Night fell like a velvet curtain over the city, but inside Voss International's newly fortified war room, Lucien was wide awake. Holographic screens floated in the air, each showing a different "Son of Luck" destined to rise within the next year.
Cultivator princes, reborn killers, rogue war gods, heaven-chosen hackers… all soon to blossom into world-shaking threats.
He smirked.
"Let them rise. I'll just enjoy breaking their ascent."
---
> [System Notification]
Protagonist Kai Zhang – Emotional State: Furious
Destiny Surge: Delayed
Kai Zhang will now accelerate Plan B: Acquire Anna Mei via 'Coincidence Route' (Original Timeline Path)
Countermission Activated: Steal Fate-Triggered Encounter
> Reward: Skill – False Fortune (Temporarily invert a protagonist's luck to disaster for 5 minutes)
---
Lucien cracked his knuckles. "So he plans to 'accidentally' meet her again? Let's ruin that story."
---
The Next Morning – Fortune Plaza, Sector 3
Anna Mei adjusted her sunglasses as she exited her private car. Her mood was sour. Someone had tipped off JinTech, sabotaging her silent agreement. She had no evidence… but deep down, she suspected Lucien had something to do with it.
And yet… he didn't demand anything. Why?
She walked toward the café where she'd scheduled a meeting — unaware that a reborn genius was waiting to 'accidentally' bump into her. A classic rom-com setup straight from the novel's pages.
And then—
BANG!
A food cart exploded into flames. Civilians screamed as a low-level demon beast, freshly summoned from a cracked urban portal, charged into the crowd.
Anna staggered, shielding herself from flying debris.
"Help! Somebody—"
Suddenly, a hand gripped her waist, pulling her away from a collapsing wall.
Lucien.
Cold, precise, and calm as death.
"You attract bad luck," he muttered as his other hand pointed toward the charging demon. A hidden rune on his ring lit up.
BOOM. The demon exploded in a flash of cursed flame.
---
> [Fate-Triggered Encounter Hijacked.]
Kai Zhang Arrival Blocked.
Destiny Value Stolen: +1,500
New Trait Unlocked: Fate Killer – Each hijack weakens a protagonist's future path by 5%
Anna Mei's Favorability: +10 → +35
---
Anna stared at Lucien, heart racing.
"You saved me... Why?"
Lucien looked her dead in the eye. "Because he was supposed to save you. Not me."
And then he walked away, leaving her stunned and breathless.
---
Elsewhere…
Kai Zhang stood on a rooftop, eyes wide as he watched the smoke rise.
"She was supposed to… that was our first…"
He gritted his teeth.
"Lucien Voss… you bastard."
---
Back in the war room, Lucien sipped wine and tapped the air.
> [Target Kai Zhang – Destiny Thread Severed: 28%]
Next Target Approaching: Yun Tao – The Mountain Descendant
Arrival in 6 Days.
Recommended Action: Strike Before He Gains His Sect Inheritance.
Lucien's eyes darkened.
"Good. It's time the mountain lost its son."
---