Victor Hale did not believe in chaos; he believed in data. And for the past week, the data stream on Alina Veyra had been... erratic.
Her social media engagement was down 12%. Her attendance at non-mandatory but strategically crucial social quests was spotty.
She used to reply right away. Now, her answers came slower, for no clear reason. Small changes but to Victor, they were errors in a system that should have worked perfectly.
The latest data packets, delivered to his encrypted terminal in the form of two high-resolution images and a concise report from Lena, were the most troubling of all.
[Report: Subject A sighted at unsanctioned event (The Cauldron, Industrial District). In proximity to Target D for approx. 20 minutes. Exited zone separately.]
The accompanying images were stark. The first was of the F-Ranker, Darius Cole. He looked like he belonged there.
The second photo was of Alina, a thoughtful, almost wistful look on her face. A status effect Victor hadn't seen in years. An expression that was not part of their brand alignment.
Victor zoomed in on the boy's face. He saw no ambition, no cunning, no overt threat. He saw only a quiet intensity, an infuriating self-possession.
This wasn't a rival player. Rivals were understandable; they operated on the same principles of power and acquisition.
This boy was something worse. He was a glitch. A statistical anomaly that refused to be rounded. And he was becoming a vector for Alina's increasingly chaotic behavior.
It was time for a system patch.
He found her on the private terrace of her family's suite. She was studying one of her grandmother's old grimoires. She looked studious and serene. She looked like a bug he needed to fix.
"Good morning, my love," he said, his voice smooth. He kissed her forehead, a gesture that was both affectionate and possessive . "You missed a call from my mother. She's finalizing the guest list for the engagement announcement party."
"I was in a Study state," Alina said without looking up. "I'll call her back."
"Of course," Victor said, pulling a chair to her side. "I'm glad you're doing your side quests.
It makes you more interesting." As long as those quests don't create unnecessary risk exposure."
The shift was so subtle, a change in his vocal programming.
But Alina heard the click of the trap being set. Her hand tensed on the grimoire. "Risk exposure? Victor, it's a history book. I don't think the 19th-century mystics are going to crash the stock market."
"I'm not talking about the books, Alina," he said, his voice was calm but his words were sharp.
"I'm talking about the warehouses in the industrial district. About the company you keep when you think no one's watching."
The air on the terrace grew colder. Anger rose in her chest, quickly replaced by a Fear debuff.
He knew. Of course he knew. His information network was as vast and invisible as his family's wealth.
"I went to an art show," she said evenly. "Is that something I get banned for?"
"Of course not," Victor smiled. "But the optics, my love. The heiress to the Veyra Corporation, my fiancée, seen in a place like that... with a player like that. It's a brand misalignment. It creates a narrative we can't control."
He leaned forward, his voice dropping to an intimate whisper. "Alina, our families are institutions. Our merger is the biggest event in the history of our sector. Your reputation is the Veyra reputation.
A story about you and some... disgruntled F-Ranker? It could jeopardize everything. It could affect stock prices. It could put a great deal of strain on your father's... delicate position on the board."
The threat was thinly veiled in corporate language but as clear as a knife edge. Step out of line and your whole guild will pay.
He was using her Family Loyalty stat as leverage.
Alina felt trapped, her chest tightening. "So I can't have a private life now?" she asked.
"You're free to have any life you want," Victor said warmly, taking her hand in his.
His touch was cold. "As long as it's the one we've built together.
"I love you, Alina and because I love you, I deal with the strange data so you don't have to." He squeezed her hand. "Just... maintain the appropriate decorum. For me. It's not so much to ask, is it?"
Later that day, Victor made his point public.
Darius was walking across the main campus plaza when a murmur went through the crowd. He looked up.
A flower delivery drone, a ridiculously expensive model, was descending from the sky. It hovered in the center of the plaza.
From beneath it, a huge bouquet of white roses lowered gently into Victor Hale's waiting arms.
He turned with a charming smile and handed the bouquet to Alina.
Victor pulled her close, and kissed her with a long possessive kiss for everyone to see.
[Public Spectacle]: Victor Hale has publicly confirmed his Betrothed status with Alina Veyra. Nearby onlookers receive a temporary Awe debuff.
From his vantage point, Darius felt like he'd taken a critical hit to his Morale.
He saw Alina's face over Victor's shoulder. Her expression wasn't one of swooning romance. It was blank. Resigned. Trapped.
To the rest of the world, Victor was the charming hero. But Darius saw the gesture for what it was: a branding. A public display of ownership. A clear message. This is mine.
He watched them walk away, the crowd parting like they were royalty.
The gap between his world and hers had never felt wider.
He'd been a fool to think their shared secret meant something. He was just a glitch, and the system was fixing itself.
He climbed up three stairs to his floor. He was exhausted.
He reached his door and stopped.
There, on the worn welcome mat, was a small, still object.
It was a bird. A small sparrow lay still, its neck bent at an odd angle. Its dark eyes stared blankly at the ceiling. It was dead.
Darius stared at it, his blood running cold.
This wasn't a random NPC death. It was placed. Deliberately. It was a message, as clear and chilling as Victor's whispered threats.
Statistical anomalies are messy. They get deleted.
His actions, he realized with horrifying clarity, were being monitored. And the consequences were real.
[System Alert: You have been marked by an unknown entity. [Threat Level: High]. Proceed with caution.]