Instead, he glanced at the group of men calmly before turning back to her.“Why should we run, Miss Elizabeth?”His voice was steady and surprisingly relaxed.“What would be the point of hiring me as your bodyguard if I ran away at the first sign of trouble?”A faint smile appeared on his lips.“Besides, this is the perfect opportunity.”Elizabeth stared at him in confusion.“The perfect opportunity for what?”Oscar looked toward the approaching gang members.“To prove whether I'm worthy of working for you or not.”It was a polite refusal, but it also gave Oscar an opportunity to prove his worth.If he succeeded, he would finally have a way to pay off the loan sharks.And if he failed?What difference did it make whether he died at the hands of debt collectors or this infamous gang?His life hardly felt valuable anymore.“Hahaha!”A massive man burst into laughter.“Just like the stories say. Brave. Reckless. Not afraid to die.”The mocking remark immediately silenced the room.The at

It felt as though invisible cameras had been placed throughout the restaurant, feeding him a perfect view of everything happening around him.Oscar could sense it all with absolute clarity.His heart pounded.When he focused on Jinggo's men, he realized they were all armed.Each of them carried long blades that gleamed beneath the restaurant lights. The polished steel flashed like mirrors, reflecting danger from every direction.For a brief moment, uncertainty crept into his mind.These weren't street thugs anymore.One mistake could get someone killed.Oscar swallowed hard.Then he forced himself to focus again.To push deeper.To trust whatever power was awakening inside him.Elizabeth was standing behind him.He couldn't afford a single mistake."Close your eyes," Oscar whispered.Elizabeth obeyed without asking questions.The moment Jinggo gave a subtle signal with his hand, his men attacked.He deliberately remained silent. Oscar's eyes were closed, and Jinggo assumed that if the

The woman didn't say a word, but everyone immediately sprang into action. Within moments, an elegant dinner was served.It turned out Elizabeth had a private staff dedicated exclusively to her. They were completely separate from the restaurant's regular servers. The meal was presented with impeccable care—luxurious, refined, and clearly intended for someone of her status.Is this what wealthy people eat every day?Oscar felt his nerves creeping in. He was afraid of making a fool of himself. The place setting in front of him included a knife and a pair of chopsticks. He suddenly worried he might use the wrong utensil. He was used to eating with a fork and spoon. Most of the time, he simply ate with his hands, especially when having rice."Go ahead, have a seat," Elizabeth said when she noticed him standing frozen beside the table."Thank you."Oscar buried his nervousness and sat down, though his heart continued racing. It wasn't just the unfamiliar table setting that bothered him. He

"Which one is your house?"The question made Oscar sigh inwardly.House? I don't even own one."It's down there," he replied, pointing toward the end of the alley. "Through that passage.""Would you mind if I came by for a visit?"Elizabeth's question caught him off guard once again."P-Please don't, Miss Elizabeth. The alley is narrow and poorly lit. You should head home. It's getting late. And... thank you again."Oscar felt incredibly awkward turning away the woman who was about to become his employer."Oh, all right."Elizabeth nodded."Then when can you start working?"She wanted a definite answer."Whenever you need me. I'm ready anytime."Oscar's enthusiasm was obvious."Then how about now?""W-What?!"Elizabeth chuckled at the expression on his face."A minute ago, you said anytime."Oscar stood speechless."Should I pick you up here tomorrow?"Inside, Elizabeth was practically celebrating.The thought of Oscar officially working for her—and staying by her side starting tomorr

After changing clothes, Oscar packed a few shirts into his worn duffel bag.There wasn't much to pack.His life had never been filled with possessions.His hand drifted to his chest.Instinctively checking.Making sure the pendant was still there.It hung quietly around his neck.Cold.Dark.No warmth.No glow.As if nothing unusual had happened the night before.But Oscar knew better.He had seen what the old pendant was capable of.Slowly, he rolled his shoulders and flexed his wrists.Something felt different.His muscles moved with unnatural precision.Too smooth.Too responsive.Like a machine that had just been recalibrated.Even the pain in his chest was gone.The crushing pressure from the night before had completely disappeared."Strange..."Oscar frowned.Then he casually took a step forward.Creak.The wooden floor groaned beneath his foot.Oscar immediately froze.His reaction had been almost instantaneous.Far faster than it should have been.He had only been walking norm