Ten Million Dollars Mission

c.70- His desperation

Vio and L observed the fire.

Chaos broke out down there but L admired the mess she created. "Do you regret taking this mission?" Vio suddenly queried beneath a slight frown. An ounce of sorrow overlapped in his tone. But L did not question why he sounded dejected. Rather, she gave an answer.

"It was a great rollercoaster ride. Being stuck between two men used to sound dreamy but I guess I am changing my belief after this. But no regrets. I am having fun. Running around and enjoying the life with all the money" L chuckled as Vio took a glance at her.

"You could have faked your death earlier. You also could have let Ryuu flew abroad to reduce the weight of witness. Why did you pick a difficult way?" The curiosity echoed in Vio's tone. She could have just kept Keiji and yet she chose to invite Ryuu to gala. He wanted to know.

Why did she choose the hard path? "I know," L inhaled deeply. "But I wanted both of them to experience the same situation and accept the truth in front of them. Otherwise, they might deny the reality and search for me. I don't want to see another man going crazy like Adelio"

The admission crawled up.

Hushing down Vio. He, then let out a sigh. "You are just heartless. You have no clue how sorrowful it feels to watch your loved one die. You just don't have any feelings for them to be that considerate from the start" Vio's remark made L laugh out loud in amusement.

"I won't deny. Ryuu almost had me but I can't feel anything special at all. Keiji is far beyond. He is kind of rude and arrogant who has his pride at front. I don't think I will ever fall in love with these kinds of men. Money is my cure after all. I just have to keep swindling"

L shrugged with a smirk. Her expression carried easiness. Revealing how heartless she was. "You cried out of guilt for Adelio. What's with sudden change of mindset?" Vio threw another question. Now, L quieted down. A small smile grew on her lips still.

She eyed to front, exhaling. "Maybe, I got used to this life. Lying to a bunch of people and stealing money does not sound that wrong to me now. Do you think I am some psychopath for being like this?" L asked. It was when Vio shook his head beneath a sigh.

"I am the one who dragged you in this"

Vio pinned the fault on him which caught the woman's silence. "You are quite chattery tonight, love. Did you learn how to communicate properly? Or are you trying to get closer to me?" With her signature charming smile, L's gleaming eyes pierced through Vio's green eyes.

And he turned his head quickly. "Not a chance" His reaction somehow tickled L. "I wonder what is happening down there" She expressed her curiosity. "Do you want me to show you?" "No. I will continue to next mission. Rewinding will make me feel guilty" L denied.

"Very well"

However, the situation down there was worse than L expected. When L took more than ten minutes to return, Keiji followed after her, only to witness the sight of storage house burning down slowly. He didn't anticipate Lauren to be inside, until he saw the person inside.

A woman lying on the floor in the dress he recognized. Her face was brutally swallowed by flames. Her whole body was ruined. As the fire became noticeably large, some gathered to put out the fire before fire force arrived while some left. Rosa stayed. She bawled in denial.

Praying her friend was safe and sound somewhere, unlike Keiji who went mad completely. He tried to break in to rescue his woman. But people pulled him back forcefully since it was a dangerous risk. Meanwhile, Ryuu stood in front of the storage house in dead silence.

He stared at the flames, tears running down his cheeks as his lips quivered. There was no way, right? He kept on convincing himself that this was only a nightmare. His desperation led him to refuse to believe the reality. Howbeit, the dead body was claimed to be Lauren.

No firm evidence.

The teeth were hard to test due to unknown circumstances. But the dress and phone indicated her identity. As a result, Laurestine Pierre's death was declared. Of course, Ryuu never accepted that fact. He locked himself in his apartment and tortured himself.

No sleep, no meals, he continued to stay up and wait for Lauren to knock on his door. Keiji continued his life, but this time, like a shell without a soul. He forced himself to smile and carry on the duty given by the grandparents. Every day, Keiji would visit Lauren's grave.

He desperately regretted for not spending every second with her so that he never missed a day to visit her grave. Money bouquet, wine, and fruits were always brought by him. Sometimes, he would speak to the grave. Sometimes, he would just cry for an hour straight.

Both Keiji and Ryuu lost meaning in life.

Back to the room L woke up in, Vio stood with a tablet in his grasp while L sat on the bed with pillow on her lap. "We have secured five million dollars from Takahashi Keiji. No damages with a hundred percent success. An addition of seven million dollars to your account"

One by one, Vio listed. Somehow, it put a frown on L's face. "Do I wait for eternity? Can't you skip to next part already?" She requested. "I am performing my duty. You have to go through the steps no matter what" Yet, the man responded, coldly. Making the woman roll her eyes.

"According to the vow I made, you can ask one question" The part L had been waiting for arrived at last. Her eyes sparkled. "Was I a rich woman before I died?" There was no hesitation, indicating how she did not care about her previous life. Vio's brows wrinkled.

"You could have asked a lot more important questions and yet you chose that one?" Even the man was stunned. "Got any problems?" L spat a query back. Vio, then let out a sigh. "How do I put this? You were born rich, then became broke, and turned into self-made rich"

His words dragged L into confusion.

She blinked, staring at the man as if he was an alien fallen from UFO. Born rich. But went bankrupt. And once again made herself rich. What an up and down life! "My life must have been quite fun then" L found the answer pleasing. "Shall we continue to the next mission?"

Instead of the woman, Vio asked first this time. Amusing L. "What's this atmosphere? Did someone possess you? It used to be me rushing you" She scoffed. "If you don't wish to continue yet, I can give you some days to rest" An unexpected offer came up from Vio.

"Do I go on vacation or some? Like world trip?" L's eyes beamed with anticipation, which disappeared when the man replied; "I am putting you to sleep for a week straight" "Fuck yourself!" L yelled as she threw the pillow at the man. Causing Vio to take a step to the side.

"You are such a headache! With your pretty face, you would have made it to the top if you had a good personality with a sense of humor!" Her fury displayed in her tone. "I can't do anything else other than that. You are in a system. What else did you expect?"

Vio returned a question in perplexity.

He could not get her out of here yet. Why did she think of those options? "Oh, so, it is my fault for not considering thoroughly?" Laughing in disbelief, L pointed at herself. "Yes" Vio nodded. And it was when the woman stepped out of the bed to grab the man by collar.

"Harassing me will get you nowhere" Vio suggested with his eyes looking down at the woman furiously glaring up at him. "Whatever!" Having no choice, L took a step back. "Shall we continue?" Vio took it as a green light. "Asking as if I have a choice" L murmured in annoyance.

"Very well. The next target is Caleb Rowane. Only his name is known. Your first task is to find him" The woman's eyes widened. "Huh? Isn't this a system operating in your hands? Must I have to go through that much? Can't you just tell me every information?" She frowned.

"No" Vio shook his head, receiving a glare from the woman. "Pay attention, Miss L. He is an author with penname 'General Row'. His real name is given to you to speed up the search. When you find him, it is up to you to decide what to do. Your time limit is two months"

Vio informed.

"My charm won't need two months"

L held her head high, arms folded.

And the man sighed.