Chapter 217: X

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Greetings, Mr. Klofar.

I hope you have been in good health. Before I talk about anything, let me just say - I'm surprised. 

I'm surprised how well you handled a nearly impossible thing. If I didn't take precautions, I might be the one getting cold feet and running from this town. So… with all due respect, even though we may not be on the same terms, I appreciate everything you've been doing. I'm not being fake here.

On to the main part. I kidnapped your cousin. She is currently here with me. If you want to take her back, come and get her back. 

As much as I don't want to act like a stereotypical bad guy, you have forced my hand. How dare you not fight in a straightforward manner? You have one chance to not lose your cousin and it is now. If you don't come to "get her back" within ten minutes, it's better if you have a grave prepared in advance.

Last thing. This goes without saying but the moment you bring a person other than you within a distance of half-a-kilometer around me… you know the consequences.

That's all. We can talk more when you show up.

Location: 9-View Street Colony, B.C. Market.

With regards,

X.

---

Tony McBreth read the message with a frown.

His phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Sir. There's a problem. We are unable to locate Rewen Klofar's cousin, Denny Klofar."

"Yes. She had been kidnapped by X, the main figurehead behind the game between Rewen Klofar and the organization. Mobilize the commander units and bring them to where I am."

"Okay, got it."

Hanging up the call, Tony sighed. "Perhaps we'll lose another talent today." He wasn't completely sure of Rewen's strength but how much should he expect from a nineteen-year-old who had recently started to learn about mages?

***

Travil Town. 9-View Street Colony.

The weather was gloomy. Grey clouds formed in the sky. 

*Drip*

*Drip*

*Drip*

It didn't take a minute to start pouring. 

Rewen sprinted through the empty streets. His whole body was drenched in rain. 

'I still have one more [2x Power Spike]. X couldn't be stronger than a peak Rank 3 Mage. Otherwise, he would have gone after Svety as well. As long as he isn't a Rank 4, I… can probably handle it. Agh…'

A sharp pain came to his head as he fell flat on the street.

"Dammit… not again… not now… Urgh!" 

Gritting his teeth, he got up and continued running with one hand clutching his head. His vision was slowly getting blurry but he didn't stop. Instead of using every sense, he used the strength in his legs to continue running.

A few seconds later, he tripped on a rock and fell.

*Splash*

"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. T-this is un… bearable…"

Rewen was slowly losing consciousness. The pain he is currently feeling is in a different league compared to the one he felt earlier today. It was similar to the one he felt just before coming back to Earth. He felt like going down on an endless abyss with never-ending pain. 

Sitting on his knees, he hit his head on the ground. 

*Bang*

The concrete shattered.

Blood streaked down from his forehead.

The pain of hitting his head on the ground overwhelmed the pain he was feeling because of the headache. Even though the overall pain he was feeling had increased, his consciousness wasn't losing anymore. It was a very strange way of not losing his consciousness but nevertheless, it worked.

He proceeded to get up and looked at the clear road in front of him.

'I have two choices in front of me. Either I reach X while whispering and die as soon as I reach him while blaming it on my pain or toughen up and… do what I have to. It's a matter of life and death. Who am I supposed to cry about my misfortunes if I don't even stay alive to do so? Excuses only matter when I'm alive to give excuses. It's meaningless otherwise.'

Brushing up his wet hair, he took a step forward.

*Tap*

He took another step.

*Tap*

And another.

*Tap*

Every step he took was distinct.

***

B.C. Market.

Ground floor.

"Hah… five more minutes to go." A masked figure wearing a black robe looked at the time while sitting on a comfortable chair. Beside him was a pretty young woman with her hands and legs tied up.

She sat on the floor with a blank look on her face.

It was Denny.

When she had just woken up, she was kidnapped by a man way stronger than her. From there on, she had a hard time having a calm mind.

How could anyone be calm after getting kidnapped?

While still in her pajamas, she brought her knees closer to her. 'Will anyone come?' She doesn't know the reason she was kidnapped. Initially, she shouted and cursed the man who had kidnapped but after a single look in his eyes, she went quiet. The fear she felt at that time was very real.

Just as she was contemplating her situation, the masked man crouched to her level momentarily startling her. 

"Say girl, your cousin is Rewen, right?"

Denny slightly nodded. "You… are you related to the organization… REAL WAIFUS CORP---"

"No. I'm not related. However, I am related to the explosive inside you. I was the one who suggested the idea. Effective, isn't it?" The masked man chuckled.

"W-why did you do it? What have I ever done to you?" 

"Well, don't ask me. I was forced to do it. In fact, you should thank me. If it wasn't for me, you would have been killed that night. The organization was planning to send men to kill you. Would you rather want that?"

"..." Denny lowered her head in silence and started sobbing. 

"Come on, girl. I have important things to know. How would it work if you cry?" The masked man shook her head.

Denny raised her head, her eyes red. "Wh-what is it?"

The masked man gave a small nod, then sat back on the chair. "Tell me about Rewen Klofar."

"He is my cousin…" Denny wasn't sure how to answer such a vague question.

The masked man rolled his eyes. "Start from his childhood."

Denny thought for a moment before answering. "Rewen had always been a quiet guy. During kindergarten, other than me, he didn't have any friends. While I… would play with others, he would sit at one corner and look at others quietly. Because our age was similar, we were competitive. Although I was older than him, he was smarter for his age. 

"He grew up under the care of my parents. Later when Cal got a job, my parents moved out. I don't remember much of my early childhood but I do know that he always felt a bit lonely because Uncle and Aunt were usually overseas. One of the most prominent memories I have related to him was him grabbing the hem of both of his parents' clothes and begging them to take him with them.

"He was… I think… I was five years old so he was four years old back then. During elementary school, he opened up a little and made a few friends. In middle school, he was an outgoing guy, being the central figure among his friends. It all changed in his second year of high school. He became more repulsive, abrasive, and spent most of his days in his room. He failed in the final year of high school but got his report renewed after Uncle bribed the Principal… um…"

Denny couldn't think of anything more he could say about him.

The masked man put his hand on his chin. "Why do you think that he suddenly became like that?"

"..."

"Haha! I know more about him than you do. He has a Stage 5 Interference, doesn't he? If I didn't know that he had interference, I wouldn't believe it. This is the first time I have seen a victim of interference so… so uh, I can't find the right word. Anyways, the tragic backstory was worth listening to but I don't care about it. What I wanted to know is how you see him. Do you hate him for putting you in this predicament?"

It took a few seconds for Denny to process what she had just heard. She thought about the question for a long while. 

"I… probably don't hate him… I think… but I don't think… I will forgive him if I… if I die."

The masked man gave an amused chuckle. "So according to you, it doesn't matter if he dies. It's all good as long as he manages to save you. Is that right?"

"No. That's not it. I just… I just don't want to die."

"So it doesn't matter if he dies in the process, right?"

"No! That's not what I'm s--- wait! Why am I answering your questions? What's wrong with me? What the fuck did you do to me!?"