Chapter 548 The Villain And His Puppy?
Villain Ch 548. The Villain And His Puppy
Dressed incognito in his sleek assassin disguise, Allen strolled through the bustling streets of Berlt City. The city's hustle and bustle surrounded him, a dynamic blend of avatars going about their quests and players navigating the intricate pathways of the harbor city.
The market was a vibrant hub where commerce thrived. The cloak of anonymity afforded by his assassin garb gave him the freedom to move through the crowds, eyes scanning for the coveted bargains that could elevate his in-game gear. It was a cacophony of sights and sounds— stalls displaying wares, players engaged in lively haggling, and the occasional vendor shouting out special deals. Allen weaved through the marketplace. His strides were light and casual.
His satisfaction peaked as he successfully secured the items he sought. The gleam of a couple of new items in his inventory was a testament to his strategic choices in the market. However, the highlight of his day came when a fellow player, enticed by his rock-bottom prices, eagerly accepted his offer to buy stones. He bet that guy must be very desperate.
A victorious grin played on Allen's face as he continued his stroll, the weight of successful bargains adding a spring to his step.
But it didn't mean his stroll was full of fun. He unexpectedly stumbled upon the familiar faces of Darren and Liam. His internal radar for potential trouble went on high alert, anticipating the usual sneers and snide remarks that typically accompanied their encounters.
To his surprise, however, the duo seemed to have developed an uncanny talent for selective blindness. Allen, bracing himself for the expected confrontation, watched in bewilderment as Darren and Liam, upon spotting him, chose a hasty exit strategy. It was as if meeting Allen was akin to stumbling upon a black cat on Friday the 13th—pure bad luck.
He squinted, half-expecting a hidden prank or a delayed punchline. Yet, the duo continued their trajectory away from him, completely ignoring his presence. It was a peculiar turn of events that left Allen with a mix of confusion and amusement.
'Okay, that's surely unusual,' he thought. A frown on his face.
Allen, with a nonchalant shrug, accepted the unexpected turn of events with a sense of relief. Darren and Liam's sudden exit, whether intentional or not, spared him the usual dose of drama. It was a small victory, a respite from potential confrontations that, for once, he didn't have to navigate. n0VElb1n
Deciding to make the most of the serene moment, Allen redirected his steps toward the lively hub of the city—the tavern.
His mind wandered to the aftermath of the recent revelation involving Sophia and Elio. His mind was buzzing with speculation about the consequences of exposing Sophia's true nature. Curiosity gnawed at him like an impatient NPC quest giver.
Shanty's happy grin, reminiscent of a delighted puppy, adorned her avatar.
"You know you don't need to call me Godlike every time we meet," Allen gently reminded her, a hint of amusement playing in his eyes. The title felt like a vestige of a past identity, a moniker that clung to him like a shadow. "It's my previous in-game name. Just call me Al," he added, the request accompanied by a subtle sense of relief. The weight of the old alias seemed to lift with each mention of the new.
"Okay," Shanty agreed, a lighthearted acknowledgment of the shift in nomenclature. "Oh right! Thanks a lot for letting me take that photo with me this morning," she expressed, her voice a?melody laced with sincerity. "I'm thrilled, and I'll treasure it forever."
Allen, caught momentarily off guard, registered the depth of Shanty's appreciation. The sentiment lingered in the air. He furrowed his brows, confusion briefly clouding his avatar's expression.
It took a beat of recognition to dawn on Allen. Shanty was Mila—the very same Mila who had crossed paths with Allen in the café this morning.
"Are you Mila?" he asked. A hint of surprise was clear from his tone of voice.
"Yes, that's me," Shanty replied with a playful grin, her expression mirroring the whimsical dance of their shared amusement.
Allen looked surprised. He thought Mila knew him because of the photoshoot. But unexpectedly, she also knew that he was a gamer.
"The world surely is narrow," Allen mused, a chuckle escaping his lips.
"I didn't expect it either, but luckily, I have your photos. So, at least I know what you look like in real life," Shanty confessed, her avatar exuding a sense of candidness.
Allen, momentarily taken aback by the revelation, couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, it seems I can't keep all my secrets," he remarked, a lightheartedness tinging his words.
But for sure, Allen realized that he could say that Shanty was his big fan. Since not many people follow him from his victory in the tournament two years to how he was now. She even recognized his face in the magazine!
Shanty, with a teasing grin, continued, "You're getting handsome after the tournament, you know. I was shocked when I saw your photo in the Urban Enigma magazine."
Allen, though caught off guard by the compliment, responded with a self-deprecating smirk. "Thank you," he quipped.