Chapter 170: I Need Your Help!
[Part 4/4 of today's Mass release! Here you go fellas! See you tomorrow!]
Hugo sighed deeply, running a hand through his messy hair as he stared at the puzzle. The stickman drawing kept flashing in his mind like a bad meme.
Walking over to the window of his dorm room, he leaned against the cold glass, gazing out at the dimly lit campus.
The chilly air seeped through the cracks, making him shiver slightly.
His thoughts wandered back to Loli. He remembered how utterly terrified she had been when he'd desperately threatened to reveal her secret during the test if she hadn't showed him the answers to the questions.
The way she'd fidgeted, her wide eyes filled with panic. He had even been happy that his little trick had worked...
Then there was that moment in her dorm room—how nervous she'd been when he'd tried to build tension, leaning in almost close enough to kiss her.
She had been so close to screaming out or even fainting, and he had had no clue how bad the depth of his actions truly were.
Hugo groaned, smacking his forehead.
"I'm an idiot," he muttered. "No… I'm the King of Idiots. Actually, scratch that—I'm the
Emperor of Idiots.
"Who goes around tormenting someone like that? I'm basically a Disney villain, minus the catchy songs. And the pointy nose. And the ridiculously long chin. And the stupid sidekicks."
He paced back and forth, shaking his head. "And she didn't even punch me! If someone did that to me, I'd have drop kicked them out of a window. She's too nice. Tolerant. Saint level patience."
He stopped pacing and stared at the sky outside. "I swear, Loli, I'm gonna make it up to you. No more teasing, no more threats. From now on, I'm—"
Ding!
His phone buzzed loudly, interrupting his moment of repentance. Frowning, Hugo grabbed it from the desk. The message was from Sanchez. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire
[Sanchez: Yo Hez, I need your help!]
Hugo raised an eyebrow. His already solemn face became even more grim. Sanchez never used proper punctuation. This was serious!
The next part of the message was a flood of pleading emojis—hands clasped together, crying faces, even one random praying emoji thrown in for good measure.
There was even an accidental aubergine emoji mixed in between!
What was going on? Hugo's eyes narrowed.
"What in the world…" he muttered, quickly typing back.
[Hugo: You got it. What do you want me to do? I hope it's not illegal or related to Grandmas?]
Sanchez replied almost instantly.
[Sanchez: Dress your best and come to Javan Restaurant ASAP!]
Hugo blinked. "Javan Restaurant? That's one of the fanciest places in town!"
It was one of those 24/7 High class restaurants with a wide chain across the country. Hugo hadn't even entered their chains once.
He stared at the message, his mind spiraling into overdrive. "Why would Sanchez need me there? Did he win the lottery and decide to treat me to a five star meal? No, wait. Sanchez wouldn't do that. Out of all the thousands of girls he can splurge on, I have now chance.'
Then what else could it be?
'Did he accidentally propose to someone and now needs me to fake a dramatic interruption? Or—oh god—what if he's in some kind of secret mafia and this is a setup?"
He shook his head rapidly. "No, no, no. Calm down, Hugo. It's Sanchez. This guy once panicked because he thought toothpaste was poison. How bad could this really be?"
Shrugging off his wild theories, Hugo bolted to his wardrobe and started digging through his clothes.
After a quick yet chaotic dressing spree—complete with him trying to wear a blazer backward for two minutes—he finally settled on his outfit.
He didn't know why, but he was actually a little bit nervous! Sanchez's panic was infectious!
Thirty minutes later, Hugo stood in front of the sleek glass walls of Javan Restaurant. The night was cold and crisp, his breath fogging up in the air.
He glanced at his reflection in the glass, adjusting his tie.
"I have to say," he muttered, grinning, "I clean up pretty well."
He wore a tailored black blazer over a white shirt, paired with sharp trousers and polished shoes.
For a final touch, he'd slipped on his ABCD ring set, just in case things needed a little extra flair or he had to get serious.
Taking a deep breath, Hugo pushed open the heavy glass door and stepped inside.
The warm interior greeted him with soft golden lighting, the gentle hum of conversation, and the faint aroma of roasted spices and fresh herbs.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and the walls were decorated with elegant murals of rolling vineyards and blooming orchards.
Waiters in sharp uniforms glided between tables, carrying silver trays with dishes that looked like they belonged in a museum.
Hugo barely had time to take it all in before his eyes landed on Sanchez. His cousin was sitting at a table near the back of the restaurant… and across from him were two girls.
Two exquisite girls.
Hugo couldn't see their faces—they were sitting with their backs to him—but even from behind, they looked stunning.
One had long, flowing hair that shimmered like silk under the light, while the other's short, stylish cut framed her elegant slender neck.
Hugo froze, blinking. "What the…? They're too beautiful, even from the back! Is Sanchez pulling off some kind of double date?!"
He couldn't help but get a little excited at the thought.
Before he could form another thought, Sanchez spotted him and waved frantically. The sheer desperation on his cousin's face sent alarm bells ringing in Hugo's head.
"What the hell is going on?" Hugo muttered under his breath as he made his way toward the table, his curiosity—and dread—growing with every step.
_____
Power stone Goal!
50 PS - 1 Bonus chapter
100 PS - 2 Bonus chapter
200 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.
Magic Castle - 20 Bonus Chapters!