"No plans were made ahead of time, and the estate security wasn't informed. You can't leave just like that!"
Renginald chased after Liam as he headed outside with the car key. The old man was already running out of breath from pleading, but Liam remained unfazed.
He yanked the car door open but froze at the sound of a car honk. Looking over his shoulder, his eyes widened at the sight of a sports car flanked by two military trucks carrying armed soldiers.
The roof slid back smoothly, revealing Lia dressed in a black crop top and leather shorts. Her expression was ever dull, but there was a hint of anticipation in her eyes.
"Going out tonight?" she asked when Liam approached.
"Yeah. I wanted to grab a snack and then hit the club or something," Liam replied with a nod, and her eyes lit up.
Lia glanced past Liam, giving Sir Renginald a brief look before speaking.
"There won't be any problem if he tags along with me, then?" she asked.
Seeing her, Renginald let out a sigh of relief and nodded. It was better to have an experienced Ascendant with Liam than let him go alone and get into trouble.
"Good." Lia winked.
But before she could open the door, Liam hopped into the passenger seat, startling her. Most new Ascendants were either too focused on their studies and training to avoid getting killed, while others wallowed in sorrow and lamented a death that eventually came.
Yet this boy was more interested in partying and living—just like her. His wild and unrestrained personality was refreshing.
"I finally found my type of person," she mumbled, unaware she had been staring at Liam's face for nearly a minute.
Liam leaned in, his face just an inch away from hers, a sly smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Do I look pretty?"
His question snapped Lia out of her reverie. She jerked back, her face burning with embarrassment.
"Put your seat belt on and keep your distance, or no dinner," she threatened while avoiding eye contact.
"Sorry, ma'am." Liam chuckled.
The vehicle roared to life, and in mere seconds, they were already on their way, speeding through the streets under the protection of a military convoy.
The ride alone was refreshing for Liam. He felt like he had just escaped a birdcage the moment they left the estate.
"So… you're the Devil Curse guy. I heard your ability is pretty sick?" Lia tried to start a conversation.
Liam's eyes twitched upon hearing her words.
"You know my name. Don't you think you should use it?" he asked in a neutral tone, and Lia scoffed.
She rolled her eyes before turning to meet his gaze.
"I'm sorry, I'm bad with names. Could you remind me what your name was again?" she asked, raising a brow.
Liam burst out laughing.
"Hahahahaha! Hahahahaha!"
He clutched his belly and laughed so hard that tears rolled down his eyes. Lia was both shocked and confused, wondering what he found so funny about the situation.
"Don't bother with the name—it's not important." He shrugged, returning his attention to the road.
Silence followed. For Liam, it was normal, but Lia felt awkward. Her attempts to provoke him had failed miserably, and now his calm silence bothered her.
"Aren't you interested in knowing my curse?"
Unable to bear the silence, Lia initiated another conversation.
"Lia, the Snub. While you're not that popular since you just entered the spotlight, I do know about you. I know every Ascendant in this cursed world," Liam said in a tone that didn't match his smile.
How could he not know an Ascendant of the Western Province?
Lia was considered a genius in the making, but her popularity had been stunted due to her hostile, cold nature toward people. That, coupled with the fact that she made no effort to be known, meant people only knew her name and nothing else.
"Sn—never mind." Lia let out a sigh, and Liam chuckled at her reaction.
Contrary to public opinion, Liam knew Lia wasn't a snub. Her curse made her think and act like a predator. In a world where everyone was terrified, all Lia saw were prey. In her opinion, they should be grateful she was protecting them.
The only reason she bothered with him was his statement about killing God to save humanity. While people were thinking of surviving, Liam was thinking of actually winning—by killing the source of the problem.
If that wasn't peak predator mentality, what was?
---
Western Province: Commercial District
"Lanista Kitchen. I always thought they were bold to give their brand the city's name, but seeing how they're the most popular restaurant on the planet, I guess they deserve it."
Liam couldn't take his eyes off the name dazzling brightly on the wall of the VIP room.
The table was wide enough to fit several people, yet only he and Lia sat at opposite ends, surrounded by delicacies of various types and sizes.
"I finally take a man out for the first time, and he can't take his eyes off the wall," Lia said sarcastically.
The comment made the wine flow down the wrong pipe.
Cough! Cough!
Lia frantically grabbed a napkin and covered his mouth as he coughed hard. She just watched him while tossing in a pinky-sized piece of sizzling hot steak.
Wiping his lips clean, Liam set the napkin down and took in a sharp breath. It was painful, but he was okay.
"Please don't speak like that. It makes me look like the bad guy here," Liam chuckled.
"You're already the bad guy to everyone. You killed your parents, remember?" Lia countered.
She expected Liam to go silent, get angry, or play the victim card—but there was none of that. Instead, he rested his chin on his palm, wearing a strange smile while looking past her. Seeing how his chopsticks ran through the ramen aimlessly, Lia couldn't help but think he was reminiscing about the murder.
"I disagree…"
Liam's calm voice shattered her reverie, bringing her back to reality.
"I didn't kill them because I was being abused or because I wanted them dead. To be honest, I don't resent them. I've never resented them," Liam explained.
The stern tone in his words and the focus in his eyes made Lia believe he was being honest, so she probed further.
"Then why did you do it?"
Liam shrugged and leaned back. He gazed at his hands with a dull look before returning his attention to Lia.
"Because I can… One day, I thought, if I kill this old man and his whore, all the abuse and hurting will end. Then I asked myself if I could do it, and the answer was yes. So I did it."
Lia's eyes dilated in response to his words as she muttered under her breath, "Because I can."
Nodding, Liam picked up his chopsticks again, expertly grabbing a few strands of noodles before rolling them into a ball and tossing them into his mouth. A blissful smile spread across his lips as several flavors exploded harmoniously in his mouth.
Watching his almost puppy-like behavior—despite being a very dangerous individual—Lia couldn't help but smile.
He was approachable, yet there was this air of mystery around him.
Bam!
Before she could speak, the door yanked open, and a man in corporate attire—missing his blazer and tie—stormed in while the room security chased after him, begging. Even the soldiers followed but dared not touch him.
The man, of Asian descent, had a confident smile that matched his blue hair and eyes. Liam noted that he was good-looking but clearly drunk.
"Oh my God! I never thought I'd get the chance to meet you like this again, Lady Lia!" the man said, his voice obnoxiously loud, his gestures exaggerated.
Liam chuckled as the man gave an overdone bow before turning his attention to him. The smile on his face slowly faded, and he quickly looked back at Lia.
"Who is he?" he demanded like a man who'd just caught his girlfriend cheating.
Liam burst out laughing, unable to hold it in anymore. The entire scene was funny, and Lia's growing annoyance made it even funnier. She glared at the man like he was a pest she wanted to exterminate but couldn't.
Liam found that reaction shocking—and it made him even more curious about the K-pop idol's identity.