Villain Ch 291. Rise From the Ashes
"Guys! You won't believe this!" Gilbert's voice rang out excitedly, drawing the attention of everyone at the table. His eyes gleamed with an undeniable sense of intrigue as he pointed emphatically at the magazine he had stumbled upon. Jacob and the others standing behind Gilbert mirrored his shocked expression, their eyes widening in disbelief. The only absentees from the group were Liam and Darren, who had yet to arrive.
Curiosity buzzed in the air, catching the attention of those seated nearby. The coffee shop patrons couldn't help but glance in the direction of the commotion, their curiosity piqued by the sudden influx of surprise and excitement at the table.
"Keep it down and take a seat, Gil," Elio interjected, his voice calm but tinged with a hint of exasperation. He couldn't hide his surprise that Gilbert and the rest of the group had stumbled upon this discovery so quickly. Nevertheless, he knew that "Urban Enigma" was a fairly well-known magazine, so it wasn't entirely unexpected.
With a collective understanding, the group settled into their seats, their attention now focused on Sophia. Their eyes bore into her, recognizing the deep sadness etched across her face.
"Sophia, are you okay?" James, Arrow_Master's player, asked softly, his gaze filled with compassion. "Finding this must be incredibly difficult for you."
Sophia mustered a bittersweet smile. She appreciated James' concern, but she didn't want her pain to overshadow their gathering.
"I'm fine," she replied, her voice carrying a tinge of resignation.
"She is the illustrator, guys. So, she knows before us," Elio explained, his voice laced with a sense of calm understanding.
The group turned their attention towards Elio, their eyes filled with a mix of disbelief and curiosity. Gilbert, unable to contain his shock, muttered under his breath, "You must be kidding."
Elio shook his head, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. With a measured gesture, he retrieved the magazine from the table and flipped it open, revealing the page that featured Sophia's artwork. He guided their gazes toward her signature, a tangible mark of her talent and creativity.
"See?" Elio responded firmly.
The shocking revelation hung in the air, leaving the group speechless. Their eyes widened, mirroring their disbelief at the unexpected turn of events. Gilbert, unable to contain his astonishment, turned to Sophia, his voice heavy with sympathy and frustration.
"What the hell?" Gilbert blurted out, his words echoing through the coffee shop. He couldn't help but feel a surge of empathy for Sophia, seeing her art and personal life collide in such a cruel twist of fate.
Sophia, however, could only muster a wry smile in response to Gilbert's exclamation. "It's just a job," she explained, her tone tinged with resignation. "As an illustrator, I have to approach it professionally, regardless of the circumstances."
Jacob's brows furrowed as he tried to make sense of the situation. "So, does that mean you've moved on from him?" Jacob (INeedAHotGF) ventured to ask, hoping to glean some understanding from Sophia's reaction.
Noah, Lord*Hunter's player, interjected, his memory serving as a reminder of recent events. "I don't think so," Noah interjected, his voice filled with a hint of excitement. "Remember the event we had yesterday? Sophia was still searching for his character, right?" he reminded them.
"Oh, yeah, totally slipped my mind," Jacob admitted with a huff.
Gilbert, his tone stern and serious, leaned in closer to Sophia. "Look, Sophia, I know it's tough, but you really need to get over it," he advised, his concern evident in his voice.
Suddenly, a new voice pierced through the conversation, capturing their attention. "Yeah, Sophia, it's time to let go," the confident voice declared, resonating with a sense of assurance.
They turned their heads towards the source of the voice, finding two men standing behind them. With an air of familiarity, the duo swiftly took their seats at the table. The first man, Liam, boasted a head of brown hair and a sturdy build, towering over his friend. He was none other than Greg's player, the same Greg who had been at odds with Elio in the game.
The second man, Darren, had black hair and sported glasses, emanating an air of professionalism. He was the player behind the character Player_Eater.
Without further ado, they sat down at their table. Both of them had seen the magazines on the internet since the ads were everywhere.
"You guys should be thanking us," Liam asserted confidently, a hint of smugness in his tone. "After all, we managed to make Allen rage quit the game."
Unbeknownst to the rest of the group, Liam and Darren harbored a deep sense of jealousy towards Allen. Memories flooded Liam's mind, taking him back to a time when he and Darren had left Allen in a messed-up state. They had turned their backs on him, thinking it would be enough to crush him completely. But to their surprise, Allen had risen from the ashes, entering the solo category and emerging victorious.
Then, they had assumed that Allen would be devastated after his breakup with Sophia, thinking he would fade into obscurity. Yet once again, their assumptions had proven to be wrong. Instead, Allen had reemerged in the limelight, gracing the cover of a renowned magazine alongside a stunning woman by his side. The sight of Allen with someone as beautiful as her left Liam and Darren perplexed, unable to comprehend how he had managed to connect with such an exquisite model.
The revelation ignited a mix of emotions within Liam and Darren, stirring up feelings of envy and regret. They couldn't help but wonder how Allen had transformed his life so dramatically in such a short span of time. It felt as if fate had played a cruel trick on them, highlighting their own shortcomings and leaving them feeling inadequate.
However, Elio swiftly interjected, his response causing Liam and Darren's assumptions to crumble before them. "I don't think that's the case," he countered, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. He knew that Liam and Darren were referring to the intense duel that took place in Eyon's Cave just two weeks ago.
"Red_King from the Celestial Vanguard guild actually mentioned him to me," Elio continued. "He recently encountered Allen's character in the game. Apparently, he was seen strolling through Berlt Harbor with two female players and had even upgraded his class to an assassin."
Liam's expression soured at the news, his displeasure evident on his face. The mention of Red_King, a prominent player in the game, only served to exacerbate his feelings of envy and frustration.
"Red_King again?" Darren exclaimed, his memory instantly jogged by the recent in-game announcement made by Red_King.
Elio nodded, confirming Darren's recollection. "That's right," he affirmed. "Red_King actually expressed interest in recruiting Allen to his guild." Irony hung heavy in the air as Elio admitted this fact, acknowledging that despite his own reservations, he had entertained the thought of recruiting Allen before.
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