Chapter 548 The Villain And His Puppy?
Villain Ch 548. The Villain And His Puppy
Dressed incognito in his sleek assassin disguise, Allen strolled through the bustling streets of Berlt City. The city's hustle and bustle surrounded him, a dynamic blend of avatars going about their quests and players navigating the intricate pathways of the harbor city.
The market was a vibrant hub where commerce thrived. The cloak of anonymity afforded by his assassin garb gave him the freedom to move through the crowds, eyes scanning for the coveted bargains that could elevate his in-game gear. It was a cacophony of sights and sounds— stalls displaying wares, players engaged in lively haggling, and the occasional vendor shouting out special deals. Allen weaved through the marketplace. His strides were light and casual.
His satisfaction peaked as he successfully secured the items he sought. The gleam of a couple of new items in his inventory was a testament to his strategic choices in the market. However, the highlight of his day came when a fellow player, enticed by his rock-bottom prices, eagerly accepted his offer to buy stones. He bet that guy must be very desperate.
A victorious grin played on Allen's face as he continued his stroll, the weight of successful bargains adding a spring to his step.
But it didn't mean his stroll was full of fun. He unexpectedly stumbled upon the familiar faces of Darren and Liam. His internal radar for potential trouble went on high alert, anticipating the usual sneers and snide remarks that typically accompanied their encounters.
To his surprise, however, the duo seemed to have developed an uncanny talent for selective blindness. Allen, bracing himself for the expected confrontation, watched in bewilderment as Darren and Liam, upon spotting him, chose a hasty exit strategy. It was as if meeting Allen was akin to stumbling upon a black cat on Friday the 13th—pure bad luck.
He squinted, half-expecting a hidden prank or a delayed punchline. Yet, the duo continued their trajectory away from him, completely ignoring his presence. It was a peculiar turn of events that left Allen with a mix of confusion and amusement.
'Okay, that's surely unusual,' he thought. A frown on his face.
Allen, with a nonchalant shrug, accepted the unexpected turn of events with a sense of relief. Darren and Liam's sudden exit, whether intentional or not, spared him the usual dose of drama. It was a small victory, a respite from potential confrontations that, for once, he didn't have to navigate.
Deciding to make the most of the serene moment, Allen redirected his steps toward the lively hub of the city—the tavern.
His mind wandered to the aftermath of the recent revelation involving Sophia and Elio. His mind was buzzing with speculation about the consequences of exposing Sophia's true nature. Curiosity gnawed at him like an impatient NPC quest giver.
He mulled over what Sophia might choose to do next. Would she gracefully exit the guild, pride intact, or dig her heels deeper into the guild's narrative? Perhaps, like a disgraced character in a melodramatic plot twist, she might even consider leaving the entire game.
Elio held a different set of questions for Allen. What would be his next move in the chess game they found themselves in? Allen envisioned Elio, faced with betrayal, considering the delicate dance of guild politics. Would he swiftly cut ties with Sophia, searching for a replacement as pragmatic guild leaders often did? Or would he be shackled by the difficulty of finding some healers with Sophia's skill set, haunted by the challenge of rebuilding the guild dynamics?
For Allen, the situation resembled a double-edged sword for both Sophia and Elio.
Seated in the heart of the bustling tavern, Allen chose a spot close to the crowd rather than seeking the solace of a quiet corner. The air was thick with the hum of animated conversations, the clinking of mugs, and the distant echoes of laughter. It was a symphony of life in full swing.
He didn't bother ordering a drink. Instead, his attention focused on the holographic glow of his inventory list. The menu unfolded before him like a futuristic parchment, revealing the array of items and equipment at his disposal. His mind, a labyrinth of strategic calculations, delved into the intricacies of upgrading his armor to the elusive next level. He would need it as soon as possible.
While his thoughts navigated the inventory, Allen's ears remained attuned to the ambient chatter around him. The tavern's patrons exchanged tales of battles won, quests completed, and loot acquired. However, amid the sea of dialogue, there was a noticeable absence of the intriguing gossip Allen sought.
The conversations seemed to converge around a common theme—the next war in Gorroc City. It dominated the players' discussions, capturing their collective attention.
'No luck, huh?' Allen thought, frustration lacing his demeanor. His eyes lingered on the holographic screen in front of him, the inventory list displaying its uncooperative array of items.
"Godlike?" A voice, like a playful melody, danced into his ears. Allen's eyes snapped away from the hologram, a smirk playing on his lips as recognition dawned.
Quickly, as if caught red-handed in some in-game mischief, Allen closed the inventory screen and turned toward the source of the familiar voice. Shanty stood there, an avatar cloaked in better equipment from last time, with a grin that mirrored Allen's smirk. Allen also could see that she just leveled up a few times.
"Shanty. Hi," Allen greeted, a genuine smile replacing the hint of coldness that had etched his features moments ago.
Shanty's smile, a beacon of warmth, widened as she approached Allen without a hint of hesitation. With carefree grace, she settled down by his side, her presence radiating genuine happiness.
"I'm glad to meet you here," she exclaimed, the joy in her words mirroring the happiness in her heart. She had been looking for him for almost an hour by using a teleport service from one city to another.
"Me too," Allen responded with a casual nonchalance that masked a genuine sense of contentment. Making friends beyond the confines of his villainous circle was a welcome diversion. Despite the unspoken rule to keep a distance, he couldn't deny the pleasure of connecting with players like Shanty.
He relished these moments, a break from the intricate dance of deceit and villainy that usually defined his in-game experiences. However, Allen's strategic mind nudged at the boundaries of caution. He couldn't afford to get too close to players to protect his Devil Emperor identity. On the other hand, letting some players know him as Al, the assassin, helped him cover up his true identity.
Shanty's happy grin, reminiscent of a delighted puppy, adorned her avatar.
"You know you don't need to call me Godlike every time we meet," Allen gently reminded her, a hint of amusement playing in his eyes. The title felt like a vestige of a past identity, a moniker that clung to him like a shadow. "It's my previous in-game name. Just call me Al," he added, the request accompanied by a subtle sense of relief. The weight of the old alias seemed to lift with each mention of the new.
"Okay," Shanty agreed, a lighthearted acknowledgment of the shift in nomenclature. "Oh right! Thanks a lot for letting me take that photo with me this morning," she expressed, her voice a?melody laced with sincerity. "I'm thrilled, and I'll treasure it forever."
Allen, caught momentarily off guard, registered the depth of Shanty's appreciation. The sentiment lingered in the air. He furrowed his brows, confusion briefly clouding his avatar's expression.
It took a beat of recognition to dawn on Allen. Shanty was Mila—the very same Mila who had crossed paths with Allen in the café this morning.
"Are you Mila?" he asked. A hint of surprise was clear from his tone of voice.
"Yes, that's me," Shanty replied with a playful grin, her expression mirroring the whimsical dance of their shared amusement.
Allen looked surprised. He thought Mila knew him because of the photoshoot. But unexpectedly, she also knew that he was a gamer.
"The world surely is narrow," Allen mused, a chuckle escaping his lips.
"I didn't expect it either, but luckily, I have your photos. So, at least I know what you look like in real life," Shanty confessed, her avatar exuding a sense of candidness.
Allen, momentarily taken aback by the revelation, couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, it seems I can't keep all my secrets," he remarked, a lightheartedness tinging his words.
But for sure, Allen realized that he could say that Shanty was his big fan. Since not many people follow him from his victory in the tournament two years to how he was now. She even recognized his face in the magazine!
Shanty, with a teasing grin, continued, "You're getting handsome after the tournament, you know. I was shocked when I saw your photo in the Urban Enigma magazine."
Allen, though caught off guard by the compliment, responded with a self-deprecating smirk. "Thank you," he quipped.
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