Too late for regrets

"Who's he trying to scare with this 'breaking off the engagement' nonsense? Empty words mean nothing! If he really wanted to end it, why would he have forced me into that ridiculous contract in the first place?"

Lisa hugged the stuffed bear tighter, her mind churning with resentment. That Veil—always putting on a show, but never following through. Just like last time when she'd threatened to call off the engagement, and he'd used his family's influence to trap her in that unfair agreement!

"Let's see what tricks you'll pull next time we meet," she muttered to herself, trying to convince her racing heart that she wasn't opposed to ending things—it was just the way Veil had announced it so casually that rankled. If anyone was going to terminate this arrangement, it should have been her!

"And that other idiot—where did he even come from?" Lisa's brow furrowed as she recalled Roy's unwelcome interference at the Murphy estate. It was only after seeing her talking with Roy that Veil had flown into his dramatic declaration.

Now that she thought about it... could he have been jealous?

Of course! That had to be it. Veil had been obsessed with her for years—he wouldn't just change overnight. This was clearly a jealous outburst.

How ridiculous of him to overreact! As if she'd ever randomly take up with some stranger. Besides, Roy was obviously shady—all fake charm masking some sinister agenda. At least Veil's roguishness was honest by comparison.

Having reasoned this out, Lisa flopped back onto her bed, still clutching the bear, but her mind refused to settle. Just then, her phone rang on the nightstand.

She answered with lightning reflexes—only to hear not Veil's contrite voice, but her mother's urgent tones: "Lisa, what happened between you and Veil? The Lancasters just called saying if you've found someone else, you should feel free to pursue them without worrying about the engagement!"

The words detonated in Lisa's mind like a bomb. She froze, phone clutched in stiff fingers against her ear.

The Lancasters had actually contacted her mother? However politely phrased, this was clearly a withdrawal of the engagement! Veil hadn't been bluffing—he'd genuinely initiated the dissolution, even notifying his family!

How? Why? He was seriously going through with this?

"Lisa, talk to me! Do you really not care for Veil?" Her mother's voice frayed with anxiety. While she'd initially supported the match for political reasons, witnessing Veil's devoted pursuit had won her over completely. After he'd even saved her life during that Veyport City trip by spotting her health crisis, she'd come to adore him as a son-in-law.

The thought of this perfect match unraveling over some petty quarrel made her frantic.

Lisa's grip on the phone turned white-knuckled. "Since when does he get to make unilateral decisions without considering my feelings?" she bit out, eyes stinging. "He can flirt shamelessly, but I'm not allowed a single word of protest?"

Her defiant words rang hollow as tears welled, crystalline droplets trembling on her lashes.

Her mother sighed wearily. "Lisa, I've told you—this is how noble families operate. In Luxhaven, which patriarch doesn't keep mistresses half their granddaughter's age? As long as it's discreet, everyone turns a blind eye. But if you truly can't accept it... then perhaps ending things is for the best. Though I'll always think fondly of Veil."

Perhaps she'd pushed her daughter too hard for the family's sake. At least the Lancasters had been gracious—if Lisa accepted this, they could still remain cordial.

"It wasn't me who wanted to end it!" Lisa blurted suddenly, voice cracking. "Veil decided everything on his own!"

A pause. Then her mother's shocked realization: "Lisa... do you actually have feelings for him? Then why on earth were you fighting?!"

"I—I don't know!" Lisa's breath hitched, the admission sending an icy wave through her body. Her bare legs beneath the sheets turned to marble, cold creeping upward until her entire frame shuddered.

All her usual sharp retorts deserted her. For the first time, her quick wit failed, leaving only a hollow ache at the thought of Veil walking away forever.

The conversation stretched late into the night before hospital staff interrupted. Alone again, Lisa tossed restlessly until her fingers brushed damp pillowcase.

Tears? She was crying?

The realization stunned her. Had she truly fallen for Veil without realizing? Now she was expected to chase after him? She'd never pursued anyone in her life—never even felt this flustered before!

Anguish, regret, and a dozen other emotions churned inside her as the endless night wore on. Each time she closed her eyes, Veil's resolute declaration echoed anew, until her tears had soaked clear through the pillow.

---

Meanwhile, Veil was having the time of his life.

His system notifications chimed incessantly:

"Ding! Female lead Julia has severed ties with the protagonist. +20,000 villain points."

"Ding! Female lead Jodie has developed rift with protagonist. +10,000 villain points."

"Ding! Protagonist Roy's luck has decreased by 200. +20,000 villain points."

[...]

"Ding! Female lead Lisa has broken with protagonist. +20,000 villain points."

The windfall was staggering. Originally holding just over 100,000 points after Jodie's contribution, this single encounter with Roy had doubled his reserves to 215,300!

The system store glittered with options:

[Constitution Booster: 1,500 points]

[Basic Firearms Proficiency: 1,000 points]

[Advanced Firearms Mastery: 100,000 points]

[Disguise Art: 50,000 points]

[Stamina Enhancer: 1,000 points]

Each entry expanded with detailed descriptions. The basic firearms skill covered fundamentals, while the advanced version promised marksmanship rivaling special forces—though at six figures, it could wait. Domestic gun laws made it less urgent anyway.

But the Constitution Booster? Now that made Veil's eyes gleam with possibilities.

As he scanned the options, a sly smile crept across his face. This was just the beginning. With Roy around, he'd have no shortage of opportunities to rack up even more points. The so-called "protagonist" was practically a walking ATM for villainy.

Veil leaned back, savoring the moment. Life as a villain had never been more rewarding.

---

Lisa, on the other hand, was a mess. The weight of her emotions pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe. She clutched the bear tighter, as if it could somehow anchor her swirling thoughts.

"Maybe... maybe I should call him," she whispered to herself, though the idea terrified her. What would she even say?

Her pride warred with her heart, leaving her paralyzed. The thought of Veil moving on, of him being with someone else, sent a fresh wave of panic through her.

But what could she do? She'd never been the one to chase after anyone. The idea of humbling herself, of admitting her feelings, felt like an insurmountable hurdle.

As the hours dragged on, Lisa's resolve wavered. By dawn, she was exhausted, her eyes puffy from crying, her mind a tangled web of regret and longing.

Unbeknownst to her, Veil was already plotting his next move, his grin widening as he envisioned the chaos he could unleash.

For Lisa, the night had been a torment. For Veil, it was just another step toward his ultimate goal.

And so, the game continued—one player drowning in doubt, the other reveling in triumph.

Now this was the good stuff. Veil had seen it in the beginner's gift pack before—no limits, no restrictions. Just pop one pill, and your constitution would improve by a single point.

Sure, his current constitution was already over 100, a few points higher than Roy's. But what if that wasn't enough?

Roy had been a mercenary captain overseas, forged in the crucible of gunfire and bloodshed. Even now, with Veil's relentless pressure, the guy wasn't going down easily. And as their paths continued to cross, Veil knew he'd keep squeezing Roy for all he was worth. A deadly feud was inevitable.

The thought of Roy coming after him in the shadows made Veil uneasy. A mere few points of advantage in constitution? That wasn't nearly enough to feel secure.

Veil wasn't about to take such a massive risk. With a wave of his hand, he spent 150,000 villain points to buy 100 constitution-boosting pills.

As the points drained from his account, a hundred dark green pills materialized in his system inventory. Veil grabbed a handful and popped them into his mouth like candy.

By the time he finished all 100 pills, his constitution would break through to 200 points. In a one-on-one fight, his odds of winning would skyrocket to 98%.

But 98%? That still left a 2% chance of failure—and for Veil, that was way too high. He hadn't crossed over into this world to gamble his life away. He was here to dominate, to live the high life, not to risk everything just to take down Roy.

"Looks like I'll need to keep Roy busy with some distractions," Veil muttered, already scheming to pit Roy against a convenient scapegoat.

As for himself? He'd stay in the shadows, biding his time until Roy and his new enemy had worn each other down. Then, he'd swoop in and clean up the mess. Perfect.

With that settled, Veil spent another 50,000 villain points to acquire the essential skill of disguise—a must-have for any master of deception.

System Panel:

[Name]: Veil Lancaster

[Age]: 25

[Constitution]: 108

[Charm]: 99

[Villain Points]: 15,300

[Skills]: Affinity LV8 (Group Affinity +80), Advanced Piano, Advanced Tea Art, Advanced Aesthetics, Disguise.

[System Store]: Open

[Lottery Center]: Open (100 Villain Points per draw)

[System Inventory]: Photo Album x1, Electric Massager x1 (Worn)…

Veil winced as he looked at the drastically reduced villain points. To soothe his pain, he popped another constitution pill, the bitter taste grounding him.

Meanwhile, his mind raced, searching for the perfect patsy to throw into Roy's path.

Then, it hit him.

Kosdy Murphy—the cunning, old fox—flashed into his mind.

How could he have forgotten about Kosdy?

The man was a traditionalist, obsessed with carrying on his family line. He'd known Roy for years, and more importantly, he had a soft spot for his illegitimate son—a weakness Veil could exploit.

Veil summoned Kai to his room and issued a stern order: "Roy's just arrived in Veyport City. Keep a close eye on him. I want every detail of his daily activities reported to me."

Kai hesitated, his expression troubled. "Boss, that guy's no ordinary target. He's incredibly skilled—even I wouldn't stand a chance against him. Tonight, two of our guys tried tailing him and ended up with broken ribs. He's got insane situational awareness and counter-surveillance skills."

It wasn't that Kai was afraid. He'd follow Veil's orders to the letter, even if it cost him his life. But he was terrified of failing his boss, of botching the mission beyond repair.

"Give the injured men 200,000 each and cover all their medical expenses," Veil said calmly. "I won't let those who work for me suffer."

After a moment's thought, he added, "As for the surveillance, keep your distance but don't give up. Try recruiting some locals—ordinary people who live nearby. Pay them to keep an eye on Roy. I need to know his every move."

Managing subordinates wasn't about oppression; it was about control. You couldn't expect loyalty without reward.

"Understood," Kai replied firmly, his fists clenched in determination.

It was clear Veil took Roy very seriously. If it came down to it, Kai would handle the surveillance himself. Even if he couldn't take Roy in a fight, he was confident he could tail him without being detected.

Veil popped another pill into his mouth, savoring the bitter taste. "By the way, how's Kosdy Murphy's illegitimate son doing these days?"

A sly smile spread across his face as he turned to Kai. "What do you think would happen if Kosdy found out someone had messed with his precious son?"

Kai didn't hesitate. "He'd lose his mind. From what we've observed, Kosdy's been in frequent contact with the kid lately. He's downright indulgent—borderline obsessive."

A traditionalist like Kosdy valued his legacy above all else. In his eyes, his two daughters combined probably didn't hold a candle to that one son.

Veil's grin widened. Perfect.

Kosdy Murphy was about to become Roy's worst nightmare—and Veil would be pulling the strings from the shadows.

.....

As Veil leaned back, his mind buzzing with schemes, he couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction.

This was what it meant to be a true villain—to manipulate, to control, to outthink your enemies at every turn.

And with Roy and Kosdy on a collision course, Veil was about to witness the fireworks.

All he had to do was sit back, enjoy the show, and wait for the perfect moment to strike.

Life as a villain had never been more exhilarating.