Riley tilted his head slightly, his gaze never leaving the trembling figure before him.
'For a guild with 'noble' in its name, they sure don't act like it.' he thought.
It wasn't the first time he'd heard about the Noble Lions. In fact, everyone in the game had at least heard the name tossed around. They were famous in the game for being efficient, ruthless, and most of all, overwhelmingly rich.
They were one of the top-ranking forces within the game, the guild's rise to power primarily from the Yeves family's wealth and influence.
Yano Yeves, Taves' older brother, had poured everything into the guild from day one. Gold, influence, time.
He also made sure to recruit many powerful players within the game, in a bid to make sure he climbed to the top.
Forming a guild in [Apocalypse] wasn't easy, as the base requirement alone was 50 gold coins—an insane sum for any average player.
The cost for maintaining the guild was even more.
The only reason players hung around Taves was his family's reputation.
Though he didn't have any talent or strength, he had connections, and most felt like if they could get on his good side, they had a chance of entering the great Noble Lions Guild.
But Riley didn't care.
In his past life, he had also tried entering the guild, hoping he could at least salvage his terrible situation through the resources given to him.
However, that didn't end well for him, as the guild didn't just reject him, they also took away the little he had while doing so.
When he thought about it, his eyes flashed with anger, and he exhaled.
He turned back to Taves, who was still shivering like a leaf in the wind, and his brows furrowed.
"I already told you, I don't care."
Taves' jaw tightened.
Rage boiled behind his eyes, but he forced himself to stay still. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides.
He wanted to scream. He wanted to lunge. But he wasn't stupid.
Riley was stronger. Somehow. Even though he was supposed to be weaker. And then there was the matter of that strange item he wa using…
'That treasure…' Taves thought, narrowing his eyes. 'It has to be the source of his invisibility. No skill can hide someone so completely, not at this level…'
And if Riley had that—a treasure so rare it could allow him to wipe out opponents like they were nothing—then Taves didn't stand a chance in a straight-up fight.
Besides, his talent was merely a C-rank, one that wasn't suitable for fighting against other players.
It's name was [Hot Monster Bane], a talent which gave him a five percent boost against flame-type monsters.
It also reduced any-flame related damage on him by about ten percent.
Nonetheless, he would never forget this.
'No,' he swore silently. 'I'll make him pay. I'll rip that treasure off his corpse once I've crushed him beneath my boots. Just wait. Just wait…'
He tried to regain some composure, straightening his posture. He brushed some dust from his shirt, feigning arrogance he no longer felt.
"You need to reconsider your words," he said, his voice tighter this time, shakier. "The Yeves family—"
Riley raised a hand, silencing him instantly.
"You and your team disturbed my peace?" Riley asked, cutting through the air like a knife. "Are you willing to compensate?"
Taves blinked. "Wh—what?"
Riley tilted his head again, his voice cool and measured.
"I'm asking if you're going to compensate me for the trouble you've caused me."
Taves opened his mouth—then closed it again.
Compensate?
This bastard had just murdered his team. And now he was asking for compensation like this was a merchant's dispute?
"You—you're insane," Taves muttered.
Riley smiled faintly. "Or would you rather I kill you?"
"Y-you…" Taves muttered, gnashing his teeth. "My teammates… they…"
"They attacked me first," Riley interrupted, eyes narrowing.
"That was self-defense. In fact…" He lifted a finger to his chin, pretending to think. "You should thank me. I didn't finish you off along with them."
"But then, that could change." He continued, pointing one of his daggers at Taves' throat.
Taves took a shaky step back, gulping at the sight of the gleaming blade.
He pondered his decision for a few second, seconds, wondering if it was better to die here, and have his level and stats regress, or to just compensate Riley just like he asked.
"Fine…" he muttered, gnashing his teeth. 'I'll make you cry blood for this… no matter who you are… I'll find you, and make sure you have no peace in this game.'
He reluctantly dipped his hand into his pocket, pulling out twenty silver coins, before handing them over to Riley.
Riley collected the coins, and they immediately vanished into thin air, taking a space within his storage device.
Taves frowned at this, but he swallowed his words.
However, Riley's next words made him feel like he could explode in anger.
"It's not enough. Add more to it." He said, his gaze drifting to the long sword hung at Taves' sight. "That should be a good addition."
Taves' veins bulged around his forehead, fumes almost bursting out of his head.
But when he considered the long term effect dying at this stage would cost him, he reluctantly pulled out his weapon, handing it over to Riley.
Riley simply placed it in his storage device, nodding his head in satisfaction.
Then, his lips suddenly curled into a sinister smirk, and he turned back to Taves.
"Its nice doing business with you, but then… I was never serious about sparing your life."
Taves' eyes widened, and he stumbled back in shock.
"W-what… do you mean? We had a d-deal?"
"Yeah, and the deal's offer… unfortunately." Riley said, shaking his head like he was disappointed.
"N-no! You c-an't—"
Swish!
Taves' was barely able to complete his words, before Riley's dagger slit through his throat.
Blood spurted from his mouth, his body rapidly disintegrating into white particles, vanishing into thin air.
"Serves you right, hehe." Riley chuckled.
What he just did was similar to something Taves also did to him in his past life, but then, who said he couldn't be a little petty?