The ballroom emptied quickly after Ava Carter fainted, cutting short the tense drama.
Inside a sleek black car parked outside Leo's family estate, Leo exhaled deeply, finally dropping the sycophantic tone he'd maintained all evening.
"Thank God that's over," he muttered, gripping the steering wheel tightly, his expression a mix of exhaustion and relief.
He had truly believed the so-called Dragon King—Ethan—might explode in anger and beat him to death right there on the dance floor. That terrifying aura... and yet, he didn't retaliate. Just like the original plot he remembered from his past life, Ethan had remained enduring—too enduring.
"Fortunate for me," Leo whispered. "Unfortunate that Ava fainted before I could receive any major reward from the system."
He squinted toward the mansion behind them, thinking aloud, "She better not have hypoglycemia or something... just fainting like that?"
With a shrug, Leo leaned back and opened his system interface.
---
[Running Dog System – Activated]
A familiar black panel appeared in front of him with shimmering golden stats:
> Name: Leo
Strength: 2 points (Normal: 1)
Defense: 1 point (Normal: 1)
Endurance: 1 point (Normal: 1)
Agility: 1 point (Normal: 1)
Comprehension: 1 point (Normal: 1)
Available Points: 6
Title: Number One Lackey – Anything you do in the role of a lackey will be blamed on your villain master.
Martial Arts: God's Palm – Ignores defense. Anyone slapped must endure it until you feel better.
Leo grinned with delight. "Six whole attribute points!"
Not bad for one chaotic dance event. Risk and reward, he thought, were perfectly balanced in the world of villains and their cannon-fodder servants.
And the title? Pure gold. It meant that anything villainous or obnoxious he did would be blamed on Ava Carter instead of him. He got to act like a jerk, while Ava took the fall.
Still, this wasn't a high-powered fantasy world. It was a low-martial arts modern universe with dozens of protagonists lurking around—Dragon Kings, Gods of War, overpowered bodyguards, you name it. If Leo didn't invest in his defense, he'd be squashed before the third chapter.
He clicked all six attribute points into Defense.
Immediately, a wave of energy surged through his body. He clenched his fists, feeling his muscles become denser, bones tougher, nerves sharper.
Boom.
Leo smirked. "Now I'm built like a tank. Even if I can't beat someone, at least I can take a beating and stay alive."
That's all that mattered—for now. He was just a cannon fodder sidekick, a nameless stepping stone in someone else's story.
But staying alive was the first step to changing that.
He opened the Mission tab next:
---
[Daily Mission – Be a Lackey: Completed]
[Main Plot: Urban Son-in-law Dragon King Ball Scene: Completed]
[Upcoming tasks – Locked]
[Tip: Please continue to be a loyal lackey!]
---
Leo rolled his eyes. Could they call it something else? 'Loyal Lieutenant' maybe? 'Handsome Hero's Helper'? Anything but 'lackey'.
Still, this so-called lackey system had already taught him basic fighting, cooking, driving—all useful for getting closer to Ava Carter and maintaining his cover.
And now, it was almost time to check on Ava. She'd likely be returned to the Leo family's villa by now, unconscious or resting. As her loyal dog, he had to be there when she woke up. Comfort her, flatter her, maybe even get assigned a personal position by her side.
That's how cannon fodder climbed the ladder!
---
In a secluded villa on the Leo family estate...
Inside a spacious room lined with white curtains and soft lighting, Ava Carter lay asleep on her bed, drenched in sweat. Her eyelids fluttered.
Suddenly—
> [Ava Carter! Justice may be delayed, but never denied!]
[You tormented me for years! Tonight, you will face retribution!]
[Die!!!]
"Noooo!!"
Ava sat bolt upright in bed, gasping for breath. Her face was ghostly pale, and she clutched at her chest, trembling.
She looked around in a panic, trying to ground herself in reality.
Was this... her bedroom?
It was.
Her heartbeat slowed, and her breathing steadied.
Then—
"I'm really alive… I'm not dead…"
Her voice cracked as tears welled up in her eyes.
"This lady is truly reborn!"
Ava collapsed back on the bed, sobbing in relief.
Her rebirth was real. She had truly returned from the dead.
In her last life, despite having a powerful family business, she had antagonized every major protagonist imaginable. The Dragon King, the God of War, the Uncrowned King—she'd bullied them all.
And they had crushed her in the end.
She'd been beaten to death while her family's empire burned.
This time, it would be different.
She would avoid their storylines. Stay far, far away from those overpowered freaks.
Well... hopefully.
Suddenly, a new memory surfaced—the chaos at the dance. The slaps. The humiliation. Ethan.
She groaned, covering her face. "Why did I have to offend a protagonist again?"
But fine—if it was just Ethan, maybe she could control it. She'd lost last time because she'd made too many enemies at once.
Not this time.
---
Knock, knock.
A soft voice came from the other side of the door.
"Miss? Are you okay?"
Ava recognized the voice instantly.
Leo. That loyal, irritatingly handsome lackey.
She wiped her tears, took a deep breath, and pulled herself together.
To the outside world, she was still the proud and commanding heiress.
She couldn't let anyone notice her change just yet.
She sat up, smoothed her hair, and adopted a calm, regal tone. "Come in."
The door opened with a gentle click.
Leo entered, pushing a tray toward her bed with practiced care.
"Miss, I prepared some lotus seed soup to calm your nerves and restore your strength," he said warmly.
"I know the dance must have been emotionally exhausting. But please take care of your health first."
Ava's gaze swept from the bowl to Leo's sincere expression.
Why hadn't she noticed how good-looking he was in her past life? And loyal too?
She took the bowl and sipped it slowly, then asked, "What's your name again?"
Leo's eyes flickered in recognition. "Leo, Miss."
"How long have you been serving me?"
"I applied through your follower recruitment conference a month ago and was lucky enough to be accepted."
"Follower conference… oh right."
Ava remembered. She hadn't recruited bodyguards—she'd recruited followers. People absolutely loyal to her, who would follow orders without question.
Thanks to her family's power, many vied for the chance.
Now that she was reborn, she realized how valuable someone like Leo could be. He wasn't just handsome. He was smart. Tactful. And equipped with some kind of system...
She decided to test the waters.
"What's the Warner family's response after what happened?"
Leo's lips curled into a loyal smile. "They were shocked by your righteous fury, Miss."
"Linsey Warner went home and forced that waste Ethan to scrub toilets on his knees."
Cough! Cough! Cough!
Ava choked on her soup.
Leo rushed forward, handing her a napkin and patting her back.
"Miss, are you alright?!"
"That Ethan really is arrogant trash! If you'd like, I'll teach him a lesson next time—give you justice, Miss!"
Ava waved him off. "No need, no need!"
She had no intention of provoking Ethan again. Let him stay as he was.
Suddenly, a soft voice came from the hallway.
"Sister Ava? Are you really okay?"
"When Lian heard the news, she nearly cried."
"Thank goodness you're safe. We were all so worried."
Ava froze, her eyes narrowing.
Lian…
Her adopted daughter.