Chương 42: I'm Not You—Why Would I Cheat?

Back in the third-floor lounge of his shop, Ryan dumped the gear on the floor, thought for a moment, then messaged the group: "Everyone come to the shop. In through the back, straight up to the third floor." He wanted to help with the studio, but reality didn't quite allow it—he had more important things to do. Providing gear was the most he could manage for now.

He'd already decided: over the next few days he'd find time to write up some Mage techniques and class strategies and lay out a plan for Rosalind and the others; once the studio was more or less on track, he had to leave Dragon Blood City. He needed to make a trip to the Northern Desert Domain—the place where his dream began in his last life, where an old comrade was waiting for him. Soon Rosalind and the others arrived. Wasting no words, Ryan had them pick gear and ran them through his rough plan.

"The studio's name is made now. Next, you found a Mercenary Corps—take on quests, recruit, run it carefully, and you'll be turning a profit before long," he said.

"As for me… I'll be busy these days, so I won't be able to look after things here much. But I can keep you supplied with gear, so…"

"It's fine. Everything you've done has already been crucial to the studio." Rosalind shook her head with a smile.

"Go handle your business—our Snowfall studio can't hold you back. As for the gear, aren't you short on money too? I'll put it on the studio's tab, and transfer it to you once we've got the funds. How's that?" Ryan paused, looked at her sincere eyes, and nodded.

"Sorry. I really am sorry."

"No need to apologize. We all understand. With abilities like yours, being tied to the studio would only limit you. Just keep our Snowfall name on you—after all, the studio's counting on you to drive traffic and buzz!" Tessa offered, a rare word of comfort.

"Thank you, all of you." Ryan said it from the heart, deeply moved that they could understand him. Some things he could only keep buried. Said aloud, they might spin off too many unknown variables and make the future murkier still. He'd been given a rare second life, and he meant to use every means to redeem the regrets of the last—so he couldn't afford to slack. Without these worries, spending his days among the studio's company would be fine.

But he knew all too well how terrifying the coming calamity was, so he couldn't—doing so would be slow suicide.

"Bro, don't worry—whatever you decide, my sisters and I will support you!" Lucy blinked her cute eyes.

"Lucy's right." Serena, rarely, spoke a full sentence.

"Aiya, don't make it so heavy! You should go out and make your mark—otherwise, when your shine fades, our studio's fame takes a hit too!" Faye's mouth ran sharp as ever, but the worry and reluctance in her eyes couldn't be hidden. Less than two days together, and already the studio's members had formed real bonds. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"Come on, don't overthink it. Let's go found the Mercenary Corps—then our studio's a real organization." Rosalind broke the quiet. The others nodded—but just as they made to leave, a shout from downstairs reached even the third floor, clear as day.

"Big Gunn, get out here! I don't accept it! Come fight me one-on-one if you've got the guts!!!" In the first-floor hall, Achilles stood pale, his white robe somewhat tattered, his mood at rock bottom. Why can he clear it in forty minutes? Why?! What am I lacking? He must know some dungeon clear-trick to sail through like that. Yes—that has to be it! In a straight contest of strength, he'd never be my match! Otherwise, why didn't he just accept my challenge, instead of making it a dungeon race?

It proves he was scared from the start! It absolutely has to be that! So he told himself, even as he hollered across the hall.

"Sir, this is a shop—we have business to run. Please wait off to the side; the moment our shopkeeper returns, I'll let you know." Jade frowned, troubled. This white-robed man was a menace—he'd driven off the customers the instant he arrived, and now there was no doing business at all.

"I don't care! Didn't he say to come find him here if I wasn't satisfied? Well, I'm here! Let's see when this turtle-head crawls out to fight me!" Achilles snapped.

"I'm telling you—go fetch your shopkeeper, now. If he doesn't show today, I'm not leaving!"

"Could you please wait quietly off to the side, then? We—""No! As long as he doesn't come, I'm standing right here!"

"This…" Jade went white, glancing helplessly at the gray-robed old man beside Achilles. Against someone this immovable, she was at a loss. Beside Achilles, Elder Wind shook his head, conveying that he could do nothing—if he could control the kid, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths to drag him into the game and pawn him off on this Big Gunn.

"Hey, could you stop shouting? My shop has business to run! Go yell outside!" As the standoff dragged on, Ryan came down with the women, looked at the indignant Achilles, and smiled, ribbing him.

"Oh? What's this—you come into my shop hollering? Don't tell me it's because you can't take a loss. What was your clear time again, let me think… ah, right—over three hours?"

"…You—!" Achilles flushed crimson, his chest tight, with no comeback.

"I don't accept it! I want a one-on-one!"

"I don't have time."

"Are you afraid?"

"Have you ever seen a man afraid of someone he's already beaten? It's not that I don't dare—it's that I can't be bothered." Ryan waved a hand, ignoring the near-bursting Achilles, and walked to the counter.

"How's it going—still got enough operating funds?" Jade nodded.

"And if the racks run low on gear, take from the third-floor lounge; if that's not enough, from my warehouse—there's still some there."

"Yes, Boss."

"I've got things to do, so I'll head off." With that, Ryan walked toward the door.

"Stop right there!" Achilles, frantic, lunged to block him. But under the 10x acceleration Ryan was swift; a burst of speed carried him past Achilles and out the door.

"If you want to PK, hurry up and follow." He tossed the words back and strode off, free and easy. Achilles's gaze sank, a flicker of excitement in his eyes, and he gave chase.

"You said it yourself—so when I beat you, don't you dare welch!"

"I'm not you. I don't welch."