Elinor scoffed, shaking her head. "Nope, I got this." There was no way she was accepting help¡ªit was a matter of pride. She had taken a few Cosmetology courses specifically to enhance her curse tool''s abilities. If she couldn''t even handle a kid''s hair, what was the point?


    Before Janice could ask her to stop being stubborn, Delores cut in, her voice sharp. "Janice, focus. This isn''t a joke¡ªunless you''re planning on fighting Ace too?"


    "Damn it," Janice muttered, realization hitting her. Without wasting another second, she touched her earring. In an instant, a massive exoskeleton-type armor deployed around her, encasing her from head to toe. The sleek yet monstrous mech-like suit gleamed under the light¡ªa painstakingly crafted curse tool set that Janice finally found the motivation to complete after her fight with her uncle.


    Elinor''s jaw dropped. "What the hell is that? And can I get one of those?"


    Before Janice could smirk and introduce her new creation, Lilith suddenly jumped to her feet, pointing an accusatory finger, "You lied! You''re a Crusader! I''ll kill you!"


    Her small frame trembled with fury, her hands clenching into tiny fists, and Janice could swear she saw something dangerous flicker in the kid''s eyes.


    "What the hell is a Crusader?" Janice asked, baffled. But as she thought about it, she had to admit¡ªthe name kind of fit her armor.


    Before she could dwell on it, however, she was yanked out of her thoughts and thrown straight into Lilith''s madness. A wave of suffocating pressure crashed over her, her vision darkening as her skin turned unnaturally pale. Her body felt frozen, trapped in some invisible force¡ªjust as she teetered on the edge of vanishing into Lilith''s inner darkness, a sharp voice cut through the haze.


    "Janice, snap out of it!"


    It was Delores.


    The moment Janice registered her voice, the crushing weight lifted. Delores had stepped between her and Lilith, shielding her from the little girl''s killing intent it was too much for a mortal tier like Janice. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Meanwhile, Elinor grabbed Lilith by the collar of her sweater and hoisted her up like a misbehaving cat. Her voice was ice-cold as she ordered, "Lilith, cut it out before I get angry!"


    "Crusaders kill Moon Race people! We have to save Apex!" Lilith thrashed in Elinor''s grip, kicking her legs, but it was useless. Against Elinor''s Knight-tier strength, she had no chance¡ªespecially since she had willingly handed over all her prized curse cores for safekeeping.


    Without them to fuse with, she was just a regular Mortal-tier kid. A very dangerous, very delusional Mortal-tier kid.

 Chapter 298 298: Flooding The House

    Snapping out of Lilith''s killing intent, Janice collapsed onto the couch, gasping for breath. But before she could even catch a break, the weight of her armor proved too much¡ªthe couch gave out beneath her with a loud crack, sending her crashing to the floor. Humiliated, she slammed her fist against the ground in frustration and cursed, "Damn it!"


    Meanwhile, Lilith was still on her warpath. "Sister, pass me an Ocean-tier curse core! I have to kill this Crusader before she can hurt Apex or Doctor Druid!" she yelled, pleading with Elinor to hand over her strongest core so she could fuse with it.


    Elinor, trying her best to de-escalate the situation, spoke quickly. "Lilith, settle down. Look at the armor¡ªit''s not the same as the one in the comic. And besides, Janice is a close friend of Ace."


    Janice, still recovering from her fall, muttered under her breath, "She''s not that cute anymore."


    Lilith hesitated, narrowing her eyes at Janice. "What if she disguised her armor to trick us?" she asked, still suspicious.


    Elinor sighed, pointing out, "I don''t think she''s that smart." S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hey! Is this how you thank me for standing against the entire C.I.B. for you guys?" Janice protested.


    Lilith studied her for another moment before nodding in agreement with Elinor, "Yeah¡­ she doesn''t seem smart enough to pull that off."


    "Said the two dumbest people in the room," Soina muttered dryly but Elinor shot back immediately, "No one asked you, turncoat."


    Soina glared at her but swallowed her anger, mumbling under her breath, "Just you wait till I top the boot camp and outrank all of you in the C.I.B."


    Elinor smirked, "Keep dreaming, turncoat."


    Her opinion of Sonia had taken a nosedive ever since she found out that Sonia had tried to threaten Ace by using his mortal family against him. If it weren''t for Evil Eyes speaking on her behalf, Elinor would''ve tossed her out onto the streets without a second thought.


    Just as tensions reached a boiling point, a deep, commanding voice cut through the chaos¡ª"Fine. Have it your way."


    Everyone''s heads snapped toward the source, outside the window. It was Ace. He had clearly run out of patience, and his expression made it clear¡ªhe was done waiting for Janice. With a final decision, he used his status screen to issue a command to Doctor Druid: [Flood the damn house.]


    "Ace, what the hell are you doing?" Matthews demanded, feeling the ground beneath her tremble violently as if a monstrous earthquake was tearing through it.


    But she got no response. Instead, she could only watch in shock as a group of massive roots erupted from the earth, tearing the house from its foundation and lifting it into the sky. The thick vines shattered windows, surging inside like living serpents.


    The roots burst forth, flooding the interior in an instant. The roots coiled around Sonia, Elinor, Lilith, and Janice dragging them out of the house like they were nothing more than debris. Delores and Evil Eyes, however, managed to take flight just in time, escaping before the roots could reach them.


    Janice and Sonia were unceremoniously slammed into the ground like discarded trash, while Elinor and Lilith slid down the vines like they were on an amusement park ride.


    The roots then gently lowered the house back onto solid ground, and as soon as it landed, Janice''s curse tool automatically kicked in, restoring the house as if nothing had ever happened.


    Ace, ignoring the others entirely, commanded the roots to hoist up the still-dazed Janice, who was still reeling from the rough landing.


    Meanwhile, Delores and Evil Eyes remained on standby, watching carefully but making no move to intervene. After all, Ace had yet to show any true intent to harm her.


    Ace eyed Janice''s armor with a mix of disbelief and disappointment. "Are you seriously cosplaying as a Crusader while I was out there fighting to protect my family? A family you put in harm''s way by moving in here?" He scoffed, shaking his head. "My opinion of you just hit an all-time low. And at least if you''re going to do it, get the details right. You lost whatever respect I had for you today."


    Before Janice could fire back, Lilith, who had been listening intently, suddenly shouted, "I knew it! Crusader!"


    She bolted toward Janice at full speed, only for Ace to catch her effortlessly mid-dash.


    "Moon Warrior, let''s offer her head to the Moon Goddess tonight," Lilith declared fiercely, her eyes locked onto Janice with chilling intensity. Her overwhelming bloodlust flared once again, threatening to drag Janice''s consciousness into the abyss of madness.


    But before Lilith could do any real damage, Ace gave her a light knock on the head.


    "Owwie!" she whimpered, rubbing the sore spot as she pouted up at him, looking more like an upset kitten than a fearsome warrior.


    Tearing his eyes away from the unexpected cuteness, Ace turned to Elinor and said, "Somebody needs to start showing her some age-appropriate cartoons before she starts a genocide."


    Lilith, still nursing her tiny wound, looked up at Ace with wide, betrayed eyes. "Moon Warrior, why did you hit me?" she asked, her voice filled with hurt.


    Ace leaned down and whispered, "First of all, my identity is a secret between us. You can''t go around announcing it to everyone. So, just call me Ace."


    Seeing her nod in understanding, he smirked and pointed at Janice. "And look at her. Isn''t she way too pretty to be a Crusader?"


    Lilith stared at Janice for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah¡­ also way too dumb."


    Janice finally regained clarity, shaking off the lingering effects of Lilith''s madness. With a sharp exhale, she activated her armor, effortlessly breaking free from the roots that had restrained her. Shooting a glare at Lilith, she then turned to Elinor and shouted, "Damn it, Elinor! Tell her to stop doing that! I feel like I''m losing my mind¡ªit''s driving me insane! And for some reason, my mental defense curse tools don''t even register it as an attack. I don''t know how much more of that I can take."


    Elinor simply nodded, hoping that would be enough to appease her cousin, but Janice scoffed in frustration, shaking her head, "Fuck... I can''t believe I cut ties with the C.I.B. for this."


    Before she could stew in her regrets any longer, a familiar voice cut through the tension.


    "Hello there. You better have a damn good explanation," Ace said coolly as he placed Lilith down. His expression darkened. "Otherwise, that armor won''t be enough to save you from what I have planned for you."


    Lilith, oblivious to the tension, skipped over to Elinor like a lost lamb returning to its mother. Meanwhile, Janice let out a deep sigh, rubbing her temples before looking at Ace, "Where do I even begin?"

 Chapter 299 299: Slayers Curse

    "How about you keep it short and make it quick," Ace advised, his patience wearing thin.


    Janice sighed, crossing her arms. "Fine. It''s because of you. You stirred up a hornet''s nest by putting the spotlight on the cult hiding under the C.I.B.''s incompetence. Do you really think it all ends with your little cosplaying friends taking down the mutant rust worm that possessed Sir Beyton?"


    She scoffed, shaking her head. "Then you''re sorely mistaken, my silly nephew. Do you even realize what you''ve done? You''ve set something in motion that could lead to the downfall of the entire C.I.B.¡ªmaybe even the whole damn country. And for what? Some petty revenge?"


    Her words carried weight, but what irritated her most was the fact that Ace looked genuinely confused like he had no clue what she was talking about.


    "What do you mean?" he asked, brows furrowing. For a brief moment, he considered the possibility that Janice was trying to escape bearing responsibility by shifting the blame onto him. But no¡ªshe wasn''t that stupid.


    Janice rolled her eyes and jabbed a finger in Matthews'' direction, asking, "How do you think she managed to keep her job after everything that happened last night, genius?"


    Ace narrowed his eyes. It''s not like he hadn''t really thought about it. He had asked Matthews herself about it but never got an answer, so he put it in the back of his mind. But now that Janice mentioned it...


    Janice smirked. "Looks like your so-called ''information network'' isn''t as good as you claim." She then continued, "She still has her job because every single person who could''ve replaced her was reassigned¡ªto hunt down the Samsara cult."


    Ace shrugged. "As they should." He still didn''t see how the C.I.B. doing its job somehow equated to him starting the apocalypse.


    "Dumbass," Janice muttered in frustration, rubbing her temples. Then, shaking her head, she began explaining, "The Samsara Cult had infiltrated the C.I.B. for decades now. They know all of its top-secret operations and dirty laundry. And trust me, even a single one of those could get the C.I.B. into serious trouble with the Curse Council."


    She let out a sigh before continuing, "After their loss at our local C.I.B. branch last night, they tried to do exactly that¡ªexpose everything. Lucky for us, the Wisemen assigned to our country by the Curse Council were reasonable. And by ''reasonable,'' I mean they saw the Samsara Cult as a much bigger threat than the C.I.B.''s shady dealings." S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Janice crossed her arms before continuing, "So, they cut a deal. The Wisemen agreed to overlook the C.I.B.''s... questionable activities, but only under one condition: they had to shut down every single one of their illicit operations immediately and wipe out the Samsara Cult before things got out of control."


    She gave Ace a pointed look before revealing, "That''s why, since last night, the strongest agents in the C.I.B.¡ªalong with some of the country''s top curse users¡ªhave been hunting down the Samsara Cult together forgetting their petty differences. No pleas, No trial, just complete eradication."


    As Janice spoke, it finally started to sink in for Ace. While he had been sleeping soundly, the entire curse community had been flipped on its head¡ªso subtly that there wasn''t even a single post about it on the Curse Web.


    He believed that had to be the Wisemen''s doing after them no one had such capabilities. They were probably making sure this incident didn''t undermine the Curse Council''s authority in the mortal world.


    He knew the C.I.B. had engaged in some questionable activities under the guise of "controlling the unregistered curse-user problem." For instance, their secret surveillance at toll booths connected to properties owned by the Curse Council. And that alone, Ace realized, was enough for the Curse Council to send their Enforcers to wipe out the C.I.B. entirely.


    However, the C.I.B. was the only thing standing between the Samsara Cult and total control of the country, so they got a lucky break. The Curse Council, despite its authority, wasn''t willing to let the country collapse over the C.I.B.''s misdeeds¡ªespecially not when it was the most successful and progressive civilization they had seen since its founding. Letting it fall apart over some shady dealings would''ve been a waste, so they granted the C.I.B. a rare second chance.


    It wasn''t unheard of, but it was damn near close.


    That''s why, overnight, all most all major factions in the country had come together with a single goal: wipe out the Samsara Cult before they realized what hit them.


    They say nothing unites people faster than hate. But fear of death? That works just as well. Still, nothing beats hate.


    Ace finally pieced it together. "So, you''re here to protect my family from any retaliation by the Samsara Cult... or whatever''s left of them," he muttered, realizing that since the Cult''s attempt to bring down the C.I.B. had failed, they would likely redirect their fury elsewhere. And the most obvious target? The kid who had set off the chain of events leading to their downfall¡ªAce Lander. After all, Sir Beyton had blamed him for the incident in the VIP dining hall, which ultimately led to the eradication of the Immortal Sect''s remnants.


    But Janice shook her head, correcting Ace, "No, I''m here to protect Mandy''s family."


    Ace frowned, but before he could question her, Janice''s expression darkened as she warned, "And trust me, this won''t end with the Samsara Cult''s eradication. Thanks to the Samsara Cult our country''s dirty laundry is out in the open. Now our enemies and allies alike know what we did to them. Fortunately, our country has enough manpower to protect itself from the threat of the Mortal world but it is you who should be worried as since last night you had the misfortune of carrying the curse of a slayer... just like Delores."


    "Slayer''s Curse?" Ace repeated, confused. His gaze shifted toward Delores, who hovered silently on her board above them with Evil Eyes at her side.


    "Yes. Be prepared¡ªpeople who you didn''t even know existed will come looking for you now. Some to make a name for themselves, others to prove their worth to their families or sponsors. Which includes me," Janice''s voice was serious, her expression unreadable. Then, without warning, she lunged at Ace, throwing a punch aimed straight at his pretty face.

 Chapter 300 300: Hiring McSuile Family

    Jaince''s attack was fast¡ªtoo fast for anyone to react. But instead of meeting flesh, her fist slammed into a boulder, shattering it into a cloud of dirt and dust. Ace was nowhere in sight.


    Everyone froze, shocked by Janice''s sudden aggression. But she didn''t care. Ignoring their stares, she quickly scanned the area as she reached for her earring to take out one of her tracking curse tools¡ªonly for a sudden, overwhelming force to slam into her cursed armor.


    A devastating impact tore through her side, piercing a hole in her hip, sending an electric current through her body, paralyzing her, before launching her backward. She hit the ground hard, blood pooling beneath her, as she realized she couldn''t control her rampaging curse energy.


    A moment later, Ace appeared beside her, crouching down as he pressed a recovery talisman to her wound. His voice was calm, almost amused. "It''s cute that you actually thought you could beat me."


    Emi was hiding at the solar power plant with the rail rifle, Dame Wasp in its power chamber, while Doctor Druid was hiding underground. Ace wouldn''t just walk into what looked like a war zone without proper preparation. That included both a game plan and an escape plan. Also, Matthews and Janice seriously underestimating him helped.


    "You shot me," Janice groaned, her breath shaky, but she didn''t protest Ace''s help.


    Seeing her like this Ace sighed, his expression softened as he informed her making a request of her, "You don''t have to carry this burden for me. I''ll handle it myself. Just focus on protecting my family."


    He understood what she had tried to do¡ªdefeat him so the target on his back would shift to her instead. But that wasn''t how this was going to play out as trying to bring the spotlight on Beyton and 9Ks he had shone the spotlight on himself. Honestly, he had no idea that the Samsara Cult was behind all this. Had he known he would have played it out differently, more subtle and discreetly.


    Whether he liked it or not, Ace was now on the stage. He might as well use this opportunity to send a message¡ªif anyone came for him, they''d better be prepared to lose everything.


    Janice scoffed as she pushed herself back onto her feet now that her wound had fully healed, "Not only did you wreck my curse tool set, but now you want me to protect your family for free? Damn, you''re shameless and greedy. My opinion of you couldn''t possibly get any lower."


    Ace barely reacted, instead turning toward Elinor. "How about I make it up to you?" he said before casually dropping, "Elinor, I took the liberty of making you Lilith''s legal guardian. You don''t mind, do you?"


    "What?!" Elinor''s eyes widened in shock before narrowing in suspicion. "¡­I mean, I don''t mind, I was planning on that but how the hell did you pull that off so fast?"


    Ace shrugged. "Turns out paperwork moves a lot faster through the clogged pipes of government when it''s got the McSuile surname attached to it."


    That wasn''t the full truth, of course. He''d had to grease a lot of palms to make this happen so quickly, but without the weight of the McSuile name, no amount of money would''ve gotten people to cooperate.


    Then, without missing a beat, he turned to Matthews, informing her, "According to the C.I.B. code on minor curse users, Section 13, Annex D, as Lilith''s legal guardian, Elinor has agreed to compensate the families of the agents affected by her temporary insanity¡ªat ten times the amount the C.I.B. is offering."


    "I am?" Elinor asked in surprise as Ace let his words sink in before adding, "That comes out to about 97.78 billion dollars, but let''s round it up to 100 billion. The extra can go to the C.I.B.''s welfare fund as a show of goodwill."


    Silence fell over the room.


    "Say what now?!" Elinor blurted out, her eyes widening in shock learning she would have to pay a hundred billion dollars just to keep Lilith with her and out of prison.


    Sure, no amount of money could truly make up for what those families had lost, but that didn''t change the fact that she simply didn''t have that kind of cash. They said she had taken down a Void-tier Curseling, but its curse core was only worth a few billion¡ªnot a hundred. And knowing her father, he''d probably find a way to keep her from getting her share of it anyway.


    Ace, however, seemed completely unfazed. He met her gaze and said coolly, "Don''t worry. I''m giving you the money in exchange for protecting my family."


    At that, he glanced over at Janice, who nodded in agreement.


    Sonia, meanwhile, was staring at Ace like he''d just grown a second head, her mind was in disarray, ''He had a hundred billion dollars in liquid cash just lying around?! And he is throwing it at the McSuile family like it was pocket change?''


    Before anyone else could react, Matthews snapped.


    "No!" she shrieked, her voice shaking with barely contained fury. "She doesn''t just get to pay her way out of this claiming temporary insanity! She has to repent! She should spend the rest of her life paying for her sins!"


    Her hysteria filled the curse barrier. The idea that the murderer who had slaughtered her agents in cold blood could just throw money at the grieving families and walk away scot-free¡ªshe wouldn''t accept that. She couldn''t accept that.


    "EAD Matthews," Elinor said firmly, meeting her gaze head-on. "I lost my friends and colleagues last night too. I''m not planning to let her walk away from what she''s done. She will spend the rest of her life making up for it¡ªbut not locked away in some 5x4 cell. She''ll atone out in the world, with her own blood and sweat. Trust me, I''ll make sure she grows into someone who dedicates her life to those she''s hurt and make this world a better place."


    She gave Lilith''s tiny hand a reassuring squeeze, then added, "But at the end of the day, she''s just a misguided child¡ªa product of her unfortunate circumstances, things beyond her control. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive her and see eye to eye with me on this."


    Lilith''s gaze flickered anxiously between Elinor and Matthews.


    Matthews stood rigid, her breathing uneven as she glared at Elinor, then at Lilith. Her red-rimmed eyes burned with fury¡ªthen, suddenly, they filled with tears. But before a single drop could roll down her cheeks, she shot up into the sky, breaking through the cursed barrier array and vanishing into the clouds.


    A beat of silence followed before Elinor broke it with a sigh and glancing around she asked, "Sooo... was that a yes?"


    Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 301: National Asset Program - I

    "Probably," Ace answered with a shrug. Then, switching gears, he invited everyone, "Anyway, have you guys had breakfast yet? If not, you¡¯re all welcome at my place. Pancakes and bacon are on the menu. My mom and aunt stress-cook, so there¡¯s plenty to go around."


    "I should probably stop by and explain what happened," Janice said as she dismissed her armor, storing it away in her earrings. She pulled out her cursed compact mirror, quickly wiping away the blood from her skin and clothes while freshening up her makeup.


    "Yeah, you should," Ace agreed. "But let¡¯s get our story straight first. I told Mandy you were entertaining a foreign oligarch as your guest¡ªhence the rude security detail and the noisy Apaches."


    "That¡¯ll do. As expected of a habitual liar," Janice quipped, smirking. Then, tilting her head in curiosity, she asked, "How did you know the weak point of my cursed castle tool was the house¡¯s foundation?"


    Ace answered with a smirk, "The Leprechaun Scope revealed that the house was absorbing all the force and curse energy from Matthews¡¯ and the Apaches¡¯ attacks and storing it in the earth¡¯s crust for reuse. Gotta say it¡¯s a damn handy tool. Picking it up for a few hundred million was a steal."


    As they spoke, the flower garden and the damaged plants slowly began to regrow, rearranging themselves in a natural yet oddly precise pattern.


    Janice shook her head not dwelling on selling the scope to Ace as she believed the true value of a curse tool wasn¡¯t just about its abilities or tier¡ªit¡¯s about the hands wielding it. She was happy that the curse tool she crafted landed in capable hands.


    Sonia, who had crouched down beside a rosebush, gently touched a bud as it bloomed into a stunning rose. She looked up at Ace, curiosity dancing in her eyes. "Ace, exactly how many curse tools and abilities do you even have?"


    Ace raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. He knew Sonia still hadn¡¯t given up on her pursuit of vengeance¡ªshe was just playing the long game. Feeling his gaze on her, she turned to meet his eyes, tilting her head slightly with a coy smile.


    His smirk narrowed as his eyes sharpened, reading between the lines. Sonia, standing tall now, met his gaze head-on and passive-aggressively assured him, "Don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t target mortals¡ªunless they give me a reason to. So your family is safe¡­ unless any of them step into the ¡¯World of Curses.¡¯" Then, as if that last part was just a passing comment, she added, "Am I still invited to breakfast?"


    "Sure," Ace replied coolly, unfazed. He knew she was just trying to get under his skin and also he wasn¡¯t in the mood for bloodshed this early in the morning so he overlooked her comments.


    Satisfied, Sonia nodded before turning to Janice and placing an order, "By the way, your potion was a lifesaver. I haven¡¯t slept that soundly and felt this amazing in ages. Can I preorder a dozen?"


    Janice¡¯s eyes lit up at the opportunity. "Of course! But I also offer monthly and annual subscription plans¡ªway more cost-effective. If you¡¯re interested, I can email you the details." Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As a Curse Crafter, money was power to Janice¡ªarguably even more than Curse Energy itself. The curse tool she liked to use recklessly and casually detonated, each cost a small fortune to make. Therefore, despite earning as much as a small country¡¯s GDP, she always somehow found herself short on funds.


    "No need. Sign me up for the annual plan," Sonia said without even bothering with the details or seeking the plan best suitable for her needs. She wasn¡¯t trying to mimic Ace¡¯s reckless spending¡ªshe just wanted to secure as many of those potions as possible before Janice changed her mind. Besides, a few million was pocket change for her dad.


    "Great. I wish every customer was like you," Janice said with a satisfied grin as the group headed toward a row of black SUVs.


    Just then, Matthews returned, her expression calmer, as if she had finally wrestled her emotions into submission. She set her gaze on Ace and said, "Ace, can you help me send the Apaches to the nearest C.I.B. facility?"


    Ace blinked at her, feigning confusion. "Uh¡­ how exactly am I supposed to do that?" He knew exactly what she was trying to do¡ªgather evidence that he had hacked the Apaches, which would give her leverage to slap him with not just curse-criminal charges, but full-blown curse-terrorist allegations.


    Matthews sighed but gave a wry smirk. "Hey, I had to give it a shot. But Apex is too smart for me¡­ right, Lilith?" She turned to the little girl, flashing her the brightest, most innocent, and friendly smile, hoping to trip her up.


    Lilith blinked, tilting her head like she was trying to decipher a madwoman. "Apex? Ma¡¯am, you¡¯re mistaken¡ªthat¡¯s Ace."


    Ace chuckled. "Looks like even an eight-year-old is too smart for you, Matthews. Just stop with the tricks and give me a proper employment contract that I can actually sign."


    His casual tone was laced with intent¡ªhe wasn¡¯t against joining the C.I.B., but he had no intention of starting at the bottom.


    "You¡¯ve already seen what I¡¯m capable of. I think I¡¯m more than qualified to be recommended for the C.I.B.¡¯s National Asset program instead of the Priority Training program," Ace said smoothly. He had only learned about the National Asset program last night from Dame Wasp after she was done digging through the local C.I.B. headquarters¡¯ servers.


    The curse users in that program weren¡¯t just powerful¡ªthey were monsters. And because of that, they were granted an equal level of freedom and preferential treatment. Not even the president could command them or hold them accountable without a joint vote from the Justices of the Supreme Court.


    But getting into the program wasn¡¯t easy. There was a grueling trial one had to complete, and it was kept under wraps¡ªstrictly need-to-know. The only way an outsider even heard about it was if they were selected.

 Chapter 302: National Asset Program - II

    Ace had his doubts about the trial, though. Jason McSuile¡ªaka Crimson Eyes¡ªhad opted out after losing control of his power and accidentally killing two-thirds of his fellow challengers. That incident was the breaking point, the reason Crimson Eyes left the McSuile family in the hands of his aunts and uncles while he spent years slaving under Matthews.


    Still, the curse users from the National Asset program were the reason the C.I.B. had the confidence to stand up to the Curse Enforcers whenever tensions flared between the country and the Curse Council. But there weren¡¯t enough of them to truly free the country from the Council¡¯s shadow.


    "There¡¯s a level higher than the Priority Training program?" Sonia asked Matthews, her disbelief clear in her tone.


    "Yes, there is," Matthews confirmed. "The top recruits from the C.I.B.¡¯s Priority Training program are given a chance to participate in the trial for the National Asset Program¡ªbut honestly, they¡¯re mostly there to make up the numbers. The gap between them and the ones specifically chosen for the program is massive."


    She paused before adding, "It might be a brutal and demeaning trial, but we have to convince the investors that their money isn¡¯t being wasted training some average joes. They need some reference to measure these monsters against, who better than the C.I.B.¡¯s best and brightest trainees."


    Then, after a brief hesitation, Matthews continued, "That¡¯s why your father wanted you to top the C.I.B. boot camp, Sonia. He believed that with the right guidance, you could become a National Asset. It¡¯s the only way he sees himself escaping the C.I.B. But with Lola around¡­ I doubt that¡¯ll be possible."


    "Wait¡­ the C.I.B. has investors? I thought we were entirely government-funded," Elinor said, blinking in surprise, revealing just how little she knew about the organization she worked for.


    Sonia scoffed. "Are you sure you work for the C.I.B.? Even I know that only a third of its funding comes from the government. Another third comes from the mortals on the wealth watch list, and the last third comes from the loot they collect during operations," she explained, her voice laced with a hint of smugness. She wasn¡¯t just talking big when she said she would top the C.I.B. boot camp¡ªshe had already memorized the trainee handbook by heart and had been reading every book recommended by the C.I.B. agents she had recently befriended.


    Ace chuckled. "Hate to burst your bubble, but that¡¯s just what they want the world to think. The things they actually do to gather funds... Let¡¯s just say, if you knew what I knew, you might start seeing your father¡¯s guild¡¯s dilemma in a whole new light."


    His words struck a nerve with Sonia, causing her to snap at him, "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Sonia¡¯s eyes flashed with anger replacing her previous passive-aggressive approach toward him.


    It was no secret to everyone present that her father was her reverse scale¡ªthe one thing that could set her off instantly.


    Ace just smirked. "Make of it what you will," he said, knowing full well that, given their history, Sonia was bound to take his words the wrong way. Hell, she might even do the exact opposite of what he was hinting at. And that fact? It amused him to no end.


    Sonia wasn¡¯t done with him yet, but she went quiet the moment she felt Matthews¡¯ sharp gaze on her.


    Matthews then turned to Ace and said, "Honestly, Ace, I¡¯d love to recommend you for the National Asset Program, but aside from the fact that you¡¯re a Mortal Curse Master who got lucky with a powerful rifle-shaped curse tool capable of killing sky-tier curse users, I know next to nothing about you or your actual prowess. To be frank, I wouldn¡¯t even recommend you for priority training." S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She crossed her arms and with an unreadable expression she continued, "Now that I think about it, the terms of the employment contract I gave you were way too generous for someone whose entire skillset seems to revolve around a single peculiar rifle. Instead of wasting money on giving you priority training, maybe we should just use that money to buy the rifle from you."


    "Hahaha!" Janice burst into laughter at Matthews¡¯ sarcastic remarks about Ace thinking he should be considered for the National Asset program. Until today, she believed that anyone with a bit of luck could get into the program¡ªafter all, her elder brother had been chosen. But now, she saw things differently.


    "Ace, just be happy with the priority training," Delores chimed in. "And if you somehow manage to become the top trainee, do yourself a favor and give your spot to someone dumb but resilient¡ªlike Sonia."


    "Hey!" Sonia huffed, taking offense. But then, after a moment¡¯s thought, she realized it didn¡¯t really matter how she became the top trainee¡ªas long as she got there.


    Her expression shifted in an instant. "Yes, Ace! Give it to me¡ªI¡¯ll gladly take it," she said hurriedly, seizing the opportunity.


    Ignoring Sonia¡¯s rhetoric, Ace understood where Delores¡¯ concern was coming from. The competition for a spot in the National Asset Program was brutal, and even those who made it weren¡¯t guaranteed to become a National Asset. Unlike other training programs, the National Asset Program wasn¡¯t about learning¡ªit was a series of grueling trials designed to determine if someone was worthy of the title: National Asset.


    It was so mentally and physically exhausting that even the best of the best, like Crimson Eyes, had lost control and gone on a rampage¡ªplaying right into his competitors¡¯ hands. To prevent himself from spiraling further, Crimson Eyes had no choice but to withdraw from the trail entirely.


    The curse users in that program were monsters. If some found even a small weakness, they would exploit it mercilessly, making their competition wish for death. Crimson Eyes was living proof of that¡ªhe still hadn¡¯t escaped the shadow of what happened and was being taken advantage of by Matthews, C.I.B., and his relatives.

 Chapter 303 303: Own It

    "So, that''s a definite no on your end?" Ace confirmed with Matthews one last time.


    "All I''m saying is that your rifle-shaped curse tool alone isn''t enough to justify recommending you for the National Asset Program¡ªor even the Priority Training Program," Matthews explained with a shrug. Then, shaking her head, she added, "If you really want my recommendation, give me a damn good reason."


    "Like what?" Ace asked, trying to gauge what exactly Matthews would consider enough. He knew he was more than capable, considering the standards of those selected for the program in the previous years.


    Matthews'' lips curled into a grim grin as she suggested, "Own up to everything." Then, with an edge of amusement, she added, "Everything we know you did but can''t prove. That should be enough to get you my recommendation."


    Ace let out a dry chuckle. "I guess topping the C.I.B. boot camp¡ªthough tiresome¡ªisn''t such a bad route either," he mused. He knew full well that taking Matthews'' deal would make him the next Crimson Eyes¡ªor, land him in a position worse than Jason''s as he did not have a royal family to shield him from the fallout like Crimson Eyes did when he cold-bloodedly killed two third of the fellow challengers.


    "No!" Sonia immediately yelled, reacting before anyone else. Then, as if just processing what she''d heard, she shook her head furiously and repeated, "No, no, no!" Turning to Matthews with near panic, she pleaded, "Please let me transfer to another C.I.B. branch¡ªanywhere else. With him and Lola around, there''s no way I''m topping this boot camp. I won''t even stand out!" S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sonia!" Matthews snapped, her voice thundering with authority as she watched Sonia spiral into a full-blown meltdown.


    "Ma''am, I can''t," Sonia blurted, her voice laced with frustration. "Lola is one thing, but this asshole¡ªit''s like there''s nothing in the world he isn''t capable of. Just give him the damn recommendation or let me switch to a different branch!" she nearly shouted, teetering on the edge of hysteria.


    At first, she had dismissed Ace, thinking he was nothing without his rifle-shaped curse tool. But after today¡ªafter watching him take down both Matthews and Janice, after seeing him toss around a hundred billion dollars like pocket change¡ªshe saw things differently. He outclassed her in every way she could think of. And that realization terrified her. Honestly, she was more scared of him now than when he had forced her decapitated head to watch as he dissected her body before burying her head alive.


    Matthews narrowed her eyes, irritation flickering across her face, but seeing how much Sonia had invested in this¡ªhow much this meant to her¡ªshe let it slide. Still, her patience had limits. "Kid, get it together before I slap you straight," she snapped.


    "B-but¡­" Sonia stammered, wanting to argue, but what was the point? Matthews wasn''t going to transfer her hostage to someone else. She wasn''t going to help Ace, whom she wanted to turn into her ladder to climb the ranks, climb to a higher rank than hers, either. Sonia realized, in that moment, how bleak her future looked¡ªno matter how hard she tried or how much she wanted to overturn it.


    Then, suddenly, a thought crossed her mind, ''Was this what Ace meant when he said if I knew what he knew, I might start seeing my father''s guild''s dilemma in a whole new light?''


    And just like that, her perspective shifted. For the first time, putting aside her thirst for vengeance, she saw Ace as something else¡ªnot just an enemy, but possibly the only bridge, the rainbow bridge, that could lead her and her father out of Matthews'' and the C.I.B.''s iron shackles.


    "Stop looking at me like that, creep," Ace snapped, feeling an uncomfortable shiver run down his spine. Sonia''s stare was weird¡ªtoo intense, too calculating¡ªand it jolted her out of whatever deep train of thought she had been lost in.


    Her expression darkened as she met his eyes. Then, with eerie certainty, she prophesied, "Mark my words, Ace Lander, I will be the death of you."


    Ace''s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. He regretted not killing her a few more times when he''d had the chance. But with Matthews present, harming or even threatening her wasn''t an option. Not right now, anyway. She was a C.I.B. trainee, and he was still an unregistered Curse Master. Unlike the rest, he couldn''t simply go through the proper channels to register, not without being forced to disclose his innate curse tool and curse arts. But since he''d already shown intent to register, he had some time before it would be considered an offense serious enough to be a real problem.


    Ignoring their little showdown, Matthews turned to Janice and asked, "Can I leave the Apaches here until I make arrangements to have them hauled back to camp?"


    Janice shrugged, motioning toward Ace, "Ask him. He''s my landlord."


    Matthews sighed and turned to Ace.


    "You can," Ace agreed with a lazy nod. "But I''m not responsible if they get stolen or damaged. I''m just a low-tier Curse Master who got lucky with a peculiar rifle-shaped curse tool. So, I don''t have the strength or the manpower to guard them."


    If anyone else had said that, Matthews would''ve laughed it off as a joke. But since it was Ace, and considering how readily he''d agreed without her even needing to press him, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle.


    Without missing a beat, she turned back to Janice and said, "You know what? I want to rent a storage-type curse tool for half an hour. I''ll transport the Apaches myself."


    "I don''t have a storage-type curse tool capable of storing and carrying these three Apaches," Janice said with a shrug. Then, with a smirk, she added, "Even if I did, believe me, you wouldn''t be able to afford it¡ªespecially with how tight your C.I.B. branch''s finances are right now."


    She was lying.


    She had exactly the kind of curse tool Matthews wanted to rent, but curiosity got the better of her. She wanted to see if Ace really planned to steal the Apaches. The prospect of watching this unfold firsthand was far more entertaining than the money she''d make from renting the tool. So, as far as she was concerned, giving up that profit was just the price of a front-row seat to the drama.


    "Can''t you just carry them to the base yourself?" Sonia chimed in, hiding the fact that she knew Janice was lying to Matthews. She didn''t want to piss her off, as she needed her potions to get her sanity to optimal level after being killed over and over again or when she fused with Madam Scratchifur. Janice''s potion was the miracle drug that she had been looking for.


    Janice grinned, leaning into the idea with a sarcastic undertone, "Yeah, Matthews, that''s an idea. Why don''t you just do that?"


    "Shut up!" Matthews snapped at both of them, clearly fed up. Without wasting another second, she stormed off to arrange for enough C.I.B. agents to guard the Apaches, making sure Ace wouldn''t get a chance to pull anything before she secured transport to the camp¡ªhundreds of miles away on the outskirts of the city.


    If she had followed Sonia''s brilliant suggestion, she would''ve collapsed from exhaustion before carrying even one of those damn helicopters out of town.

 Chapter 304: Elinor The Pedophile

    "I want pancakes!" Lilith suddenly yelled from the SUV window, her small face scrunching up in frustration. She was done waiting for the adults to wrap things up¡ªcandy wasn¡¯t a proper breakfast, and she wanted real food.


    "You heard her," Janice said, smirking at Matthews who just returned, "Anything else?"


    Matthews returned leading a squad of agents who immediately positioned themselves around the Apaches as their lives depended on it. Without missing a beat, she turned to Ace and asked, "So, are you interested in signing the employment contract? Or would you rather just sell your rifle-shaped curse tool? I can get you a good deal for it."


    "If you¡¯re selling the rifle, I want it," Janice added, making her interest crystal clear.


    Ace rolled his eyes at both of them before uttering in annoyance, "Do I look like someone short on money?"


    Matthews smirked. "Money? No. But curse arts and resources? Yes." She crossed her arms and continued, "The C.I.B. would love to trade your rifle-shaped curse tool for any rare, regulated curse resources or arts. Just name it."


    Ace¡¯s gaze flicked between her and Janice, his expression unreadable. But then, firmly, he declared, "No. My Rail Rifle is not for sale."


    They weren¡¯t entirely wrong, though. He was short on good curse arts and resources. He needed a reliable source to procure them¡ªand fast.


    Luckily, Dame Wasp had already tracked down the supplier the local C.I.B. branch used for their curse resources. He¡¯d have to check them out when he had the time. As for curse arts? That was trickier. The real ones, the good ones, weren¡¯t just sitting around on C.I.B. servers for the taking. Agents had to redeem them in person, and they were forced to sign binding curse contracts to ensure they weren¡¯t reselling or leaking them to meet their greed and ambitions.


    Ace sighed. Mentally noting the list of things he had to do, attending the school was the last thing on his mind.


    As Sonia moved to take a seat in one of the SUVs, planning to have breakfast with Ace¡¯s people, Matthews grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back.


    "You¡¯re coming with me," Matthews stated firmly. Sonia was her recruit, not the McSuile family¡¯s. The only reason she had let her linger with Janice was to make connections¡ªbut now that she had, it was time for her to return.


    "Yes, ma¡¯am," Sonia nodded, hiding her disappointment. Before stepping away, she turned to Janice and said, "Send me the invoice. I¡¯ll complete the transaction as soon as possible."


    "Got it," Janice replied with a nod.


    Once everyone was settled, the McSuile guards started driving them toward the Lander house while Matthews reminded Ace aloud, "Don¡¯t forget to hand over the signed employment contract to either Layla or me."


    As they made it past the barricade, Lilith turned to Ace with an expectant look, and eagerly asked, "Where¡¯s Doctor Durid? When can I see her?"


    Elinor¡¯s ears perked up at that. She waited, her curiosity barely contained, wanting to hear Ace¡¯s answer. She was still trying to piece together if Lilith was right¡ªif Ace and Apex were the same person. But then, an uncomfortable thought crept in, ¡¯If they are the same¡­ does that make me a pedophile?¡¯


    She quickly shook off the idea, trying to reason with herself. No, no, that¡¯s ridiculous. But she still hoped¡ªfor the sake of her love life¡ªthat Lilith was wrong. Because if she was wrong, then Elinor could at least get Apex¡¯s number from Ace.


    Ace, meanwhile, smirked at Lilith¡¯s persistence. "If you¡¯re a good girl and listen to your sister Elinor, she¡¯ll visit you soon."


    Then, curiosity got the better of him. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "How do you always manage to differentiate and find me when no one else can?"


    "It¡¯s my innate curse art," Lilith explained matter-of-factly. "It makes me aware of the living and the dead in my vicinity. It also lets me differentiate and identify them in my own unique way¡ªlike a personal serial number for every living and dead I come across. That way, I can command them individually or as a group when I control them. It¡¯s a very sophisticated mechanism." Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her explanation sounded rehearsed, almost as if she were repeating something memorized¡ªprobably the exact words her old captain had taught her to use when introducing her abilities to the higher-ups in the cult.


    "Sophisticated?" Ace raised a brow, caught off guard by her vocabulary. It was impressive, especially considering she had dropped out of second grade.


    "It means highly complex," Lilith said proudly as if proving her intelligence. "It tells how strong and capable my innate curse art is."


    "Oh, so you¡¯re not just strong¡ªyou¡¯re smart too." Ace grinned, giving her the praise she clearly sought. He couldn¡¯t help but reach out and pat her head, finding her adorably smug expression amusing.


    Then, out of nowhere, Elinor muttered, "So¡­ you are Apex, huh?" Her tone was heavy, like she had just witnessed her romantic future shatter into dust before it even had a chance to bloom.


    "I told her. Sorry," Lilith mumbled, lowering her head, guilt creeping into her voice. She fully expected Ace to be mad at her for exposing his identity.


    To her surprise, he simply chuckled, shaking his head. "It¡¯s okay. Elinor¡¯s one of the good guys. She¡¯s a friend of the Moon Race."


    "Oh!" Lilith¡¯s eyes lit up as she turned to Elinor with admiration as if she were looking at her in a whole new light. Then, shifting her gaze back to Ace, she asked hesitantly, "Am I a friend of the Moon Race?"


    Ace narrowed his eyes playfully. "You tell me. Are you a friend of the Moon Race?"


    Lilith hesitated for a moment before nodding firmly. "I want to be a friend of the Moon Race."


    "Then you are a friend of the Moon Race," Ace said, patting Lilith¡¯s head as she beamed with joy.


    "Ace¡­ you know if Matthews asks me, I won¡¯t lie to her, right?" Elinor suddenly spoke up, her tone firm. She wanted to make it clear¡ªshe wouldn¡¯t compromise her principles for him.


    Ace met her gaze without hesitation. "Yeah, I know." He nodded, completely unfazed.


    Elinor blinked, caught off guard. That was not the reaction she was expecting. Usually, this was the moment when people who claimed to be her friends realized she wasn¡¯t as useful to them as they¡¯d hoped¡ªwhen they distanced themselves.


    But Ace didn¡¯t even flinch.

 Chapter 305 305: Buying Rockworth Estate

    "I can''t believe those two bitches lied to my face. They think they got away with it, but joke''s on them," Mandy huffed, sprawled out on the couch opposite her nephews. The adults were outside checking the damage the Apaches had done to the fields, leaving her stewing in betrayal and frustration.


    Then, suddenly sitting up, she turned to Ace and asked, "Okay, seriously¡ªwhy are they really here? And what the hell happened earlier?"


    "I hired them to protect you guys while I''m not around," Ace replied casually, though he kept it vague. He noticed Danny wasn''t paying much attention, engrossed in his handheld console.


    "Say what now?" Danny blurted, his head snapping up. He''d managed to skip school thanks to the Apaches scaring his parents into remembering how much they loved him¡ªeven if he did seem destined to live in their house forever and amount to nothing.


    Ace smirked. "I''m kidding. How would I know why they''re here? Maybe she just needed to stay close to her best friend." Then, glancing at Danny''s headphones, he added, "And those earphones, are they just for show?" Signaling Mandy to watch what she said.


    "Ugh, I am so pissed right now. Those two were the only people I thought I didn''t have to be on guard around." Mandy groaned dramatically, then chucked a cushion straight at Ace''s face. "Nephew, you ruined my friends for me¡ªgive them back!"


    Before Ace could respond, Danny suddenly spoke up. "Hey, guys. Brooke and Brock Rockworth dropped out of school. Their family sold all their estate and left town overnight." His voice carried pure disbelief as he read the news on his phone.


    "What?" Mandy''s jaw dropped. She couldn''t wrap her head around it. The Rockworths sold their entire estate overnight? That didn''t just happen. Even if David Rockworth was willing to sell the estate at a third of the price, she couldn''t think of anyone with the capital¡ªor the sheer boldness¡ªto pull off a deal like that.


    This was exactly why Mandy had boldly given David one day to make arrangements before she turned in everything she had on him to the authorities.


    What really pissed her off was that she should have seen this coming. The moment David failed to visit their estate to return her brother-in-law''s family land and apologize, she should have known something was up.


    Narrowing her eyes, she suddenly blurted, "I bet it was Gregory. He must''ve used the money I helped him gather for the Lansky orchard to buy the Rockworth estate instead. Shit. I thought those two assholes didn''t get along."


    "They don''t," Ace confirmed. "But once David realized you screwed Old Greg over in the auto salvage yard and the Lansky orchard deals, he ran straight to Gregory with a discount too good for the greedy old man to refuse. However, just as Gregory was about to seal the deal, another buyer swooped in and bought the estate at its original price."


    Mandy''s eyes narrowed. "Wait¡­ was that buyer you?" She figured considering the sensitive details Ace revealed.


    Ace smirked. "Where would a high schooler like me get that kind of money overnight?" He paused, then added, "But yes. I bought the Rockworth estate."


    Mandy shrieked in excitement, clapping her hands before launching herself at Ace. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she plopped onto his lap sideways and planted a celebratory kiss on his cheek.


    "It''s official¡ªyou are my favorite nephew!" she announced dramatically.


    Ace, still slightly stunned, blinked at her. "Wait¡­ aren''t you mad I let the Rockworths leave with the money?"


    "It''s a bummer that I don''t get to see his ass rot in jail, but this is good enough," Mandy said, practically vibrating with excitement. "Not only did we strong-arm the Rockworths out of town, but we own their entire estate now. Dan is gonna lose his mind!"


    She jumped off Ace''s lap, reaching for her phone to call Dan, but then hesitated. "No. I gotta tell him in person¡ªI need to see his face when he hears this."


    Ace watched her in amusement but kept his mouth shut about the other little detail. After the deal was done, he''d had Dame Wasp steal all the money back, leaving the Rockworths completely broke. They were already halfway across the globe, on the run. If they ever dared to come back, Mandy would definitely get her wish of seeing David rot in prison.


    Since he didn''t trust the Rockworths to begin with, Ace had Dame Wasp keep tabs on David. So, the moment she found out that David was trying to offload his property to Gregory at a huge discount, Ace made his move. He quickly set up an agribusiness company, hired a top-tier law firm, and had them legitimize the deal. Within one day, the entire transaction was completed¡ªno hiccups, no loopholes, no chance for David to weasel out of it.


    Danny, who had been quietly absorbing all of this, suddenly turned to Ace, eyes wide asking, "Ace¡­ Rockworth''s estate is worth, like, twenty million dollars. Where the hell did you get that kind of money?" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was genuinely baffled. Just a little while ago, his cousin had been struggling to afford a damn sex doll¡ªand now he was out here buying entire estates like it was nothing.


    "Don''t worry about the details," Ace said, waving off Danny''s concern. "What you should worry about is losing weight¡ªbecause you''re going to be the face of our agribusiness company."


    He expected Danny to be thrilled at the idea of making tons of money just for losing weight and, well, being his cousin.


    "What?!" Danny and Mandy exclaimed in unison.


    Ignoring their shock, Ace continued, "Mandy, you''re going to be the CEO. Your main job will be buying up as much land around here as possible. And I don''t mind if you hire women from your shelter as staff¡ªeither for the factory or for farming."


    "Wait¡ªhold up!" Mandy interjected, eyes narrowing. "I thought you were gonna think of an idea and discuss it together¡ª"


    Before she could fully voice her disbelief and displeasure over Ace trying to railroad her from her project and take over it, Danny freaked out yelling, "WHO said I wanted to be the brand ambassador of your damn agribusiness?!" he yelled, his face twisting in horror. "This is EXACTLY why I don''t talk to people about wanting to lose weight!"

 Chapter 306 306: Agribusiness, Family Business

    "Alright, alright," Ace sighed dramatically, throwing up his hands. "I get it. You guys aren''t exactly thrilled about working for my company. I understand. If you don''t want to be part of my dream, no big deal. I''ll just hire other people..." His tone was so exaggerated he might as well have put up a flashing sign that read I''m messing with you.


    "Get him!" Danny yelled, chucking his handheld console aside before launching himself at Ace, trying to use his weight to his advantage. Mandy, not one to miss an opportunity, joined in by landing a few punches of her own.


    Ace surrendered, mostly because he didn''t want to hurt them¡ªnot because their attacks were effective. Once the two finally got tired, he dusted himself off and asked, "Now can we talk?"


    Danny, still catching his breath, narrowed his eyes. "This about me losing weight again?" He would have stormed out, but honestly, he was too exhausted. Ace''s skin was way tougher than anything he''d ever punched before.


    "Yes. Because my entire business model is based around it," Ace said, his tone shifting to something more serious. "Remember that Fasting Pill I mentioned to you by the bakery? Trust me¡ªwith its help and a little exercise, in 40 days you won''t just lose the extra fat, you''ll look better than me."


    Danny raised an eyebrow showing Ace had his attention.


    Ace smirked. "I plan to record your transformation and use it to advertise our product. That''s why you have to be our company''s brand ambassador. And if anything goes wrong¡ª" He held up a finger. "¡ªI''ll buy not one, but two sex dolls."


    Danny''s head snapped up.


    "But that only counts if you do exactly as I say for the next 40 days," Ace added. Then, leaning in slightly, he asked, "So... do we have a deal?"


    "Fine," Danny sighed, crossing his arms. "But if I''m gonna be the male brand ambassador, I get to pick who the female brand ambassador is."


    Ace nodded but raised a finger. "Deal¡ªbut she can''t be a fictional character. She has to be a real person."


    Danny smirked. "Deal." He had already started running through a mental list of candidates.


    Mandy, who had been listening with mild amusement, finally chimed in. "And where do I and my girls fit into all of this?"


    Ace didn''t hesitate. "We''re growing the ingredients for our product in-house, which means we need a lot of farmland and a lot of trustworthy staff to manage it¡ªnot to mention securing land and workers for the factory. That''s where you guys come in."


    Mandy raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly are you gonna do?" S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace leaned back, completely unfazed. "I''ll handle financing and legal stuff. You guys won''t have to worry about capital, permits, accounting, authorities, or security¡ªI''ve got it all covered. And before you ask, yes, all the money being invested is clean and mine. As long as I''m alive, no one''s gonna mess with our business."


    Mandy folded her arms, giving him an approving nod. She had always wanted to start her own agribusiness but lacked the connections outside their county¡ªand she didn''t want to rely on Janice too much. With Ace handling the big-picture logistics, this could actually work.


    Danny, on the other hand, was starting to feel a little... useless. "Damn. I suddenly feel incompetent," he muttered. "There''s gotta be more I can do, right?"


    "Sorry, buddy, but that''s all I''ve got for you. Gotta save some spots for my sister, Mom, and Aunt Pam," Ace said, carefully choosing his words to avoid bruising Danny''s ego. His cousin was just an average teenager¡ªif he could stick to his diet, lose the extra weight in forty days, and actually become the company''s brand ambassador, that alone would be a huge achievement.


    Danny frowned. "I''m fine with Lyra, but why are you bringing our moms into this? They''re gonna micromanage everything we do!"


    "Shut up, fatty. That''s my sister you''re talking about," Mandy snapped, clearly irritated. Unlike Danny, she was taking this seriously. She had a lot riding on this agribusiness¡ªnot just for herself but for the women at her shelter and the people in town. She had always wanted to start a project like this, but knowing her limits, she had stuck to smaller things, like running a B&B.


    She turned back to Ace, arms crossed. "You sure this product of yours is gonna work?" she asked. If everything depended on it, they couldn''t afford for it to flop. No matter how hard they worked or how much they wanted this business to succeed, if the product was trash, it wouldn''t matter.


    Ace didn''t even hesitate. "Yes. You''ll witness its greatness for yourself."


    Mandy narrowed her eyes. "Where''s the product? You got any on you?" She wasn''t about to take any chances. If she was going to invest emotionally and mentally in this project, she needed to see proof that Ace could actually deliver.


    "I don''t have any on me right now, but how about this¡ªlet''s all have it for lunch this afternoon," Ace suggested. "Just make sure you don''t eat anything beforehand. Empty your stomach completely, or you''ll feel bloated, overly full, and maybe even throw up from overeating." His tone was firm¡ªhe needed Mandy and Danny to understand how important it was to take the pills on an empty stomach.


    The fasting pills from the Nakamura school had no side effects, but they were packed with enough energy to sustain a ninja for an entire day. For the average person, that was way too much. Emi was already working on a weaker version, but even that was more than most people needed. If Mandy and Danny took them on a full stomach, they''d feel like they had just eaten an entire Thanksgiving dinner in one sitting.


    Mandy narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "This isn''t some mumbo-jumbo country medicine, is it? Because if it is, I swear to you, Ace, I''ll spank you," she warned, crossing her arms. She had zero patience for nonsense¡ªif this turned out to be some scam, she wasn''t about to waste her time.


    "It''s not," Ace replied, unfazed. "No point in arguing¡ªyou''ll see for yourself at lunch." He wasn''t going to waste his breath convincing her. She''d make up her own mind once she had tested it.

 Chapter 307 307: Lyras Weakness

    Seeing Mandy get up and head to her room, Danny asked, "Where are you going?"


    "It''s been a while since I left the real estate business. I need to go check if the checkerboard, my pieces, and the players are still the same as I left them," Mandy said, showing she trusted Ace enough to get started even before results were in.


    Seeing Mandy preparing to pull her weight, Danny resolved himself and said, "Mandy, let me join you. Make me your intern or assistant. Please, hear me out. I know what kind of coffee and sweets you like. I promise I will work my ass off. If I slack off or get your order wrong even once, you can fire me right then and there. I will leave without complaining."


    Mandy paused, listening to her nephew. She looked into his eyes and found that each word he spoke was genuine and held a firm resolve. Therefore, she couldn''t help but consider it. However, she knew her nephew well enough to know his resolve was often momentary; by lunch, he''d likely be back to his old self.


    "You don''t have to pay me, I''ll do it for free," Danny proposed, familiar with the look on Mandy''s face when she was about to reject him.


    "That''s a given; you have no qualifications, nor are you an eye candy," Mandy said, rolling her eyes. But then, seeing her nephew''s resolved face, she said, "I know I''m going to regret this, but you know what? I''ll give you one shot. Remember, there won''t be another."


    "Yes, Ma''am," Danny said, jumping to his feet and saluting Mandy. Seeing this, she cringed, already regretting her decision, and said, "You''re fired. I changed my mind."


    "You''re kidding, right?" Danny asked, looking like a lost, but sweaty, puppy.


    "Yeah, get dressed and meet me by my car. If you''re late, I''ll fire your ass faster than you can finish a donut," Mandy warned Danny before nearing the stairs. But before she could climb them, she felt like she''d been hit by a small truck, shoving her aside. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Danny run up the stairs, yelling, "Sorry, Mandy! My new boss is a stickler!"


    "You''re fired! You hear me, fatty? Fired!" Mandy yelled, running after him.


    Ace shook his head, recalling his sister seeing the dynamic between Danny and Mandy. Taking out his phone, he decided to give her a call, hoping she had forgiven him by now. And to his amazement, she answered immediately.


    "Asshole, stop bothering me, or I''ll block your number," Lyra warned her brother, letting him know she hadn''t forgiven him yet.


    "If I''m an asshole, then what are you? The dick¡ªthe she-dick," Ace retorted, grabbing for the first words that came to his mind.


    "She-dick? That''s not even a word, dumbass. Did you shit your brain out? Go check the toilet, it should still be floating there. Since you don''t know how to flush," Lyra didn''t spare her little brother, she went ballistic on him, leaving Ace struggling to find words to insult her without hurting her ego any further, still, he tried, "Insults aren''t always accurate. If we''re being accurate, how the hell would I shit my brain?"


    "Because you''re an asshole, remember? Geez, your condition is worse than I thought. Just go get your brain already, before someone flushes it down the toilet." Lyra was no longer angry. Seeing her brother searching for insults to defend himself, she couldn''t help but remember how helpless he was without her.


    "I miss you, sis. Come back home," Ace said, thinking Lyra might be open to reason now that she had insulted him enough. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No, I can''t. Someone said my comics suck, and I need to complete this comic course to make a living off my comics," Lyra replied, reminding Ace that it was his idea that she attend a comic artist course so far from home.


    "That asshole had no idea what he was talking about; your comics are great. I love every one of them. You know what? I''ll apologize to you on behalf of that asshole. Just come back home. I''ve already talked with the family. Pam even said you can use part of the attic as your art studio. Isn''t that great?" Ace tried to persuade his sister to give up the comic course and come home, where he could ensure her safety.


    "Ooh, my very own art studio? I like the sound of that, but¡ª" Lyra was still not convinced, but before she could reject him, Ace interrupted her, saying, "Just come home. Do you want me to beg? Because I''m prepared to beg you."


    "Geez, why are you getting so dramatic? You sound like our mother¡ª"


    "Lyra Lander!"


    "Fine, I''ll come home, Mom!" Lyra exclaimed, agreeing to return home. When it came to her little brother, she always found herself unable to say no, which was why she would choose to ignore his calls when she was mad at him.


    "Great, I sent the itinerary to your phone. Make sure you''re at the airport an hour and a half early. See you at dinner. I''ll ask Pam to cook your favorite," Ace said, while Dame Wasp shared the itinerary to Lyra''s phone.


    "Wait, I need time to get my fees refunded, my room deposit, and to pack my things¡ªFirst class! Ace, something''s wrong with this¡ª" Lyra was taken aback that it was a first-class ticket; she couldn''t believe it. However, Ace cut in and clarified, "Yes, it''s a first-class ticket. Nothing but the best for my sister. I also have people arranged to pick you up at the airport here. Also, don''t stress over the tuition fee and room deposit; I''ll have our family lawyers deal with it."


    "What...what...what?" Lyra paused, took a few deep breaths to process everything her brother had just said, and then answered, "I''ll be at the airport three hours early and make sure to enjoy all the amenities of the first-class waiting room."


    "Holy shit, they have an in-house sap¡ªtherapy dogs! They have therapy dogs, omg! I''m packing my bags and heading there right now," Lyra said, while simultaneously checking the amenities provided by the city''s airport''s first-class waiting room on her phone. She decided not to ask any questions about her brother''s generosity and just roll with it.

 Chapter 308 308: Dannys Change

    "Alright, see you at dinner," Ace said, knowing his sister''s love for dogs.


    Lyra loved dogs and puppies more than humans. However, she never dared to get one herself because of their short lifespan. She couldn''t go through that again. Their neighbors, the Johnsons, had a dog. Lyra loved it like her own, but she was devastated when the Johnsons had to send it to a farm. She even attended therapy for a few weeks to cope with that loss.


    "Love you, little brother. Don''t worry, I''ll make sure to get your money''s worth," Lyra said, hanging up the call and beginning to pack her things. She couldn''t wait to spend time with the therapy dogs.


    "Wow, she''s so easy," Mandy said from the stairs, dressed in a formal gray suit, looking like a sexy predator ready to hunt.


    She had talked to Lyra later that night and the following one, feeling guilty that she made them fight. She tried to persuade Lyra, but Lyra wouldn''t listen to reason. Turned out, all she needed was her brother, not her nosy aunt who was way younger than her.


    "Hey, that''s my sister you''re talking about, but yes, all it takes is a puppy to get her to throw the big L-word around like she''s hopped up on painkillers," Ace said, knowing his sister''s love for dogs was her biggest weakness.


    "By the way, check your email. I''ve already decided on the location for the factory and sent you the list of properties you need to procure, along with the numbers and details for our finance, accounting, legal, and IT teams. If you need anything, contact them anytime, day or night," Ace informed Mandy that he needed her to do more than just get the lay of the local real estate market.


    "IT team?" Mandy asked in confusion, wondering why they would need an IT team at this stage of their company.


    "These guys can gather information on anyone or hack into anything. Not to brag, but they''re better than the geeks Janice''s family employs," Ace said, making sure Mandy knew she had all the resources she needed to complete the task he had assigned her.


    These finance, accounting, legal, and IT teams that Ace boasted about were all one person¡ªor a toy¡ªDame Wasp. However, he did hire a prestigious law firm just in case they needed a physical presence, like yesterday with David Rockworth.


    As for security, Janice''s guards would always be guarding her without her knowledge. That was a given, as Mandy was her best friend, and he had given them 100 billion dollars so that Elinor could keep Lilith, adding another monster to the McSuile family.


    "Wow, it seems you''ve thought through everything. That''s great," Mandy said, impressed. She felt that it was worth the risk, though the second thoughts about this venture wouldn''t be erased from her mind until she had tasted the product.


    "Just wait until you see the credit cap of your company credit card. It''s still in the mail; you''ll get it in three to four days," Ace said, satisfied that he had gained Mandy''s recognition as a capable man. Ever since he had seen her deal with Gregory, he had come to admire her, so her recognition meant a lot to him, more than Mandy knew. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ace, do I get a company credit card too?" Danny asked, arriving dressed like a cowboy attending a hay festival.


    "What the fuck are you wearing?" Mandy exclaimed, seeing Danny''s attire. She was hiring an intern, not a cowboy who couldn''t climb a horse because he fat.


    "My suit doesn''t fit; this is the only formals I had," Danny defended.


    "Don''t you have a white shirt and a pair of jeans?"


    "Mom doesn''t buy me white shirts because somehow I always get oil or sauce on them. And jeans? Do you even know me?"


    "Damn it, we''re stopping at the mall on the way," Mandy said in annoyance, leaving the house with heavy steps, taking her frustration out on the floors.


    "The pants in my size are always out of stock at the mall!"


    Mandy spun around to look Danny in the eyes, giving him a clear glance of her irritation.


    "Hey, this is more embarrassing for me than you. I want to be helpful for once in my life. As my aunt, can''t you be a bit more tolerant? Why do you keep throwing a fit at every damn thing?" Danny said, having reached his limit with Mandy. For once, he had the motivation to get off his ass and do something, but Mandy''s reactions and hurtful words were chipping away at his motivation.


    Seeing Danny stand up for himself against Mandy, both Ace and Mandy were shocked. It was no secret that Mandy was kind of a bully to Danny. Well, that was an understatement. She was his biggest bully closely beating Dan, they were even worse than the Rockworth twins to Danny.


    She loved him, but also tormented him. And since his father loved her more than him, and she was his mother''s baby sister, Mandy got away with it all. Danny could only stand up for himself, as clearly no one else was going to. And today, finally, he did, taking both Ace and Mandy by surprise.


    "You sure you want to take that tone with me?" Mandy glared at Danny, slowly stepping toward him in silence, which felt like growing malice with every passing second.


    "Well, that doesn''t change the fact that what I said is correct, and you know it," Danny said, not backing down, but taking a few steps back. Despite her small stature, Mandy scared him a lot. After all, years of scars wouldn''t heal within a morning.


    "You think I''m being a bitch? Try getting a real job, then you''ll know I''m being very tolerant. If it were someone else, they wouldn''t just fire your ass; they''d make your life a misery until you stopped caring and gave them the perfect reason to fire you, ruining your career before it even started. My dear little nephew, the world outside is a lot crueler than I am. But thanks to this stunt of yours, I''ve decided to let you live an unadulterated version of it," Mandy informed Danny before storming out of the house.


    "Phew," Danny sighed in relief thinking Mandy was done, but Ace shook his head knowing it wasn''t.

 Chapter 309 309: Spiraling Janice

    Seeing Mandy and Danny off, Ace then headed toward the Lansky manor to meet with Janice and Delores, seeking their assistance.


    Arriving at the manor, Ace found Janice and Elinor sitting on the patio, enjoying mocktails and watching Lilith as she played by the flower bed with a few dead insects, birds, and reptiles. It seemed she was enacting a scene from the Doctor Druid comic book; obviously, she was playing the role of the Doctor Druid.


    Noticing Ace''s arrival, Lilith ran over, yelling, "Ace, is Doctor Druid here?"


    "If she were here, wouldn''t you have sensed her presence?" Ace said, patting Lilith''s head and heading towards the patio, while the zombie insects, birds, and reptiles marched behind them.


    "Yeah, I would have," Lilith said dejectedly before returning to her game while the zombie''s behind her mimiced her sadness.


    "Ace, what''s up with Mandy? I asked her to join us, but she snubbed me, saying she has work. You know one of the reasons I moved her here was to spend more time with my bestie," Janice asked Ace, sipping on her mocktail as he neared the patio.


    "Yeah, about that. Mandy knows you lied to her face about why you guys are actually her and what actually happened this morning. She''s really mad at you and Delores," Ace answered, wanting to help patch up his little aunt''s friendship.


    "What? How is that even possible¡ªYou told her! You asshole, how could you? What were you thinking, dragging Mandy into the ''World of Curses''?" Janice took a moment to figure it out; when she did, she threw her mocktail away, jumped to her feet, and grabbed Ace by his collar.


    "Calm down, Mandy has no idea about the ''World of Curses.'' But she does know that I, you, Delores, your entire family even, share a common secret, which could be a danger to her and the rest of my family if they were to learn about¡ª" Ace tried to explain, but Janice cut in furiously, asking, "Why the fuck would you tell that to the most nosy person in your family? You do know what she used to do for a living and how she was able to become so successful at it? Not to mention, you made it more intriguing and alluring for her by just sharing hints and bits about the biggest mystery for the mortals. Nothing is going to stop her from trying to solve this mystery."


    "Hey, I know Mandy. She would never do anything that would put our family in danger. Besides, I had to let someone in my family know, and Mandy is the only one who treats me like an adult, a responsible and capable adult," Ace defended his position, but it wasn''t enough for Janice. She glared at him, yelling, "You dumbass, which is why this is much worse than it could have been. Knowing her, she''ll want to make sure her favorite nephew is safe and not in harm''s way. You should have thought this through. Fuck, we need to find her soon before she gets herself into trouble trying to make sure your dumbass is safe."


    "Hey, Janice, calm down. Mandy won''t do any such thing¡ª" Before Ace could finish, an agitated Janice asked, "How do you know that? Can you guarantee it?"


    "Yes, I can guarantee it because my IT team is monitoring her every action in real time. I am always aware of where she is and what she is doing. Not just her; I keep tabs on every member of my family. From what I''ve gathered so far, Mandy has her hands full with the new agribusiness our family will be starting right here in town," Ace guaranteed Janice that Mandy wouldn''t do anything stupid with the little information he had hinted about his sudden changes and wealth while he added the last part to assure everyone listening that he wasn''t some kind of pervert who was stalking his aunt.


    "That''s creepy, but tell me where Mandy is right now. I need to go meet her right away and make sure she won''t let her curiosity and love for you get the better of her and end up doing something we''ll all regret. Tell me where she is right now," Janice demanded of Ace, wanting to check on Mandy to ensure everything was as Ace had assured her.


    "Sure, but promise me you won''t tell her anything about the ''World of Curses,'' regardless of how hard she tries to drill it out of you. I''m not kidding; she''ll guilt you into singing like a parrot. I need to know that you won''t crumble to her tactics. Knowing her, it wouldn''t surprise me if she rejected your invitation to freak you out and to get you to do her bidding. Because you and I are the only links she knows and can trust to help her learn about the worlds we live in. This might be her trap, and you might be walking right into it. Look at you; you''re barely able to pull yourself together. Geez, I didn''t know you valued Mandy''s friendship that much," Ace tried to calm Janice down and persuade her against going to meet Mandy when she wasn''t in control of her emotions and could easily be influenced by Mandy to give her the information she needed.


    Listening to Ace, Janice slowly began to see past her desperation of losing Mandy as a friend and see the bigger picture: that Mandy was working her, using her friendship and abandonment issues to influence her into unwittingly and willingly doing her bidding.


    "That bitch! I can''t believe she would abuse my feelings for her like that," Janice cursed, realizing Mandy''s trap. Then, shaking her head, she added, "Delores was right; I understand it now. If you love someone, don''t let them know how much you love them, because over time they begin to take that love for granted and might not hesitate to abuse it. Those words are easily misunderstood but so profound."


    "Really? You''re going to listen to the nonsense of someone who has been single and friendless their entire life? You can''t learn from her twisted ideologies. If you do, just like her, you''ll be single and friendless for the rest of your life," Ace said, taken aback by Janice''s adoption of Delores''s ideology. To some extent, Delores''s take on relationships didn''t surprise him; it perfectly described Delores. But he didn''t think one cold shoulder from Mandy would send Janice spiraling into following Delores''s twisted ideologies because those were the best ways to distance oneself from everyone and to live a very lonely life. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "But isn''t she right? Mandy is only able to use my love for her against me because she knows how much her friendship means to me," Janice said, taking this ordeal completely out of proportion. Making Ace regret coming to Janice seeking assistance.


    "She isn''t using your love for her against you; she''s just trying to use your love for her as leverage to get you to open up to her. It''s like children throwing a fit or holding their breath to get their parents to buy them a toy or let them watch their favorite late-night cartoons. It''s as simple as that.


    "A child wouldn''t do the same in front of strangers because they know that stranger won''t care what happens to them. Mandy''s actions are the same. There''s no need for you to interpret it any other way." Ace tried his best to help Janice understand that Mandy''s actions, though a bit overboard, weren''t as criminal as she was making them out to be in her head, influenced by Delores''s relationship rules.


    "Then she could have just asked! Why did she have to pull this stunt?" Janice asked, trying to understand Mandy''s actions, but she was finding it hard to forgive her for this.


    "Well, maybe for the same reasons you lied to her about matters regarding the ''World of Curses.'' Aside from the obvious reason, somewhere deep down in your heart, you were afraid that if Mandy knew the real you, she might be afraid or, worse, disgusted by you. Similarly, Mandy was afraid that you might not answer her and try to lie your way out of having to answer her," Ace patiently explained to Janice, witnessing firsthand how the fear of being betrayed by someone you care for could make them act foolishly and ignore the obvious. Even someone as smart as Janice immediately assumed the worst at just the notion of being used by her friend. So much so that she had to be lectured on relationships from someone half her age.


    "Janice, Ace is right. If you listen to Aunt Delores, you''ll remain single and friendless for the rest of your lives. Mandy doesn''t seem like a person who would hurt her friend without a reason. You should sit down and talk with her before you jump to conclusions and go ballistic," Elinor advised Janice. As the fourth person witnessing this, she could see a clear picture of what was going on. Like all the direct-line descendants, Janice had a great deal of trust and abandonment issues, and she was currently projecting these on Mandy. Those were the side effects of being born into a large family.

 Chapter 310 310: Samsara Slayer

    "See? Even Elinor gets it," Ace said, relieved that she had finally decided to step in. He understood that Janice loved Mandy like the sister she never had, and the idea of being emotionally manipulated by her was something Janice took very seriously and was deeply hurt by the mere thought of it. Still, her reaction was a bit much¡ªespecially for a grown woman who had worked in the film industry, where fake emotions were basically part of the job.


    "Yeah, and what''s that supposed to mean?" Elinor shot back, raising an eyebrow. "I have friends too, you know. I know what I''m talking about. Layla sold me out to Matthews, and you didn''t see me spiraling out. I worked through my emotions like an adult." She crossed her arms as if making it clear that if anyone here had the right to complain about backstabbing friends, it was her.


    Ace tilted his head. "Wait¡­ does that mean you''ve forgiven Layla?" He was genuinely surprised¡ªElinor seemed way more emotionally mature than she usually let on.


    "No way," Elinor scoffed. "Next time I see her, I''m gonna make her vomit eyeballs for weeks before I even think about forgiving her." Her voice was laced with pure malice, but then she casually added, "But yeah, I still consider her my friend. She just has to pay for the betrayal first."


    Ace blinked, thinking, ''That¡­ is the most McSuile thing I''ve ever heard her say.''


    Elinor wasn''t done. She kept siding with Mandy and, surprisingly, Janice.


    "But the thing with Mandy is totally different. If you feel betrayed and manipulated just because you think she''s ignoring you on purpose to mess with your emotions, then imagine how she must feel¡ªknowing that you''ve been lying to her since the day you met. Give her time to process it. She''ll come to you when she''s ready¡­ unless you want to come clean before that happens."


    She paused for a second, letting her words sink in before continuing.


    "I''m not saying you''re at fault. You did what you had to do to protect her. If anyone is to blame, it''s Ace. He basically ratted you and Delores out to Mandy. If you''re gonna be mad at anyone, it should be him."


    Elinor turned toward Ace, narrowing her eyes.


    "Even now, it was Ace who pointed out that Mandy might be playing games with you¡ªwhen, in reality, she could just be actually busy with work, like she said. If I didn''t know better, I''d think Ace was trying to break you two up by playing devil''s advocate between you."


    She crossed her arms, her voice sharp as she laid out her thoughts.


    "The facts are right there. It wasn''t Ace''s place to tell Mandy that you were lying to her. And he shouldn''t have told you that Mandy might be avoiding you because she knows the truth and jumping to assumptions about her playing mind games when he wasn''t certain about either. From where I''m standing, it''s starting to look like Ace has been deliberately creating cracks in your friendship."


    Elinor''s gaze flicked back to Ace, daring him to argue.


    "But¡­ without a clear motive, that''s just speculation. A series of coincidences, maybe. Or even a false assumption¡ªunless you think Ace has a good reason to sabotage your relationship with Mandy."


    Ace stared at Elinor in disbelief while Janice shoved him away and shot him a suspicious look. Meanwhile, Elinor smirked, clearly enjoying herself.


    "I was part of the debate team as a kid," she revealed, leaning back with an air of smug satisfaction. "Had to quit when I became a curse user, though. So you better think twice before underestimating me."


    "Ace, why would you try to break Mandy and me up?" Janice demanded, jumping straight to conclusions before giving Ace a chance to defend himself.


    Ace scoffed, ignoring her as he turned back to Elinor. "You are evil."


    Elinor simply sipped her mocktail, completely unbothered. "You''re lucky I chose not to be like Father," she replied coolly before suddenly yelling across the yard, "Lilith, no scorpions! If the Landers see them, they''ll report me to social services!"


    "Scorpions are cool, but okay!" Lilith called back, shrugging. With her zombie brides, insects, and reptiles surrounding and playing with her, waiting at her hand and foot, she looked like something straight out of a gothic fairy tale.


    Ace barely had time to process that bizarre scene before Janice snapped at him again, "Ace, answer me!"


    He sighed, rubbing his temples out of sheer disbelief that she was actually starting to believe Elinor''s nonsense.


    "Okay, enough of this," he said, his patience wearing thin. He turned to Elinor, eyeing her suspiciously, "Where is the real Janice?"


    Elinor''s smirk widened. "Took you long enough," she teased. "What gave it away? Her stunted emotional maturity, right? She''s got a long way to go before she catches up¡ªthis one''s only a few hours old, after all."


    Ace''s jaw tightened. Of course, she wasn''t real. He knew something was off. But this? This was a whole new level of messed up.


    "No, her stunted emotional maturity only made me suspicious," Ace admitted. "Then I checked her earrings¡ªnothing off there. But when you painted me as some devil''s advocate trying to sabotage Janice and Mandy''s friendship? That was the nail in the coffin. It wasn''t like you.


    "You never accuse someone of something unless you''re absolutely sure. Even if you''re joking, you wouldn''t risk it turning into something serious. So the only explanation was one of two things: either Janice wasn''t really Janice, or you were the fake one. And since I know you wouldn''t leave Lilith under the care of an unstable clone, the answer was obvious."


    Ace crossed his arms, savoring the win while also silently impressed by just how near-perfect Janice''s cloning capabilities were.


    Elinor raised an eyebrow. "So it was me," she said, then smirked. "But I have to ask¡ªshould I be worried that you know me this well when we''ve only known each other since last night?"


    Ace shot her a dry look and pointed out, "You should be because you''re an open book. That''s not a good thing¡ªit makes you predictable, which gives your opponents a huge advantage. Especially since your specialty is curse spells."


    Elinor actually seemed to consider this, but before she could respond, Ace changed the subject. "Where are Janice and Delores? I need their help."


    "Great advice," she added with a nod, seriously considering Ace''s unsolicited advice to her joke. "I''ll work on that."


    Ace wasn''t sure if she was being sarcastic or not, but at least she acknowledged it. That was a start.


    Elinor then hummed in thought before answering, "Janice is in her mobile workshop, and Delores and Evil Eyes are out on patrol." sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Listening to her reply, alarms rang in Ace''s head. He glanced at the Janice clone, then back at Elinor before asking, "Should I be worried?"


    Elinor hesitated for a moment before responding. "I don''t think so. Apparently, Janice has been using Mandy to help her clones develop emotionally. Since they trust her, they love spending time with her¡ª"


    Ace''s gaze sharpened, cutting her off.


    Elinor sighed before revealing the truth, "Alright, fine. The truth is, we''ve spotted a few scouts. We identified who they are and which force they belong to, but we haven''t figured out who their target is. For now, we think they might be here for one of four people: Aurelian Eyes, Curse Caster, the youngest Void-tier curse user... or the Samsara Slayer."


    Ace frowned, thinking aloud, "That''s Janice, you, Lilith¡­ and who is this Samsara Slayer?"


    His confusion was obvious¡ªhe had no idea there was another powerhouse hidden among Janice''s people.


    "About that¡­ the Samsara Slayer¡ªit''s you. That''s your slayer title," Elinor hesitantly informed him before launching into a rant.


    "I cursed a Void-tier curseling from several miles away without even realizing it, and Lilith is the youngest Void-tier curse user¡ªbut neither of us got a title. Yet you, who apparently did nothing, were given a Slayer title. Not just any title either¡ªa Slayer title. Do you have any idea how hard those are to get? Delores, as an Ocean-tier, had to take down half a dozen Sky-tier curse masters while protecting Janice just to earn hers! But you? You got it without any official records of your so-called achievements that would justify a Slayer title."


    Ace gave her a deadpan stare, completely ignoring her jealousy. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" His voice was flat, but his mind was racing. He wasn''t questioning Elinor''s frustration¡ªhe was more concerned about why he had been given a Slayer title when there were no documented accomplishments that would justify it.


    Elinor sighed and folded her arms. "The entire C.I.B. and a bunch of other government agencies have looked into the Samsara Cult incident very seriously. They brought in their top pathfinders, diviners, and curse investigators to figure out what actually went wrong. Their goal was to find out who to blame... but instead, they found a hero. The Samsara Slayer, Ace Lander."


    She paused for dramatic effect before delivering the final blow. "A Mortal-tier curse master, without whom it would have been impossible to bring down the Samsara Cult."


    Ace felt his stomach drop.


    Elinor smirked, continuing, "It''ll be announced soon to the Mortal World''s curse community. And, of course, it''ll be posted on the Curse Web."

 Chapter 311 311: Ace The Bait

    "Why the fuck would they do that?" Ace asked, his voice laced with both dismay and panic.


    Something about being awarded the Slayer title just didn''t sit right with him. As far as the Mortal World''s curse community was concerned, his only known contribution was Sir Beyton claiming that he was the one who killed the congressman, mayor, and commissioner. Sure, that event had set off a chain reaction that eventually led to the downfall of the Samsara Cult, but crediting him with the cult''s complete destruction? That made zero sense.


    In a world where people who actually deserved recognition had their achievements stolen, Ace receiving credit for the destruction of the Samsara Cult and being awarded the title Samsara Slayer felt way too good to be true. It was enough to set off alarms in his head.


    After all, the C.I.B. and the forces that participated in hunting and killing every last one of the Samsara Cult members should have been fighting amongst themselves for their share of the credit. But somehow, instead, they all decided that Ace was the one who contributed the most and even went on to award him the slayer title, making it seem like without Ace, the Samsara Cult''s destruction wouldn''t have been possible.


    Elinor raised an eyebrow and asked in sheer disbelief, "Wait, why do you sound so pissed? You do realize that a Slayer title is one of the most coveted honors out there, right? Even my cousin, Crimson Eyes, never got one. Not that he couldn''t, he just doesn''t care."


    She then studied Ace for a moment, a little surprised by how unbothered¡ªno, outright irritated¡ªhe seemed about the whole thing. She even began to believe he seriously did not want it. This thought caused her envy for him to spike as she reached to a conclusion, ''Shit¡­ is Ace cooler than me?''


    Ace shook his head, his expression darkening, as he grudgingly answered, "No. I don''t like this. Not one bit."


    He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair and continued, "I don''t give a shit about their recognition. They can have it back. They don''t have my consent to slap this title on me. I don''t recognize it, and I sure as hell didn''t apply for it."


    He locked eyes with Elinor''s, his frustration mounting in them as he asked her, "Who do I talk to about this? There''s gotta be someone I can protest to, right?"


    "Yeah, no¡­ I don''t think it works like that," Elinor said, shaking her head. "But you should talk to Delores about it. She''s been trying to change her slayer title to Storm Surfer or Sexy Slayer for decades now."


    She leaned back, folding her arms as an annoyed thought crossed her mind, ''Is Ace rubbing it in that he got a Slayer title even though he doesn''t want it?'' She scoffed internally, ''I didn''t take him for a showoff. He should tone it down. They say I killed a Void-tier, and you don''t see me bragging.''


    Ace rolled his eyes. "You''re no help. When''s Delores getting back from patrol? Or just go fetch me the real Janice." His irritation seeped into his words, and he didn''t bother hiding it. In his defense, he needed someone who could actually see what was going on instead of being petty about some damn title.


    Elinor shot him a sharp glare. "I''m not your errand girl," she snapped before turning back to her drink. Seeing that it was empty, she lazily snapped her fingers at Clone Janice, who promptly refilled it using a magical pitcher that seemed to be bottomless.


    Ace raised an eyebrow a little taken aback, ''Really?''


    Normally, he might''ve apologized for snapping at her, but right now? He wasn''t in the mood. Instead, a sadistic grin subconsciously curled on his lips as he leaned forward.


    "Oh, Elinor, I almost forgot to tell you," he began, his voice dripping with faux sincerity. "That 100 billion dollars I promised you to bail out Lilith? Yeah, it''s gonna be delayed. Some minor banking issue. Apparently, they won''t let me take out such a huge amount all at once."


    Then he leaned back on the railing, watching her reaction with amusement.


    "Listen here, you little twerp. I know what you''re trying to do. Don''t think you can turn me into your errand girl by lording your money over my head¡ª" Elinor snapped, her eyes narrowing.


    Before she could finish, Ace cut in, raising his hands in mock surrender


    "Whoa, whoa, whoa. What gave you that idea? Where is this even coming from? I could never use my money to manipulate my friends. If you don''t believe me, check with the bank. You literally can''t withdraw or transfer that much at once. If I did, the bank would collapse. They said they could only process it in small payments over a year or two."


    Elinor crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Why do you keep saying bank? I clearly remember you telling me you''d pay me in cryptocurrency."


    Ace sighed dramatically. "The crypto market tanked recently, so I had to sell everything. Otherwise, I would''ve lost billions. You understand how these things work, right?" His tone was dripping with fake innocence, and Elinor wasn''t buying a second of it.


    She scoffed, shaking her head. "You''re such an asshole, you know that?"


    Still grumbling under her breath, she pushed her mocktail aside and stood up, reluctantly deciding to go fetch Janice. But just as she was about to move¡ªThe door swung open, and Janice walked out of the house.


    At that exact moment, the clone Janice on the lounge chair collapsed, shrinking into a tiny, inch-long paper cutout of a human figure. Written across it in dried blood were the words: Janice McSuile.


    Janice picked up the eerie paper figurine, turning it over in her fingers. "What the fuck is going on here? If I had been even one second late, this paper clone would''ve gone on a rampage."


    "Ace kept ignoring her, treating her like a nobody once he figured out she was just a clone of yours," Elinor said, pointing at him. She seemed to have forgotten about her treating clone Janice as her personal errand girl.


    Ace blinked. "Wait¡ªhow does this even work? You know what the clone was going to do, but you don''t know what it''s doing? I''m confused."


    Janice sighed, rubbing her temple. "It''s a cursed tool. I know its status while it''s carrying out my orders, but I don''t know exactly how it executes them."


    She then shot him a warning look before continuing seriously, "You better have a damn good explanation for this. I had to pause my crafting process to come check on it."


    Ace exhaled sharply, cutting straight to the point. "It''s about the Slayer title. Why the hell did they award me the Samsara Slayer title when I had nothing to do with the cult''s destruction?"


    Janice stared at him for a moment before tilting her head. "Wait¡­ didn''t I already warn you about this? What did you think I was talking about when I mentioned the Slayer''s Curse?"


    Ace frowned. "What? How is being haunted by the Slayer''s Curse and getting credited for destroying the Samsara Cult the same thing?" His voice was laced with sheer disbelief


    When Janice first mentioned the Slayer''s Curse, Ace assumed it meant dealing with pompous young masters looking to make a name for themselves or remnants of the cult trying to get even with him for the small role he played in their downfall. But never¡ªnot even for a second¡ªdid he think they would officially credit him as the one responsible for the cult''s destruction.


    They hadn''t just painted a target on his back; they had practically neon-lit it. No, it was worse than that. They had made him the mortal enemy of the cult. The moment his title was announced, the cult''s remnants wouldn''t hesitate to throw their lives away just to take him down. This wasn''t just some inconvenience¡ªit was an outright death sentence.


    Ace and the cult were now at a point where only one of them would walk away alive. And there was only one Ace. Meanwhile, no one had any idea how many devoted cultists were still out there, who they were, or where they were hiding.


    The more he thought about it, the more it felt like the entire Mortal World''s curse community had come together and conspired against him. They had collectively decided to turn him into bait¡ªto use him to lure out the remaining cultists.


    The realization made his stomach turn, but it was the only explanation that made sense. Why else would they award a Mortal-tier with a Slayer title?


    Janice, on the other hand, looked at him like he was losing it, and asked, "What do you mean? I explicitly told you they were rewarding you with a Slayer title. You seemed fine with it back then. What''s changed now?"


    She truly couldn''t understand what his problem was.


    "Are you kidding me?!" Ace snapped, his frustration boiling over. "You guys¡ªthe entire curse community of this country¡ªturned me into bait! Don''t act innocent. You knew, didn''t you? That''s why you moved here in the first place. Just drop the act and tell me¡ªwhose idea was it? Who suggested I be the sacrificial lamb?"


    Janice let out a small smirk, tilting her head as if reminiscing about something amusing.


    "It was Elinor''s father," she admitted, crossing her arms. "I have no idea what you did to him, but man, he was pissed. I''ve never seen my uncle hate a young curse master that much."


    Her smirk widened slightly as she recalled the meeting.


    "The moment he proposed the idea and explained why it should be you, the other forces didn''t even hesitate to agree. You were just a nobody to them, Ace. They didn''t care if you lived or died. I am sorry. All I could do was move here to ensure your and your family''s safety personally." S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 312 312: Curse Array Formation

    "Why would my father sponsor Ace for the slayer title instead of his daughter? And why do you think my father is pissed with Ace? You don''t reward someone you hate with the most prestigious title a curse user can gain," Elinor blurted out her thoughts, unable to understand why her father would sponsor Ace instead of her.


    Yes, they had their differences, but she had hoped her killing a Void-tier curseling would change that. Ever since she learned that she had supposedly killed a Void-tier curseling, she had been eagerly waiting for her father''s call. No, she didn''t want him to tell her he was wrong; she just wanted to hear him tell her how proud he was of her. However, the call she patiently awaited never came. Instead, she learned that her father had sponsored Ace for the Slayer title and her name never even crossed his mind. She was heartbroken, devastated even.


    "Come here, honey. It''s okay. Everything is alright," Janice whispered, slowly pulling the clueless Elinor into her embrace before beginning to run her hand through her hair and back, comforting her.


    Knowing Elinor''s daddy issues, Janice had purposefully skipped this detail when she had informed her group about Ace being granted the Slayer Title: Samsara Slayer. But now she didn''t have that option.


    "Wow, and here I thought I had a messed-up childhood," Ace uttered, pitying Janice and Elinor and counting his lucky stars for his quirky but loving family.


    "Keep at it, and I promise you will have a messed-up teenage life," Janice warned, triggered by noticing pity for them cousins in Ace''s eyes. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace ignored Janice and tried to think of a way to stop the slayer title ceremony. But since Janice chose to leave her luxurious lakeside mansion and move to a ranch despite knowing that her presence might put his family and the town in added danger, he understood there wasn''t anything they could do about the collective decision of the cursed community of the country.


    Therefore, instead of worrying about what was beyond his control, Ace decided to focus on what he could control, asking Janice, "Tell me about the security detail you have arranged for my family and extended family."


    "Don''t worry, the C.I.B. and the entire curse community of the country are monitoring your family, your extended family, friends, their families, and family friends. My people are there too, making sure they will act in time if there is ever a need. Also, I''ve had my people arrange a few curse array formations around your estate. They should be more than enough to protect your family in case the cultists are bold enough to launch an attack here. As a last resort, there are my sub-space curse tools. I will not hesitate to use them if the situation demands it. So, trust me, your family is covered. For extra assurance, it would be great if you had your clones draw their attention and divide their forces in event of an attack," Janice explained while, from the corner of her eye, she witnessed her cousin wiping her tears on her shirt.


    "Are the curse array formations as dependable as you make them out to be?" Ace asked skeptically, knowing that in case of an attack, the curse security would be busy fighting off the invaders, trusting their clients'' safety to the curse array formations. However, if the curse array formations don''t work as advertised, then his family would be sitting ducks. Therefore, he wanted to be thorough.


    "It depends. How long did you say it will take for the payment you promised Elinor to go through?" Janice asked, trying to distract her cousin''s mind from her father.


    Ace rolled his eyes but had Dame Wasp email Elinor the details of multiple cryptocurrency wallets from which she could access the payment he had promised her. Once he got confirmation from her, he informed Janice, "I have sent her an email listing the cryptocurrency wallets containing the payment I promised her in full. She can verify them and make the payments to the C.I.B. right away so that the families of the victims can get their compensation sooner."


    "Elinor, quit it and check your email," Janice snapped at her cousin, telling her she had cried enough and to focus on the present, forcing her to toughen up.


    Leaving Janice''s embrace, Elinor took out her cursed phone and, taking a seat on the lounging chair, began to go through the list of cryptocurrency wallets one by one, verifying that the sum amount in them was the same as the amount she was promised while Ace was still there.


    Ignoring Elinor, Janice turned to Ace and said, "The curse array formations protecting your family estate are the same ones employed by the local C.I.B. headquarters. Even a void-tier curse user had to steer clear of it and rely on double agents to make backdoors from the inside. Even when inside, they couldn''t destroy it and were limited by the array''s power. Yes, so it''s the best out there."


    "That must have cost you a lot?" Ace asked in surprise, feeling that his 100 billion dollar payment wasn''t enough to cover those arrays. It was even possible Janice was spending over billions running the arrays 24/7 all time.


    "No, because I had them install the array formations I prepared for my resort mansion on your estate. My first thought was one stone for two birds, but my Delores was right. I should have just moved you guys to my resort instead.


    "This means that even if this thing with the Samsara cult is over, you are stuck with me as your tenant until you can reimburse me for the array formations in full.


    "Yes, I will be accepting payments in cryptocurrency, but you will also have to procure the super rare materials one cannot get in the market or the ones regulated by the government. Also, hire a renowned curse array master to prepare those formations. So, us leaving this town depends on you¡ªi.e., don''t come blaming me if a few assholes come here to pick a fight with me, Delores, or Elinor," Janice explained that to protect Mandy''s family, she had the curse array formation that was prepared for her resort installed in the Lander family estate. This way, they both could use the array formations and save tons of resources that could otherwise have been used to operate two sets of these formations.


    "That was awfully generous of you, thank you." Ace thanked Janice for her thoughtfulness, even though she repeatedly made a point to remind him that she didn''t do it for him but for Mandy. Then, turning to Elinor, he asked, "Elinor will be living here too? Did Matthews finally fire her from the C.I.B.?"


    "No! I was kind of promoted," Elinor snapped, and then smugly explained, "Matthews recommended me for the National Asset Program. She said that with proper support, I could become the nation''s number one assassin. She gave extend leave until after the the trails so that I can practice my curse spell and think of creative ways to make up for my short comings."


    Elinor''s eyes sparked. Ace swore he saw a mini Elinor dancing in her pupils while repeatedly singing the same verse, ''Nanana nanaa, Matthews recommended me, not ya. Nanana nanaa Matthews recommended me¡­''


    Shaking his head, he asked her, "What about Lilith while you are out attending the program?" After last night, seeing her in action and what her curse spells were capable of, Ace had no doubt about her getting into the National Asset Program.


    "Obviously, she will be with Janice and Delores. Also, I will try my best to finish the program and return as soon as possible. Besides, the trial is still months away. What I am really worried about is that I cannot think of any creative way to make up for my lacking tier. When Jason attended the trial, he was at the top of ocean-tier. The gap between us is too big.


    "Not to mention the trial takers are not some illiterate body-possessing mutated worm curselings; they are monsters that eat the best of the best for breakfast. Though my Curse Spell game is off the charts, my Curse Art game is lower than subpar," Elinor sighed, shaking her head in dismay.


    Ace stared at Elinor in shock because if her curse arts game was lower than subpar, that meant his curse arts game was lower than trash. It awakened him to the reality that he, too, was too reliant on his innate curse tool and arts; without them, he would find himself in a position worse than Elinor''s.


    "I''m sure you will figure something out sooner or later," Ace assured Elinor, who nodded before returning to her cursed phone. Ace then turned to Janice and asked, "Would it be helpful if I was on the run? Will that make my family less of a target?"


    "I can see why you would think that, but no. They are crediting you for the destruction of the entire cult, not just killing one or two dozen members. The fanatic cult members will most likely target those you care about first, to ensure you die knowing everyone you loved had died in pain because of you. This is also the point Elinor''s father made to ensure anyone dumb enough to be blinded by the allure of a slayer title would give up on that notion. Man, what did you do to him to piss him off so much?" Janice asked Ace, recalling the events, especially the anger on her uncle''s face. Then, noticing Ace''s glare, she retorted defensively, "Don''t look at me like that. I could have joined others when they laughed at your misfortune, but I held back out of respect for our friendship. It wasn''t easy with all those funny names and titles they came up with to mock you."


    "Aren''t you a saint? Would you prefer I light up candles in your name? Or better yet¡ª" Ace began sarcastically, but Janice interrupted him, cutting in, "Shut up, snarky mouth. Just tell me what you did so I can help you mediate with him." Noticing Ace''s neck and ears turn red with rage, she introduced him to reality, "You can get back at him when you have the power, but for now, kneel down if need be. Because this is not just about you but your entire family. Got it?"

 Chapter 313 313: Stupid & Greedy

    "I understand," Ace nodded, agreeing with Janice. But doubt lingered in his voice as he asked, "But why do you keep asking if I did something wrong? Didn''t Delores tell you about our meeting with your uncle? Then, you should know I am not at fault here. Also, I haven''t spoken to him since our last meeting. You tell me what you felt that I did could have pissed him off."


    Janice''s eyes widened slightly as she put the pieces together. "Wait¡­ Delores was with you when you met my uncle? No wonder you''re still alive after pissing him off." She shook her head as if suddenly everything made sense before informing him, "Delores doesn''t like talking about my uncle, so I guess she conveniently skipped over it."


    "Yeah, things between Aunt Delores and my father are awkward. The family acts like ignoring it will magically fix everything," Elinor muttered, irritation creeping into her tone.


    They had her complete attention. She was them, but she was also too preoccupied with the crypto-currency wallets on her cursed phone. But with her multiple eyes, multitasking was second nature to her.


    Ace let out a humorless chuckle. "Wow, so she threw me under the bus over some old drama with your uncle. Great." He was beginning to think that if Delores had been upfront with Janice about their meeting with Elinor''s father, maybe Janice could have done something¡ªtalked her uncle down, stopped him from rallying the entire curse community into using Ace as bait.


    "Oh, before we start pointing fingers, why don''t you tell me exactly what happened?" Janice interjected, cutting Ace off before his frustration made him say something he''d regret. She knew he didn''t really blame Delores¡ªhe wasn''t that dumb. He was just frustrated. And rightfully so.


    Overnight, his entire country had decided to turn him¡ªand everyone he cared about¡ªinto sacrificial pawns in their game.


    "I didn''t even talk to him," Ace clarified, shaking his head. "It was just Delores and him. I just happened to be there. The only thing I said was before we left. It was that I had a share in the Void-tier curseling''s curse core and that I''d be willing to give it up for five Sky-tier innate curse tools."


    He remembered it clearly¡ªDelores had restrained him the entire time, so he barely got a word in with Elinor''s father. This made it more puzzling as to why the latter was hell bent on destroying his peaceful life.


    Janice furrowed her brows. "Which Void-tier curseling''s curse core are you talking about?" she asked, clearly confused.


    "The one that was infected by Elinor''s curse spell," Ace revealed, wondering if more void-tier curselings showed up after they left.


    Elinor immediately cut in, her expression twisting in disbelief. "Wait, how the hell do you have a share in that? My curse spell incapacitated it, and my father landed the killing blow. I don''t see how you have any claim to its curse core."


    Ace let out a sigh, rubbing his temples. "Okay, genius, how do you think your curse spell managed to infect a Void-tier curseling when you were here, and it was all the way in the city?" He leveled a look at her, watching as suspicion flared in her eyes.


    She was glaring at him now, the word liar practically locked and loaded on her tongue.


    "Delores said the Void-tier curseling was infected by my curse spell after eating the mutant rust worm curseling that I had cursed," Elinor argued, her tone sharp. Her tongue rolled, ready to fire the words ''Shameless Liar'' at any second.


    "Damn it, how slow are you?" Ace snapped, exasperated at Elinor for failing to put two and two together despite him hinting and guiding her to it.


    So, he laid it out in open, "Did you forget I was carrying that mutant rust worm around in the wicker vase? And did Delores conveniently forget to mention that the Void-tier curseling only ate the cursed mutant rust worm while trying to kill me? If I hadn''t been there, it never would have swallowed the worm, never would''ve been infected by your curse, and your father wouldn''t have been able to land the killing blow."


    Elinor huffed, crossing her arms, she blurted in rage, "Delores said it was just an accident. You were too busy saving yourself and forgot the wicker vase on the terrace, and that''s how the mutant rust worm ended up being swallowed by the Void-tier curseling."


    She revealed that the reason she wasn''t putting his hints together was because she knew everything already and didn''t believe Ace had played a significant part in killing the void-tier curseling to warrant him a claim on its curse core.


    Having caught her red-handed, Ace narrowed his eyes and sneered, "Uh-huh. So you and your father just conveniently decided to downplay my part in this and keep the whole curse core for yourselves. My mother was right¡ªgirls with innocent faces are the most crafty."


    Elinor scoffed. "Oh, come on, Ace. You''re being shameless. You''re exaggerating your role in all this." She shot him a challenging look. "Answer me this: If someone accidentally kills a person, should they be punished to the full extent of the law, or should they be given the benefit of the doubt?"


    Ace opened his mouth to respond, but Elinor bulldozed ahead before he could argue. Knowing full well that Ace wouldn''t hesitate to argue anything to just get his way. "You give them the benefit of the doubt and punish them with reasonable sentence. It''s the same thing here. You accidentally played a small part in the Void-tier curseling''s infection. What actually happened was just a series of coincidental events that worked in my favor. You trying to claim credit for it is nothing short of shameless."


    "Are you saying a lottery winner doesn''t deserve their winnings? Because that''s exactly what it sounded like to me," Ace argued, confident that he had Elinor cornered with this argument.


    To his surprise, she didn''t even hesitate and shot back, "That''s a flawed argument. A lottery winner bought the ticket and held on to it until the last second. They earned their winnings. But, your situation? It''s like someone finding a lost winning ticket and demanding the prize money. That''s not just greedy¡ªit''s plain stupid."


    "Oof." Janice let out a low whistle, watching Elinor absolutely wreck Ace. She didn''t actually think Ace was greedy¡ªjust opportunistic. But this time? He''d met his match, and history would remember him as both stupid and greedy because Elinor, the winner, said so.


    Then, Janice grinned, complimenting her cousin, adding, "I have never been prouder to call you my cousin."


    Janice wasn''t just saying it to be nice. Elinor had always been a bit of a pushover, a side effect of growing up in the shadow of a dominating father. But when did she take a stand? She was stubborn as hell¡ªonce her mind was made up, no one could budge her with words or force unless they backed it up with solid logic. Not even her dominating father.


    "Don''t be," Elinor smirked at the compliment before explaining, "I''ve played out multiple scenarios in my head of me trying to get my share of the void-tier curse core from my father, and I lost every single time. The points I just made? They''re only a fraction of what I expect him to throw at me to deny my claim. But this win? It shows I''m making progress."


    Ace felt a little comforted learning that the reason he lost was because he was less prepared than Elinor. He wasn''t outwitted. He was just unfortunate to have caught her at her strongest. Janice grinned, satisfied with Elinor''s performance, ignoring the fact that Elinor was twice Ace''s age.


    "I''m rooting for you! You can do it!" she cheered, knowing that in Elinor''s life, her father was the biggest wall she had to overcome¡ªand she had to do it herself. That was the only way she''d ever step out of the massive, overbearing shadow he cast over her.


    Ace, feeling completely sidelined, blinked at the chummy cousins before loudly clearing his throat at them to bring their attention to his matters, "Ahem."


    Janice turned back to him, amusement still dancing in her eyes.


    "You really messed up big time, Acey," she said with a dramatic sigh. "Of all the ways you could have pissed off my uncle, you had to go and try to steal credit that rightfully belonged to his beloved daughter? If it were any other situation, maybe he would''ve let it slide¡ªchalked it up to your age and inexperience. But this?" She shook her head. "This was Elinor''s first Void-tier kill. It made her the first curse user in our family''s younger generation to take down a void-tier curseling. Elinor had finally done something he could be proud of, but you? You walked in and demanded a cut?"


    Ace winced. "Okay, when you say it like that but that doesn''t justify¡ª" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No, no, don''t try to downplay it now," Janice cut in, grinning. "Seriously, what was Delores doing while you were busy shooting yourself in the foot? Did she not try to stop you?"


    Ace groaned, realizing he''d absolutely walked into that one.

 Chapter 314 314: Getting Over It

    "She did stop me," Ace revealed, causing Janice to roll her eyes. His statement confirmed that Ace had himself to blame for pissing off someone he shouldn''t have. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Everything said, if not for my part in the chain of events, the Void-tier curseling would never have been infected by Elinor''s curse spell. She didn''t even know her curse spell had incapacitated a Void-tier curseling. If she can get credited with killing it, then I should also be credited for my part in infecting the Void-tier curseling¡ª" Ace defended himself, trying to justify his demand for his share of the core. But Janice''s patience had run out. So, she cut in, asking, "What are you trying to say, Ace? Just get to the point."


    "All I''m trying to say is your uncle could have tried to talk with me. Instead, he went and put a target on me and everyone I care about. That''s not right, and I can''t believe you two are making it seem like I was asking for it," Ace said, appalled to see that Janice and he could not see eye to eye on this, especially when he had trusted her with his family''s security.


    "Because it was you, Ace!" Janice snapped. Then, rubbing her brows, she began, "I don''t mean to sound like a snob, but why should my uncle, a reputed and renowned Void-tier curse master, lower himself to talk with you? Who do you think you are? Actually, how dare you make a demand of a Void-tier? Do you have Deathwise?"


    "You know what I think? I think you did that on purpose. Observing the dynamics between Delores and my Uncle, you decided to take advantage of it. Ace, you gambled and lost. Now you are paying the price for it. Just get over it while you still can, or you will end up losing much more."


    Janice glared at Ace with her hands crossed tight while Elinor nodded.


    "You are right. I know what I did you don''t need to remind me. I still waiting for when this will lead to you helping me solve things with your uncle?" Ace remind Janice that the whole point about this was not to criticise him but to help him ease relations with her uncle.


    "I am doing just that. I can''t speak on your behalf if you continue to have an entitled opinion about this incident. Because I bet you my uncle will want to talk to you after Elinor and I speak on your behalf. So, you need to behave," Janice explained to Ace why she was so hard on him about him knowing what he did wrong.


    "Yeah, alright. Don''t worry, parents love," Ace said, trusting the effects of his Apex earring to help him smooth things over with Elinor''s father.


    "Should I be worried about your confidence?" Janice asked in doubt. But recalling how Ace managed to get Delores to care for him, she thought he might actually pull this off.


    "No worries. So, when do we start?" Ace asked, eager to ease things with Elinor''s father before they announced his title ''Samsara Slayer, '' crediting him with the destruction of the cult.


    "Slow down, cowboy. My uncle is a busy person. I need to make an appointment and¡ª" Janice informed how she could just talk to her uncle and needed to go through a serious of hoops just to set a meet with him, but before she could finish, Ace cut in.


    Listening to Janice, Ace lost all hope of salvaging things with Elinor''s father because someone who can treat his own family like that wouldn''t spare a stranger a second glance. That was to say what was coming was inevitable, even if Ace was willing to throw away his pride and shame.


    Shaking his head, Ace cut in, saying, "I understand. Call me when you need me."


    Janice frowned, feeling the coldness in Ace''s tone, but after a pause, Ace continued, asking, "Can you sell me a few crafting materials from your stock?"


    "Crafting materials? I heard about your deal with the Cyclops from Delores. You serious about this," Janice asked, a little surprised to learn that Ace was taking the Curse Crafting root. But then, when she gave it some thought, she realized his fighting style was similar to hers, but he was more prepared and cautious. Not to mention, his rifle-shaped curse tool was very versatile in terms of power.


    "Yes. So, are you selling or not? I just need a few things," Ace asked her again.


    "Sure, what materials do you need? Maybe I have extras that I can spare to you," Janice nodded,


    "I have shared a list to your email, check it out," Ace informed once Dame Wasp sent the email containing the list of material they need to commence practicing the curse crafting arts they got from Cyclops.


    Janice nodded and went through her email while Elinor eyed Ace and said, "You are right. You have a share in the void-tier curse core. I will talk to my dad about it, but I don''t think I can get you five sky-tier innate curse tools, but one might be doable."


    "Are you stupid?" Ace snapped at Elinor, but seeing her clueless expression, he shook his head and explained, "You will do nothing of that sort. Don''t even meet him. Just go and randomly curse stuff that he cares about. Take them hostage. Tell him that if he doesn''t give you back your Void-tier curse core, you will destroy things he holds dear and call it even."


    "What? I can do that, no I could never do that¡­" Elinor was shocked to learn about the route, she didn''t even know it existed. However, she could not decide if she should take it or not.


    "Elinor, I will be honest with you. Your dad is a bully. No matter how you argue your share in the void-tier curse core with him, he will find a way to deny it all. So, you don''t argue or try to prove your claim. You just declare your claim. Others can''t take this route, but you can because your curse spells are not only lethal to void-tier curse users but you are his daughter. He might not cave to your threat. No, he will definitely not cave to your threat. So you should be prepared to destroy the things you took hostage with your curse spell. Don''t hesitate; just destroy them. Show your father that he is not above consequences. If he doesn''t play ball, you are not afraid to crush his balls. Just go crazy, and enjoy it. Let out all that frustration you have been feeling and vent it. Besides, it''s just stuff. He can buy more of them with the Void-tier curse core he stole from you," Ace rallied up Elinor against her father.


    Janice lifted her head and glanced at Ace, knowing exactly what he was up to, but did not stop him, because not only was he right about her uncle being a bully and not planning to give Elinor her share of the void-tier curse core but she felt that it was about time her cousin stood up to her dominating father and freed herself from his shadow.


    "What about you share in the void-tier curse core? I can''t afford a Sky-tier innate curse tool." Elinor once again was worried about the wrong thing. Well, that was her charm. Also, it meant she had decided to teach her controlling and manipulative father a lesson.


    "Don''t worry, if you manage to pull this off, that alone is payment enough for me," Ace said with a malicious grin. If not for Elinor and Jaince watching him, he would have let out a loud villainous laugh, seeing the seed of chaos he planted take root.


    Elinor glared at Ace, seeing him take pleasure at the fact that she would be getting back at her father, but then understanding his side, she thought it was to be expected. After all, her father went overboard when he got the entire curse community of the country to turn Ace into a patsy.


    "Ace, I no longer use the materials and equipments you listed. They are all very basic, used to get started in curse crafting. Fortunately for you, when it comes to curse crafting, I am a hoarder," Janice suddenly informed Ace after thoroughly going through the list of crafting materials and equipments he shared with her in his email.


    "Does that mean you have everything I need?" Ace asked eagerly because with the crisis looming over his head, he felt unprepared, and these materials were needed for him to feel otherwise, even if only a little bit.


    "Yes, I do. But the equipments you listed are going to be costlier than the ones you can find in the market because mine are all custom-made using the best of the best materials. I know you are not short on cash, but I don''t want you getting the idea that I am ripping you off," Janice said, making it clear to Ace that her initial crafting equipment were all very expensive as they were of high quality and custom-made.

 Chapter 315 315: Aurelian Eyes Artefacts

    "Wait, don''t tell me you plan on charging me the full price for used equipment?" Ace asked Janice, a bit appalled.


    "Full price? Now, I plan on charging you twice that. You do know that Aurelian Eyes'' novice crafting equipment is basically considered artifacts in both worlds'' markets. Each one of them would easily fetch a fortune if auctioned. You should thank me for selling them to you for twice the price," Janice said, offended that Ace would act like a miser now of all times.


    "Fuck it, charge whatever price you want, let''s just get this over with," Ace hurried Janice, agreeing with her.


    Aurelian Eyes'' reputation in the curse crafting field did make her a legend in both the worlds, and as she claimed, the crafting equipment she used when she was getting started would indeed be considered an artifact and fetch a record price in an auction. Despite the annoyance and irritation he showed, he was in fact a little satisfied that he was able to procure such amazing equipment at a short notice. However, he could let Janice know that.


    "No, I am not giving it to you anymore. If you don''t appreciate them then you don''t deserve them," Janice said, going back on her word, seeing that Ace didn''t appreciate her crafting equipment. The reason she liked to hoard her old equipment was not because they would fetch a fortune at an auction, but because she loved them and wanted them to end up with another talented curse crafter.


    "Seriously?" Ace asked, a little surprised that Janice who was known for being realistic would talk about appreciation and deservingness when it came to a bunch of crafting equipment.


    "Yes. They are my babies, and I don''t plan to sell them. Not to you, not to anyone," Janice said defensively, as if Ace was forcing her to sell her children to him.


    "Fine, can you lend them to me until I find replacements? I need them urgently," Ace said, not bothering to argue with Janice, and instead proposed an alternative, hoping she would get on board.


    "Yes, I can do that. You don''t have to pay but promise me you will use them responsibly. They aren''t just equipment; they are milestones of my journey in the field of crafting," Janice agreed with Ace''s request to borrow her crafting equipment.


    During this small conversation, Janice learned something new about herself. She learned why she would hoard the crafting materials and equipment she no longer had use for¡ªthere was more to it than she thought. It only surfaced in her heart and mind when she had to part with them. This helped her understand herself better. Turns out these crafting equipment that she believed to be moot with her current skill set were actually priceless in her mind.


    "Yes. I promise you that I will use them responsibly and return them to you in the same condition as you gave them," Ace promised, knowing that his toy summons were very thorough in everything they did. They would use, handle, and maintain the crafting equipment to the best of their abilities.


    "Good," Janice nodded in relief, seeing Ace playing along for once, and he sounded genuine enough. Then, she asked, "So, where do you want me to drop them? It''s a huge list, and some of the equipments mentioned in here are pretty huge. Do you have some sort of lab prepared for this? I can drop the materials and equipment there."


    "No, I don''t have a lab for now. Let''s just transfer the goods in the living room," Ace said, planning to store all the materials and equipment in Emi''s storage talisman.


    "It seems your storage space curse tool has a higher storage capacity than I thought. That''s interesting to know, I guess," Janice exclaimed, nodding at Ace before leading him into the house to begin the transfer. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Elinor wanted to follow them inside, but turning to eye Lilith, who was enjoying herself with her undead minions, she decided otherwise. Not that she was being overprotective of Lilith, she just wanted to keep a close eye on her until she got to know her better, especially since she planned to enroll her in primary school.


    Most of the cult''s cannon fodder and lower rank members were illiterate, as that made them easier to control. Elinor wanted a better life than that for Lilith, so she planned to get her into school as soon as possible, only if she felt Lilith was stable enough to be around regular kids. This was also the reason why she had not made plans to bring Lilith to her old friends and school yet¡ªshe did not want to put other kids in danger while trying to help one.


    If it turned out Lilith was not yet ready to mingle with society, there was always homeschooling. Elinor wanted to avoid that option if possible because for the better part of half of her life, she was homeschooled. As someone who had physically attended school and also been homeschooled, Elinor thought they both had their merits, but she preferred attending school physically over homeschooling because it would give the child a community of their own, outside of the adult and brutal version of the community, allowing the children to learn and experience things that no parent or homeschooling could ever teach.


    "Hey, thanks for lending me the crafting equipment," Ace said as he walked out of the house with Janice, having procured the crafting materials and equipment he needed.


    Listening to him, Elinor awakened from her contemplation and heard Ace then ask Janice, "Do you know when Delores will be back from her rounds? I need her to help me with a small errand."


    "Under the current circumstances, I don''t think Delores should be leaving town, not even for a minute," Janice informed Ace, implying that Delores was too important for his security detail to waste time running an errand for him.


    But noticing that Ace was eager, as if the errand was very important to him, she suggested, "Tell me what errand you have? I will arrange for one of my subordinates to do it."


    "Are they half as fast as Delores?" Ace asked, thinking Janice was right. Delores''s presence was needed here more than ever. So, he compromised to settle for the next best thing.


    "No, not even some Sky-tier curse users are half as fast as her," Janice said, a bit taken aback, thinking Ace had no idea about the prowess of an average curse user, having been surrounded by the extraordinary. It was as if he had lost touch with reality.


    "Well, I guess I will have to take a loss on this one," Ace said, deciding to forgo his plan of returning to the Weasley Winery to check out the Cursed Walking Cane''s wood room and loot the stolen wealth its late curse master had hidden within it.


    Ace had planned to use the wood room as his lab. But the wood room was stationary; it could only be opened in one location at a time. If it were to be opened in a new location, then while transferring from the old location, it would spit out the things inside of it at the old location before moving to the new designated location.


    Ace had been looking forward to checking out the loot in the wood room, but under the current circumstances, he thought it was not a good idea to leave town. He planned to recruit Delores''s help, believing with her help he would be able to pull it off, but the latter was an integral part of the security system protecting the town and the Lander Estate. Her leaving the town even for a couple of minutes could prove disastrous in the current circumstances, so Ace decided to totally give up on that idea and move on preparing to make a small initial loss on this one.


    "Is it important? I can lend you my teleportation curse tool," Janice offered, feeling safe within the cursed array formations covering the Lander estate. Also, because she had managed to make another sibling displacement consumable curse tool, she would just switch places with her brother if push came to shove.


    "No, it''s not that important," Ace said, rejecting Janice''s offer, but he was moved by her generosity. After all, the teleportation curse tool was Janice''s lifeline. He was touched that she was willing to let him use it.


    "Guys, do you think I should admit Lilith to our family school? Kids studying there are like her, not as strong, but they are aware of the world of curses. I think it would be a better fit for her than a regular school because I don''t have the heart to ask Lilith not to be herself in the presence of her classmates and friends or anyone for that matter," Elinor suddenly asked, hijacking the conversation with her fears and decisions.


    "Did someone from school approach you already? It hasn''t even been a day since you became her legal guardian," Janice asked, knowing this was not entirely Elinor speaking, but something else. She did not think her family would make a move so quickly.

 Chapter 316 316: Curse School

    "Family school?" Ace blurted out, his face scrunching in confusion. He''d heard of family law firms, hospitals, even auto shops¡ªbut a school? That was some straight-up royalty-level shit.


    "Our family runs a lot of regular schools and universities in the mortal world," Janice explained, "but she''s talking about the school¡ªthe one specifically for gifted people. How do you think my family manages to recruit so many trustworthy curse users? We nurture and train three-fourths of them ourselves. In the curse community, loyalty is hard to come by. Big families like ours can''t afford to just hope for loyalty¡ªwe have to build it."


    She paused, ignoring Ace, who appeared to have a lot of questions about the topic, she glanced at Elinor, waiting for her to reveal who from the school had contacted her.


    Elinor fidgeted. "Janice, don''t get mad, okay?" she said hesitantly, already taking a few slow steps sideways toward Ace. "It was our aunt. She said she was thrilled that someone from the direct bloodline was finally giving her a grandchild¡ªeven if it was through adoption¡ª"


    Janice''s brows immediately pulled together, her frown deepening into something intense. Before Elinor could finish, she cut in sharply, "Grandchild? Adoption? Please tell me you explained to her that you''re just Lilith''s legal guardian¡ªnot her adoptive mother?"


    Elinor winced, now fully sliding behind Ace like she was considering using him as a human shield. "I did¡ªon several occasions. But she threatened me. She said I better not take away what might be her only chance at becoming a grandparent¡ª"


    Before she could even finish, Janice interrupted again, her tone sharper than earlier, "So you agreed to become Lilith''s foster mother?"


    "Hell no!" Elinor blurted out, shaking her head vigorously. "I love Lilith and all, but I see her as a cute younger sister who needs my guidance¡ªnot as my daughter. And that''s exactly what I told our aunt."


    She let out a sigh, recalling the exhausting conversation. "She tried the whole emotional breakdown thing¡ªfull-on waterworks, guilt-tripping, the works. But I didn''t cave. Eventually, she backed off and instead asked me to admit Lilith into the family school. She promised she''d assign the best teachers and provide top-tier resources for her."


    Elinor spoke fast, desperate to explain herself before Janice jumped to conclusions and made the situation worse than it already was.


    Janice folded her arms, eyeing Elinor skeptically. "Let me guess¡ªit was her who brought up the whole ''you shouldn''t ask Lilith to hide who she is among mortals'' thing, wasn''t it?" Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Elinor sighed, her shoulders sagging. "Yeah..."


    Janice figured as much. Elinor was thoughtful, sure, but she wasn''t the type to plan that far ahead. And let''s be real¡ªshe had zero experience raising kids. It didn''t take a genius to realize those weren''t her words or concerns. She wouldn''t have even thought about it until it became an issue right in her face.


    Elinor bit her lip, the weight of responsibility of raising a child pressing down on her. It hasn''t be an entire day yet every now and then, something new popped up to remind her just how unprepared she was for this. But even so, she pushed forward, trusting herself to figure it out along the way. She had to because she owed it to her fallen colleagues and Lilith.


    "She is good. That whole grandchild bit was just a decoy. She never wanted it. She just wanted you to feel bad and guilty enough to say yes to whatever she planned to ask next. Her real goal was to get you to agree to admit Lilith into the family school. I am impressed that you did not agree to her demands. Color me surprised," Janice nodded at her cousin for facing the most conniving boss of the McSuile family and surviving without sacrificing anything.


    "I did not cave to her demands, but I agreed to a campus tour. She said to let Lilith decide where she wanted to attend school. I felt she was right at that time, but now I''m thinking I might have chosen poorly," Elinor said, not wanting to be too hard on herself for the oversight.


    "Idiot!" Janice cursed in frustration before exploding, "Lilith is an eight-year-old. She doesn''t know what she wants, let alone what she needs. As her legal guardian, you should not only provide her with what she needs but also what''s best for her. How could you agree to letting Lilith decide which school she wants to attend?"


    "Knowing our aunt, she might have already changed the school''s campus to fit Lilith''s taste based on her history and the recent information they gathered on her. Once Lilith sees that school, it''s game over. You walked right into her trap."


    Elinor dejectedly lowered her head, already knowing their aunt would do anything to get Lilith to choose their family school. And once she was in, there was no turning back. That place was basically a cult¡ªone dedicated to worshiping the McSuile family.


    Its primary goal wasn''t just education; it was to churn out curse users who were loyal and indebted to the McSuile name. Elinor had attended it for a few months after becoming a curse master, and the way both the staff and students treated her¡ªlike some kind of princess¡ªhad been unsettling. She didn''t want Lilith to be part of that freak show.


    "Ahem."


    Ace cleared his throat, taking advantage of a lull in their conversation. "Sorry to interrupt, but I have to ask¡ªhow exactly does this curse school work? Do they train kids to become curse users, or do they just train people who are already curse users? It can''t be the first one, right? I thought it was impossible to predict whether someone would awaken regardless of their aptitude for curse energy."


    Janice glanced at him, then shrugged. "Well, the students there are mostly people of any age who''ve already been exposed to the ''World of Curses'' or who have the aptitude for curse energy and want to pursue it as a career. Think of it like a military academy, but along with regular combat and knowledge, they''re trained in everything related to curses."


    She continued, "Based on their performance and willingness, the McSuile family sponsors their curse core ceremony. Those who don''t make the cut get recommended to other organizations¡ªthough, nine times out of ten, they end up with the C.I.B. In the end, about eighty percent of the graduates choose to go through the awakening ceremony despite knowing the risk. The other twenty percent? They end up working for the McSuile family''s business empire."


    Janice explained with a straight face, but the telltale flush on her ears and neck betrayed her. She was embarrassed. The way she described the family''s curse school was how it should ideally function, but she knew there was much more at play¡ªthings she wasn''t proud to admit.


    It was systematic brainwashing. The school took students'' fear and curiosity for the curse world, combined it with the McSuile family''s power and authority, and twisted it into loyalty and self-sacrifice. Still, the McSuile family did treat its people better than the C.I.B. treated its agents.


    One look at the school¡ªits facilities, its curriculum¡ªand anyone with half a brain could tell they were taking advantage of desperate, clueless people who had turned to them in their time of need. But compared to the alternative¡ªthe C.I.B.''s memory-erasing protocol¡ªit was the lesser evil.


    Besides, the McSuile family wasn''t running a charity. The knowledge they provided was forbidden and priceless to mortals, yet they were practically giving it away for free with strings attached of course. On top of that, they offered students the opportunity to become curse users¡ªbut only if they were willing.


    There was a lot to unpack, a lot of moral grey areas to consider, but in the end, it was what it was. The thought of changing the way the school operated had never even crossed Janice''s mind¡ªor any other McSuile family member''s, for that matter. The knowledge of the World of Curses was privileged, and the Curse Council was strict about keeping mortals in the dark.


    The current system ensured that any mortals who did learn about curses could be trusted to keep quiet. And if they didn''t? Well, the McSuile family and the C.I.B. had protocols for that.


    "Well, it''s a little misleading to call it a military school. It''s more like a cul¡ªcommune," Elinor corrected her cousin, shooting a knowing glance at Janice. "Everyone learning and working toward one goal."


    Janice''s ears and neck flushed an even deeper shade of red.


    "It''s free, though, right?" Ace asked. But before they could answer, he added, "Because if you''re charging people just to brainwash them into loyal retainers, that''s diabolical."


    "Of course it''s free! We''re not demons," Janice replied, her voice a little too high-pitched. She couldn''t have been more obvious about her embarrassment if she tried.


    "Well¡­" Elinor glanced at her cousin, wondering why she was acting so weird. "Basic tuition, lodging, and meals are free, but if they want luxury, they have to pay for it."


    "That''s understandable," Ace nodded, then a thought struck him. He grinned. "Do you guys accept donations?"

 Chapter 317 317: Wandering Curselings

    "Yes, the school takes donations, just like any other school would. Do you have a problem with that?" Janice snapped, fully aware that Ace was enjoying her discomfort a little too much.


    "I mean, I guess your family''s school is just like a regular school. After all, regular schools pump out slaves for the corporate world, while yours pumps out slaves for the McSuile empire," Ace teased, grinning at the growing frustration on Janice''s face.


    Janice''s eyes sharpened. "Give me back my crafting equipments. You don''t deserve them," she demanded, stretching out her hand toward him.


    "What crafting equipments?" Ace played dumb, already stepping down the patio stairs. He figured he had about ten seconds before Janice lost her temper and really tried to take the equipments back.


    Before she could explode, a voice came from above.


    "What are you doing here again?"


    Ace froze mid-step and looked up to see Delores staring down at him. He smirked and said, "Came to see you, great-grandma."


    "That joke is getting old and getting on my nerves," Delores warned, jumping down effortlessly. Then, turning to Janice, she reported, "We checked that section of the array. Same as always, nothing unusual. Just in case, Evil Eyes stayed behind to keep watch for a few more hours."


    "Wait, there''s a problem with the array?" Ace asked, suddenly on high alert. Also, weren''t Delores and Evil Eyes supposed to be on a regular patrol?


    Janice shot Delores a glare before answering. "No, there isn''t. The alarm array we set up around town got triggered. Delores and Evil Eyes went to check it out personally."


    "You guys told me they were just doing regular rounds. Besides, the alarm array only triggers when it detects curse energy, right?" Ace asked, growing increasingly frustrated. The security team he had hired to protect his family was starting to seem unreliable in every possible way.


    "Yes, but it could be anything¡ªeven just a wandering curseling. If it were cult members, I''m pretty sure they would''ve noticed the alarm array surrounding the town," Janice explained, conveniently skipping over the fact that she had originally claimed Delores and Evil Eyes were just doing routine rounds.


    "Then what''s the point of the alarm array? A false sense of security to fool ourselves while giving our enemies the perfect opportunity to slit our throats in our sleep? You do realize they probably have a dozen ways to bypass something this basic, right?" Ace argued. Given the cult''s history¡ªalong with its parent cult¡ªhe had no doubt they had countermeasures for simple detection arrays. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ace, get hold of yourself and let her finish. This color is unsightly on you," Delores thundered, her tone sharp and commanding, like a grandmother disciplining an unruly grandchild.


    Ace fell silent, glaring at the ground.


    Satisfied, Delores nodded at a startled Janice, who shook her head before continuing. "The cursed alarm array formation isn''t meant for curse users¡ªit''s for the curselings. With so many curse users gathered in town, the curse energy density here has skyrocketed over the last twenty-four hours. It''s off the charts. That kind of concentration is bound to attract wandering curselings. Unlike curse users, they don''t care about alarm arrays, no matter their tier. This way, we can take care of them before they make it into town and cause any damage."


    The cursed alarm array formation was a simple setup designed to detect curse energy passing through it. It was easy to arrange, required minimal resources, and cost next to nothing to activate. However, setting one up around an entire town was a different story¡ªit was not only expensive to arrange but also costly to maintain and incredibly labor-intensive. Despite that, Janice had insisted on putting it in place to ensure the safety of the townspeople.


    Ace simply nodded in understanding, though his mind was still preoccupied with something else¡ªwhy had he gone completely silent when Delores yelled at him? He wasn''t the type to back down easily, yet the moment she raised her voice, he just¡­ froze. He found himself stealing a few glances at her as she continued discussing things with Janice, like a scolded kid sneaking peeks at an angry parent.


    Elinor stepped up beside him and whispered, "You know, one would think she''d get less scary once you get to know her, but she doesn''t. If anything, she just gets scarier. Do you know why that is? Took me years to figure it out. You''d think it was something deep and complex, right? Turns out, it''s the complete opposite."


    Ace turned his head slightly, intrigued. "And that is?"


    "She actually cares about you," Elinor said, smirking. "Even if you don''t care about her, she cares. She''s like¡­ the non-toxic version of clingy. A strict parental figure who''s always there for you¡ªwhether you like it or not. And do you know what that means?"


    "What?" Ace asked, begrudgingly admitting that Elinor had a point.


    "You''re part of the family now," she announced, pulling out her cursed phone with a grin. "I''m adding you to the family chat group."


    "Elinor, I''m flattered, but I don''t want to be part of the McSuile family," Ace immediately declined. Though, a second later, he regretted it¡ªrealizing this could have been a golden opportunity for Dame Wasp to eavesdrop and spy on the McSuile family.


    "No, no, no. Not the McSuile family," Elinor corrected, shaking her head. "I mean Delores''s family. It''s a small group of people my aunt is close to. And now¡­ you''re one of them." She grinned as she added Ace to the group chat.


    Ace raised a brow. "I thought Delores wasn''t exactly popular in your family?" From what he''d learned from Dame Wasp, Delores was hated by various factions in the McSuile family¡ªfor being the Patriarch''s favorite disciple, for almost being adopted by him, and for sponsoring Jason McSuile as the family''s next leader.


    "That''s true," Elinor admitted with a knowing smile. "But there are a few people close enough to be considered her family."


    Ace decided to check out the group chat later. The thought of Delores having even a handful of people she cared about was¡­ interesting. He''d assumed she was more of a lone wolf.


    "Ace, let''s go," Delores suddenly called out.


    Ace, who had been preparing to head home and start on his upgrade plans, blinked at her in confusion. "Where?"


    "Janice said you had an important errand to run," Delores answered matter-of-factly.


    "About that¡ªAre you sure?" Ace started to reject the offer but quickly changed his mind. Delores wouldn''t have offered to help if she hadn''t thought it was a good idea.


    "Question¡ªdo you physically have to be there, or can one of your clones handle it?" Delores asked. She had already deduced from the information Elinor had given her that Apex was actually Ace, and the version of him she''d tagged earlier was just a clone.


    "What''s the plan?" Ace countered. He wasn''t about to send Emi or DD out as his clone without knowing exactly what Delores had in mind. From the way she spoke, it sounded like she assumed his clones were as expendable as Janice''s¡ªbut they weren''t. Sure, he could revive his toy summons, but he didn''t want them to go through that ordeal if it wasn''t necessary.


    "My board will take your clone to and from the destination while you and I wait here," Delores explained. And from how casually she said it, this definitely wasn''t the first time she''d pulled something like this.


    Ace frowned. "Are you sure about being so far from your innate curse tool?" He found her plan a little reckless.


    "Yeah, don''t worry," Delores reassured him. "I''m always connected to my surfboard with this curse energy leash. I can retrieve it at will." She lifted her right leg slightly, showing him a translucent rope made of curse energy, tethering her to her board. Then, she added, "Range isn''t an issue. As long as it doesn''t leave this dimension, I have full control over it."


    "Amazing," Ace muttered, genuinely impressed. The range on her innate curse tool far surpassed that of his Cursed Toy Box, which was limited to just a mile.


    "Yeah, she used it to provide taxi and delivery services to our most valuable customers back in the 1800s. She played a huge role in the growth of the McSuile family''s business empire during its early days," Elinor revealed, clearly proud of her incredible aunt. Meanwhile, Delores just rolled her eyes, visibly cringing.


    "Wow, aren''t you a pioneer," Ace remarked, genuinely impressed.


    Delores waved him off. "The real pioneers were the ones with teleportation-related curse tools, arts, or array formations. I just piggybacked off their work by undercutting their costs."


    "Okay, we get it. You were a hustler. Happy?" Ace teased, smirking.


    Delores'' annoyance deepened. She hated it when Elinor made a big deal about her past. Without the teachings and protection of her master and senior brothers and sisters, she wouldn''t have survived, let alone accomplished anything. Everything she had achieved was a team effort, and whenever Elinor or others raved about her past deeds, it felt like they were painting a picture where her master and seniors had used her rather than raised her.

 Chapter 318 318: Being Underestimated Or Trust Issues

    "So, it''s decided then?" Delores asked, confirming their plan for Ace''s clone to borrow her board and run his errand. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yeah," Ace agreed, summoning DD in his appearance, pretending to be his clone. And she held the cursed wooden cane.


    The moment she appeared, Lilith, who had been playing with her zombie minions by the flowerbed, snapped her head toward her. Her gaze locked onto clone-Ace''s, suspicion flickering in her eyes. Knowing she had figured it out, clone-Ace winked and brought a finger to his lips, silently asking her to keep the secret.


    Lilith caught on and nodded but still ran over and wrapped her arms around clone-Ace''s legs, demanding, "Come play with me."


    Hearing Lilith call the clone to play with her when the real Ace was standing right there, Janice, Delores, and Elinor exchanged looks, their eyes narrowing in suspicion.


    Delores sighed and shook her head in disappointment. "Kid, one of these days, your secrets are gonna be the reason you lose everything you hold dear," she warned.


    She was disheartened to realize Ace had tricked her with a clone while the local C.I.B. headquarters was under attack by the cult. And she finally found the little interest to express it to Ace seeing him continue down that path again.


    Yes, she was more upset with herself for not seeing through his trick, but what really stung was that Ace didn''t trust her enough to include her in his plans. She had made it clear¡ªshe would help him with anything as long as it didn''t involve the McSuile family.


    The fact that he still didn''t trust her? She saw that as a failure on her part. But more importantly, she saw it as Ace''s greatest weakness.


    "Delores, I didn''t trick you because I don''t trust you. I did it because you guys constantly underestimate me. If I had told you my plan, you would never have agreed to it¡ªyou would have done everything in your power to stop me last night. I didn''t see any other way," Ace explained, meeting Delores''s gaze. He could tell she was still upset after learning most of the truth about what had happened, but her thinking it was because he didn''t trust her? That was a huge misunderstanding, and he needed to clear it up.


    "You have to believe me when I say I trust you. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have asked you to protect my family."


    "Really? Then who''s that?" Janice cut in, pointing at clone-Ace, who was now happily playing with Lilith while the adults argued.


    "All I can share with you guys is that it''s an extension of my abilities," Ace said vaguely. Then, looking at Janice, he added, "And thank you for not using your curse tools on it just to satisfy your curiosity."


    He was sure Aurelian Eyes had a few tools that could expose the truth about DD, pretending to be his clone, but she hadn''t used them. That meant a lot to him. She''d chosen to respect his privacy instead of prying just because she could.


    Despite his explanation, the trio continued to stare at him, their gazes intense. Ace sighed, feeling cornered. "Get off my back. It''s not like you guys don''t have any secrets of your own."


    "Ace, everyone has secrets, but not about these kinds of things. Take last night, for example¡ªif you had just been honest with us about your abilities and what you''re capable of, you wouldn''t have had to worry about Delores underestimating you. Instead, she could have joined you or at least acted as your backup," Janice explained gently, making sure Ace didn''t think she was just shifting the blame onto him.


    "See? Your trust issues are your greatest weakness," Delores added, seizing the moment to rub an I told you so in Ace''s face.


    Janice suddenly snapped, "What is it with you strong men and psychological issues? Is it because your mommy or daddy didn''t pay you enough attention when you were little?"


    Ace blinked, caught off guard. "What?" Elinor and Delores also looked at Janice skeptically.


    Janice''s frustration wasn''t really about Ace¡ªit was about her brother. Crimson Eyes had been psychologically broken by their enemies, forcing him to drop out of the national asset program. If he had won, he could have taken over the family without resistance or objections, saving them both from the endless family drama that had plagued them for what felt like an eternity. Seeing Ace let his trust issues put him in danger dredged up all those old wounds for her.


    Elinor had already noticed her cousin acting strangely for a while now, so she finally asked, "Cousin, are you okay?"


    "I''m fine," Janice replied, shrugging off their concerned gazes. She then turned to Ace and said, "Know this¡ªsecrets might add an extra barrier of protection against your enemies, but they also build a barrier of isolation between you and the people you care about. It can''t go both ways. You have to decide for yourself whether you''ll let your fear of getting hurt stop you from connecting with the rest of the world¡ªespecially with those you care about, in this world or, in our case, both worlds."


    Ace was amazed at how well the trio had come to understand him in such a short time. At this point, he wouldn''t be surprised if they had already drawn up a complete psychological profile on him. Apart from his Toy Summons, these three had him figured out. On one hand, he was glad he had found such capable security for his family, but on the other, he feared they would eventually uncover the truth¡ªthe real him.


    An overweight, scared, and helpless teenager, unable to stand up to his bullies. Screaming for help. And yet, no one seemed to hear his cries.


    "There, right there¡ªwhat just flashed through your mind? Share it with us," Janice demanded, noticing the storm brewing in Ace''s eyes as they spoke of his inner struggles.


    "I''m done talking," Ace said flatly, signaling DD to get going.


    Before leaving, the clone Ace promised Lilith he''d play with her again later. Then, with a final nod, he leaped onto Delores''s board, which hovered just above the ground.


    Receiving the ready signal from the clone, Ace instructed Delores, "Send her to the Weasly Winery."


    While Janice shook her head, Delores glanced indifferently at her innate curse tool. Elinor, however, wasn''t done. She advised Ace, "Whatever it is that''s haunting you, you need to deal with it as soon as possible. Otherwise, it will continue to weigh on you, growing heavier and heavier until one day, it crushes you completely."


    Ace knew the trio¡ªand even his Toy Summons¡ªwere saying this for his own good. But he didn''t know how to let go of his dark past. He believed it was the catalyst that had set off the chain reaction making him who he was today. At first, he thought getting revenge would be enough. But it wasn''t.


    It was like how doing good deeds couldn''t erase the bad ones. Similarly, avenging himself hadn''t erased the trauma of his bullied school life. Sure, it had felt good, and if given the chance, he''d do it all over again. But revenge hadn''t been the solution to his mental struggles. It was like smashing the car that rear-ended yours¡ªit wouldn''t magically repair your own bumper.


    "Thanks for the inspirational quotes, but I don''t own a car to stick them on my rear window," Ace quipped, politely brushing off Elinor''s unsolicited advice before turning to Delores. "Send them already. I don''t have all day."


    Delores nodded, and in an instant, her board vanished, carrying Ace''s clone away at an astonishing speed.


    "So, get this¡ªElinor promised our aunt that she''d let Lilith decide whether she wants to join the family school after a campus tour," Janice gossiped to Delores, even though Elinor was standing right next to her.


    "Hey! At the time, it felt like a great idea," Elinor protested, trying to defend herself. In reality, she had been played like a flute by their aunt. She still could not fathom how it all happened. It felt surreal.


    "That''s a great idea. They''ll ensure she grows up to be a valuable asset to the family and humankind. She will love it there," Delores replied, surprising both Janice and Elinor. Unlike them, Delores seemed to genuinely believe that their family''s school would be a good place to mold Lilith into a responsible adult.


    "What was I thinking?" Janice scolded herself, realizing her mistake. As one of the school''s first alumni, of course Delores would think Lilith joining was a good thing. Times like this reminded her of the status difference between them.


    "Why? Is something wrong?" Delores asked in confusion, noticing their expressions turn grim. In her mind, the McSuile Curse School had been a great institution¡ªespecially in its early days, when it was run by her senior brothers and sisters. To her, those years were some of her most cherished memories.

 Chapter 319 319: Empress Of Trees

    "These are just a bunch of trinkets," DD muttered, opening the wooden room at the edge of the Weasly Winary estate. She was disappointed seeing the loot. Hopefully, the curse tools and curse cores have interesting skills that come in handy in her master''s agenda.


    Shaking her head, DD took out the cursed cores and cursed tools from the wooden room before breaking off a dry branch. She then transferred the wood room from the tree onto the branch and stored all the loot inside the new wood room within the branch.


    The cursed wooden cane''s wood room skill was quite interesting. By using the cane as a key, one could open a stationary and untraceable 21x21x21 space within any piece of wood. However, the internal environment of the wood room depended on the biological system and condition of the wood used as the medium.


    This is where things got tricky. The cursed cane could open a wood room in any type of wood, but if it was opened in dead wood, there would be no ventilation or even breathable air. This was because dead wood lacked a functioning biological system, meaning no living being could survive inside such a room. To create a livable wood room, it had to be opened within a living plant or tree, which had an active biological system that could support air and nutrient exchange.


    That said, using dead wood had its advantages¡ªjust like how DD was using it now as mobile storage space. Despite its limitations, the woodroom skill was highly versatile.


    But what truly made the cursed wooden cane exceptional wasn''t just the wood room¡ªit was its ability to let the user walk through wood. That feature alone made it the perfect cursed tool for DD.


    It was thanks to the cursed wooden cane that DD had been able to hide underground earlier that morning as her master confronted Matthews and Janice. As it turned out, DD and the cursed wooden cane''s abilities were highly compatible.


    DD''s mutated racial skills allowed her to communicate with and control trees. With the guidance of the trees and plants, she used the cursed wooden cane to navigate a realm on this very planet that no one had ever explored before¡ªthe Realm of Roots. Thanks to the combination of her mutated racial abilities and the cane''s cursed powers, she could now traverse the underground through the vast network of roots, much like walking on land or swimming through water.


    DD was originally supposed to use her powers to help resolve the issue of the estate''s borewells drying up. The plan was to direct the roots to locate a new underground water current and connect it to the one supplying the borewells, thereby rejuvenating them.


    It was a tedious and time-consuming task. She would have to maintain communication with the trees above while their roots explored the underground in search of new water sources. Once a suitable underground current was found, she would then have to determine the shortest and most efficient path to connect it with the old one¡ªensuring the flow would revitalize the existing borewell system.


    If successful, the plan would resolve the water shortage plaguing the Lander avocado orchard.


    This plan relied entirely on the tree roots being able to locate a new underground water current and navigate the shortest path to rejuvenate the old one. Expecting the roots to accomplish all that on their own was a bit of a stretch. However, DD believed that with her guidance, it was possible¡ªespecially since tree roots had been proven to possess a natural sense for locating underground water.


    But thanks to the cursed wooden cane, she could now take the lead and guide the roots directly from within them. Exploring the underground with them. Combined with her master''s Status Screen skill that kept her connected to her seniors, she believed she could use their vertitle talents and could pull this off much sooner than she had initially expected.


    The cursed wooden cane was proving to be an incredibly handy curse tool¡ªso much so that DD had started to believe it was tailor-made for her. It was significantly easier to communicate with trees when she was inside them. Within a tree, she felt completely connected to it, as if they were one and the same. If she wanted, her will could easily take over the entire tree¡ªsimilar to possession, but even more seamless.


    In that state, her power increased severalfold. Possessing a tree allowed her to communicate more efficiently with the surrounding trees, and they responded to her more willingly. She often wondered if it was because they sensed that she was one of them, though she had no concrete proof to support the theory.


    However, it was true that when she possessed a tree, she felt like the empress of every tree and plant within the range of her abilities. Just this morning, while possessing one of the avocado trees in the orchard, she felt like the queen of the entire grove, with the other trees acting as her loyal knights, ready to protect her with their lives.


    She strongly believed that, if not for her obligation to hold back out of respect for her master, she could have mobilized the entire avocado orchard to fight for him¡ªmaybe even conquer in his name. Not even those three Apaches would have stood a chance against her avocado army. Still, she would never know for sure if what she felt was truly real or simply the result of being overwhelmed by her newfound power.


    Having collected the loot, DD didn''t waste any more time and rushed toward Delores''s board, which had dropped her off at the Weasly Winery resort. However, no matter how much she commanded it to take her to the exact location of the woodroom or follow her there, the board wouldn''t budge an inch. She even contacted Ace via the status screen, only to learn that there was a limit to the instructions Delores could relay to her innate curse tool remotely.


    Left with no other option, she jumped off the board and began running to the location on foot.


    As DD hurried through the forest toward Delores''s innate curse tool, she suddenly sensed multiple strong emotional signatures within her range. Without hesitation, she used the cursed wooden cane''s ability to hide within a nearby tree, then began moving underground through the root system.


    However, just then, a massive explosion occurred above ground, shaking the land violently. DD barely managed to avoid being ejected above ground by the cursed wooden cane''s safety mechanism by quickly retreating into the root of a tree outside the blast''s area of effect. This safety protocol was designed to protect the curse user in case the tree they were in was suddenly damaged.


    [¡ªStatus Screen¡ª


    DD: Master, I am under attack. For now, I am safe, but I have no idea who the enemy is.


    Ace: Hold tight. Crimson Eyes and other C.I.B. agents should be there protecting the millionaire Weasly. Escape when they engage the enemy.


    Ace: Don''t do anything reckless. That''s an order.


    DD: Understood, Master.]


    "My clone is under attack," Ace informed the McSuile trio in a panic, unable to recall DD since she was out of his one-mile range.


    "Is it still functional? Did you find out who attacked it?" Janice asked immediately, while Delores nonchalantly remarked, "So, your errand was a bust. I guess I should recall my innate curse tool now."


    "No, don''t recall your innate curse tool. My clone is still functional and rushing to the pickup point. Unfortunately, it has no idea who the attackers are," Ace answered, clearly frustrated by their casual reactions.


    He especially glared at Delores, his instincts proving correct¡ªshe had indeed planned to treat his clone as expendable. Distracted by all the talk about his trust issues, he had forgotten to ensure Delores wouldn''t abandon his clone if things went south.


    "Kid, it doesn''t stand a chance against seasoned curse users. No need to be dramatic. It is just a clone. Get over it," Delores said bluntly, giving Ace a dose of realism.


    But Ace ignored her and turned to Janice, asking, "Janice, your brother is stationed there, right? Could you talk to him?"


    "What gave you that impression? He''s been hunting down cult members with the others since last night," Janice replied, updating him on the situation.


    "Then who''s protecting Millionaire Weasly?" Ace asked urgently.


    "He was moved to the guest house near the C.I.B. agent quarters," Janice explained. Even if the whole country were burning, those quarters would remain under tight security. Otherwise, agents wouldn''t be able to do their jobs, knowing their families were at risk.


    "Fuck!" Ace cursed, then quickly used his status screen to update DD.


    [¡ªStatus Screen¡ª


    Ace: DD, the C.I.B. agents have been reassigned; you''re on your own. Please make it back safely.


    Ace: I''m sorry¡ªmy carelessness might cost you your life.


    DD: Don''t blame yourself, Master. You couldn''t have predicted this. And please, trust in my abilities.] S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 320 320: Majestic!

    "Did we get him?" asked a man dressed in nothing but a short bathrobe and a speedo as he landed on the charred crater.


    His colleague, wearing a white tank top and cargo shorts, shouted in outrage, "You idiot! We weren''t supposed to kill him¡ªwe were supposed to catch him!"


    "Hey, who are you calling an idiot? You looking to die?" the man snapped back, tossing his bathrobe to the ground. He adjusted the crotch of his speedo, trying to prevent it from chafing his inner thighs.


    "Out of everyone I could''ve brought to chase the kid, I picked you. I must be the idiot," the man in cargo shorts muttered, blaming himself for the poor choice. But there was no time to give it proper consideration¡ªthe kid had been too fast, and they only managed to catch up because he''d stopped. He sighed and ordered, "Let''s at least bring back his innate curse tool."


    "Innate curse tool? Didn''t you see that explosion? It was brilliant¡ªit probably turned to dust with part of the forest. Good luck finding that, buddy," the man in the speedo said, walking barefoot over the scorched earth like he was strolling along a beach.


    "We have¡ª" the man in cargo shorts began to argue, but he stopped mid-sentence. The ground beneath them trembled vigorous. A sudden sense of danger gripped him, and he shot into the sky.


    Just as his feet left the ground, the earth tore open beneath him, and a gigantic boa made of intertwined roots surged upward with its mouth wide open. As the man in cargo shorts rose into the air, the monstrous root-boa snapped its jaws shut, swallowing him whole.


    Just as the man in cargo pants was about to shoot out of the giant boa''s closed jaws, he suddenly felt his body being pulled into an unknown space. Moments later, he found himself in a dimly lit room made entirely of wood. Before he could make sense of his surroundings, he realized there was no air to breathe.


    He instinctively held his breath, but the room suddenly turned pitch black. Panic, confusion, and anxiety clouded his judgment. The next thing he knew, he was out of the woodroom and buried several miles deep into the earth''s crust.


    ¡­


    Just as the man in the speedo walked barefoot across the once-lush forest, now a charred and barren crater. He suddenly felt the ground tremble violently. Like his companion, he sensed imminent danger and rushed out of the crater. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Finding a huge shadow cover him, instinctively he turned around, to find a gigantic boa made of intertwined roots emerge from the ground, swallow his buddy whole, and then dive back into the ground, vanishing into the crust.


    "Buddy!" the man in the speedo screamed at the top of his lungs. In a fit of rage, he began to bombard the crater with reckless blasts of cursed energy, not even considering that his friend might still be alive and might get caught in the explosions while trying to escape.


    However, all he succeeded in doing was deepening the crust and kick up a thick cloud of dust¡ªand scaring the nearby residents.


    ¡­


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    DD: Master, there are two enemies. They''re mutant rust worms in curse master hosts. Both are ocean-tier. One is agility-type, the other is damage-type.


    Ace: What''s your plan?


    DD: I want to engage them. I''ll go after the agility-type first¡ªhe was able to catch up with Delores''s innate curse tool. He''ll be tricky if I don''t take him by surprise. After that, I''ll slowly deal with the damage-type. He seems a little slow in the head, so I think I stand a good chance against him head-on.


    Ace: How sure are you?


    DD: Sure enough to bet my life on it.


    DD: Master, let me do this¡ªfor myself, please.


    Ace: May the Lord be with you.


    DD: You''re all I need, Master.]


    ¡­


    "Arrgh!"


    The man in the speedo dropped to his knees, covered in dust and dirt, his legs buckling from exhaustion after bombarding the area for several minutes straight. Even his fustrated scream came out weak.


    The entire area was engulfed in dust. Despite the explosions having stopped, the air remained thick and murky, reducing visibility to nearly zero for anyone in the vicinity.


    Suddenly, the ground began to tremble again¡ªmore violently this time. Not giving the man time to rest or recover.


    The man in the speedo focused all his curse energy, preparing to face the massive root boa that had swallowed his buddy head on. Eyes locked on the trembling ground beneath his knees, he muttered, "I will avenge you, buddy."


    The man waited and waited, but the giant boa he was expecting never appeared. Looking around through the lingering dust, he turned his head¡ªand behind the veil of the haze, he spotted the silhouette of an enormous, solitary armored knight, kneeling on one knee, holding a sword and a round shield.


    Forcing himself to stand, the man turned to face the figure, trying to confirm he wasn''t hallucinating. To his disbelief, the eye slits in the knight''s helmet lit up with a bright glow, cutting through the thick dust, as the giant figure began to rise to its feet.


    The man tilted his head back, watching as the knight stood tall. The dust seemed to shift and swirl around the towering figure. Unable to fit the entire knight into his field of view, he took a few steps backward¡ªuntil he stumbled on debris and fell onto his backside.


    "Majestic..." the man in the speedo whispered in awe. Ignoring his fall, he kept his gaze locked on the mysterious giant knight cloaked in the thick veil of dust.


    The man froze, lying on the ground without moving a single muscle in his body, his gaze never leaving the majestic knight. He was mesmerized by the scene before him, his mind stuck in the moment, drawn in by the beauty. At that moment, nothing else in the world seemed to matter to him, not even his own life. He simply wanted to soak in the entirety of the world unfolding before him.

 Chapter 321 321: Suicidal Enemy

    ''Oh, Lord, please don''t take this from me too,'' the man in the speedo prayed as he watched the giant knight lift its massive sword, the dust swirling around the blade like a sheath.


    "No! Don''t do it!" he shouted desperately, raising his right hand just as the knight swung the enormous sword down on him, splitting the dust into two, revealing a part of its majestic figure.


    "I''m sorry! I have to live... Otherwise, their sacrifice will be for nothing," he muttered, tears streaming down his cheeks. Just inches from his raised wrist¡ªnow adorned with a rusted knuckle buster¡ªhe channeled his curse energy and detonated it with unknown confidence.


    Eyes shut tight, unwilling to witness the end of the majestic creature before him. He never saw what happened next. Unknown to him, the knight''s sword swallowed the explosion without pause and continued its descent, crashing down on him with unstoppable force, pounding on the mutant rust worm''s host into a roadkill.


    The host body of the mutant rust worm was left mangled¡ªbones shattered, organs ruptured. His right hand was reduced to a bloodied pulp, the rusted knuckle buster sandwiched inside it.


    "Hehehe..." Despite his caved-in skull and broken jaw, the host managed a faint, gurgled laugh, as the mutant rust worm thought, ''Guess this is as far as I go, buddy¡­''


    Then, the tip of the mud-and-root sword exploded, obliterating the mutant rust worm and its host in a final blast, kicking up more dust.


    With a heavy motion, the giant knight swept its round shield, clearing the air of dust. Now fully visible, it stood tall¡ªits body made of thick mud and stone, bound together by intertwined roots, while vibrant green leaves adorned its helmet, forming a living crest.


    Spotting a mutant rust worm curse core on the ground, the giant knight began to sink into the earth, leaving behind a massive tree in the center of the charred crater. A moment later, a figure emerged from the tree''s trunk, picked up the curse core, and vanished back inside.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    DD: Master, hostiles down. Both of them.


    Ace: Hot damn!


    Ace: Head back and give me a full report. I can''t wait to hear it.


    DD: Then I''ll update you on the run.


    Ace: Go ahead¡ªbut make sure you reach the pickup point before more hostiles show up.


    DD: Got it. So, I killed the first one by trapping him in a woodroom opened in a dead wood and burying him a couple of miles deep into the crust.


    DD: It was tricky, since the cursed wooden cane would''ve spit him back to the surface due to its safety protocol. So I had to dig a "cozy" space for him and then bury him in it.


    DD: As for the other one¡ªhe was plain stupid. He exhausted himself before our fight. Still had a few punches left in him, though.


    DD: Once again, I used the woodroom to swallow his explosive blasts, then hit him with a several-ton sword made of mud and stone before detonating it with my exploding roots.


    DD: You won''t believe this, but the fool closed his eyes at the most critical moment of the battle. Honestly, I don''t even want credit for that kill. He seemed suicidal from the start.


    DD: Anyway, I managed to collect two mutant rust worm curse cores as loot.


    Ace: Good job.


    DD: Master, I''ve made it to the pickup point. Let Delores know.


    Ace: Alright. Head home safely.]


    Before heading to the pickup point, DD went underground to the location where she had buried the other mutant rust worm and its host. By the time she arrived, only the mutant rust worm remained in the "cozy hole" she had dug¡ªthe host appeared to have passed away due to a lack of air, and its corpse dissipated into the surroundings.


    She then guided the roots using her emotional field to locate the mutated rust worm, commanding them to pierce it to death. Its corpse dissipated, leaving behind a curse core.


    After collecting the curse core and the loot she had buried nearby, she rushed to the pickup point through the underground root network.


    ¡­


    "I was wrong. Your clone made it back," Delores said as she instructed her innate curse tool to return, carrying Ace''s clone.


    "I told you¡ªit''s an extension of my power. You shouldn''t have underestimated it," Ace replied, both relieved and proud of what DD had accomplished.


    "So, any updates on who the attackers were?" Janice asked.


    "It was two mutant rust worms with curse master hosts. My clone killed them both. From what it overheard, they seemed to have been camping outside the town. I think you should have the C.I.B. or your people check the surrounding area. If you''re lucky, you might catch the rest of them," Ace said, relaying everything he had learned from DD and advising Janice to organize a sweep of the town''s outskirts.


    "That would be useless. We''ve been sweeping the area around the town every six hours. Since we didn''t catch them during the regular sweeps, it''s clear they have someone with strong and mysterious stealth abilities hiding their camp," Janice explained. "Still, I''ll ask the agents and our staff to stay extra alert."


    She then paused briefly before assuring Ace, "I''ll ask my brother to come and have a look. His abilities might do the trick."


    "Thank you," Ace said sincerely, knowing how busy Crimson Eyes was.


    "I''m here. My eyes are almost like his. I''ll join the next patrol," Elinor volunteered, mostly out of competitiveness toward her cousin Crimson Eyes. She believed her Hundred Eyes ability was no weaker than his Crimson Eyes. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sure," Janice agreed, but added, "However, I think you''d be more helpful here. Together, we can lay traps with curse spells capable of crippling even Void-tier enemies."


    "I can do both. The patrol will only take an hour or two at most," Elinor said enthusiastically. Janice wanted to reject her, but seeing her ambitious cousin making a return, she decided to let nature take its course.

 Chapter 322 322: 5th Toy Summon

    ''They''re hiding something from me. Rose, find out what it is,'' Ace mentally instructed Dame Wasp using his sense share skill after leaving the McSuile Trio to retrieve DD.


    From their earlier conversation, Ace sensed that Janice was fully aware of the cult members camping outside the town. However, her staff and agents were pretending otherwise, acting as though it was news when Ace discovered it. As a result, he suspected that the country''s curse community wasn''t just using him as bait to wipe out the remaining cult members¡ªthey were lying in wait for the whale.


    ''Master, after last night''s incident, the C.I.B. began overhauling its old servers, systems, and networks. According to their protocol manual, they should have new ones set up by now. It''s not just them¡ªother forces I piggybacked through the C.I.B.''s servers did the same. Everyone''s spooked after learning about the Immortal Sects'' remnants. Not to mention, they''re all on high alert. It''ll be hard to go in and out without being noticed,'' Dame Wasp informed him. What Ace was asking might have been possible a few hours ago, but not anymore.


    ''They''re fast,'' Ace said in surprise. Still, he ordered, ''Proceed anyway, as long as they can''t trace it back to us.''


    ''That''s my specialty. Leave it to me, Master. I''ll dig out whatever they''re trying to hide within a few minutes¡ªtops,'' Dame Wasp replied confidently, already getting to work.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Ace: Emi, take the rail rifle and use its scope to locate the cult members'' camp. Eliminate them all.


    Emi: Hai!


    Ace: Don''t hesitate to use fireworks. You have half an hour.


    Emi: Wakarimashita. ]


    Ace then summoned the invisible Emi, who used her ninjutsu and talismans to leave the Lander estate and begin patrolling the town''s outskirts, hunting for the cult members.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    DD: Master, don''t you think we should wait until we understand why the C.I.B. and the McSuiles are pretending not to know about the cult''s camp outside town?


    Ace: No.


    Ace: Any plan that uses my family as bait is a hard no.


    Ace: Now that we have the crafting materials and equipment, let''s get started. We don''t want to get caught with our pants around our knees, do we? ]


    Entering the house, Ace headed straight to his cousin''s room. As he stepped inside, his eyes landed on a wooden wall mount displaying a 57 cm-long staff crafted from mahogany wood. It was a replica of the Elven Queen''s staff.


    Without hesitation, Ace took the wand¡ªhe had paid a hefty price for it from his cousin¡ªand fed it into the cursed toybox along with the cursed wooden cane. Soon, the cursed toybox provided an update via the status screen:


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Cursed Tool: Cursed Wooden Cane


    Toy: Elven Queen''s Staff


    Compatibility: 89%


    Recommendation: The success rate of animating the toy ''Cursed Wooden Cane'' with the curse core ''Elven Queen''s Staff'' is determined to be very high. ]


    After confirming that his intuition about the Elven Queen''s wand was correct, Ace moved the Elven Queen''s staff to DD''s toy space, instructing her to use her curse energy to influence the replica and turn it into a cursed item.


    Once DD had transformed the staff into a cursed item, Ace fed it into the cursed toybox to check whether its compatibility with the curse tool had increased.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Curse Tool: Cursed Wooden Cane


    Cursed Toy: Cursed Elven Queen''s Staff


    Compatibility: 99%


    Recommendation: The success rate of animating the toy Cursed Elven Queen''s Staff with the curse tool Cursed Wooden Cane is determined to be very high. ]


    As Ace had expected, the result mirrored the outcome when he turned the Doctor Druid Doll into a cursed item before animating DD. The compatibility jumped significantly, just one percent short of perfect. This confirmed to Ace that his theories and findings so far were valid¡ªhe was on the right path.


    Without further delay, he instructed the cursed toybox to actualize the cursed toy Cursed Elven Queen''s Staff using the curse tool Cursed Wooden Cane.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    > Cursed toybox is merging curse tool Cursed Wooden Cane with cursed toy Cursed Elven Queen''s Staff...


    > Cursed toybox is animating the toy Cursed Elven Queen''s Staff as a toy summon¡­


    > The cursed toybox has animated the toy Cursed Elven Queen''s Staff.


    > The toy summon Cursed Elven Queen''s Staff has been added to the toy space.


    > Toymancer can now summon Cursed Elven Queen''s Staff. ]


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Name: Cursed Elven Queen''s Staff


    Race: Curse Tool


    Class: Toy Summon


    Title: Elven Queen


    Durability: (100/100)


    Enchantment: 1-Star


    Individuality: (100/100)


    Curse Energy Consumption: 5 units per hour


    Skills: Toy Actualization, Cursed Elven Codex, Ruler of Elves, Wood Walking, Wood Palace, Wood Manipulation, Mother of Harvest, Friend of Spirits


    Note:


    i) The class Toy Summon will gain new skills as the Toymancer''s stats increase.


    ii) The title Elven Queen grants the Toy Summon access to all the original item''s abilities. ]


    [Skill Name: Toy Actualization


    Skill Class: Innate Curse Art


    Skill Effect: Transforms the concept and idea behind the toy into reality.


    Additional Effect:


    Toy Physiology: Grants the ability to use the toy''s inherent powers.]


    [Skill Name: Cursed Elven Codex


    Skill Class: Innate Curse Art


    Skill Effect: Allows the user to cast all elven spells stored within the Elven Queen''s Staff using cursed energy.


    Additional Effect:


    Multi-Cast: Enables simultaneous casting of multiple spells based on the user''s stats.]


    [Skill Name: Ruler of Elves


    Skill Class: Innate Curse Art


    Skill Effect: All elves will recognize and submit to the user as their ruler.


    Additional Effect:


    Elven Royal Guards: Once every full moon, the user can summon the brave spirits of the fallen Elven Royal Guards to protect their ruler one last time.]


    [Skill Name: Wood Walking


    Skill Class: Innate Curse Art


    Skill Effect: Allows the user to move through forests as if walking through air.


    Additional Effect:


    Wood Fusion: Grants the ability to fuse with wood or wooden objects for defense or camouflage.


    Notes:


    i) While using this curse tool, the user gains the subclass Wood Walker and access to related abilities.]


    [Skill Name: Wood Palace


    Skill Class: Innate Curse Art


    Skill Effect: Allows the user to open a stationary and untraceable space within any wood containing the Elven Queen''s palace. The Cursed Wooden Cane acts as the key to the Wood Room. The wood''s structure and surroundings serve as the ventilation system for the space.


    Notes:


    i) Attempting to summon the Wood Palace in a different location will result in the disposal of items stored in the previous rooted location.]


    [Skill Name: Wood Manipulation


    Skill Class: Innate Curse Art


    Skill Effect: Grants the user versatile and potent control over wood and woody plant life. This includes trees, shrubs, vines, and even processed wood. The user can manipulate wood at both a biological and molecular level, enabling subtle adjustments or dramatic transformations.


    Additional Effect:


    Plant Sacrifice: The user can absorb the vitality of plant life to heal or regenerate their own body.]


    [Skill Name: Mother of Harvest


    Skill Class: Innate Curse Art


    Skill Effect: Blesses the user with the ability to induce bountiful harvests, allowing plants to produce fruit at several times their normal rate.


    Additional Effect:


    Max Mating: Increases the likelihood of successful pregnancy with healthy offspring¡ªwhether in livestock or the user themselves¡ªunder the blessing of the Mother of Harvest.] S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Skill Name: Friend of Spirits


    Skill Class: Innate Curse Art


    Skill Effect: The user''s affinity with curse spirits increases significantly. Curse spirits will no longer fear the user unless the user shows hostility toward them.


    Additional Effect:


    Spirit Imprint: The user can form a bond with a curse spirit, provided both parties mutually agree.]


    "Shame it didn''t undergo advanced enhancement," Ace muttered in disappointment, noting that his fifth toy summon had not evolved despite the high compatibility between the curse tool and the toy.


    However, his spirits lifted upon seeing that it retained the Elven Codex as the Cursed Elven Codex, allowing its user to cast Elven spells using curse energy instead of mana or spirit power.


    Gaining access to the full spell repertoire of the Elven race was a tremendous reward. This made the Cursed Elven Queen''s Staff his strongest tool-type toy summon to date. With it, DD''s capabilities would reach unprecedented heights.


    Moreover, it solved his most pressing issue¡ªfinding a suitable place to establish his lab. After all, what better location than the Wood Palace?


    Taking the Cursed Elven Queen''s Staff, Ace headed to the backyard of the house, which was essentially an open field with a few trees before the tangerine orchards began. He intended to select one of the trees to serve as the entrance to the Wood Palace, but after surveying them, he shook his head in disappointment. They were too exposed, especially with C.I.B. agents and McSuile security staff monitoring the estate around the clock.


    Instead, he returned to his room, deciding to open the Wood Palace within the cactus pot by his window. It was discreet, easily accessible, and¡ªmost importantly¡ªsmall enough to be moved without disturbing the Wood Palace inside it.

 Chapter 323: Frog In The Well

    "Contact me if something comes up," Ace instructed DD, asking her to replace him and guard the cactus plant as he entered the Wood Palace to power up while he still had time.


    Once inside the Wood Palace, Ace didn¡¯t bother exploring. Instead, he found a secluded spot in the front garden and began feeding all his common mortal-tier curse cores to the Cursed Toybox one by one. "Slow and steady" was the last thing on his mind.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    > Using curse core (Gremlin Form) to enchant Toymancer¡¯s curse core¡­


    > Enhancement complete.


    > Toymancer has gained:


    i) +5 Physical Stats


    ii) +5 Spiritual Stats


    iii) +70 Curse Energy


    Note: Toymancer¡¯s personal status screen has been updated.]


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    > Using curse core (Gremlin Form) to enchant Toymancer¡¯s curse core¡­


    > Enhancement complete.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Note: Toymancer¡¯s personal status screen has been updated.]


    Ace continued the process until he ran out of common mortal-tier curse cores, not bothering to check his updated stats screen. His only goal was to feed as many curse cores as possible into his own curse core¡ªuntil the Cursed Toybox screamed enough.


    Just as he prepared to feed it the common knight-tier curse cores, he was interrupted by Emi¡¯s report:


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Emi: Master, I¡¯ve found about two dozen hidden camps outside the town. They appear to belong to various forces of the country¡¯s curse community. I managed to identify two that belong to the cult. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Emi: These are some of the dumbest enemies I have ever come across. I don¡¯t understand how the curse community is having trouble exterminating these fools.


    Emi: They have been made and surrounded, but they don¡¯t seem to realize it. It is hard to believe these guys managed to infiltrate the C.I.B.


    Emi: I fear something bigger is afoot. Should I proceed with the mission?


    Ace: It seems the cursed array formations are not there just to protect us, but also to cut us off from the outside world.


    Ace: Now I feel like the frog. No worse, the frog was born in the well, I dug my well myself.


    Ace: Mission is still a go. Make it fucking loud.


    Emi: Hai!]


    Even with this new information, Ace didn¡¯t doubt Janice. He knew that, despite everything she was hiding from him, she genuinely wanted to protect his family. Otherwise, moving into his family¡¯s estate wouldn¡¯t have been the first thing she did after learning the controversial information she learned.


    However, he was angry at himself. In his effort to create a safe haven for his family, he had ended up isolating himself from both worlds, especially from their darkness. Now, he regretted not stepping deeper into the darkness of those two worlds instead of merely standing as the iron door between his family and the threats that lurked beyond. Rather than becoming a soldier feared by the two worlds, he had chosen to be a nameless guard¡ªunseen, unknown¡ªeven to the very people he was protecting.


    ¡¯Rose, how far did your search get?¡¯ Ace mentally asked Dame Wasp through the sense-sharing skill, trying to understand why so many forces were camped outside his town. What were they truly after?


    ¡¯Master, Janice is hiding a lot more than we thought,¡¯ Dame Wasp replied, hesitant, unsure where to begin.


    ¡¯First¡ªcan we trust her?¡¯ Ace didn¡¯t care what Janice was hiding from him. What mattered now was whether she could still be trusted.


    ¡¯Yes. Right now, in the entire curse community of the country, Janice is one of the few we can trust to save our behinds. Her uncle screwed us over big time. Janice and Matthews tried to make a case for you¡ªespecially Matthews¡ªeven though she was already in hot water herself. But they were outnumbered and outmuscled. Matthews is lucky they still need her,¡¯ Dame Wasp explained, painting a grim picture of their situation while making it clear who their allies and enemies were.


    ¡¯So, what are they really after?¡¯ Ace asked, mentally noting who he owed and for what.


    ¡¯The 36th shard of the Spirit Comet,¡¯ Dame Wasp revealed with a grim tone, trying to emphasise the seriousness of the matter.


    ¡¯What?¡¯ Ace replied in confusion. He had assumed they were after the cult leader or someone higher up in the cult who was on the run¡ªnot over some space rock. Despite hearing Dame Wasp say it, he still couldn¡¯t believe all this commotion was over something like that¡­ unless there was more to the story.


    ¡¯The Spirit Comet is more than just a comet. It is an anchor to the Spirit realm. It has a rotation period of a decade. Once every ten years, it passes near our world. During the single hour it is closest to our world, one can use shards of the Spirit Comet to open a gate to the Spirit Realm¡ªa mystical plane filled with powerful and ancient curse spirits. The entire environment and ecosystem of the plane is built specifically for them. Even a speck of dust from that realm could fetch over a hundred thousand dollars at auction easily. These materials are the finest ingredients for crafting curse tools and extracting high-purity curse energy. To put it simply, the Spirit Realm is a treasure trove for curse users. That¡¯s why a shard of the Spirit Comet is invaluable¡ªtoo valuable for any individual or single force to possess alone,¡¯ Dame Wasp explained, introducing the legendary Spirit Realm to her master¡ªa distant land inhabited by powerful curse spirits, far beyond mankind¡¯s reach.


    ¡¯Let me guess¡­ the Samsara Cult has it,¡¯ Ace said, drawing the obvious conclusion from where this was headed. However, he wondered how a fallen cult could come to possess something so valuable.


    ¡¯No, the Sarmasa Cult doesn¡¯t have the 36th shard of the Spirit Comet. But one of the cult elders might know where it is,¡¯ Dame Wasp corrected him.


    ¡¯How did the curse community get this information?¡¯ Ace asked, still unsure whether to believe it. It was hard to imagine someone possessing something so valuable for decades and never using it. With resources from the Spirit Realm, they could have easily overpowered any force in the mortal world.


    ¡¯The cult itself doesn¡¯t know that one of their elders is aware of the location of the 36th shard of the Spirit Comet,¡¯ Dame Wasp replied. ¡¯A C.I.B. agent stumbled upon this intel during a raid on one of the cult¡¯s bases.¡¯


    ¡¯Turns out, the last descendant of the Overlords¡ªrulers of the fallen colonies upon whose ashes this country was built¡ªsought refuge within the cult. That descendant had grand ambitions: first to take over the cult and then the entire country. But unfortunately for him, we happened.¡¯


    ¡¯The curse community¡¯s forces haven¡¯t been able to track him down, so they¡¯re using you as bait, hoping he¡¯ll crawl out of whatever hole he¡¯s hiding in,¡¯ Dame Wasp explained, filling in the pieces Ace was missing¡ªthough it only left him more confused.


    ¡¯How does using me as bait even factor into this?¡¯ Ace asked, unable to understand why someone with such grand ambitions would risk exposing himself, risk everything, just to kill someone as insignificant as him.


    ¡¯Well, the cult leader was killed by Elinor¡¯s father, so his position is now open. The surviving cult elders¡ª¡¯ Dame Wasp began to explain how her master made the perfect bait, but Ace cut in.


    ¡¯Say no more, I got it. The surviving cult elders are fighting among themselves for the cult leader¡¯s seat, and Elinor¡¯s father hinted at a way to decide who gets to be the next cult leader¡ªby awarding me the Sarmasa Slayer title and crediting me with the cult¡¯s downfall.¡¯


    ¡¯Yes, master. That¡¯s the gist of it. That¡¯s why there were two cult camps outside the town. I believe they belong to two rival factions within the cult, each representing a different cult elder.¡¯


    ¡¯Based on Emi¡¯s report about how they¡¯re the dumbest enemies she¡¯s ever faced, I suspect none of those camps belongs to the faction backing the Overlords¡¯ descendant. Which is bad. Very bad. As we have no idea where they are and what they are planning. These people clearly have no bottom line, so it¡¯s impossible to predict what they¡¯re willing to do to get what they want,¡¯ Dame Wasp said, sounding clearly distressed.


    ¡¯Lyra!¡¯ Ace blurted, his sister immediately coming to mind¡ªknowing she was the one opening he had left unguarded.


    ¡¯Master, I¡¯ve been tracking Ma¡¯am Lyra digitally. She¡¯s made it to the airport, and it looks like she¡¯s having a hard time choosing a therapy dog to cuddle with,¡¯ Dame Wasp reported promptly, trying to calm her master¡¯s growing worry.


    ¡¯What? You can choose therapy dogs? Whatever¡ªjust contact the airport, prepare a charter plane for her to head home immediately, and make sure she gets to take a few of those therapy dogs on board. Buy the damn airport if you have to, but make sure she¡¯s on her way home. And inform me before the plane lands. We¡¯re going to pick her up personally,¡¯ Ace instructed Dame Wasp, then pulled out his phone to contact his sister and inform her about the change of plans.

 Chapter 324 324: Go Wild

    "Why can''t I participate in the patrol? You agreed earlier," Elinor asked her cousin, starting to seriously doubt something was off about her behavior.


    "Now I''m telling you that you can''t join the patrol," Janice said sternly, trying to dissuade her cousin. She was thrilled to see Elinor slowly returning to her old self, but she also knew how Elinor always managed to find herself at odds with their way of doing things. Just as Janice was about to level with her¡ª


    KABOOM! KABOOM!


    Two massive explosions echoed from the outskirts of town, sending shockwaves and tremors rippling across the area. Both cousins snapped their heads toward the source, spotting two columns of smoke rising into the clouds.


    "I told you, he saw through your carefully selected words and promises. You should''ve known the moment he genuinely thanked you," Delores said from the side, sipping on the mocktails Elinor had prepared previously.


    "How? I didn''t feel him leave the array¡ªand the staff monitoring him didn''t report him missing," Janice said in disbelief.


    "He can travel through shadows and has at least two perfect clones. Now you tell me how he did it," Delores mocked, thinking it was foolish of Janice to believe she could contain Ace with array formations.


    "What the hell is going on?" Elinor demanded, seeing neither her aunt nor cousin answer. She continued, "You knew where they were hiding¡ªthat''s why you didn''t want me on the patrol, isn''t it? And what was all that about you calling Jason? Was that all bullshit?"


    "She went a bit overboard with that one," Delores commented, thinking Janice was making promises she couldn''t keep.


    "That wasn''t bullshit. I did ask Jason to come over once he was done with his duties. We could use his help here¡ªespecially now," Janice said, implying she hadn''t just said that to appease Ace. Then she pulled out her cursed phone and showed the screen to Elinor and Delores. "See? My phone hasn''t stopped buzzing. If Ace keeps acting out like this, it''ll be hard for me to keep them at bay. They''ll demand a tighter leash on him."


    "How will they know it was Ace if you don''t tell them?" Delores asked nonchalantly. Knowing how Ace liked to do things¡ªleaving no evidence or trail behind. No one would suspect him until he made it painfully obvious. Not to mention, these people had no idea what he was capable of. Which was why they had no idea that trying to leash Ace would only lead to bigger problems.


    "If I don''t, they''ll start subtly fighting among themselves, which could leave an opening for the cult factions to launch whatever they are scheming," Janice explained, justifying why she had to rat Ace out.


    "Them fighting among themselves is better than them ganging up on us," Delores countered, leaning toward letting the country''s curse forces clash it out. It would be easier for them to stay in control that way. Besides, with the curse arrays in place, she didn''t think they needed to worry about the cult right now.


    "Still, I need to go talk to Ace and stop him from doing whatever crazy thing he''s planning next," Janice said, deciding to ignore the other forces for now until they calmed down enough to hear her out.


    "You know, without any evidence of his crimes, he''ll just deny everything and continue doing whatever he wants. The only way to get him to listen is through mutual interest¡ªlet him in on the plan," Delores pointed out, knowing Janice would be wasting her time trying to persuade Ace to stand down and quietly follow their arrangements for him.


    "You know that''s not up to me," Janice rejected Delores''s advice, reminding her that the plan wasn''t hers but Elinor''s father''s. Without her uncle''s permission, there was a strict limit to what she could do on her own¡ªand letting Ace into the McSuile family''s plan was far beyond that limit.


    "Then forget about getting the boy to cooperate and be a splendid bait for the family''s grand schemes. His trust issues are no news, and now, with the current circumstances, I can see him spiraling out sooner or later. Let''s just hope the damage this time is less than when he allegedly blew up a congressman, a mayor, and a commissioner all at once," Delores remarked, knowing Ace was bound to react. Anyone would¡ªno one likes having their life controlled and discarded like garbage.


    "So what am I supposed to do, nothing?" Janice asked in frustration, feeling caught between Ace, her family, and the other forces.


    "No. Just do what you were hired for¡ªprovide the best security for the Landers. Ace already paid in full, so we can''t come up short," Delores reminded her that their job wasn''t to manage the politics of this shit show.


    "So, I''m just supposed to let Ace run wild?" Janice asked, still unable to see things from Delores''s point of view.


    "Do you know that nowadays in zoos, they don''t tame or train animals? They let those fancy habitat cages do that for them," Delores commented. "At first, the animals are wild, trying to escape every way possible, but soon they realize escape is not an option. Then they give up, adjust to the routine, and slowly become docile, settling into their new lifestyle." She was telling Janice to let Ace run wild and feel the atmosphere for himself¡ªjust like the animals in a zoo that were left to roam their small habitat until they grow tired of trying to escape and ultimately give up.


    "There''s a lot more at stake here than weekday ticket sales. Forget the cult''s factions¡ªthese forces out there won''t hesitate to break Ace until he becomes their perfect bait¡ª" Janice began, wanting to shield Ace from the country''s curse community.


    But Delores cut her off. "Janice, wake up. Ace isn''t some kid in distress. He''s a curse master planning to apply for the National Asset Program. And based on my experiences with him, he always follows through on his word. I think we just need to protect his family while he does his thing. That''s what he hired you for."


    "Fuck it, I''ll do just that," Janice said, still not entirely agreeing with Delores but swayed by how rare it was for her to show enough interest to argue. Since she did, Janice decided to follow her lead for once. Trusting her.


    With that, Janice turned off her cursed phone and walked back into the house, saying, "If anyone calls, tell them I''m busy with curse crafting. If they try to force their way into the curse array formation, detain them. And if things get out of hand¡ªact at your discretion."


    "Cus, do you need me to help you craft the curse traps?" Elinor asked. Since the plan to go on patrol was a bust, she figured she might as well focus on using her curse spells to set traps around the Lander estate.


    "Sure, but you can''t bring Lilith into my lab," Janice said, not wanting Lilith''s budding curiosity to wreak havoc in her mobile lab.


    "Don''t worry. Lilith went off to play with one of Ace''s clones," Elinor assured her. Then she added, "She''s been gone for a while now¡ªyou didn''t even notice she was missing. Remind me to never ask you to babysit Lilith."


    "That girl doesn''t need a babysitter; she needs a warden," Janice joked, only to get kicked in the shin by her cousin.


    "Hey!" Janice cried out in pain but didn''t complain.


    ¡­


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Emi: Master, mission complete.


    Emi: I''ve looted as many curse cores as I could. Please recall me now.


    Ace: Recall.


    Emi: Phew! That was close. There are some powerful curse users out there. My body was paralyzed almost instantly by just one of their gazes. But thanks to your status screen, we made it out in time.


    Emi: I have no idea how they managed to detect me so quickly. They''re a capable bunch.


    Emi: I''m sorry, Master. I couldn''t collect all the curse cores. And I don''t think the explosions managed to kill them all. They may be fools, but they''re strong.


    Ace: That doesn''t matter. What matters is that they can no longer pretend. Now, the forces will have to take action.


    Ace: With that, others will back off from any plans to attack my family estate¡ªfor a while, at least.


    Ace: Which means my family is safe¡­ for now.


    Ace: Anyway, now that you''re back, go join Dame Wasp. Start setting up the workshop and begin crafting the Specwork and Dame Wasp''s bodies.


    Emi: Hai!]


    With that, Ace summoned Emi into the Wood Palace, where she reunited with Dame Wasp, who had just finished mapping out the palace''s layout to help optimize the setup for their crafting workshop. The Wood Palace was large and spacious, but the girls were thinking ahead¡ªmaking sure there would be plenty of room for the workshop to expand alongside their growing curse-crafting skills.


    Meanwhile, Ace began using the new mutant rust worm curse cores Emi had brought to increase his stats by feeding them to the cursed toybox. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 325 325: Specwork

    "Master, Madam Lyra''s flight will land at the nearest airport in forty-five minutes," Dame Wasp informed Ace from the front garden of the Wood Palace.


    "Alright then," Ace said, rising to his feet. "How far have you guys progressed?"


    "We''ve set up the workshop, created the Specwork toy, and were preparing to begin work on the bionic skeletal frame for my new body," Dame Wasp reported, though she seemed a bit disappointed with their progress.


    "I''m impressed. You guys are fast," Ace said, genuinely complimenting her. He could see that she and Emi had accomplished a lot in a short time. Then he got to the important question, "Is the Specwork toy ready for animation?"


    "Yes, Master. Would you like to inspect it before we proceed with animating it?" Dame Wasp asked eagerly. The Specwork toy was made using the advanced knowledge from her universe. While she called it a toy, the people of this world would consider it a state-of-the-art machine¡ªcenturies ahead of its time, a true miracle.


    "Lead the way. I guess we have a couple of minutes to spare," Ace agreed with a slight nod, curious to witness the capabilities of the toy Dame Wasp had created using her world''s robotics and nanotechnology before he turned it into one of his summoned toys.


    As Dame Wasp led Ace toward the workshop, he used the moment to check his stats¡ªhe had swallowed nearly two dozen common mortal-tier curse cores, including the mutant rust worm cores Emi had looted. He mentally muttered, ''Status Screen.''


    [ ¡ª Status screen¡ª


    Name: Ace Lander


    Race: Human (¡á)


    Class: Toymancer


    Title: Curse Master


    Health: (17/200)yrs


    Physical Power: 179


    Spiritual power: 170


    Curse Energy: (2021/2021)


    Skills: Cursed toybox(5/12), Status screen.


    Arts: Body Reinforcement, Curse Concealment.]


    The growth in all his power and energy stats was within expectations. However, the increase in his toy summon space slots and health bar surprised him, as they were significantly lower than he had anticipated.


    He was disappointed to find that his toy summon space limit had only increased by seven, despite digesting nearly two dozen common mortal-tier curse cores. At this rate, Ace began to think his dream of commanding a legion of toy summons might be more difficult than he had originally thought.


    As for his health stats, he suspected its growth was being capped by his current mortal-tier. From that perspective, a 200-year lifespan for a mortal was actually impressive¡ªborderline unheard of. Then again, how many mortal-tier curse users ever survived long enough to truly enjoy such a long life? S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Is that it?" Ace asked, pointing to a metallic gray liquid swirling in a tub. As he stepped closer, the substance emitted a soft rhythmic hum, vibrating its entire liquid-metal body¡ªas if greeting them. Ace gave a small nod of acknowledgment and said, "It looks just like in the cartoons. You did a great job, Rose."


    "Thank you, Master, but it was a team effort," Dame Wasp replied, too humble to take all the credit for herself.


    "Senpai, don''t be modest. I just helped out a little. If not for the time crunch, you could''ve done it all on your own," Emi added, too polite to claim any real credit for what she saw as her senpai''s hard work and brain child. She was just happy with the fact that she got to help and work on such a wonderful creation.


    "Stop praising each other and show me how to use that thing," Ace urged the modest duo, as he was short on time. His sister''s plane would be landing in the city in forty-five minutes, and he still had a lot to prepare.


    "Master, it''s voice-controlled. It recognizes your voice. Go ahead and try it out," Dame Wasp informed him, encouraging him to communicate with the Specwork toy verbally.


    "Hello, Specwork," Ace greeted the metallic liquid. It immediately rose into the air and attempted to form a humanoid shape. After a few failed attempts, it finally managed to take the shape of a 7-foot-tall, flat, cartoonish stickman, emitting a rhythmic hum that sounded very much like, ''Hello, Master.''


    "Awesome," Ace exclaimed. The scene reminded him of the moment in the cartoon when the protagonists first meet Specwork in the junkyard and nearly soil themselves, thinking they''d run into a ghost.


    "Master, try feeding your phone to it," Dame Wasp advised.


    Ace nodded, took out his smartphone, and extended it toward Specwork. "Here, buddy, this is for you."


    Specwork took the smartphone and absorbed it into its body. Dame Wasp then sternly reminded it, "What do we say?"


    Specwork hummed again, the tone sounding remarkably like, ''Thank you.'' Only then did Dame Wasp nod in satisfaction.


    "Specwork, use technomorph: Smartphone," Ace commanded eagerly.


    In response, Specwork''s large body retracted inward, reshaping itself into a perfect replica of the smartphone it had just consumed. Ace picked it up from the floor and found that it functioned perfectly, without a single glitch. Thrilled, he gave another command: "Specwork, upgrade smartphone!"


    Soon, the entire external aesthetic of the smartphone morphed into a sleek, metallic gray slab. Seeing this, Ace yelled in pure joy and excitement, "This is incredible, Rose! You created an alien life-form from another cartoon universe using the knowledge of your own universe¡ªwithout even relying on the cursed toy box. This is just mind-blowing!"


    "Master, actually, it only changed its appearance. The smartphone still functions like your original enhanced device. It did not upgrade it," Dame Wasp quickly clarified, not wanting her master to get his hopes too high.


    "So¡­ it''s just a fraud?" Ace blurted out in a moment of disappointment. However, he softened his tone when he heard Specwork hum, that sounded like an apology, ''Sorry!''


    "For a toy, it''s great and fun. Now, quickly turn it into a cursed item so I can begin the animation process," Ace instructed, handing the Specwork smartphone to Emi without bothering to check for compatibility. He also didn''t ask for his smartphone back, knowing that in the cartoon, Specwork''s diet electronic devices so his phone was as good as gone.


    From an economic or marketing standpoint, Dame Wasp''s Specwork toy was a complete dud. But for Ace, it checked all the boxes needed to animate it as a toy summon.


    "Give me a minute, Master," Emi said, taking the Specwork smartphone and getting to work. Meanwhile, Ace wandered around the workshop, and Dame Wasp explained their design decisions whenever he looked confused or skeptical.


    "Master, I''m done," Emi finally said, handing Ace the Specwork smartphone¡ªnow a cursed item, or rather, a cursed toy.


    "Alright, let us begin then," Ace said, taking the Specwork smartphone and feeding it to the curse toybox along with a mutant rust worm curse core. Specwork''s diet was electronic devices, while the rust worm''s diet was cursed tools. Ace''s decision here was a no-brainer, yet he went ahead and did a compatibility test before proceeding to the animation process.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    Curse Core: Mutant Rust Worm


    Cursed Toy: Specwork


    Compatibility: 100%


    Recommendation: The success rate of animating the cursed toy ''Specwork'' with the curse core ''Mutant Rust worm'' is determined to be very high.]


    "Holy crap!" Ace exclaimed in shock¡ªthis was the first time he had seen perfect compatibility between a curse core and a cursed toy. Even with the evidence right in front of him, he could hardly believe it. Overcome with excitement, he shared the news with Emi and Dame Wasp, saying, "You two really outdid yourselves today."


    "Senpai, you did it!" Emi cheered, congratulating her senpai and giving her full credit for the achievement before she could modestly try to share it.


    While the toy summons politely congratulated and praised each other, Ace didn''t waste any more time. He gave the cursed toybox the green light to animate Specwork as his toy summon using the mutant rust worm curse core.


    [ ¡ª Status Screen ¡ª


    > Cursed toybox is merging mutant rust worm curse core with cursed toy Specwork...


    > Cursed toybox is animating the toy Cursed Specwork as a toy summon¡­


    > The cursed toybox has animated the toy summons Specwork.


    > Toy summons Specwork undergoing advanced enhancement¡­


    > Toy summons Specwork''s stats and skill are being augmented¡­


    > Toy summons Specwork''s advance enhancement complete.


    > Toy summon Specwork has been added to the toy space.


    > Toymancer can now summon toy summons ''Speckwork.'']


    After tasking the cursed toybox to animate Specwork into a toy summon, Ace minimized the status screen without reading the updates and headed out of the Wood Palace, recalling Emi and Dame Wasp into their toy space.


    However, to Ace''s shock, stepping out of the Wood Palace, he was greeted by a room full of dead insects, birds, wall crawlers, and other small creatures. He exclaimed in shock, "WTF!"


    "Ace, language. Lilith is here," Ace''s clone¡ªaka DD¡ªquickly reminded him, gesturing toward their small, cute company.


    "Hi, Lilith!" Ace greeted her awkwardly before shooting a glare at DD, silently demanding an explanation. Upon learning that Lilith had figured out Ace was DD in disguise and ran over to play, Ace couldn''t help but wonder what the point was of having DD stand guard when Emi and Dame Wasp could''ve used her help with the workshop.

 Chapter 326 326: Character Profile

    "Master, Lilith said she would play in your room without disturbing me and promised not to disclose my identity, so I let her be," DD explained, trying to justify why she hadn''t immediately informed Ace about Lilith''s arrival using the status screen.


    The reason she hadn''t reported it was simple¡ªshe didn''t think the little girl''s presence was worth the trouble, especially since Lilith had assured her she wouldn''t interfere or reveal that DD wasn''t the real Ace. Besides, DD didn''t quite know how to say no to her tiny, adorable number-one fan.


    Ace frowned at DD''s defense. Had it been Dame Wasp or Emi in her place, they would have reported it to him right away. But not DD. This incident highlighted the different mentalities of his three sentient toy summons, despite all three of them being superheroes in their own worlds, showing that not all superheroes were the same.


    Dame Wasp was more of an anti-hero.


    Emi Nakamura was a soldier-hero.


    Luna Green, aka DD, was more of a free-spirited hero¡ªsome might say a "hippie" hero, if said politely.


    Each responded to situations in their own unique way.


    So, DD''s failure to report Lilith''s arrival didn''t mean she had gone rogue or was acting against Ace''s orders¡ªit simply meant she didn''t consider her arrangement with Lilith important enough to mention. After all, Ace wasn''t the type to micromanage his toy summons.


    In fact, if Dame Wasp ever stopped reporting every tiny detail, Ace wouldn''t mind. Among his three sentient toy summons, she was the one who gave off the teacher''s pet vibe¡ªsurprisingly so, given her anti-hero character design.


    "Well, if she didn''t reveal that you''re a clone, then I guess it''s okay," Ace said, not making a big deal out of it. DD was right¡ªit wasn''t worth bringing to his attention.


    After recalling DD into her toy space, he turned to Lilith and said, "Let me take you and your little friends home. We have a mission to attend to."


    "Can I come too? I''ll be good and obedient. My old captain used to say I''m the best teammate anyone could ask for," Lilith offered, but Ace shook his head and began hurrying her out of the room. Noticing her undead minion legion trailing behind her, he added, "Send your friends out the window and tell them to go stealth."


    Lilith nodded, continuing to plead her case. "I''ve been on multiple missions¡ªand all of them were successful. Please let me come. I can help you."


    "No¡ªbut maybe in the future," Ace replied, making no promises. Then he took her downstairs to find that Mandy and Danny had returned just in time for lunch.


    Remembering his promise to them, Ace wanted to apologize for having to leave urgently. But before he could open his mouth, Mandy raised an eyebrow, her gaze switching between him and Lilith, before she asked, "Tell me she''s not coming out of your bedroom. And if she is, please tell me you two weren''t alone in there."


    When Ace hesitated to respond, Mandy grabbed her phone and said, "Give me one good reason why I shouldn''t call the authorities right now."


    "I''m heading to the airport to pick up Lyra, so we''ll have to postpone product testing for the foreseeable future," Ace explained, keeping it vague since he wasn''t sure when¡ªor if¡ªhe''d be able to make time for the company while trying to stay alive.


    "Lyra is here?" Mandy''s face went pale upon hearing about Ace''s older sister''s arrival¡ªLyra had been her bully. Meanwhile, Danny lit up with excitement; he and Lyra shared many common interests¡­ except for his most recent fascination with silicone adult dolls. Plus, with Lyra around, Mandy would be too busy watching her back to have time to bully him.


    "Do you need my car? Here, just take the keys," Danny offered eagerly, handing Ace the keys to his Buick and unable to hide his joy, much to Mandy''s irritation.


    "No need. I''ve got my own ride," Ace said, rejecting Danny''s offer before hurrying out of the house with Lilith.


    "When did Ace buy a car?" Danny asked Mandy in disappointment. He had always assumed Ace would take him along when buying his first car.


    "Relax, he didn''t buy a car¡ªjust a motorbike," Mandy replied, aware of how sentimental guys could be about their first car.


    "A motorbike? Man, Ace is cool. Do you think he''ll teach me how to ride it?" Danny asked, already picturing himself cruising down highways on a modified Harley.


    "Cool? Far from it. He bought an electric bike. What a nerd," Mandy scoffed¡ªclearly never having witnessed Ace riding it.


    ¡­


    "You''re back again," Delores complained aloud as she noticed Ace arriving with Lilith, making their way past the three grounded Apaches and slowly approaching the house.


    "You do know this entire estate belongs to my family, and you guys are just renting the house," Ace remarked, catching the disdain in Delores''s tone¡ªthe kind a girl might give a clingy ex.


    "What is it this time? Want to borrow some salt? Sugar?" Delores teased, clearly bored and starting to realize that the remnants of the now fallen Samsara Cult wouldn''t be foolish enough to attack an estate layered with curse arrays and protected by the McSuile family.


    "Honey. Do you have some honey for me?" Ace replied, his tone laced with double entendre.


    Delores raised her left eyebrow, both offended and a little intrigued. But she shut it down quickly. "Young man, you sure you can handle my honey?"


    Ace gulped, unsure whether to answer honestly or save his skin¡ªbut Lilith made the choice for him.


    "Delores, I''d like some honey too," Lilith said innocently.


    "Just when I thought things were getting interesting¡ªsaved by the bell. Aren''t you lucky, young man?" Delores said, then turned to Lilith and instructed, "Go into the kitchen and ask the staff. It''s almost lunchtime, so have it with your meal."


    "Okay," Lilith said, dashing off into the house while Delores and Ace locked eyes. She was bored out of her wits, and he was up to his usual tricks.


    So he bravely said, "No, I''d be lucky if I could get a taste of your honey," already bracing himself for a beating.


    Delores''s brows narrowed, and the warm surroundings suddenly turned cold as she slowly rose from her lounging chair. Just as she was about to act, both of their attentions were drawn to a loud commotion nearby.


    "There''s something wrong with the Apache!" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What is that gray liquid? Is it cursed mercury? It''s spreading throughout its body! How do we stop it?"


    "Hurry, contact EAD Matthews before it''s too late!"


    "You do it¡ªyou''re the senior field agent at the site!"


    "Somebody do something! It''s almost completely covered by that grey liquid!"


    "That''s it, I''m going to attack it!"


    "No, don''t! What if it gets damaged?"


    As chaos descended among the C.I.B. agents, Delores, who had been watching, turned to Ace and asked, "Is this your doing?"


    "Don''t slander me! This has nothing to do with me. I''m just minding my own business over here," Ace replied, pretending to be appalled by the accusation.


    "It is you," Delores said confidently, picking up on his tone and reaction. Then she warned, "You''d better be squeaky clean on this one¡ªbecause that''s government property. They take their gadgets more seriously than their agents."


    "It''s not me," Ace said aloud, trying to defend himself, but Delores wasn''t convinced. Suddenly, the commotion among the C.I.B. agents intensified, drawing their attention back.


    The black metallic liquid had completely enveloped the Apache¡ªand then vanished along with it. The agents were left staring at each other, stunned, with no clue as to what had just occurred. Their best guess? Someone had stolen one of their three state-of-the-art Apache curse gadgets using a strange, teleportation-type curse tool.


    "Well, I''ll be on my way before they start blaming me for the Apache''s disappearance just because I happened to be near the scene," Ace said to Delores, while mentally issuing a series of instructions to Specwork before summoning it:


    ''Specwork, technomorph: Apache.''


    ''Specwork, upgrade: Apache.''


    ''Toy Summon: Specwork.''


    Moments later, a massive, metallic gray helicopter appeared beside Ace. It bore a strong resemblance to the Apache curse gadget but was sleeker, larger, and far more advanced. It appeared a lot more intimidating and oppressive than the original Apache curse gadget.


    Both Delores and the C.I.B. agents were stunned by what they saw. Still, they couldn''t voice their suspicions aloud¡ªAce''s helicopter looked like an Apache, yet at the same time, it clearly wasn''t one. Left with no choice, the agents pulled out their cursed phones to record photos and videos for expert analysis.


    "Alright, see you later, Delores," Ace said, hopping into the cockpit. He waved goodbye to his so-called great-grandmother before taking off.


    Was he worried about getting caught in the government''s crosshairs? Not at all. Without solid proof that he had stolen their prized Apache, he was in the clear. That was both the best and worst thing about the system.

 Chapter 327 327: Brewing Storm

    "I knew he had his eyes on those Apaches, but I didn''t think he''d be so blatant about stealing one," Matthews muttered as she reviewed the videos and images sent by the agents assigned to guard the Apaches. She did not appear to be all that surprised to learn that it hadn''t even been long, and one of the Apaches was already stolen in daylight. The prime suspect was Ace Lander.


    "Given the current situation, I don''t think he needs to be discreet," Special Agent-in-Charge Sugarmite said. "He knows we need him and that we won''t make a move against him until this is all settled. He''s taking full advantage of that. Still, it''s a very reckless move. But from what I''ve learned about him so far, he''s not just daring¡ªhe''s also meticulous. So there has to be a good reason for his boldness. I wonder what it is."


    "He wants my recommendation for the National Asset Program," Matthews revealed, her gaze drifting toward the county prison where her daughter was being introduced to a cruel reality of the real society.


    Sugarmite nodded in understanding and then asked, "So, what do you think he used to modify the stolen Apache? A curse tool or a curse spirit?"


    "My bet''s on a curse tool," Matthews replied. "He''s got an arsenal of bizarre curse tools¡ªso unusual that even the Cyclops took notice, starting with that rifle of his," She added, recalling the deal between Ace and Cyclops.


    "Is he a curse crafter? Folks up in the capital have been searching for C.I.B.''s Aurelian Eyes for over a decade now. They''d be more than happy to recruit a young and talented curse crafter even if not of Aurelian Eyes calibre," Sugarmite said, knowing that even introducing someone remotely capable of curse crafting would earn them a good amount of merit¡ªregardless of whether they were on par with the Aurelian Eyes.


    "That''s why I called you here. Your mission is to gather everything there is to know about him. If he farted in class a decade ago, I want it in your report," Matthews instructed. "You can use Agent True Seer, Agent Man Hunter, and their team. Be discreet because I still plan to recruit him."


    In light of the Samsara Cult incident, Operation 9K¡ªwhich Matthews had assigned to Sugarmite after Beyton''s detainment¡ªhad now been taken over by higher-ups in the capital. With Sugarmite''s hands now free, Matthews had decided to assign her to investigate Ace, to uncover the mystery surrounding both him and his unusual capabilities.


    "I''ll get to it then. What about Agent Hundred Eyes? I heard she''s close to the target," Sugarmite asked, already mentally preparing to dive into the assignment. She knew Matthews didn''t literally want every time Ace farted logged in the report¡ªit was just her way of emphasizing how thorough the investigation needed to be. Subtly, it was a reminder that they were also looking for anything they could use to potentially incriminate him.


    "No, don''t disturb her. I''ve recommended her for the National Asset Program. She needs all the time she can get to prepare for the trials," Matthews said, advising Sugarmite to leave Elinor be. Sugarmite nodded in understanding. After all, if a C.I.B. agent became a national asset, it would benefit them all¡ªeven if the agent in question was a McSuile.


    "Good. Now let''s head to the airport," Matthews said, stepping out of the passenger seat of the C.I.B.''s standard-issue SUV curse gadget.


    "Airport?" Sugarmite asked, confused, as she got out of the driver''s seat and locked the car.


    "That little shit most likely stole the Apache to go pick up his elder sister," Matthews replied. "If we hurry, we might catch him at the airport."


    "Wait¡­ he voluntarily left the protection of the McSuile family?" Sugarmite asked in shock. She couldn''t understand why Ace would risk his life to personally pick up his sister when he could have easily arranged for someone from the McSuile family¡ªor even the C.I.B.¡ªto handle it.


    Ace was one of the most logical and calculating curse criminals she had ever come across, but this move lacked all logic. In doing so, he was not only putting himself but also his sister at risk. It didn''t make sense.


    "When it comes to family, he loses all sense of logic¡ªwhich I think is both his strength and weakness. But this time, it works in our favor. After all, what good is bait if you don''t throw it into the lake? Let''s just hope the descendant of the Overlords makes a move," Matthews said, confident that the news of Ace leaving his estate and Janice McSuile''s protection had already spread to the cult members via the various forces of the country''s curse community.


    "I don''t know what''s more shocking¡ªthe entire curse community using a kid as bait or that a descendant of the Overlords is still alive," Sugarmite muttered, struggling to reconcile her role in the morally gray events her job now entailed.


    Matthews shook her head, unfazed by Sugarmite''s crisis of conscience. Grabbing her by the wrist, and she launched them both into the sky toward the airport, calling out, "Hold on tight!"


    ¡­


    "What do you mean we have no way to contact the cult members?" a curse master shouted in disbelief, after learning from his subordinate that they couldn''t pass on the information that Ace had left the estate to pick up his sister alone to the cult elders and their factions. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sir, our most reliable and fast channels to contact the cult members were those two camps. Now that both have been bombed, we''ve lost the ability to monitor them or feed them updates. We tried leaking information to the captured cult members, pretending it was a clumsy mistake, but they''re too cautious now¡ªthey''re not falling for it," the curse user reported grimly, explaining that the attacks on the two cult outposts on the outskirts of Ace''s town had effectively cut off all communication with the cult.


    "Wait, I know this is on short notice, but there have to be other contacts, right?" an old curse master asked the staff eagerly.


    "There are, but due to the limited time, we were not able to build trust to a satisfactory level. Also, we can''t depend on them to relay the information to the cult elders asap. They''re all being cautious and skeptical about the information they receive, especially with the entire country''s curse community working to purge the cult. We''re concerned that by the time the information reaches the cult elders and they make a move, Ace will already be home safely," the staff explained, emphasizing that the remaining cult contacts were too wary to respond quickly for fear of falling into a trap.


    "Damn it," another elderly curse master cursed aloud.


    "I guess it''s up to the cult elders now," the first curse master said with a sigh. Then, turning to the staff and other elders, he instructed, "Go and make arrangements near the airport and along the routes leading back to town. If the cult elders show themselves, great. And if one of them turns out to be the Overlords'' descendant, then we''ve hit the jackpot."


    "Yes, Master," the staff and elders replied in unison, hurrying to carry out his orders.


    ¡­


    "Damn it, Delores! How could you let him go alone?" Janice shouted, storming out of her temporary workshop the moment she heard that Ace had left the estate alone to pick up his sister from the airport.


    "I thought we agreed we were only doing what we were paid to do¡ªprotect the Landers," Delores replied, confused and beginning to wonder if Janice was experiencing memory issues.


    "Ace is a Lander too," Janice said, clearly in disbelief.


    "Well, he''s our employer. He specifically hired us to protect the other Landers," Delores argued, thinking Janice was overreacting. If Ace chose to go alone, it wasn''t their place to interfere. The incident last night had already proven that. So, Janice trying to decide for Ace baffled her.


    Janice glared at Delores, but before she could respond, Elinor chimed in, "Ace''s elder sister is a Lander. We need to go protect her." Her tone was dead serious. After all, she was the one who had accepted the payment from Ace, and she felt it was her duty to protect the Landers.


    "That I agree with. Do you need a lift?" Delores asked, summoning her innate curse tool, ready to send Elinor to the city airport. As for herself, she knew Ace needed her to stay and protect the estate.


    "No, she''s not going anywhere. She''ll be killed on sight," Janice said, rushing to grab Elinor''s waist before she could jump onto Delores''s board.


    Yes, Elinor''s curse spells were unparalleled, but her tier made her an easy target. She wasn''t equipped for a battle of this scale.


    "Why?" Elinor asked, frowning in doubt.


    Janice shook her head and replied, "Asking why only proves me right."


    "If Ace can go, so can I," Elinor said, easily breaking free from her cousin''s grasp and leaping onto Delores''s innate curse tool. After all, she was a Knight-tier curse-caster, while Janice was merely a Mortal-tier curse-crafter.

 Chapter 328 328: Lyra Lander

    After Matthews had left with Sugarmite, a metallic gray goo enveloped the entire black SUV curse gadget before vanishing into thin air.


    Ace had never actually left the town. He used Emi''s invisibility, presence-erasing, and silence talismans, along with the upgraded Apache''s speed, to shake off his tail and cover his tracks before returning to the town to finalize preparations for picking up his sister at a private airport that he had rented for the day.


    Knowing what was likely to go down, Ace wasn''t about to involve innocent people in his affairs. So, he rented the entire private airfield for the day¡ªa move that didn''t come cheap.


    There were still 30 minutes until his sister''s flight landed, and thanks to Specwork, he needed less than five to reach the private airfield where the chartered flight was scheduled to arrive. So, he had just enough time to finish his arrangements.


    The main reason he''d left forty-five minutes early was to give the forces of the country''s curse community monitoring him just enough time to make their own preparations but not enough to figure out what he was really up to.


    After having Specwork consume the C.I.B.''s standard-issue SUV curse gadgets, Ace headed to Mandy''s women''s shelter, where Layla was currently volunteering. There, he had Specwork devour Layla''s prized Aston Martin DB5 curse gadget.


    He then made a few more stops to complete all his arrangements before finally rushing to the private hangar in Specwork''s upgraded Apache.


    Ace and his toy summons considered every possible scenario and every way things could go wrong. Then, they made sure to create detailed plans and contingencies for each one. No effort or expense was spared. After all, today was his fucking debut to the curse community of both worlds¡ªnot as the Samsara Slayer or the perfect patsy, but as Ace Lander.


    ¡­


    Centennial Foxx Airport


    The Gulfstream G650ER glided smoothly across the tarmac, its sleek silver frame gleaming under the afternoon sun. As it came to a gentle stop near the private terminal, the low hum of its engines faded into silence. With a soft mechanical whir, the stairs unfolded and aligned perfectly with the ground.


    A moment later, the cabin door opened slowly, revealing a woman dressed in a baggy white hoodie and black sweatpants, cautiously standing at the threshold. She looked slightly out of place¡ªlost, even.


    Then, she looked down the runway and spotted an unfamiliar figure waving at her. She narrowed her eyes in confusion. She assumed he must be the driver her little brother had arranged, but he was dressed far too casually for a professional chauffeur. ''Perhaps he is a friend my brother?'' she thought.


    Still, she stepped down with caution and care¡ªone hand on the rail, the other dragging an old, out-of-fashion, worn-out suitcase behind her. A breeze caught her hair as she descended, sunlight casting a soft glow on the polished surface of the aircraft behind her.


    She paused briefly at the bottom, scanning the quiet runway ahead, then began walking toward the man with determined steps. Her plastic flip-flops slapped loudly against the concrete. The closer she got, the more conflicted she felt¡ªthe man looked familiar, yet somehow, also completely different.


    Seeing him smile gently at her and hearing him say, "Welcome home, sis!" Lyra stared in disbelief.


    "Ace?" she asked, stunned.


    "Yes, that''s me. What''s wrong? Don''t recognize your brother?" Ace teased, fully aware this was the first time Lyra was seeing him since he''d lost weight and packed an insane amount of stats into his physique.


    "Is this some kind of prank? There''s no way my husky brother turned into a hunk in just a few weeks! Mom did say you look a lot fitter and fairer now, but this is just freaky¡­ No way! Where are the cameras? I like a good surprise, but this is too weird. Ace, come out before I get mad!" Lyra yelled in disbelief. Ignoring the hunk who claimed to be her brother, she turned to the SUV behind him and shouted, convinced this was all an elaborate joke.


    When no one responded, Lyra abandoned her suspicions in words and rushed over to the SUV, peeking through the windows to catch her brother in the act and call him out for trying to trick her. But to her shock, the vehicle was empty.


    Now fully freaking out, Lyra slowly turned back toward the man, realizing that maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªthe hunk in front of her really was her nerdy, husky brother. The same brother she used to dress up as her favorite idols for Halloween. Suddenly, she felt incredibly self-conscious.


    As if the private jet and fleet of therapy dogs weren''t overwhelming enough, this transformation pushed her over the edge. She couldn''t believe all of this had happened in just a few weeks. It was just too much to take in. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lyra wasn''t the only one freaking out¡ªAce was too. Because he had just discovered that his sister, like him, had an aptitude for curse energy. Meaning she, too, could awaken as a curse master.


    This was the worst-case scenario¡ªone that neither he nor his toy summons had considered, not even in passing.


    Now, Ace found himself in a dilemma: should he introduce his sister to the World of Curses or not? With the other members of his family, the choice had been simple. They didn''t have the aptitude for curse energy. The decision had been made for them at birth. But with Lyra, things were different.


    Under normal circumstances, the answer would''ve been obvious¡ªhe would''ve kept her as far away from anything related to curses as possible, with the exception of himself. But the situation was far from normal. He was now tangled so deeply in the curse community that it would be nearly impossible to keep her away from the second world¡ªthe World of Curses.


    "Oh my god, you really are my wimpy brother!" Lyra suddenly shouted, leaning against the SUV in disbelief.


    "Wimpy? Really? I should''ve just let you fly economy," Ace grumbled, picking up her suitcase and tossing it into the trunk of the SUV while his sister hovered around him, inspecting him from every angle.


    "What happened? Did you catch some disease? Is it contagious?" Lyra asked as she rubbed his forehead and cheeks against the back of her palm, trying to confirm that it was really him and he was okay.


    "Get off me, you weirdo," Ace said, shoving his sister off him while carefully controlling his strength. However, to his disbelief, she shamelessly began running her hands through his hair, ears, and mouth¡ªand just as she was about to stick her fingers in his nose, he jumped back, yelling, "What''s wrong with you?"


    "I''m just trying to catch whatever beauty disease or germs you got," Lyra said, charging at her younger brother. She was convinced his body might be hosting some kind of miracle microbe responsible for his dramatic transformation. If she could somehow transfer them into her own system, maybe she, too, could experience similar changes.


    "Cut it out! That''s not how things work¡ªthis is real life, not one of your comic books," Ace scolded her, though part of him couldn''t believe he was the one saying that¡ªespecially given the bizarre ability of his innate curse tool, the cursed toybox.


    "Shut up and give your elder sister a kiss!" Lyra shouted, chasing after him without a care for how creepy she sounded. She''d rather try any crazy idea that popped into her head than regret not doing it later.


    "Are you even hearing yourself? It''s a good thing I rented out the entire airfield and gave the staff the day off. Otherwise, they''d think we were one of those hillbilly siblings," Ace yelled as he dodged her, trying to talk sense into her and protect himself from her overly aggressive curiosity about his bodily changes.


    "Shut up and come give you big sis a hug!" Lyra shouted, refusing to give up as she chased her brother with all her might. As for him ranting about renting the entire airfield¡ªshe had already decided not to let her little brother''s sudden fortune change their relationship. So, she didn''t dwell on it and just went with the flow.


    "Lyra, enough! Everyone''s waiting for us at home," Ace lied. The adults in the family had no idea that Lyra was coming home today, but he was desperate to put an end to her antics.


    "This will all be over with just one kiss on the cheek!" Lyra yelled, pausing to catch her breath. She was never the athletic type¡ªwell, neither of them were. But to her surprise, Ace didn''t even seem winded. He hadn''t broken a sweat. Even his breathing seemed too normal for someone who had just run.


    The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that her theory was right: that Ace''s body now hosted super microbes helping him achieve this fit physique despite his average genes and previously sedentary lifestyle. Right now, more than anything in the world, she wanted those microbes.

 Chapter 329 329: Superpower Pact

    "I used to wipe your ass¡ªwhy are you embarrassed about a kiss?" Lyra asked, frustrated as her brother kept dodging every attempt she made to get close and share what she believed were his "super microbes." Since they were siblings, she figured they were practically the same person. If those miracle microbes could turn her husky little brother into a hunk, then surely they could help her transform from a curvy nerd girl into a sexy diva.


    "Shit, don''t put it that way. You changed my diapers once when our parents were out for an emergency. You didn''t even do it properly. Mom told me I had diaper rashes for a week," Ace said, correcting his sister''s gross misinterpretation of what had actually happened.


    The Lander siblings were nearly a decade apart in age. Once, when Ace was just two years old, their parents had to rush out due to a medical emergency and couldn''t find a babysitter on short notice. So, preteen Lyra was left in charge of the house¡ªand her toddler brother.


    For a pampered preteen princess of the Lander family, Lyra had exceeded their parents'' expectations and done an admirable job, though not without a few mishaps. One of those included forgetting to wipe baby Ace''s behind properly and powder it before putting on a fresh diaper. As a result, he developed a nasty rash. Regardless, Lyra had always been one of the most thoughtful and caring older sisters one could hope for.


    "Whatever. Stop dodging before I get mad and start throwing stuff at you," Lyra warned, reaching into the pocket of her hoodie and pulling out a handful of coins¡ªready to chuck them at her brother and tackle him down.


    "This is getting out of hand. Let''s stop for now and talk it over calmly on our way home," Ace proposed, lifting his hands in surrender. He knew she wouldn''t stop until she got what she wanted¡ªshe was stubborn like that.


    "Alright," Lyra agreed, though a mischievous glint flashed in her eyes.


    Ace caught it but chose to overlook it. His priority was getting her safely back to the family estate as soon as possible.


    "I''m driving," Lyra said as both siblings stood by the driver''s door of the SUV.


    "No. This airfield is on the outskirts of the county. Even satellite maps don''t show a proper route out of here. You can take over once we hit the highway," Ace replied. Not that he planned to let her drive once they got to the highway¡ªhe was counting on her losing interest by then.


    "Fine," Lyra nodded in agreement. As she circled around to the passenger seat, she muttered, "I can''t believe they bought you a car. I don''t even have one yet."


    "They didn''t buy me a car¡ªI borrowed it to pick you up. They have no idea I''m here, so when we get home, just tell them you took an airport taxi," Ace explained, hoping to put an end to her envy.


    When it came to cars, the siblings shared the same cursed fate. Their mother didn''t allow them anywhere near one, let alone buy them one. When Lyra moved out, she stayed mostly on campus or in the city, so she didn''t really need a car. In the end, their mom got exactly what she wanted.


    "Not only do you walk like a jock, but now you talk like one," Lyra commented, eyeing her little brother and wondering what could have caused him to change so drastically in just a few weeks. Still, she nodded, agreeing to keep his secret.


    "Okay. But what car is this? How come I''ve never seen or even heard of it before?" she asked, still baffled by the SUV. It wasn''t just luxurious, comfy, and smooth¡ªit looked downright futuristic, like something straight out of a sci-fi anime.


    "And you never will. It''s specifically designed and made for our country''s secret agencies. I¡ªmy friend managed to get his hands on one and upgraded the exterior with a custom body kit. It''s flashier than your average government vehicle," Ace replied. He hadn''t lied, but he hadn''t told the full truth, either. This was his elder sister¡ªhe had no intention of lying to her unless it was absolutely necessary.


    The Lander siblings had their ups and downs, like any other siblings, but they were incredibly close. Especially Lyra. While most older siblings distanced themselves from their younger ones, claiming they were annoying or embarrassing, Lyra always made time for Ace. She had introduced him to so many cool things¡ªhis first comic book, his first superhero cartoon, his first video game, his first noir movie, and so much more. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sure, Ace sometimes wished she''d introduced him to her sultry girlfriends too, but all things considered, he was grateful. Lyra had made his childhood colorful, imaginative, and a lot more fun than it could have been.


    In short, with a geek for an elder sister, Ace never stood a chance¡ªhe was doomed from birth.


    "Now, who''s living in a comic book?" Lyra quipped. She didn''t believe Ace''s explanation, though she conceded that the car might have been customized with a body kit. The interior, too. It had been altered so thoroughly she couldn''t recognize it at all.


    Ignoring her eccentric little brother, Lyra pulled out her phone and began searching for ways to effectively transfer microbes from one person to another. Since her brother was being grossed out by the idea of a simple kiss, she decided to consult the internet for a method he might actually agree to.


    "Alright, Ace, you have two options¡ªeither kiss me or give me your feces for a Fecal Microbiota Transplant," Lyra proposed. Her tone made it crystal clear: there was no third option.


    Ace turned to look at his sister, expecting to find a smirk or some hint of a joke¡ªbut her face was dead serious.


    "How can you even say something like that to your little brother with a straight face?" he asked, stunned. He couldn''t believe she not only thought of that but actually said it out loud.


    "Bro, look at you. It''s only been a couple of weeks since I left, and my once-husky little brother is now a freaking supermodel. There are only two explanations: either I''m in a coma, or you''ve somehow developed super microbes that turned you into a hunk.


    "If it''s the first one, then none of this matters. So I''m going to shamelessly make it clear¡ªI need those super microbes in me. I want them, even if it means I have to kiss my little brother or ingest his feces through my ass. Do you hear me?" Lyra declared loudly, making sure her little brother knew she was dead serious.


    "You''re crazy," Ace replied in utter disgust. But then something struck him¡ªthe way his parents and sister reacted to the changes in his body was very different.


    His parents had readily accepted the sudden transformation of his body, which had happened in just a matter of hours. On the way to the ranch, he was still chubby. By the time they arrived, he looked like a supermodel. Yet his parents accepted the change without much question.


    On the other hand, it had been a couple of weeks since his sister had last seen him. Not only did she find the changes strange and borderline miraculous, but she also tried to rationalize them¡ªpinning them on "super microbes"¡ªyet still ultimately accepted them.


    His mortal parents had accepted the oddity in him without resistance, but his sister, who possessed an affinity for curse energy, initially resisted the reality before settling on her own explanation.


    This contrast forced Ace to ask a difficult question: Could this be related to why the mortal world remained oblivious to the ''World of Curses'' despite the clear presence of curse users in society?


    As he asked himself this question, Ace began to wonder if there was a higher power at play here¡ªsomething beyond him, beyond the mortal world''s curse community, and even beyond those on the Curse Web. He had never come across any mention of a force that could actively distort or suppress mortal perception of events involving curse energy. Could such a power exist, one that muddled mortal awareness and selectively filtered their reality? Otherwise, how could one explain the varied reaction of his parents and sister to his body''s transformation?


    "Come on, Ace. Don''t be a greedy jerk about this," Lyra said with a deadpan expression. "Remember our pact? If one of us gets superpowers, we help the other get superpowers, too. Don''t tell me you''re going to break it."


    Ace let out a long sigh. "Ah, the pact¡­"


    He remembered it clearly. When he was about Lilith''s age, Lyra used dollar-store magic tricks to convince him that she had real superpowers. When he got jealous and upset, she not only revealed the truth but made a solemn pact with him: if either of them ever got superpowers, they''d help the other get them too.

 Chapter 330 330: Home

    "The Lander siblings have made it back to the estate!"


    "I repeat, the Lander siblings have returned to the estate!"


    The watchdogs of the various forces within the country''s curse community, who had been monitoring the activities around the Lander Estate, reported in disbelief as they watched the siblings stroll into the property as if returning from a pleasant road trip. They radioed their higher-ups to inform them of the surprising development.


    "What?"


    "That''s impossible!"


    "Come again?"


    "Are you sure it''s the Lander siblings?"


    These were just a few of the stunned responses from the higher-ups across the nation''s curse factions. The reaction was unanimous: disbelief¡ªutter and absolute disbelief.


    "Yes, sir. It''s been confirmed. The McSuile staff have verified their identities¡ªit''s definitely the Lander siblings."


    The subordinates had made absolutely sure of the information before reporting it, not wanting to risk becoming the targets of their superiors'' anger or embarrassment.


    "How the fuck did he manage to do that?"


    "How reliable is the McSuile staff''s intel?"


    The country''s curse forces were baffled. Just moments ago, they had witnessed Ace use his wooden-stick-shaped curse tool to burrow underground with his mortal sister. But before the cultists could dig them out, word had spread that Ace was already back at the Lander Estate¡ªwith his sister.


    The estate and the executive airport were miles apart. For them to travel that distance in the blink of an eye was logistically impossible.


    "Teleportation, maybe?"


    "The McSuile staff seemed equally puzzled by Ace returning to the estate with his sister. It''s safe to assume that whatever Ace Lander did, the McSuile family was not part of it. In fact, they appeared to be completely unaware of Ace''s plan."


    The subordinates reported, offering their expert assessment to their higher-ups.


    "The cult factions had blocked the airport''s space, making it impossible to teleport in or out. So it definitely wasn''t teleportation. Does that mean he used something similar¡ªor even better¡ªthan teleportation?"


    "Ace Lander didn''t trust the McSuile family with his plan to bring his sister to safety? That''s suspicious. He trusts them to guard his family, but not enough to involve them in such a critical operation? Something doesn''t add up. Dig into this."


    The various forces in the country''s curse community were beginning to come to a grim realization: maybe their perfect bait wasn''t so perfect after all. Perhaps it was resisting the fate they had so carefully crafted for it.


    Still, despite all the evidence, they couldn''t fully accept that Ace¡ªwho had only awakened as a Curse Master a few weeks ago¡ªcould be capable of pulling this off alone. Doubts began to surface: Was the McSuile family involved? After all, it wouldn''t be the first time they had used their power, wealth, and superior inherited legacy to manipulate and bully the rest of the curse community.


    "Yes, Master. I''m on it."


    The subordinate acknowledged, accepting their new mission.


    "..."


    Hanging up on their subordinates after receiving their reports and issuing new orders, the various forces of the country''s curse community signaled their operatives to stop holding back and round up the cult members. After all, with their bait, "Ace: Samsara Slayer," missing, the other cult factions would no longer make a move. It was pointless to continue the charade in hopes of reeling in the jackpot, the overlord''s descendant.


    The overlord''s descendant¡ªor his followers¡ªhad never shown up. After learning Ace and his sister were already back in the safety of their estate''s curse arrays, the cult factions would likely abandon all plans and return to whatever shadows they were previously hiding in. Especially if their original intent was to stay hidden, waiting to strike only after their rivals had triggered all the traps and exhausted the prey.


    ...


    "They''re back?" Delores, resting on a lounger on the front porch, suddenly turned toward the old Lander house, sensing Ace''s return with his sister.


    "I knew that kid was too smart to put his sister in harm''s way," Delores said with an impressed grin, noting that neither Ace nor Lyra had a scratch on them¡ªand more importantly, Lyra appeared completely unaware of the chaos her arrival had caused.


    She had no idea how Ace had managed to pull this off with the odds stacked so heavily against him. Still, she was just happy that, this time, she wasn''t the target of Ace''s trickery¡ªjust a spectator. And one day, she hoped to be his partner in crime.


    Delores''s smile faltered realizing her beloved niece¡ªwho had left to help Ace safely retrieve his sister¡ªhad not returned with them. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fearing the worst, Delores quickly reached for her cursed phone and called her niece''s cursed phone. To her relief, not only did the call connect, but it was answered immediately.


    "Auntie, what is it?" Elinor answered the call, clearly annoyed.


    "Where are you? Why aren''t you home with Ace and his sister?" Delores asked immediately in doubt, wondering why the latter did not return with the Lander siblings after all she left to guard them.


    "I''m still at the airport¡ªand what do you mean Ace and his sister are back home?" Elinor asked, astonished. She had been searching for Ace at the airport the entire time using her Hundred Eyes and the airport surveillance system, but there had been no sign of him. So, to hear that he was already back home came as a huge surprise to her.


    "Wasn''t I clear? They''re home¡ªsafe and sound. Don''t tell me you never met up with Ace. You''ve been wandering the airport cluelessly all this time instead of just calling him?" Delores said, exasperated. Honestly, she had expected her clumsy niece to screw something up¡ªbut this? This was just plain stupid.


    "Seeing how secretive he was being about the whole thing, I thought he wouldn''t answer my call and even if he did he would ask me to leave¡­ so I planned to find him on my own. But he¡ªwait, did he really make it back home with his sister?" Elinor asked, still in disbelief, because if Ace and his sister had truly been at the airport at any point, her Hundred Eyes¡ªlinked to the airport''s entire surveillance system¡ªshould have detected them.


    "Yes, they''re definitely back," Delores repeated herself, impatience creeping into her voice.


    After hearing Delores repeatedly confirm that Ace and Lyra had indeed returned home, Elinor quickly came to a conclusion. "Ace didn''t use the county airport¡ªhe must have used one of the private air hangars," she reported with full confidence. Her hundred eyes had been monitoring the entire county airport, and not once had they picked up even a shadow of Ace or his sister.


    Delores went silent, listening to Elinor''s assumption. When she heard Ace mention he was picking his sister up from the airport, she hadn''t given it much thought and simply assumed it would be the county airport. That was where she had her innate curse tool transport Elinor to.


    "You sent me to the wrong airport!" Elinor yelled in blame, finally piecing together what had gone wrong. It was her dearest aunt who had messed up, causing her to waste time surveilling the wrong location.


    "My board is waiting for you where it dropped you off earlier," Delores informed her before promptly hanging up the call in embarrassment. Turns out, it wasn''t her niece who screwed up¡ªit was her. She was the fool. Knowing Elinor, she was going to hold this shameful mistake over her head till the end of time.


    "Damn you, Ace Lander!" Delores cursed aloud, realizing that Ace had tricked her without even trying. That only made things worse than they were. Just when she thought she was a clever spectator in one of his schemes, she had become an unwitting victim. And the worst part? She didn''t even realize it until it was pointed out to her by her dumb niece of all people in the two worlds.


    Frustrated, she immediately contacted Evil Eyes, who was the McSuile family''s representative and liaison to the various factions of the country''s curse community. As soon as he answered, she asked sharply, "What happened? Give me a quick update."


    "Well¡­" Evil Eyes quickly summarized everything he had learned and uncovered so far for Delores, he did not dare to delay or hold back, fully aware of her temper.


    Upon learning that Ace had booked a chartered flight and a private airfield to pick up his sister, Delores was stunned. ''Wasn''t he hiding his insane wealth from his family? What changed?'' she wondered.


    She didn''t have time to dwell on that thought, though, because something even more shocking came to light: Ace, who had apparently been trapped by the fallen Sarmasa cult factions, somehow managed to escape their encirclement and arrive at the Lander Estate in the blink of an eye.


    The more Delores learned about Ace''s escape from the cultists'' trap, the more baffled she became. It was a well-known fact that one could not escape a locked space unless they could access the void. And only Void-tier curse users were capable of that feat.


    Which raised a troubling question: was Ace aided by a Void-tier, or was he hiding a secret of equal magnitude?

 Chapter 331 331: McSuile Family Order

    "Who dares to trespass on land guarded by the McSuile family?" Delores thundered as the curse array covering the Lander Estate suddenly rang out in alarm, alerting her to multiple intruders.


    Just as she was preparing to take action, she heard Janice command, "Stand down, Delores. It''s just a bunch of grumpy old guys."


    Janice rushed out of her temporary workshop, having sensed multiple curse masters forcing their way past the McSuile family staff and into the curse array. Had it been the usual low-level representatives of the forces monitoring the Lander Estate, she would''ve used the curse array to make the land their final resting place. However, these were respected elders from their respective factions, so she restrained her instincts¡ªthough barely¡ªand waited for them to give her a reason to unleash her wrath.


    "Aurelian Eyes, is this how the McSuile family treats their guests?" a deep voice called out, clearly expressing the group''s collective displeasure¡ªnot just at Janice''s comment, but at the entire situation and her unwillingness to cooperate with them.


    "No, this is how we, the McSuiles, treat pests," Janice shot back without even glancing in the direction of the voice. She was thoroughly displeased that these people who thought they could simply waltz into her cursed array like it was their own backyard, and still had the audacity to try to coerce her into doing their bidding. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This was the Prince''s idea. We all agreed to it because of his promises, but your actions are making the Prince look insincere," another voice added, clearly provoked by her tone.


    "Then go find my uncle and stop interrupting my crafting," Janice snapped, her gaze lifting past the patio roof and into the sky. "Next time one of you old bastards dares to step into my array, I won''t hesitate to kill you."


    "Prince did warn us that you''d be difficult to work with on this one," said the voice from earlier, before stepping into view. He was a bald old man in his final years, his skin loose and sagging, with no muscle to give it form. He looked like he could drop dead at any second.


    Janice and Delores both frowned as the old man flashed a golden badge adorned with an intricate pattern surrounding an icon of an eye.


    Old man was an acquaintance¡ªAurelian Eyes had had many dealings with him and his guild, the Mars Guild. They were her regular customers. That made it all the more surprising to see an elder of the Mars Guild carrying a McSuile family order.


    Their frowns soon twisted into disbelief as they realized what had happened: Prince had casually lent the McSuile order to a small-time elder.


    The McSuile Order was a big deal in the mortal world''s curse community. Possessing one meant having the McSuile family''s seal of approval and trust. In a world where trust was hard to find and betrayal was common, the McSuile family''s seal of approval and trust could open countless doors and opportunities.


    Moreover, it allowed the bearer to request assistance from the McSuile family¡ªprovided the request wasn''t illegal or against the family''s interests and proper compensation was offered. Naturally, holders of the order also received significant discounts from the family''s usual rates.


    The Mars Guild was a recognized force within the country''s curse community, but compared to the McSuile family and its deep-rooted legacy, they were still small-time¡ªa relatively recent name that had gained some notoriety in recent years. Still, neither Janice nor Delores could think of a valid reason why a mere elder from that guild would be entrusted with a McSuile family order¡ªespecially by the Prince himself.


    Given the rising tension among the other factions in the curse community over the Overlord''s descendant, it was only a matter of time before they began questioning the intentions of the McSuile family. Because they proposed this plan, and they weren''t being cooperative. Still, it wasn''t the turn of the likes of a mere elder from the Mars Guild to question them. But the McSuile Family order said otherwise.


    "Now, do I have your cooperation?" the Mars Guild elder asked Janice with a smug smile. The expressions on Janice and Delores'' faces filled him with satisfaction. He had long wanted to teach the arrogant junior and the old temptress a lesson. Every time he visited them, they treated him with thinly veiled disdain, making him feel small, leaving him to wonder, What happened to the good old days when customers were treated like gods?


    But today, he held the upper hand.


    Janice glared at the smug old man coldly, while Delores reached out for the McSuile Order in his hand with an air of indifference, as if planning to verify its authenticity.


    The old man passed the McSuile Order to Delores without hesitation, saying, "Check all you want. It''s authentic. Prince personally gave it to me."


    "Oh, I don''t doubt that," Delores replied calmly. "You see, I''m not verifying it¡ªI''m confiscating it, by the authority vested in me by Patriarch McSuile."


    Without another word, she stored away the McSuile family order.


    "No, you can''t do that. Give it back¡ªwe earned it! Prince gave it to us in exchange for our services," the Mars Guild''s elder exclaimed, reaching out for the McSuile family order in Delores''s hand. But before he could even come close, she had swiftly stored it away and swatted his hand aside.


    "It doesn''t matter how you got it. What matters is how you planned to use it," she said firmly.


    "What do you mean?" the elder asked, genuinely confused by Delores''s accusation.


    "I found that you intended to use the McSuile family order in a way that goes against the family''s interests. So, I had to confiscate it," Delores repeated with a frown.


    "How?" the Mars Guild elder asked, his tone now edged with desperation. He still couldn''t understand what he had done wrong, giving Delores the reason to confiscate his prized McSuile family order.


    "Ace Lander and his entire family are our clients. By asking us to cooperate with you in your plan to use him as a bait, you were essentially asking us to betray the trust of one of our clients in us. Which is strictly against our family''s interests. So, I confiscated the order. If you want it back, take it up with Prince, since it belongs to him," Delores explained coolly, knowing full well that unless she spelled it out, the old man would never understand his mistake.


    "Y-you¡­" the elder stared at her for a moment, then snorted in frustration. "Fine. Have it your way."


    The Mars Guild elder was filled with resentment, knowing full well he would never recover the McSuile family order. They hadn''t truly earned it¡ªPrince had merely loaned it to them in hopes of using the McSuile family''s influence to lure out the Overlords'' descendant and capture him. In a way, they were offered the family order in exchange for their services to overlook this operation.


    "We''re done here. Leave the property, or I''ll start killing you, starting with you," Janice warned the group of elders, deliberately singling out the Mars Guild''s elder. If they thought they''d seen her tolerant side, now they would witness her petty side.


    However, in her heart, Janice looked at the Mars Guild''s elder as though he were a fool, only now realizing that Ace was never the bait for the Overlords'' descendant. He was a distraction¡ªmeant to keep small-time players like the Mars Guild and illiterate Cult factions busy, while major players like her uncle, the C.I.B., and other bigshots tracked down the true target: the Overlords'' descendant, who had proven too clever for the Samsara Guild''s illiterate lots.


    She didn''t blame these elders; in fact, she sympathized with them. She, too, had been tricked by her uncle. He had used her to add legitimacy to his Samsara Slayer plan. But she didn''t let that show on her face. Instead, she decided to play her role quietly in her uncle''s game.


    Just as the Mars Guild''s elder was about to argue, another authoritative voice rang out, "Looks like I''m late."


    The elder, Janice, and Delores turned to see EAD Matthews and Agent Sugarmite approaching. They looked furious. Not only had they made fools of themselves arriving at the wrong airport, but someone had also stolen their service car.


    Meanwhile, Janice felt a bit better about herself, realizing she wasn''t the only one who had been used¡ªMatthews, too, had been a pawn in her uncle''s game.


    Noticing the pity in Janice''s eyes, Matthews flared up, feeling like a complete clown. "What the heck? Call that dipshit Ace out right now. I want my Apache and my car back! Otherwise, I swear, I''ll lock his ass up for rest of his life¡ªeven if it costs me my job." Her instincts screamed for her to confront the person responsible for the mess she was in.


    "Yes, call him out now! We need to get things sorted out," the Mars Guild''s elder chimed in, emboldened by Matthews'' outburst. He signaled his colleagues to step forward, thinking that sheer numbers might pressure Janice into giving in.

 Chapter 332 332: What Happened?!

    Janice glared at the Mars Guild''s elder, seeing him jump using Matthews. She was just a moment away from using the curse array to sentence him to death. However, remembering that the Mars Guild contributed $1.5 billion to her annual income, she decided instead to throw him out of the curse array along with his timid companions.


    But before she could act, a streak of lightning tore through the Mars Guild elder''s chest and vanished into the ground, leaving behind a clean one-inch hole of unknown depth.


    A fraction of a second later, his body burst like an overinflated balloon. Blood, minced flesh, and organs rained down¡ªbut before they could stain anyone, the gore magically dispersed into the surroundings, as if swallowed by nature. All that remained was a ceremonial knife with a golden hilt adorned with glamorous gems.


    Despite its uneven weight distribution, the knife appeared to be a masterfully crafted curse tool. It landed blade-first, cutting into the ground like butter and embedding itself firmly.


    "Fuck!" Matthews cursed in shock, turning quickly to trace the path of the lightning, recognizing it instantly.


    Sugarmite, Janice, and Delores followed her gaze and saw Ace, holding his signature rifle, hanging by the leg of what looked like a modified Apache curse gadget.


    "Kill them all," Ace ordered Specwork before storing away the Rail Rifle. Then, releasing his grip, he let himself fall. As he dropped through the air, he folded his arms to increase his descent speed.


    Following its master''s order, Specwork began hunting down the colleagues of the Mars Guild elder who had trespassed on its master''s property, using its vast arsenal of upgraded, advanced military-grade curse gadgets. The once quiet, cloudy sky was now filled with the roar of gunfire and explosions as Specwork bombarded the curse masters who had dared to cross into the curse array.


    Boom! S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As he landed, Ace gave a curt nod to the stunned Matthews before turning to Janice with a frown. His voice was deep and laced with disappointment as he asked, "Why weren''t they killed the moment they trespassed on the estate?"


    "Watch your tone, kid. You just cost me $1.5 billion a year," Janice retorted. Though she doubted the Mars Guild would cut ties over the death of one elder, she still planned to offer them a ten percent discount this month to ease any bad blood before it had a chance to fester.


    Ignoring Janice, Ace picked up the curse tool and stored it away. Just then, Matthews grabbed him by the shoulder, spun him around, and yanked him by the collar. Staring him down, she demanded angrily, "Return my Apache and service car that you stole."


    "I have no idea what you''re talking about. But if you don''t let go of me, Ava might really end up without a mother," Ace warned Matthews. He appreciated that she hadn''t gone along with Prince''s plan for him, but that didn''t mean she could disrespect him.


    *Baam!* Matthews didn''t bother with words. She slammed her fist into Ace''s face while her other hand was still gripping his collar. As blood ran down from his broken nose, she glared at him and warned, "Keep my daughter''s name out of your mouth."


    Ace grinned, clutching the cursed clout in his hand, realizing Matthews had come prepared with a counter to his shadow-folding ability. Slowly, his grin widened, irritating Matthews even more. She raised her fist to punch him again¡ªbut before she could strike, Ace was suddenly replaced by a large stone statue of himself. The statue wore the same shirt, its collar still gripped in her hand.


    "Holy shit," Janice muttered, instantly pulling out a golden scepter shaped with its ends like an anaconda''s head and tail. She hurled it at the statue, activating the curse tool. The scepter transformed into a giant golden anaconda that swallowed the statue whole, much to the shock of both Matthews and Sugarmite.


    Moments later, the serpent''s belly swelled grotesquely before it abruptly deflated, releasing a puff of smoke as it let out a satisfied burp. The golden snake then morphed back into a scepter and returned to Janice''s hand.


    "Ace, that was enough C4 to blow this entire estate to dust!" Janice shouted, spinning around to find Ace casually walking out from the avocado orchard lane. Shocked that he would play with the lives of his family over something so petty.


    "I meant what I said," Ace replied, surprised Janice had sensed him. Then again, considering she managed the core of the curse array protecting the estate, it made perfect sense.


    "You¡ª" Matthews was stunned. She had nearly died, if not for Janice''s quick thinking and reaction. As the shock wore off, she felt the urge to rip Ace''s head off. But just as she moved to act, her instincts flared in warning. She shifted her gaze to the clouds above.


    Having finished hunting down the curse masters that dared to trespass on its master''s property, Specwork returned to its master''s side, triumphant and bearing trophies. Sensing Matthews'' hostility toward Ace, its laser-guided targeting systems locked onto her, ready to fire as it slowly descended from behind the clouds, revealing its imposing, majestic form.


    "What''s going on?" Delores asked, eyeing Ace with concern. Something about his aura, demeanor, had shifted¡ªhe was edgier, more volatile. Opposite to his usual cautious self.


    "My clones just updated me on what these assholes did," Ace growled, his voice thick with rage. Then, turning his eyes to Janice, he said coldly, "Tell your uncle¡ªthis pawn is coming for the king."


    Before either Janice or Delores could respond, Ace jumped into the sky, grabbing hold of one of the Apache''s legs. With a twist, it lifted him mid-flight to the cockpit. As the hatch closed, Ace caught sight of Delores giving him a subtle nod¡ªher silent message clear: Do what you have to do. Your family is safe with me.


    Before Janice could gather her thoughts or activate the curse array surrounding the estate to stop Ace, Specwork had already disappeared into the sky.


    "What the fuck happened at the airport?" Matthews asked, glancing at Delores, trying to piece it all together¡ªunaware that Delores had made the same mistake as she did. Both had assumed Ace was only picking up his sister at the county airport¡­ and both had been terribly wrong.


    "How the fuck am I supposed to know? I was here all day," Delores said, avoiding any further explanation.


    "Where''s Elinor? You sent her to the airport, right? She should know," Janice asked, hoping her cousin had the answers she was looking for.


    "Excuse me¡ªsorry to speak out of turn¡ªbut is no one going to stop him? He looked like he was out for blood, regardless of the cost," Sugarmite suddenly asked, trying to sound as respectful as possible so as not to offend either of the powerful women present.


    "Nope. We need to guard this place. But you guys are free to try," Janice replied bluntly, then turned back to Delores, still waiting for a response.


    Hearing Janice''s response, Sugarmite quickly pretended she hadn''t asked anything. She knew better than to act out of turn with EAD Matthews standing right beside her.


    "Let him do as he pleases. I lost everything trying to work with him," Matthews said, stopping herself from chasing after Ace.


    She, who once had enough influence to rule this part of the state, was now a joke in her own local C.I.B. headquarters. She, who once held the authority to force a void-tier into submission, was now nothing more than a pawn in Prince''s grand scheme. She blamed Ace, even though she knew the true culprit was her mentor. But her mentor was dead, and Ace was still alive¡ªso her anger had a target.


    Still getting no answer from Delores, Janice turned her focus toward checking on the Landers¡ªonly to find their entire home shielded by multiple layers of golden barriers. Judging by the scene inside, it appeared the Landers had no idea what was happening beyond their walls. They all seemed to be celebrating the return of the prodigal daughter, Lyra Lander.


    Well, as Mandy''s best friend, Janice was a little biased when it came to Lyra. So, she tended to be more critical of her, even though they had never met.


    "Persuade Ace to transfer three times the cost of the Apache curse gadget and the service vehicle to my account. I''ll use it to pay off the fines and make sure this doesn''t blow up into a full-blown investigation¡ªbecause if it does, it''ll be out of my hands. I won''t be able to cover for his whims anymore," Matthews requested of Delores, deciding to take the blame for the missing Apache and service vehicle. However, she had no intention of going broke trying to cover Ace''s ass.


    "Do you plan to use the transaction to prove his guilt or to bury the matter so it never sees the light of day?" Delores asked.


    This wasn''t her first time dealing with Matthews, yet she still couldn''t tell what the woman was really up to. Delores found it hard to believe that someone who had always prioritized her career over her own family would willingly put a stain on her record for someone entirely unrelated to her¡ªa stranger.


    "Well, we''ll find out when he transfers the money to my account," Matthews said cryptically, her gaze shifting to Lilith, who had just walked out of the house, having finished her lunch, with honey stains at the corners of her small lips.


    Noticing Matthews, little Lilith instinctively geared up for a fight, even though she had handed over all her curse cores to Elinor for safekeeping. Seeing that even a child had her guard up against her, Matthews couldn''t help but feel like the world was painting her as the villain from some movie, when in truth, she saw herself as the good guy, upholding the Constitution and protecting her country.


    Shaking her head, Matthews turned around and ordered Sugarmite, "Let''s go."


    "Where is big sister Elinor?" Lilith asked Delores, as she found that the lunch wasn''t as fun without Elinor around, but as someone familiar with hunger too well, she finished her lunch regardless.

 Chapter 333 333: Base Wulfric

    16:23, Great Canyon, Area 007, C.I.B. secret underground base, Base Wulfric.


    "You sure this vent isn''t rigged? You won''t trigger an alarm using it, right?" Ace asked Dame Wasp, standing in the vast shadows of the Great Canyon, stretching under the sun. Thanks to the cursed clout, he wasn''t worried about being discovered by C.I.B. personnel.


    "Master, leave it to me and just wait for my signal," Dame Wasp assured him before entering the vent in her 1/100th form¡ªstealthed and with her curse concealment art active. To the curse arrays and sensors, she was just another lucky insect that had somehow slipped past the vent''s bug traps and filters. As a reward, it would get to die of starvation.


    [Master, I''m in. The substitution talismans are in place.] Dame Wasp reported to Ace without him having to wait long. She had not only completed the task but executed it with impressive speed and precision.


    The surface vent in question was one of dozens connected to the ventilation system of the C.I.B.''s underground base, Base Wulfric, in Area 007, located at the heart of the Great Canyon. These vents were left unguarded because they were already protected by a multitude of layers of curse array formations.


    The number and quality of these formations were mind-bending enough to deter anyone foolish enough to even think about breaking in. Unfortunately for the C.I.B., Dame Wasp wasn''t one of those fools. Not only had she hacked into the local network of the secret base using Apache''s radio system, but she had also managed to map the entire base using its surveillance system and identify a weakness in its trillion-dollar security.


    Well, the gaps Dame Wasp found in the array couldn''t exactly be considered weaknesses¡ªnot unless paired with the unique combination of skills they had at their disposal. Normally, Ace wouldn''t agree to such a risky plan, but right now, he was so furious that he gave Dame Wasp free rein.


    After making her way through the vent, Dame Wasp reached one of the old record rooms in the secret base, located within a mile of her master. These rooms rarely saw any foot traffic unless someone needed to sift through old case files for reference or other rare reasons.


    Finding a secluded corner away from all surveillance, Dame Wasp summoned the cursed toy box and released Emi. Emi nodded in acknowledgment before taking out a red rock from the Great Canyon¡ªone that matched their master''s weight. She then pasted a substitution talisman onto the rock, paired with the one Ace carried.


    Receiving Dame Wasp''s signal, Ace activated the talisman and soon swapped places with the rock.


    [Good job, girls,] Ace praised his toy summons, having made it into the secret base without triggering any arrays or sensors.


    Looking around at the rows upon rows of large steel cabinets under the dim lights of the high-ceilinged storage room, he took a deep breath. So much history and so many secrets were stored here¡ªit was almost overwhelming to realize what they had accomplished. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Embracing the momentary sense of achievement, Ace glanced at his two toy summons. But he didn''t let it go to his head¡ªhe knew that this victory would mean nothing if they couldn''t get back out undetected.


    [Lead the way,] Ace said to Dame Wasp, deciding to sit back and follow the lead of his toy summons. Their character profiles boasted extensive experience in infiltrating places where they didn''t belong¡ªor weren''t welcome¡ªwhich was a stark contrast to his own lack of experience.


    [Master, it will be riskier if we move as a group. Emi and I will return to our toy space and guide you through sense sharing,] Dame Wasp informed him before she and Emi returned to their respective toy spaces.


    Soon, Dame Wasp linked her senses to her master''s and began guiding Ace to the nearest locker room. Thanks to the cursed clout, Ace was able to move through the base undetected, though he still had to steer clear of personnel. One could never be too cautious; you never knew who might be capable of what. Fortunately, with Dame Wasp tapped into the base''s surveillance system, navigating safely wasn''t difficult.


    Upon reaching an empty locker room, Ace rummaged through the lockers until he found a high-ranking officer''s uniform that fit him reasonably well. He cleansed it with a cleansing talisman before putting it on. While he had plenty of skills that would allow him to sneak through the base undetected, Dame Wasp¡ªlearning from her master¡ªbelieved in being prepared for unforeseen complications.


    Now that her master was camouflaged as one of the enemy, Dame Wasp led Ace to the nearest armory to equip her master and brethren. With her guidance, it didn''t take long for Ace to reach the armory using the cursed clout. However, unlike the records room or locker room, the armory was heavily manned.


    There were at least four guards, while a dozen personnel were busy maintaining the cursed gadgets stored in the room. It was clear they were in the right place¡ªbut at the wrong time. This presented a major obstacle in Ace''s plan to arm himself and his toy summons with state-of-the-art cursed gadgets.


    However, it seemed this particular armory wasn''t Dame Wasp''s true target.


    ''Master, hide in that trolley''s shadow¡ªquick!'' Dame Wasp urged, having spotted an opening.


    Ace''s stomach twisted with stress and adrenaline, but he chose to follow Dame Wasp''s lead without thinking about it, which made it easier.


    ''Master, the elevator shaft is empty. The elevator is on the lower floors. Quickly enter it and hide by the service ladder before it moves up,'' Dame Wasp instructed.


    Ace couldn''t see a thing past the elevator door, but he followed her directions blindly, folding the shadow he was hiding in and leaping into the elevator shaft. Soon, he found the service ladder right next to the shadow he was piggybacking. Grabbing it, he heard Dame Wasp''s next order, ''Master, use the curse concealment arts and keep descending until I tell you to stop.''


    ''Rose, where exactly are we headed?'' Ace asked. Even though he''d committed to following her blindly, not knowing her end goal still made him uneasy. After all, they were infiltrating one of the most heavily guarded secret government bases in the country. If they were caught, execution would be a mercy.


    ''I''m taking you to where the real weapons are kept¡ªnot those toys you just saw,'' Dame Wasp replied, her tone tinged with excitement. Despite the gravity of their situation, her enthusiasm was contagious¡ªand it sent a surge of adrenaline through Ace''s veins. Her confidence had a way of making the impossible feel just a little more possible.


    ''Lead the way, my captain!'' Ace joked, sliding down the ladder within the wide and deep elevator shaft until Dame Wasp ordered him to stop.


    ''Master, access that vent beside you. Crawl into it while maintaining curse concealment arts. That vent only has curse sensors¡ªit doesn''t detect anything except curse energy. Our mastery of curse concealment is enough to bypass it without triggering an alarm,'' Dame Wasp explained, clarifying why he needed to suppress his curse energy. The vent was dark and shadowless, and any attempt to use shadows was pointless due to the array of curse sensors embedded throughout.


    Ace figured the vent must lead to¡ªor pass near¡ªa highly sensitive location within the base, considering the extreme security measures despite being located within the base.


    ''Master, take a right turn. Soon, you''ll reach a vent opening that leads into the arms room where our targets are stored,'' Dame Wasp informed him, relieved that her master had made it through the hardest part. She''d been concerned that the personnel stationed in the armory near the elevator might notice him or sense something unusual.


    But this was a calculated risk. The elevators were the only way to reach the lower floors¡ªthere were no regular or emergency stairs. The elevators themselves were a type of cursed gadget, highly invasive in how they examined their passengers. That was why she''d instructed Ace to use curse concealment while navigating the shaft¡ªshe didn''t want him triggering any of the sensors on a passing elevator.


    Within the base, personnel had no privacy¡ªnot even the privacy of their own minds. Certain sections of the facility monitored mental waves, allowing experts to interpret what individuals were thinking to ensure they weren''t under any form of control. The base''s security was extreme, and it had to be, considering the curse world was filled with countless unpredictable abilities for which no amount of preparation ever seemed enough.


    Stealthily dropping into the room, Ace summoned Dame Wasp to illuminate the area with her skills, as it was pitch dark. When the light revealed rows upon rows of gun-shaped curse gadgets and various weapons and armor-type curse gadgets, blood rushed to Ace''s head with excitement. Armed with these, and with a little preparation, even a mortal could stand a chance against a high-tier curse user.


    What astonished him most was the sheer volume¡ªit was enough to arm a small army.


    With a wide grin, Ace summoned all his toy summons: ''Come out, Emi, DD, Specwork, Specorc, Specarc, Specroll.''

 Chapter 334 334: Specealms Speclime Species

    Specealm, the homeworld of the Speclime species, had a rigid class system that divided its population into four distinct classes based on their race:


    i) The Ruling Class, known as the Specarc race


    ii) The Warrior Class, known as the Specorc race


    iii) The Working Class, known as the Specwork Race


    iv) The Cleaning Class, known as the Specroll Race


    According to the author of this fictional universe, the Specwork and Specroll classes¡ªWorking and Cleaning, respectively¡ªtogether made up 64% of the Speclime population. The Specorc Warrior Class accounted for 35.8%, while the elite Specarc Ruling Class represented a mere 0.2% of the total population.


    Like all class systems throughout human history, the Speclime Specie''s hierarchy was not without its flaws. However, in the case of the Speclime, it was the very nature of their planet, Specealm, that played a role in shaping this division, enhancing some races to be stronger or more capable than others by birth.


    The Cleaning Class, Specrolls, could only perform technomorphing¡ªthe ability to morph into technology they fed on¡ªbut lacked the ability to upgrade the tech they transformed into.


    The Working Class, Specwork, could both technomorph and upgrade the tech they became, enhancing the overall efficiency of the tech they morphed into.


    The Warrior Class, Specorc, could also technomorph and upgrade the tech, but with the additional ability to increase its durability along with the efficiency of the tech they morphed into.


    The Ruling Class, Specarc, possessed the rarest and most powerful abilities. They could technomorph, upgrade, perform technomix, and were capable of electric arc manipulation.


    i) Specarc''s upgrade will increase any parameter and function of the tech to their desire but to the limit of tech''s design.


    ii) Technomix is a ability that allows them to combine the best features of multiple technologies to create entirely new tech.


    iii) Electric arc manipulation also allows Specarc to emit arc blasts, its akin to electric manipulation, but operating at a much greater voltage and current. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For example, let''s assume a Speclime consumed a Ford Shelby GT350.


    If the Speclime were a Specroll, it could only technomorph into a standard Ford Shelby GT350 with no enhancements whatsoever. But skilled Specrolls could make aesthetic modifications to the tech they morphed into, a basic ability of the Speclime species that was shared by all four races.


    If the Speclime were a Specwork, it could technomorph into a Ford Shelby GT350 and upgrade its design, focusing on increasing overall efficiency without compromising any parameter. This would elevate the performance of the Shelby GT350 to a whole new level¡ªa Super Shelby GT350, if you will.


    If the Speclime were a Specorc, it could technomorph into a Ford Shelby GT350 and upgrade it for both durability and efficiency. The upgrades would push the car''s structural integrity to its limits while also enhancing its primary function¡ªspeed. The result: a Shelby GT350 that''s nearly bulletproof and much faster.


    If the Speclime were a Specarc, it could technomorph into a Shelby GT350 and upgrade it based on personal intent, enhancing durability and efficiency with even greater precision. Additionally, it could apply arc manipulation, allowing it to generate and control high-voltage electricity within its technomorphed, upgraded, or technomixed form¡ªcreating a version of the GT350 that''s not just enhanced, but potentially revolutionary, like a bulletproof Shelby GT350 with a jet engine instead of its standard engine and also capable of shooting electric arcs and creating arc blasts. Though the type of jet engine used will be limited to the design of the Shelby GT350 and the jet engine.


    In conclusion, among all four races of the Speclime species, aside from their shared ability to apply custom aesthetic modifications to the tech they morphed into, their various transformations were still limited by the inherent design of the technology itself.


    Take, for example, a Specarc''s technomixed version of the Shelby GT350. Regardless of their extraordinary abilities, it would be impossible¡ªeven for a Specarc¡ªto integrate a jumbo jet engine into the compact frame of a Shelby. Such a modification would be scientifically and practically implausible unless the jumbo jet engine''s design could be miniaturized by it to fit into Shelby''s upgraded frame.


    Still, a single Specarc was stronger than hundreds of Speclimes from any of the other three races. This vast disparity in power and capability was the primary reason for the deeply entrenched class system and rigid social order within their society. It was so deeply rooted that the Speclimes genuinely believed their hierarchy was the natural order of things¡ªuntil they were driven from their homeworld by an even more powerful alien race. Following the invasion, a small faction of their kind ended up on Earth.


    Initially, Ace had no immediate plans to create more Speclimes, as he intended to use the remaining toy spaces to animate toy summons with diverse and useful skill sets that he could use in desperate situations or for more creative applications. However, he had just learned that Prince McSuile and the C.I.B. had captured the Overlord''s descendant earlier that day. Strangely, they had kept this major event a secret from the rest of the nation''s curse community¡ªclearly intending to claim the Overlord''s treasure for themselves.


    The fact that they continued to put Ace and his family in danger out of greed made him furious. He decided to take action, throwing all caution aside. As a result, he had Dame Wasp create an army of Speclimes, modeled after the ones that attempted to take over the fictional Earth in the cartoon.


    However, Ace quickly learned that it was impossible to create an entire army of Speclime toy summons because they reproduced asexually. The issue with this was that the Cursed Toybox considered each race of the Speclime species¡ªSpecwork, Specroll, Specorc, and Specarc¡ªas a single entity with multiple bodies and consciousness. Therefore, he could only animate one of each: a single Specorc, Specarc, and Specroll without affecting their individuality stats.


    Ace made sure to choose characters who had played important roles in the cartoon, ensuring his toy summons possessed high IQ, EQ, and valuable experience. He also named them after their respective races, as their original names were hexadecimal codes, which were much harder to remember.

 Chapter 335 335: No Plan Is Prefect

    "Those don''t look like exo-armor curse gadgets," Ace said, eyeing what appeared to be armored platinum mannequins. Thanks to the high confidentiality level of this location, they could operate with some freedom, without the immediate fear of being discovered.


    "Master, those are robot-type curse gadgets created using puppetry curse arts," Dame Wasp explained, taking a brief break from supervising the Speclimes as they devoured various curse gadgets from the armory. In another universe, these creatures would have been her most feared predators¡ªbut now, they were her juniors. She was making sure the Speclimes didn''t get full, consuming only one type of curse gadget and had sampled every worthy gadget the armory had to offer.


    Yes, they were robbing the armory blind, but this was just a pit stop to gear up for their upcoming mission. As their senior, Dame Wasp did not lose sight of the objective¡ªshe kept everyone focused and sharp.


    "Are there any special curse gadgets I should know about?" Ace asked. The armory was packed with cutting-edge weapons, armor, and field equipment; it would take him a day or two just to familiarize himself with what each one of them was capable of. After all, he didn''t have a super-brain like Dame Wasp or the Speclimes.


    "The mind-reading apparatus, maybe. But it only records the brainwaves of what the target is thinking in real time, and we have to interpret those waves into a language we can understand. However, we have the Speclimes, so that won''t be a problem for us. The rest are pretty basic¡ªeither they help you kill or defend," Dame Wasp answered, casually lumping all of the C.I.B.''s cutting-edge, state-of-the-art curse gadgets into two categories: ones that blow things up and ones that don''t.


    "Great. So, did you find where they''re holding the Overlords'' descendant?" Ace asked. As he had warned Janice, he was aiming straight for the king and his treasure. He didn''t give a damn whose board game this was¡ªhe was going to teach them a valuable lesson: they''d picked a pawn far beyond their level.


    "No. There''s no record of it in the system. I believe they''re being very cautious and didn''t make an entry. I''m certain they''re keeping him somewhere on the lower floors. I''ve got a few guesses where they might be holding him. We can check them out after we hit the motor pool," Dame Wasp replied, still unable to find any concrete information about the Overlord''s descendant within Base Wulfric.


    "Sure," Ace nodded.


    There was a reason they were looting Base Wulfric blind instead of just taking what they needed. No, they didn''t plan to sell it all on the curse market. It was because all four races of the Speclime possessed the innate curse skill ''Asexual Reproduction.'' In other words, the four Speclimes could multiply over time within their toy space without hurting their individuality stats.


    This meant that there would be more of them in the future without Ace having to worry about running out of toy space slots, but when exactly that would happen wasn''t up to him. It was beyond the Toymancer''s control. The Speclimes would reproduce asexually at the same rate they did in the cartoon. So, Ace wouldn''t have a Speclime army anytime soon. However, one day, he would. That was why they were looting Base Wulfric blind¡ªpreparing for that day.


    "Master, we''re done here," Emi reported, having stored the last of the curse gadgets in her storage talisman.


    Ace nodded and turned to the Speclimes; they, too, had finished their buffet. Recalling them all back into their toy spaces, Ace shared his senses with Dame Wasp and followed her directions to the motor pool.


    According to Dame Wasp, the base featured a mile-long underground tunnel, 450 yards in diameter, acting as the runway for their fighter jet curse gadgets. There was also a specialized underground launch bay to facilitate quick vertical takeoff and landing for aircraft like Apaches, as well as other helicopter- and drone-type curse gadgets.


    Additionally, a hidden tunnel system was in place to bring in supplies and personnel, all of it converging at the motor pool. This central hub housed the vehicle-type curse gadgets from fighter jets to Apaches to trucks when not in use, allowing personnel to service them efficiently without impacting emergency response times.


    Because of the motor pool''s critical role in the base''s operations¡ªand its obvious vulnerabilities¡ªit was heavily staffed and guarded. This made it extremely difficult for Ace and his Speclimes to loot even a single truck from the motor pool without being noticed.


    However, Dame Wasp had already planned for this. She intended to exploit Base Wulfric''s system to redirect the needed vehicle-type curse gadgets to one of the base''s maintenance depots under the guise of regular inspection. There, the Speclimes could feed on them without worry. She had made all the arrangements even before they infiltrated the base. That''s how thorough she was.


    Upon arriving at the depot, Ace saw that all the vehicle-type curse gadgets Base Wulfric had to offer were already there, neatly arranged in sets of four. Nodding in satisfaction, he summoned Specwork, Specorc, Specarc, and Specroll. As they dug into their buffet, Ace glanced around the depot and asked Dame Wasp mentally, ''You sure no one will come here?''


    ''Yes, Master. I optimized the system settings to ensure no one but us can access this depot. Not even the general in charge of Base Wulfric has the required clearance to access this section. No one can get in here without overriding my settings¡ª'' Dame Wasp was confidently bragging when a section of the wall suddenly slid open, revealing a hidden pathway, cutting her off mid-sentence.


    Startled, Ace instantly used cursed clout to vanish into the shadow where he stood, quickly recalling the Speclimes, who were still mid-meal. He held his breath instinctively as he watched the unexpected intruder enter the room.


    To his utter disbelief¡ªit was¡­ a woman?


    Not that Ace looked down on women¡ªit was just that this lady¡­ the way she was dressed and moved caught him completely off guard.


    She wore pajama bottoms under a cozy, knee-length bathrobe and rabbit slippers on her feet. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun, and a thick face mask covered most of her face. She was brushing her teeth with one hand and holding a mug of water in the other. Her eyes were half-closed, and she looked groggy, moving as if she''d just rolled out of bed. She strolled into the depot like she was stepping into the living room of her apartment.


    To Ace''s dismay, she seemed to have the instincts of a block of wood¡ªabsolutely no sense of danger. She wandered around without the slightest caution and didn''t even seem to notice that the once-empty depot was now filled with rows of vehicle-type curse gadgets. For a moment, Ace wondered if she was simply that confident in her strength, only to have his toy summons confirm that she was just a weak mortal-tier.


    What surprised Ace even more was that Dame Wasp had gone through the entire personnel list of Base Wulfric, and no one matched this woman''s description.


    *Thud*


    Ace was yanked from his thoughts as the woman crashed into a truck and fell flat on her ass, letting out a groan of pain before shrieking in horror as the mug of water spilled all over her. She didn''t even bother trying to get up¡ªshe simply gave up and sprawled across the floor in defeat. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a moment, she pushed herself up to sit on her butt, blinking slowly at the truck in front of her. In a drowsy, puzzled voice, she muttered to herself, "That wasn''t here yesterday."


    When her mind registered the words she uttered, her eyes opened wide, devoid of sleep, sharp as she looked around the room, panic began to set in. However, her gaze suddenly paused on the shadow where Ace was hiding, and color drained from her face. She quickly looked away and, bringing her fingers to her mouth, she whistled.


    Ace''s eyes widened in shock. He could''ve sworn their eyes had just met. That should''ve been impossible, considering he was hidden in the shadows¡­ but somehow, the weird mortal tier lady before him had noticed him. Just as he was deciding whether to escape, knock her out, or attempt a civil conversation, the woman blew a sharp whistle through her fingers.


    Almost immediately, Ace began to feel tremors rumbling through the depot floor, growing stronger with each passing second. Something massive and heavy was heading their way. His eyes darted to the hidden tunnel the woman had used to enter, now expanding rapidly to fifteen feet high and eleven feet wide as the tremors intensified.


    ''Fuck!'' Ace mentally cussed, thinking she had called for reinforcements. He hurriedly turned to make a run for it before he found himself surrounded by C.I.B. agents and soldiers.


    However, just as he was about to bolt, a shimmering silhouette appeared in the maintenance depot and moved toward the woman. To Ace''s astonishment, it turned out to be an armored platinum elephant¡ªrobot? puppet?


    Under his shocked gaze, the metallic elephant gently lifted the woman with its trunk and placed her safely on its back, then turned to escape through the very tunnel they had come from. The elephant thing was very swift for someone of its size.


    Just as the tunnel entrance began to close behind them, Ace instinctively used the Shadow Folding ability of the cursed clout to slip through and follow, abandoning his original escape plan on impulse.

 Chapter 336 336: Trapped!

    As soon as Ace entered the hidden tunnel, the woman, as if sensing something, turned and looked directly at him. He was folding shadows and jumping between them, trying to keep pace with her armored elephant. She frowned, seeing Ace persist in his pursuit. Then, she gently tapped the massive forehead of her armored platinum elephant and commanded aloud, "Thunder, sing Storm Soul Trumpet!"


    Hearing the command, Ace immediately paused his chase and strategically hid on the tunnel ceiling near a light fixture, casting large shadows in both directions. This way, he could either advance or retreat based on how the situation unfolded.


    To his shock, the elephant suddenly leapt and spun to face him¡ªsomething that should have been physically impossible given its size and the tunnel''s narrow dimensions. Yet, the tunnel inexplicably expanded at that exact point to allow the maneuver. It was as if the tunnel had a mind of its own.


    ''WTF!'' Ace cursed internally.


    Before he could recover from his surprise, the elephant raised its trunk to a 45-degree angle and let out a thunderous blast¡ªa trumpet call that sounded like a thousand storms breaking loose at once. Amplified and focused by the tunnel, the sound reached supersonic speeds as it shot toward him.


    Before Ace could react, his body froze. The sound had struck his mind directly, scrambling his thoughts. It hurt like hell but he couldn''t scream, forcing him out of the shadow he was hiding in and slamming him onto the tunnel floor. To his misery, the Storm Soul Trumpet didn''t stop. It continued to echo violently through the tunnel, causing repeated mental damage.


    Just as his consciousness began to fade and his brain could endure no more, the echo finally began to die down. When Ace could barely piece his thoughts together, he heard Dame Wasp''s desperate pleas and immediately summoned Specarc, following her instructions mindlessly.


    Managing to summon Specarc, Ace tried to catch his breath while Specarc, following Dame Wasp''s instructions relayed through the Status screen, immediately technomorphed into the exo-armor curse gadget. It upgraded the armor and secured Ace inside it.


    Utilizing the advanced medical assistance system built into the upgraded exo-armor, designed to support its pilot in extreme situations, Specarc did its best to ease its master''s pain and protect him.


    To Dame Wasp''s relief, the lady and her elephant didn''t take advantage of Ace''s vulnerable state. Instead, they used the opportunity to retreat further into the tunnel.


    "Fuck! Is this what a hangover feels like?" Ace joked as he got back on his feet, trying to ease the worry of his toy summons.


    ''Master, are you alright?'' Dame Wasp asked mentally, her voice full of concern. Even though she shared his senses in real time and knew the answer, she couldn''t stop herself from asking.


    "I''m alright," Ace said aloud, turning to peer deeper into the tunnel before mentally asking, ''Where are we?''


    ''I have no idea,'' Dame Wasp admitted. ''This tunnel wasn''t part of Base Wulfric''s original blueprint¡­'' She hesitated before delivering the bad news. ''Master, I''ve lost all contact with the outside world. I can''t catch any signals down here. It seems these tunnels are blocking all communication¡ªboth in and out.''


    ''Shit,'' Ace cursed in his heart, then tried to reassure her, ''Things could''ve been worse.''


    Things could have been worse¡ªmuch worse¡ªif the woman hadn''t fled and instead commanded her elephant to stomp him to death. Sure, his toy summons could have used the Status screen to communicate with the cursed toy box and come to his rescue, but that elephant was insanely fast. Ace hadn''t even been able to keep up with it while using his shadow folding ability at full throttle. So, he couldn''t say for certain how things might''ve played out.


    Recalling the substitution talismans they had strategically and stealthily placed, Ace tried to sense them. To his dismay, he couldn''t feel a single one. He could''ve sworn that they hadn''t chased the elephant more than half a mile into the tunnel, he should still be able to sense at least one of the talismans by the maintenance depot¡ªunless, of course, the tunnel itself had the ability to sever all connections with the outside world. Ace had long suspected the tunnel had a will of its own, but now he was starting to believe it more than ever.


    ''Should I head back or explore the tunnel?'' Ace sought Dame Wasp''s expertise, wondering whether C.I.B. agents and soldiers were waiting for him at either end of the passage.


    ''We should head back and regroup at one of the safe points I previously marked,'' Dame Wasp replied, though she couldn''t help but ponder why her Master had so impulsively chased after the strange lady on the elephant. It was completely unlike him. ''What was he even hoping to achieve by chasing after her?''


    ''Alright,'' Ace nodded and turned to leave. Stepping into a shadow, he activated the curse clout''s ability to race out of the tunnel¡ªonly to realize, to his horror, that the exit never came.


    The color drained from his face as Dame Wasp reported gravely, ''Master... I think you''re running in circles.''


    Coming to a halt, Ace didn''t question Dame Wasp¡ªhe had started to feel the same. He was likely running in circles, unable to find the exit. He could''ve sworn it was less than half a mile from where he started.


    ''Shit, we''re trapped. No wonder she didn''t order her elephant to stomp me to death,'' Ace thought grimly, realizing the lady with the elephant had planned this all along.


    ''Screw it, I''m blasting my way out of these tunnels,'' Ace announced to Dame Wasp, a twinge of claustrophobia creeping in. At this point, he didn''t care if he alerted the agents and soldiers waiting outside.


    Sensing his mental command, the upgraded Specarc exo-armor instantly activated all of its weapon systems and aimed at the nearest tunnel wall. But before it could fire, a hurried feminine voice warned, "I wouldn''t do that if I were you." sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ace instantly recognized the voice¡ªit was the strange woman with the elephant. He chose to ignore her warning, assuming he must be doing something right to make her speak up. Without hesitation, he ordered his Specarc Exo-armor, "Fire!"


    To his dismay, the tunnel wall opened up just in time, revealing another passage that swallowed his attacks. Then, just as mysteriously, another tunnel entry opened behind him, spitting those attacks out. Somehow, the projectiles he had fired traveled in a perfect circle, without hitting any walls or losing momentum, and came back at him from behind.


    Fortunately, Specarc Exo-armor''s evasion systems kicked in, and the upgraded exo-armor swiftly dodged the returning attacks.


    While Ace was still processing what had just happened, he heard the woman''s voice again¡ªthis time with genuine surprise,"They upgraded my Mark-1 Exo-armors?"


    "No. Despite the unnecessary new aesthetics, it''s the same design as my Mark-1 Exo-armor¡ªbut somehow it''s more durable and efficient. That''s just impossible¡­ unless they found a better material for the frame and a more effective way to extract and regulate curse energy from the curse core into the Exo-armor.


    The old assholes I know aren''t capable of pulling this off. Unless they hired someone new." The strange lady spoke to herself aloud, forgetting that Ace could hear her. Then, as if a thought struck her, she turned to him and asked, "Kid, who are you? You''re not on the personnel list of the army or C.I.B. Are you one of their escaped test subjects? Or one of their experiments? Not that I care, but where did you get that Exo-armor?"


    "¡­" Ace didn''t know how to respond. The more he learned about this woman, the stranger and weirder she felt. He couldn''t believe he had once found her strange actions cute. It was hilarious to see her crash into a stationary truck, fall on her butt, spill a mug of water on herself, and lie in it, unaware of her surroundings.


    "Kid, are you dumb or something? No, wait¡ªI definitely heard you talking to yourself earlier. Did that little trick I pulled scare you or something? Don''t blame me, I did warn you not to attack¡­" she rambled on, seemingly forgetting her point mid-sentence.


    Meanwhile, Ace mentally asked Dame Wasp, ''Do they really conduct experiments on humans down here?''


    ''No¡­ not on humans. On human clones,'' Dame Wasp replied, without going into details, knowing her master wasn''t ready to hear the whole truth.


    ''So, did you figure out what her deal is? How did she enter the depot and what was she doing there?'' Ace asked Dame Wasp, trying to understand his captor and their intentions.


    ''I think the answer lies in her question,'' Dame Wasp replied. ''She might be one of the experiments who managed to escape and is now hiding down here using this peculiar hidden tunnel system. After all, to the clones born in Base Wulfric, this is their home and entire world.''


    Dame Wasp speculated, noting the strong disdain the strange lady had expressed toward the C.I.B. agents and soldiers, paired with the fact that she''d shown no intention of handing Ace over to the authorities.

 Chapter 337 337: Codename: DungeonThree

    "So, where was I?" the lady asked, having lost her train of thought after babbling.


    "You were introducing yourself and explaining what you were doing here," Ace finally spoke, realizing he was trapped in the mystical tunnel and that this strange woman might be his only way out.


    "I''m Dee Three. You can call me Dee or Three. Either is fine by me. I built Base Wulfric from scratch seventy-seven years ago, and now I''m hiding¡ªwait a minute, why am I introducing myself to you? You should be introducing yourself to me. You are the one who is trapped, not me, got it?" Dee said, catching herself mid-sentence and realizing Ace had tricked her. Surprisingly, she didn''t take offense. In fact, she was alarmingly cool about it.


    Ace couldn''t believe that sorry excuse of a trick had actually worked on Dee3. It confirmed what he had initially suspected¡ªdespite managing to trap him, she was indeed a simpleton. He was stunned that someone who was nearly a hundred years old could be so naive and innocent. It was that strange combination that had a charm that oddly attracted him in the first place.


    Just then, Dame Wasp informed him, ''Master, as I suspected, she is a clone who doesn''t age¡ªa side effect of the method used to accelerate their growth during incubation. That explains her youthful appearance despite her age. I''ve managed to find a file related to her buried deep within the documents I copied, just in case.''


    [Subject: Dee Three or Dee3,


    Codename: DungeonThree/D3,


    Rank: Senior Curse Scientist, S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Status: M.I.A.]


    ''She was part of a cursed slave experiment involving the Dungeon Curseling eighty-nine years ago. Approximately two dozen clones were subjected to the Dungeon Curseling''s curse core in an attempt to turn them into curse slaves capable of using the Curseling''s innate curse arts for civil engineering purposes.''


    ''After twelve years of excruciating torment, she was the only one among the 24 who survived and succeeded. Upon investigating why, they discovered that Clone D3 had been born with superintelligence, which she used to ensure her survival against all odds.''


    ''Learning this, the army recruited her. With her help, they built not only Base Wulfric but also twenty-one similar bases across the country, and eight more in the frozen north and overseas military bases. She is also one of the founding members of the curse gadgets department.''


    ''You sure she''s a genius? Nothing about her screams that,'' Ace replied to Dame Wasp, finding it hard to believe any mastermind would be foolish enough to reveal her name and background to someone she''d trapped.


    ''She''s a quirky genius, Master. And also a practitioner of nonviolence. When she learned the true purpose of the curse gadgets she had been developing for the military was far from the peaceful intentions she believed, she protested, but when they tried to silence her and force her to make more curse gadgets, she escaped a decade ago. No one had seen her since... until today. Turns out, she never left Base Wulfric and has been hiding within it all this time,'' Dame Wasp explained, shedding light on the woman''s peculiar behavior.


    ''She practices nonviolence, but designed the Mark-1 Exo-armor curse gadget?'' Ace asked skeptically. After all, the Exo-armor curse gadget was nothing short of a weapon of mass destruction.


    ''Master, she designed it so mortals can fight Curselings, not use it against themselves or other humans,'' Dame Wasp defended Dee3. Seeing her get so defensive, Ace decided not to tease her further.


    Having learned all Dame Wasp had to offer about Dee3, Ace quickly spun a story in his head to try and get the upper hand over Dee3 and get her to let him go. As he began, "My name is¡ª" Dee3 suddenly cut him off.


    "Don''t bother lying. I''ve already run an image search on your face through all the relevant databases and found a specific set of files dictated by EAD Matthews. She made a special note warning agents not to underestimate you because of your age and to stay constantly alert around you. She thinks very highly of you. According to her, you have the potential to become a national Asset or threat depending on which side of the bed you woke up on. In case of an inevitable confrontation, her official recommendation is to agree with you on the surface to find an opening to assassinate you, even though she admits the chances of that succeeding are slim. As trying to outsmart you would be harder then trying to outsmart the slyest fox out there."


    Seeing that Dee3 had access to EAD Matthews''s files on him, Ace wondered if there was even any point in introducing himself. Still, he did it anyway, "Hi, Dee3. My name is Ace Lander. I''m here to steal the curse gadgets from Base Wulfric to strengthen my curse tool so I can protect my family. Curse users are targeting them because the C.I.B. and the Army used us as bait to achieve their agenda, endangering me and my family."


    "Ah, the Sarmasa Slayer plan. It was just added to your files. It wasn''t just the C.I.B. and the Army¡ªmany forces are involved in that mess," Dee3 replied, her tone softening. "I''m sorry you and your family have to go through that."


    She not only sympathized with Ace but also apologized on behalf of the C.I.B. and the Army, proving that with the right narrative, even the truth could achieve what even a well-crafted lie couldn''t.


    "Oh! So, the upgrades to the Exo-armor curse gadget are because of your curse tool. I see¡ªyou were planning to feed all those vehicle-type curse gadgets to your curse tool to boost its power, so you could better protect your family. But I not only interrupted you, I''m keeping you away from them for far too long..." Dee3 trailed off, guilt creeping into her voice as she realized the implications of her actions.


    ''Oh, she''s a genius alright,'' Ace thought to himself, smirking inwardly, thinking he had Dee3 eating out of the palm of his hand.

 Chapter 338 338: Unsuspecting

    Ace waited silently, letting Dee3''s guilt simmer and do its work. But as he waited, a thought crossed his mind, wiping the smirk off his face. He couldn''t help but ask, "Hey, Dee3. Just so we''re on the same page¡ªyou''re only agreeing with me to keep me calm and unsuspecting until you figure out what to do with me because you don''t trust me, right?"


    "Yes, I''m following EAD Matthews''s recommendation on dealing with you. She was right. But I meant every word I said¡ª" Dee3 abruptly stopped, realizing she had just spilled the truth to Ace. She then yelled in frustration, "Could you stop doing that?!"


    Ace had figured out Dee3''s quirk. She couldn''t lie¡ªor, more accurately, she despised lying and any form of deception so much that it had become impossible for her to lie at all. There wasn''t a single dishonest bone in her body.


    That''s how he knew her sympathy and guilt over his and his family''s situation were genuine. But something was clearly holding her back from acting on that sympathy and guilt. He just needed to figure out what that was and convince her that everything would be alright.


    "It''s not that I don''t understand what you and your family are going through," Dee3 said, her voice conflicted, "but that doesn''t give you permission to break into secret Base Wulfric and steal classified curse gadgets. I can''t just let you go knowing all that, right?"


    She was caught in a moral and ethical dilemma. Unfortunately, unlike formulas or logical problems that came easily to her, this she couldn''t solve easily.


    "Yes, you are right, Dee3. Various government organizations betraying me and my family when they were supposed to protect us, doesn''t give me the right to break into a secret government base and steal weapons to defend my family from the dangers they shoved us in. One wrong doesn''t justify another. I hear you¡ªand you''re right. I should be held accountable for my actions, brought to justice, and gracefully serve my sentence," Ace said, not denying a single word Dee3 had spoken. Instead, he agreed with her and openly confessed.


    But he wasn''t finished. After a dramatic pause¡ªand just as Dee3 was beginning to think Ace wasn''t nearly as bad as EAD Matthews''s files made him out to be¡ªhe continued, "But what I don''t understand is this: what right do you have to hold me accountable for my crimes? Aren''t you a criminal too? Aren''t you also on the run from the C.I.B. and the Military? Doesn''t that make this just another case of kidnapping?"


    He stared at tunnel ceiling, voice steady but sharp as he blamed her, "You''re willfully keeping me away from my family when they need me most. How could you be so heartless? You might as well sentence me¡ªand them¡ªto death, just like the rest of the world has. Go ahead. Get it over with. My family and I are just more lambs sacrificed on the altar of your self-righteousness."


    "No, I''m not being self-righteous! I was just¡­" Dee3 shouted, then trailed off, unable to deny the truth in Ace''s words. The more she thought about it, the more the guilt weighed on her. He was right. She had no room to question him¡ªnot when she, herself, had been breaking into Base Wulfric and stealing supplies on a near-daily basis. It didn''t matter whose crime was more severe; one wrong didn''t justify another.


    Dee3 sighed deeply, wondering how an ordinary morning had spiraled into an accidental kidnapping. She genuinely had no clue what to do with the teenager she had unintentionally abducted. This was bad. She might actually have to abandon Base Wulfric for good this time. That meant no more freeloading. She''d have to get a regular job just to afford coffee and booze. But was that even possible? After all, the C.I.B. and the Military had launched a global manhunt for her over a decade ago¡ªa manhunt that hadn''t stopped and had since extended into the ''World of Curses.''


    "Hello? You still there?" Ace asked after a long silence, noticing Dee3 had gone quiet again. He had no idea that she''d drifted off mentally and forgotten about him once more.


    "I''m sorry! Please don''t kill me or my family, miss!" Ace cried out dramatically, using Dee3''s guilt as a knife and twisting it deeper into her heart, hoping it would finally convince her to let him go.


    Ace''s pleas snapped Dee3 out of her thoughts, and she quickly assured him, "Ace, calm down. I''m not going to kill you or your family. But you have to promise me that you won''t sell or use the curse gadgets you stole from Base Wulfric to harm people."


    Despite everything, she hadn''t forgotten to make sure that the curse gadgets she designed wouldn''t be misused by a teenager for greed or ambition. This was one thing she couldn''t compromise on. Before negotiating his release, she had to be sure he wouldn''t turn her creations into weapons of destruction.


    "I can''t promise that," Ace replied honestly.


    "But I can promise that I''ll only use them to protect myself and my family. I''ll even put it in writing," Ace proposed, showing willingness to sign a curse contract.


    "I suppose, given your situation, that''s fair," Dee3 agreed with a nod, but rejected the notion of signing a curse contract, informing, "No need for a curse contract. EAD Matthews seems to think you''re a man of your word¡ªand I trust her."


    Though she hadn''t met EAD Matthews in person, Dee3 had come to trust her judgment based on her track record and reports¡ªmore than she trusted Ace, even though he was standing right in her dungeon.


    "Or," Ace added with a casual shrug, "you could come with me and make sure I keep my word. Think about it¡ªa new home, free food, free accommodation."


    He was feeling good about his chances, so he couldn''t help but take a shot. It wasn''t hard to guess that Dee3 would need a new place to stay if she were to let him go. It was a shot in the dark¡ªbut maybe, just maybe, it would land.


    S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 339 339: Thunder, The Cyborg Elephant

    "Free food? Can you expand on that?" Dee3 asked. She was about to reject Ace''s offer, but the mention of free food stopped her in her tracks. With her particular curse skill set, she wasn''t worried about finding a place to stay, but starving to death was a real concern.


    Ace was a little surprised to see her even considering the offer. Not wanting to waste the opportunity, he quickly elaborated, "Twenty-four/seven food service. Anything you want."


    "Does that include beverages?" Dee3 asked, hesitant to directly ask an underage kid if alcohol would be available.


    "Yes, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Food, snacks, beverages, supplements¡ªif it exists, we''ll get it for you," Ace promised without hesitation.


    He could think of countless ways a senior curse scientist, one of the actual founders of the country''s Curse Gadget Department, could be useful to him. Sure, Dee3 didn''t seem too interested in designing new curse gadgets anymore, given how things ended between her and the government, but maybe she wouldn''t mind teaching a few of his eager toy summons.


    The girls already had the Cyclops'' Curse Crafter legacy to learn from, but Ace figured they wouldn''t mind if he added curse gadgets to their curriculum. Dame Wasp, in particular, already seemed to be a fan of Dee3¡ªprobably because their tragic pasts mirrored each other. Both were experimented on, used, and were now fugitives from powerful organizations. So it didn''t surprise Ace that Dame Wasp sympathized with her.


    "Can I get free food without checking in? I don''t need a place to stay¡ªI have a dungeon," Dee3 asked, having already made up her mind to check out the dream-like place Ace had spoken of.


    "That works too. You''re the customer, and customers are gods. We don''t ask gods to pay¡ªonly to bless us with their infinite wisdom and guidance," Ace replied cryptically, enjoying the moment, knowing he truly had Dee3 eating out of the palm of his hand this time.


    "Alright, I''ll follow you around for a while, but if it doesn''t work out for me, I''m leaving," Dee3 warned, making it clear she wasn''t making any long-term commitments.


    "Great, we have a deal," Ace agreed.


    Yes, he intended to take advantage of her naivety and knowledge, but he never planned to control her or take her hostage. That went against his principles. Still, he didn''t feel guilty about benefiting from her trust, because if he didn''t, someone else would, and that someone might not be as generous or well-intentioned as him.


    Suddenly, the wall of the tunnel before him, split open into a door, and a bright light spilled out, filling the passage. Ace squinted against the glare, only to hear Dee3''s calm invitation from within, "Come in."


    As he stepped through the door, Ace was stunned¡ªnot just by what greeted him, but by Dee3''s utter lack of caution and how easily he had persuaded her. Even he couldn''t quite believe what had just happened. He found himself wondering how someone so gullible had managed to see through the government''s lies. There was definitely a story behind that.


    "Welcome to my dungeon. It''s been a decade since someone last visited it. It''s bigger now¡ªand a lot more lively," Dee3 greeted, snapping Ace out of his thoughts as he stood stunned at the entrance.


    His eyes were forced to take in the surreal sight before him¡ªan armored platinum zoo housed deep within her dungeon. Every kind of wild animal imaginable was present, all encased in glistening platinum armor. They appeared to ignore him, going about their own business, but Ace could feel their eyes on him, keen and alert. One wrong move, and they''d tear him apart. Especially the armored platinum elephant¡ªit wasn''t even pretending to mind its own business like the others, and glaring at him, ready to blow its deadly trumpet.


    Despite the magical sight before him, the first question that came to Ace''s mind was, "Dee3, please tell me they eat normal food and not curse cores." Because if these armored platinum creatures fed on curse cores, then Dee3''s tuition fee might be far higher than he had bargained for.


    "They''re cyborgs¡ªof course they eat both, silly," Dee3 answered casually. But then, realizing Ace''s offer of free food might not have included her ''cuties,'' she quickly asked, "Wait, the free food¡ªdoes it extend to cyborgs too?"


    "It doesn''t," Ace admitted, "but for you, we can figure something out later." This was the perfect opening for him to bring up the idea of Dee3 earning her keep. The compensation would be generous, of course.


    He couldn''t help but wonder how the Army and the C.I.B. hadn''t noticed such a large portion of their supply vanishing regularly. Maybe someone on the inside was helping cover for her.


    "By the way, how did you manage to gather so many cyborg animals?" Ace asked, not giving her a moment to overthink what he''d just said.


    "They''re all animals that managed to survive the government''s experiments but failed to produce the expected results. Most were on their last breath. I rescued them¡ªit was the only compensation I accepted for serving the government. Even after I stopped working for them, I continued to rescue the animals they had abandoned secretly. In recent years, animal and clone experiments seem to have decreased considerably. Hopefully, they''ll stop altogether one day," Dee3 explained, her voice tinged with an unexplainable sadness.


    Seeing her like this, the animals approached to cheer her up. Meanwhile, the elephant kept its unblinking gaze fixed on Ace, its trunk raised and ready.


    Ace finally understood why Dee3 had never left Base Wulfric. But he couldn''t help but wonder why there weren''t any human clones among those she''d rescued.


    Noticing her elephant show a keen interest in Ace, Dee3 smiled warmly and introduced, "This adorable one is Thunder, the fastest elephant alive."


    "Trumpet!" the elephant bellowed at Ace, a clear warning.


    Ace got the message, but Dee3 seemed to mistake the blast for a warm greeting. She was clearly blinded by her love for the creature.


    S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 340 340: Dee3 Vs Delores

    "What were you doing accessing the unused maintenance depot?" Ace asked Dee3, trying to figure out why she''d go to an unused site when she had such a massive and luxurious dungeon. It wasn''t like the depot had any supplies, Dee3 might have come to borrow from Base Wulfric.


    "It was totally coincidental," Dee3 replied. Then, turning to her pet cyborgs, she added, "They''re well-behaved now because we have a guest, but normally they''re noisy and a handful. There''s only so much a girl can take, no matter how much she loves them. Sometimes, I just want a bit of peace and quiet, you know? Enjoy my own company¡­"


    "Especially when you''re dealing with a nasty hangover," Ace cut in, having figured out the real reason Dee3 had been at the depot.


    She''d been so drunk that when she got up, she had no sense of time. It was clearly early evening, but she kept saying it was morning on multiple occasions in their conversation, and neither Ace nor her pet cyborgs had bothered to correct her.


    Ace clearly remembered her saying, "This wasn''t here yesterday," after stumbling into one of the trucks at the depot. That meant she didn''t just visit the depot occasionally¡ªshe was a regular.


    Dee3 even had an entire section of her dungeon dedicated to a wine cellar and liquor bar. It was right in front of the entrance as if on display. Her pet cyborgs, though free to roam the entire dungeon, avoided that section like the plague.


    Clearly, Dee3 loved her liquor to the point where it could be considered a problem. Her pet cyborgs seemed to think so, too, but her getting drunk and losing all sense of time and place appeared to have become the norm for them. Considering how they did not bother to correct her or stop her from drinking more than the healthy limit.


    Despite her well-known love for alcohol, Dee3 seemed determined to avoid talking about it with Ace. This made him wonder if she was actually ashamed of it. Then he remembered¡ªdespite her youthful appearance, she was nearly a hundred years old. And while she was open-minded in many ways for a boomer, she might still hold some conservative reservations.


    As a boomer, Dee3 could easily fall into the category of "cool grandmas" if not for her youthful body, which added her to the "GILF" category.


    Without the face mask, out of her pajamas, and in an old-fashioned dress, Dee3 looked like a perfect female human specimen¡ªher skin was so smooth and fair it could easily steal the mind and heart of a weaker man. Still, Ace would rank Dee3 below Delores on his GILF list. Dee3 lacked the edge, the commanding presence. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Delores, on the other hand, her cold stare alone could give a stone a heartbeat and give rubber a hard-on. But Dee3 had an innocent and pure charm going for her¡ªqualities people don''t usually associate with a GILF. Instead, if she acted a bit more saintly and judgmental, she''d have a better shot at topping the GILF list.


    Honestly, the no-aging side effect of her birth process had basically made Dee3 nearly immortal as a curse slave. Most curse slaves who didn''t die on the battlefield eventually succumbed to aging. But in Dee3''s case, unless someone or something actively killed her, she could live out the full lifespan that a mortal-tier was capable of.


    "What gave you that idea?" Dee3 hurriedly tried to deny it, but Ace interrupted her by pointing toward the wine cellar and the liquor bar. She quickly defended herself, saying, "It''s mostly for guests."


    "Really? I thought I was the first guest in the past decade. So, who do those cocktail glasses on the bar belong to?" Ace asked, pointing at the neatly arranged glasses on the liquor bar''s counter.


    "Don''t judge me. The wine cellar and liquor bar are really for entertaining guests. But ever since I retired and went into hiding, I haven''t had much to do around here besides tending to them," Dee3 admitted, feeling like a failure of an adult, gesturing toward her cyborg animals. "So I started indulging in wine and liquor out of boredom. Before I knew it, it turned into a problem I didn''t want to admit or solve."


    "I wouldn''t dare judge you. It''s only a problem concerning me if you''re drinking is hurting me or those I know. Besides, what you do in your own home, on your own time, is your business. What others think doesn''t matter. But if you think it''s a problem, then that''s what matters. You''re smart¡ªI don''t need to tell you what to do," Ace replied, making it clear he didn''t see her as a failure of an adult just because she drank too much. He also gently reminded her not to care so much about others'' opinions unless her actions were affecting them directly.


    Given that Dee3 was from an older generation, it wasn''t surprising that she still cared about appearances. And considering she''d been isolated from society for over a decade, it was actually impressive how open-minded she was for someone from that era. It only proved that Dee3 had always had a big heart, despite her tragic origin. Fortunately, not even the government had been able to corrupt that.


    "Are kids today all as smart and considerate as you?" Dee3 asked Ace, feeling reassured that she had made the right choice in not turning him over to the authorities.


    Talking to him reminded her of her mortal colleague and friend¡ªsomeone who, despite her own super intelligence, had often proven wiser than her. The memory stirred a deep sense of longing; she missed her old colleagues and friends, even though it was she who had abandoned them.


    "You tell me when we get out of here," Ace replied, not directly answering her question but using it to remind Dee3 that there was still so much life left to experience¡ªshe didn''t have to waste it all down here.


    "Alright, where to?" Dee3 asked, ready to move her dungeon under Ace''s home. But he shook his head and said, "That will have to wait. My work here isn''t done. If I don''t take care of this, my family will never be able to return to their old lives."

 Chapter 341 341: General Kerrigan & Major Bennett

    "General, I''m telling you, I felt a faint curse energy disturbance from that sector of the base," Prince McSuile said, barging into the restricted areas of Base Wulfric without proper clearance as if he owned the place.


    "Prince, stop. My soldiers are already checking out that sector, as per protocol. Don''t make me regret this collaboration," Brigadier General Kerrigan said firmly, ordering Prince not to test his patience by breaking the base''s rules and regulations.


    Kerrigan not only thought Prince was overreacting but also believed he was being paranoid. After all, the entire Base Wulfric was rigged with curse sensors. If there had been a curse energy disturbance in any section, his soldiers would have responded immediately¡ªit wouldn''t be an outsider''s turn to tell them that their base might be breached, even if that outsider was a Void-tier.


    "Connect to them. I need to see what they see and know what they learn," Prince demanded, making it clear he had little faith in the soldiers.


    Still, Kerrigan swallowed his anger and signaled to the nearby Major Bennett to make the arrangements.


    The Major nodded, but after receiving an update through his earpiece, his firm expression morphed into a confused one as he reported to the General, "Sir, the on-duty squad is unable to access that section. They don''t seem to have the clearance level needed to enter it." S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The reason for his confusion was simple: the on-duty emergency response squad had unrestricted clearance to nearly ninety-five percent of the base, especially most of the upper floors, to ensure rapid response times. The remaining five percent, which required higher clearance, was almost entirely located on the lower levels. Making the squad encounter a restricted area on an upper floor a highly improbable scenario, but it had occurred.


    "What sector is it, Major Bennett?" the General asked, his mind racing through the few highly restricted zones on the upper floors. None, however, were located anywhere near the sector in question. In fact, he barely remembered that sector at all¡ªlikely because it had been deemed inactive for years.


    "It''s a couple of maintenance depots. They haven''t been in use for a while because..." Major Bennett trailed off, scrolling through the files on his curse pad. There was no record explaining why those depots had been abandoned for the past decade. However, he noticed that one of the depots had been accessed earlier this afternoon for a vehicle-type curse gadget inception. As he skimmed the list of the curse gadgets involved, his brows furrowed deeply in alarm.


    "Speak up, dammit!" General Kerrigan barked, seeing the gravity settle on the Major''s face.


    While Major Bennett struggled to find the right words, Prince McSuile impatiently cut in, "General, let''s just go there and check it out ourselves. Considering the timing¡ªand what''s at stake¡ªwe can''t afford to sit around second-guessing."


    Seeing a respected Void-tier spooked over what seemed like nothing, General Kerrigan¡ªa mere mortal¡ªsneered inwardly. In his eyes, strength didn''t necessarily equate to bravery. He thought such godly prowess was wasted on someone as cowardly as Prince McSuile. Yet, Kerrigan showed no sign of envy; if anything, he appeared to look down on such power.


    Regardless of how he felt, Kerrigan agreed with the Prince, "Alright. Let''s head there."


    He had little choice. Despite capturing the Overlords'' descendant single-handedly, Prince McSuile hadn''t delivered the captive to the McSuile family. Instead, he had turned him over to the government, agreeing to assist in the recovery of the Overlords'' treasure and the 36th shard of the Spirit Comet. In return, the McSuile family would receive a 40 percent reservation in the gate to be opened to the Spirit Realm using the shard as long as the government was in possession of it. And if they ever planned to sell it, they would have to give the McSuile family first preference.


    Though the Prince''s asking price was steep, the higher-ups in the capital deemed it worthwhile. Moreover, the McSuile family served as the country''s eyes within the mortal world''s curse community. With their patriarch missing, the government needed to take steps to help maintain the McSuile family''s sphere of influence, and this was one of those steps.


    The General and his entourage boarded a small mobility vehicle, similar to a golf cart, to reach the nearest elevator. The elevator was large enough to accommodate the cart, allowing them to ride it inside. After arriving on the floor where the sector in question was located, they continued toward it in the cart, with Prince McSuile closely gliding behind them.


    Prince seemed very displeased with the arrangement. He wanted to carry the General to the sector directly using his void walking, but he knew better. He could not treat the General like a helpless teenager whose life he could ruin on a whim, even if he was a mere mortal and only a one-star general. His father would have killed him just for entertaining such disrespectful thoughts. Prince had been raised to believe that no matter how powerful one became, no one was above the Constitution ¡ª a principle his father had deeply instilled in McSuiles.


    "What the heck is going on in my base?" General Kerrigan roared when Major Bennett finally found the right words to report what could potentially be a massive embezzlement operation spanning the past decade. It was a huge deal. The Major knew heads were going to roll, so he took his time and carefully chose his words, not wanting to be killed on the spot in the General''s fury, like the King sentencing the messenger to death.


    "General, focus," Prince urged, reminding Kerrigan to prioritize the matter at hand and open the entrance to the sector first.


    Kerrigan glared at Prince, but not wanting to make a fool of his command in front of an outsider, he swallowed his rage and attempted to access the maintenance depot sector. To everyone''s shock, he was denied access. None of them could believe there was a sector on the upper floors that even the Brigadier General in charge of the base couldn''t access. Kerrigan himself was stunned, unable to comprehend that he lacked clearance in his own base.


    "Step aside, I''m breaking through," Prince said, his gut instinct screaming that something was definitely wrong.


    "No. If you hit a load-bearing wall by mistake, we''ll all be buried down here. Just use your void-walking to check the situation inside after I disable the sector''s security system using the system override key," Kerrigan calmly instructed. In this moment of crisis, he suddenly appeared more dependable than ever. Even Prince couldn''t help but nod in agreement.


    Base Wulfric was protected by numerous deadly curse arrays. If Prince forcefully tried to breach an unauthorized sector using void-walking, the arrays would immediately respond, potentially even killing him. However, because he was a McSuile, at worst, the arrays could at best prevent him, forcing him to retreat for fear of his life. The base''s curse arrays were powerful, but the McSuile weren''t to be underestimated.


    Under the protection of his entourage, the General began the seven-step security verification process to use the override key and shut down the maintenance depot sector''s security. However, he immediately failed the first security verification step. Then a realization struck him at once, he shouted, "The base has been hacked!"


    "The package is no longer secure in Base Wulfric. We need to move him immediately," Prince barked, his mind focused solely on his own interests rather than the national security concerns the incident raised. But in his defense, he believed the breach in base security was directly related to the Overlords'' descendant.


    "Shut up!" Kerrigan roared, no longer able to suppress his fury. Turning to the Major, he ordered, "Major Bennett, lock him up with his daughter."


    The Major and his colleagues'' eyes widened in shock, but it was Prince who looked the most astonished. Before he could ask why, Kerrigan explained, "As per protocol, all civilians in Base Wulfric must be secured and placed under surveillance in the event of a security breach. It''s up to you to decide whether you will cooperate or force me to activate the curse array formations."


    "Fine. Lead the way," Prince surrendered without wasting any more words on the General, but he did advise, "Call for me before it''s too late."


    He had no choice. If he rebelled, not only would he become a curse criminal, but the McSuile family would sever all ties with him. His own siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, and relatives would beg the board for the harshest sentence possible. If his father were still around, he would have sentenced him to death himself.


    "Tsk." Kerrigan clicked his tongue in frustration. He simply couldn''t bring himself to trust Prince. He couldn''t understand why Prince would willingly hand over the Overlords'' descendant to the government. Why settle for a 40 percent share of the gate when the McSuiles could have monopolized it entirely? He was certain Prince was playing a bigger game¡ªand wondered if the security breach was part of it. He had no idea how all this benifits Prince but knowing the way Prince operated, he wouldn''t put it past him.