Chapter 5: On the Edge of Death
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1. The Blade at His Neck
The chamber was empty except for Ethan and Lucas.
Lucas's sword gleamed in the light, its tip hovering inches from Ethan's neck. His sharp, unwavering eyes bore into Ethan's soul.
"Are you the one pulling the strings, Blackwood?" Lucas asked in a low, dangerous voice.
"If you are, I'll end this right here and now."
The Suspicion Meter in Ethan's vision pulsed violently.
80%… 81%…
"If it hits 100%… I'm dead."
Ethan raised his hands slowly, forcing a calm expression even though his heart was hammering against his chest.
"Lucas, please… I'm not the enemy. I'm just… trying to protect my family."
Lucas didn't blink. "Convenient excuse."
82%…
Ethan swallowed hard. I need to lower his suspicion, or I'm finished.
"Vincent and Marcus were plotting against me. Against the Blackwoods. You confirmed it yourself," Ethan said, his voice steady despite the fear. "If I were the villain, why would I help you expose them?"
Lucas's eyes narrowed.
81%… 80%…
"Okay… it's working, but barely."
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2. An Uneasy Truce
After what felt like an eternity, Lucas sheathed his sword.
"I'll be watching you, Blackwood," he said coldly. "One wrong step, and I won't hesitate."
Ethan exhaled shakily as Lucas walked away.
Suspicion Meter: 78%.
"That's still too high… one mistake and I'm gone."
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3. The Aftermath of Betrayal
The Blackwood mansion was in chaos. With Vincent and Marcus arrested, Ethan officially became the uncontested heir to the Blackwood empire.
But power came with problems.
Dozens of influential relatives now wanted his favor. Business partners demanded answers. The Blackwood security division, once loyal to Vincent, now eyed Ethan warily.
"Great. Now I'm surrounded by people who either want me dead or want to use me."
And then there were the heroines.
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4. Heroines Complications
Sophia Hartley (Heroine C) visited frequently, always thanking Ethan for saving her life.
"Ethan," she said one afternoon, her soft eyes meeting his, "you've changed. You're… different from the Aiden Blackwood I thought I knew."
The system chimed:
Ethan groaned inwardly. "No! I'm trying to stay away from them!"
But then Claire Vale (Heroine B) arrived, still shaken from the assassination attempt.
"I don't like you, Blackwood," Claire said, crossing her arms. "But I can't ignore what you did for my family. You saved us."
And finally, Heroine A – the one whose family Ethan had saved first – appeared as well, bringing gifts and excuses to stay near him.
The Blackwood mansion was starting to feel like a heroine magnet.
"I swear I'm not doing this on purpose!" Ethan thought miserably.
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5. The System's Life-Threatening Mission
Just as Ethan thought things couldn't get worse, the system's voice echoed in his mind.
Ethan froze.
"Wait… the Shadow Syndicate? They're even worse than the Vipers! That's suicide!"
System:
> "Mission failure will result in Death Penalty."
Ethan slammed his fist on the table. "Of course it will!"
He tried bargaining. "Can't I send Damien? Or the Blackwood guards?"
System:
> "Host must personally complete the mission."
Ethan buried his face in his hands. "I'm really going to die this time."
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6. Preparing for the Impossible
Ethan knew he couldn't survive the mission alone. He needed help… but asking Lucas was out of the question.
The Suspicion Meter was still at 78%. If he involved Lucas and made one wrong move, he'd be dead.
So he turned to Damien.
"Damien," Ethan said, "I need you to gather intel on the Shadow Syndicate's main base. Discreetly."
Damien raised an eyebrow. "Sir, that's… dangerous. Why?"
Ethan hesitated, then forced a lie. "They might be targeting the Blackwood family next. I need to be sure."
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7. A Shadow from the Past
That night, Ethan was studying the plans Damien had gathered when a masked figure slipped into his room.
He jumped back, ready to call for help, but the figure raised a hand.
"Relax. I'm not here to kill you," the intruder said, removing the mask.
Ethan's eyes widened.
"You… you're from the manga!"
It was Lydia Kane, an assassin-turned-ally of Lucas in the original story.
But in this version of events, she had come to Ethan first.
"Lucas isn't the only one the Syndicate is after," Lydia said. "If you want to survive, we need to work together."
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8. Infiltration
The next evening, Ethan and Lydia infiltrated the Shadow Syndicate's base – an underground fortress guarded by martial arts masters and armed mercenaries.
Ethan's heart pounded with every step.
"One mistake and I'm dead."
Lydia moved like a ghost, silently taking out guards. Ethan did his best to follow her lead, but he was no assassin.
When they finally reached the vault containing the classified documents, Ethan thought they had succeeded.
Until the alarms went off.
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9. The Battle
Dozens of Syndicate enforcers flooded the room. Ethan barely managed to hold them off with Lydia's help, but then the Syndicate leader appeared – Damocles, a towering figure with terrifying strength.
"You dare steal from me, Blackwood?" Damocles roared.
Ethan's legs trembled. "I… am so dead."
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10. Lucas Arrives
Just as Damocles struck, a flash of light cut through the room.
Lucas Veylan had arrived.
Ethan's stomach dropped.
"No! If Lucas sees me here, the Suspicion Meter will max out!"
And it did.
81%… 85%… 90%…
Lucas's eyes locked onto Ethan.
"Why… are you here, Blackwood?" Lucas demanded, his voice like ice.
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11. Cliffhanger
Ethan had seconds to respond. One wrong word, and Lucas would kill him on the spot.
But before he could say anything, Damocles attacked again, forcing Ethan and Lucas to fight side by side.
As they battled, the system's voice echoed in Ethan's head:
Ethan's heart sank.
"You want me to earn the hero's trust? In the middle of a life-or-death battle?!"
The Suspicion Meter ticked upward again.
91%… 92%…
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Chapter 5 End (Suspense)