Vincent looked back with a slight frown etched on his face. He had never seen this person before.
'Most likely, an upperclassmen?'
Meanwhile, the red-haired fine boy behind him just stared, his expression blank.
"Please carry on. Just pretend I'm not here."
"I'm sorry, that's going to be kind of difficult." Vincent made clear.
Daniel groped his deserted chin, shutting his eyes for a moment. Deeply thinking about what to do.
'I really want to see what he is up to…'
At first, he had thought it to be endearing when Ferdinand and Roger came to report that some people were gathered using their names.
They wanted to launch attack at the person but thought it wise to inform him first, thinking that it might be their bully who's at work in this situation.
Their guess was right. Daniel showed up as promised, his plan was to destroy the ego of these kids by beating Vincent to a pulp.
That plan still stood, it was just that Daniel wanted to see the end point of what Vincent was doing.
Why was he telling them a story of his boldness? To charge them with the same heart?
Daniel smiled wryly.
'Surely, things like that don't work.'
He wanted to see what would happen, where this would lead to.
"Oh! Are you one of the victims of those bullies too?" Levi pointed to him.
Being called the victim of a bully made him frown. How insolent… to the king of bullies himself.
However, that was the best call of action.
Daniel released the frown and sighed, his entire expression contorting with sadness.
"I'm sorry, was I late."
"No! At all! All of us are supposed to be here… we cannot be late."
Vincent watched the red-haired guy walk into the crowd of his audience with a sullen expression on his face.
It was unsettling…
'...he does not look like someone that can be bullied.'
He didn't know how to explain it but the red-haired guy looked too intimidating to be bullied by anyone.
But he had to do what he had to do anyway. He gave the red-haired guy one last suspicious look and continued his tale.
Mixing in lies with truth to protect his own truth:
"So, I said. I defeated Ferdinand and Roger again yesterday. And I have a proof of that!"
Daniel looked at him, interested. The others did too but Daniel's was of an intense gaze… it almost gave Vincent the creeps.
'Seriously, this guy…'
Vincent tried to ignore and brought out a few dollar notes. Their eyes were glued on the dollar notes with puzzled expressions.
Even Daniel was as confused.
"Yesterday, I took both their shoes and sold it. I took my share and this is the rest, I will not share with you guys… they've taken our money a lot of times haven't they? Just one time wouldn't hurt."
All of them nodded with a show of approval, their faces were now constructed with determination, delight, courage and hope.
Daniel raised a brow, grinning dubiously.
'What's this… this guy has the makings of a bully. How's he any different from others.'
Daniel shook his head. To him what Vincent had done was no difference from the act of a bully.
Perhaps he decided to share it amongst the others to make himself feel better but that did not justify the act itself.
Moreso…
'He probably got the highest share. If he truly wanted to set himself apart, shouldn't he get the lowest.'
He shook his head dejectedly.
'Well, it does not mean anything. I will extinguish that newfound hope of theirs, and make them cower with fear again. I hope the sight is worth it.'
Daniel folded his fist.
Immediately, a beep entered Vincent's ears. He had given the money to Levi and was having him share it amongst everyone equally.
[MAIN QUEST HAS BEEN UPDATED]
Quest title: Rise Of A Gangster
Sub title: Dethrone The King!
Description: There is a king, one that exist far above the other. A true bully unlike anyone you have ever met. So what?! We are going to drag him off his throne and make him bow before the true lord of evil. Defeat The King of Mereung in a one versus one battle.
Quest reward: +1 Epic Card.
Quest failure: loss of one card (it will be chosen at random)
Vincent's eyes widened.
'An epic card?!'
That was yet another grade of card he was discovering. He remembered unique card and how unique what came from it was.
Since then he had never received anything of such, but there were rare cards. Which were already amazing enough.
Seeing an epic card… he didn't know what to feel but he was overwashed by a flood of exhilaration.
But he also couldn't be too blinded by the excitement that he would miss the main thing. If a reward that has never been given is being dished out…
Then it only makes sense that it is of a difficulty that he had never experienced.
Vincent almost paled at the thought of it. But he minded himself, he was standing before people that looked at him with eyes full of hope.
One of them walked forward, a pretty smile sitting on his face. Too pretty.
He was the same guy Vincent had been wary about a few minutes ago.
'What is it now…'
Vincent watched in silence as the guy came forward, the others also paused to look.
The red-haired guy stopped in front of Vincent, still smiling prettily.
His expression was completely harmless, his eyes red and beautiful like a warm scarlet moon on the coldest of night.
His appearance from head to toe was appealing, as if he was dipped into a pool of grace and freshly brought out of it.
He stood in front of Vincent without saying anything for a couple of seconds–until Vincent himself broke the silence.
"Can I help you?"
His smile spread wider. Afterwards a cold, smooth, voice came out, unhindered:
"Okay. So here's the thing. I lied about being a victim… how do I put this…" Daniel's head went low as he searched for words that he could use to make them understand the situation they were in.
His face shot up vibrantly as one came to mind.
"Yes! Although, it's a bit embarrassing to say this… but you should understand better since it's something you guys came up with."
Everyone watched, silence and suspense mixing in the atmosphere.
Then Daniel's voice lonesomely walked amidst it.
"I'm Daniel… but you guys call me King? King of what? I guess King of the bullies?" He shrugged, "I don't care, I personally like to call myself King Of Merueng."