Common Sense Hijack System-Chapter 87

Night at Valencia’s Apartment.

Karl was slouched deep into the plush sofa of Valencia’s opulent apartment, his body sinking heavily against the cushions. His mind was still trapped in the chaotic whirlwind of the meeting with John, Chloe, and Amber. The spacious room, adorned with towering windows showcasing the city’s glittering skyline, felt cold and uninviting in its stifling silence.

Layla appeared from the kitchen, silently offering Karl a glass of water. Meanwhile, Valencia stood near the window, her arms crossed as she gazed out, her expression unreadable.

"You think they’re right?" Karl finally broke the silence, his voice low and tinged with uncertainty.

Layla sat beside him, her eyes soft and searching. "Karl, you’re not seriously buying all that garbage they spewed, are you?"

Karl didn’t answer immediately, his gaze fixed blankly on the floor. "I... I don’t know anymore. What they said—about the trauma I’ve caused, about the people who’ve died—it might be true."

Valencia turned sharply, her icy stare piercing through Karl. "You can wallow in that guilt for the rest of your life, but it won’t change a thing. They’re just using your conscience to force you into their little game."

"But what if they’re right?" Karl’s voice trembled as he looked up at her. "What if I really am the monster they claim I am?"

Valencia strode over, her tone sharp as a blade. "If you were a monster, you wouldn’t care. You wouldn’t feel this guilt eating away at you. Stop torturing yourself and focus on what actually matters—protecting your family and making sure they never get to you again."

Layla reached out, resting her hand gently on Karl’s. "She’s right. You’ve paid enough for your past mistakes. Don’t let them drag you any deeper."

Karl sighed heavily. "So, what do we do? They know about my family. They know my weaknesses."

Valencia smirked, a glint of determination in her eyes. "Then we play their game—but by our rules. We plan."

---

Strategizing

Valencia pulled out a sleek device from her desk, projecting a digital map onto the wall. The city’s layout sprang to life, highlighting Southrill Tower—the location mentioned in the Glowsphere’s cryptic message.

"This is their operations hub," Valencia explained, pointing to the tower. "If we go there, we need to expect traps. But it’s also an opportunity to gather intel on their next move."

"And we need to get your family out," Layla added. "We don’t know how far Glowsphere’s reach extends, but we can’t leave them vulnerable."

Karl nodded slowly. "Alright. Two priorities, then. First, securing my family’s safety. Second, figuring out how to deal with Glowsphere without walking straight into their trap."

Valencia gave a sly grin. "Your Undead could handle that. Use them to evacuate your family without leaving a trace."

Layla nodded at Karl, her gaze steady. "We’ll deal with Glowsphere if things go south. You just focus on your family."

Karl’s tense expression softened slightly. "Thank you. I couldn’t do this without you two."

---

A Quiet Moment on the Balcony

After the plan was laid out, the tension in the apartment eased. Layla stepped out onto the balcony, savoring the cool night air. Karl followed moments later, carrying two mugs of tea.

"For you," he said, handing her one.

Layla smiled faintly as she took it. They stood side by side, gazing at the sparkling city below.

"Never thought we’d make it this far," Layla murmured. "Everything we’ve been through... it feels like an endless nightmare."

Karl nodded, sipping his tea. "Same here. Sometimes, I wonder if I even deserve your help. Not after everything I’ve done."

Layla turned to him, her eyes brimming with emotion. "Stop blaming yourself, Karl." Layla stopped a while, and says something different "You know, I was thinking about revenge everyday?" freeweɓnovel.cѳm

She paused, her gaze drifting to the stars. "Now I know it doesn’t matter. There’s only one thing that does."

Karl glanced at her, puzzled. "What’s that?"

Layla lowered her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "You. I don’t care about your past or who you were. I just want to be part of your life... your family."

Karl froze, startled by her confession. Layla’s voice cracked as she continued. "But I know I don’t deserve it. My body, my life... they’re tainted. Too many men have used me. I’m... broken."

Karl set his mug down and moved closer, his gaze warm and resolute. "Layla..."

He gently cupped her cheek, forcing her to meet his eyes. "I’m no saint either. My life’s a mess of mistakes. But if you want to be part of it, I’d never turn you away."

Layla’s tears spilled freely as she choked on a quiet sob. Karl simply smiled, pulling her into a firm, comforting embrace.

Under the glowing city lights, they found a fleeting moment of solace, as though, for just a while, the scars of their pasts faded into the night.

---

Night at Southrill Tower

Karl, Valencia, and Layla stood at the base of Southrill Tower, a futuristic structure radiating power and menace. The entrance was guarded by security personnel clad in black, armed with advanced tech.

Karl stepped forward to address the guard at the front. "I’m here for my family. I’ve followed your instructions."

The guard eyed Valencia and Layla with a sneer. "You can enter, Karl. But they stay outside."

Valencia bristled, her voice sharp. "Why? We came together. He’s not going in there alone."

The guard smirked. "We’re not risking our facility being wrecked again by a noctis like you."

Valencia’s hands clenched into fists, trembling with restrained fury.

Layla stepped forward, but Karl stopped her with a hand. "It’s okay. I’ll go in alone. Stay with Valencia."

"Karl, it’s a trap!" Valencia snapped.

"I know," Karl replied quietly, his gaze steady. "But they have my family. I have to go."

Reluctantly, Valencia and Layla backed down. The guards opened the door, and Karl stepped inside, leaving his companions behind.

---

Inside Southrill Tower

Karl walked through the sleek, minimalist corridors until he reached a man waiting at the end. The stranger wore a pristine white suit, his neatly styled hair and sharp glasses giving him an air of calculated intelligence.

"Welcome, Karl," the man greeted, his tone dripping with false warmth. "I’m Vincent. The genius who manipulates mankind."

Karl’s expression was stone-cold. "I don’t care who you are. I just want my family."

Vincent chuckled, tilting his head as if amused. "Patience, Karl. Before that, let me... open your eyes."

He gestured for Karl to follow him into a sprawling room filled with enormous screens. Each screen displayed snapshots of people scrolling on their phones, teens laughing at viral videos, and fiery online debates.

"This," Vincent said grandly, "is Glowsphere. A simple social platform, yet look at the wonders we’ve achieved."

He pointed to a screen showing a heated comment thread. "We stoke their anger over trivial things."

Another screen displayed an influencer doing a foolish stunt for views. "We pay entertainers to flood them with brain-numbing content."

And then a third screen, showcasing an online drama. "And this? Our masterpiece. Humans can’t resist the spectacle of conflict. They watch, they engage, and we steer their thoughts."

Karl’s fists clenched as anger burned in his chest. "You’re disgusting. What’s your goal?"

Vincent’s laughter echoed, cold and unhinged. "My goal? To wage war without bloodshed. By destroying the youth of my enemies, I win without a fight."

He gestured to another screen showing Glowsphere’s skyrocketing user stats. "We’ve made them impulsive, impatient, and addicted to fleeting rewards. They’ve stopped caring about substance or process."

Karl’s voice was thick with fury. "You’re destroying their lives! Stealing their future!"

Vincent stepped closer, his grin sinister. "Exactly. Humans are so easy to manipulate. And now, Karl, let’s see how far you’ll go to save your precious family."

Karl tried to keep his cool, but deep down, he knew he had to find a way to stop Vincent and take down Glowsphere, no matter the cost.

He stood still, anger bubbling up inside him. Before he could say anything, though, Vincent leaned in, his smug face mere inches from Karl’s, staring him down with a condescending grin.

"You know, Karl," Vincent said, his voice low and dripping with mockery, "you’re one of the best examples of the kind of youth I’ve successfully ruined."

Karl dropped his head slightly. "Yeah, I get it. Quit the crap already."

Vincent let out a sharp laugh, the sound bouncing off the walls, each note designed to poke at Karl’s nerves. The guy stood tall, radiating smugness, his smile peeling back the layers of doubt and guilt buried in Karl’s heart.

"Do you realize, Karl," Vincent continued, his tone patronizing, "your father wasn’t sick, like your sister told you. No mysterious illness or medical complications. Want to know what actually happened?"

Karl’s eyes shot up, a storm of confusion and rage brewing on his face. "What are you trying to say? Stop messing with me!"

Vincent shrugged lazily, tapping away at the tablet in his hand like he had all the time in the world. "Come on, Karl. You’re sharp, right? Your father? He was a victim of an accident. Or, to be precise... a victim of your crazy experiments. Remember the time you used that freaky power of yours, when humanity collectively lost its brains and started wandering into traffic like zombies?"

Karl froze, his eyes widening as long-buried memories clawed their way back into his mind.

"No..." he muttered, his voice barely audible.

"Oh, yes," Vincent said with a predator’s grin, clearly relishing the pain in Karl’s expression. "That day, as a Homo Obscura, I felt it—a massive, freaky wave that messed with ordinary humans. And among those affected..." Vincent paused, savoring the tension, "...was your dear father."