First Move, Checkmate: How Will You Respond?

“It was me who did it.”

Gwen looked towards the voice. It was Victor.

Hearing Victor say it was him, she naturally believed it.

After all, Victor’s reputation as a tier three mage was still prestigious. Dealing with these bandits was a piece of cake for him.

“What are you doing here?”

Gwen turned her head back, very curious that since Victor was here, why did Lia still call her over.

She summoned a crystal that flowed with colorful radiance and leaned against Lia.

The colors on that crystal gradually disappeared. Victor noticed Lia also had one around her waist.

The two of them were communicating through these magic crystals, similar to phones that could connect two lines.

Victor maintained his stern poker face and explained unhurriedly, “My convoy is nearing the capital city. I came to escort them and took care of these bandits along the way.”

Hearing his explanation, Gwen didn’t doubt him. She turned around and ordered the knights, “Check the bodies, see if you can identify any faces, investigate their identities, and report back to me afterwards.”

“Yes!”

Receiving the order, the knights swiftly sprang into action.

“Lia, be careful. Contact me immediately next time there’s danger.”

After giving instructions, Gwen left with the knights.

Once she was gone, Lia was fuming. Her face swelled into a steamed bun.

Clearly she was the one who dealt with the bandits. She wanted to show off in front of Gwen, but Victor suddenly showed up and stole her credit.

“There’s wisdom in keeping wealth inconspicuous,” Victor said impassively. Lia calmed down instantly.

The convoy members were all their own people. It was fine for them to see it, but if anyone knew her magic came from an artifact, she could be in danger.

As a merchant, she never underestimated human greed.

“Yeah…I understand.”

Victor was very satisfied that he had taught Lia a lesson. A sense of accomplishment arose in him as an older brother.

He walked up to Lia and held up a finger.

The dim gem flashed a red glow as he refilled her magic.

After doing that, he prepared to leave.

But Lia hesitantly asked, “Why did you come over? I don’t believe what you told Gwen earlier.”

“I sensed you activating magic, so I came over curiously to see what was going on.”

Victor turned around and answered her flatly. Not a glimmer of light flashed in his eyes, still the same icy face.

Hearing Victor’s words, Lia felt a subtle, complex emotion.

Growing up, she had never received concern from Victor before.

But what happened today?

Did someone knock some sense into him?

A sudden awakening of conscience?

The inner Lia quickly came up with explanations.

Victor watched her quietly and continued, “The convoy attack may be related to my enemies, but I’ve lost count of them. I’m not sure exactly who, so be more careful yourself.”

Finally Lia found a chance to retort, “Huh, so you know you’re unpopular.”

She had some guesses about the origins of today’s bandits, but didn’t tell Victor.

“Have you tried the potions?”

Victor abruptly threw out a question. Lia nodded. There was an indescribable surprise in her tone.

The exhausted mages each drank a bottle and instantly became energetic.

Even not being a mage herself, she could understand how incredible the effect was.

“I brought the convoy this time not just for ore trade. I’ve picked out a storefront in the capital city.”

“With so many adventurers, especially mages, selling this on a busy street will surely be a hit.”

Hearing Lia’s description, Victor secretly admired her executive ability.

He didn’t show it, since Victor never complimented anyone.

“If you have any difficulties in the capital city, I may not be able to help. Just contact Gwen more then.”

Lia tilted her head with a long “Oh~?”

She looked at Victor dubiously.

“You don’t know?”

Victor knitted his brows, signaling Lia to stop speaking in riddles.

“Gwen is leaving for a mission in a few days. I doubt she’ll be back in half a month.”

“Can’t believe her own fiancé doesn’t even know this. Might as well have her prepare to remarry.”

While ridiculing Victor, Lia secretly watched his facial expression.

Of course Victor didn’t know about this. He and Gwen barely had any contact. To be honest, he couldn’t even figure out what their relationship status was right now.

“Where is she going?”

Seeing no change in Victor’s expression, Lia’s hope of getting a reaction from him was dashed. He was asking about a stranger’s whereabouts.

Somewhat bored, Lia fiddled with her mage hand and casually answered, “She said she’s going to Mount Viseu.”

“Though it’s a dormant volcano, locals reported strange sounds coming from the mountain. The emperor sent her to investigate if it will erupt, to prepare countermeasures in advance.”

Hearing this name, Victor froze slightly.

Memories surfaced in his mind.

That place was not actually a dormant volcano.

Concealed under layers of magma in the crater was a massive monster – the neutral world boss that appeared in the first chapter of the game.

Its strength was not to be underestimated.

World bosses in the game could be challenged by all players on the server. Their levels were extremely high with health pools vastly thicker than normal bosses.

Only after three days of repeated player deaths was it finally whittled down to its last sliver of health.

If Victor remembered correctly, that boss would awaken after one and a half years.

At that time, players’ levels were generally low since the game had only been open for half a year. Most were only around level 20.

Yet that boss was a staggering level 50!

Players could hardly break its defense.

He still recalled when the boss awakened from the volcano, the surrounding towns were razed to the ground.

The imperial army and knights were sent to subdue it but were easily crushed.

In dire straits, the empire could only seek help from ‘players’ and other adventurers.

That world boss took three full days of deaths for players to finally grind down its last bit of health.

Victor was fortunate to participate in that campaign. He remembered staying up three nights in a row, logging in each day just to chip away a tiny fraction of the boss’s health alongside other players.

Recalling it now still made his blood pump excitedly.

Effort pays off. Lavish rewards were given to every player who contributed to that battle.

Even later rechallenging the instance with different classes, the visceral despair of the first encounter could never be felt again.

Still, Victor was curious to see what it looked like while dormant.

The Furnace Beast, that was the name players gave it.

As the name suggested, it was like a colossal sky-scorching furnace, striking fear with the promise of desolation.

Its emergence even turned the earth into charred wastelands.

Victor decided to pay Gwen a visit tonight and probe for information.

If he could hitch a ride on Gwen’s mission, even better.

The mages left in crumpled heaps were dumbfounded watching Victor teleport in and out with a snap of his fingers.

That…that was the legendary family head of the Clayvinnas?

Able to casually cast teleportation magic, even more powerful than their boss!

Before long, inventory was completed without any missing cargo, much to Lia’s relief.

Lia called over a subordinate and gestured for her to come closer. She then whispered in the woman’s ear,

“Contact our people down there and investigate the recent movements of the Duquois family.”

Her eyes instantly grew cold and sharp.

“The Clayvinnas’ convoys have never been robbed by others before.”

She had long harbored suspicions about the Duke.

The only new enemy of Victor’s recently was the Duke’s little daughter.

As for Victor’s other past enemies? The ones who could be buried were buried, the ones who could be exiled were exiled.

Those who truly couldn’t be dealt with wouldn’t be foolish enough to touch their family’s convoy.

Other than the Duke, she didn’t believe anyone else would be so rude.

It had always been only them collecting protection fees from other families. Even in the capital city, they couldn’t let these locals bully them!

…

Victor teleported back home and immediately ducked into his bedroom to change into fresh clothes.

He told the servants to ready a carriage to visit the Delin family estate.

The servants swiftly carried out his orders.

At the same time, Gwen had just finished work for the day.

The first thing she did upon returning home was remove her armor and intricate garments.

The maids had already drawn her a hot bath. Gwen soaked in the tub, stretching and relaxing her limbs, enjoying the rare respite.

“Mmm… Ha!”

A comfortable sound escaped her mouth as she closed her eyes, letting the gentle water envelop her body.

Just then, the maid knocked on the bathroom door.

“Miss, you have a visitor.”

Gwen was soaking pleasantly. Hearing the voice, she let out a lazy “Mm-hmm” and floated up from the water.

Her bare, fair back met the tub’s edge. Water beads rolled down her skin, rippling the surface.

“Haah…who is it?”

She had just yawned when the maid outside suddenly said,

“It’s Mr. Victor.”

Splash!

Gwen’s body slipped and she tumbled entirely into the water.