The Grand Duelist

Chapter 126: A Cruel Step to Ascension[8]

"This is worse than I expected."

Before even stepping into Reinhardt, Joseph, Alice and the Order of the History's Number One Group could already see the number of protesters carrying signages above their heads. Their mournful cries resounded powerfully into the air, and from the looks on their faces alone.

It was clear that they were desperate.

The despicable and incredibly selfish move that the nobles made, created a widespread famine that was currently wreaking havoc on the City of Reinhardt. If not for the fact that player-founded charity organizations for the well-being of NPCs such as the Pro-NPC Alliance gave them some help.

Joseph reckoned that a lot of people would've already died.

Of course, a lot of people died due to the famine that scattered like wildfire. But thanks to the charity organizations that swiftly gave some help towards the residents of Reinhardt. The number of people that died from starvation was vastly lower than what everyone expected.

But...

What they were doing was just a mere stopgap. If nothing was done to ease the worries and troubles of the residents of Reinhardt.

The City would soon fall and the entire Kingdom would undoubtedly follow.

After all, most of the commerce and the entire economy of the Kingdom of Nether was focused on the City of Reinhardt.

If it fell, the other cities would follow suit.

"Damn those selfish nobles!" Joseph heard one of the bandits along with him say these words. Even a bandit that society deemed as a despicable person found the move of the nobles so treacherous that he couldn't believe that they had done it.

"I guess even evil has its standards." Joseph inwardly uttered.

He swept his gaze around the streets and his eyes landed on a dark alleyway.

There, he found two figures...

One had the clear mark of a player floating above his head, while the other, who was a young woman, clearly had the mark of an NPC above her head.

"What the hell are they doing there?" Joseph's eyes narrowed, but they suddenly widened when he saw the young woman kneel in front of that player before swiftly opening his zippers.

The young woman opened her mouth and was quick to swallow the meat that sprung right in front of her like a fortress.

Joseph quickly averted his gaze and he was stunned silly by the scene that he saw.

What the fuck? A fellow player... Someone like me is actually taking advantage of NPCs in this current situation? Is that really possible? Shouldn't that be illegal? What the fuck...

Joseph gawked in astonishment.

It was now clear for him that Jun Santos really wasn't exaggerating that the NPCs in this world needed their help.

Kayn and Alice followed his gaze and the two of them saw that particular sight.

Alice was the quickest to turn her gaze away, while Kayn heaved a deep sigh.

Approaching Joseph, he whispered, "Something like that is completely normal in cities overrun by hunger, fear, and anxiety..."

"I don't really know, but Victory's slowly becoming a place for perverts." Kayn clearly disapproved of what his fellow players were doing, but since he was also a mere player.

He had no place nor authority to do any changes in this world and control it as he wished.

But Joseph was different.

As a Mythical Class Player.

He believed that he could shape this world depending on his ideals and principles.

The previous Grand Duelist became known due to establishing the concept of Law, Justice, and Order in the world of Victory.

Joseph understood that he must do better than his predecessors.

Only through that method could he call himself someone that deserved the title of the Sun that Overlooks Everything. 

"Sigh..."

Joseph heaved a deep sigh and placed all of these thoughts into the deep recesses of his brain

Alice made a sidelong glance at Joseph and she approached him.

"It's okay... Someday in the future. You will be able to change this world. You are not a Myth for nothing."

A light smile escaped her lips as she patted Joseph's shoulder.

"Why do such words sound sarcastic if they came from you, Alice?"

Joseph lightly chuckled and teased.

"What? Are you saying that I am always sarcastic?" Alice furrowed her eyebrows.

"Not really, it's just... It's really out of character for you to console me." Joseph chuckled once again.

"Console you? Who says I'm consoling you? Are you out of your mind?" Alice rolled her eyes at him.

"Okay, fine... You're not, I guess..." Joseph snickered.

The group continued their journey without stopping.T

They entered Reinhardt through its Southern Gate.

The Royal Palace was located near the Northern Gates of Reinhardt instead of near the City Square. It was because of the fact that the Northern Gates of Reinhardt was closer to the borders of the Kingdom of Burning Heaven and Everlasting Frost.

This way, the nobles could easily receive ambassadors from the other Kingdoms and they would also be able to closely supervise the flow of merchandise and people from the other Kingdoms into Reinhardt. But since the Northern Gates was directly opposite the Southern Gate.

This meant that they had to walk for at least several hours more.

That was how big Reinhardt was from North to South.

They had no qualms about such matters for more hours spent on walking, the more they would be able to refine their plans to perfection.

But even these battle-hardened men gave up on walking after only an hour. Though it wasn't because of the scorching sun that slowly turned their already bronze skin into something even darker than bronze.

It was because of the crowd that kept on bumping onto them, interrupting their small meeting.

"I think we should rent a carriage. Even if we'll stand out by renting a carriage, at least it's not so hot and we won't keep on getting interrupted." Alice made a proposal.

Her proposal made the men around her heave a sigh of relief.

But why were the men so happy that Alice gave the proposal instead of them?

Well, it was because of the stupid concept called pride.

These men were so prideful to the extent that they found it beneath themselves to give the proposal of renting a carriage. But why? It was because they thought that if they gave such a proposal. Their comrades would think that they were too weak to endure the crowd and the heat.

As men, they didn't want that to happen.

Particularly in a bandit group, you must make a stand that you were someone strong, or else everyone would look down on you. Being looked down upon as a member of a bandit group was something that must absolutely not happen.

Else, you'd find it hard to find a place in that group and you would eventually be kicked out of it.

Kayn, Jeric and the others understood the culture of bandit groups.

But why did Joseph, who knew nothing about this particular culture, didn't give that particular proposal before Alice could? 

Well, it was simply because he liked the sun.

Yes, he liked the sun.

He stayed in that crappy place perpetually hidden from the sun for so long that he actually craved sunlight now. Even though the heat was scorching, that warmth felt comfortable for Joseph who was deprived of it for so long.

If not for the fact that he had people around him, he may have kneeled on one knee and praised the sun for its warmth.

Well, that was an exaggeration but the point was that Joseph now liked the sun.

Hearing Alice propose such an idea, he wanted to go against it at first but since it was clearly a stupid idea for them to remain outside and conduct their small talks while walking since they kept on getting interrupted.

Joseph nodded his head and the group soon had a carriage for their convenience.

The inside of the carriage wasn't that nice, but it wasn't particularly dirty. The bandits didn't mind dirt for they were used to it and so did Alice and Joseph.

However, the latter still placed a towel underneath Alice since he knew that Alice would still be uncomfortable feeling the grime of the carriage sticking onto her backside.

"Thanks..." Alice thanked Joseph before she sat beside him.

Kayn and his brothers subconsciously wiggled their way away from the two and before Alice and Joseph realized it...

They found themselves isolated from the group.

Kayn who was the closest to the two of them was at least two meters away, while the others were far distant.

It was clear that they did such a move to give the couple some privacy.

Of course, they were still a part of their plans, but Jeric decided that they shouldn't bother them too much.

The other bandits agreed on this arrangement and they raised their voices while talking so that the two could hear what they were discussing while they were in their small world at the corner of the carriage.

Alice looked like she wanted to say something...

But Joseph had already commented, "Damn if I had friends like these guys outside. I will definitely call them true friends. Only a true friend can do something like this."

Joseph shook his head and some tears welled up in his eyes.

He was moved by the gesture of the bandits.

Alice made a sidelong glance at Joseph and was thoroughly confused, she couldn't understand the word wingman so she asked, "What are you talking about?"

Joseph stared at her and revealed a sly smile.

"Nothing... I'm just praising them for their good deeds."

Alice rolled her eyes at Joseph. Since it looked like he didn't have the intention of explaining things, she couldn't bother on asking him anymore. She turned her gaze away from Joseph and didn't bother about him anymore, seemingly immersed in her own thoughts.

Joseph also became silent.

Apart from the voices of the two bandits profusely refining their plans and the constant rattling of the carriage, no other voices nor noise could be heard within the carriage.

...

In the Main Courtyard of the Royal Palace.

The Dark Flame, Knights of Justice, and the Crimson Guild who had made a cooperative agreement between each other had their members ready in front of the main doors of the Royal Palace.

It was clear from their solemn expressions that they were ready to challenge the dungeon within the Royal Palace once again.

The Guild Leaders of the three guilds, Vladimir, Nie Yan, and William stood at the helm of their several dozens of members.

Each of their members and themselves were clad in prestigious armors whose grades were at least Epic, none of their items were below the Epic grade so it was clear that they were taking this dungeon as seriously as they could.

"Once we get there, we have to follow the plan. None of us must be too greedy or we will suffer once again." Vladimir declared.

"Calm down, Vlad... Who do you think we are? At the least, we can follow such a simple plan." William clad in a shining armor that made him look like the knight in shining armor that young woman often fantasized about spoke in a solemn and condescending voice.

Apparently, he was still taking advantage of the fact that Crimson lost that exchange several weeks ago regarding the Capture Order. Now that Vladimir's backer, Duke Heathrow abandoned the Kingdom of Nether for the Empire of Truedawn.

Vladimir's prestige wasn't that strong than before.

He also lost a lot of guild members.

How could William not take advantage of this fact on poking fun at his long-time rival?

William was incredibly happy that Vladimir made the stupid decision of allying himself with a despicable noble. If not for that bad decision, then everything would've stayed like it was and Crimson wouldn't be in such a precarious position like this.

Even Nie Yan, the Guild Leader of the widely-recognized weakest guild among the Trinity of Guilds within the Kingdom of Nether mocked Vladimir as he said, "William is right, Vladimir. Don't get too excited, who knows if you'll do more stupid decisions again..."

"If that happened, then I guess your guild should just disband."

Vladimir snapped at Nie Yan, "What the fuck are you talking about? Why are you so arrogant despite the fact that you remained as the widely-recognized weakest guild for so long? Is it only because of that matter? Don't be so condescending! The higher you are up there, the stronger you will fall! We, Crimson will someday return this favor!"

But instead of being intimidated, Nie Yan replied with more mocking: "Look at you barking at me like some kind of a crazy dog. If you are really that courageous, how about you say those words to William, huh?"

"Oh wait, you can't... Is it because at least a fourth of your guild members transferred ships from your guild to the Knights of Justice? Hahaha!"

"You..." Vladimir lifted a finger and pointed at Nie Yan.

"What? Want to fight?" Nie Yan didn't even hide the ridicule in his eyes.

His guild members discreetly readied their weapons in the case that a fight broke out so that they could attack as fast as they could.

"Stop it, you two... We are about to tackle a great challenge, yet the two of you are still fighting! This may be the reason why we are not able to make a breakthrough." William shook his head, he stared at Vladimir and continued, "Especially you, Vladimir. Cool your head off, or we will not continue with this cooperative relationship anymore...

"Remember that you are not at the top anymore. That is a fact and don't act like you're still at there!"

He scolded and Vladimir's expression reddened in anger.

Vladimir gnashed his teeth and clenched his fists as he stared at William and Nie Yan.

Someday, I will definitely pay this favor! He inwardly swore. After a few moments of silence and several deep breaths, he calmed himself down and the three guilds finally started their operation to break through the main hall of the Royal Palace. 

The Main Hall of the Royal Palace was just a checkpoint for them. Their true goal was to reach the Treasure Room of the Royal Palace and take all the treasures in that place before the other guilds from the Kingdom of Burning Heaven and Everlasting Frost arrived at Reinhardt.

Once those guilds from the other kingdoms arrived...

They reckoned that everything would become so messy and they would also lose the qualifications to participate in such a tumultuous struggle.

But why?

Wasn't the Crimson, Dark Flame, and Knights of Justice regarded as the strongest guild within the Kingdom of Nether?

Yes, that was true! They were indeed the strongest in the Kingdom of Nether!

But the guilds in the other Kingdoms were far stronger than them!

That was why they were so afraid of their arrival and that was why they were in a race against time.

The three guilds stood in front of the main doors of the Royal Palace.

William, the Guild Leader of the current number one guild in the Kingdom of Nether, stepped forward and pushed the doors of the Main Door with his palms.

From here on, there would be a slaughter!

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