NOVEL NEXT 10. Wish You Death!
The best plans are quick, effective, and border insanity. This one is no exception. ENJOY!
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“Chip! Chip! Chip!”
Jack awoke to the calming sound of birds chipper— or not?
Solidly planted on his nightstand was a cute and tiny plant with sharp teeth happily moving its stem as it danced and chirped? “Du-du-du-du!”
A small room, his reliable Glowbill quill, and a white ceiling full of glowing amethyst artsy lines that covered remnants of water infiltrations. As for the plant by the side? Whatever.
Jack could guess where it had come from…
“You’ve been watching over me, eh?”
“Du-du-du-du! Du-du-du-du!”
He took it as a yes.
The thing even gave him a wave as it pointed to the pink thermos next to it, one with the cutest handwritten post-it ever: < Get well, big bro! Chicken Soup for when you wake up! >
He could feel its warmth even from a distance, a warmth that nourished the soul. He lazily burrowed under the quill and emptied his mind. Five more minutes, he deserved it.
But just as he was blissfully lazing around…
< Ding! New Message Request! >
< Ding! New Message Request! >
< Ding! New Message Request! >
….
“What is it?!”
Annoyed, he grabbed his phone.
— IHATEGOBLINS: I reported you, bastard!
— IHATEGOBLINS: Think you can ignore me? Na-ha!
— IHATEGOBLINS: Hehehehe, you’re getting banned. BANNED!
…..
Wait… what?! Was he still asleep or something? Who was this goblin guy, and why was he mad? It seemed to be about a post he had made a while back, one that would affect his future.
WannabeSuper: “Anyone seen a portal around? I’m looking for a white variant. Any will do as long as it's in the Northern Reaches. Please DM me! Financial Compensation Available!”
Thread? Still there. On it, some peeps were calling him a dumbass with a death wish, others suggested he was a bored Super, and of course, there were the usual ‘www.reportportals.com’ links.
“Skip. Skip. Skip. Ah, there it is! Let’s see…”
— IHATEGOBLINS: I got a whitey here. You still interested?
— IHATEGOBLINS: Brother, you said something about financial compensation?
— IHATEGOBLINS: I want 10k Credits or no deal! Those are super rare, you know!
Then a bit later, after many advising him not to sell…
— IHATEGOBLINS: Okay, fine, 8k, but you have to reply fast. I’m tired of your shitty “Auto-Reply! I’ll get back to you ASAP!” bullshit! Honestly, where the hell are you?!
And all posts after that were “DELETED” by the auto-moderation bot. Seeing this, Jack rolled on his side, struggling to his feet. But that’s when it hit him. RUMBLE!
Hungry! So damn hungry! As if he hadn’t eaten in eons…
His stomach rumbled so mightily that it sounded like a behemoth awakening from a thousand years of slumber. Good thing his sister had thought about it.
He grabbed the thermos and…
He downed it! Food, real food, unlike those revolting Gripfruits!
Warm, salty, and so delicious! Noodles full of slow-simmered flavor, and actual chicken pieces melting in one’s mouth. It was the comforting taste of care and love. It was—
‘No, better do this ASAP before I lose the portal!’ He hurriedly typed.
“Still interested. Where’s it at?”
“….”
“….”
“….”
Seconds turned into minutes!
Never had he stared at a screen so intently. Would the goblin guy take the bait? Had he already sold it or called the authorities? What if the portal was already gone? After all...
Every portal must be reported.
Most didn’t give a damn, but it didn’t change the law. Any new portal had to be reported; the nearest guild would investigate it since every portal was unique.
Some would vomit monsters daily, while others led to dead worlds that posed no threat whatsoever. Then there were the ones in between that contained sentient species who—
< Ding! New Message Request! >
< Ding! New Message Request! >
< Ding! New Message Request! >
— IHATEGOBLINS: You had your chance. You lost it. Fuck you!
— IHATEGOBLINS: Think I’ll sell it to you after you ghosted me? Dumbass!
— IHATEGOBLINS: Hehe, it’s a one-seater to boot. I suddenly feel like going in!
….
One seater?! Neat! That also meant the man still had it. He was also open to trade, or else he wouldn’t even have bothered to reply. Which meant he had to move, and FAST!
“Sorry about that. Been training in seclusion. Phone was on 'do not disturb'. Anyway, let’s talk business, shall we? As I recall, the market price for white portals should be 6k?”
He had barely typed when he couldn’t help but sigh.
‘He’s pissed. Might take him a while to get back to me, if he ever does…’
But that guy would want money for sure. Money he didn’t have, money he’d have trouble getting too. He quickly checked his bank account, and it was quite a desolate sight.
< Checking: 146 Credits! >
Most had gone to rent, food, and utilities.
As for the emergency funds hidden beneath the flooring in the kitchen? Not enough. Barely 200 credits in total. Physical money was hard to get in recent days. That left only one thing…
He went to the bathroom. It was still there, shimmering under the sink. As soon as he opened the little cabinet, its blue glow welcomed him. As long as he sold this…
“That’s 5k right there. Then borrow or gamble the rest?”
He felt a striking pain in his gut just thinking about selling a Magic Crystal. Those things were easy to sell but hard to buy. Who knew when he’d get a chance next?
Still, that didn’t change much. He needed money NOW!
“But that’s not the only thing. I’ll need a weapon.”
Something to fight with, anything that could increase his odds. Ask Lilia? Nope, she didn’t have anything like that. As for Charon, he had plenty, but they’d definitely kill him!
Merfolk weapons chose their partners…
A single whiff of his powerlessness and a Coral Spear would happily impale him, even as its wielder! As for what would happen next? The most gruesome death as he was reduced to—
< Ding! New Message Request! >
< Ding! New Message Request! >
< Ding! New Message Request! >
— IHATEGOBLINS: Oh, seclusion? That explains it.
— IHATEGOBLINS: Fine, I’ll send you the meet coordinates!
— IHATEGOBLINS: Be there tonight or no deal! It’ll be 7k upfront. Take care!
…
Tonight?! How was he supposed to sell a Mana Crystal AND get 2k more before tonight?! And as he glanced at the location, it got worse. It was beyond the wall. The Wilderness?!
He instantly knew it wouldn’t work. Too many unknowns.
“Fuck, gotta craft the best reply. One that says ‘you’re out of your goddamn mind, you fuck’, but politely. First, we reschedule. Then renegotiate the price and finally—”
< The user “IHATEGOBLINS” has deleted their account! >
“Super Enthusiast, my ass! More like Super Greedy!”
For a few instants, he pictured himself bitch-slapping the goblin guy, kneeing him in the groin, and pulling his damn hair till he screamed for mercy. But then he calmed down.
He had to list the problems…
1. Wilderness = Dangerous
2. Preparations = Self-Defense Weapon
3. Cash flow issues = 7k missing to be exact!
….
Any of those problems would have taken a week to solve. Dangerous wilderness? He could probably get Lilia to accompany him IF needed. But she’d need a long heads up.
Weapon? He could have asked the Training Instructor, but he had just been WAY too busy before. Also, he probably should ask the man for his name before a weapon loan.
As for the money? He could always bet until he got it, even if it drew unwanted attention. It would definitely be a problem, but hopefully, a problem that would come later.
But all three issues at once? GAME OVER!
“Guess I’ll have to give up on—”
That’s when he froze. He had just thought of a solution to all his problems. It was a half-baked one, but it could possibly work? Then again, it would be so much easier to simply wait.
“It’s not the end of the world if I skip this—”
Except what if it was? The main growth spurt in one’s Quirk power happened between the ages of 16 and 18, but it wasn’t the only one. Around 18 was still prime growth time.
He had just had his birthday. Sure, he was late by every metric, but he was still technically in his growth phase. What if delaying now screwed him up later?
“It’s all as ifs. There’s nothing certain. But do I want to risk it?”
He asked himself, but he didn’t even need to answer. He was already getting dressed and grabbing his wallet, leaving a quick note on the counter…
< Gone Exercising. Will keep you updated! >
— Handsome Jack Bright! XD
Then he departed, locking the rusty-looking door behind him. As for the claw marks on it or the strange looks a neighboring lady gave him? He ignored them all.
No, he walked away at a brisk pace. There was somewhere he had to be. He had a man to meet, one that would eagerly turn him down, but one he had to sway regardless.
This would be one annoying challenge…
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It took him 15 minutes
< Honored Bastion Subway Station. >
A rectangular cement fortress guarded the place.
Long ago, the name used to be different, but it had been changed after a certain event: a blue portal spewing death, Ratkins, and a subway station used as a fortress.
The fact that countless would have died without it wasn’t one they’d let anyone forget. At the front was a large billboard that read: < Honored Bastion: Your Safety Assured! >
The billboard itself was cheesy, but the floating Mana-Cannon above it sure did the trick. Ever since that addition, crime had significantly gone down in the area.
Bracing himself, Jack pushed the rotating doors…
Stuffy, stale, and so goddamn warm. This place was always like this no matter the season. And as usual, it was populated by lots of drones and tourists, as he called them.
Drones: going or coming from work, they didn’t have any time for BS. They stuck to their cell phones or journals and wouldn’t give a damn about the world around them.
Tourists: they’d let their inner child out as they glanced and pointed at everything with rapt attention. Whether they really were tourists or simply happy was another thing.
‘Guess I’m both of them today…’
Just like drones, he didn’t bother with his surroundings. On auto-pilot, he scanned his AMT card at the gates, went down some stairs, bypassed metallic benches, and waited patiently.
Yet, amidst a sea of drones, his mind was still furiously buzzing with hope. This could be it. As long as he convinced that one man, then all would be good!
‘Okay, but I’ll need one hell of a sales pitch!’
‘It needs to be something impactful!’
‘Besides, he kinda hates me…’
Soon, a beast of metal screeched its arrival, and he entered it, just like countless others. But even as he grasped a metallic pole, he just kept thinking about his current predicament.
‘It’s a big ask, and yet it can’t seem like I’m begging either. It needs to be worth his time, yet I can’t settle for a slave contract, either. It needs to—’
“Psst, kid. Getting ready for an interview?”
A voice suddenly interrupted, with Jack raising his eyes. It was a white mustache wearing a navy blue cardigan. Ah, and accessorily, there was an old man attached to it.
Sensing Jack’s confusion, the man reiterated…
“So, getting ready for an interview? I can almost hear you mumble your thoughts from my seat. Also, if you keep frowning like that, you’ll be more wrinkly than me in no time.”
“Ah, it was that obvious, eh? Yeah, an interview, you could say that.”
“So, how bad is it? Tell me more. Maybe I can help!”
As the man listened, Jack shared a romanticized version of his predicament, making his current gambit sound way simpler than it actually was. Soon, the man nodded.
“Okay, so you’ve talked to your boss before, he royally hates your guts, you’re not related to him whatsoever, and now you want him to fund your new venture?!”
The man’s brow rose so high that it almost left his wrinkly face…
“Are you crazy or an optimistic fool?!”
“Both. Both is good, right?”
For an instant, all the man did was stare at his face while frowning. But seeing that Jack was actually dead serious, he kept going.
“You’re still gonna do it?! That venture of yours better be worth millions. That’s the only way he’ll forget how much he hates you. But hate is strong, real strong. It’s near imposs—”
“Hehe, you’re right. Hate IS strong! Thanks for the tip!”
“You, can you at least listen to what I—”
The man froze as he saw him grin. Suddenly, it seemed like Jack’s worries were gone, and he was even making faces toward the window, using it as if a mirror?!
‘Persuasive.’
‘Promising’
‘Powerful’
…
“How’s that, mister?”
“L-Looking good, I-I think?”
Sensing his change in demeanor, the man was left utterly confused. But that much was a given since Jack had finally come up with a plan, and it was amazingly creative.
But before he could explain any of it to the kind old man…
< DING! Evergreen Gardens Station! >
“Ah, that’s my stop. Later!”
He took a few steps out, feeling the difference. Evergreen Station was like its name: fresh. Here, there was no stuffiness nor weird acrid smell. It was a state-of-the-art station!
— Soft glowing light that passed through colorful artisanal glass
— Ancient-styled bricks that had been specifically hand-chiseled
— Modern paintings adorning the walls like thousands of jewels
….
Even the signs were pieces of art…
→ Evergreen’s Promenade
→ Evergreen Garden District
→ Evergreen’s Botanical Garden
…
Every time he came here, it was the same. It felt so foreign as if he had left the Island itself. Yet, he knew this was merely part of life. This was one of the “good” districts.
But as he decisively went on his way, he felt a presence. The man from before was on his tail?! Talk about awkward! It seemed they were going in the same direction.
“Evergreen district! Kid, you ain’t simple!”
“Says the old man going there too!”
“Bah, I’m just a private tutor…”
“And I’m just a beggar.”
The two looked at one another, laughing. Beggar and teacher? This sure made a solid duo! Still giggling, the man handed him a red card: < Gene Cornwall: tutor! >
“Tutor, eh? Like a teacher but not underpaid?”
“What can I say? Not my fault the education system’s broken!”
Amidst the peaceful discussion, the two quickly left the station, soon entering a world of green. That was even more apparent the closer they walked to the Evergreen District.
It was Paradise. There was so much vegetation that the streets could barely be seen. It was a shame considering they weren’t ugly asphalt, but pure rocks as if Roman streets.
Then they finally reached magnificent gates…
< Evergreen Garden District! >
For an instant, both of them stopped breathing. The houses beyond that point were insane. Each was probably worth a few million credits, at the very least, even the “shabby” ones.
No, those were mansions… and castles! But before he could even think about coming closer, there was an obstacle he needed to go through. A pristine white guardhouse.
A friendly yet authoritative guard was already peaking out…
“What brings you two gentlemen here today?”
A single look at Jack’s getup would have assured anyone that he didn’t belong there, yet the man didn’t judge. He knew better. A single bad comment from anyone living here and GG.
Oh, he’d definitely stop them from advancing, but he’d do so with a model-worthy smile. Seeing this, the old man grabbed a stack of paper from his pocket.
< Official Passage Permit. Reason: Math Tutoring. >
< Official Passage Permit. Reason: History Tutoring. >
< Official Passage Permit. Reason: Acting Class Tutoring. >
…
This guy. How many classes did he bloody teach?! He’d definitely contact him if Lilly ever fell behind in school. After all, High school mostly taught regular topics!
Noticing that Jack had no Passage Permit, the old man added as if just remembering: “Ah, right. This young man’s my assistant. Mind if he follows me?”
“T-That… no, it’s all good. But be careful, alright!”
“Yes, Sir, don’t worry about us. We’ll be quiet!”
“Perfect. Keep up the good work!”
…
And just like that, they were in? Only once they were out of earshot did the old man sigh in relief. “Kid, looks like we made it. I think it’s better if you play the assistant on that—”
“That actually wasn’t needed, but thanks. Besides, that’s my stop.”
Grinning, Jack took a sharp turn, and there it was. A manor so large it was the size of a castle yet looked quite austere at the same time. If anything, it oozed military might.
Jack went toward the gates that blocked its entrance, yes, even more gates. But that’s when the quiet old man went batshit insane.
“Wait, Valor?! Like the General?!”
“Kid, don’t do it! You’re gonna fucking die!”
“If you anger a Valor, you’re absolutely DEAD!”
He was right about that. His current plan was madness. It would have made even Sharky shit blood, hence why he would never tell him. Instead, he approached the intercom.
But that’s when the Old Man erupted with power! White smoke billowed out of his mouth, and it charged at Jack! It contained so much power that it would subdue him any moment!
Yet, it was already too late. DING DONG! The screen lit up…
< Valor residence. Who is this? >
And then the visuals came in, with the perfect butler appearing on screen. From his suit to his leather shoes, he oozed professionalism, but even he couldn’t help but still at the scene.
A man of white smoke frozen in place as if about to choke a youngster who was now peering into the camera with a huge grin… and waving?!
“Hey there. I came here to—”
< I’m afraid the young master is currently grounded and—>
“There’s no need to be afraid, Alfred. I’m sure he learned his lesson. Besides, I’m not here for him but for you. I have a deal to propose, one you’ll find absolutely riveting.”
A certain old man by the side felt like crying. The kid had a death wish! So what if the man he was talking to was a butler? That butler had a better standing than most families here!
Yet, that was merely the tip of the iceberg…
‘Don’t worry, I’m sure he learned his lesson, was it?’ Jack was the reason Sharky was acting up in the first place! Yet instead of hiding, he came here?!
A loud sneer came from the intercom…
< This is quite unlikely, but feel free to try. As long as you’re ready for the consequences, that is. Neither I nor the young master have any time for silly games. >
“Good! I’ll be coming in then. See you soon!”
CLICK! Crrreeeaaak-thud!
Jack was already walking forward. Ironically, he had never come inside before. Luckily, the place was quite easy to figure out; there was only one road.
It felt strange. After all, he had seen those gates so many times before, back in the days when the community itself wasn't gated. He had always been too scared to come in.
‘I guess power sometimes’s a mindset?’
He confidently strode in, ignoring the “psst, kid, come back’ that kept resounding from behind him, an old man reluctantly following along, worried.
No, he kept going, a peculiar scene soon appearing. It was… EMPTY!
Valors didn’t believe in maids or chefs. They had some, but their kids weren’t the pampered and useless kind. Or maybe that’s just what they had told Sharky. He wasn’t sure.
Still, all that awaited them was a terrifying butler…
“You came. What about the man behind you?”
“Him? My assistant, that’s all.”
“I see. Let’s hear it then.”
Alfred the butler frowned. That’s all he did. He frowned. Yet as he did, his aura spread and the world ended. A cold energy permeated the entire courtyard as if a typhoon!
His glacial blue eyes alone could end lives. His slight grin stopped the air from flowing. His elegant demeanor shattered the courage of all who saw it. As for his stance, it—
Jack came back to his senses, giving the biggest grin. It was time for his proposal.
“Alfred. Wanna fund my suicide?”
“….”
“….”
“….”
Everyone lagged…
Wanna fund my suicide.
Wanna fund my suicide?
Wanna fund my suicide?!
…
What the actual hell?! For the first time in thirty years, a certain Butler lost his composure. Suave posture? Controlled voice? Stern look? Gone! All utterly gone!
“Y-You. What is wrong with you?! No wonder the young master’s acting weird! It’s all because of you, isn’t it?! Who even says stuff like that?! Seriously?! What are you—”
“I had your interest, but now I have your attention, right?”
That was an understatement! There was absolutely no way in hell that he could leave without explaining himself now! Chuckling, Jack simply threw his phone over.
— IHATEGOBLINS: Be there tonight or no deal! It’ll be 7k upfront. Take care!
As the blue eyes scanned the screen, it was enough for the butler to understand everything, yet he clicked his tongue a few times in a row.
“You say suicide, but white portals have pretty high success rates. Then again, that’s with quirks. Still, there’s no way I’ll use Manor funds for something as ridiculous.”
“Oh? All good. Escort and weapons, and we got a deal.”
“Basic weapons. One-way escort. But I need more.”
“No more Aurora bullshit, I swear!”
….
“DEAL!”
“DEAL!”
As Jack and butler chimed at once, a certain Old Man watched, completely baffled. What was the point of all this?! For an escort?! For weapons?! But then he realized.
No, it wasn’t just that. It was the Valor name. No matter what happened out there, Jack wouldn't get screwed before reaching that portal. It was the strongest guarantee ever. And it came with perks.
“Now, guests, please follow me to the armory.”
“The armory? YES, Sir!”
The two of them were right on the butler’s heels, their excitement through the roof! But a few seconds later, the butler stopped in the lobby, pushing a button? CLICK!
Rows and rows of weapons were revealed…
→ Plasma guns
→ Plasma Swords
→ Kinetic Gauntlets
→ Cryogenic grenades
….
“You guys have all this in your goddamn hallway?!” This was the most American thing ever! And technically, they kinda were since they had all become Norther Reachers.
“Snort. Merely the basic ones, as I said. Pick whatever you need. But don’t be greedy, either. Two maximum. No consumables and nothing that costs too much either. Understood?”
Jack hurriedly nodded and then got to work. No consumables, was it? This was a BIG DEAL! Most of these weapons used Mana Crystals as fuel. Ammo was consumable.
This took out 99% of all the weapons there! Still, it wasn’t enough to discourage him. And before long, he had found the two perfect items for him.
One was a sleek black baton that looked quite harmless. It was the kind of stuff a brigadier could possibly own, yet its round tip hid a secret: 10,000 volts of sheer paralyzing power!
The other was a spear that appeared as terrifying as simple. Incredibly sharp, made with an advanced alloy, and with shark-tooth-like ridges all over. This thing was pure sharpness!
Seeing them, the butler raised a brow…
“Interesting choice. A Volstrike Baton to immobilize enemies. Low damage, but equally low energy consumption. Then a reliable Razorpoint Spear that doesn’t use Mana at all.”
Interesting choice? Of course! It would be his life on the line. It was one thing for Supers to enter a portal, but it would be an entirely different experience for him!
“Good. Let’s go then. The earlier we leave, the sooner you can die.”
“Yep. Told you that you’d like the idea!”
The man led them to an awe-inspiring Rolls-Royce. While it smelled of wealth, it had clearly been modified to make it into an all-terrain vehicle that would crush it wherever.
Show off in the city? Yes! Show off in the Wilderness? Also yes! And it just happened that Jack would soon see both. He entered it, and it was the dream of any car enthusiast.
Temperature-adjusting interior, soft leather seats, windows that could turn tinted on command, a shock-suppression forcefield, a huge Universal Screen, and even a fully stacked mini-bar?!
“This is life! Damn, I should commit suicide more often…”
“If you’re any good at it, you’ll only need one try.”
“Pfft— Butler? Should’ve been a comic.”
“…..”
“….”
“….”
The following ride was quick, real quick.
First, they dropped an old man off; he had a kid to Tutor, after all. Then they swung by Jack’s place for a second, just long enough for him to get his Mana Crystal and send a few key messages.
Then they were off. First, the highway, then the bridges, and finally, they reached the Wall, the monumental construction that protected the island from any and all threats.
It stood so tall and mighty that it put the Wall of China to shame. On it, monsters would crash every day only to get eviscerated by Supers on watch duty.
Yet even that flew by, all thanks to the Valor name. And in a matter of hours, they were there, walking the last kilometer: a meet and a suspicious hooded man. The latter approached, on guard.
“A kid and an old man? Is it just you two?”
It was. Jack still looked destitute, and the once regal-looking Butler had donned a brown cloak that made him look like a vagrant at best and a hobo at worst. Hell, he even smelled like one?!
“Yep! Just me and my old man. Now, I tried contacting you, but you deleted your account too quickly. Listen, I can give 5k upfront and then 2k later after I come back. Deal?”
Jack proposed a deal that was MORE than fair.
Sure, it was scummy to try to delay payment, but the market rate was only 6k. Now, just had to see if the man would accept it. If not, it wouldn’t be too late to drop the Valor name.
“Pfft— So you only have 5k? That’s fine; don’t worry, kid. I’ll be thinking of you when I spend it all, you can be sure of it! Now, boys, it's time to play! WHISTLE!”
That’s when THEY came out from all over the place…
Cloaked individuals, the mockery on their faces glaring. In their hands, they had daggers, swords, and a bunch of non-magical weapons. Oh, and they were covered in blood.
Seeing this, Jack couldn’t help but exclaim…
“Let me guess. There used to be other buyers?”
“Ding! Ding! Ding! Correct! You got shitty luck, kid. I had given up on you, but you just HAD to make it! We’ve been laughing about about it for the past half an hour! We’ve—”
“Young ‘Master’ Bright. What shall I do with them?”
“Is there a need to ask? KILL!”
They never saw it coming, and neither did he. Jack kept his eyes open all the while, but he didn’t really see anything. The soft glow of moonlight, the shimmering feel of mana, and then…
Heads slid off necks, and bodies collapsed. As for the would-be bandits? They were gone, just like that. This was the difference between Supers and regular people.
He should have been scared, and yet he felt excited?!
This was the kind of power he wanted. The power to explode any ambush. The power to live his life as he pleased. The power to save his mother. The power to be totally free!
And right now, he was about to take his first step toward that goal.
“Young ‘Master’ Bright. I can feel the portal. Right over that hill.” Jack looted the bandits, even if they only had a few crystal shards, and then they went over, soon seeing IT.
A portal of white, one that looked like glowing milk?!
[Ding! Otherworldly Portal Discovered!]
[White Portal! Enter It? 0/1 Slots!]
[ERROR! ERROR! ERROR!]
…
It was time. Jack would be as ready as he’d ever be. Gear from the Valor arsenal, training that had solidified his basics, and his birthday having just passed, the perfect time for growth.
Forcing himself not to overthink this, he stepped inside, praying. And as the white portal engulfed him, the last thing he heard was a certain Butler’s whisper. “Good luck! I wish you death…”
He’d do everything in his power to disappoint him…