Chapter 728: Attention! Attention!
Villain Ch 728. Attention! Attention!
"Oh, your brother is a high level player. From which guild?" Sophia inquired, her tone a mix of surprise and curiosity.
Before Mila could respond, a voice sounded from behind Sophia, answering her question. "Order of Valiance," it stated matter-of-factly.
Startled, Sophia turned to see the source of the voice. Noah and James were approaching, their presence catching her off guard. "Noah, James," she greeted them, her surprise evident in her tone. The revelation that Noah was Mila's brother added a new layer of complexity to the situation, one that Sophia hadn't anticipated. Sophia couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in her stomach.
The unexpected appearance of Noah and James added a new dimension to the encounter, one that threatened to disrupt her carefully laid plans. Still, she maintained a sense of confidence in her own standing.
"Hey, Sophia," James greeted with an artificial cheeriness, his hand waving casually in her direction as he approached.
Sophia nodded in response, her expression guarded as she took in the sight of James and Noah. Their presence added an unexpected twist to the encounter, one that Sophia wasn't entirely prepared for.
Noah stepped forward, gesturing towards Mila. "Her real name is Mila. She's my little sister," he explained, his tone matter-of-fact. "I might've mentioned her before. She's a model," he added, a hint of pride in his voice.
Sophia raised an eyebrow, her mind whirring as she processed this new information. "You never mentioned your little sister also plays this game," she remarked, attempting to maintain a composed demeanor despite the surprise.
Noah shrugged casually. "I just found out recently. She never told me before," he explained calmly, though there was a subtle tension in his voice.
Sophia nodded, though her mind was already racing with thoughts of how this revelation could impact the dynamics of their interaction. Your journey continues with empire
Before she could formulate a response, James interjected with a seemingly innocuous comment. "You know, it's strange. Elio hasn't been online today. Must be busy after the last war," he remarked, his tone light and breezy as he shifted the focus of the conversation. "Anyway, what happened to your gears?
Are Liam and Darren fixing them?" he continued, his voice a touch too loud, as if trying to draw attention to the players around them on purpose.
In accordance with his plan, James's strategically loud question about Sophia's gears succeeded in drawing the attention of nearby players. Their curiosity was piqued, and they turned to Sophia, James, and Noah, recognizing them from their guild emblems.
Sophia felt the weight of their gazes, a mix of discomfort and apprehension settling in her chest. She knew James was up to something, and she decided to play along, seizing the opportunity to paint herself as the victim in the situation.
"That's… I can't tell you guys," Sophia responded, her voice dropping to a softer, almost pleading tone. She hoped James's probing questions would bolster her facade of innocence.
Noah chimed in, his voice a bit too loud as well, adding his own spin to the conversation. "It's okay not to tell us. Those gears belong to you, after all. No one can take them, including Elio. After all, he's not that kind of person," Noah said, his words dripping with sincerity as he attempted to reassure Sophia.
Despite their efforts to maintain a casual facade, Sophia couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled over her. She glanced around anxiously, feeling as though Noah and James could see right through her, penetrating her carefully constructed facade to uncover her true intentions.
"Well, we can't say that since we don't know his true nature," Sophia reasoned, trying to defend her perspective.
But Noah wasn't convinced. He folded his arms across his chest as he prepared to make his case. "Rather than us, you should be the one who knows his nature best. He is a knight in the game and in the real world," Noah reminded her, his voice carrying a note of sincerity. "He often picked you up when you needed a ride, accompanied you, and supported you when you were sad. That's his real attitude."
James nodded in agreement, chiming in to emphasize their point. "Yeah, Elio's the kind of guy who spreads positivity wherever he goes. He's like a ray of sunshine in both the game and real life," he added, a hint of admiration in his voice.
"And what's your point in telling me all this?" Sophia asked, her brow furrowing with annoyance. She was growing increasingly frustrated with James's persistent meddling in her affairs. "Elio did it because he wanted to do it, not because of my request," she added, hoping to shut down the conversation.
James shrugged nonchalantly, undeterred by Sophia's curt response. "I don't know. Just reminding you that maybe some problems are better resolved internally," he replied casually, though his tone carried a hint of seriousness. He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest as he continued.
"After all, I know the source of your annoyance is because you failed to attract the devil emperor's attention yesterday and Father^Alex succeeded in removing you from the first rank healer position."
Sophia's eyes widened in surprise at James's blunt assessment of the situation. She hadn't expected him to be so direct, and his words cut straight to the heart of her frustrations. Despite her efforts to maintain a facade of indifference, she couldn't deny the truth in his words. But what she was worried about was something else.
"Look, Sophia," James continued, his tone softening slightly as he leaned forward, fixing her with a serious gaze. "I get it. Losing your rank and prestige sucks, especially when you've worked so hard to earn it. But dwelling on it isn't going to change anything. Sometimes, it's better to focus on moving forward and finding a solution rather than spitting fire at the others."
James' last statement sent ripples through the surrounding players like a pebble dropped into a pond. Murmurs and whispers erupted among the gathered crowd, their curious gazes flickering between James and Sophia. Some exchanged knowing glances, while others leaned in closer to catch every word of the conversation.
It was clear that James's insight had struck a chord, sparking speculation and discussion among the onlookers.