The Grand Duelist

Joseph and Ezreal parted ways and the two of them went for their barracks. Once inside his residence within the Underground Penitentiary.

Joseph logged out of the game in order to sate the physiological needs of his body.

"I really did buy a lot of eggs and bacon..." 

A light smile escaped his lips when he opened the doors of his refrigerator. He couldn't help but feel happy due to the fact that just recently. His refrigerator almost didn't have anything inside it.

But now, after winning the Festival of Battles...

He acquired a lot of money to the extent that he could now fill his refrigerator to the brim without aching from pain.

"I guess, let's eat some breakfast. " Joseph took four eggs and eight strips of bacon from his refrigerator. He then proceeded on cooking them all for a hearty meal along with a few cups of steamed rice.

He carried all of his food towards the table near the couch so that he could watch television while eating.

Opening the television...

The voice of GMA's primary commentator for Victory rang loud and clear.

[Good morning everyone!] 

[For our exclusive report today about Life Within the World of Victory... Once again, we have sir Ray Gabriel, the Head of P.H Works' Development Team!] 

After the commentator's opening speech, the camera panned over to Ray Gabriel who sat on the couch at the left side commentator with a smile on his face.

[Thank you, thank you, I must really thank you, Raffy for giving me this opportunity.]

Ray Gabriel slightly bowed his head.

Raffy, the commentator was astonished by Ray Gabriel's gesture...

It has to be known that Ray Gabriel was someone considered as having more influence than the leaders within the United Nations combined. For him to bow his head towards a mere commentator like him...

What a humble man!

The flattered Raffy lightly chuckled and after a short conversation between the two.

Today's main topic was finally revealed.

[We have the representative of Victory's Pro-NPC Alliance, Mister Jun Santos!]

The commentator gestured to his right. The camera panned over there and revealed the figure of a young man who had an amiable smile on his face as he stared right at the camera. A crimson blush could be seen on his cheeks and slight anxiousness could be felt from his movements.

It was apparent that he wasn't used to being watched by so many people around the world...

[Uh... Thank you, sir Raffy... For this great opportunity, and thank you, everyone. For playing Victory!] 

Jun Santos stuttered as he spoke and he bowed his head to the camera in a panic.

[Hahaha, calm down, calm down. Mister Santos. No one's out there to bite you...]

Raffy chuckled in amusement when he saw Jun Santos's antics.

Ray Gabriel merely smiled at what was happening.

[Right now, our main topic for today is regarding the Pro-NPC Alliance's complaints towards P.H Works loose protection policies regarding the rights of NPCs...]

[Can you indulge in every one of us Mister Jun about the current status of NPCs when compared to players? How are they treated by players?] 

Jun Santos nodded his head and newfound determination that came out of nowhere suddenly filled his body. He stared hard directly at Ray Gabriel before saying.

[That is right, sir Raffy. The reason why I am here for today is to ask the Head of the Development Team himself about what steps are they planning to take in the future when it comes to protecting the basic human rights of NPCs...]

[Right now, the state of NPCs within the game if compared to players is incredibly appalling.] 

Ray Gabriel turned to Jun Santos and asked.

[By appalling, just what do you mean?]

[What do I mean by that, you say? Are you purposely playing dumb, or do you think that we, members of the Pro-NPC Alliance are all stupid?]

Jun Santos sharply replied which made Ray Gabriel's eyebrows raise in return. Raffy felt that tension was building up between the two so, he hurriedly intervened.

[Well, well, well. Let's calm down there and talk about this properly, okay?]

[In other words, Mister Jun Santos wants to know about what does the P.H Works have in plan when it comes to protecting the basic rights of NPCs, right? But Mister Jun Santos, as far as I can remember. Aren't you a married player?]

Raffy stared at Jun Santos with a light smile on his face.

Jun Santos revealed an expression of frustration. Raffy deliberately mentioned the fact that he was married to an NPC so that everyone would question Jun Santos's credibility when speaking on behalf of the NPCs.

After all, it would be impossible for him to not feel biased towards the NPCs when he was married to one in-game.

But Jun Santos didn't back down.

[Does me being married to a resident of Victory even matter in this discussion, sir Raffy?]

He challengingly said.

[Well, I just can't help but wonder why mister Santos is feeling confident today.] 

Raffy winked at Jun Santos before he turned to look at Ray Gabriel.

[I think I know what Mister Santos wants to ask from us. But when it comes to forcefully canceling the slave trade between the Kingdom of Nether, Burning Heaven and Everlasting Frost...] 

[I am afraid that there's not that much that we can do about it...]

[The world of Victory is managed by the Supercomputer Noah. So, if we did something like that...] 

[A butterfly effect may possibly happen and we may end up disrupting the cycle of life within the world of Victory. In turn, messing up with the Supercomputer's operation resulting in the complete shutdown of the game...]

[My heart is broken that we cannot do anything regarding the suffering of NPCs...]

[Because of that, I humbly apologize.]

Ray Gabriel bowed his head towards Jun Santos.

[You...]

Jun Santos mumbled in astonishment.

He only came here to ask for an explanation, or if much better... A roadmap from Ray Gabriel about their plans of relieving the suffering of NPCs within the world of Victory.

But what he got in return was a refusal and a heartfelt apology from Ray Gabriel who even bowed his head towards him.

[I... I understand... But is there really no way that we can use so that we could stop the slave trade between these three Kingdoms?] 

Jun Santos looked conflicted. Although he really wanted change. He knew that forceful changes would just do more harm than good.

From what Ray Gabriel said, the effects of forcefully intervening within the matters of Victory were catastrophic. 

Jun Santos didn't have any other choice but to agree.

Ray Gabriel revealed a light smile and he replied...

[There is...]

[There is?!]

Jun Santos immediately replied in a hurry.

[Become a high-ranking official of the Empire of Truedawn. At least a duke. If you managed on doing that then, your influence would be enough to forcefully stop the slave trade between the three countries all without the catastrophic results that I was talking about earlier.] 

Ray Gabriel said, and bitterness flashed on Jun Santos's expression.

It has to be known that at the current state of the game...

No player had even managed on pinpointing the exact location of the Empire of Truedawn. Of course, since no one could find the exact location of the Empire...

How could they visit it? 

But from the knowledge gathered from the people within the forums. It was a well-known fact that the Empire of Truedawn contained monsters that were at least Level 300.

The average level of players within the world of Victory right now was more or less Level 100, with top-rankers at Level 150 and above, but below Level 200. 

In other words, with the leveling speed of top-rankers. It would still take at least a year for top-rankers to reach the average level of monsters within the Empire of Truedawn.

Add about six months on top of that and the devoted common players of the game could finally thrive at the Empire of Truedawn.

A year wasn't really that long, but considering that a single hour on the outside world was equal to six hours of time within the world of Victory.

The change for the protection of NPCs would take too long to arrive.

Jun Santos gnashed his teeth in frustration...

Embarrassment couldn't be seen on his face anymore.

But after a short moment, he eventually gave up. Raising his head, he made a sidelong glance at Raffy and said.

[Display the images that I gave to the crew.]

Raffy nodded his head and signaled to the technical team.

Images flashed in the screen behind Raffy, Ray Gabriel, and Jun Santos.

Joseph was shocked silly when he saw the images displayed within the display.

[This image was captured by one of my comrades near the River of Poso at the Capital City Reinhardt. What you can see here is the image of a Demonic Inquisitor that is possibly a player, in the process of forcing confessions out of those people kneeling right there.]

Jun Santos explained. 

Raffy frowned...

[Judging from the emerald green marker on top of their heads, could it be that they are players?]

Jun Santos turned to look at him and exclaimed.

[Yes, that is right! Those people right there kneeling in front of the Demonic Inquisitor are players! I am sure that everyone here knows about the legend of the Underground Penitentiary, right?]

Raffy nodded his head.

[Yeah, I heard about it... There's even a popular adage for the Underground Penitentiary saying that Death isn't a punishment within the confines of that prison but the greatest reward. Am I right, Mister Santos?]

[That is indeed the truth! That Demonic Inquisitor right there is from the Underground Penitentiary for Heinous Crimes of the Kingdom of Nether. The name of the Penitentiary itself is pretty self-explanatory so I don't think that I have to explain to everyone about what it means...]

[But what's important is that these players...]

[These bastards right here are players convicted of various heinous crimes such as several counts of murders and rape! But the most astonishing thing is...]

[These players did those atrocities to the residents of Victory. In other words, to the NPCs!]

Jun Santos glanced at Raffy before staring right at Ray Gabriel.

[What can you say about this, sir Ray Gabriel? P.H Works's Head of the Development Team?] 

A bitter smile emerged on Ray Gabriel's face when he realized that there's no way that he could subterfuge his way out of this issue.

In the end, he had to make promises to the Pro-NPC Alliance that sanctions towards players who often commit crimes against NPCs would be far stringent than before.

But Jun Santos who wanted a better solution argued.

Unfortunately, he couldn't do anything against Ray Gabriel...

After all, his title of being the representative of the Pro-NPC Alliance wasn't really anything impressive. 

At the end of their discussion, the two parties reached a concession and the debate soon ended.

But a bitter smile could be seen on Joseph's face when he heard Raffy's theory as to who the Demonic Inquisitor was that had the heart to execute a player even though he was also a player.

Raffy theorized that he was a serial killer in the outside world or even an ex-convict. But no matter what, Joseph knew that what he was saying were mere bullshit. Though, Joseph was glad that he covered his player ID back then, or else he would've had a lot of trouble today.

After washing the dishes, and cleaning his room for a while...

Joseph finally returned to the world of Victory.

But when he came back.

What welcomed him was a gathering that he didn't expect...

Only one day remained before the Legendary Blacksmith Krid's scheduled execution.

Could he even formulate any suitable plans to forcefully bring Krid away from the prison?

Who knows?

But one thing was for sure.

Joseph wouldn't easily give up anymore. No matter what the challenge was...