chapter 130 toying cute mist

As Frost Eye pocketed another pouch of silver, he flicked his wrist, pulling up his friend list. His eyes scanned the names, stopping at one in particular. A smirk tugged at his lips as he tapped on it.

—Calling: Cute Mist—

A soft chime rang in his ears, followed by a smooth, confident voice.

> Cute Mist: "Oh my, if it isn't my favorite disaster. Calling me already? I was starting to think you'd avoid me after all the trouble I sent your way."

Frost Eye chuckled, his fingers absentmindedly flipping a gold coin.

> Frost Eye: "Avoid you? Mist, please. You sent an entire army to kill me, and I'm still here. That means you owe me a favor."

> Cute Mist (mock surprise): "Oh? But I thought I was just an innocent bystander. How could I possibly know Dark Solution would throw themselves at you?"

Both of them knew the truth.

Cute Mist had manipulated Dark Solution into attacking Frost Eye. Whispered the right words, pushed the right buttons. She had fed them just enough half-truths to convince them that killing him would benefit them.

And Frost Eye?

He had known from the start.

He knew she was the one pulling the strings. Knew that Dark Solution was nothing more than her disposable pawn.

Yet, despite the deception, neither of them cared.

Because this wasn't a betrayal.

This was a game between them.

> Frost Eye (grinning): "Come on, Mist. At least pretend to be sorry for setting me up."

> Cute Mist (laughing softly): "Oh, but you enjoyed it, didn't you? A whole army, hunting you like prey. And look at you now—standing on their corpses, counting your gold."

She wasn't wrong.

> Frost Eye: "I admit, it was entertaining. But let's get one thing straight—you knew I'd survive."

> Cute Mist (playful): "And you knew I was the one behind it."

Silence.

Then, they both laughed.

A twisted understanding between two masters of deception.

> Cute Mist: "So? What now? Are you calling to threaten me? Swear revenge?"

> Frost Eye (grinning): "Mist, Mist, Mist… you wound me. I'd never hold a grudge against such a beautiful schemer."

> Cute Mist: "Flattery? Oh dear, you must want something."

> Frost Eye: "I do. And you're going to help me."

Her laughter was soft, dangerous.

> Cute Mist: "Alright, Frost. Tell me what you want."

As their laughter faded, Frost Eye leaned against a broken banner pole, flipping a gold coin between his fingers. The battlefield around him was silent now—only the occasional flicker of firelight against the corpses remained.

He grinned, letting his voice drip with amusement.

> Frost Eye: "You know, Mist, for someone who likes playing puppet master, you sure are missing something important."

> Cute Mist (curious): "Oh? And what might that be?"

> Frost Eye (mock sighing): "Tch. Such a tragedy. Such a loss. Truly, my heart aches for you…"

> Cute Mist: "…Frost."

Her tone sharpened.

Frost Eye's grin widened.

> Frost Eye: "I mean, here you are—vice guild leader of Rainbow Solutions, a first-rate guild, feared and respected… but still as flat as a wooden training dummy."

The silence was deafening.

Then—

> Cute Mist (sweetly murderous): "Oh? Repeat that for me?"

Frost Eye snickered.

> Frost Eye: "Ah, but I must be mistaken! Surely, someone as devious as you wouldn't be cursed with such a tragically flat—"

> Cute Mist: "FROST!"

Frost Eye burst out laughing.

> Frost Eye: "Oh, come on, Mist! I'm just worried about you. With that kind of malnutrition, are you even getting enough vitamins?"

> Cute Mist: "…Frost. I swear on everything in this game, I will make you regret those words."

> Frost Eye (mock fear): "Oh no, whatever shall I do? The mighty Flat-chested Mist-chan has declared war!"

The sound of teeth grinding came through the voice chat.

> Cute Mist: "You—"

> Frost Eye: "Careful now. You wouldn't want to waste all that rage over something you don't have, right?"

> Cute Mist: "Frost Eye."

> Frost Eye: "Yeeees?"

> Cute Mist: "I'm going to kill you."

Frost Eye grinned, unbothered.

> Frost Eye: "You already tried. And look how well that turned out."

Silence.

Then, her voice dropped to a dangerously soft whisper.

> Cute Mist: "Enjoy your little victory, Frost. But remember—I don't forget insults."

> Frost Eye (chuckling): "And I don't forget fun."

The call cut off.

Frost Eye flicked the gold coin into the air, catching it effortlessly.

> Frost Eye (grinning): "That was fun."

As the call connected, Cute Mist sat in her private chamber within Rainbow Solutions' Guild Hall, her fingers resting lightly on the edge of her ornate chair. The dim glow of magical lanterns bathed the room in a soft golden hue, but she barely noticed. Her mind was a storm.

She had expected Dark Solution to wipe that arrogant bastard Frost Eye off the map. She had manipulated them perfectly, feeding their leaders the right information, poking at their wounded pride. It should have been a flawless execution—they had the numbers, the terrain advantage, and the thirst for revenge.

Yet… they lost.

Because of him.

Because of Frost Eye.

The very thought made her nails dig into her palm, a sharp sting grounding her rage.

She loathed him.

A trickster. A ghost. A man who defied expectations just to laugh at them.

Her mind replayed the reports she had received—how he turned K into a human shield, how he weaved through chaos like an untouchable phantom, and how, in the end, even Sophie had fallen.

It was absurd.

It was infuriating.

And yet… it was fascinating.

She hated herself for even acknowledging that part. But there was something undeniably dangerous about Frost Eye.

Something that made him impossible to ignore.

And now, he was calling.

Her fingers hovered over the accept button. Her heartbeat was steady, but her emotions weren't.

Would he gloat? Mock her? Perhaps spin another one of his games?

Her jaw tightened.

Fine.

She would listen.

She tapped the button.

⟪ Call Connected ⟫

> Cute Mist (coldly): "What."

And there it was. That chuckling voice. That insufferable tone dripping with amusement.

> Frost Eye: "Oh, come now, Mist-chan, still upset? I thought you were tougher than that. Or did my words hit a soft spot?"

Her breath hitched for a fraction of a second—a small, barely perceptible pause.

But he would notice.

He always noticed.

Rage boiled inside her chest, but she refused to let it show. Instead, she channeled it into something sharper. Colder.

> Cute Mist: "I will kill you, Frost. Slowly. Painfully."

Her voice was calm, but her grip on the chair tightened.

And that bastard laughed.

> Frost Eye: "Oh, Flat-Chested-chan, you forgot something."

Her eye twitched.

That. Damn. Nickname.

She hated it. Not because she cared about what he was implying, but because he knew it got a reaction out of her.

She took a slow breath.

> Cute Mist: "…What."

Another chuckle.

> Frost Eye: "I actually wanted to make a deal. One you might just like."

Her lips parted slightly before she stopped herself.

A deal?

With him?

She should say no. She should cut the call and order another raid on his head.

Yet…

Her curiosity flickered.

Just for a moment.

She exhaled through her nose, forcing her heartbeat back into its usual, steady rhythm.

> Cute Mist (deadpan): "…Talk."

She would hear him out.

But the moment he said something stupid, she would end this conversation.

And then?

She would bury him.