Common Sense Hijack System-Chapter 88

Karl just stood there, frozen. His mouth moved like he wanted to say something, but no words came out. All those faint pieces of memory suddenly surfaced—flashes of light, screams, and then deadly silence. He knew Vincent wasn’t lying.

"Ah, look at your face," Vincent sneered, stepping closer to Karl with a smug grin. "You don’t have to say anything. I already know. It’s true, isn’t it? You’re the one who caused all this. The root of your family’s tragedy."

Karl clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, but he still said nothing.

"And you know what’s even funnier?" Vincent leaned in closer, his face just inches from Karl’s. "Your remaining family—your mom, your sister—they’re in Neosia. Right under my control. And do you know why I haven’t hurt them yet?"

Karl stared at Vincent, his eyes icy but filled with rage. Vincent chuckled softly, pleased with the reaction.

"Because they’re perfect pawns in my game. Imagine it, Karl. You, known as a mass-murdering monster, begging me for mercy just to save them. Ironic, isn’t it?"

Karl swallowed hard, still refusing to speak. Guilt, hatred, and fear swirled together, burning inside him. Vincent grinned wider and stepped back, spreading his arms as if inviting Karl into his trap.

"You’ve got no other choice, Karl. If you want to save your family, come with me. Neosia will be your stage, and I’ll be the director."

Karl stood tall, though his body felt as heavy as if it were weighed down by tons of stone. With a low, determined voice, he finally spoke.

"If they’re in Neosia, I’ll go. But not for you, Vincent. I don’t care about your plans or your dirty games. I just want to save my family."

Vincent smirked and walked toward a side door, motioning for Karl to follow. "Alright then, hero-without-a-crown. Let’s see how far you can last in this game."

Karl clenched his fists tighter. He knew it was probably a trap, but he had no other choice. Even if Karl was seen as society’s trash, his family meant everything to him—and he would do anything to protect them, even if it meant facing a devil like Vincent in a foreign land called Neosia.

He followed Vincent without a word, his steps heavy but filled with resolve. The long corridors inside Southrill Tower felt like a labyrinth, every corner packed with high-tech equipment. Anxiety and tension clung to him, but he refused to let them take over.

"Come on, Karl. Don’t drag your feet," Vincent teased, glancing back with a sly grin. "We wouldn’t want to keep your family waiting, would we?"

Karl gritted his teeth but didn’t respond. He knew Vincent was trying to provoke him. Their journey ended at a glass-walled elevator that swiftly took them to the top floor.

When the elevator doors slid open, Karl was greeted by the sight of a sprawling rooftop. A sleek black helicopter with spinning blades awaited them, its lights blinking under the windy night sky. Security personnel in black uniforms stood guard around it.

"Get in," Vincent ordered as he casually strolled toward the helicopter. "You’re gonna love this trip."

Karl stared at him for a moment before stepping into the helicopter. He had no other option. He had to find a way to save his family, even if it meant playing along with Vincent for now.

The helicopter soared into the sky, leaving the towering Southrill Tower behind. The city’s glittering lights stretched out below like a sea of stars, but to Karl, they were just a reminder of the chaos he was diving into.

Vincent sat across from him, wearing a headset and enjoying the ride as if it were a luxury tour. "Neosia," he said, glancing at Karl. "The land of endless opportunities. And of course, the place where your family is now. But let me warn you—this isn’t your typical homecoming trip."

Karl stayed silent, his eyes locked on Vincent. He was trying to decipher the hidden meaning behind his words.

Vincent smirked and continued, "You might think I’m only using your family as bargaining chips. But the truth is, Karl, they’re part of something much bigger. I won’t spoil the surprise just yet, but trust me—this is gonna be a ride you’ll never forget."

Karl couldn’t hold back anymore. "If you lay a hand on them—"

"Shh," Vincent interrupted, holding a finger to his lips. "Save the threats for later. I’m savoring your despair right now."

The helicopter’s blades hummed in the silence, cutting through the air. Karl tried to ignore Vincent’s taunts and focused on one thing: how to save his family.

After what felt like hours, the helicopter finally landed at a private airstrip. The runway was eerily quiet, lit by scattered lights and occupied by a few luxurious jets. The lack of activity only added to the place’s mysterious aura.

A man in a sharp black suit waited near one of the private jets. As Vincent and Karl disembarked, the man bowed respectfully to Vincent.

"The jet is ready, Mr. Vincent," he reported in a professional tone.

"Excellent," Vincent replied, walking toward the jet with his usual leisurely pace. He paused and turned to Karl. "Come on, Karl. Your family won’t wait forever."

Karl followed, the unease in his chest growing stronger. The airstrip felt like one giant trap, but he had no choice but to press forward.

Inside the jet, the interior screamed luxury—leather sofas, polished wooden tables, and large screens adorned the cabin. Vincent sank into one of the seats and poured himself a glass of wine from a waiting bottle.

"Drink up," he said, offering Karl a glass.

"I don’t need it," Karl replied coldly, sitting in the seat opposite without touching anything.

Vincent chuckled. "Still as stubborn as ever. Alright then, let’s see how long that lasts."

The jet began to move, and soon it took off. Karl stared out the window, watching the city lights fade into the distance. His journey to Neosia had begun, and he knew whatever awaited him there wouldn’t be easy.

****

Meanwhile at the same time when Karl got pick up by helicopter, outside Southrill Tower, Valencia and Layla were still anxiously waiting. The night sky had turned dark, and the city lights slowly illuminated the streets, creating a stark contrast to the worry weighing them down. Valencia leaned against the wall, arms crossed, occasionally glancing at the building’s entrance. Layla sat on a nearby bench, staring blankly at the ground.

"What’s taking him so long?" Layla muttered nervously. "I feel like something’s wrong."

Valencia tried to reassure her younger sister, her tone firm but gentle. "Be patient, Layla. Karl knows what he’s doing. He won’t let anything happen to him—or to us."

Moments later, a security officer dressed in black emerged from the building and approached them, clipboard in hand. His tone was formal as he spoke.

"Miss Valencia, Miss Layla. I’ve been instructed to deliver a message from Mr. Karl," he said, his gaze shifting between the two. "Mr. Karl has departed for Neosia with Mr. Vincent for urgent matters. He requests that you return home and wait for further updates."

Valencia froze for a moment, processing the information. "Neosia? Why would he go there without telling us directly?"

"I’m only relaying his message, ma’am," the officer replied neutrally. "Mr. Karl asked that you remain calm and trust him."

Layla stared at the officer, her expression filled with confusion. "Neosia? Why? He didn’t even say anything..."

Before the officer could respond, Valencia gently took Layla’s hand. "Let’s go home first. There’s no point waiting here."

Reluctantly, Layla nodded, and the two sisters left Southrill Tower. On their way back to Valencia’s apartment, a heavy silence filled the car. Layla stared out the window, her thoughts clearly elsewhere. Valencia, focused on driving, couldn’t stop the questions swirling in her mind about Karl’s sudden decision.

When they arrived, Valencia immediately hung up her coat and headed to the kitchen to make tea, hoping the warm drink would ease the tension.

Layla sat quietly on the living room sofa, clutching a small pillow. After a while, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why did Karl just leave like that? He always said he’d be there for me..."

Valencia brought two cups of tea to the coffee table and sat next to Layla. Handing her a cup, she said gently, "Karl must have his reasons, Layla. He wouldn’t just leave without a purpose. You know how much he cares about us."

"But why didn’t he say anything to me?" Layla asked, her tone bitter and her eyes glistening with tears. "Am I not important to him?"

Valencia held Layla’s hand tightly. "Don’t think like that. You know how much Karl cares about you. But he has family he needs to protect too."

Layla nodded slightly, though the sadness lingered on her face.

Finally, Valencia spoke again, trying to steer Layla’s thoughts elsewhere. "We have to trust that Karl knows what he’s doing. For now, the best thing we can do is stay calm and be ready if he needs our help."

Layla wiped her tears and nodded again, though doubt still lingered in her heart. "I just hope he’s okay," she whispered.

Valencia patted Layla’s shoulder gently. "He’ll be fine, Layla. We just need to be patient. Karl’s not the type to give up that easily."

And with that, the heavy atmosphere lingered throughout the night in their apartment. Despite their worry and unease, the two sisters clung to the hope that Karl would return safely.

****

The night grew deeper, and Valencia’s apartment was cloaked in silence. The glow of city lights filtered through the large living room windows, casting soft shadows on the walls. In the guest room, Layla was already fast asleep, her breathing calm and steady. But in her workspace, Valencia was still wide awake.

She sat at her desk, the bluish glow of her computer screen illuminating her face, which bore a focused and slightly weary expression. Scattered across the desk were several documents and a nearly empty teacup. Her fingers tapped away at the keyboard with speed before pausing suddenly. She leaned back in her chair, staring at the screen as if trying to process what she had just read.

After a moment of stillness, Valencia opened another folder on her computer. Her eyes fell on a photograph she had recently uploaded from a hidden drive. The image depicted the face of a young man—a face that was eerily familiar.

A faint smile played on Valencia’s lips, though it wasn’t one of joy. It carried a mix of emotions that were hard to decipher. Speaking almost to herself, she murmured softly, "David... I never thought your son would look so much like you. And he has strange powers too, just like you. I wonder why he turned out to be such a pervert—were you a failure as a father?" She smirked.