Chapter 373: Nightmare Forge Studio [4]

There weren’t many things that could make me feel like shit.

I wasn’t the type to get angry often. Getting angry meant getting angry at a certain individual or person. I didn’t like interacting with other people; therefore, most of the time, I tended to just not bother with things.

But this...?

This was one of the few rare times when I was starting to see red.

’Calm down. Calm down. Calm down.’

"This is a contract that you’ve personally signed and approved. If you’re thinking about hiring a lawyer, then you’ll just be wasting money. This isn’t a case that you can win. Especially since the terms all align with the current labour laws."

The more I listened, the harder it was for me to hold it in.

I was starting to imagine all the ways I could end his life. Even the Conductor was trying its best to come out and end him on the spot. If not for the fact that I was holding it back, this entire room would’ve turned red.

"...I’m not asking for much. Just hand over the programs. At the end of the day, we’re not going to stop you from using them. I’m just asking you to give them to us so that we can use them as well. We’re being extremely generous with the requests."

My lip twitched.

I was really on the verge of losing it.

Setting aside the fact that they wanted the programs that had been given to me by the system, the fact that they had put in such a clause in my contract was enough to make me want to kill them all.

’I’ve always known they were predatory, but not to this extent.’

Due to my desperation and ignorance, I had never gotten the chance to properly look at the contract or hand it over to a lawyer to check on it. I didn’t have the money or time to do such a thing.

All I saw was a job, and I took it without hesitation.

Who would’ve thought it would come back to bite me in the ass?

"Are you listening to me?"

I raised my head to stare at the CEO.

He was looking at me with a frown, his face cracking, and impatience showing.

"I don’t have all day. Hand over the programs, and we can let this be. This isn’t a hard request. Do this while I’m still feeling generous. Otherwise..."

He left the sentence hanging. However, I understood it clearly.

’Should I just kill him?’

I was in a very tough spot at the moment.

Legally speaking, he had leverage over me. I had indeed signed the contract and, as such, had no legal grounds.

I also wasn’t liquid enough to pay back all the money that I had made from the games that I had created. I had spent a major part of them on the system shop.

There were two options left for me.

Getting rid of them or asking the Guild Master for a favor.

I... was quite against both ideas.

’Should I hypnotize them using Mr. Jingles?’

This seemed like the only possible path forward for me.

"You’re still staying silent? I guess you really don’t appreciate the olive branch that I’m extending to you. In that case, we can proceed with the legal proceedings."

The CEO suddenly turned his attention towards his assistant.

"Daniel, contact the lawyers, tell them to get—"

"How much?"

A voice suddenly cut across the surroundings.

With both legs on the small glass table by the sofas, she lowered the phone in her hands while staring in the CEO’s direction.

"How much does he owe you?"

"Wha..."

Taken aback, the CEO didn’t know how to respond at first. He just stared at Zoey with a confused look, blinking his eyes several times until he turned his attention towards me.

"Why is your assista—"

"I said how much. Is that hard to understand, such a simple question?"

Zoey spoke up again, her voice a little higher than before. Although I couldn’t clearly see her face as it was hidden by her cap, I could feel the annoyance in her tone.

But...

’What in the world is she doing?’

"Who the hell are you? Aren’t you supposed to be his assistant? What gives you the—"

"Ah, fuck."

Zoey reached for her face and massaged it. As she did, she glared at the CEO.

"Are you mentally inept or some shit? Do you struggle to understand basic English? I said, How much does he owe you? Fucking answer the question you—"

"It would be around 1.4 million dollars."

Another voice joined in on the conversation. Turning my head, I saw the CEO’s assistant, Daniel, answering with a smile.

"The total amount that has been generated from the games is 1.4 million dollars."

The room fell silent a moment later.

While I was still confused by Zoey’s sudden interference, hearing the number coming out of their mouth, I nearly had a heart attack. Did I really earn that much?

"...If you can somehow pay up, then we can consider this—"

"Alright."

Zoey stood up from her seat, putting her phone in her pocket.

"I’ll pay the money."

The room froze over, all eyes turning towards Zoey, mine included.

I wanted to get some words out, but Zoey raised her hand to block me.

With her attention fixed on the CEO and the assistant, who both looked stunned, she took out her wallet and tossed a black card on the table.

"Process it."

"...."

"...."

Neither the CEO nor the assistant moved. Both stood motionless while staring at the card on the table. It was clear from the expression on their faces that neither of them had expected such an outcome.

If I had to be honest, neither did I.

But at the same time, I didn’t really feel comfortable with this outcome. Why was she suddenly paying for me? Didn’t she use to hate me? ...Is it because of Kyle?

Yes, it had to be because of Kyle.

"So? Are we going to stand here all day? I don’t really have that much time."

It was Zoey’s voice that brought all of us back to focus.

Immediately after, the assistant looked at the CEO. The two exchanged glances before the assistant left the room with the card.

The next couple of seconds felt tense as I kept glancing in Zoey’s direction. However, she seemed completely unbothered, her eyes focused on her nails.

And not long after, the door to the room opened.

Clank!

A pale-faced assistant walked in, his eyes focused on Zoey.

"You done?"

Taking her attention away from her nails, Zoey looked at the assistant. Staring at the card in his hands, she snatched it back before grabbing me by the arm.

"...I guess that’s all. Thank you very much for the hospitality. We’ll be taking our leave. Of course, I assume that there shouldn’t be any more issues, right?"

Zoey gave them the CEO and the assistant one more look.

When neither of the two responded, she smiled and moved to the door, dragging me alongside her.

"Very good. We’ll be taking our leave."

Clank!

That was the last I heard of them as we moved out the door.

What just...

What in the world just happened?