Riley’s gaze remained fixed on the screen, even as the interview and a new program began. The confident smirk on Yano’s face lingered in his mind like an annoying itch, and a frown remained etched on his face.
While he agreed with Yano’s point—that those who hadn’t joined the ga yet were definitely missing out—he didn’t feel too comfortable with how fast things were moving in the Noble Lions Guild’s favour.
With this new announcent, most of the new players were sure to seek out Yano and the Noble Lions Guild, hoping to join them.
Most joined for support in the ga, hoping to have a powerful force backing them.
But still, there was a good number of people who believed that from the ga, they could also curry favour from soone of Yano’s status in real life.
Players like that didn’t take the ga seriously, only trying to establish themselves in the real world.
However, the problem Riley had wasn’t just about how big the influence of the guild would be.
He was more worried that they could rise to power a lot faster than in his last life, especially when it was Yano Yeves at the centre of it all.
Riley leaned back slightly, exhaling as he lowered his eyes to the nu in his hand—but he wasn’t reading it anymore.
He knew Yano far too well, at least based on his past life.
Back then, Yano had always been obsessed with one thing—catching up to Terry. Outshining him, surpassing him, proving to everyone that he was the true most powerful player within the ga.
It was the sa obsession that drove most of his actions within [Apocalypse], and also what led him down a path few ever returned from.
Riley still rembered the horror when it had first been discovered—that Yano had sold his soul to a demon.
He had entered into a contract, willingly, and had been granted demonic power in return.
The results were imdiate.
He grew far stronger than anyone could’ve imagined in a short amount of ti, and his influence skyrocketed as if the universe itself bent to his ambition.
But his rise in power wasn’t just because of strength.
No, it was because of how useful he had made himself to the demons.
He had contributed more than anyone to the conquest of Earth when the barriers between the ga and reality shattered.
He knew how to plan, how to manipulate, and most of all, he knew how to pretend.
For a long ti, no one realised what he had beco, thinking he was still a player on the side of humanity.
He used that deception to lead countless players into ambushes. Into death.
Riley clenched his fist slightly as he recollected the chaos.
Yano had personally slain hundreds, and in the battle that followed—his rematch with Terry—he had managed to overpower him, if only briefly.
That was the first ti Riley truly understood what kind of monster Yano had beco.
And that wasn’t all.
His guild, the Noble Lions, which had once stood as a symbol of pride... changed drastically.
Yano had begun to quietly corrupt his guild mbers, one by one.
He turned most of them into demons just like him, granting them strength, skills and demonic power.
Most of them accepted to be turned, hungry for power, or desperate to survive in a crumbling world. Those who refused... either vanished quietly or were forced to comply.
Soon, the Noble Lions Guild beca nothing more than a demonic faction, pretending to the world that they were normal.
For about three or four years, they rampaged across the world, leaving behind nothing but blood and smoke.
No one could stop them, and none of the other guilds were on their level.
But in the end... they were defeated by Terry and his alliance of players, wiped off the face of the map.
Yano was finally brought down.
But even so...
The damage had already been done.
Too many had died. Too much had been lost, and the scars left behind by Yano’s betrayal never truly faded.
That was why Riley couldn’t look at the screen now without feeling his chest tighten.
He just couldn’t bring himself to believe anything that man said.
Sure, the speech was inspiring, and the call for people to take action made perfect sense.
But he knew what lay beneath that perfect smile. He knew what that ambition could beco if left unchecked.
And now... Yano was already gaining influence this early?
Riley finally tore his eyes away from the screen, turning back to Hart.
"Wow... can you believe this?!" The man said, his eyes shining with excitent. "Yano Yeves, what a smart dude."
Riley simply nodded absentmindedly, his mind filled with many other things.
’No matter what happens, I’ll be there, and I’ll stop you... Yano.’ he thought, a sharp glint flickering within his eyes.
"So... are you going to join the Noble Lions Guild also?" Hart asked as Riley passed the nu back to him.
He had already ticked what he wanted to order, and chose to have it packed for him in a takeaway plate.
His eyes narrowed slightly at Hart’s question, and he sighed before replying: "No, there’s no need for to."
"Ohh, I guess that’s also cool," Hart said, scanning the nu once again. "But I’ll be joining it... can’t miss out on such a huge opportunity."
Riley simply nodded at him, not surprised at his words.
That was the sa way most people think, which was what led them to the doors of the Noble Lions guild.
He had also been the sa in his past life, but unfortunately, things didn’t work out so well.
Hart then took his order to the kitchen, asking him to wait a few minutes.
Just like he said, he ca back a few minutes later with a plate filled with fried rice and chicken.
Riley couldn’t help but salivate as he watched him pack it in a nylon bag before passing it to him.
’Finally... after many days... good food.’ he thought.
*
A few minutes later, Riley sat quietly on his bed, legs crossed, with the warm plate of fried rice and chicken resting before him.
The nylon had already been unwrapped and tossed to the floor, and now all that stood between him and his long-overdue satisfaction was the thin plastic lid still covering the food.
His stomach grumbled again, as though angry for being forced to wait. Saliva pooled in his mouth, and he exhaled sharply, trying to control the excitent rushing through him.
Then, he peeled off the lid.
A burst of warm, savoury aroma flooded the room instantly, hitting his nose like a tidal wave.
He stared at the steaming food for a long mont... then scooped up a spoonful and placed it in his mouth.
The taste exploded across his tongue.
It was hot, soft, perfectly spiced, and rich with flavour.
Unable to hold back his hunger, he quickly took a second, then a third.
By the fourth, his throat tightened for a different reason.
He almost burst into tears.
He had spent about $20 on the food, an absurd amount his past self would have never thought to spend at once.
However, he felt it was completely worth it with the different kinds of flavours exploding in his mouth.
He quickly blinked the tears away and swallowed hard. His jaw clenched, and he paused with the spoon halfway to his lips.
It had been so long since he had a proper al. Since sothing had tasted this good—so real, so whole.
He lowered the spoon slowly and stared at the food again.
Before now, his life hadn’t been much better than scraping by. Everything he had—this house, this room, this tiny bed he sat on—was only thanks to the little inheritance he got from his parents after their deaths.
Without it, he wouldn’t even have a roof over his head. He would simply be holess, wandering around the streets.
He was surviving on a full college scholarship, juggling two part-ti jobs, whichever brought in enough to survive at that mont.
But even with both jobs combined, the money was barely enough to sustain him, and most tis, he skipped als.
His past life hadn’t been much better.
When [Apocalypse] ca, Riley had joined the ga too late. And as if that wasn’t enough, the talent he awakened was completely useless.
While other players rose in strength, fa, and fortune, he struggled to stay alive.
He was practically the weakest player, often forced to flee instead of fight, scavenging whatever he could. Missions that others could complete in minutes took him hours, and bd barely earned enough coins.
And when the true nightmare started—the war with the demons, he was one of the players most affected.
Just like his life was before the ga, he barely had enough to eat or even survive.
There were many tis when he fought on the battlefield with a growling stomach, and it felt like he would collapse before the monsters he was fighting against.
If not for mana replenishing the body, making it possible for one to last for days or even weeks without eating anything, and still be able to function normally...
He would’ve fainted mid-fight, or even worse, died brutally in the hands of monsters and demons.
A strange glint flashed across his eyes as he rembered, his face twisting into a slight frown.
’That life can’t repeat itself...’ he mumbled inwardly, letting out a low exhale.
He quickly finished the rest of the food, dropping the plate by the side of his bed.
He then collapsed on his bed with a sigh, and he slowly blinked.
’Peace... It’s been so long since I had this kind of peace.’ he thought, the edges of his lips curling slightly. ’Best to enjoy it... while it lasts.’
That was the last thought that crossed his mind, and he dozed off, falling into the warm embrace of his dreams.
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