The Grand Duelist

"I apologize for the inconvenience that these incomplete guards caused for you, sir Joseph!"

When the group finally entered the headquarters of P.H Works...

Elizabeth hurriedly apologized to Joseph.

Joseph turned to look at her and smiled.

The reason why Elizabeth deliberately apologized within the building was that she clearly didn't want to cause unnecessary trouble to Joseph.

After all, she was actually quite popular online, and if her fans saw her bowing her head towards a young man...

That young man would definitely attract their anger no matter what.

Joseph waved his hand, "It's okay, I'm fine..."

The smile on his face indicated that he had already forgotten about that incident. Since those that needed to be punished already received their punishment, there was no use on pursuing the matter anymore. Joseph was more curious about the headquarters of P.H Works...

Sweeping his gaze around, Joseph revealed an astonished look on his face.

"This place..."

"Why does this seem more like a traditional Internet Cafe than a place for work?"

Lily also noticed the same and she couldn't help but comment under her breath.

Ray turned to look at Lily and smiled, "I didn't expect that someone so young as you would know about traditional Internet Cafes..."

Lily's knowledge was really unexpected since it has been thirty years since traditional Internet Cafes went obsolete.

With the materials necessary for the creation of one's personal computer going so cheap...

A Personal Computer became a staple of one's household; even the poorest of the poor had their own personal computer.

"Hahaha..." Lily lifted a smile, "It's because my grandpa always talked to me a lot about what he did when he was still young."

"Oh, really? How old is your grandpa?"

"He's a hundred and thirty-years-old," Lily answered without hesitation.

"Wow! Being able to reach such an age is quite rare. Your grandpa must be a treasure trove of information. The reason why he keeps on talking about what he did when he was young and the times back then to you is probably that he's afraid..."

"Afraid?" Lily was taken aback.

"Yes, afraid..." Ray revealed a mysterious look, "He's afraid that the youngsters of today may forget about the good old times back then."

Elizabeth turned to look at him in shock, "Why do you know so much about those chaotic times?"

Ray smiled, "It's because my grandpa back then was also acting like this young lass's grandpa!"

Lily sweetly smiled, "So, that's the case! I see, then sir Ray. Both of our grandpas are kindred spirits!"

Ray nodded his head and didn't object, "That's right."

Elizabeth revealed a frown on her face when she saw how Lily was slowly getting close with Ray.

Lily noticed the frown on her face, but she didn't think too much of it.

She was nothing but a mere Secretary.

A mere Secretary like her actually wants to hook up with her boss?

That's taboo!

Lily inwardly sneered.

She proceeded to slowly hook Ray into her net, all the while, also keeping her attention on Joseph so that he wouldn't feel neglected. Through this manner, she could hit two birds in one stone! How profitable! What a bright scheme!

The frown on Elizabeth's face never disappeared until they arrived at the room where Mar was staying.

The doors automatically opened when the sensors detected Ray's unique presence.

"Oh, finally you're back! Wait, he's here!" Mar exclaimed in delight when he saw Joseph.

He instantly felt that Joseph was a decent man when he saw that his appearance in-game didn't differ that much from his appearance here in the outside world.

In other words, Joseph wasn't a fake person who would try to beautify themselves as much as possible for their pursuit of short-lived vanity and self-satisfaction.

"Young man, we've been waiting for you. Come here for a bit."

Mar gestured for Joseph to come closer and the two started their own banter.

After a short introduction from Mar, he then proceeded to ask, "Are you feeling well after that lengthy King's Trial? You spent quite a long time in that world... I'm really amazed that you managed to endure such a long stay and didn't drop out of the trial." 

"Hahaha... I'm doing fine, sir... I don't really feel anything weird. But if I were to nitpick, I'd say that my horizons were widened." Joseph honestly answered.

He came here upon the request of P.H Works since they wanted to make sure that there was nothing strange going on within his body.

Why would Joseph lie on answering their questions?

That didn't serve any benefit to him and was nothing but detrimental.

"I see, so your horizons were widened?"

"Hahaha..."

"If you say so, but we're still going to run some checks on you. Even if you say that you don't feel anything strange in your body. We still have to make sure that you're completely fine." Mar patted Joseph's shoulders and boisterously laughed.

"Do you have any questions before we start those tests? You can ask us anything you want."

Elizabeth suddenly interjected.

"Really?" 

Joseph was delighted.

Ray faintly nodded his head, indicating that he was agreeing to Elizabeth's proposal.

"Then..." 

Joseph swept his gaze across Elizabeth, Mar, and Ray.

"Can I somehow get Elizabeth back?" 

"Hmm?"

Everyone was taken aback by his question.

Especially, Lily who had no clue about what they were talking about.

Complicated emotions flashed across Ray's face as he let out a sigh and replied, "I'll explain everything to you later, that also includes everything about the King's Trial and why the time dilation in the King's Trial is so huge compared to the world of Victory..."

"That also includes everything about your Personal Pixie Assistant, Elizabeth..."

Joseph nodded his head, even though he had a lot of questions at this moment.

There was no use rushing for it.

Ray would eventually have to answer him later this day, so what's the rush?

"Okay, let's go and start the test." Mar stood up.

Ray nodded and turned to look at Elizabeth, "Eli, give the orders to start the tests..."

"Joseph, follow us outside, and as for you, young lass..."

He turned to look at Lily before continuing, "I'm sorry, but you are not allowed to follow us from this point. Outsiders aren't allowed but don't worry. You can stay in this room and maybe even borrow that capsule there to play while you wait..."

"The test will take several hours to complete, so you can play Victory until we return,"

Ray patiently explained.

"Outsiders aren't allowed? But I'm not an outsider! I'm his girlfriend!" Lily pointed at Joseph.

Elizabeth and Ray turned to look at him for confirmation.

Joseph was immediately placed onto the hot seat.

A bitter smile appeared on his face as he said, "Yes, that's right..." 

"I see..." Ray's eyes flashed with a barely imperceptible light before he turned to look at Lily and said, "I'm sorry to cause such a misunderstanding but by outsiders..."

"What I meant is that people that don't know about what Joseph went through aren't allowed to follow us..."

"That place is highly-classified..."

"Even if you're Joseph's girlfriend, that doesn't mean that we can just allow you to go in. We can't really risk leaking valuable information to your competitor after all. Sorry, if this sounds as if we're being cautious at you but this is just how everything works." Ray promptly explained.

Elizabeth coldly snorted, "Sir Ray, let's just go. I'm sure she'll be fine here. This place is big and it has everything that a person needs, there's also a gaming capsule."

Ray turned to look at her and simultaneously thought.

Why does it feel like she's in a bad mood? 

I'll go and pamper her later.

Ray decided.

"Hahaha... How about you stop being so stingy Ray and also give her an Executive Access Keycard valid for today? In that way, she will be able to go wherever she wants. This room is quite boring and dull, I don't think she'd want to stay here for such a long time." Mar gave a proposal.

Ray glanced at Mar for a moment.

"That makes sense. Elizabeth, give her an Executive Access Keycard valid for today." 

Elizabeth faintly nodded and quickly went to work.

She then returned after a few minutes, carrying a brand new Executive Access Keycard.

"Lily... I'll be going with them now. You can take a stroll while you wait. I'll just text you when the tests are finally done." 

Lily nodded her head and sweetly smiled, "Okay... You take care now, all right? I'll take a tour around here for a while, don't get into trouble, okay?" She then moved closer to Joseph and planted a kiss on his left cheek, eliciting a bitter smile from the latter. 

After this small event...

The group left Lily in the room and proceeded to the testing area where they would conduct the tests necessary for checking if Joseph was suffering from the side-effects of the King's Trial.

But while they were in the middle of their journey, Ray suddenly stopped and asked.

"Joseph..."

"Are you curious as to why we created the King's Trial?"

Joseph furrowed his eyebrows, but he still answered honestly, "Isn't the King's Trial made for those players that wanted to be Kings?"

Ray nodded, "Yes, that's right, but don't you think it's strange that the time dilation in that world is quite huge compared to the world of Victory and on the outside world?"

Joseph finally understood what Ray was talking about.

It was indeed quite strange that the time dilation was so huge, it didn't make sense.

Now that he thought deeper into it, he suddenly got curious as to why such a world was made, yet wasn't really widely used. If Victory had such a time dilation, then it would definitely become everyone's second world.

After all, with a person's average lifespan...

They would be able to live several hundreds of lifetimes in the world of the King's Trial.

"Are you curious now?" Ray asked with a faint smile.

Joseph nodded, "Yes..."

Ray let out a sigh and replied, "In that case, then let me show you..."

"Wait!"

Elizabeth suddenly chimed in.

"What's wrong, Eli?" Ray asked.

Mar also stared at him, but he didn't say anything.

Strangely, there was this rare look of seriousness on his face.

The atmosphere turned thick to the extent that Joseph felt uncomfortable.

"I just want to know if Sir Ray... if Sir Ray really wants to explain everything to him..."

"Yes, I do..." Ray lightly chuckled.

"But doesn't that mean that you must show her to him, so he'll understand everything?"

"Yes, that's right."

Elizabeth reeled in astonishment, "But if we do that, then sir Ray may..."

"It's fine." Ray didn't let Elizabeth continue her sentence.

He interrupted her and his faint smile deepened.

Seeing the smile on Ray's face, Elizabeth didn't stop him anymore.

The group continued their journey until they reached a place that looked more like a hospital.

The thick smell of antiseptic made Joseph furrow his eyebrows.

"We're here." Ray suddenly spoke.

The automatic doors in front of them opened, and when they stepped inside.

They found themselves standing in front of a room that had glass for its walls.

Within that room was a single bed, and lying on that bed was a little girl who looked to be at the age of six to seven-years-old.

The little girl was quite beautiful and charming.

But there was something horrifying about her situation.

All sorts of tubes and machines were attached to her body.

It didn't take a genius to know that this little girl's life was only being maintained by machines.

In other words, she was effectively dead.

Ray let out an audible sigh.

He turned to look at Joseph and said.

"This little girl is my sister..."

"She doesn't have any name here in the real world, but you probably know her name within the world of the King's Trial."

Joseph's pupils constricted upon hearing what Ray said.

A sense of foreboding washed over his body as he whispered in utter astonishment and shock.

"Are you saying that she's..."

"Are you saying that she's Elizabeth?!"