Chapter 124: unintentional dog food

LUO YAN sighed and sat back on the bed.  Now that the problem of the crown prince was solved, he was now allowed to investigate the assassination attempt that happened earlier at the banquet.  The rest, the three of them should carefully plan out.

"Here," said Uriel.

He looked up and saw him handing a small bottle.  Luo Yan took it.  "What's this?"

"According to the description showing on my Status Window, it's some potion that could revitalize people's life.  I assume it meant it could fill the player's HP bar when it decreased," Uriel answered.

Luo Yan took off the cork covering the bottle's lid and drank its content.  He furrowed his brows because of how bitter it tasted.  But strangely enough, he felt the slight weakness of his current avatar slowly disappearing.  So even if it didn't taste good, he still drank it all up.

He looked up at Uriel after.  Then he remembered the crap that this guy pulled earlier.  A mischievous glint passed his eyes.

His expression changed into grievance and sniffed.  "Why is Uriel bullying me?  Earlier, you wanted the crown prince to interrogate me.  Then you didn't fully support the reasoning I gave to the prince.  And now, you've given me this awful tasting drink.  Do you hate me that much?"

Duan Yu stared at Noctis.  The guy looked so aggrieved as if Duan Yu killed his cat or something.  If he didn't just witness his amazing acting skill earlier, Duan Yu might actually think that he did something bad to him.  He might even feel guilty enough to apologize.  But since he did see his acting skill, he only raised one of his brows at him.

That's when Shen Ji Yun returned to the room.  He saw the rabbit looking like he was about to cry again.  He frowned a bit, then walked towards the two.  He looked coldly at Uriel.

Of course, Duan Yu noticed the way YUN was looking at him.  As if he was about to punch him or something.  "You do know he's acting, right?" he said before YUN acted on his impulse and did punch him.

Yes, Shen Ji Yun knew.  But what could he do?  He couldn't possibly blame Luo Yan.  Then he felt his sleeve being pulled.  He looked down and saw the rabbit gazing up at him.  His big peach blossom eyes filled with grievance and also a bit of pleading, as if asking him to take his side.

But as much as Shen Ji Yun wanted to do just that, he really didn't want to see this tearful expression on the rabbit's face.  He raised his hand and wiped away the traces of tears on the rabbit's cheek.

"Don't make trouble."

Luo Yan was startled.  Not just because of Shen Ji Yun's sudden move but also because of the tone of his voice.  Like he was spoiling him without even realizing it.  Not to mention, the gentleness that almost overflowed out of his usually cold and emotionless eyes.  Luo Yan automatically let go of Shen Ji Yun's sleeve and then glanced away.  Because he felt a sudden weird thump inside his chest.

Duan Yu stared at this scene and he almost did not roll his eyes.  Because he felt like he was suddenly and unintentionally fed dog food.

He cleared his throat.  "If the two of you are now done flirting, could we now proceed to the more important matter?"

A suspicious blush appeared at the tips of Shen Ji Yun's ears.  But because he always looked expressionless, the other two didn't find it.  But because of that, he had another inner turmoil.  Were he and the rabbit flirting?  But wasn't that action supposed to involve a man and a woman?  Could that word be also applied between two men? 

Luo Yan, on the other hand, glared at Uriel.  What's with that off-hand comment?  Flirting my ass.  What if things became awkward between him and Shen Ji Yun because of the crap he's spouting? 

"Uriel should not talk nonsense," Luo Yan tilted his head and smiled.  "Okay?"

The smile on Noctis' pretty face didn't reach his eyes.  Instead, it was as sharp as a knife with even a glint of danger hidden inside.  Duan Yu felt chills down his spine.  It almost seemed like if he didn't agree, this guy here would punch him.  Maybe even kick him.  It took him a few seconds before he could finally react.

Well, well, it looked like that 'naïve' boy finally showed a bit of his fangs.

Duan Yu smiled back.  "Yes, it was all nonsense.  I was just trying to create rapport among us.  After all, we're now temporary team mates."

Oh, so it was just a joke?  Shen Ji Yun finally didn't think about it anymore and just put it behind him.  "Let's collate all the information we currently have."

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Meanwhile, in a certain yellow door…

Bai Ze was standing with a group of students behind the teaching building of a certain high school.  They were there for the test of courage the whole class had decided.  Yes, this was the setting of the door he went into.

It was the door for the fifth choice; [A student's hellish paradise].  He actually planned to choose the fourth one – [A stage for the brightest stars.]  But he and his big, fat, fingers failed him and accidentally clicked the fifth one.  Now, he's here playing the role of the class bully.

There wasn't any mention of any mystery yet.  But he was certain that whatever it was, it would happen during this test of courage.  And in some way or the other, it would have something to do with this group of students.  He was fine with that.  He was just kind of depressed that none of his team mates seemed to be here.

He had observed each and every student's face since he arrived in this door standing in their midst.  And so far, he only recognized one-two students who somehow looked familiar.  He's pretty sure they're among the players who attended the King's birthday event.  If none of his team mates were here, then he'd just do this on his own.

"Wanna team up with me?" asked suddenly by a rather sweet voice with a hint of raspiness in it.

Bai Ze looked down and saw a girl with a short bob cut hair.  At first glance, one would probably think of her as plain.  But if you look closely, you would find that she possessed a certain kind of charm.  It's probably because of her eyes.  They were the only features on her face that were truly out of the ordinary.  It was like that of a cat's – big and the corners slightly tilted upwards.

"You're White Marsh, right?  I'm Catnip from team Sirens," the girl said, further introducing herself.  "So, do you want to form a team with me?"

Catnip?  That's a very apt name.  Wait- team Sirens?  He looked suspiciously at the girl.  "You weren't ordered by your captain to try to get closer to the members of my team, weren't you?" 

Even if the captain of Sirens always acted like an elegant queen whenever they crossed paths, he had long noticed the girl's fascination towards his friend, Shen Ji Yun.  Of course, Shen Ji Yun never noticed it, being the big emotionless blockhead that he was.

Catnip seemed to know what he meant because she replied, "Nope.  She didn't even know that your team and your captain would attend this event."

"Then why?"

Because of the beautiful elf, Noctis!  She wanted to know how good his relationship was with YUN.  When she watched the two earlier, she noticed how good they looked together.  So, she couldn't help but want to ship them.  Of course Xia Li wouldn't tell this directly to White Marsh.

"Because you look very powerful and very reliable," she only said.

Bai Ze's chest rose a bit because of pride.  Well, he was indeed powerful and reliable.  "I'll only agree if I'm the leader."

"No problem," she said and smiled like a contented cat that was given a treat.

Looking at that smile, Bai Ze suddenly had an urge to pet her.  He shook his head.  What was that just now?  He suddenly had goosebumps just by thinking of it.