The journey back to town had been quiet, but Fenix didn’t mind. The days passed uneventfully, giving him plenty of time to gather various pnts and herbs along the way. His inventory was now brimming with ingredients he could use for cooking and potion-making. He looked forward to getting back to Bellport, eager to turn in his quest and start experimenting with his new finds.

  ChibiScker, however, found the trip dull. He’d grown used to the chaos that seemed to follow Fenix, so these two days of peaceful walking felt like a drag. He knew that not every day would be exciting, but he still found it boring. At least he had something to keep his mind occupied—his new tamed monster.

  He still couldn’t believe he had managed to tame a Fre Dog, and not just any Fre Dog, but an Emberrose Fre Dog. It was a sub-breed he’d never heard of before. As he walked, he looked it up and learned that, although it wasn’t as strong as the desert Fre Dogs it had a unique skill. Since it was native to forests, it granted its tamer an earth buff, boosting their defense by 10%.

  ChibiScker was thrilled by the discovery. He knew it would take hard work and patience to train his new companion, possibly up to three or four weeks, but he was ready for the challenge.

  His mind buzzed with pns for training sessions with the Fre Dog. Lost in thought, he was startled by a notification. Opening it, he read:

  ‘Log off, we need to talk.’

  ChibiScker frowned, staring at his brother’s message. What could be so urgent that he needed to log off the game? A knot of worry twisted in his stomach. Was something wrong at home?

  “Nexus, I have to log off. My brother needs to talk to me about something,” ChibiScker said.

  “Should I wait for you to return?” Fenix asked.

  ChibiScker shook his head. “No, keep going to town. I don’t know how long this will take.”

  “Alright, I’ll see you ter then,” Fenix replied, waving as ChibiScker prepared to log off.

  With a final wave, ChibiScker disconnected from the game. Opening his pod, he stretched as he looked around. His rge bedroom felt cramped after the vast, open world of the game.

  It didn’t take long to find him—he was sitting in his office, the door open as if he’d been waiting for ChibiScker to arrive. The sight of his cousin standing nearby with a smug grin made ChibiSker aware that he needed to be on his guard.

  “Ryung, please come in,” his brother said, his tone calm but serious.

  ChibiScker stepped into the room, his bad feeling intensifying. He gnced warily at his cousin, offering a polite nod. “Sorry to keep you waiting, hyung."

  ~

  One day ago

  FrozenBde scanned through the loot his guild had earned from their test dungeon run, his eyes flicking over each item with satisfaction. Their hard work had paid off, nding their guild in the top 5000 for fastest clear times, and putting him in the top 1000 on the individual leaderboard. For a group of newbies like them, that was nothing short of spectacur.

  But the real victory came in the form of a message from a potential sponsor. If he could push himself into the top 500, they promised to sign a contract with him. A cold smile curled on his lips as he thought about the future. All the pnning, the sabotage—it was all starting to pay off.

  Soon, he wouldn’t have to rely on the Yu family like some beggar. They might share the same blood, but he never saw them as family, just a second branch that had taken over his family’s company after his parents died. But once he had the money, he’d take back everything that was rightfully his.

  His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of sudden ughter. He turned, his expression hardening as he saw SilkenKiss, his so-called girlfriend, giggling at something on her screen. His lips curled in disgust. She was nothing more than a necessary nuisance, her money the only thing keeping her around. But once that sponsorship deal was inked, he’d ditch her for good and finally make his move on Rose Lily. Just the thought of her brought a genuine smile to his face.

  “What’s so funny, my dear?” FrozenBde asked, masking his distaste with a faux-loving tone.

  SilkenKiss looked up, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Your younger cousin is just adorable! He posted another video. His skills are amazing—it’s like he’s pying bodyguard for that Dryad.”

  The other guild members perked up, their curiosity piqued. Soon, they were all watching the video, praising ChibiScker’s talent and suggesting he join their guild. A cute, energetic pyer like him would surely liven things up.

  FrozenBde’s jaw tightened, though he forced himself to appear nonchant. He knew his cousin had no interest in becoming a ranker, and for that, he was grateful. If ChibiScker ever decided to take it seriously, he’d be a serious competitor. So, he pyed the role of the kind, caring cousin, dismissing their ideas with a smile. “He wouldn’t like being cramped up in one pce. Let him have his fun.”

  He was about to return to his inventory check when a private chat window popped up. It was Rose Lily.

  RL: Bde, we need to talk about your cousin.

  FB: Why?

  RL: He’s making a fool of himself, hanging around that Dryad. Everyone can see he’s being used.

  FB: So what? Why do you care?

  RL: Of course, I care. If people find out he’s your cousin, they might use him against you. You’re just starting to rise up. If that happens, it could ruin your chances. I don’t want him to mess up your sponsorship.

  FB: You’re right, but what can I do? I can’t make him stop hanging out with the Dryad.

  RL: Why not? You’re his older cousin.

  FB: And? That doesn’t give me any control over him.

  RL: Maybe you can tell his brother. After all, the Dryad might have unsavory intentions for your cousin.

  FB: So what? It would be his own fault for talking to strangers. Why do you care so much about him anyway?

  RL: I don’t. I just don’t want him to stand in your way. Just think about it—if there’s a scandal, it could hurt your chances for a sponsorship.

  FB: You’re right, I’ll bring it up to his older brother. Thanks for looking out for me.

  RL: No thanks needed. It’s what I want to do.

  FrozenBde closed the chat, feeling a bit more at ease as he returned to his inventory. Meanwhile, Rose Lily couldn’t suppress a smile. Everything was falling into pce. After winning Mrs. Yu’s Family Kitchen's cooking contest, she joined the game with a clear goal in mind.

  A cooking competition in Haven Online was on the horizon, and with the Yu family’s sponsorship, she was set to be their poster girl. This insider information gave her a significant edge, and if she secured the Golden Pot, Mrs. Yu had promised her the head chef position in her new restaurant. But Rose Lily had bigger ambitions—she wanted her own restaurant.

  And she wanted a man. To get to him, she needed ChibiScker. That was the only reason she had joined FrozenBde’s guild—because she knew he was ChibiScker’s cousin. The thought of FrozenBde’s misguided affection for her almost made her ugh out loud, but she’d string him along for as long as it took to get what she wanted.

  If it weren’t for that Dryad, ChibiScker would be with them already. She let out a slow breath, her mind racing with ways to keep ChibiScker close during the next three weeks. One way or another, she would get what she came for.