All Chapters of Ultimate Charm System: Chapter 181
- Chapter 190
226 chapters
180. Off script
The scene on the massive LED screens shifted. A student playing the corrupt Minister stood atop a podium, his gold-trimmed mask catching the afternoon light as he raised a vintage glass. "To our partners," he toasted, his voice echoing with practiced arrogance. As the background actors paired off, Mark and Neko were left isolated in the center of the frame—two predators in a room full of prey. Their eyes locked behind their masks. They didn't know each other’s secret identities, but the script demanded they become a unit. Mark reached out, pulling Neko into a protective embrace just as the heavy double doors of the set were kicked open."INTRUDERS!" Izumi’s voice shrieked. She looked frantic on camera, leveling her prop weapon at the crowd. "We found the bodies! Agent Twilight is in the building! Lock the doors! No one leaves until every face is bared!"The "guests" erupted into a choreographed panic. On the giant screens, the audience watc
181. An insult
As soon as Flynn vanished from the stage, Rita stepped into the spotlight, reclaiming her role as the festival's heartbeat."Well, that was a masterclass in drama, if I do say so myself!" she chirped into the mic. "But you know what else is top-tier? Lunchtime, baby! It’s time to raid the food stalls and see what Astras has to offer. Go get some skewers!"The crowd began to disperse, buzzing with excitement over the "stunning" special effects they’d just witnessed. Meanwhile, behind the heavy curtains, the atmosphere was far from celebratory. The background actors stood in confused clusters, whispering about the script's sudden, violent detour.Vincent, still in his waiter’s costume, did something that stunned everyone. He collapsed onto his knees in front of Mark and began to sob uncontrollably. "I’m sorry... I’m so sorry!" he wailed, his tears streaking through his heavy cosplay makeup."What is he doing?" one of the actors whispe
182. The end of the festival
Neko let out a sharp gasp, her breathing coming in heavy, jagged bursts. Her heart hammered against her ribs with a violence she’d never felt before. She looked down at herself. The knife had sliced through the air with impossible speed, etching itself through the fabric of her Thorn Princess dress and grazing the skin of her shoulder before burying itself deep into the wall behind her. It pinned her there like a butterfly in a display case.In all her years of assassination, she had never seen a blade thrown with such raw force and precision. Mark walked toward her, his hands tucked casually in his pockets as if they were just discussing the weather. "So... ready to talk? Or should I make sure the next one actually draws blood?"She looked up at him, her eyes wide with lingering shock. "W-who are you?" she stammered."Mark Reynolds," he replied easily. "Just an ordinary guy who’s going to be your future husband.""Hus—hus
183. The drive home
The Astras Academy Grand Summer Festival finally drew to a close. While the audience buzzed with anticipation for a "Part 2" of the cosplay drama, no such performance existed. Flynn was forced to scramble for creative excuses to pacify the crowd.As the festival's grand finale, fireworks erupted overhead, painting the night sky in brilliant hues. Lilith seized the moment, pulling Mark into a romantic kiss amidst the throngs of people. Cameras flashed around them, capturing the public display of affection.Watching from the sidelines, Rita clearly burned with the desire to join in, but the social taboo of a sister passionately kissing her brother in public kept her at bay. In many ways, this was the realization of the reward Lilith had earned back at the ranch—uninterrupted time with Mark—only tonight, the clock ran far longer than thirty minutes that was promised back then. A look of genuine radiance washed over her face.As the crowd b
184. I want your babies
Their mother, Clara, was reclined on the couch, speaking softly into her phone while absentmindedly fidgeting with the hem of her pink nightdress. She barely looked up when the front door clicked shut."Mom, we're home," Rita chirped, leading the way into the living room with an easy smile.Clara muttered a quick, "I'll call you later," before ending the call and turning toward them. "Hey... did you guys have fun today?"Rita’s grin widened. "Yeah, it was alright. Though things stopped halfway—we couldn't go all the way," she said, casting a knowing wink at Mark.Mark caught the confused flicker in their mother’s eyes and stepped in smoothly. "She means the drama I was performing in today. We didn't get to finish the second act for the audience.""Oh, I see," Clara responded with a nod, her suspicion dissolving. "Well, what matters is that you both had a good time. Are you hungry?"Rita was already halfway up the stairs. "No
185
{Next Morning}Rita woke up in a state of uncharacteristic euphoria. It was obvious the moment Mark saw her in the kitchen; she was actually making breakfast—a chore she usually despised with every fiber of her being.She stood humming over the induction stove, briskly whisking a bowl of eggs."Morning, dear," she chirped. "How do you want your eggs? Fried? Boiled? Scrambled?"Mark groaned, barely lifting his eyes from his Royale Battle game. "You know I like ‘em fried. Why the sudden enthusiasm?"Rita gave a low, mischievous chuckle. "Personally? I like mine fertilized."Mark’s eyes widened, his mouth hanging open for a beat before a grin broke across his face. "Oh... damn. That was a good one."Still giggling, Rita finished up the bacon and eggs and plated the food. As they sat down to eat, her expression turned gossipy. "Hey... do you think Mom is seeing someone?"Mark shrugged, already digging in. "I don't see how that's any of our business.""Come on, bro! Think about it," Rita
186. Throne Agency
After bathing and dressing with the meticulous care of a true gentleman, Mark stepped into his garage. His blue Pagani Huayra Codalunga sat there, freshly detailed, washed, clean and gleaming under the lights. It looked sleek, dangerous, and smelled of high-grade leather. "Hello there, big boy. Been a while..." Mark murmured, a smirk playing on his lips as he trailed his fingers along the smooth, elongated rear deck.With a click of his key fob, the gull-wing door swept upward, standing tall like a silver wing. He slid into the driver’s seat, and the door hissed shut with a soft, airtight thud. He pressed the ignition; the engine roared to life before settling into a hum. As he coasted down the driveway, his security team triggered the massive electric gates, which parted instantly to let the beast through.On the open road, the car was eerily silent, moving as if it were one with the asphalt. Mark felt a rush of adrenaline. "Sometimes I feel like Batman in this thing," he muttered
187. The walk, the smoldering
Xavier, Creative Director of the Throne Agency, had taken it upon himself to act as Mark’s personal coach for the day. It was a role he took with agonizing seriousness."Can we do something actually cool instead of just learning how to walk?" Mark complained. They had been at the same repetitive drill for nearly an hour.Xavier shook his head sharply. "Unless you nail the walk, you’ll never be a model. You’ll just be a guy in expensive clothes." He ignored Mark’s exaggerated sigh. "Try again. Confidence and control. Don't rush, don't lag, and for heaven's sake, don't be clumsy. It needs to be symmetrical, elegant... like you’re walking on water."Mark frowned. "Nobody walks on water elegantly. People drown.""Jesus walked on water!""Well, I’m not Jesus!" Mark shrugged, his patience fraying. "And I’m not walking in any damn water."Xavier pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling a breath that suggested he was praying for strength. "It’s an expression. Now, walk."Mark tried to process
188. A fluke
Earlier...After professionally planting a tracker on Mark’s car, Neko had been shadowing him like a ghost. Her goal was simple: provide the most silent, flawless assassination of her career. It was a matter of pride now. She had to pay him back for the humiliation of her first attempt during the Academy Grand Festival and for that infuriating bet he’d made. The thought of being forced to reveal secrets about her Organization every time she failed to kill him made her blood boil.'Like hell I’ll fail again!' she thought, clicking her tongue. She could already see Mark’s smug face in her mind. She wanted to turn that stupid expression of his into pure despair, especially after the verbal lashing she’d received from her client, Enny Simpson, for jeopardizing the mission last time.She blended into the shadows of the parking lot. Given her petite stature, it was easy to vanish among the long rows of luxury vehicles. Her eyes locked onto Mark’s Pagani Codalunga."I could plant a bomb unde
189. The assistant
Neko fumed, her chest heaving with silent rage. She had never missed a jugular shot at that range—ever. The fact that Mark had caught the needle like he was bored made it feel like a personal insult.The room remained eerily quiet. Neither of them had breathed a word to the other. Mark continued his practice, his facial expressions a practiced icy composure. In his mind, he was already a superstar, successfully navigating the most intense "modeling test" in history.Neko, meanwhile, circled him like a predator. She was looking for the one thing every human had: a blind spot. But as she darted between the freestanding mirrors, she realized with growing dread that in this room of infinite reflections, Mark was seeing everything. Every time she thought she was behind him, a mirror caught her movement and fed it right back to his line of sight.She reached down and slipped off her stilettos. If there was one thing her Master had taught her, it was that an assassin’s surroundings were a to