Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended

CHAPTER 96: The Fated Confrontation

Reeza shuffled wearily through a gloomy subterranean corridor, her steps echoing against the cold stone walls until she emerged into a chamber bathed in dim light.

Her inner turmoil etched deep lines on her face, and shadows pooled beneath her tired eyes. Paying little heed to the imposing guards clad in heavy armor, she let her gaze wander to the rows of prison cells lining the wall behind them, yearning for even a fleeting glimpse of her mother.

She had been diligently tallying every piece of gold coin she funneled to Casimir, keenly aware of nearing their agreed-upon quota. Over a year had passed, marked by a trail of blood, tears, and sacrifices—her own mortality, her peace of mind, and even fragments of her soul—all laid bare to reach this pivotal moment.

With one final scam or a daring heist, she would've secured enough funds to buy her mother's freedom. In what had become somewhat of a ritual, she regularly came by seeking solace in her mother's eyes, a silent affirmation before each job. Yet, as her gaze swept past the vigilant guards and through the unforgiving bars of the nearest cell, her mother's familiar visage couldn't be found amongst the others.

Did they... change her cell?

Reeza's slender eyebrows crinkled. No. In the entire year she's been in captivity, her holding cell had never changed.

Refusing to rely on mere conjecture when her mother's life was at stake, Reeza rashly attempted to slip past the guards, only to be swiftly subdued.

"You know the drill," one of them spat.

"Restricted area, no entry," the other declared, delivering a stinging blow to her cheek with the hilt of his spear.

Reeza staggered back, fury coursing through her veins as she gritted her teeth. She sized up the two bastards before her and reluctantly admitted she couldn't best them alone.

Pushing aside the throbbing ache in her cheek, she hurriedly darted around a corner, her mind racing to find another path into the chamber. But all she managed to find was more danger lurking in the shadows.

With the precision of a well-oiled machine, a powerful hand shot out from the darkness, its fingers deftly closing around her neck.

WHOOSHH!

The assailant hoisted her into the air, then forcefully slammed her against the wall with enough force to knock the air from her lungs. Reeza's eyes widened in terror, her legs kicking futilely as she struggled against the iron grip constricting her throat.

Saliva dribbled from the corners of her mouth, her face contorting into a sickly shade of purple as the pressure intensified. But her tiny fingers couldn't break the vice-like grip. Instead, the grip gradually tightened, threatening to snap her neck.

"Please don't hurt her," Petula's voice cracked with desperation as she threw herself at the avenger's feet.

Daisuke's head snapped to the side, his eyes narrowing with a chilling intensity that made Petula shrink back in fear.

"...I-It's you," Reeza wheezed, sacrificing precious air to speak.

Daisuke found her eyes, his gaze burning with malicious intent. He didn't need to speak; they both knew what she had done—and what he sought wasn't a simple apology, but her slow and agonizing demise. And as her neck continued to bend, that dark desire edged closer to fruition.

"It's her mother!" Petula's cry suddenly cut through the tension, her fingers tightening around Daisuke's cloak. "She's being forced to do these things... because they're holding her mother hostage!"

Daisuke's fingers stilled, the Eye of Verity confirming her claim.

"What would you do," Petula sobbed softly, "if your own mother was in a similar position... and you were too powerless to fight back?"