Chapter 171: [171] Payment

The walk back to Tristan’s office was relatively quiet, which allowed Ark’s mind to wander, as he thought about the many possible reasons he would want a meeting with him.

’It’s the stage, isn’t it?’ Ark thought. The arena must have cost them millions to build, and yet, he and Soo-jin had reduced it to shambles without a care in the world.

As much as he disliked Tristan, he couldn’t help but feel he was in the wrong. Sure, Soo-jin got permission to use it, but that didn’t mean they were free to do whatever!

That was like your friend borrowing your car, bashing it, then justifying himself by saying you gave him permission to drive it.

Still, Ark was shameless enough to use this as justification.

They walked past some association players and they bowed as they greeted Tristan, which was to be expected. What Ark did not expect was that they would also shoot him looks of admiration.

"Huh?" He hummed in confusion.

"At the rate you are going, you’ll be a celebrity before long." They had arrived at his office and Tristan placed his card against the scanner.

"A celebrity? What are you talking about?"

Click!

The door swung open, and Tristan turned around to look at him. "Someone uploaded a video... of your fight with Cain."

"..."

"What??" Ark could not believe his ears. First, it was the fight with Tristan, and now it was his duel with Cain!

It was clear that whoever was doing it had an agenda, one that Ark had no idea how to feel about.

Was popularity good? Or was it bad?

There were certainly advantages to being popular among regular humans, especially when it came to the business aspect of Eden.

But popularity often leads to distractions. Ark’s plan was to dump all that work on Soo-jin if she was to ever join his guild, while he ran around popping his head into dungeon after dungeon.

Tristan took a step into his office and the lights automatically flicked on. "They have given you a new name by the way." He smiled, and Ark just knew that it would be bad.

"Demon Slayer."

"My goodness."

Ark shook his head as he walked into the room behind him. "Demon Slayer..." It was just as bad as Mad Skeleton.

Still, he let out a dark chuckle. If the video was out, then Order was likely being dragged through the mud. Ares was likely tussling and turning in his cold bed right now, the thought of it made Ark feel warm inside.

Tristan’s office was just the same as it had been last time Ark visited. There was a steaming cup of coffee on his side of his desk, as well as a few cookies.

Ark sat comfortably at the other side, while Tristan sat opposite him.

He crossed his bony legs and glared at the vice commander. Well, sadly, he could not glare, but hopefully, the subtle ignition in his eyes was enough to send a message.

"What do you want?"

Tristan smiled. "Now there is no need to be hostile. After all, you have been using my arena for a week without permission, and not once did I interrupt you."

"..."

’What the hell? Soo-jin!!’ Ark cursed in his mind. He should have known to never trust anything that woman said!

His entire defence plan had crumbled right before his eyes.

Tristan picked up a cookie and twirled it around his fingers as though it were a dagger, before popping it into his mouth.

"I have to say, even our Iron ranks do not damage the stadium as much as you guys did."

"Haaa—!" Tristan sighed then scratched his hair. "It’s going to cost me millions to fix, at least two, no, three? Actually twenty million."

Ark dropped his legs and folded his arms humbly on his laps.

"Hehe. I see..."

Tristan smiled. "Anyways." He waved his hands dismissively in the air. "That is not what we are here to discuss."

Ark heard the faint sound of approaching footsteps. He turned towards the door.

Tristan noticed the movement, and a small smirk appeared on his face.

’So that is what they were learning...?’ He had sent people to spy on them while they trained, but every single time, the fable girl found them before they could learn anything.

Now Tristan knew why Ark had been able to sense him earlier, when in the past, he would not have realized it until a knife was sticking out of his back.

’He is growing stronger.’ Tristan mused. It was a good thing, especially considering why he had called for this meeting.

Knock knock

"Come in." Tristan said without looking at the door.

The door opened with a soft click, revealing a vaguely familiar figure. Ark stared at the man, trying to figure out where he had seen him in the past.

But the man on the other hand seemed to recognize him the moment their eyes met. He stood at the door, as though frozen in place.

"Oh!" Ark snapped his finger. "You’re the punk that tried to kill Thalia." If Ark remembered well, Tristan had shoved him down the top of the Transcontinental hotel.

He did not die since he was in a safe zone, but he had definitely dropped down by a rank, which explained why he now had two bronze stripes instead of three iron.

"Heh." Ark chuckled. "Did they relegate you to office duty?" Being dropped by a whole rank... he must have lost dozens of stat points.

The man had seemed about ready to run, but after hearing Ark’s laughter, his face turned red with rage. "Y-you—!"

Tristan waved at him. "Come in, come in North. We’re all fighting for the same cause, aren’t we?"

Skeptically, North walked into the room and sat next to Tristan, cautiously watching Ark as though he would jump and bite him at any second. Perhaps he would.

North was carrying a steel box with him which he gently placed on the table.

The room was filled with an awkward silence. Ark kept his burning stare on North, North shifted uncontrollably in his seat, Tristan was smiling.

Clap—!

"Let’s get to business!" Tristan suddenly said as he opened the box. One by one, he pulled out the contents of the box.

The first was an oddly shaped crystal ball, the second one was a journal, and from the way it looked, Ark was sure it was similar to the one he had gotten Olivia.

The final item was a black cube with runic patterns all over its surface.

Tristan arranged all of them in a straight line, then smiled.

"By letting Thalia live, I completed my part of the deal." He paused briefly, and then a sly smirk tugged at his lips.

"Don’t you think it is about time you fulfilled your part of the deal, Mr Demon Slayer?"

’So that is what it was about...’ Ark thought, the mood in the room turning serious.

The Hell-Level Tutorial.

It was time to go back.