CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43 - DESTINY’S BIGGEST SLAP

"I am not speaking as an heir but as a human—something many of us have forgotten. Heroes are not dangerous; in fact, they are respectable for saving us every day. But they still need to be monitored to ensure both their safety and ours," Cruxius said, finally noticing that his narrative was beginning to reach the reporters.

It was now time for him to switch the direction of his narrative to avoid appearing biased; instead, he aimed to present himself as neutral by discussing the positive aspects of this situation.

Indeed, it’s human nature to doubt a narrative if it doesn’t align with one’s thought process.

However, if they want to believe the person giving the narrative, they desire to hear something from him that their mind can accept.

The best approach for those who support heroes and recognize their importance to society was to frame the narrative in a way that showcased how the addition of tracking devices could benefit those heroes.

Tring

Then, Darithi’s phone rang. In front of the cameras, she answered the call, placing it to her ear as she listened to the news.

’!’

"....."

Yet, unlike the instructions given by her master—to exaggerate her reaction and use Volta’s injury as leverage to sway media sentiment—Darithi’s face remained blank.

The plan was simple: frame the injury as proof that heroes with trackers could get timely reinforcements.

But now, something had clearly changed.

"Darithi, what happ..." Cruxius turned to her, expecting her to follow the act. But his voice faltered as his gaze locked onto her blank expression.

It was enough to tell him—something far more serious had happened.

And he knew exactly what it was.

’How?’

His fingers tapped rhythmically against the table, his head slightly tilted toward the press as he closed his eyes.

Something had gone wrong.

A variable had appeared, ruining the plan.

To kill Volta, catching her off-guard was crucial. That was only possible if two A-rank villains attacked.

And that was exactly the thing that did not align with this plan.

He had only contracted a hit on a simple mortal—Dean of the hospital.

There was no reason for top-tier supervillains from Zone 7’s villain syndicate to be there.

Someone had intentionally sent the strongest.

No matter how he calculated it, his logic was sound.

At most, a couple of low-ranking villains should have appeared.

But instead of taking down a simple human named Alvian, the very best had been deployed—a simply illogical approach from the villain syndicate to waste their resources.

Someone has definitely intervened.

’Who...’

His eyes shut tight as his mind flashed back to what happened with Thalia’s medicines.

Someone had exacerbated the side effects of the medicine.

And now, with Volta—it was clear. Someone was interfering again. Someone hidden in the shadows, playing a deeper game.

It felt like he was seated at a 5D chessboard—his opponent still unseen.

But—

’....Let’s save that woman first.’

He stood and approached a nearby guard.

If this was fast, he wouldn’t have tried to save her life, but this time he was aware of his own strength. He also figured saving her might help him score some points—and more importantly, give him a chance to uncover who was behind this.

If he could capture those villains alive and make them talk, he might finally reach the shadowy figure pulling the strings.

"S-sir?" The guard stiffened as Cruxius came near. Without a word, Cruxius took the semi-assault rifle from his hands, unlocking the safety with practiced ease.

’There was no one to pull strings in the past... so, who?’, he casually thought as if he denied every reality of the present time, knowing this was going to be rewritten either way.

Ignoring the guard’s reaction, he raised the gun, his finger tightening around the trigger.

BANG BANG BANG!

’!’

Three shots cracked into the ceiling, missing his face even from point-blank range.

His eyes widened as he saw them—two half-severed hands, seemingly materializing out of thin air, with green dimensional portals swirling around their edges, gripping the rifle and forcing it upward.

"MASTER!" Darithi, stunned by her master’s sudden action of trying to shoot himself, screamed in shock as she rushed forward. The gun was now held by four hands—two of Cruxius’ and two dismembered ones emerging from miniature portals.

’Huh?’ Cruxius stared at the delicate, feminine hands.

Their fingers wrapped firmly around his, forcing the barrel away from his mouth.

He turned slowly toward the reporters, most of whom were now standing, watching in horror.

A woman stood among them, her ruby eyes wide with terror.

She had a mature figure, long black hair cascading down her back, and wore a casual outfit—her blouse looked ready to burst under the pressure of its tightness, which even seemed to contract and relax due to sudden anger mixed with shock.

Her hands were stretched forward, the upper halves lost in those same green portals.

"Wh-what are you DOING, CRUXIUS!" Her voice cracked with rage, tears threatening to fall—only to evaporate in the heat of her emotion.

In the blink of an eye, a portal engulfed her, teleporting her beside him. She glared at him and then raised her hand after retracting it back from the—

Swish!

Or, she tried to.

Cruxius leaned back effortlessly, avoiding the blow reflexively—as she wasn’t the first woman who tried to slap him.

His eyes, however, remained locked on her.

’How...?’

For a fleeting second, his mask slipped. Shock flickered across his face.

He now looked at the woman who had, until now, been an uncaring bystander.

She stood before him, trembling with rage and wearing the expression of someone broken with time again and again.

She looked like someone who got betrayed by the person whom they loved the most.

DING!

[ Target: Lilian’s minimum Infatuation level achieved: Bestowing the ability Dimensional Morph Rank S ]

’System, are you kidding me?!’, Cruxius inwardly yelled, his eyes clearly trembling, looking towards the woman. Her reaction, her anger, the eyes, everything seemed to tell him only one fact.

She had her past life memories intact.