Necromancer Dreams of Mechs Chapter 41: Chapter 47

Read chapter 41 of Necromancer Dreams of Mechs by Magic on NovelPedia.

Chapter 41: New Target “Vultures? I think not, Miss Clarence. You see, my friend and I heard a little birdie say that the hermit you picked is stuck in the digital world, yeah?” Lee Xiao Bia asked. His voice was low and gravelly, more like a harsh whisper spoken just a little too loudly, the kind that crawled across the skin. The boy leaned casually against the wall as though he owned the place, but his narrowed eyes gleamed with an unsettling amusement. He wanted to provoke, to rattle, to remind everyone that he didn’t care about rules or propriety. Ciara didn’t even bother looking at him. Instead, she shifted her gaze toward her father, her posture sharp and unyielding. “That sounds not only dramatic but also illegal, Father. Just because you have an investment in something doesn’t mean you can silence everyone if there’s been a murder.” The air in the room tightened. No one else dared speak as father and daughter locked eyes. The weight of their tension was enough to silence even the most talkative. Nathan glanced toward his father, silently demanding an explanation, but James’s subtle shake of the head told him to stay out of it. Nathan leaned back in his chair but didn’t stop watching. He and Ciara knew how her father worked—carefully, ruthlessly, and always with something hidden beneath his words. Alexander Clarence exhaled heavily, the kind of sigh that came from a man who had carried power for too long. “If you knew the investors involved in this project, daughter, you might say otherwise.” His tone carried both exhaustion and threat. He waved a hand toward the guards at the back of the room. “I need all of you—and the others who will be entering the game—separated for the next twenty-four hours. You’ll undergo full medical assessments. After that, you’ll each receive new goals.” His eyes hardened, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. “But the main objective will be to kill Allen Voss.” A sharp silence fell. The announcement dropped like a stone in water, sending invisible ripples of unease through the room. Before anyone could voice the outrage building on their tongues, the doors opened and a squad of security guards filed in, their boots heavy against the floor. Without hesitation, they began ushering the group toward the exit. Lee Xiao Bia, who had lounged with bored detachment up to that moment, finally pushed off the wall. He walked lazily with the others, but as he passed Ciara, he slowed. His lips twisted into a grin that didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m going to kill that hermit,” he whispered darkly, loud enough for her to hear. “And I’m going to enjoy every moment of it. When it’s over, when I’m the one who drags his corpse out of the game, you’ll have no choice but to marry me.” His laughter was sharp, mocking, like nails on glass. Ciara’s breath hitched, her composure cracking just enough for shock to flash across her face. And then Lee took a step forward—only to crash face-first onto the polished floor. The sound of his impact echoed through the room. Nathan, suppressing a grin, leaned back casually. He had knelt just moments earlier, tying Lee’s shoelaces together without anyone noticing. Ciara and her father stepped aside as Lee tumbled past, swearing under his breath. Both turned their attention to Nathan, whose expression was all smug defiance. “What?” Nathan threw up his hands. “You’re the one trying to hand your daughter over to that pig, and I’m supposed to feel bad because he can’t tie his own shoes? Ha! That’s about as likely as me killing my best friend!” His words dripped with venom, his glare burning holes into the floor. James immediately stepped in, his hand on Nathan’s shoulder to hold him back. “My son didn’t mean that,” he said firmly, though there was tension in his voice. “We’ll do what’s necessary to bring the Architect back under control—but killing Allen isn’t the solution. None of us fully understand how the AI operates, and you know who created it. Even if killing him worked