Nightmare Game
Copyright© 2025 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 124
The vote wrapped up in a twist no one saw coming.
It tallied to a dead-even split: three to three.
Julian masked his irritation, his face betraying little.
To him, it was just a probing setback—plenty of days left to reclaim the upper hand.
What caught him off guard was how a sure thing had unraveled; he’d never anticipated the snag.
Time was ticking; Henry urged them onward.
Julian let it go, decisive in defeat, but mentally filed Ethan under suspicion.
If the guy’s fountain find was luck, what about derailing his scheme now?
Luck again?
Maybe.
Julian couldn’t pinpoint another reason. Ethan’s every move screamed small-time nobody.
Overturning that would mean acting chops sharp enough to fool even him—anticipating his thoughts, countering in advance.
Julian refused to buy it, wouldn’t entertain the idea of someone pulling strings right under his nose.
He pondered briefly, then slipped beside Ethan, tapping his shoulder lightly.
“Ethan.”
Ethan startled, whipping toward the touch, only to find Julian eyeing him with a warm grin.
His expression flickered: surprise, then embarrassment, eyes darting away.
“Mr. Cole, I...”
He stammered like a kid caught red-handed, fumbling for excuses.
“It’s fine,” Julian soothed. “If it’s fate’s call, us mortals don’t get a say. No need to beat yourself up.”
Under Julian’s reassurance, Ethan perked up, his gaze toward him overflowing with thanks. “Thank you, Mr. Cole. You’re a good man.”
Julian shook his head, then casually added, “Mind if I see that coin of yours?”
“Don’t get me wrong—just curious about the little thing that threw my plan off track. No ulterior motive.”
“Oh ... sure, sure...”
Ethan fumbled in his pocket, handing it over quick.
Julian examined it, confirming no tricks—just an ordinary coin.
“If you like it, Mr. Cole, it’s yours?”
Ethan ventured tentatively.
“No thanks.” Julian chuckled, returning it with another pat on the shoulder before turning away.
Out of Ethan’s sight, his face chilled.
Confirmed: the guy was just a minnow. No red flags on him or the coin.
Yet, despite his certainty, a faint unease nagged.
From entering this dungeon onward, his schemes kept hitting snags, like an invisible hand thwarting him.
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