The van sped through the winding roads, moonlight slanting through the windows, painting silver streaks on Eugene’s face as he stared silently out the side.

The countryside had begun to shift — the trees more gnarled, their shadows reaching across the pavement like fingers from the abyss.

The tension that once thickened the air was now receding, slowly bleeding away into the thrum of the engine and the rhythmic blink of passing streetlights.

After a while, Eugene turned his head, still unsure if what he’d just seen had truly happened. His voice broke the silence with hesitant weight.

“Sir Vonjo… who was that man?” he asked, careful to keep his tone respectful, eyes flicking toward the mysterious figure they’d left behind guarding his unconscious father.

Vonjo didn’t look at him at first. He kept his eyes on the road, jaw shifting slightly as though weighing what could be said. Finally, with a shrug, he replied, “That man’s a fallen curse sorcerer. Hidden among humans to protect them. They’re few, and always under deep cover. That one’s under the House of Sutterfouse. So… don’t worry. Your father will get VIP treatment.”

Eugene blinked. A fallen curse sorcerer? That wasn’t just rare. That was… borderline myth. “The House of Sutterfouse,” he repeated under his breath. Somehow, he felt both reassured and more confused. VIP treatment under a noble House? For his father?

The road stretched onward, long and dark, swallowed by the encroaching night.

The only sound for a while was the soft hum of tires on asphalt and the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze.

Time dragged.

Eugene stared ahead, fists resting on his knees, but his mind wandered in dizzying circles.

The questions stacked one after the other until they could no longer be contained.

“Sir…” he said carefully, “May I ask… why did you bring me with you?”

Vonjo didn’t respond immediately. His eyes stayed fixed on the road, the dashboard lights casting flickers of green across his unreadable expression.

Inside his mind, however, there was turmoil — a sea of thoughts he didn’t dare voice aloud.

Should I tell the kid I needed his presence so my Doom Trio bloodline ability would work at full capacity? Should I say it was just to flex for the bullet comments after they roasted me for not having feats? That I just needed a goddamn W?

He exhaled deeply through his nose. Then he said, “Because I had to. I was the sacrifice. A disposable pawn for some unknown mission. My House had plans to throw me into the grinder. And you…” his voice softened, “you were about to be blamed for something you haven’t even done. Think about it. The kidnappers are dead. No witnesses. No leads. If I returned alone, they’d get suspicious. They’d think I killed them and covered it up. But with you there… there’s proof.”

Eugene stared at him, utterly stunned. “I-I don’t know what to say,” he murmured, voice low. “That’s… a lot.”

“Welcome to politics, kid.” Vonjo smirked without mirth. “Where every favor comes with a price and every breath has a motive behind it.”

Still, something gnawed at Eugene’s mind, an itch he couldn’t shake off.

“But…” he began slowly, “if your House— I mean, sir, aren’t you… an abandoned descendant? Didn’t they think you never awakened any bloodline ability? Why would they listen to you now?”

Vonjo waved a hand dismissively. “Yeah, yeah, they do. Abandoned, exiled, unwanted. That whole drama. But,” he grinned sharply, “they don’t know what I’ve become.”

Eugene leaned forward, staring. “So they… don’t know? Then how will they— how will they treat my father well if they find out who you really are? Or what you’re really doing?”

Vonjo’s smile dimmed. The road narrowed, and he leaned slightly to one side, steering with casual ease. For a moment, the question hung in the air, unanswered. Eugene thought maybe he wouldn’t respond at all.

Then Vonjo muttered, “Relax. We’ll be in and out before they even realize I’m not under House of Sutterfouse anymore or an abandoned one. Timing is everything. We will save him later.” He chuckled. “Besides… that’s always been my style. Fuck it. We ball.”

The bullet comments roared.

[tomboflostsocks]: YO YO YO HE SAID IT! THIS IS THE ENERGY I SIGNED UP FOR!

[sufferingfromsuccess]: Bro just casually told the kid he was bait.

[cursedbutvalid]: “Fuck it we ball” — Vonjo’s life philosophy since day one.

[mydepressionhaswifi]: Never thought I’d stan a bloodline-failed cannon fodder with drip.

[SutterfouseSucks69]: I used to hate Vonjo ngl but now? Man’s a fucking vibe.

[ChroniclesOfCringe]: Plot twist: the so-called loser abandoned by his house ends up being the GOAT.

[bloodlines_and_banter]: This dude went from “he has no feats” to “he’s HIM” in under two episodes. I’m clapping.

[dramatizedbuttrue]: Not even gonna lie, that’s exactly the kind of fuck-it energy we need more in this hellish world.

[eyebrows_on_fleek]: LET. HIM. COOK.

[RIP_Kidnapper_01]: Just realized the dude who nearly killed Eugene’s dad is worm food now. WILD.

Vonjo, grinning to himself, gave a casual nod as if acknowledging their praise.

“Wait till I show you feats!” He mumbled with anticipation in his glowing clear eyes.

Eugene couldn’t see the comments, but he could sense Vonjo’s weird amusement. He began praying and convinced himself that this was part of his invitation to let Vonjo meet teacher Lorthran so they could fight!

Yes! That was it! That was all!

The road twisted again, and suddenly, they passed a rusted old sign, its lettering so faded it looked like something out of a horror movie.

Eugene blinked, leaned forward, and squinted at it as it passed.

“Sir?” he said. “That sign just now… it pointed to the Ashwell Ditches. Isn’t that… an abandoned route?”

Vonjo hummed. “Yeah.”

“But sir, the safer way is—”

“It’d be boring that way,” Vonjo cut in with a grin that widened unnaturally. “This one’s more fun.”

“Fun?” Eugene stared in disbelief. “Sir, that place is called the Highway to Hell.”

“Exactly,” Vonjo replied, eyes gleaming as the van rumbled over a cracked stretch of road, “and we’re taking it.”

Eugene froze. “Oh shit!” he now realized just how crazy this sir Vonjo is!

[SutterfouseSucks69]: Oh shit! Yes! That’s the personality we are looking for, fr!

[ChroniclesOfCringe]: Usually, I find it cringy, but since I’m all hyped, I gotta let it pass! Yes! We ball!

[bloodlines_and_banter]: I like his philosophy! Send him to Teacher Lorthran; this Vonjo doesn’t need feats; he’s already ready to smoke anyone in his way! Now, I feel like I want to believe he’s the strongest!

[dramatizedbuttrue]: Haha!

[tomboflostsocks]: YEAH! FUCK IT, WE BALL! I HAVE OP BLOODLINE FALLEN CURSE ABILITY; DANGER SHOULD BE CAREFUL AROUND ME!

[sufferingfromsuccess]: I think I’m gay for him.

[cursedbutvalid]: Oh, come on, you already were before he said that.

[mydepressionhaswifi]: Hahahaha! Hey, I’m depressed; don’t make me laugh!

[eyebrows_on_fleek]: WE BALLIN ROLLIN TO HIGHWAY TO HELL!

The tires bumped against uneven gravel, shaking the vehicle slightly. As the night thickened, clouds began to smother the stars above.

Trees loomed taller, their silhouettes distorted like twisted spines of long-dead beasts.

Somewhere in the distance, a wolf like hell creature howled.

A road sign twisted on one rusty pole, creaking like a dying breath.

Eugene sat back slowly, heart pounding, his thoughts a whirlwind.

“Oh God, save me!”

He didn’t know what lay ahead. He didn’t know what awaited in the shadows of this haunted road.

But one thing was for sure.

This wasn’t going to be boring.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep