Teaming Up with My Enemy to Rule the Apocalypse

If Dominic Crawford had said this when they first met, Sierra Sullivan might have actually softened.

Even if she hadn’t agreed outright, she would have found a way to help Dominic Crawford solve this problem.

But now, looking at the pleading eyes of Dominic Crawford, Sierra Sullivan felt nothing at all.

”You chose your own path.” Sierra Sullivan’s voice was completely flat. ”Choosing Joy Warren, choosing to go to Simon Hughes for her sake, letting your family fall into Simon Hughes’s hands—those were all your choices. We’re all adults. You have to take responsibility for your own choices. That’s a simple enough principle, surely you understand that?”

Jayce took Sierra Sullivan’s hand. ”Sierra, let’s go. It’s useless talking to someone as selfish as him. He won’t listen, and he’ll even end up blaming you for it in his head.”

Sierra Sullivan knew that Jayce had a point.

And as Jayce had hit the nail on the head, Dominic Crawford’s expression grew even uglier.

”Since you’re going to be so heartless, so disloyal, then don’t blame me for whatever happens next.”

With that, Dominic Crawford turned and walked away.

”Mr. Crawford,” Nathan Thorne couldn’t help but call out, stopping Dominic Crawford.

Dominic Crawford turned back, staring intently at Nathan Thorne.

Nathan Thorne hesitated for a moment before saying, ”It’s not too late to turn back now.”

”Turn back?” Dominic Crawford sneered. ”Are you saying I’ve gone down the wrong path? And what makes you so sure your path is the right one?”

After mustering up the courage to try and persuade him, only to be met with such a sharp retort, Nathan Thorne felt a chill in his heart. ”Are you sure you won’t regret this?”

”No regrets.”

Leaving those two words behind, Dominic Crawford turned and left.

This time, he didn’t hesitate at all. He walked away quickly, disappearing from the sight of Sierra Sullivan and the others in moments.

The three of them looked at each other, but no one spoke.

But then Candice Tate, like a little adult, let out a heavy sigh. ”Sigh!”

Hearing this, Sierra Sullivan was curious. ”Candice, what’s wrong? Why the sudden sigh?”

”I’m sighing for you, Big Sister! Some people are just stubborn and selfish. You shouldn’t be sad over someone like that, Big Sister. It’s not worth it!”

Candice Tate had been learning idioms recently.

From the looks of it, she had learned quite a few and was getting good at using them.

But Sierra Sullivan, while pleased, also didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Hearing a five-year-old like Candice Tate talk like that was still a little strange.

”Okay!” Sierra Sullivan nodded with a smile. ”Don’t worry, Candice, I won’t be sad. Let’s go help Aunt Shelby! She must be swamped!”

”Okay, okay!” Candice Tate skipped ahead, pulling Sierra Sullivan along by the hand toward The Little Green Shop without letting go.

Jayce followed behind, a smile on his face as he watched the two of them.

Nathan Thorne glanced back. Even though Dominic Crawford was long gone, he still felt a storm of complex emotions.

”Stop looking,” Jayce said. ”We’re not on the same path. It’s useless. You think you’re doing it for his own good, but in his eyes, you’re just showing off.”

Nathan Thorne seemed dejected. ”Is it because of me? If I hadn’t shown up...”

”If it hadn’t been you,” Jayce stopped and looked Nathan Thorne straight in the eye, ”it would have been Daniel Scott or Ethan Lowell. Even without anyone else, he’s not one of us. We would have split up sooner or later over the thing with Peter. It has nothing to do with you; you just happened to be there when it happened. Come on, you’re a grown man. Stop being so sentimental. It’s not a big deal, no need to get all mopey about it.”

”Who’s being sentimental?!” Nathan Thorne’s voice shot up. ”I’m not! I’m going to help!”

...

Dominic Crawford had left with firm resolve.

But once he turned the corner, his pace gradually slowed.

Finally, he came to a complete stop in a deserted corner.

He knew he had to go back.

’But how am I going to explain this to Simon Hughes when I get back?’

He had failed his task. He wouldn’t object or complain no matter how Simon Hughes decided to punish him.

But he didn’t want to drag Joy down with him, and he especially didn’t want his family to suffer because of him.

At these thoughts, Dominic Crawford couldn’t help but resent Sierra Sullivan and Jayce.

’They could have helped me so easily, but they’d rather think about those strangers they don’t even know than help me.’

’And they have the nerve to say they saw me as a friend.’

’What kind of friends are they?’

’They probably stopped wanting to be my friend a long time ago. They were just waiting for me to leave on my own, weren’t they?’

’Such a pair of hypocrites!’

A cold sneer appeared on Dominic Crawford’s lips, and his eyes grew darker.

「One hour later.」

Dominic Crawford stood before Simon Hughes, briefly explaining what had happened.

”Master Hughes, I’m sorry!” Dominic Crawford said with his head bowed. ”I failed the task. Punish me if you must, but please don’t make things difficult for my family. This has nothing to do with them.”

’And especially don’t punish Joy!’

But Dominic Crawford didn’t dare say that last part out loud.

He was afraid it would only make things worse for Joy.

But to Dominic Crawford’s surprise, none of what he had anticipated happened.

Not only was Simon Hughes not angry, he was even smiling.

”Mr. Crawford, what are you saying! You failed because Sierra Sullivan and Jayce don’t know what’s good for them. What does that have to do with you? I know you did your best!”

Hearing this, Dominic Crawford looked up in astonishment, staring at Simon Hughes in disbelief.

Simon Hughes’s face was full of warmth. He even stood up, walked over to Dominic Crawford, and clapped him on the shoulder, speaking in a heartfelt tone.

”I’ve seen how hard you’ve worked, but some things can’t be accomplished through effort alone. Take this situation, for example. Sierra Sullivan and Jayce don’t know what’s good for them; all they want to do is play the Saint Mother. No amount of effort on your part was going to change that. I don’t blame you, and I certainly wouldn’t blame your family over it.

Mr. Crawford, the fact that you’re worried about this shows you still don’t understand me. But that’s alright. After all, we haven’t known each other for long, so it’s normal that you don’t know me well. As we spend more time together, you’ll naturally come to understand. As for your family, you can rest assured. Their lives will only get better and better!

You’re tired. Go back and get some rest. I’ll think of another way to handle this!”

All of Dominic Crawford’s worries vanished, replaced by an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

”Master Hughes! Don’t worry, I’ll keep thinking of a way. I will definitely get this done for you!”

”No!” Simon Hughes shook his head. ”You’re wrong. You’re not helping me, you’re helping *us*. Once you get this done, whatever percentage their prices increase by, I’ll give you the same as a commission. With those Contribution Points, your family will be able to live even better, don’t you think?”

In that moment, Dominic Crawford’s heart raced wildly.

Looking at Simon Hughes before him, Dominic Crawford felt certain he hadn’t followed the wrong person.

”Master Hughes, just wait for my good news!”