Chapter 175: Honest Savage

Moon, pressured by Enzo’s constant openness and demand for collaboration, decided it was time to play a different kind of game with him.

Now that Korr was outside the first floor, it wasn’t problematic to catch him. He wouldn’t be able to run away from him now that he worked for someone like Enzo. He was no longer in a hurry or pressured by his vengeance.

Yet, there was another target of vengeance that was logically impossible to fulfill. ’Motherfucker disables system functions if he gets cursed!’ Moon thought. ’Damn runt, petty.’

Moon decided that this conversation had fulfilled everything he needed, and it was time to end it, unless Enzo had an answer to that question.

Moon leaned forward with the most serious face he could muster and spoke in a loud, clear voice, "I want the disgusting eyeball bastard behind the gate dead. Can you give me that?"

Ding!

[Unable to apply penalty]

Moon ignored the notification and locked eyes with Enzo, who let his eyes dart once to see the reactions of the other two in the room.

Dorbish leaned forward, covering his face with one hand, while a startled Zera leaned away from Moon, supporting his body with one hand while still holding the teacup with the other.

His gaze fell once again on Moon; he squinted and leaned back in his chair. "Are you messing with me?" he asked with a smile.

Moon nodded readily, his face still serious. "I’m messing with you."

Enzo’s smile widened, slowly, until it became a wide, toothy grin. He started laughing loudly. "You’re so funny!" he said.

Moon laughed as well. "You’re just an idiot who would laugh at anything."

"How many system functions did you get disabled for that joke?" Enzo said while laughing, shaking his head simultaneously.

Moon laughed harder. "Most of them, prolly, just to see that idiotic stunned face."

The two exchanged a few more insults while laughing for a little longer.

A couple of minutes passed for Dorbish, who had already taken The Thinker pose and excluded himself from this weird situation, and Zera, who nearly peed himself in fear a couple of times.

Enzo, who was finally no longer laughing, rubbed the bridge of his nose. "If your aim is to test my desire for us to be on the same side, fine, I won’t argue anymore, not until the trial starts and we can make a deal." He paused for a moment before adding, "But if you really want to go behind the gate again, it’s not impossible," he said casually.

Moon raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?" he asked, before adding, "Isn’t that a one-time event in every ascender’s life?"

"It is for normal ascenders." Enzo nodded. "It’s costly, I might not be able to afford it for you if that’s truly your aim," he added.

Moon waved his hand dismissively. "Hoho, you guys are rich as hell in many other aspects," Moon praised.

"Of course," Enzo said. "As for the other part, it’s impossible anyway." He shook his head, refuting the words related to killing the administrator.

Moon shook his head apologetically. "I guess we just can’t make a deal then," he said in a saddened tone.

Enzo smiled, amused. "For now, yeah."

Moon raised a finger and smiled. "After I defeat Talia, why don’t you work under me instead?"

Suddenly, Moon dropped a new offer. "But regardless," he extended his hand and placed it on Zera’s head again, "I’ll take good care of that cute guy of yours during his stay here, lest he be led astray by you again," he added.

Enzo didn’t answer for a long moment. "Zera, I trust he’s in good hands." He nodded once at both Moon and Zera.

"As for your suggestion—

Moon walked out of Zera’s room with Dorbish after enjoying a high-quality tea and a round of trash-talking with the one deemed most powerful among the second floor ascenders.

"Ah, man, what a tiring bastard to speak with," he lamented.

Dorbish gave him a side gaze. "You’re more tiring than him," he clarified.

Moon nodded. "I guess," he admitted. "Anyway," he looked at Dorbish and studied him for a moment.

"What?" Dorbish asked.

Moon extended his hand to Dorbish’s arm. "Aren’t you from a family that does smithing?" He held his arm and checked it thoroughly.

Dorbish frowned. "I am," he answered.

"Don’t you do smithing yourself?" Moon asked, looking skeptical.

"I used to." Dorbish nodded.

"Then," Moon yanked Dorbish’s arm down, "why are your damn muscles pitifully small?"

Dorbish blinked a couple of times. "I don’t know; most of my family have big arms," he clarified.

Moon thought for a moment, picturing an entire family with a body as small as Dorbish’s and huge arms like Ed’s.

He suddenly felt dizzy.

He shook his head. "Maybe this is for the best," Moon dismissed it. "I’ll get busy now," he said, waving his hand at Dorbish as he started running away.

But instead of heading straight to Hall 3, Moon felt something in his chest. He needed to get there as soon as possible.

In Hall 1, Moon ran to his room and locked the door.

Haah~

Haah~

He started panting—

Hahaha~

Hahahahaha~

The panting slowly turned into laughter; he felt his face flush, his heart pounding like a war drum.

He touched his chest, his fingers went rigid and held tightly on where his heart was.

"I really can go back to that eyeball bastard." He laughed more. "I really thought it was impossible."

He ignored the notifications and let his legs relax, sitting behind the door.

He’d finally let go of one of his greatest worries. "No matter what the price is, it sure isn’t worth more than his neck." He smiled. "Still, it’s too early for this," he reminded himself.

"How many more years before I get to look into that disgusting eye again?" Moon let out a heavy sigh before forcing himself to get back on his feet.

It was time to move to Hall 3, the daily smithing session.

With nothing else pressing him today, Moon finished his hammering, had dinner in the staff eatery, and went to bed, completely forgetting about asking Dorbish to show him how to use the ring, as well as the two booklets protruding from his pockets.

Like the previous night, he slept soundly. He had completely forgotten what was waiting for him tomorrow.

In the same branch, in the girls’ dorm, in a certain room.

"Sister, what are we going to do about this savage?" Boa said, standing by the counter, brewing tea while in her pajamas.

She turned around with two teacups, extending her hand to Talia, who was sitting by the desk with a large number of notes and papers on it.

"Thank you," Talia said, not giving an answer to the question. "So he caught the two of you spying on him and even told Dorbish?" she asked.

Boa’s face was flushed with anger. "Sister, I already told you," she said under her breath.

Talia couldn’t help chuckling softly while rubbing her forehead.

"Sister, you’re laughing more frequently these days," Boa said in a light tone.

Talia shook her head. "I’m sorry, it’s just an unusual situation." She tapped the desk a few times. "We’ve never seen anyone like this before."

Boa shook her head. "Don’t be sorry; it’s always good as long as you’re smiling."

"Leave him be, Boa," Talia ordered. "Don’t try to watch him again."

"But sister—

"Most probably, he made contact with Enzo today," Talia clarified.

Boa’s eyes widened. "What?" Her eyes started darting aimlessly. "What if they made an agreement?" she asked.

Talia went silent for a moment. "I will have no choice but to win the duel." She raised her gaze to Boa. "Though I still think he’s too honest a person to lie."