Bully Lord

Part-72

The last drops of cold coffee vanished down Mili's throat, and she placed the empty glass on the table with a decisive clink.  "Alright," she announced, her voice firm, "let's go."

James stood, a nervous energy coursing through him.  He followed Mili back outside, the initial surprise of her national champion status now replaced by a burgeoning sense of anticipation.  He climbed onto his bike, her words about needing to see something echoing in his mind. 

They navigated the bustling streets once more, Mili leading the way with a renewed urgency.  Finally, she pulled up short in front of a massive wrought-iron gate.  It was ornate and old, etched with intricate patterns that spoke of a bygone era.  There was a sense of grandeur about it, a stark contrast to the bustling marketplace behind them.

Mili dismounted her bike and gestured towards the gate.  "Follow me," she said, pushing it open with surprising ease.

James hesitated for a moment, his eyes scanning the residential area beyond.  It was a mix of old and new, with a single high-rise apartment building towering over rows of smaller, two-story houses.  A few people from well planed street and several curious faces peeked out from windows as they entered, but no one spoke.  The silence amplified James' already churning anxieties.  Where exactly were they going?

He followed Mili, keeping a safe distance behind her.  This entire situation felt surreal – his bookish classmate leading him through a hidden gate into a secret enclave guarded by curious stares.  He couldn't help but feel like a character in a fantastical story, one where the line between reality and the unknown had blurred.

"Relax, James," Mili finally said, as if sensing his apprehension.  "They're just curious.  No one here will hurt you."

Her words offered little comfort, but James nodded, pushing down his anxieties.  He would trust Mili, at least for now.  After all, she had led him on this wild goose chase, and he was already knee-deep in the pond.

As they walked deeper into the residential area, the initial awkwardness slowly faded.  The air here felt different, calmer, almost magical.  A flock of birds chirped overhead, their melody replacing the city's cacophony.  James couldn't pinpoint it, but there was a distinct energy here, a hum that vibrated beneath the surface of normalcy.

They reached the base of the high-rise building, its sleek glass facade reflecting the setting sun.  Mili stopped and turned to him, a determined glint in her eyes.

"This is it, James," she said.  "This is where I wanna take you to."

A bewildered chuckle escaped James' lips.  "A martial arts training center?"  He scanned the imposing building, its sleek glass facade more suited to a corporate headquarters than a place of flying kicks and bone-crunching takedowns. 

Mili nodded, her expression a curious mix of determination and anticipation.  "The best in Dhaka, maybe even all of Bangladesh.  They train champions here, James.  The real deal, not… well, not like Sourov."

James couldn't help but grin.  The mention of his unlikely schoolyard nemesis brought back a wave of surprising confidence.  He'd faced down Sourov, and he was still standing (mostly).  Maybe facing off against a real martial artist wouldn't be so bad.

As if on cue, a notification materialized before his eyes, a translucent blue box with bold black lettering:

**Mission 13: Challenge someone to a duel.**

**Reward: WIS +1**

**Penalty (Failure): Stats decrease by 1**