"If I don''t spell it out, they''ll keep thinking they''re the world''s saviors, doing some grand service," Debra said. "I''ll give you ten minutes to process everything I just said. If you don''t talk after that, your brain''s beyond saving. I''ll hand you over to this guy here. He won''t waste time talking you down like I have. When your flesh gets peeled off, you can see if your savior shows up."


    The answer was in to see. No one wasing. The world was full of suffering people, and saviors never noticed them.


    Troy choked up. "About half a year ago, my family went bankrupt. My dad got sick. All the rtives and friends who used to be tight with us ghosted us. I had no choice but to work at a nightclub to make ends meet."


    "So, you were overseas back then?"


    "Yeah. We weren''t some big shots, but we had a decent-sized business. Life was good. My dad put me in one of the top schools. Then one day, he told me we were broke."<fn6886> Checktest chapters at </fn6886>


    His face twisted with bitterness. At the height of his teenage pride, fate sucker-punched him.


    "Later, my dad died of illness," he continued. "We had nothing left. Even our house got auctioned off to pay debts. I couldn''t even afford a coffin. When I was at my lowest, Miss Sharp helped me. She covered the burial costs and got me into Orkgate High. She told me the Illuminati saves people from suffering and tries to build a world without pain."


    "You bought that crap?" Erica gulped. "That''s why you went all-in for the Illuminati?"


    "Miss Sharp said they''ve been researching drugs," Troy exined. "My dad invested in them to create a medicine that''d shield people from disease, so humanity wouldn''t suffer anymore. That''s why I started the club at school. Lots of my ssmates believe in them, thinking they''re the world''s salvation. This time, I targeted Mrs. Houston because Miss Sharp said the drug was in its final stage. They need a special ingredient to finish it, and it''s with Mrs. Houston."


    Debra pieced it together. Marion chimed in, "Phelps Pharmaceutical was a top-three yer in the industry. They went bust half a year ago after rumors spread that a drug had toxic levels of some element. Overnight, the factory shut down, and some mystery group bought up all their stock. For three generations, the Phelps were in medicine. Never had a scandal like that. This disaster? You should''ve wondered if someone set it up." Erica chimed in, "Lara''s from Orkgate. Your family crashed, and she happened to be there? Doesn''t that strike you as fishy?"


    "Using your family''s money to buy your dad''s coffin?" Randy echoed. "Lara yed a slick game."