Deviant: No Longer Human

"Manager Li, you recommended Charlotte. Do you have more information about her?" Yue asked, her voice firm as she settled into the plush seat, trying to project the authority she now wielded.

Manager Li bit her lip, then nodded cautiously. "She's the daughter of the new mayor of the city. She recently returned after completing her master's degree in the States. Dealing with her could be... complicated. Should I contact the heads of the legal and PR departments?" Her tone, professional.

Yue's face darkened, a headache already forming at the thought of the potential fallout. "The mayor's daughter..." she muttered under her breath.

A legal battle was the last thing she needed right after taking over the company.

She shot a sour look at Wang Xiao's back, frustration bubbling within her.

He always seemed to have a way of complicating things for her!

But Wang Xiao, simply stood with his back turned, unfazed by her silent reproach.

He believed in a higher path, in the calm teachings of Buddha, and so he didn't bother to respond to her glare.

Instead, he chuckled dryly, as if the situation amused him more than it concerned him. "You probably won't need that," he remarked, his voice light, almost dismissive.

"Huh?" Both Yue and Manager Li turned to him in surprise, their confusion mirrored in their expressions.

At this moment, Manager Li, though startled, began to accept the reality of Wang Xiao's identity.

Despite his appearance, there was a strange aura about him, something that hinted at powers beyond the ordinary.

Perhaps he was a mage, or perhaps his vitality was preserved through some supernatural means—an aether-infused body, or some other mystical secret.

In a world where the rich and powerful can tap into the unknown, it wasn't impossible.

Manager Li quickly deduced that if this man had purchased such a large company merely as a plaything for his inexperienced daughter, then the financial and political backing behind him must far exceed that of a mere mayor.

The implications were staggering, and inwardly, she knew her choices were becoming clearer.

Wang Xiao broke the silence with a shrug, his tone casual, almost indifferent, as he glanced down at the traffic below. "Because a dead man can't fight a case."

Hiss!

Manager Li's heart turned cold.

The casual threat in Wang Xiao's words sent a shiver down her spine.

She couldn't believe what she had just heard and instinctively glanced towards the CCTV cameras—only to realize they were nowhere to be found.

A wave of relief washed over her as she remembered that Yue had ordered the cameras removed after taking over the company, citing the need for privacy.

Additionally, she had requested a new secretary after the previous one resigned, leaving with the last CEO.

In the corporate world, it wasn't uncommon for secretaries to follow their CEOs.

Often, they were more than just assistants—mistresses, bound by their illicit relationships.

And without the backing of a powerful CEO, a secretary's life could quickly spiral into a living hell.

"Dad, speak clearly," Yue demanded, pursing her lips, her unease evident.

The idea of killing someone so casually was something she found normal, but—

Was he really going to kill Charlotte?

And if so, what would that mean for the company?

Everyone had seen Charlotte storm out—wouldn't her sudden disappearance bring even greater problems, especially with the important upcoming event on the horizon?

"Tch… What's there to clarify? Good people die young, don't they?" Wang Xiao replied, his tone almost bored as he pointed downwards while still gazing out at the road below. "Didn't your secretary have an accident this morning?"

"Huh?"

Yue and Manager Li exchanged hesitant glances before rising to their feet, their curiosity overcoming their fear.

Slowly, they moved to Wang Xiao's side, and what they saw below made their jaws drop in shock.

There, on the street below, was a scene of chaos.

An ambulance had just arrived, lights flashing, as a small crowd gathered around a crumpled form lying on the pavement.

It didn't take long for them to realize that the unfortunate victim was Charlotte.

Her body was bloody and motionless, a twisted figure amidst the wreckage of a car that had slammed into her with brutal force.

Yue's breath caught in her throat as she processed the scene.

Manager Li, equally stunned, felt the color drain from her face.

What they were witnessing were chilling.

"Dad... did you...?" Yue's voice was barely above a whisper, her mind struggling to keep up with the reality before her.

Wang Xiao merely shrugged, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "I told you, didn't I? A dead man—or woman—can't fight a case."

The casual tone of his words contrasted with the horror of what they have just witnessed.

It was as if he was commenting on the weather rather than acknowledging the death of a person.

Manager Li felt a deep chill settle into her bones.

She had long known that the world of business was ruthless, but this... this was something else entirely.

Manager Li shivered, realizing she had gravely underestimated the true power behind him!

Her eyes flicked to Wang Xiao's back, a cold dread settling deep in her bones.

When he finally turned around, a warm smile spread across his face, but instead of offering comfort, it sent her heart plummeting into an abyss.

The dissonance between his gentle expression and the chilling events left her feeling as if she were walking on the edge of a knife.

Yue, on the other hand, seemed only mildly irritated.

She slumped back into her chair, her posture weary, as if already accustomed to the unpredictability of her father's decisions.

"Mary, go and uproot all nine generations of her lineage. Without the sky, there's no need for stars to shine," Wang Xiao commanded, his voice calm and matter-of-fact, as if ordering a mundane task rather than the eradication of an entire family line.

A second later, his another order came through, and Yue sighed, almost as if she had foreseen it.

But there was still a hint of surprise in her eyes. "Isn't nine generations too much?" she asked, pursing her lips in contemplation.

Wang Xiao shrugged nonchalantly. "You heard her, didn't you? How could she be allowed to die so easily? She just had an accident—it doesn't mean she's dead yet."

Yue's face grew grim, and she bit her lips, understanding the implications.

Charlotte was in for a fate far worse than death—a drawn-out torture that would make her beg for an end.

A complicated mix of emotions played across Yue's face as she glanced at her father.

Finally, she muttered, "I was the one who interviewed her and selected her..."

Wang Xiao's response was dismissive. "There's no shortage of people in this world."

"Huh? But I thought you cleared half of them already?" Yue's eyes sparkled with a strange curiosity, her irritation momentarily forgotten.

Wang Xiao looked at her with mild surprise, a smile tugging at his lips. "Who told you that?"

Yue chuckled, the solemn mood lifting from her. "The internet! Can't we have something like that at home as well?"

Wang Xiao considered it briefly before shaking his head. "Xianthera would use different technology. It's not something we can just replicate."

"Oh," Yue nodded, the details of whatever Wang Xiao was talking about lost on her, but she accepted it without further question. Manager Li, however, was utterly bewildered by the conversation.

Yet despite her confusion, she didn't dare blink, her back soaked in cold sweat as she struggled to keep up with the bizarre exchange.

What was happening?

How had the situation escalated so quickly to discussions of wiping out nine generations?