System X: The Villain Rise

With full awareness and caution, Kaiza stepped out of the car, less concerned about how the system had managed to unlock it. Did it deactivate the security device? Or destroy it entirely?

He didn't have answers to these questions until he observed the car door shutting on its own. A faint seal began to form over the door frame, almost invisible at first. As it spread, a soft clinking sound accompanied by subtle movements made the seal visible to Kaiza's keen eyes—only fully revealing itself once the seal was complete.

Kaiza walked away from the car, trying to trace where the man had gone. He couldn't pinpoint the exact destination but was certain of one thing.

"He went in that direction," he muttered, turning toward the rear of the car. He had seen the man walking away through the back windshield—right before it blurred out of focus.

Without wasting any more time, Kaiza began heading in that direction.

"Where are you going?"

A deep, commanding voice stopped him in his tracks, making him flinch slightly. He froze, his shock deepening when he realized who it was. The voice was unmistakable—fresh and familiar in his ears.

"Luson?" Kaiza's eyes widened in disbelief. The man stood behind him, as if appearing out of nowhere. He was supposed to be coming from the opposite direction, not here. And he couldn't believe Luson had returned so quickly. It had only been a few minutes since he left.

Kaiza studied him carefully, glancing from head to toe to confirm if it was truly him.

"He's the one," Kaiza thought, his suspicions confirmed. The man's face remained hidden behind the mask, but Kaiza recognized him from his eyes—and his voice.

"But why is he back so soon?" Kaiza murmured, his gaze locked with the man's. Luson stared back, though with less intensity, almost as if testing him.

Unbeknownst to Kaiza, the two were locked in a silent stare contest. It wasn't until Kaiza's eyes drifted downward that he noticed something unusual.

"Bloodstains," Kaiza whispered, his focus narrowing on the crimson smear. "He was in a fight... but how? It's only been five minutes." The realization sent a wave of disbelief through him.

"You managed to get out of the car?" Luson's voice broke through Kaiza's thoughts, snapping him back to reality. "What's your secret?" he added, his tone sharp and probing.

Kaiza froze, dumbstruck. He had no idea what to say or how to react. The weight of Luson's words pinned him in place.

"You're not answering?" Luson pressed, his suspicion deepening. He was certain Kaiza was hiding something. Nothing should have gone wrong with the security device. Luson had designed and planted it himself, confident enough to bet his life on its reliability.

The double shield he had installed was nearly impenetrable, far more advanced than the standard single-layer setup. And the blurred windows? That was no glitch—it was a deliberate safety measure triggered the moment the device was activated.

Yet somehow, Kaiza had escaped.

Kaiza remained silent, carefully maintaining his composure. He needed to think before speaking—one slip of the tongue, one stammer, and Luson would instantly know he was hiding something. Something he intended to keep secret.

"Blood," Kaiza finally said, his voice louder this time, ensuring Luson could hear.

"That doesn't answer my question, boy," Luson replied almost immediately, his tone sharp. "Are you injured?"

Kaiza shook his head slightly, but Luson cut him off before he could respond further.

"Don't be surprised by the blood. I went to kill," Luson said bluntly. "Now answer my question."

Kaiza hesitated for a moment before responding, his mind racing. "I used a Lon Shan," he finally said, keeping his voice steady.

"Oh," Luson mouthed, his expression softening slightly. Without another word, he turned and walked toward the driver's seat.

A Lon Shan—a one-time deactivation device.

Kaiza had read about it before and even seen seniors use it back in high school. As he stood there, his thoughts churned. He had been stalling, hoping to avoid answering Luson's question outright. Yet, at the same time, he needed a plausible explanation to convince him, even if it wasn't entirely true.

Kaiza knew Luson wouldn't believe him if he told him outright that he had unlocked the door using a system. Besides, he wasn't ready to jump to conclusions yet. He needed more time to understand the system and its capabilities.

More importantly, he couldn't trust Luson with this secret—not yet. Kaiza was well aware of the state of the world, a world where survival hinged on one unbreakable rule. Trust no one.

Everyone was a hunter, relentlessly seeking power from any source to protect themselves. Kaiza wasn't about to hand over his advantage so easily.

Without another word, he joined Luson in the car. The man started the engine and drove off in silence.

They arrived at the hospital in just under an hour—more than thirty minutes, but less than sixty.

"Kaiza, I'm responsible for whatever happens to you. I'm just trying to get my job done," Luson said firmly, his gaze unwavering.

"I wasn't trying to get off," Kaiza replied, keeping his voice calm. "I only wanted to test Lon Shan."

"All I'm asking for is your obedience to my instructions. That's the only way we'll both stay safe."

Kaiza nodded. "I will."

"Good. Let's head in."

A short while later, the two stepped into the elevator. They were alone, the soft hum of the machinery filling the silence.

"Do you know who I am?" Luson asked suddenly, breaking the stillness.

"My bodyguard," Kaiza replied without much thought.

Luson's lips curved slightly, though his expression remained serious. "I am Agent Luson, from the APSA. Do you know what that is?"

"APSA!" Kaiza exclaimed, his voice betraying a mix of surprise and certainty. He was well aware of the acronym.

APSA: Altic Personal Security Agent. As the name implied, it was a private security organization tasked with protecting the lives and property of its clients. But APSA wasn't just any regular private security firm. It was known for its strict rules, precise orders, and unyielding regulations. Their agents were elite, operating with precision and efficiency, and failure was not an option in their line of work.

From what Kaiza had read about APSA—through articles, news, and research—it was clear the organization operated under extreme pressure. Officers who failed in their duties were either executed or compelled to take their own lives. It was a risky profession, but one the world desperately needed now more than ever. APSA agents were not only skilled individuals but also powerful ability users with exceptional physical and mental strength.

At one point, Kaiza had dreamt of becoming one of them. But lately, his mindset had begun to shift, those aspirations slowly fading away.

Now, standing before Agent Luson, Kaiza felt a mix of emotions. He was overjoyed by two thoughts: first, he could learn from someone as skilled as Luson; and second, his life was undoubtedly safer with an APSA agent by his side.

But one question gnawed at him—who hired Luson to protect me? He had no answer.

Kaiza's thoughts drifted back to the incident by the car. Luson's identity as an APSA agent only made the event more believable. He recalled how swiftly Luson had left to eliminate the threats against his life—disappearing within seconds and returning just minutes later.

But how had he done it? How fast did someone have to be to take down an unknown number of enemies so quickly? And more importantly, how many were there?

Kaiza couldn't wrap his head around it. The more he thought about it, the more questions surfaced.

"So…" Kaiza was pulled from his train of thought as Luson spoke. The man's voice carried a strange mix of friendliness and warning. "I want you to cooperate with me, so neither of us gets hurt or harmed," he said, his tone unsettling. The words sent an involuntary shiver down Kaiza's spine.

"APSA! Who hired you to protect me?" Kaiza asked, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. His gaze locked on Luson, unwavering.

"I have no idea," Luson replied with a shrug. "If I had to guess, I'd say your uncle." He paused briefly, his eyes darting toward the elevator as its doors creaked open.

In one fluid motion, Luson stepped forward, his posture angled in such a way that his body shielded Kaiza entirely. His sharp gaze swept the hallway, scanning for potential threats. Once satisfied there was none, he straightened and turned back to Kaiza.

"You might want to ask your uncle for answers. Let's move," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Kaiza only nodded, still dumbstruck and in a daze, puzzled over who could have hired him a bodyguard. Despite his confusion, he didn't hesitate to obey Luson's order, following closely behind him.

Later that evening, Will arrived and was informed by the doctor that he and his nephew were officially discharged. They were free to leave the hospital at their discretion.

Will turned to Luson, consulting him on whether they should leave that evening or wait until morning.

After considering the situation and the incident at the cemetery, Luson decided it was best to leave that night. His decision was backed by two reasons:

First, having just dealt with the attackers who were after Kaiza, he believed they would lie low for a while before launching another assault. Second, leaving under the cover of night would allow them to move discreetly, avoiding attention and keeping their departure under wraps.

With this, Will agreed, though a seed of doubt lingered within him. He was still wary, unsure if he could fully trust Luson just yet.

Despite his fears, he wasted no time making arrangements to leave the city immediately. Acting quickly, he booked a flight, ensuring everything was set in motion. Within a few hours, they left the hospital, ready to start their journey to safety.