Chapter 283: Was It Really Just an Accident?

Sean Grant pressed on his temples. His head throbbed, and several images flashed through his mind.

Right, he remembered being beaten by Jane Lancaster. She was furious, but he hadn’t fought back.

’What had he been thinking at the time? A mix of stubbornness and guilt, a touch of defiance and unease, but definitely no fear or despair...’

And after Jane Lancaster left? Right, someone else had come.

Back then, he could still move freely. He had even been in a joyful mood, though his words were stubborn. "What, you regret hitting me?" he’d asked.

Until he saw the newcomer’s face.

All the light, cheerful memories instantly faded. Fear seized his breath, and a thick darkness nearly swallowed him whole.

After that... what exactly happened?

His head felt like it was about to explode, but he just couldn’t remember what came next.

Only after a much longer time did another fragment of memory surface.

He had been thrown back into that same alley, covered in wounds and on the verge of death, until Luna Morgan happened to pass by and save him.

’So why on earth did I splice these two memories together incorrectly?’

’No, that’s not right.’ When he was thrown back into the alley, a voice had faintly spoken a few words.

"Got some experience now, so you’re not so heavy-handed this time. I thought another one was going to die."

After a pause, the person kicked him. "But a bastard like you probably wouldn’t die even if I played a little rougher, right?"

He forced his eyes open and stared at the person, his gaze filled with bone-deep hatred.

"What are you looking at me for? Want revenge?" the voice chuckled. "If so, then live on with that hatred. And remember, the one who made you suffer so miserably is Jane Lancaster."

’No, no, no! It wasn’t like that!’ a voice screamed frantically inside him.

But the person’s eyes suddenly swirled like a vortex, threatening to pull his entire being in. He couldn’t look away.

Soon, his eyelids grew too heavy to lift, and his consciousness faded into a blur...

Overwhelmed by a surge of rage and panic, Sean Grant suddenly SPAT out a mouthful of blood.

His temples throbbed violently, and a splitting pain shot through his head, as if something was trying to break free from its confinement.

In the end, he could no longer bear the tearing pain. His body swayed and, without warning, he collapsed.

"Boss!"

"Sean!"

——

Jasper Sterling carried Jane Lancaster through the industrial park and a residential complex, finally stopping on a secluded path.

A black car was parked quietly by the roadside. The driver saw them approach and quickly opened the door.

Soon, the black car disappeared into the night.

"What’s got you smiling so happily?" Jasper Sterling was infected by her grin, and a hint of a smile touched his own lips.

Jane Lancaster: "Yup, I’m happy. I finally got to beat up that asshole."

’A schemer hiding in the shadows and plotting against others probably never thought he’d be on the receiving end of a beating one day.’

In Aethelgard, before the control console, the Black-Haired Oracle’s expression had been grim for some time now.

Seeing Jasper Sterling smile, he thought coldly, ’What right do you have to smile? She beat up Sean Grant, but do you have any idea what price she paid?’

Immediately after, Jasper Sterling took Jane Lancaster’s wrist and began to gently massage it.

"This arm... when you were leaning against me just now, you winced in pain from just a slight touch. Did you injure it?"

Jasper Sterling had, of course, guessed that she had probably used some sort of item again, and the side effects had rebounded on her several times over.

He also knew that the last few times Jane Lancaster had made a move, she hadn’t paid any attention to the surveillance cameras. This wasn’t like her usual meticulous self, so some power must have been helping her block the cameras.

That gaze was noticeably softer toward Jane Lancaster, but it held a strong hostility toward him.

Jasper Sterling certainly knew how wonderful she was, so it was no surprise that someone else, like him, would be captivated by her.

’What he was dissatisfied about was this: aren’t gods supposed to be aloof and omnipotent? This one can’t even eliminate her side effects. What a waste.’

"By the way, did you find a hacker to help you block the cameras? Their skills don’t seem that great. They almost let you get cornered," he said, subtly dissing the person in question.

Jane Lancaster glanced at him. ’Here he goes again, playing his games.’

"It was just an accident," she said with a small smile.

"Was it really just an accident?" Jasper Sterling’s expression turned serious. "Things are rarely that coincidental in this world. And Sean Grant’s assistant reacted far too quickly."

The few incidents at the bar tonight were all his handiwork.

He could hear Jane Lancaster’s thoughts. Never treating her premonitions as nonsense, he had long been secretly keeping an eye on Sean Grant and those few bars.

He had, of course, also investigated the people around Sean Grant.

Sean Grant’s assistant was ruthless but lacked cunning. Coupled with his impatient and impulsive nature, those incidents should have been enough to keep him occupied.

Yet at that critical moment, he had somehow found the presence of mind to worry about whether his boss had arrived at the club and had decisively ordered the car to turn around.

No matter how you looked at it, it was abnormal.

"I don’t like to assume the worst of people, but... you don’t think your partner backstabbed you, do you?" Jasper Sterling asked, looking up.

——

"CRACK!"

In Aethelgard, before the control console, the Black-Haired Oracle violently crushed the Star Disc in his hand.

Several white-robed attendants saw his darkened expression and, terrified, immediately prostrated themselves on the floor, not daring to even breathe too loudly.

The Black-Haired Oracle caught sight of the attendants on the floor out of the corner of his eye and quickly resumed his usual emotionless expression.

"All of you, withdraw."

Only after the white-robed attendants had left did the Black-Haired Oracle frown and explain to Jane Lancaster in her mind.

[I didn’t backstab you. It really wasn’t me. We’re partners. I wouldn’t resort to such petty tricks.]

’So don’t you dare believe his malicious provocations.’

[I know. You’ve already shown your sincerity in our partnership...] Jane Lancaster had just finished her mental reply when she felt a tighten on her hand.

Jasper Sterling took her hand and gently kissed the back of it. "And I... will never betray you."

The young man’s pair of peach-blossom eyes were shimmering and gentle, unconsciously drawing one in, making one want to drown in them.

Like a wild beast sheathing its claws and fangs to offer you all of its devotion.

Jane Lancaster: "...I know."

The Black-Haired Oracle looked down at the mortal with an expressionless face.

’Hah. A shameless careerist. Don’t think you can fake innocence just by hiding your claws and fangs.’

According to the original Star Disc’s calculations, Jasper Sterling was the one most likely to become this small world’s final boss, with his world-destruction risk meter filled to the max.

It was precisely because of this that several priests had joined forces to set up a spatiotemporal rift ahead of time, intending to extradite this person to Aethelgard.

Unexpectedly, the plan ultimately deviated, and he cunningly escaped.

It wasn’t because of Jane Lancaster’s warning, though; she was still unconscious at the time.

Later, he used the Star Disc to run another divination and discovered that the probability of Jasper destroying the world had been greatly reduced. Only then did he stop trying to forcibly extradite him.

After all, if he failed again and let the man become aware of Aethelgard’s existence, that would be a true catastrophe.

But even if Jasper Sterling’s threat level had decreased, it didn’t change his fundamental nature as a demon.