After searching the surrounding area for several more minutes, Dylan finally accepted that continuing any longer would accomplish nothing. The mysterious old woman had disappeared as completely as she had appeared, leaving behind only unanswered questions and a shattered amulet that had somehow altered the course of his life forever. Letting out a quiet sigh, he pushed himself to his feet and cast one final glance toward the flower shop before turning away. There was simply no point remaining there any longer, especially when every movement reminded him of the beating he had endured earlier that day.Now that the excitement of discovering the system had begun to subside, the pain he had ignored for so long returned with a vengeance. His entire body felt as though it had been run over by a truck. The swelling around his face had become more pronounced, causing his jaw to ache whenever he clenched his teeth, while every breath sent a dull pain radiating through his bruised ribs. Even

Dylan's relaxed expression disappeared instantly.The livestream thumbnail showed Amber seated beside one of StreamHub's most influential female hosts, while the viewer count displayed beneath the broadcast had already surpassed two hundred thousand people. A bold promotional title stretched across the thumbnail in bright lettering.EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: CAMPUS INCIDENT EXPOSEDA deep frown settled across Dylan's face.Curiosity, disbelief, and uneasiness surfaced almost simultaneously.Although every instinct warned him that opening the stream would only ruin what little peace he had managed to recover, his finger moved almost on its own before pressing the screen.The broadcast immediately expanded to full display.The host greeted viewers with her signature professional smile, radiating warmth and sympathy that had undoubtedly contributed to the millions of followers she had accumulated over the years. She possessed a reputation for transforming university scandals into viral nation

Silence settled over the room once again.Dylan continued staring at the floating numbers without saying a word.Ten seconds passed.Then thirty.Eventually, nearly an entire minute slipped by while the glowing sequence remained perfectly unchanged before his eyes.He slowly rubbed his face. "What kind of reward is this?" he muttered, equal parts bewildered and skeptical.Of every reward imaginable, the mysterious system had chosen lottery numbers.Not money.Not another cash deposit.Not some miraculous medicine capable of healing his injuries overnight.Lottery numbers.Under ordinary circumstances, Dylan would have dismissed the idea immediately. Winning the lottery was the sort of fantasy people joked about while fully expecting never to experience it themselves. Millions of people purchased tickets every week, each hoping to become the lucky winner despite the astronomical odds standing against them.Yet ordinary circumstances no longer applied to his life.Twenty-four hours ago

Dylan blinked in surprise. Instinctively turning his head, he found himself staring at a face he hadn't expected to see.Hailey……For a brief moment, he genuinely wondered whether she had mistaken him for someone else or accidentally chosen the wrong seat.Yet Hailey showed no sign of uncertainty whatsoever.She calmly placed her notebook and pen on the desk before organizing her materials with the same casual composure she displayed every other day, behaving as though the entire classroom wasn't silently watching her decision.Dylan continued staring."What are you doing?" Hailey looked up from her notebook, her eyebrows lifting slightly in confusion. "I'm sitting down for today's lecture.""I figured that part out.""Then why are you asking?"Dylan glanced meaningfully toward the empty seats surrounding them before lowering his voice. "I mean... why are you sitting here?"Following his gaze, Hailey immediately understood what he meant.Every nearby seat remained empty.The message co

CHAPTER 9 — A TICKET TO THE UNKNOWN (Part 3)A soft electronic chime echoed through the convenience store the moment Dylan pushed open the glass door. Cool air from the overhead vents washed over him, offering welcome relief from the warmth of the afternoon sun. Although the store wasn't particularly large, every aisle was neatly arranged with shelves stocked from floor to ceiling with snacks, bottled drinks, instant meals, toiletries, newspapers, and countless everyday necessities. Bright promotional banners hung from the ceiling advertising discounted products, while cheerful music played quietly through hidden speakers, creating an atmosphere that felt oddly peaceful compared to the turmoil occupying Dylan's mind.Normally, he would have walked directly toward the refrigerated section to grab the cheapest bottled water before heading back to work.Today, however, his destination lay elsewhere.His eyes immediately settled on the lottery counter positioned near the cash registers.A