True Tycoon Her Empire, Her Rules

With a fierce shout, Winnie’s hand flicked a Thunder Charm into the air. In the next instant, three bolts of lightning cleaved through the void, instantly reducing the sinister, shadowy threads entwined around the cocoon to ashes. 

The threads that had been wrapped around Springer’s neck and ankles also turned to dust 

Springer’s body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground, still clutching the massive cocoon. Twisting his head around, he saw Winnie and his eyes instantly brimmed with tears. His mouth opened to a howl, “…Winnie!! I messed up, help me, please!” 

Winnie, however, was quick to approach, slapping him on the head, “Cut the waterworks! Hoist your cocoon and follow me.” 

She had only managed to fend off the threads for now, this place was far from safe. 

As for what was inside the cocoon on Springer’s back, judging by how fiercely he had been. guarding it, it was obvious that Amber must be inside. 

Springer, used to the occasional smack from his old man, felt an odd sense of comfort from her slap. He quickly forgot his wailing, nodded, and shouldered the man–sized cocoon, scrambling to his feet. 

Winnie led him back downstairs, and in a moment of respite, she casually pulled out a Charm and flicked it, turning it into a blade as strong and sharp as any knife. 

Springer watched as she pinched the Charm and with a casual slash, the cocoon that he had placed on the ground split in two. In the next moment, a girl tumbled out from within. 

Springer rushed to steady her. 

Winnie, seeing the clearly unfamiliar girl, paused for a moment, “Who’s this? Where’s Amber?” 

“She’s Nina. Amber… she’s still upstairs.” replied Springer. His voice tensed for a fraction of a second when he mentioned Amber, but Winnie didn’t catch it, merely frowning upon hearing Amber was still upstairs. 

“Why on earth would you guys meet up here of all places?” Winnie asked. 

She was on the verge of exasperation. Who picks a place like this for a casual meetup? 

Springer’s face stiffened, and looking at Winnie, a guilty expression flashed across his face. 

“It’s not just three of us– 

Winnie’s forehead twitched, a bad premonition creeping in. 

“There are nine of us in total. Besides me and Nina, there are seven others upstairs…” 

Winnie didn’t know what to say. 

These days, do people just bunch together to court disaster? However, with seven lives hanging 

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in the balance, she simply couldn’t turn a blind eye. 

“Take her and get out of here. I’ll go look for the others.” Saying so, Winnie was about to leave when Springer suddenly grabbed her, his face still bearing the traces of shock. Cleaning his tears, he looked determined, “I’ll go with you. I know where they are.” 

Winnie looked at him and didn’t object, simply asking. “You might encounter that thing again. you scared?” 

“You came to save me: I have to make sure you’re safe.” 

Springer knew if it hadn’t been for Winnie, he’d be done for. 

He was a man, after all. How could he run and leave her to fend for herself? The Bryant family was not known for shirking responsibility. 

Besides, with so many people and so many cocoons, how could she manage alone? 

Winnie pondered for only a moment before nodding her head. The next second, she reached into her bag and handed him an Amulet. 

“This is for protection. Keep it on you. If things go south, just run away.” 

Springer’s eyes brightened at the sight of the familiar Amulet, quickly removing the silver chain around his neck, tossing away the original pendant, and wearing the Amulet instead. 

Then he watched as Winnie rummaged through her bag again, eventually pulling out a knife. wrapping a charm paper around the handle, and handing it to him, “Self–defense.” 

Springer looked at the knife, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. 

Aren’t all the skilled masters supposed to have various magical implements with them? This knife seemed a bit tog makeshift, didn’t it? 

But something was better than nothing. He accepted it gratefully. 

After quickly discussing what might happen next, and making sure Springer understood, Winnie pulled out a few more Charms. 

Springer watched as she flicked her wrist, and the Charms formed a circle in the air, falling swiftly over Nina and erecting a barrier around her. 

Springer was dumbfounded. 

Winnie actually knew magic…Suddenly, he felt a bit more trust in the small knife in his hand. 

The pair headed back upstairs. Upon reaching the rooftop door, they found it beginning to be enshrouded in fine, silky threads. 

Winnie didn’t hesitate to burn the threads with a fire charm and pushed the door open to find seven massive cocoons neatly arranged on the rooftop. 

Winnie motioned for Springer to stay behind the door while she stepped inside. 

Winnie prided herself on her caution, but the moment she set foot on the rooftop, the world spun around her. By the time she realized what was happening, she was trapped in another illusion. 

It was still the rooftop, but the scene was a different day. 

A girl in a school uniform was being pushed and shoved to the ground by several others. Quickly, one of them sat on her and began to pinch her all over. 

“Your mom’s just a street vendor, but she’s managed to fatten you up nicely. Wow, look at your fat body. It feels good. You try it too–remember to pinch where the clothes cover so no one sees the marks.” 

“I’ve heard some people bruise right away. Let’s strip her and see for ourselves.” 

The girl struggled desperately but was stripped of her shirt nonetheless. The other girls circled, laughing and even taking pictures with their phones. 

The girl hugged herself, weeping and begging for mercy. 

The scene shifted. 

The girl stood at the edge of the rooftop, neatly dressed, but without hesitation, she leapt from the building. 

The same setting, but now it was a boy in school uniform at the same spot, a stack of test papers in hand, his eyes hollow as he tore the papers over and over. 

At the end, he tossed the shredded pieces of his exam into the air with a flick of his wrist. The fragments danced in the sky, and in sync with their fluttering, the young man leaped to his fate. Winnie stood there, rooted to the spot, watching as young souls came and went, disappearing from this place one after another. 

Some were tormented by bullies, others were crushed under the weight of academic pressure. and some were shamed and blamed even after suffering indecencies. Inside, they all harbored resentment towards their surroundings or the school, their grievances wrapping around the building day after day, influencing those who followed. 

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Perhaps some of them didn’t truly wish for death, but they chose to end their lives anyway. 

Even as Winnie watched these scenes unfold through the lens of time and space, she could almost feel the barely–there malice reaching out to her, attempting to invade her soul. 

Winnie furrowed her brow, about to figure out a way to leave, when the scene before her shifted once more. This time/the figure that materialized made her poised hand freeze in place. 

In the new scene, there stood a girl around sixteen, different from the others before her. Her belly was slightly swollen, indicating early pregnancy, and she was stepping back protectively. cradling her abdomen. 

Right in front of her, inching closer with a slow, menacing approach, was Kathryn.