Chapter 549: Stay Away From Me, Woman.

“Hello, Omen.”

Omen’s breath caught in his throat as he stared at Ashley. It was the first time he had seen this face, but her aura alone told him he already knew her.

“Shit—” He jumped from his seat to run.

He barely made it to his feet when a pair of hands landed on his shoulders, pressing him back down.

“Ack—!” He nearly bit his tongue, gasping in horror.

Omen looked back and caught Red staring down at him. He froze on the spot, gulping at the sharp look on Red’s face.

“There’s no point in running,” Ashley’s cool voice reached him. “Why not just sit, calm down, and chat with me?”

She tilted her head. “Maybe have a duel?”

Omen’s face twisted as he stared at her, wide-eyed. His mouth parted, but no words came out. He didn’t even know what to say at the moment. All he could do was stare.

Ashley offered him a small, sweet smile.

Yet somehow, that only gave him chills.

“You’re… you are…” he trailed off, looking from left to right before leaning forward. “You’re Ghost?”

Ashley blinked. “No, I’m not.”

“What—”

“I’m BBGoddess.” She smiled. “I don’t know who Ghost is.”

His face soured.

BBGoddess and Ghost were the same person! Who was she kidding?

Omen exhaled sharply as he glanced around the computer café. This time, he noticed more people seated around the place had stopped playing. Heck, some of them weren’t even playing in the first place!

He was surrounded.

“Damn it,” he grumbled, glaring at her once more.

There were a lot of things he should say, but somehow, what came out of his mouth was something he hadn’t even thought through.

“You’re a woman?”

“Nope.” Ashley shook her head, raising a finger. “I’m a married woman, not just a woman.”

“The hell?” he blurted out in horror. “You’re definitely Ghost.”

Ghost was the only nonsensical person he knew—more nonsensical than him.

“Anyway, the server will be undergoing maintenance.” Just as those words escaped Ashley, her screen blinked.

She glanced at the display and saw that her account had been logged out. She had hacked into the game system, and for sure, the developers would have to work extra hard to fix what she had done.

Ashley apologized to them from the bottom of her heart.

But her situation was more serious.

“How about we chat, hmm?” she hummed, smiling at him. “It’s not like there’s anything else you can do with the game down.”

“No way!” Omen harrumphed. “Why would I go with you? I don’t even know you.”

“Come on.” She frowned. “Aren’t we friends?”

“Friends?” he scoffed, placing a hand dramatically over his chest. “You and me?”

The expression on his face died as he stared her dead in the eye.

“Since when did you consider me your friend?”

“Even if you kill me, I don’t care anymore!” he declared, sinking deeper into his chair. “Kill me now. I get it. Whatever. Just make it fast.”

Omen shut his eyes tightly, grabbed the dirty blanket on his seat, and covered himself with it.

Red frowned and glanced at Ashley. “I’ll be quick.”

As soon as those words rolled off his tongue, Omen stiffened beneath the blanket.

“Red, calm down,” Ashley cooed. “As much as possible, we want peace.”

Under the blanket, Omen heaved a sigh of relief. But it was short-lived.

“But if there’s nothing else we can do, just do it outside.”

“You’re really going to kill me?!” Omen harrumphed, yanking the blanket down and sitting up in dismay.

Ashley flinched, her eyes shaking as she stared at him. “Well, you said you don’t care.”

“You—” He stopped, suddenly stiffening. “Shit. I suddenly feel dizzy.”

“That’s because you got up too quickly,” she pointed out. “When was the last time you saw the sun? You look…” She studied him from head to toe. “You look horrible.”

She thought Gin and Warriyo already looked horrible, but Omen had taken it to another level. His skin was practically screaming for rest and begging to be taken care of.

Red rocked his head. “Damn.”

“Omen.” Ashley spun her chair around to face him squarely. She grabbed his armrest and pulled herself closer. “I need you.”

Omen immediately leaned back. “Stay away from me, woman.”

“I need your help and expertise,” she continued. “I am in danger. After this, I won’t show up in front of you again. For old times’ sake, Omen. Help me out. I’m begging you.”

Red’s brows rose as his eyes darted between Ashley’s sincere expression and Omen’s complete lack of reaction.

Omen simply stared at Ashley’s face before his own contorted.

“No,” he answered without a second of hesitation. “For old times’ sake? There is no old times’ sake, Ghost. I’m sorry, but this is business. Nothing personal.”

And it was true.

Omen and Ghost were never friends.

Ashley knew that.

What they had was nothing more than transactional. In his mind, Ghost was simply someone he could benefit from every now and then.

The sincerity on Ashley’s face slowly faded until nothing but a blank expression remained.

“Is that so?” she sighed. “Damn it. I didn’t want to resort to this, but I guess it can’t be helped.”

Omen furrowed his brows, glancing at Red just in case the man pulled out a gun.

But Red didn’t move.

Instead, Ashley pushed herself upright.

When she stepped away, Omen’s brows knitted even tighter.

“Wai—wait!” He jumped to his feet in a hurry. “Are you letting me go?”

Ashley stopped in her tracks and looked back at him.

“Mhm.” She nodded, smacking her lips. “You don’t want to help, so what else can I do?”

Omen narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Just like that?”

“Why not? It’s not like exposing your face is something I’d do, especially since you know mine now,” she said. “Don’t worry about it, Omen. I understand what you’re saying, and I don’t like forcing people.”

Ashley then cast Red a look. “Let’s go, Red.”

Red nodded in understanding and followed after her.

Omen blinked several times, utterly confused.

“She’s really letting me off?”

It was suspicious, but if Ashley said so…

After all, Ghost had a code she followed, and Omen knew that better than anyone.

But just as Omen started to relax, Ashley paused in her steps and looked back at him.

“One more thing.” Ashley turned, watching him meet her gaze. “I might be letting you go now, but you just made an enemy out of me, Omen.”

The corners of her mouth hooked into a smirk.

“And remember—whatever game you play in the future…” Her smile widened. “BBGoddess will be there.”

With that, Ashley resumed walking while Red scrunched up his nose. As they neared the exit, he moved closer to her.

“Seriously?” he asked in disbelief. “Is that kind of threat more effective than threatening his life?”

Ashley chuckled, casting him a sidelong glance.

“Do a five-second countdown,” she said, setting her eyes ahead. “You’ll get your answer.”

Red could only furrow his brows.

He didn’t actually count, but right around the five-second mark, Omen’s voice thundered from behind them.

“DAMN YOU!! I HATE YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!”

Red stopped and looked back.

Omen was already frantically pulling together his blanket and the rest of his stuff.

“Hey! Wait for me!”

And just like that, Omen hurried after them.

Red could only watch as the man sprinted past him and chased after Ashley.

“Hah.” He rocked his head, following Omen outside. “Interesting.”