Villain of Fate: The Tyrant System

Gathering of Masks 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Gwen Valquin scanned the crowd again.

She still couldn’t locate the source of that mysterious voice.

Yet instead of fear—

Excitement surged through her veins.

Because today, everything would be exposed.

Truths. Lies. Masks.

If the benefactor who had revealed those hidden thoughts appeared... she would thank him properly.

He had even been chanting her brother’s name.

That meant he knew Mike.

Which meant finding him would not be difficult.

She inhaled slowly, steadying herself.

Today, the curtain would rise.

—

After Evan and Gwen walked inside the Valquin estate, Julian D’Aurelius finally stepped out of his car at an unhurried pace.

Golden eyes half-lidded. Expression relaxed.

He took a moment before moving, one hand resting lightly on the car door as if he had nowhere urgent to be. The estate loomed ahead—quiet, heavy, the kind of place that carried secrets in its walls.

He didn’t spot Mike immediately.

But he did notice someone else.

Zain.

A sharp black suit clung to his shape, cut clean and close. Near the doorway, one foot slightly ahead of the other, he held a slender pipe without bringing it to his lips. Not still - moving with soft steps, measured, as if timing each breath to an unseen rhythm. His eyes stayed fixed, tracing something only he could follow.

A wisp of smoke hung low, moving slow, like it had somewhere to be. The quiet trace of burnt leaf slipped past, soft but certain.

A slow grin tugged at Julian’s mouth when he stepped closer. Not pausing even once, he lifted his hand - landing a soft pat on Zain’s shoulder.

"Uncle Zain," he said, easygoing, "what brings you here too?"

Zain stayed quiet at first. A long pull from his pipe came next, smoke curling into the air. His laugh followed - low, gravelly, yet somehow warm. Closer he shifted, just a bit, until his words dropped softer, aimed straight at Julian like a secret passed hand to hand.

"How could I possibly miss something like this?" he murmured. "A show of this scale... and one that might bring glory to Young Master Julian?"

Julian raised a brow slightly, studying him. There was something behind those words—something playful, something sharp.

Zain’s eyes glinted with quiet understanding.

After Evan purchased the Heavenly Father Blessings wing-shaped talisman last time, Zain had been curious.

What would that kid use it for?

Then the Valquin household made their announcement—a billion-Euro reward for solving their Black Magic crisis.

And suddenly, everything made sense.

Zain exhaled another thin stream of smoke, watching it fade into the air.

"So that’s your game..." he thought to himself, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "You want to make a name for yourself here."

Gain fame.

Win beauty.

Maybe even carve out a place in this city.

His gaze drifted toward the estate doors where Evan had just disappeared.

Bold... but reckless.

Naturally, Zain had come to watch.

After all—

Who told that boy to offend Young Master Julian?

"Bring me glory?" Julian tilted his head slightly, a hint of confusion flickering across his face.

For a brief moment, he misunderstood.

Ah... the reward.

If the Valquin household’s problem was resolved today, it would indeed elevate his standing—quietly, subtly, but significantly. The kind of gain that didn’t need to be announced.

Julian let out a small breath, then grinned, casual as ever. He lifted his hand and gave Zain a confident thumbs-up.

"Alright then," he said lightly. "I’ll count on you today, Uncle Zain."

There was no hesitation in his voice—only calm certainty.

"Make sure you secure that billion-Euro reward from the Valquin household."

"No problem."

Zain patted his chest confidently.

If he succeeded today—

A billion Euro.

When he bragged about it later in the Hello Mesanger group, what would President Cillian’s minor promotions matter?

He would become the D’Aurelius household’s most loyal and capable minister.

The two men, each harboring completely different interpretations, exchanged satisfied smiles.

A perfect misunderstanding.

Mike Valquin suddenly rushed over.

He had been waiting at the entrance for Julian earlier but had felt a sudden stomach discomfort and dashed to the restroom.

Now, seeing Julian laughing with Zain, he ran forward and threw an arm around Julian’s shoulders.

"Damn, bro! What’s got you laughing like that?"

Mike’s voice cut through the quiet, rough around the edges, carrying a hint of irritation. He leaned back slightly, arms loose but his shoulders tense—like he hadn’t properly relaxed in days.

Julian glanced at him, the corner of his lips curling into something subtle... knowing. Not mockery. Not quite amusement either. More like he was already looking at the end of a story Mike was still stuck inside.

"Isn’t it for your sake?" Julian said, his tone light, almost casual. "Your household’s problem will definitely be solved today."

Mike let out a long breath, dragging a hand down his face. The exhaustion in him wasn’t just physical—it was the kind that sat deeper, behind the eyes.

"Don’t even start," he muttered, shaking his head. "I don’t know if this mess can be fixed. If it can’t... we’ll just move out."

He tried to sound indifferent at the end, but it didn’t quite land. There was weight in those words. Frustration. Resignation. Maybe even a bit of quiet defeat.

Julian didn’t interrupt. He just watched him.

In the past few days, the Valquin household had done everything they could—quietly, desperately. They had invited several Black Magic masters in secret, one after another, hoping someone—anyone—could deal with whatever was haunting their home.

None of them succeeded.

Some left in silence. Some left shaken.

And one...

One master had collapsed mid-ritual, blood spilling from his mouth as his body gave out under something unseen. He was still lying in a hospital bed, unconscious.

That was when things changed.

When quiet desperation turned into open desperation.

The Valquin household stopped hiding it.

They made it public.

A formal invitation. No secrecy. No pride left to protect.

A billion-Euro reward.

That number alone was enough to shake the entire city.

Masters from across Valemont came flooding in—some confident, some greedy, some simply curious. They gathered like vultures circling fresh gold, each one convinced they would be the one to claim it.

Mike gave a bitter laugh under his breath, staring ahead like he could already see how this would end.

"Feels like we’ve turned our home into some kind of circus..." he muttered.

Julian’s gaze shifted slightly, his expression settling into something calmer. Sharper.

"Don’t worry," he said.

This time, his voice carried weight.

Not comfort—certainty.

"Not only will the problem be solved today..."

He paused just enough for the words to sink in.

His golden eyes sharpened, a faint glint passing through them—cold, precise.

"But the culprit who caused your household such trouble will also be revealed."

Mike blinked.

"You sound awfully confident."

Julian only smiled.

Inside, his thoughts ran cool and precise.

Today—

Evan would attempt to ascend.

But sometimes, the higher one climbs in a single day—

The harder the fall.

And somewhere within the estate hall, Gwen paused mid-step.

That familiar voice...

It had just spoken again.

She turned her head slowly—

And for the briefest second—

Her gaze met Julian’s.