Killing the female lead and male lead of this world would be as easy as drinking tea for her. She could eliminate Maya and Chen Yifan in her sleep.

So she genuinely didn’t understand—was it a mistake that she’d been assigned this work? Was there some error in mission allocation?

Because actually, their plan was essentially already complete. In two days, Maya would be completely destroyed.

From what Heena knew of Maya’s personality, the woman would definitely try something desperate against Heena tomorrow. Some final scheme or attack.

And Heena just had to play along a little bit, let Maya think she had a chance, then crush her.

Simple.

Easy.

’Too’ easy.

But what Heena absolutely could NOT understand was this:

How the hell were Maya and Chen Yifan—these incompetent, obvious schemers—supposed to successfully kill ’Samuel’ in the original timeline?

Okay, fine. She understood how they’d killed Seera. The original Seera had been naive, trusting, unprepared. An easy target.

But ’Samuel’?

The time she’d spent with him had proven that this man was ’sharp’. Intelligent, observant, strategic.

How could he possibly have been eliminated by such amateur plotters?

It didn’t make sense.

Unless...

Heena’s thoughts were interrupted by a soft sound behind her.

The System cautiously appeared beside her and said, "Host, what’s wrong? You’re quite silent tonight."

Heena looked at the System with an unreadable expression and said, "System, what weapons do you currently have available for me?"

Hearing that unexpected question, the System was genuinely surprised.

Heena had NEVER asked this question before. Not once in all their missions together.

For those unfamiliar with the system: yes, each System was assigned certain weapons to provide their Host. These weren’t normal, simple weapons—they existed for a specific, critical reason.

If a Host died before completing their mission, they didn’t just fail that world. They died in their ORIGINAL world too. Their soul was completely finished, erased, sent to whatever afterlife or reincarnation cycle existed—if any existed at all.

Heena personally didn’t believe in those concepts, but the practical reality was clear: death in a mission meant permanent, final death.

That was why Systems were provided with emergency weapons for their Hosts.

But these weapons were essentially useless in most situations, because using them came with severe penalties.

The System looked through his inventory and said, "Host, there’s a gun—the wind-proof, wind-bullet gun. Some specialized poisons. And a basic protective shield. That’s all."

Heena nodded thoughtfully.

Even though those items sounded impressive, they really weren’t practical.

Because there was a steep price for using them. If Heena used any of these weapons on major characters like Maya or Chen Yifan, she would need to complete one EXTRA world as penalty.

It was extremely irritating, and it caused significant problems for the Systems to clear up the paperwork afterward.

Though the weapons didn’t leave evidence behind, which was at least something.

Heena looked at the night sky again, processing this information.

The System, noticing her unusual mood, asked carefully, "Host, are you worried about something?"

Heena shook her head and said quietly, "Nothing specific. I just keep thinking that if there’s truly a hidden mission parameter in this world—if there’s something major that’s been concealed from me—then things shouldn’t be this easy right now."

The System stayed silent for a moment, then nodded. "I think so too."

Hearing that confirmation, Heena smiled slightly and reached over to ruffle the System’s fuzzy lion head affectionately.

"Some people don’t understand why we Hosts need Systems," she said softly. "But the reason is quite simple."

She continued, "It’s not only because we need Systems to travel between worlds, to return home, to navigate the technical aspects of transmigration."

She paused, looking at the stars.

"It’s also because without a real companion to talk to—without someone who understands the true situation—Hosts would become mentally exhausted. Emotionally damaged. Maybe even lose themselves completely."

Her hand continued gently petting the System’s head.

"And these Systems, who often seem like useless fellows just eating snacks and making commentary—they’re actually the ones who keep us grounded. Who remind us we’re not completely alone."

The System looked up at her, touched by this rare moment of genuine sentiment from his usually pragmatic Host.

Heena’s thoughts wandered back through her memories, across multiple worlds and lives. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

She paused suddenly as a specific memory surfaced.

’"Host~"’

There had been someone who used to call her that. Someone who had smiled at her warmly with that exact intonation.

But that person was—

Heena shook her head sharply, cutting off that line of thought before it could fully form.

She wasn’t going to dwell on painful memories tonight.

Instead, she gave the System one final pat and stood up, stretching her abused body carefully.

"Let’s go back to sleep," she said. "Tomorrow is going to be complicated."

The System nodded and followed her back inside.

’’Next day :’[During Lunch]’’

Heena sat down for her midday meal, alone in their quarters as usual.

Samuel was out handling business matters, and since she wasn’t some wealthy noblewoman, there were no servants standing around watching her eat. Just her, a simple meal, and blessed solitude.

She picked up her chopsticks and took a bite of the rice.

The taste was... wrong.

Slightly bitter. Metallic.

’Oh no.’

Heena literally could not believe it. She couldn’t believe Maya would be THIS much of a fool—to poison her food so obviously, so clumsily, so ’detectably’.

But apparently, Maya WAS that much of a fool.

Because Heena’s body immediately began reacting.

Her vision blurred. Her heartbeat became erratic. Pain exploded through her chest and abdomen.

She tried to stand, to call for help, but her legs wouldn’t support her weight.

Unlike the heroines in movies or romance novels who collapse slowly and gracefully to the ground while still looking beautiful and tragic—

Heena’s head simply dropped forward and SLAMMED directly into her bowl of rice.

Blood immediately began gushing from her mouth, spilling into the food, staining the white rice crimson.

Her body convulsed once, twice, then went terrifyingly still.

And of course—OF COURSE—there was no one else in the room.

No servants. No witnesses. No one to see her choking on her own blood.

Samuel was outside somewhere. The household staff were busy with their duties elsewhere.

She was completely, utterly alone.

Two possible outcomes stretched before her’

Either Heena would die here, face-down in poisoned rice.

Or she would survive and get mercilessly mocked by her System for her undignified collapse.

The System materialized beside her immediately, his voice frantic with panic’

"HOST! Host, don’t close your eyes! Should I activate the protective shield?! Should I give you the antidote pills?! Should I—"

Heena managed to shake her head weakly, blood dripping from her lips.

"N-nah... wait..."

Her heart was clenching so hard it felt like it might rupture. Every beat sent waves of agony through her entire body.

The poison was strong—professionally made, not some amateur concoction.

’Maya must have gotten this from Chen Yifan,’ Heena thought hazily. ’Government official... access to imperial physicians... quality poisons...’

She tried to focus, to think strategically even as her body shut down.

Then she heard it—footsteps approaching rapidly.

The door burst open and Samuel rushed inside.

His face went completely white when he saw her collapsed over the table, blood pooling beneath her face.

"SEERA!"

He was at her side in an instant, pulling her up from the table, cradling her against his chest.