Second World-Novel

"If one of the winners has to be a team, then you people sure won't win it. The four of you aren't enough to form a team," Jack said.

"Not to mention all you four are registered under individual matches," Paytowin added. "And also from two different races."

"Yes, but probably Master didn't know how many people Wilted send here. As I said, it's just a guess. Probably the one they after is only that Draconic Suppression Crystal," Joe said.

"… I think Master knows Wilted send the four of you here," Jack said.

"Why do you say that?" Joe asked.

"Looked at your classes. Out of the three of you, only Blackhole was free. The two of you and Darkradiant have to face those three heavenly enforcers. How confident are you to win against them?"

The two of them were silent.

"This also means that Master is very confident with his people," Jack said. "He is sure that his three enforcers will beat you three. Even if your fourth member, Blackhole, wins the mage section, he won't be able to utilize the secret feature to get the Draconic Revival Blood."

Joe had an ugly expression hearing Jack's words. Anotherday didn't show any expression, he said, "I won't lose."

"I have friends who are in the individual matches as well. If they win, I will ask them to use their forfeiting right to get the item you want," Jack said.

"You will do that?" Joe asked with surprise.

Jack nodded. "Although whether they can win or not is not a certainty. Too bad I'm not in the individual match. Otherwise, we are sure to bag one winner already."

Joe, who was having a high opinion on Jack a second ago, suddenly felt himself wanting to curse this guy again. This guy was so self-assured that he said that winning against a heavenly enforcer is a hundred percent certainty?

"Well, anyway. Let us all try our best to win," Jack said. Joe and Anotherday just nodded as a reply.

Jack and Paytowin left the two.

"Have you talked to Grace?" Paytowin asked.

"… Not yet," Jack answered.

"Why?"

"Look at that! Do you think I have a chance to talk to her?" Jack said as he pointed to a group of elven players. The five male players from earlier today still crowded around Grace.

"Well, I guess it is difficult… Still, why do I feel like you are intentionally avoiding her?"

"Let her figure out her feeling first. As I said, she is free in this world. She probably won't find me special anymore after getting to know more men."

"You are weird. Any other men would have bitten down this chance, taking advantage of her and not letting go even if you beat them, but you are just squandering your chance away."

"I'm not talking to you anymore. I need to go talk with someone else, see you later," Jack said and left Paytowin, who was still shaking his head.

His grandfather was still talking with the dwarf. Jack was curious about his gramps' new friend. However, there was someone he wanted to talk to first. He had tried finding an opportunity when this person was alone. This person was currently standing beside the metal railing by the side of the mountain, watching the expansive view beyond the mountain.

"I have been trying to find a chance to say thank you. It is really difficult to get a chance to talk to you," Jack said.

Red Death turned to him. Her expression was cold as usual. Jack couldn't discern whether she was feeling irritated from his intrusion.

"Thank you for telling me about the window in your guild's warehouse," Jack said.

"I just want to beat you fair and square," Red Death said as she turned away.

"If you want to spar, I will entertain you anytime you want."

It was a few seconds before Red Death replied, "Not yet. I'm not strong enough."

"We can spar without using any skills," Jack said. "But I guess my attributes will still be unfair."

"You can use the arena at the League of Champions. You need to pay coins, but that arena allows you to set specific conditions. You can set so that everyone has the same attributes and also restrict any usage of skills," Peniel said.

Jack turned to her. Right, he forgot this little lady was still clinging to him.

"You have one chatty pet," Red Death uttered.

"Lady, I don't like you!" Peniel exclaimed.

"Peniel, do you mind leaving us alone for a while?" Jack said.

"What?" Peniel said, dissatisfied. She looked at Jack and Red Death in turns. "Fine! I will go enjoy the views elsewhere," she said grudgingly and flew away.

Jack looked at the fairy flying away before turning back to Red Death, who was still coldly watching the scenery beyond the mountain.

"Seriously, thank you for your help. Do your guild suspect you? Will you be getting into trouble for helping me?" Jack asked.

"I will if you keep on chatting with me like this," Red Death said.

"Hehe. Don't worry, they are all far away. There are only us here with those weird small critters in the bushes."

"You can sense them?"

"Yeah, my grandfather taught me chi-sensing. They called it mana sense here. I believe you can do it as well?"

"A little."

"So, don't worry, there is no one hiding around here. Also, what's wrong with chatting with your enemy? If you feel uncomfortable, you can add me to your friend list, then we can chat in secret."

"Who wants to chat with you in secret?"

"Haha. By the way, what do you chat about with your teacher, Wong?"

"None of your business."

"Do you know he is in a guild called World Maker?"

"Yes. Never heard of this guild. I tried to persuade him to join Death Associates, he refused."

Jack thought for a bit, before asking, "I want to tell you the secret of this world. Do you want to hear?"

"What secret?" Red Death asked.

"About how this world came to be and why we came into this world."

"You know?"

Jack nodded. "It has something to do with the guild your teacher is in."

After a while, Red Death said, "Tell me."

Jack narrated his experience when engaging Master and World Maker, before telling her Wilted's story. Red Death stayed silent throughout his narration.

"That… is a lot to take in," Red Death said after Jack stopped. "You said this Master has even more classes than you?"

"Yeah, and also more divine treasures. He is not somebody any of us can mess with by ourselves. I know our guilds have differences, but in the end, we are all gamers who value freedom. If that Master gets what he wants, none of us will know any freedom in this world. Sooner or later, we have to work together to prevent that from happening."

Red Death glanced at Jack but otherwise didn't say anything.

Jack then mentioned what he had heard between Wong and Master's conversation, about Wong's desire to search for who he called his traitorous student.

"Master is still bitter about martial brother…," Red Death muttered to herself.

"What did your martial brother do to make your teacher so angry that he joined a delusional madman with God complex?" Jack asked.

"It's none of…"

"Of my business! Okay, okay, I get it," Jack cut Red Death's words. "Still, are you going to let your teacher fall on the wrong path like that just because of a grudge? You do know he is wrong, right?"

"I know how my teacher is. No one will be able to change his mind."

"Then I'm going to beat him to his senses!" Jack uttered.

"I'll have to think about what you have told me and about how I should break this to my guildmates," Red Death said.

"Just don't simply tell everyone," Jack warned. "This truth is not for the faint of heart. Some might choose to run over searching for Master and ask for his protection in return for their obedience."

"How do you know I'm not such a person?" Red Death asked.

"Because you are not a coward," Jack replied.

"Goodbye," Red Death turned away and was about to leave, but Jack grabbed her arm. She turned back in surprise.

"Wait! Please take this," Jack said. In his hand was a small rectangular plate.

"What's that?" Red Death asked. She used Inspect on the plate. "Recall plate? What's it for?"

"It's a protective charm, to show my gratitude for your help back then."

"Don't be ridiculous, I don't believe in charm."

"Just do me a favor and keep it inside your bag at all times, okay?"

Red Death furrowed her brows.

"It's just a piece of plate. Nothing valuable, so you don't need to feel indebted to me."

Red Death stared at Jack for a long while, Jack was still holding her arm.

"Fine! Let me go," she grunted irritably as she took the plate. The plate then disappeared into her bag.

Jack released her arm. She walked away without saying anything.

'Uh… Truly hard to read her,' Jack complained in his mind.

Jack didn't notice within the bushes amongst the small critters, a small triangular-shaped thing was floating as it watched the two. If a gunner class saw this thing, they would know what it was. It was a drone. A mechanical gadget that was summoned using Gunner's level 45 skill. This drone could shoot bullets and thus could be used for offense, but it had another use. It could transfer images and sounds to its owner, serving as a surveillance instrument as well.

At this time, Yellow Death was somewhere else watching the projection shown by his drone.