Life Of A Nobody - as a Villain

Chapter 65 First Gift Call Of Duty

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Rio, unaware of Artemis's thoughts, was busy chatting with Amelia. He took out a simple folded paper from his pockets, and held up a single earring, beautifully crafted with a golden color metal and a shimmering green jewel at its center.

However, Amelia's innocent surprise was evident when she noticed that it was only meant for one ear. Confusion flickered across her face as she tried to make sense of it. She looked at Rio with a questioning expression, wondering why there was only one earring.

Rio took out the other earring but instead of placing it in her hands like before, he extended his hand towards Artemis. Artemis took the earring which had the similar designs as the other, but this one had a red jewel in it, instead of a green one.

"The other one is for Mother." Rio said, as he looked at Amelia's face. He smiled when he watched Amelia's doubting face turning into an angry face. 

"You always do this, brother. It was my gift, not mother's."

Amelia said in a pouting tone, as she looked at her mother who had a winning smile on her face, and was copying her pose. 

"It's an artifact Amy, so you should always keep it on." Rio said, as he gently placed the green earring near Amelia's ear, a subtle magical energy radiated from it, when it made contact with her skin, there was a slight sensation as it pierced through a small part of her earlobe. Amelia's eyes winced in surprise, but she didn't feel any pain. To her amazement, the earring magically attached itself to her ear and stayed securely in place, even after Rio removed his hand. 

Amelia's initial surprise turned into a delighted smile as she touched it with her fingers, feeling the smooth metal and the gentle warmth it emitted. She looked up at Rio, her eyes filled with love and excitement for the gift he had given her. 'I'll always keep it safe.' She promised herself in her heart. 

Artemis looked at her earring for some time in amazement and doubt, and then wore it too without asking anything. After both of them wore their earrings, the jewels in them shone for a little and then the light disappeared like it was never there. 

Amelia looked at the shining red jewel and said in her cute voice, as she pointed her finger at her mother's face -"No I want the red one, green looks blergh."

"Heyy, it looks good on you. So keep it for now." Rio said and patted Amy's head, as he ruffled her hair much to the displeasure of the little girl. Rio smiled as he saw her mad look with those messy hair, he coughed and started acting as if he was combing it. 

"I'll get you something else more pretty next time, okay. Now don't be mad." Rio said and watched as Amelia's expressions did a 180 and flipped to happiness in a moment. 

Amelia jumped and tentatively wrapped her small arms around him, hugging him tightly. "You promised now, you can't go back." 

"When did I _ sigh Fine, I promise." Rio said and patted her back.

As they stood there hugging each other, Rio couldn't help but close his eyes. The weight of his guilt and past regrets began to fade, replaced by a sense of hope and a fresh start.'It feels good to have you back, Ria.'

 'I can get one more gift, hehehe.' As Amelia hung her head on his shoulder, she thought with an evil smirk - 'It's vengeance for Mr Bear.'

Artemis, who looked at that little villain's evil grin, shook her head and said - "Let's go have dinner, I'm starving."

Hearing her mother's voice, Amelia just chuckled -"Hmm you're just jealous that brother got me a gift."

Artemis didn't reply and just pointed her finger towards her earring, then she turned around and started walking ahead. 

"Did you see that brother, it's all your fault."

Amelia's eyes narrowed with a hint of anger, clearly holding Rio responsible for their mother's teasing. Rio felt helpless, realizing that his gift may have unintentionally led to this, but it wasn't like he could give both earrings to her, even though they were a pair, but they were meant to be worn by 2 different people. 

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***[Call of Duty - An artifact made by ancient Egyptian God Ptah, as a gift to his wife Sekhmet. But before he could finish making it completely, their son Nefertem threw it in the lower world in his tantrum, asking for something which all 3 could wear. 

Effects - It transfers the wearer to their partner's location, in a moment of danger or when their life is at risk. 

–When the wearer's life is in danger, it teleports the other to their location to protect them, as a call of duty that cannot be rejected.

Call of Duty distance depends on the power of wearers. 

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Rio would've liked to keep this earring to himself so he can come to her location, if ever there was a danger to her life. But since he's as weak as fuck right now, even if he got there, he wouldn't be able to do anything to protect her, and could only pray that he dies before her this time. 

That's why he gave it to Artemis, as she is her mother, there's no chance that she would ever ignore Amelia in danger, and would do everything in her powers to keep Amy safe. 

With the "Call of Duty" earrings in their possession, Artemis could sense Amelia's condition, though the same can't be said for Amelia, as she is still unawakened, but this one way use is what Rio needed for now. 

As for those jewels, well that was purely because Ria on earth didn't like the color red, so he just habitually thought that, and gave it to Artemis. But looks like it isn't the case with Amelia. 

In the original plotline this gift was something that the sad replacement of Rio, who was adopted into Blake family, and later took his place as official heir, gave it to Amelia, when they first met. 

But since Rio had already decided to mess up plotlines for his own benefit, and this artifact seemed useful, why not take it himself? 

'Can't believe that fucker bought it from an old hag on the roadside, lucky bastard.'

Rio still couldn't believe how something this useful and divine artifact could be just picked up on roadside stalls by those lucky sons of fates. (Fates a bitch - so those sons of bitches) 

But that wasn't the only reason why Rio decided to take this artifact, these earrings played a very crucial part in pushing Amelia and Rio's relationship down the drain. Aside from some small arguments it led between him and his new replacement, which ruined his public image. They played their main role in another event. Which is what Rio decided to change, to save both him and her. 

These earrings were very useful and perfect on the surface, but these could also be used in other ways. Since the call of duty cannot be ignored, if someone trapped one person, sooner or later the other would helplessly be transported there. Just like a fish to a chopping board - one attack and two kills. 

His enemies had done the same in the novel. During Rio's fight with Artemis, when Artemis was losing, these earrings were the ones who teleported Amelia to that place, watching her brother fighting her mother and Myra's death, Amelia lost control of herself and … 

Rio, who was going through the full plotline of the event which pushed him and Amelia on totally opposite sides in the novel, was woken up from his thoughts by a sweet voice. 

"Now what're looking lost in thoughts for." Amelia said as she tugged at Rio's shirt. "Are you acting like our father, when he has to choose between me and mama?" She asked, remembering how her father would always go silent and start thinking stuff whenever he had to pick a side between her and mother. 

Getting out of his thoughts, Rio looked at Amelia, and said -"Don't be jealous of this little thing, I promise next time I'll give you an even better gift, something that even our mother would envy."

"Yayy" Amelia excitedly bumped her fists in the air, thinking she would wear that and show off to her mother. But before she could ask what the gift would be, Rio put one finger on his lips and said -"shhh, It's our secret." To which Amelia nodded in a hurry, putting both her hands on her mouth. 

Artemis raised her ears as she heard Rio's words and then smiled and continued walking while saying -"keep dreaming." 

"Hmmm we'll see." Amelia said and started walking faster pulling Rio along with her. 

Of course even if she said that her heart really felt curious now, something that even she as Duchess and Raven's daughter would feel jealous of. She didn't doubt Rio's words as a lie now, he had become far too mysterious in her eyes with everything he has done in past - from that potion, to items on that list, to ordering Esme, and just moments ago those earrings - 'Wonder what it is?"

[Host… ]

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A/N - what do you think is wrong with the system now? If you had a call of duty earring, who would you give it too? What do you think Rio's next gift might be?