Level 1 to Infinity: My Bloodline Is the Ultimate Cheat - Chapter 98

Chapter 98: Hidden Threat

Ethan winced at the pain, and Lyla grabbed his arm. “Ethan, I’m sorry! Let me see.”

She looked genuinely concerned. She hadn’t hit him that hard, but he had still gotten hurt—because of her.

Lyla stepped behind him and lifted his shirt without hesitation.

Williams, Victor, and Leo all leaned in to take a look.

“What the hell are you guys looking at?” Ethan shot them a glare and shoved them away.

The three exchanged confused looks. Weren’t they just worried about him?

They turned back to Ethan, only to see him wiggling his eyebrows and making faces at them.

“Wait a second… Oh—”

Before Leo could finish, Victor smacked the back of his head.

“Shut up and get some food.”

“Oh… Got it, got it!” Leo scurried off, but not before turning back to give Ethan a thumbs-up and a couple of exaggerated winks.

Ethan sighed. This guy. He was quite smart, but his mouth never knew when to stop. If Victor hadn’t interrupted, Leo would’ve probably spilled everything.

Just then, Lyla’s cold fingers touched the sore spot on his lower back, gently massaging it. The sensation was so comfortable that Ethan nearly melted on the spot.

Acting soft… it always triggered a woman’s nurturing instincts. A universal truth.

And Lyla? Right now, she was the perfect example. Fussing over him, rubbing his injury, whispering in his ear with concern.

‘Oh, Lyla… You think you can mess with me? When it’s just us, you’re all sweet, clinging to me like you can’t help yourself. But the moment people are around, you turn cocky, you mess with me, you act tough. Well, guess what? Two can play this game.’

Ethan smirked to himself.

If Lyla knew what he was thinking, she’d probably kick him on the spot.

She was too focused, though her expression was soft, almost like a kitten’s. Ethan’s hand moved on its own. A light smack landed on her backside.

Lyla froze. Her face turned bright red.

She quickly glanced at Victor and Williams, thankfully, they weren’t paying attention.

Shooting Ethan a deadly glare, she clenched her fists. But just as she was about to land a punch, she remembered he was injured.

With an exasperated sigh, she let it go and continued massaging his back.

Ethan grinned. A new plan took shape in his mind, he was going to tame this kitten right in front of everyone.

“Heh…”

“Ethan, why are you laughing like that?” Lyla squinted at him.

“Oh… nothing. You just hit a ticklish spot.” He covered up quickly.

He had gotten so pleased with himself that he had let it slip.

Lyla didn’t seem suspicious, so he continued scheming.

Meanwhile, Victor and Williams kept chatting with him.

An hour passed.

“…Where the hell is Leo? He left to grab food ages ago.” Williams frowned and pulled out his phone, calling him.

No answer.

Frowning, Williams dialed again.

Still nothing.

By the fifth attempt, Leo finally picked up.

“Bro, where the hell are you?” Williams asked, putting the call on speaker.

Through the phone, Leo’s heavy breathing filled the silence. “I’m… I’m on my way back. But listen—on my way home, I saw that car.”

Williams’ expression darkened. “The one that hit Ethan?”

Ethan looked up sharply.

“Yeah,” Leo confirmed. “It was parked near the back entrance of the complex. When I saw it, I got closer and peeked through the window. No one was inside.

But just as I looked up, I spotted this guy—scruffy beard, rough-looking, walking out of our building. He saw me standing by his car… and bolted. I took off after him. Chased him for blocks, but he lost me.”

Leo was still breathing heavily on the other end.

Victor scowled. “Get back here. This isn’t normal. If he outran you, that means he’s no ordinary guy.”

“Yeah… I figured.” Leo coughed. “By the way, I lost the food in the chase. Should I grab more on my way back?”

“No need. We’ll go eat out.” Ethan cut in.

“Got it, boss.” Leo hung up.

Williams turned to Victor. “What do you think?”

But Victor wasn’t looking at him. He was watching Ethan and Lyla.

“…Did you two piss off someone?” he asked.

Lyla blinked, then scoffed. “Who, us? What kind of trouble could we possibly get into?”

“What about your family?” Victor pressed.

Lyla hesitated. She reached for her phone. “I can call my dad and—”

“No need.”

Ethan’s voice had turned ice-cold.

“This is about me.” His eyes were just as cold.

The group fell silent.

“What do you mean?” Williams frowned.

“I don’t have proof,” Ethan admitted. “But I have a pretty good guess.”

He turned to Lyla. “Has anyone been asking about me? Either in real life or in-game?”

Lyla frowned, deep in thought.

After a long pause, she shook her head. “No, I don’t think so.”

Ethan’s eyes narrowed. If it wasn’t about him…

Lyla’s voice suddenly cut through his thoughts.

“Wait.”

She sat up straighter, a flicker of unease crossing her face.

“I just remembered something.”

Ethan watched as she hesitated, piecing something together in real-time.

“My old classmate from high school, she’s studying overseas now. A few days ago, she sent me a private message while we were running a dungeon.”

Lyla’s brows drew together. “She asked me something weird. She said, ‘Lyla, are you dating NotADruid, the leader of Renegade Alliance?”

Ethan felt a slow, sinking sensation in his chest.

“I was in the middle of a fight, so I didn’t think much of it,” Lyla admitted. “I just laughed and said, ‘What? He’s my brother, don’t be ridiculous.’

And then… she logged off.”

It hadn’t meant anything to her at the time. But now, looking back, the way her friend had just vanished after hearing that, like she had gotten the confirmation she needed—sent a chill down her spine.

“This all makes sense now,” Ethan muttered.

Before he could finish, Victor and Williams interrupted him in unison.

“Wait—aren’t you two dating?”

Ethan froze.

Of all the things to focus on…

“I almost got assassinated, and that’s what you’re worried about?” Ethan snapped.

“Relax, boss,” Williams waved him off. “This is just some in-game grudge spilling over. Someone wants payback but can’t get to you, so they’re coming for your girl instead.

No big deal. It’s not like they can fly over here and blow up our place.

Besides, with the three of us around, what’s there to worry about?”

Williams looked completely unfazed. “Still crazy, though. Never thought I’d see the day someone tried to kill over a game.”

Ethan didn’t respond. He just stared at them, then at Victor. And on Victor’s face… was something different.

Unlike Williams, Victor wasn’t so sure. And that meant he could feel it.

This wasn’t just some harmless grudge match.

This was real.