The Heart System Chapter 516

He bore no resemblance to a father figure. In fact, he screamed deadbeat dad—the exact type you'd see listed under 'avoid becoming this.'

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Attempting Persuasion

"Why lie, man? Just tell me

the truth."

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Base Chance: 40%

Honeyed Words: +55%

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Final Chance: 95%

Upon Succeeding: ☑

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"Why lie? Just tell me the truth."

"I am telling you the truth, you idiot!" he snapped. "I don’t know anything about any cameras. What are you even talking about?"

A frown creased my face. This wasn't a flop. So he truly had no clue about those cameras in Nala’s office. Damn. I'd pegged him as the culprit for sure. But with him out... who then? I lingered there, lost in thought, piecing it over mentally.

Suddenly, the system powered down. Perfect. Honeyed Words came with a timer. Useful info. Would have preferred knowing prior to blowing it.

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Persuasion Attempt: Jack

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☑☒☐☐☐

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Remaining Chances: FAILURE

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"You’re her stepfather," I said. "Not her real father. Why lie about that?"

"Step or not," he muttered, "I’m her father. That shouldn’t matter." He narrowed his eyes. "How do you even know that?"

"We’re friends," I said. "We talk. Like normal people. And she doesn’t want to see you, Jack. So stop coming here."

"Then tell her I’m here!" he snapped. "I couldn’t talk to her last time, but now I can. I just need—"

"How did you even get in here?" I cut in. "You need to leave. Now. And don’t come back. Next time, I’m calling the cops."

"Please!"

"No. Go."

I seized his shoulder and pushed him back a step.

"Get out."

He shot me a venomous glare, jabbing a finger as if to intimidate.

"You’re all the same..." he spat. "You’ll see."

He spun around and charged down the stairs in a fury.

My gaze tracked him until he passed the parking garage entrance and vanished into the street.

I released a heavy breath, raking fingers through my hair.

"Fucking hell..."

⟁ ⟁ ⟁

I rapped on Maeve’s door, entering when she invited me in.

More intel from her was essential, requiring another Hypnotize activation. Last interrogation lacked solid leads. This time, I had a thread to pull.

Hypnotize engaged. Her eyes took on that subtle pink-purple tint.

Approaching her desk, I snatched the A4 printout bearing Jack’s image from security footage, holding it before her. Blankly, she stared, then raised her eyes to mine without shifting in her seat.

"Is he Jack Kuinn?" I asked.

"No," she replied. "He is not."

"Is he the one who set up the cameras?"

"No. He is not."

"How can I find Jack Kuinn?"

"You cannot find him unless he wants to be found."

My brow furrowed a bit. "How old is he?"

"Twenty-five."

"Where does he work?"

"I don’t know."

"What’s his problem with Nala?"

"Revenge."

Eyes narrowing, I pressed. "Revenge? What the hell does that mean?"

The paper crumpled in my fist as my mind raced ahead. Pieces refused to fit.

Another question hovered on my lips when a system alert flashed.

Right.

Activating Hypnotize once more dragged me further toward the Villain alignment. I'd figured there was buffer before it intensified, yet evidently not.

I balled up the A4 sheet further and fixed her with a stare for moments. Precisely as the next query formed, the alert sounded. Fuuuuck me. Hypnotize usage plunged me below Villain again. I'd assumed margin for such actions without sinking that far. Wrong again, apparently.

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REPUTATION SYSTEM

MONSTER░░░░░░░████░░░░░ VILLAIN

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Current Reputation: Sadist

- More EXP gain when cheating

- Using degrading words during sex

boosts EXP gain.

- Strength and Pleasure boost.

- Magic Ability (Hypnotize)

- Control your partner’s orgasm.

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Earning good points will result in

various punishments.

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A quiet exhale escaped me. Fine then. Halting wasn't an option. This skill was vital, hit or no hit.

"What kind of revenge?" I asked.

"Jack Kuinn was Guy’s friend."

"Guy? Nala’s brother?" I said, trying to piece it together. "So Jack and Guy... are they working together?"

"I don’t know."

"Does anyone else know who K is?"

She looked straight at me. "Nala Nolin."

I blinked. "Nala?"

She nodded. That made my stomach tighten.

"Does she know K’s real identity?" I asked carefully. "Does she know who he actually is?"

"Yes."

"And she’s hiding that from me?"

"Yes."

Fingers dragged through my hair as frustration boiled out in a breath.

Why the hell would she conceal that from me?

Shaking my head, I began pacing beside the desk.

Nala knew K's true face yet kept it from me? Illogical. If she wouldn't spill voluntarily, Hypnotize it was. Hated depending on it, but no way I'd idle while she withheld this.

Wordless, I exited and headed for the elevators, mind churning over her motives. Button pressed, doors parted swiftly. Inside, I selected the lower level for the brief descent.

Emerging, my eyes sought her office. Empty.

Strange. Break time hadn't arrived, and she rarely vanished even if able.

Reaching my desk, I sat and dialed her. Rings echoed unanswered, but her ringtone drifted from the office. Frowning, I hung. Phone abandoned.

Seconds later, she appeared in the corridor, hands faintly moist. Restroom trip. She flashed a smile passing me, met with my stone face as I observed.

Her grin wilted. Pace slowing, she halted at my desk, scrutinizing closer.

"Evan? What’s wrong?"

"Your office. Now."

She blinked. "Wait... what’s going on?"

"Move."