Me, The Sovereign of the World? [Modern Evolution]

It was one o'clock in the morning.

The driver, facing Zoe's calm expression, couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of pressure. The combination of these elements made it hard for him not to be afraid.

Countless crime dramas had already taught him a lesson: in situations like this, it was best to keep his mouth shut. Otherwise, who knew if another suitcase just like this one might appear randomly on Wingsgone Mountain nearby?

After a long moment of contemplation, the driver cautiously responded, "Ma'am, you're right. We've been making too much noise and disturbing the neighborhood."

"I'll handle it right away."

With that, the driver quickly turned to the young man in the passenger seat and signaled for him to get out. "Get out and sweep for fifteen. That should be enough."

The price he mentioned was more than fair, even a bit lower than the market standard. The young man in the passenger seat glanced at Zoe outside the window, then at the driver. Without hesitation, he scanned the code, got out of the car, and hurried away.

He clutched his backpack and ran off, nearly stumbling in his haste to leave the area. It was clear he was desperate to get away. In no time, he was out of sight.

"Ma'am, is there anything else you need?"

The driver turned back with a faint smile. He tried to recall every happy moment in his life, forcing what he hoped was his kindest smile. However, with his rugged features, it looked somewhat --creepy.

Zoe sensed a mix of emotions from the driver—flattery, fear, and tension. After a brief pause, she unleashed the full power of her Transparent World 2.0 for comprehensive perception.

In the next instant, a flood of information poured into Zoe's mind. Countless bits of data from her memory matched the information she was now receiving. Calmly, she began to speak.

"The clothes you're wearing are promotional items from the Nickelodeon Mall. Only they sell them."

"The faint smell of chicken manure in the car isn’t something that clings in just a day. There are also a few chicken feathers on the backseat. You must often pick up people near a poultry farm. If I'm not mistaken, the poultry farms in Sun City are mostly in the west."

"The young man who just got out was carrying a backpack with the logo of the Elephant Breeding Sanctuary. I can still smell the elephant feces on it, meaning he bought it today. So, you recently picked him up from the Thai-Hindu County."

"Given these frequent locations, I'd guess your home is in the Wallenstein County, right?"

Zoe paused, observing the driver's bewildered expression. Clearing her throat, she continued.

"The chalk dust on the passenger side's sun visor is still visible. Your spouse is a teacher, correct? Sun City has long since adopted electronic whiteboards in high schools and universities. Only middle schools still use blackboards and chalk, and there are only a few such middle schools in Wallenstein."

"The scent of milk soaked into the back seat suggests you have a young child who drinks milk regularly."

"The marks on your fingertips indicate you frequently test your blood sugar. Given your obesity, you must often take insulin. There aren't many hospitals in Wallenstein that prescribe insulin."

"Do you need me to continue?"

Zoe's seemingly aimless comments hit the driver like a bell tolling in his chest, each word louder and more terrifying. The driver became increasingly alarmed, more and more at a loss for what to do.

He no longer marveled at Zoe's detective-like abilities, as seen in movies. He only knew that everything Zoe said was accurate. She was just short of reciting his home address and the names of his family members.

These revelations, combined with Zoe's calm yet chilling tone, filled the driver with immense fear. He understood this was a threat, one he couldn't counter and had to obey.

"What... what do you want?"

Looking into Zoe's unsettlingly calm eyes, the driver could only hope for a response that would ensure his safety.

"Your dashcam seems to be broken," Zoe remarked, glancing at the device mounted on the windshield. Though her words seemed irrelevant, the implication was obvious.

Hearing this, the driver, driven by a strong survival instinct, immediately understood. He hurriedly removed the dashcam. "Y-yes, it’s... it's broken. And the SD card... it's damaged too. Might as well just get rid of it."

His feigned casualness was transparent, as he nervously fumbled with the SD card, hands shaking immensely. After several attempts, he managed to remove it and handed it over to Zoe, his head lowered in a mix of fear and anticipation of brutality.

Zoe accepted the SD card, looking at the driver who had been so overbearing before but was now trembling uncontrollably. "Remember to be a decent person from now on."

With that, Zoe turned and walked away, leaving the driver slumped over the steering wheel, trying to stop his uncontrollable shaking. The driver hadn't yet recovered from the sheer terror he had just experienced despite the person is a woman. He knew he could have sped off and ignore her, but Zoe's methodical revelation of his personal details and that instinctual fear deep within his bones had made it clear that running was futile.

At that moment, the driver had only one thought: from now on, he would conduct his business honestly. No more shady dealings and trickery.

Walking home, Zoe casually crushed the SD card in her hand and tossed the fragments into the river by the roadside. Her mood was calm, unperturbed by the events of the night. Truthfully, she hadn't intended any real harm to the driver. Her goal was simply to deter the driver from overcharging his passengers.

The subtle threats and the demand for the SD card were because Zoe knew that her appearance— carrying a large suitcase in the dead of night—could easily lead to misunderstanding and unwanted attention. If the driver had gotten spooked and decided to call the police, it would have caused unnecessary trouble, even if Zoe had done nothing wrong.

So, with a slightly menacing tone, she had hinted for the driver to hand over the SD card, effectively eliminating any record of their encounter and simultaneously warning the driver to keep his mouth shut.

She believed the driver was smart enough to understand that without evidence and with his secrets exposed, it was best to stay silent and comply.

ShoujoDirector

Share your thoughts down below and click the heart icon if you enjoy the content!