NOVEL NEXT Chapter 423: We’ll see who laughs last
The newcomer spread his arms wide as if presenting himself to the entire courtyard, his crimson-and-gold coat trailing behind him like flames. His hair blazed scarlet under the temple's light, and a cocky grin stretched across his face.
"Reynard…" Michael's voice was flat, molten eyes narrowing behind his golden mask.
"Tch. This bastard is also here." Viola scowled.
Reynard's grin only widened at their reactions, his teeth flashing white against the fiery glow of his hair. He gave a mock bow, the tails of his coat flaring dramatically. "Ah, such a warm welcome from my dear friends. I'm touched. Truly."
Michael's eyes glinted dangerously behind the mask. His tone was cold steel. "Don't call us that."
"Oh, come now." Reynard straightened, clasping his hands behind his head in a deliberately careless gesture. "We all carry the same weight of the world, don't we? North, South, West… what a lovely reunion this is. Only the East is missing. I wonder… will he show up too?" His gaze flicked knowingly between them, sharp despite the easy smile.
Viola scoffed. "Keep talking, Reynard. Let's see if that pretty mouth of yours keeps smiling when I curse it shut."
Reynard laughed again, unbothered, tilting his head so the sunlight caught in his scarlet hair like fire. "Curse me? Here? In their temple?" He gestured casually at the towering effigy of the Sunfire God, its shadow sprawling across the courtyard. "Careful, dear Viola. Watch what you say. You don't want to end up in prison on day 1 now, do you?"
While the three of them were chatting, the teleportation array once again lit up. This time, a new group of people arrived, and every single one of them was wearing a mask. There was no clear leader among them, and the group silently dispersed as soon as they arrived.
"Must be those Chinese fuckers. They never cooperate with anyone. Makes me wonder why we even include them in our little group." Reynard spat.
Michael's molten eyes narrowed a fraction, his masked face tilting just enough to watch the dispersing figures. None of them so much as glanced toward Michael, Viola, or Reynard. They slipped into the crowd as if they had always belonged there.
"They don't need to cooperate," Michael said finally. "Though we are allies, we are not of the same allegiance."
Reynard scoffed, shoving his hands into his coat pockets. "Tch. Always so mysterious, always so self-righteous. If you ask me, they're snakes waiting to bite us the second we turn our backs. One day, that whole silent act is going to piss me off enough that I'll—"
"Try it," Viola cut him off sharply, her silver eyes narrowing. "You won't even see your own blood before they cut your throat."
For once, Reynard's grin faltered, though only for a heartbeat. He leaned back with a mocking laugh, stretching as though unconcerned. "Fine, fine. Princess. I won't say anything bad about them anymore. Hey, I am all for them. I love me some Chinese for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and I am not talking about food."
The men around him laughed at the vulgar remark, and the Sunfire priests at the temple gates finally stepped forward, their voices raised in warning. "Foreigners! This is sacred ground. Leave your quarrels outside the temple, or the wrath of the Sunfire God will fall upon you all."
Neither Michael nor Viola lingered around any longer. Along with their teams, they silently departed the temple.
Michael's golden mask glinted once before he turned, his team falling in step with disciplined silence. Every one of them radiated suppressed killing intent, and yet their footsteps were soundless. The priests visibly relaxed as his group disappeared into the streets.
Viola lingered just a fraction longer, her silver gaze sweeping over Reynard with the cold bite of a blade's edge. "Enjoy your jokes while you can, Reynard. One day soon, you'll choke on them." Her voice was soft, but every word dripped with venom.
Then, with a swirl of her cloak, she led her followers out through the western archway, their murderous aura fading only when they melted into the crowds beyond.
That left Reynard and his men in the temple courtyard, laughing among themselves as though they owned the place. His crimson coat flared as he spun dramatically in front of the effigy of the Sunfire God, ignoring the scandalized looks of the priests.
"Ah, don't you just love reunions? Nothing better than watching old friends try to act like they're above it all." He smirked, eyes narrowing dangerously. "But we'll see who laughs last."
He then turned towards the teleportation array once again as if he was waiting for it to light up. But even after a few minutes, no such thing happened.
"Hmmm? So the other bastards are not planning to even show up? Only four out of ten. How pathetic." He spat, his grin still plastered across his face as if mocking the silence of the array. His men laughed once again.
Reynard's eyes gleamed with fire as he ran a hand through his scarlet hair, flicking his gaze toward the distant skyline of the Sunfire Capital. "Pathetic cowards. Let them hide. They want to let us do all the heavy labor and see how things turn out. Heh. Sure. Sit and watch while I gobble up every damn thing."
He snapped his fingers, and his entourage straightened instantly, the laughter dying into silence. "We'll move ahead." Reynard declared. "Follow me and take me to that bastard Blood God first. Let's settle some scores once and for all."
With that, he turned on his heel, crimson coat trailing like a streak of fire, his men following in perfect step. As they left the Blazing Sun Temple behind, murmurs rippled through the bystanders.
"Who are these people?"
"Newbies? Impossible. I felt like I was drowning just standing near them."
"Why do I feel like something major is going to happen in the game now?"
"Shush. I am still daydreaming about that princess. What a beauty… even if she kills me, I will die happily."
"Shut up, idiot. As if she could even look at you. She has eyes only for me."
"You both are idiots." Another player shook his head helplessly at the two men.
***
Mass release sponsored by Syphatrol