Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

Arthur, however, remained entirely unbothered. His expression didn't shift, his stride didn't break. If anything, a small, knowing smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Now, that's an interesting thing to say," Arthur mused, his tone casual, yet laced with something dangerous.

The guards stiffened slightly, but stood their ground.

Adam studied the scene, his own brow furrowing.

'So it's true…'

Arthur had claimed earlier that the mayor had tried to bribe him. That their previous meeting had ended with an unspoken threat rather than mutual respect.

Adam had assumed Arthur was lying, but the scene in front of him was telling him otherwise.

The tension, the way the guards were acting, the sheer hostility they exuded—it wasn't just standard protocol.

It was personal.

They expected Arthur to be too afraid to return.

They expected him to obey whatever warning had been issued.

Yet here he was.

And the fact that he was here, standing tall and defiant, clearly unsettled them.

Adam took a slow breath, his sharp eyes locking onto Arthur.

Arthur, unbothered by the guards' hostility, said, "Tell the Mayor that I need to see him in regards to the event."

The guard frowned, exchanging a glance with his fellow sentry. A silent conversation passed between them—one of suspicion, hesitation. Then, after a brief moment, the first guard turned and disappeared into the Mayor's office.

Arthur remained still, standing in the middle of the grand entrance hall, his expression unreadable.

Adam, beside him, folded his arms. His military instincts told him to remain wary, even if his mind was already shifting.

Arthur might have been telling the truth after all.

A few minutes passed before the guard returned. His expression was tense, though carefully schooled. "Come in," he said stiffly. "The Mayor will see you."

Arthur stepped forward without hesitation.

But as Adam moved to follow, the guards stepped in front of him.

A barrier of flesh and steel.

"Stop there," the first guard barked. "Only Fateless is allowed inside."

Adam's eyes narrowed slightly. His posture didn't shift, but there was an unmistakable edge in his gaze. Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire

Arthur, however, didn't break stride. He stopped only when he was one step past the guards, then turned his head slightly toward them.

"I won't enter without him," he stated simply. "Tell the Mayor we are both entering."

The guards stiffened.

"Don't push your luck," one of them snapped.

Arthur's gaze flickered over to him, unimpressed. "I think you should ask the Mayor before you make any decisions." His tone was light, almost casual. But there was an underlying sharpness to it. "This is a delicate matter… anything you do will affect the whole village. So don't overstep your boundaries."

A flash of hesitation crossed the guard's face.

Then, without another word, he turned on his heel and disappeared into the Mayor's chamber once more.

Adam remained silent, watching.

He wasn't sure what to believe anymore. The way these guards acted—their unease, their outright hostility toward Arthur—none of it felt like a staged performance.

No player had enough power to orchestrate something like this.

Arthur stood beside him, hands casually in his pockets, waiting. He looked completely at ease, as if he already knew how this would play out.

Moments later, the guard returned. His expression was tight, his movements more restrained.

"Enter," he said. "But only you two."

Arthur smirked slightly, but didn't say anything.

Adam exhaled. His mind raced.

'This is real. This isn't some elaborate excuse.'

The guards stepped aside.

Arthur and Adam entered.

The moment they crossed the threshold, the heavy wooden doors shut behind them with an echoing thud.

Inside the office.

Mayor Charles sat behind his desk, his fingers interlocked, knuckles pressed together as his elbows rested on the polished wooden surface.

His eyes, dark and calculating, flicked between Arthur and Adam as they entered, his brows knitting together in deep frustration.

A heavy silence settled over the office, thick with unspoken tension.

"Fateless," Charles finally said, his tone clipped and cold. "You are pushing your luck. We already agreed that you wouldn't cause any more trouble in regard to that issue. So why are you back here again?"

Arthur took his time stepping forward, his movements unhurried, his smirk subtle but unmistakable. He leaned slightly against the edge of a nearby shelf, arms crossed over his chest, eyes glinting with amusement.

"You mean the monster horde event?" he asked casually. "Nothing much, really. It's just that my friend here was also affected, and I felt like he deserved some compensation too. Don't you think?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Charles' entire expression darkened.

A loud BANG! echoed through the office as the Mayor slammed his hands onto the desk and shot up from his seat.

"Insolence!" Charles bellowed, his voice reverberating against the walls.

Arthur barely glanced at him, instead shifting his gaze to Adam with a pointed look.

"See?" he murmured, voice light but edged with sharp amusement. "I told you it wasn't me."

Adam didn't respond, his full attention locked onto Charles. His mind was already moving ahead, analyzing the situation and calculating his next move.

This was huge.

Incredibly huge.He had confirmed that Arthur was telling the truth, and now that he did Adam decided that this was an opportunity to take advantage of.

Arthur had played his hand well, but in Adam's eyes, the younger man was wasting an opportunity by asking for simple compensation of some items, instead of something with long-term benefits.

Fine.

If Arthur was going to give him the spotlight, he might as well take full advantage of it.

Adam stepped forward, his stance shifting into something more formal, more authoritative.

"Village Chief Charles," he said smoothly, his voice laced with calm diplomacy. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you. I also wish to apologize for my friend here—he sometimes lacks tact when speaking to those in positions of power."

Arthur raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Adam pressed on.

"However, we must acknowledge the reality of the situation," he continued. "Your decision to interfere with the monster horde event has caused considerable setbacks for many. Players rely on such events to grow stronger, and in turn, a stronger player base means a stronger village."

Charles remained silent, his jaw locked.

Adam didn't stop. He was playing his cards now.