Skyler was rendered speechless by Ray’s behavior and attitude. But since it was commanded, he was going to comply with it.

Truth be told, Skyler was really envious of Ray’s carefree nature. Not only could he go wild, but he could also be extremely bold and get away with it.

Moreover, his Father seemed very tolerant and satisfied with Ray, to the point where he needed to make it a reminder to everyone that Ray was not an outsider.

Precisely because of these factors, Skyler decided to accept being Ray’s lackey.

What better way was there to advance than to bask in the fortune and glory of a competent leader?

While Skyler excused himself and closed the door behind him, the lazy Ray immediately got up from his bed.

He quickly approached the door and locked it.

His demeanor and laidback expression also changed to a serious one.

’System, tell me what the current timeline is?’ He then demanded an answer from the Villain Extra System.

He hadn’t forgotten his role in this world. Many novels tend to have the extras start at the beginning of the story and progress from there.

However, Ray had discovered that it didn’t seem to be the case for him.

The fact that every child of Robert was alive and kicking was a big hint.

If he recalled correctly, Robert’s eldest son, Jake, had fallen to a dark path.

Jake, under constant pressure, ultimately went to the Lost Ruins in hopes of reversing his fate. Unfortunately, he was ensnared and became possessed.

That was when the protagonist of the story, William, entered the scene and slew his possessed body.

Of course, the actual event was omitted from Robert because the protagonist was brain-dead and did not reveal the truth until it was already too late.

Although Robert was disappointed in his children, they were still his blood and flesh.

How could Robert possibly forgive his son’s killer and be chummy with them?

Hence, Ray had previously tested Jake with provocative words.

"Based on Jake’s current state, I’m most likely the new variable that causes him to enter the lost ruin in advance. How troublesome." Ray refused to allow a conflict to arise between the Carrion Household and the protagonist.

That protagonist’s plot armor was too strong, and he still planned on using him to do his bidding.

How could he achieve his goal of slacking while enjoying all the benefits if the protagonist was out to get him?

[The current timeline is that you’re about to get screwed over!]

’Wow, thanks for the heads up. I totally didn’t know that!’ He rolled his eyes in disdain and asked more specifically.

"Where is the protagonist, William, currently at?"

[You do not have the right to know the protagonist’s location!]

"Okay, then what is his current level?"

[He can pummel you with extreme ease, and you won’t even be able to lay a finger on him.]

Ray twitched his mouth upon hearing the snarky comment. He already knew he was no match for the protagonist.

The same goes for Chloe; otherwise, why would he avoid a spar with her at all costs?

There was a difference between a strategic retreat and a cowardly retreat.

A cowardly retreat is one who flees at the moment of danger without even calculating whether they could win or not.

In contrast, a strategic retreat was someone who knew their strength and made enough calculation that retreating now was the best option.

"Come on, give me some hints so I know what the next step is." Ray pleaded with the system. His current housing place was the Carrion Household.

He couldn’t afford to lose this lifeline.

Based on Robert’s behavior and attitude toward him, it was clear that the setting had indeed made him a member of the household.

None of Robert’s children was easy to be trifled with, especially when trampled and provoked repeatedly. Yet they still stayed their hands and refrained from acting against him.

This was enough proof that he was a member despite their mouth shouting "outsider".

[The protagonist had just experienced a monster tide. That’s all the hint you can get.]

’A monster tide?’ Ray’s expression turned solemn. He closed his eyes and tried his best to remember the start of the novel.

"In the Lord of Magic, we readers got to be blessed with extreme fighting scenes at the beginning. William was what you called a country bumpkin, but then his village was overrun by monsters."

As he slowly recalled the detail, he remembered how there was an overused scene to put the protagonist in a tragic spectrum.

He had the blessing of seeing his mother eaten alive by a monster in his very eyes. And of course, the monster let him escape without any intention of chasing because of plot armor.

That monster tide and the death of his mother kicked off the event of his training arc and his desire to become the strongest.

Cliche?

Hell yeah!

But do the readers still dig it?

Of fucking course they do!

Readers are like a bunch of garbage devourers. They consumed fast food novels and complained about plot holes this and plot holes that, acting as if they were the god of writers who could write flawless plots.

"Ah, right, I forgot they also bashed the authors for trash novels and claimed to be able to write better. But like every third-rated villain, they’re also a bunch of clowns who wouldn’t even be able to write 500 words." Ray smirked coldly.

How did he know that?

Because, as the proud rogue reader representative, he was the epitome of a toxic reader!

[Wow, so you really enjoyed Lord of Magic? You really are a BL novel~]

"Shut the fuck up!" Ray cursed and grabbed a pillow. Then, without hesitation, he tossed it toward the system prompt.

Naturally, the pillow phased through the system prompt.

"Lord of Magic was my first novel, so it has some nostalgia and lenience in my complaints. But not anymore when you turn it into a BL!" He hissed angrily and began to think of his next step as a villain extra.

He needed to do villainous stuff and earn them Villain Points.