Iris blended in seamlessly with everyone around her, and Yueyue Shenlian even clenched her fist to threaten me not to bully her.

Honestly, I envied Iris in some ways. She was pure as a blank page, free from mundane worries.

I stayed on guard all night, but the enemy showed no signs of a night raid. I wasted the whole night awake. Barely asleep for minutes, I was jolted awake by knocking. It was already seven—time for school.

Downstairs, Nana and Iris were already having breakfast. The principal must have left last night. "Good morning," Iris greeted me calmly—her thoughts were utterly incomprehensible to normal people. "Morning," I mumbled weakly. I felt like I'd collapse asleep walking.

I barely listened to any classes today, sleeping face-down on my desk the whole time. Thanks to Yueyue Shenlian's special arrangements, no teacher woke me up. Of course, I didn't make any noise to disturb the class either.

I woke to find it was already afternoon—I hadn't even eaten lunch. A spiky-haired boy in uniform approached me. It was Yutangqian. "Cold Creek, Rika hasn't come to school all day. No leave request, and her phone's unreachable. Something must have happened." Damn it. The enemy must have targeted people close to me. I rushed upstairs, burst into Class 2-6, and grabbed a second-year senpai. "Excuse me, where's Miko Senpai?" The senpai I grabbed replied, "Baishi hasn't shown up all day, no leave either. It's strange."

Damn, I was careless. If they attacked me head-on, I wouldn't flinch. But with their sneaky tricks, I'm on the defensive.

Just then, my phone rang. Seeing it was Rika, I answered hastily. "Hello, Rika?" But instead of her playful voice, a deep, magnetic male voice replied, "Is this Mr. Cold Creek?" So Rika and the others were in trouble. "It's me."

The magnetic voice came again: "I'm sure you know why I'm calling, Mr. Cold Creek. Let's cut to the chase. Bring my lovely daughter to the previous villa. Alone. Or I can't guarantee the lives of those two sweet girls."

"I'm coming right now. I assume you're smart enough to know: if you harm them, I can't promise how the future will unfold." My threat sounded hollow over the phone, but I had no choice—I was being led by the nose.

Without a word, I grabbed Iris and dashed out, ignoring the students' envious glares. "Hey, isn't that Cold Creek?" "When did he snag another foreign girl?" "So jealous." "All you normies can just explode."

But Iris was too slow. Like last night, I scooped her up princess-style. I roughly remembered the way to the villa. After activating Time Acceleration on myself, I quickly arrived at the Red Rose Villa.

The villa gate stood open. Ignoring potential traps, I set Iris down and strode in. In the center of the main hall, a man in a smiling mask sat at a marble table, flanked by the butler boy and maid girl I'd seen yesterday.

"I'm here." This masked man must be the caller. He gestured to the seat opposite him. "Sit." I couldn't fathom his thoughts. "Where are my friends?" The masked man smiled. "Don't worry. They're not in danger yet."

I pushed Iris forward. "I brought her. Now release my friends." The masked man chuckled lightly. "I think you misunderstood, Mr. Cold Creek. I invited you here not for my daughter. I'm sure she had a pleasant time with you yesterday, didn't she, Iris?" Iris nodded expressionlessly. "Yes, Father. He didn't trouble me."

The masked man then pointed to two cups of black tea on the table. "How about a bet?" These guys were all freaks—I couldn't grasp his mind. "What kind of bet?" "Our lives," he said calmly. "One cup is poisoned, the other isn't. I know which is which. You choose first; I'll drink the other."

This guy was sick, treating life so casually as a game. "If I drink the tea, will you free my friends?" This bet was too advantageous for me. Others have one life; mine was bound to time. As long as time didn't run out, I could die and revive endlessly.

"I hope you keep your word." I picked up one cup and downed it. "Alright, release them now." The masked man clapped. "Mr. Cold Creek, you're bold. I can't break the rules—release them." As he instructed the butler boy, he drank the other cup himself. So decisive... the cup I chose must be poisoned.

Damn, it hurt. My stomach felt like it was burning. The masked man spoke: "Sorry, this bet wasn't about our lives—it was about your identity." What did he mean? Did he already know who I was?

The masked man lost his composure, clutching his stomach. "Actually, both cups were poisoned. But to explain things, the poison takes over ten minutes to act. You must be the number one on the Red List—the Ability User with Time Ability, right?"

"Then why bet with me? You know I don't die easily." I felt the man opposite me was a madman. He removed his mask, revealing a handsome blond face. "I know all about K's actions against us Ability Users. But because my daughter is also an Ability User, I committed heinous acts for K to protect her. I'm tired. Rather than die miserably when I lose value... though you control time, drinking poison without hesitation for a friend—I believe you're trustworthy. Iris is a pure, kind child. Please protect her."

What a plot twist! Yesterday he wanted to turn me into a doll; today he's entrusting his child. The blond man called Iris over. "Iris, when I'm gone, protect yourself well." Even as her beloved father was about to leave, Iris remained expressionless. "Yes, Father." I sighed. I didn't know if this was fortune or misfortune.

The blond man kissed Iris's forehead, then looked at me. "Then I leave Iris to you. Oh, and a heads-up: an Ability User created from your genes has arrived in Japan. Unlike Iris, she was made as a Time Ability weapon. Be careful. I want to rest now—please don't wake me."

The blond man collapsed, seemingly relieved. After so long, the burning in my stomach faded. I guess it's my turn too. Black blood flowed from my mouth and nose, and darkness swallowed my vision.