CHAPTER 26: THE MASS HUNT

(Evelina’s POV—Casino of Shadows—Inside the Lion’s Den)

I kept my professional smile perfectly in place—the kind of smile that said, "I’m polite, not harmless."

Theo Vinter’s gaze stayed on me... until one of his assistants slipped in behind him and whispered urgently into his ear.

Theo’s jaw twitched. His brow creased. His expression soured like someone just told him his favorite target escaped. He exhaled through his nose, annoyed, then smoothed his expression into something charming.

"Miss Hartgrave," he said, smiling like a man who hid knives behind his teeth, "please enjoy the event. I have... something to handle out there."

Something to handle =Murder. Torture. Illegal business. Mafia things. Charming.

I smile politely. "Of course, Mr. Vinter. Don’t let me keep you from your... hobbies."

Theo’s eyes glimmered with amusement—then he left, surrounded by enough armed men to start a small civil war.

The moment he disappeared—"Should I get you a drink, Miss?" Rowan asked, stepping closer like a living shield.

"No," I said immediately. "I’m not taking chances in this place."

He nodded once. "Understood."

Of course he understood. Rowan probably assumed every glass in this building was 90% poison and 10% liquid.

And then—I felt it.

A glare. A burning, stabbing, soul-piercing glare. Like someone across the room was mentally setting me on fire.

A shiver shot down my spine. "...Wow. Who’s glaring at me with that intensity?"

I turned my head slowly—only to meet the murderous glare of Kael Valtore. Sipping red wine like a vampire at a funeral. Eyes locked on me like I personally lit his house on fire.

Which, honestly, I kind of did. Metaphorically.

Ah yes.

The male lead whose massive ego I stomped on.

Of course he’s pissed.

Of course he’s glaring.

His pride is probably bleeding out somewhere.

I opened my mouth to comment—but someone grabbed my arm.

"Hey." Lucein slid beside me, leaning in just enough to whisper. "Don’t mess anything up. At least not here."

I blinked, then glared. "Do you think I cause trouble?"

"Yes," he answered without even blinking. "You’re a walking time bomb."

"...Wow. No hesitation. Incredible."

He shrugged. "I speak only facts."

"I’m not even offended anymore," I muttered, deadpan.

Before I could shove him into the nearest champagne fountain—"Behave yourself here."

Arden’s voice cut in sharply. He approached with Sera standing shyly beside him, her pastel dress glowing under the lights.

He folded his arms, expression cold. "If you embarrass the family again... you will be disowned."

I blinked once.

Twice.

"...and who exactly are you to decide that?"

A new voice sliced through the air.

"Since when," Mother said, stepping forward with the grace of a queen and the aura of a battlefield general, "did you start making decisions in this family, Arden?"

Arden froze mid-breath. He actually flinched. Mother continued, voice velvet-soft but lethal. "I do not recall giving you such authority."

Arden scoffed, defensive. "I was just warning her."

"Oh please, brother," Lucein cut in instantly, rolling his eyes, "you were being dramatic again."

I stared.

Confused.

Shocked.

Paralyzed.

Since when... did these two argue for me? Since when did I have a support group? Since when did my family suddenly act like they cared about me not dying?

I stood there, frozen like a decorative statue in a museum of rich stupidity. Mother placed a gentle hand on my shoulder—her nails elegant, her touch surprisingly warm.

"Do not bow to anyone here, dear," she said softly. "If you wish to crush anyone... I will be right there with you."

My brain short-circuited.

Crush anyone? My mother??? Supporting destruction???

Lucein patted my other shoulder. "Just—don’t kill anyone tonight, okay? Security paperwork is annoying."

I stared at both of them.

"...What is happening?" I whispered under my breath.

Rowan, behind me, leaned slightly forward and murmured quietly so only I could hear: "They are protecting their own, Miss. Even wolves bite outward, not inward."

I exhaled.

Maybe this world really was changing. Or maybe... I was changing it. My eyes drifted around the room, then I asked, "By the way... where is Father?"

"Had some business to attend," Lucein replied casually, swirling his champagne.

Before I could think further, Sera tugged Mother’s sleeve gently, her voice soft as always. "Mother... I heard some strange rumors when we were coming in."

I turned.Lucein turned.Even Arden stopped glaring.

"What rumors?" Mother asked calmly.

Sera looked around as if checking the shadows for spies, then leaned in. "I heard... Theo Vinter kidnapped a child."

Silence.

My eyebrows rose. Kidnapped? That is new—even for a mafia lord who treats rifles like fashion accessories.

Lucein nodded grimly. "Yeah. He did. And... it’s his own niece."

"Niece?" I repeated, blinking.

A niece??? Theo Vinter—cold, lethal, self-controlled—had family?

Rowan’s eyes narrowed slightly behind me. Even he seemed to find this new information... interesting.

Arden scoffed, folding his arms. "Apparently, the girl’s father—Theo’s brother—caused some... trouble. And Theo took the kid as leverage."

"Or protection," Mother added quietly.

"Protection?" Sera echoed.

Mother’s gaze turned sharp. "In this world, sometimes taking a child away is safer than leaving them with the wrong people."

I hummed, processing it.

Theo Vinter.

A man feared by the entire underworld.A man who walks with rifles at a casino.

And he... took in a niece?

I blinked.

There was never a child mentioned in the game. Not in the original story. Not in any hidden route.Not in any DLC.

Right, how can I forget that the male leads only showed emotional depth when Sera needed them?

Before I could spiral further—DING.

A system window slammed across my vision like a slap.

[System: Casino of Shadows Activated]Would you like to detect the assassination currently present in the room? Reward: Free to choose your own route. Bonus Reward: Gaining the affection of strongest man in the game.]

[ YES ]  [ NO ]

My breath hitched.

Detect the assassination? That meant they were here. In this room. Now.

My thumb didn’t even hesitate.

I slammed YES.

TRILLING!!!!

[System: Assassination Detection Activated.The hunt begins in 40 seconds.]

FORTY WHAT?!

My blood turned to ice.

Forty seconds??? Forty seconds until what? Until they attack? Until they start choosing targets?Until someone bleeds out on this marble floor?

Ughh...this damn system.

My heartbeat spiked. My fingers twitched. Instinctively, my hand flew down to my thigh—where my gun should’ve been.

Should’ve.

...Should’ve.

My fingertips brushed smooth skin, silk fabric, and the garter—but.

No metal.No holster.No weapon.

My lungs shrank.

"Where—" I whispered sharply, fingers patting frantically along my thigh. "Where is it—Where—"

My hand kept sliding over bare skin and silk, more frantic each second.

"Uh—why are you touching your thighs like that?" Lucien’s voice.

I shot him a murderous glare over my shoulder.

"Do you mind?" I hissed.

He raised his hands. "Well, excuse me for asking! You look like you’re trying to summon a demon with your legs—"

But then—DING!!!!

A new system window slammed into my vision like a brick.

[System: Assassination System Activated. New feature unlocked—Visual Identification.]

And then, before I could breathe—WHOOSH.

And suddenly, glowing red letters flickered above the head of a man in a velvet suit, sipping champagne with a smile far too smooth to be innocent: [Assassination: 1]

My heart lurched.

I whipped my head around.

Another guest—[Assassination: 2]

A woman laughing too sweetly—[Assassination: 3]

A young man adjusting his tie—[Assassination: 4]

My pulse roared in my ears.

Everywhere I turned—bride-like gowns, jeweled necklaces, polite smiles—every face in the crowd began to light up with the same red mark:

[Assassination: 5][Assassination: 6][Assassination: 7]

My lungs tightened.

No. No no no—this wasn’t one attacker. This wasn’t an assassin hiding in a shadow. This was a mass hunt.

And then—right between the chandeliers’ glitter and the laughter echoing through the casino—I saw the final one.

Above a man leaning against the bar, pretending to fix his cufflinks: [Assassination: 12]

Twelve.

Twelve assassins.

In this room. In this crowd. Within arm’s reach.

My blood ran cold.

Then the system struck again like a knife between the ribs—a new alert appeared, pulsing in urgent red: [System: Assassination Attack will begin in 30 seconds.]

For a moment—just a moment—the world tilted.

Thirty seconds.

Thirty seconds until the first strike. Until the first attempt. Until someone in this glittering hell reached for a knife, poison, needle, or gun—until I became a corpse dressed in red silk.

My lips parted—barely.

I held Rowan’s hand and whispered, "Get ready. There is a mass hunt going to happen."

His eyes widened with shock, and...he straightened himself behind me. Holding my hands tightly.