Chapter 22 - 20 : A Bully Only Bullies

(AN : I sincerely didn't know what to name this chapter.)

Turning around, Sato looked at the person who called out to him. 'Why does it have to be her'. Yes, it was the Snow Goddess, Yukino Akihira

"Is there a problem?" Sato asked while trying to act nice, happy and shy to her as if he was a fan that was glad she called him.

Narrowing her eyes, Yukino asked "Do we know each other?"

"Well I do know you. But I don't think you've heard of me before. I'm just a casual player. Haha" Sato chuckled awkwardly.

Yukino stared deeply at him for awhile before she turned around and left. "Apologies. I mistook you for someone else."

"No worries." Sato smiled cheekily and began to walk away in another direction normally. After he had made off quite a distance from her, he inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.' After the Blacksmith test, I have to leave this town or else who knows which big figure I might encounter next.'

'Oh that's right. I need to gather a few materials to practice blacksmithing or else who knows when I'd complete that mission plus I'd still have to visit the Rune guild. *sigh* This is quite a stressful life.

Walking out of the building, Sato headed over to the public market which wasn't so far from the Blacksmith guild as they were both in the West district. On his there, he called Fudo.

[[System : Audio call accepted]]

"Hey Fudo. Are you done with your registration?"

On the other end, Fudo's energetic voice sounded out, "Yeah. This world's mechanics are quite impressive. The receptionist at my guild was a total pervert. Old guy really frustrated me; I almost gave him a fireball."

"Of course. For them to boast about their product, it has to live up to their words or else it might end up la flop like that other one, uh, Syncral or something."

Syncral was a VRMMOPG game that was based on the fusion of futuristic elements and fantasy. The company charged with producing and marketing it claimed it to be the game that will re-envision the VR sector, giving it players a sneak peek at a couple of the next age technologies combined with the view of some of the colonized planets. However it ended up backfiring a day after its release after the players had already experienced the lousy mechanics, imagery and creativity used in it. As a result, Syncral was often used to define an over-hyped product that failed to live up to its promotions and advertisements.

"Oh right. Where are you? Are you done with the Blacksmith registration?"

"Yeah and guess who I saw?" Sato asked mysteriously.

"Same here. Guess who I saw? Kotaro and apparently he's in emperor's Might!"

"Wait, you saw Kotaro! And he's in Emperor's Might?! " Sato was shocked at Fudo's reveal. He even thought the world was over. "Wait, how the hell did he get into Emperor's Might and where did you get this info from?"

��I saw him obeying a guy named Azure Dragon or Azure pig. The dude told me that he's a member of Emperor's Might and he invited me join them. If it wasn't for the aura he was unconsciously releasing together with that of an assassin in stealth beside him, I would have thought he was a scammer. I mean since when do Super guilds just go around recruiting people like that. If they did so, they would get bankrupt from having too many employees."

"Whoa, whoa. Wait a second. They even tried to recruit you?" Sato was shocked for the third time. Walking over to an alley, Sato said with an exaggerated surprised tone "What did they see in you fat pig?"

"Hmph. Another word an I would go back to them and agree. If it wasn't for you and also that shithead Kotaro already with them, I would have joined already." Fudo harrumphed.

"Alright, alright. I'm sorry. Now back to the main issue at hand." Sato pondered for awhile before commenting "Kotaro joining Emperor's Might may not be as you thought. He might actually be part of a subsidiary guild of theirs or something. Last I remembered, Kotaro was at the level of a Veteran at most. Also, Azure Dragon…I haven't heard of him yet but I don't think anyone is so foolish as to go around parading as a member of a Super guild when they aren't. The consequences are far too great. I reckon that he might be a new face but not an ordinary figure if he had a guard by his side and claimed to be able to recruit you. This feels exactly like the first time we came here."

"I feel this same too. Oh yeah, who was it you saw?"

"Yukino Akihira , the Snow Goddess."

"Wow. Really?! damn it. Why didn't I go to the Blacksmith's guild? I ended up missing the Snow Goddess for an old pervert." Fudo cried out. As if a bulb just light up in his brain, Fudo exclaimed "Oh wait? Isn't she a member of Emperor' Might?"

"Precisely." Sato affirmed.

"From the looks of things, Emperor's Might has set their sights to develop here. Shouldn't we be moving out and find somewhere else?" Fudo opined.

"No worries yet. We are still in the early phase of the game plus I don't plan on starting a guild but you still have a point. I previously read on the forums that at level 10, we get to go to cities and other kingdoms. Let's wait till then. Infinite Realm is so massive, I doubt everyplace would be occupied by a guild." Sato disclosed.

"Yeah. You're right."

Super guilds. Anyone who has been gaming for awhile would be able to known what those words mean and who they can be identified with. Every Super guild in a game is a behemoth, a creature beyond comprehension, a power above control. Every one of them have their own pride and wants. As such, they tend to try and seize full control off any land they wish. With the power wielded by them, it but at the snap of a finger that they can establish dominance and wield absolute power in any area once their full force have been mobilized. Because of this, adventurer groups and guild seeking to develop, tend to steer clear of their way hoping to never cross paths with these hegemons.

"I'll call you back. I just saw someone I need to teach a lesson to." Sato suddenly said.

"Who's it? And where are you?" Fudo hurriedly questioned.

"It's that old bully Hideki. I'm quite close to the public market around an alleyway beside a shop named…Grynx Merchandise. Talk later."

. . . . .

"So where's it?" Hideki barked at a level 2 player and kicked him towards the ground.

"I've already told you all. The team leader took it with him." The cursemancer said miserably.

"Don't play that silly trick with me. Do you even know who told us about it? Come on out."

As Hideki concluded, a ranger stepped out from the darkness and snickered at the cursemancer.

"It's best if you don't lie to boss Grey. Just hand it over and you might be saved."

"You bastard…" the cursemancer stood up and tried to attack the ranger.

"Hmph" Following that, one of the men beside Hideki, specifically, a Level 3 Berserker, punched the cursemancer in his guts.

"Ah.."

"Trying to make a move in the presence of boss Grey is just foolish. Give up." The ranger smirked.

"Enough. If you don't want to die then just hand it over." Hideki unsheathed his dagger.

"Don't you know that if the guards catch you doing this, you will be in trouble?" the cursemancer who was originally planning to play it tough was shocked at Hideki's decisiveness.

"Foolish idiot. Infinite Realm pursues reality. In other words, as long as the guards don't see me nor find any evidence that's points out a murder, I can kill you and get away with it scot-free. I just have to wait out for my marker to turn green again." Hideki grinned.

"Come on, you don't have to do this." The cursemancer pleaded.

"You're right. So, where is it?"

"The truth is I no longer have it. I sold it at an NPC's store." The cursemancer hurriedly stated.

"You think I'm an idiot? I already gave you a chance now die-"

"Oi, Hideki. Long time no see eh? Bullying low leveled players again are we? Ah! I forgot.. A bully only bullies, nothing more."