The Grand Duelist

"You..."

For some reason, Thomas felt that Joseph's gaze was quite intimidating. 

He subconsciously took a step backward, but when he remembered that he was here with two women. He regained his courage from out of nowhere and pointed a finger at Joseph.

"So, you really are someone from the provinces? To think that you don't even know the fact that only authorized personnel can go inside the main building of P.H Works." Thomas revealed a sneer.

He took something out of his pocket.

It was a green card with the words, "Guest", embossed on its surface.

"Unless you have something like this, then forget about going inside. And also, you seem to be quite strong, right? How about you try and force yourself in?" Thomas glanced at the dozens of fierce-looking security guards.

The moment they heard what Thomas said...

Their ears perked and they turned to look at Joseph in a serious manner.

It was clear that they were now on guard against Joseph. If he tried to place even a single foot inside the territory that they were protecting without the necessary authorization required. They would immediately swarm, take him down, and put him in his place.

"Wow... Isn't that the Guest Access Keycard that only those invited by P.H Works can get? Damn! It seems like that guy is quite influential..."

"I heard that P.H Works only give their Keycards to those that are powerful enough to get it. After all, within the main building of P.H Works exists another Virtual Internet Cafe, but this time, with more powerful hardware."

"What? There's a Virtual Internet Cafe within the main building of P.H Works?"

"Of course, there is! Not only do they also have access to the Public Test Servers, but every Experience Points that they will acquire within the world of Victory while playing in that Virtual Internet Cafe is effectively doubled, if not... Even tripled!"

"What the fuck, that's broken! Wait... Could it be that the people playing there are a part of the Universal Rankings?"

"That is highly possible... Wait, no!"

"Only those people could be possibly influential enough to play in that Virtual Internet Cafe."

The whispers finally ended, but its ending wasn't so good.

The crowd let out a sigh of bitterness and some grievances. It was because they realized that they were not influential enough to enter the main building of P.H Works. In this lifetime, most of them could only probably dream of entering such a place, but never actually enter it.

But how about this woman and that guy?

If they are trying to enter the main building; that only means that they are influential enough.

But how come we haven't seen nor heard anything about these two?

The crowd simultaneously frowned.

Thomas could hear their whispers and a gleeful look could be seen on his face. The two women that he was holding around both of his arms also gave sweet smiles to him. Seeing this, Thomas's ego was satisfied.

Joseph glanced at Lily, but he didn't say anything.

He really couldn't understand how Lily got together with Thomas. 

But in the end, he could only shake his head.

"Is something like this, enough?"

He took something out of his pocket and presented it to the nearest security guard.

He didn't even spare a glance at Thomas, but his actions made Thomas feel even more disdain towards him.

"Trying to show a fake access keycard? Hahaha, how desperate. But let me tell you this, showing them a fake keycard is tantamount to courting death!" Thomas clearly saw that Joseph handed over a keycard to the security guard.

The security guard had a serious look on his face, but when he saw the keycard in Joseph's hands...

His expression froze and his face immediately paled.

"T-This card..."

"This is an Executive Access Keycard!" 

The security guard couldn't hold his emotions fast enough for a scream came out of his mouth.

His words attracted the attention of others, and Thomas reeled in horror for he saw that indeed, within the security guard's hand laid a black card embossed with the word, "Executive", on its surface.

"I-Impossible! An Executive Access Keycard?! That's something that not even the employees of P.H Works can get!"

"A card like that..."

"A card like that is only for business partners of P.H Works!"

"How could this country bumpkin have such a card?!"

Thomas staggered backward and cried out in disbelief.

But despite the panic on his face, his words were clear and logical enough that everyone immediately doubted Joseph.

Joseph couldn't finally hold it anymore as he scoffed, "Can you shut the fuck up? I'm sick and tired of you barking all over me. A good dog doesn't block the way of the guests, so keep your mouth shut and stay right there, all right?" He even shook his head as a gesture of disdain.

Thomas's expression went red, he was really angered this time!

Pointing a finger at Joseph. He yelled at the security guards, "Can't you guys see what's going on? This country bumpkin can't possibly have an Executive Access Keycard! There's only a single explanation as to why he has such a card! It's probably because he stole it!"

Thomas dropped a bombshell, an accusation that Joseph stole the Executive Access Keycard that he was holding.

Joseph's eyes dangerously narrowed. He wasn't a saint, but he wasn't a punching bag either.

But he knew that if he made a move while everyone's opinion highly supported Thomas's claim.

It was obvious that he would be on the losing side.

This was why Joseph decided that he wouldn't say anything at this time.

He just stared at Thomas with this smile on his face that looked as if he was thoroughly mocking Thomas for his ignorance.

"Holy shit! He stole an Executive Access Keycard?! Damn, that's ballsy!"

"Does he not understand the possible consequences of doing something like that? Not only he would be permanently banned from playing Victory... He could possibly be banned from ever entering any virtual world in the future!"

"Woah..."

The crowd reeled in utter shock and astonishment when they heard Thomas's accusations. Of course, they saw the Napoli bags that Joseph carried around, but these people here were quite influential. Even though the Napoli clothing line was quite expensive, they could still afford it.

And also, who knows if those bags were genuine?

They could possibly be an imitation!

The crowd simultaneously nodded their heads. They now stared at Joseph with hostility in their eyes.

Some even regretfully sighed.

But they were sighing, not for Joseph's sake, but for the sake of the beautiful woman beside him that would definitely be implicated in this scandal.

"Hey, you there... If you are in doubt, then can you just call your supervisor? This is really such a waste of time." Lily turned to look at the security guard who received the Executive Access Keycard with displeasure.

The security guard was taken aback, but he soon straightened his back and turned around.

Carrying with him the Executive Access Keycard as he went to look for his supervisor to ask for confirmation of its legitimacy.

Thomas was surprised that Lily actually spoke up for Joseph.

Why was she so confident that Joseph really owned an Executive Access Keycard? But Thomas shook his head and thought that it was impossible. Executive Access Keycards weren't mass-manufactured, instead, they were made according to the whims of the CEO, Ray Gabriel.

From Thomas's connection, there were only about a dozen Executive Access Keycards in existence.

P.H Works' business partners numbered at least several thousand.

This was why Thomas and everyone thought, along with the security guards that Joseph probably stole this Executive Access Keycard!

It was just unfeasible to think that he owned this Keycard. 

In fact, that thought never crossed the minds of everyone.

But they remained standing here and observing everything.

It was because they thought that Joseph's actions were quite amusing.

They wanted to see the end of someone as arrogant and as ballsy as Joseph.

Thomas had the same thought as he turned his attention to Lily.

He licked his lips, seeing that her figure was as slim as ever before.

"My sweet little, Lily... I really wondered why you returned to Sibu as fast as you could. Though I said that I was already tired of you, that didn't mean that your novelty has disappeared. After all, no one in this world could possibly get tired of you and your refined tech-"

Pa!

A fierce slap landed on Thomas's cheeks before he could complete his sentence.

The slap was so powerful that it made him fall onto his butt.

Joseph stared at Lily with shock evident in his eyes.

He really didn't expect that Lily would get physical at this moment and slap Thomas's arrogance out of his soul.

"Li-Lily..."

Joseph whispered in hesitation when he saw the tears welling within Lily's eyelids.

"You... shameless! I was stupid that I got together with you back then! I was blind! It's a huge mistake!" Lily pointed at Thomas, her petite figure quivering in anger and grievance.

Joseph walked beside her and dragged her over to his arms.

Lily instantly buried her face into Joseph's chest as she let out stifled sobbings that broke the heart of everyone around.

How pitiful!

Everyone had this thought the moment they saw Lily's quivering figure.

"What a bastard!"

At this moment, everyone's anger got transferred over from Joseph towards Thomas.

The women from the crowd even loudly denounced him for being such a bastard.

"It's one thing that you'd break up with your girlfriend over other women, but to actually try and humiliate her in public?"

"What a shameless bastard!"

"Yeah..."

Thomas held his painfully throbbing cheek with his left hand.

His eyes filled with fury as he stared at both Joseph and Lily.

But he didn't say anything at this point.

It was because he knew that everyone now had a good opinion of the two.

Everything that he'd say at this moment would just be used against him. 

This was why he had to wait. 

He must wait until that security guard returned and reveal the truth to everyone!

Thomas coldly laughed in his heart.

But Lily whose face was still buried into Joseph's chest let out a triumphant smile.

She was happy.

She was looking for the right opportunity to get into Joseph's good shoes, but she didn't expect that Thomas, her ex-boyfriend would actually be here and stir trouble with her and Joseph.

Capitalizing on that opportunity, Lily instantly played the victim card to try and gain Joseph's sympathy and in the end, she succeeded!

"I really have to thank you for this help, Thomas..."

Her eyes radiated the coldness of a thousand-year-old icy cavern.

One couldn't find any traces of a heartbroken and ashamed young maiden on her face at this moment. Yet her mouth let out heartbreaking sobbing sounds that could melt even the heart of the toughest man.

Being in such a "pitiful" state, how could anyone ignore her sobbing pleas? 

Joseph's embrace around her tightened and this made Lily laugh even more inside.

"Soon, I'll be able to..."

"I'll be able to get in his bed and once that happens..."

"There's no escaping me anymore, Joseph..."

"We'll be together..."

"Forever..." 

Lily inwardly narrated.

Imagining her future as a wife of the sole holder of a Mythical Class. 

Lily was filled with unimaginable anticipation and joy.