The truth immediately came out after a minute. Chris was indeed only annoying Sofony because of the most recent incident. And he was not truly planning to suddenly break relations with her. No, he was not that stupid yet.
Even if he didn't bring the matter about her helping him tide over the most perilous beginner phase of him as a system user, there was also the fact that his head was still alright and that could easily understand that the majority of the immoral hosts were heartless and cold-blooded people. Who knows how their minds work?
He could break away from Sofony's sphere of influence, but once the enemies still chose to not let go of him, how would he fight back as a solo host?
Say Sofony's claim about him being the luckiest host was true, how about his loved ones? It was a sad reality for people like them, but nobody, not even them, could ensure that their families and anyone else close to them wouldn't be badly affected or worse, killed, once a confrontation occurred.
The actor had many more reasons to not really break their alliance. He chose to stop the useless banter with Sofony and discussed stuff seriously with her. Chris had not many favorable opinions of Sofia, but he stressed that rescuing her should be the utmost priority.
Sofony, upon hearing it, wondered if the guy just felt that would be the easiest mission compared to confronting Bathory and Leo.
Before leaving to meet his manager, the man did not forget to remind her to be vigilant due to the video. The girl could only smile wryly.
However, deep inside her, she was also a bit worried since Chris made sense. There was truly a chance another host higher leveled than her would go after them for fun, which would spell trouble to her, Chris, and, Gio.
...
In a place located in one of the numerous islands in Country M, a castle stood erect in one of the highest inland mountains there, looking imposing, ancient and grand, as if it was an abode of a deity. Clouds rowed and sailed back and forth the place, sometimes obscuring the top part of the beautiful chateau and giving it a more divine look and aura.
It was on the balcony of the highest floor that laughter rang. The voice was masculine. It was from a bathroom-robed man in his thirties who kept looking into the empty space in front of him while lightly shaking the champagne flute in his right hand. Extreme amusement and amazement were dancing in his eyes were reminiscent of gray clouds about to pour down rain to a famished desert.
His current expression would have made him be mistaken for a madman. Thankfully, nobody was with him. Nobody could go up to his room without his permission. He could do anything he wanted in the place and nobody would reprimand him since he was the owner of the grand residence. In fact, he was the owner of the whole island.
Amidst his merry laughter, the being in his head continued showing what it was showing, and it was actually the reason for the handsome but bulky man's good mood. It also did not forget to add more information.
"A masterpiece..." In amazement and admiration, the man stopped laughing and unconsciously commented. He willed for a tangible photograph to materialize before him. He held it with care.. as if it was a treasure worth more than any amount of gold or gem in the world.
The advice seemingly went to one ear of the bulky man then went out through the other. He continued staring at the picture with a dumbstruck expression, looking badly smitten by the pure and elegant smile on the woman's face in it.
With a sigh, he exclaimed, "This is totally a work of fate. But one not very favorable to me. Why did I only meet her now? Why now that she is engaged? My heart which has just started to beat for somebody else is now breaking into pieces. I don't like it. I want to meet her now and bring her to my realm. I want her to be for my own and exclusive viewing and enjoyment only! Haahhh."
His system AI went silent, but inwardly it was rolling its imaginary eyes. It badly wished it could not hear the man's annoying monologue and exaggerated sighs.
"This is no good... I truly can't resist anymore. The picture is nowhere enough. I must bring her with me to this layer! I'm dying to embrace her and love her in my bed!"
The man walked back leisurely in the inner room without looking away from the thing in his hands. While carefully placing the photograph containing Sofony Silver's ethereal smile within a frame which he also materialized on the spot, he blinked, then asked in a flat tone, "So is the person who will deter me from enthroning her as my queen a demigod? Or a god?"
The one he asked kept its silence for a moment before replying in a dodgy manner,
It didn't vocally say but thought inwardly, 'If you die, I can just go find somebody to attach myself into. Anyway, I have lots of points now.'
The AI's host was only at level 7 so naturally, it couldn't disclose anything more about somebody at a higher level. It was also feeling a bit annoyed at its host. He was usually brilliant at times, but turned suddenly stupid now. However, its clue should be good enough.
Those officially stepping into Level 7 and above could travel into the different layers on earth and own territory. Actually, even Gio's ghost already possessed one. A small ghostly district in J country which point of intersection with the real world was the abandoned dormitory Wendy once visited in the past.
But it had to be noted that while the majority qualified to go to the layers loved possessing territories, others simply loved to destroy or wreak havoc in someone else's dominion. And even if this was not the case, if a more powerful person was pissed off, he could just travel into the layers and kill the culprit. This was the point AI 9 wanted to ingrain in its host's brain.
Unfortunately, the guy just answered, "Heh. No matter what, I still wouldn't reconsider. I've reached this age and indulged in the pleasure of the flesh since forever, but I never felt anything even to my own non-host supporter. Now that I found a love for me, there is no way I will back down and let her slip past my fingertips!" With an ominous glint in his eyes, the man maniacally smiled and declared.
After placing the picture frame on the altar-like platform near his bed, he frowned, feeling that something was missing.
A minute later, he let out a soft 'Aha' and then snickered while gesturing his hands and instructing the system to paint a huge portrait of his future woman on the four walls of his room.
Once done deducting the points, the AI did as instructed. However, it didn't forget to comment,