She played deaf to its words even though they were suggesting she could die if she continued with this. Closing her eyes, she waited with bated breath for the white light to bring her to the world within their world mentioned in the List of Partners tab. The seconds that slowly pa.s.sed seemed to be an unknown and endless amount of time to her. The beating of her heart was so wild and loud that she almost got deafened by it.

'Am I already there?' she asked when she could no longer hear the shouts and sharp, inexplicable noises coming from the trucks, long hoses, and ambulances.

She opened her eyes and as expected, the a.s.sortment of people crowding around the former Golden Residences was gone, replaced by a weird world showing no signs of change or movement in it. Everywhere one's eyes would roam to, they would only see unmoving plants and people, even time-frozen birds supposedly flying high up in the starry skies. The only exception was where the burnt condo building was.

Yet none of these things mattered to Sofony.

"Gio!"

With a press of a b.u.t.ton, the s.h.i.+eld she purchased a few seconds earlier was activated at the same time as she jumped onto the man standing before a huge blue box which resembled an oversized ice block.

Currently, in Sofony's eyes, only his figure existed. Her eyes checked for injuries and other unusual signs and she was very glad to see that there were no such things on him. As she landed in between his arms, she hostilely glanced at the person five meters away.

Glossing over the wrinkled white lab coat hanging loosely from the middle-aged man's shoulders, she committed the unfamiliar face into her memory, branding it temporarily as a host to be wary about.

'Who is he?' Her eyes flickered with uncertainty because something about the person felt familiar but later convinced herself that this man was not someone she ever met before. It was the first time she encountered a host not around her age, and she was nervous since she could already guess that he was someone more powerful than her.

She didn't recognize Fred, as the one gazing so lukewarmly at them had changed his face the moment he sensed an intruder coming into this unstable static world. But actually, even if he didn't do it, she would still not recognize him as the face he used to appear before Gio since yesterday was also not his real one.

As said quite a few days ago, a thousand meters were the closest they could be, since the real father and his daughter were still separated by a whole dimension.

The current body, though in some sense was still Fred, it was also only that of his clone.

"Sofy."

Her attention was called back. She turned her head his way and gave him an apologetic look. Shaking her head twice, she looked back to the motionless man staring weirdly at her and asked,

"May I know if you have something to say to me, Sir?"

Knowing that this man was definitely out of her league, she nervously but unfriendly waited for his reply. Gio pulled her closer to him, backing away to the corner of the s.p.a.ce enclosed by the invisible barrier. The man was cautiously staring at the ice prison which reverted back into the blue sapphire-like drop. Sofony, who didn't know about the suspicious object floating a meter in front of them did not pay it much attention before as she was just too anxious to get her and him under a protective cover.

They didn't wait long for the baritone voice to echo within this small frozen world.

It was a question directed to Sofony, scolding and scorning. The tone used could simply make people think thrice about the purpose of their lives.

"As an immoral host, did you just stupidly spend more than ninety percent of your acc.u.mulated points just to reach this place and save this man?"

She narrowed her eyes, without hesitation, replying,

"I did. For I don't trust that a man who could order Leo Jones around to bring trouble to me harbors no ill-intent for drawing someone related to me in this creepy world."

"You disappointed me so much."

The man clicked his tongue, his words showing from his expressions and eyes. Sofony ignored it and said, "Let's stop the nonsense. I'm requesting Sir to return us back to the real world. We're not unreasonable people. Once we're back to the surface we can discuss what you wanted from us. Please."

As a bet of goodwill, she didn't activate her hypnosis skill even though there was a chance that the man could be persuaded with it.

"I would also like to request the same, Sir. We've had enough talk. Please be 'reasonable' and leave the 'two of us alone'."

Next to her, Gio opened his mouth, the words he wanted to say were very sarcastic and full of derision, but when he remembered that Fred was still Sofony's father, even though he just badly wanted to tell her who the b.a.s.t.a.r.d was, he restrained himself. The d.a.m.nable test went back to his mind and he didn't want the other man to remember it or worse, push through it in the presence of the girl.

Standing opposite them, Fred gave Gio a sideway glance, getting what he meant by those words.

'Disappointing. I'm a disappointment that I didn't notice how that faked crying there is not her. It must be when I'm busy creating this very low-level dimension. It could only be then since that's only when I couldn't separate my consciousness outside. That Original of mine is weird for not notifying me. On the other hand, she's also a disappointment because she has that much point but instead of increasing her stats and buying more skills and useful items, she used it for whatever that could teleport her here.'

'Whatever, the goal is already achieved.'

He shook his head, then stared at her who was still waiting for his answer.

"For reaching this place despite your level, I commend you. So fine, you'll be allowed to go back. But if I were you, strengthen yourself as fast as possible. You are far too weak, too emotional, too stupid. One day I won't even be surprised to see you dead.'

'But I hope things won't get to that point as I, and my Original, already going crazy for reviving your mother.'

"Sofony Mendez, you have to grow quick. You don't know what kind of future immoral hosts always have to face."

After leaving a few more words directed to Sofony, he vanished from the couple's sight.

But of course, he didn't forget to give Gio a warning and meaningful stare. The face of the one at the receiving end darkened. He pulled the girl who was a bit alarmed that the man knew her name and then wordlessly nodded.

...

Please! Say no to piracy! Don't take part in a crime! Don't patronize thieves!

Repent now and go here!

=>Link to the original site: https:///book/12734433505930905/The-Sinners'-Queen

Thanks!