Seducing the Guideverse With My System — Raising an Anomaly [BL]

Chapter 186: _Prisoner

Ambrose didn’t know when but at one point Viktor stepped out of the suite. Devon still wasn’t back from taking Orion to school, leaving him all alone.

He walked out of his bedroom with his fingers ruffling through his damp blonde hair. "I’m a prisoner in my own fucking house—wait, scratch that. This isn’t my house yet I’m still locked up."

[And of course, cursing around aimlessly has proven to be so much help in situations like this.]

"Ugh, put a sock in it, Aura." He scoffed, lounging against his kitchen island. A can of vodka soda lay there basically begging him to take it.

It was barely past nine AM but hey... It’s gotta be happy hour somewhere, no?

Once he had downed half of the can’s content, he sighed, wiping a hand over his mouth. "Alright, think, Rose. There has to be a way to leave here."

[Leave here to where?]

"ANYWHERE." He snapped but then stopped himself from crashing out the next second. Suddenly he felt like he was being watched, forcing him to lower his head. "Dungeon raids, taking a damn walk, partaking in the joy of picking up my own son? How am I supposed to do any of that if the Guild master has me on lockdown?"

He drummed his fingers on the island as he thought deeper. This feeling... of being forced to do something because the other person was more powerful or had more authority.

He hated it to his fucking bones.

His fingers tightened around the vodka soda can as he emptied the rest of it in another gulp. "Then there’s still that damn Doctor Kelly... The Guild master seemed to be in a rush to get out. Maybe I can use this time to check in on her."

The Guide stepped away from the counter, barely paying attention as he flung the empty can into a trash can. He hopped to the living room door—unaware of the presence outside until it was too late.

"What the..." his breath hitched the second he opened the door and got out into the hallway.

Because flanking the left and right sides of his doorway were guards. Donned in suits and glasses like they were straight out of a James Bond movie.

They both swerved their heads to him when he got out. "Mr Hale." The bearded one amongst them spoke first, his voice gruff and plain. "Until further notice, you aren’t allowed to wander around Guild premises."

Ambrose blinked once—then the words registered in his head. He sniggered dryly. "You’re kidding me, right?"

"Does this face look like we crack jokes?" The other one asked with zero amusement. "It’s Guild master Magnus’ orders. If you have a problem with it... meet him yourself."

"So y’all have literally turned this suite into a prison?" Ambrose was in utter disbelief. "W–What—"

"You can still move around," the bearded guy corrected. "But we’d have to be by your side. Don’t worry, this doesn’t extend to Hunter Devon, Hunter Viktor or anyone else visiting."

"Of course, it doesn’t." He squeezed out a sarcastic smile, inching back inside before slamming the door on their faces. "Fuck!"

[Still going around with the aimless cursing I see. At least now you know there might be people listening in.]

This time, Ambrose ignored Aura’s remark and placed his attention on something else. ’Please, tell me you’ve got a daily quest to distract me from this madness.’

He was so close to beating up the guards and escaping... but he could already guess their Ranks without using the system.

A-Ranks and definitely far more trained than Han’s lackeys. No way he’d take that risk.

[You’re in luck... depending on how you view luck.]

Wait, what?

[DAILY QUEST ACTIVATED.]

[OBJECTIVE: ?? Wear a black mask and wield Black Key at once.]

Ambrose’s frown deepened when the system screen glitched with static. Another glitch hit it before it switched to the new details.

[REWARDS: 1000 EP, +5 strength and speed boost and ??]

’What the heck is up with the question marks? You’ve got a bug or something?’

[PENALTY: Possible soul erasure if host doesn’t carry out mission requirement within five minutes.]

... Possible?

[Time starts now.]

Ambrose’s limbs suddenly felt like jelly.

His heart skipped a beat when a new system screen popped up. Except this one wasn’t blue like the others. It was a dark purple and had a timer glaring red at the centre.

[04:56]

’You homicidal—’ he was about to curse Aura out when spatial awareness picked up something.

Something too strong for him to ignore.

There was someone else approaching the door. And from how heavy their footsteps were, this person sure wasn’t happy.

Outside the suite, Devon had just stepped out of the elevator, brushing back his hair. He’d spent some time talking to Orion’s teacher about possible protocols... In case anything ’odd’ happens.

He didn’t give them details but he hoped it would be enough.

Now, onto the confusing scene before him.

"Excuse me?" He frowned as he strode toward the door and the guards standing beside it. "Why are you two here?"

The men exchanged a look before bringing their gazes back to him. "Your grandfather’s orders, Hunter Devon. Guide Ambrose isn’t allowed to leave his suite without us accompanying him."

Devon gawked at them like they’d grown tails and started speaking Latin. "Under what grounds was that order passed?"

"Well, you’d have to ask your—"

He closed the gap between them until he breathed down the neck of the bearded one. "I’m asking YOU now. On what grounds was this punishment made?"

Back inside the suite, Ambrose finally pulled out the black mask and black key from the system’s storage space. He clutched the key in one hand, slowly putting on the mask as he went to his room.

Once the door was sealed, he held up the key. "Alright, I’ve done everything in the mission objective. Now what?"

The system didn’t respond.

Instead, a blinding flash of white light spread from a point in front of him. He hid his face behind his palms for a beat—until the light disappeared and gave way to something else.

"... A door?" Ambrose didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "You fucking threatened my entire existence for a damn door?"

His eyes slid from the black key to the door repeatedly. Then it hit him.

Usually, when the system generated a mission from the key, he’d be teleported randomly without any chance to prepare. What if... the key and the door...

Curious, he moved to the door and stuck the key into the keyhole. The door clicked open, revealing nothing but a shroud of mist at the other end.

He halted. "I’m guessing I need to step in now." Still no response from the system. "Welp. Doesn’t seem shady at all."

Taking in a deep breath he clutched the mask with his fingers as he crossed over. In the next second, the door closed then vanished completely.

"Rose?!" Devon barged into the living room at the very same second. Slowly, he shut the door behind him, his forehead creasing. "Rose? Where are you? What the hell is going on?"

He got no response.

The air in Ambrose’s bedroom distorted faintly for a split second.

Then—nothing.