This made even the readers who originally liked horror themes feel a bit overwhelmed, since after all, everyone still needs some plot relief.

However, perhaps due to the unique perspective of a female protagonist, the character Nate also attracted quite a few die-hard fans, so its sales were still a bit higher than those of Dwarf Jack and Ryan.

The work ""Blind Nate"" features a protagonist whose traits are probably related to Autumn's family background—her father died in the line of duty, killed by a criminal.

On both sides of the living room walls hung three paintings each.

On the wall opposite the door, there was a single painting.

After everyone finished looking at their own comic protagonists, they tacitly gathered in front of this painting. In the painting was a baby, full of hostility, with a fierce and menacing aura.

This was Boss's comic, called ""Demon Maru,"" featuring a baby as the main character.

Whether in terms of plot or visuals, it was nearly flawless. It could be said that, with its pure essence of horror and distortion, it attracted a large audience back then—even Mark Bennett's ""Vampire Mason"" was overshadowed by ""Demon Maru"" in terms of popularity.

""Demon Maru is just as stubborn as Boss."" Mark Bennett said with a sigh.

He considered himself excellent, but at the same time, he believed that Boss was an even more outstanding person.

It was just a pity that Boss was very stubborn, just like the characters in his comics. Clearly, with just a slight change, just a bit of adaptation, things could have developed better, but Boss insisted on stubbornly sticking to his ways.

To say there was resentment—there really wasn't. After all, everyone could be said to have strayed from their original intentions, but only Boss had always stayed true to himself.

What everyone felt more than anything was admiration for Boss.

""Where is Boss?"" Lucas Carter asked.

There was no doubt that these seven paintings in the living room were drawn by Boss, but where was Boss, who had invited everyone to reunite after three years?

David Clark pushed open the door to one of the bedrooms and found the light on inside.

There were no sheets on the bed, but all of their comic series were neatly stacked on top—some had been published, others couldn't be published and were self-printed, which could be considered illegal publications.

These were the accumulated memories from the five years the studio existed, such as ""Vampire Mason,"" ""The Woodcutter,"" ""Dwarf Dwarf Jack,"" and so on. After the studio disbanded, everyone would receive digital drafts from Boss in their email from time to time—Boss was still quietly continuing the stories for everyone.

Under the bed, there was also a thick stack of comics.

Everyone walked over and picked up the comics underneath, finding that most of them were works similar in style to the one about two women talking on the phone.

Boss had always stuck to the studio's original intention, but he must have been short on money, so he drew quite a few works that could be monetized.

After seeing these works, Mark Bennett's frown deepened. He was a bit dissatisfied—he had always thought that Boss stuck to his principles, never forgetting his original aspiration, and was willing to remain obscure and make little money.

But since Boss was already drawing these works for money, it proved that Boss had come to terms with things. If so, why didn't Boss come to him?

Could it be because he was embarrassed?

Mark Bennett felt that if Boss really thought that way, it would truly be a stain on the friendship they had built over those five years.

Just then, Mark Bennett's phone rang—a video was sent from the WeChat account labeled ""Boss.""

""Is it a message from Boss?"" Lucas Carter asked.

Mark Bennett nodded and raised his phone.

The others all stood behind Mark Bennett; everyone was genuinely concerned about how Boss was doing now, and they were also very curious about why Boss had gathered everyone here.

In the video, at first there was only a chair, and the camera was a bit shaky—Boss was probably adjusting the phone's camera angle.

Soon,

A figure appeared in the frame, walking toward the chair.

This person was wearing a dark red hoodie, walking very slowly, as if every step was a struggle.

When the person in the video reached the chair and turned to face the camera,

Mark Bennett and the others behind him all showed looks of shock.

""Long time no see... everyone.""

The person in the video was indeed Boss—there was no mistaking it.

But what the group couldn't believe was that the Boss now sitting in the chair had a face so thin it was sunken in, and the arm exposed at the cuff was nothing but skin and bones, even twitching visibly.

""How did Boss end up like this!"" Mark Bennett exclaimed.

Three years ago, when everyone parted ways, Boss had only looked a bit unhealthy from long hours of drawing, which was nothing unusual for modern people.

But now, Boss looked almost skeletal.

Was he... sick?

The purest relationships are the most worth remembering. No matter what anyone has achieved now, whether they're doing well or not, no one can erase the camaraderie and shared interests from those five years.

""Mark Bennett, do you still blame me?""