Chapter 125: Contrast (II)

“Really…?”

Veronica looked up at him, a hint of uncertainty remaining in her eyes.

“Yeah. Promise.”

Jackson nodded with a smile.

Of course, he didn’t reveal what he was actually thinking.

From his perspective, the possibility of Veronica catching up to him was rather slim. But there was no harm in offering her a little encouragement. After all, what kind of person would he be if he crushed someone’s confidence and then refused to offer a few comforting words?

Following that brief exchange, the two chatted for a little while before finally bringing their duel to an end.

Jackson stood alone in the dark void of the Virtual World.

A status window floated before him, displaying his current ranking in the Brutal Arena.

[Bitter Rain]

[Battle Group — Peak Third Sequence]

[Rank — 10,273]

[Current Win Streak — 760]

Compared to his previous record, his arena profile had undergone a tremendous transformation.

His ranking had climbed considerably, placing him among the tens of thousands of Peak Third Sequence Awakened competing in the same battle group. Maintaining a win streak of 760 matches was no small achievement, especially considering the increasing difficulty of his opponents.

As Jackson advanced through the sequences, winning battles had become considerably more troublesome.

Back when he was fighting weaker opponents, he could easily create an overwhelming advantage by manipulating their primary attributes with the Golden Brush. A small alteration was often enough to turn an otherwise difficult battle into a one-sided victory.

Things were different at the Third Sequence.

Most Awakened at this level possessed spiritual defense treasures capable of protecting their status windows. Trying to manipulate their attributes directly was no longer a reliable option, and the stronger his opponents became, the more difficult it was to exploit such weaknesses.

He could no longer depend on the Golden Brush to solve every problem.

Instead, he had to rely on his actual combat strength, techniques, and experience.

Jackson browsed through the Virtual Network for a while longer before finally leaving the arena.

Just as he was about to continue exploring, he heard someone calling his name from downstairs.

He closed the interface and headed toward the living room.

Before he even reached the entrance, familiar voices drifted out from inside.

“Mrs. Rose, please accept my apology. It was because of my incompetence that you and Aella suffered.”

Jackson slowed his steps.

Inside the living room, Snow Farcry was standing before Mother Rose and Aella, her upper body bent forward in a deep bow. Her voice was sincere, and there was a hint of guilt in her expression.

Aella, meanwhile, looked between the two adults with a confused expression.

Mother Rose had already explained what had happened after Aella lost consciousness, though she had deliberately avoided describing the more horrifying details. Neither she nor Jackson wanted the little girl to suffer unnecessary trauma by learning exactly what had happened during her abduction.

After hearing Snow’s apology, Mother Rose immediately stood up and reached out to help her straighten.

A warm smile appeared on her face.

It was the same gentle smile she always wore whenever she interacted with her two children.

“Snow, please don’t say such things. You did your best. If you keep apologizing like this, you’ll only hurt my feelings.”

Snow hesitated.

She was dressed in fully-fledged Rank Three battle armor, its protective plates fitted neatly around her body. Her long white hair had been gathered into a single ponytail that extended well below her waist, leaving her delicate features clearly visible.

At first glance, she appeared as composed and professional as ever.

But anyone paying close attention could notice the stiffness in her posture as Mother Rose held her hand.

Snow wasn’t accustomed to this kind of interaction.

She had lost her mother at a very young age during a portal accident. Afterward, her father, the head of the Farcry Security Agency, had raised her alone.

Although he had done everything he could to provide for his daughter, his responsibilities often required him to leave on long missions. During those periods, Snow had been left to deal with her fears and anxieties on her own.

Over time, those experiences had taken their toll.

She had suffered repeated anxiety attacks, gradually becoming more withdrawn and distant from the people around her. Even as she grew older and became a powerful Awakened, the habits she had developed during those difficult years never completely disappeared.

Her body instinctively remained guarded whenever someone approached too closely.

And now, Mother Rose was holding her hand with the same warmth she would show her own daughter.

Snow’s expression remained stiff, and her body seemed unsure how to respond.

Jackson, who had just arrived at the entrance, noticed the awkward scene.

He didn’t know about Snow’s past or the reasons behind her unusual reaction. However, he could tell that she was struggling to deal with Mother Rose’s affection.

After watching for a moment, he forced a faint smile and spoke up.

“Mother, let the girl go. Just look at how pale her face has become. At this rate, you’re going to suffocate her.”

Mother Rose’s gaze immediately shifted toward him.

She looked Jackson up and down, and a slightly crooked smile appeared on her lips.

“Little Jackson, don’t tell me you’ve already fallen for someone? You’re worried about a young girl and even arguing with your mother over her.”

“When did I argue…?”

Jackson instinctively tried to defend himself.

But halfway through his sentence, he stopped.

Looking at the expression on his mother’s face, he quickly realized that saying anything more would only make matters worse.

He decided that silence was the wiser choice.

Mother Rose chuckled softly, clearly amused by his reaction.

After a little while, Snow finally managed to regain her composure. She gently withdrew her hand and straightened her posture, returning to the familiar stance of a professional bodyguard.

Her expression settled back into its usual calmness, and she resumed keeping watch over the surroundings.

As though nothing unusual had happened.