"What?" Ethan Reed asked, momentarily confused.
"My name," the girl replied softly.
Ethan paused, her words sinking in.
Lily…
"That's a beautiful name," he said, his tone genuine.
"Beautiful?" Lily looked surprised. "You're the first person to say that. Most of my… friends think it's just plain."
"I don't think so. I think it's lovely."
Lily smiled. This time, her smile carried less caution and more warmth, a flicker of happiness peeking through her guarded demeanor.
From afar, in a dimly lit apartment building, Sam slowly lowered the night-vision binoculars, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
"Well done, Lily. A fine performance indeed," he murmured to himself. "Reality is so much more interesting than dreams. Even the smallest people have their moments to shine. Or rather, it's not reality that's fascinating—it's the people in it."
Hidden in the shadows, he had witnessed Lily's entire act unfold. Even the dialogue was clear to him—Sam could read lips, a skill he had mastered in his endless study sessions within the dream world.
In his pursuit to burn through his limitless mental energy, he had spent his dream years learning a myriad of skills, from bomb-making to hand-to-hand combat, and even concocting poisons.
Tossing the night-vision binoculars casually to Ryan, Sam issued a calm yet firm command: "Look into Lily. There's more to her than meets the eye."
Ryan felt a chill down his spine as he immediately responded, "Understood, Chief!"
The Next Day
At the Viper Gang headquarters, Sam sat in his wheelchair, a faintly hollow look in his eyes. He had just finished hypnotizing a group of subordinates in front of the towering ouroboros-embossed wall.
"Your condition is worsening."
Sam's pale complexion was devoid of any trace of blood, but his eyes burned with an intensity that seemed to defy his failing body.
"Chief, Lily is here."
Ryan entered the room, his fierce presence contrasting with the petite figure of Lily trailing behind him.
Lily appeared visibly nervous, her gaze darting cautiously around the cavernous hall, where the Viper Gang members stood like statues, their expressions blank but menacing.
"How is it progressing?" Sam's hoarse voice echoed through the open space, reverberating off the dark, ornate walls adorned with ouroboros patterns.
Lily's tension heightened as she looked up at Sam, seated beneath the imposing wall. For reasons she couldn't explain, she felt an almost instinctual urge to kneel before him, as if she were standing in the presence of an emperor. Fighting against the impulse, she hastily replied, "Everything is going smoothly. Ethan hasn't grown suspicious."
"Good." Sam nodded, his eyes scrutinizing Lily with unnerving precision. After a pause, he asked slowly, "Have you… slept with him?"
Lily stiffened, her breath hitching. She shook her head awkwardly. "N-no. He's been very considerate. He knows I've been shaken up and hurt, so he didn't touch me."
As if worried that her lack of progress might disappoint Sam, she quickly added, "But I told him I was scared and asked him not to leave. He slept on the floor. Later in the night, I got worried he'd catch a cold, so I let him sleep on the bed."
Sam's sharp gaze dropped to her slender ankle. The pale skin was still tinged red and swollen, a clear sign the injury wasn't faked but real.
"You did well," Sam said calmly. "Things that come too easily aren't cherished by men."
A faint look of relief and joy crossed Lily's face. "Thank you for the praise, sir. Honestly, I didn't do much. Ethan is just… too naïve."
Sam shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he studied Lily with interest. "No need to be modest. Your performance felt genuine—so genuine, it didn't seem like an act at all."
Lily froze, her expression stiffening. "People like me deal with all kinds of customers every day. You pick up a few tricks along the way."
"There's no need to lie," Sam said, his tone calm but pointed. "Your talent for acting has nothing to do with your job—it comes from your experiences. Only someone who's truly lived through despair can portray such defiance so convincingly."
"What are you trying to say?" Lily asked, her smile growing more strained.
"Nothing much," Sam replied lightly. "It's just that I had someone look into your past, and what I found is that your life isn't all that different from the script you prepared.
"A gambling father, a sick mother, a younger brother in school—and you really were a student once. You loved poetry and music.
"The only difference," he continued, "is that reality is far harsher than your script, and you are far stronger than the character you created."
Lily fell silent. Her face turned pale, the veneer of practiced allure completely stripped away, leaving behind a fragile beauty tinged with sorrow.
"In the script, the character still has her parents. In reality, your father was beaten to death by debt collectors. Your mother succumbed to illness. And your only brother disowned you because of the work you do.
"At first, you really did want to sing at bars, but you had no reputation and had to agree to the owner's 'terms' to get on stage. And after that…"
"Stop." Sam raised a hand, cutting her off. "I know more about your life than you do."
Lily blinked, stunned. The bitter smile on her lips grew more pronounced. She was acutely aware of who this man was—the leader of the Viper Gang.
A man like him didn't have sympathy, nor did he need it. Over the years, she had learned not to expect it from anyone. Those who claimed to pity her were usually just using it as a mask for their ulterior motives.
"Your brother's currently working at Integrity Machinery, isn't he?"
The words were light, almost casual, but they struck Lily like a thunderclap. She froze, her panic evident as her voice trembled. "No, please… don't touch my brother. I'll do whatever you want. Anything…"
"Stop." Sam frowned slightly, raising a hand to silence her. "Have you been watching too many soap operas? Or is your perception of me so narrow and clichéd? Why would I go after your brother? Do you really think you're important enough for me to need leverage?"
Lily blinked, her rising emotions scattered by his bluntness. For a moment, she looked confused, as though realizing he might have a point.
"I pay, you work. It's that simple. Understand?"
"Y-yes, I understand. But then… why bring up my brother?"
Sam leaned back in his chair, his tone calm and measured. "I mentioned Integrity Machinery because I'm considering a different form of payment. Integrity Machinery is a small workshop. Poor management has left it in debt to the Viper Gang, and the manager is offering to hand over the factory to settle the account.
"As it happens, your brother works there. So instead of giving you cash, I'm offering you the factory. Your brother can take over as manager.
"This way, the Viper Gang doesn't spend a dime or waste manpower managing a failing operation. Your brother gets a promotion, and the factory stays afloat. A win-win, don't you think?"
Lily's mind churned with doubt. She didn't believe Sam was being altruistic. His mention of Integrity Machinery had to be a calculated warning.
If she completed her mission successfully, her brother might genuinely become the factory manager. But if she failed… the factory could easily become her brother's grave.
Still, she had no choice. Refusal wasn't an option. Taking a deep breath, she nodded quickly, forcing out the words. "I… I agree!"
"Good. Next, I have a second task for you," Sam said calmly. "But first, tell me—did you notice anything unusual about Ethan Reed?"
Lily hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "Hard."
"Hard?"
"Yes," she nodded seriously. "He's… very hard."
Ryan couldn't hold back and burst out, "What the hell?! You said you didn't sleep with him! If you didn't, how do you know he's… hard?! And anyway, our Chief is asking about his abilities, not that kind of thing!"