Chapter 114 A Hearty Meal . . .

[BONUS]

"Hey, there," he said with a big smile on his face. "Are you a player like us?"

Before I knew it, there were four players sitting at my table. The table I had was a long table so it could occupy all the food that I ordered.

The waiters should have taken the empty chairs away, so no one could disturb me.

These bunch must have thought that I was alone because the food was already served and I had already started eating without any companion.

Using Evil Eyes, I got the information that they were players and newbies at that, except for this bushy man who first talked to me.

"My name's Edgar," he said. He was bulky, tall, and bushy. He was rough around the edges, and his ATP was already more than a hundred.

He was wearing a military type of armor, showing the pecks on his arms and the veins on his skin that were bulging like there was no tomorrow. He had a smile on his face, but his eyes seemed like they were threatening me.

"I'm one of the instructors in this Player's Academy," Edgar continued. "And this is my brother Edie and his friends, Ben and Jo."

"You're a newbie, right?" Edie inquired. "What's your name?"

His voice was arrogant as the smirk on his face, but I bet that he was only like that because he was riding his brother's coattail.

Maybe the older brother got transported here before the younger one, and they got reunited here. But whatever it was, their history didn't interest me.

They were trespassing on my table and my food and that meant blood would be spilled this day.

"Did you lose all your manners when you were transported here?" I said and looked them in the eyes. "Who said that you can sit here?"

Edie and the others were surprised, and Edgar huffed a condescending laugh.

"I think we have someone who doesn't know the ropes around here," Edgar said with a slight sneer. "Don't you know me?"

"You're Edgar, and you work in the Player's Academy," I said with a bored tone. "And while I'm still asking nicely, you better get out of my sight. There's no free food here for you. So go and beg somewhere else."

I didn't know what got into their bright mind to barge on my table like they were my long last friends without even knowing my ATP, but it looked like they wouldn't go away.

"Arrogant prick," Edie muttered. "I know you came into this world just a month ago. I saw you transported in here together with us. You're just a noob, and if you know what's good for you, shut the fuck up and follow everything that big brother says."

Oh, so that's why.

I had taken off the maw on my face since I wanted to enjoy the meal. Though the maw felt like just another mouth, it hindered a large chunk of food when I ate.

No wonder I found it strange that they went up to me without even knowing me.

<Edgar seemed like a big shot around here, Host. And an unknown newbie player that ordered a larger meal around here seemed like a free pass to them>

I stifled a laugh.

"What's so funny?" Edie asked, frowning.

"If I were you, you should just play along," Ben whispered.

"That's right. Edgar was transported here a year before us," added Jo. "His ATP has already reached hundreds. And if you're entering the Player's Academy, having someone like Edgar around would make your life easier inside there.

Easier? Was the Academy like a prison or something?

Now, I was curious.

<The System is curious too~>

Hearing the others' words and praises, Edgar's head rose with pride, and the arrogant smirk on his face widened.

I chuckled. "Already a year in here and just only a hundred ATP?"

Edgar's smirk fell off and he growled, "What did you say?"

But before he could continue what he was saying, an old man in a butler suit interrupted him.

"Is something the matter here?" the old man asked. He had white hair, a goatee, and goat horns on the center of his forehead. He was tall and lanky but had a respectable air around him.

"Ah. Mr. Got. Nothing is the matter here. We're just talking with our fellow players here," said Edgar with a laugh. His face immediately changed into an amiable one.

Looks like the old man had a higher rank than Edgar around here.

But the half-human and half-goat only looked at me and said, "My name is Got. I'm the owner of this restaurant. Is something the matter Mr. Cross? Are they causing you trouble?"

There was a silence that lingered between us before Edgar and the others' jaws dropped.

I couldn't say that I wasn't surprised as well. Could it be because of the things I ordered or the Merchant's Card? Or both?

"Yes," I told him. "These guys are disturbing my meal."

"Is that so?" Got looked at Edgar and the others, and its slit eyes turned into a dot. "Edgar. If you don't want trouble, then I suggest that you get out of here . . . peacefully."

Edgar shifted his eyes between me and Got with a big frown on his head before he stood to his feet and signaled the others to leave.

"What's going on, brother?"  I heard Edie ask.

Edgar only smacked his little brother's head. "You idiot! Newbie, my ass?! He's clearly important if Mr. Got is siding with him. Your little brain almost got us killed!"

"Huh? That's impossible. I'm sure what I saw. He is a newbie like us. Believe me. We even went to this Euclid Village . . ."

Even when they were already gone down the stairs, I still heard their quarrelling voice.

Count their luck that they survive another day. They should give thanks to this old man here.

"I'm sorry about that, Mr. Cross," Got said though no part of his face said that he was sorry at all. Everything about his attitude towards me was a force.

( . . . continuation on NOTES)