Chapter 2 Duke Winters

"Congratulations host for obtaining the 100'th life Title!"

Kisha gritted her teeth and her hand clutched the arm of the chair. "Are you congratulating me or are you pissing me off?!" 

"Of course, I'm congratulating you! This title includes 100 thousand shop points plus 10 points on all stats!" If the system has a body it would start jumping around while setting off handheld fireworks.

"Fuck off!" She roared in her head. The system immediately went silent.

"To think that I would be betrayed by my best friend and lover in that raid." She thought. 

They must have planned it long ago, and to think that she never suspected them, Unlike them who are always in the base, Kisha was busy trying to expand their territory and making it as safe as possible.

This was not her first time dying but it was the most painful, as she spent 5 years with them. She saved her lover from dying in the clutches of a high-level zombie while she intercepted a group of human-eating people to save their captive including her supposed best friend. But what does she get from her love and care? Betrayal!

To think that the man she loved would push her to the zombie hoard with his eyes full of disdain and disgust while her best friend clinging to him, showing Kisha that he belonged to her, her face plastered with the smile of victory.

She gave them the best of everything and treated them as precious as her family, she never forced them to do what they didn't want to do. She even got into an argument with her family and her friend just to make sure they wouldn't feel misunderstood.

"I never believed it when others told me that those dogs were cheating on me! I thought I graduated from being naive and overtrusting." 

"I'm still here host, even if you can't trust anyone, you could always trust me." The system said proudly.

"Right. I still have you. You've stayed with me in the 99 times I died. To think that I died that many times. Why does my life become like a game character where I die at every turn of events?" Kisha said numbly.

"In the novels mentioned by those kids, the main character would become OP when they gained a system, why is it different from mine?"

"Host! Are you showing disdain over me?!" The system said angrily.

"Kisha you bitch! Are you ignoring me now?!" A shrill female voice pulled Kisha from her thoughts.

Kisha stood up from her chair and looked coldly at Lisa. " I will not become your punching bag today. Are you having your menopause that's why you're always moody and angry?" Kisha's brow raises questioningly while looking straight at her.

Lisa's face contorted and she pointed at Kisha with a trembling hand. "What did you say?! You bitch, have you eaten a lion's balls that you have the guts to retort?!"

"No, it's just that I had enough of your bullying since I entered this company. Not only did you bully me but you even promoted others to do the same." Kisha's piercing gaze sent a shiver through Lisa's spine and she unconsciously took a step back.

"Either you took my credit as your own or you gave it to others in return for money. I have never voiced my anger and dissatisfaction but you never stop there, you would even deduct my pay with petty excuses." Kisha took a step forward emitting an incredulous killing intent, even the people watching turned pale as they were overpowered by pressure.

"Just because you don't like me and I am a fresh graduate, that you do this to me? You called me a bimbo with no context but you gave me all the core work and overworked me without paying for my overtime work. Tell me what would happen if this reached the upper echelon?" 

"Don't slander me, bitch! You don't have any evidence." In the air-conditioned office, Lisa's face was full of sweat and her legs trembling.

"You can try me." Kisha looked at her one last time before walking out. But before she reached the door Lisa screamed. "You are fired! You hear me? FIRED!"

"Kisha is so scary! If I had not seen her earlier this morning and seen her being timid while others bullied her. I would think that this person standing before us is an impostor." a guy near the door whispered to his colleague. 

"But don't you think she's more attractive this way? She's like a poppy flower, beautiful yet addictive." the other guy nodded, his eyes glued to Kisha.

"No need to tell me, I quit anyway." She walked out with her things in a high-profile manner.

When she reaches the elevator she smirks. "008, gather all the evidence about Lisa's bribery, prostitution with the director, office bullying, and taking credit for others' work and send it all to the higher management."

"Host that would cost 5000 points, should I deduct it now?"

" Yes, and don't forget to delete all my work from my computer. Use the point needed for all this work since we have enough to allocate to the upgrades and purchase of important items."

Although there are only 24 hours before the apocalypse befalls, I would let you lose what you are so proud of as payment for killing me in my first life Lisa. This is your debt to me and I promised to take your life when our paths cross again!

...

On the highest floor of the Alpha Empire Corporation, Duke Winters is looking at the report of the misconduct that was sent anonymously. As the one who sat at the top of the pyramid since he reached eighteen up until now that he is twenty-five, he has cleaned his company of any corruption and showed his ruthlessness when dealing with human trash. But to think that this still happened under one of the companies under him is unforgivable, he exercised positive rivalry in the workplace, big paychecks, and rewarded his employees handsomely for the great work but of course, he only accepted those who were qualified. 

"Tristan, I want this dealt with before this day ends!"

Tristan respectfully bowed beside Duke and took the files with two hands, as he left Duke's office, he made sure to close the door. Duke's phone lit up and an unknown number is calling. Only Tristan, his closest friends, and his family members knew his number, his private information is highly protected, and even though this is highly suspicious he had an inkling feeling to answer the call which baffled him.

He answered the call and stood up, looked over the floor-to-ceiling window which overlooked City A, the most prosperous city in their country. "Hello." His cold and indifferent voice could make those who heard it feel a shiver but the one on the other side of the phone felt nostalgia and swelling happiness in her heart.

An equally cold female voice with a hint of gentleness sounded on the phone. "Duke, I have urgent information to share with you."

His eyebrow knitted but there was no displeasure in his heart instead curiosity plagued him. Without the change in his voice, he answered. "Who are you?"

"My name is Kisha Aldens, I'll be arriving in your office in 15 minutes. I hope you can inform the front desk to allow me in or let Tristan fetch me."

Surprise flashed in Duke's eyes. This was the first time he heard the woman's voice and hadn't even seen her but he could feel her pure intentions and an indescribable feeling swirling in his heart, there was not even an ounce of doubt. Before he could utter a word the call got cut off.

He thought deeply he could not come up with an answer so he decided to instruct the front desk to lead Kisha to his office once she arrived. He usually doesn't give strangers a second of his time, other has to line up to wait for him and give them a chance. But this time, he waited patiently for Kisha to arrive and hear what this urgent information she carried with her.

Not long after, a knock sounded from the door. "Mr. Winters, your guest has arrived."

A deep cold voice but surprisingly pleasant to the ear uttered. "Come in." 

As Kisha was led inside the office, she saw Duke leaning in his leather office chair. Monitoring her every action. In his black and wood-themed office which looks elegant and noble, he still stood out the most, his perfect chiseled face, high nose bridge, seductive deep eyes that could suck you in, and his thin lips. It's not only limited to his face but he also has a good figure, his body is lean but a little muscular with his height of 189 cm. He's like a supermodel. No wonder his the most sought-after bachelor in the entire country. It might sound exaggerated but he's good-looking, even Kisha who's gone through life and death with him still gets attracted by his good genes.

"What do want to drink?" Duke asked

"Water is fine." Kisha answered, she tried to tone down the coldness her body emitted as she looked straight at Duke's eyes.

He called for his secretary in the intercom to prepare his coffee and bring Kisha water. In his spacious office, he seems so far away from Kisha who sits silently on the sofa in the middle of the room. He stood up from his chair and walked to the sofa to sit in front of her, to also get a better look at the woman who piqued his interest.

His efficient secretary brought the drinks and closed the door to give them space to talk about their business.

She watched him elegantly drink his coffee as if he were a piece of art. "He's still as handsome as I remembered but as cold as a block of ice." She chuckled in her mind

His usually intimidating aura intensified, thinking that it might work on Kisha like it did to others. "Tell me what is this urgent information you brought." He leaned on the sofa and put his right leg on top of his left as he crossed his arms.

Kisha was unperturbed by his intimidation as she continued. "I want you to promise first to give me 100M worth of supplies."

Duke's brow raises trying to understand what is inside her head. "What would I get in return?"

"A life-saving information." She smiles gracefully as she drinks her water. 

"Host! Are you trying to scam this guy to get your supplies?" 008's excited voice rang in her head.

"Well, you issued a 100M supply gathering mission. Do you think I have that much money?"

"But don't we usually ransack the warehouses around?"

"Not only is it time-consuming but I can't do that within the 22-hour time remaining before the apocalypse starts and I have other things that I need to prepare."

"But this guy is always suspicious of everyone and is usually the one who scams people until nothing is left. How can we even get something out of him?"

"Well, let's try to negotiate because not only his people is efficient in getting things done, but we might be able to share his resources in the future if he deems this information useful. Either way, we are not losing out."

Duke's eyes narrowed as he tried to read through her eyes but could not get anything from her deadpan expression. "So tell me. What information is deemed life-saving and is worth 100M? You know that I am a businessman and I do not make a losing deal." 

"Let me show you something first." The glass of cold water in Kisha's hand suddenly disappeared and reappeared like magic

Although, Duke still has an indifferent expression. There were surging emotions deep within him and could not understand what had happened or he refused to understand as he is a more scientific than superstitious kind of person.

Kisha understood him better than other people, that's why she knew that he must have understood the emergence of superpowers but was thinking of how to know the triggers.

"As you've seen, I have awakened. But this is not what's important, I showed you my superpowers to give the upcoming information more credibility."

His whole body stiffened as his expression turned serious and his ears perked up.

"In 22 hours, there will be a huge earthquake but that's not all, it will be followed by a blood rain which will cause the virus to spread. This is not limited to this city. The whole world will fall into chaos. That's why I'm trying to get as much supply as possible." Kisha did not keep any information from him as she trust him from the bottom of her heart. He is the only person who never betrayed her even when his life was endangered or died.