Chapter 1

Fear gripped my heart as I cried and pleaded with Dad, Frank Huxley. "Please don't kick me out, Dad. I'm begging you."

However, Dad just scoffed and shoved me out of the house before slamming the door in my face. I could still hear him berating me even through the door.

"I worked myself to the bone to raise you. I treated you so well and taught you how to conduct yourself, and yet, you've never shown even a trace of gratitude for my efforts. Even a dog would be more obedient than you!"

Dad finally fell silent on the other side of the door after he tired himself out from his ranting. However, another immensely impatient voice resounded in my ears a few seconds later.

"I'll teach him a lesson that he'll never forget before coaxing him. You don't understand, system. You need to give both the carrot and the stick to train an obedient dog."

I was stunned. Whose voice was that?

Dad suddenly opened the door before I could figure out what had just happened. He glared coldly at me, asking, "Have you learned your lesson yet?"

My first instinct was to immediately admit that I was at fault, as I always did in the past. However, I hesitated after hearing that strange voice in my ears. For the first time, I defended myself in a small voice.

"Mr. Walton from the convenience store was the one who taught me addition, Dad. He said that all kids need to go to school if they want to make something of themselves in the future."

Dad used to always drill these warnings into my head.

"Studying is the starting line of a person's road to ruin. Your duty is to listen to me and be a good child. Everything that I do is for your sake. The outside world is too dangerous."

There were no phones, TVs, or computers in the house. Dad also always locked the door when he left the house every day. I was already ten years old, but I had never gone to school. I also didn't know how to read or have a single friend.

Dad immediately lost his temper upon hearing my explanation.

"Didn't I tell you that good children always stay at home? You snuck out just because I forgot to lock the door once. Not only that, but you also listened to other people's nonsense. I've already told you countless times that you can't trust anyone but me. They're all out to get you!"

"B-But Mr. Walton isn't a bad person," I stammered, desperately explaining myself as tears welled up in my eyes. "He just taught me addition."

Dad suddenly slapped me hard across my face. I was utterly stunned as my tears splattered on the floor.

Why? Just because I learned that one plus one equals two? Why was Dad so angry?

"I can't believe that you still have the nerve to cry!" Dad shouted, roughly grabbing my arm and dragging me toward my room. "You'll have to be punished for your disobedience. You're forbidden from having dinner today. No leaving your room until you've figured out what you've done wrong!"

I was then ruthlessly shoved into my room. I stumbled forward and nearly lost my footing.

The door slammed shut with a loud bang behind me, followed by the clear sound of it being locked.

I hugged my knees and buried my face into them. My entire body was trembling from how hard I was sobbing when I heard that strange voice from before again.

"Shut up! I know. Damn it! I took so many precautions, but I didn't take a nosy country bumpkin into account. The brat is already suspicious. I won't be able to use my previous methods anymore. I'm going to have to take some drastic measures."

I was stunned as I listened to the voice. Although I was young and immature, at that moment, I was struck with the realization that I was listening to Dad's thoughts.

It turned out that Dad wasn't actually my father. He was an agent from another world and was known as the most cold-blooded, top-tier strategist who cleared his missions the fastest.

However, he never used love to reform his targets. Instead, he achieved his goals by breaking his targets' spirits and ruining their lives.

I was the target of his current mission—someone who was destined to become a wicked villain in the future.