Common Sense Hijack System-Chapter 75

Karl woke up feeling like he’d been hit by a frosty iceberg, his body as stiff as a board from sleeping all night in a seated position outside the campervan. The sun just peeked out on the eastern horizon, splashing golden orange hues across the slowly brightening sky. The morning air carried the scent of dew and damp earth, bringing a bit of calm amid the chaos in his mind.

He rubbed his weary face, trying to gather his thoughts. Still felt like an endless nightmare. The power, the system constantly giving him missions that dig into his weaknesses, and the shadows of the Common Hero lurking - all piled up in his chest like an invisible burden.

Valencia emerged from the campervan, wearing a loose sweater and carrying two steaming cups of coffee. "You look like you haven’t slept in a week," she quipped, handing one cup to Karl.

"Because I really didn’t sleep," Karl replied, accepting the cup. The warm coffee steam immediately touched his skin, helping to chase away the cold.

Valencia sat next to him, sipping her coffee slowly. "Have you decided on your first step for revenge?"

Karl shook his head.

Layla appeared, showing her old phone screen, "Karl, Angeline has once again dragged your family into a video."

Karl stared at the phone screen, his jaw tensing. The video showed Ella, his little sister who had always been the only family member to support him, now seething with anger. But something seemed off.

"If you’re watching this, Karl, listen carefully!" Ella exclaimed sharply, her face flushed. "How long will you keep hiding?! Do you know what you’ve done to our family? Do you think by running away, you’re protecting us? No! You’re only making our lives more miserable!"

Ella pointed to the camera with a rough gesture, her eyes blazing with emotion. "You’re a coward, Karl! Do you want to keep dragging us into your mess?! If you have even a bit of respect for this family, you’ll come out of your hiding and surrender!"

The video ended with the sound of something hard being slammed, maybe Ella’s phone, before the screen went dark.

Karl was silent for a few seconds, then heard Layla’s voice. "Karl... Angeline posted this on her account. Just look at the account name in the top corner of the video."

He looked closer at the screen, his eyes narrowing. Angeline’s account logo was prominently displayed in the corner of the video, making Karl’s blood boil. "Angeline..." he muttered venomously.

"You know your sister would never speak like that, right?" Valencia said, trying to calm the fire in Karl’s chest.

Karl gripped his coffee cup tightly. "Of course I know! Ella would never talk like that! She’s the most caring sibling I have, and now Angeline is using her as a weapon to shame me?! For what? So I feel guilty and surrender?!"

"Karl, calm down..." Layla said, though she knew it was unlikely.

"Calm down?!" Karl stood up, his body trembling with rage. "Angeline has crossed the line! She’s not just ruining my life, now she dares to drag my family into this! Using Ella, I swear, I will obliterate that woman until she regrets ever knowing me!"

Valencia looked at Karl and grinned. "Are you sure, Karl? I know who you’re about to face."

Karl and Layla were stunned.

Karl narrowed his eyes at Valencia, his anger held back by curiosity. "What do you mean? Who are you talking about?"

Valencia placed her coffee cup on the ground and stared at Karl seriously. "Angeline isn’t just a manipulative woman playing on social media, Karl. She has a huge support system behind her, much bigger than you imagine."

Layla, standing near them, furrowed her brow. "Support? Who’s supporting her?"

Valencia sighed deeply. "Have you heard of the social media platform called GlowSphere? It’s exploded in popularity in the past few years."

Karl nodded quickly. "Of course. Everyone knows about it. Everyone uses it. Even Ella mentions it often."

"That’s the problem," Valencia continued. "Angeline is one of their early major ambassadors. She was appointed to help the platform grow and become a center of attention. But there’s something bigger behind GlowSphere. The platform is specifically programmed to create a generation that’s impatient, easily influenced, and - honestly - stupid."

Karl and Layla stared at Valencia in disbelief.

"Seriously? That sounds like a cheap conspiracy theory," Karl said.

"It may sound like that, yeah," Valencia grinned coldly. "But it’s a fact. I know, because I’ve met someone directly involved in its creation. They deliberately designed algorithms to reinforce impulsive behavior. Short videos constantly playing, instant likes and shares that provide temporary validation, and shallow content that satisfies short-term needs. It’s all intentional. They want to create a generation that loses the ability to think critically."

Layla bit her lip. "But... for what purpose? What’s the goal?"

Valencia looked sharply at Layla. "Can’t you see? A generation like that is easy to control. They’re impatient, don’t care about the process, only care about instant results. They prioritize personal satisfaction over big values like responsibility or solidarity. It makes them perfect consumers - and more than that, it makes them easily manipulated citizens."

Karl hit the campervan pole with his fist. "So Angeline isn’t just using this platform to ruin me. She’s also part of a bigger plan to corrupt the next generation?"

Valencia nodded slowly. "Exactly. And Angeline’s account is one of their main tools. She’s intentionally promoted as a controversial figure, someone who can attract attention with drama and conflict. And this isn’t the first time she’s used someone’s family to boost her popularity."

Karl clenched his fists, his face full of anger. "So she’s not just destroying my life for her pleasure. She’s doing it because she’s paid for it. Because she’s part of this rotten system."

"Exactly," answered Valencia. "And you need to be careful, Karl. Fighting Angeline means fighting a system much bigger than just her. You need a plan, strategy, and... allies."

Karl nodded slowly, his eyes full of determination. "If that’s what I have to do, I’ll do it. I’ll destroy Angeline. I’ll destroy this system. And I’ll make sure they never use my family again."

Layla looked at Karl with worry. "This is dangerous, Karl. We need more information before we act."

"We’ll get it," Karl replied. "But I won’t back down. Not this time."

Valencia lifted her coffee cup again and sipped it slowly. "Well then, Karl. Welcome to the big game."

Tense silence surrounded them, only the sound of the wind rustling the leaves could be heard. Layla looked at Karl and Valencia with an anxious face. She knew the topic they were about to uncover was one of her deepest wounds, but after hearing Valencia’s explanation, she felt there was no other way but to face that reality.

"You both already know, right?" Layla finally spoke, her voice almost a whisper. "That I was once part of their dirty game."

Karl and Valencia nodded. Valencia spoke first. "Of course we know, Layla. Your case was one of the main drivers that made GlowSphere explode. It was their first case that truly turned the platform into a huge phenomenon."

Karl agreed, but his jaw hardened. "And they used your life as a stepping stone for their ambitions."

Layla bowed her head, her hands clenched at her sides. "The incest case... my forbidden relationship with my teacher. It was all slander. But at that time, no one wanted to hear my defense. GlowSphere deliberately amplified that gossip, turning it into the truth in the public eye. They circulated fake videos, adding a narrative as if I were truly guilty."

Karl interjected, his voice full of anger. "I remember that case. You’re still very young, Layla. You were only seventeen, but they made you appear like the mastermind behind it all. Disgusting."

Valencia continued in a cold tone, "And what’s worse, GlowSphere not only let the slander flourish. They used their algorithms to spread it further, ensuring everyone sees and talks about it. The more people they stir emotions in, the more profit they gain. And Layla became the perfect victim - a young girl who couldn’t fight back."

Layla raised her face, her eyes teary, but there was a spark of determination in them. "I lost everything because of that. My family... my reputation... even my self-confidence. Everyone hated me. Even when I finally could clear my name, it was too late. The damage they caused couldn’t be undone."

Karl clenched his fists so hard his knuckles whitened. "That’s why you’re with us now. You want to destroy them, just like I want to destroy Angeline."

Valencia nodded. "And it’s not just about personal revenge. GlowSphere, and people like Angeline, are symbols of a rotten system. They create chaos, destroy others’ lives, just for clicks, for attention, for money. If we don’t stop them, who knows how many more Laylas are out there that they’ll sacrifice."

Layla looked at Valencia gratefully, though there was still sadness in her eyes. "I know you understand. And I also know we’re fighting a big enemy, but I won’t back down. I want them to pay for what they’ve done to all of us."

Karl gazed at Layla, then Valencia. "We won’t just make them pay. We’ll crush them to their roots."

Valencia grinned thinly. "In that case, we need to accelerate. If our target is GlowSphere, we not only need evidence. We need a counterattack that can shake the public’s trust in them."

Karl looked into the distance, his eyes full of determination. "We start with Angeline. She’s the first key. If we can bring her down, we’ll pave the way to bigger targets."

Layla nodded slowly. "I’ve been preparing for this for a long time. I’m ready."

Valencia stood up and tossed the remaining coffee on the ground. "Alright then. Let’s start by heading to the town of Unrill first, where Angeline lives!"

Karl clenched his fists. "And we’ll make her regret disturbing me and destroying Layla’s life."