Villain: I Must NTR All The Hidden Bosses!-Chapter 32: Trouble!

James followed the maid through the long, quiet hallways of his family’s estate. The atmosphere in the mansion was tense and heavy due to the aftermaths of the assassination.

His footsteps echoed faintly on the polished floor, and he could hear the soft swish of the maid’s skirt as she led him toward the study.

When they finally stopped in front of the large oak door, the maid turned to him with a slight bow. "Master James, your father is expecting you."

James nodded, his heart beginning to race. He took a deep breath, raised his hand, and knocked firmly on the door.

"Enter," came his father’s deep, commanding voice from the other side.

James pushed open the door and stepped into the room. The study was as it always was—dimly lit, with shelves upon shelves of old books lining the walls.

A faint scent of parchment and ink hung in the air, and the heavy mahogany desk at the center of the room stood like an unshakable monument.

But today, the room felt different.

Sitting across from his father at the desk was a man James had never seen before. He was tall and thin, his posture straight as a blade.

His sharp, piercing gray eyes locked onto James the moment he entered, and it felt like they were trying to strip away every secret he had.

His face was cold, as if he had never smiled a day in his life. He looked like a very, very, strict person.

And his presence was also quite overwhelming. It wasn’t just his intense gaze or the stern set of his jaw—it was the aura around him. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

It radiated authority and something else... something James couldn’t quite place but was familiar with as well...

Justice. That was it.

The man’s very presence screamed justice, like he was the living embodiment of the law.

Then James noticed the emblem pinned to the man’s chest.

His breath hitched. It was unmistakable. The silver insignia gleamed under the light, marking the man as a member of the Imperial Force.

James’s mind raced. ’The Imperial Force? What is someone like that doing here? They only get involved in the most serious cases!’

The Imperial Force was the organization in charge of dealing with Spirits and their alliances.

They were the major force of the Star Continent before the emergence of the Primordials and the creation of the Vanguard Force when their authority took a hit.

It was all clearly stated in the book about Aurendral.

Despite the storm of questions swirling in his head, James kept his face neutral. He straightened his back, forcing himself to act calm.

"Good afternoon, Father. Sir," he said, his voice steady, though he felt anything but.

His father, chubby and imposing with streaks of gray in his hair, gestured toward the man at the desk.

"James, this is High Investigator Marcellus, a senior member of the Imperial Force."

Marcellus gave a small nod, but his piercing gaze never wavered.

"Good afternoon," James replied, bowing slightly. He had a million questions, but he kept them to himself for now.

His father leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the desk. "High Investigator Marcellus is here to investigate the recent Spirit Assassinations in the northern provinces.

"His investigation has led him here, and he has requested to see you personally."

James frowned, confused. His heart was racing as a bad premonition overtook him. "Me? Why would the Imperial Force want to speak with me?"

Marcellus’s cold voice cut through the air like a knife. "I’ve been informed of your assassination attempt and your previous hunting expedition. It’s highly possible you encountered something valuably connected to the spirits during that time."

James felt a chill run down his spine. ’Why does it always come down to this hunting expedition!’

He desperately wanted to know what truly went down that day, but he had no memories of this body’s previous owner.

His father continued, his tone firm but slightly softer. "The Investigator has requested to perform a soul search on you. It’s mandatory, James."

The words hit him like a punch to the gut. James felt his legs lock up as his mind struggled to process what he’d just heard.

A soul search?

A soul search wasn’t just some routine procedure. It was one of the most invasive techniques in the empire.

Using a mix of complex artifacts and aura, a soul search could delve into a person’s memories—everything they’d ever seen, heard, or experienced.

It was like opening a book and reading someone’s entire life story!

And that was the problem!

James wasn’t originally from this world. He had memories of another life, another world entirely. A world called Earth.

His heart began to pound. ’If they see my memories, they’ll know I don’t belong here. They’ll call me a demon!’

Demons—that was what they called people like him, those who had memories of another world.

He’d read about them in the empire’s history books. They were seen as dangerous, unnatural, and were executed on sight.

James stood frozen in the center of the room, his face pale. His mind was racing, trying to think of a way out.

’Why now? Why me? What if they see something they shouldn’t? What if...’

"James," his father’s voice cut through his panic, pulling him back to the present.

"There’s no need to worry. High Investigators are bound by life oaths. They cannot reveal any information they find during a soul search. This is only to help with the investigation."

James barely registered the reassurance. His thoughts were spiraling out of control.

’A life oath? That doesn’t mean anything if they find out I’m not from this world. No oath can protect me from the executioner’s blade.’

Marcellus’s gaze remained locked on him, cold and unflinching. It felt like the man was already trying to see through him, even without the soul search.

"Shall we proceed?" Marcellus asked, his voice calm but leaving no room for argument.

James’s fists clenched at his sides, his nails digging into his palms. He couldn’t see a way out of this. He had no choice but to comply.

But as he stood there, staring into the eyes of the Imperial Investigator, one thought burned in his mind.

’I have to find a way to survive this. No matter what.’

_____

Power stone Goal!

20 PS - 1 Bonus Chapter

50 PS - 2 Bonus Chapter

100 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus Chapters.

Castle - 10 Bonus Chapters!