Mary gently lifted the mooncake shaped with a beaver, pine forest, and flowing stream — a signature symbol of North America. She tilted it under the light, carefully observing the soft outer layer handcrafted from glutinous rice dough. The harmonious colors and delicate details resembled a miniature painting, making it almost impossible to bring a knife down on it:

  – “It looks so delicious… he really is refined.”

  Join, standing beside her, seemed more at ease. The thoughtful preparation of the gift made him believe even more that Satan was not as sinister as rumors claimed. He didn’t resemble the demons of legend — instead, he felt closer to a quiet, principled dark deity. Join picked up the plastic knife placed in the box and gently turned it in his hand:

  – “Then let’s eat.”

  Mary smiled, but suddenly hesitated, her eyes flickering with uncertainty:

  – “Should we invite Anh Ph??ng?”

  Join immediately shook his head, his voice lowered but firm:

  – “We’ll buy another cake for her family later. This is a gift from Satan — the professor told us to keep it secret. Besides, that family is on the blacklist of powerful factions. And Anh Ph??ng would grow suspicious if she noticed we’re no longer on her side.”

  Mary recalled their lunch earlier, a chill running down her spine:

  – “You’re right… at first, I didn’t know and thought she was nice. But hearing the way she spoke about her cousin at lunch today gave me goosebumps — nothing but contempt and scorn.”

  Join placed the cake neatly on the lid of the wooden box, glancing briefly toward the door:

  – “Let’s eat quickly. If she knocks unexpectedly, it’ll be trouble.”

  He began cutting the cake. The blade slid smoothly through the soft white crust, leaving behind a clean, silky cut.

  Inside was a filling of mixed nuts bound together by warm amber-colored maple syrup. The filling was pressed just enough to hold together without losing the natural texture of each nut. As the blade sank deeper, it made a faint, crisp sound — the subtle crunch of roasted nuts.

  The cross-section revealed distinct layers of color:

  ? Creamy sliced almonds.

  ? Deep brown walnuts folded like wood grain.

  ? Golden-brown diced chestnuts.

  ? Smooth, glossy pecans and macadamias.

  ? Toasted sesame seeds and green pumpkin seeds scattered between, forming tiny specks.

  Everything was coated in concentrated maple syrup, giving the surface a thin glossy sheen like honey — but darker and clearer.

  At the center, a richer maple core slowly emerged, glowing deep amber under the light. As the slice separated, the syrup gently seeped along the cut and dripped into a glistening trail, like melting tree resin. Nut fragments sparkled like tiny stones suspended in amber.

  The aroma rose in distinct layers:

  ? First, the natural caramel scent of maple syrup.

  ? Next, the roasted richness of the nuts.

  ? Finally, a warm, deep sweetness — clean and mellow, without the sharpness of refined sugar.

  Meanwhile, Mary took out the herbal tea packets, walked to the electric kettle, poured in water, and pressed the switch — preparing a pot of hot tea to accompany the cake.

  The room gradually warmed, filled with a quiet mix of anticipation and secrecy.

  Early the next morning, while a thin mist still blanketed the pathways, Huy had already prepared to leave for the hospital for his health check-up. Just as he wheeled his motorbike out to the gate, Anh Tú hurried out from inside the house and quickly pressed some money into his hand:

  – “Take this.”

  Huy looked down at the amount, visibly surprised:

  – “Why is there so much, brother? I won’t be able to pay it back all at once.”

  Anh Tú smiled calmly:

  – “Just return it little by little. I’m not asking for it all at once. Go now — if you’re late, you’ll have to wait a long time.”

  Only then did Huy’s tense expression soften:

  – “Thank you, brother-in-law. I’m heading off.”

  Down in the kitchen, Join and Mary sat across from each other, occasionally glancing toward Mr. Tài’s villa. Both were eager to meet Professor Charles to ask about the gift from last night, yet they tried to maintain a natural composure.

  C?u D?ng came downstairs, brewing his coffee as he asked:

  – “So early in the morning — where are you two planning to go?”

  Join replied evenly:

  – “We’re going to see the professor to ask about our lessons. The exam is coming up.”

  C?u D?ng sat down at the table, scrolling through news on his iPad:

  – “Then eat breakfast before you go. Aunt T? made Bún Bò Hu? today — it’s delicious.”

  Join and Mary both bowed their heads slightly:

  – “Thank you.”

  In the kitchen, Dì T? was blanching noodles and ladling broth into bowls, the rich aroma filling the house:

  – “Just wait a bit — it’s almost ready.”

  At that moment, M? Linh came downstairs, her eyes scanning the room with a displeased expression:

  – “Where’s Huy? Why isn’t he helping Mrs. T??”

  C?u D?ng kept his focus on the screen:

  – “Did you forget he’s at the hospital for his job health check today?”

  M? Linh pursed her lips and pulled out a chair:

  – “Let’s see how long he can endure hardship. If he works a few months and then quits complaining of exhaustion, I’ll send him straight back to his parents. With a family of our standing, having a son-in-law like that is embarrassing in front of our partners.”

  C?u D?ng’s voice hardened as he set his coffee cup down sharply:

  – “What do you expect? If we don’t accept him, how do we explain it to the public? People already gossip every day — our daughter having a child without a husband would be even more humiliating.”

  M? Linh grew even more irritated:

  – “It’s all because our daughter was foolish enough to be seduced by him. As long as I live, that boy won’t lay a finger on this family’s assets.”

  Join and Mary sat in silence, not intervening. It wasn’t their matter — yet both felt suffocated.

  In their eyes, this family was excessively greedy and pragmatic — warm only toward the wealthy, but harsh and contemptuous toward the poor. And yet, before the public and media, they always strived to present themselves as dignified, compassionate, and virtuous.

  At the Th?o ?i?n villa, My was getting ready to head to the cosmetics store. In her mind, she kept painting dazzling visions of the spotlight awaiting her once she officially became the face of a global brand. Sitting at her vanity table, she held a red lipstick and slowly applied it, her gaze gradually drifting into luxurious daydreams:

  – “I’ll become famous. I’ll have wealth and prestige. Tycoons and billionaires will surround me.”

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts:

  – “Come down for breakfast, then we still have to go to the store.”

  My stood up, grabbed her bag, and walked quickly to open the door:

  – “Why are you rushing me, Mom? I’m the owner — I can go whenever I want. Who would dare complain?”

  Mrs. Lan could only shake her head at her daughter’s words:

  – “In business, punctuality is essential. If you become a model and show up only when you feel like it, that’s a contract violation — you’d have to pay compensation.”

  My showed clear irritation at the reminder:

  – “Why worry? With looks like mine, who wouldn’t be captivated?”

  From downstairs, Mr. Quy’s voice rang out clearly:

  – “You and My hurry up. This partner is very demanding — if we’re late, they’ll cancel the deal.”

  At the dining table, Vú N?m had just served a steaming bowl of snakehead fish porridge. The bowl released curling wisps of steam, the rice grains soft and blooming in a light ivory broth. The fish was carefully deboned and shredded into bite-sized pieces, topped with scallions, ground pepper, bitter herbs, and thin slices of ginger — its aroma gentle, warm, and deeply rustic.

  As soon as Vú N?m placed the bowl before her, My wrinkled her nose and turned away.

  – “Why did you cook this today? It smells fishy — I won’t eat it.”

  Vú N?m looked surprised:

  – “You’ve always liked this dish, miss. I prepared the fish carefully — there’s no fishy smell.”

  But the more My smelled it, the more nauseated she felt, her discomfort growing:

  – “It’s too fishy. Cook something else.”

  Mr. Quy and Mrs. Lan exchanged uneasy glances. Mrs. Lan quietly said to her husband:

  – “Could it be that our daughter…”

  A sense of unease rose within him. Mr. Quy immediately took out his phone and called Dr. Tùng:

  – “Let me check.”

  Within seconds, the call connected:

  – “Is something wrong?”

  Mr. Quy quickly described My’s condition:

  – “My daughter just smelled fish porridge and reacted badly, saying it’s fishy. Could it be…”

  Dr. Tùng, the neurologist directly treating My, explained clearly:

  – “It’s just a side effect of the medication. Some treatments can cause nausea and alter the sense of smell. Since she’s still on medication, that reaction is normal.”

  Hearing this, Mr. Quy let out a relieved breath:

  – “Thank you, doctor. We thought it might be…”

  On the other end, Dr. Tùng’s voice suddenly became hurried:

  – “I have an emergency case — we’ll talk later.”

  The call ended quickly. Mr. Quy lowered his phone, his expression easing:

  – “The doctor said it’s just a side effect of the medication. Nothing serious.”

  Mrs. Lan also felt reassured:

  – “What would you like to eat instead? Vú N?m can make it for you.”

  But My shook her head, having lost her appetite. She gently pushed the bowl away. Mr. Quy tried to coax her:

  – “After we meet the partner, I’ll take you out to eat. If not fish, then lamb, beef, seafood… there’s no shortage of good food.”

  Mrs. Lan glanced at the clock and urged:

  – “Let’s hurry, we’re almost late.”

  On the Dark Planet, dawn did not arrive in warm golden light, but unfolded as a streak of blue–white brilliance bent into cold violet along the darkened horizon. The ruling star burned fiercely in the distance, yet its light, filtered through the planet’s dense swirling black atmosphere, refracted into deep violet bands stretching across the land.

  The thin mist did not rise but was pressed low by heavy winds, crawling between black rock formations in slow rolling layers, giving the entire landscape an eerie yet majestic presence. The air trembled with subtle pressure waves, making the outlines of everything shimmer like mirages.

  Deep underground, the Velvet Crave extraction facility continued operating through the night without rest. Columns of dark green energy pulsed rhythmically, glowing through ventilation shafts like the breathing veins of a mechanical beast.

  Above ground, near the abandoned production zone, the butler and the nobleman stood silently watching the violet-blue glow rising through the layered vortex of sky. The butler took a deep drag from his cigar, the gray smoke sliced sideways by the wind before slowly dissolving into the mineral-heavy air:

  – “I’ve received word that Lord Nicolas’s mother — the Queen — is planning to come to Earth, though the timing remains unclear. As for the Dark Planet, she has never set foot here before.”

  The nobleman exhaled smoke and smirked coldly:

  – “This is not a place one visits at will. The Satanic Royal Family specializes in developing ultra-advanced technology combined with magic. Those satellites suspended in space are their all-seeing eyes. Who could possibly bypass them? When opening a spatial gate, one must be extremely careful to avoid having the energy wave detected by radar.”

  The butler sounded dismissive, almost careless:

  – “This isn’t the first time we’ve opened a spatial gate. This planet is far larger than Earth — no matter how capable Satan may be, he cannot control it all.”

  The nobleman remained cautious:

  – “Luck does not always smile. You and the Mayor must not be careless. If the Demon King Satan traces this back to me, not only will the chairman’s seat I bought with my entire fortune be lost, but my vast assets will also be sealed. He represents the law of karma — a demon who holds the scales of justice. Even his own kin are punished without mercy if they violate it.”

  Hearing this, the butler lowered his voice, his confidence fading:

  – “The Mayor and his wife are very cautious. Previous Velvet Crave shipments went smoothly — this one will too. Rest assured.”

  On the high branches surrounding the abandoned facility, black crows, demon-faced bats, vultures, and hawks perched like living shadows. Their faint red eyes silently recorded every movement, transmitting data through encrypted channels belonging to the Satanic Royal Family.

  At the palace, Queen Seraphina was preparing for her morning relaxation ritual. Her attendant Lyly bowed respectfully as she reported:

  – “Your Majesty, the bath is ready.”

  The royal bath chamber opened like a marble sanctuary. Tall walls of ivory stone veined with gray were carved with climbing vines and stylized thorned roses, curving along the architecture. The vast domed ceiling featured a relief of fallen angels with outstretched wings, edged with muted gold inlays that caught the light, creating an atmosphere both solemn and mysterious.

  Round columns lined both sides of the chamber, their surfaces engraved with ancient royal sigils and capped with dark gold. Between them hung multi-tiered crystal chandeliers, candlelight flickering within and scattering countless shimmering reflections across the tiled floor bearing the court’s emblem. The air was warm and humid, scented with floral oils and sweet resin.

  At the center of the room stood the royal bath atop a three-tiered stone platform, vast like a miniature jade lake. Its black stone rim gleamed, edged with bronze engravings of feathers and crowns. Steam rose from the hot water, floating above deep red rose petals and violet-tinged herbs, their alluring fragrance carried gently in the mist.

  Seraphina stepped in and slowly lowered herself into the warm water. Lyly applied lightly scented olive oil to her hands and began massaging the Queen’s shoulders with practiced rhythm. The steam wrapped around them like a thin veil, isolating this space from the outside world.

  The Queen closed her eyes, savoring the rare moment of quiet:

  – “This matter must be resolved quickly… so I can make another trip to Earth.”

  Lyly asked softly, her tone hesitant:

  – “Will Your Majesty be visiting the Lord and the Crown Prince there? I… would like to accompany you.”

  Seraphina inhaled deeply, letting the floral scent blend with the rising steam:

  – “Of course. You have served me for many years and understand my preferences well. If not you, who would attend to me?”

  Lyly’s face brightened instantly:

  – “To serve Your Majesty is the greatest honor of my life. I will do my utmost, so as not to disappoint you.”

  On Earth, it was almost lunchtime. At the hospital, Huy finished his health check procedures and stepped out into the parking lot with a relieved mood. Just as he was wheeling his motorbike out, his phone rang. Seeing an unfamiliar number on the screen, he hesitated slightly before answering.

  – “Hello, may I ask who’s calling?”

  From the other end came the voice of a foreign young man speaking fairly fluent Vietnamese:

  – “It’s me, Alistair Thorne, the casino manager.”

  Hearing that name, Huy immediately brightened up:

  – “Hello, sir. I just finished my health check. I’ll come for the interview tomorrow.”

  Alistair Thorne’s voice remained calm and friendly:

  – “If you’re done already, why don’t you drop by for a bit? I’ll show you around first so you won’t feel unfamiliar when you start working.”

  Being someone who loved gambling, the moment Huy heard the word casino, his eyes lit up:

  – “Yes, I’ll head over right away.”

  Alistair Thorne reminded him:

  – “The address is on the business card I gave you the other day. See you soon.”

  The call ended, and Huy’s spirits lifted instantly as he hurried to start his bike and left.

  More than thirty minutes later, Huy arrived in front of a famous casino in District 1. The towering building was covered in reflective black glass, its fa?ade clad in mirror-like polished granite, with gold-plated columns lining the main hall. The illuminated metal-letter sign and surrounding LED system created a luxurious halo of light. In front was a red carpet with a lineup of high-end shuttle cars parked neatly.

  From the outside, the entire structure looked like a giant black crystal rising in the city center. The glass reflected the urban lights and passing traffic, causing the fa?ade to shift colors constantly with the rhythm of the nightlife. Above, light strips traced the architectural lines, curving like golden frames embracing the building, creating a sense of opulence and power.

  The main entrance opened wide under a high domed canopy, with a multi-tiered crystal chandelier casting warm white light onto the polished stone floor. On both sides of the doors stood bright metallic statues, while behind them a line of black-suited security guards stood upright, earpieces in place, their eyes scanning every guest entering and exiting.

  Low music pulsed softly from inside whenever the revolving doors opened, blending with the sound of luxury car engines and leather shoes stepping on the red carpet — creating the feeling that this place was not just for entertainment, but a world of money, risk, and privilege.

  Huy looked up from below, goosebumps rising from sheer awe:

  – “Wow… why is this place so huge… the salary here must be really high too, all rich people.”

  Just then, a foreign young man in an expensive suit approached, his stride radiating elegance — it was Alistair Thorne. Upon seeing him, Huy forgot his position as a job applicant and waved eagerly:

  – “Over here…”

  Suddenly remembering himself, he withdrew awkwardly:

  – “Sorry… I mean…”

  Alistair Thorne laughed comfortably:

  – “I think it’s good that you have such energy. Service staff need to be active and enthusiastic — customers like that, and it means more tips.”

  He pointed toward the basement entrance where several guards stood on duty:

  – “Ride your bike down there, then take the elevator up. I’ll give you a tour.”

  Huy quickly parked in the basement. The moment he stepped inside, he froze — the entire parking area was filled with dazzling supercars: Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce Phantom, Mercedes-Benz, Bentley, Audi, Maybach, even a limited-edition Bugatti.

  Cold white light from the concrete ceiling stretched across the curves of the vehicles like flowing water. The glossy paint reflected sharp mirror-like streaks, and metal logos flashed tiny glints. The space was quiet yet filled with the scent of leather and new metal — like a supercar showroom hidden underground.

  He almost lost his balance:

  – “Oh my… so rich… I probably couldn’t even afford one wheel in my lifetime…”

  Then a calculating thought surfaced in his mind:

  – “But if I can get half of my wife’s family’s assets… a villa and luxury car wouldn’t be hard. I need to find a way for Anh Th? to put my name on shared ownership…”

  Just as Huy was sinking into his schemes, the elevator doors opened. Alistair Thorne stepped out, looking around:

  – “I thought you got lost, so I came down to check. I was worried you didn’t know how to use the elevator.”

  Startled, Huy stammered, his eyes still glued to the cars:

  – “No… it’s just that the cars are so beautiful, I stopped to look for a bit.”

  Alistair Thorne glanced at the row of “mobile mansions” and said calmly:

  – “Those belong to the bosses — top tycoon entrepreneurs. The good thing is they treat employees very well. If you perform well, the rewards are big, and they don’t exploit their staff like other places. I thought you were quick-witted, so I introduced you here. Let’s head to the ground floor — I’ll show you around.”

  The two stepped into the elevator together. The metal doors slowly closed — and at the same time, a silent tragedy began to unfold for the prey already marked on the blacklist.