The Grand Duelist

While he was eating...

Three figures appeared in his sight and it was clear from their slowed footsteps that they were hesitating while approaching him.

Joseph couldn't help but stop eating and ask.

"What are you doing?" He looked quite irritated.

"If you are going to come to me then hurry up, I can't eat properly with the three of you standing there as if you were high school kids about to confess to their crushes..." Joseph rolled his eyes.

The three, Stafford, Ethan, and Clarisse finally got the courage to approach him. 

"What's the matter? Are you still not convinced, yet? Do you want another duel? Fine, but it will be the last one. I'm not really that busy since the maintenance is still ongoing so I can humor you guys for a bit." Joseph said as he stuffed several spoonfuls of rice and bacon into his mouth. 

"No... That's not..." Clarisse trembled and fear surfaced in her eyes. The fact that she didn't know how she died served as enough reason for her to fear Joseph. 

"That's not it? Then, what's the problem? As you can see I'm trying to eat here so I would really appreciate it if you guys don't disturb me while I'm trying to eat..." Joseph replied.

He stuffed several mouthfuls of bacon and rice into his mouth once again and even drank a glass of orange juice. 

Stafford had a frown on his face.

It was clear that he was angry but he didn't dare to voice out his grievances. 

Finally, it was Ethan who didn't have any enmity towards Joseph that spoke up, "Are you a member of the Universal Rankings? I don't think that I have seen your name in the Universal Rankings." 

"The Universal Rankings? What's that? Sounds quite cool..."

Joseph glanced at Ethan as he stuffed his mouth with food. 

"What's the Universal Rankings? Are you implying that you don't know about the Universal Rankings?"

"You're lying!"

"It's impossible for any player of Victory to not know about the Universal Rankings! Take a look at this petty guy Clarisse! He had already humiliated us, yet he still wants to rub salt on our wounds?" Stafford couldn't take it anymore. 

He pointed a finger at Joseph and ranted to Clarisse. 

Clarisse also had a frown on her face, she felt that Joseph was too pretentious... 

How could a player of Victory not know about the Universal Rankings when it was everyone's primary motivation as to why they were working hard to be as strong as possible? 

Being a part of the Universal Rankings drastically changed your life. 

You could make a living while playing Victory if you were a part of the Universal Rankings, so everyone really wanted to be included in it.

But this was easier said than done. 

Victory had several hundreds of millions of players so, being a member of the Universal Rankings, which could only contain a thousand players were incredibly difficult, or maybe even impossible. 

But why did Clarisse, Ethan, and Stafford suspect that Joseph was a player within the Universal Rankings?

It was because of how huge the damage that he dealt in a single attack against Clarisse!

Only those overpowered players within the Universal Rankings could possibly do such a thing! 

This was what the three believed in... 

But Joseph was actually refusing and even acting as if he didn't know what the Universal Rankings was? 

What a pretentious bastard! 

Joseph made a sidelong glance at the three and noticed their displeasure at his antics.

A bitter smile emerged on his lips for he really didn't know about what the Universal Rankings were.

But since he didn't have the obligation to explain to these three people about what kind of a person he was. 

He didn't bother explaining as he turned his attention to his food and continued on eating. 

Anger flashed across Clarisse's face but she didn't say anything. 

Stafford glanced at Clarisse and after seeing that she didn't have the intention to continue on speaking. He sighed and kept his silence.

Ethan, on the other hand, handed over a business card to Joseph and said. 

"I'm an intern at GMA News. If you are interested in telling your story to the world, please contact me and I'll surely assist you." Ethan reckoned that Joseph couldn't possibly resist the allure of popularity and riches.

This was why he was confident that he could make Joseph say yes to his requests. 

But unexpectedly, Joseph took the business card and quickly tucked it into his pocket. 

"..." 

Ethan stared at him in silence. 

"What? There's more? Hurry up! I really don't want to be disturbed while eating." Joseph frowned. 

"No... Nothing..." Ethan awkwardly scratched his head as he retreated. 

Stafford followed him and it was clear on his expression that he was incredibly angry. 

Clarisse remained standing in front of Joseph.

She held the hem of her skirt as she hung her head low and whispered in a voice that sounded more like the droning of a mosquito. 

"I'm... I'm sorry..." 

"Say what?" Joseph was too shocked that he stopped eating. Such a prideful and arrogant girl could actually admit to her mistakes and even apologize? It seems like there's more than meets the eye when it comes to this girl!

Joseph inwardly praised Clarisse's courage. 

But he maintained a cold facade as he faced her and said... 

"Oh, you want to say you're sorry? It's fine, I forgive you. We really don't have that many grievances against each other." 

He casually replied and Clarisse was astonished by the fact that Joseph easily forgave her. 

I thought that he would definitely not forgive me for what I had done, but unexpectedly... He's forgiving me this easily?

She inwardly thought as she stared at Joseph in a trance. 

Unsure of what she should do next... 

The plan that she made before approaching Joseph was only valid if Joseph didn't forgive her after her apologies. But now that Joseph actually forgave her without even thinking about it. Clarisse was at a loss about how she could proceed so she could achieve her goals. 

"What? There's more? Please... If you want to say more then can you spare me the commentary right now? I really am trying to eat here in peace, yet you and your friends keep on approaching me..." Joseph sighed. 

Clarisse finally awakened from her trance as she quickly replied, "No, no... Ah, yes! I will go now..." She turned around and was about to leave when she asked, "If possible and if you had really forgiven me... Can you tell me what Kingdom you are affiliated with?" 

Joseph stared at her and replied with a smile, "I'm at the Kingdom of Everlasting Frost or Absolute Frost, whatever you want to call it." 

"Really? I'm at the Kingdom of Burning Heaven!" Clarisse abruptly turned around and replied, "It seems like we're quite near to each other! Can I possibly visit you if I someday wander to the Kingdom of Absolute Frost?" 

So, she's from the Kingdom of Burning Heaven. It really is fitting that her character is affiliated with that Kingdom that's more like a giant red-light district.

Joseph inwardly snickered as he replied to what Clarisse had said, "That's not a problem, but I am quite busy so I probably won't have the time to entertain you that much." 

Clarisse sweetly smiled, "It's fine! That's okay! But... How can I contact you when I'm at the Kingdom of Absolute Frost? I don't know your in-game name and tag, and I don't know if it's appropriate to..." 

Joseph replied with a smile too and said, "How about you just take my number?" 

"Really? I can take your number? That's good!"

Clarisse swiftly took her smartphone and handed it over to Joseph. 

Joseph inputted some digits into her contacts and returned the phone to her. 

"Thanks! Are you available later at night? If possible, I really want to call you. But please don't think that I have impure intentions, all right? I just want to hear stories about the Kingdom that is perpetually covered by snow all year round. I really regret setting the Kingdom of Burning Heaven as my Kingdom of affiliation." Clarisse even heaved a deep sigh. 

Joseph smiled, "Yeah, I'm available later at night since Victory is still in maintenance." 

His reply reassured Clarisse as she sweetly smiled and said her goodbyes. 

After waving her goodbye. 

Joseph stared at his plate full of food and swiftly wolfed it down... 

Now, that the plate was empty.

He glanced at Clarisse and found that the latter was also staring at him. 

It's time for me to get the hell out of here... 

Joseph swiftly left the establishment and, in the future... 

Everyone would find out that the person who established the unbeatable three-second duel record within the Grand Internet Cafe was actually the first Mythical Ranked player and the Grand Duelist.

The worries of the owner of the Internet Cafe about the number of customers in his establishment would soon disappear in the future and he would definitely thank himself for not being stingy about the fifty-thousand pesos.

If not, he would've potentially offended a powerhouse that could easily end the reign of his establishment in the City of Sibu. 

But all of these were in the future...

For now, the owner of the Internet Cafe placed the three-second duel within the forums of Victory and it was quickly gathering the attention of everyone who couldn't believe that such a feat was actually possible. 

Later that night, Clarisse had finally returned from her house. She was standing in front of a full-body mirror, hesitation could be seen on her face as she held her smartphone and wracked her brains as to how she could break the ice between her and Joseph. 

Clarisse was a young woman who knew how to read along the lines. From Joseph's expression alone earlier when Stafford mentioned the Universal Rankings. It was clear that Joseph wasn't lying that he really didn't know anything about it. 

She realized at that time that this was a great opportunity for her to become a carp that leaped into the dragon's gate.

It was a great opportunity for her to change her life.

If she could latch onto Joseph's thighs as he inevitably ascended towards the Universal Rankings, she could ride his coattails and change her life for the better. 

Clarisse steeled her resolve. 

She took off her clothes and posed seductively in front of the mirror. 

A pleasing and seductive smile appeared on her face as she took several shots of her naked body and swiftly sent it towards the number that Joseph gave her earlier. 

A few minutes after sending the photos...

She quickly sent a message towards that number that said. 

Oh no! Sorry! That was an accident! I was supposed to save it into a hidden archive but I accidentally sent it to you, can you please delete those photos for me? 

Clarisse had a light smile on her face as she pretended that she sent those photos accidentally. With her knowledge about men, they would definitely act like they had deleted the image. It was also quite plausible that they would console her, and would act like a proper gentleman. 

However, at that moment... 

The seeds of lust had already been planted. 

Clarisse reckoned that since that man had already seen her body, he would definitely not be able to suppress his desires and from that point, Clarisse could finally have him in her grasp. 

Clarisse's smile widened, and her smartphone vibrated. 

She had received a reply... 

Gotcha! 

Clarisse quickly tapped on the reply. 

Really? You accidentally sent those photos? Was it really an accident or are you just a slut? 

"Wow... I didn't know that he was this aggressive..." Clarisse felt somewhat strange that Joseph was the one that's being aggressive... 

"But it's fine... At least, I can see that he's a man full of confidence. He knows what he wants and he's trying to take it for himself..." Clarisse repeatedly tapped on her phone and replied. 

No... I'm not... I'm not a slut... Why would you say that...? 

The reply was extremely fast to the point that Clarisse doubted if she was even talking to a real human instead of a bot. 

No, you're definitely a slut. Only a slut could pose like this. Good heavens, you even spread those legs and cheeks, it must be such a long time since you had a dick in ya, right? What a slut... 

Clarisse now had a frown on her face. 

Joseph's aggressiveness was far from her expectations for he thought that he was quite a gentleman. 

Yet, what was this? Just what was happening? 

Clarisse mustered her courage and replied. 

No, really... I'm not a slut... that was just an accident... 

Hahaha... You're saying that but you are definitely a slut. How about this? Do you want a video call? We can continue this there and have fun. 

Clarisse's eyes widened and joy flashed across her face. It was her plan to be in a video call with Joseph, but she didn't expect that everything would escalate this far so quickly...

But since everything was already at this point, what was the need for hesitation? 

Clarisse quickly put on some make-up and sent a video call request. 

The video call was quickly accepted and while it was loading...

Clarisse made sure that she was wearing her most seductive underwear. 

The video call finally loaded and the scene that she saw, thoroughly shocked and disgusted her. 

The person behind the video call whom he thought was Joseph wasn't actually Joseph! 

It was a man whose figure made him look like a mountain of meat. 

But that wasn't the reason why she was shaken to the core... 

It was because when the video call loaded, that disgusting man was actually holding his meat and was furiously beating it as he let out several muffled grunts. 

Oh, it's you... Yes, you really are sexy... Come, show me that pussy... quick! I'm about to bust here! 

"Hieeek!" 

Clarisse was quick to react and hurriedly closed the video call.

Her expression was as pale as a sheet of paper as she swiftly blocked the number. 

However, the damage was already done. 

Her eyes were already tainted and what was seen could never be unseen. 

"You bastard... How dare you..." Clarisse trembled in anger. 

Her chest violently heaved as he cried out. 

"How dare you give me a fake number!!!" 

Clarisse wanted to cry but no tears would come out.