Chapter 773 Unexpected Encounter on the Train

Chapter 773 Unexpected Encounter on the Train

Getting on the train that would take him to Woodbury, Klaus noticed that some people's eyes were on him as he passed their seats. He checked in the reflection of a window to see if he had anything stuck to his face, even a crumb of toast or a smudge, but there was nothing, until as he sat down he saw a woman with a child approach him and say:

"Hello, you're Klaus Park, right? Please take a picture with my son, he's a big fan of yours."

Klaus finally understood why everyone was staring at him. Then he looked at the boy and saw a mixture of surprise and admiration in the young fan's shining eyes. The boy, with his T-shirt emblazoned with the Rise Online symbol, was trembling slightly with excitement as he shyly held up a poster with fan art of the Kaizen character. Facing the boy with a warm smile, Klaus readily agreed. "Sure, I'd be happy to take a picture with him!" said Klaus, getting up and positioning himself next to the boy for the long-awaited photo. The clicks of the camera echoed through the train, and soon the boy and his mother were thanking each other effusively before moving away to sit in their seats.

Sitting down again, Klaus realized for the first time what it was like to have a bit of fame. Although he knew he was well known on RO forums and so on, he didn't know that it would go so far as to be recognized on a small train in Woodbury, and the boy and his mother didn't seem to be the only ones who recognized him there. A few other passengers exchanged glances and whispers, as well as murmuring about his participation in the war that took place last night, while watching from afar, keeping a respectful distance.

The journey to Woodbury went smoothly, and Klaus took the time to reflect on his life since becoming a public figure in the world of online gaming. Until then, he hadn't felt the real-life effects of revealing his true identity and were those eyes glazing over him everywhere all the time? He remembered the days when he played in the small bedroom of Emma's apartment, completely oblivious to the fame that awaited him.

As he gazed out of the window at the landscape, Klaus's phone vibrated. When he answered, a familiar voice echoed on the other end.

"Klaus, this is Charles Richards. Is everything ready for the Special Program campus presentation today?" asked Charles, one of the developers of Rise Online. "Or do you want another day off to rest?"

"I'm already on my way, Charles," replied Klaus. "Wait, could I have asked for an extra day off?" nôvel binz was the first platform to present this chapter.

"Of course, you can use the points you received as a prize from the tournament to open a request. Besides, given the situation you faced this early in the morning, no program coordinator would be crazy enough to turn down a request for time off." Charles replied, which made Kaizen slap himself hard on the forehead feeling like an idiot. "Anyway, it's good news that you're on your way. As you can imagine, we have to talk after your Evolution this morning and, as this is a very serious matter, I'd prefer it to be in person. When you get your things ready in your dorm, please come to the boardroom."

Klaus remained silent, not bothering to reply. He was determined to keep a clear boundary between them, since their relationship had come to an abrupt and painful end for him.

Despite this, Ashley sat down. "I saw the news this morning about the war in the game," Ashley continued, searching for words that could break through the barrier Klaus had erected. "I was worried. Are you okay?"

The question sounded genuine, but Klaus wasn't willing to open his emotions to her. He took a deep breath before finally answering, keeping his tone cold and distant.

"I'm fine. There's nothing to worry about."

Ashley lowered her eyes for a moment, as if absorbing his words. Klaus continued to stare out of the window, oblivious to her presence beside him. The silence between them stretched on, broken only by the soft murmur of the passengers and the constant sound of the tracks beneath the train. There was a long, uncomfortable pause before she spoke again.

Finally, after a while, Ashley took a deep breath and moved slightly away from him in the seat. However, Ashley didn't return to his seat.

"I understand that things have changed between us," she said sincerely. "But that doesn't mean I don't care about you. I just wanted you to know that."

Klaus didn't reply immediately. He continued to stare out of the window, but now something in his expression began to soften. Perhaps it was the vulnerability in his voice or the memory of the moments they had shared. Klaus couldn't help but sigh before finally speaking.

"Ashley, things have changed. I've changed. There's no going back." He replied respectfully, because the times with Ashley had indeed been good. "Yes, I made a bad mistake by lying to you about what I did, but you showed me how right I was to do so, because the reaction you got was exactly what I feared. However, you don't have to worry about me, you made me realize some things, and maybe other people close to me too, so I stopped wasting time and devoted it all to those who really care about me."