Chapter 2.8

Joey narrowed his eyes as the system's voice echoed in his mind, the familiar but oddly subdued tone making something stir in his chest.

"You never replied to me since coming to this world," he repeated, his fingers tightening slightly around his fork.

The system hesitated for a fraction too long before responding, its voice carefully neutral. "I observed that you were managing well on your own. It would have been inefficient to interfere unnecessarily, so I preserved my energy."

Joey's brows furrowed. "That doesn't sound like you. You always nag me about focusing on the mission."

"You are more capable than you think, host." The system's voice was smooth, but there was something... off.

Joey exhaled, shaking off the unease. Maybe he was overthinking things. But before he could respond, the system added in a quieter tone, "Besides, I was watching over you."

The words were simple, but for some reason, Joey's heart skipped a beat. His fingers stilled.

That phrasing... it was strangely familiar.

Almost like—

No. That was ridiculous. Just a coincidence.

He forced himself to push the thought aside, instead focusing on the grand banquet hall around him. The golden chandeliers cast a warm glow over the elegant guests, the low hum of conversation mixing with the faint clinking of glasses.

And then, a voice cut through the air like silk wrapped around steel.

"I thought you'd be sulking in some corner."

Joey looked up just in time to see Ivonne sliding into the seat beside him, her movements elegant yet deliberately provocative. She rested her chin on her hand, dark eyes gleaming with amusement.

"I must say, Joey, it's quite refreshing to see you behaving for once," she continued, voice laced with honeyed mockery. "Though, I suppose with Ethan here, you wouldn't dare act up."

Joey smirked, unfazed. "Ivonne, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were worried about me."

She let out a soft laugh, tilting her head. "Should I be?"

"You tell me," Joey replied smoothly, leaning back.

Ivonne's gaze flickered to Ethan, who was watching their exchange with a neutral expression. Her lips curled as she turned back to Joey. "You seem... different lately. Less reckless. More calculating."

Joey arched a brow. "Should I take that as a compliment?"

"Perhaps," she mused, trailing a finger along the rim of her glass. "But I can't help but wonder… is this really you?"

Her words were light, teasing even, but Joey wasn't naive. She was testing him.

He gave her an easy smile. "Who else would I be?"

Ivonne held his gaze for a moment longer before laughing softly. "Indeed."

But Joey didn't miss the way her fingers subtly tightened around her glass, nor the way her gaze lingered on him—calculating, curious.

It seemed she wasn't convinced just yet.

Joey met Ivonne's gaze head-on, offering an easy smile as if he hadn't noticed her subtle scrutiny. She held his eyes for a beat longer before returning to her refined, pleasant expression.

"I must say, you've changed quite a bit," she mused, swirling the wine in her glass. "It's… refreshing."

Joey leaned back, tilting his head slightly. "You make it sound like I was unbearable before."

Ivonne's soft laughter was like the chime of delicate wind bells—graceful, yet entirely orchestrated. "Oh, I wouldn't say unbearable. Just… different."

She turned to Ethan, her smile deepening. "You must be pleased, Ethan. Joey seems more composed these days."

Ethan's gaze flickered toward her, unreadable as ever. "People change."

Joey resisted the urge to smirk. How interesting.

Ivonne wasn't just testing him—she was watching how Ethan reacted to him.

And Ethan, whether he realized it or not, had given away more than he intended.

Ivonne took a slow sip of her wine before setting the glass down with delicate precision. "Still, it's strange. Someone like you, suddenly turning over a new leaf… It almost feels like you're playing a role."

Joey's fingers drummed lazily against the table. "Maybe I just got tired of the old script."

Her eyes narrowed just slightly. "Or maybe," she murmured, "you found a new one to follow."

Before Joey could respond, a commotion near the entrance broke the air of polite tension. A waiter, flustered and apologetic, hurried forward as a man stepped into the banquet hall—his presence commanding enough to draw attention.

Joey's eyes sharpened. He didn't recognize this person.

But judging by the shift in atmosphere—and the way Ethan's expression darkened ever so slightly—whoever he was, his arrival wasn't a common thing.

Tall and sharp-featured, he carried himself with an easy confidence, his dark suit tailored perfectly to his lean frame. But what stood out the most was his gaze—keen, focused, and locked directly on Joey.Like a cunning predator looking at its mischievous prey who thinks it can fool the predator.