173 [BONUS] Crossing Paths in Diamond Palace
BONUS Chapter for the Super Gift!
Thank you very much to Darted_Table �
—-
Ren and Leonel were busy in the past few days because of school and paperwork for buying their units. Since all players were still busy with guilds and PvP, Ren and Leonel took that time to finish all the necessary requirements for their new house.
Ren had already made a deposit for the unit, so he moved Friday after school just in time for his parents to arrive tomorrow.
While Leonel bought a smaller unit that was enough for his budget, and he was just a few floors below. They were still neighbors like what Leonel wanted.
When Ren arrived at his new home, the place was already cleaned and organized. All he had to do was put his clothes and necessities. There were furniture and appliances that Ren thought he would buy later and groceries as well. But he decided to wait for his parents to come since his mother loved to purchase home furnishings and decorate them in the house.
Standing at the floor-to-ceiling window of his bedroom, Ren felt right at home. His room was exactly like what he wanted — dark and grey tones, with metal and glass furnishings.
The only downside was, it was the master’s bedroom.
But upon checking the other three rooms. It was big and was just a little smaller than the Masters. All of them had an ample size bathroom, and their lighter tones set well with his parent’s taste. They could just pick one of the available rooms, so Ren didn’t have to renovate one of the rooms to his liking, saving him tons of money in the process.
Ren called Leonel to meet him later in the lobby so they could eat dinner together. He then took a shower, and took a bath much longer than usual. After much deliberation, he also picked his clothes and chose a turtleneck long sleeve black shirt and pants. He even styled his hair a little.
After making sure that he was looking his best, he went down using his private elevator and went to the lobby.
That was when he met Leonel, who only had a t-shirt on with an anime girl on the front print while he was in shorts and slippers. He looked like he was going to bed rather than having a fancy dinner.
Ren suddenly felt that he was overdressed. “Why are you wearing . . . that?”
“Oh, you mean this?” Leonel coyly grinned. “I’m feeling happy at the moment, so I wore my favorite C.C. shirt.”
Ren only looked at Leonel with a blank expression.
“But what’s with your get-up?” Leonel questioned back. “Aren’t we just going to eat dinner?”
“We’re going to dinner at a fancy restaurant over there.” Ren nodded in the direction of the vast expanse of the bistro. “Don’t tell me you’re going there looking like that.”
Leonel took a twice over at his clothes. “I don’t see anything wrong with what I’m wearing.”
Ren only shook his head in surrender. “Let’s just go.”
While Ren and Leonel went inside the restaurant, some raised their eyes at Leonel’s get-up, especially the slippers. But since they showed their resident card, no one stopped them about the dress code.
They were an exception. The VIPs.
Leonel was saying something while they looked for a table, while Ren didn’t hear anything. He was busy looking around for any signs of Evie. He didn’t know her schedule, but he hoped to spot her at least.
But if she became rich overnight, just like them, then maybe she wasn’t working anymore?
“Ren. Leonel.”
At their names called by a familiar voice, both Ren and Leonel flicked their eyes at the table near the window. They were both surprised because it was Ragnar, together with Silvia and another beautiful woman with long curly blue hair.
Ren’s eyes widened when he even spotted Nikolai next to the woman with blue hair.
Ragnar waved his hand and ushered for them to come to their table.
Ren was having second thoughts since Silvia and Nikolai were present. But Leonel only hopped to his toes and happily skipped to where Ragnar and the others were.
“Hey, Ragnar! What are you doing here,” Leonel asked before greeting Silvia after.
“Having our dinner. Join us.”
“Don’t mind if I do.” Leonel sat on an empty seat and ushered Ren to come to their table.
Ren didn’t have any more choice and sat on the vacant seat next to Leonel while his mouth was shut tight. He tried his best to act natural while Ragnar introduced them to the others.
“So . . . what are you guys doing here?” Ragnar questioned while eying Leonel’s get-up. “Looking like that, no less.”
Leonel raised his head with a smug smile on his lips. “Ren and I became millionaires overnight, and we just finished purchasing a unit here.”
“Is that so? Congratulations then,” Ragnar said without care.
“See, Sumeri,” Silvia shifted her attention to her friend. “I told you if you had just entered the game early, you might have earned millions by now and had the chance to save your company.”
Sumeri only smiled that didn’t reach her ears. “I think millions wouldn’t cut it. I would still lose the company no matter what I do.”
“That bitch is really after you. She wasn’t contented to steal Scar. Now she wanted to steal everything that you have.”
As the two women converse, Ren was surprised that Silvia was so mad she was grinding her teeth. It was the first time that he saw her make that kind of expression. It didn’t suit her.
“What happened?” Leonel looked over from his plate with crumbs of bread on his lips.
Ren elbowed Leonel. “Leo.” It was not their place to butt in on other people’s business, especially they had just met Sumeri.
“It’s fine.” Sumeri smiled at Ren and Leonel. “It’s no secret anyway. It’s all over the news. Our Hotel, the Richers Hotels, had been sold, and now my brother and I are homeless. The bank confiscated everything we owned because of the debt and . . . If it’s not for Silvia lending me one of her units here, we really don’t have anywhere to go.”
“. . .” Ren didn’t sympathize with strangers, and he acknowledged that he was cold. But he couldn’t help but feel compassion for Sumeri and Nikolai. She was smiling, but if you listened carefully, her voice was trembling like any moment, she would burst out crying.
She must be portraying a brave front for her little brother.
“Aw. That sucks . . .” Leonel flung his eyes at Ragnar. “Ragnar, you’re rich, right? Can you help her?”
It’s not that simple,” said Ragnar after he drank from his glass.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Even if we’re rich, we don’t have the power to buy or save a whole company. We’re just daughters and sons. The final decision is still on our parents or even grandparent who care nothing but the family name.” It was Silvia who explained.
“I-I . . . I see . . . that sounded complicated.” Leonel went back to his bread while Ren cut him a glare.
“I wonder if you really think that way.”
“It’s fine.” Sumeri force a smile. “I guess . . . I’ll just have to start fresh with Nikolai.”
“Start with COVENANT. I tell you, with your past experience as a gamer. You’ll get rich in no time. I’ll even pay you monthly if you join my guild.”
Sumeri sighed. “I’ll think about it.”
“What’s there to think?”
Everyone was a little surprised when Ren spoke, and all attention went to him.