CHAPTER 60: NEWS

I exhaled long, steadying myself.

That dream—no, that vision—still clung to the edges of my mind, but I shoved it down.

’Not now.’

I dragged myself out of bed, slipped on a shirt, and made my way to the kitchen.

The smell of garlic and eggs hit me the moment I turned the corner.

Noel was already there, humming softly as he moved around the stove like he owned it. Shirt half-wrinkled, hair a mess, spatula in hand—he looked at ease. Comfortable. Like this was his place too.

"Morning," he said without looking. "You okay? You look like you fought a nightmare."

I shrugged, forcing a lazy smirk. "Must’ve been the pizza."

He snorted, plating the last of the food. "Better get used to it. I’m cooking until we run out of money."

I dropped into the chair, took the plate he handed over, and dug in. Quiet minutes passed—until he spoke again, softer this time.

"Hey... Nile."

I looked up

"Are you really okay with me living like this?" he asked, not meeting my eyes. "I mean... you’re out there soloing Rift floors, getting hunted by guilds, making gods laugh—and I’m just... here. I haven’t done anything to earn all this."

I chewed slowly, then set the fork down with a sigh.

’That again.’

"You don’t need to earn anything from me," I said firmly. "You’re here because when I had nothing—when all of this shit hadn’t happened yet—you were still the one who stayed beside me."

He glanced up.

"Noel," I said, locking eyes with him, "just being here, having someone to go home to, someone I trust—that’s more valuable than any loot drop, any kill count."

A moment passed. The tension in his shoulders eased.

"...Damn," he muttered, looking away with the faintest smile. "You’re gonna make me cry over breakfast."

"Do it and you’re washing the dishes," I said, grinning.

We both chuckled quietly.

-

After we finished eating, I stood up and stretched a little, feeling the heaviness in my limbs from the previous day’s fight. The last wave still lingered in my bones—not just physically, but the weight of it all. Still, peace like this... even if fleeting, was worth more than words.

I grabbed the remote and turned on the TV.

The flat screen flickered to life, instantly blaring the news. The familiar jingle of the Astral Bulletin Network played, followed by the face of a well-dressed anchor sitting stiffly in front of a Rift-themed backdrop.

"—and in major breaking news this morning, the official Rift Market of the Philippines is scheduled to open tomorrow. Authorities confirm that the newly sanctioned hub in Davao City will operate under global Rift Exchange protocols."

Noel turned to look, raising a brow. "Whoa. Opening already?"

The anchor continued, her tone shifting with enthusiasm:

"The Davao Rift Market will serve as the southern hub for Vassals and traders alike. While it’s equipped with trade terminals, appraisal zones, secure transport, and even Astral Auction lines, it’s worth noting that the largest Rift Market remains the capital hub in Manila. The government, in cooperation with the Astral Regulatory Commission, confirmed a formal launch event, expecting major Guild presence."

-

I leaned against the kitchen counter, eyes fixed on the screen.

’That explained the sudden stir. With everything happening—my rapid clears, the rise in anomaly reports, and the global attention drawn to this place—of course they’d try to monetize it immediately. Secure the economic veins before the real chaos begins.’

"A real rift market, huh?" Noel said, drying his hands with a towel. "So, you gonna drop by?"

I nodded slowly, thoughtful. "Yeah. I’ve got things to trade. That unique-grade stone alone could fund an entire Guild war if I wanted it to."

He chuckled. "Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that."

Before I could grab the remote to turn it off, the anchor’s expression turned more serious—brows tightening as the screen shifted to a red-highlighted segment. The next report had a more ominous tone.

"In other pressing news, the Crimson Rift continues to draw concern nationwide as the rate of Vassal deaths inside has rapidly increased. Just yesterday, over 37 Vassals were declared deceased after entering the 3rd and 4th Floors."

Noel’s jaw tightened.

I stayed still, eyes narrowing as the segment cut to field footage—blurry clips of mourning families, and red-tagged Rift entry logs.

"What’s more concerning," the anchor added, "are the whispers rising from within the Astral Community. Speculation is brewing that these are not ordinary casualties... but deliberate eliminations. A few anonymous survivors claim they saw a cloaked figure, merciless and efficient—taking out other Vassals without hesitation."

A pause. Then her voice lowered into a grave tone.

"Could it be an anomaly? A rogue Vassal? Or... perhaps, the work of Blank, the mysterious solo clearer whose identity remains unknown?"

Noel turned toward me slowly.

I gave him a flat look.

"Don’t," He muttered.

I raised both hands, suppressing a smirk. "Didn’t say anything."

The anchor kept speaking.

"Authorities have yet to confirm whether any criminal acts have occurred, but officials advise extreme caution for lower-tier Vassals entering past the 5th floor. If the trend continues, there may be calls for additional regulation—or worse, floor closures."

"Do you think they’ll trace it to you?" Noel asked, lowering his voice.

"They won’t," I replied. "And even if they do... they can’t prove anything."

’Damn you, PK King. I’ll catch you soon.’

I crossed my arms, eyes still fixed on the fading news report as it returned to calmer, irrelevant topics. The screen no longer mattered.

"...This might be one of his tactics," I muttered.

Noel glanced at me. "Who?"

"PK King." I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. "He’s probably the one behind it—or at least, the chaos. The man thrives on misdirection. Stir up fear, create a scapegoat, and while everyone’s eyes are on me... he kills whoever he wants, whenever he wants."

Noel’s face darkened. "You’re saying he’s using you as cover?"

"Of course he is." I stood up and walked toward the window, looking down at the growing city. "I’ve been dominating the Rift clears. My name’s all over the Astral Community. The moment they need a boogeyman to explain the spike in deaths, all it takes is a whisper—’It’s Blank.’ And everyone stops looking elsewhere."