Common Sense Hijack System-Chapter 81

John clenched his fist against the side of the window, his voice sharp like a whisper. "Glowsphere. They’ve been making a weak generation, easy to control. Karl’s just one of the victims, but the impact goes way deeper than it looks."

Amber, usually full of confidence, went quiet, trying to process her uncle’s words. "But he’s not totally dumb, right? I mean, he knows now, at least partly."

Chloe smirked a little, her fingers typing extra commands on her laptop. "Know or not, he’s way too deep in. Even if he stopped now, the Glowsphere algorithms have already shaped most of his personality. If we’re gonna use him... we gotta be careful."

John turned around, his gaze sharp. "Use him? Yeah, we gotta use him before we burn him out. He’s gotta pay for all his sins!"

Amber sighed, "Uncle! Don’t kill him. He can only mess with human brainwaves for a short time. Yeah, even though he can do it in bulk and longer than we can."

John nodded, "Sorry for being so stupid, Amber. I can’t take it anymore, the memories of those orphan kids dying keep haunting me."

Chloe went silent for a moment, then nodded, though a skeptical look still hung on her face. "Uncle, I’ll still keep monitoring his data. If he slips back, we gotta be ready."

John stepped closer, placing a hand on Chloe’s shoulder with a bit of pressure. "We can’t just go all violent anymore. You know how dangerous people like Karl can be if they feel controlled. For now, let’s focus on what we’ve got and see if we can track any other patterns in his data."

Amber, starting to feel left out, interrupted. "What if we use this to get closer to Karl? If he knows we’ve got his phone, he’s gonna listen."

John shot Amber a look. "We’ll try that. We need to do it faster than the Neosia agents!"

---

In the campervan, after two days of travel with Karl’s quest notifications getting reset over and over, they were almost at Unrill.

Karl shut his eyes, trying to plan the next move. But his mind kept drifting back to one thing: his phone. It wasn’t just a device; it was part of him that was now gone. With all the secrets on it, it felt like a weapon pointed straight at his chest.

"We gotta find it," he muttered quietly, almost to himself.

"What?" Valencia glanced over from the driver’s seat, eyebrow raised.

"My phone," Karl replied. "If they still have it, that could be a huge problem. We gotta get it back."

Valencia sighed heavily, like she was a mom tired of hearing her kid complain. "Sure, great idea. But how the hell do you expect to find it when we don’t even know where they are?" freeweɓnovel.cѳm

Layla, sitting in the back, cut in with a casual tone, "You could try tracking the signal. You’re the hacker, right, Valencia?"

Karl sighed in frustration. "Yeah, Valencia, you gotta track it!"

Valencia rolled her eyes at Karl through the rearview mirror, a small grin creeping on her face. "You know what we really don’t have? A chance to think straight with you constantly acting like this. Listen to me. We’re almost at Unrill. There, we can rest—and shower. You look like you just crawled out of hell."

Karl was about to respond, but Layla laughed first. "She’s right. We all need a shower."

Valencia nodded, satisfied. "Great. We’ll rest a bit, clean up, then think about your phone. I’ve got a safe place there—an apartment that’s nice enough to make you feel human again."

---

When they arrived at Unrill

Night had fallen by the time they reached Unrill. Neon lights were blazing, casting vibrant colors on the wet streets. The city’s hustle and bustle made it feel alive, like a heart beating non-stop.

"We’re going to the 40th floor," Valencia said, leading them to the elevator in a skyscraper. The lift was filled with glass panels showing off the city’s skyline.

Karl eyed Valencia suspiciously. "So, how’d you get all this?"

Valencia just smiled, her face giving off a vibe that was hard to place. "All this? Hard work. And time. Lots and lots of time."

When the elevator doors opened, Layla and Karl were both taken aback. Valencia’s apartment was an architectural marvel. High ceilings with antique chandeliers. Huge windows showing off an amazing nighttime view of Unrill. Luxurious furniture that looked like it belonged in the medieval ages, sitting side by side with tech that was almost beyond their understanding.

Layla leaned against the wall, her eyes scanning every detail of the room. "This is incredible. Do you even have time to enjoy all this?"

Valencia chuckled softly, walking to the small kitchen in the corner. "I’ve enjoyed plenty in my life, Layla. That’s why I entertain myself with using my words."

Karl, still standing at the doorway, narrowed his eyes. "So, who are you really, Valencia?"

She turned to him, this time with a serious look that was rare for her. She set down a glass of wine she’d just poured, then walked over to Karl. "You really don’t get it?"

Karl nodded slowly, still keeping his distance.

Valencia sighed deeply. "I’m the last of the Noctis. A species almost wiped out. Maybe you’ve heard of us as myths or creatures in fairy tales, but I’m real. We... I, live a really long time. And when you live that long, you learn a lot. Collect a lot of things."

Karl went quiet, trying to process this info. Layla, standing near the couch, gave Valencia a questioning look. "Wait. You’ve been alone for hundreds of years?"

"Yeah," Valencia cut in. "I’ve been alone a long time. And I made sure to use that time well. This apartment, this wealth—it’s just a fraction of what I’ve collected."

Layla looked like she wanted to ask more, but Karl interrupted, "Why are you helping us then? What’s in it for you?"

Valencia smiled faintly. "Like I said, I just want to be entertained. And for now, go take a shower. You stink."

---

After the Shower

Karl stood on the balcony, dressed in neat, clean clothes that Valencia had given him. His mind was busy, trying to connect the dots about Valencia and everything that had happened. Layla joined him, carrying two cups of tea.

"Here," she said, handing Karl a cup. "Valencia says this tea helps calm your mind. She’s got good taste, if that’s what you’re worried about."

Karl took a sip, then sighed. "Do you really trust her?"