Chapter 26: Instigation_1

Mina opened her mouth.

She wanted to explain that she didn't intend to hurt Jasmine.

But, words seemed to falter on her lips when she tried to speak.

Didn't she know the danger of handing control of Jasmine over to Rivers?

She herself had been taken advantage of by Rivers after losing the power to resist!

Link raised his right hand, refusing to listen to Mina's nonsense, and threatened, "We already guessed what you and Erick are up to. Now you have two choices, either cooperate with us, and everyone is happy, or don't, and we will report your actions to Rivers."

Upon hearing this, Mina panicked.

She was not afraid of Rivers seeking revenge after knowing what she had done, but that she had finally found a way to take revenge on Rivers, and might not succeed.

Revenge had become Mina's obsession.

"What do you want me to do to cooperate with you?"

Mina asked tentatively, bearing hopes against hope.

"Don't worry, we won't make things difficult for you."

Link smiled and spoke in a calm tone, "As far as we know, Erick is not a good guy either. All you have to do is tell Erick that Rivers knows he is a traitor."

"That's it?"

Mina was somewhat skeptical.

"That's it."

Link nodded indifferently.

He took out his personal smart device and right in front of Mina, added Rives Francis as a friend.

While working on it, Link turned and walked out of the door, signaling for Jasmine and Mina to leave this small leisure hut with him.

...

Rivers' mood had improved.

Lately, he suffered numerous misfortunes and setbacks.

Today seemed to be a turning point, and he felt the way he did months ago when everything was going smoothly.

Firstly, that annoying Link Grande got beaten up and had to beg for mercy, and he solemnly promised to mind his own business from then on.

What a joy!

And before the joy faded, Erick brought him even better news.

Jasmine Kidman had been controlled by Erick's men!

And even more, she was being held in a leisure hut by the lake!

This excited Rivers through and through!

Speaking of the leisure hut by the lake, Rivers could not help but think of last year when he assaulted Mina Havcheck there during the first month of his "Rage Inferno Meditation Method" practice.

"Erick sure knows me well!"

Rivers proclaimed as he rushed towards the leisure hut, unable to wait.

He was so eager that he failed to notice the undisguised contempt in Erick's eyes.

Even when Erick disappeared halfway there, Rivers didn't notice.

Right now, all he wanted was to reach that leisure hut and receive the gift Erick had prepared for him.

But...

Just as he got to the lake but hadn't yet set foot on the meadow, not even catching sight of the leisure hut, his smart device vibrated.

Rivers had no patience for it and outright ignored his device.

However, the smart device was persistent, vibrating incessantly as if it would keep shaking until he acknowledged it.

Rivers face darkened, his mood becoming irritated.

Who was this blind fool disturbing him at such a crucial moment?

He roughly pulled out his smart device and noticed that it was Link Grande sending him constant friend requests.

"What"

Confusion hit Rivers as he couldn't figure out what stunt Link Grande was trying to pull.

His eyes red with lust, Rivers was on the verge of putting away his device and ignoring Link when his dwindling rationality made him hesitate.

Unusual circumstances meant something fishy was going on.

There must be a reason why Link Grande contacted him at this point, so he decided to hear him out.

Rivers accepted Link's friend request, prepared to see what trick Link was playing.

"Have you reached the meadow by the lake yet, Rives Francis?"

The first message from Link left Rivers startled, full of disbelief.

How could he know that I would be here at this time?

"Jasmine Kidman has already left, it's useless for you to come."

The second message got Rivers irate.

Mockery, this was pure mockery.

"I knew you were having me beaten up last night, and as a result, I swindled ten Magic Stones from you."

The third message drove Rivers to the point of furious rage.

This was not just mockery anymore, this was humiliation!

Right now, Rivers wanted nothing more than to reduce Link Grande to ashes, even his bones would be scattered to the wind.

"Think about how the information was leaked. Friendly advice, while a lamp can illuminate all directions, what's underneath is often in darkness."

The fourth message prompted Rivers' rationality to kick in, pushing his IQ back to normal.

That's right, the only people who knew about this were him, Erick, and five newly hired New Bloods. It was obvious who had leaked the information.

"We have no grudges or hatred, we just want to study peacefully. We are not your enemies."

The fifth message completely sobered up Rivers, allowing him to withstand the raging flames of desire and think rationally.

He began to reflect on his recent experiences and realized that he seemed to have relied too much on Erick.

Erick was the one to do everything, and everything Erick suggested seemed reasonable to him.

The girls who fulfilled his desires yet left him dissatisfied were all found by Erick. The warnings about Link Grande's disregard and girls becoming more alert were also said by Erick.

There was only one constant in all of this - Erick!

Who would have thought that you, a bushy-browed guy, would also start playing dirty?

"So it was you who was playing tricks!"

Rivers gritted his teeth and anger surged in his heart.

He decided to give Erick a good lesson, to punish him.

Betrayal is unforgivable!

With this in mind, Rivers stopped advancing towards the meadow by the lake and turned back.

He was going to go settle accounts with Erick!

...

Elsewhere.

After sending the five messages, Link immediately deleted the "friend".

Feeling disgusted at the mere thought of Rivers, a notorious P, Link couldn't possibly let him become his "friend".

Although he upholds the principle of peace and harmony in his actions, this does not mean that Link lacks basic morality to tolerate such scum like Rivers.

Not dealing with Rivers personally was just because he didn't want to sully his hands.

"Now it's your turn."

Link said to Mina.

There was no choice but to go through with it.

Mina clenched her teeth, making up her mind. She also sent a message through her smart device to Erick, "Failure, Rivers knows you're betraying him."

"???"

Erick was so shocked that he couldn't speak and resorted to using symbols to express his state of mind.

What the hell is going on?

How did the plan that was going well suddenly go haywire?

Doesn't this mean that Rivers wants to incinerate me now, scatter my ashes?

I can't beat him!