Chapter 28: Mary & Lula

He rose to his feet and shrugged toward the living room to check the emergency camera. He lazily turned on the camera and stared—but it turned out to be someone he wasn't expecting to see.

Displayed on the emergency CCTV camera screen was Mary.

"How the hell did she find where I lived?"

Even while they were dating, he was sure never to disclose this place to her or anyone—no matter how close to him they were.

He stared at the screen for a while, watching her tap the doorbell button multiple times.

"Fine, but I'll just have to be careful with my words."

He went back into his room and grabbed his clothes. He wore them as he struggled his way out of the living room, right before opening the door.

He glanced back to make sure everything was arranged before he opened the door and stared out like he didn't know who it was.

"Oh, it's you."

He walked up to the gate but didn't open it yet.

"What are you here for and how did you find this location?"

She stared at him weirdly.

"Aren't you gonna open the gates first, though?"

"Give me a valid reason, then I will," he responded blatantly.

"For real?... fine. I'm here to discuss something important."

"And the subject of importance is?"

"It's something that relates to you having possible income from the discussion," she sighed, straightening her posture properly.

He stared at her for a while, but the thought of money...

"Alright, but you didn't answer my first question though. How did you find this location?"

She hesitated, before she opened up.

"Alright, I followed you yesterday, after you were done talking with that strange lady at the office."

He raised his eyebrows.

"Strange lady?"

"Yeah, I checked her logs and her name is Jin Moore or something."

His expression hardened a bit.

"So now you eavesdrop on people? Can't I live a normal life without you interrupting?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. I just wanted to know if you two were dating."

He sighed before he walked up to the security panel on the gate and typed in some codes, a retinal scan, and a face scan before the gates slid open, just enough for her to pass through.

He also activated the metal detector for security reasons, and she was all clear when she went through.

He didn't fully trust her yet, but that wasn't enough not to hear what she had to say—especially when it involved money-related offers.

"Alright, you get this one chance. Do not mess this up or this might be your last conversation with me."

She smiled happily.

"I'll be sure not to mess things up."

He rolled the gates closed and activated the security system in case of intruders.

"Prevention is better than survival of the fittest—in which I'm too lazy to fight."

She walked into his lounge and gasped. Though it wasn't big like a normal house, it was still astonishing, with intricate models and designs—some of which were yet to be brought out to the world.

"I can't believe you live here all by yourself."

He shut the door and turned to her sarcastically.

"Who else am I supposed to be living in here with?"

She didn't answer. She just kept admiring the place.

"Alright, enough of that. Let's get straight to the point of why you're here so we can get on with it."

Her mood changed with his sentence, and she fixed her outfit before she sat down on the sofa.

He didn't offer her anything, and he didn't really bother about it. If she was planning to come here, she should have thought of carrying what she needed along with her.

He sat on the couch diagonally to her.

"So, what's this discussion you spoke about that gives me a possibility of earning from it?"

She sat properly, leaning forward a bit as she adjusted her skirt.

"Well, it wouldn't have been easy for you to buy NetVigil, but yet you did."

"Okay, how does that have to do with the discussion?"

"How it relates? Well, it takes someone with money to invest and revive a company fully on his own, and you just did that."

"So I have a proposal."

She cleared her throat properly for the main speech.

"I have a friend named Luna, who runs a nightclub and a casino, and she's in serious need of anyone who could lend her $200,000 for her business."

Liam was understanding what she was saying until she spelt out $200k—and she immediately lost him from there.

Who does this girl think I am, really? Some secret multimillionaire who decided to live in a small lounge and have a simple life?

"So, what do you say? You in?"

Liam stared at her for a long while, not knowing what to say next. He didn't have up to that amount, and whatever she just proposed didn't actually inform him how he's earning from the investment.

"So... where's my profit from this?"

"Right, I forgot to add that. I'll speak with her, and for lending her that huge sum of money, I think she'll be willing to give you 15% share in each of her businesses—making it 30% in total."

Liam leaned back in the couch and dropped his elbows on the handles, with his palms folding across his face.

"I don't deal with think. I need a certification of that proposal before I can validate it. Until then, your proposal is invalid and needs rethinking."

"Go home and speak with her. When you both come to a real conclusion, then I'll be willing to actually invest."

Then he stood up, gesturing for her to stand up as well, since their meet-up was over.

"But I'll speak with her if you agree," she tried to convince him as he directed her toward the door.

"You can speak with her before I agree, that's a better approach. Thank you."

She sighed, then stopped him midway.

"Don't bother, I can walk on my own."

"I can't believe you couldn't do this small thing for me."

He remained silent as he watched her open the door and walk over. He followed her behind, making sure she left the premises before he went back into his lounge, locked the gates, and turned off the security system.

"And I thought she was good in business... I should find a replacement for her soon."

As he landed on the couch cushion to rest, a system notification buzzed on the phone.

He sluggishly stood up and went to pick up the phone to check the notification.

When he swiped open the phone, the notification read:

『SYSTEM EVOLUTION NOTICE』

[Current Role: Pawn

Evolution Candidate: Bishop]

"A Pawn walks straight, but a Bishop moves diagonally—cutting across the board, unseen."

Analyzing path…

Cunning detected. Strategic deviation logged. Influence rising beyond initial design.

— 4 key figures influenced

— Emotional control: Subtle / Manipulative

— Network reach: Mid-tier / Underworld

Access Granted

«BISHOP CLASS UNLOCKED»

» Role Perk: Veiled Authority

Exert control indirectly. Influence increases when acting from the shadows or using intermediaries.

» Passive: Diagonal Control

+30% success rate when resolving conflicts through misdirection, seduction, blackmail, or psychological leverage.

Warnings:

– Actions will become harder to trace, but harder to justify.

– Allies may grow suspicious.

– Moral ambiguity intensifies.

– Lower pieces may no longer trust your true motives.

Bonus Granted Upon Acceptance:

→ +$500,000 [Source: System-sanctioned Manipulation Pool]

Funds transferred instantly. Use with discretion.

Do you accept the evolution?

[YES] — Step off the straight path. Begin the diagonal game.

[NO] — Remain a Pawn, for now.