Chapter 76: The Fundraiser

Nighttime

The moonlight shone hard on the city, illuminating it as if it were day. On the outskirts, where the modern part of the city ended and the poorer side began, there stood a boundary between two different worlds, and that boundary came in the form of a basketball court.

A lot of bulbs had been placed around the field, making it shine as if night had never fallen. Excessive dinner chairs were arranged everywhere, pressed together in an inviting way that made the place resemble a restaurant. Different caterers dressed in white and black moved through the crowd, serving the executive individuals chatting at the event.

The sound of live jazz being sung drifted through the background, the last thing needed to make the event feel even more special. It was a fundraiser that Bray had organized to help the less fortunate side of the city, so he had invited the nation’s richest men. On that night alone, if you added the net worth of every single one of them, the total would climb into the trillions of dollars.

Bray had always been a visionary person, so instead of making it happen behind closed doors, he made it happen outside where everyone could see exactly what their money would go into if they donated. From the court, the poorer side of the city was visible like an open book.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

Bray tapped a metal spoon against the cup he had been drinking wine from.

“Attention, attention—may I have your ears for a moment?”

All eyes turned toward a small, highlighted stage decorated with soft lights, where Bray stood with a microphone in front of him.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m happy that each one of you accepted my invitation to come to this place. I was a little worried I’d be giving this speech to the chairs.”

“Ahaha.”

The audience laughed in that rich manner only wealthy people seemed to know how to produce. Bray paused for a moment, letting the chuckles fade.

“The money you are going to donate today will make someone’s life better. I believe that’s why the universe made rich people like you—so that you could help all those poor souls out there. And to support that fact, I’ve introduced a software that allows you to follow exactly how we’re spending the funding, along with proof of purchases.”

The crowd reacted with clear amazement. At first they had assumed this would be like many other fundraisers—donate a large amount of cash, promises are made, and nothing truly changes. The rest of the money disappears into the pockets of officials. But this was different. It offered full transparency that would leave no room for corruption. It was yet another reason the billionaires had begun trusting him, the new governor, with their money.

“So without wasting much of your precious time, let me invite the man who will start the fundraising and steal all of your money.”

Another round of laughter followed. A well-dressed man appeared on the stage. The two shared a handshake before Bray descended from it. The audience smiled at him, offering more handshakes as he walked toward the temporary bar on the side of the court.

.…..

The fundraising had started about twenty minutes ago, and everything was moving smoothly—like tires dipped in grease.

Millions had already been donated to the cause.

And the man behind it was getting drunk at the bar.

Squeak!!

Another man appeared beside him, sitting on the tall bar chair.

“I’ll have what he’s having, please.”

Jamie spoke calmly, dressed in a black tuxedo that fitted him perfectly, as if it had been custom-made for him.

Bray shifted his gaze slightly toward him. In most cases, when someone said they would have what you were having, it was a direct ploy to start a conversation.

The bartender handed Jamie the exact same drink in the exact same glass.

“A lively crowd tonight, huh?”

“Yeah, it is. People are donating well,that means our operations will go smoothly.”

Bray studied Jamie’s face carefully. The bright light made sure he saw it clearly, yet nothing clicked in his memory. He couldn’t remember him at all.

And it wasn’t the alcohol’s fault. Bray was still sober; being drunk at this event would have been foolish. He still had a thank-you speech to give, along with plenty of ceremonial handshakes.

“You’ve been working too hard. Do you even get any sleep?”

Bray was surprised. No one had said that to him since his wife.

And that woman had long left his life after discovering he was infertile.

He hesitated for a moment before answering the concern.

“It’s here and there. But that’s what I signed up for right?”

A wave of silence settled between them as Jamie finished his drink, chugging the cold liquid down his throat.

“What do you say we go for a walk? We both know you hate these kinds of meetings. Think of it as giving your mind a little break, huh?”

Bray’s eyes narrowed. His expectations broke apart instantly.

The stranger who had just appeared seemed to think exactly the same things he had been thinking.

….

The two walked through the streets—not the modern part, but the poorer one bit neither of them seemed bothered by it.

The light from the event behind them was what brought somekind of illumination into the dark city. Apart from that, the streets were lit only by scattered bulbs, small torches, and the occasional candle.

“I’ve never seen you before. Where are you from?”

“I’m from Dr. Kasa’s hospital. He sent me here on his behalf.”

“Alright. Tell him thanks.”

“Will do.”

Jamie took a deep breath, preparing to change the subject.

“You know,,,, you and I are not that different.”

“Really, how”

” We both have titles. We both have people looking at us in difficult times. But we don’t let that shut us down.”

Bray smiled a little. He was being praised after all.

But unlike the praises he often heard from politicians hoping to benefit from him, this one felt genuine.

“I’m going to ask you aquestion… a situation where I need your insight.”

“Fire away.”

“What would you do if, to save the people you care about, you needed to find something—let’s say a cure. But to get that cure, you had to do something bad. Something that might not affect you… but could affect the very people you’re trying to save.”

“Wow. Now we’ve got a tricky situation.”

Bray scratched his chin thoughtfully.

“And I know you couldn’t tell me what it really is even if I asked. So I’m just going to tell you what I feel in my gut. I would create the cure myself. If I can do something that brings problems to people… then I can also do something that brings happiness to them.”

Shit. He’s become intelligent. Four years really aged him well.

Jamie pondered silently, completely blown away by what he had just heard.

“Thanks.”

“My pleasure. It’s the least I could do since you donated.”

They chuckled together, smiling brightly inside the darkness.

Jamie’s mind raced. Bray hadn’t given him what he wanted,but he had given him adirection.

Even if time wasn’t on their side, they could search. Digging through old facilities, tracking shipments, following leads… they could gather what they needed while still protecting the demons.

Every step would be dangerous, every choice a calculated risk—but at least now there was a path.

“Well, it was nice chatting with you, but I have to go now.”

Jamie slowed his steps, signaling he was ready to head back.

“Wait, before you go.”

Bray stopped him.

“Have we met before this? Because I’ve been having this strange feeling—”

“Nah… this was the first time.”

Jamie smiled back as he moved away.

Bray remained standing still, puzzled by the stranger who had just shared such a strange yet meaningful conversation with him as the man slowly disappeared from view.

Suddenly—

“Help!!!”

A scream echoed from between one of the nearby houses.

Bray rushed toward the sound instantly.

In these streets, people rarely came out to help when someone screamed. If you stepped outside, it could easily be a ploy to lure you out so you could be robbed—or worse. Sometimes it truly was someone in distress. It was hard to tell the difference.

But to Bray, it didn’t matter.

“Are you okay?!”

He shouted, running toward a woman lying on the ground, groaning weakly.

“Ye… ye… yes… he raped me and ran away…”

She muttered between sobs, her long hair covering her face.

Bray hurried toward her, trying to comfort her however he could.

“I’m sorry. But you’re safe now. Let me call an ambulance—they’ll be here soon.”

He pulled his phone from his pocket and opened his emergency contacts.

Just as his finger was about to tap the number—

Stab!!!

The woman suddenly pulled out a knife and drove it straight through Bray’s throat, the blade bursting out the other side.

Bray’s eyes widened in distorted shock, the shining blade lodged inside his neck.

Such cruel irony.

Saving people… was exactly what had gotten him killed.

“Mission accomplished.”

She muttered coldly, pulling off her wig as she stood up, one hand still gripping the knife embedded in his throat.

Then her face began to peel away like a mask, her fingers pulling the artificial skin apart to reveal her real appearance beneath.

It was Sandra Bolivar—the elf from the Grid Lions. The very one who had helped Jamie in the jungle during Game Three.

The same one who had just delivered Bray’s death.

Swing!!

She yanked the blade free.

Bray’s corpse collapsed onto the ground like a bag of sand, blood pouring from his neck like a stream.

“Be proud. You died in the place you loved so much—”

Suddenly—

Bray’s body began to disintegrate, piece by piece turning into ash.

Sandra’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“See? Do you believe me now?”

Jamie’s voice echoed from the rooftops surrounding the street where Sandra stood.

“One hundred percent now,… but I have to say—your clones are really something.”

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