The Author's POV

Staring at his phone, Gerrard's brows knit tightly. A minute after, he clenched his phone tightly and swore out loud.

"Damn it..."

Ever since a couple of days ago, a rift had started appearing amongst the five tyrants. Apparently, the timestamps that the other tyrants had gone missing.

Oddly enough his timestamps remained untouched.

'Can't these retards understand that the reason why my stuff is untouched is because whoever the thieves are, they fear me?'

Although the other tyrants had respectable backings, if they were to be compared to the likes of W.V. Pharmaceuticals, they were still a level below.

To Gerrard, it was clear as day that the thieves had specifically skipped him because they feared him. Unfortunately, the others didn't seem to understand this as they kept looking at him suspiciously.

After a day and no news about the stolen timestamps, everyone forcefully convinced themselves that Gerrard had played a part in the disappearance of the timestamps. Hence the current predicament.

Without a doubt, they were going to target the people under his jurisdiction. They wanted to cut his timestamps supply.

"Damn greedy bastard..."

'”Clank!

"Gerrard, everyone has gathered"

Suddenly the door of Gerrard's room opened, and Noah, one of his lackeys called him. Fixing his collar, Gerrard nodded his head.

"Everyone is already here? Okay, I'm coming"

Walking out of his room, Gerrard closed the door behind him. Entering the living room of his apartment Gerrard saw a crowd of students looking at him. Walking around the room, he was instantly able to pick up the awe and fear coming from some of the student's eyes.

The corner of his lips tugged upwards as a result.

"Thank you for coming all the way here today"

Stopping before the crowd, Gerrard gave a brief round down of the situations to the students. In short, he told them about how they might get targeted by the other factions and that they needed to be extra careful.

'Hm? Where have I seen that guy?'

As he was talking, Gerrard's eyes suddenly paused on a certain individual. Pale white skin and deep blue eyes. He seemed to have a faint recollection of such a student. Suddenly he remembered.

'Ren Dover'

The talented youth who appeared all over the news.

'Right, he might be able to help me...'

An idea suddenly struck him.

If he could get Ren on his side he could quickly use him as a deterrent against the other tyrants.

With him being one of the strongest people in the dorm, he could quickly crush all of his opposition. Without a second thought, Gerrard pointed at Ren.

"You come with me"

"Me?"

Baffled, the youth named Ren pointed at himself. Raising his brow, Gerrard nodded his head.

"Yes, who else am I pointing at? Follow me quickly, I don't have much time to waste"

"O-okay"

Flustered, Ren hurriedly followed him. Staring at Ren's flustered figure, Gerrard secretly smirked.

'I guess it's true. He really has no backing'

This was going to be easier than he thought.

"You take care of the situation while I take care of this one"

Staring at Noah, Gerrard quickly ordered. In response, Noah nodded his head.

"As you wish"

"Good"

'”Clank!

Closing the doors to his room, Gerrard carefully scrutinized Ren before him. After seizing him up, with a satisfied nod, he got straight to the point.

"How about you work for me?"

"Work for you?"

"Yes, I've investigated you a little bit. This is only natural. After receiving news about your talent I started getting interested in you. I know that your parents work for a third-rate guild and you have no backing. How about it, work for me. I can provide you with all the necessary reso-why are you smiling?"

The reason was that the student before him was smiling widely. Almost as if he was watching the most amusing show of

"Oh? I'm smiling?"

touched his lips. Noticing this, Gerrard became enraged as his voice echoed across

I said something funny? Am I a joke

my shitty

a sigh, Ren brushed his hair up and silently cursed. This startled Gerrard who suddenly had an ominous premonition. Staring at

would I be to work with the son of the guy who murdered Thobias

do

eyes wide, Gerrard froze

from me and my dad, no one should know about this! He must be bluffing, yes. If not bluffing how

bluffing, things

"How did I know?"

Pinpointed on it was a certain

me here after the meeting is over, I'll let you know then. Oh. If you ever tell anyone about what I

Ren, Gerrard shouted, "Y-you're

look like I'm

bore down on Gerrard as Ren's eyes slowly turned dull grey. Instantly the world around Gerrard froze and his body trembled

down, Ren's hoarse and cold voice echoed

"Kneel!"

Thud!

Gerrard kneeled on the floor. Without even questioning the decision, Gerrard kneeled on the ground. An inexplicable sense of fear washed over

going on? Isn't this

fight against Haris. At first, he thought it was some phony skill that Ren had used to deceive the opponent,

him. It was like he was standing before a humongous black mass that looked

know his place! Thus, Gerrard gave up any thoughts of

that you are not

sorry, I give up. Don't kill me

a couple of seconds, Ren smiled. Slowly his eyes returned to their usual deep blue color. Patting

information to spread, I'll give you

after the meeting is over, you are to quickly come to

showed him the image of the location. After a couple of seconds, turning his head back to Gerrard,

"Do you understand?"

"Y-yes"

"Good"

patted Gerrard on the shoulder a couple of

was about to leave, Ren's feet halted in front of the door.

try to call someone for help or send someone a message, I'll quickly spread everything that I

was sweating profusely as he imaged

it seems like you

the door, Ren slowly opened it as his expression changed to that one of someone who had

you don't disappoint

'”Clank!

heard before the door closed, and silence descended

*

very far from the Lock and on the outskirts of the central

factory that was quite well known within Ashton city. Unfortunately, after a few board disputes and corruption cases, the company was forced to shut down. Ever

this place as the location for today's operation. It

how much sound 'they' made nobody

'”Grrrrrr!

of the factory opened and a shuddering Gerrard walked

'”Thud!

"You're finally here"

In response, Gerrard shuddered even more as looked at me and took a couple

did you know such information! How did

he got straight

"How did I know?"

Smirk

the edges of my lips tugged

"How did I know?"

am the

say it. Despite it being the truth, there

"Answer me!"

of me looking down on him, Gerrard became enraged

quickly send an emergency message to my

"Oh?"

me the text message that was already written. With his thumb on the send button,

single

'”Click!

subtle clicking sound resounded across

"Khh...W-what?!"

wide. Looking down on his hands, red blood

happened? I didn't see

could even move or do anything, his body completely froze and he found himself bleeding

'”Thud!

a large thud, his figure fell on the ground. Tapping on the grip of my sword, I

to you, but I really have no use for

he wasn't really my main target to begin with. He was merely a

let's get this