Villain Raiders

Chapter4

Arthur held the water bottle, looking at the person in front of him with unfathomable eyes.

This morning, Jason had said Karl was back, but Arthur thought it was a joke.

He didn't expect to actually see him during a quick water break. That's why he had glanced over.

After a week's absence, Karl was still as irritating as ever.

But no matter how much he disliked him, Arthur didn't let his emotions show on his face.

Hearing the mechanical voice in his head, Karl froze on the spot.

He had intended to offer some words of praise, but his nervousness made him stutter.

He meant to say "Just like that, you've conquered me," but in his panic, he only managed half the sentence. Before he could finish, he

heard the task completion prompt, leaving him bewildered.

"Alexa, did I really complete the task?"

[System: Yes, you did.]

Karl looked up at Arthur nervously, "But he's smiling."

[System: What use is a smile?]

Karl: ?

[System: He's annoyed inside.]

Karl: ...

A flicker of emotion passed through Arthur's obsidian eyes, while his face maintained its usual charming smile.

But Karl felt the smile didn't reach his eyes.

Karl swallowed hard and took two steps back, wondering how many punches he could take.

He looked Arthur up and down. Arthur had just come from the basketball court, his hair swept back, exuding the sunny vigor typical

of his age. The muscles on his arms were still slightly bulging from the recent exercise.

If it came to blows,

Maybe he could take one punch.

[System: Young man, as far as I know, human strength and potential are limitless. I won't allow you to underestimate yourself like

this.]

Karl was taken aback.

Okay, maybe two punches then.

[System: ...]

Just as Karl was contemplating the best way to fall, Arthur spoke, "Karl thinks it's just average?"

Arthur's handsome face showed no signs of displeasure. His tone was flat, seemingly indifferent, but his eyes were fixed intently on

Karl.

Karl's heart sank. Sure enough, the girls who had been crowding around Arthur all turned to him with dissatisfied expressions.

"The senior plays so well, you're just jealous."

"Sour grapes because you can't match up."

Emma also looked at him with some displeasure, "Arthur is very cool."

"No matter how much you try to belittle Arthur, it won't work. He's just excellent."

It took a while for Karl to emerge from this barrage of verbal attacks. When he looked up again, Arthur was nowhere to be seen.

With three minutes left before class, Arthur and his friends had returned to the teaching building.

As they reached the fifth floor, they saw the English class representative from Class 1 carrying a stack of newly collected

workbooks, heading towards the English teachers' office.

The class rep was a girl, and the stack of books was quite hefty. With class about to start and students bustling in the corridor, she

had to carefully navigate her way, walking as if on thin ice.

"Need some help?"

A cultured voice came from above. The class rep looked up to see Arthur's handsome and gentle face, and immediately blushed.

"Th-Thank you, that would be helpful."

Arthur smiled and took all the workbooks from her hands. "It's no trouble."

The class rep looked at him and quickly said, "Arthur, at least let me carry a few."

"No need," he replied lightly, his words concise.

A friend beside him spoke up, "Arthur, we'll head back to class first."

Arthur nodded and carried the workbooks to the English department office.

Jason, who had been sleeping and didn't go to play basketball, saw his classmates return and asked, "Where's Arthur?"

A classmate replied, "He's helping the English class rep take some stuff to the office."

Jason yawned, "Oh, off playing the nice guy again."

"..."

In everyone's eyes, Arthur was a dazzling existence. Handsome, from a well-off family, excellent in studies, participating in various

competitions - he was practically perfect in every way. Well-spoken and well-mannered, he seemed as flawless as a machine.

But while others might not know the real Arthur, Jason knew him all too well. Having grown up together, he knew Arthur was a

model student in public, but quite the jerk in private.

Yet somehow, everyone fell for his act. From 80-year-old grannies to 5-year-old kids, even Jason's own mother bought into it.

His ears were practically calloused from his mother's constant comparisons.

"Look at your grades! I'm embarrassed to even mention them! Arthur's been named a provincial outstanding student again this year.

His mother can proudly boast about him at social gatherings and beauty salons. Now look at you!"

In the circles of wealthy ladies, there were only so many topics to discuss. After the usual social niceties, they'd talk about husbands,

then children, and finally assets and luxury goods.

Jason, unperturbed, said, "Woman, don't compare yourself to others so much."

His mother gave him a smack on the head, "You're so unambitious, just like your father."

His father, innocently caught in the crossfire while reading the newspaper, gave him a silent look.

The look seemed to say,

Why did you provoke her?

"..."

When Arthur returned, Jason spoke up, "Want to hit the internet cafe tonight for some gaming?"

Arthur glanced at him.

Though he didn't say anything, Jason knew this meant he agreed.

Jason said teasingly, "Big bro Arthur, I'm counting on you to carry me tonight."

Karl returned to the classroom, his pounding heart gradually calming down. He took out his water bottle and had a few sips.

[System: Young man, how does it feel to complete the task?]

Karl: "It's okay."

[System: You're the fastest to complete a task among all the hosts I've had.]

Suddenly praised, Karl felt a bit embarrassed. He rubbed his head and chuckled sheepishly, "It's not really that impressive."

[System: Others need to plan meticulously to be disliked as an antagonist, but you don't need to.]

Karl felt something was off about this comment.

[System: You're a natural.]

"..."

Karl felt like he'd been force-fed a poisoned candy. "Thank you."

[System: Why so modest?]

Karl was momentarily speechless.

[System: You're the most low-maintenance host I've ever had.]

Karl asked curiously, "How many hosts have you had in total?"

[System: Two.]

Karl: ...

Well, considering the previous one ended up in prison, of course he'd be the most low-maintenance.

Karl ignored Alexa and took out his pen to start catching up on physics notes.

[System: Young man, you seem a bit unhappy.]

Karl kept writing, head down. "I'm not."

[System: You can feel your pocket now. That should cheer you up.]

Puzzled, he reached into his pocket and felt the ten-dollar bill he'd earned from completing the task.

Karl: "Alexa."

[System: No need to thank me. You earned it.]

Karl: "I..."

[System: I said, no need for gratitude.]

"No, I just wanted to ask if I could exchange it for coins. I want to take the bus home."

[...]

In the end, Karl got his wish and received ten coins. He had checked the bus schedule this morning and knew that for second-year

students, evening self-study ended at 9:30 PM, and the last bus ran until 10 PM.

He wouldn't need to cook dinner either; he could eat at school.

Just as Karl was happily making these little calculations, the mechanical voice in his head spoke again, sounding like a devil's

whisper:

[System: Villain task: Skip evening self-study. Reward: 50 dollars. Antagonist value increase: 1. Penalty for failure: 10 dollars

deducted.]

The smile on Karl's face instantly froze.

"Alexa?"

[System: I'm here.]

Karl couldn't smile anymore. "Are you the tapeworm in my stomach?"

To his surprise, the mechanical voice sounded a bit shy, [We're not that intimate yet to be inseparable.]

"..."

He had just been feeling pleased about being able to eat dinner at school when he was given this villain task.

He looked down at the ten coins in his hand. If he failed the task, it would be a case of easy come, easy go – he wouldn't be able to

take a single cent home.

During the last self-study period of the afternoon, the disciplinary teacher came for an inspection. He made a symbolic round in the

corridor, and when he passed Class 2-1, he peered through the back door. His serious expression faltered, and he stepped inside.

The previously whispering class instantly fell silent.

The disciplinary teacher walked to the podium and scanned the room. No student was doing anything unrelated to studying; even

Karl was reading a book.

The disciplinary teacher was surprised.

This kid, he's quite good at pretending.

"Ahem! Everyone, put down your pens for a moment and listen to me."

The students all put down their pens and looked up at the disciplinary teacher.

Karl, feeling guilty about his plans to skip class, kept his head down.

The disciplinary teacher frowned, "Karl!"

Karl startled, "I... I don't have a pen."

"..."

Meaning he had no pen to put down.

The disciplinary teacher ignored this small incident and continued, "The monthly exam is in a few days. I've noticed that your class

has been quieter and more studious than before, which is commendable, but..."

Karl knew that once there was a "but," what followed wouldn't be ordinary.

"But don't get complacent. The school is tightening discipline recently, especially regarding skipping classes and evening self-study!

Those of you with little schemes in mind, better think twice."

Saying this, he stepped towards Karl, "Karl, do you understand?!"

He swallowed hard, "Y-Yes, I understand."

The disciplinary teacher pushed up his glasses, "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. I'm the tapeworm in your stomach."

Karl shrank his neck, "T-Teacher, we're not that intimate yet to be inseparable."

Disciplinary teacher: ...

Alexa: ...

The disciplinary teacher was stunned for a moment, then cleared his throat, "You'd better understand. If you try to skip class, don't let

me catch you."

Only when the disciplinary teacher's figure had completely disappeared from the classroom did Karl finally breathe a sigh of relief.

[System: What do you plan to do next?]

Karl thought for a moment and said, "Listen to the disciplinary teacher."

[System: Not skipping class?]

Karl: "Not getting caught by him."

[...]

Actually, after being singled out, Karl had thought about not skipping class after all. He didn't have the courage anyway. But then he

suddenly remembered something.

This morning when he left home, he had noticed the utility bill stuck on his door. It totaled 200 dollars, and if he didn't pay it this

week, his water and electricity would be cut off.

However, his total assets right now were only 107 dollars, with another 20 on his meal card. The 50 dollars reward from this task

could be his lifeline.

Alexa hadn't expected Karl to be so teachable. He had just completed one villain task and was already so smooth with the next.

[System: Well done! I knew you had a natural talent for this.]

Karl couldn't smile at all. Just this once, he kept telling himself, just this one time. He would only skip this once.

When the last self-study period of the afternoon ended, Karl took a deep breath, then stood up and walked out of the classroom with

an exaggerated air of confidence.

[System: Are you nervous?]

Karl shook his head, "No."

[System: Really not?]

Karl, as if trying to psych himself up, "No."

[System: Alright, you're walking with a limp.]

Karl: ...

Although it was Karl's first time skipping class, he wasn't stupid. He knew he couldn't use the main gate, so he started looking for a

wall he could climb.

As he scanned the area, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure. The person had broad shoulders, long legs, and a tall stature. Even

from behind, he had an impressive presence.

Karl's eyes widened involuntarily. Who else could it be but Arthur?!

Was he planning to skip class too?

Karl didn't dare to think about why Arthur was there and prepared to find another spot.

However, the next moment, he saw that figure effortlessly vault over the wall in two or three moves, his movements agile and

smooth.

Karl's eyes suddenly lit up. Arthur's actions looked so easy that it gave Karl an illusion.

He thought he could do it too.

[System: That's the spirit, young man! That's the confidence we need!]

Karl nodded, stepped forward with great confidence, and then imitated Arthur's movements.

Run, push off, jump.

There was a dull thud as Karl landed squarely on his backside.

A sharp pain shot through his buttocks, and Karl was dumbfounded.

This wasn't how he had imagined it at all.

[System: Perhaps there are differences between individuals.]

"..."

Karl perfectly demonstrated what it means to have the eyes learn but the body fail to follow.

But no matter what, he still had to skip this evening self-study.

Karl scrunched up his face and rubbed his sore bottom. Then he found a few stones to use as footholds and finally managed to

scramble to the top of the wall.

The wall didn't look high from the ground, but once he was up there, it seemed terrifying. Karl's calves were shaking.

This was definitely the most thrilling thing he had done in his life so far.

However, just as he got to the top, he lost his balance and suddenly tipped over to the other side.

A feeling of weightlessness hit him, and Karl, terrified, quickly closed his eyes and clenched his teeth.

But the expected pain didn't come. Karl was surprised and opened his eyes to look at the wall, feeling a bit smug that it wasn't as

hard as he thought.

"How long are you planning to stay on top of me?"

A cold voice came. Karl froze instantly and turned his head to meet an equally cold pair of eyes.

Hadn't Arthur left already?!

It turned out he had landed squarely on top of Arthur.

There was no one else around, and Arthur's face didn't have the refined, friendly smile he wore during the day.

His gaze was so cold that Karl was too scared to move.

"H-Have you heard this song?" Karl stuttered.

Without waiting for an answer, Karl sang a line shakily:

"A fairy sister fell from the sky."

Arthur: ...