Chương 22: You've Really Cracked Daddy Up

"What are you standing there in a daze for?" Ryan's romance-blind remark snapped Rosalind back to herself. She pouted, stamped a foot, and left the kitchen.

"Women really are strange creatures." Shaking his head, Ryan sat on the living-room sofa. Once everyone had gathered, they piled out the door and drove for the Violet Club in Duskcloud City. He'd heard of the place in his last life—a haunt where the upper crust whiled away their leisure, where a single meal ran no less than a hundred thousand Azure Coin. For the Ryan of back then, that was a year's wages hauling bricks.

The Violet Club sat in the most prosperous district of Duskcloud City, its lavish architecture palpable even from afar. As night fell, the neon-lit nightlife was just beginning. Ryan parked and led everyone to the entrance—only to be stopped, before they'd even gone in, by a presentable waitress in a fitted suit jacket.

"I'm sorry, sir. Please present your membership card first," she said politely.

"That… I don't have one. A friend asked me to come." Ryan frowned.

"Then please present your invitation," the waitress smiled.

"That… I don't have one of those either." His face turned awkward. Since when did he need an invitation? Violet hadn't mentioned it.

"An electronic invitation works as well. You can have your friend send one now."

"That… I don't have her contact info." Ryan could have died on the spot. He regretted logging off in such a rush, racing here without getting the situation straight—and now he'd landed himself in this mess.

"…Sir, you…" This time even the good-natured waitress was at a loss. He kept insisting a friend had invited him, yet didn't even have the friend's contact—that hardly held up. Still, professional that she was, she kept her polite smile, though anyone could see it was now brimming with awkwardness.

"Could I, ah, register for membership on the spot?" Ryan scratched his head, asking a little sheepishly. Not checking the details beforehand was on him, but having brought everyone here, he couldn't very well just turn and leave.

"I'm sorry, sir. Membership requires an advance appointment, and today's quota is full. If you'd like, you may register now and apply tomorrow."

"…" His mouth twitched. Wasn't that overdoing it?

"Ryan, why don't we just go somewhere else?" Seeing the air turn awkward, Rosalind spoke up.

"Roz, why are you mixing yourself up with this clueless oaf? If you want to go in, I can take you." Just then, a deliberately raised voice fell into everyone's ears. A man in a suit, tall and upright, approached with elegant strides, a faint smile at his lips. He swept Ryan a glance, then let his gaze settle on Rosalind. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Edwin—what are you doing here?" Tessa frowned, pulling Rosalind behind her and glaring at him.

"…Ahem, a chance encounter, of course. I happen to have business here today." Edwin's eyes flickered; he cleared his throat, his tone weakening a notch. Tessa's background gave him pause.

"A chance encounter? Even you don't believe that, do you?" Tessa sneered.

"I can't be bothered arguing with you. Roz, I have a membership card here—I can take you in." So saying, Edwin produced an antique-bronze card and waved it before them, a smug look crossing his face.

"I'm sorry, sir. Your card is a Bronze membership card. It doesn't carry the privilege of bringing guests into the club." The waitress kept her professional smile as she pointed it out.

"You—" The smile froze on Edwin's lips, his face sinking, and he shot the smiling waitress a vicious glare.

"Pfft—hahaha, I'm dying! This Edwin guy is too funny!" Faye Quinn doubled over laughing, her body shaking uncontrollably.

"Stop, stop—my jaw's about to fall off, this is hilarious! Hahaha…" Rosalind and Tessa couldn't help laughing too, leaving only Serena and Lucy fighting it down—but their twitching faces gave them away to anyone watching. A flicker of genuine admiration crossed Ryan's eyes, and he gave the dark-faced Edwin a thumbs-up.

"Brother, you're a real pal—stepping in just in time to bail me out, taking the pressure off so I don't have to keep stewing in the awkwardness. Truly, thank you." Ryan said it with a straight face.

"I don't have anything you'd think much of, but if you don't mind, I could gift you a Black Iron-grade piece in Heaven's Descent to help you carve through your enemies in-game. How about it?"

"Thank you my ass!" Edwin's fury blazed, and he glared at Ryan.

"Don't get cocky, kid—just you wait!"

"…" Ryan was speechless. He'd genuinely wanted to thank Edwin for the timely rescue from his awkward spot—why was the man cursing at him?

"Hmph. I'll lay it out right here: not one of you is getting into this club today. A membership card is something a kid like you couldn't earn in a whole lifetime of trying!" Edwin spat the threat, tucked the card into his pocket, and walked inside.

"If you've got the guts, come on in, then. A penniless nobody—did you really think a toad like you could feast on swan?"

"You've really cracked Daddy up." Ryan's gaze sank, a flash of killing intent crossing his eyes.

"How about we make a little wager?"

"You? You're fit to bet me?" Edwin halted and turned, looking at Ryan with contempt.

"Don't be hasty. Hear the terms first." The corner of Ryan's mouth lifted, and he spoke unhurried.

"Simple. If I can get all of them into the club with me, you kneel down and kowtow an apology—and from now on, whenever you see me, you bark like a dog. If I lose, do with me as you please. Well?"

"Hahaha! I genuinely admire you! I've met people with water on the brain, but a brain as waterlogged as yours—this is a first!" Edwin's gaze sank, a cruel arc curling his lips. He'd been looking for a chance to teach Ryan a real lesson, and now the man had leapt out and begged for it himself. It truly tickled him. Recalling the spectacle the kid had just made at the door, he had every reason to believe that being stabbed back then had simply knocked him stupid.

"Fine. I accept your wager!" A vicious glint crossed Edwin's eyes.

"But the terms are yours—so when you lose, don't you dare regret it!"

"I'll send those same words right back to you." The corner of Ryan's mouth curled. The farce quickly drew a ring of onlookers; spectators never mind a bigger show, and with these "concerned citizens" fanning the flames, the "wager incident" outside the Violet Club was soon common knowledge.

"Maybe we should just forget it and go…" Worry flickered in Rosalind's eyes. To her, the bet was Ryan throwing an egg against a rock—and knowing Edwin's cruel, ruthless streak, once he won, he'd surely come down hard on Ryan. By then it would be far too late.

"Don't worry. I've got this well in hand." Ryan gave a low laugh, his eyes narrowing at Edwin, the corner of his mouth slowly lifting. The real show had only just begun.