Chapter 217 Hate
The next day, Viktor walked through the streets of Perm City until he arrived at a riverbank filled with cafes and bars. His eyes were fixed onto one of the bars with a classic style.
It was a bar he had visited once, where the members of Heaven's Will gathered.
He took a deep breath and breathed out before quickly walking into the bar.
The moment Viktor stepped in, the aroma of oak, fermented barley, and sweat immediately stung his nose. Viktor rolled his eyes. Tens of adventurers seemed to be enjoying themselves at their own tables, and some of them had the signature silver armor or white accessories of the Heaven's Will guild.
At the corner of the room, at the corner seat at the bar counter, a woman was drinking a glass of vodka. Unlike the other members of Heaven's Will, she wasn't wearing any armor, only casual black clothing. Even so, she could still be spotted.
"Anna…"
A bright smile bloomed on Viktor's face. He took a breath through the gaps of his teeth and walked toward her full of confidence.
He stood right next to her and put his arm on the bar counter.
"Oi, get me a bottle of vodka."
Viktor's words triggered Anna's nerves. The woman turned her head, and when she saw the man posing cool next to her, she immediately shook her head.
She went back to enjoying her glass of vodka.
Responding to Viktor's order, the bartender brought a bottle of vodka. Anna asked for a refill from the bartender who was now in front of her, but Viktor quickly stopped her.
"No need," Viktor said to the bartender and looked at him with narrowed eyes, signaling for him to leave.
The bartender left.
"It's on me, Anna."
Viktor poured some vodka into her glass.
"How were you after the raid yesterday? You didn't get severely injured, did you?"
"No." Anna immediately downed her glass the moment it was filled up.
Viktor smiled. Anna might not realize it, but the response she gave him was not as bad as before. For him, this was progress.
Viktor tried to open a conversation with a few topics and formalities.
"I'm glad. Yesterday, I heard our group was attacked by the Red Faction?" Viktor banged the table as if he was mad. "Those damned bastards, claiming territories however they like."
Anna smiled. "Fortunately, Young Master wasn't there."
"Exactly! I-"
Viktor messed up. He was trying so hard to be responsive that he didn't properly process his ex-girlfriend's words, that she was insinuating at him.
Anna simply sneered for a moment before letting out a long sigh.
"Ahem… I'm so lucky. Ah no, I mean, good thing there's the Metal Guardian."
"Yeah. You're really lucky to have him on your side-"
Click!
Viktor snapped his fingers.
"By the way, I opened a club."
He hurriedly changed the topic to prevent the situation from worsening. His mouth began to foam from talking so much, about his new club and the exciting party last night. He even vigorously talked about his plans for the future.
However, Anna didn't seem to be the least bit interested.
No matter what Viktor brought out, Anna only responded with short phrases like "yeah", "no", and "hmm", as if she was listening to a bluffer. This, of course, irked him, but he controlled himself.
'Damn you, Anna,' he grumbled inside.
After Viktor began to run out of things to say, he was finally forced to take out his trump card.
"By the way, the Metal Guardian told me to send you his regards."
It was only when he mentioned the Metal Guardian that Anna showed signs of interest. Her bright expression made it quite apparent.
"What did he say?"
Viktor grinned, but he cursed in his heart at the same time. He was initially elated when Anna treated him kindly when he was in the form of the Metal Guardian, but now that he thought about it again, the figure of Viktor Romanov became ignored.
He was running out of options. Whether he liked it or not, he had to use the Metal Guardian's name to get back closer to Anna.
"Well, he said thank you and he couldn't wait to work together again."
After that, Viktor bluffed about various made-up stories about the Metal Guardian. About how he met the mysterious figure, his feats of wiping out the Widow Maker guild, and even a 'secret' of his.
"You know, Anna, the Metal Guardian is actually bipolar. Because of that, his attitude often changes. He's sometimes silent like a shy person, and sometimes actively talks."
"I see."
Anna listened intently. Not only did she take in everything the Romanov descendant said, but she even spoke out her opinion about the heroic Metal Guardian.
Seeing that Anna was in a good mood, Viktor thought of a joke.
"Actually, Anna, the Metal Guardian has a little secret. Only his closest people know, like me. Know what it is?"
"Isn't he your subordinate? You shouldn't tell people his secret."
Anna took the vodka bottle and poured it into her glass. She looked away from him, but Viktor brightly smiled.
Viktor opened his mouth and got closer to Anna. She silently ignored him as if she didn't care when in truth, she was extremely curious.
"Actually, he-"
Before Viktor could tell his joke, a familiar voice reached their ears. A tough figure barged into their conversation.
"What are you doing?"
The guildmaster of Heaven's Will, Radcliff.
Viktor clicked his tongue. His mood was ruined thanks to the man's arrival, but he still tried to smile.
"Nothing, buddy, we were only talking casually. Right?"
Anna nodded. Although she didn't like Viktor's behavior, she no longer hated him. Furthermore, after seeing that someone at the Metal Guardian's caliber was willing to work with him, she has a little hope that he might have changed.
Radcliff looked toward Anna. "Is he bothering you again?"
"It's fine," she answered while shaking her head.
Radcliff believed it when he heard her confirmation, but her face still showed his displeasure as Viktor looked at him with a victorious look.
Even so, Viktor couldn't afford to be blinded by euphoria. The atmosphere had changed thanks to the uninvited guest's arrival, so he had to execute his plan.
"Hey, Anna, why don't you come to my club? A club in the apocalypse might sound strange, but for me, it's a great accomplishment. Won't you come? For the past, no, the present."
Anna didn't immediately answer. She looked away to the empty air, as if she was thinking about something.
Viktor was so anxious that his knees were shaking. She stayed silent for quite a long time.
"Okay."
Viktor's eyes widened. As if the sun had just risen, his face brightened. "Wow, okay. Cool."
Anna had known him since the two were little. She knew that this youngest descendant of the Romanov family had always dreamt of having his own club. His love for it was not just because of women, alcohol, or fervent parties, but the desire to entertain and make people happy.
And his strict father was the cause.
Because of that, she accepted his offer. Besides, she thought a littel stupid to hate such something going on long time ago.
"All right then, Anna. Don't forget to come to the club tomorrow night. I promise, tomorrow will be an amazing night for you."
Viktor quickly stood up with a bright smile before walking past Radcliff, who was standing like a statue, and patting the man's shoulder.
His figure soon vanished from the crowded bar, leaving Anna with Radcliff.
"Are you sure you want to go to that man's club? You don't need to force yourself," Radcliff said, looking worried.
"It's fine.." Anna said with a dry smile.
Anna's attention then shifted to the bottle of vodka. She poured it into her glass, while Radcliff silently stood behind her with his fists clenched.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢