They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System
Chapter 318: You’re So Narcissistic

Chapter 318: You’re So Narcissistic

“I don’t need your lecture,” she said plainly. “I had my reasons.”

Karen frowned. “What reasons? Because you felt something was off? That’s not enough to risk the whole group!”

Nnenna didn’t answer right away. She looked around at the others, John, Abuchi, Ekene. None of them said a word. They didn’t need to. Their silence spoke volumes. They trusted her.

“I’ve made mistakes before,” Nnenna said softly. “But this wasn’t one of them. You don’t have to understand it. Just know I would rather be cautious than captured.”

The air in the truck was thick for a moment, tension riding the silence.

Karen wasn’t ready to drop it.

She looked around, searching for support, someone to back her up. But everyone else stayed silent. Even John, who usually had something to say, kept his gaze fixed outside the moving truck.

Karen scoffed and crossed her arms. “So we’re all just going to pretend like that long detour made sense?”

Finally, Abuchi broke the silence. “Nnenna,” he said, his tone softer than before, “I know you had your reasons. And I trust you. But… what exactly did you see back there?”

Nnenna shifted slightly, her eyes narrowing as she recalled the moment. “When I was about to turn the corner,” she said slowly, “I saw a man in a black uniform. Same style as the guards from Lionara.”

The others leaned in, listening.

“I couldn’t see his emblem, he had his back to me, talking to a cargo driver. But everything in me screamed that he was one of the ones chasing us. I didn’t want to take any chances, especially not that close to the border. So I told us to retreat.”

Karen laughed, bitter and loud. “So you weren’t even sure?”

Her voice echoed in the back of the truck.

“You just felt something and dragged us into the woods like we were in some spy movie. What if he was just a businessman, huh? What if he was just a guy asking for directions?”

She leaned forward, pointing at Nnenna. “You just wanted to feel like a hero. Look at you ‘I saved everyone!’ You’re so narcissistic.”

Nnenna’s jaw clenched, but before she could reply, Abuchi cut in, voice firmer now.

“She’s not wrong.”

Karen blinked in surprise. “What?”

“I mean Nnenna’s not wrong,” Abuchi clarified.

There was something strange that started bothering Abuchi.

“That cargo driver… he asked me a weird question,” he said quietly, almost to himself.

Everyone turned to him.

“At first, I didn’t think anything of it,” he continued. “I thought he was just making small talk or maybe in a rush to leave. But now that I think about it, his face… his expression wasn’t casual at all.”

He frowned, brows knitted in regret. “It was like… he really wanted to know. And when I didn’t give him an answer, he looked annoyed, like he was forcing himself to stay calm. Like someone waiting for a big reward.”

“What did he ask you exactly?” Ekene asked, his curiosity spiking.

Abuchi hesitated, then replied, “He asked me where the rest of my crew was.”

There was a heavy silence.

“I should’ve known something was off,” he muttered, clenching his fist. “The way he said it… his tone. I was distracted. And I almost put all of you in danger.”

He looked down, guilt washing over him like a wave.

“You couldn’t have known,” Nnenna said gently, stepping closer. “Honestly, any one of us might have thought it was nothing. And the important thing is, we weren’t caught.”

She gave his arm a reassuring pat, her voice calm but firm.

“At the very least,” she added, “we walked away safe.”

Karen didn’t know what to say at this point. Deep down, she realized it, Nnenna had really saved them all. Again.

The word narcissistic she had thrown out earlier suddenly felt bitter in her mouth. She stayed silent, swallowing her pride along with her guilt.

For the rest of the journey, she barely said a word.

But it was not just her. Everyone fell into a quiet reflection. The weight of the close call sat heavily on their minds. They all wondered the same thing, Would I have noticed? Would I have known to act like Nnenna did?

Even Abuchi stared out the side of the cargo quietly, lost in thought. He knew he had to be sharper. Less distracted. One small mistake could cost them everything.

Finally, they arrived in Lumna by nightfall.

Their eyes scanned the area as the cargo slowed down.

“Sir, they were definitely here,” the guard reported quickly, standing stiff like a soldier about to be punished. “According to the information we got, one of the guards that was searching the Third Prince’s room found a burnt letter. It wasn’t completely destroyed. The part that survived clearly mentioned cargo in Jupe. It sounded reliable.”

“Useless!” Assistant Michael snapped, slamming his hand on the nearby table. The echo bounced off the walls. “How am I supposed to work with you lot?!”

He turned away, pacing, his boots stomping hard against the floor. His mind was racing.

“That means someone discovered us. And if they did… then they’re probably still around here,” he muttered, more to himself now.

He turned back sharply. “Find them. Hunt them down. I don’t care if the entire kingdom turns upside down. Get. Them.”

The guard nodded, but Michael could already tell, hope was slipping.

“An entire day has gone by,” he continued, voice lower now but heavier. “Either they changed their minds about traveling today… or they’re already long gone. And once again, once again, we’ve lost them.”

He clenched his jaw, shaking his head in frustration.

“Such a reliable piece of information… and yet it was wasted,” he hissed.

He stormed past the guard, grabbing the freshly handed replacement phone, his third one. With every step, his anger grew.

What exactly am I going to tell the interim king this time? he thought bitterly.

——————————————

Happy New Month Guys! 🎉

This month, on the 18th, we’re participating on NovelFire’s 515 birthday program 🥳 Who’s excited??

On that day, we’ll be having a massive mass release of up to 10 chapters! I know I know, I’m awesome 😎

Listen, don’t make the mistake of missing it. Every chapter will be worth it!