Chapter 22: Stealing House and Slaughtering {1}
Reo, Althea, and Clara had finally returned to Aspiring City. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting warm amber hues across the skyline. Neon lights flickered to life, and the city’s ever-bustling streets slowly regained their rhythm.
"I’ll be going now. Take care," Clara said, her tone nonchalant as always, but there was a soft undertone—subtle, but unmistakably filled with admiration. She didn’t linger, didn’t look back. Her silver hair shimmered under the streetlights as she hailed a taxi.
"Sure," Reo replied simply. There was no reason to add more. She was never the type to appreciate long goodbyes.
As the taxi pulled away, Reo turned toward a nearby alley, his expression sharpening. With a faint thought, he took control of his clone from earlier—hidden and waiting near the outskirts of the city. Double-checking that no one was nearby, he gave the signal. The clone shimmered for a moment, its form folding into the air as it vanished like mist.
Althea, who stood nearby, crossed her arms. Her voice cut through the silence like a blade. "Are you really just going to stand there?"
Her eyes narrowed, but there was no real malice—just a frown of cold curiosity.
Reo didn’t answer at first. His thoughts were already churning. Now that his stats had broken through to F-, the next logical step was clear he needed Money.
skills, gear, connections. The fastest path Taking them.
"I’m going to steal," he said casually, as if announcing plans to go grocery shopping.