MMORPG: The Elementalist

Inside a private box within Heavenly Restaurant, Qin Ruo played the part of a graceful loser—preparing a table as per the bet in Aricus Ruins .

When Ireya went inside the box, Li Lanlan, who was discussing animatedly away with Luo Qian (Dinosaurcerer) about the game"s clear progress rose from their seats along with several others .

“Hah! Our great clan leader Qin is growing in stature—even Sister Iri, the finest of our company"s three beauties honors us with her presence . ”

Ireya"s beauty certainly shone: her charm never lessened despite having divorce once, one of Xiaoxiao and Li Lanlan"s cla.s.s . As she entered with grace and flair, every male colleague in the box discreetly felt that it was worth being there today .

Be that as it may, the human resources manager was not to be teased…

“Oh, right—Luo Qian, you usually go for gatherings with Ireya"s department as well… why aren"t you greeting her today?”

Luo Qian"s smiled turned pained at once .

“For all that"s good in the world, would I dare to? I"m just being in awe of Qin Ruo"s charm here… And didn"t Xiaoxiao said it? Look, even Li Lanlan, the cool beauty of our financial department would refuse any invite from whichever male colleague you care to name, and yet she"s here today… Tsk, the cheek…”

“Nice . You"re cold-shouldering me huh?”

“Ah, that"s not it…” Luo Qian squealed in awe of her formidability inwardly as he put up is arms—but before he could explain, his comrade Brother Da simply betrayed him .

“Wrong . That"s three gla.s.ses . ”

Bang!

A bottle of beer was placed in front of Luo Qian as a pretty waitress grinned and went to fill him up .

“Well, uh, no… How nice of you, w.a.n.g Da, now I really know you—I"ll drink d.a.m.n it, it"s no loss with three beauties here . ”

Luo Qian loosened his tie and downed the three gla.s.ses at once . Then, before he could dig a bigger hole for himself, he gloomily turned toward the pretty waitress beside him .

“Are you really getting me drunk here? Hurry up with the dishes . ”

Everyone laughed themselves silly .

As the group dined while Qin Ruo hesitated to talk to Ireya about his leave application, she had already noticed him and smiled .

“Alright . Stop looking over here and just say it—Xiaxiao"s getting jealous . ”

“…Sister Iri . ”

Xiaoxiao blushed and lifted her gla.s.s to cover it, although her gaze lingered on Qin Ruo"s face .

He was being a little weird today .

“Ahem . So, Sister Iri… A friend of mine is having surgery in Beijing but it"s been almost a month . I want to take some days off for a visit…”

“Leave? Isn"t it just a few days after you"ve just had a week off?”

Ireya frowned at him suspiciously, noticing that Xiaoxiao was looking at Qin Ruo in surprise as well, seemingly unaware of the matter .

Luo Qian, meanwhile, raised an unhappy ruckus .

“No, no, no . You crafty Little Ruo! This should have been your treat for losing a bet, and now you"re making it look like a farewell dinner! No way, Sister Iri—don"t give in to him . Move that discussion to another table if you want, that"s what I think . ”

The others voiced their agreement, and Ireya smiled .

“Hear that? That"s one gla.s.s . ”

“Alright!” Qin Ruo said . But just as he raised his gla.s.s, Luo Qin rose and stopped him .

“No, no! That"s not fair! Sister Iri, why do I have to drink three gla.s.ses at once but he only has to drink one? No way . Pretty girl, over here, three gla.s.ses for the man… or I"m informing you that I have mental imbalance . ”

“That"s right . Three gla.s.ses!”

“Three!”

The others from Finance echoed Luo Qian .

“Just one . Even Sister Iri knows he doesn"t usually drink…” Knowing that Qin Ruo was not a drinker and would certainly be knocked out if he drank that much, Xiaoxiao hurriedly rose to stop the sentencing .

“Fine, three it is—I"ll be fine after going home for some shut-eye . ” Having drank considerably in the game, Qin Ruo was not resistant to the idea . As the others looked on, he raised the filled gla.s.ses in front of him and finished everything .

“Alright!”

“Good job!”

“Little Ruo, let"s go again . ” Luo Qian was intent on setting the world on fire .

“Uh, water . ”

In truth, Qin Ruo was regretting after the first cup . He must admit that it was much terrible than drinking in the game: it was so hot, as if his stomach was burning .

While he downed a large cup of plain boiled water, a quiet complaint sounded beside his ear . “Silly . Couldn"t you just talk to Sister Iri in private? We"ll see how on earth you"re going home when you"re drunk . ”

Aroused by the alcohol, his face and heart a burning plain, Qin Ruo felt that even Xiaoxiao"s soft breath and voice beside his ear embodied a never-before bewitchment—that sweet scent hers was especially captivating .

But just as he was about to speak, Ireya"s teased, “Xiaoxiao . Hadn"t you asked whether Qin Ruo"s friend is male or female?”

“Sister Iri, you should just give him permission . She"s Xin Yu, an important person for him—it"s not too long ago that he pooled the funds to send her for bone marrow transplant in Beijing . She"s rehabilitating now, but we haven"t visited her yet . ”

Ireya was taken aback, now knowing who it was .

“One week . Is that enough?”

“Plenty enough . Many thanks, Sister Iri—allow me to toast you . ”

Qin Ruo was at once delighted as Ireya a.s.sented, the drunkenness seemingly becoming trivial as he toasted before Xiaoxiao could stop him…

Glowering with her beautiful eyes, Xiaoxiao had hoped for Ireya to kindly decline and spare, only to see her nonchalantly gesturing at her . “Still drinking?” She laughed . “Or do you intend something sinister? So that Xiaoxiao send you home when you"re drunk?”

“Hehe, Sister Iri"s making a joke! I shall do the honors first!”

When Li Lanlan saw it, she made a face at her colleagues beside her . They stood up at once in return, smiling ominously as they carried their own gla.s.ses over .

“Boss Qin… Cheers . ”

“You have to accept this toast of mine…”

After all that, Qin Ruo turned to find Luo Qian grinning in satisfaction .

“Luo Qian you b.a.s.t.a.r.d—you"re carrying me home if I"m drunk!”

“Sure!”

Luo Qian answered swiftly .

“Over my dead body . I have a plane to catch tomorrow!”

That, however, made Luo Qin even more determined . “Aren"t you too late for that? Brothers, don"t hold back—he"s the one who lost the bet…”

While Qin Ruo was besieged by a crowd, urgent preparations were underway for those in the game…

“Netherclaw . ”

“Things look hopeful in the Underworld . I think we can make a move . ”

“Dark Dragon, there"s no hurry,” Netherclaw said into the core channel . “Trust me, I hope for Qin Ruo and Fallen Angels more than you do—but we have two problems . One, we need an appropriate reason to act against Fallen Angels . It must also be sufficient and not too revealing that it catches Majestic Hero and Black G.o.d"s attention . Secondly, timing . Now really is not the time: The Underworld and Buried City had just been opened, and we must secure resources while competing against those d.a.m.ned clans . We must not relax with the Liches… And with the Demon Faction unlocking portals, we can"t afford any infighting against Fallen Angels or we"ll become a joke . Understand?”

“But…”

“I know what you"re thinking . The Winter Demon wouldn"t be imprisoned in the Underworld for long, and our only chance is now… But you must be aware that without him, those few wingless lone adventurers wouldn"t live up to Fallen Angels" reputation . ”

“Only Qin Ruo alone obtained the Divinity Crystals in the Fallen Angels . The remaining few simply would pa.s.s in terms of combat ability, but when it comes to management and brains… Hmph . They"ll learn soon that building a clan can"t be done with just a bunch of martial artists . ”

“When Qin Ruo returns, Fallen Angels would be far behind us… and you can do anything you want then . But now is simply not the time—if you provoked them, we"ll have a hard time dealing with Fateless and Permanent Lock . Our winged champions don"t outnumber their either; us Tier 5 Champions can"t do a thing if we do fight . Losses will be heavy . ”

Netherclaw"s reasonable words had no s.p.a.ce for Dark Dragon to mount a retort, but it was then that another voice spoke meaningfully into the channel .

“Actually, there"s another way . ”

“Speak . ”

Netherclaw could tell that it was Snowmelt, and felt inwardly moved .

“Actually, we don"t have to confront Fallen Angels directly… Just look for the clans who have a grudge against them and spread news that Qin Ruo is caught inside the Underworld… Hmm, I recall a game guild called Order of the Eight G.o.ds which clashed with Qin Ruo in the past . They would hold some enmity against Fallen Angels and the Violent Army Clan… and that guy called Ron in your clan, wasn"t he formerly from the Holy Clan? I heard they were at odds too . ”

“Ron won"t do,” Netherclaw said, appearing rather careful . “He met Qin Ruo, and Fallen Angels would know that it"s us if he makes any move… what"s the ability of the Order of the Eight G.o.ds like?”

“They aren"t huge, but their guild leader Eight G.o.ds has fine ability,” Snowmelt quickly replied . “He"s said to have leveled up to Tier 5 from the one of five difficulty and has super long-range perception like you, with more than thirteen Tier 5 under him .

“Thirteen? Snowmelt…”

Before Netherclaw could finish, Snowmelt laughed, stopping him . “I know what you want to say . The Order of the Eight G.o.ds is a little weak, but there are those amongst them who have talent—most importantly, their Tier 5s are about to double… when that happens, they could stand as an equal against Fallen Angels . ”

“Would they agree to make a move Fallen Angels?”

“They don"t have to agree . I think we just have to spread the news, and the Order of the Eight G.o.ds would quickly fight the Violent Army Clan . ”

“Why? Don"t forget, the Violent Army Clan has Homme Fatale…”

“Homme Fatale never pokes his head out for such matters, while the Order have sufficient reason… Yesterday, Dinosaurcerer encountered a party from the Order while on a mission, and at once fought three Tier 5 and the rest of their forces alone… All of the Order members are now ready to fight the Violent Army Clan—the only thing they are cautious about is Fallen Angels"s reaction . ”

Netherclaw was taken slightly aback .

“That c.o.c.ky?”

“Uh-huh . There were some people from the Order of the Eight G.o.ds who allegedly tried to partner up and con Dinosaurcerer and his company—but more interesting than that, Qin Ruo and Dinosaurcerer work in the same company . ”

“Quite the unlucky fellow . ”

Netherclaw felt a tinge of sympathy for the Order of the Eight G.o.ds .

Snowmelt nodded . “That"s why I"m thinking that the news could make the Order of the Eight G.o.ds resolve themselves . I believe they won"t disappoint us much as long as they lure out Fallen Angels . ”

It was after half a beat that Netherclaw replied .

“… Let"s do it . ”