Thug and Idol: 10X Rewards Second Identity System

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Jane stared at both men in front of her helplessly and fearfully.

Since she gave no answer, Nel turned to Tristan with his question.

"Did Jane send these thugs at the contest? Really?"

Tristan sneered.

"Technically, this was the work of her parents. But it might as well be her." He turned to Jane. "You tried to 'apologize' before me for this, but you don't even care about me. People like you care only about themselves."

"That's not true! I—"

"Shh. I'm not finished."

Tristan's voice gained a hypnotic timbre to it, and the force of it, combined with the piercing gaze of his stunning eyes, stole breath from Jane's lungs and words from her tongue.

Tristan leaned back in his seat.

"I could bring the records I have of your servant's conversations to the police. I can bring them to the press, too. You aren't a big fish, but your parents are public figures with plenty of sharks swarming around."

"If it gets found out that they have dealings with the criminal underworld, they will be torn apart. Your family's reputation will be destroyed. The business of your father will be targeted by all kinds of inspections, and your father himself will be investigated."

"And maybe another time he could've bribed his way out of this, but not when every news outlet talks about it. And I can make sure they talk. I can add my own story to this and make it very, very sad. No judge will risk sparing your family if they will fear being attacked by the crowd themselves."

"Their life will end as you knew it, and your life will end, too. Not only will you be canceled online, people won't want to offer you even a cashier job! Your family assets will be arrested by the government, and you will have to beg with your other relatives or live on the street. But what relative will take a pathetic creature like you in? There's really only the street."

intoThese calm, detailed threats, together with Tristan's hypnotizing voice, drilled deep in Jane's psyche. She sagged in her seat like the soul left her body—so devastated and despairing she was even beyond crying.

It was much worse than the previous time Tristan delivered a mental blow to her. Then, she could cry and move on, but now she already felt like her life was destroyed—like the vision Tristan built had already happened!

[Ding!]

[You have utterly terrified and destroyed a person of moderate status. Reward: your CP increased by 1000!]

[Ding!]

[Fearsomeness attribute increased by 1. Reward: your PP increased by 100!]

Tristan grinned evilly.

This was the power of conviction and imagination—often, it was stronger than the actual thing.

Because Tristan wasn't so sure that he could actually bring to life most of the things he told Jane. He didn't know the full extent of her family's power.

But now, as long as Tristan had the records, Jane was his willing puppet.

"So, Jane. Unless you want this all to happen, you will do exactly as I say. First…"

He paused as he noticed a waiter approaching their table with drinks and appetizers. The man looked at their table, especially at Jane's pale face, with visible concern.

"Is everything alright, miss?" he asked cautiously as he placed items from his tray on the table.

Tristan gave Jane a meaningful look and she forced herself to smile.

"Yes, we… Just have a very emotional talk, this is all."

"'Emotional' is really downplaying it…" Nel muttered.

"Don't worry, and don't hurry with bringing the main course yet," Tristan added with a charming smile and a dash of hypnotism.

Besides the waiter, there was no one else to interrupt the trio. The nearest tables were empty of people, and the position of their table gave the trio some privacy from the rest.

When the waiter left, Tristan smiled at Jane.

"So, first, apologize to Nel on your knees. You gave him some very stressful minutes."

Jane barely even hesitated before falling to her knees. It didn't matter if her beautiful dress would get dusty.

She crawled closer to Nel and reached for his hip. Tears burst from her eyes—tears of relief that she can escape the nightmare Tristan built for her!

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Mayar! Please, forgive me—I made a terrible mistake!"

"Wait-wait-wait, please, get off me!" Nel exclaimed, prying Jane's hands away like they were slimy tentacles. "I forgive you, I forgive you, just sit up! S-seriously…"

Jane glanced at Tristan for confirmation before actually obeying. Tristan felt like she would actually suck them both off here and then if he asked her…

But Tristan shared Nelson's aversion to even touching the woman, despite all her doll-like beauty. Inside that shell, she was uglier than a toad.

"Next, Jane, forget about your pop-star career. Find something else to do in life. Or do nothing—you are a rich heiress, you won't die of hunger without a job. But I don't want to see your face ever again. Not in person, not anywhere. Just disappear from the eyes of the public and mine, you understand?

Otherwise…"

Jane bit her lip, but nodded timidly.

"I un-understand. Please, Mr. Gemello, just don't do this. If you need money—"

"No. I said all I wanted. Remember—one blip, one mistake, and your life and that of your family will be destroyed. Now leave."

The woman nodded quietly and fled the table without making a single sip of her tea, leaving behind a heavy silence.

"Tristan…" Nelson finally said, sneaking him a worried glance. "You… you were bluffing again, were you? Like that other time."

He must've referred to threatening to shoot the thugs that attacked them. Tristan smirked.

"Does it matter, Nel?"

Nelson thought about it.

"Not really. You are still scary as hell." He took in a deep breath, then released it. "But to attack me for a petty reason like that? Maybe people like her just understand nothing less than what you did."

"Exactly. Now, come on. Let's relax and enjoy some fine dining—especially since it all will go to Jane's tab!"