The summer evening breeze gently swept past, lifting Alice's waterfall-like black hair as it fluttered in the wind. A few strands brushed across Veil's cheek, carrying with them a soft, refreshing fragrance that lingered in the air.
The two walked side by side, just like a couple out on a nighttime stroll.
Alice kept her head down, staring at the laces of her shoes, while her thoughts began to run wild again.
The Young Master was always so good to her, treating her with such warmth and closeness. And now, they were even holding hands, walking home together, just the two of them.
From childhood till now, she'd never been this physically close to a man. Did this mean… she was his girlfriend?
Without realizing it, Alice turned her head slightly, wanting to see Veil's expression—perhaps find some kind of answer.
But just then, the hand that was holding hers suddenly let go—only to shove her roughly to the side.
Stumbling back a few steps before she could steady herself, Alice looked up in shock… and saw Veil already engaged in a fierce fight with a black-robed stranger who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
Shhk!
The attacker's blade slashed across Veil's arm, drawing a line of blood that stained his sleeve.
"Young Master!" Alice cried out in horror.
"Stay back!" Veil barked without even turning his head, launching an aggressive counterattack at the mysterious figure.
He might've looked lean, but Veil's strength came from his bones and muscle.
With a brutal kick, he forced the cloaked figure back step by step, knocking the dagger right out of his opponent's hand.
Outmatched, the black-robed man tried to lunge for the weapon, but Veil kicked him again, sending him staggering. Without another word, the stranger turned and fled into the night.
"Young Master, your arm—you're hurt!" Alice ran to him in a panic, and without waiting for his instructions, pulled out her phone to call Kai.
They waited right there. Within ten minutes, Kai arrived in a car with a private doctor in tow.
The wound was quickly cleaned and bandaged. Though the bleeding had been heavy, it was under control now.
Kai stood before Veil, face full of guilt, head lowered.
"Young Master, this is my failure. I didn't fulfill my duty to protect you."
Veil waved his hand dismissively.
"It's got nothing to do with you. I was the one who insisted on walking back."
As he shifted his arm, a sharp pain made him grit his teeth.
Inside though, he was cursing that attacker.
Damn it… the guy didn't coordinate properly! The knife went in a little too deep.
Good thing his body constitution was abnormal—otherwise, this scene might not have played out so smoothly.
Alice stared at Veil's bandaged arm, eyes full of worry and lingering fear.
"Who was that man just now? Why did he attack you?"
Veil frowned, clearly just as confused.
"No idea."
Kai stepped forward, holding out the dagger he'd retrieved.
"There's a strange symbol carved on it, but I've never seen it before."
Alice's eyes fell on the weapon in Kai's hand. The handle bore a vivid red wolf's head.
Her breath caught. Her mind went blank.
Veil waved his hand casually.
"Don't overthink it. We'll just beef up security from now on. There are plenty of people who want me dead—no way we can figure out who each one is."
Kai then drove them back to the villa.
Alice didn't know why, but once she confirmed Veil was okay, she quietly excused herself and ran back to her bedroom.
As for Veil?
He lay back on the bed and tapped open his system panel. He'd disabled its notifications earlier—those constant alerts had been getting on his nerves.
But now that everything had calmed down, it was time to tally the rewards.
Ding!
Female lead Alice experienced intense emotional fluctuations. Congratulations, Host—Villain Points +800.
Ding!
Female lead Alice's favorability has increased. Congratulations, Host—Villain Points +1000.
Ding!
Child of Fate, Roy, lost 500 Luck Points. Congratulations, Host—Villain Points +5000.
Ding!
Child of Fate, Roy, lost 1000 Luck Points. Congratulations, Host—You've obtained: 1 Beauty Pill (heals wounds and removes scars), and the full recipe for the Beauty Pill.
Listening to the string of system prompts, Veil raised an eyebrow.
Looks like Alice has already figured out that dagger is connected to Roy.
That probably explained why she ran off to her room as soon as they got home. She was likely confronting him right now.
Veil had no intention of stepping in.
If he acted too eager to accuse Roy, it'd seem suspicious—like he was trying to frame him.
Better to let Alice reach her own conclusions. She saw it with her own eyes. And the one who carried the dagger—a real Blood Wolf Mercenary Corp member—was dead. No one left to prove otherwise.
Roy could try to explain all he wanted. It'd still sound like an excuse.
Shoving the whole incident to the back of his mind, Veil opened his system inventory.
Tsk.
He was genuinely surprised.
Messing with a Child of Fate came with serious rewards.
Not just Villain Points—but rare item recipes, too?
This Beauty Pill was clearly for treating the gash on his arm.
Veil pulled the pill from his inventory and swallowed it. A cooling sensation spread through his body, washing away the burning pain in his arm.
Moments later, the discomfort vanished entirely.
He flexed his arm—no more pain, no trace of injury.
Completely healed.
Beauty Pill Recipe ?
If it's from the system, it had to be top-tier.
Veil studied the prescription the system had granted him. All the listed ingredients were technically available on the market, though some of the primary herbs—like century-old medicinal plants—were exceptionally rare and expensive.
But considering how potent the Beauty Pill was—he had experienced it firsthand—it wasn't surprising. Not only did it heal wounds, it also erased scars and even brightened the skin.
This stuff was clearly made with beauty-conscious women in mind.
Of course, if he were to manufacture it, there was no way he'd use the formula as-is. The production cost would be astronomical, and the effects far too powerful.
But if he diluted the formula a hundredfold, or even a thousandfold… then it might just be perfect for mass-market distribution.
Buzz—
As he pondered, his phone lit up on the nightstand. The caller ID showed: Lisa.
He answered, only to be immediately greeted by Lisa's sharp, irritated voice.
"Veil, do you not understand human language? I told you to call me once you got home. Did that go in one ear and out the other?"
"...?"
Veil blinked, momentarily confused. Then he remembered—back when they left the Jiangnan No.1 Villa, Lisa had indeed said something like that, all while wearing her trademark fake smile.
She remembered that now?
His voice turned cold and flat. "Are you serious, Lisa? Do I need to report every little thing to you?"
Lisa scoffed on the other end. "Given the nature of our relationship, shouldn't you?"
Tsk.
She was losing it.
Veil raised a brow. Just a single sentence from their parting, and she'd clung to it this whole time. She hadn't said a word that night—but now, days later, she was calling him to vent?
She must've been dwelling on this for days, until she finally snapped.
Still, he didn't call her out. Instead, his voice turned teasing, almost playful.
"What's the matter? It's late at night… Are you all alone in your villa, thinking about me?"
"How about I come over and keep you company for the night?"
Lisa snapped back, flustered, "Think about you? In your dreams! Who said I was alone? Don't you dare come—I'm not opening the door for you!"
"I called because I have something serious to discuss. There's a gathering in Veyport City the day after tomorrow. Nearly every big-name entrepreneur and tycoon will be there. You're coming with me."
Silence fell on the other end.
Then Lisa asked again, "So? Are you coming or not?"
"I'll go," Veil replied.
He remembered Kosdy Murphy had mentioned this event in passing. A gathering of this level wasn't just a party—it was a place to build connections and expand influence among the elite.
Jodie would most likely be there too.
They hadn't had a chance to talk privately during the visit to the Murphy estate. If he went out of his way to seek her now, it would come off as suspicious. But a casual encounter at a public gathering? That would seem much more natural.
They chatted for only a few more moments before Veil hung up the call.