The Heart System Chapter 597

It truly caught me a bit off guard. His appearance was far too ordinary to suggest any connection to Brok whatsoever. He seemed friendly, composed, and quite presentable. However, individuals like Brok never kept anyone around who wasn't useful. If Dakota was indeed linked to him, there had to be something more hidden beneath the surface.

"Huh." I offered a casual shrug. "Nice."

"Indeed, nice," he affirmed with a nod. "Most people come in here looking for phones or gaming consoles. Nobody really cares about laptop coolers these days unless their machine sounds like it's on the verge of combustion."

"I know that feeling," I stated, though it was a fabrication. "I'll take this one. How much is it?"

"Twenty bucks."

We ambled back towards the counter. He processed the transaction while softly humming, then placed the cooler into a plastic bag and handed it to me.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome, friend. Have a great day."

"You too."

I departed the pawnshop, the most superfluous acquisition of my existence dangling from my wrist.

The instant I stepped outside, my expression shifted dramatically.

Alright. I finally had a face to associate with Dakota. The truly challenging part was about to begin. I needed to extract information from him somehow, yet I had no idea about the depth of his loyalty to Brok.

Blackmail immediately sprang to mind.

With my Time Stop ability, I could genuinely dismantle someone's life in mere minutes if I so chose. Stripping them bare, capturing photographic evidence, planting incriminating items, fabricating false proof. It would be effortless.

However, that action would unequivocally demolish my Bad Boy points, and I absolutely could not endure another penalty from Mana. Losing my stats once was already a bitter pill to swallow.

"No..." I murmured as I unlocked my car. "I need to find another approach."

I tossed the laptop cooler onto the passenger seat and settled in. Just as I turned the ignition, my phone began to ring.

It was Cora.

I answered without hesitation.

"Hello? Cora?"

"E-Evan..." she whispered, her voice faint. "I detected movement through the camera."

I sat up straighter in my seat instantly. "What?"

"I believe they've arrived."

"Really?" I inquired swiftly. "Are you at home, correct?"

"Yes."

Then, I heard Esme's voice, loud and clear from a distance.

"Pizza! Bring pizza!"

A smile couldn't help but form on my face. "Our Ninja Turtle there is craving pizza, I see?"

"You don't need to bring any," Cora said softly.

She then abruptly fell silent.

"Oh... I can hear them now. The microphone picked up voices outside. Oops... A car honked... I think."

My heart began to pound with accelerated urgency. Good. This was very good.

"I'm on my way," I announced, shifting the car into gear. "Five minutes."

"Okay."

She ended the call, and I pulled away from the curb, navigating through the traffic.

Finally. Jack and Robert were at the house together.

If I managed to catch them in a compromising situation, this entire entanglement with Nala could be resolved. Jack would either cease bothering her discreetly, or I would destroy his life before he had the opportunity to ruin hers.

Honestly, the man continued to perplex me.

He apparently had a secret boyfriend, lived in constant fear of his extremely religious family discovering the truth, and had spent his entire existence concealed from public view. Yet, somehow, he still found the time to extort nude photos from girls.

What on earth was wrong with him?

Perhaps he simply reveled in power. Some individuals became unnaturally addicted to controlling others.

I halted at a red light, my gaze drifting to my phone, mounted conveniently near the dashboard. My finger hesitated over Nala's contact for a brief moment. A part of me urged to call her, just to confirm she was safe. However, my pride intervened once more. It felt foolish, akin to engaging in a phantom battle and refusing to concede defeat.

Ultimately, I re-locked the phone and released a breath.

"Nah... not happening."

Instead, I initiated a call to Kim.

She answered almost instantaneously. "Yellow, this is Kim, Mr. Marlowe speaking."

"Hey, Kim."

"What's up?"

"Did you manage to speak with Emma? Have you received any updates from her?"

"Nope. I sent her a text just about five minutes ago." She let out a scoff. "Have you developed psychic abilities or something?"

"I was just checking in," I replied.

"Mhm."

"If Emma mentions anything about Nala sending photos," I instructed, "you need to call me immediately."

"Will do."

I could hear the distinct sound of keyboard typing from her end for a few seconds.

Then, she spoke again. "Oh, right. What about that camera situation with... wait, what was her name again? The creepy stalker girl?"

"Cora."

"Right, right. Cora."

"Apparently, Jack and Robert have arrived at the house."

Kim gasped in a dramatic fashion. "Oh my god, please tell me they're about to engage in carnal acts like wild animals."

"Kim."

"I'm being serious," she chuckled. "You'll need some quality footage if you intend to properly blackmail the guy."

"Please, vow never to become a criminal mastermind."

"Too late for that."

The traffic light finally transitioned to green. I depressed the accelerator and proceeded down the glistening, wet street.

"So, what's the strategy?" Kim inquired.

"I'm heading to Cora's place first. We'll monitor the feed from there."

"But what if they start getting intimate?"

"Then I'll finally liberate Nala from this predicament."

Kim hummed, considering the possibility.

"You know, for someone who claims indifference towards her, you're taking quite a risk," Kim observed.

I rolled my eyes. "Goodbye, Kim."

"Aww, sensitive."

"I'm ending this call."

"Love you too, Evy."

"Don't call me that."

She let out a loud laugh and disconnected before I could respond.

Shaking my head, I tossed the phone onto the passenger seat, next to the laptop cooler.

Vehicles crawled through the evening congestion, while pedestrians, clutching umbrellas, hurried along the sidewalks. The weather was deteriorating rapidly with each passing moment.

I intensified my grip on the steering wheel.

Come on, Jack. Just be that foolish.

Please, just be foolish enough to make out with your boyfriend right in front of that hidden camera.

⟁ ⟁ ⟁

I knocked and entered the apartment the instant the door swung open, not even pausing to identify my greeter. The warm pizza box was placed on the dining table before I spun around.

Esme was shutting the door, her gaze already fixed on the pizza box as if it were a long-lost paramour. She was clad in an oversized, well-worn gray t-shirt that barely grazed the tops of her thighs. The thin fabric hugged her form, making it apparent she wore no bra, her nipples pressing against the material. Lower down, the shirt's hem had crept up sufficiently to expose her lack of panties. The distinct outline of her vulva was visible, shaping a soft, plump cameltoe. Appearing half-asleep, as was typical, her eyes were heavy-lidded, her hair slightly disheveled, suggesting she had just awakened.

"Mmm... pizza," she murmured, already shuffling towards the box.

"Evan," Cora called out, emerging from the hallway. "I believe they've finally arrived."

"Excellent," I replied, nodding. "Let's watch."