After eating, Meika began to clean up everything; of course, this task was also her responsibility. From cooking to cleaning and washing dishes.
As for Alec, after eating, he started looking at his mobile phone, searching for places where he could make a lot of money.
To be precise, he was looking for a gambling area where he wouldn't get caught by the police.
After all, in this world, in this era, gambling is still an illegal business. It's just a matter of whether the police want to curb it or completely ban it.
If he were caught gambling, the academy might not allow him to continue studying there.
For Alec, perhaps he didn't need to continue studying at the academy because he possessed a hidden talent that could help him level up easily.
However, he still wanted to go to school because Selvia and many other beautiful women were there.
His goal after acquiring the 'Insight' talent had changed, which was to become stronger and then take over all the beauties in the academy.
Alec used to only hope to have enough ability to make a living, which was more than enough.
But the 'Insight' talent appeared, causing his purpose to change. Since then, his goals have become bigger and more grandiose than ever because he knew that... he was the chosen one.
"Rose Bar?" Alec suddenly found a suitable place.
Although this place is a bar, in reality, it operates illegal fighting rings and gambling.
Survivors come here to become entertainment tools for the wealthy and earn extra money.
Besides, there is also a casino there, and the police have almost ignored this place for a long time.
"Good! I'll choose this place." As Alec muttered, he suddenly saw Meika carrying a bowl of soup outside, and this made him feel uncomfortable.
"Meika, food is very precious; don't be so kind."
Meika heard Alec and replied with a smile, "Brother, don't say that. Sister Vanes has helped me a lot while you were not here."
"Moreover, she is also very pitiful; I feel I should help her a little."
Alec tilted his head, frowned, and disdainfully said, "Huh! She's so ugly; she probably isn't a good person. I suspect she has bad intentions."
"Alright, brother, don't be overly suspicious." Meika hurriedly explained.
Alec frowned, stared at Meika, then looked down at his phone, ignoring her.
Seeing this, Meika sighed in relief, then carried the bowl of soup to the next room.
She hadn't even knocked when the door opened slightly, enough for her to see a pair of beautiful eyes like an autumn lake.
Clear and peaceful, but at this moment, those eyes carried a sense of shame and sadness.
"Meika..." At this moment, a hoarse voice that sounded neither male nor female echoed.
If a child heard this sound at night, they would probably cry out in fear.
"Sister Vanes... have you had dinner yet?" Meika was not afraid; instead, she smiled warmly and said, "I have some soup; please have some."
Vanes saw that there were some meat scraps in the bowl of soup and immediately refused: "I... I've already had dinner. Meika, there's meat in the soup; it's too precious, I..."
"Sister Vanes, don't think like that. This... Ah! My brother and I have already eaten; we can't eat anymore, so we brought this bowl of soup for you." Meika said with a smile.
In fact, she had prepared this bowl of soup when the pot was just boiling, so it wasn't leftovers.
Meika said this so that Vanes wouldn't feel guilty about accepting the bowl of soup from her.
"But... your brother..." Vanes stammered, "Meika, next time you don't need to bring food to me... I..."
Meika also realised that Vanes had heard everything Alec said.
After all, this was a poor lodging area with thin walls. Their room was right next to Vanes's room, so it was normal for Vanes to hear Alec's words.
"Sister Vanes, don't worry. My brother, although he says that, he is gentle; he is just concerned about me." Meika immediately explained.
"I understand, but..." Vanes stammered.
"Alright, you don't need to refuse." Meika hurriedly said, "Take it."
She pushed the bowl of soup into Vanes's hands and then left. Vanes held the still-hot bowl of soup, not knowing what to say, her eyes looking at the soup and then at Meika.
"Thank you, Meika..." Vanes murmured.
…
The next day, Negut woke up after a long sleep, feeling much better.
[Ding! The time until your death event is only 10 days and 2 hours.]
Negut: "..."
As soon as he woke up, the system notification rang, making him uncomfortable: "Oy! Can you not ruin my good morning with your damn notification?"
The system did not respond, and Negut could only sigh. He took a strange device off his forehead.
This device is for survivors; it helps them absorb 'energy crystals' to level up.
This device is quite small, like a patch, used to fix a small 'Energy Crystal' the size of a pea on the forehead.
Negut, through some basic knowledge and support devices, could easily absorb the energy in this Rank F 'Energy Crystal'.
That's right, 'Energy Crystals' are also divided into ranks F, D, C, B, A, and S.
For those with Rank F talent and low levels like Negut, they can only absorb Rank F 'Energy Crystals'.
If he absorbs a higher rank, his body might be overloaded, causing his blood vessels to rupture.
There is another instance where Negut's body can withstand the energy from a higher rank 'Energy Crystal'.
However, he cannot absorb all the energy inside that crystal, so the energy he cannot absorb will disperse outside, which is extremely wasteful.
There was no need for high-ranking 'Energy Crystals'. Negut could currently only absorb 20% of the energy inside a Rank F crystal, with the remaining 80% dissipating into the air.
Negut sighed while thinking to himself: 'It seems... the lower the rank, the lower the ability to absorb energy.'
'I spent an entire night, but I could only absorb the energy in the Rank F crystal.'
'In fact, I could only absorb 20% of the energy inside this pea-sized stone.'
'So... it means I need at least 20 Rank F crystals and at least 10 days to advance to level 2.'
Negut felt despair. The protagonist, although also possessing a low-rank talent, could level up like a rocket.
But the antagonist, no matter how strong the talent, levelled up at a snail's pace.
Negut sighed. Initially, he wanted to use the family's resources to help himself level up faster than the protagonist.
However, that plan was doomed to fail. It took him a full 12 hours, and he could only absorb 20% of the energy in a Rank F crystal.
So how could he level up faster when Alec was already at level 5?
Negut shook his head. In the end, he had to return to the old plan, which was to try to extend the time until the 'Death Event' as long as possible.
He had to become an ordinary person and minimise all conflicts with the protagonist as much as possible.
However, when Negut remembered Meika's identity, Alec's sister, he sighed again.
Negut didn't want to think too much anymore. He drove, taking two survivors to the academy.
Today, he had an important task to do.
…
At the academy.
Grove walked while sighing, his eyes on the messages on his phone, his face showing fatigue and frustration.
Krit!!
Suddenly, a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter braked sharply right next to him, startling him.
"Damn it!" Grove angrily shouted, "You guys... Oy! You... um... um.."
Before he could say anything, two survivors quickly restrained and gagged him, throwing him into the car, and immediately drove away.
Grove lay in the car, startled, looking around: "This place is... Negut?"
He was even more startled when he saw Negut, with two high-level survivors beside him, making him scared.
"N...Negut, I... I don't know what I did wrong, you..." Grove stammered, "I'm sorry... although I don't know what I did wrong, but please, don't hit me, don't kill me."
Negut: "..."
"Do I look like I intend to kill you?"
"This..." Grove looked at Negut's expression and fearfully said, "I feel like you definitely will kill me."
Negut: "..."
'Is this how everyone sees the villain? Can't you see my face is friendly?'
'Very friendly, extremely friendly, not a hint of killing intent or any intention to harm you.'
Negut cursed inwardly, but of course he didn't think Grove would believe him.
He sighed and said, "I heard your mother is seriously ill and needs a lot of credit points for treatment, right?"
Grove was startled, hurriedly knelt down, bowed his head, and begged Negut: "Please, don't harm my mother. I'll do anything you want."
"Please... I beg you, don't kill my mother... I'll do anything you want."
"Even if it's killing, arson, pushing an old lady into the sea, beating a pregnant woman... I can do anything."
Negut: "..." (; ￣Д￣)
'Damn it! Do you think I'm the villain?'
'Wait! I really am the villain.'
Negut rubbed his temples with two fingers, feeling extremely tired: "Alright, calm down. I don't want you to do anything; I just feel sorry for you, so I'm helping you a bit."
"Ah!" Grove was startled, his eyes full of disbelief. "You... you want to help me?"
"Yes." Negut nodded. "I will cover all the medical expenses for your mother."