The sharp fizz of sparkling water stung Devon's tongue as he froze mid-sip, the cold bite barely registering as the system's glowing text seared into his vision.
[Quest Alert: Survive the Next 24 Hours]
[Threat Detected: Assassination Attempt on Your Life]
The bold words slammed into him like a sudden gust, and he nearly choked, his throat tightening as he forced the liquid down with a rough swallow that burned all the way. His eyes flicked up from the invisible screen, skipping the rewards entirely, his mind clamped tight on the threat.
An assassination attempt here, in this dazzling, packed hall brimming with people from all over the world? His face stayed smooth as glass, no trace of the panic that could've clawed up, but his pulse hammered hard, a relentless drumbeat in his chest as he scanned the buzzing exhibition hall.
