The First Oath of Desperation
Kael Ravencroft had never been laughed at like this.
Not abroad.
Not in business meetings.
Not even when he was poor.
But tonight—
He had been reduced to a joke.
Kael's Inner Collapse
Inside the guest lounge, Kael scrubbed at his ruined suit, hands shaking.
Chairman Holtz's cold eyes replayed in his mind.
"I don't deal with people whose money sources are unclear."
And worse—
The laughter.
The whispers.
"Who invited this clown?"
"Trying to act big in front of real families."
"He doesn't belong here."
Kael's reflection stared back at him.
Hair still damp.
Face pale.
Pride cracked.
His hands clenched into fists.
"…They'll regret this."
Misplaced Hatred
Kael didn't blame himself.
He never did.
He blamed:
Holtz, for ignoring him The guests, for laughing High society, for being "blind"
And most of all—
Alexander Runcandel.
That spoiled heir…
Kael's eyes darkened.
He thinks he's untouchable.
Kael didn't know how Alex had done anything.
He only knew one thing:
That humiliation had started after Alex spoke.
"…I'll crush you," Kael whispered.
"Every last one of you."
This wasn't strategy.
This was desperation.
Meanwhile — The Ride Home
The Runcandel car glided smoothly through the city streets.
Inside—
Silence.
Alex sat comfortably in the back seat.
Evelyn reviewed messages on her tablet.
Lusamine sat quietly, stealing occasional glances at Alex.
Alex closed his eyes.
And opened the system.
System Rewards
System Notice:
Host humiliated Kael Ravencroft.
Confidence shaken.
Luck −300
Host gains +3,000 points
Alex's expression didn't change.
Another notification followed.
System Notice:
Host caused Kael Ravencroft's public humiliation without exposure.
Prestige damage detected.
Luck −800
Host gains +8,000 points
The numbers settled.
System Points: 32,000
Alex opened his eyes slowly.
"…So he still has 8,400 luck left."
He leaned back into the seat.
Not excited.
Not rushed.
Just patient.
A Villain's Perspective
Alex didn't hate Kael.
He didn't even feel anger.
Kael Ravencroft, to him, was—
A fat sheep standing on a scripted path.
And fat sheep weren't slaughtered quickly.
They were sheared.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Until nothing was left.
"I'll take it slow," Alex murmured.
"No need to hurry."
Lusamine heard him faintly and shivered without knowing why.
Evelyn glanced at her son briefly—
Then smiled.
Elsewhere — The Wrong Fire
Kael Ravencroft stared at the city from the guest lounge window.
He pulled out his phone.
Messages flashed.
Some sympathetic.
Many mocking.
He ignored them all.
"I'll use my connections," he said coldly.
"I'll show them who's really strong."
But Kael didn't realize—
The moment he swore revenge—
He stopped being a protagonist.
And became prey.