Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 496 : You never truly know what people are like until you get closer to them!

Everything unfolded exactly as before, even down to the speech...

”I respect only those who have proven themselves worthy... nothing more, nothing less,” the Dragon Emperor said, his tone as indifferent as ever.

This time, however, Victor didnʼt react... He neither provoked the Emperor nor showed any sign of even caring about the speech. Everyone around him exchanged puzzled glances, clearly wondering why he was keeping so silent when he was usually the first to stir things up.

The Principal let out a quiet sigh of relief, grateful that Victor hadnʼt caused any disruptions. Though, if you looked closely, there was a faint glimmer of disappointment in his eyes, as if heʼd expected—or even wanted—Victor to do something unpredictable.

As the meeting concluded, and just like before, Kai approached Aqualina and asked for Aether.

Then, Jack suddenly walked beside Victor. He leaned in close, his voice a low whisper, ”I need to speak with you. Alone.”

Victor raised an eyebrow but smiled faintly and gave a small nod.

Moments later, the Principal emerged from the meeting room, ”The maids will guide you to your rooms. If any of you wish to explore, feel free, but ensure that you take a servant with you at all times.”

As the group dispersed, each choosing what they wanted to do next, Victorʼs gaze landed on Helena.

She stood off to the side, fidgeting nervously, her eyes darting toward Aether every now and then. Sensing her unease, Victor telepathically communicated with her:

/Relax, Helena. You donʼt need to worry about anything. Just get some rest and be ready later... because tonight, weʼre going on a date. Iʼve heard the nights here are absolutely beautiful./

Helena visibly tensed, her cheeks flushing red in an instant. /O-Okay.../ she stammered, her gaze flickering back to Aether before awkwardly turning to the friends surrounding her, trying to keep her composure.

Victorʼs original plan had been to take her on a date after she had fully recovered, but after giving it more thought and sending Celestia ahead to gather intel about the area, he decided it was the perfect place for them. He had already been on two dates in Zephyra Empire, but this place... this would be new for both of them.

He thought it would be an experience they could share, so when he suggested the idea to her, she happily agreed to wait.

Victorʼs smile widened as he turned and followed Jack through the winding corridors.

Aria, watching Victor closely from a distance.

.....

....

Jack led Victor to his allocated room, and the two sat down in silence, facing each other.

Neither spoke for a moment, the quiet stretching between them as they sized each other up.

Finally, Jack broke the silence with a small smile, ”It seems like youʼve already made some plans to complete the mission.”

Victor frowned slightly, ”And what makes you think that?”

Jack chuckled, ” Haha... Youʼre too calm. Way too calm. Thatʼs how I know. Unlike me, you donʼt seem the least bit stressed.” Experience tales with empire

”You have a mission too?”

Jackʼs expression shifted, pride flashing in his eyes as he nodded. ”Yeah. Itʼs from Master.” He leaned in slightly, ”A personal mission, straight from him. Itʼs not every day you get something like that... itʼs rare.” He leaned back, pride evident in his posture.

Victor raised an eyebrow, ”And what exactly is this mission of yours?”

Jack smirked, ”Now, now, itʼs classified.” He gave Victor a mischievous grin. ”But... if you show me your real face, maybe Iʼll tell you. One secret in exchange for another.”

Victor stared at him for a long moment before slowly moving his hands to his mask.

Jackʼs eyes widened, filled with anticipation as he leaned in closer, eager to see what lay beneath.

Just as Victor was about to pull the mask away, he stopped abruptly, a sly grin spreading across his face, ”Nah, Iʼm good,” he said with a playful smirk.

Jack blinked in surprise, caught off guard. After a moment, he let out a short laugh. ”You really are an interesting one, you know that?”

[+500 AP]

Victor was momentarily taken aback by the notification. ʼW-What the... thatʼs a huge jump... from 100 to 500? Thatʼs... unsettling,ʼ he thought to himself, a faint feeling of unease creeping in.

Not wanting to dwell on it, he shifted the conversation back to more important matters. ”Anyway, why did you call me here? Whatʼs this all about?”

Jackʼs demeanour changed instantly. His playful attitude faded, replaced by a serious, almost grim expression, ”You probably donʼt realize it, but I need to warn you... this mission, itʼs more important than you think. If you fail...” His voice lowered ominously. ”Master will kill you. Personally.”

Victor frowned deeply, confused, ”Why would he go that far? You guys said I could leave, right?”

Jack sighed, folding his arms across his chest, ”Itʼs because youʼre a New Kind.”

”New Kind? What do you mean by that?”

Jack leaned forward, ”To be completely honest, the moment you showed up, rumours spread fast. People started talking about what your body could do... the fact that you can store Arcane energy. Thatʼs something that just shouldnʼt be possible.

Master sees you as a threat... thatʼs why he gave me the mission to eliminate you.” He paused, his face softening again, ”But... when I saw the way you acted... burning Kennedy alive just because he irritated you... thatʼs when I went to Master and asked him to put the mission on hold.

I thought killing you would be a waste, and youʼve proved me right.” He let out a long breath. ”Especially when the academy was in danger. You stood there, calm, like nothing mattered to you... like whether those people lived or died didnʼt concern you at all.”

Jackʼs voice quickened with excitement, ”But the thing that really intrigued me... the thing that convinced me... was when you chose who to save based on their worth. You didnʼt save everyone, you saved the ones that mattered. Thatʼs when I realized... you understand something most people donʼt.

Not everyone is equal!”

Victor stared at him, his expression unreadable, ”Is that so...” he replied.

[+600 AP]

”See? You donʼt even care about my words... others might think youʼre just an arrogant man, but what I see... is a man who values worth above all else!” Jack said, his voice filled with admiration, though it was strained as he slowly panted, ”T-Tell me, Victor, thereʼs a rumour going around that you killed a few students... Why did you kill them?”

Victor met Jackʼs gaze, knowing full well that Jack had taken the bait heʼd deliberately laid out. It was time to push this even further. He needed someone to be part of the game.

”Well, my friend,” Victor began, his tone casual yet calculated, ”Aether was acting strange around that saintess, constantly trying to save worthless lives—people who were nothing but burdens to this world. It annoyed me. And since I canʼt exactly kill him... I took it out on those students.

Killing a few helped calm my nerves.” He finished with a shrug as if murder was nothing more than a way to relieve stress.

[+1000 AP]

Jack almost collapsed onto Victor, his eyes wide with shock, though his expression quickly shifted to one of twisted admiration, ”Oh! What a wonderful friendship you have with Aether! How I envy him~” Jack said, his voice dripping with envy as a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.

Still grinning, Jack moved even closer, lowering his voice to a near whisper,

”You see, Victor... Iʼve never had a friend like that... someone who could stick with me through thick and thin, sharing blood, fighting the evils that threaten us, a brother in arms.

Someone to explore new worlds with, seeing new sights, feeling new sensations... I wonder... when will I ever have a friend like that?” Jackʼs fingers began tracing lazy circles on the table, his demeanour turning oddly shy as he spoke.

Victor stared at Jack with a blank, unreadable expression before responding in a cold, unflinching tone, ”Sorry to say this, but I donʼt need any more idiots in my life. We canʼt be friends.”

Jackʼs face fell, genuine sadness flickering in his eyes, but even then...

[+2000 AP]

Victor thought, utterly bewildered, ʼI swear Iʼm not trying to rizz this guy, but seriously... how is he falling for this? Heʼs easier than a woman!ʼ His mind screamed as he struggled to keep his composure.

Feeling the need to escape before things spiralled any further, Victor stood up abruptly. ”Well, then. Iʼll just finish the mission and be on my way.” He was already halfway to the door, desperate to leave the room before Jack did something even more disturbing.

As Victor turned to leave, Jackʼs face grew gloomy. His voice shook as he called out, ”V-Victor... all the best with your mission... My friend!

But if you fail... please, come to me. Iʼll talk to Master for you. I wonʼt let him kill you.” His tone was soft, hopeful even, like he truly didnʼt want his newfound ”friend” to be punished by his Master.

However...

”Iʼll kill you myself,” Jack added, his voice dropping to a twisted, red-faced whisper, his breath growing ragged, ”Ahh~”

[+2000 AP]

[+2000 AP]

[+3000 AP]

[+3000 AP]

[+3000 AP]

[+4000 AP]

[+4000 AP]

Victor maintained a calm, composed facade, but inwardly anything but calm, ʼOh. Fuck. Oh, fuck, fuck, FUCK!ʼ His heart pounded in his chest. Heʼd faced a lot of worst things, but Jack... this was something else entirely.

This was beyond unsettling!!

Still, Victor managed to keep his voice steady as he responded, ”If it comes to that, Jack, Iʼll kill you myself and everyone.. Donʼt worry.”

”Oh~ Yeahhhh~” Jack moaned, his face twisted with a disgusting mix of desire and madness.

[+4000 AP]

Before Jack could make any more revolting sounds, Victor quickly exited the room, his steps brisk as he put as much distance between them as possible.

His heart still raced as he muttered inwardly, ʼWhat the hell just happened?! Hey, Log! Fucking Log!! Are you seriously telling me this is the same Jack from before? Look at him! Heʼs way more...

dangerous and weirder... than I expected!ʼ

[Last time, you never got this close to him... You never truly know what people are like until you get closer to them!]

Victor blinked at the logʼs reply, subconsciously nodding to himself, ʼYeah...ʼ He took a deep breath, trying to shake off when—

”Aria?” Victor was startled to see Aria standing before him as if she had been waiting for him this whole time.