The Young Master in the Shadows

Chapter 539: The Fallen

“I am surprised you no longer get tense around Caspian!” Serina suddenly said, eyeing her disciple Alice, who was leaning to the side, watching the scenery below from her seat in the luxurious helicopter. 

“Let’s just say, I got over him…” Alice said, not explaining. Since she was no longer a virgin, Caspian would have no way to force a marriage! She should have done that from the start, but she never found the right guy, and she was not going to give herself to just anyone; that’s why she created the entire scam with those burly men. “...” she sighed, wondering what happened to that guy Yulian. Although she had long decided to forget about him, considering what happened back then a one-night affair, she couldn’t keep him off her mind. She ordered a few private investigators to look into him, but it was as if he disappeared into thin air!

“Got over him with a hunk as I always advised?” Serina asked, making Aerith, who sat on the other side, turn from her window to look between Alice and her grandmother. 

“...” Alice blushed. “Kinda…”

“Is that hunk named Yulian, by the way?” Serina asked out of nowhere. This question was the reason she raised this subject in the first place!

“... Wait… Did you…” Alice frowned. Was her master spying on her?

“No, I haven’t been spying on you… An hour before we left, this arrived, and I just didn’t get the time to ask you about it!” Serina said, fetching a torn-open envelope from her sleeve and placing it in front of Disciple.

Alice grabbed it immediately, unfolding the gilded paper inside it to read.

“...” Serina smiled and watched. Aerith, to the side, also peered curiously.

“...” Alice read it, with her expression getting more and more shocked until she reached the last sentence.

... AND SO, THE VON KRONE FAMILY WOULD BE HONORED TO ASK FOR MISS ALICE VON WEISEʼS HAND IN MARRIAGE TO BE WED AS THE MAIN WIFE TO THEIR HEIR, YULIAN VON KRONE! 

WE SINCERELY AWAIT YOUR HONORED REPLY.

CATALIA OLDBLUE && AARON VON KRONE

THE GROOM’S PARENTS

“Hssssssssssssss……….” Alice finally gasped.

“So…”

“THAT BASTARD!” Alice hissed as she glared at the letter with hate.

“... Don’t blame him; his familyʼs rules really forbid anyone from disclosing his identity!” Serina explained. “The von Krone family has this thing about making their heirs go through a ritual where they have to be poor for a few years…”

“It is not that… The bastard had the audacity to take that… That bedsheet….” Alice blushed, biting her lip as she crumbled the letter with her hand. That bastard also had the audacity to mention this to his parents!

“...” Serina raised one eyebrow; this was the first time she saw her disciple act this bashfully. “You can’t blame him for that either; he must have planned to marry you since that moment… Their family, like yours, has many rules, also… His mother is a kinda pain in the assr… I bet he took the sheets to confront her, knowing the rumors around you, she would have never agreed!” Serina said. She met Catalia years ago in a dungeon raid. That woman was a bitch with some issues.

“Master… You…” Alice frowned, looking at Serina. Was her master defending them?

“Yes, I really like this proposal! Aaron is a good guy… He was a named disciple here at this sect when he was young, you know, I used to spank his little butt all the time…” Serina said, shaking her head. “Who could have imagined that the naughty boy back then would go and marry Catalia Oldblue, that bitch… I heard she saved his life or something…” she sighed.

“...”

“Look at me, reminiscing about old times… I am really getting old!” Serina sighed as she checked her newly done nails, reminding herself that she was immortal. “Well, at the end of the day, the decision is yours, Alice, of course… But here is some advice… Accept that offer!” she said directly, turning to eye her disciple.

“...” Alice frowned.

“...”

RING… RING… WHIP THEM… RING… SPANK THEM….  RING…. POWERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR….

Alice’s phone began to ring with its signature metal music ringtone.

She shot her master an apologetic look before answering; it was her mother!

“Alice! Why didn’t you tell me that Yulian was proposing! Why didn’t he come in person….” Elena began to barrage her daughter with a ton of questions.

“Eh…. Hi mom…..” Alice could only answer nervously before beginning to answer her naggy mother’s questions using some hastily fabricated lies.

***

It was just before sunset when the masked young man sat waiting at a table outside the inn down the mountain. He was sipping some low-quality ʼappropriately priced’ beer while slowly eyeing the pedestrians.

This small town, built by the Heavenly sect, was not that prosperous, but it was not without Visitors. In fact, most, if not all, of the people who came here were players who came for business.

Some wanted to carry favor with someone from the Heavenly sect or try to join, some had things to trade, and others were participating in the missions that the Sect usually distributed to the public.

The young man had no idea this place existed until a few months ago when he was brought here. The Players world was really far grander and more complex than anything he ever expected. “...” he sighed as he kept his eyes down the road. “System… Are you sure they are here?”

YES, THIS SYSTEM MIGHT BE A LITTLE WHIMSICAL, BUT IT NEVER LIES, HOST!
ARE YOU POSITIVE YOU WANT TO SCAM NOVA THOUGH? IF SHE WERE TO DISCOVER YOUR LIES, SHE WOULD NEVER FORGIVE YOU!

“I am just going to show her Caspian’s real face!” he spat. “Are they here yet?”

THEY WILL APPEAR ANY MOMENT NOW…  LOOK, THEY ARE THERE!
Just as the system answered, 4 travel-worn hooded figures could be seen walking warily while looking around. 

Tom could tell that the four of them were girls, and he could immediately recognize one of them. She was the girl he had been disguising as for more than a couple of months. Nova Von Astrom!

He quickly stood up and walked toward them, and just as he was about to make contact…

BEEEEEEEP!
WARNING! ANOTHER SYSTEM USER WAS DETECTED

The system suddenly issued a warning, making him halt and look around. Here it comes! The other system owner he had been anticipating. “Where?”

ANALYZING… 3… 2… 1… FINISHED!

SAFE!

YOU CAN CONTINUE, THE OTHER SYSTEM USER POSES NO DANGER AS HE ALREADY LOST HIS SYSTEM!

“What? What do you mean by that, system?” Tom asked as Nova and his group walked closer, allowing him to make out their features.

The first was the girl he knew and loved. Nova, who was warily looking around with her pretty blue eyes.

The second was a blond older woman… Not middle-aged, but at the beginning of her thirties. He could swear he saw this woman somewhere before, but he couldn’t remember.

The third was a white-haired tall girl with a cold expression who kept clenching her teeth as if the world owed her a favor or something.

The last was a big-boobed, short black-haired girl who had unfocused eyes and was drooling out of her mouth. She was walking unsteadily as if her crotch hurt, and was being supported by the others as they walked. She was kinda cute, but Tom only had thoughts for Nova right now!

THAT UNSTEADY ONE… CAN YOU SEE HIM?
“Him?” Tom squinted his eyes, searching for a ‘Him’, but found no one…

THE UNSTEADY BIG BREASTED ONE… ‘SHE’ IS A MALE! HIS USED TO BE ANYWAYS... NOWADAYS, ONE CANʼT SAY THINGS CLEAR WITHOUT BEING CRITICIZED!
“WHAT?” Tom gasped, making a few passersby frown. But he ignored them as he began to inspect that last girl. This one… A man?

THAT GUY IS A FALLEN… 
“A fallen?”

THIS INFO IS TOP SECRET THOUGH; THIS SYSTEM IS ONLY TELLING YOU ABOUT IT BECAUSE OF ITS WHIMSICAL NATURE, AND ITS DESIRE TO BULLY THAT GUY!

A FALLEN IS  SOMEONE WHO USED TO BE A FELLOW SYSTEM OWNER, AS YOU HOST. IT IS JUST THAT HE FAILED HIS MISSIONS AND CAUSED HIS SYSTEM TO BE ANNIHILATED… WE CALL THOSE PEOPLE FALLEN!

I MUST SAY, THIS GUY WAS LUCKY, GETTING TO KEEP HIS SORRY LIFE AS HIS SYSTEM ONLY TURNED HIM INTO A GIRL AND WIPED HIS MEMORIES!

“Oh! You call that lucky…” Tom couldn’t help but gasp as he looked at that guy. This pretty girl… Was it a boy? Could a system do that to someone…Wait a minute… Wasn’t he also in the same situation? Wait no… He was only transformed temporarily! 

THIS SYSTEM HAS SEEN WORSE… FAR WORSE! THERE WAS THAT ONE GUY WHO GOT HIS OWN ****** PERMANENTLY INSERTED IN HIS OWN ****** AND THEN GOT ******* BECAUSE OF ************. IT WAS SO ******** THAT HIS OLD DOCTOR NEARLY FAINTED, AND HAD TO ******* ******** USING A ***************! HIS POOR WIFE HAD TO LIVE HER LIFE LOOKING AT HIS **************** ***** WITH SORROW!
THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN!

Tom swallowed. He could pretty much fill in those censored words very easily. “Can you tell me what happened to him?” he asked. Since the system was being generous with info, he tried his luck.

YES, SINCE HE IS A ‘FALLEN,’ ALL OF HIS DATA IS AVAILABLE, BUT DON’T YOU THINK YOUR QUESTION IS A VIOLATION OF HIS PRIVACY?
“Does such a thing as privacy really exist?” Tom spat.

NOT FOR THE FALLEN… ALTHOUGH THIS GUY MIGHT RECOVER SOMEHOW ONE DAY, HE WILL NEVER REMEMBER THE SYSTEM AND WOULD FOREVER BE CRIPPLED.
“So what was his system?” Tom asked curiously.

IT WAS CALLED ‘MANY CHILDREN MANY BLESSINGS’, AND WOULD REWARD HIM FOR HAVING CHILDREN AND CREATING A CLAN. TOO BAD THIS IDIOT GOT TO ANGER THE WRONG GIRL AND WAS CASTRATED.
SUBSEQUENTLY HIS SYSTEM WAS DEEMED A FAILURE AND WAS FORCED TO BE UNINSTALLED. AS A RETALIATORY ACTION, IT TURNED ITS MASTER INTO A WOMAN!

”Couldnʼt the system just heal him?” Tom frowned..

THE SYSTEMS DOES NOT GIVE THINGS FOR FREE… UNLESS IT WAS THAT STUPID FREE REBATE SYSTEM....

ANYWAYS, THAT GUY HAS ALREADY USED ALL HIS SYSTEM COINS CHASING GIRLS, AND SINCE HE COULD NO LONGER FUNCTION AS A MAN, HE HAD NO WAY TO COMPLETE THAT DEPRAVED SYSTEM’S MISSIONS TO MAKE COINS AND PAY FOR HIS TREATMENT!

“OH….” Tom nodded, keeping in mind to always keep a few System coins for such situations. “Would you do the same to me?” he asked.

DUE TO THIS SYSTEM’S WHIMSICAL NATURE, THAT IS VERY UNLIKELY. BUT BAD THINGS CAN HAPPEN, SO KEEP IN MIND TO COMPLETE YOUR MISSIONS, HOST.

THIS SYSTEM’S ONLY GOAL IS TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE GREATNESS! ONLY THEN WILL THIS SYSTEM BE ABLE TO ASCEND AND BECOME A DEITY… OOPS, THIS SYSTEM SAID TOO MUCH…

BEEP BEEEP BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP

“System?” Tom frowned as a deafening beeping began to sound in his head. What was that last word… Become what? He felt that this was some very vital information.

CRITICAL ERROR #16642

SYSTEM ENTERED MAINTENANCE MODE, WILL RETURN IN 24 HOURS.

“Damn it…” Tom cursed as he looked toward Nova, who almost reached his position. He had no time for that… To hell with it.

Taking a deep breath, he quickly intercepted the four… No, the three girls and one tranny.

“Move aside!” Watching him stand in their way, Nova quickly spat.

“Wait, are you perhaps, Miss Nova?” he quickly asked, in a subservient voice.

“... And what if I am?” Nova got nervous, looking at the others behind her before turning to look at Tom again, wondering how he discovered her identity.

“I… I was sent by young master Caspian to meet you here, please follow me!” Tom said, not explaining as he turned and began walking.

“...” The girls looked at each other. “Really?” Nova frowned. “How did you know I would be coming here?” she asked.

“I didn’t; Master Caspian did. He had been searching for you since the wedding…” Tom whispered.  ”He found your location 3 days ago, but couldnʼt move, as many of his enemies are keeping watch over him!”

“Oh... Then that fake?” Nova asked as she began to believe him. She had long learnt of what happened at the wedding, and had long realized that someone must have taken her place!

“She was dealt with... We can’t talk here, too many ears… Now follow me!” Tom whispered as he began to move. “First, let’s go into the sect; I have already prepared a safe room there!” he said as he looked at the Timer on the system screen nervously. The System better finish maintenance soon, or their plan to scam Nova would be a failure!

Nova looked at the other, then they nodded and followed.

***

Finishing with instructing Tom and watching what happened next, Victor, who sat on a bench behind one of the buildings, turned to Ruby. “Now, where were we?” he asked.

“You were just about to assault me, young master!” Ruby answered.

“Right… No wait!” Victor said, spanking the little girl’s head. “Don’t think that you can use my weakened soul to scam me into committing some crime!” 

“Ouch!... I was just checking…” she said, acting a bit aggravated.

“Like hell you were!” Damn it, one wrong word and the little girl already began plotting on how to entrap him! ”Let’s go!” he spat as he stood up and began walking in a certain direction.

“Yes…” Ruby quickly followed.

They headed toward a small building to the side of the school. The teachersʼ dormitory. Thankfully, it was afternoon reading time now, so this place was particularly deserted.

There, in front of it, a short girl was waiting for them. It was someone Victor had only met a few months ago. Mimi! This girl was saved by Alpha from Troy back then and had long been incorporated into the Fragrant Shadow Forces. 

“You are?” she asked with uncertainty as she eyed Victor. She knew that he should come here in disguise.

“It’s me… It’s been a while, Mimi “ Victor answered, using his real voice.

“YOUNG MASTER!” Mimi recognized him almost immediately, as Victor had been in contact periodically with her to check on Polina. Mimi’s mission was to check for any abnormalities and report if anything suspicious was going on.

“Yup, how has it been for you working here?” he asked.

“It’s good… Infiltrating this place as a PE teacher was a good call; it gave me a perfect excuse to patrol the halls and bully the girls…!” Mimi chuckled as she gestured to Victor to follow her toward a secluded shed.

“I have no interest in your private life…” Victor interrupted her. He knew Mimi was into girls; that’s why he sent her here. A private school for girls was the perfect place for such things to develop, and Mimi had an advantage that allowed her to easily collect info. “Report Polina’s situation for me!” he quickly said.

“...” Mimi sighed, then nodded. “Well, it’s messy! And that’s coming from me; it really means something!” Mimi could only say as they reached the shed. She used her keys to open the door and invite Victor and Ruby in, before following.

This shed seemed to be used as storage for sports equipment, but it had a small desk and a few chairs, allowing the three to take seats.

“Explain…” Victor said as he activated an isolation talisman.

“Polina is not a very bright girl, you see… In school, she doesn’t fit well with others…”

“All thanks to my uncleʼs stupid sheltered upbringing of her!” Victor interrupted. Lara’s fate would have been the same, if not for his intervention.

“I don’t know about that, but due to all of that, she seemed to have developed some unhealthy fetishes… ”

“All girls have those…” Ruby said, blushing a bit as she stole a glance at Victor. One of her dreams when she was at that place was to be saved by a knight in shiny armor. So has a thing for men in armor…. Would she be able to convince Victor to wear one for her one day? Who knows…

“True, but most girls know better to keep those to themselves!” Mimi explained. “Let’s just say, Polina is very proactive in chasing her dreams…”

“Stop teasing us and explain! What did she do?” Victor said. As far as he knew from reading reports in his past life, Polina was scammed by some bastard to appear in some porn that became popular… This naturally led to one of the elders who was surfing the internet for ‘educational materials’ discovering it and recognizing Polina, which led to the subsequent troubles for his father.

As for the film itself… sadly, Victor didn’t get to see it as the family erased it, and everyone involved in its production and publication from existence. 

“She… Well… She had been sneaking out of school lately to meet this guy just outside the fence where they do a little game…”

“Exhibitionism?” Ruby asked quickly. This girl knew too much for someone in her age group. 

“Yeah, they would secretly go around school doing all kinds of depraved things!” Mimi said. “It seemed to have started a month ago, but I only learnt about it lately as one of ‘My girls’ saw them!”

“...” Victor squinted his eyes. “That guy…”

“A 31-year-old delivery guy who works for the catering company the school works with!” Mimi explained. “He is an orphan and used to be in the army but got dishonorably discharged after serving in prison for some drug-related crime a few years back. He got his current job thanks to one of his old colleagues; that’s it…”

“When will he come again?” Victor asked. He had no time for this.

“Tonight…”

“That’s good… Victor replied. “Let’s wait and see…” he said as he squinted his eyes. “Now, let me relax a bit; I didn’t get to sleep last night!” he said, closing his eyes to pay attention to Tom. Whether that idiot would manage to scam Nova or not was something he could control; that’s why he decided not to involve the ‘Whimsical System’ in this lest it failed and affected his credibility. A Scion Vs Dark Scion was always an unpredictable thing!