Tap- tap-

Perhaps his tailcoat had grown dirty from mingling with the crowds, for his expression as he brushed off his shoulders brimmed with irritation.

As soon as the man named Zernias arrived, the club manager hurried out to greet him.

“Welcome, sir. I will guide you straight to the VIP room.”

The moment Zernias saw the manager’s face, he instantly changed his expression and put on a smile once more.

Only Chasey could catch his shifting expression.

“That won’t be necessary. I am participating with the same player qualifications as everyone else, so I shouldn’t be the only one receiving special favors.”

“As expected of you, Mr. Zernias.”

The spectators’ reactions to those words were intense.

“Understood. Thank you for gracing us with your presence and participating in our Moran Private battlefield.”

“Haha, not at all. Aren’t the Moran Social Club and our Porshuka of one mind and one heart? There is no need for such formal thanks.”

“This private battlefield was assigned a 999+ tier rating, which was somewhat embarrassing for us. But thanks to you gracing us with your seat, we were able to uphold the prestige of the Moran Social Club.”

“I am glad I could be of help.”

The conversation, layered with hypocrisy upon hypocrisy, finally came to an end.

Changing his expression once more, Zernias grumbled in apparent annoyance.

“They know I hate these kinds of battlefields, and yet…”

It was a mutter meant for no one’s ears, but Chasey, with her keen hearing, caught every word.

When Zernias entered the waiting room, the players participating in the private battlefield stepped forward to greet him.

There was no official hierarchy among players, but…

They often divided themselves into higher and lower ranks based on their affiliated faction’s ranking, player tier, and social standing.

In this space, Zernias was unmistakably the superior.

A player stepped forward to offer his greetings first.

“Hello! I am Rozar of Ronerio.”

Ronerio was a faction wielding significant influence in the Yukantar commercial district.

Despite this, Rozar’s humble posture was an acknowledgment that his counterpart held a higher position.

“Haha- A pleasure. I have heard much about you. They say you are the prodigy of the Ronerio family.”

“Not at all. I am merely an aspiring player.”

Rozar himself did not possess particularly outstanding skills as a player, but…

Because the Ronerio Merchant Guild, the core of the Ronerio faction, possessed tremendous financial assets, even Zernias treated him accordingly.

Since the private battlefield was being held at a social club, networking among players was a given.

“I am delighted to make a valuable connection.”

Swish-

Zernias offered his hand first, and Rozar clasped it with a polite bow.

“It is an honor.”

Sensing an opportunity, another player eager to build a rapport with Zernias swiftly interjected to exchange greetings.

“Hello! I am Gotu of the Porshu Guild!”

Zernias, who had been wearing a bright smile while dealing with Rozar, responded to him.

“Get lost.”

Freeze.

The player who received the answer froze in bewilderment.

The response that came from Zernias made Chasey, who was quietly observing the situation from a corner, doubt her own ears.

“Excuse me?”

Silence descended upon the waiting room for a brief moment, but the noise of the spectators outside quickly swallowed it.

“I said get lost. We are in the middle of a conversation.”

The player who introduced himself as Gotu turned bright red, his pride deeply wounded, but he could not express his true feelings in front of Zernias.

“Ahem… I apologize for the interruption.”

The response to his polite parting words was a sneer.

“Tsk, tsk- A man who doesn’t know his place shouldn’t speak out of turn.”

Whoosh-

The player whipped around in a moment of anger, but seemingly coming to his senses, he squeezed his eyes shut and retreated.

Others who had been intending to approach Zernias flinched and stepped back upon witnessing the scene.

Was this not completely different from the attitude he had shown just moments ago?

But it was only natural.

From Zernias’s perspective, conversing with someone beneath his station was a waste of time.

“Haha- Apologies for the brief disturbance.”

“Not at all. Given the nature of this venue, it is to be expected.”

Rozar handled the situation calmly without a hint of panic.

He was already well aware that Zernias graded people and treated them accordingly.

Player Zernias, affiliated with Porshuka, the faction ranked 10th in the Faction Ranking.

As a Silver Tier player, someone like Gotu was not even worth exchanging words with.

Watching the scene unfold in silence, Chasey found the situation utterly ridiculous.

She simply could not fathom how someone could act so high and mighty just for being a Silver Tier player.

Chasey’s father.

Federer Einthoven was an upper-tier Silver player who held his own territory, yet he never threw his weight around.

In the player world, reaching Silver Tier was akin to taking one’s first steps; he was fully aware that there were always greater heights above him.

Having followed her father and actually seen Gold Tier players in the flesh, Chasey knew just how insignificant Silver Tier players truly were.

‘Pathetic.’

Dismissing the thought, she was about to refocus on her guidebook when…

Swish-

A shadow fell over Chasey’s head.

“Excuse me.”

A man stood before her as she lifted her head.

His name was Gotu.

The very same player who had just been humiliated and dismissed by Zernias.

His face was flushed red; it seemed he was looking to vent his frustration on an easy target.

Chasey, sitting isolated in the social club, had looked like an easy mark.

In the end, this man who had been berated by Zernias was just another player himself.

“Why are you wearing a mask at a social club?”

Saying such a thing upon their first meeting was incredibly rude.

“If we’re here to mingle, shouldn’t we get to know each other’s faces? Why don’t you take off that mask?”

Despite his obvious provocation, she wasn’t particularly offended.

Chasey had grown up as the daughter of an upper-tier Silver player and the younger sister of an Adjudicator.

Raised in a household that cherished and sheltered her, this kind of treatment was a first, and she found it somewhat refreshing.

Though, to onlookers, it probably wasn’t a pleasant sight.

“Tsk- You should know to back off when the other person is uncomfortable.”

Whoosh-

Hearing those words, Gotu turned his head to see who had spoken, only for his expression to morph into one of sheer panic.

Rozar, the so-called prodigy of the Ronerio family.

Known for his constant positivity, it was the first time anyone had heard him speak ill of another.

Rozar approached Chasey.

“A pleasure. I am Rozar, a player of the Ronerio faction. You are Alice, the player from the Arrow of the Blue Sky, are you not?”

Rozar’s face was flushed with excitement.

His tone was noticeably higher than when he had greeted Zernias.

“Haha- I heard you use a completely new type of deck. The fact that you aren’t simply following trends but have your own distinct color is proof of outstanding potential. I have a feeling you will one day reach a tier so high that I won’t even be able to look up to you, Ms. Alice.”

“… …”

Faced with such excessive praise that it made the listener embarrassed, Chasey was at a loss for words.

Rozar’s words drew everyone’s attention, eventually capturing the interest of someone else in the waiting room.

Tromp- tromp-

Player Zernias.

He was walking toward them.

Murmur- murmur-

Not only the waiting room but the outside spectators watching the inside were buzzing with murmurs.

It was unprecedented to see the aloof Zernias personally walking over to network with someone.

Utteuk-

Zernias stood before Chasey.

Extending one hand, he offered a smile.

“I have never seen Mr. Rozar speak so highly of someone. A pleasure. I am Zernias.”

Sidelong look.

“I’ll be going now…”

As the atmosphere grew tense, Gotu slipped away quietly.

Neither Zernias, Chasey, nor Rozar paid him any mind.

“Tsk, tsk-“

However, those who watched the scene sent looks of contempt toward Gotu.

He would be thoroughly ostracized at this networking event.

“…I am Alice, a player from the Arrow of the Blue Sky.”

Chasey took Zernias’s hand and shook it.

It was not an atmosphere where she could refuse a handshake.

Zernias did not know who this Alice was, but he acknowledged Rozar’s discernment.

If Rozar held her in such high regard, forming a connection with her wouldn’t be a bad idea.

“Once this private battlefield concludes, let us have a more constructive conversation about the match. I will review the battlefield with you and point out your shortcomings.”

“Wow, what an incredible opportunity! If Mr. Zernias, a Silver Tier player, personally helps you review your match, you will definitely improve a lot!”

Rozar made a fuss, but Chasey’s feelings were complicated.

Another player might have considered it an honor, but from Chasey’s perspective, it was not such welcome news.

The founder of the Hardcore Assassin deck that had countered the Holy King’s Placement Method, an expert who had hit the Jackpot without using an Item combination formula.

Player Lee Shin, who was still continuously making a name for himself, was her mentor.

Even her father, Federer Einthoven, was a superior player compared to Zernias.

‘Receiving a review from him would be a loss.’

“It is a generous offer, but I must decline.”

Zernias’s brow twitched.

He clearly hadn’t anticipated being rejected.

Zernias let his displeasure show.

“Hmm… It seems you have quite the backing. Well, after experiencing this battlefield, you will surely realize your own inadequacies.”

Zernias returned to his seat.

Rozar looked at Chasey with concern.

Zernias was not the type of man to simply swallow his pride and stay quiet.

‘It’s fine.’

But from Chasey’s perspective, this was the best course of action.

She didn’t want to share even a sliver of the strategy he had taught her with anyone else.

That was why she was still wearing this ridiculous mask even now.

Even after Zernias retreated, Rozar continued to talk to her, but his words went in one ear and out the other.

‘Player Lee Shin…’

Chasey recalled the face of the man who was likely in the northern region by now.

Only four days had passed since they parted, but she felt a strange emptiness in one corner of her heart.

Player Lee Shin was the most peculiar individual Chasey had ever encountered.

At times, he was remarkably sharp, while at other times, he seemed utterly lacking.

His gluttony was so extreme that he would secretly steal her food, yet his table manners remained absolutely flawless even then.

He occasionally displayed the demeanor of a street thug, yet an aristocratic elegance permeated all his actions.

She had originally intended to learn the druid deck and return to Luteran, but every day spent watching him was so novel and fascinating that she had already spent over half a month by his side.

Though it was a connection forged by force, this encounter was more precious to Chasey than anything else.

Therefore, she desperately wanted to succeed in the task Lee Shin had entrusted to her, but…

“Mr. Zernias is a veteran player who achieved Silver Tier five years ago. He was originally Liberthan’s exclusive player, but he was recruited as an advisor for Porshuka and switched factions.”

Liberthan, the ruler of the eastern region, ranked 3rd in the Faction Ranking.

How incredible must the skills of a player who had once been part of that faction be?

Hearing Rozar’s words, she couldn’t help but feel anxious.

Chasey’s Open Port Strategy was not yet a perfect deck.

Zernias, the greatest competitor in this battlefield, sat in his seat with his eyes quietly closed.

‘He hasn’t opened his guidebook even once.’

Was it the confidence of someone who believed he would never lose?

An unseen composure radiated from him, one that others lacked.

“It seems it will begin soon.”

Rozar was staring at a particular spot.

The club manager who had exchanged greetings with Zernias stood there.

She was the host of this private battlefield, and her stepping forward before the spectators meant the battlefield was about to commence.

“There are still 15 minutes left…”

“They must not have expected Mr. Zernias to arrive so early. They can’t waste his precious time, so they moved the schedule up as much as possible.”

“Player Alice, please come this way.”

The moment Rozar finished speaking, staff members from the social club approached, each assigned to personally guide a player.

“Then I wish you the best of results!”

Parting ways with Rozar, Chasey followed the staff member’s guidance and moved to the participant room.