Chapter 3

Janet spotted me the moment she walked in–sitting across from Cedric.

The smile on her face froze instantly.

Her pupils widened, as if she just saw a ghost.

"E–Eleanor?!"

I lifted my iced Americano and took a slow sip, not even sparing her a glance.

Cedric frowned, clearly displeased, and looked at her.

"You know her?"

I lazily stirred the ice in my cup.

"My sister. Janet."

I paused, then added lightly, "No blood relation, though. We were switched at birth in the hospital. My parents still let her stay with the family."

Janet bit down hard on her lip.

Panic flashed across her eyes–and beneath it, the deep, festering jealousy of someone who stole a place that was never hers.

However, she glanced at Cedric's strikingly handsome face and then at me.

Greed won.

She took a deep breath, pulled out a chair, and sat down right beside us as if nothing was wrong.

"Hey, Cedric, what a coincidence."

Her voice turned soft and sugary, deliberately pitiful.

"Actually, I'm the one who asked to meet you here today."

As she spoke, she reached for Cedric's hand on the table.

"Eleanor just happened to pass by. She's only recently been brought back to the Cole family. She grew up poor–she could barely even afford food. She doesn't know anything about holographic games, let alone play them."

Cedric jerked his hand away as if shocked, a flicker of disgust crossing his eyes.

He turned to me, puzzled.

I let out a soft laugh, resting my chin in one hand as I looked at Janet.

"Oh? You're the one who invited him?"

"Then why don't you tell us–what dungeon did we run last night?"

Janet froze.

She stole my account, sure.

However, all she ever did was flirt over voice chat.

She did not understand the game at all.

She could not squeeze out a single word.

"I was too tired last night. I don't remember."

Her eyes darted around, trying to salvage her dignity.

"Cedric, don't listen to her nonsense.

"She grew up in the countryside–she's never even seen what a max-level account looks like!"

The smile at the corner of my lips turned sharper, colder.

"If you're so knowledgeable, why don't we talk mechanics?"

I turned to Cedric, my tone shifting–lazy, but precise.

"After last week's update, the mage skill Frozen Expanse had its cast delay secretly reduced by half a second.

"If you want to avoid being interrupted in cross-server battles–especially for players like us who rely on skill instead of stacking resistance through spending–

"On the third row of the talent tree, should you pick Rapid Cooldown or Frost Shield?"

Cedric's eyes lit up instantly.

This was the kind of fine-tuned data only top-tier players paid attention to.

He turned to Janet, his gaze sharp now, probing.

"Janet, if you're Moonlight Glow, what do you think?"

She completely froze.

All she ever did was use my account in safe zones, acting cute and collecting gifts.

She did not even know all the hotkeys–let alone things like cast delays or talent builds.

"I think-"

She stammered, fingers twisting nervously in the hem of the Chanel dress that was not even hers.

"I think you should pick Frost Shield.

"At least it helps you survive."

She tried to sound confident, offering what seemed like a reasonable answer.

Cedric's expression turned cold immediately.

I let out a quiet, merciless laugh.

"That's a useless talent only beginners under level thirty would choose.

"Moonlight Glow is called the number one mage for a reason–max damage, perfect positioning, zero defensive talents.

"You don't even understand basic class fundamentals, and you dare impersonate the top mage on the server?"

Each word I spoke–landed like a sharp slap across her face.

Cedric did not hesitate.

"Miss, please leave.

"My girlfriend and I have something private to discuss. We don't want to be disturbed."

Janet's face flushed a deep, ugly red.

Not only did her fake persona tore apart in public–she had to watch helplessly as the big catch she was carefully cultivating was completely taken from her.

Humiliation and fury surged through her.

She could not hold it in anymore.

Covering her face, she bolted out of the cafe like a stray dog chased into the streets.

…

[Holy shit! That was an insane technical smackdown!]

[Janet is such a fraud–she couldn't answer a single thing!]

[I'm dying–she doesn't even know Rapid Cooldown and still pretends to be top mage?!]

[It's over, it's over. The main target's completely been taken by the villainess!]

[Janet cried so hard, she's definitely not letting this go!]

…

I watched the scrolling comments in front of me, calmly finishing the last sip of my iced Americano.

Not letting it go?

Perfect.

This was only the first catch.

The real game did not even begin yet.