The Grand Duelist

The security guard who was holding the Executive Access Keycard that Joseph had in his possession rushed towards the building where his supervisor was located. He didn't bother knocking, he pushed the doors open eliciting a cold comment from his supervisor who said.

"What's the rush? You didn't even knock..." His supervisor, a rugged middle-aged man wearing the uniform of the guards commented. Right now, he was making himself a cup of coffee. His duty starts from late afternoon to midnight, so he definitely needed this coffee.

"Supervisor, sir! Something of utmost importance has happened! Forgive me for my trespass of not knocking, but this matter is really urgent!" The security guard was so nervous that beaded sweat could be seen on his forehead.

The supervisor frowned, he could see the nervousness of the security guard.

Just what did happen?

To think that a man like him who had already witnessed a lot in his life would be so nervous like this.

The supervisor's expression turned serious.

"Speak, but this matter better be important, or else... You know what will happen, right?" 

Gulp!

The security guard audibly gulped.

But since he knew that the matter on hand wasn't falsified and was definitely urgent...

He steeled his resolve and presented the black Executive Access Keycard towards his supervisor.

"Huh?!"

The supervisor lazily took a look and he instantly awakened. He knocked over his coffee, scalding himself which made him jump from his chair.

An Executive Access Keycard?!

"Where did you find such a thing?"

The security guard was finally reassured that the black card in his hand was truly genuine.

But this made him become even more nervous instead when he remembered that his comrades were surrounding that young man earlier. However, there were still some doubts in the heart of the security guard, so he gave an honest answer.

"This was handed over to me by a young man who wanted to enter the main building."

"A young man? What did he look like?"

"He's wearing a plain white t-shirt and pants, he doesn't really look... particularly rich." The security guard wanted to add that the young man had several Napoli bags in his hands, but since he doubted that those Napoli bags were even the real deal, he didn't recount it to his supervisor...

For him, such details were unnecessary and just added clutter to the story.

"Are you sure about what you are saying?" The supervisor stared right at the security guard.

The security guard felt immense pressure descending onto his shoulders. Despite the fact that his supervisor looked to be an ordinary lazy middle-aged man. This supervisor of his was actually a leader of that terrifying 420th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Pilipinas!

This middle-aged man was the real deal!

But the security guard was sure of his judgment.

Joseph definitely didn't look rich.

"Could it be that... he picked it up?"

The security guard didn't dare to directly say the word, "steal", but there was clear disdain on his face.

The supervisor quickly caught on what was going on as a look of anger appeared on his face.

"Humph! How bold of him to steal such an access keycard? And what's more, he actually tried to use it to enter our Headquarters? He's really underestimating us, isn't he? He's asking for it!"

The supervisor quickly took his walkie-talkie and sounded out his orders, "Surround that bastard! Hold him down and prepare to call the police!"

The Executive Access Keycard wasn't something that ordinary people could get their hands on.

Much less, a young man who shabby and simple.

The supervisor was certain from the security guard's description alone that the young man possibly stole that Executive Access Keycard to try and enter the Headquarters of P.H Works!

Doing something like that was a huge crime!

Not only he would serve some jail time. He'd also be barred from entering any virtual world for his whole life, without any chances for appeals! That was how ruthless P.H Works was as a company when dealing against cheaters, and those that try to oppose them!

This was why P.H Works ascended to the peak of all companies in just a few years' time!

"Wow... what a supportive boyfriend..."

"Not gonna lie, both of them actually look cute together."

"Shut up man, you're just lonely."

"..."

Joseph was still waiting outside and was wondering why the security guard that he ordered to talk to his supervisor was taking so long to return.

Could it be that their base was a few kilometers far from here? What is this lollygagging? 

Lily was still buried into his chest and feeling the burning gazes of the women and the envious gazes of the men...

Even Joseph felt somewhat embarrassed as he patted Lily's shoulder and dryly coughed.

Lily finally raised her head and her cheeks were completely red from crying. Her eyes were swollen and Joseph couldn't help but feel even more pity for her as he smiled.

"Don't worry about that bastard. I'm here." He didn't say much, but his words gave utmost joy to Lily as if she was a thirsty woman stuck in the middle of a desert and had just discovered an oasis.

"Thank you..." She simply said before wiping the tears that welled up in her eyes. After taking several deep breaths, she calmed herself down and could finally take her head away from Joseph's chest.

But while she was moving away, Joseph could see this look of reluctance on her face.

Though, he didn't say anything about it.

"Sir, please come with us."

Suddenly, two of the several dozens of security guards walked over. They had serious looks on their faces as they stood on the left and right of both Joseph and Lily. Flanking the two, they made sure that they couldn't possibly escape from their hands.

Joseph raised an eyebrow and asked, "What is it? What do you want?"

Joseph was surprised.,

What do these guards want from me? Could it be that they were thinking that the Executive Access Keycard that I gave to them was fake? But it was given by Elizabeth! That secretary of the CEO of Victory and the Head of Victory's Development Team, Ray Gabriel!

How could it be fake?

A frown appeared on Joseph's face.

Lily looked nervous. 

She was inwardly cursing.

Did this bastard actually bring a fake Access Keycard?

No!

He wouldn't do such a thing.

He doesn't have the guts to do that.

He couldn't even confess to me last year before I left for Lanilas, yet you are telling me that he came here to visit the Headquarters of P.H Works with a fake Access Keycard? That's impossible!

"We have instructions from our supervisor. Please do not resist, sir. Cooperate with us. Otherwise, we will have to use force!"

The two guards held both of Joseph's arms, intending to drag him towards the office of the supervisor.

"Let go of him! What are you trying to do in broad daylight?" Lily started shouting in shock when she saw how the security guards wanted to drag Joseph away. The crowd reeled in shock when they saw what was going on, and all of them had this thought in their minds.

Was that Access Keycard really fake?

"Hahaha!"

Thomas laughed out loud.

Finally, he spoke up: "See? Didn't I tell you guys earlier that this bastard brought with him a fake Executive Access Keycard? Hahaha, now who's laughing at whom?" Thomas stared at Joseph with deep disdain in his eyes.

The other security guards scolded themselves for being too cautious. The reason why they didn't take action earlier was that they were suspicious if the Executive Access Keycard was really fake or genuine. But now that it was confirmed by their supervisor itself that the Keycard was indeed fake.

These security guards didn't suppress themselves any longer.

"Take him down!"

Thomas cried out and the security guards moved.

The fact that the guards moved to suppress Joseph after his shout made him look incredibly handsome and valiant to the surrounding crowd. The two women that he had in his arms revealed proud expressions on their faces as if they were saying.

Look!

This is our handsome Thomas!

"You bastards! What the fuck are you trying to do? That keycard isn't fake!" Joseph jumped backwards in order to retreat, but since he wasn't in the world of Victory. His jump looked pathetic and the guards instantly swarmed him the moment he tried to retreat.

He was pushed onto the ground as Lily cried out.

"You..."

"Let go of him!"

"Let my boyfriend go!"

One of the security guards even stepped on Joseph's face, he wanted to look good in front of his supervisor.

"Sir! We've suppressed the intruder!"

"What are you trying to do?!" Joseph angrily shouted at the supervisor.

The supervisor stared at Joseph and snorted, "Young man... You really are bold!"

Joseph was confused.

What the fuck? Was that Access Keycard really fake?

No! That's impossible!

That email that I received containing that Access Keycard indeed came from P.H Works. It can't possibly be fake!

Yet, what is going on? Why are these guys accusing me of bringing a fake keycard?

"Stop pretending."

Joseph's train of thought dissipated when he heard the supervisor's cold voice.

The supervisor stared at Joseph in disdain when he saw that he was indeed similar to what the security guard had described. Ignoring the Napoli bags that were surely counterfeits lying on the ground beside the young man, it was clear that he was definitely an intruder. 

How could he possibly have such a card?

"Just confess. Did you steal this card, or did you pick it up from somewhere?"

Joseph's expression changed.

Fury surged from within him.

Steal?

Joseph never expected that he would be accused of stealing something that was given to him.

And how could he steal?

No matter how hard everything became for him ever since his parents died, stealing never came to his mind. His parents brought him up as a decent human being.

How could he steal?

"You... You're slandering me!"

"That card was given to me by the Secretary of the CEO of P.H Works, Elizabeth!"

Joseph finally spelled the truth out for everyone.

But instead of being shocked...

Everyone laughed out loud instead.

"Hahaha! My friend, the police is already on the way. There's no use trying to get yourself out of this!" Thomas boisterously laughed.

He then turned to look at Lily and said, "My sweet little Lily, how about you return to me? As long as you return to me and break up with that pathetic piece of trash there, then I'll help you escape this predicament."

Lily glanced at Thomas and frowned.

At this moment, she was actually hesitating.

Should she go to Thomas and have him help her escape this conundrum?

Lily was musing over this statement when she remembered Joseph's explanation that the Keycard came from Elizabeth, the Secretary of the CEO of P.H Works. 

Remembering those words, Lily's doubts disappeared and she decided that no matter what...

Today, she would stay with Joseph and accompany him through everything.

Lily lifted a sneer of contempt towards Thomas's direction and said, "What will happen to me is none of your business."

Thomas choked in his own saliva. He expected Lily to instantly go over to him and try to coax him on helping her out of this predicament, yet what he got in return was Lily's mocking.

"You..."

"Fine!"

"See you in jail!"

"And also, I know a few brothers working with the police... I'll make sure that you won't forget your stay in that jail!"

Thomas solemnly swore.

Lily furrowed her eyebrows but she didn't say anything anymore.

The supervisor merely glanced at what was going on.

He didn't pay attention to their banter.

Instead, his attention was focused on Joseph as he asked.

"Young man, why would you waste your life like this? You're still at your prime, yet you have already ruined your life by stealing something incredibly precious such as this Executive Access Keycard..."

"Just confess to us already about where you got this Keycard and I can consider giving you a light sentence." The supervisor kindly advised.

Joseph was so mad.

He had never been this mad since that fight against the three guilds!

His eyes went bloodshot and he started struggling from the hands of the security guards.

But he was ultimately powerless in the face of these powerful security guards. His struggle was akin to pouring a cup of water into a burning cart. It was useless!

"Let go of him! Let go of him!"

"What are you guys doing? This is a crime! This is police brutality!" Lily shouted.

She walked over to the security guards and tried on helping Joseph but she was harshly shoved by a security guard.

The supervisor realized that Lily was an accomplice of Joseph, so he quickly ordered, "Tie that woman up. It seems like the two of them are in cahoots!"

One of the security guards approached Lily.

"You... Let go! Let go of me!"

Lily tried to struggle free but the security guard slapped her across her face.

"You better fucking cooperate, you bitch!"

Five bright red clear marks could be seen on her face.

She was completely shocked.

This was the first time that she received a slap on her face in her entire life.

She prided herself on her beauty, so this slap wasn't only a slap on her face, but her pride as well!

"How dare you hit me... I'll... I'll fight it out with you!" Lily's eyes turned bloodshot and she seemed to have gone mad. 

She managed to break free and as she pounced at the security guard.

Joseph's shout could be heard from the background.

"Lily, no!"

But it was already too late...

Lily was already pouncing on the guard.

Of course, she was no match for the security guard.

She was immediately pushed onto the floor and then subsequently tied up.

The security guard who tied her up got apparently annoyed by her struggling, so he tied her up in a rough manner, causing rope burns to immediately appear on Lily's wrists.

"Let her go!"

Joseph's cried out loud and started struggling as well.

But with several security guards suppressing him at once.

He was no match for them as all and he was forced to remain onto the ground.

"Hahaha... This is what you get... This is what you get for being such a stupid bastard! Just confess to the supervisor already! Know your place, and know what's good for you and your girlfriend!" One of the men from the crowd who was envious at Joseph earlier jeered.

The crowd then started mocking both Joseph and Lily.

Thomas stared at this scene with a smile of satisfaction on his face. 

The supervisor let out a sigh and said, "Seeing that you are so young, I'll give you a chance, young man. What do you want to say for yourself?"

Joseph gnashed his teeth in frustration, "I want to call someone!"

"You want to call someone?"

Before the supervisor could even reply...

Thomas interjected, "Hahaha! So, you're going to call someone? Stop being so pretentious! I already know that you're not someone influential..."

"I've lived for so long here in the City of Lanilas, yet this is the first time that I saw your face. In other words, you may be a big shot in your small little province, but in here?"

"Know your fucking place, trash!" Thomas spat in disgust.

The crowd had the same look of disgust on their faces. Some of them even lamented for Lily's fate, being thrown into the jail while being such a beautiful woman would definitely break her.

They really wanted to help her and possibly even gain her favor through that way and sleep with such a beauty, but knowing that Thomas was interested in her...

They could only shake their heads in regret.

It wasn't worth it to offend Thomas for just a beautiful woman.

There were plenty of fishes in the sea, after all.

The supervisor shook his head, "I won't let you call someone. But you can text them instead."

Joseph didn't say anything.

He took out his phone and started typing out some words towards the one that invited him to come here.