This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist

Unaware that she was about to be "handled," Sanchez was in her study, listening to Ariana giving her a task.

Logically, Zoey hated Sanchez the most, and sending her to negotiate or threaten Zoey would only worsen tensions and likely cause the talks to collapse. However, after investigating Zoey's actions before and after the game's invasion and her recent collaborations with the Special Affairs Bureau, Ariana concluded that Sanchez was the perfect person for this task.

—"Because she's envious of you."

—"You have what Zoey desires the most. Long before the game's invasion, your grandparents, your uncle, and I all prepared you to become the next head of the White family. This decision had nothing to do with your gender or your talent. We simply love you, so we nurtured you."

—"That's something she desperately wants but cannot have."

—"Through her, we might be able to topple the entire Lopez family."

—"I need you to provoke her. Our true goal isn't the dragon; we're already a step too late for that. What we want is her *Song of Hope*."

—"This time, you can act a little more brash and reckless. Yes, be yourself."

Sanchez: ?

Okay, fine, she could accept being called hot-tempered, but when was she ever reckless?

She was the *Water God*, okay?

Josephine quickly cleared his throat and explained, "What we mean is, don't bother using clever insinuations or trying to manipulate Zoey with words. Just be your usual arrogant self. Don't overthink it."

*Was that supposed to be a compliment?* Sanchez silently raised her fist, extended her index finger, and pointed it at herself, declaring, "I am *S-rank*, the Water God."

Ariana nodded approvingly, "That's the spirit!"

Josephine added, "Exactly, Sanchez! You're amazing. No one in the family can beat you. You've got top-notch combat skills! But when you're talking to Zoey, don't think about using sneaky tactics like 'using a borrowed knife' or 'fanning the flames of discord.' That's too underhanded, and our White family doesn't stoop to such things. We'll face her openly and honestly, got it?"

He couldn't help but feel a bit baffled. The skill descriptions for the *Water God* suggested a calm, aloof personality, so how did that end up being paired with Sanchez?

Ariana smiled, "Yes, that's exactly what I mean."

Sanchez: "… You could've just said that if I try to use tricks, Zoey will see through them, and that's that."

Josephine: "We didn't want to hurt your feelings…"

Sanchez: *What a thoughtful uncle.*

…

After the argument in the study, Zoey and Matthew tacitly pretended it had never happened. They covered up the cracks in their shaky relationship, and she remained the cherished young lady of the Lopez family, while Matthew and Mateo continued to act as loving father and brother figures.

Matthew didn't mention the dragon again, but the next day, he arranged for several top-tier instructors to train Zoey, including retired soldiers and lone wolves who had undergone Special Affairs Bureau training. Zoey left the Bureau's training camp, and of course, Rick couldn't stay behind either.

So, he sent Rita a message saying he no longer wanted to go to the Special Affairs Bureau's camp.

When Rita asked why, Rick replied that since his wife wasn't going, he wanted to stay home and accompany her.

They were all great actors.

On the 30th, while Rick and Zoey were running dungeons, they saw the game announcement. Both congratulated Rita, but neither asked what she had done to earn it. They knew she was too cunning to spill the details.

They continued silently leveling up with Ezra and the others, until Zoey received a private message from Sanchez.

**[Sanchez]: Hey, check your email. I sent you something good.**

Zoey didn't ignore Sanchez's message. After casting a healing spell on Lincoln, she immediately opened her email. Inside, she found a paternity test and a blood test report.

Seeing both reports together, Zoey instantly understood what they meant.

Rick's blood had been obtained.

Trying to lie and say the results referred to Rita? The thought crossed Zoey's mind for a second before she dismissed it. It was useless, and it might even offend Rita and the Special Affairs Bureau.

At some point, Rita had become someone Zoey couldn't afford to offend.

**[Zoey]: What does the White family want?**

**[Sanchez]: Hand over the dragon.**

**[Zoey]: Even if I gave the dragon to the White family, you wouldn't be the one to get it.**

**[Sanchez]: Lol, do you think I'm you? Even though my uncle runs the White family, everyone knows how much influence I have there, right? I'm not some pitiful girl who needs to marry to keep my status."

Zoey gritted her teeth, trying to maintain her composure and dignity.

**[Zoey]: The dragon is out of the question. Just state your real goal. If you don't, I'll ask Ariana directly.**

**[Sanchez]: How dare you call my mother by her full name?!**Nôv(el)B\\jnn

**[Zoey]: ArianaArianaArianaArianaAriana**

Josephine and Ariana watched silently as Sanchez's smug expression turned into a furious one, nearly stomping her feet in anger.

Sanchez pointed at the game screen that no one else could see and complained to her mother, "Mom! She's calling you by your name!!"

Ariana: "…"

So what? Her name was only two syllables. Did Sanchez expect their enemy to call her "Miss Shark" affectionately?

Josephine muttered, "I think your temper might be a bit too hot…" Then he stopped mid-sentence, remembering that Sanchez's temper had worsened after she lost most of her arm. Sympathy welled up in him again.

After losing her right hand, Sanchez hadn't let herself spiral into despair. Instead, she poured her time into training her left hand. Even now, as they sat in the room, she wore a weighted wristband on her left arm and was constantly practicing with a butterfly knife to improve her dexterity.

Josephine's heart always ached when he saw her training, especially that one time when she accidentally sliced off her finger. Even though the pain made her tremble, she didn't cry or scream. She simply gritted her teeth, reattached the finger, drank a healing potion, and resumed her training.

Ariana glanced at Sanchez, noticing the black gloves that hid her right hand and the knife her left hand continuously toyed with. She, too, must have been thinking about the same thing, because she smiled. "Then you'll need to help Mom get some revenge."

Sanchez grinned, "No problem!"

With that, she dove back into her heated exchange with Zoey.

**[Sanchez]: Matthew Matthew Matthew Matthew Matthew**

**[Zoey]: He's dead.**

**[Sanchez]: ?**

Sanchez fell silent.

She couldn't win. She really couldn't win.

**[Zoey]: So? What's the bottom line? If you don't tell me, I'm blocking you.**

**[Zoey]: This isn't as big of a deal as you think. At worst, I'll get a divorce.**

**[Sanchez]: Aren't you afraid people will say you're sick too?**

**[Zoey]: Whoever says that, I'll march right up to their house with my blood.**

**[Sanchez]: You really need to see a therapist…**

**[Zoey]: You need one more than I do.**

**[Sanchez]: The White family wants your *Song of Hope*, but I need to meet with you first to learn the details of your skill before we proceed.**

**[Zoey]: Haha, so you don't even know the specifics of what you're threatening me with?**

**[Sanchez]: …**

**[Sanchez]: Be at the White family house at 10 PM on the 1st. I'll be waiting.**