The Grand Duelist

"I thought that the news about those nobles simultaneously leaving the Kingdom of Nether was exaggerated. But it seems like it really is true. How else could we possibly enter this place so easily? I think that even without Kayn's Shadow Domain, we could've reached this place the same without any problems!"

Joseph couldn't help but comment.

Right as he stepped foot inside the Treasure Hall where the treasures of the Kingdom lay bare.

He was astonished when he realized that they had entered this place without a hitch.

Usually, there would be a lot of Knights guarding this place, but they didn't even encounter a maid or servant, much more a Knight!

"Holy shit boss! We're rich!" 

"Hell yeah!" 

The members of Jeric's bandit group screamed out loud when they saw the literal mountains of gold coins in front of them. 

Some of them were even already moving. Carrying several empty sacks, they started stuffing the gold coins from the Treasure Hall into those sacks. Staring at the eyes of these bandits, Joseph could vaguely see the icon of the Philippine Peso currency floating within their eyes.

Alice even commented, "Really greedy... It's just money... If they are Blessed Artifacts then I wouldn't complain." Alice shook her head in disapproval. She became silent, clearly expecting the reply of a certain someone.

But when she didn't hear his reply...

She turned her head to look at Joseph and was astonished to find him on the ground, swiftly stuffing his own empty sacks with gold coins.

"What are you doing?" Alice asked.

"Are you blind? Of course, I'm taking as much money as I can!"

Joseph's eyes had the same glint as the light within the bandits' eyes.

It was the light of avarice.

Alice furrowed her eyebrows.

She was about to say something when Joseph continued.

"I know what you are thinking, from what you said earlier you disapproved of us doing something like this. But let me tell you, being poor makes you like this! I bet you haven't experienced the life of us poor bastards. If not, I don't think that you would think like that regarding our actions."

Joseph then continued on stuffing gold coins into his pouches.

He even ignored Alice and didn't bother to wait for her reply.

Alice was astonished. She felt hurt by Joseph's words. She thought that she already had a good understanding of Joseph and she thought that he wasn't this greedy.

But in the face of several mountains of gold coins.

How could he easily dispose of their good relationship just for the sake of material wealth?

He even dared to admonish her like this!

Alice felt wronged.

But it was true that she indeed couldn't understand the mindset of the bandits when it came to money.

Although she knew that they needed money, she couldn't understand why there was a need for them to go so far like this. They looked like if they could, they may possibly even bury themselves under these mountains of coins.

But Alice's adaptability skills were admirable.

After being hurt for a few seconds...

She recovered and finally connected the dots as to why Joseph was acting like this. 

But this realization further increased her fondness to Joseph.

For her, it seemed like there was more to Joseph than what she had seen and what he was displaying to her recently and right now. She felt excited about slowly uncovering the traits and personalities that were hidden behind the person called Joseph. 

A light smile spread on her face.

She turned to look at Joseph and squeezed these words out of her throat.

"I'm sorry..."

"What?" Joseph asked.

He didn't even raise his head to look at her for he was in the middle of stuffing as much money as he could.

"I'm sorry that I mocked you all. I knew from the start that all of you wanted money, but I just didn't expect that it was to this extent." Alice apologized once again.

Joseph finally raised his head and smiled at her.

He couldn't help but feel even more in love at this proud, yet humble, stern, yet gentle, mean, yet kind Alice. Even though sometimes, her words were too much for Joseph to handle to the extent that they would go into war with each other through teasing.

Joseph admitted that he really did like Alice. 

But was it because she was a gorgeous and beautiful young woman?

Nope. 

Looks didn't matter for Joseph.

It was more because of her vibrant, yet highly adaptable and understanding personality.

She's proud, but she could recognize her mistake and apologize for it.

She's mean, but she knew the border between jokes and insult.

She's stern, but she knew how to properly utilize the carrot and stick method in dealing with those whom she cared for.

Seeing her apologetic look.

Joseph's heart ached, his greed subsided and his hands temporarily stopped on reaching out to the gold coins for it went towards Alice's head instead. 

Gently ruffling her hair, he said.

"It's fine... I'm not angry at you."

"Really?" Alice asked in doubt.

"Yeah..." Joseph laughed, "But I will be angry if you don't come here and help us collect these gold coins!"

Alice was instantly delighted. She looked like she was about to jump into Joseph's arms, but when she saw the greedy look on his face as he stared at the gold coins. It was probably better for her to help him with gathering these gold coins first. 

Having decided on what she must do...

Alice kneeled beside Joseph and started gathering these gold coins like the others.

But Alice wasn't so obsessed with these gold coins like the others.

While she was gathering the coins, she took the time to sweep her eyes across the entire Treasure Hall and she was astonished to find that there were several wooden tables in the distance with faintly-glowing items encased within glass containers.

"Blessed Artifact!"

Alice who had a Legendary Blacksmith as her grandpa instantly recognized those items.

They were Blessed Artifacts...

Blessed Artifacts were different from other Artifacts due to the fact that they contained the Divinity of God.

In the Kingdom of Nether's case, the divinity within these artifacts belonged to the Divine Goddess Rhinna so Alice quickly recognized that the items were Blessed Artifacts. 

"Blessed Artifact?" Joseph raised his head and asked.

"Yeah, look! Those are Blessed Artifacts!" Alice pointed at the distance.

"What is a Blessed Artifact?" Joseph rephrased his question.

Alice turned to look at him with a frown, "Didn't we already fought against the wielders of a Blessed Artifact? Oh, wait. It seems like you still don't know about the concept of Blessed Artifacts. That should be the reason why you are asking me this right now."

Joseph merely smiled. It really was too easy to talk with someone that could read along the lines!

"It will take too long for me to explain everything. But a Blessed Artifact is like that Staff that the City Chief had when we fought him! In other words, a single one of those alone is far valuable than these mountains of gold coins!"

Joseph's astonishment became deeper. If those items right there on the table had the same abilities such as that strange staff of hypnotism that the City Chief had, then they really were far valuable than gold coins! 

Joseph's greed intensified and he even abandoned the gathering of gold coins. He went straight to one of the artifacts and just as he was about to forcefully open the glass enclosure of one of the artifacts.

His hands stopped and he fell into contemplation.

Usually, items with great value such as this are protected properly. There's a high chance that if I touched this thing, I may trigger something dangerous or even gather the attention of others.

Alice approached him from behind and she instantly knew what Joseph was thinking.

"You're not wrong about that. I don't think that the Kingdom won't place strong protections on these valuable artifacts. It's a good thing that you were sensible enough not to touch it." Alice's tone turned into a teasing one when she reached the end of her sentence.

"Hey, at least I have common sense..." Joseph glared at her and Alice's bell-like laughter resounded.

After a few seconds of laughter from Alice. She also fell into deep contemplation like Joseph.

But just as she was about to say some ideas to Joseph and the other bandits who swarmed around them out of nowhere.

An elderly voice suddenly rang out!

"It's fine... You can take that. I've disabled the array that protects it."

Everyone jolted in shock when the voice reached their ears. The elderly voice sounded tired, but it was still dignified as ever. Some of the bandits who had low Spirit Stat even directly kneeled on the ground in fear when they heard the voice.

Kayn had a look of astonishment on his face and he quickly entered his Shadow Domain. Jeric remained rooted in place whilst in the middle of gathering the gold coins, while Alice and Joseph were overjoyed due to the familiarity of the voice that they heard.

"That voice..." Joseph mumbled in surprise.

"Grandpa!" Alice exclaimed in delight.