Chapter 29 - Mastermind

"Please, don't hurt me," I managed to utter in a hushed tone as my attacker held the knife against my neck, the cold steel pressing threateningly against my skin.

"This is all your fault for being a bitch. Now you will suffer the consequences for all your sins," the man's voice was devoid of any emotion, each word dripping with malice. I could clearly see that he wasn't bluffing when he threatened to kill me.

"Please don't kill me. I'll do anything you ask," I pleaded, desperation creeping into my voice. As he loomed over me, the possibilities of what he might have in mind were horrifyingly clear. But I didn't care what he demanded of me; survival was my only concern.

The man paused, and a twisted smile crept across his face.

"How about you give me some good time?" he sneered, his intentions clear and repulsive.

"Alright, just don't kill me," I rushed to respond, a surge of fear compelling me to agree. The more compliant I was, the better chance I had of escaping this nightmare. I couldn't believe that the person who had blackmailed me turned out to be a complete psycho.

"Good girl," he chuckled, the sinister tone of his voice sending shivers down my spine. In an instant, he grabbed a handful of my hair and yanked me down to my knees.

THUD!

"Ouch!" Pain shot through me as my knee scraped against the ground. Though I wanted to lash out in anger, the fear of my life being taken away kept me in check.

While still gripping my hair, he slowly unzipped his pants.

"You know what to do," he chuckled.

A strange odor wafted from his pants, and though it made my stomach turn, I felt powerless to fight back. Survival was paramount, so with trembling hands, I raised them and pulled down his underwear.

As I caught sight of his dick, a mixture of fear and disgust surged within me. But the need to survive overpowered those emotions. I reminded myself that I was a strong-willed woman, someone who had faced worse situations and emerged victorious.

But, in the presence of this malicious creep, tears welled up in my eyes. The reality of the situation hit me hard – I didn't want to die, and I certainly didn't want to be taken advantage of.

"Please, someone save me," I wanted to cry out for help, my voice trembling with fear as my hands shook uncontrollably.

"What the hell are you doing to her!"

Suddenly, a voice rang out. It was familiar, though I struggled to place it in the chaos of the moment.

"You fucking pyscho!" The voice belonged to a man who charged forward, his fist raised in anger.

The creep who had been holding me was taken aback, his grip faltering as he turned to face the new threat, pointing the knife towards my rescuer.

Relief washed over me, mingling with a lingering fear. Someone had attempted to rescue me, but a new worry emerge from heart – what if he ended up getting stabbed in the process?

"Stop or I will stab you !" The creepy man yelled .

With a swift motion, the rescuer deftly dodged the knife that the creep had pointed towards him. The element of surprise was on his side, and before the creep could react, the rescuer's fist connected with his jaw.

BAM!

The impact was enough to send the creep stumbling backwards.

But the creep wasn't about to give up easily. As he staggered, he lunged forward, attempting to stab the rescuer with the knife.

Fortunately, the rescuer's reflexes were sharp, and he skillfully sidestepped the attack. In a quick and fluid motion, he swung his arm and delivered a powerful punch to the creep's torso.

The force of the blow was enough to knock the wind out of the creep, and he crashed to the ground, the knife slipping from his grasp as he fell. Without hesitation, he scrambled to his feet, panic evident in his eyes, and fled the scene in a hasty retreat.

"Are you alright, miss?" My rescuer rushed over to me, extending his hand to help me up.

As I looked up at him, I saw a young man with smooth and clear skin, his features neither exceedingly handsome nor unattractive. And yet, as I gazed at him, my heart began to race. What was this sensation? Could this be what people referred to as falling in love with someone who had come to your rescue?

"Thank you, thank you for saving me," my emotions surged forth, and I found myself unable to resist embracing the young man.

My yearning for safety was met by his presence, offering me a sense of protection. While I recognized that my actions might have been impulsive, the feeling of his hands on my back made me inexplicably happy. And to my surprise, he returned the hug, providing a reassuring embrace.

Zyden POV

"I got you now, Bitch!" I couldn't help but marvel at my own brilliance. All those hours spent reading novels and binge-watching Korean dramas had finally paid off as I hugged my aunt's warm body in my arms.

How did I manage it ? It was as intricate as a K-drama plot twist, but I outsmarted everyone because I didn't just rely on my "system."

I mean, come on, I wasn't about to be one of those stereotypical MCs with mind-control abilities who succeed solely because of their plot armor. Frankly, I found that kind of thing lazy writing. No, everything I did was all about maximizing the efficiency of my skills.

I knew better than to fully trust my aunt's cunning nature. It would be plain foolish to assume she wouldn't try to bring reinforcements and gang up on me. So, before venturing into this risky situation, I did what any brilliant mastermind would do – I found the perfect decoy to unleash my skills .

Now, I'm fully aware of my skill limitations . Normal folks tend to have a higher resistance to my skill, especially when I'm asking them to do something utterly ridiculous.

But then I had a lightbulb moment: What about alcoholics? Or, even juicier, drug addicts? I mean, come on, they practically had "easy manipulation" written all over them.

All I needed was to locate a suitable candidate, flash some cash, and use my suggestion to have their minds twisted to my liking.

Thanks to my trusty Mind Eye and the vastness of the internet, I found the perfect candidate. Sure, he needed a bit of a makeover, but from there, it was all about using my skill to make him obediently dance to my tune, all through a discreet earpiece

I instructed him to meet my aunt, with the plan for him to play the part of a vlogger prank victim when a confrontation took place.

I also had him lead her to this very alley, where he'd execute some nefarious scheme. All of this, meticulously designed, just so I could swoop in and save the day. Even that intense fight scene? Yep, it was all a choreographed masterpiece.

Now, I'm not one to brag, but I couldn't help feeling a bit like the upgraded but a little bit perverted version of Lelo*ch vi Britann*a right now. Cunning plans, strategic manipulation – you name it, I orchestrated it.

"Don't worry, you're safe now. I've got you. You can trust me," I whispered, hugging her tightly.

[Suggestion: Success]

Hahaha, I couldn't help but let out victory laugh in my mind.