Chapter 45: How to Get Away with Murder
The room was completely submerged in darkness when Scar’s eyes snapped open.
He took a sharp breath, sitting up in the center of his massive bed. He expected the familiar, agonizing ache of torn muscles and bruised ribs. Instead, he felt absolutely nothing but a surging, electric vitality. His body felt brand new.
Scar threw off the silk sheets and looked at his hands, then at his chest. The lacerations from his violent crash on the asphalt were completely gone, leaving smooth, unblemished skin. Even his stamina was maxed out. He felt terrific.
His mind raced back to the final notification he had seen before blacking out. He had gained a permanent +50 km/hr to his base speed in a single sprint. He pulled up his interface to really confirm the numbers.
[Top Velocity: 720 km/hr]
It was real. He did get it.
A fierce, predatory excitement gripped him. If he could force his biology to adapt and make that kind of progress in just a few minutes of agonizing effort, imagine what he could achieve if he pushed himself to the absolute brink every single day. He could reach the speed of sound on pure physical conditioning alone.
And according to Miley, reaching Level 10 would grant a x2 multiplier to his base speed at the time of level up. If he could organically push his top speed to Mach 1 before he hit Level 10, the system boost would instantaneously catapult him to Mach 2. It was the most brutally efficient path to power. But to hit Level 10, he needed Exp. And to get Exp, he needed to hunt.
He glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand. It was nearly 10:00 PM. He had slept for hours.
[Your body required an extended period of rest to facilitate the cellular repair process] Miley’s voice chimed in his mind, answering his unspoken question. [Replenishing your HP pool forcibly consumes your Energy Points, which in turn severely drains your Stamina. Though, to be fair, the medics pumped you full of healing serums, which mitigated the absolute worst of the drain]
Scar scoffed, sliding out of bed and walking toward his wardrobe. "I wouldn’t need any of that if I didn’t suddenly lose all my stamina and crash into the pavement. I barely ran for five minutes, yet I ran out of energy completely."
[I must remind you that operating at your maximum velocity consumes exponentially more stamina and energy than running at a moderate, cruising speed] Miley pointed out analytically.
Scar hummed. "Then I need to increase my stamina even more. And my durability. Along with my mastery, so I get higher boosts from sprinting." He sighed heavily, pulling a dark hoodie from a hanger. "Why couldn’t I just get a golden finger like the MCs in those isekai anime? Unlimited stamina would be very appreciated right about now."
Miley let out a sudden, highly amused digital laugh. [I am surprised to hear that from you. You watch anime? That is incredibly hard to imagine.]
Scar paused, his cheeks flushing with a sudden, rare spike of embarrassment. "It’s not like I’m an otaku or anything," he muttered defensively, throwing the hoodie on. "I just... used to watch a few shows when I was bored, or wasn’t on a mission to—" He stopped abruptly, his jaw clicking shut. He had said too much.
[Missions?] Miley caught the slip instantly. [What kind of missions?]
"It’s nothing. Forget it," Scar deflected sharply, turning away from the wardrobe.
Miley was silent for a moment. [Okay. But while we are on the subject of your past... I have been meaning to ask you something. When Henry was in control of the mind, I could access and process all the memories of his life. But I cannot see yours. You are intentionally building a mental firewall to prevent me from seeing your past life. Why?]
Scar stopped in the center of the room. His hands slowly curled into tight fists. "Because you don’t need to know," he said, his voice dropping into a cold, unyielding register. "My previous life is none of your concern. Just focus on doing your job as my glorified assistant. Like telling me why the hell I can’t just have unlimited stamina."
[Because having unlimited stamina from the start would practically make you overpowered] Miley answered, her tone turning serious, respecting his boundary. [You would be able to run for hours, days, or weeks without ever experiencing cellular fatigue. You would be unstoppable. You would be a god.]
Scar scoffed. "Well, isn’t that the whole point?"
[Yes, it is] Miley agreed. [But you have to earn it. A power of that magnitude isn’t simply handed out. It is a gradual process built on hardwork, perseverance, and dedication. But you should be grateful for the System, Roy. It has made your ascension infinitely easier. All you have to do is kill beasts and complete structured quests to scale your power, while the rest of this world has to train twice as hard for half the result]
"I am thankful for the system," Scar muttered, walking toward the door. "But my current level is a massive liability. Look at the people I am surrounded by. Felicity. Alicia. Rose. Even Emily. Not a single one of them is weak. In a standard duel, without tricks, I would lose to every single one of them. I hate it. I despise being weak. I refuse to be at the bottom of the food chain. I need to be stronger than Emily. I need to be stronger than Felicity. I need to be faster."
[You will be] Miley assured him. [It is just a matter of time]
"I don’t have time," Scar snapped, his hand hovering over the doorknob. "I can’t sleep knowing I am being manipulated and boxed in by Felicity and Alicia simply because I lack the raw power to defy them. I won’t rest until I am strong enough to crush my oppressors."
[Wait] Miley realized. [Are you going hunting?]
"Yes." Scar replied flatly.
[Tonight?] Miley was stunned. [But it is incredibly late. The Hunting Grounds will be locked down by now]
"Then I’ll just let myself in," Scar said coldly.
[That is a ridiculous idea. Just wait until morning] Miley suggested.
"No." Scar replied adamantly, gripping the doorknob. But before he could turn the knob, two sharp knocks rapped against the wood.
He didn’t get a chance to say "come in" before the door swung open.
Felicity stepped into the room. She was wearing a plush, elegant silk robe, her white hair falling loosely over her shoulders. When she saw him standing there, fully dressed and looking vibrant, a look of profound solace washed over her features. She smiled warmly. "I am so glad to see you are back in full shape." She said with a genuine maternal tone of relief.
Scar didn’t care about the pleasantry. He frowned. "I didn’t say come in."
Felicity raised a single eyebrow. "Well, I didn’t hear you say not to come in, either." She retorted in her defense. "Besides, I assumed you would still be asleep. You took a rather nasty fall."
"As you can see, I’m fine now," Scar said flatly.
Felicity nodded, her smile fading into something much softer and more vulnerable. "Yes, you are. And I am so glad. But... I am also sorry, Roy. If I hadn’t indulged you in that race, you wouldn’t have pushed yourself past the breaking point and gotten hurt."
"I would have," Scar corrected her smoothly. "It didn’t matter if you wanted to race me or not. I still would’ve ran. I still would’ve pushed myself to the limit. I still would’ve gotten faster. It was my choice."
Felicity looked at him for a long moment, studying the conviction in his purple eyes. "Okay," she finally breathed. "I did notice your telemetry. Your top velocity increased significantly. Good job."
Scar was caught off guard by the sudden, genuine praise. He shifted his weight, dismissing it awkwardly. "It was nothing." He shrugged casually
"It was not nothing," Felicity countered, her tone turning dead serious. She took a step closer. "What you achieved was an incredible feat. And I think it’s proof that you can reach speeds that would surpass even mine. But you must be careful next time. You severely injured yourself today. If it wasn’t for the serums the medics administered and your own incredible healing factor, you would have slipped directly into a coma on that pavement. According to the medical scans, your heart and circulatory system were on the verge of collapse."
Scar opened his mouth to argue, but Felicity held up a hand.
"I know you are itching to get faster and stronger," she said, her voice laced with an undeniable, heavy maternal worry. "But you need to have self-preservation, Roy. You must be patient. Super speed is an incredible gift, but it is also incredibly dangerous. One silly misstep at max speed and your body could be torn apart. One forceful push without the proper stamina, and your heart could literally explode in your chest. The friction alone could strip the flesh from your bones. There are so many risks involved in operating at velocities the human body wasn’t designed for. That is exactly why I took you to the Speednasium today. So you could learn the proper mechanics of running and mitigate those exact risks."
Scar wanted to argue. He wanted to tell her that his System would handle the biology, that he knew what he was doing. But as he looked at her face, he saw the deep, genuine anxiety etched into the lines around her eyes. She wasn’t commanding him; she was terrified for him.
He slowly let his hand drop from the doorknob. He nodded. "Alright. I will be careful next time. I’m... sorry for making you worry." He said, the words leaving his mouth before he could stop them.
Felicity blinked, completely surprised. This was the second time today he had simply accepted his fault and backed down instead of turning it into a hostile debate.
A bright, beautiful smile broke across her face. "It’s fine, Roy. I’m just looking out for you." She glanced at his dark hoodie. "Now, get out of those clothes, get some rest, and cancel whatever plans you have of sneaking out to hunt tonight. It’s too dangerous."
"You can’t stop me from going," Scar challenged instinctively.
Felicity tilted her head playfully. "Wanna bet?"
Scar frowned.
"It’s for your own good," Felicity explained softly. "Beasts are nocturnal and vastly more active at night. The higher ranked beasts come out to feed under the cover of darkness. I know you are strong, but please, you have to reconsider."
Scar remained silent. He had zero intention of staying in his room. But to get her off his back, he decided to feed her the lie she wanted to hear. "Fine. I won’t go." He said.
Felicity let out a soft, knowing chuckle. "I know you are lying to me, Roy. You just want to get me off your back."
Scar froze. He momentarily forgot that he was standing in the same room as a world-class psychic.
Right. Mind reader, he scoffed to himself.
"Which is precisely why I already activated a localized kinetic barrier dome over the entire palace." Felicity continued. "No one gets in... and no one gets out."
Scar stared at her in utter disbelief. "Are you serious? Is that really necessary?" He scoffed.
"Yes," Felicity smiled. "This is for your own good." Then she clasped her hands together in front of her. "Instead of going out there to get yourself maimed and clobbered, why don’t you come and join me for a late-night snack in the mini-parlor? Emily used to indulge me when she was younger, but... it seems she has outgrown those things. Outgrown me." A deep, profound sadness flickered in her eyes, though she quickly masked it behind a polite smile. "So, what’d you say? Wanna hang out with mommy?"
"No thanks," Scar said automatically. "I think I’ll just stay here and do some research."
Felicity nodded, swallowing her disappointment flawlessly. "Okay. Should I have the kitchen staff bring your dinner up? You haven’t eaten since breakfast. You must be starving."
"Actually, I’m not hungry," Scar admitted, pressing a hand to his stomach. "I’m completely full... which to be honest, surprises me."
"That would be the intravenous bio-serum the medics administered while you were unconscious," Felicity chuckled. "It’s a highly caloric compound designed to synthesize raw proteins and nutrients directly into your cellular ATP cycle to fuel your healing. It basically feeds your body from the inside out."
Then she stepped back toward the hallway. "Make sure you get some rest, Roy. Don’t stay on the internet too late. Goodnight." She turned and began walking away.
Scar watched her go. For a reason he couldn’t entirely articulate, the sight of her walking away alone in the quiet mansion bothered him.
"Wait," Scar called out before his logical mind could stop him.
Felicity turned back, her white hair swaying. "What’s the matter?" She asked, curious.
Scar let out a long, defeated sigh, sounding slightly embarrassed. "What... what kind of snacks did you have in mind?" He asked.
Felicity’s face instantly brightened, the exhaustion completely vanishing from her features. "You’ve decided to join me? Why?"
"I don’t know," Scar muttered, crossing his arms. "But you asking me questions instead of telling me what food you have is making me have second thoughts."
Felicity laughed, a bright, melodic sound. "Sorry, sorry! Let’s see... I have chocolates, cookies, peanut butter, and some fresh fruits."
"What kind of fruits?" Scar raised a brow.
Felicity’s smile widened. "Apples and peaches."
Scar exhaled. It was too late to back out now. "Okay. Lead the way." He said.
"Alright. Come with me," Felicity beamed.
As they walked side-by-side down the grand corridor, Scar glanced at her. She was practically glowing with excitement. He didn’t know why, but seeing that simple, unburdened happiness on her face triggered a strange warmth in his own chest. It was a feeling he couldn’t explain and didn’t entirely like, but the truth was undeniable: despite his constant hostility, he was starting to develop a soft spot for this woman.
Felicity led him downstairs and into a secluded mini-parlor. Unlike the grandiose, intimidating luxury of the main sitting rooms, this space was incredibly intimate and warm. The lights were dimmed to a soft, ambient gold. A massive, high-definition holographic screen dominated one wall, while the floor was covered in a thick, ridiculously soft faux-fur rug. Instead of stiff sofas, two large, plush floor cushions were arranged around a low, polished mahogany table already laden with an elaborate spread of the exact snacks she had mentioned.
Scar paused in the doorway. She had planned for him to join her from the very start. She had set all of this up hoping he would say yes. The realization of how deeply disappointed she must have been when he initially rejected her hit him surprisingly hard.
They took their seats on the floor cushions.
"So," Felicity asked, passing him a plate of sliced apples and peanut butter. "What would you like to watch?"
"Anything you like," Scar shrugged, taking a bite.
"Nonsense," Felicity waved a hand, picking up the sleek remote. "Surely you must have a favorite show."
Scar chuckled softly. "I do, but it’s not like this world has the same broadcast channels as the ones in my previous life."
Felicity smiled mysteriously. "You’d be surprised. What was your favorite drama series?" She asked.
Scar hesitated, chewing slowly. He hadn’t talked about his old world in casual conversation before. "Um... well, I used to watch Breaking Bad, and a crime series called How to Get Away with Murder."
Felicity chuckled. "How to Get Away with Murder, huh? Interesting choice." She let out a soft giggle.
Scar smiled wryly. "For the record, I always found the title incredibly on the nose." He said in defense. "But the writing was fantastic."
"Let’s see, then," Felicity said. She pulled up the search bar on the massive holographic interface and typed the title in. A second later, the results came up, and the exact series poster appeared on the screen.
Scar’s jaw practically hit the floor. "Wait... what?! How?" He murmured in disbelief.
"Your previous world and this one might not be so very different after all," Felicity noted, clearly enjoying his shock.
"We can’t conclude parallel cultural evolution based on the fact that we share a single drama," Scar argued, his analytical mind spinning.
"Okay, then," Felicity challenged playfully. "What about anime? You mentioned you liked it."
"Yeah. My favorite was Attack on Titan," Scar said confidently. "But I doubt a show about giant man-eating monsters exists in a world where you fight literal giant man-eating beasts every day."
Felicity chuckled but didn’t say a word. She just typed it in.
The results loaded. And the first thing that popped up was an iconic poster of the Colossal Titan staring over the tall wall. All five seasons were neatly listed below it.
Scar was genuinely stunned. "Woah I can’t believe it. The series actually exists here."
"Are you convinced now?" Felicity asked.
"Not entirely," Scar murmured, leaning closer to the screen. "I’ll have to look deeper into the historical background of this world before I make a conclusion."
Felicity laughed. "Look into the background, or just look into the movies?" she teased.
"It’s the same thing," Scar retorted. Then, his eyes caught a specific detail on the interface.
Season Five.
He frowned. "Wait... I don’t remember there being a fifth season," Scar said, his brow furrowing. "The show ended at season four in my world."
"Well," Felicity smiled, tossing a piece of chocolate into her mouth. "Perhaps this is what makes our world different from yours. Shall we?"
"Yes, put it on," Scar agreed eagerly. "This should be fun."
As the opening theme began to play, Scar pulled his knees up, completely transfixed by the screen. The ruthless, calculating predator who had been slaughtering beasts and plotting against his family hours prior was entirely gone, replaced by a teenager simply enjoying a show.
Felicity watched patiently beside him. They binge-watched all twenty-something episodes of the fifth season together. The room was filled with the sounds of crunching apples, the dramatic dialogue of the show, and their shared laughter. They debated character motives, made sarcastic remarks at poor tactical decisions, and shared the snacks between them.
During a particularly brutal combat sequence, Felicity winced. "My goodness. This is incredibly gory. A show like this really shouldn’t be shown to children."
"It’s not a big deal," Scar shrugged casually, not taking his eyes off the screen. "I watched the whole series when I was nine."
Felicity turned to him, her eyes wide. "What? Nine? That is a very young age to be watching something so violent." She mused.
"Well," Scar said, popping a slice of peach into his mouth, his tone completely nonchalant, "since I didn’t have any parents, there was no one around to stop me from doing whatever I wanted."
The lively, warm atmosphere in the room died instantly.
The silence that followed was suffocating. The sounds of the anime playing on the screen suddenly felt abrasive. Scar stopped chewing, instantly realizing the sheer, emotional weight of what he had just casually dropped into the conversation.
Felicity stared at the side of his face. Her expression crumbled slightly, her heart breaking for the little boy who had raised himself in the shadows.
"Oh," Felicity whispered, her voice incredibly soft and laced with sorrow. "I see."
They both fell silent after that.
Felicity didn’t try to offer empty platitudes or apologies. She just stared at him for a long, heavy moment before finally turning her eyes back to the screen.
At midnight, they finished the final episode and finally completed the season.
Scar let out a long breath, stretching his arms above his head until his back popped. He looked over at Felicity, breaking the lingering tension. "That was the most interesting thing I’ve watched in years."
Felicity chuckled softly, the warmth returning to her eyes. "I admit... It was quite exciting and addictive to watch."
Scar smirked, leaning on his hand. "You’re just saying that," he chuckled. "You haven’t even watched any of the previous seasons."
"Oh, but I have," Felicity smiled knowingly. "When I was much younger, I actually loved anime. And just like you, this particular show was my favorite."
Scar raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "Wow. I didn’t think a terrifying, overpowered matriarch such as yourself would be an anime lover."
"And I didn’t think a detached, nonchalant hooligan like you would even like watching TV with his mother," Felicity countered smoothly.
Scar held her gaze. "If I were truly detached and nonchalant... I wouldn’t be sitting here with you." He said matter-of-factly.
Felicity’s breath hitched slightly. She looked deeply into his eyes, recognizing the truth in his words. "No," she whispered softly. "You wouldn’t."
They stared at each other, the weight of their complicated, fractured relationship hanging in the quiet space between them. For a brief moment, they weren’t just the pair of a lonely Sovereign and a Broken Alter ego. They were family.
Scar broke the eye contact first. He cleared his throat, suddenly feeling vulnerable. He stood up from the cushion, dusting off his hoodie. "Well. This was fun. I had a good time." He said, already walking away.
Felicity stood up as well, smoothing down her silk robe. "Same time tomorrow?" She asked, her lips curling into a smirk.
"Absolutely not," Scar said instantly, his defensive walls slamming back into place. "This was the first and the last time we are ever doing something like this."
Felicity laughed, a rich, delighted sound. "Alright, alright. I won’t push my luck." She began gathering the empty plates. "Oh, that reminds me. There’s something I want to discuss with you."
Scar paused at the door, glancing back. "What?" He asked.
"I finalized the registrations while you were recovering this afternoon," Felicity said casually, turning to face him. "You will be taking the Mage Academy entrance exams happening a month from now."
Scar stopped dead in his tracks. The residual warmth of the evening instantly vanished, replaced by a cold, sharp spike of confusion and rage.
"It is the premier institution in the nation," Felicity continued, seemingly oblivious to his sudden shift in demeanor. "It will help you connect with more powerful people. You need to build alliances and secure backing for what is coming."
"No," Scar said.
Felicity paused. She set the plates down, an eyebrow raised perfectly. "Excuse me?"
"I’m not going," Scar said, his voice dropping into a low, unyielding register. "You can’t just keep dictating my life and telling me what to do. We literally just had a moment, and you use it to blindside me? You promised you wouldn’t manipulate me anymore, yet here you are, making major decisions about my future without even asking."
Felicity’s posture stiffened. "Roy, it’s not what you think. This is for your own benefit—"
"I’ve had enough of that," Scar cut her off, his eyes narrowing with pure hostility. "You keep using tricks and threats to make me do whatever you want. And you just think I’ll obey every order like a docile little puppy? Well, I hate to break it to you, but I’m not going to that academy, and you can’t force me to. And if you try to pull strings to make it happen, I will leave... and I won’t ever come back."
Silence descended on the parlor. The dramatic shift from bonding to open warfare was jarring. Felicity stared at him. For a fleeting second, Scar watched her eyes carefully, expecting her to make an argument.
But it didn’t come.
She took a slow, deep breath. Her rigid posture softened, her shoulders dropping in defeat.
"Okay," Felicity said quietly. "Fine. If you don’t want to go, that’s okay. I won’t force you."
Scar blinked, slightly thrown off balance by the immediate surrender.
"I apologize if I’ve been overly controlling," Felicity continued, her voice lacking its usual commanding steel. "I truly didn’t mean it like that."
"You threatened to take my allowance away if I didn’t comply with your social games at the party," Scar reminded her, keeping his guard up.
"That was a joke," Felicity said quickly, looking genuinely regretful. "A poor one, admittedly. I would never actually do that to you."
"Okay," Scar said, his eyes locked on hers. "But if you ever threaten me with something like that again, I’m leaving. And this entire training schedule you’ve set up for me? That can’t work out either. I’m not interested."
Felicity looked down for a moment, rubbing her temple before looking back up, her tone almost pleading. "Roy, please. It’s just four different training sessions. One for speed, one for durability, one for martial arts, and the final assessment with Alicia. They’re going to really help you."
She took a step closer. "I won’t force you to continue the sessions. All I ask is that you take each one at least once. Just try and see for yourself."
Scar held his ground, contemplating her words. He analyzed the offer, weighing the undeniable benefits of specialized training against his fierce desire for autonomy. Finally, he gave a slow nod.
"This," Scar said pointedly, "is how we were supposed to discuss the matter in the first place. Not by you simply imposing it on me and demanding I do it. We had a deal."
"You are right," Felicity agreed, offering a small, apologetic smile. "Pardon me. I was just... carried away with the maternal authority."
"Okay," Scar said. "I’m going to bed now."
Felicity nodded. "Have a goodnight, darling."
Without another word, Scar turned and walked out of the parlor, heading down the quiet corridor toward his private wing.
As soon as he turned the corner, out of her line of sight, a slow, triumphant smirk spread across his face. The conversation had been a complete success. He had gotten exactly what he wanted.
The night before, while replaying her attempts to control him by threatening and suddenly imposing tasks on him, he had been furious. He hadn’t signed up to be a puppet. But then he had remembered the golden imbalance of their dynamic: Felicity needed him more than he needed her. At least that was what she believed.
That simple flaw gave him all the leverage he needed. He hadn’t been entirely sure if threatening to leave would actually work against someone as formidable as Felicity, but today had been the perfect opportunity to test the waters.
And it was a success.
She had folded instantly. Her tone had completely changed from a commander to a negotiator. He was elated. He had found a psychological loophole he could exploit to maintain his freedom, and get whatever he wanted.
But as he opened his bedroom door and stepped inside, his smirk faded slightly. He paused, staring at the dark wall of his room. Felicity was not a person to be taken lightly. She was an apex predator in a world of monsters. One who had ruled a nation for decades and built a powerful reputation across the globe. She was a master tactician.
This was why he was surprised when she agreed to his demands so fast. It was far too easy. It made a cold sliver of doubt creep into his mind, making him wonder if she had just let out slack on the line, playing a much bigger game in the shadows that he couldn’t even see yet.
While Scar had won the battle tonight, he wasn’t fully convinced Felicity would be so willing all the time. And perhaps, this was all just a part of her plan.